City to Host Forums for Council Redistricting
May 11, 2011
CHARLESTON, SC – May 16 – 19, 2011 – The City of Charleston is hosting four public forums to present and discuss City Council redistrictingplans. Every ten years, the City is required to redraw itssingle-member Council district boundaries to account for any change inthe Census. The Census gives a snapshot of the City’s population; that is, the number of residents within the City limits, how many peoplereside in each part of the City (Peninsula, West Ashley, James Island,Johns Island, Daniel Island and Cainhoy) and population demographicssuch as age and race of residents. This information is used to redraw the Council districts.
The 2010 Census revealed that since 2000, Charleston has grown by 23,433 residents – more than any other city or town in South Carolina. TheCity’s Council Districts must have as close to the same number of people within each district as possible. This is in keeping with theConstitutional requirement of one person-one vote. To achieve thisrequirement several plans have been developed and discussed by CityCouncil. At several public forums to be held in the city, City staffwill present all the options and the preferred plan. Below is a listof the 5 forum dates and locations:
- May 16, Monday at 6 pm -Burke High School (cafeteria) on Fishburne Street
- May 17, Tuesday at 6 pm -Keith School on Clements Ferry Road in Cainhoy
- at 8 pm– 75 Calhoun Street – 3rd floor, main meeting room
- May 18, Wednesday at 6 pm- St Andrews Middle School (auditorium) on Wappoo Road in West Ashley
- May 19, Thursday at 7 pm -James Island Recreation Center on Quail Drive on James Island
For more information on the City’s redistricting plans, call Tim Keaneat 843-958-6473 and go to the City’s website on redistricting at www.charleston-sc.gov/redistricting.
