IRATE RESIDENTS GIVE COUNCIL AN EARFUL

Passionate housing and drug dealing concerns made big waves Monday at a
Lackawanna City Council meeting.

The meeting, which started out as a brief rundown of snowstorm
reimbursements and street repaving projects, grew into an animated affair
as city officials struggled to deal with angry residents complaining about
everything from noisy late-night bars to bold drug dealers.

Tempers flared as 1st Ward residents complained about persistent and
undisguised drug dealing, drinking and noise that has permeated Olcott
Street in recent months.

"You come and sit on my porch. See for yourself," said resident Shirley
Lewis, who described pushers handing out drugs from their lawn chairs and
drinking liquor from open containers. "The police go by there, and they
keep on going. It's gotten so I don't want my grandkids to come by anymore."

Residents said that as the weather gets warmer, the problem will only get
worse.

First Ward Councilman Ricardo Estrada said he knows the drug dealing has
gotten worse in recent months and has spoken with the Lackawanna Police
Department at length about the situation.

Department officials are putting together a tougher crime-fighting plan
that will involve assistance from outside agencies and enable police to
make solid arrests that can lead to stiffer court penalties, he said.

Other city residents complained about late-night bars blasting live music
through their open doors and keeping local residents awake through the
early-morning hours, despite local noise ordinances.

In response, Council members asked the city attorney to craft a new city
ordinance that would require bar owners to stop playing live music after 1 a.m.

"Our people should not have to live like that, where you cannot get a
night's sleep," said Council President Norman Polanski.

In other matters:

* The city received state and federal reimbursements for damage resulting
from the December snowstorm. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
reimbursed the city for 75 percent of the damage costs, for a total
reimbursement of nearly $1.8 million.

* The state Emergency Management Office paid $289,000 in reimbursement aid,
and the city picked up the balance of about $250,000, which will be paid
out of the city's general fund balance, said Mayor John Kuryak.

* The Council approved a $361,000 contract with TVGA Engineering to repave
Ridge Road from Route 5 to the 1st Ward bridge; Steelawanna Avenue from
Ridge Road to Holbrook Street; and Holbrook from Route 5 to Wilmuth Avenue.