USANewsOnline.Com : South Asian neighborhoods were widely acknowledged to be the most gerrymandered in New York State.  The Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL) has been at the forefront of fighting for the welfare and advancement of its members and their diverse communities, and overcome this problem, and has worked tirelessly for decades to raise awareness of the impacts of gerrymandering on this vibrant South Asian diasporas.

ASAAL members, led by Richmond Hill Chapter President Albert Baldeo, spent hours organizing, researching, collecting data, drawing maps, collaborating with other groups, presenting public testimony, and publishing countless articles and press releases advocating for South Asian districts for the NY State Assembly, State Senate and US Congress.

In collaboration with other groups like the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, and Latino Justice PRLDEF, ASAAL convinced the historic Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to draw the requested community district lines for both the Assembly and State Senate, as indelibly compact and contiguous communities of interest.

However, IRC’s inability to agree on one (1) set of maps, caused the State legislature to draw its own lines. ASAAL’s continued hopes and resilient efforts resulted in the proposal of seven (7) South Asian Assembly districts, most more than capable of electing a South Asian to represent each district, others in alliance with other groups:

--AD 25: 35% South Asian (60% Asian): Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens

--AD 24: 35% South Asian (38% Asian): Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Hillside

--AD 26: 32% South Asian (42% Asian): Glen Oaks, Little Neck, Bayside

--AD 39: 30% South Asian (35% Asian): Jackson Heights, Corona

--AD 22: 20% South Asian (21% Asian): Bellerose, Floral Park, South Floral Park

--AD 33: 18% South Asian (20% Asian): Queens Village, Hollis, Bellaire

--AD 30: 12% South Asian (52% Asian): Elmhurst, Woodside

ASAAL’s dedication also resulted in the configuration of State Senate seats with substantial South Asian populations in:

--SD 11: 40% South Asian (58% Asian): Glen Oaks, Murray Hill

--SD 17: 30% South Asian (32% Asian): Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, LIC

--SD 15: 25% South Asian (26% Asian): Ozone Park, Richmond Hill

--SD 16: 25% South Asian (42% Asian): Fresh Meadows, Bellerose, Floral Park

--SD 14: 22% South Asian (25% Asian): Queens Village, Hollis

--SD 12: 20% South Asian (22% Asian): Astoria, Jackson Heights

ASAAL will also continue to fight for all South Asians in every arena of government and society and is ready to fight for similar City Council seats. We will not stop until our voices are heard, valued, and respected.