Legal Objection and Request for Correction QV
December 20, 2021 THE QUAKER VALLEY MUNICIPALITIES 2021 Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission Mark A. Nordenberg, Chair P.O. Box 203079 Harrisburg, PA 17120 Re: Legal Objection and Request for Correction Mr. Nordenberg: We, the undersigned elected officials of the Quaker Valley area municipalities and school board, strongly urge the committee to reconsider the preliminary draft of the state house map released on December 16, 2021. The current proposed map splits the 11 Quaker Valley municipalities (Aleppo Township, Bell Acres Borough, Edgeworth Borough, Glenfield Borough, Glen Osborne Borough, Haysville Borough, Leet Township, Leetsdale Borough, Sewickley Borough, Sewickley Heights Borough, and Sewickley Hills Borough) into two separate state house districts (the 44th and 28th). The Quaker Valley area is unique in the fact that 11 small municipalities make up one school district. These 11 municipalities not only share a school district, but we also share police forces, municipal authorities, fire departments, and an ambulance service. We also rely on our neighbors for our infrastructure needs and equipment. The current proposed map pushes the northern Quaker Valley municipalities into the 28th district and the remaining valley municipalities into the 44th district. The 28th district encompasses the rapidly-growing North Hills. The Quaker Valley area has little in common with these municipalities and more in common with the communities surrounding the Airport and South Hills. Most of our residents shop and work within the Quaker Valley area and/or across the Ohio River in Moon Township. The Ohio River should not be a boundary when drawing maps. Moon and Quaker Valley should be kept together having similar demographics and interests. The elected officials who have signed below are Republicans, Democrats and Independents. This is not a partisan issue. This is about keeping ONE area, that share ONE school district in ONE state house district. We deserve adequate representation on the state level and splitting up the district significantly dilutes our influence and abilities. Mr. Chairman, please reconsider this map and the terrible consequences it will have on our municipalities. Thank you for taking the time to consider our concerns. We would be happy to send a representative to testify at any public hearing to discuss our concerns and answer any questions before the commission. Feel free to direct any correspondence to Councilman Brock Meanor of Bell Acres at BrockMeanor@gmail.com. With kindest regards, Brock Meanor Bell Acres, Council Lane Grafton Bell Acres, Council Michael Lepore Sewickley Hills, Council Maria Napolitano Leetsdale, Council Daniela Helkowski QV School Board William Boswell Osborne, Mayor-Emeritus Barbara Carrier Osborne, Mayor Dave Renfrew Bell Acres, Council Ken Alvania Bell Acres, Mayor Joseph Hajnas Sewickley Hills, Council George Shannon Sewickley, Mayor Gary Smith Edgeworth, Mayor Curtis Reiner Glenfield, Council Marty McDaniel Leet, Commissioner Michelle Veeck Bell Acres Council Jeff Neff Sewickley, Council John Oliver Sewickley Heights, Mayor Gianni Floro QV School Board Sandra Ford Leetsdale, Mayor Tom Huddleston Osborne, Council