The LuLac Edition #2491, August 10th, 2013

Post No Bills. (Photo: Sodahead.com) 

DEAD BEATS NEED NOT APPLY

The 6th. 
The 9th. 
The 15th.
The 18th. 
The 26th. 
The 28th. 
Feb. 1 and Aug. 1. 
June 27th. 
What you read above represent the dates of bills that I am personally responsible for in our household. Mrs. LuLac has more to deal with but those are the dates embedded in my mind as far as when they are due and what amount is needed from my paycheck.
There is a monthly payment for an insurance policy, annual and bi annual payment for another insurance policy as well as our land line, our American Express bill, Cable and Internet service as well as a payment plan for a co-payment for my hospitalization earlier this year. 
There are 10 large garbage bags as well as three small garbage bags left in the kitchen cupboard. We need to get small bags soon. 
My good friends at the Choice One Credit Union (an entity I would recommend to anyone) know that I hit the margins very closely each month. But I know down to the penny where those margins are. And I bet every working person out there working in Northeastern Pennsylvania who don’t have huge salaries do the same thing every day. People with children must have to be acrobatical and mathematical geniuses to make it work. 
I point this out because I am appalled by the recent interview on WILK with Scranton Mayoral candidate James Mulligan. (Bet Mulligan wishes he had a “mulligan” with his Corbett interview!) Mulligan, who is running because the Scranton GOP can’t field a decent candidate on their own (Jesus himself reportedly turned them down asking instead to re-visit Good Friday) revealed after probing by Steve Corbett that he hasn’t paid his garbage bill in 6 years. He couldn’t even tell Corbett what it was or even how much he made a year. Mulligan said he’d have to ask his accountant. But then he also told Corbett that he didn’t pay his bill because of “lean times’.
An accountant? You either have an accountant if you don’t want the hassle of doing your taxes or you have too much money. And does your accountant issue you an allowance to run down to the Turkey Hill for a hoagie and a Power Ball ticket? You’re a lawyer and you don’t know how much you made? If this guy has any type of law office, I bet you his employees are thrilled to know he has no idea how much he made!!! 
Lean times? Leaner than a single mom working two jobs at $8.50 a piece with rent due and a 1997 Dodge Neon living on a wing and a prayer? Mulligan’s lean times didn’t prohibit him from dishing our five Benjamins for Liz Randol’s failed campaign against Bill Courtright!!! There are some who say that Mulligan shouldn’t be blamed because Scranton is notorious for not sending out bills in a timely manner. But as John Webster pointed out the other day, after two years, wouldn’t an honest person inquire about a bill?
I had dinner with a buddy of mine who rents in Scranton. He is on Social Security and was laid off from a job. He needs to supplement his income and has been looking for work for two years. Like me he knows where every cent goes. (Maybe Mulligan and his accountant should hire him as a consultant!) He is fretting because his landlord might not pay his garbage fee next year. He was figuring a way to put aside some money aside every month. I told him that if he missed a payment, Scranton wouldn’t find out for a few years. He told me that wouldn't be honest. (Maybe the GOP should have found my friend instead of Mulligan??)
He then asked me how much Wilkes Barre’s fee was? And I told him about the bags. How simple and easy it was. The more you use, the more you pay. If you don’t leave a blue bag out, garbage sits there. He then asked why Scranton doesn’t do that? 
My answer was the same one my father gave me in 1973 when we were driving through the city. He said, “They should blow this place up and start all over!” as we passed City Hall. 
Scranton needs basic changes like how to pick up the garbage and how to collect its money. 
And that change will not come from a guy who who would rather have suckers like my friend on Social Security (a hot $812 a month!!) paying for garbage pick up while the good barrister is going through “lean times”. 
And honestly, do you want a guy running a distressed city who has no clue what he makes in a year? I think he didn't reveal his salary because he was embarrassed by it. Time will tell if it was because it was so high or so low. But he proved himself not ready to lead. Something Scranton Republicans seem uniquely good at. 
But Bill Courtright is no day at the beach either! He was the City Tax Collector and was not aware of a tax bill owed for his rental properties. You want this guy saving Scranton from financial ruin too?
Scranton needs to be put on the right track.  It's now or never and I'm afraid with these two choices, it'll be never!