WHO SHOWED and WHO DIDN'T? ...FOR THE "24 HOUR TRANSFORMATION"

About 30-45 people contributed to the cause of the children who, as you can see in the picture below, did not even have a ball to play with.

WHO DID NOT HELP?  ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS

MAYOR THOMAS LEIGHTON WAS SEEN BY SOME SATURDAY NIGHT TO BE STAGGERING DRUNK THROUGH THE VERY CLASSY "BAR CRAWL" HIS WIFE SETS UP TO SUPPORT THE TAVERNS.

COUNCILMAN GEORGE BROWN WAS A NO-SHOW

COUNCILMAN PRESIDENT BILL BARRETT VACATIONED ON TAX PAYER MONEY LAST WEEK IN TEXAS... BUT COULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH THESE CHILDREN.

FROM THIS.....

TO THIS.....

Christmas Tree brought hours ago (below)

Beds for the adorable little ones (below)

At least $700 in food including $200 gift card

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Unfortunately not a good Christmas for Jason Parrish...

Zeroing In: Blaming one employee for pay mishap is wrong

Last updated: December 06. 2014 3:12PM - 3593 Views 

Betty Roccograndi

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Betty Roccograndi, Zeroing In

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“To err is human; to forgive divine,” poet Alexander Pope wrote.

No it’s not. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

Human error is the reason Luzerne County officials gave for 1,400 county employees not being paid on time a week ago.

The human was identified as Jason Parrish, a county budget and policy analyst. But management did not forgive Parrish for his egregious error of not taking care of business while on an approved vacation. He was swiftly fired.

Before Parrish was named as the culprit, County Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz told the Times Leader that the employee responsible for sending anelectronic fund transfer releasing paychecks left for vacation without making arrangements for someone else to handle it. Wow, who knew one employee among hundreds there had so much power?

As a result, county employees saw red on Black Friday, a paid holiday for them. We don’t yet know how many checks for bills may have bounced all over the place.

The Keystone Kourthouse strikes again. Isn’t an employee allowed to take a vacation without worrying that the courthouse could plunge into utter chaos while he’s gone?

Short of intentionally not transferring the payroll funds, an abrupt firing seems pretty harsh. How fast can you say lawsuit?

The timing couldn’t have been worse. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a grievance earlier that week because county Manager Robert Lawton, acting like a manager and not Santa Claus, refused to honor a past practice of paying employees early, or the day before Thanksgiving.

That sent AFSCME into a tizzy, but it was nothing compared to what followed.

“The rest of the world is out doing Christmas shopping, and our workers don’t have money,” said an “appalled” Paula Schnelly, AFSCME leader. ”I just can’t believe they would do this to the county employees,” she told a local reporter. Well, apparently, it wasn’t “they” who did this; it was he, a fellow employee.

Another grievance on the way?

Even though county officials vowed to cover any overdraft charges and penalties employees may have incurred, Ms. Schnelly stated that if they don’t, another grievance could be filed. You’re kidding.

“The county can’t ever make up for damage to their credit ratings,” the union leader said. Uh Oh!

As soon as management officials became aware of the problem – although we’re not quite sure they weren’t part of the problem — they immediately tried to rectify it, Swetz said. He added that by 9:30 a.m. Friday, he contacted PNC Bank to release the funds. Luckily, bank employees were on the job because Black Friday isn’t a holiday for them as it is for county courthouse workers.

“We deeply regret that this happened We apologize sincerely for any inconvenience to any county employee who has been affected by this error. We will do everything we can to make it right,” Lawton said.

Oh yeah, try telling that to the federal Labor Board and an arbitrator, pal.

Possibly emboldened by county Councilman Edward Brominski’s Johnny-on-the-spot assertion that failure to pay the employees on time violates federal labor law, one person identified online as ”ScrewedCountyEMPLOYEE” said, come Monday, he is calling a lawyer and the Labor Board.

Another worker complained that she had to leave a cart full of “stuff” at the store because her debit card declined payment. ”This is unbelievable. How bad can this county get?” she asked TL county reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes.

Pretty bad apparently because right now, the Keystone Kourthouse is looking like a three-ring circus.

Jumping at another opportunity to criticize Lawton, deposed county controller Walter Griffith told another newspaper, “The buck stops at whoever he can fire to take the heat off of his desk.” Oh, Walter, come on. If Lawton should be blamed for anything, it’s for not foreseeing that one county employee held so much power that his vacation could trigger such a mess.

In what’s becoming a tired refrain already, county council members Kathy Dobash and Stephen A. Urban called for Lawton’s resignation.

County officials plan to ask the financial institutions where employees’ checks bounced to forgive any fees or penalties, which would be divine.

Here’s hoping the bankers who can make that happen aren’t like Henry Potter, the scrooge from ”It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Betty Roccograndi is a business owner, Wyoming Valley resident and award-winning journalist. Zeroing In appears weekly.

RIGHT-TO-KNOW REQUEST SUBMITTED FOR "COPS FOR CASH" SCANDAL

It is time to find out why Sherman Hills has not been properly inspected and why WBPD must risk their lives responding to calls there.   In my opinion, money has been traded for officer safety.  This is completely unacceptable.

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RIGHT-TO-KNOW REQUEST

I request the following proof of inspections for the apartment units at the Sherman Hills (and/or TreeTop Devt) apartment complex that have been inspected during the time Thomas Leighton has served as Mayor of Wilkes-Barre. I refer to the complex with approximately 341-344 units.

For each unit inspected, I request copies of:

1)     A paid receipt for each inspection of each individual unit.

2)    The completed inspection evaluation for each inspection of each individual unit.

I also request evidence of all monies paid to the city of Wilkes-Barre or Thomas M Leighton from the above referenced complex.

I will be sharing results with at least three newspapers as well as law enforcement.

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VICTIMS, EXPLOITATION, AND CRIME CAN TAKE MANY FORMS:

CARS FOR CASH… Money exchanged for citizen’s welfare (Cars stolen)

KIDS FOR CASH…  Money exchanged for children’s welfare (Imprisonment)

COPS FOR CASH… Money exchanged for WBPD Officer’s welfare (lives at imminent risk)

In my view, W-B Mayor Thomas Leighton has willingly and willfully put the lives of the WBPD in grave danger in return for payoffs (bribes, silent ownership interest... whatever you want to call it) at Sherman Hills.

His lack of attention and his "looking the other way," in my opinion, only makes sense if he were renumerated. "Red Flags" are everywhere.

OWNERSHIP FOUL PLAY ? (Can a company sell itself to itself?)
A)  "Treetop Development" is owned Sherman Hills LLC

B)   Sherman Hills sold the complex to itself (Treetop Development)

C)   PROFIT?

-     Doubled their money in 3 years (actual 96 % gain)

-     $8 million to $15.7 million

D)  In court, this company refuses to disclose who the actual owners are (from recent wrongful death civil suit).

GLEANED FROM SOURCES:
1) City inspections due every time there is a change in tenants

2) Inspection fees are required (city has given up massive revenues).

3) Some city inspections have been made (indicating city responsibility).

4) One unit (out of approximately 344 units) was shut down for 6 months as a result of “Strike One.” (a pathetic "example" to be nade?)

5) Last year Sherman Hills received $1.7 million in rent subsidies. 

6) The city (in papers) identified the complex as a trouble spot. Its police officers responded there to assaults, robberies, shootings and other crimes such as murders. 

LINKS:    
- FEDERAL RAID ON SHERMAN HILLS    HERE.
- "COPS FOR CASH" explanation (very good)  HERE
-  One of Sherman Hills units (out of 344) shuts down due to Strike One   HERE.
-  Residents speak out as task force views Sherman Hills (and does nothing)   HERE.
-  Sham inspections in early June 2014?  HERE.

Courtesies of Times Leader, Citizens Voice, WB Independent Gazette, WB Taxpayer Association president Frank Sorick)

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DAY  7    Jason Parrish thrown under the bus

Update: Courthouse bullies

If you haven't seen the council video... see it HERE

Watch how rage-a-holic Morelli cuts off Ed Brominski and coddles Brian Swetz

Note to Narcissist: Firing may not be council business. But lawsuits are.

The situation of County managers Swetz/Lawton firing Luzerne County employee Jacob parish can be put to rest very quickly: Eat some "humble pie," admit you acted rashly, and give this 10 year veteran his job back. Easy. Done. End of story. (Scroll down to yesterday's post for details).

Or... we can go the legal route. I don't know if employees can be fired "at will" (on the spot) as of yet - but I can find out.

What I do know is that Parrish was grievously harmed by having his name sullied in the papers, was publicly embarrassed by being fired (while on vacation), and was "thrown under the bus." A civil suit is clearly in order.

In addition, with the very public firing of Parrish and his name being dragged through the mud (again, while on vacation)... his chances of securing a new job are virtually nil. Everyone knows it is near impossible to get a job when it is known that you were fired from the last one. The financial repercussions for Parrish could be severe.

He was thrown "under the bus" to cover for the failed policies and procedures of his boss (Swetz) and the County Manager (Lawton). They even admitted this much.

Mr. Parrish - you mave many friends you have yet to meet. We will support you legally if Lawton/Swetz remain recalcitrant. We will stick by you until resolution. People hate bullies.

Lawton and Swetz... don't make this hard. Just do the right thing.

IF YOU HATE BULLIES... READ THIS (ADDED: SEE VIDEO BELOW)

ADDITIONAL NOTE (3 hours after initial post): I called and left a personal message with Rob Lawton. I simply told him that he and Brian Swetz are responsible for not having safeguards so that the payroll mistake never happens again. I asked that he simply do the right thing and rescind the firing of Jason Parrish (see below). It is all a matter of doing the right thing!! If he cannot do the right thing then I assured him the issue would not die.

OTHER ADDITIONAL NOTE: I worked as a Senior Financial Analyst for a Fortune 200 company. 

1) No one was ever fired because "the numbers" were a day late. 

2) I have never heard of someone being fired while on vacation.

It is the absolute responsibility of Lawton and Swetz to be prepared for the payroll if the regular person is missing. It is laughable to think that the managers don't bear responsibility. This is one of the WORST examples of leadership I have ever seen. If Parrish is not hired back - I hope he gets an attorney quickly. I will testify as an expert witness about best practices. This is a travesty.

INITIAL POST: 
In what is one of the more cowardly moves I have seen in a while…

Luzerne County Budget and policy analyst Jason Parrish was fired. Parrish is a ten year veteran making a paltry $35,000 who was given (in TL) phenomenal reviews by the past Controller.  See link HERE.  The County payroll was hours (to a day) late. 

WHY? Because of a “mistake” (used loosely)… once… while Parrish was on vacation!!  County payroll was delayed a few hours for some… a day for others.

So the bar is set. The county standard is: If you make one mistake, regardless if you are on vacation, then kiss 10 years and your pension good bye. But it is truly worse than this. The unions aren’t filing a grievance and (to my knowledge) none of the 1400 employees has come forth claiming they were materially harmed and no one has said they want Jason Parrish fired over what... in the grand scheme of things... was at most a minor inconvenience for a small minority.

Compare:  Recently it was revealed that the county had a $ 10 million overage (a negative surprise) in their operating expenses. Anybody deemed responsible for not catching it? Nope. Lawton's/Swetz's process of "mistake picking" is apparently highly selective!!

NEW SINCE ORIGINAL POST: VIDEO OF TUESDAY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE BLAME IS SQUARELY PUT on LAWTON AND SWETZ!!! SEE VIDEO  HERE   (Swetz is at podium)

So… Jason Parrish has set a new precedent. One mistake and you are fired. Let’s look at the other players here:

COUNTY MANAGER ROBERT LAWTON: From the Times Leader article: “Lawton communicated plans for a policy that will prevent the problem again”  Why wasn’t a policy already in place? Is it not a mistake to have no policy or safeguards already in place? for 1400 people? I believe it is. Using your standards, Lawton, you hung yourself with that comment. LAWTON – YOU’RE FIRED.

County Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz: From the Times Leader article: Swetz said, “The employee (Parrish) who authorizes this transfer was off and did not make arrangements for another employee with the appropriate security clearance to handle the task.”  WHO IS THE DIVISION HEAD WHO WAS THERE THAT DAY?  SWETZ, THAT'S WHO!  WHY DIDN'T SWETZ HAVE A FAIL SAFE?  WHO IS MORE RESPONSIBLE, THE HEAD COACH OR THE ASSISTANT. WERE THERE MISTAKES HERE?  OF COURSE THERE WERE!   SWETZ – YOU’RE FIRED!  

Drama Queen Award goes to Paula Schnelly, of AFSCME who (please forgive me while I wipe away tears) claimed workers' credit ratings would be destroyed!!!!  Show me one person whose credit rating was destroyed by the direct deposit being hours/ 1 day late and I will give you $1,000. Cry me a river. Consumer tip: If your balance is zero… maybe you should forego Black Friday shopping. Just a tip.  

Furthermore... The only people that could be hurt are employees' who used their debit card with a very low balance within a very tight window. Do you actually think the bank won't drop the "nickel and dime" fees and jeopardize a customet (the county) that provides $73 million per years to the bank? Can we use a little common sense here?

PNC BANK    where Leighton's sister was (is?) the manager. If they receive over one million bi-weekly... shouldn't they have contacted the county? A phone call perhaps?

Is this all Parrish's (the man who was fired) fault?

SCAPEGOATING AND BULLYING. THAT’S ALL THIS IS. I HATE BULLIES. AND SO DO MOST EVERYONE. This would have turned out differently is Parrish’s last name was Majikes, Leighton, Toole, Rodano, Kane, Ryan, or Dessoye.

I WILL NOT RELENT ON THIS STORY UNTIL PARRISH IS RE-HIRED. I ASK FOR THE PUBLIC’S SUPPORT ON THIS OUTRAGE. CAN SOMEONE START A PETITION? I ASK ANYONE: HAVE YOU MADE A MISTAKE AT WORK? EVER? WHILE ON VACATION? 

TO LAWTON I SAY: PACK YOUR BAGS AND GET OUT OF HERE. YOU ARE A FAILED AND MISERABLE LEADER. A COMPLETE EMBARRASSMENT. YOU'RE AN INSULT TO GOOD MANAGERS EVERYWHERE. Outside of the alcoholics that are in positions around
 town - this is one of the worst examples of leadership I have seen. You have set the bar really, really low.

LEIGHTON SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH MURDER IF…

NOTE: OVER 200,000 VIEWS. Together we can clean up the mess called corruption.

... Leighton should be charged with murder if this pig has a police officer killed at Sherman Hills through his corruption.

He should also be charged in this wrongful death suit (below) because it was Leighton – and no one else – that was in charge of inspections.

Apparently a cop getting shot at Sherman Hills did not move Leighton’s moral compass a speck. Just Gimme the money.

CARS FOR CASH… Money exchanged for citizen’s welfare (Cars stolen)

KIDS FOR CASH…  Money exchanged for children’s welfare (Imprisonment)

COPS FOR CASH… Money exchanged for WBPD Officer’s welfare (lives at imminent risk)

I have been receiving numerous reports that Leighton is involved with Sherman Hills as a silent partner. Any logical deduction would conclude he has benefitted greatly from this cesspool of crime and murder.

Sherman Hill’s profit when sold?  $7.7 million dollars  96 % profit in 3 years

From Times Leader:  Sherman Hills LLC purchased the 22-acre apartment complex that consists of 344-units in 2011 for nearly $8 million, then sold the complex to Treetop Development earlier this year for $15.7 million.

Also from 12/02/14 Times Leader:  Sherman Hills’ former owners’ IDs protected in wrongful death suit.   Link HERE.

This apparently protects Leighton… for now. Anybody with any cognitive ability would know that a Mayor wouldn’t protect the most dangerous development from inspections… for free! One of the most dangerous complexes in the country.

I am told Leighton, the alleged corrupt city inspector Joe Rodano,  and his nephew Frank Rodano (Rodano’s restaurant) are all joined at the hip. Have you been invited to play poker with the “players” in the back of Rodano’s? Neither have I. 

I misspoke on an earlier post when I estimated Leighton will serve years in prison. I have upgraded my estimate to decades in prison… about enough time to dry out. Racketeering is my hope.

Whitey, I would like you to meet your new cell mate - Thomas Leighton. Play nice. No more murders.

  

HOW MANY GAY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW?

200,000  Views on this blog   Thank You

This includes extended family, current friends, or even people you liked in high school that you never knew were gay but have "since come out." (the correct term is LGBT but we'll keep it simple with "gay"). The people who I found out were gay in the past ten years is at least 20 or 30. So when people (ministers and bigots) speak against "them"... do they realize that most of us don't identify our friends/families as "them" but rather as "us?"

Sadly, some have committed suicide like my fraternity brother at Wake Forest. Robert Taylor. I also met and had a conversation with the mother of the Rutgers student who jumped off the GW bridge in New York when his roomate secretly filmed him with a friend in their dorm room (national story). This conversation occurred at a national conference I attended on this issue in DC.

Question: Do you feel like it is right to discriminate against these people any more than any other minority? (Would you want for your gay friends the same avenues of happiness that you can pursue?)

Question: Do you feel that pastors should be discriminating against this minority? (telling them that they won't enter the "Kingdom of God" when there is at least 28 verses that say the opposite... link  HERE for web site.

Question: Who do many gays fear the most?  Answer: Conservative Christians (ie; Jerry Falwell blaming gays for 9/11 attacks).

LET ME TELL YOU THIS... the teen suicide rate among gays is 8.5 times the average. Gays in less developed countries (like Uganda) are killed on the spot. I met two of the Ugandans that fled to the U.S. at the DC conference. Other countries imprison gays.

Time is of the essence as gays (LGBT's) around the world are dying in one form or another. A local Christian pastor, Jack Munley, had a book signing at Barnes and Noble. His book begins gay bashing seven pages in.  Here is my facebook message to him:

Hi I purchased your book.

What would you tell an 18 year old who is gay?

Do you consider it a choice or a born predisposition that is

not sublect to change (Please google "Alan Chambers" 

and "Exodus International.")

If not a choice... is it God's cruel joke? What exactly is it besides something you can hate?

MOST IMPORTANTLY - PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE HOMOSEXUALITY IS REFERRED TO IN THE BIBLE AS AN ORIENTATION.

In our few on line dialogues...

You mentioned slavery was permitted given Biblical context.

You mentioned women had fewer rights in biblical context.

Why then do you NOT view the homosexual "behaviors"

in Biblical context. Pope Frances sees the context when he

says "Who am I to judge?" At worst, can't you take his lead?

I will not mince words... it is unsubstantiated... out of context... non-researched... and bigoted comments from pastors like you that has our teenaged kids hanging from trees.

There is nothing courageous in finger wagging.. "Tough talk" would include fully loving gays AND including them fully in society. You take the coward's way out. Hate is easy.

I have relied on the research of many for my web site. Are you going to read it with open eyes or pretend "that ship has sailed" since your book is now published?

START OF MY WEB SITE:

CLOSING THE MISINFORMATION GAP

BRINGING TOGETHER LGBT’S AND THE CHURCH

A SIMPLE BUT CRITICAL SCRIPTURAL EXPLANATION

SUMMARY

(1)   THE KEY: Gay orientation was not known in biblical times. Therefore bible references regarding homosexuality have routinely been taken out of context for years. Given the cultural context of the bible – only heterosexual people were being addressed.

(2)           LGBT’s do not choose their orientation. This is confirmed by the closing of the “standard bearer” of reparative therapy ministries – Exodus International (They shut down without helping one person. Google it… or simply ask an LGBT that you know if they chose their orientation).

(3)            Death spiral: Ministers who believe the orientation IS a choice and adhere to bad scripture are contributing to the wildly high teen suicide rates (8.5 time the avg).  They are forcing people to change what can’t be changed and discriminating against LGBT’s

as a result.

(4)           “You are a mistake”  This perhaps the worst message. Ministers that DON’T see LGBT as a choice but hang on to bad scripture are giving a catastrophic message. The “You are a mistake” message pigeon-holes gays into a solitary life where they are mandated to be celibate (supposed to be a gift and not a punishment) and where they are to live a lonely life without a partner. Even if they are not directly addressed, these LGBT’s can be expected to be discriminated by the church and be forced to live as 2^nd class citizens.

For a thorough analysis of this topic... see this link  HERE

PLEASE DO NOT STAND FOR BIGOTRY!

THE NEXT GAY PERSON YOU KNOW COULD BE A FAMILY MEMBER OR  A GOOD FRIEND.