Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson and the state appointed receiver, General William Lynch, finally gave the people of Harrisburg what they wanted Thursday night. They gave them an opportunity to speak with them at a town hall meeting.
But the turnout was extremely low.
Many people didn't know the meeting was taking place, some weren't given enough notice. But those who did show up, about 30 or so, had to practice patience.
The town hall meeting was scheduled to last two hours. But Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson took that first hour to re-read the same State of the City address that she read on Friday. With 45 minutes left, the Q and A finally began.
The man who asked the first question wanted reassurance that the incinerator and parking garage won't be sold until the deficit and debt are resolved. But lynch couldn't offer a guarantee.
"You need to know that no matter what that debt won't be paid 100 percent,” explained Receiver William Lynch. “So this is a situation where we will seek accommodation from creditors. Sacrifices in the way we do business."
Another question was regarding negotiations with the fire fighters union, which are at a standstill. Lynch mentioned he plans to work with all unions to find ways to do more with less.
But he still has to schedule the meetings.
"You've heard that we're going to the unions,” Lynch replied. “I don't like to single out the unions as a bill payer here because that's not the case."
Finally, the leader of Harrisburg Hope, asked if there will ever be justice for Harrisburg and more.
"Number one will there be creditor concession, criminal indictments and number three will there be restitution paid back to the city by those who created the incinerator debt," questioned Harrisburg Hope’s Alan Kennedy Shaffer.
"Number one, I don't know, number two if there not creditor concessions this will fall apart so I expect there will be and number three and four are in the I don't know category."
One woman had a very interesting solution to the city's debt problem and had an idea to create revenue and jobs, legalize medical marijuana.
The Mayor and Receiver let her talk but didn't respond.
There will be two more State of the City town hall meetings in Harrisburg, one on October 25 at the Martin Luther King Church and another at Kesher Israel Congregation synagogue on November 1. Both run from 6 to 8 p.m.
But the turnout was extremely low.
Many people didn't know the meeting was taking place, some weren't given enough notice. But those who did show up, about 30 or so, had to practice patience.
The town hall meeting was scheduled to last two hours. But Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson took that first hour to re-read the same State of the City address that she read on Friday. With 45 minutes left, the Q and A finally began.
The man who asked the first question wanted reassurance that the incinerator and parking garage won't be sold until the deficit and debt are resolved. But lynch couldn't offer a guarantee.
"You need to know that no matter what that debt won't be paid 100 percent,” explained Receiver William Lynch. “So this is a situation where we will seek accommodation from creditors. Sacrifices in the way we do business."
Another question was regarding negotiations with the fire fighters union, which are at a standstill. Lynch mentioned he plans to work with all unions to find ways to do more with less.
But he still has to schedule the meetings.
"You've heard that we're going to the unions,” Lynch replied. “I don't like to single out the unions as a bill payer here because that's not the case."
Finally, the leader of Harrisburg Hope, asked if there will ever be justice for Harrisburg and more.
"Number one will there be creditor concession, criminal indictments and number three will there be restitution paid back to the city by those who created the incinerator debt," questioned Harrisburg Hope’s Alan Kennedy Shaffer.
"Number one, I don't know, number two if there not creditor concessions this will fall apart so I expect there will be and number three and four are in the I don't know category."
One woman had a very interesting solution to the city's debt problem and had an idea to create revenue and jobs, legalize medical marijuana.
The Mayor and Receiver let her talk but didn't respond.
There will be two more State of the City town hall meetings in Harrisburg, one on October 25 at the Martin Luther King Church and another at Kesher Israel Congregation synagogue on November 1. Both run from 6 to 8 p.m.