Republicans unveil their redistricting plan

The Republicans in the County Legislature unveiled their redistricting plan on Tuesday -- and the gerrymandering is anything but subtle.

The Republican proposal would radically redraw the current legislative map, forcing 59 communities out of the districts where they've been for the past 10 years. To see the proposed map up close,  follow this link or click on the image below.

The proposed changes include:

• splitting the Five Towns among two districts.

• looping Seaford and Long Beach into the same district.

• merging the two districts currently held by Democrats Joseph Scannell and David Denenberg. No Republican legislators will be forced out of their districts.

• moving the 19th district from the Merrick-Bellmore area, where it is currently held by Legislator Denenberg, to the western border of the county to create what Schmitt calls "a third minority seat." Half of the Five Towns -- Inwood, Woodmere and half of Cedarhurst -- will belong to this new 19th district.

If this proposed map is approved, the Republican majority will disenfranchise thousands of Democratic voters by gerrymandering them into compact districts. The Republicans are trying to push the new lines through the legislature as fast as possible -- in spite of the County Charter, which gives the county two more years to redistrict -- because they want the new GOP-friendly lines in place for November.

To see how your district looks now, visit the County Legislature's website. Will the new district lines affect your community? Call Republican Majority Leader Peter Schmitt and tell him what you think of his redistricting plan at (516) 571-6212 or email him here.