Tuscaloosa Council Set To Vote On New District Map Tuesday

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa City Council is set to vote on new voting district lines Tuesday evening during its regular meeting, which follows two rounds of empassioned public meetings to collect feedback from those in the community.

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The final meeting was held Monday evening, which saw activists show up once again in opposition to the maps proposed by the Tuscaloosa City Council.

One advocacy group, Tuscaloosa Action, said no one spoke up in defense of the Council's "unfair and illegal" redistricting map during the last meeting.

The grassroots group, along with others such as the local chapters of the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, are calling for what they view as a "fair" map, consisting of four Black-majority districts.

As Patch previously reported, the Tuscaloosa City Council on Jan. 12 tabled a vote on the proposed maps, with the goal of allowing more time and opportunity to gather public input.

At present, there are two maps being considered by the city, apart from the one designed by independent community members and presented to city officials.

In January, Council President Kip Tyner pointed out that five of the city's seven council districts would be exactly the same with both maps. One map, if approved, would see certain historic neighborhoods kept in District 1, while the alternative would put them back in District 4.

Click here to view the current proposals by the City of Tuscaloosa.

Several groups, including Tuscaloosa Action, the NAACP and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, have been vocal in their calls for city officials to reconsider the district maps.

As part of the effort to lobby the city's lawmakers and garner public support for the cause, the advocacy groups are also promoting a petition that had gained 120 signatures as of Tuesday morning.

Click here to see the community-drawn map sponsored by Tuscaloosa Action.

The Tuscaloosa City Council's regular meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

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