Jack Mundie Ignores The Public During Council Meetings

This picture was taken at the last Hazleton City Council meeting.  Hazleton City Council meetings are the opportunity for council to conduct its business and listen to complaints from the public.  Evidently Jack Mundie doesn't feel either is important enough nor part of his duty as a councilman.

This incident isn't the first time that Mr. Mundie ignored matters at hand during a City Council meeting.  Reporter Sam Galski filed this report February 25, 2012. 

More recently, Ammon sat in the audience at a city council meeting and was observed by some exchanging text messages with Mundie as the councilman, from council's table at the front of the room, inquired about Shoepe's standing on the authority board.

Take a look at this slide. 

 

From 2004-2008 expenses exceeded revenue by almost $1 million dollars.  Mr. Mundie is the only current council member who held office during that period.  If he paid attention he could have prevented this problem, or at least corrected it. Instead he sat idly by until while the debt mushroomed to the point it was necessary for the City to borrow $5.6 million dollars to correct the deficit spending as reported May 25, 2011 in the Hazleton Standard Speaker. 

Some have to wonder did Mr. Mundie bury his head in the sand while taxpayers suffered from the additonal financial burden.  Obviously Mr. Mundie has no solutions.



As a result of Mayor Yannuzzi's $5.6 million dollard borrowing plan it was unnecessary for the City to take out a tax anticipation note in 2013 saving the City about $30,000 in interest and borrowing costs as outlined by Acting City Administrator Steve Hahn in this Standard Speaker article.  It should be noted that Councilman Jack Mundie voted "NO" on the financing deal. 

Some taxpayers are left asking this question of Mr. Mundie-

 









Yannuzzi And Graham Job Creators Leads to Continued Employment For Hazleton

In the City of Hazleton Municipal races for Mayor and City Council, Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and Councilwoman Evelyn Graham placed this ad in the Standard Speaker to highlight the amount of jobs both officials created in Hazleton during their lifetimes.

Yannuzzi created several companies that continue to operate today.  Yannuzzi Inc., Yannuzzi Plumbing and Heating, J Distributing, and Crossroad Computers were started by Joe Yannuzzi and still operate today in some capacity.  Yannuzzi Inc. and Crossroad Computers continue to operated under their same name.  Yannuzzi Plumbing and Heating is now part of Zola's Plumbing and Heating.  J Distributing is now YOU Trucking.

Evelyn Graham and her late husband, Seymour started Kama Plastics in the Heights Section of Hazleton.  Eventually the company was sold to Alcoa who then sold it to Multi-Plastics, Inc.

The amount of jobs remaining in Hazleton from those business startups is at least 250 jobs. 

Their opponents have no job creation experience or any adminstration experience.  Grace Cuozzo has refused to answer the question surrounding her Social Security Disability award, however she has not held a job in decades according to her State Ethics Commission filings.  Her inexperience in any management position as well as any elected governmental position cannot be ignored in applying for the lead job in Hazleton.

John Medashefski opposed portions of the Illegal Immigration Relief Ordinance that is very popular with most voters in Hazleton.  Past remarks by Medashefski regarding the direction from the city's chief executive supports the following assessment.

Yannuzzi's experience and leadership speak volumes to the reason voters in Hazleton should re-elect Yannuzzi to the position of Mayor.  Yannuzzi has brought the compliment of officers in the Hazleton Police Department back to 40.  He has added two additional code enforcement officers and one health officer to help with the City's enforcement.

Yannuzzi announced that the deficit spending of the last few years has been stopped in the year 2010.  It appears that financial results will have the city breaking even when compared to its budget.

Yannuzzi brought in the Pennsylvania Economy League to look at all operations of the City of Hazleton and asked for recommendations.  Their overall examination will be reported in the future and can provide a blueprint to keep Hazleton's operations in the black.

The candidates will face off in a debate to be aired on Channel 13.  Let's see if Cuozzo can act like a proper person and leave the name calling at the door. 

Graham's accomplishments in the Hazleton area are too numerous to mention.  Her generosity and committment to Hazleton residents make her re-election an almost certain victory.

Polling numbers for both Yannuzzi and Graham show significant leads, however they intend on campaigning right up until the polls close. 

Hazleton First To Combat Bath Salts: Its History Of Attacking The Problems

In today's Times Leader reporter Steve Mocarsky tackles the problems many towns and cities in the region are facing concerning the use of products masquerading as "bath salts." These products are designer drugs intended to create an effect on the human body.

Hazleton's Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and City Council are keeping up a record of attacking the problems facing Hazleton. Mocarsky writes this synopsis of Hazleton's efforts against bath salts.

Hazleton
City Council adopted an ordinance on March 23 based on ordinances the city clerk found in other states. It lists 11 chemicals that, if contained in the substances, would make them illegal to sell, distribute or possess within city limits. Violating the ordinance could be punished with a fine up to $500 and/or incarceration up to 30 days, with each day of violation constituting a separate offense.



Yannuzzi and Evelyn Graham were architects of many laws enacted in Hazleton to attack the problems the City has faced over the last several years. During his council term Yannuzzi passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act to combat the influx of illegal aliens into Hazleton.

In 2007 Yannuzzi modeled a law restricting sex offenders from living withing 2500 feet of a school, childcare facility, park, community center or common open space after an Alabama law. He hoped to protect the children of the City with his ordinance.

Hazleton’s proposed ordinance says sexually violent predators have reduced expectation of privacy and residency requirements. Making information about the offenders protects children, the ordinance says.

Yannuzzi helped pass a dangerous dog ordinance in 2005 after attacked animals and humans highlighted the problem in Hazleton. At the same time he showed compassion for animals by providing the platform to start Bailey's Bark Park in the City.

Yannuzzi supported the mine reclammation project by Hazleton Creek Properties that provided the money to hire ten(10) full time police officers for Hazleton. The project remediates an abandoned mine site that has been severely impacted by past deep and surface mining practices containing over 277 acres of un-reclaimed abandoned mine pits and spoil piles. Portions of the site (approximately 50 acres) were subsequently used for disposal of municipal and industrial waste in several mine pits. His support helped put police officers on the street at a time when gang activity increased in Hazleton.

Recently Yannuzzi and Christopher J. Puza, newly appointed Hazleton Councilman attacked the gang problem by bringing local and state resources together in reponse to gang activity increasing fears withing the City's limits.

Hazleton City Administrator Mary Ellen Lieb talks with other officials at City Hall on Wednesday about gang violence. Others pictured are (clockwise from bottom) Councilman Chris Puza; Council President Jim Perry, Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and Councilwoman Evelyn Graham.

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER


“The community didn’t feel safe and we wanted to get everyone together to try to keep the city safe,” Councilman Chris Puza said.

Puza said he organized Wednesday’s roundtable meeting – which included city officials, City Council, Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and state Sen. John Yudichak and state Rep. Tarah Toohil – to discuss gang activity in the area and how the city should address it.

Investigators have said the January double-homicide in the city that took the lives of 21-year-old Vladimir Ruiz and 23-year-old Juda Hope was gang-related, which caused residents to worry for their safety, Puza said.

The roundtable was Puza’s response to those concerns.

It's going to be an interesting election season in Hazleton.

Hazleton Merchants Look For Help

Standard Speaker writer Jim Dino covered a meeting of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce's Downtown Committee on Tuesday. MinSec quickly became a topic of those gathered to discuss the spat of crime including a recent double-murder in Hazleton.
You can read the article by clicking here.

What I found amazing was the listing by "homegal" in the comments section of all the inmates at MinSec who were involved in incidents during their stay there.

The following incidents, culled from Times Leader archives and media reports, have occurred since then:
Nov. 8, 2008: Convicted burglar James Reynaldo Mercado, 21, escapes from MinSec.

July 30, 2009: Allen Fernandez is released from MinSec, picked up in Hazleton by members of a gang who drove him to Ransom Township, Lackawanna County, and shot him 12 times.

April 2, 2009: Jamie “Cuba” Torres-Dominguez absconds from MinSec.

April 12, 2009: Julio Cesar Gonzales absconds from MinSec and is shot by an alleged drug dealer outside Station 33 on Diamond Avenue, Hazleton.

June 6, 2009: Nelson Roberto Rodriguez walks away from MinSec.

Sept. 13, 2009: MinSec resident Richard Torres is arrested on charges of indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

Sept. 23, 2009: Convicted robber Nicholas A. Cusatis absconds from MinSec.

Sept. 29, 2009: MinSec resident William Tierno is charged with robbery.

Oct. 28, 2009: Tierno is charged with additional robberies.

Oct. 29, 2009: Media report that Tierno stated he was introduced to crack cocaine and was able to break curfew while a resident of MinSec.

Nov. 11, 2009: Cusatis is apprehended by the state Board of Probation and Parole.

Nov. 29, 2009: Russell Ryder walks away from MinSec.

Jan. 1, 2010: Ryder allegedly steals cigarettes from CeeBee’s, West Broad Street, Hazleton.

Jan. 9, 2010: Ryder allegedly smashes a window and steals cigarettes from Pantry Quik, Diamond Avenue, Hazleton.

Jan. 14, 2010: Former MinSec resident Norman Kane is charged with theft from Blockbuster Video, Hazleton.

March 12, 2010: MinSec resident Joseph Stephens, of Chambersburg, allegedly tries to steal an iPod speaker system from Boscov’s in Hazle Township.

March 16, 2010: Former MinSec resident Derrick Davidson, of Hazleton, allegedly throws a bag of urine at Hazleton police while in a holding cell after being arrested.

March 21, 2010: Marvin Brown escapes from MinSec through a back door after an argument with security about a cell phone.

March 23, 2010: MinSec walk-away Nelson Roberto Rodriguez allegedly stabs a man on Carleton Avenue, Hazleton.

April 2, 2010: Edward Eugene Hardy, previously convicted of aggravated assault, fails to return to MinSec.

April 3, 2010: Hardy is captured by police on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre.

April 4, 2010: Torres-Dominguez, who absconded from MinSec a year ago, allegedly robs Craig’s Food Mart, Hazleton.

April 5, 2010: MinSec resident Jeffrey Wright allegedly robs M&T Bank, Hazleton.

April 6, 2010: Torres-Dominguez allegedly robs Dollar General, Hazleton.

April 6, 2010: Wright absconds from MinSec.

April 8, 2010: Torres-Dominguez allegedly robs Turkey Hill, Sugarloaf Township.

April 11, 2010: Torres-Dominguez allegedly robs Craig’s Food Mart, Hazleton, again.

April 14, 2010: Wright allegedly robs M&T Bank in Hazleton again.

April 2010: MinSec resident on work release at City Hall uses computer to download pornography.

May 2010: MinSec resident Luis Lozada-Colon is charged with stealing a CD player.

May 2010: Remus Marks, who failed to return to MinSec, is charged with causing a disturbance on North Bennett Court, Hazleton.

June 30, 2010: Convicted thief Sean M. Vought escapes from MinSec.

July 12, 2010: Sean M. Vought is captured by Lehighton police. State police said he fled there with his girlfriend, whom he met while at MinSec.

July 13, 2010 – Torres-Dominguez is captured.

Jan. 16, 2011: MinSec resident Rubin Correa is caught on videotape at First Presbyterian Church, right across the street, allegedly stealing a leather coat and rummaging through other clothing articles and drawers in the church during services.

Jan. 27, 2011: MinSec resident James Edward Heller allegedly robs bank in Pike County, leads police on high-speed chase back to Hazleton area.

Jan. 31, 2011: MinSec resident Charles Humphrey is charged with retail theft at Boscov’s, Hazle Township
This was posted today in the Times Leader. Thought it was worth a read to Hazleton people.