🛑 Oppose Administrative Bill 3 — Public Land Deserves Public Input

On April 22nd, Lancaster City Council will vote on a major policy change: Administrative Bill 03-2025, which would allow the City to sell public land through licensed real estate brokers instead of through public bids or auctions.

The bill’s supporters say it gives Lancaster more flexibility. But here’s the problem: flexibility without accountability opens the door to favoritism, speculation, and gentrification.

Under this ordinance, the Mayor could recommend properties for sale, and Council could approve each deal through simple resolutions—without requiring robust public input, clear criteria, or community benefit agreements.

And here’s the kicker: A staggering 42% of City-owned land is concentrated in Southeast Lancaster, the very neighborhoods that have endured decades of disinvestment, racial segregation, and harmful land use policy. These 108 acres represent our public wealth, our chance to invest in affordable housing, green space, and long-term community good—not quick flips for short-term cash.

We mapped the data. It’s clear.

A digital copy of a flyer Tony created. The image is linked to a PDF you can download and distribute.

• The Southeast has almost half the City’s public land holdings.

• These neighborhoods need more public trust, not less.

• Selling public land behind closed doors only deepens the pain of past policy failures.

Lancaster’s new Home Rule powers should be used to empower communities, not sidestep them. Any public land sale should meet equity-based criteria, include community voice, and ensure the land is used for the public good.

That’s why I’m asking you to join me in calling on City Council to vote NO on Administrative Bill 3.

We can—and must—do better.

🗓 Mark your calendar: City Council Vote – April 22nd, 2025
📍 Attend in person or send public comment
📧 Email your Councilors and tell them: NO to Bill 3. YES to public accountability.

Here are the email addresses for the members of the Lancaster City Council:

• Amanda Bakay (President): abakay@cityoflancasterpa.gov

• (RUNNING FOR MAYOR) Jaime Arroyo (Vice President): jarroyo@cityoflancasterpa.gov

• (RUNNING FOR MAYOR) Janet Diaz: jdiaz@cityoflancasterpa.gov

• (RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION) Ahmed Ahmed: aahmed@cityoflancasterpa.gov

• (RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION) Lochard Calixte: lcalixte@cityoflancasterpa.gov

• Faith Craig: fcraig@cityoflancasterpa.gov

• John Hursh: jhursh@cityoflancasterpa.gov​

For general inquiries or to submit public comments, you can also contact:

• City Clerk Bernie Harris: bharris@cityoflancasterpa.gov

Let’s protect Lancaster’s future—together.

—
Tony Dastra
Candidate for Mayor of Lancaster
Neighbor. Researcher. Public Servant.