A few years ago I was attempting to get Carbon County boroughs and townships to pass resolutions in support of a bill to set up an independent Redistricting Commission. At the time Republican legislators were gerrymandering both state legislative and congressional districts. I was allowed to speak at every meeting I attended. I was struck at the time by how council members and supervisors were reasonable people, and how both Democratic and Republican members worked together to try to solve problems and deal with their constituents.
All except one borough. That was Lansford. Those council members were like cats and dogs, nasty and insulting to each other and to their constituents.
Now, according to an article in the Times News, the Lansford Council is considering the adoption of a rule that you must live in Lansford to speak at one of their meetings. Had this rule been adopted when I showed up to speak about gerrymandering, I would have been silenced.
Lansford borders both Summit Hill and Coaldale, two coal region towns. Lansford has a drug problem. It has a crime problem. It is part of the Panther Valley School district. Its policies potentially affect neighboring towns, Carbon County, and yes, the state. Shutting people out is a dumb move, and I hope cooler and more reasonable people will prevail and reject this policy.
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