No independent redistricting means we’re ‘schmucks’

Editor Casey Seiler is right in his column "Koch gets last map laugh," Feb. 6, in that former New York City Mayor Ed Koch would be "laughing his skinny rear end off," knowing "the ghouls won," i.e., Albany’s legislators and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In 2010, Koch, energized his reform committee, New York Uprising, labeling this crowd as "enemies of reform," as they flim-flamed voters into supporting an "independent" redistricting commission, which was bound to be gridlocked by partisanship and would lead right back to the legislators protectively drawing their own districts. And that is exactly what happened.

So the Democrats, now with their super majorities in the Assembly and Senate, have done just what they criticize Republicans all over the country for doing — politically creating gerrymandered districts and eliminating voter choice. New York Republicans have brought a lawsuit, whining about the new lines. But who are they kidding? Redistricting will end with the Legislature adopting a partisan plan.

This failure shows we truly need an independent redistricting commission for our state. When Koch urged voters to "throw the bums out" for stifling reform, he knew what he was talking about. Today, will the voters rise to the occasion and reject self-serving Democrats, so-called "progressives" who talk reform, as well as, unembarrassed Republican partisans embracing the status quo? If not, Koch will be looking down, shaking his head and saying about us, "what schmucks!"

Arnold N. Kriss

New York City (Former) Counsel to Ed Koch,

New York Uprising