Bonusgate: A Tsunami for Reform Bonusgate: A Tsunami for Reform

From Russ Diamond:

In 2005, the legislative pay raise was a seismic disturbance that rumbled beneath the surface of Pennsylvania's political ocean. In 2006, the electoral effects were felt in what was commonly dubbed a "political earthquake." Three years later, the resultant tsunami - otherwise known as Bonusgate - has finally come crashing to shore.

Citizens should applaud the agents of the Attorney General's office and members of the grand juries. The volume of man-hours apparently involved in pouring through mountains of records and testimony to reach this point is astounding. That the investigation continues and more arrests are likely is even more breathtaking.

The biggest accolades, however, must be reserved for the people of Pennsylvania and their historic reaction to the pay raise. Absent the intense citizen activism during the 2006 election cycle, Bonusgate would not even be a blip on the radar.

Although the grand juries found that the intermingling of campaigns and legitimate legislative functions began prior to 2006, the sheer number of electoral challenges that year created an opportunity for the practice to be utilized to an extent that commanded the attention of the media and law enforcement.

Without pay raise outrage, the practice might have quietly remained behind the scenes for years to come. Without pay raise outrage, journalists might not have had the editorial foresight and ripe audience required for stories that grow "legs." Without pay raise outrage, law enforcement might not have felt compelled to launch such a substantial investigation.

Under grant of immunity, one individual involved in the scandal nailed it: the pay raise "changed the whole map."

Bonusgate should spur aftershocks from voters for the same reasons the pay raise did. Both incidents arose from the fault line of arrogance and greed that unfortunately runs directly beneath our Capitol's dome. For some, apparently, the weight of incumbency is simply not enough advantage in the ongoing fight for power and personal privilege.

Despite gerrymandered legislative districts, the availability of free media coverage for legislative work during re-election season, the ability to dole out public funds, taxpayer-funded newsletters and public service announcements, certain individuals within at least one caucus viewed retaining their positions and gaining a majority in the House of Representatives as objectives that reside above the law.

Although the recent revelations are likely just the first phase of the tsunami, Pennsylvanians must begin considering the cleanup and rebuilding efforts now. Clearly there are instances of individual abuses, but many of the problems of Harrisburg are rooted in the structure of government and inherently systemic.

Will further internal legislative rule changes be enough? Will stronger statutes and threats of stiffer penalties prevent such activity in the future? Can any legislative body effectively police itself, or should Pennsylvania tackle the Mother of all Reforms - an objective constitutional convention where sitting public officials are prohibited from serving as delegates?

These questions can only be answered properly if Pennsylvania's citizens are informed, actively engaged in the process, and honest about both the mistakes of the past and the challenges that lie ahead.

As the waters from the Bonusgate tsunami retreat back to the proverbial sea, some parts of the political infrastructure in Harrisburg will have crumbled while others remain standing. Those that remain standing will have been built on the solid ground of the law, ethics and accountability. It is these principles that will guide us in finally ending Pennsylvania's crisis of confidence.

Constitutional Convention Enabling Act (SB1290)

China announces 598 Olympic homestays in Beijing - People's Daily Online

China announces 598 Olympic homestays in Beijing - People's Daily Online China announces 598 Olympic homestays in Beijing

From Uprising to Movement: Five Ideas - CommonDreams.org

From Uprising to Movement: Five Ideas - CommonDreams.org End the Oxymoron of Autocratic Progressivism: Autocratic Progressives, as I discussed yesterday, are those who think you can build a progressive movement with anti-progressive, autocratic, top-down, command-and-control structures. This is elitism at its worst. If we want to take this uprising moment and channel it into a progressive movement, then the movement institutions we build have to be small-d democratic. Sadly, most of the much-vaunted new progressive infrastructure — from Moveon.org to well-funded left-leaning think tanks in Washington, D.C. — run the gamut from mostly undemocratic to completely undemocratic. That’s not the way to build a movement — and I say that not just from a moral, pro-democratic standpoint, but from a pragmatic one.

We are ready -- sorta. Well, at least my sons are with paperwork in order

The passports and visas for Erik and Grant have arrived. The ones for Catherine and I are still on the way. We hope.



Details later. Hold thumbs! Or, if American, you can cross your fingers for us.

Perhaps if all the bloggers piched in a few bucks, this could come about.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's new baby girl elephant has a new name and she is going out into the elephant yard. "The baby's name is Angelina, chosen by a special donor," says Dr. Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Angelina will be out on exhibit everyday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. "We are excited for our visitors to have the opportunity to see her," says Dr.Baker. "But she is still young and we do have to be protective of her especially because she has very sensitive skin and we don't want her to get sunburned." Angelina's schedule will be dependent upon weather or if she is acting unusual for some reason. Her schedule will also be affected when the Zoo's second female elephant, Moja, has her baby. Moja is due any day now. Visitors can call the Zoo to check on Angelina's schedule. Visitors also can see Angelina through the large viewing windows at the Elephant Family Room where she is spending time with her family. "The family bonding is going very well," says Dr. Baker. "We are extremely proud of Angelina's older brother, Callee. At first he wasn't sure he liked having a little sister, but he likes her now. He gently touches her and he stands beside her to make sure she is ok." Angelina is 37 inches tall, but keepers have not had a chance to weigh her yet. That will be done within the next couple of days.

The next arrival should be named, "Rufus Peckham."

How did the state bonus scandal happen?

How did the state bonus scandal happen?: "How did the state bonus scandal happen?
The million-dollar 'bonusgate' was fueled by politics and a breakdown of the Democratic caucus' managerial system"

Frankly, it happened because of the combination of greed and "governement jobs." All in all, smarts, purpose, liberty were not the driving factors.

Throw the bums out.

Respect the bus

Getting on the bus, Gus, works in other places.

Respect the bus movies - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com: "local transit ridership is up by 24 percent in Peoria this year isn't surprising.

Sign of the times: Rolling Rocks -- a budding cancer

Bram has something on this topic too.

The city law department gets tangled in this story too. Face it: The city law department sucks. They are a serious drag on "moving forward." They should all be fired. The law department is a liability. Laws are not. But, the way they act and react are what is to blame. The blame is so deep, that they can't shake it.

If Mayor Ravenstahl was at a meeting -- or if he wasn't -- does not matter. There is no way one person should be 'above the law.' The mayor can be wrong. They can't work to protect the mayor while work to squander both honesty and accountability.

People do not want to live in a place where rules are irrelevant. People choose to avoid lawlessness. The stentch of corruption and being where rules matter little -- except for the connected -- drives people away. This is why the city is shrinking.

It is much easier for the citizens to pack up and depart, rather than to fight.

We want people to go through the process. Back in 2001, when I ran for mayor, I put a top priority on process. How things work and how they don't -- matters most. For Pittsburgh: the questions of who and what are less important than the question of how and why.

Another way to say the same thing is to concentrate on software, not hardware. This isn't about 'stadiums' as much as it is about how deals get hatched.

Software problems and process problems are much more demanding in terms of communications and philosophy. Plus, it is harder to see process, generally.

Joel from the sign company is quoted as saying that the company would sue the city if ordered to take down the sign. That is fear. That is uncertainty. That is doubt. All in all -- it is called FUD.

One firm flings FUD and the law department blinks, as expected.

The law department, the firm, this sign and even the mayor are but pawns in this bigger story. Here is another chapter, but the saga is about the city's approach to process. Is Pittsburgh still going to be a 'smokey city' where back-room deals drive the outcomes. Or, is Pittsburgh, as I would hope, turns the corner and heads to open ways.

By the way, the firm had a green light -- and jumped through some hoops. However, it didn't do enough. They fumbled at the goal line.

When is Mr. Ford going to have his pay checks terminated? Does that come before or after they terminate the head of law department goes?

On May 7, Historic Review Commission members agreed they would not have approved the sign had they been asked. They asked the Law Department to outline their options.

"The current owner is taking the position that, based upon the record, they have the right to continued approval, and we are researching that," city Solicitor George Specter said. An answer might come next week.

...

"[T]he city's public process serves to protect the public interest, and when it has been circumvented, or there is the appearance of such, we all have cause for serious concern."

Mr. Aaronson argued that the sign doesn't have "any real, substantial impact on the integrity of the neighborhood. ... People should say, 'Well, we'll be diligent next time.'"

Next time is a luxury that Pittsburgh does not own at present.

Next time works from time to time when an abundance of good will has been earned and is entrusted within the institutional ethos.

Pittsburgh is shattered. Trust is cracked. Now is the time for Pittsburgh to scatter further -- or instead, -- inject glue so as to begin to heal with the attaching of the pieces.

Luke Ravenstahl needs to reply upon the red tape for the fixing of things.

Meanwhile, I hate red tape, as a principle. But, you can't cheat it. By design, red tape can be eliminated. But, that isn't what Bob Ford and Luke Ravenstahl have been doing.

The city, could, get rid of the law department. Take that budget to $0 for the next six months.

The city could, on another front, put a question onto the ballot that asks the voters of the city if we should suspend all zoning rules for a five year period. We can get rid of the planning department, zoning and the URA. We can get rid of red tape -- by design -- so as to save money, increase freedoms and put some energy into the local marketplace. That's more of a radical fix. But, it is a deliberate. We can measure it with discussions and projections. Then we can vote upon its merit.

Finance markets crumble

The outlook for the state of the American Economy has hit a new, recent low. This isn't going to be good. More bad news is expected shortly.

Schenley and the rest of the district, too --

Still here! After a little time for a summer break and breather, there's more afoot. The stream of letters to the editor being published in the Post-Gazette seems to indicate that we're not the only people ready to keep going.

All along it's been clear that there's a lot more to HS reform than just closing Schenley under the (fake) cloud of a "$70+M asbestos problem." We're still working on getting accurate information out there to counteract the misleading (or plain wrong) impression that's been left.

But, it's also been clear all along that there are many other changes which were effectively hidden by the Schenley news and they will affect each and every family in the PPS.

Issues like:

* the move to several 6-12 grade themed magnet schools (there will be three beginning in the fall of '09)

* a move to a district wide lottery system for all schools (with changes to feeder patterns and no guarantee of a specific neighborhood HS)

* a lack of clarity on what the district will look like in 5 to 10 years -- for instance, which comprehensive high schools will be left and who will attend them?

* a lack of discussion about the effect of more and smaller schools on competitive team sports, electives and extracurricular options?

No matter what your opinions are on these and other changes proposed -- the thing we've learned is that by the time parents and community members are asked for input, it's too late for plans to change.

So -- are you ready to get the word out there? We really need to let friends, neighbors, children's classmates, co-workers, etc. know that these changes are coming and that the time to be heard is NOW. We're considering a petition drive and/or having letters to sign and mail in to the BOE and other grassroots ways to get people to talk to 10, 20, 100 people they know and make them aware of the changes that are coming and the vital need to start speaking up now, while we might still have a chance to have a voice in these reforms.

If you wish to be removed from this list, let me know. If you're willing to spend an hour or a weekend or whatever time you can give to start getting the word out, let me know that too. Ideas for how best to find and talk to people? Send them my way. And, let's keep the letters to the editor going too -- mark a time on your calendar and commit to sending in a letter. Send me a copy or let me know, if you'd like, it would be interesting to see our ratio of sent letters to printed letters.

Thank you --
Jen Lakin

Ken Krawchuk: Come watch as Abington Township violates the Constitution again

Folks:

Abington Township is violating the Pennsylvania Constitution again, and (for some inexplicable reason) wants to talk with me about it -- in District Court! Come watch the fun next Wednesday morning, July 16th, at 9:15 AM in District Court 38-1-05, 875 N. Easton Rd., Glenside Penna. 19038.

What's it all about? Article 1 Section 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution plainly states that citizens have "certain inherent and indefeasible rights", including "acquiring, possessing and protecting property". Furthermore, Section 25 affirms that those rights "shall forever remain inviolate".

Yeah, right. "Forever" has apparently come and gone, because Abington Township Ordinance 1760 flatly denies citizens the right to possess certain kinds of property; specifically, an operable car sitting in your driveway. The Ordinance unconstitutionally claims that a citizen is not "permitted to have any motor vehicle which is not currently registered, not currently inspected, not currently insured, and is not capable of being legally operated on a public street." Isn't your motor vehicle your "property"? Can't you keep your own car in your own driveway?

And the ordinance is not just unconstitutional, it's also illegal: state law explicitly forbids any municipality from enforcing its own vehicle laws, specifically, 75 Pa.C.S.6301, which says that all "prosecutions under local ordinances [are] superseded by title [75]".

There are other aspects to their official repression, but let me save a few surprises for Wednesday. Suffice it to say I want that Ordinance declared unconstitutional, I want monetary damages for their hassling me in the first place, and it's long past time to take whatever legal steps are necessary to remove from office any judge,
commissioner, or township staffer who has violated their solemn oath to uphold the Constitution. Enough is enough!

It'll be fun. Hope to see you there.

It's Time to Reboot America. | Rebooting America

It's Time to Reboot America. | Rebooting America It's Time to Reboot America.

Where is John McCain's Technology Policy?

What's John McCain's Technology Policy? Not so shockingly, the computer-free senator's campaign is not as plugged in as his rival's. In fact, his campaign website fails to address America's lagging performance on broadband access or affordability, the technological capabilities of the federal bureaucracy, or the Internet's ability to increase government transparency. 'There are red flags,' says Brian Reich, author of the book Media Rules!: Mastering Today's Technology to Connect With and Keep Your Audience and the former editor of Campaign Web Review, a blog that tracked the use of the Internet by candidates, campaigns, and activists.

The best in class technology that Obama should promise is simply, "open source."

TRAITOR

Wow. Watch the promo. The truth is complicated.

TRAITOR

A friend's brother had a hand or two in this. Good to watch after we return from Beijing.

What are you doing next month?

NBC will cover 212 hours of Olympics per day
NEW YORK (AP) -- Start stockpiling eye drops.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/08/nbc.coverage.ap/index.html

Pittsburgh Councilman Dowd running low on political capital - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This makes me giggle.

Pittsburgh Councilman Dowd running low on political capital - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Now Heath, who runs the blog 'Cognitive Dissonance,' worries Dowd's ability to get legislation passed could be hurt.

'I don't think he's picked up any alliances at all. I think he's cut himself a little hole,' Heath said. 'Grudges seem to be a fact of life around here. That could hamper his ability to get things done.'

It is interesting to see a blogger get press. That's nice.

However, onto the issue: The real straw man on Grant Street is the fact that there is any division at all. They all are of the same party. They all have been running in lockstep to greater debt and more meaningless status.

Dowd does not need to make any alliances with those who waste plenty.

Dowd took the place of a 'yes man'. Boadack could not fix the ills of the city. We need those who can rock the boat because the boat is on the rocks, again.

Letters to the editor: Pittsburgh is squandering the asset of education

Great letter.

Letters to the editor Pittsburgh is squandering the asset of education

The vote by the Pittsburgh Board of Education is sad and distressing ("School Board Votes to Close Schenley Building," June 26). As a parent of two Schenley graduates and one more who attended her first two years, I am convinced that no one in positions of power ever really got it in Pittsburgh.

When we moved to the city from Chicago in 1989, we were thrilled. The Pittsburgh schools were considered by most objective sources to be the finest urban schools in the nation, thanks to the vision of Richard Wallace and the dedication of the district's teaching corps. As each year passed we saw how the district progressively lost its edge through bickering, politics and small-mindedness. Middle-class families with the ability to leave did. We came to Pittsburgh for the schools and left for the same reason.

Schenley was a beacon of hope -- a school that combined class and race, academic achievement and athletics, arts and science at a level that was hard to rival even in the suburbs. The district has failed, over and over again, to explain how the spirit of Schenley will somehow be replaced in the "new" plan. The ludicrous notion that combined middle and senior high school programs make any educational sense will only further push what is left of Pittsburgh's middle class out of the city altogether. The downward spiral of the city's neighborhoods will continue, and history will record that it was the educational system that did it to us. This did not have to happen -- we did it to ourselves.

JOSEPH BUTE, Pine (and formerly of Pittsburgh)

There is no doubt that most of the "leaders" are clueless as to what happens in the lives of families in this region. Clueless.

Pittsburgh is at the brink because we treat our kids like dirt, or worse. It is getting worse.

Richard says: new County Council Comission to hatch on Monday

County Council member, Amanda Green, reports that she and Council Member Richard Fitzgerald are introducing a bill to create a County Human Relations Commission to cover the usual groups including the L/G/B/T community. It covers housing employment and public accommodations. The meeting will start at 5:00 p.m. People are able to comment on new legilation, but they would need to call County Council to register tommorrow (Monday).

Hooker Dives to 3rd -- and Lauryn Williams has the 4th spot

Wow. Got to see that "photo finish."

They make hanging chads seem meaningless.

PG looks at the Libertarian Web Site for 4th of July ink

Cutting Edge: New ideas / Sharp opinions RADICAL PATRIOTS

A final thought from the Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh (lppgh.org) regarding this Fourth of July weekend:

'Please be careful for what it is you are waving that flag whose origins are in liberty, not global intervention and the at-home police state such folly requires.'

Then this, from H.L. Mencken:

'The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naive and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair.'

Something big is about to unfold in PA political circles

Perhaps a storm is brewing. Corruption is ugly.

link to MCall article

Senate aide sought cell numbers of reporters in leaks case

A request came from lawyer for the Rev. Joseph Sica.

By Tim Darragh | and John L. Micek Of The Morning Call July 4, 2008

Some news reporters subpoenaed over alleged leaks from a grand jury investigation of Mount Airy Casino Resort owner Louis DeNaples said Thursday that they were contacted by people who wanted to confirm their cell phone numbers or names.

At least some of those calls were made by an aide to state Sen. Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna, the Senate minority leader. At least two others came from someone who pretended to work for a Pittsburgh newspaper.

A request for numbers came from Scranton lawyer Sal Cognetti, Senate Democratic spokesman Charles Tocci said. Cognetti is an attorney for the Rev. Joseph Sica, a DeNaples associate.

Sica and DeNaples were charged with perjury earlier this year after a grand jury investigation. Authorities claim DeNaples lied to help his bid for a slots license by telling gaming investigators he had no ties to organized crime. Sica is accused of lying to the grand jury about his relationship with a mobster. Their lawyers have said they are not guilty.

Fifteen reporters from six news organizations, including The Morning Call, last month received subpoenas at the request of DeNaples' and Sica's lawyers. The lawyers allege leaks related to the grand jury, which meets in secret.

Dauphin County Judge Todd A. Hoover heard arguments and testimony this week on whether a special prosecutor is needed to investigate the alleged leaks. He has until Aug. 2 to decide.

Tocci, reached Thursday, confirmed that a Mellow aide made some calls to ''eight or nine'' journalists. He said the inquiry was related only to updating a media contact list.

''As a courtesy,'' Tocci said, a Democratic Party official directed Cognetti's request for the numbers to the Senate Democrats' press office, where staffers checked a caucus media list. A female aide misunderstood her mandate, Tocci said, and began calling some of the reporters. The staffer ''called a couple'' of the numbers, he said, and then abandoned her task.

As a matter of policy, Tocci said, Senate Democrats share numbers from their media list with lawmakers or their staffs. Asked why the numbers were shared with Cognetti, Tocci said it's also common practice to share contact information with constituents or activist groups.

Cognetti has been a contract employee of Senate Democrats since March 2005, Tocci said, and was paid $48,259 last year for ''general matters outside the skill and expertise of our general counsel.'' Tocci said Cognetti does not do gaming-related work.

Cognetti did not return calls Thursday for comment.

Some reporters got calls from an unknown male.

Matt Birkbeck of The Morning Call received a call from someone claiming to be ''Randy Carruthers'' from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. When Birkbeck questioned the caller, he hung up. Philadelphia Inquirer Editor Bill Marimow confirmed an Inquirer story that said a Daily News reporter received a similar call.

No such ''Carruthers'' works at the Post-Gazette, said Editor David Shribman.

''In most cases, it would be nice to think that someone was looking for you,'' Shribman said. ''But in this case, we don't find it amusing or acceptable.''

Scott K. Baker, general counsel for Philadelphia Media Holdings, publisher of the Inquirer and the Daily News, said the attempts to obtain reporters' cell phone numbers is ''further evidence'' of intent to harass the media, The Associated Press reported.

Pennsylvania's Shield Law protects reporters' confidential information and their sources. Trying to sidestep that, said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, is ''bad for reporters and bad for the public.''

Barry Kauffman, executive director of the government watchdog organization Common Cause in Pennsylvania, said state employees ''have better things to do.''

A Mellow staffer asked for the cell phone numbers of at least three Philadelphia Inquirer reporters, editor Marimow confirmed. Philadelphia Daily News City Editor Gar Joseph said several Daily News staffers also were contacted.

Marimow and others criticized the involvement of Mellow aides, regardless of the reason. ''It just struck me as an inappropriate use of public employees,'' Marimow said.

Daily News columnist John Baer said he received calls about his number, but the caller hung up. Hang-ups, he said, are not uncommon. Asked how often he received anonymous calls to his office seeking his cell phone number, Baer said, ''Well, never.''

In addition, Dave Janoski of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, who also was subpoenaed, said he too received a request for his cell phone number. He said he didn't know who asked, but returned the call to the state Democrats' communications office. He said he offered his cell number, saying that Cognetti and some of DeNaples' representatives already had it anyway.

A second subpoenaed Morning Call reporter, Christina Gostomski, said she had not been contacted. Associated Press reporter Marc Levy, also subpoenaed, did not recall inquiries about his cell phone number, said AP Pennsylvania Chief Sally Hale.

Dramatic dive earns underdog an Olympic spot - 2008 Olympics - SI.com

Wow.

Dramatic dive earns underdog an Olympic spot - 2008 Olympics - SI.com: "Dramatic dive earns underdog an Olympic spot

Swimmers finish races by touching the wall. But it track and horse races, the racers cross a line and have 'photo finishes.'

If they ever need to get horse races a spike in views -- they'll contest races to a wall.

Party at our house tonight

This is the night for our annual open house. Arrive at 6 pm to play badminton. Hope the wind stays quiet and the rain avoids us.

At 8 pm sharp, tonight, we'll be huddled by the TVs to watch the USA Swimming Olympic Trials. At 9 pm, the new TV can play the fireworks too -- or watch from the deck.

School's Out - City Paper coverage of Schenley's closure

School's Out - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh: "Shortly before school-board members voted on June 25 to close Schenley High School -- the building -- some board members pledged to seek funding to reopen the historic landmark in the future, while one board member made a last-ditch effort to save something he sees as more important: Schenley -- the school.

Asbestos removal won't cost $76-million. Here we go again. You know, we don't have that much energy to fight with those who are so clueless that they'd trip over the truth if it was set down in the path before them. Progress like this we don't need.

I was very warm to the proposals of Randall Taylor. Moving the entire Schenley school into Peabody, with the capacity, made good sense.

However, his approach to the battle was a puzzle. Taylor went into a battle where guns were blazing and armed himself with a pea shooter. I don't like the war lingo as we are all fighting for the sake of the kids. But, it would help to have a few of the proposals put on paper before they are made into motions within a school board meeting.

At least it would be wise to leak something to a blog or an email list.

Bush will attend opening ceremonies of Olympics - 2008 Olympics - SI.com

See ya there.

Bush will attend opening ceremonies of Olympics - 2008 Olympics - SI.comPresident Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, the White House said Thursday, quashing any talk of a presidential boycott over China's violent crackdown on Buddhist monks.

Check out the interview with Bob Barr

Got Ink: Double Trouble on the North Shore - Casino Journal - post-gazette.com

My solution, a long-time held and ranted one at that, to the Don Barden and slots parlor mess, got reprinted within the P-G.

Double Trouble on the North Shore - Casino Journal - post-gazette.com: ".. Says Mark Rauterkus:

'Send the builders over to the white elephant Convention Center. Have them roll in the slots machines there. Open the slots parlor next week. And, have the money that Don Barden does have go to pay down the debt of the failing Convention Center. And, Barden's folks can also run the Visit Pittsburgh outfit too. If Barden wants to build in the future -- he can do it in due time after the conditions change.'"

The only thing worse than the finance cruch these days is the cost of gasoline. And the two tragic situations meet and dance together when you look at the Convention Center coupled with the slots parlor not being built.

The Convention Center depends upon travelers. Exhibits, expo vendors, convention goers all need to travel to come to Pittsburgh to fill the Convention Center, week in and week out. That isn't happening. We don't have the hotel (thank goodness). We don't have the airplanes flying into the airport. We don't have the taxi drivers. We don't have the subsidization needs to bribe others to come to Pittsburgh for a fling at that big green building that is really a white elephant.

There is NO HOPE that the convention center is going to be utilized as it should.

We didn't we put Schenley High School in there. Then 1,000 kids and some dozen jobs would put the building to use. The sky is falling there -- for sure.

Don Barden could walk away from the North Shore and set up in The Strip District's Convention Center. And, he could run the booked Conventions that are slated for the weeks, months and years to come along with the slots business.

Taxpayers could foot half of council's legal bill - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Taxpayers could foot half of council's legal bill - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Taxpayers could foot half of council's legal bill

How about if the half that is NOT going to be paid for by Jim Ferlo comes from the excess budget that sits in the Law Department payroll -- since they should be terminated. If Council got rid of the boss of the Law Department, and perhaps had to legislate to get rid of the entire department, there would be plenty of savings and plenty of 'cash flow' to cover this bill, to be paid for by our treasury. I'd be fine with that.

But, city council thinks in other ways. They'd rather keep bad performers and just pay double and triple to others who have to come after and clean up the messes made. That's why the city has TWO sets of OVERLORDS. Council never was creative and vigilant in doing its job in the first place.

www.theyaomingfoundation.org

It is 38 days to the start of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

www.theyaomingfoundation.org

This guy, Yao Ming, must be nominated for "Man of the Year" for his work in southwest China in the period following the earthquake.

Hope his foot is feeling better too.

The first game of pool play for the USA Men Basketball Team is against China.

Builders stop casino work

Builders stop casino work Builders stop casino work
Barden does not pay $10 million, but cuts big deal with investor

Send the builders over to the white elephant Convention Center. Have them roll in the slots machines there. Open the slots parlor next week. And, have the money that Don Barden does have go to pay down the debt of the failing Convention Center. And, Barden's folks can also run the Visit Pittsburgh outfit too.

If Barden wants to build in the future -- he can do it in due time after the conditions change.

Trib says the three should be out of here

Conflict! Conflict! Conflict!: Three members of Pittsburgh City Council will vote themselves out of office today. At least that's what should happen to Council President Doug Shields, Bill Peduto and Bruce Kraus if, as expected, they cast a final vote for the public to cover the nearly $11,000 cost of employing a lawyer without the full council's approval. It's a clear conflict of interest that, given they will derive a pecuniary benefit -- not having to pay a private bill -- might just be considered self-dealing. But no matter what it is, it's wrong. And Messrs. Shields, Peduto and Kraus have no business staying on City Council.

More than just the Trib is saying these three should depart. The first shot along those lines came from the city's attorney.

Shields wants to make everything right by bending time. That's his best solution. He must be a good buddie with Dan Onorato who fixes the folly of the property assessments by turning back the clock to a time before he took office.

Kraus is clueless and offers no solution -- just questions. He'll talk for five minutes after being told by the chair to be brief. He is along for the ride and his rookie mate took another option by not showing up for work.

Kraus thinks that this is important. This is the job of the council, so he says. The $10,000 bill has already taken hours for weeks. There is a great need to have members of council knowing how to behave and how to act as individuals and as a body -- but -- those lessons need to be understood and demonstrated before getting onto council. And, the capacity to move with clarity has to be present too. A city in crisis does not have the luxury of providing "on the job behavior lessons" for clueless members of city council.

Shields can go.

Kraus can go.

Peduto can go too. Peduto can also win back his seat in the special election.

They could go. But, I don't predict that they will -- unless some players choose to put their skin in the game. The law department will not. Mayor Ravenstahl will not do anything extra either. And, members of council won't buck up on each other in any real measure. The missing factor is the "push come to shove" jagoff who cares about the pledge of Feb 14 and the commitment of no conflicts of interest: real, perceived and imagined.

PoliticsOnline - News, Tools & Strategies

PoliticsOnline - News, Tools & Strategies Call For Nominations

The 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics

Promise, spend, don't deliver. Make excuse. Pledge more spending. (nuts)

kBruce Kraus offers up another great spending quote:

Computerized city road paving plan going slowly 'I'm not certain that we're putting enough money into doing this,' said Councilman Bruce Kraus. He said some comparable cities have invested $300,000 in systems designed to ensure that paving decisions are made objectively. 'I want everything to be above board, and determined by need, rather than anything else.'

This should be open source software. That's what I'd do.

The city should not be spending any money on closed software solutions. None.

Furthermore, they toss around the 'transparent' word frequently. Prove to the citizens that the spending on the system is not up to snuff. Where is the system? What 200 miles of roads are in there? Where's there in the first place.

Welcome to 2008.

By the way, if Bruce wants to spend some money -- how about if he just hires himself to be a traffic cop on the city side of the Birmingham Bridge, the broken, one-lane bridge. Then he can insure that the traffic on East Carson Street flows.

kdka.com Blogs - Pyrite Age turns to Toe Jam Era

There is a KDKA TV News blog. Wow.

kdka.com Blogs Toe Jammed - Posted by jonesy

Seriously, how long does it take?

7-months ago I crushed my toe.

Too bad the graphic isn't show in a larger frame.

Off-duty officer wounds bystander, faces charges after fight

Off-duty officer wounds bystander, faces charges after fight'The gentleman who was in the physical altercation (with the officer) is an innocent victim as far as we can tell. He was just walking,' Chief Harper said.

I knew it would be a 5-4 vote -- but there were switches

I just watched the Pgh Public Schools board meeting from this week. The Schenley High School topic was part of the agenda.

Weird.

I had hoped to see Heather Arnet vote to KEEP Schenley High School. She didn't. She sided with Mark Roosevelt and the administration.

On the other side, I figured that Tom Sumpter would vote to allow for the closing of Schenley. He didn't. He was with the other black members on the board -- all voting to keep Schenley.

This could have been 5-4 the other way -- since Tom Sumpter voted to retain the school.

NBC offers wide online access for Beijing - SI.com - Olympics

NBC offers wide online access for Beijing - SI.com - Olympics NBC is making more than 2,200 hours of live competition from Beijing available online, giving Olympic junkies more action than they could ever devour in a day.

After barely tipping its toe in the digital world during past Olympics, the network will dive into the deep end: live blogging, 3,000 hours of highlights on demand, daily recaps and analysis and even fantasy league gaming. That's in addition to the 1,400 hours of coverage planned on six television networks, more than the combined total of every previous Summer Olympics.

City Worried About Losing Money If Casino Work Stops - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

It is not too late to turn over the Pittsburgh Convention Center to Don Barden. He could open the slots parlor there. Then finish the building of the other location in due time.

Pittsburgh could have killed two birds with the same stone by doing this sooner. We'd be with the new income since the end of the All Star Game fan fest.

City Worried About Losing Money If Casino Work Stops - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: "A $780 million Majestic Star Casino is projected to be a sparkling new economic generator for the Pittsburgh region, but there are new questions about funding.

Owner Don Barden has until Monday to come up with $10 million for the contractors who are building his casino on the North Shore. If the payment is missed, work could stop or slow down, and the city would suffer financially."

Why we fight for Schenley

Why we fight for Schenley Last fall, the superintendent's office stepped on a hornet's nest when it proposed the end of historic Schenley High School. While I won't address the achievement gap or renovation costs -- wonks on both sides have debated these to death -- I'd like to explain, or try to, the zealotry with which we're dealing.

Schenley is a blended school community. Schenley should not be flushed down the toilet, and lost for the future of this city, because some fibers are buried in some of the walls.

The killer: Roosevelt's reform says deform what isn't broken.

Read the editorial.

City-county merger meeting to be held

City-county merger meeting to be held Council received a citizens' petition yesterday calling for the hearing, and deemed the signatures valid. The drive's organizer was John Singleton of Sheraden, and most of those signing the petition were from the city's western neighborhoods.

I signed this petition. Great work John.

John went to the public hearing and also ranted about the closing of Schenley High School.

Cathedral of Learning falcon dies after collision

Cathedral of Learning falcon dies after collision A young peregrine falcon, banded last month atop the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland, died yesterday when it slammed into a Rand Building window and broke its neck.

At least it wasn't killed at 11:30 pm from crossfire from patrons from the "O."

Merger of CAPA and Rodgers is so typical and not what we should do

Roids -- make you go bald -- #12 used em too

Bradshaw Admits To Using Steroids, so says WPXI.com.

Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw told a reporter he used steroids and
that a doctor administered the injections. VIDEO: Former Steeler LC Greenwood Comments On Steroids

http://www.wpxi.com/tu/5yP5S1OpX.html

P-G coverag of last nights meetings -- part 2 -- Parents were told to leave the building!

Schenley No. 1 topic at meeting
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A leader of the Save Schenley movement last night made a last-ditch appeal to save the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building, but Pittsburgh Public Schools officials again insisted the structure isn't safe.

Okay -- for the sake of discussion -- let's say Schenley isn't safe today. Then what? I was pleased to hear the questions that came from Mrs. Hazuda about fixing Schenley. The fact that Schenley isn't safe is one thing. But, none within the administration are trying to fix it. She wanted to know how it could be done to make Schenley safe into the future. Good questions. But they were not interested. They said -- well, you know, you've got to get building permits to do that. Like building permits are a deal breaker.

Board member Theresa Colaizzi, angry that Mr. Lardas was given time to speak, stalked from the room and returned after he had finished.

Childish, to say the least.

Mr. Lardas said the reports, commissioned by the district, show that the building remains safe for students and that there's no widespread collapse of asbestos-containing plaster. But district officials said the architects and engineers repeatedly have told them that the district no longer can risk exposing students and staff to asbestos.

Mr. Roosevelt and Paul Gill, the district's chief operations officer, said the qualifications of their industrial hygienists and other experts trumped those of Mr. Lardas, a civil engineer and contractor.

"He's not an expert in this field," Mr. Roosevelt said.

Aim arrow. Shoot messenger. Great for you Mr. Roosevelt.

The asbestos in the walls isn't going anywhere. It does not make a danger.

Board members Mark Brentley Sr. and Randall Taylor assailed Education Committee Chairman Thomas Sumpter, who presided at the workshop, for using the first 90 minutes to list and rank members' concerns about improving the district's high schools.

The pair wanted to spend the time asking administrators about Schenley and other high-school issues up for a vote tomorrow.

"What kind of game are we playing here?" Mr. Brentley said.

Mr. Taylor said the listing and ranking of concerns on large sheets of paper was a "filibuster" designed to prevent discussion of controversial issues. When Mr. Sumpter asked him to rank the concerns written on the sheets, Mr. Taylor said, "Hand me a couple of darts, and I'll throw them over there."

Mr. Sumpter said the board was divided into "two camps" on Schenley. He said some of his colleagues didn't understand that the workshop was intended to be an exercise in policy analysis, not a "rabble-rousing" session or forum for discussing Schenley exclusively.

Before the workshop, about six parents and other supporters held a news conference outside district offices to protest the proposed merger of the middle-grade and high-school arts schools. Among other complaints, the group said there wouldn't be enough space in the Downtown building to accommodate both schools.

Because of rain, the group tried to meet inside board offices but were told to leave.
Joe Smydo can be reached at jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.

Nothing is more telling than that. Parents were told to leave!

Schenley asbestos findings challenged by residents - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

I went to this meeting last night. It started at 6 pm and ended past 10 pm. I've got a lot to say.

We witnessed the worse of the worse. I would have rather have been in a dentist chair than see the behavior of the school board and the top school administrators. It was painful. They got to think out loud and some of them should never do that in public.

Last night Tom Sumptner, elected school board memeber, was the captain. He took charge of the microphone, standing, writing on the big post-it notes, and proved next to nothing except how folly should unfold.

The school board and superintendent spent hours in fruitless discussion so as to rearange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

The highlight of the meeting was a mini presentation from fellow parent, Nick Lardis. He went 100-miles an hour to knock the school districts spin silly only to have board president Bill Isler ask if Lardis was a certified engineer. They all shot the messenger -- missing the message.

I should be clear to qualify both Isler and Sumpter as "outgoing elected school board members" because their present terms are so soiled that they'll never win re-election again.

Schenley asbestos findings challenged by residents - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Schenley asbestos findings challenged by district residents
By Bill Zlatos, TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Supporters of Schenley High School disagreed Monday night with officials of Pittsburgh Public Schools over the danger of asbestos in the building.

"Now, from everything I've seen in the reports and from what I know about plaster and asbestos, the building is as safe as any other Pittsburgh public school for students to be in," said Nick Lardas, 53, of Oakland.

Lardas, who runs a contracting company that specializes in historical renovation, made the comment during the school board's workshop on high school reform.

His qualifications were immediately challenged by district officials.

"Were I to hire you to tell us about asbestos at Schenley, I should be fired," said chief operations officer Paul Gill.

Gill said the district has received four reports from architectural firms stressing the risk of asbestos-containing plaster at the landmark high school in Oakland.

He said the majority of plaster samples in Schenley show levels of about 3 percent asbestos, with some as high as 7 percent. The safety threshold is 1 percent asbestos.

The school board is scheduled to vote Wednesday night on a recommendation by Superintendent Mark Roosevelt to close the school because of that risk and the estimated $76.2 million cost to overhaul the school.

"Mr. Lardas is a reputable contractor," Roosevelt said. "He is not an expert in the (asbestos) field."

Citing advice from the architects and Solicitor Ira Weiss, Roosevelt added, "It is inconceivable to me that we would be discussing to have students in the building."

Before yesterday's meeting, the Task Force for Excellence in Education at CAPA -- a parents' group -- held a news conference to discuss its opposition to the proposed merger of Rogers Middle School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Garfield with the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Downtown.

"It's just not a matter of packing it up and bringing it over," said Linda Doernberg, 58, of Point Breeze. She has four daughters who went to the Pittsburgh High School CAPA, three of whom went to Rogers.

Parents raised concerns about possibly cramming students into rooms, greater wear on facilities and equipment, safety and the teacher-student ratio.

Doernberg complained that a feasibility committee met just once on the merger. The school board is scheduled to vote next month.

Bill Zlatos can be reached at bzlatos@tribweb.com or 412-320-7828.

The superintendent, the attorney, Ira Weiss, Mr. Gill of the facilities side are reading from The Old Testament. Over and over and over again we've heard about the things in the past. Roosevelt calls names and dwells on things that happened last summer, last fall, last reports, last decade, last superintendent. He is Mr. Rear-View Mirror.

The board of the school district listed dozens of serious issues about how the district is failing to meet its established goals, and Mr. Roosevelt is only about to whine about how this is the cost of doing business in this city.

The engagement sucks. Mr. Lartis got the microphone and another outgoing elected school board member, Theresa Colazzi, stormed out of the room, fearing that her mind might be opened, beyond her control.

Mr. Roosevelt wants his "high school reform" to "meet the kids where they are." Somehow, he thinks boutique schools are going to accomplish that mission for the district. Pittsburgh is just bursting at the seams with 5th graders who are itching to get into a Science and Technology focused career path. Or, I.B. Or, with 2 hours of violin a day for the next seven years when you can't change majors, or University Prep.

If there is anyone in the world with fewer credentials of meeting kids in Pittsburgh "where they are," beyond Mr. Roosevelt, they must live in Antarctica.

Just for the record for those who were there. I want our kids to graduate. Yes, it is important to graduate, school board -- as that was debated a bit. And the PPS experience should aim to make lifelong learners from its students. The classroom lessons should put a value on critical thinking. The kids need to know how to better oneself, and that should be done in association with our schools -- with engagement.

Presently, the school board and the district is nothing but a waste of time and money, as proven last night in spade.

Kids drop out. Families leave. They say the district in in declining enrollment. But they don't see themselves as the cause of that poor performance nor the outward migration of the city's residents.

It is ironic how they worry about the 'big picture' and about being 'open minded' but then storm out of meetings when a different perspective comes. They can't even add numbers nor keep time.

It took 2-hours into the meeting to the point where it should have started. No wonder the principal at Oliver can't execute a school year for seniors. They don't value time nor know how to manage it.

Reform for them sounds like "de-form" for the city.

To reform, one needs to see what is before us at present. Then chart a course for the future based upon where we are now. Mr. Roosevelt said staging the reform agenda is the hardest part of the process for him. Of course it is because he is lost on the course as to where we are today. He can't meet the kids where they are. He can't meet the citizens where they are. He can't stage a series of changes that make sense as he is clueless on what has been unfolding in this district the past years. And, he's been her for three years as well. He has no excuse.

These "Schenley supporters" who don't listen are really just city taxpayers, parents, and experts that can't be purchased. My opinion, as a parent and connected person of the community, can't be bought. I'm not for sale. My report is not able to be hired.

Only a fool like Roosevelt would stand behind experts and think that the opposition won't understand that experts can craft the reports that the one's paying the bills want them to generate.

The out of town experts are meaningless when contrasted with the un-paid, in-town, insulted yet still in your face, parents and students who pay for these schools and still show up in them day after day.

When we go away, there will be nobody to attend his boutique schools. And, many are tugging at us to just go away and allow for the collapse of the city and the school district.

When does the lesson on 'fight or flight' get taught in the science and tech lesson plans?

The fight rages on. We will win because they proved, last night, again, that they are clueless and without logic.

The building at Schenley has troubles. We understand that. Fix it. Fix it when the kids are not there.

Now we are hearing that the building was a danger and yadda, yadda, yadda -- go talk to the solictor and read from the Old Testament again. That's a rear-view mirror approach. Fix it.

Moving to the four other schools costs more. It is more expensive to not just fix it.

The asbestos that is in Schenley is just like that of the other buildings in the district. It needs to be managed. Manage it. Do the job that needs to be done. And, be honest about it.

We don't want our kids to be in a dangerous building. And, we don't want to be paying for a palace either. But most of all, we don't want to put our kids in failed buildings that cost plenty for the short term and have no upside with those investements.

We don't want to toss good money, rare money, down the drain in Reizenstein. Sell Reizenstein. That wasn't mentioned once last night. There is no plan for the long-term home for the I.B. students and the middle school ISA (Internation Studies Students).

A committee without names, without budgets and without a track record of getting anything done in the spirit of engagement in PPS, does not make for a plan.

Finally, around 10 pm last night, Randall Taylor, elected school board member, talked about some of his plans. His plans save millions of dollars. Perhaps up to $15 million in a two year period and millions each year for the future as well.

Furthermore, the Taylor plan saves good schools and helps to boost lagging schools.

Furthermore, not another board member said a peep about what he delivered.

Furthermore, there was not even a peep from the Administration about Tayor's plan. The only grunts from our paid administration was clarification that the solutions would fit and would save millions.

But, that came at the very end.

Randall Taylor's plan is to move Robotics from Schenley into Peabody. That is already happening with the Roosevelt High School Reform efforts. Plus, Taylor wants to move all the rest of Schenley's students, I.B., Spartans, ESL, etc., as well as all the faculty, staff and support people too -- into Peabody High School. Everyone in the school would go together into Peabody and join with those at Peabody now.

Peabody is a big, rehabed, building that is way under capacity. And, Peabody has the space.

Moving into Peabody means Reizenstein, presently closed, could be sold. No short term money is needed there for a temporary solution.

Moving into Peabody means that Frick does not need to change. That saves $14-million.

Moving into Peabody means that Milliones does not need to be set up as is under the present plan.

Furthermore, Taylor wants to see the extra two floors that have been purchased at CAPA be devoted to high school students. Expand the high school component there. Don't move the middle school to CAPA.

The Peabody + Schenley School gets I.B. as well as a mix of other disciplines, as a blended high school experience in an accessible space.

Plus, the science and technology programs gets into Westinghouse High School.

The closed Knoxville School -- opens with a petition?

Some attendees said they would like to see Knoxville Middle School reopened in the summer as a recreational site. The school, which closed in 2007, has a gymnasium, auditorium, swimming pool, playground, and basketball courts that would keep children off the street, said the attendees.

Mr. Kraus told them to get a signed petition and take it to the school board, and he would back them.

There's a plan.

CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger"

CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger
Parents Feel Decision Overshadowed By Schenley Controversy

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- CAPA High parents spoke out against a plan that would merge the schools their children attend on Monday night.

The proposal calls for the merging CAPA and Rogers CAPA.

Parents said the plan has not received a lot of attention because of the decision to close Schenley High School.

Linda Doernberg is a chairwoman of the Task Force for Excellence and has children that graduated from both schools.

Doernberg voiced her concern about the priority of the possible merger and said, "Shockingly there has been one meeting of the feasibility committee for this merger and it was held on June 11...one meeting."

Opponents said the merge does not make sense financially.

They said if both schools merge, the academic credibility of its staff will decline.

CAPA is not a 'clown car.' I love that sign. I had the photo on this blog weeks ago.

I've been talking about CAPA and Rodgers for many months.

CAPA is a good high school. It is the best in the district with academics. The best should be expanded, if not replicated. The district should expand and allow more students into CAPA, given the extra two floors. Keep CAPA as a school that ranges from 9-12th grade.

Don't put kids in grades 6, 7 and 8 into CAPA. Don't short-change the middle-school experience by cutting out their access to stage space. Don't put yellow school buses on downtown streets. Rodgers is a good school. It should be replicated, not jammed into downtown spaces.

SAVE MONEY. Keep it where it is for now.

First meeting of the Campaign for Liberty: 7 pm on June 26, 2008

I'd like to invite you all to the first meeting of the Campaign for Liberty. The mission statement can be found here: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/mission/

Details regarding the meeting can be found here:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/97/calendar/8170348/

I'd like to see this group as a network of activist networks, building on the meetings begun last year at Tom K's house, with the Libertarian party, Constitution party, Republican Assembly, Second Amendment groups, etc. all communicating and cooperating on the liberty activist front.

Ideally, we will go over the agenda items for CfL, then each group represented should be able to go over their current slate of activities (ie: LP-Barr's and CP-Baldwin's presidential campaigns, anti REAL-ID, voting system audits, etc). Afterwards, I'd like to break up into discussion/planning groups, and people looking to get active can choose which projects to work on.

We should have computers, wireless access and printers available.

Whether you are just looking for information on the liberty agenda or interested getting active, this should be one of the best opportunities to advance the liberty agenda since the start of the Ron Paul primary campaign, and I would encourage all to come, whether or not you can be active right away.

I hope to see you all there!
-Dave Powell, Chairman, LP-PGH, Co-Org, PAFA

Libertarians 'may send a message' to the GOP - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Front page coverage, again, on Ron Paul, in today's Trib.

Libertarians 'may send a message' to the GOP - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Libertarians 'may send a message' to the GOP

Wonder when the coverage is going to flip to Bob Barr? Will he get two front page stories from the Trib in the weeks after the election too?

4th of July invite

The 4th of July is coming again (it does that every year!) and we are having our annual party. Here are the details…

6 pm:Badminton in the park by our house (Armstrong Park, 12th and Sarah).

If you don’t want to play or watch badminton, plan to show up at the house (108 S. 12th Street) any time after 7 pm.

We’ll have the usual arts and crafts and some “water” games.

Remember, we supply napkins, plates, utensils, cups and lemonade and chips. If you want something more exciting (and we hope you do), please bring some to share (food or beverage).

You’ll be viewing the downtown fire works from our deck just after dark.

For those of you who came last year amidst our renovations in progress, all the renovations are finished and we’d love for you to see the final product!

Everyone is welcome – please feel free to bring friends, relatives, etc.

If you need to reach us, call 412-298-3526 or email at mark@rauterkus.com.

Hope to see you.

Mark, Catherine, Erik, and Grant
(Sarah (two year old cat) and two kittens, Sam and Lyla.

Homework is still due: Re-asking questions to the Pgh Public School board and administration

This is from citizen, parent, advocate: Kathy Fine. It is a reposted here, with pleasure, with slight edits. My reactions to follow, later.

June 23, 2008

Dear PPS board members,

As we all seek the information necessary to make an informed decision regarding the fate of Schenley High School, it is important to remember that we are all on the same side. We all want a public school system that serves ALL children. We all want to be fiscally responsible in that quest. We all want our voices to be heard and to be given real consideration when it comes to the education of our children.

Below are 3 questions to which we need clear and detailed answers to before anyone can consider closing the Schenley building:

1. What are the 5 and 10 year vision if the district? How will high school reform affect the other 9 PPS high schools?

2. Given that Schenley High School is the only high school between the rivers (besides Alderdice and CAPA) that is not perceived by the public as in an “unsafe” location, where will the IB students be housed if Schenley is closed?

3. What is the cost for a renovation that would make the building safe and available on a no frills basis?

I know that this process has been difficult for everyone involved. There are no easy answers. We know that the administration is trying to do what is right to make our students safe as well as address the wide array of academic needs of all of our students. But there is usually more than one option when solving a problem, and we would like all of those options to be thoroughly evaluated.

We would like to thank each of you for your dedication to our public schools. We realize that it is often a thankless job, but one that is so important to the success of our public schools and the vitality of our city.

Best Regards,
Kathy Fine

---

Questions that School Board Directors need answered before voting to close Schenley High School

1. Schenley Remediation

1. Why did the plaster start falling in the Schenley building?

1. Administration response:

   1. The district yesterday said the installation of new windows in 2005 has reduced ventilation, contributed to humidity and weakened the plaster. (PG 11/20/07)

   2. On June 18, 2008 Mr. Vidya Patil, Director of Facilities, PPS, reiterated the often repeated statement that the cause of the falling plaster from the ceilings in Schenley High School is due to delamination (failure to adhere) caused by age.

2. Reality: Failing plaster is due to repeated water exposure from roof leaks, possible ventilation problems, inadequate plaster repairs by PPS facilities, and delayed repair (WJE Conclusions, Materials experts hired by PPS, 10/07, tab 8, pg 7)

2. When did the falling plaster begin and how large the problem?

1. Administration Response:

1. Mr. Fellers said in a report that "ceiling and wall plaster (particularly on the upper floors) is falling away from surfaces on a recurring basis" (PG 11/20/07)

2. After a ceiling collapse in a stairwell last summer, the district spent $750,000 to repair 10,000 worn areas of plaster building-wide. (PG 11/20/07)

2. Reality: WJE reports that Robert Kennedy, PPS Facilities, stated that there were 5,000-10,000 patches were repaired last summer (tab 8, pg 2). Mr. Roosevelt repeatedly states only the 10,000 number. This is often reported as failure on a grand scale. However, the Schenley building has approximately 600,000 to 1 million square feet of plaster (ceiling and wall). If there were 5,000 one square foot patches done, this would be only .5% of the total ceiling space in Schenley needing repair.

The piece of plaster that Mr. Fellers refers as a “ceiling collapse” was a 4’X4’ piece of patch that had been repaired improperly (PPS facilities did not use mesh or latex modifiers/plasticizers which is why some patches failed. (documentation here)

3. What is the recommendation for solving the falling plaster problem?

1. Administration response

1. Astorino: Vacate and gut the building. “It would be difficult to determine the magnitude of overall danger of possible plaster failures in the future. It is important to understand that danger does exist and requires constant monitoring” (Astorino, tab 1, pg 2)

2. Kimball and Assoc.: Vacate the Schenley building until it can be adequately renovated. “Asbestos plaster of this era typically adheres to substrate very well (that was the purpose for putting asbestos in plaster) (tab 1, pg 3). This is not true, asbestos is put in plaster for fireproofing and increased tensile strength. “The plaster in this building has maintained its integrity for approximately 90 years and started to fail almost universally across the entire building.” (tab 1, pg 3) Also untrue, plaster failure was due to ongoing, unaddressed moisture exposure according to WJE.

3. Note: MacLachlan, Cornelius and Filoni made no statement regarding the immediate removal of the students and staff or to potential danger posed asbestos or falling plaster, only that the major renovations should be done while the building is vacant. It should also be noted that the Filoni report initially contained a section evaluating the costs of renovating Reizenstein for converting into a high school and evaluating the worth of Reizenstein building, but this section was redacted before it was released to the public.

2. Reality: According to WJE, the materials expert hired to assess falling plaster, PPS should: fix leaks to stop moisture, repoint mortar joints, hire engineer to assess ventilation system, inspect plaster near any roof repairs, use proper techniques to repair plaster (use mesh or latex modifiers to do it correctly, PPS facilities did not do this, that is why some patches failed), periodically inspect for future plaster distress.

Summary of damaged plaster assessment: WJE, the materials experts hired by the PPS, evaluated the remediation of the patches done on the PPS facilities and states most areas of plaster failure had been identified and that correct repair methods and periodic monitoring along with proper ventilation will be sufficient for safety. However, the administration, Astorino, Kimball looked at the evaluation done by WJE and came to completely different, more dire conclusions. If roof leaks and ventilation are repaired, there is no reason to keep students out of the building in the fall. Humidity, poor ventilation, water infiltration and windows not opening can be remedied in a cost effective manner.

4. What is the cost of only asbestos removal?

1. Administration response: Robert Kennedy states that asbestos removal will cost about $40 million.

2. Reality: Al Filoni reports that estimates for asbestos management range from $3.5 million to $30 million, but he estimates that the costs would be closer to $10.5 million.

5. What is cost of asbestos removal and new ventilation only?

1. Administration response: Mr. Roosevelt said he fears that a partial renovation merely would mean doing more work down the road. Two Kimball executives said they doubted a partial project would be feasible now anyway because the falling plaster would prevent the asbestos from being encapsulated (PG, 11/20/07)

2. Reality: The standard management of non-friable asbestos (the type that is present in the plaster at Schenley and is not a risk to health) according to the EPA is to leave it in place. Even the plaster that has fallen has not released asbestos into the air (AGX report) The ventilation system can be replaced/repaired during the summer when no students are in the building and abatement of asbestos around ducts can be done at that time.

Two Kimball officials -- Thomas Blank, vice president and operations manager for the civil and environmental division, and Ryan Pierce, vice president of K-12 architecture -- today said the $37.8 million estimate was made before plaster began falling away. The low estimate included encapsulating the asbestos, which is cheaper than removal. However, encapsulation is not possible when the plaster is falling down.

6. Can the work be done to make Schenley safe for students/staff and the rest of the renovation (electrical, plumbing, air conditioning) be done in stages as funds become available? Will this add substantially to the costs?

7. What is the scope of work that will be done at Schenley for the $76 million costs?

1. Administration response- Mr. Roosevelt yesterday released six renovation cost estimates, the highest an $86.9 million proposal from L. Robert Kimball & Associates in 2005. That proposal included $500,000 for refurbishing an organ. Ryan M. Pierce, the Downtown firm's vice president and market sector leader, said the proposal was not only a renovation but a "restoration" of the building. (PG 11/20/07)

2. Reality: It is unnecessary and extravagant to perform a “restoration” on the Schenley building at this time.

8. What are the costs to remove all asbestos and make the building available on a no frills basis?

9. What is the level of asbestos in Schenley compared to the level of asbestos present in the other six PPS high schools?

1. Administration response: “It's in every wall, in every ceiling, on every floor," and more prevalent in Schenley than other district schools, the district's chief operations officer, said Richard Fellers, (PG 11/20/07).

1. Paul Gill states that what differentiates Schenley from other high schools is that extensive work was done at Peabody and Westinghouse. What does that mean? Was asbestos abated completely at these other two high schools? Is there asbestos in the plaster at these schools?

2. Reality: Awaiting documentation from administration.

10. What is the total cost for housing the Schenley students in 3 separate facilities?

1. Administration response: In October 2007, the cost estimates from the administration for renovations at Reizenstein, Milliones and Peabody were $28.2 million. Add the costs for CAPA expansion and Sci-Tech renovation and the administration was proposing to spend $49.3 million.

2. Reality: Architect Al Filoni placed the renovation costs for Reizenstein at $50 million, bringing the total cost for housing Schenley students to $64 million. This cost does not reflect the soaring construction costs or the fact that the Milliones and Sci-Tech price tags are most likely grossly underestimated as the cost for Reizenstein was.

2. General Questions

1. What are the 5 and 10 year plans for the district?

2. What are the plans for the other nine high schools?

3. Shouldn’t we have a permanent location for the IB program before any decision is made regarding Schenley?

Wilkinson dives into effort to replace training facility

This sucks. Business decision, or not.

Wilkinson dives into effort to replace training facility UT isn't the only university to find divers at the Woodlands. 'Well over 140 divers have received Division I scholarships; that's every single diver for the last 19 or 20 years who graduated,' Armstrong said. 'That's our No. 1 goal, to get their education paid for. The Olympics is just the icing on the cake.'"

UT isn't the only university to find divers at the Woodlands. "Well over 140 divers have received Division I scholarships; that's every single diver for the last 19 or 20 years who graduated," Armstrong said. "That's our No. 1 goal, to get their education paid for. The Olympics is just the icing on the cake."

New plan for pool

The Woodlands, which opened in 1974, boasts that it is the first master-planned community in Texas, and it is certainly one of the largest, most successful and well known. In 2000, the bedroom community 25 miles north of Houston had a population that exceeded 55,000; it's now approaching 90,000. The community was the vision of oil and gas magnate George Mitchell and was designed to be an alternate to the sprawling suburbs, incorporating nature and outdoor activities into everyday life. The private athletic club, with its swimming and diving facilities, was one of the development's original amenities.

Of the Woodlands' diving well, Scoggin said, "It's my favorite outdoor facility in the world. It's surrounded by all these pine trees. It's picturesque and pristine, and it's neat the way the way they can pack the crowd around the pool. It's like tennis at Wimbledon."

The Woodlands will open a new $5 million aquatic center this year. Instead of platforms and springboards, however, the kid-friendly facility will have a lazy river for floating and a two-story slide.

Susan Vreeland-Wendt, marketing director for the Woodlands Development Corp., which controls land use in the community, confirmed that the club is scheduled to close at the end of the year.

"The cost of renovation would be pretty big," she said. "I really can't say anything specifically, but we're looking at a lot of options."

Possible uses for the club site include townhomes, condominiums or an expansion of the Woodlands' resort and conference center.

Armstrong said there were plans to close the club before the 2008 Olympics, but the development corporation has kept it open so that the divers would have somewhere to train.

"I thank them for letting us stay," Armstrong said. "I'm sad to see it go. I have some strong feelings for this, but I understand it's totally a business decision."

Let's do some math.

There have been 140 college scholarships x $80,000 (average) = $11-million in college aid.

The boost to the local economic situation in terms of hosting events, property values, and so on ... priceless.

Schenley High School - put into perspective

Most taxpayers and citizens don't realize the size of the Pgh Public School budget. But, everyone has an opinion. Vote in these questions on the blog poll.

Can we spend 1% of the school district's budget for 20 years so that Schenley High School can house almost 20% of the district's high school students for the next 100 years?

I think that will be a blog poll question shortly.

Should the Pittsburgh Board of Education place a moratorium on all capital spending in connection with High School reform until the district has presented for public review and comment a plan for High School reform (including the configuration, projected capital costs, location and projected enrollment for each school)?

---

Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics
School of Architecture
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-3890
Phone : (412) 268-2350
Fax : (412) 268-6129
http://www.arc.cmu.edu/cbpd

To the School Board Members, Foundation Leaders and City Council:

This is not a 74 million dollar question of whether to Save Schenley or not.

The question is “Should we spend over 60 million to move 1200 kids out of Schenley into ‘boutique’ schools in less safe neighborhoods and lesser buildings on the assumption that smaller 6-12 schools will improve academic performance?”
The question is “Should we give up one of our highest academically performing schools in the best location in town (for collaborative magnets on science, technology, health, and more) and move kids to lower performing schools, on an unproven assumption of yet another ‘silver bullet’ for improving academic performance?”

The question is “should we repair and upgrade a grand, crafted school building that has 50-100 years left, or should we repair and upgrade buildings with 20 years of life left, sinking our tax dollars into oblivion?”

Even if you have no children left in the Pittsburgh Schools, the answer to these questions will affect your economic future. Our future tax base is dependent on continuing to attract young families to live in the city, and every resident will tell you this is school dependent. Only three high schools give prospective residents confidence: Allderdice, CAPA and Schenley, and real estate values reflect this directly. The value of your own real estate, and the viability of our city, is dependent on the quality and proven success of our schools. Of course, there is significant room for academic improvement, but you want to start with the highest base you can find, a school that effectively merges diverse populations with shared success.

Then, there is the question about the true condition and costs of renovating Schenley. Though worn, Schenley is a perfectly adequate learning environment as is, in fact far superior to any of Schools under discussion since it is a truly ‘green’ school with daylight, natural ventilation, thermal mass, and highly crafted construction. While the cracking plaster that contains modest amounts of asbestos should be abated (taken out) or encapsulated (covered), monthly measurements have shown it is not a danger to students. Estimates vary from a few million to 10 million to remove and resurface all 300,000 square feet of Schenley. 5-10 million is all that must be spent to save Schenley, unless we want to restore the building to its full glory with the most up-to-date laboratories and amenities. This was done in rival Cleveland with State and Federal support, where John Jay High School was renovated into a breathtaking destination for three smaller magnet schools – a success story we should all see first hand.

To act in a professional manner, the school board and the superintendent must:

* Secure three binding bids from leading US firms to undertake asbestos abatement now, considering all choices. This task that must be undertaken even if the building is to be sold.

* Secure 1-3 binding bids for upgrading the schools that would be absorbing the 1200 Schenley students, if a move was really in the best interest of our kids, so full comparisons can be made.

* Complete a 5 and 10 year plan for School closings and re-assignments that reflect comprehensive assessments of the academic, space and location benefits of each school, and the range of student populations that can be anticipated (especially if school confidence is assured and fuel prices remain high).

* Demonstrate to the residents (and future residents) that merging middle and high school populations into one school building definitively improve educational outcomes and that the scheduling, space and advising challenges of housing 11 and 18 year olds together has been fully resolved.

These tasks must be accomplished before decisions are made by the School Board.

Given that there has been inadequate research on the value of boutique 6-12 schools to academic outcomes; Given that there has been inadequate planning to establish the ‘ultimate’ school portfolio for the next 10 years; Given that there has been inadequate planning to work through the chaos of merging middle and upper school schedules and spaces; Given that there has been inadequate cost estimating on any of the ‘domino’ schools in play; Given the extensive press on “we don’t have 74 million dollars to spend” - there is no way the Schenley question can be put on a public referendum and receive unbiased or informed votes.

Yours Sincerely,


Vivian Loftness, FAIA (Fellow of the American Institute of Architects)
Professor and 1994-2004 Head of the School of Architecture
Carnegie Mellon University
Board of Directors, US Green Building Council

"The children that feed into Schenley are not going to disappear."

Elected Pgh Public School schoolboard member, Tom Sumpter, said, "The children that feed into Schenley are not going to disappear."

WRONG.

If and as Schenley High School closes -- people will depart. They are not going to be here. And most of all -- the city is still bleeding its people.

The city's population is in a tailspin of decline.

Sadly, I'm not sure that the members of the board understand that the families are packing and that many others have already departed.

Thankfully, the Pgh Public Schools is holding a workshop meeting on Monday.

Oliver's seniors fell short on days

OMG.

Oliver's seniors fell short on days: "Oliver's seniors fell short on days
District blames principal, seeks waiver from state

They administration just proved our point! They are so worried about Schenley, that they are able to ignore the schools that need the attention, need to oversight, need the coaching, need the support.

What is the plan with Oliver?

Clue to the public -- there is none. They don't have a plan for Oliver at present. It is impossible to have a five year plan for them when this year's plan is so deficient.

Colbert Bump for Firefox 3

Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits

Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits: "AP v. Bloggers: Hurting Journalism?"

KQV/Pittsburgh News Loses Steve Lohle

To say I was shocked to see that KQV Newsman Steve Lohle died suddenly today of an apparent heart attack was an unterstatement.

The last time I spoke with Steve was last year when I called to tell him that my short-stint as a Metro traffic reporter was over. As usual, when a friend was getting screwed, Steve would utter a cloud of obscenities that would make you laugh. When I was on the air last year there were a couple of "lines" we'd share with one another and I could hear the smile in his voice.

Guys with booming voices and penchant for humorous fits of cussing got to stick together, you know.

Steve was the kind of guy who "saw it all" in radio news. He had been at KQV since 1974. Once he knew he could trust me, we hit it off. He was my best friend in the KQV newsroom, and with folks like Maloney, Goldman, Hagman, Cloonan, Effort, Riley and Ballarotto, there wasn't a loser in the bunch.

Dan Wineberg solemnly talked about Steve at the top of the 5 p.m. hour then played a canned interview between Maloney and Lohle. Steve, as usual, was shy "being interviewed" then came alive when he laughed.

KQV General Manager Robert W. Dickey called Steve "The Voice" of the Station. Dickey also mentioned that Steve "confided in him" that he wanted to "go" like Tim Russert almost a week to the hour prior. Dickey and I agree: God was listening.

I vividly remember taking the call from Steve when he informed the newsroom that his wife Barbara had given birth to his son Colin, who is now 10. We often talked about fatherhood as he was a "late in life" Dad. Over the years after I left KQV, I'd call to check in on Steve. He'd always answer the phone in a gruff manner. When I'd say hello, he'd say "Tommmmy." Then we'd share stories.

Wineberg's voice justed cracked just a smidge when he read "The Late Steve Lohle" at the conclusion of the taped interview just before 5:15 p.m. It's hard to comprehend.

Steve Lohle was my best friend at KQV. Please say a prayer for this wonderful man and his family.