WILKES-BARRE, PA — Luzerne County Council took a preliminary step Tuesday toward enacting a new election protection ordinance, though the narrow 6-5 vote suggests a difficult road ahead for the controversial measure. The ordinance is designed to protect election workers and voters by providing clearly defined examples of harassment and establishing formal procedures for assessing threats during election cycles.
While the introduction passed, subsequent discussion among council members indicated that several of those who voted in favor may not support the ordinance in its final form. Council leadership noted that a public hearing must be held and a final majority vote secured at a future meeting before the regulations can take effect. Opponents on the council have expressed concerns about potential overlap with existing state laws, while proponents argue that local guidance is necessary to ensure election staff can perform their duties without hesitation or fear.
In a separate, unanimous decision, the Council approved the sale of the county-owned Broad Street Business Exchange in downtown Hazleton. The property, a four-story landmark that once housed the Deisroth department store, will be sold to YMSF Family Partnership LP for $2.42 million. The winning bid came in significantly higher than the $2.1 million appraised value. The new owners, a limited partnership based in Brooklyn and Blakely, have indicated they intend to continue operating the 44,480-square-foot building as a commercial office and mixed-use facility. The Luzerne County Community College currently serves as the primary tenant of the building.
The Council also moved to modernize the county's administrative hierarchy by introducing an ordinance to create a new Infrastructure, Community, and Economic Development Division. This marks a significant milestone in the county’s governance, as it would be the first new division added since the Home Rule Charter was implemented in January 2012. The original charter established eight distinct divisions to manage county operations. This new ninth division is intended to streamline the management of large-scale projects, including grant administration and the oversight of local economic revitalization efforts.
