JP Split Between Two Congressional Districts

Starting in 2012, JP will be split more radically between two Congressional districts, with much more of the neighborhood in what is now Congressman Stephen Lynch's district.

It's part of an historic redistricting plan that was approved Tuesday by the state House (124-29) and Wednesday by the State Sentate (31-6, according to the Associated Press). The bill is expected to be signed by the governor.

Acting on concerns from some JP residents that Lynch is too conservative for the JP electorate, JP's legislative delegation had made three last-ditch amendments. One, sponsored by State Rep. Liz Malia (D-Boston) would have kept all of JP in the district now represented by Congressman Michael Capuano. The other, sponsored by State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, would have switching precincts between the district held by Capuano and the 4th District, now represented by Barney Frank (D). In the Senate, Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz filed an amendment similar to that of Malia.

Chang-Díaz has been a key leader in the redistricting process, as vice chairman of the commitee that made the initial proposal.

None of the three amendements sponsored by JP legislators passed. In the end, both Malia and Sánchez voted "yes" for the redistricting plan even though their amendments were not included.

On Tuesday Malia had said prospects for her amendment were very uncertain. She signalled that many JP residents might need to get ready to be in Lynch's district.

"Political discourse is made much richer when people on one side of the fence have make arguments [to those on another side]," she said in a phone interview with Patch.

Malia said that redistricting has been handled very well and is something the state can be proud off — even if some individual communities don't get everything they want.

"In the big picture, the entire package is so important and so well done," said Malia.

Both Malia and Sánchez had said a top priority was to preserve a strong "majority minority" district, the new 7th.

Here are the wards/precincts that will go from what is now Capuano's district to what is now Lynch's district:

Ward 11 — 9, 10
Ward 19 — Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

If you don't remember your precinct, you can look it up on the city's web site: http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/voter/

Roughly speaking, these precincts are in Jamaica Hills, Forest Hills, Central JP, the Pond and a bit of Hyde Square.

[Editor's note: On the attached maps, ward and precinct numbers are hard to read. I recommend downloading the original map from the state if you want better resolution.]