Dallas redistricting panel amends maps to address neighborhood concerns

Dallas’ redistricting commission approved a slate of changes to a pair of proposed maps with redrawn City Council district boundaries in response to some residents who voiced concerns that their neighborhoods would be divided. Residents in the predominantly Latino area of Ledbetter Eagle Ford in West Dallas and historically Black neighborhood Elm Thicket NorthPark in central Dallas near Love Field were worried the proposed maps would dilute their voting power and break up community ties they have been working build. Redistricting commission members voted last week to choose two final maps that both moved Elm Thicket NorthPark from District 2 into District 13, where the majority of residents are white. One of the maps split West Dallas into two districts at Singleton Boulevard.

The Dallas Redistricting Commission voted Monday to move forward two maps with revised population demographics and borders that supporters say could lead to more Latino and Black city council members. But the maps also split and move some neighborhoods into new districts despite many residents calling on commission members to preserve existing community and cultural ties. Redistricting commission members on Monday, after hearing about four hours of community comments — including many from West and central Dallas who disapproved of both maps — voted to erase the Singleton Boulevard split to keep many of the existing boundaries for West Dallas in District 6. They approved changing one map to put Elm Thicket NorthPark back in District 2 and another that divided the area between District 2 and District 6, a compromise several residents said they’d be willing to accept because they felt it was likely to help them continue to have a person of color represent them on the City Council. Dallas’ redistricting commission is set to decide on a final Council district map as early as next Monday. The public will be allowed to weigh in at least two more times, Saturday at City Hall and during the meeting next week.