Proposed redistricting of 9th Ward
I am opposed to the proposed Pennsylvania House redistricting that would place the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia (9th Ward, now in the 200th District) along with the 21st Ward as part of a revised 194th District. This has little logic for either the 200th District or the 194th District. The current 200th District contains the 9th, 22nd and 50th Wards, comprising the adjacent neighborhoods of Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy. These neighborhoods are linked commercially by the Germantown Avenue corridor, as well as physically by a robust transportation network. The current 194th district similarly features adjacent neighborhoods of Roxborough and Manyunk. The proposed new 194th District arbitrarily connects Chestnut Hill and Roxborough, which are completely disengaged with each other by the Wissahickon Gorge and Park. There is no commercial continuity, no neighborhood connection and little transportation connection. It simply does not reflect the reality of how these parts of the City work together. It is not a change that benefits either the 21st Ward or the 9th Ward. If it does not benefit, then it should not happen.