The Northeastern Building- HCA's Continuing Saga

At a recent board meeting  of the Hazleton City Authority board members were reminded of a decade old award stemming from a lawsuit involving the HCA and the Markle L.P. partners.  This saga is a tale of twisted decisions and questionable actions on the part of HCA officials as well as former Mayor John Quigley.  What is interesting is how much of this information never made it to the media.  A search of the Standard Speaker files located at the Hazleton library failed to provide a record of all of the dealings.

Why would such a story be relevant today?  Ratepayers of the HCA funded a loan received from the Office of Community Development of the City of Hazleton on December 18,1995.  As reported the Hazleton City Authority has an outstanding award in the amount of $250,000.00 as a result of that loan that was never collected in the seventeen years since.  The ratepayers are still on the hook for the money.

In the forthcoming series SOP is going to produce documents never made public before in an attempt to highlight the reason why Open Records is a necessity.

In a letter dated to Sam Monticello, Hazleton City Community Development officer, dated April 10, 1995 the HCA Industrial Division (HCAID) requested a $750,000 loan with an interest rate of 5% for a term of 15 years.  Board Chairman, Norbert O'Donnell also requested that the first two years of principal and interest be waived.  The desire at the time was to save the Northeastern Bank Building located in downtown Hazleton from continued deterioration.  The building was owned at that time by Dr. Gerald Andriole.

Dr. Andriole engaged the services of CECO Associates, Inc. to "conduct and inspect the structure to develop a proposal to the required professional services associated with installing the REQUIRED improvements so the compliance with the orders in the January 11,1994 correspondence be obtained."

Al Magnota, P.E. and Vice President of CECO Associates wrote this conclusion in that letter.

"Based upon the approval, the potential financial committment to acheive compliance with the said Orders in the January 11, 1994 correspondence would be approximately $1,400,000.00 including a 15% allowance for design and inspection services.  In my view this amount is significantly above the market value of these structures.  In addition you will lose net rentable space due to providing direct access to the fire rated second access from the eleven story building, not to mention the relocation and replacement costs from existing tenants you will incur.  Finally, I would doubt that the installation of the subject improvements will correspondingly increase the market value of the building and/or your ability to recoup your investment through increased rental charges.


Recognizing your commitment to installing the proper improvements that are feasible, I would suggest that a meeting be arranged with proper officials of Labor and Industry to determine which Orders can be vacated via the historic designation of this building and which improvements must be installed in order for an Occupancy Permit to be issued."


In March 16, 1995 Louis Valentas, Vice President at PNC Bank, wrote a letter to Norbert O'Donnell, Chairman, HCA, informing the HCA that a loan facility in the amount of $500,000.00 would be provided to the borrower, the HCA.  The interest rate would be 6% per year and payments would be made in equal installments of $4,220.00 over sixty months , based on a one hundred eighty (180) month amortization with a SUBSTANTIAL BALLOON PAYMENT due April 30, 2000.

According to the Business Development Loan Program (BDLP) Agreement the HCA listed the total project cost at $2,000,000.00(more on this later).  The HCA sought $250,000.00 from the BDLP as part of the financing needed for the entire project.  It was clear from this agreement that the $250,000.000 BDL "shall be used for the physical improvement of the structure."

There are inconsistencies in the application by the Hazleton City Authority Industrial Division to the City of Hazleton for a Enterprise Zone Business Loan Development Program dated April 10, 1995 with a request made later in the year.  On the Financial Request page the HCAID lists the following expenses:
Acquisition         $335,000.00  * (under negotiation)
Leasehold Improvements  $2,004,000.00
Architectural Fees      $140,000.00
Financial Fees       $6,000.00
Legal Fees            $10,000.00
Other                    $165,000.00
Total Project Cost   $2,660.000

However in a subsequent document, the Business Development Loan Program Agreement dated December 27, 1995 the total project cost is listed as $2,000.000.00
Private Debt Financing    $1,000.000.00
Private Equity                  $ 750,000.00
Business Development Loan Program (BDLP)  $250,000.00
Total Project Cost     $2,000.000.00


The first application was signed by Norbert O'Donnell, Chairman and Richard J. Ammon, Secretary and Treasurer.  The second agreement executed December 18,1995 was signed by Norbert O'Donnell, Chairman.  In less than a year the total project cost drops by $660,000.00 and nobody questions it.

In this document it is important to note that the $250,000.00 was specifically earmarked in item 1. for the Developer to perform:

Improvement of the fire safety system as per PA Dept of Labor and Industry and City of Hazleton Codes


On October 27, 1995 the Hazleton City Authority purchased the Northeastern Building from Northeastern Realty Inc. for the sum of $390, 321.95 according to a deed filed in the Recorder's Office of Luzerne County Book 2544 page 666 on October 31, 1995.  It is interesting to note that the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value lists a Fair Market Value for the building $820,480.00 despite the fact that of a PNC appraisal listing the amount of $195,000.00 and an previous auction that failed to get a bid above $100,000.00.

As part of the BDLP Agreement HCAID informed the Office of Community Development that they engaged a private developer, M.H.T. Holdings, Inc located at 37 Holloway Blvd. Buffalo, New York for the Northeastern Bank Building. 

For some reason, then Mayor John Quigley agreed to incumber the City of Hazleton to a IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT in the amount of $250,000.00 for the benefit of M.H.T. Holdings, Inc.  In his Opinion of Counsel, Attorney George Hluzdzik opined "It is my opinion that the CITY OF HAZLETON, upon execution of said Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit, will be irrevocably committed, pursuant to the terms of said Letter of Credit, and that the said Letter of Credit, and all of the terms and conditions contained therein, are a binding, lawful, and legally enforceable contract under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," dated 12-27-1995.

The source of funds for this loan was contained in a "Contract For Enterprise Zone Program" between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community Affairs and the City of Hazleton.  The date of that agreement was 12-27-1995.  As collateral for this loan M.H.T. Holdings offered this property located in Buffalo, New York.

The blog "fix Buffalo" writes this piece about Mark H. Trammell of M.H.T. Holdings and the associated property.

In response to my previous post regarding the diocesen dis-investment plans, I received this comment from one of the most astute critics of Buffalo's mis-management and decline, Dick Kern.

"Thanks for taking up my longtime concern about Catholic abuse of power & use of govt funds to dispose of surplus property. . . now proposing to build more "new" while abandoning "old. Go look at the new Catholic church on the site of the old German Orphanage at Dodge & Northampton, surrounded by "Catholic" blight, which they sequentially dumped to corrupt Mark Trammell, son of corrupt City Court Judge Wilbur Trammell, who dumped to the city of Hazelton as bum security for a HUD loan, then to (Scott) Wizig of Houston, now to CAO. All while keeping the "shovel ready" center of the parcel for their own cheap use."

You can find pictures of the old German Orphanage by clicking here.  Dick Kern, mentioned in that blog post left this comment on another post.

That followed another scandal when disgraced Judge Wilbur Trammell's son bought the long-derelict parcel (564' X 355') from the Catholic Diocese for $25K - $30K. However, the Diocese cut a 'donut hole' for a new Catholic Church.

Trammell originally planned to develop HUD subsidized property on the site, calling it "Kimberly Park" (after his wife) as I recall. That plan encountered great community resistance in an area suffering massive vacancies.

Then Trammell went off to Hazelton PA & used the parcel as security on a $50,000 development loan to turn an abandoned building in downtown Hazelton into HUD-subsidized apartments. He alleged the parcel was worth several thousand dollars, its assessed value at the time.

He defaulted on the loan, so Hazelton took control of the property until it reverted to the City, eventually sold at tax auction to Wizig, along with his 300 to 400 other distressed tax-foreclosed parcels.

After causing mahem, Wizig was ultimately banned from Buffalo by Housing Court, so he "gifted" the parcel CAO since nobody else acceptable to the court wanted it.

Whether the Catholic Diocese should have managed their 'surplus' property in this manner is open to debate.


In a memo to City Council dated December 19,1995 , John H. Quigley, Mayor asks the Council to consider forgiving $150,000.00 of Community Block Grant money advanced to the HCAID for a parking feasibility study and a feasibility study of saving the Northeastern Building.  By resolution 95-140 and 95-141 the Council abided by the Mayor's request albeit the vote was 2-2.

The City of Hazleton entered into a Business Development Loan Program Agreement with M.H.T. Holdings Inc. on December 27, 1995.

In a letter to Ronald Slusser dated May 22, 1996 from the Hazleton City Authority Industrial Division, Mr. Charles F. Buckley, III, Executive Director informs the City of Hazleton that M.H.T. Holdings, Inc had relinquished their interest in the $250,000.00 BDLP loan.

Mark H. Trammell sent Charles Buckley, III a letter dated May 8, 1996 that stated "Due to recent project-related events, I, as president of MHT Holdings, Inc. relinquish our corporate interest in the loan referenced above [ Re: BDLP Agreement of 27 December 1995 ($250,000)].

Said loan is to be assigned back to the HCA-ID immediately without interruption."

Yet on October 21, 1996 Charles Buckley, III, Executive Director of the HCAID sent Ronald Slusser, City of Hazleton a letter that states in part  "The Northeastern Building is currently under an Agreement of Sale with MHT Holdings, Inc. of Buffalo, New York which has until November 30, 1996 to close on the Northeastern Building.  As per our agreement with M"HT Holdings, Inc. the HCAID has the right to pursue other potential developers for the Northeastern Building until they actually close on the property, and we are actively engaged in this process."  He goes on to explain that the Authority needs to advertise and award a construction bid so that the improvements mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry must at a minimum be in progress by December 31, 1996. 

However there is no question that the contents of his letter were at the least misleading to the City since Trammell indicated that he was no longer involved as of May 8, 1996.

It is worth noting that from the beginning the original owner of the building was told he could never recoup his investment if he plunked down $1,400,000.00.  Yet, for some reason the Board of the Hazleton City Authority Industrial Division in 1995 though they knew better.

In the next of this series SOP will discuss how the Board of the HCA put its finances in peril by defaulting on that $500,000 loan from PNC.

The Jim Haggerty Document- A Lesson

James Haggerty Times Leader Photo

Mark Guydish asks this question in his article "Can public alter home rule charter?"

The Home Rule Charter being hammered out by the Government Study Commission is either a giant step toward reforming a county government steeped in corruption or a pointless reshuffling of the deck without setting up effective checks and balances to wipe out the chronic abuse of power exposed by multiple federal corruption arrests since January 2009.

One of the contentious issues surrounds an Appointed Manager vs. an Elected Manager. The minutes of the Commission from 01/27/2010 reflect the vote of the various commission members on the subject.

Chairman Jim Haggerty instructed the Government Study Commission to make a formal vote on the Elected Executive position versus the Appointed Manager. The Appointed Manager won by a vote of seven ayes. There were four votes for an Elected Executive by Jeffrey Niemiec, Christopher Kersey, Richard Morelli, and Charmaine Maynard.

From Mark Guydish's article:
Government Study Commission member Charmaine Maynard tried to placate those who raised doubts by saying the current version of the charter is “a rough draft,” but Haggerty disagreed with the characterization.

With an 11-member commission hammering out everything from major elements to verbal minutes at weekly meetings, he said some of the larger issues – including the council-manager format – are all but final if they were approved by a 7-4 vote on the commission.

It appears that Commission Chairman James Haggerty has essential control over this document. It is SOP's opinion that he wants it to be "final" because it suits his aspirations. He tries to counter criticism over the appointed manager.

Haggerty countered that no system is perfect, and that voters should ask themselves if the proposed charter is better than the current system. He insisted it is, largely because it dilutes the political clout of individuals by having 11 council members instead of three commissioners, and explicitly bars council from meddling in the day-to-day management of the county.

The question Haggerty has to ask himself is whether poliitical clout on the Luzerne County Government Study Commission is diluted or concentrated.
If Mr. Haggerty has aspirations to become the "appointed manager" if this current version is passed by the voters he should make that aspiration public.

Hazleton Councilman Joseph Yannuzzi made the argument to the Commission that at least some council members should be elected by districts. Haggerty dismisses those efforts to elect county council members by district because that would interfere with any plan to become manager. He effectively has not just diluted but drowned out the voice of residents in Southern Luzerne County would have concerning the governing body taxing them. His draft can concentrate "Political clout" in northern Luzerne County which would allow him to obtain the seat as appointed manager.

Yannuzzi was trying to impress upon the Commission that the government he presently represents is a model for the county. Hazleton's form of government, while not a Home Rule charter, contains a legislative branch, city council, and an administrative arm, the Mayor. All office holders are elected and it seems to work fine. It is suspect that Haggerty is quick to dismiss this model in favor of the Jim Haggerty document.

Haggerty's comparision of Democrats and Republicans on the present form of commissioner government doesn't hold water. Given the voter registration makeup of Luzerne County Republicans will always have a very hard time controlling the county council. It was the Democrats who have been ensnared in the biggest corruption scandal in Luzerne County's history.

Allowing election by district can make the reason for seeking the office not one of control by party but by interest of the people the office holder will represent. Allowing election of the Manager, similar to Allegheny County, will eliminate auspicious control by council members over the manger.

James Haggerty needs to be told this document is not the Jim Haggerty document but the reform so sorely needed for this county. If he truly wants to counter claims it is his document he should accept this challenge. Mr. Haggerty are you willing to sign a pledge not to seek the position of appointed manager for the next 10 years, no exceptions? Let's see where his allegiance truly lies.

Toohil's Response To Eachus Position On MinSec

Toohil: MinSec’s Promises for Change are Inadequate

(Response to April 30, 2010 Standard Speaker article)

Hazleton, PA – Today, April 30, 2010, it is being reported that “changes are coming to MinSec.” These changes, such as phasing out the pre-release program, improving management of the facility, and imposing stricter standards for permitting residents to leave on pass, were previously reported. New promises for change seem to have bought the facility more time. However, it is questionable as to what has really changed. Tarah Toohil, candidate for State Representative in the 116th Legislative District, looked to the facts. The reality is that during this month, the list of incidents continued to grow.

April 3, 2010 Police apprehend Edward E. Hardee, 48, one day after he failed to return to MinSec by his 4 p.m. curfew. MinSec employees finally reported him missing at 12:48 a.m. Nearly nine hours after he had absconded.

April 5, 2010 Jeffrey P. Wright, 30, another MinSec resident, is reported to have admitted to robbing M&T Bank, 223 W. Broad Street. Wright is speculated to have absconded on either April 5th or April 6th.

April 8, 2010 A MinSec resident accessed pornography on a City Hall computer causing the computer to contract a virus which had to be removed by a computer technician.

April 12, 2010 Police report that Jeffrey P. Wright and an accomplice attempted to rob three different banks within walking distance of MinSec: First National Community Bank, PNC Bank, and M&T Bank.

Toohil stated, "If MinSec has made changes as they claim, these changes are obviously insufficient. The reality is that MinSec’s residents are a danger to our city. How many crimes must be committed in order for the state to realize that MinSec is not doing its job?" MinSec has hired a spokesperson to improve community relations. State funding should not be used to hire a spokesperson for MinSec. Toohil argued that the state funding should be used to protect the community from MinSec’s residents. .








Tarah Toohil said, "It is obvious that MinSec’s residents pose a real threat to our public safety. All of these fancy answers and promises for change are not enough to overlook the harm that MinSec has brought to our community and is still bringing. MinSec’s state funding must be halted. In the interim, this minimum security prison should be put on lockdown until its administrators figure out how to control the problems that are continually arising."

Pension Reform Doesn't Reform Anything

The issue of pension funding in Hazleton and cities around the state was addressed in legislation recently passed. However, there is good news and bad news.

First, let's straighten out a political slant to an article that appeared in Saturday's Hazleton Standard Speaker. Here are some quotes that need clarification.

The law signed Friday by Gov. Ed Rendell says that cities "may no longer" use pension tax revenues for any purpose other than to defray pension costs.

By using that language, the law recognizes retroactively that Hazleton had diverted pension tax revenues to other purposes for a number of years, but that practice will no longer be legal in the future, said House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-116, Hazleton, on Friday

With the new law taking effect immediately, Wagner can legally release the city from having to make the repayment, said Eachus.

Eachus said he plans to contact Wagner about the matter now that the law is on the books.

Attorneys in the auditor general's office were briefed on the pension bill's provisions as it moved through the House and Senate in recent weeks.

"My hope is Mr. Wagner will consider the relief to taxpayers immediately," added Eachus.

The law makes new use of "asset smoothing" which involves spreading out pension fund gains and losses over a time. This is designed to avoid wide fluctuation in annual employer contribution requirements stemming from volatile investment markets.

This will save Hazleton more than $600,000 annually on its pension obligation.


Those portions are some of the most disingenous statements on record. Mr. Eachus had nothing to do with the language highlighted that helped Hazleton. That language was added on the Senate side, not the House. He sat silent during a House Fianance Committee hearing held August 18,2008 when the merits of Senate Bill 961 were discussed.

Now lets move onto the real reason for this post and part of it will address the supposed "savings" for the City of Hazleton.

Over at the Commonwealth Foundation Nathan Benefield provides a great analysis of HB 1828 that was passed and is the subject of the article discussed above. Essentially this bill allows municiplaties with under funded pensions to delay payments which will mean that future taxpayers will have to foot the bill. It will lead to increased taxes.

The savings Eachus talks about with Hazleton has to do with a provision that payments are deferred for 5 years. How is that a "savings"?

What he doesn't say is that there is an 8.25% interest penalty on that deferrment. If cities like Hazleton cannot afford their pensions now how is deferring going to help them in the future? It further points to higher taxes. But it doesn't stop there.

Of course, municipalities present only part of Pennsylvania's pension woes. In 2012, state and school property taxpayers will experience significant increases in pension contributions -- from less than 5 percent of salary to upward of 30 percent -- because of similar politically motivated manipulations for public school teachers and state workers in 2001 and 2003.

This bill is no longer a missed opportunity for pension reform, but only serves to exacerbate the crisis facing Pennsylvania cities. Not only is it a vote to raise taxes now, but the deferment of payments pushes costs onto future taxpayers, and will likely mean more tax increases in the future.

Governor Rendell Helped Pittsburgh's Financial Woes

Todd Eachus stated publicly that he would not pass legislation "specifically" for Hazleton. Governor Rendell and Todd Eachus had no problem passing not just one but a package of bills specifically for the City of Pittsburgh.

November 2004

Governor Edward G. Rendell today signed a package of bills that will help restore Pittsburgh to fiscal health and provide it with stable sources of funding. The bills include reforms to the city’s business taxes, a phased reduction in the city parking tax, an increase in the city’s occupational privilege tax and an increase in the earned-income tax on visiting athletes.

Those bills contained taxation issues while Eachus claims finding a fix for the City's(Hazleton) problem right now is impractical. Evidently it wasn't impractical for Pittsburgh.

IssuesPA has a great article highlighting the problems faced by Pittsburgh. One of the problems detailed. The largest single factor in its rising debt service payments has been the city's bonding of unfunded pension liability. Annual expenditures for pension costs, benefits and debt service are expected to have increased $119 million between 1993 to 2005. Most cities in this Commonwealth are in the same boat defined in a report submitted by James McAneny of the Public Employees Retirement Commission..

It is no secret that Todd Eachus is using unprecedented legislative tactics for inexcusable political retribution. His use of scare tactics with the police and fire unions in Hazleton over unfunded pension liability is wagging the dog. The unfunded pension liability is due to losses in the stock market that every pension faced in the current financial meltdown. It is time Eachus remembers who put him in office. Arrogance that the office will always be his blinds him to the realities of mankind. Be kind and kindness will be a reward. Being arrogant lulls one into a false sense of competence and entitlement.

Mr. Eachus- Are You Misleading The Public About Senate Bill 961 That Would Help Hazleton?

Eachus seeks guidance on Hazleton pension fund woes by Mia Light for the Citizen's Voice published June 29,2009.

Here is what Mr. Todd Eachus had to say:

House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township, reached out to the office of the Pennsylvania auditor general Friday for guidance in correcting Hazleton's $2.5 million debt to its pension fund.

It was reported in the Times Leader by Bill O'Boylethat Eachus has sent a letter to state Auditor General Jack Wagner that condemns Barletta’s action in removing money from the city’s pension fund and asks Wagner for help to resolve the issue.

Mr. Eachus, a simple freedom of information request would find that the Auditor General supported Senate Bill 961 on June 10, 2008 in an email to Sam Monticello, then Hazleton City Administrator. Why do you want people to believe otherwise?? What is your motive?


Click on Image
Email from Robert Teplitz, Chief Counsel/Policy Director, Deparment of the Auditor General

You can read Robert Teplitz's bio here. It seems clear to me that the legal advisor from the Auditor General saw no legal or constitutional problems with Senate Bill 961. It is hard to understand why Mr. Eachus would make claims to the contrary.

James Mcaneny, Executive Director of the Public Employee Retirement Commission gave this conclusion on page 5 in his testimony before the House Finance Committee on August 18, 2008.

We believe that Senate Bill Number 961 provides a better way to provide for Hazleton's financial need than the method currently being employed. PERC supports Senate Bill 961. Mr. Eachus, again why are you misleading the public about support on this issue?

Questions For Luzerne County's Election Chief

Staff writers for the Standard Speaker reported that Director of Elections Leonard Piazza feels that bilingual ballots will be needed in Hazleton after the 2010 election.

The growing Hispanic population, especially in Hazleton, will likely force the county to generate bilingual ballots after the 2010 census is done, Piazza said. If the U.S. Census shows that at least 4 percent of the voting-age population in a polling precinct is not proficient in English, then bilingual ballots for the entire municipality are required, Piazza said.

Piazza predicts a few precincts in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Pittston Township will reach the qualifying percentage. But even if it’s one precinct only, all voting machines in the county will be equipped with the Spanish ballot; Piazza said the county can’t buy the Spanish ballot software for just one area.

The next part of the article is extremely interesting.

Piazza disclosed the county election bureau is starting an outreach program for Spanish-speaking voters Sunday with a meeting in Hazleton.

The meeting is tentatively set for 2 to 4 p.m. at Concerned Parents of the Hazleton Area, Suite 112, 100 W. Broad St., Piazza said. He said he will discuss issues involving Tuesday’s election, as well as future issues, that concern Hispanic voters.

“We want to gather input from the Latino community,” Piazza said. “What the election bureau is doing right — and what it might be doing wrong.”

On Tuesday, every polling place in Hazleton will have a person to assist voters in Spanish, Piazza said. These designated “watchers” will have credentials to help assist voters with limited English skills and are prohibited from telling voters whom to support when voting, Piazza said.

Ignatio Beato announced his candidacy for one of three seats up for election on Hazleton's City Council. According to his announcement Beato is co-founder and vice president of the Concerned Parents of Hazleton.

Mr. Piazza, how can you allow poll watchers from a particular group tied to a candidate act as translators? What disadvantage will exist for the other candidates if the group tells people requiring language assistance how to vote? Why was one candidate invited to this meeting and not all the candidates?

Last election many infractions were observed in Hazleton. Assistance for the Hispanic community was being provided at the polls without requiring persons making the request to fill out a voter assistance declaration. In addition it was observed that as many as five people were helping a single voter. It is alleged that bilingual poll watchers were telling Hispanics how to vote. Provisional ballots were not employed when persons could not produce the proper ID.

Interpreters were approaching people inside the polling place to offer "unsolicited" assistance without the voter making a proper request to the Judge of Elections.

From the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania: No person is allowed to receive assistance in voting unless his/her registration record indicates the need for assistance or the voter completes and signs a declaration of the need for assistance at the polling place prior to entering the voting machine booth.

According to the Chester County Democrats All watchers in the polling place must remain outside the enclosed space. (enclosed space – 6 feet from voting machines, ballot box, and election officials work area).

Read this document from the Pennsylvania Voters Coalition. At the top of page 7 it indicates an example of the need for better training of poll watchers. Partisan poll watchers were allowed to be too near the voting machines.

Mr. Piazza are there different rules for Luzerne County?

A concerned citizen has approached me with the following information. Elaine Curry, Hazleton Area School Board member and activist with Concerned Parents, allegedly approached a candidate to put the person's name on her slate cards for candidates she supports. It is alleged that she promised 800 to 1000 votes as an inducement for the prospective candidate. It is claimed that she would accomplish that feat by having poll watchers act as interpreters inside the poll.

Mr. Piazza, Ignatio Beato, candidate, is vice president of Concerned Parents of the Hazleton Area. You issued watcher certificates to this group who will now be inside the polling place. The article states you claim these "watchers" are prohibited from telling voters how to vote. Do you honestly feel that the average voter believes that those watchers will not use the opportunity to push Curry's slate?

Judges of election are not proficient in Spanish to detect any wrongdoing by errant watchers. What steps are you going to take to ensure the integrity of the vote so candidates are not at a disadvantage? With all the problems in Luzerne County do we need one more slap against our reputation?

Southern Luzerne Political Action Committee- Meet The Candidates

The Southern Luzerne PAC will hold a Meet The Candidates For Hazleton City Council night on Monday, May 11, 2009 from 5:30-7:30P.M. at the Elk's Lodge in Hazleton. The Lodge is located at 635 E. Broad St. Food and Refreshments will be served. Come out to meet and greet Lenny Brenner, Karen Cabell, and Jim Perry.

Tickets are on sale for $20.00. This event is the kick-off for the SLPAC that will be hosting several events during this electoral season.

State probing Hazleton for its resale of untaxed gas- Who's Probing The Reporting?

There was a movie which starred Paul Newman and Sally Field called "Absence of Malice". It was great drama depicting corruption in the Justice Department intending, on the surface, to solve a crime, but, beneath the waters, to further political careers.

James Wells (played by actor Wilford Brimley) had some great lines that made the famous quote section. "Now we'll talk all day if you want to. But, come sundown, there's gonna be two things true that ain't true now. One is that the United States Department of Justice is goin' to know what in the good Christ - e'scuse me, Angie - is goin' on around here. And the other's I'm gonna have somebody's ass in muh briefcase."

The New York Times published a movie review by Janet Maslin. Here are some excerpts from that article. "Its heroine, Megan Carter, violates so many basic rules of journalism—from neglecting to check her story to sleeping with the man it is about—that it becomes impossible to view her behavior as representative. And yet, through Megan, the movie is able to raise a number of questions about reportorial tactics and the difference between what is accurate and what is true."

Megan (Sally Field) erroneously reports that Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman), a Florida liquor wholesaler whose father was a gangster, is implicated in the disappearance of a local labor leader. She has been tricked into doing this by a too-eager Government investigator (Bob Balaban) who knows that Gallagher is innocent but would like to pressure him into naming names.

So what does that movie have to do with the headline? Steve Mocarsky wrote an article in the Times Leader yesterday without fully checking the facts, misreporting the facts he did have, adding flare to the description of his source, and overall violation of the basic rules of journalism.

He reports that the Department of Revenue is "investigating" the City of Hazleton "sale of untaxed gasoline and diesel fuel to for-profit companies". That fact is almost true. There is no investigation. The Department asked for information from the City which fully cooperated in providing that information to help the Department determine whether a practice that has been ongoing since at least 1999 was according to its rules. Had Mocarsky checked the facts he would have realized this practice by the City of Hazleton was occurring way before Lou Barletta took office.

In 1999 under former Mayor Michael Marsicano the City of Hazleton was supplying Operation Overcome, a non-profit, with fuel from its purchasing contract without collecting any taxes owed on the sale. The Administrator for the City allowed the non-profit to purchase the fuel. The Admininstrator was not the same person who is administrator under Lou Barletta's terms as Mayor.

As part of a continuing practice the Hazleton Community Ambulance Association was allowed to purchase fuel under the City of Hazleton's fuel agreement during Barletta's administration. The ambulance association lost the right to be first responder under the Barletta administration. Members of the association were not happy with the Mayor, opposed him at election time, yet the City allowed the sale of fuel to continue as before. That fact should dispell any notion that the sale of fuel was based on political considerations although Mr. Mocarsky wants his readers to believe it was.

He describes his source this way. "City watchdog Dee Deakos said she believes the two private companies received an unfair advantage over their competitors." Dee Deakos ran against Lou Barletta for Mayor and garnered a whooping 84 votes. Folks, it takes a hundred signatures to get on the ballot.

A more correct description of Dee Deakos might be "political operative", "political opponent", or "political detractor" but certainly not a watchdog. Dee, are you violating Hazleton law by renting to a church in a zoning district that does not permit that type of rental? Dee, did you allow political signs in the last election to be posted in front of your Broad Street property in violation of a Hazleton Ordinance? Mocarsky why don't you check those situations out? Some watchdog, political opportunist is more like it or political pendejo.

In response to charges by Dee Deakos that political contributions were the motive for the fuel purchase Dr. William Pavlick, current president of APTS, said that if Deakos “bothered to get her facts straight,” she would have found that APTS was first responder for basic and advanced life support “long before we bought the company.” He issued a written statement stressing that APTS will no longer buy fuel from the city. Mocarsky, why did you print her comment when it was plain wrong? It gives a slant to the article that is totally inaccurate.

In another inaccurate statement Deakos said former city administrator Sam Monticello “should have known it was illegal.” Go back to my paragraph where I describe the Administrator before Monticello who started the practice. Why would Monticello question it when there seemed to be no problem for a previous administration?

Mascaro was the only bidder for the 2008-2012 contract. The city received a letter from competitor Waste Management of Pennsylvania declining to bid for the contract. Mocarsky, did you ever see the scope of the Hazleton contract? Do you know that its size prevents many companies from bidding because they do not have the bond capacity or the manpower to meet the terms of the contract? Did you bother to see if Mascaro donated to Barletta? Here, I did it for you. Why slant the story otherwise??

Deakos said the companies were “cheating the state” and “cheating us because we get part of the gasoline tax for highway aid. When it’s not collected, there’s less money for pothole repairs,” Deakos said. Since the investigation has not concluded and no determination has been made how does Deakos know her statement that the companies CHEATED is true? Mocarsky how can you print such a statement that is not factual? Are you innocent until proven guilty in this country or does that rule not apply to Republicans?

Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban said the county was also “being short-changed” because the county receives liquid fuels money from the state based partly on fuel sales. Both companies have agreed to pay any monies owed plus penalties. In the end no one is going to be short-changed or cheated.

Finally, Mr. Mocarsky answer these questions? If you purchase an item out of the state of Pennsylvania and fail to pay the sales tax due is it up to the retailer to collect the sales tax due or do you have to voluntarily submit the tax to the state? Have you ever heard of the Use Tax Volutnary Program or the Voluntary Disclosure Program? Some of the laziest reporting I ever saw, slanted for a political purpose is my opinion.

Kanjorski Like Soup Nazi to Hazleton- No Money For You

As part of Barack Obama's pledge to bring transparency to government an online database has been created where Joe Taxpayer can search for earmark requests by his Congressman. Here are Paul Kanjorski's requests.

There are 74 projects in all totaling $142 million according to Josh Drobnyk at the Morning Call. He has requested $700,000.00 for the Castle Auditorium project. There is another $162,127.00 request for a Breast Coil and Biopsy package for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine located at the Hazleton Health and Wellness Center. However the Health and Wellness Center is located in Hazle Township.

Out of $142 million the City of Hazleton receives nothing, nada, not a dime. Keep in mind that the Castle project belongs to the Hazleton Area School district. That request only represents four tenth's of one percent of the total amount.

He is seeking $3 million for the New Jersey Transit under the guise of the Lackawanna Cut-Off Passenger Rail Restoration Project.

Hazleton mayor lights fire under county GOP

Read the article online at the Pittsburgh Tribune Review website.

"Some believe the key to our future lies in moderating," he said. "With all due respect, those who believe that could not be more wrong."

When does Main Street become Broad Street in Hazleton?

In an interview on Channel 13 from Hazleton dated March 21st, 2008 Paul Kanjorski claimed “I brought into Hazleton City millions of dollars of federal grants that have never been used, and I find it incredible that, over all these years, with millions of dollars of grants, we have some of the conditions that I see on Main Street in Hazleton,” “The main street could have been repaved, sidewalks paved.”

Barletta, on behalf of the City, was insulted by the congressman's remarks.

“I am surprised that Congressman Kanjorski chose to not only attack me but also insult the City of Hazleton, its business owners and developers, and its citizens,” Barletta said. “The fact that Congressman Kanjorski is unaware of the development projects — past and present — here in Hazleton is further evidence he has spent too much time in Washington and has lost touch with his district.”

The mayor also jumped on Kanjorski’s mistake of referring to Broad Street as “Main Street.”

“The fact that the congressman didn’t even know what street he’s on while criticizing its condition speaks volumes about how out of touch he is,” Barletta said.

The question to Paul Kanjorski "What Hazleton were you in??" Hayden Towers, three tenants in its new annex, and a new restaurant, new drug store, intermodel started Lackawanna College opened in the old Post Office building, Luzerne County bought the former KNCB building on Broad St and is locating offices there, mine reclamation project, A.D. Thomas apartment renovation.

So when was the last time Paul took a walk down Main Street, oh sorry, Broad Street, Hazleton? It has become apparent that Paul Kanjorski is out of touch with his distrct. Washington has changed him. He said it in his own words- "Congress has its own laws."