Two senate districts for Luzerne County
I have lived in Luzerne County for 36 years and am keenly aware of the shortcomings posed by the LRC proposed Senate map. It has only minor modifications from the current district map, and retains the four-way split that effectively renders our voices mute. I live in an area known as the Back Mountain. West of the Susquehanna River our cluster of towns is connected by state route 309 and I81 to the Wyoming Valley, the Poconos, and the southern anthracite fields of Hazleton. The roads and thoroughfares reflect a deep history of connection among these communities. Many residents of the Back Mountain rely on employment in the Valley; we shop for cars, clothes, books, and groceries in the Valley. We receive health care and education in the Valley and along the I81 corridor, and travel for entertainment and family gatherings to Scranton, New York City, and Philadelphia. While the Back Mountain itself may feel suburban/rural, it depends on the connections to the rest of Luzerne County, not to the rural areas of Wyoming, Susquehanna, or Pike counties. Luzerne County deserves focused advocacy in Harrisburg to address issues that prevent our county from reaching its potential. We need advocacy to help us achieve a long-held wish for high speed rail to New York City and Philadelphia; funding to aid community efforts to make this very car-centric area more accessible for disabled, the elderly, the houseless. We need state of the art, affordable broadband service and support for public outdoor spaces accessible to everyone. We need senators dedicated to helping this budding metropolitan corridor and its proximate rural areas develop into a thriving region. I support the Proposed Peoples Senate Map, which divides the county between 2 senators, whose districts more closely align with the current and historical ties between our county's communities. I believe it offers residents a greater chance to have our voices clearly heard in Harrisburg. Thank you. Kay Strickland