The LuLac Edition #220, May 10th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: WILKES BARRE GOP CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE IN DISTRICT "C", PETER GAGLIARDI (I'M USING A MUCH NORMAL PICTURE OF HIM TAKEN AT THE RECENT FORUM) AND THE RON SILKOSKY LOGO.

SILKOSKY’S DVD

It had to come to this, a candidate utilizing a DVD. After all, we can’t even buy a hot tub anymore without a celebrity endorsed DVD telling us about the hot jets. Silkosky’s DVD is a powerful piece of film that is required viewing for every city resident. To be fair, it is true that the Leighton administration has achieved great strides in re-building the core of the city, and it is true that this regime has had to watch the pennies to provide services after getting the books in order. But this video starkly says, in the words of John F. Kennedy, “we can do better”. Here’s the link to this extraordinary film produced by Mr. Silkosky.

http://silkosky.275mb.com/video.html (copy/paste in address bar)

Building a Better City and a Brighter Future with RON SILKOSKY

CHARACTER and CREDITABILITY

Accountability, that’s something I just don’t see in our public officials. Their concerns don’t mirror those of the public. There have been too many blunders. Responsibility is what you get with an election by district. We need someone who is held answerable for his actions and accountable for the job he is doing. I plan to make representing you a full time job.

PEOPLE FIRST

Citizens are last. I want to put them first. THIS IS OUR CHANCE to tell the unreliable mayor and members of council to stop telling us how to live! Wilkes Barre has the highest taxes on wages, permit fees, recycling fees, sewer taxes and permits, you name it and city government has figured out a way to intrude into your life and make money on the way you live. If you can install an appliance or fix your porch steps, why do you have to pay the city a permit fee for the privilege of doing it yourself?

WHAT WE CAN DO TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE

I know all the aspects of conducting surveys and writing questionnaires. I can present the facts to you. You can decide what you want me to do and we can get it done. I KNOW HOW TO INFORM YOU OF THE ISSUES, HOW TO COLLECT YOUR RESPONSES AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND YOUR VOTE COUNT. The first issue I plan to address in this manner is CLUTTER CLEANUP.

Where I Stand

We need a council less interested in real estate development and more focused on improving the quality of the lives of the people who live here.

Paving the streets that need it would be a good start.
We also need to lower taxes and make this city more attractive to working families, the future lifeblood of our city.

A proactive visible police force would be another strong step. There are very few officers out on the streets on any shift. If we can afford to put a cop in each high school we can put more on the streets and in our neighborhoods. We need a real plan to reduce crime, not watch it increase.

Let’s make absentee landlords more accountable for their actions. If they rent to criminals there should be a price to pay. Nuisance property owners need stronger penalties for continued neglect.

The return of services like Clutter Cleanup and free metal, tire and white appliance pick up would also be another step in the right direction to the return of the quality of life we deserve. With these services restored there would be less illegal dumping.

There are beautification grants available of up to ten thousand dollars to plant trees in front of houses, with few takers by the way. How about a grant to clean up all the illegal dumping around the city? And while we’re at it, why not plant some of the unused trees sitting around to beautify the area after we clean it up?

There is no reason why all this can’t be done except for the power of the few who do nothing at the expense of the quality of life of the many who keep them in office. This election we have the chance to change this city for the better and build a brighter future for us all.

I want to get the right things done, the things you want done. If you have something you want done, contact me. Please help elect me as a Member of City Council in District E. My name will be the last one on the list of candidates.



SAM!!!!!!!!

Sam Troy recently penned a letter to the Times Leader regarding his thoughts on the City, the Council and why he should be elected. I met Sam Troy, thought he was an interesting fellow but I wish he’d really try to express his honest opinions more and “not hold back” so much. (To those of you from Arch-A-Bald, that was satire!)

Editor:
The comments of certain anonymous city officials and council memberKathy Kane in a recent article noting Wilkes-Barre city's dubious distinction as having the highest property taxes in the county are ludicrous and pathetic. I am incredulous that these people are throwing up their hands andrefusing to take the blame for the city's spiraling tax rates, which have been accompanied by a drastic cut in services such as snow removal, street cleaning, recycling, sewer maintenance, etc. All of us who have concern for Wilkes-Barre's welfare have a right as well as a responsibility to confront our council members and mayor and ask the simple question, what is going on? Are these not the same peoplewho have established a fiscal policy - reckless though it may be -- with each budget, having examined it, pondered it to the best of their limited abilities, and passed it once the mayor has submitted it forapproval? Mrs. Kane further notes that trying to contain the increases is a"constant struggle."Perhaps Mrs. Kane's "struggle" would be alleviated if she took the trouble to see how much of our precious taxpayer dollars are being wasted and why. She isn't struggling to meet the needs and concerns of our city's average citizens. She blatantly ignores them. Is it just possible that the current crisis facing our city, no matter how the mayor disavows that such a crisis exists, is caused by the samepeople who have repudiated their commitment to accountability as electedcity officials? The tragic upshot of all this is our city is no longer a desirable place to live as witnessed by declining population and property values and thefact that many people struggling to make ends meet. Retirees on fixedincomes must pick up the financial slack to compensate for the loss of tax base and increase in corporate welfare. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to council, I will see to it that this body renews its commitment to the general populace -- not tospecial interests -- so that these unhealthy trends can be reversed.

Samuel Troy

Democratic District C city

council candidate Wilkes-Barre

COUNCIL PROFILE

BRUCE SZCZECINSKI

Bruce Szczecinski, 37, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Wilkes-Barre City Council, District "D."
Bruce is a graduate of GAR Memorial High School and College Misericordia. He holds a BS in Business Administration
with a Specialization in Management as well as a BS in Management Information Systems.
His previous work history includes a Computer Print Operator with Nabisco Brands
and a Business Analyst with Kraft Foods. He is currently employed by the Pepsi Bottling
Group in Wilkes-Barre, where he is a member of the Local 401 Teamsters Union.
Bruce is a life-long resident of Wilkes-Barre, born and raised in the Height’s section.
He and his wife currently reside is the East End Section of Wilkes-Barre.
This is Bruce's first venture in to public office and he will be conducting a vigorous "door to door"
campaign over the next several months to discuss the needs of the District with the voters of the
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th Wards which comprise Wilkes-Barre City, District "D."