CMYK ➛
THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com
MAIL BAG
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have been escorted by police out of Wilkes-Barre Township meetings at the urging of council President Mary Yuknavich and attorney Bruce Phillips, the solicitor. I am contacting the American Civil Liberties Union and presenting it with the minutes of the meetings and cassette recordings to investigate whether it was illegal to escort me out and deny others adequate time to speak. If my rights have been violated, I will sue the township. I’m asking the ACLU to be present at the meetings. Joseph Naperkowski Wilkes-Barre
River St. meeting quite frustrating
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arely have I witnessed a more disappointing display of incompetence by a public bureaucracy than the recent public meeting about the proposed improvements to the River Street corridor. This project is on people’s minds because River Street essentially separates downtown Wilkes-Barre from the entire length of the new River Common. At the Darte Center at Wilkes University, I had expected that the event would take place in the theater area, with, perhaps, a formal presentation including some background on the project, assumptions, objectives, costs and maybe even a PowerPoint display. I was surprised to find 10 or so maps and renderings displayed around the lobby. Alas, there was no presentation. I was told if I had any questions (which, by now, I did), I could ask one of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation representatives. The PennDOT representatives had nothing to identify themselves. By now the room was getting crowded, so I decided to hang at the edge of some of the groups to see if I could learn anything. Regrettably, I did. This project will do almost nothing to make it easier
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2011 PAGE 5E
LETTERS FROM READERS
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SEND US YOUR OPINION Letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification. Letters should be no more than 250 words. We reserve the right to edit and limit writers to one published letter every 30 days. • Email: mailbag@timesleader.com • Fax: 570-829-5537 • Mail: Mail Bag, The Times Leader, 15 N. Main St., WilkesBarre, PA 1871 1
or safer for a mom with three kids and a dog to get to the Millennium Circle. This project will make it even harder to get into, or out of, downtown Wilkes-Barre. This project will do nothing to make parking for events on the River Common more accessible, nor improve access for pedestrians or bikers. This project will further confuse visitors to the area by exacerbating the already chaotic network of one-way streets and turning lanes in downtown Wilkes-Barre. As near as I can tell, the principal objective of this project is to slow down things. I’m no traffic engineer, but even I know that if you make major alterations to traffic patterns on what might be the most used route into the downtown, things are going to be even more screwed up. As a result, more people will simply avoid coming downtown. On the way out, I grabbed a survey for people who had come to the meeting. Looking at it casually before I descended the stairs, I noticed that one of the questions was this: “Did you attend the presentation?” The options were “yes” and “no.” I wrote in “other” and “There wasn’t one.” But the icing on the cake was question seven: “Where do you live?” The options were Bangor Borough, East Bangor Borough, Martins Creek, Rosetto, Pen Argyl and Other. I picked “Other.” It seems the people from the Department of Transportation didn’t even know what county they were in! Frank Burnside Jr. Harveys Lake
Reader cites lack of judicial monitor
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respectfully take exception to The Times Leader’s editorial “Real justice lacking in juvenile system” (Aug. 12). I have been an unwilling participant in, and active critic of, the Pennsylvania Judicial System for more than 30 years. I believe that this is not a juvenile justice issue at all. I believe this is a judicial oversight issue that just happened to raise its ugly head in juvenile court. Ex-judge Michael Toole was not arrested for juvenile court misconduct, yet he is now in federal prison. It is not the job of the FBI to police and control judges in this state. The FBI only comes into play when the state fails to police its own. And fail it did. Not only did the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board table a detailed complaint about former Luzerne County judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella’s illegal juvenile court activities, but according to published reports, this same board ignored almost 40 other complaints on these two future felons. I believe the JCB has been used by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as a political tool. The Supreme Court’s control of the JCB allows the “powers that be” to demand loyalty and support or face the wrath of the board – while keeping the court at arm’s length all the while. I believe that in order for real judicial reform to take place we need to investigate
the JCB via a federal grand jury. If the Supreme Court was acting in the best interest of the public, it would be demanding such an investigation. It appears the system did not fail, but rather the system “permitted” at least some, if not most, of this illegal activity by these judges to go unchallenged. Not only do we need to know why the JCB did not fulfill its mandate as required by its own rules, but also how extensive its failures have been in the past. Larry Hohol DeLand, Fla.
Council candidate states his merits
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am sorry that Kathy Dobash felt that she received undo criticism from me regarding her Luzerne County office visits. I was noting only that all people in the county – not only those elected to run in November for county council – should be afforded the same privilege. The transition process can be understood by attending the committee’s meetings, and the future process of county government can be seen in the charter. I appreciate Dobash’s critique of my statements regarding county actions, past and present; however, I would ask you to critique my résumé and let me know if I have some qualifications to make statements based on my experiences and knowledge. Thank you for recognizing me as a teacher: 15 years. I also was a coach of high school, college and semiprofessional men, many of whom until today maintain a close relationship with me. I am also a father of two, and grandfather of two boys. I am a U.S. Navy veteran. I was the mayor of Swoyersville for four years. I was a Luzerne County commissioner for four years
(having balanced the budget each of those years and left office with a $500,000 surplus). I was the manager of an insurance office for five years. I was the director of the county assessment office for 9½ years. I was a pharmacy rep for five years, until I retired. I believe my well-rounded experiences qualify me, to a degree, to offer an opinion regarding government knowledge and learning. If you add up my years in government service, they total 32½ years. I include teaching in that amount, because I feel I served the public in that capacity. I look forward to your help, letting me know where I qualify to be called ignorant or critical of someone seeking knowledge. I will say without reservation that 17 years as mayor, commissioner and assessment director provides me with a little more knowledge of government than the three months you have spent researching. I commend your efforts. Keep up the good work. However, all citizens should attend and be involved in government, not only when it affects them, but every day. Oh, by the way, I taught socials studies in high school, which included civics. I look forward to your help in erasing any biases you feel I have. Edward A. Brominski Candidate Luzerne County Council Swoyersville
Give Congress its share of woe
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f the federal government goes after “entitlement programs,” a lot of Americans will be affected: senior citizens, veterans, the disabled, those living in poverty and the younger generation of Americans (when they reach their “golden years” and hopefully not their “stolen years”).
Congress is going after the middle class and the “havenots” to eliminate Social Security and Medicare, and favoring the rich with tax breaks. Is this a way to reduce the deficit? Why are they starting at the bottom? Let’s start at the top. The bottom of the barrel is empty. Nearly 54 million Americans are collecting Social Security and congressional members apparently cannot give them a cost of living adjustment, while they give themselves $4,000 to $5,000 raises. About 48 million people receive food stamps. They’re in low-paying jobs or can’t find jobs. Why? There were 41,000 companies that moved their work overseas, yet we give them billions of dollars to set up their businesses. Where is the job creation that candidates promised, if elected? There are 38 million American children who go to bed hungry. How many of our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., do the same? Two-thirds of U.S. corporations haven’t paid their taxes from 1997 to 2009. They sure can afford to pay; this would reduce the deficit. The price of gasoline is out of control, and there are companies making billions of dollars in profits. Why? Greed. Congress, where are you? You are the lawmakers. You better do something, because in 2012, changes will be made. It seems the people are being ruled by a 535-person monarchy in Washington that enjoys a Cadillac lifestyle. If people, especially members of the younger generation, don’t get involved, then you deserve the government you get. Wake up! Wake up! Americans, you worked too hard to make this a great nation. Don’t let the 535 in Washington destroy it! Charles Urban Kingston