Chapter 4 of Value Added Mini Series: Youth Tech Summit, Schools, Literacy

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Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Got ink in today's Trib. Libertarian makes the 'headline' even.

Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races"

Solid article.

Now I get the newspaper and the headline in the print edition and the online headline is not the same:

On the web = Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races

Paper edition = 3 take on Democratic dominance

Article stretched the heigths of the newspaper. Photos of the six of us are included in the newspaper, district 1, 3 and 9. My head shot is one from the past, but it is okay. The one of David Adams is the one I provided to the reporter from his kick-off event.

Blended within the masthead are photos of Ravenstahl and DeSantis from the debate last night. The lead of the local section is the headline of the Controller asks teams to pay city. The city council race article is on page B3. Also on the page is a 4 column photo of a Carlow student getting her hair cut. Hair jokes aside, the lone ad on the page in the bottom right corner is with the headline, "Are you still suffering?" (Chiropractic)

Notes: Bruce Kraus, "lifelong South Sider" went to high school in Baldwin. My high school, Penn Hills, isn't mentioned but Ohio Univ and Baylor Univ is.

Five of the six have Previous elected office: "None."

Updated at 6:52 am.

Controller asks teams for payments in lieu of taxes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Controller asks teams for payments in lieu of taxes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Acting City Controller Anthony J. Pokora released an audit Monday suggesting the sports teams make payments to cash-strapped Pittsburgh in lieu of property taxes, which the teams are exempt from paying because their venues are owned by the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority.

Tony went for a release of this news on Monday, following a Sunday night loss by the Steelers.

I don't agree with Tony Pokora. He asks the teams to pay in lieu of taxes. Heck no. The property taxes are just a pimple on the face of the whole stadium saga.

The taxes on the stadiums are not nearly as expensive as the stadiums themselves.

Heck, I'll try to work a tax break to the teams -- once they buy the stadiums. Buy the stadiums. The venues are what should be sold -- not the lieu of taxes.

I want the teams to own their respective venues.

Presently, the Steelers are renters. The Pirates are renters. Even Don Barden is going to own his own building. Don Barden, as an investor in the North Shore, should not be too worried about what the renters might say about traffic and parking.

If the Steelers want to buy Heinz Field -- it is for sale.

PNC Park is for sale.

And the new arena, for the Penguins, should be owned, operated, insured, programmed, updated, maintained, heated and cleaned by the Penguins.

Keep the names: Assessment Web site doesn't need a fix

Keep the names: Assessment Web site doesn't need a fix The Post-Gazette Editorial Review Board is in agreement with me. The names should be posted on the website.

Wonder if the Editorial Review Board is watching what I have said about technology.

My value added mini series, chapter 4, is out today. It includes the campaign song as well. Watch for the next post.

Pennsylvania Political Landscape -- presidential votes

An article from 2000 about the way PA operates in undemocratic ways. http://www.fandm.edu/x2320.xml

2000 Pennsylvania GOP Primary

Land of the Blind, February 2000

(author attribution at the end)

No one has cared about the Pennsylvania presidential primary for decades. Coming as late as it does, so late on a national front-loaded primary calendar, presidential nominations in both parties have been resolved long before Pennsylvania’s primary. The Bush/McCain contest, however, holds out the promise, slim though it be, that Pennsylvania might become important in the Republican nomination race.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that thousands of state Republican primary voters cannot be sure their vote will matter. They might not matter because of an essentially anti-democratic and somewhat cynical political anachronism known as the “blind primary.”

Blind primaries are aptly named. In these primaries delegate candidates are listed on the ballot without any information regarding which presidential candidate they support. Voters are asked to vote for convention delegates--often popular and well-known public and party figures--while literally kept in the dark about delegate intentions.

Blind primaries make it difficult or impossible for GOP voters to express their presidential preferences. On April 4th Republican rank-and-file voters will select convention delegates out of congressional districts. Voters will have a choice of electing either three or four delegates, depending on the congressional district. The
delegate candidates include many of Pennsylvania’s most important political, public, and economic leaders, who happen to be the choices of Republican organizations throughout the state. The implications for Senator McCain and his insurgency are ominous, since many Republican organizations have already thrown their support behind Governor George W. Bush.

Many voters, in fact, won’t have the foggiest notion of whom the presidential delegates are supporting, and even if they did, there is no guarantee or pledge that the delegates elected to the convention will support the desires of the voters of the congressional districts. More typically, voters end up casting ballots for names they recognize, which usually are the better known political and public figures in their communities.

If all of this seems troubling enough, it is not the only problem. Pennsylvania Republicans combine blind primaries with non-binding “preferential primaries,” better known as “beauty contests.” Beauty contests are top of the ticket presidential elections in the state, but the outcome of the presidential election is not linked to the selection of convention delegates

Voters participating in these beauty contests have the opportunity to express their candidate preferences by voting for a presidential nominee--but these preferences don’t determine the selection of delegates. They are merely “advisory.” In other words, they don’t count.

Presidential beauty contests coupled with blind primaries can produce the electoral perversion in which one candidate wins the popular vote, but loses the delegate vote. This is not merely an unlikely possibility. It happened in Pennsylvania in 1980 when George Bush won the popular vote convincingly over Ronald Reagan, but lost 80 percent of the delegates because voters had little clue as to the presidential choice of the delegates they elected. Amazingly, it could happen again. It is conceivable in 2000 that Senator John McCain could win the popular vote of Pennsylvania Republicans, but actually win few convention delegates.

Defenders of blind primaries argue that rank-and-file voters should contact party officials or consult “slate cards” on primary day to discover the presidential choice of delegate candidates. The other defense made for blind primaries is that Republican candidates run technically uncommitted. So once elected, they are free to support any candidate they wish at the convention.

Neither of these arguments in defense of blind primaries is convincing. Expecting voters independently to track down information about whom a delegate really supports is wildly unrealistic. Why not simply list delegate intentions on the ballot rather than burden the electorate with that task. Moreover if delegates were really uncommitted, information about whom they support wouldn’t be available anyway. John McCain might discover how really uncommitted these delegates happen to be.

These specious arguments in defense of blind primaries are really just smokescreens covering the real reason blind primaries remain a part of Pennsylvania politics. The real reason has to do with power. Blind primaries allow powerful party insiders to control the selection of delegates--while keeping rank-and-file voters in the dark. Keeping voters dumb as well as blind is what these primaries are all about.

By themselves, blind primaries amount to little more than a cynical fraud perpetrated upon Pennsylvania’s rank-and-file Republicans. Combining blind primaries with presidential “beauty contests” adds insult to the injury. First, voters are asked to cast ballots for convention delegates, but are not told whom the delegates support. Then these same voters are asked to vote in a presidential primary election that doesn’t count. It would be hard to conjure up a system that treats the electorate with more arrogant disdain than this one.

G. Terry Madonna, Director, Center for Politics & Public Affairs, Millersville University

Dr. Michael Young, Director, Survey Research Center, Penn State Harrisburg

The Real ID Act is NOTHING that I support, either

I do not like the Real ID. That fight is brewing in PA now. Some great work is being done by a few experts in recent weeks.

Pennsylvania,

Are you in favor of the federal government collecting, maintaining and sharing your personal and sensitive information both domestically and internationally?

This should be a rhetorical question, but unfortunately, it is not. The Real ID act would require that sensitive information be transmitted to a centralized database, and even shared with MEXICO and Canada as part of a new treaty! This information is not simply numbers and letters. Real ID paves the technology way for personal, financial, medical, and even biometric (retina scans, high resolution photography, DNA, etc.) information to be attached to this new federalized driver's license!

How many times in the recent past have there been stories telling us how a government agency allowed sensitive, personal information to be stolen?

This is being billed as an effort to stop terrorism. Let me ask you this. How many times have criminals made sure to follow the letter of the law before committing a crime?

Real ID can only serve to codify and control the citizens of this nation. Speaking as a Pennsylvanian , it should be the sworn duty of all Pennsylvania legislators, in upholding the oath they swore to Pennsylvania Constitution, to oppose this legislation to the utmost. Speaking as an American and a Veteran, this bill is an affront to everyone who shed even a drop of blood for this country and is a direct violation of the Bill of Rights.

Rep. Sam Rohrer introduced a bill, HB1351, that says, in no uncertain terms, that Pennsylvania will not abide by such draconian federal tactics and will take no part in Real ID.

Now the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee does not feel that the House is intelligent enough to decide this for themselves and will not release the bill to the floor . In fact, Rep. Thomas issued a memorandum asking for co-sponsorship of "a resolution urging the federal government to make changes to the Real ID act in order to reduce the cost of this unfunded mandate on the Commonwealth and all other states required to implement the act."

Frankly, I am disgusted with the thought that this man could stab Pennsylvania in the back by reducing our rights and our privacy to dollars and cents.

Every legislator in the House and Senate of this state should bring every effort to bear in forcing Rep. Thomas to allow HB1351 to the floor so that we can live freely as our Founding Fathers intended.

If they are to live up to their oath of office, every legislator, (including Rep. Thomas), must oppose any measure that will pave the way for Real ID, such as Mr. Thomas' 'just make it cheaper' option.

This is not about money; it is not about whining over 'unfunded mandates'. This is about preserving the shred of liberty that we have left as Americans and as Pennsylvanians.

Our legislators are supposed to be servants of the people. We need to let them know that "We The People" need them now.

Jim Comptonm AFTF Pennsylvania State Coordinator
http://freedomtofascism.com

Chapter 3 of the mini series

More about the person and the family.

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Same video but posted on YouTube.

Marty Griffin on KDKA Radio gives a teaser about the FOP endorsement

My message to Marty on Instant Access:

The FOP endorsed Bob O'Connor -- and O'Connor was NOT a "sitting mayor."

The 'sitting mayor' statement for 70 years is wrong.

The valid question for him to investigate and talk about is how much MONEY from the FOP came to Mark DeSantis with the endorsement. When the Pgh Firefighters endorsed Joe Weinroth and gave $0 to his campaign it makes people wonder. The Firefighters endorsement was a 'gottcha endorsement' to snub O'Connor.

Payback.

Count "payback" with MEASURED DOLLARS from those institutions.

Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog

Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog: "Rep. Mike 'Wants To Be Governor So Badly It Makes His Hair Hurt' Turzai, R-Allegheny, holds a press conference on unemployment compensation reform. He'll be joined by members of the PA Chamber of Business and Industry."

Look at the new nickname given by a blogger/journalist to North Hills State Rep, Republican, Turzai.

Co-constructing politics - wikis and politics | BlogSchmog

My wiki gets talked about in the context of historic wikis dealing with politics by a researcher in Bloomington, Indiana.

Co-constructing politics - wikis and politics | BlogSchmog: "Platform for Pittsburgh—aids local politician (and former PoliticWiki participants) Mark Rauterkus in crafting policies and priorities for his city, region and state."

Inaccessible ballot - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Inaccessible ballot - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Inaccessible ballot"

Great editorial in the Trib today. This ballot access point is a real jug of poison for Pennsylvania's political landscape.

When the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider a case from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals this term challenging Pennsylvania's grossly unfair ballot-access rules, it accepted the premise that voters are incapable of exercising their constitutionally protected franchise.

In Rogers v. Cortes, parties such as the Greens, Libertarians and Constitutionalists rightly claimed that the state plays political favorites. There is one set of rules for Republicans and Democrats -- and much tougher rules for everybody else.

A duopoly candidate running statewide only needed 2,000 signatures on a nominating petition in 2006. For other statewide candidates, it's 60,070 signatures -- and a small fortune to hire lawyers for a likely court challenge by Democrats or Republicans questioning the validity of the signatures.

And, if a court decrees, to reimburse the costs of those challenging the signatures.

story continues below



The circuit court concluded that Pennsylvania, controlled for decades by the two-party system, has a legitimate interest to limit competition. If voters have too many choices, it might "clutter" the ballot.

Presumably more than two choices would befuddle commonwealth voters. Heaven forbid they should have more choices of viable candidates instead of the status quo.

Article 1, Section 5. of the state Constitution is clear: "Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage."

Free? Equal? Please.

Jason finished the Columbus Marathon

It is sad that Pittsburgh doesn't have a marathon. Akron has two. Columbus has one. Jason ran in the Columbus Marathon today. Here is his report:

Columbus Marathon 10/21/07 Beautiful weather-- blue skies and a high of 75.

4:25:05 overall (new PR by 20min) 10:07 ave. pace

first half in 1:58:38 20 mile in 1:58:38 (new PR for the 20mi.)

2398th Place of 3636 finishers (who wouldn't finish after paying to run?)

and boy are my legs hurting!

Pittsburgh should have a marathon. I've got some strong opinions about it too.

If the city does a marathon, do a marathon. No need to do a 5K and 10K. Do the marathon, and if necessary, allow for the Mario-thon too. Remember that? In the Mariothon, the runners start the Marathon and finish at Mario's on the South Side and get refreshments and brunch. I think it was 13 miles or so into the race.

Furthermore, and I always get certain people nagging me on this suggestion, I think the course does NOT need to go AROUND the entire blasted city so as to tie up traffic in as many neighborhoods as possible -- by design. Out and back courses, busways and other pathways could provide for a splendid experience and not choke quality of life issues for those of us who still live here.

Peak oil, and Pittsburgh's transportation revival

Hello Mark and everybody!
James Kunstler has long been writing about the effects that high energy costs would have on our society, and a recent article about restructuring our transportation system has some implications for Pittsburgh's (re)development.

I don't want to get into the issue of "Peak Oil" itself, but I do think that we will have to deal with substantial increases in energy prices over the next several decades, barring some radical change in our technological or economic trends. Kunstler has been predicting that increased fuel prices will shift our transportation system away from cars and trucks and towards boats and trains. Luckily for Pittsburgh, we are much better suited for train and ship traffic than we are for highway traffic. Correct me if you know of data showing otherwise, but it seems like Pittsburgh really lost out when America shifted towards using highways for long-distance shipping.

Anyway, if trucking becomes expensive, shippers may no longer send goods to the middle of the USA via west coast ports (California or Mexico), but instead will send boats through the Panama canal and then up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. With this in mind, we may want to think twice before we tear down all of our riverfront warehouses and piers for retail and recreation.

Enough with the introduction, here's Kunstler:

We have to move things and people differently. This is the sunset of Happy Motoring (including the entire US trucking system). Get used to it. Don't waste your society's remaining resources trying to prop up car-and-truck dependency. Moving things and people by water and rail is vastly more energy-efficient. Need something to do? Get involved in restoring public transit. Let's start with railroads, and let's make sure we electrify them so they will run on things other than fossil fuel or, if we have to run them partly on coal-fired power plants, at least scrub the emissions and sequester the CO2 at as few source-points as possible. We also have to prepare our society for moving people and things much more by water. This implies the rebuilding of infrastructure for our harbors, and also for our inland river and canal systems - including the towns associated with them. The great harbor towns, like Baltimore, Boston, and New York, can no longer devote their waterfronts to condo sites and bikeways. We actually have to put the piers and warehouses back in place (not to mention the sleazy accommodations for sailors). Right now, programs are underway to restore maritime shipping based on wind - yes, sailing ships. It's for real. Lots to do here. Put down your Ipod and get busy.

David C. Adams is talking about crime -- to all who will listen

Campaign 2007: Ravenstahl's rapid rise has been tempered by hard lessons

Campaign 2007: Ravenstahl's rapid rise has been tempered by hard lessons Mayor Luke Ravenstahl meets the Post-Gazette's editorial panel. At right is Ryan Scott, candidate for the Socialist Workers Party.

They had to do this just to yank my chain.

Where's Waldo?

Tony's nose is in the frame. First his ear. Now his nose.

This is a follow-up from the Trib's photo of the back of Tony Norman's bald head. The P-G has equal merit now, proving the point that there often is not a dime's worth of difference.

One choice is egg shell white. The other choice becomes mother of peal white.

Ballot machines up for court review - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ballot machines up for court review - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'I don't see how they can say the machines are reliable when they have no way of showing whether the machines are reliable,' said Chester County attorney Marian K. Schneider, who took state officials to court last year to ban use of iVotronics and other machines.

Here is another reason why we have Tony Oliva, Libertarian, running for mayor.

It has nothing to do with Tony. But, I don't trust the blasted voting machines and the entire election process. I'm a technocrat. I still don't trust them. Dan Onorato really screwed up when he went against the advice of others.

The voting machines are what they are, so might say. Well for me, that just is NOT good enough.

Allegheny County executive seeks to limit property info (phillyBurbs.com) | Pennsylvania News

I stand for open records and do NOT want Onorato to turn the clock back on access to info.

Allegheny County executive seeks to limit property info (phillyBurbs.com) | Pennsylvania News Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato wants to restrict the county's online real estate assessment Web site so people cannot search by owner name.

Onorato said he has been made aware of instances in which people have searched for law enforcement officials, teachers, judges and crime victims.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant. If he is able to turn off the lights, the corruption can spread more easily.

How will we know what streets to pave if we don't know where the ward bosses live?

Law enforcement officials have guns, badges, and peers who can pick up those that would be a threat to them.

Judges only need to worry about a retention vote every ten years -- and that's very peaceful democracy in action.

Taking info off the web site will not prevent crime victims from those crimes. Onorato would need a real "turn back the clock machine" for that to occur -- not simply his flash-back taxing metric.

If people don't want to have their name in a property ownership database, then they should form a corporation and hold the property by that name. They won't need the homestead exemption either.

Does Dan Onorato want to limit the access to the voter database too?

The killing of a judge in an Atlanta courthouse is sad news, indeed. However, it happened in the courthouse, not at his home. How can that be justifications for removal of the data from citizens.

Judges who are fearful of the 'boogie man' should hang up their black robes and retire. Judges can always buy another property in another part of town and rent out. Then they can rent where they live. There are hundreds of ways rich people can hide themselves from the property database already.

Heck, sometimes those with influence are able to hide whole properties from the tax database so tax bills are never sent nor paid nor missed.

I'd much rather have everything in the open.

Atlantic City Sands casino demolished - Yahoo! News

Atlantic City Sands casino demolished - Yahoo! News In about the same time it takes for a roulette ball to fall and settle on a number, the Sands Casino Hotel was demolished Thursday night.

It took less than 20 seconds for the 21-story, 500-room tower where Frank Sinatra once held court to come crashing to the ground shortly after 9:30 p.m. in the first implosion of an East Coast casino.

The demolition makes way for a mega-casino to be built on the Sands site by Pinnacle Entertainment at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to $2 billion. The as-yet unnamed complex is to open in late 2011 or early 2012.

In Pittsburgh, we talked a great deal about Atlantic City in recent times. Pittsburgh is still ramping up to its first slots parlor.

Meanwhile, table games have hit West Virginia.

Pittsburgh's slots parlor "blowback" is yet to take root, mostly. The mega "gentlemem's club" is still just a 'fantasy' for the local landscape -- err -- nightmare. Poker machines are still in action in the 'back rooms.' Tour buses are not parking by the river's edge either.

As they plan the Slots Parlor for Pittsburgh, are they making it so it "implodes" in a straight down fashion?

We'd hate to see it come down and bring with it the nearby parking garage. Our parking garages are already on weak legs. The airport parking garage crumbles. The South Hills Village garage is ghostly. The Second Ave garages need double TIFs (tax breaks).

Yummy. I eat crow. I was wrong. Weinroth only got the firefighters endorsement.

I just talked to City GOP Chair, Bob Hillen. I stand corrected. Joe Weinroth, R, candidate for mayor in 2005, did NOT get the FOP endorsement then. He only got the endorsement of the Firefighters.

I had it wrong. Sorry.

Bob O'Connor was not the incumbent in 2005, still.

Endorsements are what they are. Sometimes those that make endorsements play power games and have been even known to put on blinders. Sometimes those that make endorements do serious research and investigation.

I'd love to see more open endorsement debates where more democratic priorities and processes were leveraged in the decisions.

FOP Endorsement Of DeSantis Meaningless

Pittsburgh's police union on Friday endorsed Mark DeSantis for Mayor, but the real impact of such a move remains sketchy at best.

First and foremost, the Fraternal Order of Police needs to make a SIGNIFICANT financial contribution to DeSantis immediately for the "endorsement" to mean anything other than news-cycle hyperbole.

The official line is the FOP prefers DeSantis because of a need for more equipment and a secure pension fund. Most notably is the "right" to live outside of the city.

According to regulations, every police officer employed by Pittsburgh needs to live within the city limits. For years, officers have complained that they must run into perps they've collared while enjoying time with their families at ice cream parlors, movie houses and the neighborhood watering hole. Apparently, every criminal lives within city limits and doesn't take in the latest Hollywood has to offer at Homestead's waterfront, Southland's dingy cinemas or whatever the name is for the primary movie theater in the North Hills.

Oddly, many local conservative pundits, like who-knows-what-he-really-does Bill Green think that having the choice to live outside the city is blissful.

Fact of the matter is, largely because of 70-years of Democrats in power, most city neighborhoods have deteriorated to the point that even the highly-paid police officers want out.

Real estate listings would explode to the tune of nearly 1,000 homes if officers were permitted to live outside Pittsburgh borders. Neighborhoods like Brookline, Crafton, Carrick and Bon Air, among others, would lose the "lots of police officers live here" selling points. Who would purchase these homes that police officers would abandon in mass?

Some officers do own uninhabitable shacks or other "shadow addresses" and commute to far away lands. However, this isn't the norm. Many live in their communities and gripe endlessly instead of making their neighborhoods a better place to live "off the clock." Some are active in their communities. Those "leaders" would hopefully stay.

Sure, police officers should be allowed to live outside the city. They just don't have to be employed by the city of Pittsburgh. Good police officers who live in outlying areas or suburbs can either remain good police officers and make $9 an hour, or they could be fantastic leaders for the city of Pittsburgh and move here.

Likewise, Pittsburgh's police officers are more than welcome to move to crime-free suburbs like Ross Township, Monroeville and Wilkinsburg and make vastly less than their "enormous compared to their average neighbor" salaries.

More oddly, I agree with Interim Mayor Luke Ravenstahl who supports the requirement that all city employees should live within its borders. Otherwise, nothing should be able to stop Diana Irey, the cutest Washington County Commissioner ever, from being Pittsburgh's next Mayor (after DeSantis wins on November 6th).

Pittsburgh's teacher's union somehow got their residency requirement lifted a few years ago. Now, the vast majority of those employees trod into town from Cranberry, Butler County, well before the usual rush hour traffic begins. They spend their "tremendously high compared to their former Pittsburgh neighbor" salaries in bistros and outlet malls that are now closer to their yuppie cul-de-sacs.

DeSantis said that the police department should be able to hire anyone they want into the department. That's absolutely true.

They should just have to follow the law and reside in the city.

Suprise! One thousand dollars richer. Can you still hear me now?

Photo shows Donna Westbrook, head of Speech-Language Pathology for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Emily Crow, award winner, speech language pathologist in the schools, and Catherine Palmer, Ph.D. Professor at Pitt and Director of Audiology at UPMC Eye and Ear. Both PPS employees are Pitt alumni.

UPMC Musicians’ Hearing Center Recognizes the accomplishments of Emily Crow in the promotion of hearing protection.

This work has impacted the health and quality of life of individuals in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Sponsored by the UPMC Musicians’ Hearing Center of the Department of Otolaryngology, the Department of Communication Science and Disorders University of Pittsburgh, and Etymotic Research, Inc.

October 2007 marked the second time this award has been given. The band director at Langley High School, Nancy Addy, got the award last year.

Click and see the 'presentation' of the award at Friday's in-service.

(OFFICIALLY ENDORSED) NOTES FROM A FRIDAY AFTERNOON

(OFFICIALLY ENDORSED) NOTES FROM A FRIDAY AFTERNOON First, the huge -- as in historic, as in unprecedented, as in unbelievably great -- news: The Pittsburgh Fraternal Order of Police today endorsed Mark DeSantis for Mayor. Not the incumbent Democrat who happens to be their boss, but the Republican challenger who, with each passing day, looks more and more like he could be their boss.

• And how's this for adding honest insult to mayoral injury? FOP Secretary Chuck Hanlon, noting that DeSantis has got clear, concise answers to how to fix the pension and how to fix the budget. He has business savvy. We see a lot of the same things in him that we saw in Bob O'Connor. Might be something worth mentioning the next time Master Ravenstahl wants to wrap himself in his predecessor's burial shroud.

In 2005, Joe Weinroth, R, attorney, candidate for mayor, got the endorsement of the FOP over Bob O'Connor.

The FOP gave Weinroth the endorsement and then didn't do anything.

Let's not re-write history.

Meanwhile, also in 2005, Mark DeSantis donated more money to Michael Lamb's race for mayor than he gave to Joe Weinroth.

Meanwhile, DeSantis, in 2007, is running without any other running mate. Ravenstahl has five city council candidates as running mates in 2007. Well, to be really honest, DeSantis could look to share a running mate status with the Republican who is running for Allegheny County Council At-Large. He is guy who was spreading around $10,000 checks to other political campaigns from the estate of a women who hardly voted.

Which brings us to the 'Reform Party' candidate, David Tessitor. David will have a big week soon. He launched a transit plan this week. Next week he'll be in the Post-Gazette endorsement meeting on Wednesday at 2 pm. That should be a wild meeting.

Update: Speaking of Joe Weinroth, he was a guest on the Friday night show -- Nightalk. It was a round-table discussion on everything political under the sun. Nothing of great importance on the show. Dan Deasey was on as a guest too.

Nebraska fires AD, citing lack of progress - College Football

ESPN - Nebraska fires AD, citing lack of progress - College Football: "Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was fired"

Steve Pederson was the former AD at Pitt. I hated what he did at Pitt.

Honz Man and Steve Pederson are equals in my book.

Australia cemetery trains lifeguard gravediggers - Yahoo! News

Australia cemetery trains lifeguard gravediggers - Yahoo! News An Australian cemetery is training gravediggers as lifesavers and has installed a defibrillator to jumpstart the hearts of grief-stricken mourners who regularly collapse at funerals.

Pittsburgh needs this too.

As controller, I'll do an audit of all the defrib machines in town.

I'll monitor how many have taken CPR.

We'll increase the fitness and wellness index in Pittsburgh by ten-fold!

KDKA - Freds Homepge has an interview with Tony Oliva, L, Mayor Candidate

KDKA - Freds Homepge New Libertarian Mayoral Candidate Tony Oliva tells Fred Honsberger what he would do if he were elected Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

Talks about lack of experience. Talks about lack of special interest to be a slave to.

The belt has to be tightened a couple of notches.

Underground tunnel was raised as an idea. Honz loves the tunnel. So Honz said it was not city money.

Cut the staffers.

Pass savings to taxpayers.

City does NOT have much to do about school board. But Tony was talking about after school. That's a park project.

Honz says unions are not traditionally willing to have give-and-take. Tony would take a firm line. Enough is enough. Hey, you are hard workers. You do good things. But the city can't stay afloat.

Chances? Tony said, "I've got a punching shot!"

Flow: Drew Carey with Reason.TV and libertarian views

Traffic sucks.

Called Blog Baron. Got in the P-G and didn't even notice until now

Put the new handle, BLOG BARON, into the realm of 'digital dust' in the MSM (mainstream media). I was watching the story unfold about the goofy love of chair blog and the people who are at the helm of this city. But, I didn't notice that I was mentioned in the coverage in the P-G.

In loving memory of "Love of Chair": "Before midnight, though, Burgh Report commentators reported that the content was gone. Alert Burgh Report readers then found cached versions of portions of the blog online, and posted links to them. Blog baron and multiple-office candidate Mark Rauterkus challenged his fellow techies to 'take the old blog content from the cache and redeploy it into another blog -- to live in infamy.'"

Call 9-1-1 as the P-G's first editorial on candidates ran today

From people & vips

The Post-Gazette editorial board is getting to the task of publishing its editorials on each of the campaigns slated for the November 6th ballot. The first one is about city council district one.

District 1: North Side: "Councilwoman Darlene Harris has not always been a favorite of ours."

Nor is she a favorite of mine.

I talked with Dave on the phone after the editorial board meeting. It was held just the other day.

Going into the meeting he had high hopes as to what he might expect. The P-G had some great things to say about David in the past. But, the citizenship thing was a problem for them, as an unreasoned objection. Now that the citizen matter has been resolved, there was no reason to think he wouldn't get the endorsement.

The other pressure element comes into play when the P-G endorsement meeting is the LONE meeting with both candidates throughout the entire campaign. Do or die situations, one-time deals, all-the-eggs in one basket approaches are not preferable. Rather, I want to have a sustained conversation. I'm not into one-night stands, nor blind dates, yet alone prescribed marriages.

The hunger to unseat Darlene Harris must have been visible. There is no shame in that, if you ask me. But, the P-G saw it in a different light. How many of the P-G editorial board live in the city? How many have a good understanding of what happens and what doesn't on a week-in and week-out basis within council chambers?

I've watched Darlene in action. I'd be thrilled to have her replaced. But, she does have a long resume. And, her school district board service is nothing to rest her reputation upon.

The mention of the need for citizens to carry an I.D. comes from David's work as a 9-1-1 operator. His work puts him in the mix as police and citizens interact on the streets. Dispatching back up, moving officers to the night court with company and doing research on identities is all part of his job in moment to moment communications.

I raised this exact issue just two weeks ago at the South Side Forum Meeting. I asked about the police policy for releasing or removing a person with charges when on the streets.

Just a while ago the police and citizens, on our street, stopped a person who was making trouble. Once it was vandalism and an aborted auto theft. The other time the person nabbed by the police had assulted a person. Witnesses were there. The police were there, and in charge of the situations. The alleged troublemaker in both instances was without an I.D. Hello Jane Doe.

The perp walks each time.

Citations were issued, but to who?

The police spokespeople at the South Side meeting explained it to us. There are three types of violations. On the first two, citations are issued on the spot and everyone goes home. This might take 40-minutes of noisy chatter outside our windows, but everyone gets to depart the scene without going to jail, night court or the police station.

Seems that the police do their best to ascertain the identity of the person with pointed questions and a link back to the dispatchers. Social Security numbers, address, birthdays, etc. are discovered. If something sounds fishy -- they leave the scene together.

David's call for the need to carry an I.D. would fix this entire quagmire of 20-questions on the street with Jane and John Doe.

If you are grabbed by the police after a fight and don't have an I.D. on you -- take that person to the police station until a positive I.D. arrives. Same with attempted auto theft and vandalism.

Dave and I talked about his solution idea that makes it mandatory to carry an I.D. He knew that I'd be cold to the idea, given my libertarian perspectives. Dave does have a great point. And, his solution makes life easier for those who otherwise must play 20-questions with Jane Doe on the streets at 2 or 3 in the morning.

It seems to me that if you are going to go out and graffiti a bridge, you might not want to bring your I.D. It might slow you in your escape. And, if caught, it might be used against you when an alternative name, address and identity could be used.

It is an instance when a 'digital camera' with the police might be a perfect solution.

Mayor vetos Parking Tax Freeze -- but I'm still waiting for him to say he'd liquidate the Parking Authority

Folks, the mayor didn't 'veto the parking tax.' No.

The mayor put the veto pen to a bill that would have kept the parking tax at its current sky-high amount. The parking tax is due to drop again this year according to state measures. Then the parking tax will sit at another sky high amount, but slightly less than before.

Other than one fleeting mention by Jim Motznik (after he becomes mayor) (giving credit where credit is due), I have not heard anyone request the liquidation of the Parking Authority.

I've been calling for the liquidation of the Parking Authority for years.

Campaign evidence found in Dems' files

Campaign evidence found in Dems' files It is illegal for campaign work to be done in state offices, on state equipment or by state employees on work time.

Darn tootin' it is illegal.

The Duquesne Duke: Serving Duquesne University Since 1925

Great breakdown of the Duquesne University debate from a junior journalism student. Great article. He says that one party rule is bad. Also offers the idea that DeSantis didn't deliver a knock out against Ravenstahl.

The Duquesne Duke: Serving Duquesne University Since 1925 It seems the future of Pittsburgh’s economic problems will not be solved in the November election or by candidates of either party. Nevertheless, the future of the city is in the hands of Pittsburgh’s young people.

Ron Paul's letter to folks like me and readers of this blog

Ron Paul wrote in an email:

October 17, 2007

The other day, my old sparring partner in so many Congressional committee hearings, Alan Greenspan, was on the Fox Business Channel. After Alan promoted his new book, the reporter asked if we really needed a central bank. Greenspan looked stunned, and then said that was a good question; he actually talked about fiat money vs. a gold standard. Now, the ex-Fed chairman is not about to endorse our sound monetary policy, but you know our Revolution is working when such a question is asked in the mainstream media, and this powerful man gives such an answer.

You and I are reopening a whole host of questions that the establishment thought it had closed off forever: on war, on taxes and spending, on inflation and gold, and on the rule of law and our Constitution.

A few years ago, I asked a famous conservative columnist a question. What did he think about the prospects for a restored Robert Taft wing of the Republican party? He thought I was joking. As you know, I was not.

After all the aggressive wars, the assaults on our privacy and civil liberties, the oppressive taxation, and the crazed spending and deficits, I believe that many Republican voters are ready to return to our roots. And the big boys feel it too. It is no coincidence that the Republican National Committee invited me to a fundraising dinner involving only "top-tier candidates."

Some of the opposition claims that I am not a "real Republican," whereas I am the only one in the race. And our campaign is registering new Republican voters by the boatload. None of my opponents is doing anything approaching that.

Of course, they pooh-pooh our success. "He's just registering Democrats and Independents and people who have never voted before." Well, yes. It's called growth. We are laying the groundwork for the primaries.

All over America, our support is wide and deep and growing, and young people are joining like never before. After the Dearborn debate, I went to the University of Michigan for a rally. 2,000 students turned out, something that has happened to no other candidate this year.

The crowd cheered all our ideas, but especially our opposition to the Federal Reserve, and our support for real money of gold and silver, as the Constitution mandates, instead of prosperity-wrecking fiat money. American politics hasn't seen anything like this in many decades. It is truly revolutionary.

But time is getting short. We must do massive radio and TV advertising, open many small offices (three in just South Carolina the other day), staff them, pay all the bills, and turn out our vote with massive organizational and phone-bank efforts.

As you know, the blackout is ending; our campaign is starting to get mainstream media attention, thanks to growing donations and volunteers. And contributions are the key to more attention, and to our being able to do the actual work of victory. Good news: our recent green-eyeshade analysis of all the candidates' net finances, which got so much press attention, shows our campaign as one of only three in the top-tier.

But we must keep moving up, and the Iowa caucuses are now on January 3rd. The New Hampshire primary may be in early December!

As always, everything depends on you. Please, make the most generous donation you canhttps://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/ as soon as you can. I need your help so badly.

The other day, an 8-year-old boy handed me a small white envelope. It contained the $4.00 he had saved from his allowance, as a donation to our campaign. I can't tell you how seriously I take my responsibility to work hard, and spend frugally and effectively, to be worthy of his support, and yours.

Please help me keep working, even harder and more effectively, for all we believe in. Without you, I'd have to pack it in. Donate now https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/ .We have more than an election to win. We have a country to save.

Ron Paul

So-Called 'Off-Year' Elections Anything But Off

kdka.com - So-Called 'Off-Year' Elections Anything But Off I'm on page 4 of 6, either once or twice, depending upon where you live.

Ron Paul audio from Odeo

ODEO is a podcast service and it seems as if one of my old high school classmates is the President there. So, let's take a moment and hear from the guy I want to be president of the USA, Ron Paul.

powered by ODEO

This is an interview with Ron Paul via ABC News.

Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21

How about if we retire a bunch of members from the PA House instead.

I love Roberto. I hate over-reaching politicians.

FAQ on new website gets put into place today.

Have you seen the new website at Elect.Rauterkus.com?

What leadership skills do you possess?

As a former NCAA Division I swimming coach, I have led many athletes to great performances. I've coached teams with more than 200 swimmers. I've been a boss with staffs of dozens, in competitive sports. I've hired and employed lifeguards and swim instructors in multiple facilities. Managing them is much like leading public employees but lifeguards and instructors have higher stakes than what the average bureaucrat faces.

Leading employees in the controller's office or with a staff will not be a problem.

When dealing with rivals on various issues, my experience in coaching competitive sports will be an asset. Building teamwork among peers within the halls of government will leverage these same team building strengths. Even with rivals I am know for my respectful demeanor.

Why do you not have a job? One of your opponents says you're just running for office because you need the money. Is this true?

We moved to Pittsburgh so that my wife, Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., could pursue her career in Audiology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the School or Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a joint appointment to the School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology. If that sounds impressive, it should. She impresses me everyday. Like so many spouses before, I took on the role of stay at home parent to our sons, to free her to pursue her career.

As a father of two boys, it is a role I am proud of, and an experience I am fortunate to have been able to have.

I've got the best job in the world.

Furthermore, I've been a professional swim coach and expect to coach again, and holding an elected position does not change this. I've worked as a paid coach from 2003 to August 2007.

If I needed money, I would pursue a career in the private sector. It pays better. The reality is, life has put me in a fortunate position in a difficult town. I wish to give something back by dedicating my time to public service at a time when our region is lacking leadership.

Why are you running for both City Council and City Controller?

I am running for City Council because the city's finances are in shambles, liberties are on the decline and new energy is needed in the post of Chairperson of the Citiparks and Youth Policy Committee.

I can't stand idle and give Bruce Kraus a free pass to city council. Hats off to him for winning the 2007 primary to get the nomination from the Democrats. But I've campaigned with him and seen double-talk and his fumbles with the purpose of government. Kraus wants to play give-a-way politics and the city is without any assets to make more handouts.

I'm immensely more qualified to serve the city in the role of chairperson of Citiparks and Youth Policy Committee than Mr. Kraus -- and any of the others elected to office in Allegheny County. I'll do more for kids in Pittsburgh than all the other politicians combined. For Pittsburgh to recover, we need to grow ourselves out of this mess we find ourselves in today. Our kids need to be strong and must be successful competitors in a world marketplace.

As City Controller I will be in a position to exercise performance oversight over the city -- from council's special interest spending to the mayor's office to the school district.

Why did you initially run for other offices as well?

Pennsylvania's law make it nearly impossible to get Libertarians and other third-party candidates onto the ballot. In the hopes of luring other like-minded citizens to also run for office, I charted a course to provide alternatives. Election rules allow for a political body to change candidates, and we were successful in getting another into the mayor's race.

My candidacy in many races assured spaces for other challengers on the ballot, depending upon the primary election outcomes.

What is your agenda?

I want an urban Pittsburgh that is a splendid place to raise our kids. And, as our kids mature, I want them to have the freedom and liberty to grow and stay here.

Some of my strategies for addressing our city's issues, from education, to parks, to the city's ongoing financial crisis follows.

---

Are there other questions you feel should be asked and answered?

Hey, Teachers. Leave that school alone. Memo to Pgh Public Schools: Do NOT sell South Vo Tech

The board of Pittsburgh Public Schools is moving, again, to sell off a treasure -- South Vo Tech.

This should NOT happen.

Keep the school. Don't sell it. There are plenty of other wonderful uses for that building that need to occur. The buildings and space are with too much value. The site has always been a pivotal place for learning and employment.

There are few who are more 'free market driven' than me. And I say -- don't sell it off. The building is at a wonderful cross-roads. People can get there by foot, walking from town. Buses go. When the road is open, people can slip into the site from the mouth of the Liberty Bridge and Tunnel.

Here are some proposed uses:

1. Re-open a Vo-Tech High School!

South Vo Tech should have never closed. Pittsburgh needs a great Vo Tech program. We were promised a re-do of the Vo Tech opportunities when South Vo Tech closed.

2. Turn South Vo Tech's into a different school.

2a. Make it a K-8 building. The existing Phillips is not that good a building for K-5. There is no room for music, gym, science labs, nor expansion. The existing Phillips school could be great for pre-school and K. Grades 1-8 could fit into South. Or put one classroom for K for sibling preferences.

The residents in the "new urban high rise condos" that were slated for the east end of Station Square would find it ideal to send their kids to a South K-8, walking from 2nd Ave to 9th.

2b. Schenley High School might get a face-lift. The 9th graders of Schenley could go to South Vo Tech while the school gets a re-hab for a year.

2c. South Vo Tech could be a great charter school. Put the Science and Technology High School operated by Pgh Public Schools as a charter school there. Yes, as a charter school.

By the way, I don't like the idea of putting grades 6, 7 and 8 with the high school kids within one school.

2d. Make South Vo Tech a haven for 9th Grade Nation. Get the kids that are 'at risk' to have a specialized school to bone up on literature, algebra and writing. Then from this school, they could go to other district schools in 10, 11 and 12th grade.

3. Make South Vo Tech a regional park headquarters.

Put the Pittsburgh Park District there, next to the football stadium. Give the kids a great strength and condition space for year-round training in the basement of the building. All sports participants could use the gym, boys and girls, coaches and parents.

4. Put PCTV 21 studios into South Vo Tech.

There are big rooms, an auditorium and other spaces that would be 'sound proof' and ideal for a TV studio. PCTV is busting at the seams.

5. Make South Vo Tech a POLICE STATION.

The South Side (Zone 3) Police Station is way too small. The parking down by 18th Street is a mess. Keep that station for Fire. Bring EMS either to the 18th St. station, where they were before with fire. Or, bring EMS to the South Vo Tech too, along with the police.

6. Make the old South Vo Tech building a Student Union for bridging the gap from high school to college.

Duquesne, Point Park, RMU, Pitt, CMU and CCAC can all have distance based and outreach programs there. Lifelong learning, inter-generational programs, academic and non-academic courses could be offered. This setting could be a real 'community learning outreach hub.' ESL, drivers ed, PodCamps, music, Parenting groups, and a range of other course work opportunities could flourish there. Think of it as a Regional Enterprise Tower for hands-on learning.

Sell the hard to sell buildings first as there are only a few customers who will want them.

Another important reason to NOT sell South Vo Tech, at this moment, is because other more pressing neighborhoods need their vacant dark schools to be put to use first. South Vo Tech can be put into 'mothballs.' It is a big, visible building. Lots of people go by it all the time. If something bad should happen -- it would get seen and curtailed. Meanwhile, some of these other schools are much more remote. They can be breeding grounds for lots of nasty things that won't be easy to spot and prevent.

I think Knoxville and Hazlewood need help more than the South Side. They have empty school buildings that could be sold to private owners. Then the new business in those settings could help to turn those areas around. The South Side can survive with South Vo Tech in an idle condition. However, I'm not sure if the same holds true with these other neighborhoods.

Furthermore, let's say a high-flying tech start up needs a space for 'wet labs' or some such operation. They want to employ (I'm dreaming here...) 20 people in the first year and grow to 200 in six years. It could be Google, a bio-tech, a spin off from PPG or Bayer, etc. There are only so many of those customers out in the market. They need cheap, sturdy space with options for growth and custom build outs. A school building could fit their needs. But we are NEVER going to find 20 of those customers. We might find three. Sell off the buildings that buses can't get to easily. Sell off buildings that adults can navigate. Sell off some of the harder buildings first.

Otherwise, the demolition costs for the other 20 buildings is going to be expensive.

As a member of Pittsburgh's City Council, I look forward to the challenge of public discussions and measurements of assets. The role of stewardship has been fleeting for those on Grant Street. Facilities and building re-use is a great challenge and problem.

Even as the city's controller, there are plenty of ways we could insure that all the vacant public buildings -- such as schools and the indoor, closed, ice rink in the park -- can be utilized. We need spaces were we can teach kids how to play well with others. We need spaces were citizens can teach government entities how they too can play well together.

I swear, if we took a new look at parks and figured out how to blend responsibilities and entities in an open, responsible, forward thinking way -- that was saving the taxpayers and insisting on democratic decision making -- we'd be able to build skills, relationships and capacity for other topics yet to come.

Merge parks now. It would be fun and rich with expriences. Then the shift to saving pension funds can be made easy.

Tony Oliva, L, candidate for mayor, on with Honz Man, Wed at 5:50 pm

Tony Oliva is booked for the Honz Man show, KDKA Radio, for Wednesday (tomorrow) at 5:50. Sounds like he'll get a 10-minute interview.

I think DeSantis and Ravenstahl are due to be on the early KDKA Radio show on Wed. too.

The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads: 10 Secrets Your Husband Won‘t Tell You” is now available for purchase.

Hogan's new book is out at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com.

Review from Mothering Magazine:

"I received a galley of The Modern Mom's Guide to Dads, and I really liked it. It is so hard to find a male perspective on fathering. I really appreciate your empathy for fathers' feelings about pregnancy and birth - the sense of responsibility, fear, helplessness, and the drive to provide. I love the description of how men feel during childbirth classes, how they object to being called coaches as well as their reluctance to share their feelings in a room full of women! This book is a great service to families. Thank you for writing it.

Melissa Chianta, Managing Editor, Mothering Magazine

Cumberland House Publishing press release, "Why Do New Fathers Behave the Way They Do?"

Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads Reveals Ten Secrets to Strengthening a Marriage

“A must-read for everyone with kids!” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – New moms are frequently confused by their husband’s behavior after the birth of a child. What do they really think about being a father? Why has this new life they created together altered their marital relationship? Authors Hogan Hilling and Jesse Jayne Rutherford offer their own unique, qualified perspectives in The Modern Moms Guide to Dads: Ten Secrets Your Husband Won’t Tell You (Cumberland House, ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-606-7, $16.95, October 2007).

Hilling has been conducting workshops for dads for 15 years and moms for 5 years at conferences, hospitals, and corporations across the country, and he has heard it all – from frustrated women and men. The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads is a “parenting relationship” book, full of thoughtful insights about what new dads are thinking, and how wives can get their husbands more involved in the kids’ lives and the household without nagging or manipulative tactics. In each chapter, there are stories from real dads’ lives that shed light on some of the secrets they try to hide from their wives; quotes from fathers about their feelings; helpful strategies; and a section called “And a Mom Wants to Know,” Rutherford’s input as modern-day mother and wife.

Whether you’re planning, expecting, or raising a family, The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads offers keen insights into what your husband really thinks about pregnancy, parenting, and marriage!

Hogan Hilling is the founder of Proud Dads, Inc., through which he develops and conducts expectant father classes for hospitals in Southern California and conducts workshops for mothers on fathering issues through the United States. The author of The Man Who Would Be Dad and the stay-at-home father of three boys, he is the recipient of a 1995 California “Courage to Care” Award and has made multiple television appearances. He and his wife, Tina, live in Newport Beach, California.

Jesse Jayne Rutherford is a freelance writer and mother. She is the co-author of Speaking Up: How to Help the Children You Work With Who Live in Abusive Homes, and the author of Save the Date: A Curriculum for Teens on Developing Healthy Dating Relationships, which she wrote on staff at the Family Violence Project. She, her husband and daughter live near San Diego, California.

For review copies or high res photography, please contact: Michelle Nikolai, 615-832-1771, ext.18, michellen@cumberlandhouse.com.

South Side Park -- 75 Canadian Geese go south -- if you know what I mean

Someone was in city council today to claim that there may have been another round up of Canadian Geese. Seems that 75 have been taken, with erie flashbacks to North Park's DEP kill-off.

There was some 'doubt' -- so don't be too alarmed. I've asked for her statement via email.

Anyone know anything?

News flash: Water in the South Side -- in our neighborhood -- is bad

What's up with the water? It flows from the pipes, but it is yellow and dirty?

This started today (Tuesday) in the morning.

Let's not elect a Democrat to Council District 9

This is not good for the Democrats.

Carlisle aide pleads guilty and will testify against councilwoman Pittsburgh Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle's defense against theft charges became more difficult yesterday when alleged co-conspirator Darlene Durham pleaded guilty to transferring $19,480 in city money to the embattled official.

Luke Ravenstahl was in city council when some of this went down.

City Officials Develop Plan To Fight Urban Blight

This is a great example why Luke Ravenstahl should not be in charge of the city. For me, this becomes a policy problem.

kdka.com - City Officials Develop Plan To Fight Urban Blight "And I can tell you that the No. 1 issue when it comes to neighborhoods and quality of life is abandoned properties, is abandoned lots, is the neglect from those property owners to take care of them," Ravenstahl said.

To pile onto their train of thought, the #1 person in the mayor's office concerning neighborhoods came to a community meeting last week. She said that the city's #1 asset was its property.

These guys and gals are brainwashing themselves to think about lots, property, blight, buildings and real estate. In feudal days there were land lords and renters. They've got feudal perspectives.

Notice too how he is going to declare war on building. There are 1,400 condemned buildings and the budget gets to be doubled. They want to talk about apples and oranges. Money to building totals paints a bleek picture.

Double the demolishing still means less than half of the buildings get touched.

Presently, more buildings are flipping to racoon hotels than are being torn down. The city is going under farther each week.

After the city doubles its efforts this year, it will need to double its efforts again next year. Then there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

The comprehensive plan the city needs is rooted in the land value tax.

Today, property owners are rewarded with lower taxes when their buildings decline. Today, property owners are punished with higher taxes when their buildings are fixed up.

As taxes are set only upon the value of the land, there will be a city-wide push to retain value in the existing buildings. Or, if they are bad, but in poorer neighborhodds, they'll be fixed up for the value. And, the buildings that have gone to seed in more upscale neighborhoods will get fixed too, as the taxes will be too high to hold onto an under performing property.

The land tax is a win-win-win-win for owners, neighborhoods, city and taxpayers.

Jonathan B. Robison's newsletter. You might have to search for 28 more to find those 30

Jonathan B. Robison: For us, the most difficult contest is for mayor of the City of Pittsburgh

There was some chatter on another blog that there were 30 Dems who were on the city committee who were now on the Mark DeSantis bandwagon. Some said, "prove it." Well, here is one newsletter that proves the point that the bandwagon better have good springs as many may be jumping aboard.

Minor mayor candidates want to make point - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Minor mayor candidates want to make point - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Tony Oliva, Libertarian candidate for Pittsburgh mayor, didn't get to share the stage with the major-party candidates during a recent mayoral debate, but he snagged the crowd's attention at the end.

This was Tony's second joke from the podium. The first, about plenty of people having egg o their face after he won the election, was blogged about before. It is harder to put that joke into a news article and make it as 'funny.'

Good article Dave Brown (Tribune Review reporter)!

The rest of the news on the Libertarian follows.

"I see (Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the Democrat, and Republican challenger Mark DeSantis) as a choice between painting a bare room," Oliva said when given three minutes to add his two cents. "You have the choice between painting it eggshell white or mother-of-pearl white. They even look like they have the same tailor."

When about 200 people, including DeSantis and Ravenstahl, stopped laughing, Oliva added, "Maybe a splash of color is just what this city needs."

Oliva and Socialist Workers Party candidate Ryan Scott -- who each had three minutes to speak after the debate on Thursday -- have no false hopes about winning the Nov. 6 election. Even so, they are scrambling to get their disparate messages out to anyone who will listen. Minor-party candidates appear frequently on ballots in Western Pennsylvania and across the nation, although their campaigns rarely succeed in a political system dominated by the two major parties.

So why bother running at all?

The candidates offer straightforward reasons often set in personal convictions: Generally, they hope to make a point.

Cut stuff about the Socialist Workers Party. Read that in the comments or at the Trib's site.

Oliva said he became a Libertarian because that party best fits his political philosophy.

"I tend to lean toward fiscal conservatism, with low taxes and financial freedom, but I'm also more socially liberal on personal freedoms and liberty," he said. "Neither the Republican nor the Democratic parties speaks to me as well as the Libertarian Party does."

A former Army paratrooper, Oliva, 28, of Oakland is a graduate student in economics at the University of Pittsburgh. He was born in New York and moved to Western Pennsylvania about 10 years ago. The first thing he pledges to do, if elected mayor, is cut his pay. It troubles him that city officials get full pay and benefits at a time when Pittsburgh is in financial distress.

Running for mayor is worthwhile, Oliva says, if only to show voters there are options. After hearing Ravenstahl and DeSantis debate, the Libertarian told the crowd it was just more "political rhetoric that Republicans and Democrats spew at each other."

"I think it's time we heard a new voice," he said.

Tony Oliva

Party: Libertarian

Age: 28 (blog note: Tony is one year older than the existing mayor)

Occupation: Crossing guard and graduate school work

Residence: Oakland

Education: Bachelor's degree, political science, University of Pittsburgh

Family: Single

Political experience: First race for public office

Do you think that the Trib could have made the photo in the online edition any smaller?

Study finds retail glut Downtown

OMG:

Study finds retail glut Downtown 'We have a lot of retail but it's all junk,' such as discount stores, convenience stores and nail salons, said Mr. Sullivan.

Until the city is able to clean out the 'bad' retail, he said, it is going to have trouble attracting high-quality retail.

You know, there is a lot of junk on the internet. However, the junk on the net does NOT prevent the net from being a splendid place for other resources.

The retail places in downtown that are "bad retail" are not trying to be 'bad.'

Perhaps they are bad because of cash flow, customer base, changes in the marketplace, tax free shopping via the internet, and a zillion other reasons. Perhaps they are bad because the competitors get tax breaks.

The same type of BS comes when they say that there are too many bumbs downtown. Hell, the homeless folks are the only ones you see downtown because they are the only ones that go downtown. The homeless are not the real problem. The lack of other people are the problem.

The bad retail isn't the problem. The fact is, downtown can't support great retail at this time.

Lord & Taylor is where?

Lazarus is where?

Old Navy is where?

The list gets too long to make.

[412] In the news -- and ethics update -- we need an UPGRADE, but only have an update

Email blast:

[412] In the news -- and ethics update -- we need an UPGRADE, but only have an update

Hi,

Today's (Monday, Oct 15, 2007) Post Gazette has an article about me and a few other political pals seeking public office from outside the ranks of the D party.

See my blog for a peek between the lines of that article:

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2007/10/p-g-coverage-running-is-all-uphill-for.html

Furthermore, my website, http://Elect.Rauterkus.com, has a had a face lift! Check it out.

On Friday I spoke before Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board. I've seen glaciers move faster.

By the way, check out my new website, http://Elect.Rauterkus.com.

Two-fer theme

P-G coverage: Running is all uphill for Pittsburgh's 3rd-party candidates

Running is all uphill for Pittsburgh's 3rd-party candidates: "Running is all uphill for Pittsburgh's 3rd-party candidates CAMPAIGN 2007 Monday, October 15, 2007 By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette David Adams has put up wanted posters accusing his electoral opponent of ducking debates.

Mark Rauterkus has filed ethics complaints against rivals.

We made the news today, oh boy.

There are a few points to make about the article, reposted here with comments throughout.

For voters, the Dave S, Dave A, Mark R, Mark R, Mark D makes for an interesting 'ticket.' There are only two names one needs to remember. I've been working with Dave A and Dave S on a regular basis. We're on the same page. I'm a team builder.

Meanwhile, the Republicans have never been cooperative -- even when I ran for Mayor as a Republican because I hated what Tom Murphy was doing to our city. By the way, my experience with the issues and throughout the years as a vigilant watchdog was overlooked.

David Schuilenburg has a Web site that includes a "Darlene Watch" listing what he views as his incumbent foe's missteps.

They're Pittsburgh's political insurgents, carrying third-party banners in uphill battles, hoping that unusual tactics and an unsettled climate yield Nov. 6 upsets. With no Republicans running for any city office other than mayor, they are the alternatives to the long-reigning Democrats.

I'm able to carry a third party banner, the LIBERTARIAN BANNER. Tony Oliva joins me in that effort. We have three slots for Libertarians. Dave S and Dave A are hardly holding a 3rd party banner. Dave A is 'no party.' Dave S is something like 'reform Democrat' or 'new Democrat' or 'Independent Democrat.'

To lump us all together under the "party banner" tag is a little weak. "Don't Put Me -- or US -- in a BOX." I tried to get them to join me in running as a "Libertarian" -- but each declined. They knew that goofy reporting would be forthcoming.

And they're eternal optimists.

Guilty. Furthermore, I think we are 'idealists' and mostly optimists who have faith in our fellow citizens and voters.

Only those who think that they can change the world are the ones who do change the world. Those that think make the first step. But we who think and have the energy of action are the real change agents. One needs to be an optimist to run for public office. One needs to be an optimist to stand and fight. One needs to be an optimist to live in the city, especially with a family.

By the way, I've helped to change the city in a number of ways. We have won some battles. We have turned the tide in some domains. I am optimistic that my involvement has made Pittsburgh a better city and region.

"If I can get 1,500 kids to come out to vote, I'll win this election," said Mr. Adams, the independent candidate for the seat being vacated by Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle.

Mr. Adams, 49, of East Hills, faces the Rev. Ricky Burgess, who won the Democratic primary in May.

Mr. Adams has tried to paint Mr. Burgess, 50, of North Point Breeze, as a pawn of outside interests and white gentrifiers. Both men are African-American.

"Mr. Burgess has the idea that other people can solve our problems," Mr. Adams said. "There's a plan to take over the 9th District, to push us out."

The Democrat has countered that his opponent is too polarizing.

"This district is not an African-American district," said Mr. Burgess. "This is a peoples' district. ... You want to bring more people into the district, not just black people."

Something further from the truth has never been said about David C. Adams -- and it figures it would come from a challenger like Burgess. Mr. Burgess is using double-speak. But, he won't show up for a debate. Mr. Burgess tells the Post-Gazette editorial board one thing. Yet, he tells neighborhood groups another.

Both say crime is the key issue in the district, which covers the city's northeast corner.

Mr. Burgess would use crime data to identify areas to be targeted with police activity and social services, the effort advised by churches serving as the "liaison between the police and the community. ... We don't want tanks and militia indiscriminately coming down the streets."

He wants to fight crime while encouraging job development and housing construction.

Not really. Burgess is talking about using POLICE RAIDS. The talk we given witness too from Burgess about crime is alarming.

Mr. Adams said before any new development or housing push starts, crime has to be cut by 40 percent. He wants teams of "surveyors" to canvass every city neighborhood identifying their needs, followed by police cooperation with five-person community advisory committees to craft action plans.

His proposal calls for effective social service programs to be advertised in a resource guide, offenders to be given second chances and efforts to promote healthy living.

Exactly. David Adams is pushing for and PULLING for real community driven interactions with the police. This is what it is going to take. The people have to get involved, and they need to trust those in charge. They will be able to know that Dave C. Adams is with them, for them and going to stand tall to the troubles, both within the force and within the streets.

David's approach is thought out. It is calculated. It is full of hard work. It is necessary. And, above all, it is a plan of change that cuts the the root issue. The cancer there now is the disengaged citizens. "Snitching" is negative. That has to change.

Mr. Rauterkus, a 48-year-old volunteer swim coach from the South Side, is running for both City Council and controller as a Libertarian.

I'm a volunteer who has been a paid coach. Rich Lord took a cheap shot there. "Rauterkus is a professional swim coach that also volunteers to lead his son's school swim team." We had practice last night (Sundays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm) with 19 kids at the Oliver Bath House. I've stepped away from coaching this fall to run full-time campaigns. In September I was offered another job with another team to return to the day-to-day coaching.

The repeat candidate faces two Democrats, Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb in the controller's race and interior designer Bruce Kraus in the council race to represent the South Side, nearby hilltop neighborhoods and parts of Oakland.

Now the P-G calls me a repeat candidate. Both my opponents are 'repeat candidates.' I ran for mayor, so did Lamb. I ran for city council, so did Kraus. Wonder if Kraus is a 'volunteer painter' when he covers graffiti.

One does what one is called to do in life. Kraus does wallpaper and paints. That makes him good at painting, rose colored glasses optional. I work with kids. I'm called to recreational leadership and to volunteer as a coach. Voters get to choose.

Meanwhile, Lamb is a gentle bureaucrat from the dominant party. He'll be happy to have others on the Ethics Hearing Board tell him what is right and wrong. He'll be happy to report to the party bosses or foundation wire pullers as to what to do, who to hire, and when to make waves -- or not. I think we need someone in city hall where citizens can get a grip on this town's policies. We need a controller who cares about PERFORMANCE.

Though neither Mr. Lamb nor Mr. Kraus is a city employee yet, Mr. Rauterkus has filed complaints against both with the Ethics Hearing Board, which is empowered to review actions of city officials and workers. Both say the complaints are groundless.

Mr. Rauterkus accuses Mr. Lamb of a conflict of interest by being involved in the A+ Schools reform group while running for a post that oversees city and school district finances.

"If I'm fortunate enough to win this election, I plan to seek the advice and opinion of the Ethics Hearing Board on what a conflict is and isn't," Mr. Lamb said. He'll resign from any board that conflicts with his office, he said.

Mr. Rauterkus complains that Mr. Kraus has tried to keep current Councilman Jeff Koch, who lost the Democratic primary, from getting another city job.

Mr. Kraus called that "rumor and innuendo," and said he hopes Mr. Koch gets "any job he is qualified for, for as long as he chooses to work."

Rich Lord must be upset at the editor's editing of this section. I know he'd never do such a hatchet job with gross omissions. I put THREE complaints to the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board.

The main target was the Ethics Hearing Board itself. They are the most unethical with the confidentiality aspects and damages that can be delivered against citizens that have the courage to raise a complaint.

My complaints have now come into view with the board. They gave fleeting mention of how the code needs to be overhauled and the confidentiality elements need examination.

Without the other examples where Kraus and Lamb were targets, my compaints could have been knocked out without the necessary 'standing.' More needs to be done with ethics in the city. I have the mindset and capacity to stand and fight. Others told me that the Ethics Hearing Board was a joke. I have to agree. But, to let the joke linger without pushing it into a serious discussion would be equally troubling.

The complaints I filed are clearly visible at http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics. However, the coverage from the Post-Gazette only went into the P-G blog, Early Returns, not into the newspaper. The City Paper covered the story. (add links)

As to the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board scope, I feel that it needs to be willing to examine cases that deal with candidates, not only employees. Candidates and campaigns are perhaps the one area where the most mud and trouble unfolds. And, it is the one place where voters have the upper hand to oust bad politicians and parties. If the Ethics Hearing Board only has a mandate to focus on employees, then it is only a puppet of the regime in power, not the people.

The Ethics Hearing Board needs to be 'proactive' and not only 'reactive.' Heck, the golf saga with Luke Ravenstahl won't be settled until the first of the year. If two days of golf tie up the Ethics Hearing Board for more than six months, how responsive can they be with more pressing issues. We can't lead by only looking into the rear view mirror. We need to move the city 'forward' -- so to speak. Let's not make 'ethics' and 'end of the day' experience. We need to consider ethics in real time: morning, noon and night. We need ethical discussions to dive into the future as well as the past.

I want a city that can be 'proactive.' Watchdogs are proactive tools. A controller can be 'proactive.' We need to get a grip on this city in proactive ways -- before the assets are torn down, before the money is spent, before the kids are shot, before the jails are overcrowded, before our vets return home from Iraq to rehab.

Mr. Rauterkus' primary platform plank is improving parks and youth programs. He wants to create a new city-county parks district, with elected trustees who would take parks leadership "off of Grant Street."

"What works for me is freedom and liberties," he said. That means no subsidies for skyscrapers or home rehabilitations, a return to the city's pre-2001 system of taxing land at a higher rate than buildings and no security camera systems in neighborhoods.

The "home rehab" quote isn't 100% complete. I say that we should not do tax breaks for home fix-ups in certain neighborhoods and not others. No unfair, special interest tax breaks. However, the policy that I advocate, the land tax, is all about a city-wide home rehab tax break. Everyone gets a tax break for fixing up their properties when the taxes are only calculated upon the land. I don't want to tax the buildings. I only want to tax the land. That is the direction we should go and return to.

If one has a house and adds an addition, a sun-room, a new deck, a new porch -- whatever -- great. They'd get a tax break under my plan. The home owners who fix up properties under today's plan get punished with higher taxes. That's wrong.

The land tax is all about home rehabilitations for everyone, including tax breaks. The taxes stay the same because the land hasn't changed.

Furthermore, I'm not saying 'no security cameras in neighborhoods.' I'm saying that we need security cameras. However, I want to point all the security cameras at the politicians, public meetings, treasury, police, public works employees and all authorities. We'll need a lot of cameras to cover that. We've got to get away from the back-room deals. We need to cut through the 'smoky city' legacy. Then, after all the government elements are fully monitored, then let's talk about pointing cameras at citizens.

"If all of the cameras that arrive in town are pointed at the public officials, as well as the public treasury, then I would welcome them," he said.

Like other third-party candidates, he's running on the cheap.

Cheap. Yeah, right. Cheap shot. I'm prudent. I'm not going to run a campaign that costs lots of money and racks up a lot of debt. Likewise, I'm not going to govern in a way that generates debt and costly spending.

I'm running a campaign that is visible. I'm hyper in my presence and willingness to debate. I'm able to leverage the internet for outreach and to sustain discussions. I'm not hunkered down doing as little as possible such as my opponents -- and Ricky Burgess.

He's a regular speaker during council's televised public comment periods, an Internet blogger and a dogged distributor of campaign DVDs that, he said, cost him around 23 cents each.

I also speak to county council, state hearings, Pgh Ethics Hearing Board (not on TV), unions that will have me, and other community meetings -- not on tv.

Mr. Schuilenburg, 34, of Summer Hill, is a city 911 dispatcher trying to unseat Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who won the seat in a special election a year ago. He finished sixth in that race, and is again running as an independent.

His Web site promises detailed plans on attracting homeowners, combatting crime, reforming government and encouraging development, but details were not posted by Friday.

His campaign seems focused on painting Ms. Harris, a former school board member and longtime Democratic Committee ward chairwoman, as old school. His Web site proclaims that "the status quo will no longer be tolerated by citizens, and change to what has become the norm in [traditional] leadership in the City-County Building is now desired."

Go, Dave, Go!

From people & vips

The insurgents see hope in May's primary election, which saw three incumbents losing Democratic primaries. If that tumult continues, it will be the unexpected result of unusual tactics.

Unusual tactics -- give me a break. Well, I guess it is 'unusual' to stand tall, to be so confident because the others are so weak at heart and mind, and to champion citizen candidates working for everyday opportunities.

Rich Lord can be reached at rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.

At least the article didn't have a mention of the other 'third party candidate' seeking to win a seat on Allegheny County Council, David Tessitor. He is another Dave. He is NOT a member of either the D or R party. It will be interesting to see if he gets any coverage for that at-large seat on Allegheny County Council.

	Click image for a larger view.
From Mark Rauterkus

Younger voters giving GOP the cold shoulder | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Younger voters giving GOP the cold shoulder | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle... young people are less likely to embrace the Republican Party than any generation since the '60s.

The reasons for the GOP's woes among under-30 Americans include frustration with the long-running Iraq war, libertarian or liberal views on social issues, which clash with Republican social conservative orthodoxy, and changing demographic trends that have created the most ethnically and racially diverse group of young people in American history.

South Side Step Trek -- walking along

It is a good day for the South Side Slopes Step Trek.

My son is a teenager and we've had a birthday sleep over with some cousins and have a Sunday morning and afternoon party. Laser Storm, here we come.

Yesterday both boys swam in a meet at Woodland Hills. Grant and Erik did fine. It was the first meet of the season. Erik's 100 breast time was about equal to his 100 fly time, 1:20.

Wilburn was in town and just loving his opportunity in Toronto. Good to see them last night at a party.

Cider pressing party mid-day today should be fun.

Tonight, we have the second practice for the Phillips Swim Team at the Oliver Bath House -- at 6:30 pm.

Enjoy the weekend. Go Red Sox.