Senator Golden's Proposed New District

The Democratic challenger for Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden, Andrew Gounardes, wrote him a letter yesterday on redistricting, taking particular issue with a recent New York Post story suggesting Republicans in the State Senate were attempting to hold Governor Andrew Cuomo's agenda hostage over the redistricting issue.

"[I]t is so unfortunate that you and your Republican colleagues in the Senate have chosen to break the New York Uprising pledge that you signed just 18 months ago," Mr. Gounardes wrote, attaching a copy of the pledge with the letter. "In that pledge, you swore to support an independent and non-partisan redistricting plan based on the 2010 Census. I was raised to believe that a person’s word is as good as their bond. With broken promises like this, why should voters take you at your word in the future?"

"I call on you to disavow the legislative threats of your colleagues and to recommit yourself to the pledge that you so recently signed," he concluded.

Reached for a response, Mr. Golden's campaign defended the redistricting process and expressed support for its outcome.

"Senator Golden was not involved in the creation of these districts, but is pleased that the proposed 22nd Senate District contains about 95 percent of his current district, while picking up some new neighborhoods," they wrote in a statement. Mr. Golden had previously expressed his happiness with how redistricting affected his Brooklyn district as well.

(The Politicker described his proposed district as looking like a "Lego Bat")

"If Mr. Gounardes has specific problems with the proposed 22nd District, he should speak at one of the four remaining public hearings. The task force, and the voters, will be interested in knowing what are his concerns with a district he seeks to represent."