>>
Gary Walker: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," ALBANY IS
DRAWING THE LINE.
ROCHESTER MAY LOSE OUT WITH A
NEW REDISTRICTING PLAN.
POPULATION SHIFTS IN NEW YORK
STATE MEAN UPSTATE LOSES
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE SEATS TO
DOWNSTATE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, PLUS
WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON DAY CARE
CUTS IN MONROE COUNTY; WE'LL
ALSO CHECK IN WITH LOCAL
BUSINESS WITH "THE WEEKLY
BUSINESS SECTION" WITH "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
AND WE SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN
PLAY AN INTERACTIVE GAME WHERE
YOU ACTUALLY DO REDISTRICTING.
IT'S ALL THIS WEEK ON "NEED TO
KNOW."
>> ...THE CONGRESSIONAL AND
STATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS...
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Gary Walker: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
THIS WEEK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
REDISTRICTING ROCHESTER AND
WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR FUTURE.
WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO CHECK
IN WITH WXXI RADIO REPORTER
MARK GIARDINA TO DISCUSS
ANOTHER POTENTIAL CRISIS ON
THE HOMEFRONT, AND THAT'S
DAY CARE CUTS.
RECENTLY YOU LEARNED OF A CUT
IN STATE FUNDING FOR MONROE
COUNTY WHICH COULD LEAD TO
ELIMINATION OF 2,000
SUBSIDIZED DAY CARE SLOTS.
NOW, A $1 MILLION GRANT HELPED
RESTORE ABOUT A THIRD OF THOSE
SLOTS LAST WEEK.
BUT THE MARCH 1st DEADLINE IS
LOOMING.
POLITICIANS ARE FIGHTING.
SOME WANT TO EXTEND IT;
OTHERS DON'T.
DEMOCRATS WANT TO EXTEND THAT
DEADLINE AND REPUBLICANS
DON'T.
WHY NOT EXTEND THE DEADLINE?
>> Mark Giardina: WELL, JACK
DOYLE SAYS THAT BY EXTENDING
THE DEADLINE, COUNTY TAXPAYERS
WOULD HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL
AND HE IS NOT WILLING TO RAISE
COUNTY TAXES TO DO THAT.
>> Gary Walker: 1,300 DAY CARE
SLOTS, THOUGH, IS A PRETTY
ALARMING NUMBER.
$1 MILLION TAKES CARE OF A
THIRD OF THAT, BUT WHAT
SURPRISED ME WAS THAT THE
STATE HAS COME OUT AND SAID
MONROE COUNTY IS THE ONLY
COUNTY CUTTING DAY CARE SLOTS
WITH THIS CUT AND THEY
ACTUALLY POINTED THE FINGER AT
MONROE COUNTY, SAYING "YOU
DIDN'T SPEND YOUR MONEY
CORRECTLY."
>> Mark Giardina: THAT WAS
QUITE INTERESTING, BUT WHAT
COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOYLE IS
BASICALLY SAYING IS THAT HE IS
ENCOURAGING THE DEMOCRATS TO
GO TO PRIVATE BUSINESS AND
ENTREPRENEURS TO HELP THE
FUNDING.
BUT HE STILL IS STICKING TO
HIS GUNS AND SAYING NO, HE'S
NOT GOING TO GO PAST THE MARCH
1st DEADLINE.
THE DEMOCRATS, ON THE OTHER
HAND, ARE SAYING, "IF YOU GIVE
US THE EXTRA 30 TO 60 DAYS WE
NEED, WE CAN GET THESE
BUSINESSES BEHIND US; WE CAN
GET THESE UNIVERSITIES BEHIND
US, AND WE CAN SAVE THESE DAY
CARE CENTERS FROM CLOSING."
>> Gary Walker: NOW, AGAIN,
WHAT'S INTERESTING AT LEAST
POLITICALLY IS YOU HAVE A
REPUBLICAN STATE GOVERNMENT
CRITICIZING A REPUBLICAN
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
WHERE IS THAT GOING TO GO?
IS IT...
>> Mark Giardina: WELL, THE
DOYLE ADMINISTRATION COULD SAY
TO THE STATE, "COME UP WITH
THE MONEY TO HELP US."
AND THE STATE IS GOING TO SAY,
"WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO
HELP YOU."
SO IT COULD BE A
BACK-AND-FORTH SCENARIO IN
THAT SENSE.
>> Gary Walker: WELL, LET ME
ASK YOU THIS THEN: THE PLAN
THE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO, WHICH
IS THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY GOING
INTO THE MARCH 1st DEADLINE,
HOW REALISTIC IS IT?
WE HAVE ONE COUNTY LEGISLATOR,
CHRIS WILMONT, WHO IS PONYING
UP $50,000 OF HIS OWN FAMILY'S
MONEY TO HELP DO THIS.
ISN'T THAT KIND OF -- THERE
WOULD BE AT LEAST EYEBROWS
RAISED ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S
PART TO SAY, "WELL, MAYBE WE
OUGHT TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE"?
>> Mark Giardina: YOU'VE
MENTIONED CHRIS WILMONT.
YES, HE'S COME UP WITH IT, AND
THERE'S A NEWS CONFERENCE JOSE
CRUZ MENTIONED, THAT HE HAS
BEEN TALKING TO, AS I SAID
BEFORE, SOME BUSINESSES WHO
ARE ALSO WILLING TO CHIP IN.
IT'S THIS TIME LINE THING
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DO IT BY
MARCH 1st.
>> Gary Walker: AND THE MAGIC
OF MARCH 1st IS THAT TAXPAYERS
WOULD HAVE TO PICK UP SOME OF
IT THEN --
>> Mark Giardina: THAT'S
RIGHT.
>> Gary Walker: SO RIGHT NOW
WE'VE GOT 1,300 DAY CARE SLOTS
IN THE BALANCE, AND WE STILL
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN TO THEM.
>> Mark Giardina: MOST LIKELY.
IF WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH
WHAT COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOYLE
SAYS, THEY'RE GONE.
>> Gary Walker: ALL RIGHT.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE
COVERING THIS ON AM 1370.
>> Mark Giardina: YES.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
MARK GIARDINA OF WXXI AM 1370.
LISTEN TO THOSE REPORTS ON
"MORNING EDITION" AND "ALL
THINGS CONSIDERED" ON WXXI AM
1370.
NOW ON TO REDISTRICTING.
ACCORDING TO A NEW PLAN JUST
RELEASED FROM ALBANY,
DOWNSTATE NEW YORK WOULD TAKE
AWAY FIVE UPSTATE SEATS IN THE
LEGISLATURE, UNDER NEW VOTING
LINES WHICH ARE BEING REDRAWN
BASED ON POPULATION CHANGES
FROM THE 2000 CENSUS.
NOW HERE AT HOME, THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER COULD LOSE AN
ASSEMBLY SEAT.
THE 134th DISTRICT,
REPRESENTED BY JOSEPH ROBACH,
WOULD MOVE OUT OF CITY LIMITS,
LEAVING HIM WITH A TOTALLY
SUBURBAN DISTRICT.
THE PLAN ALSO PITS THREE
REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMEN RIGHT
HERE AGAINST SOME INCUMBENTS
FROM THEIR OWN PARTY.
JOE ERRIGO WOULD GO AGAINST
DANIEL BURLING.
BRIAN KOLB WOULD FACE GARY
FINCH.
AND CHARLIE NESBITT WOULD BE
CHALLENGED BY DAVID SEAMAN.
THE PLAN ALSO COMBINES PARTS
OF MENDON, PITTSFORD AND
HENRIETTA IN A NEW 130th
DISTRICT.
THIS WEEK, WE'LL BE JOINED BY
TWO ASSEMBLYMEN AND A STATE
SENATOR WHO SITS ON THE
REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE AND
SOMEBODY COVERING THIS ALL.
BUT FIRST, "NEED TO KNOW'S"
MATT CUMMINGS HELPS TO EXPLAIN
HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT.
>> I DON'T THINK VERY MUCH
REDISTRICTING GETS DONE OUT IN
THE OPEN.
>> Matt Cummings: ROCHESTER
CITY COUNCILMAN BOB STEVENSON
IS NOT HAPPY WITH ALBANY'S
CURRENT REDISTRICTING
PROPOSAL.
IT HAS STATE ASSEMBLYMAN
JOSEPH ROBACH LOSING THE
CHARLOTTE AND MAPLEWOOD
SECTIONS OF HIS CITY-SUBURBAN
DISTRICT.
ROBACH AND STEVENSON SHARE
ABOUT HALF OF THOSE
CONSTITUENTS IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS, MEANING
A CHANGE AT THE ASSEMBLY LEVEL
WILL IMPACT STEVENSON AT THE
CITY LEVEL.
>> ANYBODY WHO REPRESENTS THEM
NOW WILL GO THROUGH A LEARNING
CURVE, LEARNING THE PRESIDENTS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS, THEIR CONCERNS,
WHAT ARE THE PERENNIAL
PROBLEMS, WHAT THINGS CAN BE
ADDRESSED THROUGH STATE
FUNDING AND CANNOT BE
ADDRESSED THROUGH STATE
FUNDING?
>> Matt Cummings: STATE
FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S
NORTHWEST SIDE IS A PRIME
CONCERN.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONTARIO
BEACH AND THE PORT OF
ROCHESTER IN ANTICIPATION OF
THE NEW FAST FERRY IS KEY TO
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
A CHANGE IN ASSEMBLY
REPRESENTATION COULD IMPACT
THAT FUNDING.
>> A LOT OF THE MONEY, THOUGH,
THAT THE FEDS GIVE TO US FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS,
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PORT,
COMES THROUGH THE STATE,
WASHES THROUGH THE STATE.
SOME OF THAT CAN GET DELAYED
PRETTY HEAVILY.
>> Matt Cummings: RESIDENTS OF
THE CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE ARE
VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE NAME
ROBACH.
JOSEPH HAS REPRESENTED THEM IN
THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE LAST 10
YEARS, HIS FATHER ROGER FOR 16
YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
LAST YEAR WHEN ASSEMBLYMAN
MICHAEL BRAGMAN OF SYRACUSE
TRIED TO OVERTHROW SHELDON
SILVER AS ASSEMBLY SPEAKER,
ROBACH SUPPORTED BRAGMAN.
SILVER ENDED UP THE VICTOR AND
NOW SOME SAY THIS LATEST MOVE
TO STRIP ROBACH OF HIS CITY
CONSTITUENTS IS PAYBACK.
>> PROBABLY SINCE JOE WENT
AHEAD AND SUPPORTED NOT THE
LEADER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY
BUT THE FELLOW FROM SYRACUSE,
I SUSPECT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF AWARENESS ON THE PART OF
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ASSEMBLY
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET
ACROSS.
>> Matt Cummings: STEVENSON
SAYS UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN,
JOSEPH MORELLE'S DISTRICT
WOULD POSSIBLY SHIFT TO
INCLUDE THE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS
CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY
ROBACH.
WHILE SOME BELIEVE ROBACH MAY
HAVE HAD HIS DISTRICT REDRAWN
IN PART AS A POLITICAL MESSAGE
FROM THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER,
REDISTRICTING REMAINS A
FUNDAMENTAL PART OF A WORKING
DEMOCRACY.
BLAIR HORNER WORKS WITH
NYPIRG, THE NEW YORK PUBLIC
INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP.
>> STARTING IN THE LATE 1700s,
THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRED THAT
EVERY TEN YEARS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TAKE A CENSUS OF
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
AMERICAN CITIZENS.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT CENSUS
THEN, APPORTION OR COME UP
WITH DISTRICTS FOR THE MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS, STATE GOVERNMENT,
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO THAT THE
PUBLIC COULD BE ADEQUATELY
REPRESENTED IN A
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
>> Matt Cummings: THE
REDISTRICTING PROCESS BEGINS
WITH A CENSUS TAKEN EVERY TEN
YEARS.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
COLLECTED IS USED TO ENSURE
ONE PERSON/ONE VOTE
REPRESENTATION AS OUTLINED IN
THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
HOWEVER, POPULATION
DEMOGRAPHICS AND THEIR
INTERPRETATION CAN ALTER
DISTRICT LINES BASED ON YOUR
POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW.
THE IDEA WAS BORN IN 1811 BY
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR
ELBRIDGE GERRY.
>> HE STARTS TO FIGURE OUT,
WELL, MAYBE WITHIN COUNTIES WE
CAN START DEVELOPING LINES
THAT WILL GIVE OUR POLITICAL
PARTIES ONE ADVANTAGE OVER
ANOTHER OR TRY TO BREAK UP THE
POPULATION IN A WAY THAT
SOMEHOW MAXIMIZES PART OF AN
ADVANTAGE.
>> Matt Cummings: WHEN IT
COMES TO REDRAWING DISTRICT
LINES, INCUMBENCY PLAYS A
ROLE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THOSE
WHO CONTROL THE PROCESS, WHICH
IN THIS INSTANCE ARE THE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE
ASSEMBLY, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY
PACK AS MANY REPUBLICANS AS
THEY CAN INTO A SMALLER NUMBER
OF DISTRICTS AND DIVIDE UP
AREAS OF REPUBLICAN STRENGTH.
>> Matt Cummings: A LOOK AT A
DISTRICT MAP DOES MAKE ONE
WONDER: HOW DID IT COME TO
LOOK THIS WAY?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE
POPULATION: ONE PERSON, ONE
VOTE.
EACH DISTRICT HAS TO BE
ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE
OTHER SO THAT YOU HAVE AN
EQUAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN EACH
DISTRICT SO THE VOTE OF THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES IS ROUGHLY
REPRESENTING AN EQUAL NUMBER
OF PEOPLE.
BUT IT ALSO WAS ABOUT --
THAT'S THE TEXTBOOK
DEFINITION.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT POWER.
IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU APPORTION
POWER IN THE CONGRESSIONAL AND
STATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
>> Matt Cummings: WHILE
WORKING TO PROTECT INCUMBENT
REPRESENTATIVES AND TO ENSURE
EQUAL REPRESENTATION,
STEVENSON SAYS LEGISLATORS
ALWAYS KEEP THE RULES OF THE
GAME IN MIND.
>> PART OF IT IS POLITICS, AS
USUAL.
THE OTHER PART IS, IT SEEMS
THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE IN
THE STATE, AND IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE
AND THE FEDS, THERE'S REALLY
ONLY TWO RULES: DO YOU HAVE
SENIORITY AND ARE YOU A MEMBER
OF THE MAJORITY PARTY?
>> Matt Cummings: SOMETIMES,
AS IN THE CASE OF JOSEPH
ROBACH, WHO AS A DEMOCRAT IS
IN THE ASSEMBLY'S MAJORITY
PARTY, IT MAY NOT MATTER.
>> Gary Walker: THANKS FOR THE
REPORT, MATT.
LET'S START RIGHT OFF WITH
GUESTS.
WE HAVE ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH
ROBACH HERE.
>> HELLO, GARY.
>> Gary Walker: LET'S GET
RIGHT TO IT.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU: YOUR
FAMILY AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN
THAT DISTRICT 26 YEARS AND NOW
YOUR FAMILY HOMESTEAD IS NO
LONGER IN THE DISTRICT THAT
YOU'RE SERVING,
THEY'RE SAYING, BECAUSE YOU
DIDN'T SUPPORT SHELDON SILVER
TWO YEARS AGO IN A COUP
ATTEMPT; YOU SUPPORTED THE
OTHER GUY WHO LOST.
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.
I THINK THAT OVER THE COURSE
OF TIME, THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT
COMMUNITY -- NOT ONLY DID A
LARGE PART OF MY FAMILY LIVE
THERE, BUT A LOT OF FRIENDS
AND PEOPLE I REALLY RESPECT.
WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIP, ONE THAT HAS
WORKED VERY WELL OVER TIME,
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY
WORD FOR IT.
ELECTORALLY THAT'S BEEN
PROVEN.
WHILE I'M HAPPY TO REPRESENT
WESTERN SUBURBS AND KEEP
GREECE, A 100,000 BASE, I WAS
A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED BY
THAT.
I THINK IT'S IRRATIONAL.
AND I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE
THAT THE CITY WILL LOSE
ANOTHER VOICE, AND IN SOME
WAYS THOSE PEOPLE WILL LOSE
THAT RELATIONSHIP ALL
PREDICATED UPON THE SPEAKER OF
THE ASSEMBLY BEING DISPLEASED
ON ME DRIVING AN UPSTATE
AGENDA, TALKING ABOUT MORE
RESOURCES FOR ROCHESTER, --
>> Gary Walker: ARE YOU ANGRY?
>> -- TALKING ABOUT BUDGET
REFORM --
>> Gary Walker: ARE YOU ANGRY?
>> THAT'S MY JOB.
I'M NOT ANGRY.
I'M DISAPPOINTED.
AND, IRONICALLY, A MOVE LIKE
THIS, IF IT STANDS UP, WILL
ONLY GALVANIZE ME AND ENERGIZE
ME EVEN MORE TO CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS
AREA.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
ACROSS THE AISLE, WE HAVE
STATE ASSEMBLYMAN BRIAN KOLB,
WHO UNDER THIS DEMOCRATIC
ASSEMBLY PLAN, YOU WOULD HAVE
TO RUN AGAINST ANOTHER
INCUMBENT FROM YOUR OWN PARTY
WHO'S ALSO A SEATED ASSEMBLY
PERSON.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S NOT
ABOUT ME; IT'S NOT ABOUT BRIAN
KOLB; IT'S NOT ABOUT GARY
FINCH.
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS A LACK
OF FAIR REPRESENTATION FOR
UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE.
THE PLAN AS DRAWN BY SHELLY
SILVER GIVES AN UNFAIR --
>> Gary Walker: THE SPEAKER OF
THE ASSEMBLY --
>> THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY.
-- AN UNFAIR REPRESENTATION TO
NEW YORK CITY IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
IT TOTALLY GOES AGAINST THE
SYMBOL OF ONE MAN/ONE VOTE.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR PLAN,
WESTERN NEW YORK STATE LOSES A
NET TWO SEATS IN
REPRESENTATION IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT GAINING
MORE SPECIAL INTEREST CONTROL
IN NEW YORK CITY.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT ME OR
GARY FINCH OR ANY OF THE
OTHER, SHALL WE SAY, MATCHINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, GARY;
IT'S ABOUT A LACK OF
REPRESENTATION FOR UPSTATE NEW
YORK.
>> Gary Walker: LET'S GO TO
SENATOR RICK DOLLINGER.
YOU SIT ON THE LEGISLATIVE
TASK FORCE.
YOU HAVE SEEN THIS PROCESS IN
YOUR CAREER.
WILL THIS ASSEMBLY PLAN STAND?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THAT THE ONE THING
THAT I SEE ON THE GROUND, AND
I THINK IT'S TRUE IN
ASSEMBLYMAN ROBACH'S CASE, IS
THAT ONE OF THE CRITERIA FOR A
REDISTRICTING PLAN IS TO
COMBINE COMMUNITIES OF
INTEREST,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMON
POLITICAL VIEWS IN SOME WAYS,
BUT MORE OR LESS THEY SHOP AT
THE SAME STORE; THEY GO TO THE
SAME CHURCH... IF YOU LOOK AT
CHARLOTTE, AND ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY I THINK IT'S
ALWAYS BEEN APPENDED TO THE
GREECE DISTRICT WAS BECAUSE
HISTORICALLY IT WAS PART OF
THE TOWN OF GREECE.
THE SYMBOL OF THE TOWN OF
GREECE IS THE CHARLOTTE
LIGHTHOUSE WHICH IS NOW
LOCATED IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT
WAS ANNEXED IN THE EARLY PART
OF THE LAST CENTURY.
I THINK THIS PLAN, AS I SEE IT
ON THE GROUND IN ROCHESTER,
AND I UNDERSTAND THE
IMPERATIVES OF POPULATION,
MATCHING, AND OTHER REASONS,
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IN
ASSEMBLYMAN ROBACH'S CASE, HE
HAS A GOOD ARGUMENT THAT THIS
IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE
COMMUNITY OF INTERESTS IN
NORTHWEST ROCHESTER.
>> Gary Walker: LET'S GET THE
PERSON WHO WRITES AND OBSERVES
THIS ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE MICHAEL CAPUTO HERE
FROM "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
MICHAEL, WEIGH IN HERE.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAD
HEARINGS LAST YEAR, AND I
DON'T MEAN TO DEMEAN THE TASK
FORCE ON REDISTRICTING, BUT
THE HEARING WAS SUPPOSED TO
GET PUBLIC INPUT AND WHAT WE
WIND UP SEEING ARE PLANS THAT
BASICALLY PIT INCUMBENTS
AGAINST EACH OTHER, THAT LOOK
LIKE A WAY TO AMASS POWER FOR
THE MAJORITY, AND I THINK THAT
WHAT YOU SEE IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENT
TURNS OFF THE PUBLIC.
THE 130th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT,
JOE ERRIGO LARGELY HAD THE
SOUTHEASTERN MONROE COUNTY
TOWNS.
THEY'RE NOW TAKEN AWAY FROM
HIM.
THEY HAVE MOVED IT DOWN AND
TAKEN MUCH OF ONTARIO COUNTY,
WHICH WAS IN BRIAN KOLB'S
DISTRICT.
THIS DISTRICT STRETCHES DOWN,
AND YOU HAVE ERRIGO AND KOLB
STRADDLING THIS DISTRICT.
WHY DO IT?
>> Gary Walker: WE HAVE A
QUOTE FROM Mr. ERRIGO FROM
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
CAN WE GET THE FULL SCREEN UP
HERE?
GOOD.
"IT'S NOT A FAIR PLAN.
IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO
FAIRNESS.
IT'S PROBABLY JUST AN
ATTENTION-GETTER."
LET ME CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU
HERE AND SAY LIKE IT OR NOT,
POPULATION SHIFTS TO DOWNSTATE
AND UPSTATE IS GOING TO HAVE
TO HAVE LARGER DISTRICTS TO
COVER THE SAME AMOUNT OF
POPULATION THEY DID IN OTHER
DISTRICTS, SO YOU HAVE TO DO
THE MATH; THIS IS YOUR FIGURE;
PEOPLE GET PUSHED AROUND, AND
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
>> BUT REMEMBER THAT THE SWING
IS 5% UP OR DOWN WITH THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE
DISTRICTS.
I BELIEVE IT IS THE SENATE; I
KNOW FOR SURE IT IS THE
ASSEMBLY.
APPARENTLY THE 5% GOES UP IN
UPSTATE DISTRICTS.
THE 5% GOES BELOW IN DOWNSTATE
DISTRICTS.
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE --
>> Gary: LOTS OF HEADS ARE
NODDING.
GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY,
LET ME CHIME IN HERE.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
OFF OF ROBACH, KOLB,
DOLLINGER... WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE IS WE HAVE SLIGHTLY 8
MILLION AND A FEW MORE PEOPLE
UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND WHILE
THE NEW YORK CITY POPULATION
GREW, IT'S A SLIGHTLY SMALLER
AMOUNT, 8 MILLION AND LESS
CHANGE, SO TO SPEAK.
THE ASSEMBLYMAN, MY OWN HOUSE,
SO TO SPEAK, DRIVEN BY THE
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, IS
TRYING TO DRIVE NOT ONLY THE
TWO THEY DREW, BUT AN EXTRA
TWO SEATS INTO THE NEW YORK
CITY AREA RATHER THAN ACROSS
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I THINK IT'S MY JOB TO
REPRESENT MY DISTRICT, AND I'M
GOING TO VOICE THAT.
NOW, I WILL DO THAT -- YOU
ASKED ME IF I WAS ANGRY.
I'M NOT ANGRY; I'M PASSIONATE
ABOUT WHO I REPRESENT.
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT.
THEY SHOULDN'T VIEW THAT AS
HOSTILE; THAT SHOULD BE PART
OF THE DIALOGUE.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM, GARY.
THE LEADERS ARE SO INSULATED
THAT THEY VIEW ANY KIND OF NEW
IDEA OR ANY CONTRARY THOUGHT,
REGARDLESS OF HOW POPULAR IT
IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, AS
SOMEWHAT GOING AGAINST THEM,
WHICH HAS ALWAYS BOGGLED MY
MIND.
THAT'S MY JOB.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
YOU'RE SAYING -- AND I WOULD
LIKE Mr. KOLB IN ON THIS.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE
ASSEMBLY PLAN AS IT IS NOW
COULD NOT STEER AS MANY SEATS
TOWARDS DOWNSTATE OR NEW YORK
CITY AREA IF THEY WANTED TO,
AND THEY ARE DOING THIS ON
PURPOSE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Gary Walker: Mr. KOLB?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND I BROUGHT A LITTLE NUMBER
SHEET THAT MIGHT SHOW YOUR
VIEWERS AT HOME --
>> Gary Walker: IF YOU HOLD IT
STEADY, MAYBE WE CAN GET THAT.
>> CAN YOU DO THAT?
CAN YOU READ THOSE NUMBERS FOR
ME?
>> Gary Walker: 8,214,266 AND
A RED 65 NEXT TO IT AND
8,008,278 WITH A 63.
>> RIGHT.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS
IS THAT THE UPSTATE POPULATION
IS 200,000 PEOPLE GREATER THAN
NEW YORK CITY.
HOWEVER, THE SEATS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED IN THIS
PLAN IS LESS THAN THE SEATS
THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING AND
IT TOTALLY DISTORTS THE ONE
MAN/ONE VOTE.
SO THAT'S WHY I AGREE WITH JOE
ROBACH.
IT'S NOT ABOUT US PERSONALLY;
IT'S ABOUT THE PLAN BEING
DISTORTED.
>> AND THAT'S CRITICAL.
THE ARGUMENT HERE IS THAT
THERE'S A GROSS
MALAPPORTIONMENT.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE
MAJORITIES OF BOTH HOUSES, FOR
THEIR OWN POLITICAL REASONS,
HAVE PACKED EITHER THE UPSTATE
REGION OR PACKED THE DOWNSTATE
REGION FOR POLITICAL
ADVANTAGE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SENATE
PLAN, THAT'S ONE OF THE
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE SENATE
PLAN, IS THAT THE SENATE
DISTRICTS IN THE CITY ARE ALL
LARGER.
THEY HAVE PACKED THE DEMOCRATS
IN THE CITY; THEY HAVE MADE
THE DISTRICT A REPUBLICAN
DISTRICT UPSTATE.
THE SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE
DONE THE FLIP SIDE OF WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
THAT'S A LEGAL ISSUE TO BE
CHALLENGED.
>> Gary Walker: WELL, TO BE
FAIR, THE REPUBLICAN SENATE IS
DOING THE SAME THING TO
MINORITY DEMOCRATS AND THE
MAJORITY DEMOCRATS IN THE
ASSEMBLY ARE DOING THE
MINORITY REPUBLICANS, RIGHT?
>> IT'S AN UNMISTAKABLE TREND
IN REAPPORTIONMENT.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
THE MAJORITY OF BOTH HOUSES
WANT TO PAD THEIR ACCOUNTS,
BUILD UP THEIR MAJORITIES.
REMEMBER, THIS IS AN USUAL
THING.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IN A
DEMOCRACY IN WHICH THE FLIP
SIDE OF AN ELECTION HAPPENS.
INSTEAD OF VOTERS CHOOSING
THEIR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THE
PUBLIC OFFICIALS, OR SOME
SELECT GROUP OF THEM, GET TO
CHOOSE WHO THE VOTERS ARE.
>> Gary Walker: BUT CAN WE
JUST LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT
ONLY A FEW PEOPLE SAY
MALAPPORTIONMENT ON THE AIR,
AND ONE OF THEM HAS ALWAYS
BEEN RICK DOLLINGER.
(Laughter)
LET ME JUST CHALLENGE A BIT
FURTHER HERE.
Mr. KOLB, I WILL ASK YOU
DIRECTLY, AND I WOULD LIKE
MIKE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
WILL YOU SUE?
WILL YOUR PARTY SUE IF THIS
PLAN IS ENACTED?
>> WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE
PARTY, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY
CHALLENGE IT.
I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THIS
PLAN.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF
OUR UPSTATE EVEN DEMOCRATS
WOULD VOTE FOR THIS PLAN
BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT CREATE A
FAIR VOICE FOR UPSTATE.
AND SO I COULD NOT SUPPORT
THIS PLAN.
SHELLY SILVER IS CLEARLY
TRYING TO JADE THIS TO NEW
YORK CITY.
>> Gary Walker: MIKE CAPUTO,
LET ME ASK YOU THIS: I WANT
YOU TO COMMENT ON THAT, BUT
WOULD IT BE A SIGNIFICANT
SHIFT IN POWER AND HOW WOULD
THAT MANIFEST ITSELF WITH
BUDGET LINES, WITH STATE AID
TO UPSTATE?
WOULD UPSTATE SEE A DIFFERENCE
IF THIS PLAN GOES THROUGH?
>> YOU NEED REPRESENTATION.
OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
LESS POWER;
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
BUT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT -- I
THINK THE ONLY REAL WAY THAT
CHANGE HAPPENS, AND RICK AND I
TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, IS
IF THE COURTS STEP IN.
QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW IF
THE SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO STEP IN FOR THE
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS IN THE
MINORITY.
THEY SHOULD BE.
WHETHER THEY DO THAT, WE DON'T
KNOW.
BUT I THINK THE COURT IS
ULTIMATELY -- THAT'S THE ONLY
WAY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
CHANGE.
>> Gary Walker: ANOTHER THING
I COULD SAY IS THAT THIS IS A
POLITICAL PROCEDURE, THOUGH,
AND ACCORDING TO RULES OF
REAPPORTIONMENT OR
REDISTRICTING, INCUMBENCY CAN
BE A FACTOR, A LEGAL FACTOR IN
DETERMINING A DISTRICT.
SO IN A SENSE OUR POLITICAL
LEADERS ARE JUST DOING WHAT
THE RULES ALLOW THEM TO DO.
>> WELL, NOT REALLY, AND THE
REASON I KEEP COMING BACK TO
THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR YOUR LISTENERS
AND VIEWERS,
IS THAT THE WHOLE PREMISE IN
OUR DEMOCRACY IS A ONE MAN/ONE
VOTE RULE.
NOT ONE-AND-A-HALF TO ONE, NOT
THREE-QUARTERS TO ONE.
IT'S ONE MAN TO ONE VOTE.
THE VARIABLES IN THE
POPULATION AND THE VARIABLES
IN THE DISTRICT, GARY, ARE
JUST, IF YOU WILL, THIS SORT
OF MODIFICATION.
BUT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO
DISENFRANCHISE A REGION OR A
COMMUNITY.
THIS PLAN THAT SHELLY SILVER
IN THE BACKROOM PUT TOGETHER
DISENFRANCHISES UPSTATE AND
WESTERN NEW YORK.
>> WE'RE PICKING ON SHELLY
SILVER IN THE ASSEMBLY BUT --
>> Gary Walker: JOE BRUNO IN
THE SENATE, THE SAME --
>> AND LAST YEAR WITH THE
MONROE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, WE
HAD THE SAME OCCURRENCE.
IT'S A WAY TO AMASS POWER, TO
SOLIDIFY YOUR POWER BASE.
24 REPUBLICANS WERE COMBINED?
IS THAT THE FIGURE YOU HAVE?
>> IN THE ASSEMBLY.
>> 24 REPUBLICANS AND 1
DEMOCRAT.
PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THAT AND
SAY, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"
>> BUT THE OVERLAY OF POLITICS
IN THIS, GARY, IS SUCH THAT
THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY,
ONCE A DECADE, TO FORTIFY A
MAJORITY.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE
ASSEMBLY; IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
IN THE SENATE.
THE ARGUMENT THAT BRIAN IS
MAKING, THE DEMOCRATS IN THE
SENATE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE
FLIP SIDE ARGUMENT,
WHICH IS IN THE SENATE PLAN,
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT NEW
YORK CITY HAS NOT RECEIVED ITS
FAIR PORTION OF
REPRESENTATION.
THE NEW YORK CITY DISTRICTS
ARE ALL LARGER.
ALL 24 --21 DEMOCRATIC
DISTRICTS HAVE AS MANY AS
10,000 or 12,000 PEOPLE THAN
THE REPRESENTATIVES UPSTATE.
>> Gary Walker: YOU HAVE JUST
HAD THE LAST WORD BECAUSE
UNFORTUNATELY -- AND I'LL ASK
ALL OF YOU BACK ON LATER AS
THIS PLAN GOES ALONG BECAUSE
IT'S GOING TO BE A PROCESS
THAT PROBABLY ENDS SOMETIME IN
MAY OR JUNE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
STORY, LOG ON TO OUR WEB SITE
AT wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN
ALSO TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY
SURVEY QUESTION.
AND FOR COMPREHENSIVE DAILY
COVERAGE OF STATE ISSUES AND
NEWS, IT'S nycitizens.org.
NOW LATER IN THE PROGRAM WE'LL
SHOW YOU A GAME THAT ACTUALLY
LETS YOU REDISTRICT.
BUT FIRST IT'S TIME FOR THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "THE
BUSINESS SECTION" WITH "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
>> Gary Walker: JOINING US NOW
IN STUDIO IS ELLEN ROSEN, THE
BUSINESS EDITOR FOR "THE
DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING
THIS WEEK.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I HAVE TO START OFF WHERE WE
LEFT OFF LAST WEEK, AND THAT'S
GLOBAL CROSSING.
ANYTHING NEW?
>> Ellen Rosen: GLOBAL
CONTINUES TO MAKE NEWS ON A
DAILY BASE.
WE LEARNED TODAY AND WILL HAVE
A STORY IN TOMORROW'S PAPER
THAT THE HOUSE FINANCE
COMMITTEE IS LOOKING INTO
LOUISE SLAUGHTER'S REQUEST
THAT THERE BE HEARINGS ON
GLOBAL, SIMILAR TO ENRON.
>> Gary Walker: REALLY?
>> Ellen Rosen: THAT'S MOVING
FORWARD.
AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG STORY
THAT RAN THIS WEEK ABOUT JOHN
McCAIN BEING THE LARGEST
SINGLE RECIPIENT OF
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GLOBAL
CROSSING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING
INTO GLOBAL'S POLITICAL
CONNECTIONS AND PERHAPS DID
THEY TRY TO BUY SOME INFLUENCE
IN CERTAIN SEGMENTS?
AND ON SUNDAY ACTUALLY, WE'LL
HAVE A STORY LOOKING AT OUR
GOVERNOR AND THE STATE
COMPTROLLER AND OUR LOCAL
LEGISLATORS AND HOW THEY
BENEFITTED FROM GLOBAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> Gary Walker: SO WE'RE
LOOKING AT POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GLOBAL
LOCALLY THEN?
>> Ellen Rosen: YES.
>> Gary Walker: AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE THIS SUNDAY?
>> Ellen Rosen: YES.
>> Gary Walker: EXCELLENT.
HEALTH CARE, I KNOW WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER,
BUT HEALTH CARE IS AN
EVER-CHANGING INDUSTRY, AND WE
HAVE THE NUMBER TWO HEALTH
CARE COMPANY HERE IN EXCELLUS?
>> Ellen Rosen: EXCELLUS,
WHICH IS THE PARENT COMPANY
FOR WHAT WE KNOW AS BLUE CROSS
AND BLUE SHIELD IN THE
ROCHESTER AREA.
IT STARTED AS JUST BLUE CROSS
HERE AND NOW IT'S EXCELLUS.
IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST
PROVIDER IN THE STATE.
AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW IS THEY'RE TRYING TO
REALLY DOMINATE THE STATE.
EMPIRE IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE
PROVIDER, BUT WHAT THEY'RE
TRYING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH A CONSOLIDATION.
THEY'RE TRYING TO ULTIMATELY
PERHAPS HAVE -- BE ONE UNIT.
SO FOR INSTANCE YOU COULD LIVE
IN BUFFALO AND GET HEALTH CARE
IN ROCHESTER BECAUSE YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE THE BLUE
CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF THE
BUFFALO AREA OR BLUE
CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF THE
ROCHESTER AREA; YOU WOULD JUST
HAVE EXCELLUS/BLUE CROSS AND
YOU COULD GET YOUR TREATMENT
ANYWHERE YOU WANTED.
SOME PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE
WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL THAT
ACTUALLY MEAN FOR HEALTH CARE
AND IS CONSOLIDATION -- WHAT
MAY BE GOOD FOR THE COMPANY,
IS IT ACTUALLY GOOD FOR THE
PATIENT?
>> Gary Walker: SO ACTUALLY
EXTENDING BEYOND UPSTATE
PERHAPS, INTO DOWNSTATE AS
WELL?
>> Ellen Rosen: I BELIEVE THAT
YEAH, THEY'RE ON A GROWTH
PLAN.
THEY WENT KIND OF ON AN
ACQUISITION BINGE FOR THE LAST
SIX YEARS.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO
CONSOLIDATE AND GET THEIR
OPERATIONS TOGETHER, PERHAPS
CHANGE SOME OF THEIR PLAN
OFFERINGS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WATCHING
VERY CLOSELY AND WE WILL HAVE
A STORY ON THAT SUNDAY AS
WELL.
>> Gary Walker: I UNDERSTAND
THAT THEY HAVE ALSO LAUNCHED A
NATIONAL PRODUCT.
THEY HAVE A LONG-TERM HEALTH
CARE POLICY THAT THEY'RE
OFFERING NATIONALLY.
>> Ellen Rosen: UM-HMMM.
>> Gary Walker: HOW DOES THAT
AFFECT, YOU KNOW, STRONG
HOSPITAL OR THE U OF R MEDICAL
CENTER?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, THE
PEOPLE AT U OF R MEDICAL
CENTER ARE KIND OF WORRIED
ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE
ALSO TRYING TO GROW AND BECOME
A MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE.
THAT ACTUALLY IS ANOTHER STORY
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" ON
SUNDAY.
JAY STEIN, WHO IS THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL CENTER, AND TOM
JACKSON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY, HAVE A VISION.
THEY REALLY WANT U OF R TO BE
A MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE.
THEY WANT US TO BE A MEDICAL
MECCA, THE KIND OF THING THAT
PEOPLE COME HERE FOR TREATMENT
RATHER THAN GOING TO WHAT JAY
STEIN CALLS "THE OTHER
ROCHESTER," BEING THE MAYO
CLINIC, OR TO CLEVELAND OR TO
PITTSBURGH.
SO WE'RE INCREASING OUR
TRANSPLANTS.
THE RESEARCH, THEY HAVE PUT IN
A LOT OF MONEY; THEY JUST
OPENED A SECOND BUILDING OVER
THERE FOR RESEARCH.
THEY'RE HOPING TO SPIN OFF
MORE COMPANIES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO LAY OUT THE
VISION AND LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW
THIS REALLY COULD AFFECT
ROCHESTER AND WHAT IT COULD
LOOK LIKE FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR
US AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
THAT'S THIS SUNDAY?
>> Ellen Rosen: THAT'S THIS
SUNDAY.
>> Gary Walker: NOW, AS FAR AS
KODAK IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE
THE PHOTOMARKETING ASSOCIATION
CONVENTION THAT'S GEARING UP.
IS KODAK A PLAYER THIS YEAR?
>> Ellen Rosen: THIS IS A BIG
WEEKEND FOR KODAK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY'RE
GOING TO BE INTRODUCING A
BUNCH OF NEW PRODUCTS AT THIS,
WHICH IS REALLY THE BIG
INTERNATIONAL SHOW FOR
EVERYBODY IN THE PHOTO
BUSINESS, DIGITAL AND ALL
KINDS OF THINGS... PRINTERS,
EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH
TAKING AND SHARING AND
PRINTING OUT PICTURES AND ALL
THAT STUFF.
THEY GET SOMETHING LIKE 25,000
PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOORS OF
THIS CONVENTION, AND IT GETS A
LOT OF PRESS FROM THE
PUBLICATIONS THAT
PROFESSIONALS READ IN THE
INDUSTRY.
KODAK ACTUALLY HAS SEVERAL NEW
PRODUCTS THEY'RE GOING TO BE
LAUNCHING, AND THEY'RE REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.
THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS
WATCHING HEWLETT PACKARD.
CARLY FIORINA HAS ALREADY
ANNOUNCED THAT SHE'S READY TO
TAKE ON KODAK.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE
MORE OF THAT COMING OUT OF THE
PHOTOMARKETING ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE BEN RAND, OUR KODAK
REPORTER, DOWN THERE, AND
HE'LL BE DOING REPORTS DAILY
FOR "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," AND I ALSO BELIEVE
YOU'LL BE HEARING HIM ON WXXI
AM.
>> Gary Walker: THANKS, ELLEN.
ONCE AGAIN, FOR COVERAGE OF
THE PHOTOMARKETING ASSOCIATION
CONFERENCE, WXXI AM 1370 ALL
WEEK LONG WILL HAVE BEN RAND
FROM "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
NOW, DID YOU KNOW THAT ON
nycitizens.org,
YOU CAN PLAY
AN INTERACTIVE GAME THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO REDISTRICT?
THE GAME WAS CREATED BY WXXI
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CENTER
FOR GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH.
THE GAME PROVIDES SIX
DIFFERENT FICTITIOUS
POLITICIANS FOR THE STATE OF
IMAGINARY.
YOU ACTUALLY REDRAW THE LINES
OF THE POTENTIAL AREAS THEY'LL
REPRESENT, AND WHEN YOU'RE
DONE, THE GAME'S SIMULATION
LETS YOU KNOW HOW YOU DID.
YOU MAY FIND OUT THAT
REDISTRICTING IS NOT AS EASY
AS IT LOOKS.
>> IT'S REALLY VALUABLE TO SEE
WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST, IF
YOU'RE REALLY PLAYING A ROLE
AS A POLITICIAN OR A CITIZEN
INVOLVED, TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE
UP AGAINST, TO TRY AND MAKE IT
WORK FOR YOUR INTERESTS BUT AT
THE SAME TIME FOLLOW THE LAW.
>> Gary Walker: THE GAME TAKES
ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO
PLAY.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED FOR
A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
CURRICULUM, BUT NOW EVERYONE
CAN PLAY IT.
JUST GO TO nycitizens.org AND
CLICK ON "PLAY THE GAME."
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
WEEK'S SHOW AND THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW," OR
TO DISCUSS ANY OF THESE
TOPICS, JUST LOG ON TO
wxxi.org/ntk.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.