JP Could Be Reunified in One Congressional District

[Editor's note: Here is a link to a new story with significant updates over this early post on the topic of Congressional redistricting in JP.]

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A redistricting plan to split JP between the districts now represented by Congressmen Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch could unravel today. Both Congressmen are Democrats.

State Rep. Liz Malia (D-Boston), has introduced an amendment to put all of JP in the Congressional district now held by Capuano. A vote is expected in the State House today.

Once the measure reaches the State Senate, Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz (D-Boston), plans to introduce the same amendment.

Some residents have , with a large part of the neighborhood being put in the districts now held by Capuano and Lynch. It's true that the existing Congressional districts put a few JP precincts in the district held by Lynch. Malia's proposal would put even those districts into the one now represented by Capuano, according to Katherine Adam, communications director for Chang-Díaz.

Another criticism leveled by some is that Lynch is perceived as too conservative for the voter base in JP.

Politicians aim to create a so-called "majority minority" district as part of a sweeping redistricting of the state following the 2010 Census. The state lost a Congressional seat because of population shifts.

A vote could be held in the next few hours in the State House, and then action would beging in the State Senate. Legislators must finish redistricting either today or tomorrow, before the session ends, said Adam.

The bid to make JP whole under one Congressional district would entail Charlestown moving from the district held by Capuano to the one held by Lynch.