The Great Pennsylvania 2021 Voteswagon Tour

The Voteswagon spotlighted the iconic landmarks, attractions, and novelties that define the Keystone State's communities. These cultural touchstones are places and things that local Pennsylvanians know and trust. It's in that same spirit that we want our voting districts to be drawn.

Here are the media hits from the tour.

When you draw the lines, trust citizens to have a seat at the table

You can see the media coverage generated from our stops in each of these communities. 

Monday, April 5th

  • The Candy Factory (Lancaster) We did an informal event with media and one of our mappers from Millersville University to talk about mapping Lancaster County.

  • The Fix Cafe (Harrisburg) Across from the Capitol Complex, legislators and media joined David for a quick cup and convo about our push for public engagement on the 5th member of the LRC.
  • The giant purple dragon in Duncannon It's time we slayed the gerrymander.
  • Haines Shoe House (York) @ 3:15 p.m.  The Voteswagon headed to York’s giant shoe house - because it’s time we stamp out partisan redistricting once and for all.
  • Frey Farm landfill, site of the famous "Barleymander" (Conestoga) This landfill is a painful story for many local residents about the real impacts of gerrymandering. In 2001, State Rep. John Barley, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, was in danger of defeat. He had angered residents in Manor Township when his family sold farmland for $15 million to be used for a new landfill expansion, some of it as close as 100 feet of the Susquehanna River. Some of the zoning decisions allowing the landfill were suspect. Polls suggested he would face a significant electoral challenge. Until, that is, the LRC conveniently carved out Manor Township and put it in another district. One critic referred to this maneuver as "Barleymandering." Read more about this controversial landfill.

Tuesday, April 6th

  • Creed's Seafood & Steaks (King of Prussia). The old Pennsylvania 7th congressional district (2012-2018) was famously named "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck." Goofy's head is connected to his body by the parking lot at Creed's.
  • Downingtown. The Downingtown Area School District in Chester County is split among 5 (yes, FIVE!) State House Districts (74th, 158th, 155th, 26th, and 167th.

Monday, April 12th

  • In Clarks Summit, the 113th state house district completely surrounds the 114th. At one particularly intersection of Gentilly Dr and Old Post Rd, if you look 50 feet one way or 100 feet another down Old Post Rd, you'll see the 113th State House district. However, this 150 foot land bridge scoops up Clarks Summit into the rest of the 114th. Map available here. 

Tuesday, April 13th

  • Cooper's Seafood House (Scranton) @ 10 a.m. We're headed to this restaurant, frequently referenced in The Office, because there is something fishy about how PA has done redistricting.
  • Pennsylvania Paper Tower (Scranton) @ 10:30 a.m. Another The Office favorite, we'll grab some quick social media videos.
  • Arcaro and Genell Pizza Restaurant (Old Forge) @ 12 p.m. Old Forge styles itself as the "Pizza Capital of the World." We'll host local media and supporters, and even eat pizza in the shape of a congressional district.
  • Mary Stegmaier Mansion (Wilkes-Barre) @ 1:30 p.m. We'll host local media and supporters here as well. 

Wednesday, April 14th

  • Liberty Bell Museum (Allentown) @ 12 p.m. This site gave refuge to the Liberty Bell in the 18th century. Maybe our democracy can find refuge in the 21st century. Besides, we can't ring the one in Philly. Here, we can.
  • SteelStacks (Bethlehem) @ 2:30 p.m. We'll meet with local media and mappers to talk about how the Lehigh Valley should be redistricted.

Friday, April 16th

  • The Reading Pagoda @ 12 p.m. Did you know that from 2012-2018, Berks County (pop: 420,000) was broken into four congressional districts? 
  • The Daniel Boone Homestead (Exeter Township) @ 1:15 p.m. Exeter (pop: 25,000), should fit nicely into a single state House district (~62,000 people). Instead Exeter is represented by three districts (5th, 128th, 130th).

Thursday, April 22nd

  • The Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte @ 2 pm. Bellefonte can claim to be the home of five former PA governors, and even 2 governors from other states! And current Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff call Bellefonte home too. 
  • The Nittany Lion Statue, and then the State College Municipal Building @ 3:45 pm, where we'll hear from Mayor Ron Filippelli and 2-time DTL state mapping champion Kyle Hynes.

Friday, April 23rd

  • The U.S.S. Brig Niagara and Maritime Museum in Erie @ 9:30 a.m. to celebrate the "Flagship City." 
  • A media event at Erie's Bicentennial Tower @ 10:30 a.m. County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie Mayor Joe Schember, and DTL champion mapper Ryan Cedzo will offer remarks in support of a transparent redistricting process.
  • The PennDOT Roadside Sculpture Garden in Meadville @ 2 p.m.

Monday, April 26th

  • The Mars Flying Saucer in Mars. It's outta this world. Kinda like PA's gerrymandering districts. This is close to the PA House 10th district, "The Toilet Bowl." 
  • Pittsburgh

Tuesday, April 27th

  • Stackhouse Park (near Johnstown). Here, you can throw a frisbee from the 71st state house district, over the 72nd district, and back to the 71st. Map here.

                                                                *****