[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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",6166981,"mediaKeyId","5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b","parentId",5413066,"title","Mayor says city accounted for funding as Keystone Mission closes; homelessness response under coordination","audioSeconds",267,"startMs",2225000,"endMs",2492000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b&start=2225&end=2492","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b/thumbnail_2225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6166981/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Mayor-says-city-accounted-for-funding-as-Keystone-Mission-closes-homelessness-response-under-coordination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166981-9e7828b2b42d2853f8c07f1458acd67e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773266411&Signature=nKOFhq69xhIunJIuccOBnTRVzyz1DfB0gpqOxvjUrF6yBWAPzbxZoietTPlufbygfmStCICuYvkB4lfdjfB~fYtPxbAt-U6NlxxiOO9ZMzdHHlm1aNzjQxt9DFZ3gsryD~y6ZuD6RUqBTlieLa7L9nTzVdSMxAEQkw7on0OI4tTbCc2zJkSjHKiadeTjccgSVpjz1a1IN7lG9b3xrlEJFeqcQ8d3PPE-TA~xl1xl6AuE0edfkCjHp~uIEAEqzuH~qoxx1bOsJVGT73Wmn7zyIJS1PAjgvk43YGjAtUnCXjR~Yz-gNs9-yZu23GSoC4QAR1eQ57qQCPM3SzZOtEX8Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-17T15:47:57.687Z","article","Wilkes-Barre’s mayor told the city council on July 10 that the city had accounted for funding used to support a facility associated with Keystone Mission and that multiple local agencies are coordinating an emergency response after Keystone Mission shut down.
Mayor George Brown said the city paid roughly $224,000 to convert a warehouse into a facility with offices, showers and night-time sleeping capacity and separately paid $109,000 to Keystone Mission for staffing the shelter for one year. “The other 109,000 did go to Keystone Mission that we gave them, but that was to supply a place to go for homeless people 7 nights a week,” Brown said. He added that the $224,000 was paid to the building owner to construct the facility.
Brown said local service providers and government agencies have met to discuss next steps: “Jennifer from CEO called a meeting to address what's gonna happen to the homeless people as Keystone Mission shuts down. And what we did was it was Jennifer from CEO. It was people from the county. I attended the meeting. People from Salvation Army, from Mother Teresa's Haven... and also from Volunteers of America.”
Despite the meetings, the mayor said the city had not yet determined how many people required placement after Keystone Mission’s closure. “We still do not know how many people still have to be placed,” he said. The mayor said Keystone Mission had not attended follow-up meetings to identify remaining clients and the city is awaiting that information.
Council members and residents raised concerns about service continuity and winter shelter capacity; no new funding appropriation or emergency ordinance was adopted at the July 10 meeting. The mayor said the city has contacted state congressional offices to express concern about federal grant funding uncertainty (including HUD and FEMA BRIC) but provided no further commitments pending additional interagency discussion and numbers on people needing shelter.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Wilkes-Barre Council Regular Session 7.10.25","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor George Brown told council the city funded construction and staffing associated with a shelter program and that multiple agencies are coordinating to place people after Keystone Mission’s closure, but officials said they still do not know how many people remain to be placed.","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},6166988,"Residents, council press PennDOT for traffic light at Cross Valley exit",246,1232000,1478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b&start=1232&end=1478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6166988/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-council-press-PennDOT-for-traffic-light-at-Cross-Valley-exit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166988-14f5c84a99b8b05562d2fee211dcab32/orig.mp4?Expires=1773266411&Signature=iGCYgO2rMRag-saQrlPVJt50vc~W0th7x~VYupCU3Lg5Cl6dcXqGOTmuR8tde81cCejUdZW-N4e~FK~NiLHByrgAe4-15LesPfiLC7g~YEImoMHLCJK1yMoOaeqABKQGwpPbMnIyixs6027ak8hZraRK1zVvYOHXU9kZffaYLmpDdpMwiPknvtP7NCU7dZOriG8-56WgeLhcumypNFSqQds3z8vKf58kHMZTdujQJ9DWXXBjgCbJmUEsHho~pLQIeITk2IosSyVqTnriEJqvgDNq4XyrTDGL3JbIyGfHzCISG00luhO4e3OobTCuRUNtAoIEGv17tWz2LvotMxP1ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and council members told Wilkes-Barre officials on July 10 that an exit from the Cross Valley Expressway lacks a traffic signal and presents a dangerous left-turn onto a multi-lane city roadway.
Victor Zolkowski, who said he drives the exit daily, asked why Wilkes-Barre’s exit is “the only exit off the Cross Valley without a light,” describing vehicles crossing three lanes of traffic and multiple near-accidents. He said people he knows “refuse to get off at that exit” because of safety concerns and asked whether the city would “give this another shot” in seeking changes.
Councilman Barrett, who has reported the issue at prior meetings and engaged PennDOT previously, told meeting attendees that PennDOT offered to perform a traffic study and said that if PennDOT approved a signal the municipality could install it at the city’s cost. Barrett said he believes the state should bear the burden: “My take on it is if it weren't for that state highway exiting onto a city roadway, we wouldn't need a traffic light. I think the burden should be on the state to put the traffic light at the end of their ramp.”
Mayor George Brown acknowledged the recurring concern and said the council has raised the issue at successive meetings; he and staff said they would pass the matter to PennDOT for review and noted previous meetings with PennDOT and state representatives. The mayor also reported that staff and council have driven the area and observed heavy traffic and multiple nearby signals, but that the ramp area remains without a light.
No vote or ordinance action was taken at the July 10 meeting. City officials said they will continue to discuss the location with PennDOT and state representatives and will forward complaints and evidence to the agency responsible for state highway ramps.
","Residents and council members raised safety concerns about an exit from the Cross Valley Expressway that lacks a traffic signal; council blamed PennDOT for responsibility and said staff will pass concerns to the agency.",{"_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},6166993,"Council asked to consider allowing handicap-placard holders to apply for reserved curb parking",1726,936000,2662000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b&start=936&end=2662","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b/thumbnail_936000.jpg","/articles/6166993/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Council-asked-to-consider-allowing-handicap-placard-holders-to-apply-for-reserved-curb-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166993-663d9c16c091a6c03a65f0bd489eaa68/orig.mp4?Expires=1773266411&Signature=PTU6x3HA2l2s03uUrGqMHBg1VnjN~3f9y18yKxeZOx7W-Cucpt5GBMV5WZFiJCsmUKdfkgMPRGu038GelX~8cQlxj-tdWLsWJoaFHSvFgUSWwoiZYN1kGm6kZfvLw9mtPlmyRdCPbgLcl0MvFAE3IwNx-plsTbEWr8Jso2UMHMfwjAfo~wiFGeRL~KkCkj0ivXFyyD81vs7iaMitH5U9bsIspJNLSuAT7SHBkkvHOLLbUHRlQNmFGxphFixMuZZLwhHx3XgmRqClqmge8pqN5YBNp~w5US9k~L0kD1igE9WhZOZ88DWp4y0-zBxi52nxR8dGle5mXI5MYTq2jwGdYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilman Barrett told fellow council members on July 10 that residents who rely on state handicap placards face difficulty obtaining reserved curb parking because the current city ordinance requires a disabled license plate. Barrett asked the council to consider amending the ordinance to allow placard holders to apply for a reserved parking permit with the placard number recorded.
Barrett said the change would mirror policies in other Pennsylvania cities and argued it would help residents who are mobility-impaired but do not want a license plate on their vehicle. He told the council he would “put this in writing to all of you, that we amend that ordinance to allow persons with a valid handicap parking placard to apply for a permit, a reserved parking space in front of their home just as the people with the plate do.”
No ordinance change was made at the meeting. Barrett asked the city attorney to examine legal and procedural requirements; he requested the attorney report back. City staff and members of the public offered procedural guidance for residents: a public commenter, Alan Rosenbaum, was directed to the tax office and to an office that processes plate applications to begin the existing process during the meeting.
Council did not schedule a formal public hearing or set language for an ordinance amendment at this meeting; the item was presented as a request for staff and legal review.
","A council member asked the city attorney to explore amending the city's reserved parking ordinance so residents with state handicap placards — but not license plates — can apply for a reserved curb space in front of their homes.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6166998,"Council approves grant applications for South Main and King’s College streetscape projects",419,256000,675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b&start=256&end=675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413066-cead077de90ef67f1d6b56e6ded40c3b/thumbnail_256000.jpg","/articles/6166998/Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-grant-applications-for-South-Main-and-Kings-College-streetscape-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166998-8174ddfc17bd78d6c0919f96b21b1ff3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773266411&Signature=LWIgExq0U7KLJz3PybsunQFmlNb9aagvvCYBimbbJxJUT9yNIkMdF-Ud~Kv8neH17AyiO7TfZg2iQPaoeOYavhdsPE6NVcy9okS~02CDF3GJcstcbMU79-~wktAY3Nq61XJs9-YYizIJaQ8dPH1jgAVexhPbHxO4R-npeNSn3JnBAWEynnjin87JQ4mlbHPigKqyWpA-RKjiJLXa34urCUQzfLFRP6MkF9gtvtMfhkJNmrep7Vze-rQtBJluVW9aTHfm5GAX2l0apq8-lT1RaG79cjoZMYG0fkoriw6wZ~~TfGR~OmIiYjzCcArG6hqlXUn1VT9px26JBpNXXDs37g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilkes-Barre City Council on July 10 approved resolutions to apply for state multimodal transportation funding for a South Main Streetscape Phase 2 project and a separate King’s College streetscape project.
The approvals came as part of the consent agenda that included three resolutions and the minutes; the motion to approve the consent agenda passed on a roll-call vote. Council moved the consent agenda on a motion by Mr. Mirren and a second by Councilman Barrett. Council members recorded “yes” votes before the item passed.
In public comment, resident Angel Mathis questioned directing grant money to King’s College, saying the college “consistently, consistently, consistently ask for all of these quarter a million, half a million, all of these dollars” and added, “I just feel that this $597,855 could be better used elsewhere.” Mathis also noted a recent LSA grant the college received and asked why the state should continue to fund the college’s projects.
Tom Butchko, introduced as a representative of King’s College, described the college’s application as a streetscape renovation intended “to improve the safety and the pedestrian traffic in the area, improve the visibility of it and the appearance of it.” He outlined work zones including replacement of damaged brick pavers and new sidewalks, curb cuts for Americans with Disabilities Act access, new lighting, benches and trees in segments extending from the public square toward Bennett Place and along blocks between Union Street, Jackson Street and North Street.
Mayor George Brown noted the city does not set the parameters for the state multimodal transportation fund, saying “We do not set the process, the parameters of what that fund is for. The governor's office and the state legislatures does, and it behooves us to make applications to these grants and let any entity in Wilkes Barre to apply for, this fund.”
The council did not debate or amend the grant applications at length during the meeting. The grant applications were bundled in the consent agenda and approved by voice/roll-call as part of that package.
Looking ahead, the council did not set a separate public hearing or additional conditions for the applications during the meeting; project-specific design, scope and final funding awards remain subject to the state grant review process.
","Wilkes-Barre City Council approved resolutions to submit state multimodal grant applications for a South Main Streetscape Phase 2 project and a King’s College streetscape project after public comment and a presentation from a college representative.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor says city accounted for funding as Keystone Mission closes; homelessness response under coordination

Residents, council press PennDOT for traffic light at Cross Valley exit

Council asked to consider allowing handicap-placard holders to apply for reserved curb parking

Council approves grant applications for South Main and King’s College streetscape projects