In the News

In a normal year, Dupont resident John Cardoni would have had the honor of accompanying U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright to President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress on Wednesday.

But, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardoni will be Carthwright’s “virtual guest” for Biden’s speech to mark his 100th day in office.

Cartwright, D-8, of Moosic, said he would honor Cardoni by submitting his story into the Congressional Record and presenting him with a copy.

At the onset of the pandemic, Cardoni was laid off from his job as facility director for the Scranton Cultural Center. He has since been brought back part time, got his COVID vaccine and credits the Cartwright-backed American Rescue Plan with helping him keep up with expenses.

Cardoni said stimulus payments and enhanced unemployment assistance from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan helped him and his wife keep up with their mortgage and meet out-of-pocket medical expenses in recent months.

“It wasn’t easy going from having a steady salary for so long to being suddenly laid off overnight. Fortunately, the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan made it possible for us and the Scranton Cultural Center to survive,” Cardoni said. “Now that most of the administrative staff and I at the center are on their way to being fully vaccinated, I’m optimistic we will again be the vibrant cultural hub that we were before the pandemic. I’m grateful for the work Congressman Cartwright is doing for our area and I’m honored to be his virtual guest for the president’s joint session speech.”

Cardoni plans to watch the speech at home in Dupont.