The sad thing is that the one you linked looks tame compared to some of the ones here in Maryland.

http://www.planning.maryland.gov/PDF/Redistricting/2010maps/Cong/Statewide.pdf

Also, my Senate district:

http://www.nysenate.gov/district/51

lol Amsterdam

Yeah it's funny when drive through the countryside around here and see road signs like Egypt - 1 mile, Bethlehem - 6 miles etc.

Has anybody ever though that they absolutely need to apply statistical uniformity models for district divisions (i.e. lines would be drawn that maximizes the similarity in both shape and population of the resulting areas)?

That Maryland one isn't all that bad. Its just the few districts around Baltimore where it gets screwy.

But 2WL - that sir is a blend of hick country and nobodyliveshereville. Its also remarkably close to where I live (at least the southern reaches are). I assume though you're up by Herkimer?

The Census Bureau should be in charge of redistricting.

"The Census Bureau should be in charge of redistricting."

What do you suppose would happen to the district of a congressman who refused the Census Bureau's request for a 200% budget increase?

Keep the feds out of it. It belongs to the states.

Because the states have clearly done such an excellent job of it.

goldfinger - I actually live in Albany but I never changed my address, so my voting address is still in Mohawk (across the river from Herkimer). Excluding Albany, most of upstate NY is hardcore Republican territory (even Buffalo - remember Tom Golisano?). There are still many different issues at stake in the district that differ from north to south. Much more farm interests in the north part, compared to fracking and casino gaming in the southern (Catskill) portion.

Where are you in relation to the district?

Why can't they just do it geographically. THAT MAKES SENSE! - [BCAC]

@2WL...do you really thank the feds could do it any better? They can't even pass a budget.

KA, even geographic lines are arbitrary. If you look at the big picture, the entirety of upstate NY is gerrymandered by the inclusion of NYC.

Well, of course you would have to develop a super-computer to calculate the best methods of determining geographic boundaries. Wait, instead of wasting our money on welfare, why can't we work on developing an unbiased machine to define District lines for us?

actually, KA, the algorithm is relatively simple. I could write it myself in a few hours.

flc, you're clearly not familiar with New York state politics. We make Washington look like a model of efficiency.

@2WL...then elect state officials who can fix it. Don't just assume the feds would be any better. Better yet...just defer to the UN. They are the experts on democratic elections.

+1 2WL. Though lately with Cuomo it hasn't been as bad.

I'm along the Hudson, just south of that district. I think my county is right on the border of the NYC influence, alternative going democrat and republican. Everything to the north and west besides Albany and Syracuse is solidly Republican though. However, isn't it like that in every state? I'll bet you 80% of Illinois is Republican if you go by land mass. Its just the cities that are majority democrat, and the suburbs and rural areas Republican.

But I agree re: different interests. They should really create districts by economic interest moreso than anything else.

flc - that's it! You've solved political gridlock! Elect state officials who can fix it! Why didn't ANYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTRY think of that?

In all seriousness (Cuomo's term being the exception, for the most part), New York has been governed by "three men in a room," the three men being the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the Assembly. New York had the same Senate President and Speaker for decades under Joe Bruno and Sheldon Silver. Bruno was booted a few years ago for corruption charges but Silver is still firmly entrenched. Cuomo has done a much better job of bringing a level of transparency to state politics, but even his most notable victory (gay marriage) was won behind a lot of closed door meetings with four on-the-fence Republicans who ultimately voted in favor of the bill.

Even as recently as three summers ago, Republicans went for a power grab in the Senate by convincing one Democrat legislator (Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada) to change sides while naming Dean Skelos the "new" President of the Senate. Espada was notorious for hiding campaign funds and contributions, and Monserrate was under investigation at the time for domestic assault (hit his girlfriend in the face with a water glass - apparently, he yelled "You want some water?! Here's your water!!! haha). Democratic legislators left the state and then-Governor Paterson was essentially helpless to do anything, not that he ever did much anyway.

Anyway, most NY legislators are or were firmly entrenched. My assemblyman and senator, for example, have both been in office since before I was born and know how to work the Albany political machine well enough to stay in office without any real challenge. One party is typically in control for long periods of time, so when the other party comes into power, like the Republicans did in the last election, they come down hard on Democratic districts by drawing horrible districts like these to consolidate power.

On a related note, I actually just picked up Mario Cuomo's biography the other day from the library discard pile. Promises to be a good read.

@2WL...Every state is different. That is why the process needs remain with the state. If you don't like the process in NY, you can always move to another state. That is what makes the USA such a great nation.

Yeah, other states are much better at creating racially, economically, and politically equal voting districts. You are an idiot of the worst kind.

Its bad in all states flc. Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, California. Wherever you go, there will be gerrymandering.

It's pretty self-evident to people NOT already in government positions that redistricting ought to be done by an impartial board. That's not perfect either (since by chance you could still get something as unfair as partisan-drawn districts) but you only need to look at my craptacular home state of Illinois to see that how things are done now is unacceptable.