Dear Neighbor,
On Wednesday, I joined the House Democratic Policy Committee for a roundtable discussion and guided tour of Norristown State Hospital, one of only two forensic psychiatric facilities in Pennsylvania. This roundtable and tour offered us a firsthand look at the hospital’s current infrastructure and its plans for a more recovery-focused future. We were able to walk through patient areas and engage with staff to better understand the challenges faced and progress needed in behavioral health care. The tour also underscored the need for continued investment in mental health services, including for those in the criminal justice system.
The hospital is preparing to break ground in 2026 on a new facility designed to replace aging buildings from 1947 and 1965. The upcoming structure will feature single-patient rooms and is envisioned as a “100-year building,” built to last.
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Addressing Our Gun Violence Epidemic Requires Policy and Change
On Wednesday afternoon, three police officers lost their lives in the line of duty while serving a domestic-related warrant in York County. My heart is with the officers' families, their colleagues, and the entire community shaken by yet another senseless act of gun violence.
The actions of these officers likely saved other innocent lives, and I am grateful for the swift response by law enforcement officers who took control of a situation that never should have been. This wasn’t a random act of violence; it was a calculated attack, and it ended with three lives lost, two additional officers wounded, and a community shattered.
Once again, we are left to mourn and honor the fallen. But we must also ask: what are we doing to prevent this from happening again?
Gun violence has become so commonplace in our nation that the response to these tragic incidents follows a predictable pattern. Those calling for action in the form of reasonable gun safety legislation are told that now is not the time or accused of trying to politicize a tragedy. But there is never a “better time” to have the conversation, because these tragedies occur day after day, week after week, year after year.
What we cannot continue to do is accept these losses as routine. We cannot keep offering thoughts and prayers without also offering policy and change. The officers who died on Wednesday deserved better. Their families deserved better. And our communities deserve better.
On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee will vote on five common-sense gun safety bills that are supported by a broad, bipartisan majority of Pennsylvanians, including gun owners. This committee meeting was scheduled prior to the events of Wednesday, but the subject of the legislation is sadly as timely as ever.
- Universal Background Checks (HB 1593) requires a background check for all guns, regardless of the length of the barrel, closing a loophole that has allowed the sale of long guns without a background check.
The PA House Judiciary Committee will be voting on these and other bills beginning at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 22. You can watch LIVE here.
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Getting Ready for Municipal Election Day
This past Tuesday marked National Voter Registration Day. With less than 50 days until Election Day, there is no better time to make sure you are ready to vote!
In Pennsylvania, we hold elections every year, twice a year – with a primary in the spring and a general election in the fall. That means every single year, you have the power to shape who represents you at the local, county, state, and even judicial levels.
This November, voters in our community will be choosing leaders for important positions like:
- School Board Directors
- Township Supervisors & Borough Council Members
- Mayors
- County Offices
- Judges for the County Court of Common Pleas
And statewide, voters across the commonwealth will be voting on state judicial retentions, a state Superior Court judge, and a Commonwealth Court judge.
Unfortunately, Municipal Elections typically have LOW voter turnout, but these elected officials make decisions that impact our day-to-day lives. From decisions about our schools, law enforcement, open space preservation, local taxation, zoning & development, and how justice is administered, these choices matter!
Make sure you are ready for Election Day today!
Your vote is your voice, and your vote is powerful. Be sure to make it heard on November 4th!
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Seasonal Vaccine Opportunities in Chester County
The Chester County Health Department will be hosting community clinics for anyone interested in getting their flu and COVID vaccines. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, while the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for ages 65+, and available for those 6 months–64 with certain medical conditions or by request.
Clinics are being held at community locations such as schools and libraries, and appointments can be scheduled online. To save time, fill out consent forms in advance, bring your insurance card if you have one, and wear short or loose-fitting sleeves for easy access.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, click here.
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If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net.
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Lionville Park & Rossi Park Master Plan Community Survey
Exciting things are in the works in Uwchlan Township!
Uwchlan Township is currently working on a master plan for improvements to Lionville Park and the creation of a brand-new park at the former Rossi Property - and they want to hear from you!
The survey is short & simple and will help shape the future of Lionville Park and Rossi Park.
Take the survey here.
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2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Extended
The deadline to file Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024, has been extended to December 31, 2025. The state will begin to issue rebate checks on July 1, so the sooner you file, the sooner you will receive your rebate if eligible!
Thanks to changes passed in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information.
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email?repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help!
Sincerely,
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Danielle Friel Otten
State Representative,
155th Legislative District
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-5009
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District Office
631 Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259
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