Redistricting Results and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Current HD 83 on the left, New HD 89 on the right.
I am glad that I have a district to run in, and that I was not placed in the same district with a colleague. The new HD 89 loses 4 precincts and gains 3 compared to the current HD 83. HD 89 sheds Briar Vista on the north but gains Mary Lin, sheds portions of two of Decatur districts, loses McNair Academy and Clifton precincts in the middle, and gains two precincts south of 285. I will need to make some new friends - and don't fret, I aim to keep the old friends too! I am humbled and honored to serve everyone in our community!
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The Die Was Cast
Greetings! The Redistricting Special Session, where we have drawn maps for the Georgia US Congressional Districts, Georgia Senate, and Georgia House for 2022 through 2031, ended today. As a newer legislator, I was told that this was the most political and partisan process I would experience. And I see the truth in that. As Georgia has a trifecta of Republican control, over the Governorship, Senate and House, they refused to consider legislation, as 21 states have, for an independent redistricting commission. People and institutions very rarely voluntarily give up their power.
So the majority party controls the process and controls the maps. Even though we can argue that Georgia is a 50/50 state, with a Republican Governor and two Democratic US Senators, these maps provide the numbers for Republicans to maintain control, at least for the foreseeable future. I joined my Democratic Caucus members in voting no against all three of these maps, because they dilute the power and voices of our Georgian communities of color, where we have experienced most of our population growth. I have told several of you that I felt like it was Kabuki theater - we are all playing our roles but we know how it ends. The die was cast before the session began.
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Thank you to Attorney Bryan Sells and Georgia House Democratic Caucus Leader James Beverly for their work preparing for and presenting the Democrats proposed map and analysis. Our map better represented our state's diversity and came closer to ensuring "one person, one vote" than the R map. For the House map, the Democrats proposed map did influence the R map, and reduced the potential of drawing Democrats into the same district.
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Thank you to the incredible non-partisan volunteers and activists, like those of Fair Districts GA and the ACLU, who testified before the House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, asking for a fair map, that will represent the diversity of Georgia, and for more time to incorporate the public feedback into the maps. Thank you to ALL of the people who took the time to attend town halls, attend hearings, and provide public comment in the on-line portal. Your voice did influence the process and will be a part of the public record for future court cases.
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Fairness and Transparency? Unfair and Flawed
The public asked for fairness and transparency, and time to review the maps and give feedback that would be incorporated into the drawing of the maps. It is true that there were eleven town halls held throughout the state in the summer, and citizens could also comment on an on-line portal. But what was troubling to many of us is that the public town halls were held BEFORE the census results were released, so they could not comment on an actual map before them, but just give general comments about their community, and that none were held in the metro counties that have experienced explosive growth, like Cobb and Gwinnett.
Once the maps were released, right before the session, several public comment periods were offered, but they were during the work day, announced a day or two, sometimes hours, before the hearing, so the working public would have a hard time to attend. And often the public hearings were offered and the map was voted out immediately after the public comment, so there was not even a chance that changes to the maps requested by the citizens would be incorporated into the maps. For example, predominantly black and brown citizens from Austell and Powder Springs in Cobb County took the time to show up and speak out against being drawn into Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district, but did anything happen after the people spoke out? No, the same map was voted out.
So I regret that providing public comment, especially during the special session for the Senate and Congressional maps, was more an endeavor to create an appearance of fairness and transparency - saying one thing and doing another.
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Current and New Congressional District Maps for our Community
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Current Congressional District 5 on Left, new CD 5 on Right
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Current Congressional District 4 on Left, New CD 4 on Right
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The GOP map on the left is what passed the House today. You can see the new 6th CD is much more rural and red, and essentially draws Lucy McBath or any Democrat out. Hence the news from today that she will run in the safer, bluer 7th CD. 2022 is going to be another roller coaster of an election year!
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Excellent Redistricting Resources
As I have mentioned many times to you, I commend to you the excellent work of Fair Districts GA. Their Explorer Map is an excellent tool to see all of the maps and compare: the old, the Democrats Proposed Maps, and the Republican maps that are now our official maps.
I also appreciate the in depth analysis provided by Krista Brewer, writer of Political Peach, Georgia's Progressive Outlook: Redistricting Zips to a Close
And here are AJC articles on the Congressional, House and Senate maps:
New Georgia congressional map approved, helping GOP pick up a seat
New political map approved by Georgia House, preserving GOP control
Approved Georgia General Assembly maps protect Republican majority
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At #Tenants Rising rally in front of Department of Community Affairs with DeKalb citizen Lynette Dandridge, protesting the incredible delays in getting out the Emergency Rental Assistance funds. We can and must do better to prevent the devastating consequences of mass evictions!
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At East Lake Family YMCA, with Free Wishes Foundation board member Stephanie Jester, presenting a State House Resolution honoring her mother, Emma Jean Boyd.
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With Allie Kelley, Executive Director of The Ray, celebrating her work on electric vehicles and charging stations in the new Infrastructure bill passed by Congress
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I was excited to attend a Nkosuohemaa - an African Ceremony honoring Dee Smith of the DeKalb NAACP and Fonta High of the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights for their activism in pursuit of a beloved community at the Africa Expo at St John's Lutheran Church.
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I am thankful for this job, for the opportunity to serve, and for each and everyone of you. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Many of us have lost and suffered so much during this pandemic. But we also have so much to be grateful for. David and I are looking forward to being with his mother and extended family up in Montreat, NC for the holiday - a precious gift of time together and a welcome change from our Thanksgiving last year.
Please let me know how I can of service to you. Blessings to you and your family!
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Representative Becky Evans
Georgia's 83rd House District, DeKalb County
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