Council Sees Redistricting Proposals

The Hyattsville City Council got its first look at six preliminary redistricting plans which would redraw the city's political boundaries for the next decade. 

"We took this specific task very seriously," said David Rain, chairman of the redistricting committee tasked with creating the six proposals. 

It took They were aided in the process by city Geographic Information Systems Technician Andrew Diaz, who helped the committee use the web-based ESRI Redistricting software. 

Rain praised the software, saying it was easy to try out different variables. 

"We didn't have to bust out the colored pencils," said Rain. "We would not have been able to do all this so quickly without the GIS software. It's as easy as clicking a block and moving it over."

Hyattsville grew by 19 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to the census. The city added about 3,500 residents to its population, growing from roughly 14,000 residents to roughly 17,500 residents.

In that time, Hyattsville's Hispanic population increased from 2,670 residents to 5,970, most of that growth in West Hyattsville in Ward 4 and Ward 3. 

The redistricting committee's goal was twofold. 

One goal was to balance the ward populations as equally as possible to comply with federal voting regulations. The target for each ward, based on 2010 Census numbers, was 3,511. However, localities are allowed a plus-or-minus five percent deviation from that target.

Hispanic Considerations

Another stated goal of the redistricting committee had been to create a Hispanic minority-majority ward, where Hispanics made up an overwhelming 60 percent of ward population.

"We have striven to accommodate the changing demographics of Hyattsville," wrote Rain in a council memo outlining the proposed redistricting schemes. 

Thus, the city will likely have to go with what is called a "minority opportunity ward", where Hispanics make up the predominant ethnic block in a ward. These demographic distinctions are not taken lightly, either. Once established, cities may be required to maintain a minority-opportunity or minority-majority ward into future redistricting. 

Redistricting plans 1, 1a, 2 and 2a each feature one ward with a Hispanic population of at least 49.9 percent or above. Plan 1 and Plan 4 lay out two Ward Fives with a 50.8 and a 50.3 percent Hispanic population, respectively. Plan 2 and 2a both lay out a Ward 4 with a 49.9 percent Hispanic population. 

Ward Breakdown:

The committee designed Plan 1 with an emphasis on compactness, often at the expense of incumbent city council members. This plan unseats five incumbents: councilmembers Matt McKnight (Ward Three), Paula Perry (Ward Four), Shani Warner (Ward Two), Nicole Hinds-Mofor (Ward Five) and Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward Five). It also features the largest Hispanic minority opportunity ward. 

Plan 1a is a tweaked Plan 1. It too emphasizes compactness at the expense of incumbents. Six sitting members of city council would be unseated in this plan: Councilor David Hiles, along with Warner, McKnight, Perry and Mofor. It features sizable Hispanic populations in Ward Four and Ward Five at 47.7 percent and 49.5 percent respectively. 

Plan 2 and 2a are also closely related. Both feature wards four and five with 49.9 percent and 44.7 percent respective Hispanic populations. They are described as being similar to the existing ward boundaries. Most of the changes come from Ward Three, which lost areas to the other four wards. Plan 2 would unseat only one incumbent, McKnight. Plan 2a unseats none.

Rain described Plan 3 as being the most similar to the existing ward boundaries. Neither Ward Four or Ward Five, with Hispanic populations of 45.3 and 44.6 percent, meet the qualifications to be considered a minority opportunity ward. This plan unseats no incumbents. 

Plan 4, like Plan 1, emphasized ward compactness at the expense of incumbent seats. Six members of city council would be unseated by this plan: McKnight, Perry, Warner, Hiles, Mofor and Frazier. Plan 4 features the second largest minority-opportunity ward, with a 50.3 percent Hispanic Ward Five. 

Council Reaction

Warner had some concerns about incumbents being redistricted out of their existing wards. She also expressed regret for not instructing the redistricting committee to return with proposals to modify the city council's 11-member, five-ward structure, saying that she would have liked to seen a seven-member, three-ward proposal.

"The reason I think we should take geographic barriers into account is primarily for the quality of representation that you get," said Warner. "It's much easier if you're able to walk your ward and see your neighbors on the street and have them know you."

Warner's concern was directed at plans which would force her to campaign for a ward which straddles Queens Chapel Road as in Plans 1, 1a and 4.. She currently represents Ward Two, which exists entirely east of Queens Chapel Road.

Hiles, on the other hand, wouldn't mind seeing more wards cross Queens Chapel to help bridge an apparent east-west rift in the city.

"One of the things i've heard over the years in the city is that there's a real divide, either a real or perceived divide, between the part of the city that lives east of Queen's Chapel and the part that lives west of Queens Chapel. I think one of the things that's good about Ward Five is that it has both sides of that divide in there," said Hiles.

Councilor Candace Hollingsworth (Ward One), echoed Warner's curiosity about more radical changes to the council structure. She also expressed a preference for Plans 1 and 4, with the largest hispanic minority opportunity wards. 

"If we have scenarios in front of us that include 50 percent, then I think we need to take those into account closely," said Hollingsworth. 

Mayor Marc Tartaro encouraged the public to send comments about the redistricting proposals to City Clerk Doug Barber. Tartaro said that the proposals would likely return to the council chambers in two weeks after feedback was gathered.