The LuLac Edition #200, April 18TH, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: WILKES BARRE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE IN DISTRICT B, RAY ARELLANO, THE LATE FRANK McGEE OF NBC NEWS WHO DIED 34 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY IN 1973 ALONG WITH THE LATE BILL RYAN REPORTING ON THE KILLING OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY.

FURY IN DISTRICT B

The City Council race in District B was supposed to be about three nobodys vs. incumbent Tony Thomas. Challengers Ray Arellano, Bruce J. Reilly and Lisa McGlynn Cope were going to run covert campaigns and enable Thomas a cruise to victory. As they say on ESPN Radio though, "not so fast my friend". Turns out challenger Ray Arellano is picking up some grassroots support in the Rolling Mill Hill District (very familiar with the turf, Mrs. LuLac and I had our very first apartment above Leggieri's Market when we first tied the knot) and has been encouraged to make it a race. Here's a note we recieved from the candidate's campaign:

Dear Voters:

I am not a career politician. I do not intend to receive benefits when elected, as I feel that the tax payers compensate the Council members quite adequately for part time work.

I was asked to run by neighbors, and friends, who were fed up with the status quo. Today's letter to the editor by Mr. William Edwards in the Citizens Voice (04/17/07) more of less tells it like it is. I think that considering the past performance of the present incumbents, they have a lot of nerve to try to offer the taxpayers more of the same.

As Willie Nelson so appropriately stated, "Turn out the lights, the party's over" We who are in this race all
have one commonality, we have HAD ENOUGH !!

My base is made up mostly of elders who feel that they have not had a seat at the table, and have been disenfranchised by our City government, because their lifelong neighborhoods are deteriorating, and their taxes keep going up. I also have representation from the younger generation who wonder if there will be jobs for them when they graduate? They can't even count on working at the hamburger joints because our retired senior are taking those jobs to supplement their incomes to pay taxes, and possibly keep their homes!

We have to give our youngsters more of an incentive to stay in school, and get a good education, or learn a trade so that when and if Wilkes-Barre can entice good paying jobs to the area, we can have a ready and skilled workforce.

I will have the pleasure of making your acquaintance on May the 6th at Gennetti's.


Sincerely,
Ray Arellano
Candidate for Wilkes-Barre City Council

AND A GREAT LETTER FROM

A VOTER IN THAT DISTRICT:

Editor: Voters and taxpayers of Wilkes-Barre, election is coming, now you must decide who you want elected. We should put candidates’ parties aside, we have good and poor candidates in either party and you should elect the person who will represent and work for your tax dollars.
1. Do you know that the present council are members of the previous administration except one that blames the past for poor administration.

2. Tax exempt properties is around 54 percent.

3. Only 46 percent of property owners pay taxes.

4. Taxpayers’ money from the county, state and federal government helped finance the theater project (your money).

5. Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce owns the theater and building and they receive all the benefits and profits.

6. We the people (taxpayers and government) do not receive any money from the theater’s revenue. (K0Z Zone.)

7. All KOZ zones are tax exempt and we the taxpayers pick up the tab for services. Example: Humford Equities rents their holdings; receives the rents, but do not pay taxes like many other KOZ owners.

8. The mayor if elected will have 20 years service credit towards his retirement and will receive $42,000 plus benefits for his family. Ex-mayor Namey receives around $30,000 and McGroarty will be eligible for around $42,000 plus benefits for family. (Not bad for 12 years part time and 8 years full time.)

9. City Council for part time receives around $1,200 per month, health insurance or a buyout, car expense, life insurance, which equates to around $22,000 a year.

10. Wilkes-Barre government is giving away properties and streets.

11. Wilkes Barre Chamber of Commerce owns the Innovation Center, Pomeroy’s building, properties on Northampton and South Main Street. Are they in the real estate business as their main concern and not concerned about bringing good-paying jobs to the area?

12. Since the 1972 flood over $6 billion was spent on downtown Wilkes-Barre while the neighborhoods are being neglected.

13. Get a load of this: South Main Street Business Improvement District property owners must pay 2.56 percent more taxes for sidewalk cleanup, police and fire protection and considering hiring a marketing director. Where did the chamber’s marketing director Mr. John Augustine go?

14. You do know city council fought to overturn the voice and will of the people who voted to reduce city council from 7 to 5 in court.

15. Voters and taxpayers, get out and vote for the candidates that will represent and work for you. Voters beware owners of the KOZ zone, chambers of commerce with the help of our elected officials are reaping in the big dollars. Don’t you think enough is enough, you 46 percent taxpayers?

William Edwards

Wilkes-Barre



FRANK McGEE

Frank McGee, a great NBC newscaster who co-anchored coverage of the death of President Kennedy, was a mainstay on NBC news for all of its space coverage including the lunar landing and at the end of his career and life was host of The Today Show died 34 years ago yesterday. He was 51 and died of bone cancer. A great journalist in the NBC mold, McGee was a pillar of broadcasting for NBC in the sixties and early 70s.