Concerns over proposed changes to the 71st Dist.
My name is Dave Hurst. I am a resident of Dale Borough and, as Project Manager of The Steeples Project, am deeply involved in cultural and economic development activities within the City of Johnstown. I am greatly concerned by the proposal to remove the COJ and surrounding municipalities from the 71st District. Through the efforts of dozens of individuals and organizations over the past decade, Johnstown is poised to recreate itself into a mountain-town destination with a concentration of outdoor recreational attractions, heritage-based tourism assets, diverse employment opportunities, a growing cultural network, a low cost of living and abundant housing. At the same time, it is struggling to resolve the social and demographic problems that stem from its decades-long decline as a one-time center for steel and coal production. The community (which includes not only the COJ but its surrounding municipalities) has responded to these opportunities and challenges through dynamic partnerships, such as Vision Together 2025, the Iron to Arts Corridor, the Cambria City Cultural Partnership, the Cambria County Drug Coalition, and the Jefferson Center for Population Health just to name a few. Proof of the progress that has been made can the seen in the Johnstown's recent award of a $24.5 million RAISE transportation grant -- a grant made possible through the collaboration of The Cambria County Planning Commission, Cambria County Transit Authority, Johnstown Area Heritage Association, Vision Together 2025, Greater Johnstown Regional Partnership and City of Johnstown. These funds, together with $30 million in ARPA funding being received by the City of Johnstown, positions this community to launch game-changing projects that can transform Greater Johnstown. But all of this is happening now! Greater Johnstown's current legislators, representing the 35th Senatorial District and the 71st Legislative District, have played important roles in enabling all of this to happen. These legislators have been working alongside a wide variety of municipal and organizational officials who also have been involved. They know each other and have developed effective working relationships. These legislators are up to speed on all of these initiatives and are eager to help in any way they can. This is not the time to shake up the team! Johnstown cannot afford the learning curve that an outside legislator would require to settle into the radically redefined district, develop an effective understanding of the variety of initiatives underway and get to know the players. This is Johnstown's best opportunity in a generation to become a healthier, more vibrant and economically robust community. Radically redrawn legislative boundaries will be a detriment to this opportunity. Please retain all of Greater Johnstown within the 71st District.