Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Luzerne County Home Rule Charter

Having read the proposed charter I can tell you that it is not perfect. Specifically, I'd have liked to see either districting or guaranteed minority representation. Do I like that the controller's position has been diminished? Certainly not. That we have to let it run for 5 years before we can change it? hell no.

The sad reality is that even if you think the charter is the completely goofy it simply cannot be any worse than what we have currently. Further, even if you haven't read the charter you could make a wise decision to vote for it just by taking a look at those that have come out rabidly against it. Just as we are all judged by the company we keep (and rightly so) so should this be judged by those both for and against it. On the con (no pun intended) side, we have Comm. Petrilla who was of course the controller while the Luzerne County taxpayers were being robbed and children used as a profit center. solicitor Vito Deluca, an entrenched democrat that also loses his job if the charter passes. Carolee Oleginski, our beloved prothonotary (which only about 4% of the residents even know what a prothonotary does) also stands to lose her job. The list is long of those against it and almost all of them stand to lose their employment and or power. The exception is Walter Griffith, Controller Extraordinaire. I have heard his concerns and they certainly are legitimate but again, it can't be worse than what we have now. Walter is the only elected official I trust at the courthouse but I disagree with him here.

Then we have those not in office blathering on any radio station that will have them. Some I think are just sycophants and others like being in the press. Like the woman from the lake that has become famous for her crusade against reassessment. If I ever meet her I just want to ask her if she complained as vociferously about her taxes for all those years when she knew she wasn't paying anywhere near what she should have been. But I digress..........

I think we should all vote for the charter and at least try to change the culture of corruption in this county because until that changes, we are a sunk ship. If all of the entrenched dome dwellers are against it, it has to be good for the taxpayers. Fact is, they have given us every reason in the world to vote for this charter and I hope you all do.

No comments: