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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Mayor Linda Thompson on the city's debt crisis and a prayer event meant to encourage cooperation among city leaders.
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We'll said today little prayer help fix the the fiscal -- of Pennsylvania's capital city.
Harrisburg.
And -- it has been met with both jeers and cheers.
Religious groups are set to hold three days of fasting and prayer in the struggling city praying for -- -- while the financial kind.
Harrisburg mayor Linda Thompson will be participating in this week's events.
Joins us now mayor it's great to have you so many questions for you but over the weekend.
I understand that the atheist groups.
-- protesting against us saying that this is this is not separating church and state married stoked what what do they set.
Well I haven't really focused on what the -- upset and but I certainly will say that respect those individuals who.
Are not religious believers.
I respect them and I would ask that they do the same thing for me I don't impose my religious police on them.
But for the most part it was global support global participation from around the world and internationally.
The fastest over -- now and I'm just very pleased and that people felt a need.
Ought to do what was called to do -- Natwest to try to galvanize.
Prayer.
And encourage our local officials governmental officials and citizens to come together.
And do what is in the interest of the citizens of Harrisburg well up but right now we're focusing on our recovery plan.
Well you know.
There's a consulting firm -- -- Cincinnati Novak consulting said that the weight of picture issues -- to sell assets in particular this incinerator project that.
-- what they had a million in debt over.
Right now mayor I mean yeah I know you don't wanna file -- -- you've been very vocal about that is in the national press over the weekend but.
The City Council wanted a file basically they're pushing -- file bankruptcy would candidate.
While Mike Michael as I happen for the last year is to keep my -- to the -- And to work with the act 4017.
-- -- a year ago I worked with the former governor Ed Rendell.
Two minute maneuver education placed a city under act 47 which state.
Support that was out and that was able to be six we were successfully getting that done.
We're now what that arrow our -- the -- group has gotten in our offices and done tremendous work -- analysis.
Both for our global deficit with the incinerator and also our structural deficits.
We now have a plan and we're very very -- -- most of the things that they're recommending in the plan.
At particularly -- leveraging our assets as a mayor certainly it's a -- stake -- decision.
But it's the only option on the table that I can see that what better be able to help us get out of this 310 million dollar crisis.
And so again you know we're working very diligently with all the elected officials who are stakeholders in this to make sure.
And that we stay focused on managing the act 47 initiatives and make sure that we do things in the best interest of our citizens and to protect the -- -- -- safety of them.
You know it -- -- -- in California is moving to file bankruptcy you know some would say.
We hit it we understand we sympathize with -- -- that for you know you the prayer and the prayers meetings and all of that.
So let's say we don't wanna had to get it to -- rights we have economic austerity via market heart attack.
And some would say is -- -- way though that the City Council could circumvent the EU and filed bankruptcy on its own.
Well I'm now that I found for at 47.
It allows for -- terribly.
It allows for a process to take place in council has until July 25.
To either accept the plan are rejected if they reject the plan then the state.
Under that statute allows me ten days to present a plan to the secretary department of Canadian economic development.
And my goal is to do just that accounts rejects this plan.
You know these are complex decisions to make.
Certainly their big decisions to make analysts -- lot of trust issues on the table.
But most importantly we are accountable to the people and -- we were elected to represent and is now down to the hour to look at the plan determine what you like about the plan wouldn't disagree with the plan if you disagree with certain parts the plan.
Then council's responsibility is to find ways to come up with alternative solutions.
To making sure that the money is commensurate with the same amount of line items that the act 47 team is recommending in order to be able to do with our structural deficits and ultimately.
Our incinerator debt and so again I believe -- 75% in the plan.
Leveraging assets is key and these assets are owned by municipal corporations of which were working with those as well corporations to make sure that they follow through.
A one on the incinerator in terms of the -- leasing up the assets to get the RP out.
B Harrisburg part -- -- -- authority who owns and operates -- -- incinerator are on board to sell the out of the asset the -- And again as -- -- recommend Taylor which is what's being wreck that is we should say definitely the salvadorans in some minor project.
Is gonna be go one on I know you might have protestor -- -- -- -- during this hour we do appreciate your time mayor.
For joining us Marilyn Thompson from Harrisburg Pennsylvania fascinating fascinating fight is -- -- -- Financial --
