Mayor Rawlings-Blake Introduces Redistricting Plan
In accordance with the deadline established by the City Charter, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake introduced a plan for redistricting City Council districts. Where possible, an effort was made to unite neighborhoods that may have been divided as a result of the 14-member redistricting plan, adopted in 2003. Examples of reunited neighborhoods include: Barre Circle, Belair-Edison, Carroll-Camden, Ellwood Park-Monument, Federal Hill, Franklin Square, Greektown, Guilford, Harlem Park, Midtown-Belvedere, Morrell Park, Park Circle, Remington, Violetville, and Washington Village.
The plan adheres to standards established by the Supreme Court of the United States, and creates districts that are approximately equal in population and reflect the racial demographics of the city.
“Baltimore has changed significantly in the past ten years. This new map reflects those changes while respecting our cultural traditions and heritage,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the City Council as they review the plan.”
The 2010 Census population and demographic data provided by the federal government are not available in time to meet the redistricting deadline mandated in the City Charter. When that data becomes available, the Mayor’s Office will reanalyze the 2010 redistricting plan and offer amendments, if necessary, in order to ensure that the goals outlined by the Mayor are met.
In order to meet the deadline, the Mayor’s Office used Neilson Claritas Census Block Group estimates for 2010 to approximate changes in city population over the past decade. At the block group levels, Neilson Claritas base count information is based on sources including “…local estimates, trends in United States Postal Service deliverable address counts, counts from the Nielsen Claritas Master Address File, Hanley Wood new residential development data, and Valassis counts of new housing units.”
To learn more about Nielsen Claritas methodology, visit: http://www.claritas.com/collateral/data/update-demographics-2009-summary-methodology.pdf
To view a PDF of the new district map, visit: http://www.baltimorecity.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Bnm45Yvl_vc%3d&tabid=1003&mid=1770
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