There’s been a lot of press coverage lately about Congressional and State Senate redistricting, but work is getting underway on redrawing City Council districts. Brooklyn Heights is presently included in District 33, represented by Lincoln Restler (photo). There’s a map of the district on Council Member Restler’s website. It’s an odd looking district, indeed. The word “gerrymander” was first applied to a congressional district that looked like a salamander. District 33 appears to have a bird’s head, a long thin neck, and a grotesque four legged body with spines on its back. It has had this shape for some years.
Word is that District 33 may be in line for downsizing because census data show its population has increased. One possibility would be to cut off its northern part, which includes Greenpoint, where Mr. Restler, who grew up in Brooklyn Heights, now lives, and include that in a different district. There’s still plenty of opportunity for citizens to be involved in the redistricting process. The Brooklyn Heights Association, in partnership with the Citizens Union Foundation, will present on Zoom this Tuesday evening, May 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 a “training session that will explain how all of us can be involved in the New York City Council redistricting process.” If you want to attend please RSVP to info@thebha.org and you will be sent a Zoom link on Tuesday.
