MAIL BAG â??LETTERS FROM READERS

My fellow Wilkes-Barre residents and citizens and taxpayers. If you for one minute believe that the mayor just happened to drop in on the Parking Authority Meeting, or just quizzically made inquiries as to the financial status of said authority, you are either: 1. Very naïve; or, 2. as stupid as he thinks you are.

We have a group of dedicated residents who unselfishly give time to run a board that is probably the only city entity that operates in the black. Now they are being looked at by the mayor trying to gain control of the finances that they have so carefully accrued.

LAZ (not to be confused with LAG the towing company) has managed the daily affairs of the maintenance and oversight of the parking facilities . The financial report requested by the mayor only verifies the fact that the board is doing a great job, and looking out for the interest of the taxpayers. I would advise the city council to reject any future appointments to this board as a move to replace any of the current members.

There are two sitting board members whose terms expire shortly. When asked by me at the meeting if they would like to remain if asked, both replied yes.

The mayor, when asked if they would be retained, was very vague in his response. My point is that if the board is doing its job well and operating in the black, why try to fix something that is not broken? The board members' dedication and hard work appears to be secondary.

The mayor was quoted as saying, We're just trying to do what's in the best interest of city taxpayers.

Mr. Mayor, if that's the case, and you do not have an ulterior motive, why not just let sleeping dogs lie? Had you been sincere, you would have praised the board for doing an excellent job as wards of the taxpayer dollar. But your impromptu visit had ominous overtones.

Long after you are gone, and a mere blip on the horizon, we, the citizens of Wilkes-Barre will still have to live with what you have done, and what you did not do.

Taxes are a subject in which everyone has an interest. Nobody likes them, that's the interest. Unless it's the other guy who has to pay. The problem is that America needs more income to pay down the deficit. So, from where can we get more income? Job creators claim they'll stop creating, the wealthy claim they'll move offshore along with the jobs, I suppose.

The poor can't afford food let alone more in taxes. The middle class claims it's tapped out, too.

That only leaves one class of citizen: the politician. Politicians are the ones who got us in this situation in the first place. I think it would be fair to charge them an extra percentage.

I think 100% would be fair.

Ray Arellano Wilkes-Barre Ed Cole Clarks Summit