Pondering Pgh Public Schools

Statements to the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Ed and Administration on Nov. 13, 2007

Mark Rauterkus
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1226

412 298 3432 = cell
Mark@Rauterkus.com

http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

I'm a Libertarian who believes in public education.

I understand that people often vote with their feet by moving to suburban Pittsburgh because the opportunities in the city schools are not like what is provided in the burbs.

My oldest son, Erik, joins me today. He is in 7th grade at Frick Middle School. He studies Spanish and may attend Schenley High School. His brother, grade 4, hopes to attend Frick in two years.

My personal and professional life has revolved around schools and education. My wife is a professor. My father is a retired Pgh Public School teacher. I coach swimming and have been in many suburban and city settings. As a coach in Illinois, I coached swimming at the #1 team in the state while it was reported as the best public high school in the United States (Town & Country Magazine).

Should you go down this pathway of consultants, high school reform, and closing Schenley, you'll enter a battle. You will get soundly defeated on an economic front and nailed in political settings, time and time again. We will not forget. Your careers will wane. The dark cloud that hovers – be it in the US Virgin Islands or elsewhere – will be the Red and Black of Schenley. I'll insure it organizes over you.

This Schenley fight was fought two years ago. It was NOT prudent then. It isn't prudent now. The options and alternatives are horrible.

Mr. Roosevelt felt the wrath of the residents of The Hill communities in the aftermath of his bogus 'rightsizing plan.' Perhaps he felt he needed to toss a crumb off the table to “the hill.” Setting up a new high school in an old, middle school building was thought to be a political win-win. Think again. Folks in The Hill, and folks throughout the city, want Schenley, for all the right reasons.

We all know the top factor in both a child's education and that of a community is “engagement.” Parent involvement is a critical key. We need lifelong learning. We need student, teacher, community, family involvement. We need ownership of the problems and the suggested solutions.

We don't need consultants.

Consultants should not be hired to set in place a plan to destroy Schenley High School.

Rather, consult with us – the voters, taxpayers, parents, stakeholders. We are the customers. We are the ones who pay the bills. We are the one's that empower you. We are the ones that will dash your aspirations.

The first step of so-called “high school reform” was called “The Pittsburgh Promise.” It was a lie. This isn't the first lie. It can't be ignored. Fix it. Apologize. Re-tool the promise so that those that enter Kindergarten have a scholarship fund when they graduate in 13 years. Otherwise, the best you can do is provide pencils. Perhaps the Pittsburgh Promise could fund bus tickets to our graduates so they can return home after flunking out of college.

Hire a real-estate agent to assess, market and sell this building. If you want cash from property, this is the building to auction and/or sell. Don't sell Schenley. Besides, Schenley has new windows.



Summary:
1.Develop a Vo Tech High School as promised.
2.Advance the discussion and open the Vo Tech High School next, as a top priority. Do the Vo Tech now – before any changes to Schenley.
3.Save Schenley High School. Fix, maintain, and rehab what is there.
4.Consult with the people of the city – now, always, and in open ways.
5.Deploy an open source mindset.
6.The asbestos claims are not believed. Publish them. Prove it. Debate plans, don't dictate them. Creditability has vanished.
7.Publish all reports online.
8.Be thankful of news leaks, not vengeful. Understand that this is my district. Not Mr. Roosevelt's. By the way, Mr. Lopez understanding of listening and talking seems to be upside down.
9.Don't rush the board to vote for spending more money simply because departing members are sealed and delivered.
10.Sell the Board of Ed building in Oakland, if you sell anything.
11.If necessary, put Schenley's 9th graders in 2008-09 at Frick Middle School. Do a temporary reduction to the student and faculty at Schenley to make room for repairs. Frick has the capacity.
12.Understand that the “Pittsburgh Promise” is a big fat lie. Fix it. Be realistic.
13.Fix the long-standing lie that Conneley Tech would be 'replaced' too.
14.Replicate what works.
15.Fix what is broken. What about the 'drop out factories?' What about Oliver, Carrick, Langley, Peabody and Westinghouse? What about Vo-Tech too!
16.Make a second Rodgers. Replicate it. If you must, move some downtown. But keep an East Rodgers. Make a West Rodgers too.
17.Putting all the IB at Reisenstein is too far away. Buses won't go there from the south and west. Students and families won't go there.
18.If you must, move the administration to Conneley or to Resisenstein.
19.If you must, establish a second I.B. Program at Resisenstein, in addition to the one at Schenley.
20.If you must call the second I.B. Program a 'Metro Magnet.' Attract students from Wilkinsburg, Penn Hills, Vernona, Shaler, and locally in the city too.
21.A second I.B. Program, as a charter, could attract ESL students from the suburban districts.
22.Understand that afterschool programs, sports, arts and community programs in the district are weak, generally. They need to be factored in the plans. Think about sports and performance facilities now. Those items are expensive, but worthy investments.
23.By the way, the “Rightsizing plan” failed to account for Duquesne schools, as I requested.
24.What is the attendance at the ALAs? What about August enrollment? The grades are still out on those failures. K-8 Schools are a flop. Kaplan Curriculum payments were rushed ahead yet the lesson plans are getting an overhaul by in-district people.
25.Don't yank families around any more.
26.Open schools year by year.
1.Start a Science and Tech high school with 9th grade, for example. The next year do 9th and 10th grades, and so on.
27.Close schools year by year as the students depart.
28.High School Reform should start at grade 9 and go to grade 12. Only in Pittsburgh would the high school reform begin with a college scholarship after graduation without any money to provide it.
29.High School Reform is not “middle school reform.” Worry about grades 6, 7 and 8 after the high school problems are addressed. Don't do too much at the same time and continue the folly.
30.The University Partnership School should be on a University Campus. Make the Schenley Spartins the University Partnership program. Make that in Oakland.
31.A Technology School was part of Pittsburgh's recent past – Weil. What happened there? Report upon it. Why was it closed? Why open a new Science and Technology Program after closing one with the Rightsizing Plan? That makes no sense – again.
32.Reform Weil into a Science and Technology Program – again. Or, make the Science and Tech program in Milliones Middle School or Connelley.

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Students Outraged At Plan To Close Schenley HS

KDKA - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
Read more in our Privacy Policy Several hundred Schenley High School students, parents and teachers picketed outside the school administration offices to ...
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100 parents, alumni discuss Schenley High closing
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
About 100 parents, students and alumni of Pittsburgh Schenley High School gathered yesterday at the Cathedral of Learning to discuss their strategy for ...

Aggressive support vowed to save Schenley
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
By Bobby Kerlik Schenley High School junior Sean Thomas said Saturday that closing his 91-year-old school would destroy more than the bricks-and-mortar ...

Officials quash Schenley rumors
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
The rumor began spreading by e-mail Thursday night, after a community meeting at which Schenley supporters denounced district officials for plans to close ...

Schenley High School allies plan for a fight
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
By Bill Zlatos Schenley High School supporters worry officials will seal its fate with a vote Wednesday, despite assurances from the school board. ...

Schenley students tout pride, history
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
By Bill Zlatos Fred Quinn plays volleyball, performs in the school musical and is active in student government at Schenley High School -- and he hopes to ...

Schenley girls kick distractions
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By Brian Graham The Schenley girls soccer team was able to overcome so many obstacles this season that just playing in tonight's PIAA Class AAA playoff game ...

School officials meeting with Schenley students
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
By The Tribune-Review Administrators from Pittsburgh Public Schools will meet with students of Schenley High School at 6 pm Thursday to discuss their ...

Schenley High School shuttering on the table again
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
By Bill Zlatos Despite the asbestos in the nearly century-old Schenley High School, real estate officials see a market for it as a place to live or work. ...

Plan to shut Schenley High School revivedPittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA

By Bill Zlatos Pittsburgh's venerable Schenley High School, 91 years old and showing its age, would close in June under a reorganization plan detailed ...

Veterans message: Sammy Lee's Recollections About Early Years of Diving

A classic veterans day story comes a day late to this blog. I had been pondering what to do for veterns day, and this story from Swimming World helps bridge the gap between sports and the service.

Lane 9 News Archive: Sammy Lee's Recollections About Early Years of Diving 'If you are dumb enough to break your necks, you deserve to die!'

Speaking tonight to Pgh Public School Board, #38 & #39

Erik, my son and student at Pittsburgh Frick ISA (International Studies Academy) Middle School, and I will speak tonight to the Pgh Public School Board of Education and administration at tonight's meeting. We are speakers #38 and #39. Starts at 7 pm. I guess we'll be at the microphone about 8:30ish.

Rally is at 5:30 pm.

My comments for the agenda was: "Consult with Citizens."

The city is in a rash, if not a rage, with the hiring of consultants.

The Superintendent of Pgh Public Schools wants to hire consultants to start the process of moving the I.B. program out of Schenley High School, among other things.

The Pgh Ethics Hearing Board wants to hire trainers and form a task force to consider the ramifications of perks (like golf) for employees and elected officials.

The newly elected Controller wants to hire an outside firm to conduct an audit of the present controller's office.

No, no, no!

Here is a new concept. Do the work yourself. What's wrong with the people we elect, hire and hold accountable as the workers.

I don't want the mayor to pass on his ethical conscience to the Ethics Hearing Board that then passes along the advice crafting to another task force.

I don't want the Superintendent to overlook the citizens and his own paid staff to tell them how to take apart schools that work and ignore those that are broken. Mark Roosevelt has no plan. He can't write one. He has to hire outside folks and outside consultants to tell him what the plan should be. Meanwhile, the people who send their kids to the schools, the staff that works in the schools and the taxpayers that pay the schools are further and further from the decisions, the data and the pulse of the city. So, they vote with their feet.

Parent involvement is what has been proven to be the most critical element for good schools. Roosevelt ignores parents.

I don't want the newly elected city controller to run the office by looking in the rear view mirror. Manage into the future. Open up past records for all to see -- by doing it yourself. We don't need to hire more people. We have enough already. Make them do the work or do it yourself, Michael Lamb.

If you can't do it yourself -- leave. Fire yourself.

If the Superintendent can't craft a plan that have the support of the parents who really want to support our kids and the reform movement -- then he should quit.

If the members of the Ethics Hearing Board don't understand what Ethics is all about and can't craft their own agenda, policies and suggestions for changes to the code -- then they are in over their heads and they should QUIT. Resign. Get out of the way.

If Michael Lamb wants to blow the whistle on years of ills within the Controller's office -- he should look in the mirror and wonder why in the world he was so silent for all these past seasons. He had a chance to catch people red handed -- and said nothing. He had a chance to buy drugs in that office -- and didn't, I expect.

Lamb needs to get into the office and forge new directions, not rely on consultants to do that for him.

Mr. Lamb, if you need an idea or three as to what to do in the controller's office -- begin by starting a 'citizens congress.' Allow people (citizens, taxpayers, voters) to come into the office and hold a confab and then do what we tell you to do.

South Side Slopes Neighborhood Assn has a meeting

I have a few items for the SSSNA meeting slated for tonight at 7 pm. This email was sent to Bev, the newsletter coordinator.

---

I will not be able to attend tonight's SSSNA meeting. However, I'd love for you to interject these three ponits:

1. I'm attending a rally and School Board meeting about Schenley High School and "High School Reform." Schenley HS accomidates HALF of the students at Phillips Elem. This is a neighborhood issue. Sadly, the Superintendent want to close tSchenley and move the esteemed I.B. (International Baccalaureate) program, foolishly, to Reisenstein (near Wiklinsburg).

I'm telling the board about old, yet valid, promises or a re-done Vo Tech option for high school kids in Pittsburgh. It is no wonder that Pgh has five high schools called "drop-out factories" -- as 400-plus students used to thrive at South Vo Tech.

For many reasons, we need to get the SSSNA into the battle on schools. I'd love to see a letter from the Assn Board to the PPS Board and Administration saying that political pressure will come to bear upon those who further cripple family life in the city and hurt our children. Furthermore, Schenley needs to remain open as getting to Reisenstein is NOT a valid option for our kids in grades 6 to 12.

Can the group dedicate 30-minutes to a forum on this topic and allow me to speak at next months meeting?


2. The still closed indoor ice rink has seen the hoped for RFP process get squashed by in-action from the administration without the promised meetings nor community involvement. Director Ashley's statements at the September SSSNA meeting of 'crap' proposals via the RFP in May 2007 was itself "crap." I saw the plans and posted images of them on the intnet. Did you know that one plan would have built a second ice rink and parking garage on the site.

The city didn't do anything, which is par for the course. They didn't notify parents nor community for months when high levels of lead where found in the ground in a Highland Park playground either. Doing nothing when it comes to the kids is all too frequent a response from them.

Furthermore, the SS Park and ice rink has always been a top five issue, but never made it into the top three with the SSSNA. I feel that the political will to do little has a good reason why nothing gets done.

Most of all, I would like to see the SSSNA send a letter to the SSLDC asking them to back off and opt out of efforts to advocate and control the site, plans and engagement with that project. The SSLDC has nothing to do with kids. It will be on their back burner too. They've failed us for years as well.

3. A city council, controller's race and mayor's race happened on Nov. 6, 2007. The SSSNA did NOT hold a candidate forum for these GENERAL ELECTION votes. I attended the event in the spring -- but was NOT permitted to speak. Shame on that. Plus, the September meeting had Luke Ravenstahl there with the Chief of Police and others in the administration acting as political pawns and front people. The board needs to look at what happened, what didn't happen, make amends and resolve to insure that those types of folly are never repeated.

Ron Paul brings his ‘Freedom Revolution’ to Independence Hall

Ron Paul brings his ‘Freedom Revolution’ to Independence Hall Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul spoke to about 3000-5000 people Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.

A report from Ken on the Ron Paul rally in Philly. Ken K is a L friend from the other side of the commonwealth.

You had to be there to hear it. Thousands of people -- yes, thousands! -- cheering a pure libertarian message. Three to five thousand, according to USA Daily. See link above. In my 15 years as a libertarian activist, I have never, EVER seen anything even remotely like it! The word is that it was THE largest Paul rally ever. I believe it.

In his 45-minute speech, Paul covered it all: habeas corpus, eminent domain, the Amero, the War on Drugs, the IRS, the Fed, hemp, Real ID, UN regulating vitamins, WTO, guns on airplanes, Social Security, property rights, North American union, enemies foreign AND DOMESTIC, auditing the gold in Fort Knox, executive orders, etc., etc., etc.!

Everything we as a party have been talking about for thirty five years. And people were actually cheering!

It's like someone flipped a switch and all of a sudden it's became hip to champion the constitution. Un-friggin-believable!

Lots of prominent libs there too, past and present: Babb, Golobek, Gordon, House, Jahn, Keslar, Leard, Magoon, Martin, Nixson, Piotrowski, Schwarz, Sturzenacker, and lots others I'm sure I didn't see or forgot to mention. Lots of third-party types, too. Best of all, there were thousands of people I never saw before. Thousands.

Before the rally there was a private gathering with about 200 MeetUp members. Carol Paul spent about a half hour telling stories and taking questions, then Dr. Paul spoke for about 15-20 minutes and hobnobbed with the audience. He autographed my constitution -- on the same inside cover where John Hospers and Toni Nathan autographed it. Precious.

Also, Dave Jahn put together a great post-rally party with Poker Face playing -- and he put it all together starting one day before the rally! Dave's da man!

I could go on and on, but you can watch it yourself: http://www.justin.tv/ronpaul/46004/ Watch for the YouTube version. It'll have better pictures of the crowd taken from the stage rather than from the ground.

A unique day. I'm left speechless.

bloggers get pointer at Trib. By the way -- where is the Trib endorsement for City Controller?

Luke's thank-you an afterthought - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review BLOGGERS' GLASS IS HALF FULL. Several anti-Ravenstahl bloggers were searching desperately for a silver lining in the dark clouds of the mayor's victory.

Offered the folks over at The Burgh Report: 'DeSantis has put up the best numbers for a GOP mayoral candidate in Pittsburgh since 1965. Or phrased in the other direction, Luke Ravenstahl's performance was the worst by a Democrat in a Pittsburgh mayoral general election in 42 years.'

The frequent Ravenstahl critics -- and big Trib fans -- over at 2 Political Junkies wrote, 'Look on the bright side ... (local bloggers) will have tons of material for the next two years.'

Ravenstahl couldn't have enjoyed the negative postings about him in recent months, but we're guessing he got a few chuckles reading the blogs Wednesday. What's that old saying about he who laughs last?

Ravenstahl to concentrate on city progress - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This is wonderful. They are talking about cost per votes!

I got 1/4 of the votes that DeSantis got.

I got votes at $.04 each. Four cents.

Ravenstahl to concentrate on city progress - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ravenstahl spent about $7 a vote. It cost DeSantis, who spent most of the $400,000 he raised, nearly $17 a vote.

'That's a substantial margin,' said Joseph DiSarro, a Washington & Jefferson political science professor.

But Luke isn't at $7 a vote. He can't even add! Of cours the state D party mailers need to be part of the factors of the cost of the campaign.

What about the cost of the mailers about the recycle changes too?

Funny to hear that Dowd wants council to stand its ground on issues where the administration isn't hearing effectively. Well then, Patrick. What are YOU going to to do to block the vote on the school board about the closing of Schenley. Are you gonig to go ahead and allow the Superintendent to continue to spend money on consultants on plans that face such strong objections from the stake holders, voters, residents, students, parents and I dare say, teachers?

Critics question nonprofit's focus, spending - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Critics question nonprofit's focus, spending - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Critics question nonprofit's focus, spending

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is a cruel joke for Pittsburgh. To say that I am 'anti-Allegheny Conference' is an understatement.

The Conference has not produced tangible results.

These are the wire-pullers who try to get influence and power. But, they have their wires crossed frequently.

I would love to be a part of an anti-Allegheny Conf. group. I'd call it the Mon. Conf. Some might say it is just PodCamp. (giggle)

I'm about the bazaar. They are about the Cathedral. They are top down. I'm bottom up. I'm organic. They are mega deals. I am about democracy (as in voting), rights, freedom and dissent. They are about lockstep boosterism, back-room deals and closed systems. I'm open-source. They are proprietary. The hire consultants. I want do-it-yourself actions from elected officials who need to be held accountable.They want to form task forces and pass the buck.

I am all for being 'green' while they are about being LEED CERTIFIED.

I am urban, wishing for bike lanes and desire density. They want to make downtown for residents, increase green space so downtown looks like suburbia and push for autos and freeway construction.

They are of old parties and old money. I'm for third parties, new coalitions and being independent.

I want to make our kids competitive and widen the playgrounds and sporting interactions. They are for warhousing the kids within iron-curtain districts.

I want parks to be democratic and managed by people off of Grant Street. They want parks to be buttressed by foundation types and made more private.

I want to replicate urban schools that work -- like Rodgers, Frick, Schenley and the Gifted Center. They want to tear them apart.

I want parents and community to be more involved in the schools and with lifetime activities, clubs, mentoring and sports teams (like swimming). They are okay with the closing of rec centers, ice rinks and swim pools.

They want the school year to start sooner in August and earlier with Headstart and ALAs (Accelerated Learning Academies). I want more family times, camps of choice, travel and socialization in the summers with play. And they won't report on the attendance nor performance of ALAs.

They want the status quo. I don't.

They love candidates that spend $400k. I spent $250.

They are Jon Delano and suburban residents. I love to comment on Delano's blog and ask him why he didn't do his homework. Hey Jon, did you ever watch the DVD I gave to you back in early October?

They think the Pirates have a good chance of winning next year. I know that this week's Thursday night's game at Heinz Field is going to be full of victors.

They want a $2 per day tax on rental cars and a 10-percent drink tax. I don't drink and still don't want the tax. And, I think all income from tips should be tax free, as does Ron Paul.

They are Dan Onorato. I wrote in "Donald Duck" because I couldn't find enough signatures nor enough candidates nor enough grief relief to step beyond a Disney character.

The Allegh. Conf is with $2.4 million for salaries and benefits. I'm with Comcast broadband, volunteers and friends who I still piss off too frequently.

They want to celebrate the 250th birthday of Pittsburgh. I'm dancing in the streets because the Pgh Ethics Hearing Board isn't going to close every other monthly meeting to the public for 2008.

They are about the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. I would love to hold Pgh Public Schools to its pledge to open up a Vo Tech High School, since South closed some five years ago.

I understand that yanking families around makes the city shrink. Hey, the tunnels under the river for light rail nor PAT buses won't reach to Reisenstein where they want to put "I.B. World" while killing Schenley. They want school reform that is full of smoke, mirrors and immediate action -- even if it is going to fail miserably.

I want to fix the high schools that are called "Drop Out Factories." They want "high school reform" that doesn't go there.

New Aquatic Facility in Cary, NC

New pool. Wild quote.

CollegeSwimming.com :: View topic - New Aquatic Facility in Cary, NC: "A lot of supporters say it's been amazing to watch the amount of private funding that made this all possible, considering neither Cary nor Wake County had to contribute a dime.

'There are tremendous things that can be accomplished when government stays out of the way. And I think this is a case where we certainly saw that happen,' said Cary Mayor Ernie McAllister. The facility cost more than $20 million to build, and that money was raised entirely with private donations. "

Onward and Forward, remarks from PA Clean Sweep efforts - as most voted YES

Onward and ForwardElection Day has come and gone, and although we didn't get the results we wanted, we have made some strides for change in Pennsylvania.

No more will retention elections be taken for granted. Instead of judges sailing through by 3-1, 4-1 and even 5-1 margins, we've narrowed the gap to 2-1. And there are some bright spots in the Commonwealth: In Lebanon County, a majority of voters saw fit to vote NO on all seven statewide appellate court judges. Dauphin County voters did the same.

We have made some inroads and friends in Philadelphia. More Philadelphians are subscribers to our PACleanSweep Alerts than ever before. Getting Philadelphia involved in state-level reform is critical to bringing honor, dignity and integrity back to Harrisburg.

Without our Vote NO campaign, would people still be talking about reform and the Constitution at all? Perhaps, but maybe it wouldn't be as far in the forefront. "

17 Years Ago Today -- Catherine and I got hitched

Life goes by quickly.

November 10, 1990.

For our treat, we'll go to Home Depot and buy lights. Two on ceiling fans, two sconces, and six built in / flush mounted lights, and one for the steps outdoors.

Great news: Bob Glancy resigns

cbs3.com - Pennsylvania Wire Allegheny Co. GOP chairman resigns after dismal ballot showing

PITTSBURGH (AP) Allegheny County's Republican Party chairman has resigned just days after the party failed to field candidates in several high-profile county races. Robert Glancy announced his resignation Thursday. Glancy is president of the R.A. Glancy & Sons construction company and was elected party chair in June 2004.

The county offered no candidates for county executive, county controller, district attorney, treasurer or for five County Council seats.

Mark DeSantis ran one of the most aggressive mayoral campaigns by a Republican in recent memory, but still lost to incumbent Democrat Luke Ravenstahl who got 64 percent of the vote.

He should have left years ago.

Monica :: election results

Monica :: election results I'm pleased that the Libertarian candidate for controller got 10% of the vote. While there's still a long way to go and Pittsburgh might be degenerate, I think the best path for third parties given the official biases against them is to win smaller races and work up from there. I'd love to see a libertarian on city council. (No, not enough to run.) Remember, until yesterday our mayor hadn't been elected as mayor.

Concerning Schenley and our Schools: Trust has gone out the window

Steve Hirtle reported to me via email, with some edits:

It was quite a charged meeting at Schenley tonight as parents voiced frustration with the announced closing of one of the most unique and popular schools in the city. Pgh Public Schools makes this seem like Bizzaro World. Schenley High School has a national reputation for its outstanding IB program. The state basketball champions and its high school musical production (consistent with Kelly Awards and sold out performances every spring) makes this a great urban high school, yet the administrations intentions are to slice and dice it.

Numerous testimonies to the working status of the school poured to the recent Pittsburgh transplant holding the microphone in the front of the room. The diversity of the student body and its pride was clear, again. If the main problem in schools is the lack of parental involvement, you certainly did not hear any parental apathy with the Schenley supporters.

Perhaps the most scathing comment was 'If you need money, sell the administration building in heart of Oakland, but don't close our school.'

There have been lots of school closings, both in the city and throughout the region. Most closings come with the wrath of angry parents and taxpayers. But it seems clear that the magic at Schenley is unique and will be impossible to recreate in any other setting.

Darn tootin. Sure, there were outbursts. He was spreading falsehoods faster than falling plaster. Anything worse than a clueless leader is one that talks too much about stuff he knows little about.

Schenley backers loud, clear, in opposition to closing Pittsburgh Schenley High School supporters last night interrupted, shouted down and ridiculed a Pittsburgh Public Schools' executive as he tried to explain the district's plan to close the building and disperse its students to three other locations.

There was one meeting six weeks ago that changed this guys whole set of objectives. There was one meeting that yanked the districts high school reform agenda way out of bounds. Well, this meeting just put it back in place.

My comments were simple. Trust is gone. Lies like the Pittsburgh Promise won't wash. Remember South Vo Tech? Well, my suggestions: Patch Schenley. Open up a Pittsburgh Vo Tech as was promised Then come back and we'll talk again. Re-set those priorities.

Perhaps a lot of those kids that are flunking out of the other five Drop-Out Factories would have been A+ Students at South Vo Tech.

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Saturday's Save Schenley Meeting!

Get together to save our school.

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: University of Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning room 326

We are holding a meeting to get Schenley lovers together - current students, teachers, parents, and alums. We are going to discuss the issues at hand with closing the school, and alternatives to closing. We will work on creating an action plan to keep Schenley in Oakland - where it belongs!

We need to have a strong action plan, so that when November 27th rolls around, we will be prepared to face the Board of Education.

Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Reasons for closing & moving Schenley
- Why keep Schenley open?
- Alternatives to closing
- Asbestos removal
- Schenley's status as a Historical Landmark
- The Numbers: What contractors gave quotes on fixing Schenley? Was it competitive bidding? Did multiple contractors give quotes?

Please invite your friends, family members, teachers, fellow students, and fellow alums! We need all of the support we can get.

Let's show Pittsburgh what some Spartan Spirit can do.
Updated 4 times.

Ethics Hearing Board of Pittsburgh meets. Everything they do should be turned on its head.

Once again I punished myself and went down to another Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Baord meeting at 10 am today (Friday, Nov 9, 2007). This little blog of mine, I'm going to let it shine.

In the bible, we learn that it is a stupid -- if not a sin -- to put a candle under a basket. Praise the Lord. We learned that next year's meetings of the Ethics Hearing Board will NOT be made closed to the public on an every other month basis as they talked about last month.

I suggested to them that we need more ethics in the city, not less. The Ethics Hearing Board should meet every week -- not every month.

In other developments, I told them that they need to set their record straight. The Ethics Hearing Board was not formed one year ago, as one of the members spoke about in the meeting. Sophie was the Mayor of Pittsburgh when the Ethics Hearing Board came into being. That was about 15 years ago.

Since the board began, we've come to discover that there have been four complaints filed to the Ethics Hearing Board from citizens. I filed three in September. Those matters were hinted at in the October meeting. And, as of now, still, after the November meeting, there is no progress on those matters. They have not been put on an agenda. They have not been talked about by the board. Nothing.

When a citizen files a complaint to the Ethics Hearing Board -- if they are doing their jobs -- you'd expect a reply of some sort. I do. I did. I am waiting. I have gotten nothing.

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics/

In no uncertain terms, the gag order that goes upon citizens who file a complaint undermines the entire process. And, it is unconstitutional. Rights of a citizen to free speech should never be taken away.

There is a larger book, not the bible, in this case, but the Constitution, that rules.

i want the Ethics Hearing Board to stand tall and ask that city council and the mayor change the code so as to strike down all elements of confidentiality plus the powers of the board to dish out liabilities and punishments.

In other matters, the head of the Ethics Hearing Board, Sister Patrice, is going to meet with City Council President Doug Shields today at 1 pm. After the meeting I ran to Doug's office to try to give him a head's up. He wasn't in -- and all the staffers were busy.

I'll send him an email next, as an open letter.

The Ethics Hearing Board is putting in a request to City Council for an annual budget of $40,000.

I didn't have the heart to tell them that the 2008 budget had already been approved by the OVERLORDS and that the city was broke.

The Ethics Hearing Board is trying to expand government and spend more taxpayer money. I object.

The members of the Ethics Hearing Board would like to go to the Local Government Academy. Fine. They should go. It is a great program. But, they each can pay for their own admission. And, don't go asking for a foundation or the church / temple to pay -- as we'll encounter another goofy situation with admission fees being covered by outside sources. This time it is not golf, but a class.

It seems that the Ethics Hearing Board members are convinced that they need to bring in experts on Ethics to give them training to do their jobs. They are hungry for insights. They want a training budget.

They are in over their head! If the members of the Ethics Hearing Board can't do the job because they are unaware of what it entails, they should resign. They are not up to the tasks. The Ethics Hearing Board is not a place for on the job training at taxpayer expense. Do the job.

The Ethics Hearing Board might need secretarial assistance to make phone calls. They might need webmasters to build web pages. They might need a stenographer. They might need to hire their own attorney. The might need to pay for outside speakers. They might need to educate the employees and hold seminars.

The Ethics Hearing Board is now forming a new sub-committee to look at a part of the ethics code, section 1.97.07. This concerns the golf outing from the summer. Today they put a deadline on this resolution from the sub-committee to the Ethics Hearing Board of April 2008.

So, when I posted here, or elsewhere, that Luke's golf outing problem from the summer of 2007 would have final resolution around the first of the year -- I was wrong. Looks like it won't be resolved until the sub-committee does its work, makes a report in April, and then it goes back to the Ethics Hearing Board to chew it over. Perhaps something will be to City Council in the middle of next summer's golf season.

That's some round, or two, of golf.

The Ethics Hearing Board is forming a sub-committee to focus in upon 1.97.07 and the gift matters from charities. So they thought it was a good idea to invite in the nonprofits to join the task force. They debated if one or two slots should go to the foundation types, as there are social service providers on one hand and foundation folks on the others. Those folks, after all, are the ones where the impact of the golf fees resides.

OMG.

Not a peep about taxpayers, citizens, voters, nor everyday people. These members of the Ethics Hearing Board, a nun, a rabi, a member of the Alcoa Foundation and a minister (I think) are worried about what the foundation folks might think. They don't want to have an "unyielding body" in that task force. Or was is "un-wheeling" body?

The Ethics Hearing Board wanted to add to the weight of the recommendations of golf outings for their consideration so they can forward them to city council so that votes might be proposed for the eventual change in the city ethics code.

If we are looking for people to replace the deck chairs on the Titanic, I know just who to turn to, Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board.

If anyone has a hand-me-down 8-ball fortune teller toy -- could they please pass that on to the Ethics Hearing Board. They are looking for a tech upgrade and need some direction.

Ethics Hearing Board -- have you ever heard of "Do it yourself?"

Re-write the code. And, do it yourself.

Get educated. And, do it yourself.

Do the job. And, do it yourself.

While you are doing things, begin by sending a letter to the new controller. Tell him you think that confilcts of interest are a big deal and they should be avoided at all costs. So, he should resign from the board of A+ Schools, right away.

Michael Lamb, the new controller, said in the media, that he would seek the opinion of the Ethics Hearing Board as to his board position for a booster group for the Superintendents and Foundation's agenda for schools. In so many words, Lamb said he was clueless as to the ethics of the matter at hand and he would be looking for guidance from you. Give it to him -- in a letter -- for all to see.

This little blog of mine, I'm going to let is shine. Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Update: Coverage in the P-G the next day:

Task force considers charitable event changes
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The city of Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board voted yesterday on the composition of a task force that will recommend changes to rules on public officials' attendance at charitable events.

The task force will be chaired by ethics board Vice Chair Kathy Buechel, and members will include fellow board member Rabbi Danny Schiff, one member appointed by the mayor, one or two members appointed by City Council, and one member each from the foundation and the corporate world.

The ethics board has opined that officials should only be allowed to attend charitable functions as guests of the charity, rather than under sponsorships from third parties. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has opposed restrictions on official attendance at charitable events, proposing instead a requirement that any gift of an event ticket worth more than $500 should be reported on annual disclosure forms.

The board also intends to ask for a $40,000 budget line from the city to pay for ethics training, clerical help and an independent investigator when needed.

They blew me off last month. Should I waste another day with the Ethics Hearing Board

The Pgh Ethics Hearing Board is to meet today. I should go. But, I've already given them my time. It is nothing but a sink.

In September, I filed three complaints with the Ethics Hearing Board. In the October meeting, I came to discover, that my complaints didn't even get sent to the Ethics Hearing Board. The Law Department sat on them. The Law Department didn't do anything.

I guess my complaints were handled the same way the Administration handles toxic dirt rich with lead in a popular playground -- do little and say nothing. It might just go away and we'll all be the poorer for it.

Duhh!

It is a month later. Time might tell.

However, we learned that the golf outing from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl that happened in the summer might be resolved by the first of the year. Go figure.

Furthermore, today it the day when the Ethics Hearing Board is going to discuss the idea that half of next years meetings should be closed to the public. They would only meet every other month with the door open. The Ethics Hearing Board wants to have confabs without the public being able to witness it. And these are for 'educational reasons.' They'll invite experts to the table to talk to them -- and the public won't be included.

My only problem. I already used the word "suck" in this blog this year. I want to use it again. I don't know who is worse, the Pgh Ethics Hearing Board or Mr. Roosevelt's plans to destroy schools that work and do nothing for what really needs to happen.

Meanwhile, Michael Lamb needs to resign for the board of the super booster group, "A+ Schools."

Worst move ever for PPS and City of Pittsburgh was revealed in this letter

Closing Schenley High School. Oh My God.

Proof that being a political activist in Pgh makes your teeth whiter!

The Collected Notes of Secret Agent Ska: Um Whao This week has been kind of insane.

I'm not certain if this is true only for Pittsburgh, or if it works the same in other areas too????

Save Schenley High School -- the new guy got an ear full

Mark Roosevelt's plans for Pittsburgh Public Schools suck.

The new guy showed up to a meeting and couldn't shut up. He talked and talked and talked -- right out of respect and into the footnotes of life in the city. They might need someone in the Virgin Islands.

More later.

I'm angry. (hint)

Patrick Dowd.... you had better resign from the Pgh Public Schools board today.
Don't let this flame your career before you get your first big full paycheck.

Heather -- where in the heck do you stand on this?

Sherry? Call me.

Get to the meeting at 3 pm on Saturday at the Cathedral of Learning.

The American Entrepreneur article on the election defeat of DeSantis

The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles “Fact #2” – “Eighty-one percent of all vote-elegible city residents did NOT EVEN CAST A BALLOT.” Or, “Fact #3” – “The average time-spent-voting (that is, standing behind a machine, contemplating your vote) was about 25 seconds in the city and over three minutes in the suburbs. This is a very easy statistic to collect. After all, voting is no longer done “behind a curtain.” Today it’s all out in the open!

NH Could Turn GOP Race Upside Down -- GOPUSA

NH Could Turn GOP Race Upside Down -- GOPUSA: "Paul, a libertarian-leaning long-shot Texas congressman, could emerge as a serious contender in the ''Live Free or Die'' state. The state's recent history is rife with Republican primary voters giving non-establishment candidates a boost, and rocking the race."

Save Schenley High School -- meeting tonight and Saturday

The meeting tonight at 6 pm is more informational. It is being held at the high school in Oakland.

This meeting is on Saturday.

Save Schenley Meeting!
Get together to save our school.

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: University of Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning room 326

We are holding a meeting to get Schenley lovers together - current students, teachers, parents, and alums. We are going to discuss the issues at hand with closing the school, and alternatives to closing. We will work on creating an action plan to keep Schenley in Oakland - where it belongs!
We need to have a strong action plan, so that when November 27th rolls around, we will be prepared to face the Board of Education.

Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Reasons for closing & moving Schenley
- Why keep Schenley open?
- Alternatives to closing
- Asbestos removal
- Schenley's status as a Historical Landmark
- The Numbers: What contractors gave quotes on fixing Schenley? Was it competitive bidding? Did multiple contractors give quotes?

Please invite your friends, family members, teachers, fellow students, and fellow alums! We need all of the support we can get.

Let's show Pittsburgh what some Spartan Spirit can do.

Sportscasting Ethics About ESPN

STAA’s Sportscasting Watercooler Blog Archive I'm REALLY Trying to Say Nice Things About ESPN, But . . . The opening of the game featured a fictitious “Welcome to Pittsburgh” sign with a smaller sign beneath it reading “Mayor Luke Ravenstahl- 2007.

Does anyone have the tape or YouTube of this?

When Mike Tomlin took over the Steelers, how much time did he cry about prior seasons?

Mike Tomlin, the new Steelers coach, gets offered and takes the job in the off season. How long, do you think, he spent on the past performance of the team?

Mike Lamb -- you're crazy for asking for an audit, just as Tomlin would NOT have run to the NFL to ask for a review of instant replay on games from years past. The NFL isn't going to re-do the 2004 players draft either.

City's acting controller rejects call for audit

City's acting controller rejects call for audit Mr. Pokora, who lost to Mr. Lamb in the May Democratic primary, said he has invited his erstwhile rival to visit the office several times since then. Mr. Lamb, he said, hasn't taken him up on it.

What a joke.

Libertarians Win 17% of Their Races in Elections Across the U.S.

Positions include mayoral, city council and judgeship positions, among others

Quick Quotes:

Shane Cory, Executive Director, Libertarian Party

* "Last night's election once again proved that the Libertarian Party offers a viable third option that many Americans take advantage of when selecting the leaders of their government."

* "The saying goes that all politics are local, and that's exactly where the Libertarian Party has its greatest influence."

Andrew Davis, Media Coordinator, Libertarian Party

*"We want people to see that the Libertarian Party has been a viable third option in American politics for the last 35 years."

* "This is democracy at work. It doesn't get any clearer than a Libertarian getting elected to office."

Washington, D.C. – In an exciting conclusion to the 2007 off-year election, Libertarian Party candidates won an impressive 17 percent of all known races in the United States that included the Libertarian Party. Additionally, all Libertarian incumbents won re-election. The Libertarian National Committee counted 81 known races for the Nov. 6, 2007 elections and had 14 victories spread across seven states. "Last night's election once again proved that the Libertarian Party offers a viable third option that many Americans take advantage of when selecting the leaders of their government," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory.

Libertarians were elected in Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania—54 percent of the states in which Libertarians ran. Libertarians in Michigan won four of the five known races in that state where Libertarians were involved—a stunning 80 percent rate of victory.

"The saying goes that all politics are local, and that's exactly where the Libertarian Party has its greatest influence," says Cory. "Decisions made by leaders at the local level are often the ones that have the most impact over people's lives, and the Libertarian Party wants to make sure that it's there when these decisions are made. The Libertarian Party's call for less government, lower taxes and more freedom doesn't change depending on what level of government it's made from. Liberty is liberty no matter what public office you hold."

While the Libertarian Party does not have any elected officials at the national level, the party does have Libertarians elected to local offices across the nation.

"The idea we want people to take from this election is about more than numbers and elected positions," says Andrew Davis, media coordinator for the Libertarian Party. "We want people to see that the Libertarian Party has been a viable third option in American politics for the last 35 years. The Libertarian Party exists as a real choice for voters who have long grown tired of picking from only Republicans and Democrats. This is democracy at work. It doesn't get any clearer than a Libertarian getting elected to office."

For elections of all the Libertarian Party's 81 races, please visit www.lp.org.

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Quick Facts:

* Libertarians ran in 81 races in 13 different states.
* Libertarian candidates won in 14 (17%) of those races, in seven states (54%).
* Libertarians won four out of the five (80%) Michigan elections in which they participated.
* Libertarians were elected in: Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
* Libertarian incumbents were all re-elected.

Gay Candidates Victorious Across the U.S.

Gay Candidates Victorious Across the U.S. WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dozens of openly gay and lesbian candidates running in municipal and state legislative races across the country won their elections Tuesday, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Of the record 71 candidates endorsed by the group in 2007, at least 31 won their races on Tuesday, while 10 were elected earlier this year. At least three more endorsed candidates received enough votes to advance to runoff elections.

Update with new link and photo:

The Bay Area Reporter Online | Political Notebook: Gays grab seats across U.S.: "Political Notebook: Gays grab seats across U.S."

Election day snapshots

From Mark Rauterkus

Results of GOPUSA's Grassroots Survey -- GOPUSA

Results of GOPUSA's Grassroots Survey -- GOPUSA
Question 3 -- How satisfied are you with the job the U.S. House is doing?
* Very satisfied -- 0%
* Somewhat satisfied -- 6%
* Somewhat unsatisfied -- 19%
* Very unsatisfied -- 75%

Humm. Might be a good time to mount a campaign for the US House.

I wonder if the Dems are as unsatisfied?

Post Gazette reporter writes another story that didn't get into print

Today I talked to Rich Lord, reporter for the Post-Gazette. I pointed out to him that the article he wrote about the city council and city controller race did NOT get put into the print edition of the P-G.

Go figure. He wrote an article last night. It didn't run, except on the web.

Two more points from the election

Some people don't seem to understand one simple fact:

You win elections by addition.

Campaigns that leverage subtraction do not win.

Furthermore, the 5 to 1 voter registration advantage for the Dems makes a mountain for any Republican to climb.

Meanwhile, what is the voter registration advantage for Dems over a Libertarian?

If DeSantis had to climb a mountain to win, then I would have needed to climb the Rocky Mountain Range to edge out my D-Party opponent.

A 50-to-1 ratio, not 5-to-1, fits the struggle in the L-to-D race. The results were 10-to-1.

Now let's talk about a 'landslide.'

Democrats cruise, of course. And first breath from Lamb is "AUDIT" from outside consultants

Of course the Ds won. But look at the telling statement from Michael Lamb. He wants an 'audit.' That is his pet word, as he said audit 412 times in our 30-minute debate. See the video at Rauterkus.blip.tv.

From today's P-G:

Democrats cruise in other Pittsburgh City Hall contests 'Tomorrow, I'm going to be sending a letter to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority and the [City] Council asking them if they'd consider funding an audit of the controller's office,' he said. An accounting firm should pore over the controller's performance, he said.

Michael Lamb is calling for the audit to be done by an outside vendor. Lamb is the elected controller. Lamb is the person who is to do the audit. But in Lamb's first breath, he trys to pass the work of audits to others.

Furthermore, Lamb wants an audit of the auditors. These auditors that Lamb wants to audit are meaningless. The controller's office isn't worth an audit from outside auditors. The controller's office is redundant in this period of Pittsburgh's public government. The controller's office has been marginalized because of decades of miss-management and one-party rule.

I have said that the controller's office is like the fourth fiddle in a string quartet. Sitting in the first and second chairs are the overlords. Then comes city council. Then, finally, comes the controller. The controller's financial watchdog status is in the toilet. Calling for audits of those who should be doing audits is not the way to battle back to make the controller's office meaningful again.

Pittsburgh needs accountability from elected officials who are willing to do the hard work themselves. Accountability does not come from passing the buck to others who are not elected.

Within Michael Lamb's telling statement, there is more. Lamb wants to spend government money on a new study. Lamb wants to hire some foundation, accounting firm, or outside consultants. Lamb wants to pay them, with taxpayer money. Of course it is going to cost us -- the taxpayers. And, of course the payment is going to go to 'pay to play' benefactors.

Do you think Lamb intends to be putting up a public bid process for the outside audit of the inside auditors (controller's office)? Do you think that this will be a "minority contract?" Lamb really wants to look at how the city lets its contracts -- yeah right.

But here is the worst part. Michael Lamb is begging to the OVERLORDS. He just got elected with fricking 89.xxx percent of the vote, and his first statement within minutes to the press amounts to a puckering of his lips to kiss ass to the OVERLORDS.

Get off your knees.

Do it yourself.

Grow an audit on your own.

Spend less, not more.

Lamb might want to clean house -- but -- he knows he can't do it himself. If Lamb knew that he couldn't do the job himself, perhaps he should not have run for the position.

Oh, but let's not forget. Lamb needed a new government paycheck because his is about to expire at the end of the year.

I got 'crushed' in the election yesterday. Well, it seems to me, that's par for the course. The citizens of Pittsburgh are getting crushed everyday by its city government.

Make no mistake. As Michael Lamb says that he'll be sending a letter to the ICA (Intergovernmental Cooperatiion Authority) begging them to fund an audit of the auditors -- we (the taxpayers) are screwed.

Lamb's first step out of the gate is expensive begging for additional navel gazing that has nothing to do with freedom, liberty nor keeping our kids competitive and local.

Told ya.

Who wants to call that 'good government' now?

I'm crushed. Plus, I'm correct.

And happily, I'm free to blab about the mindlessness of the one-party folly and domination that will insure that the region's downward spiral sustains itself.

I went be back, starting today. walking to city hall talking about various news elements. I'll be back at next week's council meeting. Tonight's county council meeting and Thursday's county budget meeting might go on without me.

Frist posted at 6:57 am.

Results of the elections, at first glance

MAYOR CITYWIDE
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
LUKE RAVENSTAHL (DEM) . . . . . . 42,290 = 63.23%
MARK F DESANTIS (REP) . . . . . . 23,313 = 34.85%
TONY OLIVA (LIB) . . . . . . . . 500 = .75%
RYAN SCOTT (SOC) . . . . . . . . 534 = .80%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 249 = .37%

This is really bad news. Tony got beat by Ryan. Ouch. Every vote counts!

CONTROLLER CITYWIDE
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
MICHAEL E LAMB (DEM). . . . . . . 54,258 = 89.40%
MARK RAUTERKUS (LIB). . . . . . . 6,352 = 10.47%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 83 = .14%

This is good news. I got well over 6,000 votes. Ten and a half-percent isn't what I was looking for -- but it is what I got in the polling that I did last week.
I spent $250. Let's do the math. I got votes for about $.04 each.

Even in 2001, when I ran city wide, I got votes for $.30 each.

There are 1,500 Libertarians in the county. It might be right to say that there are 600 or so Libertarians in the city. Each Libertarian generated 10 votes. I think that there are 100,000 registered Ds in the city. Does that mean each D generated half a vote for Lamb.

MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
DARLENE M HARRIS (DEM) . . . . . . 4,880 =74.37%
DAVID SCHUILENBURG (IND) . . . . . 1,672 =25.48%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 =.15%

Way to go David. If he would have been able to have a few debates, that race would have been very, very close.

MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
BRUCE A KRAUS (DEM) . . . . . . . 4,463 = 86.13%
MARK RAUTERKUS (LIB). . . . . . . 675 = 13.03%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 44 = .85%

Who are those 44 people doing write ins? What did they say? I did better in the city council race as far as percentage against the opponent by two+ percent.

The 675 in the council vote is about 1/10th of the 6,352 I got in the city. There are 9 council districts. Time will tell if I did better in some districts and worse in others.

MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
DOUGLAS SHIELDS (DEM) . . . . . . 8,067 = 99.20%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 65 .80%

Today, Doug Shields, City Council President got 8,000 votes. I got about 7,000 votes. That is a good showing for Doug.

MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
PATRICK DOWD (DEM) . . . . . . . 7,410 = 98.89%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 83 = 1.11%

MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 9
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
RICKY V BURGESS (DEM) . . . . . . 5,335 = 89.62%
DAVID C ADAMS (IND) . . . . . . . 604 = 10.15%
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14 = .24%

Oh well.

A third party with no money (<$250) is about one quarter of what a 2nd party with $300,000 gets in terms of total votes.

More arm-chair quarterbacking tomorrow.

Told ya!

My polling efforts proved to be perfect. I knew Luke would get between 63 and 65%. I knew I had 10% of the vote for city controller.

There was no "margin of error." I didn't need a margin. There was no error.

I ran the best and most accurate poll in this election cycle, as a hobby.

I don't like the results nor the predicted outcome, but, I reported them, honestly.

South Side poll workers were well fed

I walked into a polling place in the last afternoon along with State Rep., Joe Preston. The poll workers there were H U N G R Y. They let him know about it. They were staying hungry too.

Just 90-seconds ago I had a call from the Market House. Things were different there thanks to the over-reaching, cake pushing.

I spent the afternoon and evening with David C. Adams, Independent candidate for city council in the 9th district. We had a good time buzzing most of those polling places together. I was with David Schuilenburg as the early results came in on the internet.

Dave Schuilenburg was at 25% or so and he didn't have a single debate. There was no debate for the city council district 3 race either. The possibility of having an election without a single debate is so Pittsburgh. That is unreal to me. The only thing nearly as bad is no opposition at all. But, no debates among candidates on the ballot has got to be worse.

Westwood rocks. The voting there was better than anything I saw all day. Had lunch over there.

The early visits were to the polling places in the South Side, the SS Slopes and Allentown. I never got to Oakland, but I figured Tony lived there.

This is a big city.

I had a good time on election day.

Honz Man should know, by now, how many times I was on the ballot. Twice Fred. One for each thumbs. Can you count that high?

Mean while, Marty Griffin, KDKA's other personality and mean-spirited investigative reporter that is oblivious to the obvious, was barking about the lack of opposition to various races. Jeepers, who is going to run against Onorato and get stabbed in the back hundreds of time by Marty Griffin on the airwaves????

Good night.

Early Returns covered my polling release from Friday. Only noticed today

Post-Gazette NOW - Local News - Early Returns: "In the absence of other polls ... Both Mr. Ravenstahl's and Mr. DeSantis' camps have kept their polling under wraps. No credible independent poll has been conducted. That has spawned no end of chatter about who has what data and why they're hiding it.

So into the breach steps Mr. Rauterkus, who is running for not just council, but also city controller.

Mr. Rauterkus, a swim coach and repeat candidate who is a beacon of openness in a stormy sea of campaign secrecy, said his automated phone poll gleaned 715 respondents.

He e-mailed us to let us know that 63 percent of respondents favored Mr. Ravenstahl, versus 21 percent for Mr. DeSantis, 3 percent for Libertarian Tony Oliva, and 1 percent for Socialist Ryan Scott. Combined, 'unsure' and 'not telling' polled 18 percent.

In his own controller's race, Mr. Rauterkus reported that he was trailing Democrat Michael Lamb 52 percent to 10 percent, but noted that the 38 percent who were undecided put him within striking distance, if he can win them all and then some.

Early Returns cautions that Mr. Rauterkus isn't a professional pollster, and didn't calculate a margin of error. That said, for his take on the numbers, go here and scroll down to his Friday posting.

Hey Rich Lord.... There is NO MARGIN OF ERROR. I got it on the nose. Right on the money.

I said Luke would get between 63 and 65%. That is just what he got.

I said that I was at 10%. That is just what I got.

I could NOT have been more exact.

On election day there are NO undecided. And, EVERYONE is in the "I'm NOT TELLING" mode with the secret ballot. In the polling, they had to tell me.

I may not be a professional pollster -- but -- as a hobby, I'm better than everything and anything you've got. And I'm better than everything and anything out there, period.

Post-Gazette NOW - Local News - Early Returns

November 5, 2007 - P-G Early Returns blog had this.

Post-Gazette NOW - Local News - Early Returns
Jumping the Gun edition

A day before he faces the voters, Bruce Kraus showed up in Pittsburgh City Council chambers, to the consternation of the man he hopes to replace, Councilman Jeff Koch.

Mr. Kraus, a Democrat who faces Libertarian Mark Rauterkus in tomorrow's General Election, came to speak out against a request by Folino's Ristorante to keep a decorative fence in front of its East Carson Street location. Like a handful of other restaurants on Carson, Folino's wants its sidewalk-sitting patrons to dine within a better-defined space.

Some South Siders, though, feel the trend toward fenced-in outdoor seating threatens the street's wobbly balance between partygoers and residents.

"If you add capacity to the bars, you add to the problems they're trying to deal with right now," said businessman Tom Smith, citing public urination, noise and congestion as the potential results of a proliferation of outdoor seating areas. Mr. Smith is president of the South Side Chamber of Commerce, but stressed that the organization has taken no position on the Folino's request.

Mr. Koch argued for allowing the fence, saying it will leave 7 feet of open sidewalk for pedestrians, and noting that other Carson establishments have them. He also shot a few sidelong glances at Mr. Kraus, who was sitting in the audience.

"Mr. Kraus, if he wins, come January, he has the right to turn any [sidewalk] encroachment down that he wants," Mr. Koch told council. He said many of the opponents to the Folino's request, who are bombarding him with e-mails, don't even live in the city. "It's ridiculous. It's a witch hunt."

After the meeting, Mr. Koch said Mr. Kraus was just irked because Folino's supported the incumbent in the May primary. That incumbent, Mr. Koch, lost the race.

"There's nothing political about this whatsoever," said Mr. Kraus. "If we permit one to have a permanent encroachment, when the other 20 come [and ask for the same] ... then what do we say to them?"

Council decided to postpone voting on the Folino's fence until after an as-yet-unscheduled public hearing on sidewalk encroachments.

Here is the deal. Kraus is not in favor of property rights. Kraus will act like a socialist / communist / liberal democrat.

Furthermore, Kraus will serve up "pay back." This is a power trip for him. To the victor go the spoils in that world.

Eminent Domain -- no problem with him.

Voting For My Buddies...Early Voting Observations 2007

The poll worker showed me the electronic touch panel this morning at approximately 7:05 a.m., as I wanted to make sure I made my twice annual votes mattered before trudging off to work.

Some of the choices were easy. Mark DeSantis for Mayor. Check. Mark Rauterkus for Pittsburgh Controller. Check. There may have been one judge I needed to retain, but the others were given the proverbial heave-ho on my ballot.

There were also a number of races that were uncontested: Allegheny County Chief Executive and District Attorney among them. I almost always write myself in for something and this year it was the County Council special election in my area. Of course, the winner will be a nameless, faceless Democrat who will continue to do nothing but be invisible.

I voted my friend Lou in for Allegheny County Treasurer, as I’m certain he’d be a better bean counter than the guy we currently have. I also wrote my friend Bob in as Allegheny County District Attorney.

Now I sit, listening for nuggets of information. Mayor Luke may or may not have broken the law by glad-handing inside a polling place. Former Republican Mayoral candidate Joe Weinroth says that DeSantis won his polling place, two-to-one.

The night’s still young, but two things remain certain: I will not win County Council and Ron Paul has just as much chance to be our next President.

Schenley High School meeting

Mr. Lopez, Chief of High School Reform, is holding a meeting about the pending closing of the school at 6 pm, Thursday, Nov 8, 2007, in the Schenley auditorium.

The Tribune-Review incorrectly stated that it was a meeting for students. Please try to attend.

It is important that we show the strength of the IS/IB program and that we want to have a say in major changes to our program. Maybe (and this is a very big maybe) we will decide that the move to Reizenstein is workable but there are many questions that need to be answered. I think it is especially important that families who do not live in the East End be represented well. If there are any Phillips parents reading this, can you please spread the word at your school.

Also, keep in mind and mark it on your calendars that a special board hearing will be held on Nov. 27.

Thanks Amy!
I'll be there.

Ohligarchy: Hooma Gunna Vote Fer?

Suburban endorsement for a write-in vote. Okay.

Ohligarchy: Hooma Gunna Vote Fer? Saddam Hussein, in his last election before being deposed, won 100% of the vote. That should never happen in America, not even at the lowest level. Democrat Dan Onorato will coast to victory, which means that I have about eight hours to think of a name to write in. Perhaps Mark Rauterkus? Yeah, that's the ticket.

Doing the unthinkable -- Some South Siders go to out and vote twice

They get to vote twice, for me, legally.

I'll vote twice for me too.

This way I'm not quite the lone wolf that I used to be.

Plus, there are other buddies too. One, an ex-paratrooper, Tony Oliva, Libertarian, a former D1 (NCAA Division I) footballer. And the other candidate buddies both named Dave . Think David and Goliath. One Dave is an ex-marine and the other Dave is a 911 operator. So, I'm in good company. The third Dave, David Tessitor, is at-large and all over the map, generally. Standing next to him makes me look focused.

Let's vote. Let's keep democracy alive. Let's elect people who understand the constitution while possessing a long view so that the kids here have hope for our shared political landscape for the years to come. And there is very little hope when little ones play around in the dirt that reeks of lead poison while others in power just hunker down -- too busy to notify anyone and communicate.

Kraus, Lamb, Harris did little in this campaign. They were hunkered down. I have great faith that they'll do the same in office. Meanwhile, the kids are weaker. The future is more bleak.

Hats off to Luke Ravenstahl for coming out to debate, some. Too bad Luke is responsible for doing nothing else and lack of notifications on the dangerous playground conditions for months. Luke came out to debate, and he survived. Lucky for him.

Dave for Council in District 1 -- email on election day

Well, another election has come & gone, and the outcome is now in the hands of the voters. And while our district & the city face enormous challenges & important choices ahead, one thing our team can pride itself in is having run a clean campaign & having worked diligently in getting our message of change out to voters. Though it was somewhat challenging at times, we were met with immense interest & favorable reception when meeting directly with voters. The consensus is clear. People are now ready to move forward, & they want to hear about the ideas that will improve Pittsburgh in the long run.

As this campaign comes to a close, I would just like to take an opportunity to personally thank the great many of you who have helped over the past 12 months. Along with longing for better leadership, many of you took precious time out of your personal lives to help in this campaign, and we would not have been able to make as many great in-roads across this great district had it not been for all your help. No matter what happens tomorrow, we made our mark and laid the roots which will allow voters to choose a new & progressive course when they are ready. Thank you again for all your help, and more importantly, thank you for the opportunity to have worked so closely with many of you. Great friendships were forged, new relationships established, and it has been quite an honor.

In closing, allow me to also take this opportunity to invite you to join us as we watch the results come in at our post-election night party. The polls open at 7am, and close at 8pm, and we will be meeting afterwards at Max’s Allegheny Tavern on the lower North Side, located at 537 Suismon Street (located on the corner of Middle Street, 1 block west of East Street). If you can’t make it, we will understand. However, whatever you do, please remember to vote. As we have seen in recent years in races at all levels, every vote does count and can make all the difference.

Greatest respects & God Bless,

Dave Schuilenburg

(phone # moved to comments)

about Freedom, Prosperity and Peace

Michael Lamb for Controller blog got updated on May 10.

Michael Lamb for Controller Endorsements!!! May 10th, 2007

Check out the button!

The best prediction yet

Google Calendar Tuesday - Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers. Highs in the lower 40s. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

We're talking Steeler weather for election day after a Monday Night Football game.

Perhaps hell will begin to freeze over starting on Wednesday morning.

Secure those campaign signs, else we'll have a lot of urban tumbleweed and floppy litter on a stick.

The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles - Pittsburgh's Last�Chance?

A long rant from Ron Morris about the election features a call to vote for Mark DeSantis.

The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles - Pittsburgh's Last�Chance?: "This election is our one and only chance to make this all happen."

Sitting ducks: An inactive Pittsburgh is looking for trouble

Sitting ducks: An inactive Pittsburgh is looking for trouble: Living well is the best revenge.

Debate for city council, district 9: David C. Adams vs. Ricky Burgess

First 20+ minutes of the debate.

Click To Play

Bio from David C. Adams from the League of Women Voters online guide

David C Adams, 49, Pittsburgh, Ward 13

http://TheNeighborhoodAwarenessProgram.org

Education: B.S., Villanova University, 1980;
M. A., Princeton University, 1982;
University of Pittsburgh, 2005-present: Public Administration;
Giant Eagle, 2003-2005: Accelerated Management Training Program;
California University of Pennsylvania, 1985-1987: Speech Communications;
U.S.M.C., U.S.N., U.S.A.R., 1976-1985

Occupation: University of Pittsburgh, Facilities Management;
President, Conscience Newsletter, and The Conscience Group

Qualifications: Leadership Experience; Creator of Comprehensive Citywide Crime Prevention Program

Answer: 1. Alternative Funding: I would utilize the many resources of this city, and our geography to open marketing opportunities which would be exclusively directed to fund, and impact the city’s bottom line. The beauty of this idea, is the fact that corporations, small and large business, organizations, and sporting entities would help the city, as they market their products, goods or services. I believe this opportunity would also generate new business to the city. The marketing opportunities would be developed to ensure every business owner in Pittsburgh could join this opportunity, with price scales to fit every budget of business, including a payment plan.

2. Public Safety: Fire, Police, Ambulance, Emergency Services etc.

Visiting with Panther Rants and their Tailgate was a blast

Thanks everyone. I had a great time.

Panther Rants We'd also like to announce a formal eternal tailgating invitation to area Pittsburgh politician Mark Rauterkus who remained true to his word and came to the tailgate fully armed with some of his buttons and DVDs, not to mention doughnuts, bear claws and a bag of popcorn that could fill the trunk of a 1974 Cadillac. Mark was also as much fun to talk with and have around and his time and effort were rewarded with a Panther Rants limited edition collectors t-shirt. Unfortunately, none of Mark's new tailgating buddies actually live in his district, making his experience a complete waste of time, energy, and about $20 ($17 if he used his Giant Eagle Advantage card). We hope, however, that he doesn't view it as such and becomes a regular. The more the merrier.

Photos soon.

Video of Debate: Rauterkus vs. Lamb -- who can control and out-of-control, one-party town?

Click To Play

The audio from the debate between myself (Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian) and the career politician, Michael Lamb, (son of a PA Senator), is on my TalkShoe.com site. One version of the video (without subtitles) is on the web at Google Video. It is 29 minutes in length.

Playground in City reeks of lead. Poison puts brain on hold. City waits. Kids and Parents know nothing.

Our family to China three times. Once we were there while all the Recreation Centers within the City were closed. They were idle, by design. Closed for political reasons by the local Democratic Mayor. Thanks to the leadership of the Dems in Pgh, we've got more of the same to bark about.

This week Pittsburgh give itself another leg up on China, famous for its exports of cheap toys to the US that are covered with lead-based paint. Perhaps it this can be called a 'Lead Pipe Lock.'

The lack of action on these types of problems is typical. Plenty of problems concerning our kids and youth are begging for attention. Meanwhile, our city, this city, does NOTHING. That is what THEY always do. Nothing.

More talk and buzz about the parks has surfaces in recent times than ever before -- due to the killing of the geese in both North Park and Riverfront Park on the South Side. This is why we talk about parks -- dead geese. Neither the media nor the politicians are eager to engage and talk about parks. Dead geese -- not kids, not recreation, not coaching, not programming.

Now, lead-poison, toxic playground, additional inactions. Newspapers and city hall officials talk about the parks because the playground dirt is toxic. They knew about it for months. AND, they did NOTHING.

For the sake of the future and the kids -- I'd love your vote and endorsement for both city controller and city council, district 3.

I'm running against do-nothing politicians who won't rock the boat. They act like lead anchors and are sinks to sustained conversations about solutions for our region. I, at least, will scream foul! (pun intended)

Light at the end of the city's Dems? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Light at the end of the city's Dems? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review DeSantis, 48, a former aide to Sen. John Heinz, possesses the worldly (i.e., out-of-Pittsburgh) experience and valuable ideas that can reverse Pittsburgh's long, all-Democrat-engineered economic and civic decline.

So, the Trib vallues worldly experience.

Well, the Trib did endorse David Tessitor for Allegheny County Council At-Large. Nice.

Furthermore, for the city controller's race -- the Trib is indifferent. Printing "blindly" as a descriptive word from a Trib editor is ROTFL stuff. (Roll On The Floor Laughing)

Scroll to hear the phone messages

Clicking in this box should play the messages on your computer, without needing to leave this page. There is a drop-down box in the middle with various sound files.

Phone Calls Sound Like This

Some of my phone calls sound like this:

DeSantis' 88 Neighborhood Visits Hits Backyard

As I walked to pick up my gas-guzzlin’ SUV from the local, city mechanic (sorry to all of those who abhor the fact that I prefer to spend my hard-earned trinkets within the confines of America’s Most Livable City), I looked up to see a stereotypical Yunzer folding up a Mark DeSantis sign. In front of him, a nicely-dressed guy who was talking in docile tones. About 15 yards away, DeSantis himself.

Earlier in the day, I read a MySpace bulletin that included the 29th Ward in his campaign to hit all of Pittsburgh’s 88 neighborhoods in less than a week, so I knew he’d be in the area. Lo and behold, there he was. Here was my chance to say hello, tell him that I indeed tossed him a gold shilling or three, and admit that I would be voting for him, despite his promise to allow city workers the Golden Ticket jackpot to Washington and Butler Counties.

By the time I made it across the street, DeSantis and his cohort had ducked into a black car, across the street from a beer distributor, within a stone’s throw of former state Senator and Allegheny County Commissioner Mike Dawida’s humble abode. He eagerly re-emerged when it looked like someone was actually happy to say hello.

DeSantis and his campaign staffer jumped out and we had a discussion. I told him that the neighborhoods would suffer, and the elderly in particular would be feel less safe when their area cops would bolt in mass, away from the 70 years of Democrat regime that allowed them unprecedented perks and salaries. Stakeholders would disappear in record numbers in a buyer’s real estate market with very few buyers.

The “good neighbor” would quickly turn to an abandoned, or rented property overnight. Being a neighborhood presence is part of the job. It’s either a lifestyle or a job. If you’re a cop who doesn’t live in the community you serve, it’s just a paycheck. Nothing regal; just a job.

Anyhoo, DeSantis listened politely and his staffer asked if I thought the police would really leave. Absolutely, I retorted, mostly to far off lands with acres of lands, ponds and dirt roads. They certainly wouldn’t move 10 minutes away. Criminals there still go to the same movies.

After a nice chat in which I told him I had five signs in my yard (I miscounted: it’s six), we moved on, assured that his name would still be at the end of my touch-screen press on Tuesday.

A few minutes later near the shopping center and garage I frequent, DeSantis was going from bystander to bystander, door to door, introducing himself to everyone. From what I heard, the response was cold. Unfortunately, many of my neighbors are nearly brainwashed into thinking the way Luke Ravenstahl’s parents taught him: be afraid of Republicans, despite the fact that they believe in issues far closer to the average Pittsburgher than they easily admit.

But then again, the most fervent religious people I’ve ever known were union stalwarts through and through.

Let’s hope that Ravenstahl’s continued missteps and his boyish mistakes eventually wake up the great unwashed, but I’m not confident in their abilities to think about issues in a realistic way.

It’s been decades since any city politician really cared about neighborhoods like mine. The electorate has been lulled to sleep by public sector promises that generally help anyone other than giving lots of people the ability to pay their own city mortgages.

Vote Mark DeSantis on Tuesday. He’s not perfect, but with Bill Peduto perhaps out of the picture completely, he’s our only chance.

Pittsburgh’s Peerless Prodigal Son Of Politics Has Resurfaced

What an absolute treat to unfold Saturday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and see the most unique “politician” ever in Pittsburgh, “sniffing” snacks of $2 bills he used to pay his entry fee into New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary.

Richard E. “Mad Dog” Caligiuri is the “Philosophical Outlaw,” the one-time, perennial Congressional candidate who oftentimes took on former Congressman Bill Coyne (the antithesis of thoughtful deliberation and verve). The quintessential Pittsburgh Libertarian, Caligiuri made his biggest splash in the mid 90’s when he posed nude, strategically positioned as “The Thinker,” on the back cover of one of Pittsburgh’s weekly liberal odes to all things unconventional.

“Mad Dog” had arrived. As the editor of an advertiser-supported every-other-weekly ode to all things Block Watch, Community News and feature-happy odes to all things small town, U.S.A., I was excited to meet him. We became fast friends, but alas, a family-member’s health was encompassing more and more of his time, so I knew that Caligiuri’s time in the “alternative candidate’s” spotlight was waning.

Of course, the throngs of public sympathizers and fans of unthinking, unblinking Coyne-dom voted Sleepy Socialist Willie into office one last time. Shortly thereafter, Fidel Castro’s poster boy for all things crazier-than-a-loon retired and gerrymandering allowed for the one-time middle-of-the-road-thinking Mike Doyle assumed the city of Pittsburgh. Thusly, Doyle accepted the lunatic-fringe of lefty liberalism, but before that had to face Caligiuri one last time.

Doyle and I had a good working relationship, as I did with virtually everyone in public office. One Bill Peduto guided former Congressman Dan Cohen’s political ship into an everyman’s quagmire of Congressional hopefulness. No one quite realized the inexplicable power of the Sleepy Socialist and Cohen’s political future was sunk. The shock of that outcome still resonates to this day.

Caligiuri ran against Coyne and I broke the story. Doyle informed the rest of Pittsburgh’s media that I had the scoop, that indeed he had an opponent that fall. Doyle won then, and has raced to the left faster than his idol, John Murtha fell from grace in the opinions of 95% of career service men and women. Caligiuri disappeared off the political map just about the time in which he should have shined.

In his prime, Caligiuri would have been the Internet’s political darling, a daring thinker who’s “out of the box” ideas have been copied but never duplicated.

Our friend Mark Rauterkus has picked up Caligiuri’s reigns perhaps better than anyone might have dreamt. However, Caligiuri always kept his eyes only on Congress. He became folklore to us political junkies, perhaps not as oddly as the late sandwich-board guy who despised Coyne and once ran for Mayor, but in a city with so few real “colorful” politicians who didn’t make a career out of cashing city council paychecks, Caligiuri was a hero.

Until now.

According to the Concord Monitor, Caligiuri drove to New England to enter the crowded Democratic field. He still maintains a true Libertarian philosophy, but that only makes him closer to being a John F. Kennedy Democrat than a Hillary Clinton Democrat.

New Hampshire voters were also reported to be waiting for TV funnyman Stephen Colbert to show up. Colbert had announced his candidacy for the South Carolina primary a few weeks ago, but those staunch intolerants decided to leave him off the ballot. It’s still uncertain whether Dennis Kucinich is on that ballot, but one joke shouldn’t necessarily disqualify another.

From time to time, I’ve thought of Caligiuri, but lost his phone number eons ago. Print says he continues to maintain his family’s fast food and ice cream restaurant in Wilkinsburg. Back in the day, he routinely shuttled from that hamlet to a kraal in Westmoreland County, where he presumably drank wine and waited for the next Congressional go-round.

Had I had a vote in New Hampshire, I would consider crossing party lines to plunk the Mad Dog.

It’s great to see an old friend once again.

Step It Up : Invited to speak at another rally today on the North Side

Step It Up : Spread the Word: "We have saved our Pittsburgh Penguins now we are coming together to save the other penguins that live in Antarctica. In addition to some politicians, we are expecting a guest appearance from Stanley the penguin from the National Aviary."