City of Erie, ErieBank partner up to boost home ownership
The City of Erie is partnering with a local bank to begin a new home opportunity program.
Mayor Joe Schember and ErieBank are introducing the Open Your Door program.
AHN St. Vincent honors two physicians for National Doctors' Day
Their goal is to reduce financial barriers and leverage existing resources for those who may be facing challenges when it comes to home ownership.
The program offers 100% LERTA tax abatement for 10 years on new development, refunding acquisition costs, and financing assistance for owner-occupied residential builds.
French St. parking garage goes cashless
'We're that mom-and-pop bank that wants to develop relationships. we want to be there every step of the way from the time their kids open their accounts to their grandkids and move forward we want to be in their lives forever and so this program will help them build that generational wealth, build equity in their homes build a dream of maybe having a small business, sending someone to college all that happens the start of having a home,' said Kevin Dixon, vice president & community responsibility officer for ErieBank.
Dixon said this is going to provide a huge impact for the City of Erie.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Daria Devlin stuns two-term incumbent Erie Mayor Joe Schember to win Democratic primary
Daria Devlin's time is now. The 47-year-old Democrat scored a stunning upset in the May 20 municipal primary, defeating two-term incumbent Erie Mayor Joe Schember and retired educator Sheila Woeger for their party's nomination for the top job in city government. According to final unofficial vote totals from the Erie County Courthouse, Devlin, the director of social impact for Hamot Health Foundation, garnered 5,117 votes, or 50%, to 4,694 votes for Schember (46%) and 359 votes, (3.2%) for Woeger. 'I need to say thank you to the most amazing campaign team,' Devlin said. 'We did it, and it's amazing.' It was an improbable win for Devlin, who first confirmed her primary run to the Erie Times-News in October. Devlin defeated a two-term incumbent devoid of major scandal or damaging public missteps, a mayor in Schember who was first elected in 2017 and rolled to re-election in the 2021 primary by defeating two Democratic challengers and walking away with 74% of the vote. But Devlin, who raised a staggering $217,000 for her primary run, campaigned on a platform of change, fiscal responsibility and the aggressive pursuit of solutions to blight, the city's housing crisis, and workforce development. She also pledged to develop better programs to nurture local youth. She said her campaign heavily leaned on reaching people through various social media platforms and face-to-face interaction with voters. She also felt her televised debate with Schember in April exposed a lot of voters to her campaign platform.'I really believe people were ready for something different,' Devlin said in an interview. 'People want to see real change in their city and I don't think they saw that (under Schember). They're hungry for it.' Devlin, who thanked Schember for eight years of service to the city, also described Schember during her campaign as status-quo and out of touch with the needs of Erie's citizens. She hammered Schember about the city's finances, saying Erie was heading for a 'financial crisis' without better leadership. She also secured a rare endorsement from the Erie County Democratic Party's city-based committee members, who typically stay away from backing one candidate over another in primary elections. The party's chairman, Sam Talarico, said that several committee members 'thought it was time for a change.' And Devlin brought that change home in the municipal primary. She celebrated her victory with a raucous crowd of supporters at the 1020 Collective, 1020 Holland St., in downtown Erie. 'You guys delivered this tonight!' Devlin said. Devlin will now face Republican Matthew Thomas in the Nov. 4 municipal election. Thomas, a 37-year-old Erie lawyer, claimed the GOP nomination in the primary; there were no other GOP candidates in the race. However, Devlin will be a huge favorite in the municipal election because of the city's more than 2-1 Democratic voter registration edge. No Republican has been elected mayor of Erie since Charles Williamson in to Erie County Voter Registration Office data, there are 31,093 registered Democrats in the city of Erie and 13,850 registered Republicans. Erie County municipal primary: Review from May 20 live coverage Devlin made a point of reminding her supporters that 'this is the primary. We have a general election to win. And we're going to fight just as hard… So we can be right back here in November to celebrate.' A disappointed Schember said he 'will accept the voters' result' and will focus on 'serving the city and moving our projects forward' for the remainder of his term. Asked about the loss, Schember said, 'I honestly don't know what happened. My door-to-door was very good, I thought, and I talked to over 1,000 people face to face. I really thought I was going to win by a lot tonight. Turns out, I lost by a little.' The Erie mayor's annual salary will increase from the current $95,000 to $120,000 a year in January 2026. The new salary tops the list of annual pay that mayors receive in Pennsylvania's third-class cities. Devlin said that between now and November, she will focus on 'bringing Democrats together, because I want the support of the people who didn't vote for me.' She also said she's taking nothing for granted in terms of the municipal election. 'What we've seen in national politics is, nothing is a given anymore,' Devlin said. 'Look, we didn't have a huge victory here, a huge margin. I want to unite the party and build trust, and we can be even stronger for November.' Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie mayor's race: Devlin defeats incumbent Schember in Dem primary
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13-05-2025
- Yahoo
The race for Erie mayor: 3 questions for Democrats Schember, Devlin, Woeger
Seeking what would be his third and final four-year term in office, Democratic Erie Mayor Joe Schember is urging voters to consider his administration's accomplishments Schember, 74, says that since 2018 his administration has various successes, including bringing new jobs and businesses to the city; helped develop quality affordable housing; expanded citywide tax breaks for new construction; worked to reduce city debt and cut structural budget deficits; reduced crime; and has embraced immigrants, new Americans, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. However, two Democratic challengers seeking to deny Schember's re-election bid say city government badly needs new leadership, ideas and energy. Daria Devlin, a 47-year-old current member of the Erie School Board, contends that Schember's administration has failed to rein in the city's budget, warning that Erie could be headed for a financial crisis as multimillion-dollar budget deficits loom in the future. Another Democratic challenger, retired teacher Sheila Woeger, 70, has said that Erie has been held back by racial, socioeconomic and cultural divides that deny opportunity for many citizens and keep the city from growing. Direct primaries didn't always exist: The first was held in Crawford County in 1842. Four candidates are on the May 20 municipal primary ballot. Either Schember, Devlin or Woeger will win the Democratic nomination for mayor and will almost certainly face Republican Matthew Thomas in the Nov. 4 municipal election since there is no other GOP candidate in the race. The Democratic primary winner will be a huge favorite in the November municipal election because of the city's more than 2-1 Democratic voter registration edge. No Republican has been elected mayor of Erie since Charles Williamson in 1961. According to Erie County Voter Registration Office data, there are 31,093 registered Democrats in the city of Erie and 13,850 registered Republicans. The Erie mayor's annual salary will increase from the current $95,000 to $120,000 a year in January 2026. The new salary tops the list of annual pay that mayors receive in Pennsylvania's third-class cities. The Erie Times-News asked each of the Democratic mayoral candidates the same three questions regarding city government and the mayor's race. The newspaper reserved the right to edit responses for length and clarity. Here is what the candidates had to say. Question: As you see it, what unique leadership qualities separate you from the other candidates in this race? Schember: I believe that what separates me is that I am caring, compassionate, see the best in everyone, and don't pretend to have all of the answers. My leadership style is different than many others who seek public office. I act as a steward of our public resources, value the insights and perspectives of those on the front lines delivering services day-in and day-out, and I implement both short-term and long-term solutions in the best interest of residents. I like to listen in meetings rather than dictate because one of the things I learned from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is that, as mayor, it's important to listen first. I value everyone for the unique perspectives, skills, and talents that each of us possesses. Once everyone shares their ideas, we arrive at a decision together, and everyone does their part to make it happen. I do not micromanage. I have built an incredible team, and I place a lot of trust in them. It's because of my leadership style that we are able to accomplish so much. I am driven to serve the public because I want to take what I have learned and leave a legacy for the future. Devlin: In every way, my personal and professional life has prepared me for this moment to lead this city that I love. As I think has been evident during this campaign, I'm not afraid of having hard, honest conversations or making difficult decisions with honesty and care. I lead with a people-centered approach that is focused on those I serve. I build strong teams, listen deeply, and bring people together to solve problems. And, most importantly, I know how to take action and get things done. Woeger: I possess the unique skill of open communication, which is vital in any leadership capacity. I always enter every conversation objectively with an ear to hear what the other person has to say. Empathy is another attribute I possess which is much needed in a leadership position; without it leadership can easily become dictatorship. My educational background includes working as a paralegal, holding both an Associate and Bachelor's degree. I have also completed courses toward a masters degree in public administration, which included courses in business administration. My legal studies degree endowed me the knowledge to discover information that may otherwise be overlooked and the knowledge of legal terminology which will be an asset during contract negotiations. The city of Erie is facing significant structural budget deficits without raising property taxes. Given that roughly 90% of the city's budget goes to employee-related costs such as salaries, pensions and health care and much of that spending is mandated by union contracts, what specific steps would you take to stabilize finances? Schember: My team and I are in the eighth year of a 12-year strategy and have made great progress, but there is still more work to do. We are applying for a (state) grant to undertake the City's second five-year financial management plan. We have incorporated both short-term and long-term strategies to stabilize city finances, and we would continue to do the same in the third and final term. When I took office, my team and I did the city's first five-year budget projection and discovered that the City was projected to have shortfalls of $11 million, $5 million, $7 million, $13 million, $17 million, and $23 million from 2019 to 2024. Many people thought we were headed for Act 47 but I was determined not to let that happen. With our sound financial practices, we have turned it around. We have implemented several short-term and long-term strategies to eliminate our deficits and expand our tax base, including expanding the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program citywide; paying down the city's debt; securing grants; investing million of dollars into businesses to create jobs and increase revenue; and investing funding into housing rehab, renovations and new construction. This strategy helped us to turn the 2023 projected deficit of $17 million into a $243,000 surplus and the 2024 projected deficit of $23 million into a $2 million net surplus. And we did this without raising property taxes the last six years and without using the funding from the prepayment of the water lease the last two years. As a result of all these actions, the City of Erie has achieved its strongest financial position in decades. We will continue to do those things. Devlin: It is absolutely critical that we begin to take the necessary steps now to avoid devastating consequences of our structural deficit over the next five years. First, we must acknowledge the crisis – Erie is facing a long-term structural deficit, and we can't solve it with one-time money or short-term fixes. Second, we must look for efficiencies where we can achieve them and stop wasteful spending where it exists. Third, we need to develop a multi-year plan with advice from financial experts and community leaders that will help to right our fiscal ship. Lastly, we must recognize that our budget problem is rooted in our declining population and develop strategies to grow our city's tax base. And, most importantly, we must do all these things with full transparency so that the public remains informed and educated about our city's financial health. Woeger: After an intense review of the current budget, line item by line item, I would search for any excessive and or unnecessary spending. It is imperative that every tax payer dollar is spent wisely, efficiently and accounted for. It is also important that the city doesn't just talk transparency, but to be actively engaged in it. I would also be an active participant in all union negotiations. The taxpayer has every right to know where the money is being spent and every right to know request should be transparent in its administration. When public information is redacted, your transparency becomes questionable. What moves would you immediately make as mayor to improve the quality of life for the city's residents? Schember: My team and I have already embarked on several initiatives that we would seek to complete in the third term. Several plans are currently underway. Our focus will continue to be on revitalizing our neighborhoods, creating jobs, increasing housing opportunities, and stabilizing the City's finances. We will implement the five-year financial management plan; the Safe Streets and Roads for All plan to reduce traffic fatalities and improve our streets; ear Financial Management Plan; a parks and recreation plan based on residents' priorities; a housing strategy to rehabilitate properties and expand homeownership opportunities; and a local climate action plan. We will also expand and grow jobs by providing more grants and loans to businesses; renovate the (former Miller Bros) property at 2111 State St. into an emergency operations center; continue to shore up our infrastructure; expand the Love Your Block program and grow our youth programs; and improve public safety. We already have these and other initiatives underway and look forward to finishing what we started. Devlin: During my first 100 days, I'll work to rebuild trust by making City Hall more accessible and responsive to citizen needs. I'll also focus on the city's core services– street paving, public spaces, safety, trash and snow removal to make sure City Hall is working for every taxpayer. I'll convene partners to develop a data-driven plan for investment in our neighborhoods that improves housing and quality of life for residents of every block, and I'll address city-wide accessibility to parks and green spaces. My administration will be one that listens and acts. I'll show up in our neighborhoods and attend events, but I'll also make decisions that are responsive to the needs of our entire city. Woeger: I would first plan a meet and greet with every city employee, department by department, one on one; to convey to each of them their value as an employee and that their job performance matters. I would engage in a walk through of the city to identify areas of neglect and work immediately to solve them. No resident should live in housing that should be condemned and no person should be without water, the most vital resource for human survival and absolutely, no property owner should have a tarp covering a dilapidated roof. I will remind myself every day that I am a government of the people, by the people and therefore a government for the people. I need not tell anyone that I am a born-again spirit-filled believer in God through Jesus the Christ, they will know by my character. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: How the 3 Democratic candidates for Erie mayor would approach the job
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Olyphant to vote on grant, updated land development for industrial park
Olyphant Borough Council will vote Tuesday to apply for a $250,000 infrastructure grant and consider an amended land development agreement for a sprawling industrial park project off Marshwood Road. Council will vote on the motions regarding the proposed Triboro Industrial Park and associated Triboro Commerce Park — a project at least six years in the making that will build more than 4.5 million square feet of warehouse space on a large swath of land in the middle of Route 247, the Casey Highway and Marshwood Road. According to its meeting agenda, council will consider adopting a resolution allowing the borough to apply for a $250,000 state grant for infrastructure development at the Triboro Commerce Park. Council will also vote to confirm a memo to the land development agreement between the borough and the Triboro Industrial Park, as well as confirming a modified agreement dated April 25. The original land development agreement between the borough and Triboro was originally approved Nov. 9, 2022, according to the agenda. The Triboro parks encompass nearly 1,000 acres, with the industrial park being about 561.63 acres on the east side of the property and the commerce park being 411.589 acres on the west side, according to two $2 million open-end mortgages recorded with the Lackawanna County recorder of deeds on April 17, 2024. The Triboro Industrial Park transferred some of its property to the Triboro Commerce Park across two $1 property transactions recorded Dec. 29, 2021. Charles DeNaples, the son of Keystone Sanitary Landfill co-owner Dominick DeNaples, signed the April 2024 mortgages as the sole member of both the Triboro Industrial Park and Triboro Commerce Park. Both the commerce and industrial park list 1210 Wheeler Ave., Dunmore, as their address, which is the same address as Smart Recycling Inc. The Triboro Industrial Park is a four-building park with 4,522,880 square feet of warehouse space for lease, according to The warehouses will range from just under 1.067 million square feet to 1.184 million square feet. A brochure for the industrial park and its website advertise the site's close proximity to multiple interstates, touting it as being within a one-day drive of 60% of the United States' population and 40% of Canada's. The website also promotes the industrial park's 10-year tax break. In 2019, Olyphant council, the Mid Valley School Board and Lackawanna County commissioners approved a 10-year tax abatement term for the Triboro property, applying Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance status to 964 acres of the deteriorated, undeveloped land. Once the warehouses are built, the landowner will only pay 5% of taxes on improvements to the property for the first year, increasing by 5% in subsequent years. During the 10th and final year of the LERTA, the landowner will pay 50% of the value of the improvements before paying full taxes the following year. In April 2022, the industrial park received $3 million through the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, or RACP, with the funding going toward the first phase of the project and focusing on the eastern portion, including earthwork/excavation, clearing, utility relocation, mine mitigation, erosion, sedimentation controls and stormwater pond preparation, according to a press release at the time from state Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore. Last year, the state Department of Environmental Protection extinguished a mine fire burning near the proposed industrial park. The fire began in 2004 when someone set a stolen car on fire, spreading to the mines below and burning beneath Olyphant for 20 years at the former Dolph Coal Co.'s Hannah Bell Slope Mine. A DEP contractor successfully extinguished the 7-acre fire in April 2024 as part of a project approved for up to $16.5 million. Attempts to reach Olyphant solicitor and borough Manager C.J. Mustacchio and Scranton attorney Gregory J. Pascale, who represented Triboro in recent property transactions, were unsuccessful Monday afternoon.
