May 19, 2011 -- Calling it "flawed" and "rushed," County Executive Robert P. Astorino today vetoed the redistricting plan for county legislative districts approved last week by the Board of Legislators, noting that the League of Women Voters had also strongly expressed its concerns and dissatisfaction with the plan.

"There are many reasons for my disapproval and veto of this local law," said Astorino, "which vary from the flawed, closed-door, and rushed process to the unfortunate and unnecessary division of municipalities."
He added, "The non-partisan League of Women Voters of Westchester in its statement at the public hearing was very clear in sharing some of these same concerns. It labeled the process 'extremely messy' with 'aspects of it...questionable.' The League also called for more transparency."

The redistricting plan was approved 12-5 along party lines by the Democratic-controlled board on May 9.

The county executive said the board's rushed process called into question the ability of the public to have real input.

"Your Honorable Board held the first meeting (at least the first meeting known to the public and the administration) on April 18," Astorino said in his veto message. "Within 20 days, your Honorable Board voted on this local law, which will affect the county for the next 10 years. Such quick action calls into question the ability for true public input. Note, too, that this 20-day period was in the midst of important religious holidays and spring break, further diluting the availability for full public participation."

Astorino said there is no legal requirement for the board to adopt a redistricting plan this year based on Census 2010; rather, it could have deliberated longer and adopted a plan for the 2013 election cycle. Taking more time over this important issue would have given the board a chance to focus on the new Census data, which was only released in April.

Aside from the process, the county executive complained of what he called "wholesale and unnecessary changes" made to some legislative districts, including the splitting of the City of Peekskill "for no rational reason" into two districts and the Town of Harrison into three.

"It will create confusion among voters and elected officials as to who speaks for these communities on the Board of Legislators," he said.