By Adam Kramer
Even though the population rose in Queens and New York City from 1990 to 2000, the rest of New York state did not grow as fast, which has led to the state losing two of its congressional seats in Washington.
In an effort to accommodate population shifts throughout the state, New York legislative and congressional district lines were redrawn based on the latest census population numbers over the past 10 years.
As part of the process known as redistricting, Queens has lost one congressional delegate and the districts of the remaining seven representatives have shifted.
Since 1992 the state has sent 31 people to Congress, but based on the latest census numbers the state will only have 29 people representing New York state until 2012, when the 2010 census figures will again determine the number of congressional members for each state.
Congressional seats are allocated based on population and New York state grew only by a rate of 5.5 percent, while the rest of the country expanded at a rate of 13.2 percent, according to the 2000 Census figures, which means the state was forced to give up two congressional seats for the 2002 elections.
5th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) has represented Queens since 1983 and his district was moved further into Queens as he lost all of Suffolk County. He picked up more of Bayside, a section of Whitestone, a large section of Elmhurst, a part of Corona and a section of Fresh Meadows. He gave up a sliver of Fresh Meadows around St. John’s University and Queensboro Hill.
6th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks’ (D-St. Albans) district is the only one entirely in Queens. The district picked up a small slice of Howard Beach and Richmond Hill. It lost a small section of Woodhaven and a slice of Glen Oaks and Floral Park. Meeks has represented the district since 1998.
7th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) was shifted further into the Bronx and lost a major portion of Queens. He forfeited a portion of College Point, a slice of Flushing, a part of Queensboro Hill, a sliver of Kew Gardens, a chunk of Corona, part of Middle Village and a section of Woodside. Crowley has served the borough since 1999.
9th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills) has represented Queens since 1999 and his district moved further into Queens from Brooklyn. He gained the Bayside Hills and Oakland Gardens communities. But he lost parts of Howard Beach, Ridgewood, Maspeth and Elmhurst.
12th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez’s (D-Brooklyn) district shifted deeper into Queens. The congresswoman, who has been in the House of Representatives since 1992, will now represent parts of Maspeth, Woodside and Woodhaven.
14th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) acquired a large chunk of Astoria, a slice of Sunnyside and a sliver of Woodside. The congresswoman, who has represented the borough since 1992, lost a section of Maspeth and Woodside.
15th Congressional District — U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel’s (D-Manhattan) already small section of Queens was shrunk even more with the removal of a few blocks in Steinway.
18th Congressional District 1 — U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey’s (D-Rego Park) district used to slice through Queens, but with the redistricting her small section of the borough was sliced off.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
