And so what was the purpose of the Public Hearing on Redistricting if the Supervisors are not even going to consider the desires of the public they were elected to represent?
Let's face it Tunica, these Supervisors are only interested in protecting their re-elections. They are not even going to consider what any of us thinks. Nor do they care.
And what the heck is the meaning of holding a "special meeting with the Board of Supervisors" and Tunica Cut-Off residents? We all know these folks were displaced by the flood and I don't think anyone would object to holding yet another Public Hearing on Redistricting as long as everyone is included.
The 2010 Census says Tunica County, MS is 23.7% White; 73.5% Black and 2.8% Other.
To restate the Supervisors' plan for redistricting Tunica County, here it is:
District 1 has an African American Supervisor.
The plan for Redistricting District 1 is:
White: 15.4%
Black: 81.4%
Other: 3.1%
District 2 has an African American Supervisor.
The plan for Redistricting District 2 is:
White: 15.7%
Black: 82.1%
Other: 2.1%
District 3 has a White Supervisor.
The plan for Redistricting District 3 is:
White: 21.7%
Black: 74.3%
Other: 4.1%
District 4 has a White Supervisor.
The plan for Redistricting District 4 is:
White: 31.5%
Black: 65.9%
Other: 2.6%
District 5 has a White Supervisor.
The plan for Redistricting District 5 is:
White: 34.1%
Black: 63.6%
Other: 2.3%
Do these guys really think the Department of Justice is going to let them get away with this? They will unless we start saying something about it.....
Showing posts with label Redistricting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Redistricting. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Redistricting Public Hearing 9 May 2011 @ 6p
Tunica County Courthouse:
The meeting started with a presentation from the company hired by the Board of Supervisors, Bridges and Watson, to plan our redistricting. If you didn't catch it at the 6 Jan 2011 Public Hearing or any of the Board of Supervisors' Meetings since then, it was made perfectly clear at this 9 May 2011 meeting that the Board of Supervisors' plan was to make sure each incumbent Supervisor remained in his own District.
Speaking for Tunians for Transparency in Government, I believe we made our point. This redistricting has nothing to do with them (the current Board of Supervisors) and everything to do with us, the citizens of Tunica County, Mississippi.
Let's be clear about which Supervisors attended the meeting. The District 1 Supervisor was there. The District 2 Supervisor was there. The District 4 Supervisor was there. The District 5 Supervisor was not there due to a death in his family. Oh, I missed the District 3 Supervisor. The District 3 Supervisor was not there. The District 3 Supervisor was not in attendance at the 6 Jan 2011 Redistricting Public Hearing either.
The meeting started with a presentation from the company hired by the Board of Supervisors, Bridges and Watson, to plan our redistricting. If you didn't catch it at the 6 Jan 2011 Public Hearing or any of the Board of Supervisors' Meetings since then, it was made perfectly clear at this 9 May 2011 meeting that the Board of Supervisors' plan was to make sure each incumbent Supervisor remained in his own District.
Speaking for Tunians for Transparency in Government, I believe we made our point. This redistricting has nothing to do with them (the current Board of Supervisors) and everything to do with us, the citizens of Tunica County, Mississippi.
Let's be clear about which Supervisors attended the meeting. The District 1 Supervisor was there. The District 2 Supervisor was there. The District 4 Supervisor was there. The District 5 Supervisor was not there due to a death in his family. Oh, I missed the District 3 Supervisor. The District 3 Supervisor was not there. The District 3 Supervisor was not in attendance at the 6 Jan 2011 Redistricting Public Hearing either.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
There is more on Redistricting
Attended the 15 Apr 2011 Tunica County Board of Supervisors' Meeting. There is more to report on this meeting but let's stick to Redistricting.
Today it became very apparent the current Supervisors are more interested in how Redistricting will effect them personally in their bids for reelection then they are concerned for the Tunicans they were elected to serve.
Let's start with this premise: "ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE." Redistricting is about the citizens of Tunica County and not those already elected to office or those currently running for office. Redistricting is about a process to do our very best to get to "ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE."
So, here's a process:
1. Throw out the old map.
2. Read the new numbers.
3. Draw a new map.
One, two, three...that's it.
Today it became very apparent the current Supervisors are more interested in how Redistricting will effect them personally in their bids for reelection then they are concerned for the Tunicans they were elected to serve.
Let's start with this premise: "ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE." Redistricting is about the citizens of Tunica County and not those already elected to office or those currently running for office. Redistricting is about a process to do our very best to get to "ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE."
So, here's a process:
1. Throw out the old map.
2. Read the new numbers.
3. Draw a new map.
One, two, three...that's it.
Friday, April 8, 2011
More on Redistricting
I've been looking at the 2010 Census figures for Tunica County and I think what might be causing all of the upset is the process. What appears to be happening is those incharge appear to be working from the current districts and trying to make the numbers fit. What I think needs to be done is to work from the numbers and then redraw the map.
Firstly, it needs to be stated: This is about the citizens and not those already elected to office and those running for office. The underlying premise is "one person, one vote".
Here are numbers as I understand them:
1. Total Population of Tunica County: 10,778.
2, Divide the total population by the 5 Tunica County Districts: 2156 (rounded up)
3. Tunica County population is:
23.7% White
73.5% Black
2.8% Other
4. Within each of the 5 Tunica County Districts we would start by coming as close as possible to the following numbers:
511 White (rounded)
1584 Black (rounded)
61 Other (rounded)
So, throw out the maps; forget who is in office or who is running for office and serve the people. Start with the numbers and then redraw the 5 Tunica County Districts.
Firstly, it needs to be stated: This is about the citizens and not those already elected to office and those running for office. The underlying premise is "one person, one vote".
Here are numbers as I understand them:
1. Total Population of Tunica County: 10,778.
2, Divide the total population by the 5 Tunica County Districts: 2156 (rounded up)
3. Tunica County population is:
23.7% White
73.5% Black
2.8% Other
4. Within each of the 5 Tunica County Districts we would start by coming as close as possible to the following numbers:
511 White (rounded)
1584 Black (rounded)
61 Other (rounded)
So, throw out the maps; forget who is in office or who is running for office and serve the people. Start with the numbers and then redraw the 5 Tunica County Districts.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Redistricting
This is my understanding at the moment concerning redistricting.
The 2011 Census says we are 73.5% African American and that leaves 26.5% for everyone else.
The next part of what I understand is when we redistrict we need to be working toward these figures in each district.
We may vary the above percentages by 10%. This would mean 5% on either side of 73.5% and 26.5%. The actual variances would be from 78.5% and 68.5% and 31.5% and 21.5% respectively.
I hope the Board of Supervisors and Bridges and Watson are working towards these figures.
The 2011 Census says we are 73.5% African American and that leaves 26.5% for everyone else.
The next part of what I understand is when we redistrict we need to be working toward these figures in each district.
We may vary the above percentages by 10%. This would mean 5% on either side of 73.5% and 26.5%. The actual variances would be from 78.5% and 68.5% and 31.5% and 21.5% respectively.
I hope the Board of Supervisors and Bridges and Watson are working towards these figures.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sounds like we missed the party....
This morning was the first Board of Supervisors' Meeting for April 2011 and we had to miss it. Darn!!! Phone calls are saying the lively discussion was about redistricting. Can't wait to find out what happened.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Redistricting
Is there anyone out there who has been more critical of this particular Board of Supervisors then I have been? However, on the subject of redistricting the Board and the people the Board has hired seem to be doing a bang up job. The Board agreed to hold the related public hearings in the evening so that more people may attend. So, on its face, everything seems to be above board. Should that change, I would be the first to talk about it.
So, here’s the deal. Last week’s paper quoted a local resident with stating: “White bloc voting in Tunica County, Mississippi is statically significant.” This is impossible. Using round numbers the U. S. Census Bureau has reported Tunica County to be 73% African American and that leaves 27% for the rest of us.
Remember in our first Public Hearing we were told that our final redistricting can’t disenfranchise anyone? In America we go by "one person, one vote." At that hearing, this same person was suggesting that the Town of Tunica be moved to one beat. An explanation was offered as to why this could not be done. It was done this way so that the White population would have a voice in their government too. To do otherwise would disenfranchise the White vote.
I guess what really ticks me off about the above quoted statement is that our Transparency Committee has been very vocal about presenting to the Board of Supervisors incidents where we think Tunica County could do better by appointing an African American resident to this or that Board. Believe me, this hasn't been easy or well received.
Needless to say, I hope Tunica County does not wind-up paying “court costs and attorneys’ fees” on this particular suit.
So, here’s the deal. Last week’s paper quoted a local resident with stating: “White bloc voting in Tunica County, Mississippi is statically significant.” This is impossible. Using round numbers the U. S. Census Bureau has reported Tunica County to be 73% African American and that leaves 27% for the rest of us.
Remember in our first Public Hearing we were told that our final redistricting can’t disenfranchise anyone? In America we go by "one person, one vote." At that hearing, this same person was suggesting that the Town of Tunica be moved to one beat. An explanation was offered as to why this could not be done. It was done this way so that the White population would have a voice in their government too. To do otherwise would disenfranchise the White vote.
I guess what really ticks me off about the above quoted statement is that our Transparency Committee has been very vocal about presenting to the Board of Supervisors incidents where we think Tunica County could do better by appointing an African American resident to this or that Board. Believe me, this hasn't been easy or well received.
Needless to say, I hope Tunica County does not wind-up paying “court costs and attorneys’ fees” on this particular suit.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Redistricting
Is there anyone out there who has been more critical of this particular Board of Supervisors then I have been? However, on the subject of redistricting the Board and the people the Board has hired seem to be doing a bang up job. The Board agreed to hold the related public hearings in the evening so that more people may attend. So, on its face, everything seems to be above board. Should that change, I would be the first to talk about it.
So, here’s the deal. Last week’s paper quoted a local resident with stating: “White bloc voting in Tunica County, Mississippi is statically significant.” This is impossible. Using round numbers the U. S. Census Bureau has reported Tunica County to be 73% African American and that leaves 27% for the rest of us.
Remember in our first Public Hearing we were told that our final redistricting can’t disenfranchise anyone? At that hearing, this same person was suggesting that the Town of Tunica be moved to one beat. An explanation was offered as to why this could not be done. The Town of Tunica is divided among 4 of our 5 Beats so that the White population would have a voice in their government…at all. To do otherwise would disenfranchise the White vote.
I guess what really ticks me off about the above quoted statement is that our Transparency Committee has been very vocal about presenting to the Board of Supervisors incidents where we think Tunica County could do better by appointing an African American resident to this or that Board.
Needless to say, I hope Tunica County does not wind-up paying “court costs and attorneys’ fees” on this particular suit.
So, here’s the deal. Last week’s paper quoted a local resident with stating: “White bloc voting in Tunica County, Mississippi is statically significant.” This is impossible. Using round numbers the U. S. Census Bureau has reported Tunica County to be 73% African American and that leaves 27% for the rest of us.
Remember in our first Public Hearing we were told that our final redistricting can’t disenfranchise anyone? At that hearing, this same person was suggesting that the Town of Tunica be moved to one beat. An explanation was offered as to why this could not be done. The Town of Tunica is divided among 4 of our 5 Beats so that the White population would have a voice in their government…at all. To do otherwise would disenfranchise the White vote.
I guess what really ticks me off about the above quoted statement is that our Transparency Committee has been very vocal about presenting to the Board of Supervisors incidents where we think Tunica County could do better by appointing an African American resident to this or that Board.
Needless to say, I hope Tunica County does not wind-up paying “court costs and attorneys’ fees” on this particular suit.
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