About
Betty Roccograndi is a former reporter for The Times Leader and columnist for the defunct Sunday Independent. She is the recipient of a national journalism award for public service from Sigma Delta Chi, The Society of Professional Journalists. She also won a first-place award for investigative reporting from The Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania.
The collaborator of this blog prefers, for now, to work behind the scenes under the moniker, The Plumber. He, too, is dismayed at the direction this country is heading; with the self-serving politicians who cater to special interest groups who keep them in power; and with the expansion of government - the antithesis of the groundwork our founding fathers laid for our country. His insight and professional expertise will be evident in articles published under the byline, The Plumber.
The Architect of PureBunkum, like The Plumber, prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. Needless to say, he provided invaluable assistance in designing this site. He is a professional technical specialist who manages a large computer network for a public institution. He became involved with PureBunkum because he shares our political philosophy. He plans to continue working with us as we improve our site.
When mayor was elected he asked all the city unions to help the city financially in their contracts. the fire union did (concessions = approx 3.5 million dollars over 7 years). Mayor Leighton said “By making (these) substantial concessions, the firefighters’ union has agreed to become partners with the city in its revitalization plan” The Fire Fighters Union did their part and who gets cut back? What did the other unions do? NOTHING. And the mayor paints US as the bad guys. Few hear about that.
Dan Emplit WBFD
Thanks for responding. I’d love to hear more about the approximately $3.5 million concessions you mention. You’re right. They weren’t widely publicized.
This is the list that I like to use for Dictator Leightons screw ups;
1 Screwed up selling the Sterling hotel (costing us $325,000)
2 Bad faith moves (hiding the money from FD)
3 Back room deals (Medic 8 took over from surrounding medic units, no bid. By the way Medic 8 was partially owned by ex-judge Conahan, you know the judge who ruled For the city, AGAINST Denise Carey. The ruling that was later overturned)
4 Tried to sell city property for 8 cents on the dollar to a campaign contributor (old river road bakery)
5 Lied to county officials to get tax forgiveness to a campaign contributor (old river road bakery to LAG Towing)
6 Cut our safety to fund HIS pet projects
7 The whole Ice Rink, which was supposed to revitalize W-B, HOW?
8 The largely worthless camera system
9 Raised taxes and fees to an all time high.
10 Racked up MASSIVE lawsuit debts (Citywide Towing, Denise Carey + her lawyer fees, fighting the FD when it was a no win situation, Etc.)
11 Violated a contract (Citywide Towing’s contract) so he could give it to a campaign contributor (that cost us $225,000) (LAG’s owner is the campaign contributor)
12 Trying to sell W-B property (Tax Free) to a campaign contributor (Known for not paying his own taxes) (old river road bakery to LAG)
13 Outright lies to us (The citizens of Wilkes-Barre)
14 Blaming anyone and everyone for his failures (remember the ‘I believe’ campaign, “I wouldn’t say I oversold it. I think maybe the media did,” Mayor Leighton said. (WNEP June 10, 2005) AKA It’s not my fault, it’s the medias) list at http://wbff88.blogspot.com/2010/07/anyone-elses-fault-pt-2.html
15 Ignoring the Lloyds Study (which states the minimum FD manning per shift is 17) and cutting manning to 12 per shift
16 VIOLATED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, TWICE !!! (Denise Carey & the Hammonds). That’s cost us over $275,000.
If you want more (including referances and link) my blog at http://wbff88.blogspot.com/ has them