"Voting maps focus students' influence," Jan. 22, describes problems with the map of redistricted Albany city ward lines, proposed by the recently concluded Reapportionment Commission. As proposed, the city's largest census block, which includes thousands of college students, was left intact in the redrawn 15th Ward. That resulted in changes to the existing boundaries of other wards, including the splitting of long-standing established neighborhoods.
The Common Council should not adopt the redistricted ward map as proposed by the Reapportionment Commission. It should break up the large census block and modify the commission's proposed ward lines to preserve neighborhoods of similar interests within each ward.
The article indicated that some on the Common Council may regard making changes to the commission's proposed map as "political meddling." We disagree with that point of view; it is not "political meddling" to take into account neighborhood communities with similar interests and concerns when setting these ward lines.
In his comments to the Common Council, former Assemblyman Jack McEneny provided his advice based on decades of experience with voter redistricting in Albany and elsewhere in the state. He recommended the council place greater importance on keeping established neighborhoods intact within each ward over achieving strict numeric balance of populations among the wards.
The Common Council should take Mr. McEneny's advice and modify the ward boundaries for the benefit of the city and its residents.
HELEN DONG BILL MILLS
10th Ward residents
Albany