Public Hearings To Begin For Ward Remap Process
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Public hearings are expected to start Wednesday night on re-mapping Chicago's 50 aldermanic wards.
As WBBM Newsradio's Dave Marsett reports, six public hearings are planned on the remap plan. But presently, there apparently is no official plan or map to look at.
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Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) chairs the City Council Rules Committee, which is drawing up the map. >He told the Chicago Tribune these hearings are for public comment.
The first public hearing is set for Wednesday night, even though there is no map yet, and there has been no public notice. One more hearing is currently planned to for after the map is drawn up, but Mell says he was willing to add more, the Tribune reports.
Thus, the City Council will be voting on a plan to hold six hearings altogether.
Several civil rights and community groups asked for at least five hearings with a map to look at, the Tribune reports.
The city is required to redraw ward maps following every U.S. Census. Currently, Latinos are seeking more majority-Hispanic wards, while African-Americans are seeking to keep their majority-black wards despite a significant drop in the city's black population, the Tribune explained.
As published by the Tribune, the following hearings on the ward remap are scheduled, pending approval Wednesday by the City Council:
• Wednesday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., community room, North Park Village Administration Building, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
• Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., auditorium, North-Grand High School, 4338 W. Wabansia Ave.
• Nov. 8, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., gymnasium, South Shore International College Prep High School, 1955 E. 75th St.
• Nov. 9, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., auditorium, Morgan Park High School, 1744 W. Pryor Ave.
• Nov. 14, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., library, Whitney Young High School, 211 S. Laflin St.
• Nov. 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., City Council chambers, City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St.
