| 10/12/20 Islip minorities finally to get some representation. Last week it was announced that the town of Islip has settled the lawsuit brought by a number of citizen based groups, seeking to replace the at large system of electing council people to a councilmanic system. The new councilmanic system will elect members from one of four council districts throughout the town. Our center has long supported this type of system that is closest to the people. The settlement is a victory for those who have lamented the fact that Hispanics, who comprise 1/3 of the town’s 300,000 people, have never had a representative on the town board. Think of how things might’ve been different had there been a specific representative from the areas of Brentwood and Central Islip when dumping was occurring in their parks. Like a county legislator’s district, a council district is small enough for an underfunded candidate to get his or her message out. At large systems require candidates to be more beholden to party leaders and special interests to get their funding for the campaign. A candidate needs four times the amount of money to communicate with voters in an at-large system than in a council district. It’s one of the reasons why all of the present people on the council reside south of Sunrise Highway and not one is a person of color. The representatives from these areas may be hard-working and well-meaning, but isn’t it time that folks from other parts of the town, especially the traditionally underserved areas, have someone from their neighborhood providing input? Kudos to attorney Fred Brewington, who brought this suit. He was a former guest speaker at our Center. The best democracy is that which is closest to the people. |
The Center for Cost Effective Government
