Editor: Paige Cognetti is the Democratic candidate running for the U.S House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s Eighth district. She is running on the claims that she wants to cut spending and is bragging about how she cut spending while serving as the mayor of Scranton. While in the midst of her cutting spending she decided that $75,000 should be allocated to a proposal called “City of Scranton Equity Plan,” which aims at a citywide equity plan and more Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. If “cutting costs” means spending $75,000 on inclusiveness then “going on a diet” means eating Big Macs daily. This is a clear contradiction.
The lies spread by Cognetti and her allies are obvious attempts to give herself an edge in the election. Furthermore, the outsourced organization which received the $75,000 was the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. Cognetti is listed as a member of one of its task forces. A clear mismanagement of funds by Cognetti.
The spending didn’t just stop with the proposed plan for an extra DEI training but recently in June 2025, Cognetti made a five-year year plan with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to give more housing options to diverse individuals. The plan claims there is a need for race-conscious housing and interventions to reduce disparities. Cognetti commissioned a $75,000 DEI plan while campaigning on a “cutting waste” message. Cognetti bowed down to the liberal agenda prioritizing DEI. Meanwhile her city of Scranton was losing valuable money. As a constituent of the Eighth District, I shudder at the thought of how far Cognetti and her backers would push their left-coast, liberal agenda should she get control of our whole district.
Stephen Marr, West Pittston