New county maps could split East Meadow three ways

Presently, Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) represents the entire East Meadow School District, with the exception of Eisenhower Park. If the county Legislature approves redrawn district maps on May 16, Gonsalves will no longer represent Salisbury and a portion of East Meadow.

Instead, according to the new maps, Legislative District No. 13 would begin on Hempstead Turnpike and stretch south through North Bellmore, North Merrick and into Bellmore. Currently, the district includes Salisbury, East Meadow and portions of North Bellmore and North Merrick.

Salisbury’s legislator would be Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), of L.D. No. 15, who represented the community from 1996 until the original maps were changed in 2001. The proposed maps also show that Dunne’s district would include the portion of East Meadow that is located north of Hempstead Turnpike, including the Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow High School and the Nassau County Correctional Center.

Also, District No. 2, represented by Robert Troiano (D-Westbury), would once again include Eisenhower Park but would also include the portion of East Meadow that is west of Merrick Avenue and stretch to the North Merrick border.

Members of the Republican majority on the Legislature, who proposed the maps, have said that the new boundaries coincide with population changes reflected in the Census.

“When you see the statistics, population and demographics are changing,” Gonsalves said. “We were obligated to do something.”

One of the major changes was the creation of what supporters call a third minority district that would give diverse communities an extra voice. That district would include parts of Valley Stream, Elmont and Inwood, among other communities.

Democrats have publicly criticized the maps, calling them politically motivated, and are expected to challenge them in court if approved by the Republican majority.

Redistricting history