- Very naïve, or
- As stupid as he thinks you are!
We have a group of dedicated
citizens who unselfishly give of their time and talents to run a board that is
probably the only city entity that operates in the black. Now they are being
looked at by the mayor trying to figure a way to gain control of the finances
that they have so carefully accrued through good responsible financial
management.
LAZ (not to be confused with
LAG the tow company) has managed the daily affairs as to the maintenance, and
oversight of the parking facilities with no problems, as reported by the
authority. The financial report requested by the mayor only fortifies the fact
that the present board is doing a great job, and looking out for the interest
of the taxpayers of Wilkes-Barre. I would also pose the question to the city
council to reject any future appointments to this board as a move to replace
any of the current members.
There are two sitting members
on the board whose terms expire shortly. When asked by me at said meeting if
they would like to remain if asked, both replied in the affirmative. The mayor,
when asked if they would be retained, was as usual very vague in his response.
My point being that if the board is doing its job well and operating in the
black, why try to fix something that is not broken? (The answer obviously is
who controls the board, controls the finances.) The board members' dedication
and hard work appears to be secondary!
The mayor was quoted as
saying, "We're just trying to do what's in the best interest of city
taxpayers."
Mr. Mayor, if that's the
case, and you do not have an ulterior motive, why not just let sleeping dogs
lie? Had you been sincere, you would have praised the board for doing an
excellent job as wards of the taxpayer dollar. But your impromptu visit had
ominous overtones.
Long after you are gone, and
a mere blip on the horizon, we, the citizens of Wilkes-Barre, will still have
to live with what you have done, and what you did not do. So far, the legacy
you are saddled with is no better and maybe even worse than what you saddled
your predecessor with.
Ray Arellano
Wilkes-Barre
Thank you Ray, for seeing this for what
it truly is. We only hope the council will also see any new appointments for
what they truly are. An attempt to hijack, lease, and loot this
authority.
Wake Up Wilkes Barre
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