Proposed senate districts would change representation

The state Senate released a proposed plan which greatly realigns the districts in the state on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Currently Senator Timothy Kennedy, Democrat, represents the towns of Hamburg and Eden as well as West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Lackawanna and the Buffalo waterfront as part of District 58.

With the proposed redistricting, Kennedy would represent District 63, move out of Hamburg and Eden, and get most of the City of Lackawanna, the East Side of Buffalo and Cheektowaga.

Senator Mark Grisanti, Republican, representing District 60, would move in to cover the towns of Hamburg, Orchard Park, Brant and Evans, the City and Town of Tonawanda, a strip along the shoreline of the City of Buffalo, the City of Lackawanna and he would keep Grand Island.

Grisanti’s current District 60 covers Niagara Falls, Grand Island, and the north side of Buffalo.

The realignment would change the demographics of the residents.

“Throughout the redistricting process, my priority has been to ensure that the communities of Buffalo and Western New York maintain strong representation in Albany,” Grisanti said in his press release.

“In the past, downstate political insiders with agendas that conflict with the best interests of our communities have been allowed to influence the redistricting process, often resulting in Western New York being left with gerrymandered districts with peculiar boundaries.

“Having attended the public comment portion of the redistricting process, I know that many individuals expressed their desire to unite communities of interest in the City of Tonawanda, the West Side of Buffalo and Niagara County. The commission clearly heard those concerns and acted accordingly by reconnecting those communities. While we unite communities of interest, the Western New York delegation will continue to work together, without boundary lines, to serve the people of Western New York. As we now know, my area of representation will include the “Waterfront District.”

“I believe that the greatest opportunity for growth, job creation and tax stabilization lies within this area. I will be the leader and the voice in Albany for cultivating our underutilized waterfront,” Grisanti said.

For Senator Patrick Gallivan, Republican, who represents District 59, which now spreads from the Town of Evans as far east as Canandaigua, the proposed District 59 would include 42 towns including Eden, North Collins, Boston and towns in Wyoming, Livingston and Monroe counties.

It is unknown if Governor Andrew M. Cuomo will allow the redistricting to stand. He has stated in the past he would veto gerrymandered lines (district lines drawn to favor one political party over another).

The proposed redistricting also needs to be reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department and could face court challenges.