New Senate Lines: Carlucci To Represent Ossining

It is official: Ossining will be taken over by what is now Rockland County  domain. This morning Carlucci's office confirmed that Governor Cuomo has signed the bill that will move Ossining into the newly drawn Senate District 38.

Carlucci's office says that if he wins re-election, he will represent the town, village and unincorporated areas of Ossining. Sen. Carlucci's Spokesperson Jason Elan says the changes are set to go into effect after the November election.

“On Wednesday, I stood with Governor Cuomo to reform our redistricting process, which includes new protections that makes the process more fair, more transparent, and less partisan. This reform measure has finally resulted in all future legislative district maps being drawn by an independent commission," said Carlucci. “This was a very difficult vote, and by no means was this an easy decision for me. Unfortunately, I knew that with the population increase in my district, this could result in losing certain areas that I have represented." 

Carlucci added that he still plans to keep his representation in Rockland and Orange counties strong. 

“I have been honored to have forged such strong bonds and lasting relationships with all of the residents that I have represented. While my district lines will change, my commitment to fight for all of the people in Rockland and Orange Counties will not," he said.

Meanwhile, Assemblywoman Galef's spokesperson Sara Rubin says that the change will also put the majority of the Village of Briarcliff Manor in the new district, which is about 85 percent located within the Town of Ossining borders.

A number of people in Ossining have been concerned about having to travel to Rockland County to meet face-to-face with Sen. Carlucci. Carlucci offered the following statement regarding the issue.

“...I would like the residents of Ossining to know that I will have a full-time presence in their community, and they will have complete and unfettered access to my office. They will receive the same excellent constituent service that I have been able to provide the residents of Rockland and Orange Counties," said Senator Carlucci.

Ossining resident and Assemblywoman Sandy Galef is speaking out about the change.

“I voted against the new state legislative redistricting plan created by the Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment because it was a disservice to the voters in the Town and Village of Ossining and Village of Briarcliff Manor. The new 38^th Senate District was clearly gerrymandered to encompass a small fraction of Westchester County with a district that has historically included only Rockland County.”

Village of Ossining Mayor Bill Hanauer has been a vocal critic of redistricting. On  Today he spoke out about the Governor signing the redistricting measure.

"Despite my disappointmant that the Legislature and Governor elected to disregard residents' strongly expressed demand that the town and village remain in a Westchester Senatorial district, I have already begun constructive and substantive conversations with Senator Carlucci and look forward to working closely with him to ensure the rights of the residents are protected
in future and that their needs are met," said Mayor Hanauer.

Check out the Ossining Redistricting Topic Page on Ossining Patch to see how residents there feel about the change.