The first draft of the redistricting map.According to several media reports, a revision of the D.C. Council’s redistricting plan will make a few key changes from the initial version. In the revision, the D.C. Jail — and its 2,000 or so inmates — would be counted in Ward 7, which would allow for Ward 6 to continue to hold on to both the Hill East and Rosedale neighborhoods.
Residents of both neighborhoods were demonstrably upset with the split originally proposed by Councilmembers Jack Evans (Ward 2), Phil Mendelson (At-Large) and Michael A. Brown (At-Large). Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells had tried to hold up a vote on the plan as presented last week through a procedural technicality; though he failed that day, it appears as if Wells’ protestations helped convince his colleagues to placate his angry constituents.
The new plan will reportedly be released to the public later this afternoon, after Council Chair Kwame Brown has a chance to review it; Brown has already called for an additional meeting of the Council’s Committee of the Whole tomorrow afternoon to discuss the revised plan.
UPDATE: Here’s the new map, thanks to Lydia DePillis, who notes another huge move — the swap of the development including the Yes! Organic Market from Ward 8 to Ward 7. (One gets the feeling Mr. Barry will be less than thrilled with that move.)
