For Immediate Release: Monday, May 15, 2023

Contact: Jacqueline Celestino, Director of Communications & External Relations

E: jacqueline.celestino@boston.gov
P: 617-594-6934

COUNCILOR KENDRA LARA FILES REDISTRICTING MAP IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL COURT ORDER

BOSTON – On May 8, 2023, the City of Boston received a decision from the United States District Court for the
District of Massachusetts enjoining the City from using the recently approved City Council district map. In a ruling
handed down by Judge Saris, the court found that although the Boston City Council acted in good faith in trying to
comply with complex voting rights laws, the council likely violated the Equal Protections Act and instructed the
Boston City Council to draw district lines using the traditional redistricting principles of compactness, contiguity,
preservation of communities of interest, preservation of cores of prior districts and in adherence to the Constitution.

As they stand, the current City Council districts do not pass the ‘one man, one vote’ test as required by the Supreme
Court due to overpopulation in District 2 and underpopulation in District 3, requiring that district lines be redrawn.
This map solved this constitutional violation by ensuring that the majority of the population shifted into District 3
came from District 2. This map keeps historically unified communities within districts intact and further unifies
communities of interest where possible.

“The Boston City Council is on a tight timeline to redraw our district lines in response to the ruling by Judge Saris.
The ruling outlines the findings and gives the Council clear direction for making changes. Given that we are a short
time away from an election, it's in the best interest of our constituents and the democratic process that we adhere to
the court order in the least disruptive way. This map does exactly that,” said Councilor Kendra Lara.

The map unifies South Boston into one district, maintains Cedar Grove and Adams Village in District Three, and
unifies Lower Mills, Little Saigon, and West Roxbury. It keeps Jamaica Plain whole and combines Roslindale into two
council districts instead of three. Mission Hill remains in District 8, as it has historically, and Egleston Square
remains in District 6. It accomplishes all this while adhering to traditional redistricting principles, the Voting Rights
Act, the Constitution, and Judge Saris’ order.

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