Two dueling maps are aiming to redraw Chicago’s political battle lines, and both upset the apple cart for aldermen in the South Loop, adding new politicians to the dense area’s mix.

One map, led by the council’s Hispanic Caucus and independents, adds two new aldermen to the South Loop, splitting the neighborhood between a total of four representatives in city council. Another, submitted by the council’s Black Caucus and old-school Democrats, would keep the South Loop mainly in two wards, save for a few small slices.

The neighborhood’s massive population boom in the last 10 years made the 2nd Ward one of the few in the city that gained population, while most others lost people. Though it’s often used as a political tool, the remap’s goal is ostensibly to balance out the population between the wards.

The Hispanic Caucus’s map would divvy up the South Loop, which right now is almost entirely represented by Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd), with the exception of a sliver represented by Pat Dowell (4th).

As a result, the South Loop was prime to be split up, and it has been. In the Hispanic Caucus’ map, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) moves south from downtown to claim the neighborhood east of State Street but north of Roosevelt Road. Ald. Will Burns (4th) moves north from Hyde Park and Bronzeville to claim the entire neighborhood south of Roosevelt.

Fioretti maintains only a sliver of the neighborhood, keeping the South Loop west of State and north of Roosevelt — essentially Printers Row and part of Dearborn Park.

The West Loop, University Village and Pilsen are mostly unaffected in the Hispanic map, with the same faces (27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett, 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis and Fioretti) but boundaries slightly shifted.

The Black Caucus’ map divides the South Loop mainly into two wards — the 3rd and the 4th — but it most notably boots Fioretti’s 2nd Ward out of the South and West Loop entirely, shifting it up to Lake View and the North Side.

Instead, Fioretti’s home on the Near West Side is connected via a slim tendril to the 11th Ward in Bridgeport, a seat currently held by Ald. James Balcer. The 28th Ward now snakes in from the Far West Side to grab a chunk of Pilsen and the Near West Side, as well.

The Hispanic map’s makers have dubbed it the taxpayer protection map because they believe it can withstand legal scrutiny. In addition to the Hispanic Caucus, aldermen John Pope (10th), James Balcer (11th), Marty Quinn (13th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Michele Smith (43rd), John Arena (45th) and James Cappleman (46th) have signed off on it.

It does eliminate two majority black wards, while adding three majority Hispanic wards; it also moves Ald. Willie Cochran’s 20th Ward from the South Side to the North Side. The council’s black caucus has previously cried foul at any attempts to cut their number of seats in the city council.

The Black Caucus’ map, however, has much more support, with 32 total aldermen signed on to it.

Neither map, though, has enough support to pass the city council without opposition. If any group of 10 or more aldermen support a map, they can force a public referendum vote on which one takes effect.

Rumors have also suggested the existence of a third, “doomsday” map that would simply carve up the city into blocks by neighborhood, but would not protect incumbents. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s floor leader, Patrick O’Connor (40th), also said the mayor could push a referendum to shrink the number of aldermen from 50 to 25 if they couldn’t reach a deal, according to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

In this map, the South Loop is split into four wards, but Ald. Bob Fioretti stays within the 2nd Ward. In a competing map from the city council’s Black Caucus (not pictured), the 2nd Ward is banished to the North Side and Fioretti is lumped into the 11th Ward with Ald. James Balcer.

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By Anke Koning from South Loop - Near South
Posted: 01/12/2012 7:25 PM

I am interested in the following: A copy 0f current and proposed maps (Better Chicago, Taxpayer protection)side by side, with the rationale for reconfiguration. List of Aldermen supporting the aforementioned maps. Given the Taxpayer Protection proposal, it is not clear to me why the 4th ward moves so far North, as opposed to the 3rd ward expanding somewhat to capture issues relevant to that jurisdiction.

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By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 01/12/2012 2:54 PM

The Latino Caucus map, (Taxpayer Protection Map) is the most fair to all groups out of all the maps.

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By Jeff
Posted: 01/04/2012 10:23 PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-chicago-ward-remap-20120105,0,382884.story

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By DF from South Lopp
Posted: 01/03/2012 12:40 PM

I don't agree with drawing wards up based solely on race and to protect incumbents. It should be simple population numbers but then community groups would be upset at the idea of them having to work with more than 1 alderman. I agree that many cry racism yet further segregation in the city. In the end, of the two maps, the Hispanic caucus map is the most accurate in terms of equal population wards.

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By Demetrius Freeman from South Loop
Posted: 01/03/2012 12:37 PM

Get Rid of Racial Maps, Frank was being a dolt you idiot . The Hispanic Caucus is just an interest group based on racial lines (There is an unofficial progressive caucus within the city council, so others exist beyond race). However the law dictates equal representation for all people, including Hispanics and African Americans during the redrawing of the maps.

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By KG from Loop
Posted: 12/28/2011 3:22 PM

The map drawn by the Black caucus is racist. They feel that they deserve and are entitled to the 2nd ward. Why is this? It was fine the way it was but we have to take care of the whining black aldermen who want what they do not deserve. Their popluation has decreased---why do they want the same number of wards. When is the cowardly media going to stand up to this type of entitlement.

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By Get Rid of Racial Maps
Posted: 12/23/2011 10:14 AM

DF from Loop - There is no Caucasian Caucus you dolt - they are called other Alderman. If they presented a map called the "Caucasian Caucus Map", Holder, Madigan, & the ACLU would be all up in arms if such a map were presented. What Frank is noting is 'why are Caucus's needed to present useless maps based on race, and nothing to do with efficient delivery of city services by tax paying residents of Chicago?' Cry racism yet continue policies that further strengthen segregation. HOPE & CHANGE !

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By Paul from University Village
Posted: 12/23/2011 9:00 AM

Is it only me, or doesn't anyone else out there think that ward maps based on racism is just plain wrong!? Why are these aldermen behaving as though it is 1970? Barack Obama is President.

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By T from University Village
Posted: 12/23/2011 3:33 AM

"The Black Caucus’ map divides the South Loop mainly into two wards — the 3rd and the 4th — but it most notably boots Fioretti’s 2nd Ward out of the South and West Loop entirely, shifting it up to Lake View and the North Side." I think this is not correct... As shown in the linked file below, 2nd Ward is NOT moving up to Lake View! http://www.scribd.com/doc/67470636/Ward-28-Circle

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By DF from Loop
Posted: 12/22/2011 6:04 PM

Hey Jerk, The Caucasian caucus would be the rest of the city council and they are split between the two maps.

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By Frank Hanschen from South Loop
Posted: 12/22/2011 1:33 PM

So there is a "Hispanic Caucus"? Why? Where is the Caucasian Caucus proposed map?