Letter to Municipal Officials
January 15, 2019
Dear Municipal Officials,
Harrisburg is always convoluting things and making easy things difficult, isn’t it? Have you been faced with a difficult decision in your community, but felt like your hands were tied as you tried to address it? Have you been told by your solicitor that you were 'preempted' or prohibited by state laws from protecting your constituents? Have you been threatened by an industry that you believe would be detrimental to your community's health and safety?
We've heard from local elected officials from all over PA during the past 10 years who have found themselves in difficult situations. Some of the problems you may be facing are not limited to just a few municipalities. Rather, what we've heard from municipalities in all counties in PA is that they need more power than the state currently allows them, in order to address local issues and protect their community's health and safety.
We are contacting you to see if this scenario resonates: you are facing issues in your community and you don't have the authority to do anything about those issues. We are proposing two amendments to the PA Constitution (draft text on the back of this letter) that would help return more decision-making authority to the local level—that’s the level you currently work with. No state rep needed! This would give you and your community, that is, those most affected by these decisions, the power to make these decisions.
If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website, at www.pacommunityrights.org. You could also return the enclosed postcard. We will get in touch with you with more information.
Sincerely,
The Board of PA Community Rights Network
Cathy Miorelli, Schuylkill County
Chad Nicholson, Allegheny County
Cliff Stump, Elk County
Dave Laidacker, Montour County
Dennis Lieb, Northampton County
John Trallo, Sullivan County
Kara Scott, Carbon County
Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, Lancaster County
Stacy Wanchisn Long, Indiana County
Dear Municipal Officials,
Harrisburg is always convoluting things and making easy things difficult, isn’t it? Have you been faced with a difficult decision in your community, but felt like your hands were tied as you tried to address it? Have you been told by your solicitor that you were 'preempted' or prohibited by state laws from protecting your constituents? Have you been threatened by an industry that you believe would be detrimental to your community's health and safety?
We've heard from local elected officials from all over PA during the past 10 years who have found themselves in difficult situations. Some of the problems you may be facing are not limited to just a few municipalities. Rather, what we've heard from municipalities in all counties in PA is that they need more power than the state currently allows them, in order to address local issues and protect their community's health and safety.
We are contacting you to see if this scenario resonates: you are facing issues in your community and you don't have the authority to do anything about those issues. We are proposing two amendments to the PA Constitution (draft text on the back of this letter) that would help return more decision-making authority to the local level—that’s the level you currently work with. No state rep needed! This would give you and your community, that is, those most affected by these decisions, the power to make these decisions.
If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website, at www.pacommunityrights.org. You could also return the enclosed postcard. We will get in touch with you with more information.
Sincerely,
The Board of PA Community Rights Network
Cathy Miorelli, Schuylkill County
Chad Nicholson, Allegheny County
Cliff Stump, Elk County
Dave Laidacker, Montour County
Dennis Lieb, Northampton County
John Trallo, Sullivan County
Kara Scott, Carbon County
Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, Lancaster County
Stacy Wanchisn Long, Indiana County
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