Letter: Two minority districts for Hempstead

I am writing in regard to "Map OKd amid strife" [News, April 10], which reported on a Town of Hempstead board meeting.

I attended the meeting because it included a hearing on the proposed map for the town's council districts based on the 2010 census. The article reported on two maps submitted: one by the town board and the other by the town Democratic committee. However, there was a third map, supported by the League of Women Voters, which is referred to as Town of Hempstead Version 3.

Many residents asked that there be two districts mostly made up of minority residents. The town board's map included only one. As indicated in the article, Joseph Ra, the town attorney, said, "Looking at the population changes, we did not see an opportunity to create a second minority-majority, mostly African-American district."

In fact, no one who argued for two minority-majority districts specified that they be mostly African-American. Also, both of the other maps contained two minority-majority districts. So, it certainly can be done. Neither of those maps was considered by the board when it voted.

Paula Blum, Wantagh

Editor's note: The writer is the co-president of the League of Women Voters of East Nassau.