With No Light At End Of Tunnel, Storms Draining City Budgets 
Salt. Plows. Labor. As 
The Costs Keep Piling, Many 
City Officials Say They've 
Already Depleted Half Their 
Winter Finances

Ag's Office Says Charity Can't Begin At Home 
Contractor George Derr 
Does Not Want To Give Up His 
Plan To Sell Houses And Help 
The Needy

Monday, January 17, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A QUICK WORDS: NEWSTALK ELICITS CANDID
OPINIONS ON BORIS 





NewsTalk elicits candid opinions on Boris &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Al Boris flap -- his tirade against homosexuality during which he
suggested that half of gays should be shot and that AIDS victims are getting
what they deserve -- has polarized the community unlike any issue since
abortion or gays in the militaryAs news of the Wilkes-Barre City Council
member's inflammatory statements has spread across the United States via The
Associated Press wire service, and across the globe on the vast Internet
computer "bulletin board," The Times Leader wondered what its readers thought
about the flap. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The NewsTalk question asked: Should Wilkes-Barre City Council member Al
Boris resign because of his remarks? Why or why not? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The telephone line was busy all day long. In just eight hours, 330 calls
were logged on NewsTalk. Callers ranged from those outraged by Boris' comments
to those who supported his viewpoints. There was no middle ground for most
callers. Here is a sampling of those opinions: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Boris promotes a disease far worse than AIDS -- hate. Someday there may be
a cure for AIDS, but there will never be one for hate and ignorance. And he is
a terrible example for the younger kids in Wilkes-Barre. Gay or straight,
you're a human being. People like Mr. McLaughlin own successful legitimate
businesses. Boris, however, owns a bar. How many people leave his bar at night
drunk? How is that being socially responsible? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He's good for the city, and gays and lesbians should keep to themselves. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Al Boris should be honored for defending decent living. Some day, when
Wilkes-Barre becomes the queer capital of the Northeast, you'll be sorry for
embracing deviants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre has become the laughing stock of the Eastern seaboard. My
sister in Boston called me and asked me how I could live in such a decrepit
coal mining town where there must be inbreeding going on. You should never
have to be ashamed of your home. Resign, Al, for the sake of Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Al Boris should not resign. Boy, the gays are really coming out of the
closet. They should stay there. The subject addressed to the council should be
the one taken care of. Doesn't everyone sometime or other in their life say
something in haste which they later regret? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He should be thrown out of office, and possibly be arrested for advocating
terroristic acts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I find his remarks chilling. Underneath that buffoon exterior is a
dangerous mix of hatred and ignorance. He represents institutionalized hatred
and intolerance, which can make any group of people afraid of having no
official protection from violence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The best thing for Wilkes-Barre would be to get rid of Al Boris and the
gays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When you vote for someone, like Al Boris was voted onto City Council, you
have faith in that person. I know I would not have faith in someone that says
that homosexuals should be shot. I am a mother. If my children were homosexual
or not, I would not want anyone going to shoot my children. Maybe fat people
should be shot. There's certainly enough of us around. And then I guess we'd
have to shoot him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After all the bigoted comments that Boris has made, how could Mayor Namey
have the audacity to believe a simple apology will heal all the wound
inflicted by the tongue of this hatemonger? The word is out, and it's
spreading like wildfire to the major cities on the East Coast. Let it be known
that Al Boris has succeeded in turning Wilkes-Barre into a city of hate and
prejudice instead of a city of hope and promise. I assure you that unless
Boris resigns and Namey apologizes for the actions of this so-called human
being, there will be a demonstration in our community, the likes of which will
never be forgotten. Wake up, Wilkes-Barre! Our city can no longer tolerate
hatred and bigotry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He just voiced his freedom of speech, and the press is blowing it out of
proportion and that is causing this reaction. One way to solve this problem is
to have Mayor Lee Namey patrol the parks more often. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He is only saying what most people are thinking, but are afraid to say.
Now, let's face it. Isn't most of what he said true? The only thing is I do
not wish any ill health or thing bad to happen to these people, but I think
they're taking over. There's more gays than straights. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Boris should be forced to resign, not only because of his anti-gay remarks,
but because of his ignorance on who is at risk for the AIDS virus. Doesn't he
know that heterosexual teens and young adults are the fastest spreading group?
Boris only spreads misinformation and hate in our city. We can't afford to
wait two years for him to get out. We want him out now. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In our local microcosm, Boris is that quintessential spawn of ignorance and
power that can result in the repetition of the Holocaust. The world cannot
endure the Al Borises and be a better place for mankind. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From what I read in The Times Leader, most of his statements are generally
true. And shooting is far more generous and merciful than what God tells us to
do with homosexuals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Al Boris is a prime example of how the good-old-boys' system in this
community works. He doesn't represent all of the community, but rather only
the narrow-minded. It is people like him who will not allow revitalization of
this area due to ignorance of real-life everyday issues. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No public official should recommend shooting any minority percentage of our
population. I don't think the people who wrote the Constitution meant for
Boris' free speech to include shooting people. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because of the way City Council members are handling this situation, they
are not only embarrassing themselves but are embarrassing this community. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Considering that 30 percent of all teen suicides are related to people
having problems with their sexual orientation, it's a shame to think that
confused teens in our area have a bigoted leader such as Boris confirming
their feelings that they truly are not wanted in society, and are better off
dead. I can only hope that Boris' words of shooting gays doesn't lead to an
actual body count. Good Christian Al Boris will be responsible for their
deaths, and he can apologize forever and it won't bring these kids back. I
hope his words don't lead to any such action. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All the gays should take a slow boat to China with a fast leak in it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Instead of calling for Boris' resignation, the call should be for a
thorough investigation into the charges made by the jogger and the charges
made by Boris himself. And Lonny McLaughlin and the radical supporters of the
new social order should be the first to demand such an investigation. If Boris
has a sound basis for his allegation of gross misuse of the Valley's public
park, the entire Valley is in debt to him for standing his ground under
attack. If no sound basis is found, he should resign. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We need more men like Al Boris. I guess the straight people are supposed to
move out of Wilkes-Barre and let the queer ones take over. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He has done nothing but breed hatred and contempt in the Valley. Boris is
very mistaken about the activity in Kirby Park. Kirby Park does have
homosexual activity, but the people performing that homosexual activity are
married men who most people would assume are straight that cruise the park,
not the gay population. The gay population goes to bars. We have friends. We
have parties. We do not cruise the park. Boris' lack of knowledge on one small
issue like this just keeps snowballing through every thought process he makes,
and he always comes to the wrong conclusion. The man should just step down and
learn to keep his mouth shut. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre has many problems. We have gays and everything else. But we're
a city trying to rebuild from the flood. And we don't need Boris to tear the
city down. The man's a bigot. I'm not gay, but they have their rights, and
he's destroying the image of our city. So let's get real, Wilkes-Barre. Deny
Boris of a vote when he's up for re-election. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm 10,000 percent behind Boris. The happiest thing I could see would be
500,000 fags swimming back to Africa with a lesbo under each arm. It's time we
stopped sucking up to the fags, no pun intended. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The ones that are against Al Boris should resign. This baloney's going on
too much about these gays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I attended diversity seminars to try and understand a little better. All
the gays did was sit there and say how proud they are of themselves. To me
they are a scourge on the community. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There should be more people like Al Boris to come out against these people.
It's the do-gooders starting the trouble. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He's an American citizen. He has a right to free speech. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As a public official, he should measure his words a little more carefully.
But, he is entitled to his opinion and his way of thinking. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's about time someone puts these gays in their place. We should have a
little country somewhere overseas and ship them all over there. Signed, I want
to be a KKK member from Harveys Lake. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We do not need bigots or advocates of hatred on City Council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He merely wants to clean up our Valley. Are we going to let these gays take
over the world? They should go back in their closets. Kirby Park is for fun
and enjoyment, not for homosexual activity. And why weren't they arrested for
what went on? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 These liberals talk about free speech, but they always shout down people's
views contrary to theirs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Why aren't the gays obligated to apologize for what they're doing? I'm
sorry, I can't stand them. I don't want to be anywhere near them, and I'm
sorry they're anywhere around us. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He apologized. The crowd's reaction and aggressiveness to his remarks are
causing this stir. They are organized. It is something to blur what is wrong
in our park. The reactions and aggressiveness should be aimed at what is going
on in our parks. I live near Kirby Park. I'm afraid to walk in the park after
dark, so I'm deprived of that privilege. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The gay and lesbian lifestyle is wrong and immoral. God made Adam and Eve,
not Adam and Steve. We do not need this kind of lifestyle in our Valley. Did
anyone who advocates their kind of lifestyle ever wonder what would happen to
this country is their lifestyle is allowed to proliferate? First, they do
nothing to contribute to our country's precious resources, our children. What
would happen to our country if we all were gay and lesbian? Who would defend
our country? Pay taxes? After about 60-70 years, there would be no country.
The silent majority is 100 percent behind you, Mr. Boris. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was in bad judgment, what Boris said. Just because someone says
something wrong, they shouldn't be punished for it, because everyone says
wrong things once in a while. I don't think he should resign. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He just made a remark that's appropriate. It was a remark that was not
directed at anything in particular, any individual in particular. There was no
threat to any individual. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He has as much right to free speech as all the queers do. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If this country can elect a draft-dodging, pot-smoking president, then a
few remarks about gays are not that horrible. He shouldn't have condoned
violence, however. What Clinton did far outweighs what Boris said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The community's getting too idle with these gays. Let's get rid of them and
chase them out of town. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now they even want to be religious leaders, to be accepted as Sunday School
teachers, even the clergy. Would you want your child to be taught by a gay in
Sunday School? No way! Read the Bible. Sodomy is a sin. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The gays have blown this out of proportion to justify their abnormal
lifestyle, and the media is just as much to blame. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's time for Al to step down. We don't need this in our community. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I've been in San Francisco and know how sickening it is. Thank God for
strong, moral men like Boris. He was elected and should stay there. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Whatever happened to freedom of speech in this country? It seems that you
only have freedom of speech in this country if you are a pervert, a deviant or
a left-winger. When Al exercises his freedom of speech, he's a homophobe and a
bigot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He definitely should be thrown right off the council seat. He has no right
to say anything about the fags, or any other kind of gay person. I'm shocked
over his comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He should be forced by Mayor Namey to step down and shut his mouth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They should just kick that little whiny Lonny McLaughlin off of the
council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The tail should not wag the dog. Some vocal minority should not be upset
because our fathers don't want faggots running around in Kirby Park naked,
where parents take their children. You can go over there any time and see
homos over there running around with no clothes on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All those gays blabbing their mouth, like McLaughlin. They should put his
business in the paper, so people won't go there. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What are we going to do? Turn this world and community into a Sodom and
Gomorrah. Those people should be annihilated, whether by AIDS or whatever. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They are sick, sick, and I'm tired of this newspaper, Fred Williams, and
others carrying this thing too far. It's not Boris spreading this hate, it's
the media. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Al, step down. You are a hypocrite. On one hand, you want to shut down "Oh!
Calcutta!" because of the nudity. On that issue, you hide behind the cloak of
morality but conveniently ignore the possibility of practicing censorship. Yet
you operate a bar. People get drunk at your bar. You let those drunks get into
their cars and drive away, endangering others. How is that being a responsible
community leader? Now you advocate violence against a minority group. That's
against God's laws, the Ten Commandments handed down to Moses, and that's
against man's laws. You are the danger to society, you bigot! &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We should not allow a minority group of deviants to dictate who runs our
city. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He should not resign, but go further and get rid of all them gays in the
city and county. They are an abomination to our God and our Lord. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's all up in their heads when they're gay like that. God didn't create
people that way, and there's no place in Kirby Park for them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Not only should Al Boris resign, but the whole stinking stick-in-the-mud
city government should. We should form a progressive Democratic party to run
against the old people like Al Boris, who is destroying this town. If we care
anything about Wilkes-Barre, and I love this city, we have to do it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We don't want our children affected by seeing men kissing with men. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Boris brings out the worst in a lot of people, which is not a good
environment for our community.

Newstalk Elicits Candid Opinions On Boris 
The Al Boris Flap -- His Tirade Against Homosexuality During Which He 
Suggested That Half Of Gays Should Be Shot And That Aids Victims Are Getting 
What They Deserve -- Has Polarized The Community Unlike Any Issue Since 
Abortion Or Gays In The Military.

Newstalk Elicits Candid Opinions On Boris The Al Boris Flap -- His Tirade Against Homosexuality During Which He Suggested That Half Of Gays Should Be Shot And That Aids Victims Are Getting What They Deserve -- Has Polarized The Community Unlike Any Issue Since Abortion Or Gays In The Military.