Endorsement: Chris Doherty for third term
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
e-mail this
share thisMayor Chris Doherty deserves a third term for the most fundamental reason: Scranton is a better place in which to live, work and invest than it was when he took office.
The winner of next Tuesday's Democratic primary likely will be the next mayor. Voters who are not directly involved in the city party's byzantine political warfare, and who have no personal stake in resisting the ongoing progressive change at City Hall, would be wise to cast their votes for Mr. Doherty. His record warrants it; his critics offer no plan for a better course.
Former Councilman Gary DiBileo, in his second attempt to unseat Mr. Doherty, laments that debt has increased and that the city has raised taxes by 25 percent during Mr. Doherty's terms.
But the administration has not simply stayed afloat, as during preceding administrations. It has corrected some of the city's worst infrastructure problems. Mr. Doherty has seen to the construction of new police and public works headquarters, restoration and expansion of the park system, repaving of hundreds of blocks of city streets and alleyways, and so on.
City bigger than government
Mr. Doherty consistently has recognized that the administration should help make the city of Scranton - not simply the municipal government but the broader city - a better place in which to live, work and invest. That's part of the reason hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new construction is under way downtown amid the worst recession in 70 years.
Mr. DiBileo's reaction is to lament that the $20 million Southern Union Building on Lackawanna Avenue is not being used for its originally intended purpose, and that the mayor did not directly drive the Commonwealth Medical College project while featuring it in a re-election ad. The challenge for any administration, however, is to create an environment conducive to that kind of investment. That is Mr. Doherty's record; Mr. DiBileo has not articulated such a plan.
In terms of governance, Mr. DiBileo promises to lift the government's officially "distressed" status under state law. The issue is not the label, however, but the government's recovery. Mr. DiBileo has not indicated how he would achieve it. He voted against the current recovery plan while on council, after which city voters overwhelmingly approved it in a referendum. Since then, the administration has honored that referendum by steadfastly striving to implement the plan.
The designation continues because the struggle continues to determine whether the government will be controlled by elected officials for the benefit of residents, or by municipal unions for the benefit of city employees. Since the passage of the plan, that struggle has continued in courts and the government has prevailed.
Mr. DiBileo has not indicated how he would lift the distressed label, or how he would get a handle on personnel expenses that are at the heart of the city's insolvency. He would, however, dismiss the professional managers who have been installed by Mr. Doherty, pretending that doing so would resolve the government's deficit.
Thrill of the chase
Mr. DiBileo has failed to build a vision comparable to Mr. Doherty's. Asked if he favors the mayor's plan to build a $17 million headquarters for the Scranton Public Library as the anchor of a massive rehabilitation of the Cedar Avenue corridor, Mr. DiBileo replied that he likes libraries, but that Mr. Doherty has not gained the county commissioners' support. Mr. Doherty, however, intends to complete the project with or without the commissioners' support.
Because he has failed to articulate a vision for the government and the broader city it serves, Mr. DiBileo has cast himself in the role of the dog chasing the pickup truck. The chase is exciting, but if he catches it, then what? He has no plan to stop or drive it. Mr. DiBileo is more likely to jump in the back and go along for the ride.
When Mr. Doherty caught the pickup, he decided to drive it. The result is a much more progressive city. Scrantonians who wish to see their city continue to progress, as their city government continues to work toward recovery and sustainability, should vote to keep Mr. Doherty behind the wheel.
51 posted comments
Dibileo did not answer one question with any substance, he rambled on abut how wrong the mayor was on every issue but offered NO plan of his own. Anyone who believes that jobs can be cut, taxes lower, and no services will suffer is out of their mind. The biggest falicy that Dibileo stated was that he was going to crack down on absentee landlords. Really? HOW? Right now the city has the most aggressive program and officials craking down on blight and nuisance properties. Meanwhile Dibileo wants to eliminate the dept. of Public Safety, which means eliminating all 5 housing inspectors and their supervisor. So, WHO is going to perform this crackdown? The city does not have enough housing inspectors as it is, and Dibileo wants to cut the 5 union positions along with the secretary. So great one, who is going to answer the complaints, inspect the properties, and take action. Is Gary going to go into roach infested, burned out, buildings in a suit? Please people wake up, e is simply stating "I am not Chris, so vote for me" making large promises that CANNOT be accomplished, not to mention everything he said is what the mayor is doing. Elimnating firefighters by attrition? Well tell that to the unions, because they have been fighting that for years, so Gary is agreeing we have too many firefighters. He also stated in the paper, HE will fight for MANAGEMENT RIGHTS, well Gary, that is the sole reason the police and fire havnt agreed on a contract, because THEY WONT give them up. Lastly, Gary's little temper tantrum at the end of the debate was priceless, a mailer which spoke the truth and in all honestly, did not attack Gary perosnally nor attacked his family, has him so upset. Well my advice, Gary grow up, your running for mayor not class president.