The LuLac Edition #3059, October 29th, 2015

ENDORSEMENT TIME!!!!

The Times Leader endorsed Stefanie Salavantis for a second term. 

Here is what the newspaper wrote: District attorneys tend to excel at one of two things: Either they’re the chief prosecutor, handily winning important cases, or they’re the chief administrator, setting up their team for success.
Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis has chosen the latter approach, and in that regard she’s seemingly been quite capable. For her strong administrative skills, we believe Salavantis deserves to be re-elected on Nov. 3.
This is exactly what Salavantis has been running on. Vito DeLuca’s campaign seems desperate. The time for making the experience argument was not in this election. Plus calling Salavantis an insult to the DA’s office is essentially calling the voters who picked her dumb asses. If DeLuca wanted to hit one of her weak spots he could have. But he never made the time to meet with people who could help him. Too late now.
Meanwhile Salavantis has thrown DeLuca's website back in his face. Here's the latest ad from the Salavantis group courtesy of its creator Mr. Bob Harper. Kind of timely I'd say.

AND IN WILKES BARRE

Frank Sorick has received the endorsement of the paper for the office of Mayor. Here’s what the paper said about him: 

Put Frank Sorick in charge at Wilkes-Barre City Hall.
The Republican mayoral contender, 42, can’t boast of vast government experience, but his candidacy offers voters what many say they desperately want in this city: a new approach. If elected on Nov. 3, Sorick not only would succeed three-term Democratic mayor Tom Leighton, but he would become the first GOP mayor of Wilkes-Barre in 55 years.
More important than bringing symbolic change, Sorick offers good ideas. His proposals, if adopted, could improve how city government serves its residents and, ultimately, make living here even better.
The Leader admitted it struggled with the endorsement because of Sorick’s back tax issues and George’s issues of financial reports. The endorsement does not mean election and we can name many politicians endorsed by the Leader who crashed and burned at the polls. But the very fact they picked Sorick is something else.
Both Salavantis and Sorick had good days today courtesy of The Leader. BUT an election still needs to be won on Tuesday and both candidates have less registered voters in their party than their opponents. It’s nice to read good things about you but the proof in the pudding is on Election Day.

6TH DISTRICT CHILI BAKE OFF

The GOP 6th District had a Chili Cook off the other night in downtown Wilkes Barre. The event was put together by Alex Milanes and my good buddy Ron Ferrence was in attendance. Plains Township Commissioner candidate Barry Kresge made an appearance too. These events always help to build party support.

ELMY’S FINANCES

Lou Elmy is running for Wilkes Barre City Council in District B against Tony Brooks. But days before the election a complaint was filed alleging fraud on his campaign finance forms. The Election Board solicitor said that a violation had been filed against him regarding his 2011 and 2015 campaign finance forms. We’re told Elmy failed to report contributions and expenses. It is also alleged that he spent part of the money from fundraisers for personal use.
A few things here. This is a late hit to the Elmy campaign and it is paperwork. The personal use of the money is another thing. But it is now a public investigation much like the one the Elections Bureau held in the summer with Mr. George. Whether this goes anywhere will be determined later. But the timing can only help Elmy’s opponent Tony Brooks. We shall see Tuesday night.

NATIONAL GOP DEBATE

The CNBC panel was a joke. Tarone, Gary Perna and I could have done better rolling out of bed before our morning cigarette, coffee or Tab. Take your pick.
The candidates got the better of the moderators and made points. But CNBC is a financial channel, why didn't they ask questions about the economy. Turned the game on after the first 15 minutes.

CARTWRIGHT INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO HALT EXPLOITATION OF VETERANS AND FEDERAL WORKERS

Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright and Gerry Connolly introduced the bipartisanAnnuity Safety and Security Under Reasonable Enforcement (ASSURE) Act, with the support of 24 colleagues.
The legislation aims to protect federal workers, military retirees, and postal retirees by expandingTruth in Lending Act disclosure provisions to any situation where a federal or military pension is used as consideration for an “advance.” The bill also caps the interest rate on such an “advance” at prime plus six percent.
“Federal annuities were designed to provide retirees with a stream of guaranteed income that gives them a sense of financial security in their golden years,”Rep. Cartwright said. “Unfortunately, ‘pension advance’ companies often prey upon federal retirees and veterans.”
The legislation also addresses the lack of a private right of action in many of the applicable federal statutes that prohibit pension assignments. This means that private individuals may not sue to enforce laws that are already on the books, instead it is up to governmental authorities to take action. This legislation would create a private right of action allowing for the recovery of treble damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
These simple measures will protect federal retirees from exploitation, allow individuals to assert their rights in court, and ensure that retirees maintain their financial independence.
“While current federal law already prohibits federal and military retirees from assigning their pensions to a third party, many companies have resorted to skirting state and federal laws by requiring the retiree to deposit his or her pension in a separate bank account controlled by the firm,”Rep. Cartwright said. “Moreover, firms refer to the product they sell as a “pension advance” rather than a loan. In reality, these “advances” require borrowers to sign over all or part of their monthly pension checks and carry interest rates that are often many times higher than those on credit cards.”
“Federal pensions have long ensured that after a lifetime of honorable service, veterans and federal employees would be able to live out retirement with dignity and security,” said Rep. Connolly. “It’s our responsibility to help protect retirees from unscrupulous lenders only looking to make a quick profit.”
A review byThe New York Times of more than two dozen contracts for pension-based loans found that after factoring in various fees, the effective interest rates ranged from 27 percent to 106 percent — information not disclosed in the ads or in the contracts themselves. Furthermore, to qualify for one of the loans, borrowers are sometimes required to take out a life insurance policy that names the lender as the sole beneficiary.
Most recently, in March 2015 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a consumer guide andadvisory concerning pension advances and loans. The notice warned that many of these companies use “patriotic-sounding names or logos and even claim they are endorsed by the VA as a way of enticing potential customers”
Cartwright summarized his effort, “These simple measures will protect retirees who spent a lifetime earning a federal annuity, an annuity to which they’ve contributed each paycheck, from exploitation; allow individuals to assert their rights in court; and ensure that people maintain their financial independence.”
Cosponsors:Blumenauer, Brownley, Conyers, Cummings, Delaney, Edwards, Frankel, Garamendi, Jackson Lee, Johnson (MS),Jones, Kaptur, Kelly (IL), Kirkpatrick, Langevin, Lujan Grisham, Lynch, Norton, Pocan, Schakowsky, Takano, Tsgonas, Van Hollen
Supporting Organizations:American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Federal Managers Association, National Federation of Federal Employees, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), Senior Executives Association, Professional Managers Association (PMA), Military Order of the Purple Heart, Retired Enlisted Association, American Foreign Service Association, American Postal Workers Union (APWU)

BARLETTA BACKS BILL NAMED FOR SLAIN CORRECTIONS OFFICER

BILL NAMED FOR NEW CANAAN OFFICER ERIC WILLIAMS MANDATES ISSUANCE OF PEPPER SPRAY

Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo: Barletta Office).

Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today used a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security to promote a bill that requires the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to supply oleoresin capsicum spray, commonly known as pepper spray, to prison officers or employees who may respond to emergency situations with inmates. TheEric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act (H.R. 472), of which Barletta is a co-sponsor, is named for an officer at the United States Prison at Canaan who was brutally murdered by an inmate in 2013.

Senior Correctional Officer Eric Williams, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, was murdered by convicted gang assassin Jessie Con-ui at the high security prison on February 25, 2013. Con-ui, a member of the violent New Mexican Mafia gang, was serving an 11-year sentence when he suddenly attacked Officer Williams, knocked him down a flight of stairs, and stabbed him more than 200 times with homemade blades known as shanks. Con-ui is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder of a U.S. corrections officer, and possessing contraband in prison. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The bill Barletta co-sponsored would mandate the issuance of pepper spray to officers or employees at medium or high security prisons who may respond to emergency situations. The bill calls for training on the use of the spray, and also requires a report to Congress evaluating the effectiveness of the program within three years. The bill was authored by Rep. David McKinley (WV-1) and was originally co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-17). Senator Pat Toomey (PA) has sponsored similar legislation in the Senate.

During a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee, Barletta asked a representative of the Tennessee Department of Corrections about the value of such a program.

“Can you describe the conditions under which pepper spray would be helpful to prison workers?” Barletta asked Tony Parker, Assistant Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Corrections. “And why would pepper spray be preferable over some other form of non-lethal weapon?”

“We issue chemical agents to our officers in Tennessee, especially those working in maximum custody units and high security restricted housing areas,” Parker said. “Yes, it is a very productive tool. You have inmates in physical altercations, or even an inmate that may attack an officer. It basically hampers the offender’s ability to see, it disorients them. It makes it a little easier to handle the inmate.”

Another witness at the hearing, Brian Levin, the director of the Center for Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino, said that pepper spray may not be effective in close quarter conditions. He also indicated that some inmates may be physically impervious to such weapons.

“In this case, Con-ui kicked Williams down a flight of stairs before brutally beating him and slashing him to death with two shanks,” Barletta countered. “This may have been a case of: had he been able to have something to defend himself, he’d be alive today.”

MEDIA MATTERS

ECTV

ECTV Hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will welcome John Gleason to the program during the week of November 2nd. Mr. Gleason is the Director of the Keystone Rescue Mission Alliance which operates facilities for the homeless in both Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. He'll recount the work of the mission and its plans for the coming cold weather on the program. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is broadcast three times daily throughout the week.

THE RIVER ON AM RADIO

I do hope this lasts a while. The River 104.9 is on AM 1340. A reader informed us Fox Sports is on the 1400 frequency in Scranton. It is good to have music back on the AM side.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests are Sister Ann Walsh from Friends of the Poor, and Linda and Ryan Robeson, co-chairs of the Family to Family Thanksgiving Food Basket Program. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Game Sports Radio Network 1400/1440 and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with entrepreneur Mark Chamberlain about his new book and Indie Go Go project.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Dave Skutnik from the American Red Cross about the
importance of changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms during the time change weekend.
And Brian speaks with Sandra Serhan and Dave Chappelle about the Gate of Heaven Family Fun Food Drive Festival, coming up next Sunday, and Dave performs to close out the program.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93-.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X
& Sports Radio 590, WARM and 6:25am on Magic

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

KAREL ON THE STREET

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

CORBETT’S SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME

Every Wednesday at 5PM, Steve Corbett shines the light on a Public official with his “Somebody’s Watching Me” segment. Corbett picks an alleged public servant to eye ball and observe. Batten down the lawn furniture in the driveway and that e mail machine. There is nowhere to hide when “Somebody’s Watching”. Wednesdays at 5 on WILK’s Corbett program.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net
www.doowopsockhop.net

1965

Our 1965 logo.

Beatles receive MBEs at Buckingham Palace………………Sandy Koufax wins NL Cy Young Award unanimously….Days of Our Lives" premieres on TV……………On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" opens in NYC for 280 performances……

in Pennsylvania election day is relatively quiet as politico gear up for the statewide aces upcoming in 1966……in Scranton James Walsh beats out incumbent Mayor Bill Schmidt and in Wilkes Barre Ethel Price wins handily for seat on City Council….and fifty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was "Positively Fourth Street" by  Bob Dylan.