Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Sara what exactly are you looking for from Scranton????? It is easier to tell someone about the area if you know what they would want to get out of it..
Why was this thread stopped and considered orphaned????
This thread was neither stopped nor orphaned. Due to the large volume of new threads posted onto the PA forum on a daily basis, it's quite common to see once popular threads fall back onto the second page and then into obscurity within a day. Discouraged to see that my new photo tour of Wilkes-Barre only had a few dozen views after being posted for a few days, I actually "bumped" it back to the first page with a new reply to try to spark more interest in it, as I'm curious to know if people would be interested in seeing more of the Diamond City. I've recommended adding a third sub-forum specifically for "Northeastern Pennsylvania", which would include Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, the Endless Mountains, and the Pocono Mountains, but the moderators here think that doing so would make the general PA forum too inactive and dull, as a large number of the new inquiries on this forum are concering NEPA.
Keep NEPA alive with photo tours of the area including the "Diamond City" Wilkes-Barre and the "Electric City" Scranton. Love the photo tours!
I still think a sub-forum for NEPA would be a good idea.
The moderators on here are very aggressive. If you happen to be one of those who recently came here because I advertised City-Data on the Times-Leader's web site, then you're in for a rude awakening. Name-calling, personal attacks, boorish behavior, profanity, etc. isn't tolerated here, as it is on their forum. I truly do appreciate that you've joined City-Data to give your feedback about the city; it's always good for new residents to hear the good AND the bad. However, I'll stand by my claim that I'm not some "naive, know-nothing kid" just because I have not yet started to raise my family. I know that the taxation in Scranton has gotten out of hand.
I'm more than willing to fork over 3.4% of my income via the wage tax, $2,000+ annually in property taxes, etc. for that perceived benefit of living near civilization again. Where I live now, everyone has to drive everywhere for everything. Pittston Township is among the most rapidly-growing communities in Luzerne County due to its equidistance to both Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and our roadways haven't been widened to accodomate our growing community, leading to traffic snarls on Highway 315, Oak Street, and I-81. We're getting a new 18-store shopping center anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a new Home Depot, a major new commerce park called "Center Point", several new housing developments, etc. I'm tiring of running along commuter-clogged Highway 315 for exercise; I think tree-lined streets in the Hill Section would be much more pleasant conditions than here in suburbia. I realize that Pittston Township doesn't have residential property taxes, garbage fees, etc., but the trade-off is living in a suburban cul-de-sac wasteland devoid of character or identity. I'd be willing to pay $5,000 more annually to be immersed in the urban amenities that Scranton has to offer within walking distance of many homes.
As a future CPA with my Master's Degree at age 23, I'm expecting a starting net salary of around $35,000. Of that, I realize that a little over $1,000 would instantly go to the city via the wage tax, and $2,000 more would go to pay for the combined school, city, and county taxes on my property. By the time I'm ready to actually start my family, I should have my own downtown CPA firm established and will be earning well over $60,000 annually. My future partner aspires to be in the medical track and will be earning at least $40,000, hopefully at CMC, giving us an income of approximately $100,000 combined. Best of all, we'll both be within walking distance of our workplaces. I don't quite see how we couldn't afford to raise three children on $100,000, even with the high taxes, by opting to live in Scranton. I suppose some of us don't quite mind taxation as much if it pays to improve the city.
No I guess that the ones that make the $$$$$$$ do not mind paying the taxes while the people that have built this city and have worked there asses off only to be handed a bill for 25% increase that will be a increase of 94.5% in 3yrs....Hill section, I hope you are not planning on raising a child in the hill because the lack of police that the mayor has given us has lead to a rash of near abductions in the hill section of children and not to mention crime.......
No I guess that the ones that make the $$$$$$$ do not mind paying the taxes while the people that have built this city and have worked there asses off only to be handed a bill for 25% increase that will be a increase of 94.5% in 3yrs....Hill section, I hope you are not planning on raising a child in the hill because the lack of police that the mayor has given us has lead to a rash of near abductions in the hill section of children and not to mention crime.......
Ahhh...so it finally comes pouring out---the "class envy" factor. I thought so! Are you the same type of person who bashes teachers for their perks, even though you likewise had equal opportunities in life to become a public school teacher to enjoy those same perks that you currently begrudge? What makes you think that people in the middle-class and upper-middle-class likewise are not contributing via "building this city" or "working their asses off?" Do you think that nurses, truck drivers, pharmacists, accountants, I/T specialists, researchers, chemists, and other $40,000+ earners just sit around all day on their laurels in hopes of "sticking it to the man?" Scranton's upper-middle-class is growing, whether you like it or not. The downtown is now able to support upscale boutiques, such as Lavish, Poochie, New Laundry, MaryAnne's Closet, etc. that cater to the upper-middle-class, and many of the streets I photographed in the Hill Section were lined with BMWs, Lexuses, Audis, etc., indicating that my predictions of an upper-middle-class revival in the Hill Section are starting to take shape.
By the way, there were children outside playing when I was meandering around the Hill Section, as well as mothers pushing strollers, an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand, a person walking his dog, a woman jogging, etc. I don't see these people as being too concerned about the supposedly skyrocketing crime rates in the Hill Section. In contrast, I feel as if that neighborhood has rebounded greatly from its lowest point back in the 1990s. If you don't think the Hill Section is better now than it was ten years ago, then I feel sorry for you.
Thanks for the information, albeit a bit late. I drove around for quite some time and never found the other sign, but was assisted by a helpful woman at a gas station who told me the actual sign was off the Central Scranton expressway instead, so we got back on the highway (eventually) and took pics, etc. We then had a great day driving around downtown, got some awesome pics of the Penn Paper building, the school admin building with the vines growing all over it (across from the Masonic Lodge) and had lunch in the Steamtown Mall. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised that the town I had for so many years never had the reason to visit was so pleasant. It has that small town feel and everyone we encountered was very nice and helpful. We will return with my husband to visit the rail yards and perhaps dine at Farley's.
Thanks for the information, albeit a bit late. I drove around for quite some time and never found the other sign, but was assisted by a helpful woman at a gas station who told me the actual sign was off the Central Scranton expressway instead, so we got back on the highway (eventually) and took pics, etc. We then had a great day driving around downtown, got some awesome pics of the Penn Paper building, the school admin building with the vines growing all over it (across from the Masonic Lodge) and had lunch in the Steamtown Mall. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised that the town I had for so many years never had the reason to visit was so pleasant. It has that small town feel and everyone we encountered was very nice and helpful. We will return with my husband to visit the rail yards and perhaps dine at Farley's.
I was wondering how your little "Office" escapade turned out. I just hope you weren't disappointed that there weren't that many vestiges or relics concerning the show scattered throughout the city. I think a great way to boost tourism right now in Scranton would be to capitalize upon the success of "The Office" by perhaps opening up a free small museum or visitors' center in the downtown with various memoribilia (A pair of Dwight's glasses, perhaps a suit worn by Steve Carrell, the Froggy 101 bumper sticker used on the set, a large screen showing show clips such as "Lazy Scranton", etc.) Scranton, admittedly, isn't a place I tell people to come to as a weeklong family tourist destination, but we are a good spot for day-trips, stopovers along long treks, or weekend getaways. It would also be neat to have some of the downtown eateries change some of their menu items to commemorate the show. The Jim and Pam Burger? MMMM!!!
I'm glad to hear that you had a great time; I was a bit worried that you would have had a negative experience that other Office fans have had, arriving in Scranton and expecting it to be 100% infused with the show's nuances and effects, only to leave disappointed after seeing little more than the Welcome to Scranton sign from the opening credits or the streetlight banner that is sponsored by Dunder-Mifflin. Scranton has tremendous potential right now to boost its tourism by offering more in the way of attractions for Office fans, which is why I'm surprised that the local tourism promotion office isn't capitalizing on this potential.
P.S. The "big small town" feeling is one of the best things about Scranton. Even though the city proper has around 70,000 residents in a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000, it's quite common to bump into people you know everywhere you go. I also like standing in line at the store, bank, etc. and striking up random conversations with complete strangers. We're kind of like Cheers, "where everybody knows your name!" Naturally, we have our fair share of homegrown curmudgeons and party-poopers, but I'm glad you ran into a helpful woman at the gas station instead of a "You came to visit Scranton? Are you on crack?" type of response, which I fear might happen quite often given the local "woe is me" mentality that people have on their improving city.
Hi there
Made it up to PA (Hazleton), to get some well deserved vacation, and quality time in, with my husband. We drove up to Scranton, Taylor, Old Forge, Wilkes Barre to visit friends. We are seeing progress, believe it or not!
What I am saying, despite nay-sayers, that all of these areas are gradually making a leap forward, into the right direction. I've spotted more businesses popping up everywhere, older houses torn down, and new ones being build. I've read the newspaper, about the planning of a cargo airport, adding 4500 jobs to the area (which is good and/ or bad, either way you look at it). It's looking up, people!!!! We are trying here.....
I am so happy to be back, even though not for very long, and still can't wait to move back here!
Funniest thing of all...when we moved down to FL, we got greeted with 2 hurricanes. Now we are up here, and we got greeted with a nor'easter....LOL...WHAT'S UP WITH THAT....LOL???? Nonetheless,we bundled up, we took our two dogs out, took a walk...and LOVED it.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say here is the fact, that there is a place for everyone. Mine is here, and for other people it might be in FL or elsewhere. But, all in all there is absolutely NO reason, to get nasty about things, calling each other names etc. Let's keep it fair, curtious and clean, because that's what people up here are known for!!!
Another nice day....in NE PA!
Hi there
Made it up to PA (Hazleton), to get some well deserved vacation, and quality time in, with my husband. We drove up to Scranton, Taylor, Old Forge, Wilkes Barre to visit friends. We are seeing progress, believe it or not!
What I am saying, despite nay-sayers, that all of these areas are gradually making a leap forward, into the right direction. I've spotted more businesses popping up everywhere, older houses torn down, and new ones being build. I've read the newspaper, about the planning of a cargo airport, adding 4500 jobs to the area (which is good and/ or bad, either way you look at it). It's looking up, people!!!! We are trying here.....
I am so happy to be back, even though not for very long, and still can't wait to move back here!
Funniest thing of all...when we moved down to FL, we got greeted with 2 hurricanes. Now we are up here, and we got greeted with a nor'easter....LOL...WHAT'S UP WITH THAT....LOL???? Nonetheless,we bundled up, we took our two dogs out, took a walk...and LOVED it.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say here is the fact, that there is a place for everyone. Mine is here, and for other people it might be in FL or elsewhere. But, all in all there is absolutely NO reason, to get nasty about things, calling each other names etc. Let's keep it fair, curtious and clean, because that's what people up here are known for!!!
Another nice day....in NE PA!
So I guess I shouldn't mention that here in my little piece of Utopia, it is ~50 degrees and a glorious blue sky with sun..........
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I suppose some of us don't quite mind taxation as much if it pays to improve the city. 
Are you the same type of person who bashes teachers for their perks, even though you likewise had equal opportunities in life to become a public school teacher to enjoy those same perks that you currently begrudge? What makes you think that people in the middle-class and upper-middle-class likewise are not contributing via "building this city" or "working their asses off?" 
Scranton's upper-middle-class is growing, whether you like it or not. The downtown is now able to support upscale boutiques, such as Lavish, Poochie, New Laundry, MaryAnne's Closet, etc. that cater to the upper-middle-class, and many of the streets I photographed in the Hill Section were lined with BMWs, Lexuses, Audis, etc., indicating that my predictions of an upper-middle-class revival in the Hill Section are starting to take shape. 
A Day in Scranton
Scranton has tremendous potential right now to boost its tourism by offering more in the way of attractions for Office fans, which is why I'm surprised that the local tourism promotion office isn't capitalizing on this potential. 
