Pennsylvania Redistricting/Gerrymandering

[NYCNative]

I was surprised that I didn't see this come up here (at least I couldn't find a thread about it) since it was such a contentious issue when it was introduced. I wish I was a little more informed about this before it went up for a vote. That's why I came here...

I came here especially to comment on something I find odd regardling my representative Margo Davidson, though she is not alone. (I am also aware that she does not represent Philadelphia but this area of Delco is spitting distance from West Philly and this is a forum for state politics too). She made an impassioned case against the redistricting:



Such vitriol and passion. She made me proud that she represented me. But that was a month ago (when it was posted) and then I saw this:

The Republican-drawn congressional map passed the Pa. House Tuesday by a surprisingly wide margin of 136 to 61. 40 percent of the Democratic caucus voted in its favor.

36 Democrats – not just from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – voted for the plan, while 8 Republicans – mostly from the Lancaster County and the Lehigh Valley – voted no. The 2 to 1 margin in favor bodes poorly for potential efforts to challenge the map in court.

Here’s a breakdown of the State Reps who voted against their party on SB 1249.

Dems, Philadelphia

Dem. City Committee Chairman and U.S. Congressman Bob Brady lobbied his allies in Harrisburg to vote for the map, and it wasn’t too bad for Rep. Chaka Fattah either. These 18 Democrats aren’t necessarily Brady’s people (though many are), but they’re in the Philly orbit and voted for the map:

Louise Bishop, Vanessa Brown, Michelle Brownlee, Mark Cohen, Angel Cruz, Margo Davidson, Maria Donatucci, Kenyatta Johnson, William Keller, Thaddeus Kirkland, John Myers, Cherelle Parker, James Roebuck, John Sabatina, Curtis Thomas, Ron Waters, Jewell Williams, and Rosita Youngblood.

Redistricting Vote: Who Crossed Party Lines and Why

My questions about this are several:

• Why did Davidson change her mind? As far as I know, there were no substantive changes from the Republican proposal and SB 1249 (but I am open to correction).
• Why did so many Democrats vote for something that some places have called the Gerrymander Of The Decade?
• How can I, someone who is against Gerrymandering (even if it helps the party I am more likely to support), do anything about this? Other than punish my Rep (whose Egg Nog Sip I will be attending) by asking her pointed questions and voting against her.

I would like input even from those who think that the redistricting was fair though that would be a tough sell - even if it appears so many Democrats seem to have bought it...

[3rd&Brown]

I didn't watch that video. But the fact that so many voted for this is disgusting.

Kenyatta Johnson, James Roebuck (I thought he died), Curtis Thomas (once witnessed him call a neighbor on Lawrence Street the C word).

These are fine, upstanding people.

[raider.adam]

Here is the inside baseball:

Congressman Bob Brady.

Bob Brady is about the only remaining white Congressman in a minority majority Congressional District (if I recall correctly). This year a popular black judge is going to be running against him. That is a bad thing for Bob Brady.

So what does Bob Brady want? He wants a whiter and friendlier district. Bob Brady achieved this in a couple ways.

1) He took the 26th Ward in South Philly off of Chaka Fattah's hands*.
2) He expanded in Delaware County.

If the redistricting went back into the pot like a lot of Dems wanted, there is no guarantee Brady would end up with such a friendly redraw. He could even end up with a blacker district. So, Brady whips a bunch of Philly and Philly area Democrats into support. Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D - Philadelphia) was even the deciding vote in Committee needed to get it up to the floor vote (and then proceeded to vote No on the floor vote).

The moral of the story? Bi-partisan doesn't always equal what you may want.


* As an interesting side note. In 2008 when I ran for Congress, I targeted and beat Chaka Fattah in the 26th Ward as a Republican. Previously no challenger did over 35% against him. So, I am sure Chaka was aware that ward wasn't doing him any favors.