4111 West 21st Place

Chicago, IL 60623
Phone: 773-521-3137

Fax: 773-522-1832

Public Testimony to the

Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard, Jimmy Lee Lard,
Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago
April 30, 2011
Revised May 4, 2011 to include final versions of proposed maps.

Good afternoon. My name is Valerie Leonard. I am a resident of North Lawndale and Co-
Founder of the Lawndale Alliance. I have with me Mr. Jimmy Lee Lard, , who is a community
activist and part of a local committee who arranged a 3-week redistricting bootcamp for West
Side residents. We are also joined by Mr. Larry McLaughlin, and Rose Santiago, local
community residents and members of the Lawndale Alliance.

The North Lawndale community is located approximately 3 miles west of the Chicago
Downtown. As of 2005, the racial composition was 93.85% African American, 5.27% Hispanic,
3.19% White, .2% Asian, and 3.58% of some other race. The community continues to struggle
with issues of high rates of poverty and unemployment, blighted commercial districts, high
crime, poor performing schools, high mortgage foreclosure rates, lack of access to decent and
affordable housing, and limited access to health care.

While we have a number of challenges, we also have a number of assets, including Douglas Park
designed by the legendary landscape architect Jens Jensen and the Historic K-Town District, one
of the largest concentrations of historic Greystone houses in the City of Chicago. The community
is held together by its history and culture, which includes block clubs, community gardening,
basketball games and gospel festivals. North Lawndale nurtured the talents of such people as
Dinah Washington, Ramsey Lewis, Otis Clay, Koko Taylor, Cicero Blake, Mark Aguire,
Darryl Stingley, Mickey Johnson and Michael Scott, to name a few.

North Lawndale covers approximately 50% of the land mass in Representative District 9, and
25% of Senate District 5. Approximately 80% of North Lawndale’s land mass is in the 24th
Ward, and the 24th Ward accounts for approximately 50% of Representative District 9’s
weighted vote, and 25% of the weighted vote for Senate District 5. North Lawndale is in the 7th
Congressional District. The voters of Representative District 9 tend to vote Democratic. We
have attached maps of the Lawndale community within the context of the City of Chicago, state
of Illinois, the 9th Legislative District and the 7th Congressional District.

The Lawndale Alliance is a neighborhood association of local residents who come together on an
ad hoc basis to address issues of concern to the community through grassroots community
organizing, advocacy and community outreach. We hold annual town hall meetings series on a
number of topics, including status reports on the financial and programmatic performance of
every TIF that impacts North Lawndale; the performance of North Lawndale schools; the pros
and cons of hosting Olympic venue in North Lawndale; and a status report on the impact of the
mortgage foreclosure crisis and the level of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding the
community received to put abandoned foreclosed properties back on the property tax rolls as
affordable housing units. We are currently working with State Representative Arthur Turner, II
and a coalition consisting of the Illinois Campaign for Accountable Redistricting (ICAR), the
Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, Empowered Citizens of North
Lawndale and the North Lawndale Community News to conduct a 3-part voter education series
focusing on the States’ redistricting process.

Concerns
Reduction in Percentage of African Americans Represented in 5th Senate District

Some elected officials have hinted that the 5th Senate District boundaries would be redrawn in a
manner that would make it more diverse. This could result in a higher percentage of Latino and
white voters and a lower percentage of African American voters. The total population for Senate
District 5 decreased only 1%. This should not require changing the boundaries to the point of
reducing the percentage of African American voters below the reported 55%.

An examination of 2010 Census data indicated that in 2000, Senate District 5 had a total of 210,497
people, with 105,248 residing in Representative District 9 and 105,249 residing in Representative
District 10. In 2010, Representative District 9 grew to 112,861, while Representative District 10’s
population decreased to 95,447. The total decrease for Senate District 5 was only 1%, which should
not require gerrymandering to the point of diluting the African American percentage beyond the
current 55%. The 2010 Census indicates that Illinois population was 12,830,632 in 2010. This
would suggest that each new representative district would have 108,734 people. This would mean that
Representative District 9’s boundaries could be drawn to reduce its population by 4,127 people and
Representative District 10’s boundaries should be drawn to increase its boundaries by 13,287 people, and
the Senate District 5 boundaries should be drawn to increase its total population by 9,160. We
respectfully request that the Senate Redistricting Committee consider redrawing the boundaries such that
the overage from Representative District 9 be applied to District 10, and the remaining 9,160 come from
other Representative Districts, with an eye towards maintaining a district that is 55% African American.

% Change
Change from from Target District Overage/
2000 2010 2000-2010 2000-2010 Population Shortage
Representative District 9 105,248 112,861 7,613 7.2% 108,734 4,127
Representative District10 105,249 95,447 (9,802) -9.3% 108,734 (13,287)
Senate District 5 (Total) 210,497 208,308 (2,189) -1.04% 217,468 (9,160)

2|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
Treatment of Prisoners in Census Count

Under current law, incarcerated persons are not counted in the Census numbers of the
community from which they originate, but in the populations of the towns in which they are
incarcerated. As a result, the Census numbers in Chicago for African Americans is significantly
undercounted, while the numbers in some Downstate communities is inflated. On top of that,
representatives from the districts in which the prisoners are incarcerated have a history of voting
against legislation that will enhance education, job training and rehabilitation of prisoners. In
effect, prisoners have no representation, and this is a clear violation of the “one man, one vote”
principle, upheld by the Supreme Court in 1964.

On the other hand, legislators from the prisoners’ originating communities tend to be the ones
advocating for improved education and rehabilitation services for prisoners who are not counted
in their districts’ population. To add insult to injury, Downstate towns are receiving entitlement
funds for Community Development Block Grants and Social Service Block Grants that benefit
their communities, but not the prisoners. When the prisoners return home their originating
communities are the ones who must help them transition by providing housing, job training and
other social services. Unfortunately, the originating communities don’t get their full share of
funding because the prisoners were counted in the Downstate town’s Census statistics. We
respectfully request that the Legislature support legislation to ensure that prisoners are included
in the Census counts from their originating communities.

Loss of Congressional Seat

Because the State of Illinois’ population grew at a slower rate than most states in the country, we
will be losing a Congressional seat. Chicago’s three Congressional Districts headed by African
Americans have each lost population and must expand boundaries. There have also been
proposals to eliminate one of the districts. It should be noted that African Americans, as a
percentage of Chicago’s population was reduced by less than 1 percent. It should also be
reiterated that our numbers are significantly undercounted due to the numbers of African
Americans incarcerated in Downstate prisons.

We respectfully request that any new boundaries be drawn to protect the voting rights of African
Americans by maximizing the likelihood that we continue to be represented an African
American in each of the districts currently led by African American members of the Illinois
Delegation. We also request that the lines be drawn to enhance the chances of one of the
districts being represented by an African American from the West Side of Chicago.

Desire to Keep North Lawndale Community Intact

Currently, the entire North Lawndale Community, as defined by Chicago Community Area 29, is
located in the 9th Legislative District and the 7th Congressional District. We respectfully request
that the Senate Redistricting Committee keep the community intact to ensure that the special
needs of our community are addressed by a single legislator. We have heard testimony from
social service providers from other communities indicating the level of confusion caused by
delivering services to a client base with multiple legislators and other local government officials.

3|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
We have provided maps of the North Lawndale community, Illinois State Representative District
9 and the 7th Congressional District for your convenience.

Proposal
We are working with United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations and a broad-
based coalition of African-American, Latino and Asian organizations to develop a “Unity Map”
proposing new African-American, Latino and Asian-American majority and influence districts
across Illinois. We have attached drafts of proposed maps for 4 majority African American
districts on Chicago’s West Side. Generally speaking the African American populations in the
proposed districts are in the 57% range, with voting age percentages in the 50%-52% range. We
are in the process of soliciting a final round of public feedback with a goal of optimizing the
African American population in each of the 4 districts, while keeping community areas intact to
the fullest extent possible. The neighboring Latino communities were also taken into account
when these maps were prepared.

The coalition will host a press conference to release a statewide map that takes into account the
federal and state voting rights of minority communities on Monday, May 2. The maps will also
be presented at the Senate Redistricting Committee hearing to be held later that day. We have
attached copies of the proposed maps with the understanding that they will be changed this
weekend, subject to further public input and the need to optimize opportunities for minorities to
elect candidates of their choice.

In closing, we thank you for your time and consideration, and hosting this public forum. If you
have any questions, feel free to contact Valerie F. Leonard at 773-521-3137 or
valeriefleonard@msn.com.

4|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
 North Lawndale Community

5|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
6|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
7|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
 Chicago-Westside Region Legislative Map
The overall situation is that although there was significant Black population loss, there is still enough Black population to
draw four majority-Black districts on the west side. These districts will have lower percentages than past districts—all
around 57 percent. In general, the areas included in these four districts are needed to keep these percentages as high as
possible—but the lines of the individual districts within this area are more flexible. So, any feedback on these lines
would be great.

Source: United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations.

8|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
 Potential Majority-Black House District: West Side
BN1 (This is currently Turner’s District)

LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN

DISTRICT POPULATION LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN 18+ 18+ 18+ 18+

BN1 108734 8.00% 26.17% 56.62% 7.35% 7.75% 31.13% 50.69% 8.69%

Source: United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations

9|Page Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting
Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
 Potential Majority-Black House District: West Side
BN2 (This is currently Smith’s (formerly Collins’) District)

LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN

DISTRICT POPULATION LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN 18+ 18+ 18+ 18+

BN2 108734 15.81% 23.62% 56.97% 2.07% 14.78% 28.56% 52.79% 2.50%

Source: United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations

10 | P a g e Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting

Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
 Potential Majority-Black House District: West Side
BN3 (This is currently Ford’s District)

LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN

DISTRICT POPULATION LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN 18+ 18+ 18+ 18+

BN3 108736 5.77% 32.21% 57.52% 2.52% 5.16% 34.29% 56.40% 2.75%

Source: United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations

11 | P a g e Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting

Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011
 Potential Majority-Black House District: West Side
BN4 (This is currently Yarbrough’s District)

LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN

DISTRICT POPULATION LATINO WHITE BLACK ASIAN 18+ 18+ 18+ 18+

BN4 108733 17.22% 22.99% 56.47% 1.90% 14.78% 25.96% 56.11% 2.09%

Source: United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations

12 | P a g e Public Testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Special Committee on Redistricting

Presented by Valerie F. Leonard ,Jimmy Lee Lard, Larry McLaughlin and Rose Santiago April 30, 2011