Politics & Government

County Legislators Override Veto, Approve Redistricting Plan

The redistricting plan will split Harrison into three separate districts starting next year.

Democrats on the Westchester County Board of Legislatures flexed their collective political muscles Monday evening, overriding a veto from the Republican county executive to approve a new county redistricting plan along party lines.

The new districts will be in place until 2021, when the next census is counted. The BOL is required to re-create the district map in accordance with state law every ten years in order to keep them as close to the same size as possible.

As expected, the 12-5 vote failed to gain bi-partison support. Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino (R) vetoed the plan earlier this week, saying that the redistricting was "rushed" and "flawed". On Monday Democrats called the new plan fair, saying that only a small amount of Westchester residents have been moved into new districts.

Find out what's happening in Harrisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The redistricting plan approved by the Board of Legislators was the result of a careful and thoughtful process that included full bi-partisan participation, open deliberations and well-publicized opportunities for comments and objections from county residents," said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D)-Yonkers in a released statement. "In the end, the Board of Legislators adopted new district maps that are fair and hard to fault."

Republicans, however, argued that the redistricting plan unnecessarily splits municipalities like Peekskill and Harrison. Under the new plan parts of West Harrison are merged with the White Plains in District 5, Purchase is merged with downtown Harrison in District 6, while south and east portions of downtown are part of District 7. Harrison previously had two representatives, but will now have three, something Astorino called "crazy" during .

Find out what's happening in Harrisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

John Nonna (D) downplayed splitting Harrison in the new plan, saying certain changes had to be made and that the majority of the town's population remains within District 6. The biggest difference, he said, is that instead of the remainder of the town's population falling in District 3, they will now be split between Districts 5 and 7.

"I think this is a fair plan, not a perfect plan," said Nonna. "I don't think any redistricting plan is perfect, or can be perfect, and someone can always find a hole in any plan."

He added that although the process hasn't run as smoothly as some would like, the BOL has listened to objections from everyone, including the League of Woman Voters, which has publicly scrutinized the plan.

"The league representatives participated in the review process, they were present at every meeting but one and they had an opportunity to discuss any concerns that they had," Nonna said. He added that in total only 4 percent of the county's population will be shifted to a new district.

The new district map will go into affect on Jan. 1, 2012.


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