Scranton-At-Large

2010-03-05T05:42:00.000-05:00

JT's OPINION
An Alternative News Source
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa 18509 jtsopinion@gmail.com
Joe Talamini-Editor/Publisher

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, recently reelected for third term, running for Governor (oops), Lt. Governor (oops), State Senator (?)...Doherty to sue City Council (the people) over refusal to see things his way (budget...library board...etc.).....Doherty refuses to come to Council, says they must come to him....Doherty makes State of the City speech to C of C (not taxpayers)...Doherty insists on maintaining “dictatorship” rather than Mayor status.....

Democrats endorse “bad baggage” laden candidates, including Corcoran, “new” Commissioner O'Brien, and others, including Rep. Ken Smith who can't seem to understand that you have to pay your taxes, no matter what....

Shimkus, previous loser due to “misrepresentation” issues in last election, wants another shot...gets backing (?).....DiBileo, enters another race, then withdraws.....Lee Morgan, Democrat-Republican, any party candidate, still seeks any office available....19 yr. old ex-Jr. Council President still seeks to “educate” everyone based on his “experience and expertise” (couldn't win election as class president in high school)...

Scranton businessman, convicted felon, again convicted...this time on 16 federal counts of bank and credit card fraud....claims he is a victim...

Dudrich enters race against Staback...drops out....

Indicted Scranton Housing Authority Director David Baker, still facing 16 count federal indictment (suspended but still paid until recently) now decides to sue Hsng. Auth. & Board for “wrongfully removing” him from his position...after delaying his pending case with continued motions, now off the payroll, wants “justice” and his job back....

WELCOME TO POLITICS IN NEPA! “That's the way it's always been” mentality continues despite the rest of the political world changing all around us. Is it something in the water? Is it that our brains are clogged with dust from the coal mine operations? Or is it that area voters are considered absolutely stupid and incapable of thinking for themselves? In any event, this is the first lesson in Politics 101.
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES....we are still letting these political hacks run our way of life! Can't we find honest and sincere candidates or must we continue to recycle “losers”, “felons” and the bevy of “classless” acts that political leaders keep forcing down our throats?

Anyone deciding to enter any political campaign, without regard to party-line (there really is no difference), must first, and foremost, start out with a fresh new approach and at least have some credible credentials. Having been a friend of a friend, a former one-term elected official, or in the initial throes of your first term in office, are not adequate qualifications for elected office, unless of course you live in Scranton or Lackawanna County. Then, apparently, it doesn't matter.

Forget the fact that your “record” is based on falsehoods and political-hype...forget the fact that most of your “puppets” were bounced out of office recently because people were fed up with their antics....and most of all, forget the fact that you can't seem to gain any respectability because you really lack any respectability. That seems to be the basis for candidacy in this area. It doesn't have to be so!

We have been a distressed city for nearly 20 years, and no one has made any attempt to move us out of that status, nor has anyone come along to alleviate the tremendous tax burden placed on us! No one has yet to file for candidacy who has a proven track record that is “For the People”! No one has made any effort to communicate with the people who are the ultimate “deciders”, the taxpayer and voter. Yet, we are continually besieged by “endorsed” candidates who can't even decide where they live, what their platform is, or who they truly represent! And we wonder why Pennsylvania has become the laughing stock of the nation, and is the brunt of so many jokes that even television programs are created to poke fun at us?

Everyone used to make fun of the “inbreeding” of the Southern hillbillies, but it is apparent that the Keystone State has surpassed that label and can now claim title to that ignominious label, at least in terms of candidates, job opportunities, and political favors. Just look around you and try to find someone who is not related to someone else in office, someone who holds a management position in government, or someone who has a friend of a friend. Yes, it is true, there have been job creations...but they are contingent upon who you are related too, or to whom you are obligated.

If there ever was an issue which needed a major investigation, it is politics in the local area. For more than three years we have been trying to champion change on the local front; and for the same period of time we have been projecting the fall from power of those responsible for the corruption of our political system. Now, with at least the tip of the iceberg showing signs of federal action, “politics as usual” is still the norm.

The election of Barack Obama should have been a signal that the “old line politics” were a thing of the past, but somewhere along the line, the “grass-roots” movement fell apart. It certainly is time for a complete and new movement to challenge the charlatans and we strongly encourage those who were involved in Obama's campaign to make their presence known and jump-start another “new beginning”.The refreshing look of the new City Council is an indicator that at least one small group is trying to bring government back to the people. Now it is time for the rest of us to join in that endeavor and shake, rattle and roll. Our youth and our “educated” citizens need to take a stand and do their part in restoring government “of the People, by the People, and for the People”! Are you willing to do your part or would you rather continue the downhill slide of Pennsylvania, and especially NEPA?
JT

2010-02-08T15:59:00.002-05:00

JT'sOPINIONN
An Alternative News Source
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa. 18509 jtsopinion.com
Joe Talamini-Editor/Publisher

COREY OUT - VIRGINIA IN

Corey Platt and Chris Doherty have parted ways and Doherty's sister, Virginia McGregor, is back at the helm of her brother's “Gubernatorial” run. Platt, who had been campaign manager for the Mayor, has returned to Missouri, according to reports.

McGregor, who has had a hand in her brother's campaigns since he first ran for office, is considered to be the “real brain” behind the man, and it is no surprise she has reentered the scene. No one is saying, but it is widely believed that McGregor's presence had a lot to do with Platt's departure. According to our contacts, Virginia has always had the “final say” and is known to be the decision maker and “advisor” to her brother.

Her reentry into the forefront has literally been known for some time, but now, it is official. Some claim the Mayor is seeking another full-time campaign manager, but these sources also say any new “leader” will still have to contend with McGregor.

At present Doherty is playing a “will he or won't he” game in seeking the Governorship, but it is widely believed he is just trying to get his “name” recognized in the Commonwealth. He is not considered a serious contender for the State leadership, either as Governor or Lieutenant Governor but is positioning himself for higher office in Harrisburg, though nobody can pinpoint his goal.

Questions have arisen about his “campaign strategy” and much of the questioning falls back on McGregor's perceived “high handed” tactics. Many are of the opinion she has been a “tad” over zealous, to say the least, and one source claims she may very well be the subject of a potential investigation similar to the one being conducted regarding vendor donations to County Commissioner and Doherty's campaigns.

“HIZZONER” VETOES LIBRARY AUTHORITY REPEAL LAW

As expected, the Mayor has vetoed an ordinance which called for the repeal of an ordinance which established a new Library Authority, passed recently by a 4-1 majority of City Council. The issue should come to a head at Tuesday night's City Council meeting when the Janet Evans led Council is expected to override the veto. It would be the first time the “super majority” has an opportunity to stand up to the Mayor.

Should the Council overrule the Mayor, it is expected Doherty, known for his “my way or the highway” tactics, is expected to seek redress in the courts. The move is expected to be made in keeping with Doherty's contentious arguments that he, and only he, knows what is best for Scranton's taxpayers.

Council voted to eliminate the Library Authority at the behest of a majority of citizens who felt that Scranton does not need, or want, another autonomous self-ruling “authority” which could lead to further taxpayer debt The creation of the Library Authority was “ramrodded” through in December, by a lame duck Council thought to be under Doherty's control. Questionable filing of the necessary paperwork to the State, and the timing of such, at the last minute, was further highlighted by the sudden transfer of deeds for library properties to the “authority” which immediately moved to increase insurance on the buildings. Citizens were shocked by the move, which included transfer of deeds for the Albright Library and other city-owned properties to the new “Board”. Most expressed concern that the “new authority” would soon move to seek funding for Doherty's desire to build a new multi-million dollar library on the South Side of Scranton.

The decision by Council to repeal the ordinance establishing the authority was based on a court ruling which allowed Forks Township to remove its Sewer Authority. That ruling was cited by Council Solicitor Boyd Hughes as precedence for the Council to vacate the previous ordinance establishing the new Library Authority. Doherty apparently saw it differently and will probably call on his “legal beagles” to challenge the move. Time will tell, but we will be watching it closely!

WATCH FOR THE RATS TO DESERT THEIR SINKING SHIPS

With the feds closing in on Scranton and its alleged political corruption, we wouldn't be the least surprised to see a sudden “desertion” of “Doherty loyalists” from city hall, other appointed jobs, and many Board members of the various authorities in the city. Watch as they begin to try to avoid “the other shoe falling” , citing health reasons or the desire to spend more time with their families. The previously believed “untouchables” will be looking to save their own hides.

As the pending trial of disgraced Scranton Housing Authority Director David Baker gets closer to reality, we fully expect to see the sudden exodus of many others who are beginning to feel the heat. The Baker case has been stalled for months, due to legal maneuvering, but it is noteworthy that not one of the original charges in the 16-count indictment has been dropped. He faces federal charges for wire fraud among many other alleged offenses said to have been committed while he headed SHA.

In the interim, feds are still looking at former County Commissioner Robert Cordaro, and minority Commissioner A.J. Munchak, though no charges have yet been filed. It is widely believed that actor Paul Sorvino, recipient of some $500,000 of taxpayers' money for production of an “alleged” movie, is also being investigated. Sorvino, who recently divested himself of local ties by selling his property, has literally “taken the money and run”. To date, he has been less than forthcoming regarding the deal!

Insiders say the local “balloon” is very near to bursting and they predict a massive fallout, possibly even surpassing the debacle in Wilkes Barre and Luzerne County. Apparently the “that's the way it's always been” political philosophy prevalent in this area is about to end....very abruptly.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE HAGGERTY FAMILY

We want to express our sincere condolences to the family of long-time Dunmore civic leader and educator Joseph Haggerty who passed away last week. Mr. Haggerty was a beloved coach and leader in the education field and a long-time supporter of higher education and athletics. Son Kevin, is a candidate for the 112th District seat presently held by State Rep. Ken Smith. JT

2010-02-05T15:47:00.001-05:00

JT's OPINION
An Alternative News Source
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa. 18509 jtsopinion.com
Joe Talamini-Editor/Publisher

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2010-01-04T05:37:00.000-05:00

S.A.L. CHANGING POLICY

We have had considerable time to review our policy and have concluded that it is time for a change! After thorough reexamination of our situation, we have concluded that Scranton-at-Large will be retired as a publication and we will instead concentrate on a broader audience with J.T.'s OPINION.

For the past three years we have exhausted a great deal of effort and energy in trying to educate the public and afford an alternative news source. Apparently, our efforts have fallen on deaf ears and we have failed to gain the respect of the community. To continue under our present policy would be a study in futility and consequently we will no longer publish S.A.L.

Our financial resources were depleted months ago, and we were relegated to offering on-line publishing only. Fortunately, we continued to gain a large readership base, but that base is overwhelmingly not in the Scranton area. It would appear that our readership is interested in what we have to say, but it has become increasingly evident that they want a broader base, and wider coverage.

In the past few months we have determined that we have, in essence, been shut out of the "closed circles" for reasons beyond our comprehension. Starting with the write-in campaign for Gary DiBileo, we were excluded from participation and our advice was neither sought nor apparently wanted. The same seemed to be true in other local circles when we were also excluded from active participation and were basically rejected in our efforts to offer assistance.

That, of course, is the prerogative of those concerned, and we choose to exercise our prerogative of stepping away from offering any assistance, whether solicited or not. The same holds true with the assortment of splinter groups in this community, including individuals and groups which have chosen to exclude us from their "inner workings" and have chosen to maintain a silence. Recent developments have proven us right, in that these parties have chosen to keep their "agendas" private and to rely on the local media to help them. Good Luck!

We have never been a "Legion of Doomer", and chose not to affiliate with any select group who wish to push an agenda. Instead, we have maintained a degree of independence which we will continue to keep. For many months we have sought input from these people, and groups, and have been rejected. The only time they sought us out was when it fit their needs. That policy is coming to an end.

Too much time and energy has been expended in trying to do what we believe was right, and we are tired of being used as a tool to promote anyone's personal "axes to grind". We have tried to respect these people, but that respect has not been returned in kind.

So many of our readers are in surrounding communities, and have asked us to offer coverage of their areas. We really have not had the time to do so, with S.A.L. but now we feel the time is right for us to move on. Readers in communities near us, including those in Luzerne County, have made it known to us that they appreciate our efforts, and we will repay them in kind.

Political candidates seeking County and State office have asked for our help, and we will offer them a forum to get their message out. We will still support those candidates we feel represent the best choices, but we will also attempt to present both sides of any scenario.

We deeply regret this decision, because we have spent so much time and effort on S.A.L., but the handwriting is on the wall and we don't have to read between the lines. We get the message, loud and clear! We will, when the situation warrants, offer coverage of Scranton City Council, but our active participation will be extremely limited since we feel our efforts will be better appreciated by other groups.

JT's OPINION will be published on a weekly basis, and as the situation warrants, in special editions. Our concentration will be on other communities and candidates and we hope to continue growing in readership. For those who choose to be a part of our reader base, we will accept your e-mail asking for a free subscription. We will no longer automatically send out S.A.L. and ask that local groups remove us from their mailing lists.

We thank you all for your consideration and cooperation, and to those of you who have remained loyal, we offer to continue to respect your opinions and to offer what help we can. As for those who take offense, sorry, but you get what you deserve. JT

2010-01-01T21:51:00.000-05:00

MONDAY BEGINS NEW ERA

On Monday, beginning at 11 a.m., Scranton will begin a new era with the Sine Die, and Reorganization of City Council. The event will take place at City Council chambers, and will mark the emergence of a "super majority" for the Council headed by incumbent Janet Evans, and newcomers Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce. A replacement for new Tax Collector Bill Courtright will be appointed soon, probably next week according to reports.

Sine Die marks the end of a "Doherty friendly" council and the reorganization will follow at 12 noon with the swearing-in of the new regime.

Interviews for the some 25 applicants to fill Courtright's council seat will begin on Friday, Jan. 8 commencing at 4:30 p.m. and will continue Saturday, Jan. 9, at 9:00 a.m. Though council technically has 30 days to fill the vacancy, it is expected that a decision on the new council member will be made shortly after the interviews.

The interview process, in council chambers, will be open to the public, and will be televised, but public comment will not be permitted.

CHRIS STILL DOESN'T GET IT

Unfortunately, incumbent Mayor Chris Doherty has elected to have "his" swearing in ceremony at the Mellow Auditorium of Lackawanna College at 11 a.m. the same day. It is sad that this man can't see the forest for the trees. Instead of making an effort to come to the people (those are the ones he alleges to represent), he has again chosen to maintain his elitist status and cater to a crowd which has been his "loyal" supporters, once again according him an "anointment" to city office.

Too bad Chris doesn't understand the concept of "government of the people" but does cater to his own delusions of grandeur. It would behoove him to communicate with the electorate, and just possibly, he might have a better perception of Scranton, the city he was elected to govern. He chooses, instead, to hold his speeches, pronouncements and "state of the city" to a group which has little, if any, contact with the general populace. Catering to the business and professional community, rather the the average citizen, our mayor once again thumbs his nose at his constituency.

In a way I feel bad for him! Apparently the Pope could not attend due to more pressing commitments, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and New York Philharmonic Orchestra won't be there either. No word has been received as to whether God had accepted an invitation, and nothing has been heard from other "heads of state", but we are reasonably sure that Austin Burke and the usual contingent of lawyers, developers, and "vendors" will be at Chris' ceremony.

To paraphrase the comic genius Mel Brooks, "It's good to be King"! Sadly, Chris Doherty still believes he is the Ringmaster for his circus. We can't wait for the day when he realizes he actually is the "Clown". Oh well, anyone who believes we are recovering after 17 years as a "distressed city" really can't be held accountable for being delusional.

SCRANTON'S RECOVERY PLAN???

Scranton and Dunmore residents received a nice Christmas gift from the SSA. The new collection policy for sewer rates will be a flat rate $90 quarterly, or $360 annually. This is certainly a fair and equitable approach to the problem, if one is to believe local politicians. Why shouldn't an elderly person, who lives alone, on a fixed income, pay the same as a family with 4 or 5 kids?

For many, the new rate will be a "reduction", and it is only fair (per the SSA) that the burden should fall on those who can least afford another bill. That's what they get for growing old and living off the "fat" of a Social Security check!

Oh yeah, let's not forget the 30% increase in electrical rates and Scranton's additional 6% in school taxes. Added to the 6,000 new jobs created, Scranton should be out of the "distressed city" stigma by 3029 1/2.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
JT

2009-12-26T23:45:00.000-05:00

Scranton-at-Large
The alternative news source for Scranton & the NEPA Area
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa 18509 email: scrantonatlarge.com
Joe Talamini, Editor/Publisher (570)342-1033
_________________________________________________________________________________________`

TODAY WE LOST A MAN!

Today is Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, the day after Christmas! It should be a time of joy and happiness, but unfortunately, we learned of the passing of a giant of a man; an honest politician and a true and dear friend!

The name Sam Patullo will not mean much to most of our readers, but we feel this gentle and humble man is worthy of recognition, something he shunned most of his life. Born and raised in a small New Jersey town, Sam was the son of Italian immigrants. He was a young lad who entered the U.S. military at the height of World War II and served his country well. He married Jo, his childhood sweetheart and they went on to raise a family of their own, but Sam never neglected his mother, the woman who raised him to be the fine gentleman he turned out to be. He was dedicated to his "Jo", a school teacher and lifelong love, and to his great kids.

Sam and his brother Frank, became tailors and opened their own business. Both brothers were noted for their kindness and gentility, and were always available for a chat, or a "hand-out" if needed. Their popularity grew in this small town of some 8,000 people and, at the insistence of his many friends, Sam decided to run for Mayor of his home town.

He was proud of his involvement as a dedicated volunteer fireman, a loving husband and father, and a caring son and true friend to all he met. Sam easily won election, as a Republican, in a town which was heavily Democratic in their political persuasion. He became known as an honest and dedicated gentleman, always available to his fellow citizens, and could be contacted anytime, even during his working hours at the tailor shop. His miniscule stipend as Mayor of the town was irrelevant, and Sam's dedication and honesty and integrity were beyond reproach.

During his first term, Sam spent countless hours doing what he could to help the small bedroom community, and, on many occasions, he provided free dry cleaning services, though he actually paid for them out of his own pocket. He felt it was only fair that Frank should get his share and never blinked at the thought of keeping his books straight.

Sam was also known for his impeccable taste in clothes, and was the epitome of sartorial splendor. His smiles, and his friendly and open attitude endeared him to his fellow citizens, and he was reluctant to accept praise or thanks for his many good deeds. He was indeed, an honest and humble man.

In 1971, Sam was reelected to another term as Mayor, but not before he faced one of the biggest challenges of his career. Tropical Storm Doria hit with great ferocity, and a dam at the "old" reservoir burst, sending a torrent of water down the mountain and inundating the entire downtown district, the west side of town, and effectively isolating the 1 square mile community, which is surrounded by brooks and the Raritan River. At 2.am. Sam was awakened and told of the problem. He jumped into action, and, for the next three days, he tirelessly worked side-by-side with his fellow firemen, often wading through hip-deep water to rescue people from their flooding homes and apartments. At the same time, he endeavored to act in his capacity as Mayor and asked this writer to help in getting the message out to the media and the public. For over 72 consecutive hours, without sleep, Sam tirelessly waded through the streets, often digging into the muddy water in an attempt to clean the storm drains so the water could recede.

When the news and TV stations from New York and Philadelphia finally made it into the community. I called Sam to arrange a press conference, and he reluctantly agreed to meet them at the borough hall. For the first time in his life, he reluctantly was the center of media attention, and despite his reputation as a well-dressed and elegant gentleman, he faced TV cameras and answered questions, in a sweaty, stained sweat shirt and wet blue jeans and soaked to the skin. He was gracious and forthright in answering all questions and later gave me "holy hell" for insisting that he face the cameras in such a state. However, he maintained his decorum and humility and later apologized for his outburst, yet he always gave the credit to others.

Following the disaster, Sam handily won reelection and never forgot his friends, including this writer, and offered his thanks in the way of the gift of a very expensive golf sweater. This was Sam Patullo....humble, shy, unobtrusive, and a dedicated and honest civil servant. He was always hesitant to accept accolades, and insisted that he was just doing his duty, and the true heroes were his fellow citizens who worked so hard to help restore the community.

Sam finally retired, turning down offers to run for higher office, and spent the rest of his life with his beloved Jo. He continued to care for his mother until her passing, and, to keep himself from total boredom, he worked part-time for a friend. His few moments alone were spent in quiet reflection as he took his daily walks to overcome a serious case of phlebitis.

For the past several months, he had been in failing health, but never complained. He finally passed away this afternoon, his loving wife and children by his side.

We maintained casual contact over the years and Sam was genuinely appalled by the state of politics today. He never could understand how anyone could try to benefit from being a civil servant, especially when it involved corruption and dirty politics. Sam Patullo maintained his integrity and honesty right up until his dying breath.

It's hard to put into words just how much of an impact this man had on me, but I looked on him as a big brother, and a friend, and that's just some of the ways I will remember him. He was truly a giant, and epitomized the idealistic image of a true and dedicated civil servant. We csn only hope that a little bit of Sam Patullo will rub off on today's breed of politicians.

Thanks Sam, for a wonderful friendship, and more than 40 years of insight into the "art" of politics. You will be missed, but you've earned your peace and your rest. If there is an election in Heaven, I would only ask God that he allow me to vote for Sam Patullo! JT

2009-12-20T01:29:00.001-05:00

Sunday, December 20, 2009

OUR CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO ALL OUR FRIENDS

Just a few days 'til Christmas
And all around town
The citizens smiles
Are replacing their frown

A New Year is coming
And new leadership too
There's Janet & Pat,
and Frank in the "crew"

The days of the "downers"
are gone from the "hall"
There's only one left,
And soon he will fall

A new day is dawning,
It favors the "crowd"
And soon we'll rejoice
And our voice will be loud

The end of the vote
3-2 all around,
In favor of Chrissy
Who's power went down

No longer the chiding
To the "citizen voices"
The electorate spoke
And they made the right choices

The boisterous voice
of the "thundering two"
Is gone from the dais,
replaced by, "the new"

We look for respect,
as we welcome "the crew",
we offer our help
as it all starts anew

The dignity and class
should return to the hall
And as it comes back
we would like to tell all

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DEAR READERS,
AND TO ALL IN OUR CITY
LET'S RING IN THE NEW YEAR
AND GET BACK TO THE "NITTY-GRITTY"

ON JANET, ON PAT, ON FRANK AND THE REST
WE KNOW THAT YOU'LL GIVE IT.
YOUR VERY DARNED BEST

OUR FUTURE IS NOW,
IN YOUR HANDS, COME THE 1ST
AND WE HOPE WE CAN CLIMB
OUT OF DEBT AT ITS WORSE

DISTRESS IS A WORD
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR,
SO LET'S CLIMB UP THE LADDER
AND MAKE PROGRESS THIS YEAR

THANKS SANTA, AND THANKS TO ALL THE REAL VOTING PUBLIC! NOW LET'S GET ON WITH BRINGING SCRANTON BACK IT'S RESPECT AND DIGNITY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! JT & S.A.L

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-12-17T02:19:00.001-05:00

Thursday, December 17, 2009

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON

This is the time of year when we look forward to celebrating Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, depending on your persuasion. It is also the time of year for reflection over what has passed in the year gone by. In many ways, we in this area have been blessed, but in so many ways there have been some serious "downs" and it would seem that this trend will continue into 2010 and probably beyond.

Our neighbors to the west, particularly Luzerne County, have been plagued by exposures of corruption and serious misdeeds by elected officials. Resignations, indictments, pleas of guilt, etc. have seemed to dominate the news of late. Ongoing Federal investigations have resulted in this corruption being exposed, and many of the "mighty' have fallen. The same has been evident recently by a terrible murder of an "illegal" alien, who was beaten to death by a group of high school athletes. The subsequent acquittal on murder charges led to a Federal investigation and now, charges of "hate crimes" being brought against the alleged perpetrators. Unfortunately, the investigation has led to charges being filed against police, including a police chief, who allegedly acted to "cover up" the crime, including intimidating witnesses, destruction of evidence, and lying to the F.B.I. And most recently, the uncovering of corruption in our State involving elected officials.

Not exactly what we had in mind when we said, "enjoy the holiday season", but perhaps we should enjoy the fact that corruption on the local, county and state level are finally being exposed and our Commonwealth is undergoing very intense scrutiny. We here in Lackawanna County and Scranton have been rather fortunate, though we have had our share of problems which pale in comparison. We've had serious crime revealed, despite the protestations of our Mayor that their was "no crime" in Scranton. Investigation of a former County Commissioner, and the seemingly endless Federal case against the former Scranton Housing Director, and most recently, the revelation that a Scranton police officer has been charged with stealing from the Police Property room, are probably only the tip of the iceberg here.

We have been fortunate, or unfortunate as you may feel, that this investigation by Federal authorities has only "grazed" us, but we feel sure that 2010 will see a much deeper probe into our area, and that several "block busters" will wake us up to the fact that Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County, and Scranton are far more seriously involved in corruption than many of us expected. For over a year, we have been warning that the "House of Cards" was on the verge of collapse. We haven't been wrong, just ahead of our time. We can all expect to see the "other shoe" drop soon, and when it does, many serious repercussions will be felt throughout the area.

For some unexplained reason, the case of the disgraced former Director of Scranton Housing Authority has been postponed, time and again, and once again, the Jan. 10th date has been pulled from the calendar. We would like to assume that the Feds have been extremely busy with other cases, but it seems that two years is an awfully long time to wait for this case to begin. In the interim, this man continues to draw a salary, though the explanation is that he is entitled to pay for the time off which he did not take, and for accrued sick days. It is hard for us to digest that a salaried executive is entitled to such a stipend, but under the circumstances, we have to go along with the "explanation". However, we feel sure that once the "issue" is finally brought to court, a more palatable explanation will be forthcoming.

An investigation of the "activities" of a former County Commissioner are still under way, and local "authorities" and departments are the subject of more investigation. Legal challenges are pending against the former head of the Single Tax Office who now heads the County Tax Office. Add to that the "questions" being asked about other Scranton authorities, departments, and the possible misuse of funds and "preferential treatment" accorded certain entities and we have one helluva mess to see unfold. The possibilities here are endless, and we fully expect some of these investigations to be "openly" publicized in the near future.

Thankfully, we have a new City Council to look forward to, and hopefully, a new beginning of openness and fairness in our local government. We have been planning for some time to begin a series of articles on the "closed society" which surrounds some of our local Authorities' activities, but so far, we have met with little or no cooperation. This is not to say that we are giving up, it merely means that we will have to leave the "final decision" up to our readers, based on the information we can provide. Sadly, one of the reasons for the lack of cooperation we have received is, "We have nothing to hide"! If this is so, why would these folks be so reluctant to cooperate with us in our attempts to present any insight into their activities? Someone who has nothing to hide would benefit from cooperating, not from maintaining a veil of silence. The chips will fall where they may, and if anything appears to be questionable, the public will have to decide for themselves. All we can tell these folks is, if anything comes out which is negative, you have no one to blame but yourselves!

We must reiterate a theme we have been putting forth since we started in this business. The government, and all its entities, are and should be for the people. Too many elected officials, and far too many appointed officials, have taken it upon themselves to feel they are above and beyond the scrutiny of the public. The essence of our "Democracy" is that government is the people, not a select group which "rules" the people. This country was formulated to overcome the very "tyranny" of the English Kings and for more than 200 years, it has worked, though many have tainted the principles. Now, with modern technology, and more learned and thinking people, the truth is emerging, and the government( i.e. the people) is beginning to understand that it is incumbent upon us, the people, to assure that this tyranny will not revert to that of the times previous to the establishment of the U.S. Government.

There should not be another "tea party", and it should not be necessary to consider another "uprising" against corrupt government. Our election system is relatively good, but our checks and balances have failed us in the past, save for a few "come uppance" cases where leaders have been exposed, removed from office, and made to pay for their crimes. The tide is turning, and the people are once again beginning to get involved, and to take note of just what their leaders are doing. The investigations by the Federal authorities are a major step in the right direction, but it is also incumbent upon the people to be aware of the actions of their leaders.

Luzerne County, the Commonwealth, and Lackawanna and Scranton are awakening from a long and self-induced slumber! The nightmare which is taking place is due to the fact that "politics as usual" mentality has been prevalent. Now, it is being proven that the effects were directly caused by us, for not being alert and astute enough to maintain proper supervision over our leaders. We have allowed this condition to exist, and to fester, due to our lack of "being involved" in the daily activities of our government. It is time we the people, took back our government and maintained the principles of a true Democracy.

Locally, two elected officials were ousted, despite their belief, and their protestations, that they represented "all the people". Obviously they did not, as evidenced by the electorate turning them out of office.They ranted and raved about a "handful" of "rabble rousing" citizens who sought to address issues at open meetings. They chastised, ridiculed, and attempted to demean the speakers. Unfortunately, the local press joined in this miscarriage and actually helped to foster this belief. The failure of the local media to "look into" the complaints was a tragic and terribly poor case of misguided journalism. This is not a new issue, but it has been largely ignored by the media, and now, despite the voter sentiments, the media still has maintained its "dedication" to the administration and its ignoring of citizen complaints.

In two weeks, a new regime will take office, and they will have a "super majority" to offer a serious and honest challenge to the local administration. We would hope that this new "super majority" will indeed meet the expectations which swept them into office. They will be expected to deal with budgets, government waste, and fiscal responsibility which has not been evident in the past. They will be charged with offering true representation to all, in a time of serious need for good government to assure this city will not fall prey to an overly extended series of "distressed status". We hope they will offer a dedication, and a sincerity that was expected of them by the voters in November. By setting the right example, perhaps that will rub off on the school board and the other entities which think we have the answer to the fictional "money tree"! Somewhere, sometime, and somehow, the new City Council will have to reverse the trend of borrowing and spending, the free giveaways to those who look for the city to act as their bankers, and the taking from the poor and awarding to the rich.

Janet Evans, Pat Rogan, Frank Joyce and Bill Courtright, and his successor on City Council, will have some very difficult days ahead, and will be given the tireless task of straightening out the mess which engulfs this city.They will need every ounce of their strength to combat the forces which want to maintain the "politics as usual" mentality, and they will probably encounter obstacles which will be placed in their path by the "leftovers" in this city. They will need our help, and we must offer it to them, in any and every way we can.

The future is going to take a united effort by all of us to get our City back on track, and to insure its survival. We can no longer sit back and let a handful of "delusional" politicians and their friends dictate the direction in which Scranton is going. Our downhill slide must be brought to a halt, and the climb back to the top is going to face a long and hard battle. These folks will need all the help they can get from us, and they will have to prove themselves if we are going to reverse the trends. We sincerely hope that they, and we, are up to the tasks at hand.

Too much is at stake, and the future of Scranton is in their, and our hands! Let's offer them our respect, and help, and let's hope they will return our efforts with respect and help for us. Let's join hands and start off on the right foot. We can do it, and it needs to be done.

Now, let's enjoy the holiday season and let the chips fall where they may. The ball is in our court, and it is up to us to make things happen. Remember, "united we stand, and divided we fall!" Let's eliminate any possibility that the divisive politics of the past will continue. And the same goes for our local "media"!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanzaa to all, and we look forward to a Happy and Productive New Year! JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-12-14T22:17:00.001-05:00

Monday, December 14, 2009

EGG ON OUR FACE

We were called to task, and justifiably so, by Kevin Haggerty, who is seeking to upset State Rep. Ken Smith in 2010. We sincerely apologize to Kevin for referring to him as a Republican, when he is in fact a Democrat. For the life of me, I don't know how this slipped by me, but I can offer no defense other than to say it was an inexcusable error. Maybe I'm just getting old, or perhaps the 10 finger mind runs too far ahead of the two finger typing. Shame on me!!!

WHAT IS THE RUSH OVER THE LIBRARY BOARD?

The public hearing over the establishment of a new "library authority" will be held tomorrow, followed by a Council mmeting immediately after. We question the wisdom of having this issue pushed through at this time.What is the rush? Will Scranton suddenly succumb to whatever if this issue is not voted on immediately"

All we can determine is that the City "leaders" are hell bent on moving this issue before the "new" council takes over on January 1st. Outgoing Councilwomen Judy Gatelli (who is championing the cause) and Sherry Fanucci are joined by Councilman Bob McGoff in urging immediate passage of the creation of the new "authority"! This is as assinine an issue as we have seen in over three years of covering Scranton politics.

There is little question that the library is in need of expansion, but the Gatelli forces insist on placing a new library in the Southside, an area which is in dire need of redevelopment, especially in the area of housing. Gatelli and Fanucci have both been proclaiming that they represent the entire city, when in fact, this is definitely not the case. They may have been able to get by with this bullcrap before the 2009 elections were held, but the results showed that an overwhelming majority of the people did not favor "their" politics and they were ousted from office.The facts speak for themselves.

Yet, in spite of the public ouster of these two, they have continued to press for a new library at an expense which this city cannot afford. In order for the issue to be resolved, a seperate "authority" would have to be created, and we all know what happens once an autonomous authority is "anointed". That body then is free to run roughshod over any and all official desires, and can do as they darn well please, without answering to anybody. They answer only to the Mayor, and Chris Doherty answers to no one.

The other Council members, Janet Evans and Bill Courtright don't seem to have an issue with a new library, or library expansion, but they do seem to be at odds with building a new library on Scranton's Southside.They have made other suggestions, including a highly practical one in which the City would attempt to acquire the former Bishop Hanna H.S. from the Archdiocese.A parking garage exists behind the building (situated on Wyoming Ave. & Mulberry St.) and would be far more practical. Renovation costs would be far less than building a new library, and would be more centralized than the proposed South Scranton site.

Additionally, there is far more space available, and the building could probably be purchased at considerably less than the exorbitant amount which the present Council wants to spend. It would also be up and running much sooner than any "new" construction and the cost of an additional parking lot would be saved.

Also, the creation of an "authority" is unneccessary, and there certainly is no emergency about the creation of such a group. Why in the world would we want to turn over any more of the Council's authority to any body which would have complete and final decision making without benefit of our elected leaders?

I'm sorry, but this is an out and out political payoff to Judy Gatelli and should be stopped before it goes any further. The people of this city spoke, and rather vociferously, in May and again in November, and they spoke against any further action by the existing Council. The people wanted change and they will get it come January 1st. Any effort to ramrod this project through should be met with stern opposition, and, if necessary, injunctive relief should be sought to prevent this issue from happening at this time. If necessary, this matter should go before the Courts, and those responsible for forcing the issue should be held accountable.

Fortunately, for Gatelli and Fanucci, the days of "Tar and feathering and running them out of town on a rail," don't exist anymore. Too bad, because these two seem to be pushing for just that kind of "swan song". In any event, they will be remembered not for the good thiungs they allege to have accomplished, but rather for the overwhelming harm they have done to this City by their personal actions while on City Council. Should this issue pass, I personally will do all within my power to establish a "Scranton Wall of Shame" and the first names to go on that ignominious structure will be Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, followed closely by Robert McGoff and Chris Doherty. It's a shame some people can't leave office graciously, but it is their choice. Pay Back Truly Is Hell!
JT
SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-12-10T05:18:00.002-05:00

Thursday, December 10, 2009

BIG TIME POLITICS IN VOGUE

It seems like only yesterday that we finished an election, but already, the candidates are shaping up for the 2010 battles. We'll get to that in just a moment, but right now let's concentrate of the "local" issues.

The "final" Scranton City Council meeting (?) will be held on Tuesday, at 10 a.m. in Council Chambers following a public hearing on the proposed new library issue. This will probably be the final "diva" move for outgoing Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, both of whom were voted out of office in the last election. It will be interesting to see if Gatelli makes the meeting since she is employed as a school nurse at West Scranton H.S. and is supposed to be working at that time. Not that it makes a difference, but Judy will probably show up to "push" her agenda, which is her "swan song" to get the "new library" on the docket for her "beloved South Side", as she so aptly puts it. Strange, but for some reason, the library issue seems to be a high priority when in actuality, it should be tabled and await action by the new council, slated to take over January 1st. It is obvious that the "triumvirate" of Gatelli, Fanucci and McGoff are anxious to push this agenda, probably as a token of appreciation for Gatelli's long service. At least there doesn't appear to be any rationale other than "payback to Judy"! We'll see, and we remind McGoff that he will probably feel the reciprocation for all his "3-2" majority votes when he had allies.Look for a "long winter" Bob! You earned it!Count of 1-4 votes from here on.

Now, for the "big time"! Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta has decided to take on Rep. Paul Kanjorski for another time, after suffering two defeats in the past. This time, however, Barletta's chances look very good to upset Kanjo. In 2008, Barletta bested Kanjorski in Carbon, Columbia, and Luzerne Counties, but he was soundly beaten in Lackawanna and Monroe Counties. The popular Hazelton Republican suffered from the "Obama effect" as new voters turned out in droves to help elect the first black President. That effect should wear off by now, and it appears that Barletta has the advantage if he spends more time campaigning in Lackwanna County and can maintain his popularity in the other areas.He only lost by slightly more than 3,000 votes!

In addition, Kanjorski could suffer greatly from a Democratic challenge by newly elected Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien, although we doubt seriously that the fledgling O'Brien can do more than wear the "old guy" down. The real test will come in November, and we see it as another Barletta vs. Kanjorski fight. Barletta himself will probably face Republican opposition, but he should be able to survive any challenge from his own party ranks.

More troubling on the local front, is that incumbent State Rep. Ken Smith will probably face major opposition from fellow Democrats and Republican Kevin Haggerty, who should be able to muster the forces of the "Lynett Liturgy" since he has family ties to that organization. It doesn't look good for Smith since he has been plagued by unpaid tax liens against him & his family business and has had trouble explaining his delinquencies. He also must account for his failure to keep contact with his constituents, having been mysteriously unavailable to those whose votes he so dearly sought last time around.

Scranton School Board member Chris Phillips, a formidable opponent, will more than likely challenge another Democrat, incumbent State Sen. Bob Mellow, who also has been the subject of numerable questions over his financial dealings. This one is shaping up as a real challenge, since former Old Forge School Board President Frank Scavo is also expected to vie for the State Senate seat from the Republican side. . Should be a good battle, and at least a most interesting one since both Phillips and Scavo enjoy heavy popularity though Scavo was unseated in the past election.

High School teacher Paul Dudrich, another hopeful, is expected to challenge Vic Staback in an "up-county" race for State office, but we expect Dudrich will need to run a more energetic campaign if he hopes to win, over the incumbent State Representative. A relative newcomer to the political wars, Dudrich has been on the campaign trail and hopes to make major improvements to his campaign strategy, but he desperately needs to concentrate on fund raising if he is to succeed. His inexperience showed countless flaws in his last campaign when he was soundly trounced for the spot which Staback won handily. He could use serious help!

Last, but not least, is the "hopeful" campaign by Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty who hopes to win the Democratic nomination for Governor. Known to be one of Gov. Ed Rendell's "boot-lickers", Doherty faces serious obstacles in this race, especially from the 4 or 5 other Democrats who want the Governorship. Doherty's record as Scranton Mayor has been less than stellar, but so long as he truly believes he has been a "champion" for Scranton, he honestly feels he can be a strong candidate. It will be interesting to see how he fares without the "rhetoric" of C of C Director Austin Burke. Doherty was "re-elected" as Scranton's Mayor, for a third term, but it has been obvious that he used that campaign as a "crutch" should he fail to win the Governor race. How he plays his cards in explaining his failure to rescue Scranton from "distressed city" status during his previous two terms will be interesting. We feel he is about to get a rude awakening, as have many others, when he steps out of the Scranton limelight and into the real world. Scranton, and Doherty, have not fared too well on the political scene in the rest of the State. Perhaps his delusional approach has merit, but we seriously doubt it. Especially when he goes up against the Philadelphia and Pittsburg contingents. His "Harry Potter" image and financial failures won't serve him well in the eyes of others. After all, this is not "Hogwarts" and Doherty certainly is not "Harry Potter"!

WHAT OUR READERS THINK

Once again, we call on our readers to let us know what you think. We ask for your input on all the above races and to let us know your preferences and your feelings. Can Barletta win against O'Brien-Kanjorski? Is Ken Smith really in trouble? Can Phillips unseat Mellow, and does Scavo have a chance? Is Dudrich going to be able to muster a real challenge to Staback? Let us know! We will announce "your" positions in our early January edition. Though this poll is unscientific, if our polling holds true, it will be a pretty good indicator of how the 2010 elections are shaping up. Join us, by contacting us via email, snail mail, or telephone.

TIME TO JOIN THE TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION

We sincerely encourage citizens and taxpayers from around Lackawanna County to join the Scranton-Lackawanna County Citizens and Taxpayers Association. This is a fine organization and affords everyone the opportunity to offer their input into the problems they face on a daily basis. The group is under the directorship of Robert "Ozzie" Quinn and has been instrumental in inviting candidates for public office to attend meetings and offer their "take" on taxes and problems facing people in Lackawanna County and the entire State.

They meet twice a month, usually in Scranton City Council Chambers and have been a major "player" in helping the public. One of their prime programs has been the "Kids Swim Free" program which raises funds to help under-privileged kids swim free at Nay Aug Park. They also have interviewed numerous candidates, including judges, councilmen, school board candidates, and others. The group tapes and televises their proceedings, on their own, and has been waging an up-hill battle with ECTV for the right to be seen at a reasonable time.

Membership is only $15.00 per year and is open to any citizen of Lackawanna County. The duly incorporated group also maintains contact and liaison with other taxpayers associations in Pennsylvania and has traveled to other areas to help promote "causes" endorsed by taxpayers. They have been in the forefront in promoting House Bill 1245 which would eliminate property taxes, and other causes which would provide tax relief to residents.

Interested parties should contact this publication or "Ozzie" Quinn for more information. It is your state, your city, and your tax dollars and being a member of the S-LC&TA will keep you abreast of what is going on regarding "your" taxes and offer you a "voice" in your government. We encourage your participation!

JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-12-04T03:47:00.000-05:00

Friday, December 4, 2009

GOING OUT WITH A BANG! (not really)

The end is in sight and it appears that Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci are hell bent on sharing their bitterness with the world. For the past few weeks, these two losing politicos have been lambasting citizen speakers (what's new?) with innuendo, casting aspersions, and generally ridiculing anyone who dares to appear at the speaker's podium at City Council meetings. Just when we thought they couldn't sink any lower, Gatelli announced her plans to go to California to appear in what is supposed to be a comedy show.

Yes, it definitely is a comedy show, if one considers Judy a comedian. Some idiot, seeking to make a buck, has chosen to pit Judy against former attendee Ray Lyman for the "comedic" edification of the losers who can't seem to get enough of the Jerry Springer Show! Perhaps, and we'd like to believe so, the "supposed" writer for this show got his jollies watching Judy and Ray going at it during Council sessions. Any decent person, and there are some of us left, would realize that Ray is a "challenged" person, and his intentions, though well meant in his mind, were nothing more than an annoyance. Other "citizens", two of whom shall go unnamed, are allowed to make their appearances at the podium, and it is well known that they are also "challenged", but it took Ray to pull Judy's chain and reveal her true nature.

What joy anyone can get out of exploiting these confrontations is unfathonable, but some perverse pleasure is derived from taking a supposedly intelligent, educated, and "professional" Councilwoman, in a shouting match with a person who is known to be, at best, a seriously "challenged" individual, and turning it into a laughing matter.How sad, but that is what this world is becoming. The shouting matches between these two should never have taken place, and probably wouldn't have, if Judy had shown any class and had just kept her mouth shut. Instead, as has become a pattern, she had to lash out at Lyman, in her attempt to continue "patting herself" on the back as a "true" spokesman for the citizens. True, Lyman was out of line, but knowing and understanding him, one would think Judy would have shown some dignity and let well enough alone.

Enter her co-champion, Fanucci, to side with her "colleague". This is the same lady (this is a family publication) who uses her priorities to expound on her "justification" to slam citizens at every turn, hiding behind her cloak of "privilege as a Councilperson, but always at a time when citizen speakers are not allowed to answer her. Sherry, never at a loss for words, has left her mark as a "jerk" but she adds to it at every opportunity, prefering to exercise her "options" when the "citizen participation" portion of the meeting is closed. For the past few sessions of Council, she has chosen to pave her way to a perceived future as a "Dr. Phil" replacement. Her ramblings about the citizens, along with Judy's, who only come to Council meetings to criticize, are worthy of note. Not because they are true, but because they are indicative of the four year terms these two spent on Council. It is obvious that neither one has ever listened to any of the speakers, and that they have chosen instead to defend their lack of legitimate answers to questions, with their "bitterness" towards losing their "above it all" seats to two young men.

How truly, truly sad that Judy and Sherry could not accept their defeat graciously. Instead, they have chosen to attack citizens; take cheap shots at fellow Councilwoman Janet Evans; and now have embarked on casting aspersions on their replacements, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce. Now, let it be known, as is the case by the majority who try to watch the proceedings on TV, that Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci are not only losers, and sore ones at that, but never did represent anyone but themselves. To challenge most of the speakers, especially those with knowledge of and definitive proof of their upset with the "facts", is reprehensible. Instead of ignoring these speakers, and challenging them, Judy and Sherry should have taken their questions to heart and sought to provide sensible and logical answers. Sadly, neither was either capable, or prone, to do so. Instead, they have left Scrantonians, and "watchers" with a real disdain for the political scene, and we can only hope that our farewell message to them, "GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE" will signal the end to anymore Judy Gatelli's and Sherry Fanucci's ever being elected, or appointed, to serve again. Let's hope this is the end to what has passed for "Scranton politics as usual" and signals a new and honest beginning as a City Council which is there to serve the public, listen to their questions, and offer answers, with dignity and grace. Let this be the end to the "circus" atmosphere fostered by these two. And as for Judy's "comedy career", please, let it be somewhere else, and take Sherry with her. Scranton will be better off!

A SIMPLE LESSON FOR ALL POLITICIANS!

Elected officials are put in their positions because they are supposed to represent the citizens of their community. They are not anointed, nor are they the "chosen few"! They are elected, by the people, to represent the people, not a group of businessmen, developers, lawyers, and fellow politicians.

The United States, and yes, we believe Pennsylvania and Scranton are still part of the U.S., is a democracy and should not be torn apart because of some self-perceived politicians who think they are the successors to such as Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and the forefathers who founded and built this great nation!

What has happened is a handful of political social climbers has endeavored to change things to meet their own needs, and those of their campaign donors, taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Their's is the very principal which caused this nation to rise up against the tyranny of the English king and to form a nation, of the people, by the people and for the people. It was this mind set which brought about the Boston Tea Party and the Revolutionary War. Isn't it about time the citizens got back to re-educating these politicians about just what this country, this State and this City are supposed to be? If they truly want to represent the people, the politicians must step up and be counted. Rhetoric doesn't get it done, actions do.

We have continued to hear the cry, over and over, that we need to raise revenues! BUT, we seldom, if ever, hear about reducing the needs for these revenues, primarily by eliminating the waste and the corruption in government! If this country, this State, and this city were to go before honest credit counselors, it would be a fiasco. Why don't they try to run government like they do their personal lives? Simply put, if you don't have it, you can't spend it!

With a new regime taking over on January 1, 2010, we would hope that Scranton leaders can rethink our priorities. First off, there is little chance of any new industry, or "Sir Galahad on his white horse" coming to our rescue! It ain't going to happen! What we need is fiscal responsibility; common sense (remember that term); and leadership which is going to consider the true facts of the matter!

We need leaders who understand that keeping citizens and our "graduates" here is contingent upon improving their way of life. These are the people who are this city!
Revitilization should begin with the local citizens, and the restoration of Scranton to its once prominent status. If we have happy citizens, we will have people who really want to move here; people who want to stay here; and industry and business which wants to move into the area. If we are going to continue on the path towards becoming a "third world" city, then nobody in their right mind is going to want to be a Scrantonian, especially any business or industry which plans on moving here.

When the Hershey family created Hershey, Pa., they had a vision, and they succeeded in making that vision a reality. They created a city, created jobs, and created a happy community. Anyone who doesn't see what happened with Hershey's progress is either blind or completely out of touch. Granted, they made their share of mistakes, but they succeeded in creating a city which boasted happy workers, happy residents, and happy economic development. The lesson was simple, and still is. Take care of your own back yard, and your visitors will soon become your neighbors. Is that so damned complicated?

We can only hope the "new Council" will have more insight into the actual needs of this city, and less interest in the actual finacial wealth of a chosen few. Restore Scranton to prominence, through cost cutting, repaving our streets, eliminating waste, rehab of our aging residences, and the revitilization of the true work ethic which brought this city to its oriiginal prominence. Make the citizens happy, offer them real hope, and stop the damned delusional ideas perpetrated by the present and past adminstrations of this city. Institute a "pay as you go" policy and don't spend money we don't have, and probably never will have, thanks to the "foresight" and delusions of Chris Doherty and his predecessors.

We must undo all the "doings" which led us down the path to near bankruptcy, and restore dignity and pride into our City. Eliminate the tax and spend policies which have placed us in such a gigantic deficit and start moving onward and upward toward true restoration and redevelopment. Scranton can ill afford another four years of "self serving" political leadership and must, absolutely must, embark on a new and more realistic beginning in order to climb out of the hole which we have dug for ourselves. It will take time, and it will definitely take hard work, but it must be done, and we must start listening to those who love and live in this city. There are a lot of intelligent, and well-meaning citizens out there who have tried to correct the injustces. It is incumbent on the new regime to pay them heed.

We wish Janet Evans, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, and the new replcement, well, and offer our total cooperation. But we also expect their respect and consideration
to us, and the citizens, who are willing to help them fight our way back up. This writer probably won't be around to see the end result, but we certainly would welcome the opportunity to see real, and honest, progress towards Scranton's recovery. This is not our home town, but is it our home of choice, and we want to see full and complete recovery at least begin before we are forced out of the mainstream. PLEASE, don't offer us more disappointment! JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-11-30T03:34:00.000-05:00

LET THEM GO IN PEACE!

The final meetings of the present City Council will be held this month. A new, and hopefully more favorable majority will be taking over as of January 1, 2010.

The last few years have seen a circus-like atmosphere at Council meetings, and both sides have been guilty, including this writer.

I respectfully urge all my friends and readers to PLEASE, let's let our two ousted Councilwomen leave in peace! It is about time we did our part to restore a degree of respect and decorum into the Council chambers! Let's "back off" and ignore any more shenanigans from these two and let's refuse to play their game. They are out, and they won't be back. Yes, we can celebrate their ouster, but let's do it with class, something they don't have!

It isn't too early to show our respect for the new Council, and the obvious place and time to do it is now. Though the new Council won't take over for another month, let us put into practice what we have all yearned for these past few years....mutual respect and dignity.

It certainly shouldn't be too hard to do since our antagonists will be leaving, and what they can accomplish in these last few meetings certainly isn't the end of the world. There is no lead to belabor any issue since everything we have tried to do in the past has fallen on deaf ears. Playing into their hands at this late stage is not only fruitless, but will just serve to convince them that they have been right all along. We know the truth of the matter, and by depriving them of any "opening" they may grasp, we will prove to everyone that the burden of the "ridiculous" actions have been laid to rest, right where it belongs, at their feet.

The citizens of this community, those who participate and those who watch the televised proceedings, deserve better, and it is incumbent upon us to provide proof that the "citizen speakers" are not to blame. This is our golden opportunity to set the record straight.

Any pending action is going to be processed, as usual, and for us to waste our time and breath in trying to change their minds is not worth the time and effort. The die was cast a long time ago and to add to our frustrations is not worth pursuing.

PLEASE, let's just speak our piece; hold our tongues; and allow this blatant "circus" to end. Playing childish games with Gatelli and Fanucci will serve no purpose. They have their mind set and we have ours. Take a break and rejoice in the fact that the end is in sight and, hopefully, better days are in the offing.

The voters have spoken, and it's time we restored decorum and respect on our part. Janet Evans, Pat Rogan, and Frank Joyce will hopefully bring a new attitude to Council Meetings, and it won't hurt us any to wait for them to take their seats.

Let's prove that we are above and beyond this petty bickering and ridiculous "stone casting"! In the spirit of the holiday season, "Let Them Go In Peace"! They probably won't know how to handle it, but that is their problem. Ours is to show restraint and let them have their final say, and I'm sure they will. Bite your tongue...smile....and take it with a grain of salt!.Remember, "Stand Up to Be Seen...Speak Up To Be Heard...and Shut Up To Be Appreciated!"

No more wasted breath; no more frustration, and no more casting aspersions. The voters have spoken. Let's us restrain ourselves. We'll all benefit! JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-11-27T01:46:00.000-05:00

Friday, November 27, 2009

FAREWELL TO THE COUNCIL "RADICALS"

Thankfully, and we do give extreme thanks, the end is in sight! With slightly more than a month to go , Scranton City Council will finally be rid of the two worse offenders when it comes to a lack of dignity and decorum.Yes, we agree, the meetings have taken on a "circus routine", on occasion, but most of the problem is attributable to Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, and the lack of leadership by Council President Bob McGoff.

Gatelli has continued to badger and bully her way to what she considered "ranking", and has manipulated and maneuvered her way into what she perceived as her "right" to serve as "Grand Duchess". Her low-class attempts at ridiculing a citizen speaker are indicative of her performances and she probably really believes that she is one of the "chosen few". On her way to the "top" she has instituted a police presence at Council meetings due to her constant battle with anyone who does not cater to her whims; fought a running battle with citizen speakers, often resorting to maligning them as "troublemakers" ; and has spoken untruths and outright lies about her actions as a Council person.

Fanucci, who has surrounded herself with egotistical delusions of superiority and grandeur has been the epitome of how low a public figure can sink. Her weekly attacks on citizens, including her self-professed attempts at being a "psychologist" and "lecturing" the public, have been pitiful and demeaning to herself and her constiutuents. Snickering and ridiculing any citizen attempts to differ with her have lent credence to the fact that she has probably been the "low point" of civic servants who have created the circus atmosphere at Council meetings.

Yes, we will miss them.....like a second a--hole, but, to paraphrase these two, the voters have spoken and they didn't like what they saw. In spite of their protestations that they represented "all the people", it became evident before too long that the only people they represented were themselves and their "baggage handlers". Anyway, all we can conclude is, thank the Good Lord the people wised up and dumped these two.

McGoff, on the other hand, has proven to be less than a real leader. He has been quick to gavel citizen speakers out-of-order, but has been a "cowardly lion" in his reluctance, or inability, to control his own council members. On too many occasions he has allowed his "collaborators" to condemn citizens, at a time when a citizen response was not available, and sat sheepishly by at a time when he should have insisted the Council members act like civilized and respectful leaders.

Last week's attack (by Gatelli) on a citizen, "have you ever been arrested", was as childish and stupid an act as we have ever seen in any public meeting. Gatelli's lack of "class" has been well known for a long time but this was her "crowning glory", yet McGoff sat there and let it happen like a school boy who was afraid of his teacher. Fanucci's cheap shots at "Ozzie" Quinn, again at a time when "council privelege" could be invoked, was as low as anyone could get, even for "the madam". Once again, McGoff failed his in duty to gavel her out-of-order. This is leadership? We seriously doubt it.

In defense of the Council, on many occasions citizen speakers have been out of line, and should have been gaveled down. Unfortunately, out of "tv camera" range, the public failed to see the smirks and snickering of council members which contributed to citizen anger. True, many times a speaker has launched an attack on a Councilperson, and they were out of line, but the vast majority of these instances were caused by the repeated questions asked of Council, and the lack of an honest and forthright account or answer. It is frustrating for well-informed speakers to ask questions and either be ignored, or "chastised" for questioning their elected leaders. That is not democracy, but it is a case of blatant disregard for legitimate citizen concerns.

Hopefully, come Jaunary 1st, 2010, Council meetings will take on a new and fresh look. Councilwoman Janet Evans, and newly-elected Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, should bring dignity back to those chambers, and Mrs. Evans has always been respectful towards citizen speakers, even when they didn't agree with her. Her new Council team mates, Rogan and Joyce, are personable and seemingly sincere people and we hope that they will restore dignity and decorum to Council meetings. It will probably lack the so-called "entertainment" value of past meetings, but it may prove to be the needed stimulus that Scranton citizens need to see as the first step to restoring civic pride to this city. I wish I could tell you how many "watchers" have approached me over the past three years and expressed their thanks that at least some people in this area seem to care about them. I have encountered people from all over the area, including Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Dickson City, Clarks Summit and points in between. Their disgust with Scranton Council proceedings has always been the same...the lack of decorum is directly attributable to the sitting Council members, and a handful of citizen speakers. They were all in agreement that things will hopefully change, and we concur!

HAGGERTY ADDRESSES TAXPAYERS ASSN.

Kevin Haggerty, (Dunmore), who intends to challenge incumbent Ken Smith for the office of State Rep. (112th Dist.) was the guest speaker at last week's meeting of the Scranton-Lackwanna County Citizens and Taxpayers Assn. He was an invitee of Assn. President Ozzie Quinn and spoke openly and freely about his intentions. He also was forthright in answering the many questions posed by this body, and stressed the fact that he will hold "town meetings" at least twice a month, or more, as needed.

Haggerty spoke of the need for civic and government reform, and was not hesitant to cite the fact that he considers himself "one of the people", in spite of his family ties. A newlywed (last year), the Villanova grad and County employee, said he never earned more than $35,000 per year and can relate to the wants and needs of the constitutents, not only in his district, but throughout Pennsylvania.

He cited the need for "downsizing" of State government, especially its leguislature, and offered insight into the fact that Pennsylvania presently spends nearly $1 million per year, per legislator, in what he deems "far too much for the size of the State". Haggerty also empathized with the fact that workers must pay their own expenses to get to and from their jobs, while legislators get percs, especially per diem, for doing the job to which they were elected.

Also present at the meeting was Paul Dudich, who intends to challenge for the State Representative spot in the 115th District. Dudich, a school teacher, lost his challenge in the last election, but received some 15.4 % of the vote in an under-funded and low-key campaign. He agreed in principle with Haggerty and, according to Quinn, will also be accorded speaker status in the near future.

The Taxpayers Asnn., which is comprised of citizens and taxpayers from all over Lackawanna County, has been in the forefront when it comes to inviting candidates to adress membership, but has been frustrated by the lack of TV coverage from ECTV, the local taxpayer-funded community station. Quinn has been a hard-working advocate for the taxpayers, and has poured his heart and soul into the program. He maintains constant and continuing contact with other taxpayer groups around the State and many members of the local group attend meeting on the County and Local level, including Commissioners' meetings, various authority meetings and school board sessions. Unfortunately, it is difficult to be in too many places at the same time, and the group has been criticized by others for failing to attend some meetings, most of which have been scheduled on the same day, and at the same time, as others, causing conflicting timing.

The SLC&TA has been a prime mover in raising funds for their "Kids Swim Free" program, and was frustrated by the rejection of their application for a CDBG grant to help promote the program. Others have been granted funding, under the same clause, but SLC&TA was denied on superficial grounds.

A nominating committee was appointed to name potential officers for the 2010 year. The next regularly scheduled meeting is for Thursday, Dec. 3rd, at 6 p.m. in Scranton Council Chambers. Quinnn stressed that membership is open to all Lackawanna County residents and encouraged more people to turn out and to get involved. The group has also been instrumental in leading the way towards the elimination of property taxes through HB1275, a bill recently endorsed by Kevin Murphy (113D). The measure is scheduled for a vote in the very near future and has been gaining suppoort around the State.

2010 CANDIDACY ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING

With a major election for Governor and Federal and State office looming in early spring 2010, expect a wealth of candidates to make their official announcements
shortly. State Sen. Bob Mellow, and Cong. Paul Kanjorski seem to be the main targets. Gov. Ed Rendell, who cannot run due to term restrictions, has seen a dearth of "wannabees" already announced to succeed him, including Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty.

Mellow, perceived to be the weakest link, will face at least two challengers, Scranton's Chris Phillips, and Old Forge's Frank Scavo, but we fully anticipate others will make a run for Mellow's seat. He has been the center of considerable controversy over "financial dealings" and appears to be highly vulnerable. Kanjorski may also be facing up-scale opposition from Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta, among others. Barletta, a popular challenger, has been defeated twice in runs against the incumbent Congressman, but it is expected he will spend considerably more time and effort in Lackawanna County, a base in which he has lost previously should he decide to run again. There has been talk of Barletta seeking to run for Lt. Governor, but nothing tangible has been mentioned so far.

There won't be a shortage of candidates for the next election, but there may very well be a shortage of funds available. Campaign spending is reaching epic proportions and it will take a well-funded and highly visible candidate to wage a serious battle. With heavy emphasis on TV advertising, candidates need to get an early start if they are to be considered serious contenders. Unlike local politicians, exposure to the masses is a necessity and many have not yet learned from the Jimmy Carter successful campaign that won him the Presidency. Carter emnerged from "nowhere" and made a major dent in the political philosophy that it takes a big name and a lot of money to win. He pulled off his surprise victory with a hard-earned grass roots campaign and shocked the establishment. It still can work!

RENDA NOT A LIAR(?)--COURTRIGHT TO APOLGIZE

Last week, during a City Council caucus session with Stu Renda, Councilman Bill Courtright called Renda a lair regarding his "alleged" conversations with Tax Collector Marilyn Vitali-Flynn. Courtright said he did not believe Renda's assertion that he had spoken with Vitali-Flynn re proposed budget cuts to office staff and asserted he would apologize if proven wrong. He asked City Clerk Kay Garvey to write a letter to the Tax Collector to verify the conversation.

Before the letter could be sent, Vitali-Flynn claimed that yes, she had been in talks with Renda and the proposed cuts were discussed. Courtright, the newly elected Tax Collector, has claimed the cuts were a "political move" to undermine his efforts to bring the office back in line. He offered to apologize to Renda if the accusations were wrong.

Paradoxically, Renda is a Doherty-appointee, as was Vitali-Flynn, who was defeated by Courtright in the recent election.Politically motivated confrontation? Who knows, but at least Courtright is man enough to admit his outburst, a rarity for him. We, however, are still not convinced that any conversation took place, if one is to read between the lines of the Renda and Vitali-Flynn versions of the story. Differing, we might add. Oh well, congratuations Bill for standing up like a man!

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-11-22T03:23:00.001-05:00

Sunday, November 22,2009

COURTRIGHT TARGETED BY "PRESS"

Councilman Bill Courtright, (newly elected Tax Collector) expressed serious concern about proposed budget cuts to his new office, especially those which would eliminate 7 jobs and create 1 new one. Courtright was taken aback by what he termed "political" motivation to make the cuts, and justifiably so. Instead of expressing concern about the cuts, which are questionable for the beleagured tax office, the local "press" chose instead to accuse Courtright of being a "whiner".

Well, "la dee da"! This journalistic (?) tripe, emnanating from the "editorial editor" of the "Lynett Liturgy", is another example of the biased view of the local "fish wrap". Instead of considering that Courtright is a newcomer at a job which has proven to be "taxing" (pardon the pun) to lead an office in disarray, they chose to attempt to make Courtright look like a fool. Well, we have news for you! Bill Courtright is far from being a fool or a whiner. During his tenure as a City Councilman he has not been, as you claim, "part of a faction", but has been among the more enlightened members of Council.

While we haven't always agreed with him, we certainly respect him and, as evidenced by his conduct at meetings, he has respected the citizens of this community. It would behoove the "Liturgy" to take issue with the two "losers" who will be departing Council (thankfully) in January. Their complete lack of respect for citizens and taxpayers has been evident for the entirety of their terms, yet the "Liturgy" has failed to acknowledge that fact. Courtright has never been a part of that "act" and has never cost the City tax money for legal fees to represent any "threats", probably because none has ever been proven to exist.

Instead, he has maintained a dignity and composure which certainly has been necessary on that body, and his genuine concern over the proposed "cuts" is justified. For the "Liturgy" to take a cheap shot at him is indicative of what passes for journalism in Scranton. The tax office has had legal council for some time now, and that has never been questioned before. At a time when the tax office is accused of gross negligence, it certainly does not make sense to cut personnel without affording Courtright the opportunity to "sit in" on these decisions.

Isn't it paradoxical that the "City" has sought the personnel cuts while ignoring the over-paid "created" jobs, including Stu Renda, a Public Safety Director (?) to overlook the Police and Fire Chiefs, and a host of other "created" jobs which were introduced by Mayor Chris Doherty, a life-long friend of the "Liturgy" family? Perhaps the fact that Courtright is always among the top vote getters in any election continues to be a thorn in our "popular" Mayor's side! Or, perhaps the "Liturgy" doesn't understand that Courtright represents the voters, not the politicians and their cronies.

Let's not forget that the voters are the ones who are supposed to be represented by the administration, not the lawyers, developers and "friends of friends". We are sure that Doherty can count the number of "new jobs" he alleges to have created and they would not be included in the 6,000 jobs he claims to have fostered. Please tell us of any "claims to fame" that Courtright has made on his own behalf, or just shut up and let the readers of your diatribe decide for themselves! The "Litrugy" has never been a newspaper and certainly couldn't qualify for journalistic consideration if it had any competition. Sadly, Scranton is saddled with this garbage, and though they employ some pretty fine journalists, it's too bad the "Lirugy" won't let them publish what they write.

TAXPAYERS MEETING MONDAY NIGHT

The Scranton-Lackawanna County Taxpayers & Citizens Assn. will hold its meeting Monday night at 6 p.m. at Scranton City Hall. Guest Speaker will be Kevin Haggerty, seeking to unseat State Rep. Ken Smith (D-12) in next year's election. We will review Mr. Haggerty's talk and report on it in our next issue of S.A.L.

The group will also review ECTV; HB 1275 (recently endorsed by Rep. Kevin Murphy); their "Kids Swim Free" CDBG application; the new budget; and will select 4 members to serve as officers for the new year.

Citizens are invited to attend the meeting and new members are always welcome, according to Robert "Ozzie" Quinn, President of the Association. Members need not be from Scranton, as the association embraces all of Lackawanna County and encourages participation from all interested parties.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the group is to be held Thursday, December 3rd at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

VOTE TOTALS IMPROVE FOR EVANS & COURTRIGHT

Following completion of an electronic recount of the recent election, vote totals for Councilwoman Janet Evans and Tax Collector Bill Courtright are more in line with what election watchers had expected. Mrs. Evans, a nominee on both the Democratic & Republican slates saw her vote total increase to 9,224 votes. She was followed by newly-elected Councilmen Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce with 8,859 and 8, 693 respectively.

Courtright, who also was listed as the nominee on both tickets, saw his total increase to 11, 924. Some 450 ballots that were not counted due to "overvoting", a practice that occurs when someone casts more votes than there are seats available, were in question and results have not yet been published.

Allegedly, the previous totals for Mrs. Evans and Courtright were attributable to a "human error" which failed to record the proper codes for the two candidates. Some 51,000 votes were cast in the Nov. 3 election. No other changes in vote totals were noted, though a challenge had been issued in some 10 other races.

PLANS UNDER WAY TO CREATE "INDEPENDENT" VOTER MOVEMENT

Fed up with the "usual" way of nominating and electing government leaders, a group of individuals is making plans to create and legalize a "third party" movment. According to our sources, the group plans to organize and petition for the right of Independent candidates to appear on balllots in the future. "We are totally unhappy with the present system", one spokesman said, "and it is our intent to give voters the right to vote as they see fit, not what the established party leaders want. Its about time the people picked the candidates, not some "back room" political yahoos who have their own interest in mind", he concluded.

At least a half dozen of the group have been meeting and discussing the project, and progress is being made towards founding and incorporating the Independents as a viable political party. While they declined to list their names, as yet, they do appear to be very serious in this endeavor. "We don't want our candidates being hand-picked because they can do something for a sitting group. We want candidates who want to represent the voters and taxpayers, not the power barons," he concluded. "The process of government should be in the hands of the people, not power brokers!"

WILL ROGAN AND JOYCE BE INDEPENDENT?

While newly elected Councilmen Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce ran as part of a Janet Evans team, questions are being raised about whether or not they will vote as a bloc or independently. Both young men, neither of whom has been contacted, were carefully groomed by the Evans forces, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will adhere to the Evans line or will break and act independently.

There is little question that the new coalition is in a position to create a "super majority" which would put a serious crimp in Chris Doherty's plans. However, just who the "replacement" for outgoing Councilman Bill Courtright is not yet determined. The "new majority" will determine Courtright's replacement, and it is suspected the "new" council person will be someone who will be happy to serve out Courtright's term and then retire from the public eye. We have heard numerous rumors, but it appears that Gary DiBileo, who lost another try to unseat Doherty, is not in the picture. More likely, Mary Ann Wardell would fill the bill, if she is interested, but the choice remains in the hands of the "Evans team".

Neither Rogan nor Joyce has yet made an appearance at Council meetings, and it is suspected they are being kept under wraps, for some reason. It seems strange that the new incumbents have not attended meetings where they could benefit from a "watching and learning" process. Speculation abounds that the "Evans group" doesn't want to expose them just yet.We haven't been privy to the "goings on" there, but we have been inundated with questions as to why neither "new councilman" has not been present at Council meetings. Your guess is as good as ours! Only time will tell as we sure don't have any answers!
JT

2009-11-15T20:18:00.000-05:00

Sunday, November 15, 2009

SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION

According to our sources, Director of Elections Maryann Spellman Young's days in office are numbered, and her time may have already expired.

On the heels of another botched election, Spellman Young has been feeling the heat and probably will be fired from her job before too long. The recent election results were "the straw that broke the camel's back", another source told us!

Due to "glitches",and a call by several candidates for a recount, the Lackawanna County Board of Elections has ordered a recount of all 51,000 ballots cast in the Nov. 3rd election.

A coding error in the County's computerized vote counters probably resulted in Scranton Councilwoman Janet Evans, Tax Collector Bill Courtright, and other candidates being "short-changed" in the final vote tally. While the outcome of the recount probably will not change, a proper vote tally is sought and should be forthcoming. The Board also ordered a limited recount in 10 races other than the Evans, Courtright "challenge" which also includes the Mayoral races in Scranton, Throop, Archbald; the Taylor Council; Scranton School Board; Scott Twp. Supervisor and Constable; and Lakeland School Director.

Omaha-based Election Systems & Software will lend the County a new, high speed vote counter which will be tested before the recount. The company's machines were used in the election, and a company spokesman acknowledged "human error" caused the glitches. Pre-election testing failed to disclose the coding error which resulted in the surprisingly low vote total for Mrs. Evans and Mr. Courtright, both usually among the top vote getters.

Spellman Young, whose tenure has been questioned in the past, had defended the results as limited to Evans and Courtright, but the Board decided otherwise. If the hand recount shows other errors, it is probable that the recount will include a total hand recount of all ballots. While that could take several weeks, there is no estimate of the costs involved. JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-11-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

YES, it is time for the annual recount of voters preferences! As per usual, we have excperienced another "voting glitch" and the call for a recount has come. Of course Scranton voters would feel left out if this wasn't an annual event. It is beginning to take on the significance of our annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, and of course, no one is to blame. It was pretty evident that something was amiss when the votes were tallied and Janet Evans and Bill Courtright cam up so short. Not to take anything away from Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, but is was obvious there were "too many" votes "missing in action" when the final tally was revealed. Oh well, "that's the way it's always been in Scranton."

Seriously though, someone should have caught this glaring error earlier, and technically it should have never happened. Is there something wrong with the election officials when this is becoming an annual event? We're not laying the blame on anyone's doorstep, but it would appear that someone, somewhere, is not doing their job, or is not up to snuff on the seriousness of election processes. There are many things which fall short of perfection when it comes to our electoral process, and maybe it is about time more attention was paid to the basics and less to the "candidates" and who they represent. Perhaps more, and better, training is needed before Scranton puts itself in the position of another election "problem". There appears to be some basic inconsistancies with the overall "training" and the checks and balances of election procedures. This is too important a process to be taken "with a grain of salt". isn't it? Come on folks, let's get with the program!

KUDOS TO PAT ROGAN and FRANK JOYCE

Our sincere congratulations go out to Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, two young men, who worked their tails off to get a hard-earned and well-deserved victory in the November 3rd election. Instead of riding the coattails of Janet Evans and Bill Courtright, these two fine young men were "pounding the pavement" on a daily basis, and well into the late evening hours. This is a reminder to this writer of what campaigning used to be, and what it should be. Facing long odds against a Doherty backed campaign, the two newly elected City Council candidates spent many hours "in the trenches" and came up with their victories. True, they were members of the Janet Evans "team", but they were severely hampered by Mrs. Evans' inability to campaign vigorously due to serious back problems. However, "our Millicent" (inside joke) deserves a heap of credit for her efforts and for the grooming and hand-holding of these two young men. A lot of credit also must go to Janet's son, Chris Evans, who devoted considerable time and effort to another winning campaign. There is little doubt that, without Chris' efforts, the outcome could have neen decidely different. He is a tireless worker, and a very dedicated and astute campaign manager. While we may have differences, our hats are off to Chris, Dave and the many others who worked to make this campaign successful. And, we certainly can't forget Janet, who did her best, in spite of constant pain and discomfort, to wrest control of City Council from the Doherty team. Bill Courtright, a seasoned campaigner, was also out there working, despite his all but guaranteed win to the post of Tax Collector. We can't say enough about this group, but we can say, "One helluva good job" to them all.

MUNCHAK APPEARS AT COUNCIL MEETING

County Commissioner A.J. Munchak is to be commended once again for making an appearance at a Scranton City Council meeting to explain a confusing proposed move by the Mayor and Council. The issue of a "new library authority" came up as part of a proposed new ordinance which the city seeks to enact. While A.J. spoke favorably for the authority, and the introduction was passed with its standard 3-2 vote, there are still questions to be asked. Obviously, the proposed "new library" (Judy Gatelli's pet project) would receive no funding from the County, Munchak said, simply because the money isn't there. However, the creation of an authority to oversee Scranton's library system, leaves many questions, especially the part about "authorizing all other necessary action; and repealing all inconsistent ordinances or parts of ordinances, resolutions or parts of resolutions."

Before this ordinance is passed, a "public hearing" will be held at City Council chambers on Dec. 10th at 10 a.m. We encourage dissenters to review the "Municipality Authorities Act, 53 PA.C.S., Chapter 56" setting forth the details involved. A question arises as to just how much power such an authority would have, and could they have borrowing power, and the right to repeal any resolutions or ordinances which are vital to the continuation of the library system and its propety use. Munchak says no, to the borrowing authority, but the terminology of the ordinance, particularly the cited wording, is ambiguous at best. A full explanation, and proof that Council members understand it, should be made clear. Too many "laws" have been passed without Council members being fully aware of what they are doing. One instance is the "no smoking" ordinance which was railroaded through because certain members of council wanted to appease a bunch of high school kids and their "project". This proposed ordinance is far reaching, and would affect everyone. It deserves a long, and serious look before being acted upon. If it is a legitimate proposal, and not just a ploy to reward Gatelli (why the timing just before she leaves Council) then it should be passed. BUT, it needs a lot more than a cursory look. To quote one out-going Council member, "don't be fooled by the pretty ribbons and bows". Personally speaking, we think there is a lot more to this move than meets the eye. Scrantonians Beware! Check The Facts! And be there at the public hearing, Dec. 10th at 10 am. Its very important!

IS THERE REALLY A 'NEW BREED' OF VOTERS ?

We couldn't help but take note of the "younger" generation taking so active a part in the recent campaign. Of course it is attributed to the recent "Obama Phenom", but it is obvious from the overall picture, that younger Scrantonians are becoming involved. Rogan (22) and Joyce (30) won election to Council, and Doug Miller (19) made a decent showing despite his "flip flop" to the Doherty side. Most significant was the number of young people taking an active part in the election process. Perhaps they really are disenchanted with the "status quo" politics of the old-line school. Hurray for them and let's keep encouraging our youth to actively participate. This is their city and they will be the "inheritors" of the mess, or progress, we leave them. If the adults, and parents can't take the vote seriously, then maybe it is time for the youth to take over and teach the "older" generation what integrity, dedication, and honesty in government means! We are still a member of the United States, and though we have strayed greatly, we are still subject to the mandates of the Constitution and it's inherent rights! Pennsylvania politics, on the state, county and local level has been a fiasco, and we are in our present condition of discombobulation thanks to our antiquated line of reasoning. If Pennsylvania, on all levels, is to regain its pride and dignity, changes must be forthcoming, and a new youth movement may just be the answer. We are willing to help, and we would hope that other right-minded citizens would be as well. Let's stop "wasting youth on the young" as Mark Twain so aptly put it! Life is too serious, but we can have fun in living it!

DOHERTY & O'BRIEN, STAY ON OR RESIGN?

It is time for Mayor Chris Doherty to stand up like a man and face the music he has been dancing to! The same can be said for County Commissioner Corey O'Brien! These two elected officials have bigger things in mind, for themselves, and that is an admirable trait! However, don't make it at the expense of your constituents! Doherty won his campaign for a third term, but not before making it known that his real aspiration is to be Governor of Pennsylvania. That's a pretty cheap shot at Scrantonians! If he really wants to spend the next year campaigning for a higher office, he should be man enough to turn over the reins of leadership to someone who is going to devote all their time and effort to governing this city. Words are cheap, Chris, especially when they emanate from both sides of your mouth.The same holds true for O'Brien. He isn't even dry behind the ears in his first, and successful, political campaign, and he is already espousing his desire to unseat Cong. Paul Kanjorski. Earn your spurs, Corey! You haven't yet shown what you can do on the local and county level, yet you fancy yourself as someone who can challenge a 40-year reign as a "producer". If Doherty and O'Brien are as dedicated as they claim they are, then they should be decent and honest enough to give up their present elected positions to run for higher office. We can't afford to subsidize "campaigns" for yahoos who place themselves above the needs of their constituents. Tax dollars are too short and too needed for us to be spending them on "absentee" elected officials. We commend you both for seeking to "better" yourselves,....just don't do it at our expense! You both need to be man enough to stand on your own two feet! Resign, then pursue your goals! That's the true mark of a leader! Can you qualify? JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
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2009-11-04T00:12:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, November 3,2009

IT'S OVER...AND WE WON HANDILY!!!

If Mayor CHRIS DOHERTY didn't get the message....it's over... AND WE WON!!! Scranton voters easily reelected Councilwoman Janet Evans to a third term and swept into office her running mates, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce. Write-in candidate Gary DiBileo nearly made it a clean sweep, garnering nearly 43% of the vote against Doherty's 57%, an almost unheard of tally.

The newly elected Council of Evans, Rogan and Joyce effectively places Mrs. Evans in the position of Council President with a new majority, in her favor, with Rogan and Joyce. In January, Councilman Bill Courtright, the easy winner for Tax Collector, will resign and the new majority will appoint his successor, affording the Evans team a "Super Majority" with the power to override any Doherty veto.

Stressing the fact that the City government is now "back in the hands of the citizens", the winners also are in a position to force Doherty to face accountability for all actions he may undertake in the future. In addition, the new Council will be able to ride herd on others who have been negligent in making themselves accountable to the citizens, a long sought answer to citizens' concerns.

Doherty's "endorsed" candidate, Doug Miller, and challenger Lee Morgan, failed to garner a sufficient number of votes to even hint at making the winners the slightest bit nervous. Write-in candidate Judy Gatelli, who was ousted by the voters in the primary election,also failed miserably in her attempt to regain her seat on Council and will soon join fellow Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci who was also defeated badly in her primary campaign. Hopefully, they will get the message that the voters have spoken and they were not satisfied with the 3-2 Doherty majority on Council. Doherty appointee (who won reelection last year) Bob McGoff will now face the prospect of being the lone Doherty voice on City Council and will relinquish his seat as Council President.

We take particular delight in this overwhelming win and feel justification for our long fight to unseat the Doherty majority. Our only regret is that DiBileo's campaign fell short of defeating the "Dictator", but time may soon come to an end for "His Honor"!

Our joy is enhanced by the fact that Gatelli and Fanucci have met the fate they had brought upon themselves. Judy and Sherry, "you were right, the voters have spoken" and you are on the outside looking in. Are we gloating? You'd better believe it! We sure are!

We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Janet Evans, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce and also to Bill Courtright. You gotta believe, and we really did. It proves one thing, there really is a Santa Claus! And congratulations to the voters! You spoke and they heard you!
JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-10-23T17:41:00.001-04:00

Tuesday,October 27,2009

WE HEARTILY ENDORSE.....

FOR MAYOR OF SCRANTON: GARY DIBILEO, write-in candidate...Mayor Chris Doherty has claimed he wants another term as Mayor, yet he has decided to declare his candidacy for Governor in 2010. It is inconceivable that this man would have the unmitigated gall to declare he wants another 4 years as Mayor, and then, blatantly declare he will run for higher office less than one year later. We cannot see paying his salary as Mayor while he campaigns for the Governor slot. Di Bileo is our choice!!! In order for your vote to count, you must fill in the box, then write in G A R Y D I B I L E O. (Spelling is important!)

FOR 3 CITY COUNCIL SEATS: JANET EVANS, PAT ROGAN and FRANK JOYCE...Mrs. Evans has been a council member for 2 terms and deserves a 3rd term. She is a candidate "for the citizens" and is well versed and in tune with the needs of all the citizens. Her history shows she is not only very capable, but honest and sincere. Mr. Rogan and Mr. Joyce are running as part of a team, with Mrs. Evans and Mr. DiBilio & with Mr. Courtright and are intelligent, qualified and dedicated to serve the whole community. They deserve our vote and we urge their election at this important juncture of political turmoil.

FOR TAX COLLECTOR: BILL COURTRIGHT, current long-term Councilman for this important role. We believe he is most qualified to straighten out the mess at the Single Tax Office and to perform his duties with dignity and dedication. This extremely important job needs to be filled by a dedicated individual and we believe Bill Courtright is that person!

FOR LACKAWANNA COUNTY JUDGE: MARGARET BISIGNANI-BOYLE, in a tough call. Both candidates are very experienced and appear to be dedicated civil servants, however we feel she is the more experienced candidate and can bring a "new light" to the bench.

OUR HONEST BELIEFS

Based on our many years of experience in the field of journalism/politics, we have had the opportunity to study the true picture in Scranton. Since the inception of our publication, we have been an observor and participant (as a citizen) in the political arena. We have, at times, been facetious and tried to be witty. However, due to the severity of the present situation in Scranton, and the surrounding area, we honestly believe we have selected the most appropriate people to be our representative government!

We firmly believe that Scranton's city government needs to be back in the hands of the people...the citizens....the taxpayers, and consequently we have selected candidates we feel would best represent those interests. The present Administration, under Mayor Chris Doherty's rule, has been far too
indifferent and aloof and is out of touch with the true needs of this City and has failed to address those needs.

Making yourself immune from contact with the people who pay the bills is not the proper way to lead this City out of its distressed status. Chris Doherty has proven to be a friend of the business sector, developers, lawyers and his cronies, while completing ignoring the needs of the populace. He has turned Nay Aug Park, a part of the City recreation scene, into his personal playground and has been extremely discriminatory in keeping that facility for the "elite".

Now, in a time of our extreme need for fiscal responsibility, he has arrogantly decided to seek reelection to an office he has no intention of filling. Instead he has chosen to further his own political ambition by announcing his intent to run for Governor, seeking to gain another term as Mayor in case his Gubernatorial run should fail. In the interim, Scranton taxpayers would be literally funding his avowed Statewide campaign while he should be tending to local business. While our city flirts with economic and social disaster, he has decided to ask us to subsidize his campaign for higher office. He has claimed hundreds of jobs; considerable "progress" in the city; and has failed to prove any of these claims. In other words, he has been blowing his own horn and delivering empty promises! It is time for him to go!

Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, both Doherty cronies, let their egos interfere with common sense and the voters did not hesitate to express their extreme displeasure with them by voting them out of office. Their consistent belittleing of citizens and their overt disdain for the rights of citizens to speak out against their governnment led to their downfall!

Obviously, despite their protestations to the contrary, the citizenry was not with them and chose to replace them. YES, you can fight city hall, and YES, you can win! The proof of that is in the pudding and the ousting of these two incumbents should be evidence enough.

Other council candidates just don't cut the mustard! Lee Morgan, while offering some good points, may have something to offer, but not as a City Councilman. Doug Miller, a young man who can't decide which side of the fence to stay on, is far too immature and definitely is not ready to serve in that capacity. His record as a Jr. Council member; his track record as a "quitter" after being elected to office in high school; and his youthful arrogance lead us to believe that he is too far away from being ready to lead.

WE HEARTILY SUPPORT THE RALLYING CRY OF THOSE TO WHOM WE LEND OUR SUPPORT, "VOTING FOR "5" KEEPS SCRANTON ALIVE!"

WE URGE THE CITIZENS OF SCRANTON TO GET OUT AND VOTE FOR GARY DIBILEO, JANET EVANS, PAT ROGAN, FRANK JOYCE AND BILL COURTRIGHT! THEY REPRESENT OUR BEST HOPE TO RESCUE SCRANTON FROM FURTHER DISTRESS. AND BY ALL MEANS, BE SURE TO FILL IN THE BOXES NEXT TO THE CANDIDATES NAMES AND WRITE IN THE NAME OF GARY DIBILEO (SPELL IT RIGHT) SINCE THIS CITY NEEDS A NEW REGIME...ONE WHICH IS DEDICATED AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE CITIZENS NEEDS!

NOVEMBER 3rd COULD BE THE
RESURRECTION OF SCRANTON!

PLEASE VOTE IN THIS ELECTION! JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502, 537 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA. 18509... (570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com

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2009-10-21T10:11:00.001-04:00

Wednesday,October 21,2009

JANET EVANS WOULD FAIL
FOOTBALL PHYSICAL!!!

Councilwoman Janet Evans would not pass a physical in the National Football League. Neither could she make it in any other sport or career in which physical stamina was the main criteria! NOW, that is out of the way! As reported (exploited) in the "Lynett Liturgy", Mrs. Evans, a full-time English teacher at Scranton High School has been unable to work due to a back injury. However, she has been able to attend City Council meetings, though obviously uncomfortable, and is not suffering any diminished mental capacity due to her injury. As far as we know, there is no physical requirement for anyone to serve as a Council member, though there are, and have been, council members whose mental stability is questionable at times. Fortunately, in our time, we have never noticed Mrs. Evans suffering from that type problem.

It is obvious that the "Lynett Liturgy", acknowledged to be long time supporters of Chris Doherty, has attempted to "rattle the cages" of the present political scene and this weak ploy to stir up support for Doherty "puppets" is a poor attempt at cheap politics. What a sad commentary on what is supposed to be a journalistic endeavor! It is too bad that the "news" doesn't get reported, as it should, but this media "giant' resorts to cheap shots for its jollies!

Firstly, Mrs. Evans has never attempted to conceal her back problem, but in the same sense, she has never used it as a shield. Her job at Scranton High School, as anyone with any common sense understands, requires a lot of standing, walking and movement. Anyone who has ever had a back problem, including laborers, housewives, and hundreds of thousands of others, know the discomfort involved. There is no joy in Mudville when back problems set in, as anyone who has ever suffered with same can attest.

As for prying into Mrs. Evans inability to work at her chosen profession, these people have over-stepped the bounds of propriety. Quite frankly, Mrs. Evans' work and her litigation with the school officials, is nobody's damned business, including the "Lynett Liturgy"! Any journlaist knows that "personnel problems" are not available for public scrutiny.The only thing they should be concerned with, and we too, is her ability to perform and function as a City Councilwoman.

There is little question, except in the minds of her detractors, that Mrs. Evans has always been gracious, conscientous, and diligent in the performance of her duties on Council. The same can't be said for others! The few meetings she has missed, have all been accounted for, whether she was out of town on school business with her award winning students, or out due to injury. You can probably count the number of meetings she has missed in two terms without removing your shoes. On the other hand, you can't say the same for her some of her colleagues who are frequently absent, without explanation.

At present, Mrs. Evans is actively involved in running for re-election, and has two very astute and qualified candidates, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce running with her as a team. Should the Evans team win on November 3rd, they would represent a major change in Council make-up, and would upset the apple cart which Chris Doherty has managed as Mayor. The two have been long-term rivals, and it is obvious that Doherty is feeling the heat! Especially so with Gary DiBileo (spell it write) running as a write-in candidate for Mayor. DiBileo decided to challenge based on Doherty's purported Gubernatorial run at the expense of Scranton taxpayers, before he is even reelected to the Mayor's spot. Talk about arrogance, this guy epitomizes the meaning!

To press our point, the Doherty camp has allegedly been financing and promoting the candidacy of young Doug Miller, former Junior Council member who failed miserably in his attempt to emulate a seasoned politician. We commend this young man for his "desire" to be involved, but he is far from being a viable candidate and lacks any qualifications whatsoever. He graduated from West Scranton H.S. last year, and has been a college student this year. Mr. Miller is notorious for vacillating, playing both ends against the middle, and has been detrimentally served by his "advisors" since he became involved several years ago. He has been mislead into the belief that he is an exception to the rule, and that his lack of experience in life can be offset by the machinations of his mentors. Forget it, Dougie. You just aren't ready to take on the major tasks of governmet, unless you succumb to the "string pulling" of a puppeteer like Doherty. It's fine for you to have the "desire" to emulate the Mayor, but it's another thing for you to try to qualify as a sprinter when you're still learning to crawl. I'm really sorry that your adult mentors have led you down this path, but you can still be a factor, provided you are willing to spend some time learning, instead of jumping into a leadership role.

This whole fiasco was brought on by a female audience member at last night's council meeting who challenged Mrs. Evans for failing to commit to a League of Women Voters "debate" scheduled at the same time as a Council Meeting. Mrs. Evans appropriately advised that her duty is to serve as a Council Person, not "campaign" at a debate. The LWV should have had the common sense to select a date when elected officials would not have to miss their meeting to attend. That is the fault of the LWV, not the candidate. What the speaker failed to mention, and understandably so, is that her hero, Mayor Doherty, has refused to attend any debates, or interviews, unless he is assured he is insulated from the general public. It is well known that Doherty has no love for the Scranton-Lackawanna County Citizens and Taxpayers Assn. and has failed to make an appearance at any of their debates or interviews. As a matter of fact, Doherty has failed to appear at any function to justify his actions to the citizens of Scranton. He chooses instead to make his appearances at selected events, primarily in front of the Chamber of Commerce, or in photo-op sessions i.e. the appearance of Hillary Clinton or some other dignitary or celebrity. He even bristled at the appearancs of judicial candidates at that forum. In other words, the man is generally unknown to the public, but manages to pander to and pacify his constituents with the standard smile and pat on the back. He is a politician! He is not a leader!

As for the speaker who broached the subject, she had the unmitigated gall to "crash" the recent Taxpayers Assn. candidate interviews, a definite no-no since she is not a member of the group, and is known to be a staunch supporter of the Doherty forces, and had absolutely no business, nor any right, to be there. Attendance at these functions is reserved for membership and media, none of which meet her agenda. Had she been legitimately curious, she could have watched the proceedings on television (ECTV). Instead, she chose to "take notes", although for what reason is incomprehensible, and refuse to leave when asked to do so. If she is honestly so concerned, she should be honest enough to admit why she was there to begin with. Is that so hard to do?

We are probably going to upset Mrs. Evans with this newsletter, but her graciousness and sincerity should not be questioned in this manner. YES, we offer her our complete support, and that of her running mates as well, but when it comes to cheap shots, especially at the hands of a biased media outlet, we feel someone has to have the sense and courage to step in and defend her. We can legitimately do so since we are an "opinion" publication. The real news is never reported, but any chance to lambast any Doherty opponent is the norm for the "Lynett Liturgy"! Grossly unfair, and definitely biased, to the detriment of the public. Consequently, we have chosen the label "Liturgy", which incidentally is "a set form of public worship"! And there is little question that the worship of Chris Doherty, a long-time Lynett friend, is the reason behind the media bias.

Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to challenge them, and it is our "cross", but if there is anyone out there, who is sincerely and legitimately caring enough to put their money where their mouth is, we can guarantee our complete and total cooperation. Scranton, and Lackawanna County, deserve a real newspaper, not something like the "Lynett Liturgy"! That, dear readers, is our opinion, and we stand by it! FOR SHAME! JT

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE may be contacted at: Joe Talamini. SAL, # 502,
537 N. Washington Ave.,
Scranton, Pa. 18509
(570)342-1033
email: Scranton-at-Large.com or
Scranton-at-Large@gmail.com
Read our archives on-line

2009-10-15T01:46:00.002-04:00

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE
NEPA's Source for Alternative News
Joe Talamini-Editor/Publisher
Thursday, October 15,2009

19 DAYS & COUNTING

On November 3rd, Scranton voters will have a golden opportunity to affect enormous changes in the way City government conducts business. For the first time in modern history, Scranton citizens will have the opportunity to take control of their government back, wresting control from those who have turned the City into a virtual dictatorship.

There is little question that incumbent Democratic Councilwoman Janet Evans will probably win reelection for another term, and justifiably so. Mrs. Evans, a Scranton High School teacher, and two-term councilperson, has shown that she is a dedicated and hard-working advocate for "the people" and has led the way in challenging the "status quo" politics that have permeated Scranton for far too long. For as long as we have been monitoring Council sessions, Mrs. Evans has appeared to be the only member of council who does her homework and studies each and every proposal presented to her. She has offered "logical" approaches to a city budget which has grown into an uncontrollable deficit and a budget which has placed Scranton in a position of near bankruptcy.

During her entire term of office, she has been the major voice in challenging the tax and spend, "helter-skelter" politics of Mayor Chris Doherty and his forces. In the June primary, voters showed their disgust with Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, both strong backers of Doherty's "visions", and ousted them from office, based on their intransigence and their obvious disdain for voters and the citizens at large. True, Mrs. Gatelli had at one time shown an active interest in helping Scranton "clean-up" its act, but since being elected to Council, she seemed to have forgotten her initial promises, and strayed into the Doherty-backer rubber stamp mode, ignoring the wants and the needs of the citizenry. Teamed with Fanucci, they have berated citizen speakers, displayed unmitigated arrogance and, teamed with Bob McGoff, a Doherty puppet, have offered roses but devliverd thorns instead.

Mrs. Evans, on the other hand, has fought for citizens concerns, been a staunch advocate of contract settlements with the police and fire unions, and generally has fought an uphill battle to reestablish a sensible government which can function within the confines of a common sense budget. She has fought long and hard to right the "wrongs" instituted by Doherty and the council majority. Apparently, the voters are beginning to awaken from a long slumber and have come to realize that the present way of doing business has not worked.

Council candidates Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, both young and up and coming political neophytes enjoy the endorsement of Mrs. Evans, and there is just cause for such a move. Mr. Rogan is a senior, majoring in political science at the U. and ran unsuccesfully for a seat in the last election. Though a newcomer to the "game", he managed to grab off more than 7,000 votes, (as a Republican), and proved he can effectively run a political campaign. A native Scrantonian, and a graduate of West Scranton H.S., Rogan is eager to learn and anxious to serve his constituency, now running as a Democrat, and firmly entrenched in the Evans camp. Intelligence and dedication to service seem to be a part of Rogan's make-up and we have no doubt he will serve amirably, if elected. Joyce, a very intelligent and astute young man, is making his first run for public office, and teamed with Evans and Rogan, has shown he can carry his weight in a political campaign. The soft spoken, and unobtrusive young man, boasts an excellent educational background and a job resume which indicates he is more than capable of thinking, acting and managing as well as understanding the complexities of financial responsibility and proper use of budgets and debits and assets.

If ever there was a case of not "judging a book by its cover", Joyce is certainly a prime example. He appears to know, and understand, what it takes to run a business and to make it a success. His dedication to Scranton, as is the case with Rogan and Evans, is unquestionable, and he appears to have what it takes to serve his city, and its citizens.

Overall, the prospects of electing the Evans-Rogan-Joyce team look good, but nothing is ever etched in stone when it comes to Scranton politics, and voters must be aware that there could be a covert attempt by others to try for a write-in campaign to upset the apple cart. This election is far from being a lock, and voters need to turn out in force and do their civic duty if there is to be a major change in local government.

An Evans-Rogan-Joyce sweep would place this group in a majority position, and with the election of Councilman Bill Courtright to the position of Tax Collector, the scenario offers a real opportunity for change. Courtright will undoubtedly resign his council spot, after being sworn-in to his new position, offering the Evans faction an opportunity to name his replacement, thereby offering a new super-majority to the Evans faction and the citizens. Such a super-majority would effectively put the governing of the city back in the hands of its citizens and force the Mayor's hand, a situation which has been absent since the "dictatorship" as mandated by the so-called "Home Rule Charter". The new "super-majority" would have the power to over-ride any legislation which heretofore had been solely in the hands of Doherty.

Scranton citizens can finally claim their just rights, under the Constitution of the United States, and could very well force the city back into the realm of real local government, capable of pulling up its bootstraps and emerging from "distressed city" status, an unenviable position we have been in for more than 17 years. It is highly conceivable that with a new team in power, Scranton could begin to see a resurgence, and return to the once grand city it once was! It is up to the voters, and we sincerely hope we will see return of government to the people with the election of the Evans-Rogan-Joyce team.

Voters will also be faced with a common sense, and no-brainer opportunity, to oust Chris Doherty, a political chameleon who, for the past eight years as Mayor, has enjoyed relative immunity from answering to the citizens. Doherty, a prime example of political arrogance, has already let it be known that his ambition is making a run for Governor in 2010. On the verge of reelection to another term as Mayor, he hasn't even been elected yet, and has already thumbed his nose at the voters.

Despite claims of new jobs, progress, and the "remaking" of Scranton, he has failed to prove he has accomplished any of these profound deeds, and, has in fact, led the city down a thorny path towards economic oblivion. Doherty's "dream world" has been more like a nightmare, and he has failed to deliver on any of his alleged claims, instead enriching the coffers of developers, lawyers, and political cronies, all at the expense of Scranton's citizens. He has surrounded himself with a contingent of "yes men", all of whom owe their political jobs to Doherty.

There are directors of various city "authorities", none of whom answer to the public, and all of whom seem to be in Doherty's pocket, answering only to their "commander-in-chief".

There are department heads, supervisors, and others, all of whom are responsible for city business, who answer to Doherty only, and he has been less than forthright in disclosing city business dealings to the public.Untold hundreds of thousands of dollars in Doherty "give aways" are on the books, many in arrears, and tax dollars have been wasted in pandering to the Doherty "yes men", all of which has left the city in debt for nearly $500,000,000 That's correct, nearly 1/2 billion dollars in debt.

Increasing taxes are still to be acknowledged, and Scranton taxpayers and property owners still have no idea what their tax dollars are being spent on, who is benefiting from this fiasco, and any tangible results of the "Doherty Diatribe"!

Now, before he is even elected for another term as Mayor, he has declared his ambition to run for Governor, and the taxpayers of Scranton will be, in effect, paying him a salary not to serve as Mayor, but to run for the Governorship. Where in the hell is the logic in such a move. Yes, he ostensibly won the Democratic race and as a Republican write-in candidate, BUT, he has not yet been reelected and Scranton voters would do well to consider a massive write-in campaign for Gary BiBileo who is challenging Doherty in an uphill write-in campaign.

Stranger things have happened, and if Scranton voters use their heads, they will elect DiBileo and upset the Doherty" personal political ambition" train. Chris Doherty has used and abused the Scranton voters for far too long, and now he is virtually thumbing his nose at the electorate, arrogantly believing they will buy into his ambitious plans for himself and will subsidize his run for Governor. Even a fool can see what this guy is doing and his blatant and arrogant stance against the citizenry. A wealthy man, if Doherty had any class, he would remove himself from the Mayoral run and stand tall as the man he claims to be....one who is over and above using the Scarnton taxpayers for his own political gain. However, if he proves himself to be what we have claimed he is, a political opportunist, he will continue his charade and continue to bleed Scranton citizens to suit his own needs.

Think about it, seriously people! Is this what you want?

2009-10-02T06:54:00.001-04:00

PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS AS USUAL!!!

Once again, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania steps up to the plate and leads the nation in another category. ABSOLUTE STUPIDITY! We boast the 2nd largest legislature, second only to California; we proclaim our "independence" but ignore the Constitution of the United States; we continue to tell the world about our "progress" ( where ?); and we continue to reelect the most inefficient and incompetent bunch of moronic leaders in the nation.

After the debacle surrounding our State budget, and a close look at our local political scene, isn't it about time that the voters of this state took a good look in the mirror? Severe cutbacks in needed services are taking place; the State is on the verge of financial disaster (as is the City of Scranton); progress is misspelled (it should be regress), and now the new political season is underway. And what will the voters do....they'll continue to vote the straight party line, and probably reelect most of these charlatans because "that's the way it's always been"!

We have economic disasters taking place throughout the State and yet we continue to pay a bunch of over-inflated egotists exorbitant salaries, and per diems, for NOT doing their jobs. These people get paid thousands of dollars to be elected to "serve" their constituents! They accumulate untold thousands of dollars for expensive and grandiose office spaces and staff! They get "per diem" pay for going to "work" (a misnomer if there ever was one)! And they can't agree on a budget which would keep the State afloat and provide the services for which they were elected. And, they have the nerve to make television and newspaper appearances while telling us how difficult their "job" is! Does anyone want to offer me an annual salary, and then pay me extra when I show up for work? I'm availabe! And don't forget the office, staff & percs!

Sadly, the whole fiasco is allowed to exist because the voters just don't seem to give a damn!

For the few who are ousted from office due to their incompetence, we manage to replace them with more, and sometimes worse, replacements who do little, if anything, other than smile, shake hands, and disappear until the next election season. And, who's at fault? WE, the voting public!

When it comes to casting aspersions, Pennsylvania is in the forefront. We ridicule the "hillbillies" of the Southern states; laugh and joke about the exorbitant taxes other states impose on their residents; proudly profess our Penn State, Phillies, Steelers, 76ers, and other sports teams are among the elite in professional sports, yet we can't see the forest for the trees when it comes to the needs of our citizens. All the good paying jobs in the state, and on the local level, are the direct result of the worst case of political "inbreeding" in the country.

Somebody gets elected to a job, state or local, and the patronage begins (and continues). Somebody's brother-in-law, mother, cousin, friend-of-a-friend, or other "in" person, gets the big jobs. They aren't open to the general public, and usually are awarded based on "merit and dedication" to their political benefactors. Qualified people are overlooked; our young people graduate and move on to greener pastures; no one in their right mind wants to move into the area (for what?); and in the meantime our taxes continue to rise beyond the paying ability of most citizens; no effort is made to renovate housing units which are declared "blight" and demolished; developers and others of the "in" crowd are allowed carte blanche; taxpayer dollars are awarded to people who don't need them, so they can get richer; and they skip town and we, the taxpayers, are stuck!

Don't bother remodeling a school for a reasonable cost...demolish it and build a new school, at 20 times the cost. Don't bother offering grants and loans to people who really want to make a living in this town...give the money to outsiders or developers who can then save their own money for a "rainy day"; and heaven forbid, don't fund the needy, since that would be admitting that there really are needy people in Pennsylvania!

In the interim, reelect a Mayor in Scranton, who is "absent" from public scrutiny and who plans to run for Governor, before he even has been officially reelected! The election is in November, and Chris Doherty is already running for the Governor's spot, not up for election until 2010. In the meantime, the citizens of Scranton will be pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into his campaign, paying him a salary to serve the citizens of Scranton while he is campaigning for state office (and ignoring his city), and pandering to his whimsical desires to turn Scranton into a boutique city. So what's new? Well, Commissioner Corey O'Brien is going to run for Rep. Paul Kanjorski's seat, before he even finishes his first term on the Lackawanna County Commission! Isn't that another example of putting the cart before the horse?

The University of Scranton and Lackawanna College continue to gobble up property and remove it from the tax rolls (non-profits?); we have a bunch of separate "Authorities" who answer to no one and continue to spend taxpayer money like it is monopoly money; and a dearth of social agencies which can't make ends meet, including the need to feed the hundreds who can't afford a decent meal or a decent place to live. Mental health services, food pantries, shelters, etc. will be forced to close, yet our politicians are blind to the situation. Worse yet, the voters are blinder still!

Our streets are in terrible disrepair; our buildings are deteriorating at an unprecedented pace; our sewage and water supplies are in dire need of upgrading; our vital services employees are largely ignored; yet we can afford to "give away" millions in tax dollars to the "unneedy" and to the courts in litigation. The only people who benefit from this mess are the lawyers, developers and politicians! Talk about a real mess? The Emperor Nero is alleged to have fiddled while Rome burned. Well, folks, the politicians in our area are doing the same damn thing, and what do we do about it? We buy tickets to their concerts and applaud their performances.

I don't know about you, and I certainly don't understand it, but it is about time we dumped the whole bunch and got some qualified and dedicated people into positions of authority. Starting from the State House down, and including Lackawanna County and City Hall, its time to sweep clean this mess and take a new approach to our problems.

Luzerne County's woes continue to mount, and the only reason Lackawanna County and the City of Scranton have been relatively "clean" so far is because the Feds haven't gotten around to cleaning up the mess we have here. BUT, don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Big changes are in the wind and when the proverbial crap hits the fan, watch how many "big names" bite the dust. Scranton Housing Director Dave Baker has been the first, and we'll know his fate soon. Ken McDowell seems to have escaped by the skin of his teeth, but don't bet on that one either. Higher ups on both the County and City level are subject to extreme scrutiny, and a prime example of what can happen, and should happen, was the ousting of Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, both of whom thought they were beyond reproach. The voters can make a difference when they put their minds to it!

We've seen "democracy" in action when a sufficient number of people straighten their backs and fight back. For years we've watched while honest and upstanding citizens have been labeled "radicals" and subjected to the scorn and contempt of elected officials, and appointed ones as well. Things can change, and even though there have been minor inroads made, we do see a bright future on the horizon.

We can, and should, get rid of the over-inflated "Home Rule Charter", and institute a Mayor and Council form of government which is accountable to the people. We need to have a Mayor who sits in front of the people on a weekly basis, a council which has some authority, and a system which holds every elected official, and department head, accountable. We need a system where every separate "Authority" must make public their functions, expenditures and activities. This is still a Government, "of the People, by the People, and for the People"! And, like it or not, we've got to get back to that principle if Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County and Scranton are to survive.

If this seems like too much of a stretch, then I respectfully suggest you continue to keep your heads buried in the sand, and hopefully, this mess will all go away. Otherwise, it's about time you took this whole thing seriously and started to do something about it! It's YOUR life, YOUR State, YOUR County, and YOUR City! If you can't see what's happening around you, I suggest you start teaching your kids that "inbreeding" is a good thing;they have no hope here; and they need to vote the way Mommy and Daddy always did, because "that's the way it's always been!"

Love us, or hate us, we still intend to tell it like it is. Idealistic? Hell yes! Realistic? Hell yes! Honest and Sincere? You better believe it! And guess what? We intend to stay that way, backing those we believe in and dumping those we don't! We don't mind being a social pariah, because that's the cost of doing what nobody else has the guts to do! JT

2009-09-26T23:37:00.001-04:00

92609

NEPA POLITICAL STEW RECIPE

Thanks to recent events, we have been able to concoct a special recipe for "NEPA POLITICAL STEW"! After careful consideration, and a great deal of effort, we entered our "kitchen" and whipped up this menu. We can't guarantee everyone will like it, but we do guarantee there will be plenty to go around, and thousands will be able to partake of this "delicacy (?)"!

To begin, acquire several politicians and wannabees (party affiliation not important). Do not remove gas bags or "brains" since they are vital to the "fermentation" process.

Place political "hopefuls" in a large vat; add water (enough to cover them up to their necks,,,hot water preferred!

Stir in assortment of lies, promises, political rhetoric, phony smiles, and at least a pinch of overt deceit...add a generous touch of covert deception and a sprinkling of hope.

Stir well and turn heat up to medium. Bring to temperature slightly above warm and continue to add ingredients. Round up as many cousins, brothers, sisters, in-laws and "friends" and gradually add to the pot, continuing to stir until stew begins to resemble "in-breeding". Sprinkle in plenty of tax dollars, and continue to stir until pot begins to bubble.

Consult with lawyers, developers, real estate "investors" and toss in as many as possible, until water begins to approach their lower lips. At this stage, pay close attention to the quivering and blubbering, until a slight boil occurs.

Cover pot and allow to reach slow boil, paying close attention to not allowing too much gas or hot air to escape, as this will cause the ingredients to become too mushy.

Allow to simmer for several months, fanning occasionally with local newspaper, being careful not too allow the ink to enter the pot.

After three months, stir vigorously and remove anything which rises to the top. Strain the remainder and slowly add the previous ingredients back to the pot.

Turn up heat and allow to boil for another 6 months. Discard the strained ingredients and place in a recycle area for possible future use. Stir pot vigorously and add more tax dollars, avoiding the urge to sample the stew.

Continue boiling until first week in November. Remove from heat and remove the cover. Beware of getting too close as escaping fumes may be toxic and could cause extreme distress if inhaled too quickly. Political gases will permeate the air, but will dissipate shortly after the first week in November.

Serve generous portions to the masses and be sure to monitor for at least one week after election. Any leftovers can be reserved for possible dessert menu, and should be served on January 1st. Be sure to reserve any unused tax dollars for inclusion in the next year's brewing!

While there is no guarantee that all the people will be served, and many will prefer to go hungry, rest assured that the majority will find the dish palatable and will be standing in line for the following year's menu. This recipe is based on previously acquired information and should not be construed as having any nutritional value or redeeming values. This menu subject to change as Federal "dieticians" conduct any possible investigations or remove any "ingredients" during the processing. We make no claims as to acceptability by those choosing to dine on this menu. There will undoubtedly be many who savor the delicacy as variations of the menu have been around for years! JT

2009-09-19T12:01:00.002-04:00

YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO CRITICIZE US?

At this time of the year (which we call the "silly season"), we are inundated with e-mails, phone calls, and even snail mail. Yes, we welcome it, but what we don't welcome is stupidity and ignorance of our mission. Consequently, "someone", who shall go unnamed for the present, has pushed our buttons, and boy did you pick the wrong button to push! Now let us clarify our position!

Firstly, this writer has been a professional journalist for too many years to take the kind of abuse you heaped on us! We are relatively thick-skinned, but when you accuse us of "being in somebody's pocket" and of slanting our reporting, you had better be prepared to justify your allegations!

NO, we are not in anybody's pocket! And, YES, we do favor one politician over the other! Now, let me straighten you out about some facts re: S.A.L. This newsletter is not paid for by anyone other than this writer! We have accepted donations, and still do, to help us defray our costs! Whether or not you like it, we do have to pay for our overhead, which includes paper, ink, computer repairs, telephone bills, transportation costs, etc. NO, these necessary items are not given freely! They are paid for out of our pocket, and since we are retired and living on a very low fixed income, it is a burden to us! YES, we did cut off our print issue, because frankly, we couldn't afford the expense of printing!

Scranton-at-Large is a labor of love; a carry-over from our years of experience, and we do offer OUR opinion! However, that is the purpose of this publication....to offer an alternative voice and opinion to what you have available to you! We are not subsidized by, nor would we accept any subsidies from any politician, no matter who they are or how much power they think they may have. YES, we do accept invitations to political functions, when they are offered as "comps"! NO, we do not accept invitations to any fund raisers or functions as an individual! If a politician shows us the respect we feel we deserve, we will most assuredly do our best to attend their function and show them our respect as well! And, YES, we do expect respect from them, as well as from people like you! SAL's mission is to inform, not to promote anyone's agenda! If, in our opinion, one politician shows a propensity to do an honest and sincere job, we will lend our backing to that individual over another!

In the past we have attended functions for Janet Evans, A.J. Munchak, and others, but they were by "invitation", as a "guest", not as a "paid" political hack, as you so bluntly put it! We have never attended a function for Mayor Chris Doherty, or a lot of others, simply because we were not "invited"! We would like to think our invitation was tendered out of respect for our status as a journalist. In addition, out of respect for Mrs. Evans, and Commissioner Munchak, we attended their functions and were treated as guests, just like anyone else, paid or non-paid guests! To allege that we were "on their payroll", is not taken lightly. We are not on anyone's payroll, nor would we ever subject our journalistic integrity to be compromised by any cheap attempt to buy us! SAL is not now, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be, for sale to any political party or candidate! That, dear reader, is a fact!

As for our personal involvement in any political campaign, be it national, state, county or local, that is a horse of a different color! YES, we have accepted money for rendering our services, but not those of SAL! That was strictly for rendering our expertise, and we obviously were respected by those people, or we would not have been hired by them! True, the amount of respect we get locally is limited, but that is not due to our inability to produce! Politicians, for whatever reason, have an axe to grind, and if that includes hiring paid consultants, that, sir, is their prerogative! If they choose to hire us, that is also their prerogative! Whether or not we choose to work for them, as an individual, is ours. In the past we have been busy on behalf of some challengers, but Mrs. Evans and Mr. Munchak were not among them! SAL has lent them our support, as a political voice, not as an individual paid by them! Please don't accuse us of bias in that sense. We learned a long time ago how to separate our opinion from that of the publication we produce. If the two meet, it is not because of political promises or pay! That is a fact!

YES, we have obligations, and YES, they are difficult to meet! Being a one person staff, we are not in a financial position to attend every gathering, promote every group, or make appearances at every function! Our personal obligations are many, just as are yours. We have rent to pay, telephone bills, internet bills, auto expenses, and the like, not to mention the fact that we also like to eat and must pay our grocery bills as well. We do not receive subsidies for these expenses, nor are we paid to shop at these locations. Verizon, grocery stores, gas stations, dining establishments, and the like, all expect to get paid! And when we render our personal services, so do we! Do you work for your employer as a paid employee, or do you work free? We have a lot of experience and know-how to offer our clients, and we expect to be paid for them, as individuals. SAL is a FREE publication, expressing our opinion, and offering OUR insight into news events. We do not enjoy the weekly paychecks of our "competitors" nor do we enjoy expenses paid for by our "employer". And, quite frankly, we think we do a helluva lot better job than many of those who are on the payroll of something referred to ludicrously as "media"!

Now that we have hopefully clarified our position, both as a publication, and as an individual, we hope we have settled this matter, once and for all. YOU, dear critic, are not obligated to read SAL, nor are we obligated to serve your particular agenda! You have the option of not reading our little publication. BUT PLEASE, DON'T EVER ACCUSE US OF BEING IN SOMEONE'S POCKET! WE FIND THAT VERY OFFENSIVE, AND DEMEANING! You may not agree with SAL, but we do our best and we do have respect from many astute readers!.... JT

2009-09-12T17:45:00.000-04:00

JUDY...COUNCIL RUN OR
LEGION OF DOOMER???

City Council will have a definite new look come January, but in the interim, the question remains...will Judy run as a write-in candidate or will she opt to become one of the "trouble maker" Legion of Doom set? If one can believe her, and that is difficult at times, Judy Gatelli, defeated in an effort to regain her seat on Council, made the announcement at this week's meeting, "if I decide to run (?), I'll be back up here....if not, I'll be on the other side!" Claiming she intends to "stay involved", the question remains, will she...or won't she run?"

All indications are that Gatelli will seek a write-in campaign and rumor has it that she can look for a major cash infusion from Mayor Chris Doherty!It is hard to believe that Doherty would let this opportunity slide since he is reeling from the "unseating" of two or his three member Council majority but the ultimate decision will be whether or not Judy feels she can win. The odds are strongly against her winning a write-in seat, but this is Scranton, and straqnger things have happened. Incumbent Councilwoman Janet Evans, and her running mates, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce won handily in the primary, effectively ousting Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci. Leaving only Doherty clone Bob McGoff as the Mayor's "spokesman", Doherty is not about to sit back and watch a super-majority take over, upsetting his agenda.

McGoff, appointed by Doherty and then winning a term on his own, has been a catalyst in the standard 3-2 vote favoring Doherty's projects, and Fanucci stands as much chance of regaining a council seat as we have of seeing an honest and dedicated legislature in Harrisburg. This turkey is done and you can stick a fork in her! She never did learn to keep her mouth shut and to offer a tactful and common sense approach, and she apparently still hasn't gotten the message that she was an elected official, not an anointed one. Aside from her lack of decorum, and her condescending attitude towards speakers, her obvious "devotion" to the Mayor and her attempt to crack the "upper crust" did her in. She'd have been better off trying to serve the will of the people, instead of attempting to climb the social ladder. She missed too many rungs!

On the other hand, the November election should be interesting, since neither Rogan or Joyce have been visible to the public. Republican challenges from former Jr. Council member Doug Miller and perennial "my opinion"er Lee Morgan are not considered serious threats. It will come down to Rogan and Joyce vs. the Doherty forces, and Judy will probably be a part of that team. The remaining candidate has yet to be openly uinveiled, but you can rest assured, Doherty has a plan.

On the other hand, the potential super-majority sought by Evans, and her legion of backers, is still in peril since Councilman Bill Courtright's intentions are still unknown. He will be a major player in the "super majority" scenario, since his projected winning of the Tax Collector seat in the Single Tax Office is all but assured. Courtright would have to stay on until the beginning of the new Council, or his resignation would afford Doherty a chance to hand-pick a successor, as long as he has the "majority" vote. This is the key to what turn Scranton will take, and it is a big key!

Our question for everyone....should Judy run, and fail to win again, and should she join the "speakers", will she have to obey the 5-minute rule, or will she be accorded "special" consideration? Also, will she join the Legion of Doom or will she become just a thorn in the side of her successors? Anyway, Judy, I'll be glad to pay for your Legion of Doom T-shirt, even though I'm not a member!

OECD FUNDS AND GIVE-AWAYS UNDER FIRE

Council also made an honest and sincere effort to table any potential funding by OECD, following the public outcry over the losses incurred by the defection of Molly Branningan's and other debtors. The "hit and run" policies of several businesses, and the lack of repayment by such as The Ice Box project have left an obvious sour taste in the mouths of voters as well as Council members. Mrs. Evans was instrumental in putting a hold on any future OECD funding, much to the dismay of Fanucci, a prime mover in favor of the OECD "give-aways"! Council effectively voted to place a hold on any future "loans" until the entire situation can be resolved to the satisfaction of Council and a host of public speakers, fed up with Scranton's "City Bank" policy. More than $750,000 has been lost in recent months, due to OECD's loans, and the failed repayment, leaving taxpayers holding the bag. Several speakers have threatened to demand a federal investigation of the OECD office, and its practices, and at least one group is determined to proceed with their demands. Speakers apparently have had enough of this "fiasco" and are demanding that Council act to stop the losses.

Another matter which seems to be festering and on the verge of exploding in Council's face was the enactment of a law which granted tax collection agencies "carte blanch" in recovering tax payments from citizens who are having difficulty in making ends meet. The exorbitant fees collected do not go to the city, but instead are awarded to the collection agencies. It has been revealed that there are times when the delinquent taxes have ballooned to nearly tenfold, making it virtually impossible for delinquent seniors and those in dire need to pay back taxes. This ridiculous law needs to be first on the agenda and should be repealed immediately.

SCRANTON VOTERS THINKING "REVOLT"

Another major bone of contention is the "blight" stigma attached to certain properties while others, long bearing the "blight" label, go untouched. Some properties have been listed as "blighted" for several years, yet the City has failed to act on them while jumping to demolish recently declared "blighted" areas. The whole system reeks of political corruption and preferential treatment, and is enforced by inspectors appointed without "proper qualifications", according to sources. There is something definitely "rotten in DenmarK" re these policies.

The continued cover up of these "less than citizen friendly" tactics is another matter. Citizens are beginning to question the "inbreeding-type" politics of Scranton, and a voter revolt may very well be on the immediate horizon. Politics as usual, the Scranton motto, may very well become a thing of the past if enough citizens are really concerned, and it would appear there is a coalition forming to attempt serious change.

Despite the economic turndown nationwide, rising unemployment, the lack of jobs and Scranton's failure to not only induce new business, but to keep old business, is a portent of a "back fire" movement taking place. Recent developments in Luzerne County and that area's corruption probe, are adding fuel to an already smoldering fire in Scranton and Lackawanna County. The indictments of Luzerne County judges, and the discovery of "hanky-panky" by various authority heads has lead to a mjor Federal probe in that county. Bolstered by the Federal probes there, citizens of this area are starting to believe, and understand, that YES, YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL! AND WIN!

Local residents are watching closely for the outcome of the David Baker (suspended Scranton Housing Auuthority Director) case, finally slated for an October 7th trial in Federal Court. Baker was indicted on 16 counts and was suspended from his duties at SHA. According to our sources, we can look to more Federal "discoveries" and the possibility that more heads will roll. One only has to look around and you can see the beads of perspiration forming on certain individual brows.The long overdue probes are proving to local and regional politicians that they can no longer believe in their infallibility. We only have to remember the "domino effect" ....once one falls, look for others to topple right behind them!

When the "House of Cards" finally collapses, Luzerne County may seem like a Girl Scout picnic by comparison! And though Federal probes may seem long and drawn out, when they finally do make their move, violators had better be booked on Noah's Ark for the impending flood! JT

September 4, 2009

2009-09-04T14:22:00.000-04:00

Janet Evans ,“Lady-in-Waiting”, as City Council Gets Back To Work

Scranton City Council will return to “work” after the annual August vacation, and no council member can be more anxious than Janet Evans, fresh off a resounding victory in the recent primary. And rightfully so! Mrs. Evans, who returned to work as a teacher at Scranton High School this week, won reelection to her council seat in a walk, probably taking running mates Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce with her. All that remains is the general election in November, expected to be an easy win for Mrs. Evans and her running mates. However, nothing in Scranton politics is set in stone, and the popular incumbent has not been resting on her laurels. Since her primary win, she has been hard at work with fund raising and mapping out her plans for what could be a long-sought after “super majority” on Council. Aside from the probability of an Evans Team win, the big picture remains whether or not Councilman Bill Courtright will stay on until January’s big swearing-in ceremony, at which time he should resign to accept the Tax Collector job which he won over Marilyn Vitaly-Flynn in June’s primary.

Should Courtright resign before then, his seat would be open for Mayor Chris Doherty to appoint a replacement, upsetting the Evans applecart and leaving the probable winning team with a majority, but not the super majority which could make life difficult for Doherty. Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci were voted out of office in June, but Bob McGoff the other Doherty-team member, remains, and though he would find himself on the wrong end of a 3-2 majority, the fact remains that Courtright holds the cards, and his decision is paramount to giving the Evans team the needed leverage. We’ll see what happens in the immediate future.

Meanwhile, both sides are gearing up for the November General Election, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see some shenanigans coming from the Doherty forces. Despite her protestations that she is “done”, we don’t count out Judy Gatelli. Rumors abound that she can expect a sizeable infusion of money from the Doherty forces to run as an independent and possibly knock off Rogan or Joyce. The conspicuous absence of these two since the primary lends credence to the possibility that Gatelli could make a serious move to unseat their perceived wins. Republicans Lee Morgan and Doug Miller are not given much chance to win, but stranger things have happened and Scranton politics is certainly “unpredictable”, to say the least. Who Doherty will support in the November election is questionable, and we foresee a “new entry” into the fray in a last ditch attempt to salvage the Doherty majority.

In any event, the onset of a new Council season, albeit a short 4 month session, will be interesting. We hope they will go back to a regular schedule, now that Fanucci is out of the way. The changes in last session’s meeting times and dates were solely to accommodate her, and with her out of the way, surely a move should be made to reinstitute a “voter friendly” time and day to benefit the citizens who choose to attend the meetings. Most welcome will be the probable election of Mrs. Evans as Council President, a move which should bring common sense and order back into Council meetings.

The major order of business will be the new budget, and whether or not Doherty can bully his way into continued financial disaster for the City. While Mrs. Evans’ proposed budgets were never given a chance to succeed, in the past, this could be the year in which she wrests control from the Mayor. Again, the decision will be whether or not she can present a super majority, as opposed to the simple majority of the past in which Doherty had free reign.

Another factor to consider is who will be appointed to replace Courtright, and by whom. If all goes according to plan, the Evans team will have the pleasure of naming his replacement. If not, then Doherty wins, even though he lost in the overall picture. Once again, all we can say is that this will be a very interesting few months and Scranton’s future is in the hands of the power brokers, whoever they may be. At least this year will present a chance to change the “business as usual” tenor of things.

Meanwhile, tensions should be rising around City Hall. Should the Evans team take control, we look for major changes in the personnel who have benefited from the Doherty administration, and a wholesale “clean-up” of City Hall should be in the offing. An Evans budget will probably see the elimination of a lot of the “excess baggage” and some major changes in the “hierarchy”. It would not be too far fetched to expect wholesale cuts and a trimmer and more practical approach to the use of taxpayer monies. A good start would undoubtedly be in the removal of some of the “pay check” grabbers and a more practical and common sense approach to administration of the city’s business. Hopefully, changes would also be made in the O.E.C.D. policies which have proven disastrous and just now are coming to the fore.

FUND RAISER FOR MICHAEL ANCHERANI

All friends of Scranton-at-Large, and Nelson Ancherani, are encouraged to participate in a fund raising car wash benefit at Pee Wee's Service Station, 500 block of N. Main Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 5th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Michael Ancherani, son of our friend Nelson, is a cancer victim and is undergoing chemotherapy. We urge everyone to participate in this worthy event and offer our prayers and hopes for a speedy and complete recovery to Michael. PLEASE PARTICIPATE! This is a personal plea for your help! JT

ANSWER TO READER INQUIRIES!

Our answer to the inquiries from readers about our overall position. YES, we are highly critical of the City of Scranton Administration, it's politics, and its seeming intransigence regarding citizen concerns! We are absolutely disgusted with the apathy of Scranton voters and the bullying tactics of Scranton politics!

NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Our function is to provide our insight into the "situation" in Scranton, and we have waged a consistent battle, on your behalf, for more than 3 years. It is not our function to file any lawsuits on your behalf. We have neither the staff, nor the necessary funds to engage in this type activity, however, WE WILL SUPPORT any litigation which citizens choose to initiate in the Federal Courts for redress from Scranton's political bullying.

YES! We are in total agreement that something must be done if Scranton is to regain its respect and self-esteem. It is true, we have sat on our duffs and snickered at Luzerne County's troubles, while we have totally ignored the problems in Scranton and Lackawanna County. BUT, when we say WE, we mean the entire populace of this once thriving community! Sadly, the "that's the way its always been" mentality still permeates the thinking of Scranton, and it is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in the "Electric City", but we do not take the blame and we will not subject ourselves to intimidation, either by the politicians or our readers. This is a problem that has been allowed to exist, and to fester, long before we got here. We have done our part in fighting this mess, and have met with little support, other than lip service. YES, there have been others engaged in this battle, but they have also found little support from the citizenry.

Thankfully, many voters went to the polls in this year's Primary, and ostensibly "ousted" a major part of the "Doherty Team". That, however, is only the tip of the iceberg, albeit an excellent start in the right direction. There is still a November election at which anything can happen, and we are not prone to accept things at face value. WE, meaning this writer, still only has 1 vote, though we do have the ability to communicate our ideas to YOU, the voting public! And we have endeavored to do just that over a relatively long period of time.

Many of our readers are not from this area, and most of the input we get from them is what helps us to form our opinions. We rely heavily on our experience and know-how, and it obviously resonates well with "outsiders", especially those who try to keep informed about local politics. They come from all walks of life, and from all areas of Pennsylvania, the U.S. and even foreign countries. The truly sad part of the whole situation is that these folks seem to take a stronger interest in what happens in our local area than the local residents. It is really sad that people in Kingston, Pittston, Hazelton, and even Florida, New York, Ohio, and such places as France and Germany have more concern for this city than local residents! Doesn't that tell you something? It sure speaks a lot to us!

If apathy is what you seek, then please, stop knocking on our door and subscribe to the newspapers which help to keep you in the dark! We do not, and will not, subscribe to any "keep it local" attitude, nor do we "blow off" the Constitution of the United States! If you choose to continue to bury your heads in the sand, we will not be there with our shovel to dig you out!

YOU have the power to assert yourself, and YOU have the resources and the means through your own devices, and those of your friends, to make an impact! Our job is to keep you informed, to make you think, and to help you along the way. By uniting against the "politics as usual" mentality of Scranton, and this area, YOU can make a major difference. All it takes is a few people to get together, formulate a plan, and act on it! As they say in most circles, it also takes a big pair of brass b----s! If you can't come up with those, we can't help you!

Suffice it to say, we will offer any help we can, but when it comes to developing the nerve and the guts to take on the establishment, YOU have got to stand up and be counted. Anyone who wants to challenge the establishment, should be free to do so. If you really want an investigation into possible corruption in Scranton, bring us some tangible facts and we'll be the first to go to bat on your behalf! YES, your constitutional rights are being violated, on a daily basis....and YES, there is probably a lot of corruption and collusion in this city....and YES, there is a serious case of "inbreeding" when it comes to contracts, jobs, and financial paybacks at your expense, BUT, it is YOUR responsibility to act on these problems, NOT OURS!

Pennsylvania is still a part of the United States, and Scranton still is part of Pennsylvania! There is a Constitution in place, and YOU still are protected by it! Why are you allowing your freedoms to be wrested from you? All you have to do is sit down, preferably with your friends, and analyze your predicament. THEN, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! WE'RE TRYING! DON'T FAULT US! IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, CHANGE IT! THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS....IT'S CALLED DEMOCRACY!
JT

2009-08-25T00:40:00.001-04:00

THINGS I DID THIS SUMMER

With the end of summer upon us, I thought it would be nice to reflect back on the things I did (?), including acquiring an excellent rain burn from over-exposure to our liquid sunshine! It's been an interesting summer, to say the least.

One of the outstanding things I did was to learn that Scranton does have a crime problem, after all. It would appear that I'm not the only one who benefited from the "recent" crime outburst. Our Mayor, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police obviously got the same message I received. And the truly amazing thing is, we all got the message without benefit of our local "news" media.

We also learned that Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci, Council's most outspoken advocate of our O.E.C.D. program, has learned that, by golly, there really are defaulted loans. This astute "person", who had previously been a critic of the "trouble-makers" and "Legion of Doomers" (citizens) who attend meetings on a regular basis, seems to have gotten the message that she was either outright lying to the public, or, as expected, truly dense and totally incompetent. (voters apparently agreed with this assessment). Of course it took the sudden departure of Zale's Jewelers, The Ground Round, and Molly Brannigan's to awaken this gem from her "slumber". Naturally some $600,000 plus went with these departed "prospering businesses" which have served to further enhance our Downtown business scene. Incidentally, our Scranton Parking Authority, whose generousity is magnanimous, to say the least, also took a bath on some $60,000 in overdue rent. Of course this money was spent as part of Scranton's business stimulus plan, which is proving to be a real "blockbuster" program. We won't even go into the "Ice Box" and other programs "not in default"!

Scranton's "urban renewal" project continues, with the destruction of more buildings, and the selling off of same to developers (?) who will need more "citizen" funding. Didn't it used to be that a businessman was expected to spend his own money to make a profit? Or is that just a figment of my over-active imagination? We can't wait for the next round of "give-aways" to begin with the new council, should such a thing come into existance. (We'll hold our breath!)

City Council will return to "duties" in the next week or two, and hopefully we will resume Scranton's progress towards getting out of debt and on the road to recovery! It would seem that Judy Gatelli and The Fanuch will soon be departing the scene (don't bet on it) and a new Council will be sworn in, if elected in November! Councilwoman Janet Evans sems to be a lock, as do her running mates, someone named Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, though we know little about Rogan and absolutely nothing about Joyce. Not our fault, though we do remember Rogan from his last attempt at gaining public office. Joyce remains "the Phantom", either by choice, or by "advice". Lee Morgan and Doug Miller would seem to be too far out to be considered, however, the "Doherty Team" has yet to show it's hand. We wouldn't be surprised to find Judy back on the trail as a write-in candidate, with a cash inflow from the Doherty forces. Look forward to at least one other Doherty-backed candidate to make a run in November. He's not about to sit back and watch his power-base fall apart.

A major question, which we haven't been able to put our finger on, is whether or not Bill Courtright will stay on until January 1st, or will he cave-in and accord Doherty a shot at appointing another Bob McGoff. That would effectively seal the fate of any potential "super majority", and, at this stage, we don't view that as too far-fetched. Courtright's "loyalty" to the City is questionable, and may be over-ridden by his "loyalty" to his own cause. We would hope not, but that remains to be seen. Anyhow, should he serve out his term (until 1/01/2010) it would offer the "new majority" the chance to appoint one of their own, and the big question is, just "who" might that be? Interesting speculation, but we seriously doubt it will be Gary DiBileo or anyone else associated with the Scranton standard. Guess?

In four months, Scranton will either be "on the road to recovery", or at a staus quo, depending on which rhetoric you want to believe. We also have learned that you can't trust anyone when it comes to Scranton politics! Lip service is a wonderful thing, but it fails to satisfy our quest for honest, dedicated, and open public service. Being an idealist, we don't buy into any of the bull being handed out, so I guess we truly are in the idealist-skeptic category, a study in contrast, but none-the-less a cold, hard fact. We shall see what we shall see in the near future, and we will definitely be watching closely. Let the chips fall where they may, we can't do anything more than keep you informed!

Having watched both "factions", we have been cautiously optimistic, yet we have been the target of deceptive and misleading practices from all sides. Now that the serious business is getting serious, we have decided our approach must be serious as well! We may even begin distributing "printed" newsletters again, and are exploring the possibility of taking the matter to heart. A few people have offered assistance and we just may take them up on it. Depends on what transpires in the next few weeks, but don't count us out yet! And, by the way, keep your eyes & ears open for more Fed investigations, and the David Baker (SHA) case. (Oct. ?) JT

2009-08-12T13:20:00.000-04:00

THE REAL SOLUTION

Closings, closings, closings....moves, moves, moves....and yet, Scranton continues to follow its descent into a ghost town due to incompetency and mismanagement. Isn't it time we sought a real solution to our problems? We have been constantly criticized for our "negativity", but that hasn't been our problem. It's just that perhaps we are idealists and we firmly believe in what's right is right, and what's wrong is wrong.

Scranton has long been plagued by political expediency and a plethora of poor government! It didn't start with the Doherty administration, and won't end anytime soon unless we wake up and take off the blinders. Mayor Doherty doesn't appear to have a clue as to what Scranton needs, and he certainly shouldn't be relying on the likes of Austin Burke and the bevy of cronies he has surrounded himself with. It is more than obvious, even to the casual observer, that Scranton is in serious trouble and needs to take the "bull by the horns", not the droppings of the bull.

The rhetoric about Scranton's "progress" needs to stop, and the "further enhancement" of such nefarious projects as the further glorification of Nay Aug Park must end. A look at downtown Scranton, which the Mayor claims offers "night life" is a sham. His answer to "moving forward" is to continue as a control freak, wanting the "final say" on everything, including complete control of our emergency services.

Well, people, and especially you, Mr. Mayor, need to get your heads out of the sand! You can run to Reading and profess the expertise needed to get that city out of the doldrums, but first you need to show the rest of Pennsylvania, and especially Scranton, that you are capable of getting Scranton out of deep trouble. To date, you haven't shown an iota of good leadership! Don't offer advice to anyone else until you can come through on the numerous promises you have made Scrantonians. And a run for State office? Forget it! You can't manage a small city!

A look at our downtown area is revealing enough! Between you, and OECD, and the C of C, this city has been on the fast road to deterioration!The Steamtown Mall is losing tenants faster than one can sneeze. Empty store fronts, the continuing loss of businesses, wasted loans and "investment" of taxpayer funds in "failing" businesses, and your lack of a realistic approach to our problems is truly a sad commentary on your alleged "leadership". The only people in Scranton who are benefiting from your policies are the lawyers, developers, "non-profits" and those who don't have a clue as to what Scranton is all about. The delusionary world in which you and your cronies live must be stopped and a realistic approach implemented before we become a "ghost town"!

Molly Brannigan's, the Ground Round and others have closed or moved; others are threatening to do so, and yet you continue on the road to oblivion. STOP! Get real and face our problems! It is not the "revitalization" of Nay Aug Park, "beautiful downtown Scranton" and the obliteration of so-called "blight"! It is the fact that Scranton needs serious and honest help!

Our streets are deplorable due to a lack of maintenance; our "lively" downtown is a disaster (one can't even get a cup of coffee and a reasonably priced sandwich after dark); our older buildings are being demolished in favor of turning them over for perceived "redevelopment", and a host of other politically induced problems permeate our city, including destruction of homes which should be revitalized!

WANT REAL ANSWERS? WELL HERE THEY ARE! First of all, get rid of the over-abundance of high-paying jobs which you created for your cronies! Then, spend the time, effort and money needed to create safe and driveable streets! Eliminate your reliance on the antiquated ideas of Austin Burke! Stop pandering to political contributors and start acting on our needs! Put our city employees to work on the jobs for which they were hired, including street maintenance!

Instead of encouraging major loans to businesses which take the money and run, start investing in the community. People make a city, not politicians and "hit and run" businesses. Had you taken a realistic approach you would have seen that investing hundreds of thousands into "corporate entities", political cronies, and other businesses and individuals who don't want to spend their own money, was, and is a farce! If you had made that $500,000 available to the people of this city we would fare much better. Loans of $25,000 to 20 local people, who would have created "mom and pop" businesses would have created the jobs you profess to bring into existence; given people an incentive to make a better life for themselves; and would have stimulated our economy because these people wouldn't take the money and run! They would have been given a chance to improve our economic conditions, make a fair and equitable living, and provided the city with an incentive to move forward. Corporate enterprises, developers, and lawyers don't need the cash infusion. People in Scranton do!

Stop catering to the fiasco of "The Office" doing Scranton any justice! This show, while enjoyable and funny, does absolutely nothing to enhance the image of this city! Expend that effort and those funds in real revitalization to keep our citizens financially sound and healthy; give our kids something to do besides get into trouble or leave town; stop selling off our city to the non-profits who certainly don't need our hard-earned cash; and start facing the people....not your cronies...the "real" people of Scranton!

Ask what the people want and need; seek input from those who don't have the big bucks to contribute to political campaigns; and, if you really feel the need to create jobs, learn from the old WPA projects, not YOUR vision of job creation. Scranton never has been, and never will be, a "boutique" town. It is a community of hard-working, honest people. It needs your HELP, not your delusions of grandeur!

Instead of knocking down old houses, force the issue with landlords! Take them to court if they don't comply! Sieze the properties through eminent domain and remodel these homes. Put them to good use, not disuse. We don't need more "over-priced" rental units. What we do need is more low and medium income living quarters. People who make minimum wage, or are merely "getting by" can't afford condos, or high-end rentals. They need affordable housing. This city should be in the forefront of real revitalization, not at the rear end of conjecture!

Perthaps the possible "new majority" will make a difference. We sure hope so! But that remains to be seen. In the interim, YOU are the strong Mayor with a weak council, and YOU are directly responsible for what happens in this city! The ultimate judge of what happens in Scranton will be how you realistically approach our problems. Get off your "white horse" and get your feet on the ground. The rescue we need is not going to come from your delusions, but it will come from your actions. YOU are still in charge, and this city is dependent on YOU and what you really need to do! If you want to make an impact, then damn it start acting like a leader, not a "dreamer"! Fantasies are fine, but they won't solve our problems. WAKE UP and smell the roses! They are there if you'll just take the time to look! JT

2009-07-29T14:02:00.001-04:00

THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING!

Look out Wilkes-Barre & Luzerne County! Scranton & Lackawanna County are challenging for your title of “most investigated” by the Federal Government.

As we have been telling you, for over a year, this area is beginning to feel the effects of the long arm of the law, Federal style. Recent disclosures have revealed that the Feds are looking at Lackawanna County possible “wrong-doing” involving the previous Munchak-Cordero dealings with the stadium and now the airport. Now, add the Scranton Prep School to the list, as feds are looking into “dealings” at that school. Our sources tell us that there is still more to come!

For too many years, Scranton and the County have seemed immune, with the standard line “that's the way it's always been” regarding politics. Guess what? “It ain't like it used to be!”

Taking a look at the way things have been going here, it would appear that the “in crowd” may soon be “out”, based on what the Feds discover. Too many undisclosed political doings; way too many “behind-the-scenes” deals; and far too much possible corruption for any sensible federal agency to turn their backs. Could it be (and it appears that way) that there is still hope for this area to be forced to clean-up it's act? We sure hope so...especially if Scranton is to get back to fair and honest government!

If we ever hope to see the light towards economic recovery, and an open and honest government, the federal investigations may be just the catalyst needed. The initial action started with the indictment of Scranton Housing Director David Baker, though that case is dragging itself out far too long. Then a close look at the Tax Office fiasco, and now a continuing look at other “closed” public happenings.

It is just possible that Scranton's over-burdened citizens and taxpayers will be experiencing relief from the “private government” we have suffered with, and a further uncovering of wrong-doing by local politicians. In the current environment of economic uncertainty and rapidly rising taxes, a Federal blitzkrieg of Scranton-Lackawanna politics is sorely needed. A distressed area for 17 years, it is time the “covers” were pulled off these charlatans and that the citizens of this area got a fair shake.

We fully expect that many local “bosses” (our apologies to the mob) will soon be on their way out, and may be “in” to federal prosecution. Just look around and you can almost see the beads of sweat on the brows of those who understand, and the stupid look on the faces of those who still haven't got the message. Corruption and “tax and spend” schemes at the expense of taxpayers has taken its toll and this area is on the verge of falling further into the quagmire which has been allowed to exist for too many years. The axes are falling, and none too soon for our taste. We've seen it before, in other areas of the country, and have been preaching “investigations” for three years. Maybe our hopes will soon come true. The next step is to eliminate the “home rule charter” joke perpetrated on us and get back to open and honest government. Let's hold the culprits accountable and give us back our city & county! JT

2009-07-21T00:59:00.002-04:00

"I'M HERE TO SERVE OUT MY TERM".....BUT, MAYBE.......

So, Mayor Chris Doherty "may" decide to run for Governor in 2010! Isn't this the same guy who swore to serve out his entire term if reelected Mayor? I guess I am more convinced than ever that there is something in Scranton's water supply which affects the people, especially the politicians! This guy has lied and distorted the truth during his entire political career, and the people believe him. What Gives Here?

Suddenly, based on his polls, he is in demand and probably will run for the higher office. He hasn't even won his present election, though all indicators are that he has "bought" another one! November will tell, but don't hold your breath for any "change of heart" by voters!

Looking at the situation on the whole (and as a hole), Doherty's leadership ability is highly questionable and the "credits" he claims are close to ludicrous. As an elected official, who is supposed to be a leader, let's take a close look at what he has accomplished: NOTHING OF MERIT!

Unless you consider the "upgrading" of Nay Aug Park, including a $300,000 tree house, he has achieved nothing for the benefit of the citizenry. Sure he has made many of his cohorts and "groupies" rich, and he is probably the darling of the Lackawanna County Bar Assn. (he contributes citizen dollars well to the legal profession). He has created jobs that were needed as much as another abandoned coal mine; made the city a whole lot poorer and in deeper debt; tried to make a blue collar town into a boutique community; and managed to receive untold accolades from his "partner", Austin Burke, whose achievements are similar to Doherty's.

He fails to understand even the most basic premise, that of rebuilding the infrastructure of this city, including paving streets; bringing in new sources of revenue by encouraging business occupancy in empty stores; seeking new and tax-paying industry; affording the citizens fair and equitable treatment; and striving to keep people here, not driving them away! Instead, he continues his delusions of grandeur by selling off the city to his developer friends; giving away taxpayer dollars to existing businesses which fail to pay their debts and then abandon ship; subsidizing "non-profits" like the University of Scranton and Lackawanna College; declaring areas "blighted" rather than undertaking a program of rehabilitation of properties; and has yet to address the need for settlement of Police & Fire union contracts. Lastly, he hasn't even addressed the fact that this city has been in a "distressed" state for nearly 17 years.

THIS IS THE GUY WHO WANTS TO RUN PENNSYLVANIA? Once the "thinking" voters of Pa. get ahold of him, they'll chew him up and spit him out like 3-day-old gum. Face it Chris...outside of Scranton, you're a real "nothing". I would love to see you try selling your snake-oil to the citizens of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Sorry, pal, but they didn't just fall off the turnip truck and you couldn't sell them ice cubes if they were in the Sahara Desert! Stick to what you know, even though it apparently isn't too much. Scranton buys it!

CARMEN SANTIAGO & DAVE BAKER -- TWO MYSTERIOUS GAMES

Video game players are familiar with the antics of Carmen Santiago, and Scrantonians are getting tired of the latest game....when will Dave Baker, disgraced Scranton Housing Director, face the music? Since his federal indictments on Feb. 20, 2008, Baker has managed to stall and delay his scheduled court trial. Judge A. Richard Caputo has granted untold delays to the embattled Baker, and citizens are beginning to ask why! General conversation has a mixed bag...Baker is strong enough to force the Feds to cave in...others feel the Feds don't have a case, yet 16 indictments, including felony counts, are all still active. It would appear that if Baker really had a shot at beating this case, he would have managed to get at least some of them dropped, or open a new keg of lawyers.

The sad part of the whole matter is that Baker's "delays" have placed the Housing Authority in a holding pattern. He is "officially" suspended (without pay), yet he still manages to collect monies (vacation pay, etc.) and is doing the city and the authority no justice. While Baker continues to play out his game plan, housing authority officials are stymied since no one can pin point whether or not he will return, should he be exonerated. That likelihood is probably not going to fall his way, and the Board of Directors has offered him a "buyout" plan which would include 1 year salary and 5 years of paid medical benefits in exchange for his resignation.

The major question, and our answer to the numerous inquiries is, nobody knows what he has in mind! Sure, he deserves credit for trying to beat the Federal case, but, as most people have acknowledged, Baker is not known for his "fair-mindedness" nor his sense of decency! It would seem apparent, as is the case in most of these "high profile" "citizens", that he really believes he can exert his will over the Federal Courts. If this is really the case, then shouldn't Baker be more than anxious to solve his problems by facing the music head-on? Or is it that he really knows he faces some heavy hitters and is clutching for straws? It ain't going away!

In finality, Baker should do the honorable thing and either go to trial (he's had more than ample time to prepare), or, if he feels he is in a weak position, he should cop a plea and throw himself on the mercy of the courts. Our opinion, and that of many others...if he continues this charade, and is found guilty, the judge should throw the book at him! In the interim, Housing Authority leaders should proceed without him. Things need to be done, and Baker's plight is just that, his problem. Trouble is, he is making it everybody's problem. That appears to be the real Dave Baker.....he sure knows how to enhance his legacy. Maybe he should team up with Doherty and run for Lt. Governor? AND, if he is convicted, he should be sued by the SHA for all the money he gets while "suspended without pay"! What's the name of the game, Corruption?

2009-06-26T03:10:00.002-04:00

June 26, 2009

Scranton-at-Large is changing its editorial policy and will concentrate on fostering and promoting positive change for the City and surrounding areas. Our main concentration will be on needed improvements in the socio-economic areas and will endeavor to bring to light needed change on both the political scene and within the business and residential communities.

It is sincerely hoped that our efforts will be successful in bringing about needed changes within the community and helping to “jump-start” needed progress to bring Scranton back to prominence and the respect this city once enjoyed. There is a great deal of truth in “It Takes A Village” and it is high time that the people of Scranton enjoy true representation in government, and that all levels of citizens be heard. This is a community which can, and should, embrace all levels of input from its citizenry and should accord that right to everyone, regardless of race, creed or economic status.

Restraints on spending, “giveaways”, tax abatements, etc. must be imposed and the necessities of life must be given first consideration. It is time the entire population be allowed to offer their input and be given their just due. Distressed city status must be relieved and Scranton put back on track to be a thriving community again.

With this in mind, we are asking the citizenry to join with us in forming a new organization, “Citizens For Progress”, which will meet at least twice a month to address the main issues regarding moving Scranton forward again! Several local advocates have already expressed interest in CFP, and we are in the process of establishing an initial meeting with leaders of the entire community, including churches, neighborhood associations, business leaders, and the general populace! We have contacted members of the White, Black and Latino communities, including those who fall into the low and middle class economic strata. CFP will be truly representative of all the people, especially the working class and the descendants of those who helped to build this city. It is time to bring the “reality” back into Scranton and to offer true representation to those who live and work in this community.

The time has come to face the facts that Scranton needs to make progress for its citizens, home owners and renters alike, without regard to political affiliation or nepotism. The working man, the senior citizen, the youth of Scranton all need to get involved and all need to make an honest effort to correct the wrongs and put Scranton back on the path to being a “community”, not a melting pot or a champion for big business. There is no reason that this city cannot enjoy the benefits of the “village” where every man, woman and child has an equal opportunity and the right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as outlined by our founding fathers. Scranton can, and should be, a place for people to live, raise a family, and have the chance to make a decent and livable wage, and the opportunity for their off-spring to enjoy the fruits of their families efforts.A place of pride, not scorn!

If you would care to know more about CFP, or if you are interested in joining us, please contact us by email, or regular mail, at our address listed above. Please include your name, address and telephone number. We will get back to you as soon as possible and will guarantee that CFP will be run as a democratic organization, with everyone having a voice, not a “select” few.

While our goals are ambitious, we firmly believe they are within our reach, and with a united front, this city can, and will prosper....for everyone! It is our hope that we can elect true representatives of the people from every neighborhood, and from all walks of life, who will work diligently to make Scranton a better place to live! Included in the initial formation of CFP will be several recent college graduates, from the low and middle income families which make up the majority of Scranton's population, who have expressed a desire to move “back home” and to become active members of this community.

With YOUR cooperation, we know that CFP can be a major force in effecting change in Scranton. We can and will make a difference, and our goal is simple.....make Scranton a livable and progressive city! You CAN fight City Hall, and YOU can win!
YES, it does “take a village”, and that means the entire village, not a handful of “leaders” who make the decisions for everyone else, without benefit of their input!

Join us now in making Citizens For Progress a viable and working organization for change! There are no dues, and you are under no obligation, other than to unite in bringing Scranton back to prominence.

Let's get out of the “distressed city” syndrome and back into the position of being a "real community". It's up to you, and me, and others who truly want us to move forward!

Our Promise To You....We Will Do Everything We Can To Make Scranton A Better Place To Live, and Work! We're willing to do our part! Are you willing to do yours?

JT

2009-06-15T16:34:00.001-04:00

KOZ's OR TAXES?

Scranton's City Council will have the opportunity to stand up and be heard, on behalf of the citizens and taxpayers of this city. The true test of Council members loyalty will be tested at Tuesday night's council meeting! Do they represent the people, or do they represent big business and big donors? We will find out on Tuesday night!

It goes without saying that Council President Bob McGoff and Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci are already on record as favoring the “big bucks” folks, as evidenced by their voting records and their unfailingly loyalty to Mayor Chris Doherty, the champion of the “money crowd”.

In contrast, Councilman Bill Courtright and Councilwoman Janet Evans have been relatively consistent in their opposition to the extension of KOZ's through 2017 and 2020.

The vote apparently will come down to the decision of Councilwoman Judy Gatelli, known to vacillate between the rights of citizen-taxpayers, and the vagaries of the developers and monied crowd.

Facing the reality of the situation, the KOZ program has proven to be a money maker for the developers, contractors and lawyers involved in the “free giveaway” program, and has been a catalyst for the likes of Chamber of Commerce head Austin Burke, who has “pussyfooted” around City Hall on more then one occasion.

We have a solution to the problem, not that anyone will listen. Let's have Austin Burke, developer Donald Rinaldi, representatives of the DeNaples family, Hanover Homes, the Scartelli family, Lackawanna Energy Ltd. and others face the citizens and present their cases in open forum! I, for one, am open to hearing their pleas for tax-relief, however, I am reluctant to grant blanket approval based on what I have heard and learned.

To begin with, the delusions of the redevelopment plan are just that, absolute delusions! The so-called promised jobs DO NOT exist, and the ones that are mandated are simply TEMPORARY!

The so-called “benefits” of “attracting new business” are fallacies!

Franucci and McGoff claim Scranton cannot be competitive without the extensions! That is an outright lie and they either know it, or just don't think taxpayers are smart enough to recognize it. There isn't one developer listed who would pull out of the projects if the KOZ projects failed to get approval of the extensions. They have already spent a bundle of money to make more, and they are not about to swallow the losses which they would incur.

The entire KOZ program is ridden with lies and false promises, and the developers have benefited for more than 10 years at the expense of the citizen taxpayer. In the meantime, Mayor Doherty has continued to sink Scranton into a deeper quagmire than already exists. It has become more than a passing “deficit”! It has become a tragic selling out of the City he claims to love. Does he really love Scranton, or does he love the power and glory he can heap on himself from his shenanigans? Doherty has never been in touch with the people he is supposed to represent, and he has yet to address the public in an open forum without the guidance of Austin Burke and his lot.

I have researched the records and have yet to find Austin Burke listed as an elective official! He is a overpaid hack whose sole job is to enhance the coffers of the businesses of Scranton. Developers and property holders involved in these projects have never presented their case to the people!

Just who in the hell is trying to fool who in this fiasco? If these developers have the money to purchase these properties, and the dream of making a bundle of money from them (they wouldn't be in it for any other reason), then they should be damned well ready to sink their own money into it! The citizens and taxpayers are not responsible for making money for these folks, and it is not the job of our elected City Council and Administration to “make money” for these developers!

Mr. Doherty should stick to manufacturing plastic products for sale to churches, and leave the common sense approach to City administration to someone who has the knowledge and desire to do what is right for the people of this City. He does not receive his salary from the developers, but from the taxpayers. The same goes for City Council. THEY ARE PAID BY TAXPAYERS, NOT DEVELOPERS! The benefits they derive from their “dedication:” to the developers comes in the form of campaign contributions, and who knows “what else”, but they should not be spending tax dollars to subsidize those who make millions off the City.

We heartily applaud the “inaction” of the Scranton School Board which has, so far, refused to sign off on these projects. We condemn the Lackawanna County Commissioners who have signed off on blanket approval! And we urge the “so-called dedicated City Council” to vote NO on this issue. The voters have already spoken in ousting Fanucci, a long-overdue matter, and McGoff will be bidding his farewell in the near future, based on his “a..-kissing” devotion to Doherty.

IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS! WE HOPE THAT COURTRIGHT AND EVANS WILL STAY TRUE TO THE CITIZENS, AND WE URGE GATELLI TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS, NOT THE DOHERTY CROWD!

JUDY, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE! WILL YOU DO IT?

In the possible scenario that the extensions are granted, we urge the citizens of this city to join in filing a class action civil lawsuit, in Federal Court, to overturn the decision; to remove the “yes” voters from office; and to conduct a thorough and general investigation of this Administration and the OECD and others involved. It is time to remove the “tainted” politics which engulf Scranton. It is time the “distressed” city removed those who wish to perpetuate the myth of “redevelopment” and returned this city to the place it belongs, a prosperous and growing City! One we can be proud of! JT

2009-06-05T13:23:00.000-04:00

Q & A FROM OUR MAILBOX

Its been a while since we answered emails and queries so here we go:

Q. What is your real take on the recent primary election? Both D & R candidates? If you're referring to the Scranton scene, that's an easy one! Mayor Chris Doherty ran a good campaign, utilizing all his resources. We don't think he won the election....rather Gary DiBileo lost it. The challenger ran a low-key campaign and was not nearly as visible as he should have been. DiBileo should have backed-off earlier and allowed Janet Evans to run for the Mayor's spot. Mrs. Evans outpolled Doherty and would have probably won the election handily. Instead, DiBileo's quest fell far short and that was expected given his propensity to ignore input from more astute campaigners. He should have worked out a deal and accepted a run for Council, allowing Evans the shot at Doherty. She'd have won!

With regard to the Council election, Mrs. Evans succeeded because she is the most popular Councilperson; she campaigned vigorously but with dignity; and she overcame a lot of animosity and negativity towards the present Council. Her dedication and “on top of things” approach is unchallenged by any local politician. Evans is sharp and appears to be a “people person”, unlike her challengers and the Mayor. Judy Gatelli rode the wrong horse and continues to fail to rein in her abrasiveness. We look forward to her waging a vigorous write-in campaign in November, backed by Doherty dollars and her determination to make a “mark”. Sherry Fanucci never stood a chance due to her lack of common sense and an attitude which reeks of self-importance. Her continued efforts to malign council speakers is legend and has labeled her, justifiably, as the epitome of being a “wannabe”!

On the Republican front (Democans & Republicrats) Bob Bolus's run for Mayor was doomed from the start. Basically a nice guy, he still hasn't learned to be a team player...instead he prefers to be “the leader of the pack”! The “felony” convictions played a major role in his defeat. Candidates Doug Miller and Lee Morgan are “whistling Dixie”! Neither one is capable of running an open and honest campaign. Miller's youthful enthusiasm has been stroked by those who believe he is competent and able, though observers were turned off by his shenanigans as a “Mini-Doherty” when he served as Jr. Council President. Morgan has a reputation as a whiner and a stiff and has done little to overcome that. He has some good ideas, but hasn't learned yet to stop stroking his own ego! His off-beat attack on the League of Women Voters didn't help and probably has sunk any chance he may have had!

Q. You seem to be a Bill Courtright fan? What has he done to deserve YOUR endorsement? In general, we supported Bill Courtright, though we have been aware of his “flip flopping” in the past. His run against Frank Andrews Shimkus was ill-timed and probably cost Evans a shot at Shimkus in his first run. Now, despite his popularity and recent probable election as Tax Collector, Courtright is said to be considering quitting his Council seat in September. Should that happen, he will have labeled himself as a self-serving politician, allowing the Doherty forces to sneak in another “appointed councilman” and an open door to the November election. No question about his popularity, but his loyalty would certainly be in question should he bail out at this stage. We always thought Courtright was a “man of the people”, but should he bail out, we certainly would change our opinion and probably consider him a “sell-out artist”. The timing would leave many questions about Courtright's priorities!

Q. Do you really believe that Rogan and Joyce can be trusted members of the Evans team? That remains to be seen. Pat Rogan has been a worker, and seems to be serious about his potential Council seat. He has made mistakes, but that's to be expected from someone so young. We think he can be counted on, though we don't envision him as a “rubber-stamper”. Joyce, on the other hand, appears to be a very intelligent young man, however, we have found him to be totally unreliable when it comes to his promises. We waited 3 months for his “profile” (we still don't have it), but we choose to look at it as “bad advice” and not being in touch with the realities of candidacy. We are willing to afford him another chance, but we will be monitoring him closely and keeping tabs on his “promises”. Overall, we can only hope that Evans didn't make a mistake in her selection of a “team”. They are the best hope!

Q. What do you see as Scranton's future? We know you have been very negative towards Scranton! First of all, we are not negative towards Scranton! This was a great city, at one time, and still could be, but it takes a lot more effort than the people have been willing to put into it! During WWII, many Pennsylvanians moved away and returned after the conflict was over. Unfortunately, and it is true in many areas, they didn't bring back their “sense of home”! Instead, like so many others, they got involved in self and let the “family” concept fall apart. The kids began to drift away from home-town pride, failed to get involved in community, and left Scranton to the unfortunate “wannabes” who tried to turn our city into a “boutique-type bedroom community”. Always known as a “hard-working community”, Scranton has fallen by the wayside. The “new” politicians deviated from the working-class concept, failed to bring new jobs to Scranton, and generally jumped into the “greed mongers” who now have control of Scranton. People power is still the most direct form of government, but it takes involvement, and this is what most people don't do. The “you can't fight city hall” mentality is so far off-base that it is ridiculous. If the people really want to bring Scranton back, they need to get involved in community activities; get out and vote their conscience, not the old party line; and take back their city. It's a lot easier than you think! But, as long as you allow lawyers, developers, and “greed” to run your city, you can look forward to Scranton continuing its decline into a “those who have and those who have not” city. This decision is yours, not mine. The old story is that “In Unity There is Strength!” However, this city has fallen into the “Divide and Conquer” mentality and allowed Scranton to be run by the very people they complain about! You have allowed a biased media to control you news input which they selectively choose. The “news” you get and absorb is so obviously slanted towards the “money crowd” that it is ludicrous. The “tax and spend” mentality of these leaders, including your Chamber of Commerce, is running Scranton into the ground, and if it continues, this will indeed be a “boutique” bedroom community, with nobody to do the dirty work required to staff the stores, clean the floors, and serve the public! The debt is enormous and continues to rise, while the public allows it to happen. In November you will have the chance to change this scenario. That decision is yours! My time has passed and the future of Scranton is in your hands! I've done my part, and will continue to fight the “good fight”. Win or lose, the ball is in your hands! Go For It! Yes, I do see hope for Scranton to make a comeback, but its up to you to make it happen! Good Luck to You! If YOU really want change, YOU can make it happen! JT

2009-05-28T02:13:00.000-04:00

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE
NEPA's Alternative News Source
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 Tel. 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa. 18509 email:scrantonatlarge@gmail.com Joe Talamini, Editor/Publisher

ELECTION LOSS TAKES ITS TOLL

The pressures of running for public office can take a heavy toll on some candidates, and it is obvious, the recent Scranton primary has seen its first serious casualty. Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci, soundly trounced in the primary, and faced with losing her “throne” finally has flipped her lid!

This woman's paranoia and delusions have been suspect for the entire time she has served on City Council, but this week's meeting seemed to indicate she has finally “lost it” completely. One must wonder if she ever “had it” to begin with, but her vocal tantrum and assinine conduct reached its pinnacle when she proclaimed she had “outclassed” Mary Ann Wardell, one of the nicest people to attend any council meeting. Mrs. Wardell probably spoke for the majority when she proclaimed Fanucci was a disgrace to the governing body and she admitted she probably was out-of-order when gaveled by Council President Bob McGoff..

Fanucci, whose stupidity and antics have been widely reported, except by the local “media”, waited, as usual, until she had total clearance, to launch her attack. Though she has previously ranted on, and raved against Council speakers, she has never been subject to the wrath and indignity of being gaveled “out-of-order”, but this time, McGoff lowered the boom after a roar of disapproval from the audience and speakers. Still, the “out-of-order” rule failed to stop this “over-wrought” version of a high school cheerleader who failed to make the squad. What a sad spectacle for someone who claims, and believes, that she is far and above superior to the rank and file speakers. This gal is so delusional that she honestly believes she is the only person who has anything to say, and continues to castigate citizens who weekly address council, with genuine concerns.

Once again, alluding to the “politics” she loves to play, but blames on everyone else, “Mighty Mouth” Fanucci did her damndest to “play” the part of the “unappreciated” martyr who “stands by her man”, in this case our other delusional politician, Mayor Chris Doherty. Her “dedication” leaves one to wonder just how this alliance developed into such a deep sense of loyalty, as she claims.

In any event, after listening to her for better than three years, it has become saddening to see her finally go over the edge. To continue to slam the likes of Andy Sbaraglia, Ozzie Quinn, Marie Schumacher, Nelson Ancherani, Dave Gervasi, and a host of others who bring legitimate complaints before Council, Fanucci has never once offered an honest answer or failed to deride the speakers. The afore-mentioned speakers have all been recognized and accepted as outstanding members of this community, and have displayed their dedication to the health and welfare of Scranton. Fanucci never has understood the concept of an elected official (a public servant), who should be available to answer questions, especially legitimate ones about taxes, taxpayer funds being used for loans to businesses, etc. Her efforts at trying to answer a question have been ludicrous, and always turn into a childish rant about speakers “spewing” radical ideas, when “she” is a dedicated and hard working member of society. What a sad commentary on an elected “official”.

If Fanucci had one ounce of decency, she would apologize to every person who has ever spoken at Council meetings. Apologize for her lack of respect and her boorish and immature rantings while patting herself on the back as another “anointed Marie Antoinette”!Yes, Sherry, you truly have been a disgrace to this City, and YOU, have been primarily responsible for the raucous behavior at Council meetings. Your unmitigated gall and cheap shots at the very people who pay your freight have been unwarranted and unwanted. You have spoken so much about your “silent majority” who allegedly support you. My question, and one you should be able to answer, is “where the hell was your silent majority at election time?” It is apparent that they are not only silent, but so were their votes!

Take a lesson from Judy Gatelli! Graciously accept the fact you were defeated, and go back to sharpening pencils at the Governor's office, or whatever it is that you do to earn your keep. Scrantonians have had it with you, and you should have gotten the message from the voters. You have stood up to be seen, spoken up to be heard, now SHUT UP to be appreciated!
JT

2009-05-24T17:06:00.001-04:00

AND THE WINNER IS.....!!!!!

Our Little Tribute to Scranton's 2009 Primary Election Results:

In spite of the pain, and a schedule so rough
She took on a challenge so tasking and tough

At the end of election she smiled and relaxed
Her mission accomplished, her stamina taxed

She swept into power, with a hard earned campaign
In spite of her opponents, both laden with disdain

She knocked off the "in crowd", she clobbered them all,
She never despaired, she never did fall

She defeated them all, including "the Boss"
and She pulled off a coup, handing them all a big loss

She hammered and swung with the grace we all love,
And bested the "best", with no cash from "above"

She managed to bring in her mates Pat & Frank
And ousted both Judy, and Sherry "the crank"

She instilled hope in Scranton, the city she loves
And can look to the future, and can now make a shove

The Mayor has won, but a hollow victory we know
He lost his "big power", and now he must show,

Can he really produce, without his Council base
Can he really come through, and can he save face

Through the years he ignored her, and gave her the "snub",
Now he must face our Jan, who now holds the club

Our future looks brighter, because of her pluck,
And we wish her the best, and a lot of good luck

Yes, Janet, we're with you, and a win you deserve
Now let's see who produces, with elan and verve

No more "praising himself" for the "progress" he claims,
Be a man, Mr. Mayor, not a leader in "name"

Bring respect to our city, work closely with Jan,
And offer our Scranton, real progress, not "spam"

The future is now, not some distance plan
The Council is there, and they won't hold your hand

This is a chance, to show you can lead
Don't blow it again, show a tangible deed

The past is the past, and our future looks bright
Let's get rid of the bull----, and start doing things right

You hopefully learned, that the citizens care
And they "dumped" on your cohorts, by a margin so fair

Our distressed city can move, it can step up in class
And if you can't produce, then we feel sorry for your a--

Your record will show, that you bullied your way,
Now step up to the plate, and give us our day

No Judy, no Sherry, just Bob in your camp,
Your power is gone, no more rubber stamp

And if you decide, that its time you move out
We know that we have a real "citizen" clout.

THANKS JAN, PAT & FRANK....WE LOOK FORWARD TO A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR SCRANTON!

2009-05-20T03:27:00.000-04:00

SCRANTON-AT-LARGE
NEPA's Alternative News Source
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 Tel. 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa. 18509 email:scrantonatlarge@gmail.com Joe Talamini, Editor/Publisher

DOHERTY WINS – DOHERTY LOSES

Chris Doherty was reelected Mayor for another term, but his win was was superficial since he lost control of City Council. Polling 8647 votes to challenger Gary DiBileo's 7630, the incumbent won his third term as Mayor of the “Electric City”!

In a stunning upset, incumbent Councilwoman Janet Evans polled 8679 votes (32 more than Doherty) and effectively brought in running mates Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce, ousting incumbent Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci. Rogan garnered 7678 and Joyce 7214, while Gatelli (6604) and Fanucci (5529) were “dumped” by voters. Newcomer Tom Charles won 4779 votes.

Both Gatelli and Fanucci had been associated with the Doherty faction, and had been pro-administration “voters”. Under the new regime, if the results stand up in the general election, Evans will probably be elected Council President, replacing Bob McGoff, another Doherty backer, and in effect will gain the power base which the administration had previously held. Long a thorn in Doherty's side, Mrs. Evans should gain the edge and ostensibly will be the “controlling factor” in the new regime.

Councilman Bill Courtright, another anti-Doherty council person, will step down to assume his new duties as Tax Collector, having resoundingly defeated Marilyn Vitali-Flynn, a Doherty appointee, for the office of Tax Collector. Courtright outpolled Vitali-Flynn by nearly 2 to 1 (9409 to 5490), and will assume his new post facing an ongoing investigation and controversy which may be settled by the Courts, before the dust clears.

The new Council will then have to appoint a successor to Courtright, and that spot will probably go to another Evans supporter, giving the popular Councilwoman the majority control needed to over-ride the Mayor in most legislation.

Based on our analysis, the Evans-led team will be free to enact many of the causes Mrs. Evans has championed over the years, including a new budget, something she has had little success with in recent years. If all goes according to “Hoyle”, McGoff will be the sole survivor of the Doherty-team and will be relegated to a minority role, something he, and the administration, will find distasteful.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR DIBILEO?

Gary DiBileo's popularity could not withstand his own “self-destruction”! Having previously lost to Doherty by some 600 votes, the challenger suffered from his low-key campaign, putting all his eggs in one basket, so to speak. He spent too much time concentrating on his West Side base and too little time campaigning in other parts of the city. DiBileo failed to establish a rapport with the senior citizens, missing out on visits to the “high rise community” and others throughout the City. He also stumbled badly during the televised League of Women Voters debate, and that cost him dearly with the younger voters who felt he was not sufficiently prepared to assume the duties of Mayor. While he remained the “popular” candidate, his flawed campaign was the direct result of his failure to take on Doherty in a down-and-dirty campaign, leaving the Mayor to “hammer” away without the kid gloves.

Despite serous offers of assistance, DiBileo appeared to turn his back on these offerings, instead relying on what he believed to be his strong point, his popularity and “nice guy” image. Both would suffice, if politics was a “nice guy game”, but this is Scranton, and “nice guys” do finish last.

THE REPUBLICANS

On the GOP side, Bob Bolus gained 829 votes as the sole “endorsed” Republican, but results are still pending due to the write-in candidacy of Doherty. Bolus did a credible job, in spite of questions as to whether or not he could serve if elected, and he carried himself well at the LWV debate. If he does succeed in having his “felony” convictions overturned, he would be a solid candidate, provided he can get by the “Doherty write-in” campaign.

Lee Morgan and Doug Miller (1187 & 1160 respectively) also faced a write-in campaign for Council, when Gatelli and Fanucci announced their intentions to run for the spots. Both lost badly in their Democratic campaigns, but could pull off a win as Republicans. Those results won't be known until at least Friday. In any event, neither Council candidate is considered a serious challenger to the Democrats. The general election in November will be worth watching for all candidates.

SCHOOL DIRECTOR SLATE

Brian Jeffries(5417); Frank Brazill (5262); Bob Lesh (5,209) and Bob Sheridan (4982) were the apparent winners to the 4 open seats as School Board Director. Several other candidates made it a close race, but the next highest vote getter, Nathan Barrett, picked up 4,644 votes, falling far short of the needed votes to gain a spot.

OUTLOOK FOR A “NEW” SCRANTON

If we can believe the campaign rhetoric, and there is no reason not to do so, citizens of Scranton can look forward to a more receptive and government that we have been used too. Mrs. Evans has proven to be a “people person” and has been the sole major dissenting voice on Council. Her previous budgets have been rejected outright, most without haven't been given even a brief reading, though they have had merit. She has remained the lone Council person who has studied and investigated legislation before voting on it, and should continue on that path. Hopefully, Rogan, Joyce and the “new” council person will follow her lead. With her popularity and common sense attitude, citizens can look forward to a friendlier and open forum, without benefit of ridicule, disdain, and “deafness” as evidence by the present group. Council meetings should be more reserved and a new and more receptive governing body should assuage the ill feelings which have been part and parcel of present meetings. What happens in the future is anybody's guess, but we feel a new and refreshing approach to city government will be forthcoming. Television viewers however, will probably be disappointed when the “Jerry Springer mentality” disappears and viewers have the opportunity to see “real” government at work! We applaud the winners and wish them the best! We offer our support in any way we can be helpful. For the new Tax Collector, “Good Luck, Bill”! You have a helluva mess to clean up! JT

2009-05-17T16:34:00.002-04:00

LESS THAN TWO TO GO!!!

In a little less than two days, voters will have an opportunity to vote for Mayor, 3 Councilmembers, a Tax Collector and a handful of other significant elected officials, including judges and school board members.

We seriously urge voters to turn out to change local politics! This is YOUR chance to make that needed change!

S.A.L., and I personally, encourage everyone to look at the TRUE FACTS in this election!

There are NO NEW JOBS! There is NO PROGRESS! There are NEW TAXES! There is a LARGER DEFICIT! There is an INCREASE IN CRIME! There is LOW MORALE in the Fire Department and Police Department! There is NO RECOVERY in sight from our DISTRESSED CITY status! There is a continuing EXODUS from Scranton! THESE ARE THE TRUE FACTS!

On Tuesday, May 19th, ONLY YOU, the voters, can make effective changes in these facts! It is up to you, and me, and all our friends, to put Mayor Chris Doherty, Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, and Tax Collector Marilyn Vitali-Flynn OUT TO PASTURE!

For nearly 8 years as Mayor, Chris Doherty has lied to us and misrepresented his "accomplishments"! Councilwoman Judy Gatelli has rubber-stamped his agenda in order to foster her own political ambitions! Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci has laughed at, and demeaned the citizens of this community to flatter her own "power trip"! Tax Collector Marilyn Vitali-Flynn has been "ineffective" and hides behind her "selected" counselor! IT IS TIME FOR CHANGES TO BE MADE IF SCRANTON IS TO PROGRESS!

We strongly urge voters to turn out en masse and elect GARY DIBILEO as your next MAYOR; BILL COURTRIGHT to be TAX COLLECTOR; and JANET EVANS, PAT ROGAN and FRANK JOYCE to replace our present "rubber stamp" City Council!

SCRANTON NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD, and YOU, the voters, NEED to make these changes! We can't afford to sink deeper into debt, and we cannot afford CHRIS DOHERTY and his "City Council" for another term!

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!! WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR SCRANTON AND YOUR FUTURE? JT

2009-05-14T12:09:00.002-04:00

READ IT & WEEP, DOHERTY FANS

Normally, SAL does not steal or copy from anyone else, but due to the importance of this email, we felt the need to get this info out to the general public.

We appreciate the fact that our readers are well-informed and we won't hesitate to print info which is helpful to all. We thank the writer and the fact that this information has been made available to all.

Info received from Chris Phillips & forwarded to us:

"This may be a little difficult to follow so I will do my best to explain what it is. Below I wrote a letter in response to the predictable endorsement of the mayor by his paper. Therein I alleged that the paper was aware that a PEL official who is handling our 17 year recovery from distressed status testified that we were in worse financial shape in 2008 than we were in 1992.

After my letter Borys Krawczeniuk from the Scranton Times emailed me, below and asked where Mr. Miller from PEL testified. As per the attached The Scranton Times is now aware that PEL testified that Scranton is worse off now than it was in 1992 when it first became distressed. This is contrary to their recent endorsement of Mayor Doherty as I pointed out in my initial letter. I would venture to say that if they ignore this now their bias will be proven beyond a doubt. Please circulate this email to as many people as you can over the next few days and remember what you don't read in their paper.

TY chris

--- On Wed, 5/13/09, cphilrun@yahoo.comwrote:

From: cphilrun@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: PREDICTABLE ENDORSEMENT
To: "Borys Krawczeniuk"
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 9:55 PM

Borys,

Here you go page 252 of the transcript from an April 2008 arbitration hearing...Let me know what else you need to do a story...

--- On Wed, 5/13/09, Borys Krawczeniukwrote:

From: Borys Krawczeniuk
Subject: Re: PREDICTABLE ENDORSEMENT
To: "CPHILRUN"
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 3:37 PM

Where did Miller say, under oath, that the city was worse off than 1992?

On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 1:54 PM, CPHILRUN wrote:

Editor:

Your recent endorsement of Mayor Chris Doherty is if nothing else predictable. For almost 12 years Mr. Doherty has basically done no wrong in your eyes. Anything that borders on wrong in your opinion can be easily explained and forgotten when you shamelessly praise him for 5 days or endorse him at election time.

You claim that “Scranton is a better place in which to live, work and invest than it was when he took office”. For whom is it better? The elderly or families who now pay more for services? Our young adults and children who must leave if they want to find a job that pays more than a menial hourly wage? Better for our neighborhoods most of which only see police officers on the beat or a street sweeper as a primary election nears. Maybe you are referring to it being better for the non-profits that pay $90,000 less now than they did in 2002? Even though Mr. Doherty fabled recovery plan calls for increased payments and he claimed when he ran that he would negotiate such payments.

It is my opinion that you must mean the elite crowd and those who contribute to his campaigns for these are the only people who are better off. A perfect example of this is the owners of your paper who have enjoyed daily city government advertising on your web site for several years at the expense of the taxpayers.

You tout the “hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new construction…downtown amid the worst recession in 70 years”. But you fail to mention that most of this investment is being done by a few Doherty contributors who receive low interest loans, grants, tax exemptions and construction contracts. There is very little stand alone private investment in our downtown and you are very much aware of this fact.

You sell the “vision” of an ever improving progressive city yet you know that is not true. The fact of the matter is that you are very much aware that Harry Miller who is the coordinator for PEL and is overseeing our recovery plan testified to the contrary. In fact under sworn oath in April of 2008 Mr. Miller was asked if the city was better off now than it was in 1992. His response was that city finances were worse off now than they were in 1992. So after 17 years as a distressed city, under PEL and Mr. Doherty’s recovery plan we are in worse shape now than we were. Why have you failed to report this fact?

You claim Mr. DiBileo has “failed to articulate a vision” for the city and ignore how Mr. Doherty did with his 2001 “vision”. Mr. DiBileo’s broad vision is an inclusive city, with lower taxes that is no longer financially distressed which is similar to the mayor’s 8 years ago.

Eight years ago Mr. Doherty “articulated his broad vision for the city in your paper and has failed miserably at achieving that vision. He claimed he would lower taxes, eliminate the distressed city status and end Scranton’s days of spending more than it generates in revenue.

However, instead of lowering taxes he raised them with the help of his rubber stamp council. We are still distressed and because of foolish forced retirements by Mr. Doherty have a structural deficit in our annual budget. You are also aware that Mr. Doherty will have to cover his deficit with another tax increase this year if he maintains his current level of spending. But you certainly won’t write that before a primary election.

The most telling element of your predictable endorsement was comparing Mr. DiBileo to a dog. Nothing could better demonstrate the condescending, elitist, pontificating attitude of your editorial board and the administration you worship. It seems in your eyes anyone who supports Mr. DiBileo is a dog. In the mayors eyes anyone who does not agree with him is an obstructionist. And you wonder from where the angst of many in this city is born? Here is to the dogs biting back on May 19, 2009.."

Christopher Phillips

School Director City Of Scranton

570-575-4542

testimony.doc [~47K]
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2009-05-11T21:01:00.001-04:00

LWV MAYORAL DEBATE

The League of Women Voters Mayoral Debate has just concluded and we offer our analysis of the results between incumbent Chris Doherty, challenger Gary DiDileo and Republican challenger Bob Bolus.

Unfortunately, despite the urgings of the LWV and moderator, a handful of audience members hooted and hollered, both in support of and against all three candidates, eating into the few precious minutes each candidate was allocated.

From our point of view, DiBileo appeared to be more interested in challenging Doherty's stance on numerous issues, however he did score
heavily when he attacked Doherty's campaign mailing which he deemed "personal", and questioned Doherty's honesty and integrity. The particular mailing to which he referred accused DiBileo of being "ineffective, destructive, embarrassing and obstructionist", terminology gleaned from the "free press", owned and operated by Doherty's close friends. DiBileo failed to mention the $184,000 debt he incurred during his previous campaign, and he m,issed out on the chance to attribute the debt to finances borrowed from his family and friends
Doherty, on the other hand, began this campaign with a positive balance from previous campaigns, but neglected to mention that the larger donations came from out of town sources, including $10,000 from his cohort, attorney Carl Greco who has been the beneficiary of many Doherty "assignments". He also failed to mention the $4,500 from his media owner" friends, and the five day front page "freebie" publicity he received compliments of the same "family" press, less than 2 weeks before the election..

DiBileo refuted numerous Doherty allegations, including his attendance at several meetings during his term on City Council, during which time the "recovery"plan was discussed. The biggest faux pas by DiBileo occurred when he passed on the question of "brain drain" from our community. However, both Doherty and Bolus failed to offer a real answer to the question of the brain drain. All three seemed to be pre-occupied and failed to realize the reference to the loss of "educated minds". The obvious inference was that educated and intelligent youth are leaving the Scranton area upon graduation, offering their "minds" to other areas where realistic jobs are available.

Major bones of contention were the alleged 6,000 jobs Doherty claims to have created. He failed to cite any of these jobs, and DiBileo and Bolus jumped on the chance to challenge him, including Bolus's contention that Doherty actually has claimed over 9,000 new jobs, including those he had previously claimed. Both challengers cited the fact that the city is losing population as well as job creation, in spite of Doherty's claims of gains. He was again challenged when he claimed responsibility for bringing in the new medical college, and Bolus took the bull by the horns when he asked what new jobs would be created, how much medical care will be brought into Scranton, and what benefits we would derive when these newly accredited technicians leave the school and the City. He even asked the audience how many of them expected benefits such as free medical care, jobs and other amenities which allegedly will come from the new school.

References to new taxes, deeper debt and a solution to the contracts of the police and fire unions were all highlighted, over and over again, but none of the three offered tangible solutions. The "new library" which Doherty wants in the Southside also came under fire, but only Bolus spoke out against the project, citing the need to fund "necessities" before we continue with Doherty's continued borrow and spend programs.

Overall, DiBileo semed to offer a more "personal" approach to the citizens needs and wants, citing Doherty's refusal to meet with Council members whom he does not control, and his failure to be "the sixth councilman", a promise he has reneged on during his previous two terms in office. DiBileo also called him a liar and cited other falsehoods attributed to Doherty, though the Mayor managed to maneuver away from the challenges, instead referring to the "progress" he has brought, and his removal of blighted areas. Bolus lashed out at his KOZ's and "giveaways, which have cost taxpayers millions of dollars", and the intransigence of the Mayor in resolving the ongoing police and fire negotiations. Both challengers also refuted the Mayor's claims to working towards removing the "distressed city" status and citing the lack of any progress in that area.

Bolus, the lone "real" Republican on the ballot, made probably the most honest apparaisal of what the city needs and how he would go about accomplishing same. He cited the need for open and honest government, fiascal responsibility and the need for communicating with the people, especially through town meetings on a regular basis. In all, the Republican seemed to offer the most substance in his answers and rebuttals, and in our estimation, came out the winner of the debate.

We laud DiBileo for his efforts, though he stumbled at times, and fault Doherty for his seemingly "pat" answers and relative indifference. If the general election were held today, we would probably vote for Bolus, with DiBileo getting our shot as a second guess. Fortunately, the week left between now and the primary will determine who will champion the Democratic cause, and we can only hope that those who watched the debate will have sufficient information to make an educated decision. As for Bolus, he claims to have the opportunity to exonerate himself from his felony conviction. If so, we would welcome his candidacy in the general election. He earned it! JT

2009-05-08T03:58:00.001-04:00

2009-05-05T13:19:00.001-04:00

THANK YOU, FRIENDS OF THE FORGOTTEN!

Korea was not my choice of "vacations", but in June 1950, the U.S. joined in a "police action" after the North Koreans invaded the South. I was "fortunate" enough to be stationed in Japan at the time, and was "invited" to join the "police action". Being a stupid, young kid, I was naturally as "gung ho" as any other over-exuberant youth invited to attend a "shoot-out". Rather unfortunately, I was awarded a medal by my government, one which no one looks forward to receiving, the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.

In 1951, I was air evacuated from a hospital in Japan to Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville. There were a couple "stopovers" during the trip, and I and the others were greeted by the Salvation Army and volunteers who offered their thanks and tried to make us feel welcome.

No parades; no welcome home ceremonies; no pats on the back for a job well done! After 11 months of rehabilitation, I was discharged from the Army. We didn't seek any honors, and didn't receive them. We did remember our fallen comrades; many of whom never returned to their homes in NEPA, unless accompanied by a contingent of funeral personnel & an American flag. No parades, no "thanks", just funerals and bad memories. By today's standards, we were truly the "forgotten" ones.

Finally, after nearly 58 years, I felt a sense of gratitude and thanks! Why? Because last weekend, while seeking a parking place at WalMart in Dickson City, a gentleman stopped and got out of his car, shook my hand, thanked me, and offered a card which read: "Fiends of the Forgotten"! It appears that the gentleman noted my license plate which is a "Purple Heart" tag. I can't tell you how overwhelmed I was. Finally, someone acknowledged the sacrifices made by those of us who were in the "forgotten war".

The only reason I mention this is because Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day are approaching us, and I am sure there are still many who felt the way I did. After so many years, to be "thanked" by a stranger, one who I am proud to say I would like to have as a friend. I don't know this gentleman, and had never seen him before. That little token of his "thank you" card meant more than anyone could imagine.

Now, as we are approaching that time of the year when we "honor" our veterans, we will have a parade, though there will probably be few attendees, as usual. Nothing like the "St. Patrick's Day" parade, and only memories of those days when veterans and the U.S. were honored by large parades, celebrating our service and our freedoms. It is sad that after all these years, people still cannot find the time to honor those who fought to preserve their rights to a better life; many of whom will never return to celebrate our victories.

I urge everyone to take the few minutes of their time to attend the veterans ceremonies, and to pay homage to all the veterans of U.S. conflicts. There is absolutely no reason we can't take a few minutes of our lives to at least pay tribute to our veterans. There won't be any big beer bash, i.e. St. Pat's Day; few, if any politicians or elected officials in attendance; and few who really care. How sad! Even our youngsters, including college aged youth, will probably not be in attendance, since there is no big "party" atmosphere, and most of their parents will be "too busy" to attend. Most of those in attendance will be veterans, and their families, and those who have "lost" kin in these wars!

I would like to personally thank all the veterans of our conflicts, including many friends who are no longer with us. I would like to personally share my thoughts of those who didn't get the opportunity to come home to celebrate what passes as "celebrations" today. And to the Gold Star mothers, the Silver Star mothers, and the families and friends of the "survivors", I share your memories and extend my condolences.

Last, but not least,THANKS to that gentleman at WalMart and THANKS to the Friends of the Forgotten! It's nice to know that somebody cared and there are still people who care. Because of you, and your friends, I no longer feel "unappreciated"! Let's not forget to thank those who are still fighting for our freedom and that of numerous others around the world. May they all return home, and receive our thanks!
JT

2009-05-04T04:29:00.000-04:00

TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING

With just two short weeks until the May 19th Primary Election, the race for Mayor and the three Council seats is taking on new meaning. In what appears to be a hot and heavy challenge to incumbent Mayor Chris Doherty's bid for another term, former Councilman Gary DiBileo is gaining ground on Doherty. The challenger lost a close race against Doherty in the last election, failing to win by some 600 votes. Nevertheless, DiBileo has gained considerably, based on our poll of some 100 readers, including expats now living abroad. Our polls indicate DiBileo with 71 votes; Doherty 23; and undecided or "not voting" 6. If this is an indicator, it looks like Doherty may be in serious trouble.

Unfortunately, our local "newspaper", run by close friends of Doherty, chose to launch a 5-part front page series, extolling the virtues of Doherty, two weeks before the election. This is an indicator of the slanted press in this community, and further proof that Doherty is indeed in trouble. Considering the fact that multiple alleged lies are coming back to haunt him, Doherty continues to heap praise upon himself for his accomplishments, and his chums at the local "media" appear to be more than willing to join in praising him. And why not? After all, he grew up with the "family" and has been in cahoots with them since day one. The sad part of it is, this is a one newspaper town, and that one newspaper is so slanted and biased toward their pal that they make a true journalist want to regurgitate. Sadly, the only thing which will change the attitude of this "band of journalists" appears to be the old standard of boycotting their advertisers and lettting those folks know your reasons. This is the only way to affect change, or continue to be misled by the diatribe which emanates from this "bird cage liner"!

In view of the serious challenge to his incumbency, we would not be the least bit surprised to see Doherty call in some heavy hitters, (i.e. Bill Clinton) to whom he bowed and genuflected, holding a big-dollar fund-raiser in his home to support the failed Hillary Clinton Presidential run. This is obviously one big marker which Doherty could call in, if Clinton is so obliged to do so. It wouldn't surprise us in the least if Clinton showed his face here to lend support to the Mayor, though we doubt how much good it would do in view of the Obama win.

In all sincerity, we cannot and would not support the reelection of Chris Doherty for another term. He has failed to garner the endorsement of either the local Democratic Party or the State Democratic Party, yet he fails to acknowledge that. His recent "mailings", paid for by the State Democrats, were merely using funds available to any incumbent, though many believed they were an endorsement. NOT TRUE!
Doherty has failed to make any progress in bailing Scranton out of the "distressed city" status, in fact, sinking the City deeper into debt than anyone can imagine. His claims that he brought in new jobs are untrue. The only "new jobs" he created were for his political cronies at City Hall, and while he fails to acknowledge court rulings favoring the Police and Fire unions, he has raised the pay of many at City Hall and has made unnecessary hirings. His threat of "saving money" by reducing Police and Fire personnel, has been temporarily placed on hold while the election is underway. He has succeeded in selling Scranton out, just as his pal former Mayor Don Cunningham did with the City of Bethlehem. Bethlehem is now under the control of Lehigh University, and Scranton is heading in the same direction with the U. of Scranton, Lackawanna College, and Marywood Univ. Doherty is totally out of touch with the reality of running a city; cloisters himself from his constitutency (except his backers); refuses to answer to anybody but his friends and backers; and uses his powerful position as a dictator,
expressing himself only to his buddies at the local "publication" or through his connections to the Chamber of Commerce. He fails to answer questions imposed by City Council, except through his "puppets" on that elected body; never attends Council meetings; and is always "unavailable to all but his "insiders". This guy is definitely a political hack with lofty ambitions. Let his record speak for itself!

DiBileo, the serious challenger, on the other hand maintains a friendly and outgoing attitude towards the people of Scranton. Though he hasn't really made his agenda clear, and has remained relatively isolated, he does possess a rapport with the citizenry and is considered the better man when it comes to running Scranton's business. The challenger does have more warmth and is definitely more in touch with the people whom he wants to represent. A successful LOCAL businessman, he at least is approachable and amenable to dealing with the locals.

OUR ENDORSEMENT; GARY DIBILEO FOR MAYOR!

The race for the three open Council seats is unique in that all three seats are occupied by incumbent women. Janet Evans, Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci all seek to retain their seats on Council. None of these women received the endorsemnt of the local Democratic Party, but contrary to protestations by Fanucci, we doubt seriously if gender was a reason. We feel sure that the Party withheld endorsements due to more practical reasons, i.e. three male challengersand a desire to have an open race.

Only Janet Evans has displayed any sense of common decency and astuteness in dealing with the public. Mrs. Evans, except for the last few weeks while she has been suffering from serious back problems, and the care of her elderly mother, has been an exemplary member of the Council. She has done her homework religiously while working full-time as a teacher at Scranton High School and caring for her ailing mother. She has been a regular attendee at the vast majority of Council meetings and has addressed the concerns of the citizens by providing answers, or at least trying to get answers to their questions. Her dedication and sincerity are beyond question, and except for her missed appearances for health reasons recently, has an outstanding attendance record. She is the popular "leader" of the opposition to the Doherty Tax-Borrow-Spend programs, and, due to her efforts, has been effectively locked-out of contact with Doherty. On the other hand, she has been the sole defender of the citizens and their participation in their government. She is to be applauded for her efforts.

Judy Gatelli, a school nurse at West Scranton HS, has become known as the Council "chameleon", changing her moods to fit her agenda and that of the Mayor. No shrinking violet, Gatelli has been a leader in attempitng to silence public participation at Council meetings. She led the fight to remove the cameras from city hall; keep a full-time policemen in attendance at Council meetings; and subjecting the public to illegal searches and temporary "lock-outs" when she perceived she was under "terroristic threats" due to postings on a local website. Once known as a "people person" and a friend to the voter, she has switched her position and has become a pariah, alienating many of her former backers. There is still some question of her "twisting arms" in getting a family member a city job; her misuse of power in getting friends and neighbors "dug out" of last year's snowstorm while the rest of the city suffered; and her "dedication" and "insider" status with the Doherty Administration. Her recent acuisition of hundreds of thousands of dollars for tree planting on her Southside, was ludicrous. At a time when the City is in distressed status, and accumlating massive debt, she has voted with the Doherty agenda, to the detriment of the rest of the City. She has championed Doherty budgets, obviously without studying same, and has been reluctant to support, or even consider any al-ternatives offered by Mrs. Evans. She also fails to provide questioners with any answers, and only lately, has taken to making an effort ot appease challengers in the citizen audience, yet answers still are not forthcoming. She, Fanucci, and Doherty's hand-picked Council voice, Bob McGoff, have been in the forefront of pushing the Doherty agenda forward, though none seems to have an semblance of an honest answer when questions arise. She has truly been the Council "chameleon" and seems proud of that fact!

Fanucci is probably the last person any self-respecting City would want representing its constitutency! She makes a mockery of public office, heaping praise on Doherty, and herself, while delighting in ridiculing speakers and the citizenry. She has plced herself on such a high pedestal that if she falls, the thud might be heard round the world...at least in her world. An "overworked" (her terminology) member of Council, she must be spending a lot of time studying what her "bosses" tell her because she has yet to offer an intelligent or logical solution to any problem, choosing instead to berate the citizenry, including individuals and union leaders, and in constant defense of her "position", not that she has one of her own. She has likened Council meetings to the Jerry Springer Show, yet she is the one who has brought the meetings down to that level. She also appears to have an inside track to Doherty himself, championing his causes before anyone else on Council seems to be aware of them. She has challenged speakers, both from her "lofty" position, and in the hallways during Council meetings, taking offense to any challenge to her self-perceived intellect, and it is definitely self-perceived. Whoever was in the position of pushing her to run for City Council should be hanging their heads in shame. She reflects on those who offered her up for candidacy in the first place, and if these folks take pride in what they have created, this City is in real trouble. Her conduct on and off the premises is highly questionable and has been scrutinized on more than one occasion. This gal is a definite detriment to good city government!

Pat Rogan, another Democrat (once Republican) is a challenger who has the credentials and the personality to serve well. A U of S student majoring in political science, Rogan made a decent run in the last election, showing considerable strength though he ran on the G.O.P. ticket. His major fault was emulating the "illegal immigrant" agenda of Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta, though many people failed to understand the
"illegal" part of the campaign. A West Scranton HS graduate, and a Westside resident, Rogan has the ability to help affect changes for the better, and has matured considerably over the last year. He is running on the Evans ticket along with newcomer Frank Joyce.

Frank Joyce is a personable young man with two degrees and a masters from a large mid-western university. Though we haven't received his profile yet, we feel comfortable in the fact that he has at least made an effort to establish himself as "one of the people", not the routine political hack usually associated with first time candidates. Well-spoken, and obviously well-versed, Joyce has aligned himself with Evans and Rogan, yet we feel he has no intention of being a "rubber stamper" should he win election. The youing man has overcome the "little known" factor and has made his mark at rallies and fund raisers.

We know nothing about Mr. Charles, other than he is perceived to be a Doherty hand-picked challenger and a local businessman. His offerings have been minimal, to say the least, and he has done little to establish himself as a viable candidate.

OUR ENDORSEMENTS: JANET EVANS, PAT ROGAN and FRANK JOYCE.

The fiasco with the Single Tax Office is another story in itself. Incumbent Marilyn Vitali-Flynn, appointed to fill the "vacancy" left by Ken McDowell's move to County Controller, has been abrasive and seems to lack any sense of what is going on at that office. She has made pronounced statements, only to find herself unable to substantiate them. Without benefit of her "counsellor" she seems incapable of answering the myriad of questions surrounding that debacle. Her challenger, Councilman Bill Courtright, has long been known to cherish the position. While neither candidate has any specific credentials to challenge as a financial expert, the job really calls for someone who is an administrator and can make decisions. We have a tendency to believe that Vitali-Flynn is in over her head, and that Courtight has the experience and know-how to be a leader and taskmaster in the position which calls for both.

OUR ENDORSEMENT: BILL COURTRIGHT

The Republican Party has little to offer in this election, with virtually no opposition. While we are reluctant to make an endorsement here, we feel we must give credit where credit is due. Bob Bolus is the sole G.O.P. candidate for Mayor and yet there is a movement underway to support Doherty as a write-in candidate. Bolus, while we have been at odds at many times, deserves the nomination and has fought long and hard for it. He is under constant pressure and has defeated challenges to his candidacy in the Courts. As the sole declared Republican candidate, he has earned the right to run, even though there is question as to whether or not he could serve if elected. We can say one thing for Bolus, and we do it gladly...he has a helluva lot of guts, and has many things of merit to offer.

OUR ENDORSEMENT: BOB BOLUS

There you have it, for what its worth. We still think Scranton has a long way to go before it can be considered a real city, but at least the candidates we have endorsed can dispel the small-town political mind set of this community and can make a major difference. Apparently many of our readers feel the same way, and though Scranton-at-Large has fought long and hard to make a difference in this community, we have, for all intents and purposes, been relatively shut out by all the candidates. We can live with that, but we sincerely hope we have been able to make a difference in Scranton's thinking. Since we were unable to keep our print version going due to lack of funding, we have nevertheless managed to maintain a solid readership base. Let the chips fall where they may, but SAL has tried to make a difference and we hope we have succeeded. In case anyone is under the impression we are going away, FORGET IT! We have fought too long and too hard to just go away. As long as people will listen, we will say what we believe is right. We still intend to speak out for justice and fairness!
JT

2009-04-20T12:51:00.002-04:00

FINALLY.....COMES THE DAWN!
I was beginning to believe it would never happen, but it appears that it has! After spending three years of my time, mostly without assistance, and with little help, it appears that my efforts are paying off! At least there is a glimmer of hope that the citizens of Scranton are starting to heed the warnings we have been sounding over the past years. Yep, it sure looks like that! Of course they have ignored us, or paid little heed to our warnings, and many have avoided us. But, suddenly, and a month before a very important primary election, it appears a coalition of sorts is forming. How good can it get?

Scranton-at-Large has been the ONLY voice these people have had since we first came on the scene. In the beginning, we were glad-handed, welcomed, and even “part of the crowd”, but that soon changed when it was discovered that we took our mission seriously. Yep, we stepped on a lot of toes, we made a lot of enemies, BUT, we also managed to gain a lot of friends. The friends we gained were from the silent majority in this community. Those who were “more public”, gave us lip service, but when it came down to “sharing” info, they hid. This included many politicians, including some who are still in office. Others, like many who are becoming more “open”, ignored us, or gave us the cold shoulder.

We heard it all, the good, and the bad, but what help we managed to acquire came from a couple of kids who were still in high school; a handful of financial donors; a local bar which began to watch the televised City Council meetings; and dozens of readers who gobbled up our printed SAL issues whenever and where-ever they could get their hands on them.

For a while, we printed 1,000 copies every week, with little financial assistance, and no ads to help defray our costs. It wasn't long before it became prohibitive for us to continue printing SAL. Our “printer” suddenly cut us off, advising that “we can't print for you anymore”! No explanation, just a cold turndown. Due to our limited resources (we live on social security), we found we couldn't afford to continue printing, so we decided to go on-line and count on our serious readers to help us out by forwarding the electronic issues, and some who printed out and distributed issues to their friends. Still, we managed to maintain a rather sizeable readership. Surprisingly, many of our readers were out-of-towners...out-of- staters...and a large contingent of ex-pats living abroad. Our local readership dropped considerably, but apparently a lot of people were still reading SAL, despite the admonitions that our “little paper” was becoming a “joke”. This, despite the fact that everywhere we went, “somebody” managed to corner us and offer thanks that Scrantonians finally had the truth being printed.

Still, we failed to garner any assistance. There were people who made promises, some are “active” candidates for office now, but we saw nothing. One even ran a paid ad during his last candidacy, but we still haven't received the lousy $50 this stiff still owes us. Another, who aspires to be “president” someday, attempted to con us with his exuberance and “backing”, but that ploy failed to pass even the basic test. Yes, there were others, but now they treated us like a pariah. No more “invites” for coffee; a quick lunch; or an after meeting “get-together” at a local coffee shop.

Yes, we became the “outsider”, and these people became the knowledgeable insiders, but, they kept their “knowledge” to themselves. They formed little “cliques” and played off each other's egos. They offered us no insight, no cooperation, and no encouragement. Many of them appeared at Council meetings, and espoused their “knowledge”, only to face the venom of many Council members, and the derision of their fellow citizens.

Over a year ago, we started to sound warnings about the “federal investigations” going on in the area. They snickered and sneered, and they largely ignored our admonitions. Our 60 years of journalistic experience was ignored. We can only assume it was because it wasn't “in Scranton”! For some reason, many people are under the impression that Scranton is really the sun, and the rest of the world revolves around this city. They continue to ignore the fact that the “loudest” have little to really say, and a lot less to offer.

Meantime, our track record remained solid (see our archives) and we warned that Scranton's (and the area's) “House of Cards” was about to collapse. First there was the indictment of David Baker, director of the Scranton Housing Authority, on 16 felony counts. This case is still awaiting trial after numerous delays, in Federal Court. Then came the “questions” about other authorities within the city. The debacle involving judges in Luzerne County followed, and now the “fiasco” involving the Single Tax Office, a flagrant violation of the law, aided and abetted by local politicians who seem to have so much to hide and so much to ignore. All the while, the taxpayers were being inundated with new taxes, new spending, and new revelations, many of which are still to come.

NOW, we are faced with an election which could make or break this city! Scandal upon scandal is being heaped upon us, and still, there is only our “little voice” being heard! Our local media has done its best to keep things under wraps, even changing the guard of reporters who “cover” Council meetings. Still, what little news is dispensed, is slanted and succeeds because so many pay little attention to the actual goings on around them.

The “crucifixion” of the Genesis Wildlife Center is only the latest example of what slanted news can do to a city. No longer will people be allowed to enjoy these magnificent creatures. The $50,000 annual city contribution has been bantered about, but nobody bothered to seek an answer as to just how much the city actually gave. Who asked why the city reneged on their agreement to maintain the “zoo” buildings, which are in deplorable condition? Nobody bothered to ask why our Mayor pleaded and cajoled the Wildlife group to move to Scranton, and then turned his back on his agreement. Instead, the owners of the animals were subjected to derision and allegations of neglect, and were subjected to their removal from Nay Aug Park. Ah, Scranton, the beautiful city of broken promises.

Our police and fire unions are still awaiting City action of acceptance of judicial rulings, but only further litigation (at taxpayer expense) is in the offing. Office holders, including Council members and Administration personnel, still ignore citizen complaints and questions, answering to no one. At least two members of the City Council who are seeking reelection, have questionable backgrounds when it come to nepotism and conflicts of interest, but no one has challenged them. One, who served on a critical board, is alleged to have voted on a zoning ruling, in spite of the fact that a relative is related to an owner of the business involved in the controversial ruling. Another, being now referred to as a chameleon due to her constantly changing “faces”, still maintains her “neutrality” though she is known to be locked into the administration agenda.

At least one long-time administration official is guilty of malfeasance, having neglected to perform the duties of her office, lending credence to the ridiculous state of affairs at the Tax Office. Another, who was responsible for the so-called “overseeing” of the crucial accounting procedures, moved on to a higher and more well-paying position, despite his violations of State Law and the subsequent collapse of his previous office. And, to top it off, the sole law enforcement official, who is supposed to be the “ultimate official in charge” has chosen to ignore the flagrant violations rather than pursue action and aid in the Federal investigations.

Thankfully, a handful of people are starting to come forth, including one “official” who has been “too good” to associate with the likes of SAL, has emerged from the woodwork and is “offering” to “champion” efforts to seek Federal intervention. We applaud these efforts, and those of others who have joined in the fray. Our only question, and it is very pertinent, is “WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN” for the past years while we were uncovering all this information?

Yes, it is time for the citizens to step up and take action, even if it means uniting to ask the Federal Courts to intervene. A Federal lawsuit should have been filed years ago, demanding an investigation into Scranton's politics! BUT, nobody would take the initiative, and nobody would seek out legal counsel who wasn't afraid to pursue this action. Sadly, for 17 years Scranton has been distressed, and it will continue to go deeper into debt, and continue to violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. City officials will continue to flaunt their power and ignore the needs of the citizens! And it will continue, until somebody steps up to the plate and challenges the “status quo” of Scranton's political hacks.

Will it happen? We sure hope so, and the limited input we are beginning to get may be the first step. The old adage “You can't Fight City Hall” is passe. YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL, and you can win, but it takes a concerted effort! Hopefully, that effort has begun, and the winners can only be THE PEOPLE! Let's keep the ball rolling, or shut up and watch your City die a slow death! JT

2009-04-15T13:15:00.003-04:00

TOTAL DISGUST WITH CITY COUNCIL

Scranton's City Council meeting has turned into a disgusting and sad spectacle! Who is to blame? Facing reality, it is both sides of the fence....council members and audience alike! Tuesday night's meeting (4/14) was the icing on the cake and points out the hypocrisy involved!

Absent Council President Bob McGoff (hospitalized?) and Councilwoman Janet Evans, ill at home, were exempted from the riidiculous diatribe of Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci who chose to campaign for reelection while going toe-to-toe with dissenting "speakers". What a fiasco, and I am the first to admit, it has gone too far! It's time to reign in councilpersons and speakers!

Talk about low-class acts, both Gatelli and Fanucci were totally out of line, as was speaker Faye Franus. Legitimate speakers, with legitimate gripes, are often maligned by Gatelli, but mostly by Fanucci. Franus, a noted Judy-baiter, was totally off-base and succeeded in bringing out the venom for which Judy has been noted in the past. Never one to handle a situation with finesse, Gatelli engaged in a shouting match with Franus, once again displaying her thin skin and her unsuitability to hold public office.

The "back and forth shouting match" developed when Franus leveled "personal" attacks on Gatelli. Instead of maintaining a reasonable demeanor, Gatelli chose instead to involve herself in a shouting match, falling into a trap which she herself has been known to employ at different times. Yes, Franus was absolutely out of line, but Gatelli's use of her "position" added credence to the belief that she is too ill-tempered to serve in her "lofty" position. Instead of ignoring the comments, she launched into a ranting diatribe about a local web-site which is known to be controversial. Citing alleged threats against her, supposedly posted on the website, and "avatars" which she deemed "threatening", Gatelli went on to "try her case" in front of a televised audience at a public meeting.

A lawsuit against the web site's owner is presently in litigation, but the use of council chambers is not the place for such stupidity. It is well known that Gatelli's actions in the past resulted in cameras being removed from council chambers; public participation was limited by "forced" illegal searches of public participants and making people stand outside, in cold weather, while they awaited limited entry into public meetings; and the presence of a police officer at all council meetings. Never one to back away from a challenge, Gatelli chose to carry the issue further by "defending" her known position of backing every tax-borrow-spend program initiated by Mayor Chris Doherty. During the course of her diatribe, she managed to invoke the names of mayoral-candidate Gary DiBileo (a former councilman), and Councilman Bill Courtright, as well as former councilmen as contributors to the tax-borrow-spend program. WAY OUT OF LINE! She was, in actuallity, using her position to "campaign" for her reelection...at a public meeting, during public business. TOO FAR OVER THE LINE!

Fanucci, known for her dislike of any citizen speaker who chooses to exercise their rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, pulled her normal routine of chastising speakers, especially Fire Union representative David Gervasi who was making a vain attempt to clarify a situation, and chose to attack Police Union rep Nelson Ancherani, as well as others who dared to offer insight into the on-going discussions between unions and the administration. Never addressing the speakers face-to-face, Fanucci panders to the cameras at every turn, and launched into another "political" speech. She also is seeking reelection to a seat which she is ill-equipped to hold.

Obviously under the impression that she, and only she, has all the answers, she defended her stance as one of Chris Doherty's chosen few, again, using her position to campaign. Alluding to her fellow council persons, she continues to claim that speakers meet to conspire against the Doherty forces, going so far as to allege that they are scripted by "challengers" to her pedestal and that of Doherty. It is inconceivable to her that these citizen speakers are capable of thinking for themselves, and she constantly intrudes on their alloted 5 minutes, then proceeds to address the camera, at every opportunity, to flaunt her own agenda, unfettered by any time allocation. This ploy works well for her, and she is immune from any public challenges while espousing her "qualifications" and her "insider knowledge", after the public portion is closed.

For far too long, the administration and these two, along with McGoff, have labeled the public speakers as "trouble makers and radicals", yet it is they, with their refusal or inability to offer answers to honest questions who are the major problem. A total lack of decorum, despite McGoff's weak efforts to maintain order, are routine, and are the primary cause of the televised "comedy show". If these elected officials would display a degree of common sense, and decorum, all this could be prevented. As elected officials, they are responsible for answering any questions the citizens have. Viewers know, despite the attacks by the council and the media, that most citizen speakers have legitimate, and well-documented complaints, and that they only seek answers. This council is not only incapable of providing answers, but they absolutely ignore speakers, and are the creators of the stupidity and "Jerry Springer-like" circus which passes for public meetings.

Sure, there are a small minority of speakers who are there strictly for "camera exposure", but to condemn legitimate speakers, with legitimate concerns, is absolutely ridiculous. It is time for these elected officials to act like mature adults, and to serve the public which elected them. Gatelli and Fanucci, as with McGoff, are supposed to represent the people, not themselves or their political agenda. For Gatelli and Fanucci to claim their interests are only in "what's good for the public", is becoming trite and is absolutely ludicrous. They need to be reined in, and if they find they can't provide answers, or won't, they should be replaced.

Thin-skin is not conducive to being an elected official, and veiled (though generally poorly hidden) contempt for the public, are not necessary to provide good government. Honesty, integrity and openness are! Using the council for political campaigning is as low as you can get! Not only is it cheap, but it reeks of a lack of decency and common sense.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM! Not the "Legion of Doom"; not honest questioners seeking honest answers; not citizen speakers (a legitimate right guaranteed by our Constitution); and certainly not the place for politicians to flaunt their egos and ridicule citizens. If Gatelli and Fanucci can't handle the heat, they definitely need to get out of the kitchen. Let's end this fiasco now. Scranton doesn't need to be fodder for another comedy show, and God forbid, that's exactly what the Electric City has become. A low-class comedy show! And as for Doherty, is it possible this guy can hold a meeting in any place other than a bar or a Chamber of Commerce function? Grow up, Chris! It's time you faced your constituents, not your cronies & contributors!

2009-04-14T12:31:00.001-04:00

FISHING SEASON OPENS

The official "fishing" season is now open, and it appears that the incumbents are using the best gear, and definitely the best bait. In the primary election race for Mayor, incumbent Chris Doherty, though failing to gain the nod of his own party, has nevertheless called upon the "aces up his sleeve" and is calling in some markers he has accumulated.

Tonight, Doherty calls on fellow "bed buddy" Gov. Ed Rendell to begin the "pay back" campaign. The "elite" in group owes each other much, having campaigned and twisted a few arms for each other over the past few years. Too many people have sold Doherty short! He is, to say the least, a "campaigner", and, to the chagrin of many, a very capable politician. Though he has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, he has managed to gather a lot of markers, and, in the race of his life, he won't hesitate to call some of those markers in. Rendell is the first to step forward. We look for the real heavy hitters to come in, as needed, and feel sure we will soon see Bill Clinton making a "pay back" trek to the city on behalf of Doherty.

Challenger Gary DiBileo has, on the other hand, been slow in his response. There is no question he has an arsenal of supporters built up, including the police and fire unions, but we can't see what his strategy is. A likeable guy, with a large following, he should have learned from past experience that Doherty is no slouch when it comes to raising money, and twisting a few arms. Like it or not, Gary is playing it too low key and may be blowing his chances to unseat the incumbent Mayor. Make no bones about it....Doherty is beatable, but we seriously doubt that a low-key campaign is going to be the answer.

Faced with a Doherty-locked media, DiBileo's uphill fight is going to be a rough one. Bill Courtright, a good campaigner, and a popular one, may not be enough for him to make the big transition needed to knock Doherty off. On the other hand, we doubt the unions are powerful enough, or have enough "dedicated" numbers to pull off the upset. Too many "iffy" voters involved, and all have their own survival in mind.
Lip service is not going to get the job done. Gary has got to step up to the plate and start to be more vocal and forceful. Ignoring those who can help is not the answer, and, according to our polls, he has failed to seek out the "silent" voters who want to offer their help.

Unfortunately, the same holds true with the Council candidates. Incumbent Janet Evans is playing a "low key" game as well, but challengers Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce had better open up their bubbles and begin to make waves. Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci are both very vulnerable, but "somebody" is failing to educate these two challengers in the real world of politics. Gatelli and Fanucci won't hesitate to use all their forces to retain their seats on Council. The tragedy is that both Rogan and Joyce have a lot to offer, and fresh faces are definitely needed, but "hibernating" is not going to get the job done. Gatelli and Fanucci have both been counting on their "mentor" very heavily, while both are standing on a banana peel, just looking to slip and fall. In the meantime, the challengers have failed to take advantage of the missteps and unpopularity of the incumbents.

Scranton politics is a dirty business, and if anyone doubts that, they have been living on Mars for too long. Treading too lightly while facing a well-oiled and well-monied machine, sans party endorsements, is not to be taken too lightly. Somewhere, somehow, someone is not taking the bull by the horns. There are a lot of disenchanted voters out there, most of them waiting to "invited" to vote against the incumbent machine. Knocking on doors and shaking hands is a wonderful way to campaign, if one is merely in the race to make friends. If these people are serious, they better start showing it and start really campaigning. In a little over 5 weeks, voters will be going to the polls. At least many of them will, but there are also a bunch of voters out there who don't feel that they are included in the election process. The real strength is in getting these "outsiders" involved. Just look at past elections and you'll know what I'm saying.

Senior citizens, voting-age young people, and a whole slew of others have been expressing their disenchantment with the "old line politics as usual" attitude in Scranton. We have been inundated with comments. e-mails, and telephone calls asking where DiBileo, Evans, Rogan and Joyce have been hiding. We don't have the answers! The only thing we can figure out is that they are dropping the ball based on their own reluctance to hit the trenches, or they are complacent and counting on the fading popularity of their opponents. Good show, if it works, but we don't see how it can without a concerted effort to get out the "real" votes.

The incumbent regime is beatable, and there is no better chance to knock them off than the present. Somebody had better get their heads out of the sand or they will face another bitter defeat. Too much at stake to let this election go the way of previous elections. We reiterate, "lip service" is not going to get the job done! Hard work and getting the "non vote" into your camp is the only real chance you have. Somebody had better start working the "real" world! Doherty, Gatelli and Fanucci are!

Good luck to those who are willing to face the "enemy" head on. Sorry, for those who think they have the answers but lack the commitment!
JT

2009-04-03T13:44:00.001-04:00

CASUAL OBSERVATIONS

In view of the recent "Tax Office" scandal, I guess it would be okay for us to ask a very serious question. Assuming that in any, and every, government, there is a CEO, or President, Governor, Mayor or at least someone who is supposed to be in charge, just WHO was in charge of the Single Tax Office? As Chief Executive Officer (in this case "Dictator"), isn't our Mayor directly responsible, since the office, the building, and the employees, are all under the "guidance" of our CEO? I have been under the impression that he (our Mayor) is in complete control of the functions of all agencies in this city. Isn't that what he has been claiming for the past 8 years? If that is so, then the fiscal fiasco is directly attributable to a severe case of laxity on his part! The same holds true for each and every agency in this city which comes under his control, and by any reasonable standards, that is exactly what should be....someone who is in control! Since Chris Doherty claims complete control, then it stands to reason that Chris Doherty should be held accountable for everything that goes wrong under his watch. I'm sure that there will be flak over this claim, since the official title of the entity is Single Tax Office, and is allegedly responsible for collecting and distributing taxes to the proper agencies throughout the County. However, wasn't it Chris Doherty who introduced $5.5 million dollars into his budget, well before there could possibly have been any inkling as to just how much money would be available as Scranton's portion?As an aside, just HOW did Chris Doherty determine what Scranton's alleged portion would be, and how did such brilliant minds as Bob McGoff, Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci (check her school records for math grades) agree to including this "if come" money into the budget? Talk about Enron and AIG!

Now that the truth has come out about Scranton's "tolerance" for the annual St. Patrick's Day "Drunkfest", can we safely assume that the allegedly drunken West Scranton High School cheerleaders were also on a "class assignment"? Let us not forget that this is the same school which produced the "class assignment" group which fought so hard to legislate the "morals" of those evil smokers who were successfully deprived of their rights. Of course underage drinking; public drunkenness; making complete asses of themselves by appearing in a parade while under the influence of "St. Patrick's Day cheer", is a totally acceptable event in our "Eccentric City". Or so it would appear. By the way, the fact that the incident was "swept under the rug" couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that it is perfectly tolerable, and acceptable, since West has given us so many students who have been "honored" by our City Council. Oh, by the way, isn't Councilwoman Judy Gatelli also "employed" as a school nurse at that particular school? It's sad that this "incident" happens to reflect unfavorably on the overall student body, but that doesn't excuse the behavior of the "sloshed" cheerleaders, their faculty advisor, their parents, and certainly not the school officials and the school board, all of whom are "outraged" that such an incident should come under public scrutiny. After all, "they are only kids" is the proper term, I believe, and naturally this excuses such boorish behavior in front of the thousands of tourists which Scranton "welcomes" each parade day. The fact that these "violators" should be dismissed from the cheerleading squad; face school suspension; and the "supplier" of the booze they ingested should not be found and prosecuted; is not an acceptable alternative. They should be encouraged to conduct another "class assignment" and possibly Gatelli, Fanucci and McGoff could find another "ordinance" to enact! And by all means, let's not forget the "impact" this could have on the thousands of "little ones", especially those who can look forward to being future cheerleaders! Or should we wait for the "proclamation" which is sure to come? Only in Scranton!

Let's not overlook council candidate Pat Rogan, that "open minded young rogue" who actually had the audacity to (without specifics) attack Sherry Fanucci, the darling of the "intellectual" community in Scranton. Certainly Rogan, a male who is seeking a council seat, should have jumped on the bandwagon and supported the entire feminine slate which is seeking the council seats for which he is challenging. Let's see, employing Fanucci mathmatics, there are three council seats up for challenge. All three seats are presently occupied by women. Rogan is a male challenger. That's a male, against three incumbent women, challenging for one of three seats. Of course it makes sense! Three minus three equals one, and that is the seat Rogan is seeking. How stupid of him to have even entered the race. But what can you expect from a young renegade who has the nerve to challenge "illegal" aliens? Certainly "illegal" is the same as legal, isn't it? Hold on while I get Sherry's interpretation of the term. Or maybe Rogan, a third year college student, could search the U library and get a Fanucci interpretation for us.

Should we overlook Art Moran, the local Democratic Party Chairman, who obviously is a "sexist" since he failed to endorse any female candidates; and then took on the Mayor's sister (a woman) who is allegedly known to have exercised undue influence on behalf of her brother in the past. Rumors of her twisting the arms of city and county vendors are probably unfounded, and we certainly can't take the word of a few, can we? Certainly there couldn't possibly be anything "illegal" or "immoral" about threatening vendors who have contracts with the City and the County. Just what could Moran have been thinking? Shouldn't he have catered to the women? For shame!

Of course we would be remiss if we didn't mention Luzerne County's problems. All the hoopla about judges, corruption, and screwing young kids by incarcerating them for personal financial gain, should not be overlooked. Scranton's problems, including ongoing investigations of the "conduct" of our own "officials" should continue to be ignored. Our Mayor says there is no crime in our city and we "must" take his word for it. He is our leader. Of, by the way, Tuesday, April 7th, is the date that David Baker, suspended head of the Scranton Housing Authority, is scheduled to appear in Federal Court in Scranton to face 16 criminal indictments. This information, compliments of the Federal Court, has been largely ignored by our "free press". Funny, but this public info is available through the Federal Court Clerk's office.

Can't wait for the "letters" and "flak" we expect from this issue of our "little newspaper" (Sherry Fanucci's terminology). Of course nobody reads it, except those 863 oddballs from Pennsylvania, surrounding states, and such obscure places as Germany, France, England, etc. We are so happy that nobody from Scranton reads our on-line publication. Heavens forbid, we wouldn't want to educate them! JT

2009-04-02T15:04:00.000-04:00

THAT TIME OF THE YEAR

Yep, it's that time of the year again! The time when the swallows come back to Capistrano; the time when the buzzards return to Hinkley, Ohio; and the time when the local politicians try to prove that a leopard can change its spots. Or, is it that time when the vultures try to pass themselves off as sweet little bluebirds? In any event, it all happens at this time of the year and Scranton is no exception.

Take for instance Mayor Chris Doherty. All year long he plays the part of a raptor, devouring every thing in sight (especially tax dollars), and relishes his role as lead predator in a swarm of predatory carrion (taxpayers) eaters. Indifferent to his prey, he swoops in, gobbles up every available piece of food ($$$) and assures that his prey has little or no chance of evading his talons or ravenous appetite. As is to be expected, he shares tokens of his conquest with other predators (administrative appointees and political cronies), in an effort to keep them in line. Unfortunately, this "bird of prey" has regurgitated too many times and others in his pack seem to have tired of his gluttony.(he loses the endorsement of his own party). Now, at the time when he craves to retain his "lead predator" status, he attempts to portray himself as a cherished little dove, cooing and chirping about his accomplishments (?). He constantly returns to his tranquil little nest ($300,000 treehouse) in Nay Aug Park, surrounded by fellow "impersonators". Sadly, there are many whose bird watching skills are limited to "blind" devotion to their "hobby" and who once again will embrace him as a welcome sign of peace, tranquility, and harmony. Unfortunately, these are the same "bird watchers" who believe Scranton is the reincarnation of the Garden of Eden.

Enter Gary DiBileo, who seeks to challenge the "master predator". Known to be a less offensive "bird of prey", this entry into the fray is more hawkish, but far more desirable as hope for others to share in the "feeding" with far less frenzy and a more desirable plumage and less abrasiveness. He has wrestled the "endorsement" away from the raptor, and hopefully has learned from his previous challenge, that he needs to be more open and aggressive, using his charm and persona to increase his flock. Everyone knows that a challenger must be better equipped and open to sharing than the incumbent "leader" of the flock. Charming the others is necessary, as offering to share his "song" more often is really "music to the ears". There is no way he can sweep the mighty raptor from his perch without a bevy of hard working, and dedicated fellow "flyers" who seek a better and more appetizing environ. The carrion (taxpayers) need relief and are willing to take up the challenge, but a strong leader is a neccessity if the challenge is to be won. Hopefully, he has learned from past mistakes, and cannot place himself in the position of being just "another raptor" with a sweeter disposition. In other words, he must seek as much help as he can to unseat the "bigger" bird. Bird watchers are not immune to the "songs" these birds offer, and prefer a more mellow and sharing "song" than the carping usually associated with this type challenge. Harmony is so necessary to a choir! Please get the message!

The "choir" presently consisting of Janet Evans, Judy Gatelli, and Sherry Fanucci (the lone "ugly duckling" in this flock) seek to retain their stature in the "food chain". Evans, who obviously presents the "sweetest sounds" in the choir, has a tendency to be a little too vocal at times, but at least she presents "listeners" with a dedication and hope for a harmonious group. Gatelli, the "pretender", makes every effort to enhance her plumage and voice to the "choir", but is only consistent when she can "lead" the choir. She continually seeks to unseat the Evans-bird as the lead "singer" in the group. The reference to the leopard changing its spots pertains to this "pretender". Sweet chirping should not be confined to the "seasonal" emergence of these birds, but should be offered year 'round. Too little, too late, will not land her the "lead vocal" stature in the flock. Fanucci, on the other hand, is the "harpy" in the choir, and is probably the traditional "bad apple" in the barrel. Her constant support of the "lead raptor" is so obvious that even her fellow raptors have tired of her ill-conceived notion that she is a "superior" bird in this "bevy". Her consistently sour notes preclude her from even the slightest consideration as a member of the choir.

New birds Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce are younger birds, seeking to join the choir. Both would lend more harmony to the group, but so far, their "songs" have been muted. They need to offer more "original" songs, while assuring themselves, and listeners. that they are willing to become harmonious and present their listeners with a unified choral group. Silent voices cannot be heard, and even the tiny swallow has a sweet message to be heard when it opens its vocal cords. Both could be valuable assets to the choir, but they must exercise more vocal offerings if they are to be selected as members of what is hoped to be a new and more palatable choral group.

Other pretenders include Bob Bolus, another challenger for the "lead" role, but this "bird of prey" has yet to learn that hawks don't make pretty sounds. They may offer excellent ideas, but an aggressive and abrasive approach might preclude them from joing any group. Doug Miller and Lee Morgan, both predators trying to pass themselves off as "contributing choral harmonists (?)", are again in the "leopard trying to change its spots" category. The former was perfectly willing to fly with what he thought were eagles, when he couldn't qualify, but now has done a 180 and portrays himself as a "swan among ducklings". Unfortunately, his youthful exuberance reminds one of the "lead predator", (a much younger version), who is willing to swoop in and devour the "carrion" as he lays his plans to become the "boss" in the future. His "superiority complex" was unfortunately grounded in the belief that he was already a member of the "predatory flock". He was perfectly willing to chirp along with the predators until he decided to flex his wings and challenge for the lead. Too much to learn, and far from being ready. He needs to mend some bridges he thought he could fly over, including "this" one, and can not be seriously considered as a member of any "choir". Solo artists need to earn their status, not demand it. This poor bird "pooped" when he should have been burping!

His "running mate" (whom, he thought he was 'managing') is equally not ready. Too much baggage and a long list of "enemies" he has acquired over the years. While having some credibility as a possible member of the choir, this "bird" is a predatory soloist as well, and has proven his reluctance to "pay his dues". Rather, he demands he be heard while warbling the same old tune. He fails to "pay" his dues, and consequently, has ruffled too many feathers while dipping his beak into the seeds of more tranquil creatures. One step removed from being a predator, he spends too much time patting himself on the back, while keeping his talons and feathers locked on the "feeders" offered him.

No sense in even mentioning some other "wannabe" members, since their "choir membership" applications are moot. Rather than "face the music", they have chosen to hide, in hopes they can strike at a more opportune time. Too bad they have ignored any challenge, choosing instead to nurse their "perceived" wounds.

And let's not forget Bill Courtright. A hawk in more subtle plumage, his challenge to another raptor-endorsed "vocalist" is viable. Despite his popularity as a member of the choir, he still must muster the support of many more "hobbyists". He faces a more serious challenge to his popularity than even he knows. A proven winner, he must never-the-less expend more effort and extend his "feathers" to a wider audience. His challenge is more serious than any he has faced before. Sharp-eyed, this hawk must remain alert and "fan friendly".

There are a lot of "voices" out there who could lend to a harmonious choir, but they have either been ignored, or alienated, and no attempt at healing these wounds has been made. That is precisely why the Garden of Eden (Scranton) finds itself in the same predicament. Capistrano and Hinkley have little too worry about. Scranton cannot mount a challenge because they still haven't learned to "sing" the right tunes!
JT

2009-03-26T21:58:00.002-04:00

POLITICAL LAMENT

Oh Voters, Dear Voters, Please Lend Us Your Ears
We Think We're In Trouble, For The First Time In Years

Our Leaders Have Failed To Endorse Our Campaigns
And All We Can Say Is Things Won't Be The Same

In Spite Of Our Efforts To Reign Over All
They Have Forced Us To Beg, Imagine Their Gall

For Years We Have Risen Above All The Rest
We've Pandered To Chris, And We Gave It Our Best

They Have Turned On Our Idol, And Ignored Us As Well
They've Abandoned Our Mayor, And Placed Us In Hell

We Must Now Face The Music, Against All Whom We've Fought
And Pander To Those, In Whose Trap We've Been Caught

For Years We Have Had It Our Very Own Way
Ignoring The Voters And Had Nothing to Say

The "Legion of Doom" And The Recognition Seekers
May Now Be In Charge, Those Citizen Speakers

The Ones Who Appear At Our Weekly Gab Fest
Can Now Force Our Hands, And We Must Pass The Test

Dear Bobby, Our Leader, Can't Lend Us His Hand
He Can Gavel Forever, But Can't Make The Band

Those Questions "They" Asked, Which Have Been Like A Cancer
We Must Now Face The Music, And Give Them An Answer

They're Voters, Its True, and They May Have A Point
But Without Our Phony Cover, Our Noses Are Out Of Joint

We Can No Longer Hide, We Can No Longer Bluff
The Party Has Spoken, And They're Making It Rough

For Years We Have Had It Our Very Own Way
But Without That Endorsement, Its Time We Must Pay

No Longer Can We Hide Behind Our Phony Front
The Voters Will Ask, And To Be Very Blunt

We Couldn't Give Answers, We Just Didn't Know
All We Did Was Rubber Stamp Chris's Quest For More Dough

Now The Chips Are Down, And It Doesn't Bode Well
For We Aren't Prepared And We're Gonna Catch Hell

Dear Janet and Pat and Frank "What's His Name"
Are Now On Equal Footing And Are Onto Our Game

Poor Chris Has His Hands Full, With That Horrible Gary
And He's In A Battle, Where He Must Thrust And Parry

It Doesn't Look Good, And It Just Isn't Fair
Why Should We Have To Answer, Oh How We Despair

We Can No Longer Snicker, Ignore Nor Make Light
We Now Face The Issue Of An Impending Fight

We Haven't The Knowledge, Nor Can We Prepare
Please Help Us Dear Voters, We Really Do Care

We Know That You've Never Understood Our "Great" Views
But We're Begging You Please, Don't Turn On The Screws

We've Done What We Thought You Would Buy At A Snap
But I Guess That We've Fallen Into Our Own Trap

We Beg And Implore You, Please Don't Knock Us Off Track
Don't Make Us Account For Those Stabs In Your Back

We Have Padded Our Status, And Had It Our Way
No More Terrorist Threats, Please Let Us Stay

And If You Decide That We Must Get Our Due
Then All We Can Say Is, SCREW YOU

2009-03-20T00:30:00.001-04:00

DIBILEO GETS DEM ENDORSEMENT....COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR JUDY & SHERRY BUT CASTS NEW LIGHT ON JANET EVANS-PAT ROGAN-FRANK JOYCE SLATE

Former City Council President Gary DiBileo was endorsed by the local Democratic Party in his run against incumbent Mayor Chris Doherty, The Party made their endorsement last night,(March 19th), sending shock waves throughout the City.

Doherty, long believed to be the Democratic “fair-haired boy”, is seeking a third term as Mayor, but local opposition has been mounting and it would appear he has lost favor with the Dem Bigwigs! At least on the surface.

The endorsement could spell serious trouble for incumbent Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, both of whom are seeking reelection and are known to be staunch Doherty supporters. The sudden switch left many skeptical!

DOHERTY OPPONENTS WERE ELATED, THOUGHT WE COULD NOT REACH ANY OF THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATES FOR COMMENT!

2009-03-19T02:51:00.000-04:00

STATE SENATOR CONVICTED! WHO ELSE SHOULD GO DOWN?

Once again, the citizens of Pennsylvania are outraged! A former State Senator, Vincent Fumo, of Philadelphia, was convicted of 137 corruption counts, involving millions of dollars. DUH!

The Keystone State is rapidly becoming known, nationwide, as one of the seats of corruption, challenging a long-standing reputation held by Louisiana, Arkansas and Arizona, among others. The “That's The Way It's Always Been” State expresses shock and amazement when one of our legislators or elected representatives is caught with his “hand in the cookie jar”. Did it ever occur to anyone that there is definite complicity involved, and that the voters are as guilty as the perpetrator?

Who was responsible for re-electing this guy, over a period of 30 years, and for the “recognition” he received from no less than Gov. Ed Rendell, also a Democrat and former Philadelphia “law enforcement” officer. It was the people of his district, as is the case in many other Pa. Districts, who keep caving in to the political machinations of their “party leaders” and reelecting these charlatans. As the Feds keep pulling the covers off these guys, voters still show shock and disbelief that this could be happening in “their” bailiwick. Get a life, people. YOU elected these guys, and continued to reelect them, due to your refusal to deviate from the party “status quo” line of politics. YOU and WE are all as guilty as these charlatans, because without our blessing, they could not continue in office and could not continue to line their pockets, and those of their cronies. We are all “GUILTY” as charged!

Take a look at Scranton politics! When he was a member of the City Council, Mayor Chris Doherty was in the forefront to condemn then Mayor Jimmy Connors. He stated on more than one occasion that “no mayor should serve more than two terms”.Now, this same elected official is seeking his “third term”. Doherty also blamed the city's ills on Connors and everyone but himself. For 17 years Scranton has been in a “distressed state”, yet what has Doherty done to get us out of this ridiculous position? Raise taxes; spend uncontrollably; attempt to cut vital services; appoint political cronies to high-paying positions after he cut administration salaries to “save money”; sought to destroy any semblance of common sense order by enriching the pockets of developers and lawyers; and to stack the deck against any possibility to over-rule him and his decisions. In other words, thanks to the stupidity of the city's “home rule” charter, Doherty has assumed the position of Dictator, and answers to no one. Instead, he has moved his constituency to the Chamber of Commerce, political rallies for “his” wing of the party, and ignored the wishes and needs of the people who elected him! Some testimony to Scranton voters!

In May, three councilwomen will be up for reelection; Janet Evans, Doherty's arch-enemy; Judy Gatelli, his “strong arm” on Council; and Sherry Fanucci, his “foot-in-mouth” spokesperson who is a mirror of the Doherty line. The two Doherty “partners-in-crime”, aided and abetted by Council President Bob McGoff (another Doherty puppet), who was appointed by Doherty to succeed a councilman who resigned due to “questionable activities”, are making an attempt to retain control of the Council, and the voters will likely vote at least one of them back into office. Evans, the major thorn in Doherty's side, will probably retain her seat, and justifiably so. She is the only “free thinker” on Council, and deserves to be elected to another term.

Unfortunately, Councilman Bill Courtright will be seeking the post of Tax Collector, and, should he win, he will give up his seat in January. Once again, unless the Evans faction can pull off an upset win, gaining all three vacancies, the Mayor will be in a position to once again “appoint” a successor. With young Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce running with Evans, it is possible to pull off a coup which will change the local political scene radically. Fanucci is the weak spot on Doherty's ticket, and should find herself on the outside-looking in. Gatelli is another story. She gained considerable popularity as a “neighborhood-oriented” champion, but has tripped along the way and has let her ambitions lead her away from her initial intent. At one time, Gatelli was considered a shoo-in due to her “genuine concern”, but of late, she has strayed and become another Doherty puppet. Sad, but true.

Courtright will be facing a serious challenge and will need to muster all his support to unseat Marilyn Vitali-Flynn who Doherty appointed to replace Ken McDowell. Vitali-Flynn will probably sit back with her arms crossed and gloat over the fact that “she discovered a $12 million plus” windfall which no one was aware existed. Voters should recall that it was Vitali-Flynn who told Courtright it was “none of your business” when the sitting councilman questioned her about the “hidden account” and how much interest had been accrued. If not his business, then who the hell's business is it, since he represents the taxpayers as a member of Council? Strangely, though the audit had not yet been revealed, Doherty had allocated $5.2 million in his budget, though nothing has been revealed as to just how much Scranton's share will be, if anything. Not so strangely, Doherty has already spent the $5.2 million “if come” money and has earmarked it for more of his pet projects.

Enter Gary DeBileo, former Councilman, who is challenging Doherty once again. DeBileo almost pulled off an upset last time around, and, if indicators hold true, stands a very good chance of wrestling the seat away from Doherty. If he is sharp enough, DeBileo will hammer away at Doherty's intransigence; his tax and spend ways; his refusal to face the people of the city; and his “laying in bed with developers, lawyers and Austin Burke”, while accomplishing nothing other than the “enhancement” of Nay Aug Park. In his councilmanic days, Doherty expressed his desire that all the city swimming pools should be available to all the kids, and they rightfully should. Yet, many years later, kids still must pay a $3.00 fee to use the Nay Aug pool, in spite of an excessive infusion of taxpayers' money to “enhance” Nay Aug Park. It would appear that Doherty still needs to grow up and to realize that Nay Aug is not his private playground, even if he did satisfy his ego by erecting a $300,000 tree house. One must assume he had no toys to play with when he was a kid and is still acting out his fantasies.

In spite of the revelation that Scranton's firefighters allegedly lack “safety training” which resulted in the untimely death of Capt. Robeson by electrocution during a house fire, Doherty, and his crony Stu Renda, are seeking to “revamp” the fire department and remove two trucks from duty, against the wishes of firemen. He has yet to settle an arbitrator's and judges decision to settle police and fire contracts, choosing instead to waste more tax dollars in a fight to prove his “superior” intellect in such matters. I certainly don't want this guy on my Board of Directors. He needs to leave Scranton and settle into a position more suited to his attitude....on the Board of A.I.G., or some bank which is going under.

Let's not ignore the Republican side of the race. Bob Bolus is running for the Mayoral spot, with cronies Lee Morgan and Doug Miller seeking seats on Council. Bolus's chances are slim, if any, since he still has the stigma of being a “convicted felon” and unable to serve, if elected. That aside, his hopes are diminished by a perceived belligerence and his gruff attitude. Morgan, while a man with many ideas, some very good, has little chance, as does Miller, the egotistical former Jr. Council President who has done a 180 on his former mentors, Gatelli and Fanucci. All three have failed to realize that though they may win the G.O.P. nod, since no one is opposing them, they are facing tremendously strong opposition, not only from Democratic voters, but also from the many voters they have alienated along the way, including this writer. We'll have more to say on that matter at a later date. Bolus's move to have Eugene Romanecs name stricken from the ballot left everyone in a state of disbelief.

Democratic hopeful Tom Charles is unlikely to gain enough momentum to win a Council seat, and is generally believed to be in the battle as a spoiler. What else is new?

VOTERS HAVE A CHANCE TO STAND UP AND BE HEARD!

The May primary will give Scranton voters a real chance to show that they are coming into the 21st century. Chris Doherty is extremely vulnerable, and his friends and monied cohorts may not be strong enough to afford him another term. Union members, including fire and police, are outwardly expressing their displeasure with Doherty, and an army of disenchanted voters are joining in. The Mayor has alienated too many voters over the past two terms to consider himself a lock, but his ego will probably continue to encourage him, along with a very large war chest. Whether he can hang on to the wannabe cronies he has amassed in previous elections is questionable. Too many voters are tired of seeing “Chris Doherty's Scranton” being promoted, and a great many are totally unhappy with his borrow, tax and spend brand of politics. His giveaways of many hundreds of thousands of dollars, and his refusal to face the reality of the facts involving his “recovery” plan, are other important factors to consider. Doherty's visions of a “boutique city” don't fit with the Scranton general populace, and many are expressing their hopes for change. Whether DeBileo is the answer is up in the air, but that alternative beats any other at this time.

Council remains the key, and voters just might help pull off the Evans-Rogan-Joyce hat trick. It is highly conceivable that Scranton voters are tired of the Doherty triumvirate on council and could make an effective change. If that should happen, this group, along with Courtright (win or lose) could effect the change so many seek. The 4-1 majority would be the change needed to offset the Doherty agenda and would leave only McGoff as the toy in Doherty's arsenal of puppets. A review of the “home rule” charter, and a more honest approach to the revitalization of a distressed city designation could very well be put back on track. Voters must take their positions seriously this time, if they honestly desire changes. The “that's the way it's always been” attitude has worn out its welcome and time to move forward is now! Scranton can, and should, regain its stature as the premier city of the NEPA corridor and once again, Scranton's citizens should be able to hold their heads up proudly. It's Your Call!

It is true that the Scranton City Council meetings have turned into a side show, and that many of the citizen speakers do show their frustration at times. The fact is that these speakers, most of whom have honest questions and concerns, are subjected to ridicule and their questions fall on deaf ears. What viewers of the televised proceedings don't see is the childish snickering and laughing of Fanucci; the indifference of McGoff; and the “my way or no way” attitude of Gatelli. Though accused of being there to “play to the cameras”, it is Fanucci and Gatelli who face the cameras, rather than the audience, and it is they, elected officials, who accuse speakers of being uninformed, yet they are the ones who cast the votes on matters with which they are generally uninformed. Why can't they provide answers?

Several years ago we had the honor of meeting, and interviewing, the late Ann Richards, Governor of Texas. We asked what Texas was going to do to alleviate its economic crunch, at the time. The outspoken Mrs. Richards remarked: “Honey, this is Texas, and we are going to keep moving forward. As for spending, if we ain't got it, we don't buy it!” Needless to say, Texas made a full recovery, and, to the best of our knowledge, still maintains a “pay as you go” plan and maintains a healthy economy!
If it served that state well, think what it could do for Pennsylvania, and for Scranton. Maybe we'll get lucky and can hope that Ann Richards is looking over our shoulder and will help us out! JT

2009-03-11T15:20:00.001-04:00

IT'S ON, BUT, WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The race is on, with the usual cast, and a few "new faces" sprinkled in for flavor. We're talking about the upcoming primary election for the posts of Mayor, 3 Council seats, Tax Collector and an assortment of other "openings". For now, we are going to concentrate on the real issues.....do the people of Scranton really care and, if they do, are they willing to come out of the woodwork and express themselves?

Maybe that sounds a little harsh, but for the past too many years, an attitude of "that's the way it's always been" has prevailed, and consequently the City has fallen into a disastrous state of affairs. Despite the protestations of a handful of "dissenters", the political climate in Scranton is one of status quo; "that's the way it is" and that's the way it will always be. At least until the voters in this area wake up and smell the coffeee, if they really can afford it! Talk is cheap, and unless it is backed up by action, Scranton will continue its downhill slide and will remain a skeleton of what it once was; a thriving and desirable community which once was "the jewel of Northeast Pennsylvania". For many years, and especially the past 17 years, the City has been "distressed" and the "jewel" has become a cheap piece of glass that shines when it is turned and manipulated by charlatans who try to sell you a "trinket" at jewelry store prices. If that analogy is too deep for you, let's break it down further and try to make it easier. The general tone of Scranton politics is, there is a group of elitists, headed by the prevailing Democratic hierarchy, which fancies itself as the saviors of the people. Headed by a small faction of "monied people", this group continues to peddle their propaganda while they benefit from "conning" the public into believing "they" have the answers. Pet projects; political payoffs; contrived new, high-paying positions are created (available only to selected individuals); well-heeled developers benefit from the giveaway of taxpayers' money; fat-cat lawyers get richer, at the expense of taxpayers; and a select group of elected officials continues to pat themselves on the back while they delight in conning Scranton's "suckers" into going along with their programs.

Of course, we, as "outsiders", can't possibly understand the machinations of the fiasco referred too as Scranton Politics. For some reason, maybe it's the water, the populace of this City is under the misconception that Scranton is "unique", and there isn't another place outside the Scranton universe. I really hate to break the news, but outside the borders of "The Electric City", there is a whole world, full of people; many of them very intelligent, and a great number of them "ignorant", but when it comes to their tax dollars, and their government, most of them take the time and effort to educate themselves and to seek changes which benefit all the people. Surprised? You really shouldn't be, because that's the way the rest of the world works.

Scranton has a lot of dedicated and honest people, including a small group which expresses themselves at Council meetings, but their efforts fall on deaf ears. A small group of elected officials pay lip service to the "dissidents", but they are well-aware that there is absolutely NO CONSENSUS, and a total lack of cooperative effort. Instead, these folks make their weekly trek to Council meetings; speak their piece; then seek each other out for personal support; many leave, or gather in the rear of chambers for "chat" while others "meet" in the hallway for moral support. A few have something important to say, but rather than share their "information", they choose to reserve it for their own "presentation", defeating their own purpose. Of course the Council majority is aware of it, and that is precisely why that group continues to ignore audience pleas and vote the way they had intended to vote all along. On the rare occasion when the "dissidents" provided a united front, the "powers that be" were quick to retreat. Even an elementary school kid can see that, but the speakers fail to get the message.

Sure there is a "majority" on Council which votes their own "party" line, but they also continue to hammer the speakers, especially that paragon of intellectual genius Sherry Fanucci. This gal speaks her mind (?), usually aftertwards, when Council President Bob McGoff, the "gavel coward", lets her rant, following the "public" portion of meetings. If McGoff really had a spine, and any idea of what his duties were, he would gavel her out of order, but he reserves that right for "public speakers", ruling them "out of order" when he doesn't agree with the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States. How this guy ever succeeded as an educator is beyond our belief! A more biased "leader" is hard to find, but to hide his contempt for the public is not his forte. Pandering to his "elected co-council triumvirate" is a different story. Many speakers attempt to challenge the "dedication" of certain council members, and they are usually gavelled when the efforts get down-and-dirty, but Fanucci is allowed the "luxury" of putting down the public, despite her obviously biased opinion. She is allowed to ridicule and condemn speakers, even going so far as to single out certain taxpayers and making a public spectacle of herself, all with McGoff's blessings. This guy is in "control"? Hardly!

Judy Gatelli, another council member of the "triumvirate", is allowed to "champion her causes" (the South Side & West Scranton HS); speak out on issues as "an elected official and a school nurse", and to suggest that she represents a great majority of voters, though her supporters (and those of Fanucci) are rarely, if ever, seen at public meetings. These "supporters" are as obviously absent as our illustrious Mayor, Chris Doherty, who has addressed the Council and the Public not more than 3 times in his eight years as our "leader". Of course Doherty is the acknowledged "leader" of this group, and he serves his constituents well. Unfortunately, his constituents are developers, lawyers, the Chamber of Commerce, political cronies, and a bunch of business owners who are well-connected in the administration.

Getting back to Gatelli and Fanucci, it amazes me how these two, both employed in full-time jobs (school nurse & Governor's flunky), always seem to be able to "walk away" from their jobs to attend "functions" for political purposes. Let a McDonald's worker, or any other "employee", take time off for political purposes and they would be in the unemployment line in a "New York minute". Strange, but true, they always seem to "pop-up" at functions during normal working hours. Question: are they "docked" for lost time or unexcused absences? Probably not, since Scranton politics permeates every nook and cranny of the "electric city" except those which should be addressed. Do we detect the "Austin Burke" influence here, or is it just our imagination that a salaried 6-figure income non-resident could wield that kind of power? Seriously, "Mr. KOZ" can't possibly have that kind of impact on the public, could he? Surely, he can't be held responsible for helping to "short-circuit" the "Electric City" progress?

For all the taxpayer "giveaways" instituted by Gatelli, Fanucci & McGoff, at the behest of our Mayor, where are the jobs which are mandated to be created by law, when these "giveaways" take place? And how about an accountability for all the KOZ "waste" and failures, none of which are ever addressed by "Mr. KOZ" and his henchment, oops, elected officials who "represent" the taxpayers of Scranton? For the millions of dollars of taxpayer money, which is literally "stolen" from our cofers, where are the results? Please, don't show me another "showcase" business while there are so many decaying and unoccupied facades which pass for "businesses" in our downtown. My stomach is not what it used to be, and having been a reporter for so many years, I can attest that while I never "hurled" while witnessing tragic and spectacular accidents or disasters, I want to heave every time I look at Scranton's political joke! Not that I haven't seen it before in other cities and small towns, but the problem is that I see it happening over and over again, and the "public" pays it no mind! That, is the tragedy of the situation. The general public refuses to "try"! How did Obama get elected? It was no fluke!

Perhaps you think I am ranting, but all I'm trying to do is wake YOU up! What does it take? Are you just "brain dead" or don't you really care? Our legislators, elected officals, and politically connected are known to ignore their taxes (they pay up when they are caught...publicly); traffic tickets are ignored (paid when exposed) and so much "hanky panky" goes on, yet the public lets it happen! Why? Don't you really care?

Before we go too much further, let's make it perfectly clear! WE DO NOT REPRESENT JANET EVANS or BILL COURTRIGHT! What we do represent is open and honest government! We have not seen that in Scranton, and we question why this condition is allowed to continue? Yes, we are idealistic, and yes, we are going to continue our fight, albeit probably alone. We have been criticized for "abandoning" Council meetings and the Taxpayers's Assn. meetings! Yes, we plead guilty to that, but we don't accept "abandonment" as the term. Instead, we have chosen to remove ourselves from the "disconnected" and decided to go it alone. We have faith in our mission, and, while we respect the rights of others to "mass" against the political injustices, we cannot join them unless they are willing to unite. Ozzie Quinn, Marie Schumacher, Andy Sbaraglia, Bill Jackowitz, Tom Ungvarsky, Nelson Ancherani, Nancy Krake, Dave Gervasi, and many others are undoubtedly honest and sincere citizens, and we respect them, as well as many others. It is true, they have many more years of Scranton politics than we, but as long as they are "splintered", their efforts will continue to go unheeded! We have tried to get their attention, but we have been unsuccessful. So be it! We don't profess to have all the answers, but we do have considerably more experience, (and much more widespread and diversified), than they, and we choose to employ our own measures to seek change.

The same holds true for candidates for office. We know Gary DeBileo, Pat Rogan, Bob Bolus, Lee Morgan, & Doug Miller, but we don't know others who are challengers. We have not had contact with these candidates, and we don't intend to seek them out. They are running for office; we are not! This holds true for Janet Evans and Bill Courtright, and other candidates for varied offices! Each and every candidate, regardless of our friendship, or association, will be held to the same standards! Our policy, SHOW US YOUR PROGRAM AND WHAT YOUR REAL PROGRAM IS! We certainly don't consider ourselves to be the final authority, but we do know that we can help! Anyone who chooses to seek us out will be welcome, but "don't come knocking unless you're rocking"! We feel perfectly confident in our ability to discern the "real people" from those who merely seek a future, or a continued future, on the political front. If we really believe in you, you can count on our help, but please, for your own good, don't sell us short (we have a lot of readers) and whatever you do, don't try to con us or buy us! We're not for sale and we can't be conned! At least two "potential" candidates should have learned that, but they obviously forgot they sold us short once before, and they tried to con us!! Won't they be in for a surprise when endorsement time comes, and when their "history" is exposed for public scrutiny? We may be senior, but we certainly are not senile, nor do we suffer from Alzheimers. What goes around comes around, and, unfortunately for them, they will "benefit" from the seeds they have sown! Lesson 1 in Politics 101! It promises to be an interesting and exciting campaign, and we are really looking forward to enjoying it! We'll be around!

2009-03-01T21:59:00.001-05:00

Scranton-at-Large
The alternative news source for Scranton & the NEPA Area
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502 570-342-1033
Scranton, Pa 18509 email: scrantonatlarge.com
Joe Talamini, Editor/Publisher (570)342-1033
___________________________________________________________________________________________

SCRANTON CARNIVAL SEASON - LET THE SIDE-SHOW BEGIN

Yep, it's that time of the year....time for the Scranton Carnival Season and the "normality" of the spectacular side-shows. In other words, the political season is kicking off, and it should be a reallly good show, based on what we have determined to date.

Mayor Chris Doherty, representing the CCDL division of our local Democratic Party, is up for reelection, as are Councilwomen Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci, also representing the CCDL & LITOM faction. On the other side are Gary DeBileo, mayoral candidate and former councilman who represents the IWB faction of the Democrats. Councilwoman Janet Evans, another incumbent, will seek reelection for the PDP faction, along with Pat Rogan, former GOP candidate for council and newcomer Frank Joyce SHPC. (see notes at the end of this segment for definition of initials used here).

Doug Miller, former "President" of the Jr. Council is also a council candidate representing the IWB-
BBP faction and we fully expect Lee Morgan, another IWB candidate, to run. Possibility that Dan Hubbard, lower Green Ridge activist, may also run, representing the WTHIH faction. We also look for Doherty to throw a few more names into the fray in order to offset any potential slips on his part.

Councilman Bill Courtright, a member of the IWB segment, is expected to run for Tax Collector, and, if successful, could throw the whole make-up of Council into a state of confusion. The possibility of another Doherty appointment (another robot like Bob McGoff? PLEASE, NO!), looms if Scranton's usual -style politics prevails. What a side-show, especially from the so-called Democratic Party!

Rumors have it that Pat O'Malley, Republican school board member, may make a run for the Mayor's spot. He is known to have been wanting the Sheriff's job, and was campaign manager for the Munchak-Cordaro campaign last time around. Pat is a very astute politician and is well-liked in the area. Should he make the run, look for a wide-open knock-down, drag-out campaign which may just result in awakening the area's lethargic voters. It's about time someone gave them a wake-up call.

Since we have not been in contact with any of the parties involved, we are going to wing this election coverage. We will make it perfectly clear from the beginning....not one of the candidates has contacted us, nor have we been chasing them on their quest for the Scranton Rainbow! We have not been informed of any fund-raisers, nor have we been invited, so it has become apparent to us that our efforts are not appreciated, and certainly not encouraged by any of the candidates. That's fine with us...sell us short...sell us out...but don't try to buy us!
Scranton-at-Large is perfectly capable of making an impact, for or against candidates, and we reserve the right to bring our readers our opinions. All we can say is, keep reading SAL and we don't think there will be any disappointments. In any event, if they think we're going away, or that they can throw us under the bus, they are in for a very rude awakening. We just may relish this as a "last stand", but don't count us out. It's to much fun for us to pass this up, and we have no intention of disappointing our readers!

NOTE: The initials we used above are: CCDL=Chamber of Commerce, Developers, Lawyers, the people Doherty represents.
LITOM=Legends In Their Own Minds (Gatelli & Fanucci)
PDP=Peoples Democratic Party (Evans)
SHPC=Someone's Hand-Picked Candidates (Rogan & Joyce)
IWB-BBP=I Wanna Be-Bob Bolus Promoted (Miller)'
IWB=I Wanne Be (DeBileo, Courtright, Morgan)

MAYOR'S STATE OF THE CITY STATEMENT

Once again, Chris Doherty, the person alleged to be the Mayor of Scranton, has made his annual "State of the City" statement. The annual message, presented to the CCDL (never to the public), has become an annual side-show, with an optimistic view (wearers need rose-colored glasses) of a city which exists only in his mind. While he continues to sink millions of taxpayer dollars into pet projects, enhancing the coffers of his developer and lawyer friends, the man still doesn't get the message..."It's The Economy, Stupid"! The thing we find so amazing is that this guy should be walking around with both arms in a sling. His continued patting himself on the back must be taking a toll on his arms.
Green Ridge resident Dan Hubbard, a potential council candidate, pointed out at least 42 "vacanicies" in the downtown area, refutng Doherty's "vision" and claims. Incidentally, what ever happened to the $1 million given to Roger Staubach's group to "lease" the Southern Union Building? Last we heard, they took the money and ran. Anybody want to explain that fiasco?

Wouldn't it be great if just once, this guy addressed the people who are paying for his extravagence, the citizens and taxpayers. Instead, he panders to the C of C (maybe he and Austin Burke have a thing we don't know about) and his band of developers, lawyers and cronies. Why does he continue to avoid any contact with the general public? Does he really believe he is "above it all", or is he just playing to the ridiculous "Home Rule Charter" which grants him dictatorial powers? We have a funny feeling he may get a rude awakening from taxpaying voters this time around, although we seem to be in the minority in our beliefs that he can be beat. Everyone else is under the impression he is someone to be feared, since he wields such a powerful hand. They don't realize, he is vulnerable and the only reason he has that power is because we gave it to him. Believe it, we can also take it away. Let's see how many votes he can garner from an open and honest election. There aren't that many developers and lawyers in this city, and there certainly are few, if any, votes from the C of C.

LUZERNE COUNTY INVESTIGATIONS CLEANING UP CORRUPTION

The wide-spread corruption in Luzerne County politics is finally getting its just due, thanks to Federal investigators and the good folks in that County are amazed at just how deep the corruption goes. Judges, county workers, other elected officials, and many cronies are feeling the heat and are going own, and off to prison. The cleanup has been long overdue, and is more than welcome there.

From what we have "heard" from our sources, Lackawanna County and Scranton are also on the agenda, and investigations have been underway for some time. At least one high-profile case is coming up in April, but our "people" tell us there may be a "deal" in the works. If the party involved is guilty, any deal would be a gross miscarriage of justice. We understand there may be a few high-placed others in on the wrong end of the investigation and that a lot of pressure is being exerted to work out a "quiet" resolution. We sincerely hope that the Feds won't cave in to this kind of justice. If there is guilt, let there be justice.

Look for some major heads to roll in the next few months, ala Luzerne County, but most will probably be on the local level. Scranton "wrong-doers" should be having many sleepless nights, if our sources are right, and they have been in the past. We learned of the "look-see" some time ago and predicted the collapse of the local "house of cards". Our timing may have been off, since we expected a more rapid resolution, but we have been assured that the day is coming, and may happen within a short period of time. This election could be blown wide open if we are on mark, and we are eagerly awaiting action and results from the "investigators".

When they lead some of these people out, in handcuffs, we will be there with our camera to record these events. More to come! JT

2009-02-19T17:19:00.001-05:00

Scranton-at-Large
Special Edition
537 N. Washington Ave. # 502, Scranton, Pa. 18509
Joe Talamini, Editor/Publisher (570)342-1033
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Several things struck us about the Feb. 17th meeting of the Scranton City Council which prompted this edition of SAL. It feels good to be publishing SAL, even on the limitd basis we have decided upon.

In any event, we had the opportunity to see and hear Bob Martin, representing the Scranton Police Dept., address a caucus before a live audience and the City Council. It was sad to witness this fiasco, but good to hear the PD side of the issue. It would appear, from outward appearances, that the SPD has the ear of at least three members of the Council, and certainly the ears of the citizens in attendance. Sad to say, Council President Bob McGoff and Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci appeared to have precluded that the police have nothing to say, since their idol, Mayor Chris Doherty, has already ordained the PD "will not win" this battle.

Martin's explanation of the proceedings, between the city and the PD, which have been arbitrated and heard in the courts, was not only logical and viable, but he advised the Council that the Mayor's insistence on continuing this battle is not only ridiculous, but is becomiong a very expensive battle. Legal fees for the City are rising constantly (does Doherty plan it that way?) while the PD has the backing of the F.O.P. and the unions, on the local, state and probably national levels. It appears that Scranton has been targeted as the "prime" spot for the battle between cities and the politics of Pennsylvania since this city is the largest, while other communities could ill- afford to do battle. Of course the brunt of the financially irresponsible battle is being born by Scranton citizens.

As Martin pointed out, the city already has the "management control" which Herr Doherty demands, yet that doesn't seem to be enough to satisfy the Mayor's lust for power. He seems to demand complete and total control over our public safety departments, at any cost, and his intransigence is being fostered by the McGoff and Fanucci combine. At least Councilwoman Judy Gatelli has seemed to side with the PD, but we must remember, this is an election year and she is up for reelection.

We queried Martin as to how many one-on-one meetings he has had with Doherty and the answer was shocking; NOT ONE! It is absolutely assinine that this Mayor, who proclaims his "care" for the people of Scranton, is so filled with hubris that he, and McGoff and Fanucci, would carry this fight further in view of the fact the legal costs are forcing the city deeper and deeper into debt. Aristotle defined hubristic people as follows: those who would cause shame to the victim, not in order that anything would happen to you, nor because anything has happened to you, but merely for your own gratification. He states that the pleasure in hubris is that those who practice it think that by ill-treating others they make their own superiority greater! Doesn't that appear to be the case with Doherty, McGoff and Fanucci? It sure seems that way!

We have seen this approach from Fanucci, the biggest offender, in her dealings with the public audiences and her snickering and childish behavior. McGoff, an obvious Doherty pawn, seems to jump at every chance to "defend" his superiority complex, yet he fails to reel in his cohorts when they are "out of order". Doherty doesn't even bother to address the issues, rather he leaves the dirty work to McGoff and Fanucci. In all my years, I have never seen a Mayor who will not meet publicly, or attend Council meetings. Heil Doherty!

Lest we forget, Doherty is up for reelection this year as well, however, he is smart enough to realize that the forces who would seek to unseat him are so disorganized and splintered that his reelection should be a "cake walk". This is a sad commentary on the political situation in Scranton, but unfortunately, as long as the voters continue to divide themselves, Doherty will prevail! Sadder yet, he is beatable, but the anti-Doherty forces absolutely refuse to cooperate and organize and we honestly see Scranton politics as usual continuing. We are saddened by the fact that so much can be done to restore this city to financial stability and respect, but not one single force has stepped forward in an attempt to unite the anti-Doherty voters. There is plenty of talk, and plenty of swagger, but unfortunately, no one wants to walk the walk, or even make a vain attempt to try to unify a viable force to defeat Doherty.

Unfortunately, it is not only the police and firemen who suffer, but the entire city suffers and no one seems to care enough to stand up. The taxpayers will continue to pay the piper while Nero Doherty and McGoff and Fanucci (and the administration) continue to gloat over their own self-importance. What a bunch of invertebrates we have in this community. Is it any wonder Scranton continues to go downhill while lawyers, developers, and politicians continue to gain more wealth and power? It will be interesting to see who will do the dirty work for these scoundrels when they succeed in driving the poor working man out of town.

BISHOP MARTINO & THE CHURCH

We wonder if there is any truth to the rumor that Bishop Martino is writing a book called "How to Lose Friends and Alienate Parishioners"!
It is odd that in view of the loss of so many priests and the closings of schools and churches to save money, Martino continues to practice his own brand of religious bigotry. The Cathloic Church, once the proud bastion of so many dedicated and loyal Americans, continues to deteriorate while the Bishop rants about the injustices commited by those who don't agree with his agenda. We ask simply: Does the Bishop care to account for the tremendous losses incurred by the Church's "cover-up" of the misconduct of priests; can he tell us why the Church has just about eliminated the church women (nuns) who served so faithfully for so many years while being held in virtual servitude; would he care to elaborate on the reasons why the Church continues to accept money from the adulterers, homosexuals, and other "undesirables"
and why he and his hierarchy live so grandly while homeless and needy are ignored? We suggest the hierarchy of the Catholic Church remove all the photographs and install some mirrors in their place, then they should take a good, hard look at the hypocrisy they display, rather than how great they believe they are. Jesus would never have turned his back on people. He chose to educate rather than intimidate, and the Cathloic Church has strayed so far away from these principles that they may never be able to get on track. The true power of the Church is its ability and willingness to tend to the needs of its people, not the self-edification of a few priests, bishops, cardinals or the Pope.
If the Church wants to know why it is losing so many to other churches, take a good look at the mockery you have made of your Church and your close involvement with the politicians and powerful financial forces instead of the flock who need your compassion and understanding!

2009-01-29T01:31:00.001-05:00

Dear Readers:

As of February 1, 2009, Scranton-at-Large will become JT’sOPINION!

Following several weeks of discussion with associates around the country & ex-pat friends, we have decided to place Scranton-at-Large on the back burner and to renew JT’s OPINION.

Our decision was made after we finally concluded that the limited audience we reached with SAL was not satisfying our needs and our desire to reach a much wider audience was more suited to our experience and writing style.

This is not to say that there is not room for SAL, or a similar publication, however, following much discussion and an analysis of the facts, it was decided to go with JT’s OPINION and to serve a much wider and diversified group of readers.

Unfortunately, we felt stymied by the fact that too many factions exist in Scranton and there seems to be no answer to how we can get these separate groups to cooperate in a unified effort to attain the same goals. Sharing of information is vital to our mission and we have been stonewalled at every turn. One person has this info, another has other info, and so on and so on, and the ensuing chaos creates a situation in which we no longer wish to participate.

Unless, and until these separate groups and individuals can learn to work together to achieve their ultimate goals, we see no reason for us to continue a losing battle. This is not to say we are completely dropping SAL, but from here on out, we will publish SAL as we see fit, on a limited basis, and will not rely on “outside” sources. The time we have remaining on this earth will not be wasted chasing “possibilities”, and instead we choose to devote our talents, time and effort to a broader and more receptive readership, such as we had with JT’s OPINION.

While we will cover national and international news and views, we will also be satisfying our wants and needs, and hopefully, our efforts will continue to be appreciated by our devoted readership. It was their input, and that of numerous professional associates, who have been prodding us for months, that swayed our decision to finally make this move.

Our return to publishing JT’sOPINION will not diminish our interest in Scranton and we will reserve the right to publish SAL at our discretion, and at times when we feel we can make a major contribution.

We will assure you now that we will be making a major effort during the upcoming election campaign and will be doing our best to continue in our efforts to get Scranton untracked and back on the highway to recovery. Our positions may offend some, and will probably elate others, however, our prime consideration will remain, as it has been through the years, to strike at the forces which are keeping Scranton in a “distressed” state and to fight to help affect a recovery and reestablish Scranton as the great city it once was. We realize this is going to be an uphill battle, and that we will probably be waging it with very limited cooperation, but we have never backed away from a good fight and we’re too old to start now. Anyone wishing to join us is welcome!

In the interim, those of you who would like to continue reading our material are welcome to join us at JT’sOPINION.com, and will be able to read SAL as we publish it.

Thanks to all of those who remained faithful to us and to those who will continue to do so! We regret that we have had to make this decision, but we also look forward to getting back on the national and international scene. It is more to our liking, and much more conducive to our style and experience. To those who still haven’t learned the value of cooperating, our deepest regrets. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Fear always springs from ignorance.” And to our political candidates, a word to the wise from Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts”!

JT

2009-01-17T02:46:00.000-05:00

COUNCIL MEETING PROVES OUR POINT

Tuesday night’s City Council meeting proved what we have stressed all along…if the people of this city would stand united, change can be affected! With over 150 locals in protest, and attendance, at the meeting, Council President Robert McGoff was forced to retreat from an intended attempt to ramrod through pay raises for Mayor, Council and City Controller.

Feigning a “misunderstanding” of the proposed exorbitant pay raises in view of the economic distress of the city, McGoff was forced to remove the proposal from the agenda prior to the meeting. Obviously rattled by the large group which overflowed the lower seats and balcony of the Council chambers, McGoff reluctantly removed the item from the agenda, claiming he was under the impression the Council had discussed the matter in agenda meetings. Council members spoke against the proposed raise prior to the “normal” procedure, with Janet Evans and Bill Courtright joined by Judy Gatelli in speaking out in opposition to the proposal. Only Sherry Fanucci remained resolved to join McGoff, but even she backed down and voted to remove the proposed pay raises.

A large group of citizens, including city firefighters and policemen, joined in condemning the process during the “public” input, led by Taxpayers Association President Robert “Ozzie” Quinn, Bill Jackowitz, founder of the “Legion of Doom”, and several other outspoken critics of the pay raise, including Dave Gervasi (firefighters union) and Nelson Ancherani (police union) and other regular speakers.

Everyone agreed, the pay raises were not only exorbitant, but “ill timed”. The city firefighters and police have not had a pay raise in over seven years and salary arbitration, which has been fought by both the unions and administration, is still in limbo. Contract negotiations are still ongoing with no resolution in sight for the near future.

As we have proclaimed all along, a united front can and will defeat the administration’s borrow and spend routine, and this meeting, and the preceding protest, proves our point very clearly. Now if only these citizens would band together, and stay that way as a voting bloc, Scranton may very well find its way out of its financial doldrums. We would hope this group has learned its lesson and recognized what the power of the people can accomplish, in a unified front.

Barack Obama’s campaign should set an example. A major effort on the grass roots level can overcome all the monied people and political cronies Doherty can muster. It works!

ON THE POLITICAL FRONT

While nothing tangible has been declared, as of yet, it would appear that former councilman Gary DeBileo intends to run for Mayor against Chris Doherty, with incumbent Councilwoman Janet Evans and young Pat Rogan (who ran unsuccessfully last election, as a Republican) joining forces. So far, we haven’t been able to determine who else may run, though it is obvious Judy Gatelli, another incumbent, will probably run, with Fanucci, the remaining incumbent, still undecided, but we can’t rule her out. She likes her “position” too much to give it up, though there are serious questions about her status since she is employed by Governor Rendell’s local office, and could be in violation of the “Hatch Act” if she decides to run again. Worth watching closely!

DeBileo made an “announcement” of sorts, to this reporter, last year, but so far has not officially declared. Neither have any of the others, though Doherty has been “fund raising” for quite some time. It is likely that Doug Miller, former Jr. Council President, will run for one of the vacancies, but he is not considered a serious contender. We would like to see at least one more serious candidate enter the race, but we sincerely hope that anyone who intends to run would consider his or her chances before entering the race.

There is little doubt that Doherty will stack the deck against other candidates, including council candidates, employing the ages old tactic of “divide and conquer” in his unrelenting pursuit of political gain. Though we expect Doherty to seek the seat of Congressman Paul Kanjorski, in two years, there has been no indication Kanjorski will “retire”. We can’t conceive of the Congressman continuing and vying for another term.

We also can’t conceive of Doherty remaining a “big fish in a small pond” for much longer. His ego is too large for that, and he obviously has the “itch” for higher office. While he has continued to pad the city payroll with “cronies” and “political paybacks”, unless there is a major economic upswing in the very near future, we firmly believe his days as Mayor are numbered. He has stumbled considerably in the past few months and we anticipate he will soon “blunder” his way out of Mayoral contention. He can be beat!

WE ARE STILL HAVING WEBSITE PROBLEMS

As we told you last issue, we have been experiencing difficulties with our web site, however, thanks to the efforts of some of our friends, our “message” has been getting out. We ask, and encourage, everyone to forward our newsletter, print copies for your friends, or do everything you can to see that we continue to be read by those who so desire.

We apologize to our web-site readers and will continue to post, though access to the website has been limited for reasons we cannot determine. We hope you bear with us and that we can be “up and running” again before too long. We apologize for the shortened version of the newsletter this issue, but we have been inundated with work trying to get the site back on line.. Thanks!

SIDE NOTE: For those who have been following the Scranton Housing Director David Baker case, he has received another postponement and is scheduled to face trial on April 7th in Federal Court. At least he must file all his paperwork by that date. JT

2009-01-13T13:44:00.001-05:00

SPECIAL PRE-COUNCIL MEETING NOTES

Prior to the meeting of Scranton City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 13th, citizens should be aware of several things:

1. The taxpayers association plans to picket at 5:45 p.m. to protest the “planned” pay raises for Doherty, the Council and the City Controller. We urge everyone to attend the protest rally. This is vital showing against City Hall’s plans.

2. Please be aware that the Council (McGoff, Gatelli & Fanucci) will probably try to push through a lesser raise than previously discussed. Make sure that you don’t fall for this ploy. NO RAISE is justified in view of economic conditions.

3. The city is planning on seeking an additional $3 million for their “blight removal” plan. There is no accounting for the need for this money and the city has failed to address the real need (?) for this cash.

4. The state Department of Community & Economic Development has put a freeze on grant money for Scranton for failing to submit four financial reports which are long overdue. The city’s account has twice been flagged for a series of missing audit reports and again for a lack of reporting on Scranton’s independent audit report by the accounting firm of Robert Rossi & Co. The reports were due at the end of October, and the city’s financial report of the independent audit was due Jan. 1, after getting a nine-month grace period. Doherty said there is no freeze on Scranton’s DCED funds, and Stu Renda said he is unaware of any suspension. DCED Spokewoman Janel Miller disagrees, and says the city cannot receive any money until Scranton gets its paperwork in order.

We strongly urge you to be well aware of these facts before you go to the meeting, and by all means, let your feelings be known to the Council. It’s time we stopped them in their tracks! Enough is enough, and we need to remind Gatelli & Doherty that they are skating on very thin ice. Fanucci wouldn’t understand the term, unfortunately! This is your chance to fight back, or forever hold your peace! JT

2009-01-13T13:31:00.001-05:00

MAYOR/COUNCIL DECLARE WAR ON CITY

It finally has happened! Mayor Chris Doherty and the City Council have issued a Declaration of War on the citizens of Scranton! I, for one, accept that challenge!

For the past three years, Scranton-at-Large has sought to be a voice against the “politics as usual” mentality of this city. We have watched, and sizzled, while this administration has sought to enforce it’s “Doherty Blitzkrieg” against the citizens of Scranton, hoping against hope, that a faction would emerge which would challenge these jokers. It hasn’t happened, and we don’t see it happening. Consequently, we feel strongly enough that this stupidity must end, and that it is time for us to step up to the plate!

I have been in journalism since before any of these “astute” politicians was born, and I have watched citizens all over this country get shafted by their political leaders. Never, ever, have I seen such blatant disregard for common sense than I have in Scranton, and a complete lack of common decency among the political factions.

Many have asked why I have not been attending meetings of late. Truth of the matter is that I have become so thoroughly disenchanted with this fiasco that I literally want to puke when I attend these “gatherings”! I have watched while Doherty has reigned havoc on a once proud city, all because the man’s ego is larger than his intellectual capacity. I also see the dolts who make up city council, and that is all inclusive. By the standard 3-2 pro-Doherty vote, they have continued to rape and pillage this city for far too long. Led by Judy Gatelli, and Robert McGoff, and closely followed by Sherry Fanucci, Doherty’s puppy, this group has “played the game” far too long. Unfortunately, the citizens of this city have let it happen, and now they are in a position that it will take a miracle to bail out from. Somebody has got to take the lead, and I intend to do it!

This group of bloodsuckers is nothing more than a band of self-serving “rip-off” artists who have continued to over-inflate their own egos by aiding and abetting Doherty’s scams, to the detriment of their constituency. In a city mired in corrupt politics, nepotism and outright stupidity, these elected officials have pretty much had their own way, without challenge. Its time for that nonsense to end!

A “distressed city” for far too long, how much deeper in debt can Scranton sink before we wake up? We have police and firemen who have not had a contract in over seven years; we have seen cut-backs in vital services; incompetence in running city agencies; pals and cronies of Doherty and his “gang” get jobs which most people can’t even imagine; and we have seen a tax and spend, borrow and spend, government which has accumulated a debt which is over ½ billion dollars. And there is no end in sight!. “Politics as usual” is the motto for this city, and it’s a damned shame.

Now, the City Council is “discussing” a pay raise for the Mayor, City Council members, and the City Controller. Poor babies, they really need more money for what they “allegedly” do. Let’s look at the facts! Chris Doherty is definitely a man of means and certainly needs a raise like I need a second-butthole. Janet Evans is a school teacher; Judy Gatelli is a school nurse; Bob McGoff is a retired school teacher, who sidelines for extra cash; Sherry Fanucci works for the Governor’s local office, and Bill Courtright is a local business owner who also gets additional income for his teaching. NOW SHOW ME WHICH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS NEEDS EXTRA INCOME? Everyone of them is double-dipping, since each one draws a salary from their city “employment”. How many times have we heard them whine about how hard they work, for that paltry $12,500 extra income they get for being on City Council? And how many meetings have they missed because of perceived “injustices” against them?

Gatelli, in her term as council president, has cancelled meetings, postponed meetings, adjourned meetings and cost the city who knows how much in legal fees to defend her against “threats” and the like. McGoff, a hand-picked Doherty puppet, plays the game of “Mr. Nice Guy”, all the while shafting the citizenry at every turn. Fanucci, whose qualifications are about as limited as one can get, other than the fact that she is a Doherty supporter, has been whining since she was first elected about how “hard she has worked”, how much time she puts in on city business, and has been a major factor in getting the Doherty agenda passed. Evans has espoused her concern for the citizens, yet her “availability” is usually limited, so we really can’t get too many answers there. And Courtright, who seems to be a fair-minded guy, is limited in what he says, and is also hard to reach on most occasions, although he does return calls, etc.

Now, my question is relatively simple. If these people are so honest and such upstanding citizens, who seem to be “overworked and underpaid”, why in the hell did they take these jobs to begin with? And why would they want to keep them; going through the machinations of raising funds for campaigns; putting their prestige on the line; and generally going through the motions of “governing” and voting on issues which none of them have really studied? Also, how do they find all this time when every one of them, save McGoff, has a full-time job which requires their attention? If they are so busy, they are either neglecting their sworn duties or cheating their employers!

Doherty, on the other hand, sure doesn’t need the money. In addition to his $50,000 a year salary, this “dedicated civil servant” has income from his private business and lives quite well in a luxurious home on North Washington Ave. The fact that he is in a constant state of “running around” is his personal problem. In most cases, he is on personal ventures designed to enhance his “name recognition” for future political gain. Another point of interest is the fact that he seems to hire people to do jobs that don’t really need to be done, at salaries which far exceed the average wage in this community. To compare his salary to that of the Mayor of Allentown is ludicrous! Allentown has commerce, industry and a much higher per capita income than this tiny burg, which I remind you again, is a “distressed city”. Explain the comparison since I obviously have missed the boat somewhere. And please, explain it in detail, since I’m pretty dense!

Now, let’s consider the state of Scranton’s economy. Contrary to local belief, and the “Disney”-type propaganda to which we are constantly subjected, where the hell are all the jobs which OECD and our politicians have claimed would be forthcoming? And what about the KOZ’s which we created on the premise they would bring in new jobs? Aside from a bunch of lawyers, developers, and political contributors, who in this city is making a liveable wage? And why is OECD the “proving ground” for such as Gatelli, Fanucci and others? What qualifications did these people possess to have jobs handling the critical nature of our economics? A school nurse? A hairdresser? Come on people!

And when did the people who voted for it ever really read the “Home Rule Charter”? Were they aware of the powers they invested in this bunch of political hacks? Did they realize that they created a dictatorship when they voted the “charter” in? Probably not!

When did we decide that Scranton’s students could not learn anything unless they were going to a school which cost far too much money to build, and had a useful lifespan of about 20 years? And, let’s not forget, must be rebuilt every so often so we can have “educated” students available to hold down minimum wage jobs in Scranton’s service industry, the only industry in existence in this city?

Should we also forget the “blight” which is being removed to make Scranton more beautiful and desirable? What about the housing which is being displaced and the exorbitant rents which low-wage citizens must pay? How about the taxes which keep going up, and the fixed-income home owners who are having difficulty making ends meet? God forbid, let’s not forget the unemployed and the homeless, most of whom don’t really count in the eyes of our political leaders? And the increasing crime rate (really?) which doesn’t exist in Scranton? Of course these factors are under control, if you ask the Mayor or his cronies. They only exist in our minds. After all, don’t we now have a $300,000 tree house; beautification (?) of Nay Aug Park; a beautiful new building which we paid Roger Staubach’s firm over $1 million to lease (never happened); and demolished buildings which are now being turned into more parking spaces for our “visitors”? And can’t we lay claim to being the pot-hole capitol of Pennsylvania, thanks to the Mayor’s alertness and “repaving” efforts?

The local universities have even donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to enhance the beautification of the city, but of course, only in their own neighborhoods. Naturally that money came from the millions of tax exempt properties which they hold. But that is “politics as usual” isn’t it? While Steamtown Mall is rapidly going under, thanks to businesses folding, or moving out, Herr Doherty is still hell-bent on turning Scranton into a “Boutique City”. Of course there are exceptions, but all of them to the enhancement of the pockets of the developers and land-grabbers who have Doherty’s blessings.

Oh well, we can’t expect miracles, can we? After all, isn’t it the elitists of the Green Ridge section and the Hill who have determined that Chris Doherty and his cronies are really our Saviours? They seem to have the power to keep getting these buffoons re-elected! And for what reason? They are never in attendance at any official civic meetings, but they do show up in force for photo-ops and Doherty rallies.

Okay, let’s look at my personal agenda and why I am taking off the gloves in this fight! And there are definite reasons why I have become so bitter and disenchanted.

Number one: For too many years to discuss, I was forced to cater to politicians, businesses and advertisers, as well as clergy who sought their own way to the detriment of citizens. If I wanted to keep a job in journalism, I had to kow-tow to the advertisers and the “social elite”. If you want a job which pays fairly well, you had to “toe the line” or look elsewhere for employment. I caved in and became one of “them”!

Then I realized, I was selling my soul for the very reason I was fighting against. So, I moved on to the magazine field, and encountered the same corporate mentality. It was after I discovered newsletters, that I finally got my own message. To hell with being one of the sheep. I was man enough, and good enough, to become one of the shepherds. No more “rat race”; no more “ass-kissing”, I could finally speak my own mind. And I did!

Now, why am I taking up this fight? Frankly, because I’m a born sucker, and see that somebody has to step up to the plate. I’m sick of the rhetoric and those who are so busy patting themselves on the back that they’ve lost sight of the real war!

I am tired of the likes of McGoff, Gatelli and Fanucci treating their constituents as if they were brain-dead and waste to be discarded after election time. I have been, like many others, spoken too in condescending terms by these “learned” and overly-inflated egomaniacs, to the point that its time to call a spade a spade. Fanucci even made an off-the-cuff reference to me as a “loser”. Well, maybe I am, Sherry, but if so, I did it with a degree of ”class”, something you will never have. And speaking of losers, would you care to explain how you suddenly became the darling of the Doherty group when you’re credentials were so poorly lacking? How does a hairdresser (no offense to others in the profession) go from being a working-stiff to an elitist in one fell swoop?

A word to the Mayor and Council, and take it for what it is worth! As an elected official, YOU are subject to criticism and scrutiny, far and above what the average-citizen is subjected too. YOU chose the position, and you now have it! Don’t whine when YOUR closet doors are opened and you and possibly your families are “hammered” for your actions. There are few, if any politicians, who have nothing to hide. Everybody has a few skeletons in their closet. YOU have quite a few, in most cases. When your closet doors are opened, remember, YOU chose the job, and YOU are public figures. YOU are not immune, as many Senators, Congressmen, Governors and others have found out, so since you chose to do your thing, it’s time you had to answer to your public.

Unfortunately for YOU, that time is now! In view of the economic doldrums which we are in, and I mean nationally, and the corruption and fraud which now must be answered for, it is YOUR turn. YOU declared this war, and I accepted the challenge. I sincerely hope others will join me. If not, then I am on my own. But, be aware, while this may be my “last hurrah”, I have nothing to lose. No advertisers to answer to; no elitists whose asses I must kiss; and no more kow-towing to phonies who hold elected office.

Take your vote, screw the public again, and take your lumps. My only statement to YOU is, “Bring It On”, but be ready for the consequences. Remember the old saying, “All’s fair in love and war”! YOU chose the fight. I intend to carry it back to you! YOU may win the battle, but the war is far from over. Thanks for this chance for me to redeem myself for all those “wasted” years of playing the game YOUR way! JT

2008-12-31T10:52:00.001-05:00

OUT WITH THE OLD….IN WITH THE NEW

2008 has come and gone, and all we can say is good riddance to a terribly bad year, for most of us, anyway. Hopefully, 2009 will bring us some drastically needed changes, and we choose to enumerate some of them in these pages.

Scranton has continued on its downhill slide, despite the glowing words we hear from the Chamber of Commerce and our Mayor and most of the City Council. We don’t know where these folks get their information, but it must be coming from some form of Disneyland propaganda, or Outer Space.

An “expected” $5,000,000 windfall from the Single Tax Office’s “hidden funds” account has already been budgeted by our Mayor & Council majority, though the independent audit is still not complete. Doherty & his puppets seem to be engaged in their traditional wishful thinking while burying their heads in the sand. What is it going to take, short of ousting these charlatans from office, for them to get real and start facing the facts?

Scranton, and this entire area, is in the midst of an economic bust, with unemployment surpassing 7 %, above the average in the U.S. What few jobs there are here, at least those that pay a decent wage, are doled out to friends, relatives and others who need to be “rewarded” for their “allegiance”. Developers, lawyers, and other cronies of the administration continue to thrive, while the vast majority of the citizenry is in dire straits.

A recent “legal ad”, an annual event, schedules the City Council to meet regularly, save holidays and a four week vacation in August. Based on recent history, the present Council meets on an average of 42 times per year. Add the 4 week scheduled vacation, and it only comes to 46 weeks. Obviously, there are 6 weeks of meetings which have been “lost”, due to cancellations for personal reasons, abrupt adjournments because of “perceived threats”, and just out-and-out “conning” of the public. Who is accountable? Why none other than Judy Gatelli, who has a history of missing or canceling meetings; Bob McGoff, Doherty’s personal puppet who is supposed to be in charge and responsible; and Sherry Fanucci, who has personal obligations which run the gamut from “being busy”(?) to being “required” elsewhere. Council even changed the regularly scheduled meetings from Thursday nights to Tuesdays to accommodate Fanucci. When queried on the matter of changing the meetings back to Thursday night, McGoff “saw no reason” to do so. Forget the fact that most other meetings are scheduled on the same night causing many potential attendees to chose which meeting to attend. McGoff obviously sees only what Doherty and company tell him to see. An educated puppet first-class!

Take into consideration that the standard 3-2 vote (McGoff, Gatelli & Fanucci against Janet Evans and Bill Courtright) goes the “Doherty way” in the majority of cases and we have a ridiculous situation for which we pay these folks $12,500 annually, per councilperson. Not bad when you consider the average wage earner in a service job (the majority of jobs in Scranton) earns less than that for working a 40 hour week and we sure have one helluva joke being played on the electorate.

At a time when the entire nation is suffering from an economic crunch; banks folding, brokerage firms collapsing, insurance companies going under, and Scranton still in “economically distressed status”; police and fire personnel working without a contract for more than seven years; roads unpaved and rapidly deteriorating; stretches of the downtown area being demolished or empty space retailers; yet we have a $300,000 tree house; improvements (again) to Nay Aug Park; and a ¼ million dollar “tree planting” on the Southside; overly-inflated payrolls for “key” employees, most of whom are not needed or under-qualified; inadequate police patrols; an increasing crime rate; and a “war on blight” coupled with over-taxation; white-collar crime in various city agencies (more exposures to come soon) and we have Scranton, The Electric City. Shouldn’t we change the motto to Scranton, The Real Life Dunder-Mifflin City, or better yet, the real tragic-comedy on which “The Office” is based? Makes sense.

What can we look forward to in the coming months? Well firstly, the annual St. Patrick’s Day drunk fest, for which this city has become famous, or we should say notorious! Then we have the upcoming election for Mayor and the Big Three, which is probably a lock for Doherty & Company since he is the only one who has enough sense to start fund-raising months before the election. Of course he can count on the Democratic endorsement, and will probably carry Gatelli and another hand-picked crony back into office. He is practically assured of another term, thanks to his “friends”, all of whom make a lot! more in wages than the majority of local citizens. By the way, they also vote!

Next, we can look forward to the likes of young Doug Miller, playing both sides of the fence, as usual, and thriving on Judy & Sherry and Bob encouraging him to continue his “Jr. Council” tour with the “big boys”. Then there are a bunch of “why not mes” who will run, though they never attend Council meetings and haven’t a clue what is going on in the city. Of course there will be exceptions. Somebody’s brother-in-law, cousin, someone looking to flip-flop from one authority to another, or run for Council, and the select handful of candidates who will do anything to join the “buffoonery” as exploited by Doherty’s ridiculous fawning over Hillary Clinton, and making a complete ass of himself in the process. But, that’s a normal “photo op” for His Eminence? Watch St. Pat’s day!

Let’s not forget that we need new school taxes to support the addictive habits of our school board members. How can we expect to keep our kids in the lower percentile in the U.S. without brand new “palaces” with some politicians name engraved in bronze? Never mind that Scranton rated “as among the best places” to raise kids….really, never mind that statistics show that Scranton (and Pennsylvania) ranked among the lowest of the 50 states, falling into the category of “deep South” tradition. That was overlooked.

And of course we would be remiss if we didn’t mention those wonderful “tax exempt” colleges which permeate our area. More space allocated for their benefit; more taxpayer dollars thrown into the kitty to support these schools (what happens to the $30,000 plus tuition money these kids pay?); more homes being lost because citizens can’t afford to stay here; and the loss of more and more young minds to distant places. Add to that the loss of businesses, moving of offices, lack of revenue and job creations, and we have another series of questions that nobody seems to address.

Doherty obviously learned well from his friend, former Bethlehem Mayor Don Cunningham who sold his city out to Lehigh University. Beautiful campus, but a city which looks like something from a Faulkner novel. At least Donny-boy had a “good relationship” with Gov. Ed Rendell and now enjoys a nice income in Allentown. Maybe Chris intends to utilize his connections to move on to Reading, or some other place and continue to pat himself on the back and gain new friends in high wages, oops places!

On the bright side, and there definitely is a bright side, Scranton will continue to survive and hopefully a “white knight” will come along and rescue the “distressed” city. Younger minds and an influx of “outsiders” is bound to have an impact on the “politics as usual” mentality here. We don’t see much hope for the “opposition” to unseat this group, but we do see an awakening as the Feds keep making inroads into our “authorities” and “cronyism” brand of politics. Some of the mighty have already fallen, and we honestly predict a lot more will “bite the dust”, primarily because they are so dense they don’t see the handwriting on the wall. February’s trial of disgraced Housing Director Dave Baker may very well see the downfall of a few of his compatriots. It is hard to conceive that this guy acted alone, and without benefit of allies, yet there are probably quite a few more “geniuses” involved who are so smart they can outfox government investigators. LOL!

Petty crimes involving other agency figures are beginning to be noted, but the major players still are convinced they have immunity. Ha! There aren’t enough smarts or money in this entire city to beat the Feds once they get “whiff” of skullduggery. Some pretty smart cookies have learned that over the years, but obviously, our local “geniuses” have devised a hidden system for beating the Feds. Bottle it and sell it, you’ll make a fortune!

In the interim, we’ll be glad to take bets that the end is near for many “astute” insiders. And boy, we can hardly wait to watch the collapse of these jerks and their “monarchy”. The time for Nero to fiddle while Rome burns is just about over. Watch for “major” figures to abandon ship once they finally get the message. Dunder-Mifflin or Dunder-Heads? In either case, the “comedy” is on the verge of becoming a tragedy. Be aware!

Our remedy for this city’s ills? Take a lesson from former Gov. Ann Richards of Texas who insisted on a “pay as you go” plan for her State. If you don’t have the money, you don’t spend it! And cut the pork from the political diet. Elected to serve….the people, not your own self-interests or those of your friends. Scranton and Pennsylvania can survive and will, once we realize that we spend way too much money on “fluff” and far too little on actual needs. Wanna bet that nobody comes out of the woodwork with any new ideas in May? It sure doesn’t seem that way, but I do sincerely hope we’re wrong! JT

2008-12-22T12:20:00.001-05:00

This message says it all!

You know what you mean to me and I just wanted this to be my gift to you,

as one of my special friends.

There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters,

Who never did,

Who won’t anymore,

and who always will.

So, don’t worry about people from your past,

There’s a reason why they didn’t make it in your future.

Give your heart to everyone you don’t want to lose in2008-2009,

Including me, if I’m on your list.

Thanks again for being a part of my life!

Enjoy your holiday season – whatever “holiday” you celebrate!

Joe Talamini-Editor/Publisher
SCRANTON-AT-LARGE

2008-12-19T01:52:00.000-05:00

ONE MORE SHORT MONTH

In just over one month, the United States will close the book on one of the most inept, unresponsive and detrimental admini9strations in this nation’s history. Finally, and emphatically, we will be rid of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, the arrogant duo who led the U.S. into one of the bleakest times in our history. Once the most powerful, and respected, nations in the world, these two draft evaders have destroyed our credibility, made us one of the most hated nations in history and subjected us to the scorn and ridicule of a majority of our former allies.

Just within the last two days, both Bush and Cheney have literally sneered at the fact that U.S. democracy has been more appropriately referred to as U.S. hypocrisy. What a shame that these two, emboldened by a handful of followers, were allowed to destroy our prestige throughout the world, while being directly responsible for the loss of thousands of U.S. servicemen’s lives in unjust wars; hundred of thousands of jobs outsourced to foreign countries; the near total destruction of our economy; and the moral bankruptcy of our country.

I am sure there will be many die-hards who will cringe at these words, but facts are facts, and both Bush and Cheney have been worse than any administration since that of Warren G. Harding. Together, they have sneered at their constituents, padded the pockets of their cronies, and just about rewritten the Constitution of the U.S., much to the detriment of the people of these United States. These are cold, hard facts, folks, not sour grapes. It may take the new administration a full four years or more to undo all the damage these two despots have inflicted on us. We can only hope and pray they will be up to the task!

Sadly, neither of these two will probably be held accountable for the numerous violations and crimes perpetrated by them. President-elect Barack Obama intends to enter the arena via railroad. Unfortunately, we cannot offer Bush and Cheney a ride out of town, tarred and feathered on a rail. That would be considered “disrespectful. Too bad!

TAX & SPEND POLICIES COMING HOME TO ROOST

The policies of the Scranton administration, as predicted by many “Legion of Doomers”, and other citizens, are beginning to be felt by Scranton citizens. The recent announcement of a 5.6% tax increase by the School Boards, is just one of the many dire predictions made by the local citizenry. Certain boards and taxing authorities have yet to drop the other shoe on us, but rest assured, when it does, the reverberations will be loud and will resonate into the upcoming May elections for Mayor and Council.

No amount of spin by Mayor Chris Doherty and his three “henchmen” on City Council will undue the obvious….Scranton is not only seriously distressed, it is also on the verge of serious economic doldrums, far and above what any of us have foreseen. And we have yet to see any positive and progressive action on the part of this group.

For more than two years, the Scranton-Lackawanna Co. Taxpayers & Citizens Assn. and a group of regular speakers at city hall meetings have outlined the direction in which Doherty and Company have had us headed. Not a word has been uttered by Doherty, and his three Council cronies have continued to endorse his policies, often not even having a basic knowledge of his proposals, yet rubber stamping and endorsing their ‘great leader’s” wants. In particular, we cite the recent approval of his new budget. All three of the Council rubber-stampers admitted they had voted on the budget, though they sometimes had no idea what their vote was for, other than Doherty’s “blessings”.

For this we pay them $12,500 per year each, and they still manage to avoid Council meetings, mostly attending somewhere between 40 and 44 meetings per year. Naturally, they profess to “put a lot of time” into their elected positions, yet they vote blindly on serious items, only because that is what Doherty expects of them. Under the circumstance, shouldn’t Doherty be paying their Council salaries out of his own pocket, instead of expecting the taxpayers to do so? At the last Council meeting, Dec, 9th, Councilwoman Janet Evans cautiously warned against advancing a couple of items in order to “finalize” them, citing the fact that there would be no agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting, Dec. 16th. Council President Bob McGoff asserted that there was still a Dec. 16th meeting scheduled. Lo and Behold, said meeting was cancelled. Imagine that, Mrs. Evans may have been right all along. And Councilwoman Judy Gatelli, whose seat is up for re-election in May, along with those of Mrs. Evans and Sherry Fanucci, was the prime mover in “rushing” the questionable items for a final vote.
During her tenure as Council President last year, Gatelli was responsible for canceling, adjourning, or ignoring numerous meetings, mostly due to her paranoia over perceived personal threats. She was probably the most disruptive and detrimental of the “big three”. Along with the “class clown” Fanucci, they managed to alienate the vast majority of speakers at Council meetings, but were horrified when they were subjected to questions from these citizens. Fanucci resorted to her teen-age spoiled brat image by over-reacting and calling the group of citizens by an assortment of detrimental names.

In the interim, McGoff, presiding over the meetings, managed to maintain a semi-dignified demeanor, yet was hesitant to reign in his Council members while he managed to subtly chastise the taxpayers who had the audacity to ask questions or offer positive input, something he and his fellow Doherty trio were incapable of doing. Ah, politics!

OUR WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR

In view of the end of the year, and no Council meetings in sight until early January, we would like to offer our wishes for 2009, though we are very pessimistic.

We would wish for an awakening of Scranton’s citizens, and an awareness of what is happening around them. Their active participation in the electoral process and their input before things happen, not after the fact.

We would like to see taxes and taxpayers monies being spent in a more positive and progressive manner, moving the city forward while not catering to the select few who have been reaping the benefits. It’s time to put the Doherty wish list on hold and get back to caring for the wants and needs of the citizens.

The final settlement, without further waste of legal fees, on the Police and Fire contracts, and fair and equitable treatment of our police and firefighters. Revamping of the hierarchy of these two departments and a more fitting and practical deployment and use of these two vital and essential public safety agencies. Stop playing with our safety!

Accountability, and honesty and openness in the daily activities of our elected officials. The Mayor needs to spend more time addressing city issues, and less time seeking photo ops and pushing his own selfish agenda. If he really wants to move up in politics, make that move now and relinquish his self-serving term as Mayor of this great city.

We’d wish for industry, jobs and new business in our area. Create new jobs by inducing new industry and manufacturing into the surrounding community. Stop dreaming of the “ideal bedroom” community and start acting responsibly, and with the taxpayers in mind.
The visions of Scranton as a boutique city won’t happen, primarily because we are now driving even the “service” sector of our work force out of town. Visions of bigger and better colleges, a “dream” medical college, and other fantasies, may happen but they will be short lived. We need a tax base and the property and personal wage taxes won’t keep this city alive. Especially if we keep removing taxable property from the city rolls.

And finally, we would like to see a major repaving of our cities deplorable roads. Most of our streets and byways are in such bad shape that it will take a concerted effort to bring the streets into even a somewhat reasonable condition. We can’t continue to speculate that the “money” will be forthcoming from some unknown source. The money must be procured by the City and so many unwarranted and unneeded projects must be curtailed.

HAPPY HANUKAH & MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

We wish our friends of both the Jewish and Christian faiths the happiest of times in the holiday season. Celebrate and enjoy your holidays and we all look forward to a Happy and Very Prosperous New Year in 2009. JT

2008-12-15T02:47:00.001-05:00

BLAGOJEVICH IN SCRANTON?

Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, under pressure to resign, or face impeachment, is in a whole bunch of hot water over allegations he tried to “sell” the Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama. His resignation might be just the answer for the Ill. Governor. Or so it would seem, if the allegations have any substance.

In view of the circumstances, it would appear Blagojevich might want to give serious consideration to moving to Scranton! Should he resign, the likelihood of prosecution would be slim, consequently, Blagojevich would be eligible to enter politics here. When we consider all the ramifications, it would seem to be a logical fit. He could run for Governor, or better yet, he could enter the race for Mayor of Scranton.

Based on his track record, he seems to be a perfect fit for Scranton politics. Granted, it would be step down in prestige, and salary, but think of the opportunities. As new Mayor, he could effectively make a clean sweep in City Hall; open up numerous job opportunities for his cronies; “offer” these job openings to his “friends” and would gain considerable political leverage. By now, Blagojevich has gained considerable “know-how” and would fall right in with Scranton politics. And think of the “new friends” he would gain. There is a wealth of candidates for office out there who would jump on the “Rod Bandwagon” if they thought he would “favor” them.

Another facet would be the addition of new and exciting events which could take place here in the Electric City. There could be a “Pulaski Day Parade”, celebrating the Polish General (and war hero) which could easily parallel the St. Patrick’s Day fest. Beer would flow freely and bars could stay open forever, if the price was right. We could have perogies and other ethnic foods available at exorbitant prices; polka bands galore; and don’t forget. An annual “political auction” at which time jobs could be sold off.

Of course control of City Council would be another benefit. Taking a lesson from our local history, the “O’s” in Scranton names could be replaced by a whole bunch of “-skis”, or other ethic names. It would be a helluva plan, though it already is in existence here. At least the thought is novel, and would actually be a real change. OPEN government for sale! The bidding process itself would be worth watching. Oh well, we can dream!

IS THIS BAKER’S LAST STAND?

Scranton Housing Director Dave Baker is slated to go on trial in February, after at least 3 or 4 postponements. The beleagured Baker is under a 16 count Federal indictment and is
scheduled to appear in Federal Court in Scranton to face the charges, stemming from a long investigation, and raid on his office, by Federal authorities. Misuse of H.U.D. funds, and “intimidation” of housing authority employees are among the charges, which also include “wire fraud” charges.

According to our information, several SHA employees gave depositions in Harrisburg during the investigation, and Baker is presently suspended from his job as Director. Sources say that Baker may very well implicate other prominent names during his trial.

AUDITS FAIL TO MEET DEADLINES

Why the City of Scranton continues to employ its “auditing” firm is beyond us. The contract for the city’s audits lays out specific guidelines, and deadlines, for the annual audits to be presented to City Council, yet they are constantly delayed, often by months. The ramifications are simple; because of late audit results, numerous city agencies are late in presenting their specific budgets, and consequently, City Council is forced to “act” based on conjecture and their own “accounting”. Based on what we have seen of City Council’s actions, we have little faith in the fact they are capable of “thinking” about any budgetary actions and have been relying on the “word” of Mayor Chris Doherty. Good luck on that one. Isn’t it time to cancel the auditing contracts for failure to comply and award the project to a new auditing firm? Preferably an out-of-town group.

CANDIDATES SHOULD ANNOUNCE SOON

With upcoming elections in May for three council seats and the Mayor’s spot. We look to hear of several “announcements” or declarations of candidacy in the very near future.

Councilwoman Janet Evans, long-considered a Mayoral candidate, is one of the seats which come up for election on City Council, along with those of Judy Gatelli and Sherry Fanucci. Latest rumors have Evans running for Mayor while others have her running for re-election to Council. As yet, the popular Mrs. Evans has not made her plans known. As for Gatelli, she is expected to seek re-election, while Fanucci, the least popular Council member, is expected to concede her candidacy in favor of retaining her State job. Should she announce her candidacy, she might be subject to violation of the Hatch Act.

Doherty has already announced he will seek another term as Mayor, though it is generally considered as a temporary move, pending the expected retirement of Rep. Paul Kanjorski after his present term is up in two years. Kanjorski is expected to give up his Congressional seat after 26 years in office. Of course Doherty, the overly-ambitious and secretive Mayor would probably opt to run for the Kanjorski spot. We feel reasonably sure that his candidacy for that spot would face a serious challenge from Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta who has lost twice to Kanjorski, albeit in a year of Republican “collapse”.

Several local candidates will probably include former Councilman Gary De Bileo who announced his candidacy for Mayor last year. However, De Bileo may opt to run for Council again, deferring to the more popular Evans. Former candidates Pat Rogan. Giovanni Piccolino and possibly Pat O’Malley may also throw their hats in the ring, along with a host of others, including a pro-Doherty slate which is yet to be determined. While not the most popular, Doherty is astute and may very well “stack the deck” with a slate of his own “hand-picked” candidates in hope of knocking Evans and her followers out. It is generally conceived that the tactics may work, however Doherty has continued to amass excess baggage through his manipulating and maneuvering regarding the police and fire contracts negotiations, costing the city millions in legal fees. He also will be faced with providing answers as to why he has continued to promote his cronies to higher paying positions, especially at a time when Scranton, a distressed city for 17 years, continues to sink deeper into economic debt, and his borrow, tax and spend policies while doing little for his constituents. Unless affording private developers and cronies with an unlimited supply of taxpayer cash, and his self-promotion of Nay Aug Park, Doherty has little to show for his two terms as Mayor.

His attempts to bring another library into the Southside, though most have expressed skepticism over the project, as well as a “beautification” project in the area, with hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for trees while the city writhes in economic pain also must be addressed. Despite the entire country in economic stress, jobs lost and housing foreclosures at a high, Doherty has continued to act as though Scranton is pure and clean and exempt from serious financial trouble. Any serious candidate to unseat Doherty would be wise to hold up his record and promises as evidence that this guy leaves too much to be desired to serve another term as Mayor.

Needless to say, a concerted effort by a united coalition, would find it relatively easy to unseat Doherty, Gatelli and their cohorts, if they “take off the gloves” and wage a serious campaign. BUT, the effort calls for unification of forces, not an easy task in Scranton. While he has a huge war chest already in place, he is beatable, and money is not the answer. Hard work and a well-coordinated campaign can achieve that goal. Cash will come, as proved by the Barack Obama campaign. Grass roots efforts can prevail!

OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

It is time for the American people to stand up and face the fact that we are being just too damned politically correct and letting our freedoms and rights slip away. This is Christmas time, and aside from the commercial aspects, it is the time of the year when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Savior of the Christian religion.

There is no intent to subvert the meaning of any non-Christian holiday, and we know of no plan that calls for ignoring any other religion’s holidays. Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and all other religions are allowed to celebrate their religious holidays without impediment. It is time Christians stood their ground and celebrated this holiday properly.

I personally refuse to patronize any business which wants my money but only if I acceded to their commercialism by wishing me “Happy Holidays”. Their religion may be the almighty buck, but I don’t choose to wish them “Happy Sales” or “Happy Dollars”. This is the time of the year when I choose to worship the saviour of the Bible, and while I don’t practice my religion, or adhere to the Biblical laws (as is the case with the majority), I absolutely refuse to concede this important holiday to political correctness.

That said, and I hope duly noted, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, and to hell with politically correct diatribe. If you don’t like my attitude, don’t read my publications. JT