Skrep must be feeling some relief this week because the focus of the latest outrage in Luzerne County is not on him. I'm somewhat reluctant to criticize our judges because you never know when you might find yourself standing in front of one of them because you got attacked by a tree or something.
A few weeks ago it was revealed that then President Judge Mike Conahan steered over a million dollars of business to his brother-in-law when he was presiding over the juvenile court then it was reported that his successor, Mark Ciavarella, was railroading kids through the system possibly violating their constitutional right to an attorney. Ciavarella sent many of these "delinquents" to the PA Child Care facility owned by Robert Powell. Now the CV is reporting that Ciavarella and Conahan have a business relationship with Powell.
In February Powell was party to a lawsuit that was presided over by Ciavarella that resulted in a $3.4 million verdict that was in Powell's favor. I'm not a legal ethics expert but I would think that a judge should recuse himself from a case that involves one of his business partners.
On a related note Steve Corbett was in lather today on WILK urging people to file a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania about all of this. Right now they are busy conducting a trial of Ann Lokuta because she hurt some peoples feelings and didn't wash her hair everyday.
The first reassessment of property values in the county since 1965 has been completed and the first wave of notices have gone out to property owners on the west side of the river and people are howling. The local papers and talk radio are full of tales of "sticker shock" and errors by 21st Century Appraisals such as listing buildings on the property that don't exist. One property that has a swamp saw an increase in the land value and my favorite horror story came from an owner of a double block that said one side of the building was valued at $60,000 and the other came in at $85,000 for almost identical properties.
If you want to appeal your new assessment it could cost more than the increase in taxes for the first year. And get this; the best evidence that can be presented is a certified appraisal with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2008. Appraisals with other effective dates won’t hold any weight with the board, even if more recent. So even if you get a new appraisal it will be a waste of money because the appeals board won't even consider it. I will have to check it out further but it sounds like there is not much you can do to dispute the new property values. So beware of lawyers and real estate experts promissing to lower your property taxes for a "modest fee."
For what it's worth there will be a free seminar to learn more about assessment appeals 10-11:30 a.m. June 17 at Genetti Hotel & Convention Center, 77 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre.
What about the politics of this. The reassessment was supposed to be completed in 2007, but the Bond Brothers found an excuse to push it off another year which cost us another $800,000 that brought the total cost to $8 million and climbing. I can understand why Todd Vonderheid and Greg Skrepenak didn't want to deal with this issue in an election year.
Remember that Skrep took over this process and called Steve Urban a "terrorist" for trying to warn people that they were going to get screwed.
One of out of many people forced to leave Northeastern PA due to the nature of local officials incapable or unwilling to make the area a viable economic center once again.
I find it hard to believe that JediMaster is still in high school because he writes so well. Who says our education system is failing. He says he has been interested in politics since he was 12 years old and that was the age that your humble narrator worked in his first Presidential campaign, for George McGovern.
A young progressive's take on the issues, politics, and other musings.
I'm sad to see that my good friend and 2006 Pennsylvania 11th CD nominee Dr. Joe Leonardi is hanging it up at the The Independent, Conservative, Common Sense Oasis. I'm sure we will hear from Joe again.
“My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it,” she said, dismissing calls to drop out.
I can usually forgive a stupid statement from a Presidential candidate because they have to talk so much. Obama 's bitter comment or McCain's 100 years war response to a question come to mind.
But this latest one from Hillary is not the first time she has said something similar. Time reports that in March she responded to a question asking if she would drop out of the race:
"No, I really can't. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual."
NBC News is reporting that she included similar remarks in her stump speech in West Virginia and Kentucky.
Our colorful Congressman Paul Kanjorski said some things in a town hall meeting in Ashley last August that has the usual suspects howling.
“I’ll tell you my impression. We really in this last election – when I say we, the Democrats – I think pushed it as far as we can, the envelope. Didn’t say it, but we implied it – that we, if we won the congressional elections, we could stop the war. Now anybody who is a good student of government would know that wasn’t true. But you know the temptation to want to win back the Congress, we sort of stretched the facts – and people ate it up.”
I think it was an honest assessment of what happened but in politics if someone actually says something that is true the other side will jump all over them. That's why we all hate "lying politicians."
From a release: "I expressed my belief that some Democrats in 2006 overestimated the ability of a single house of Congress to end the war, particularly in the face of an intransigent president and Senate Republicans who are committed to continuing the war.”
WILKES-BARRE – Police said Andrew R. Tostevin, 19, of Coopersburg, was found hanging upside down from a tree at North Main and North streets at about 12:36 a.m. Thursday. Police said Tostevin told officers that the tree attacked him. Police said Tostevin was heavily intoxicated and was taken to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
For some reason this report reminded me of one of Saint Ronny's greatest hits:
After opining in August 1980 that "trees cause more pollution than automobiles do," Reagan arrived at a campaign rally to find a tree decorated with this sign: "Chop me down before I kill again."
Luzerne County is thinking of doing another early retirement incentive with the promise of saving millions in the future.
TL: An early retirement incentive may be offered to 368 Luzerne County employees, county officials said during Wednesday’s retirement board meeting. If all employees accepted, the incentive would cost anywhere from $6.7 million to $17.4 million, depending on the degree of benefits offered to eligible employees, said Hank Stiehl of the Hay Group, the county pension fund’s actuary...If all take early retirement incentives, Luzerne County could save up to $5.5 million.
The last time they did this the commissioners floated a bond to finance the plan that will cost $23 million over 15 years in the hope of saving $2+million if salaries are kept in check. Then after giving a golden parachute to some employees they hired them back through a temp agency (which oneMeuser fans?)and some of them are still working as contractors.
I would like to see an accounting of the "Life Transition Plan" to see if it has actually saved any money.
More on the Life Transition Plan can be found here.
I found out this morning that my wife's cousin was killed in Afghanistan. Just yesterday I wrote about my take on the war and to hear this tragic news first thing today, has taken the words from me.
The TL:A soldier from Pittston was killed from an explosion while serving in the military in Afghanistan, a family member confirmed late Tuesday evening. Jeff DePrimo, 35, who reportedly served with a local Army National Guard unit, was killed in combat.
Dimock, PA—Congressman Chris Carney, a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, will honor local veterans and their families with a Memorial Day Barbeque at the Elk Lake American Legion, of which Carney is a member.
“The cook out will take place from 2:00PM to 5:00PM on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2008. All Veterans, active duty soldiers, National Guard and Reserve Members, their families, and members of the community who wish to honor them are invited to attend. Elk Lake American Legion in Susquehanna County, Elk Lake Road, Montrose, PA.
.
I hope to make it and have an opportunity to ask Chris a few questions. What do you want to ask him?
Congressman Paul Kanjorskiwill be at the Pocono Builder’s Association (PBA) Homebuyer’s and Homeowner’s Education Seminar on Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m at the PMAR offices on Shafers School House Road and business Route 209 in Stroud Township.
If anybody knows where to find Lou Barletta let me know and I will be happy to post it without comment. For some reason I'm not on the press release list which I don't understand.
America's Mayor did send out a PR today that is posted on his site. I think this is the first time I've read something on his website that didn't have to do with immigration. He suggests that the money earmarked for the inflatable dam can be redirected to cleaning up the Susquehanna River and flood control projects, which sounds good.
The problem is that it reveals an ignorance of the legislative process. As the word suggests an "earmark" has to be used for a project that is defined in the legislation. If the project doesn't happen the money is not available for other uses. That $14 million allocated to the dam went poof when it was shot down.
Last fall Kanjo got another $20 million to clean up the river and is working for more.
I can think of many reasons not to put her on the ticket but if she is willing to be the second banana it can work.
Tonight Hillary is winning Kentucky big and later tonight in Oregon Barry is the favorite.
This contest for the Democratic nomination is the best thing for the eventual nominee even if it goes to the convention. More new voters and switchers from the Republicans have swelled the Democratic ranks all over the country.
A new poll on the left side asks if Hillary should be the VP candidate.
We got our stimulus payment of $1200 over the weekend. It came just in time to pay our local property taxes and the car insurance bill. With just enough left over to buy a gallon of gas.
What a story this guy is. He was diagnosed with lymphoma two years ago and after undergoing treatment he has been back in the bigs in a big way. .
BOSTON (AP) -- Jon Lester has survived cancer and pitched a World Series clincher for the Boston Red Sox. Now he can add a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments. .
Looking at the AL East standings I see that the Red Sox are in first place and the Yankees are in last. I like the sound of that and hope to repeat it the rest of the season. .
The Red Sox are in first and the Yankees are in last. .
Lifelong Red Sox fan Big Dan has more. I lived in Boston and got to go to Fenway many times which made them my AL team. .
The Red Sox are in first and the Yankees are in last.
The networks are reporting that he had some sort of seizure but not a stroke that was originally feared.
.
I met the Liberal Lion about 20 years ago when I was on vacation on Nantucket Island. A bunch of us were in a bar when Ted a few other people walked through the door and sat down at the table next to us. I know it's hard to believe that both me me and Ted could be found in a drinking establishment.
.
One of my friends spotted him and got all excited and wanted to go over to him which we all counseled against but Jack couldn't be persuaded to let the man just enjoy his evening. So he goes over to his table and starts babbling some thing like Senator Kennedy, Senator Kennedy I think you should be President, I'm from New Hampshire but I would vote for you anytime and some other stuff. Ted was a little taken aback with that sycophantic verbal assault. With a surprised and annoyed look on his face he said "Get the fuck away from me kid." The rest of us watching this exchange erupted in laughter and a round of applause. Jack came back to the table with his tail between his legs and sulked for a while.
.
Later in the evening Ted came over to us and slapped Jack on the back and apologized for being so short with him. He sat down with us and bought a round and we discussed sailing, a little politics and few other things.
.
An Update from Coal Region Voice who has first hand knowledge of cancer:
Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat say tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma, they said.
.
A personal note. My father died from brain cancer so I hope some people will resist the temptation to make tasteless Chappaquiddick jokes at this time and wish Ted and his family well.
Some of our local scribes have created a spontaneous blogswarm about Steve Corbett's latest bufoonery on WILK. He is pushing a copy cat idea of Rush's Operation Chaos he dubbed Operation Turndown urging people not to vote for Barack Obama because people have said mean things about Hillary Clinton and he claims the "party bosses" are shoving Obama down our throats. I was listening yesterday and he a had a string of callers claiming to be from Los Angeles, Ohio and even Wyoming all saying the same thing. There is no way to know where these people were calling from but it sure sounded like an "AstroTurf campaign” – a fake grass roots effort.
I never thought I'd ever see Big Dan and Mark agree on anything but they both smell a rat.
When the Democratic primary came to Pennsylvania, Corbett's show turned into some kind of bizarre "Whoring for Hillary Show" or the "I Hate Obama Show" (take your pick). And that's all it's been ever since...
If you expect me to believe that people from around the country are listening to local-yokel WILK Steve Corbett's show and calling into it...and it's legit (not like some infomercial), I have a bridge to sell you-the 8th Street Bridge in Wyoming. Wyoming, Pa., right next to me...not the state of Wyoming.
So, caller after caller after caller wholeheartedly agreed with him and vowed on a stack of second-hand Korans to never vote for Barack Obama. And Rodham Corbett ate it up. Yeah, man. Nobody…and I mean nobody is going to call Rodham Corbett a racist. Well, that is, despite the odd fact that those he deemed to be unabashed racists were now calling in and cheering him on. In effect, yesterday, quite by accident, he was the leader of the local racists and he seemed to be relishing the role...
Again, caller after caller after caller said if Barack Obama receives the democratic nomination, they will vote for John McCain in November. And after hearing this most surprising of laments for hours and hours on end, Steve Rodham Corbett concluded, “The way I’m hearin’ it, John McCain is the next president of the United States.”
Corbett as well as others contend that Senator Clinton has gotten a bad shake from the party leadership and that she has been treated shabbily. But the only thing wrong with that logic is that Obama was the “outsider” and Clinton was “the insider”. That said, it doesn’t seem to matter to Corbett and his people
As you can see, I predicted exactly what would happen. call after call from his lsiteners and even the king douche lapper himself have made it clear that they are for anybody but Obama
Jayson Werth smacked 3 HR's including a Grand Slam and tied a team record with 8 RBIs leading the Phils to a 10-3 win over the Blue Jays. Ryan Howard extended his hit streak to 8 games and Jamie Moyer was solid as usual.
The TL confirms what I reported a few months ago. Luzerne County Republican Chairwoman Lynette Villano is not seeking re-election because she wants to spend more time with her family. Given the results of the last few elections that's a wise choice.
The new Chairman will be Terry Casey, a vice president at M&T Bank. I wish him luck because the lack of an effective opposition in the county hurts us all.
Lynette is not going away and will be serving as the Wyoming Valley coordinator for Lou Barletta in his uphill race to unseat Congressman Paul Kanjorski. I hope she is as successful in her efforts for Mayor Lou as she has been for the county GOP.
Posts
