District 2 could be kept whole under new Miami redistricting map
Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes did the right thing Friday when he told the city’s consultant on redistricting to put the part of Coconut Grove moved to District 4 back into District 2, where it belongs.
Maybe it was for the wrong reasons, but it was the right thing to do.
“I don’t like to be where I’m not welcome,” Reyes said at Friday’s special meeting, after the public comments, which was the second time dozens of residents went to City Hall to oppose cutting Coconut Grove into three districts. The map that was approved on first reading in February has a part of West Grove in District 4 and an awkward little carve-out with Commissioner Joe Carollo‘s house in it given to District 3.
Read related: Miami redistricting cuts Coconut Grove into three rather than add districts
Nobody in the Grove wanted to be divided into three districts and have three different commissioners.
“I know you will have to find the population someplace else,” Reyes told former State Rep. Miguel DeGrandy, who has worked on the maps with Palmetto Bay Councilman Stephen Cody. “If you could do that… That part of Coconut Grove is going to stay in tact.”
He took it personally. Commissioner Ken Russell, who fought for his constituents’ wishes, told Reyes not to. “I know you are a strong, good person and will represent anyone in your district,” Russell said. “But I very much appreciate it.”
Read related: Miami’s Joe Carollo attacks Ken Russell to deflect his conflict in redistricting
In the audience, some of the Grove residents mouthed the words “thank you” and at least one blew kisses. When Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla got into it with Chairwoman Christine King over a piece of the Miami River they both want, Reyes told the Grovites that he wasn’t going to change his mind.
Russell told DeGrandy to restore the other part of Coconut Grove also, giving District 3 a more northern part that is far more contiguous to Carollo’s district already. So it may be that Coconut Grove stays whole.
But Ladra is not letting her guard down and would advise the Grovites to stay vigilant. This is Miami, we don’t know what might happen on March 24, when this comes back.
Manolo Reyes listens to residents and gives up the Coconut Grove addition added by Ladra on
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