Saturday, August 10, 2013

Why Leighton's plan will fail

I would like to first give commendation to Officer Coffay and those he leads. They have done nice work in the past few weeks and have endangered themselves in the process. In the short term pulling heroin off the street may have saved some lives.

It is unfortunate that this was not the thinking of Chief Dessoye. His actions could have prevented the death of a 38 year old mother of three – Jennifer Conniff. Unfortunately Dessoye was only capable of thinking of himself as he protected a drug house on McLean Street.

It is important for an honorable officer to be courageous. And it is also in their interest if they work smart. Please read carefully what I have provided below.

SUMMARY OF LEIGHTON PLAN:

1) Supply and Demand See analysis above. This plan is doomed to fail.

2) Civil Liberties

- Innocent tenants (including children) will be punished for the crime of another.

- Decisions based on “opinions” of officers. This introduces specter of massive foul play.

- Landlords may have no way of knowing of tenant’s activities. Yet they are punished.

- In fact, civil liberty laws prevent a Landlord from encroachment.

3) Conflict of interests

- LEGAL This flimsily written plan could be a boon to lawsuit activity. This will provide work for Leighton’s cousin Bill Vinsko as well as Rosen, Jenkins, and Greenwald. Remember… not a dime will come from Leighton’s pocket.

- LEIGHTON AS LANDLORD Boarding up competitor’s properties will increase both the price and supply of tenants for Leighton. He will benefit financially.

4) Playing favorites We already have a case study of how the Chief of police protected a drug house because he had an interest in the “heroin honey.” The Landlord yelled and cried to have this drug house shut down and nothing was done. How can we possibly expect that things are different?

5) Personal conflicts of interests What is perhaps the most bitter of ironies is that Magisstrate Marty Kane, Police Chief Gerard Dessoye, and Mayor Thomas Leighton are all Class A alcoholics and/or drug addicts. The citizens deserve at a minimum to have sober and clean persons to execute and administrate a plan on drug policy. We have no idea if these individuals are already being serviced by drug houses or not. Until they can PROVE that they are clean and sober – not only should they not be part of this process… but they should not be serving the public AT ALL.

6) DANGER TO THE POLICE Throwing people from their homes unlawfully is one of the most dangerous actions i can think of.

"One strike plan" will strike down a cop

In regards to the "One Strike" idiocy put forth by Leighton, the ACLU weighs in on the Times Leader. See http://www.timesleader.com/news//742164/ACLU-has-concerns-with-W-Bs-1-strike-plan

Council must vote this measure down. It clearly represents a danger to those who have to enforce the law. You see, in Leighton’s alcohol soaked mind – he is not capable of truly caring about others. This is his “dog and pony” show and he wants false credit.

People aren’t dumb about their civil rights. They know when they are screwed. This measure tramples civil rights left and right. This measure will increase violence – not lessen it.

Removing people from their residents – unfairly - is extremely dangerous… especially if the residents know they are being wronged. Protecting our kids and protecting our homes are two of our most sacred “rights.”

I predict at least one police casualty as a result of this ill written, unconstitutional, tyrannical measure.

It’s all about Tommy. Nothing has changed.

The actual ordinance says…

“An owner has implied or actual knowledge of drug activity…” “Said knowledge may be imputed to the owner based on police knowledge and experience of drug activity on the property.”

Well isn’t this a feel good? An officer, say Majikes, Crawford, or Collins, who have already accepted bribes and were given a free pass by Leighton/Dessoye… get to be judge and jury for the property owner?

Can’t you see this turning into a disaster?

The actual ordinance says… “Severability… If it is determined by a proper legal authority that any section or part thereof is unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining sections and parts thereof shall remain in full force and effect.”

This indicates to me that the legal geniuses in city hall know that it will be struck down.

This truly is a “dog and pony” show. And the press fell for it.

Ralph Edmunds said on the TL site:

Of course! Leighton's announcement was just a dog and pony show. This ordinance would never pass a "due process" test. An ordinance like this has to be written by attorneys much smarter than Leighton's crew. And of course, nobody in City Hall is smart enough to contact someone in NYC or other places that have tough enforceable ordinances. This ordinance - Not going to happen.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Did the alcohol do the talking on this one?

I read the Times Leader’s article regarding punishing landlord’s due to their tenant’s drug activity. http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/739312/Mayor:-1-strike-youre-out

The irony of this situation hit me immediately. It would seem that the first order of business would be to assure the citizens that the Mayor, the police chief, and even Magistrate Marty Kane are all sober. You would start at the top, right? From every account (and there have been many)… Wilkes-Barre is being run by chemically impaired people.

The plan to go after landlords is so unprovable, so legally flimsy... that I can’t believe it is being taken seriously. Is this simply a racket to generate lawsuits so Leighton’s crony attorneys can enrich themselves? This makes about as much sense as does the plan put forth.

The best assurance that you, Tom Leighton, can give the city is the knowledge that you are sober and have been for a significant time. The situation is perilous. If you folks were an actual business you'd be broke. You'd realize that theft comes out of your own pockets and not the city's coffers.

All I have ever asked is that you get an evaluation. But you won’t do it. This raises red flags. You can’t blame anybody but yourself. Having cops give you rides home is not “social drinking.” Not for someone in their 50’s. “Bar crawls” for charity? Is that something your wife set up? Opening bar after bar... is this considered economic development? Fundraising for the Osterhout? More booze. Do you see a pattern here? Your development has been arrested at the frat boy stage.

Here is a listing of AA meetings: http://aaintergroupnepa.org/

The picture in the Times Leader has you standing in front of flags in a stellar looking suit. But pomp and circumstance does not cover the soul sickness you hide. Inside you are dying and have too much pride to admit it. You are not alone.

I can't see why anybody would have any compelling reason to listen to you or Dessoye or Kane. An alcoholic's thinking is impaired even if he doesn't realize it. This new plan has so many holes in it that it sounds as though it was written on a bar napkin.

Again, I ask that the three of you have a drug evaluation. Nick Colangelo from Clear Brook would be your guy. You need to do this so we can earn your trust. Your refusal is only validates the claims people make of you. You are the "Mayor Barry" of Wilkes-Barre.

The worst track record possible

Allow me to remind you what happened recently when a landlord tried to push out a drug dealer. Brenda Meehan tried everything to clean up her side of the “double.” She filed so many reports and 911 calls it is dizzying.

But nothing happened. Why?

Because Chief Gerard Dessoye was being serviced “Hat trick” style (any combo of sex/narcotics/heroin) by his “heroin honey.”

How do we know that Dessoye doesn’t have a new house he is getting possible drugs from?

Civil liberties You are asking landlords to enter the world of their tenants and to figure out what their will and intent is. They are not drug counselors and evaluators – they are landlords. Plus they have limited access to the tenants. An example here would be staging a surprise visit rather than giving proper notice. This is illegal.

Innocent Children Are you going to toss babies and small children on to the street because of the crime of an adult? This person might not be related to the children. This new policy is both crazy and inhumane.

Good tenants The market bears what it bears. You are not going to find “good tenants” who choose to live in crime ridden neighborhoods. This isn’t like renting at Newberry Estates. People pay what they can afford. Landlords must accept this or earn no income.

Profiling Everything about this plan points to racial profiling which is illegal. You cannot force landlords to engage in this highly illegal practice. The “code word” here is “good tenants.” But we know what it means.

Legal? “The mayor said it has been thoroughly researched to make sure it is legal.” This is a lie. This plan completely destroys the Constitution.

Must know? The plan says the landlord must know of drug activity. So this means if they don't know it it is OK? ... and please tell me how you prove that someone knows something?

Sherman Hills? Are they included?

Selective Enforcement? If a house happens to be one of Leighton’s… who actually thinks it will be shut down? No one. But what if it is Frank Sorick’s or Betsy Summers?

The last thing these idiots at city hall need is more power!

Don't give it to them!

Great job, officers

alleged-sex-offender-caught-in-forty-fort-1.1533020

By James Halpin (Staff Writer) Citizens Voice Published: August 8, 2013 Police say they were conducting aggressive driving enforcement Wednesday morning about 10:10 a.m. when officers Peter Lakkis and David McDermott stopped a white Ryder truck for speeding on Wyoming Avenue and found a fugitive from justice on charges including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault and other charges. Thank you Officers Lakkis and McDermott!!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

"Autopsy" of Trespassing fiasco

(See correction below regarding a statement I made)

Folks, it is imperative to understand how power was used as a weapon here. It could be you next! The gangsters aren't only in Sherman Hills... they are in city hall and the WBPD.

In front of a fair and impartial Judge today… the nonsensical charges of trespassing behind the police station were dismissed against me.

A few people have been critical of Stefanie Salavantis… but it appears she was caught on the run and gave the best statement she could under the circumstances.

Some Wilkes-Barre cops are awesome. They struggle because their honesty does not match the environment they work in. I have few good words for the people involved in this trespassing fiasco.

Citizens Voice link

AUTOPSY OF TRESPASSING CHARGES:

A Right to know indicates that I am the only one EVER to be cited for trespassing at the police station. The only one.

Gerard Dessoye: He could have dismissed my charges like he dismissed those of Terrie Morgan-Besecker and Joe Holden. But he didn’t. In fact, he only cited these reporters to give him (Dessoye) time to flee from them. Our “candy-ass” chief slipped out the back door to evade interviews regarding loaner/gift/bribe vehicles. I was only cited because I exposed this story.

Majikes Dodge Ram

Collins Mercedes Benz

Crawford name escapes me

Leighton and Dessoye use their badges and city attorneys and power to intimidate citizens who disagree with them. THIS IS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. Look at what they did to Thom Greco (July 15 post). Leighton sued a citizen (Denise Carey) for protesting the closing of a fire station. THEY TRULY ACT AS GANGSTERS. There are many more examples.

Officer Brian Gist: I would have more sympathy for him. But he lied in court. When cops lie in court that raises the threshold of corruption. Especially in front of the corrupt Marty Kane.

1) He said that I got out of my car the night he cited me. False. All the pictures that night were from within my car.

2) He said he had cited others for trespassing. False. The Right to know indicates I was the only one ever cited.

Correction: Previously I said Gist engaged in two fist fights. In actuality he almost got into two fistfights after the Marty Kane hearing. He "got in the face" of both me and Kobby. This occurred despite the fact that he won!

Marty Kane is about as least deserving of respect that you can get. Most people I talk to tells me he is a “drunk.” The same can be said for Leighton and G Dessoye. If Dessoye is still mixed up with Catherine Meehan… he is likely using prescription narcotics as well.

Marty Kane was seen out in public (at a bar) making out with someone not his wife (How old are you, Marty?). An attorney friend of mine read the transcripts of my hearing with Kane and laughed out loud when he said (“you will need an attorney if I am going to honor your constitutional rights”).

Please consider the triad between G Dessoye, Leighton, and Marty Kane. Marty Kane is the pinch-hitter who never misses. The corruption is grotesque. Add to this Mike Dessoye (Head County detective) as his drunken brother’s protector and the picture is even more bleak.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Sign Petition for Gas Gate

PETITION Please add your name to the petition requesting that the Luzerne County District Attorney (Stefanie Salavantis) file charges against those who stole gas at the DPW pump in Wilkes-Barre (Gas Gate). 18,000 gallons are missing... enough to circle the earth in a car 22 times!

Click below to add your name.
Please share this petition with others through facebook and e mails!

IMPORTANT You can use a surname if you are afraid to reveal your identity... just make sure your IP (E mail) address is valid. So Police Officers... feel free to sign.
Only your name (or surname) and city appears on the petition.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/file-gas-gate-charges

Sample petitions thus far: People are not bashful

#37	Kevin Dougherty	Aug 4, 2013	Wilkes Barre, PA
Several hundred thousand dollars of gas was discovered missing from the Wilkes-Barre city tanks over a year ago. The mayor and others have admitted to using gas for personal vehicles. The Luzerne County District Attorney, Stephanie Salavantis recently told the press that this is not high on her list of priorities.
#36	Doug Straw	Aug 4, 2013	Kingston, PA
If the DA does nothing civil disobedience must be considered.
#35	Cyndi Williams	Aug 4, 2013	Wilkes-Barre, PA
This is so embarrassing to our city. Stefanie - bring to an end!
#34	Carrie Wood	Aug 4, 2013	Dallas, PA
This has become a black eye and the billboard will likely cause national attention. DA - DO UR JOB
#33	Dorene Schutz	Aug 4, 2013	Wilkes-Barre, PA
#32	MaryAnn Popky	Aug 4, 2013	Wyoming, PA
Ms Salavantis - you must send a message. Otherwise your credibility will melt to nothing.
#31	Jason whittman	Aug 4, 2013	Wilkes Barre, PA
enough is enough
#30	Fred Swanson	Aug 4, 2013	Forty Fort, PA
Leighton and others cannot get away with this. Thank you for starting the petition.
#29	Mike Podcasy	Aug 4, 2013	Parsons, PA
It looks more and more like Salavantis is being sucked into the corruption vacuum. So sad
#28	Mike Kinney	Aug 4, 2013	Hanover Township, PA
The longer this goes on... the more of an embarrassment it becomes for our whole area.

Petition to be forwarded to
- Luzerne Count DA Stefanie Salvantis
- The Pa State Jouse
- The Pa State Senate
- Attorney General Kathleen Kane
- US Attorney Peter J Smith
- Governor Tom Corbett