Object to 16th Senatorial district proposal
I'm writing to object to the proposal to "buddy-mander" the Senate districts in Lehigh County to create a safe district for incumbent Pat Browne. As if the map's internal division of the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem isn't bad enough, the commission blatantly drew lines to include Senator Browne's residence into the new GOP-leaning 16th district, thus ensuring that he would not have to run in the new 14th district, in which the parties are more evenly matched and thus pose a greater challenge for him. The inclusion of the "postage stamp" section of Allentown in which he lives in the 16th district - without any logical purpose other than to cater to Senator Browne's re-election - ranks right up there with "Goofy Kicking Donald" in terms of historically outrageous abuses of redistricting in Pennsylvania, and the commission needs to redeem its reputation by revising the map to at the very least a less-obvious kowtowing to a powerful legislator. I've known Pat Browne for the better part of thirty years. He is a dedicated and effective Senator, who has established a extraordinary record of achievement and service to his constituents and his state. But redistricting should NEVER be about benefiting a single person, no matter how admirable they might be. Please reverse course and address the stated needs of our Lehigh Valley communities not to be cut up in this way for the next decade. Thank you!