By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Some Buffalo residents voiced opposition against a proposed reapportionment plan at a public session Wednesday night.
The plan, put together by the Erie County Legislature's Republican majority, would cut two Buffalo districts, reducing the size of the legislature from 17 to 15 districts. Vince Coppola says the city is getting the "short end of the stick".
"I'm concerned about attitudes," he said. "I have heard more than one time from suburban legislators -- 'let the city do it on its own, let the city go down the tubes, let's take over the city' -- all kinds of things like that."
Buffalo resident Wendy Pierce says the plan chops up City neighborhoods.
"The Elmwood neighborhood has been split up, plus Lindwood-Oxford, the Delaware District and parts of Allentown" Pierce said. "You've split us into four legislative districts. Why?"
The majority says the proposed reduction of the two Buffalo districts is due to a population loss in the city.