2021-06-21 00:00:00 - Special Joint Committee on Redistricting
2021-06-21 00:00:00 - Special Joint Committee on Redistricting
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
it's just, it's the legislature. I'm state senator, Will Brown's burger and I'm here with my co chair, Representative Mike Moran, and Representative Moran and I are the chairs of this hearing. Uh, I'm gonna do the honors in this particular run through. Um, I'm going to introduce my my senate colleagues who are with us. We've got Senator Gobi, who is the vice chair. Now, we've got Senator Heinz, who is the westernmost member of the massachusetts delegation at the Senate level congressional district as well. That's right. Um, and represent them around. Let me introduce your, let me let you introduce your members.45
All right, thank you, Senator. Um, and thank you52 to congressman Neil for taking time out of his55 schedule to uh, attend this hearing and give us his important feedback on redistricting in the process and The importance of the 1st congressional district. I'm gonna quickly, because of the technical difficulties we're having and71 because of some of my commitments um that I've made, I'm going to be on and off. This is tonight. So I want to introduce all the members of this committee, some of whom have logged in um right now and someone who will log in later. But I want to start with my vice chair, the gentleman from88 Lawrence marcos divas. I want to introduce the gentle lady from Provincetown Sarah Peak. The gentleman from Worcester James O'day. The gentleman from Lawrence frank Moran, No relative. Just um the gentleman from local Tommy Golden, the gentleman from Mattapoisett. Bill Strauss the gentleman from worcester john Mahoney. The gentleman from Duxbury, josh Cutler. The gentle lady from Fall River River carol Feola. The gentleman from Dorchester, Jan Hunt, the gentleman from Springfield, but Williams. The gentle lady from Pittsfield, Tricia folly bouvier, The gentle lady from Roxbury china Tyler. The gentleman from behavioral Andy vargas. The gentleman from Duxbury kept digs. The senior member of the Republican Party on this committee is the gentleman from auburn paul Frost. Also on this committee152 is kim Ferguson from Holden and nick, bald eagle, Southwick and Sean Dooley from Norfolk. Uh I also looked at at this point in time, the senior most member of this committee and uh the gentleman from Chicopee, joe Wagner to bring greetings from the first congressional district from the House of Representatives, joe Wagner. Uh Mr. Chairman, thank you very very much. And it's an honor for me to be here with uh with you and um our Senate co chair and all of our colleagues. Uh we continue down the road of of working toward uh defining congressional uh and senatorial and representative districts here in massachusetts. Uh House chairman is not new to this. Obviously having done it 10 years ago and the performance was really um really, really good. We have a number of members from Western Mass on the committee and the House Terrace introduced them. So we're pleased to be here and talk about issues important to us here in Western massachusetts. And um we're honored to have congressman kneeled on the line with us. And we look forward to uh hearing from everyone in Western massachusetts here present, having an interest in the matter of redistricting. And uh we look forward to your comments tonight. I appreciate very much mr Chairman, the opportunity to give a welcome. And with that, I will kick it back to you and or the Senate chair for additional remarks. And we look forward to the testimony that people will provide to us here this evening. Thank you. Thank you, joe. Uh and again, thank you to all the members of the House for attending this hearing. Uh and we're looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say. At this point, I'd like to pass it back to my center, co chair Senator Brown's burger to carry on with the rest of this hearing. Senator Brown's burger. Thank you so much, Chairman, I want to say just a couple of things about how this is gonna go. We're gonna hear from uh german Neil uh momentarily and then we will uh call those who have signed up on our sign up sheet and if you have not signed up, but you do wish to testify, what you want to do is go to uh I'm a legislature dot gov slash redistricting. You will see, you'll find the link to the hearing and you'll go through that and you'll get to the form to sign up. Um And
I think that's what we really all we need to cover before we get started. Um, so mr Chairman Neil, I want to thank you for your patience with our preliminaries here. Uh, we are we are in fact extremely honored to have you here really. Um, and uh, to be uh part of332 the process of creating the new districts uh, in a way that supported for everybody. And so german uh, the floor is yours to talk to, offer your thoughts on on the redistricting process.
REP NEAL - Well, thank you, Chairman Brownsberger for your very good words, and I want to thank Chairman Moran as well, and all the members of the committee. Certainly, we acknowledge critical and important work that's in front of you and we want to make sure that we thank you in proportion to the responsibilities as you've given us an opportunity in Western Massachusetts to state our case in this very important process. In America, all of us should count and should be counted and no one is to be left behind. That's the spirit of our constitution, that's the spirit that lives on in our decennial census and in the work of this very important committee.
I appreciate the challenge ahead of you, I know you are all equal to the task and to ensure that every resident of the commonwealth receives equal and fair representation. The transparency of this process is an example for the nation and I'm certainly proud of the example that Massachusetts once again is setting. While other states are passing laws to restrict the right to go, you are engaged in a fair process with public hearings like this one. Very soon, I anticipate you will release draft maps for public feedback. This is a representative democracy that is truly open to everyone and I'm glad you've asked me to be a part of it. The 1st Congressional District is my home, it stretches from South Bridge to Pittsfield and includes 87 cities and towns in Central and Western Massachusetts.
I'm really450 proud of the opportunity I've had for all of these years to represent my hometown of Springfield, the 3rd largest city in our Commonwealth. The communities of the 1st District have strong manufacturing industries that build many of the things that we all take for granted today, our hospitals host world renowned doctors and scientists. The 1st district is a center of higher education, with over 150,000 students pursuing higher education and over two dozen institutions. Meanwhile, the Berkshires have rightly earned a reputation for world class culture, from arts to theater into film. As this committee proceeds with its work, I believe it's important to keep a watchful eye on maintaining regional equity and respecting communities of interest.
I believe that Western Massachusetts needs two members of Congress, this is a unique region with a diverse mix of urban, suburban and rural communities with a broad range of industries in its home to deeply diverse communities. With Massachusetts growing in population during this latest census count, I am pleased that our congressional delegation525 will remain nine members strong, I can't tell you how important that is. As a result, this committee has the opportunity to reaffirm as we decided 10 years ago that Western Massachusetts needs two congressional seats. To me, this is a question of regional equity across our state. I'm grateful for this opportunity to speak to you today and appreciate the seismic challenge in front of you. Thank you for your time. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Uh, thank you so much for that chairman. Um, are there are other questions from the committee?
Mr. Chairman? Representative Williams. Thank you.
REP WILLIAMS - Thank you, my lifelong friend, Congressman Neal, Chairman of Ways and Means, thank you very much. In terms of numbers being sent us from the Census Bureau from Washington, I think there's a September 30th timeline. Is that going to be a real timeline or are we going to have to go beyond that?
NEAL - Well, first of all, it could work to you, Bud Williams. We have been friends since childhood and I think that the census got off to a bad start and I think that there were a series of shadows that were cast upon the census, and I think that that contributed to the very slow undertaking of the count, then there were questions as to how people were to be counted. I know in my614 own neighborhood, as census was taken, I had a chance to talk to one of the census takers and I only was too happy and helpful as they were trying to gauge some households in the neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon. I think by and large they did a really good job.
Simultaneously, I know that we're certainly not near the end of this process until those numbers are certified and passed on to the various states and I anticipate as all of you do that, there will be a series of court challenges going forward whether or not that happens in Massachusetts, I don't know, but across the country it is sure to happen. So I don't want to volunteer a false premise or something that might not happen but I can tell you that in Massachusetts and the fact that you've all been part of this committee, again, the size of the responsibility that legislators have every 10 years in making sure that we adhere to one man or one woman and one vote is really critical and I also would say that, as quickly as we can get the process underway, that would be great, but I am also very mindful of the challenges that are going to be forthcoming. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Thanks buddy. Believe Senator Goby has a694 comment as well. Thank.
SEN GOBI - Thank you, Mr. Chairman and always good to see you, Congressman, and I appreciate all the work that you do for our area. I just wanted to um thank you publicly but also I do appreciate that you brought up the regional equity because that's obviously extremely important, not just for the congressional seats, but for the legislative seats as well as we look to this new redistricting map that we're going to be looking at. But I do appreciate your advocacy and all that you've done for Western Mass, as well as Central Mass. But again, the regional equity is something that I share your concern and is well noted. So thank you. Thanks Senator Goby. And you have indeed been a great pal over all of these years and much appreciated.743 SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. I believe uh Representative charlie bouvier has a comment or question.
REP FARLEY-BOUVIER - Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I just want to thank my Congressman for joining us here today. He became my Congressman as a result of the redistricting last time 10 years ago. At that time there was really a unified message from the Berkshires to keep the Berkshires whole when it came to the congressional seat. I think it's important for us now to hear from the congressman on his view of that, because there's a lot of different ways to carve up Western Mass, but I'd certainly like to hear what you think about keeping the Berkshires whole in this new map.
NEAL - Thanks to you, Representative, Farley bouvier, and you've been a good friend as well. I wasn't wobbly on this issue 10 years ago and I'm not wobbly on it now, there was no reason to split the Berkshires, this part of a community of interest and at the time there was, as you recall, an effort, at least in the discussion phase, is to divide the Berkshires, trying to figure out North of Pittsfield, South of Pittsfield, I was steadfast that I thought all of Berkshire County ought to be part of the 1st Congressional District, then, and now. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
we couldn't agree more. Thank you so much.
Well, that point is clearly made. Uh
uh, any other uh, questions, thoughts, comments from the, from the panel or
I have one shirt.
SEN HINDS - Good evening, Congressman Neal, great to see you. Thanks for all your work. Kind of along the lines that, Representative Farley Bouvier is discussing,873 you know, you and I don't have many directions we can go, we both ordered, you know Vermont, New York and Connecticut, and so when I get that question comes up, when people are talking to me about the state Senate districts as well, would you go more to the North or more to the South? I'm just curious if you892 have any views on that for the 1st congressional districts and generally where he would pick up897 population.
NEAL - Thanks first of all, Adam and we're too thanks for your loyalties over the years too but I have no current plans to invade Vermont. I think that the people of Vermont can be safe in their assumptions that there is no occupation that's being planned, but having to pick up some of the numbers here it seems to me that it's likely that we would have to proceed to the East. I'll leave the speculation specifically to all of you but over the course of the years, I have represented communities all the way to Norfolk County in Bellingham, I represented the Bulk of Worcester County at different intervals in the early944 stages of my career, Paxton, Princeton, Hubbard Stone, those were all parts of the second district at the time. And then with the round of reapportionment all through the Blackstone Valley all the way, Blackstone Bill through Bellingham and communities that horse shoot around the city of Worcester, North and South at different times.
So I'm very familiar with that as I was on the turnpike yesterday and I was looking at the Blackstone Valley corridor signs and I was looking at the dog show, Duckett and Gobi would be very familiar with those and I was much involved in the establishment of those successful pieces of legislation a considerable period ago. So it strikes me that since I can't head to New York, I think it was probably a time when legislators were even more creative and they would have tried that but I think that the fact that the courts are so much more mindful now of how these districts are drawn that headed East, I suspect would make the most sense. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mhm.
Any other comments, questions thoughts while we have the honour of the presence of chairman Neil
Chairman? I want to say thank you again for gracing us with your presence and thank and thank you again for your patience with our preliminaries. And uh we look forward to working with you as the process moves forward. This is a big deal. I know you're going to get it right and I certainly appreciate the effort. Thank Thank you.
Um Let's see. So now I'm going to turn to a list of those who have uh signed up on the form and the first person I have is nancy. Capron of Holyoke Nancy. Are you on the call?
I don't1066 see Nancy listed among those who are attending at this moment. So I'm gonna go ahead and go to the next person. Um We just kind of keep a record here. I see Marie Jacques Tucson not appearing on the call. I see Thomas Thomas, my Tesco uh not appearing on the call. I do see a couple of elected officials who are on the call. Let me try to let me try to get them in now. I've promoted tom let us go to the panel. Thank you. Uh Right. I believe Mayor Bernardo's is waiting to come on. All right, well let's let's let me represent Tommy Tedesco, who is currently is in the panel. You should be able to a mute yourself tom And
why don't we um
make your co host so we can see you momentarily here. Um So you can turn on your1152 video and your audio tom. And then after that we're gonna go to Mayor La Chapelle
and following that merit Bernard.
Okay, I'm trying to turn my video on. Can you see me?
Uh let me see if I've done that successfully.
Yes, sir. There you go. You're in business. Thank you. This is quite an ordeal. Uh,
THOMAS MATUSZKO - BERKSHIRES REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION - Thank you though for the opportunity to testify. So, I am the executive director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, also known as the BRPC. The BRPC serves the as the regional planning agency for the municipalities of Berkshire County, which is the Westernmost County in Massachusetts, with about 125,000 residents. With about 950 sq. miles, Berkshire County is the second largest county in Massachusetts. There are 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County and to be sure, there are differences between the municipalities in the county. For instance, the two cities, which comprise nearly 44% of the population has similar issues to other large urban areas.
Pittsfield located in the center of the county is a gateway city. North Adams the smallest of the commonwealth cities, has some of the lowest income levels in the state. On the other end of the spectrum, however, there are very small towns with 12 towns, almost 40% of the municipalities in the county having populations of1255 under 1000 residents. Despite these differences, there is one common bond between the communities of Berkshire County. Residents of Berkshire County identify with and take pride in being from Berkshire County. There is a strong county identification.1273 The geography of Berkshire County reinforces this identification. Mountain and hills on the Eastern and Western boundaries of the county limit access across those features, most residents travel north and south, with Pittsfield serving as a regional employment and service center.
Public transportation is oriented North and South.1297 For these reasons, county integrity should be maintained and the entirety of Berkshire County should remain in one congressional district so that the interests of Berkshire County1308 residents can be represented consistently and uniformly by one Congressman. On the state side, I'm advocating for the Senate and House districts to be sized at the low end of the allowable range due to the relatively large number of municipalities in each district, the sprawling nature of the districts with limited transportation access and the changing demographics caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklyn, Hampden district which currently disturbed by Senator Hinds is a large, sprawling district with 52 municipalities in parts of four counties.
It would take Senator Hinds nearly two hours to travel1353 between the two extremes of heath and mount Washington, mostly on secondary roads. Well, the nature of communication is changing, the personal connection between constituents and legislators is still an extremely important component of equitable representation. Although the situation is changing, many of the communities in this district still do not have complete coverage by broadband. On another matter, the 2020 census will1384 likely show a declining population in Berkshire County. This census count happened before the full impact of the COVID-19 urban exodus could be accounted for. County home schools as well as the other anecdotal indicators, such as an article in the New York Times show that Berkshire County, as well as other rural parts of Massachusetts, it's likely to gain population.
It seems like urban dwellers in the large metropolis. Kids, I finally learned the benefits of a calmer lifestyle, especially now that teleworking has become commonplace. Setting rural districts such as those serving burst a county small now, while keeping metropolitan urban districts large now would account for anticipated future population shifts as rural districts gain and urban districts loose thereby maintaining equitable representation. Berkshire County is currently served by four representatives. The County has been stated earlier, is bounded by Vermont, New York and Connecticut. If districts need to grow, they can only go to the East. Doing so could result in the residents of Berkshire County losing representation.
As the part of the State farthest from Boston and the seat of power, Berkshire residents already frequently feel that their issues and concerns are not understood or listen to by Eastern legislators. We strongly advocate for us will change to the representation of Berkshire County as well as all of rural Western Massachusetts as possible. Representative Farley Bouvier represents the 3rd Berkshire district in the city of Pittsfield. Pittsfield is the most urban Berkshire community with a relatively large nonwhite population. She understands and represents the unique needs of that community extremely well. Pittsfield continues to need a strong voice. Representatives Pignatelli, Mark and Barrett most really represent a blend of small towns in the case1505 of North Adams, a small city and small rural communities.
I am a member of that rural policy advisory commission, or also known as RPAC. RPAC was created by the legislature in 2015 with the mission of enhancing the economic vitality of rural municipalities. In the fall of 2019, the RPAC issued the Massachusetts rural policy plan. That plan conducted analysis of rural assets and challenges and clearly demonstrated how rural areas need specific policy investment and regulatory actions to support their unique issues. Currently, the 4th Berkshire District, encompassed as much as Southern Berkshire County and is represented by Representative Pignatelli. While these towns face most of the same issues as other rural communities, increasingly, these towns are facing a high second home market.
Communities have a history of working together to address this common situation. Paul Mark represents the 2nd Berkshire district. This district is mostly comprised of small rural towns in the Northeastern part of Berkshires1578 County and extends into Western Franklin County to these. The Berkshire communities in this district have many of the same socioeconomic challenges as the rural franklin County communities in that area. Representative Mark has been a strong voice representing rural issues. John Barrett currently represents the 1st Berkshire District. This district is in the Northern part1603 of Berkshire County, anchored by North Adams, Adams and containing other small rural towns, the residents of this district are still transitioning from a manufacturing economy.
Therefore, while there are unique circumstances in each of the communities in the three rural districts, they need to continue to be represented to preserve the rural voice. This division, along with the strong physical district represents the Berkshire communities of interest very effectively. This is why we need four Berkshire districts. The BRPC is very familiar with the demographics, economies and culture of the Western Massachusetts region and would be happy to1642 provide any data analysis as would be helpful. Thank you for the opportunity to testify and thank you for your consideration of the unique needs of the Berkshire region as you make these difficult decisions. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah,
Thank you very much for that thorough testimony that was extremely helpful. Um, made a lot a lot of very useful points as we consider this. Uh, this is what we're up against here. Uh, Do members of the committee have questions or comments
Brooke father bouvier? No. Um, I guess I just want to thank tom And yes, if you need data about and sliced and diced in any way. Um times they go too bad to get that so I appreciate it.
Wonderful. Thank you so much for your testimony. Well thank you for your work that you do. All right. Uh
So I'm gonna leave it to Andrew to move people up and down. I think the next person we want to get promoted is we got the mayor already here. Hey there she is. Thank you very much. Uh Andrew uh Mayor La chappelle. I hope that you're able to uh1727 to get in um
You need to um mute and let me make sure that um are you a co host? Let me make you a coast so that you can turn your video on. Great. There you go. I think you're you should be able to be present. Here. There we go. Thank you. There you go. Thank you. Good evening. Excuse me. Um
NICOLE LACHAPELLE - MAYOR, EASTHAMPTON - Thank you, Chairman Brownsberger and members of the committee, it is very comforting to see so many Western Mass knowledgeable Representatives on this call and I appreciate the opportunity to testify. I'm going to read a brief statement. During the last redistricting process, the population of1782 district one last Western Massachusetts either saw weak growth or1787 in some instances a decrease. As a result, elected representation of the cities and towns West1793 of Worcester have been consolidated over and over again. While population size is one determining factor in the redistricting effort, it's not the only factor.
I encourage the Chairpersons and committee to view Western Mass through these other lenses, recognizing that equal representation1813 extends beyond the quantity of people. Why we anticipate that the population statewide has grown, it appears to1821 have done so disproportionately around different regions. As reported, Secretary Galvin has indicated that the congressional districts one and two may expand to encapsulate more population with1833 the Eastern parts of the state likely to switch. The shrink, this follows a trend from the 2010 census, which resulted in a shrinking of Western Mass congressional delegation and more sprawling legislative districts. This region has seen great turnover in our elected officials at the municipal and state levels with record level of voter and community engagement.
In Easthampton, we will be utilizing ranked choice voting in this coming November election at a time when voting rights are violently assaulted in our own capital, we should be taking extraordinary steps to protect our democracy, lopsided geographic representation and further consolidation whisk of districts in Western Mass would be a disservice to the people here. While we may be tempted to view the Western part of the state as a summer whole, there are drastic differences in our municipalities, this diversity is, in fact what makes the region so special. The majority of District one has been represented by Congressman Richard Neal. His tenure has been marked by delivering money back to this region from North Adams to Sheffield.
We've been lucky to have someone in1910 Congress who understands the depth and the breath of needs that range from Springfield, our third largest city, and Easthampton, our third smallest city. We hope to continue our strong working relationship with Chairman Neal. Easthampton is the only city within the 2nd Hampshire District group with the town's Granby, Hadley and South Hadley. We're fortunate to have state Representative Diane Carey, who is a native of these champions and a strong advocate for our unique needs. We hope to maintain the existing House district, recognizing that expanding the district is likely to mean the addition of another small to mid size city and that may put our city at a disadvantage for resources.
Easthampton rest at the top of the second Hampton and Hampshire State district represented by John Velis. Honestly speaking, it would be a disservice to our committee communities to further expand, recognizing the challenges we face when compared to Eastern district in Suffolk for Middlesex County. Marked by compact geography and far more homogeneous needs. In closing, I asked the redistricting committee to be mindful that Western Massachusetts governing district1994 on the State and federal level are the strongest with like communities who have the same challenges and strength. We do best with solidified representation. Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments today. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much for your testimony. Very much appreciated, appreciate bringing bringing the perspective of the mayor. Uh Are there comments or questions from members of the panel?
Mm. Mhm. Um I think everybody appreciate your testimony very much and we have no questions. Thank you for being with us. Thank you very much. All right. Take care.
So next we've got a second mayor.
And until I believe can we have to Mayor Bernard Bernard, here it comes.
Should be able to uh turn on your video and
on mute.
Uh the video you need to be promoted to co host. Can you take care of that? Andrew? I cannot only you can as the host feel free to make me the host. I'd be happy to have made you the host. Okay mm mm hmm.
On it. Thank you.
There. There you go. Should be able to. There you go. Tom. There2099 we go. Thank you. Uh
TOM BERNARD - MAYOR NORTH ADAMS - Thank you, Mr. Chairman, thank you, members of the committee. I especially want to thank my Senator, Senator Hinds and my friend from the Berkshires and someone who if you've spent any time with Rep Farley Bouvier, you know, she talks about collaboration and how important that is, so certainly a friend to the 1st Berkshire district where I serve as mayor. I just want to really share some appreciation with Tom Matuszko for setting the stage for what I'm about to say, and, you know, presenting the data. He said it really clearly, we need a strong voice, we need four strong voices in the Berkshires. You know, Tom said it very clearly, there are challenges for us in the Berkshires that have to be understood and2147 carefully considered as part of the difficult work that this committee has to do and they are related as others have said to regional equity and to representation.
We know the size of the 1st congressional district. Chairman Neal mentioned it, 87 cities and towns, Senator Hinds, 52 cities and towns, that's a challenge we feel at the State and federal levels and we know that we have a strong effective legislative delegation, but as much as anything, the past year of Covid demonstrated why we need as many voices as possible in the Berkshires and from the Berkshires representing us. It does help to ensure for the2188 reasons that Tommy Matuszko laid out, that the Berkshires and the unique context of our communities is part of the critical conversations that happen when decisions are made statewide and it helps to protect and represent our interests and to make sure that Western Massachusetts doesn't get subordinated into a one size fits all conventional wisdom, as we look at2211 the needs of the commonwealth.
So, I'm going to share the ask that others have made, that we keep the Berkshires whole in order to keep our constituents connected to their government, to their elected officials. That again, means we need to have four representatives who have at least some interests in the Berkshires. To Tom's point earlier,2231 that means2232 that we want to keep our population on the lower end, the lower 5% of that magic, you know, 43,937 number, so we want to be on the low range, that 41,740 and that our Senate districts mirror the congressional district as much as possible. Again, I would just encourage you to take advantage of the incredible resource that exists with Berkshire regional planning, the data that they can provide and the information that they can share with you as you proceed with this. Again, I2265 want to thank you for your work, I want to thank you for the time and as others, I'm happy to answer any questions. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Mirror uh really appreciate you being with us. Are there questions from members of the panel if you don't mind? Mr. Chairman? I know I'm taking up a lot of space today, but I'm sure you understand why after following up on the mayor's, um which I really appreciate both mayors coming on.
FARLEY-BOUVIER - I'm going to actually say something that might sound a little bit controversial and that's what I'm going to say to you, Mr. Chairman, that I do not believe that your constituents in your district and the constituents2303 of Senator Hinds have equal access to government. That's for two reasons. One the distance, maybe three, the distance we are from the capital in trying to get to the state House to get any work done the broadband challenges we certainly have, but also because of the sprawling district that our Senator represents. I know I'm supposed to be only thinking about House districts, that's my job here on this committee, but, you know, it makes a difference.
I actually called the Senate district the monster because it's that big and the variety of needs, is that different, and you try to get to one event, one meeting or another, actually zoom has helped a lot, I think the Senator will agree that he's able to get to more places, but I really would like us to be thinking about beyond, as Mayor LaChapelle said, um you know, just about a numbers game but the issue equal access to government is an issue here for the people of the Berkshires. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Well, you're, by the way, thank you and I'm happy to uh happy to hear your thoughts about the Senate districts. I think you have every right to have an opinion on that subject and I thank you. Um the challenge of course is to, you know, we do have I I think that's an argument for going, going on the light range on the low end of the plus or -5 percent. I mean that's all we can do, but it's hard. This is hard. Yeah. Uh other thoughts um for questions, comments for Mayor Bernard, I thank you again, Mayor Bernard? Yeah.
All right, thank you. Mayor Bernard appreciate you being with us, appreciate you weighing in. Um, keep those thoughts in mind. So
is al blake among the attendees2428 today? Out blake. So on the sign up list does not appear to be on the list of attendees. Um there's a chance that he's represent, he's on he's the Berkshire, N. A A C. P. Um login because that's a chance. Okay, well, let's go with that. We we've promoted him on that. Well, let me ask him to unmute himself. Um I want to make him
you hear me? Yes, yes, yes, indeed. Thank you.
AL BLAKE - NAACP - Thank you for for the opportunity. My name is Al Blake and I have had a home in Beckett in the Berkshires for more than 40 years. I'm currently a2472 member of the town planning zoning, an energy committee, also a member of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and shout out to our Chairperson for his comments and also several other local and state non for profit organizations. We moved full time to the Berkshires in 2010, just2498 prior to the last redistricting and unfortunately did not have an opportunity at that time to provide input, so I appreciate this opportunity to do so. Major issues such as housing, broadband, food security, environmental, economic and racial justice, transportation, education and the criminal justice system are different in smaller rural communities than in larger cities and the needs of both should be addressed equitably. I feel that can be done by keeping our counties together and I will say a few suggestions that I think will make this successful redistricting processes for all. We2547 do not want redistricting to dilute their old votes. So franklin2564 and Hampshire counties together, that has recognized that much activity happens at the county level mentioned earlier. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Let me, let me let me interrupt you. Let me interrupt you. County,
uh, county of government.
I think we're having a2587 demonstration of the broadband problems in Berkshire County. We get what we have, that's2594 a perennial problem. Unfortunately, here in in and Beckett especially. So why don't you go back over? Why don't you go back over what you said? The last paragraph or so, which we did look? Um
BLAKE - Major issues such as housing, broadband, food, security, environmental, economic and racial justice, transportation, education and the criminal justice system are different in smaller rural communities than in larger cities and the needs of2625 both should be addressed equitably. I feel that can be done by the following; we do not want redistricting to dilute the rural vote. So keeping Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties as recognized at the county level, for example, within Berkshire regional planning and Franklin County county governments and keeping the county's together will facilitate the work that we do together.
Having a transparent redistricting process that equity presents2666 bipoc communities, low income people and immigrants in our district, I am committed to2676 advocate for state wide map that keeps our communities hold and increases the number of majority bipoc districts. If we work together, we can create the districts that maximize community chances of authentic representation and open new2703 opportunities for building power. Thank you for the time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah, I think we got that.2709 I'm thinking about the 98%2710 level and again it was a good demonstration of the challenges of broadband out there. So we, we appreciate appreciates testimony. Um, I think the strong, strong, strongly on the same point of, let's keep, let's keep the county2724 together. Um, you know,
SEN BROWNSBERGER - If I may, could you talk a little bit about how Berkshire and Franklin or Berkshire and Hampden work together? Because that's something I'm interested in, I lost a little bit of it. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
uh, through to the problems chuck. Can you still hear me in and out? Okay. I'll try. Um,2743 I,
BLAKE - As I said, I'm Chair of the Energy Committee in Beckett and I've done a lot of work with both Berkshires and Franklin County and both of those counties have strong energy committees that represent their rural communities. I haven't done much work in the other counties, but I know for a fact that both Franklin County and Berkshire County have worked well together and continue to do so and adding the other counties together with original governments that we used to have I think would go a long way2779 to represent the people of those counties. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah, thank you. That came through loud and2785 clear. Thank you
other questions for you. Mr blake.
Oh all my burdens. How much have already?
Alright, uh Mr blake. Thank you so much for being with us, appreciate your testimony. Thank you for having me. Okay. I believe the next person up would be Nancy Stenberg.
I see you 28 you sent me see Nancy. Mhm. Everybody else for? No, I don't please. Yeah. I'm not seeing Nancy on the uh on the call. So I'm going to go next to um Michael Zonca is Michael Zamalka on the call, not seeing them.
Um
Jeffrey O'Connell,
nope.
Ah Check para nick. Um I see. Jack Mr chair Mr chair. Yes, Jeff O'Connor, I think would be with the g um and Linda O’Connell. His partner had mentioned that he was he was there a little bit earlier. I just just in case he does hop on. I know that there was the conversation between I guess some of the staff and her on our check but we can move on until you guys figure out, he's on and up. If somebody identifying his owner has said that there were some promoting owner must be Jeff O'Connell that Mr okay
great. So, promote him to a Panelist and in fact make him a cohost Andrew. So, he got ready to go. Thank you. Mr Chair. Alright uh Mr O'Connor you should be able to turn on your video as well if you'd like to. Mhm.
Okay. There you go. Welcome.
GEOFFREY O'CONNELL - BERKSHIRE RESIDENT - Thank you. I'm here actually to address an issue within CD1 relating to the State Senate and Springfield. Thank you for the opportunity to do it. My name is Geoffrey O'Connell, I recently moved from Springfield's ward six in the first Hampden and Hampshire district to downtown Springfield's Ward one in the Hampden District where my Senator is Adam Gomez. I come before you today in support of maintaining to state senate districts that include wards and precincts in Springfield. I oppose consolidation of Springfield into a single district. As the third largest city in the commonwealth, Springfield should be treated equitably with Boston2966 and Worcester, which are each represented by more than one state senator.
I also support redistricting that creates a Massachusetts general court that better reflects and serves historically underserved and disenfranchised communities. I'm sure others more rightfully qualified to address those issues will do so later but I believe the goals are compatible. I believe that to make the art of history then toward justice, redistricting must be sensible and sustainable. You must be guided by the realities of what constitutes a3001 genuine community of interest. My perspective is that of a journalist and newsroom executive whose work entailed an analytical understanding of how communities and the markets3012 they comprise function.
In my years of publishing, understanding how people interact in geographic units, it was critical to fully serving readers, not only where they live, but where they were, where they grab a pizza, where they go on dates, where they go for health care. In essence, what political, economic and cultural situations actually cross city boundaries, defying lines on ward and precinct maps. I think you hear from the Berkshire similar concerns about genuine communities of interest. Demographers and market analysts and the businesses that rely on them have long used what's called Metropolitan Statistical Area to roughly analyze and broadly characterize these human groupings, these communities of interest.
A more instructive analysis, at least for Springfield is the combined statistical area. This designation seeks to group together towns and cities that have a very high level of overlap in commercial trading areas, labor markets, media markets, that is smaller cities and towns centered on a large central city with shared faiths. In the commonwealth, only Boston and Springfield are designated consolidated statistical areas. That's because actions in each of these central city's strongly impact the surrounding communities and the surrounding communities impact the central urban area, sometimes for good, sometimes for ill. Allow me to submit for your consideration a personal example, what happens when governments are cavalier in defining communities of interest.
In 1979, I was editor of the Valley Advocate News Weekly with offices in Springfield and Amherst. I led a team of investigative reporters examining the possible impact the published permit shopping mall in the city of Holyoke and the region's largest existence shopping district downtown Springfield. We concluded internationally award-winning series that the impact would be devastating, and in time it was. Many of Springfield's iconic retailers closed their doors, Springfield as the political and cultural heart of the region was diminished. And so as with many changes in which cities are left behind, the impact on the subsequent loss of shopping and jobs accessible by foot and public transportation landed disproportionately on communities of color.
Springfield's having two voices in the State Senate with strong commitments to people of Springfield is fair, just and in line with what we know about the centrality of the most populist urban centers in combined statistical areas. Having these two Senators also3179 tied to Springfield's adjacent communities, bolsters regional cohesion and strength. Two voices seeking common ground on well common grounds. So, redistrict with an understanding of naturally occurring communities of interest, then do everything in your purview to enfranchise, empower and enable the full voting participation of historically disenfranchised communities. Don't just juggle the numbers to fashion alone, Senate District for Springfield, elect one person of color and call this a solution, lift every voice in every corner of the commonwealth, build a sustainably diverse future, accost all communities in all that you do. Thank you for your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much for the testimony, much appreciated. Um
Are there questions
for Mr O'Connor?
Yeah.
O’Connell Bridge. Forgive me sir. No problem. The uh little spreadsheet I have was truncated at the end of your and your name there. Well, you're doing great. Well thank you.
Alright, well very very knowledgeable perspective. Very much appreciated. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you.
Uh Next up, I think we have Jack Perrin, IQ of Longmeadow
check Europe. Thank you. I think there we go.
JACK PERENICK - HAMPDEN COUNTY RESIDENT - Thank you. I'm Jack, I am right now a resident of Camp of Hampden County and I just want to speak on how important it is for Hampden County, which is very nearly a full County inside the 1st congressional district, we actually a bit of palmer which was separated to maintain perfect equality after the 2010 census were actually severed from the district. 99%, we are fully within the 1st congressional district and I just want to speak a little bit on how important it is to make sure that the divide, Representative Neal touched on this on how the first congressional district mathematically must extend Eastward, there's nowhere else to go.
That is simply a mathematical reality, however, the choice on where it goes Eastward is extraordinarily important to maintain the importance of this district as well as not affecting the 2nd congressional district and damaging both3336 in that process. I work for the district Attorney's office, I am the president of the youth advisory board, and one of the biggest3344 things that we do in our office is we go out to school districts and we speak to all the parents of the school district at once, and you will not believe how many times when we do that, we cross into the 2nd congressional district, and that is because right now, the district does not extend far enough East on the South along the Connecticut border.
Right now, if you look at the lines that are currently drawn very specifically, all3368 you have to do is look at Warren in Brookfield to understand why the 1st congressional district needs to expand South along the Connecticut border. Right now, there's a unified school district for North Brookfield, East Brookfield and Spencer. Right now, they are severed along the 1st and 2nd congressional district. As we all know, the first congressional needs to pick up 40,000 new residents and this is actually a great opportunity to expand the district while united communities within the same school district here and as such, are very well unified. The reason that these districts go to unify inform consolidated districts in the first place is because they have a lot in common.
They have well developed public infrastructure to keep them united and they often have family lines that go across towns. So, by expanding the 1st congressional into Warren, North Brookfield, Spencer and then finally picking up the remaining pieces by fully uniting the city of Webster along the end of the Connecticut border as we hit, Rhode Island is not only something that has to be done mathematically, but by doing so, we actually unite a singular cultural area of the district and solve a problem that's been plaguing the Southern part of this county. I will just say as someone from Hampden County, I'm very proud of our congressional representation in the West in our dual representation, having two Chairmen of two committees is extraordinarily important, but also how important it is to keep Berkshire County and Hampden County fully united within the 1st congressional district.
I know very few people in the County other3458 than myself that have actually been to all 23 towns and cities in the district. I've been to all of them and what people realize is the Berkshires don't end with Berkshire County, the Berkshires, both as a mountain range and as a cultural area, expand into six towns in Hampden County, in Russell, Blandford, as we go for even further into the Grand Bill and Southwick, and Russell. There are areas that are very much apart, both geographically by road conditions and culturally a part of that region, and so making sure that we continue to create that as we go Eastward is very3496 important. I just want to3498 speak on how important it is that the 2nd congressional district maintain pieces of Hampshire and Franklin, and really echo the Congressman and saying that what cannot be allowed to happen is a district which expands mathematically Westward and does so without regard for that very important split in the counties.
That cannot be allowed to happen simply because if we continue to extend towards the Connecticut River on that district, you will do irreparable harm to both districts, both in their intellectual abilities, that five college system being right now kept almost entirely together with the only exception of South Hadley, it's3537 very3537 important that we make sure that is the 1st and 2nd congressional districts are required to grow that we do so without3543 breaking apart a very important balance that has held them together for so long. By adding into that critically, North Brookfield, Spencer, Webster and as necessary, making sure that when population balancing has to occur, it does so the very precise attention to town lines, very important not to wait precincts within a town because that can create undue pressure and it further prevents people from being able to socialize and discuss the politics within their town that isn't split across borders.
So, my strongest lead to you would be when population balancing needs to occur, do so in a way that does not transfer a precinct out of the town, but rather transfers the entirety of the town to a district to make sure that that balancing can occur. Thank you so much, I would appreciate any questions that you have but I'm very passionate about the 1st congressional district here and I want to make sure that we use this3599 population rebalancing, actually it is an opportunity to make sure that our expansion staff along the Connecticut border keeps us more united and actually strengthens community bonds in that area. Thank you so much and I would welcome any questions you have. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
mm Thank you very much for your passionate testimony, much appreciated. Um, are there questions for Mr Perry Nick.
Thank you. Got your message across. Thank you very much. And you miss Sherman.
Um let me now recognize Cheryl Rose.
Hi. Okay. Just my internet is a little bit slow but not as bad as Al's. Um
CHERYL ROSE - DALTON RESIDENT - Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment today. I think we've all seen that redistricting has been elevated in the national conversation and I certainly come to appreciate how it is really at the core of our democracy and a truly representative government. I guess I just want to echo a few of the things that have been said and just put my own two cents in here. I live in Dalton, which is in kind of Central East of Pittsfield and then up go into the hill towns. Representative Mark is my representative and he has to travel all the latest Greenfield, so he covers3694 quite a distance. I want to just attest to the intimacy of Berkshire County as somebody who's active on a number of issues, you know, in my political party as well as on environment and other just issues that involve government and3710 being involved in issues.
We work up and down the county and across the county line, east over into Franklin County and Hampshire County and that's where I feel closest. I want to comment that I've lived in the Berkshires for about 35 years and it was very palpable when we lost our congressmen and became joined with Springfield how much our voice was diminished. Well, I just want make that comment that I do feel that Springfield really dominates this district right now and I feel underrepresented in that sense. I think the Berkshires absolutely should remain whole, we are geographically big,3749 but very intimate in many ways. My understanding is our population is 1/7 of the district, so you can imagine how, you know, we are deluded compared to urban center like Springfield.
So, when I look at the map3764 of our district and I hear Congressman Neal speaking about Worcester County really, you know, makes me nervous that you're going to add more areas of3775 population that are close to Worcester and more Springfield and that just feels more and more like we're just getting further and further from the center of our representation. So, I'm just asking, I guess two things which are; one, please keep Berkshire County whole and two, you have to add population, which is my understanding that you go more East into Franklin County and Hampshire County. So that's where I feel like our rural counties are underrepresented right now and adding more things close to Worcester or Springfield is not going to help3812 us that way. So that's what I wanted to share. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thanks for this.
Thank you very much for that. Thank you very much. Um clear message. Any questions from, from members of the committee.
Thank you so much for taking the time to testify. Much appreciate it. Thanks for the opportunity.
So, let's see. I believe we've recognized tom Bernard is Rose Webster smith here. Not seeing her under that name. Ah David Greenberg is here. How3853 about David Greenberg? Could we represent recognize David Greenberg. Right.
David. You should be able to both unmute yourself and turn on your video at this point. Hey, well, there I am.
DAVID GREENBERG - BERKSHIRE RESIDENT - Thank you. All right, well, I first like to thank you the3873 committee3873 Chairs, Senator Will Brownsberger and Representative Mike Moran as well as other members of the committee for hosting this public hearing and for their commitment to engaging with citizens of the commonwealth throughout this process. My name is David Greenberg and I have been a resident of [inaudible 01:04:45] for roughly 35 years and I'd like to echo what Al and Cheryl said, I believe the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, New Hampshire to find a community3895 of interest and I would hope that they are part of one congressional district. I believe that this area of Western Massachusetts has much in common, including a level of morality rarely seen in other parts of the commonwealth.
Franklin County has a population density 104 people per square mile, the lowest in the commonwealth, followed by Berkshire County at 142, Hampshire County ranks fifth at 315. This means that we have severe challenges in common include funding our very large regional school districts, delivering public transportation services to our residents and providing broadband coverage to our communities. The Mohawk Trail Regional School District is the largest geographical district in the Commonwealth, comprising 256 sq. miles and eight towns. Transportation costs are extremely high, and the commonwealth has never fully covered the cost, as it promised to do when regionalization was being encouraged.
Declining populations of forcing some towns to3949 close their local schools, Leiden and Heath come to mind, which is a huge area of concern. Many of the districts in the three counties have similar challenges. Public transportation routes for an aging population are extremely limited, funding is inadequate, again, this problem3964 is common to the three counties. Roughly 12 years ago, I co-founded Wired West to advocate for broadband connectivity in Western Massachusetts. At its height, Wired West represented 44 towns in the most rural parts3976 of Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties. Towns where for-profit internet providers ignored because of the low density, which severely limited the profit potential of companies like Comcast and3986 Verizon.
Our collective advocacy took a long time, eventually paid off, and many of these towns are finally building municipal fiber networks. I'm hoping to finally get connected in about two months. Wired West is an excellent example of the three counties coming together over an issue of mutual concern. Per capita income is also very similar for these three counties, $35,376 for Berkshire, 33,694 for Franklin and 36,896 for Hampshire County. Historically, towns have come together at the county level to achieve common goals. For example, the Franklin Regional Council of governments provides services to many of the 29 towns in Franklin County.
The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission serves a similar role in Berkshire County collaborating with 32 communities as we heard about earlier. I believe our County should be together for the many reasons I have outlined,4036 I want to thank the commissioners for their consideration of keeping Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties in one congressional district. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah, thank you. Clear message makes a lot of sense. Let me let me ask you a question if I may. Um
BROWNSBERGER - When you think of the community of interest, especially, I'm sort of interested in the way you look at the Senate district, do you consider kind of the hill towns like a Russell, Blandford, Goshen, Ash field, you know, Heath, Claremont, Sherilyn Falls, those kinds4070 of towns, do you consider those sorts of part of the Berkshire orbit?
GREENBERG - Well, you know, I would except the transportation problems is so difficult. For me to get to Pittsfield, I have to take 91 down to the turnpike or I have to take 116 across the route nine, it's a long way to travel.
BROWNSBERGER - Where do you live again? I'm sorry.
GREENBERG - It's hard travel to Berkshire County for us, in fact, because of the mountains and the lack of East West roads. I mean there's route nine, there's 116, there's the turnpike, I'm in the very Northern part of Franklin County.
BROWNSBERGER - So which town are you in again? I'm sorry.
GREENBERG - [Inaudible 01:08:32].
BROWNSBERGER - That's right, you said that at the outset. Thank you.
GREENBERG - So when I worked with Wired West, I mean there certainly is a commonality of interest among some of the towns you've mentioned, but I think transportation issues make it difficult for us to do a lot of work with Berkshire County. I tried when I was the head of a technology consortium of schools, it was mostly Franklin and Hampshire counties. We reached out to the Berkshires, but it was just too difficult. In those days, of course, we had face to face meetings which last year so we could have done zoom easily with folks in the Berkshires but the city, one itself takes hours to drive from one end to the other. So, if that answers your question. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I think so. Thank you. Um, other questions for Mr Greenberg. Yeah,
thank you very much. Mr Greenberg, appreciate your, your thoughts. Thank you.
Uh let's see is man raj gil on the line,
not seeing Monroe4179 raj Maryland, Chappelle has4182 already testified.
I don't see Lisa Berkowitz, I don't see Ossa flurry,
I don't see, I guess4192 Cheryl Rose has testified already. Uh Ernesto Cruz, Ernesto Cruz is on the line, let's promote Ernesto Cruz.
Yeah,
yeah.
Hello, can you hear me? We can hear you and uh we can't see you yet, but you do have the ability to uh there you go,
ERNESTO CRUZ - HAMPDEN DISTRICT RESIDENT - Thank you, Senator Brownsberger. I'm Ernesto Cruz, I'm in the Hampden district and I work with neighbor to neighbor, we represent members from underserved communities and working-class communities and we use them in the civic process to advocate for themselves. Thank you for hosting this, to all the legislators on the committee and thank you for really being there for us as we ask questions. This is not the first time that I've been engaging in this with neighbor to neighbor, so I'll just advocate on behalf of some of the members who weren't able to make it here today, so they had three main concerns that we've been able to synthesize, and we're going to be conducting more outreach to get more input and more max before the August deadline.
Number4281 one4281 is that, members believe we're in a lose situation due to population trends. So whether we put everyone in less districts or separate groups that we represent into more districts, we believe we're losing representation to some degree, and that's an issue that they're concerned with. Another thing is that the current split between East and West along4309 I-91 put Springfield with communities across the river on the other side, which don't share our issues. So, nothing against them but the issues are different and we believe that Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke have more in common that we think there is important.
Then also leads to the fact that as a delegation in Western Mass, our members are well served also by representatives in North Hampden and other areas that listen to our membership regardless of the district that they reside in. The final point is that looking ahead, upgrades and transportation in infrastructure, they may trap us into districts that we have to live with for 10 years that could change abruptly and drastically and this could create disenfranchisement through gentrification and displacement the likes which we haven't seen in our lifetimes.
So that's something that we're looking at, not just the way the districts look today, but what do they look like if we have high speed rail? What do they look like if we have other issues that we can't foresee right now and we are then locked into districts where we become further disenfranchised? Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it, and we will be collecting more feedback from community. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. We appreciate the work that you do to bring the voices of the community together and present them to us in a in a synthesized way. That's very helpful. Um Do members of the panel have questions4404 for Mr Cruz Chairman uh Brownsburg, rep bud Williams I have and that's why I just have one quick question. Uh4414
WILLIAMS - Does neighbor to neighbor have any recommendations?
CRUZ - Right now, we're going to be conducting more feedback. So, for us it's really about getting it from community, so be on the lookout for invitations for more of that. So, we'll be hosting some that4430 are hybrid events where4432 some people in person, some people online, we'll be drawing out the maps together. But it's an open invitation to anyone in Western Mass to come meet with us4441 and work on keeping districts together and really discussing the particulars. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Just make sure you get that information to the committee so we can have it in a timely manner. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
Okay uh if I'm not mistaken, there's nobody else who's asked to testify.
Um I tell you what I'm going to do, just going to make a couple of comments. Um
But Mr Cruz, I think I forgive me. I think we've no other questions for Mr Cruz. Right, okay, thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you so much for your testimony. Mr Cruz. Um what I'm going to do now is um just make a couple of comments to give people a second in case somebody else is trying to get in because we missed them. Um I
BROWNSBERGER - I see a question in the chat, which I'll just go ahead and answer because it is a technical question, the amount of conservation land4510 or this land area has nothing to do with the definition of a district in the census calculation. What we have to equalize in the redistricting process or come close to doing so is population, not land area. Of course, in Western Massachusetts, that does create the challenge because of the low density, that districts get very spread out but the fundamental principle which guides everything we do is one person, one vote, and so that means that we count people not trees4547 when we do redistricting.
In terms of the time frame, we have what we view as a hard deadline of finishing our redistricting process all the way to end of4566 job, meaning we have passed a law implementing a new redistricting plan and it's on the Governor's desk by late October, early November, that that reflects constitutional timelines that affect the planning for people who are seeking to run for state representative either as income, it’s or his challengers, they have to live in their district for one year before the previous election, before they get elected. So, if they're going to be elected in November 2022, they need4600 to be a resident of their district in November 2021. So that shapes our timeline and the Senate and the Congress, they basically all has to be done at the same time.
So that means that we need to have our plans done as I said, end of October early November and to give the public time to see what we're doing, give us some time to debate, that really means that by the end of September, we're very close to the end of September, earlier, if possible, we do want to have plans on the street for people to be reviewing. So that is4632 our timeline. The one thing that may be confusing for people, there are two releases of the census data since the census data will come out in its final form in the end of September. However, the same data will come out in a different format which we can work with in the middle of August, so we will be working on our districts in the middle of August and hopefully getting things together for late September. That is our timeline, and we work on doing hearings across the state of the same type and we also will be4669 doing some special language hearings, so to make sure that people can participate in any language.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
and before I entertain a motion to adjourn, if I haven't gotten notice. If anybody who's trying to testify, does any member of the panel wish to make any comments4685 or raise any issues? Mr Chairman?
Uh Yes, Representative Williams,
WILLIAMS - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is there anyone still on from the Berkshires 2413? I'm just trying to get a little clarification, if we expand the 1st congressional district, we have got to pick up 30, votes, whatever4714 it is, and we have to go East. Some folks are questioning, we should go more into the4721 Berkshires, can someone explain all that to me while I'm still on?
BROWNDSBERGER - I'm going to tell you what I heard. It just uh case it's helpful because I was sort of glancing at the map while we were talking, you know, the current 1st congressional District is a bit of an L, so it has all of the Berkshires, but then it sort of has the southern part of Massachusetts. So, some people are saying, extend the Southern tale of that district, and we did hear a little bit about extending some points in the Northern part of it. So, if that made sense but the question, I think is whether you extend the?
WILLIAMS - Exactly, you want to go South or let you go East, I guess.
BROWNSBERGER - Yes, I mean, it's all sort of East, but are you doing it on that long tail of the L in the South4769 or you're doing it on the short part of the L that runs towards the North? SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
If anybody else want to jump in on that? No, Mr chair, just uh I just wanted to just thank you for conducting this hearing. Um and thank you to all of the committee members that attended. I know that this is a very hard conversation to have um listening to all the testimony from individuals in the Berkshires. I can completely understand why they would want Berkshire County to stay home. And then also with the gentleman's testimony um from down in Brookfield, understanding the, that in that area, down by the lower part of the L is going towards uh, into what's the county, how some of those districts would want to become whole as well, but understanding that there's a lot of great work ahead of us as you wanted to thank you. And also chair Moran on all the due diligence, I'm making sure that uh, moving this hearing, uh even if4834 it's virtually across the4836 entire state is so readily important and thank you for letting all at least the voices that were here um to4843 be heard. And I look forward to working with this committee to making sure that this uh, this great feat is done in equitable fashion. Thank you so much Mr. Chair, thank you so much for your leadership and so many so many issues. Um I do see that Jack Perrin, it has asked if he could make a brief edition to his remarks. Uh I'm going to permit that. Uh So if thank you, we could get Jack in a position to add to his remarks. Go ahead, Jack. Yeah,
PERENICK - Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I just want to reiterate on that question of where the district is to expand, right? Just for Representative Williams benefit here. It is not possible, what was suggested to have a district that is composed of only the4890 Berkshires, Franklin and Hampden, and that's 380,000 people, it's not enough, it's nowhere4896 near the requirement, you cannot create a district that does not involve Springfield and Worcester. The question is4904 really, where do you make that expansion right now? It includes parts of it and it was suggested on the course of the testimony that, you know, you have a district that is the Berkshires and Franklin and Hampshire and well, that might be desirable, it simply isn't mathematically possible, it's only about half a congressional district.
So the question really becomes, where do you get that other 350,000 people because Hampden County is as a whole included, you really, I advocate very strongly going in Worcester County, because if you combine those counties in the top, you then forced the 2nd congressional district, it must mathematically go into Middlesex County, and so then you really have no representation for Western Mass because just the push down effect of what happens there and maybe this is something to bring up during the Second Congressional district testimony, but just mathematically, if the first takes on that many more people in the North, you force the 2nd district to not be a Western Mass district anymore, it has to take on votes from Middlesex or creep down into the South Shore.
So, I just want to make that point very salient and say it's4967 critically important that well, that might be desirable to have a district that is Berkshires, Franklin and Hampshire, it's not possible, and so for that reason, it's critically important to think about extending into the South of the Connecticut border. Thank you4980 for allowing me to come in and if I can answer any question on that. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. Okay,
the all right. Uh nobody else jumping in. I'd entertain a motion to adjourn. So4998 move Mr. Chairman 2nd, thank you. Represented Williams. Thank you. Representative Farley bouvier, er, uh, All in favor, say, aye, aye.
And he opposed the hearing is adjourned. Thank you. Good meeting. Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Chairman.
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