Emotional pleas to preserve voting districts and protect neighborhoods against gentrification and threats of lawsuits against the city dominated the conversations May 9 between the 15 appointed commissioners, dozens of residents and council members.
New City Council district maps are drawn every 10 years after the census numbers are released. Maps were narrowed down to two options April 25, and amendments were discussed and implemented May 2, followed by a full-day public hearing May 7. On May 9, the commissioners hoped to have a decision to send to council but now need a meeting that begins at 9:30 a.m. May 10 in council chambers, 1500 Marilla St., Dallas.
Once a map is sent to City Council, the Dallas Charter calls for the council to adopt or modify and adopt. If action is not taken within 45 days, the redistricting commission’s plan becomes final, and the new boundaries will go into effect for the May 2023 council election.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here. A link to watch the meeting is here.
Jackson King contributed to this report.
