The LuLac Edition #5, 022, November 9th, 2023

 

WHAT ELECTION 2023 REALLY MEANS

The partial success of the Democratic slate for County Council in Luzerne County says that reports of the Democratic party’s demise are greatly exaggerated. When four out of 6 candidates win and two incumbents are beaten (one deserving of defeat-(Urban) and the other (a victim of circumstances (Matt Mitchell) that is a clear vote of no confidence in the GOP majority. It simply says given the opportunity, the Republicans can’t govern. The difference between this election for Council and past ones is this: the Democrats took off the gloves and fought hard. Sometimes the only thing that bullies understand is a punch in the face. This year, the Democrats did that.  While they won’t hold the majority (unless a deal is made with reasonable Republicans)   the Democrats will make an impact. As far as the future of Council, I personally can’t wait to take on Lying, Crying Brian Thornton in the next cycle.

On the Judicial front, the Democrats swept all the races for Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Court. Dan McCaffery, Jill Beck, Timika Lane and Matt Wolf all will assume the bench because people saw the way the Judiciary was used to try and justify the lie that Trump really won.

Nationally, voters in Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky rejected the pro life stance of Republicans who weren’t satisfied with the overturning of Roe V wade but had to jump the shark and try to impose onerous time limits on abortion. Still they continue to lie about abortion, like Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia who declared that all Democrats, women and pro choice people want to abort babies in the last month of life. THAT IS A BIG LIE AND NEEDS TO BE CALLED OUT EVERY TIME. 

Getting back to LuLac land, kudos go out to County Manager Romilda Crocomo for overseeing a very quiet and uneventful election. That should tame the Trumpanzee beasts who insist there was fraud before but it won’t.

As for 2024, the Democrats should call out the ageism in their own party and solidly back President Biden. Biden should be treated like a work a day Quarterback. He’s not a star like Brady was, not a provocateur like Namath, and not a streak QB like the Bills Josh Allen  but a guy who has been in battle, knows the players, and looks unlikely to be on a magazine cover. Biden is constantly underestimated but just gets the job done. They need to start defending him instead of wetting the bed and worrying about polls. Start worring about turnout. 

 

CARTWRIGHT DELIVERS $1.05 MILLION TO NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo:LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that $1.05 million in federal funds have been awarded to ten regional fire departments throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties to purchase new equipment and bolster fire department safety through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program (AFG).

“Firefighters put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our neighborhoods and keep our families safe. These federal grants will provide them with the equipment and protective gear they need to further protect our communities,” said Congressman Cartwright, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “I will continue doing everything I can at the federal level to support our dedicated first responders and ensure they have the safety and emergency response equipment and capabilities they need.”

The $281,536 in AFG grants awarded to Lackawanna County includes:

Scranton Fire Department - $70,227 to purchase Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Air Compressor Fill Station

Taylor Fire and Rescue - $108,452 to purchase 15 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus Units and five Face Pieces

Throop Volunteer Hose Company No. 3 - $102,857 to purchase 15 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus Units

The $573,079 in AFG grants awarded to Luzerne County includes:

Freeland Fire Department - $215,045 to purchase 24 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus and 14 Face Pieces

Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 - $126,706 to purchase 14 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus and eight Face Pieces

Nanticoke Glen Lyon-Alden Volunteer Hose Company - $121,403 to purchase 14 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus, 26 Face Pieces, and two Rapid Intervention Team Packs with Portable Air Supply Systems

Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department - $50,000 to purchase Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus Air Compressor/Fill Station

Plains Township Fire Department - $30,952 to purchase Protective Personal Equipment Gear Cleaning Equipment

Duryea Excelsior Hose Company No. 2 - $28,973 to purchase 10 Multi-mode Compliant Portable Radios

The $205,161 in AFG grants awarded Monroe County includes:

Pocono Summit Volunteer Hose Company - $205,161 to purchase 22 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus and 28 Face Pieces   

The AFG program is administered by FEMA to ensure that local fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations have the resources and equipment they need to protect communities and emergency personnel from fires and other related hazards.

 

CASEY, COLLEAGUES PUSH FOR INCREASED BORDER SECURITY TO STOP FLOW OF FENTANYL

IN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, SENATORS PUSH FOR INCREASED FUNDING TO SECURE PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG SOUTHWEST BORDER

FENTANYL IS OVERWHELMINGLY SMUGGLED INTO U.S. THROUGH PORTS OF ENTRY, HIDDEN IN EVERYDAY ITEMS BY SMUGGLERS

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) led 7 of his colleagues in pushing President Biden to prioritize additional resources to strengthen the security at the southwest border to stop the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl through ports of entry along the border. As overdose deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows drugs are overwhelmingly being smuggled through U.S. ports of entry, particularly in Arizona and California. In response to CBP agents reporting finding pills in seat cushions, car batteries, metal walkers, and bicycle frames, the Senators are pushing for increased funding for security and surveillance for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“We have long supported increasing funding for comprehensive measures to enhance border enforcement, management, and security,” the Senators wrote. “The situation at our border is complex, and it will take continued leadership and funding to stem the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl, smuggling, and transnational criminal organizations that operate along our border.”

Overdose deaths, particularly among young people, are increasing across the United States. In total, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that more than 112,000 people died from a drug overdose between May 2022 and May 2023, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids causing the vast majority of overdoses.

In their letter, the Senators urged President Biden to request additional supplemental funding for the border. Specifically, the Senators pushed for additional CBP agents to increase processing and screening capacity at ports of entry, as well as acquiring non-invasive inspection technology to stop drug smugglers before their fentanyl hits American fentanyl.

In addition to Senator Casey, the letter was signed by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Mark Warner (D-VA).

 

 

GOVERNOR SHAPIRO SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING PENNSYLVANIA CITIZEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY AND REVIEW COMMISSION

GOVERNOR SHAPIRO APPOINTS ELEVEN COMMISSIONERS FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO SERVE ON THE CLEAR COMMISSION, CONTINUING CRITICAL WORK DONE BY WOLF ADMINISTRATION THROUGH PSLECAC. 

COMMISSIONERS HAVE DECADES OF DIVERSE EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, AND MORE.

Governor Josh Shapiro (Photo: LuLac archives)

y, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2023-21 creating the Pennsylvania Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory and Review (CLEAR) Commission. The CLEAR Commission will bring together law enforcement experts and criminal justice reform advocates from across the Commonwealth to support public safety and ensure accountability for state law enforcement agencies who work hard to serve Pennsylvanians every day.

The Commission is established within the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG), which will assist and provide administrative support. The Commission will perform reviews of completed internal investigations, and ultimately make recommendations based on those reviews, related to allegations or incidents within agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor. Those recommendations will be made public in an annual report delivered to the Governor and made publicly available on OSIG’s website. This work to annually review the Commonwealth’s policing practices and recommend improvements to Commonwealth agencies is critical to help improve and update law enforcement practices and keep Pennsylvanians safe.

The CLEAR Commission will have oversight of multiple agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor including the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Department of General Services (DGS) Capitol Police, the Department of Corrections (DOC) Law Enforcement Sub-units, the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) Park Rangers, the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution, and the Department of Agriculture (PDA) Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement.

The Shapiro Administration is committed to increasing transparency and accountability within law enforcement. As Attorney General, Governor Shapiro led the way on creating a database to guarantee misconduct records follow law enforcement officers throughout their careers, ensuring those with a pattern of misconduct are not allowed to go from department to department in Pennsylvania without accountability – the most substantial effort in the Commonwealth so far to prevent wandering officers. Governor Shapiro also supported the Pennsylvania State Police pilot program for body-worn cameras, which began earlier this year.

“Every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe in their communities – the CLEAR Commission will help ensure Pennsylvanians can have the utmost faith in the law enforcement officers serving and protecting them every day,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Officers who engage in misconduct erode trust in law enforcement and make it harder for our communities to be and feel safe. The CLEAR Commission’s highly qualified members will review cases and make recommendations on continued improvements to the Commonwealth’s policing practices. Policing is a noble profession and I believe good people want to do it, and this executive order will ensure we maintain the highest standards for those who hold positions of public trust.”

The Commissioners selected by Governor Shapiro bring decades of experience in law enforcement, mental health, and community advocacy. This diverse group of highly qualified individuals represent areas from all across the Commonwealth, from Allentown to Johnstown. Commissioners include current and former members of law enforcement, an emergency mental health physician, a county district attorney, a founding member of the Johnstown Police Advisory Board, someone who has been significantly impacted by an encounter with law enforcement, a mental health advocate, and a former member of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association.

Jaimie Hicks, Executive Secretary for OSIG, will serve as Executive Director of the CLEAR Commission. Hicks has served the Commonwealth for more than two decades, including at the Office of Attorney General in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. She was previously the Secretary to the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission (PSLECAC) from 2021 to 2022.

“The Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) is dedicated to the values of ethics, integrity, and accountability in state government, and we are grateful that Governor Shapiro has established this Commission to elevate these values within Commonwealth law enforcement,” said State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller. “OSIG is excited to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies and the citizen advisors in the important work of maintaining accountability.”

The CLEAR Commission will continue the important work of the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission (PSLECAC) created under the Wolf Administration in 2020. Throughout its more than two-year history, in collaboration with Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, PSLECAC reviewed numerous investigations, produced 17 different reports, made more than 50 recommendations for improvement, and has since seen many of these recommendations on the road to implementation.

“The CLEAR Commission will provide the Pennsylvania State Police an opportunity to continue building public confidence and trust,” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Our Troopers serve the people of this Commonwealth with honor and integrity, and our personnel are committed to the highest standards of professional conduct. I am confident this commission will agree, and I look forward to hearing any recommendations for improvement while giving our department the support it needs.”

The CLEAR Commission will prepare and submit annual reports to Governor Shapiro that will be made publicly accessible online. Quarterly commission meetings will also be open to the public. Prior to reviewing completed internal investigations, Commissioners will complete 40 hours of training on: use of force; stop, search and arrest; traffic enforcement; bias-based policing; internal affairs processes; all covered agencies’ discipline procedures (including the disciplinary provisions of collective bargaining agreements and administrative processes, administrative proceedings, and burdens of proof); covered agencies’ rules and regulations for its law enforcement officers; Governor’s Code of Conduct; and constitutional law.

“The members of the PA Legislative Black Caucus are encouraged by the continuation of the Citizens Advisory Committee,” said Representative Napoleon Nelson. “We are confident that Ms. Caceres and the rest of the board will provide a more than capable voice of the Commonwealth’s citizens in the oversight and elevation of our public safety practices. We celebrate her appointment.”

 

MEDIA MATTERS  

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 1954

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U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicates the USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima memorial) at the Arlington National Cemetery…………Based on a US Congress amendment passed on June 1, 1954, this is the first observance of "Veterans Day", replacing the name "Armistice Day" in the United States. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a proclamation in October 1954 acknowledging that the United States had been engaged in two wars since Armistice Day was first observed………The main immigration port-of-entry in New York Harbor at Ellis Island closes permanently…….The newly launched tanker Scottish Hawk runs aground in the Clyde at Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland………In the New Zealand general election, the governing National Party is re-elected with a ten-seat margin…….Great Britain defeat France in the final of the 1954 Rugby League World Cup at Parc des Princes…… Chris Noth, a star n “Law and Order” is born  in Madison, Wisconsin……Egyptian president Muhammad Naguib is deposed, and Gamal Abdel Nasser replaces him……..in the Chinese Civil War: The Chinese destroyer escort Tai Ping is torpedoed and sunk off the Tachen Islands with the loss of 40 of her crew of about 200 and this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Heart of Stone” by The Charms.