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Scranton Mayor Gives State of the City Address

SCRANTON — The mayor says his city is solid and improving. Mayor Bill Courtright gave a State of the City address Friday afternoon where he told residents...

SCRANTON -- The mayor says his city is solid and improving.

Mayor Bill Courtright gave a State of the City address Friday afternoon where he told residents that he thinks they are better off than they were a year ago.

In the address, the mayor listed the city's successes over the past year, including a balanced budget and savings in union contracts. He also talked about changes to come, including a bigger collaboration with Harrisburg.

"I`ll be the first to say, we have some difficult challenges facing us. Challenges that touch every family, every person, and every business that calls Scranton home," Mayor Courtright said as he opened his address.

At a time when people who live in Scranton, and even some people who live outside, are set to pay more this year Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright is saying the sacrifice is paying off.

At the State of the City address, Mayor Courtright didn't deny the city's tremendous debts but he said Scranton has better credit than it did a year ago.

"I welcome a debate and positive discussion. But, I do not welcome pessimism. I did not run for mayor just to hand the city over to the unknown. I ran for mayor to help fix the city. If the city goes bankrupt it will not be by my hand," Courtright said.

City Council President Bob McGoff said he is also optimistic about Scranton's future. This week, he and other city officials got closer to a long-desired goal of selling the city's parking garages. McGoff told Newswatch 16 six companies are interested in buying.

"If they are willing to invest in our city and see possibilities for Scranton, then why aren`t we? I think that the optimism of the bidders kind of fueled the optimism of the people that were at the table," McGoff said.

Mayor Courtright also talked about what has developed after a February meeting in Harrisburg with Governor Tom Wolf. Courtright said he has been getting advice from state officials about paying off the city's pension debts.

"That`s another thing we`re working on with the Governor. We`re working on the arbitration award, we are working on fixing the pensions. We`re trying to make it all one package type deal. So, we`re working very closely with DCED and all the secretaries of the Governor`s cabinet," Courtright told Newswatch 16 after the address.

Courtright said Scrantonians can expect an announcement about help from the state later on this year. He also expects to sell the city's garages and Scranton Parking Authority before the end of the year.

 

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