Pocono News Section

Mayor and Chamber knock Forbe's "Dying City List!"

Mayor and Chamber knock Forbe's "Dying City List!" - Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 12:38PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo WYOU TV News
Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 @ 12:38pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY

The President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce says Forbes Magazine is giving the city of Scranton 'a bum rap!" Austin Burke's comments came in reaction to a Forbe's on line article listing Scranton as one of the nation's 10 "fastest dying cities." Burke says things are going better in Scranton now than they have for decades.

Mayor Chris Doherty agrees. He and Burke point to numerous development projects currently underway or planned for the city. They include revitalization of the 50o block of Lackawanna Avenue, the constrution of a new downtown parking garage and plans by a New Jersey company to replace an aging downtown news stand with a six story building for retail and apartment living space.

Mayor Doherty also received word that Governor Ed Rendall had approved a 4.5 million dollar state grant for a 16 million dollar project to renovate the former Scranton Lace Works factory. It will become an academic and athletic facility for Lackawanna College and provide apartment living space as well.

The mayor points out that a recent issue of "Money Magazine" listed Scranton as the 7th best real estate market in the United States. The mayor says no one from Forbes talked with him about its article on 'dying cities."