When NYS Assembly District 50 went through redistricting the idea to have half of Greenpoint join a NYS Assembly district in Queens spurred many in the community to protest the new redistricting map. Community members gave heartfelt and data supported testimony at the sole redistricting hearing held on February 15.
Katherine Thompson gave moving testimony as to why her community, a community of activists, needed to remain whole, “For generations now our Greenpoint Williamsburg community has fought together alongside our elected officials for environmental and social justice. It is imperative that our community born from a rich history of activism remains intact as we continue to fight to remedy past injustices and face new challenges brought forth by the climate emergency.”
Last September, a judge ordered that the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) needed to pass a new NYS Assembly map by April 28, 2023. On April 20, the IRC approved by a vote count of 9 to 1 the new map, which is pretty much the previous map — that is the map prior to the one that cut Greenpoint in half along McGuinness Boulevard. The New York State Senate and Assembly took the next step to make the IRC’s most recent version of the Assembly map official on Monday, April 24. Once Governor Kathy Hochul signs, Greenpoint will be whole and united again in Assembly District 50.
On announcing the NYS legislature had approved the latest map, NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, “Greenpoint will be kept whole. The Fightin’ 50th fights on. This outcome would not have happened without the hundreds of you who spoke out, sent comments to the IRC, and attended the public hearing.”
The Greenline 