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Council approves reapportionment
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A reapportionment plan affecting 25 of the city's 402 voting precincts received final approval Tuesday from Pittsburgh City Council.
The approval came despite last-minute opposition from Stanton Heights residents, who said they learned only days ago that the plan splits their neighborhood between the districts of councilmen Ricky Burgess and Patrick Dowd. Right now, Mr. Dowd represents the entire neighborhood.
Redrawing of the nine council districts occurs after each census to account for population shifts. The reapportionment plan went through several iterations, but under the final version, 25 voting districts in 12 neighborhoods will be shifted from one council district to another.
"We have tried to do the best job that we can ... Redistricting is never easy," council President Darlene Harris said.
Neighborhoods typically seek to avoid being split by the reapportionment process.
Councilwomen Natalia Rudiak and Theresa Kail-Smith said they were sorry to learn of the Stanton Heights residents' concerns. However, Ms. Kail-Smith said multiple council members can mean extra political clout for a neighborhood.
First Published December 12, 2012 12:00 am
