* Press release…
The Senate and House Redistricting Committees will hold a series of public hearings to consider potential changes to legislative boundaries following information recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
At least seven hearings will take place to gather input on possible adjustments to the legislative map, as Democrats remain committed to enacting a fair map that reflects the broad racial and geographic diversity of Illinois. All of the hearings will include a virtual component to ensure stakeholders from across the state can safely participate during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Members of the public may request to provide testimony, submit electronic testimony or submit electronic witness slips in advance of the hearings via the General Assembly website www.ilga.gov or through email at redistrictingcommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov and redistrictingcommittee@hds.ilga.gov.
Those who wish to provide testimony at a hearing location will be given the opportunity to do so as well.
This week, there will be seven hearings on the proposed map:
• Thursday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. – Joint House and Senate Hearing (Hybrid Hearing – participants may testify in person or via Zoom)
o Room C-600, 6th Floor, Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL
• Friday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. – House Hearing (In-Person Hearing)
o IBEW Local 309, 2000 Mall St., Collinsville, IL
• Friday, Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. – Senate Hearing (Virtual Hearing – participants may testify at the hearing location or via Zoom)
o Will County Board Room, 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL
• Saturday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. – Joint House and Senate Hearing (Hybrid Hearing – participants may testify in person or via Zoom)
o Gilmore Auditorium at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington St, Peoria, IL
• Saturday, Aug. 28 at 12 p.m. – House Hearing (Virtual Hearing – participates may testify via Zoom)
o Champaign Region
• Saturday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. – Senate Hearing (Virtual Hearing – participants may testify at the hearing location or via Zoom)
o Vermilion Room located on the 2nd Floor of the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale SIU Student Center, 1255 Lincoln Dr., Carbondale, IL
• Sunday, Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. – House Hearing (In-Person Hearing)
o Phillips Park Visitors’ Center, 1000 Ray Moses Dr., Aurora, IL
“Our goal throughout this entire process has been to ensure that every person in Illinois receives fair and equal representation. The maps passed in May were drawn with the best data available at the time. Now that the long-awaited Census data has arrived, we will make adjustments as needed,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. “I look forward to once again engaging with community groups and organizations from across Illinois to gain better insight into what the Census data reveals about our state’s changing demographics.”
“Our goal from the beginning has always been passing a map that adheres to state and federal law while reflecting the diversity of this state and remaining a model for the nation for minority representation,” said Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, Chairperson of the House Redistricting Committee. “Now that we have received the 2020 census data, I look forward to additional public hearings to gather more testimony from our community organizers, advocacy groups and the general public and make sure all voices are heard as we update our legislative map to reflect the most recent data.”
You’ll recall they held hearings in the spring without a finished map on the table. Looks like the same thing this week.
- Wow - Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 3:40 pm:
Rich: they are continuing to let the public have their input on what the map should look like. I’m positive that the committee will take the input from the 7 meetings this week and then formulate an amended map based on public comments… FYI.. I still believe in the chubby bearded guy that visits on 12/24
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 3:50 pm:
=== You’ll recall they held hearings in the spring without a finished map on the table. Looks like the same thing this week.===
I hope we get another video from Maxwell showing the “hidden room” that seemingly everyone knows about.
The Dems only goal right now is to shore up all sides, will coalesce to get at least 71 and 36 vote totals, and leave it up to Pritzker, again, to sign.
Getting MALDEF satisfied, within the 71 and 36 too would be considered a big victory.
I’m not saying it’s pretty or Pollyanna, but it is what might be the end game(s)
- Frank talks - Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 5:36 pm:
71 and 36 so who gets a haircut in this redo of remap?
- lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 6:02 pm:
Per Google Translate: “Our goal from the beginning has always been passing a map that won’t get thrown out of court and predetermines as many election outcomes as possible, while minimizing any intra-party battleas between African-American and Hispanic reps.”
- Radio Frequency - Monday, Aug 23, 21 @ 9:38 pm:
====I hope we get another video from Maxwell showing the “hidden room” that seemingly everyone knows about.===
Maybe, but the next TV ratings period isn’t until November so it wouldn’t have quite the same perceived dramatic effect that Channel 3 is looking for.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:54 am:
I thought the hidden room was here…subscribers only, no?
- Genevieve - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 7:54 am:
What is the new “target” population for each district? Is there a map available to show each district’s current population using the just released census data? Did downstate districts lose more people than anticipated? Are there any areas that need to give up population?
- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 8:38 am:
Smoke on the water. Fire in the sky. All that is left is a few mirrors and a chorus of apologists in support of the last mapping process held behind closed and locked doors to now start singing that they will do it right this time.
Only in Illinois can such a preposterous state of events exist and be justified.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 8:47 am:
===Only in Illinois===
Republicans love to do this, too. See Texas, Florida, etc. Silly that you can think we don’t know this.
- Occasional Quipper - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 8:50 am:
How about a question of the day to describe these hearings? I’ll go first. Sham.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 8:53 am:
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -
You also readily admit the Raunerites stalling things was to only get a 50/50 shot at drawing maps too, correct?
“Only in Illinois”… a tired trope
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 8:54 am:
==hat is the new “target” population for each district? Is there a map available to show each district’s current population using the just released census data? ==
If you’re on that Dave’s Redistricting app website (and have signed up to create your own hypothetical maps), he has already incorporated the official 2020 census numbers on his site. (The DRA site is not Dave Wasserman’s site, it’s another Dave that has created that page).
- MyTwoCents - Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 9:02 am:
Louis G Atsaves, “only in Illinois”…or Wisconsin, or North Carolina or Texas, etc. Gerrymandering is used far more often by your side of the aisle so spare me the righteous indignation. Keep in mind under the WI Supreme Court case formula IL was not excessively gerrymandered.