Shoeleather Journalism in the Digital Age

Shoeleather Journalism
in the Digital Age

Pieces of Phoenix City Council redistricting puzzle begin to interlock

photo of Phoenix City Council districts
Above is a graphic provided by the city of Phoenix to help illustrate for residents the geography of political boundaries of the municipality. (Graphic: City of Phoenix/DigitalFreePress.com)
Census data: equitable shifts coming to Phoenix City Council district geography
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press

Every 10 years federal law requires Phoenix City Council to draw new lines on the municipal map in an effort to provide the most equitable population rates of governing districts for those elected to best represent the interests of the residents of the defined political geographical boundaries.

The requirements defined for the redistricting are found in the United States Constitution and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was signed Aug. 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson in an effort to belay discriminatory voting practices based on both population and race.

The legal requirements defined say the max deviation between the least and most populated districts can be no greater than 5% and no less than 1% for individual districts.

Phoenix city officials report the 2020 Census data shows resident population has grown from 1,445,632 to 1,608,139 from 2010 to 2020, which translates to the ideal population for each district to have 201,017 residents. Officials speculate council districts 1, 3, 4 and 6 need to increase in population while City Council districts 2, 5, 7 and 8 need to decrease in population, numbers show.

“To ensure a professional and impartial process, a consultant with expertise in redistricting, ARCBridge Consulting and Training from national capitol area, was selected in a procurement process to redraw the boundaries that comply with legal requirements based on City Council and community input,” according to an informational pamphlet available at City Hall that points out following the first round of input, which was completed Aug. 1, a plan will be presented to City Council in late September.

“The consultant will then prepare one or more possible plans to present at the second round of community meetings in September to gather public comments on the proposed new district boundaries.”

A view of Phoenix City Hall. (File Photos/DigitalFreePress.com)
Census data: equitable shifts coming to Phoenix City Council district geography

Today, the city of Phoenix has a directly elected mayor and eight City Council districts with each featuring an elected representative. They are:

  • Mayor Kate Gallego — Mayor of Phoenix
  • Council District No. 1 — Ann O’Brien
  • Council District No. 2 — Jim Waring
  • Council District No. 3 — Debra Stark
  • Council District No. 4 — Laura Pastor
  • Council District No. 5 — Betty Guardado
  • Council District No. 6 — Kevin Robinson
  • Council District No. 7 — Yassamin Ansari (vice mayor)
  • Council District No. 8 — Kesha Hodge Washington

The city of Phoenix, like all other municipalities throughout the Grand Canyon State, operates through what political aficionados have coined “the council-manager plan” whereas the elected leaders of the taxing district — the municipality — sets policy and the hired-hands carryout those policies, directions and resolutions.

According to documents available at the city of Phoenix’s website, the municipality is hosting a series of redistricting community meetings from corner to corner during the month of September with the first of the series 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Washington Activity Center, 2240 W. Citrus Way.

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