Mayoral rivals take sides (Dem side with two guys and a legal side with another)

Dave Brown wrote a nice article that compared and contrasted three in the mayor's race. I can't compare the coverage to the statements as I wasn't at the event. However is are some of my reactions based upon the statements in the press and prior knowledge.

Mayoral rivals take sides - PittsburghLIVE.com 'I have real concerns with the legality of it, despite the fact that similar legislation exists in other cities. I made it very clear to them (the SEIU) that I had problems' with the law.

Peduto and O'Connor both go to the side that calls upon the city's legislation to invade the operation of a commercial enterprise. I don't agree with those two.

Meanwhile, I don't agree with Lamb either. Lamb raises a legal question. Lamb doesn't disagree with the principle of the matter. Rather, he raises doubts about the legality of the legislation.

Perhaps Lamb, the lawyer, wants to govern through the courts and bench. We've seen that style in action from our present mayor and it stinks.

How is it that the city can go simply fire hundreds of its workers. Between 800 and 900 were laid off in the Augusts 2003 reductions. However, the city powers do not want to allow the private sector to have the power to do the same with private workers. Citiparks workers got two weeks notice and then came their pink slips. Citiparks workers didn't get six months notice.

The government's role has nothing to do with keeping a "very delicate balance" in the market place.

Rather, Peduto means to say is that he is on very thin ice with the unions. Peduto has to walk a tight rope. Peduto has some feats of delicate balance between Peduto's own hope for a career in Pittsburgh's political ring and labor/management issues to resolve within Peduto's past.

Meanwhile, O'Connor has never seen a market that wasn't worthy of a governmental headlock. Bob can squeeze the private sector with new regulations and smile thinking it should be called a hug.

Here is a suggested script for for Michael Lamb. He could use these terms the next time he's given the opportunity:

"The city has no business telling the private sector how to behave. If I was mayor, I'd have vetoed that law. As mayor, I want to encourage business operations to flourish in the city. As government intrudes, matters worsen. Recently Pittsburgh has seen three of its largest buildings go up for sale. A firesale of CNG, Dominion and USX is upon us, without even a mention of the legacy decline the encircles Fifth & Forbes debacle. The outcomes are clear.

"The wrongheaded approaches of the present mayor and city council have hurt Pittsburgh. We have too many vacant offices. We have too many bankrupt enterprises. We have too few jobs. Pittsburgh prosperity can't rebound when government is in the way.

"As the old guard continues to make new laws that hasten our city's decline, the private sector is going to continally vote with their feet and depart.

"Furthermore, if I was mayor, I'd do everything I could to reach out to those workers in those buildings. I have real alternatives that begin to address the needs of the people in this community. With a wellness initiative, we'd inject a sense of purpose in terms of continual education, job trainning, ...."