Keep the Valley Together
TESTIMONY GEORGE SHANNON MAYOR, BOROUGH OF SEWICKLEY Request for Correction and Exception to the proposed LRC Map January 2, 2022 Mr. Mark Nordenberg Legislative Redistricting Commission Thank you for volunteering your time to arrange the redistricting plan. We all know it’s not easy and an effort like this is difficult to satisfy everybody’s wishes. With that said I want you to know my response is apolitical. I am a retired business man that was appointed Mayor of Sewickley in January 2021. I was reelected in November for a 4 year term. I, like you, volunteer my time to try to make a difference in my community. The Quaker Valley area consists of 11 communities and Sewickley is the cultural, business, and social center for these communities. If you live in one of these communities you tell people you live in Sewickley. We share the same post office and the same zip code, 15143. Most importantly the children from these communities attend school in the Quaker Valley school district from elementary through high school. The 11 communities are Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, Edgeworth, Glen Osborne, Aleppo, Bell Acres, Leet, Leetsdale, Haysville, Glenfield, and Sewickley Hills. It is very important sir to keep these communities in the same legislative districts for continuity and simplification of efforts toward achieving common goals. We share services like fire, police, and public works. We go to the same churches and contribute through common non-profit organizations. Along with Moon Township our community efforts are coordinated and focused on ‘we as a whole’. To illustrate we had Light Up Night in Sewickley and estimate an audience of 10,000. Sewickley’s population is 3,800. It becomes apparent that Sewickley is the focus but represents the other 10 communities frequently. As mayor of Sewickley I feel the need to keep these communities working toward the same goals with other community officials in the 44th House Legislative District. Splitting our community would require that we coordinate with multiple state representatives and have yet another overlay which in itself complicates communication. The mayors and council presidents of these 11 boroughs and municipalities all meet regularly and in Sewickley to discuss community issues and resolutions. Splitting the Sewickley communities into multiple legislative districts will create a duplication of effort and less efficiency. To be more specific the Sewickley police department, by contract, polices Glen Osborne, the Sewickley Hospital, and a 3 mile stretch along Ohio River Blvd. Please overlook the Ohio River running through our district communities as we don’t recognize the river as a boundary for working together. Sewickley, the 10 other communities, Moon and Coraopolis are older communities and have different infrastructure needs than the newer communities to the far north and far south and thus should remain together. Having one House representative in the past 10 years has enabled us to all work together efficiently for a common goal. Having multiple representatives creates unnecessary challenges to keep everybody working together. In conclusion Mr. Nordenberg, I request that… 1. All 11 municipalities mentioned above remain in one House District 2. Both sides of the Ohio River, the whole valley, remain in one House District. Thank you sir for your consideration in this matter. I hope you find this communication helpful. I welcome the opportunity to testify in person should you have any questions or need additional information. George Shannon Mayor, Sewickley Pa Email: GSHA@comcast.net Tel: 412.680.0606