Luzerne County is a place that never fully recovered from the Great Depression and the collapse of the coal industry. The "best" redevelopment project was the 1972 Agnes flood that destroyed downtown Wilkes-Barre and drove people to the mall. The way people talked for a long time made me feel like I was living in the time of Noah. Before the flood, after the flood. And the political reforms of the 1890's have yet to hit.
The Chamber of Commerce touts our work ethic which usually translates into we will do the same work for less money. Every politician that runs for office promises "good paying jobs" that never show up. Our local taxing authorities give 10 year property tax breaks to warehouses that pay $8 an hour while the rest of us are getting screwed by reassessment.
There are a myriad of investigations into the debits cards, no bid contracts, the Judges business dealings, violation of civil rights, etc. but I think nothing will become of them. I hope I'm wrong.
There will be elections for the row offices this year that the Democrats will probably sweep again. There is a rumor that Ann Lokuta is running for Prothonatary after being removed from the bench. If it is true it will be the most entertaining race of the primary and the fall if she wins the nomination. The question is what party's nomination will she seek? Incumbent Jill Moran has many things to explain like her deputy signing her name to legal documents, falsifying a tax lien for her boss and her involvement in W-Cat Inc.
The Controller's spot is the most important post up for election. Acting Controller A.J. Martinelli will not seek election. W-B activist Walter Griffith has expressed interest and just to give everybody a laugh Pittston's Wil Toole wants the job. Maybe if he get's elected he can sue the county for overtime and health benefits. Bob Sypniewski seems to be the only serious candidate for the job.
We need Home Rule
Those interested in improving county government must support Home Rule - changing the players will not fix the system; we must change the system. Please get a petition and help harvest signatures so this process can move forward.
ReplyDeletecorrection - "changing the players will not fix the problem; we must change the system" sorry, it's late.
ReplyDeletef the area, i will be outta here by year end..........
ReplyDeleteHome rule YES!
ReplyDeletejill do a few tricks for me i have the money
ReplyDeleteWilkes-Barre looks like the Emerald City compared to Shamokin.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't Griffith a serious contender in your opinion?
ReplyDeleteGriffith is not a serious contender because he is a republican. In this county that already negates 2/3 of the registered and likely voters. And while Walter does act in the best interest of the people, the way he goes about it gives people serious pause if he would have the even temperament and the ability to compromise that are required in elective office.
ReplyDeleteI know that as much as I like him I could never vote for him for the above reasons.
Yes 2:08 you are right, he doesn't have the temperament. We need more experienced explosive heads like WB mayor Tom McGroarty or County Commissioner Mackowski.
ReplyDeleteNo democrat(ic) every complained about the mental antics of these geniuses that drove the city and county into into big-time red that plagues us to this day.
Its assholes like you that are at the root of the problem. Hania ur no?
Griffith definitely not qualified. His name sounds too Welsh and too easy to pronounce; perhaps his family were coal bosses; he's no doubt a protestant; he seems to understand the difference between right and wrong; he's a Republican; and worse yet he's a conservative.
ReplyDeleteSorry, his brand wore out in Wilkes-Barre 50 years ago.
Pull droogie lever !!