POLL: Do You Watch (Attend) Scranton City Council Meetings? (Luzerne: how much, house)

[SteelCityRising]

To those folks who live in Northern Luzerne County, Lackawanna County, or other areas that receive Comcast Cable and Scranton Today's Channel 61, do you watch the Scranton City Council meetings on television? If not, do you attend the council meetings in person? I'm typing this as tonight's council meeting enters its third hour (if you count the budget meeting as well), and I've been on the edge of my seat the entire time with excitement. With a strong presence on YouTube and various other web sites, I was just wondering how far-reaching the city council's notoriety had spread.

[Chefkey]

Paul, You really should consider running for office in Scranton. As far as I know, you can still work as an accountant while in lower positions. Then, Mayor someday

Why Not? You obviously love it

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Chefkey

Paul, You really should consider running for office in Scranton. As far as I know, you can still work as an accountant while in lower positions. Then, Mayor someday

Why Not? You obviously love it

For a number of years now I have aspired to run for office someday in Scranton when I'm well-established in my career, but after seeing the abuse so many of these officials receive, I don't think I'm "man enough" for the position. When I saw Council President Judith Gatelli crying after a meeting back in July, I simply couldn't bear the thought of having to turn the other cheek all the time when faced with nasty remarks. I know Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci dishes it right back to people, but that, in my opinion, is rather unprofessional. I don't care how much you like or dislike a public figure, but NOBODY should be driven to tears or even mental illness over such trivial matters. On the other hand, I don't care how "educated" or "well-qualified" you are for an elected position, but you are in no way, shape, or form ANY "better" than the people you represent (Ms. Fanucci). Finally, grandstanding to make yourself look better than your colleagues is also a very undesirable trait, in my humble opinion (Mrs. Evans).

I'd be very interested perhaps in pursuing the position someday of Economic Development Coordinator in the city. After all, I think I'm ALREADY much more qualified for the position than outgoing Ms. Sara Hailstone ever was. I'd be banging on the doors of corporate headquarters all over Wall Street with DVDs about how the city would welcome their companies' expansions into PA with open arms.

[weluvpa]

Politics in Scranton and Lackawanna county is considered a bloodsport. If your not able to handle yourself when the going gets tough then get out. I do not feel bad for Judy or any other person that is elected and then called out for their mistakes or blantant disregard for the electorate. If Judy is not man enough for it then she should resign. Paul you have to remember that Judy has worked for the city in one capacity or another for many years and she is well aware of how things are done. Those tears you saw were just that for people to see.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

Politics in Scranton and Lackawanna county is considered a bloodsport. If your not able to handle yourself when the going gets tough then get out. I do not feel bad for Judy or any other person that is elected and then called out for their mistakes or blantant disregard for the electorate. If Judy is not man enough for it then she should resign. Paul you have to remember that Judy has worked for the city in one capacity or another for many years and she is well aware of how things are done. Those tears you saw were just that for people to see.

The only personal correspondence I've ever had with Judy was positive, so I truly can't comment on her political aptness (or ineptness) one way or another. However, when you sit and watch Channel 61 and hear the comments she mutters under her breath that can't be heard in the council chambers due to the acoustics but can be heard to viewers at home, it truly reduces her credibility quite a bit. The same could be said for Sherry, who now has some rather unflattering YouTube videos out as well that are becoming popular. Come to think of it, I can't think of any other city in America where city council meetings are posted on YouTube and receive tens of thousands of hits---we should start charging money for the privilege of watching in order to generate new revenues for the city's budget. Sherry dishes it right back to people, but that is VERY immature, in my opinion. You do what Mr. Courtright and Mr. McGoff usually do---you just sit there, take it like a man, and try not to show too much emotion while the speakers finish their train of thought, and then possibly respond briefly once the speaker has left the podium. One good move Judy made tonight I noticed was that she more or less scolded Sherry for ranting as much as she did to the point where someone who was going to approach the podium left out of impatience.

I must say that for as unpopular (or popular) as they might be, Janet, Bob, and Bill tend to keep comments to themselves and maintain decorum and order. Judy and Sherry just giggle to one another and disrupt council business. I'll admit that when Ray Lyman approaches the podium, I have to fight to not break out laughing, but nevertheless he does pay taxes, and he does live in the city and has a right to be heard. I like at least how Judy will humor Mr. Stucker and make him feel, in a sense, that he is playing an active part in the life of the city.

I also must say that I'm pleased to see that Fay Franus has by and large cleaned up her act. She's not as bitter or nasty as she once was, and now that she's taken the initiative to express her point of view in a more respectful manner, I actually take her seriously. I never quite understood why people thought raising their voices or screaming would make their points any more valid or credible.

[mgb]

[quote=ScrantonWilkesBarre;2104674]To those folks who live in Northern Luzerne County, Lackawanna County, or other areas that receive Comcast Cable and Scranton Today's Channel 61, do you watch the Scranton City Council meetings on television?]

Yes, but I preferred to watch when the citizen participation period was 5 minutes instead of splitting it into 2 different sessions. It seems to drag on forever now.

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

For a number of years now I have aspired to run for office someday in Scranton when I'm well-established in my career, but after seeing the abuse so many of these officials receive, I don't think I'm "man enough" for the position. When I saw Council President Judith Gatelli crying after a meeting back in July, I simply couldn't bear the thought of having to turn the other cheek all the time when faced with nasty remarks.

It wouldn't be worth running for office in Scranton, especially city council, especially if you have a family. Unless you vote lockstep with St. Janet, you'd have the Legion of Doom and DD.com crowd stalking you, rooting through your trash, and slandering your family, children included, on their website. I wonder if those goons realize they probably drive away a lot of good people from running for office who don't want to deal with the BS of having their personal lives and family under a microscope if you don't follow their agenda?

Pathetic is an understatement.

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

Politics in Scranton and Lackawanna county is considered a bloodsport. If your not able to handle yourself when the going gets tough then get out. I do not feel bad for Judy or any other person that is elected and then called out for their mistakes or blantant disregard for the electorate. If Judy is not man enough for it then she should resign. Paul you have to remember that Judy has worked for the city in one capacity or another for many years and she is well aware of how things are done. Those tears you saw were just that for people to see.

Its not just Gatelli's policies that have been criticized...they drag her kids and even grandkids into it, which I don;t agree with. Criticize her actions as a council person, and that's OK....it comes with the territory....but to have her family dragged into it is not right.

[weluvpa]

If Judy did not use her position to get those kids jobs then they wouldn't be targets, period. You don't see anyone going after McGoff do you? The only ones that have personally benefited outside their position of council are the ones under fire. Judy has landed her husband a job with the county for her help with W&O and their campaign as well as her children who are all sucking on the same public nipple as mommy. Its not right, no matter who you are. As far as the St. Janet comment, I don't buy it. Janet is far from perfect but I have to say she is the best thing we have up there right now. She is at least the best chance we have to stop the financial bleeding thats going on right. Last night I brought up the fact that we are actually paying someone $15,000 a year to be a flood engineer in SCranton. Funny thing is I was told by the Army Corps project director and the project engineer from DC that we do not have a flood engineer. Who is getting that money? We also have 3 flood relocation specialists that the cities own project coordinator told me basically we do not need because the properties have all been acquired. Well their in this years budget for $30,000 each a year. Thats over a $100,000 in useless positions that are full of their crony kids. Mike Mitchell just left one of those positions to go to the L&I dept. What a waste.

If you think that the DD crowd or the legion of doom are the only ones that are "putting them under a microscope" think again. You want to talk about personal attacks on family, you have no idea what my son or wife and I have to go thru because I speak out against this admin and the families involved. I have gotten more phone calls from family friends asking me to take easy on the council members or cut the mayor a break and when I don't, what do I get? Hate mail and lots of it, my son gets harrassed at 9 yrs old and can't go outside without a two-way radio, notes on the windshield and phone calls at all hours of the night. I have had to meet with the FBI in regards to some of the mail. There have been people in my yard at night, moved stuff around just so I would know that they where there. I have been sued because I dared to ask questions. Those of us that are the side of the people are taking as much heat as they are sometimes more. The only difference is that we do not cry about it or use it to benefit our cause. I even had a stop work order issued by the zoning office and a inspector sent to my mothers house to stop me from mulching flower beds. There was a call placed about the work I was doing illegally without a permit. Mulching! I don't feel bad for Judy's kids or her family because when it comes down to it they could careless about mine and they have clearly shown that. You only see the side they want you to see, but its what you don't see or hear about thats truely disturbing.

[FightinPhils]

Judy has supposedly gotten jobs for family members? What about Janet's son getting a teaching job, as well as Janet getting a teaching job while a school board member? But mention those facts on DD, and you're instantly banned.

And I don't buy that they just criticize the supposed nepotism in the Gatelli family...they were even dragging her grandchild into their mudslinging campaign, which has nothing to do with politics. Not to mention stalking around to see who Fanucci is dating, etc etc etc. How do some of those issues have anything to do with city business?