Minor differences in competing Philadelphia Council district maps

There are two competing maps to re-draw Philadelphia’s City Council districts. The maps are not that different.

 

One map comes from a leadership working group, the other from Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney. Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez is happy her district does not go above Cottman Avenue on either map.

 

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“We couldn’t make it worse, so we decided to make it better,” she said. “So it is much better. It respects communities of interest better it recognizes growth areas in the city while at the same time it has enough breathing room to allow for some eastward mobility from some of the districts in the west.”

Quinones Sanchez says her district is now less gerrymandered while still strongly Latino.

Republican Councilman Brian O’Neill says he is taking on additional Democratic voters.

“It’s a far cry from the easy way of doing it, but I understand it’s not easy times right now, it’s a difficult map, not a lot of give and take. I’m taking a lot and not getting much,” said O’Neill.

There will be a hearing on the two maps next week.

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