Short summary for now. (I'm trying to get the whole site established with an overall format.) This picture is former Hazleton Police Chief, Louis M. Farnell, as appearing in the Hazleton, Standard Speaker Newspaper on 07-17-87.
As I will discuss, a critical aspect, or turn of events, took place in 1979. (|When I first went into business, in 1974, the police chief was Mr. Hishar, who I have not one negative thing to say concerning any deliberate action he took.)
Getting back to Mr. Farnell, in 1979 Turnbach was out of office, as mayor, for two years. During those two years a designer Ordinance was in effect depriving me of parking space in front of my business; property that was commercial long before zoning was created.
I was called to his office after he received a report that I threaten to shoot Mr. Steven Lovernic earlier that morning. The meeting lasted for about an hour. (Much of what was said will be posted shortly.)
During the meeting, I kept repeating one of my complaints that "laws" are made for everyone and not to be used as tools, for select enforcement, to achieve political ends such as forcing someone out of business. If every business was made to comply then I would keep silent. The famous reply? "No one is complaining about their business, only yours."
During the meeting I gave the Harper Valley PTA Speech, as I called it: one after another I recited a long list of business, esp. those on a "side street", that operated no different than what I was doing. I asked Farnell about his family's meat packing business then located at the corner of Laurel and Mine Sts. (No different than my situation.) How, everyday, his father parked company trucks on the sidewalk, having a two-fold violation, facing the wrong way on a one way street because it was easier to load and unload products. (I had a written list with over 60 businesses violating the "law" far worse that I was.)
Another famous slogan, that I "expanded [my] business out into the street." I asked Farnell what business didn't and then mentioned one in particular on South Church St., (Route 309, State highway), a few block from my location, that used the sidewalk as a parking lot along side a busy highway, within city limits, whereas people walking by had to do so stepping into traffic. His reply, "That's different". I replied, "Is it because the police get their uniforms cleaned for free?" (As mentioned, it was a meeting that lasted at least an hour.)
Getting to the epilogue, I told Farnell that if you are going to screw me over you will do it in front of a jury. He laughed. I mean a hardy, belly laugh. I said that several times. Towards the end I repeated my warning that the matter was going to end in bloodshed. He laughed again. (Two years later, during the trial he was not called to testify. It was mentioned that I made the threat but the jury never knew that the police chief and I had said meeting. Was Farnell being protected from embarrassment? How would the jury react? )
Million Dollar Question: Why wasn't I arrested for making "threats"? They wanted to get rid of me: such an arrest would of been an easy conviction two years before the shooting. Why? Because a trial would of meant exposure, out in the open, in the light of day. (How would a jury react to the illegal designer Ordinance, for example.)
Hazleton, back then, known as Mob City, well, let the name speak for itself. (About a year before, another businessman was successfully eradicated by the Hazleton police. Mike Hnatuick, after his life was destroyed, committed suicide. Why? Because he could not afford the extortion fees (aka perk privileges) the police expected as a right of passage. Click Here for that story.)
What was their plan? Sit back and let time take its course. Ever since the designer Ordinance was established, that was the beginning of the end.
Mr. Paisley (a former Hazleton Police Chief
himself), became mayor in 1978 replacing Turnbach. That related story
will be posted separately. But for now, take a look at the following
two pictures taken recently on 11-23-2001. The first shows the
location of the former building owned by Farnell Meats. Then as now,
illegal parking is common. The second picture is the "No
Parking" sign on that side of the street next to the building.
As you can see, the sign has been there for many years indicated by
its condition. That sign (by Ordinance) was there when Farnell
operated his business. Yet, it must be nice to have your son as
police chief so the "law" is ignored so the family can make
money. So other signs, next to businesses owned by your friends can
be ignored as well.
Updated: 11-25-2001