Dismay, disgust with local politicians

Reading your Nov. 17th update on Baltimore County Council’s redistricting process, we were left with the all-too familiar feeling of dismay and disgust with our local politicians (“New Baltimore County redistricting map doesn’t create second majority-Black district; it unites Towson in single district”). How are they so consistently disappointing? After the Oct. 26th public hearing, with its overwhelming public opposition to the plan and requests for a second majority Black district, there seemed to be some hope. The council agreed to redraw the maps, listen to their constituents, and pursue justice.

Not even one month later, and their promises are revealed to be meaningless. It’s probably on us for allowing ourselves to be fooled into thinking our elected officials are capable of following the will of the people and promoting racial justice. The problem with these district maps is a problem with our democracy. All people get to vote, but by packing minority votes into one district, their power is limited. Baltimore County Council members need to realize that people of color are not simply a minority who should be happy with a single voice at the table. The demographics of the county as well as our country have changed. Refusal to redistrict and fairly allot political power is evidence of the white supremacy that permeates our government.

For those who question whether this is really an issue of race, how else do you explain how, of the two major demands voiced at the public hearing, the only one heeded by our politicians was the unification of the majority-white Towson? It is