Martial Law by TML ONLY

As if, it’s not bad enough that we (The City) have a severe weather emergency to deal with, in addition the bobblehead city council in a Emergency (secret) Council Meeting held today at 2Pm they awarded Martial Law Power to The King, and Only The King.

The Citizens Voice is reporting: The council also authorized a resolution allowing Leighton to declare martial law in the city. Mc-Laugh-lin said that declaration would be made in the event of an evacuation and allow the national guard to assist, and if necessary, force people out of the city. However, no evacuation is expected at this time.

• Thank God for that Drew, you might be hauling good folks out of their homes in shackles!

The new ordinance allows Thomas Leighton (NOT the Mayor, but Thomas Leighton) the authority to declare martial law in the event of an emergency. I know what you’re thinking, but Thomas Leighton is the Mayor, and that’s true at the moment, but what happens when folks of Wilkes Barre Wake Up, or better yet when the D.A. gets off her duff? 

Will he be issuing said declaration from behind bars?

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

W-B declares state of emergency, enacts 9 p.m. curfew

An alcohol-fueled party?

In Today’s Citizens Voice, Christopher Hong reported that even though the city budgets $30,000 a year for the parade it costs much less.

• Sounds a bit like backpedaling if you ask me.

City spokesman Drew Mc-Laugh-lin said the city also has a responsibility to support events that are popular with residents and generate revenue for local businesses.

• So what happened to our Diamond Drop, New Years Eve celebration there Drew?

"It's a big business day for the city, but it's also an opportunity to showcase what the city has to offer," said McLaughlin, who refuted allegations by a concerned resident at the meeting that the parade centered around drinking. "It's good for the city, (and) by no means is it an alcohol-fueled party."

Ron Kamionka, owner of downtown businesses Mulligan's Irish Pub and Hardware Bar, also said the government shouldn't fund the parade, even though his businesses greatly benefit from it.

"It's one of our better days of the year," Kamionka said. "More importantly than the one day spike, it gets people (downtown) who don't normally come into the city."

• So if the parade is "by no means an alcohol-fueled party" as Mc-Laugh-lin stated, then how is it that the two bars that serve absolutely NO FOOD, just drinks can state “It's one of our better days of the year”? Hummm!!

• St. Patrick's Parade and Pub Tour- Wilkes-Barre

• It’s OK Drew, we understand how you could get lost on this one, as The City is no good with tracking anything that’s FUELED!

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

Residents question lofty St. Patrick's Day parade costs

The Money you could be saving without Tom

Please note these figures don’t include trimming of the wasteful do nothings at City Hall, such as the King’s mouth piece, or the overpaid double dippers who receive paychecks from both The City, and The Housing Authority!

Council Medical Insurance                        $718.00

Council Medical Insurance former     $4,872.00

Council Medical Insurance Buyouts  $9,120.00

Council Life Insurance                                $471.00

Council Life Insurance former                 $186.00

Council Advertising                                   $1,000.00

City Council Travel                                  $10,000.00

City Council League of cities                $20,813.00

St Patrick’s Parade                                   $30,000.00

2^nd Attorney                                                $47,000.00

West Law (don’t lawyers have this)     $8,670.00

Deputy Do Nothing or Chief ONLY 1  $78,000.00

Barricades Hotel Sterling                      $60,000.00

Street Sweeping (NOT DONE)             $643,650.00

Total                                                               $989,500.00

Is it just me or does it seem a bit crazy to pay an additional $30,813 in travel, for a part time council, especially considering no other 3^rd class city in the state does this. Welcome to Crazy Town

At last night’s council meeting the room was jam packed with citizens grumbling about The King’s wasteful spending, and purposed tax, and fee hikes, but most important were the folks who simply couldn’t afford their homes now, and with the newly increased fees, and taxes were sure to lose them.

While they pleaded for their lives to The King they were meet with silence while he sat texting on his Taxpayer provided Smartphone

James Gallagher, who identified himself as a postal worker, said "If the mayor of this administration makes $80,000 a year and he's not willing to budge, then the taxpayers shouldn't be willing to budge,"

• In other news: 

The annual Christmas parade in the downtown next month was in jeopardy, but thank goodness sponsors stepped forward to save the $1,000.00 budgeted parade. 

• Drew Mc-Laugh-lin, administrative coordinator for the city, said the cost of the parade at less than $10,000.

Thanks Times Leader:
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton watches a heckler
(ME, yelled stop the FREE GAS)
as he addresses a question during public comment Thursday.

Now I’m really confused. I know I’m a simpleton from T-Town, and all but why in the world would you budget only $1,000 for a parade that costs $10,000? Again is it just me or is this administration dumber then the voters of Wilkes Barre?

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

W-B mayor, council get an earful

Proposed tax hike angers W-B residents

Sponsors save W-B Christmas parade

Raise Taxes to keep Parade

It’s pretty clear what’s important to The King.

When it comes to cutting city services he doesn’t seem to hesitate, but ask him to give up his $30,000 drunken marching bash, and like the Leprechaun defending his pot of gold, The King adamantly defends this outrageous, lavish Irish bash.

Drew Mc-Laugh-lin, administrative coordinator for the city, said “the $30,000 expense for the St. Patrick’s Day parade will remain”

Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of a parade, but if the city can get the Christmas parade done for only $1,000 why is it that we the taxpayers must pay the kings fiddlers nearly $15,000 to march in the parade.

According to the Times Leader 

• In 2011 the city paid pipe-and-drum and string bands a total of $14,800 to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, according to information obtained from the city. 
• In 2010 it paid a total of $18,500
• In 2009, $15,500. 
• The three-year total amounted to $48,800. 

Bands  for Saint Patrick Day parades

• 2011

Avalon String Band, Inc.                                             $6,000.00

Edw.P.Maloney Memorial Pipe Band-                   $1,200.00

Uptown String Band -                                                   $3,300.00

Penn-York Highlanders pipe and drum band - $1,500.00

Mary Lou Mehl- Pipe and Drum Band                    $1,000.00

Broome Co.Celtic Pipes & Drums -                            $  800.00

Greater Scranton Black Diamond pipe BAND    $1,000.00

Total = $ 14,800.00

• 2010

The Avalon String Band, Inc.                                    $6,000.00

Edw.P.Maloney Memorial Pipe Band-                   $1,200.00

Uptown String Band                                                      $3,300.00

Penn York Highlanders Bagpipe Band-                $1,500.00

Mary Lou Mehl- Pipe and Drum Band                   $1,000.00

Hegeman String Band Inc.                                         $3,000.00

Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band                                     $2,500.00

Total = $ 18,500.00

•  2009

The Avalon String Band, Inc.                                    $6,000.00

Penn York Highlanders Bagpipe Band-                $1,500.00

Mary Lou Mehl- Pipe and Drum Band                   $1,000.00

Edw.P.Maloney Memorial Pipe Band-                   $1,200.00

Hegeman String Band Inc.                                          $3,300.00

Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band                                      $2,500.00

Total = $ 15,500.00

Total for 3 years...$48,800.00!!!!!

$48,800 Just for Bands!

Talk about Pay 2 Play!

Is it me or would the parade be just as lovely having the area High School Bands march for FREE!

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

W-B expenses concern watchdog

Longevity pay, Not Bonuses??

First, I must say, THANK GOD for the Times Leader! What an outstanding bunch of investigative journalists they have over there.  

Braking stories like

• Gas Gate

• DPW Auto Repair Gate

• NEWLY ADDED Bonus Gate

According to Edward Lewis of The TimesLeader:  Longevity pay begins at one percent and is paid on the second anniversary of employment. It increases one percent every two years and is capped at 15 percent.

• So The King has been on The City Payroll, How Long? And if his base is $79,911 should we then factor in Bonus Gate, or he settling for Free Gas?

• But rest assured this is not a bonus!  

“Bonuses are not paid to any city employees,” said city spokesman Drew Mc-Laugh-lin.

Wake Up Drew!

• Does it matter what you call it? I say, "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a freakin duck"! 

• That’s like claiming, donating to the King’s campaign doesn’t factor into awarding city contracts!

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

Longevity boosts city paychecks

Gas Gate Gone Wild

We all knew the King & Co. were stealing gas, but “Holy Gas Gate Batman”!

67,000 Gallons in just 2 years! 

That’s 33,500 Gallons per year, and the Shyster King has been King for 9 years now, so by that math, there could be an estimated 301,500 Gallons missing.

• I say off with his head!

What has Gas Gate cost the City, you might be asking yourself.

Well assuming that Gas Gate isn’t a new concept, and looking at the Times Leaders coverage of the scandal, it’s a safe bet that it’s been ongoing since The King’s, been King.

Let’s look at the numbers, assuming that over the course of 9 years The King & Co siphoned an estimated 301,500 Gallons of gas, and according to GasBuddy.com the average price per gallon over the course of the last 9 year was about $2.99 per gallon, then were looking at roughly $901,485.00 plus fines of $26,000.

Mayor Stealing gas in Undershirt

• Gas Gate, Grand total $927,485.00

• WOW staggering! 

My only question:

• Are you waking up yet?

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source

W-B is hit with fuel bill

GasBuddy.com Chart

Bad Faith, L.A.G. – Shocking!!!

As reported by Michael P. Buffer of The Citizens Voice Newspaper, Judge Lisa Gelb ordered L.A.G. Towing, and The City of Wilkes Barre to pay The Voice for costs they incurred when attempting to obtain public records in accordance with Pennsylvania Right to Know Law.

As the Voice sought the records L.A.G. provided a laundry list of excuses from

• I don’t have to provided them, and you can't make me, to 

• I simply don’t have them.

"It's a good ruling by the judge to find they acted in bad faith in how they handled this open-records case from day one," The Citizens' Voice attorney Michael Cosgrove said.

The real question at hand:

• If L.A.G. Towing didn’t maintain any records prior to July 22, 2011 as they stated, under oath, in court. Then how is it that Leo Glodzik, owner of L.A.G. Towing was able to provide city council with records from 2008, on September 14, 2012, following The Wilkes Barre Independent Gazette's story of a woman who claimed to be a victim of L.A.G?

• AFFIDAVIT OF LEO GLODZIK (Look at bullet point 5.)

• 2008 Records provided to City Council by Leo on 09/14/12

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source

Judge: City, tow company must pay CV for 'frivolous litigation'
Council has contentious meeting

Let the Blame Game Begin

According the Bill O’Boyle of the Times Leader, The proposed $45.7 million budget – up 2 percent over 2012

At a time when the city is broke the King, and his wasteful spending habits just don’t seem to quit.

Now when there is no hope of bouncing back from this financial nightmare the King is not accepting responsibility for anything, and is unwilling to take a pay cut himself. Making the charge that because he never took a pay raise (that by the way he isn't  entitled to), that was his contribution. The whole time attempting to use tax and fee increases, and a weapon to pit taxpayers, against union members.

It’s Cintax, and if not them it’s the labor unions. 

Well let’s ask ourselves a few questions

• Who stole gas?

• Who got FREE security systems?

• Who gave away no bid contracts to the most expensive companies in exchange for campaign contributions?

• Who hired their slimy buddies at hundreds of dollars per hour to do nothing?

That’s RIGHT none of that falls on the hardworking men & women who save our lives, and clean up our city, with extremely limited resources, I might add, as the king has either cut their resources to the bone or bought them shabby computers, and equipment, at twice the price.

This is nobody’s fault but The King’s. He looted the city, and you allowed it.

One of the city’s four labor unions is willing to make talk about concessions, but only if the others will also, and it just so happens that the one willing to talk is the one that represents the City Hall cronies.  

Wake Up Wilkes Barre  

Source

Count on friction with 2013 budget

One union will talk if others will, too

W-B collects $2.2M less in taxes

Pay Up Suckers

In case you missed the memo, the King is making you pay for his lavish lifestyle. 

As the city was drowning in debt, the King was filling up at the pumps, and now his solution is, as usual, Rape the taxpayers. I know this is not news, but in all seriousness, your silence when he stole gas, hired his kids, friends, family, and consistently gave away the city to anyone willing to donate to his campaign has caused us all to pay up!

So when you go to the store to buy blue bags and are hit with the new price of $10.00, ask yourself “was ignoring the problem worth it?”

Don't blame your landlord for the rent increase either, try to understand they got hit with increased recycling, inspection, and any other fees our worthless King could hit them with.

We are a city of 40,000 people, our King is paid $79,911 and only 6,981 vote.

City Mayor WILKES-BARRE CITY

Vote for not more than 1

(WITH 20 OF 20 PRECINCTS COUNTED)

Tom Leighton (DEM)  .  .  .  .  .  .  3,852

Lisa Cope (REP)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .      2,368

Betsy Summers (LIB) .  .  .  .  .  .  .    737

WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .              24

         Total .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .                6,981 

    Over Votes .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .          2     

   Under Votes .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        251

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source
Leighton proposes tax, fee hikes in Wilkes-Barre
2011 Municipal Election Results
Our Endorsement for Wilkes-Barre Mayor: Tom Leighton

Investigation time, Council

Today the Citizens Voice Newspapers editorial board scolded our poor King for falling on hard times. 

Let’s get past the part where the Voice asked how much cash the city has on hand, and how much was actually needed by the end of year, and where the city slammed the door in the face of the Voice.

This is not the Kings fault, he only took as much gas, and other freebies as his, cars could hold at any given time. This in itself couldn’t possibly have contributed to the problems of a cash strapped city, could it?

When the newspaper went asking for the figures The King said NO! Now we all know that when any King says no that’s it RIGHT?

Not so fast, let's look back to when our King was only a bobblehead himself, and BTW not a very good one. Our current King then bobblehead launched not one but two investigations into an honest mayor only to find nothing. My point is that under the charter the council has such power, and as it would seem, either this council hasn’t a clue, or could care less.

UnderSection 3:10. Investigations.

• Council shall have the power, by ordinance, to make or cause to be made, investigations, audits or studies of the affairs of the City and the conduct of any City department, office or agency.

Wake Up Council “Investigation time, come on, come on investigate, and have a good time”

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source

Our Voice: A little more transparency, Mr. Mayor

Welcome to Brokesville

If you’ve been listening to Karen Ceppa-Hirko for the past year then it comes as no surprise that we (The City) are broke, but if you’re like the clueless council this is shocking news.

"It just seems like a lot has come to together in a short amount of time to create the proverbial perfect storm," Councilman Bill Barrett said.

• That’s only because you haven’t been listening when Karen was ringing the warning bell for the past YEAR!

Councilman Tony George said on Thursday he too was in the dark, but hoped to learn more from Leighton before Monday's meeting.

• That’s only because you ask way too many questions Tony, and you don't just sitting there bobbling you head like your counterparts.

"I can only stress that we can't be doing this every year," Barrett said

• Well Wake Up Bill, and stop rubberstamping every last thing Da King Slides you.

Ending the year with a deficit simply isn't an option, Mc-Laugh-lin said

• We in the real world call that a distressed city, where the Governor audits the city, and send your boss to jail.

"We're definitely in trouble, financially," council President Mike Merritt said. "What we need to do is have a budget that's sustainable.

• WOW Mikey you sound like Karen!

"We shouldn't be spending every nickel of what we have," Barrett said

• Here’s a thought Bill, stop taking your lavish trips for God knows what.

When The Citizens' Voice asked how much revenue the city has collected this year, the city responded by processing it as a Right-To-Know request that could take five days or more. Although the city could immediately provide the information, spokesman Drew Mc-Laugh-lin said Friday that officials did not have the resources to do so.

Welcome to Wilkes Barre Chris, if you ask a question, and they don’t want you to know, that is the standard response. Then they will require a 30 day extension, due to numerous requests, and finally give you outdated information.

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source

Tax revenue due just half of W-B deficit

W-B council members unsure how to solve city's deficit crisis
Leighton downplays W-B debt of $100M

No Raise same as Cut, RIGHT?

Leighton said he would not reduce his salary, which is $79,911. “Well, technically, by not taking my pay raise that I’m entitled to and by showing leadership, I take a pay cut,” he said.

Question: Who said you’re entitled to a pay raise? Not the city charter, nor the administrative code. The only pay you’re entitled to is the salary set forth in the City Charter, administrative code, and any and all increases need to be approved by city council.

• Wake Up Tommy, you don’t own the City the people do, and your steeling gas, security systems, giving suckholes $300 per hr has all taken its toll on the general fund, and now you want the unions to pay for your frivolous spending!

Mc-Laugh-lin even said administrative employees, including himself, are considering the furloughs. But Leighton stressed the importance for city hall to operate at full capacity.

"(Public works) may do the garbage and clean the streets, the firemen fight the fire, but without the administration being the core, they can't function," Leighton said.

• Ya because Firemen wouldn't know that the burning building is the one that gets the water, or DPW employees wouldn't know to pick up the blue city bag filled with trash, without the Kings guidance. Good Job Your Lordship!

Linda Urban a frequent critic of the administration said “I believe Drew McLaughlin needs to be terminated. We do not need your services,” she said, adding City Administrator Marie McCormick can do his job as assistant to the mayor and McLaughlin’s pay can go toward another firefighter or police officer. Urban suggested getting rid of one of the two city attorneys and questioned what council members did to earn $350 a week. “If you want to save money, then you need to look at yourselves. Don’t look at the police. Don’t look at the fire. You are overpaid, spoiled, absolutely spoiled,” she said.

• Oh Linda as much as I agree with you, it should be noted that our King is a bumbling idiot, and Drew as goofy as he is, is needed to help the King tie his shoes. In all seriousness I don’t know why a 3^rd class city with a declining population needs a city spokesman, when the mayor of New York doesn’t need one.

Drew, like Linda said its time to go, teach Tommy how to talk, and ask uncle J.J. for a new assignment.

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

Leighton warns of huge shortfall

Leighton: No pay hike; I’m a leader

So Broke, So Fast?

We (The City) are at the point now that we are asking employees to take furloughs during the holiday season.

The King is saying, hey don’t worry about putting a turkey on your table or presents under the tree for your children. It’s crunch time, I squandered all the city’s money, and now if I declare distressed city status, I will go to jail, so bail me out, wont you?

Wake Up Your Lordship!

Your experienced leadership or lack there of, got us here, why should the employees help?

If you’ve been listening to the King over the past year, boast about our financial strength, and excellent credit rating, then your likely as confused as I am about how Cintax not paying $1.2 million could cause such a catastrophe.

Let’s look at some of the outrageous claims made either by the King or on his behalf in just the past year:

That Wilkes-Barre is on solid financial footing while other mid-sized cities such as Scranton and Harrisburg are struggling is a testament to Leighton's management skills.

Leighton, for his part, said "I'll run on my record," which includes a vastly improved city credit rating and a revitalized downtown.

I vowed to leave this city better off on my final day in office than the one I inherited on my first. If you can take an honest look at the city today, no one can deny that we have begun an extraordinary rebirth under the most difficult financial and economic conditions and, with your support,

"Despite the challenges that we face, the City of Wilkes-Barre is on an upward path," Leighton said. "Things are difficult, but they will get better."

While is facing a possible $6.5 million deficit by the end of the year and 13 police officers and eight firefighters are facing layoffs, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton said his city is financially OK – for now.

He cited the downtown development during his time as mayor, including the creation of the Movies-14 Cinema and Barnes in Noble, 15,000 downtown employees collecting revenue and the city’s credit rating of fifth in the state.

Mayor Tom Leighton and his administrative staff continue to say that the city’s financial status is improving – yet they remain determined to increase the city’s parking revenues.

Drew Mc-Laugh-lin, the city’s administrative coordinator, said after the meeting the authority’s action Tuesday “bears no impact on the city’s 2012 budget.” “At this time, the city has every expectation that we will meet all financial obligations for the year,” he said. “

As financial uncertainty looms following Mayor Tom Leighton's proposed cutbacks for city workers last week, the city must make nearly $5.8 million in debt payments before year's end.

Yet here we are asking the hardworking city employees to take the hit, while the mighty at City Hall who got us into this mess, sit comfortably.

If higher-paid employees declined to participate, then employees in lower-paying jobs would be temporarily laid off, he explained. “I’d leave that up to each department,” Leighton said of who would decide which employees would be furloughed.

Here’s a thought, Furlough City Hall!!

Wake The Flock Up Wilkes Barre