Community/Economic Development

Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Address

Michael Sauers February 8, 2025 Governor Shapiro's budget address muddied the waters as it skirted significant areas of importance and was an attempt at personal aggrandizement. As often happens, it resembled a campaign speech. Mr. Shapiro is running for President....

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Pasta, Anyone?

Michael Sauers January 30, 2025 According to Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (PDCED) and a very competitive Governor Shapiro, Pennsylvania recently came out on top in a multi-state economic development battle. The prize is landing a...

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We Need a Rapid Phase Out of Fracking in Pennsylvania

To Governor Josh Shapiro and State Legislators Campaign Created and Written by Karen Feridun Posted by Mike Sauers October 28, 2004 We, the undersigned, call on you to begin a rapid phase out of fracking in Pennsylvania. The climate clock we installed in the Capitol...

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Happy Earth Day..The Beat Goes On and On

Michael Sauers April 8,2024 Part 2 The scenarios painted in Part 1 were not unique to Hazleton. No, these same disastrous and ill-fated economic development plans, along with coal mining, plagued all of Northeastern Pennsylvania. While the names changed the results...

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Happy Earth Day–The Beat Goes On and On

Part 1 Michael Sauers April 6,2024 In April of 1990 I helped organize an "Earth Day" celebration unlike any the greater Hazleton area had ever experienced. Community groups and individuals put together an educational event that covered scores of environmental topics....

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Corporate Welfare/Legislative Ineptitude

Posted by Michael Sauers on December 10, 2023 Letter to Editor, March, 2011 Corporate welfare has been and continues to be abusive whether on the state or federal level. It has taken many billions of dollars away from initiatives that would benefit a majority of...

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Do Not Support Greed, Incompetence and Stupidity

July 12, 2023 Michael Sauers Why do we support an economic system that produces enormous amounts of waste from beginning to end? Why do we support an economic system that pollutes air, water and soil? Why do we support an economic system that pits people against...

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Corporate Welfare and Community Funds

A Public Dialogue Is Necessary June 8, 2023 Michael Sauers Recently, I was invited to attend a public meeting regarding the proposed Encina Plastics Recycling proposal. Encina, a Texas based company, is proposing to build a chemical process (pyrolysis) plastic...

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Encina Is Too Little and Too Late

Mike Sauers May 14, 2023 Decades ago the fossil fuel industry convinced the world that extracted coal, oil and gas were the supreme sources of energy. They knew at that time how dirty and polluting these energy sources were/are but they assured us that the positives...

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Our Endangered Rivers

April 25, 2023 Michael Sauers As if acid mine drainage, industrial production effluent, subpar sewage treatment plants and helter-skelter residential development aren't enough, our streams and rivers now have a new source of pollution. According to American Rivers the...

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A Legacy of Cancer

Mike Sauers February, 5 2023 The article that recently appeared in the Hazleton Standard-Speaker, (1-16-23) entitled, Report: Cancer cases in region top US rates, was deja vu for those with attentive minds and tenacious memories. It is enraging, horrible and...

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