NEW YORK TIMES: It was nearly two years ago that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo floated a plan for the state to pay for college courses for inmates. But it sank in the face of withering opposition from critics who mocked Mr. Cuomo’s initiative as “Attica University” and Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation who argued that New York should put […]
Category: Lancaster Acquisition of Harrisburg Incinerator
Prospects cloudy for Corbett’s Harrisburg bailout
Corbett Administration officials publicly say the Act 47 Harrisburg bailout plan is a success. But privately they know the plan could still collapse. Insiders say an implosion could happen in the near or long-term because of its many concealed flaws.
Coalition forming to challenge Corbett administration’s Harrisburg bailout plans involving LCSWMA incinerator purchase
“[This plan represents] a 40 year commitment. And no one looking at the specifics of the plan,” Miller says. “I don’t think there’s anyone on council who understands the plan. I know they just want it to go away.”
Harrisburg controller and mayor candidate Dan Miller tells city council to look before leaping in LCSWMA deal
The following is a letter from Harrisburg controller and mayor candidate Dan Miller to Harrisburg city council. Dear Ms. Williams and all Members: As the City of Harrisburg’s elected fiscal watchdog, I have read and studied the receiver’s plan, and feel compelled to share some of my concerns with City Council. Whether Council ultimately votes […]
Harrisburg city council bailout meeting postponed
By statute, the state receiver will submit the plan to a Commonwealth Court judge. The judge in turn will hold hearings. But judicial hearings in Commonwealth Court are a far cry from public hearings.
How the Corbett Administration is diverting state funds to bail out Harrisburg
For months observers of Harrisburg’s bond debt crisis have wondered what incentives could possibly be offered to bond insurer Assured Guaranty Municipal (AGM) to get the firm to go along with a bailout deal and not drive Pennsylvania’s debt-sodden capital city into bankruptcy court.
The big incinerator deal question: What is Harrisburg bond insurer AGM thinking?
AGM is the bond insurer of Harrisburg’s defaulted debt. The company is the city’s largest single creditor. AGM is also thought to be the last holdout against the city receiver’s plan to keep Pennsylvania’s capital city out of bankruptcy court.
Adequacy of existing state environmental laws questioned in Harrisburg incinerator case
A common sense test could protect the public, taxpayers, LCSWMA, and the City of Harrisburg. For various legal, economic, and other dysfunctional reasons, this real-world test seems to be the last thing Harrisburg and Lancaster officials want to do.
A plea to LCSWMA: “Look before you leap!”
Most homebuyers are familiar with a pre-sale home inspection. A home inspection discovers any problems with a property so that any dangers or complications are known to all parties, and can be addressed, before an important transaction is made. Many people wouldn’t think to buy a home without a formal inspection.
A more sensible way to acquire the Harrisburg Incinerator
The current deal seems to be an attempt to bail out the City of Harrisburg’s and Dauphin County’s $350 million in Incinerator debt at the expense of Lancaster, rather than a normal business proposition based on sound economic considerations.
Chaotic mayoral election, key finance staff turnovers, and environmental concerns in Harrisburg complicate LCSWMA incinerator bond bailout
The proposed sale of the Harrisburg incinerator to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) grew more complicated, and perhaps less certain, with last week’s mayoral and city council elections in Harrisburg.
DEP documents reveal long history of hazardous waste at Harrisburg incinerator
EDITOR: Earlier this week, NewsLanc received about 1,000 pages of DEP files documenting the long history of environmental problems at the Harrisburg incinerator. The below, drawn from these documents, is the long history of unaddressed dangerous hazardous waste at the site.
SHORT FORM: Lancaster and Harrisburg waste authorities conceal a toxic mountain “time bomb”
Many in Lancaster County are aware that Harrisburg is buried under a mountain of debt from its long-failed incinerator. Less known is what Harrisburg has buried under a mountain of toxic ash piled some 80 feet high next to the incinerator.
LONG FORM: Lancaster and Harrisburg waste authorities conceal a toxic mountain “time bomb”
Many in Lancaster County are aware that Harrisburg is buried under a mountain of debt from its long-failed incinerator. Less known is that Harrisburg is also buried under an infamous mountain of toxic ash, called “Mt. Ashmore,” a product of the same incinerator.