VOTE DEMOCRAT CHRIS CAMPANELLI SHERIFF MAY 18 Endorsed by Sheriff John Loomis • Marine Corps Veteran • 25 years experience in the Sheriff’s Office Visit campanelli4sheriff.com to learn more about Chris. PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT CHRIS CAMPANELLI LECOM RADIO 60’s 70’s 88.5FM 80’s Music you grew up with More than 50 minutes of music per hour! 2 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com May 2021 CONTENTS From the Editors The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. MAY 2021 A triage of the soul Editors-in-Chief ne of the fundamental challenges Brian Graham & Adam Welsh of human existence is determining Managing Editor Erie’s Municipal Primary Elections Set for May 18 – 4 where our priorities lie. Unfortu- Nick Warren Mayor, County Executive, City and County O nately, Baron Dominique-Jean Larrey, Sur- Copy Editor Council races see new faces Matt Swanseger geon in Chief to Napoleon’s Imperial Guard, Contributing Editors Unpacking Your Primary Ballot Questions – 7 often found his lying on the ground. Ben Speggen Operating frequently within the midst of Jim Wertz What they mean in plain English and what they’d entail mass casualty events at the turn of the 19th Contributors century, Larrey helped refine a system for Liz Allen On Your May 2021 Ballot – 7 prioritizing care for the wounded according John Bavaro to the severity of their injuries. The process Charles Brown A partial list of who both parties will see on election day Jonathan Burdick that we now know as triage derives from a Tommy Link Erie at Large: Prejudice and the Old Politics – 9 French word meaning “to break into three Ally Kutz pieces” — originally that meant filtering Aaron Mook Why Chris Campanelli is the right choice for sheriff groups who required 1) immediate, 2) urgent, Brad Pattullo or 3) non-urgent medical attention. Dan Schank From General McLane to the White House – 10 Melissa Sullivan Shimek Today’s triage categories and processes Cara Suppa Climate advisor Ali Zaidi to speak at Global Summit vary from place to place, but the goal re- Forest Taylor mains the same — to maximize life and Bryan Toy Misinformation in the Aftermath of Trump – 14 minimize loss. However noble that aim may seem, though, part of the equation is eval- Photographer QAnon, “Stop the Steal,” and everything in between Jessica Hunter uating who is beyond saving (dubbed “ex- Intern Year of the Nurse –16 pectant” or “presumed dead”) so that more Kimberly Firestine resources can be committed to those who Cover Design Nurses gave everything and more as pandemic peaked most realistically can be saved. Nick Warren It’s an ethical burden assumed not only ‘Virtually’ Impossible to Miss: JES Global Summit XII – 18 by military medics, but also civilian first re- 1001 State St. Suite 1315 sponders and — especially during the ongo- Erie, Pa., 16501 Rescheduled speaker series streaming ing pandemic — emergency room and ICU [email protected] throughout month of May nurses. Despite being often understaffed, underequipped, and underprotected, the na- The Erie Reader is published Warner Theatre Rehearses for Stunning Second Act – 22 every other week and tion’s nurses battled back tirelessly against distributed at over 350 high Fitted with new rehearsal hall and loads of upgrades, a tireless adversary in 2020. Jonathan Bur- foot-traffic locations in Erie treasure to return in December 2021 dick and all of us at the Reader will continue Pennsylvania from North to be grateful for their selflessness and sac- East to Girard to Edinboro. In Movie Reviews – 26 rifice throughout National Nurses Month addition to appearing in print, Tensions mount between family members and Kaiju alike and beyond. Erie Reader adds new content Even so, bodies are not the only things that daily at ErieReader.com as well Book Reviews – 29 could use nursing back to health. In obser- as social media sites. All rights vance of Mental Health Awareness Month, reserved. All content © Flagship On flying around the world and navigating perhaps we could pay some attention to our Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State a decade-long relationship St., Suite 1315, Erie, Pa, 16501. psyches, too. Between waves of misinforma- No part of this publication Podcast Picks – 30 tion, propaganda, and general ill will, wide- may be reproduced without spread damages have been wrought. What permission. The opinions of our Cozy horror chats, comedy weirdness, of ourselves can still be saved? What have columnists and contributors and reluctant historians we already lost? are their own and do not always It is, perhaps, time for a triage of the soul. reflect that of the editorial DMX: A Leader Gone Too Soon – 31 As another election season comes into fo- board or organization. Direct cus, it’s imperative that both politicians and sales inquiries to 814.314.9364. Members of the Erie hip-hop community voters examine their conscience and devote For editorial inquiries, email look back on rapper’s legacy [email protected]. their resources and energies toward what Local Cartoons – 33 matters most. Political leaders should leave egos and vendettas to die while working to Spiritual journeys, awakenings, fancy feet, resuscitate education, healthcare, climate, and ways to bond with your crazy aunt and social justice situations in critical con- dition. Meanwhile, voters should do every- Album Reviews – 34 thing they can to enlighten themselves — may we suggest the Jefferson Educational Alfa Mist, The Armed, Gojira, and Cade Eliason Society’s Global Summit XII and XIII for Crossword Puzzle – 35 starters? As long as human curiosity, compassion, The latest stumper from David Levinson Wilk and conscience have a pulse, we still have a chance. May 2021 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & VIEWS Erie’s Municipal Primary Elections Set for May 18 Mayor, County Executive, City and County Council races see new faces On average, only about 51,500 of Erie the incumbent has decided to step County’s registered voters cast their ballots in local elections, compared to down, guaranteeing that new leader- about 85,000 in midterms and 124,000 in ship will be sitting in the Erie County presidential elections. Executive seat. While eligible to seek a third four- candidate running? Why show up to year term — which would be her final, not have your voice heard? if elected, due to term limits — current This time around, however, even County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper third-party candidates will have cause decided not to seek reelection. The for- to cast ballots, as four questions are on mer congresswoman defeated Demo- the ballot, three of which are proposed cratic incumbent Barry Grossman in constitutional amendments. It may not 2013 and later Republican Don Tucci in appear to be much, but it is. the general election. In 2017, she defeat- ed Republican challenger Art Oligeri, File Under: Not Quite as We Might’ve becoming just the second County Ex- Expected ecutive in Erie’s history to serve more Four years ago, 2017 featured two than one term. The other, Democrat marquee races, both for top executive Judy Lynch, served five terms in an era positions — Erie County Executive and pre-dating term limits. City of Erie Mayor. This year, they’re Six candidates are vying to become both in play but in ways we may not Erie’s seventh County Executive. Both JESSICA HUNTER JESSICA have expected. the history (there have been four) and For the mayoral race, Erie’s current Joe voter-registration edge (86,453) favor By: Ben Speggen and downs, a paltry average of about lacks the electoral victory security lux- Democrats. Two Republicans — Rus- 51,500 voters voice their decisions in lo- ury of Erie’s former Joe. Erie’s previous sell Robison, the first Erie County Ex- hen it comes to voting in Erie, cal elections. mayor, Democrat Joe Sinnott, emerged ecutive, from 1978 to 1982, and Richard voter participation doesn’t In percentage terms of those voting victorious from a crowded field when Schenker, the last Republican County Wcome in one-size-fits-every- compared to those registered to do so, he, amongst others, challenged incum- Executive, from 2002 to 2006 — have election. Just as elections may be cat- the numbers declined from more than bent Democrat Rick Filippi, who was held the office. Current records report egorized three ways — presidential, two-thirds to less than half to around a coming off the heels of a Pennsylvania 66,922 registered Republicans through- midterm, and municipal — so can the third or less, respectively. Attorney General’s Office investigation out the county. levels of voter engagement. But for the first time, in the 2020 elec- into real estate deals. Acquitted on all Four Democrats — all familiar names Illustrated on a line graph, an ele- tion, thanks to 2019’s PA Voting Reforms charges of using insider knowledge to in Erie’s civic arena — seek the seat: mentary rendering of two-dimension- Act 77, voters could mail in their ballots, his benefits, Filippi sought a second Carl Anderson, the first-term county al crags and canyons takes shape. The no questions asked. A decision pre-dat- term but lost. Sinnott went on to win councilmember representing District highest, Rocky Mountain-style peaks ing the pandemic, it came as a welcome two more four-year terms in 2009 and 4; Rita Bishop, who sought the 7th Dis- represent the elections during which one during times of pandemic-induced 2013 and left office due to term limits. trict county council seat in 2019 but the nation chooses its top executive — social distancing restrictions. During neither of his reelection bids lost to Republican Ellen Schauerman; the president — while the lowest rep- Will these measures designed at mak- did he face primary opposition.