The LuLac Edition #2565, December 1st, 2013

GENEROSITY DENIED!!!

This is not usually my beat but at LuLac we do write things regarding issues of local political infighting as well as covering pop culture. It appears that this story has had those two aspects converging on each other. File this one under the dualities’ of “no good deed goes unpunished” and “it’s our party so leave us alone”.
Reports I’m getting from a beautifully revitalized city are that its manager and the Downtown Business chairwoman are seen to be playing scrooge. The city is having a nice event with Santa on December 7th. A local businessman who owns a small restaurant is offering hot coffee and hot chocolate to everyone. Pretty good right? So far so good.
However it turns out a another local businessman who had come up the hard way and has been a presence in the community and now has a fine eatery on the outskirts of town (Mrs. LuLac tells me that the Paella is to die for) wants to give free hot dogs and a stocking to all the kids for free and without his name being used. I’m thinking the more the merrier, right?
It seems that even though Council members of the city told the gentleman it was all right with them for him to hand out the stockings and the hot dogs there are some in City Hall that don’t think it fits in with the program. A Christmas stocking and an All American Dog? That doesn’t fit with the program? The guy wasn’t offering green bagels or last year’s Walmart Easter eggs!!!! And if the concern was that the free hot dogs might clash with what anything  vendors wanted to sell, then knock off the free hot chocolate and the hot dogs and let the guy give out his Santa stockings.
When pressed by some, the city Manager said that he would have the gentleman wanting to hand out the stockings and dogs sited. How do you site someone for participating in a community program with gifts for children paid out of their own pocket? Is there a statute on the books that perhaps Kokura and Mecadon or the Luzerne County Council missed this past election? Do we need to call Kathleen Kane for a Commonwealth Constitutional clarification? Is there a selected section for who can or cannot participate in the spirit of Christmas anymore?? I sure don't remember that when I was growing up in Pittston. As a kid, I remember the late Freddie Demech coming to my house dressed as Santa. It wasn't until years later that as an adult I appreciated his volunteerism. But as a kid, I didn't care where the generosity came from and I dare say neither did my parents.
Confusion seems to be reigning because it has been said the City Council really has nothing to do with said event. But Council members told the anonymous donor to go ahead and hand the stockings and the dogs out at the Fire House.So how can they not have anything to do with it?
So what is a Christmas event now is turning into a political football in a local community because someone doesn’t like the donor. Or because the Manager is failing to communicate with the Council. Okay, I can buy that. Charity and donations don’t have to be accepted. And sometimes communications break down but from what I'm hearing, there was a lot of screaming going on at City Hall regarding this thing. People in the area of that office got communicated to whether they liked it or not! The bigger issue here is the there seems to be a schism between the administrators and the elected officials over this.
You’d think a huge division of passionate opinion might come from an issue facing the town like loans or a budget but not over Santa stockings and hot dogs. Anyway, it seems that there are two sets of good people who want to do a good thing for the kids of this town. Let’s hope they can put aside any personal differences aside and get this thing nailed down before Santa makes the scene this Saturday. Good luck to all parties involved.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I did make an attempt to contact the City Administrator via the town’s website. This is the message I sent him:
I'd like to talk to you about the upcoming Santa event on 12/7/13 . I understand there has been a small controversy regarding a local business owner that wants to donate stockings to the event. I'd like to get your side. After 7pm ., can u call me at 570 +++-++++ or 570 +++-++++. TY
When I tried to submit my message, I was told to click on the photo of a Lion, Balloon, Light Bulb, Suitcase, Tiger, Lion and Bike. I tried them all and kept on getting this message saying my message wasn’t sent.
Perhaps these officials in this town know the secret picture code in communicating with their  town. Let’s hope Santa is using NORAD and not the town website to get directions to the event this Saturday!