Sweetheart deals are okay with me, really. Statement before City Council, March 7

My name is Mark Rauterkus. My family and I reside at 108 S. 12th Street. South Side.

My home on the internet is at Rauterkus.com and Elect.Rauterkus.com.

I am a candidate in the special election on March 14, one week from today.

Today's talk covers my #1 issue: Kids, Youth, and Young People. This topic blends parenting and schools, as well as community use of school and park facilities.

Yesterday's Post-Gazette editorial said this about me. "Mark Rauterkus, 46, is a Libertarian who opposes cronyism and sweetheart deals and who is 'running for the kids' -- to improve their safety and recreation."

Just to be clear, I'm not against all sweetheart deals. I think the use of the Market House for $5 per hour for nonprofit groups is fine. I think affordable swim pool passes for every resident is a great sweetheart deal. Public libraries, great public schools, reasonable mass transit and interesting park programs are all sweetheart deals that we should endorse.

Last month a black kid was on my TV – mouthing off a bit. He felt “dissed” -- as in disrespected. He didn't get what he thought he was due from the man, the big guy. Then this other, white kid gave it right back to him.

They both were smiling – but shaking their heads. It was like they had just ripped their hearts of of their bodies too.

On the spot, Bob Costas (not Costa) – was sure to show the world and play upon that 'rivalry.'

I'm talking, of course, about the speedskaters in Italy: Chad, a kid from Texas (Don't Mess with Texas) – and the black young man was originally from South Chicago. He had been quoted that he had to run home after school so as to not get beat up. Shanti became the first African American individual gold medalist in winter Olympic history from team USA.

That was wonderful conflict. That was personal drama and it played out on the world's stage with NBC cameras. Both young Americans raced to 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the 1500 meters. Both had even held the world record within this past year.

The "Home Boy" won. The dude from Italy beat them both. the margin of victory was .2 seconds – faster than you can say thump, thump, thump – gold, silver, bronze.

In the past weeks there have been some sporting events in Pittsburgh as well. These got some news coverage too. First, Bob O'Connor went to a girls high school basketball game at Westinghouse, the morning after a shooting outside the school.

Final score: 71 to 37. That game was our city league quarter-final playoffs. Hardly a tight score and game. With 71 to 37 – who do you think won that game?

I think – everyone lost.

That's oh so typical in Pittsburgh.

In the Olympics – even with some “bad blood” -- who do you think won there? I say, everyone won. To put your heart on the line in a challenge – it is what is about. Being your best. Having focus, challenges to yourself and others, at a level of excellence is fantastic.

Then we have shootings at Westinghouse and Downtown too.

Bob is worried about safety. You are worried about safety. The police chief is worried about safety.

First things first: Re-Hire Crossing Guards.

On the internet – in the past I wrote that Gene Ricciardi was NOT a friend to the public schools. He didn't like reading my statement, and he replied to me. I told him that he was no friend to the public schools for two main reasons.... public policy reasons, not personal nor family reasons.

1. He was in charge when the crossing guards were terminated. The city fumbled and this was tolerated. I hated that move and still speak up about it today.

2. He was around when the $4-million RAD funds were stolen out of the budget of the schools – in mid stream. That was a bailout backlash.

With my perspective, I'm less interested in building new jails and getting drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors.

People on Grant Street are now trying to worry about the 1,000 foot zone around each school. Fine. Make that a worry that comes from the eight of you and our new mayor.

My worry is at the other end of the spectrum.

That 71 to 31 girls basketball score stinks.

Our old school superintendent, Dr. John Thompson, is to blame, partly. Al Fondy, bless his soul, is to blame as well. The chairman of the committee on youth policy and citiparks – used to be Gene Ricciardi for many years – and now is Mr. Motznik – is to carry some blame.

I've been standing on my head – getting dissed – saying that city council is not doing what needs to be done.

Now our kids are killing each other – shooting at each other, weekly. This is crazy.

Our kids don't have anything to shoot for --- or to shoot at --- except each other. Everything they are seeing is lop-sided.

I care to put real challenges before our kids.

And this costs nothing -- or next to nothing.

To have the Pgh Public Schools join the WPIAL – and dis-band the City League – would cost NOTHING. And, the volunteerism that would swell would be massive – if we do it right.

I was at a meeting with the Assist. Superintendent of Schools. She wants to “rally the city” so we don't have pockets of excellence – but we have a city of excellence. Beautiful... How?

You don't do that with more metal detectors. More dogs. More lopsided basketball games.

I am not like any of these other candidates in the race. I am not like any of the present members of city council.

Same old same old is going to get us shooting after shooting.

Whether I win or loose the election on March 14, 2006, these problems with the youth need to be fixed.

I know that I want to create literate Olympians here. That isn't happening now.

Now, I want to begin to talk about sweetheart deals that make sense.

Reports on China -- helping hand from our perspective

We've been to China three times in the past two years. Each time, my sons made presentations to their respective classes and even grades at their school. This activity has been rewarding for all involved and there were even a bunch of emails back and forth from Pittsburgh to China when we were there with progress updates.

As is our custom, the reports are put on-line and put into the public domain for others to enjoy. And, they do. This email came recently from a mom and her fifth grade daughter in Des Moines, Iowa.

I was trying to help my fifth grade daughter find information on China for her school report when I came accross this report. I just wanted to say how wonderful the work turned out and how he even helped an adult like me understand China alot more! Super super job! I couldn't begin to praise him enough! The information on China that we have found is just so overwhelming that we didn't know where to begin and this report of his has helped put things into more of a perspective for us. I had to giggle on one part where he mentioned that there was a lot to keep track of with the symbols and beliefs, because that seemed to be true with a number of things about China!

Awsome work! I thank him for putting this all together and sharing it with the rest of us, now it will make our searches for the report a little easier.
Thank you.
Bonnie & Crystal

My wonder in all this is about being -- how do you say -- parochial. When other candidates stand up and say I lived my entire life in this same neighborhood -- I wonder. Is that a plus or a minus? When someone knows these streets around this five-mile corner of the world, does that mean that the experiences of seeing Hong Kong, Chicago or even Vienna are going to be so foreign that the issues won't connect from there to here?

I've coached swimming and coached state record breakers in New England, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania. I know what's offered in suburban districts and what isn't offered in city schools. I've coached and lived in Los Angeles, Texas and Boston. Things work certain ways in certain places -- and often the mindset is unlike that we have here.

Perspectives matter. Ideas matter.

Teen Girl Shot On Way To Bus Stop

Ouch.

WPXI.com - News - Teen Girl Shot On Way To Bus Stop: "A 15-year-old Penn Hills girl is recovering in Children's Hospital after being shot on her way to a bus stop.

The girl was shot in the head along Anaheim Street in the Hill District.

No one has been arrested. Police are investigated. The girl's name is not being released."

One-Man Think Tank releases a tune

A great new tune has been released by a central-state blogger. I love political songs. I love the emotional story that can be told with music -- a universal language. I love creative expression put to the right uses. We need more of this.

One-Man Think Tank: Judge Cappy parody released: "Amazingly, Pa. Supreme Court Justice Ralph Cappy is once again trying the patience of Pennsylvanians by making noise about judges deserving a pay raise.

At the risk of being called a knee-jerker, I thought this would be the right time to release One-Man Think Tank’s political parody about Cappy.

I collaborated with Harrisburg folk singing great Henry Morgan on this little ditty."

Some are planting the seeds for a new charter school in Pittsburgh

Two members of the Board of Trustees of the Education Innovations LAB Charter School will join Salvador Wilcox, CEO, live on PCTV21, Pittsburgh’s Community Television station, at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, March 8, 2006.

Get a explanation of the model, the status of the school, how to enroll, and the innovative approach to rejuvenating our Pittsburgh communities. This call-in show takes question and airs several additional times throughout the month.

(Watch the comments for updates.)

The petition to the Pittsburgh Board of Education to grant a charter to the school is in the works. A place is secured too.
Education Innovations, Inc.
6435 Frankstown Ave., 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.661.8751 ext. 150
www.educationinnovations.org

Education Innovations, Inc. is a 501.c.3. nonprofit organization "building communities of seekers, learners, and teachers who share the world as a classroom."

Pitt Law Libertarians: Mark Rauterkus, Candidate for Pittsburgh City Council

Another thing --- I'm "endorsed" too. My political party endorsed me. Three endorsed candidates are in the race.

Pitt Law Libertarians: Mark Rauterkus, Candidate for Pittsburgh City Council Last Wednesday the Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh endorsed Mark Rauterkus’ candidacy for City Council, District 3. I had an opportunity to attend that meeting and was impressed with the level of thought Mr. Rauterkus has put into issues that affect libertarians in Pittsburgh and the people of Pittsburgh as a whole.
Mr. Rauterkus seems to understand one fundamental concept that a lot of libertarians have missed; commitment to individual liberty does not mean forsaking the community in which one lives. The true tenets of libertarianism neither require nor endorse a completely hands off approach to government. We are not anarchists. Government must be responsible, however, and it is in this vein which Mr. Rauterkus addresses the following concerns regarding the Pittsburgh public schools. Some of Mr. Rauterkus’ positions on other issues can be found at http://rauterkus.com/.

This is a bit old, but it cuts to some of the noise I'm hearing about in terms of the party label stuff -- both good and bad.

Developer eyeing theater complex Downtown

Developer eyeing theater complex Downtown A Washington County developer is considering a movie theater complex Downtown

Sigh... I think the notion of putting a cinema into downtown makes for a lame idea.

The new cinema at South Side Works is not doing well. The new cimema at South Side Works was to have a good selection of indie, arts and foreign films -- and I've not noticed them. That was part of the deal that was cut before that opened. What's up with that?

The South Side cinema wasn't to be built -- becuase downtown was to get the cinema -- back in Plan A, B, and C days. I was there. When that went "crash" (pun intended) they (URA) tossed the cinema to 'green light status' for the South Side Works.

House approves Patriot Act renewal

Here is another reason why it would be great to vote for a Libertarian, now. We've got some pressing matters to hash out with both the Ds and Rs. They've sold out our freedom. They've hurt our liberties. They need a wake-up call.

CNN.com - House approves Patriot Act renewal - Mar 7, 2006 Congress on Tuesday renewed controversial provisions of the USA Patriot Act, the 2001 law passed weeks after the September 11 attacks to help the government investigate and capture possible terrorists.

The approval in the House of Representatives, by a vote of 280-138, sent the measure to President Bush for his signature.

Group rallies - PittsburghLIVE.com

Group rallies - PittsburghLIVE.com Making the city's neighborhoods safe is a matter of prioritizing, said the Rev. Lee Walls, of Calvary Baptist Church in the Hill District.

'If we can make it safe for the Fifth Avenue corridor, we ought to make it safe for Frankstown Avenue,' Walls said. 'We ought to make it safe for North Murtland Avenue. We ought to make it safe for Centre Avenue. We ought to make it safe for Warrington Avenue.'

There is much to say about this statement and the article(s) about the youth violence. But, the first assumption is the big "IF" at the top. If we can make it safe for Fifth Avenue corridor... but we can't even do that. I would contend that downtown isn't "safe." So, we can't make it safe there -- even when it is a priority.

People of Pittsburgh need to realize that we are a small town. The city isn't big enough any more to have pockets of great dispair. I feel that we are all connected.

Case in point: IF Duquesne city (not Duq University) goes down the tubes, or Wilkinsburg, or Sto Rox, -- or Arlington -- we all suffer. But it isn't "IF" -- now it is "WHEN" and it is "HERE."

We have pockets of dysfunctional systems. They need to be fixed. All of them need serious solutions. We are not able to hang-out in bedroom communities and pass the buck to those in these quagmires to pull themselves to modern, reasoned, prosperity. No way. It isn't going to happen.

For these reasons, core reasons, we can't be parochial. City council and the city school board -- and even county council has been full of pin-headed parochial agendas.

A parochial pathway is sure to lead to the city's and region's continual downward spiral.

The city school district needs to plan and evenutally take over the failed schools of Duquesne. Do it. Fix that mess. Save those kids. Resolve that problem because as that area of the Mon Valley flounders -- so too does the city. The problems there are sure to be our problems around the next bend.

We can't allow the URA to build a parking garage on Second Avenue -- because the URA is generally about the rich getting richer and the poor poorer.

Roids and a vast array

So, what else is NOT new. Who knew?

Bonds began steroids in 1998 BREAKING NEWS - PittsburghLIVE.com Barry Bonds used a vast array of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and human growth hormone, for at least five seasons beginning in 1998, according to a book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters.

An excerpt of 'Game of Shadows,' which provides details of the San Francisco slugger's extensive doping program, appears in the March 13 issue of Sports Illustrated.

The "dark side" does have a vast array of tricks in its bag. And, to defeat that -- we can't have a simple motto. We too need a vast array of substantial, principled, lifestyle elements to call upon as our assets.

We need depth and scope -- not dopes. We need long-term, education rich, strong lifestyle approaches that won't fade when the going gets tough.

Promise to Pennsylvania

Promise to Pennsylvania ... we promise to: 1) Advocate the principles upon which our Commonwealth was founded; 2) Restore trust between the citizens of Pennsylvania and their government.

Compare and Contrast: One question, 150 words.

The following comes from a voters guide that was organized by The League of Young Voters. It is being passed about in Oakland, and elsewhere, we hope. Enjoy spring break.

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Question: What specific policy initiatives will you implement to improve campus life, the quality of life in Oakland (South Oakland in particular) and make the city more student friendly?

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Jeff Koch, D
After being elected to office I would not implement any new strategies initially. I'd be willing to sit down with homeowners, landlords, students, and any Universities involved with South Oakland, to get a sense of what their biggest problems are. The Universities have set up help for student renters to combat absentee landlords, but it is not always the landlords fault that his building is run down. I see the students getting involved through programs run by Laura Halula of the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation. She had a clean up just today called Adopt-a-Block in which about 50 students cleaned up trash on the streets of South Oakland. She has formed a good student base. They are working hand in hand with the City of Pittsburgh's Public Works Department (Gregg Daley) to remove large bulk debris during the time of tenant change over. These are the in roads that I plan to take to enable students, and permanent residents to cohabitate on a productive basis.

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Neal Andrus, R
I would work with local law enforcement to better enforce state tenant-landlord laws. I believe that holding absentee landlord's responsible for poor upkeep of local housing could go a long way toward improving the quality of life in Oakland. Also I believe that it is crucial to inform students of their rights and responsibilities concerning rental properties, specifically in terms of security deposits, through once a year workshops informing students of their tenant rights. This could be done in conjunction with the local universities .

I am also a strong proponent of cutting the parking tax. This could significantly reduce parking rates around campus, as all lot and garage rates include the parking tax in the cost. These high rates pose an undue burden on students who have to commute in order to attend class.

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Mark Rauterkus, L
Focus on freedom, liberty and justice for all favors everyone, not specific cronies nor constituents from single demographics. All benefit with: Bike lanes on streets; Trust in democracy; Annual Youth Technology Summits; Day-cares and Preschools; Subsidized housing for poor (not rich); and Graduate housing at Pitt's "River Campus" in Hazelwood. In-fill-parking treatments in established neighborhoods make more sense than subsidized garages on Second Ave.

I'll deed city-owned properties to college juniors and post-grads as bonus scholarships to encourage home-ownership and roots to Pgh past graduation. Cutting taxes, (i.e., the deed-transfer-tax) helps young home buyers.

Expect kayaks in Panther Hollow, under lights, a marathon, and community fitness to give urban participants goals to shoot at and for, not each other with guns. My tech interactions push fairness, transparency, engagement and open-source solution building. Give input at Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki.

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Jason Phillips, G
Pitt’s student population: 17,000+ young people. Young people who are either commonly over looked by the city or blamed for all mishaps that occur in a neighborhood. The first step in making Pittsburgh friendlier to students would be to have a young person (who is not out of touch with the demographic) sit at the table and have a respected voice and vote when decisions are made.

A "Renter’s Bill of Rights" should be enacted to protect all persons who rent their homes. Students should not be subjected to live in substandard housing and pay absurdly high rents just because of a location convenient to the classroom.

Efforts should be taken to provide superior public safety, adequate transportation, ample parking, reasonable shopping, exciting nightlife and abundant green-spaces in Oakland. The councilman elected on March 14th should be accessible and accountable to students. I will be that councilman representing your needs.

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Bruce Krane, ex-D
The first action I will take is the creation of a new part-time staff position to better serve the needs of the students in South Oakland. This burgeoning constituency base has been under-served for way too long. It is my assessment that student needs would be better addressed through the addition of specific student representation. This part-time position will be filled with a full-time university student who is a registered voter.

Specific particulars of the job description, further qualifications and remuneration will be developed based on a meeting with Student Government representatives and myself. There are obvious problems attendant to university life in Oakland that are not being dealt with adequately. Most of these revolve around matters of public safety. However, a list of all issues and their priority will be a major function of the “Student Liaison”.

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Bruce A. Kraus, ex-D
The best ways I believe we can improve overall quality of life for our student population in South Oakland, and to ensure our young people stay in Pittsburgh upon graduation, is to ensure that you are presented with the opportunity to be fully engaged in the process of stewarding your futures.

Your input is invaluable and immeasurable. I will advocate for your "place at the table" to ensure that you are provided with all the opportunities to work on the solutions to the problems you are facing with regards to job creation, education, creative housing, transportation, recreation, and an active social network including nightlife and the arts.

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Absent
Michael W. & Matthew B., both are Indies

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Protest and $20 lighter

I made a protest today. See Platform.For-Pgh.org and the press releases.

Treasury Dept. Moves to Avoid Debt Limit

Treasury Dept. Moves to Avoid Debt Limit Treasury Dept. Moves to Avoid Debt Limit

Anyone care about the big picture?

Philadelphia political film due soon.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/05/2006 | Inqlings | No fleas on these house listings: "Roll 'em..."

Hat tip to GrassrootsPA blog.

This would make for another good segment to CLOH.org's Candidate Lessons of Humility.

Editorial in the P-G.... OMG

Editorial

Mark Rauterkus, 46, is a Libertarian who opposes cronyism and sweetheart deals and who is 'running for the kids' -- to improve their safety and recreation.

Candidates for Ricciardi's City Council seat full of suggestions

The P-G covered the city council race in a news story today (Monday).

A couple of points to note follow:

Candidates for Ricciardi's City Council seat full of suggestions For instance, how about having residents dial 311 to report nonemergency problems that police would handle during lulls in the 911 calls? That idea comes from Mark Rauterkus, a swim coach from the South Side Flats who ran for mayor as a Republican but is now a Libertarian.

It is funny to see the Neville Ice Arena mention as I'll be putting out a press release on that shortly.

The lead about a "lot of interesting ideas" is on target for what I've been trying to bring to the election and campaign. Many of my ideas have even started to take root within the words of the other candidates.

For example, Krane had NOTHING to say about kids until this meeting with the P-G. He was silent on the most pressing topic within the city. Krane woke up on this, finally, and that is always a good thing. But, I think he is still clueless on how to engage kids -- because it isn't about giving the kids $100 check books.

Krane's got some of the "blue-hair" vote, so someone told me the other week. Plus, I've been making the case that the city has catered to the the seniors for so long that it is no wonder that a few of the kids are dangerous to the rest of us, throughout the city.

The other point Krane raises, starting a bid process for professional services contracts, speaks to a pimple on the face of Pittsburgh. It would end some 'corruption' as a major benefit. It would NOT save much money at all. It would hit against the donors to entrenched candidates. But Krane is way overboard in talking about how much money it would save the city and how much money came to O'Connor in kickbacks to his political campaign. It wasn't $2-million to run a campaign, by the way. That's about a million dollar error.

Mr. Krane, for instance, would focus on "reaching out to young people" with more programming involving community agencies.

That is a good example of a 'shot in the dark.'

I understand as well as anyone that nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. Granted, each of the candidates in this campaign brings various elements to the race. But, I've been frustrated with the absence of ideas from Kraus and Koch. They have a couple of things to say -- but they benefit because of the big field. With eight in the race, the lack of bandwidth is helps both Kraus and Koch. And, to a lesser degree, Krane has shown a lack of creativity as well.

Koch went way out on a limb and said he not only wants to re-pave Arlington Ave, but he has added another street to his list. It is now up to two.

Kraus got talking early in the race and floated an idea. His idea of putting the Zone 3 police station into a building that is outside of the city got let out of the bag -- and few other ideas have seen the light of day from him since. Kraus only frames the issue and then as he talks, he asks a lot of questions. What are we going to do about blight? Well, asking a string of good questions is not what I'd settle for as a solution.

The P-G endorsement editorial that has run in another part of the paper gets its own posting, later. I had hoped that the editorial board would have been able to see through the paper-thin statements that Kraus has been standing upon.

There are upsides in terms of contrasts within the race. And, I'm happy to dish out new ideas at each meeting. It is great to hear the others say "ditto." They can rip the meat off the bones at Platform.For-Pgh.org -- as it was built for that very purpose.

In about a week we'll see what converts to votes.

Envisioning Downtown - Some selfish folks keep calling for the wrong things

Let's be perfectly clear. No subsidized housing for rich people. No subsidized housing for the rich to live downtown. No subsidized parking for the rich who live subsidized housing downtown.

Envisioning Downtown - PittsburghLIVE.com Piatt, who attended the breakfast with his father, Jack Piatt -- the founder and chairman of Millcraft -- called on O'Connor to offer tax incentives to people who want to buy apartments and condos Downtown.

They also want to see the city's 50 percent parking tax drastically reduced so people will come from out of town to shop in Piatt's building, which Lucas Piatt called a 'regional destination.' The building would contain 25 luxury condos, 20 roof-top townhouses, 50,000 square feet of retail space and 180,000 square feet of office space.

O'Connor pointed out the city's parking tax is scheduled to decrease in 2007, but he was hesitant to give up any real estate tax revenues that would help financially strapped Pittsburgh.

The trend to watch and guard against is to do things so that the super rich get rich while the poor get poorer. Making the rich rich isn't what government should be about.

Rather, we should let marketplace forces come into play.

To build up downtown with housing that is subsidized is to only rob against the local tax payers in real neighborhoods who are asked to carry their load too. And, to pull people out of non-subsidized houses in other parts of the city or in other parts of downtown.

People live downtown now. That's great. I have no problem with downtown living. We can do more there, for sure. But, downtown lofts, condos, apartments and other options need to come along and pull their own weight -- without the subsidization.

Once we subsidize one project -- we bribe them to come here. And, then we'll never get another project without a tax break as well. So, don't do any tax breaks.

They want to do a Tax Break (TIF) in Mt. Lebo for a new housing project. That is wrong too.

This is what I mean by the campaign song on the campaign CD -- "Lay The Shovel Down." The first thing I'll try to do on city council is to stop digging in the hole of debt and dispair. We need to stop these wrong-headed projects.

Slideshow: The Wrestler

Finally, the P-G is doing some good with its multimedia potential.

Slideshow: The Wrestler Penn State wrestler Rohan Murphy

As a coach, and a journalist, I'm left with a number of questions, yet. What is this kid's record? What are some of his favorite moves? How does he like to train his aerobic capacity?

All in all, I'd love to see athletes like Rohan get the "Dapper Dan" rather than The Bus. But, he's got to be putting up some great numbers too. Perhaps since he is a sophomore, there might be hope for more understanding in the future.

Wampum: The Koufax Awards 2005: Best state and local blogs

A blog popularity contest that excludes candidate blogs -- so we don't qualify.

Wampum: The Koufax Awards 2005: Best state and local blogs I excluded candidate blogs (we've done this in the past as well for other categories.)

Civilizations, clash or ....

Wafa Sultan: The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between two opposites, between two eras. It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash between human rights, on the one hand, and the violation of
these rights, on other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, but compete.

There is that compete word again. Note, it wasn't the 'cooperate' word.

Political savvy and glowing praise heaped upon Mark Roosevelt

Political savvy sold Pittsburgh schools' 'right-sizing' plan: "Mr. Roosevelt recalled the meeting at which he showed Mrs. Fink how Bon Air, with about 90 students, used more than a fair share of district resources and put students at other schools at a disadvantage.

'I remember her going, 'Oh, my God,' ' Mr. Roosevelt said."

Too bad the presentation to Board Member Fink isn't a 'published' lesson. Rather, it is a back-room one. Private arm twisting, even private brain twisting is still private. It got the plan past a serious hurdle. But, the really serious hurdle is still to overcome -- that of the public.

The 'wow factor' for OMG moments need an open stage. That's the missing link in Pittsburgh. I want the boss of the schools to be a teacher and student. And, I don't think such a public institution needs a private tutor in that role.

Much of what Mr. Roosevelt did in terms of selling the plan was in person, in the old-school show-and-tells, or dog-and-pony shows. There was a top down, we'll come to your section of the city and tell you about things and field a few questions. But, you had to go to three to five meetings to really 'get it.'

To get your insights to him -- you had to mount a picket of sorts. The interaction was weak. The real golden, OMG moments, such as with Mrs. Fink, were private, too often.

He said the plan wasn't perfect but would get the job done.

This statement goes to the root of my wonders about the plan. This statement also goes to the root of why I'm running for Pittsburgh's city council and talks of the culture that we have here in politics and problem solving.

I'm not running to get the job done.

Likewise, Mr. Roosevelt didn't come to Pittsburgh to lead the floundering school system to get the job done.

Neither he nor I need a job.

But these challenges need solutions. And, the solutions are going to come from leaders. And sustainable solutions are sure to come from a team of solution builders.

The job of the 'right sizing plan' is significant change. Meanwhile, the goal of my family and that for my neighbors and their kids is an inspired educational setting within the public schools of the city. I want my kids to learn a love of knowledge and to grow smarter and more skillful each week.

I want our graduates to be competitive on a global stage.

So, my point is, the 'right-sizing-plans' still has not been able to convince me that we've got the job done, yet, in terms of making our school district's elementary education system one that is going to insure inspiring educational opportunities for all.

We are on the right track. We are making progress. But, the engine's wheel of interaction and public disclosure is still not touching the track. There is a lot of power in that element that has yet to be leveraged to the overall good.

For example, the movement to K-8 schools has some strong reasoning behind it. But, I wonder if a school that is not K-8 is going to have the K-8 benefits just because one principal is over two schools.

I don't want to be hoodwinked. I know we can't fool the kids. I know that the research isn't 'perfect.' But I do know you can fool and play politics with A+ Schools and others such as Rev. Simms who link up for gains that 'get the job done.'

A 'get the job done' attitude and destination is going to continue our outward migration in the city. The population decline will continue. The family base will evaporate further.

The 'get the job done' school system within a 'we don't have a prayer' city with one-party domination at City Hall is a formula for continual failure for the city of Pittsburgh.

In a nutshell --- I want excellence. I don't want to, as Mayor Bob O'Connor said this past week, "get the guns out of the hands of the kids." That fails my goals and my ambitions for my community. I want to give the kids much more to do and handle so guns are not even an option.

Sadly, the city school district needs to pull itself and the body of city politics into the future in terms of being an engine for creating excellent opportunities for our residents to live free and mindful lives full of opportunities based on determination and skills.

Tenacious Blogging: Pittsburgh City Council District 3--Vote for Mark Rauterkus (L)

A second great endorsement from a local blogger has come to my attention. Thanks. I'm very impressed with the kind words.

Tenacious Blogging: Pittsburgh City Council District 3--Vote for Mark Rauterkus (L): "Pittsburgh City Council District 3--Vote for Mark Rauterkus (L)
See my previous posts on this election here and here.
In my years of covering politics, and local and state elections, I learned very quickly that a candidate's party matters less than their position on the issues."

See the entire post over at that site.

Swimmers Go Fast at our championships

Our team's (C.S.C.) 10 & Under Girls Free Relay turned in a 2:00.55 time for the 200 free relay.

Both the 10 & Under Girls and 10 & Under Boys won their respective age group team high point awards. And, the CSC team was in second place after the morning session. The older kids held the team's standings. Carlynton got 2nd.

Teams in the WCPSL: Monroeville (first), Carylnton (second), Blackhawk, Hubbard, Hopewell, Slippery Rock, Grove City, Farrell, Deer Lakes, Riverside and Northgate.

I love the end of the season. It is a lot like the final week of a political campaign too -- but better.

Furthermore, in our recent candidate night, I didn't have the chance, but would have loved to have jumped upon a comment from another competitor in the race. He said that it is all about 'cooperation' and 'reaching concensus.' Wrong again. Think again.

Often, in a cooperative setting -- things don't get done. I'm not afraid to be competitive. Pittsburgh needs to be more competitive -- and less cooperative. We've been cooperative with the corporations. We've been cooperative with the downtown retail establishments such as Lord and Tayor and Lazarus. We've been cooperative with the Pirates and Steelers owners. We build them each a stadium and give them favorable leases on prime spaces. We've been cooperative with the special interest groups and neighborhood groups so we now have new townhouses in blighted areas that are NOT selling. They can't sell. They won't sell.

To compete is more in my calling -- and more in my heart.

This some guy who wants to cooperate is the one who also thinks he has a bigger heart than everyone else. He has a big bleeding heart. He has a big give-a-way mentality. He has a "make everything nice" perspective but is without the winning lottery ticket to pay for it all.

He has a big, soft heart. He'll worry and has talked all about the "perception" of Pittsburgh's problems. Pittsburgh has bad PR. Duhh....

You can't fool the kids. You can't fool the residents. You can't fool problems and hope they float away with a new motto and new image gap problem.

You can't cooperate to excellence.

At our swim meet today, there were winners and loosers. And, there were quite a few D.Q.s as well. Not Dairy Queen ice cream, by the way. But, it was a magical thing to watch event after event and the kids put it all on the line -- trying their best to win. They have hearts.

Meanwhile, our kids in the city -- they've got hearts but few who are willing to engage them and push them to greatness.

Kill this suicide pact - Colin's visit to our church last week end was welcomed

Kill this suicide pact - PittsburghLIVE.com (Editor's note: This column is adapted from a longer address scheduled to be delivered today to the fine folks of the 'Lifecraft' program of the Unitarian Church of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon.)

We were there. Thanks for the nice presentation.

Duquesne basketball coach Danny Nee resigns

Duquesne basketball coach Danny Nee resigns coach Danny Nee resigns

Where is Edgar and Porter now, by the way?

I knew Coach Nee from the past days at Ohio University. We were both in Athens in the same years. I was the assistant mens swim coach and he was the head mens basketball coach.

DU makes a hard setting for college coaches in terms of winning records. I don't know the new athletic director, but I wish I did. Brian C, the past AD -- where is he now too?

And, finally, where will Nee end up next year?

Today, I'm making a $20 protest.

I'm making a point. I've put a line in the sand.

This is going to cost me $20.

More news on Monday.

So proud of those WPIAL swimmers. Way to go Foxes and others!

Wow. Many big-time performances were flowing in the WPIAL AA and AAA Championships yesterday and today. Impressive. Way to go.

I don't want to single anyone out -- but I feel I should.

Splendid performances.

Next, the city league championship meet is on Saturday. Go for it!

I'll be at Gateway for our club championship meet on Saturday! "Is this not a winning team?" .... :0

Another candidate night -- another pound of flesh.

Tonight we held another candidate night. That might be the last one of the season for the special election race for city council. The election is just around the corner -- on PI Day, March 14, 2006.

There were some big time moments in the evening. Some made me mad. Others made me laugh.

To the credit of some of the other candidates, I am hearing some changes to their routines. On many instances, what was said by them a month ago has "evolved" into something more pleasing to my principles. Some, not much, but some. And, there are other areas where there are still serious blind spots and trouble areas.

First the heat.... to the very end of the night, the last question was raised. "Would you do the job and serve as city councilman if the job paid NOTHING. Would you do it for free???

My answer started with a policy statement I made months ago. Presently we have two oversight bodies -- dual overlords. And, we have city council. So, there are THREE agencies where there used to be one. I've suggested that every elected official in city government (mayor, controller and council members) and everyone working as Act 47 Overlords and ICA Overlords be paid HALF of what they are being paid now. Then the other half would go into escrow and finally be paid out in two stages, as a bonus, AFTER the city ends its OVERLORD period and then the other payment three years later to insure that the city doesn't slide back into bankrupcy.

Basic feeling here is to reward these folks for doing the job -- at the end of the job. They have little incentive to do a good job with the programs that they put in place and they have little incentive to get the job finished.

As to me working for no pay -- first off, I would NOT even run for public office if times were good. Because we have a crisis, I feel the need to enter the life as a candidate and hope to win the seat on council. Without the crisis, I'm doing other things with my life.

And, because of this 'crisis' where real solutions and sustainable changes in direction are needed, I WOULD be willing to serve on City Council for no pay.

As it is now, with the pay, our family is going to take a financial hit. I'll be getting the job and the pay check, and I think there is a big chance that we'll make less money than if I didn't have the job. (We can talk more on the math of that deal later, if asked, or if interested.)

Then came the REPUBLICAN's remark, out of turn, starting with, "No offense to Mark, but he doesn't have a job now. Right?" (Exact quote, from the transcripts.) "Are you not a stay-at-home dad?"

That was the opportunity to mention a quote from a recent, glowing endorsement from another blogger and jump to a modern day Ben Franklin come-back. But, I didn't have her exact quote in my pocket, were it should have been.

I said, "Yeah, there is an offense there."
N.A., "You don't have an income."
I said, "I do have an income. That is a bold face lie, Neil. I am a swimming coach."
N.A. "Okay you're a swimming coach. It's part time."
I said,"Okay. Park's guy, (that's to Neal directly, a guy who worked for seven years at Citiparks) you are going to knock on a swimming coach?"
N.A. "Is it part time, isn't it Mark?"

N.A. isn't going to give it a rest, as he was way off target and grasping at things he didn't know or understand. The moderator is speaking from the back of the room. "He answered the question."

I said, "Do I have a job or not?"
N.A. "You're not honest. Your not making a tremendous financial sacrafice...."

I said, "I am honset."

N.A. got in another jab, "I'm just saying you are not making a financial sacrafice."

Moderator: "The question was posed, 'would you do it for free?' That is all we are asking. Yes or no. You're turn (to J.P.).

The meeting came to a close shortly after that with two more saying their answer to the question.

I think the offending miss-information won't be blurted out again -- in front of a public audience, as the Republican came to see my points after the meeting closed.

Two other times in the evening the divide between hilltopers and the fortunate in the flats came to a head -- when I felt that I was put on the wrong side of the fence. I see the trend in Pittsburgh where the rich get richer and the poor poorer. This is more than perception and bad PR -- it is too often our public policy.

So, there was a time when a woman said that the kids of Beltzhoover were NOT welcomed when they went to other other swim pools. We used to have 32 outdoor swim pools and the one at Warrington closed a couple of years ago. The kids have a hike to go elsewhere to swim -- such as South Side Flats Ormsby's pool.

Not being welcomed at a park facility within the city is real and it is not to be ignored.

I too have had that same experience, but from the other end of the spectrum. I too have been hurt by it. I too hate that feeling. I too won't want it to happen to others. I too want to fix it.

My story goes back to 1999 and 2000. I worked with others (mostly Hosea Holder) to save the swim team that had used the Oliver Bath House for decades. The team's board was pulling the plug and going to close the team. Hosea and I stood up and re-grouped the swimmers and their families. We worked a year without pay (same theme enters again). The team had its lease pulled by the city and was able to re-position at Schenley High School. Now the team is at Kingsley.

Well in the summer of 2000, I wanted to be a volunteer swim coach at Ormsby and put my kid on the swim team there. Practices in the summers are from 11:00 to 11:45 am. My oldest was a good swimmer, but very young. I had been a NCAA Division I coach for six years, had all my certifications, clearances, etc.

The city's officials told me that I was not welcome. I could not be a volunteer swim coach. I was more qualified than anyone in the city -- but prohibited.

This story is part of a KDKA news profile from Ken Rice, that is on my CD, by the way. I was so mad, I announced in public I would run for Mayor, starting in August 2000, for the primary that was in May, 2001.

I was also denied the opportunity, along with PIIN (Pgh Interfaith Impact Network) to install computer labs into eight Rec Centers in 2002. That video is about go live on the web site in the AM.

Good night for now...... Housekeeping: original post was 8:45 pm on March 2) (updated with exact quotes on March 3 at 10 am.

Gentrification and Displacement: Saving Communities

Dan Sullivan is leading a seminar next Saturday that is perfect for the times in Pittsburgh. The depth and scope of the discussion can kick into overdrive when you feast on the mind-food from Dan.

Gentrification and Displacement: Saving Communities Gentrification and Displacement
How to minimize displacement of poor people when revitalizing a city

# People often say they are against gentrification when they are really against the displacement of poor people that usually accompanies gentrification. We show why government policies to promote and revitalize particular neighborhoods are far more damaging to the poor than tax policies that could attract richer property owners with little or no displacement of poor home owners.


Effects of Gentrification
# Improved desirability

# Attraction of wealthier residents

# Increased rents

# Displacement of poorer residents

KDKA - Pittsburgh's Source for Breaking News, Weather and Sports: O'Connor Intoduces New Potential Security Measures

Security is okay. But, the first move should be the rehire of crossing guards, funded from the city's budget. Crossing guards with radios who are re-tooled and able to write tickets would be less expensive and more effective. Crossing guards would better come to know the challenges and the regulars who frequent there.

KDKA - Pittsburgh's Source for Breaking News: O'Connor Intoduces New Potential Security Measures: "The mayor met with officials from the city schools and the Port Authority on Thursday to discuss possible measures to increase security.

They are looking at several possibilities including moving bus stops or changing schedules of some of the 1,200 students who go to school Downtown.

There will immediately be an increased police presence Downtown.

Mayor Bob O�Connor showed a KDKA-TV story, the focus of which was large crowds of teens gathered downtown that may cause trouble."

Remember January 2 PAT bus schedule and the need of Pgh Public Schools to nix that as a 'school day.' Well, I took some heat to mention that PAT is starting to dictate our school schedule. Now, the next step is taken. The mayor wants to adjust the time of the school day so we have a safer downtown.

Solution: Begin by giving an overhaul to the crossing guards. Then count me as one who wants to build up on the other end of the spectrum. I don't want more jails. Rather, we need to give the kids more to shoot for and to shoot at.

The Downtown YWCA, a fitness facility with a basketball court and swim pool -- CLOSED. That's what the kids need, not more officers to boss them around.

Furthermore, the extra police will only push the kids to a near-by area, say, Station Square or some other neighborhood.

We have a serious problem with these kids because they have been ignored.

But we want the people free -- not the politicians. Put them in bondage. Not other way around

With freedom, comes and equal amount of repsonsibility.

No way. County Council's President, Mr. Fitzgerad, D, is so WRONG.

Allegheny County Council again seeking political freedom: Allegheny County Council's Democratic and Republican leaders lined up yesterday behind a bill that would let council members hold onto their seats for a longer time if they run for higher office.

The charter code, as it is, is always going to be approved by the voters as the voters, for good reason, have distain for the candidates and their hyped promises that often go empty.

This effort is barking up the wrong tree in a time when there is a big movement to throw the bumbs out.

Many other moves for the sake of voter engagement could be accomplished -- and it seems as if Fitzgerald and Gasteb are out-of-touch.

And, the LAW does NOT say that council members become candidates when they file their petition papers. The lawyer's read of the charter says that and the lawyer works for the County -- NOT the people.

Philadelphia Signs 10 Year Deal With Earthlink

Bill Peduto, of Pgh's City Council, would not feel so alone if I joined him at the table and we began to work in earnest on some tech projects -- like this one from Philly. But, we can do better than what they've done.

Philadelphia Signs 10 Year Deal With Earthlink blog iconMarjorie | February 3, 2006
| Capacity Building | Community Technology | Wireless

After a seemingly endless battle with Verizon over citywide municipal WiFi provision, city officials have finally signed a contract that will offer low-cost internet service to Philadelphians. The 10 year deal with EarthLink will allow citizens to access high speed internet for a price of around $20 per month. Construction is set to begin immediately on the initial network of 15 square miles in the Northeast part of the city. If successful, EarthLink will bear the costs of expanding it over 135 square miles.

Philly is also an interesting case as it gave $300-million to COMCAST for a downtown high-rise -- as a state gift. Wouldn't you think that Comcast would be a player in the digital delivery sector?

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Meanwhile, in other local high-tech network news, we are faced with this:
The Carbolic Smoke Ball: LOCAL CABLE LINES SATURATED: CAN'T HANDLE ANY MORE STEELER NEWS, CALAMITY LIKELY Isn't it shocking how Philly is going wireless and we'll have black-outs! :)

Statement for the South Pittsburgh Reporter

My campaign song, "Lay The Shovel Down," stands for STOPPING wrong-headed, big-ticket spending. Tax breaks make the rich richer and poor poorer. I'll vote NO on TIFs, stadiums and under-river tunnels.

I'm prudent, hate debt and want families to thrive here again. Get my free CD with software and music.

My focus on freedom, liberty and justice for all favors everyone, not cronies.

I coach swimming. Kids are my priority. I want to chair the YOUTH POLICY and Citiparks committee. My expert background from Market House to publisher of 100+ fitness books will insure functional rinks, pools, gyms. Our kids deserve something to shoot at and for, rather than each other with guns.

All benefit with: Bike lanes on streets; Trust in democracy; Youth Technology Summits; Day-cares and Preschools; Subsidized housing for poor (not rich). In-fill-parking treatments in established neighborhoods make more sense than subsidized garages on Second Ave.

I'll cut the deed-transfer-tax and encourage home-ownership by unloading URA properties.

Expect kayaks in Panther Hollow, a marathon, and community fitness. My tech interactions push fairness, transparency, engagement and open-source solutions. Give your input at 390-page Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki.

Pittsburgh City Paper's coverage is now online

Pittsburgh City Paper - News Uphill Battle
South Side Slopes voters hoping for hill-friendly representation

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Libertarian candidate Mark Rauterkus offers a vision of “kids and freedom. I’m the libertarian who really cares about coaching the kids.” The swim coach would like city high school athletes to play in the same leagues suburban kids compete in -- so “city kids will have something to shoot for." To encourage more residents, he favors a four-year "tax holiday" on the city’s deed-transfer tax, and taxing land only, rather than the buildings atop of it. Otherwise, he says, "You’re punished for improving your home." As for gambling, he's wary of the proposals made by would-be developers: Why not put the slots in the convention center? It is a “white elephant operating below capacity," he says.

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Points to notice and redress follow:

In fact, the most striking thing about this campaign is how similar the candidates sound. Each is skeptical about using tax subsidies to lure development -- especially a proposed $18 million subsidy for a new PNC Bank office tower. Each wants to shift from big-bang Downtown development toward neighborhood investment. Each emphasizes increasing the police presence.

I do not think that the candidates sound similar -- to me. There is a lot of common ground as to being sincere. However, most of what I'm talking about was unlike anything that they were speaking on.

Often, when I speak, there is a lot of head nods and people are in agreement with my perspectives. Some of that is starting to show up in the group conversations too.

I have yet to hear anyone talk about the wasteful spending for the tunnel under the Allegheny River to extend the T to the lower North Side (where the stadiums reside). Nobody yet.

Two others in the back of the pack do talk about the end of TIFs, as well. They have joined me on that.

N.A., the Republican, is talking now about the liquidation of the Parking Authority. He must have read my January 29, 2004, editorial. A letter ran in the P-G and I was interviewed on KQV on this topic. It is nice to have him talk about the Parking Authority now.

Meanwhile, League of Young Voters head Mosley says that of the candidates only Phillips, the student, has been seen on campus regularly.

Well, I've never seen K.M., nor any of the other candidates, at a Pgh Public School Board meeting -- NEVER. I've been to Oakland on many instances. And, when I'm on campus, it is often in a capacity that means I should NOT be a candidate. I have a lot of roots in Oakland. My son will be there again for school next year -- at Frick Middle School. Schenley isn't part of K.M.'s range of focus either. I first met K.M. six years ago on a campus, I.U.P. I was there to rally the students for Nader. K.M. was in the audience and we talked at length there. So, he knows I've gone and do go way out of my way to interact with the campus folks and issues.

Brentley switches parties for bid for Pa. House

This is very good news. Bring it on Mark! Not me, but Mark Brentley.

Brentley switches to GOP in bid for Pa. House Mark Brentley Sr. plans to run for the state Legislature as a Republican.

Swim FAST! Go WPIAL swimmers!

The WPIAL meet is underway. That's an amazing time.

Casino bidders pressed on Pens - PittsburghLIVE.com

Give this guy an answer to the question he asks. His questino is an obvious, direct, simple. Someone needs to do some digging among the gambling board and with top stake-holders to find out what's what.

Casino bidders pressed on Pens - PittsburghLIVE.com Barden said he would be willing to 'substantially contribute' toward an arena, but only after getting an answers to questions he has posed to state regulators. He wants to know whether the Penguins should be licensed as an operator-applicant, if they get money from a casino, and whether it's legal to give that much money to a third party.

Support The Pittsburgh Steelers - Buy A Micro Ad!!

Support The Pittsburgh Steelers - Buy A Micro Ad!! Why Micro Ads

Presently, there are four ads on this page. Get in on the ground floor baby!

Newsletter mailed to many extra in District 3

A story and photo ran in the recent edition of the Libertarian newsletter for PA. You can get the entire edition online in a PDF format. See the bottom half of page three for the story by Tim Crowley.

Pittsburgh Libertarian Seeks City Council Seat in Special Election http://www.lppa.org/libpenn/LibPenn_Feb2006.pdf

The local party had the newsletter mailed to some households in the district and throughout Allegheny County.

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: Mark Rauterkus for City Council

I got a great blog endorsement today.... Enjoy the entire read over at that site. Here is the end.

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: Mark Rauterkus for City Council And just how many people are going to dig that? An unfortunate few, since first, these concepts are strange to most, and secondly, with their very mention, Rauterkus taps into the heart of what's sorely lacking in America -- and the word religion will scare some, but put in its context, its evident he's not promoting one in particular, but seems to me to include it as a necessary to the path to spiritual humanity. He neither proselytizes nor judges; his statements possess simple, intrinsic value.

And what the hell does any of this have to do with politics?

Declaration of Independence

And damn wouldn't you know it, Ben Franklin got his grubby little paws on that document, too.

I think Mark Rauterkus is the kind of thinking, progressive person that Pittsburgh City Council needs.

Time, Newsweek, 60 Minutes should be embarrassed

Time, Newsweek, 60 Minutes should be embarrassed - MarketWatch Newsweek, feeling properly chagrined, saluted this development in its Conventional Wisdom section, writing, tongue-in-cheek, 'We put this jerk on the cover?'

Against TIFs -- my statement to City Council

Statement before Pittsburgh's City Council on March 1, 2006.

I'm Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian candidate for city council in the special election slated for March 14.

I'm the vice-chair of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County in 2006. I've been active in politics since 1999 when I called a public hearing in city council to oppose a TIF and land-transfer on the South Side to UPMC for a Steelers and Panthers football training facility. This was in the wake of the NO VOTE on the raising of new taxes to pay for two new Stadiums.

Worldwide, cities and urban areas are seeing tremendous population growths. People are moving to the cities in a new urban trend. Cities offer quality of life enhancements that can't be found elsewhere.

However, Pittsburgh is going against the worldwide trend. Here, people are leaving the city in droves. Our population loss makes a bad downward spiral.

We're upside down because city council is doing the wrong things.

Pittsburgh can boom again, with prosperity, families, community – and increase our population, increase our urban fabric – if we make some serious systematic changes.

TIFs are one prime example of how city council and the powers that be are doing the wrong things. The TIFs are tax-breaks for the super-rich corporations and developers and institutions. TIFs make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

TIFs are complicated – by design. But outcomes are obvious to me. Perhaps I have different perspectives because I'm NOT a Democrat.

Yesterday there was a public hearing in council chambers. It was NOT on cable TV. The TIF for new parking garages on Second Avenue makes no sense to me. It cuts against what we should value.

The TIF takes flat land, next to the river, next to a highway on/off ramp, nestled among tight connections to three vibrant city centers (Downtown, South Side and Oakland). This is a valued, prime asset.

But the TIF is also next to a bike path, near to a pedestrian bridge that just got a $5-million dollar federal check.

Plus, this TIF of 2006 is layered upon a previous TIF from a deal in the past decades already, proving a lack of sustainablity to the entire TIF concept.

We don't know how much this TIF is going to cost. The price tag is unknown. People on Council were at the table yesterday and asked, "How much it was going to cost?" Jerry Detore, the director of the URA, didn't tell you.

Additionally, we don't know when the TIF is going to start. It might end in ten years. So, we are not with any certainty when it is going to conclude either.

I feel that there is little to no demand at the location for this TIF. However, people are starving for attention in Hazelwood. Do deals elsewhere where real hunger cries for help.

There is a demand, so we are told, for quality bio-tech lab space. Some of these spaces are called, 'Wet Labs.' Granted, bio-tech jobs make for good paying professionals in high-turnover companies. My wife, a PhD researcher. Today she is working in Texas on the Air Force's largest base – at a hospital as they solve a bio-tech solution that involves distance medicine. They are there to figure out how to program a new hearing device attached to a person's brain while the patient is on the other side of the world.

If we want to be tech darlings, then don't blow hard earned money, what little there is, on a parking garage just down the courtyard from another garage. This town is overboard on parking, as well illustrated by Joe Gratta's article in the P-G this weekend.

Keep your eye on the ball.

But it gets worse.

City Council and the URA want to do this TIF deal with a hand-picked developer. This comes to the public sector for a stamp of approval from city council without an RFP, (Request For Proposals), without a bid (competitive bid process), only so some can suggest the URA picks a buddie that just did the last job.

I was floored to hear of the last parking garage and its success. The boss of the URA said that it was oh-so-successful since it might make a profit, perhaps, in four years. It takes four years until operational costs cover the expenses. Money is being poured down the drain, yet it is called a success and a model.

It gets worse.

This TIF, like other TIFs, takes money from one and gives it to another. This TIF comes after the news of last night's school board vote when the hard decision was made to close 22 schools. The money to pay for this TIF comes right from our schools. Many of the schools to remain open are part of a trend to K-8 settings. But there are many problems because the available schools are not able to house the necessary students and grades.

I predict that the school 'right-size plan' means 2,000 kids leave the school system in the next two years. It only gets worse when we talk about the High School situations in the years to come.

So, city council is going to rob the schools for a parking garage.

And there is more. The TIF is to build parking garages for suburban workers who can commute to these jobs, along our highways, without hope of public transit.

My advice. Say no to the TIF. Don't build the parking garage along the river. Then we'll have a parking problem and people might need to walk to work, or take a bus to work, and perhaps choose to live in the South Side and be my neighbors. Then we'd have a triple win rather than another depressing, bone-headed, unsustainable mistake.

City Councilman Bill Peduto is right on with his questions about building the lab space and not the garages. But, we've seen this line of questions before. In the end, I expect that he'll vote the wrong way. If the city has a shortage of "wet labs" for bio-tech work, then build "wet labs" -- NOT PARKING GARAGES.

I want Pittsburgh to be a community where we can raise our families. I am not interested in making Pittsburgh into a place where we can park our cars. I don't want to see homeowners pay more than their share of taxes to a school district in crisis mode so in the end the city chooses to subsidize car parking of other people who don't live here and don't raise their families here because the schools are so rough.

An expected vote on this issue goes again to Pittsburgh City Council on March 15. The city council special election is slated for March 14. I promise, (as a candidate, as a citizen-taxpayer-homeowner, as a parent of kids in public school, as a spouse of a bio-tech-like worker in a research / university job,) that I'll go again to Council Chambers on March 15, to speak out against this TIF -- and others just like it in the years to come.

If I am able to win the election, then my questions come from the table within Council Chambers. The questions I want to ask can't fit into 3-minutes before the buzzer sounds. The questions I ask will need to have real answers with specifics -- like how much, when, who, how, and lost opportunities to kids and other sections of the city that really need the attention.

As one vote on council -- I might not be able to defeat the TIF, this year. But, I won't give out a free pass so the rich to rob from the poor, as we've seen time and time again from others.

Pitt Sports Blather

Pitt Sports Blather -- Rantings on the Panthers We have guys calling other guys in the morning to wake them up and make sure they get to class. We have guys calling around to make sure other guys have a ride to the South Side for training. We've had amazing results.

Hummm....

We have guys calling guys to remind them to vote for the candidate / coach that, year's ago, didn't want the college to move the football practice facility off-campus so the guys wouldn't need to call each other to get a ride to go watch film or lift or practice where the girls are not allowed.

City Paper -- in news boxes now, and not yet on the web

Pittsburgh's City Paper is out -- today -- Wed, March 1, 2006, and it includes Chris Potter's article about the special election for city council. It is a nice article. Everyone who showed up got some ink and a photo.

I'll link this blog to the article as soon as it appears at www.Pghcitypaper.com.

Betsy Hiel's Winter Olympics Blog

Betsy Hiel's Winter Olympics Blog - PittsburghLIVE.com ... altruistic speed skater Joey Cheek holds the lead. Cheek, a gold and silver medalist here, has donated his U.S. Olympic medal compensation of $40,000 to a charity, Right to Play.

Joey Cheek got to carry the stars and stripes into the stadium for the closing event. Next he gets to go to college. He is the one with the biggest heart this go-around. He got my vote too.

'Right size' is done deal -- but the real quotes isn't for "right size" but for "done deal"

'Right size' done deal - PittsburghLIVE.com The district has 31,148 students.

It wasn't that long ago when the district had 35,000 students. It will not be too long from now when the district has 29,999.

People often vote with their feet. The closing of so many buildings, again, is going to send scores of people out of the city. Many others won't ever show up.

The downward spiral is continues with the plan.

All of those who want to manage decline are at the head of the class now, in our schools, and in our city's political life. Those of us at the back of the room are feed up. Many have already left. Most have their bags packed and are ready to run once the next test comes and a clean break is presented.

Condo plan dead? -- as it should be!

This is a threat.

Condo plan dead? - PittsburghLIVE.com Unless Mt. Lebanon commissioners and the school board approve tax-increment financing worth $4.5 million over 20 years, a plan to build a $28.8 million luxury condo complex will not happen, a developer said.

Zamagias Properties gave commissioners a brief overview this week of the plan to build 60 condos at Washington and Bower Hill roads, a longtime vacant strip of land. School directors were briefed last week.

Don't do the deal. Don't make the TIF. If the condo project can't be done on its own merits, in a sustainable way, then tell the developer to scram. You don't need to bribe real business owners to move into the neighborhood.

When everyone pays their full share of the tax load, then everyone gets equal treatment. When that happens, real development can occur.

Once you give a break to one favorite -- then no others are going to be inclinded to move there too unless they get a break as well. Why move in when you have to compete agasint those who are already given favorite status? Why move somewhere where justice is absent?

Mt. Lebo residents should fight hard against the TIF. Don't stand for it.

URA urges approval of TIF for Technology Center garages

URA urges approval of TIF for Technology Center garages City Council candidate Mark Rauterkus equated TIF to 'bribing someone to move in.'

Building garages is 'promoting dirty air, highway gridlock, oil dependency and suburban sprawl,' said transit activist Steve Donahue.

City Councilman William Peduto urged the URA to finance the lab space, rather than the garages.

Mr. Dettore said the URA will stick with the garage plan.

An interim council vote on the TIF is expected March 15."

Peduto is right on -- but -- in the end, I expect that he'll vote the wrong way.

Case in point, if the city has a shortage of "wet labs" for bio-tech work, then build "wet labs" -- NOT PARKING GARAGES. Keep your eye on the ball.

I want Pittsburgh to be a community where we can raise our families. So, I am not interested in making it into a place where we can park our cars. And, I don't want to see homeowners who pay more than their share of taxes to a school district in crisis mode to pay for subsidized car parking of other people who don't live here, don't raise their families here.

There is an expected vote on this issue on March 15. Our election is March 14. I promise that I'll be down to Council Chambers on March 15, win or otherwise in terms of the election outcome in my favor, to speak out against another TIF.

Pittsburgh school reorganization approved

Pittsburgh school reorganization approved The board voted 6-3 to close 22 elementary and middle schools at the end of the school year; expand 10 elementary schools to include sixth, seventh and eighth grades, so-called K-8 schools; and turn eight low-performing schools into new, more rigorous schools called accelerated learning academies.

Done deal.

Black board members criticize school reorganization plan

Serious words and worries:

Black board members criticize school reorganization plan Celeste Taylor, a Point Breeze resident and community activist whose two children attended city schools, said safety concerns were among the reasons some parents view the plan with skepticism.

Some parents fear movement of children across neighborhood lines would provoke gang violence or turf disputes, while others worry about younger students encountering drug activity or high school students on walks to new schools. Without addressing safety concerns, these parents say, children won't do better in school and Mr. Roosevelt's goal will be unmet.

Solutions I'm hoping to inject into the discussion include:

-- Re-hire the crossing guards as part of the city's budget, not the school district's budget.

-- Re-tool the crossing guards to make them more repsonsive to enformcement matters.

-- Re-tool the high schools in the east end so that Peabody becomes a city-wide magnet as a single gender school -- as does Westinghouse.

-- Keep Schenley High School at Schenley for the long-term. But, to save money and to insure safe conditions for students and staff in the rehab phase -- move the Schenley campus for one acadmeic year (September 2007 to June 2008) to another location. One possible alternative location, as suggested by the present Schenley High School Principal, is South High School, recently closed.

-- Migrate all the city leage sports teams into the WPIAL, soon. We need to have our city kids face suburban competition day-in-and-day-out so that they raise their expectations and targets for performance in healthy pursuits.

Some say Montessori move 'slap in face' - PittsburghLIVE.com

What do you want? Choices: a slap in the face, or a kick in the teeth? Or, how about a slug in the gut? Call it what you want -- but let's get past the insults and figure out what's what already.

Some say Montessori move 'slap in face' - PittsburghLIVE.com Under a revised plan released earlier this month, the school would be renamed Pittsburgh Montessori and moved to Friendship, and Lemington Elementary would be closed. Fifth- through eighth-graders from Lincoln-Lemington and Homewood would attend school in Montessori's current home, the Belmar building.

The Montessori program is a great asset for our city school district. Sadly, the program has been without all the support it really needs to stay true to its mission with its different academic focus. The staff training has been weaker than it has needed to be. The supplies have not been kept in working condition -- for 25 years.

Here is another great example where we have had a fumble in terms of on-going stewardship.

The Montessori program in the Pgh Public Schools needs a boost from within the district.

The move to Friendship might make a splendid fit for the greater good of the city.

Perhaps we should move a second Montessori program into Friendship and keep another one in the existing location.

The ALAs (buzz talk for Advanced Learning Academys) is a new style of educational flavor that is about to start in September 2006 in ten elementary schools in the Pgh Public School District. Well, the Montessori brand is already a specialized school that is within our landscape now that acts much like these ALAs are to in the future. The benefits are the same when looking at the global district views.

But, now, the tinker phase.

I wish I could have been to the school board meeting tonight. When is it on TV? How did it go down? Feedback welcomed.

Standing and speaking in opposition to another TIF -- today -- again

A public hearing was held today at 1:30 on Grant Street in City Council Chambers about another URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) TIF (Tax Incramental Finance) deal that gives a tax-break to a development.

I was there to speak against the TIF, along with Steve D, of Save Our Transit fame and the TMC.

The other candidates in the race were not present.

However, it is fair to say that there are three in the race, out of eight candidates, that are speaking up against the concept of tax-breaks for the large corporation and institutions. I've been talking about ending TIFs since 2000. Joining me on the trails now to speak up against TIFs is an Indie, Matt B. and the 30-year-old Republican. It is good to have them help to shift the conversation away from the corporate give-a-ways that do NOT help the neighborhoods.

TIFs are another way where the city has policy that make the super rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

The TIF on the agenda today was to build parking garages on Second Avenue within what amounts to a suburban office park along the river.

There are many reasons why this TIF and all TIFs should end. These are flowing into a more detailed position paper, to be posted shortly.

TIFs present a quagmire of problems that go to the roots of the city's troubles in terms of finances and population loss. I fear that you will not hear the other four front-runners raise a peep of an objection against TIFs. So far, they have been silent on this topic and this makes for a big distinction in the campaign.

Status quo politicians love TIFs. They love tax breaks. They love to spread the kickbacks to those with influence. They love to make complications and feel as if they are going to win at the game of Sim City.

Furthermore, I need to get onto city council so as to ask a series of direct questions and demand better replies. For example, Bill Peduto asked a fair question. He asked how much this TIF is going to cost. How much is it worth? That is a straight-forward question but he didn't get an answer that had a dollar amount. The best the director of the URA could say was, "We'll see." He didn't know. He didn't say. He didn't answer.

As a tax payer, I'm sitting there to wonder about a tax break that they are going to cut for parking garages -- and they don't even know how much is on the table.

The dollar amount is a big unknow.

These are the types of answers you get when you have eight members of city council all from the same political party.

Sure, I would NOT be able, as a lone vote on city council, to defeat the TIF. However, I would be able to ask pressing questions from at the table and be able to have a dollar amount stated to the public, understood by all the others who are going to vote 'yes' -- and inject a bit of transparency to the process.

Then there is the question of 'when.' This TIF is a deal that could come about in the next 10 years. There is not 'start date.' The project may or may not happen -- say -- when the first graders are in high school.

So, there were total failures on what amount and when it begins and end -- plus comes the kicker. No RFP. The project is going to be a hand-picked deal. There will not be an open-bid process. There won't be a competitive process. There won't be a chance to hear from other developers about ideas that they might have for a deal for the property. There won't be any 'master plan' critique from the market, at large. Nope, this is a good under-the-table, smokey city deal of the highest order.

Let's take some prime, flat, river-front property, right next to our biggest highway, between our three most vibrant business districts (Downtown, Oakland and South Side) pinch it between a new $5-million pedestrian bridge and bike path -- and give it to some developer cronies without so much as an "OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPATION" to anyone other than a hand-picked windfall agent.

TIFs stink. The TIF process stinks.

What did I do with the phone number for the F.B.I.? This is HIGHWAY Robbery. This is why Pittsburgh is going down the tubes still. We need to turn the tide -- and rather than 3 out of 8 candidates in a race against TIFS, we need every candidate against them.

Kraus, Krane, Koch, Phillips, .... your no-show and no-voice is noted.

There is a simple way to come onto the record when there is a public hearing, such as what happened today. Just call the City Clerk's office and have your name put onto the agenda as either "FOR", or "AGAINST", or "COMMENT" -- and then you can show your true colors.

As I expected, you won't be able to watch the public hearing on the city's cable TV channel because the cable-casting of the meeting was not ordered by anyone on city council. That is like another ring of smoke to complicate deals and keep the city residents and taxpayers in the dark.

But, both the P-G and Trib Grant Street reporters were there to witness the folly. I expect we'll see something in the newspapers, I hope.

This is NOT what I mean by an upgrade to activites on the lake at Panther Hollow

Last night, I released a statement that called for new activites at Panther Hollow -- in the lake / pond there -- with kayaks. We can do more in terms of recreation. Another buddie wrote to me and say I was onto something as that place has been going to the dogs for far too long.

This is close, but not exactly, what I have in mind.

Click on the image for a little video clip of three folks in kayaks and a suprise visitor.

Mayor may fill finance vacancy

Mayor may fill finance vacancy - PittsburghLIVE.com Under O'Connor's administrative reorganization, Kunka could become director of the mayor's Management and Budget Office, which might replace the position of finance director. City Council would need to approve a change.

This is a great appointment. If I was elected a member of city council, I would, after an extensive interview, in the open, in public, move to approve the changes necessary to allow for a new directorship for Bob O'Connor's Administration.

Scott Kunka gets a great deal of respect from me for the job he has done in the past years. He does not get a new job without sitting on the hot seat for a few minutes. But, he's a good person for these duties. He could offer a lot of insight to the new mayor in an area that is pressing, like few others.

New ink at South Pgh Reporter

: Mr. Rauterkus believes the best way to make the city attractive again is by getting neighborhood youths more involved in activities. He claims the problem with juvenile delinquency makes this part of the city unattractive and unsavory for any one planning to raise a family to want to move to this area.

Running out to swim practice now, so I can't do much but put up a pointer to the latest article. The City Paper article on the race will appear on WEDNESDAY. The PG gives the race coverage on Friday, I expect.

Thanks to all for the effort for the fine event last night in Oakland, at the Student Union.

My League of Young Voters statement

Focus on freedom, liberty and justice for all favors everyone, not specific cronies nor constituents from single demographics.

All benefit with: Bike lanes on streets; Trust in democracy; Annual Youth Technology Summits; Day-cares and Preschools; Subsidized housing for poor (not rich); and Graduate housing at Pitt's "River Campus" in Hazelwood.

In-fill-parking treatments in established neighborhoods make more sense than subsidized garages on Second Ave.

I'll deed city-owned properties to college juniors and post-grads as bonus scholarships to encourage home-ownership and roots to Pittsburgh past graduation.

Cutting taxes, (i.e., the deed-transfer-tax) helps young home buyers.

Expect kayaks in Panther Hollow, under lights, a marathon, and community fitness to give urban participants goals to shoot at and for, not each other with guns.

My tech interactions push fairness, transparency, engagement and open-source solution building. Give input at Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki.

Business as usual? - PittsburghLIVE.com

Honeymoon. JSM makes a case that what I call a honeymoon might be ending.

Business as usual? - PittsburghLIVE.com Everyone wishes O'Connor well. Yet even some of O'Connor's supporters already are grumbling that the man who ran as the 'business' mayor is looking a lot more like the 'business-as-usual' mayor.

I do think that time has been wasted. But, O'Connor has done okay in getting that 'dream team.'

The next key to the dream team is the 9th member of city council. If it is one just like O'Connor, or just like what we used to have -- then that hope for change goes down the drain.

Hooking O'Connor's fate to a hockey arena -- well -- say it ain't so media pundit. Because O'Connor is NOT kissing up to the hockey arena thing is proof enough that this is NOT business as usual. Murphy already built two new stadiums and a convention center that will never be used to its full capacity. We don't need another mayor to build massive things that then act like anchors to our public life.

The arena, now, is simply a distraction. Talk of the arnea takes the eye off the puck (or ball) to what really matters around here. Pittsburgh is more than a bunch of professional sports spectators.

Bob told the Pens to "Think Again." Wonderful.

Bob told the Pens, he has some more pressing things to handle, like the budget. Fine. Now Bob needs to move on those areas, then we'll re-measure his honneymoon and his team's effect on change -- or not.

The arena proposal is not O'Connor's Waterloo! I'm certain of that, despite what Pens fans and Mario might think.

Taxpayer score of Congress Critters

VS_2005.pdf (application/pdf Object)

USOC intends to address bad-boy behavior - Saturday February 25, 2006 1:13PM

Woops.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - USOC intends to address bad-boy behavior - Saturday February 25, 2006 1:13PM Miller failed to finish in the first run of the slalom and officially ended his Turin stay with zero medals in five races.

Scherr was obviously aware of reports from the Alpine venues of Miller's late-night tequila shots at the Irish Igloo.

'We have certain expectations,' said Scherr, detailing the code of conduct for the U.S. team. 'The athletes have to prepare themselves and compete to the best of their ability. And their behavior should bring honor to the United States.'

Student crowds Downtown discussed

Student crowds Downtown discussed She said Pittsburgh's Downtown should still be perceived as 'one of the safest urban centers in the country,' and will be helped further in summer by the partnership's hiring of 'ambassadors' who will walk the streets and serve as extra eyes and ears for police.

I think it is sorta silly to hire ambassadors. We should hire crossing-guards.

I think it is sorta silly to put more and more kids onto PAT buses when we should have some service for school buses to and from neighborhoods to our high schools.

I think it is dangerous to close Schenley High School -- in Oakland. I don't like the idea of moving Schenley HS to the east end into Reisenstein Middle School's building. That would put Westinghouse, Peabody and Schenley all into an area that is too close to each other -- and -- someone else has said it would be "a hornets nest."

Building a guys only campus and a girls only campus is another trend that should be examined in Pittsburgh.

The other cheap and obvious solution, should violence become more and more of an issue for the high school kids is to go to a 'uniform' policy. The uniforms are not 'fool proof' of course, and there is some downside to that move, but, it can help and everything needs to be on the table.

Finally, the kids are not going downtown to play basketball or use recreational facilities. That's for sure as there are no decent facilities for them to gather in productive ways downtown.

Until recently, there used to be a swim pool at the Salvation Army -- closed. There used to be a swim pool at the YWCA -- closed. The gym spaces are for the more up-scale corporate clients in town.

What do we have for our kids to shoot at or to shoot for -- other than themselves? That is the nagging questions I want to ask and fix. I want to attack the problems from the other end of the spectrum, from a holistic approach. We need to challenge and coach our teens.

Seniors vote. Seniors have been not only at the top of the priority list -- but the only thing on the priority list. That mentality has lasted far too long.

We have a generation of kids having babies. We need to give new focus to parenting and support areas such as pre-schools and day cares and playgrounds where coaching occurs.

Just 150 words needed to answer this question

What specific policy initiatives will you implement to improve campus
life, the quality of life in Oakland (South Oakland in particular) and make the city more student friendly?

* Deadline for submission: Monday 2/27/06 @ 5 pm.

This question begs for a few wise guy answers, for blog submissions. Suggestions welcomed.

chill, wait, double fallback, could, should,

Those words don't sound like the words of hockey.

Penguins will wait out slots process - PittsburghLIVE.com The county and city continue to discuss an alternate plan, O'Connor said. They could release details by late March.
'We all want the same thing,' he said. 'We want the Penguins to stay here, and we want a multipurpose arena.'
Onorato's spokesman Kevin Evanto called the Plan B a 'double fallback position.'
'If we lose the team because there's not an alternate plan, then people are going to come unglued because of that,' he said.
Evanto encouraged Penguins supporters to lobby the other casino applicants to include money for an arena in their plans.

What became of grinding it out? Pass, shoot, block, counter-attack. Change lines. Do it again. There is political football -- why not political hockey. A hockey game in the political relm is desired instead of our politicians, dear sports franchises and upstart casino bidders playing a game of chicken with eventual lawyering on the sidelines.

Going somewhere? Vote anyway

Allegheny County Elections Division Announces Absentee Ballot App lication Deadline for March 14 Special Election - 2/22/2006

PITTSBURGH - The Allegheny County Elections Division today announced that County residents who need an absentee ballot for the upcoming March 14 Special Election to fill the vacancy in Pittsburgh City Council District 3 must apply before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7.

Absentee ballots are available to registered voters who will be absent from their municipality on March 14, or to those who cannot reach the polls because of an illness or physical disability.

Absentee ballot applications may be requested through the mail or in person at the Allegheny County Elections Division, 601 County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Eligible voters may also obtain an application by calling 412-350-4520 or by visiting www.dos.state.pa.us.

Registered voters are encouraged to request their absentee ballot application as soon as possible. Applications must be completed and returned to the Elections Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 7. An absentee ballot will then be mailed to the applicant.

The voted absentee ballot must be returned to the Elections Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10.

Hoops update

Westinghouse Bulldogs Girls basketball, Overall Record: 22-3, Section Record: 15-1, hosts Schenley's squad tonight, Friday, at 6:30 pm.

In the boys city league....

Schenley powers way to final - PittsburghLIVE.com Schenley advances to the City League championship game next Thursday night at Mellon Arena to face Allderdice, which beat Peabody, 63-43. It will be the Spartans' third trip in a row to the championship game. Last year, they beat the Bears in the title game, and two years ago, they lost the crown to Perry.

U.S. wins first curling medal

Another excuse to drive around town beeping your car horn is here! Curling rocks!

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - U.S. wins first curling medal - Friday February 24, 2006 10:06AM U.S. wins first curling medal

Did you get a peek at the Curling Calendar?

The Curling News Blog They even got a photo of the streaker on the blog.

Libertarian Party Convention in State College, next weekend

The 2006 Libertarian Party of PA Convention gathers in State College, March 4 and 5, 2006

Statewide Candidate Selection and Speakers from PA Clean Sweep, Commonwealth Foundation and PA State Legislature

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) released PR and details on the agenda for its 2006 convention in State College. Pennsylvania.

At the convention, the party will nominate its 2006 candidates for statewide office.

This year’s convention is also filled with prominent speakers including Russ Diamond, founder and chair of Operation PA Clean Sweep, Matthew Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation, and the Honorable Kerry Benninghoff PA House, District 171 (Centre and Mifflin Counties.)

Convention organizer, Barry Dively, said, "I am very excited about the upcoming convention. Our opening reception on Friday evening (March 3rd) provides a fun opportunity for people who care about liberty to gather and share ideas. Our business meetings provide a great way for attendees to contribute to the direction of the LPPA and to learn more about being active in the political process. And this year’s speakers are emerging players in Pennsylvania politics."

Banquet speaker, Russ Diamond, was a key voice in bringing about the repeal of the legislature's massive and unconstitutional pay raise. His organization is working to restore responsible government to the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Matthew Brouilette leads a free-market think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation. The foundation is well known for publishing the Liberty Index which informs Pennsylvanians how well (or how poorly) members of the state legislature and governor’s office defend our liberty.

Kerry Benninghoff is a five term member of the PA state House who has been a strong voice against additional government spending and against tax increases. He serves on the Professional Licensure, Finance and Health and Human Services committees, and chairs the Subcommittee on Human Services.

Members of the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Commission will be attending to conduct a panel discussion on the Voters’ Choice Act as will members of Toastmasters International to conduct a meeting.

David Jahn, Chair of the party, added, "I invite all who are interested in restoring common sense, economic freedom and social tolerance in Pennsylvania to join us in State College." Additional information about the convention can be found at www.lppa.org.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with more than 600 officials serving in office throughout the nation. Visit www.lp.org for more information on the party.

Expectations especially high for Beijing in '08

SI.com - Olympics - Expectations especially high for Beijing in '08 - Wednesday February 22, 2006 11:41PM: "Even before they're over, the Winter Games in Turin are being overshadowed by Beijing, with expectations soaring that the 2008 Summer Olympics will be like none other.
Beijing Games organizers can be found at venues all over Turin, videotaping security procedures and working in ticketing offices, methodically adjusting the playbook for 2008."

Candidate meeting update - 30th ward

I gave a talk at Knoxville Block Watch - and talked in part about the girls high school basketball game. I gave the game score, 71 to 31, and someone spoke up saying -- it was 71 to 30-something-else. I said, "Where you there?"

Carrick HS is just over the hill from where we were presenting. So, I wasn't certain if a parent of a player or uncle might have been at both events. It was just a remark from the sidelines.

The big news of the night, besides the presence of the City Paper photographer, was the appearance of the 30-year-old Republican -- his first event in public. He mentioned support to avoid TIFs, as M.B. and I generally do, but didn't know -- or miss-spoke -- on the actual meaning of the TIF word. TIF stands for, "Tax Incremental Finance."

Yes, we need to end TIFs. We need to end tax-breaks for corporations. TIFs are a way to have the super rich get richer and the poor get poorer. TIFs make for bad policy. TIFs are not fair. TIFs are confusing and come without an open accounting of their progress and performance.

I've campaigned in the past that TIF laws in Harrisburg should be changed. Futhermore, and most important, we need to elect people who are AGAINST ALL TIFs. The city, under Murphy's rule, and with his fellow Dems, has gone overboard on TIFs.

When TIFs are used, they become a "BRIBE" to get a business to open up here. Often after the tax break fades, so too does the company. They close. Rather, we want sustainable business development.

When TIFs are used, the hurt all the honest business operations who need to compete with the business that gets to pay less in taxes. So, when Lazarus had a TIF and didn't have to pay much in taxes, an established clothing store, perhaps that sold mens' suits, had to compete against Lazarus. The market place gets poison with the TIF as then you need to give a tax-break to be 'fair' to the other store owner too. That can't work.

So, the one's without a TIF vote with their feet -- they leave. They close. And, the one's we want to move to the area to open -- won't. They see how things work here and go elsewhere.

When US Airways went down the tubes and the message was sent out from the US Senators and others in the top elected offices that there would be NO MORE GIVE-A-Ways to US Airways (no new hangars, no new rebates, etc.) -- then Southwest had an opening to move here.

US Airways had LOCKED up all the gates at Pittsburgh's airport. As another firm would start up service -- US Airways would undercut them. As a result, all passengers from Pittsburgh paid more. The lack of competition hurt us.

Playing favorites is a bad way to govern.

Knocked off ballot in Ohio -- for Congress

See the comments for another story about a Careless Congress Critter Want-a-Be.