Letters: Gerrymandering is another form of institutionalized injustice; Inflexibility of zoning laws on display in chicken case
Gerrymandering is another form of institutionalized injustice
As Americans we stand at the precipice of one of the biggest moments in our nation’s history. Our challenge is to decide how committed we are to remaining a legitimate democracy. Events over the past few years have shown us more clearly than ever the dangers facing democracy when inequality and injustice are permitted to exist within the institutions which serve as the foundation for our democratic way of life. Recent protests, for example, have highlighted the urgent need to address systemic racism and to re-envision how our institutions for maintaining law and order can do so more equitably. Alarmingly, the real danger to our democracy is that this is just one issue of many.
Another form of institutionalized injustice is gerrymandering. Unfortunately, it has been around so long and baked into the political status quo so effectively that most people don’t even recognize it for the systemic injustice that it is. Think about it. If any political candidate were to stand up and announce whose votes would be counted in their election and whose would not, wouldn’t there be immediate protests in the streets? Yet, this is precisely what gerrymandering achieves behind closed doors.
A democratic nation cannot flourish if it limits whose voices will be heard. Take a look at where America is just now and decide for yourself if this is true. Then ask yourself how much it means to you to live where your voice matters and how hard you are willing to fight for that.
Inflexibility of zoning laws on display in chicken case
The case of College Township ordering Maeve Elliott to get rid of her chicken is just one more example of the unacceptable inflexibility of zoning laws. A few chickens constitute a farm? Let’s see: A farm is defined as a business with the intent of making a profit. The zoning officer wouldn’t have to violate the ordinance, all he would have to do is to let Maeve know that she cannot sell any of the eggs, but she can give them away.
Support wildlife corridors
As a young child, I used to regularly go creeking, hiking, fishing, birding and exploring nature with my family. These experiences and the joy they were filled with were only possible because safe natural places exist. That is fast not becoming a reality for future children. They are being left a world with less natural places and less species than the one we inherited. They are being left a reality where spotting a deer means seeing one hit off to the side of the road. This doesn’t have to be!
Wildlife corridors represent a very real way to protect animals and people. By allowing wildlife areas of safe passage, we help the many animals who call Pennsylvania home to be able to traverse the land in search of their basic needs. And, we allow the people of Pennsylvania to traverse the land more safely. These corridors allow wildlife and people to coexist in places that are often dangerous to both: roadways. Wildlife corridors protect wildlife from senselessly dying along roadways in collisions that can seriously harm and even kill people too.
So, I ask that you call your local congressperson and tell them to support these vital wildlife corridors. Support these corridors not just for the animals who would use them, or for the safety of drivers on our roadways; support these corridors for all Pennsylvanians (animal and human alike) who are deprived of experiencing wildlife safely when preventable collisions are not prevented. Be part of the prevention, support wildlife corridors!
Ordinances are meant to protect
Wow. State College economy is reeling, pandemic affects us and many problems exist. I was always of the mind that ordinances created by humankind have common sense and protection of ALL citizenry as ultimate goals. College Township behavior related to Amish “problem” and the harassment of the young lady and her pet chickens seems like proverbial “chicken s---” to me.