Koch rips lawmakers on redistricting

ALBANY -- Former New York Mayor Edward I. Koch is scolding state lawmakers for failing to fulfill their campaign promises from last fall to redraw fair election districts through an independent commission.

Although Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has proposed an independent commission, neither he nor state legislative leaders have pushed hard for one -- apparently precluding any such commission from drawing the election districts that will be in place for 10 years.

"Those who have signed the pledge, violated it," Koch said. He planned a news conference Wednesday to fault lawmakers by saying: "You've committed a dishonorable act and I hope your constituents hold you responsible."

Koch's criticism comes as a Quinnipiac University poll Tuesday found 55 percent of registered voters think neither lawmakers nor Cuomo will keep their promises to overhaul the redistricting process. Half of New York voters polled want an independent panel to draw the lines and another 27 percent want an independent panel with some input by lawmakers.

Cuomo has proposed an independent commission and says he will veto purely partisan lines. Traditionally, the Senate's Republican majority drew Senate lines and the Assembly's Democratic majority drew Assembly lines, then each approved the other's plan. A veto would force a court to redraw districts guided in part by laws to assure sufficient representation of minorities and the most recent census.

Legislative leaders are holding hearings before they redraw lines that will include losing two congressional seats because of New York's slow population growth. The legislative lines have traditionally been drawn to protect majority party members.

Cuomo didn't comment.