Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Voting rights lawsuit challenges single member districts in Irving
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A voting rights lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks to strike down single member districts in the north Texas city of Irving on the ground that the present at-large voting system for city council elections denies representation to the city’s Hispanic population.
From The Dallas Morning News:
The lawsuit requests that a U.S. District Court declare that the at-large method violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It also asks that the city be ordered to disband at-large voting and develop a new system of electing council members.
The lawsuit mirrors a successful 1988 suit that challenged Dallas’ at-large elections, claiming they hurt the ability of minorities to get elected. That landmark case eventually led to Dallas’ current and sometimes controversial 14 single-member districts and at-large mayoral post.
It comes as no surprise that the city’s large Hispanic population is seeking better representation on the city council:
The suit comes at a time when Irving officials are facing criticism from the Hispanic community over their use of a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that turns arrested illegal immigrants over for deportation. Hispanic activists have said rumors of massive raids and deportations have spread fear among their community and strained relations with officials. City officials, however, say they are merely taking advantage of a federal program available to every municipality. Legal residents and non-criminals have nothing to fear from police, they have said.
This could be an interesting lawsuit. I strongly suspect the unrest in Irving will continue as long as the city tries to play like they are the feds.
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Comments
sgtmajorbrad Anonymous
That is all the more reason to deport the illegal alien scum as quickly as possible!
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Catherine Cuellar Verified
This isn't about immigration. Latino citizens who vote want a voice on their city council.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rawlins Gilliland Verified
The sgt Peppered his major irrelevance annonymously.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aptucker Anonymous
You have representation by voting, not by a court-ordered change in the system. If certain groups feel they're not represented, they need to organize their groups with grass-roots efforts and get them to get out and vote. That's what this country was founded on - the will of the people - not the dictation of the courts! It's very offensive and ignorant for one to assume that people would vote based on a candidate's skin color.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jeremy Dunck Staff
aptucker, are you not clear on the concept of gerrymandering?
When the wolf guards the henhouse, the chicks don't get represented. ;)
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
aptucker, clearly you are not familiar with the political history of our nation. If you're offended that someone assumes votes are biased on something so simple as skin color, perhaps you should consider a climate change.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aptucker Anonymous
Yes, Jeremy, and clearly that's what this lawsuit is hoping to do in Irving. And, Scott, how ignorant to assume that people vote according to skin color. Do you know anyone who does that?
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aptucker Anonymous
It is also quite sad and ignorant to think one can only be properly represented by someone of the same race. Wouldn't you consider that rather racist? When I vote, I don't consider the person's gender, sexual orientation, or color. I consider that candidate's qualifications. Is that not how you vote?
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
I'm not, by any means, saying everyone does it. However, I guarantee it's a factor in a significant amount of votes...especially on a local level.
I don't disagree that people need to freakin' vote, but you're quite gullible if you feel demographics have nothing to do with how people vote. I consider a number of things: qualifications and stance on issues important to me generally seal the deal. Doesn't mean most other voters do same, and I guarantee politicians will use whatever edge is available. More often than not, they find their competitive advantages in demographics.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aptucker Anonymous
So, you would suggest that a person can not be properly represented by anyone other than someone of the same race? Hmmm...seems the lawsuit in and of itself is racist. People can vote based on whatever factors they choose; however, to have a court divide areas based on race to give an advantage to one particular race in an election is RACIST.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Whoa now. Who said anybody couldn't be properly represented outside of their respective race? To answer your question, no - I'm not suggesting that at all.
Considering one (of many) definitions of racism is "prejudice based on race", I don't disagree. And I can certainly see why hispanics would feel they're not properly represented considering if one gets arrested in Irving they face potential immigration.
Since there's precedent in neighboring Dallas of the same gerrymandering (and that's exactly what this is) the suit has some considerable strength. The "at-large" system may be somewhat inefficient, but to come out and blatantly say they want a heavily hispanic area to be a district sounds biased to the point that it doesn't sit well.
What I'm having trouble with is where the Voting Rights Act of 1965 comes into play. I thought it was mostly about restoring the right to vote granted by the 14th & 15th amendments? Nobody's saying these peeps can't vote; it's actually highly encouraged.
And Vince:
I strongly suspect the unrest in Irving will continue as long as the city tries to play like they are the feds.
To be fair, they're not playing like feds...they're simply narcs.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
*immigration authorities
Didn't review before I posted, sorry.
11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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