Public sounds off on ward remap proposals

6th Ward MBC proposal

WBEZ has a report from last night's meeting. The people in Lincoln Park doesn't want that Black Caucus' "Map for a Better Chicago" (MBC) Proposal to prevail. What will the people of the Sixth Ward say about it at this evenings remap hearing to be located at Progressive Baptist Church - 3658 S. Wentworth tonight starting at 6 PM?

Frustrated Chicagoans accused aldermen of shattering communities to protect their incumbencies at the first public hearing on the city’s ward remap process Wednesday night.

At least 600 people flooded into DePaul University’s Student Center in Lincoln Park, with many forced to wait temporarily outside closed doors due to concerns that attendance would exceed fire code limits. For three hours, scores of city residents hurled criticism at the more than 20 attending aldermen, and the two maps they created.

“This map is unwise for all Chicagoans, because it not only shatters our communities, it fails to accurately reflect the city’s current ethnic and racial balance,” said Daniel Varanauski, President of the Wrightwood Neighbors Association in the 43rd Ward, where the hearing was held.

Varanauski and hundreds of other 43rd Ward residents came to put pressure on council members against the map that appears to be gaining the most traction at City Hall – The Map for a Better Chicago. That map, proposed by the council’s Black Caucus, would carve the 43rd Ward on Chicago’s North Side into five wards.

“If adopted, as Alderman (Michelle) Smith (43rd) suggested, costly litigation would result,” added Varanauski. “Moreover, it is so gerrymandered that ward services could not be delivered effectively.”

BTW, chicagoredistricting.com has finally been updated with more information about the proposals. I wish it had been more transparent before all these other maps have been filed with the city clerk. Then again I understand why there wasn't much information out there, the city council had to work it out amongst themselves but during all that time it wasn't working very well it appeared.

Again, who from the Sixth Ward will make it to tonights remap hearing? Would you be willing to e-mail us some updates and even photographs?