Doubly disenfranchised by new map
The proposed redistricting map continues to gerrymander by diminishing the political representation of rural Pennsylvanians. It is a farce and needs to be thrown out. The proposal impacts rural Pennsylvania harshly in a way that will have a negative impact on the residents of smaller counties like Snyder (where I live) and Union, currently part of the same 85th district; and Mifflin (where I work) and Juniata, currently the 82nd. Undoubtedly, this also will enhance the political power of the state’s urban areas — which have little or no interest in our lives in the Susquehanna or Juniata valleys. The new alignment severs smaller counties — counties that already work together, have many things in common, and are represented in the state by local people who care about us — and merge them into districts with larger counties, who don’t have the same interests in the legislature. This fiasco of a proposal will split the 82nd and 85th legislative districts, a major shift in our house representation, which has been reasonably constant since seats in the legislature were apportioned by district beginning in 1969. These areas have been represented by local residents for more than 50 years — but if this map is approved, chances are, after the next election, our state representative may not be from here, may not know who we are, and may not have an interest in the same things we do. GOING BY THE NUMBERS, THERE IS NO NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE MAKEUP OF THESE DISTRICTS. Snyder County (again, county of residence) has grown by 1 percent, while Union has gotten smaller by a bit more than half a percent. With a target size for a legislative district between 63,000 and 67,000 residents, it obvious the commission wants to steal our representation through a different kind of gerrymander. Under the current proposal, the 85th will be redrawn to eliminate all but a small portion of Union County, and put Snyder in a district with significant swaths of Mifflin and Juniata counties —whose common representation is equally threatened by this plan. Significant portions of Mifflin County (again, county of employment) would be shifted into a Centre County district, rather than the 82nd rightfully gaining more of that county. Mifflin and Juniata counties have about 70,000 people, so a few will still be in a different district. Wayne Township, and Kistler and Newton Hamilton boroughs are located close to the 81st district and have commonalities with Huntingdon County. A small portion of Juniata County, which is in Perry County’s Greenwood School District, could be added to the 86th. If necessary, Mifflin County’s Armagh Township alone could remain in the 171st, and the vast majority of these two counties remain in a single district. Think about the services shared between Snyder and Union counties (and similarly with Mifflin and Juniata) — human services agencies, chamber of commerce and visitors bureau, employers — and how they rely on local representation to have a voice in the commonwealth. Our voice will clamor to be heard under this alignment. It is clear that this proposal is designed to punish the people who live here and IT MUST BE STOPPED.