Planting Seeds: Businesspeople can invest anywhere, which is why incentives are needed to make Harrisburg’s re-development self-sustaining.

June 30, 2015 | by Stephen C. Gierasch

As a professional services provider in the Harrisburg area for the last 17 years, I have come to know quite a few city business owners, including developers, restaurateurs, contractors, retailers and others. During that time, I have found most to be genuine and sincere in their devotion to Harrisburg and came to realize quickly that, for many of these businesspeople, despite what you may think, it is definitely not “all about the Benjamins.”

Over the past several years, I find myself shaking my head when reading blog posts, letters to the editor and other outlets for area residents to voice their opinions when the topic of city investment and development takes center stage. For most opinion-sharers, the default setting seems to be one of skepticism around the intentions of these businesspeople, especially when the issue of tax abatement comes up.

Some folks believe that those businesspeople pushing for tax abatement are “looking for a hand-out” or are trying to circumvent the “system.” As someone who has seen and understands the financial proposition to be considered by many city business owners, I can confirm that many of the deals are not financially viable without tax abatement, especially the kind of larger-scale development projects that would be most impactful to our city and region. In other words, without tax abatement, investors, in many instances, are looking at deals that would likely lose money and, therefore, not be financially viable. Nobody is lining up to make those investments, nor should we, as a community, expect them to do so.

What we have to keep in mind is that these investors/business owners/developers have choices in terms of where they deploy their capital and in many cases—again, I can attest to this, based upon the deals I have reviewed—the alternatives to investment in our city are significantly more lucrative. So, rather than meeting investment interest in city development and commerce with skepticism and derision, perhaps we should consider applauding investors for their collective efforts and risk-taking. And maybe hope that their investments turn out to be financially successful, as well.

Why should we care about the financial side of these deals? Because financial success will spur additional development and draw new investors to our city, the results of which will most assuredly be to our collective benefit and enjoyment, and, all the while, for the future, create a larger tax base capable of supporting sustainable growth in our city.

So, the next time you are enjoying dinner at a city restaurant or coffee at a cool city coffeehouse and see trees that were recently planted along the sidewalks, ask yourself—did Gordon Gekko plant those or did someone who has a broader view of success?

Stephen C. Gierasch is the managing shareholder of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s Harrisburg office, a community publisher for TheBurg.

July News Digest

June 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

HUD Disbursements Proposed

Harrisburg last month began the annual process of distributing funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Papenfuse administration proposed funding numerous social service agencies with part of the $2.6 million the city is receiving from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant funds.

Proposed recipients include the Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry, Mid Penn Legal Services, the Tri County HDC, the Fair Housing Council, the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, the Camp Curtin YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg.

Harrisburg also proposed expending about $663,000 from the grant to cover debt service from two Reed-era projects: improvements along Market Street in the 1990s and construction of the Capitol View Commerce Center.

The city guaranteed a $3.8 million federal loan for the Capitol View Commerce Center, a project that collapsed after developer David Dodd ran out of money and stopped paying contractors. He now is serving a prison sentence on charges of misusing government funds and money laundering.

Eventually, John Moran of Moran Industries bought and finished the building at Herr and Cameron streets. Nonetheless, Harrisburg must pay back the federal loan that it backed.

The Papenfuse administration also proposed dispersal of $394,357 from a second HUD program, the HOME Investment Partnership Program. Most of that money will fund the city’s Homeowner Improvement Program.

Planning Meetings Held

Harrisburg last month hosted a series of meetings to gather public input on the drafting of a new comprehensive plan for the city.

The six meetings were held throughout the city to get ideas on such matters as transportation, housing, recreation, land use, mass transit and other subjects. The ideas now will be taken into consideration as Harrisburg goes about drafting a new plan, which will serve as a vision for the city’s future growth and development.

Comment also can be submitted at a website launched last month devoted to the comprehensive plan: www.behbg.com.

Harrisburg has hired the city-based Office for Planning and Architecture to guide the creation of the new comprehensive plan.

2 Positions Created

Harrisburg City Council last month approved two new positions requested by the Papenfuse administration.

The new deputy business administrator for parking is responsible for the remaining administrative functions of the former Harrisburg Parking Authority, which shut operations on June 30.

Last year, Park Harrisburg took over most of the city’s parking assets under a long-term lease, but the city still oversees two parking garages and a surface lot. Mayor Eric Papenfuse plans to hire Richard Kotz, the long-serving HPA director, for the $60,000-per-year job, a reduction from his former $100,000 salary.

Council also OK’d the creation of a temporary assistant city solicitor position. This attorney, who will earn $27,500 through December, will pursue action against 22 commercial trash accounts dating to 2008 that total about $1 million, Papenfuse said.

Both positions were funded by transferring money already in the city’s 2015 general budget.

No School Tax Hike

For a second straight year, Harrisburg homeowners will see no increase in the school portion of their property taxes.

Last month, the Harrisburg school board passed a $137.8 million budget that will keep taxes steady for the 2015-16 school year. The tax rate will be unchanged at 27.92 mills, meaning that the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 will pay $2,792 in school taxes before adjustments. Tax bills typically are mailed in July.

The district also bade farewell to Gene Veno, the district’s state-appointed chief recovery officer. Veno left the position after serving more than two years in the post. At press time, state Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera had not announced a replacement for him.

Pool Openings Delayed

Harrisburg youth again started the summer without access to a public swimming pool, as both city-run pools experienced problems that needed to be fixed.

The Jackson Lick pool had electrical and plumbing issues that needed to be addressed, while the pool at Hall Manor required some electrical repairs.

At press time, neither pool had reopened.

The 1960s-era pools both have suffered from repeated problems and shutdowns, though the Jackson Lick pool was open last summer. The Hall Manor pool has been closed since 2012, and the city repaired serious foundational issues last year.

Gonzalez Is Final Nominee

Lionel Gonzalez took the final Democratic nomination last month for Harrisburg school board following a tie-breaker.

After the May 19 primary, Gonzalez was tied with Daunessy Penn with 1,159 votes for the nomination for the final four-year seat. Two weeks later, Gonzalez won the nomination by a drawing of lots.

In addition to Gonzalez, the Democratic nominees for five, four-year seats on the school board are Jennifer Smallwood, Monica Blackston-Bailey, Matthew Krupp and Melvin Wilson Jr. Krupp also will be on the ballot as the only Republican nominee.

Judd Pittman is the Democratic nominee for the sole two-year seat.

Townhouses Debut

Brethren Housing Association and PinnacleHealth System last month completed construction of the Hummel Street Townhouses, three new houses in South Allison Hill.

The project will provide housing to single homeless mothers and their children, furthering BHA’s mission to help families transition out of poverty.

The townhouses replaced several severely blighted, abandoned properties at the corner of Hummel and Haehnlen streets.

Home Sales Up

The Harrisburg-area housing market continued to show improvement, as both units sold and the average sales price increased, according to data released last month.

The number of houses sold in May increased from 763 to 796, and the average sales price went from $183,221 to 187,436 compared to May 2014, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The average number of days on the market fell from 93 to 86.

The GHAR area includes all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Dauphin County experienced the greatest rise in average selling price, from $152,649 in May 2014 to $174,798 in May 2015.

Changing Hands

Bartine St., 1124: K. Adams to A. Jackson, $102,500

Benton St., 512: M. Silvius to J. Eldred, $104,000

Berryhill St., 2477: S. Nguyen to V. Dieu, $42,000

Briggs St., 1946: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Shokes Enterprises LLC, $30,000

Chestnut St., 2214: J. & L. Coffman & V. Trimmer to D. Kauffman Jr. & J. Kantner, $145,000

Duke St., 2511: H. & A. Arahovas to P. Konstantine, $60,000

Fox Ridge Ct., 309: T. Knorr to J. Buss, $109,900

Fulton St., 1420: U.S. Bank NA Trustee & PA Housing Finance Agency to PA Deals LLC, $65,000

Green St., 1020: A. Kohr to J. & H. Piper, $91,500

Green St., 1226: W. Weidig to K. Lesher & P. Boyed, $102,500

Green St., 1504: M. Tanzini to J. Webb, $102,000

Green St., 1705: J. Weber to J. Tinnick, $109,900

Hamilton St., 201: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Hooks Van Holm Inc. to Braxley Renovations LLC, $75,000

Harris St., 230: Klimke Holdings LLC to C. Jackson, $175,000

Hillside Rd., 217: C. & K. White to J. Markel, $196,000

Lucknow Rd., 635, TR1 & TR3: Stabler Companies Inc. to Patlin Properties III LP, $415,000

Market St., 1845: Centric Bank to Nish Properties LLC, $45,000

Mercer St., 2456: J. & G. McCarchey to L. Bloodworth, $55,000

Nagle St., 123: E. Shover to K. Snyder & C. Kaufman, $135,000

N. 2^nd St., 1217: R. Homisak to A. Campbell, $98,000

N. 2^nd St., 1925 & 1927: D. & C. Herr to Reddinger Estates LLC, $30,000

N. 2^nd St., 2701: P. Usner to K. Sheets & K. Hancock, $300,000

N. 6^th St., 2433 & 2435: Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority to N. Wright, $35,000

N. 6^th St., 3212: RT Home Solutions Inc. to PA Deals LLC, $85,000

N. 13^th St., 505: A. Deimler to J. Kapp, $45,000

N. 19^th St., 43: LMK Properties LLC to Equity Trust Co. Custodian, Julie Burns IRA, $55,000

Penn St., 1918: M. Gustantino to Z. Shamberg, $133,000

Regina St., 1710: Propmax LLC to Matt Walter LLC, $38,500

Reily St., 263: Fannie Mae to Nish Properties LLC, $107,000

Rolleston St., 1116: B. Quinones to M. Phan, $83,000

Rumson Dr., 385: R. & M. Spence to D. & D. Blount, $70,000

S. 29^th St., 506, 510 & 514: Weis Markets Inc. to The Salvation Army, $1,250,000

S. Front St., 553: Ashbury Foundation to B. Trust, $70,000

State St., 231, Unit 204: LUX 1 LP to J. Montenegro, $119,900

State St., 231, Unit 405: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $124,900

State St., 231, Unit 406: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $109,900

Taylor Blvd., 52: HSBC Bank USA to PA Deals LLC, $44,300

Yale St., 222: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to M. Cole, $59,900

The Truth and Even More: HippoCamp 2015 to celebrate creative nonfiction.

June 30, 2015 | by Lori M. Myers

Illustration by Aron Rook.

A writer’s life can be one of solitary contemplation and frustration. So, every once in awhile, writers must push away from their computers and meet their own kind—those who can relate to and understand the writing life.

That’s where writing conferences come in, and one such upcoming event is called HippoCamp 2015, where both professional and aspiring authors will be able to meet and greet kindred spirits. It will take place next month at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

Donna Talarico, a northeast Pennsylvania native who now lives in Lancaster, publishes Hippocampus Magazine, an online journal of creative nonfiction and memoir. She is also the organizer of this conference, where, she believes, writers and readers of creative nonfiction and memoir will be inspired.

The decision to place the conference in Lancaster was an easy one for Talarico. Sure, she calls Lancaster home, but she also believed that the centrally located city would attract people from Lancaster, Harrisburg, York and Hershey and outside of the area, as well, along with those affiliated with the many colleges and universities in central Pennsylvania.

“I could have selected another region or city for the conference, but I knew that I wanted to attract writers to our region for a few reasons,” Talarico said. “So many major conferences are in the big cities, but there is something special about the mid-size cities and towns, too, and I wanted to share what central PA has to offer.”

Talarico envisions attendees perhaps taking an extra day or two and checking out the museums, parks and other attractions between Lancaster and Harrisburg.

“There are a lot of creative folks in our region, and the literary scene is growing,” she said. “We’re an online magazine, so we don’t technically have a location. So, this is a way to show that we’re part of this community.”

Up to this point, Talarico has been proud of the fact that Hippocampus Magazine found success on the “virtual” stage as an online publication that has used social media and email to send out its message. A conference such as this adds another dimension outside of the computer screen.

“Rather than fitting stories into places, we’re fitting people and events into spaces,” she said.

The conference’s programming ranges widely and includes panels, workshops and 45-minute breakout sessions. Attendees can enjoy evening author readings Friday night, hear first-time authors share their stories about their first published piece as part of a panel on Saturday morning, discover how to be better out-loud readers of their work on Saturday afternoon, and hear keynote speaker and creative nonfiction guru Lee Gutkind that evening.

After some coffee and pastries Sunday morning, there will be more writing panels and then a closing keynote address by Jane Friedman, former publisher and editorial director of Writer’s Digest.

“I’m personally excited for Jane Friedman’s ‘Beyond the Book’ talk because there’s so much more to being a successful writer today,” Talarico said. “I’m also looking forward to the literary citizenship panel. Still relatively new to the midstate, I’m still finding my way around its literary landscape.”

While the sessions and panels are mostly geared toward creative nonfiction, writers in other genres will be able to take away techniques and ideas for their own work, especially in the areas of marketing/publishing and that work-life balance that most, if not all, writers deal with. Some topics have even broader appeal and go beyond the genre: podcasting, online marketing, setting, writer’s block and a writing and movement workshop.

“Also, the literary citizenship panel will apply to all genres,” Talarico said. “In fact, its panelists are mostly cross-genre.”

While HippoCamp is Talarico’s first time organizing a conference, it helped that she’d attended others in the past. That prepared her for the small details and budget concerns when it came to organizing her own.

“My rep at the Marriott told me over a recent lunch meeting that I’m asking questions most don’t think about,” she said. “But asking the right questions is one thing. It’s the pulling it off that’s the challenge.”

HippoCamp 2015 takes place Aug. 7 to 9 in the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster. To register and for more information, log onto www.hippocampusmagazine.com and click “Conference: HippoCamp2015.”

Summer Sounds: Perfect music for the steamy heat.

June 30, 2015 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Saintseneca. Photo courtesy of Saintseneca.

We’ve made it into the heart of the summer. The temperature continues to rise, but so does the quality of music here in the city. And this month we have three perfect audio companions for the summer heat.

All three featured artists build their sound on an acoustic base, but take it in very different directions. On the one hand, you have complex, African-inspired polyrhythms; on the other, quiet melodies well suited for a campfire. Whichever you prefer, make sure to add these shows to the soundtrack of your summer.

RUSTED ROOT, 7/2, 7PM, SAWYER’S, FREE

Most people are familiar with Rusted Root’s single, “Send Me On My Way.” Fusing world music rhythms with acoustic jam band songwriting, these Pittsburgh natives dropped the platinum album, “When I Woke,” back in 1994. But they haven’t stopped touring and have released five additional albums in the 20-odd years since they broke out. They’ve always had a distinctly summer sound, so they’ll fit in perfectly on Sawyer’s outdoor stage in the heart of the city. So whether you come for the nostalgia or you’ve been following their lengthy career, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the warm nights of July.

LYDIA LOVELESS, 7/9, 8PM, H*MAC HERR STREET STAGE, $12

Lydia Loveless, an alternative country artist on Bloodshot records, possesses a sound and attitude that is beyond her years. Ohio born, she has earned a reputation for being a strong, assertive woman in an industry that all too often prefers that women stick to unchallenging love songs. She attributes her attitude to her punk rock childhood, a quality that places her in the company of a hard-living alt-country man, Ryan Adams, who is also a Bloodshot alum. So whether you prefer rock or country, this show will be perfectly paired with a shot of whiskey.

SAINTSENECA w/HEAVY LIGHTS, 7/29, 10PM, MILLWORKS, FREE

Like Loveless, Saintseneca hails from Ohio. Employing a wide range of acoustic instruments and led by songwriter Zac Little, they have been garnering significant critical attention, even recording a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR’s “All Songs Considered.” This isn’t their first time making their way through our city, but their star seems to be shining a bit brighter since I saw them perform at a backyard house show a few years ago. With their creative and delicate arrangements, they’re a perfect match for the Millworks and a terrific expression of the summer’s quieter moments.

Mentionables: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 7/12, The Forum; Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, 7/17, Abbey Bar; Jarekus Singleton, 7/22, H*MAC Herr Street Stage; Dustbowl Revival, 7/23, The Millworks; Porcelain, 7/25, Midtown Scholar Bookstore

Senior Pet Moments: Aging dogs and cats require special attention and care.

June 30, 2015 | by Kristen Zellner

Myna

Puppies and kittens are energetic bundles of joy.

As humans, we are drawn to their baby-like faces and cuddly nature. They capture our hearts with puppy breath, purring, laughable clumsiness, tail chasing and all the silly acts that young animals perform. There are thousands of YouTube videos dedicated solely to the antics of baby pets.

However, it is rare to see senior pets portrayed in the media. The reality is that aged animals are not as cute or fun to look at as their younger kin. We know that aging and death are inevitable when raising a pet, but it seems like something we need not worry about for years to come. It creeps up on us, and sometimes we even live in denial when we begin to notice the signs of aging in our own beloved animals.

Much like raising a kitten or puppy, caring for senior pets is more time consuming and less convenient. It is sad and frustrating to watch pets age as their bodies and minds begin to slow down. Mobility issues, incontinence, joint pain, dental problems, hearing or vision loss, anxiety and cognitive dysfunction are common ailments that senior pets experience.

To help your aging pet, consider having a pet sitter visit to allow dogs to relieve themselves during the day. You may also want to clean litter boxes more often, put up baby gates to prevent pets from falling down stairs, modify duration and type of play and exercise and use puzzle toys for mental stimulation. A consistent schedule is important to keep pets in a routine, which will help them feel more secure. For anxious and stressed pets, calming remedies, Thunder Shirts and a quiet place to relax can help.

Many senior pets develop more severe issues such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease as they reach a geriatric stage of life. Be sure to watch for signs that may indicate that a serious health problem is emerging. These may include loss of appetite, lethargy, panting, pacing, confusion, agitation, aggression, increased vocalization, increase in sleep, frequent urination, restlessness and a decrease in self-care. Keeping notes on any health or behavioral changes can assist your vet when developing a senior plan of care.

Proper veterinary care is the first line of defense in finding out where problems may lie within the body. Even if a pet “looks” fine, there may be underlying disease that can be remedied, but, if left untreated, can lead to premature death and unnecessary suffering. Complete blood panels, urinalysis and radiographs are basic tests that can help determine if a pet is beginning to have a problem and enable the veterinarian to treat a condition at early onset.

A growing number of pet owners are seeking supplemental treatments that were once only used on humans. Acupuncture, cold laser therapy and acupressure can help reduce inflammatory issues and pain. Chiropractic care is used to treat and prevent joint degeneration, hip dysplasia, incontinence, neck and back pain, and improve mobility.

Pets with mobility problems may also benefit from physical therapy and swimming. Massage therapy increases circulation and flexibility, eases muscle and joint discomfort and calms anxious pets. Homeopathy, herbs, aromatherapy and Reiki are growing in popularity for pet owners who are seeking more natural and less invasive ways to treat ailments, especially when other treatments are not working.

With the many care options available for our pets, they are living longer and with greater quality of life. There is no remedy for aging but, with our good care and companionship, senior pets can live happily and healthfully for many years to come.

Kristen Zellner is owner of Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, 3963 N. 6^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.abramsandweakley.com or call 717-232-3963.

Delightful “Chaos”: Rickman chooses period piece for long-awaited return as director.

June 30, 2015 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

At the beginning of “A Little Chaos,” Alan Rickman’s second directorial feature, there is a warning: “There is an outdoor ballroom in the gardens of Versailles. In what follows, at least that much is true.”

In an era in which the phrase “based on a true story” is used like a lifeline, this promise is refreshing, to say the least. And, besides, the plot of this 17^th-century story is almost too progressively good to be true. Written by Alison Deegan, the film tells the story of the woman who is (supposedly) hired to design said ballroom—Madame Sabine De Barra.

Madame De Barra (Kate Winslet) took to landscaping after her husband died, necessitating that she support herself. The problem is, while most Enlightenment artists base their work on reason and order, she is inspired by chaos. So, when King Louis XIV (Rickman) issues a project for the Garden of Versailles under the eye of landscaper André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts), she applies for a job expecting to be turned down. But Monsieur Le Notre witnesses Madame De Barra moving a pot in his garden before the interview, revealing her nonconformity and stirring Le Notre to choose her for the project.

The job does not come without struggles, including the problem of being a woman in a “man’s job” and the jealous eye of Monsieur Le Notre’s wife (Helen McCrory) as romance flares between the two landscapers. And all the while, Madame De Barra’s thoughts are tormented by the mysterious image of a little girl.

As form follows function, the structure of “A Little Chaos” is—well—chaotic. The humor is not evenly spread throughout the film, though it is deftly added where needed. And though Madame De Barra’s past is a prominent feature in the story, the revealing moment feels a bit belabored. But, overall, the film is engaging and deals with the gray areas that period pieces often glaze over (i.e. affairs). It seems that the central point of the film is that sometimes chaos is order.

Winslet and Schoenaerts are a delight together, and Rickman owns his role as the king. There are even a few fabulous, though short, moments with Stanley Tucci as the king’s brother, Philippe d’Orleans. It’s a smart little period piece that you should be sure to catch—hopefully it won’t be another 18 years before Alan Rickman directs again. “A Little Chaos” will be playing soon at the Midtown Cinema.

Midtown Cinema

July Events

Midnight Matinee Series
“Airplane” (1980)
Saturday, July 11, 11:45pm

Classic Film Series
“Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)
Sunday, July 12, 6pm

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997)
Friday, July 17, 9:30ish

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)
Saturday, July 18, noon
Sunday, July 19, 2pm

MOVIATE Presents
“The Punk Syndrome”
Sunday, July 26, 7pm

LGBT Film Festival
July 26 to July 28

– – – – –

Outdoor Film Series

July 10
Down in Front!
“Plan 9 From Outer Space”

July 24
“Labyrinth”

Aug. 7
“The Princess Bride”

Aug. 28
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

All outdoor movies start at dusk in the parking lot of Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg.

State Commission Calls for Meeting Over Front Street Trees

June 29, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Two of the trees marked for removal in Riverfront Park, as part of a Front Street resurfacing project .

A state historic preservation office last week reversed its position on the removal of four century-old trees along Harrisburg’s riverfront, urging the state Department of Transportation to hold a public meeting on the proposal before proceeding.

The four trees are located in a historic district Uptown in Riverfront Park, at the intersections of Front and Radnor and Front and Emerald streets.

They may have been planted under a landscaping plan from the City Beautiful movement, an early-20^th-century effort to enhance Harrisburg’s appearance and infrastructure.

PennDOT plans to remove them as part of a state-funded resurfacing project underway along Front Street between Forster and Division.

The state preservation agency that reviewed the project initially found it would not adversely impact any historical resources, and PennDOT earlier this month described the loss of four trees in a 20-mile-long district as “extremely minimal.”

But in a memo dated June 23, Douglas McLearen of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission said his office had received multiple emails and phone calls from local stakeholders requesting PennDOT protect the trees during construction.

As a result, McLearen wrote, his office now “strongly suggests” PennDOT solicit comments and hold a public meeting on the proposal.

Three of the trees are believed to be American elms dating to 1919, according to PennDOT project findings. The fourth is believed to be either a Chinese elm or a maple dating to after the Great Depression, the department said.

PennDOT said it needed to remove them in order to install wheelchair-accessible ramps, along with twelve other trees that are on the opposite side of the street and therefore outside the historic district.

TheBurg Podcast, June 26, 2015

June 26, 2015 | by Admin

Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg.

June 26, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk trash – starting with the law that emboldened gun rights groups to sue Harrisburg, which a court ruling this week consigned to the dustbin, and moving on from there to the overhaul of city sanitation services.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. Check out his podcast, the PRC Show, on SoundCloud or in the iTunes store.

TheBurg Podcast can be downloaded by clicking on the date above or by visiting the iTunes store. You can also access the podcast via its host page.

Court Strikes Down Pro-Gun Law, Saving City Some Fees

June 25, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, left, and City Solicitor Neil Grover spoke about the Commonwealth Court ruling Thursday afternoon.

Harrisburg officials claimed a partial victory in the battle over its gun laws Thursday, after a state court struck down a law that emboldened gun-rights groups to sue Pennsylvania municipalities over their firearms regulations.

The Commonwealth Court, in an almost unanimous opinion, ruled the law violated constitutional requirements that a bill must have a single subject and must not depart from its original purpose in the course of being passed into law.

In its opinion, written by Judge Robert Simpson, the court rejected the argument that the provisions of the bill fit within the single subject of “amending the crime code,” saying such a subject was overly broad.

It agreed with the law’s challengers—three state senators, two state representatives and the cities of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Pittsburgh—that the bill was altered beyond its original purpose when the firearms provisions were added.

City officials celebrated Thursday’s ruling, though with the lawsuits still pending, they could not say precisely how decisive a victory it was.

“We know it helps us,” Harrisburg city solicitor Neil Grover said Thursday. “We just have to identify exactly how.”

The law aided gun-rights groups and their members by granting them automatic standing to sue municipalities, relieving them of the difficult legal task of demonstrating local ordinances had harmed them.

It also allowed them to recoup legal and other costs if they prevailed, leading attorneys like Justin McShane, whose firm is one of the two suing Harrisburg, to threaten the city with tens of thousands of dollars in damages.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse referred to those threats on Thursday, saying one consequence of the ruling is that the city will not have to make such payments.

“Attorney McShane was rather vocal about trying to bankrupt the city through his enormous legal bills,” he said. “I am pleased to say we will not have to pay them.”

Harrisburg has been defending its gun laws against two separate lawsuits since January, spending upwards of $65,000 so far, with mixed results.

A county judge has barred the city from enforcing three of its ordinances, while a federal judge, siding with the city, has voided a $21,000 default that was awarded to one of the plaintiffs.

The state law, Act 192 of 2014, began as a two-page bill about the theft of metals including copper and aluminum, but later was amended to incorporate almost verbatim the provisions on challenging local gun laws from a separate, stalled bill.

Kim Stolfer, whose group Firearms Owners Against Crime helped craft the law and is one of the groups suing Harrisburg, described Thursday’s ruling as “one of the worst examples of tortured logic I’ve ever seen.”

He said the ruling dodged the question of the legality of local gun ordinances, and pointed to a partial dissent by Judge Patricia McCullough arguing the majority left legislators in the dark as to how to amend the crimes code.

Papenfuse, for his part, claimed the opinion sent the right message to legislators. “Hopefully, the result of this will be, in the future, the public will be protected from lawmaking in that sort of last-minute, hidden-from-view style,” he said.

Stolfer, however, disagreed, saying the bill had been well-publicized when it was being considered and the legislature had “overwhelmingly” voted to pass it. “The people of Pennsylvania wanted this,” he said.

New Trash Bins Hoped to Fight Litter, Increase Recycling

June 24, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Dwayne Simon, of the 400-block of Crescent Street, with the city's new black trash toters Wednesday.

Dwayne Simon, of the 400-block of Crescent Street, with the city’s new trash toters Wednesday morning.

Beginning this week, Harrisburg is distributing 31,000 new trash and recycling bins throughout the city, as part of a sanitation overhaul aimed at increasing recycling, reducing litter and ultimately lowering trash bills.

The new bins—95-gallon black toters for trash and 32-gallon blue cans for recycling—are being distributed free of charge to residential properties ranging from single-family homes to multi-unit buildings with four or fewer apartments.

The bins, manufactured and distributed by Rehrig Pacific under a $1.2-million contract, will be handed out over the next several weeks, starting with Allison Hill this week and proceeding through south Harrisburg and the river wards.

“This is going to hold all the trash anyone could possibly need,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said Tuesday of the new black toters. As for the recycling bins, he said, “They’re rigid, they’re strong and they hold an awful lot of recycling.”

Rehring Pacific is relying on city records to identify where to place the bins, which will be tracked by serial numbers linked to individual addresses. Residents do not need to be present to receive their bins, the city said.

On Wednesday morning, Dwayne Simon stood in front of his home in the 400-block of Crescent Street beside a line of toters dropped off minutes before by a crew.

“We needed these. Very, very helpful,” he said, adding that in the past bins often overflowed and bags were left spilling their garbage into the street. “But these are big enough to hold all the trash,” he said. “With these right here, there’s no excuse.”

The new bins for recycling (left) and trash, on display at city hall.

The new bins are part of an overhaul of sanitation services first contemplated under former Mayor Linda Thompson, after a state intervention into city finances recommended privatizing sanitation to improve results and lower costs.

The city rejected that option, however, and, under Papenfuse, has sought to prove its own fleet can provide a reliable service at a reasonable price.

The city also hopes to encourage recycling with a set of policy changes, which the new blue bins are designed to accommodate. Under the new policy, residents can recycle virtually all paper products, tin, steel and most plastics, but not glass.

(The full 2015 recycling guide can be found on the city’s website or downloaded here.)

John Rarig, the city’s recycling coordinator, said that preliminary results suggest recycling has doubled under the policy, and Papenfuse said his own household had doubled its recycling.

More recycling will mean less trash and reduced dumping costs, although the city must still reach an annual 35,000-ton “put or pay” target at the incinerator or else face a financial penalty.

The city hopes to boost its numbers by bringing commercial and other accounts back to the city from private haulers, an effort that has prompted at least one lawsuit so far.

The monthly charge for pickup for each trash container is $32.34. Residents can request additional containers, but must pay the monthly fee for each one. Additional recycling bins will be distributed on request and picked up at no extra charge.

Residents can also request smaller bins, though the city is asking them to “give the new containers a chance” before downsizing, Papenfuse said. Smaller bins will come with the same monthly pickup charge and can be requested by calling 311.

Once the new bins have been distributed, the city will cease to pick up other containers. Residents can drop off old containers at the public works building at 1820 Paxton St. or can leave them out with their trash for pickup by the city.

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