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Tyler Memorial donates to Cancer Society

Letter to the Editor: See through ‘propaganda’ and reject PennEast Pipeline

In 2015, Wilkes-Barre City Council approved the ordinance and the state approved a gaming fund grant of $500,000 that specifically states the money is to be used for renovations to the Innovation Center and the First National Bank.Then-Mayor Tom Leighton apparently decides that the owner of the City Market Caf&#233; needs $50,000 of that grant money because of $250,000 in overruns for utility upgrades to a property owned by Humford Equities and Realty, per reporter Jerry Lynott&#8217;s recent <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/524427/public-funds-helping-private-developer-bring-grocery-to-public-square" target="_blank">Times Leader article</a>.Where was the business plan for renovation costs, and why should poor planning on the part of a business owner be paid for with public funds to improve a privately owned commercial property? And why is this grant money not being used as stated in the city ordinance that was passed by city council?Should city council not have had to vote on this change?Mary PelletierWilkes-Barre

Letter to the Editor: Shouldn’t Wilkes-Barre Council get say on redirection of $50k?