Mayor Adams Taps Queens Public Library Head Dennis Walcott to Redraw Council Districts

By: Mario Mancini

The New York Post reports Mayor Eric Adams, “ is eyeing the appointment of former city Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott to help oversee the key sensitive task of redrawing the Big Apple’s 51 council districts.

Walcott, 71, who currently heads the Queens Public Library, is an experienced hand who served in the administrations of both former Mayors Mike Bloomberg and David Dinkins.

According to The New York Post, “ Walcott is widely respected across the political spectrum and known for working to get things done in a low-key, no drama manner — crucial attributes given the messy partisanship that can accompany redistricting, sources note. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic lawmakers in Albany are already being sued over newly redrawn congressional lines that they approved earlier this month, as both The New York Post and The Jewish Voice have reported.

A well-placed source at City Hall said Walcott, a Queens native, is a shoo-in for an appointment by the mayor to the panel — and that Adams may push for him to chair the group. The appointees will select the chairman. Walcott, asked by The Post about his possible appointment, replied, “I have not heard anything officially yet, all according to The New York Post.

The process for the changing of the district lines is described by The New York Post as, “the redistricting panel is required to hold a series of public hearings before creating a proposed map of districts. The map will then be submitted to the council after a month of public review”. Post reporter Carl Campanile writes, “The council can propose amendments before the commission adopts the final map and formally submits it to the city clerk. The work will be concluded by the end of 2022 in preparation of the June 2023 primaries. Because of population changes, some council districts may have to undergo significant alterations — a prospect that worries incumbents who would have to acquaint themselves with voters from new neighborhoods as they seek re-election”.

Campanile also reports, “Walcott served as deputy mayor of education and community development for much of Bloomberg’s 12-year tenure. In the final three years of the Bloomberg administration, Walcott was the schools chancellor. He also served as an appointee to the city Board of Education and chairman of the voter assistance commission under Dinkins. The ex-City Hall veteran was CEO for the New York Urban League, too.”

The New York Post reports, “a redistricting expert said the planned city panel is structured in a way to prevent partisan gerrymandering — unlike what happened in Albany. The state redistricting panel was only independent on paper,” said New York Law School Professor Jeffrey Wice, who served as counsel to the past two City Council redistricting commissions.”