The redistricting process is just another thing that NC leaders don’t want you to see

A reader named Marilyn said she searched our website and found no coverage on redistricting hearings. “There were 50+ people who made comments. Fair maps provide one of the most important ways of ensuring democracy, and the Republicans are getting ready to re-gerrymander. Why is this not important news?” Marilyn wrote.

State Politics Editor Jordan Schrader was quick to respond that The News & Observer posted a story two days before Marilyn’s email. (Hey, I miss our stuff, too.)

Unfortunately, we can’t assure Marilyn that fair maps will happen because hearings on redistricting won’t mean the public gets to know all the details.

Maybe democracy hasn’t died in total darkness, but state lawmakers’ abrupt change in who oversees their public documents means the black clouds have arrived. You won’t need Ray-Bans and SPF 40 to bask in North Carolina’s new sunshine law.

The new public-records provision is in effect, and as The N&O’s Kyle Ingram reported, lawmakers may not be required to fulfill any public records requests concerning new maps. (If you’re curious about redistricting, listen to Tyler Dukes’ excellent Monster podcast series as part of The N&O Under The Dome.)

The Fox-Meet-Henhouse Model

Lawmakers could start voting on redistricting in a few weeks. It feels inevitable that the folks drawing the lines won’t pay heed to the ones who showed up to the hearings. The Fox-Meet-Henhouse Model for redrawing districts doesn’t require a lot of crayons.

Still, this is important for Marilyn and thousands upon thousands of voters across party lines who believe in the North Carolina State Constitution.

Article I, Section 2 reads, “All political power is vested in and derived from the people; all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.”

Instead, Article I, Section 2 has turned into two legislatively anointed kings head-bobbing and silently screaming Queen’s “I Want It All.”

Tim Moore and Phil Berger tricking-and-treating as Freddie Mercury — try to get that image out of your head.

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now

I recently wrote about the public-records changes and the public being left in the dark. Cynics and idealists alike, take solace. Your neighbors — the ones you’ll possibly stand next to in the voting lines of the redrawn legislative and congressional districts — still sing the original lyrics of Article I, Section 2.

People want to know about the people’s business

Among the many responses we received last week:

• “The people’s business on the people’s dollar in the people’s house. It’s not fear, it’s creeping autocracy.”

• “We need to reveal the true agenda of our elected officials. And there needs to be more rock solid sunshine laws. I depend on the press to be the checks and balance especially now when the state is so politically lopsided.”

• “Unless there is business confidential information in play, the workings of the General Assembly should be documented and available to the public. The elected officials are representatives of the public who elected them. The public has a right to know what their representative is doing, what position he or she has taken on issues, what legislation they have proposed or supported, along with similar matters. Elected officials serve their constituents, not the other way around. They are not royalty with no obligation to answer to their constituents and their constituents have every right to know what their representatives are up to.”

• “I very much appreciate your editorial in (Sunday, Oct. 1, edition) N&O about the Republican effort to prevent the citizens they supposedly serve from seeing their work. My only regret is your editorial should have been above the fold on the front page.”

Lawsuits are likely after the black puff of smoke arises from the North Carolina Legislative Building, a signal that gerrymandering is nothing but a fancy way to say cronyism.

So don’t give up, Marilyn and all those others who believe that the “Redistricting Rhapsody” is about the public’s right to change the tune.

So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?

So you think you can love me and leave me to die?

Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby

Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here

Bill Church is executive editor of The News & Observer. He’s a Willie Nelson fan.

This story was originally published October 6, 2023 at 2:27 PM.

Bill Church

The News & Observer