Residents of Houston’s first historically Black community, founded by ex-slaves, notched a victory this month in a debate over redistricting the city’s 11 council districts.
Houston’s City Council this month approved an amendment to its redistricting plan that keeps Freedmen’s Town, located in historic Fourth Ward, in District C. It had been part of a plan to be incorporated into neighboring District H, which has seen a population decline, compared to other districts – such as District C.
District H, meantime, was among three districts to have lost constituents, including Districts I and J. By law, the most populous district cannot have more than 10 percent additional residents than the smallest district. Residents took those questions to a city council meeting on Oct. 11, during which they voiced concerns about the proposal and why they felt it was a setback for Freedmen’s Town.
Escobar said the push in Freedmen’s Town was not to kick out any other neighborhood — they simply wanted to preserve their own.