Two redistricting maps are to up for discussion

Amendment of Title 2, Chapter 8 of Municipal Code of Chicago Concerning Redistricting of City Wards was filed at 1:17 p.m., Dec. 15, 2011, in the Office of the City Clerk in Chicago. Of the 50 Chicago Aldermen, eight Latino Caucus members and eight white aldermen signed it. The 16 signatures included Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st), Roberto Maldonado (26th), Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Rey Colon (35th).

This redistricted map creates 17 wards in which African Americans are the majority and 13 where Hispanics are the majority, reducing the number of black-majority wards by two and increasing Hispanic-majority wards by three.

Within a few hours of the filing, the 19 Black Caucus members plus Richard Mell (33rd), Chairman of the Rules and Ethics Committee running this process, and Patrick O'Connor (40th), said they would present their version of the new map. In their version the black-majority wards would number 18 and create one Hispanic ward that would give 15th Ward Toni Foulkes a chance to win re-election.

The census number decline in the City of Chicago included a loss of 181,000 black population and an increase of approximately 25,000 of the Hispanics.

Mell is indicating that the dueling maps will be displayed at a minimum of three public hearings. "After we have input from the community, we will come back to a City Council meeting, have another discussion on the floor and have an up-or-down vote."

If 41 alderman agree on a plan, a March referendum vote can be avoided. Mayor Emanuel is hopeful that a coming together of the two maps will avoid a potential legal battle that could cost the City up to $30 million.

Ward boundaries are spelled out along with statistical information about populations by ward in the amendment. Below are the ward boundaries that Our Urban Times covers, Wards 1, 26, 27, 32 and 35.

1st Ward Description:
Beginning at the place where N Oakley Blvd meets W Chicago Ave; thence easterly to N Damen Ave; thence northerly to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to N Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to W Iowa St; thence easterly along said Street to N Honore St; thence northerly along said Street to W Thomas St;-thence westerly along said Street to N Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to W Division St; thence westerly along said Street to N Hoyne Ave; thence northerly to W Crystal St; thence easterly along said Street to N Damen Ave; thence northerly to W Evergreen Ave; thence westerly to N Hoyne Ave; thence northerly to W North Ave; thence easterly to Alley ; thence southerly along said Alley to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to N Elk Grove Ave; thence easterly to N Wood St; thence southerly along said Street to W Beach Ave; thence easterly to N Dean St; thence easterly along said Street to N Paulina St; thence southerly along said Street to W Blackhawk St; thence easterly along said Street to N Ashland Ave; thence southerly to W Thomas St; thence easterly along said Street to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to W Cortez St; thence westerly along said Street to N Ashland Ave thence southerly to W Augusta Blvd; thence easterly along said Boulevard to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to N Greenview Ave; thence southerly to W Walton St; thence easterly along said Street to W Walton St Exd; thence easterly along said Secondary Road to Ramp; thence southerly along said Ramp to N Racine Ave; thence southerly to W Huron St; thence westerly along said Street to Local Neighborhood Road; Rural Road; City Street; thence southerly along said Local Neighborhood Road; Rural Road; City Street to W Ancona St; thence westerly along said Street to N Noble St; thence northerly along said Street to W Chicago Ave; thence westerly to W Chicago Ave; thence westeriy to N Armour St; thence southerly along said Street to W Superior St; thence easterly along said Street to N Bishop St; thence southeriy along said Street to W Ohio St; thence westerly along said Street to N Paulina St; thence southerly along said Street to W Grand Ave; thence westeriy to N Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to W Huron St; thence westerly along said Street to N Western Ave; thence northerly to W Cortez St; thence westerly along said Street to N California Ave; thence northerly to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to W Division St; thence easterly along said Street to N Westem Ave; thence northerly to W Hirsch St; thence westerly along said Street to N Washtenaw Ave; thence westeriy to W Hirsch St; thence westeriy along said Street to N Califomia Ave; thence northeriy to North Ave; thence westeriy to N Humboldt Blvd; thence northeriy along said Boulevard to W Bloomingdale Ave; thence westerly to N Humboldt Blvd; thence southerly along said Boulevard to Soo Line RR; thence westeriy along said Railroad to N Lawndale Ave; thence northeriy to W Cortland St; thence westeriy to N Ridgeway Ave; thence northeriy to W Amiitage Ave; thence easteriy to Spaulding Ave; thence easteriy to W Armitage Ave; thence easterly; thence easteriy to W Armitage Ave; thence easteriy to W Armitage Ave; thence easteriy to N Humboldt Blvd; thence northeriy along said Boulevard; thence northeriy to N Humboldt Blvd; thence northeriy along said Boulevard to N Sacramento Ave; thence northeriy to Alley; thence westeriy along said Alley to W Belden Ave; thence easteriy to W Belden Ave; thence easteriy to Alley; thence northeriy along said Alley to W Medill Ave; thence easteriy to N Sacramento Ave;thence northeriy to W Altgeld St; thence easteriy along said Street to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to N Francisco Ave; thence northerly to Alley; thence easteriy along said Alley to W Altgeld St; thence easteriy along said Street to N Washtenaw Ave; thence southerly to Alley; thence easteriy along said Alley to W Altgeld St; thence easteriy along said Street to Alley; thence northerly along said Alley to N Artesian Ave; thence northeriy to W Logan Blvd; thence westeriy along said Boulevard to Local Neighborhood Road; Rural Road; City Street; thence northerly along said Local Neighborhood Road; Rural Road; City Street to W Logan Blvd; thence easterly along said Boulevard to Logan Blvd; thence easterly along said Boulevard to Chicago and North Western RR; thence easterly along said Railroad to N Western Ave; thence northerly to W Logan Blvd; thence easteriy along said Boulevard to W Diversey Ave; thence easteriy to N Leavitt St; thence easteriy along said Street to N Clybourn Ave; thence easterly to N Damen Ave; thence westerly to Local Neighborhood Road; Rural Road; City Street; thence southerly along said Local Neighborhood Road; Rural Road; City Street to N Leavitt St; thence westerly along said Street to Boundary; thence westerly along said Boundary to Kennedy Expy; thence westerly along said Expressway to W Fullerton Ave; thence easteriy to N Oakley Ave; thence northeriy to W Montana St; thence westeriy along said Street to N Westem Ave; thence southerly to Westem Ave; thence southeriy to N Westem Ave; thence southerly to Western Ave; thence southeriy to N Western Ave; thence southerly to N Western Ave; thence southerly to W North Ave; thence easterly to N Leavitt St; thence southerly along said Street to W Division St; thence westeriy along said Street to N Oakley Blvd; thence southerly along said Boulevard to the point of beginning.

26th Ward Description:
Beginning at the place where W Palmer St meets N Hamlin Ave; thence southerly to W Dickens Ave; thence easterly to N St Louis Ave; thence northerly to W Palmer St; thence easterly along said Street to N Kedzie Ave; thence southerly to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street; thence easteriy along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street to W Palmer Blvd; thence easterly along said Boulevard to Kedzie Ave; thence southerly to W Armitage Ave; thence easterly to Spaulding Ave; thence westerly to W Armitage Ave; thence westerly to N Ridgeway Ave; thence southerly to W Cortland St; thence easterly along said Street to N Lawndale Ave; thence southeriy to Soo Line RR; thence easteriy along said Railroad to N Humboldt Blvd; thence southerly along said Boulevard to W Bloomingdale Ave; thence easteriy to N Humboldt Blvd; thence southerly along said Boulevard to North Ave; thence easterly to N Califomia Ave; thence northerly to W Hirsch St; thence easterly along said Street to N Washtenaw Ave; thence easterly to W Hirsch St; thence easterly along said Street to N Westem Ave; thence southerly to W Division St; thence westerly along said Street to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to N Califomia Ave; thence southeriy to W Cortez St; thence easterly along said Street to N Westem Ave; thence southerly to W Huron St; thence easteriy along said Street to N Wolcott Ave; thence southerly to W Ferdinand St; thence westerly along said Street to N Claremont Ave; thence southerly to Alley; thence westerly along said Alley to W Grand Ave; thence westerly to Grand Ave; thence westerly to W Grand Ave; thence westerly to W Augusta Blvd; thence westerly along said Boulevard to Soo Line RR;  thence westerly along said Railroad to W Grand Ave; thence westerly to N Hamlin Ave; thence northerly to Alley; thence westerly along said Alley to N Springfield Ave; thence northerly to W Potomac Ave; thence westerly to Alley; thence northerly along said Alley to N Pulaski Rd; thence northerly along said Road to W Kamerting Ave; thence westerly to N Kostner Ave; thence southerly to W North Ave; thence easterly to N Lowell Ave; thence northerly to W Wabansia Ave; thence easterly to N Kildare Ave; thence northerly to Soo Line RR;thence easterly along said Railroad to N Pulaski Rd; thence northerly along said Road to W Armitage Ave; thence westerly to N Kariov Ave; thence northerly to W Palmer St; thence easterly along said Street to the point of beginning.

27th Ward Description:
Beginning at the place where Boundary meets Boundary; thence westerly to S Oakley Ave; thence northerly to S Oakley Blvd; thence northerly along said Boulevard to W Ogden Ave; thence easterly to W Polk St; thence easterly along said Street to S Hoyne Ave; thence northerly to W Lexington St; thence westerly along said Street to S Leavitt St; thence northerly along said Street to 1- 290; thence westerly along said Primary Road to Chicago Buriington and Quincy RR; thence northerly along said Railroad to Chicago and Western Indiana RR; thence northerly along said Railroad to Chicago and North Westem RR; thence northerly along said Railroad to Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard); thence northerly along said Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard) to W Monroe St; thence northerly along said Street to Chicago and North Westem RR; thence northerly along said Railroad to Conrail RR; thence northerty along said Railroad to W Washington Blvd; thence westerly along said Boulevard to N Kedzie Ave; thence northerly to Kedzie Ave; thence northerly to N Kedzie Ave; thence northerly to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street; thence westerly along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street to W Franklin Blvd; thence westerly along said Boulevard to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street; thence westerly along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road. City Street to Boundary; thence southerly to N Drake Ave; thence southerly to Chicago and North Western RR; thence westerly along said Railroad to N Ridgeway Ave; thence northerly to W Ferdinand St Ave; thence northerly to W Huron St thence westerly along said Street to N Avers Ave; thence northerly to W Augusta Blvd thence easterlly along said Boulevard to W Grand Ave; thence easterly to Grand Ave thence easterly to W Grand Ave; thence easterly to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to N Claremont Ave; thence northerly to W Ferdinand St; thence easterly along said Street to N Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to W Grand Ave; thence easterly to N Paulina St; thence northerly along said Street to W Ohio St; thence easterly along said Street to N Bishop St; thence northerly along said Street to W Superior St; thence westerly along said Street to N Armour St; thence northerly along said Street to W Chicago Ave; thence easterly to W Chicago Ave; thence easterly to N Noble St; thence southerly along said Street to W Ancona St; thence easterly along said Street to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street; thence northerly along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street to W Huron St; thence easterly along said Street to N Racine Ave; thence northerly to Ramp; thence northerly along said Ramp to N Milwaukee Ave; thence westerly to W Division St; thence westerly along said Street to Division St; thence southerly along said Street to W Division St; thence easterly along said Street to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road. City Street; thence easterly along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street to W Division St; thence easterly along said Street to N Halsted St; thence northerly along said Street to W Blackhawk St; thence westerly along said Street to N Fremont St; thence northerly along said Street to W North Ave; thence easterly to N Burling St; thence northerly along said Street to W Concord PI; thence easterly along said Place to N Orchard St; thence northerly along said Street to W Willow St; thence easterly along said Street to N Vine St; thence southerly along said Street to W North Ave; thence easterly to North Ave; thence easterly to Alley; thence northerly along said Alley to N North Park Ave; thence southerly to North Ave; thence easterly to N Wells St; thence southerly along said Street to W Schiller St; thence westerly along said Street to Conrail RR; thence southerly along said Railroad to Service Drive usually along a limited access highway; thence southerly along said Service Drive usually along a limited access highway to Boundary; thence easterly to Conrail RR; thence southerly along said Railroad to W Division St; thence easterly along said Street to N Clark St; thence southerly along said Street to W Elm St; thence westerly along said Street to N la Salle Dr; thence  southerly along said Drive to W Oak St; thence westerly along said Street to N Wells St; thence southerly along said Street to W Chicago Ave; thence westerly to Chicago Ave; thence westerly to W Chicago Ave; thence westerly to W Chicago Ave; thence westerly to N Halsted St; thence southerly along said Street to Boundary; thence southerly to N Halsted St; thence southerly along said Street to Kennedy Expy; thence westerly along said Expressway to Boundary; thence westerly to N Milwaukee Ave; thence easterly to W Ohio St; thence westerly along said Street to N Peoria St; thence southerly along said Street to W Grand Ave; thence westerly to i- 90; thence westerly along said Primary Road to N Green St; thence southerly along said Street to W Can-oil Ave thence easterly to N Halsted St; thence southerly along said Street to W Fulton St thence westerly along said Street to N Racine Ave; thence southerly to W Lake St thence westerly along said Street to N Elizabeth St; thence southerly along said Street to Randolph St; thence westerly along said Street to N Ada St; thence southerly along said Street to W Madison St; thence easterly along said Street to S Throop St; thence southerly along said Street to W Van Buren St; thence westerly along said Street to S Loomis St; thence northerly along said Street to W Monroe St; thence westerly along said Street to S Laflin St; thence northeriy along said Street to Madison St; thence westerly along said Street to W Madison St; thence westerly along said Street to S Ashland Ave; thence southerly to Ashland Ave; thence easterly to S Ashland Ave; thence southerly to Ashland Ave; thence southerly to W Taylor St; thence easterly along said Street to S Racine Ave; thence southerly to W Roosevelt Rd; thence easterly along said Road to S Morgan St; thence southerly along said Street to W 15th St; thence westerly along said Street to S Racine Ave; thence southerly to Baltimore and Ohio RR; thence westerly along said Railroad to S Blue Island Ave; thence southerly to Chicago Buriington and Quincy RR; thence westerly along said Railroad to S Paulina St; thence southerly along said Street to W 16th St; thence westerly along said Street to Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard); thence northerly along said Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard) to Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR; thence westerly along said Railroad to Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard); thence westerly along said Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard) to Baltimore and Ohio RR; thence westerly along said Railroad to S Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to Baltimore and Ohio RR; thence westerly along said railroad to S Damen Ave; thence westerly to Baltimore and Ohio RR; thence westerly along said railroad to Boundary; thence northerly to Baltimore and Ohio RR; then westerly along said Railroad to the point of beginning.

32nd Ward Description:
Beginning at the place where N Oakley Blvd meets W Chicago Ave; thence easterly to N Damen Ave; thence northerly to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to N Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to W Iowa St; thence easterly along said Street to N Honore St; thence northerly along said Street to W Thomas St; thence westerly along said Street to N Wolcott Ave; thence northerly to W Division St; thence westerly along said Street to N Hoyne Ave; thence northerly to W Crystal St; thence easterly along said Street to N Damen Ave; thence northerly to W Evergreen Ave; thence westerly to N Hoyne Ave; thence northerly to W North Ave; thence easterly to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to N Elk Grove Ave; thence easterly to N Wood St; thence southerly along said Street to W Beach Ave; thence easterly to N Dean St; thence easterly along said Street to N Paulina St; thence southerly along said Street to W Blackhawk St; thence easterly along said Street to N Ashland Ave; thence southerly to W Thomas St; thence easterly along said Street to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to W Cortez St; thence westerly along said Street to N Ashland Ave; thence southerly to W Augusta Blvd; thence easterly along said Boulevard to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to N Greenview Ave; thence southerly to W Walton St; thence easterly along said Street to W Walton St Exd; thence easterly along said Secondary Road to Ramp; thence northerly along said Ramp to N Milwaukee Ave; thence westerly to W Division St; thence westerly along said Street to Division St; thence southerly along said Street to W Division St; thence easterly along said Street to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street; thence easterly along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street to W Division St; thence easterly along said Street to N Halsted St; thence northerly along said Street to W Blackhawk St; thence westerly along said Street to N Fremont St; thence northerly along said Street to W North Ave; thence westerly to N Sheffield Ave; thence northerly to W Fullerton Ave; thence westerly to N Seminary Ave ;thence northerly to W Wrightwood Ave; thence westerly to N Racine Ave; thence northerly to W Diversey Ave; thence westerly to N Damen Ave; thence westerly to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road. City Street; thence southerly along said Local  Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street to N Leavitt St; thence westerly along said Street to Boundary; thence westerly to Kennedy Expy; thence westeriy along said Expressway to W Fullerton Ave; thence easterly to N Oakley Ave; thence northeriy to W Montana St; thence westerly along said Street to N Westem Ave; thence southerly to Western Ave; thence southerly to N Western Ave; thence southerly to Westem Ave; thence southerly to N Westem Ave; thence southerly to N Western Ave; thence southerly to W North Ave; thence easterly to N Leavitt St; thence southerly along said Street to W Division St; thence westerly along said Street to N Oakley Blvd; thence southerly along said Boulevard to the point of beginning.

35th Ward Description:
Beginning at the place where W Palmer St meets N Hamlin Ave; thence southerly to W Dickens Ave; thence easterly to N St Louis Ave; thence northerly to W Palmer St; thence easterly along said Street to N Spaulding Ave; thence northerly to W Fullerton Ave; thence easterly to N Sawyer Ave; thence northerly to W Wrightwood Ave; thence easterly to Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street; thence northerly along said Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road. City Street to N Kedzie Ave; thence northerly to W Diversey Ave; thence easterly to N Sacramento Ave; thence northerly to W George St; thence westerly along said Street to N Albany Ave; thence northerly to N Avondale Ave; thence westerly to N Troy St; thence northerly along said Street to Boundary; thence northerly to i- 90; thence westerly along said Primary Road to N Kedzie Ave; thence northerly to W Addison St; thence westerly along said Street to N Elston Ave; thence westerly to N Kimball Ave; thence northerly to W Sunnyside Ave; thence westerly to N Drake Ave; thence northerly to W Wilson Ave; thence westerly to N Lawndale Ave; thence northerly to W Ainslie St; thence westerly along said Street to N Avers Ave; thence southerly to Alley; thence westerly along said Alley to N Pulaski Rd; thence southerly along said Road to W Lawrence Ave; thence westerly to N Keystone Ave; thence southerly to Alley; thence westerly along said Alley to N Kariov Ave; thence southerly to N Kennicott Ave; thence westerly to W Eastwood Ave; thence easterly to Alley; thence southerly along said Alley to N Kasson Ave; thence easterly to N Keeler Ave; thence westerly to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to N Keystone Ave; thence southerly to W Montrose Ave; thence easterly to N Lawndale Ave; thence southerly to W Cullom Ave; thence easterly to N Montlcello Ave; thence southerly to W Berteau Ave; thence easterly to N Central Park Ave; thence southerly to N Central Park  Ave; thence southerly to N Central Park Ave; thence southerly to W Diversey Ave; thence westerly to N Ridgeway Ave; thence southerly to Alley; thence easterly along said Alley to N Central Park Ave; thence southerly to W Fullerton Ave; thence westerly to N Keeler Ave; thence northeriy to W Belden Ave; thence westerly to N Kostner Ave;thence southerly to Soo Line RR; thence easterly along said Railroad to N Pulaski Rd; thence northerly along said Road to W Armitage Ave; thence westerly to N Kariov Ave; thence northerly to W Palmer St; thence easterly along said Street to the point of beginning.

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