Detroit finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is hailed as a beacon of citizen-led initiative, is embroiled in a critical and tumultuous task. Their mission: to redraw 13 metro Detroit legislative districts declared unconstitutional due to racially biased mapping.
The drama unfolds under the wary eyes of U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney, who voiced a pointed query to the commission: Can they set aside personal differences to tackle this monumental task? The response from the panel’s attorney, Patrick Lewis, was less than reassuring, admitting the outcome is “impossible to say.” This tepid confidence is a stark contrast to the idealistic vision of the commission, conceived in 2018 to eradicate the gerrymandering plague.
Five years into this grand experiment, the commission’s 13 members have been mired in controversy. Accusations of underqualification, evasion, and procedural squabbles have marred their progress. Alarmingly, they continue to draw $40,000 annual salaries despite completing state House, Senate, and congressional maps two years prior.
“We cannot rely on an embattled and inept entity, such as the [MICRC], which was misguided from the onset to ignore the citizens of Detroit during countless hearings, to now get this right,” said Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a lifelong educator and former Democratic state House member part of the suit. “There should be nothing about us without us. We are calling for a special master to work with a body of Detroit stakeholders, our plaintiffs, and attorneys to draw fair, balanced, and constitutionally sound districts.”
The spotlight intensifies, as last December, a federal three-judge panel identified several Michigan legislative districts as unconstitutional, citing racially biased districting practices and reliance on flawed data. This significant ruling necessitates the redrawing of these districts, a process that could also lead to alterations in adjacent areas. The districts mandated for reconfiguration are as follows:
- House District 1, currently represented by Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit.
- House District 7, with Rep. Helena Scott, D-Detroit at its helm.
- House District 8, under the representation of Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park.
- House District 10, led by House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit.
- House District 11, with Rep. Veronica Paiz, D-Harper Woods serving its constituents.
- House District 12, represented by Rep. Kimberly Edwards, D-Eastpointe.
- House District 14, where Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit, is the incumbent.
- Senate District 1, under the leadership of Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor.
- Senate District 3, represented by Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.
- Senate District 6, with Sen. Mary Cavanagh, D-Redford Township, as the representative.
- Senate District 8, led by Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak.
- Senate District 10, represented by Sen. Paul Wojno, D-Warren.
- Senate District 11, under the representation of Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe.
This ruling casts a spotlight on the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission once more. The panel’s approach to drawing these districts has been criticized for heavily basing decisions on racial demographics and using inaccurate data, thereby undermining proper representation for Black voters.
Rebecca Szetela, a commissioner on Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, told the three-judge panel in Kalamazoo that race and a poorly researched goal to lower the percentage of Black voters in Metro Detroit districts became a driving factor for the commission’s consultants and, by extension, the commission itself.
The result, she said, was “spaghetti noodle” districts that stretched between majority-Black Detroit and its White suburbs and ultimately diluted the Black vote. “It was 100% about race,” Szetela said.
“It has been a sad display of ridiculousness to see what’s happening within our community when it comes to making sure that black representation matters,” said plaintiff Natalie Bien-Aime, who attended more than 20 MICRC meetings to have her voice heard.
“… The maps crack all our communities of color, diluting our voice, our vote. It has weakened our strategic opportunity to have representation in the city of Detroit,” she added.
Without intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, a re-mapping process is set to commence, which could significantly impact the 2024 elections and beyond. Particularly at stake is the Democrats’ current marginal majority in the Legislature, which could be affected by the creation of new district boundaries.
The judiciary is considering a “dual track” approach, allowing both the commission and a court-appointed expert to draft maps, with the court selecting the most constitutionally sound option. However, recent resignations and replacements with no redistricting experience add to the uncertainty.
The situation in Michigan serves as a national case study. Government advocates have lauded the citizen panel as a model against gerrymandering. However, the unfolding events suggest a deeper issue: Can a group designed to be apolitical overcome personal dynamics to fulfill its democratic purpose?
The commission’s initial strategy, aiming to correct maps favoring Republicans, involved redistributing Detroit’s majority-Black population into sprawling districts. This approach, however, was met with judicial rebuke for diluting African American communities.
The implications of these actions are profound. Before the redistricting, Detroit had a significant Black representation in the state legislature. The new maps saw this representation decrease, a blow to a city where nearly 78% of the population is Black, with areas like Brightmoor group in with cities like Birmingham. These new districts essentially diluted a more unified Black vote by dissecting the unified voice of one area and disbursing Black voters into heavily white-populated areas.
The plight of Black voters in Detroit stands at the forefront of a significant democratic challenge. The city, with its rich African American heritage and political voice, has witnessed a concerning decline in representation following the redistricting efforts. Prior to 2022, the presence of 15 Black lawmakers in the state House and five in the Senate was a testament to the community’s robust participation in legislative processes. However, the introduction of new maps has unsettlingly reduced these numbers to 14 in the House and merely three in the Senate. This decrease not only symbolizes a setback in racial representation but also raises questions about the effectiveness of the redistricting process in safeguarding minority interests.
As the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission reconvenes, the weight of their task is clear. With the judiciary poised to intervene, Detroit awaits a pivotal decision. The judges’ impending decision, potentially bringing in a mapping expert and setting a timeline, isn’t just a procedural step – it’s a critical moment that will determine whether Detroit’s Black community regains its rightful place in the legislative process or continues to be marginalized. This scenario calls for more than just observation; it demands action, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to ensure that every voice, especially those historically silenced, is heard loud and clear in our democracy.
Will the commission rise to the occasion, or will external intervention be necessary to ensure fair representation? This saga not only tests the resilience of Michigan’s democratic processes but also sets a precedent for the nation.
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