I know, I know, Warren politics can be silly and juvenile, but after taking a look at the proposed map for City Council districts I can only say, in the words of President Obama: “Do you think we’re stupid?”
The Warren Tea Party, which initiated this movement toward city wards, should jump all over the officials who drew these transparently political boundaries. The Tea Party got this issue on the ballot based almost entirely on the idea that the City Council needs representation from the southern half of the city (it currently has none).
Instead, the Redistricting Committee took pains to draw lines that are vertical, with the majority of the districts stretching the full length of the city, from Eight Mile to 14 Mile. Of course, with higher turnout in north Warren on a regular basis, the poor and transient residents in south Warren don’t stand a chance at election time.
These districts are drawn to protect the incumbents and maintain the status quo. Period.
As audience members at the last Redistricting Commission meeting said, these districts are tailor-made, gerrymandered and possibly corrupt.
How about the Redistricting Committee tries again and draws horizontal districts? That would likely mean at least one or two south Warren representatives on the council. And, since nearly all the council members live in the comparatively upscale subdivisions in the north end of town, it would also mean that several incumbents would be thrown into the same district to fight for survival in the fall election.
Critics would say that kind of map is also unfair. But after the cynical political games that we’ve seen being played, I like that idea.
I like it a lot.
For more on the shenanigans at work, and to seem the map, click here.
