We’re Back

January 4th, 2014

Two simple words calculated to strike fear and trepidation in the hearts of corrupt politicians throughout the fair city of Sunbury, as we continue to expose to the full glare of publicity the events surrounding City Hall. We are certainly not in the business of civic spin doctoring – the editor and his staff at the Daily Item are more than capable of pulling the wool over the eyes of the local populace without any assistance from us.

The new Persing Administration wasted no time in signaling its intent to emulate its predecessor, with scant regard for what could be considered to be the best interests of our community and, in doing so, displaying exactly the same penchant for incompetence, stupidity and corruption. It began on election night with Persing’s notorious “taking out the garbage” victory speech during which, sounding more like North Korean leader Kim Jong-un than the Mayor of Sunbury, he crudely threatened the very foundations of local democracy by stating his intent to remove any and all opposition to his evil regime.

Rats Galore at City Meeting

October 15th, 2013

The smell of rats hung heavily in the air at City Hall last night.

Not just the dead rat which Julie Brosius produced – the third one found in her yard this year and a problem appearing to stem from her neighbor’s unsanitary and illegal storage of garbage – another issue which Sunbury Code Office seem incapable of addressing.

Dead Rat from Edison Ave

There were rats galore brought to light by Drake Saxton, none of which were deemed worthy of mention by the Daily Item. Maybe their reporter was asleep during this phase of the meeting. Persing was questioned about Softball – or rather about the apparent lack of transparency in the operation of the sport in the City. How City assets and financial resources are being used to support the operation of the David L Persing Sports Complex but, despite this, none of the vast sums of money raised seems to be finding its way back to City Hall.

“Our Trees are Safe” – Persing

August 27th, 2013

Coincidentally, one day after Not The Item commented on the failings of the new city camera system, the Daily Item, mouthpiece of the Persing administration, launched a retaliatory strike. Thanks to the new camera system, a guy has been apprehended after his vehicle hit one of the Parks Department trees on Front St. “These cameras are making our city safer” was the quoted comment from the Mayor.

This is the same Daily Item which did not even mention the armed robbery incident Friday night and the very real threat which it posed to the safety of some of our young citizens, and today failed to comment about the City meeting held Monday night, where questions were asked about the mounting losses at the City-run snack bar at the Pool and Ice Rink.

Death in a Prison

August 15th, 2013

Tragedy Turned to Farce by Political Onslaught

In a tragic incident this week at the Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury, a young man of 27 hanged himself. According to what we have heard there were no suspicious circumstances. He had asked to be given protective custody, a request still to be processed by prison administrators, but this past Tuesday afternoon he would appear to have been alone in his cell, his body being discovered by guards at 5:45 pm.

Northumberland County Prison

We would expect to see signs of remorse from the authorities, while awaiting the outcome of the internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident, and with a commitment to take all available steps to prevent a future re-occurrence. However, much to our dismay, what we have witnessed so far has been nothing like this. Far from offering their condolences to the bereaved family, our leaders have engaged in tub thumping and chest beating, looking for scapegoats and trying to score cheap political points.

MISREPRESENTATION

May 23rd, 2013

In Sunbury our local newspaper and our mayor share two things in common – dwindling support and a disdain for public opinion.

Mr. Persing received 378 votes in this week’s primary, or the support of only 6% of the adult population – supporter numbers have continued to dwindle – down from 589 in 2001 and from 441 in 2009 – a dismal set of statistics for our “popular” mayor, however you choose to look at them. It could also be said that 94% of those old enough to vote did not give him their support, and, in fact, over 20 voters wrote “Anyone but Persing” on their ballots.

The Daily Item had to lay off some staff members recently – one from each department within the organization. They are obviously losing significant amounts of money. If their news is failing to excite the population and to sell sufficient copies then there is only one man to blame – the editor. Gary Grossman has unashamedly backed Persing throughout the campaign, and was making confident noises of victory at a time when many others thought it was going to be close. Of course, outsiders knew nothing of the ambush they were preparing for election day.

Putting the Sun back in Sunbury

May 20th, 2013

Julie Brosius

Tuesday May 21^st is a momentous date in the long history of our City. This is the day that Sunburians can exorcise City Hall to rid themselves of the current oppressive regime and vote for a new beginning under their first ever woman mayor – Julie Brosius.

Mayor Persing has been in office on and off for the last 24 years. In a country where even the President can only run for 2 terms, Persing wants to have a sixth. It could a little uncharitable to say that 5 terms is 5 too many, but it is certainly more than enough for anyone.

Shikellamy Bullying

March 16th, 2013

Sunbury PA, 16th March 2013

Shikellamy

Amidst all the brouhaha surrounding the Shikellamy bullying investigation, one fact appears to have escaped almost without comment – police have been called to the school over 100 times in the last year alone – this translates into several visits per week during the school year. Apart from the obvious problems at the school, this also involves a tremendous strain on Sunbury PD resources. It is not just the time spent at the school, but the even longer time spent afterwards writing up reports, attending court, etc., at an annual cost to the police budget of many thousands of dollars.

Persing will Frack Us All

February 17th, 2013

City Facing its Greatest Challenge

Sunbury PA is facing perhaps its greatest challenge since the threat to Fort Augusta during the French and Indian Wars back in the 18^th century.

This time it’s not from the attentions of fiercely combative Native Americans but from a sea of chemical filth in the form of fracking waste, both liquid and solid, which could soon be flowing into the former Celotex site. Owner John Moran is proposing to sub-let part of the site to Clean Harbors who intend to initially import 1000 tons (55 truckloads) per day of waste for processing and subsequent trans-shipment on the railroad. Even these horrendous quantities will be increased in the longer term.

Not The Item

FIGHTING FOR SUNBURY

Category Archives: Editorial