Lackawanna: Democracy or Dictatorship?

[Caz5]

In an article in the Buffalo News (Sept. 2008), it was reported that the Lackawanna Mayor is driving a TAXPAYER-FUNDED Ford Escape after he blew the engine in his personal Plymouth Voyager after driving through the Old Bethlehem Steel site "on city time."

In February 2011, the Lackawanna Code Enforcement Officer was "shocked" at what he saw on an Old Bethlehem site...a newly-constructed building that never received permits and four (4) 1,000-gallon propane tanks. "If these tanks were to blow up," said Steve Bremer, "I think we'd probably lose a quarter of the city."

Delinquent Property Taxes as of 5/10/10 for the City of Lackawanna:
$2,512,452.62 - yep, as in 2 million PLUS dollars!

[LAsurvivor]

Where did you get that figure?

[Caz5]

Jan 12, 2011 City Council Meeting - A new position was added to the Police Department. Besides the Chief of Police and the Detective Captain, there is now a police captain that oversees the Patrol Division. Does anyone know how many policemen are employed in Lackawanna?

[literal]

Maybe 43 not counting those on disability?

[lackawanna_dude]

While driving down Martin Road the other day I saw Syzmanski, Polanski and Tom Love leaving Jeff Depasquale's house. Sounds like more of the same for Lackawanna people. Please think about who your voting for. If Szymanski is hanging with these guys nothing is ever going to change. The same family tree ( Depasquale) equals more chaos for Lackawanna. Jaworski isn't any better.That's just different family tree that will continue to do nothing for Lackawanna. I live in the 2nd Ward has anyone noticed how bad it has gotten under Syzmanski's leadership? Where has he been?

Your right 2nd ward blows, I sold all my real estate in that area because its going to the wolves, city Officials want it to get bad there so they can hire more cops.

[Caz5]

ArcelorMittal's name has popped up in Lackawanna news recently. There's an interesting article in the USW Local Union's newsletter "Working In These Times" (byline: Roger Bybee, Sept. 24, 2009)

ArcelorMittal is in the process of trying to tear down a productive steel mill in Chicago, the USW newletter used Lackawanna as an example:

"In a parallel situation in Lackawanna, N.Y., ArcelorMittal shut down and demolished a steel mill that had been consistently profitable, according to United Steelworkers Local 2604 President Anthony Fortunato, who watched the 260 jobs disappear as the plant was torn down."

ArcelorMittal is owned and run by Britain's RICHEST men, Lakshmi Mitall, and that company has received over 500 million dollars in taxpayer-backed loans. The claim is that ArcelorMittal "appears to be motivated by a desire to shrink capacity in the steel industry in order to raise prices."

[Caz5]

"We as a community should forget about them ("them" being our County Representatives...Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer and Congressman Higgins). Yep, let's cut all ties with our representatives....

City Council Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2010

Letter to the City Council from Mayor Polanski:

Recently, the Buffalo News reported that a massive bill of 1.1 trillion dollars was passed by congress. Western New York was getting forty (40) million dollars. Call it congressional pork or legislative earmarks or simply our local representatives making sure they get their fair share. We in the City of Lackawanna did not receive anything. It is apparent that Senator's Gillibrand and Schumer and Congressman Higgins have forgotten the City of Lackawanna again, as usual. WE AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD FORGET THEM.

Three million dollars more for the waterfront projects, when will they improve South Park Avenue ? This letter is to inform the council and our citizens about the lack of concern from our representatives for the City of Lackawanna .

[andreahaxton]

COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011
www.ci.lackawanna.ny.us
Meeting called to order/Pledge of Allegiance
NB: Meeting being recorded.
Roll Call: Noman, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski
Dept.Heads: Law, Public Works, Public Safety, Recreation, Development
Hearings from Citizens:
Andrea Haxton – Public safety issues in city of Lackawanna
Approval of Minutes: of meeting of May 2, 2011.
Departmental Reports:
1.City Compt. – AP Check Listing #37, April 29, 2011.
2.City Treas. – Deposits into General Fund – April 2011.
3.City Clerk – Monthly report – April 2011.
Communications from the Mayor:
Mayor Polanski - submits a State Environmental Quality Review for the Paving Improvement Project to be completed on Ridge Road between South Park and the Centennial Bridge , requests council pass a resolution stating no adverse environmental impact.

Communications fron the Council:

Councilman Szymanski – a resolution unifying the City of Lackawanna under one assembly district.

Communications from Department/Division Heads:

City Comptroller – advises Council of bid received by Amato, Fox & Company, the only bidder, recommends Council authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement.

City Attorney – requests Council approval of resolution establishing standard work day schedule pertaining to elected and appointed personnel participating in NYS Retirement system.

Comm. of Public Works - requests Council direct the City Clerk to advertise for bids for the implementation of the Ridge Road Traffic Signal Project, we have received a $500,000 grant with the city's match of $150,000 for the project.

Comm. of Public Works - requests Council direct the City Clerk to advertise for bids for repairs to Fire Stations 1, 2 and 3.

Comm. of Public Works – request Council direct the City Clerk to advertise for bids for repairs to the McKinley Bridge , a $50,000 grant from the dormitory authority to assist in this expense.

Comm. of Public Works - requests Council award contract for resurfacing project to the low bidder, Destro Bros. For their bid price of $1,686,650.

Communications from Citizens:

Mt. Olive Church - request permission to block traffic on Wasson Avenue on June 18 th between the hours of 12 noon and 6 pm for their annual community Fun Day.

Lackawanna Chamber of Commerce – request renewal of contract between the City of Lackawanna and the Chamber of Commerce.

Business Registrations:

Family Dollar Store (new build) 3241 South Park Avenue , Lackawanna

Resolutions:

A resolution establishing standard work day for elected and appointed personnel participating in the NYS retirement system.

A resolution unifying the City of Lackawanna under one assembly district
************************************************** **************
Back in 2008 we had an appr. $6,000,000 Fund Balance that we were going to use to pay CASH for paving Ridge Road.
Where did the money go? They are leaving a pretty big debt load in their wake---WHY?
And why do they want to change an Assembly District---will we get more money for capital improvement projects?
The fellas have been pretty busy the past few weeks......in between all the cocktail parties.

Many people in Lackawanna City Hall handle pretty BIG money daily---why are the Clerk and Treasurer the only two departments that have to file reports with the City Council AND be voted on to be accepted?
Engineering, Recreation, Etc.----BIG money transfers all over the place!
Why can't there be one central location that citizens pay all permits, fees, copy requests, team money, ID cards, tickets, etc. to?