Northeast community leaders agree that the proposed redistricting plan would benefit some councilmen, but do little to enhance communities. "Have you listened to your own constituents?" asked Donna Spicer, a resident and a community leader of Loch Raven during her allotted two-minutes. "The Charter may give you the right to do what you've done, but is it the right thing to do?" "It was insensitive to divide us in half," said Ruth Baisden, a Parkville resident and secretary of the Greater Parkille Community Council saying it would negatively impact the current Harford Road Streetscaping Project, Joppa Corridor Study and GPCC community plan. "We are in jeopardy of falling through the cracks."

Under the redistricting plan, the majority of the Parkville community would remain in District 6 while the majority of Carney would lie in District 5. Loch Raven and Hillendale, now in District 4, would remain intact in District 5, which would also include Perry Hall. "It's almost as though the line was drawn (to divide) economic patterns," said Yvionne Paris, a customer service manager at AllFirst Bank in Parkville, referring to the line splitting Carney and Parkville last week. "Money talks. The (5th District) would have more clout." "I have a feeling that if this was polled like SB 509, it would overwhelmingly be turned down by the voting public," said Mike Rupp, president of the Carney Improvement Association.

Community leaders said working with two councilman would slow projects and require new working relationships. Other residents said last week they were unsure of the proposal's impact. "I just don't want to be in the city," said Lillian Seyda, a 42-year- old Parkville resident. "People are crazy enough in the county."

Residents at the public hearing said they would make their displeasure known at the voting booth if the plan is not revised. "May those craftily created safe seats become very uncomfortable hot seats lit by the sunshine of open government," said Spicer, who was greeted by a hefty round of applause.