Cognetti established strong record as mayor
Editor: I am compelled to reply to a letter criticizing Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti simply because she is “not from here” (“‘Carpetbager’ Cognetti doesn’t reflect region,” Feb. 19). It uses the term “carpetbagger,” which has a very distinct meaning and dark history. It does not elaborate on why the writer thinks the mayor is a carpetbagger. Nor does it elaborate on her other “shortcomings.”
The letter gives a very nice description of what Scranton is — practical values rooted in lived experience and community-focused. I would argue that Mayor Cognetti exactly reflects those values. A follow-up letter enumerates the various ways that the mayor has improved the city and region (“Cognetti has made her home in NEPA,” Feb. 26). Mayor Cognetti has been a NEPA resident for over 10 years. She did not come here to make a quick buck and leave as “carpetbagger” implies.
I met her in 2015. She has an impressive education and work history. In other words. she brings a lot to the table. The one thing she does not possess is the mindset of the “people from here” who perpetrated gross financial mismanagement and mafia-like methods of doing business before she ever got here. You might recall that many of those people ended up in jail for their crimes against our community.
I lived in Scranton for 15 years. For the last eight years, I worked with the mayor in my former role as the Executive Director of the NEPA Youth Shelter. I can tell you that the mayor cares very much about the woes of citizens. If it is within her role as mayor, she will work with anyone to address problems. That is the kind of representation everyone from PA-08 should want in Washington, D.C.
Maureen Maher-Gray, Laguna Woods, California