Gabryszak A proposal to redraw the lines of the New York State Legislature is being met with skepticism.

(See editorial on page four)

The potential new district maps have been drawn up by majority members in the Senate and Assembly and were released last week. They were criticized by several elected officials across the state, who charge the maps only serve to keep politicians in office.

“I thought this was an absolute slap in the face to democracy,” said Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-Cheektowaga, after seeing the plan devised by Senate Republicans that would add a 63rd seat. “This was a Republican scheme to protect their own political interests, maintain their grasp on power and protect their incumbents. This is gerrymandering at its worst.”

The proposed plan would see Kennedy’s 58th District narrowed geographically into the new 63rd District. He would lose the towns of West Seneca, Hamburg and Eden and part of the City of Lackawanna. In return he would gain most of the City of Buffalo. He would continue to represent the Town of Cheektowaga, including the Village of Depew.

Gallivan “The redistricting system is flawed,” Kennedy said. “I’m thrilled to be hanging onto Cheektowaga, but I’m losing towns like West Seneca. I’m looking to be a strong voice for whichever towns, cities and villages I represent. I’m excited to represent a new area, but I’m disappointed I’m losing others.”

Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak, D-Cheektowaga, escaped the politically-charged fracas, as his 143rd District remains unchanged in the new plan. He would maintain the district that covers the towns of Cheektowaga and Lancaster.

“From the very beginning, people have told me my district is the ideal of what a district should be,” Gabryszak said. “It doesn’t divide towns, and the numbers are right where they should be. I think some of the redrawn districts make sense. Some make you scratch your head and wonder where they came from.”

Kennedy The district lines are redrawn every 10 years following the release of the census. The new districts are supposed to represent shifts in populations and demographics.

Kennedy, who ran on the anti incumbent surge in 2010 to win his seat, has clamored for independent redistricting since taking office. Last year, he supported Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Redistricting Reform Act of 2011, which called for an independent redistricting commission to permanently reform how congressional and state legislative districts are drawn in New York State.

Kennedy also charged that politicians use redistricting power to stay in office, overlooking what is best for the people in the state. “Things need to change,” Kennedy said. “This is why, for two years, I’ve been calling for independent redistricting. We need to take the pens out of the hands of the incumbents and give them to an independent board.”

Both Kennedy and Gabryszak said they expect lawsuits to be filed about these proposed maps and that the redistricting issue will end up sooner or later in federal court.

“If it goes to court, it will be for good reason,” Kennedy said.

“I expect it more than not,” Gabryszak said. “I imagine someone is going to challenge it legally in court.”

State Sen. Patrick Gallivan would see his district altered slightly. The proposed new 59th Senate District would include the Town of West Seneca, which Gallivan does not currently represent. It would also see him lose portions of Ontario County but gain the towns of Henrietta and Wheatland in Monroe County. He would continue to represent the Town of Lancaster.

In a statement, Gallivan said that while he hopes the 59th District remains “largely intact,” he also looks forward to the opportunity to continue representing the citizens of Western New York, no matter what the final boundaries are.

“This week, the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment released their initial proposed legislative district boundaries as required by the decennial national census,” he said. “This is the beginning of the reapportionment process, which will continue with nine public hearings scheduled across the state over the next three weeks. Legislation will have to be passed [by] the Legislature and signed by Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo before any proposed lines become final.”

Several news outlets have reported that Cuomo plans to veto the plan as it currently stands.

A series of public hearings have been scheduled on the redistricting process. The only local one will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Common Council Chambers at Buffalo City Hall, 65 Niagara St., Buffalo. email: cfarrell@beenews.com