Last week city council chairperson, Kema Dawson, voted for a rezoning map that will water down the representation of Blacks on the Monroe City Council for the next ten years. That was a terrible decision.
Dawson cast the deciding vote to approve a redistricting map that will make it difficult for the growing large number of blacks moving into North Monroe to have a voice on the Monroe City Council.
It began as a trickle 20 years ago, but thousands of Blacks have moved from South Monroe into North Monroe.
According to the 2020 census, over 1000 blacks have moved into North Monroe since 2010. They are buying homes in neighborhoods once occupied by whites who leave the city for West Monroe and the parish.
Last week Gretchen Ezernack, who represents one of the two Northside districts on the council, said more than 1,500 southside blacks have moved into her formerly predominately white district.
It’s happening citywide; blacks are moving into formerly all-white neighborhoods as whites move out.
That sets up the problem, although Blacks are presently the majority of the area covered by District 2, Dawson worked with Northside council members to configure maps that make it more difficult for that majority to be reflected on the council.
The issue was so sensitive that many leaders in our community attended three community meetings to urge Dawson and others representing the Black community on the council to reject any redistricting plan that would not fairly represent the black migration into North Monroe.
Leaders of The Black Chamber of Commerce, church groups, the NAACP, and the Southside Economic Development District appeared at meetings and literally begged Dawson and other Black council leaders not to adopt watered-down maps.
The pleas were passionate, heartfelt, and serious. The leaders felt the future of one citizen-one-vote was at stake,
Dawson even went as far as to ask the community not to speak about race at the meetings. That was almost impossible because redistricting involves political power for a political party or racial demographic.
Had Dawson listened to her constituents, the thousands of North Monroe blacks would have had a better chance at representation in 2024. Dawson’s decision makes it harder for our people in the short term. If the trend continues, it won’t be an issue six years from now because of migration patterns.
Council representatives Carday Marshal and Juanita Woods had initially indicated support for the approved plan, but that was before they heard from their districts.
Marshall and Woods met with the NAACP, and Dawson was invited but did not attend. However, they all attended community meetings.
The issue was so important that our community spoke with one voice in opposition to the Dawson plan.
Last week Marshall and Woods said they pledged to represent their constituents regardless of their personal opinions; they voted no.
Dawson made the same pledge but ignored the advice of ministers, business leaders, state legislators, and economic leaders.
When Dawson looked her constituents in the face and ignored their pleas, jaws dropped, and heads shook in disbelief.
As president of the city council, Dawson had the power to draw the maps to reflect our population in North Monroe; instead, she used her power against her own people.
On the council, she has announced opposition to providing loans and help for Southside DBEs. She’s been excessively critical of the Southside Dream of fighting crime and safe neighborhoods. She uses police power to eject female dissenters from meetings. Now, redistricting is added to her list.
She says she is a friend of our community.
With friends like Dawson, who needs enemies?
