WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 05/11/17
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a project could make the levee trail in Kingston safer. Page a6
the white house narrative is shifting on Comey’s dismissal.
WVc BaSeBall Pittston area and valley west wage a heated contest. Page B1
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Northeast PeNNsylvaNia’s largest News team
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017
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A Wilkes-Barre police vehicle sits across from Ali Baba Lounge. Inset: In a screenshot from a music video, Uncle Murda is seen with another rapper holding a gun up to someone dressed as a police officer.
City will borrow $52M in debt plan Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George threatened to seek financially distressed status. By BoB KAlinoWsKi Staff Writer
‘HIGH ALERT’ Rapper’s upcoming W-B show has law enforcement on edge By BoB KAlinoWsKi Staff Writer
WILKES-BARRE — A rapper and suspected gang member from Brooklyn who advocates killing police officers is slated to perform next week at a downtown nightclub, putting concerned law enforcement on high alert. Ali Baba Liquor Lounge at 219 S. Main St. is heavily promoting next Friday’s performance of “Uncle Murda,” who insists in one song it’s “time to start killing these coppers” to avenge the police killings of black men.
In the song’s official video, which has amassed 1.25 million views online, Uncle Murda and another rapper point guns at the head of a man in a New York Police Department uniform. Luzer ne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said Thursday that area law enforcement has been preparing for the arrival of the controversial rapper and his entourage, who have made headlines in New York City media for anticop rhetoric. “They are, in my opinion, gang members. When someone
like this comes into our community, we have to be on high alert,” Salavantis said. “To talk about violence, and putting a gun to the heads of law enforcement, and killing law enforcement, that is not the answer. It’s very upsetting.” Ali Abualburak, general manager of Ali Baba Liquor Lounge, on Wednesday only offered to talk to a reporter off the record. He did not return requests for comment Thursday. Efforts to reach Uncle Murda, whose real name is Leonard Grant, were not successful.
Tickets for Uncle Murda’s show are on sale for $30.
“(expletive) the police” While the rapper condemns the police, Wilkes-Barre cops will be tasked with protecting him, his staff and fans when he performs at Ali Baba Liquor Lounge. People familiar with the operation say Ali Baba, in addition to having its own security staff, pays to have four city police officers on-hand when the club is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights — just like private duty details that officers perform for Sherman Hills Apartments, McDonald’s, and other locations. Please see shoW, Page A5
‘Dallas United?’ Community divisions could impact school board election By MichAel P. Buffer Staff Writer
The Dallas School District teachers’ strike in November and December increased tensions and created divisions in the community, and that could affect Tuesday’s primary election. A team of four candidates are
running as “Dallas United.” The team has received support from union members on social media. Two “Dallas United” candidates are married to Dallas teachers, and another is a Tunkhannock Area teacher. Four other candidates — including two current board members —
are on the ballot. All eight candidates have crossfiled and are seeking five Republican and five Democratic nominations for the Nov. 7 general election. The “Dallas United” candidates are Scott Francis, Susan K. Allen, John Pike and Jamiel W. Rollins. Christine Swailes, Edward Dudick
Jr. and the sitting board members — Sherri Newell and Gary Youngblood — are also on the ballot. At a school board meeting in March, Allen got into a heated exchange with Vito DeLuca, the district’s solicitor and chief negotiator. Please see DAllAs, Page A5
WILKES-BARRE — City Council is letting Mayor Tony George get his way in dealing with the city’s crushing debt. Council on Thursday voted 3-2 to borrow up to $52 million to restructure the city’s long term debt, a plan George has been seeking for months. George had given council an ultimatum: george approve the plan Thursday or he would seek to have the city declared financially distressed as early as this morning under the state’s Act 47 financial recovery plan. Councilman Tony Brooks, who long opposed the plan, emerged recently as the possible deciding convert. In the end, he became the tiebreaker, voting yes along with councilmen Bill Barrett and Mike Belusko. “If I have to choose between debt or a tax increase, I will choose debt,” Brooks said. Chairwoman Beth Gilbert and Councilman Mike Merritt voted no. The borrowing and debt restructuring plan will put the city in a better cash flow position headed into the new year, but it’s just the first in a series of difficult decisions the city faces when it come to finances, said City Administrator Ted Wampole. All expenses will be evaluated as will possible ways to increase revenue, Wampole said. “This is the very beginning of what will be a long process,” Wampole said. “This is something we needed to do. The alternative is we run out of money.” contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2055, @cvbobkal ADVE RTISE M E NT
More people in NEPA are working, but salaries lag behind the state average. By Denise AllABAugh Staff Writer
Mark MoraN / the CitizeNS’ VoiCe
Audience members listen to speakers give presentations during the 2017 Economic Indicators Report release from the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development at Wilkes University held Thursday at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
positive news. We haven’t seen anything like this in years.” Ooms released the institute’s 102-page Indicators Report for Luzerne and Lackawanna counties for 2017 Thursday at a forumatMoheganSunPocono. The event included reports on jobs and the economy as well as migration, housing, energy, education and workforce development; health and health care and planning; land use; transportation and infrastructure.
PLAINS TWP. — Both Luzerne and Lackawanna counties have been seeing significant job growth and the region is beginning to move in the right direction, said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development at Wilkes University. “The size of our labor force has increased and jobs have increased,” Ooms said. “The jobs created have been more significant. This is extremely Please see inDicAtors, Page A12
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