Matt Nosanchuk recently testified before the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission at two hearings regarding the future composition and boundaries of the state’s 10th Congressional District. Following the review of congressional districts based on the results of the 2020 census, there are proposals to redraw the 10th district, which has encompassed the West Side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn for 40 years, and make it into a district that incorporates parts of Manhattan’s East and West Sides. This could lead a reduction in the number of Manhattan Congressional districts and would dramatically change the character of the district. Matt testified against the proposal and in favor of maintaining the district largely as it has been for 40 years. The 10th district has the largest Jewish population of any congressional district in the United States. Representative Jerry Nadler, a member of the NYJA Leaders Network, currently represents the district. Leaving the 10th Congressional district intact and encompassing the West Side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn will ensure that the New York Jewish community maintains a voice in Congress, especially at a time when antisemitism is on the rise. It is extremely important that Jewish voices continue to lead at all levels, and uplift the voices of our community.
Please read or watch Matt’s testimony below to gain a greater understanding of this important issue.
Testimony from Monday, July 25, 2021
Good afternoon. My name is Matt Nosanchuk, and I am an attorney and the President and co-founder of the New York Jewish Agenda — or NYJA — a nonprofit organization founded in March 2020, that is committed to advocacy and education on behalf of liberal, mainstream Jews in New York City and State. NYJA represents the values and views of the majority of New York’s Jews. We support social justice and key domestic priorities, a democratic Israel, a just, negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and efforts to combat rising antisemitism.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to testify in strong support of maintaining the current district lines, and come before you today to urge the Redistricting Commission to keep the Manhattan portion of the 10th Congressional District (or “New York 10”) centered on the city’s West Side.
New York 10 is a congressional district with great historical, social, and political significance, especially to its Jewish community. It is the only congressional district in the U.S. with a Jewish majority, and it also happens to be located in the city with the largest Jewish population in the world.
The district has been drawn the same way for 40 years. As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
We cannot let the political, communal, and cultural significance of the district be erased by a redistricting proposal that would wipe out a district that makes geographic and political sense, and is an easily identifiable, historical, social, and political entity. New York 10 aligns with the many ways that the city is presently organized, including, for example, preserving the contiguity of community boards in the district, and mirroring the existing transportation routes, police districts, and other shared community facilities.
Our position is informed further by our own presence in the district. NYJA organizes Jewish leaders who share our values and priorities, including a number of leading elected officials. Our NYJA Leaders Network, which numbers more than 100, includes the 10th district’s current Representative, Jerry Nadler, a leading voice representing liberal, mainstream Jewish New Yorkers in the U.S. Congress. He has ably represented all of New York 10’s Jewish constituents, no matter their race, ethnicity, denomination, gender, or generation. New York 10 also includes a number of other NYJA Leaders, board members and co-founders, myself included (I live in Hell’s Kitchen), as well as Dan Cohen, who testified before me. At NYJA, we recognize that the safety of New York’s Jewish population depends on the kind of representation we’re fortunate to have in New York 10, and our ongoing ability to organize as a community.
In the past few years, New York’s Jewish community has seen the number of Jewish elected officials representing them shrink. This is especially true in New York’s congressional delegation. At a time when increased antisemitism has threatened the safety and well-being of our communities, it is critical that we ensure that Jewish voices are present at every level of leadership in our city and state.
As the president of NYJA, I know that our community is most empowered when we are organized and unified. New York 10 ensures protection and representation for all Jewish New Yorkers.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today.
Testimony fromThursday, July 29, 2021
Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Commission today. My name is Matt Nosanchuk, and I am an attorney and the President and co-founder of the New York Jewish Agenda — or NYJA — a nonprofit organization founded in March 2020 that is committed to advocacy and education on behalf of liberal, mainstream Jews in New York City and State. The NYJA network reflects the religious, racial, ethnic, and generational diversity of New York City’s Jewish community, and it represents the values and views of the majority of New York’s Jews. We support social justice and key domestic priorities, a democratic Israel, a just, negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and efforts to combat rising antisemitism.
I am here to urge the Redistricting Commission to retain the current district lines of the 10th Congressional District (or “New York 10”) situated not only in Manhattan’s West Side, but in West Brooklyn as well.
New York 10 is a congressional district with great historical, social, and political significance, especially to its Jewish community. It is the only congressional district in the U.S. with a Jewish majority, and it also happens to be located in the city with the largest Jewish population in the world. As it is currently drawn, New York 10 encompasses many significant, diverse Jewish communities.
The current layout of the district combines areas such as the Upper West Side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, the borough that has been called “the most Jewish place in America” having the largest Jewish population of any in the city. These are areas rich in Jewish religious and cultural life and include neighborhoods like Borough Park, which is home to one of the largest communities of Orthodox Jews outside Israel. As a political and cultural advocate for the diversity of New York’s Jewish community, I believe that the current configuration of the district benefits both its constituents and elected representatives.
We cannot let the political, communal, and cultural significance of the district be erased by a redistricting proposal that would wipe out a district that makes geographic and political sense, and is an easily identifiable, historical, social, and political entity. New York 10 aligns with the many ways that the city is presently organized, including, for example, preserving the contiguity of community boards in the district, and mirroring the existing transportation routes, police districts, and other shared community facilities.
It therefore makes political and geographic sense that the district has been drawn the same way for 40 years. As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Our position is informed further by our own presence in the district. NYJA organizes Jewish leaders who share our values and priorities, including a number of leading elected officials. Our NYJA Leaders Network, which numbers more than 100, includes the 10th district’s current Representative, Jerry Nadler, a leading voice representing liberal, mainstream Jewish New Yorkers in the U.S. Congress. He has ably represented all of New York 10’s Jewish constituents, no matter their race, ethnicity, denomination, gender, or generation. New York 10 also includes a number of other NYJA Leaders, board members and co-founders. NYJA recognizes that the safety and ongoing ability to organize as a community of New York’s Jewish population depends on the kind of representation we’re fortunate to have in New York 10.
In the past few years, New York’s Jewish community has seen the number of Jewish elected officials representing them shrink. This is especially true in New York’s congressional delegation. At a time when increased antisemitism has threatened the safety and well-being of our communities, it is critical that we ensure that Jewish voices are present at every level of leadership in our city and state.
As the president of NYJA, I know that our community is most empowered when we are organized and unified. New York 10 ensures protection and representation for all Jewish New Yorkers.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today.
