Baltimore Redistricting Meeting Shifted From Sabbath

By JTA August 11, 2011

A hearing to discuss political redistricting in the Baltimore area was rescheduled to accommodate Jewish Sabbath observers.

Twelve public meetings were scheduled throughout the state to allow input from residents into the congressional and legislative redistricting. The two meetings in the Baltimore area both conflicted with Shabbat.

The meeting scheduled for Aug. 12 was moved from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Shabbat starts at about 7:30. A second meeting will be held on a Saturday at the end of the month.

“There is enough time to testify and get home or go to synagogue” before the Sabbath begins, Linda Janey, assistant secretary for communications at the state Department of Planning, said in a news release posted on Citybizlist.

Testimony in the form of an e-mail is also permitted. The Maryland Legislature will hold a special session on redistricting the week of Oct. 17.

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