Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Concerns topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press council on reassessment, homelessness, pools and neighborhood maintenance during public comment
Summary
Dozens of citizens used public comment to raise concerns about the recent property reassessment, homelessness, public safety and the condition of neighborhood amenities; speakers urged more transparency and city action on blight, policing, and support for youth sports fields.
Citizens used the public-comment portion of the Scranton City Council meeting to draw attention to a variety of local concerns, including a recent reassessment, homelessness and shelter needs, public-safety and gang activity, pool renovations and accessibility, and neighborhood blight and maintenance.
Reassessment and taxes: Several speakers described reassessment outcomes they considered incorrect or unaffordable. Les Spindler said his 36-year-old house was reassessed at $194,000 and called the figure "ridiculous," adding, "I wouldn't get half of that if I tried to sell it today." Lee Morgan and other speakers framed property-tax and wage challenges as part of broader economic concerns facing the city.
Homelessness and public safety: Multiple commenters raised homelessness and public-safety issues. Lynn Labroski urged the city to consider funding a second defibrillator for West Scranton Little League fields and to invite the public into task-force work on unsheltered populations. Virgil Argento criticized the administration and council for what he described as failings on homelessness, crime, and police staffing.
Pools and accessibility: Council members and residents discussed pool renovations and access for people who use wheelchairs. Council member Doctor Rothchild noted the Neag pool will be a zero-entry design and said the city should explore lifts or aqua wheelchairs for swimmers who use wheelchairs to ensure access.
Blight, walkability and local projects: Public commenters asked for more work on blight and street maintenance and questioned the cost of a walkability study that one speaker estimated at $20 million compared with water projects. Council members noted ongoing blight lists and a vacant property review committee; the first public meeting of that committee was scheduled for June 30 at 3 p.m.
Ending: Speakers asked for follow-up on specific issues (code enforcement visits for suspected Airbnb properties, completion of garbage pickup at homeless encampments, and monitoring of overtime drivers). Council members acknowledged the items and directed staff and administration to follow up where appropriate; no formal votes on these public-comment items were taken.
