Politics just has me disgusted already. Reading about the city's financial troubles in the paper today, I have to say that I cannot stand the job that Mayor Doherty has done. He's completely out in left field....out of touch with the people and with reality. So much wasted money when he should be trying to get us out of debt and into financial solvency. That said, I can;t stand Doherty's opposition either. Janet Evans just makes my skin crawl. She's condescending, and just as corrupt as anyone. Joe Pilchesky and Janet Evans and their "ICN" conspiracies are the last thing this city needs and only serve to provide comedy for non-residents of Scranton.
Are there any decent candidates for council or mayor that can actually turn this city around? Or will it always be someone looking to take care of their buddies?
Personally, I'm disgusted with all aspects of politics in this city, state, and country. I'm sick of holding my nose when I vote. Democrat, Republican, Doherty supporter, Evans supporter, right wing, left wing, it doesn't matter to me.....they're all thieves.
I know this has been tried before, (and please pardon the sarcasm) but you should sue someone.
For what it's worth, I keep going back and forth on a government bailout for the city. It's probably the only thing that can right this train. Doherty hasn't been perfect, but he has tried to tackle problems head on rather than ignore them.
Regardless, expect a cut in services and the number of city employees. It's by far our biggest expense and the most obvious place to make cuts and hard decisions.
Regardless, expect a cut in services and the number of city employees. It's by far our biggest expense and the most obvious place to make cuts and hard decisions.
I disagree. How can they cut services, especially police, seeing that the police presence in this city is pretty much at zero as it is. I hardly ever see a cop in my neighborhood, driving through or otherwise. What they should do is settle the union contracts, however, with NO back pay or bonuses, just agree to regular raises from here on out. The first place they should cut with city employees should be clerical, since they would be the most expendable (although I have no idea of the inner workings of city government and whether or not that would be possible). To me, the most obvious places to cut from the budget would be Nay Aug. Although its nice to have parks, dumping a lot of money into parks is not wise when we're in financial ruin. Anyways, I would think that Nay Aug and other parks could be kept in nice shape without dumping millions into them.. Look at the county parks like McDade, McDade Park is beautiful, nicer than Nay Aug in my opinion, and I'm sure a lot less money is being spent there than at Nay Aug...probably just routine upkeep. We really don't need fancy banners, and the KOZ program should be scaled back.
It just makes me angry and a little sad to see these things happening. I happen to like living in my adopted hometown of Scranton, and would like to continue living here as long as possible. But who knows how long it will be affordable to continue lving here?
Sam I am afraid you may be correct. This is exactly what I was worried about when I saw the gang at DD getting wound up over that last few years.
The crew over there didn't have a website but they were active none the less for the last 8-10 at least and some a good deal longer than10 years. Many of these same people were tormenting City Council and the Scranton School Board during that time. The union lead people were downtown (as a result of the thenproposed recovery plan) and have stayed since they lost that issue. The others at SSD, because of the then proposed new school.Little miss Jan was there at that time also, of course, she got distracted when that unbelievably amazing coincidence occured and she just happened to get a teaching job that she had been trying to getfor quite some time. Wow that was a coincidence!!
ButI digress... mypoint was that if this kind of vicious behaviour went unchallenged, soon we would have no one of any quaility willing to run for office. What normal decent person would ever want to submit themselves or their families to this kind of abuse? We are at that point now, I believe, look at the list of people who applied for the vacancy on council that Mr. McGoff (sp?) eventually was appointed to fill. There were some who dropped out citing the actions of the public as their reason for withdrawal. Todd Hartman citied the same reason, and anyone who knows Mr. Hartman wouldcertainly notcall him a wilting violet.
My other concern was that eventually someone would step over the line. I have been concerned that what would be an otherwisenormal average person could be (I stress could be) pushed beyond their capacity to maintain their good sense and retaliate. I have also been concerned that someone who is perhaps not completely in their right mind could be (I stress could be) emboldened to do something wrong or, God forbid violent, to further the cause.
I have been and remain hopeful that none of these things will happen, but I would be less than truthful if I didn't say it is quite possible in this increasingly hostile climate.
At this point my voting option is Mr. McGoff and Mr. Popil (sp?)
Mr. McGoff simply because he seems reasonable, shows no signs of pandering to the wolves who gather atthe meetings, and is knowledgeable person. I do not know this person personally but that has been my preception of his preformance. Mr. Popil simply because I remember him from his SSD term and he is not influenced by intimidation and threats(of which he received many).He has a strong background in finance and accounting. I do know this person and while Ido not like him very much on a personal level, I do respect him and his abilities to preform his job well.
Frankly, I don't feel I must like someone personally to be able to see if they can do their job well, besides,I have no interest in having any of these people over for dinner. I think I will leave that Jan and Joey ..you know the two people who "barely know each other"?
At this point my voting option is Mr. McGoff and Mr. Popil (sp?)
Mr. McGoff simply because he seems reasonable, shows no signs of pandering to the wolves who gather atthe meetings, and is knowledgeable person. I do not know this person personally but that has been my preception of his preformance. Mr. Popil simply because I remember him from his SSD term and he is not influenced by intimidation and threats(of which he received many).He has a strong background in finance and accounting. I do know this person and while Ido not like him very much on a personal level, I do respect him and his abilities to preform his job well.
I agree about McGoff...he does seem level headed and professional...more so than anyone on council. Courtright also seems to present himself in a professional manner, but I'm just not sure where he stands on many issues. I like Fanucci for actually presenting solid legislation in the smoking ban, but she does need to act a bit more professional at the meetings....too often she stoops to the level of the LOD. Popil I really know nothing about.
I remember Greg Popil from the School Board ... and IHave is right he does seem to weather threats quite well ... and I agree that he is a whiz when it comes to finances ... which is something that this city is screaming out for ... I also agree that I do not like him personally ... but it that does not mean that he will not do a good job.
I believe that he also weatherd through not only personal attacks but ... and maybe I'm thinking of someone else ... wasn't he physically attacked over an issue involving a school bus? That was at least 17 years ago and my memory isn't what it used to be so I could be wrong ... but if it was him ... that didn't even scare him away ... I think it was him ... but I'm not positive!
__________________
I want everyone to stop and think about one thing ... Joe Pilchesky is not a lawyer ... he's just a guy playing a lawyer on the internet. Please don't trust your legal needs to this man.
Sam I Am wrote: Art Gordon wrote: Regardless, expect a cut in services and the number of city employees. It's by far our biggest expense and the most obvious place to make cuts and hard decisions.I disagree. How can they cut services, especially police, seeing that the police presence in this city is pretty much at zero as it is. I hardly ever see a cop in my neighborhood, driving through or otherwise. What they should do is settle the union contracts, however, with NO back pay or bonuses, just agree to regular raises from here on out. The first place they should cut with city employees should be clerical, since they would be the most expendable (although I have no idea of the inner workings of city government and whether or not that would be possible). To me, the most obvious places to cut from the budget would be Nay Aug. Although its nice to have parks, dumping a lot of money into parks is not wise when we're in financial ruin. Anyways, I would think that Nay Aug and other parks could be kept in nice shape without dumping millions into them.. Look at the county parks like McDade, McDade Park is beautiful, nicer than Nay Aug in my opinion, and I'm sure a lot less money is being spent there than at Nay Aug...probably just routine upkeep. We really don't need fancy banners, and the KOZ program should be scaled back.It just makes me angry and a little sad to see these things happening. I happen to like living in my adopted hometown of Scranton, and would like to continue living here as long as possible. But who knows how long it will be affordable to continue lving here?
We're sort of on the same page. I don't think the city should cut services, I just think they'll have to. The unions will NEVER accept a contract without back pay. The clerical union could stand to lose a few people, but I doubt it could be eliminated.
I like putting money into parks because it's quality of life issue, but not at the expense of basic services. As I said, tough decisions are ahead.
LusOnlyVoice wrote: I believe that he also weatherd through not only personal attacks but ... and maybe I'm thinking of someone else ... wasn't he physically attacked over an issue involving a school bus? That was at least 17 years ago and my memory isn't what it used to be so I could be wrong ... but if it was him ... that didn't even scare him away ... I think it was him ... but I'm not positive!
No, not a physical attack, a personal accusation that he had vandalized school buses. Patently absured on it's face and ultimately proven false after an investigation. It was widely believed that this wasan unsucessful attempt to discredit him as he was actively shinning a light on some extremely questionable billing by the then busing contactor. Yes, you are correct it did not deter him and he was succesful in bring the information (as to the contractor) of unseemly billing to light. The contract was then able to be discarded.
oK your right ... I knew there was something that involved a school bus ... thank you for clearing that up ... I said I wasn't positive. I apologize but the memory is not what it once was.
__________________
I want everyone to stop and think about one thing ... Joe Pilchesky is not a lawyer ... he's just a guy playing a lawyer on the internet. Please don't trust your legal needs to this man.
