Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson to appear on Radio Smart Talk

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 15:54

Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson to appear on Radio Smart Talk

Written by Scott LaMar, Director of Radio Smart Talk

Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, October 27:

Depending on the outlook, the city of Harrisburg is either at its lowest point ever financially or the city is finally about to travel the road to recovery -- even if a definitive plan is not in place. After years of trying to figure out a way to pay a $310 million debt on the city's trash-burning incinerator, it appears decisions will be made soon that will at least take Harrisburg out of the crisis mode.

Against that backdrop, Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson will appear on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the city's financial situation and its dwindling optionsfor recovery.

Under legislation signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett last week, city council has one last chance to approve Mayor Thompson's plan, which closely resembles the state's Act 47 blueprint for distressed cities, or face the prospect of a state-appointed receiver running the city's finances. City council has filed for bankruptcy -- something that is prohibited by the law signed by Corbett, but a bankruptcy judge may have a say in that matter.

What are your thoughts on the city's finances?

LISTEN TO PROGRAM:

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# Michael 2011-10-27 08:42

Under any fair reading of the Takeover law, the Mayor loses all real power. In contrast, the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy Court allows the Mayor to retain or at least share power. So, why not keep power and stop the State seizure?

It would be a simple matter. Withdraw the Mayor's Objections and support the Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Petition. That simple act would keep local government in charge of local matters. So why not do it? And if the answer is some advisers or officials are telling the Mayor it doesn't work that way, she should get other advice, as that advice to push for her own loss of power is obviously wrong.

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# Tim 2011-10-27 09:06

With the seriousness of the situation, when was the last time you personally talked to the Govenor.

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# Dwayne 2011-10-27 09:25

Mayor Thompson, your fiscal recovery plan included the unpopular commuter tax. Question 1. How do you justify increasing the tax burden of many who do not live within the limits of Harrisburg, but who may come in from Susquehanna or Lower Paxton townships, who buy items in the city and support local businesses. and Question 2 Even more--how do you justify taxing business owners who come in from outside of the city limits to run their businesses and support the city with tax dollars from running said businesses?

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# Helen 2011-10-27 10:06

Linda refused to listen to Mike Ewall, esq. who volunteered with Stop The Burn when he told her that the company being contracted with to refurbish the incinerator needed to provide a Compliance Bond which was insurance that the refurbishing loans would be paid in the event the company failed to do as promised. He and my friend, an engineer, who was not connected with Stop the Burn, just a concerned citizen were in agreement at two of the meetings she attended. Usually they were on opposite sides on an issue. She dismissed their advise to listen to her experts which were Robinson and Ellison, the two black lawyers who advised her in her Loveship scam. Loveship Inc. received $125 everytime Linda filled out a form for the federal government when someone in foreclosure came to her 'non profit', Loveship, Inc. for assistance in avoiding foreclosure long before the 2008 banking crisis. She is only hanging in until she has enough time in City Government for retirement.

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# Tim 2011-10-27 11:18

With the seriousness of the situation, when was the last time you personally talked to the Governor?

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# Kris 2011-10-27 11:19

Mayor Thompson,

I’ve only recently moved into the city in the last year. And I think you’re handling this particular situation to the best of your abilities. It appears to me that the biggest hurdle you face is City Council. Considering that they’ve said that there is no need to come back to the table to talk about a financial recovery plan unless you change the plan, how do you intend to deal with that? Would you consider changing the plan in order to get them back to the table? If so, specifically what points?

As a resident it seems like our Mayor and our City Council are at war and that’s causing more problems than it’s solving.

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# Dwayne 2011-10-27 11:20

I loved how she skirted around my questions--blaming the state, because they 'included the commuter tax' in the Act 47 plan. I wasn't talking about Act 47, I was talking about her own plan that she's been running around talking about. Shes a great politician, but a lousy leader. I'm actually glad I no longer work in Harrisburg; and while I do visit there frequently and spend my dollars in local businesses in Harrisburg. I know many who work in the city, but live in the other townships. Many bike or use public transportation to get to work. Thank you Neil for hitting her with the Straight Talk---that the business owners and residents all pay taxes to support the ancillary services that all benefit; resident and non-resident alike.

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# Steve 2011-10-27 11:20

The mayor is fighting a windmill , when are the feds going to look into this banana republic that existed prior to Mayor Thompson.

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# Ben 2011-10-27 11:21

I don't live in Harrisburg so only follow the story as a news item. You do come across as antagonistic, angry, ... YOU need despirately to look at your style. Failure to do so will be your downfall for the rest of your life.

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# Bill 2011-10-27 11:22

Is it possible for the Mayor’s opinion on Bankruptcy to change and is her opinion only tied to the lawyers opinions?

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# William 2011-10-27 11:22

Is her opinion in regards to bankruptcy open to changing and is her opinion only tied to the opinion of her lawyers? Has she reviewed the bankruptcy rules on her own and if not why?

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# Ben 2011-10-27 11:23

EVERY relationship is 50:50. You never answer the criticism about your style with a reference to your own contribution.

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# JP 2011-10-27 13:17

What an absolute disgrace. This mayor is an embarassment to the city. She couldn't answer questions, and resorted to passing the buck and spreading blame constantly. I've never heard a less professional interview from a public official in my life. Just pathetic.

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# Tim Lyne 2011-10-28 06:25

Kudos to the host of this program. It took maturity and professionalsim to push past the bombastic nature of your interviewee. As a listener I thank you for not taking the bait and doing your best to keep the interview from degenerating into something less than what we've come to expect from this program.

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# Rob 2011-10-28 10:51

I keep hearing all of these comments where she must refer to an attorney or indicates that she must refer to professionals that were hired to evaluate things...such as her decisions about the incinerator while she was on council. The biggest problem here is that she simply isn't educated on these issues and doesn't understand them. If only she could admit that everyone might get somewhere. Just because you have a lawyer or a professional in an area doesn't mean that they are right in their thoughts or actions...that is why we must think objectively for ourselves. Look at all of the options - even those the state and council have provided - and figure out what parts of each are best or true.

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# helen 2011-10-28 11:19

Problem with many areas is that we have a mobile population that suffers from the same disease that permeates the students of the USA...hubris that they are bright and intelligent by just being. Without researching someone cops to she needs to change the plan to get the Council back to the table... DUH, did you listen to the news about the unknown copayment promise by the former mayor back in 1998??? Residents were warning the population about the fact that Reid used the full faith and credit of the city taxpayers for the buying of the parking garages, assisting with loans, the hotels that were only 1/2 full at any time. That was in 1991 but just because I had just moved into the area I did not think I knew it all, I read about the problems. Reed or however he spells his name would not come to any Democratic Party Mtgs outside of city limits. Weird dude! and he bought all those Wild West pawnshop things from Forest Fern out west on trips with city slush funds.

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