[{"_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",6242063,"mediaKeyId","3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f","parentId",3248055,"title","Mayor: Wilkes‑Barre officials pressing lawmakers on possible federal grant cuts to health and housing programs","audioSeconds",114,"startMs",1220000,"endMs",1334000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f&start=1220&end=1334","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f/thumbnail_1220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6242063/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Mayor-WilkesBarre-officials-pressing-lawmakers-on-possible-federal-grant-cuts-to-health-and-housing-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242063-64a726f87c0abb112b0d3feeeccc66d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143155&Signature=huDa68iiSYpv4PFOSUq4P9eVNUlBXdJ-fz33qZYtspzUXnMkmrdTaUIUhkx7T~dhaBDwucpMLVzzupIF4SkBUAkmS6cC3sC8fPtUveG2sB9YxUuwcX5jDkWo8jEcsSIV4GNjXpDYTj6BgjUOhxRS92zIJB0bNgtiu2BFdi2LtxwQHTyxu2cYZm~Zbgcrfi4ltxczJ~6r12TNcck0fteCSUr6j751lTRPpC7rdsmX0iqdhHng3PjZ7l18vULeUMCTUWUNAnbPaF34Qh71CnyvVR1hiAKNK0zXn5nfLjW9nnfSregBgLxwMxiPpY7A38NFySC0RIY-YNf5DW0ZM6uI3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-09T13:34:30Z","article","Mayor George Brown told Wilkes‑Barre City Council on May 8 that he and staff have raised possible federal grant cuts with lawmakers and their regional staff, and described meetings to explain the consequences for city services.

“Some of the grants that we receive may be cut,” Brown said, and he told council he had met with Congressman Brezhnehan and the congressman’s staff to discuss potential reductions for the health department, HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) that support local housing programs, and the FEMA program noted by staff.

Brown said the city also hosted the regional representative for Senator McCormick for the same discussion. He identified several city program leaders and staff who participated or briefed lawmakers: Hank Rudolfski, head of the health department; Joyce Dacoski, who oversees CDBG administration; Jay Delaney, who spoke about the FEMA program; and Chief Coffey, who spoke about earmark funds. “We were very open, very honest about that,” Brown said of the meetings with federal offices.

The mayor said officials are watching the proposals and have communicated the potential local impacts. The council did not adopt any budget amendments at the meeting; the mayor’s comments indicated the conversations were part of outreach to federal representatives rather than a final decision on funding changes.

Council members and staff encouraged continued engagement with congressional and senatorial offices; no formal motion or vote was recorded on the topic at the meeting. City officials did not give dollar amounts for the potentially affected grants during the public meeting and said they would continue to follow up with lawmakers and staff.

The mayor also noted that the city provides services beyond its boundaries through health‑department programs, and warned that cuts could reduce those services if funding is eliminated.

Council members did not specify contingency plans or budget offsets at the meeting; Mayor Brown said the city had discussed the matters with federal staff to make them aware of local reliance on the grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Wilkes-Barre Council Regular Session 5.8.25","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor George Brown told council he and staff met with the congressional and senatorial offices to press for continued funding for the local health department, CDBG housing grants and a FEMA program after residents asked about potential federal cuts.","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},6242068,"Residents press Wilkes‑Barre council on parking, e‑bikes and traffic safety enforcement",1022,919000,1941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f&start=919&end=1941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f/thumbnail_919000.jpg","/articles/6242068/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-press-WilkesBarre-council-on-parking-ebikes-and-traffic-safety-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242068-c69c280089e8c32213bdfba9d2c1f9fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143155&Signature=T71ShI4SD05~GeF5bTJN2Bmkmihx-K6jFxE0mRSJ1VRKMxV8zsgkh4OPvisbIJP8rbEat7iippe3KPLp0hm7yt4nIdnjFDx7pdoEDsE-tVub0~9YjrSX9lXhPBHknqPjzb3fXu5QpknUoKN8TYz2PFbP92ayb5uVkYmV7yoYsIA-NSQonM0jHjdIP8iHCbyNBEzPOaXuv2NTXOfvuuuvijftstFSH11TLhBKsCZuhOy7Rof2WgytuySTnl4qr1Ok2CPhpv6EMSrl4cHO-D8xXpN2pNPtp-oLqvFXfEtOYZ1BuzpRQp2mc8QJ7WDj4OGMwr887Ey0~9aLOYJZJL53Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the May 8 public comment period to press Wilkes‑Barre City Council on parking, unsafe driving and micro‑mobility safety including electric bicycles and scooters.

Angel Mathis described parking on Stanton Street between Hazel and Loomis as “horrendous,” saying “cars are literally parked from corner to corner. Someone's gonna die there,” and urged the city to consider extending parking enforcement hours beyond current schedules. Mathis also asked whether a market located near the food‑truck area was properly zoned.

Tom Gagotek linked the parking and cutting‑through‑lots problem to pedestrian safety and the increasing presence of e‑bikes and scooters. “There’s somebody going down… No helmet going as fast as they could. Cars are behind them. It creates problems,” Gagotek said, and urged clearer rules for e‑bikes and enforcement.

Councilwoman Maclay asked for an updated list of food‑truck inspections from April; Mayor George Brown replied that food trucks are regulated by the health department under the recently passed ordinance. “Food trucks are regulated with this ordinance that we just passed, by the health department,” Brown said. The mayor added officials are working on e‑bike rules but that the subject is complex because different classifications of bikes exist.

Council members said they will look into yellow paint at corners and other parking‑control measures. Council staff noted that some private‑property markets are on private property and that zoning is being checked.

Separately, Councilman Merrin raised the boarded and deteriorating Stanton Lanes building, noting that letters have been sent to owners and that city staff will take further action where property owners fail to address graffiti and maintenance. Residents also urged improved maintenance at Wilkes‑Barre Cemetery; the mayor said a city cemetery committee has been recruiting volunteers for monument restoration and that city crews cut grass.

No formal motions or ordinances were adopted during public comment on these topics; council instructed staff to follow up on parking lines, zoning for the market near the food‑truck locations, and to provide the requested food‑truck inspection list.","Multiple residents told council about chronic parking violations, unsafe driving and fast e‑bikes; council and staff said parking enforcement hours, food‑truck inspections and e‑bike rules are under review and the health department will enforce food‑truck rules established by the recent ordinance.",{"_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},6242073,"Wilkes‑Barre council adopts ordinance banning driving across private property to avoid traffic signals",421,110000,531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f&start=110&end=531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248055-4f544f0d05d60c2c96e91d46ae79c33f/thumbnail_110000.jpg","/articles/6242073/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/WilkesBarre-council-adopts-ordinance-banning-driving-across-private-property-to-avoid-traffic-signals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242073-5f70e19442adccc420a69275a05e5898/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143155&Signature=eDZokqSt7iuiwgVki3NelFdPPsoXxOSGjNoXxXj6~Kerr3CPAazVolVT-k2oKBtUD-PcCA1FhtcSnrMtDUnMnSmEEXPJKNjMPg~nlkVKrbbqYIT~2RKqeVeHOzFACF8jM~3EwjNGG4Bky8xUIKMcDwV2nGitZ-YrzDtRqZ23lwX2X6Apzed4x9F2368mNIQv4xl4rWPYI5OcXDRquPx6cgPhGazQe~tWGwQe2YeFA9PCmpSnEs8U9KkPKdVSqgqx2cr9QdAKnT7wVrTJSY-NIuUUcbKK2iDqvTs3rbeqQGp-Nr2DXpaudOYqSkQAglQVYh1fS0KvBjMFbpGkk68iQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilkes‑Barre City Council on May 8 adopted an ordinance amending Article 11 of Chapter 29 of the city code to prohibit driving across private property and public property not intended as a thoroughfare to avoid traffic signals or intersections.

The ordinance adds a local traffic offense and increases the penalty the council said was last set when the rule was first passed in 2008. Council members moved and seconded the ordinance and then voted to adopt it.

The change came after a member of the public questioned how officers would enforce the prohibition. “It seems to me this thing is almost unenforceable,” public commenter Troy said during the meeting, adding concerns that enforcement would divert police attention from higher‑priority traffic and violent crime problems. Troy also described near misses and aggressive driving he said he had observed on Main and South streets.

Councilman Barrett responded to those enforcement concerns: “This is going to be treated by the police no different than any other traffic violation that they may have,” Barrett said. Barrett said he had spoken with police administration and that officers issue traffic citations with in‑car computers; the system, he said, is capable of issuing the new violation “just as they would for any other traffic violation.” He further noted the measure is a city ordinance rather than a state statute and that the fine had been “very minimal” when first passed in February 2008, which prompted the council to increase it.

The motion to adopt the ordinance (File of Council No. 3 of 2025) was made by Councilwoman Maclay and seconded by Councilman Merrin. Council members voting recorded as “yes” in the roll call during the adoption were Councilman Barrett, Councilman Velushko, Councilman Merrin, Councilman McClay and Council President Brooks. The ordinance was approved.

Council members and the mayor did not announce a department‑level enforcement campaign tied specifically to the ordinance; Barrett said enforcement would be at police discretion and used as “another tool” for traffic enforcement. The council did not record any additional amendments or further procedural directions related to the ordinance at the meeting.

The ordinance text recorded in the meeting identifies the rule as an amendment to the city code titled “Driving Across Private Property and Public Property not designed or intended to be a thoroughfare to avoid traffic signal control device or intersection.” The city did not cite state law as authorizing the penalty; Barrett emphasized the measure is local code enforcement.

As a result of the council vote, the new local offense is on the books and available to patrol officers to cite when they witness a vehicle traversing private property or non‑thoroughfare public property to avoid a traffic control device, subject to officer discretion and existing policing priorities.","City council adopted an amendment to the municipal code criminalizing driving across private or non‑thoroughfare public property to avoid traffic signals; council members voted to approve the ordinance after public comments raised enforcement concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor: Wilkes‑Barre officials pressing lawmakers on possible federal grant cuts to health and housing programs

Residents press Wilkes‑Barre council on parking, e‑bikes and traffic safety enforcement

Wilkes‑Barre council adopts ordinance banning driving across private property to avoid traffic signals