All Roosevelt Islanders, no matter what age, political party, or even immigration status, are eligible to speak up about their redistricting concerns. The Districting Commission of NY City has proposed new district lines for City Council Representatives that ends the community’s 50 year association with our Manhattan Council Member and connects us with one in Queens. To read more about the problems caused by this redistricting effort, tap on this link.
The Main Street Democratic Club and the Roosevelt Island Committee of Community Board 8 have joined forces to help galvanize the community’s protest.
Giving Testimony
Residents are invited to send letters to the Commission and to testify in the upcoming hearings. Testimony can take the form of letters, emails, Zoom calls, and in-person appearances. This link will help you with your letters and comments to the commission.
Coalescing Roosevelt Island’s Resolve
The community’s collective protest at the Manhattan hearing, has been organized for Monday, August 22nd from 5:30 to 9 PM. All speakers must register in advance. Here is the link to do so. If you are arriving by our community bus, (see below,) please request a 6:15 time slot for your testimony.
We encourage as many residents as possible to attend the Monday, 8/22, hearing, in order to show our collective strength; however, you can attend any of the redistricting hearings. They are all listed below. We also encourage everyone attending the hearings to wear Roosevelt Island RED!
You can attend the hearings to testify, or simply to support your neighbors who’ll be doing so. Feel free to applaud their efforts! Speakers will have a 3 minute allotment of time. You must bring your vaccination record or a same-day negative Covid test. The Commission can run out of speaker spots so sign up as soon as possible!
It is helpful to write your comment in advance and bring two copies… one for yourself – reading it is fine – and one for the commission’s records.
Speaking by Zoom
The same link will enable you to give testimony by zoom. Simply indicate “Virtually by Zoom” when you reach the “Testifying” choices.
All Hearing Locations:
| Tues., Aug. 16 5:30 pm to 9 pm Museum of the Moving Image, Sumner Redstone Theater, 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria, Queens 11106 Wed., Aug. 17 5:30 pm to 9 pm Lehman College (CUNY), Gillet Auditorium, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, The Bronx, 10468 Thurs., Aug. 18 5:30 pm to 9 pm Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Rm 125, Staten Island, 10301 Sun., Aug 21 3:30 pm to 7 pm Medgar Evers College (CUNY), School of Science Health & Technology, Dining Hall, 1638 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, 11225 Mon., Aug. 22 5:30 pm to 9 pm Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., Harlem, Manhattan, 10037 |
Last week’s Zoom Meeting
Our efforts are supported by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Council Member Julie Menin. Both have provided compelling arguments in favor of our position to the Districting Commission. Congresswoman Maloney knocked it out of the park with the Island-specific letter posted below.
Use this link to view highlights from our recent Zoom meeting with our legislators and allies, such as our District Committeewoman, Rebecca Weintraub.
Securing Transportation
A free bus (contributions welcomed but not required) has been arranged for 44 people who request a seat using the following form. It will leave from Good Shepherd Plaza, next to 531 Main Street, at 4:15 PM Monday evening. Priority will be given to residents who are providing testimony. The remaining seats are available for folks who are cheering us on! You’ll be notified of your reservation.
The bus is not equipped for wheelchairs. (Connect with RIDA on their efforts to supply transportation.) The hearings are accessible for people with physical disabilities. Signing interpreters and language interpreters can be arranged by contacting athearings@districting.nyc.gov or calling 212-442-0256 at least 5 days prior to the hearing.
Bring signs! Wear red! Show the commission that we’re a community of Manhattan residents, not a political football!
Fill out the following form to reserve one seat. If you need more, please indicate the names of the additional people you are reserving seats for in the space that asks if you are registered as a speaker.
.
