Woman's Best Friend 
Family's Two Dogs Credited With Saving Mother's Life

Accidental Bb Shot Destroys Window

Sunday, January 26, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Hazleton Council buys peace at a steep price &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a complex world where causes usually create multiple effects, Hazleton
City &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Council should remember that when Mayor Mike Marsicano kicks sand in their
faces, it's Hazleton's citizens whose eyes burn and skin pricklesAll the mayor
and his cronies have to do is stand tough, and council backs off. It matters
not at all how unreasonable, outrageous, or untenable the mayor's position
might be. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When Maurice Christino, Marsicano's director of public works, was suspected
of voter fraud by a council member, the mayor stood by in silence while his
employee physically assaulted his accuser, sending the council member to the
hospital for his injuries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Recently the state police, in fact, filed charges of voter fraud against
Christino. But last week we learned that some council members were thinking of
abandoning the call for this troublesome employee's suspension. Because their
demand has been twice ignored, their perception is that a third call would be
fruitless and could be interpreted as harassment. Actually, not to call again
and keep calling for as long as it takes for his suspension could be
interpreted as cowardly desertion of their civic duty. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And a little over a week ago when his $6.2 million budget calling for a
2.7-mill increase in taxes was not approved by council, Marsicano shut down --
except for essential services -- the entire city of Hazleton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yet instead of taking a lesson from some recent U.S. history, the council
caved. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 How could they have forgotten the public wrath that rained down on Congress
when those officials shut down the U.S. government twice last winter? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Councilman Bill Lockwood accused the mayor of holding council hostage with
the shutdown of city government over the budget impasse -- just as Congress
thought it could hold the nation hostage last year around this time. However,
in response to Washington's arrogance and heavy-handedness, the White House
stood its ground and American citizens became an informal SWAT team, attacking
stubborn and arrogant members of Congress with insults, anger, outrage and,
ultimately, votes of no confidence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There's no reason to believe that Hazleton's citizens would be any more
docile and forgiving than the nation as a whole. Or that public sympathy would
rest any more with Mike Marsicano than it did with Newt Gingrich &amp; Company. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Perhaps the council's recent capitulation stemmed from the their reading of
public opinion or from the distant hope that this act would herald an era of
cooperation and conciliation between council and City Hall. Perhaps. But since
the mayor has been throwing tantrums and playing the heavy since he took
office, it's exceedingly difficult to envision an about-face in the way he
does business. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hazleton City Council should realize that the peace they are purchasing
from City Hall is being paid for by Hazleton's taxpayers. And in the process,
they may be underestimating the spirit and resolve of those citizens -- a
failure that may hold sorry consequences, not only for Marsicano, but also
city council members come election time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hazleton Council Buys Peace At A Steep Price 
In A Complex World Where Causes Usually Create Multiple Effects, Hazleton City 
Council Should Remember That When Mayor Mike Marsicano Kicks Sand In Their 
Faces, It's Hazleton's Citizens Whose Eyes Burn And Skin Prickles.

Hazleton Council Buys Peace At A Steep Price In A Complex World Where Causes Usually Create Multiple Effects, Hazleton City Council Should Remember That When Mayor Mike Marsicano Kicks Sand In Their Faces, It's Hazleton's Citizens Whose Eyes Burn And Skin Prickles.