By Lisa O’Brien
CLEVELAND — As the year draws to a close, Cleveland City Council is nearing the deadline for its first draft of the redistricting map. Councilman Michael Polensek, representing Ward 8, reported to The Cleveland Observer, that as of Oct. 3, the Council had not yet seen a draft and lacked an estimated timeline for its arrival from the Triad Research Group.
On Oct. 7, Council announced community feedback meetings scheduled for Oct. 15-17 at three locations. These meetings allowed residents to voice their thoughts and submit their map designs using the Dave’s Redistricting web app.
A “Frequently Asked Questions” document released by the Council addressed concerns about the timeline for redistricting. It emphasized the importance of community input and the need for the process to conclude by year’s end, allowing residents ample time to prepare for upcoming elections.
Cleveland City Council says it is working to ensure the redistricting process is completed by the end of the year. According to the Cleveland City Council website, this urgency is partly due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new maps must be adopted in time for potential candidates to meet the filing deadline for the 2025 municipal elections, which is June 11, 2025.
Completing the process early will give residents adequate time to review the new wards and decide whether to run for office.
Additionally, in June, consultants began meeting with Council members to gather their input.
Feedback from the community, council members, demographic data, and equitable distribution of resources will all be considered in drafting the new maps. The FAQ documents are available on the City Council website, and the meetings can be watched virtually on YouTube or residents can RSVP for a Facebook livestream.
Polensek noted that a significant challenge arises from underreporting in the census, complicating representation in neighborhoods, particularly on the city’s east side.
What’s the Takeaway?
Though questions may remain unanswered, one thing is clear, citizen input matters. TCO encourages readers to reach out to City Council members and be heard inside and outside meetings.
Additionally, the redistricting process is a reminder that representation matters.
In his response to TCO, Polensek also explained that when residents do not correctly fill out the census, it complicates the type of representation their neighborhoods receive.
“The challenge we have is that there has been substantial population loss in large sections of the eastside as a result of many of our residents not complying with the last census. Therefore, it becomes quite challenging, specifically on the southeast and northeast side to keep identifiable neighborhoods together,” Polensek said.
Additional Resources:
Dave’s Redistricting Web App:
https://davesredistricting.org/maps#home
Cleveland City Council and Redistricting:
https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/cleveland-city-council-begins-redistricting-process-selection-consulting-team
Cleveland City Council – Community Input Sessions:
Lisa O’Brien is a recent graduate of Case Western Reserve University with degrees in Theatre and International Studies. She has experience in arts administration, marketing, and event planning. A published playwright and journalistic writer, she co-wrote an original musical that won the Baker Nord Center for the Humanities “Humanities Prize.”
