It’s premature to opt

to preserve

Editor, OBSERVER:

In an article “Motion to Preserve 23rd Congressional District Falls Short” (July 30), the OBSERVER reports that county Legislative Chairman Pierre Chagnon requested that the county legislature pass a motion urging the “preservation of existing boundaries of New York State 23rd Congressional District.” The article goes on to report that, despite heavy voting along party lines, the motion failed to move forward to the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission.

For the chairman to propose such a motion before receiving census data, and for 11 legislators to concur with his proposal, is premature (at best).

The League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County points out that the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission is tasked with developing redistricting plans based on the decennial census for congressional, senate and assembly districts. The Commission is also required to hold public hearings around the State; in addition, they are conducting “listening tours” around the state.

The date selected for Western New Yorkers to present virtual testimony to the IRC is set for Thursday at 2 p.m. Visit to find out more. Recorded testimonies are available there as well.

A majority of Chautauqua County legislators have unabashedly made up their minds in regard to redistricting, despite the absence of census data and the absence of public comment and formal input from their constituents.

This posture disregards the spirit of New York State law and of the Independent Redistricting Commission, which was passed by New York State’s citizens as a reform.

The League trusts that the Chautauqua County Legislature is not inclined to approach local redistricting with similar intent.

MARY CROXTON,

president,

League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County