NO ADVERTISING, GOVERNMENT OR CORPORATE FUNDING

  • Latest News
  • Pitch a Story
  • Work with a Journalist
  • Join the Blog Squad
  • Afghanistan
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Baltimore
  • Canada
  • Egypt
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • Russia
  • Economy
  • Environment
  • Health Care
  • Military
  • Occupy
  • Organize This
  • Rear View Mirror
  • US Politics
  • TRNN In: Arabic | Dutch | German | Italian | Portuguese | Spanish | Serbian | Turkish

    City Debt Crisis Eclipses Elections in PA Capital


    Report from Harrisburg: Kindergarten and fire protection under threat in most indebted city in the US -   October 28, 10
    Members don't see ads. If you are a member, and you're seeing this appeal, click here

    The Real News needs your support. Make a $10 donation by texting realnews to 85944 from your mobile phone. Works in US only

    Audio

    Share to Facebook Share to Twitter




    I’ve made my way to my current internet haven: The Real News Network (TRNN). - Caroline Lewis
    Log in and tell us why you support TRNN

    Precis

    Promo to upcoming series on Harrisburg's debt crisis.

    Transcript

    City Debt Crisis Eclipses Elections in PA CapitalJESSE FREESTON, PRODUCER, TRNN: We're in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, a city of 47,000 people coming to terms with massive debts owed to Wall Street.

    TANYA FOSTER, CBS NEWS: Harrisburg's debt crisis is making national news again.

    ~~~

    FOSTER: —of the financial crisis in Harrisburg.

    (VOICEOVERS): Is Harrisburg close to just going belly up, literally bankrupt?

    Our debt could approach $1 billion to $1.2 billion.

    We will run out of money. And what that means, there will—payroll will not be met.

    Right now we're at the brink, and we have to do something.

    FREESTON: In order to pay back the debt, a small number of unpopular options are being put forward.

    (VOICEOVERS): I don't know another mayor that has proposed to close down 25 percent of their fire protection. There's money to be made off other people's misery, and this is a classic example.

    We may all have to bite the bullet.

    I guess we're mostly looking for a global solution with shared pain.

    I heard the one young man say that we all have to bite the bullet. But not all of us have teeth. We cannot bite the bullet.

    EUGENIA G. SMITH, HARRISBURG CITY COUNCIL: There's a big fear that taxes will be raised and people will not be able to, you know, afford to live in the city any longer.

    FREESTON: All this comes at a time where many outside Harrisburg are watching the Pennsylvania midterms to see who will go to Washington.

    TV ADVERTISEMENT (VOICEOVER): Joe Sestak, just another liberal.

    TV ADVERTISEMENT (TEXT ON SCREEN): TOOMEY OPPOSED CREATING JOBS

    TV ADVERTISEMENT (VOICEOVER): Real friends don't stand against Israel.

    FREESTON: But in central Pennsylvania, people are worried about more pressing needs.

    WGAL NEWSCAST (VOICEOVER): A school district without kindergarten and sports could be a reality for Harrisburg.

    The city where there's the highest per capita debt, one of the worst school districts in the country, highest crime rate in the state.

    FREESTON: So what should people expect from their city? Be sure to join us for our series of videos from Harrisburg exploring this poster child for the US's economic meltdown.

    End of Transcript

    DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.


    Comments

    Our automatic spam filter blocks comments with multiple links and multiple users using the same IP address. Please make thoughtful comments with minimal links using only one user name. If you think your comment has been mistakenly removed please email us at contact@therealnews.com

    RealNewsNetwork.com, Real News Network, Real News, Real News For Real People, IWT are trademarks and service marks of IWT.TV inc. "The Real News" is the flagship show of IWT and Real News Network.

    All original content on this site is copyright of The Real News Network.  Click here for more

    Problems with this site? Please let us know

    Linux VPS Hosting by Star Dot Hosting