Group Hopes to Reform Providence Redistricting Process
Dan McGowan, GoLocalProv News Editor
Group Hopes to Reform Providence Redistricting Process
After the capital city’s redistricting process was marred by charges of political retribution, racism and classism, a good government group and a member of the City Council are teaming up to propose changes for the next redraw of the city’s ward map.
Common Cause and Ward 2 Councilman Sam Zurier (who voted in favor of the new map), hope to create a more transparent system that allows members of the community to play a more active role in redistricting.
The proposal calls for a “Citizens Ward Boundary Commission” to be created in 2020. The commission would include seven members from various community groups as well as political parties. Common Cause executive director John Marion said the commission would shift the power in redistricting from politicians to residents.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Under the current system the people with the greatest stake in the outcome of redistricting, the members of the Council, are given all of the power over the process,” Marion said. “Our proposal takes that away from the Council and gives the power to the community. Furthermore, it prohibits that community commission from making political considerations. We hope this system will result in districts that better represent the neighborhoods of Providence, and in which the citizens can have greater trust.”
More Transparency Needed
The Council voted 8-7 late last month to approve new ward boundaries would that give Council Majority Leader Seth Yurdin control over all of downtown. Previously downtown was also comprised of Wards 11 and 13.
Mayor Angel Taveras quietly signed the resolution into the law the day after the Council voted to approve the new boundaries.
Those in favor of the map said it helps restore previously divided neighborhoods and creates more cohesive wards. They said the new map gives the city six majority-Hispanic wards (up from four) and ten majority-minority wards (up from nine).
But critics, like South Side developer Darrell Lee, argued that the 195 redevelopment taking place downtown will be worth “hundreds of millions of dollars” and that South Side residents would have “no leverage” if they didn’t have a Councilman to represent their interests.
Another issue, according to Councilman Sam Zurier, was that some residents felt they weren’t given the opportunity to review the changes before they were made. Zurier believes his proposal would create a more transparent process.
“Because of these tight time constraints, the map changed on some occasions without allowing for extending prior public notice,” Zurier said. “Those who were adversely affected by the changes complained, with good reason, that they did not have a sufficient chance to exercise their democratic right to discuss and debate the various alternatives.”
The Charter Review Commission is reviewing the proposal.
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