By Bert Gambini
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Legislature voted by an eight to seven margin Thursday to approve a controversial redistricting plan. The vote closely followed party lines.
Under the Democratic-sponsored plan, Orchard Park, the City of Lackawanna and Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood were all drawn into the same district. Republican Legislator Ed Rath says he confounded by the logic of a map that puts his neighbors in different districts.
"These lines are drawn down the middle of our streets," Rath said. "It is almsot laughable how much gerrymandering there is in that plan."
The plan still requires the approval of County Executive Chris Collins.
If the map fails to get Collins' signature, it's unlikely the Legislature would have the 10 votes needed to override the veto.