Lehigh Valley - silencing township and rural votes
The proposed redistricting significantly silences the rural and township vote by combining large municipalities into previously rural heavy districts. This impacts the 137th, 138th, 136th, 131st and 136th districts. The proposed redistricting removes the 5 voting precincts of Upper Mount Bethel Township (UMBT) from the other 20 voting districts comprising the Slate Belt Region of Northampton County and also separates representation of the Bangor School district into two house districts. It is proposed to keep Upper Mount Bethel Township (UMBT) with the other municipalities of the Slate Belt as currently comprised with the House 137th and 138th districts. Moving UMBT into a House district representing Monroe County is definitely not in the interest of the residents of UMBT and relegates them with representation subordinate to the interests of Monroe County residents. The 137th and 138th districts should be redesigned to match the current 137th and 138th districts with some minor changes as required to meet demographic requirements. The commission’s proposed 137th district, by the inclusion of Bethlehem Township in total and removal of other township voting districts does appear to be move to mitigate the voice of the rural and township voters in the current 138th and now proposed 137th because of the inclusion of more suburban districts with interests and issues not in compatibility with those of the northern rural part of the proposed 138th district. The move of Hellertown’s three precincts into the proposed 131st district brings more of Saucon Valley School District into the same legislative district. Lower Saucon #1, #2, #4, #7 and #8 are alread in 131st District. Ideally, LS #3, #5 and #6 should be added to 131st district to bring the entire SVSD into the 131st district. Lower Saucon surrounds Hellertown on three sides with Bethlehem along the northern boarder. Moving Hellertown out of the 136th and into the 131st makes the community more contiguous based on mutual aid, proximity and the SVSD. To ensure continuity, recommend including LS #3, #5 and #6 in the 131st District. Thank you for your consideration.