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First Posted: 2/6/2014 Would it be a good idea to &#8230;
&#8230; demonstrate discontent by going to the next Luzerne County Transportation Authority board meeting dressed in a ghost costume?
Be the one, or maybe one of many, to attend the session scheduled for Feb. 19, making a statement by literally staying under cover and saying nothing. Through a nonviolent, non-disruptive but eye-catching showing, let the powers that be who oversee the LCTA know you disapprove of the ethical and/or logic lapses that led to the years-long, over-reporting of senior bus passengers, the crux of the so-called &#8220;ghost rider&#8221; scandal.
The LCTA allegedly padded its ridership figures by 315,000 to 615,000 or more non-existent passengers per year between 2005 and 2013, according to a consultant&#8217;s review conducted for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Last week, the department indicated it plans to quickly recoup millions of dollars it supplied to the LCTA under what appear to be false pretenses. The payback, plus a fine, totals about $3.2 million.
The financial blow to the LCTA might be compounded if Luzerne County follows suit with PennDOT, seeking the return of money it paid in matching contributions.
A grand jury supposedly is looking into the matter and has interviewed some bus drivers. It remains to be seen if the LCTA will appeal the state&#8217;s decision or if the botched counts ultimately trigger a significant disruption in bus service. But the situation is another in a long line of Luzerne County embarrassments deserving of public response, perhaps outcry.
We didn&#8217;t float the ghost demonstration notion past people trained in civil disobedience. We want to know what you think.
Can area residents concerned about this region&#8217;s reputation, and its public institutions, find ways to express their dissatisfaction with certain behaviors, demanding improvement? If people cajole, challenge, shame or embarrass those who don&#8217;t live up to expectations or who go astray, will it change officials&#8217; conduct for the better?
Conversely, if area residents react in ho-hum fashion to each new revelation of public corruption or shoddy performance, what message does that send? That Luzerne County residents are disinterested? Meek? Weak?
Scared?
Give us your feedback by sending a letter the editor or posting comments to this editorial at timesleader.com or facebook.com/timesleader.
Likewise, share your ideas for improving the community and making area residents&#8217; lives better. Maybe we&#8217;ll spotlight your suggestion in a future editorial and ask readers, &#8220;Would it be a good idea to &#8230;&#8221;

OUR OPINION: IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? Pose as ghosts to make a point