Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush today reiterated his support for a New York State Legislative Taskforce on Redistricting and Reapportionment (LATFOR) hearing to be held in the North Country. The closest hearing to Northern New York was held in July in Syracuse.

“All too often the North Country is ignored by Albany politicians and it is troubling to me that local residents and community officials would not be given the opportunity to discuss redistricting,” Blankenbush said. “Our region is unique and distinct from other areas in that we have an extensive international land/water border, a rural agriculture based economy, and the Adirondack Mountains. To not allow the people of this area to address LATFOR directly is simply unfair.”

In March, the Assemblyman joined Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua) in sponsoring legislation that would bring truly fair redistricting to the state. This legislation includes a measure to require a hearing be held in the North Country.

Last month, Assemblyman Blankenbush traveled to Syracuse to testify at the Central New York LATFOR hearing, making the case to keep the 23rd Congressional District intact. While the Assemblyman was glad to have the opportunity to address LATFOR, he noted that he was the only person from outside Central New York to speak at the hearing.

“The Syracuse hearing focused mainly on keeping all of Onondaga County within the 25th Congressional District. Other than me, no one else spoke of the North Country or any areas north of the Thruway.”

Other North Country Assembly members have joined Blankenbush in calling for a Northern region hearing:

“As the Ranking Minority Member of the Government Operations Committee, I continue to support the appointment of a non-partisan independent redistricting commission to redraw state legislative and congressional districts,” Assemblywoman Janet Duprey said. “The people who live throughout our large, rural area should be given an opportunity to express their views at a public hearing held by the NYS Legislative Taskforce at a North Country location. I urge the chairpersons of LATFOR to immediately schedule such a hearing.”

"We in the North Country have real concerns with redistricting that need to be addressed right here- not in Albany of Buffalo,” Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward said. “One of the critical issues is the proposal to count prisoners at their pre-incarceration address instead of their current correctional facility location. Many of these prisoners are serving life sentences and will never return home. For that reason, these people should be counted where they eat, sleep, and receive services. The residents of the North Country should have the opportunity to be heard on this and other important redistricting issues."