84th House District
I am contacting you today in regards to the proposed redistricting map for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Article II, Section 16 of the Pennsylvania Constitution titled "Legislative Districts" reads as follows: The Commonwealth shall be divided into 50 Senatorial and 203 Representative Districts, which shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable. Each Senatorial District shall elect one Senator, and each Representative District one Representative. Unless absolutely necessary, no County, City Incorporated Town, Borough, Township or Ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district. The preliminary map is unconstitutional as districts are not compact as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution. The most egregious district which is not compact but sprawling and divides Communities of Common Interest is the 84th District. Lycoming County is home to approximately 114,000 residents which justifies and warrants 2 Representatives serving Lycoming County in the House of Representatives not 3 as the proposed Preliminary Map suggests. The Preliminary Map divides the greater communities of Montoursville, Muncy, Hughesville and Jersey Shore among 3 new legislative districts which disenfranchises these 4 Communities of Common Interests. These 4 Communities have historically always been included in the same legislative district as Communities of Common Interests. Lycoming County has always had 2 State Representatives, one for the 83rd District which is comprised of the urban areas of Lycoming County while the Representative for the 84th District has been comprised of the rural areas. As a proposed remedy, eliminate the unnecessary division of State College Borough, which I didn't even touch upon and return the 82nd, 83rd, 84th, 85th, 76, and 171st Districts back to similar boundaries as they were historically; this will achieve compactness, nearly equal populations and eliminate the unnecessary division in this region. It doesn't go without mentioning that this proposed Preliminary Map that effects the entire Commonwealth, would favor one political party over another and would affect the rural areas of the Commonwealth in having real representation in Harrisburg. One of the rights given to us by our Founding Fathers was real, fair and balanced government that was for the people, by the people with fair representation guaranteed by our Constitution. What you are proposing and trying to implement goes against our Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and against our right of fair representation. We the People are watching and we will hold you accountable.