Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz voiced his opposition to the most recent version of the proposed congressional redistricting maps for New York State, citing his concern and frustration over the potential separation of numerous historically linked neighborhoods in Erie County.

Poloncarz officially submitted a multi-page letter to the Hon. Patrick F. McAllister of the Steuben County Supreme & County Court explaining that some of the current proposed districts would be a detriment to residents of historically underrepresented minority communities.

“I am very disappointed by the proposed new congressional and senate districts that separate the City of Lackawanna, my hometown, from the City of Buffalo,” said Poloncarz. ‘Both cities closely share common minority populations and ethnicities, interests, and history, as well as municipal lines.”

Poloncarz specifically criticized the proposed new NY-23 congressional district.

“The Towns of Cheektowaga and West Seneca, dense first ring suburbs bordering the City of Buffalo, have been included in the proposed new NY-23 district. Like Lackawanna, Cheektowaga and West Seneca have little in common with the rural and more sparsely populated southern tier region,” added Poloncarz.

Poloncarz’s concerns include his desire for the current redistricting process to keep minority and other ethnic communities together in order to not dilute their voting power.

“Any change to the current proposed districts including the above described municipalities with the City of Buffalo would in no way create a majority district for any of the above-described minority or ethic communities, but it would ensure that they are located in district with their minority or ethnic brethren, thereby not diluting or ‘cracking’ their voting power,” said Poloncarz.

Poloncarz concluded his letter to Judge McAllister by referencing the recent attention racial relations in our nation have received following the May 14 mass shooting that occurred at grocery store on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo and suggesting his personal preference for redistricting the local congressional and senate districts.

“At a time where communities of color are hurting and in extreme pain following Saturday’s terrible terror attack, I believe it is more appropriate for the City of Lackwanna and the Town of Cheektowaga, and their culturally significant minority populations, to remain in the same Congressional district as the City of Buffalo. Moreover, the proposed Senate maps seem to disregard the urban, largely minority, populations of the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna to placate the short-term political interests of current Republican incumbents.”

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To read Poloncarz’s entire letter, click here: