Splitting Greater Shenandoah is a deep concern
My first reaction when I saw the proposed maps was one of deep concern, specifically regarding the House map as it pertains to Districts 123 and 116. I was shocked to see the Greater Shenandoah area and the Shenandoah Valley School District split in two, with Shenandoah Borough in the Hazleton-centric 116th and West Mahanoy Township in the Pottsville-centric 123rd. This is deeply concerning, if not alarming, for Shenandoah, the town I've spent my entire life in. With Shenandoah split in two, our concerns will almost certainly fall by the wayside in favor of the cities or more prosperous communities in other sections of our district. The Greater Shenandoah area is one community, one school district, with shared concerns among them. The residents of Shenandoah Heights and Lost Creek attend the same school as Shenandoah borough residents, they visit the same businesses, work in the same places, have the same concerns, etc etc etc. I fail to see how it makes any sense to split the community in half and see this as a major detriment to the borough and surrounding West Mahanoy Township. West Mahanoy has far more in common with the host of its school than it does with Wayne Township. I sincerely hope this map is not passed with a split Greater Shenandoah.