Canton, NY, Feb 16, 2012 — A St. Lawrence County official says a redistricting plan proposed by the state legislature would give his county much less political say, by dividing it among four different state Assembly members and three senators. The county is currently represented by two of each.

The plan has drawn fire from good government groups who say the new political maps are unfair and biased, and from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has threatened to veto them.

St. Lawrence County Planning Director Keith Zimmerman and other county officials testified Tuesday at a hearing of the "LATFOR" redistricting commission in Syracuse.

Zimmerman told the commission the plan would make it hard for lawmakers to effectively represent the county.

Nora Flaherty spoke with Zimmerman Wednesday.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jan 31, 2012 — The Legislative task force on redistricting held its first meeting Monday since new proposed maps were released. Lawmakers heard numerous accusations that the new lines were "gerrymandered." And as Karen DeWitt reports, they say the proposed maps are not set in stone.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jan 11, 2012 — Things got a little heated yesterday at a meeting of a legislative task force on redrawing new district lines--The Senate Democrat's representative complained he'd been left in the dark about the creation of 63rd Senate district by Republicans.

Senator Martin Dilan condemned parts of the process so far as a "farce" and "waste of money." In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jan 04, 2012 — State lawmakers have still not made public their new proposed maps for redrawn legislative districts, but the Senate Majority Leader says it's likely a new 63rd district will be created. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.  Go to full article

Malone, NY, Dec 05, 2011 — A state Supreme Court judge issued a ruling late Friday that could dramatically reshape North Country political boundaries. The decision affects the way prison inmates are counted as state Assembly and Senate districts are drawn up.

In that process, some communities, including Malone, Ogdensburg and Watertown, will lose a significant portion of their population. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Nov 21, 2011 — Deliberations over drawing new legislative and congressional districts are continuing in Albany and one of the k ey sticking points is the way prison inmates are counted.

Democrats pushed through a measure two years ago that calls for the inmates to be counted in the districts that they're sent from.

North Country state Senator Betty Little, a Republican, stands to lose as many as 11,000 constituents under that change and has sued to reverse the decision.

As Karen DeWitt reports legislators are also struggling the details of a system for determining where inmates should be counted if the Democratic plan survives.  Go to full article