We are just a few days shy of welcoming in the New Year, and already the battle lines (or redistricting lines) are being drawn. Albany city elections are up for grabs this year, and this time around, the Common Council members will seek re-election according to the newly drawn redistricting maps. For those who are not familiar with the process, the city is divided up into 15 Wards, with a member of the Common Council as it’s representative in city government. The maps are redrawn each ten years according to the latest census. Many will ask, “why do they have to do this.” And the simple answer is: I have no idea They establish a commission to redraw the lines, but ultimately it is up to the council to make the final determination. In between they have public meetings — again I have no idea why — so the public can appear to have something to do with the process. What really happens, is that separate groups like the Progressive Democrats meet secretly and draw the lines to their satisfaction. You can see for yourself by going to Albany’s website, clicking on Government, and scroll down to where they have a link to the existing lines versus the new lines. It’s actually a very nicely drawn map that is easy to follow. I live in the 15th Ward, where my council member you might remember is Frank Commisso Jr. You can tell that the 15th has been quite re-parceled. Frank loses all that pesky area up on Washington Avenue Extension, and picks up the Harriman State Office Campus, which has been long mentioned for redevelopment. Way to go Frank. You couldn’t have drawn the lines better if you did it yourself. The guy that really gets screwed is Anton Konev. He currently is the council member in the 11th Ward, but the new lines puts him living in the 6th Ward which is currently commanded by Richard Conti, who is the Council President Pro Tempore (what does that mean anyway.) You must live in the ward you represent. In addition to that, Konev, a Russian immigrant also loses a core group of Russian supporters to the 10th Ward, which is led by Leah Golby who also seems to have nicely redrew her lines. There is much too much to talk about in one post. More to come in a day or so.……….On the network news last night they showed a five month old Panda bear, that they were raising in captivity somewhere in California (I think.) Why are we so concerned with trying to raise these bears in an environment where they are not supposed to be in? They spend an enormous amount of money, and they just hope that they survive. For what? To put them in a zoo where someone might get a glimpse of one?
And that is “The Daily Take”