A 30-year relationship between the City of Schenectady and James Tedisco is likely to come to an end this fall, based on proposed Assembly district lines. As our Erin Vannella reports, many of his neighbors will be sad to see him go.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "Certainly Assemblyman Tedisco has been very, very supportive of the clinic ever since it started," said Schenectady Free Health Clinic Executive Director Bill Spolyar. "He's gone to bat for us more than once."

But now the 112th district leader may leave Schenectady after the state's Legislative Task Force released new Assembly district lines Wednesday, effectively pushing him away from organizations he's spent years supporting, like the Schenectady Free Health Clinic.

"Back in 2008, when we lost our state funding, he was very instrumental in working with the Assembly and in getting back at least part of the funding we lost at that time," said Spolyar.

Tedisco said he's not thrilled either. While he may be used to the 10 year census-induced shift, he said lines should be drawn by an independent commission instead.

"Unfortunately it's a process where they're protecting their power base," said Tedisco. “It's gerrymandering. It's more based on politics and commonality of constituents and that's not what a representative democracy should be all about."

The new lines will cause Tedisco to lose the City of Schenectady, Saratoga Springs and Niskayuna and gain Clifton Park, Halfmoon and Providence.

"I'm disappointed in the fact I'll be leaving a lot of friends, but in terms of having to move, if I have to if these lines hold up, I can't think of three better places to go."

But leaving wouldn't have to mean cutting ties from the current district. In fact, clinic volunteers are counting on it.

"My biggest fear of him leaving is the fact that he won't be the point person for that representation," said Spolyar. "But he's not leaving the Assembly and I do have his phone number and I will definitely be in touch if there's something we need."