Norfolk redistricting vote tonight

Norfolk City Council will take up redistricting at the end of a very long agenda tonight. There are only two plans on the agenda – the compromise plan, which will be voted on first, and the Jordan plan.The compromise plan has never been subjected to a public hearing – I guess that will happen tonight.

In the last informal session, City Attorney Pishko said that if the first plan is passed, there is no need to vote on the second. Guess I know where that leaves the Jordan plan.

I’m not the only one disappointed with this. I received the following press release over the weekend:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 6/26/11, 9:00 AM
CONTACT: PHIL GILLETTE, C: 757-630-7364; E: PSGillette@cox.net

Norfolk proposed redistricting plan called “missed opportunity” by church leaders

Norfolk’s proposed redistricting plan fosters the continuation of wards that favor racial imbalance in elections, according to Empower Hampton Roads (EHR), an interfaith coalition of area congregations working for social justice by addressing public policy issues.

EHR spokesman Phil Gillette said, “Norfolk should seize this opportunity instead of missing it, to move the city toward a future where candidates are elected on the quality of their character than the color of their skin.”

Gillette went on to say, “The group is greatly disturbed that the council is rushing to approve a compromise that preserves a form of institutionalized segregation. There is at least one alternative proposal, the Jordan Plan, that offers a more balanced mix of people, and more accurately reflects the future of a
diverse region that is becoming even more diverse. We strongly feel the council should give more time to considering alternatives to the status quo and adopt the Jordan Plan.”

Gillette and other members of Empower Hampton Roads, as well as a number of allied groups, plan to address the City Council on Tuesday, June 28 at 7 PM and request more serious consideration of alternatives, especially the Jordan Plan.