The Town of Brookhaven is in the process of a redistricting process that draws new council district lines based on census data. Not everyone is happy with the proposed map.
Kareem Nugdalla, of the Coram Civic Association, says the proposed map from a town consultant divides Black and brown communities into different districts, which he says weakens their voice.
"That's a map for the government by the government. It doesn't respect the borders of the hamlets. It doesn't respect our interests whatsoever," Nugdalla says.
The Coram Civic Association submitted its own map, which it says is more equitable.
The town is taking recommendations from an independent committee and the public on how the maps should be drawn.
Civil rights attorney Fred Brewington has argued multiple redistricting cases in court and says any changes to the district map need to reflect the people.
"We need to make sure that we do things fairly - not because of incumbency, not because of politics and certainly not because of race," Brewington says.
The independent redistricting committee has not given its final recommendation to the town board yet. Residents can still suggest maps and send comments in by next week through
here.
News 12 reached out to representations from Brookhaven and the independent committee, but they say they could not comment on the story.