Veto Miami’s redistricting map, Mayor Suarez. Why wouldn’t you protect Coconut Grove’s Black residents? | Editorial

Who truly benefits from Miami’s redrawn district maps?

Is it Commissioner Joe Carollo, who would be allowed to legally reside at his longtime home?

Is it Commissioner Christine King, who would hold onto downtown property slated to be developed into a luxury real-estate deal?

Is it Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, whose district would pick up more waterfront property along the Miami River?

Or the residents of the city of Miami?

These are the questions Mayor Francis Suarez should ask before he decides whether to sign off on the map the commission passed March 24 redrawing the city’s five political districts. Suarez has 10 days from that date to decide whether to veto the map. The redistricting process is required every decade to adjust political boundaries according to population changes in the U.S. Census.

If Suarez asks those questions, a veto should be the only answer.

As of Thursday, he hadn’t yet announced a decision, and his spokeswoman told the Herald Editorial Board he’s analyzing the map.

At stake is the future political representation of Miami’s oldest neighborhood, Coconut Grove and its historic Black population. Despite making up a relatively small area population, the Grove has exercised muscular political influence. That’s thanks, in part, to the fact the entire Grove currently is contained within District 2, represented by Commissioner Ken Russell. Residents also are among the most engaged in the city in their fight to preserve the area’s historic character and green areas.

Under the redistricting plan, the Grove would be split into three districts — and further dilute Black residents’ political heft. That would force residents to go before three different commissioners with different philosophies to be heard on issues. It means they would make up a smaller and less powerful share of the electorate in those districts.

The new map would move 100 Black households in the West Grove to District 4 — a big blow for a community that’s at risk of displacement by gentrification.

Another Grove section called Natoma Manors, where Carollo has owned a home for 20 years, would move to his District 3. Currently, Carollo cannot live in that house without running afoul of rules that require him to legally reside in District 3. Changing his district’s boundaries would allow him to leave a rental in Little Havana and move back.

Is it just a coincidence that the redistricted boundaries of District 3 shoot out like an appendix to cover Carollo’s old house? In Miami politics, such coincidences aren’t usually the case.

The NAACP sent a letter to Suarez requesting a veto, stating that, “We have a duty to protect our democracy and prevent unfair redistricting plans that pose a threat to equal representation under the law.” The consultants the city hired to redraw the districts say they complied with the federal Voting Rights Act.

Whether or not there’s a legal argument to be made, shouldn’t be Suarez’s only concern.

Coconut Grove residents have organized into a grassroots group called “One Grove,” shown up en masse to commission hearings and gathered 2,200 petition signatures against the plan. They are upset that the public input portion of the process appears to be a sham — and they are right to be. Why should they trust the commission when they have faced what they called “a disgraceful circus of shaming” by Carollo and Diaz de la Portilla in public meetings? Berating citizens from the dais have been these two commissioners’ MO for too long.

If Suarez wants to send a strong message, he should use his veto power to pressure the commission to increase the number of city districts. Miami’s population grew from just under 400,000 in 2010 to more than 442,000 in 2020, and fast growth in District 2 prompted the city’s consultants to split the Grove. Five commissioners aren’t enough to provide adequate representation in a burgeoning city. Cities of similar size like Atlanta have more representatives.

The Miami City Commission had a chance to go that route early in the process, but chose not to. Why would they when it would dilute their own power? That’s the problem with this redistricting process — it appears to be more about power than representing Miamians.