Fight continues over redistricting maps in Milwaukee

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Updated: 5:19 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2022

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The fight continues over redistricting maps in Milwaukee.

The Judiciary and Legislation Committee hosted a lengthy public hearing Monday, Jan. 10. 

After hours of community input, the committee voted to stick with the maps proposed by the Common Council.

Someone who has been vocal and speaking up for this issue has been Voces de la Frontera. The executive director says the fight isn't over and that they are looking at their options to ensure the maps consider the dramatic growth in Milwaukee's Latino population.

"It was such a travesty of justice given the Latino community growth in city now represents 20-percent of city population," said Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz.

The Judiciary and Legislation Committee voted on keeping the originally vetoed "Map A." This is something Latino community leaders are not happy with. 

"I'm incensed. And I feel devastated on behalf of my Latino community, the fastest-growing constituency in not only Milwaukee, but across the great state of Wisconsin. I think this is a huge injustice," said Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa. 

Alderman Scott Spiker was vocal during the meeting about how the maps proposed concerned him regarding the impact that they would have had on the Muslim community in his district. 

Monday night's decision was based on the recommendation of the city attorney's office. 

"We are going to explore the possibilities of creating a map that gets to a higher standard regardless of the impact in other districts, and then also obviously a counter legal opinion to the one that was made by the city attorney."

In a statement, Alderman Spiker said it was "exhausting and frustrating in the end, to be back where we started a couple of months ago, but the law is the law and we must abide by it."

The decision will go before the full council on Jan. 18, where a final decision will be made on the maps.


Posted: 3:59 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2022

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee Judiciary and Legislation Committee is currently hosting a public hearing on redistricting based on the 2020 census.

This is in response to disagreements on the aldermanic map proposed by the Common Council.

Voces de la Frontera and other allied organizations are advocating for fair maps that reflect the growth in the Latinx community. 

But the committee says this decision needs to be fair to all minorities.

"As leaders of the entire city, we cannot, and must not, seek to assist one community in attaining its aspirations at the cost of another vulnerable community," said District 13 Alderman Scott Spiker.

After hearing input from the public, the committee decided to have a closed session to finish discussing the maps. 

According to someone with Voces de la Frontera, the city attorney is recommending they return to a map that was vetoed on. 

The proposal will go before the full council on Jan. 18, when a final decision will be made on the aldermanic maps.

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