The LuLac Edition #190, April 2nd, 2007
PHOTO INDEX: WILKES BARRE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE AND COUNCIL CANDIDATE IN DISTRICT A, WALTER GRIFFITH, JUNIOR AND LUZERNE COUNTY D.A. DAVID LUPAS.
MERRITT COMES A CALLIN'
Saturday, Mrs. LuLac went to her gym while I pursued diametrical activities by heading down to my favorite bakery, The Sanitary in Nanticoke. When I returned, underneath the doormat was a greetings and salulation from Council Candidate in my district (E) Mike Merritt. Merritt is applying the shoe leather in his effort. It reminded me of the old Tip O'Neill story where an older woman who he knew in his neighborhood for years did not vote for him in a close election. Dumbfounded, O'Neill asked this generational, lifelong friend of the family "why?' The woman answered, "Because you didn't ask". Apparently, Merritt is asking. Here's a copy of his letter left on the doorstep.
Hello:
My name is Mke Merritt and I’ll be seeking election for the newly created W-B City Council position for our district. I’m a life long resident of the Parsons, Miners Mills and North End area. I am the son of Marie and the late Rudy Merritt. I also have two children, Kristen and Michael.
I graduated from Coughlin High School in 1979 and later attended Wilkes College where I received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration upon graduating in 1983. For the last 16 years, I have been employed by InterMetro Industries as Strategic Accounts Support Manager.
With my children being active in sports I’ve been a volunteer coach in our area for over 8 years. Over those years, I have made a lot of good friends, for that I am truly thankful.
For the first timed, we send a representative to city hall to directly represent our neighborhoods, our interests, our concerns, ourselves. This person will need to prove to the rest of the city that our concerns are genuine and need to be addressed. It would be an honor to serve our community and be your voice. Please make me your choice by voting for me in the Democratic primary Election on Tuesday May 15th.
Thanks,
Mike Merritt
AND THIS FROM WALTER
Walter Griffith, Junior penned a letter recently to the newspapers in response to something Charlotte Raup wrote. Here are his thoughts:
Dear Sir/Madam:
The recent letters-to-the-editor from two Wilkes-Barre Council candidates seeking support from citizen-taxpayers have prompted this response:
I have read with interest the letters that have been submitted to you by Charlotte Raup, District “D” Council Candidate, and Rick Cronauer, District “A” Council Candidate. From their comments, it appears that these individuals are sincere and truly want to become members of the City’s elected legislative body.
The Wilkes-Barre City Council is an important decision-making group of individuals. Its actions (and at times lack thereof) affect every citizen-taxpayer within city limits and perhaps beyond. Therefore, I would like to highlight a few points which should be kept in mind when making decisions in regard to choosing Council members in the May 15 election.
In a recent letter-to-the-editor, Charlotte Raup suggested that the City of Wilkes-Barre has a strong mayoral type of government and that its Council is merely a legislative body. In her opinion, the Council cannot have streets paved or clutter cleaned up, because the Mayor “runs” the City. As the basis for these comments, Ms. Raup referred to the City Charter Commission which was organized to revise the City’s Administrative Code, an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the City’s various departments and offices. However, it is important to clarify that the Administrative Code in no way supersedes the Wilkes-Barre City Charter which assigns oversight of the executive branch of City government (the Mayor and his/her administration) to the seven (7) elected members of Wilkes-Barre’s City Council. This authority was included in the City Charter, because it was realized that seven council members would be better able to represent and service the needs of citizen-taxpayers than just a mayor. That’s why the City’s voters decided that Wilkes-Barre would have a Home Rule Charter rather than a strong mayoral type of government.
Wilkes-Barre City Council does have the authority and may I add, the obligation to initiate, modify and/or eliminate any governmental undertakings which it considers to be in or not in the best interests of City residents. In the past, for example, the City Council passed an ordinance which constrained a mayor from sanctioning “overtime”. It also required that a mayor have plans in place for land/site rehabilitation before structures were demolished.
As for District “A” Council Candidate Cronauer’s letter wherein he points to the need for more individuals (such as himself and Ms. Raup) to step forward with a strong voice to represent residents and to further the City’s progress, let me ask the following: Where was this commitment during the decade or more of the deterioration of City finances and commerce?; Where was this commitment over the last four years as the Public Works Department devolved into mismanagement and neighborhood street cleaning became a luxury rather than a necessity and residents found themselves cleaning out catch basins and shoveling snow from streets and alleys? Where was this commitment as firehouses were closed and those which remained open understaffed? And…where was this commitment when our current elected City officials used our tax dollars to try to change the will of the voters and a State Court decision confirming the redistricting of the City?
May I encourage citizen-taxpayers-voters to weigh carefully the difference between words and actions among those seeking election to the Wilkes-Barre City Council. In the past four years I have made many commitments, including those of time and energy, to being a “Voice for the People of Wilkes-Barre”. Attending and speaking at numerous Council meetings; initiating legal actions to try to sustain the will of the voters; and questioning the rationale for and outcomes of City Hall initiatives are major examples of my ongoing commitments made to the benefit, hopefully, of City residents.
Let’s not be opportunists. If we are truly interested in seeking and holding public office, let us have the honesty, integrity and ongoing commitment to be responsible and effective public servants both during and after each four-year election cycle.
Walter L. Griffith, Jr.
The recent letters-to-the-editor from two Wilkes-Barre Council candidates seeking support from citizen-taxpayers have prompted this response:
I have read with interest the letters that have been submitted to you by Charlotte Raup, District “D” Council Candidate, and Rick Cronauer, District “A” Council Candidate. From their comments, it appears that these individuals are sincere and truly want to become members of the City’s elected legislative body.
The Wilkes-Barre City Council is an important decision-making group of individuals. Its actions (and at times lack thereof) affect every citizen-taxpayer within city limits and perhaps beyond. Therefore, I would like to highlight a few points which should be kept in mind when making decisions in regard to choosing Council members in the May 15 election.
In a recent letter-to-the-editor, Charlotte Raup suggested that the City of Wilkes-Barre has a strong mayoral type of government and that its Council is merely a legislative body. In her opinion, the Council cannot have streets paved or clutter cleaned up, because the Mayor “runs” the City. As the basis for these comments, Ms. Raup referred to the City Charter Commission which was organized to revise the City’s Administrative Code, an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the City’s various departments and offices. However, it is important to clarify that the Administrative Code in no way supersedes the Wilkes-Barre City Charter which assigns oversight of the executive branch of City government (the Mayor and his/her administration) to the seven (7) elected members of Wilkes-Barre’s City Council. This authority was included in the City Charter, because it was realized that seven council members would be better able to represent and service the needs of citizen-taxpayers than just a mayor. That’s why the City’s voters decided that Wilkes-Barre would have a Home Rule Charter rather than a strong mayoral type of government.
Wilkes-Barre City Council does have the authority and may I add, the obligation to initiate, modify and/or eliminate any governmental undertakings which it considers to be in or not in the best interests of City residents. In the past, for example, the City Council passed an ordinance which constrained a mayor from sanctioning “overtime”. It also required that a mayor have plans in place for land/site rehabilitation before structures were demolished.
As for District “A” Council Candidate Cronauer’s letter wherein he points to the need for more individuals (such as himself and Ms. Raup) to step forward with a strong voice to represent residents and to further the City’s progress, let me ask the following: Where was this commitment during the decade or more of the deterioration of City finances and commerce?; Where was this commitment over the last four years as the Public Works Department devolved into mismanagement and neighborhood street cleaning became a luxury rather than a necessity and residents found themselves cleaning out catch basins and shoveling snow from streets and alleys? Where was this commitment as firehouses were closed and those which remained open understaffed? And…where was this commitment when our current elected City officials used our tax dollars to try to change the will of the voters and a State Court decision confirming the redistricting of the City?
May I encourage citizen-taxpayers-voters to weigh carefully the difference between words and actions among those seeking election to the Wilkes-Barre City Council. In the past four years I have made many commitments, including those of time and energy, to being a “Voice for the People of Wilkes-Barre”. Attending and speaking at numerous Council meetings; initiating legal actions to try to sustain the will of the voters; and questioning the rationale for and outcomes of City Hall initiatives are major examples of my ongoing commitments made to the benefit, hopefully, of City residents.
Let’s not be opportunists. If we are truly interested in seeking and holding public office, let us have the honesty, integrity and ongoing commitment to be responsible and effective public servants both during and after each four-year election cycle.
Walter L. Griffith, Jr.
COUNCIL ON CABLE
John Maday, Wilkes Barre Council candidate from District A, Shirley Mario Vitanovec from District A, and Kathy Kane from District C.
LUPAS ON KADLUBOSKI
Did you see the TV news conference with D.A. Dave Lupas trying to contain his annoyance with the heroics of city wide tower Bob Kadluboski? The police might have had the younger Solomon in his sights but when he (the fugutive) messed with Mr. Kadluboski's truck, that was all she wrote.
Also on this story, great piece on WBRE TV News by Jill Konopka interviewing the young Mr. Soloman's neighbors. Compassionate but factual and informative.
posted by David Yonki @ 8:19 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
LUPAS ON KADLUBOSKI
Look, folks of the Valley: Bob is Bob. He just keeps forgetting this isn't the Old West where you take care of things yourself until the Sheriff arrives with his posse.
There's the Bobster, superceding the city cops all the time; Alex Partyka lecturing us on morality in the newspaper letters column; Charlie Weiss living life as he sees fit.
They're here and they're not going away. Buy a ringside ticket, get yourself a beer and a couple of dogs with the works and enjoy the passing show.
Tom,
I love Bob. Years ago, he showed me great consideration in a towing situation. He is passionate about his business and his city. And if it were anyone else apprehending this young man, the city hall crowd would be throwing he or she a tickertape parade. But because it's the Bobster..........
Thanks, as always for your comments.
Post a Comment
<< Home