Queens native Dennis Walcott named to state redistricting commission
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Queens native and Queens library CEO Dennis Walcott was named to the state redistricting commission on Friday. Queens Public Library
By Ryan Schwach
Queens Public Library CEO, borough native and former Department of Education Chancellor Dennis Walcott was appointed to the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission by the state senate majority leader on Friday.
Walcott’s appointment to the fraught commission comes as it fast approaches a deadline to submit a new congressional district map to the legislature per orders from the state’s top court.
Walcott recently served as chair of the city’s redistricting commission, which redrew the City Council district boundaries last year. He takes the spot left vacant by the late Dr. John Flateau, who passed away in December.
Walcott’s appointment, announced on Friday, was made by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
“After careful consideration, I am making the appointment of Mr. Dennis M. Walcott to the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission,” she said in a statement. “Dennis Walcott has extensive experience and has an impressive resume in public service, which includes serving as Chair of the New York City Districting Commission. We are confident that Mr. Walcott will serve with the same dedication and integrity that marked Dr. Flateau's tenure, and will be a valuable asset in the commission's ongoing work to ensure fair and effective representation for all New Yorkers.”
Flateau was a revered figure on the redistricting commission and guiding figure to the other members. The longtime CUNY Medgar Evers administrator and political strategist passed away on Dec. 30 at the age of 73.
His unexpected death left a vacancy in the hearts of many in the New York political and educational communities, as well as on the redistricting commission, just as they were ordered to redraw congressional district maps by the Court of Appeals.
Stewart-Cousins called Flateau’s death a “great loss” to the community and the commission, particularly as its work continues.
“Dr. Flateau's absence is irreplaceable, however, the work of the commission must continue in order to meet the Court's time-sensitive directives,” said the majority leader.
Walcott, who was born and raised in Southeast Queens, takes Dr. Flateau’s spot just about a month before the commission’s court ordered Feb. 28 deadline to give new congressional maps to the state legislature.
Jeff Wice, professor at New York Law School who leads the school’s N.Y. Census & Redistricting Institute and who worked as counsel to the city redistricting commission alongside Walcott, says the Francis Lewis High School alumni is an appropriate pick.
“An absolutely fantastic choice,” Wice told the Eagle, highlighting Walcott’s recent experience fighting competing interests in redrawing the City Council’s district lines.
“He’ll be serving as a member but he will be adding a lot of perspective and experience to the state effort based on his effort drawing the city map,” Wice said. “He knows and understands the process, which stands for a lot.”
The situation Walcott leaps into is relatively unknown, with the commission restarting its redistricting process just after the new year and no indication as to what progress they have made to this point.
“We have no sense of what the maps might look like, or what they have achieved so far,” said Wice.
