45°
STAMFORD, Conn. City Rep. Joseph Coppola Jr. wants the Redistricting Commission to move Courtland Hill Street from the East Side to Glenbrook. Coppola doesn't want the street actually moved, he wants it included in a different district for purposes of political representation.
It detaches that part of the Glenbrook neighborhood from its neighborhood, Coppola said. District 7 is Glenbrook, but Courtland Hill Street is in District 8.
In addition to leveling the population in each district, the commission was given two responsibilities in drawing new district lines, Randall Skigen said. The first was to keep or put neighborhoods together, and the second was to move as few people as possible, he said.
We spent a huge amount of time tinkering around the edges, said Kieran Ryan, a member of the commission. Courtland Hill Street remained in District 8.
Rep. Frank Cerasoli who was not at the meeting Monday because of a family vacation evaluated the numbers and maps. He made several suggestions about moving a minimal amount of people. In a statement, Cerasoli said he might have neglected some neighborhood associations.
His overriding objective was to move as minimal amount of people as possible, city Rep. Mary Uva said in explaining Cerasolis decisions. The board members tried not to focus on his suggestions because he was not there.
The commission attempted to make all 20 voting districts in the city include 6,132 people which is the total number of people in Stamford (122, 643 in the 2010 Census) divided by 20, the number of voting districts. The commission put together a working map of suggested changes.
The commission will meet again Sept. 8 to hear more suggestions, said David Martin, co-chairman of the commission. Bring us solutions not just problems, he said.
What do you care more about neighborhood associations or switching voting districts? Why? Share below or email your opinion to reporter Anthony Buzzeo, tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
