Act 72 Laid to Rest - Press Release from Libertarian Party of PA

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
3863 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
1-800-774-4487
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Doug Leard at 215-646-1502 or David Jahn (Chair) at 610-461-7755

Act 72 emerged from Pennsylvania's General Assembly as a very complicated and confusing piece of legislation. The complexity of Act 72 ensured that just about everyone could find something they did not like.

Many school boards quickly realized that Act 72 threatened their power to tax-and-spend since it gave voters the opportunity to vote against school budgets that raised taxes above the rate of inflation. So, the overwhelming majority of school boards across the state opted out because it would have made them more accountable to taxpayers and voters.

What happens next? The Libertarian party agrees something must be done in the short-term to help property owners who are threatened with the loss of their homes simply because they cannot afford the rising cost of school property taxes. But, we also see rising property taxes for what they really are, a "symptom" of an inefficient and expensive government-run education system.

It is obvious we can no longer afford to keep doing what we have always done before -- raise taxes and throw more money at our public schools. But beyond the money issue, what really needs to be fixed is the "education" side of our public schools. Many parents are dissatisfied with the public schools their children are forced to attend, and a growing number of teachers are frustrated with the constant meddling in education by government bureaucrats and politicians.

Instead of focusing on ways to shift taxes to fund our public schools, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly must begin the process of getting government out of the education business. Pennsylvania needs to encourage a free-market educational system that provides students and parents more choices, where educators have the freedom to use new and innovative teaching methods and where parents would be primarily responsible for the cost of their own child's education.

Education is far too important to be trusted in the uncaring and self-serving hands of government bureaucrats, special interest groups and politicians. We need to put education back where it belongs -- in the hands of parents and teachers!

The Libertarian Party, the third largest and fastest growing political party in Pennsylvania and the nation, continues to provide a beacon of hope for voters disillusioned by the fog of Big Government.

Do Growing Greener Right and Do It Now, Coalition Demands

This came to me from another source, hence the ITALIC type. Authorship / ownership tip: As a style convention on this blog, generally, a good way to tell that I (Mark Rauterkus) didn't write the text is from the ITALIC messages.

Growing Greener implementation legislation is in the balance in Harrisburg at this moment. As you are likely aware, the budget process is supposed to be finished by June 30 (tomorrow), so this is the crazed rush time of year where everything gets thrown into the mix. The good news is that Growing Greener is in that mix. But, we need to make sure that what comes out the other end is what we all voted for in May.

PLEASE contact your legislators NOW and urge them to implement Growing Greener, but to do it RIGHT. See talking points below from a press release issued yesterday by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Conservation and Restoration (PARC). Sierra Club is a founding member of PARC, and urges our members to support PARC's positions in their communications with their Representatives and Senators.

Legislative Delay Violates Voters’ Trust, Risks Farmland and Environmental Cleanup

Harrisburg –With time running out for action this summer, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation (PARC), a coalition of sporting, environmental and civic organizations working together to protect Pennsylvania’s environment, who were the main organizers behind the resounding vote for environmental cleanup on the May ballot, called on Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to implement the voters' mandate for new spending on the environment. Instead of the House-passed version of Growing Greener, HB 3, which takes away $85 million a year in existing environmental funds to provide $115 million, the Coalition's 30 organizational members asked the legislature to adopt a general obligation bond, to be paid out of future revenues and not out of existing environmental programs, and to take that action prior to adjourning for its three-month summer recess.

"The voters overwhelmingly embraced the existing Growing Greener program with their 61 percent approval of the $625 million bond question in May," said Jan Jarrett, PARC co-chair and vice president of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture). "They didn't vote to take money from one set of environmental priorities to fund another, nor did they turn out to hand over state dollars to local government. They voted to preserve open space, clean-up abandoned mine lands, and restore our rivers and streams. Instead of playing shell-games with the taxpayers' money, the legislators and the governor need to stand up and do what the voters asked them to do."

"The proposals put forth so far by the governor and legislators violate the voters' intentions because they divert funding from other environmental programs or fail to make the significant investments needed in conservation and restoration programs," said Andrew McElwaine, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and PARC co-chair. "This new money must be used for environmental programs to protect farmland and open spaces and to clean up our water and maintain places for hunting and fishing. Anything less is a betrayal of the voters' wishes."

The PARC coalition sent Governor Rendell and the leaders of the General Assembly a set of guidelines for spending the voter-approved $625 million bond, which includes:

The new program must address critical needs to conserve dwindling open space and farmland, to restore land and water damaged by coal mining, to protect and restore watersheds, and to repair infrastructure maintained by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission;

Funding for these purposes must not come at the expense of existing environmental programs such as recycling;

The existing trash dumping fee should remain dedicated to its current purposes; and

Funding to address Pennsylvania's environmental problems and to conserve our natural resources must be in place for the long term to ensure a high quality of life in our communities.

Patriot Act - statement of opposition got the endorsement from County and State Libertarians

The Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania chapters of the ACLU sent out an endorsement call and both the Libertarian Party of Allghengy County and the Libertarian Party of PA are included on a letter that has just been sent to the Judiciary Committee Chair of the US Senate, our own Arlen Specter, Republican.

The exercise accomplished the following:

* Added weight to the very real concerns surrounding the Patriot Act.

* Presented the LPPA and LPPGH names out there where our "LP" brand should certainly stand apart from some of the left-leaning groups.

* Established some contacts within the ACLUs of PA and Pittsburgh that we can use in the future.

* Reminded them that we are "the third largest political party in Pennsylvania" and that when necessary we can be organizationally responsive to an appropriate request
even if requested in an awkward way. (Although, I hope they learn to be a little more proactive and maybe feel just a little guilty.)

* Gave local Libertarians an opportunity to respond to a "fire drill" where we had to react quickly to an opportunity to promote liberty and to promote ourselves. We passed, but I hope we can do this even smoother next time.

Hats off to Mark C, a local Libertarian leader, who was on best behavior with the
ACLU and keep on this side of being tolerant of those who make it difficult for us to do them a favor.

A few feel that the letter is pretty lame, but maybe it has to be and too long.

Mr. Bill Robinson -- he's considering a run for City Controller

Lump Camp bumped into Bill Robinson, present member of county council, headed into Giant Eagle.

I asked him if he is considering a run for City Controller -- and he is! That's good news.

He has, he assured me, taken into consideration the eventual resignation of his council seat. He said he'd not want to have me on his back while he was still on county council yet running for another public office.

Good answers Bill. Good on both accounts. I hope he gets into the city controller's race. And, I hope he pulls out of the county council before or at the proper times.

Wayne Fontana didn't. Wayne's lack of action in getting off of council at the right time set a bad policy that shouldn't be repeated.

China heat could kill Olympic horses in Hong Kong -- Downers.

SI.com - Olympics - Official: China heat could kill horses Horses could die in the heat if Olympic equestrian events are held in Hong Kong during the 2008 Beijing Games, the former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation was quoted as saying Tuesday.

How do the elephans survive in the heat of Thailand?

Is it because elephants don't "compete?"

Are horses more prone to going prone in the heat? Or, is it the humidity?

Can't the horse races occur at dawn, so as to be in prime time in the WEST COAST? It would be cooler at dawn.

What do you call a cow without any legs? .... Ground beef.

But that kiddie joke isn't funny any more as there is a word, "downers" now is an official world in the vet and cattle circles. A downer is an animal that can't get up. Those downers are all tested now -- for mad cow disease.

A cow in the American West recently tested positive for mad cow disease.

I'm sure that the control freaks in China would much rather have the lifestock all go to Hong Kong. No sense in spreading the illnesses of the world to Beijing and putting a BILLION PEOPLE to bed hungry with some infection that could spread.

China is now running into some big problems with its birds. A flock of ducks or geese were hit with a "bird flu" (not flew) in the past weeks. This was in the interior of the country and the animals were migrating. In a blink of time, thousands if not millions of fowl could be infected. That is scary on many dimensions.

If Hong Kong won't have the equestrian events, I could see those events being offered to Taiwan.

Horse racing is a big deal in Hong Kong, by the way. They were building a big race track very near to the center of the city last year. Gambling is a big deal too, at the track. They are called, Jockey Clubs.

Another interesting concept in China, polo. Not water polo but polo with horses. A former dynasty in China got into polo for a bit. It is a game for kings. Polo didn't fly in modern times nor with the communist. But, there were some rather large public art pieces in squares and such that featured polo.

I don't think POLO is an OLYMPIC sport. Perhaps it could be pulled into the offering for Hong Kong as an exhibition sport.

Perhaps China couls sweeten the deal and be able to put horses in Hong Kong if a deal was cut to also allowed the jockey clubs of Hong Kong to permit gambling and book making on the Olympic events. In house bets on DIVING would be a real draw.

Red Alarms: Theater District Revival Plan smacks of elitism, cronies and stupidity

A gathering of 75 out-of-town building, planner, designer, developer wonks is being held downtown at the Renaissance Hotel to gather, ponder, pitch and fester about some parcels of "key" spaces that are controlled by and within the Cultural District.

That's fine, except.....

Only outsiders were allowed to attend and participate.

Pittsburgh individuals and firms were EXCLUDED by DESIGN.

How stupid can they be?

But, remember, fools like this run the PDP, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. The PDP held a candidate night for participants in the Pittsburgh Mayor's race -- and told people that they were NOT invited. There were people who were not allow to attend as spectators. A black woman walked to te event from her home in The Hill -- and the PDP morons shut the door in her face.

We've got too many with 1940 style country club attitudes in our downtown institutions.

I won't raise my concerns with the AARP again, now as another example.

The headline in the Trib, "Rivival continues in theater district" -- is plain old B.S. Same old sh*t.

The information I'm blabbing about in this post comes from a few trusted sources. I'll be happy to eat my words and make a public retraction as soon as I see the list of those who attended the sessions. Then we'll call the Pittsburgh-based people and firms and figure out why they were 'blacklisted.'

It is uneasy for me to write this. It is a shame to have to read it. And, I'm sure that some who read this are going to be livid at me, the messenger, and ignore the real message.

I think the creative people that have been invited are the one's who call home something other than Pittsburgh. The ones from here are homers and they might have the luck of setting up the rules, playing gatekeeper, and doing catering duties.

Another head-scratching point: A pedestrian bridge is mentioned in the article. It is to go over Ft. Duquesne Boulevard. They're attempting to span the wrong gulf.

The cultural district is a fine jewel, no doubt. But, I have a big problem with elitist running around acting like they've got rocks in their heads.

All the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put Pittsburgh together again.

I guess that the photo in the story shows the first residential structure to be built in Downtown Pittsburgh in the past three decades -- if you ignore all the abodes from the homeless, loft conversions, the new Allegheny County jail that's overflowing, (plus the new-new temp housing jail annex), and units within downtown's spitting distance (The Hill and North Side, and anything Uptown???).

We should have more downtown housing. I'm in favor of that. But, I don't want to have subsidized housing for the rich.

We should have open community forums to dream big and plan for sensational, stars-bound landings. But, I don't want any leader nor leadership entity to display the slightest closed-door mentality yet alone outright hostility. What gives when people who live here, and who are experts here, are spat upon?

To right the impressions -- publish the minutes of the meetings, online, in haste. I'd like to see the documentation from those brainstorming sessions. And, I'd like to know what other buildings are going to be needed -- perhaps by eminent domain -- to make this a public-good "darling."

Please, make me eat these words. I want to be wrong.

Lump camp swings into high gear

This week, my boys are engaged in Lump Camp. This isn't anything new to us. We've gotten quite good at this activity in past summers as well.

We are going to get some of the details of this fantastic experience documented this year so as to allow others to sign-up for it in the future. But most of all, I'm hoping that my kids will grow up to one day be camp leaders for their own Lump Camps. They are still campers. Next year we might allow for one to graduate to Junior Leadership Roles.

Lunch is provided at lump camp, only if you ask for it, and ask at the proper times. Plus, lunch depends upon available leftovers in the refrig or hotdogs in the freezer.

We got a leg up on this week's lump camp this weekend. It is always good to build up to the activities of nothingness and not go 'cold turkey' so you don't hit the wall.

We did have a little bout of Thai Boxing at the end of lump camp today. But, officially, that session was AFTER Lump Camp's day ended. Thai Boxing and other such motions are strongly encouraged and permitted after mom walks in the door at the end of her long day at the office. We have to keep the daytime pure and void of activities.

In our Thai Boxing lessons, Grant, 7, worked on keeping his head up so as to avoide the headlock position between my ankles.

Next week, Grant goes to half-day Zoo Camp. So, our time in the zone, the sweet zone of nothingness and naps, is fleeting.

When it is 90+ degrees (F) outside, we have great weather for lump camp. You can't drop into Lump Camp. We have a strict policy on visitors. But, for the future, should you get the clearance and apply early, say for next year, be sure to bring sweaters. The air conditioning is on 'high.'

One of the nice perks of the Green Tree Swim Team is the 8 to 10 pm swim practice as it doesn't bump into Lump Camp. Time to shave and head to the pool.

Pippy's bill strikes out on what is REALLY needed

PA Senator, John Pippy of the south and western parts of Allgheny County is putting forth a bill that is nice, but isn't really what is called for.

June 24, 2005

Pippy Bill to Prevent Windfall Tax Hikes Approved by Committee

Requires revenue-neutral millage rates following reassessment, unless approved in separate, public vote.

Harrisburg – Legislation sponsored by Sen. John Pippy (R-37) to protect Allegheny County taxpayers from tax increases following a countywide reassessment has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee. Senate Bill 726 now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

"The purpose of property reassessment is to provide accurate data for fair taxing, not to provide a back-door tax increase," said Pippy. "This legislation will stop automatic increases and require an open, public discussion."

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.

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.

Local efforts to limit tax hikes following reassessments remain bogged down. 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. Rep. Mark Mustio (R-44) has introduced legislation similar to Senate Bill 726 in the House of Representatives.

"Representative Mustio and I began this effort in May and I'm encouraged that we're already seeing legislative action," said Pippy. "We're both going to work hard to see that this legislation is approved by the Senate and House and signed into law as soon as possible."

Everyday people don't care much if taxes are flat, held at 5-percent or increase in municipal-wide ways. Windfalls of the whole township or city are but a pimple of pain to individual taxpayers.

What matters to the individual is the specific tax bill that comes to the individual. We need to have leadership that considers the bottom line for that person as a greater force to deal with rather than the bottom line for that person's community.

They real point of pain and problem is being missed.

As it is now, when a reassessment is made, the gross value of increase is not to exceed by five percent. Pippy's plan changes the five percent to zero.

This is a yawner.

When the first major reassessment came, taxpayers were told that one third of the property values were going to go up, one third would remain about the same and the final one third of property values would go down. We were told that all in all, this reassessment would be a wash with the ups being matched by the downs. The process was just to right-size the values to make everything more fair.

That song and dance was repeated thousands of times in all of our communities.

This trend is like batting at the leaves on the tree of suffering. We need to have those in power go to the real roots of problems. One of the roots of the problem reside within the changes to the specific tax bill that individual gets.

Pippy should be talking about assessment buffering. he's not. Neither is Fontana.

If today's tax bill is $1,000 per year, and then the new tax bill comes in at $1,600 -- that is a big problem. If you are on fixed income, you can't just come up with the extra money. Banks need more money for monthly payments to cover the mortage and the taxes. These changes happen right away. Family budgets are blown out of the water with one piece of mail.

Changes, as in price increases, to a person's taxes on real property need to be made in a gradual, year-by-year basis.

A re-assessment comes with "sticker shock." That shock can be dealt with in a universal way if Pennsylvania would allow for "assessment buffering."

Let's say you are fortunate to have your assessment go sky high. You must be living in a neighborhood that is seeing the home values increase. Your home is making money, once you sell it. That's the theory at least.

But now the tax bill has shot up frmo $1,000 to $1,600 per year. With Assessement Bufferws over a three year period, the rate of increase will be something that people will be able to manage and deal with over time. Next year's tax bill goes from $1,000 to $1,200*. Then to $1,400. Then in the third year to $1,600.

* The formula is a little more complicated than 1/3 over three years. The down to the decimal change put into places is generally 1/3 plus 10-percent of the increase. But, that detail is not so important, yet can't be overlooked. A whole tutorial is available if needed, say for Pippy and others. FYI to the digit heads, 10-percent in year one (with a $600 increase) is $60.

The neighborhing state of Maryland allows for this type of tax billing to ease the changes upon new assessments.

People don't like to be jerked around. Assessment buffering calms the storm.

Another huge benefit is the time allowance factor. When Allegheny County had its new assessment a couple of years ago, it too two years or so to deal with the flood of appeals. Perhaps your property went from $1,000 to $2,500 per year. Your appeal might have only been able to be scheduled for two years later because the line was so long. The assessment might have been wrong, but you still needed to pay the inflated amount while you waited for the appeal's outcome.

With Assessment Buffering, the rush to fix broken assessment values is NOT a grave. The extra time takes plenty of stress out of the system. Refunds are less of a problem. Schedules are less pressing. Lower workforces are able to be employed. The knee jerk reactions vanish -- or at least are not as connected to the wallet.

This is not a way to lull people to sleep. But, it is a way to respect family budgets.

If you know a new assessement is in the works, you might not buy that new car, take a vacation, invest in a musical instrument, change your job, go back to school.

You might not want to buy a new house either -- because that tax bill at $1,000 might triple and then you've got a home you can't afford nor sell to any other sucker.

I think that the overall marketplace would be much more healthy if the sticker shock associated with a new assessment was always buffered.

Senator Pippy --- how about if you extend this conversation about assessment buffering to the halls in Harrisburg. In the neighborhoods in the 42nd district, as I campaigned in the past months, we were able to inject these concepts and always had favorable reactions.

Take the ball and run with it. Be "Mr. Touchdown" and score a major victory for all the taxpayers in Pennsylvania. There is no downside to this measure. Slip it on as an amendment to what you've already started.

Trail Party, 4 to 7 pm on July 8 on the South Side

Friends of the Riverfront is holding a Heritage Trail Party and Dedication from 4 pm to 7 pm on July 8 at the Trail Head Facility (Intersection of McKean and Bingham).

All are invited. I'll try my best to attend too.

I'll try to get a new CD out with a video of a new song for the event, Kicking the Stone by Johnsmith.

South Side's 10-1 Trail Segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail (aka "the missing link") is finally completed. No need to R.S.V.P.

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.

http://www.railtrails.org/membership/corporate/dasani.asp

Fatal Error: Can't run new game, Lego Star Wars, the video game

Fatal error:
sorry, but your machine is unable to run this game. It requires a praphics card which supports Pixel Shaders v 1.1. this game will now exit.

The computer was purchased six months ago, in December 2004. It is a Compaq Presario, 3200+. The display adapter is VIA/S3G UniChrome 1GP driver version 6.14.10.194.

The game's developer is Eidos.com.

Skinny on the game at Download.com isn't good. I read how many others are also in the same pickle. But, if it works, the game seems nice.

Support at Compaq's chat, just now, was hopeless and without a clue. If the system works with other games then there isn't a problem with the computer. I'm not looking to fix blame, yet. I'm looking to fix the problem.

I saw a few more mentions in the read me file. But, I can't get to that unless I install the game on another computer. The other PC, same age, different maker, gave the same error. That PC is an Emachine. That PC has a different make of video card. The game is on this computer -- but -- I can't get to the read me file.

Bottom line: DO NOT PURCHASE THE GAME: Lego Star Wars. Don't do it. Be sure you can get over the hurdle with Pixel Shaders v1.1.
One report says TARGET won't take it back as a return.

PA Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival - Berks County event in Sept

The first annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival is the consummation of years of interest, research, experimentation and interaction in the world of renewable energy and other Earth-friendly related disciplines.

The Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association, along with many diverse groups, clubs, and individuals have come together to host his two day festival on September 23rd and 24th of 2005 at the Kempton Community Fairgrounds, Kempton (Berks County) PA, 19529.

Speakers, national exhibitors, workshops, hands-on demonstrations, vendors, live music and entertainment, children’s activities, food and more. This wide-ranging educational program offers you the chance to debate the key issues, whilst a groundbreaking exhibition creates the perfect environment to evaluate the solutions – all under one roof! The Festival will promote solar, wind, hydrogen, biofuels, green building, organic farming, green political awareness and much, much more.

If you've ever dreamed of powering your home or business off solar or wind energy, and growing and preparing wholesome organic food, don't miss this unique opportunity to learn how to make your dream a reality.

The Pennsylvania Chapter is a proud sponsor of this event and will have several tables. Scot Case of the Center for the New American Dream and a Sierra Club activist is slated as one of the keynote speakers. Judy Johnsrud, Energy Chair, will be conducting a workshop.

To volunteer contact Bob Flatley, Chair of the Kittatinny Group, e4bob@yahoo.com or 610-756-6625

Slogan stumbles for 2008. Hey, BOOC, Think again. One size doesn' fit all.

Every Olympics has an organizational stumble and snafu, or two. It is good to see China's approach is to get its stumble out of the way early. They must have said, "Let's get this money off our backs and do a major screw up now, in 2005. Then we'll be done with all the screw-ups and expect smooth sailing the rest of the way.

BEIJING (AP) -- The slogan for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be "One World, One Dream."

This slogan "embodies the common aspiration of the 1.3 billion Chinese people in establishing a world of peace and better future," said Liu Qi, president of Beijing's Olympic organizing committee.

The slogan was chosen from 210,000 proposals in Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages, Liu said.

Chinese Cabinet member Li Changchun announced the slogan Sunday at a gala in the city's Workers Stadium featuring breakdancers, basketball players performing with a military band, and television celebrities. The ceremony was televised live.

Also Sunday, China started construction of its 160-acre Olympic Village, where 16,000 athletes and officials will live during the games. It is to be completed by the end of 2007, organizers said.

The slogan, "One World" is a darn great slogan. I love that part as the song, "One World" is on my CDs that I've been giving out since late 2004. Mindy Simmons, friend, singer and songwritter, provides the song, "One World" as part of my campaign CD.

By the way, Mindy is going to be back with her music and guitar very soon. She'll be doing a concert on Monday, July 11 in Kenyon College as part of Summer Institute. Plus, Mindy is doing a service and concert at First Unitarian on Sunday morning, July 17. First Unitarian is in Shadyside. If you can go -- please do. She's great.

The song, One World, from a female, American singer associated withe a free-market community guy in Pittsburgh comes from a point of view that is grossly unlike that from China's top officials in Beijing.

One World, One Heart -- that would work for me.

How about One World, Countless Dreams -- that would work for me too.

I just hate to see the "one dream" part as it feels too much like we'll be stuffing too many square pegs into round holes.

As for other Olympic stumbles -- how about the motocycle crash in Athens? But there are countless official, coach, athlete blunders. Do you remember the unleashing of the masot well in advance of the Atlanta Olympics? That was a royal joke. It was like this droopey white star that was like a puffed potato chip. That character was gone before anyone could say, "Give-me-Coke and a smile while calling Disney ASAP."

How about, "One World, One Spirit of Determination!"

The Three Rivers Post & Standard -- and new blog with fellow Libertarians and beyond

The creator of this site, J.E., just became a father for the third time! Way to go J and Libby. His family now has THREE BOYS.

The Three Rivers Post & Standard Welcome to The Three Rivers Post & Standard, a new journal covering the Pittsburgh region’s general mess…

I think the blog will be a welcome addition to the overall landscape. Some good minds are involved. The technology is kwel too. I just posted a bit about our family's open house on the 4th of July there. I like the features and wish some of them were at Blogspot as well.

Training for the Triathlon

My self-paced swim workout was greater in distance than the distance for the actual race. The race is 1.5K in the Allegheny River. Looking at the course, the first 1/3rd goes upstream and the back 2/3rds flows with the current.

Swim 400 with flip turns (no stopping)
Swim 400 with open turn, head up at mid length for peeking (no stopping)
Pull 1 x 200
Pull 4 x 50 (10-sec rest between, swimming faster)
Paddles 1 x 200
Paddles 4 x 50 (10-sec rest between, faster)
Swim Breast 1 x 200
Swim Breast 4 x 50
Kick 1 x 200 (Breast)
100 swim down

Jack Writes Letters: 'world' of a mayor award and ICA's wind in its sails

Jack Wagner, quck to write a letter about Tom Murphy, might want to consider sending in a piece of his mind to this outlet, CityMayors.com, too:

Tinley may have a 'world' of a mayor: "The City Mayors profiles of Richard Daley and Tom Murphy, of Pittsburgh, are credited to 'Josh Fecht, U.S. Editor,' but in fact are ripped word-for-word from biographies published on the cities' Web sites.

If Jack's words can re-ignite the ICA (oversight board), perhaps they can skuttle any hope for glory on Tom's exit.

Here is the Trib's Whispers mention in the Sunday paper:

Wild Thing, you make them Dems sting - PittsburghLIVE.com A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MAYOR MURPHY MISERABLE? Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner just couldn't resist.

With only six months to go before he leaves office, time is running out to take shots at Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy. Wagner, a longtime political foe of the mayor, evidently realized the clock is ticking.

Wagner recently sent a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell and key state legislative leaders requesting they maintain the city financial oversight board established last year by the General Assembly.

There has been talk in Harrisburg of dissolving the board, which has been a frequent thorn in Murphy's side. Most legislators don't mind the panel being a mayoral irritant, but they are concerned about it also sparring with the Act 47 financial recovery team appointed by Rendell.

Wagner, a former City Council president who lost to Murphy in the 1993 Democrat mayoral primary, had a hand in establishing the board when he was a state senator.

As a state row officer, he really doesn't have standing to inject himself into the debate over whether the oversight board should survive. Knowing how miserable the panel could make Murphy's final days in office probably helped convince Wagner to lobby to keep it alive.

Jerry Bowyer is out at WPTT, 1360 AM -- talk show switches

On the 4th of July, WPTT has a new line-up. Frankly, I don't like it. I'll miss Bowyer.

7-9 am = Laura Ingraham Show (syndicated)
9 to noon = Lynn Cullen (Pgh's own)
Noon to 3 = The Thom Hartmann Show (syndicated)
3 to 6 = Uncle Dougie, Doug Hoerth

Boywer is leaving for a new talk show on WORD-FM (101.5) starting in September.

Clark Howard (syndicated) is from 6 to 10 pm.

Just getting my head above water.... What do you make of these numbers?

On May 18, just after the May 17 election day, we went over the Pacific Ocean for a month. I'm just now getting my act in gear in terms of catch-up.

What do you make of these election result numbers?

http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/elect/200505pri/rpt301.asp

At first blush, I see that at every polling place, I got someone to vote for me. I didn't get ZERO anywhere.

The totals again:

Mark Rauterkus = 2,542

Michael Diven = 13,353

Wayne Fontana = 19,834

I got more than 7 percent of the total vote in the three way race.

The City Paper ran a blurb after the election and they had the numbers wrong. I was outspent about 250 to 1 by each candidate. But I was NOT outvoted by such an amount. I was outvoted 5 to 1 by Diven. I was outvoted 7.8 to 1 by Fontana.

Insights welcomed. Mine detailed insights yet to be posted.

New principals are appointed to city of Pittsburgh schools

There are plenty of changes. New principals are appointed to city of Pittsburgh schools

Delano goes 'ga-ga' over Swann -- but ABC and FOX are worthy matches

Jon Delano wrote, in part:

Swann's problem is this. Once he announces formally, ABC Sports will drop his lucrative contract as a football commentator during the 2005 season. How lucrative? I am told it's in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a few months work, but who knows. Bottom line, forget the money -- it's also great publicity for a would-be candidate running statewide. Of course, the more visible Swann becomes as a candidate during this pre-election season the greater the pressure on ABC to admit the obvious. So Swann has a narrow political (and legal) path to trod. He wants everyone to think of him as a candidate, to promise him support, and give him lots of money -- but he doesn't want to give ABC (or opponents contacting ABC) any excuse to drop him from national broadcasting this autumn.

If Swann makes all the right moves on his timetable, don't expect a formal announcement of candidacy until next January.

What about Ed Rendell's contract to give insights on Sundays about the NFL for FOX? Rendell is on the air -- and he must campiagn too. What is good for the goose is good for the gander too, or in this case the swan. (honk, honk, honk)

I don't think ABC needs to drop Lynn Swann from the football broadcasting gig in the fall of 2005, even if Swann tosses his hat, formally, into the race for the GOP nomination for PA Gov spot. Nor should ABC do so.

At the most, perhaps ABC would put a memo together to ask him and the counterparts on the air to stick to football. And, if things made viewers blink twice, keep Swann out of the games in Phili and Pittsburgh. That would help calm fears, perhaps.

So, if I'm the boss of ABC Sports, Lynn, you'd not be benched for being a candidate.

Equitable's new North Shore HQ opens -- and it is a major letdown

Equitable's new North Shore HQ opens When oversized scissors snipped the blue ribbon at the new Equitable Resources Inc. headquarters next to PNC Park yesterday, it marked a moment for which Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy had been waiting eight long years.

This is an average building. This is a splendid space and a poor choice for a corporate headquarters.

The building blocks the views of the river.

The building is nothing special and fails to reach the necessary potential that the site should exhibit.

I think, and others who are in agreement, say that this is a classic example of a blown opportunity. Pittsburgh should have done much, much better.

City pools open, for now anyway - Lifeguard shortage is a world wide problem

Swimming:

City pools open, for now anyway: "Though City of Pittsburgh pools are scheduled to open today, some face the possibility of closure in July due to a scarcity of lifeguards.

The city has 103 lifeguards ready to go, reflecting the bare minimum needed to operate 13 pools, said aquatics supervisor Shelley Terlecki. There are not enough lifeguards in reserve to handle the inevitable vacations, call-offs, and resignations, she said.

A lack of lifeguards is a problem. Sandcastle needs them. REAMS will need them. Beaches around the world need lifeguards too.

Lifeguards are made in years of play at the pools. Swim teams are often great sources for lifeguards. There is an aquatics mentality that is made over time. The pool rats are the ones that aspire to be lifeguards.

One can't just wake up one day and turn into a lifeguard. You have to be able to swim well. Nonswimmers are out. Average swimmers are out too.

When Pittsburgh's officials worked to pull the plug on its swim team that used to operate at the Oliver Bath House -- I raised a warning flag. We don't have enough kids that can swim well enough to become lifeguards. And, we don't have enough kids who want to be lifeguards either.

Without the kids at the pools -- you'll never be able to fill the need.

Beauty and ruggedness of the Point - liquid, cool, floating on the weekend

Three Rivers Artist Festival artist Stacy Levy is in tune with the beauty and ruggedness of the Point

Today is a great day, with the heat, to take a swim. Too bad we can't do that at Point State Park.

China dealings in the news: The bad karma of US actions are wearing on me.

There have been a number of issues with China in the news recently. On almost all instances, I'm favorable to the position of China and not that of D.C.'s.

I like free trade. I think it is wrong to force China to prop up its own export limits or export tax on textile products. This news broke more than a month ago. The US signed a free trade deal and now it wants to ignore it.

I agree with Alan Greenspan. I see no harm in the US Dollar being a benchmark for the China currency. The dollar float is matched perfectly with the China exchange rate. This foils the messing that could happen with DC wonks. They don't like it. Tuff! I'd rather have China hitching to the US Dollar than the Euro.

Today's news had to do with the USA's position that China isn't helping enough with the power ploy on North Korea in terms of weapons.

Hoops

New Irony Trend

Look at the trend (some past and some future) and notice the various twists on the "progress" of various projects. Feel free to insert some of your own observations as well.

Construct a new Convention Center -- but make a new pruchase of a damn for the water treatment and fountain that runs down the middle of the interior road, at a price greater than the entire Citiparks' aquatics budget for running outdoor swim pools.

Build a natural grass football field, then run out and get new turf.

Give HEINZ naming rights for the football field, then sell Heinz to DelMonte and then have that firm sell the asset again.

Invest in a new airport for US Air -- and then have massive layoffs.

Build a new indoor basketball arena, because the Fieldhouse isn't good enough. Then pay $5-million to get a new, new roof.

Make a roller-coaster with a new loop -- and then close it a year later. Subtract the loop and give it a new name.

Re-pave a stretch of highway with new formula that prevents potholes -- and then re-do it with new, new pavement months later.

Close a number of fire stations, but then put in to build a few new ones.

Construct a new aquarium to join with the Pittsburgh Zoo, yet see the Amazon River Dolphin (poor Chuckles) and stingrays perish.

Have a great city skyline to display, but choose to put a light-rail extension in a tunnel under a river.

Choose to close schools to save money and be certain to shut down the ones that educate the most and retain highschoolers from dropping out.

Build a new jail for the next century then see it fill past its capacity within its first decade.

Program progress could include the outcome that firing police officers revealed a drop in crime rates.

Get a hillside designation in the city's zoning code, then suffer with great losses with landslides on many of those hillsides that cost more than $10-million to repair.

What's new with you? Generally there is good news, and bad news.

Drunk Driving, Tom Flaherty, judge candidate, courtroom experience, humm...

I don't think that this be scripted any better for our present controller.

Jury duty for a guy who is a candidate for judge.

Free press.

It's a drunken driving case, no less.

Eminent Domain hits the news again with a new court ruling that spells trouble for property owners and aids redevelopment.

Ouch.

Bloomberg.com: U.S. Government Power to Take Property Backed by Top Court

(Bloomberg) -- Local governments have broad power to take over private property to make way for shopping malls, office parks and sports stadiums, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled.

The court said government agencies can constitutionally take property in the name of economic development -- and even transfer it to another private party -- as long as the landowners receive compensation. The 5-4 ruling today came in a case involving land near a Pfizer Inc. plant in New London, Connecticut.

Scott B, a friend of Pittsburgh, now working in DC, was quoted on the radio news today. He works with a nonprofit that fights against eminent domain.

I hate eminent domain. The excuse of economic development does not lessen this hate. Rather, this new court judgement makes policy makers more critical in the process. Overboard, power-hungry, do-good authoritarians are given more room to roam. Hence, eminent domain is sure to be more and more of an issue for many if not every election in the future.

I am one who says let the markets operate without heavy-handed governmental impacts. Buy the property. Do the development if you feel justified. But don't buy it with force.

Once property is able to be taken, then investors will slow their investments into property. Investments will go into other, more secure assets. Hence, the downward spiral of real property is sure to accelerate.

Torn on this public broadcasting matter with the US Congress

I've been silent about the matters before the US Congress, the federal budget and the funding of Public Broadcasting / NPR. A buzz of noise on the topic has come from other sources. So, I've been relaxed in my efforts to discover and in turn inform.

The House vote may come today on funding cuts for PBS, NPR and other public media. The cuts are "defang and defund public broadcasting."

Oh my.

Sadly, I think QED is already toothless, by choice. WQED put WQEX into limbo and squandered its responsibility. QED burnt the trust I have in that instution years ago and has done little or nothing to change its tune.

The potential is there to do so much more. But, they fumble. The managers are more interested in do-whop and what is not here anymore. Certain duties are involved in public tv and they are not being upheld. So, I say that pulling the plug is not such a bad thing. I also contend that the public tv elements are in the marketplace and that squashes other indies from doing the same actions.

Kenneth Tomlinson, chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is engaged in a deliberate campaign to bully programmers to produce shows that echo the White House line. His cronies in Congress are slashing funding for the news, children's and cultural programming Americans trust.
I used to trust that programming. They've blown their trust in my view.

Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) and Diane Watson (D-Calif.) have introduced an amendment that would block Tomlinson from meddling in noncommercial programming. And Reps. David Obey (D-Wis.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and James Leach (R-Iowa) have offered an amendment that would restore $100 million in funding stripped out by the Appropriations Committee.

More at Freepress.net/publicbroadcasting.

Three second head start is too generous now in racing my oldest in the water

My older boy, 10, was able to beat me in a swim race in the breastoke, but not freestyle, given a 3 second head-start and a 25-yard distance. This is a major milestone of sorts.

Straight up, I think I can still out swim him. But, this advantage might sunset soon.

Korea brings homegrown open source to schools

The American schools and American kids are not zooming ahead on these important fronts as others are. We have a chance to lead the world -- and we are still taking baby steps.

Korea brings homegrown open source to schools | CNET News.com: "The South Korean government is rolling out a homegrown open-source platform to 10,000 schools in the country.

The project, called the New Education Information System, is built on a Korean-developed version of Linux that already services 190 schools in the heart of capital city Seoul.

It would be easy for a mayor or even a state senator to make a dispatch and claim that Linux is a preferred platform. The open-source movement is strong in some sectors in this city -- like at CMU for one example.

A Korean, Chinese, and Japanese shell in an Asian version of Linux that could read any programis a great dream for many and various reasons.

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.'