House Redistricting Committee Urges Public to Share Insight at Regional Hearings
House Redistricting Committee Chair Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, is encouraging members of the public and advocates to participate in the process of creating new districts by sharing testimony at the committee’s upcoming regional hearings beginning this week.
“People throughout Illinois have insight into their communities that will be critical to the redistricting process,” Hernandez said. “Our committee is excited to hear directly from people in these communities about neighborhoods with similar interests and needs, and emerging demographics that need strong voices in Springfield and in Washington. Everyone’s insight is valuable and helpful.”
Hernandez is encouraging interested community members and groups to participate in a series of virtual and in-person hearings across the state beginning this week. Interested witnesses should complete a witness slip at ILGA.gov and email RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov, indicating which hearings they wish to present testimony at. Instructions on completing a witness slip are available online at ILHouseDems.com/Redistricting.
Additionally, individuals and groups can send written testimony at any time to RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov. All written and oral testimony will become part of the committee’s official record.
The committee has announced 23 public hearings regarding communities across the state:
Thursday, April 1 Noon Chicago-Bilandic
Friday, April 2 10 a.m. DuPage-North
Friday, April 2 11 a.m. Peoria
Friday April 2 2 p.m. Cook County-West
Saturday, April 3 11 a.m. Rock Island
Saturday, April 3 Noon Chicago-South
Saturday, April 3 3 p.m. Berwyn/Cicero
Monday, April 5 10 a.m. Joliet
Monday, April 5 10 a.m. Rockford
Monday, April 5 5:30 p.m. Elgin
Wednesday, April 7 10 a.m. Decatur
Wednesday, April 7 2 p.m. Cook County-Northwest
Wednesday, April 7 2 p.m. Lake County
Thursday, April 8 10 a.m. Cook County-South
Thursday, April 8 Noon Champaign-Urbana
Thursday, April 8 3 p.m. DuPage-West
Friday, April 9 10 a.m. McHenry County
Friday, April 9 Noon Illinois River Valley-LaSalle
Friday, April 9 4 p.m. Aurora
Sunday, April 11 2 p.m. Cook/Chicago-North
Sunday, April 11 11 a.m. Metro East
Monday, April 12 2 p.m. Springfield-Capitol
Saturday, April 17 10 a.m. Carbondale
For more information about the schedule of hearings, visit ILHouseDems.com/Redistricting or ILGA.gov.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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