To The Editor,
When I was sworn into the United States Air Force, I took an oath to defend the Nation and uphold our Constitution. As your next State Representative for District 13, I will take my oath to the Pennsylvania Constitution just as seriously. We have an environmental crisis in our own backyard, and we must take decisive steps now to protect our Pennsylvania natural resources before it is too late.
Pennsylvania Constitution. Article I, Section 27 says: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”
I grew up on a farm. From my youth, I have a deep respect for the land, air and water. A top priority as your next representative will be to write legislation reversing the devastating effects of 2016’s Act 12 that placed the Chester Water Authority (CWA) at risk for a hostile corporate takeover by a for-profit water company. This legislation would include: Not allowing private companies to buy municipal authorities unless they are in financial or operational distress, not allowing private companies to offer to buy municipal authorities for more than they are worth and to place the CWA and its land holdings in an environmental trust. By doing so, our water and watershed will be safe for future generations.
Our natural resources must not be in the hands of those who are looking for profit over the health and safety of our community. We must stop those who blatantly defy our constitutional rights as Pennsylvanians.
Richard Ruggieri
London Grove
Candidate, State Representative, 13th District
