After 16 public hearings and much back-room negotiating, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), chairman of the City Council’s Rules Committee, on Wednesday released the first version of the city’s ward remap proposal after seven months of work. At first glance, most of the North Side’s wards remain basically the same as under the old map.
Presently, 48 of the 50 aldermen have signed off on the proposed remap, including all aldermen in this newspaper’s coverage area. It appears the city has gone to great length to attempt to avoid any potential lawsuits similar to those from the 1990 remap, in which legal fees cost city taxpayers over $20 million.
The two areas which appear most changed would be the southern and southwestern portions of the 42nd Ward; and the 1st Ward, which has grown to the north, taking parts of the old 26th and 32nd wards.
In the 42nd Ward, much of the Taylor St. district between Roosevelt Rd. and I-290 has been moved to the 2nd and 27th wards. Also, the area of south Grant Park, including Meigs Field, the Museum Campus, Soldier Field and parts west which were also part of the 42nd Ward have been moved into the South Side’s 2nd Ward.
The notorious 1st Ward has grown north and now includes parts of the old 32nd and 26th wards by straddling the east and west sides of the Chicago River, including parts of west Lake View and Roscoe Village.
Along Chicago’s north lakefront (in this newspaper’s coverage area of wards 42, 43, 44, 46 and 48), most boundaries remain basically in place from the current map, although in Edgewater, the 48th Ward boundaries have become even more of a jigsaw puzzle.
Small parts of Old Town west of LaSalle St. look to have been moved into the 43rd Ward; parts of the western portions of the 43rd, and eastern portions of the 32nd, have shifted east and west of Southport Ave.
In the western parts of this newspaper’s coverage area (wards 27, 32, 33, 40 and 47), little has changed outside of the move north by the 1st Ward.
Small pockets have been added to the 44th Ward near Uptown, and Mell’s 33rd Ward has given up a small portion of Lincoln Square north of Wilson and west of Western avenues. The 40th Ward gained parts of the old 39th west of the Chicago River and north of Winona St.
Illinois law requires the city to redistrict its aldermanic ward maps every 10 years based on the latest census data. In performing this task, the city must adhere to the Federal Voting Rights Act and both state and federal constitutions.
Those people wishing greater detail on the exact map boundaries can contact their alderman or visit City Hall, where the city has established mapping terminals, which have been available to the public since June.
In addition, the city has established a website describing the remap process: http://www.chicagoremap.org.
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