The legislature’s Special Joint Committee on Redistricting held a hearing today for those within the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District, which includes Fall River. The panel is tasked with re-working the boundaries of the nine House districts of Congress along with the 160 House and 40 Senate districts within the State Legislature based on the results of the 2020 U.S. Census.
Fall River is currently split between the districts of Congressman Jake Auchincloss and Congressman William Keating.
Mayor Paul Coogan testified in favor of keeping the city split between the two districts, citing the importance of having two champions advocating on Fall River’s behalf in Washington, DC.
Others see unifying the city under one congressman as a better option. Sophie Kripp from the Coalition for Social Justice says splitting the city between two congressional districts lessens its impact to make lasting change.
Fall River resident Sandra Carreiro says combining Fall River and New Bedford into the Ninth District will pair together two similar working-class communities to benefit the SouthCoast.
The special committee is still gathering testimony and will be making recommendations to redraw the congressional districts by the end of the year.
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