It's interesting that you say I'm the best on culture when, in fact, I'm about as much of a materialist (i.e. urban political economist) as you can get.

I'm not the best. I'm just one node in a Network of people who want this city to change in a way progressive (i.e. more equal) and sustainable. I'm in good company-- posters like Deleware, Scotty, Pragmat, Hardcore, (to name only a few) share my sentiment. Hell, even add nemesis Nobody and ol' friend Jimbu on the list.

I'm guilty of demonizing the ICN when, in fact, they're making history under circumstances not of their own choosing. After all, they are attached to Scranton and have a stake in this city as much as we do.

It was grafting Irishmen like Casey and McDade who funneled money to Scranton when people like President Reagean and Sunbelt republicans in congress were cutting funds to dying inner-cities in the Northeast.

Fastforward a decade:

What happened when Scranton lost its life support from the federal government? What happened when the state government (PEL) pressures cities to restructure in order to receive funds (note that Rendell did to Philadelphia EXACTLY what Doherty has done to Scranton)?

Answer: Scranton must generate its own revenue to survive; and the city has deferred DEATH by borrowing. Doherty's 300 or so million dollar debt is to the 2000's what McDades 100 million was to the early 1990s: life support for a dying city. At the advice of PEL, Scranton has sold off assets; privatized assets, public space and municipal services; it cut services and devolved responsibility onto community groups. It is increasinly the case that Scranton is being built not to make a "better Scranton for Scrantonians," which was the modernist project of the post-war to 1960s. Rather, the city is being built to the specifications of tourists, suburbanites and gentrifiers (i.e. creative classs). This is neoliberal urbanism through and through.

Meanwhile, Scranton has strong social capital--it is a tightly integrated city with very cohesive social relationships. This is the result of strong ethnic neighborhoods and an insecure coal minning industry which forced the poor to rely on each other. Everybody knows everybody; and we have a strong sense of community. This is precisely what has kept the city somewhat functional for so long, yet this is what is destroying the city. (And, perhaps, this is precisly what will save this city in the end?)

Unions want part of the network, they don't want to overthrow it, which is why I am distrustful of them; they are a product of graft (in early 1990s, 85 of Scranton's budget went to labor costs, which is unheard of).

P.S. Dear unions: if what happened in Philadelphia and NYC says anything about your fate you might as well sell out right now. oh wait, that's right: you already tried to sell out but Doherty wants to 'stay the course.'

In the wind - Saturday night on N. Irving, Officer Duffy pulled over a car that resulted in the driver getting a DUI, but the passenger in the vehicle decided to prematurely depart from the scene and took off on foot with Officer Duffy in hot pursuit. Officer Duffy won the foot race and collared the runaway, having to then take him to the hospital for a puncture wound on his hand after falling. The runaway was cited for disorderly conduct, underage drinking and resisting arrest. I'm toldthe name of the runaway is Michael Doherty, age 19.