The Proposal In A Nutshell
	Mayor of Hazleton, Lou Barletta, is proposing a project to reclaim old dump sites and abandoned strip mines within the southern part of Hazleton by filling them with harbor dredge, flyash and cement kiln dust. These materials will be shipped in from neighboring states. Opponents of this proposal say that these materials are known to contain many toxic materials which would harm the Greater Hazleton population and people living downstream from Hazleton. The SUFFER corporation was formed for the sole purpose of fighting this proposal. Suffer has been able to hinder, so far, the passing of legislation that would allow this project to begin. There are, however, many economic forces at work that would like to see this project go through.
Mayor Barletta's plan is to fill the scarred landscape with these materials and bring it as close as possible to its original contour.          He also plans to build a 20,000-seat amphitheater surrounded by restaurants and upscale shops. Amphitheaters have succeeded in many southern states and all over Mediterranean Europe. This has been tried in another northern town with a long winter, Clio, near Flint Michigan. He says this project would bring many needed jobs to the area.
What an idea! However, there are many things about this proposal that make one wonder: what's the cost? Who will really end up paying for this project? How are an amphitheater and a huge parking lot going to built on material not strong enough to build the road to the amphitheater? Are any other 20,000 seat amphitheaters built over huge mine areas into which houses have disappeared? To read more on the proposal click here.