The LuLac Edition #4, 993, August 28th, 2023

FELTON SERVICE ON YOU TUBE 

Our friend Scott Cannon was kind enough to upload this service for the late Ron Felton. It took place at King's College yesterday.

TRUMP MAKES HISTORY

 

Donald Trump was a consequential President. Trump, one of the most photographed Presidents ever will be remembered for one photo. A mug shot.

   Trump joins the common criminals and neer do wells who robbed, raped, ransacked and ravaged their victims. It is ironic that Trump, in his kick off speech in 2015 spoke of those nasty crooks invading the nation. 

Inmate No. P01135809 stares out of the booking photo, his face like stone. It’s impossible to know what Trump is feeling. But the image, taken after his motorcade drove into the Fulton County Jail, does not radiate his trademark bravado. His eyes bore into you. And the seal of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in a top corner is a reminder that Trump, for all his former power, is beholden to a process where he cannot control his own fate.

Trump’s mug shot – stark in its simplicity in a way that must surely grate for an ex-reality star for whom image is everything – is a metaphor for an election in which the potential Republican nominee and possible next president is facing 91 criminal charges across four cases. Trump denies all wrongdoing and is innocent until proven guilty in all cases, including in the racketeering accusations in Georgia related to his bid to overturn the 2020 election.

But in some ways, the mug shot, taken after he surrendered to the authorities on Thursday, represents the inevitable culmination of a life that has stretched and buckled the constraints around the presidency and frequently strained the law. More broadly, for a man who built his legend through paparazzi snaps in the New York gossip columns and who prizes Time magazines bearing his face, the Georgia mug shot, for all its indignity, represents yet another new frontier of notoriety. But for a nation still entangled in recriminations and fury whipped up by Trump, the photograph – which flashed immediately around the world – represents a special kind of tragedy.

But Trump has raised 7 million dollars on it for his “campaign” aka legal fees. His staff has even warned counterfeiters to stand down because only a Donald could be genuine and authentic.

Uh yeah…..but when all is said and done, no one, even a guy who thinks he is innocent wants the first line in his obit to mention his mug shot. (LuLac, CNN)

 

CRIMINALS AND REPEATERS

In the United States there are 1, 323, 200 violent crimes reported. 

There are almost 2 million people held in 1,566 state prisons, 98 federal prisons, 3,116 local jails, 1,323 juvenile correctional facilities, 181 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian country jails in the United States1. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, there are 122 federal prisons throughout the U.S., housing more than 151,000 inmates2. The United States holds about 25% of the world’s total prison population, which is about 2.19.

I wonder how many of those people charged with a crime were arrested 4 times within 5 months?

 

CRIMES AND CRIMINALS

 

CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES $6 MILLION RELEASED TO SCRANTON POLICE AND LUZERNE EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac atrchives)

Rep. Matt Cartwright  announced the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has authorized the release of $6 million in Community Project Funding dollars to support police and first responders in Scranton and Luzerne County.

The projects, funded at the Congressman’s request, include:

Law enforcement training program and technology upgrades, $3.5 million, awarded to the City of Scranton and Scranton Police Department

This project will help improve the Scranton Police Department’s community policing efforts by purchasing new body cameras, mobile video recorders and tasers. The new equipment and technology will allow the Scranton Police Department to manage the use of force reporting, direct supervisor audits of specific incident types and add virtual reality and other training modules for officers.

Creation of a county-wide emergency first responder unit, $2.5 million, awarded to the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office

This project for the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office supports a collaborative effort to create a county-wide unit of first responders from multiple jurisdictions to respond to emergency situations, handle complex investigations, and assist smaller departments with major cases. The Emergency Services Unit (ESU) will include major case investigators, cell phone analyzers and a crisis intervention team to respond to incidents involving individuals with mental health issues and emergency responders trained in responding to high-risk incidents including those involving barricaded gunmen and active shooters. The ESU will be designed to protect the public from violent incidents and to investigate and prosecute criminal offenders.

"Our law enforcement officers and emergency first responders take tremendous risks in the line of duty day in and day out, and it’s vital we provide the resources they need to keep our communities safe," said Rep. Cartwright, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, where he oversees more than $70 billion in annual federal spending.  “As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue to support police and all first responders by providing them what they need when it comes to protecting our community.”

Rep. Cartwright also secured additional FY2022 and FY2023 Community Project Funding for law enforcement across the 8th District including:

-      The Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office County Gun and Gang Reduction and Intelligence Project, $2 million

-      City of Wilkes-Barre, Community Policing Technology and Equipment Initiative, $2.1 million

-      New Moosic Fire & Police Facility, $4 million

-      Archbald Borough for a multi-jurisdictional, Fire and Police Emergency Operations Center, $3 million

-      Monroe County shared West End Emergency Services facility, $1 million

“Bringing our fair share of federal tax dollars back to our region is the main reason I ran for Congress,” Rep. Cartwright added. “This funding directly responds to some of the most pressing needs in Northeastern Pennsylvania by creating good-paying jobs, making us safer, and strengthening our communities.”

 

CASEY ON ANNIVERSARY OF INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: AMERICANS ARE SPENDING LESS ON EVERYDAY COSTS, BEST OF LAW IS YET TO COME

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT IS LOWERING HEALTH CARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR FAMILIES AND SENIORS, INCLUDING $35 A MONTH CAP ON INSULIN FOR SENIORS

IRA ALSO LOWERS AMERICANS’ ENERGY COSTS—FROM ELECTRICITY BILLS TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES

LAW ALSO MAKES MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN AMERICAN MANUFACTURING; INCLUDES CASEY-LED PROVISIONS TO INCENTIVIZE MANUFACTURING PROJECTS THAT USE AMERICAN MATERIALS, AS WELL AS INVESTMENTS MADE IN ENERGY COMMUNITIES

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

 

U.S. Senator Bob Casey  released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act being signed into law by President Joe Biden:

“One year ago, Democrats enacted the Inflation Reduction Act to fulfill President Biden’s promise to lower costs for families and tackle the climate crisis. Because of this law, seniors and families are spending less on their prescription drugs, Americans are spending less on their electricity bills, and we’re on the cusp of a manufacturing renaissance in the United States. By investing in America’s clean energy capabilities, we’re on track to meet our climate goals. Pennsylvania families and communities are feeling the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act, but I’m proud to say that the best of this law is yet to come.”

The Inflation Reduction Act is lowering Americans’ health care costs by allowing Medicare to directly negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the first time, making prescription drugs more affordable for the 63 million Americans on Medicare. For seniors on Medicare Part D, insulin costs are capped at $35 a month, overall out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000 a year, and eligible vaccines will be free. The law also includes a Casey-led provision to expand cost-sharing assistance for low-income people with Medicare. The Inflation Reduction Act also extends the enhanced subsidies for Americans on ACA marketplace health plans, meaning more Americans will be able to afford health care through 2025.

The Inflation Reduction Act also makes generational investments in clean energy, American manufacturing, and good-paying union jobs. The law lowers Americans’ energy costs by making their homes and communities more energy efficient and putting the cost of electric vehicles within reach for more American families. The Inflation Reduction Act also puts the U.S. on a path to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030, while investing in our rural communities and safeguarding American energy security. The law includes a Casey-led provision to provide a tax credit bonus to new clean energy investments made with American materials—including American-made steel—and to those situated in energy communities. Casey also fought to include a provision to keep the Black Lung Trust Fund solvent in perpetuity so that coal miners and their families across Pennsylvania can continue to access the life-sustaining health and disability benefits they deserve.

In the last year, Senator Casey has traveled around the Commonwealth touting the benefits coming to Pennsylvania and has uplifted the voices of Pennsylvanians in Washington. He has visited companies and regions that stand to benefit from tax credits and investments, and he has pushed the Administration to implement the law quickly so Pennsylvanians can start to feel the benefits.

 

 HELPING COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ON THE FRONTLINES: 2023-24 BUDGET INCREASES FUNDING FOR MUNICIPAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BY MORE THAN 250 PERCENT

Governor Josh Shapiro (Photo: LuLac archives)

The bipartisan, commonsense budget Governor Shapiro signed earlier this month makes historic investments in communities across the Commonwealth, from funding universal free breakfast for Pennsylvania students, to supporting historically disadvantaged businesses, to creating opportunities for communities to support one another. The budget invests $2 million in the Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) which provides financial assistance for communities to comprehensively plan around community revitalization efforts, improvement processes, and sound management of development activities

In March, Governor Shapiro proposed a $1.5 million increase – nearly 266 percent – for funding available in the MAP to help local governments plan for and effectively implement a variety of services, improvements, and soundly managed development. As the Governor said in his inaugural address, “Rather than having the state come in and take over [local government] operations, how about we help these smaller communities band together, share resources, and share know-how. […] This budget invests in the Municipal Assistance Program to help our communities support themselves.”

\The final budget includes the Governor’s proposed increase.

The MAP is operated by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to support local governments implement services including shared-service activities such as regionalization, consolidation or merging of services, shared personnel, high-impact projects that serve multiple municipalities, and boundary change efforts.

“Growing local economies, driving innovation, and advancing opportunities for every Pennsylvanian are common themes in the 2023-24 budget, and the Department of Community and Economic Development is thrilled to strengthen our abilities to support local governments thanks to the increased funding secured by Governor Shapiro,” said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. “The Municipal Assistance Program provides more support for municipalities and allows DCED to work with more communities across the Commonwealth while alleviating the burden on local governments to provide critical community services to taxpayers.”

In an editorial about the increased funding, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote, “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget has included a 266% increase in funding to the Municipal Assistance Program. […] This is an area for both sides to come together to consider honestly and practically — and not just because it could be a way to save money and get things done at the local level. It would also be a way to promote different arenas of government putting aside their jealousies and defenses to work toward a mutual goal. In other words, they could act for the common wealth.”

Read what local community leaders across Pennsylvania are saying about the increase in the MAP:

Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Municipal League John Brenner: “One of the answers is [for local governments] to get together with their neighbors to help taxpayers afford those services. The great thing about this [program] is the state is encouraging the conversation.”

Representative Bob Freeman: “[The MAP increase] is a very promising start … for the state to step up to the plate and provide more support for municipalities.”

Dickson City Borough Manager Cesare Forconi: “As Manager of the Borough of Dickson City I am always looking for ways for the Borough to be more efficient both financially and in the time, it takes for us to accomplish tasks. I was excited to see additional funding added to help the Borough accomplish both. It is a pleasure to see that Governor Shapiro’s office has hit the ground running and is offering non-partisan assistance to Boroughs like ours so we can better serve our residents. The Shapiro Administration has my full support  – and lets all work together to keep Pennsylvania moving forward.”

Beaver Falls Mayor Dr. Kenya Johns: “This historical budget leaves a clear message to us throughout the Commonwealth that our voices matter to this administration and we are being heard. There are so many things in this budget that has the potential to really make a difference in a community like ours, especially the Municipal Assistance Program. The Municipal Assistance Program gives a community like mine an opportunity to reinvest back into itself and make the whole neighborhood a better place.” 

 

 MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

CASEY AND THE BRIDGES 

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

 

1954

Our 1954 logo.

– The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) treaty is signed in Manila, Philippines. The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was an international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia created by the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty signed in September 1954 in Manila, the Philippines. The formal institution of SEATO was established on 19 February 1955 at a meeting of treaty partners in Bangkok, Thailand. The organization's headquarters was also in Bangkok. Eight members joined the organization. Primarily created to block further communist gains in Southeast Asia, SEATO is generally considered a failure because internal conflict and dispute hindered general use of the SEATO military; however, SEATO-funded cultural and educational programs left longstanding effects in Southeast Asia. SEATO was dissolved on 30 June 1977 after many members lost interest and withdrew. The leaders of several SEATO nations in front of the Congress Building in Manila, hosted by Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos on 24 October 1966…….The Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty was signed on 8 September 1954 in Manila,as part of the American Truman Doctrine of creating anti-communist bilateral and collective defense treaties. These treaties and agreements were intended to create alliances that would keep communist powers in check (Communist China, in SEATO's case). This policy was considered to have been largely developed by American diplomat and Soviet expert George F. Kennan. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Secretary of State John Foster Dulles (1953–1959) is considered to be the primary force behind the creation of SEATO, which expanded the concept of anti-communist collective defense to Southeast Asia.Then-Vice President Richard Nixon advocated an Asian equivalent of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) upon returning from his Asia trip of late 1953,[4] and NATO was the model for the new organization, with the military forces of each member intended to be coordinated to provide for the collective defense of the member states….and this week in 1954 the number one song in LuLac land and America was by “Hernando’s Hideaway” by Archie Bleyer.