Lehigh Senate Maps
View Map on Dave's Redistricting (https://davesredistricting.org/join/01c1044c-2940-414f-a8c8-fcec75312143)
I am writing as a resident of Bucks County, but also as a lifelong business owner and attorney in Allentown, Lehigh County. I am writing to express my dissatisfaction and outrage with the current redistricting process in the Lehigh Valley. First, on principle, this map is clearly gerrymandering both Lehigh and Northampton County. It is abundantly clear that the 16th Senate District was drawn in a way to protect Senator Pat Browne. This is against the basic principles of redistricting. We shouldn’t be altering entire districts and communities to benefit one elected official. Second, the 16th Senate District results in communities like Allentown being drawn into rural Bucks County. Lehigh County and Bucks County are different counties with different needs. Bucks is a more rural county and has fundamentally different issues than Lehigh County, which is far more urban and suburban. Lehigh County deserves a more Lehigh County centered Senate District and Bucks deserves a Senate District that is more rural. We want a senator who is more responsive to our issues and concerns. As I have been starting to enter retirement, I found myself to be very focused on the education of our children. Both the children in the Allentown School District and the Bethlehem School district are underfunded. It is important that West Bethlehem stay with Lisa Bascola and that Allentown is brought back together as well. The way the district is drawn now will have an adverse impact on our school districts, our communities, and our ability to have real representation. I want to the Legislative Redistricting Commission to go back and fix the way the Lehigh Valley was divided. I want them to create a more Lehigh County-centered seat that includes Allentown its suburbs such as Macungie and South Whitehall which have a common fate and share more interests and issues. I want West Bethlehem put back into the 18th Senate district on principle to correct this clear gerrymander. I also want Allentown to be put mostly into one senate district as well to reduce the gerrymander that has been created. I want to make sure that Berks also has a state senator that meets our needs. The LRC could do much better ensuring that the Lehigh Valley has fair and effective representation. Basic fairness must be the guiding principle involved in redistricting. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. https://davesredistricting.org/join/01c1044c-2940-414f-a8c8-fcec75312143