Rep. Comitta holds virtual town hall

Climate change ranks highest area of concern among 1,100 participants

State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156 of West Chester, answered questions from constituents during a telephone town hall Wednesday.

The main topics raised included climate change, the U.S. census and gerrymandering; 1,100 people participated in the forum, which included a moderator asking poll questions live during the virtual town hall.

Citizens rank issues by importance

Participants in a live poll declared which political issues are currently the most important to them.

Twenty-seven percent of participants said environmental concerns and climate change were their top issues of concern.

Twenty-four percent of people

polled cited gun safety reform as their most important issue.

Seventeen percent of people determined that their number-one concern was the Mariner East Pipeline.

“The pipeline is always an issue an issue in my district and certainly in Chester County,” Comitta said.

The poll found that 20 percent of constituents felt their biggest issue of concern in the 156th District was property tax reform.

Fifty-eight percent of people polled supported the minimum wage in Pennsylvania increasing to $15 per hour; 8 percent of people polled were unsure while 34 percent did not support an increase. The current minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25.

Twelve percent of people polled selected “other” as their top issue of concern.

Climate change

“Not surprising to me at all was that environmental issues and climate change were of top importance to the people who called in, to my constituents, and also to me,” Comitta said.

The focal point of this issue ranged from the impact of climate change on biodiversity to water pollution and carbon emissions.

Fifty-eight of constituents told Comitta that Pennsylvania is not doing enough to combat climate change. Fifteen percent of people said the commonwealth is doing a good job; 27 percent of people polled felt that the state is currently doing too much.

“I’ve been working on this for years,” Comitta said. “I am devoted to fighting the climate crisis.”

She noted that there is an effort in Harrisburg for Pennsylvania to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which was founded in 2019 to reduce greenhouse emissions. Participating states include: New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Census

Census data will determine how more than $675 billion in federal funds will be distributed to the states each year of the following decade, Comitta’s office said.

The last U.S. Census conducted

by the federal government, which is constitutionally mandated, happened in 2010. Citizens and non-citizens who live in America are asked a set of questions. The findings go on to impact each state for the next decade from federal funding allotments to future congressional and state representation of elected officials sent to Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg by voters.

“It’s huge,” Comitta said of the Census. “It is just very important to fill out the census.”

People will get mailed a Census form this year to answer a total of nine questions. Folks can also answer questions online using their federally determined Census identification number. Those who do not answer, may expect a knock on their door from the Census to get people’s information.

Comitta said people’s answers are confidential and, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, there is no question about citizenship on the form.

Presently, Pennsylvania is awarded $26.8 billion annually through the 16 largest federally-funded programs. This equates to approximately $2,000 per Pennsylvanian each year,

according to Comitta’s office.

Gerrymandering

Comitta said that the redrawing of state and congressional district maps, known as redistricting, will happen in 2021 and will be driven by the results of the 2020 U.S. Census.

“All those districts will be redrawn in 2021 based on the population, distribution, demographics (determined in 2020) by the census,” she said.

“Currently, legislators draw the district maps,” she said, noting that the majority party has the control of drawing the maps. To counter this, an effort is underway to create an independent nonpartisan commission to redraw Pennsylvania’s district maps following the results of the Census.

She said Fair Districts Pennsylvania is a citizenled effort to change the redistricting process from a legislative project to a project of citizens across the commonwealth. “The goal would be to have a more objective, fairer drawer of the districts and less politically driven.” The representative is sponsoring legislation to make this happen in Harrisburg.

Upcoming events

Comitta is hosting a consumer protection outreach event from 10 am. to 1 p.m. at the West Chester Area Senior Center on March 4.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s Bureau of Consumer Protection office will be present to answer any consumer complaints or questions, Comitta’s office said. Residents will also have the opportunity to sign up for text scam and consumer alerts.

Beginning 6 p.m. April 2, Comitta will partake in an advocating forum presenting climate solutions. Climate on Tap with Penn Environment will take place at Barnaby’s Restaurant and Pub, 15 S. High St., West Chester.

“Penn Environment and I will be hosting a happy hour event at Barnaby’s, where we will be discussing environmental issues, climate solutions and more,” Comitta said.

Citizens are invited to join Comitta at 5 p.m. April 9 for an event about the REAL ID program going into effect in October. The public forum is taking place in East Goshen Township Office, 1580 Paoli Pike, West Chester. PennDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and address

concerns of citizens.

An event dedicated to bringing resources together for individuals with different abilities is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 9 at Fugett Middle School, 500 Ellis Lane, West Chester. Comitta said it is the district’s first-ever expo of this kind.

Wednesday was Comitta’s third time hosting a virtual town hall forum. Prior to being elected to the state House in Harrisburg for the 156th Legislative District in 2016, Comitta served as the first woman mayor in the history of West Chester from 2010 to 2017. Prior to that, she served the borough as a council member for the community’s 5th Ward from 2006 to 2010.

Comitta encouraged people to call her office when support is needed. She said, “Our job is to help you ... We help our neighbors every day with many concerns and we are happy to be here to help.”

To connect with Comitta, sign up for her e-newsletters via www.pahouse. com/Comitta. Citizens may also call her office at 610696-4990. To follow her on social media, visit https:// twitter.com/RepComitta and https://www.facebook. com/RepComitta.

Comitta is running for re-election this year.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rep. Carolyn Comitta