cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8385334
~Image~ ~provided~ ~by~ ~the~ ~city~ ~of~ ~Detroit~
It’s the second redistricting effort since voters passed a referendum in 2009 to elect the council by districts. The first district maps were drawn in 2012. The changes for 2025 elections won’t affect two “at-large” seats on the nine-member council. Candidates run for the at-large seats separately, and the top two vote-earners serve on the council.
“We need to be clear with residents that the City Council boundaries are changing and not neighborhood boundaries,” said Renard Monczunski, a transit advocate who lives in District 6. “The fact that you failed to provide maps to the public so we could properly deliberate about this, the city is late on this process.”
“Despite the expressed concerns with the census numbers and challenges the city put forward, it is undeniable the city has lost population,” [Planning Department Director Marcell] Todd said. “With any change in population, redistricting will be necessary to ensure there is fair proper representation across those districts.”
