Hazleton Pravda

Hot, Hot, Hot

Finally the Speaker discusses something new and real, and tangible: the weather. But they must have run outta pictures of happy Mayor Lou, and quotes of him telling us all how he was gonna put on a flack jacket and sun screen (read: olive oil), and take on the hot weather we’ve been experiencing, and make it stop! It’s almost disappointing—ALMOST!

Flooding Affected Nearly 7800 PA Homes

Yes, we live on one of the highest mountains in PA and all our names changed suddenly to Noah. Still, no word on the burn ban having been lifted. Guess the Speaker had pasta sauce to promote.

Barletta on Statewide Call-in Show

Ya know when ya get a taste for SHOWBIZ it must be kinda hard to stop, or to manage your actual mayoral duties. It’s understandable. The call to Hollywood even via cable is so much more important then that job of mayor and its duties that he was elected to in the first place. Another step up the ladder, please? Another round of golf? Why do all that bothersome mayor-stuff when that's yer job?

HASB Director Sticks By Dress Code Revisions

It’s so nice to see the importance the HASB is putting on this dress code issue. It takes all eyes off the fact that the Hazleton school system is completely ineffectual at doing the one thing they are here for: TO TEACH STUDENTS. Yes, let’s worry about cuff lengths and such. Forget about math and literature. After all, you don’t REALLY need to read to work in a CANT DO factory, do you? If these bastards would get off their asses and get focused, they might actually do their jobs and teach something. Oh, but I forgot, that’s not the point here. Teaching? What a silly notion for a school district. No let’s waste money (of the taxpayers), time and effort arguing over necklaces can be used as dangerous weapons.

Area Native Featured in Penthouse

Once more, the Standard Speaker shows just how much a waste it is. An area babe takes her clothes off for money, big deal. Like they don’t do that in ever corner bar in this town! This is so not newsworthy, and also tacky coming from what is supposed to be a family oriented publication. HP has nothing against Ms. Kent herself, just the inappropriateness (again) of the Standard Speaker, lapdog to he powers that be.

Council Approves New Dog Ordinance

OK, pet owners should be fined for letting their animals roam free, but what the hell is all this about staged dog fights? Is Doyna Yar right? Is this little Tijuana? Or is this just more hype against the Latin community?

Now a new piece from the Camp for John Medashefski for Mayor:

A Word About the Immigration Act

By John Medashefski

I support this Act 100%--NOT THE WHOLE ORDINACE—but English as the official language of Hazleton. —I will support that if elected.
I think personally, the move to make such an ordinance should have been made years ago before all this trouble started. The question now is: Is Mr. Barletta going to enforce [the ordinance]—Nothing else prior to this has been enforced. Not one thing. What I think [Mr. Barletta] is doing now is right. Now he and the city have to stand behind it and enforce it.

I’m also looking at the trouble [the ordinace] could cause. Can the city deal with the lawsuits? The legal fees? Is this going to be the city taxpayers getting screwed and footing the bill, while [Mr. Barletta] runs? I want to see [Mr. Barletta] deal with the landlords on the ordinance—[city government] has tried that before.

The mayor says it will be difficult to have the Hispanics register. I have one simple solution to the ordinance. Have them all get background checks at City Hall just like for job interviews. Have per capita tax taken out right there too, so long as they’re going to be residents of the city. Why should the landlords have to pay for this? I’m asking you, the people. Have the tenants do it.

I want to see something accomplished here in Hazleton. So far I haven’t. It’s like art to me. I want to turn around and see what I’ve done when the time comes. I want to change Hazleton—for the better.