05-11-87 Committee of the Whole - Laserfiche WebLink

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Qlntnttttttrr Export COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Wu tip (gnu= (Iounrtl of tip Mfg of Ooutll lirnd: The May 11 , 1987 meeting of the Committee of the Whole of • the South Bend Common Council was called to order by Councilman Ann Puzzello at 4 :45 p .m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included: Councilmen Serge, Braboy, Puzzello, Taylor, Zakrzewski, Paszek, Barcome and Voorde; Norman Primus, Glenda Rae Hernandez , members of the news media and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Councilman Puzzello noted that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed redistricting ordinance which would incorporate the concept of a neutral decision maker. She then called upon Mr. Norman Primus to review the project. Mr. Primus noted that he basically had four (4) items to highlight to the Council . The first item dealt with the balanced neutral process. He basically reviewed the governing law in the area and noted that, as a part of the process, six (6) councilmanic districts must. be prepared. He indicated that he has prepared districting kits which have already been distributed throughout the community. The second item he discussed was the difference between re- apportionment and redistricting. He noted that the House of Representatives is apportioned and the the House currently has 435 members. Every other body is redistricted. He noted that since 1920, the Census Bureau has basically played the role of the neutral decision maker at the federal level . The third topic discussed by Mr. Primus was an insight into various court decisions. He noted that Justice Felix Frankfurter of the United States Supreme Court stated in 1946 that courts should not get into the "political thicket." He also noted that in 1986 , the U.S. Supreme Court , in a 7-2 decision , upheld the Indiana redistricting plan. The various constitutional implications were the fourth topic discussed. Mr. Primus highlighted three (3) basic rights, those being the right to be protected (which is a personal freedom), the right to vote (which is also a personal freedom) , and the right to redistricting (which is a personal freedom) . In summary , he noted, that anyone can have imput into redistricting and that such a process did not require a knowledge of politics . He strongly stated that gerrymandering is unacceptable and that South Bend should lead the way in the area of redistricting . •Rtt •Rtt• oolay •u•Li HIM6 CO.