“Federal judge grants injunction in Boston redistricting case: ‘The ball is back in the City Council’s court.’”

Boston Globe: The City of Boston’s new maps for City Council have been enjoined and must be redrawn before the November elections.

“’Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success in showing that race played a predominant role in the City Council’s redrawing of Districts 3 and 4 in the enacted map, and Defendants have not demonstrated that the enacted redistricting map is narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling interest,’ wrote [Judge Patti B.] Saris.”

With respect to District 4, the controversy centers around the decision to join a “cluster of majority-white precincts in the southern tip of Dorchester, including some of the most conservative voters who are more likely to turn out” (emphasis added) with voters from Jamaica Plain and Roslindale in order “to avoid ‘packing’ Black voters.” The NAACP and other local progressive groups supported the city’s maps. Very curious to know why it appeared to matter that these voters were both more conservative and more likely to turn out (probably also older).

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