Latino Caucus forges alliance with ‘people’s commission’ on new ward map

City Council members at the December meeting at which a proposed map, backed by the Council’s Black Caucus, was distributed. That map has not been voted on by the full council, and an alternative map, crafted by the Latino Caucus, has been altered based on input from CHANGE Illinois, which had created an independent commission and drawn its own “people’s map.” Now CHANGE Illinois has endorsed the amended Latino Caucus map. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The once-a-decade process of redrawing Chicago’s ward boundaries based on the latest census data took a dramatic turn on Wednesday with potential to tip the scales in a voter referendum — even if it changes no City Council votes.

The Latino Caucus forged an alliance with the CHANGE Illinois Action Fund and what it called its “people’s commission” after making 10 changes to accommodate the independent mapmaking group’s demand to keep “key communities from being significantly splintered.”