Important Reminder! Ward 6 Re-districting Public Meeting This Thursday!

Join the Ward 6 Democrats this Thursday for a public meeting on the DC’s re-districting plan for Ward 6!

• When -  Thursday, May 5th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
• Where -  Friendship Public Charter School / Chamberlain Elementary (gymnasium), 1345 Potomac Ave, SE (across from Harris Teeter)
• RSVP - W6DemsRedistricting

Every 10 years, the District must redraw ward boundary lines in an effort to maintain a roughly equivalent population in each ward. According to the 2010 Census results, Wards 7 and 8 must add population, while Ward 2 needs to reduce population. But while Wards 5 and 6 aren’t required to move increase or decrease their population, both wards border the three wards that need to grow and shrink. The result? The boundaries of Wards 5 and 6 likely need to be changed so that Wards 2, 7 and 8 meet the legal requirements.

To help ensure that Ward 6 residents are able to have their voice heard, the Ward 6 Democrats have invited the three co-chairs of the Council’s Special Committee, as well as Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, to attend a public meeting on the District’s redistricting plan for the Ward. We’ll share detailed Census data and maps, and facilitate a discussion about the community’s reaction to any proposed changes to the ward’s boundaries.

What’s the overall Re-Districting timeline?

The Council has created a Special Committee on Redistricting to develop and propose a new ward map. The Special Committee is co-chaired by Councilmembers Phil Mendelson, Michael A. Brown, and Jack Evans. Below is a timeline of their scheduled work:

• Monday, April 25, 2011 - Public hearing to receive public comments and recommendations
• Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - Public hearing to receive public comments and recommendations
• Mid-to-Late May 2011 - Special Committee will propose and vote on a new ward boundary map and then hold a public hearing to review and hear feedback from constituents
• Tuesday, June 7, 2011 - Council will hold its first vote on a finalized ward boundary map
• Late June or early July - The second and final vote will occur