New York Times editorial calls LATFOR out for breaking NY law

The New York Times published a great editorial denouncing LATFOR's intention to ignore New York's law ending prison-based gerrymandering.

by Leah Sakala, July 29, 2011

The New York Times published a compelling editorial on Friday denouncing the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR)’s intention to blatantly ignore the enacted New York law that ended prison-based gerrymandering last year.

The editorial declares:

Last year, when Democrats controlled all three branches of government, they passed a law to end prison gerrymandering. Republicans sued, but the case is still in its early stages. The redistricting panel — the Legislative Advisory Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment — has decided to ignore the law while the Republicans’ suit goes forward.

As lawmakers draw their districts, and New York’s Congressional maps, they have access to a large bag of tricks to keep themselves and their favorites in power. But this one isn’t just shameless. It’s flat-out illegal.