The LuLac Edition #540, August 19th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: PROTESTOR JACK MARCHESE AT SATURDAY'S EVENT HOLDING HIS DAUGHTER (PHOTO CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK THE TIMES LEADER) AND A CITIZEN EXPRESSING HER RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN YESTERDAY.

FOR WHAT’S IT'S WORTH

This past weekend, protestors came out to speak their minds about the way local government is being run. On Saturday, a small rally was held on Public Square to talk about issues from the Luzerne County reassessment to that old stand by immigration. Yesterday on the steps of the Courthouse protestors packed the steps and let the County Commissioners know what they thought of the process for reassessment. Protesting in Luzerne County, at least for this observer is a novel thing. Typical gatherings were the ones like Saturday afternoon where only a handful of people showed up. (And keep in mind Wilkes Barre had its first anti war protest against Vietnam in 1970, a full three years after everyone in the country had theirs). But yesterday was a cacophony of voices that put the political drama of the Skrepenak/Petrilla administration in its rightful place: UPSIDE DOWN. Skrep who delayed reassessment and has been burrowing underground due to the slings and arrows he’s been facing with the debit card mess has re-emerged as once more the champion of delay. He has even gone so far as to say that a criminal investigation should be undertaken because of the way the assessments were conducted. Clearly, Skrepenak has found an opening to resurrect his image among the voters. On the other hand, Petrilla is doing her best to hold things together governmentally but is most likely doing so at a political cost. The county paid big bucks for the reassessment. There were mistakes and the appeals process has been a remedy. But now people who weren’t happy with their new property values are asking that the whole thing be scrapped. Politically that sounds good, from a governing standpoint, to gut the process and start all over or do nothing would put the county in more of a hole than it already finds itself. The protestors point yesterday was that they wanted someone, anyone, either Petrilla or minority commissioner Steve Urban to second Skrepenak’s motion he will introduce to halt reassessment. In a gutsy display that has become the hallmark of Petrilla’s way of doing business, she addressed the crowd and told them meetings were being held every day to settle the issues and that she would push for a delay or even a postponement if the appraisers were found to be off base in their calculations. Petrilla said that there would be more time allowed for appeals. Unfortunately what she said was not heard because of the insults hurled her way as she attempted to speak. In a shameful display, the protestors who trumpeted the right of free speech essentially denied Petrilla her opportunity to say something. In the Times Leader, one of the protestors said, “You’ve got one term, honey, and you’re gone. Don’t get too comfortable in your office. You’re outta here.” The same person also called Petrilla “chicken”.
Obviously passions are running high. But voters elect a government to do what’s right for them. And sometimes the voting public does not like to hear what it hears from an official. This was the case here. Assessment has been a long time coming in Luzerne County. For 40 years, a bi partisan group of administrations did nothing because they lacked political courage. Now things have to even out. Sure there are inequities but there is an appeals process set up to solve that. Maybe the appraiser can pull back on some of its fees when the appeal is heard. Maybe not. But one thing is for sure. The county spent 8 million dollars to fix an imperfect system. To halt it and start all over again would be a detriment to the county’s future finances. Protests are good, it gives officials an insight into what the complaint of the homeowner is. It is refreshing to see so many spirited people take up a cause, especially in this apathetic Democratically controlled county. But mob rule, ignorant taunts at the one public official who had the stones to appear before your angry crowd, and misdirected inflammatory rage will do more harm than good.
In the 1960s as tensions over Vietnam, race relations and poverty escalated, protests made their way into our collective consciousness. It crept in, incrementally. Now it seems that slow progression of unhappiness has escalated into full blown action right here at home. From YOU TUBE: the quintessential protest song of the 60s seems to have just as much meaning today in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.

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TELEGRAPHING

Was Tom Ridge doing a little telegraphing on the Sunday morning talk shows when he said the GOP could handle a Pro Choice Vice President if he deferred to the wishes of the Presidential nominee? Despite John McCain’s great showing on Saturday night with the religious wing of his party, could it be that the “maverick” is setting us up for a pro choice pick? Ridge, as I’ve said here numerous times would be a good pick to stabilize the Northeast, possibly carry Pennsylvania and give wavering independents another reason to come over to McCain’s side.

ANOTHER TWIST

We’ve seen many twists and turns in this campaign for President in 2008. Yesterday was just one more. Carly Fiorina, the former CEO at Hewlett-Packard and a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, was traveling LuLac land yesterday appearing on The Steve Corbett show on WILK, addressing a rally in Clarks Summit, meeting with the print media and finally ending the evening at WYOU TV’s Interactive News at 11PM. She was focused, articulate, and stalwart in her support of Senator McCain. But she also had some good things to say about a Democrat. At virtually every stop, she sung the praises of Senator Clinton at the expense of Barack Obama. If you didn’t know she was in town for McCain, you’d swear she was a surrogate for a Hillary run in 2012.

VEEPSTAKES

Now they are saying Pennsylvania’s third Senator, Scranton born Joe Biden might be on the cusp as Senator Obama’s running mate. His stock rose this week with the news coming out of Georgia and the role of Russia in that dustup. The dynamics of the race seem to be demanding that Obama make a pick that will help him quell the attack dogs of the GOP. In my mind, that leaves only two people, Senator Biden and Senator Clinton. We shall see shortly.