Brookhaven Community Challenges Town's Updated Voting Map: Report

FARMINGVILLE, NY — Brookhaven Town's newly released voting district map has drawn community members' ire with claims its boundaries cut some minority communities apart — falling short, once again from civic standards — though town officials say the new lines unite, rather than separate, Newsday reported.

The map, which was posted on Monday on the town's redistricting website, contains alterations from three different maps rejected by a bi-partisan committee last week, though some residents in the know say that while the lines have improved, too many neighborhoods would be divided between two or more council districts, the outlet reported.

Gordon Heights Civic Association president E. James Freeman told Newsday that the town board, which took over redistricting last week when an independent committee reached a stalemate, watered down voting areas so that "you wouldn't be able to have people of color to have their interests represented on the town council."

The hamlet of Gordon Heights is Council District 4, adding part of Ridge, which has mostly white residents, according to the outlet.

Ninety percent of Brookhaven residents will not see council district changes if the new maps were approved, town spokesman Kevin Molloy said, adding that in the communities that were already split — like Coram and North Bellport — would drop from 13 to 10, Newsday reported.

In the diverse hamlet of Coram, which has been split for years across town, county, and state lines, 66 percent of residents would be living in a single district, Molloy told the outlet.

"[The map does] not dilute minority representation. In fact, it strengthens it," he said.

To read more in Newsday, click here.