I am concerned that the goal of drawing a plan that "belongs to the people" is chasing a horse that has already left the barn. Having three different maps in three consecutive elections, with one overturned map along the way, is not a great recipe for stable representation. I do agree that if the New York legislature were to confine themselves to drawing themselves a somewhat less-extreme partisan advantage and make efforts to respect communities, then it would move toward your ideal.
A better place to pursue representation-of-the-people might not be congressional maps, but legislative maps. Congressional politics currently focuses on national power, whereas legislative politics focuses on self-governance. Also, legislative districts have fewer people. For both of these reasons, the exact composition of a legislative district can be quite consequential for community representation.
I am concerned that the goal of drawing a plan that "belongs to the people" is chasing a horse that has already left the barn. Having three different maps in three consecutive elections, with one overturned map along the way, is not a great recipe for stable representation. I do agree that if the New York legislature were to confine themselves to drawing themselves a somewhat less-extreme partisan advantage and make efforts to respect communities, then it would move toward your ideal.
A better place to pursue representation-of-the-people might not be congressional maps, but legislative maps. Congressional politics currently focuses on national power, whereas legislative politics focuses on self-governance. Also, legislative districts have fewer people. For both of these reasons, the exact composition of a legislative district can be quite consequential for community representation.