Staten Island's Electoral Boundaries: A Fight for Power or Fairness?

Staten Island has long been a challenging area for Democrats. Over the past 40 years, only two Democrats have secured the congressional seat, and their victories were short-lived. Now, Democrats are advocating for a change in district boundaries, arguing that it's about fairness. A judge recently ruled that the current 11th Congressional District, which encompasses Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, is unfair. The lawsuit claims that it does not adequately represent Black and Hispanic voters. Democrats propose adding areas like Battery Park City and the West Village in Manhattan to the district. However, these areas are not particularly diverse. Democrats have a numerical advantage in registered voters within the district, with nearly 198, 183 Democrats compared to 134, 871 Republicans. Yet, having more registered voters does not always translate to more votes. Democrats continue to face difficulties in winning over Staten Island voters.This situation is not new. Since 1980, Republicans have dominated most House races in Staten Island. The issue is not about the president or governor; it's about the voters. Now, Democrats are pushing to alter the rules to gain an advantage. Democrats currently hold 19 House seats in New York, while Republicans have seven. However, one Republican seat in New York City is one too many for them. They have attempted this before, and the courts have intervened. Now, they are trying again, claiming it's about fairness. But is it really? In the past, Staten Island shared a judicial district with Brooklyn, making it difficult for Republicans to win state Supreme Court races. It took creating a separate district to address that issue. Now, Democrats want to revert to the old way. Assemblyman Charles Fall, the borough Democratic Party chairman, asserts that the redistricting push is not about politics. But let's face it, politics is always about power. It's like saying a competitive game isn't about winning.