The LuLac Edition #363, Dec. 6th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: TIM GRIER DURING THE LULAC CITY COUNCIL FORUM MEETING IN THE SPRING AND OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DISCUSSING THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.



ONE MAN



The beauty of our American form of government is that those who are in power can be challenged. Now those in power don't like to be challenged but it is a right as a free person in this country. Most of us in this nation have no clue what a democracy means. And in this area, we are sheep to the political machinations of whatever party is in power. We celebrate America by going to Kirby Park and watching the Fireworks and we say we'd do what it takes to defend our freedoms and make life better. But when all is said and done, we go home, watch our big screen TVs, sit on our asses, eat some chips and drink some beer and hope against hope that the elected officials we voted for (because Uncle Teddy was a Dem or Auntie Bernadine was a Republican) don't screw us. And things run pretty well. But once in a while, something happens to stir us up into indignation. Like that debit card mess. The talk show lines are full of bloviating outraged citizens who are going to take to the streets and storm the Courthouse. They're gonna make the long overdue changes that'll teach those bums. Fired up, they are poised to attack until they are distracted. It takes very little to distract and calm us down, for some it's the Holidays, for others the Victoria's Secret annual TV special. But after the outrage and venting to Kev, Nancy, Sue and Steve, most calm down and say "what's the use". But then there's a guy like Tim Grier. There are two Tim Grier's, the one the powers that be want you to know about. Multi tattoos all over his body, a rabble rouser, a trouble maker, a guy who wants to be heard just for the sake of being heard. That's what they want you to think about Tim Grier. Then there's the Tim Grier that's a student, a veteran and a pretty smart guy who believes in the principles set forth by the founding fathers. He believes in transparency in government, and the right of the people, even if it's one person to be heard. Tim has tried to be heard, at Wilkes Barre City Council meetings where he is regularly ridiculed, and at County meetings where he is merely tolerated. But he keeps on coming back. No one's ego is that big and starved for attention. He believes and he fights. Tim recently took a trip to Harrisburg and here's what he did: Grier filed a complaint. Got in his own car, used his own gas, maybe his own debit card and took the trip down Rt. 81. Grier’s five-count complaint accuses county officials of trying to circumvent the state’s local government debt act with the borrowing plan. Grier believes the county has failed to show the loans have any public benefit and the public is not being provided details about the projects that would be financed by the proposed loans. A component of the borrowing plan’s only purpose is to pay off a $14 million deficit in this year’s budget, which is not allowed under the act, Grier argues.

When the County officials found out, they were upset because someone was upsetting the applecart. Challenging them. County Chief of Budget and Finance Sam Diaz labeled the complaint’s effect as “crippling.” I like Sam Diaz a lot, played ball with him in softball leagues in the early 80s. He's a stand up guy and the county should be glad to have him. But if this budget was revealed before the election, maybe, just maybe we wouldn't be at this crossroads. The only thing that would've happened is that Greg Skepenak might have finished third in the balloting for Commissioner and given the ineptitude of the Republican party, we'd still have a Democratic majority. Grier was summoned by Diaz and Atty. Peter Moses this afternoon and was asked to drop the complaint. (Tim invited me but I was working and truth be told, even if I was free, I wouldn't go because I don't have Tim Grier's guts. ). Diaz says that the lawsuit will result in hardship. Diaz is convinced the complaint could force layoffs and shut down some county services if it is not resolved and the county can’t borrow the money by Dec. 18. Layoffs would be needed at vital departments like Luzerne County 911, emergency management and the county’s criminal justice system, officials claim. In addition, future borrowing could be impacted by more than $36 million, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the county commissioners’ office. Most of the added costs are linked to higher interest payments stemming from a predicted default on the 2007 tax anticipation note. The tax anticipation note is supposed to be paid back with tax revenue received throughout the year, but that revenue was used to pay for county operational and maintenance expenses in anticipation of the three loans totaling $93.5 million, Diaz said Wednesday. The county also has revenue shortfalls that resulted in the money not being available to pay off the tax anticipation note to be paid back in full, plus $372,000 in interest, by Dec. 31. That's a big nut and truth be told, a little daunting. The implication I am getting is that if Grier's complaint succeeds, the county government will come crashing down and it will be no one's fault except Tim Grier. Grier did his best Tom Petty imitiation and told them "he won't back down". Luzerne County officials could not convince Wilkes-Barre political activist Tim Grier to withdraw a legal challenge to the county's plan to borrow up to $93.5 million. According to county officials, the complaint will prevent the county from borrowing roughly $15 million to pay this year's bills, including a $10 million tax anticipation note. And that means the county will start planning to shut down non-essential services later this month, Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said. Officials have to determine what essential county services are. Huh, they don't know? The prison and the 911 dispatch center are examples of essential services, according to Skrepenak. Good, despite this mess, I always said Skrep had a handle on the government mechanisms that are important.

But Tim Grier won't give up and now the boys at the county are no longer talking about the debit cards and the expenses incurred by the gang but about how the sky will fall. Not because of delayed presentation of the budget, not because of questionable practices but because of one man, one person, Tim Grier standing up and saying "he just won't take it anymore". It will be interesting to see what is said about Tim Grier in the next few weeks, "government activist" (the Citizen's Voice referred to him as a gadly, semi cheap shot I thought) or "obstructionist". I'd call him a PATRIOT.

TOOLE?

Wil Toole wrote a letter to Governor Ed asking the Guv to name him County Controller so he can clean things up. (I wrote a letter to Bud Selig in the early 1990s after the baseball owners fired Fay Vincent and applied for the job of Baseball Commissioner, I still have his response on Milwaukee Brewers letterhead saying I'd be under consideration). Well, needless to say Bud took my job. I don't know how well Wil Toole will fare but he will be one of many interested applicants. I for one thank Mr. Toole for putting his name out there, he will be as tenacious as Steve Flood and Carolee Medico combined!

HIL'S ANSWER

Hillary Clinton has said that Senator Barack Obama lacks the experience to be President and would not be able to hit the ground running on day one as she would. True. But she she add one more thing to her attack. Look at the last time we elected a government official with 6 years governmental experience and just seeming to have an interest in "being" President rather than governing as one. Can anyone say BUSH? George W?