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Mayor’s Facebook Post Getting Noticed

CARBONDALE — A mayor in Lackawanna County is catching flak for something he posted online. But that post on Facebook helped identify teenagers who vandali...

CARBONDALE -- A mayor in Lackawanna County is catching flak for something he posted online.

But that post on Facebook helped identify teenagers who vandalized city property in Carbondale.

It was this Facebook status, posted by the mayor of Carbondale. Mayor Justin Taylor took to the social media site to help identify three teenagers who ran through wet concrete on North Church Street in Carbondale.

Mayor’s Facebook Post Getting Noticed

"I took to Facebook and posted it. Within five minutes, I knew three names," said Taylor.

Many of his Facebook friends didn't mind that the mayor was looking for the culprits.

At one point in the post, the mayor in Lackawanna County referred to the teens as "Little scumbags."

"Just because I used a name in describing in what I think their actions reflect, doesn't mean I'm the one that's wrong."

But not everyone agreed with the Carbondale mayor's wording.

"I think it's really unprofessional to do that. They didn't need to go about it with that kind of language, even thought it was a bad thing to do," said Lindsey Luckonok from Carbondale.

Others think that phrase got the job done of identifying the teenagers.

Marlene DeFazio from Carbondale said, "I think the mayor did a great job because I think it saved money for the community. We're not a wealthy community and I think anything he can do to stop this destruction that unrealistic - there's no need for it."

Mayor Taylor said, "I don't have to waste the cop's resources of going to track down and find these kids, but watching local parks or watching people on the streets. I have their names, I know exactly where they are."

The mayor said those teenagers jumped over the hurdles, ran through the wet concrete and left their footprint. The mayor said that could cost about $1,000 to fix, but he also said it's not only about the money."

"Finding these kids, making them accountable, and making them understand there's a lot that went into pouring concrete. It's not just wet concrete," said Taylor.

When Newswatch 16 asked the mayor if he would post the same status all over again, he said, "Absolutely."

As for the concrete, crews were out on Friday trying to remove the shoe prints.

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