[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6077255,"mediaKeyId","2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1","parentId",2965056,"title","Residents urge council to reject pass-through grant to King's College amid state budget cuts; call for more institutional contribution","audioSeconds",347,"startMs",125000,"endMs",472000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1&start=125&end=472","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1/thumbnail_125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077255/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-urge-council-to-reject-pass-through-grant-to-Kings-College-amid-state-budget-cuts-call-for-more-institutional-contribution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077255-12d3304452db4c972dd6296bd63e9338/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180363&Signature=gwgEnhkf7Xu47zwcgm~iTIrotz2nIWht7uLXz~13zEoFl47KBAXgkELstoXNaQvcbaDsN8R3H92TAnxplkAhzc-OLjDb57XlLpdQeCq1HwNRHCC24sniUEGz8pghC02MZ1yjTfJpojnlDGC5IfNbPrM~bRGGAX34UC2Weed6bHanh-iCs0thpPmeg1EPrUyyY5dsX1NJBBjnZciCH7CGneW68wbm7~T69ox-QRLocS60kFR~c~3WzcIMrIefSIIcB7F4plObdNsR4anNcL9a2m1Km0lTLLCsFnc3FA45YdZCOvCV16KT3x~Lmf1TjSgpxSxOZuA1FZwGoqilBp9SjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-11T14:18:05Z","article","Multiple public commenters objected to a proposed city pass-through that would allow King's College to apply for a grant for a student center, arguing the request is tone-deaf amid proposed state and federal budget cuts and the city's own fiscal constraints.

Angel Mathis (public commenter) said the request was \"tone deaf\" given large proposed state cuts and urged council to \"please vote no.\" Mathis referenced a broader federal and state funding picture, saying proposed cuts could reduce services for vulnerable residents.

Bob Kalaboski and another resident pressed similar themes. Kalaboski said the college has benefited from city assistance in multiple ways and argued the institution should provide more direct financial support to the city, such as paying more toward police and fire protection costs or making larger voluntary payments in lieu of taxes. He also raised an unresolved grievance about legal expenses tied to a prior suit involving the college and a former administration.

Nut graf: The remarks surfaced two recurring public concerns: whether the city should act as a conduit for grant funds to private institutions and whether large nonprofit or educational property owners should contribute more to municipal services or relief programs.

Speakers referenced the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) and asked whether the city's role as conduit means approval is a foregone conclusion. A commenter asked whether the money would come from the general fund; that specific funding source was not recorded in the meeting as finalized. No formal council vote on the King's College pass-through was recorded in the transcript; these were public comments during the pending-legislation portion of the meeting.

Ending: Commenters said they would like the city to seek concessions from the college (more payments or student benefits) before approving future pass-throughs; no council action or formal response committing to such conditions was recorded on April 10.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Wilkes-Barre Council Regular Session 4.10.25","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters urged Wilkes-Barre City Council to vote against allowing King's College to apply for or receive a pass-through grant, citing large proposed state budget cuts and asking that the college contribute more to local needs.","taxTitle","Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania","taxId",56675,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6077259,"Council approves consent agenda including six resolutions and minutes",13,820000,833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1&start=820&end=833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1/thumbnail_820000.jpg","/articles/6077259/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-consent-agenda-including-six-resolutions-and-minutes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077259-ade40c83b9e7350baa983f82ad6b2978/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180363&Signature=MoZxNc1rlthDZEWhjtk42BCcSRLHfzzZtQgdIV27jovW5jEhjSUlm2sOWjhnaV9PXdh2HucAokvMTnZGvyvCgD7HnrSbtL3OdVjeAx~7TQm2A9m295Og9dz-An-IInS2G0jT54RrznBoGpDYmpsQmMgY-i7Sv6riffHh2MdWCyz2mkyULjacRXWiyiS-J8WFgSvWB9LxxEvF4TOF9K4afDwQUtPQ7dJOnv6NQUqkMtEGinqYiW7XQrCFdYATIk~kT4iUzXePUUEG8c5DxEIVQE12uc5qCwG8lSvqxAAj57a2DAiPSVSqxboXgMmyDmAzK~489OnkywD3Sn4wDYPq2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilkes-Barre City Council approved its consent agenda at the start of the April 10 meeting. The consent agenda included six resolutions and the minutes from the council's prior meeting.

Motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Mister Barrett and seconded by Mister Balisco. The clerk recorded affirmative votes: \"Mister Barrett? Yes. Mister Balisco? Yes. Mister Merrick? Yes. Mister McLeay? Yes. Mister Brooks? Yes.\" The motion passed on the roll call as recorded.

Nut graf: The consent agenda bundled routine resolutions and the previous meeting's minutes for a single roll-call vote. The council did not discuss individual items on the consent agenda during the meeting record.

Ending: The council moved next to presentations and public comment after the consent agenda was approved.
","Wilkes-Barre City Council approved its consent agenda by roll call; motion made by Mister Barrett and seconded by Mister Balisco, with recorded affirmative votes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6077263,"Mayor George Brown defends clearing of river encampments; residents and advocates call for more humane housing solutions",2299,1192000,3491000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1&start=1192&end=3491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965056-27e6f9b7d94867db32930543147ddae1/thumbnail_1192000.jpg","/articles/6077263/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Mayor-George-Brown-defends-clearing-of-river-encampments-residents-and-advocates-call-for-more-humane-housing-solutions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077263-f8a326b6899347ca48f6fde2587ce949/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180363&Signature=aarKWC-JWYOYWUPZgnI~4tsZXOZroFVRCmA2bLWgwGoNS3eJRbOsu~uDUxQK1wzrbK8BW2fRxl9ISh01cgWxS2dppWBztS2a1A~Jp3X6dQdP~BWKp3~xhmPICB8MmOca821Lqo3xIuc3UdyoZ6UovqSb4uYQduKKZrya4cqBENysEBe3dSia-8FPxvy0~OVkJI8YwKkbxP1gUYwdRgSfYAuh~qRd-wMsLcsEc46sRMjvNfIkff2NPKFH-cGlunGxmiTGIvQ-gGHJSDTCk9LASItClJdzuNj-qabkKn9audQKXP9eaAKnriGhcOou-WxSAVPfZTaHPfN5r0sFske7IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor George Brown defended the city's recent removal of river encampments, saying crews found hazardous conditions and that the city provided shelter resources; residents and advocates countered that the sweeps were inhumane and stressed the need for long-term housing solutions.

The mayor said crews encountered a ``dump'' with ``buckets of feces, buckets of urine, needles, and other hazards'' and that the removals were done after giving people \"adequate time to move their belongings out.\" He said the city has provided money and services to help people who want help: \"As the mayor of City Wilkes-Barre, I provided over 300,000 for a place for people to go that are homeless, that can get showers, get clean clothing, that can get counseling, that can get other resources,\" he said.

Nut graf: The exchange at the April 10 council meeting underscored a recurring local conflict over how the city handles encampments: city officials say removals protect public safety and protect responders; advocates and residents say the approach displaces vulnerable people without sufficient shelter or housing alternatives.

Council and the mayor described the site as hazardous and said responders faced safety risks while trying to assist people in the encampments. \"I am not gonna allow our people that are trying to lend aid to go over there and have to fight that at night when it's dark out,\" the mayor said. Supporters of the removals argued the city offers services and gave advance notice before clearing the park.

Public commenters disputed the portrayal of homelessness as a voluntary choice and urged more housing and supportive services. April Haller, introduced as a resident of Oregon Street, told council: \"To suggest that homeless individuals choose to live in squalor oversimplifies their circumstances and undermines the systemic factors that contribute to their situation.\" Resident Anthony Farrow said: \"Kicking them out on the street that after they have an established camp is not a humane way of dealing with things.\" Jasmine Rodriguez, who identified herself as an advocate, cited national data and said affordable housing shortages and rising rents contribute to the crisis.

Speakers at the meeting and witnesses listed numerous local programs and providers that the mayor and others said are available, including the Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority, Keystone Mission (which the mayor said is changing its model to include more active case management), Catholic Social Services, Salvation Army housing units, Volunteers in America crisis counselors, and federal programs such as Section 8 vouchers. City officials credited volunteers and nonprofits for part of the response and said the city has sold property for low-income housing in past years.

Advocates said the city's short-term shelter capacity and case-management services are not yet a substitute for long-term affordable housing and that repeated clearings simply move people from one location to another. Several speakers urged more emphasis on housing-first solutions and more public outreach before removals.

Ending: Council members and the mayor said resources are available and that the city would continue outreach and cleanups when officials judge conditions unsafe; advocates said they will press for expanded shelter and permanent housing options. No formal council action or change in city policy on encampments was recorded during the meeting.
","Mayor George Brown said crews removed hazardous conditions from riverside encampments and defended the city's actions; residents and advocates told council the sweeps were inhumane and pressed for long-term affordable housing and shelter capacity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge council to reject pass-through grant to King's College amid state budget cuts; call for more institutional contribution

Council approves consent agenda including six resolutions and minutes

Mayor George Brown defends clearing of river encampments; residents and advocates call for more humane housing solutions