The Times-Tribune - News - 11/30/2005 - Santorum drops off $200,000 for projects in North Scranton:
More Pa Federal Tax Dollars leave Pa then ever come back. But Tricky Ricky Santorum waves a HUD grant around like he was responsible. Tricky Ricky is a shameful blowhard! By the way when is Tricky Ricky Santorum going to reimburse the Penn Hills School District for the money he scammed them for? - Lanny Budd
"Santorum drops off $200,000 for projects in North Scranton
BY LYNNE SLACK SHEDLOCK STAFF WRITER 11/30/2005
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum delivered a $200,000 check Tuesday to help complete a revitalization project in North Scranton that neighbors hope to eventually tie into the planned river walk.
It’s the second time in nine months that Mr. Santorum, a Republican, has come bearing gifts to the hometown of Democratic state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., his potential opponent in the closely watched 2006 senate race. Mr. Santorum last March gave Mayor Chris Doherty $300,000 for a South Scranton rehabilitation project. Both grants came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s highly competitive Neighborhood Initiatives Account.
Tuesday’s money is expected to put phase two of the North Scranton project over the top. The $1.5 million first phase of the project included building new sidewalks, curbs, period lighting and other improvements from Providence Square to North Main Avenue and Oak Street. The estimated cost of phase two, which will carry the work to Green Ridge Street, is about $500,000, neighborhood organizer Dr. Barry Minora said.
Dr. Minora said the neighborhood has generated $375,000 so far in grant money. The federal grant that Mr. Santorum secured with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter will fill in the rest, he said. The rest of the money might be used to move the project up West Market Street or to make improvements near the Lackawanna River connected to the river walk, Dr. Minora said.
The river walk, backed by a host of local organizations, would potentially connect Carbondale with Luzerne County, serving as an economic engine along the way for restaurants, shops and hotels.
“That’s really where the money is,” Dr. Minora said. “They’re proven winners wherever they’re built.”
Mr. Santorum said he chose the project because residents have embraced it in a bipartisan show of support. “One of the things I feel very strongly about is to work with people in the local communities,” he said.
Mr. Santorum said he’s pushing for money here because he’s “a big fan of the work being done in the city of Scranton.” He added his job is to put political ideology aside and work with elected leaders of local municipalities.
“There’s no Democratic or Republican way to run a city,” Mr. Santorum said.
Contact the writer: lshedlock@timesshamrock.com"
No comments:
Post a Comment