The process for redistricting is still going on in Miami and at the state level (more on that later), but Miami-Dade County is done. Finito. Commissioners approved new boundaries last week after a few last minute amendments.
And there was zero opposition. Zero lawsuits threatened. Zero drama. Probably because there were no huge changes and nothing opposed by any of the current commissioners.
Maybe that’s because incumbency is protected.
As the population grows, districts are revised every 10 years after U.S. Census figures are reported to ensure that none is too big or too small. They must be within a 10% differential from the biggest to the smallest, and best practices include keeping cities and communities together. Maps must meet federal, state and local criteria, which includes a guarantee of minority representation.
Former county Commissioner Dennis Moss chaired a citizen advisory board that included people like Miami Lakes Councilman Joshua Dieguez and former State Rep. J.C. Planas. The board met the first time in July and five meetings later unanimously passed the new boundaries and maps presented by the consultant.
Read related: Miami-Dade meets on redistricting, private/public deals, MIA contracts
There is also supposed to be community input and, granted, there were zoom meetings for every district and then three regional zoom meetings for residents to weigh in with any concerns. But they were hardly publicized.
Want to see if your commissioner has changed? The county has an interactive version of the new boundaries so you can enter your address and see.
The main changes happened in and because of Districts 8 and 9, which had grown the most in population and, therefore, needed to shed voters to surrounding districts. So District 8 shifted some area to District 7 and District 9, which shifted area to districts 6 and 11, respectively, and then 11 had to shift some area to District 10. And so on and so on.
It seems like District 6 grew the most taking ground from districts 5, 7, 12 and 13. District 3 lost a little bit of its western edge to District 2. And District 13 took some of the eastern edge from District 12.
We are talking about blocks.
Read related: Miami could give law firm carte blanche on ‘conflicts of interests’ in redistricting
Four commissioners made last minute tweaks live on the dais Wednesday, but they were also tiny adjustments and there was no objection from any of the other commissioners who they wanted to take, take, take from. After some live mathematical formulation in which the 10% line was not crossed, the amendments became part of the map approved.
The only commissioner who voted against the new district boundaries as amended was Danielle Cohen Higgins.
“It is my firm belief that district lines should be continuous and intuitive,” Cohen Higgins said in a statement texted to Ladra. “Redistricting was our opportunity to straighten lines, close gaps and ensure that neighborhoods remained united, but unfortunately that was not accomplished.”
Well, there’s always 2031.
Miami-Dade Commission approved changes to barely new district lines added by Ladra on
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