West Pittston council president, Ellen Quinn, discusses issues of a levee for the borough as well as the closed Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge with Dr. Mehmet Oz, who was in town as part of his campaign to secure the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. Left is West Pittston Mayor Angelo Alfano.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Click here to subscribe today or Login.
West Pittston council president Ellen Quinn, Dr. Mehmet Oz, center, and West Pittston Mayor Angelo Alfano, aid each other as they walk on icy terrain at the exit of the Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge that connects Pittston to West Pittston.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
West Pittston Mayor Angelo Alfano points to irregularities in the closed Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge with PA Senate hopeful Dr. Mehmet Oz during Dr. Oz’s visit to Greater Pittston on Tuesday afternoon. The bridge connects West Pittston with Pittston. To the right is Ellen Quinn, West Pittston council president.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo, center, points out downtown Pittston revitalization improvements over the last 20 years to Dr. Mehmet Oz, left. Right is West Pittston Mayor Angelo Alfano.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Republican hopeful for the Senate Dr. Mehmet Oz, left, tours downtown Pittston with Mayor Michael Lombardo on Tuesday afternoon.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
For two municipalities connected by a closed-down bridge, a visit from one of the candidates for Pennsylvania’s open seat in the U.S. Senate was just what the doctor ordered.
In fact, it was Dr. Mehmet Oz who visited the Greater Pittston area Tuesday afternoon, spending time in both Pittston and West Pittston, checking out a few local businesses and getting a firsthand look at the Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge, which has been closed since August after an inspection revealed a bent eyebar.
“Part of being a senator is looking at how you provide infrastructure to the nation,” Oz said. “The infrastructure bill just passed is an example of that, but now I want to see it in action.”
County council tabled a decision to allocate funds from the $113 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding received by the county at a meeting held in January.
West Pittston mayor Angelo Alfano and borough council president both acknowledged the issues created by the closed bridge, both in terms of businesses being affected and with traffic congestion caused by cars being rerouted to the Fort Jenkins Bridge, which lies to the north of the Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge.
Quinn also noted the effect the closure could have on emergency services when she spoke with Oz at the foot of the Firefighters’ bridge.
“What if emergency vehicles need to get across, from our side or Pittston’s side?” she asked. “We need this bridge not just for us, but for Pittston.”
The seat Oz seeks is opening up because Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, is retiring. That vacancy has led to a crowded field of candidates on the Republican and Democratic sides.
Oz started his day at Kuharchik Construction in Exeter, where he was greeted by Alfano and Kuharchik CEO Robert Bresnahan, who helped coordinate the doctor’s visit.
“Rob worked on [Rep.] Dan Meuser’s campaign … he had spoken with Dr. Oz a few months ago,” Alfano said. “I’m glad we got him [Dr. Oz] here, he seems like he wants to get things done.”
From there, the doctor made his way into West Pittston to see the closed bridge, while also discussing a proposed levee system for the borough with Alfano and Quinn, along with other members of West Pittston’s borough council.
“If it would cost $50 million to build a levee here, that’s a pretty wise investment to protect these homes,” Oz said.
The doctor also traveled across the Susquehanna River to Pittston, stopping in the Ah Baby + Co shop and the Art E Fekts art gallery, both located on Main Street.
Ah Baby owner Caroline Nelson, a native of the area who opened the store this past August, was excited to see Dr. Oz take a visit in her store, and in the city.
“We had heard whispers Dr. Oz may be coming here, but I wasn’t sure,” Nelson said. “It’s great to have some excitement in town.”
Lombardo explained to Oz the progress Pittston had made in revitalizing Main Street over the years, and to what end the government could play in helping to continue the downtown’s success.
Oz also touched on a number of issues during his visit, including COVID-19 and the federal government’s handling of the pandemic.
“When you mix politics and medicine, you get politics,” he said. “The biggest mistake we made is taking doctors out of the equation.”
Afterward, both mayors were happy with the visit and optimistic about the future.
“I think it was a good visit, I hope that Dr. Oz got to realize what our priorities are,” Lombardo said. “I don’t think you could judge candidates and make decisions without actively engaging with them.
“I think it was a good opportunity for us to meet Dr. Oz, and for Dr. Oz to meet us.”
At many points throughout the visit, the “rivalry” between Pittston and West Pittston was brought up for laughs, but Lombardo made it a point to note that, at the end of the day, what’s best for one side of the bridge is best for the other.
“We joke about what side is better, but we’re all in the same boat,” he said. “We don’t want to see the river as something that divides us, but something that makes us close.”
