CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Members of a panel hoping to create a people’s version of Chicago’s ward boundaries is asking for more people to help in their efforts.
The independent Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission is asking residents to participate in any of their several hearings in the coming months.
One commissioner, Mike Strode, said they want to learn what’s important to some neighborhoods.
"We want to empower people in communities throughout Chicago, not politicians, to lead the designs of their wards to reflect their livelihoods, not maximize re-election prospects. We hope to complete all of this work by the fall," Strode said.
Fellow commissioner Rory Gilchrist said the city’s current ward map raises questions.
"Should Englewood be split among five or six different wards? Should Logan Square? Should Little Village? These communities that have big, important impactful issues," he said.
Lyzeth Mondragon, is also a commissioner on the independent Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission. She said they’re trying to build information and support for an independently drawn ward map.
"We want to draw attention to our mission and encourage people in the neighborhood and communities of Chicago to come talk to us at one of our many virtual and in-person meetings in the coming weeks," she said.
It will take a majority of aldermen to approve any new map. But, Strode can’t really say how that’s going. They’re not really having those conversations yet.
"The commission president is really focused on drawing the community interest and feedback from the communities, and we don't have insight at the moment," Strode said.
He said the panel hopes to have its work done by the Fall.
The commission won’t draw the maps until after the actual Census data is released over the summer.
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