City Council President wants Temporary Slots Parlor. Okay -- do it in the Convention Center

Doug Shields, D, president of Pgh City Council and candidate for Allegheny County Controller's post (against Michael Lamb, D, and Tony Pakora, D, and Joe Weinroth, R) said that the budget for the City of Pittsburgh is going to have a $10-million hole.

This $10-million amount is what Doug Shields and his fellow big-spenders on City Council counted upon as income from the slots parlor.

In the radio interview, Doug Shields called it a "casino" but it is really just a slots parlor.

From Convention Ce...

The winning slots parlor outfit was granted a license by a state gambling board. However, two challenges to the granting of the license have been made. So, the green light for the building of the slots parlor for the river's edge on the North Side, next to the Carnegie Science Center, has been delayed.

The city's budget expected money in 2007 from this gambling operation. City council sets the budget and has done so in the past with phantom incomes. Gambling incomes were a part of Mayor Tom Murphy's budget in 2006. Money won't come to 2008, at the soonest.

The Majestic Star Slots Parlor on the North Side considered but nixed the idea of building a temporary slots parlor, like in a circus tent. Temporary casinos are still operational in other parts of the country. The risk is that a real building with decent design standards won't ever be completed should a temporary site become operational. The goal isn't to put a new gem onto the river's edge that looks like the I.C. Light Amphitheater.

Now that the Convention Center is empty, it makes great sense to build the temporary slots parlor as well as the permanent slots parlor within the David M. Lawrence Convention Center.

From Convention Ce...

A series of poor thinking is revealing itself in many instances in Pittsburgh.

If I was in office, like Dan Onorato, Luke Ravenstahl, or even on City Council like Doug Shields or Bill Peduto, I'd be making a hard pitch to Don Barden to insist that he move the slots license, short term and long term, into the Convention Center. Sell the Convention Center to Don Barden.

Two big words hit the airwaves at KDKA Radio: "Eliminate Authorities"

Marty Griffin was talking with Allegheny County Councilman, Vince Gasteb, R, and the words and concepts of the elimination of authorities was spoken.

I've been barking about these steps for years. Elimination, liquidation and votes of retention for authority board members have been central themes to my platform and campaign statements.

Authorities are not accountable as they should be. They've got to go away. They've gone nuts and over stepped in a zillion ways.

Furthermore, those that made and sustained this mess with authorities are the ones who are least able to clean it up.

Spring Swimming: Lessons, Team, Lifeguarding and More

Join the fun --- become a Wildcat!

Wildcat Swimming at Carlynton Swim Club

Swim Club at Carlynton H.S. Pool

Registration for the competitive swim team for summer begins March 26, 2007, at 4:30 PM. Swimming is a healthy, fun-for-life, family sport and one that ALL team members are guaranteed to participate in at every meet. The only benchwarmers on our team are waiting to swim their next event! ALL age groups and swimming abilities are welcome. We have swimmers aged 5 to 18 ranging from beginners to state champions.

* We are a competitive swim club belonging to the Western Central Pennsylvania Swim League (WCPSL) and Allegheny Mountain Swimming (AMS - United States Swimming league).

* Spring/Summer Season runs March 26 thru July 27, 2007

* Special Summer price $30/family
* You can start practice anytime
* Practice is held at Carlynton High School pool

Competitive swimming questions - Coach Mike Schneiderlochner, 412-215-2766.

Registration questions/information - Carol Matt.

Swimming Lessons

Instruction: Red Cross Levels 1 – 2 – 3 & 4; 10 - 40 min. or 9 – 45 min. classes

Cost: $30 for 1st swimmer; $25 for each additional swimmer in the family

Registration is Thursday, March 22, 2007; 5 – 6:30 pm at Carlynton HS Pool

Session 3: Class Dates: March 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, April 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Times: 6:00 – 6:45 PM

Session 4: Class Dates: April 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19
Times: 6:00 – 6:45 PM

Session 5: Class Dates: April 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, May 1, 2, 3, and 4
Times: 6:00 – 6:40 PM

Session 6: Class Dates: May 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Times: 6:00 – 6:40 PM

Email registrations will be accepted AFTER the registration date and based on class availability. Send to amy@carlyntonswim.com.

Lifeguarding Classes

Register by calling Mike Schneiderlochner before May 11, 2007 at 412-215-2766 (cell) or via email at michael.schneiderlochner@comcast.net. Please request confirmation on email transmission.

Dates: May 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 2007
Times: 7-10 PM
Cost: Full class $185; recertification $95; CPR recertification $45
CPR May 19 – Recerts 9-11:30 AM & Full Class Noon-4 PM

Lifeguard recerts must attend on May 14th to determine dates for attendance. CPR training and recert will be May 19.

Recreational Swimming
Rec/Family Swims occurs now through the end of March.
Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays 7 – 8:00 pm
Cost: Adults $2; Children $1

Must see TV. The US top accountant on an education tour. Fiscal Wake Up Tour

The sky is falling. David Walker is providing an enormous public service.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2534935n

Watch this segment from 60 Minutes. Don't do anything else until you see this.

From people & vips

Fiscal cancer.

Catastrophic consequences.

This proves why we need to end the twin tunnel project under the Allegheny River for light rail extension.

Tsunami of spending that will swamp our ship of state.

Can't do anything else but pay money on the debt.

Eliminate all waste and fraud, entire Pentagon Budget -- and still have nothing left.

The real problem is health care costs.

Video even shows snip of some open water swimmers!

The proscription drug bill was the most damaging bill since the 1960s.

Most people in Washington knows. It is always easier not to do something. You get in trouble in politics when you make choices. We need to be tough on spending. And, they have no faith that there is a consensus on doing the right things.

The last 40 seconds of the segment are the best.

If you tell them the truth, give them the facts, if you explain this in not just numbers but do it in terms of values, they will empower their politicians.

Ds and Rs are on a course that doesn't add up.

The nation's top accountant. Put a cap on federal spending. The longer we wait, the more we risk.

MacYapper: FIGHT TO THE FINISH EDITION

MacYapper's now is not present. He posted on his blog:

MacYapper: FIGHT TO THE FINISH EDITION Now it's up to the actual city voters.

Not so fast. The city voters get their day with the arrival of November 6, 2007. Today is March 5.

Even when May 15 arrives, the city's voters are going to be on the sidelines. May 15 is ONLY for the registered, big-party voters. And then, the Luke and Bill choice is only for some of them.

The "done deal mentality" has killed this city and region. Falling into this trap does nobody any good.

When will the D-party endorsement conclude?

The endorsement process for the Dems might not be over for a while. The vote happened yesterday, but some of the players are now headed to court.


A silly sports slogan says, "It isn't over until the fat lady sings." When will we hear, 'Elvis has just left the building.' -- Or, 'We had em alllllll the way.'

On one hand, the more uncertainty and doubt within the local D party, the better. But on the other hand, I really want to restore confidence in our elected, democratic process. More legal challenges with more exposure of lies drives a bigger wedge between the people and the institutions that SHOULD be a source of faith and trust. Otherwise, people settle differences in other ways.

Pittsburgh is famous for the number of people that just vote with their feet.

This is another good instance to listen to the song -- Be Careful Punching Ballots If You Can't See the Hole -- by Amy Carol Webb. It has been on my CD.

Ravenstahl easily tops Peduto for party nod - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pokora plans to challenge the results in court this week.

He said the committee's bylaws don't address the use of provisional ballots used by those who could not show proof they were eligible to participate yesterday. Pokora has said he would not run without the committee's endorsement, but he was unsure yesterday if he would stick to that pledge given the close vote.

City Councilman Doug Shields, who received the endorsement in his council race, placed a distant third in the controller's race.

In a separate challenge, Andrea Boykowycz, a Peduto supporter, has contested the voting eligibility of 20 committee members.

Committee Chairman Jim Burn said she challenged the members' voter registration and residency. Committee members must be registered Democrats living in Allegheny County.

Burn said the committee members will be given 30 days to prove their eligibility. The results could affect some of the close races."

Lamb's one vote margin -- Joe Weinroth to Controller's Race

Joe Weinroth, former GOP candidate for Mayor, 2005, may enter the City Controller's Race. We'll know Tuesday.

From texture - misc.

That could be a great move by Weinroth, in my humble opinion.

Next, Mike Lamb needs a web site or blog. There has been some smoke in the controller's race. It may continue. But it would be nice to see one of them enter the digital realm. Who is going to bring the race to the people?

I asked on another blog about Mike Dawida. He didn't go for the D endorsement. But is he still in the race?

Judge blasts ban at county Democratic Committee meeting - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Un-democratic democrats are the worst.

Judge blasts ban at county Democratic Committee meeting - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'This is America. I issue rulings on the same Constitution that guarantees us all freedom of speech and access to information.'

I worry about the First Amendement a bit too. However, I also realize that it was cold outside the IBEW HALL today and the wind was blowing hard. I'm on the outside. I stayed on the outside.

I talked to about 100 people today, give or take. I didn't give anything but my business card. I didn't take anything either, but observations, of course. This is America and freedom still happens here -- on sidewalks, generally. One woman did share a grumble to me about my being present. That's okay. It is her right to air her thoughts as well.

What was the verdict for Judge C.D.Jones II today. Did you see him? Did he search out MacYapper? IMHO, he would have had better luck getting votes if he would have attended the Pens Flyers game.

Thirsty?????

Democrats Back Ravenstahl For Mayor - Politics ... another step hopefully in the right direction ...

This drinking game never goes away.

Anyone know who "invented" it? Who should be nominated for inventing it? Or, who endorses the drinking game to this day?

From china - foods

Pennsylvania Politburo: Skyrocketing Costs and Secrecy

The Three Rivers Post & Standard -- The Pennsylvania Politburo: Skyrocketing Costs and Secrecy (ok… so officially it is called the General Assembly) is being further exposed being the bloated mess that it really is.

Ravenstahl wins county Dem mayoral nod over Peduto

Hot News:

P-G In two races for the Pittsburgh Public School board, Stephanie Tecza won the endorsement over Heather Arnet and incumbent Dan Romaniello lost decisively to challenger Sherry Hazuda.

To the Peduto fans, as I said to his campaign manager on the sidewalk, and posted elsewhere: 2009 and win by addition.

I'm not saying, like I keep telling my son, that I want one or the other, Bill or Luke. Neither are what I think Pittsburgh needs. But, I think the jury is still out about 2009 -- and I want it to stay out until 2009. Others don't.

As for the upsets, there were a lot of them. That's wonderful.

Ravenstahl wins county Dem mayoral nod over Peduto In county council's contested endorsement votes, three incumbents lost endorsements to challengers. This included a loss by Councilwoman Brenda Frazier of Stanton Heights to Matt Arena.

...

In the crowded race for Twanda Carlisle's city council seat, the incumbent lost the endorsement to Rachel Cooper, daughter of District Justice Kevin Cooper.

Lamb's one vote margin is interesting. Doug Shields should pull out of the race and just run for his seat. How far back was T.C. in the numbers for the City Council seat? Sheilds could be a deal maker for either Mike or Tony.

---

Update: I've seen some numbers, and Doug Shields did okay in the three-way race for City Controller. I am retracting what I posted above after seeing the numbers. He must make a decision -- but Shields staying in the race might make good sense.

Democrat Endorsement News and Notes

I arrived at the Democratic Endorsement venue on Pittsburgh's South Side early in the afternoon because I was asked to come down and support my friend Bill Peduto.

There's no question he SHOULD be our next mayor.

There were a lot of "incumbent" Luke Ravenstahl signs. Why everyone got out of the habit of referring to him as "interim," I'll never know. As of today, our interim mayor hasn't won anything other than a race of name recognition in his own back yard.

There were too many for a just-turned 27-year-old with virtually no leadership record. That's what you get when you have a disasterous, yet big money governor and a well-connected, seemingly hardworking Allegheny County executive shutting down every usual artery of campaign funding. Qualified leaders be damned, the funding fix is in.

Anyhoo, I ran into a number of friends from the neighborhood. There was one candidate who I will not name who REPEATEDLY called me an entirely different FIRST AND LAST name, despite being in earshot of me re-introducing myself to another colleague.

Embattled city councilwoman Twanda Carlisle's group had a table riddled with presumably her own campaign-funded fancy mugs inside the voting room...why she was allowed inside and everyone else was reduced to handing out pens, writing pads and other trinkets out in the hall, or outside for that matter is anyone's guess. Let's hope her mugs were not someone else's work, and she was presenting them as her own (you may remember her mother's boyfriend was paid a year's worth of city-taxpayer salary to write an essay about her constituency. It turns out the paper featured reams of "borrowed" statistics and observations from a legitimate scholarly study).

I noticed dozens of familiar faces and friends. Let me start by saying Bill Peduto has lost considerable weight and looks 32 instead of 42. Somehow his morning treadmill routines help him lose weight, while my own treadmill and weight lifting routine has only increased my size and weight.

It'll be interesting to see how this vote turns out. When a guy like Governor Tony Soprano is involved, I'm always a little worried.

If history holds true, Pittsburgh mayoralty winner could serve a long time = pure hog wash!

Status quo, hog-wash thinking hits the P-G again today concerning the Dem party primary.

If history holds true, Pittsburgh mayoralty winner could serve a long time With two young candidates running in a one-party town that usually re-elects mayors, voters in the May 15 Democratic primary could be picking Pittsburgh's leader for a decade.

Throw the bums out votes happen in these parts, now. Sala Udin isn't in office. Barbara Burns isn't in office. Michael Diven isn't in office. Lots of state reps are not in office.

Tom Murphy is still eligible to be our mayor, but he had the wheels come off of his agenda. A mayor that becomes 'dead in the water' sinks and won't run again.

I think that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has an easy time winning the primary election in 2007 and all the other times it is going to grow to be more and more difficult.

Even if William Peduto wins the primary, and then somehow wins the general election, he could be a one-time, two-year mayor.

Even if Luke becomes 'golden' and reverses his ways in terms of performance, I expect that Luke won't be mayor for a long period. Life would be a hell of a lot easier if Luke was a State Senator or a worked an administrative job for a bigger deal state or national figure.

Finally, the mayor's job in Pittsburgh needs to be put under a term limit. I'm in favor of a term limit for a city's top administrator.

If Peduto wins the office of mayor, I have a fleeting vision that he'd be happy being Pittsburgh's last mayor. He'd look to a metropolitan model and the city would just blow away in a water-main break in a season or two.

Sure, the process hits a milestone today. But Rich Lord, I'm sad at your article's lead. Did John Craig edit it?

In a city that hasn't driven a mayor from office since 1936, that person could be mulling whether to run again in 2013 and 2017.

No, no, no. We drove Tom Murphy out of office. Tom Murphy won in 2001 by spending $1-million and getting 30,000 votes in the spring. Murphy won by the skin of his teeth and was wounded politically. Tom Murphy could not have won in 2005 because he was driven from office.

Mayor Murphy could NOT come to any neighborhood for public meetings. He wasn't welcome. Mayor Murphy, a marathon runner, could NOT even keep a marathon in this city.

You should have a better grip on history. I hate to see it when others try to re-write history.

With Tom Murphy, even the ultimate Frisbee players in town came to see Tom Murphy for what he was. He lied to them back in 2000, 2001 -- to get votes. He fooled them for a spell. But, that was the last gasp for Murphy. He could NOT even hold together the URA any longer.

If a mayor does a poor job or even an average job -- he or she will be gone, driven from office.

Bill Peduto and Luke Ravenstahl are like two peas in the same pod. Peduto is running a cautious campaign. On the net folks have asked, "What are you waiting for?" Even the P-G quote that Peduto 'seems ready to' -- that's not very aggressive. Peduto's camp has been sheltering some of his older, finished campaign position papers. They could snow Luke under 20-feet if they just opened the floodgates in Wonkville, rather than seeming to be ready to about to one day try.

Both candidates have a similar vision in that they want to to turn Pittsburgh into something that it isn't. Peduto's Goden Quadrangle is like Luke's 'significantly different place.' Same pod, different peas.

They both call to more 'experts.' They both have ideas, BUT choose to hold back. The sad thing is the P-G gives them a free pass to do so.

Opposition comes from both to the Pgh leg of the Mon Valley Toll Road, but for Luke it is after an "IF".

Both want to expand government. Luke wants government to help pay for a wet lab. Hell, we can't even get voting machines that work well. What is government's role? Peduto's government owned building seem to need diapers. It is a spit rag for one and a diaper for the other. Two peas, same pod.

Guys -- how about if the city cared a bit for the babies, the children, the kids and the PEOPLE of this city. I want to put attention onto the people, not bricks and mortar projects. They are so Murphy like. They will fail. The city's tax base isn't capable of paying for a new arena for the Pens yet alone a building that bleeds us empty.

Enough for now. (First posted at 7:40 AM)

More at City Planning on Bar Bill -- and Video Taping of Meetings

A number of weeks ago, I went to a city planning meeting at 200 Ross Street, Downtown. There was a packed house as they were talking about the Bar Bill. The planning committee took a vote and the bar bill went down in flames. But, while I was there, I pulled out my video camera and took a few moments of tape.

After I walked out of the room to be sure to get my kid as he exited from school that day, the meeting came to a stop. Announcements were made and signs were posted on the door. NO Recording of Meetings Allowed!

Calls were made. Freedoms are funny. You don't need to ask permission to flex one's rights.

Well, the new video policy is now on the pending agenda and will be talked about on Tuesday at the 1:30 meeting. I don't think they'll get to this topic until 2:30 or so. My child walks out the school's doors at 2:35 pm.

I don't really want to get arrested. But Anne Feeney is singing at a house concert on Sunday at 4 pm, and she has a wonderful tune about going to jail for justice. Perhaps if there are others with a video camera -- they could serve as a body double.

It would be nice if a fellow blogger, such as The Busman, could set up their video cameras around 2 pm and see what unfolds.

An update from the director about the bar bill is also on the agenda. They all got an ear full from residents last Wednesday night.

PLANNING COMMISSION March 6, 2007

Briefing

1:30 p.m.
a. FLDP #0707 – Bridgeside 2, Smith
b. PDP#0712 - 521 Shady Avenue, Shady Avenue Apartments, Smith

AGENDA
2:00 p.m.

A. Approval of February 20, 2007 Commission Minutes
B. Correspondence
C. Plan of Lots, Tymoczko
1. Subdivision – Mellon Street Plan of Lots No. 3, Mellon Street and Livery Way, 11 th Ward
2. Consolidation – Museum Park Hotel Plan of Lots – Forbes Avenue east of South Craig Street, 4th Ward
D. Hearing and Action
4. ZCP #739 – CUA C-689, Becks Run Road, Tymoczko

E. Director’s Report
Green Building Task Force
Bar Task Force
Staff Recommendation on Video Taping
Downtown Investment Report

F. Adjourn
Division of Development Administration and Review
City of Pittsburgh, Department of City Planning
200 Ross Street, Third Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

Refresher Training... and travels and our military movie escapes

From family - travels

My blogging has been busy. I'll blame it on the Admiral's departure. The People's Republic of Pittsburgh: Refresher Training...

Meanwhile, my sweetheart and her mom have departed to Pheonix for five days. The boys and I are gearing up for some war films on DVD. Recent gems we've enjoyed, beyond The Guardian, include Fly Boys and Annapolis. The movie, The Marine, came into the house and left again without being watched because the snow days ended.

Suggestions of DVDs welcomed.

Extra photo, just because I can. From family - travels,

Pittsburgh Comet's retraction of a historical fact

From texture - misc.

The Pittsburgh Comet Bill Peduto's Blog: Sucks

Councilman Bill Peduto is the first major party candidate for mayor in Pittsburgh's history to have launched a weblog.

Not really.

I think it is fair to say that Peduto's blog is lacking. The Luke Ravenstahl site isn't even worth the recycled electrons to complain about.

It also sucks to re-write history with information that isn't accurate.

I don't need to my name inserted into the Comet's blog as the first major party candidate for mayor in Pittsburgh to have a weblog. However, Bill's name should NOT get those honors of being first, even though it sucks.

---

Update 1:

B.R. of the Comet wrote to me via email on Friday afternoon, after I informed him of the facts:

That is different. I will make an immediate correction to the article, and I will run a full, separate correction after the weekend.

Good.

---

Update 2:
The Comet blog has been updated, thankfully.

Councilman Bill Peduto is the first major party mayoral candidate to have launched a weblog in a while. (Rauterkus & Carmine both had blogs as Republicans in 2001).

This thread was first published on 3-2-07 at 1:03 pm.

When it rains it pours -- what's that about an ounce of prevention next to a pound of cure

From texture - misc.

N.O. asks whopping $77 billion in claim to corps Submitting a claim for a staggering $77 billion, the city of New Orleans joined tens of thousands of would-be plaintiffs who rushed to beat a Thursday deadline to alert the Army Corps of Engineers that they may sue for losses resulting from the levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina.

Also joining the queue were Entergy New Orleans, the city's bankrupt electrical utility, which is seeking $655 million, and the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board, which put in a claim of about $460 million, spokesmen for the agencies said.

On page four of the article:

Nagin's press office e-mailed the news release about 20 minutes before Air Force One lifted off from Louis Armstrong International Airport, concluding President Bush's visit to the city Thursday, the 18-month anniversary of Katrina. During the trip, Bush visited a Central City charter school and sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Nagin during lunch at a Treme restaurant.

WPIAL swim update: 5 school records broken at Carlynton

Coach Mike has pink hair. I need to bring a camera to the swim pool on Monday.

The Carlynton High School kids swam very fast at WPIALS and made great time drops and established five school records!

Today's big time award: Wilburn Hayden, Ph.D. getting honored as PA's Social Worker of the Year!

From people & vips

We're proud of you Wilburn! Way to go.

He and his family are in Harrisburg today for a big banquet as he's getting honored as Pennsylvania's Social Worker of the Year.

Wilburn's been the boss of the Univ. of California PA's academic program for those seeking a Masters Degree in Social Work. He is the expert about all things concerning blacks in Appalachia. He was been working with Molly Rush and others to advance PUSH, a single-payer health coverage plan for Pennsylvania that is much unlike the one championed by Governor Ridge. He is on many boards, locally from the musical Calliope to the First Unitarian Church and the eco nonprofit on the South Side.

Finally, he, his wife, and son have been great friends. Plus, he has been on the Elect.Rauterkus.com committee as director of policy research for recent campaigns.

Now we've got to plan for more trips to Canada. He's taken a new role as the head of the school of social work in Toronto at York University. They are very lucky. Today I'm kicking myself again for sending him that job posting.

Jack Wagner, AG To Release Scathing Report On Port Authority

kdka.com - AG To Release Scathing Report On Port Authority

Way to go Jack!

Google moves ahead with plan to open up federal Web sites (2/21/07) Government Executive

Google moves ahead with plan to open up federal Web sites (2/21/07) Government Executive Google is making strides on an initiative to make information stored on public government Web sites more accessible to people looking for it, but challenges remain, officials with the search engine company said Wednesday.

From texture - misc.

Challenges remain in state, county and city government as well.

If and when I'm elected, I'll insure that all documents and data are on the web and structured within a site so the content is accessible for all Internet searches. Furthermore, I'd insist upon Plain Language so as to eliminate jargon in government communications.

I'd use open source tools, creative commons licenses if not plain old public domain, and other goodies such as Sitemaps.org tools so as to remove technical hindrances to search engine Web crawlers.

It took Google months of meeting with officials at many agencies in DC to make progress. Still, Google faces misconceptions. "Literacy about search engines is lower in the federal government than in the private sector." No joke. Literacy about technology and the free exchange of information, yet alone literacy itself, might be low in some corners of governement.

Yesterday I got an answer to my request of last week seeking an electronic file of the nomination papers so I can get onto the ballot. I'll need more than 3,000 signatures on legal sized paper forms. I asked for an electronic version of the form from the election department and was told I can't get one.

Eighty percent of visitors to government Web sites arrive through search engines rather than the home page "front door." Only about 5 percent come directly to the sites, he said, and because about half of all government Web pages remain inaccessible through search engines, a substantial percentage of people are passing up information they would otherwise find.

A part-time Web manager was able to implement the Sitemaps tool in eight hours. Jeepers, in turn that utility simply opened 3 million documents to common search engines. That's bang for the buck. That's effiency.

I want to put every element of the lists of lists into Google Maps, for the city and the county. If we can map Mars and Moon -- why not Brookline and Beechview.

National Nuttyness

Hersh: Bush Funneling Money to al Qaeda-Related Groups



Some quotes: America, my country, is ... running covert operations. ... He was seen as too ethical. ... Went through Iran-Contra in the 80s.

City schools: tutoring program cut & parents to pow-wow

City schools' tutoring program cut despite success: "City schools' tutoring program cut despite success
Program was lifting math achievement, helping blacks catch up, study shows

Reorganization of the Pittsburgh Public Schools last summer largely did away with an after-school tutoring program that a Rand Corp. study showed was boosting math achievement and helping black students catch up to white peers in that subject."

Go Theresa Smith: Where is the meeting, exactly?

Parents seeking more input in Pittsburgh schools

QuickTime: See how the WashingtonPost.com harnesses the net

How To via Washington Post & Apple

And as evidence of cutting-edge reporting.

The Bobblehead Politician - washingtonpost.com

The Bobblehead Politician - washingtonpost.com If America had a Crooked Pol Hall of Fame, Vincent J. Fumo would deserve a room in it.

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, we've got an upgrade from the PG, Early Returns.

Colorado Cowboy Professor's stadium and arena re-cap

ColoradoCowboyProfessor:: Now Back in Old Wyoming...with that wind ever blowin'...: Major League Facilities/Stadiums Report Major League Facilities/Stadiums Report

The Pittsburgh Comet shoots foot with a poor use of the Libertarian tag

The Pgh Comet is making another mistake. This one can't go past without me taking a public swat at it.

The posting on Speculation 2007 was very good up to this point. Then a nerve was hit.

The Pittsburgh Comet Real Answer: Peduto certainly seeks to fashion our Democratic party into a left-center coalition -- with a Libertarian streak, actually, on tax breaks and subsidies. The 'Libertarian Left' is totally in right now. If Peduto puts that together, that is potent stuff. But he still needs to add a couple of wagons to his wagon-train.

There is NO LIBERTARIAN STREAK within William Peduto. None. Zippo.

There is a lot of good within Bill Peduto. There are some nice ideas within his plans. But, those items don't have LIBERTARIAN roots. No way.

There is an expression I use from time to time. When you go WEST long enough, you end up in the EAST. But this doesn't apply to Peduto at this stage in the game.

I think Bill Peduto could mature into a Libertarian in another decade or two. But, he isn't there now.

Bill Peduto came from Dan Cohen's office. These guys hate the people in that they will work against referendums. They will always put trust into bigger government. They think that they, (in office, in government) know better.

The best case use of "Libertarian Streak" in association with Peduto would be, "Peduto takes office and Libertarians streak for New Hampshire to join the Free State Project." Perhaps Libertarians could shriek at Peduto's proposals if they choose to stand their ground and don't vote with their feet.

There is nothing Libertarian about Peduto's use of tax breaks and subsidies. That is big government, Republican. You could fix the posting by calling it a Roddey-like streak. Or, a Allegheny Conference-ish streak. Or, a URA-streak.

I agree that the "Libertarian-anything" is totally in right now. But, that isn't what Peudto puts on the table. Libertarians are hip. Libertarians are like the South Side. The South Side has pockets that are very Libertarian.

A Libertarian tax cut is universal. It is for everyone. It is for any kind of building. It is for every kind of use. It is driven by market place demands -- not some weenie in government who needs to see an artistic credit coupled with a re-use credit coupled with energy efficient red tape.

The REAL ANSWER of the LEFT LIBERTARIAN is a tax on the land. The simple, elegant, proven Libertarian solution -- or streak -- isn't part of Bill Peduto's pitch.

Peduto's plan and Ravenstahl's plan are very similar when contrasted with a real Libertarian plan. Those two have put forth Democratic Plan(s).

In no way, shape or form do I want Bill Peduto to be the one to carry the water for the Libertarian-streakers.

Your advice to Bill is with mixed feelings too: But he (PEDUTO) still needs to add a couple of wagons to his wagon-train. That's so Democratic and not Libertarian. For Peduto to get closer to the Libertarian wagon-train of policy points he isn't going to need to add. Rather, he'd need to subtract.

The Libertarian way is small, lean, nimble, simple. Think Johnny Appleseed as a Libertarian. That's not a wagon-train. Think Daniel Boone. Think Green Mountain Men.

In your post, to make your point, call it the "Gore-Roddey LEFT", not the "Libertarian Left."

As for "maverik Mike Dawida" -- Oh My Gosh. John McCain, at age 70, isn't a maverick any more. Dawida is ... well ... I won't even waste the time to type what I think and then need to defend it.

Think again about your descriptions. A couple of the concepts fail, much like a beam in the convention center. But, I did giggle at the nuts and bolts joke on the blog.

Who's The Boss? Ravenstahl Video Making Rounds On YouTube - News

Who's The Boss? Ravenstahl Video Making Rounds On YouTube - News Ha, ha, ha.

Let's continue the joke.

If it is in the city's and region's best interest to have Luke and Dan work together, one taking the lead on city issues, the other on county issues, then, perhaps, the logic holds that I might have a leg up on them. Since I'm bucking for both positions, plus four others, I'd never have to stand before an audience and pass the buck and say, "Ask the boss."

If you want tight integration between the mayor and the chief executive -- then it makes great sense to vote for the same person for both. Then, the blending of one to the other is a complete overlap.

The buck stops here, with me, as long as multiple personalities don't emerge.

Think of the time we'd all save. There would be no waiting around to see what the other is going to say, think or do.

Think of the money we'd all save. There would be no need to have extra benefits with health insurance, auto perks, retirement and wardrobe expenses. I wouldn't need to wear six suits, say, all at the same time. No way. I promise, I'll only wear one suit -- and to "sweeten the deal" -- I'll pay for it.

Once the "who's the boss" issue gets traction in the MSM beyond the Bussman, I'll take-off in the polls.

Should the Grant Street Politicans want to upgrade their web site, look here

If Luke, Bill or Jim want ideas for an upgrade to their web sites in the days to come, perhaps they should play copycat and nick from with this guy's site.

ClickPress | Nigerian politician Jimi Agbaje Launches Web 2.0 Campaign Site

Nigerian politician Jimi Agbaje has commissioned the first Web 2.0 social networking political site in Africa, jimiagbaje.com, for his political campaign.

Who said anything about Pittsburgh's government elite being backwards?

Real ID Act Deadline Pushed Back to 2009 - Mar 01, 2007

They blinked.

Real ID Act Deadline Pushed Back to 2009 - Mar 01, 2007 Real ID Act Deadline Pushed Back to 2009
March 1, 2007 By Gina M. Scott
According to a statement released today by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), states will now have until December 31, 2009 to implement the regulations of the Real ID act.

I'm against Real ID. Many states have already said "No Thanks" to the Real ID concept. Real ID is not going to work as some of the states are not going to do it. Put a fork in it.

Check back on Feb 12, in ten days

I've been promised things before. We'll see if Luke can stick to this one.

Mayor, Peduto trade jabs over tax-break plan The mayor's plan would waive the first $2,700 in city property taxes, for 10 years, on units of new housing built Downtown and in 21 other neighborhoods. The neighborhoods were chosen based on a formula involving dozens of factors, including stagnant development, population loss, low education levels, single-parent families, tax delinquency and violent crime.

He said the full data would be released within 10 days.

I'll read the report -- then react. Until then....

Collegians too special for their own good

Collegians too special for their own good Collegians too special for their own good
Mister Rogers saw it coming: Today's students self-centered

This is another reason why I love the sport of swimming. Swimming has time standards. Records are good. You can't cheat the clock, easily.

The strange thing about this article is the discussion with the ghost of Fred Rogers. Fred Rogers saw it coming and knew it could be a problem -- but -- he's gone. A dead man tells no lies.

Will Mr. Rogers re-runs be able to predict other trends for the future? Wonder what the C.Smoke Ball is going to post about this?

Isn't there anyone alive who care to give the quote about spoiled rotten brats? I don't.

China and the stock market roller coaster ride this week

From family - travels

Jerry Bowyer - BuzzChart: Red Tuesday, Part Deux On Tuesday the Chinese government was talking about interest-rate hikes and taxes on capital gains. In an instant, almost 10 percent of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) Composite Index was gone. The following day, the government reversed course, and almost half the index's value returned...

Personal endorsements from Jonathan and Mary Robison

Jonathan Robison, an Oakland attorney and long-time activist and D committee person, has a personal newsletter. I've hired J.R. in the past in a court case about ballot access. Anyway, he has some interesting insights. I've kept most of the content and cut out some other bigger chunks. See him for the entire posting or look at my Google Documents folder, but the blasted link isn't working.

RICK SWARTZ FOR ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Richard Swartz, D., executive director of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, is running for Allegheny County Executive against incumbent Dan Onorato.

Of course, he doesn’t have a chance, and he knows it. But his candidacy is important, and I hope that you’ll help him. Why is he running? He was asked to run by several people who were unhappy with some of Dan’s positions and with his attitude. (Rick’s decision to run was made too late to apply for the Democratic party endorsement.)

For me, the big issue is public transportation. At first, Onorato said that we would have to make a disastrous 24% cut in PAT bus and trolley service if we didn’t get additional funding from the State Legislature before PAT’s fiscal year ends June 30. (Please see the ‘Save Our Transit’ article below.) This, sadly, may be true. Then he said that he would make these cuts even if we got the money from Harrisburg. He said that he would “right-size” the system. This is cruel and stupid.

That the cuts would be cruel was made clear by people, thousands of people, at meetings, in letters and e-mails, and at PAT’s own public hearings.

The plan to cut service regardless is also stupid because it undermines years of our efforts to get the funding the state’s transit systems all need – dedicated, predictable, inflation-sensitive and adequate. The bipartisan Transportation Reform and Funding Commission has proposed funding for transit, and to fix our dilapidated bridges. Governor Rendell has his plan for funding transportation. But why should any legislator risk the voters’ wrath by supporting any taxes or any expenses when Onorato says that he intends that the transit riders will be devastated regardless?

This transit issue is crucial for our region and its people. It is easily an adequate reason to make me vote against Dan Onorato. But there are other issues. For example, there is the freeze on assessments, which hurts both the elderly homeowners and the municipalities and the school districts, while it subsidizes real estate speculators.

Underlying the issues are is a larger problem: Dan Onorato doesn’t listen.

Besides, it’s not good when a candidate is unopposed for an office this important.

Please help Rick Swartz. Call Joy Sabl, campaign coordinator pro tem, 731-7020, and leave a message.

MAYOR

The race May 15 with the highest visibility is the primary to nominate a Democratic candidate for mayor of the City Of Pittsburgh. I’m glad we’re getting a special primary as well as a special election in November for the two years remaining in the term of the late Bob O’Connor. Usually, in special elections there is no primary, and the parties’ nominees are chosen under the rules of each party.

I support Bill Peduto. Both candidates have strengths and weaknesses.

Bill is bright, dedicated, and independent-minded. He has many good ideas. He has supporters who will help him carry out new ideas. His supporters include many of the activists whose work brought victory last November. For example, Bill has been endorsed by the Sierra Club Allegheny Group, based on the work that he has done for the environment, including his opposition to mining in the woods overlooking the Hays neighborhood and opposition to the Mon-Fayette Turnpike. This is Bill’s best opportunity. If his opponent serves a couple of terms, Bill will be ‘no longer young.’ Believe me, at 64, I personally can relate to his situation. I hope that Bill has learned to listen better, especially to people who don’t share his ideas and to city employees, some of whom are very dedicated.

Luke means well. He is off to a good start, including his buy-back of the city liens. The city sale of tax liens provided money in the short run but later proved to be a hindrance to neighborhood development. Both Peduto and Ravenstahl have proposed tax breaks to draw new residents to targeted city neighborhoods. But, as a Post-Gazette editorial Feb. 25 said, one is “a thoroughly researched and analyzed 64-page proposal from Councilman Bill Peduto. The other is a thin and speculative concept from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.”

Despite his youth, Luke’s support seems to be based on the old guard, such as Dennis Regan, who was his director of public safety until Commander Catherine Mitchell blew the whistle on his interference in a police personnel problem. And Luke is continuing to pursue disciplinary action against Catherine Mitchell, in the face of the unusual preliminary injunction won on her behalf by the ACLU.

There is also reproductive rights, which is not an issue one expects in a mayoral race. Luke opposed the “bubble zone” ordinance championed by Bill Peduto to prevent harassment of women going to health clinics that provide abortions. He did not propose an alternative, but merely said that he was “pro-life.”

City Controller – Several Excellent Candidates

I’m still having personal difficulties with this race.

Michael Lamb is certainly well qualified, not just well-known and well-funded. He continued to do an excellent job as Allegheny County Prothonotary after the County Charter was amended to change to position from one of the elected Allegheny County “row officers” to an appointed position. He has done a good job of computerizing the office, saving money and making the office more user-friendly to both attorneys and the public. He has been progressive on social issues, and I consider him a personal friend.

On the other hand, Tony Pokora, who was deputy city controller when Tom Flaherty was elected to a judgeship, has done a good job. He is also an old friend – in fact, I got him started in politics. In 1972 I was George McGovern’s legislative district coordinator. We had an office on East Carson Street. I asked Tony Pokora, who was still in high school, to help run the office. He got the politics bug, and the rest is history.

On the third hand, Doug Shields is also well qualified, a good progressive, has good ideas, and is a friend. The only problem is that he is running for two offices – city controller and his seat on City Council. I personally advised him against that, and like Bill Peduto two years ago, he didn’t take my advice on that subject. It hurts to not support him because he is doing such a good job where he is. But I told him that he can make more difference for Pittsburgh as President of Pittsburgh City Council.

If the person running who ran in 2005 against Bill Peduto for City Council hadn’t been a total twink, Bill might have lost both races, and been in a weaker position to run for Mayor. Doug Shields, on the other hand, has a strong opponent for his City Council seat, Pittsburgh School Board member Theresa Colaizzi.

There is a fourth candidate, former County Commissioner Mike Dawida. I also like him, but I’ve run out of hands.

Patrick Dowd for City Council

The 7th City Council District runs from Highland Park to Bloomfield and Lawrenceville. I support Patrick Dowd, another School Board member, who is running against the incumbent Len Bodack.

Pat is bright and has done a good job on the School Board. He has a young activist base. He has good ideas, including housing utilizing our 15,000 vacant units, and plans to improve our public transit/ Len Bodack is one of the brighter of the old guard, and better than his father, former party boss and former State Senator Len Bodack Sr. Still, we need Pat Dowd on City Council.

Patrick Dowd’s campaign office is 4326 Butler St, 403-9295, www.dowdforpittsburgh.org

Bruce Kraus for City Council

Another challenger I support is Bruce Kraus.

Bruce ran before and narrowly lost the special election in the 3rd District to Jeff Koch. Kraus was endorsed by the Gertrude Stein Political Club, the multi-partisan electoral politics organization for lesbian and gay rights and reproductive rights, of which Mary and I are charter members. Since his election, Jeff Koch has been a steady member of the old guard. He did do one very good thing – he put our ward chair, Eileen Conroy, on his staff

We Need Doug Shields – on City Council

In the 5th District, Doug Shields has done an excellent job. His colleagues have elected him president of City Council. But he is running for two offices this May – City Controller as well as his City Council seat – please see above. I can’t support him for City Controller, but I strongly support him for re-election to City Council. He has a well-qualified opponent, School Board member Theresa Colaizzi.

9th City Council District

There is a crowd of candidates in the 9th Council District against Twanda Carlisle, who made some questionable uses of her Community Development Block Grant funds. It is not clear who among the nine or more challengers will emerge as the stronger candidates.

County Council – Re-Elect Joan Cleary

In the County Council – 9 of the 15 essentially unpaid seats are up this May. There has been a progressive majority, led by County Council President Fitzgerald from the 14th Ward and At Large County Councilman John DeFazio, who is a district director of the United Steel Workers. Both are running this year on strong records, and may be unopposed. John is a strong supporter of funding for our transit service. I wish I could say the same about Rich Fitzgerald. (Please see the ‘Save Our Transit’ article below.)

In this year’s primary, we may be seeing an attempted revenge of the old guard.

Joan Cleary, one of the best of the newcomers, was elected in the 6th District with the strong support of the Service Employees International Union, is being challenged by John Palmieri of Baldwin Township.

In the 13th, Brenda Frazier is being challenged by Matt Arena. She is an independent-minded and active African-American, even though I am still unhappy with her vote on the proposed Living Wage ordinance. Matt Arena appears to be one of the old guard candidates. Nonetheless, I would consider him an old friend from my work with him against an unnecessary highway when he lived in Frazer Township. I guess that shows my age.

Several Good Judge Candidates

There are perhaps a dozen candidates for the four positions to be elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. All are well qualified, and they seem to vary from good to excellent. In addition, more than half the candidates are women. It’s about time. We would like to mention a couple of favorites.

One is Wrenna Watson. She was appointed by Governor Rendell, along with Joseph K. Williams III. Both are African-American, both are highly qualified, and neither is likely to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled State Senate. Wrenna Watson serves on the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment and the City Planning Commission. She also has extensive experience actually adjudicating cases as a hearing officer in mental health commitments and for the state Liquor Control Board.

Another outstanding candidate is Cathy Bubash. She is a district magistrate on the North Side. We are impressed by her judicial deportment and diligence as a district magistrate. I was particularly impressed when I appeared before her as an attorney. Lots of magistrates treat us attorneys with respect. But she treated everyone with respect and consideration, whether they came from the county bar or Joe’s bar.

Hugh McGough is a proven worker and a proven leader. As assistant city solicitor, he defended the Constitutionality of Pittsburgh’s Human Relations Ordinance, including sexual orientation. He also served as President of the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.

Shirley Novak, a twenty-year legal veteran, is almost a sentimental favorite for me. I worked with her, her sister Gloria, and her mother Thelma Novak, along with Dr. Marty Krauss and others in HEART, in the fight to save the East Street neighborhood from I-279, in the successful fight from better compensation for those displaced, and in the successful fight to save St. Boniface Church from demolition. She is part of the reason why “A home for a home and a business for a business” is a standard in eminent domain.

Another good candidate is Laura Ditka. She is a single woman who adopted a child. That takes fortitude.

Judge Anne Lazarus for Pennsylvania Superior Court

We’re also electing two members of the state Supreme Court and two members of the state Superior Court. Anne Lazarus is well regarded as a Common Pleas judge in Philadelphia, well regarded by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and a good feminist.

For the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, there are two well-regarded candidates, both incumbent judges, Debra Todd and C. Darnell Jones. Judge Jones is African-American and is President Judge in Philadelphia.


Referendum on an Appointed Sheriff

County Council has voted to have a referendum to further amend our County Charter to make the County Sheriff an appointive office. It will be at the top of the machine. Especially in the wake of all the troubles in the Sheriff’s office, there seems to be no organized opposition.

Who will be President (... cut ...) Same to with Iraq section.

SAVE OUR TRANSIT

This fall, we must fight again to save our transit system. Pennsylvania’s assistance for operating funds is simply inadequate. Years of interim action and inaction have caught up with us. PAT’s budget for fiscal 2006-2007 requires $31 million in additional operating funds. Without new state sources of money, PAT (and ACCESS) would need fare increases. PAT is now planning elimination of about a quarter of their service, including elimination of over half of the bus routes. PAT needs a balanced budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which starts July 1. The PAT Board meets on the fourth Friday of the month, and currently plans to vote March 23 on a plan to cut service AND raise the fare, probably to $2.00. Originally County Executive Dan Onorato supported a horrible plan to cut service if the State Legislature failed to provide essential statewide transit funding. Then he said he supported 24% service cuts regardless, to “right-size” the system. (Please see above.) Now he is talking again about supporting the efforts to get the state money. What next?

Governor Rendell saved the system two years ago by “flexing” federal highway funds, but he can’t do that again. The Governor’s bipartisan Transit Funding and Reform Commission issued a report, spelling out the need for $659 million to keep the state’s transit systems going – and $1.013 billion needed to repair and maintain our bridges and roads. (The $1 billion would fund NO significant new capacity highways.)

Please take action. Call, write, or e-mail your legislators, especially in the State Senate, and urge them to approve a solution for providing funding both for public transportation and for maintaining and fixing our bridges and roads – funding that is dedicated, predictable, inflation-sensitive, and adequate. And tell Dan Onorato – people depend on our buses and trolleys. Don’t betray us.

I am tired of talking or writing about this issue.

JOIN ME ON THE M.S. WALK SUNDAY APR. 22

There will be an M.S. Walk Sunday morning, April 22, to raise money for MS research.

I will be on the walk -- not walking, of course, but on a new power wheelchair. We have a Power Team on the five-mile route – power chairs, scooters, and friends who just walk. You are invited to join us. We gather at 8 am at Heinz Field and start at 9. Please join me, or join by making a contribution to the National MS Society for medical research into a cure for MS. Tell us you’ll walk, or send a check to the National MS Society, 1501 Reedsdale St. #105, Pittsburgh 15233. Please mention the Power Team.

This cause is personal. My MS – multiple sclerosis – got worse this fall, and I switched to a new medication, Tysabri. I’m glad to say it’s working, and I’m better. Please join me on the MS Walk, Apr. 22.

Love and Peace,

Jonathan and Mary Robison
(with some snips)

All in all, the biggest problems with the above endorsment letter resides with his selection of Bruce Kraus over Jeff Koch. But, I understand that he'd have an impossible time giving an endorsement to Koch. I can't endorse either -- but it isn't my place to say much, yet.

I'm with Jonathan in that an endorsement is not a prediction as to who will win. Finally, I'm sure that most of you out there are clueless to the fact that Dan Onorato is going to have an opponent in the D primary in May. That will be interesting to watch.

400 poker machines seized in raids

Entertainment in the Mon Valley to a kick in the teeth.

400 poker machines seized in raids

To connect the dots. On one day, the slots parlor opened in Erie. The next day, private-owned the video poker machines in private (small business) establishements are pulled out of dozens of bars. Then comes the news today about the Pittsburgh slots parlor -- it has been delayed by a few months.

City casino delayed until mid-2008 Barden unable to start building until appeals deadline passes

The crack down on video poker machines will snowball in the months to come. They will be snuffed out within a year of the slots parlor's opening.

To bad David Caligurri, and his group with Isle of Capri, did not issue a statement that said that it would NOT file any appeal. Too bad the Pens owe $10-million to IOC and too bad the cost of the new arena just went up $20-million.

Rendell says arena deal ... costs more and not yet done

Rendell says arena deal 'very close' but adds caution The governor also revealed that the projected price of a new arena has gone up $20 million.

Pittsburgh Indymedia on Green Candidates and the color of Steve's bottom

From texture - misc.

single feature archives : Pittsburgh Indymedia Pittsburgh's Green Mayor?
03/01/2007
City Council Member Bill Peduto is challenging Incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in the next mayoral Democratic primary. Both candidates are promoting themselves as the environmentally friendly choice.

So which of these candidates is really green? Local activist Stephen Donahue says the answer is neither.

Right on Steve.

My reactions on the merits of his remarks follow:

* My stance on the parking tax is not like their stance. I say we need to sell the Parking Authority. Parking rates might need to climb if there is a demand and supply problem.

I don't want to give TIFs to build parking garages.

Even in our neighborhood, South Side, Jeff Koch is working hard to get an expansion of the Parking Authority. It is a big problem that big band-aids won't fix.

Ask why a new “green building” has a parking garage built along side it and you will be told not to worry because the parking garage will have a bike rack.

* I'm in favor of the creation of miles of bike lanes throughout the city, not just along the river's edge.

Pittsburgh is in a parking garage building spree right now. Every new development comes with one or more parking garages attached. Bill and Luke are using tax money to finance four new parking garages along Second Avenue at the Pittsburgh Technology Center. The renovation of the old Nabisco Bakery by luxury condo developer Walnut Capital will include a 1,200 car parking garage. This Bakery Square project is in the heart of East Liberty a major public transit hub but that doesn’t matter. Bakery Square is being built for the car not the bus.

I've spoken about the bad deals mentioned above.

Why when most cities are moving toward establishing “car free zones” does Bill Peduto want to make downtown a “bus free zone?”

* My downtown vision isn't like Bill's. I think we need more buses -- but in a back-and-forth manner.

Free parking on holidays does not promote public transit.

Click comments for full article because it is a keeper.

New Orleans and Police and insights from a great American Storyteller

From texture - misc.

T.H.E. .M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T. hit my email box today, and as always, has some sharp insights from Chris. He has a new song on his myspace page that features a three letter word three times. Chirs is a bit like MacYapper -- but far better in his wit and entertainment value. Perhaps MacYapper should have him as his first guest on his next radio show.

Thomas Wolf said, “You can’t go home again.” I don’t think he meant it like this.

D. R. and I just spent several weeks in New Orleans. It has been a while since I reported in on the progress there. I believe that Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome can effect a place as well as an individual.

New Orleans, the grizzled veteran of American culture stands on the expressway interchange – our cultural cross roads – like a military veteran – homeless, on drugs and prone to sudden inexplicable acts of violence.

She has a cardboard sign scrawled “will work for food.” A few sympathy dollars have been stuffed into her change box, enough for a Po-Boy sandwich today, but like the homeless veterans – it has taken her all day to get it. She can do little else. Survival.

New Orleans should be our proudest triumph, like our veterans – but when we see her taking small chunks of charity, suffering from extreme PTSS, stuttering and staggering, on drugs and prone to violent pointless flare-ups, we roll our windows up, turn up the stereo and stare mindlessly at the traffic light hoping it will change before we are approached.

But New Orleans is a combat veteran still seeing active duty. She is herself a war zone. Twenty-one murders this year. More than one hundred shootings. Seventeen shootings and five Murders in the two weeks I was there.

As many of you know, most of my stories start off with the phrase, “My car broke down.” This one is no exception. I was in the 9th Ward waiting on the bus to a mechanic up in mid city when I heard shots ring out clearly in the block I was standing. I counted 5 shots while keeping low and moving quickly away from the shots and calling 911.

I lived there for many years and I am used to hearing gun shots – but rarely so close and almost never in the day time.

As I ran towards the next bus stop several blocks away a cop approached and I flagged him down. “I am the one who called, or at least one of the ones that called,” I explained. There were 5 shots three blocks ahead on St Claude. With No exaggeration what so ever, the cop did a U turn around the neutral ground and headed quickly in the other direction. He was not responding to my call at all. He just happened to be there, a coincidence. The cops never responded to the call and the next day there was a double homicide in the exact same place – two fifteen year old kids were gunned down. It is a war zone. It is America. It is a crime.

At the car repair place, I waited patiently for my ignition switch to be switched out. A new Orleans cops walked familiarly into the waiting room. He was greeted with habitual how-do-you-dos as he walked behind the counter and sat at a computer terminal. It turns out the cop had to go to the car repair shop to get on-line to file his reports. He has no lap top in his cruiser.

While much of the 9th ward has been cleared to vast swaths of nothingness – there are still countless empty houses and piles of rubble. Some houses still sit in the middle of the streets. Few remain. Nine live in one neighborhood, a dozen in another. Only the most tenacious can survive. Orange extension cords run from construction poles illuminating whole houses with desk lamps. Gas inspectors are few, so people have tapped lines themselves bringing the inevitable fires. In many neighborhoods there is not enough water pressure to put out the fire so helicopters scoop water from the Mississippi river to extinguish them.

I went down to the By-Water to do my laundry. The By-Water only had three feet of water compared to the twelve in much of the ninth ward, so it is coming back – and due to the efforts of some amazing volunteers and courageous residents it is in many ways better than it was before.

At the Laundromat there was a notice of a place going up for rent on Desire Street – a street I had lived on years ago. I wrote a poem about it back then: (LINK if your see his online newsletter.) – our rent was two hundred bucks a month. Now, advertisement for a building two doors down was a thousand dollars.

People are paying triple and quadruple rent, while paying mortgages on what is left of houses and trying to restore them while getting run arounds from crooked insurance agencies and inept Federal Emergency Administrators.

I took the senseless tragic murder of a prominent white Canadian to make the country notice at all http://www.helenhill.org/news/. The city, known for parading of a different kind, took the streets. Black banners decrying “ENOUGH” hung from balconies. Action was demanded. Little has been accomplished since.

At the ensuing city council meeting the police chief and district attorney pointed fingers at each other and not at violent criminals. The end result is a 60 day revolving door policy in which perpetrators fail to get prosecuted and are back on the street. There is no crime lab. The evidence rooms are crowded with rodents and in disrepair.

To illustrate the extent - in the middle of the Bacchus parade, one of the largest Mardi Gras parades, one of the largest economic engines the city has, one of the biggest tourist attraction ever – in the heart of the heart: my friends were at a hot dog stand when shots rang out. The mobbed crowd of tourists scattered in chaos. Another teenager had been shot in the chest, one of several dozen since action has been demanded.

I guess I am unlikely to get that job with the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce I was hoping for – but someone has to say it.

A very tenacious woman I know in the ninth ward actually rescued her refrigerator after having been submerged for weeks. She cleaned it, scrubbed elbow deep unspeakable maggot encrusted slime inside and out. She fixed it – because she loved it.

It ran for a month. It is dead.

That women's flooded refrig lasted about three weeks longer than Motznik's blog.

I did giggle at today's MacYapper's statement about the give-a-ways of candidates seeking office.

MacYapper: E-DAY APPROACHING EDITION MacYapper - And what do you do with blankets? Why you COVER-UP!

I was thinking of a security blanket that might come from a little tyke, as in Linus, a friend of Charlie Brown.

I try to give away CDs, content and experiences. We provided 'community concerts' and last night I gave out, as a citizen, a batch of free tickets to a pre-release movie called PRIDE. Philly's tough sections in the 1970s look mild next to today's New Orleans.

Slide closes McArdle until 3 p.m. and Wabash Tunnel Pledges

Landslides are in the news again. Infrastructure crumbles. It isn't any one's fault. It happens.

I do wonder why they have built expensive homes on the edge of the slipping mountain side. I don't think that the city should insure those new construction sites.

Furthermore, the emergency funds (really rainy-day-funds) need to be in the budget. Repairs need to be made. Prevention needs to occur, as prevention is generally less expensive than rushing to the scene of an accident and overtime.

Slide closes McArdle until 3 p.m. McArdle Roadway, the steeply inclined road connecting the Liberty Bridge with Grandview Avenue atop Mount Washington, will be closed today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. so crews can remove debris that remains behind a wall running along the hillside.

I'd rather seem money being spent on landslides and basic infrastructure rather than other boondoggles, such as the twin tunnels under the river for a tiny light-rail extension. So, this is one instance, with landslides, where they need to pick the shovel up. Same too for salt boxes on hills on neighborhood streets.

The Wabash Tunnel, a past boondoggle, is back in the news. Seems Dan Onorato can make an order and lift the HOV (high occupancy veichle) restrictions. Today, autos with lone drivers as occupants get to pass through the tunnel. Generally there are restricted hours so that only cars with two or more people get to utilize the tunnel.

The tunnel provides a long cut so that those on Mt. Washington can come down the back of Mt. Washington and go to Station Square. Otherwise, they get to go to the West End or pass through the Liberty Tunnel.

The Wabash Tunnel provides a often used 'talking point' for many reason. By and large, it is a waste.

The HOV restrictions should be removed from the Wabash Tunnels forever more.

Furthermore, the Wabash Tunnel is closed for two hours every day. Nobody can use it then. Buses, vans, car-pools, and emergency EMS vehicles can't use the Wabash Tunnel then.

In the mornings, the Wabash Tunnel is one-way to Station Square. In the afternoons, the tunnel's one-way direction switches from Station Square. The tunnel takes about 2-minutes to travel its length. But, it takes PAT, the owners of the tunnel, an hour to switch the directions of the one way traffic flow in the tunnel.

This job should take five minutes. It takes an hour. And, it happens twice a day. So, what should take 10 minutes takes 120, wasting 110 minutes of road time.

If I'm elected County Executive, I'm going to close the Wabash Tunnel for more than two hours on one day because that's where I'm going to hold the block party on the day I take office. We won't have an inauguration ball. We'll have a block party in the Wabash Tunnel. One of the block party activities will be a game to see how long it takes to flip the switch to turn the Wabash Tunnel's traffic flow from inbound to outbound. We'll be rocking.

Furthermore, if and when I'm in charge, I'm going to turn one of the two lanes within the Wabash Tunnel into a bike/blade/pedestrian lane. This lane will always be open in both directions. The other lane, for cars, will be open in one direction, as required. The cars that travel in that tunnel, in one lane, don't need two lanes. I'll put that other lane to use, split by a jersey barrier from pedestrians.

Summary:

End the HOV restrictions at the Wabash Tunnel.

Wabash Tunnel should include a protected, two-way sidewalk that is always open for non-motorized use.

Wabash Tunnel should not be closed for 2 hours a day to change traffic direction when the change merits only five minutes of time twice a day.

Wabash Tunnel will be the site of the Elect.Rauterkus.com inauguration gala -- err, county-wide block party, in January 2008.

Early Returns - another saga in our political world known as city. As the world turns....

Early Returns - A Post-Gazette Journal Cops and campaigns

If one takes the long view, remember that there was a campaign that was about the EMS. Mayor Murphy pledged that the EMS contract would be made equal with that of the firefighters. That was a benchmark lie. But, it won him an election.

Then there is another famous lie that Murphy slurred to firefighters. Their t-shirts for O'Connor went to the rag heap and Murphy won his last election.

Now this is the time for the police and politicians to share the limelight.

Really, it might be just another play in the playbook used by Tom Murphy. This time, the QB is a rookie kicker.

In a game, or on a team, there are certain big-time players that need to get the call. The union employees who work for the city who can deliver a network of voters are important to a candidate. Tom Murphy has proven that fact. He went to that well and shouted his promises.

The promise and the delivery of the promise is NOT one in the same, of course.

Even at the meeting on the South Side on Wednesday night, Luke made a promise or two of interest along this theme. He went out on a limb and said that he is looking to split up Zone 3. The west end lost its police station. That was one of the final moves that Murphy made and it has stuck. Well, well, well, -- we've got a police centered promise, again. But it isn't really a promise. It comes from Luke Ravenstahl as a hint of a promise.

And this promise impacts citizens, activists and voters. It is a ploy. But, this is also one of the reasons that are MISSING from the EARLY RETURNS blog.

Police matters count for the politics, which is getting blogged about. And, the matters and management count too, because of the enforcement, the feelings of safety and the overall 'peace keeping presence.'

The issue of re-opening the west end police station and splitting zone three is a quagmire that politicians love. Luke is going to be in his glory here. He'll be able to double-talk, hint at, and wonder in public. But, no matter what half truth is said to an audience full of 'very concerned citizens' -- he'll still have his hands in cuffs by the OVERLORDS.

Neither Luke nor Bill can simply re-open a police station. Can't be done. They are just beggers.

Furthermore, when it comes down to putting assets into the neighborhoods or putting them into the pockets of rich downtown developers with tax breaks, there won't be enough left over to keep the streets in the neiborhoods as they should be.

Early Returns. Interest in tax cuts for the rich downtown crowd less of a blog hurdle

Poaching and Counter-pokes.

Early Returns - A Post-Gazette Journal Because it's more fun than the last issue, dueling tax abatements.

In the duel, on this issue, I see the shot from one headed into the heart of another. Meanwhile, the counter shot from the one just hit in the heart goes between the eyes of the foe. Both get tagged. Both shots passed in the moment. Both are dead on.

Watching on the sideline, in horror, are all the downtown developers, the rich residents and the authorities.

Hiding in the hills, but hearing the shots are the kids who in failing schools, the transit riders who can't catch a bus that never arrives, an the rest of the citizens in the neighborhoods who are seeing and planning for the next wave in outward migration.

It isn't FUN, as the early-return blog says, to talk and blog about the dueling tax abatements because nobody is going to win. Both candidates are killing the region. Both candidates prove to be nearly identical. Both are bleeding liberals quick to give away the treasured income of today to increase debt and sway potential political donors. There is no victory here, except the wealthy. And that win is only fleeting.

Philly -- home of a great swim team -- and a ballot access question about casinos

From Art from friends

Philly is on my mind as we just got back from an advance screening of the Hollywood movie, PRIDE. Very good movie.

In other news, from Jeff Shields Inquirer Staff Writer:

The fight over development of two casinos on the Philadelphia waterfront turned nasty yesterday, as SugarHouse Casino claimed "widespread and pervasive fraud" in the petition drive to ban slots parlors from Delaware Avenue.

The allegations are contained in a complaint that casino lawyers said will be filed today in court. A copy was provided in advance to The Inquirer.

SugarHouse lawyers, led by two attorneys who are investors in the project, Richard Sprague and William Lamb, accuse activists of forging signatures and circulating petitions with two different versions of a proposed ballot question.

John Miller, a spokesman for SugarHouse, said Sprague and Lamb would not comment, but confirmed the complaint will be filed today.

Jeffrey Rotwitt, an attorney for the city's second proposed casino, Foxwoods, said SugarHouse and Foxwoods have "been in collaborative mode" to prepare the complaint.

The complaint contends that fewer than 25 percent of the 27,254 signatures submitted last week can be validated. If true, that would leave anti-casino groups far short of the 20,000 signatures of registered voters required to start the process of putting a ballot question before voters in the May 15 primary.

It would ask voters to approve a charter change that would ban casinos from within 1,500 feet of any home, school or church. If passed, the measure would likely halt casino construction for months, years, or permanently, and potentially void the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's Dec. 20 decision to license SugarHouse and Foxwoods over three competitors.

SugarHouse is on the Delaware River in the Fishtown neighborhood; Foxwoods is on the riverfront in South Philadelphia.

The court must schedule a hearing within 10 days and make a decision within 15. If the activists lose, it will be too late to get on the May 15 primary ballot via a petition.

The court challenge makes it clear the casinos take the ballot initiative seriously - particularly with a City Council primary coming up and officials courting votes.

If the anti-casino activists are found to have 20,000 valid signatures, the City Council will be required to vote on whether to put the measure on the ballot. Opinion has been divided on whether nine votes for the measure can be found on the 17-members Council. Twelve Council members could make the petition drive moot by voting it on the ballot themselves.

Members of Casino Free Philadelphia, which led the petition drive, as well as neighborhood residents who collected signatures, expressed shock and defiance at news of the SugarHouse allegations.

"We were ready for a petition challenge, but to be accused of fraud is really another level," said Anne Dicker, a Casino Free Philadelphia organizer. "It's outrageous - it's absolutely outrageous. I don't think a grassroots group should have to face this
onslaught by corporations."

Mary Reinhart, a retiree from Pennsport, said she spent more than 30 hours collecting signatures, often in the freezing cold. "I don't care how aggressively and highly paid they are," she said. "I'm going to stand right up and protect my house and protect my neighborhood."

The forgeries referred to in the complaint involve at least two petition sheets in which the same handwriting is apparently used to fill in all the names, addresses and signatures.

Thomas Neher, who signed an affidavit validating one of those sheets, said he had handed out a number of petitions to friends and relatives. He then signed the affidavits on the sheets when they were returned.

"I did not forge those signatures," Neher, who lives on Front Street, said yesterday.

Other problems include names that don't match up with voter rolls and incomplete or inconsistent addresses, according to the complaint. In exhibits attached to the complaint, there are also some non-Philadelphia residents, and some prank names.

The petitions also carried two different referendum questions. At least 1,020 signatures sought to bar casinos from within 1,000 feet of homes, churches and school, while the others endorsed a 1,500-foot buffer.

Dicker said Casino Free Philadelphia changed its language to 1,500 feet in the process, but submitted the older petitions "in the spirit of making sure that their voices were heard."

Those 1,020 signatures would not likely count toward a referendum calling for the 1,500-foot buffer, City Solicitor Romulo Diaz Jr. said.

Otherwise Diaz said, he expected the signature battle to play out in court much like elections challenges are.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they're argued signature by signature," Diaz said.

Casino Free Philadelphia presented its petition Feb. 21; today was the last day SugarHouse could file. City code requires SugarHouse to submit its lawsuit along with 100 signatures. It is not known how many will be filed today.

Council has scheduled a hearing for tomorrow on the legislation required to put the referendum, which changes the City Charter, on the ballot.

Who let the dogs out? Ruff, Rough -- Joey Porter gets shot down

Cut.

Perhaps he'll be able to wait tables or be a bouncer at the new Bus Stop Grille #36 to be leased in an empty place in DelMonte's riverfront building on the North Side.

This is why I enjoy sports that feature athletes that 'graduate.'

Didn't get any love from the P.G. coverage of blogs. But, the P-G did do some reading on the topic.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Pittsburgh Steelers: "Big Cat: Porter YouTubes
Steeler Watch: Last of the Bad Boys
Pojo Dojo: No Port-er in storm
Joey Porter's Pit Bulls: It was bound to happen
Sports Idiots: Boot R.I.P.
Carbolic: New guy Tomlin breaks news to Porter's dogs
Black & Gold Blog: Farewell, Sweet Peezy
Steelers Fanatic: It stinks being correct
Mondesi: Porter era over
Steeler Tribute: End of the road
PittGirl: I'm okay"

Black male teacher more than an anomaly

Black male teacher more than an anomaly Last year, he was offered a position as an interim principal in the Duquesne City School District, as well as the principal’s position at Westinghouse High School. He turned both down.

“I couldn’t take an interim position,” he said. “And I don’t think I was ready for Westinghouse, or high school period. That’s a big step for a first-year administrator. Now middle school, that’s not a problem. That’s what I do.”

Wonderful news. Wonderful decision.

The Pittsburgh Region often feeds its young to the trash heap of life. When a star is found, it needs to be advanced in due time. I don't want people like him to burn out. I'm happy he said "NO."

The teacher ratio -- that is another story. Point 39 percent. Ouch. That is a PAINFUL fact. Not 39 percent. But .39 percent.

Could that be true?

Movie Vouchers for tonight's screening of PRIDE -- still remain

I've still got a few 'ticket vouchers' for tonight's advance showing of the Hollywood movie PRIDE. It is at 7:30 pm at the AMC/Lowes in West Homestead, the Waterfront.

The vouchers do NOT cost anything. But, there is no guarantee of a seat either. This is first-come, first served with me and with the cinema. You'll want to show up early.

Call me: 412 298 3432.

The movie's release in slated for March 23, 2007. I expect to do other special events then too. More on that later.

More on what we think of the movie -- after the show ends.

Otherwise, go WPIAL Swimmers: AA and AAA live results.

Ron Paul grassroots support proved - Homeland Stupidity

Ron Paul grassroots support proved - Homeland Stupidity“He is a living, breathing, elected, example of what our founding fathers had in mind for limited government,” said Ed Naile, chairman of the Coalition for New Hampshire Taxpayers. “You won’t see much in the press about it, but 150 is quite a large crowd for a Congressman this early in the campaign. Enough to make some of his issues part of the debate on the Republican side, I would say.”

Podcasters, bloggers: Check out BootCamp Pgh, April 21 from 9 am to 4 pm

BootCamp PGH is a free one-day, immersive "entry level" version of PodCamp. It is designed to educate students, small businesses and corporate communications professionals on the power and possibilities of new media.

Why Should YOU Attend BootCamp?

As we all know, the new media landscape can be daunting to those who've just discovered its potential.

Our intent is that, by the end of the day, a BootCamp attendee will be able to:

- understand the basic concepts behind blogging, audio / video podcasting, social networking, and / or new media as a whole
- understand the basics of the three main "tracks" of new media: Art / Content, Technology / Process, Business / Marketing
- begin creating the first examples of their own blogs or podcasts using publicly available programs and web applications
- cultivate a growing network of other new media professionals

WHEN: Saturday, April 21, from 9 AM to 4 PM
WHERE: The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 420 Boulevard of the Allies, 15219
WHO: New media experts, aspiring new media creators, communications and PR personnel, and you!

Like PodCamp, BOOTCAMP IS FREE TO ATTEND!

To register, please visit http://bootcamppgh.pbwiki.com/BootCampAttendees and follow the instructions.

Would you be interested in helping out with planning the event? Visit http://bootcamppgh.pbwiki.com/BootCampPlanners and add your name there as well!

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns Who's paying the freight in the South Side?

A few weeks ago, Early Returns noted that Mr. Koch's campaign finance report didn't meet legal requirements, because it didn't list individual contributors. He still hasn't filed an amended report. But it turns out his challenger, Mr. Kraus, hasn't yet filed any reports showing where his funding is coming from. Yesterday Mr. Kraus said he hasn't submitted the annual finance report required of active candidates by Jan. 31 because he closed out one campaign committee last year and opened up a new one early this year. Sounds like he gets off the hook on a technicality.

Not really. He didn't file a year end because he made a mistake and didn't close the other one down to ZERO. Closed doesn't happen unless the amount is zero.

Sure, Kraus is less wrong than Koch. But it might be nice if we had an honest, open and addition capable member in council.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns

Can someone clarify this for me?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns Confronted with the anonymous letter, Mr. Pokora disavowed it, urging anyone who receives it to throw it away. 'We don't do political stuff in this office,' he said. (He did, though, officially launch his campaign in his office.) 'I don't think [the anonymous letter] was found here, so no, it doesn't concern me.'

City League Championship: Powerful Schenley big favorite vs. Oliver

Wish this game was on TV.

City League Championship: Powerful Schenley big favorite vs. Oliver Oliver coach Carey White has been asking his players if they've seen the movie 'Hoosiers.' He has been asking them if they know about Villanova's stunning upset of Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA championship.

White is trying to get his players to believe, every once in a while, the big underdog can have his day -- and big upsets can happen.

Speaking of movies -- we'll be going to see a pre-release showing of the movie, PRIDE, tonight at the AMC/Lowes Waterfront in West Homestead at 7:30 pm tonight. Otherwise, I'd be going to the basketball games.

If you attend the hoops game, let me know what you think.

The Civic Arena should be used more and more for high school sports games after the Pens move out and build themselves a new arena out by the airport.