The LuLac Edition #4,459, December 17th, 2020
MAYOR BROWN AND HIS BUDGET
Recently Mayor George Brown wrote to the citizens of Wilkes-Barre about the budget impasse happening in the midst of a pandemic, a relapse in the economy due to CoVid and a trio of obstinate Council people. The three people holding up this budget were huge supporters of Mr. Brown just 11 months ago. They came to his rallies, supported his candidacy and pledged to work with his mandate to make Wilkes Barre better. Keep in mind that 75% of the people supported Brown in his run for the top office. One wonders the motivation for the change in attitude. Here’s what the Mayor had to say.
Wilkes-Barre faces it's share of challenges. We are combating a sputtering economy impaled by a pandemic that continues to rage. The loss of over 4 million dollars in revenue is not the fault of the citizens of Wilkes-Barre, the Administration, the Police Officer patrolling the Heights, the Paramedic transporting a COVID patient to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, the DPW worker collecting garbage and plowing the streets in the historic residential district, the Health Department worker inspecting and maintaining proper housing or the Fire Fighter extinguishing a structure fire in the North End. The unions representing these City employees have all given back Wage Freezes over the last two or three years. We are here today, not because of their GREED, but because of their sacrifice and service.
I am not going to shirk my responsibility to uphold the law and make fiscally prudent decisions to keep Wilkes-Barre on the right path. It is imprudent to carry a $2 million deficit plus interest in the hope that Washington wizens up and bails us out with relief money. It already appears the bipartisan talks for more stimulus funds have stalled. I am not going to wait, hope, and trust politicians in Washington do the right thing in the end.
I do not doubt the motives of the City Council members, but I do doubt their sincerity as they tell the public that they do not want layoffs and that I -the Mayor-lays people off not City Council. The City Council members opposed a balanced budget. I offered a compromise, a lower adjustment to the proposed fee increases of $50 per year for recycling and sewer fees. I offered to reduce the proposed $50 per year increases to $35 per year for recycling and sewer fees. This increase was also rejected.
Furthermore, the public needs to know that arbitrary cuts to the overtime budget will not fill a deficit in the budget. Overtime covers all departments, not just DPW. The vagaries of weather, the pandemic, and understaffing all affect the overtime amounts across all departments. Arbitrary cuts in overtime may mean a fire station is not fully staffed, an ambulance is taken out of service, less police officers on patrol, health department staff unavailable for COVID response, and delays in curbside services that have long been provided in the city.
I have always pushed for increased PILOT payments from city non-profits, but again, the city has no leverage to impose them. These are voluntary payments. We will not close a $2 million deficit by negotiating higher PILOT payments. this is not a serious plan.
As Mayor, I don't have the luxury of merely criticizing Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. for tying our hands. I can't ignore lawful mandates and inherited contractual obligations. I don't have the luxury of trusting that stimulus aid will arrive in time. I have to play the hand that I am dealt. I will not carry a $2 million deficit into the new year. City Council is free to oppose any compromise measures to balance the budget, however, they are not free to wash their hands of the consequences. If they do not afford me sufficient funds, I must act to balance the budget.
UPDATE: COUNCIL PASSES AMENDED BUDGET
Check out the ink from Steve Mocarsky in the Citizens' Voice.
Wilkes-Barre council passes amended budget, disappointing mayor | News | citizensvoice.com
CARTWRIGHT URGES HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS TO FORGE COVID-19 RELIEF COMPROMISE
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright sent a letter to Democratic and Republican leaders in both parties urging them to reach a bipartisan deal that provides urgently needed economic relief for Northeastern Pennsylvanians, as the Pennsylvania state government issued new restrictions intended to mitigate the latest surge of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.
“As time runs short for a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal to come together before the remaining CARES Act programs expire, I wish to express the urgency of putting aside our differences and coming together to provide relief for all Americans who desperately need us to act. We need to find common ground and pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill immediately,” Cartwright writes in the letter.
Cartwright outlined the concerns of some of the constituents have raised with him since many of the CARES Act relief programs expired. While the vaccine offers hope, he pointed out that the latest coronavirus surge still threatens lives and livelihoods.
“The emergency authorization and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine is reason for hope that this public health and economic crisis will soon be behind us. However, we are experiencing by far the worst COVID-19 surge our nation has endured since the outbreak began, and the trendlines are looking worse,” He wrote.
He added that economic support is critical in light of the new business and travel restrictions implemented by the state government over the weekend.
“In my home state of Pennsylvania, new lockdowns have been imposed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and to ensure those who contract the disease can be treated in a hospital if necessary. While these painful measures are needed, they are untenable without robust economic support to protect families, jobs and businesses,” Cartwright wrote.
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer:
As time runs short for a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal to come together before the remaining CARES Act programs expire, I wish to express the urgency of putting aside our differences and coming together to provide relief for all Americans who desperately need us to act. We need to find common ground and pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill immediately.
I hear daily from many of my constituents whose hearts are breaking with worry.
A mother near Matamoras called to ask when her pandemic SNAP benefits would return to help her feed her two school-age children. She does not have the means to pick up meals from the school and monitor her children who are learning remotely.
Almost every week, I get another e-mail from a man who lives near East Stroudsburg and has been waiting for months for his Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). It took quite some time before Pennsylvania’s system was operational, and people really could not wait — yet so many still are waiting. Many more have told me how the credit cards, the banks, the car dealerships and others are not willing to wait for their money.
One woman called because her extra $300 in federal funds added to her unemployment benefits ended. Those dollars moved over from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief expired in September.
A man in Wilkes-Barre called because he was still waiting for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan when the funding ran out in July. His voice cracked as he told me how his employees and his family are looking to him for support. For 20 years, he and his partner ran their business without needing a loan or help from anyone.
Large event centers and resorts are some of our biggest employers in the Eighth Congressional District. They have the same fears as small business owners. They call me worried about staying in business and keeping their employees safe — and on payroll. The PPP loan funds covered payroll and some other expenses earlier this year. That money is long gone.
One single mother runs several small businesses and opened a new one despite challenges from COVID-19. She received one SBA loan, which did not go far. She had worried how she was going to keep her businesses afloat until she got a grant through her county’s relief funding made possible through the CARES Act. I think about her and how persistence is power. She kept trying, and she made it. But I know that aid will not last long, either.
Local government officials call to ask about the limits of what they can do with their remaining CARES Act funds. They have so much to do. The funds helped, but it fell short of their needs. Our municipal governments are in jeopardy as sales tax and income tax revenues fall, and I hear their worries about keeping staff in place to maintain operations as well as respond to the pandemic.
The emergency authorization and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine is reason for hope that this public health and economic crisis will soon be behind us. However, we are experiencing by far the worst COVID-19 surge our nation has endured since the outbreak began, and the trendlines are looking worse.
In my home state of Pennsylvania, new lockdowns have been imposed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and to ensure those who contract the disease can be treated in a hospital if necessary. While these painful measures are needed, they are untenable without robust economic support to protect families, jobs and businesses.
We should come together and pass a bill that provides relief for people in an efficient manner, including:
- A renewal and strengthening of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support our struggling business community, along with targeted relief for the hard-hit hospitality and entertainment businesses. The winter will only make things tougher for them, and we need to give them a lifeline to make it to the summer when we hope the vaccine will help us get back to normal.
- Stimulus checks to get money into people’s hands, to help them pay their bills and to get money flowing through our economy.
- State and local aid to help our governments provide basic services and pay their employees, from our police to our teachers.
- An extension of enhanced unemployment benefits to get aid to those that need it most. So many people desperately want to work, but are in an industry that is shut down or struggling. We need to support these families.
- Food assistance to help those in need as we see the lines at our food pantries grow amid the holiday season.
- Funding for our public health infrastructure and vaccine distribution to keep people healthy and administer the vaccine as efficiently and safely as possible.
Thank you for your consideration and I hope and pray we can find common ground for the good of all Americans in the coming week.
TOOMEY AND STABENOW TO LEAD SENATE HEARING EXAMINING THE ALZHEIMER’S CRISIS
Senator Pa Toomey (Photo: AP)
U.S. Senators Pat Toomey and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, are continuing their bipartisan work to improve care for Alzheimer's patients.
Following their subcommittee hearing titled "Alzheimer's Awareness: Barriers to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care Coordination," Chairman Toomey and Ranking Member Stabenow are seeking input from stakeholders - providers, researchers, patients, patient advocacy groups, states, and others - to inform the development of future legislation.
In a notice to stakeholders, Senators Toomey and Stabenow stated:
"In 2019, Alzheimer's disease a related memory disorders cost an estimated $290 billion in health care, long-term care, and hospice expenses, two-thirds of which will be borne by Medicare and Medicaid. As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease grows to nearly 14 million by 2050, annual health care expenditures attributable to the disease will balloon to $1.1 trillion."
"We look forward to reviewing stakeholder feedback and working on bipartisan solutions that make meaningful improvements to the detection, education, treatment, and support for patients and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias."
U.S. Senator Bob Casey is releasing a statement following his meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen:
“On Friday, I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet virtually with the Treasury Secretary nominee, Janet Yellen. I thanked Chair Yellen for her lifetime of public service and her willingness to once again work on behalf of our Nation and its families during this difficult time. We discussed Chair Yellen’s vision for the Treasury Department in President-elect Biden’s Administration and how she will work to ensure our Nation builds back better. Janet Yellen has the experience and vision to ensure the Treasury Department is at the forefront of the fight for working families. If confirmed, I am confident she will once again serve the Nation with distinction.”
MEUSER STATEMENT ON AMICUS BRIEF URGING A SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF ELECTION PROCESSES
Congressman Dan Meuser released the following statement after signing on to an amicus brief seeking further review of the constitutionality of various processes which occurred during the last election:
"There continue to be many unanswered questions related to the irregular actions taken in the past election across the Commonwealth. Why did Pennsylvania break statute and allow three-day late mail-in ballots to be counted? Why did the Pennsylvania Secretary of State order the curing of ballots 24 hours prior to election day, leading to inconsistent preparedness and effectiveness between counties? Why were verified signature requirements applied differently for in-person ballots versus mail-in ballots?
"Millions in Pennsylvania want to know why these actions were taken, were they legal, and will they occur in the next election? It is not arguable that there were inconsistencies in the last election. We can’t have arbitrary and irregular actions taken and then think we have integrity in our election process – they don’t mix. We must have consistent rules, laws and requirements for what constitutes a legal vote. Free and fair elections are not a partisan or political issue. They are important for Republicans, Democrats and for all. The legitimacy of our institutions of government depends upon the trust our people have in our election system.
"The amicus brief merely states our belief that the broad scope of the various allegations and irregularities in the subject states merits careful, timely review by the Supreme Court. There will be a smooth transition of power to the next administration, whatever the outcome of the court's decision. The people need to believe in the integrity of the election and there won’t be full confidence in our system until these questions are answered. It’s as important for the people to believe in democracy as it is for democracy itself. I will continue to work to assure we have an honest, lawful and fair vote count, now, and in the future."
MEDIA MATTERS
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BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
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This week's guest is Nicole Shapiro, Director of the Lackawanna County Environmental Office.
Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Mothership 1340/1400 am, 100.7 and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on The River 105 and 103.5.
BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP
SUNDAY NIGHTS!
1980
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Shareholders of the fourth-largest auto producer in the U.S., American Motors Corporation (AMC), voted to give control of the company to French auto producer Renault acquiring majority ownership, in return for Renault providing $200,000,000 in capital to AMC. The vote (based on number of shares owned by shareholder rather than individuals) was 23,692,969 shares in favor and 433,852 against. In two other votes, Renault also was granted stock options that could increase its ownership of the company to 59%, and the number of Renault executives on the AMC Board of Directors was increased from two to five…… Harland Sanders, 90, American businessman who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken and then served as its spokesman as "Colonel Sanders"…..
Israel agreed to pay the United States an additional six million dollars to settle claims arising from its June 8, 1967 attack that killed 34 of the crew and seriously wounded 75 others on the American spy ship USS Liberty. The payment was for the costs for repairing the damage to Liberty and was to be made over three years. In 1968, Israel had paid $3,323,500 on behalf the families of the men killed, and in 1969 it paid another $3,452,275 for the injuries to those who had survived…..
The Trapp Family Lodge, owned by the family made famous in
the stage and film musical The Sound of Music, was completely destroyed by fire
in Stowe, Vermont. Maria von Trapp and her family had emigrated to Vermont in
1942 after their escape from Austria, which had been annexed in 1938 by Nazi
Germany to become the Ostmark. Maria and 44 other staff and guests fled, but
one resident died in the blaze…..and forty year ago the number one song in LuLc
lad and America was “More Than I Can Say” by Leo Sayer.
posted by David Yonki @ 7:10 PM
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