Senate map needs major revision
I live in Montgomery County, an area that has been subjected to intense gerrymandering. I live just north of Philadelphia. My region, southeast PA has experienced population growth in real and relative terms. We therefore should have more representation in Harrisburg. I am concerned this map protects incumbents at the expense of my region. I am also concerned that there are systematic population deviations that work against my region, which is more likely to be represented by the minority party. Of the 28 " red" districts from the preliminary Senate map 50% (14) are under the population requirement, while only one third (7 of 22) of blue districts are under the population requirements. Conversely, 63%, almost two thirds (14 of 22), of blue senatorial districts are overpopulated while only one third (10 of 28) red districts are overpopulated. (Data from Dave's redistricting) Many blue districts are in my region. This appears to me to be a systematic packing of blue populations into larger districts in my southeast region while spreading red populations into more districts to reduce my region's power. Please correct this. Please also confirm that the Senate map correctly allocates prisoners to their home residencies as the LRC voted. This also effects my region, as most state prisons are not in our area and our large population means the numbers can be signficant when our prisoners are sent outside our region for state incarceration. I also think that Phila districts need to be redrawn. The growing Hispanic population is a community of interest and district lines can be drawn to keep that community intact and pave the way for a potential Hispanic senator. This requires adjusting the districts of current Phila incumbents and that needs to be done, in my opinion. I understand that citizens in PA are not evenly distributed by party across the state. I wish we could have more purple districts in our purple state: I believe in competition. I understand that may not be possible. However, district population deviations should not differ systematically by party or region. I hope the final map can achieve that. In my view, protection of an incumbent or preventing of two incumbentsfrom residing in a single new district should not be valued more highly than population equivalency. Please be certain that population deviations in the Senate map are not manipulations to create a partisan gerrymander. I greatly appreciate the LRC's transparency, the hearings, and the opportunity to comment on preliminary maps. I thank you for your work and know that is has been arduous. Still fair maps are the bedrock of a democracy, as is a political process that involves citizens and responds to their concerns. Please keep at it. I look forward to an improved Senate map