Why are we being redistricted?
As a resident of Salem Township, moving Delmont and Salem township into the 55th legislative district and out of the 57th, puts us in communities that we have no commonality. Delmont and Salem Township include Greensburg Salem school district, moving these communities into the 55th legislative district divides Greensburg Salem school district and isolates us from the communities we are tied to for commerce, recreation, school districts etc...Delmont and Salem have been a part of the 57th legislative district for as far back as can be documented. These changes provide no reasoning as to why these municipalities are being removed nor why the school district will now be separated. The Constitution also says districts shall be compact and contiguous. However, many county maps features multiple ‘holes’, ‘loops’ and ‘tails’ with no explanation provided. At a time when we are working diligently to build and restore faith in our elections – these lines work to do just the opposite. The Pennsylvania Constitution says, “Unless absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district.” But the preliminary map has splits in Lancaster City, Allentown, Reading, Scranton, State College and Harrisburg. There were municipalities split all over the state including in Westmoreland county. None of these splits are absolutely necessary, and the people in charge of creating the districts have provided no explanation for why they chose to split up these cities.