Ossining Mayor Speaks Out Against Redistricting

The following is Mayor Hanauer's speech, which was delivered on the steps of village hall:

At this moment, simultaneous press conferences are in progress across the state – all with the same purpose: to demand that all Senators of good conscience vote NO on the adoption of the redrawing of Senatorial Districts that has been proposed by the State Taskforce on Demographic Research and Reapportionment.

Our State legislators are elected to serve the needs of their local constituents and of the population of the State in general, not to force illogical and damaging legislation on them and not to perpetuate their own incumbency, as this plan was clearly designed to do.

If the proposal is adopted, we demand that Governor Cuomo keep his word and veto the plan, as he has stated that he would. If adopted, the Task force’s proposal would disenfranchise thousands of New Yorkers across the state and, in the Hudson Valley, most egregiously by gerrymandering of the 38th District lines.

Gerrymandering is defined as “the manipulation of an electoral area, by altering its boundaries, in order to gain unfair political advantage in an election.”

The proposed 38th District has been designed by the Taskforce to comprise the Westchester County Town of Ossining on the East bank of the Hudson and the Rockland County towns of Ramapo, Clarkstown, and Orangetown on the west, to which Ossining is in no real sense contiguous and with which Ossining does not have a commonality of interests.

We the People of the Town and Village of Ossining vehemently oppose this proposed plan. Given the way this district has been manipulated, it is exceedingly unlikely that an Ossining Resident could ever have a chance of being elected State Senator. And even access to the office of the State Senator would be severely curtailed.

No Ossining constituent, seeking redress of a grievance or assistance of any kind, could either walk to or take public transportation to an office in Rockland County. Of course, one could drive, paying for fuel and the toll on the Tappan Zee Bridge or even more out of the way, the Bear Mountain Bridge.

We do not believe that the interests of Ossining, as geographically remote as it will be if this proposal stands, will be able to compete with those of the remainder of the District, or have equal access to or even hold the attention of a senator, who has no Westchester ties, no experience, nor history – one who divides his or her time between Rockland County and Albany.
It is difficult to imagine that a senator, whose primary constituency is in Rockland County, would even be fully cognizant of the needs of our residents and prioritize them.

As well, The Ossinings would, of necessity, be required to participate in all coalitions of Rockland County municipalities, as well as actively advocating for our community with the Rockland County Government, as we do in Westchester to protect and advance our community’s needs.

In creating this new 38th District, the Taskforce ignored the proviso in the Constitution of the State of New York, which gives precedence to keeping counties whole and has the requirement that Towns be kept whole, when redrawing districts after a census.

As well as the entirety of the and the Unincorporated Area, the Town of Ossining includes 85% of the Village of Briarcliff Manor. The remaining 15% of Briarcliff are in the Town of Mount Pleasant. Their residents’ interests are no different from those of the residents of the Town of Ossining, yet they are appropriately slated to remain in a Westchester District.

We are aware that, if and when the Governor vetoes the proposed redistricting, the work goes back to the Senate for revision; however, this time, it would do so with input of the Governor, as well as the affected communities. We have been lobbying in writing to this point.

We would do so in person should there be hearings in Westchester or anywhere else in the Hudson Valley. There were none in the first rounds of hearings, despite the fact that the most egregious harm in the Valley was to be perpetrated on Ossining.

As of today, over 1500 residents and merchants have voiced their outrage at the proposed plan and their desire to remain in a Westchester Senatorial District.

I urge all Ossining residents and merchants to continue to write to

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; Executive Chamber; State Capital; Albany, NY 12224

NYS Legislative Taskforce on Demographic Research and Reapportionment

Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer: oppenhei@Senate.State.NY.US

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos: Skelos@NYSenate.gov

Lobby them in their districts and in Albany until your voices are heard and Ossining has been returned to a Westchester District.

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