Whose District Is It Anyway?

Posted December 3, 2013 at 5:57pm

The first years after the decennial redistricting can be confusing for everyone. Case in point? Consider the situation of our CQ Roll Call colleague Frank Oliveri, a Bronx, N.Y., native who was talking Tuesday with Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., about the weekend’s deadly Metro North train crash.

Rangel, who knows his new district. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo.) — Rangel, who knows his new district. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rangel told Oliveri he was surprised that the train lacked automatic breaks. The two proceeded to the House subway and were joined by another New York Democrat, Rep. Jerrold Nadler. Rangel informed Nadler, as he had told Oliveri moments before, that the crash happened in Rangel’s district.

“Serrano told me it was in his district,” Nadler said, referring to another New York Democrat, Rep. José E. Serrano.

“Well, he’s wrong,” Rangel said.

“Redistricting,” Nadler said.

“Redistricting,” Rangel said.

And the train went down the line.