2020 Census Redistricting Committee

@CHIdocumenters The meeting stream can be viewed at 11am: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/watch-live-board-proceedings

@CHIdocumenters To participate and speak in meetings, submit comments to the Board Secretary at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/office-secretary-board-commissioners

@CHIdocumenters Today’s meeting agenda can be viewed and downloaded here: https://cook-county.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=855655&GUID=B7BE1F6E-6456-427F-B2FD-6371E3ED421A&Options=&Search=

@CHIdocumenters Slight connection error on my end - meeting is called to order as of 11:09am.

@CHIdocumenters Matthew DeLeon (Secretary to the Board) introduces the two contracts on today’s agenda with Peter A. Creticos (policy consultant providing remapping and redistricting services) and Election Data Services (redistricting services).

@CHIdocumenters Peter Creticos is currently presenting. Learn more about his work with the Institute for Work and the Economy here: https://www.workandeconomy.org/

@CHIdocumenters Peter Creticos describes his experience with drawing district maps, back to the 1990s.

@CHIdocumenters The goal is to create districts in a way that is constitutional, contiguous, respectful of community concerns, abides by municipal/township lines, and ensures one person one vote.

@CHIdocumenters Moving on to presentation from Election Data Services, a redistricting consulting firm based in Virginia. Learn more about their work here: https://www.electiondataservices.com/

@CHIdocumenters Election Data Services would build the information and database that Peter Creticos would end up using in the redistricting/mapping process.

@CHIdocumenters Question raised about undercounted/undocumented populations and how redistricting can meet those community needs. Peter Creticos responds saying that ultimately district lines are drawn in accordance with Census data, but measures are taken to account for cases of undercounting.

@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Lowry asks about other factors taken into consideration to ensure that maps are constitutionally correct. Peter Creticos responds, emphasizing the spirit of the law with regards to the Voting Rights Act.

@CHIdocumenters Because full Census data won’t be available until this summer, Commissioner Sean Morrison asks about what will be used for legislation/elections that may require that data before the full data is ready. Preliminary data and general configurations will serve in the meantime.

@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Lowry speaks to the opportunities within the redistricting process to provide training opportunities for local, MBE-certified (minority-owned business) firms to take on future mapping

@CHIdocumenters Peter Creticos emphasizes the talent development opportunities in training 4 interns at his firm, as his firm primarily focuses on the art of mapmaking beyond data compilation (as EDS does)

@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Lowry closes, stating that there should have been a minority component within contracting for GIS work in redistricting.

@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Anaya: “Cook County has prioritized transparency” in the redistricting process.

@CHIdocumenters The two motions, with an amendment on the contract start date, pass with 16 yeas and 1 absent.

@CHIdocumenters The meeting is adjourned at 12:22pm. Visit http://documenters.org for more local meeting coverage.