10 Qs and As for delivery on Feb 12, 2006 - Snips from Platform.For-Pgh.org

Link to my recent answers. First link goes to my speaker's notes. This is the full text of the replies. In the 10-minutes, I didn't get to say everything I had hoped to deliver. The second link goes to the actual transcript of what I did say at the event. My talk was recorded and re-typed.

1) 10Qs and As for delivery on Feb 12, 2006 - Platform.For-Pgh.org Full length text replies to the ten questions from from The League of Young Voters. (Speaker notes.)

2) Transcript of what was said to the group. Transcripts of talk on 2-12-06 - Platform.For-Pgh.org.

Original post was from 4:30 pm. Updated with transcripts at 9:30 pm.

Out of the sound proof booth....

The League of Young Voters and a bunch of other "progressive" organizations, with the help of City Councilman Bill Peduto, hosted a meeting today at Club Cafe, on 12th Street, on the South Side.

The opening speaker was Congressman Doyle. He gave a general view of matters from his perspective in D.C. He welcomes the challengers to his seat in the months to come, both within his party and from elsewhere.

The rules were such that candidates were not allowed to listen to the other candidates. So, I slipped home for a moment to see the wife and kids. My wife said, "I'm so happy to know that you all (the candidates) are working in a vacume and not able to share good ideas."

In case anyone cares, I'm running for PUBLIC OFFICE. And, I'm a voter in the district too. And, the worst thing we can do is run campaigns that are insulated to the rest of the field and world.

I want to know what the others in the race are saying, not JUST so I can blog about it. But because I want to unravel the falsehoods quickly. And, should I not win the seat, I want to make sure that what gets said does not get forgotten for the future.

False promises are everywhere when candidates are hungry for election wins -- with the other guys.

My replies to the ten questions are on the Platform.For-Pgh.org.

I'll try to get my exact words to be posted shortly, as I made a tape of myself.

Open Office . Org

This is a joke. But, have you used OpenOffice.Org yet?

Nice site, http://www.openofficetips.com/

More state funding for needier schools in Rendell's proposed budget

More state funding for needier schools in Rendell's proposed budget Mr. Rendell said the proposed change in basic education funding would lift 132 districts above $9,030 per pupil but still would leave 21 below that target.

Pittsburgh isn't one of them.

The city schools already spend $15,173 per student. The district would benefit from the governor's basic education funding plan, anyway, because it calls for an increase of at least 2 percent for all school districts.

Pittsburgh's basic education funding would increase from $127.8 million to $130.3 million, not including special education, busing, food service and other separately funded programs. Almost a quarter of the school district's $533.6 million budget comes from state basic education funding.

Ed Gainey, once removed from ballot -- trys again

Ed Gainey to enter state House race: "Ed Gainey to enter state House race

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Ed Gainey, a former assistant to former Mayor Tom Murphy, today will formally announce his second bid to unseat state Rep. Joseph Preston, D-East Liberty.

Mr. Gainey, 35, will announce his candidacy at 11 a.m. at the Kingsley Association on Frankstown Avenue, Larimer.

Mr. Gainey won the party's endorsement over Mr. Preston two years ago, but he was removed from the ballot by court order due to problems with his nominating petitions.

Mr. Preston has held the office since 1983.

Perception is reality with police station closure

No major effects from station closing - PittsburghLIVE.com By Karen Roebuck and Mark Houser

The closing of the West End police station has not significantly affected crime in the area.

Here there is a story, and a story behind the story. Or, stories that dangle after the story.

On face value, the crime stats might be such that the loss of the police station was not a big deal in terms of crime prevention. That is understood. The police have said many times that they don't just hang out in the police station and wait for a call from 911 and then rush out to the neighborhood from the police station. The police cruise the neighborhoods (or zones) and are not going to the scenes from the police station. So, the police coverage in each zone is about the same even without a physical police station around the corner.

That part of the discussion is given and is where the news article goes. But there is more to think about.

First, the crime statistics are now being questioned. This was blogged about a while ago here. A candidate question was put out about rummor reports being more accurate than police reports. Then on the night of the AFC Championship Game, ZERO arrests were reported, from the police. That was questioned as good "spin" and not what really happened. The police might not have made an arrest, and released those people, but there were linger questions. What happens on the paper reports and what happens on the streets is hard to justify.

"It follows the trend of the city," said Pittsburgh police Deputy Chief William Mullen. "The crime rate hasn't been this low since 1996."

Well, when the paperwork isn't trusted, that's bad.

Residents, community activists and some politicians have called for reopening the station ever since it closed. The 17 neighborhoods it once served now are covered by the Zone 3 station in the South Side.

The big voice here in question is that of Mayor Bob O'Connor. Bob made a campaign promise. We're wondering if the promise is to come true or not.

Theresa Smith, founder of the Southwest Community Coalition, which is fighting for the reopening of the station, questioned the validity of the statistics.

"The bottom line for us is, we want our police station open," she said. "I don't think these statistics bear any weight on whether we feel safe in the community."

Exactly.

Elliott and Mt. Washington are the only two neighborhoods once served by the old Zone 4 station that have endured significant increases in major crime from 2003-05. I guess if you are in those neighborhoods, or if crime happened to you, that's significant enough.

Residents are moving out of the area as a result, she said. YES, this is where we need to put our larger focus. What about home sales? What about the population loss? What about home values? What about school-aged children in local schools?

This brain-drain and population loss in Pittsburgh has been such a big story, from time to time. But, the links between police station and schools to the overall exodus of our citizens, (our families and friends), is seldom made in the media.

For example, the city council raised parking taxes. The parking tax generated more money for the city. But, in turn, how many companies moved out of the city? How many more are getting ready to leave as the next opportunity presents itself? In the first six months, or the first two years, a higher tax is going to generally make more money -- but -- it is going to kill us in the long run.

Later, we'll lower the tax and it won't really help in the inverse. If the tax dropps later, as I have proposed in my policy planks, it might only be enough to get more of today's workers to drive to work rather than take the bus. The later tax drop won't be with enough sizzle to get new workers or expanded workers employed in real jobs town.

The police brass review neighborhood crime statistics -- and those statistics are NOT open enough to the citizens.

Right Sized School Plans -- it is getting better

The Right-Sized plans from Mr. Roosevelt are online at PghBOE.Net. Many great changes are within the new edition of the plan.

I'm glad that they are going to 'think again' about Schenley High School.

It is good that Friendship gets a school.

It is fine to get the K-5 kids out of Greenway Middle School.

I'm glad that the Rodgers Middle School move could still happen -- perhaps next year -- to a more central location. Thinking again on that school move is welcomed.

I'm sad that there isn't anything in there about the pre-k programs.

I'm sad that Knoxville is slated to close. But, perhaps that school can be a home to the Creative and Performing Arts Middle School a year from now.

I'm not happy that the school on the western edge of the city, already with a rehab, isn't going to re-open.

Bergwin is still slated to close and that is WRONG. The district needs to make a move to expand with Duquesne (not university). Bergwin is important for that flexibility. Hazelwood can make a comeback -- but without Bergwin, it will be nearly impossible. And, the numbers used to justify the closing of Bergwin were not accurate, so I hear.

The folks of Hazelwood didn't put up a big stink when Gladstone was lost, first as a high school around the time of the closing of Fifth Avenue HS. And later as a Middle School. But the conventional wisdom and promises that were give with the shut down was to spare Bergwin. That was a great compromise -- and a deal -- that just shattered. Another broken promise, I guess.

Bergwin's test scores, attendance and pre-school were making serious strides upward.

When is a K-8 school not a K-8 school

I've been trying to get my head around this concept in the Pittsburgh Public School's plan to "Right Size" -- but -- how right is it to claim a school is K-8 when it isn't K-8?

Is the plan to right size and wrong name?

It seems to me that a new agenda for getting schools that educate students from grades K to 8 should have classes of each of those grades. And, if there is research that shows that there is an educational benefit to these schools that are K-8 -- but we only call them K-8 and really have two schools, one K-4 and the other 5-8, (or whatever ), then can we expect that the educational advantages might be absent too?

I sorta like K-8 schools and the concept that they bring to a city and family. But, if I send my kids to a K-8 school and one child is in grade 2 and the other is in grade 5, and they are in different buildings, then this is not a K-8 school.

The trap that the school district falls into -- as well as with other public organizations -- is to look at the world from their perspective. It is more about the kids, the families, the tax-payers, the general community. If one principal covers two buildngs, fine. But don't expect to sell the idea that those two buildings make one K-8 school. For a parent who drops off and picks up kids at two buildings, it isn't one K-8 school.

So, my question within this post deals with the coupled schools. Where are they in releation to each other?

Next we'll be snookered into a notion that PNC Park and Heinz Field are really one stadium. Yeah, right.

Yank, yank

The magnet program at Schenley High School is again open for registration. This program is the Robotics Technology program. Parents need to sign up at Schenley and the school officials fax the magnet applications to Pgh Public School's central administration offices.

Parents who withdrew their children from Schenley for the 2006-07 school year, because of their concern that Schenley's Oakland facility might close, should reapply now while the window is open.

Eight CC Skiers -- two from USA -- have rich blood and must sit

The Daily News Online Eight Olympic cross-country skiers, including two Americans and one former gold medalist, were suspended for five days after they were found to have excessive hemoglobin levels -- the first hint of scandal at the Turin Games.

The suspensions, announced Thursday by the International Ski Federation, last five days from the day the tests were administered. The U.S. Ski Association said the tests were taken Wednesday, meaning the athletes will be barred from competition until at least Monday.

When you work hard, and screw up, that's a shame. But, people do it, sadly.

This is hard news to understand. We'll be dealing with this a church this Sunday.

A 13-year-old boy is dead after playing a choking game, where young people try to get a quick high by being choked with ropes or belts. The parents of the Mount Lebanon boy warned others of the dangers of the game, which has been deadly for other young people throughout the country in recent weeks.

Our kids are precious. And, our kids come to us without much of anything. They grow, and they have energy -- but they need so much. It is such a blessing to give.

In times like these, our priorities get a wake-up call.

Image Gap -- going south of the border

The Loft - Blog Archive - Policy, Not PR, Key to Better Image for Mexico Suffering what officials describe as “Mexico bashing,” the government has hired a Dallas-based public relations firm to fix its image. Unfortunately, the fix to the problem has nothing to do with PR and everything to do with policy.

According to a story in the Washington Times, the PR firm Allyn & Co. has been hired by the Mexican government "to polish its image amid rising concerns in the United States over illegal immigration and a growing sentiment in Congress to better secure the border with Mexico."

“I can’t think of a worse time of Mexico bashing in recent history than now,” embassy spokesman Rafael Laveaga told The Washington Times. “Unfortunately, we don’t find any positive viewpoints."

The Fox administration has criticized efforts in Congress to upgrade the government’s control of the U.S.-Mexico border, including pending legislation that would authorize the construction of nearly 700 miles of high-security fencing and designate illegal entry as a felony."

Has Tom Murphy left New Orleans?

My call to Double Ms sports talk show - ESPN Radio

Mark Madden, back from the hospital, is on the radio again. He really ripped upon Dan Onorato(Allegheny County's Chief Executive) and Bob O'Connor (mayor). Double M love hockey and really wants to keep the Penguins in town. He isn't alone in those desires.

KDKA radio had an interview with the politician earlier -- and a recap was delivered to the listeners via the show host. It is hard to do a recount of the conversations on the air in a civil way -- as he ripped, as he generally does.

I called the show. I had four or five serious questions to put to him, but after the first I got clicked off the air.

I said something like this, "I think it would be great if the Penguins got a new arena. But, I want Mario to keep it. Don't give it to the city. Keep it in private hands. Mario should operate it."

He said, "Why don't you want a free gift."

I said, "We are just able to keep our head above water as it is. The new arena is like an anchor that the city doesn't need at this time."

But it is a gift, he said. And the incomes it makes.

I said that the incomes are still going to be flowing to the city regardless of who owns the building. (more type but not on the air...) The city really only makes the taxes. And the taxes come from a building the city owns or from a building the Penguins or another private operator would own. That wasn't on the air.

I said that the public ownership of the new arena would take away valuable attention that goes beyond the scope of what government should be doing. Mario could do a better job of running and programming the building anyway.

I also said it would be great if the Steelers owned Heinz Field and the Pirates, or some other organization, not some authority madness, owned PNC Park too. The city doesn't need to own these facilities.

... click ...

I was off the air. I lost the cell reception and didn't know how he followed my conversation with additional comments.

Look at the long view of this, Penguin fans. If Mario and the Penguins own the building, then it is much harder for them to move the team. Owning the building puts roots into the community that isn't as fluid as owning a franchise in the NHL.

Furthermore, as a city resident, and city recreational leader, I want to have the city own facilities that we all can use and have access too. Our city's priorities have to be about raising our families here. I'd rather put energy and effort into recreation centers and kids rather than corporate boxes and season-ticket holders.

The Isle of Capri plan needs some major adjustments. And the first one -- IMHO -- is that the windfall for the building of the new arena should not end up with the building going to public ownership. Build it. Keep it.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2006 | Philadelphia named Olympic 'partner'

We are worried about a hockey areana and a casino -- while at the other end of the state some are bucking for the Olympics in 2016.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2006 | Philadelphia named Olympic 'partner': "On the eve of the start of the Winter Games in Italy, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced yesterday that it had chosen the Philadelphia region to be one of its community partners.

No, this does not mean that the 2016 Summer Games are coming here. But in the view of the man heading the effort to make that happen, such a designation can't hurt.

'We're glad to have the beginning of an official relationship with the USOC,' said Joseph M. Torsella, who, as head of the city's informal organizing committee, has been working behind the scenes for months. 'We hope this is the start of a long and beautiful friendship.'

It remains unclear whether any U.S. city will be allowed to bid for 2016. The USOC is promising to address the matter after the close of the Paralympic Games on March 19 in Turin.

But becoming a community partner indicates that Philadelphia is ready to mount a serious bid if and when the competition starts.

Casino details hidden - PittsburghLIVE.com

All the king's horses and all the king's men, won't be able to fix Pittsburgh again. The secrecy stinks and it is why Pittsburgh still has its "smokey city" image. The smoke isn't from mills full of hard-working men making products for the rest of the world. Today's smoke is from status quo politicians who work hard to hold onto what little power they have for all the wrong reasons.

Casino details hidden - PittsburghLIVE.com: "n Pittsburgh, however, the slots application process is still shrouded in secrecy. The applicants have talked about their proposals, but the state and city refuse to make the details public."

URA approves sale of property for library - PittsburghLIVE.com

Over-reaching stinks. We have had enough of the broken promises. Cut the chatter. Putting up a library is fine. But don't go and claim that the library, moving from one corner to another, makes a "significant economic generator" and a "resource and beacon" for the economically depressed Hill District. Give us a break.

Perhaps this is why Hazelwood is thriving now, because the library moved to the main street above a laundry. How many new jobs moved there? -- Zippo? --

Now that the Library owns the space for $1, does that mean it can knock down how much it gets in RAD funding?

Furthermore, this is still the sale of a bit of property that won't turn into tax-payer land. I would rather give a lease for 99 years and now sell the property.

I would rather see a net shrinkage of all land owned and controlled by nonprofits. If they take that land, then twice or four-times the land should be made commercial again.

The URA owns a ton of land. The URA has way to much land. That land needs to be liquidated, in due measure. But to give the URA, a holding company, the mission to liquidate but only have the land be owned by nonprofits is even worse than what we need.

I love libraries. I really do. But, I'm not going to look at these transactions with blind spots to our city's overall health and fitness.

URA approves sale of property for library - PittsburghLIVE.com... the five-member URA board approved an $18 million tax-increment financing plan for the $170 million Three PNC Plaza project Downtown. Such plans allow cities to use money generated by increased property taxes to redevelop blighted areas.

The plan must have a public hearing and go before the city and county councils for consideration at the end of this month before it's approved. The Pittsburgh Public Schools board won't review the proposal until March and final approval might not happen until May.

I'm against all TIFs. I would not approve this TIF to PNC.

Nearly all of our town is designated as "blighted." We need to end blight -- by stopping the use and designation of the term, blight. Blight is a paperwork term that leads to more give-a-ways from the government, more eminent domain, more taxes for the home owners. Blight allows the politically connected to get theirs and the rest of the people to pay for it. And, the blight never goes away, it only gets worse.

This game of musical chairs, with a focus on blight, is just another way to confuse the public.

Linux Basics Tutorial on Saturday

Western PA Linux Users Group gathers to help new people to Linux on Saturday, February 11, 2006, from 10 am to 2:30 pm at Newell Simon Hall 3002. This meeting is FREE and open to the general public. Please invite your friends and coworkers so that they can see Linux.

Newell Simon Hall 3002, http://www.wplug.org/pages/wplugmap/

412 268 4998

Distribute fliers to promote this tutorial,
http://www.wplug.org/files/linuxbasicsho.pdf

Speaker: Beth Lynn Eicher
Host: Patrick Wagstrom

ABOUT THE TUTORIAL- LINUX BASICS
The tutorial will be a brief yet thorough overview of the Linux operating system. If you would like to get started and you would like a cram course in the basics, this class is for you. Maybe you just started using Linux however you feel like you are drowning in a sea of information. Fear not, we are here to help.

You may bring a computer along, but one is not required. We will be demonstrating a version of Linux called KNOPPIX with allows you to boot directly from the cdrom into a fully-functional Linux operating system without affecting the current contents of your hard drive. You can follow along with your own system to enhance the experience or just sit back and watch. If you do choose to bring your system, make sure to bring
everything (monitor, keyboard, mouse, power cords, power strips, etc.). We do have carts available to help you move your stuff into Newell Simon Hall 3002. Please be considerate and arrive before 11am with your computer so that we can get started at 11am sharp.

We encourage all to RSVP, especially if you are bringing your computer. However, if you did not RSVP, please come anyhow. Those who RSVP to rsvp@wplug.org will receive a free Knoppix CD.

If you have any questions about the event, special needs, or any topics you would like the tutorial to cover, please email rsvp@wplug.org

TOPICS WE WILL COVER
* Why use Linux
* Choosing a distribution
* Using the command line
* Installing programs - rpms and tars
* Security suggestions
* How not to get into trouble
* Basic desktop usage
* Using Knoppix as a rescue disk or as your main Linux desktop

SCHEDULE
* Doors will open at 10 am to NSH 3002
* Coffee and Doughnut Hour 10 am-11 am
* Linux Basics tutorial part I 11 am - Noon
* Geeks Eating Pizza Noon-ish - 1pm
($5 is suggested for pizza contribution)
* Linux Basics tutorial part II 1pm-2:30pm
* General Socialization 2:30pm-3pm

Other events: Saturday March 4, Installfest 10 am-5 pm Newell Simon Hall Atrium (3rd floor commons).

If you have any questions about this event or wplug in general, please
send mail to info@wplug.org

Questions I'll be giving answers to shortly

1) The City is expected to have a budget deficit in future years; do you support further cuts or an increase in taxes to resolve this issue?

2) How would you have voted on Act 47?

3) Tax Increment Financing is a very controversial issue because it is not being used as the legislation intended it to be used (i.e. redevelopment of brownfields). What will you do to prevent the misuse of TIF’s?

4) Which slots application do you support?

5) How will you implement community based development plans for each neighborhood in the District?

6) District 3 is home to the 2nd highest percentage of 18-24 year olds. How will you improve the vibrancy of the District to keep young people in Pittsburgh? Do you support an active night life, such as live performances and other arts?

7) Domestic partner rights are being threatened by state lawmakers. How will you protect same sex benefits for City employees?

8) City Council recently imposed a buffer zone around health care clinics. Will you work to enforce local laws that protect a woman’s right to choose?

9) What is your position on the Mon-Fayette Expressway? What forms of alternative transportation do you support to provide a solution to the region’s transportation problems?

10) What is your position on the strip mining of the Hays site for a racetrack/casino? What should the City do to proactively protect Hillsides and green space?

Nice guy finishes first | UGA | ajc.com

Steeler Nation, down south juking -- with them junk yard dawgs.

Nice guy finishes first | UGA | ajc.com: "Nice guy finishes first
By Chip Towers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Really enjoyed watching the Super Bowl this past Sunday. I went in not sure who I was rooting for but it quickly became apparent that I wanted Pittsburgh to win. Why? Mainly because of Hines Ward.
I had the pleasure of covering Ward when he came to Georgia in 1994. I�d like to say I was the first who tabbed greatness for him but that wouldn�t be the truth. His high school coach at Forest Park, Mike Parris, told me while Ward was still being recruited that I�d see him flourish in the NFL some day. Now I�ve known Parris since we both attended Redan High School in the late 1970s but, impressive stats aside, I couldn�t see the type of world-class athleticism in Ward that my friend described, not in this slightly undersized but extremely versatile teenager. But I would get a first-hand look over the next four years as Ward played tailback, quarterback and wide receiver for the Dogs. Parris had said Ward could play virtually any position and, to this day, believes he would have been one of the best safeties in the game. I don�t doubt it now.
But what truly separated Ward was the type of person he was/is."

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says

A sales tax on advertising. Give me a break.

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Scott Niedermayer to miss Games for Canada - Wednesday February 8, 2006 7:21PM

Closer -- but still no Penguin is headed to the Olympics.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Scott Niedermayer to miss Games for Canada - Wednesday February 8, 2006 7:21PM Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was added to the Canadian roster to take Niedermayer's place.

A special election will be held April 11 to replace Habay.

Humm.... What's up with this? Insights welcomed.

Nonprofits are leading the charge....

Charge -- as in credit card charges?

OnQ Presents: Our Region's Next Renaissance
Tune in Thurs., Feb. 9 starting at 7:30 p.m. on WQED tv13

The Pittsburgh region's next renaissance is underway, and local nonprofits are leading the charge. In this installment, "OnQ" correspondent Tonia Caruso begins the coverage with a trip to Waynesburg, Greene County, where residents take an active role in non-profit revitalization projects.

Stay tuned after "OnQ" for another half-hour devoted to civic engagement. It's a live Town Hall meeting hosted by Chris Moore, who will take questions from viewers and a studio audience. Chris will be joined by Gregg Behr (The Forbes Funds), Aradhna Dhanda (Leadership Pittsburgh) and Gregory Crowley (Coro Center for Civic Leadership) to talk about how Pittsburgh's nonprofits are leading our region's next renaissance. We'll look at success stories and critical issues that need to be addressed. And we'll also talk about how nonprofits are working together to make a difference. If you can't join us in the studio, pick up the phone and call in with a question or comment. This program is the fourth of five town hall meetings to be held each month through March 2006.

The nonprofits have a place in Pittsburgh. However, that place needs to be contained. I've called for a complete moratorium on all nonprofit land expansion within the city limits. If the nonprofits want to expand, they should do it upward, not outward.

412-email blast: Winter Games Medal Count Contest generates first participants!

Hi Everyone!

See the 412-public-campaign archives to see the message that was sent to my blast list.

[412] Olympic contests: Predict the USA Medal Haul and Predict the Top 5 Nations at Winter Games in total medals

The entries are starting to flow. Two in the first 40 minutes. Here is one comment:

no prob..i dont even know how i got on this mailing list, but i
couldnt help it..i play fantasy sports every year (everything except
olympics), but i just LOVE this kinda stuff..

steelers..woohooo!

Connected rings.

Calling All Citizens.... Events for Elect.Rauterkus.com this week include:

Community Candidate for Pgh's City Council, Mark Rauterkus, hosts two events to discuss policies of our neighborhood and Pittsburgh this week:

You're invited. Bring your questions. Free and open to to the public.

8 pm on Wednesday, Feb 8 at South Side Athletic Club 2026 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412.488.1120

6:30 pm on Thursday, Feb 9 at Three Rivers Fitness & Sports Medicine Center
3216 Fifth Avenue, Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412.621 8380

When you attend, you'll be able to get, for free, a copy of the Elect.Rautekrus.com campaign CD featuring messages from Mark Rauterkus coupled with recorded songs, perfect for our city these days:

Lay The Shovel Down,
Think Again,
Don't Put Me In a Box,
A Nation of Burgers and Fries
Story: Diamonds (about baseball),
Poem: Suffering Democracy.


For further info, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412 298 3432

Election day: March 14, 2006.
Framework for Mark Rauterkus: Freedom, Future, Fitness and Flow

Olympic Contests Launched

Let's have some fun with the start of the Olympics. I'm helping to promote a little contest. You too can promote it was well. It is simple.

USA, USA, USA --- and Hockey fame! This is a photo of the recent movie, Miracle on Ice, taken in China outside a cinema there.

Make a guess (or prediction) of the NUMBER of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals that are going to be won by the USA at the Winter Olympics in 2006.

Gold = ____
Silver = ____
Bronze = ____

Make a guess (or prediction) by ranking the top five nations in terms of total medals won at the Olympics in 2006:

Country with the most total medals = ___________
Country getting 2nd most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 3rd most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 4th most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 5th most in total medal count = ___________

Submit your answers with name, age, address, and email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or post them on the blog, http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com, or put them on paper and submit them to Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Clinic in Oakland, 3216 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. (Call 412.621 8380 for directions.)

Note, all answers are due on or before Feb 13, 2006. Entries on the 14th or later are not eligible for a prizes.

Cost nothing to enter. Prizes for the winners are pending, but will include a number of good things -- we promise. I'm sure winners can will get a new Liberty XL t-shirt, an artistic Pittsburgh button and a free CD of great music that includes the tune, "Lay the Shovel Down," and "Think Again."

Entries can be posted on the blog, here. Or, via email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or handed over to the front desk workers at Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Center in Oakland. No official entry form is necessary. Please, one entry per person, per contest.

The aim of the contest is to make the Olympics more enjoyable for the kids of all ages. This might give more motivation to watch, research and read about in the events in newspapers and on the web. The contest can be an exercise among families and friends in terms of global and sporting literacy.

Additional prize donations are being accepted. If you'd like to print up your own entry forms, go for it. Then you'd be able to hand them out to your classroom or school children.

Are you ready for some football -- errr --- Olympics!

The Winter Olympics are about to begin. I'm not sure this town is ready -- as most are hung-over from the black-and-gold victory. But, the world awaits.

We are gathering this week to talk about sports and recreation at two health clubs. Come on out.

Do iPod earbuds cause problems? - My wife got ink today in the P-G.

My wife got some ink in today's P-G.

Do iPod earbuds cause problems?: "Dr. Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the Eye and Ear Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said the personal responsibility defense breaks down, however, when talking about children.

'People often don't know when they're doing damage to their ears because your ears don't just start bleeding. It's an insidious kind of slow process,' she said.

'We don't limit the sales of any of these devices by age in this country, so we kind of expect kids to be responsible.'

Dr. Palmer and others still said common sense is the best policy, especially for parents. If they can hear music from a child's earphones more than a yard away, it is too loud. Children should also be warned about turning up their iPods -- and other music devices -- to overcome ambient noise in buses or other commonly loud places.

To be absolutely safe, UPMC will make a mold of a patient's ears and make headphones that cancel out most outside noise, allowing music to be played more quietly. They cost between $70 and $120. The hospital will also check decibel outputs of music devices."

My wife and sweetheart (Feb 14 is almost here), is Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., Director of Audiology at UPMC's Eye and Ear Institute -- and -- she has a joint appointement with the Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehab Sciences.

Taking care of your health is a good thing.

Using common sense is a good thing too.

And, going out of our way to take care of the kids, with special hand holding is also a good thing as well.

So, rock on, with fidelity, and within normal limits.

I want to chat on Gmail -- and give this a whirl. Interested?

The Gmail email service has a new CHAT feature that is rolling out to different users in the weeks to come. I'm a big fan of chats. So, anyone want to give this a whirl? Let me know.

My Gmail handle is Mark.Rauterkus -at- Gmail dot com.

Scranton is out of race for PA Governor. Lynn Swann is too much -- with the Super Bowl en 'at.

Scranton's campaign for change goes poof and he is wise to call it quits. He challenged the status quo by standing with the people for clean government and honest reform. We do believe Pennsylvania deserves a government that does its business openly, and in the clear light of day. Public service is the highest calling and it is the first duty of elected leaders to conduct the people’s business with integrity.

Scranton's campaign for governor has been about renewing Pennsylvania and calling on the leaders to return to our historic platform of limited government and personal responsibility. Without these changes, Republicans risk losing the confidence of the people and Pennsylvania’s stalled return to greatness may never occur.

Pennsylvania’s Republican establishment was opposed to Scranton's call for an open primary.

Scranton was sure to wish his best to both Lynn Swann and Jim Panyard. He is going to extend full, unequivocal support to the nominee that emerges in May.

---

Lynn Swann on Bill Scranton Exiting the Race

Bill Scranton made a difficult decision today. I applaud him for his leadership, both in the past as Lt. Governor and today as someone with an interest in seeing the Republican Party unified as we move towards our ultimate goal - defeating Ed Rendell. I look forward to working with Bill and his supporters.

Bill's competition for this nomination has contributed a great deal to the debate about making the Commonwealth a better place for all Pennsylvanians. We all agree on one thing, Pennsylvania must do better.

Our current governor thinks Pennsylvania is as good as it can be. I know we can do better, and I look forward to a spirited campaign revolving around the issues important to Pennsylvania families.

Champion Steelers parade through clogged Downtown

Champion Steelers parade through clogged Downtown Several people reported feet or ankles were run over.

My heart does NOT bleed for these big footed, foolish fans. I don't think that the cars ran up and onto the sidewalks.

Heck, when #36, went past, where I was standing to watch, I could not even see what type of car he was ridding upon. It could have been a skateboard for all I could see. The women next to me didn't see The Bus at all -- until he was a block down the street. There, that's his brown coat. She did get a peek at the S.B. trophy when he raised it into the air however.

Why didn't The Bus ride upon a PAT Bus? Or, why not even a school bus?

I spoke today at City Council Chambers -- and gave the police a letter grade of "A" for their efforts after the game on Sunday night. (See the post yet to come.) At the parade today, they grade isn't as high.

Seemed like the players and parade participants needed a good blocking back. Where is Rockey, #20, when you need him. They did squeeze through the crowd -- but #7 had more room to spare in his Super Bowl Touch Down than was provided today along the route.

Allegheny County Council member Eileen Watt resigning

This is how a campion of the people operates. Three cheers for Ms. Watt. You should have been in the parade today.

Allegheny County Council member Eileen Watt resigning: Allegheny County Council member Eileen Watt announced this afternoon that she would step down at the end of council's meeting this evening.

Ms. Watt, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the seat in the state House now held by Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, said she was resigning from council 'due to a restriction on candidates for other office who would also serve on County Council.'

The others -- you only have time against you. Do the right thing and GET OUT NOW.

I am a member of the Libertarian party -- but -- there is more.

Sure, I'm a member of the Libertarian Party. However, I'm the vice-chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party. That's an elected postion. Last year, 2005, I was an elected board member. This year, I'm the second highest official in the party. This isn't just for District 3, nor for the city, but for Allegheny County.

So, "Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian," works fine.

Or, if space permits, "Mark Rauterkus, vice-chair of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County" is accurate. More concise, "Mark Rauterkus, vice-chair of Allegheny County Libertarians."

There is a Republican in the race for city council, on paper. He has yet to appear at any candidate function. He was a no-show again last night when the community gathered in Arlington. These events are on my calendar -- and -- I've offered to share my calendar with him. I don't like it when there is a candidate night and everyone isn't invited. But, I can't do much more than offer to be staight-forward and honest with the dates to him and to others.

Five years ago, I wasn't happy with the way the city was being led. We were on the wrong track. I had had enough. So, I joined the opposition and tried my best to oust the top guy in town -- mayor Tom Murphy, D. I ran around town, networking with citizens and building solutions where I could.

So, I think it is important to put up an opposition. It is important to fight the give-a-ways. It is important to preserve and sustain our rights -- week in and week out.

I want to be certain that we include others and go away from our one-party town legacy. But, for this to occur, other viable alternatives are necessary.

A Republican that is going to skip candidate functions -- all of them so far -- and not work to make Pittsburgh better, in the slightest, isn't to be counted upon as a helper in our general struggle for survival. I have no problem with people sitting on the sidelines, being busy with their life's work, giving family time, whatever. Fine. But a candidate that is a continual no-show has to be questioned.

Ink 1 in So Pgh Reporter

Mr. Rauterkus said he is 'well-equipped' to handle the issues facing the district which includes protecting the freedoms of all citizens in the community. He cited the parking permit program as an example.

He believes this is just a 'backdoor way to a tax increase' and believes agencies such as the URA inhibit the city from growing properly. He opposes any sort of parking-permit program. Most of the other candidates believe permit-parking is a necessity for some urban residents who lose their parking spaces for eight to 10 hours at a time due to suburban commuters who park their cars on the South Side Flats en route to their jobs downtown or in Oakland. Most candidates believe permit-parking is okay if there is a clear consensus within the neighborhood.

Mr. Rauterkus is also upset about a system that allows those who do not pay their taxes to get away with it while "punishing" hard-working citizens who maintain their homes and pay their taxes. He said the tax burden is falling more and more on the shoulders of the law-abiders. He believes if something is not done about correcting this imbalance of leniency for the law-breakers (while putting more of a burden on lawful citizens), the good residents are going to continue to flee the city for the suburbs."

Here is another quote within the article.

Mr. Rauterkus said he is not in favor of privatizing city services such as garbage collection and public works. However, he favors privatizing "a new arena, the convention center and downtown department stores like Lazarus" which should not be given public funding and tax breaks for aiding the private businesses.

BTW, my last name was spelled wrong throughout the article.

Ink in the South Pgh Reporter - 2 articles

Mark Rauterkus, of the South Side, is a Libertarian. "I'm angry and agitated at the way the city is led," he said. He is particularly angry about deals, such as the tax increment financing proposals being studied by the school board. "These big ticket items are killing us," he said.

Parade today and no school at North Allegheny HS

The south side does not disappoint | pittsburgh bloggers

The south side does not disappoint | pittsburgh bloggers: "And it seriously reminded me of heaven. Because you saw all these social groups unified in the strangest of ways. Punks were hugging yuppies. Jocks were high-fivin� goths. Everyone was unified under the black and gold."

Almost heaven, West Virginia -- sang John Denver. Woops, wrong decade.

Nice post. Good times on the street too.

I'd not be too liberal with your boasting about taking cash for a lift to Crafton -- as the city might charge you a EMS Tax. That $56 would take a bit out of your enjoyment and it comes right off the top, before you get paid.

Those EMS taxes are hitting hard with January pay checks now.

What campaign headquarters has its own concert hall?

Take a peek at our venue for hosting concerts.

http://S6.CLOH.Org/art/concert-hall.avi

This is a small movie without any music, yet. And, it is still uploading so it might not work for the next few minutes.

Neighborhood groups begin to collect information on proposed casinos

I'll be at the Feb 14 meeting. Hope you can make it too.

Neighborhood groups begin to collect information on proposed casinos On the South Side, where Harrah's and Forest City Enterprises want to build a Station Square casino, the South Side Planning Forum has scheduled a Feb. 14 meeting to discuss the impact of a casino, which would lie about a mile to the west of the South Side's main business district. Officials from Forest City have been invited to the meeting.

'That's sort of the first step in organizing a community discussion about this,' said Rick Belloli, executive director of the South Side Local Development Co.

Mr. Belloli also sits on the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force, the organization charged with studying the various casino plans and gauging their potential social and economic effects.

The development group has worked with Forest City previously -- last summer, Forest City, which owns Station Square, ran a shuttle from Station Square through the South Side, at the behest of the organization. Mr. Belloli hopes the two groups can work together again if Forest City is awarded a casino license."

Did anyone ever see a report on the ridership of the "Free Ride Bus" that was provided last summer on the South Side? I'd like to see that summary report. What accountability is there?

So, Belloli is the exec director of the SSLDC, and a member of the gaming task force and his organization is getting handouts for major programs with Forrest City. Humm... And, the South Side option, where "the fix is in" (so said Tom Murphy at a prior meeting I attended) ... is getting the least opposition.

These guys won't be for nor against. But, rather than help run a scout troup, they'll re-use the scout's motto -- Be Prepared. So, the lesson delivered is it is okay to be a skunk in the middle of the road as long as you're a nimble one.

Carson Street might resemble a parking lot -- after a Steelers game, so he said. Well, it looks like one today, and last night too. There used to be a street sweep program. But, the organization couldn't make that work in a sustainable way for the long haul. They moved along to the bus program, Free Ride. And that was on the heels of the Ultra Violet Loop bus program.

These guys want a clean city -- but they have to push a broom to get it that way. Or, we might need a new broom.

The vision I fear is that East Carson Street is going to become a parking lot for tour buses.

As for residential parking -- we need to stop the TIF on the other side of the MON at Second Avenue. There they want to build new parking garages. Well, it seems to me that we have a parking problem in the established neighborhoods that should get the attention before parking resources are squandered on the other side of the river at some office park.

Zoning isn't going to allow neighborhood groups to "PRESERVE" the strip of South Side up to Sixth Street. Monitor the types of businesses.... give me a break. So far so good as to monitoring the tatoo shops too, or the bars, or the absentee landlords, or the afterhours clubs or the grafitti, etc.

As for D.U., "The school, he (DU's President) said, had "an obligation to our students to stake out a position on this matter."

Right, DU's boss is the salt of the earth. He takes a stand, because of an obligation.

Furthermore, the plan to put the casino on the South Side is not two blocks away from 10,000 students. But it would be 10 blocks away from 5,000 DU students. And, it would be 5 blocks away from another 5,000 downtown students who don't attend DU. Be it 2 blocks or 10 blocks -- I guess that is a long walk or short bike ride vs just a short walk.

The word, "obligation" is good to see in any news coverage of this sort. It isn't a value that is high on many agendas around here.

Meanwhile, what the heck are these groups waiting for?

On the North Shore, where Detroit businessman Don Barden hopes to build a casino near the Carnegie Science Center, community groups have yet to weigh in. The North Side Chamber of Commerce plans to poll board members, said board president Debbie Caplan, while the North Side Leadership Conference is searching for a new executive director and in the midst of revamping its business plan, said interim director Dana Jaros.

Let's start a "leadership" group and then give a quote, "after that happens, we'll probably talk with business owners small and large." Let's give them a new name, The North Side Leaderless Conference. So retro and totally reactionary.

Hundreds of Steelers celebrants pour into the cold Oakland, South Side night

This was noticed. It would have been very nice to have had the trash cans emptied on East Carson Street. And, perhaps more put up along the street. But, those paper cans would not have been able to cut it.

The bigger nights of trouble, with a few broken windows, was on Friday and Saturday nights. The streets needed to be "red-up" before the game began. But, that would have been more "overtime."

Hundreds of Steelers celebrants pour into the cold Oakland, South Side night He also said two trash bins near Carson were set on fire, and around midnight, police in riot gear began advancing east on Carson toward 18th, clearing fans from the streets. Some officers reported that they were being pelted with bottles near 21st Street.

The officers I encountered had their game faces on, throughout the night. They were "on the job" and were not anything other than serious, as they should have been.

For an hour after the game officers for the most part let the revelers enjoy themselves. Some were chuckling at the spectacle, no doubt glad themselves that the Steelers were bringing a fifth world-championship trophy back to Pittsburgh.

Hundreds of Steelers celebrants pour into the cold Oakland, South Side night

Hummm.... I didn't see this fire. Must have been while the kids were getting to bed. That two-hour delay was welcome relief today. My guys slept right to 9 am, giving them two extra hours of sleep.

Hundreds of Steelers celebrants pour into the cold Oakland, South Side night: About 11 p.m., at 12th and East Carson streets on the South Side, a large fight erupted and several arrests were made, said Deputy Police Chief William Mullen. Another person was arrested near 18th and Carson after trying to punch a police officer.

Officials comments for a Steelers victory party

Very clever story by P-G's Gary Rotstein in today's newspaper. It is a must read for the humor.

Officials comments for a Steelers victory party This script of official comments planned for the Steelers victory celebration was found in a booth at the McDonald's on Stanwix Street. What, you thought these things were all off-the-cuff? Someone might say something outlandish. Here's what to expect.

South Side post-game -- Super Bowl

I didn't see any couches on the street in an inferno, thankfull. The choppers are still overhead at 1:22 am.

I'm sure the officers are going to get ready to go home soon. They mobalized a bit around 12:30, and I wanted to end my walk as a neighborhood nebster, but I was past by the Birmingham Bridge.

There were plenty of police on the South Side. I'm going to guess that there were 200 from Station Square to the other end of the Flats and a dozen or two along the hillsides. ??

Everyone seemed to be doing a nice job. The night was filled with a lot of hooting of fans, talking on cell phones and taking of photos and video.

The predicted score -- 3 to 14 -- held for a long time

Okay, if only we didn't have the Neil O'D flashback -- we would have been fine taking a 4th down turn over deep into the Seahawks territory. My game prediction was kinda close.

It was a low scoring game. And, it was an 11 point margin.

I do have a good sense about forecasting.

Faces fit for radio -- and commentary suitable for a city with a future too!

On the Air -- Here we are after our 30-minute radio show on Pitt's radio station. The show is available for your review, from start to end, in the /audio/ directory of the site. Go to http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/audio/ and hear what we had to say.


While we were on the air...

New T-shirts. This is Running Mate Rich Johnson!

New T-shirts: Liberty XL, One size fits all. Pittsburgh, 2006.


The back says, Elect.Rauterkus.com, 3.14. That's the date of the election, March 14.

You can get your own t-shirt too, for a small donation. Call me to place your order: 412 298 3432.

Don't Put Me In a Box -- from the recent campaign concert with Johnsmith at HQ on the South Side

You can hear a song by Johnsmith, as performed at our campaign concert recent Rally for Rauterkus at our brand-new venue at our South Side H.Q. We had more than 50 people attend the festivities on Feb. 2, and a good, meaningful time was had by all.

Quicktime, high bandwidth:

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/sounds/DPMIABhigh.mov

Quicktime, low bandwidth:

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/sounds/DPMIABlow.mov


Johnsmith sang, among other things, "Kicking The Stone" -- over the 10th Street Bridge, up 12th Street and all the way to the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Steelers win with a score of 3-14. And NO overtime.

Prediction: Seahawks 3 - Steelers 14. That's 3-14. The statement, 3-14 is more than a football score, as it is a date, March 14, of the special election for district 3, city council, city of Pittsburgh.

Frankly, I'm worried about OVERTIME. I don't want any overtime in the SuperBowl.

Likewise, I don't want to see so much overtime in the payroll of city workers so as to drain the city's annual budget. Nearly ten percent of the city's payroll budget is being sucked up in overtime charges including public safety workers: Emergency Medical Service, Firefighters and Police. They've had a flock of retirements and a shortage of new employees hired. The miss-management hurts in the day-to-day lives of these workers, their families and productivity. Plus, the second bit of pain comes from the inflated salaries that lead to higher pensions for years to come as these folks retire.

Most of all, we can't have any OVERTIME tonight, past the game. Outside my door and up-and-down the South Side the police have deployed road blocks and barracades. Stores are boarded up, like a hurricane is expected. Nobody should be tackled or sacked on the streets of the city AFTER the game ends. Leave the trash talking to Joey Porter too. Let lawlessness reside in Detroit (if it must reside anywhere). Lawlessness isn't welcomed in Pittsburgh and elsewhere throughout our region.

Super Bowl XL = can come to mean, Extra Liberty = Everyone Wins!

Around the South Side today, I hope to post mini, 4-color, artistice Pittsburgh signs that say:
Liberty
XL
Everyone wins!

Meeting with folks on the North Side -- to talk about big issues -- Health Care Reform.

Wilburn Hayden, Ph.D., briefs a group of people from various chuches around the county on the efforts of Health Care Reform in PA. The measure has a bill number in the PA Senate. Wilburn is the director of social policy and research for the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign.

I took the photo.

500 show support for Penguins' new arena-casino proposal

500 show support for Penguins' new arena-casino proposal Ms. Harris, 17, of Carmichaels, Greene County, was holding a sign that read, 'Rendell ... No Arena, No Vote!'

For starters, a 17-year-old does not vote. Now, that is a shame, but it is a fact. Plus, the payment for the arena does NOT generally fall upon the backs of the people in Greene County -- but rather upon the people of the city of Pittsburgh.

The sign should read: "No Arena, No Vote, No Smarts." Logic is absent. Think again.

I was NOT asked to be a speaker at this event, by the way.

If the Civic Arena was BAD URBAN DEVELOPMENT -- why hasn't Peduto fixed it already? Why have the Dems not fixed the urban development of Three Rivers Stadium -- nor Heinz Field's urban development project too. I say the North Side is bad urban development too. Deadlines have passed and the only thing that is really happening is the shifting of jobs from other offices downtown to the North Side, leaving big holes in the downtown market. And, we get a massive parking garage that is going to be empty most of the time.

It is bad urban development to churn. The civic arena is a historical site now. It can be better blended into the fabric of the city. I think I know how to make that occur. Heck, the civic arena is the only indoor ice rink in the city.

Worse urban development -- far worse than the civic arena -- is the closing of an indoor ice rink on the South Side behind UPMC's South Side Hospital within a park. That is a dark hole that has been ignored by the likes of Bill Peduto and others on City Council. Gene Ricciardi, our former city council person, was the Chairman of the Citiparks when that was closed and NOT re-opened. He didn't care nor did he do much at all.

These guys are quick to stand up and grab a new shovel and want to re-do everything. They want big projects. They want big-ticket spending. But, they also drive up the debt. They also make earth move and nothing else moves -- not the economy, the the jobs, not the quality of life for ALL the city's, county's and region's citizens.

The Pens should stay, of course. The Pens should build a new arena, of course. But, they should do it on their own land with their own money.

The windfalls from gambling need to be diverted to more pressing needs, not a new hockey arena in a league that is about to die and didn't play a game last season.

Carmine's audio still rings true in most instances

Index of /~player/history/audio/carmine Another audio directory with many strong statements from years ago that still hold today.

Volunteer call

Audio of a call for volunteers.

The War on T-Shirts - Yahoo! News

My new t-shirt, by the way, came out for the first time on Thursday, for our campaign concert with singer/songwritter, Johnsmith. I had talked about it and shown the artwork to the audience at the candidate forum on Monday night. Its buzz began, right on this blog.

Furthermore, one of my t-shirts is already in Detroit -- on the back of a Steeler fan. She doesn't have a ticket -- but she has the kwel Liberty XL shirt!

In other t-shirt news....

The War on T-Shirts - Yahoo! News Minutes before the President of the United States would tell the Congress how much he appreciates 'responsible criticism and counsel,' the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq was dragged from a gallery overlooking the House chamber where Bush would speak, handcuffed and arrested for the 'crime' of wearing a T-shirt that read: '2245 Dead. How many more?'

Cindy Sheehan, who had been invited to attend George Bush's State of the Union address by Representative Lynn Woolsey (news, bio, voting record), the California Democrat who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, did not put the 'dangerous' shirt on for the event. The woman whose protest last summer outside the President's ranchette in Crawford, Texas, drew international attention to the antiwar movement, had been wearing it at events earlier in the day.

Indeed, as Sheehan, who had passed through Capitol security monitors without incident, noted, 'I knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the ticket and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her.'

No one has suggested that Sheehan was in any way disruptive.

So why was she arrested?

Because, as Sheehan recounts, she was identified as a dissident.

Dissent -- a fine concept. Another word for a person who causes dissent in Pittsburgh is nay-sayer. I've been a 'nay-sayer' to the N-th degree.

Casino plan criticized - PittsburghLIVE.com

Casino plan criticized - PittsburghLIVE.com With at least 3,000 slot machines, Pittsburgh's casino will be too big and could end up looking like a 'shed,' Anne Swager, co-chair of the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force, said in a recent magazine interview.

That's assuming the state ever awards the casino licenses. Swager also said lawmakers have impeded a casino selection process marked by 'politics as usual.'

EXACTLY. But, the blasted casino can't look like a stinking shed if we INSIST upon the placement of the casino within the nice looking CONVENTION CENTER. Make it go there and no where else.


Convention Center isn't an ugly box. It is the place to make the casino work for Pittsburgh.


Green building, big arches, sky lights -- and all at a cost of about $6-million per year in regular operational COSTS, not counting the debt for building the cool building. The $300 million to build and the annual subsidization of the building -- makes it a weight around the necks of the taxpayers. Here is an opportunity to sell the building to a casino operator. Let's get rid of it now, before the casino operator needs to build another building.

Major software upgrade for concept maps: CmapTools v4

CmapTools v4 has been released and is now available for download from http://cmap.ihmc.us/

Version 4 adds a lot of new features and functionality. See the comments for the notes.

The next round of CDs that are to be provided with the campaign is to include this software.

Welcome to Pittsburgh Public Schools

Welcome to Pittsburgh Public Schools Monday, February 6, 2006
Two-hour delay. No AM half-day programs.
Staff is to report on time.

Road Delays and School Delays

Roads around town are going to be closing at certain times. The horses are out already, and one is in front of our home / headquarters.

The Pgh Public Schools is going to have a two-hour delay on Monday, to allow for the hangovers I guess.

Super Bowl Party

Still don't have anything to do for the Superbowl?

Then get a life. And, you're in luck. We've got a few extras to spare if you so desire.

Go to the Rex Theatre on the South Side. As you may already know, many of the bars on the South Side have decided to close for the Superbowl. Not the Rex Theatre! The game will be shown on the movie screen with full surround sound. There will be food provided and a cash bar. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door as a donation to the Isaac for Congress Campaign. If you are interested, reply to Stacy Kletter, Volunteer Coordinator, Stacy@isaacforcongress.org and they'll hold tickets at will call for you. This is a wonderful opportunity to support a local candidate, and watch the Steelers win the Superbowl.

The Rex Theatre
1602 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Mike Isaac for Congress
311 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412.670.2940

---

At Station Square, the Junior US Senator from PA will be hosting a party as well.

---

If you really need a life, perhaps you could go to Station Square and protest outside their Superbowl party.

Hey Jack: Haste makes waste. Think again.

Wagner urges fast action on arena Southwestern Pennsylvania must come together as a community to demand that slot machine profits fund a new arena, Auditor General Jack Wagner said yesterday during the taping of KD/PG Sunday Edition.

This is another attempt by Jack Wagner to get the Penguins a new arena. He is charging along with this same tune.

The Penguins who are not able to think again as the organization is wed to the Isle of Capri gambling proposal. They won't think again. It is turning into a game of chicken -- do or die -- winner take all.

If Jack wants to be a promoter for the Penguins, I'd wish he'd go do that because I'm not sure what is happening in terms of him being an Auditor General. Is the Auditor General turning into a partisan fanatic for a team in a floundering league?

It is okay to prode and poke the do-nothing mentality of other leaders. But frankly, I think Dan Onorato should do nothing with the Penguins. The Penguins didn't do anything last year -- remember. The NHL didn't play any games for goodness sake. How trustworthy are they?

If you want to talk about doing nothing -- then lets talk about how the Penguins didn't do jack for a year. They went into nothingness. And, they've come back to life -- and could still toss the switch to off in a heartbeat.

PA Senate Bill 1085 -- call to Wayne Fontana from Mark Rauterkus

A major healthcare reform bill has been introduced in the PA Senate by Jim Ferlo.

Contact your State Senator and ask that he or she co-sponsor the bill, www.legis.state.pa.us.

Contract your state representative and ask if him or her to consider a co-sponsor's role. A lead sponsor is still needed.

Write, phone or e-mail Sen. Ferlo and thank him for taking the lead in sponsoring this legislation.

Lean about the bill and pass around the insights on the bill to others.

The next PUSH strategy meeting is tomorrow, Friday, Jan 28, 2006, 9:30 a.m., 33 Terminal Way, South Side. This big building is between 3d & 4th Streets.

Add your name to the PUSH address list so you will receive occasional mailings. You can become a member of PUSH by sending $10 or more to PUSH at the above address.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1085 - "The Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act."

This legislation assures comprehensive health coverage for every Pennsylvanian, adopts the cost efficiencies of a single payer Health Care Trust, solves the medical malpractice through a no-fault system that assures fair compensation where appropriate while reducing doctor/hospital malpractice premiums, embraces and underwrites a new "wellness curriculum" in our schools and encourages a community wide "culture of wellness" to support a renewed personal commitment to a healthful lifestyle, it supports sensible strategies to eliminate medical errors, ends unjust disparity, and much much more.

Groots effort by citizens across the Commonwealth and mainly in Pittsburgh have been pushing behind the scenes on top-flight solutions for Pennsylvania. This effort is a comprehensive and innovative approach to health care reform. Pennsylvania can be the center of the health care reform.

Our community concert and rally is tonight!

We still have some room.... Mostly at the 7:30 arrival time with music and program from 8 to 9 pm.

It is Thusday.... 2/2.

The groundhog has spoken --- and now it is time to sing, "Don't Put Me In a Box."

House Concert with Johnsmith

PR handout for the event.

Academies would add hours, days to city school year

Academies would add hours, days to city school year
The accelerated learning academies proposed for Pittsburgh Public Schools would add 45 minutes to students' school day and 10 days to their school year.
Lynn Spampinato, deputy superintendent for instruction, assessment and accountability, gave the figures at a school board Education Committee meeting last night.

412 email blast

Hi Friends and Neighbors,

Our CD for the campaign for city council includes a story called Diamonds by Meg Barnhouse. Her great message from a mom's perspective cuts to the chase on the value of baseball. I'd love for you to get the CD and listen to her story.

P-G reports that NINE players are in the race for city council:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06031/646962.stm

I'm the one who wants to work with our most precious resources:
+ our kids, and,
+ our liberties, as in FREEDOM and JUSTICE for all.

We're getting t-shirts too. White jerseys, black ink. Front says:

You'll be able to get the CD, the t-shirt -- and hear a wonderful
concert in our home / office on Thursday, Feb 2. The performer is
Johnsmith. He'll do his tune that I love: "Don't Put Me In a Box."

Here two tunes -- and -- a 30-minute radio interview with me from the
Pitt radio studios.

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/audio/

Hope to see you at the rally and concert on Thursday night.
+ Media at 5 pm.
+ Family set, arrival after 5:15 pm, music and program from 6-7 pm.
+ Set for civic leaders, arrival after 7:15 pm, music and program from 8-9 pm.

Details: http://S6.CLOH.org.

If you can't make it this Thursday, next Thursday evening starting at
6:30 pm we'll be holding another special event for the Olympics in
Oakland at the Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Center, near
Carlow. Our opportunity to focus on messages of kids' fitness and
performance won't be lost.

I'm going to help to promote two contests with a fun prize package
geared to the Olympics.
+ Predict the USA team's medal count: gold, silver and bronze.
+ Predict the top five nations in total medals at the Olympics.

More news soon.



Ta.

Mark Rauterkus Mark@Rauterkus.com
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com http://Platform.For-Pgh.org
412 298 3432 = cell

Candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, district 3, special election on 3-14-06.

509 Bandwidth Limit Exceeded at Pghbloggers.org

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Apache/1.3.34 Server at www.pghbloggers.org Port 80

Yes, this is great news! The end of the month, Jan 31, saw a short black-out of the site. Wonderful. No joke. The PghBloggers.org site is rocking the fiber, so to speak.

Infrastructure is important. Now our sewer lines under the city streets are frail -- and -- our WIFI wireless isn't there yet in a universal way throughout the city -- and our popular bloggers' hub is pushing new limits of its capacity as well.

That's progress.

Consider me like the little Dutch boy who sees a hole in the damn and plugs it with his finger. :)

My heart's wish for Feb 2006: I wish there were more bloggers covering the politics within the City Council special election on March 14. I'm in the race and have a different perspective, of course. But, I'd love to bounce around among a few of the other web sites and bloggs to make a sustained discussion.

Original post from 9:54 pm on Jan 31, 2006, but now updated.

Johnsmith -- great singer and good times -- guarantee

Johnsmith played in Pittsburgh at last year's concert.

New video uploaded to site from last year's concert.

Intro to Rooks and the Castle

House Concert in two days -- this Thursday evening

Our community concert is in two days. Be there! But do let us know if you are to be expected.

More details at S6.CLOH.Org.

Let's talk education.... even if it goes over some of our heads.

State of the Union follow-up.

With eighty-two percent of our nation's twelfth graders performing below the proficient level on the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science test, I feel it time to do something about it.

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/science/science.html

Furthermore, Pittsburgh's kids are not doing as well as the kids in many suburban districts.

Pittsburgh's future as Knowledge Town can lead to prosperity.

Forumula:
Knowledge Town > Buddy Burgh.

Smart Politicians + Smart Solutions - Handouts to friends - Freerides of apathy + Care for the youth = Knowedge Town

And, FYI: Pi is close to 3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510

Dave Eckhardt's Voting Machine Page

Dave Eckhardt's Voting Machine Page For now all that's here is a link to my January 31, 2006 statement to the Allegheny County Board of Elections. This was written on a deadline to address a particular go/no-go decision on Diebold voting machines and hence doesn't represent my full thinking on this topic, which has many complexities. So I'll probably add more later.

Overtime hits city budget hard

P-G news: Overtime hits city budget hard

While not the #1 pay earners, Bob and Dan get to go to the Super Bowl. Is that a perk or overtime?

Just as long as the game doesn't go to overtime then everyone will be happy.

The scooter goes, even with some snow and ice.

The 2-on-2 game of football, on the beach. The setting is not near a Great Lake -- and Detroit. Rather that's the Atlantic Ocean and a beach in Maine. The gang is home from a trip to see Grandpa.

Hut, hut....

Part 2 -- footnote on whistleblowers

These are my words from the Platform.For-Pgh.org wiki:

Whistleblowers-plank - PittsburghPlatform Whistleblowers and whistleblowing get my respect, full attention, and as capable, protection.


http://69.36.175.17/wiki/index.php/Whistleblowers

Another major Bruce mistake, but this from Krane, from last night. Part 2 from City Theater

Bruce Krane, an opponent in the race for city council, made one silly mistake in his initial introduction and then fixed it at the end of the night in his closing statement. He said, "I've been a Democrat all my life. I'll continue to being a Democarat." Yet, Krane isn't even a Democrat now.

That's the way the night started. Krane gave the first introduction. Meanwhile, the real Democrat who had the endorsement and who was still a Democrate wasn't yet on stage. He was a late to the event.

Krane fixed his self-description in his closing statement. It is always a plus when those "I am..." statements ring true.

The story behind the story deals with the answers provided from Krane in the question about the police.

Krane didn't say "PASS" like he did last week when there was a question about the parks put to him. But Krane should have passed because he got it wrong, in my humble opinion.

Throughout the night there were questions put to us all that every candidate got to answer. Then there were other times when a question was put to just one candidate in a "rapid fire round." So, Krane got the question about the police, by luck of the draw. He got to answer, and I didn't. Thank goodness for blogs.

---

QUESTION: It seems that the word-of-mouth crime reports are more accurate than the published crime reports. How can we correct this?

Bruce Krane's answer, in full, retyped from transcript:

I don't know what the justifications are to say that rumors are more accurate than the police report, first of all. Could you please read the question again? That just struck me right away.

... Q again ...

Well that is assuming that the police crime reports are inaccurate, I have a hard time accepting that.

But obviously, anybody that lives here, there has been an increase of crime that people talk about. I think that there has been an increase in some violent crimes. I think it is very frustrating that there does not seem to be picked up by the media and the truth should be told. But, when I look at the statistics, and I'm as concerned as any resident is about crime, particularlly violent crime, but it hasn't been proven to me that the numbers did increase.

There have been some very colorful crimes. There have been some aweful crimes. There have been some crimes of violence that we haven't seen before. But I would still have to go with the police reports as opposed to rumor reports on the streets. That's my answer.

---

This is from the Sunday newspaper. It was from the day prior. And, the news of this article came out in council's chambers, mostly, in the prior week.

Peduto sells out Until a few years ago, the Pittsburgh police, as did police forces in other city's worthy of major status, made their reports available. They are now kept from public inspection. As a result, reporters and the public are told to wait for a 'news release' that might or might not answer all questions.

Anyone who reads the newspaper could have hit a homerun with this question. Someone from out of state could have done a better job with that answer by knowing what Dennis Roddy wrote about.

My answer would have been much different.

We have a serious problem with the reporting of crime. We have a serious problem with the PA Amber Alert program too. We don't have the horsepower to make a very effective and super efficient NAN (neighborhood awareness network). Volunteers, given the size and scope of this district, can't do all the heavy lifting. These great volunteers should be running their businesses.

And, the police reports are wanting. They are lacking. The details and the real fiber of the happenings are being sheltered from the citizens who live, work, and invest here -- for no good reason.

I don't want business owners to get one type of police report while residents get another type of report -- as is the case with our situation as of a few months ago. The police did not want to give the residents the same info that they gave to the business owners. That makes the network -- not work. Nodes in the network need to be filled by residents.

Pittsburgh is a great word-of-mouth town. And, this landscape is a frustration to the power-brokers. But, it is our hope. It is how we cope and win on many instances.

This word of mouth network that outs falsehoods is how I win the election on March 14, by the way.

The rumor generation machine that is our network of word-of-mouth, is a big frustration to Mark Roosevelt, new superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools. He has come to learn that in Pittsburgh he can't just close 20 schools and not pick the right ones. We understand and know what schools should be closed. We know what principals are really doing a great job and who is not.

The police need to be more transparent in certain aspects. And, this is a top-down policy struggle with them that can be fixed in the weeks to come. I hope we are turning a new leaf, as one is needed to be turned.

Furthermore, Peduto was wrong in his scolding of various parties in this flap with the approval of the new police chief. I wrote about this last week, as Roddy did. My comment went upon the Platform.For-Pgh.org wiki. The root of this issue is whistleblowing. A touch of it comes to the 4th estate -- that's media talk for watchdog journalism.

In the instance with the standoff of the past, the message isn't about the messenger. It is about the message. We can't give threats from council's table to the city's attorney to call the district attorney because an important secret is seeing the light of day. The backlashes for a whistleblower around here stinks. That is a sure-fire way to halt reform. That is a sure-fire way to end freedoms and liberty. That is a sure-fire way to breed more corruption.

The power brokers need to know that they can't hide anything. As things are hidden, as events are shielded, as the public and press is locked out, Pittsburgh becomes more and more of a "smokey city." We've had enough of the legacy of the back-room deals being cut.

I don't want a candidate that can't name names. I don't want a candidate who can't see what is really going on around here.

All the king's horses and all the king's men can not put Humpty together again. Humpty took a great fall, and so has the City of Pittsburgh. To fix Pittsburgh, we need everyone's input and help. This is a major networking problem and all the strength of the network is only as great as its nodes.

Last week I spoke at City Council on the day that new police chief Dom Costa got interviewed by City Council and got a vote of approval, 8-0. My words on the matter were in complete support of what Luke Revenstahl said. Luke is City Council President. He said that the greatest asset for the police are the residents of the city. The people are the source of the power of the police. Without the people, and that relationship among people and police, we are in big trouble.

The relationship is what matters most. And, that is what is lost upon the rest of the field. Talk all you want about the police station, the parking problems where firefighters get tickets from police officers and how enforcement is lame because the police have a locker in an antiquated station house.

The point is being missed. And, this question last night covers that point so well.

The police reports stink. We can fix that. Bob needs to fix it. But the trust and relationship among citizens and police and the system we live under is frail. We need to mend relationships. We need to get to the roots of the problems -- so that there is JUSTICE FOR ALL, not just for your buddies or for the buddies that know how to stroke some politician.

I did have a public safety question put to me and one of the first things that needs to be done as a city council member is to make sure that the city council appoints its full share of members to the citizens police review board. City council has been in a fumble mode for more than a year on making its appointments. Gene Ricciardi and the Grant Street Cronies screwed up the ability of the citizens police review board from doing its job by not filling the seats of the board. The board could not meet for months as there were dead-wood members who were never going to show up for a meeting -- by design and intent. And, open seats were left open -- because city council wasn't doing the job it was intended to do. Council was doing the wrong jobs.

These are recent facts.

Deadline missed - PittsburghLIVE.com

The people love to hear promises, even empty promises. So, politicians around here give me up like cake to seniors in a recreation center.

I think it is okay to be a politician who is idealistic, a dreamer and an out-of-the-box thinker. We need open-mindedness in all sectors these days. But, the distinction of being a promise breaker, un-accountable, and at odds with reality is another matter totally.

I am a candidate who is idealistic. I try to learn as much, come to grip with the facts and THEN I slave (with others) to craft the best solutions possible. We need to make Pittsburgh a place where we thrive, not just survive. So, I like ambitions. But, the way to get to the "promised land" has more to do with calculated goals in a real world setting and less upon good intentions. The road to hell is paved with "good intentions."

Beware of politicians who are attempting to be hallmarks of promises -- as promises get broken. The over-reaching around here has been, and still is, killing Pittsburgh.

Bob O'Connor should have released his budget changes to the court of public opinion. Negotiating budget adjustments could have been done in the open. His part of the bargain that he struck with the people, just after he swore to God, could have been saved.

The prior Mayor celebrated the arrival of the first oversight board. The old council (mostly still with us today) made the arrival of the overlords necessary by constantly giving away all of our tax money -- like it is theirs to give away. Meanwhile, Bob O'Connor didn't object to the arrival of the overlords.

I am not happy with the overlords continued presence in our once great city. I pushed city council to vote against the arrival of the overlords. My side lost. I wanted a NO vote on Act 47.

I want to be self-reliant. I want self-determination. I think if we get the right people in the jobs on Grant Street we'll know best, without overlord supervision.

Furthermore, and most importantly, I want NO part of the overlords' entry into Pittsburgh, but I didn't want all the overspending (from council and the administration) that necessitated the arrival of the overlords.

The city leaders needed to say NO to the overlords, by spending less, back in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and to the present times. I was at odds with the city's leadership then. The writting was on the wall for years -- and I'm not talking about the run-away-troubles with grafitti in these parts.

They over-reached. Today, we suffer. Today, we don't have "rodent control." Today, we see more people move out of the city. Today, we see certain sections of our city grow deeper and deeper into dispair.

Deadline missed - PittsburghLIVE.com Mayor Bob O'Connor missed a self-imposed deadline to tweak Pittsburgh's 2006 budget by today, the end of his first month in office.

Days after his Jan. 3 inauguration, O'Connor said he would make changes to former Mayor Tom Murphy's $418 million budget proposal 'by the end of January,' even though state law gives the new mayor until the end of March.
'The end of January wasn't a hard deadline,' B.J. Leber, O'Connor's chief of staff, said Monday. 'It was just a target.'
Leber said she's still negotiating budget adjustments with the city's two state-appointed financial overseers -- the Act 47 recovery team and the state oversight board. Both were created in 2004 after Pittsburgh was declared financially distressed in December 2003. "

Nine file for vacant council seat

We could have our own baseball team. There are nine of us in the race, as of last night and today.

Nine file for vacant council seat Libertarian Mark Rauterkus, 46, has run for mayor and state Senate. The Flats resident and swimming coach said he'd be 'the person on City Council in charge of youth policy and recreation.'
He'd fight against rolling local tax dollars into $18 million in aid for the proposed new PNC Financial Services Group tower Downtown. He wants land to be taxed at a higher rate than buildings.

Nine is a good number. It is a number that means "long life" in China. And, since this is now the year of the dog, it is fitting to say that every dog has its day in the sun.

Closing remarks. OMG: HE said: "I am sworn to represent your well being before the city of Pittsburgh." Think again!

These were my words from my closing statement from tonight's candidate forum hosted at the City Theater.

It is hard to strike up a conversation and do a mind dump in a minute-and-a-half or two minutes. One of the things that we've prepared with my campaign is a CD. It fits in 30 or 40 minutes. We'll be doing new ones as well. It has music and message. It has the Platform.For-Pgh.org on there. It is an internet web site with more than 300 pages.

My blog is very active. I publish a lot of my thoughts out loud. Finding out where I stand on issues from years ago to now is very easy.

A lot of the things that were said tonight I'll be blogging about in another half hour or so. I'd like you to take a listen to this (holding the CD in my hand).

One message is "Lay the Shovel Down."

It is not about constituent services any more. We are broke. No money is left. You can do a nice little hug, but that is about it. Okay? We have to "Lay the Shovel Down." We have to get back to the basics of being free, to have some liberty, and justice for all. And then we can take back our city and have more command of things.

It is not about, as I heard, "taking over properties." Having the city take over more properties is the wrong way.

I've called for a moratorium on all non-profit land expansion.

One other thing is that this week on Thursday, I'm hosting a house concert over at our house on 12th Street. Everybody is invited. There is a handout with the details. This is something we need to talk about. There is a lot of things going on. I hope to have a conversation with all of you. Keep your minds open as to the way this whole campaign is going to occur for the next couple of weeks. Thanks for all of your attention.

---

Bruce Kraus gave this close, and spoke these words. The text below is retyped from the transcripts.

Bruce Kraus said in his closing statement:

There is one thing that was said this evening that I disagree with vehemently. And that is that this is not about constituency service. This election is about you. Each and every one of you. I want to set the standard for constituency service. I want to be held up as the hallmark of constituency service.

It is easy to stand here and say what I would like to do. I would rather stand here and say what I have done. I have worked diligently my entire life in this neighborhood. This neighborhood is in my blood. It is in the air I breath..To serve this community and to make this community better for each and every one of us whether it be neighborhood cleanups, fighting for police protection, having my business here and investing in my home here, my neighbors here.

I am sworn to represent your well being before the city of Pittsburgh.

I would like to say that the date of the election is March 14. I hope each and every one of you come out. Please come out and vote. It is a very important election. This is a very important position. And we must exercise the utmost care in who we select to do this job before you. So I respectfully ask to vote for me, Bruce A. Krause, on November 14 and thank you very much for your interest in this election and for taking the time to be here tonight.

---

Bruce. Sigh. I do not want you to represent my well being. No thanks. For starters, I want to be self reliant. For closers, you got it all wrong as to the duty and the sworn oath.

This is a show stopper.

Listen to this .wav file. Listen well. There is a fundamental problem. The job of being on city council has an associated oath. The sworn duty isn't about what you claim it is.

Sworn duty is ... exactly this.