Thread: The Main Obstacle to Fair Representation of Latinos

Opinion: The Main Obstacle to Fair Representation of Latinos in New Jersey is the Democratic Party

By Martin Perez

Published April 07, 2011

Martin Perez, Esq., is president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, a statewide umbrella organization that advocates for Latinos.

Martin Perez, Esq., is president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, a statewide umbrella organization that advocates for Latinos.

New Jersey, the first state in the nation to redraw its legislative map based on data released by the 2010 Census, has again failed to re-configure boundaries to give its largest and fastest growing minority group, Latinos, a fair shot at being elected to the state legislature.

And once again, the primary obstacle to achieving a fair map for New Jersey’s alarmingly under-represented Latino population was the Democratic Party.

The map chosen by the appointed tie-breaker, Rutgers University Professor Alan Rosenthal, continued an anti-democratic tradition of prioritizing the protection of incumbents.

This year the 2010 Census results delivered a new reality to the commission that was charged with redrawing the map: the state's Latino population grew much faster than expected and was already identified as under-represented in the New Jersey legislature when the 2001 map was adopted.

Growing from 13 percent to18 percent of the population over the last 10 years, but without a single increase in state legislative representation, Latinos confronted the commission about the failed redistricting strategies of the 2001 map.

This put Democrats in the hot seat because their map was the 2001 winner, they had promoted it as the map with the best chance of remedying Latino under-representation, and the Latino population boom of the last 10 years was concentrated in "safe" (read: non-competitive) Democratic districts.

So, during this year's redistricting public hearings -- with only six Latinos among 80 Assembly members, and one Latino among 40 Senators -- Latinos complained loudly and clearly that the commission had to re-examine the failed redistricting strategies of the last map, and instead heed the example provided by the 33rd District of Hudson County.

Historically the only majority Latino district in New Jersey, the 33rd District has given New Jersey nearly 40 percent of all (seven of 19, including four Republicans) Latino state legislators ever elected, the only Latino U.S. Senator, the only Latino Speaker of the Assembly, the only Latino county party chairman -- for both the Democratic and Republican parties -- and the only two Latino congressmen, one having previously served in both the state Assembly and Senate.

But, duplicating the success of the 33rd District to achieve fair representation for Latinos would require de-prioritizing incumbency protection by the Democratic members of the commission -- a price they were unwilling to pay.

Members of The Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey asked the commission to build on the successful model of the 33rd District and look for other opportunities to create majority-Latino districts.

The Democratic Party opposed that reasonable request and, as a pretext for protecting entrenched incumbents, waged a disinformation campaign that such a strategy constituted "packing.â€

Additionally, New Jersey's Latino community should build alliances with other similarly situated groups, such as African-Americans and Asian-Americans, to join in the development of a legal strategy that provides a better chance of integrating the New Jersey legislature by moving from multi-member legislative districts, to single-member legislative districts.

"Here it comes ladies and gentlemen!"

Major sanctuary state

it's unbelievable! Again, what is the number/proportion of Latinos who are actual US citizen as opposed to lumping all Latinos together, even and especially illegals? What is going on here is crass demographic hegemony muscle flexing! It's only going to get worse.

Deport all Illegals! The US deported 10 million illegals in the 70s. We can and should do it again!

New Jersey's Hispanic population increased dramatically over the last decade, surpassing African Americans to become, for the first time, the state's largest minority, according to U.S. Census data released Thursday.

South Jersey had the greatest overall population growth between 2000 and 2010, with Gloucester County leading the way. The county had a 13.2 percent increase in residents during the period, followed by Ocean County, with a 12.8 percent increase.

The Garden State's total population edged up 4.5 percent, to 8,791,894. The nation's most densely populated state, which was among the first to receive 2010 census results, didn't keep pace with growth in the southern and western United States.

As a result, New Jersey will lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and its congressional delegation will shrink to 12 from 13.

New Jersey's population would have declined if not for the increase in Latinos. The number of Hispanics in the state rose 39.2 percent between 2000 and 2010.

The state's 1.5 million Hispanics make up 17.7 percent of the population, compared with 13.3 percent in 2000.

"What's happening in New Jersey is something that has occurred in several other states across the nation," said Rosalind Gold, senior director of policy research and advocacy for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

"As New Jersey's leadership looks at public policies and issues, it needs to be more accountable to the Latino population," she said.

Latinos passed African Americans as the country's largest minority in July 2001, when they reached 37 million, up 4.7 percent from April 2000. During the same period, the black population increased 2 percent, to 36.1 million, according to the census.

In New Jersey, African Americans accounted for 12.8 percent of the population in 2010, compared with 13 percent in 2000, census figures show.

Over the last decade, the percentage of white non-Hispanics in New Jersey dropped to 59.3, down from 66 percent.

The changes took place as the population in South Jersey increased.

Growth in Gloucester County was spurred, in part, by a continuation of development that followed the completion of Route 55. The town with the biggest percent change since 2000 was Woolwich, which grew to 10,200 - an increase of 236 percent. East Greenwich's population grew 76 percent.

The number of people in Burlington County rose by 6 percent, though growth in Marlton, Mount Laurel, Medford, and towns near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst was flat.

In Ocean County, the largest gain was in Lakewood Township, which grew 53.8 percent to almost 93,000 residents. Committeeman Albert Akerman attributed much of the increase to the region's burgeoning Orthodox Jewish community.

Many Orthodox men move to the area to attend Beth Medrash Govoha, a college of about 6,000 students, Akerman said. Rather than return home after graduation, a growing number now stay in the area, he said. Large families are common in the Orthodox community.


http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-04/n ... population

And once again, the primary obstacle to achieving a fair map for New Jersey’s alarmingly under-represented Latino population was the Democratic Party.

To me, the primary obstacle is that THEY'RE ILLEGAL!!!!!!! They're not supposed to be represented.

As their numbers increase as a result of colonization, so does their demands for preferential treatment based upon ethnicity. Get used to it, as this will become the norm rather than the rare exception.

"As New Jersey's leadership looks at public policies and issues, it needs to be more accountable to the Latino population," she said.

In other words, it's time for gerrymandered districts to ensure hispanics are elected to represent hispanics because these people feel that only la raza can represent "their policies and issues."

The balkanization moves full steam ahead!

Originally Posted by NoBueno

The balkanization moves full steam ahead!

"Strait into an Iceburg!"

Ever been to a Dodger game lately? LOL