Walsh, Paterno Downplay Coaching Matchup 
12-7-92

Boy's Needs Are Loud And Clear 
A Mom's In A Financial Jam 
After Quitting Work To Care For 
Her Hearing-impaired Son 
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Photo 
Times Leader/don Carey

By TOM OBRZUT; Times Leader Correspondent
 Sunday, December 06, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 9B QUICK WORDS: OLD FORGE KANIA
SCRANTON 





SCRANTON -- Old Forge Councilman Ed Kania said his opposition to a
controversial tax on non-residents who work in Scranton is beginning to pay
off. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kania said Saturday he was pleased with Mayor Jim Connors' decision to drop
a proposed commuter tax from his economic recovery plan, but said the battle
isn't over. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Pennsylvania Economy League's (PEL) recovery plan unanimously approved
by the city council also includes a commuter tax. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I see the commuter tax as a way to pay off the deficit of the city of
Scranton," said Kania. "That is the prime purpose of this tax." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In return for dropping the tax, Connors said Friday he wants assurances
from the council and the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) that they
won't raise the city's $50-per-year garbage fee. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think he dropped it because Mayor Connors sees a very tough battle to
implement the commuter tax," Kania said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 18,000 non-residents who work in Scranton would have paid 40 cents for
every $100 of earned income with Connors' .4 percent commuter tax. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Eliminating the tax was Connors' latest attempt to break a stalemate with
the city council over which economic bail out plan will guide the city out of
its financial mess. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rejecting a $2 million emergency loan for the city last month, DCA
secretary Karen Miller said the commuter tax in Connors' plan would never be
approved by the courts. But, Kania said, she strongly endorses PEL's plan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're being blinded by two plans that do the same thing, but only the
wording has been changed," he said.

Old Forge Official Elated Scranton Withdrew Proposed Commuter Tax