Letter to the Editor 4/22

Editor:
In March, Fair Districts PA embarked on a March toward Transparency campaign in which volunteers requested meetings with their own state representatives and senators in every district in Pennsylvania. Such meetings have been scheduled in over 150 districts, including the 83rd (Jeff Wheeland’s) and 100th (Speaker Bryan Cutler’s) house districts.

Most of the legislators have been gracious. If they were too busy to meet themselves, they gave their constituents the opportunity to meet with staff members. Many PA legislators have taken the time to listen to constituents share concerns about gerrymandered districts and splintered counties and municipalities. As a result of those meetings, many legislators agreed to sign on as co-sponsors of the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act (LACRA), House Bill 22 and Senate Bill 222. Other legislators asked for more information, sometimes continuing to dialog with constituents. Some have elected not to co-sponsor and have provided their reasons. We are grateful to ALL these legislators for taking time to listen to their constituents.

Sadly, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz has refused to meet with us or let us meet with a staff member. We contacted her office five times and were rebuffed or ignored each time.

This year Pennsylvania’s legislative districts will be redrawn, to serve for the next 10 years. We want the opportunity to explain why we need new rules to ensure fair maps. This issue is critically important, and we want Rep. Borowicz to represent us. We don’t want our maps to be gerrymandered again by either party.

Kathy Ebeling, Mill Hall
Mary Ann Clark,Mill Hall
Diane Mills,Lock Haven
Michele Nicolas, Bellefonte
Suzanne Weinstein,State College
Bill van den Berg, Howard