[EL] Ward lines and violence in Chicago?

[Douglas Johnson]

While the headline is obviously effective at gathering attention, there are some fundamental problems with the suggested cause-and-effect:

 

First, it is much more likely that these areas are moved in redistricting because they are already relatively violent areas that a councilmember no longer wants to deal with, rather than the idea that the areas become violent because they are moved in redistricting.

 

Second, the author’s own words indicate that the city’s highly questionable method of tying community service non-profits to specific councilmembers is much more to blame than redistricting:

“He also found that it was difficult for constituents to form bonds with the politicians and affiliated non-profits that could boost their anti-violence efforts. . . . “When non-profits do work, they want to make sure they’re getting good press for the alderman who helped them get funding; they sure as hell aren’t going to work in a rival’s ward,”

 

*	Doug

 

Douglas Johnson

National Demographics Corporation

310-200-2058

 <mailto:djohnson at NDCresearch.com> djohnson at NDCresearch.com

 <http://www.NDCresearch.com> www.NDCresearch.com

 

 

 

From: Law-election <law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu> On Behalf Of Rick Hasen
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2018 8:36 AM
To: Election Law Listserv <law-election at uci.edu>
Subject: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 4/13/18


 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98661> “Are Changing Ward Lines a Source of Chicago’s Violence?”


Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98661> April 12, 2018 7:05 pm by  <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> Rick Hasen

 <http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2018/Are-Changing-Ward-Lines-a-Source-of-Chicagos-Violence/> Chicago Magazine, with the subhead: “A University of Chicago sociologist is investigating the possibility that small areas, which have been shifted between wards over the years, are more prone to it—perhaps because they fall through the political cracks.”

 <https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D98661&title=%E2%80%9CAre%20Changing%20Ward%20Lines%20a%20Source%20of%20Chicago%E2%80%99s%20Violence%3F%E2%80%9D> 

Posted in  <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> Uncategorized

 

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