Keep Manor Township in the 41st
I have recently learned that the Legislative Redistricting Commission is planning to split Manor Township, my place of residency, into two districts. I am requesting that Manor Township remain whole and within the 41st district for several reasons: (1) I understand that the Manor Township Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution asking that Manor Township not be split and that it be kept in the 41st district. (2) I understand that part of Manor Township would share a district with Manheim Township and with East and West Lampeter Townships. Manor Township has very little, if any, connection to these other municipalities. It does not share a border, nor does it have any municipal agreements with these remote communities. (3) It makes sense that Manor Township would remain in a district with West Hempfield and Columbia. Manor Township is a community of interest with those municipalities because of the Susquehanna River and the river town history and community. (4) It is also my understanding that Manor Township shares many municipal services and has municipal agreements among the neighboring townships. (5) The current municipalities in the 41st district share Columbia Avenue, which divides Manor Township, East and West Hempfield Townships, Columbia and Mountville Boros and is a natural corridor connecting these communities. (6) Keeping Manor Township in the 41st will keep it more compact than if it is added to the 97th district. It makes sense that there would be more common municipal interests among our community members who are geographically closer. (7) Lastly, if it's not possible to keep Manor Township intact, the Leisure precinct and all the precincts along Columbia Avenue (Hershey Mill and Washington Boro), as well as the Manor New and Indiantown districts, should remain within the 41st because (a) they are closer to the 41st, (b) they make the district more compact than it will be if it was added to the 97th, and (c) they are a community of interest with the municipalities of Columbia, Mountville, East Hempfield and West Hempfield.