Exception to Redistricting of 193rd and 91st
On behalf of the New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce, I am submitting an exception request for the the New Oxford Borough, Oxford Township, Abbottstown Borough and Berwick Township to remain a part of the 193rd PA House Legislative District. These four boroughs and townships are more economically aligned with the the current 193rd District than the 91st District. There is a constant flow of commerce between towns, such as East Berlin and York Springs, to New Oxford that aligns New Oxford and Abbottstown economically and demographically with the northern part of the county. In addition to economic and demographic reasons for maintaining the 193rd District, the proposed redistricting would also cause issues for a number of local community services that are currently shared within the existing 193rd District. An example of this is United Hook & Ladder 33. The areas United 33 services are all currently in the 193rd. Moving New Oxford Borough, Oxford Township, Abbottstown Borough and Berwick Township to the 91st District would result in additional unnecessary obstacles for our emergency responders as the six municipalities United 33 serves would no longer all be in the same district. United 33 being split into two districts has the potential to complicate emergency services in our area. I hope you can see the importance of keeping the New Oxford Borough, Oxford Township, Abbottstown Borough and Berwick Township in the 193rd District for economic and demographic reasons as well as community services-related reasons. Thank you for your time and consideration.