The LuLac Edition #2430, May 25th, 2013
Join
us for the Second Annual
Susquehanna
Stride
Half
Marathon and 5K Race
The
only City of Pittston Half Marathon and 5K!
Sunday,
May 26th
Greater
Pittston YMCA
Start
Time: 8:00 am
Start/Finish
at Greater Pittston YMCA
Half
Marathon runs through Pittston and surrounding communities
5K
runs through Pittston
ANOTHER LAWTON LOSER
The late George Gilbert of WARM Radio was fond of saying that when you hired someone, you not only tried to gauge how good they’ll be at the job but how good they will be to the people who gave them that job. That’s why in the height of WARM’s dominant ratings in the 60s, turnover was pretty minimal for a radio station. I thought of that last night when I heard that the latest County Budget Director, Richard Cardamone said he was resigning to take a better job. Well good for him. But bad for the taxpayers of Luzerne County who want their budget on track. I know this is going to sound naïve in this day and age, but when you a apply for a position, especially one involving the public, you owe it to the entity that hired you to stay. In the application process it had to be clear that this was a situation where not only expertise was needed but commitment. With the recent debacle involving the appointment of the judicial services and records division, this is a setback that in my mind at least questions the judgment of the hiring process. Council Chair Tim McGinley admitted to the Times Leader this would put the Council in a difficult position since by law they are facing a deadline at the end of next month. Maybe the next time this job, or any job comes open, maybe one basic character trait should be examined: loyalty.
FORMER COUNCILMAN DIES
A former Kingston Council member, Marvin B. Rappaport died Thursday evening. Rappaport operated a pharmacy (Jacobson’s) across from the Goldstein Deli right there on the corner. Whenever I’d stop by to pay a phone bill or grab a magazine, the subject lines would be politics and the Cleveland Indians. Rappaport served on Kingston Council for over two decades (6 terms) and always had a friendly word for everyone.
According to his obituary, he was also a member of Ahavas Achim Synagogue, Temple Israel Synagogue, Wilkes-Barre, and the Jewish Community Center, where he was an avid bowler for many years. (Oh, if I had only known that tidbit of information!!!) He was past president of Temple Israel School Board. He was a great guy who will be missed. .
posted by David Yonki @ 3:04 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
AS IT IS GRADUATION TIME, I FEEL IT NECESSARY TO DELIVER THIS IMPORTANT ADDRESS OF COMMENCEMENT.
Good afternoon students,
Judging from the caps on gowns on your heads all I can assume is that you have now reached the end of your college days. Looking out on this vast audience, I see some recognizable faces, and I must admit that it shocks me that so many of you made it to this very stellar day. All your hard work (?) or cheating has paid off as you will leave this stadium today with a diploma. Now comes the challenge. As I have warned you ingrates time and time again over the years, “welcome to the real world”.
To you parents here present, I am so, so sorry. Sorry that the privacy you have enjoyed these past four years will now be broken by little Jimmy’s return to his bedroom. Sorry that your grocery bills will increase what with the added amounts of red meat, potato chips, colas, tacos and on and on and on will be added to your shopping carts. Sorry for the loud rock music that shall be blasting from his bedroom as you are trying to get some sleep for the next day’s toil of the workaday world. If you are reconsidering the thousands upon thousands of dollars you spent these past four years on your little genius I will remind you that the college business office does not offer refunds (though I feel you are highly deserving of one, judging by his performance level-----you may laugh).
Seriously, a college education is a sacred gift. One that for those who pursue it with drive and devotion, cannot be taken away. The question is, what will they do with it now????? Many times a graduate will find a completely different profession than the one he/she majored in when they get out in the real world. Unfortunately, for your little geniuses, Burger King, McDonalds, and Popeye’s are all filled up as far as employment opportunities (you may laugh).
As little Jimmy and Susie sit here all spiffed up in their Graduation Day best, you can almost believe they have a chance. And some, mind you, some here do. Those who spent their weekends hitting the books, instead of the booze; keeping late nights in the library, instead of the local opium den; showing up on time for my 7 a.m. lecture, instead of rolling over and sleeping off last night’s debauchery. Unfortunately, the description I give does not apply to most of the ingrates in this audience.
SO, in closing, perhaps a lesson will be learned someday. Perhaps, when little Jimmy and Susie are in their 30’s, their good looks fading, weight added on and welfare checks rolling in, they will see the error of their ways. And on a more optimistic note, perhaps they will head on down to the local shoe stores on Tuesday morning and “GET” that job!!! For that is all we can hope for them. Again parents, I am sorry, I am so, so very sorry.
Congratulations, Class of 2013
And remember, you Undergraduates, summer classes begin Tuesday.
These proceedings are CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!
The budget director speaks clearly what it must be like to work in the county atmosphere. From things I've been told about Lawton's review of his work would indicate to me that he doesn't have a chance with Lawton. Regardless of the explanation given,among Lawton's problems is the leaving out of manager's salaries from the 2012 budget. I'm not thrilled with Lawton at this point, and in fact, if I were there I would be giving super serious thought to letting him go. This last deal of offering the girl from Colo $67,500, overlooking the woman doing the job and then as a second choice he wanted to give her the job at $75000 with Council lowering it to $70,000. Why an increase for the second choice that should have been first choice other that to stick his finger in Council's collective eye?
Loyalty and commitment go both ways.
Once the "honeymoon" phase is over BOTH must be in place among all involved.
I suspect once the "smoke" cleared and "mirrors" revealed it didn't take long to realize things were NOT what they seemed.
George Gilbert was right - for GGs time. It was how he lived and worked.
I'm sure you accepted positions with companies that later turned out to be toxic and you bailed. Hell, we all have.
Hey Professor
You called this one and got called names for it.
If this doesn't make some of you think about "The Affordable Health Care Act" and why you need to pay closer attention then maybe you are damned by your ignorance or laziness.
Unions were among the strongest supporters of ObamaCare, but it looks like buyer’s regret is setting in.
When President Barack Obama pushed his health care overhaul plan through Congress, he counted labor unions among his strongest supporters.
Sounds like some union leaders have grown frustrated and angry about what they say are unexpected consequences of the new law — problems that they say could jeopardize the health benefits offered to millions of their members.
The issue could create a political headache next year for Democrats facing re-election if disgruntled union members believe the Obama administration and Congress aren’t working to fix the problem.
Of course they’re not working to fix the problem. They got the bill they wanted, and that they suckered you into supporting, sight unseen. Who could forget what then-Speaker Pelosi said when asked questions about the content of the bill?
Looks like their most staunch supporters don’t like what they’re finding out about the bill.
“It makes an untruth out of what the president said, that if you like your insurance, you could keep it,” said Joe Hansen, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. “That is not going to be true for millions of workers now.”
The problem lies in the unique multiemployer health plans that cover unionized workers in retail, construction, transportation and other industries with seasonal or temporary employment. Known as Taft-Hartley plans, they are jointly administered by unions and smaller employers that pool resources to offer more than 20 million workers and family members continuous coverage, even during times of unemployment.
The union plans were already more costly to run than traditional single-employer health plans. The Affordable Care Act has added to that cost — for the unions’ and other plans — by requiring health plans to cover dependents up to age 26, eliminate annual or lifetime coverage limits and extend coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
“We’re concerned that employers will be increasingly tempted to drop coverage through our plans and let our members fend for themselves on the health exchanges,” said David Treanor, director of health care initiatives at the Operating Engineers union.
Workers seeking coverage in the state-based marketplaces, known as exchanges, can qualify for subsidies, determined by a sliding scale based on income. By contrast, the new law does not allow workers in the union plans to receive similar subsidies.
There are stories in archives and blog postings (yes, here) showing you/we were warned about the increased costs even before it was passed.
Too bad the unions and public didn’t listen.
I'm having a hard time working up any empathy. You can't fix stoopid.
IN RESPONSE
I'm sure you accepted positions with companies that later turned out to be toxic and you bailed. Hell, we all have.
I HAVEN'T. NO MATTER HOW AWFUL IT GOT, I STAYED. EVEN WITH SOME OF THE PART TIME THINGS I DID LIKE DRIVING A CAB. I STAYED AT LEAST TWO TO THREE YEARS BECAUSE A COMMITMENT WAS MADE TO ME. AND I THINK IF YOU ACCEPT A PUBLIC SERVICE POSITION (A AT DECENT LIVING WAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE UNDER THE DOME MAKING CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN YOU, IT IS JUST PLAIN COWARDLY AND SELFISH TO LEAVE AFTER A FEW MONTHS, OR EVEN IN THIS CASE WEEKS. HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM WITHIN OR WHO MIGHT HAVE DONE THE JOB BEFORE WOULD HANG IN THERE AND RECOGNIZE WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS....NOT A QUICK PAY DAY OR RESUME BUILDER BUT SERVING THE PUBLIC.
If anyone (Lawton and Council) running Luzerne County had half a brain they would be begging Tom Pribula to ride in and save the day again. He expedited 2 annual audits in the time it takes to do 1 and literally saved Luzerne County from going bankrupt. I guess I answered my own question . . does anyone there have half a brain?
Anon: 1:04 a.m.
Young man,
a fine, a very fine paper by you!! You have been granted the grade of A!!
I would grant you an A+ but, however, you were a bit unfair in some respects to the President.
In all reality, I doubt he has even "read" the Affordable Care Act (You may laugh)....
You are dismissed.
Have a nice day.
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