Why is the congressional map in NYC so ugly?

[muon2]

The map was done by court order. The NYC districts were influenced by submissions to the court from a coalition of minority groups to protect their communities of interest.

[muon2]

Here was a version I put together as part of a statewide plan when the court was considering submissions. It maintains 3 black majority CDs, increases the number of Hispanic CDs over 50%, and has a an Asian plurality CD somewhat weaker. It avoids the Borough Park-Manhattan link.



VAPs for major groups:

QUEENS
CD 5 (Flushing) W 43.4%, A 33.9%
CD 6 (S Jamaica) B 50.4%
CD 7 (Corona) H 59.4%

BROOKLYN/STATEN ISLAND
CD 8 (Borough Park) W 55.7% A 23.4%
CD 9 (Staten Island) W 67.1%
CD 10 (East NY) W 23.6%, B 50.2%
CD 11 (Flatbush) W 30.6%, B 50.3%

MANHATTAN/BRONX
CD 12 (Manhattan) W 64.2%
CD 13 (Harlem) B 28.2%, H 52.1%
CD 14 (Triboro) W 54.1%, H 23.8%
CD 15 (South Bronx) B 29.3%, H 63.1%

[muon2]

Here was a version I put together as part of a statewide plan when the court was considering submissions. It maintains 3 black majority CDs, increases the number of Hispanic CDs over 50%, and has a an Asian plurality CD somewhat weaker. It avoids the Borough Park-Manhattan link.



VAPs for major groups:

QUEENS
CD 5 (Flushing) W 43.4%, A 33.9%
CD 6 (S Jamaica) B 50.4%
CD 7 (Corona) H 59.4%

BROOKLYN/STATEN ISLAND
CD 8 (Borough Park) W 55.7% A 23.4%
CD 9 (Staten Island) W 67.1%
CD 10 (East NY) W 23.6%, B 50.2%
CD 11 (Flatbush) W 30.6%, B 50.3%

MANHATTAN/BRONX
CD 12 (Manhattan) W 64.2%
CD 13 (Harlem) B 28.2%, H 52.1%
CD 14 (Triboro) W 54.1%, H 23.8%
CD 15 (South Bronx) B 29.3%, H 63.1%

Could I see the party numbers for your 8th district? Just out of curiosity.

The estimated PVIs for all the districts are at link in my post. In 2008 McCain won my CD 8 by 50.5% to 48.7%, but turnout was a very small 165K votes. The DRA partisan values (from some set of statewide elections) for that CD is D 56.4% - R 45.6%.