This diary continues a series that envisions a House of Representatives elected in a similar manner to the House of Commons in Canada. Representatives are elected from ridings with an average size of 110,000 (similar to Canada), that bear names instead of numbers. These ridings tend to follow communities of interest much more than our House districts do, so all maps in this series will be commission-style COI maps. Apportionment will be according to US rules, but with 2807 ridings to be divided between the 50 states and DC (I regard DC disenfranchisement as shameful).
My criteria for districts are the following, in order of importance:
1) Contiguity
2) Population deviation less than 10% of average population
3) Communities of Interest
4) Majority-Minority ridings
5) Compactness
6) Competitiveness
New York State as a whole has 176 ridings, which would make for a very long diary, so I split the diary into three parts. Part I covers Long Island and its 26 ridings. This diary is Part II, covering New York City and its 74 ridings. All other parts of New York State (76 ridings) will be covered in Part III, which will be called Upstate New York unless a better name is suggested in the comments.
Communities of interest were not easy for this map. Neighborhoods in the Big Apple do not have clearly defined boundaries, and the only official divisions I could find below the borough level were the Community Boards, which tend to be slightly over 110,000 people each, a very inconvenient size for my purposes. So what I did was assign each borough a number of ridings that would lead to a small population deviation, kept all ridings within a single borough, tried to make compact majority-minority districts, and hoped for the best. So any COI violations here are entirely unintentional. Feel free to tell me that I put the Comically Dedicated Racists in a riding with a militant immigrant community or something. I appreciate constructive criticism, especially from locals.
Queens
Valley Stream-Cedarhurst (Gray)
Population: 44.2% White, 30.9% Black, 15.7% Hispanic, 7.0% Asian, Deviation -96
Political: 63.0% Obama, 64.8% Dem, D+11, Safe D
Note that this riding reaches slightly into Queens, but it’s mainly a Long Island riding. As such, it is included in this map but not the analysis at the end.
Astoria (Blue)
Population: 44.7% White, 8.3% Black, 27.6% Hispanic, 16.1% Asian, Deviation +2105
Political: 84.0% Obama, 83.2% Dem, D+31, Safe D
Steinway-Jackson Heights (Green)
Population: 48.7% White, 28.7% Hispanic, 16.1% Asian, Deviation -5339
Political: 76.2% Obama, 76.3% Dem, D+23, Safe D
La Guardia-North Beach (Dark Magenta)
Population: 9.4% White, 7.9% Black, 67.1% Hispanic, 16.1% Asian, Deviation +2488
Political: 84.1% Obama, 86.0% Dem, D+32, Safe D
College Point-Bayside (Red)
Population: 58.5% White, 15.4% Hispanic, 23.6% Asian, Deviation -2070
Political: 57.1% Obama, 60.2% Dem, D+6, Likely D
Flushing-Murry Hill (Gold)
Population: 18.7% White, 15.4% Hispanic, 61.8% Asian, Deviation -3098
Political: 65.7% Obama, 70.9% Dem, D+15, Safe D
Congressional candidate Grace Meng (D-NY-06) lives here, and should easily win the most Asian seat in NYC.
Hunters Point-Sunnyside (Teal)
Population: 36.5% White, 31.3% Hispanic, 26.9% Asian, Deviation +5563
Political: 75.2% Obama, 76.3% Dem, D+23, Safe D
Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY-07) lives here. He won’t have to worry about “a good night in Queens” come November…
Elmhurst (Dark Gray)
Population: 15.0% White, 29.9% Hispanic, 51.3% Asian, Deviation +6321
Political: 70.9% Obama, 75.9% Dem, D+20, Safe D
Corona (Slate Blue)
Population: 10.1% White, 9.8% Black, 67.0% Hispanic, 11.6% Asian, Deviation +3507
Political: 85.6% Obama, 88.9% Dem, D+34, Safe D
Flushing-Auburndale (Cyan)
Population: 25.7% White, 5.3% Black, 13.2% Hispanic, 53.6% Asian, Deviation -6
Political: 67.1% Obama, 71.3% Dem, D+16, Safe D
Oakland Gardens-Glen Oaks (Deep Pink)
Population: 47.7% White, 9.0% Hispanic, 36.1% Asian, Deviation -2891
Political: 64.5% Obama, 68.1% Dem, D+13, Safe D
Haberman-Ridgewood (Chartreuse)
Population: 51.4% White, 39.0% Hispanic, 6.9% Asian, Deviation -5092
Political: 65.9% Obama, 67.5% Dem, D+14, Safe D
Glendale-Woodhaven (Cornflower Blue)
Population: 45.3% White, 35.7% Hispanic, 12.3% Asian, Deviation +386
Political: 62.0% Obama, 64.5% Dem, D+10, Safe D
Forest Hills (Dark Salmon)
Population: 58.7% White, 13.0% Hispanic, 22.9% Asian, Deviation -152
Political: 63.2% Obama, 66.3% Dem, D+12, Safe D
Richmond Hill (Olive)
Population: 24.1% White, 10.4% Black, 33.0% Hispanic, 24.1% Asian, 8.0% Other, Deviation -3572
Political: 77.0% Obama, 78.2% Dem, D+25, Safe D
Pomonok-Hollis (Dark Orange)
Population: 21.5% White, 17.8% Black, 20.2% Hispanic, 32.9% Asian, 7.2% Other, Deviation +1267
Political: 75.8% Obama, 79.2% Dem, D+25, Safe D
Ozone Park (Lime)
Population: 14.5% White, 20.0% Black, 23.8% Hispanic, 23.1% Asian, 17.7% Other, Deviation +3369
Political: 79.5% Obama, 82.6% Dem, D+28, Safe D
Cedar Manor-St. Albans (Dark Slate Blue)
Population: 78.3% Black, 11.1% Hispanic, Deviation +1560
Political: 98.4% Obama, 98.2% Dem, D+45, Safe D
Rep. Gregory Meeks lives here, and he’s utterly safe.
Cambria Heights-Bellaire (Yellow)
Population: 8.9% White, 58.1% Black, 13.1% Hispanic, 13.8% Asian, 5.7% Other, Deviation -4878
Political: 90.6% Obama, 91.4% Dem, D+38, Safe D
Hamilton Beach-Laurelton (Yellow-Green)
Population: 21.7% White, 63.0% Black, 9.5% Hispanic, Deviation +645
Political: 85.2% Obama, 86.5% Dem, D+33, Safe D
Rockaway (Pink)
Population: 36.7% White, 38.2% Black, 20.0% Hispanic, Deviation -622
Political: 69.5% Obama, 10.9% Dem, D+17, Safe D
Poor Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY-09) lives here, but his best bet is to run in one of the swingy Brooklyn ridings. No riding in Queens would ever elect him, except maybe College Point-Bayside, which isn’t in his turf and is still D+6.
Brooklyn
Greenpoint-Williamsburg (Blue)
Population: 56.7% White, 29.2% Hispanic, 7.2% Asian, Deviation -757
Political: 88.2% Obama, 88.9% Dem, D+36, Safe D
Clinton Hill (Green)
Population: 43.2% White, 26.7% Black, 24.6% Hispanic, Deviation +3199
Political: 80.8% Obama, 88.3% Dem, D+32, Safe D
Bushwick (Dark Magenta)
Population: 15.9% White, 15.3% Black, 61.3% Hispanic, 5.6% Asian, Deviation -1642
Political: 93.3% Obama, 93.9% Dem, D+41, Safe D
Brooklyn Heights (Red)
Population: 64.2% White, 11.4% Black, 14.3% Hispanic, 7.7% Asian, Deviation -3109
Political: 91.9% Obama, 87.8% Dem, D+37, Safe D
Crown Heights (Gold)
Population: 26.6% White, 55.5% Black, 10.4% Hispanic, Deviation +2605
Political: 98.0% Obama, 96.7% Dem, D+44, Safe D
Bedford-Stuyvesant (Teal)
Population: 77.2% Black, 13.9% Hispanic, Deviation +3126
Political: 98.8% Obama, 98.3% Dem, D+46, Safe D
This is the most Democratic district in New York State, and about four points bluer than NY-16.
Broadway Junction (Dark Gray)
Population: 34.0% Black, 50.6% Hispanic, 7.7% Asian, Deviation -1456
Political: 93.9% Obama, 95.1% Dem, D+42, Safe D
Sunset Park-Red Hook (Slate Blue)
Population: 23.0% White, 6.5% Black, 52.8% Hispanic, 16.0% Asian, Deviation -4571
Political: 88.1% Obama, 88.0% Dem, D+35, Safe D
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY-12) finally lives in a Hispanic riding.
Prospect Park (Cyan)
Population: 26.4% White, 54.3% Black, 13.5% Hispanic, Deviation -696
Political: 95.7% Obama, 93.5% Dem, D+42, Safe D
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-11) lives here.
East Flatbush-Weeksville (Deep Pink)
Population: 12.2% White, 75.2% Black, 9.6% Hispanic, Deviation -2432
Political: 91.4% Obama, 91.9% Dem, D+39, Safe D
Brownsville (Chartreuse)
Population: 83.6% Black, 12.9% Hispanic, Deviation -3722
Political: 98.5% Obama, 98.3% Dem, D+45, Safe D
This is the least white riding in New York State at 0.9%.
Spring Creek (Cornflower Blue)
Population: 5.7% White, 70.6% Black, 20.1% Hispanic, Deviation +4120
Political: 94.9% Obama, 95.1% Dem, D+42, Safe D
Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY-10) will like this riding.
Dyker Heights (Dark Salmon)
Population: 70.1% White, 13.1% Black, 13.5% Hispanic, Deviation -7965
Political: 56.3% Obama, 57.3% Dem, D+4, Lean D
Bay Ridge-New Utrecht (Olive)
Population: 30.4% White, 14.8% Hispanic, 52.8% Asian, Deviation +1535
Political: 57.3% Obama, 63.6% Dem, D+8, Likely D
Windsor Terrace (Dark Orange)
Population: 66.8% White, 15.1% Hispanic, 13.2% Asian, Deviation +913
Political: 53.9% Obama, 61.6% Dem, D+5, Likely D
West Ford Park (Lime)
Population: 14.0% White, 65.6% Black, 12.4% Hispanic, 5.2% Asian, Deviation +2802
Political: 93.8% Obama, 93.9% Dem, D+41, Safe D
Bergen Beach-Canarsie (Dark Slate Blue)
Population: 22.2% White, 66.0% Black, 7.4% Hispanic, Deviation +1262
Political: 84.5% Obama, 87.5% Dem, D+33, Safe D
Bath Beach-Bensonhurst (Yellow)
Population: 55.3% White, 11.6% Hispanic, 30.8% Asian, Deviation -8155
Political: 49.6% Obama, 56.8% Dem, EVEN, Swing
Midwood Park (Yellow-Green)
Population: 68.7% White, 6.5% Black, 9.8% Hispanic, 13.4% Asian, Deviation -620
Political: 38.8% Obama, 50.1% Dem, R+8, Likely R
Flatlands (Pink)
Population: 32.2% White, 53.6% Black, 7.9% Hispanic, Deviation -1601
Political: 75.0% Obama, 78.8% Dem, D+24, Safe D
Gravesend (Maroon)
Population: 58.2% White, 12.2% Hispanic, 25.6% Asian, Deviation -4624
Political: 45.9% Obama, 57.7% Dem, R+1, Swing
Marine Park-Homecrest (Sienna)
Population: 72.7% White, 7.1% Hispanic, 14.3% Asian, Deviation -8214
Political: 47.8% Obama, 56.6% Dem, R+1, Swing
Coney Island (Aquamarine)
Population: 69.1% White, 8.9% Black, 11.8% Hispanic, 8.7% Asian, Deviation +3053
Political: 51.7% Obama, 57.4% Dem, D+2, Swing
Staten Island
Staten Island North(Blue)
Population: 46.8% White, 19.5% Black, 25.3% Hispanic, 6.4% Asian, Deviation +7075
Political: 63.1% Obama, 63.6% Dem, D+10, Safe D
Staten Island West (Green)
Population: 76.2% White, 9.9% Hispanic, 10.1% Asian, Deviation +8501
Political: 42.0% Obama, 46.6% Dem, R+9, Safe R
Ethically questionable Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY-13) lives here. He should be fine unless primaried.
Staten Island East (Dark Magenta)
Population: 57.2% White, 12.7% Black, 18.7% Hispanic, 9.8% Asian, Deviation +7277
Political: 56.4% Obama, 57.2% Dem, D+4, Lean D
Staten Island South (Red)
Population: 87.2% White, 7.5% Hispanic, Deviation +5515
Political: 33.0% Obama, 37.6% Dem, R+18, Safe R
Manhattan
Inwood(Blue)
Population: 23.1% White, 6.6% Black, 66.7% Hispanic, Deviation +8614
Political: 89.6% Obama, 89.6% Dem, D+37, Safe D
Washington Heights (Green)
Population: 12.1% White, 18.6% Black, 64.6% Hispanic, Deviation +3346
Political: 94.6% Obama, 94.5% Dem, D+42, Safe D
Morningside Heights (Dark Magenta)
Population: 41.4% White, 14.2% Black, 32.3% Hispanic, 9.8% Asian, Deviation +4939
Political: 93.2% Obama, 91.1% Dem, D+39, Safe D
Harlem (Red)
Population: 11.2% White, 62.6% Black, 20.9% Hispanic, Deviation +5180
Political: 98.2% Obama, 97.2% Dem, D+45, Safe D
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY-15) stays here until he retires. Not drawing this as a supermajority black riding would be a bigger crime than anything Rangel has been accused of (maybe a bit of hyperbole).
East Harlem (Gold)
Population: 10.2% White, 36.5% Black, 46.5% Hispanic, Deviation +2086
Political: 95.6% Obama, 95.5% Dem, D+43, Safe D
Upper West Side (Teal)
Population: 74.6% White, 6.2% Black, 11.1% Hispanic, 6.3% Asian, Deviation +4030
Political: 87.0% Obama, 83.6% Dem, D+32, Safe D
Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D-NY-08) lives here.
Yorkville (Dark Gray)
Population: 70.5% White, 5.7% Black, 12.9% Hispanic, 9.2% Asian, Deviation -1710
Political: 79.6% Obama, 73.7% Dem, D+24, Safe D
Hell’s Kitchen (Slate Blue)
Population: 63.6% White, 5.6% Black, 13.0% Hispanic, 15.6% Asian, Deviation +5727
Political: 83.1% Obama, 80.5% Dem, D+29, Safe D
Upper East Side (Cyan)
Population: 79.8% White, 6.4% Hispanic, 8.5% Asian, Deviation +3211
Political: 75.0% Obama, 69.1% Dem, D+19, Safe D
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-14) lives here.
Midtown (Deep Pink)
Population: 74.7% White, 6.9% Hispanic, 13.8% Asian, Deviation +1254
Political: 75.4% Obama, 69.5% Dem, D+20, Safe D
Chelsea-Flatiron (Chartreuse)
Population: 69.5% White, 10.8% Hispanic, 13.1% Asian, Deviation +734
Political: 87.1% Obama, 83.6% Dem, D+32, Safe D
Downtown (Cornflower Blue)
Population: 55.5% White, 6.5% Black, 21.1% Hispanic, 14.4% Asian, Deviation +9002
Political: 86.3% Obama, 84.8% Dem, D+33, Safe D
Greenwich Village (Dark Salmon)
Population: 77.5% White, 6.3% Hispanic, 11.5% Asian, Deviation +6678
Political: 87.4% Obama, 82.2% Dem, D+32, Safe D
Chinatown (Olive)
Population: 27.6% White, 15.7% Hispanic, 50.0% Asian, Deviation -8660
Political: 80.9% Obama, 83.6% Dem, D+29, Safe D
Bronx
Riverdale-Woodlawn (Blue)
Population: 46.0% White, 11.4% Black, 35.9% Hispanic, 5.2% Asian, Deviation -3879
Political: 77.2% Obama, 77.7% Dem, D+25, Safe D
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) lives here.
Williams Bridge-Wakefield (Green)
Population: 67.0% Black, 22.9% Hispanic, Deviation -9346
Political: 95.6% Obama, 96.1% Dem, D+43, Safe D
Baychester-City Island (Dark Magenta)
Population: 13.7% White, 57.5% Black, 24.5% Hispanic, Deviation -2839
Political: 90.4% Obama, 91.1% Dem, D+38, Safe D
Bedford Park-Norwood (Red)
Population: 12.1% White, 18.6% Black, 59.3% Hispanic, 7.8% Asian, Deviation -1741
Political: 90.3% Obama, 91.2% Dem, D+38, Safe D
University Heights (Gold)
Population: 27.9% Black, 66.7% Hispanic, Deviation +851
Political: 95.3% Obama, 95.7% Dem, D+43, Safe D
Fordham-Belmont (Teal)
Population: 5.2% White, 27.6% Black, 64.0% Hispanic, Deviation -4113
Political: 94.0% Obama, 95.1% Dem, D+42, Safe D
Morris Park-Van Nest(Dark Gray)
Population: 27.7% White, 17.2% Black, 46.1% Hispanic, 7.0% Asian, Deviation -2318
Political: 78.6% Obama, 80.6% Dem, D+27, Safe D
High Bridge-Mount Eden (Slate Blue)
Population: 29.8% Black, 65.5% Hispanic, Deviation -3756
Political: 96.0% Obama, 96.5% Dem, D+43, Safe D
Crotona Park (Cyan)
Population: 40.6% Black, 55.9% Hispanic, Deviation -5196
Political: 96.6% Obama, 96.9% Dem, D+44, Safe D
Mott Haven (Deep Pink)
Population: 28.4% Black, 67.6% Hispanic, Deviation +1327
Political: 95.0% Obama, 96.1% Dem, D+43, Safe D
I believe Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY-16) lives here.
Hunts Point (Chartreuse)
Population: 30.4% Black, 64.6% Hispanic, Deviation -8726
Political: 94.5% Obama, 96.2% Dem, D+42, Safe D
Unionport-Parkchester (Cornflower Blue)
Population: 5.1% White, 29.4% Black, 51.4% Hispanic, 10.4% Asian, Deviation -3991
Political: 91.8% Obama, 92.9% Dem, D+39, Safe D
Castle Hill-Throgs Neck (Dark Salmon)
Population: 36.3% White, 14.2% Black, 44.8% Hispanic, Deviation -2504
Political: 71.5% Obama, 72.8% Dem, D+19, Safe D
Political Overview
Under this map, 67 ridings would favor Democrats, often by considerable margins. 3 ridings would be essentially safe for Republicans. 4 ridings, all in Brooklyn, are actually very swingy. Combined with Long Island, this is so far a 79-9-12 Democratic map. The 258 ridings detailed so far now split 150-72-36 Democratic, but don't expect that margin to hold up once I detail redder states.
VRA Overview
Long Island has 23 majority White ridings, one majority Hispanic riding, one plurality White riding, and one plurality Black riding.
New York City is far more diverse. It also has 23 majority White ridings, but also has 15 majority Black ridings, 16 majority Hispanic ridings, 5 majority Asian ridings, 10 plurality White ridings, 2 plurality Black ridings, 5 plurality Hispanic ridings, and one plurality Asian riding. Many of these ridings are supermajority, as the sheer size of NYC's ethnic neighborhoods means that some ridings will be in the middle of them unless a ridiculous baconmander is drawn.