2021-09-09 Redistricting Commission minutes (2nd Session)

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JONES: Right. That would be the census itself, but that’s a good idea. I could put something online, a reference, that might be simplier to use than going to the census.gov site. But I’ll give it a look and see. Thanks for that feedback. HUSTACE: Thank you. KOSSOW: Any other questions from the Commission? Mr. Hustace. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. When we’re looking at the block groups that are the blocks, I think they’re the blocks, around—that go into the ocean basically. And if we are changing those blocks, and block groups, on our maps that abut the ocean but they may cause like a uncontiguous, you know, they break up the different boundaries between the disticts, we may get an error. How do we deal with something like that? JONES: Yeah, it shouldn’t. I’d be interested to see if there was a case. Usually I've been able to figure out a way to select the appropriate blocks. But you’re right, everything’s got to be assigned to a block. Even those ocean blocks that are there and have zero population, they still need to be assigned to a district. So generally, it doesn’t matter, like if the one right off shore is a different color. But you don’t want little pieces off shore because you’re right, then it would trigger that error message. It would not pass the intergrity test. But I’ve always been able to figure out a way around it. If you could somehow get a screenshot to Pat or somebody who could get it on to me, I’d be glad to look at it and see if I can help you figure it out. But yeah, those ocean blocks are—each one does have to be assigned to a district. It seems strange but that’s just the way it is, so yeah. HUSTACE: Thank you, Mr. Jones. Yeah it’s just when you zoom into that block level, the ocean blocks don’t necessarily line up with the ones that are on there. JONES: Right. Yeah, I know, yeah. That’s where I’m getting plenty where the block offshore overlaps two different districts. So it’s got to be one color or the other ‘cause we don’t split blocks. And so I just choose, kind of, the dominant one in the area and just go with that. That shouldn’t cause it to trigger an error message. But certainly if you ended up with little pieces out in the ocean that weren’t the same, then that certainly would. HUSTACE: Thank you, Mr. Jones. KOSSOW: Any further questions for Mr. Jones? (No response from Commissioners.) Ms. Ford, I’ll come to you in just a second. Mr. Jones, I just have a quick question. I know that there’s some blocks that kind of um—or I’m looking at one for example, right now. I’ll just explain it to you. It kind of goes around a certain community. What I’ll do is, I’ll screenshot this to you. But, in those cases, is that typically normal? I mean this is just one example. I haven’t done the entire island yet. JONES: There are some very strangely shaped census blocks. As I’ve been going through, looking at things, that kind of curl around areas. It's like, why did they make it 23