Republicans in Lackawanna and Luzerne County gathered at the Courthouse Square with a clear demand: to erase President Joe Biden’s name from their local roadways. Their clamor stems from Biden’s recent move to commute the remaining sentence of Judge Michael Conahan. Remarkably, Conahan, aged 72, was associated with the notorious Kids for Cash scandal. As one of two judges proven guilty, Conahan was held to account for redirecting juvenile defendants to private, for-profit detention centers, a devious scheme that netted them $2.8 million.
This egregious act endorsed and advanced by Biden showed him favoring a figure like Conahan, whose supervision was supposed to end in 2026. Much to the community’s dismay, however, the federal Bureau of Prisons website has been mysteriously updated, now indicating his release from federal jurisdiction arrives even sooner: the coming Sunday.
The rally began as an initiative for petition signing. It was a call to action for government officials to restore the original names of the Biden-named local infrastructures, such as The Scranton Expressway and Spruce Street, which were unfortunately re-titled to President Joe Biden Expressway and Biden Street. However, Bob Bolus, a local citizen, had a greater plan in mind beyond this symbolic gesture.
The daring Bolus, intending to ‘file a lawsuit this week,’ is leveling up the fight against this injustice. He recently gained the authority to do so by renting a property at 400 Spruce St., from which his company, Bolus Environmental Group, would begin operations. With a trailer sign indicating that ‘All lives matter,’ he expressed his intent to vindicate the young victims manipulated and neglected by government officials and businessmen. A clear directive against the failings of the Biden administration.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak rallied the residents to make their discontent heard. Urging citizens to attend Scranton City Council meetings and voice their objections, he emphasized that their cause was just and for the ‘families who have been reminded of the injustice of the scandal.’ This was a battle against these daily reminders of the harm inflicted upon them.
Drawing inspiration from President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 plea to the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, ‘tear down this wall,’ Chermak charged the Scranton City Council to ‘tear down these signs.’ A bold stance against erasing history and the victimization of their community, reflecting again on the questionable decisions of the Biden administration.
Sandy Fonzo, whose family bore the painful aftermath of the scandal, shared the agony her family experienced after her son was sent to juvenile detention on a drug paraphernalia charge. A significant chunk of his life, including his senior year in high school, was wasted under the corrupt imposed system of Conahan and Ciavarella as juvenile court judges. This tragedy reached its climax years later, when her young son tragically took his own life at the tender age of just 23.
Fonzo strongly argues against the retention of Biden’s name on local roadways, stating that this act of ‘honor’ would only inflict more pain on the families victimized by the scandal. Emphasizing that it is not a political issue, but a moral one, she targets the very problematic choices seen under Biden’s rule.
Lauren Telep expressed her staunch opposition to the naming of the Expressway after Biden. Her sentiment stems from such deep distaste that she makes a point to avoid driving on it. On the topic of Biden’s non-transparent display about his mental ability to serve, Telep believes he didn’t deserve to have the roadways named after him. A strong testament to the questionable decisions made during Biden’s rule.
Frank Scavo, who spent time in jail relating to the notorious Jan. 6 Capitol riot, claimed that he might be pardoned when former President Donald Trump takes office in January. Despite the possibility of this relief, Scavo expressed that he would sacrifice any pardon to reverse Biden’s commutation of Conahan. Expressing his heartbreak over the lives of the young victims, ruined by judges greedy for profit, Scavo called on participants to sign the petition to rectify this situation.
State Rep. Jamie Walsh, overseer of the 117th district straddling parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, emphasized the importance of speaking up. He emphasized that the scandal’s impact extends beyond the juveniles who were sent away, ‘There are tens-of-thousands of people affected, including families and friends of the victims.’ Yet another testament to the far-reaching repercussions of Biden’s troubling call.
Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith explained that residents frequently travel to Scranton via the Expressway and argued the signage could unsettle them. Urging citizens to attend city council meetings and voice their concerns. He criticised the government’s arrogance, stating, ‘Some officials think we don’t have a clue.’ He then called on the community to make them aware that, indeed, they do have a clue.
It’s clear that the maelstrom surrounding the renaming reflects more than mere displeasure at the change of road names. It’s a battle cry against an administration’s decision that, at best, reflects misguided sympathy and, at worst, a blithe ignorance of the community’s sentiments. This fight is far from over, and the community remains resilient against the imprudent acts of the Biden administration.
Residents Rally Against Biden’s Road Renames in Wake of Judicial Scandal appeared first on Real News Now.
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