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| Terry Schettini pitches redistricting reform in Hanover Tp |
Fair Districts Pa describes itself as a "nonpartisan, citizen-led, statewide coalition working to create a process for redistricting that is transparent, impartial, and fair."
Resident Cecil Blocker, wearing a Fair District Pa. T-shirt, was very blunt. "My vote won't count in the coming election," he complained. He explained that he is a Democrat in State Rep. Marcia Hahn's Legislative District, and that his vote will never count because her boundaries are gerrymandered to ensure she has solid Republican support. "Her District looks like a fat 'I' with warts," he lamented.
A bill that would end gerrymandering and replace it with a independent citizen commission has cleared the state senate, but Hahn has yet to sponsor any of the bills under consideration in the House. Her opponent in November's election, Bethlehem School Director Dean Donaher, supports an independent citizen commission.
Hanover Township resident Jean Shenk, who met with Hahn, said she was told no one seemed that concerned about the gerrymander. Hahn did agree to poll constituents in newsletters, and Shenk claimed that 70% of those responding do consider redistricting reform an issue. "This isn't a ninth grade civics lesson that you forgot about a long time ago," said Shenk.
In addition to the remarks made by Shenk and Blocker, Supervisors heard a brief presentation from Fair District Pa.'s Terry Schettini. He told them that gerrymandering has led to the current gridlock in Harrisburg, and this prevents local government from serving their community.
He also pointed out gerrymandering is a double-edged sword, and that Democrats could just as easily manipulate the process as Republicans.
Time is running short on redistricting reform. This must be approved by voter referendum, and before that can happen,the state legislature must pass a law calling for a referendum in two consecutive sessions. If this fails to happen this year, it will be toolate because the next census is in 2020. Redistricting reform will have to wait another ten years for the 2030 census.
In the Lehigh Valley, resolutions supporting redistricting reform have passed in Lehigh and Nortampton Counties, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Coopersburg, Lower Macungie, Lowhill, Lynn, Macungie, North Whitehall, South Whitehall, Upper Milford,Upper Saucon, Washington, Weisenberg, Whitehall, Bethlehem Tp and Williams.
Supervisors were provided a sample resolution to consider, but took no action.
In other business, Public Works director Vince Milite reported that is being repaved. Macada Road is next, after the July 4 holiday.
Manager Jay Finnigan said he will soon be seeking proposals for an update to the Township's comprehensive plan, which should cost between $50,000-80,000.
The next scheduled meeting for Township Supervisors is on Tuesday, July 8, at the municipal building on Jacksonville Rd, starting at 7 pm. Supervisors only meet once in July.
10 comments:
Those HT country club republicans will have nothing to do with the rabble and their resolution.
http://www.therecordherald.com/news/20170810/council-rescinds-support-of-fair-districts-pa
I just reviewed your Linkdein profile,props to you for being brutally honest !
12:27, I have to say that the way Fair District people reacted after the proposal to create judicial districts was both childish and political. They were angry bc it might lead to more conservative jurists. This is no reason to oppose a good idea. I also question that conclusion. So some people in this have impure motives but that’s no reason to oppose a good idea.
Bernie, have to strongly disagree agree with you about the reaction of Fair Districts to the Aument Amendment to SB 22. First of all, FDPA has done a tremendous amount of grass roots action to arrive at a point where almost half of the total General Assembly is in support of SB 22 from both the House and Senate. Over 60,000 citizens have been reached by over 450 presentations to the pubic. Visiting legislators in Harrisburg and in their local offices, phone calls, postcards, emails and countless letters to the editor proved our dedication and success. F & M's research has concluded almost 70% of PA's citizens want to see gerrymandering end. FDPA does not have a stand on judicial districts, that is not the issue on which we have concentrated! Changing the way we elect judges is too big of a change to just tack it onto SB 22 and hijacking the civic momentum we have developed. This issue needs stand alone legislation with hearings, testimony, debates and experts from the field discussing this change. The Senate did NONE of those things, and that detracts from representative democracy. You have it wrong. We want a "clean" bill like that which many legislators from both sides of the aisle have diligently worked on for 20 months. This is not the time or method to be used at this time. We are on a very tight schedule and if this doesn't get done - it will mean 10 more years of gerrymandering in PA - one of the most gerrymandered states in the entire nation where the only people who really suffer are the voters. This was hijacking to get something the leadership wants and there is no grass roots outcry to change the way judges are elected! It can wait.
I agree it could have waited. I also agree that Fair District has done a great job in bringing public attention to this issue. But Fair District actually withdrew its support over this amendment, which is silly. I was disappointed and had discussions with some members who made very clear to me that their anger was based on political considerations. It was childish, petty and contrary to the nonpartisan stance it should be taking.
One of them actually wants to remove the election of judges from the voter, which sounds very undemocratic to me. Frankly, I like the idea of judicial districts. if you are interested in ending the gerrymander, this should never have been a deal killer. But it was.
Never really knew how wimpy and generally out of touch Hahn was until this issue rose up. I'm a moderate independent and have voted for her in the past. Will never vote for her again.
Its grotesque to see these elected officials (both Dems and Reps) clearly ignoring a problematic situation that can be solved or at least improved in a relatively simple, common sense way...
They clearly feel they are above the average citizen of this state. Too many people simply just live to see the other team lose in this country. We're pathetic.
Hanover should stay out of this fray. Fair Districts seems to be a bunch of liberals who just aren't happy. Hanover has been well served by their Pennsylvania Senators and Representatives over the years.
@2:50PM - It's not, I've been to some of their meetings and its all sizes, shapes and political persuasions, mostly moderates to be honest. People who genuinely feel we can do better, why shouldn't Hanover Township say the same?
Only the mindless cheerleaders for both parties are against it, because one currently has the power to draw the map, and the other thinks they'll eventually get it back.
Hanover Twp. is a real incestuous pit. Fair Districts are the last thing on their mind.,
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