End gerrymandering

Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group:

First off, there’s no “magic bullet,” no single solution to Albany’s ethical woes, campaign finance scandals and prolonged policymaking gridlock. However, there is one key measure that promises beleaguered New Yorkers “game-changing” reform.

Redistricting.

New York’s political culture is kept in power by gerrymandering, the practice of allowing the majorities in both houses to draw the district lines every 10 years. This allows legislators to choose their voters, rather than the other way around — the ultimate conflict of interest.

For decades, mapmakers have “rigged” district lines in favor of the majority parties in each house to ensure incumbents’ re-election prospects. Historically governors, who must ultimately approve the new district lines, have not put up significant resistance to this rigged system.

Sen. David Valesky and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris have advanced a plan for independent redistricting, but the prospects for success this session are dim.

Whether the system will truly change will likely hinge on the decision of the next governor. Will he veto gerrymandering and force reform? Or will he go along to get along? Voters have a right to know what candidates for governor plan to do…

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