(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/29/2024) The public will get to comment on 10 maps drawn by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) after they were approved the day before the federal court-ordered Feb. 2 deadline.
The original six maps that were approved by commissioners were moved forward, along with three new maps, named Motown Sound, Willow, and Riverwalk. The three new maps that were moved came after two days of drawing to get some of the original maps in compliance with the Voting Rights Act after an analysis was presented Monday.
“There were people that doubted us and didn’t think we could get it done, reading the media clips and not knowing the heart of the commission like I do,” said MICRC Executive Director Edward Woods III. “I just want to say kudos. Thank you for hanging in there. It’s been tough, it’s been long, but you made it happen and democracy still works.”
The nine collaborative maps, along with an individual map drawn by Commissioner Rebecca Szetela, move into the public comment period.
Woods said the maps would be presented to the federal court tomorrow to show them that they have made progress toward a final map, and also tomorrow the maps would be uploaded to the MICRC website for any public comment.
Woods said there would be public hearings held Feb. 15, Feb. 21, and Feb. 22 to discuss the maps with commissioners and give feedback.
The Feb. 15 hearing would be virtual and the Feb. 21 and Feb. 22 meetings would be held in-person at Greater Grace Temple, 23500 W. Seven Mile Road, and Second Ebenezer Church, 14601 Dequindre St., in Detroit.
The commission also voted to allow Woods to negotiate with 98 Forward and McConnell Communications to get the word out about the public being able to comment and the public hearings to get feedback on the 10 maps.
The commission would then meet on Feb. 27, and Feb. 28 to go over the public feedback, tweak the maps again, and be able to pick the final map to present to the court by the due date of March 1.
The Motown Sound map was drawn Thursday and started off as the Spirit of Detroit map. The commission made slight neighborhood changes to House districts 10, 12, and 13 to help move some districts into compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
The Willow map started as a way to get the Water Lily map in compliance with the Voting Rights Act, which was a map that also led to the creation of the Spirit of Detroit.
Riverwalk, which was created by Commissioner Brittni Kellom, only ended up making a few neighborhood changes to House District 9 and more changes to House District 4 to try to bring down the concentration of Black voters who were in the district.
The partisan fairness analysis nearly matches the numbers that were run for the original Hickory map configuration, with a slightly bigger advantage to Democrats, on all three of the maps created to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Szetela, Commissioner Erin Wagner and Commissioner Rhonda Lange voted no on moving all three maps forward on the basis that racial data was used to comply with the Voting Rights Act analysis.
“I think we should have – especially with the Spirit of Detroit – just said ‘OK, we’re comfortable with 10,’ and advanced it as it is, rather than trying to meet a goal that we’re being told by experts we need to meet. It just feels like were back in the same place all over again,” Szetela said.
The MICRC was ordered to redraw seven House districts after a federal three-judge panel ruled them unconstitutional for violations of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
The Willow map saw Commissioner Anthony Eid oppose, and the Riverwalk map passed with a vote of 7-6.
Motion to Vacate Against Eid
The MICRC also set two dates to deal with a complaint that was filed against Eid by Szetela, which created some tension in the commission at the end of Thursday's meeting.
MICRC Attorney Nate Fink recommended to the commission that the hearing set to discuss what to do about the complaint should be moved to Feb. 13, but to have a vote on Feb. 8 that would determine if the hearing even needed to take place.
“By doing this the commission could avoid incurring potential additional legal expenses that would be incurred by the responding member – Commissioner Eid in this circumstance – by his lawyer having to prepare for this special meeting,” Fink said.
Eid is being represented by Steve Liedel.
“Bear with me, I don’t want this to turn into a bad ending to the day,” Lange said.
Lange cited Robert’s Rules of Order in her objection and said there was a vote and that vote couldn’t be rescinded or changed unless it was by one of the original members who put it up.
Fink said he wasn’t the parliamentarian and couldn’t answer the question, but said he didn’t see a problem with changing the dates, because there had been a rules change by the commission surrounding the way complaints would be dealt with.
Commissioner Steve Lett then made a motion to change dates and Szetela asked who the parliamentarian was that could answer the question.
“I happen to have a nice, heavy, Robert’s Rules of Order book right next to me at all times. So, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have, Commissioner Szetela,” Sarah Reinhardt said.
During discussion of how to phrase the motion, Lange asked Fink if she would be able to retain a lawyer to look at the decision being made by the commission.
“This is a no-win situation. So I’m going to be blunt. I’m going to be honest, I’m going to let you know my feelings. I hope nobody takes offense. It’s not my intent, but I’m getting tired of keeping it bottled up,” she said. “I feel like this has been very biased. I feel like this has been backdoor and I’m sorry. This is just my opinion.”
Fink said there was nothing in the constitution that said Lange couldn’t get an attorney.
“I don’t think that the commission would have any obligation or responsibility to pay for your attorney,” he said.
Lett called a vote to end discussion, which passed and the motion to vote on if everything would move forward on Feb. 8 was set.
Before the meeting ended Reinhardt found the passage in Robert’s Rules of Order that allowed the vote to take place.
