From our real estate experts at Team Nurit:
On November 3, the Commission on Redistricting will vote on a proposal to change the boundaries for Montgomery County Council districts redistricting District 1, that includes all of North Bethesda. You can view the map at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/BCC/redistricting/
As you can see from the redrawn map, the proposal moves our community out of district 1 with Bethesda and Potomac and creates a brand new gerrymandered district adjoining our community with downtown Silver Spring and city of Takoma Park.
A few points to consider:
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Each district is required to represent 150,000 people. “North Bethesda’s” population is under 50,000 people. The communities of Silver Spring and Takoma Park are about 100,000. This unfair action puts North Bethesda in a terrible situation where our voices will not be heard – our issues are not the same issues as those of Silver Spring and Takoma Park, and they will outnumber us
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Our schools in our community are composed of children from communities all over District 1 including Bethesda. Our Walter Johnson Cluster would be divided in representation and reduce our ability to advocate for issues like funding and building Woodward High School to relieve overcrowding at Walter Johnson High School.
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We are being Gerrymandered. The map of our proposed new district is a bow tie like shape. It is not contiguous. It is not compact in form as required by the County Charter. It is not composed of adjoining territory.
It is imperative that North Bethesda fight this proposal and keep our community inside the Council District boundaries that include Bethesda and Potomac and Chevy Chase. As an unincorporated community our interests align more closely with these communities than downtown Silver Spring and the City of Takoma Park.
We need to immediately call all members of the County Council and raise our objections and concerns about the redistricting map proposal! You can find the phone numbers of County Council members including our current Council member Andrew Friedson at this link: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/members/index.html
This is happening very quickly! In 3 days! And, if the Council sits on this proposal, it will become law (see below) and we lose.
The Redistricting Commission and the Process Going Forward:
In February 2021,the Montgomery County Council created the Commission on Redistricting. As a result of the 2020, General Election, voters determined that the Montgomery County charter would be changed to divide into seven council districts for the Montgomery County Council. Each district shall be compact in form and be composed to adjoining territory. Prior to the recent election, the Charter required the County to be divided into five Council districts. The new requirement for seven districts will apply to the 2022 election and the County Council will consist of 11 members, with four at large members.
By November 15, 2021, the Commission shall present a plan of Council districts together with a report explaining it to the Council.
Within 30 days after receiving the plan from the Commission, the Council shall hold a public hearing on the Commission’s plan. The plan is also customarily introduced as a bill at the request of the Redistricting Commission. The Council considers and may amend the bill (plan) and should take action within 90 days of receiving the plan.
If within 90 days after presentation of the Commission’s plan, no other law reestablishing the boundaries of the Council Districts has been enacted, then the plan as submitted, shall become law.
Please call or email the members of the Montgomery County Council!!!