Good Government Groups Seem Resigned to Cuomo Cutting Redistricting Deal

Bill Samuels (via Facebook)

At least two members of ReShapeNY – the coalition of good government activists that has been pushing over the past year for an independent redistricting commission – say they’re essentially resigned to that not happening.

Bill Samuels, the former finance chairman for the Senate Democrats who now runs the New Roosevelt Initiative, said that a consensus has emerged in recent weeks on conference calls among the coalition members that Cuomo will cut some sort of deal with the Legislature. Samuels said coalition members now generally believe Cuomo would not veto any lines drawn by the Legislature, even though Cuomo promised to do so.

In exchange, Samuels believes Cuomo will demand that the Legislature pass a constitutional amendment mandating independent redistricting for 2021. Senate Republicans have argued that creating an independent redistricting panel is currently unconstitutional.

Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, said he believes Cuomo will ultimately create some sort of “hybrid” commission that reviews the soon-to-be-released maps – and avoids having LATFOR be entirely responsible for drawing legislative lines. He echoed Samuels that the Legislature’s agreement to pass a constitutional amendment would have to be part of any deal.

“Time has nearly run out for that kind of robust, independent process in 2012,” Dadey said. “There still needs to be something that embodies as many of those principles as possible.”