Hispanic Caucus opens aldermanic redistricting to public input

31st Ward Ray Suarez, 30th Ward Ariel Reboyras, 35th Ward Rey Colon, 26th Ward Roberto Maldonado

"Two of the biggest issues we (City Council) have to face are the budget and redistricting," said 27th Alderman Walter Burnett to this reporter a few months ago.

Every ten years, redistricting takes place in multiple levels of government because legal representational rules based on population, must be followed. Numbers from the 2010 census show that Chicago's population dropped somewhat and that the proportions of Asian, Black, Hispanic and White have shifted since the decade old count.

The substantial shift in population of Hispanic and Black residents have representatives of these communities looking at options. At the moment, Hispanics are close to one-third of the City's population but only one-fifth of the City Council. Last week the Black Caucus proposed that nineteen black aldermen keep the African-American majorities that helped elect them and that Hispanics get two new districts, 10 and 23. The two districts are currently represented by white aldermen who were elected with a large share of Hispanic votes. In addition, the new map would not pit any sitting aldermen against each other in the 2015 elections.

22nd Ward Ricardo Munoz, 25th Ward Danny Sollis, 1st Ward Proco "Joe" Moreno and 12th Ward George Cardenas

The 2nd Ward is the ward "given up" by the Black Caucus but white Alderman Robert Fioretti already lost a large number of the black population due to development in the West and South Loop. Some of the remaining black population will be moved to Burnett's 27th Ward.

Currently there are eight wards represented by Latinos and three other Latino wards represented by white aldermen. The Latino Caucus of eight (26th Ward Roberto Maldonado, all participated in a Sept. 21 public meeting. Many stated their concerns and interests for their community.The Caucus plans to have at least one more such event.

"We are far from casting a vote, we are very much at the beginning of the process," commented Maldonado at the end of the meeting. Cardenas explained, "We want to be transparent, staying with principals of what remapping is all about. We want it to be a fair and just process for all our constituents." He went on to say that he believes that Alderman Richard Mell's Committee on Rules and Ethics is waiting for the Caucus to come up with their plan thereby putting their information into the prism of what the whole structure will look like.

According to Moreno, "I think that our Caucus is offering unique public hearings, following the law and following the population growth before we come out with any maps. When we do, we are going to have options too. We are going to say, this is what it looks like, this is what we are thinking.

"I think people came up with good points tonight regarding Polish, Hispanic and non-ethnic points. Four Wards in one CAPS beat for example. I have two in some of mine and that is bad enough."

"Even though some would like to see square wards, I do not see how that can work. I think this process is exciting. It should be fun to look at our own wards, see how they work with others and then how that works into the greater good of the city."

Comments included a request for advocating for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)community including the needs of LGBT youth and adults.

Several people spoke on behalf of the Polish community. Ted Czajkowski, 30th Ward, represented the Alliance of Polish Clubs and an annual parade. He explained that the Polish community was chopped up about thirty years ago and requested that it not be chopped up again. Others had the same request. He expressed pleasure with representation from 30th Ward Alderman Ariel Reboyras and asked that not be changed.

Frank Spula

Mark Dobrzycki

Frank Spula, Pres. Polish National Alliance and Natl. Pres. Polish American Congress spoke to the mutual commonality of Poles and Hispanics. Exec. Dir. of the Polish Information Center for the Polish Alliance stated that it is important that the Polish Community has a strong voice in City Council.

A resident with several decades in the Logan Square community requested that the boundaries do not change.  Peter Schmugde, Exec. Dir. of the  Northwest Connection Chamber, formerly the North Pulaski Armitage Chamber until 2010, urged that alderman really know the history of the neighborhoods they represent and that they finish previously begun projects.

Mickel Colom

Seniors were the subject matter of others concerns. Al Hubbner, CAPS beat rep for 2525 pointed out that having to cover four wards, two community organizations, two chambers and multiple schools was very difficult and should be avoided. Someone else urged support of Bloomingdale Trail.

Mickel Colom pointed out the educational importance of after school programming, "It can effect change in the neighborhood."