A map that will redraw the lines for all 180 Georgia House districts is now awaiting the signature of Governor Brian Kemp.
IMPORTANT Georgia Redistricting Update: The State Senate Approves Proposed State House Map. The vote was 32-21 with one Republican voting against, Matt Brass.
2 Democrats and 1 Republican were excused.
The new Georgia House map now goes to the governor’s desk. #gapolga pic.twitter.com/ITj4sZyYks
– Rahul Bali (@rahulbali) November 12, 2021
“There are many things wrong with this map, from violations to traditional redistribution principles from concerns about voting law as to when or not to draw majority minority districts,” said Democratic State Senator Elena Parent. “And concerns about the packing and cracking and the ability to allow communities to have the candidates of their choice.”
The maps drawn by the Republicans would allow the GOP to maintain control of the State House by giving a handful of seats to the Democrats while also making other counties more conservative.
Georgia House has yet to approve the proposed Senate card. And both bodies must agree on a plan to reorganize the 14 congressional districts of Georgia.
Republican legislature says the cards comply with suffrage laws.
Focus on Gwinnett …
Lilburn State Representative Jasmine Clark said on the podium that Democratic members of the Gwinnett Legislative Delegation have been overlooked by Republican legislation to expand the district commission and change school board elections. CREDIT: RAHUL BALI / COMB
Republicans on Thursday tabled a proposal for a state Senate committee to revise the district board in Georgia’s second largest district, the day after that same board approved changes to Gwinnett County’s school board.
Witnesses, objections and a race-based (legally unfounded) move …
Defense attorney Kevin Gough speaks to Greg McMichael and his son Travis McMichael and a neighbor, William, during the trial of the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery at the Glynn County Courthouse on Monday, November 8, 2021 in Braunschweig, Georgia. Roddie “Bryan, will be charged with the death of 25 year old Arbery in February 2020. CREDIT: SEAN RAYFORD / AP
The trial of the three men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery in Braunschweig heard more about the state’s case this week. Witnesses – mostly law enforcement – spoke about the scene that day when the jury saw graphic images of Arbery after the shooting.
Arbery was killed in February 2020, but not until the video of the incident went viral and a national outcry sparked the arrest of the men involved: Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William Bryan. The murder trial does not affect the delay and alleged cover-up after the murder.
Glynn County Police Officer Robert Rash told jurors he had responded to a series of calls about suspected intruders in the neighborhood. Prosecutors asked if he had ever represented the defendants Greg or Travis McMichael. He told her “no”.
The McMichaels claim they tried to arrest Arbery from the Citizens when Travis shot him. Witnesses and police videos show that none of the men saw Arbery on the day they chased him and, as Gregory McMichael said in one of the videos, the men “caught Arbery like a rat”.
Meanwhile, Bryan’s lawyer was criticized for a comment he made when the jury was out of the room. In a move that was ridiculed even by his own co-lawyer, Gough asked the court to limit the number of black pastors in the court after Rev. Al Sharpton briefly sat with the Arbery family.
“Obviously there are only so many pastors they can have,” said Gough. “And if Al Sharpton is from her pastor right now, that’s fine, but that’s about it. We don’t want any more black pastors coming in here … sitting with the victim’s family trying to influence the jury on this case. “
Travis McMichael’s attorney Jason Sheffield called Gough’s request “silly.”
Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley said no one had broken the court rules and that he would not exclude the public from the trial.
“I will have the court determine that if my statements were too broad yesterday, I will file a more specific motion on Monday to put these concerns in context,” Gough said a day later. “And I apologize to anyone who may have been accidentally offended.”
Not in my garden …
Atlanta NPUs weren’t thrilled with the city’s proposed changes to residential parking and single-family zoning requirements. Of 25, 18 voted against. https://t.co/pA4dn7YKyn
– Stephannie Stokes (@stephannnnie) November 8, 2021
Also in this episode …
– We are looking at a clerk from the Federal Court of Justice with an alleged history of racist texts.
– We hear from Atlanta’s mayoral candidates in the runoff election about affordable housing and how to prevent the rapid evictions in the city.
—Emil Moffatt reports on investing in electric vehicles in Georgia and how some state lawmakers are against it.
-Molly Samuel is more on her guard to protect the alligator snapping turtle.