Please see below for my thoughts on City Council’s activities around the Pittsburgh Promise. I urge you to get involved to stop this program from proceeding until it has been defined beyond a press release. Please contact your city councilperson to express your thoughts, even if they’re not in consonance with my position.
Thanks, Salvador Wilcox, CEO, Education Innovations, Inc.
6435 Frankstown Ave., 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.661.8751 ext. 150
www.educationinnovations.org
Please table Pittsburgh Promise resolutions and hold public hearings
Bill and Lenny,
(I don’t have the emails to the other City Council Persons, so could you forward this to them, please.)
I’m writing you to request that bill relating to the Pittsburgh Promise be tabled until such a time that:
1. public hearings are had to discuss the merits of the program; and
2. the program is actually designed and goes beyond a press release released by a mayor running for office and a superintendent who has yet to prove any of his programs actually work
I have many concerns.
1. A solution follows from the problem it tries to solve. In this case, since the solution is money for college, the problem would be defined as a lack of resources to pay for college. However, that is not the problem in Pittsburgh. At least not the primary problem. The problem is that we don’t have enough kids who graduate or get accepted into college. The Pittsburgh Promise does not solve that problem. And the programs that supposedly solve them are yet to be proven. By giving to this hollow promise, we do not focus on the achievement problem.
2. When the Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public Schools complains of financial stress, it is not a time to be adding another bloated program to the already bloated bureaucracy. The City and the School District should be looking for revenues to bring the school district back to financial health. Aside from adding more staff to the District, no other details have really been thought out. Neither big business nor the foundation community in Pittsburgh is running to support this. We should ask why before we appeal to good nature of tax payers to give to a program which has yet to detail how the money would be spent.
3. The school district is in as bad shape, in part, to a historical and continued overstaffing in the administration level. It took decades to address the decline in population. It took decades to close buildings. It has not sufficiently addressed uncontrolled changes in work orders. It is paying for two Deputy Superintendents of Instruction, one of which does no work for the District.
4. It seems unfair that the District, who already receives nearly ½ Billion dollars per year in tax revenues should dip into tax-payers good will again. Especially since it has yet to actually prove that it can educate the majority of our minority population. There are many other organizations that actually do provide results. Council could start with a charter school fund to introduce more competition for the District. Charter schools and charter applicants have been orphaned by foundation’s support of only the superintendent. A charter school fund would bring about innovation in the district. Philadelphia has embraced public schools and Pittsburgh should also. In Philadelphia, charter schools boost the District’s average achievement!
5. The District has not released any details on how children will qualify for the scholarship, nor how much children will get. The school district has not analyzed what the overhead for this program will be. If the financial health of the district is any indication, I’m not convinced that the District can handle such a large program. If the intent is true, perhaps a local foundation like the Pittsburgh Foundation would be better able to handle the program.
6. Charter high school students are in spirit and in law, Pittsburgh Public School students. They should not be left out of the program. So far, no indication has been made about their participation. If the District is allowed to have a tear-off coupon but excludes charter school students, then tax-payers should also be given the option to designate their funds to a particular charter school, or a general charter school graduation fund.
The idea in principle is a good one, though the problem to access to higher education seems to me lack of academic skills and not a lack of resources to pay for college. Were that we had so many students accepted to college with no means to pay for it.
Since the details have not been developed and since no time line has been given for those details, surely we should be apprehensive about passing City Council resolutions blindly.
Salvador Wilcox
Monday, April 02, 2007
Put the brakes on the Pittsburgh Promise -- voices from educational advocates
PAT Audit Promised: Controller awakes from his slumber
Marty Griffin, KDKA Radio, was wondering why there will be a new audit of PAT. He was scratching his head thinking, perhaps, it was because Jack Wagner had done audits and there might be a race in 3 years for the Governor's office.
I give him the real reasons in an email.
Hi Marty,
Mark Patrick Flaherty, Allegheny County Controller, became aware, last week, that he'll face an opponent on the ballot in the general election. That is why he woke up and came to life with PAT.
The opponent is a Libertarian, doctor from Hampton. He is a 'running mate' of mine.
Furthermore, we're starting to gather the thousands of necessary signatures.
Plus, I told you a few weeks ago about Rich Swartz, the Dem on the ballot who is running against Dan Onorato. Well, Dan's lawyers could NOT toss him off the ballot. That went down on Friday afternoon.
So, Dan Onorato has an opponent in the primary, Swartz, and the winner will face me in the general election.
I'm now running for FIVE offices, not six, as I stated on the show with you a few weeks ago. Another guy from Chartiers City is standing in my place (that's the placeholder element) for the slot for Allegheny County Council Member At-Large.
If you'd like an update, give me a call. There is a lot to talk about. For example, I want to sue the Allegheny County Election Department as they will NOT provide an electronic version of the nomination papers. Red tape that they could fix in about 15 seconds with a simple email of a state form.
Did you ever listen to the CD I left with you???? It has a great campaign theme song. We should play that on the air.
I could use the ARMY to lend signatures to get access to the ballot.
PRESSURE comes now and then with elections. Dan Onorato is on the record saying he thinks elections are a DISTRACTION.
I give him the real reasons in an email.
Hi Marty,
Mark Patrick Flaherty, Allegheny County Controller, became aware, last week, that he'll face an opponent on the ballot in the general election. That is why he woke up and came to life with PAT.
The opponent is a Libertarian, doctor from Hampton. He is a 'running mate' of mine.
Furthermore, we're starting to gather the thousands of necessary signatures.
Plus, I told you a few weeks ago about Rich Swartz, the Dem on the ballot who is running against Dan Onorato. Well, Dan's lawyers could NOT toss him off the ballot. That went down on Friday afternoon.
So, Dan Onorato has an opponent in the primary, Swartz, and the winner will face me in the general election.
I'm now running for FIVE offices, not six, as I stated on the show with you a few weeks ago. Another guy from Chartiers City is standing in my place (that's the placeholder element) for the slot for Allegheny County Council Member At-Large.
If you'd like an update, give me a call. There is a lot to talk about. For example, I want to sue the Allegheny County Election Department as they will NOT provide an electronic version of the nomination papers. Red tape that they could fix in about 15 seconds with a simple email of a state form.
Did you ever listen to the CD I left with you???? It has a great campaign theme song. We should play that on the air.
I could use the ARMY to lend signatures to get access to the ballot.
PRESSURE comes now and then with elections. Dan Onorato is on the record saying he thinks elections are a DISTRACTION.
Kennywood has a new feature and is looking for videos -- RUSH for the April 30 deadline
Welcome to Kennywood - Funzone Kenny TV is an information and entertainment closed circuit TV system that makes its debut this summer at various locations around Kennywood including a big screen at the Kennyville Stage. At the Kennyville Stage, various types of video entertainment will be shown to park Guests such as concerts and funny videos. And that's where you come in.
We're hoping you will submit your FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS or, in the case of local bands looking for exposure, A VIDEO OF YOUR BAND PERFORMING so that we can show them all summer long to our Guests. Who knows - this may be your first step towards becoming a big Hollywood producer?
Here's a sampling of the types videos we're looking for:
* High School Marching Bands performing
* Funny Pet Tricks
* American Idol wanna-be's
* Funny Home Videos
* Upstart local bands (rock, country, etc) performing original material or someone else's with permission
* Your Kennywood Memories (stills or video)
Submission is simple! Here's what you do:
Rendell: Hijacking the Reform Train
Great insights, as always, from PA Clean Sweep:
Governor Ed Rendell should step aside from his bid to become the state’s reformer-in-chief. While some of his ideas may have merit, the Governor has no more right than the average citizen to prescribe the structure of state government in Pennsylvania and his viewpoint is distorted by his position.
Perhaps his goal of a better open records policy is desirable, but his suggestion of creating an Office of Public Records Advocate might be just another plump patronage position to be filled by political pals. Maybe the people can come up with a better plan for making government more transparent.
Perhaps merit selection for state appellate judges is an idea worth considering, but what if the people would rather make all judicial races non-partisan affairs and ban contributions to those races by lawyers?
How could Rendell’s proposed Appellate Court Nominating Commission, dominated by a majority of legislative and executive appointees and confirmed by the Senate, improve the independence of the judiciary? Independence from the other two branches should be encouraged, but independence from the sovereign people at the voting booth should not.
Perhaps the Governor’s suggested campaign finance limits appear to level the electoral playing field. On the other hand, maybe the people of this Commonwealth realize that the voter revolt of 2006 would not have been possible under those limitations and that no financial ceiling could ever negate the current incumbency protection program.
Perhaps Rendell’s legislative term limits sound like a good idea, but reality in Pennsylvania suggests that if the General Assembly was truly part-time and was stripped of the unconstitutional perks it now enjoys, term limits would be utterly unnecessary.
Perhaps Pennsylvanians want a smaller legislature, but maybe they’d like a larger one, or to keep its size the same, with some of the above mentioned features and fewer expenses. Maybe they want to look at the other 49 states to see what others are doing before deciding which path is best for the Commonwealth.
Perhaps the time has come for citizen redistricting, but Rendell’s 11-member commission would include four legislators and three appointees of the governor, two of whom would be legislators. The remaining four would be appointed by - you guessed it - the four legislative caucus leaders. Pennsylvanians just might have a slightly different notion of how a citizens’ redistricting commission should look.
On constitutional issues in Pennsylvania, the governor’s opinion has no more real or deserved weight than the average citizen’s. Perhaps the Governor has some good ideas. Perhaps he doesn’t. Either way, today’s climate dictates that constitutional change should not be viewed only through the myopic lens of the chief executive.
The merit of Rendell’s ideas have should be discussed openly among citizens, not quietly between the three branches of government. Other citizens should be able to discuss their ideas as well. The proper forum for such a discussion is a constitutional convention. Surely, the Governor would be free to provide his vision for consideration at such a gathering.
“Citizens will not rest until there is an end to perks, an end to control by private interests and an end to political rules that shut them out of the process,” the Governor said in a press release. But his plan eliminates no perks, suppresses the freedom of speech in political races and utterly shuts the people out of the process of structural change.
Nearly two years after the reform train left the station as Ed Rendell signed the pay raise, the Governor is using his bully pulpit to try to hijack it. Perhaps he doesn’t realize that many other citizens were on board well ahead of him. Their voices on constitutional matters deserve an equally fair hearing.
In announcing his preferred reforms, Rendell expressed trepidation at the prospect of a constitutional convention, but if he truly believes in the right of self-governance as enumerated by Article I of the Constitution, a carefully crafted citizens’ convention provides no cause for hand wringing, anguish or hesitation of spirit.
A plan for such a convention of the people is available at www.PACleanSweep.com.
Citizens’ Constitutional Convention Act of 2007
Read the Governor's Proposed "Reforms"
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Best American athlete. Hint: it isn't Big Ben.
The best American athlete - Sports - NBCSports.com One of the marks of a truly great champion is that he (or, as the case may be, she) is willing to compete fearlessly against other elite athletes, even when it's not seen as his or her signature event. That's what champions do. They test themselves.
At the Athens Olympics, Phelps swam the 200 free even though he had to know beforehand it probably meant the end of his attempt to better Mark Spitz's haul of seven swimming gold medals, set at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Phelps is especially deadly in the butterfly and the medleys, where a swimmer is asked to swim -- all in one race -- the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Phelps finished third in the Athens 200 free, in what swim aficionados now call 'the race of the century,' behind Ian Thorpe of Australia and Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands.
Kudos to Phelps. He tried. He won 'only' six gold medals in Athens, eight overall.
One of the marks of a truly great champion is that he (or, as the case may be, she) is willing to compete fearlessly against other elite athletes, even when it's not seen as his or her signature event. That's what champions do. They test themselves.
At the Athens Olympics, Phelps swam the 200 free even though he had to know beforehand it probably meant the end of his attempt to better Mark Spitz's haul of seven swimming gold medals, set at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Phelps is especially deadly in the butterfly and the medleys, where a swimmer is asked to swim -- all in one race -- the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Phelps finished third in the Athens 200 free, in what swim aficionados now call "the race of the century," behind Ian Thorpe of Australia and Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands.
Kudos to Phelps. He tried. He won "only" six gold medals in Athens, eight overall.
In that same manner, this January at a meet in Long Beach, Calif., Phelps undertook an extraordinary challenge.
In the space of 41 minutes, he swam the 100-yard fly, 100 back and 100 breast against Crocker, Peirsol and Hansen, among the best in the world in their events.
The race against Hansen in the breaststroke marked Phelps' 15th, and final, event in 50 hours. Hansen won, in 52.81. Phelps came in second, in 54.67 -- more than a second lower than his previously best time.
In the butterfly, Crocker -- with whom Phelps has had a great rivalry -- went out fast and won in 45.23. Phelps came in second.
Phelps beat Peirsol, winner of the 100- and 200-meter backstroke events in Athens.
In all, at that meet in Long Beach, Phelps won four races and finished second in three others.
Three second-place finishes? That's America's greatest?
Very funny insights to the World Championships 400 IM
CollegeSwimming.com :: View topic - World Championships Almost as impressive as Phelps WR was Marin, who was dead last at the 100 by about a body length, and then worked back and almost beat Lochte for Silver. The splits are intersting
Phelps
55.05
1:03
1:11
57
Marin
59.05
1:02
1:11
57
If only Marin could swim butterfly, things would be real interesting. He was so far behind in the first 100, I thought he had lost his suit on the dive or something.
Pride: Music: Original Soundtrack
Amazon.com: Pride: Music: Original Soundtrack
1. Dare To Dream - John Legend
2. Back Stabbers - The O'Jays
3. Express Yourself - Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
4. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
5. It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers
6. Let's Clean Up The Ghetto - The Philadelphia International All-Stars
7. Slow Motion - Johnny Williams
8. I Love Music - The O'Jays
9. Love Train - The O'Jays
10. Strawberry Letter No. 23 - The Brothers Johnson
11. The Payback - James Brown
12. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Aretha Franklin
13. Sizonqoba Simunye - Aaron Zigman
1. Dare To Dream - John Legend
2. Back Stabbers - The O'Jays
3. Express Yourself - Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
4. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
5. It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers
6. Let's Clean Up The Ghetto - The Philadelphia International All-Stars
7. Slow Motion - Johnny Williams
8. I Love Music - The O'Jays
9. Love Train - The O'Jays
10. Strawberry Letter No. 23 - The Brothers Johnson
11. The Payback - James Brown
12. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Aretha Franklin
13. Sizonqoba Simunye - Aaron Zigman
French Connection - Tennesse Signs Agreement With National Federation
CollegeSwimming.com::French Connection - Tennesse Signs Agreement With National Federation CollegeSwimming.com contacted several coaches to gain comment on what is already a contentious issue. No program would go on record with their comments, though each articulated disgust with the move. At least two programs, however, have already begun pursuing similar agreements with other countries. One coach, who asked to remain anonymous explained that the agreement isn’t an entirely new, “We’ve been working on it [securing an agreement] for two years but have only found interest from Bolivia….and let’s be honest there aren’t many world beaters coming out of Bolivia.”Our trip later this month to New Zealand is now with more urgent purpose.
Recruit Chooses College over Pros
CollegeSwimming.com::Recruit Chooses College over Pros “Andy’s got a limited time frame to strike while the iron’s hot,” the agent said. “Five years from now, you won’t see Huggies offering this kind of money.”April Fools Joke. Cute.
 |
| From playground - usa |
Onorato To Challenge Property Tax Ruling
kdka.com - Onorato To Challenge Property Tax Ruling Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato says he'll go to court to overturn a ruling that will allow county property owners to appeal their assessments based on sale price.Chief Executive, Dan Onorato, has a history of making threats and then blinking at the last minute. Then he tells the lawyers to pull back as it becomes clear, right before the judge enters the room, that he'll loose. Onorato's efforts spend the money. He pays all the lawyers, and doesn't get the outcome he desires. Well, he does get one desired outcome: A pay day for his cronie lawyers.
But, that isn't what I'm looking to do.
Dan's bluffing. Dan's without a solution.
When the judges are called into the mix, nobody wins. Dan is not going to win. The taxpayers are not going to win.
We need more creativity and less legal attacks. We need better solutions and less posturing.
The bleak picture for property owners is being painted by the hands of Mr. Onorato himself. He is not able to lead the county out of this downward spiral.
The ones that make the mess are generally the ones that are least capable of fixing the mess.
Dan made the mess. Dan can't clean it up.
Which brings us to the next postings, below. Humpty was an egg. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty was a big man and all. But the bigger they are the harder they fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men could NOT put Humpty together again.
Tribune Review Editors again at odd with the truth
Are these guys clueless, stupid, or what? Who can be so wrong with such ease?
It would be different if I didn't call Dave Brown, reporter for the Trib who covers politics. I called him twice this week and left him voice messages. He didn't call back.
I think these guys can be saved. They could be born again. And, these guys are not only guys, for what its worth. One of the worst is a women editor who has killed a number of stories in the past.
I would LOVE to meet with the editors and reporters of the Tribune Review. Call me: 412 298 3432.
Awkward times for Santorum - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review With no opposition for Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in the upcoming Democrat primary, the most compelling local primary race is for -- of all things -- city controller.Dan Onorato has a challenger in the May 2007 Dem party primary. His name is Rich Swarts. Dan Onorato, if he wins, will have a challenger in the November 2007 election as well.
It would be different if I didn't call Dave Brown, reporter for the Trib who covers politics. I called him twice this week and left him voice messages. He didn't call back.
I think these guys can be saved. They could be born again. And, these guys are not only guys, for what its worth. One of the worst is a women editor who has killed a number of stories in the past.
I would LOVE to meet with the editors and reporters of the Tribune Review. Call me: 412 298 3432.
We often miss the circus in our house. Good reasons in this blog posting
Our life is a circus. So, we don't get out to them often. My mother has taken the kids to the circus in the past. I don't want to spoil that memory for them by taking them there again.
Two other points from my end can be blended upon his story. First, the parking situation is NOT going to get any better. When the construction happens, the entire hill area is going to become a big muddy mess. Parking has got to shrink in significant ways as they are going to build the new arena on part of the existing parking lot.
So, getting to the games in the next couple of years, as well as to the circus, is going to be more difficult.
Furthermore, I've said all along that there is NO NEED to build a new arena for the folks that go to the circus. None. Keep the existing arena with the existing parking lot as is. Then build a new arena in another part of the county. Then we can have a circus the same time there are NHL Playoffs. And, we can have a circus the same time there are high school graduations.
Renovating Parenthood: The Financial Circus: "We surprised the kids today with a visit downtown to see the Shrine Circus. My wife found a 'great deal' on tickets, so it wasn't too expensive. Sure, great deal. Once we walked in there I was robbed of every dime I had.The rest of the post gets better. Read it over there.
It's a good thing the Shriners are a charitable organization. Because there is NO reason a visit for four to the circus should have cost us over $120.
It started with the $9 for parking. Well, The folks that run Mellon Arena obviously need to maintain the parking lots somehow, at least until they are all torn up in six months when the new arena for the Penguins starts construction. Once inside, they really had us cornered."
Two other points from my end can be blended upon his story. First, the parking situation is NOT going to get any better. When the construction happens, the entire hill area is going to become a big muddy mess. Parking has got to shrink in significant ways as they are going to build the new arena on part of the existing parking lot.
So, getting to the games in the next couple of years, as well as to the circus, is going to be more difficult.
Furthermore, I've said all along that there is NO NEED to build a new arena for the folks that go to the circus. None. Keep the existing arena with the existing parking lot as is. Then build a new arena in another part of the county. Then we can have a circus the same time there are NHL Playoffs. And, we can have a circus the same time there are high school graduations.
New Pittsburgh: High-tech growth starts at home, group says
 |
| From texture - misc. |
CMU is going to host a high tech conference in November 2007 that is meant to be a way to get the word out about technology education as a great opportunity for girl students. Today, guys still have a large percentage of seats in high tech academic programs.
Blast from the past news article from May 1, 2003 and the P-G:
New Pittsburgh: High-tech growth starts at home, group says Pittsburgh's efforts to attract more young high technology professionals are well known and documented.One of the ways to use the now closed indoor ice rink owned by the city is to turn part of it into the year-round home for the Youth Technology Summit. The entire building and park would not need to be devoted to technology. However, it would be great to have a youth-driven space where open-source tools are always "on."
Jeannette Blosel/Post-Gazette
Photo of Mark Rauterkus and Diane Durand at Alphachimp Studios in Oakland.
But some local high tech enthusiasts believe that if the region really wants to build its reservoir of high tech talent, the best place to start is with children who already live here.
 |
| From family - travels |
Hard to blog about Phelps in the final event as it didn't occur
Michael was on the road to eight gold medals. The last race was to be a relay. But, the USA team had a false start in the heats of the semi-finals. As a result, Phelps didn't get into the water. Number eight will have to come at another meet -- perhaps the Olympics.
What Phelps and the USA swimmers have done in the last couple of weeks has been amazing. The men and the women had great meets.
The stage is set for Beijing.
Humm. Wonder if it will work that way in politics in Pittsburgh in the weeks and campaigns to come?
What Phelps and the USA swimmers have done in the last couple of weeks has been amazing. The men and the women had great meets.
The stage is set for Beijing.
WCSN.com: News Nothing tops his 50-meter title in Australia, even if it means he had to beat his friend and U.S teammate Jones, a heavy favorite in the race, to attain it. 'Cullen's an amazing swimmer,' he said. 'We enjoy each other's competition.'Swimmer in the sprint go on record saying, "We enjoy each other's competition." That's what I'm used to. That's the way it should be.
Look for that pleasant rivalry to continue on the road to Beijing in 2008.
Humm. Wonder if it will work that way in politics in Pittsburgh in the weeks and campaigns to come?
Signature gathering has begun in earnest. And, it pays to advertise.
 |
| From people & vips |
Well, any eligible voter that resides within Allegheny County.
Officials estimate $7B in revenues, 70,000 jobs to city - Sunday April 1, 2007 1:46AM
SI.com - More Sports - Officials estimate $7B in revenues, 70,000 jobs to city - Sunday April 1, 2007 1:46AM: "Landing the 2016 Olympics would bring in more than $7 billion in revenue and create nearly 70,000 jobs, Los Angeles officials said."
400 IM Record and 7th Gold Medal.
Phelps update from World Championships: Lucky Number Seven: Michael Phelps Crushes World Record in 400 IM
MELBOURNE, Australia, April 1. SUPERMAN Michael Phelps did it again, this time claiming his seventh gold medal of the meet by crushing his world record with a time of 4:06.22 in the 400 IM at the FINA World Championships. The previous record of 4:08.26 stood since Phelps set it in Athens in 2004. Ryan Lochte made it a 1-2 for America with a silver-winning time of 4:09.74, while Luca Marin of Italy claimed bronze in 4:09.88.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Pittsburgh Comet: District 9
The Pittsburgh Comet: District 9 UPDATE: Burgess 39, Kirkland 32, Carlisle 21, Taylor 3The dems did a re-do on the endorsement for city council, district 9. They had an endorsement before. But the winner, 22-year-old Ms. Cooper, got tossed from the ballot by the judge because of a failed deadline for the financial disclosure forms. Ouch.
Many were happy to see that Twanda Carlisle got third in the first election. Some of us are hungry for change. Thankfully, she got third again in the re-do.
3 way, 2 way, 1 way -- highway
One can fight, fold or flee. Everyday citizens see this (see the letter to the editor below) and wonder why in the world would anyone want to enter this pile of poop. Most of the time, after it is seen once or twice, people understand. It just isn't worth it. Political life can really stink around here. So, "at the end of the day," as the cliche says, most folks resolve to say little, do little and seek the next available opportunity elsewhere. Then when the time is right and something better is evident, they leave. They flee. They vote with their feet. They hit the highway and move away.
Thanks for sharing the insights in the letter to the editor.
The the second play in the playbook from the un-democratic democrats is shown above. The first play in their un-democratic playbook is to knock off the top challenger. Second play: don't knock off a minor challenger when there is a major challenger on the ballot. Two challengers are easier to beat than one.
Bodack's play didn't work. It backfired.
Bodack is very good at counting when you only need to use one hand.
Thanks for sharing the insights in the letter to the editor.
Speaking of tacticsPittsburgh has a brain drain, in part, because of the acts described in the letter.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07090/773997-110.stm
I wish to respond to Dennis Roddy's statement in his March 22 article "City Candidates Removed From Primary Ballot," in which he insinuates that I, as attorney for the Patrick Dowd campaign for City Council, might have been "engaged in a tactical maneuver to winnow the field and give their candidate better odds against
the incumbent."
Apparently the incumbent's political maneuvering seems to have escaped Mr. Roddy's attention. It should be clearly noted that Leonard Bodack Jr., through Anthony Lisowski, initiated ballot challenges against both Patrick Dowd and Tom Fallon on the basis of errors in their statements of financial interests. (How much better can the odds be than to remove all challengers?)
When Mr. Bodack learned that his effort to knock Mr. Dowd off the ballot was unsuccessful, he then withdrew his challenge against Mr. Fallon. Did he suddenly change his opinion about the value of information omitted from Mr. Fallon's statements of financial interests? Or did he decide that, with Mr. Dowd now remaining in the race, a three-person contest would be more advantageous to his campaign?
These tactics, sadly, are an unfortunate misuse of the judicial system for political purposes. Mr. Bodack should be ashamed of himself and the voters in City Council District 7 should remember this on May 15.
ISOBEL STORCH, Highland Park
The the second play in the playbook from the un-democratic democrats is shown above. The first play in their un-democratic playbook is to knock off the top challenger. Second play: don't knock off a minor challenger when there is a major challenger on the ballot. Two challengers are easier to beat than one.
Bodack's play didn't work. It backfired.
Bodack is very good at counting when you only need to use one hand.
U.S. women top Aussies for water polo gold - Saturday March 31, 2007 11:01AM
SI.com - More Sports - U.S. women top Aussies for water polo gold - Saturday March 31, 2007 11:01AM Coach Guy Baker jumped fully clothed into the pool to congratulate his team Saturday after the United States edged Australia 6-5 to win the women's water polo gold medal at the world championships.
Rick Swartz for Allegheny County Executive - Home
His web site is now working. Check it out.
I've not failed.
When you are true to your mission, and true to the struggle -- honest and open -- then that's a success.
Candidates can win elections and fail in doing so.
I'm a swim coach. I ask swimmers to better themselves. We look for improvments. We strive for 'best times.'
My best time and your best time may not be one in the same.
Swimmers also like to break records. I've broken a few records. I've helped to make history. That, it seems to me, is hard to do when it is called a failure.
I was part of the 2001 primary between two candidates. We were in the opposition party. That was the first time in generations that two were seeking the nomination. I left that party a few years later. The next time, in 2005, they went to one candidate, Joe Weinroth. Now in 2007, they went to none.
In 2001, we ran against Tom Murphy. We predicted certain things that came true. We didn't win in 2001 -- but we won on some important points. The Murphy Administration was pushing the city over the brink and a lot of Dems in town didn't know it, didn't want to understand it, and didn't think it was real. We won credit for that then.
And, that credit helped to insure that Tom Murphy would NOT be able to run again for office the next time. Tom Murphy debated the opponents in the 2001 campaign once -- on the Sunday night before the Tuesday election. That was his last debate.
Tom Murphy won the battle but lost the war. That's not a failure.
There have been a lot of victories and wins. We've had success in runnnig. We've had some bumps in the road too.
Hope that the Swartz camapign gets some attention. What do you think about his site and messages?
Rick Swartz for Allegheny County Executive - Home A real Democrat isn’t afraid to fail.I'm not afraid. And, I've not won past elections. But, in my heart and in my head, I can say with confidence that I've yet to FAIL in any of my campaigns so far, despite the fact that I've not yet gotten close to scoring one move vote than the 2nd place.
I've not failed.
When you are true to your mission, and true to the struggle -- honest and open -- then that's a success.
Candidates can win elections and fail in doing so.
I'm a swim coach. I ask swimmers to better themselves. We look for improvments. We strive for 'best times.'
My best time and your best time may not be one in the same.
Swimmers also like to break records. I've broken a few records. I've helped to make history. That, it seems to me, is hard to do when it is called a failure.
I was part of the 2001 primary between two candidates. We were in the opposition party. That was the first time in generations that two were seeking the nomination. I left that party a few years later. The next time, in 2005, they went to one candidate, Joe Weinroth. Now in 2007, they went to none.
In 2001, we ran against Tom Murphy. We predicted certain things that came true. We didn't win in 2001 -- but we won on some important points. The Murphy Administration was pushing the city over the brink and a lot of Dems in town didn't know it, didn't want to understand it, and didn't think it was real. We won credit for that then.
And, that credit helped to insure that Tom Murphy would NOT be able to run again for office the next time. Tom Murphy debated the opponents in the 2001 campaign once -- on the Sunday night before the Tuesday election. That was his last debate.
Tom Murphy won the battle but lost the war. That's not a failure.
There have been a lot of victories and wins. We've had success in runnnig. We've had some bumps in the road too.
Hope that the Swartz camapign gets some attention. What do you think about his site and messages?
Onorato: Smoking fine for South Side parlor 'excessive' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Onorato: Smoking fine for South Side parlor 'excessive' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Onorato: Smoking fine for South Side bingo parlor 'excessive'Do you think he should have thought this bill through. Think again, before you sign the bill, Mr. Onorato. Onorato bucked hard to get the bill re-written. Now that it is a bill, he calls it excessive.
Double speak.
Deadline looms large! Change your party. Get into the mix yourself as a candidate in the general election.
The video above, a political video on YouTube is something I just made based on a song and the message for early April. It is just over a minute in length.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Insights to a campaign for US President via Congressmen's Ron Paul's campaign
I've been asking locals to switch out of the Republican and Democratic parties to support effort as a Libertarian. Here is another call going the other way, but for 2008.
First and foremost, the goals that we hope to accomplish are:
1. Bringing the message that liberty can be reestablished in American only by respecting the rule of law, the U. S. Constitution.
2. Saving America from bankruptcy, world war and a continued fascist regime by getting Ron Paul elected President.
What you can do:
1. Republicans need to get involved in the party. Become voting delegates at your precinct, county and state conventions. Support Ron Paul at all these events. Ask them to invite Ron Paul to speak at their state conventions! (1-800-RON-PAUL)
2. Republicans need to call the county chairs, executive committee and state chairmen of your individual state. Ask that they support and endorse Ron Paul. Tell them that it is imperative at this time in history that we have someone who in incorruptible and a true conservative because this country is going bankrupt – financially and morally.
3. Those of you, who are not Republicans, hold your nose and take the plunge as Ron Paul is running in the Republican primary and believe it or not, most grassroots Republicans believe in limited government and want someone to believe in Ron Paul is that Republican.
4. Write letters to the editors of newspapers about supporting Ron Paul for President.
5. Continue to hammer talk show blogs and email commentary promoting Ron Paul for President. (you have done a great job at this). Ask them to invite Ron Paul onto their station. Tell them to call 1-800-RON-PAUL. Promote him and the issues of liberty and the U.S. Constitution.
6. Ron Paul has to win Republican primaries before he can get to the next step – the general election, so we need you to work in Republican circles to get that done.
Thanks so much. You don't know how much we love you as supporters. If it weren't for you holding back the tide of big government by supporting Ron Paul in all of his endeavors, we would have little hope for freedom.
So, because of you, there is Hope for America!
The Daily News - Onorato addresses Twin Rivers assembly
Where did I put my decoder ring?
The Daily News - Onorato addresses Twin Rivers assembly 'Part of the reason this got accomplished (new arena for Penguins) is I would not budge on not using tax dollars,' he said.
Onorato goes 0 for 3 with court cases this week. Swartz prevails and is a ballot opponent to Onorato for the D primary
Lawyers on behalf of Dan Onorato put a legal attack up against a citizen soldier today. Right before the session was to occur before the judge, the team of attorneys blinked and pulled the objection. The despicable legal attack, groundless, without any merit and an insult to the citizens of democracy, was going down in flames.
Rick Swartz is on the ballot for the May 2007 primary against Dan Onorato.
And, for good reason. Swartz has a right to be on the ballot.
Rick Swartz is on the ballot for the May 2007 primary against Dan Onorato.
 |
| From people & vips |
And, for good reason. Swartz has a right to be on the ballot.
Swartz fights to have his voice heard
2 Political Junkies: Swartz fights to have his voice heard Candidate Swartz is determined to remain on the ballot, and his campaign will help Chief Executive Dan Onorato hear the messages he's not currently getting from his inner circle. To that end, Swartz asks supporters to code their contributions: donations ending in $.95 for people who are upset about the transit situation; donations ending in $.96 for people who are upset about the voting machine fiasco; $.97 for road and development decisions; $.98 if you feel the assessment issue has not been fixed; and $0.99 for people who generally support the democratic process and want the county executive to listen better on ALL issues.
Bring your video cameras to the planning hearing on Tuesday
Now is the time to bring video cameras to the planning meeting. They don't want video cameras. I do. I want open governement. I want cameras to point at public officials and public acts -- not on citizens.
Casino panel created Mr. Ravenstahl said the formation of the task force coincides with a public hearing scheduled Tuesday before the city planning commission on PITG Gaming's master plan for the casino development.
Lane 9 News World Record for the United States
Lane 9 News Archive: Flash! World Championships: Victory in 800 Freestyle Relay and Another World Record for the United States: "Winning his fifth gold medal and setting the 21st world record of his career, Phelps led off in 1:45.36 and was followed by Lochte's effort of 1:45.86. Keller then hopped in and delivered his best swim of the meet, a mark of 1:46.31. Vanderkaay handled the anchor leg in 1:45.71 and the U.S. had another global standard. Keller's leg was key, as he's struggled this week and it was uncertain how fast he'd go. For Lochte, it was his second world record of the night, joining his standard in the 200 backstroke.
'You could say I had a good night,' Lochte said. 'These other three guys and the crowd made it happen.' "
Casino panel created with 39 people
Thank goodness the Pgh Gaming Task Force is gone. I'd love to see some proof of that death, however.
Furthermore, Dan and Luke are co-chairs.
Let's call the new Gaming Task Force what it is, a Political Action Committee. Are these guys going to chair the Gambling Adiction Meetings too?
I'd love to see the mayor and county executive do something else. It is called "govern."
Casino panel created The Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force is gone, but another one will be taking its place to help ensure that the proposed Majestic Star casino in Chateau will be a quality development and a good neighbor.One step forward is quickly followed by one step back, given the bigger government leadership of Dan and Luke.
Furthermore, Dan and Luke are co-chairs.
Let's call the new Gaming Task Force what it is, a Political Action Committee. Are these guys going to chair the Gambling Adiction Meetings too?
I'd love to see the mayor and county executive do something else. It is called "govern."
Oakland Road Construction
Penn Dot has detour information for the Boulevard of the Allies construction project in a PDF newsletter that just sucks. The newsletter looks good, but at first glance, people who drive these roads can't figure out what's what.
The newsletter provides the specific timelines month by month of the road closures. This project begins next Monday, April 2nd.
Students, patients and workers in Oakland and South Side are sure to feel the impact of these closures immediately. Allow the appropriate travel time or pack a swim suit to cross the Mon.
OpenOffice.org saves bundles for city governments
German City of Freiburg moving to OpenOffice.org and ODF
According to this German article the German City of Freiburg will deploy OpenOffice.org on 2,000 desktops and expects to save 0.5M Euro over the next two years compared to a migration to Microsoft Office 2007. The City of Freiburg also adopts ODF in order to become vendor and product independent.
According to this German article the German City of Freiburg will deploy OpenOffice.org on 2,000 desktops and expects to save 0.5M Euro over the next two years compared to a migration to Microsoft Office 2007. The City of Freiburg also adopts ODF in order to become vendor and product independent.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Perils of Unearned Wealth
TCS Daily - The Perils of Unearned Wealth: Scarcity is a tutor and when it is no longer there to restrain our appetites, only character remains. If character was never developed... well, just watch today's news and you'll see.Interesting article by Jerry Bowyer.
[412] Community gathering about city-owned, closed ice rink on South Side -- PLUS -- running mate news with an final invite for YOU to RUN too.
My email blast went out on a Thursday night. If I don't have your email address, I'd love to get it.
First, a non-political invite: I'm holding an open community meeting to discuss the city-owned, presently closed, indoor ice rink facility once called Neville Arena. We are going to gather at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in the cafeteria at Phillips Elementary School on Sarah Street. A RFP (request for proposals) has been issued by the city.
Weeks ago I announced my intention to run, or I should say, STAND, for six offices for the November 6, 2007 general election. Now the count has been reduced to five. Everyone in Pittsburgh knows that Bill Peduto dropped out of the race and left the field vacant, other than for the incumbent. This isn't the case for me. I'm dropping out of a race, but others are coming in to take my place. I'm moving to increase competition, voter choice and accountability.
A fellow Libertarian is going to work with me and get onto the ballot for the slot for the member at large seat on the Allegheny County Council.
Furthermore, others have stepped up. We are just about to begin our quest to get signatures for our nomination papers. The ELEVEN following candidate roles are now filled.
1. Allegheny County's Chief Executive, -- Mark Rauterkus
3. Allegheny County Sheriff -- (not me)
4. Allegheny County Treasurer -- (not me)
5. Allegheny County Controller -- (not me)
6. Allegheny County Council Member, at-large -- (not me any longer)
7. Allegheny County Council Member, district 13 -- still me, Mark Rauterkus
8. Mayor, City of Pittsburgh -- Mark Rauterkus
9. Controller, City of Pittsburgh -- Mark Rauterkus
10. City Council, district 3 -- Mark Rauterkus
11. City Council, district 7 -- (not me)
A few of the above slots are still in a 'place holder status.' For example, I'm still listed five times. But, by the end of the summer, I hope to better target and focus my race to one spot and have five other citizens standing with me -- all of us running for the various,
respective offices.
Many other municipal seats are still without opposition and are wide open for challengers. More are considering the options and possibilities. How about you? For instance, to run for boro office in Sharpsburg, only only needs 10 VALID signatures to get onto the
ballot.
However, to be a candidate for the general election on November 6, 2007 -- you need to be certain to opt OUT of the "D" and "R" parties within the next week. Do it now. You can't run for public office as a Libertarian or as an Independent if you are a member of either old
parties within 30 days of the PRIMARY election.
Early April -- right now -- presents the last opportunity for YOU to change your registration so you are eligible for the ballot in the fall.
I can help you. I will get you the voter registration forms if you need one. I will tell you want offices are open in your area. I will ponder and talk with you about what we are doing and how we can work together so that the present flock of politicians are not give a 'free ride' come the fall election.
Thanks for your consideration.
Ta.
Mark Rauterkus
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com http://Platform.For-Pgh.org
412 298 3432 = cell
PS: Michael Phelps, USA swimmer, is making waves at world championships in Australia. He has four gold records and is going for eight. So, this could prove to be the perfect season to enter multiple events and head south of the equator. FYI: On April 28, my family and
I are traveling to Christchurch, New Zealand, for teaching, study and writting. Go Phelps!
[412] Community gathering about city-owned, closed ice rink on South Side -- PLUS -- running mate news with an final invite for YOU to RUN too. [412] Community gathering about city-owned, closed ice rink on South Side -- PLUS -- running mate news with an final invite for YOU to RUN too.I've got some "running mate news" and an invite to you to consider running for public office.
First, a non-political invite: I'm holding an open community meeting to discuss the city-owned, presently closed, indoor ice rink facility once called Neville Arena. We are going to gather at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in the cafeteria at Phillips Elementary School on Sarah Street. A RFP (request for proposals) has been issued by the city.
http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2007/03/community-meeting-called-huddle-to.htmlNow for exciting election news:
Weeks ago I announced my intention to run, or I should say, STAND, for six offices for the November 6, 2007 general election. Now the count has been reduced to five. Everyone in Pittsburgh knows that Bill Peduto dropped out of the race and left the field vacant, other than for the incumbent. This isn't the case for me. I'm dropping out of a race, but others are coming in to take my place. I'm moving to increase competition, voter choice and accountability.
A fellow Libertarian is going to work with me and get onto the ballot for the slot for the member at large seat on the Allegheny County Council.
Furthermore, others have stepped up. We are just about to begin our quest to get signatures for our nomination papers. The ELEVEN following candidate roles are now filled.
1. Allegheny County's Chief Executive, -- Mark Rauterkus
(I'm the only candidate other than Dan Onorato and Rich Swartz, both Democrats. And, Mr. Swartz faces the judge tomorrow morning, Friday 3-30. Lawyers working on behalf of Onorato are trying to knock him off the ballot. Despicable.)2. Allegheny County District Attorney -- (not me)
3. Allegheny County Sheriff -- (not me)
4. Allegheny County Treasurer -- (not me)
5. Allegheny County Controller -- (not me)
6. Allegheny County Council Member, at-large -- (not me any longer)
7. Allegheny County Council Member, district 13 -- still me, Mark Rauterkus
8. Mayor, City of Pittsburgh -- Mark Rauterkus
9. Controller, City of Pittsburgh -- Mark Rauterkus
10. City Council, district 3 -- Mark Rauterkus
11. City Council, district 7 -- (not me)
A few of the above slots are still in a 'place holder status.' For example, I'm still listed five times. But, by the end of the summer, I hope to better target and focus my race to one spot and have five other citizens standing with me -- all of us running for the various,
respective offices.
Many other municipal seats are still without opposition and are wide open for challengers. More are considering the options and possibilities. How about you? For instance, to run for boro office in Sharpsburg, only only needs 10 VALID signatures to get onto the
ballot.
However, to be a candidate for the general election on November 6, 2007 -- you need to be certain to opt OUT of the "D" and "R" parties within the next week. Do it now. You can't run for public office as a Libertarian or as an Independent if you are a member of either old
parties within 30 days of the PRIMARY election.
Early April -- right now -- presents the last opportunity for YOU to change your registration so you are eligible for the ballot in the fall.
I can help you. I will get you the voter registration forms if you need one. I will tell you want offices are open in your area. I will ponder and talk with you about what we are doing and how we can work together so that the present flock of politicians are not give a 'free ride' come the fall election.
Thanks for your consideration.
Ta.
Mark Rauterkus
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com http://Platform.For-Pgh.org
412 298 3432 = cell
PS: Michael Phelps, USA swimmer, is making waves at world championships in Australia. He has four gold records and is going for eight. So, this could prove to be the perfect season to enter multiple events and head south of the equator. FYI: On April 28, my family and
I are traveling to Christchurch, New Zealand, for teaching, study and writting. Go Phelps!
Republicans -- dead in the water and Dimiti covered both sides of the issue
Dimiti spent 90 minutes of air tim on KDKA Radio talking to two Republican Party leaders, Bob Hillen and Bob Glancey. They reached a deal so the boss of the RCAC.net would not need to get smacked down by the judge. The court date was looming large.
I'm glad that a new love fest is starting in the Republican realm. For a few years now, the chairman of the Republican Party in the County didn't speak to the chir from the city.
In 2007, the local republicans are putting a few candidates on the ballot. There are some judge candidates. There are two )used to be three) running for Allegheny County Council At-Large. The guy with the office now has had enough. There is a guy for sheriff. Perhaps a few are running for office in the municipal races, but none in the city, except David Adams, who is going to mount a write-in campaign shortly for City Council District 9.
The killer of that entire spell of interivews and remarks was Dimiti who said at the end. "Well, there you have it. We covered both sides."
I'm glad that a new love fest is starting in the Republican realm. For a few years now, the chairman of the Republican Party in the County didn't speak to the chir from the city.
In 2007, the local republicans are putting a few candidates on the ballot. There are some judge candidates. There are two )used to be three) running for Allegheny County Council At-Large. The guy with the office now has had enough. There is a guy for sheriff. Perhaps a few are running for office in the municipal races, but none in the city, except David Adams, who is going to mount a write-in campaign shortly for City Council District 9.
The killer of that entire spell of interivews and remarks was Dimiti who said at the end. "Well, there you have it. We covered both sides."
Producer at KDKA Radio, "Mark, we can't take your call because we have equal time concerns."
Dan Onorato was on the air talking about a few different issues with the Honz Man today, after 2 pm. I called.
My pre-air conversation with the producer when like this: I'd like to point out to Fred that Dan is interested in letting the voters decide about the sheriff but his lawyers are working on his behalf to knock off his lone Dem party challenger in court tomorrow.
Dan will be zero for three tomorrow.....
Then I'm on hold for two minutes.
Then comes the voice of a producer, "Mark, we can't have you on the air as we are worried about equal time concerns." click
Say what?
My pre-air conversation with the producer when like this: I'd like to point out to Fred that Dan is interested in letting the voters decide about the sheriff but his lawyers are working on his behalf to knock off his lone Dem party challenger in court tomorrow.
Dan will be zero for three tomorrow.....
Then I'm on hold for two minutes.
Then comes the voice of a producer, "Mark, we can't have you on the air as we are worried about equal time concerns." click
Say what?
Onorato blasts judiciary. Onorato is ZERO for TWO and the third is on deck for Friday.
Dan Onorato is blasting the judiciary. He struck out twice in the last two days. Well, his third at bat comes tomorrow, before the judge. His lawyers are bringing the challenge to the bench to knock Rich Swartz off the ballot.
Dan's real problem with property tax assessment isn't because of anything that they are doing in Beaver County, Westmorland County nor Butler County. Dan's problems are in Allegheny County.
Dan doesn't have the magic to turn the clock back to 2002. And he tried. And, he thought that his turn-the-clock-back solution was viable.
Dan is also crying the blues because the voters will choose who is going to be the sheriff, not him.
Dan Onorato is not good for democracy.
Dan Onorato is not good for a modern Allegheny County. Dan, you can't turn back the clock. Time has its ways. Once you're bald, even your hair won't grow back.
Dan says "home rule" is about voters controlling their own destiny. Duhh. Voters are going to control the destiny -- by electing a sheriff every four years.
Talk about frustration.
Dan won't win in the challenge and Dan won't win in the removal of the challenge either. His lawyers, when they see that the challenge is not going to stick are going to back away.
Onorato blasts judiciary - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewThis reminds me of Ben Howland, UCLA coach, saying that the deck was stacked against his team after the NCAA picked the brackets for the March Madness. Oh well, it worked out for the Bruins.
Dan's real problem with property tax assessment isn't because of anything that they are doing in Beaver County, Westmorland County nor Butler County. Dan's problems are in Allegheny County.
Dan doesn't have the magic to turn the clock back to 2002. And he tried. And, he thought that his turn-the-clock-back solution was viable.
Dan is also crying the blues because the voters will choose who is going to be the sheriff, not him.
Dan Onorato is not good for democracy.
Dan Onorato is not good for a modern Allegheny County. Dan, you can't turn back the clock. Time has its ways. Once you're bald, even your hair won't grow back.
Dan says "home rule" is about voters controlling their own destiny. Duhh. Voters are going to control the destiny -- by electing a sheriff every four years.
Talk about frustration.
Dan won't win in the challenge and Dan won't win in the removal of the challenge either. His lawyers, when they see that the challenge is not going to stick are going to back away.
Community Meeting called. Huddle to discuss the city-owned, vacant, closed indoor ice rink in South Side Park
Come one, come all.
I'm calling and hosting a meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, to discuss the stituations with the now vacant indoor ice rink located in South Side Park.
The Neville Ice Rink was closed in 2001. A private operator let it die and the city did little in oversight of its operation.
Now the city has issues a RFP, request for proposals. See it on the city's web site. It is a long PFD.
Feel free to pass the word about this meeting. If you'd like to speak at the meeting to insert an agenda item, call or email me in advance. 412 298 3432. Mark@Rauterkus.com. Everyone will be able to speak. But, if you have more to say or present -- let me know, please.
I expect I'll release an agenda the day before the meeting.
I'm calling and hosting a meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, to discuss the stituations with the now vacant indoor ice rink located in South Side Park.
The Neville Ice Rink was closed in 2001. A private operator let it die and the city did little in oversight of its operation.
Now the city has issues a RFP, request for proposals. See it on the city's web site. It is a long PFD.
Feel free to pass the word about this meeting. If you'd like to speak at the meeting to insert an agenda item, call or email me in advance. 412 298 3432. Mark@Rauterkus.com. Everyone will be able to speak. But, if you have more to say or present -- let me know, please.
I expect I'll release an agenda the day before the meeting.
I love viable, open alternatives. Progress in the real world. Get OpenOffice.org.
The OpenOffice.org Community announce the release of OpenOffice.org 2.2, the latest version of the leading open-source office suite. With upgrades to its word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, and database software, the free software package provides a real alternative to Microsoft's recently-released Office 2007 product - and an easier upgrade path for existing Microsoft Office users. OpenOffice.org 2.2 also protects users from newly discovered vulnerabilities, where users' PCs could be open to attack if they opened documents from, or accessed web sites set up by, malicious individuals.
In version 2.2, users will immediately notice the improvement in the quality of text display in all parts of OpenOffice.org. The reason for this is that the previously optional support for kerning, a technique to improve the appearance of text written in proportional fonts, has now been enabled by default. OpenOffice.org's unique pdf export function has also been enhanced with the addition of the optional creation of
bookmarks feature, and support for user-definable export of form fields.
While OpenOffice.org 2.1 functions well on Microsoft's Windows Vista, version 2.2 makes use of some of the new cosmetic changes available in Vista, the new file dialogues being an example. Apple Mac users will notice a smaller download and a smaller installed size. The Apple Mac Intel version has many stability improvements, and bug fixes ranging from .ppt export to improved UNO connections. Version 2.2 now requires Mac OS X 10.4.x running X11.
Turning to some of the enhancements made to the individual components of OpenOffice.org, the Calc spreadsheet has received additional enhancements to its support for Microsoft file formats, including improved support for Pivot Tables and some specialised trigonometric functions. Base, the database component, has improved SQL editing functionality as well as a new "Queries within Queries" feature. Compatibility options for some database drivers, such as Oracle ODBC, have been improved. Impress, the presentations component, offers improvements in the handling of hidden slides which has been made more intuitive.
It is important to remember that OpenOffice.org is not just a software package, but is also a development and user community. One demonstration of this is the ability of third party developers to create extensions in a simple manner. Third party extensions can now be more closely integrated and features have been added to dramatically simplify the installation and updating of these. In addition, features have been added to assist those participating in the translation and localisation of
OpenOffice.org.
In addition to being immediately available for download from the traditional download servers, OpenOffice.org is also available from a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. Alternatively, OpenOffice.org Community Distributors supply the software on CD-ROM in many countries and native language translations will be available from their relevant communities.
About OpenOffice.org
The OpenOffice.org Community is an international team of volunteer and sponsored contributors who develop, support, and promote the leading open-source office productivity suite, OpenOffice.org®. OpenOffice.org's leading edge software technology (UNO) is also available for developers, systems integrators, etc to use in OpenOffice.org extensions or in their own applications.
OpenOffice.org supports the Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) OASIS Standard (ISO/IEC 26300) as well as legacy industry file formats and is available on major computing platforms in over 70 languages. OpenOffice.org software is provided under the GNU Lesser General Public Licence (LGPL) and may be used free of charge for any purpose, private or commercial.
The OpenOffice.org Community acknowledges generous sponsorship from a number of companies, including Sun Microsystems, the founding sponsor and primary contributor.
OpenOffice.org 2.2 may be downloaded free of charge from
http://download.openoffice.org/
Pgh Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy sees light of day
The Parent and Family Involvement Policy recently passed by the Board is now available on the web in the policy section, http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/Policies.asp
It is also posted from a link from the Parents Page, under Parent Involvement, on the left navigation.
The district is planning and providing Professional Development to principals, staff and parents. Information and opportunities for parental engagement both district-wide and school based will be provided.
Please feel free to begin discussions on the Policy through your PSCC, PTO/PTA meetings.
There have been plenty of changes in the way the district interacts with the parents. Not all for the good, in my humble opinion. For the past couple of years, there have been walls created. Let's take a peek and see if this policy works to build more division or make for better interactions.
It is also posted from a link from the Parents Page, under Parent Involvement, on the left navigation.
The district is planning and providing Professional Development to principals, staff and parents. Information and opportunities for parental engagement both district-wide and school based will be provided.
Please feel free to begin discussions on the Policy through your PSCC, PTO/PTA meetings.
There have been plenty of changes in the way the district interacts with the parents. Not all for the good, in my humble opinion. For the past couple of years, there have been walls created. Let's take a peek and see if this policy works to build more division or make for better interactions.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Running Mate Meeting
That's me, (on the left) with the newest member of the Libertarian Party. A new dawn is about to break!
The Housing Bubble Blog - Both Lender And Borrower Underestimated The Risks
Someone with a blog in Arizona points out some twisted logic. Downtown housing is happening. So, our mayor wants to give away free rides by lowering taxes to the elite. Meanwhile, the rest of the city gets to pays more.
Condo sales are happening without the tax break. Don't provide a tax break for some, and not for others, when the tax break is not necessary. Don't rob Peter to pay Paul. Don't rob neibhorhoods to pay for downtown. Don't rob some and give to others.
Even if this tax abatement plan is bigger than downtown, don't do it. Do it for everyone or do it for none.
Don't reward neighborhoods that are in decline. That is the type of reward that only provides benefits to the speculators.
Condo sales are happening without the tax break. Don't provide a tax break for some, and not for others, when the tax break is not necessary. Don't rob Peter to pay Paul. Don't rob neibhorhoods to pay for downtown. Don't rob some and give to others.
Even if this tax abatement plan is bigger than downtown, don't do it. Do it for everyone or do it for none.
Don't reward neighborhoods that are in decline. That is the type of reward that only provides benefits to the speculators.
The Housing Bubble Blog “Both Lender And Borrower Underestimated The Risks” The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “David W. Bishoff is so pleased with condominium sales at the Carlyle, the soon-to-be-converted Union National Bank building at Fourth Avenue and Wood Street, Downtown, that he’s ready to try it again — right next door.”People are less interested in owning a piece of the Golden Triangle and more interested in owning the people who govern. Who owns the mayor? Who owns the County Executive?
“While it might seem like too much to some, Mr. Bishoff has no doubt the market can support it. ‘The question isn’t whether this city can absorb 200 or 400 or 600 or even a thousand. This Downtown should easily absorb and keep filled several thousand units,’ he said.”
“Mayor Luke Ravenstahl used the ribbon cutting to pitch his proposed tax abatement program for residential housing that is now before City Council.”
“One Carlyle buyer, Brian Ritz, likened his investment to ‘owning a piece of the Golden Triangle.’”
Open thread. Jason Phillips meets Bruce Kraus in court to seek past promised wages
Jason Phillips was hired at one time to work on the Bruce Kraus campaign for city council. Some sum of money was, reportedly, not payed to Jason from Bruce. So, he quit. And, then he jumped into the race himself. And, to get his money, he sued.
Today the guys met before the judge.
A decision is expected in the next three days.
I don't know what's what, really. But perhaps we'll find out various versions on the street or in this blog in the comments below.
Today the guys met before the judge.
A decision is expected in the next three days.
I don't know what's what, really. But perhaps we'll find out various versions on the street or in this blog in the comments below.
Cough, cough -- $16K -- Lithuanian Hall stung for smoking. "Oh 64," ...
Walking in the neighborhood today, I noticed both the WTAE TV van and the KDKA TV van. Meanwhile, our city's and county's democracy gets choked to death.
Health Department fines South Side bingo hall Lithuanian National Society on Jane Street in the South Side was fined $16,250 for failing to adopt and implement a workplace smoking policy and allowing 65 people to smoke at its bingo on March 21.
McNeilly suit's expense might top $185K for Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
This is not how I want to see our city's taxpayer money spent.
McNeilly suit's expense might top $185K for Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh's decision to settle police Cmdr. Catherine McNeilly's civil rights lawsuit out of court could sting taxpayers for $185,000 -- or more.
City lawyers are recommending payment of $85,000 to McNeilly -- who makes a yearly salary of $79,877 -- to compensate for emotional and professional damage she suffered by being demoted to lieutenant on Dec. 7, after she made confidential police personnel records public. Her lawyers fees are expected to top $100,000.
Judge: County sheriff must be elected - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Who wants to run for Sheriff as a Libertarian?
Judge: County sheriff must be elected - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Allegheny County's longstanding tradition of electing a sheriff will carry on, at least for another five years, a county judge ruled today.We need a candidate for this office.
Common Pleas Judge Eugene B. Strassburger III sided with the Sheriff's Association of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in its lawsuit to keep the county and Chief Executive Dan Onorato from holding a public referendum in May asking voters to decide whether the county sheriff should remain an elected position or be appointed by the chief executive.
Our misguided mayor is not a fluke. We've got a real problem, Dimiti.
Dimitri V of the Pgh Tribune Review, a four-day host of a KDKA Radio show, asked callers to vote for either "Mayor Luke - or - Mayor Fluke."
I called in. After a few words I was clicked off the air.
Our misguided mayor is for real. We have real problems in the mayor's office. Those are not to be taken lightly.
This is Mark Rauterkus. You don't beat the mayor by offering insults and name calling. You beat him by offering real alternatives.
... click ...
Dimiti said he didn't realize he was making an insult.
This way my email to Dimiti, Dimitri@KDKARadio.com, at 8:55 am today, sent before he went on the air:
Hi Dimitri,
As vice chair of the Allegheny County Party -- and one who is working hard to get candidate recruitment and voter education for ballot access for myself and other candidates, I'd love to get on the show.
Dan Onorato is without any opposition from other parties. He is trying to toss off the other D who put in papers to run against Dan in the primary. Other than me, L.
Luke Ravenstahl is without any opposition within and beyond his party. Other than me, L.
County Controller -- no opposition, other than a L. (I recruited.)
County Treasurer -- no opposition, other than a L. (I recruited)
The list goes on.
The municipal elections are another big can of worms too. Plus, Sharpsburg, Upper St. Clair -- and everywhere gets to elect school board members and boro folks. We need to get the movement to the 3rd party, and Libertarian, option.
It takes 10 signatures to get onto the ballot as a Libertarian in Sharpsburg as a boro council member.
I'd be able to help callers, either on the air or after the show -- do research for their areas.
And, I've got to get onto the ballot with thousands of signatures of voters in Allegheny County. A guy had his signature tossed off the nomination petition by the judge because he didn't use his middle initial when he signed his name.
Many ABSURD rules are killing democracy by thousands of paper cuts.
I can't get the election department to get me a PDF of the nomination papers. I'm going to take them to court next week if this isn't resolved.
Dimitri is a Libertarian. He is free to do what he wants. But, as a Libertarian, I would wish he'd have a much different approach.
I have respect for the man, Luke Ravenstahl, and office, Mayor of Pittsburgh. But, I have no confidence in his "direction." His policies are lacking. They'll lead the city to further ruin. Luke is the mayor and there are real problems on Grant Street.
The fluke comes in the thinking that a negative campaign that is riddled with name calling is going to help at all. Bill Peduto stated as much. Dimiti seemed saddened that Peduto pulled out of the race.
Once real libertarian alternatives are presented, then hope will arrive.
Dimiti offered three hours of air time to Luke Ravenstahl OR his SPOKESPERSON for the show on Thursday. Three HOURS. And, the offer was extended 'on the air.' Furthermore, Dimiti is okay to only speak to a spokesperson, not the mayor.
Nobody from the administration, including Luke, is going to go on the show with Dimitri. No way.
If I was on the show for three hours, and if the Tribune Review had a different policy about covering the whole story so as to be sure to include the perspectives of local Libertarians and local opposition candidates, then we'd have a winning approach.
If I was on the show for three hours this week, and if the Trib printed, covered and interacted about our news, letters, positions and solutions -- then thw mayor would have reason to be on the air and be accountable to the voters.
I called in. After a few words I was clicked off the air.
Our misguided mayor is for real. We have real problems in the mayor's office. Those are not to be taken lightly.
This is Mark Rauterkus. You don't beat the mayor by offering insults and name calling. You beat him by offering real alternatives.
... click ...
Dimiti said he didn't realize he was making an insult.
This way my email to Dimiti, Dimitri@KDKARadio.com, at 8:55 am today, sent before he went on the air:
Hi Dimitri,
As vice chair of the Allegheny County Party -- and one who is working hard to get candidate recruitment and voter education for ballot access for myself and other candidates, I'd love to get on the show.
Dan Onorato is without any opposition from other parties. He is trying to toss off the other D who put in papers to run against Dan in the primary. Other than me, L.
Luke Ravenstahl is without any opposition within and beyond his party. Other than me, L.
County Controller -- no opposition, other than a L. (I recruited.)
County Treasurer -- no opposition, other than a L. (I recruited)
The list goes on.
The municipal elections are another big can of worms too. Plus, Sharpsburg, Upper St. Clair -- and everywhere gets to elect school board members and boro folks. We need to get the movement to the 3rd party, and Libertarian, option.
It takes 10 signatures to get onto the ballot as a Libertarian in Sharpsburg as a boro council member.
I'd be able to help callers, either on the air or after the show -- do research for their areas.
And, I've got to get onto the ballot with thousands of signatures of voters in Allegheny County. A guy had his signature tossed off the nomination petition by the judge because he didn't use his middle initial when he signed his name.
Many ABSURD rules are killing democracy by thousands of paper cuts.
I can't get the election department to get me a PDF of the nomination papers. I'm going to take them to court next week if this isn't resolved.
Dimitri is a Libertarian. He is free to do what he wants. But, as a Libertarian, I would wish he'd have a much different approach.
I have respect for the man, Luke Ravenstahl, and office, Mayor of Pittsburgh. But, I have no confidence in his "direction." His policies are lacking. They'll lead the city to further ruin. Luke is the mayor and there are real problems on Grant Street.
The fluke comes in the thinking that a negative campaign that is riddled with name calling is going to help at all. Bill Peduto stated as much. Dimiti seemed saddened that Peduto pulled out of the race.
Once real libertarian alternatives are presented, then hope will arrive.
Dimiti offered three hours of air time to Luke Ravenstahl OR his SPOKESPERSON for the show on Thursday. Three HOURS. And, the offer was extended 'on the air.' Furthermore, Dimiti is okay to only speak to a spokesperson, not the mayor.
Nobody from the administration, including Luke, is going to go on the show with Dimitri. No way.
If I was on the show for three hours, and if the Tribune Review had a different policy about covering the whole story so as to be sure to include the perspectives of local Libertarians and local opposition candidates, then we'd have a winning approach.
If I was on the show for three hours this week, and if the Trib printed, covered and interacted about our news, letters, positions and solutions -- then thw mayor would have reason to be on the air and be accountable to the voters.
MacYapper: RUN BILLIE RUN? EDITION
MacYapper: RUN BILLIE RUN? EDITION JOHN,
you should know that as several attorney's have pointed out to me, the very fact that Bill submitted nominating petitions for the race as a Democratic means that he is automatically disqualified, under the so-called 'Caliguiri Rule', from running as an independent in the General Election. Everyone seems to know about the first part of the Caliguiri rule, which requires you to switch parties 30 days before the primary, but the second part of the Caliguiri rule also says that you cannot run under a different party banner if you have submitted nominating papers in the previous primary election.
I'm not a lawyer, but I know several who have looked at this and said Bill is disqualified, and would easily be removed from the ballot should he try to run....
Three for Three. Swimmer is still golden. Five more to go.
The World Championships for aquatic sports is happening in Melbourne, Australia and the excitiment is building.
Michael Phelps has his third gold and shatters 200 Fly World Record. To be more exact, Phelps obliterated his 200 butterfly world record with an eye dropping 1:52.09. The prior world record had been 1:53.71 set at the Missouri Grand Prix a month ago. China’s Wu Peng took silver in 1:55.13, while Russia’s Nikolay Skvortsov grabbed bronze in 1:55.22.
Phelps got his first medal as part of a USA relay. In the second event, the 200 free, he won and also got a world record, one that he hadn't held before.
Phelps could get EIGHT golds in the meet.
Michael Phelps has his third gold and shatters 200 Fly World Record. To be more exact, Phelps obliterated his 200 butterfly world record with an eye dropping 1:52.09. The prior world record had been 1:53.71 set at the Missouri Grand Prix a month ago. China’s Wu Peng took silver in 1:55.13, while Russia’s Nikolay Skvortsov grabbed bronze in 1:55.22.
Phelps got his first medal as part of a USA relay. In the second event, the 200 free, he won and also got a world record, one that he hadn't held before.
Phelps could get EIGHT golds in the meet.
Suit Settled For Police Commander - News
Housekeeping of bad headline:
When either bill comes before city council, citizens will have the right to call for a public hearing on this matter by getting a petition signed by residents of the city.
Suit Settled For Police Commander - NewsCity Council Approves McNeilly SettlementThe headline, above does not match the last line of the article. It is posted below.
The settlement is still subject to approval by Pittsburgh City Council.No bill for the payment of this settlement has gone before city council, yet. It is pending. It might come in a week or two. Furthermore, there might be two bills. One for the payment of the police officer. The other for the payment of the officer's attorney. The later has not been revealed.
When either bill comes before city council, citizens will have the right to call for a public hearing on this matter by getting a petition signed by residents of the city.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Phelps sets world record in 200-meter free at Worlds
Michael is on fire.
But not only did he get gold, he set a new world record in an event that he hadn't ever set a world record in, the 200 free. Plus, it happened on Ian Thorpe's country. Thorpe had held the world record and has recently retired.
Lane 9 News Archive: Flash! World Championships: The Thorpedo is Shot Down; Michael Phelps Sets World Record in 200 Freestyle Michael Phelps posted the almost unbelievable time of 1:43.86 in the 200 freestyle Tuesday nightHe hopes to get eight gold medals. He got two now. The first was with the USA Medley Relay.
But not only did he get gold, he set a new world record in an event that he hadn't ever set a world record in, the 200 free. Plus, it happened on Ian Thorpe's country. Thorpe had held the world record and has recently retired.
Places: St. Nicholas is spared, but what about its windows?
Fine read.
Places: St. Nicholas is spared, but what about its windows? But in 2001, City Council designated the church a city historic landmark. Because the diocese opposed the designation, approval required a supermajority of council, and got it.
When PennDOT was able to draft new plans that shifted the highway toward the river to save the church, everyone who had worked and hoped and prayed for its survival breathed a sigh of relief.
Penn Hill High School, class of 1977, Reunion Discussions to Occur on TalkShoe
I've been lurking on a list devoted to my high school class, Penn Hills, 1977. We are not getting any younger. A 30-year party should be in the works. I don't see any action. So, I've taken the next steps.
I'd called for classmates to join me on a TALKCAST, a telephone conference
call, to talk about the Penn Hills class of 77 reunion efforts.
This technology wasn't around last year. But, it is basic. The main tool is the telephone.
MEETING #1:
11 PM Eastern (for 30 minutes) - on Thursday night, March 29, 2007.
MEETING #2:
11 PM Eastern on Tuesday night, April 3, 2007
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Talkcast ID: 3177
Your PIN needs to be obtained by going to http://TalkShoe.com. You'll need your PIN to enter the discussions for speaking and listening. Get that in advance of the meeting. It might take a few minutes. (Do it now.)
I'll play host and helper. Email: Mark@Rauterkus.com. The show is simply called, "On your mark." We've got to get started.
We should talk about past reunions, present plans, infrastructure, lists, and more. It can be freewheeling. Those with history and insights are not only welcome, but expected!
The conversations are recorded. So if you miss the meeting, you can later download and listen to a podcast or via your PC.
If you can't afford the 30-minute long distace phone charge to the (724) phone number, you can use Voice Over IP for free. Check the TalkShoe site for directions.
This technology deployed by TalkShoe is cool. You should check it out for these reasons alone. But, we should be getting the reunion efforts moving too.
Hope to talk to you soon. This Thursday and again next Tuesday -- 11 pm.
Thanks.
Mark Rauterkus, mark@Rauterkus.com
412 298 3432 = my cell
I'd called for classmates to join me on a TALKCAST, a telephone conference
call, to talk about the Penn Hills class of 77 reunion efforts.
This technology wasn't around last year. But, it is basic. The main tool is the telephone.
MEETING #1:
11 PM Eastern (for 30 minutes) - on Thursday night, March 29, 2007.
MEETING #2:
11 PM Eastern on Tuesday night, April 3, 2007
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Talkcast ID: 3177
Your PIN needs to be obtained by going to http://TalkShoe.com. You'll need your PIN to enter the discussions for speaking and listening. Get that in advance of the meeting. It might take a few minutes. (Do it now.)
I'll play host and helper. Email: Mark@Rauterkus.com. The show is simply called, "On your mark." We've got to get started.
We should talk about past reunions, present plans, infrastructure, lists, and more. It can be freewheeling. Those with history and insights are not only welcome, but expected!
The conversations are recorded. So if you miss the meeting, you can later download and listen to a podcast or via your PC.
If you can't afford the 30-minute long distace phone charge to the (724) phone number, you can use Voice Over IP for free. Check the TalkShoe site for directions.
This technology deployed by TalkShoe is cool. You should check it out for these reasons alone. But, we should be getting the reunion efforts moving too.
Hope to talk to you soon. This Thursday and again next Tuesday -- 11 pm.
Thanks.
Mark Rauterkus, mark@Rauterkus.com
412 298 3432 = my cell
Despicable - Wiktionary
despicable - Wiktionary The despicable challenge of Rich Swartz's right to be a candidate in the Dem Primary by Dan Onorato's legal goons comes into focus on March 30.
Dispicable: Contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; pitiful; paltry; sordid; low; base.
Onorato is in charge of our democracy and on the Board of Elections. His acts are fit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; as, a despicable leader; despicable company; a despicable gift.
Next week's word for the ongoing drinking game among bloggers is "dispicable."
Dispicable: Contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; pitiful; paltry; sordid; low; base.
Onorato is in charge of our democracy and on the Board of Elections. His acts are fit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; as, a despicable leader; despicable company; a despicable gift.
Next week's word for the ongoing drinking game among bloggers is "dispicable."
Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Ugh.
Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewSad state: One of the wags with whom we regularly converse says Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has 'demonstrated a shocking lack of character and judgment,' that retreating challenger Bill Peduto 'has the backbone of a jellyfish' and that the city Republican Party can't find anyone to even 'mount a perfunctory challenge.' His conclusion: 'How pathetic.' That about covers it.Not so fast TRIB. Let's connect the dots.
Something's missing: A slick Port Authority update on its North Shore Connector construction touts what a 'good investment' extending light rail to the near North Side will be. And it talks of all the millions of dollars worth of wonderful 'economic impact' that this government boondoggle will provide. Odd, however, that nowhere does it mention the cost -- at least $435 million. Which is a 100 percent waste.
It is SAD that the opposition in the City and County GOP realm is so hopeless. They can't field candidates many candidates in 2007. But this cycle they are smart enough to NOT field them when the shouldn't.
But the last words in the Trib in the first story are: "That about covers it." WRONG. The rest of the story is not yet being told in the Trib. The Libertarians are pushing to become a much stronger voice in 2007 for opposition. Libertarians have a slate of candidates. Libertarians have a suite of principles. Libertarians have mastered objections and rely upon reason in the solutions offered.
Jump to the last story: SOMETHING IS MISSING. The rest of the story is missing.
Furthermore, I've been one of the most vocal against the North Shore Connector for years. Extending light rail to the North Side, as they are doing it, is stupid. So, when it comes to a key transportation issue, I'm on the side of the Trib. But, the Trib is blind to the missing link. Something is missing. Real journalism that covers the whole story is missing at the Trib, still.
I'd love to see the Trib 'grow up' and help our city and region. The Trib has an important role to play, on a daily basis. Work with the community for goodness sakes.
SYNERGY waits.
| Karma is like the string that holds the pearls together. Pittsburgh Tribune Review is without good karma. Its pages are missing something. We need to endure sustained discussions so we can string together stories that provide value. From texture - misc. |  |
Monday, March 26, 2007
Candidate night: Brookline
The good people of Brookline had a community meeeting tonight. I went and got to present.
If others have community gathering with candidates, I'd like to know, attend, and speak.
There are still of closed door party meetings these days. But few are for members of any party. I'm very willing to go throughout the county -- not just in the city.
If others have community gathering with candidates, I'd like to know, attend, and speak.
There are still of closed door party meetings these days. But few are for members of any party. I'm very willing to go throughout the county -- not just in the city.
Mayor Luke walked the South Side on Friday night
A while ago, Luke spoke to a group of citizens at the South Side Market House. He told them he'd come tothe neighborhood in the 'wee hours' and walk the streets to get a feel for the streets and lack of respect a number of drunks can exhibit.
He gave a date and then broke the date. He wanted the visit to be a 'surprise.' Well, the visit came last Friday night.
My family and I were in bunked down in Grove City as a prep for the all-day Saturday swim meet. Sadly, I missed the mayor and the stations of the cross, bar crawl inspectors, citizen watchdogs, whatever.
I heard that there were more than a dozen in the 'party.' They bumped into a few boys and girls M-F-ing on East Carson Street. But, all-in-all, with the rain earlier, the Pitt game the night before and hangovers still putting a hurt on some -- the night was without a big meltdown.
When the skipper returns from fleet duty, we'll need to tell him to NUKE the ticking clock on that promise. It has been check off the list.
He gave a date and then broke the date. He wanted the visit to be a 'surprise.' Well, the visit came last Friday night.
My family and I were in bunked down in Grove City as a prep for the all-day Saturday swim meet. Sadly, I missed the mayor and the stations of the cross, bar crawl inspectors, citizen watchdogs, whatever.
I heard that there were more than a dozen in the 'party.' They bumped into a few boys and girls M-F-ing on East Carson Street. But, all-in-all, with the rain earlier, the Pitt game the night before and hangovers still putting a hurt on some -- the night was without a big meltdown.
When the skipper returns from fleet duty, we'll need to tell him to NUKE the ticking clock on that promise. It has been check off the list.
South Side Youth Center
A meeting of the minds is slated for Tuesday at 8 pm.
Blast from the past. I got in in 2003 about this facility in the Tribune Review.
South Side Youth Center the first post to my new blog. My goal is to keep everyone involved in the South Side Youth Center’s development up to date with what I’m doing.Reuse of the existing, closed, indoor ice rink, Neville Arena, is under discussion. The city finally issued the RFP (request for proposals).
Blast from the past. I got in in 2003 about this facility in the Tribune Review.
Group wants rink reopened - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Community activist Mark Rauterkus of South 12th Street said discussions at a number of the community organization meetings that he attends have increasingly turned to the issue of reopening the ice rink.
'People feel that it is a shame for us to have a facility like this just sitting empty,' said Rauterkus, 42, who has two sons. 'I just think we need more amenities, more things to offer our young people. Having the rink closed creates a dark hole in that part of the neighborhood.'
Mark Kinney, who serves on the Market House Children's Athletic Association board, is working to reopen the rink. The association coordinates recreational programs for more than 500 South Side children.
'It's not like we have a vacant piece of land, and we're saying we want to build a new ice skating rink on it from scratch,' said Kinney, who lives on Leticoe Street. 'The facility is already there. We just need to get people together and work with the city to get it opened.'"
Prodding the 'Burg's GOP - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Prodding the 'Burg's GOP - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A Libertarian is hosting the Marty Griffin radio show on KDKA, 1020 AM this week. Humm.
Go Dimitri.
The GOP got poked with a cattle prod again in the press at the Trib. I know what it feels like to be a Republican candidate for mayor.
In 2001, when the Republicans had TWO candidates for Mayor, Dr. James Carmine and myself, the Trib didn't offer an endorsement nor an interview with either of us. I was able to ride the coat-tails of Josh Pollock, 18 year old candidate for Mayor. He was a senior at CAPA High School. Josh makes Luke looks to be balding.
Meanwhile, the Trib gave its endorsement in the contested Dem primary. But, the Trib didn't even mention an endorsement in the contested GOP Primary. They were absent. AWOL. The cattle prod should go to those who are editors of the Trib.
The opposite of LOVE is not HATE. Indifference is what has killed Pittsburgh by sleeping watchdogs in the Fourth Estate.
The "jolted lover" reactions are flowing in the P-G's pages with its poor handling of issues and Peduto's campaign that resulted in his pulling out of the D primary. Treatements from the Trib, for the last election cycles have been worse.
But, they can improve. The coverage should improve. Time will tell.
Bootcamp PR: Pittsburgh to Host First-Ever Podcasting and Blogging BootCamp
I was a presenter at the PodCamp in the fall. And, I am expecting to have a role in the BootCamp as well.
Pittsburgh, PA – BootCamp, a FREE one-day event designed to give anyone interested in blogging or podcasting all the tools they’ll need to get started, will be held at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 420 Boulevard of the Allies, on Saturday April 21, 2007, from 9 am-4 pm. For more information and to register, go to: www.bootcamppgh.org.
BootCamp is being organized by Justin Kownacki, creator of popular Pittsburgh web series Something To Be Desired and co-organizer of the recent PodCamp Pittsburgh as well as the upcoming PodCamp Pittsburgh 2. The one-day learning intensive will present the basics of blogging, audio/video podcasting, and social networking in 24 scheduled sessions separated into three “tracks”: Art/Content, Technology/Process, and Business/Marketing. In addition, attendees will have numerous opportunities for individual attention and hands-on practice. By the end of the day, participants will not only have a better understanding of “new media” but will also actually have their own blogs and podcasts up and running. Plus, they’ll be fully prepared for the more in-depth topics that will be covered in PodCamp Pittsburgh 2, a FREE weekend event in August expected to draw some of the biggest names on the internet.
Although anyone with an interest is invited to attend, BootCamp is an especially tremendous opportunity for CMU, Pitt, and other local college students who are studying anything from journalism to business, education to entertainment. Rather than offering yet another typical day of classes, BootCamp is a fully immersive and interactive experience including a hands-on computer lab and roaming experts giving personal attention. The price tag is another attraction. Registration is absolutely FREE at www.BootCampPgh.org, and attendees are welcome to take in as much or as little as they’d like during the one-day event.
Small business owners can also benefit from learning more about the power of the internet. Since they generally lack the funds of larger companies, staying competitive can be a challenge. BootCamp will provide the tools to reach a larger audience through blogging, podcasting and social networking, all dynamic, inexpensive ways for companies to get noticed and keep people’s attention. And since BootCamp is FREE, it’s all benefit and no risk.
BootCamp is still seeking additional sponsorship. Interested businesses should contact Justin Kownacki at jkownacki@gmail.com.
For additional information, Contact: Justin Kownacki, 412-628-4231, jkownacki -AT- gmail -dot- com
http://www.bootcamppgh.org
Slippery Rock & local scholarship in memory of Mt. Washington guy -- with a 5K
Running Mate, Tracy Link, posted insights for wider awareness about a local 5K race and a college scholarship.
First, about Rochy.
First, about Rochy.
Rochy grew up in Mt. Washington and went to four Pittsburgh schools, including Carrick High School. It was there that his outstanding ability truly emerged. He ran at Carrick and soon went on to run at Slippery Rock University. He was an extraordinary athlete with perfect form and true talent. However, it was not just his given talent that made him a standout at Slippery Rock. As the team captain, he was the definition of a leader and easily gained the admiration of all his teammates. At the age of 26, on a camping trip, while swimming with family and friends in the Cheat River in West Virginia at a popular camp spot, Rocky jumped from a bridge as many had done before him. However, he never emerged. A search began immediately and followed for the next 6 days. Hundreds of friends, family and many volunteers spent night and day combing the river and surrounding area. It was a trying time for all involved bonding us together as no other experience could. Rochy died July 31, 2004. This race, in his name is held on the anniversary of the weekend that he went missing and in the streets that he so often ran to assure that his spirit will always run on.Some of the details (edited slightly on this blog. Full document.
This concept was established in 2004, for a Pittsburgh Public School student to receive a full scholarship to Slippery Rock University, in the name of Roch Furgiele. An annual 5K race occurs in Mt. Washington to raise money for this fund. Slippery Rock is also on board and will support this project.The 5K is slated for the last Saturday in July 28, 2007.
I have attached a copy of a letter regarding intention and criteria for students and also the scholarship application as well. If you would please distribute to all Pittsburgh Public High School Counselors, Mike Gavlik and high school track and field coaches. If you have any questions, please contact myself or the Coordinator Donna DiRenna, Roch's Mom.
Included in the letter, you will see that the committee is seeking a student to be named as this year's recipient. The committee would like present the day of the race. If possible, the Superintendent, Mr. Romaniello and Coach and counselor of the student chosen could attend. Call if you have additional questions 412-600-8089.
Sincerely, Tracy Link
General Constitutional Convention. I want to be there too
If there is a Constitutional Convention, and I think that there should be, I want to be there and be a part of the discussions. I support the hosting of a Convention, not because of the poorly written existing constitution. The one we have now is just fine. Rather, it is to build the grass roots awareness and engagement among citizens. And, holding a constitutional convention would give us a chance to see those in power squirm.
Those in the legislature and administration should not be able to attend.
I don't like the idea of holding a convention and having a predetermined sandbox of topics. If the Pandora's Box is going to be opened, then open it fully.
The number one need to call for the constitutional convention is to address ballot access, election fraud and other matters that are central to the vote among the people.
Those in the legislature and administration should not be able to attend.
I don't like the idea of holding a convention and having a predetermined sandbox of topics. If the Pandora's Box is going to be opened, then open it fully.
The number one need to call for the constitutional convention is to address ballot access, election fraud and other matters that are central to the vote among the people.
Contact: Tim Potts, 717-243-8570HARRISBURG - A co-founder of Democracy Rising PA today asked the Senate State Government Committee to authorize the Commonwealth's first general constitutional convention in more than 130 years and to adopt a method for selecting delegates "to achieve the goal of fair representation for all ... segments of the citizenry."
Tim Potts said Democracy Rising PA since 2005 has collected ideas for changes to the state's Constitution. Now numbering more than 180, the ideas touch every Article of the Constitution.
Democracy Rising PA is the only group so far calling for a general convention. Others have proposed to limit the areas of the Constitution that delegates could address.
Potts said Democracy Rising PA believes it would be unconstitutional and contrary to the principles of self-governance to hold a limited convention.
To limit the convention, he said, would be "tantamount to King George telling Thomas Jefferson what he could discuss in the Declaration of Independence and to de ny that those convened in Philadelphia in 1787 could go beyond the confederation to propose to their fellow citizens a more perfect union. It bespeaks a distrust of citizens that undermines the foundation of this noble experiment."
Potts said a limited convention could forbid discussion of dozens of ideas, including:
- imposing term limits on committee chairs and legislative leaders, an idea favored by 77% of voters, according to the recent Keystone Poll . Article II, Section 9
- prohibiting lame-duck session, an idea favored by 82% of voters in the same poll. Article II, Section 14
- imposing stricter procedural rules on bills that require concurrence or conference committees. Article III, Section 5
- prohibiting judges and justices from having private meetings with members of the other branches where issues of public policy, such as the pay raise, are discussed. Article V, Section 17
- prohibiting the use of eminent domain for private purposes. (Article I, Section 10)
- providing citizens with the power of initiative, referendum and recall. Article I, Section 20; Article VI, Section 7
- guaranteeing equal ballot access for all potential candidates for public office and permitting all voters to participate in all elections. Article VII, Section 6
- permitting a graduated income tax, prohibiting property taxes and providing a dedicated funding source for public transportation. Ar ticle VIII, Sections 1 and 2
- consolidating municipal governments and school districts and permitting revenue sharing in pursuit of regional priorities. Article IX, Section 8
"Especially at a constitutional convention, we need to take the long view," Potts said.
"What we do today can be undone by another generation if it proves to produce more harm than good. The only constant in the long view is the "inalienable and indefeasible right" of citizens "to alter, reform or abolish their government..." ( Article I, Section 2 )."
Democracy Rising PA also asked the committee to reject basing the selection of delegates on Senatorial districts because citizens have little confidence in the highly political product of the re-apportionment process of 2001. According to Potts, the re-apportionment was "based in large part on a desire to protect incumbent lawmakers and to configure as many senatorial districts as possible to be as politically safe as possible for one party or the other."
He said that delegates could be selected according to other regional divisions that are not based on political considerations but that do maintain county borders intact. He cited the 12 PennDOT districts, 46 districts for the delivery of mental health and mental retardation services and seven districts of the Department of Labor and Industry as examples.
The process for selecting delegates should use census data and statistical modeling techniques to ensure that delegates as a whole r eflect the demographic and economic make-up of the areas they represent.
If, for example, women constitute 50 percent of the citizens in a region, they should constitute 50 percent of the region's delegates. Similarly, senior citizens and those earning above or below the median income of the region should be represented by a proportional number of the region's delegates, he said.
Potts cited a Citizens' Assembly held in British Columbia five years ago as a model of this approach. Called sortition , or allotment, the process for selecting delegates dates to ancient Greece, although it is used today in Pennsylvania and elsewhere for selecting juries.
Delegates would be chosen at random from among registered voters until, on the whole, those selected accurately reflected the characteristics of the region. Anyone chosen by lottery could refuse to serve, re-opening a position for someone else who has similar characteristics.
Click here for Potts's full testimony. And here for the Constitution section of DR's web site.
Elect.Rauterkus.com becomes THE high-profile race(S) for city & county
Ink in today's P-G.
Others can emerge, for sure!
Elections are not a distraction. Accountability is more than an annoyance.
The king, the king's men and the king's horses are NOT able to put Pittsburgh together again, even with the aid of the Overlords (ICA, Act 47). Of interest in the P-G today, in another front page article, is the status of Act 47 salvation.
The real lifeline comes in an end run around the status quo politicians. They've been running to Harrisburg. That isn't going to work. In the end, we need a shift in thinking. We need to be self reliant. We need to fix our own woes. We need to get our house in order. We need to set our own priorities and take care of ourselves.
We need viable lifeline to our kids and to our seniors. We can't use the lifeline to our crumbled, hopeless city that is at beggers status. We need self determination. We need to be responsible right here and right away.
Others can emerge, for sure!
Peduto's exit leaves no high-profile races for city, county offices South Side swim coach Mark Rauterkus has said he's running for mayor, and five other offices, as a Libertarian, and others could emerge.Then there is this double talking from Dan Onorato:
"Maybe the city's in a position to look for some security and let things settle down a bit," said Mr. Onorato. "We don't have elections to distract us."I find NO SECURITY in giving politicians in Pittsburgh a FREE PASS. Conditions in Pittsburgh have settled down, down, down. Pittsburgh has been in a death spiral for a long time, since before Onorato was elected to city council.
Elections are not a distraction. Accountability is more than an annoyance.
The king, the king's men and the king's horses are NOT able to put Pittsburgh together again, even with the aid of the Overlords (ICA, Act 47). Of interest in the P-G today, in another front page article, is the status of Act 47 salvation.
Told ya. Who wants to talk lifelines? I do.
Act 47 doesn't assure city's financial health, report saysAct 47 doesn't assure city's financial health, report says. Act 47, the state law that offers a lifeline to Pennsylvania's financially distressed cities, is merely 'triage' for a gravely ill Pittsburgh.
The real lifeline comes in an end run around the status quo politicians. They've been running to Harrisburg. That isn't going to work. In the end, we need a shift in thinking. We need to be self reliant. We need to fix our own woes. We need to get our house in order. We need to set our own priorities and take care of ourselves.
We need viable lifeline to our kids and to our seniors. We can't use the lifeline to our crumbled, hopeless city that is at beggers status. We need self determination. We need to be responsible right here and right away.
Senior Suspended Over Keychain Tool
kdka.com - Penn Hills Senior Suspended Over Keychain ToolBe careful. But, ZERO TOLERANCE Programs are not just. It is hard to have the mom give a statement that makes any sense. She is in the mix.
I'm not in favor of these no-tolerance programs. You can't make the rule book as smart as the players. You need rational, reasonable, common-sense leaders who can look at the whole picture.
This is a good reason to have charter schools.
Should the kid pull out of school and opt to attend the charter school, the district would need to pay a few thousand dollars out of its budget. Meanwhile, the district might need to pay attorney charges to protect its no-thinking no-tolerance rules. Money isn't going to education.
Scroll down and learn about how the terrorist list is growing. Put this kid's name there too. Then he won't be able to take a commercial flight as well. Nor will he be hired to be a coach or bus driver when he's 50.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
