Episode 77: Frankie Malacaria’s Socialist Vision for Scranton’s Future

Join us for Episode 77 of What a Week! with Frankie Malacaria, a Scranton City Council candidate with a fiery socialist vision. Recorded April 18, 2025, Frankie shares his roots growing up near Coney Island, navigating a speech impediment, and landing in Scranton after a college mishap. A self-proclaimed socialist, he breaks down his fight for the working class, critiques corporate influence in schools, and spars over private vs. personal property in a lively debate. From surviving a ballot challenge to advocating for bold policies—tackling homelessness, taxing nonprofits, and boosting local jobs—Frankie’s got big plans for Scranton’s $70M budget. Plus, hear about his love for Jumbo Wings’ cheesesteak eggrolls and a chewed pen confession!

Despite political divides, this 2+ hour chat proves respect can spark real talk—subscribe for unfiltered Northeast PA vibes!

Chapter Markers
00:00 - Intro: Frankie’s Italian Roots and a Dog Meme (~3 min)
Kicking off with Frankie’s Calabria heritage and a quick laugh over a dog meme.

00:03:07 - Growing Up in Brooklyn: Coney Island Days (~5 min)
Frankie shares his childhood 15 minutes from Coney Island, public school life, and a speech impediment that shaped him.

00:08:08 - School Struggles: Speech Therapy to Brooklyn Tech (~7 min)
From kindergarten speech challenges to robotics at a top NYC high school, Frankie reflects on his privileged education.

00:15:24 - Path to Socialism: NYU Flop and Scranton Move (~8 min)
A computer crash, getting kicked out, and moving to Scranton—how setbacks fueled Frankie’s socialist ideals.

00:23:02 - Scranton Roots: Why Mom Chose NEPA (~6 min)
Frankie explains his family’s move to Scranton for affordability and community ties.

00:29:09 - Education Critique: Corporate Control and Budget Cuts (~10 min)
Frankie and the host dive into public school woes, from McGraw-Hill’s grip to slashed arts programs.

00:39:03 - Outside Forces: NGOs and Manufacturing Consent (~12 min)
Debating special interest groups like PSBA and Noam Chomsky’s ideas—do they manipulate local schools?

00:51:18 - Election Fight: Surviving the Ballot Challenge (~8 min)
Frankie recounts beating a signature challenge to stay in the May 20 primary race.

00:59:22 - Campaign Vision: Bold Plans for Scranton (~10 min)
Why Frankie’s running—focusing on workers, not dynasties, with progressive policies.

01:09:26 - Council Priorities: Homelessness and Taxes (~12 min)
Tackling camps near schools, taxing University of Scranton’s assets, and managing the $70M budget.

01:21:38 - Activism: Pro-Palestine and Working-Class Fight (~10 min)
Frankie ties his pro-Palestine stance and rally speeches to Scranton’s working-class struggles.

01:31:48 - Private vs. Personal Property: The Great Debate (~15 min)
A heated but fun clash over socialist property distinctions—pens, houses, and Uber cars!

01:46:52 - Political Divide: Finding Common Ground (~12 min)
Despite opposite views, Frankie and the host bond over hating profiteers and loving Scranton.

01:58:56 - Scranton’s Future: Jobs and Community (~10 min)
Frankie’s big ideas—keeping Penn State open, boosting local economy, and worker-first policies.

02:09:00 - Happy Place: Jumbo Wings and Cheesesteak Eggrolls (~6 min)
Frankie’s go-to spot on Luzerne Street and a shoutout to Chef Von’s award-winning eats.

02:15:06 - Closing: Vision for Voters and Pen-Chewing Credits (~5 min)
Frankie’s final pitch for May 20, plus a hilarious chewed pen reveal and hope for more talks.