It all depends upon what "is" is. The numbers are only numbers.

EDUCATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS SPIKE (News)
By: Chris Young - November 20, 2008
A drastic one-year increase in disciplinary problems in Pittsburgh's middle schools has some education experts wondering whether public school officials should be teaching the district's code of conduct along with...
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws//gyrobase/Content?oid=55661

Where do you begin with this quagmire?

Once upon a time, there was talk that next year was to be the year for "discipline." That was to be the year-long focus. Then that year came and passed and not much changed -- except a lot of new schools were hatched and other priorities trumped the notion of "discipline" being the top worry.

To be certain, discipline is a hard thing to witness and see. It isn't as obvious as test scores nor new windows that won't open because they've been screwed shut. Discipline is hard to witness from the outside, most of all. Those that are in the schools can see it. But those who are 'educational advocates' or on nonprofit boards have to be lucky to hear what's what.

Be safe. Push where you can. Pull when it makes sense. Get others out of their comfort zones and into positive acts of growth and learning.

CBK, a big friend to the South Side

CBK, a women with grand hats, a warm approach and many friends on the South Side, was like none other. Peace to you and your family and your countless friends.

CHANNEL 11 IN-DEPTH - VIOLENCE AMONG US

Imagine a community without violence; a community where business leaders and educators work with neighborhood residents to help families feel safe and secure. Statistics show a direct link between high school dropout rates and violent crimes in Pittsburgh and across the state. Research also indicates that simply increasing graduation rates by 10 percent will prevent 150 murders and almost 6,000 assaults in Pennsylvania every year. Channel 11 searches for more solutions in a one-hour primetime special, "11 In-Depth - Violence Among Us." The 60-minute special will be hosted by Channel 11 News anchors David Johnson and Darieth Chisolm and will air Saturday, October 25th at 9:00 pm.

The program will bring together concerned citizens, experts and elected officials to look at the problem of violence, its causes and possible solutions. Among the guests scheduled to appear are Pittsburgh Chief of Police Nate Harper, William Strickland, the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, Director of the Black Political Empowerment Project, Tim Stevens and many others who are concerned about the rising tide of violence in Pittsburgh. Channel 11 News Reporter Vince Sims will file reports from the field and bring the street perspective to the discussion.

In the week leading up to broadcast, viewers will be able to take a "Channel 11 In-Depth" poll on wpxi.com. The results of this poll will be used to guide the discussion as the causes of our current violence problem are debated. Viewers will also be able to submit questions to the panel of guests which will be answered during the program.

"11 In-Depth - Violence Among Us" is the latest in a series of WPXI "In-Depth" specials, a series of one-hour prime-time programs, each addressing an issue of vital community importance. Channel 11 Vice President and General Manager, Ray Carter, says the program is vitally important no matter where you live. "Unless we begin together, to solve the problem; violence and fear will only become more deeply ingrained into the fabric of life here in Pittsburgh. And that bleak view of our future is something we simply cannot accept."

"11 In-Depth - Violence Among Us," a one-hour prime-time Channel 11 News special, will also air Sunday, October 26th at 8:00pm and Friday, October 31stat 8:00pm on PCNC.

CHANNEL 11 IN-DEPTH - VIOLENCE AMONG US

Imagine a community without violence; a community where business leaders and educators work with neighborhood residents to help families feel safe and secure. Statistics show a direct link between high school dropout rates and violent crimes in Pittsburgh and across the state. Research also indicates that simply increasing graduation rates by 10 percent will prevent 150 murders and almost 6,000 assaults in Pennsylvania every year. Channel 11 searches for more solutions in a one-hour primetime special, "11 In-Depth - Violence Among Us." The 60-minute special will be hosted by Channel 11 News anchors David Johnson and Darieth Chisolm and will air Saturday, October 25th at 9:00 pm.

The program will bring together concerned citizens, experts and elected officials to look at the problem of violence, its causes and possible solutions. Among the guests scheduled to appear are Pittsburgh Chief of Police Nate Harper, William Strickland, the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, Director of the Black Political Empowerment Project, Tim Stevens and many others who are concerned about the rising tide of violence in Pittsburgh. Channel 11 News Reporter Vince Sims will file reports from the field and bring the street perspective to the discussion.

In the week leading up to broadcast, viewers will be able to take a "Channel 11 In-Depth" poll on wpxi.com. The results of this poll will be used to guide the discussion as the causes of our current violence problem are debated. Viewers will also be able to submit questions to the panel of guests which will be answered during the program.

"11 In-Depth - Violence Among Us" is the latest in a series of WPXI "In-Depth" specials, a series of one-hour prime-time programs, each addressing an issue of vital community importance. Channel 11 Vice President and General Manager, Ray Carter, says the program is vitally important no matter where you live. "Unless we begin together, to solve the problem; violence and fear will only become more deeply ingrained into the fabric of life here in Pittsburgh. And that bleak view of our future is something we simply cannot accept."

"11 In-Depth - Violence Among Us," a one-hour prime-time Channel 11 News special, will also air Sunday, October 26th at 8:00pm and Friday, October 31stat 8:00pm on PCNC.

Larry Evans suggestion for Obama's campaign folks

This isn't the best place to reach Obama organizers, but, here is an interesting suggestion that makes sense to me. It comes from Larry Evans of Greater Pittsburgh.

Obama organizers:

At a recent Obama coffee at my home, our pool of supporters discussed briefly an idea that I think is worth tossing around with the campaign headquarters. It is important to be prepared after a probable election victory (also even after another possible narrow defeat) to give the army of Obama volunteers and supporters something creative and re-energizing to do after Nov 4.

To keep our grassroots interested and to grow its empowerment, here is my suggestion:

In every state, red or blue, Alaska or Pennsylvania, modestly fund each campaign office through December 31st to organize a symbolic Christmas Holidays activity (during the December 26-January 1 timeframe) that would benefit a local person/s or community organization in need.

An example of such an activity here in western PA could be the following:

Recently, the non-profit Carnegie Library of Homestead had to lay off workers because their funding took a dive due to investments gone south with the declining market. I talked to this historic library’s fitness center director Ed Child and we are considering holding at the Library’s gym, pool and lecture hall a week-long “Citizen-Athlete Sports and Music Festival” from Friday, December 26th through Thursday, January 1st where folks of all ages will contribute a fee to play basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, swim and run (on an indoor track), as well as attend concerts and public forums and participate in physical skill contests and intellectual games emphasizing sportsmanship and citizenship ideals.

This community organizer’s dream event could raise some money and a lot of publicity for this highly symbolic facility deep in the heart of Steeler Country and show the nation that this regime change is truly from the bottom up and will jump start an inspiring and hopefully on-going activism that we all know must be an essential component to a successful Obama presidency.

Glad to talk more on this idea at your convenience…

Larry Evans, Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Latest Ad: Obama & next generation vets. My $.02 advice is posted...

Great touch w women in wheel chair. Props to that within the ad's message.

Sadly, far too many of the next generation of US vets can't watch nor hear the ad as too many are with trauma with hurt eyes and ears from blasts. The future brings a major need for nurses. Plus, the former soldiers are formerly very physical people (i.e., PE guys for shorthand). They need to romp, play, rehab, and be engaged in the physical world -- for wellness sake.

My $.02 tip: Speak to a new wave of Paralympics like events for vets. These next generation rec centers must be established with a mixing among able body vets, family and civilians too. What killed others in past wars makes blind and deaf now. Their lives have 'changed' (hint to the "CHANGE" theme). Their dignity is to be treasured, with lots of investment in activities, programming, engagement!

Scolding: I sliing this in the wake of a bone-headed comment

A most silly posted in another blog, Burghreport.blogspot.com, reads:

The last thing this country needs is another oil state governor with boob connotations (he is one, she has them.)
Anonymous | 09.08.08 - 9:53 am | #

My reply:

So, it is okay to judge people on where they live? (oil state)

Isn't PA an "oil state?" It used to be, i.e., Oil City, PA.

The sexist part is ignored.

I'd say the "last thing this country needs" is someone (racist/place-ist and sexist) to de-rail the conversations with silly comments.

Behaviors matter. Voting is a behavior too. Words and deeds in the weeks to come are sure to be measured at great length. Anonymous can help -- or hinder. To hinder by design brings a scolding.

Secret Service confiscates books & buttons at event

The worst that happened to me while in China was that my mini-tripod for my camera was held at the gate of the flat-water canoe venue.

We need to worry more about the authorities in the USA than in China, it seems.

Secret Service confiscates books & button from Ron Paul delegates | Daily Newscaster: "Today at the Republican National Convention, as the Ron Paul Delegates were taking a picture in front of the model White House inside the Convention Center, they were surrounded by Secret Service which proceeded to search the bags of all the delegates. They took any and everything related to Ron Paul including signs, buttons, videos, slim jims, cards, even books.

Alternate Delegate Dennis Rothacker from Florida said “We were done taking the picture when Secret Service started walking into the room and surrounded us. There were about 30 of them. When they searched my bags they took my Ron Paul sign and turned a deaf ear to my complains, they just walked away.

Give me a "U" -- You are ...

Councilman collecting letters to save UPMC South Side

District 3 Councilman Bruce A. Kraus is continuing to collect letters of support to keep UPMC South Side from closing and being merged into the Uptown campus of UPMC Mercy.
The councilman is collecting the letters which he intends to deliver to UPMC officials at a meeting in the coming weeks. Mr. Kraus said he was pleased with the support and the number of letters he has already received from residents and businesses in the UPMC South Side service area.
Letters of support for having the hospital remain in South Side should be mailed to: Councilman Bruce A. Kraus, 414 Grant St., Room 510, Pittsburgh, Pa 15219, as soon as possible.
UPMC announced plans to close UPMC South Side and transfer in-patient and out-patient services it provides over a period of three to five years. In addition, the Emergency Room will be converted to an urgent care center operating on a reduced schedule
For more information, contact Councilman Kraus office at 412-255-2130.

You are "sick" might be a pun that other bloggers might stoop to deliver to sum up a campaign to save a local hospital. "Heartbroken" might be another.

I'll stick to a classic -- "full of folly."

To tell UPMC that it can't close its South Side Hospital, and put it in a letter, is but a waste of ink and a way to waste valued time.

The real question is what will become of UPMC's facility.

The next real question is what should become of that facility. Can vision be injected into the discussion so that the future can more easily be crafted to make better opportunities?

It is time to think again and not be so full of folly.

Furthermore, this news is bitter. I want to see the hospital stay on the South Side. However, I saw the arrival of the closing.

UPMC made a big play to get and keep alive Mercy Hospital on the bluff. So, we've got hospitals in Oakland and on The Bluff. We've got close access to hospitals -- more so than McDonalds and Eat'n Park. Go figure.

The time to work hard to save and fortify UPMC South Side was in 1999 when I was raising concerns in political circles. That was when the plans of UPMC's South Side football practice facility were put upon the local landscape. That medical / sporting facility was built on valuable river-front land sold to the nonprofit at greatly reduced costs by the public authority, the URA.

The Steelers needed a practice facility and UPMC played the game to get them one, pulling the wool over the eyes of local politicians without the vision to make better suggestions. The land deal was facilitated by a public agency.

The better solution, back then, one that I advoctated for, was to put the football practice and sports medicine facility directly next to the UPMC South Side Hospital. Dr. Freddie Fu does surgery. That is his area of specilization. A close hospital association would have many benefits -- including the long-term sustainability of the hospital complex within the neighborhood.

Furthermore, the public land right behind and next to the UPMC Hospital is closed. They have had a pad-lock on the parking lot and closed indoor ice rink for years.

A dark hole is right in the middle of the South Side. And, next, the hole is going to spread to the UPMC Hospital facility. Whereas this should be a thriving sports medicine complex with recreational and local hospital services.

Complaining Bridgeville Neighbor Arrested For Harassment - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

This is so wrong.

Team 4: Complaining Bridgeville Neighbor Arrested For Harassment - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Complaining Bridgeville Neighbor Arrested For Harassment

Team 4:

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. -- Marshall Pappert admits that he has been a pain to government officials from Bridgeville to Harrisburg.

But Pappert says that if those officials had to live where he lives, they'd be complaining, too.

While he expected to get a fight, or to be told off, or even ignored, Pappert says he never expected to get arrested.

I think this guy should be Pittsburgher of the Year!

The story about the 'noise' applies to the one that follows about hearing.

Join our conversation about Campiagn Finance Reform on FRIDAY.

Call has ended.

Meeting at TalkShoe.com at 11:30 on Friday to talk about Pittsburgh's version of Campaign Finance Reform.

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 3181

Update:
We had a 8 minute conversation. Then it ended. You can listen. After the massive noise begins, it is over. ???

I'm calling support now.

Modern China in Recap from AP -- without a byline

Don't you love the AP and Sports Illustrated?

SI.com - More Sports - China hoping Olympics will bring international fame - Monday February 18, 2008 11:25AM: "Return of prestige"

This article (link above and reposted below) provides a modern day re-cap of China with a review of a reporter who has been there. He knew Chairman Mao. He reopened the AP office in Beijing after the rules of the Cultural Revolution were changed to allow Americans to return to China. However, the reporter / writer is without a byline on this posting from the S.I. web pages.

Nice article:

Return of prestige
China hoping Olympics will bring international fame
Posted: Monday February 18, 2008 11:25AM; Updated: Monday February 18, 2008

HONOLULU (AP) -- On Aug. 8, 2008, when the Beijing Olympics begin in promised splendor, a few may reflect on how far or how fast China has come to host this high mark of international prestige.

A little more than a year after the games finish, Oct. 1, 2009, China will mark its 60th anniversary as a communist nation. It is a survivor when many Marxist regimes have met their demise beginning with the first, the Soviet Union.

To my old eyes, it seems almost a miracle that China has survived the pain and bloodshed to emerge from poverty and become one of the richest of Earth's nations in so short a time.

Torn by internal strife for years, long shunned internationally, China now seeks to acquire something intangible but precious, to match its new prosperity. It seeks prestige, or "weiwang" in Chinese. Prestige is a quality China once had in abundance as the ancient Middle Kingdom, an empire to which other nations regularly paid tribute.

To understand why Olympic prestige is so important to China, it is important to remember how low as a nation China had fallen -- and how little real prestige it enjoyed -- as a result of power struggles during the first few decades of its communist existence after the Nationalists were vanquished in 1949.

It is useful, too, to remember the three powerful, larger than life figures who dominated the Chinese landscape early on.

They were Mao Zedong, its founder, a peasant's son and dreamer; his ambitious, once bone-poor third wife, Jiang Qing, and Deng Xiaoping, the no nonsense realist. During the early years of Mao's dictatorship, quarrels within the Communist party over China's direction brought it to the edge of collapse, a blood-spattered period remembered today for its cruelty and chaos.

The violence only ended with Mao's death and his wife's imprisonment in 1976.

Twice purged by Mao, Deng emerged from house arrest a few years later to halt China's headlong tumble into anarchy and begin the remarkable economic recovery and regaining of national prestige reflected in these Olympic games.

As an AP reporter, I knew all three of the lead players: Mao and his wife in 1940s Yanan, the Red base before the victory of 1949, and Deng in 1979 Beijing.

Mao was a dreamer with his feet firmly planted in the past. He believed China was powerful enough to achieve greatness by itself without relying on the outside world.

When Mao's grandiose national economic campaign resulted in failure and famine, the pragmatists led by Liu Shaoqi and Deng removed him from office and took over. Mao meekly accepted his punishment. But Jiang Qing, furious at losing her place as First Lady of China, fought back.

Cannily, she used Mao and his great national popularity and organized the Marxist sounding 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. With the help of defense minister Lin Biao, she turned Mao into a demigod, a genius born once in every 10,000 years. Then she denounced Liu and Deng as villains for trying to diminish Mao's greatness. The nation's students, organized into Maoist Red Guards, attacked anyone daring to belittle the Great Helmsman's name. The "no school" bell rang throughout China and the students gleefully went on a hot-eyed rampage.

I wrote about the Cultural Revolution mostly from Hong Kong and Tokyo -- Americans were barred from China -- but got a glimpse of China under Mao when I was allowed to accompany the U.S. ping pong team to Beijing in 1971. I made more visits later, after the ban against American reporters was lifted.

Beijing under Mao was drab, emotionless and bureaucratic. The Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, once a delight to visit, were stiff with plaster statues of Mao. Huge portraits of Mao adorned the walls of the Forbidden City and China's Great Wall.

The little red book of Mao quotations, compiled by Lin Biao, and tin Mao portrait badges were everywhere. I acquired one.

By the end of 1971, only months after the American ping pong visit, Lin Biao's agenda had become clear: he plotted to murder Mao and take his place at the head of party and nation. Discovered, he fled, and died when his Moscow-bound plane crashed en route.

Madame Mao, high priestess of her husband's cult, banned the famous Peking Opera, put in its place a half dozen dramas of her own composition which glorified Maoism. I suffered through several of them, bemused by the heroes, bigger than life, and amused by the villains -- usually running dogs of American imperialism.

I had the good luck to reopen the AP Beijing bureau in 1979 and thus become a daily spectator during the early days of Deng's determined campaign to recover China's lost prestige. Unlike Mao, who dictated the smallest details of Chinese life from Beijing, Deng believed in openness and few controls. He gave the cities and the provinces license to make their own rules, draw up their own contracts.

I developed a bantering friendship with Deng, one of the few Marxists I knew with a sense of humor. Remarkably modest for a man with so much power, he described himself modestly as the first among equals and insisted he had no desire for titles like party chairman or president.

He intended, he told me, to gradually introduce controlled democracy along with his limited capitalism. Later, the student protests that brought chaos and bloodshed to Tienanmen Square in Beijing in 1989 soured his view of democracy. He ordered the troops to fire on the unarmed demonstrators. He died at the age of 93 without apologizing.

Some observers say the games now give the Communist party an ideal public opportunity to achieve for China, after all its suffering and sacrifices, the prestige it so apparently desires.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PIIN -- and update from the Pgh Interfaith Impact Network

In the wake of the murders of two African American youths, Jolesa Barber (12) and Ernest Tolliver (15), on the 28th and 29th of January, 2008, Rev. Johnnie Monroe and the PIIN Spiritual Leaders caucus declared enough is enough.

On January 30th, Rev. Johnnie Monroe called on the spiritual leaders of PIIN to meet with police Chief Nate Harper to begin discussions on stemming the proliferation of gun violence. During the meeting, PIIN leaders decided to launch a Holy Ground Campaign and Chief Harper agreed to fully support the initiative.

On February 1st, Rev. Welch organized a meeting with the NAACP’s religious affairs committee to further engage non PIIN members in the campaign. During that meeting a candle light vigil was organized to take place on the street where Jolesa Barber was murdered as a show of support for her family and to declare our campaign. 20 pastors including 10 who were members of PIIN committed to the campaign.

On February 5th at 9 PM, 200 women, men, and children gathered at Bright Ridge Place, where Little G (Jolesa Barber) was gunned down to declare that we would not stand for the gun violence any more. Reverends Monroe, Grayson, and Welch led the group in a series of prayers. Court of Common Pleas’ Judge Dewanye Woodruff was on site to support the event and plead with the people to “do something” to help save our children who want to do the right things. There were pastors from the northside who committed to join our effort, leaders of other community groups and initiatives who declared that they would partner with us to begin addressing gun violence and the upstream issues that lead to it.

In a rousing benediction, Rev. John Welch announced that “We are declaring Holy Ground on the North Side. We are declaring Holy Ground on the East End. We are declaring Holy ground in the West End. And, we are declaring Holy Ground in the South Side. It is time for us to stand up and let the powers that be know that the people of Pittsburgh are some bodies too”. He also reminded the people that our situation did not get like this over night and that it was not going to be addressed over night., That the solutions to these problems will have to addressed in the School board chambers, city chambers, county chambers and in Harrisburg and Washington D. C.

Members of PIIN, this is the year that we take unwavering stand to combat those issues that stamp out prosperity and cause a sense of hopelessness. This year we declare Pittsburgh Holy Ground!!

[Highland Park] Tire Slashing

Hello all,

Within the past couple days, there has been three known tire slashings. This took place on Jackson St. past Heberton near the bend and probably during the middle of the night. I had contacted the police this evening, but to no suprise they are unable to do anything until Monday. I hope no one else is experiencing the same problem.

Name Removed by Blogmaster

Plenty of ugly local news

The front page of the Trib newspaper tells of two Dem politicians who are going to be doing time. Twanda, formerly of Pittsburgh city council, gets 1-2 years. Frank, formerly of the PA House, gets 6-months of house arrest.

But there is much more beyond those bimbos. This story of a New Year's Day fight among teens is hard to understand.

Witness tells of street fight that led to deathWitness tells of street fight that led to death

It is real. It is real bad.

Marty's Army call to action

I need your help right now! This is what we’ve been waiting for! Here's our opportunity to create change in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

In what’s being called a “dramatic turn,” the state House just last night voted 159-36 to eliminate school property taxes for low income seniors.

Remember, the House was supposed to discuss raising sales and income tax. House members dropped that idea and finally followed the will of the people!

Folks -- this is a big deal! But here’s the catch: It needs another favorable vote before it moves to the Senate.

This is what we want: TAX CUTS, not TAX INCREASES!

We all need to call our state representatives TODAY! Call ten times if necessary! Tell them you support the tax cut plan.

If you don’t know who your state rep is, ask someone! Look in the phone book! But do it.

Folks, you know our elected leaders respond to phone calls. They respond to pressure. Please take five minutes out of your day and call or e-mail them. Beg them to follow through!

Please do me a favor and forward this e-mail to ten of your friends. Then listen to The Inside Story with Marty Griffin 9 am-noon on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA. Let's make out leaders listen!

We can make a difference and we can create change. We MUST do it together.

Remember one voice a whisper, but our voice a roar!

Thanks again….

Marty Griffin

So, a property tax cut for seniors means everyone else will pay more. A property tax cut for seniors means that the school districts will have less income and the future generation gets the shaft again.

Kids do not vote. Kids don't listen to Marty's Army either.

I would make a better deal, a different offer. I too like low taxes.

The state should eliminate the deed transfer tax. That way Seniors can easily sell their homes and reclaim its value and downsize without a huge sums of money going out of the transaction to the state for taxes. Penalties associated with the deed transfer tax keep seniors in their homes way too long. We should be able to have a more fluid market so that the value of the people's possessions are not diminished so.

The policy we have now results in the need to bulldoze 60 houses in an older community such as Hazelwood. That is a loss of lots of value. The houses were worn down. The people lost value. The community suffers. The taxpayers pay on multiple instances in the deals now -- by design -- because of bad public policy.

NUKE the deed transfer tax for everyone over the age of 50 who is a part of the sales transaction. I'd want to nuke the sales tax on property for all people, but this gets to the heart of the matter of trying to do something good for the seniors.

Debate for city council, district 9: David C. Adams vs. Ricky Burgess

First 20+ minutes of the debate.

Click To Play

Playground in City reeks of lead. Poison puts brain on hold. City waits. Kids and Parents know nothing.

Our family to China three times. Once we were there while all the Recreation Centers within the City were closed. They were idle, by design. Closed for political reasons by the local Democratic Mayor. Thanks to the leadership of the Dems in Pgh, we've got more of the same to bark about.

This week Pittsburgh give itself another leg up on China, famous for its exports of cheap toys to the US that are covered with lead-based paint. Perhaps it this can be called a 'Lead Pipe Lock.'

The lack of action on these types of problems is typical. Plenty of problems concerning our kids and youth are begging for attention. Meanwhile, our city, this city, does NOTHING. That is what THEY always do. Nothing.

More talk and buzz about the parks has surfaces in recent times than ever before -- due to the killing of the geese in both North Park and Riverfront Park on the South Side. This is why we talk about parks -- dead geese. Neither the media nor the politicians are eager to engage and talk about parks. Dead geese -- not kids, not recreation, not coaching, not programming.

Now, lead-poison, toxic playground, additional inactions. Newspapers and city hall officials talk about the parks because the playground dirt is toxic. They knew about it for months. AND, they did NOTHING.

For the sake of the future and the kids -- I'd love your vote and endorsement for both city controller and city council, district 3.

I'm running against do-nothing politicians who won't rock the boat. They act like lead anchors and are sinks to sustained conversations about solutions for our region. I, at least, will scream foul! (pun intended)

The Columbus Day Parade and a snub from school board member, Mr. Romaniello

My sons and I went to the Columbus Day Parade after Saturday morning's violin class at CAPA. We mingled with spectators and walked up the parade route in the opposite direction along side of the street -- in the shade. Then as the tail of the parade passed, we worked through the crowd back to the parade's end along the other side of the street.

Bill Peduto and others were in the parade. We shook Bill's hand, walking out onto the street. But, we were on the sidewalk mostly. Mark DeSantis switched to the other side of the street when he saw us coming, so thought my 12-year-old.

Along the way, we saw and talked with Pgh Public School board member, Dan Romaniello. I reached my hand out to say 'hi' and shake his hand. He wouldn't. Humm... He might have had a touch of thin skin.

He held his ground with a few insults. One was "get a job."

The other thing he said, "I read your blog. You post all that shit."

I said, "What shit? I've posted more than 5,000 comments to the web. What are you talking about?"

He said, "Don't you read what is on your blog?"

I said, "I write most of what is on my blog."

He said to his wife, 'Honey, you don't want to talk to him. (She has taking my campaign literature.) He writes mean stuff about you.'

I said, "Oh, this has to do with Michael Diven." I mentioned that he was old news and I offered to shake his hand again. No luck. He wasn't going to shake my hand.

Puzzled, I did a web search on this blog by looking through all the content posted here on ROMANIELLO. Dan Romaniello, an elected member of the Pgh Public School's Board, has a wife who worked full time in the office of State Rep Michael Diven, D & then R. Diven switched his party from D to R. Then he ran for PA Senate 42nd district in a special election to fill the seat of Jack Wagner, D.

I was in that special election too, as a Libertarian. Diven out spent me 500-to-1. In the final vote count the margin between Diven and I was 5-to-1.

Diven's campaign, office, and supporters had a bit of trouble since that special election. The next year he had a race to hold onto the seat as a Republican. Michael Diven got voted out of office. One storm came after a number of dead people in the Republican party seemed to have signed Diven's nomination papers to allow him to get onto the ballot.

This blog didn't go into a lot of detail and coverage with another incident in Romaniello's past -- the paved driveway saga. I don't really know why, how or who from what public works crew felt the need to get the bumps out of the driveway of the Romaniello property. So, I didn't blog about that.

Looking deeper into what I posted, I can't find anything to get really yanked off about.

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/search?q=Romaniello


I de-briefed with my sons as the weirdness of the behavior of that one guy we encountered at the parade and what was said. I offered that the best I could do was be kind and move along. My guess was that the "job remark" hits close to home with him as Diven is not in office any more and his office staff must have been put out of work. My kids know about notarized nomination papers, getting signatures, and other paperwork challenges of ballot access. Oh well.

DeSantis lands an endorsement from a "diverse" outlet

I've just come to discover that Mark DeSantis, R, candidate for mayor of Pittsburgh, has earned a new endorsement from the GSPC, Gertrude stein Political Club. The informal email I just got included these insights:

you may be interested to know that the gertrude stein club of greater pittsburgh has endorsed MARK DeSantis for mayor. some of his responses that we liked were positive for domestic partnership benefits, and firmly pro choice. please continue to engage with us, even though you have not received our endorsements. at least you are current, updated and obviously care about government.

I'm sure a more formal press release is being crafted somewhere. I hope and expect that my sources are on the mark. (Pun intended).

Yes, I do care about government. I'm with little chance of getting that organization's endorsement because I'm not gay. And, I've not really gone after any specific endorsement. The unions won't even meet with me. Oh well.

The email from her to me began:

mark,
wow, i agree with you on a+schools, cameras, and maybe even agree on the ethics position.

I love that some in the marketplace of ideas are open minded. And, I'm not going to ignore people in the community. I'm just swimming upstream and need a few more hours in the day.