North Hempstead Town pols criticize proposed redistricting options

North Hempstead’s seven-member redistricting commission has released its final report, which includes four options for a revised district map that alters the landscape for council members and could create an Asian-majority district in the town.

The town’s population grew by about 11,000 residents from 2010 to 2020 — or a nearly 5.1% jump — to a population of more than 237,000, according to 2020 census data. The redistricting process happens every 10 years based on census results. 

North Hempstead officials hired Maryland-based CityGate GIS, an information technology company that provided consulting and software tools, to assist in the redistricting process. Jeffrey M. Wice, who has more than 40 years of experience with redistricting and served as counsel to the Democratic National Committee, was also hired as a consultant.

“We incorporated public comments and worked with experts to devise fair and equitable maps,” commission chairperson Dana Boylan said in a statement.

In all four options, Democratic Councilman Robert Troiano’s 1st District, the only minority-dominated area in North Hempstead, would not lose any boundaries.

Under the first two options, the 2nd District, held by Councilman Peter Zuckerman, a Democrat, would lose the Village of East Williston, the unincorporated areas of Manhasset Hills and Herricks, but would gain a portion of Mineola Village.

Zuckerman did not respond to a request for comment.

Councilman Dennis Walsh, a Republican, questioned the proposed maps because two of the options would push his address out of his 3rd District and into Troiano’s.

“The people who are in power have been in power since 1989 and they’re desperately trying to remain in power, and one of the ways they can do it is by taking the skinny slither of an area to make sure I can’t run for public office,” Walsh told Newsday.

Under all four proposals, the 4th and 5th districts would trade positions on the district map and shuffle some municipalities. The first two proposals would add the Village of North Hills, the unincorporated areas of Manhasset Hills, part or all of the unincorporated areas of Herricks, and Garden City Park. Those additions would help create a new Asian-majority council district.

According to 2020 census data, the number of Asian residents rose by more than 20,000 from 2010 to 2020 — totaling almost a quarter of the town’s population. 

Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey, a Democrat who represents the 4th District, said she was pleased the commission has provided a “variety of options that incorporate the comments and suggestions they received from the community.”

Republican Councilman David Adhami, of the 5th District, said that under three of the four proposed maps, his home would be redistricted.

“These district lines are clearly gerrymandered,” Adhami said, citing potential constitutional issues.

Democratic Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte’s 6th District would lose the villages of Plandome Manor, Plandome, Plandome Heights and Munsey Park, which would move to the 5th District, and gain Roslyn in the first two options. It would only lose Munsey Park in the latter two options, but gain no new boundaries. 

The town board will review and vote on the options at Thursday's board meeting, but Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, a Republican, said the public has not had adequate time to digest the information.

“If we don’t do this right, there could be a legal challenge down the road from somebody that finds the process wasn’t good and the outcome was suspect,” DeSena said.

She is calling for further hearings before the board votes on the changes. The mandated deadline to approve the redistricting was extended to Aug. 12 by the board.