North Hempstead board OKs new district map for town on 4-3 party-line vote

North Hempstead Democrats have pushed through a new district map for the town that creates a minority district with Asian plurality despite questions from their Republican counterparts about the process and the reconfigured district lines. 

At a June 16 board meeting, a public hearing was held to discuss the four options, provided by the town’s Nonpartisan Temporary Redistricting Commission, for revised boundaries of the existing six council district wards. After a lengthy hearing and an unsuccessful attempt to continue the measure by Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, the Democrats voted 4-3 to approve the commission’s first option.

DeSena said the Democrats’ decision to proceed was “unconscionable” and requested additional public comment before the Aug. 12 deadline to approve a new map.

“By the commission’s own tally, only 29 individuals either attended informational meetings or offered comments before these gerrymandered maps were presented for a vote in front of the town board,” DeSena said.

The maps are expected to take effect in January 2024, according to North Hempstead Town officials.

In 2023, Democrats Peter Zuckerman, of the 2nd District, Veronica Lurvey, who represents the 4th District and Mariann Dalimonte, of the 6th District, are up for reelection.

Lurvey said each of the four maps was “completely fair and equitable and the result of a comprehensive process.” She accused the Republicans of wanting to carve the map in their favor.

The new map will see Councilman Robert Troiano’s 1st District, the town’s first majority-minority district, remain intact with the addition of a small portion of Roslyn Heights. Troiano is a Democrat whose district includes Westbury, Old Westbury, New Cassel and Carle Place. Dalimonte’s 6th District will lose the villages of Plandome Manor, Plandome, Plandome Heights and Munsey Park, but gain the villages of Roslyn and Roslyn Estates.

“While it is unfortunate to lose an area I love representing and communities where I have developed significant friendships, I recognize redistricting is not just about me,” Dalimonte said.

Zuckerman’s 2nd District will lose the unincorporated areas of Manhasset Hills and Herricks, and parts of Roslyn Heights. It gains the Village of North Hills and parts of Mineola. East Williston Village moves from the 2nd to the 3rd District, which also gains parts of Floral Park Village and North New Hyde Park. The 3rd District, of Councilman Dennis Walsh, loses portions of Mineola and some unincorporated areas of Garden City Park.

The 4th and 5th District swap jurisdictions, with Lurvey’s 4th District gaining the unincorporated areas of Manhasset Hills, Herricks and Garden City Park, which helps establish the Asian majority-minority district. The new 5th District gains the Plandomes from the 6th District, and the Village of Munsey Park, among other villages.

Republican Councilman David A. Adhami, of the 5th District, said the new map is “clearly gerrymandering” by the Democrats in an effort to “remove political threats at any cost, even if it means opening the Town up to potential litigation” by renumbering of council districts, which prevents some residents from voting in next year’s election.