Guest Essay: For America's 250th, Let's Return Power To The Town Square - The Right To Plan Our Future, Protect Our Backyards, Have A Seat At The Table

By David M. Sanko, PA State Association Of Township Supervisors

As we approach America’s Semiquicentennial, or 250th birthday, it is time to reflect on how this nation began. 

Our democracy was not born in a sterile state office building or a federal high-rise; it was born in town halls, in village squares, and in local meetings. 

It was built on the common-sense idea that the people who know a community best are the people who live in it.

Yet, as we head toward this historic 250th anniversary, that foundational principle is under fire. 

Across Pennsylvania, our municipalities are increasingly treated not as the partners they are, but as mere “subsidiaries” of the state. 

Decisions that once happened at the kitchen table or the township meeting are now being made by remote control from Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

To honor our 250-year legacy, we must restore the balance. That is why we are launching the Pennsylvania Local Government Bill of Rights.

This initiative is our call to return to the roots of American self-governance. 

It is a common-sense declaration that the management of public business must be rooted in the unique landscape of our own communities. 

We are calling for a return to five fundamental rights:

-- The Right to Plan Our Future: Local decisions belong in local hands.

-- The Right to Protect Our Backyards: Zoning and land use are the heartbeat of a community; they should be directed by the neighbors who live there, not by “one-size-fits-all” statewide mandates.

-- The Right to Freedom from Unfunded Mandates: It’s time the state stopped sending local taxpayers the bill for policies they never ordered.

-- The Right to Modern Transparency: We are bringing the “Town Crier” into 2026. Transparency should be about accessibility, using the websites and social media our residents actually use, rather than forcing expensive, outdated print ads.

-- The Right to a Seat at the Table: True partnership requires listening. We are demanding that state agencies consult with local leaders before they adopt policies that fundamentally change our communities.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, we must remember that freedom is maintained only when government stays close to the people. 

When we strip local leaders of their authority, we move further away from the very democracy our Founders envisioned.

Common sense is making a comeback in Pennsylvania. 

By signing on to the Local Government Bill of Rights, we are saying “yes” to stronger communities, fairer rules for taxpayers, and a future where local voices are not just heard but also respected.

This Semiquicentennial, let’s do more than just celebrate our past. 

Let’s secure our future by empowering the level of government that has served Pennsylvania since our nation’s founding: local government, which is the true embodiment of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”Join us in standing up for local government and the residents we serve every day.

David M. Sanko is the executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS).  

[Posted: June 18, 2026]  PA Environment Digest