In an earlier post I printed the address of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. I also said it wouldn’t do any good to write. I did anyway--call it an existential gesture. Here’s a copy of my letter.
Legislative Reapportionment Commission
North Office Building, Room 104
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Commission members:
On November 17 the Morning Call printed a map of the preliminary reapportionment plan. One look at the plan and it is obvious that the tradition of gerrymandering continues in Pennsylvania. In Carbon County, for example, an integral part of the County’s tradition and culture, the borough of Summit Hill, is neatly excised. New legislative districts wander across county lines, squiggle here and there, and are obviously drawn for partisan advantage.
Citizens grow more cynical with each election cycle. Money controls elections, incumbents are almost impossible to defeat, and democracy is mocked. I know you are doing what you are paid to do, but it is not what America stands for, and I think you should be ashamed of your work. It is not too late to do the right thing, but I have little hope that that will happen.
By the way, Governor Cuomo in New York said he will veto any plan drawn up by the legislature that he regards as gerrymandering. He has asked that the boundaries be drawn by an independent commission. That is the difference between having a governor who believes in fairness and one like Corbett, who will do anything to advance his partisan cause.
Note: I am taking a vacation day for Thanksgiving. See you back here on Friday.
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