Scranton.........Man attempts carjacking woman

[ScranBarre]

Scranton's prolific negativity and low sense of self-esteem have long been noticed by "outsiders." Don't attack the messenger here. The first step in truly revitalizing Scranton is rejuvenating the mindsets of its populace. There is absolutely NO reason why people like Joanne Williams or Rev. Kathryn Simmons should have been the victims of such nasty messages merely because they approached the city council podium and said, more or less, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Was that a popular thing to say? Of course not. However, as our nation continues a quagmire in Iraq, deepens its recession (and nears a depression), etc. what harm can an occasional upbeat message do?

I'm not denying, Dan, that Mayor Doherty couldn't balance a checkbook to save his life. I'm not denying, Dan, that your son's children will be paying off the Doherty Debt (assuming your son decides to raise his family in Scranton and not in South Abington Township like the other "city quitters"). However, I AM denying, Dan, that the city is "doomed" because of Mayor Doherty. People thought Mayor Connors "doomed" the city. I'm sure people will also express apprehensions about potential Mayor-Elect Gary DiBileo. Why does this city have to be so firmly entrenched in politics? I pay taxes to Edwardsville, yet I've never met the town's mayor. Do I care? No. I pay taxes to Pittston Area, yet most school board members do not know my family. Do I care? No. I pay taxes to Pennsylvania. Does Ed Rendell even know that my hometown of Pittston Twp. exists? More than likely not. Do I care? No. Why? It truly doesn't affect me in any way.

Scranton's long-term outlook looks vibrant if it continues to nurture its higher education opportunities, markets itself effectively to nearby areas for tourism/relocation, and continues to reinvest in its downtown (even good-looking empty buildings beat run-down empty buildings in everyone's eyes). If most in the city want to disregard that, then so be it.

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

However, I AM denying, Dan, that the city is "doomed" because of Mayor Doherty.

How could you deny that...You don't live here. You don't live with the debt. Your kids won't be paying for it.

WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO PAY DOWN THIS DEBT?

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THYEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY THIS DEBT DOWN?

There will be multiple tax increases to pay this debt down over the next few administrations and that will be the fault of Doherty.

Actaully Paul I'm not going to go back and forth with you about the city and its debt. Its pointless.

You still live at home OUTSIDE of Scranton and will continue to try and tell us what is good or bad for us from the sheltered bunker of moms basement.

You would love for us to all believe that you are this visionary about the future of Scranton and the area, but in reality you have no idea what the day to day life of a family struggling in this economy is like nor do you have any idea how the decisions in city hall affect the day to day lives of the people in Scranton.

You agree that the mayor can't balance a checkbook but yet you won't agree that he has financially doomed the city? Contradict yourself much.

You can cheer all day long because you have no idea what the reality of the situation in the city is really like. There are many that wish that they had what you do in life and you should remember that next time you feel the need to climb up on top of your ivory tower.

Maybe you should trade that tower in for a place in the city so that you could actually have some validity to your points or arguments.

Oh thats right you can't find a job in your field even though you have that oh so special degree. Thats the reality of NEPA.

For the record I don't believe that DiBileo is the answer but anyone at this point is better then Doherty. I.E. See the Bush Obama dynamic.

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

(even good-looking empty buildings beat run-down empty buildings in everyone's eyes).

EMPTY IS EMPTY. The taxpayers are the ones paying for those new EMPTY buildings. Only you could say that new empty is better then old empty when empty is empty.

I do feel better knowing that we have spent close to a $100,000,000 on new empty buildings during a dieing economy in a dead city. Because lets face it that was the best possible way to spend that taxpayer money. It really is going to help the taxpayers having NEW empty buildings instead of just empty buildings.

Maybe Doherty could dump some of the stimulus money into more empty buildings so that we will all feel better about our new empty dead city.

[NYRangers 2008]

It sounds like Paul is looking for some "Leave it to Beaver" life here in Scranton. In no way is living in Hyde Park the way you described it Paul. Tulips, backyard cookouts and friendly neighbors are not something I'm aware of here in Westside. I'm sorry Paul, your rose-colored glasses are way too strong today. You're looking for something that's just not there, but it's nice to dream though. This is a depressed city and Mayor Doherty has to shoulder a lot of the blame. Why does he want to run for a third term? To put the last nail in the city and ruin it for good. Why? Hasn't he done enough damage?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by NYRangers 2008

It sounds like Paul is looking for some "Leave it to Beaver" life here in Scranton. In no way is living in Hyde Park the way you described it Paul. Tulips, backyard cookouts and friendly neighbors are not something I'm aware of here in Westside. I'm sorry Paul, your rose-colored glasses are way too strong today. You're looking for something that's just not there, but it's nice to dream though. This is a depressed city and Mayor Doherty has to shoulder a lot of the blame. Why does he want to run for a third term? To put the last nail in the city and ruin it for good. Why? Hasn't he done enough damage?

Not to crush your hopes and dreams either, but Mayfield really isn't any better. From what I've seen the entire "Upvalley" area looks even more depressed than Scranton.

Why do you think I've begun interviewing for positions outside of NEPA? I want to get out and explore the world a bit more so I can have other life experiences to draw from in order to determine if Scranton really is "home" or not. Even though now my most promising opportunity is in the sprawly rat race they refer to as NoVA, I can very easily see myself eventually transferring to Pittsburgh or Minneapolis to give those two cities a shot. Ditto Hartford and Chicago. I may find that Scranton beckons to me. I may find that I never want to step foot in the Electric City ever again. Only time will tell.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Not to crush your hopes and dreams either, but Mayfield really isn't any better. From what I've seen the entire "Upvalley" area looks even more depressed than Scranton.

Why do you think I've begun interviewing for positions outside of NEPA? I want to get out and explore the world a bit more so I can have other life experiences to draw from in order to determine if Scranton really is "home" or not. Even though now my most promising opportunity is in the sprawly rat race they refer to as NoVA, I can very easily see myself eventually transferring to Pittsburgh or Minneapolis to give those two cities a shot. Ditto Hartford and Chicago. I may find that Scranton beckons to me. I may find that I never want to step foot in the Electric City ever again. Only time will tell.

Not saying Mayfield is better. I think the whole area is depressed and it's been like that for some time now. It's just an opportunity to buy a house. I'll just be moving from one depressed place to another. No biggie. Can we talk about the WBS Pens instead Paul?

[weluvpa]

At least the people in Mayfield stood together and voted out their entire council to protect the city from a questionable ethanol plant.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

At least the people in Mayfield stood together and voted out their entire council to protect the city from a questionable ethanol plant.

Good point Dan. You would never find that unity here in Scranton.

[njmike]

NYRangers and Weluvpa, I'm glad the both of you see things as I do. It's nice to have dreams but reality MUST come first.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by njmike

NYRangers and Weluvpa, I'm glad the both of you see things as I do. It's nice to have dreams but reality MUST come first.

I agree. We're just being realists, that's it. We see things for what they are and dreams are all well and good, but at some point you have to come back to reality and see the truth in everything.