LI loses district in new congressional map

WASHINGTON -- Long Island will lose one of its five congressional districts in a new map adopted by a three-judge panel in Brooklyn federal court Monday afternoon.

The judges in the Eastern District of New York approved new boundaries for congressional representation drawn by U.S. Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann after the State Senate and Assembly failed to agree on a map of their own.

"We tried to reach an agreement with the Assembly and weren't able to," said an aide to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).

A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said, "We tried and worked with a variety of members and constituents, but were unable to get an agreement with the Senate."

Without that agreement, the court approved a map that reduces the number of New York congressional districts across the state from 29 to 27. It will go into effect beginning next year.

"It creates some pretty significant changes," Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) said Monday about the court-approved map.

Suffolk County Republican chairman John Jay LaValle said, "On balance, I think the maps are pretty good."

On Long Island, the new map pushes what is now the congressional district of Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights) out of Nassau County and entirely into Queens.

Ackerman announced Thursday he would not seek re-election, and three Democrats have said they will seek what is now an empty seat.

Two of the remaining districts that now span north and south from shore to shore -- represented by Israel and Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) -- flip and become a North Shore district and a South Shore district. The districts of Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) and Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) change little.

The court acted on the eve of the start date Tuesday for candidates to collect signatures so they can qualify to have their names placed on the ballot if not backed by a party.

The late start, some Republican and Democratic officials said, helps incumbents and makes it more difficult for challengers, who have little time to organize, raise funds and campaign in the seven months before the November election.

"The problem with the maps finally effectuated so late that it's difficult to recruit a candidate," said Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"If you take a look at the long term," Israel added, "the court map is structurally favorable to Democrats."

LaValle said, "Assuming all is equal, like money on both sides, I believe the Republican wins the election anyway."

In a 44-page opinion and order, the judges lamented the fact that the Legislature had "abdicated" its responsibility at the last minute.