GALEO objects to redistricting time limit and district splitting

Jane Osborn submitted a press release dated yesterday from GALEO; excerpts are below. -jsq
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From 2000 to 2010, the Latino population nearly doubled. It grew from 435,227 to 853,689. This increase accounted for 28% of the state’s total population growth. Georgia’s ten largest counties are home to over half of the Latino population, with 19% of the total Latino population residing in Gwinnett County. Other areas including Cobb County, Hall County, and Whitfield County also had significant increases in Latino population growth.

To begin with, I would like to object to the fact that we were only allowed one minute to provide testimony as reaction to the proposed Georgia Legislative maps for redistricting. I believe this was a violation of the principles set forth by the committee to ensure there was adequate time for response from community members. Obviously, the room was packed and lots of people wanted their opportunity to provide feedback and reaction to the proposed legislative maps. The one minute time limit severely limited the opportunity for that feedback and limited severely the opportunity for public reaction and analysis of the proposed maps.

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Because of the anti-Latino environment that is clear with some elected

officials, we do not believe the state has met the burden to prove they have not redrawn Georgia’s legislative proposals in a non-discriminatory manner with respect to the Latino community.

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In the City of Gainesville, District 26’s Latino population was broken up from 48% (40% CVAP) into two districts, #29 and #30, diluting the Latino population to 34% (28% CVAP) and 38% (31% CVAP), respectively. In addition, the African American population was at 15% and was diluted to 9% and 8% for the districts #29 and #30, respectively.

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Given that the Latino population growth accounted for 28% of the state’s overall population growth, the Latino community should be respected in this process.

Unfortunately, the proposed maps do not respect the Latino community in many of the instances we presented, and there may be more serious concerns upon further analysis.

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There’s more; you can read it for yourself. Oddly, it is not (yet?) on GALEO’s website, but it is online here.

-jsq