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Wilkes-Barre City Council told of health code issues and criminal incidents in area.
WILKES-BARRE – John Banks and his Hudson Street neighbors want city officials to do more than listen to their problems – they want action.
Speaking for himself and neighbors whom he said feared retaliation if they spoke in public, Banks on Thursday told council about health code issues and recent criminal incidents in his neighborhood, such as assaults and a threat with a gun.
One problem is that police seem to think some calls on noise complaints are unjustified because “as soon as the police turn the corner at Dana Street,” they are spotted by the unruly neighbors, who go inside their home until police leave and then return to being unruly, Banks said.
“The fact that they are quiet as the police drove up seems to make the police act like the call was unjustified. They seem to be upset because they found nothing wrong,” Banks said.
And, Banks said, residents are hesitant to call police because police and dispatchers “give their name and address over the radio. This leaves them open to retaliation,” he said, noting incidents of vandalism to residents’ vehicles. “It seems that if we try to report crime, we are the ones that receive the punishment.”
Banks said the same problems occur there year after year, the media reports it, and residents “have repeatedly complained to no avail. … We need to do something with these properties – either tear them down or watch them more closely,” Banks said.
“None of this is new and I get tired of restating it. … But no one seems to be listening. Please hear us and act like you do. Saying you do doesn’t make it so. Do something,” Banks said.
Councilman and former Police Chief Bill Barrett thanked Banks for his presentation, acknowledged residents’ fears, and said he hopes police will “increase the patrols there, randomly, so that people don’t have to call.”
Council also heard Darlene Duggins ask them to support and attend an annual block party on Public Square the afternoon of July 11. This year’s theme will be diversity, she said.
Carl Romanelli asked council to join other cities in backing House Bill 1660 and Senate Bill 400, which he said would provide universal health care for all Pennsylvanians. State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, cosponsored the House Bill, he noted.
In other business, council:
• Approved selling properties at 112-124 Madison St. to Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity.
• Approved two change orders on the Coal Street Park project totaling $63,259.23 to remove and replace unsuitable foundation material and for concrete slab work between an existing slab and a new ice making slab.
• Authorized the administration to enter an engineering services contract with Michael J. Pasonick not to exceed $31,600 for work on Smith, South Meade, South Hancock, South Washington, Elder, Lincoln, Jones, Forrest and Anthracite streets, Noble Lane and Cardiff Lane.
• Authorized the administration to lease space for the city health department at the Kirby Memorial Health Center.