Your thoughts on WILKES-BARRE mayor Tom Leighton (Pittsburgh, Scranton: real estate, house)

[W-B proud]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

I really think WB should hire a PR or advertising agency to do a whole campaign about how much WB has changed and what it has to offer.

Exactly. Wilkes-Barre has a major perception problem. It is a common belief from local non-city residents that Wilkes-Barre is very dangerous, you cannot go out after dark, and that you are likely to get mugged or shot if you go for a walk. Of course, for the people that actually live here...that's simply not true and an over-exaggeration of the problem. Yes we have violence and crime, yes there are shady areas that should be avioded, but in general Wilkes-barre is a same city, and probably 97% of the major crime happens among criminals that usually know each other. We are haunted by our past, and seriously need to try to show the positive side of Wilkes-Barre...the good hard working citizens, the River Common, the new buisiness and everything happening downtown, the fact that W-B is fiscally sound. There is a complete lack of effort by city hall to highlight the positives, and promote tourism and events.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

Leighton touts city’s progress at final town hall | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre & Scranton PA (http://www.timesleader.com/news/Leighton_touts_city_rsquo_s_progress_at_final_town _hall_05-04-2011.html - broken link)

I find it interesting that someone commented Leighton makes double the salary of Doherty. Anybody know if that's true?

[W-B proud]

Originally Posted by Lehigh Valley Native

Leighton touts city’s progress at final town hall | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre & Scranton PA (http://www.timesleader.com/news/Leighton_touts_city_rsquo_s_progress_at_final_town _hall_05-04-2011.html - broken link)

I find it interesting that someone commented Leighton makes double the salary of Doherty. Anybody know if that's true?

Yeah, Leighton makes way too much money. Something like 80,000 a year...but again, when I see then other candidates running against him, they are downright scary. They look like the people that used to appear on the Jerry Springer show, and most of them have already vowed to halt downtown development if elected and to solely concentrate on neighborhood issues (which I have no problem with) but not at the expense of halting and bringing the possitive development and growth downtown that the city has enjoyed over the last few years. Despite the smeer campaign that claims that Mayor Leighton ignores the city neighborhoods, I just don't think that claim holds any water. The remodeled Coal st Park in the Heights neighborhood, the brand new housing being built in northend (my hood), and the new middle class neighborhood that was built in Miners Mills a few years ago is a testament to Leighton's Neighborhood improvements. Also, the police department is beefed up and has taken on many new hires under Leighton's watch too. So the claim that Leighton ignores the crime problem is also bunk. I am not a cheerleader for Leighton, and I have my own problems with him, but when I compare him to the other candidates...there is no comparison in m mind. I will vote for Leighton again....this time

[frank754]

He seems good to me, though a bit headstrong in some things, there were fights about the fire/police pay equity, maybe some buddyship with his towing company friend perhaps trying to give the Old River Road Bakery property cheap vs another legitimate buyer & due process of a tax sale, etc..
We have been here just she of a year, and haven't delved too much into everything, but I'm always reading the news and try to pick up every tidbit of what's going on around here. I will vote for Tom, but I appreciate Charlotte Raup's presence in the community too, she is definitely the "neighborhood watch" lady, and was in the St Pats parade too. Website:
Crime Free Wilkes-Barre
Some of Leighton's competitors, as in any competition, can try to promise things, but they don't know the budget and what can realistically be done. There are far too many bad streets and potholes, but only so much money. The "block grant" from the Feds has been cut, so that will hurt too.
For me, the main thing is crime and drugs, there needs to be more done about that. Maybe more neighborhood patrols, and a focus on nights and weekends, especially in the warmer weather. The Turkey Hill on Hazel & Wilkes-Barre Blvd seems to get robbed about once a month, and that's just about 6 blocks from us. Would be nice to be able to walk or bike to downtown from here without worrying about some rowdys with guns. But I guess people say it has improved, so maybe we are heading in the right direction.

[Magritte25]

I don't think $80K is a lot to run a midsized city like ours. *shrug*

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

I don't think $80K is a lot to run a midsized city like ours. *shrug*

Well, seeing that the mayor of Scranton makes $50k and the mayor of Allentown makes $61k, both larger cities, I'd say Leighton is overpaid.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Well, seeing that the mayor of Scranton makes $50k and the mayor of Allentown makes $61k, both larger cities, I'd say Leighton is overpaid.

I have to agree with go phillies. According to google, the mayor of pittsburgh only makes $96k a year.

Leighton at 80k is overpaid. More Luzerne county political greed?

Maybe someone should bring this up, it would be a good election story for the Times Leader.

If he was paid, relative to other mayors, we could fix the fountain.

[Mr Yuk]

Also, why is the W-B mayor elected to a 6 year term? That's an awful long time, especially with the corruption in this area.

[Magritte25]

I think all of those mayors are underpaid for the scope of their job. All in how you see things.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

I think all of those mayors are underpaid for the scope of their job. All in how you see things.

As you know, it is an elected office. A position that people spend tens of thousands of dollars to get. How can you think that an elected position that people are lining up for, is underpaid?

If it was a position that no one tried to get elected to, I could see your point. But in this instance, I think you are just taking the opposite position so you can debate a point.