A busload of Chinatown and Lower East Side residents, workers and organizers converged on a public hearing on Dec. 3, demanding that New York City districting officials chart a different political future for the Lower Manhattan area. With the decennial reconfiguration of city council districts, the crucible of race, power and politics has once again stirred residents to speak out. In 1991, in response to allegations of deep-seated racial inequities in city government, the New York City Districting Commission tore up the political map, expanding the number of city council seats from 35 to 51. Smaller districts, it was hoped, would pave the way for the election of more minorities to city government. (Source: Shirley Lin, AsianWeek, Dec. 13-19, 2002).