Caitlin Thompson
Caitlin Thompson is WNYC.org's executive editor.
Tea Partiers Sue Over NJ Redistricting Map
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 02:07 PM
Thirty-eight registered voters from 21 counties all over New Jersey are suing over a legislative district map approved earlier this month, saying it is in violation of the state and federal constitutions, according to a Tea Party press release today.
The plaintiffs, along with the Bayshore Tea Party group, have filed a civil suit against the Democrats on the state's Apportionment Commission, "the 11th Member, Alan Rosenthal, Kim Guadagno, in her official capacity as Secretary of State of New Jersey, Paula Dow, Attorney General and Robert F. Giles, Director of the Division of Elections of the State of New Jersey, in Superior Court, Chancery Division, Ocean County."
The suit alleges that the commission over-packed the southern half of the state and "illegally split Newark and Jersey City from three districts each to two."
New Jersey's redistricting process is especially contentious - as New Jersey is in an election year, and the a primary is slated to be held in June.
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Comments [1]
They are absolutely correct. The redistricting completely ignores the third of the electorate that is independant. It also deliberately and publicly gerrymandered the districts to ensure continued Democratic legislative majorities.
The districts have no geographic or cultural coherence. Everyone who lives in NJ knows that there are "locales" that people live and circulate in. It's almost funny how regionalized this small state is, but it is a reality. You will find few Giants jackets south of 195 and few Eagles (morons) jackets to the north. Morristown people barely know that there is a place called Moorestown. Bergen and Burlington might as well be in different countries.
Hispanics are presumed to only vote for Hispanics, and there is a laughably reductionist notion that somehow Cubans, Brazilians, Mexicans and Dominicans are a group with mutual interests in opposition to the so called whites and in unity with the black community. What about the Indians and Chinese, or are they still "honorary" whites?
If they weren't NJ Democrats I'd say they should be embarrased. But they'd need to be capable of shame.
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