250 Broadway 21st Floor New York, New York 10007 Monday, March 18, 2002 10:15 a.m. COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ROMAN HEDGES, MEMBER ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS ORTLOFF ASSEMBLYMAN WILLIAM PARMENT SENATOR DEAN G. SKELOS MARK BONILLA, ESQ, MEMBER SENATOR RICHARD A. DOLLINGER LIST OF SPEAKERS Pedro Espada Senator Maria Cuadra Executive Director of COPAY Inc. Gil Bernardino Executive Director, Circulo de la Hispanidad Larry Meneses NYS Hispanic Assembly Jimi Perez Resident of Hempstead Ricardo LaRosa Resident of Uniondale Brandon Cruz Attorney and Resident of Glen Cove Seretta McKnight Resident of Roosevelt Patrick Halpin Honorable Philip Goldstein Valerie Clerico Resident of Valley Stream Helen Goldman Resident of Valley Stream Reginald Percy Resident of Valley Stream John Sullivan Resident of Elmont and Aldon Manor Civic Association Roger Corbin Legislator Patrick Williams Legislator and Resident of Uniondale Dorothy Goosby Councilwoman of Hempstead Eugene Burnett Resident of Babylon Elliot Auerbach President of the Board of Directors of the New York City Liberties Union Rudolph Clark Doctor and Resident of Westbury Eugene Murray Mayor of Rockville Centre Eugene Scarpatto Mayor of Lynbrook Mary Bossart Trustee, Village of Rockville Centre William Glacken Mayor of Freeport B.A. Schoen Resident of Baldwin Lance Elder President and Chief Executive Officer of EAC, Inc. Theresa Sanders Resident of North Babylon Kevin Manley Resident of North Hempstead Rudolph Clark Psychologist and Resident of Westbury Hills Susan Karusi Team Coordinator of the Teen Court at Glen Cove William Kelly Mayor of Village of Asharoken Leland Hahr Mayor of Village of Lloyd Harbor Dennis Sneden CEO of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce Barbara Bernstein Executive Director of the Nassau Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union Jim Morgo President of the Long Island Housing Partnership Saba Mchunguzi President of the Belmont Lake Civic Association Maria Palandra Superintendent of Elmont Schools Scott Jablow President, Cathedral Garden Civic Association Cheryl Lee Member, Parker Civic Association Aubrey Phillips Member, Elmont School Board Joy Madera Trustee, Elmont Board of Education Pat Boyle Executive Director, Gateway Youth Outreach Norma DiBartolo Community Liaison, Elmont School District Tom Bennet Commander, VFW in Elmont Mabel Johnson Resident of Elmont Roy Messapele Publisher, Elmont Herald and Chairman, Elmont Quality of Life Committee Ruth Gaines Regional Coordinator, New York State Public Employees Federation Mary Reid President, PEF Region 12 Retirees Eric Poulson Program Coordinator, Roosevelt/Freeport EOC Family Development Steve Colon Graduate Student, SUNY Stoneybrook Diana Coleman Resident of Roosevelt Ernestine Small Resident of Rockville Center Al Jordan Associate Minister in Wyandanch Judy Pannullo Director, Long Island Progressive Coalition Leonard Filan Trustee, Central Islip Library George Jones Veteran, World War II and Korean Conflict Sacara Grant Resident of Wyandanch C.J. Collins Resident of Nassau County Munah Benson Representative, Long Island African-American Republican Club of Islip Michael Arrons Resident of Nassau County SENATOR SKELOS: My name is State Senator Dean Skelos. I'm the Co-Chair of the New York State Legislative Task Force of Demographic Research and Reapportionment and this is our seventh hearing throughout the State. We will have one more hearing tomorrow in Albany, concerning the proposed Senate and Assembly district lines that this task force has worked on and are now putting out as proposed lines. And I really do underline the word proposed. We intend to take back your testimony, your opinion, your recommendations and than revise the lines, in some instances, throughout the State, both Senate, Assembly and than make a final recommendation, a vote by the task force, and there has been no vote by the task force at this point, to the entire Legislature. As you know, the final plan that's recommended by the task force has to approve, be approved, by the Senate, the Assembly, either signed or vetoed by the Governor and than there is review by the Justice Department concerning the voting rights counties in New York State. So, we certainly appreciate your attendance today. We will try to keep testimony to about five minutes so that everybody will have the opportunity to be heard. As I've mentioned at all the meetings, in the event you want to submit testimony, certainly we will accept written testimony, which will have the same weight when it comes to review as oral testimony. So, again I thank you for being here today and now I'd like to introduce my Co- Chair Assemblyman William Parment. ASSEMBLYMAN PARMENT: Thank you, Senator. We're happy to be here again in Long Island, this being our second hearing in this particular building on the topic of redistricting. We look forward to your testimony and again, as the Senator indicated, we'd like to keep this moving along and we know there are a lot of people that want to testify. So if you can be brief, it will help give everyone the opportunity to testify. We will, of course, stay here until we've heard all of those persons who want to testify. I would point out that my colleague, Roman Hedges, has yet to arrive. He was driving in from Albany and the weather being worse up there than it is here, undoubtedly has delayed him. I'm sure he will be here. Thank you for being with us. SENATOR SKELOS: Well, we look for his arrival but as you can see despite inclement weather, the people of Long Island are here and ready to testify. So, we welcome them again. Another member of the task force is Senator Richard Dollinger from Rochester. SENATOR DOLLINGER: Thank you, Senator Skelos. I'm Richard Dollinger. I'm a Democratic State Senator from Rochester. I represent most of the City of Rochester and two of its suburbs. I'll echo the sentiments of Assemblyman Parment, it's great to be back in Suffolk County. This is a day to listen to the public to sample your attitudes, reactions and comments about this redistricting plan. I'll just air one minor disappointment, and we raised this the last time we were out here in Suffolk County. We have had hearings, a second round of hearings, in Brooklyn, in the Bronx and Queens and Manhattan. It would seem to me that we should have had one in Nassau County as well. But, I believe that this is an opportunity, I hope, for those who live in Nassau County who will be affected by the changes in this plan, both in the Assembly and the Senate lines, we will be here to hear your testimony today. But, as Senator Skelos said, once this round of hearings in concluded, the Senate and Assembly plans will than go through the process of a vote before this task force and eventually by vote before the Legislature. I just want to emphasis that none of us, not one of the six members of this task force, have actually voted on this plan to date. These are proposals made by the Chairman from the respective bodies for discussion and comment. So with that caveat, I look forward to today's testimony. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you, Senator Dollinger. Another member of the task force is Assemblyman Chris Ortloff. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Good morning. It's good to be back here with you. I would, I'm Chris Ortloff. I come from Plattsburg which is about as far north as you can get and still be in New York. And you're all invited to stop by if your on your way to Montreal. We're here to discuss something that is not only critical to each community, but is long lasting. Any changes made in the district lines this year, you will live with in your communities for the next ten years. And in fact, the next ten years may very well determine the ten years following that as well. So this is not a matter to be taken lightly and it's not a matter to be ignored. The attendance here today, to me, is very gratifying because some of the changes, I would expect that the people of Suffolk and Nassau Counties, will be rather disturbed by. I'd like to call your attention to the placard up here and ask one of our staff people to assist me. To put this in perspective, we've shown you the populations of New York City's five counties on the top, 8,000,800. And the population of Long Island's two counties, Suffolk and Nassau, 2,700,000 some on the bottom. Next to it are the proper proportions of Assembly seats for those two populations. I invite any of you to do the math. Simply divide the population of the area into the population of the state and multiply it by 150. You come out with 63 seats for the City of New York and 22 seats for Long Island. Anybody who's done long division can do that. Now I'd like to ask my assistant here to stand in as the role of the Assembly Minority and to show you what they've actually done. They've taken 63 seats in New York City and they've given New York City 65 Assembly seats. Two more, or roughly 240,000 people more than they have or than they deserve. And they've taken one of those extra two seats from Nassau and Suffolk County. Again, Nassau and Suffolk County are entitled to 22 seats in the New York State Assembly. This plan proposed by the Assembly Majority takes one away and leaves you with one vote less on every critical matter for the next ten years. Every matter of importance to Suffolk and Nassau County for the next ten years, you'll have one hand tied behind your back if this plan survives. So with that in mind, I'll leave those numbers up for your reference during the day. And I would urge you to comment on that matter as well as any other matter that you came here prepared to speak on. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much, Assemblyman. Another member of the task force, a new member, is Mark Bonilla. MR. BONILLA: Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Mark Bonilla and I am the newest member to this task force. I am an attorney by profession. I have been a Nassau County resident for between 20 and 25 years. I practice in virtually every area of the law. I'm married, I have three children. I'm very active in my community. When I heard about the redistricting and the reapportionment, I reached out to my community leaders who directed me to Senator Skelos. Senator Skelos ultimately put me on this task force and I want to commend the Senate Majority for recognizing that and appointing a minority to this task force. And more importantly, recognizing that diversity is essential and very important in a process such as this. So again, I'm thankful to be here. I'm thankful you're all here and I'm looking forward to your comments and suggestions. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much, Mark. Roman Hedges, who is also a member of the task force as Assemblyman Parment mentioned, is on his way from Albany so hopefully he will join us shortly. Our first witness is Senator Pedro Espada. SENATOR ESPADA: Good morning, good morning colleagues on the task force, both in the Assembly and the State Senate. I'm Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., a representative of New York State's 32nd State Senate District. As a Hispanic American and the elected representative of over a 180,000 fellow Latinos, nearly 93,000 African-Americans and roughly 20,000 other individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds, I would like to officially voice my opposition to the Alternate Redistricting plan proposed by the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats and Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club for Long Island's nine State Senate Districts. After 25 years serving the residence of the South Bronx as a member of the Democratic Party, on February 4, 2002 I joined the State Senate's Republican Conference. While I have discussed my reasoning in the past, my decision was primarily based on the changing relationship between Latinos and the Democratic Party, the inclusive progressive nature of the Senate Republican Majority and the resulting benefits for my constituents. As I said on that day, quote, "the citizens of my district have signaled that they no longer want to be taken for granted. They want, not only to talk about diversity, they want to diversify." Overall, I would like to commend the task force's redistricting plans for the State Senate. I believe that this is a well balanced and responsive proposal that meets the needs of residence across the state. As a representative of the Hispanic community, I would like to applaud the task force's efforts to preserve existing minority representation in the Senate and to further build upon this presence through your newly redrawn Senate lines. To this end, the task force's constitutionally sound plan creates an additional seat in New York City to reflect its continued growth, maintains representation in other regions throughout the state and fully complies with all applicable population requirements. While the Task Force's efforts to address the changing composition of local neighborhoods in New York City was completely appropriate, I was shocked and dismayed by the partisan efforts of the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club as their proposal burst the bubble of credibility, focused on politics instead of people and did nothing to advance the interest of Hispanic and African-Americans. After ten years as a State Senator representing the South Bronx, I believe that the partisan scheme submitted by this collection of Democratic organizations would not benefit any Long Islander. It would specifically be detrimental to Hispanic and African-Americans on Long Island. As an elected official representing my constituents in Albany, there is no conceivable way that pairing Senator Skelos, Fuschillo, Senators Balboni and Hannon and Senators Marcillino and Lack as this responsible act of political gerrymandering does, would enhance the clout of Long Island's minority communities in Albany. In fact, such a plan would likely decapitate the availability of vital health and human services in those areas. In addition, the egregiousness of this proposal spreads beyond Long Island and would harm minority communities in my home area, the Bronx. By gerrymandering districts long represented by other effective and responsive Legislators, Senators Vallella and Spano in particular. Such a plan recklessly disregards the will of local residence and does little to further the goal of advancing minority representation. For too many years, the Democratic Party has taken advantage of Blacks and Latinos. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, have viewed the votes of minority communities as their exclusive property. As a result these hard working people have been promised the stars by candidates seeking election and provided little in return on their investment. Recently, Hispanic-Americans have begun to realize that they do have options. And an increasing number of them have begun to embrace this fundamental right to choose the leaders that will truly represent their best interest. The Latino voter that first began to emerge as an important and amenable, swing voter during the presidential election of President Bush. Last November, the people of my district were an instrumental factor in the election of Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and I expect that they will again be ready to help re-elect Governor George Pataki to a third term, a deserved third term I may add. To conclude that the African- Americans and Hispanics vote together as a cohesive unit is an unfair characterization of the past. On Long Island this is particularly unfortunate. The nine Senate members that represent Nassau and Suffolk Counties are a powerful and moderate voice, force in Albany, fighting for all of the residence of their districts regardless of race or where they live. The nine State Senators for Long Island have a reputation for their tireless dedication to their school districts and local organizations. Specifically, I would like to mention Senator Fuschillo's work on behalf of the Roosevelt School District. As you and the members of that committee are well aware, Senator Fuschillo has been actively engaged in the ongoing budgetary issues facing the local school board and recently won 1.4 million in additional state money to help address their challenges. Through their effective advocacy and collective clout, they have secured remarkable school aid increases across Long Island to reflect the higher cost of living factors present throughout the region. Had these districts, and particularly disadvantaged school districts on Long Island, been represented by members of the Minority Party in the State Senate, I do not believe that these successes would have been possible. Further, by combining several of these disadvantaged areas into single Senate Districts the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, the Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club, have generated a plan that would cause irreparable harm to both local children and the future of these communities. There is no way that any member, whether a member of the Majority Party or Minority Party, could duplicate these successes for every school in such a Senate District. The task would simply be to great. I believe that it is far more advantageous for these school districts to be coupled with other, less state dependant areas. More over, I have spoken with numerous organizations that serve the Hispanic community on Long Island and invariably, they have expressed nothing but gratitude for the understanding and support of Long Island's State Senate Delegation. I would like to specifically mention Senator Skelos unwavering support of Sicolo de di Spanidad. Through hard work, determination and the assistance of Senator Skelos, after 20 years, Sicolo has grown to the point now that it offers Hispanic and minority residence of Nassau County more than 20 programs and activities and serves more than 10,000 people through its offices in Long Beach and Hempstead. I know that both Sicolo and the residents of the Village of Hempstead would be eternally grateful for the 1.5 million secured by Senator Hannon and Senator Skelos for Sicolo's new Hempstead Community Center. If the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic's plan were to be effective, I fear that successful and important collaborations like this one, would no longer be possible. I look forward to continuing my partnership with the nine members Long Island State Senate Delegation. I consider them to be open and kind hearted individuals that fight for their districts and recognize the broader issues that impact both my constituents and the entire Hispanic community. We share a deep commitment to education, job creation and the achievement of a better life for all New Yorkers and together we will make a meaningful difference for all of those we serve. Thank you very much. Muchisis muo grasias. SENATOR SKELOS: Are there any questions? Thank you, Sir. I have just one question, if I may. Go ahead, Mark. MEMBER BONILLA: Just one question. Given your former membership with the Senate Democrat Conference, are you aware of any involvement that the Senate Minority Leader, Martin Connor, had with regard to the development of the Alternate Redistricting Plan that's being proposed by the Nassau and Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats? SENATOR ESPADA: Well, Mr. Bonilla, on two occasions I had met with Senator Minority Leader Connor with respect to the Reapportionment and Redistricting Plans and was shown those maps and those plans. And in showing me those plans, Senator Connor indicated that he was working in concert with local advocacy organizations including the NAACP, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund and others. So the answer is yes. MR. BONILLA: Thank you. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Senator, thank you for your, for your testimony and for your prospective. I hope it frames the days comments. I wonder if you've had an opportunity to look at the, at the District in the Assembly that has been propertied to be a majority Hispanic District in Suffolk County. SENATOR ESPADA: Not in its full detail, no. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: I wonder if it would surprise you and, perhaps you could take a look at it and get back to the task force before we conclude our deliberations. I would ask you and everyone who's looked at this District, to compare the District lines as proposed to the actual location of Hispanic people in the census and you'll find that the district lines don't conform very closely to the actual Hispanic Census blocks. But you might find it interesting and perhaps not coincidental that they do conform almost exactly to Democratic voting patterns. So there are a great number of non-Hispanic, non-minority Democratic in the new district and I'd like you to take a look at whether we ought to be doing a better job in the name of minority voting rights rather than a partisan Democratic gerrymander here. MR. ESPADA: I will most certainly do that and get back to the task force. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Thank you. MR. ESPADA: Thank you very much. MALE VOICE: Just one reservation, Mr. Chairman. Has the task force set a time limit on each speaker and if you have you just violated that. SENATOR SKELOS: No. As I mentioned, and I think it's what we've done at every single meeting, we've asked people to testify for five minutes, but we've also been courteous in terms of if some people felt they had to speak a little bit longer. So again, we would ask everybody to try to do it in five minutes. But I think the task force has been courteous, whether its been in Buffalo or now on Long Island, to those who feel they have to go a little bit longer. MR. ESPADA: Thank you, Senator. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. The next speaker, I've been given a card that the assignment list was wrong. The second speaker is Maria Cuadra, who is representing Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez. I'm sorry. Thank you. Another member of the task force is here, Roman Hedges. And Roman if you want to make an opening comment. (Roman Hedges arrives at 10:40 a.m.) MR. HEDGES: It's good to be here. SENATOR SKELOS: Did you drive down from Albany. MR. HEDGES: Drive down from Albany and spent a lot of time on the Tappan Zee. SENATOR SKELOS: He's from Albany. Welcome. MS. CUADRA: Good morning. Good morning to everyone. I am Maria Cuadra and I am the Executive Director of COPAY Incorporated, the community organization for parents and youth. And COPAY is a member agency of the Hispanic Federation. I'm here to submit testimony from Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, President of the Hispanic Federation, as she was unable to attend this morning due to a prior commitment. Established in 1990, the Hispanic Federation is a membership organization which is comprised of 72 not-for-profit Latino health and human services agencies serving more than 1.5 million Latinos throughout the tri-state region. The Hispanic Federation's mission is to build and strengthen community-based organizations with provide Latinos with a wide variety of services and are dedicated to improving the conditions and the quality of life for families, for children, elderly and persons with disabilities. On Long Island, specifically, COPAY Incorporated, Adelante of Suffolk County, the Hispanic Counseling Center, Incorporated and Fuerza Unida De Glen Cove are Hispanic Federation member organizations that offer a wide array of life-improving services for the Latinos in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. While the Hispanic Federation is a member-driven entity, one of our key strategies is to advocate on behalf of the Latino community and to advance our collective interests. It has come to our attention that an alternative redistricting proposal has been submitted for the Long Island State Senate districts which would dissect the existing representational structure that has well served the region's Hispanic community. Pursuant to this plan, a new minority-concentrated district would be carved out of the existing framework members of the State Senate. The Hispanic Federation is resolute in its support of the creation of Assembly District 6 and of the retaining of the State Senatorial districts as proposed in the redistricting reports submitted by the Legislature and Co-chaired by Senator Dean Skelos. Moreover, the accessibility of quality healthcare is a issue of paramount importance for both the Hispanic Federation and the communities that we serve. As such, I would like to commend the tremendous leadership demonstrated by Long Island's State Senators and for their efforts to create State-supported programs that are designed to deliver low-cost, quality healthcare for working families, children and senior citizens. Senator Skelos, as the Chairman of the Senate's Aging Committee created the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program, also known as EPIC, in 1986. Thousands of Latino senior citizens have been helped to afford the spiraling cost of prescription medications. For this we thank you. Since then, the Senate, has fought for the State's Child Health Plus program, Family Health Plus and the recent expansion of the EPIC program have provided thousands of Latinos on Long Island, and across New York State, with ah happier and healthier and more productive lives. In addition, I would like to recognize the Long Island Senate delegations efforts to support the recently enacted Healthcare Reform Act which will further expand such accessibility and working with Dennis Rivera and 1199 will raise salaries for thousand of underpaid and overburdened hospital workers. This will ensure that patients receive the high-quality of care that they deserve. This is particularly important to the Hispanic community for many reasons including that there is a large contingent of Latinos who are employed at the State's world-class hospitals. Education has been recognized as the "silver-bullet" needed to address many of the ills that continue to afflict the Hispanic- American community. Given the truth of this statement, the Hispanic Federation would like to applaud the efforts of Long Island's nine representatives in the State Senate for their continued dedication to the advancement of all children, regardless of their race, their creed, or their school district. Through their collective efforts and influence, historic levels of State support have been provided to Long Island's students. As a member of the New York State Board of Regents, I am acutely aware of the financial challenges facing many of our underprivileged schools and, specifically, the Roosevelt school district. I would like to commend the efforts of Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. who has been particularly involved in both State and local efforts to address the serious financial situation facing Roosevelt. Beyond his words, I would like to applaud Senator Fuschillo's fine work and demonstrated support by securing in additional $1.4 million for the residents and children of the Roosevelt school district. As I just mentioned, the nine- member State Senate delegation has a sound track record of supporting local school districts on Long Island. To their credit, they have fought to increase State education aid by 46% on Long Island since 1995. In recognition of our higher regional cost factors, this figure exceeds the Statewide average. I would also like to reference their continued support for the less affluent school districts in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As a result, these communities receive dramatically more per pupil aid than their more prosperous neighbors. For example, the three school districts in Nassau County with a combined wealth ratio less than the State average receive over $6,365 per pupil State aid. This is markedly higher than the wealthier school districts that they border. Ultimately, State resources constitute over 57% of per pupil expenditures in Roosevelt and more than 44 percent in Hempstead and nearly 41% in Freeport. In Suffolk County, Wyandanch received $9,700 per pupil from the State or 62% of its total per pupil expenditures, with similar State investments in Brentwood, Central Islip and North Babylon. The numbers don't lie, the region's State Senators are doing their jobs and are fighting to ensure that disadvantaged communities receive the additional State aid that these students need to escape the cycle of poverty. While I would certainly support even more support for our schools, placing underprivileged school districts in sprawling minority-concentrated districts would effectively eliminate the potential for comparable figures in the future. In today's global, information- oriented economy, a complete and quality education -- MALE VOICE: Excuse me. MS. CUADRA: Yes. MALE VOICE: Is this supposed to be a forum for people to give their politics or to address the issue. Both these people haven't addressed the issue at all today. All they're talking about is thank you, thank you, thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: If you would. You know what, we indicated -- MALE VOICE: But they're not addressing the issue. She's going on talking about, I want to thank you. We support you. SENATOR SKELOS: You know what. We have tried to throughout the entire State, you may not like it, but quite honestly we've allowed people throughout the State, some of the hearings with over 120 people testifying, to speak what's on their mind. You may not like it, but the decision of this task force is to listen to everybody. And for them to say what they wish to say. MALE VOICE: This doesn't address the issue. SENATOR SKELOS: That's your opinion. MS. CUADRA: May I finish. I have just, not that much more. Okay. Technology investments are also vital to offering our children the skills they need to succeed in life. As such, I would like to recognize the work of Long Island's State Senators to provide school districts with resources for new commuters, internet access, networking and other important technology-based initiatives that are needed to provide our children with a strong foundation. To the same end, by adopting the Legislative task force's proposed lines of the Long Island's nine State Senate districts, we will further advance the vital and long-standing objectives of diversity and multi-culturalism, while ensuring that necessary resources are available to lift communities. The Hispanic Federation issued a report to the Hispanic electorate on March 12. The report indicated that although the Hispanic voters are registered, overwhelmingly, in the Democratic Party, they are more likely than most other ethnic groups to tell public opinion researchers that they are politically conservative, particularly on issues of family, gender and lifestyle. This report corroborates the findings of the last six surveys that were conducted by the Hispanic Federation. Hispanics vote for candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who they feel will support the issues that are important to our community. Take the 2001 Mayoral election, Hispanics were not as enthusiastic about the Democratic candidate as were African-Americans, 46% voted with the Republican candidate, and were among the key support needed to elect Michael Bloomberg as the Mayor of New York City. While, as an active member of the Democratic Party, I was not necessarily pleased with these results, the close nature of this election demonstrates the emerging importance of the "swing" Latino vote. The Hispanic Federation represents a wide variety of Latino organizations and their respective members and in no instance can I name a group that does not support better schools, the creation of quality jobs, the preservation of our environment and access to the nation's finest healthcare and a better life for our children. The Hispanic Federation has conducted a survey of over 1,000 Hispanics, over the past six years and education has always emerged as the most important issue for Latinos. The other two issues are employment and health. SENATOR SKELOS: Maria, could you please summarize. MS. CUADRA: I have just one paragraph to go and I'm done. These issues of primary concern reflect the hopes and dreams of every American. On behalf of the Hispanic Federation, I respectfully as the Legislative task force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment to encourage Governor Pataki and the New York State Legislature to adopt a responsible redistricting plan that maintains the core areas of Long Island's existing districts and that supports the creation of Assembly District 6 and preserves our nine State Senators. And I'd like to thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Howard Singerman. Is Howard here? Tom Watson. Is Mr. Watson here? Gil Bernardino. MR. BERNARDINO: Yes. SENATOR SKELOS: Gil. MR. BERNARDINO: Good morning. Dear Senator Skelos, Assemblyman William Parment and members of the task force. My name is Gil Bernardino and I am the founder and Executive Director of Circulo de la Hispanidad, a non- profit human service organization established 22 years ago. Circulo serves more than 10,000 families through more than 20 projects, out of two offices located in Long Beach and Hempstead. Working with Senator Dean Skelos over many years, I recognize his efforts to meet the need of Nassau County's Hispanic Community. Senator Skelos, with the support of Senator Hannon, was able to secure $1.5 million to purchase land located at Peninsula Boulevard, Hempstead, for what is going to be Circulo's Community Youth Center. This is the first center in our area that will serve tens of thousands of Nassau County Hispanics each year. In addition, every year Senator Skelos funds Circulo's project for children and youth of the Town of Hempstead. We oppose any notion to redistrict Senator Skelos's district as well as that of Senator Hannon. Senator Skelos, a friend and supporter of the Hispanic Community in Nassau County, also needs the cooperation of his colleagues of the Long Island delegation in the State Senate, where they are part of the majority, to keep supporting our legitimate causes and aspirations. Additionally, the underlying fallacy of the alternative proposal submitted by the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats, and several other individuals and organizations is that the African-American and Hispanic populations vote together as a block. This is simply not the case. Can you please quiet. SENATOR SKELOS: You know, I'm going to ask you, please not to interrupt. MR. BERNARDINO: Listen, you bothered me, please be quiet. Okay. MALE VOICE: All I said -- MR. BERNARDINO: Can you please ask this guy to be thrown out over here. What is your problem? MALE VOICE: My problem is, you have it in writing, the Senator said it has as much weight in writing as speaking. Why do you have to take up time for this. SENATOR SKELOS: Because he wants to speak. MR. BERNARDINO: Listen, I want to make a statement and I have the right to make the statement as well as you do. MALE VOICE: You're not giving up the opportunity. MR. BERNARDINO: While our communities share many common interests, this does out mean that our political involvement is identical. For example, my knowledge and understanding of the Hispanic Community would strongly suggest that Nassau County's Senate members, especially Senators Skelos and Hannon, receive in excess of 50 percent of the Hispanic vote in their districts. I am also extremely concerned that the needs of the communities combined under the alternative proposal would be too great for one individual to fairly or adequately represent. Further, it is obvious to even the most casual political observer that the two new districts created under this plan are intended to elect a Democrat. in all likelihood, such an individual would be in the minority of the State Senate and, ultimately, without the necessary clout or seniority to address the needs of such communities. It is my view that the current configuration, as well as that recommended by the task force, provides these communities with the highest level of representation possible. If changes in the Senatorial districts take place, we, Hispanics, will have to begin to again develop new relationships. Furthermore, we face the possibility of not getting the support we need in the future if Senator Skelos isn't a part of the majority in the New York State Senate. For all these reasons, we ask that the current districts remain intact. Thank you for your consideration. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Are there any questions? Thank you very much. Larry Meneses. Is Larry here? MR. BERNARDINO: If you don't like it leave. SENATOR SKELOS: Hey, hey, hey, Gil. MR. MENESES: I'm talking now. Hello, hello. I'm okay. Senator Skelos, Senator Parment, the members of the task force, the very agitated and activist public that are here today to listen on this very important issue, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. I'd like to take a few moments today to state that the Minority Senatorial Districts as proposed by the Nassau and Suffolk Counties Black Caucus', the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club and others are unworthy of support for those who are interested in Hispanic political empowerment. In fact, contrary to their stated purpose, this proposed redistricting will adversely affect and impact Hispanics in both counties and cause more harm than good. I'm Larry Meneses and I'm the Chairman of the New York State Chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. I've had the singular honor to have been a founding member of both the Nassau County and the Suffolk County Republican National Hispanic Assembly Chapters. In addition to my political activities, I've served as Chairman of the Nassau County Economic Opportunity Commission, the Nassau County Hispanic Foundation, the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association, Attalante (phonetic) of Suffolk County and I'm the former Executive Director of Lovenya (phonetic) Hispanica. These organizations are all local community-based not-for-profit 501-c-3 organizations and they're providing vital services throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. I've also served on the Charter Revision Commission of both counties and was the former Vice Chairman of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission. Currently, I'm a member of the Suffolk County Hispanic Advisory Board. Recently I earned a Masters of Science and Community Economic Development, a discipline that focuses on the strategies local communities can employ to empower their residents and institutions. This extensive political community, governmental and educational experience allows me to have a particularly incisive view into the close working relationships between Long Island's State Senators and the many Hispanic communities in both counties. Two specific instances come to mind. One, originating in Nassau County involved the Work Place project, an immigrant workers rights organizations that was lobbying for the passage of stiffer penalties for employers who violated fair labor standards. The Executive Director called me because the Bill's Assembly sponsors needed a Senate sponsor for a Companion Bill. Working closely with Senators Skelos and Marcellino, the Republican National Hispanic Assembly was able to point out the importance of this bill to the Hispanic community throughout the state and was able to get their commitment to seeing this Bill enacted into law. Because of this Bill, immigrant workers received better protections from an ethical employer who forced them to work excessive hours without receiving overtime pay or who at the end of an employment period, choose to stiff these workers from their earned pay. In Suffolk County, both Senators Trunzo and Johnson have had amicable, responsive and helpful relationships with the Hispanic community for many years. Their support was significant to Adelante (phonetic) of Suffolk County's attempt to build a civic and cultural center. Today this center houses vital services to the community, including supportive housing, youth development and computer training. Both Senators have been honored by Adelante for their contributions to the organization and the Hispanic community. And without their help, I doubt that this center would have ever been constructed. These have been two of the many examples where Long Island Republican Senators have worked closely with Hispanic advocates to affect change that benefitted Hispanic interest. It's this consistent quality of service and attention that has generated a close relationship between the party and the Senators and the community. Hispanic Republicans are a vital component to the Hispanic community and their numbers are steadily increasing. The recent presidential election where one in three Hispanics voted for President Bush and the recent mayoral election where nearly half of Hispanics supported Mayor Bloomberg, indicate that this group is politically active and empowered. The districts proposed by the Black Caucus and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club create changes that fail to ensure that a minority candidate will be elected while creating confusion amongst the constituency by needlessly rearranging district lines. By pairing off incumbents, the sponsors reveal their true intentions which are nothing but a brazen power grab to achieve what they cannot achieve through the electoral process. During my studies in economic development, I have studied hierarchial management, horizontal management, team management, management by conflict and other modern day management theory. But exactly what management theory calls for the removing half of your season and time tested management team and replacing them with inexperience and unproven persons. The answer to that question is none and no thinking person should support any such proposal. The New York State Chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly rejects the proposal offered by the Black Caucus's and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club. We reject the brand of politics that promote the notion that a person is more affective in their job solely because of their race and we support our Republican Senators. We will continue to fight for the rights of Long Island's Hispanic communities who are well represented by their Legislative leaders. The promises that the Caucus's and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club may glitter but they are not gold. These promises are nothing more than pyrite, more commonly known as fools gold. Don't be fooled and don't allow yourselves to be railroaded into making decisions that will harm the Hispanic community. Thank you very much. MR. BONILLA: Just one question. Mr. Meneses, just one question. MR. MENESES: Yes, Mr. Bonilla. MR. BONILLA: I don't know if you can answer this but, do you have an opinion whether the Hispanics and African-Americans vote together as a voting block? MR. MENESES: Well, I tell you, I think we take a look at the presidential election where 32 percent of Hispanics voted for President Bush and something like eight percent voted for President Bush. I think you'll see some certain disparities there. Certainly that issue is driven home in the recent mayoral election where again there is a great disconnect between both communities and who they're supporting for mayor. So, I would have to say it really depends, but there certainly plenty of statistical and research available that shows that the two communities you mentioned do not walk in lock step with one another. MR. BONILLA: Thank you. SENATOR DOLLINGER: Just one question, if I may. Do you have any data about how they vote here on Long Island. MR. MENESES: Yes. As a matter -- Well we don't have any specific data. There was a study that was produced by Dr. Carlos Vidal at Stoneybrook. It really was kind of inconclusive. I think that what we see, and certainly I can speak about a great tradition of Hispanics voting with Republican party. I think that the County Executive in this party enjoys a lot of support from the Hispanic-American community and I think that -- SENATOR DOLLINGER: But you don't have any -- MR. MENESES: Certainly in Brentwood, when Brentwood pulls out the large numbers it does for Senator Trunzo, obviously a hell of a lot of Hispanics are voting for him. SENATOR DOLLINGER: Okay. But you don't have any specific data that you can offer us other than -- MR. MENESES: No, not at this moment. I think you'll hear that later on in the afternoon. SENATOR DOLLINGER: Okay. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Any questions. Leonardo Fernandez. Is Mr. Fernandez here? Sylvia Diaz. Is Sylvia here? Jimi Perez. Mr. Perez? MR. PEREZ: Good morning. My name is Jimi Perez. I'm a resident of the Village of Hempstead. I would like to discuss, briefly, the support of education, especially for education, in the Hempstead school district by the Long Island Senator delegation during the past decade. I come to this topic, not only as a 32 year resident of the Village of Hempstead, but also as an individual who served on the Board of Education of the Hempstead school district for three years. From both the standpoint of being a resident and having been a trustee, I feel the greatest mission government has is to provide a quality education for all. In Hempstead, we have many challenges; single parent families, latchkey children and so on. But none so daunting as the education of children from other countries, especially Hispanics and Latino countries. Those not familiar with the educational challenge will think that the language teaching to students verse only in Spanish. Actually the challenge is far deeper. Many, and I say many, in our Village need to, not only to learn English, but also to have every medial education program as the education as their home country is insufficient compared to the content of the Hempstead curricular. Legally for the immigrant young Hispanic, we need it, a need to find the resources for English, for English as a second language and for catching up the 14 or 15 year old who soon will be facing the job market where the elementary skills in the U.S. may be far more demanding than his or her country. My own State Senator Hannon, has devoted considerable time and effort to the particular problems of the Hempstead school district. Especially those we faced during the early part of the 1990's. Years of neglect of the physical plant, accompanied by the economy recession of those years crimped the state educational resources and caused managerial turmoil in the district. Mr. Hannon was steadfast in applying time, personal involvement and an unity in helping resolve the challenges. Talk of a state takeover evaporated with the coming together of the community, the school board, and the New York State Education Department, which was far too quick to suggest the end of local decision making and the imposition of the State Education Department. With the successful passage of a bond issue to resolve the physical plan problems and the introduction of a managery court to implement the needed changes in procedures, we enter into the continued discussions about Hempstead education challenges, some of which I mentioned above. And the need to increase the funding to Hempstead schools. Special Legislation has been passed to establish a separate equalization rate for the Hempstead school district so the equalization rate of the Hempstead Town, as opposed to Hempstead Village, would now be used in the school aid formula. The Town of Hempstead had approximately 800,000 residents and the Village of Hempstead had approximately 51,000 residents during the 1990's. Under the usual rule for school aid in New York, the town equalization rate is used for all districts located within the town when it comes to the determining real property wealth for school aid purposes. Since the greater the wealth, the less the state school aid. If the town equalization rate were to be used, than the Hempstead school district will be penalized. With the passage of the Hannon Legislation, the practical result was the wealth of the surrounding communities was not attributed to our district and thus our actual needs were addressed and higher came to the district. Other examples of special steps exists, such as the Institute for Student Achievement, a school within a school in a school in the Hempstead district for the kids with the biggest challenges. But I would like to focus on a larger picture of both the general support of a school aid by the Nassau and Suffolk Senators, as well as the support for those districts with extraordinary needs such as Hempstead. While the New York budget is perenishly late for a host of -- it's not working -- yes it is, okay -- in explicable resource to those of us, thank you sir, for those of us on the outside, I believe it is safe to say that only one delegation of Senators ever took up on themselves to hold up the budget by withholding the votes and the reason, not enough school financial aid to Long Island districts. In recent years the Senators representing Long Island have worked to increase a state education aid by approximately 46 percent since 1995. SENATOR SKELOS: We could start moving towards conclusion. MR. PEREZ: Yes, sir. SENATOR SKELOS: I appreciate it. MR. PEREZ: Wow, it has taken so long, huh. I'll try to be very brief. On behalf of the Hispanic community, I would like to support the proposal of the Senate Majority for the betterment of all our communities. Please take this into consideration when you caste your vote. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Ricardo LaRosa. MR. LAROSA: Good morning. Ladies -- hello -- Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ricardo LaRosa, a long life resident of 966 Braxton Street, Uniondale. Hablo Spanol (phonetic). I'm a taxpayer and a voter and we do vote. The proposal by the Democrat, the Black Democrats, okay, is really appalling to us. It's not only patronizing, but it's insulting. To think that Blacks and Hispanics vote in unison is not true at all. And they don't even take into consideration the other sub-ethnics, for example, the Haitians, the Jamaicans, the Koreans, the Chinese, and in particular Uniondale, which are growing rapidly. Okay. They don't even take those entities into consideration. I thought that the days of racial gerrymandering was over. I guess not. Okay. Welcome to Long Island politics from a Democratic perspective. What that does is, they put, for example, the communities of Roosevelt, Hempstead, Uniondale, New Castle, okay, in the pretext of forming a minority district, okay, and that is not true. It is not a minority. It is just for their own political expediency. Okay. That's the only way they can get a seat in the Senate, perhaps. But that's appalling to us. And in respect of a political affiliation, State Senator Hannon and Dean Skelos, who is present here, Senator, have been a loyal friend to the Hispanic communities. Okay. Giving us money where other politicians, Democrat and Republican, have not given us the opportunity. Okay. We can't afford, our communities cannot afford to lose State Senator Hannon and Skelos. Again, irrespective of the political affiliations. Okay. And I want to take the opportunity to say that, yes the Hispanics, I believe, we're now the largest minority on Long Island. Okay. We still have a lot to learn as far as getting out there and voting, but we're going to get our acts together and we do vote. So, please, when you do make that final decision, gentlemen, please keep in mind what all the residents here are saying, because we're watching. Okay. We're watching. The voters are watching and please those days of politics as usual have to be done with. Let's do the right thing for our communities. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Reverend Reyes. Brandon Cruz. MR. CRUZ: Good morning. Ladies and gentlemen and members of the task force, my name is Brandon Cruz. I am an attorney in Garden City and currently living in Glen Cove, a present resident. My office practice is in criminal defense, negligence and commercial litigation and approximately 75 percent of our clients are of Hispanic ethnic background. I personally represent hundreds of Hispanic residents of Nassau and Suffolk County each year and interact with them throughout my representation. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak here today on this critical issue of reapportionment. I have read a lot about competitive elections and the clash of ideas, which are ideals that those in support of the alternate redistricting plan support. I submit, however, that the proposed reapportionment will prevent the achievement of these ideals as to minority communities and particularly the Hispanics in Nassau County. It incorrectly assumes that all minorities vote alike. Hispanics do not always vote the same as African-Americans or even each other for that matter. My personal involvement with hundreds of Nassau County Hispanic and Hispanics each year, has demonstrated to me that there is a vast diversity of opinions and ideas. We cannot be considered as a single voice. The proposed reapportionment will dilute Hispanic participation and relevance in the political process. It will stifle competitive elections and the clash of ideas. The Hispanic vote, I believe, will be overshadowed by the concentration and unity of opinions and ideas of African-Americans that has been demonstrated in these communities. This transparent, and I believe, misguided attempt to ensure a Senatorial seat to the Democrats must be prevented, must not be permitted at the expense of the continual growth, advancement, relevance and importance of the Hispanics in Nassau County. Hispanics vote for Republicans, because Republicans understand their needs and their concerns. The effectiveness of Republican delegates in the Senate from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties cannot be understated. Senators Fuschillo, Skelos, Balboni and Hannon continually prove to be positive and successful advocates for minorities in these areas. In areas such as housing, welfare and education. Their achievements cannot be disputed. Their clear desire to assist the Hispanic community cannot be disputed. Projects such as the planning and financing of the Circulo dela Espanidad (phonetic) Youth Center in Hempstead cannot be overlooked. On the other hand, what can we expect from a lone Democrat in communities where crime and economic distress is pervasive. This one district, which I believe will become the ghetto district, everyone knows that these areas that will be sectioned off into one district, are areas of the highest minority populations. Areas which are plagued with crime and economic distress. I personally visit these areas every single day, I am in these areas, with clients. I see the conditions. I see the people. I see what goes on. Call it what you want, I'm going to tell it like it is. These communities need help and they're not going to get it by cutting them off from the strong communities that surround them. Leaving them without Legislative experience and clout that they now have. The Hispanic community leaders have relationships with their Legislators that have taken years to develop. These relationships will necessarily be severed if we follow the alternate redistricting plan. This is an undesirable result and I believe it is disastrous. For these reasons, I support the Senate Majority task forces plan and I oppose the alternate redistricting plan proposed by the Caucus of Black Democrats. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Are there any questions? Thank you. Dr. Sonya Bradley. Dr. Bradley here? Nester Chopping. Is Nester here? Mario Sanchez. MR. SANCHEZ: I'm going to get kicked out anyway and because of a transcended citizen, I have to leave because my para-transit bus is coming. SENATOR SKELOS: Seretta McKnight. MR. SANCHEZ: I just want to say that if this is not a political thing, than how come we haven't had -- SENATOR SKELOS: Would you please leave. MR. SANCHEZ: -- a Democratic representative -- SENATOR SKELOS: Please -- MR. SANCHEZ: -- of the Senate in how long. So is this really a political thing, yes. And let me tell you something else, Dean Skelos, sir, you're a great man and it's not because you're Republican, it's because you're a great man. And you would be great no matter what district you're in. So, if all you people want to sit here and listen to this and listen to everybody's personal agenda, God bless you. Have a nice day. SENATOR SKELOS: Sereta McKnight. Welcome. MS. MCKNIGHT: Good morning. My name is Seretta C. McKnight and I live in the unincorporated Village of Roosevelt located in the First Councilmanic District in the Town of Hempstead, the first Legislative district in the County of Nassau, the 18th Assembly, 8th Senatorial and 4th Congretional districts on Long Island in the State of New York. And just allow me, if you will gentlemen, to reflect for a moment that, as a second grader at the Harry Daniels Primary School in Roosevelt, I remember taking a class trip to the Park Avenue Fire House and it wasn't long after school had started in preparation for fire prevention week. And although I cannot remember the particulars of the trip, how long it lasted, what day of the week it was or how many were in my class, one memory is as vivid today as it was than. I can remember looking at the pictures on the wall of four men present firemen and asking why none of them looked like my daddy. That was over three and a half decades ago. And as I come before this distinguished body today as I did nine months and four days ago, it is incumbent upon me to note for the record that I don't see a single person of color on this task force, which is if I understand correctly, charged with conducting these public hearings for the purposes of redistricting with an outcome, I hope, of eliminating the racial gerrymandering evidenced by the Senate lines drawn in New York State in general and on Long Island in particular, as a result of the 1917, 1980 and 1990 census data. If as citizens, we have a right to fair and effective representation and their are elected officials of color and woman in both Houses of the New York State Legislature, than why in this process which will have a major impact on how every citizen and community will be represented at the state and federal levels of government for the next ten years, there is no diversity, no representation, no inclusiveness on this task force of the very people who are most affected by these lines, is extremely troubling to me. And the same calls into question whether or not the testimony provided is actually going to be considered and subsequently utilized when drawing the lines. The redistricting patterns of the past three decades on Long Island in general and in Nassau County specifically, suggests not. However, as an American, my ancestors have set the example of the necessity of our people, of people of color, to think and act outside of the box. From the African Diaspora through slavery and reconstruction through Jim Crow, segregation and integration, we have thought outside of the box. The same has contributed to the growth and greatness of America. The same process, thinking outside of the box, allows me to stand before this body and challenge you to draw the lines based upon life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all of the people in the State of New York, in general in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in particular. My community of Roosevelt is part of a group of communities which are contiguous, Freeport, Baldwin, South Hempstead, Hempstead, West Hempstead, Lakeview and Uniondale. We share a common interest in quality of life issues. However, we are divided, split up, between the 8th and 6th Senatorial districts. If we add to this occasion other common interest communities with high concentrations of people of color, like New Cassel, Westbury, Elmont, South Floral Park and North Valley Stream, we find a further dilution of our voting strength as the latter are located in the 7th and 9th Senatorial districts. Adding insult to injury, in my one square mile community of Roosevelt located in the 18th Assembly district, the incumbent is proposing the further dilution of our voting strength by cutting out two of our most active election districts and part of Freeport, placing us in Merrick, which does not share the concerns and issues of our contiguous community. If I may call this body into remembrance, at the June 14 hearing last year the record reflects the likemindedness of the two elected officials occupying the seats from the 18th Assembly district and 8th Senatorial district. Namely, Assemblywoman Earlene Hill Hooper and Senator Charles Fuschillo, a Democrat and a Republican. I believe, Chairman Skelos, that you called it a cohesiveness between their two opinions with respect to them advocating the disenfranchisement, the taking away of the right to vote in Roosevelt, with their proposed removal of the Board of Education as an educational reform measure. And now it would appear that these incumbents are once again cohesive in their proposals to further dilute the voting strength of the constituents they are supposed to represent. Are these two the examples for the power of incumbency or for the Legislative abuse of the power of incumbency? In New York State, the largest single category of local and state government expenditure is education. Clearly from the CFE litigation, it is obvious that the state is at fault in not addressing the inequities in the state aid funding formulas. We know that funding for local school districts is the largest single item in the budget. And on Long Island and Nassau and Suffolk County, school districts of color, don't have the resources of neighboring, white districts. Our district for example of Roosevelt and Wyandanch are low wealth and high tax with virtually no commercial base and we know that those commercial base is eroded with white flight. The issues are 99 percent lack of fiscal resources. For example, one or even two State Senatorial Districts in which minority voting power is solidified, would allow for a state representative to advocate for resources that eliminate the NIMBY syndrome, you know, the not in my backyard because they would need the votes of that constituency for reelection. In my district because we are split and our voting strength is diluted, the incumbent is unconcerned with empowering our community. I dare you to draw the lines to expand the voting power of people of color, specifically those of African decent. I dare you to unify and not divide naturally contiguous, light communities of interest so they may have a strong voice through the one person, one vote principal. I challenge this Task Force to think outside the box. I dare this body not to be motivated by the desires of an incumbent driven New York State Legislature. I challenge this body to aspire to greatness and embrace the Constitution of the United States and the court imposed decisions which brought New York State into compliance with the one person, one vote court rulings. Don't be constricted by the box which defined the twentieth century. Think outside of it and act accordingly. In this new century, this new millennium, I challenge this body to refuse to continue to undermine democracy by continuing the past practice of splitting minority communities as evident by the lack of representation of the issues of concern in these communities in the New York State Senate. This body should allow for shared interests communities to be full participants in the democratic process by drawing lines that are indicative of the same. I dare you to have the courage and compassion of my ancestors. I dare you to struggle, dare to win, no struggle, no victory. Luta Contnua. The struggle continues. I dare you to be great. And I thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. SENATOR BONILLA: Miss Knight, Miss Knight. I want to apologize to everyone perhaps in my opening statement I was not clear. My parents are both from Puerto Rico, born and raised in Puerto Rico. I am born and raised here. I am what many Latinos would consider a New Yorkan. I like to consider myself a person of color. So just in the event that I was not clear I am on this panel. You certainly have my ear, no question. MS. MCKNIGHT: And certainly, brother Bonilla -- SENATOR BONILLA: Me too. I'm under the weather so -- MS. MCKNIGHT: Brother Bonilla, I wasn't here for your opening statements. And although I can appreciate you being there, I submit to you for consideration that on the struggles of people of African descent, my Hispanic brothers and sisters and cousins, such as you, mi famiglia, have been able to achieve based upon the work that we have laid, the struggle that we have laid, the blood that we have shed. So therefore, if we are going to talk in terms of inclusiveness and protocol and doing the right thing, than certainly I believe there is room at the table and space for me to be reflected as I sit and look at you. SENATOR BONILLA: Amen. MS. MCKNIGHT: So I thank you kindly. SENATOR SKELOS: Is there any other questions? MS. MCKNIGHT: Chairman, anything for me today? SENATOR SKELOS: Are there any questions? MS. MCKNIGHT: No, Mr. Chairman, nothing for me today? SENATOR SKELOS: I have no questions. You said it all. Mr. Patrick Halpin. MR. HALPIN: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate this opportunity to address you and discuss the proposed Legislative Districts for the Senate and Assembly. As a former member of the Assembly from 1982 to 1987 and the former County Executive of Suffolk County, I appreciate the importance, as well as, the difficulty of this undertaking which will have a significant impact on the individual communities and our region of Long Island. The first observation I want to offer is to commend the Task Force for not making large wholesale changes in Long Island Senatorial District lines. Where possible, you have attempted to preserve Senate Districts as we've known them for the last decade. Without exception, our Long Island Senate Delegation has been very responsive to the needs of our region, as well as, the many communities they represent. And I attribute that to the fact that there has been a continuity in representation. And that the districts have not been torn apart and gerrymandered every ten years. The result is strong connections between the numerous constituencies, interest groups, school districts, political subdivisions, communities and their elected Senate representatives. Accountability requires that constituents know who's representing them. Large changes to district lines will result in a lot of confusion. So it is an important goal to maintain district lines as close to the previous lines as possible while achieving the goal of equal representation required of reapportionment. Take the eighth Senatorial District as an example. That covers the South Shore of Nassau and part of Suffolk. It was represented by former Senator Norman Levy for many years and now by Senator Fuschillo. And both, over the years, have been very responsive to the needs and the concerns of South Shore communities making up that district. As a Senate District that straddles Nassau and Suffolk Counties, a suburban district made up of single family homeowners, that value education, good schools, a healthy environment, strong communities and when it comes to education, the Senators had been champions for their district over the years. Senator Levy and now Senator Fuschillo, have provided an enormous amount of funding for programs that I'm affiliated with, for example, the Institute for Student Achievements, STAR and COMET program. We're an organization whose mission is it to improve the quality of education for children and youth at risk so that they can succeed in our society. On Long Island, our programs operate in Roosevelt and Hempstead and the Wyandanch School Districts. In Roosevelt Schools, which was our first program, the STAR program works with kids who the schools identify as most likely to fail and drop out. And this year we expect 91 percent of our seniors to graduate in June, the remainder in August and these are children who at ninth grade the school said were going to drop out. Ninety three percent of the STAR graduates plan to go to college, 93 percent. Senator Fuschillo has also created internships in his office for Roosevelt students. The students have found it to be a tremendous experience, increasing their interest in public service. And the institute receives similar support from Senator Hannon, for our program in Hempstead and from Senator Johnson for the Wyandanch STAR and COMET program run by ISA. And while I'm on the subject of education, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Senator Fuschillo recently obtained $1.4 million, a special grant for the Roosevelt School District providing funds to prevent the lay off of teachers and the elimination of full day kindergarten. That needs to be noted for the record. And he and Assemblywoman Hooper are working together to develop a long term plan to bring financial and educational stability to the Roosevelt District and we hope that's part of the budget that you're working on now. That Senate District is also important for another reason. It stretches from Nassau into Suffolk. It is a bi-county Senate District. The major issues of Long Island don't vary from one county to another, especially Western Suffolk and Nassau County. Issues affecting transportation, the Long Island Railroad, the great South Bay, Senior Citizens, housing, primary and secondary education, higher education, transcend county lines. They're important regional concerns. And by definition a Senate District that covers both counties is a big plus for those of us seeking regional solutions to our regional problems. A Senator from this District must be a regional advocate and history has shown that to be true. And finally I'd like to address the call for the creation of a Senate District in Nassau and Western Suffolk that is majority, minority. I can't imagine what a District like that would look like to accomplish such a goal. It would be a textbook case of gerrymandering to weave together dispirit communities. But setting gerrymandering aside, such a District would weaken the ability of the Long Island Delegation to advocate for resources to address the needs of minority communities. You'd be creating a District where only one Senator, one Senator would bear the responsibility and the burden. The unintended consequence would be that resources would be diminished not increased. The logic is simple. Today we have six or seven Senators who have the responsibility of representing communities that have significant minority populations. The scenarios I've seen would reduce that to one Senator. In every Legislature in the United States, you need to have a majority to get anything accomplished. It's true in New York too. I would prefer to have six advocates or seven advocates in the Senate rather than just one. Furthermore, the issues and concerns of families on Long Island are the same regardless of race. People want good schools, they want safe neighborhoods, clean healthy environment, lower taxes and home ownership. And one last point on the subject. I've been in public life a long time. I've heard the argument that a district that is drawn to create a majority, minority would provide better representation. On Long Island, that might be true for smaller Legislative districts like the Assembly, the County Legislature or town council districts as long as they are compact and contiguous. But even there it depends on the quality of individual elected official. For Long Island Senate districts with a population of 305,000 people, one can't make that case successfully. The town of Babylon, where I live, there is about 200,000 people, the entire town of Babylon. Over the years, I was elected with the support of the Democratic Party and I served with Senators who were elected with the support of the Republican Party. To get things done for all our constituents, we worked together and did so successfully every day. Never once was there ever a consideration of an issue or a concern where race was a factor. Thank you for your consideration. SENATOR SKELOS: Any questions? Philip Goldstein. Is Mr. Goldstein here? MR. GOLDSTEIN: Yes. SENATOR SKELOS: Welcome. MR. GOLDSTEIN: Point number one, the government of the State of New York is the property of the people of the State of New York, not of the Democrat and Republican Parties. This redistricting in which you engage makes a mockery of the democratic process. It is incumbency protection. You draw the lines in such a way and strike a deal to ensure that the Republicans continue to maintain a majority in the State Senate, while the Democrats continue to maintain a majority in the Assembly. We have the costliest Legislature in the nation, because in order to get something done you've got to payoff both parties in member items. Education is a basic right of the people. It goes hand in hand with our concepts of democracy. Yet, the minority communities are constantly STAR and the Senate, and I shouldn't just blame the Senate, it's the system itself that is rotten. In the 1970's the courts of this state said that funding education is flawed. The system stinks and it needs to be revised. But the court said, it is not incumbent upon us to make this revision. It is the responsibility of the Legislature. Yet the Legislature has failed in its obligation to the people of the State of New York to preform the necessary function. You're more interested in fighting between yourselves over how you're going to divide up the pie and it's a sad commentary to see people have to come here, I thought feudalism died in the 1500's, but they have to come and bend their knee and doff their cap in order to hope that you will grant them some additional funding. They behave like the white knight on horse. The State Senators come riding into their district and say, oh, do you need more money. Well just remember on election day it was I who granted you these additional funds. And so therefore we see the State Senator from the Bronx, who was originally a Democrat, but who recognizes the real politic of the Legislature and who changes party in order to do something to enhance the opportunities for his children in the Bronx. It is shameful. It is wrong. You all ought to be ashamed of the matter in which you conduct the affairs of this state. It will not be alien invaders, nor will it be foreign ideologies that brings this nation to its knees. It will be the misconduct of our government officials. Look at the voting record. How few people actually participate in the elections. We can barely get half the voting age population to participate in a presidential election. And in the off year elections, when we're voting on members of the Legislature, it's more likely to be one third of the voting population. You have alienated the people. They no longer have trust in the system. And I can site you countless other examples where the system is failing. And this is just a magicians trick. You attract the publics attention. Oh, we're having public hearings. And somebody said, you know, how much reality is there in these public hearings. What impact will the statements of these people make on the decisions that you make. And it's highly unlikely they'll have any impact at all. You'll do what you want to do regardless of what was being said here. You call yourselves public servants. You have an obligation to serve the interest of the public. Not to be Machiavelle (phonetic) and manipulate us. Not to set one minority community against another minority. Most Blacks and Latinos have a shared common interest. They want their children to be able to climb the ladder of opportunity that this country has offered other groups in the past. And we all know the history of the Black community and how they have suffered to prepare this nation to face up to its obligation. And you shame us with the kind of partisan political manipulation that goes on here. Where you set them one against the other. It's like throwing scraps off the table to a pack of hungry dogs. Who's going to get the juicy piece of meat and who's going to wind up with the bones. Gentlemen, wake up. You have an obligation. You are setting the scene for the next ten years. Do what is right. Not what is in the interest of your partisan political organization and do not turn people into serfs, where they have to come on bended knee with doff cap in order to try to get the resources that their community deserves. SENATOR SKELOS: Valerie Clerico. Is Valerie here? Helen Goldman. Oh, Valerie, okay. MS. CLERICO: Good morning. My name is Valerie Clerico and I am appearing before you as a resident of North Valley Stream, as President of the Valley Stream District Educational Foundation Incorporated and as a Trustee of District 13 School Board and as Vice President of the Valley Stream Central High School District. I am here to speak on one simple topic, the education of our children, Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Thomas Alfano. Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Alfano have brought record school aid to my school districts. With this money, computers were purchased, programs were funded, the infrastructure of buildings and playgrounds were maintained. If you remove Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Alfano from their respective Legislative districts, 30 years of collective governmental experience and relationships will be lost. My community is racially and ethnically diverse. My schools are dedicated to bringing a cohesive education to children of over 30 ethnic backgrounds. Please don't bring division where unity has been created. I am opposed to the alternative plan being advocated by the Nassau County Black Democrats, the Suffolk County Black Democrats and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club. I fully support the Long Island Senatorial Legislative task force district plan. Please bring continuity of representation and as Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Alfano as the Senator of education of children. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Any questions? Helen Goldman. MS. GOLDMAN: Good morning. My name is Helen Goldman. I'm a 28 year resident of North Valley Stream. Through the years I've been active in PTA, committee for special education, two five year plans for education for the Sawanicha High School district, school board and community organizations. Our successfully unique community of North Valley Stream takes pride in our uniqueness. We are diverse, both in ethnicity and culturally. I have come with letters to submit from friends and neighbors, all members of the community of North Valley Stream, some of whom have been living in the community for many years and others who recently moved into North Valley Stream because of inclusion. These members could not be present today, but would like their wishes considered as follows: We're happy with the proposal of the task force that allows Senator Skelos to continue to represent our united community. However, we are dismayed that our community may be split and Assemblyman Alfano will only be representing a portion of North Valley Stream. We feel that continuity of representation is vital to our community and our children. I respectfully request that the task force affirm the Senate, the State Senate Proposal and reconfigure the State Assembly proposal leaving the district intact. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Steven -- Yes, thank you. Steven Kutner. Reginald Perry. MR. PERCY: Thank you. And my name is Percy, not Perry. I am a resident of North Valley Stream and I am a business manager of a fleet bank. I been living in Valley Stream now for the better part of about 12 years. I'm an African-American and I vote my conscience. I first moved from my home in the inserpt where there were many justifications for my move, but the reason is really quite simple. I wanted a better life for my wife and my young children. I wanted safe streets, clean parks and secure home. My kids deserve a quality education and my friends whose parents share the same values advocate by my wife and myself. Since moving here, I have voted for Senator Skelos and I want to continue to vote for him in the future. I did not vote for the Senator or Assemblyman because of his heritage, his creed or the color of his skin. I noticed that everyone talked a lot about Black and Latino and so on and so forth, first I think we should look at each other as people and look at me as a man, not just a Black man. Frankly, those factors are irrelevant, insulting to my intelligence and deviled the pillars that support our democratic form of government. I voted for the Senator and the Assemblyman because they both have served the needs of my family and my neighborhoods. I will stop voting for him if he stops serving his constituency, because the bottom line is, it's not about whether or not somebody is a Democrat or a Republican, as we all tend to do here or whether somebody is Black or White, it's about if that persons actually really doing what they say they would do. And so far I have no complaint at all for Senator Skelos or the Assemblyman Alfano. I am however, opposed to the alternative plan being advocated by the Nassau County Black Democrats, the Suffolk County Black Democrats and the Brentwood Hispanic Democrat Club. I fully, I repeat, I fully support the Long Island Senatorial Legislative task force district plan. As you finalize the task force recommendation to the State Legislator, gentleman please keep in mind that Senator Skelos and the Assemblyman Alfano remain, remain and continue to represent us in Albany. And I thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Any questions. Thank you very much for coming. Arnoux Thulisma. T-h-u-l-, I can't see whether it's an I or an A. T-h-u-l-l- s-m-a. John Sullivan. MR. SULLIVAN: Good morning. My name is John Sullivan. I've lived in Elmont in Nassau County since 1966. And I'm here today representing the Aldon Manor Civic Association, an organization of homeowners in Elmont. Our civic association members reside within current Assembly District 22. Our Assemblyman is Tom Alfano and our State Senator is you, Mr. Chairman. People who know Elmont, know that it is a community of active, knowledgeable people. Elmont civic associations, its veterans groups, its charitable groups, its school based groups consist of people who make it their business, not only to find out what is going on, but also to positively affect what is going on. Elmont right now has its act together. People from Northeast Elmont know, review issues and work with people from Southwest Elmont. In fact, in Elmont, Northeast and Southwest have no significant meaning. There is one Elmont. So it is with consternation, that we in Elmont look at the proposed Assembly district lines, which wiggle their way through our community, and divide us between two New York State Assembly districts, the proposed Districts 14 and 21. These days Elmont does quite well with one Hempstead town councilmanic district for all of Elmont and with one Nassau County Legislative district for all of Elmont. Why is it than proposed that Elmont not continue wholly within one Assembly district. The year 2000 census indicated that Elmont has about 30,000 residents, about the same number reported by the year 1960 census. The diversification of Elmont during the past 40 years has brought much benefit to Elmont. The Aldon Manor civic association hopes that the proposal to split Elmont between two Assembly districts, is not for the purpose of balancing a less diversified nearby Assembly district. On the contrary, the beneficial diversification of Elmont over the last four decades, should provide an additional reason to maintain all of Elmont in one Assembly district. We urge you to re-examine your proposed Assembly district lines for Elmont and the validity of the reasons for doing so and than once again bring all of Elmont into one Assembly district. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Roger Corbin. Mr. Corbin? MR. CORBIN: Mr. Chairman, I would like to invite my colleague, Patrick Williams up here for the purpose of demonstrating what representation means, if it's all right with the Chair. SENATOR SKELOS: Sure. MR. CORBIN: Patrick. Also I would like to invite our Councilwoman, Dorothy Goosby up here. Thank you. While Ms. Goosby is coming, Mr. Chairman, I've heard our distinguished Assemblyman from Plattsburg, which a friend of mine went to Plattsburg University and I used to come to that town all the time. It takes eight hours to get to Plattsburg, but we're on our way to Montreal. You gave a good example of Long Island losing an Assemblyperson, from 22 to 21, which I agree with you, which would be devastating to Long Island, in terms of dealing with the issues. But we also are dealing with another issue and I came here some nine months ago as my distinguished friend, Seretta McKnight also testified, and I said this issue, let's put it in prospective. It's about race. It's not about anything else. It's about race. I don't care how many White, Hispanics you march up here to testify before you to say they have nothing in common with us, and it's not that I'm against them, but I want to set the record straight. Mayor Bloomberg got 48 percent of their vote. Four years before that, Ruth Messinger got 47 percent of their vote and Rudy Guiliani got 48 percent of their vote. Four years ago, Mayor Guiliani got 2.7 percent of African-American votes. You know how much Bloomberg got? And this is what determined the election. So we're not prisoners to the Democratic Party. Bloomberg got 31.7 percent. That's what turned the election. And so I want the record to be very, very clear. When you look in terms of racial politics, my brother, let me tell you something, you had your brother, Freddie Ferrara, running for mayor. A good man, a good friend of mine. But you know what's happening in this society, if you throw the issue of race with many Whites in this society, the race is over. That's what Mark Green did to Freddie Ferrara. Using Al Sharpton. They did it to David Dinkins. We have a primary election going on for the governorship. Carl McCall has a better resume than everybody in this room. It shouldn't be no question. But the issue of race keeps coming up. And when it comes down to us, than folks come from all over the state and say, well you guys should not be concerned about race. Well, I ask the question, how many Black governors have we had. How many Black Senators from Long Island have we had. I can -- I'm a Nassau County Legislator. I represent Legislative District 2. But I basically represent all of Nassau County. And it wasn't in the partisan that, the Democrats that messed up Nassau County. It was the Republicans. And they didn't look like me. And we have to try to straighten it out. White and Blacks are suffering. So we need to have representation on the Senate level. I don't care what anybody else is saying. They're talking about, I don't want to have a dilute the vote and this. Our votes already diluted. And what we need to do is have the representation. We should have, and I told Marty Connors, and I told Shelly Silver, how dare you not have somebody that look like me up there, to represent our course. You cannot ask me questions, because you know what I'm saying is true. It is ridiculous. It's not until a court federal order demanded that Nassau County have a 19 seat Legislative body, to of which are minority. Why was that important. It was important because the Board of Supervisors did not represent us. They paid a couple of our folks off and they come before you and say, well I don't see where there should be anybody that looks like me, because you representing me. That is not true. How many Black presidents have we had. None. How many Greek presidents have we had, we got close. We got close. Spiro T. Agnew, God rest his soul and Michael Dekoukis (phonetic). But it didn't happen. How many Jewish presidents we had. Oh, yes, we had a vice president run and look what the south did. They voted in block. They all had something in common. I don't think so. But they voted in block. So when you skirt the issue of race in this country, it's a shame. We are still bogged down with this racial divide and whether you like it or not. And as long as we are bogged down with this racial divide we're going still have what we have today. We need representation on the Senatorial level. I happen to live in the Westbury, New Cassel community. And I'm going to tell you briefly before my colleagues speak, we had an issue in the Westbury school district and we talk about schools. You see, race plays its ugly face in America in two venues. One is education and one is politics and you could take either one. Education, if you know your Black history, if the house negro taught the field negroes how to read and write, they hung him. Now if you don't believe that, go back into your history. So it's the same situation today. Now we had an issue of Bocces (phonetic) being put into the Westbury school district. Taking $420,000 out of our STAR district and our Senator, who is Michael Balboni, said he is introducing some Legislation and I assume, Mr. Chairman, you were part of that. And it got through the Senate. And our Assemblyperson David Sittikman (phonetic) introduced some Legislation to make the district whole. But what I told the community, George Pataki ain't signing that for no minority school district. I said that is nothing but a campaign ploy and sure enough he vetoed it. Did the Senators get upset, no. $420,000 was taken out of the Westbury school district. In addition, before we took over the Legislature, we were five Democrats to 14 Republicans, and my good friend Bruce Blakeman who was the Presiding Officer allowed Tom Gallatta to take another $380,000 out of the same school district by buying Pathmarks. So now we took a hit for close to a million dollars. Who makes it up and do you care. We have a heavy, heavy Hispanic population and we care about them. No one is going to divide us. I don't care what they say about Blacks and Hispanics don't see eye to eye. We better see eye to eye. My point is this, that if we don't have representation, and you know about representation, because you there, you represent, Mr. Chairman, you represent Rockville Center and our good Mayor's here from Rockville Center and Lynbrook. You represent that community. They love you, because you're doing a good job. Now we want to share that love. We want to do a good job too and be able to represent our constituents. It's not splitting it up. It's all politics. It's politics and race. And as long as you sit here and you put that blinder on, that it's not about race, than you're kidding yourself. Remember what I said. In closing, that we can run, I can run in Nassau County for Executive, etcetera or I can run in the state for statewide office. But as soon as you White's throw race in there on us, we're cooked in your community. Because than you tell us, you put out who we spoke to, who we associate with, what we said 25 years ago and you do us under every time. So the issue is race and as long as you put the blinders on, than we will never, we will never in this country come out of it. I represented and my grandfathers represented this country in all your wars. And my son serves in the United State Navy, was in Afghanistan. We are patriots. We believe in our country. But it's a shame that we're still fighting the issue of race. And it's just devastating. But I end by saying my colleague here, Patrick Williams, has represented a district close to mine and represented it very well. Patrick. MR. WILLIAMS: Thank you. Thank you Roger. Good morning. My name is Patrick Williams. I am a resident of Uniondale in the County of Nassau and I am the County Legislator for the First Legislative District of Nassau County. I bring you greetings from the Nassau County Legislature and the nearly 60,000 people that I represent. My district is inclusive of the communities of Uniondale, Freeport, Roosevelt, a portion of Hempstead and a portion of Baldwin. I begin my remarks by expressing my utter disappointment that this body has seen it fit to exclude a large part of the residents of Long Island, who reside in Nassau County by holding one hearing in Suffolk and not holding one in my home county. Because of the demographics of this island, your choice to hold this single hearing in Suffolk County has served to effectively discourage and for many exclude many Nassau residents who would otherwise come before you to provide you testimony and input. It has come to my attention that you and some of your colleagues were informed of this issue in sufficient time, before today, to remedy this problem. I am an advocate for government being responsive to the needs of the people and in fact it was important, it was that important premiss that has changed the face and mode of operation in Nassau. By not having hearings in Nassau, you unfortunately have failed to be responsive to the residents of that county. I'm also an advocate for the residents of my district, which when combined with my fellow Legislator from Nassau County Second Legislative District, contains the greatest number and highest concentration of minority residents in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Legislator Roger Corbin, the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, represents a district that includes the communities of Lake View, New Cassel, a portion of Hempstead, Westbury. In my studied opinion, it is the residents of these communities along with those that I represent who have been harmed by the decision to hold hearings in Suffolk but not in Nassau. To put it plainly, by not having a single hearing date in Nassau you have effectively precluded a large segment of the minority community from having access to this critical process about an issue that can only be characterized as a single most important local opportunity to participate in our democracy since the turn of this new century. If government does not make itself accessible to those whom we claim to represent, than those in government must stand to answer for their own failures when issues of due process and lack of responsiveness are raised. I trust that you hear and will consider my point. Not only am I concerned about the lack of opportunity being provided to the residents of Nassau County, and in particular those persons from the First and Second Legislative Districts, but I am deeply concerned over the proposed plan offered and being contemplated by the Senate Majority for the drawing of the Senatorial lines post 2000 census. As we all know, it was long expected that the day would come when the lines for the New York State Senate would have to be redrawn. Likewise, it has been clearly stated to this body and those that filled your seats after the 1990 census and the 1980 census, that the current Senatorial lines affecting the several communities contained in the First and Second Legislative District in Nassau County, have simply served to provide the residents their, the proverbial short end of the stick. The current lines being offered and those which have existed over the past decades, serve no purpose to the aforementioned communities but to fragment them, diluting their voting strength and leaving them so situated as to be second thoughts and after thoughts to Senators who because of the vote dilution of these communities need not address their urgent needs first, if at all. As an example, the current plan seeks to divide the community of Roosevelt from the adjacent community of Uniondale. Thus, the voting strength of these two sister communities is divided. This plan makes little to no sense, as these communities have common political concerns and interests. They are geographically compact and the resident would be better served together rather than having a line running east to west which splits and divides them from the other. This is but one example. The propriety of splitting up the minority community of Nassau must be and is being questioned. This is especially true when clear examples of how the effective governance and representation of these communities can be seen in existent political subdivision such as the 18th New York State Assembly District, the first councilmanic district for the Town of Hempstead, which is represented by Councilwoman, Dorothy Goosby and the combined council districts of the First and Second Legislative District. The plan of this task force should be to ensure that common interests, needs and goals of these communities are not a strain, but are ensured the opportunity for recognition and response by an elected representative who will see their needs as a high priority. By failing to consider the clear facts of the current demographics, which are made crystal clear by the 2000 census, the current Senate Majority plan seeks to turn a blind eye to literally hundreds of thousands of minority residents that seek a fair chance to elect candidates of choice and have their voting voices stand on sure and equal footing with those from other communities. On behalf of my constituents, I urge you in the most earnest way that I can, to find the current proposed Senate Majority plan for Nassau County and in deed for Long Island, unacceptable. Not only as a forward movement on this plan in blatant contradiction of the rights of minority residents and voters, but it can only be seen as a deliberate move to discriminate against communities of residents that have traditionally been shut out and shut off from government. While this message has, based on my research, been delivered to you before this day, allow me to make certain that you hear it today. The drawing of lines for the Senate here in Long Island, in Nassau County, can be done in such a way so as to not divide, fragment and dilute the voting strength of the minority communities. The lines can be drawn using existing district lines from accepted and recognized communities, geographic and political subdivisions. The drawing of lines would join Uniondale, Roosevelt, Hempstead, Freeport, Lake View, Baldwin and Westbury, makes common sense and governmental sense and the failure to recognize the same can only be based on considerations which are contrary to the rights and needs of those residents. Such a failure can only be coined as unresponsive to the present and growing needs of those communities, thus forcing those communities to challenge the disregard and lack of response which has occurred in the past and now facing them today. It is my hope that the wisdom of those on this body will comprehend the importance of what I present today and underscore to the Senate of the State of New York, not only these words from me, a single resident of Nassau County, but the words of every resident of each of the communities I have underscored. Each of which is saying to you in a unified voice, we too seek equal access and full and fair participation. It is not acceptable for it to happen some other time, for the time is upon us. And it is in your hands to act. On behalf of those for whom I speak and myself, thank you. If you decide that it is appropriate to come to Nassau, as I think you should, my staff and I will be more than happy to help find an acceptable venue. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Dorothy Goosby. MS. GOOSBY: Good morning. SENATOR SKELOS: Good morning. MS. GOOSBY: My name is, Mr. Chairman and other members of the task force, thank you for providing this opportunity for me to speak. My name is Dorothy Goosby. I have held the office of Councilwoman for the Town of Hempstead since 1999. And I would like for everybody to realize that all of this reapportionment is based on the new census that we conducted. I have not heard that statement made and the only reason we are fighting for this is because the census indicates that you must change the line so that all of us can be represented. I have councilmanic district number one, which encompasses of our Legislator Williams and also Legislator Corbin. Nine months ago, I sat before this task force and gave testimony regarding New York State Senate proposed redistricting plan for Nassau and Suffolk Counties located on Long Island. Today, I stand before this panel to offer testimony against the newly proposed New York State Senate district lines. It was my position on Thursday, June 14, 2001, that the panel should exercise caution and draw Senate lines which were not discriminatory and which did not violate the civil rights of minorities in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. It was my testimony on Thursday, June 14, 2001, and it fell on deaf ears. However, the importance of this matter, mandates that I continue to appear too, no matter how many appearances it might require until my voice is heard. Again, as in the case of the lawsuit of Goosby versus the Town of Hempstead, the situation dictates that I stand with others who advocate on behalf of a solid and invisible minority population until our positions are heard and adhered to. Upon receipt of the newly proposed New York State Senatorial redistricting plan, it was evidence upon perusal of the maps that the authors of the documents have continued the decade after decade practicing of violating the voting right acts in so much as the proposed redistricting plans continue to dilute the votes of minorities which continue to result in their inability to elect their preferred candidates or rather a candidate of their choice. History has proven that members of the minority race are in a clear disadvantage when states fail to draw districts in such a manner that minority groups have a fair chance to win a seat for their own representative. Moreover, the New York State Senatorial lines proposed for Nassau and Suffolk County in 2002 continue the New York State practice of drawing lines that divide the minority communities. These lines have stayed virtually identical for the past 40 years. This action continues to give the appearance that the Senate Majority is purposely trying to sought us off that the pride in Blacks and Hispanics voters are the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the election of candidates. In the stated instance the submerging and fraction of groups of minority voters in areas with substantial White voting minorities will continue to inhibit the ability of minority voters to participate in the political process equally. One might question whether or not it was the intention of those giving the charge of re-drawing the new district map to continue the practice of lessening the voting strength of minority groups in Nassau and Suffolk County. However, it is important that I reiterate the following excerpts from my testimony given on Thursday, June 14, 2001. The Legislative task force on demographic research and reapportionment must be extremely cautious and follow the obligations of the United States Constitution, the one person, one vote principal. The state constitution, federal laws, court decisions and the numerous other demographic facts which go into redistricting and recommending where the New York State boundaries should be drawn for the New York State Senate, care must be exercised to satisfy the three gingles preconditions. First, the minority group must be given sufficiently large geographical compact to constitute a majority in a single member district. Secondly, the minority group must be politically cohesive and third the minority groups must demonstrate that the White minority votes are sufficiently, the White minorities votes sufficiently as a block to enable it in absence of special circumstances usually to defeat the minorities preferred candidate. However, in a court of law the plaintiff in such a case must satisfy the three gingles pre-conditions to prove a violation of the voting rights act. While the gingles pre- conditions are not in itself sufficient to establish a violation of the section two of the voting rights act, the totality of circumstances concept must be factored into the process to ascertain whether or not the process would impair the ability of Black Hispanic voters to participate equally in the political process and elect candidates of their choice. The task force must address this issue. Would the New York State Senate proposed lines pass this test. My constituents elected me to represent their interest on issues that have a clear affect on their lives. Had I not exercised the opportunity to speak before this panel, later I would feel partly responsible if the minority communities were divided up and placed in many other districts as the proposed plan so clearly indicates. Most significantly my conscience dictated that I continue to speak until my voice is heard. We who legislate proposed legislation and propose change must exercise extreme caution when we are charged with representing the interest, protecting the rights and insuring that the constitution of rights of the people who are elected to represent are upheld and not violated. In closing, again, I thank you for this opportunity to speak. It must be repeated, that it was a terrible oversight on the part of this panel when it did not schedule a hearing in Nassau County, as I asked you to do and ask you to do strongly in our last meeting. Many interested people would have been here to testify, not but because of the distance they had to travel, they were unable to do so. And I might add because of the fact that people that live within our districts that we represent are at work and hopefully they all are working. They are not able to come on a Monday at 10:00 a.m. If you had a meeting with the people who are most affected by this in Nassau County, and I certainly would invite you to come to Town Hall. We have a wonderful pavilion that would have held all of these people and 7:00 at night is a nice time because we have more participation now in town government than we ever had before, because we have it at the time when the people who are most affected are home. We want them to work because we pay such a high amount of taxes that they need to be here. And they need to be here because this is going to affect our children. That's why we're here. It's going to affect our children. And I want to say this is one thing I saw here today, when I first started serving on the town board in Hempstead, when an issue came up that the other Republicans did not want to pass and wanted a lot of clout on, they would call people up and have them come to the town board meeting just as I heard a lot of people speaking here today and most of those people are Republicans and they work for the town. I heard that here today. This is wrong. We are here because this is our right as Americans. If we just went through 9/11 and gone through 9/11, we are supposed to be so united. I do not see that here today. And it hurts my heart because I have to go back and look at the schools in Roosevelt when they can't put the computers in because the schools are so old, that they don't have, they're not even wired. They're not even wired and you talk about the computers in the basement. But no one is doing anything about it. You gave $1.4 million, thank you for that. But it does not really help the situation. We still have the situation there. I can go on with Hempstead. If I have the opportunity now to go to a lot of places that I never had the opportunity to go to before. When I look at the disparities between the minority districts and the Caucasian districts, it is unheard of and you sit here and you draw lines that's going to hurt us even more. You know, Roosevelt is pulled out of Hempstead, we have Uniondale. We have South Hempstead that's not even included in Hempstead. I mean, we have so many districts and the census shows that we have grown. We have grown. We are going to be the majority as we are now. We will not be the minority. But yet you still make the rules that control our lives. We want a change. We're sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am very emotional about this, because this is most important to all of us and it should be important to you, because you have children too. You don't know who you're kids are going to marry. There is no longer any place that we can be safe. So you need to listen to us. And you need to do what's right. As God is the person who's going to judge every one of us. So I'm asking you, I'm begging you, please make sure that you do what's right. Do not think about being Republican or Democrat. I'm not thinking about that. I'm thinking about what is right for all of us. We have to save this country. If we keep it up, we're going to have so many people in here that don't like us, and we're going to have bigger problems than we've had. I thank you very much. I'm sorry I got emotional but this is an emotional time because if you don't make the changes, if you go ahead with what you're doing, we still going to have the biggest problem we've ever had in our lives. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Gene Burnett. MR. BURNETT: You know the last time I was here, I raised the question. My name is Eugene Burnett. I'm a long time resident of the Town of Babylon. I've lived there for 52 years. SENATOR SKELOS: Excuse me one minute. Are you number 29 on the list? MR. BURNETT: Yes, but -- Yes. That's the same person. SENATOR SKELOS: I just want to point out that, you know, we're accommodating because you're an elected officials and I know you have a busy day and we'll accommodate, but really the only one that was on the list up to this point was you. LEGISLATOR CORBIN: Yes, Mr. Chairman, there is a cohesiveness since we had a string of partisan folks come up here and say that Nassau and Suffolk County, Democrats, partisan, we have nothing in common with African-Americans. There is a cohesiveness with our testimony. SENATOR SKELOS: I have no problem with this. LEGISLATOR CORBIN: I understand what you're saying. I appreciate you allowing us. SENATOR SKELOS: I just would point out one thing, the testimony of Lorraine Cortez Vasquez, who's on the Board of Regions, she is a Democrat and she was appointed essentially by Shelly Silver and the Assembly Democrats. Go ahead sir. MR. BURNETT: Well, the last time I was here, as I was saying, I questioned the absence of an African-American on this panel and I see that nothing has changed. I think you're using Mr. Bonilla as you're point man and that's arrogance on your part and foolishness on his part. He cannot represent our community. MR. BONILLA: With all due respect, I take exception to that. MR. BURNETT: You may take all the exception you want to, because at the very least you've forgotten who you are. MR. BONILLA: I have not forgotten. MR. BURNETT: And I can here that from your comments. MR. BONILLA: You're absolutely wrong in that. You're entitled to your opinion. MR. BURNETT: Okay. I also need to make comment of a previous speaker who is the ex-county Executive and I don't know what he's talking about when he speaks that there has never been a question of race in the Town of Babylon. There is an ongoing question of race and he's a Democrat incidentally and I wonder after hearing him today. In the Town of Babylon where the Democratic leadership comes from the Village of Babylon, where the Democratic leadership comes from, they are under assessed by nine percent. In Wyandanch, where the minority population is the majority, we are over assessed by 36 percent. That's a spread of 45 percent. That tells me that there is a question of race ongoing in the Town of Babylon. At any rate, I'm here to present to you the official position from Hazel Dukes, the State Conference President of the NAACP and this is the official position of the branches on Long Island. To the task force on demographic research and reapportionment. Dear Chairman and members of the task force, I'm writing on behalf of the New York State Conference Long Island NAACP branches. We urge you to put an end to the racial and ethnic discrimination that has characterized the drawing of Long Island's state senate districts for the last three decades. Minority communities have consistently been split in a way that dilutes their voting power. The district lines discourage interracial coalition building by making it possible for candidates to win elections in every district without addressing minority group interests. Uniondale and the Village of Hempstead have been put in a district while the neighboring communities of Roosevelt and the Village of Freeport have been put in another district. Elmont, South Floral Park, New Cassel and Westbury have been put in yet a third district. South Hempstead and Baldwin have been divided into two districts. The African- American and Hispanic communities were split in this fashion in 1972, 1982 and again n 1992. It is obvious that the repeated splitting of the minority communities has been intentional. The district boundaries were changed extensively in 1982 and 1992, but the line dividing the minority communities have remained the same for 30 years. If anyone doubts whether the discrimination has been intentional, you need only look at Suffolk County where the same pattern is evident. A line has been drawn through Brentwood dividing the minority communities in the Town of Islip. There were many changes in the district boundaries, but the lines through Brentwood were exactly the same in 1982 and 1992. You can see the same thing in the Town of Babylon. The line divides Amityville, Wyandanch and other hamlets so as to split the minority communities. In 1982, the northwestern part of the town was attached to a North Shore senate district mostly in Nassau County. Everything else changed but the line dividing the minority communities was kept exactly the same. It seems that the line drawers in the 70's, 80's and 90's first figured out how to split the communities up. Then they made whatever other changes they had to make to get the district populations right. If you follow their example in 2001, there will be no doubt that you are engaging in intentional discrimination. The non-Hispanic White population declined during the 1990's in both Nassau and Suffolk. The only reason that Long Island's total population continues to grow is that the Black, Hispanic and Asian populations have grown faster than the non-Hispanic White population. When you look at the new population numbers you can see how effectively the minority communities were split up when the state senate districts had a super-majority of non-Hispanic Whites; at least three-quarters of the population of each district. According to the 2000 census numbers, each of the nine districts have a population that is at least two-thirds non-Hispanic Whites. To see what this does to these communities, look at the public schools. The school district with large minority populations have a weaker local tax base and the schools are underfunded. Splitting up the minority communities also means splitting up voters who have an interest in reforming the school financial systems. When all nine Long Island state senate districts are drawn to have a white super majority that also means drawing districts in which most voters have a stake in the status quo. The senators elected from such districts will respond to the voters. It is out exaggeration to say that racially discriminatory redistricting makes it inevitable that there will be racial discrimination in the school finance system. We understand that reapportionment is a tough political game with both parties seeking an advantage. We also understand that this may be legal to draw the districts to give one party more advantage over the other, but it is not legitimate to use a racially discriminatory method to achieve your partisan goals. Let the parties seek their triumphs but not by excluding the minority communities who are homeowners and taxpayers. Their constitutional right are to be adhered to. Sincerely, the Honorable Hazel Dukes. I would like to now make my own personal statement, because I wonder what's going on here. Apparently, this task force has been stacked to some degree and it seems like most of the speakers who have spoken were also, there was inside information to get them all on first, all the pros to support the committee. You know, there is something wrong about that. You know, I'm not, in the last hearing that you had, I'm not going to call you Nazi's or the like, as it happened in the last hearing in this room on June 14, 2001. But, but is your racially discriminating redistricting plan for this year 2002, an expression of the democracy that we want to export to the world. As our sons and daughters are dying abroad, I'm going to give, I'm going to call your behavior the enemy within. Patriotism in my view, is not expressed best by flying the flag on your lawn or on your car or pronouncements of liberty and justice for all. True patriotism is in the conclusions of this task force to make this a more perfect union. What makes your redistricting plan for the next decades so profoundly disappointing is not just that it is so clearly wrong, but that it harps back to old and destructive habits. And weakens efforts by the minority community to create a participatory democracy. We have lived under your tyranny of the majority quietly for all of my life. And in the names of my grandchildren, this cruel, burdensome and obstructionist plan must not and will not become law. I ask the members of this task force, do you not see the twinkle of innocence in our childrens eyes. We see it in yours. The population of our low performing schools and our population in the prisons match each other like a hand to a form fitting glove. The most lofty of virtues is the education of children and the converse being to hinder the education of children is mischief of the lowest denominator. Any plan that allows political considerations to supersede human anguish and misery is dishonorable and evil. I'm going to close with, I'm going to paraphrase a poem from Langston Hughes from the Harlem Renaissance. They too sing America. They are the darker children. You send them to eat in the kitchen when company comes, but they laugh and they eat well and they grow strong. Tomorrow they'll sit at the table when company comes and nobody will dare say to them eat in the kitchen. Besides, you'll see how beautiful they are and you'll be ashamed. They too are America. LEGISLATOR CORBIN: Mr. Chairman, thank you. I thank this committee for allowing us to present our case and I just want to leave this, with some of my Hispanic brothers and sisters that are still in the room. We're in Suffolk County and many in the African-American communities of Suffolk and Nassau County were appalled and are appalled with the behavior of those White citizens in Farmingville attacking those day laborers. And we're not going to stand and turn our face. So we do have something in common. We stand up. We're looking for them to stand up also. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Are there any questions. Elliot Auerbach. MR. AUERBACH: Good afternoon. SENATOR SKELOS: Welcome. MR. AUERBACH: My name is Elliot Auerbach. I'm the President of the Board of Directors of the Suffolk County Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which is the New York State affiliate of the ACLU. The ACLU was founded in 1920 to support freedom of speech first and I would like to commend the Chairman for his early statement that people should be given the choice to say what they wish to say. And I think his allowing people to run over time, so long as it doesn't deny the people at the end of the list their right to speak, is commendable. I would like to take, thank the Task Force for this opportunity to comment on the proposed district lines for the Legislature. I'm addressing the Co-Chairman's proposals. I'll limit my comments to district proposed for Nassau and Suffolk County. First, let me commend the Assembly for creating a district in Suffolk County which accords recognition to the growing minority population in the county. The Assembly member elected from that district of whatever party, will need to represent the concerns of that constituency. I do question however, the reduction in total Assembly representation for Nassau and Suffolk, contrary to the census results. The two counties together are not shrinking relative to the state as a whole. I did the arithmetic before I got here. As for the Senate, the results are disappointing. We believe they are in violation of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. At the redistricting Task Force hearings, last summer, we pointed out that over the last several reapportionments, minority areas in Western Suffolk County have been consistently split, reducing the influence upon state Senators that these communities might exert. Mr. Burnett gave you the details of how that split has occurred. He indicated to you the 30 year propitiation of the lines and that the current lines appear to be the same where they split the minority communities and have changed in the outer perimeters to adjust the population totals. We warn that this delusion, if its perpetuated, would present a case for the denial of equal protection, which NYCLU Suffolk would be willing to pursue. The current proposals, unfortunately perpetuate that delusion. Following the press conference earlier this month that was called by Fred Bruington (phonetic), the media quoted the Governor's office as saying that he would not support redistricting which would be racially discriminatory. We believe that the Governor's influence on what will go before the Legislature is important and for that reason, part of what we are putting into the record now is for the benefit of the Governor's staff as well as for you gentlemen on the platform. We find his comment encouraging. We call upon the Governor to exercise his influence to remedy this situation. But if the Senate districts, as now proposed, are in fact enacted, we will support litigation to overturn these on equal protection and other grounds. I have included as a footnote on the prepared text that has been submitted to the committee, the case which supports bringing this as an equal protection claim rather than a voting rights claim and I urge your legal staff to peruse that case and to consider the following two facts about it. One -- SENATOR SKELOS: Could you give me the citation? MR. AUERBACH: Yes. It's Garza versus County of Los Angeles, 9-18, F second, 763. And that is the United States Court of Appeals for the ninth circuit which affirmed the decision -- MR. BONILLA: Could you give the site one more time? MR. AUERBACH: What? MR. BONILLA: Could you give the site one more time? 9-18 -- MR. AUERBACH: It's in the printed, if you will get my printed copy it's at the bottom. 9-18, F second, 763. I would point out that that was a decision by the ninth circuit and therefore, in principal, is binding only in the states in which the ninth circuit exists. However, the County of Los Angeles attempted to have this overturned by taking it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Sircharari (phonetic) in 1991 and if you count members of the court, I think you will not be able to find five people to overrule that now. Nesser's, Ms. Nesser's, Thomas Briar and Mrs. Ginsberg have come on the court since. If they didn't have three for Sirchirari, if they had only three for Sirchirari than, let's give them the maximum, not the four which would have granted it. They had only three then, they may have four for Sirchirari now, but I doubt if they have five. So have your Counsel consider that. Thank you very much. Any questions? SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you for attending. Mayor James Garner. MR. CLARK: My name is Dr. Rudolph Clark. I'm a resident of Westbury. Mayor James Garner was here this morning, but one of his senior staff members had a death in the family and he had to leave. He asked me would I be kind enough to read his remarks if that's palatable to the panel. SENATOR SKELOS: Any objection? (No verbal response.) Thank you. MR. CLARK: Good morning. I am here today to testify on behalf of the excellent, outstanding support our Village has received over the years from New York State Senator Kemp Hannon of the 6th Senatorial District. First, a word about Hempstead. With over 60,000 residents, Hempstead Village is larger than many cities in the country and is the largest Village in New York State. Comprising almost four square miles, it provides many important services to residents including its own Police and Fire Departments, court system, water plant, recycling, Sanitation Departments. It is the home of Hofstra University, as well as the Nassau County District Court. The successful operation of the many departments needed to keep our village running efficiently requires significant support from all levels of government. New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, has a long record of helping the residents of Hempstead and he has been a major asset in the implementation of our award winning revitalization program. If you take a ride through Hempstead today, what you see is a refurbished community. Senator Hannon has successfully secured state funding for a multitude of projects that have helped make that possible. For example, Senator Hannon has secured more than four million dollars for various improvements to the Village infrastructure, as well as a wide range of the projects associated with the renewal of our downtown business district. Through his assistance, we have been able to bring private sector development back to Hempstead in two new major shopping centers, the Hempstead Hub Center on the site of the former A&S property and the Hempstead Commons where an abandoned store stood for years. These projects have created hundreds of private sector jobs and brought legions of shoppers back to Hempstead. In addition, Senator Hannon was extremely helpful in procuring funds for our new internodal transportation center, encompassing a new bus terminal and a brand new Long Island Railroad Station. These improvements have helped make Hempstead's revitalization a rousing success. But his assistance goes far beyond just brick and water. Thanks to Senator Hannon, Hempstead residents have been the recipients of funds to assist our police in crime fighting efforts. Through his assistance, the Village obtained grant monies to purchase the former Armory Building on Washington Avenue from the State. Today this building is used as a training and educational center for our police, providing precious space to the police force that was bulging at the seams in its headquarters building. Additional state funds made available through his efforts have helped purchase a new mobile police command post and upgrade the police computer system. The bottom line, crime is down by a whopping total of 49 percent in our Village thanks to the efforts of dedicated officials such as Senator Hannon. In addition to our crime fighting efforts, Senator Hannon has come through time and again with funds for human services. For example, his efforts have provided the state funding for one, Hempstead Little League. Two, equipment for the Hempstead High School girls baseball and softball teams. Excuse me. The Hempstead Nursery, Co-op Hofstra University Child Care Program. Four, the Hempstead Senior Citizen and Community Service Center at Antioch Baptist Church. Five, expanded internet access at all Hempstead Public Libraries. Community health is a major concern in our Village. Senator Hannon has led the way in providing state assistance for a multitude of health related programs and services. Funds for the coalition, for community well being have enabled the coalition to sponsor one day medical clinics that provide screening, evaluation, case referrals for uninsured and under insured Hempstead residents. The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island developed a marketing plan and data analysis to enroll many uninsured Hempstead children in the state sponsored Child Health Plus Program. Funds secured by Senator Hannon also assisted the Hempstead based gathering place clubhouse, of the Mental Health Association of Nassau County and the Helen Keller Services for the blind. Senator Hannon has provided funds to the Hempstead Hispanic Counseling Center for many community programs and services. He has also helped fund programs that provide legal assistance to indigent and minority residents and a Nassau County coalition against domestic violence for crisis intervention and legal services for battered women. He has produced funding for the Literacy Volunteers of America to support their reading, tutoring and interfaith nutrition network. Finally, Senator Hannon has led the way in obtaining record amounts of state aid for the Hempstead public school system since 1995. State aid to Hempstead schools have increased by more than 86 percent. Senator Hannon has played a major role in making that happen. Hempstead has a good friend in State Senator Kemp Hannon. He has been there for me both on a personal and a professional level. He is an effective, experienced Senator who has come through time and again for our Village. There is no doubt that our Village's successful renewal would not have happened had it not been for Senator Kemp Hannon's constant and consistent assistance. As Long Island's first Black elected mayor, and as the mayor of the state's largest village, I know first hand how much he has meant to us. I look forward to working together with him in the future. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Mayor Eugene Murray, Village of Rockwell Center. MR. MURRAY: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Mayor Eugene J. Murray, corporate Village of Rockwell Center. I'd like to yield my speaking time if I could to Mayor Eugene Scarpatto of Lynbrook who is also the President for the Nassau County Village officials. MR. SCARPATTO: I'm Eugene Scarpatto, I'm President of the Nassau County Village Officials Association, also the Mayor of the Village of Lynbrook and I thank you for letting me have this position. And I thank Mayor Murray for yielding it to me. My presentation will be short, not anywhere near any of the lengthy ones that were before me. Lynbrook is a community of about 20,000 people and we are adjacent to Rockville Center and on our West would be Valley Stream and our South would be East Rockaway and on our North border is East Rockaway, Malvern, I'm sorry. I just want to make a presentation basically because we are in the 9th Senatorial District where Senator Dean Skelos represents us. And we also are in the 21st Assembly District where Mr. Bob Barrer represents us. We have the school district 20, which is a Lynbrook School District. However, we also have Davison Avenue School which is entirely in the Village of Lynbrook, yet it is in the Malvern school district. The Malvern School District, of course, we have right now a Black principal, an excellent Black principal and prior to that, for many years, was another excellent Black principal. The school encompasses, probably 50 percent Black, 40 percent White and probably 10 percent Hispanic. Everyone in that school district and in Lynbrook co-live and co-work and go to, work very well together. As far as a race issue in Lynbrook, as far as I'm concerned, it's a non- issue. My point in being up here, excuse me, apportionment. Now apportionment in my area would mean that the person representing me, now it isn't such a problem with the Senator's position because that would probably remain the same, but we would, now Bob Barrer who is our Assemblyman representative, lives and was born and raised in the Village of Lynbrook. He knows the issues, he knows the people, he was involved in Village government. He represents us, he knows what we need. To remove him and according to the redistricting he would be removed from our district and someone from the south of us would come in who does not understand or live in our district, in our community. Our, I just wanted to say, our nation's Constitution was created to give us government by the people, and for the people, legislation by representation. The only real representation are from those who live among us, among the people who he or she is elected to represent. To change voting areas simply for political purposes is contrary to our Constitutional purpose, legislation by representation. I implore you to leave it the way it is. Thank you very much for your curtesy. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much Mayor. Mary Bossart, Trustee at Rockwell Center. MS. BOSSART: Good afternoon. I'm in support of what Mayor Scarpatta just had to say and I am also here to represent myself and the Village board of Rockwell Center and Mayor Eugene Murray. In the village, I also serve as liaison to the Rockville Center EOC, the Rockville Center Public Housing Authority and Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Center. I would like to point out that we have received a great deal of help and assistance from our State Senator and as Mayor Scarpatta already mentioned the Senatorial District will basically remain the same. There was mention made previously of the fact that there were losses of monies in Westbury that come close to a million dollars. We have a different situation. Our Public Housing Authority in Rockville Center has received a grant of over $3.3 million to improve living conditions in the Village of Rockville Center for minority residents. So we find that the Senatorial Districts in fact well represent us and help to represent our citizens. We have many different kinds of people living in Rockville Center and we also have two school districts, the Rockville Center school district and the Ocean Side school district. It is disturbing to residents who live in the area where I in fact live in the Village, which is at the southern portion. Sun Rise Highway is being used to divide the Village of Rockville Center and many of the other communities running east from the Village of Valley Stream. It is not a situation which we find to be compatible with local government representation. The two school districts do not really work together in the Village of Rockville Center and I suspect that that's probably the same in other communities. In order to hold our local government together and we are the people who are closest to those who live there, we need to all be in the same larger districts. Part of the court decisions and criteria that are used in districting cover the fact that not only do we worry about one person, one vote, but fair and firm, effective representation and convenient and contiguous territory as compact as possible. To split the Village of Rockville Center is incompatible with those standards and the case of Good versus Austin has said that such compactness should not be sacrificed in an attempt to achieve partisan advantage. We respectfully request that the Village of Rockville Center be kept whole and other Villages in the County of Nassau. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Any questions. Mayor William Glacken. MR. GLACKEN: Good afternoon Mr. Chairman. First of all I would like to thank you for providing me with this opportunity to present testimony on behalf of the Village of Freeport concerning the Villages need to continue to receive vital Legislative and grant funded support as a result of being within the district represented by Senator Charles Fuschillo. As a short introduction, I would like to explain that Freeport is a diverse community of more than 43,000 people representing at least 64 distinct cultures. We are located on the south shore of Long Island less than an hour from New York City by public and private transportation. Freeport is a coastal community bordered on the south by the Great South Bay, as are the other waterfront communities in the district such as Ocean Side, Baldwin, Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford. However, unlike the other areas, Freeport incorporates a traditional working waterfront and a thriving business district which reflects the variety and diversity of our community. In 1997, as the newly elected mayor of the Village of Freeport, I faced an immediate fiscal crisis with a $10 million deficit out of a $33 million operating budget. Among the areas we had to scrutinize for immediate savings was our local police department. We were looking at reducing the cost of the police operating budget by about 15 percent while maintaining public safety in our Village. A reduction of this magnitude would require that the current police force be restructured eliminating ten police officer positions. In addition, overtime had to be drastically cut with the possible consequence of curtailing the departments ability to pursue the very anti-crime initiatives which Freeport had planned for the purpose of improving the quality of life for our Village residents. We made these critical needs known to Senator Fuschillo as soon as he took office. And he immediately understood the importance of maintaining and improving Freeport's community based anti-crime operations. Senator Fuschillo went to work in obtaining a $50,000 grant through the Edward Burr (phonetic) Memorial Grant Program. Since 1998, Freeport has benefitted from approximately $650,000 in funding through this particular grant covering the cost of additional police coverage and overtime expenditures. In addition, efforts on behalf of Freeport through Senator Fuschillo's office helped establishing and deploying a police department community response unit vehicle. This unit has been at the forefront of the departments efforts to address the problems of street gangs. The CRU officers perform the following duties, personalized home visits to the families of known gang members as a method of reaching out to the young person and discouraging future gang involvement, gang awareness, suppression and prevention presentations to schools, civic and community organizations, narcotic investigations which focus on arresting the source of the drug sales, interactive and intelligence gathering meetings with gang members and street crime suppression efforts. A $25,000 grant obtained through Senator Fuschillo's office enabled the Freeport police department to secure a new vehicle for the CRU officers. The department also obtained a grant for the acquisition of a speed monitoring and radar trailer for the purpose of encouraging compliance with the posted speed regulations as a result of Senator Fuschillo's efforts on behalf of our Village. This type of trailer also has the capability of tracking vehicle speeds over a 24 hour period, for conducting traffic surveys and providing data to ensure that enforcement efforts are preformed during the periods where the rate of infractions are the greatest. A valuable asset to a Village which has two heavily traveled main roadways, namely Sun Rise Highway and Merrick Road running through it. The Freeport community including the school district depends on Senator Fuschillo's participation in its many activities, including the 4th grade adopt-a-cop project. This is a mentoring program which provides each 4th grade class with a Freeport police officer who meets with the students every month throughout the school year. The program enables young children to develop respect and confidence in their local police officers and it has been an important asset when the students reach their teen years and are faced with difficult choices. The special bond that they have developed with the particular officer, encourages them to trust and confide in members of the Freeport police department. Freeport school district needed Senator Fuschillo's help in supporting a school bond, building bond. That bond along with the supplemental state funding enabled the construction of a new elementary school and a significant and much needed extension for the Freeport High School. Senator Fuschillo's office provided an additional $50,000 in community enhancement funding for the Village of Freeport. Along with having to solve a fiscal crisis shortly after assuming office as the Mayor of Freeport, it was also necessary for the Glacken Administration to begin a long overdue repair, renovation road and street maintenance program throughout our Village. Our public works department efforts since 1997 have included the complete revitalization of Woodcleft Avenue, returning the street, well known as the nautical mile, into the major tourist and residential attraction it had been decades earlier. This public works project included raising the street by more than two and a half feet at it lowest and affectively ending the constant flooding that discouraged the economic growth of the area. Senator Fuschillo recognized the significance of this project to the overall fiscal health of the Village and was highly affective in helping the Village obtain over $400,000 in funding for new bulkheading along Woodcleft Avenue. A portion of this funding, $124,000 was applied to the completion of the bulkheading on the newly complete espinad, a municipally owned dock space and park area at the midway point along the nautical mile. Senator Fuschillo's office was also instrumental in securing $250,000 in New York State Department of Environmental Conservation funding for elevating streets in the southern portion of the Village, including Garfield Street. When the Long Island Railroad was in the process of renovating the Freeport Station, it required the support of Senator Fuschillo's office, which was able to deliver $1.8 million to cover the cost of the extensive improvement project. In addition, a New York State Department of Transportation multimodal funding was secured through the Senator's efforts in the amount of $100,000 to reconstruct Brooklyn Avenue, located on the north side of the Long Island Railroad Station. Additional State Department of Transportation multimodal funding in the amount of $425,000 is earmarked for the future reconstruction of several roads in Freeport, including Lilian Avenue and Charlock Place in the northeast section of Freeport. Freeport is located in the heart of Senator Fuschillo's district and represents a broad range of economic and social aspects which reflect in one local village the growing compensation of Long Island's population in general. With at least 43,000, Freeport is a community that celebrates its cultural, racial and ethnic diversity. These strengths, along with a supportive government, a local police force and municipally owned and operated electric and water utilities, allow Freeport to provide a model for future successful communities. Since assuming office representing the Village of Freeport and surrounding communities approximately four years ago, Senator Fuschillo has recognized the varied needs of all of his constituents and has been instrumental in providing funding and other significant contributions for the ultimate improvement of the residents of the Village of Freeport. Although the Senator's district covers a substantial portion of the south shore of Long Island from Freeport to Babylon, he has continued the practice of locating his office in the heart of the Village of Freeport in order to provide better access for the people he serves in the Freeport and Roosevelt areas. Today, in this time of national uncertainty, either from the threat of global or domestic terrorism or crime and nature disasters, Freeport residents rely on the local and personal representation provided by Senator Charles Fuschillo, who's included the safety of his constituents among his top priorities. In closing, I again want to thank the committee for affording me this opportunity to speak here today and to encourage the state Legislature to adopt the task forces proposed district lines, as this will enable Senator Fuschillo to continue representing our community for the next decade. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much, Mayor. Any questions. B.A. Schoen. MR. SCHOEN: Good afternoon and thank you for this opportunity and I'd like to say that I'm very grateful to all the people that testified, whether they agreed with what I'm about to say or not. I think it's one thing to say that we have the freedom. It's worthless if we don't take the opportunity to speak. In view of the length of the proceeding, I'm going to shorten my reading of my remarks. I'll leave out the part about the Calvary horses of Brooklyn, but they are in the written comments if you're interested. My name is B.A. Schoen. I live at 969 Hayes Street, Baldwin. When my grandfather purchased that house, over 80 years ago, it was number 35 Hayes Street and it faced an open meadow than ran south for over a mile to the open bay. Needless to say, much has changed since then on Hayes Street. that meadow has been filled with two schools, hundreds of homes and a beautiful part. Lifestyles have changed since then. The rise in private ownership of automobiles, a changing economy, the rise and fall of manufacturing on Long Island, these and other factors have made changes in the numbers commuting to Manhattan or Brooklyn or the reverse. The demographics of Baldwin have changed since then, my family has seen numbers rise and fall. My father was one of two Jewish boys in his first grade class. While I attended our schools my community opened our third synagogue, today there is one but there are many other new houses of worship. St. Christopher's, our parochial school, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. I was a high school student when our schools got our first African-American teacher and student. Today, I am proud to say we have hired teachers and administrators of great diversity. I say, "I am proud" because I have had a hand in this as a member of our Board of Education. As you know, an elected representative should reflect the wishes and interests of their constituency and therefore I am proud of my community, that we have seen our racial, religious and ethnic makeup change peacefully and smoothly for at least 80 plus years that my family can testify to. The legislature faces a daunting task in drawing its new district lines, it has a simple mandate; fairness. My many years of community involvement have taught me one thing, at least, simple does not mean easy. We have come to believe or at least we have been told to believe that fairness would mean contiguous, homogenous districts. My question is, which trait do you wish to be homogenous? Please don't conclude that ethnicity or party registration are the only fair ones to consider. Continuity and other interests should count as well. People should be able to build relationships with their representatives and other residents of their district that last beyond election cycle to election cycle. We have done just that in Baldwin with our two Senators, Charles Fuschillo, Jr. and Dean Skelos. Indeed, the Baldwin community is fortunate to be well served by both Senators. This has proven to be extremely beneficial to the Baldwin community. This is one of the reasons why I am opposed to the alternative plan submitted by a small number of organizations. Under this plan, Baldwin would lose both of its current representatives and be lumped into a new district with a new representative. As I said in the beginning, my memory goes back a long way. But it doesn't have to go back more than one governor to remember when our state aid went down, drastically. It has taken us more than ten years to get back to the level of aid we received when our enrollment was much less than it is now, when there were fewer mandates and our salaries were much lower. Our Senators have taken this fight very seriously, over the years we have established a relationship and they have learned about our school districts. How will being moved into a different senatorial district help my district? I would submit to you that it will not. Quite the contrary, I believe it would be detrimental to all of the school districts combined under the alternative plan. One Senator alone, especially one who may very well be a member of the minority in the State Senate, would not be able to meet those many needs. Certainly, not in the outstanding fashion our current Senators do. For example, Senator Fuschillo has taken the lead in trying to resolve the Roosevelt School District's troubles in a manner that is fair to all parties and protects the integrity of that community. Senator Skelos has been a frequent visitor to my school district and has been able to help us with grants that have provided instructional materials, enhancements to our recent auditorium renovation as well as other needs of our district. Both Senators have been more than generous by providing special legislative appropriations to a wide range of community groups and organizations. Please don't take them for us. Regardless of how legislative districts are delineated today, the demographics of those districts will change before long. The damage that will be done by separating neighbors into different legislative districts, imposing different representation upon them will endure. Please don't allow that to happen. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Questions. Thank you very much. Lance Elder, Executive Director EAC. MR. ELDER: Good morning, Mr. Chair, good afternoon I think it is right now, and the rest of the task force. My name is Lance Elder. I am President and CEO of EAC, Inc. EAC is a 33 year old 501-c-3 human services agency operating in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, as well as Rockland County. Our over 50 programs, service clients in communities of Hempstead, Bay Shore, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Lake Ronkonkoma, Port Washington, Westbury, Smithtown, Freeport, Riverhead, just to name a few. Some of these programs which service over 45,000 clients include the following: The Women's Opportunity Resource Center, or better known as WORC, is located in Hempstead. It's an alternative to incarceration program for woman offenders. This model program accepts clients referred by the Judiciary, the Probation Department or the Parole Department. The goal of this nine month program is self- sufficiency and recidivism prevention. This program has assisted over 1,000 women and is currently carrying approximately 1,000 clients per nine month session. This program saves over $1.5 million annually above program expenses. This program is funded exclusively as a delegation item from the Nassau County delegation to the New York State Senate, including Senators Skelos, Fuschillo, Balboni, Hannon and Marcellino. This program has been in existence since 1985. Another program, the Long Island Supervised Visitation Program, currently operates in Hempstead, Riverhead and Lake Ronkonkoma. The Long Island Supervised Visitation Program was established at the request of the Judiciary to answer a need for a safe place for children and parents to visit in cases involving domestic disputes, child abuse, parental mental illness and addiction or other families where children are at risk when left alone with a parent. This program exists solely due to the financial support provided by the Long Island Senate Delegation, including the aforementioned members of the Nassau Delegation, Senators Skelos, Fuschillo, Balboni, Hannon, Marcellino and Senators Lack, LaValle, Trunzo and Johnson. Without their support, the more than 50,000 safe visits which have taken place, would have never happened. Another program, the Long Island Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, better known as CASA, has operated since 1986, only because of that aforementioned Long Island Senate Delegation. It operates in Hempstead and Central Islip and the Long Island CASA program was established again at the request of the Judiciary to provide up-to-date, independent information on children in foster care at the time of court foster care interviews. To date, Long Island CASA advocates have represented the best interest of more than 9,000 Long Island foster children, helping to ensure they are in a safe environment, that they are returned home or adopted as quickly as possible. And that they are receiving all of the services necessary to a healthy development. Had it not been for the support of the entire Long Island Delegation, many of these children may still be in foster care. Again, this is a Long Island based initiative. A fourth program, the EAC's Treatment Alternative to Save Communities Program or TASC, as it's known throughout the criminal justice system, has been supported for years by our Senators. These programs operate throughout the metropolitan area and have placed 2,000 non-violent predicate and non-predicate felony drug offenders into treatment in the 2001 alone. This year, the savings is over $20 million. Our extremely low recidivism rates point to many lives being saved through treatment and case management. Again, this is through our Senators. These are just a few examples of the programs which we receive direct support from the Long Island Senators. EAC opposes the proposed alternative re-districting plan as it pairs an extraordinary number of incumbents and does not maintain continuity of the current districts. Leadership demonstrated over the years by these individual Senators is without question saving lives, millions of dollars and improving the quality of life of all Long Islanders. Without them, EAC would not exist and the tens of thousands we help would be alone. Therefore, I would strongly urge that you adopt the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment's proposal as it relates to the State Senate. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Rachel Pachas, P- a-c-h-a-s. Andres Guilty. John McAffree. Is John here. Theresa Sanders. MS. SANDERS: Good afternoon. My name is Theresa Sanders. I live in North Babylon within the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and I would like to thank the Reapportionment Task Force for the opportunity to testify this afternoon regarding the State Senate re-districting on Long Island. I have reviewed the Senate Majority's proposal published on February 14, 2002 and this plan submitted by the Senate Majority shows the same racially discriminatory pattern of State Senate redistricting that has gone on in Long Island for the last three decades. The minority populations have been so artfully divided that even after a decade in which Long Island's Black, Asian, and Hispanic populations have rapidly grown, and the non- Hispanic White population has declined, the voting-age population in each of the existing Senate districts are at least 68.5 percent non- Hispanic White, according to the 2000 census. This obvious racial gerrymandering ensures the division of large concentrations of Black and Hispanic voters so as to dilute their voting power and create "super-majority" non-Hispanic White districts. The district boundaries proposed by the Senate Majority continues a pattern of systematically splitting minority communities on Long Island and suggests that the portions of the Senate district boundaries that split the minority communities were established first, and that any necessary changes such as equalizing district populations in accordance to the latest census, were made around those fixed features. My concerns regarding the Senate majority's proposal are both personal and professional. On a personal level, my family moved to Long Island from Harlem USA in the 1960's, my father being a New York City police officer and than enrolled in the military, we were introduced to Long Island at a military base in Nassau County, Mitchell Field. We lived there for several years while my father was in the military and then armed with his G.I. bill an ability to buy a house for his family after serving his country, we went looking for homes on Long Island. Needless to say, we were hustled right passed Levittown and shown districts which included Wyandanch, some areas in Roosevelt. We settled in an area called West Babylon and I was happy to see that Mr. Halpin was here earlier, because what he doesn't know is that that was his school district also. He went to school with my sister. But let me tell you a little difference about his West Babylon and my West Babylon based on district lines. My West Babylon was divided from his West Babylon by the Southern State Parkway. My West Babylon is contiguous to Wyandanch. My West Babylon did not have any parks, any large supermarkets, any sidewalks, very few street lights. His West Babylon, as I rode the bus to go to school each day, was filled with sidewalks, street lights, parks, recreation facilities and all types of things that I just looked at and said hum, I wonder how come my side of the bridge doesn't have that. I have a lot vested in the development of Long Island. I want to see my children have an equal opportunity for a good quality of life. On a professional level, I currently serve as the President and CEO of the Urban League of Long Island. The Urban League serves over 13,000 people a year in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and is one of over 100 affiliates of the National Urban League, a nationwide community-based movement empowering African-Americans into the mainstream by promoting social and economic parity. The League empowers its constituents with skills that will improve their quality of life and encourage their involvement in a development of their communities. The Senate Majority proposed re- districting plan undermines me personally and professionally by making a mockery of democracy and making it difficult for my family and my constituents that live in communities of shared interest to get their needs met by the Senators that share those interests. My request to the task force is to reject the Senate Majority plan and to adopt the non-discriminatory New York State Senate plan which several others and I individually or as groups submitted to you prior to the formulation of the Senate Majority's proposal. The alternative proposals comply with standards that the Senate Majority plan does not comply with, such as, provisions in the New York State Constitution for determining total number of Senate districts. One person, one vote requirement based on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Block-on-border requirement of the New York State Constitution, strict standard of contiguity, compactness, preservation of existing political subdivisions and traditionally recognized unincorporated hamlets. Convenience, preservation of communities as defined by actual shared interests and the requirement based on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment that re-districting plans not subordinate traditional race-neutral districting principles to racial considerations. I implore the task force to support the non-discriminatory alternative redistricting plan and level the playing field so that people of color have an equal opportunity for democracy in the Senatorial electorate process. Thank you. MR. BONILLA: Just one question. Does your alternative district development, the idea, plan excuse me, does it give minorities a realistic chance to win elections. MS. SANDERS: I believe that the plan that's submitted gives the opportunity for people of color to vote according to the interest and which is more important, to elect a representative and this is color-neutral. Elect a representative that shares those interests. People are voting issue more these days. Not just party, but issue. So yes, I believe it does. MR. BONILLA: Do you have any election data or statistics that would support that? MS. SANDERS: Yes, it's all in the plans that we submitted to you prior to the Majority redistricting plan. MR. BONILLA: Thank you. MS. SANDERS: Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Dr. Robert S. Widom. MR. MANLEY: My name is Kevin Manley. I have a letter from Dr. Widom I'd like to read. ASSEMBLYMAN PARMENT: What's your name? MR. MANLEY: Kevin Manley. It's dear Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Parment, I write to you and the task force on behalf of the American Ethnic Coalition of North Hempstead representing Italian, Greek, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, Jewish, African- American, Portuguese, Korean ethnic groups and Temple Emanual of Great Neck because our collective concern regarding a proposed redistricting plan would replace or at best minimize the effectiveness of our State Senator Michael Balboni. Senator Michael Balboni has served all of his constituents with distinction. He is exceptionally responsive and seeks to meet the needs of all of those he has been elected to represent. I must tell you that this, that this expression of support from Mr., for Senator Balboni comes from voting Democrats including me. It was Senator Balboni who heard this community's concern with regard to the introduction of charter schools and Senator Balboni who helped persuade the Governor to rethink his position. It was Senator Balboni who heard our concern about affordable housing and our desire to see such projects implemented. It was he who found where with all for their project and indeed he is the State Senator who has become a force in support of what will be the first such undertaking in the community of Westbury. The cornerstone is to be laid on March 21, 2002. Furthermore, Senator Balboni worked closely with North Hempstead Housing Authority to secure Legislation and state funding to rehabilitate public housing in the 7th Senate District including, Great Neck that is benefitting hundreds of minority residents. It was Senator Balboni who secured state funds for Co-Pay, a non-profit, multi- lingual, multi-cultural, community based organization providing an array of services to families and individuals. Their programs include, substance abuse treatment, after school mentoring and academic enrichment, Latino family resources and vocational counseling. Seventy percent of Co-Pay clients are of low income while 49 percent are African-American or Hispanic. As part of their effort to reach out to the entire community of Great Neck, nearly 100 percent of their clients are Persian. It was Senator Balboni who arranged meetings between tenants of Academy Gardens, a garden apartment complex with many minority residents and senior officials with the New York State Division of Housing to discuss their grievances and concerns with the landlord and property manager. It was Senator Balboni who delivered state funds to the Great Neck public schools for a new track at one of its secondary schools. It is Senator Balboni who has established strong working relationships with the nine village's Mayors on the Great Neck peninsula in order to address the needs of all residents. Senator Michael Balboni has proven that he is authentically interested in the needs and issues of all of its constituents. The community will be best served if the Task Force recommended to all State Legislators that Michael Balboni's continued representation as our State Senator be assured. It is our firm belief that a sensitive, caring political figure such as Michael Balboni, be valued and supported in his desire to serve his constituency. We are grateful to you for whatever help you can render to us in keeping Michael Balboni where he ought to be, in our midst. Faithfully, Dr. Robert S. Widom, Senior Rabbi. ASSEMBLYMAN PARMENT: Thank you. I believe that Dr. Rudolph Clark spoke before. Do you wish to speak again on your own behalf? MR. CLARK: That's why I'm here. ASSEMBLYMAN PARMENT: All right. MR. CLARK: Good morning, good afternoon, rather. My name is Dr. Rudolph Clark. By profession I'm a research psychologist. I live at 25 Pinetree Road in Westbury Hills. Knowing the sensitivity of this session, I felt that I would tell you something about myself. I'm the first, I was the first African-American President of the Westbury Board of Education, former President of the NAACP, during my administration we had the largest membership and participation in the chapters history, Chairman of the Board of Long Island Opportunities Industrialization Centers, Member of the Nassau County Human Rights Commission, Vice Chairman of the Long Island Urban Development Agency, Member of 100 Black Men of Long Island, Chairman of the Board of the New Cassel Technical Learning Center, Trustee of Briarcliff College, Member of New Cassel American Legion Post 1861, one of the founders of the St. Bridges Interracial Society, Trustee of the Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts and a member of the North Hempstead Councilmanic Commission. I feel that that kind of background gives me some credit to making remarks that I'm about to. I subscribe to a statement made a long, long time ago, about Chip O'Neil, which he indicated that all politics are local. And that's the way I feel about my Senator, Michael Balboni. The social pathological structure that is pervasive in most inner city communities is well known. And the hamlet of New Cassel is certainly included in that constellation. The problems of education, housing, unemployment, underemployment, addiction, alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, prostitution, HIV - Aids are well documented. The impact of these problems have created feelings of helplessness and have been counter-productive to creating a viable involvement for education, employment and housing in most of our communities, especially in New Cassel. Most politicians run from these problems with alacrity. The rationalizations have been numerous, political, philosophical, racist, monetary, are in the words of that great Senator Patrick Monahan, benign neglect. I was born and raised in the community of Harlem, so I subscribe to a ruthless monolystic policy in terms of what's best for my community. And that's the way I feel. During my almost 40 years in Westbury, three Senators have served that area, John Camera, Michael Tully and the current incumbent, Michael Balboni. The purpose of this testimony is not to criticize the first two gentlemen, but to make the following analogy. Senators Camera and Tully can best be described as reactive, i.e., a problem developed, it was brought to their attention and they reacted to the situation. In comparison to this method, Senator Balboni has been proactive and reactive. He has been a manifest presence in the African-American and Hispanic communities. I agree with Roger, you know a lot of them are there so they should be with us, really. Delightfully spontaneous and blessed with a charismatic and winning personality, he has committed himself to improving the quality of life in our respective communities. He has been a Senator on the job, walking the streets, visiting schools and churches, but more importantly, he has translated his words into deeds. Senator Balboni was primarily responsible for the New Cassel community receiving a $100,000 grant from the New York State Empire Development Corporation to start a computer school. One of my board members, the Chairman of the Urban League, General George Jones, is here today. In that class, in those three classes rather, we trained 45 students of which 43 graduated. During the life of the program each student had to assemble and build his or her own computer. Over 30 students are now gainfully employed and six students are attending Briarcliff College. Again with all due respects to Roger, Michael Balboni was the catalyst in attempting to attain, along with Dean Skelos, over $400,000 in state funds to compensate the Westbury School District for losing the property to Boses at the corner of Prospect Avenue and Kandiact (phonetic) Road. In spite of that effort and its failure, he has continued to agitate towards restoring those funds to the School Districts. He has been responsible for repairing the school yard at Devight (phonetic) Drexel School, restructuring the cafeteria and he has been a refreshing change to our constituents. He is known to be in our school districts helping the reading classes, etc.. I too subscribe to a position of ethnicity in terms of, someone should look like me that represents me, but I also subscribe to the philosophy that you don't have to be a woman to deliver a baby. In some situations we do find politicians that come to the table with a caring, meaningful attitude. That in many ways epitomizes Senator Balboni. In conclusion, the African- American and Hispanic population of the 7th Senatorial District, need and want Michael A. L. Balboni to continue as our Senator. This truly rare human being has brought a new dimension to the traditions of politics as usual. Morality that characterizes so many of his peers. He is a politician who cares and his many unique skills allow him to deliver on his promises. To lose an elected official with such extraordinary talents would be an immense lose and have a permanent impact on the entire Senatorial District. Keep Michael A. L. Balboni in Albany. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Reverend William J. Jiles. Blaire Horner. Susan Karusi. K-a-r-u-s-i. MS. KARUSI: Good afternoon. My name is Susan Altermore Karusi and I am the Team Court Coordinator of the Teen Court at Glen Cove City Court. I am testifying to bring to your attention the pivotal role that Senator Carl Marcellino has played in my organization and with its programs. As the Team Court Coordinator, I have had the privilege of working with Senator Marcellino several times. Senator Marcellino aided the efforts of the Teen Court Supervising Judge, Richard McCourt and myself, to receive grant money for this program, the first of its kind in Nassau County. Since the program was instituted in the year 2000, over 200 students in Glen Cove, Locus Valley and North Shore School Districts, have participated in real criminal matters, serving as judges, jurors and attorneys. The students have experienced first hand, the negative results of wrong judgement and this practical education has been priceless. Without Senator Marcellino's unwavering support, the Teen Court Program would not have enjoyed the success in the schools in their surrounding communities that they have. I've also seen first hand, the work that Senator Marcellino has done for the YMCA of Long Island in Glen Cove. My husband is a member of the Board of Members, of Managers of the Glen Cove YMCA and together, he and I have served on various fundraising committees in support of the YMCA's mission. The Glen Cove YMCA serves approximately 6,000 members and Senator Marcellino's cooperation has greatly helped the YMCA Board of Managers fulfill its mission of building strong children, strong families and a strong community. The Senator was instrumental in the relocation of the YMCA of Long Island's Corporate offices to a new 7,000 square foot building at the Glen Cove branch, enabling the YMCA to have a greater presence in Nassau County. As a result of his concern and efforts, the Glen Cove and Huntington branch summer camps have experienced phenomenal growth and development. Senator Marcellino understands the needs of his community and he has always been willing to offer his guidance and support to the Teen Court Program and the YMCA. As a result, our young people have benefitted. I want our next generation to continue to feel the positive results of Senator Marcellino's influence. As you finalize the Task Force's recommendation to the State Legislature, please ensure that Senator Marcellino continues to represent us in the State Senate. It is important for the future of the 5th Senatorial District. I oppose the alternate redistricting plan jointly proposed by the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, the Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club for the following reasons. One, the alternate plan would combine Senator Marcellino's district with another incumbent Senator which creates the very real possibility that the existing relationship with Senator Marcellino would no longer exist. Two, as a result the alternate plan would be detrimental to the Teen Court Program and the YMCA and to the communities they serve. And three, the Teen Court Program and the YMCA and the serviced communities would not be better off with a different Senator. Finally, I want to read into the record a letter from City Court Judge Richard McCourd that was written to Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Parment regarding this issue. Judge McCourd wrote, as Glen Cove's City Court Judge and as Chairman of the Board of Managers at the YMCA at Glen Cove, I am writing to bring to your attention the pivotal role that Senator Carl Marcellino has played in my organization and with my programs. I've had the privilege of working with Senator Marcellino in my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Managers of the YMCA of Glen Cove, which serves approximately 6,000 members. His cooperation has greatly helped the board to fulfill its mission of building strong children, strong families in a strong community. The Senator was instrumental in the relocation of the YMCA of Long Island's Corporate offices to a new 7,000 square foot building at the Glen Cove branch which enabled, as I had said, the YMCA to have a greater presence in Nassau County. As a result of his concerns and efforts, our summer camps have experienced phenomenal growth and development. While not practicing as a bankruptcy partner at Tiphil and Ballin (phonetic), I am the Supervising Judge of the Glen Cove City Court. One of the functions I most enjoy is the Teen Court Program. Senator Marcellino aided my efforts to receive grant money to institute this program which was the first of its kind in Nassau County. As a result children between the ages of 15 and 18 participate in real criminal matters. This program serves the School Districts of Glen Cove, Locus Valley and North Shore Districts. Students experience first hand the negative results of bad judgment and this practical education is without measure. Senator Marcellino understands the needs of his community and has always been willing to offer his guidance and support to the YMCA and the Teen Court Program. As a result our young people have benefitted and I want our next generation to continue to feel the positive results of Senator Marcellino's influence. As you finalize the Task Force's recommendation to the State Legislature, please ensure that Senator Marcellino continues to represent us in the State Senate. It's important for the future of Glen Cove and Long Island. Thank you. And that's again Judge Richard McCourd. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Mayor William Kelly, Village of Asharoken. MAYOR KELLY: Good afternoon members of the panel. My name is Bill Kelly. I am the Mayor of the small but powerful Village of Asharoken. I have been Mayor for 20 years and my goal in life is to never have served on a Reapportionment Committee. I'm going to make that goal, unfortunately some of you missed that, but I really appreciate you coming to Suffolk County. Many people in the state don't realize that Suffolk County is the largest County in the State of New York, outside of the City of New York. If you want to run these hearings in small counties like, Cataragus and Essox and Nassau, go right ahead, be my guest, but thank you for coming to Suffolk. In my time as Mayor, I have served as the President of the Suffolk County Village Officials Association, President of the Tri- County Village Officials Association, that included Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties and one year as President of the New York State Conference of Mayors, 1988 and 1989. I think I have a conception, and a good conception of what Long Island needs in the way of representation in Albany. For the past 20 years, my area of the North Shore has been ably served by two State Senators. Due to the census changes 10 years ago, my state senator swapped his district with the other North Shore Senator. The change was seamless because the problems were similar. I favor keeping two State Senators in roughly the same districts they now represent because they know the area, know the problems and have been responsive to their constituents. I would not be in favor of any moves to weaken Long Island or to diminish, or to diminish our North Shore resident's influence in Albany. As a seaside community, I have many issues with the DEC in Albany. I need people who can represent me intimately in some of the major environmental issues in my community. The DEC, Coastal Erosion Hazard Line, the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Permit, are just two of the many DEC issues that are critical for my Village. I need help with this. I need help in Albany. Please don't make me reinvent the wheel on these and other issues with someone who doesn't understand the critical nature of these issues or of my Village. I'd be happy to answer any questions or enlighten you with any of my other problems if you are so inclined. And I do thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify, however briefly. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much, Mayor. We really appreciate you taking the time. MAYOR KELLY: It was, it's my pleasure. And if you want to run it in a small County like Nassau, go right ahead. SENATOR SKELOS: Mayor Leland Hahr. MAYOR HAHR: Members of the Task Force, my name is Leland Hahr. I am the Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Lloyd Harbor. I'm requesting on behalf of the Village Board of Trustees that under reapportionment that we retain Senator Carl Marcellino as our State Senator. As you may know, Lloyd Harbor is the western most North Shore Village in the town of Huntington and in Suffolk County. It's a residential Village that is large in area, approximately 9.2 square miles and over 18 miles of shore line, along Coal Spring Harbor, Long Island Sound, Lloyd Harbor and Huntington Bay. Our village shares many common concerns with other neighboring residential villages, including the Villages of Asharoken, of Mayor Bill Kelly who was just here, and the Village of Huntington Bay, as well as those in western, eastern Nassau County, such as the Village of Laurel Hollow and the Town of Oyster Bay, all of which are represented by Senator Carl Marcellino. It would seem appropriate in considering reapportionment that the commonality of issues and concerns of the communities represented in Senator Marcellino's district would best be served by not changing the district. For many years we worked closely with former Senator Ralph Marino. Approximately 12 years ago, Senator Marino assisted my Village in being able to lease from the state, approximately 20 acres that had once been a part of our Village park, but had been acquired by Robert Moses and the State of New York for an ill-fated right-a- way for a parkway that would have divided our Village. Senator Marino's efforts led to beneficial use by the Village of a part of the former right-a-way corridor that was never used. Senator Marcellino succeeded Senator Marino and has a full understanding of our concerns and has well represented the Village. Our schools district is somewhat unique in that it spans both western Suffolk, including the Village of Lloyd Harbor and the hamlet of Cold Spring Harbor and eastern Nassau's Village of Laurel Hollow. Approximately a year and a half ago, when our local library was given notice they would have to vacate the former school building in a couple of years, Senator Marcellino stepped in to broker a cooperative plan with the State Office of Parks and Recreation to use conveniently located state owned land near the County boundary to be the location for a new library and Environmental Resource Center serving the above communities. This land also was part of the right-a-way acquired by Robert Moses in the State of New York many years ago for the proposed parkway. And like Senator Marino's previous initiative, will be made available to the communities for beneficial use as well as serving as a new state park for all state residents. It is in the best interest of the Village of Lloyd Harbor and the surrounding community that Senator Marcellino continued to represent us in the State Senate and that the district not be realigned on a matter that would not serve our common interest. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much, Mayor. Mayor Herbert Marrow. MAYOR HAHR: If the board Task Force would be so willing, Mayor Herb Marrow had contacted me. He was unable to be here at this hour. He asked if I would please read into the record -- SENATOR SKELOS: We certainly will allow to read it, if you wish to submit it, it has the same impact. Your choice. MAYOR HAHR: I can than submit it on his behalf than, if you prefer. SENATOR SKELOS: Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Dennis Sneden, S-n-e-d-e-n. MR. SNEDEN: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the Task Force. My name is Dennis Sneden. I'm the CEO of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce. In addition, I have been asked to read into the record, the official testimony of supervisor, Frank Petrone, Tent Supervisor of Huntington and Dolores Thompson, Executive Director of the Huntington Station Enrichment Center, if that is okay with you, Mr. Chairman. It's very brief. The Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, a regional business partnership, represents over 1,300 members with combined workforce of 60,000. The membership represents a geographically diverse business community with 25 percent of our representation coming from Nassau County and New York City. As stated in our mission, the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce promotes business and economic development through advocacy, public policy, education and communication. Today, as we face a changing economy and critical changes within the business world, the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce is determined to provide valuable resources to both small and large businesses, as well as advancing the quality of life in environmental concerns of the region. As a Chamber of Commerce, over 80 percent of our membership have had the support and dedication of two New York State Senators. Senator Carl Marcellino, District 5 and Senator James Lack, District 2, representing Long Island's hub of commerce and economic development. In the last four years, the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce membership has increased 400 percent with a natural extension of membership into Nassau County. As this trend continues, the relationship with Senator Marcellino remains important. Naturally we believe his leadership is paramount importance to the success of our community. Huntington earned the distinction as one of the 50 fabulous places to raise your family for its "active cultural scene, good schools, involved safe community and access to the Big Apple. Senator Marcellino's support for the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce includes, over $300,000 in grant funding over the last three years, support of the Chambers various economic development initiatives, a $50,000 grant to establish a regional convention and tourism bureau, support of the Chambers on- the-job training program which has resulted in $195,000 funds being designated to over 50 local businesses to support workforce development, financial support of the community not-for- profit agencies. In my opinion, Senator Marcellino is a committed elected official who cares for his constituency, demonstrates key leadership to all and is steady in his resolve to make Huntington a great place to live, work and raise a family. As you finalize the Task Force's recommendation to the State Legislator, please ensure that Senator Marcellino continues to represent us in the State Senate. Again, we, Huntington's business community, ask that you respect the current District 5 boundaries with professional respect. Dennis Sneden, CEO. On behalf of Huntington Town Supervisor Frank B. Patrone, I would like to read the following statement into the record. Supervisor Petrone extends his sincere apology for not being able to attend the hearing this morning. Unfortunately his schedule as just, it could not be changed or postponed. Thank you. The Supervisors statement: It has recently been brought to my attention that under a plan jointly proposed by the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, the Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats, and the Brentwood Hispanic Democratic Club, that the Town of Huntington would lose a vital Legislative voice in the New York State Senate. As Supervisor of the Town of Huntington, I am writing to you as Co-Chairs of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment on behalf of our residents, our business owners to express their opposition to this proposal. Two State Senators have long represented the Town of Huntington. The population, diversity, and scope of the Town has and still does necessitate the voice of two Legislators in the Senate. To that end, any decision to reapportion the Town of Huntington from two State representatives to one, does a disservice not only to the Town, but to the County as well. The shift of representation to Nassau County will result in a loss of dollars and attention to issues important to Huntington and to Suffolk County. Our Legislators have always put the welfare of this Town and our taxpayers first. If this proposal were to be accepted, one voice alone would be responsible to communicate our needs to the Senate body that determines the fate of funds, programs and policies for both our Town and local governing bodies. Senator Carl L. Marcellino and Senator James J. Lack have been there to represent the needs of the Town government and to the constituents they serve. We have partnered on issues, projects and programs important to this Town. Together we have assisted constituents in need of unraveling the red tape. They have taken the financial and social concerns of 195,289 people directly to the floor of the State Center and have represented them on a wide variety of issues. They have secured funding for projects that will protect the environment, assist children and families, support our cultural heritage, historic preservation and improve the Towns highway, safety and commuter accessibility. Some of these projects have included support for; funding for the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce as a fire devastated their buildings and closed their offices, Huntington Arts Council, Elderly Services Center, Huntington Hospital, sidewalk replacement in Huntington Village, repaving of Long Island Railroad parking lots in Green Lawn and East Northport, a police annex in Huntington Station in the Village of Huntington, Huntington Station Enrichment Center, Walt Whitman birthplace, Friends for the Long Island Heritage, the Whaling Museum, Huntington Youth Court, the Freedom Center Daycare Program, Family Services Pre-School, Nitrogen Removal at the Huntington Sewer Treatment Plant, the connection of the Center Port Sewer District to the Huntington Sewer District, Huntington Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services. Again, I respectfully oppose any decision to remove a New York State Senate seat from the Town of Huntington and would as that the district lines be maintained to retain both Senator Seats. Senator Marcellino and Senator Lack have been good friends to the Town of Huntington. It has been my personal pleasure to work with them and have an honor to have them serve as our representatives. Thank you for this opportunity to address the committee. Supervisor Frank Patrone, Town of Huntington. The Huntington Station Enrichment Center has been in existence since 1997 providing services such as job placement, job training, computer, ESL classes and other services that meet the needs of the under-served population of the Huntington community. We have in the past year, opened a Boys and Girls Club of America serving over 200 youth from ages 8 to 18 years of age. We have started a Boy Scout troop in collaboration with Evergreen Ministry Baptist Church. I share this information with you so that you can understand my concern at the possibility of losing a person that has taken the time to listen to the needs of this community in which I live and serve. Senator Marcellino has not only listened, but has supported the collaboration of agencies and programs whenever he can find the funds to do so. The federally funded Weed and Seed Program, a collaboration of 40 to 45 local agencies, could not have been implemented in our Huntington Station area without the support of the Senator. I met with Senator Marcellino in 1995 to discuss the many needs of the people in Huntington Station and the services that could be provided at the Huntington Station Enrichment Center for adults and youth. Computers were provided with the receipt of a grant initiative by his support. When the need for funds for a sprinkler system for the Boys and Girls Club became a major issue, I was able to apply for funding for the necessary addition. With his support, the need was met. Only a person that takes the time to know their community and its needs will do their very best to support programs that will make a difference. A Senator that you are able to reach by phone or contact for one of the meetings, is one that is valued. I would also like to add that Senator Marcellino makes sure that he is notified of the events in the community in order that he can attend functions such as National Night Out Against Crime, awards luncheons and many community celebrations. Visibility is remembered when the person takes the time to be there on a regular basis, not only when he's running for office. I strongly recommend to the State Legislator that Senator Carl Marcellino continue to represent the present community in the State Senate. We feel confident that we know that someone is representing us and knows our needs. He is not only a Senator, but a friend. Sincerely, Dolores Thompson, Executive Director. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Appreciate it. MR. SNEDEN: Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Patricia Williams. Barbara Bernstein. MS. BERNSTEIN: Good afternoon. Although I am the Executive Director of the Nassau Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, I had to come to Suffolk County to make this statement because the Senate Elders in their wisdom have decided either that Nassau County is too insignificant a locust to hold a hearing or more likely, far too significant. Too significant that is because so much unfairness attends the Senatorial district lines in Nassau that it would be too dangerous to draw the attention and numbers of people a hearing would attract. Unfortunately, I think it's the latter. The New York Civil Liberties Union, for which I work, is a State affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is devoted exclusively to defending and advancing constitutional rights. The most fundamental of those rights is freedom of speech of which the most basic expression is political. That is, the right to vote. It's not enough that voting districts be roughly equal in population to as so as to satisfy the one person, one vote principal, they must also avoid diluting the rights of voters to elect candidates of their choice. While one person, one vote doesn't guarantee that you'll win, it does mean that the government should not deliberately conspire to make sure that you always lose. But that is what the present State Senatorial districting system does to the minority voter. Blacks and Latinos make up just under 19 percent of the Nassau and Suffolk population. But because of continuing patterns of racial segregation, they live in contiguous compact communities like Freeport, Roosevelt, Hempstead and Uniondale in the Town of Hempstead and Amityville, Wyandanch, Brentwood and Central Islip in the Towns of Babylon and Islip. In the districts to which these communities are assigned, the political districts, minorities now make up 25 to 30 percent of the population, are politically cohesive and share common interests. It would be logical to draw State Legislative districts to permit even encourage increased political representation for minorities. Yet the political system continues to draw district lines to fracture the minority vote. How do we know this has been intentional? Because while the political lines have been redrawn in each of the past three decades to reflect political changes, one constant persists. The line dividing the minority communities remains the same, as it does in the current proposal of the Senate Majority. But the White establishment cannot have it both ways. It cannot both resist racial integration and at the same time prevent minorities from a chance for political representation in their own communities. We see what happens when minority communities lack political influence, failing schools, high property tax rates, discriminatory over assessments, lack of services. In the past few years, the New York Civil Liberties Union has filed three lawsuits challenging the fallout of institutional discrimination. One successfully overturned Nassau's racially discriminatory tax assessment system and the other two still in the courts, seek to turn around the failing schools throughout the state, most in poor, high minority areas. The worst and most in Nassau and Suffolk. On Long Island, these school districts include Roosevelt, Hempstead, Uniondale and Wyandanch. The first suit claims that the education provided in these schools is so poor, as to amount to racial discrimination under federal civil rights law and the second charges the State of New York with failing to fulfill its constitutional mandate to provide a sound basic education to all children. I mention these suits to bring home the point, that is these communities that had some share of political power all along, they and their schools might not have become so desperate. Since the Legislators could not do the right thing in the past, we are asking the courts to compel them to do so now. But that's not all. You are now facing a potential lawsuit from one of our prominent Nassau County Civil Rights Attorneys, Frederick K. Brewington, who two weeks ago filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Legislature to force a change of Senatorial district lines so as to bring the minority communities into the democratic process. In 2002, we have an opportunity and an obligation to correct the discrimination of the past and to jump start a new commitment to fairness and equality. Draw the new lines so that minority communities have a shot at representatives of their choice. Now I would like to add a couple of comments in reaction to some comments that were made earlier, one of which was one made this morning by that gentleman in the corner who has since left. He says, he thought the days of racial gerrymandering were over. Well, I don't know if he understands, but racial gerrymandering works both ways. Whites racially gerrymand when to preserve their power and now he's accusing Blacks of trying to do the same. But the Supreme Court has ruled in 1995 that the Equal Protection Clause, that it would violate the Equal Protection Clause to fail to recognize racial considerations. I believe you know that yourselves. And this is only an affirmative, an affirmation of a principal laid down in the 70's under the original affirmative action suit, Backey versus California, in which Justice Powell said, that is generations too late to view the Equal Protection Clause as anything but a perpetuator of the status quo. And I would also like to make a comment about the people who have gotten here, a parade of people who are praising heaps of encomiums on their elected State Senators for all the wonderful services and programs they provided, and I have no doubt that these are wonderful programs, but it sets it up as an incumbency protection policy as if there is some dichotomy between providing good programs and good services to communities and electing fair representatives. SENATOR SKELOS: Michael Malazzo. Is Mike here. Ann Brigis, B-r-i-g-i-s. Jim Morgo. MR. MORGO: Good afternoon. I'm Jim Morgo. I'm here as President of the Long Island Housing Partnership, the regions affordable housing organization. The Housing Partnership builds homes affordable to low and moderate income families, counsels families to enable them to purchase and retain their own homes and performs a wide variety of other services to make home ownership possible for those who otherwise would never have the opportunity to own a home, especially not here on high cost Long Island. We pursue this mission because we know that home ownership is good for our families and we know it's good for Long Island's communities. Home ownership is far and away the best method of asset accumulation, wealth building for families. This is especially true for African-American and Latino families. By way of illustration of this decidedly uncontraversial fact, across the nation the median net worth for Latino homeowners is $70,000. The median net worth for Latino homeowners is $70,000. The median net worth for Latino renters is $2,000. For African-American homeowners the median net worth is $72,000. For African-American renters the median net worth is $1,700. African-American and Latino families account for more than 65 percent of the 3,000 families that the Housing Partnership has helped to achieve home ownership during our 14 year history. Now, you're probably asking what does all of this have to do with the proposed alternative redistricting plan. The Housing Partnership opposes the proposed alternate redistricting because communities like Brentwood, Central Islip and North Bay Shore, where so many of our homes have been built and where so many of our first-time home buyers come from, would lose the representation and partnership of two senior Senators, Senator Johnson and Senator Trunzo. Working together, they have been instrumental in making the Housing Partnerships works possible. Permit me to provide a quick, but I think, a significant example of the Senators support. South Wind Village, the Housing Partnership's residential revitalization of downtown Bay Shore, is not only bringing vitality to a once blighted area, but it is also providing the benefits of affordable home ownership, home ownership at $84,000 a home, far below Suffolk's $215,000 median sales price to 52 first-time home buying families. In fact, one of the people who is on the board directing the Housing Partnership at South Wind Village, I just saw is here, Mary Reed, from the community. And we have a true American mosaic at South Wind Village. There are 12 caucasian families, 22 African-American families, 11 Hispanic families, three inter- racial families, three South Asian families and one Asian family who comprise the 52 new American dream owners. These folks who will get the benefits and other benefits, that I described earlier. South Wind Village would not have been built without the partnership of Johnson and Trunzo and their seniority. Together they secured a quarter of a million dollar grant for South Wind Village for its roadway, funds that were absolutely essential for the developments completion. And this is just one small, but indicative example of the way the seniority of two responsive and compassionate representatives work for the aforementioned communities. In short, Senators Johnson and Trunzo have a long and supportive history with the Long Island Housing Partnership. They know that our work makes families, including especially African-American and the Latino families and communities stronger and more secure. The Housing Partnerships results would not have been achieved without their support and at a time when Long Island home prices are soaring, we need their seniority now more than ever. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Questions. Saba M-c-h-u-n-g-u-z-i. MR. MCHUNGUZI: Good afternoon. I am Saba Mchunguzi and I am the President of the Belmont Lake Civic Association, representing several thousand residents in the Northwest section of North Babylon in the Town of Babylon in Suffolk County. I am here today to state that our organization is strongly in favor of non-discriminatory Senate and Assembly district lines being drawn throughout Long Island. We are against the continuation of the pattern that has been in effect for the last three decades, namely the drawing of Senate lines through minority areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties which divide minority communities and dilutes minority voting strength. This pattern appears to be race based in as much as the results for the last three decades has been that each of the nine Senatorial districts on Long Island have had a non-Hispanic, White voting aged population of at least 69 percent. In order to achieve these numbers, it was necessary to divide seven incorporated Villages and 42 of the traditionally recognized unincorporated hamlets that have been designated as census places. In looking at the 2002 proposed plan, as well as the plans of the last three decades, it is clear to see that there was indeed a plan. That plan was to systematically, consciencously and with much deliberation and premeditation, gerrymander the district lines so as to dilute the voting strength of Long Island's minority communities. Historically the various branches of government have taken steps in this country to deny rights to African-Americans, woman, and other minorities. At times it was very blatant and unashamedly done. At other times, it was done very subtlety and covertly. The effect, however, was still the same. And that effect was to deny citizens their constitutional and civil rights. And that is exactly what is being done with the proposed Senate and Assembly redistricting boundaries. At the present time, we are not asking for anything as exotic as reparations, nor are we asking for anything as controversial as affirmative actions. No. We are asking that the one person, one vote requirement based on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment be adhered to. We are asking that the Equal Protection provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, be adhered to. We are asking for a strict standard of contiguity and compactness. We are asking for the preservation of a existing political subdivisions and traditionally recognized unincorporated hamlets. We are asking for the preservation of communities defined by actual shared interest and the requirement based on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment that a redistricting plan not subordinate traditional race, neutral districting principals to racial considerations. Gentlemen of this Task Force, is this asking for too much? All we are asking for in essence, is a level playing field. We are not asking for a handout. We are not asking for a free lunch. We are not even asking for jobs. What we are asking for is fairness and equity. Again, is this too much to ask for? There is a proposal, however, that many people consider to be fair and equitable. That proposal has been endorsed and presented by the African-American Political Action Committee of New York State, the Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats, the Suffolk County Caucus of Black Democrats, the Hispanic Democratic Club of Brentwood and others. And this plan is entitled the Non-Discriminatory New York State Senate Plan. This proposal contains a number of districting principals. Among them is to minimize the division of unincorporated census- designated places or hamlets. It is impossible to avoid all of division of census places while complying with a block on block border role, but this proposal divides only 11 of these unincorporated census- designated places. In contrast, the draft Senate district plan divides 42 unincorporated census designated places. The question that raises is, if well established communities must be divided, than doesn't it make more sense to divide as few of them as possible. What other than crass, political gerrymandering can be the reason for dividing almost four times as many communities as necessary. This has nothing to do with the incumbents or the party that they belong to. I agree with all the wonderful things that the present elected officials, State Senators and Assembly people have done. That is not the point and it presumes that these are the only State Senators and the only Assembly people that can bring anything to their district and also presumes that the State Senators and Assembly people before the present ones, didn't do anything and it presumes that after these are gone, that the new ones will not do anything. It presumes that there are no other people that can represent the districts in Long Island except the existing and present elected officials, State Senators and Assembly people. And we do not believe that that is the case. We are looking at the larger picture. And we are looking at the greater good. And many people have said, and one person said, that we need to have a continuity of the current districts. Well guess what, if the current districts are unfair than should we perpetuate them just because it would shake things up a bit. We believe that if something is not right, than it needs to be corrected, no matter how long it has been place. One example and one analogy if you will, is term limits, which is in effect in many counties and communities across cities, across this country. New York City, specifically half of the City Council, was changed because of term limits. And guess what, the sky did not fall in. And we say, we believe, that the same will happen if there are changes amongst the incumbents on Long Island. Which is not to take anything away from any of the good work that has been done by any of the present elected officials. Fundamentally, it's about developing new political boundaries based on fear, objective and equitable principals. The Belmont Lake Civic Association strongly urges the members of this committee to take a strong and long hard look at this issue and to truly do the right thing. To do otherwise, will signal that there is indeed another agenda at work and will further diminish peoples faith in the democratic electoral process. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Questions. Thank you very much. Dr. Maria Palandra. DR. PALANDRA: Good afternoon. My name is Maria Palandra. I'm Superintendent of schools in Elmont. I wish to thank the Task Force for allowing me to present the views of the school district. The proposed redesign of the New York State Assembly lines would put the Elmont school district in a truly unenviable position. Until now, the needs for representation of the Elmont school district have been particularly well served by Assemblyman Thomas Alfano. He has a considerable commitment to education, understands the needs of our schools, those of our children and has actively and effectively illustrated and defended our districts position in Albany. We feel that we have a strong single clear voice advocating for our students and community. The proposed changes would split the district further into three voting districts, which would make the articulation of our needs and interests particularly difficult. Neither the education interests of the Elmont school district, nor its representational ones, would be served by these proposed changes. I urge you to reconsider the decision and to allow Assemblyman Alfano to serve the entire Elmont district. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Scott Jablow. Is Scott here? MR. JABLOW: Good afternoon. My name is Scott Jablow and I am the President of the Cathedral Garden Civic Association and I represent well over 600 voters in the northeast corner of West Hempstead and an additional 18,000 within the other confined boundaries of West Hempstead. While the state Senate lines will remain the same, with Senator Dean Skelos as our Senator, Assembly lines will change. Should this occur, the communities of West Hempstead, Elmont and Franklin Square will lose a true friend. Thomas Alfano has been our Assemblyman for the 22nd District for six years. During his term in office, Tom has really produced for our communities. One of Tom's biggest concerns has been our school district. He has helped with grants for the refurbishing of the West Hempstead High School library and a new video conference room. And also, playground equipment for our two elementary schools. Plus he has given, excuse me, plus he has given great assistance with our state aid. Tom has always been willing to work with our two Civic Associations and our Chamber of Commerce. He's provided funding and guidance for important community projects such as neighborhood beautification, illegal housing and rentals. And these are just a few of the many ways he has helped our community. When Assemblyman Alfano accomplished these jobs, he never had to be asked or made aware of any problems by any person or group. Because he knows our neighborhood, Tom came to us prepared with the knowledge of where these problems existed and he exhibited a true concern for our children and their education and also an overall community need of our problems. But while working on the big jobs, Tom has always been there for the individual resident by maintaining an open-door policy with a local office in Franklin Square. Residents are always welcome to visit the Assemblyman's office and speak to his staff when they have a problem. While we have several other politicians available to our community, Tom is known as one of the strongest. His support has proven invaluable to us. To me, Assemblyman Alfano has always been a prime example of the old saying, actions speak louder than words, because he has always been there and came through for our communities of West Hempstead, Elmont and Franklin Square. The residents of West Hempstead, no matter what political party, have shown their support for Assemblyman Alfano with their votes. Tom has always supported our community and as long as Tom is running for office, we will continue to support him. Please don't remove our friend, Tom Alfano, from our neighborhood. While I said before, I represent 18,000 residents in the balance of West Hempstead, I came prepared with a stack of e- mails, 325 to be exact, from people who have e- mailed the West Hempstead Civic Association with their concerns. And just to read, just a few, one or two. Our small town is a crossroad and we need a person who knows and understands our unique problems. Tom Alfano has worked hard with our Civic Association and other community groups to bring a better quality of life to West Hempstead. Don't hurt our community more by taking away a representative that can help us through these tough times. The integrity of West Hempstead is one district that should be preserved. The people here have demonstrated that they are proud of their diversity. It is a small town that has a big, strong and very active heart. We should not divide this heart into separate weak chambers. Assemblyman Alfano is the best thing that ever happened to this district. Please keep him. Okay. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much for coming. Seth Bykofsky. Cheryl Lee. Is Cheryl here? Aubrey Phillips. MS. LEE: Yes, I'm Cheryl Lee. Well, good afternoon. I'm happy to be here. I really didn't come prepared to say much, but -- And I really don't want to go on reading a litany of praises and things like that. I've mailed my letter in already and I just want to get to the point. Firstly, I represent Parker Civic Association, which is made up of about 900 families. We realize or we are aware of the reasons why this action is being taken and our main concern, really, is that we have never, or we have not heard from anyone from the other side coming to our area and really explaining to our community why, and to the individuals, why this action is being taken. We, I just represent these individuals and I came across this information by reading and delving into situations. Now, as I've said that, I just would like you to know that we want to keep Elmont united under Assemblyman Alfano. Splitting Elmont into two different Assembly districts would only impede the progress we have made as a community. It will divide our schools along racial lines. For years our mantra has been six schools, one community. The community has worked relentlessly to develop this relationship. Now this could be lost. Of course, proposed district lines for the Senate keep continuity of representation. It is my belief that the State Assembly should follow the lead of the state Senate's district lines and reverse the actions of the Task Force. The Senate's work, in keeping communities intact, should be implemented in this case. And again, I would just like to point out that Parkers opposes the impending decision and we are urging everyone to really get in touch with the Task Force and let them realize that we really do not want to be split along racial lines. And that's my position. SENATOR SKELOS: Aubrey Phillips. MR. PHILLIPS: Good afternoon. My name is Aubrey Phillips. I am here today with two members or two colleagues of mine from the Elmont Union Free School District Board, Ms. Joy Madera and Mr. Ken Williams, who will share my time with me. I will begin by simply saying to you that in addition to being a member of the Elmont School Board, I am a long time resident of Elmont. I'm the past Vice President of the Parker Civic Association. I am also a Trustee to the Sywanica (phonetic) Central High School District and in addition to all of that, I am also a member of the Welcome to Elmont Committee. Like many other residents that you've heard, and hopefully from the types of things that I am trying to do in my community, you get a sense of the type of person and the type of persons that our community is interested in grooming. Why am I here? Essentially, I am trying to convey to you a message about your redistricting phenomenon, as I would like to term it. This community, the Elmont community, has for years suffered through some interesting geographic barriers. My community is sort of the shape of a donut. And I don't know how many of you have visited it. But certainly if you visit my community, you will find that there is a very large cemetery sitting smack in the middle of my community. That creates, in itself, an interesting barrier to connectivity. Secondly, my community speaks some 71 different dialects and languages and when you want to speak about communication, understand that that's not an easy task. Thirdly, and the thing that we are very proud of I think, as a community, is the fact that we sit very close geographically to what I like to call, modern day Ellis Island and that is John F. Kennedy Airport. And as such, our community, being a welcoming place, it's only natural that we have 71 languages, several dialects, one of which you're probably listening to right now. Now as a member of the Elmont School Board, an interesting phenomenon has occurred by your redistricting. And I won't go into a litany of things that I can speak to with regard to what you are actually doing to my community. But I will point out just this one for you, when I ran for my office three years ago, I ran on a platform of six schools, one community. In an effort to sort of get beyond this cemetery thing in the middle and the community has actually embraced that notion. By your lines that you've drawn, you have essentially divided my community into, in some cases, three different districts. I looked at these lines and I looked at it from the pure, from a purist point of view. I thought, what's this going to do to our children. I know that, as you well know, today children seem to be the rallying point for most political discussion. And so I'd like to show you a little bit of what your lines have done. Of the five schools, of the six schools in my community, what you've done is you've take a school, Aldon Terrace, with a population that's 83 percent minority, Gotham Avenue School, with a population of about 82 percent minority, Dutch Broadway, a population of 83 percent minority and you separated it from the rest of the district. Which by the way, comprises of another school, Covert Avenue, that has a 23 percent minority population, Steward Manor has I think a 68 percent minority school. But that's an interesting discussion for a different time. What you've basically done by redistricting, and I'd like you to understand the unintended consequences, I will at least give you that; I hope it's an unintended consequence, is that you have essentially divided my community along racial lines. You're looking at three people standing before you right now, who have done an awful lot of work over the past three years that I've been on the Board and some people, much longer than that, in trying to get my community to bridge the gaps that exist. We just simply cannot afford to have someone who maybe disinterested in my community, I don't know how many of you actually drive through it or know people there, continue to provide more challenges to our community. So, with that said, I'd like to pass the mic over to Ms. Madera who has a few things to say and in my closing, I just simply say to you that you're redistricting lines are affecting our children in ways that none of you probably have envisioned. Thank you. MS. MADERA: Good afternoon. I'm Joy Madera, as my colleague introduced me. I am also a Trustee on the Board of Education in the Elmont Elementary School District. Prior to that time, I previously spent a tremendous amount of effort and energy, along with others, in the district as a parent. That's where I began. I do reside in the northern most section of the Elmont School District. In fact, my mailing address is New Hyde Park. So, I have first hand experience with this fractured community concept, as my address also has a different Assembly district representation. Over so many years, so many of us have worked so hard with determination relentlessly to unite this community. And we have come to see the richness and the advantages of diversity and in working together. This proposed redistricting undermines these efforts and serves to alienate us from one another. I do understand the concept based upon numbers and demographics. However, looking at them in isolation, rather than that the ultimate effect upon the community, those being represented by you, is truly not in the best interest of all. I therefore urge you to reconsider your redistricting proposal and to allow Assemblyman Alfano to remain with us and to go a step further, I'd like to ask that you bring this northern section under his jurisdiction. We have all benefitted from his work as a district and I believe all of us in Elmont, in the school district and elsewhere, wish to continue to work together and directly with him. Thank you for your consideration. SENATOR SKELOS: Pat Boyle. MR. BOYLE: Good afternoon, Senator Skelos, members of the Task Force. As the Executive Director of Gateway Youth Outreach for the past 13 years, I have been fortunate to have access and to work closely with many elected officials. Much of that work has been focused in the Elmont Union Free School District. For the past seven years, I have had the privilege to work closely on the state level issues with Assemblyman Tom Alfano, as well as with Senator Skelos, Senator Balboni, who have worked closely with us as well too, but I think today we need to talk about Assemblyman Alfano and what's happening with his district. Assemblyman Alfano has been responsive, most recently securing over $650,000 over the next five years for afterschool programs, with the assistance of Senator Skelos and Senator Balboni. And most of all, Forth Right. He keeps the agency abreast of funding opportunities that we may have at any particular time. Even most recently, he thought it important enough to have the Lieutenant Governor comes to visit our agency to see the work that we were doing. Now the news comes that three of the schools in the Elmont Union Free School District, will be losing the dedication and service of the Assemblyman through redistricting. How do you tell children who are diverse as those we serve, as was mentioned before, speaking over 70 languages, in an increasingly changing community, who are looked at and represented not by the color of their skin or by the place of their birth, but why their worth as citizens, that the man who accepts them with open arms and represents them proudly, is not going to be there for them. What about those children who have known the Assemblyman personally, gone to Albany with him, who have seem him at their programs, that he is no longer their Assemblyman. How does an agency such as Gateway Youth Outreach start from scratch with another Assemblyman, who I'm sure will be as dedicated and caring and responsive, but the needs of the at-risk youth in our community are immediate and growing. How will the schools being cut out of Assemblyman Alfano's district be affected by grants pending in state agencies. As you are probably aware, the proposed district lines for the State Senate keep continuity of representation. It is my firm belief that the State Assembly should follow the lead of the State Senate district lines and reverse the actions of the Task Force. The Senate's work in keeping communities intact should be the rule and not the exception. This community, as does Gateway Youth Outreach, relishes the fact that Assemblyman Alfano is our representative and if that's considered to be adnausium, I'm not apologizing for it. We all know of the strides he has made in bringing together and keeping together this highly diverse community and why? Because he wants what's best for every child, their education. For every family security and safety. For every seniors well being and for every Veteran who has served his country proudly. This community elected Tom Alfano and until such time as he might decide not to represent us, he should remain the total of the school districts State Assemblyman. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Norma DiBartolo. MS. DIBARTOLO: Good afternoon. My name is Norma DiBartolo. I thank you very much for listening. And as Community Liaison of the Elmont School District, I would like to relay my concerns over the proposed district boundary lines for the State Assembly released some weeks ago. Currently, my Assemblyman is Tom Alfano, who I have had the pleasure and the opportunity to work with very closely in numerous community events. As a Liaison, I work with all segments of the Elmont community and issues relating to citizenship, enrollment in a school, pre-K programs and civic matters that impact our neighborhood. In that vain, I work closely with Assemblyman Alfano and I have observed this great impact on the community at large. Assemblyman Alfano has been able to breach the gap between different segments of our community with great skill. He has instituted programs and services for our racially and culturally diverse community that has had the results of making stronger and more vibrant community. The actions of the Task Force will no doubt have a very serious consequences for our community. Assemblyman Alfano and Senator Dean Skelos, have shown great sensitivity to all parts of our community and have represented Elmont with great skill. To lose Assemblyman Alfano for no clear reason, will be a devastating loss. I am pleased that the State Senate has chosen to keep continuity of representation with Senator Dean Skelos and Mike Balboni. But I am very disturbed that Assemblyman Alfano has been taken away from the Elmont north area. I therefore question the Task Force again. I respectfully request that the Task Force redraw the district's boundary lines and return the current 22nd Assembly District to the current shape. And I would like to leave with you some letters that were sent only two days ago when people heard about it. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. SENATOR DOLLINGER: Dean, just one thing. Mrs. DiBartolo, before you leave, you thanked us for the opportunity to hear your voice and I just want to thank you for your patience. And I'd say this to everybody else out there, we're four and a half hours into this hearing and we've, we're trying to let everybody get the full measure of what they want to tell us. And I just greatly appreciate the patience of people who have waited for an opportunity to speak. This is an important part of democracy and we appreciate your patience and goodwill in coming. I would extend that to everybody out there because I know we've, we're trying to get through this as best we can and make sure every voice is heard. And we appreciate the patience of our audience as well. MS. DIBARTOLO: We notice that. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: I think our stenographer wants to take a short break. (Whereupon, a recess was taken.) SENATOR SKELOS: Hi, Tom. MR. BENNET: Good afternoon. My name is Tom Bennet. I'm a Commander of the VFW in Elmont and I'm here to express my concerns over the proposed district lines in the Elmont community for the State Assembly. My current Assemblyman is Tom Alfano, who I've had the great privilege to work with over the years. I've had the opportunity to work with Assemblyman Alfano in the area of education with our public schools and in the Elmont community. I have taken part in his Town Meetings. I have had a great working relationship with him. Many groups have pointed to his work in the area of civil rights and cultural diversity and organizations for a good reason. He's an official who's word is his bond and he has delivered it consistently for his constituency. He is a leader that this community looks to consistently for help to the challenges we face as a growing melting pot. I believe strongly by cutting the community of Elmont into two districts will result in a pulverization of ethnic and racial communities. Assemblyman Alfano emphasizes on the issues that bring communities together and is jeopardized by the Task Force proposal. It is clear that the State Senate has worked diligently to keep the continuity of the representation by keeping district lines relatively unchanged in District 22. I am grateful for the work of the local Senator, Dean Skelos and Mike Balboni will continue. Their impact on the Elmont community is immeasurable. Therefore, I respectfully ask the Task Force to redraw the district lines and return our community to one Assembly district and the use of the State Senate standard as a guide to getting the job done. Thank you for your attention. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Ken Williams. Is Ken here? Mabel Johnson. MS. JOHNSON: Good afternoon. My name is Mabel Johnson. As a community advocate and long time resident of Elmont community, I am very disturbed over the redistricting of my community. Through the 30 years that I've lived in Elmont, I've been involved with Gateway Youth Outreach, volunteer of St. Vincent DePaul Outreach. I've been part of the PTA, both elementary and high school while my children were there and I'm a long time member of the Jamaica Square Civic Association. Elmont and South Floral Park is a very cultural diverse community of neighborhoods represented by many people who have immigrated and migrated to the United States in search of opportunity. Sorry. Families have invested their time and money in their homes and seek stability for their children. They naturally expect the same stability in their elected officials. Assemblyman Alfano is very concerned and involved in the organizations of our community. To change the district line would be an injustice to all the people he serves. It would continue to split a community that traditionally is under-represented due to racial redistricting. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Roy Messapele. MR. MESSAPELE: I'd like to thank the Task Force for allowing me to speak today. I'm here today as an Elmont resident, as publisher of the weekly newspaper, Elmont Herald, and as the Chairman of the Elmont Quality of Life Committee. I'm a lifelong resident of Elmont and have seen my town at its best and at its worst. As I sat to write my thoughts on what I was going to say today, I found it difficult to focus on which of the two major issues before me was actually the most important. Is the Town of Elmont more concerned about being split into two Assembly districts or is it more concerned that half of Elmont may lose an elected official who has done more for our Town than any representative in Elmont's history. While I strongly believe that our residents don't really care what the districts physically looks like, as long as Tom Alfano is their Assemblyman, in reality I firmly believe their primary concern is the physical division of Elmont and its school districts. Elmont is probably the most culturally diverse community on Long Island and while some may think this would create problems for a community, in Elmont it has actually unified us. Elmont is held together by its civic associations, its Chamber of Commerce and most importantly, by its schools. As you know, the boundaries of the current 22nd Assembly District are far different than those of the proposed 14th and 21st Assembly Districts. The geographic boundaries of the current 22nd Assembly District encompass ever school in the Elmont Union Free School District and four of the five schools in the Sywanica Central High School District, including Elmont Memorial High School and Sywanica High School, the two primary high schools for Elmont students. Elmont has faced many challenges in its history, the majority of which were the result of governments and political parties more concerned with their own future than with the future of their constituents. It appears that this may be the case here too, although I sincerely hope not. It appears that when the current 22nd Assembly District was formed, geography was a key issue. The current 22nd Assembly District has soft boundaries, including towns of light demographics, socioeconomic traits, common school districts and it is concentrated to one geographic area. While the boundaries of the proposed 21st Assembly District show some, and I stress some, semblance of order, the proposed 14th Assembly District, does not. This district radically divides, not only the town of Elmont, the Elmont Elementary School District and further divides the Sywanica Central High School District, but its haphazard construction also divides many other towns as well. Since there seems to be no logical reason for dividing these towns, the only other reason is that it is being done for political purposes. A lose, lose situation for the residents of the affected communities. They lose the simplicity of having a single representative to turn to and they lose the unity of their community and the benefit of having neighboring communities that often share similar concerns in their district. With all levels of government falling under closer scrutiny from a more educated public, I'm often left scratching my head trying to figure out what government actually looks at when trying to solve problems, often creating different problems in the process. Elmont is being divided because of a map, demographic studies and most likely the voter registration records at hand, without taking into account the turmoil being created in our town, while the Senate boundaries remain unchanged. As you could tell from my statements here, I'm not amused by politics at all. There is a tremendous difference between an elected official and a politician. Elmont has one elected official, Tom Alfano. Most of our other representatives fall into the category of politicians, usually putting party before people. As for our Assemblyman Tom Alfano, nothing I could say here could adequately express the gratitude of the Elmont community for his untiring efforts on behalf of our residents, especially our students. Assemblyman Alfano's presence and contributions to our community and to our schools, shows how effective an elected official can be when political agendas are put aside and focus is put on the issues at hand. To the members of the Task Force, I respectfully make two requests. First, I ask that you redraw the proposed Assembly District lines so that Elmont is not divided into two Assembly districts and second, if possible, to keep Elmont in the Assembly District represented by Tom Alfano. To the Chair and the members of the Task Force, I thank you for your time. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Margaret Pleta, P-l-e-t-a. Is Margaret here? Nilda Alvarez. Lyn Castello. Is Lyn here? Joan Johnson. Joan here? Miriam Garcia. Ruth Gaines. MS. GAINES: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Ruth Gaines. I am the Regional Coordinator for the New York State Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO, PEF Region 12 Long Island. The Public Employees Federation represents approximately 55,000 professional, scientific, and technical workers of New York State and of those approximately 5,000 members on Long Island. PEF is the largest local white- collar union in the United States and is New York's second largest public union. We also represent hundreds of employees who work in private-sector jobs and local government agencies such as, Albany County Probation Department, Albany Housing Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, National Development and Research Inc and Lockport Memorial Hospital. PEF promotes the welfare of its members by representing them on all terms and conditions of employment. We work to improve wages, hours, and conditions by organizing members, negotiating with management, and maintaining strong legislative programs. I have reviewed the redistricting plan submitted by the Task Force and the alternative minority district plan and I strongly prefer the Task Force plan. The organized worker, as well as the unorganized workers, have benefitted greatly under the current district arrangement. Over the last 23 years, Senator Trunzo has provided substantial support for many concerns. For example, healthcare issues, health and safety, education, pension reform, civil service enforcement. Throughout my experience working with Senator Caesar Trunzo, he has always been vocal for the needs and concerns of all working men and women and about quality services. We have worked together to preserve jobs and keep costs in check for government and municipalities. That is not to say, of course, that we have always agreed. We have not. However, always Senator Trunzo has stood up for what he thought was right and best for all concerned, often in the face of heavy opposition. Together we have agonized over public services. We fought budget battles, transportation deficiencies, and adequate staffing. I could go on to compliment Caesar Trunzo's competence and his results. But then those have been obvious to everyone who has had the opportunity to work with him. Senator Trunzo has handled his work with admirable efficiency and expertise and he has always been accessible and responsible to the labor community. Senator Trunzo is one of the most senior members of the Senate, and he alternative plan would destroy our carefully built relationships with the State delegation and our effectiveness in Albany. I urge the Task Force to reject the alternative plan and maintain the current Senate district configuration to the greatest extent possible. Thank you very much. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Questions? Mary Reid. Is Mary here? Welcome. MS. REID: Thank you. Seventy seemed like a small number when I first walked in, but I can tell you its been a long wait. But I'm quite sure it's worth it. Good afternoon. My name is Mary Reid and I have resided in Bay Shore for over 50 years. I am the past Regional Coordinator of the Public Employee Federation (PEF), and the current President of PEF Region 12 Retirees with 2,000 members here on Long Island and approximately 1,000 of those members residing in Senate Districts 3 and 4. After carefully reviewing the redistricting plan submitted by the Task Force and the proposed minority plan, I must say that I do prefer the Task Force Plan. As a past and current Leader of PEF, I have learned first hand about the many demands made on an elected leader responsible for representing a diverse group of people. As PEF's representative, I have had to consider policies with respect to how they would affect my union as a whole. Had I been elected by artificially formed groups representative of race, rather then job task and mission, my view of issues would have been skewed from reality. America, as the great melting pot, works best when people are assimilated into society, rather then held apart through prejudice, and segregation. The creation of a separate minority district is similar to the "back of the bus" mentality in effect, if not, in spirit. Our relationships with both Senator Trunzo and Senator Johnson, has been one that is both open and effective. Consolidating them into one district would be adverse to the representation of the South Shore and to the interest of organized labor. Therefore, I urge the Task Force to refuse the proposed minority district plan and support the Senate District redistricting plan. Thank you. And I must say that on a personal note I've worked for years with both of the Senators. I am most grateful to them for helping us get a permanent color here on Long Island and especially as a retiree I can't tell you how important that is when you're living on a fixed income. Thank you so much for your time. SENATOR SKELOS: Philip Goglas. Florence Joyner. MS. JOYNER: I would like to just submit it. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much. Caroline Jensen. Eric Poulson. MR. POULSON: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and members of the Task Force. My name is Eric Poulson, Program Coordinator of the Roosevelt/Freeport EOC Family Development Center located in Roosevelt, New York. The responsibility of our agency is to assist families and community residents that have been excluded from the current governmental system. The Roosevelt/Freeport EOC Family Development Center is a non-profit, Community Action Agency with a comprehensive program that provided services to pre-school children, youth and their families to help them become self- reliant. Our mission is to serve the needs of and advocate for low-income, disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth, senior citizens and other populations in the Roosevelt/Freeport community. The Roosevelt/Freeport community continues to be neglected, due to the lack of governmental representation and funding. Our community is plagued with gang violence, AIDS, teenage pregnancy, drugs, alcohol and escalating high school drop out rates. In conclusion, I believe with proper representation our communities can eradicate the problems that we face daily, monthly and annually. We will also be in a position to provide a state of the art youth center for our youth as well as provide employment opportunities and affordable housing to our families. And I would also like to go on public record asking that they disenfranchise minority residents and voters be given an opportunity to have their opinions heard in the appropriate arena in Nassau County. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Yvetta Camacho. Steve Colon. Steve Colon. MR. COLON: Thank you. I wish Mary was still here, because if she thought 70 was bad, try 78. Good afternoon honorable members of the Task Force, distinguished representatives from the community and all our attendees. My name is Steven Colon and I am a Brentwood resident and a graduate student in a PhD program at SUNY Stoneybrook. My area of research is minority electoral behavior and my concentration is Hispanic political identification, preferences and participatory trends. A lot has been speculated here today about cohesiveness of minority communities and I'm here today to address the proposed redistricting plans and how they could be expected to impact the Hispanic Latino community from a completely academic standpoint. The information I'm about to present has led me to two conclusions. One, the amended proposal for the New York State Senate District falls short of effectively creating minority influenced districts due to their relatively small percentage of minorities and two, the proposed New York State Assembly Districts, while maintaining the territorial integrity of the area, provide Hispanics with at least proality and pragmatically empower the Latino community. The data set for this study is the 1990 Latino National Political survey. The sample size of this survey is 3,273. Survey respondents were 18 years of age or older and the survey took place over an eight month interval utilizing in person interviews. Language is a serious concern so respondents were given the opportunity of completing the survey in either Spanish or English, depending on which they felt more comfortable with. The LNPS questioned 1,546 Mexicans, 589 Puerto Ricans and 682 Cubans, as well as 456 non-Hispanic Americans. Respondents were defined as members of one of these categories if they, one parent, or two grandparents were solely of Mexican, Puerto Rican or Cuban ancestry. The survey was conducted over 40 standard metropolitan statistical areas representative of 91 percent of the Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban populations in the United States. The purpose of the LNPS was to sample Hispanic rather than U.S. population, therefore the non-Hispanics included might not be the best representation of all non-Hispanic Whites. In an attempt to secure baseline data of Latino issues and attitudes, the LNPS bar from several well known established studies. The creators of the study also drew upon their own works, as well as the works of other noted researchers. Since the LNPS was designed to include respondents from all social classes, the researchers sampled 15 to 20 percent from higher income Hispanics, 25 from the middle-class where Hispanics make up 20 to 49 percent and about 50 percent from the working class or poverty areas. Basically what that all means, is under-repeated sampling of the same size from the nations Hispanic Latino community. We can be 95 percent confident given a range of plus or minus three, that these numbers are good approximations of Hispanic attitudes and policy preferences. The first bar graph entitled Hispanic partisanship by national origin, excuse me, depicts the percentage of Hispanics that are registered or identify themselves as Democrats, Republicans, Hispanics or other. As the graphs demonstrate, while there is a tendency for Hispanics to identify as Democrats due to the large relative size of the Mexican community, party identification is distributed across all possible identifications evenly and robustly. However, you can see sub-group differentiation, that is Hispanic party identification can be predicted pretty well by national origin. -- party they aligned themselves with and that's evenly distributed. Since party identification alone does not completely explain preferences, respondents were asked to place themselves on a seven point scale of ideology. The options included liberal, I mean, very liberal, liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, conservative and very conservative. The second graph entitled Hispanic ideology by national origin, shows the percentage of distributions amongst the respondents. As you can see, national origin again, has a large role in determining ideology. Therefore, Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans all demonstrate different trends. If a generalization could be made, it would be that Hispanics nationally tended to be more on a moderate to conservative side of political ideology. Basically stated, preferences vary, so an over -arching assumption of Hispanic political preferences and attitudes is difficult at best to determine. The picture developing here is a community that is often lumped together and that apparently has a wide distribution of political and economic beliefs, much the same as a non- Hispanic populations in the U.S. In order to assess this, respondents were asked how similar the political concerns of Hispanics were. Overwhelmingly, Hispanics see little to no similarities in political concerns of their different nationalities. That's the next graph. Once again, this information points not to one Hispanic political attitude, but a distribution of attitudes. The prior graphs have shown Hispanics, much like every other U.S. sub-population, has a varied distribution of political beliefs and concerns. With this in mind, an analysis of participatory terms will help illuminate my initial conclusions further. Respondents were asked, if they performed one of several different political acts, absent voting, these behaviors included signing a petition, writing to the press concerning particular issues, attending public meetings, wearing a campaign button, attending public rallies, volunteering for a campaign and/or contributing money to a campaign. The general trend is towards a 30 percent rate of participation, significantly lower than non-Hispanic control group in the study. And that's the next graph entitled Hispanic political participation by national origin. This trend would seem to indicate that much like the whole of the U.S. issues and stanches are substantially more important to Hispanics than Pan-Athnic unity. Regardless of race, ethnicity and gender, Hispanics tend to over-estimate their amount of participation as well as everybody else. There is a general trend in the population when you're asked by a survey questionnaire how much you participate to over estimate. So these numbers are actually biases high. They're actually lower than the 30 percent that you see here for the general participation. Excuse me. The Hispanics sub- group of this is whether or not Hispanics participated to support other Hispanics and if you see that's even lower than the general participation. So what does this all point to? Fundamentally, due to the dispirit and significant attitudes and opinions of the Hispanic community, particularly in light of the low levels of participation, attempting to create a minority influenced district with a minority population less than 30 percent is fatuous at best. Policy attitudes, preferences, concerns are too deferential so that a small number of supporters would be politically impotent. In order for minorities to have real influence, as with any other sub-population, their members must be at least the popularity upwards of one third of the district's population. Less than that and no minority population could pragmatically influence district level politics. Therefore, the amended proposal for the New York State Senate districts in practice will not achieve their intended goals. On the other hand, the proposed New York State Assembly districts with their Hispanic pluralities will effectively empower the minority communities while maintaining the territorial integrity and compactness of that area. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Can I ask a question? MR. COLON: Sure. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: I should know better than to ask an academic a question. I said I should know better than to ask an academic a question when people are waiting, but you have a wealth of knowledge and I'd like to ask you either now or at a later date, relatively soon, to take a look at the proposed new Hispanic district in Suffolk County in the Assembly. As it, as it's currently constituted I believe it has about a 42 percent Hispanic -- MR. COLON: Morality, yes. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: And a 22 percent African-American. MR. COLON: Yes. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: However, with the extremely high 131,000 population required by robbing Long Island of an additional Assembly seat, I think you would find, and I would invite you to get back to us on this, that if you returned Long Island to 22 seats all of which would then be smaller, at least by my crude estimation, you could increase the Hispanic plurality to between 45 and 46 percent and the African-American percentage slightly as well. I wonder if you could either respond to that if you've looked at it or if you haven't if you could take a look at it and get back to us. MR. COLON: Well, I have looked at several of, the points that you've raised recently. The major concern is with participatory rates and trends. As we may know, as we all know, having a plurality in numbers means nothing unless there's a political voice that accompanies that. Unfortunately, traditionally with the way the lines have been drawn, lots of the community which they have included have been participatory, no shows. Developing community leaders have been getting out their strength to try to increase that participation trend and they've been doing a success. However, with the divided community in Brentwood, Bay Shore and Central Islip, its been very difficult to unify those efforts. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: I guess, my question really is to the resources available to those efforts. If we assume the efforts to be consistent regardless of whether it's 42 percent or 45 percent, would it not stand to reason that an additional 3,500 to 4,000 Hispanic voters, or Hispanic people in that district would make the efficacy of such efforts more productive. MR. COLON: I definitely have to look at those numbers that way. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Would you take a look at that please. MR. COLON: No problem. ASSEMBLYMAN PARMENT: I would like to just ask a question. You may not know the answer to it, but because your working in this area, you might be able to provide some insight. Do you have a data base that would demonstrate what the national origin of the Hispanic populations of Long Island are? MR. COLON: Demographically, there are data bases that have it, it's usually census material that would be able to break up exactly where they come from. However, only recently has the census data been differentiating between the subgroups of Hispanics as fine grained as is has. I could get those numbers, but it really would have to come from the census borough for regional effects. I mean the numbers I provide you with, obviously are national numbers and regional differentiation does happen. We'd have to get the regional numbers to do that. Unfortunately, those numbers are not available to me at this time. MALE VOICE: Are you for the Task Force plan? MR. COLON: I'm for the Task Force plan in the Assembly district because it provides a large enough plurality so that these disparate views can come through. I'm against the amended proposal, so I'm for the Task Force plan also for the Senate because to draw those lines in order to include these people would not include a large enough sub-section of the minorities that they would have a meaningful political voice. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Can I just follow up Mr. Chairman? Thank you for the question because I guess I'm a little confused. I thought you answered my question to say that it all depended on participation rates and they weren't very good. MR. COLON: Yes. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: And I thought you answered this gentleman's question to say, oh in that 6th District definitely they can elect. Now, can you clarify that. MR. COLON: No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying to you is this, if we have a population of 30 percent, any minority, with the way the distributions of issues are distributed, let's say ten percent fall on one side of an issue or not, okay, if you have ten percent of thirty percent, okay, that's only three percent of the population towards a particular issue. It's definitely not large enough, even at the most highest levels of participation to affect any real change. If you drop that to a minority, just influence to the 15 or 20 percent that are going to be in those districts, that falls to two percent or one percent and those, those people who are politically active have even less of an opportunity to influence policy initiatives. So, the higher the number, the better of minorities in that district, the higher percentage. The Assembly district has essentially what makes up to 60 percent minority. However, with the Senate districts that's not the case and it's impossible to get, without drawing those lines scattered and irregular and not taking into account national boundaries and the compactness of the area. Did I answer your question? ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Well it leads me to another one and I beg the audiences indulgence, but this is very much on point and very much pertinent to whether this is really a minority elect district or a minority good show district. And again, it coincides with the interests of greater Long Island in retaining its 22 entitled seats, but it also bares on the electability. Now, you say it's a 60 percent minority district, but it's a 42 percent Hispanic and 22 percent African-American. MR. COLON: Right. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Do you have evidence that shows that in a district that the voting behavior of African-Americans and Hispanics are of, what's the word, not coterminous, do they have the same interest, do they tend else where in Long Island to elect a candidate of common interest or do they behave in a rather -- MR. COLON: What I'm saying to you is that, minorities, Hispanics, African- Americans, are like every other American and you cannot pin point a political agenda on a minority due to their skin color or ethnicity. There's a disparate array of attitudes and the policy agendas span the liberal conservative spectrum. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: I understand. MR. COLON: So it's difficult, it's difficult at best to assess academically where they would fall along the lines. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Okay. My final question and this is what I really, sincerely would like you to come back to, to me anyway, in writing over the next week or so if you can. Baring in mind that this area has not elected a minority member, baring in mind that the district just to the east, I'm sorry to the west, has two very large concentrations of African-Americans and consistently elects an Irish Democrat, I think the real question over the next ten years in Brentwood is, whether giving them an almost Hispanic district when you could give them another 4,000, is fair or if it is, if it is rather, in our interest to maximize where as 42, 45 that is not elect. Even when you are going to 60 that's not elect and I guess my theory is that if you can another three or four thousand minority plurality in a district, than you better darn well do it unless it already has a history of electing minority representatives. And that's what I would like you to comment on. MR. COLON: Okay. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Thank you. MR. COLON: No problem. Thank you, any other questions? SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Arnold Woods. Is Mr. Woods here? Diana Coleman. MS. COLEMAN: I thank the team. Unfortunately, I am getting very weary because of the hour as I know that you are. But I am from Roosevelt and I've been a Nassau resident for more than 40 years. I represent the EOC of Nassau County which Eric Poulson has already outlined our role and our responsibility as the designated anti-poverty agency of Nassau County. And the majority of our job is to clean up the messes that have been left by government because the minority communities remain neglected. I am also Coleman from Coleman versus the County of Nassau that ordered redistricting because of the, I guess we'll call it again, racial indifference of those who are in charge of making sure my life is easy. And being from Roosevelt and so many individuals talking about how wonderful Fuschillo has been for my school district, I have to give you some additional information. He only became wonderful when there was the real threat of my school district being broken down and my poor, uneducated children being sent to his school district. So let's be real that racism has a real impact and that good men do not necessarily just stand up and do good things. That the threat of minorities actually becoming part of their White society has driven many people to do many things. That's the first thing that I need on record which is not part of the statement that I have prepared for you. The Nassau redistricting plan, as currently being proposed by the Senatorial redistrict Task Force is discriminatory and in direct violation of the Voter's Rights Act. Nassau County is a primarily White community. However, there is a very distinct concentration of Blacks and Hispanics in well defined areas. The plan as proposed by the Senate Majority continues to expand on the White Super- majority power structure while at the same time diluting and destroying the power of the minority community. This is done with malice and forethought. It is clear the intent to minimize the minority-group's voting strength in any one district in Nassau County. This is accomplished by the following: one, drawing Senatorial district lines, which are inconsistent with community boundaries and commonalities. Two, disregarding previous legislative lines in Assembly, and Legislative districts as well as town councilmanic areas. I'll break it down to an A. These lines where specifically formed, with the help of litigation, to maximize minority participation, hence the creation of the 18 Assembly district and the Town Council and the Nassau Legislation. Good men did not stand up and say, minorities should have representation, minorities demanded it as we are doing here. These lines were developed because it was clear that the White majority power structure was not responsive to the needs of our minority communities and did not consider us a force to be reckoned with because of the weakened concentration that they have put in their lines. Three, by drawing Senatorial districts which protected incumbents even when it was apparent that the population had shifted to the point that the ideals of the incumbent were no longer representative of the population they were supposed to serve. Four, the lines proposed have a negative affect on school aid formulas in minority communities. The cumulative negative impact is the most, is that, wait, is that most minorities and low income school districts are split between two or more Senatorial districts and seem to fall between the cracks. Page two. This has resulted in a glaring disparity in the level of state aid in minority communities. The results are strikingly apparent in communities such as Roosevelt, that's mine, and Hempstead. These communities will continue to be unable to achieve parity with the surrounding school districts which are protected by the current Senate lines. In Nassau there are lines which have been drawn by various prominent minority and non- minority groups which would maximize the minority voting power. And in the package I do have a map of what those lines could and should look like. This minority, majority- minority district will be formed to allow a 53 percent minority population, which is very, very important to us. It is also maintained that the minority population has shifted in Nassau and Suffolk to allow plurality, not necessarily a majority in various areas. Plurality would allow the minority population to have a direct effect on various elections. This is the true intent of the Voter's Rights Act. In minority communities, a lot of time has been spent on Voter Education and Registration. We receive many responses from individuals as to why they do not participate in the electoral process. The most common response we get from individuals is that it doesn't make a difference. There is a common belief that their vote in the larger elections, such as Senate and Congressional races, do not count. The purpose, the proposed Senate Majority redistricting lines make this impossible for us to refute. The lines continue to disenfranchise minority communities and voters. We are committed to changing the system, which discounts our valued voters. The current system believes that the cream, which is the White majority, should rise to the top while discarding the minority voters as if they were sediments in the bottom of a cup. This will end. I hereby go on record, demanding that the disenfranchised minority residents and voters be given the opportunity to have their opinions heard in Nassau County. And I also go on record in direct opposition to the proposed lines as submitted by the Senate Majority Redistricting Committee. The lines are illegal and cannot be allowed to move forward since they discount an entire vital part of Nassau County, the minority community. SENATOR SKELOS: Any questions? Ernestine Small. MS. SMALL: Good afternoon. SENATOR SKELOS: Good afternoon. MS. SMALL: It has been a long day and I'm very happy to be here in front of the Task Force and I'm also happy to see my Senator, Senator Skelos. And I am Ernestine Small from Rockville Center, Long Island. And we do receive support there in Rockville Center, but it's a bigger picture. It's a larger picture. It's Nassau County. And what I am very sorry to hear, to see today is that this Task Force did not come to Nassau County. And the hearing should have been held in Nassau County. And if something can be done, I'm asking this morning, this afternoon, that they, the hearings be held there. The Nassau County residents should have the opportunity to have an input in the formulation of the new Senatorial districts. The census show that the minority districts have changed there and this would be a great opportunity for the districts to elect their own representatives. We do not need to split our minority districts. And we have to look at our Freeport, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Lake View, West Hempstead, Elmont and if they have the opportunity to elect representatives from this district, the time is now. And it's time now for Nassau County to be heard. Thank you so much. SENATOR SKELOS: Al Jordan. Mr. Jordan here? MR. JORDAN: I'd like to say good afternoon to the distinguished panel here, the Task Force. I have a brief reading. I am a graduate of Wyndanch Memorial High School just on the other side and I serve as a journalist. I presently work as an Associate Minister over in Wyndanch for the local parish there. And I work for an agency that's out of Brooklyn called School News Nationwide and I deal with a lot of social and political issues, made up of various, a lot of, a whole lot of hats. One of my colleagues, fellow journalist, wrote an interesting article from the Our Time Press. His name is Harold T. Lewis. And a section that it was written in was called Karmas (phonetic) and community. And it's a short article I'd like to take a few moments to read to you if I may. It's called a modest proposal and it reads as thus. Every ten years, following the census, the political lines are redrawn to take into account any shifts in population during the prior decade. That's why this paper and many others kept urging people to complete the census form. Our community loses elected representatives if it looks like the population numbers are declining. This time around, we seem to have managed a decent count and central Brooklyn will at least not lose any representatives. But there's an outrageous aspect of redistricting that still boggles the mind. I'm talking, of course, about the treatment of prison inmates in the political process. In New York it's against the law to vote while on parole or probation; generally speaking, you lose your voting rights when you lose your freedom, and you don't get them back until your parole or probation is completed. That seems fair enough, in a city where the last three mayors were elected by fewer than 50,000 voters, we wouldn't want rapists and crack dealers casting the deciding votes. What's outrageous is that jail and prison inmates count, for the purpose of the census, as residents of the city or county in which they happen to be incarcerated. When you do the math, upstate New York has a disproportionate number of State and Congressional representatives. In country after country, more seats can be added or maintained because there appears to be a growing number of "residents." In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Since 1982, more than 38 prisons have been built upstate. Every one of them in conservative, mostly rural counties that vote Republican. Once the prison gets filled- presto!-there are another 500 or 900 or 2,000 "residents" counted as part of that county. None of these incarcerated "residents" can vote, but the area will get an additional state representative and additional state funds, allegedly to serve the inflated population. New York State currently has a total of 70,000 inmates, the vast majority of whom come from the five boroughs, but they currently contribute to the empowerment of upstate New York. Taxation without representation would actually be a step forward, compared to incarceration without representation. My proposal would be to change the laws so that inmates' addresses, for census purposes, is the home address that he or she had on the day of conviction or sentencing. If that's too complicated, the rule should be that incarcerated citizens must not be counted when political district lines are being drawn. Or maybe we could just count them as three-fifths of a citizen. I thank you very much for your time. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Quick question, if I may. Is it your contention that the reason they shouldn't be counted is because they can't vote? MR. JORDAN: I'm not at liberty to comment on this Assemblyman. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: I'm sorry? MR. JORDAN: I'm not at liberty to comment on that. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Well I'm trying to understand your principal here. Are you saying the reason they shouldn't be counted is because they can't vote? What if they could vote? MR. JORDAN: Their privileges have been taken -- ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: Should they be counted? MR. JORDAN: Yes, of course. By all means. ASSEMBLYMAN ORTLOFF: If they can vote, they should be counted. So all persons who can't vote should not be counted. Children, immigrants, legal or illegal. They should, none of them should be counted because they can't vote. Is that your point? I don't think that's what you mean. MR. JORDAN: I think you're confusing the issue. I submitted it, but I want you to read it and do the statistics yourself. I think you understand where I'm coming from on this. SENATOR ORTLOFF: I do understand -- MR. JORDAN: Children are not of age to drink, smoke or vote. We're talking about legal residents. And they're used for one purpose as opposed to another, against the constitution when it was originally written. SENATOR ORTLOFF: I don't understand your point. Unfortunately, we're also required to count military, active duty military personnel, not where they're from but where they're presently stationed. We required to count college students, not where they're from but where they're presently found on census day. I think you've opened up a can of worms here. I understand your point but it doesn't only apply to prison inmates. It applies to thousands of college students and military personnel and if you carry it to an extreme, you could also find that inadvertently applying to legal immigrants, and I don't think we want to go down that road. MALE VOICE: But you're not put on the role of whatever country the military that you're serving in. They're on the role of where they're from. SENATOR ORTLOFF: No they're not. MALE VOICE: They're not. SENATOR ORTLOFF: No. MALE VOICE: You're saying that if your address is on your revenue, you don't necessarily have to be in a college town for a year, two years, or whatever. SENATOR ORTLOFF: Where ever you are on April 1 of 2000 is where you're counted for the census and where we must put those people for apportionment. MALE VOICE: So what does that mean for the persons that are serving in Japan or overseas? SENATOR ORTLOFF: They are not counted -- MALE VOICE: What does mean? SENATOR ORTLOFF: They are not counted in the same way. We're talking about where they're from. MALE VOICE: Well neither should prisoners be I would think. SENATOR SKELOS: All right. We're going to go to a supplemental list now. Thank you. MR. JORDAN: Your welcome. SENATOR SKELOS: Robert Pachas. Is he here? Clifford Hymowitz. Patrick Young. Linda Box for Mike Malazzo. Sonya, last name is G-r-u-t-t-u-l- t, it looks like. Joseph Albertos. Frank, it looks like, S-i-g-n-o-r. Eugene Scarpatto, he testified. It has here President of Wicks Gardens Association, it doesn't have a name. That's you. I'm just going through the list. We'll get to everybody. Judy P-a-n-n-u-l-l-o. MS. PANNULLO: Pannullo. Yes. That's Judy Pannullo, P-a-n-n-u-l-l-o. I don't know whether to say good morning, good afternoon or good evening. But my name is Judy Pannullo and I am the Director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition. As an islandwide 23 year old organization that fights for equality and strives to serve as a voice for all, we felt it crucial to make a statement about the redistricting. As nothing can affect minority communities as much as racially discriminatory redistricting. Long Island has systemically, systematically been ignored in several minority communities. In each of the last three redistricting efforts, lines have undergrown considerable and even radical changes. However, lines in the minority communities that are being objected to, have remained constant in Nassau County. For example, Roosevelt an area of only one square mile continues to be separated into two and now rumors of perhaps even more Senate districts. If this proposed Senate Majority redistricting should go into affect, Long Island's African-American and Latino populations will be systematically split. While it may not always be possible to preserve the integrity of every community in the process of drawing new district lines every ten years, over the last 30, several predominantly minority communities have lost representation in the drawn district lines. The lines that divide the minority communities have been the only constant in the process of redistricting. Over the last 30 years the votes of these minority communities have been divided and diluted reducing their impact on the political process and may indeed be the cause of the failure of those communities to successfully eliminate many of their problems that afflict them. Whatever the intent, this outcome of a process designed to provide fairness, is simply not working. Representatives of communities decide State policies. However, without a significant impact on the political process because of the dilution of their vote, minority communities suffer innumerable disadvantages, economic as well as social. The Long Island Progressive Coalition fully supports the minority proposal for non-discriminatory Senate districts for the 2000's. A proposal plan for all of Long Island. We strongly believe that it is based on sound, logical, sophisticated and objective principals and does not continue the pattern of racially discriminatory redistricting that has been practiced for the last three decades. Nor does the proposal continue the practice of splitting minority communities by diluting minority voting. We urge that you, each and everyone of the members of this Task Force, reconsider the proposed redistricting lines and support the common sense redistricting that is racially representative. Thank you for the opportunity for speaking. SENATOR SKELOS: Leonard Filan. SENATOR DOLLINGER: Just before you start, Mr. Filan. I think you've been sitting there for the better part of five and a half hours. We again appreciate your patience, but we hope you come to an understanding of this is what our public participation is all about. So. MR. FILAN: I appreciate it. I appreciate you're coming to Suffolk County. Let me identify myself. I'm glad to be here today. My name is Leonard D. Filan and I'm the Trustee for the Central Islip Library. I'm the first African-American on the Board. And what I want to bring to you is the spirit of the importance of everybody being included in our society. I want to set the tone here. Since I've been on that committee, on the Board of Trustees, I've gotten literacy programs for Hispanics, for African-American to raise their academic scores. I've done a lot of good. But the thing I really enjoy about, I feel I'm part of the system. And I'm making positive changes. I really feel good about my position. And in the future you're going to see CI coming up with his scores, because I know the needs of the community. I'm very close to it. And I'm respected by all people there. There is only one indictment I have against you gentlemen. I know you're hard working. You've earned your positions. The lines that were drawn originally that brought on this action, excluded African-Americans and that's what I don't like. That principal is something African-Americans had to fight all their life. I've experienced it, Thurgood Marshall has experienced it. It's being left out. So that's why I'm not endorsing your plan, because we need new lines for new needs for new generation and wipe out past discrimination and bring us all together as Americans. And that's why I'm here in spirit. I want to tell you the experience I had, so you could understand what discrimination does to you. It kills your spirit. It really does. I went in the service. I was from an area where everybody was getting busted at 15 and girls getting pregnant at 13. But I just went to school and did my homework and got a haircut once a week. That's all I did. So I went into the service. I graduated high school, about 80 average. I went into the service and I got selected for missile school. They had to screen you. So the FBI came and checked me out and he went to my job once. He went to my job twice. My boss had to kick him out of there. He said the guys a nice guy. Than he came and asked me, how did you make it out of there without getting arrested. And I started to be, my political way on this road, I said gee wiz, I never even thought about it. But you can see how people stereotype African-Americans and try to put you in the back of the bus. Or put you in jail. Or starve your education. So we got a critical role to play here now. We want to get all Americans to respect each other. Because our power is in integration. That's where your power is. And that's how I beat segregation in the service. Three of us, one Hispanic, one African-American, one Jew and one guy was French. We got along well. We changed that company over. The political process is to where its at. We have to make it fair for everybody. I got a son now that's a doctor. I wish his grandfather was here. It's rooftops and people trying to bust you down there. I want equal opportunity for all Americans, especially for African-Americans and Latinos, because they have a harder road to go in life. So my hearts for those African-American Latino kids that don't have a good education. Let's get them what's due them. And we need you political leaders here to draw lines. To draw good lines. And we didn't like Martin Conners plan. It's not just race. It's 38 variables. I wish I had the report to give to you. Because I was misinformed. I thought we were trying to go for a legislative district. I didn't know that. But I would like to look at his report. It's fine tuned. And that's what democracy is all about. I'm a ghetto child. I'm going to tell you right now, and I made it here and my sons got his practice. I always him, what I went through in the service and how people tried to exclude me. And that's what I think was done with those lines. And that's what I hold against you. You didn't change with the times. So I'm going to rest my case gentlemen. But what you do here, you make sure you give every American an opportunity to make it. And believe me, you'll see those minority communities blossom, because we do have the talent. I want to say, rest my case. Thank you very much. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: George Glass. Reginald Percy, I believe he testified already. It looks like A-r-n-o-u-x-t-h-u-l- i-s-m-a. Gennaro Esposito. Kathleen Cohen. Betty Walsh. George Jones. MR. JONES: To the members of the reapportionment Task Force, good afternoon. George A. Jones is my name and I'm a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. Having served the State Militia of New York for some 31 years. It's coincidental that the young man before me just made reference to his involvement in the military. Black men, notwithstanding being lied to, insulted, spat upon, otherwise abused and mistreated worse than prisoners, have served with honor and valor in the very, in every fracas, conflict, battle or war in the defense and the formation of this nation since we arrived here in the 1600's. I'm mindful that as human beings, some of us are insincere. We have a mindset that's insincere, coupled with an awareness that the wheels of government and justice and law grind exceedingly slow. We tolerate the injustices in the hope that those who hypocritically pledge allegiance to the respective constitutions really see the light and act on behalf of all of us. The proposal of the New York State Senate Majority is a blatant attempt to circumvent the one person, one vote requirement of the 14th Amendment. It's interesting to me that it has a parallel in the demise of a famous accounting institution who no doubt subscribes to one of its axioms that figures don't lie, but lies figure. I wholeheartedly support the redistricting proposal heretofore submitted by the Afro-American Political Action Committee of New York and those who likewise supported it. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Sacara Grant, from the Wyandanch Democrats. MS. GRANT: Good afternoon. I've been here since 10:00 so I apologize if I'm a little weary while I talk. Unfortunately there are a lot of people that weren't here that aren't here now that sang a lot of praises to the Senators which as elected officials, I think they are required to do the good deeds that many people spoke of. However, in my community of Wyandanch, that is served by, I believe, the 4th Senatorial District, there are many things wrong and I know this is not the forum to address them, but I believe that for the taxes that I pay and the quality of life that I've seen decrease over the years, it leads me to believe that there is something very wrong. And from being from the scientific community, if you have an experiment, you have a control and you have something that you want to change. And the past Senatorial districts being the control, and the new Senatorial districts that the Democratic Black Caucus of Nassau and Suffolk Counties have presented, that may be the change in order to get me, the regular taxpayer and regular voter, to get the deserved representation that I want in my life and hopefully in my childrens lives. There are a lot of comments about this new district, at least in Suffolk County, combining Latino and African-American interests and that there are some oppositions that Latinos do not have the same interests. But in the community of Wyandanch, I want to disagree, because there is an increasing Latino population, you know, on my block, in my community, in the surrounding communities and they're making their first homes here and they're beneficiaries of many of the same local state and federally funded programs that we as African-Americans are offered. They are educated by our schools in our communities and are funded by our both our ethnicities collected tax monies. So I believe that there is a need for a combined effort to have this minority district and we do have the same interests. Whether one group believes it or not. But to get into the meat and potatoes of my, the redistricting. My largest opposition with the Task Force Senate redistricting besides the obviously discriminatory practice at hand in drawing these lines, is the separation of North Amityville from the rest of the Town of Babylon in the 8th and 4th Senate districts respectively. I understand there are rules and regulations regarding one person, one vote, contiguity, involved in drawing these special bi-county districts, but looking at the bi-county district of, Senatorial district number 5, I believe, there seems to be a large disparity in how this district is drawn in which it seems like both sides of the county have a most like a same amount of area, I think one is a little bit larger than the other, but it's still a pretty much represented area in each county rather than that district in which North Amityville is a part of, which is basically small and it happens to be primarily African-American, which to me, you know, seems very suspicious. So, if anything, if the powers that be cannot find themselves to vote for the non-discriminatory New York State Senate plan, which I think is an excellent and serves the interest of my needs and my communities needs, than at least some consideration should be given in including North Amityville to the rest of the Town of Babylon as to maintain the continuity of like communities in the area. Again, with the new plan that the Black Nassau and Suffolk County Democratic Committees have addressed, if the incumbents stand up to their various testimonies of their stellar records that a lot of the residents have put forth earlier today, then they should have no problems adjusting themselves to the proposed non-discriminatory Senate plan. I think that if you're a good elected official, than you should be able to just make that adjustment to the new lines and you'd still have the same kind of record that you had before. And in conclusion, just to make a statement, you know, as African-Americans we've protested that we've been in the minority and we've been wrong for protesting. We've done the research. We've come up with a fair plan that will put us in a power to have representation and we're still wrong. I ask of you when will we be right. Because I would like for it to be some time, I would like for it to be now, but if not, I would like for it to be in my lifetime. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: C.J. Collins. MR. COLLINS: Hi, my name is C.J. Collins. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman and the members of the Committee for allowing my testimony to be heard today. I'm a Nassau County resident, residing in the 8th Senatorial District. I have testimony today concerning the proposed 2002 redistricting proposal by the Senate Majority published on February 14, 2002. Upon reviewing the Senate Majority's 2002 proposal, it left me in disapproval. Each decade indicates a pattern of districting that is racially discriminatory. It demonstrates a perpetuating practice of gerrymandering, which in affect, fractures the voting block of minorities suppressing the voice, needs, and concerns of the Hispanic and other minority communities. It is recognized by the court system that bi-partisanship, partisanship, I'm sorry, and incumbent protection are legitimate reasons for redistricting. However, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, clearly state that the use of racial discrimination for the purpose of redistricting is illegal. Is this redistricting political system an example of gerrymandering in the minority domain? I'd say yes. Upon doing so, this political system creates conditions that leave minorities without complete support by those that represent them. It creates conditions that effect education, social services, inter-racial coalition building, etcetera. In conclusion, I ask the Committee to adopt a non-discriminatory Senate districts with the 2002, which is a proposed plan for the Long Island, put forth by the African-American Political Action Committee of the New York State, The Democratic Club of Brentwood, the Suffolk and Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Questions. Thank you for being here. Natalie Connor. Is Natalie here? That completes our two lists. Is there anybody here who has not testified, who would like to testify? Yes. MS. BENSON: Hi, my name is Mona Benson, spelled M-u-n-a-h, Benson. I did call and put my name on the list and for some reason it wasn't on there and I added it on. I'm representing Long Island African-American Republican Club of Islip Chapter. I'm interested in one person, one vote, the whole principal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. I listened to everyone that came and speak and unfortunately they left. And I was just considering this one act entitles all people in the United States to be represented in State government, as well as federal government equally and which came redistricting where the census in. Today I come before the redistricting committee to talk about how the census data from 2000 was used to draw the new legislative lines on Long Island and how they decided to give Suffolk "minority district". I, as a minority find it offense to be called a minority. I feel that we have come a long way and that for the Assembly to say to give Blacks or Latinos a minority district so we can have a fair census, you're trying to say that the people that are representing us now, are not doing their best jobs. So, to me, you're insulting yourselves. You're trying to say that a White male cannot represent the Black community and I wanted to know how you came up with the lines. During the time I took to research for this meeting, I learned that New York State's population has grown in the last ten years by five and a half percent, which is less than what the national state was, United States as a whole, which was 15 percent. So I understand why we needed to decrease the districts. We still have the same 150 Assemblies and 60 Senate seats. But in Suffolk County there was an increase in population by 7.4 percent and in Nassau by 3.3 percent which gives Long Island as a combined increase of 10.7 percent. But Nassau has still lost one Assembly seat. I overheard that the City of New York, their population increased and so they're supposed to receive two more Assembly seats but instead you gave them two more additional, giving them four more Assembly seats. Taking three away from upstate New York and one from Long Island. But if the Island keeps increasing, in Nassau, even though they're saying that they're small, it's very small, but they have 20,409 people to 34,917 persons per square mile in Nassau, which almost the same about in Queens, but you gave Staten Island an extra Assembly seat and then you spread it around, I think you gave two more to the Bronx. But you took away from Nassau. Long Island is growing. People are moving in to Suffolk. As you see it, 7.4 percent is increasing. So I feel our right having one person, one vote will not be represented properly in the Assembly. I mean, I want to make sure that the Committee is going to give Long Island its proper due justice. Over the next ten years, more people will be coming on to Long Island. It's not going to decrease as we see in further upstate New York, they've had a huge decrease in their population. And you've reworked it. But on Long Island in the next ten years, our vote really won't be counted because we will not have, you took away one seat from Nassau so as more people come in, even if it's 3.3 percent more come in, their vote really won't be counted by the Assemblymen that are there. Suffolk, more people are going to come in. Let's just say ten percent more come on to Suffolk County, they won't be represented properly. I do agree that the government at times overlooks minorities and that more people of color need to be in governmental positions at both the State and local level. But there is a problem though when you start to separate the citizens of community from one another based on race. That what I feel is happening by this minority district that you want to create in Suffolk County. If I didn't say before, I live in Central Islip and I don't believe that we need a minority district, "minority district". You're, it's separating us from, as we saw here, Hispanics wanting for the Hispanic community. Blacks wanting it for the Black community. What happened to the cohesion of having every ethnic group wanting to be together. Hispanics are saying, no, we need more for us. Blacks saying we need more for them. And you're dividing the lines now where it will Blacks against Hispanics. Instead of having unison where we come together and say who's best to represent us no matter what, Black, White, Red, Green. It should be about issues, not about color. And I believe if you create this minority district, you're going to be sending somebody who they considering Hispanics want Hispanic. A Black wants a Black. So is the person really going to represent my community. And when they go up to the Assembly, are they really going to have a voice to get things that are done that seasoned Assemblyman who represent our communities can be done. As Assemblyman Chris Ortoloff said, the Black and Hispanic community, it may be large, but they feel disenfranchised. So they don't feel the need to come out and vote. So it doesn't matter if you create a minority district. That doesn't mean that more Blacks and Hispanics are going to come and vote. You're just representing one section of minority district in Suffolk County. You're not representing Nassau County's minority district. Is that just a way for you to see, are the Blacks and Hispanics going to come out and vote. And how do they vote. Are they going to vote Democratic, Republican. I believe it shouldn't matter if it's Republican or Democrat they should vote for who's best. I feel that it's a slap in the face of the people of color. So you're trying to tell the communities that are predominantly African-American or Hispanic, that someone who is Caucasian will not represent their voices. That to the mixed communities that are all over Long Island, that the government is not here for you. Don't worry about voting. You're vote truly doesn't count. The minority district that we have made in the Town of Islip will cure all the problems in all of the communities, which I feel is wrong and you're just throwing a smoke screen. I believe it has to do with parties, but they're, I'm fine with the Senatorial districts. I think the proposed line for the Senate districts, represents all communities. I have Senator Trunzo as my Senator. He does fine and I believe that if people want someone of color, some who's Hispanic to vote, it doesn't' matter. Whites will vote for somebody of color. Blacks will vote somebody who is White as long as they're qualified to run our communities. SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you very much. I believe we've gone through the list. Is there anybody who hasn't testified, who would like to testify? MR. ARRONS: My name is Michael Arrons. I just have three letters to read. The first letter is signed by Robert J. Summerville, President of the NAACP in Roosevelt and the letter reads as follows: Dear Senator Fuschillo. As you are aware, Roosevelt is in crisis and we need help. We believe Senate Bill 5829 is the answer to many of our problems. Therefore, the Freeport/Roosevelt branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, fully support your finding Bill Number 5829 to ensure the future sustainability of the Roosevelt School District. Thank you for your leadership in this matter. Again, you have our support. Respectfully, Robert J. Summerville. The second letter is written by May Cortez of Roosevelt, New York. Senator Charles Fuschillo. I am taking the time to say thank you for your efforts concerning the future of the Roosevelt community. You pulled through at the last minute, in what seems to be a triumph. I suppose some day, say a minor victory, yet I see it as a huge step in the right direction. I know that this has been an uphill climb and we are only just beginning. But what you have done for us needs some recognition. I find, as a parent, trying to get results and answers can be very difficult and what may seem like a simple answer is the farthest from that. I have read and reread your Bill. I have been in support of it from the beginning and am continuing routing for it. I should hope that this community sees your assistance for what it is and supports you as well. I know you had heard negative feedback and concerns and this is not the last time you will hear from the community. Hopefully, with your efforts and us as parents joining in, we can work to help the children. You are truly the only politician in this whole situation who has stepped up to the plate. So again thank you and I'm sure we will be speaking in the near future. May Cortez, Roosevelt, New York. And finally, the last letter is written by Janey Martin who signs off as a concerned parent and PTA member from Roosevelt. Senator Fuschillo, I know over the last few months I have called, written and e-mailed complaints to your office and many others. However, I would like to say thank you for the additional aid that you have managed to bring into this district. I know that this is only a small battle won, but I would like to say thank you for fighting the fight when no one else seemed to be listening. This doesn't mean that you will not hear from me or other parents because we still have an uphill war to fight and I am committed to this fight for my children, the community and our future. Again, I thank you for listening. Thank you. SENATOR SKELOS: Does anybody else, at this time, wish to be heard. If not, I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. MALE VOICE: Second. SENATOR SKELOS: All in favor, aye, opposed nay. (Aye.) SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you very much for your patience. The meetings adjourned. (Time noted: 3:55 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I, FRANK GRAY, do hereby state that I attended at the time and place above-mentioned and took a stenographic record of the proceedings in the above-entitled matter, and that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the same and the whole thereof, according to the best of my ability and belief. ________________________________________ FRANK GRAY - Hearing Reporter Dated: April 7, 2002 EN-DE REPORTING SERVICES, LTD. |
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