Judges Affirm Rejection Of Hazleton Area International Cargo Airport

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Commonwealth Court panel dealt another blow Thursday to a proposed international cargo airport in the Hazleton area, as it upheld Schuylkill County Court’s rejection of a special exception for the facility.

In a 19-page opinion, the panel affirmed county Judge James P. Goodman’s determination that Gladstone Partners LLC, Pittsburgh, had not satisfied the necessary conditions for a special exception.

“The application as submitted did not meet the objective requirements of … (the county zoning ordinance),” President Judge Dan Pellegrini wrote in the panel’s opinion.

As a result, barring a successful appeal by Gladstone Partners to the full Commonwealth Court or the state Supreme Court, plans for the airport have ground to a halt.

Read more: http://republicanherald.com/news/judges-affirm-rejection-of-airport-1.1776451

Moving Harrisburg Forward Might Be Impossible Without Settling Present

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Dauphin County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The forum was supposed to focus on the future of Harrisburg. And to a large extent, it did. But the reality of city’s present casts a long shadow over any discussion in the capital these days.

At some point in the next three months, it is likely the Harrisburg recovery plan, whether you support it or not, is going to go into effect, essentially eliminating the city’s massive debts and putting its government back on the path to some form of solvency.

How much it is able to carry that past the next four years remains unknown. But the future of the city, whether it stagnates or begins a new renaissance, will largely be in its own hands, unencumbered from debt obligations.

At its core, argues developer Ralph Vartan, is a simple equation. Of the 58,000 people who work in the city, only about 10,000 live in the city. That is further unbalanced by the fact that over the last several decades the regional population has almost doubled, while Harrisburg’s has stagnated.

Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/09/moving_harrisburg_forward_may.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Agreement Reached To Sell Harrisburg Incinerator To Lancaster Authority

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Dauphin County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An agreement has been reached that will allow the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority to purchase the long-troubled Harrisburg incinerator, officials said Wednesday.

Details about the plan — including the sale price — were not disclosed.

At a press conference, Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson touted the agreement, months in the making, as a key to bailing out the financially beleaguered city.  “This is the turning point we’ve all been waiting for,” she said.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/875044_Agreement-reached–to-sell-Harrisburg-incinerator-to-Lancaster-authority.html#ixzz2ZzKfEDjE

21-Year-Old Harrisburg Area Community College Student Running For Harrisburg City School Board

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I am always glad to read stories about young people who want get involved and make a difference.  A young woman and student at Harrisburg Area Community College is running for a Harrisburg City School Board seat.  In an interesting turn of events, a candidate supported by Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson challenged Destini Hodges’ candidacy.  Autumn Cooper was trying to make sure everyone running was “legit”.  Hmmmmmmm…

Fortunately, Commonwealth Court upheld a March 21^st decision by Dauphin County Judge, Scott Evans to allow Destini to stay on the ballot for the May 17^th Democratic primary. 

We find Ms. Cooper’s motives rather questionable.  Ms. Cooper was appointed to the former board of control by Mayor Linda Thompson last year.  This year Ms. Cooper is being supported by Linda Thompson for a seat on the school board.  The fact that the first ruling was appealed to Commonwealth Court is ridiculous.

Our advice to Ms. Cooper is to not take any wooden nickels from the mayor.