Mt. Airy Resident Comments on 200th District
January 18, 2022 Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) North Office Building Hearing Room Harrisburg, Pa. Re: Pennsylvania Redistricting To the Chair and Members of the LRC: I am commenting on the proposed boundaries of the current 200th legislative district as a long-standing resident of the Mt Airy section of Philadelphia. I am also a certified Urban Planner with many years of experience and I am writing to express my concerns and opposition to the LRC’s preliminary map as presented for the Upper Northwest Section of Philadelphia. The LRC’s preliminary map divides vibrant neighborhoods unnecessarily and in a simplistic manner based on ward lines that have little meaning to local residents. Instead, I strongly encourage the Board to reconsider and to support the People’s Map created by Fair Districts PA, as it relates to the proposed boundaries of the current 200th legislative district. The proposed map keeps the neighborhoods of Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill together in a cohesive manner. These vibrant, contiguous communities have a shared history and interests that extend along the historic Germantown Avenue corridor. In addition, these two communities are home to an energetic and diverse, residential and business community. Finally, the boundaries proposed by Fair Districts PA complement the boundaries of the Upper Northwest Section as earmarked by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) in Plan 2035. The planning process for this initiative was extensive and comprehensive. Moreover, it provides an appropriate foundation for the review of land use matters and decision-making for areas within the city. Considerations such as these are extremely important given that these changes will affect our community for the next ten years. For these reasons, I strongly recommend that the LRC modify the boundaries of the Northwest Philadelphia district in the spirit of “Fair Districts PA’s People’s Map.” Sincerely, Victoria Mason-Ailey, AICP vmasonailey@gmail.com