Come out, Scott Perry, wherever you are. Why is our U.S. Rep. hiding from constituents?
Scott Perry spares no expense to distance himself from his constituents, but whose expense? Not his. No. We taxpayers fund his increasingly elaborate and inaccessible offices.
When I first met Perry in 2017, he had two offices, one in York and one in Wormleysburg; both were accessible by public transportation, had a functioning staff and were visible from the road in residential areas. Constituents could call or drop in and speak to the receptionist and set up a meeting with Perry or a staffer.
Through redistricting, Perry inherited all of Dauphin County and rented a third office: Suite 202, 800 Corporate Circle, Harrisburg. The second-floor suite is ornate, expensive and remote from public transportation.
Next, in 2019, Perry moved his York office from 2209 E Market St. to the back of a building at 2501 Catherine Street, next to a truck warehouse. There he shared a tiny office with state Rep. Seth Grove, R-196.
About six months ago, a moving company emptied the Wormleysburg office. No notice of the closure appeared on Perry’s websites, newsletters or other communications. When the 10th District Network began publicizing this sudden closure on social media, Perry’s website claimed all three offices were still open and accepting phone calls and emails.
In late January, Perry announced that a new Mechanicsburg office would open in February. And, sure enough, his new Mechanicsburg office finally opened in April – a magnificent office on the second floor, Suite 205, 4999 Louise Drive, in at Rossmoyne Condominium Park.
Perry’s changing office sites seem to reflect his change in attitude towards his constituents. A few years ago, we had many interesting demonstrations and rallies on the grassy lawns of his York and Wormleysburg offices. Sometimes he would come out and argue with demonstrators, possibly even enjoying the contest.
When he first opened the Harrisburg office, people could knock, enter the office, and enjoy a lovely reception area with leather seating next to an ornate conference room. The staff was polite and helpful; in fact, through this office I arranged a group meeting with Perry, although it took four months and a personal “sit-in" to do so.
However, the Harrisburg office no longer responds to knocks, intercom messages, emails or voicemails; it’s often empty. In the parking lot a stern sign warns, “Authorized Parking Only… Unauthorized Vehicles Towed & Stored at Owners’ Expense,” followed by the name and number of the towing company.
Perry’s new office in 4999 Louise Drive, is no more hospitable. A palatial new building, almost the twin of Perry’s Harrisburg site, both post the same “Authorized Parking Only…” sign at the lot entrance.
On my April visit, I entered a 3-story lobby, where a gigantic American flag towered beside the spiral staircase. At Suite 205, nobody responded on the intercom or to my knocking. A sign on the door enthusiastically announced: “We’re Open!” adding in smaller letters, “By Appointment ONLY!“ Below that contradictory welcome was an “Occupancy Limit” sign in large yellow letters, followed by this explanation in tiny blue print: “In order to help our visitors and staff practice social distancing, we are allowing a maximum of 2 visitors in this area at any given time.” (This from anti-masker and anti-vaxxer Scott Perry, who laughed when offered a mask during the January 6th Insurrection?)
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On May 1, mere weeks from potential default disaster, the 10th District Network went to the Mechanicsburg office in a last-ditch effort to convince Perry to drop his demands for drastic cuts in services: to tell him that veterans need their benefits; those of modest income need food and medicine; and everyone needs affordable credit.
Our “MAYDAY!” signs signaling our distress drew some tenants to the windows to photograph or wave at us; others, less happy, called a manager to come evict us from the private property, which, he said, included not only the building but the sidewalks, grass, neighboring buildings, parking lots and the street.
He said he respected our First Amendment rights, but, in this case, his property rights negated our right to free speech. Interestingly, the top floors of the building displayed numerous signs celebrating three different Republican candidates for county commissioner. All we can assume is that while Perry and the corporate wealthy exercise their First Amendment rights inside his elegant sites, the rest of us must remain quietly outside, without signs, in the cold, and out of luck.
Susan Roller lives in Camp Hill.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Why is U.S. Rep. Scott Perry hiding from constituents?
