Luzerne County Should Take A Lesson From Allegheney County

Mark Moran Citizen's Voice Photo
Caption- "I wonder if I am going to be next??"

In today's Citizen's Voice Michael Buffer reports on the sad state of financial affairs facing Luzerne County. The county is considering a 33% tax hike to make ends meet. According to Buffer the county will be able to pare that down to 22% if they lay off 150 people.

The reality is that we are in the midst of a restructuring of Luzerne County whether "they" want to believe it or not. I call it the "Southerton" effect. Except for that PizzellaFella I believe the next set of office holders WILL GET IT.

They will understand that the people are damn angry with government. Speaking of Pizzella, dude, did you not see what happened to Ciavarella when his arrogance ran about ten feet in front of him? Seriously, think about this. You couldn't walk in Conahan's shadow and you believe you are going to do what? Gort has a great post about the PizzellaFella. Frank...ly speaking if you were a pilot you would know it is a dangerous game to get caught in the propwash.

Anyone who has encountered the federal system will give you the following rundown. The Feds are not Keystone cops. The problem with the Feds is you are already caught when they come for you. When they want to talk to you they already know what they need to know. They just want to talk to tidy up a few details before they lock your ass up. Ohh off subject, sorry. Back to Luzerne County.

Commissioner Petrilla and Urban. Take a page from the Allegheny County playbook. Start with this paper written by Christopher Briem of the University of Pittsburgh that details how Allegheny County came to its breaking point of change. Efficiency in consolidation is no different for government than it is for private industry.

In line with consolidation look how Allegheny County was able to extract savings and install efficiency into its government structure by eliminating Row Offices. Allegheny County's efforts to terminate duplication saved residents millions. Although Dan Onorato doesn't stand a chance against Tom Corbett shoud the race for governor shape up that way I want to give him credit for his plan outlined in this article. Yes, not all Democrats are bad.

But the effort should not stop there. Many local governments should be looking at consolidation. The state should be mandating enrollment in the Pennsylvania Council of Governments to effect a statewide savings for each and every taxpayer.

Jim Dino of the Standard Speaker writes:

Councils of governments are meant to act as a conduit among an area's municipal governments, so that they can try to address common problems together - and perhaps save money doing it.

The Mountain Council of Governments represents 13 municipalities in the Hazleton area, including municipalities in Luzerne, Schuylkill and Carbon counties. There is no membership fee to belong to the Mountain COG.

For more information on the M-COG contact Dan Guydish, executive director, at 455-1509 or at www.hazletonchamber.org.

I know,,time to take my Prozac. Nobody will ever go for it.

Talk About Getting Something Extra With Your Big MAC

I think we are learning the secret to that "secret sauce." County, McDonald's reach deal on halting illicit drug activity

The Allegheny County District Attorney's office and representatives from McDonald's reached an agreement in principle today to increase security and surveillance at three Downtown restaurants.

District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said the agreement has not been finalized and he could not give further details.

McDonald's franchises have agreed to pay for the changes, which came after Mr. Zappala announced Monday that drug-dealing charges had been filed against an employee at the Smithfield Street location and that the DA's office was prepared to file a civil complaint to shut the three restaurants down because of frequent drug activity.

DA's office spokesman Mike Manko said this is the first time a district attorney or state's attorney has threatened to shut down a nuisance McDonald's in the United States.

Ohhh...take it easy McDonalds..just kiddin about the special sauce..hold the drugs..I mean the mayo....

Arlen Specter- King Of The Senate

From The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

PennLive.com features an article titled "Specter stands up to party's threats."

In the article Specter imbues an air of confidence over his vote for the stimulus package.

The senator is out to prove that, agree or disagree on any particular vote he casts, you have to respect the position he has earned.

By calling Friday's press session, the senator was like a veteran bantam prizefighter out to prove he was in total control of the ways, means and narrative of his next title match.

But if there's a primary, he seems fully capable of employing his indefatigability and tenacity to demonstrate, not so subtly, that messing with him would be, well, foolish.

Somebody should remind Specter about Harry Reid, the top ranking Democrat, who wants control of the next election.

Reid pressured then Governor Blagojevich about his choices to replace Barack Obama's seat in the Senate.

Days before Gov. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, top Senate Democrat Harry Reid made it clear who he didn’t want in the post: Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones.

Sources say the Senate majority leader pushed against Jackson and Davis — both democratic congressmen from Illinois — and against Jones — the Illinois Senate president who is the political godfather of President-elect Barack Obama — because he did not believe the three men were electable. He feared losing the seat to a Republican in a future election.

"The welfare of the country is more important than my seat in the Senate," Sen. Arlen Specter said Friday afternoon.

Senator, you hold onto that thought. I hear that the word at the Allegheny County Republican Committee Lincoln Day Dinner is your seat at the dinner table is already occupied.