Dear Neighbor,
As we continue through a prolonged budget impasse in Harrisburg, I want to assure you that my focus remains firmly on serving our neighbors here in central Chester County. The absence of a finalized state budget has real consequences, and I understand the frustration and uncertainty it creates, especially as it pertains to the services and resources my office can provide. Despite the budget standoff, our district office remains fully operational and ready to assist. Whether you need assistance accessing state services, have questions about pending legislation, or simply want to share your concerns, my team and I are here to help.
Last week, as we passed Day 100 of the budget impasse, I shared a comprehensive overview of the current situation, including how we arrived at this point and what’s at stake for our communities. The prolonged delay in passing a state budget affects everything from school funding and public safety to vital human services and local infrastructure projects. In my remarks, I emphasized the urgent need for bipartisan cooperation to move Pennsylvania forward. House Democrats have repeatedly come to the table with compromise proposals, while Senate Republicans have offered little beyond deeps cuts to essential services. That approach is not sustainable and it’s not what our constituencies deserve. If you missed last week’s newsletter, click here. You can also watch my comments here.
Visit Team Otten at a Mobile Office Near You
This past Wednesday, we held our first Mobile Office at the Coatesville YMCA, adding a new location to our ongoing community outreach efforts. This site, at the YMCA on Hurley Road in West Brandywine Township, joins our existing Mobile Office at the Downingtown Library, meaning we now offer two conveniently located, monthly mobile offices to better serve our neighbors across the district.
Staff from my office will be at the Coatesville YMCA on the third Wednesday of each month from 11 AM to 1 PM, and at the Downingtown Library on the fourth Wednesday of each month, also from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Whether you need help with SEPTA Key Senior ID Card sign-ups (must be age 65+/bring your ID), Unclaimed Property searches, Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms, PA Yellow Dot Program, information on Real ID, or other state related services, our mobile offices are designed to meet you where you are; making access to assistance more convenient and responsive.
Big thanks to the Coatesville YMCA for hosting us and to all the YMCA members and staff who stopped by get help with state services or just to say hello!
Important Municipal Election Day Deadlines Approaching!
With less than 20 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!
Drop boxes for mail-in and absentee ballots will open on Tuesday, October 21 in Chester County. Visit the Voter Services website for an up-to-date list of drop box hours and locations.
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Judicial Retention: What it is, why it matters, and what you need to know
This November, Pennsylvania voters will make decisions that directly shape the future of our courts, and not just by electing new judges, but by voting to retain them as well. You’ll also be asked to vote in judicial retention races, which determine whether sitting judges stay on the bench for another term. On your ballot you will see judicial retention questions for one judge on the Superior Court, one judge on the Commonwealth Court, and three justices on the Supreme Court.
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What does judicial retention mean?
In Pennsylvania, judges are elected to serve 10-year terms, and while there are no term limits, they must retire at the age of 75. To continue serving, they must stand for retention at the end of each term. These elections are nonpartisan, meaning judges appear on the ballot without party labels, and there are no opposing candidates. Voters are simply asked: Should this judge be retained for another term? A YES vote keeps them in office; a NO vote removes them.
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This year, the following judges are up for retention:
- Judge Anne Lazarus – Superior Court
- Judge Lori Dumas – Commonwealth Court
- Justices Christine Donhue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht – Supreme Court
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Why does it matter?
This year’s retention votes are especially significant because three of the seven seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are on the line. That’s nearly half the bench! The Supreme Court makes final decisions on cases that affect voting rights, reproductive freedom, education, public safety, and more. These rulings shape law across the Commonwealth and have lasting impacts on our lives, families, and communities. For non-partisan information about the judicial retention election in Pennsylvania, visit the League of Women Voters Judicial Election Resource Guide.
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Flip your ballot!
In Chester County, the judicial retention questions will appear on the back of your ballot. Don’t miss them! Before you submit your ballot, make sure you FLIP YOUR BALLOT over and make a selection in these critical races.
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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 Station Road – Public Comment Opportunity
This week, staff from my office attended two special Uwchlan Township Planning Commission meetings about plans submitted for the DASD property on Lionville Station Road. The tentative plan by Rockwell Downingtown, LLC, consists of approximately 611 homes, 131 acres of open space, and a natatorium (swimming pool) and nature trail.
Uwchlan Township is accepting public comments on the proposal from now through October 30. Comments can be sent to LSR@uwchlan.com.
For more information, visit the Lionville Station Road section of the Uwchlan Township website, at uwchlan.com/415/Lionville-Station-Road.
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Help Shape the Future of Pennsylvania Rail
The comment period is open from now through October 24 for the 2025 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan. This plan, updated every four years, focuses on safety, passenger and freight rail, funding, policy, the environment and economic development. It also evaluates opportunities for growth in passenger and freight rail, including local projects such as new passenger stations in Downingtown and Coatesville as well as restoration of passenger service from Reading through Phoenixville to Philadelphia.
Public transit’s short term funding crisis may have been resolved for now, but SEPTA regional rail and Amtrak’s Keystone East Corridor are still in desperate need of a permanent solution. Please take a few minutes to make your voice heard on the future of rail in the Commonwealth.
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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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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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