WAITING FOR DEP MAKES MAYOR LATE

December 14, 2014
The Times Tribune Editorial Board states the following:

“That so many local politicians refuse to aggressively oppose the expansion betrays a dispiriting lack of vision for the region’s future, the same mindset that already has made it a dumping ground.”
We couldn’t agree more and as Councilman Gaughan states, “If we don’t take a stand, what’s the point of being in office?”

Excerpts:
Four of five Scranton City Council members seem to understand that their positions afford them an opportunity to weigh in on important matters that lie beyond their direct decision-making powers.

Unfortunately, the lesson appears to be lost on Mayor Bill Courtright and Councilman Pat Rogan. Like many other local politicians, they have failed to take a stance on the proposed massive expansion of the Keystone Sanitary Landfill that is directly contrary to the interests of Scranton and all of Northeast Pennsylvania.

The mayor of the region’s largest city shouldn’t need the DEP’s guidance on whether such a monstrosity [475’ mountain of garbage] would be bad for the region, thus for his struggling city.

That so many local politicians refuse to aggressively oppose the expansion betrays a dispiriting lack of vision for the region’s future, the same mindset that already has made it a dumping ground.

As Mr. Gaughan, the Scranton councilman, put it: “I think that we, as a body, need to come out as one body, the city of Scranton, and make a strong statement against the expansion of the landfill. It affects us, so we should take a strong stand against it. If we don’t take a stand, what’s the point of being in office?”

http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/waiting-for-dep-makes-mayor-late-1.1802469