Lancaster was not blindsided by data centers, the Lancaster City Democrat Leadership welcomed them. Private meetings, "advisory opinions," declining public appearances... The public trust has been eroded. Our elected officials knew what was going on, and with the gossip I hear, I'm inclined to believe this is a concerted effort. It is also very observable. Our City Council doesn't serve the public, it serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. To this end, personally, I blame the public.

Oh? Are you surprised? Maybe I'm talking about you?

Yes. We need to stop believing that our political parties are going to save us. That people who remain quiet and drag on procedure and claim inexperience, but yet are the most qualified, are acting on our best interest. What we are experiencing is affecting all kinds of communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I have seen it. 

Granville Township, Mifflin County;

Smithfield Township, Monroe County;

Middlesex Township, Cumberland County;

East Whiteland, Chester County;

Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County;

more, and us... Lancaster City, Lancaster County.

I'm sick and tired of watching this happen. A decade of participation, directly. I am the reason people get to watch the livestreams here in Lancaster City. Has my community turned over so fast that people can't recall the work I've done? Has my community left me on the hill to die because I am not a Democrat? What do I have to do to finally make the public, my community, the People I gave my twenties to, to recognize that I know what I'm talking about?

I watched a City Council vote on a proposal for a tax break for a private development which was supposed to garner us millions, but instead, we lost millions. We CONTINUE to lose millions. I watched my City Council make this decision. IN. THE. LITERAL. DARK. This was the Marriott Expansion, naming the bar at the top, "The Exchange," is the absolute peak of irony. 

I witnessed Tim Stuhldreher, then reporter for LNP, taking desperate photos of a projected presentation that flickered so hard that was the only way to read the info. I did the same. The tech issues turned into a power outage, isolated to CITY HALL ALONE. The reason that historically my setup was always batteries and my own independent Wi-Fi, was because as a resident I was traumatized by the lack of transparency. I could not allow a blackout to prevent the residents from seeing the room where it happens, so I was black out proof, and I showed up like a dog. In that time, something dark has grown.

As I even experienced in drafting this City's new charter, which you elected me to do, I observed something gross. Now, the City just plays a different game. Private meetings, one-on-one to one-on-one, daisy chaining opinion. The reason this politics stuff becomes a job is because we do not have the discussion in the room. In fact, they LOVE EMPTY ROOMS because they get legitimately nervous. It is all a front, and for once in a decade, I see the public actually aware, but we risk not holding our system accountable.

We MUST finally hold the system accountable. We MUST use our power to stop these data centers in Lancaster City. The state IS watching us. We ARE looked at for guidance. We, THE PEOPLE... NEED to fight so that we ALL gain greater strength.

I am asking you to fight with me. Will you fight with me? 

Will you take the same risks as me?

Will you demonstrate to the entire state, what WE, THE PEOPLE, are capable of doing when we stand together? Or are you going to let me do this alone, as this community has done repeatedly. Some of you showed up with me to City Council, but even though I've seen the highest participation in Lancaster City I have ever seen... These other communities I mentioned... they have you beat. Hell, even Columbia still has us beat, and that's here in the same county. I still haven't seen that kind of turnout in Lancaster City.

This petition is not for the faint of heart. We will likely get sued. This happens when you oppose power. I have already decided, I am doing this. I am filing an appeal, but you can join me. I am appealing the decision of the Planning Commission to the Zoning Hearing Board, just like Frank Arcoleo appealed the now declared, "advisory opinions," of the Zoning Officer. They want to fiddle around with my community, then they can find out, and I always give my community everything I got in my advocacy, even if they won't show up with me... 

Will you sign this petition? Will you join me in the fire?

Even if it is just one who signs to join me... Lancaster Residents Against Glut and Exhaust (Lancaster R.A.G.E.) will be filing an appeal at the end of the month against this machine. The signers of this petition will be submitted along with the appeal form, making clear we are all signing on as individuals who claim party status to the appeal, and all may hire our own representation individually, or can be asked to settle with independently, but we will all operate under this same umbrella name for the sake of filing the appeal, and this petition will serve as a supplementary document to clarify all the individual parties asking for party status.

Are you ready to be the change?

Have I not taught this community the power one person can have if they use the power they already have? Imagine what can happen if we work together.

If you are really interested, I need you to sign this petition AND fill out this form (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PCF3FPP)to make sure you're paying attention and are consenting to being submitted with the appeal.