Pa. mayor skips ball in favor of City Hall rehab
Dec 28, 2013, 5:09 PM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The next leader of Pennsylvania’s struggling capital city says he won’t have an inaugural ball.
Harrisburg Mayor-elect Eric Papenfuse says holding a fancy event after his Jan. 6 swearing-in sends the wrong message.
Instead, the Democrat is asking supporters to donate money to help fix up City Hall and the public safety building.
Papenfuse released a statement Friday saying the facilities need roof repairs, new flooring and phone and technology upgrades. But there’s no money in the budget for such renovations.
The cash-strapped city carries tremendous debt and was taken over by the state two years ago.
Papenfuse trounced incumbent Mayor Linda Thompson in the May primary, then was elected in November with about 50 percent of the vote. He owns a Harrisburg bookstore.
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