Let’s see fairness in congressional districts’ shapes

I am in my late 80s. But as long as I’m still breathing, I’ll keep working to get our democracy working as it was meant to be — with each vote really counting. Congressional districts, if fair, should consist of adjoining geographical areas. Our Pennsylvania districts, however, have been skewed in all directions (gerrymandered), lumping likely voters, not neighbors, together. The effect of this is to change voting outcomes along political lines.

What is needed is a change in who is responsible for framing these districts. An independent commission rather than the current party representatives would do a more equitable job. To this end, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center are suing (“Get Rid of Gerrymandered Congressional Districts, Lawsuit Demands,” June 16). We concerned Pennsylvania citizens need to help keep this issue alive until it is remedied.

Talk about it, keep reminding our legislators and help restore our confidence and pride in our country. GLORIA W. SNYDER

Mt. Lebanon made a full recovery. It was a frightening time, but I was so grateful to the doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital who took such excellent care of him.

Today, I am terrified that the new American Health Care Act will mean my son will be labeled as having a pre-existing condition and that health insurance for him will be expensive or unaffordable in the future. Unfortunately, the Senate’s work on the AHCA has not been made public and no public hearings have been scheduled to discuss the meritsof this new bill.

I would like to urge all senators from both parties to insist on an open and honest discussion of this new bill so that health care for children like my son will not be in jeopardy. LOUISE D’CRUZ

Point Breeze

During a torrential rain one morning, traffic was barely moving. Drivers edging their way to work or wherever were stranded on Negley Run hill due to the terrible rain and traffic light at the top.

My anxiety was blooming as nothing was moving my cardiac appointment, which was scheduled months ago.

A Toyota in front of me decided to move into the empty “bike” lane. The driver, apparently experiencing the same anxiety

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as I was, sailed up the empty rain-soaked hill. I followed. To our dismay, a police officer was awaiting anyone who broke the bikes-onlylane law.

On a day like this on a clogged wet hill with rain pouring down, who would be riding a bike? The patrol car was showing its authority via the blinking lights and the stranded Toyota awaiting a summons. I drove on by.

Why in the name of good sense was a patrol car at that spot on a day like this? Where were the “bikers”? Who assigned the patrol car?

I arrived at my destination on time only because I broke the bikes-only lane law. Change it, fix it. PETER WATERKOTTE

Penn Hills