Albuquerque’s new city council districts are set to take effect next week.
The new district mapping done every decade will become official Oct. 20 after Concept Map A was approved by the Albuquerque City Council in September.
There are minimal population differences with boundary changes, including:
· District 5 had to lose population. Its boundary with District 1 moves north to the bluff south of the Petroglyph Estates.
· District 2 crosses the river between Central and I-40 to Coors, taking the West Mesa and Pat Hurley neighborhoods from District 1.
· District 6 moves west into District 2 from Buena Vista to I-25 between Gibson and Lomas. District 6 also takes the University West area (including Carrie Tingley Hospital) from District 2.
· District 7 moves south into District 2 from I-40 to Lomas between I-25 and Carlisle, not including the University West area.
· District 8 moves into District 7 from Montgomery to Comanche between Wyoming and Eubank.
Council members must redistrict the city every 10 years to consider population growth to each district, as well as community density, proper minority populace representation and having a close to evenly divided number of people.
“The Council is required, in appointing a committee that ‘as nearly as is practicable’ be a fair and balanced representation of all geographical areas of the city in the redistricting process and provide a total membership that reflects the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of the city’s population,” a press release from the redistricting committee said.
The council considered two other maps, which would have made an entirely new 10th district, but the redistricting committee and majority of constituents favored the map now approved for the next 10 years.
