Boston City Council Meets (Very Quickly) with Boston Legislative Delegation

The joined forces with state legislators at the today in what was supposed to be a meeting about redistricting, according to the City's website.

While the City Clerk's office designated the session as a discourse on redistricting, City Council President Stephen Murphy emphasized "no particular agenda," to the meeting, which was very short and more of a social affair for Boston legislators to meet and talk.

State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, explained the importance of "trying to better advocate for Boston on legislation," and called for more joint discussions in the future. State Rep. Marty Walz, D-Boston, emphasized the importance of the meetings, particularly while the state Legislature has no Boston-based top House officials. 

When redistricting is taken up for discussion, it will lead to removing the current dividing lines of city council, state representative and state senator district lines. Redistricting is based upon several factors including population growth and diminishment, geography and more.

Also in play is the possible "re-precincting" of Boston. Alone among Bay State cities, Boston is exempt from the requirement to equalize precincts every Census, according to the Dorchester Reporter. Boston's precinct lines have not changed for 70 years, despite massive shifts of population. That has lead to some precincts where voters face long waits, while other precincts are so small that waits are short, if any.

But if Boston City Council wants to re-precinct, it must act by June 15, according to the Dorchester Reporter item.