Murphy's task force gets more muscle - But I'll dispute that article's conclusion.

The PG had an article about yesterday's challenge to statewide gambling.

For starters, let's not forget that the state reps and state senators made this law and put it into place. The original, initial shame on them can't be ignored. Those folks are too often about power and not about doing the right thing.

The article says that the hand-picked task force, the do-good volunteers, the ad-hoc Murphy boosters -- call em what you want except "legit" -- is going to gain in their power. The bad law was knocked down. Sure. But, the power within the bad law wasn't then granted to a different bad organization without structrual powers.

Murphy's task force gets more muscleUp to this point, the task force had not been considering zoning because 'it wasn't on the table,' Porter said. But he added putting such decisions in the hands of local authorities 'clearly is in the interest of the local community.'

Furthermore, as is the case with most of the efforts on Grant Street, the posse who were working on the matter were given tight guidelines and had to stay within their sandbox. They were not looking at zoning because they were not told to look at zoning. And, nobody noticed that there was a case headed to the state supreme court.

The trend is to wear blinders. We have too many sub-groups going willy-nilly and being quick to ignore the important and fumble on the heavy lifting that is called for.

Has anyone seen the minutes of the task force? Has anyone gone to one of their meetings? Has anyone seen their schedule for future meetings? Who is even on the task force? How did the members get approved to be on the task force? What is the task force budget?

What's the real deal for the task force?

What does Bob O'Connor say about the task force as well?

Okay, so let's say the locals get to set some local rules and have them apply to the gambling establishments -- which are not yet established. Why in the world would the paper-organization of the task force gain in muscle? That's the logic in the article that misses the mark.

Zoning gains in muscle.

But, we know from other encounters that zoning is without anything but skin. No bones, no muscle, no fat -- just skin deep perceptions.

When push comes to shove on an issue, the zoning pit stop is skin deep and combat spills over to Pittsburgh's City Council Chambers. If you want to build a high-rise or a pizza-beer joint in Mt. Washington -- go straight to zoning to burn some incense and drop off your plans. Then go straight to the council members and try to sew up your five votes.

I don't have a lot of respect for the zoning process in Pittsburgh. An overhaul is needed, to say the least.

And, I have NO respect for a hand-picked task force created under the watch of Mayor Tom Murphy.

Thank goodness the law was changed the the judges. The outcome makes city council more important in the placement of the casino -- or is it still just called a parlor with slot machines.

REAMS POOL -- no water yet. Letter to open came from the Mayor's office.

People went to REAMS swim pool on Monday, June 20, trying to take a swim. Some had purchased a seasonal swim pass for $60 (for a family of 4). The pool was closed and bone dry.

I heard that Mayor Murphy has issued a letter saying that the pool, REAMS, in Mt. Washington, would be able to open with private money.

Last year the pool opened with private money as well. However, it didn't open until August.

If I'm mayor, Salvation Army and Kroc Center is on the edge of the river and not in Brighton Heights

This pending, proposed, long-term development is something that we've been pondering for some time. I hope that they get it right. It sounds like they won't.

The McDonald's fast food giant was started by Ray Kroc. His wife began a massive foundation and has teamed up with some serious money to build modern, large community centers that are with sports, drama, and fitness. The model is already in operation in the San Diego area.

The closest we have around here that matches the concept is the Jewish Community Center. One is in the city in Sq. Hill and the other in the South Hills.

The Salvation Army has a number of facilities around the region as well. They have a dinky community center with a swim pool even downtown. Plus, a center is in the North Side, and it had a computer lab at one time. And farther away, they have a camp that takes kids for a week at a time in the summer months.

Today KQV did a radio interview with on at Salvation Army.

The local S.A. is going to put in for a grant to try to get one of the centers. I think a dozor or so are going to be built around the nation. These are $40-million grants, so I hear. There is little to report upon at this time, other than the locals are going to go after a Kroc grant proposal, as expected.

Some in the Salvation Army administration are changing. I began to work on a relationship a couple of eyars ago, but that individual is no longer in the same role. They, like others in clergy or missionary work, seem to move around a good deal with their devotion and call to service.

The news reports say a 30 acre site for the proposal is in Brighton Heights, a section in the north and west part of the city. This land is now owned by the URA.

A more inspiring site on the river's edge might give a better chance at winning the grant.

Furthermore, a more inspiring site on the river's edge might be pivitol to getting more people to live and reside in the golden triangle vicinity.

Volume 1, Issue 1 of Nana's Newsletter arrived in today's mail

My mom, called Nana by our boys and their cousins, is publishing a weekly newsletter for the clan with lots of cousin correspondence. The motivation came from reading an article that writting skills are often neglicted in the summer. Plus those communication skills are vital in academic success. So, we have a weekly writting assignment. It is really the duty of the kids to deliver something to her each weekend.

The first edition was eight pages and had some drawings, email updates from our trip, a maze and a bit of poetry.

I doubt it will be ever put "on-line."

Job: D.U. AD

Who would you hire for this job?

Director of Athletics. Duquesne University invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of Athletics. Reporting to directly to the President, the Director of Athletics is responsible for all aspects of the University’s intercollegiate athletics, intramural, and related fitness & recreation programs. Duquesne is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), sponsors 20 Division I varsity programs, and competes in the prestigious Atlantic 10 Conference in all sports with the exception of football, which competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and wrestling, which is independent. Today, Duquesne University serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, offering more than 150 programs on the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels in its ten schools. Duquesne seeks an experienced and dynamic leader with the ability to support student athletes, while maintaining the highest level of excellence and enriching the student experience at the University. Major areas of responsibility include: oversight of all intercollegiate athletic and intramural programs; management of fiscal resources; athletics alumni and community relations; and supervision of coaching and office staff. Athletics media relations and fundraising are coordinated with the Office of Public Affairs and University Advancement. A commitment to the strategic vision and Mission of the University is expected. The individual we seek will have earned a minimum of a Master’s degree and have significant experience in leading and achieving success with an intercollegiate Division I athletic program. Solid knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations and a commitment to ensuring compliance is expected. Experience and understanding of basketball is particularly important. The ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds and solid record of fundraising experience is preferred. For confidential consideration, please forward: a letter of interest, curriculum vitae or resume; and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references. Screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Application materials may be sent to: Duquesne University, Office of Human Resource Management, Attention: AD Search, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282. To learn more about Duquesne University, visit us Online @ www.duq.edu. Founded and sponsored by the Holy Spirit Fathers in 1878, Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.

What about Tom Murphy?
What about Myron Cope?

Cope with that -- motorcycle pushed off the nearest bridge and other cycle tidbits.

Myron had some good advice for Tommy M and Ben R -- Steeler quarterbacks. He suggested that the two, if they still have a brain in their heads that God gave them, that these motorcycle riders should take their bikes to a bidge and push them off.

If nothing else, get rid of the cycles for the sake of the 50 other teammates.

I'm not keen about sending wheeled lumps of trash into the rivers -- or off of bridges due to "green concerns" -- but I agree with Myron Cope's advice.

Today we were driving to swim practice and Rt. 51 between the Liberty and Ft. Pitt tunnels and traffic went to one lane. In the other lane, police already on the scene, was a car with a bent fender and a motorcycle on its side in a couple bits. A guy was flat on his back on the pavement.

We offered a prayer in our car driving past. Sadly, somewhere, calls went out to some family to meet at the hospital.

Creepy as Myron Cope offered the advice on the 11 pm news. Fedko also reported that it is 40 days until the start of the Steelers season.

In other bike news -- today I took the training wheels off of my youngest son's bike. He's 7 and not good -- yet -- on his bike. In the city, our opportunities to bike ride are self-made.

Tomorrow I'll try to get to the bike shop for new tires and a tune-up of my Trek 520, 1982 model, $420 retail. It is a budget racer. With my triathlon ambitions, I had better put some time on the road and trails.

Seasons change

The official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere occurred in the morning of June 21, 2005, at 2:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time [EDST].

Happy Summer Solstice Day!

EFF's guide to help bloggers understand the law

The Electionic Frontier Foundation created an guide to help bloggers understand the law and their rights.

This roadmap to the legal issues bloggers confront. Know rights, and blog freely with the knowledge of legitimate, protected speech.

Legal issues affect publishers, especially with legal claims or threats based on the information published on blogs. Issues could arise when you publish material created by others on a blog.

Defamation (libel) law discussions of the constitutional and statutory privileges may protect too. Federal law gives some protections against legal claims arising from hosting information written by third parties.

Privacy rights of people you blog about are part of a FAQ.

Reporter's Privilege is useful to bloggers who report news gathered from confidential sources.

Get tips for bloggers for getting access to public records and government meetings, as well as press passes to help with newsgathering. Legal issues swirl when blogging about political campaigns.

Standing before City Council. Kicking off Open Government Amendment

I spoke today at the public comment period at the start of the Pittsburgh City Council meeting. Here are my words:

My name is Mark Rauterkus. My family and I reside at 108 South 12th Street on teh South Side. I have a home on the internet at Rauterkus.com. Presently I'm a board member with the Allegheny County Libertarian Party. Recently I was a candidate for PA Senate in the special election. Since election day our family had the opportunity to travel abroad for work and education. In time I'll share plenty of insights on the election and our trip. Today, it is my pleasure to stand with fellow citizens to promote the Open Government Amendment.

Before I get into my remarks, I'd like to make one other sidebar mention. I'd like to welcome Dan Deasy to City Council. I hope you have a successful career and are fully appreciated by the people of the city for all your hard work in the years to come. Best of luck in your tenure.

I'll work to get the signatures and put the Open Government Amendemtn on the ballot. I also pledge to work to establish and sustain the discussions about these various issues within this effort.

Let's look at the internet access elements. If we streamed the meeting content and made them available to others, say at the workplace or at home with children, we'd be much further along. Others could tune in. Not only people from within the city would be more aware, but people from other cities and even other countries would have access and offer solutions, ideas and pointers to other best practices.

I've often talked about how all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put Pittsburgh together again. This Humpty Dumpty lesson can have a different outcome as soon as all the people get into the action. We need everyone's help.

The depth and scope of the internet's impact is only outmatched by its economy. It will not cost a lot to get the content on the net in effective ways.

I think this measure will do a lot to crack the "done deal mentality" around here.

Now, let's do the hard work of getting this question put onto the ballot and before the voters in November, 2005.

KDKA: Hundreds Claim Wrongfully Ticketed in Pittsburgh

We just paid $80 for two tickets -- with late fees. Yesterday. And for the life of me I can't remember getting those tickets. Humm. I'm not perfect -- but -- I am generally aware. Oh well. Perhaps my wife will give up some sympathy for me after reading this news story.

KDKA: Hundreds Claim Wrongfully Ticketed in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh (AP) Since the Pittsburgh Parking Authority turned over a list of more than 50,000 unpaid parking tickets to a collection agency last month, hundreds of people have complained they never got a ticket.

Take Walker Lundy. The retired Philadelphia Inquirer executive editor says he has never even been in Pittsburgh and can't understand why he got a collection letter for a ticket from November.

The ticket was written for a car he says he sold five years ago. Lundy says the parking authority told him options are to fight the ticket or pay the $18 fine.

Walker, who lives in North Carolina, says he won't do either, and can cost the authority more than $18 in bureaucratic time.

A spokesman for Mayor Tom Murphy says that shouldn't be necessary. He says a staffer will look into the case and if Lundy can show he drives a different car or had a different registration, the ticket will be dismissed.

The city turned the unpaid ticket cases over to a collection agency in hopes of collecting an estimated $1 million.

Yoy and Double Yoy!

Have a great retirement Myron.

Perhaps Myron will choose to gear up and do fantasy cruises or even the Olympics some day.

Personal update from Running Mate, Mike Sally

Fellow dad, and South Side neighbor, Mike, turned a corner, saved a life, changed his career and opened a web site. He also has encouraged me to put out a call to form a team and/or relays for the Pittsburgh Triathlon, July 17. Here is his update.

In April, I commenced a new career and decided to become a mortgage loan officer. It has been exciting. I started a new web site at www.loansforpahomes.com. Both things that I would not even imagined doing while a paralegal! I am proud to now be in the position to directly help people! Perhaps is was just foreshadowing for some similar events.

For whatever reason, the first weekend after the decision was made to change, I was in the fortunate place (with others who were also caring enough to stop) to assist an older woman who was in a burning car in Western Maryland. To make a long story short, I ended up in the Western Maryland by a higher spiritual power. Thankfully the woman in the car survived her ordeal (although the car burnt to the ground!).

Since then, I have spoken to a lot of wonderful people, and, even better yet, saved another person.....from foreclosure!

I am now asking for your assistance.

I would greatly appreciate any referral so that I can provide a service to those who need a mortgage. No, I'm not looking to save anyone else (although, if the situation presents itself, I will!!!) but I am simply asking if you could refer to me people who are considering a home purchase, or need advice in refinancing their current mortgage.

I will offer any referral the best rate and I will back it up with unparallelled service. The company that I work for is licensed to do business in both Pennsylvania and Florida.

I appreciate your continued support and hope this year continues to be gracious to all!

T. Jefferson Think Tank tackles stem cell as topic on July 6

Various stem cell research topics will be discussed at the July meeting of the Thomas Jefferson Think Tank at 7:15 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2005. Arrive early to enjoy the food, drink. Bring a friend. Gathering hosted at Silvioni’s, 2125 Babcock Boulevard. Dinner will be served until 7:00 pm. The meeting will start at approximately 7:15 pm.

The talk on “Stem Cell Research: The Science, The Ethics, and the Politics” will begin with an explanation of what exactly “stem cell research” entails, and how it is currently being used in medicine and what other medical treatments might arise from it in the future. Next, discuss the ethics of the issue. Finally, the politics.

More in the comments.

Planning ahead for future races, i.e., 2006

Tim C, the Allegheny County Libertarian Chair wrote in part:

Casey and Santorum are both Pro-Life. So the LPPa (Libertarian Party of PA) could field a Pro-Choice candidate and get enough votes to hang onto minor party status. The big hurdle, however, is that in 2006 the LPPa will need to gather at least 66,000 valid signatures. This means that we will need about 100,000 raw signatures.

In 2004, we only needed 42,000 signatures. In 2006 we will need 100,000. This is because Casey ran away with the Treasurer's race in 2004 and we now need 2% of Casey's 3.6 million vote total.

We should begin to have a group conversation about how we intend to handle the 2006 ballot access drive. In 2004, LPPa volunteers gathered 21,000 signatures. That would leave us about 79,000 signatures short.

Since 2004 was a Presidential election year, The Badnarik campaign and the National Party each kicked in for enough signarures for the LPPa to get 42,000 total, enough for ballot access in 2004....

KQV Newsradio Pittsburgh - Opinion Poll on the Light Rail to the Stadiums - Click to vote now

KQV Newsradio Pittsburgh Daily Opinion Poll

The federal government is contributing 290-million-dollars toward the 365-million-dollar cost of the Port Authority's North Shore Connector. The massive project includes twin tunnels under the Allegheny River, extending the 'T' light rail line from Downtown to the North Shore stadiums.

I hate the idea of the light-rail to the stadiums for a number of reasons.

The federal money is our money too. The money can come from our back pocket or our purse, but it is still from the people.

Pittsburgh will never get its fiscal health back when we squander good money on bad projects.

The local match is needed for this project and there isn't any. The county's chief executive has said there is no money to do the project from county sources. The city is broke.

We need to extend the light-rail in meaningful ways. If the light-rail went to CCAC on the North Side -- I'd have a different opinion. But this is to service PNC Park and Heinz Field.

Boston's "big dig" is leaking. That extended a road under Boston Harbor. It went over budget. It is now built and with serious problems. I fear that this project is going to net the same results.

We want game-day pedestrian traffic in the greater area. Let's keep the festive crowds on the closed Clemente Bridge. Let's allow for vendors, and others throughout town and the North Side to capitalize on the fans. If the light-rail stops are put at the stadium doors, the rest of the neighborhoods see no upside. Walking from town is NOT a big deal. Taking a cab is easy.

The PAT plan calls for the re-do of working, existing stops. Gateway Center stop works now. But with the new plan it is totally rebuilt. Same too with the stop near the Pennsylvanian close to the Convention Center. All in all we get four new stops, but two of them are re-done construction projects. The net gain is half. Rather, let's extend the light-rail to Oakland, Lawrenceville, (new Children's Hospital), and even out to Highland Park.

We should be pushing mass transit to places where people live.

Better Hearing given some ink and friends and peers visit Pitt -- a leader in audiology

See the feature article that mentions wellness and audiologist.

New Pittsburgh Courier Her hearing loss was said to be a combination of age, noise and genetics. McCray slipped into depression.

For the past three days, 50 educators of audiologist from around the nation came to Pittsburgh for a workshop organized, in part, by my wife, Catherine V. Palmer. The event was called a "landmark event."

Way to go Pitt!

The "NO" vote was as high as 90-percent in some neighborhoods

This is interesting if true.

New Pittsburgh Courier: In May, I had written a column urging the electorate, particularly the African-American community, to vote No on the referendum question in the primary regarding row office consolidation. I have reviewed the voting tallies. What is bold and interesting is that though the question passed by over 70 percent due to many factors, it failed consistently within the African-American communities, in some cases by over 90 percent. And the no vote was higher in working class communities than in higher income communities.

I've not done my homework, yet, in the vote specifics from May, 2005. If anyone has any insights and charts on the data, I'd be happy to get a copy via email.

Courier reports FAMILY Dollar might open near the Hill House

New Pittsburgh Courier Family Dollar ushers in new Hill House CDC.

No ordinary classroom

No ordinary classroom - PittsburghLIVE.com The gardens will become a key component of the planned community greenhouse and pavilion where students and neighborhood children will learn agriculture and environmental science hands-on, Wilcox said. The greenhouse will be 75 percent solar-powered.

While the greenhouse is 75-percent solar powered, the percentage for the produce grow in the ground will be much higher.
I'd love to see a charter school, or a public school, tied to the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. A concentration about animals would be rewarding and beyond the ordinary as well.
Tip: Hope we see a Highland Park 4H club bloom soon.

Updating dart boards has become much easier with these cards.

If this was really about growing 'sprouts' -- I'd be happy. However, as I see it, this is more about preservation of the status quo. Same old same old gets institutional support from those who claim to be change-agents.

Want political savvy? It's in the cards - PittsburghLIVE.com The inaugural 60-card set was unveiled Saturday night at Hothouse '05 -- the annual money-raiser for the Sprout Fund, which provided the seed money of $9,400 for the venture.

I'd rather provide a set a trading cards for a thousand Chinees gods than give my kids cards with little known facts of those who are taking apart our city, folly by folly.

Rather than reveal little know facts, the card creators should have stuck to straight politics.

The less the people know, the better those in power like it. Rather than give straight up info on who stands for what -- and who was at the helm as various bogus budgets came into being to cripple our region -- do fluff.

I feel certain that I'd be happy if half of the 60 who are featured on those trading cards were put into the private sector at the next election.

I'd be thrilled, plus we'd see a rebound of the region's public health if every one of those featured today on the trading cards were removed from office and put into the private sector.

Those trading cards should serve as resume cards. Every elected cronie needs a new job. If you like a person -- offer him or her a job in your business. Your business might take a hit, but, the region will have hope.

By the way, does Joe Weinroth have a trading card? What about Alan Perry and Tonya Payne?

Blue City Conservatives by Matt Rosenberg

Seattle Weekly: News: Blue City Conservatives by Matt Rosenberg Here are some admittedly gloomy snapshots of life in the city under the vestiges of one-party rule.

This article isn't about Pittsburgh, thankfully. But, it is something that needs to be understood. In the real world, it isn't always smooth sailing.

SEA needs a hand - PittsburghLIVE.com. I say give it an arm. Then run the other way with a quick turn of ownership.

SEA needs a hand - PittsburghLIVE.com Without more than $3 million in gambling revenue it was counting on this year, the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority could ask Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to help plug a hole in the operating budget for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, according to an audit released Friday.

This spells trouble on many fronts. And, some of us saw it coming.

The SEA is banking on hype. The authority is over spent. The authority has yet to tighten its belt to match its income. The overhead of the building is getting like a heavy weight that is going to be a bigger and bigger burden.

The term WHITE ELEPHANT needs to be realized. If it is ignored, the problem is going to be worse later. Come to grips with reality.

That big sucking sound is still ringing from the operation of the Convention Center. Look at the cost of the water fountain that runs within in the convention center, its new DAM, its re-building and contrast that with the cost of running a real swim pool and the smack-down being tossed about with the ACT 47 oversight board (see next post) about the hope of shifting operation of swim pools to other entities.

These are not cash-flow issues. These are overspending issues. These are bad decision issues. These are poor planning issues. These are didn't close down operations issues. These are issues of inaction and poor leadership.

By the way, how much of the Convention Center was put in use by the recent events of the Senior Olympics?

Could the Convention Center hosted the badminton, shuffleboard, table tennis, opening or closing events, and more?

The Convention Center isn't be leveraged to be a great community asset that is could be. Our potential is being squandered because there isn't enough creativity with that venue.

Why isn't the Act 47 team looking into the use and miss-spending at the SEA?

Why wasn't the Convention Center turned into a campaign issue in the mayor's race?

Joe Weinroth could make some serious waves if he talked about the Convention Center and injected some new, creative ideas backed up by research and understanding of what really goes on in that facility and how it is and will yet impact the budgets of the city and the SEA.

Rather than getting a bailout for the SEA for the convention center .. think again. How about if we sell the convention center and make money on it. And, sell the convention center to the new gambling site owners. They could take part of the convention center and turn it into a casino. Then other parts could be dedicated to gaming and other ventures as they wish.

The convention center is a massive public liability now. It would be an asset that can be taken off of the backs of the taxpayers. Then the ongoing gambling money incomes won't be diverted and lost in continual bailouts of the convention center.

Then, the SEA can be liquidated and go away.

The boat show and the home show -- and other conventions that are slated for the convention center can still go forward. But the operators would be the casino owned coordinators.

Get that skin in the game and into the marketplace -- now!

Act 47 team warns city on cost of pool openings - UNREAL Lifeguarding

This letter goes over like running on the pool deck to dive into the shallow end with a tray of whine (pun) glasses.

I think I'll listen to 1360 AM and the Ron Morris show from 9-11 am as I had heard (I think) a promo that a company leader from Centimark (sp?) would be an on-air guest. That firm donated money to enable a REAMS pool re-opening.

Act 47 team warns city on cost of pool openings

Saturday, June 18, 2005, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh's Act 47 fiscal recovery team has sent a letter to Mayor Tom Murphy and City Council warning that opening more than 12 swimming pools this summer would 'be inconsistent' with the city's strict budget.

The letter, dated June 16 and signed by recovery team leaders James Roberts and Dean Kaplan, expresses 'concern' with the possible opening of Ream Pool in Mount Washington, Riverview Pool in Perry North and McBride Pool in Lincoln Place.

None of the three pools was approved for operation in the city's 2005 budget, but plans have emerged to open them anyway. Ream Pool's operations would be covered by a private donation, Riverview Pool's with Regional Asset District funds, and McBride Pool's with state funds that may become available.

The letter warned that the city might be on the hook for maintenance costs, or face liability for any injuries, even if it didn't fund operations at those pools.

The letter asked for prompt clarification of the anticipated costs of operating the pools.

Though the letter did not threaten punitive action, the Act 47 team can call on the state to withhold some funding if it finds the city out of compliance with its recovery plan.

This is grounds for making waves and further investigation.

Riverview is a RAD pool.

REAMS is turning into a civic, private, grass-roots venture that is get strung out again from the city so as to rely upon lifeguards but have pay from non-city budget sources.

The county wanted to pick up the operation of the newer swim pool up in the 31st ward. That pool, on the edge of the city line, is generally used by lots of non-city residents.

COOPERATION.

What does Bob O'Connor have to say, by the way. He was going to see that ALL of the pools were reopened if he was mayor. (Bad idea as well.) Bob was full of hot air on the campiagn trails. Now it is time to sound off on do "follow-up" on this matter.

The city pools opened yesterday.

West Allegheny ponders chops to school budget, plus school offers early retirement incentives

Beaver County Times Allegheny Times - News - 06/17/2005 - School offers early retirement incentives ... Cuts being considered include items such as not hiring additional teachers; eliminating study groups; cutting back on supplies, equipment, books, periodicals and software; eliminating a dean of students position; eliminating some foreign language programs; eliminating conferences; and eliminating after-school programs.

'We don't feel good about these cuts,' DiSanti said. However, he added, 'we can make (the cuts) without compromising the integrity of the program.'

District officials can further cut the budget by eliminating things such as two marching band assistants and several assistant football coaches, sports such as indoor track, hockey and bowling, and cutting back on resource and instructional support teachers.

'I guess everything's fair game,' DiSanti said, adding that those additional cuts would have an impact on students.

'(Without) resource teachers, there's really no place (for students with learning problems) to get help,' he said. '(The cuts) would take a lot of great things that have happened here in education and turn that around.'

While many residents have been outspoken in their objections to a tax increase, several who spoke at Wednesday's board meeting said the proposed cuts would mean only a small savings to the average taxpayer while deeply impacting the students.

'If (the savings are) so small, why eliminate the help for these kids who need it?' said Mike Kiss of North Fayette. 'Most of these programs are for the kids who need them.'

Joe Diven, a Findlay resident and former police officer, also questioned the proposed cuts in the sports programs. 'You cut these programs, and you're going to end up with nothing but problems with these kids,' he said.

In other suburban school news, I noticed that Pine-Richland held a 6-4 vote among its school directors with the outcome to NOT install a JUMBOTRON at the stadium along with two additional gym-based scoreboards. The new materials in the sports venues were to be at no charge to the district and paid for by Datronics, a firm that makes scoreboards. Meanwhile, Datronics was to be enabled to sell advertising to the tune of aprox. $100,000 per year for eight years to pay for the new display toys.

Interesting trend.

Sustainlane US City Rankings

Sustainlane US City Rankings SustainLane began to take a look at 25 US cities across 12 major categories, to measure their relative levels of sustainability...

Hat tip to a comment poster at Pittsblog for the pointer.

Exactly one month from now. How is your training going?

The 8th Annual, Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race Race on Sunday, July 17, 2005. The Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race site is www.pittsburghtriathlon.com.
Sign up online and see the details.

The Olympic-distance triathlon consists of a 1.5 K swim in the Allegheny River, a 40 K bike along the I-279 HOV lanes and a 10 K run along the Three Rivers Heritage
Trail.

Adventure race will be slightly different this year, starting with a 2-mile canoe/kayak then a 12-mile bike, and 3.2 mile run following a shorter version of the triathlon course.

USA Triathlon sanctions the event.

I'm considering the race. If I choose to run, I'll try to get last place, just like I did in the recent senate race. But, if either Diven or Fontana enter too -- then I'll try harder and not opt to get beat -- again -- by either one of those guys.

Trail Opening - Dedication Celebration - July 8

Friends of the Riverfront sent out this news, in part ...

You’re invited! for a Trail Party and Dedication The South Side 10-1 Trail Segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail (AKA the missing link) is now complete.

Please join us on Friday evening July 8th from 4:00 - 7:00 pm for a Heritage Trail dedication party. No need to R.S.V.P. just walk, bike or blade along the Heritage Trail to the new trail head facility in Pittsburgh’s South Side at the Terminus of Fourth Street at the Intersection of McKean and Bingham off Carson Street.

We will enjoy food, entertainment and an inaugural bike ride. The dedication is being cosponsored by Dasani in conjunction with the Rails-to-Trail Conservancy, Friends of the Riverfront and Bike Pittsburgh.

The event will serve as an unveiling of a new Community Bike Program, a first in the City of Pittsburgh. For more information please join us for the party and visit http://www.railtrails.org/membership/corporate/dasani.asp

chickengen: election day McRantypants

Some nice comments from another blogger published just before election day:

chickengen: election day McRantypants: "
so i'm clearly one of the most hard core democrats among any of you who read my blog. however, i REALLY dig this guy. i mean, mark rauterkus has a blog!

relax everyone who doesn't know who mark rauterkus is, and thinks that i have suddenly begun to support a republican. i'm from pittsburgh, people. why, mark rauterkus is a very special libertarian. he's running for PA senate in the 42nd disctrict and he's rull dahn ta urth. he's all about parks and the arts and he's from the south side and i like that.
check it out, seriously: http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/
michael lamb supports rauterkus. but i still think michael lamb is mildly retarded.

an entry to mark's blog. i am in love with this man:
title: Big week -- and today's my birthday!"

Dads are no longer the 'assistant parent' - The Boston Globe

Some good dad talk in ink in Boston.

Dads are no longer the 'assistant parent' - The Boston Globe
By Barbara F. Meltz

Matt Miller of Ashland is the father of 20-month-old Aaron. Sure, he's also the happily married husband of Jennifer, he's an attentive son, and a respected first-grade teacher. First and foremost, though, he's Aaron's dad.

''Thinking about Aaron is where my mind goes when it doesn't have to be someplace else,' he says.

Miller, 34, had the good fortune to become a father at a time when society accepts, encourages, and values dads' involvement. Like many of his peers, he's just as likely as his wife to feed, bathe, or diaper the baby; to take his turn waking up in the middle of the night or staying home when Aaron is sick. Recently, he was supposed to meet an old friend for dinner and a beer, but cancelled at the last minute because Aaron was vomiting. It was another sign of the times that his buddy gave him only a one-sentence, half-hearted hard time about it.

''People just get it,' Miller says."

More of the article in the comments.

Cleanliness study puts city near the bottom

The PG article snip:

PG recaps Pittsburgh's bad showing 'This was a data-driven story,' said Reader's Digest reporter Derek Burnett, who wrote the article with two colleagues. 'We just let the numbers do the talking.'

McGrath and other local officials say numbers don't tell the whole story.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato blamed two poorly placed air-quality monitoring stations -- one on the Greene County line with Ohio and the other in Liberty near the Clairton Coke Works.

'We're penalized for all the smog that blows in from Ohio,' he said.

Guillermo Cole, spokesman for the Allegheny County Health Department, acknowledged the station near the coke works collects some of the worst readings in the country, but it doesn't mean the air throughout the region is poor.

'We think we are excessively penalized for that one station,' he said. 'It really makes us look bad when we really don't have air quality like that throughout the county and region.'

Water quality problems also are affected by the areas included in the study. Allegheny County hasn't had any water system out of compliance with Clean Water Act standards for more than 20 years, Cole said, but there were incidents in Butler, Washington and Fayette counties.

'Our waterways are cleaner than they've ever been,' said Onorato, who noted that the rivers were clean enough for the region to land this year's CITGO Bassmaster Classic, the nation's premier fishing competition.

Craig Kwiecinski, a spokesman for Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, said Pittsburgh is 'very proud' of the progress made in improving air quality in the last generation.

Kathryn Klaber, a vice president with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development who spends a lot of time on air quality issues, said it gets tiresome trying to refute air pollution information.

She said she would prefer that Reader's Digest and others look at 10-year projections that the EPA released earlier this year that show the region's air is expected to improve steadily.

'It really does cost us a lot of time and money to combat this kind of thing,' Klaber said.

McGrath said he's become convinced over the years that the only way to dispel negative images of Pittsburgh is to get people to come here. Thousands attending the Senior Olympics will leave with a far more favorable impression of the city than they had before, he predicted.

Face the facts. Deal with the truth. Think again.
Rather than spending a lot of time and money to combat this kind of bad PR for Pittsburgh, perhaps the Pittsburgh power brokers should try to invest more effort and energy into fixing the real problem and look more at the roots of the problems -- the smog and polution.

The leadership here is convinced that there is only one way to dispel negative images of Pittsburgh. Think again. To get folks here is fine. But, how about if we just worked a lot harder on fixing the problems.

Scrub the air. Scrub the water. Protect the shared resource -- spec by spec.

The excuse of poorly placed air quality monitoring stations is but a bad excuse. Bad air here can't be ignored because everyone doesn't live in that neighborhood. The air quality monitoring stations should not be put in Dan Onorato's living room nor the Lazarus perfume counter. The placement of the stations should be as they are -- in at-risk quarters. That's how its done elsewhere as well.

The whopper thought is within the bogus hope that the air quality score would be based on a "projection." The only necessary reply is, "Get real."

Fakes and fake outs are too popular here. Pittsburgh needs leaders who can get a tight grip upon the reality of the situations. We have too many who are "proud" of half-truths.

Free Shipping: for golf and basketball equipment

These offers expire on July 2:

Resource Reallocation Community Meetings - PPS meeting and info

Resource Reallocation Community Meetings Thursday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Brashear High School

Final meeting is slated for 6 pm on Monday, June 20 at Peabody High School.

At each meeting, presentations will include information for the entire District as well as data and discussion about the schools and facilities in the nearby communities.

I won't be going to this rally. I'd rather see investments into research. Or, how about if we let the military decide and insure make great choices.

RALLY TO SAVE THE MILITARY BASES

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2005 at 2:00 PM, CARGO AREA "A", PITTSBURGH AIRPORT

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE COMMISSION (BRAC) WILL PARTICIPATE.

Directions: From Downtown, take the Parkway West to Business Route 60. Follow Route 60 to the Airside Drive Exit. Cross over Business Route 60 and proceed to the first Stop Sign. Proceed straight ahead. Follow signs for "Cargo A". Free parking will be provided in that area.

PIT-BRAC TASK FORCE
Military Affairs Council of Western Pennsylvania
pitbrac@yahoo.com
412-490-5092/5094

Newspaper contrasts while in Chicago

The front page of the Chicago newspaper peeked at me from a news box among the gates at O'Hare upon our arrival and departure. The top photo featured a new world-record breaker sprinting to a standard. Meanwhile, and for the sake of contrast, its the senior games that gets ink in Pittsburgh.

SI.com - More Sports - Powell receives hero's welcome in Jamaica - Wednesday June 15, 2005 9:54PM KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- World record holder Asafa Powell arrived to a hero's welcome Wednesday when he returned to Jamaica.

Powell, who set the record in the 100 meters Tuesday, is confident that he can beat his mark of 9.77 seconds.

'I think that it can be lowered. The way I'm running this season, it's given me a lot of confidence. I've run 9.8 every time I've been on the track,' said the 22 year-old Powell shortly after arriving at Norman Manley International Airport.
Powell, who was accompanied by his coach Stephen Francis, was met by government officials, including sports minister Portia Simpson Miller, and cheering supporters from his school, the University of Technology.

The other day the PG ran a nice story on a senior swimmer from Shaler. Great. I'm not knocking any coverage for sports. But, ask about the chances of the PG ever putting a new track record breaker from another country onto its front page?

Our town's media perspectives gives "jaded" and bent coverage to our landscape. I long for better shared insights -- other than the water main break coverage in Pleasant Hills. Great video -- so -- run that as a lead story.

City of Brotherly Love does its version of a youth smack-down because of budget excuses

Notice the shift in blame. Notice who gets the short end of the stick.

Funding snag imperils youth programs

By Michael Currie Schaffer, Phili Inquirer Staff Writer

Philadelphia could be forced to eliminate at least $50 million in spending on youth programs because of a change in state funding patterns, city officials said yesterday.

Most of the imperiled programs are part of the city Department of Human Services' Division of Community-Based Prevention Services. They include after-school initiatives, truancy programs, and some programs of the nonprofit Philadelphia Safe and Sound.

"This really could be devastating," said Cheryl Ransom-Garner, commissioner of the Department of Human Services.

The change in funding is a result of a spike in state welfare rolls and tight limits on federal welfare funds, she said.

In the past, the programs were paid for with federal money that had been saved as a result of reduced welfare caseloads. Because that money was unavailable, Gov. Rendell shifted the funding source to state child-welfare funds.

But there is one big difference between federal welfare money and the state funds: Local communities are required to match 20 percent of what they get under the state program, known as Act 148.

State officials had told counties that they would provide some new funding to cover the transition. But Ransom-Garner said officials learned only recently that they would not be able to use those funds to pay the 20 percent match.

In Philadelphia's case, she said, it meant the city would have to come up with $10.5 million to access more than $50 million from the state for fiscal 2006.

The money was not included in a tightly balanced budget passed by City Council on June 2, said city Budget Director Dianne Reed.

Reed said that she learned about the funding problem only last week and that officials would meet to chart strategy. "There was some kind of a communications issue between our people and the state," she said.

Susan Hooper, a spokeswoman for the state budget office, said state officials had told Philadelphia officials that "they would have to pay a portion of that increase."

Little money remains in the city budget to pay the matching amount. Though the $3.5 billion budget for fiscal 2006 features a large enough surplus to pay, the money would not be available in later years of the city's spending plan. Under the law, a state board must certify that the city's spending plans project five years of balanced budgets.

The uncertainty about funding is particularly troubling because the money was supposed to pay for contracts that would start July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, said Jo Ann Lawer, president of Philadelphia Safe and Sound.

"Without this money, we can only help kids after something bad happens to them," Lawer said. "It's a worry."

Contact staff writer Michael Currie Schaffer at 215-854-4565 or mcschaffer@phillynews.com.

The 'safe and sound' program now sounds to be 'fleeting and but a memory.'

One of my overall attitudes is: "Pull Your Own Weight." I published a book or two with that title in the past. Programs need to be funded. However, viable programs need to be created and sustained. This also goes to the 'band-aid attitude.'

Growing Greener -- Thinking again from a Libertarian perspective from Plum

Mark Crowley's letter to the editor runs in the City Paper:

It responded to an editorial that claimed the adoption of the Growing
Greener II bond issue was miraculous proof that everyone agreed to increased government spending on this one thing. Furthermore, he saw it as evidence that "timely government intervention" is a viable political strategy for PA Democrats.

This was more than enough to prompt me to write the LTE below.

Mark

PS -- I appreciate that the editor printed it given that
it's now old news and that it explains LP thinking while
criticizing the Rs and Ds.

---

Pittsburgh City Paper, June 15, 2005

Environmental Fig Leaf

It wasn't unprecedented agreement that passed the Growing Greener II (GG II) bond issue ("Potter's Field", June 1) as much as unprecedented misunderstanding.

At the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania state convention in early May, our understanding led us to overwhelmingly pass a resolution opposing the GG II bond issue. We did so for two main reasons.

First, environmental matters such as mine drainage are only symptoms of a greater problem. That problem is a scandalous system that permits mining interests to damage surrounding property and then walk away under a protective shield of bankruptcy. GG II deceives us into trading our property rights for corporate welfare. Its adoption fuels more of that trade.

Second, what does GG II really mean when its wording talks about borrowing $625 million for things like "protection," "preservation" and "initiatives"? It means protection of politicians' jobs by the preservation of public dependence on government by trading votes for initiatives that return us our own money. It's "walking around money" in a trendy enviro-green wrapper.

GG II has about as much to do with the environment as the Republican and Democratic parties have to do with political choice.

Mark Crowley, Plum

Reams ready to re-open

Way to go Anne M, and others from Mt. Washington on the efforts to reopen the local, city owned swim pool with private money. Well done.

Details welcomed.

We are home, safe and sound!

The bottom line -- we are home and all here, safe, sound, with bags, gifts, memories and new experiences.

The day started, local time, with us in Bangkok. We had to catch a van to the airport in our hotel lobby at 4:30 am. Pittsburgh time makes that at 5:30 pm. We flew to Japan, then Chicago and finally Pittsburgh at 9 pm -- all on United Airlines. Great flights and service.

The boys have show and tell in their classrooms tomorrow for their final day of school. Erik and Grant both are going to do PowerPoint presentations with slides and even a quiz for their school mates. Erik is going to play two Chineese Folk songs on his new violin.

Next pop quiz / riddle. Where do you eat when you sit but can't put your napkin in your lap?

Had not seen CNN or FOX for a month -- and tune in today -- only to see M.J.

Thank goodness we don't export Michael Jackson to China. But, we do send that trash to much of the rest of the world. M.J.'s news is the story as I tune into CNN and FOX news for a peek, first in a month, this AM. I've not missed that hot air from the American media.

But, we did get to watch some NBA basketball finals in China.

Sigh....

Good weather -- 39-degrees "C" and gridlocked traffic

What was 39-degrees today, with 10-million people plus four more, thrives upon hot nourishment, hosts a national sport that is illegal in the USA, and has gridlock on the highways and side streets at rush hour?

I know you know --- Bangkok.

Catherine is loving this place. Exotic, romantic, great food, ice in our drinks again (but we are staying in a many star hotel).

We'll be at Thai Boxing tomorrow night. Going to a river-market in the AM.

The grad students headed out for the Hard Rock Cafe today and then the night art market. We needed some comfort time in our hotel.

Today we delivered baby gifts. That was a perfect activity after a long swim and a half-day tour of the palace, a temple and government elements. More on all of this later....

The river has a lot of traffic too.

Final pop quiz question:
What material is Emerald Budda made from?

Exotic Travel with Purpose -- OpenOffice call for papers

The third international OpenOffice.org Conference, OOoCon 2005, will be held in Koper-Capodistria, Slovenia, from 28-30 September, 2005, and you are invited!

Promoted this year as a joint effort by the Slovenian and Italian OpenOffice.org language projects, the conference provides the opportunity for the community to meet the developers, contributors, marketers, and others who are making OpenOffice.org one of the most important open-source projects and products today.

If you have been thinking about coding for OpenOffice.org and want tips, now is your chance; curious about OpenOffice.org's XML potential? Want to write extensions? Plug ins? Then come to the conference!

Indeed if you are not technically minded but want to join a great community come along and find out why so many people are switching to OpenOffice.org.

We have posted the call for papers (CFP) and are soliciting presentations from the general OpenOffice.org community (and then some) for papers concerning the development of OpenOffice.org to its marketing; from the global politics of free software to the technicalities of localizing OpenOffice.org.

To see all the tracks open and to obtain the template for submissions, as well as to request travel assistance: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2005/cfp.html

The 250-word abstracts in English must be submitted to callforpapers@openoffice.org by 10 July 2005. We ask that you use our template for your abstract.

To learn more about the lovely seaside city of Koper - Capodistria
(a bilingual community), see: http://www.slo-istra.com/koper/eng.asp.

What to wear to a palace in Bangkok

We arrived to Bangkok. Tonight was mostly about exploring our hotel, on the river. Splendid. Toilets too!

The exchange rate is 400 to 1 U.S.Dollar. And I have a problem paying for parking in Pittsburgh, getting a bill for Grant's Sprite, bowl of pasta, Italian Bread and wood oven pizza (International buffet and al a carte downstairs) is a bit of a heart stopper. Paying more than 1,000 for anything is a good way to get sticker shock.

Now, what to wear to a palace? No shorts. Half day tour is set to begin at 8:45 am.

We got our gifts gathered and packaged now with gift wrap. Can't do that gift wrap thing any more with the travel security.

At the front on the hotel there is a fence-like divider holding cars away from the front door. The hotel security checks you before driving up -- and does the mirror peek under the auto, van, taxi or three-wheeled cycle.

American breakfast in the morning. Erik will be hungry by then.

Soon hope to enjoy a visit with James -- fellow Pittsburgher and worker at Phillips Elem. James is here with his team to Thai Box. Jeepers. Who knows what that adventure is going to deliver?

Hope the camera can get a plug into the wall for a battery charge.

Time wise, we had been exactly 12 hours ahead of Pittsburgh while in China. Here there is a one hour time change as we went further west. Temperature wise, I think Pittsburgh has been hotter than Chengdu. But, Bangkok raises the bar a bit in terms of HEAT. The air is clear and the traffic was very light on a Sunday evening arrival.

Leaving Chengdu in a few hours

We have plenty to report upon -- all good. But, no time to type.

We are about to leave our China city, Chengdu. Headed home via Bangkok for a couple of days. Touch down in Japan only for the airport and then to Chicago and the Burgh.

Sold the bike for 500 RMB. Got it three weeks ago for 650.

Got mp3 players for the boys. Erik's is already returned. But today's his is 'grounded' with other issues.

Got stopped by police again about the lack of a license. Ha.

Dragon boat races: Been there. Done that.

Other goodies are secured from picks to signs and brushes.

Catherine is up to date on the photos too. Gotta run.

Still FLOATING in China -- without internet and not missing it much

We have another week of travels until we gain touch down in Pittsburgh. But, here comes the typical disclaimer. We have house and animal sitters at our home. Hour house guests are fine and so are the animals. All is being cared for, except, my internet fixes. But, frankly, I'm doing fine without, thank you for caring.

The only time I get to the internet is with a visit to a net business where there are two rooms -- each with about 40 computers, side by side. Many here around me are playing games and using the headsets for audio.

Our three wheeled bike went back to the bike fix it guy again today. It isn't fair to call this a visit to the bike "shop" as he is more of a sidewalk kind guy. But, he is good. Fixed the crank (on the bike) and my crank spun away.

Yesterday we saw our old badminton coach. What a chore to get to the facility. Beyond the bad crank. The road repair in certain stretches means we push the bike.

Today for fun we went back to music row and started to bargain for GUITAR PICKS. Too soon to tell on that front.

Should get the camera back, before our AM water polo game. I'm swimming up a storm. Played a bit of goalie in the last game. To be exact, I was the "starting goalie" -- but only played the first period there. Then went onto my normal play. I let the ex-two-time olympian go ahead and hog the keeper's position.

Who was the male swimmer from China who got 16th in the Olympics 100 BREAST -- and also won the ASIAN Championships. His PR is 104. He did a 105 at the games. I think he swam in LA and Seoul. To type the least -- it is nice having a back-up like him.

And, I've been saying little -- as I'm not that good with the local language. And, I'm not blogging either. So, as they say often in China, ...

"bye-bye!"

Action photo of our water polo game

The white caps are looking to shoot and score on the goalie -- red cap -- at the right edge of the frame. The defender has one arm high to block a possible shot. Shows good position for the offense with a semi-circle forming. No player is in the hole however.


Don't do this. I'm putting my hand on the top of the ball. Bad ball handling. Pick up the ball from the bottom.


Water polo coach and two players -- with two tourists. We just finished a practice game.

Erik took this photo.

It is hard to get good action photos of water polo as much of the water is in the way. The light is soft and the action is fast. Plus, I don't generally hold onto the ball all that long. So, getting good photos was very hard to do.


Water Polo Player -- in Chengdu.

Busy days, Idle electrons, Buying a three wheeled bike

The boys are in People's Park with their art teacher and her daughter who speaks English good enough for a two hour lesson. I've slipped away to the nearby internet cafe to dash off a peek at email and the blog.

Last night, Erik, my oldest, and I went to see Star Wars -- in Chineese. The English version was not playing at the cinema near the swim pool. Grant melted down and opted out. This morning, Grant wants to go to the movie (Chinees version) after getting the blow-by-blow from his older brother.

Today I'm hoping to get a 3-wheeled bike around noon. We finally got to a bike shop that had such a beast. It might cost $650, down from $700. But, I only want it for two weeks. The fancy deal will be selling it back for $500. That RMB not USD. No motor, just pedals and a back bench for the boys to sit while I wheel them around town.

Thursday is water polo match. The local university is starting a women's polo team and they are trying to get more to play. I've been invited to play too. My shoulder is still in jet lag and I might opt out of that. Time will tell. Anyone have a better excuse?

Gotta run back to the park.

New Star Wars movie -- still have NOT seen it -- but -- it was offered as a VCD Rental

The latest Star Wars flick is out and we have yet to find the time to go. Perhaps Monday.

But, in our apartment, we have a VCD player. That is NOT a DVD, but a VCD. In China, they have both DVDs and VCDs. The VCDs are a bit older. Same idea, same sized disk, same multi-language capability, remotes, etc.

But, ours does NOT work well. That's another story, tied to this one.

These movie rental palces, not much like Blockbuster, have a wierd line-up of rentals. But the kicer was the fact that we were offered a rental of the new Star Wars on VCD. The movie was out only about four days, and it was here, in the shops in Chengdu.

We passed. Rather, we'd like to see it in the theaters.

My email situation still is not as we had hoped.

Sadly, I'm still without regular internet connections. Our laptop and the loaners we have been getting are not up to snuff.

I'm able to post, this from an internet cafe. But, I've not been able to look at the blog at all.

Today we went to the panda research facility on the edge of town. Great fun again. Took a bus. The red pandas were the best this time.

The boys are learning a new Chinees Folk Song on their new violins. Jasmine. Great tune. EXCELLENT teacher too. We went to her concert on Friday night. She plays in the Provincial Orchestra. She, of course, had a solo and was a featured artist. The boys have their next lesson on Tuesday with her.

The boys are taking art classes too. Nice fun.

On Monday, there is no class for the students. They had a double period on Saturday. So, we'll go to the Chengdu Art Market.

Grant likes the spiced noodles at the Noodle House that is very near to our apartment. These are HOT dishes. Tears and sweat always. But so good.

35 years ago

The PG had this flashback from 35 years ago. I was there to cheer on my cousin at Forbes Field.

35 YEARS AGO

May 4, 1970 -- Langley High's Leo Rauterkus tossed a one-hitter, striking out 11, helping the Mustangs beat Oliver, 2-0, in City League baseball action.

Condre toy arrives to office

The DVD with Pioneer 16x DF Dual Layer DVD burner arrived.

Condre phone 952-294-4900

Condre Mrg. 15151 Technology Dr. Eden Prairie, MN, 55344

VO and Tyke Hikes, nothing more than a moving playgroup

Playgroups are an important element within the talk given by Hogan Hilling about Daddyhood. We have a two CD set that covers some wonderful parenting insights. It was presented for the first time at an event hosted by the Pgh Public Schools on parent engagement. The tyke hike effort is a wonderful match to the overall experience.

One of most popular events is the Tyke Hike series. The 2005 Tyke Hikes season features a second location and also a new benefit to Household members of Venture Outdoors. These lovely outings for parents and kids 5 and under cost $10 per family or FREE for families who have a Household membership. They venture onto the easy walking/stroller trails once a month at the Schenley Park Visitor Center (May 26, June 30, July 28, August 25), and once per month in the South Hills at the Regional Environmental Educational Center, Boyce-Mayview Park (May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9). These and other great family activities can be found on the Venture Outdoors summer activities schedule. Check ‘em out!

Tyke Hikes - Free to Household Members!
Schenley Park Visitor Center: last Thursday each month
Boyce-Mayview Park, South Hills: second Tuesday each month
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Cost: Free for Household Members/$10.00 per family non-members

Pippy Unveils Bill to Protect Taxpayers - and reactions

First, the news release from the PA Senators that is a great example of barking up the wrong tree:

HARRISBURG -- With plans to reform of Allegheny County’s reassessment process bogged down once again, Senator John Pippy (R-37) and Rep. Mark Mustio (R-44) today unveiled legislation to protect taxpayers from being hit with extreme tax hikes following countywide reassessment.

The measure requires that following reassessment municipalities and school districts determine millage rates that are revenue-neutral compared to the previous year. To set a tax rate higher than the revenue-neutral rate, they would have to take a separate and specific vote in a public meeting.

A municipality or school district that violates the limitations would have to refund with interest the excess taxes paid by homeowners.

"This legislation protects taxpayers from extreme tax increases, and ensures that any tax hike that increases revenue following reassessment is done only after public deliberation and a vote," said Pippy. "It helps prevent huge jumps in tax bills that can tear apart a family budget, while providing municipalities and school districts with the latitude to cover legitimate expenses and emergencies."

"We have introduced this 'zero tolerance' legislation to force school districts, municipalities and Allegheny County to roll back their millage rates to the average increase for their respective jurisdictions," said Mustio. "While it does not completely prohibit local government officials from subsequently increasing taxes, it would give taxpayers some extra breathing room until comprehensive and effective school property tax reform is enacted at the state level."

The Second Class County Code permits a taxing body to institute a final tax rate up to five percent greater than the amount it levied on properties the year before. Under the proposed legislation, in cases of dire need -- to purchase new equipment related to public health and safety, for example -- a political subdivision may petition the court for approval to increase the millage rate beyond the five percent that was approved via public vote.

Calculating a "revenue-neutral" millage rate would exclude new construction and improvements to existing buildings.

Common Pleas Court ruled May 12 that Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato’s property assessments plan is illegal and would create more problems for the system.

"Property owners in Allegheny County are still reeling over the last reassessment, with no relief in sight," said Pippy. "The problem has generated many proposals and speeches. This legislation has an advantage over many of the other solutions in that it's both legal and doable."

"For the sake of the local economy and improving the overall quality of life in Allegheny County, our working families and senior citizens deserve the immediate relief that this legislation can provide,” said Mustio. “The real and irrevocable risk is doing nothing or continuing to preserve the status quo while more and more property owners are forced out of their homes due to property tax bills they can no longer afford to pay."

Of course Allegheny County is bogged down once again. We agree on that point. However, when it comes to matters on how to fix the mess, we don't agree.

If the goal is to help consumers, then help the consumer directly. In this case, the individual is the home owner, also known as the property owner. The new bill has a focus on a system at the municipal level and that is not what people care about. The bill does not go to the real source of the pain and problems.

When I get my tax bill, I don't read it and say, "Jeepers, I'm so happy that my school district isn't going to have a windfall this year." The ZERO level is NOT anything that the consumer is going to feel, notice, understand nor appreciate.

When the new tax bill arrives in a person's mail box, that new tax bill has to make sense to that person, that person's budget, the past bills and any changes from one bill to the next. This is a personal struggle. That is where the focus needs to be placed.

A person does NOT care about the sum of all bills throughout the school district.

Very few people care, for example, that the school district saw its average SAT score increase by 3 points. Rather, as a parent, I care about my kid's test results, not the collective. I determine if I'm doing the right thing with my child's education to stay in that situation or not.

Pennsylvania needs "assessment buffering." The new tax bill needs to be buffered with the past tax bill on a household basis.

Freelance Daily, David C's new site

Freelance Daily Every freelance writer knows... Time Is Money.

Hope the site and efforts go well for David Copeland. Here is a link to his new site.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY RIVER DIALOGUES: WATERTRAILS

Community members, regional environmental planners and advisors, municipal leaders and water trail enthusiasts are invited to explore the relationships between Allegheny County river communities, the rivers and their environment.

Thursday, June 2, 2005, 6 - 8 pm

Carnegie Mellon University building in the Pittsburgh Technology Center, 700 Technology Drive (off of Second Ave). Parking is available in the lot in front of the adjacent building (Sunoco).

RSVP by Monday, May 30 to Hannah at 412-481-9400, or via e-mail to: watertrails@pecwest.org.

Friends of the River front (FOR), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), and 3 Rivers 2nd Nature (3R2N) will present the documentation of the Allegheny County River Dialogues. Over the last three years, we organized three water trail events in McKeesport on the Monongahela (2002), Oakmont on the Allegheny (2003), and Neville Island on the Ohio (2004). At each event, community members were invited participate in the visioning of the Three Rivers Water Trail. These three events have become the basis for water trail development in the three rivers. Please join us in taking the
next step in t h e development of the Three Rivers Water Trail!

WATERTRAILS report and documentation will be available at the event!

Hannah Hardy
Program Manager
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
22 Terminal Way
Pgh, PA 15219
(412) 481-9400 ph
(412) 481-9401 fax

Maglev, been there, done that. It is fast as advertised.

On our way out of Shanghai, my oldest son, Erik, 10, really wanted to ride the Maglev. His class had covered the technology and science of Maglev. It was a reasonable request, and our tour guide was very clever in working it into our short stay.

I also remember Al's video travel snip of his visit with Maglev. I think that played as a segment to the PCTV show, The Art of News. Now, I've got a similar documentary.

Maglev runs between the new airport and the new part of the city. It only has two stations. And, like Pittsburgh's concept, one terminates at the airport. The new international airport is out of the city a bit. In a van, it took us about an hour or perhaps 75 minutes to go from the airport into the center, older city after our inbound flight.

The new part of the city is 15 years old, or less. Boombing development. And, that part of the city is closer to the new airport.

The ride is fast. The cars are smooth. The turn banks and it is fun to watch a bus on the divided highway below get passed as if they are standing still. The stations are modern. And best of all, the speed in Kpm is on a mini-scoreboard within each of the Maglev's cars. I think the top speed was 480 kpm on our trip.

Our morning had us load up the van at the hotel. The van then drove us 20 minutes to the Maglev station. We left our suitcases on the van and went up and took a ride, buying tickets, catching the next train, arriving at the airport.

The kicker was as soon as we arrived at the airport, walked to the terminal, we were able to meet our van and pick up the suitcases. We walked out of the terminal and our van arrived, like magic without a wait.

All in all, the Maglev, despite its speed, didn't really save any time over the van on the highway.

When we got to the airport, I was kicking myself thinking how we should have taken our bags with us onboard the Maglev. I thought we'd have to wait 30-40 minutes for the bags to arrive. But that was not the case at all. It felt weird to have the van, in essence, tie the Maglev in terms of door-to-door service.

Grant's KQV - Focus on Education - Interview

Grant, 7, was interviewed the other week with a Pgh Public School program, Focus on Education. It aired on KQV the other day. My mom, his grandmother, heard the interview by luck.

The show had a focus on 'history' and the historic South Side. The kids at Phillips have had a lot of exposure with the Pgh History and Landmarks Foundation with neighborhood walks. Plus, a Main Street program pulled more attention to the area.

Volunteers needed for PNC Historic South Side Home Tour

The historic home tour committee is seeking volunteers to work both morning and afternoon shifts during the tour on Saturday, June 4, 2005. Volunteers are needed to assist in tour homes and at scavenger hunt sites. Available shifts are 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (morning), and 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. (afternoon). Volunteers working both shifts are expected to attend a 9 a.m. orientation where you will receive materials and your assignments. All volunteers are welcome to take the tour free of charge before or after their shift (tour runs from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.). To sign up, contact Amy Camp at arc@southsidepgh.com or (412) 481-0651.

Funny to talk of "history" and be in China

Without Email these days, and our days are before yours.

We're without decent email these days. Sorry.

And yes, for us, it is 8:29 pm on May 24. We're 12 hours ahead. The date and time setting is accurate. This isn't a computer glitch, like the one we face for not getting email.

All is well otherwise. Tomorrow, we are going to art class at 9 am. Then violin at 2 pm. Swimming is at 6 pm. So, we don't miss email to a great extent -- yet.

The decompression from the race hsd begun and is well on its way.

Press Release from Libertarians about 42nd Race

Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 9:10 PM

Subject: A Different Slant on the 42nd State Senate District Special Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh
contact: Harold Kyriazi

Pittsburgh, PA -- May 21, 2005

Increased Minor Party Votes May Signal Voter Dissatisfaction with Badly Broken Two-Party System

Libertarian and Green Party activists were mildly encouraged after this past Tuesday's election, when a Libertarian, whose campaign manager is a Green Party member, received a significant boost over typical results when running in the special election for State Senate in district 42.

While the 7.2% of the vote garnered by Mark Rauterkus is small relative to that received by the two major party candidates, it represents a notable increase for a minor party candidate in a hotly-contested and expensive three-way race.

It also indicates a continued growth in respectability for minor party candidates in a region where most voters traditionally pull the Democrat lever and smaller numbers vote Republican.

Says Timothy Crowley, Chair of the Libertarian Party (LP) of Pittsburgh, "You don't want to make too much out of a loss, but we are pleased to see more locals recognizing that voting for the usual big party candidates only brings about the same old policies that drive away businesses and citizens from this region." Added Crowley, "How many more times will voters let themselves be duped into believing in Democrat or Republican free lunches? It's time to make a change and send a message."

A different view was offered by longtime local LP activist Harold Kyriazi, who said that he is most encouraged that the LP of Pittsburgh has in the past year attracted two of the most serious campaigners it has ever had. "If Mark Rauterkus, on the South Side, and David Posipanka of Homestead, continue to run for office year in and year out as they have indicated they will, they may eventually convince voters that they can trust minor party candidates, and spark a significant realignment of voter sympathies and, eventually, voter registration."

Johannes Ernharth, who maintains the local LP website, commented that "the LP of Pittsburgh hopes more people catch on that voting the same old way for the same old party has nearly bankrupted this region. Voters must realize that sending those same wrongheaded policies to the state level is only going to make things worse for the entire state. Non-voters need to consider that, too."

The LP of Pittsburgh also cautions the region's citizens of a developing trend that is designed to shift the financial irresponsibility of some Pittsburgh politicians onto more fiscally responsible areas of the state. Says Henry Haller, a past candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, "Rather than getting their house in order here in the city, the city's goal is to have state taxpayers pick up the tab. Rural and suburban communities will be getting stuck with the bill, and it appears the Republican Party does not have the political will to say 'no' to the Governor on this. Libertarians would never tolerate such theft."

Added Ernharth, "We all know that outside of government, the real world understands the importance of fiscal responsibility. By shifting the cost, there is no incentive for the city to change its old ways and it will continue to decline."

---

The LP of Pittsburgh represents the approximately 2,800 registered Libertarians in Allegheny County. It maintains a website at www.lppgh.org, and may be contacted there, or by phone at 412-553-6464.

Trib's Tuesday Takes gives upbeat recap

Published one week after election day in the Trib:

The 42nd lesson: Democrats may be celebrating their win in the 42nd Senatorial District race. And Republicans may be continuing to lick their wounds. But Libertarians are upbeat. And with good reason. Their candidate, Mark Rauterkus, garnered 7.2 percent of the vote. That may not seem like much to some, but for those who believe both traditional parties are broken, it's an incredible number. Competition is a good thing, remember?

Come Live Over Here - cd from a marketing firm

Pittsburgh Perspectives CD-Rom wins national award Elliance, a local eMarketing firm, brought home a gold award in the interactive media/government relations category during the 2005 Summit Creative Awards International Competition for its outstanding work producing the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance's "Pittsburgh Perspectives" CD-Rom, and its accompanying web site, www.pittsburghperspectives.org.

For a modest fee, the disc assists employers in recruiting talented individuals who may be unfamiliar with the region. The Summit Creative Awards was created to ecognize exceptional work by advertising agencies, video production companies, ultimedia firms and other creative groups with annual billings of $15 million or less. It is the only opportunity such firms have to compete internationally. Elliance's web site.

Trib coverage after election

Fontana defeats Diven - PittsburghLIVE.com 'One of the biggest things, I think, in this race was the Allegheny (County) labor endorsement,' said Fontana, of Brookline. 'I appreciate that.'

Comments From Left Field - offered an endorsement

Comments From Left Field Election Day Endorsements
It was my intention to remain as neutral as possible in this election up to the last minute and while I feel that I have been successful in this effort it is not time to throw out some endorsements.

City of Pittsburgh Mayor
- Bill Peduto

Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
- Jon Pushinsky
- Kathryn M. Hens-Greco
- Wrenna Leigh Watson
- Beth Lazzara
- Sumner L. Parker
- Dwayne D. Woodruff
- Chuck Evans

State Senator
-Mark Rauterkus

Now get out and vote!

posted by Goose3five

Thanks Goose3five!

An endorsement, noticed late, from another blogger. Thanks Nick.

I meant to not say anything about this race as I (by a razor's edge) do not live in the district that will be come the constituency of one of three men after the polls close today - Mark Rauterkus (L), Wayne Fontana (D), or Michael Diven (R). To be brief, Michael Diven is a political opportunist who left the Democratic party because party leaders didn't set his ideas at the top of their priority list, and only joined the GOP to get an opportunity to run for a seat he would never be nominated for as a Democrat. Wayne Fontana has done a reasonably good job on county council and would prove to be a good state senator, despite his transparent stance on assessments and other less-than-desirable stances. Both of these campaigns sent out a barrage of negative mailers and ran negative ads from here to kingdom come. I'm not naive - negative ads win elections more often than not - but it says something about a man's character to run on his good traits and stances on the issues and nothing else. Mark Rauterkus has shown vast knowledge of the issues facing this city, county, and commonwealth in not only this race but various races throughout the region over the years. He has attended various community events, city council meetings, and even written his own Platform for Pittsburgh and has been an active member of the local blogosphere before there even was one. I may not agree with him on every issue, but he is the only man running that has shown the exemplary amount of knowledge and concern required for an undertaking such as State Senator. Jeebas endorses Mark Rauterkus for State Senate.
-- Nick Michaels

Diven experiment minor loss for GOP - PittsburghLIVE.com

Diven experiment minor loss for GOP - PittsburghLIVE.com Republicans took their best shot at gaining a foothold in heavily Democratic Pittsburgh -- and they didn't come close.

The story behind the story is yet to come, IMNSHO.

Inroads

Libertarian Rauterkus Makes Inroads against "Big Two" Parties

Press Release
Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh
www.lppgh.org
info@lppgh.org
412-553-6464

May 20, 2005

Pittsburgh, PA - Imagine three companies trying to sell cars in PA Senate District 42. The "big two" have to spend about $1 million each for marketing, while the principled third company about $3800. The "big two" sell about 32,000 cars at about $63 of marketing per car, while the principled third about 2,600 cars at about $1.50 per car.

Consumer data overwhelmingly reports that the "big two" models have high maintenance costs that grows every year and low customer satisfaction that falls every year. Buying from the "big two" insures that you and your children will be paying for generations to come. Contrast that to the principled third's time-tested philosophy saying that small overhead means customers can keep more of their money.

You've probably guessed that the "big two" aren't automakers, but the Democratic and Republican party candidates. The principled third is Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian Party candidate for PA's 42nd Senate district.

Mark Rauterkus made an impressive showing, about 7.2% of the vote for about $1.50 per vote. The Libertarian Party thanks him for his tireless efforts promoting new ideas as a citizen candidate and not as a heavily-bankrolled career politician.

This shows that we are moving closer to the day we can challenge the entrenched, but decaying, political establishment even here in southwestern Pennsylvania. When that day arrives, it will happen because of a resonating message linking freedom, liberty and small government and because of hardworking citizen candidates like Mark Rauterkus.

Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh
P.O. Box 71333
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
www.lppgh.org
info@lppgh.org
412-553-6464

Dem wins nasty race for 42nd District's state Senate seat

Fontana won. But the ink the spilled on the performance from myself, the citizen candidate is false.

Dem wins nasty race for 42nd District's state Senate seat: "A third candidate in the Senate race, Libertarian Mark Rauterkus, finished far behind Fontana and Diven.

Folks, this is why Pittsburgh is going to go much deeper into its death spiral.

The fourth estate is ten times worse than a box of rocks.

The PG and Trib are ten times worse than the mudslinging that we saw from the nasty Fontana and Diven camp. All are not to be forgiven.

O'Connor's victory takes some wind out of the sails of change for the city. But the coverage from the PG and Trib snaps the mainstay. Right track -- ha. Some can't even report on the right ocean.

Plane and simple: Thanks!

Ta.

Plane, because we're getting on a plane to Chicago at 9:30 am. I've got to pack for China. The recap is going to come from the other side of the world. We're out of here for four weeks.

Just so everyone knows, our house sitters move in while we're out of town.

The most at any POLL -- was seven

The turnout was soft. But, the turnout among the non Ds and non Rs was very, very, very thin. I went to 20 or 30 polling places throughout the day. Not a single one had more than seven voters from the ranks of the Indies.

Often there are 40 or so voters in the polling place who are NON-Ds and NON-Rs. Generally there were four or so voters who had voted.

We saved $200,000 by insisting that the vote was held on the primary date. But, that blew the Indies out of the water in terms of getting out the vote.

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Special elections fill two Senate seats

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Special elections fill two Senate seats Special elections fill two Senate seats
5/17/2005, 1:11 p.m. ET The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A pair of special elections Tuesday were expected to restore the Pennsylvania Senate to its full 50-member complement.

Republicans currently outnumber Democrats in the Senate 30-18, with two vacancies left by former Democratic senators who were elected to higher offices in November.

In the 4th District, which takes in parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, LeAnna Washington, a sixth-term Democratic state representative from Philadelphia, was opposed by Republican Ronald Holt, an accountant from Abington.

The winner of that race will replace former Sen. Allyson Y. Schwartz, who was elected to the U.S. House.

In Pittsburgh's 42nd District, state Rep. Michael Diven, a Democrat who switched to the Republican Party in January, faced Democratic former Allegheny County councilman Wayne Fontana and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus.

The winner will succeed Jack Wagner, who was elected state auditor general.

KDKA: Polls Open for PA's Primary

KDKA: Polls Open for PA's Primary In Wagner's former Pittsburgh district, former Allegheny County councilman Wayne Fontana, a Democrat, is competing with Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Michael Diven and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus.

Voters in Allegheny County will also decide today whether or not they want to eliminate some of the row offices.

But if political anaylsts are correct, voter turnout for this primary will only be around 20-percent of the 9.6 million Pennsylvanians who are 18 or older.

The Allegheny County Elections Department projects that only one-third of the county's Democrats and a quarter of the republicans will show up at the polls today. If those projections are correct, it would be one of the lowest turnouts involving a city mayoral election in recent years.

Election Day Buzz, so far

The poll workers are out in force. Perhaps with too much force.

At one poll, near my house, the turnout climbed all the way to 10 (ten) voters by 11 am. Right, one short of eleven. Perhaps their goal should have been 11 by 11. The gent there said, "We are leading the way in voter apathy. And we're proud of it."

Charge!

People were just waiting for me to post my mini-signs there before rushing to the polls.

He also pondered that the nasty weather might be keeping people away.

It is a great day for a baseball game.

In other places, turn out is much better. I'd call it "light." When it comes to the INDEPENDENT VOTERS, the most critical to my winning in a landslide, I'm not holding my breath. Zippo is the most fitting description.

Meanwhile I hear things are going very well in suburban .... LOCATION DELETED .... I don't want to tell you, as I don't want Diven and Fontana rushing to that beachhead. Things are going well there, and they don't need a food fight to break out.

Putting Mike Turzai and Dr. C. Wecht onto KQV Radio is sure to get a lot of people to watch the TV tonight as the results arrive.

Speaking of numbers, 10 to 4 bundle to drop elected row offices has some opposition. Posters even. Same with "vote yes." And, I've not said it yet, but the 9 to 5 posters for Anthony C are clever. I saw a dozen or so of them, weeks ago, and didn't know what he was driving at. But, they do make sense. He'll put in motion a drop in city council, if elected to five members, not its existing nine.

I must admit, voting as a Libertarian isn't rewarding at all. There were all of those pink and blue judge candidates, and I didn't get to do much else other than the two ballot questions.

Perhaps the masses of Indie voters will head to the polls later in the day.

Press Release for Election Day

Elect.Rauterkus.com
May 17, 2005

Contact: Timothy Aldinger, Coro Fellow in Public Affairs &
Media Releations Elect.Rauterkus.com
Tim's cell = xxx-xxx-xxxx @coro.org
Mark's cell = 412 298 3432 Mark@Rauterkus.com

Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian candidate for PA Senate in the Special
Election, Releases Regional Regrets

A public statement from a candidate for PA Senate (42nd) in today's special election is due in the middle of voting activities. But this candidate won't be at the polls, rather he and his sons are headed to a scholastic baseball playoff game.

Mark Rauterkus, 46, Libertarian, is running for Pennsylvania Senate. Throughout the campaign, Rauterkus has promoted a new statewide solution that also addresses city-county consolidation. Rauterkus, a professional swim coach and advocate for wellness and other types of recreational activities, wants to launch a new Pittsburgh Park District.

The state of Illinois uses a different governmental model that leverages Park Districts. These bodies with more than 2,100 elected trustees throughout the state operate under sunshine laws are distinct from city, county and state government. With elected leaders, volunteers and community involvement, the Park Districts work to root citizens in their communities with better programming opportunities and care for facilities and resources.

Rauterkus said, "A Park District is NOT an authority. I desire elections, accountability and teamwork among professionals, such as coaches, community leaders, volunteers and participants."

The WPIAL playoff game between two teams within the PA Senate 42nd district allows the Rauterkus and his two sons, ages 7 and 10, city residents, to enjoy an afternoon at a suburban sandlot, between our visits to polls.

"An iron curtain exists between the city and suburban programs that includes programs and opportunities. We can't keep splitting the cooperation among the region and thrive again," said Rauterkus.

The game is slated for 1 pm at Burkett Field, behind Burkett Elementary School, part of the Montour School District. Beaver Falls and Carlynton meet in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. Another game is at 3 pm with Brentwood and Northgate at Herb Field in Norht Hills. Gate is $5. Full brackets for AA baseball is at WPIAL.org.

A year ago, Rauterkus released a 100-plus page position paper that called for the formation of park district. He presented the paper to a number of agencies and individuals as well as the ICA Board, Act 47 Coordinators, County, City and School officials. See http://DSL.CLOH.Org/v1/

Rauterkus feels that a position in the PA Senate would empower him to push from within state government to enable Park Districts in Pennsylvania helping everyone's quality of life.

For years, Rauterkus has been a vibrant voice for change in terms of effective government.

In the 1980s Rauterkus was employed as an aquatic manager and head coach of a 200-member community team that operated by the Peoria Park District, the second largest park district in Illinois. Rauterkus understands the advantages of administrative stability with the park district model and regrets that such a system is not in place in Pennsylvania.

Other regrets are expected around the grandstands of today's game and election.

Rauterkus is sorry his participation in the three-way race was not able to quell the negative campaign waged by the heavyweight candidates, Wayne Fontana, Democrat and Michael Diven, Republican. The absurd insults and falsehoods were expected given the mentality from Harrisburg operatives and the individual candidates stances on positions. A third candidate's entry can often have a calming effect on the nasty presentations and mudslinging.

"Civility did not prevail from them, sadly," says Rauterkus. "I wanted to discuss priorities, issues and real solutions for the region. These opponents were most interested in making noise. Power politics and personality attacks are for bullies and don't have a place on the playgrounds, nor chambers of government."

Recap of Rauterkus regrets:
+ Lack of Park District,
+ Lack of Issues-centered campaigns,
+ Overboard negativity from the Democrats and Republican camps.
+ Lack of Assessment Buffering for property tax,
+ Lack of City-County cooperation in sports and park programming.

Rauterkus public campaign efforts are to continue with an open-source wiki, Platform.For-Pgh.org.

As the polls close, Rauterkus is going to claim a victory on various
dimensions. The opponents and their political parties each spent
upwards of $1-million on the campaign. Meanwhile, the
Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign was a frugal operation spending less than
$10,000. If 10,000 votes are obtained, that is less than $1 per vote
as far as expenses and results. The Ds and Rs might be spending at a
rate of $100 to secure each vote.

If Rauterkus is not elected to the PA Senate, Rauterkus is expected to
announce intentions to run again. The next ballot opportunity might be
Pittsburgh's City Council. Rauterkus lives on the South Side in a
district represented by City Council President, Gene Ricciardi.
Ricciardi is a candidate on today as well. Ricciardy is hoping to
leave city council for a new role as District Magistrate.

Rauterkus could mount a campaign for city council soon, getting a head
start on others. Rauterkus could be an Independent or a Libertarian in
that race.

Rauterkus is not expected to enter the City of Pittsburgh mayor's race in 2005. Rauterkus ran for mayor in 2001 in a contested Republican primary.

On the morning of May 18, the day after the election, Rauterkus, his sons and his wife, Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., along with two graduate students, are going abroad for four weeks. Palmer, a professor at Pitt and Director of Audiology at UPMC's Eye and Ear Institute, is to teach a course at the second largest medical center in China, in Chengdu, in a southwest provence.

Rauterkus said, "The trip to China is a great experience for all. We'll be playing violin, badminton, swimming, doing art and visiting parks. Meanwhile, the two grad students and my wife teach an intense course to doctors and medical students. The cultural exchange is wonderful, but the medical and healthcare benefits are priceless."

Updates are at Mark Rauterkus and Running Mates blog, http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com