Rip, Weap, Pray

We're just back from a family vacation. Our gang gathered for five days in Eastern PA at a state park with lots of swimming, kayak, fishing and plenty of together time.

Sadly, the vacation for the Leech family of the Pittsburgh / Fox Chapel went with a tragic ending. Swimming and beach play clashed with a rip tide and the father, Tony, age 44, (same as me), died.

Sons, ages of 11 and 10, got caught in a rip current off the beach on the Pacific. Leech and a local resident went into the surf to save the boys. Three survived.

This past winter it was my great pleasure to coach and interact with a swimmer on the varsity team at Fox Chapel Area High School. Her uncle was taken. In these times, my family and I pray for all in the Leech family. Such a tragic loss.

A Trib article, Rip currents: An uncertain threat makes for a meaningful content for a family huddle.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_207382.html

About Mr. Leech: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/pittsburgh/s_207386.html

In the weeks to come, our family will be headed out for another swim in the ocean. This painful loss will press on our minds, always. My, how conditions can swirl and things are never again the same.

Welcome to the neighborhood

Move over Cheesecake Factory.
A new, indie, Cinci-based bookstore is to come to the South Side. Welcome to the hood.

Pgh Biz Times article

The city-wide literacy figures, however, are something to ponder. Bet the sales are less than third best in the chain. Time will tell.

What jerk would go ahead and change a petition question?

Trib News

A petition was circulated. People signed it knowing that what they signed would HOPEFULLY be put upon the ballot in November.

Only a complete jerk who was trying to submarine the democratic process would CHANGE the ballot question.

Now the Mayor's office has grounds to fight to get the ballot question removed from the ballot. The question isn't the same. People didn't sign for something else.

Furthermore, any group that goes to the effort of putting a petition drive together should have a well crafted, meaningful question to propose to the citizens and to the voters. They must have their reasons, right?

I really think we need to have MUCH MORE ACCOUNTABILITY as to WHO were the ones to change the question as it headed to the ballot. Names, offices, phone numbers.

"The (county) election department counted the signatures when the petition was filed and they appeared to be OK," said Al Opsitnick of the Allegheny County law department. "But we rephrased the question because it was not clear that the Home Rule Charter would be amended."

In court papers filed by the city, officials argue that the "county does not have the power to cure a fatal flaw in the question presented to the electorate for signature."

Was it Al's decision? Is Al a jerk or what?

Mistakes: Being Very Anxious

We don't have a convention center hotel in Pittsburgh, but those hopes are being revived by the probable slots parlor that seems to be in Pittsburgh's future. The slots revenue could bridge fiscal gap, a $34 million gap. So, once again, the marketplace in Pittsburgh becomes a slave to bogus spending with lots of zeros in the price tag.

PG news:

"We're very anxious to get the project moving," authority Executive Director Mary Conturo said.

Citizens --- talk like that above makes me scared. There is good money going after bad money. And, the leadership in this town is anxious to spend more and spend it quickly.

Friday's meeting will be the first between the authority and Forest City, the firm selected by Mayor Tom Murphy and former Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey in April 2003 to build the hotel.

The bid process, the open evalution, the design contest, the competitive call --- all happened when?

Forest City and the Sports & Exhibition Authority are nearly a year behind schedule in breaking ground for the hotel, originally planned for fall 2003, and still have not finalized a formal development agreement for the project.

Wrong! The hotel is five years late. It should have been done along with if not BEFORE the convention center. This isn't one year. The convention center should NOT have been built without the hotel. We've got a WHITE ELEPHANT on our hands now. Prior planning fumbles can't be sugar coated into some simple one-year blunder. This has been a long-term, repeated, warned of blunder.

"It's just an organizational meeting to get the project moving forward again," she said.

Another great reason why Mayor Tom Murphy should resign. His agenda is stalled. He can't do even what HE wants to do. Pittsburgh can't heal itself with him in office.

Still, the fact the authority and Forest City are talking again is good news to many local tourism officials who believe the lack of a headquarters hotel is preventing the convention center from reaching its full potential.

This might be good news for the tourism officials -- and it is BAD news for the locals. The local tourism officials can all fit within a parked taxi cab in Pittsburgh. Local blood suckers might make for a better description.

Members of the Greater Pittsburgh Hotel Association have been split on the need for a new hotel, however, with proponents believing it will help bring more conventions into town and opponents fearing it will create a glut of rooms and drive down rates.

Even those in the industry -- not local tourism officials -- are split on the hotel's merits. We have a real hospitality trade. We have a real B to B infrastructure and trade show marketplace. But, what we also have is a small minority of folks who are quick to be on the take.

Old News: The lack of hotel space near the convention center has been an impediment to some groups considering Pittsburgh for conventions.

[412] Welcoming the HOPE of Olympic FEATs --- and join casual chatter at a blog

Hi All,

The Olympic flame sparks to life in Athens in a matter of hours. I love
these times as the world gets a single focus to celebrate humanity. It would
be great if everyone with a weapon or in war could take a vacation from the
fighting.

Violence has hit hard in our areas too, sadly. There is much to do.

It seems to me that if we were spending more time in efforts to create
literate Olympians, every week, we'd be much safer, stronger, and smarter in
our quests to know ourselves and our communities.

Today's invite and personal plea: Please visit and comment at:

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/

You too might consider starting your own blog. Then we can link their
feeds in a hub in the weeks to come.

Stay safe. And GO OLYMPIANS!



Ta.

Mark Rauterkus http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/
xCoach at Rauterkus.com http://CLOH.Org http://Rauterkus.com
412-298-3432 = cell

Getting Volunteers for Community TV Efforts

If you'd like to be part of a new class of recruits to become a "PRODUCER" at our COMMUNITY TV STATION, PCTV 21, then contact me. Mark@Rauterkus.com

Tour Invites Expected

On the advice of a blast email reader, we'll be setting up a tour or two of the PCTV 21 Studios. A simple, short show-and-tell can be organized before we get into the education and details of being a volunteer for full productions.

Thanks for the consideration. This will be a lot of fun.

To Few Olympians in Western PA

To few -- PG Article

We have two in Athens. That is a sad statement for both the region and city. In 2000, we had five. We should have dozens.



I don't agree with Dejan, the writer, that we have "an abundant, varied selection of athletic programs at the formative levels and beyond." We are failing our kids, ourselves and our stretches to world-wide performances.

Perhaps those that are closest to the issue who struggle for a definitive answer are fooling themselves.

Pitt has a rising NCAA Division I program, but it lacks a track that can host a meet. Finishing in the middle of the pack in the Big East and fielding Olympian are not so similar. Good point to make that NONE on Pitt's track team come from the city league.

One city league facility, South Stadium, has a track. But, there isn't a program there that uses the facility. And, no public uses occurs at the stadium. If we have facilities and no access -- we don't have facilities. Just as with the Rec Centers. They are there -- but not open. So, first things first.

Yes, we do have some problems within the coaching ranks in the region too. You can't expect coaches to flourish when given so many challenges that have nothing to do with the athletes and the sports challenges.

"Healthcare Not Warfare" - Rally on Aug 15

www.healthcarenotwarfare.org

Running on empty

By December, the city is projecting a cash shortfall of $8.8 million, said the budget director. The City Controller's office said the shortfall could be up to $12 million.

The budget director said, "When we see this picture, we just don't sit back." Meanwhile, the city's reserve fund had been in past years as great as $80-million. That fund balance has dropped by $20-$30 million each of the past few years. Now it is running to empty.

Fear not. The city is not hiring. Many are retiring. Attrition is high.

Sala's first line of questions was to the timing of additional borrowing. The slogan "tax-and-spend Democrats" won't fit any more. Rather the new slogan needs to be "borrow, spend and beg" -- and in that order.

"We know that 2005 will bring a balanced budget," said the budget director. To bad the last two years saw illegal budgets.

Every year for at least the next three year, Pittsburgh will need a tax note at the start of the year to borrow some $30-million.

The hole that Mayor Murphy and the others in leadership positions have been digging is very deep. And, the real digging has yet to end.

South Side Summer Street Spectacular Sucks

The South Pittsburgh Reporter newspaper on the 2004 event: "It's the worst thing that South Side ever came up with," citing the "nastiness, urine, and puke."

Seniors, especially, suffer as they are fearful of leaving their homes.

You've got until August 13, 2004 to fill out a five question survey from the South Side Local Development Company. Like they didn't even plan this years event until June. Rush to give that feedback.

Residents' Survey

Business Survey

The event should be terminated. There are many other, better things that should be done. Frankly, I'd love to see the field used as a ballfield.

The South Side Spring Sports Showcase should occur with partnership of Pitt. Pitt's spring football game should be played at South Stadium. A parade should go from UPMC's football facility to South with players, coaches, tailgaters, and other sports activities throughout the neighborhood.

Football Fumbles with City League out of sync with WPIAL

My rant is a follow up to the call to merge with City League with the WPIAL and the spledid story in the Trib.

Mt. Washington's REAMS swim pool - opening

Citiparks has some 16 swim pools that did NOT open this summer. These are mostly outdoor, neighborhood pools that were opened last summer until mid August. In August 2003 a major ax swing shut down most of the pools and closed the Recreation Centers.

One of the now closed pools, in Mt. Washington, next to a Rec Center, is about to re-open. Thanks to a lot of pushing and pulling by some locals and community folks -- money has been raised, water has been flowing, and the grounds are ready for patrons.

REAM pool had its big, grand opening on August 6, 2004.

Learning of the terms of the deal will be interesting. Happy swimming. Photos soon.

Fire Response Time on Ballot - show for PCTV?

So, the firefighters got a petition together and a question seems to be on the ballot for November's election. Well done. I love it when issues are put to the people for a vote. Democracy (with a small "d") rules.

A pending idea is floated at S6, my special events sub-site. Read it there and react if you can.

http://S6.CLOH.Org/whynot/fire-response-show.html

US Senate Race goes five ways -- it seems??

PG article

Thanks for doing the whole story in the story of Specter and Hoeffel debates. Seems that the two men are going to have two debates. But, the race is larger than just a D and R. I'm glad you, Jeffrey Cohan, and the PG made mention of Jay Russel of the Libertarians.

But, the Constitution and Reform parties made a submission of signatures to get candidates on the ballot -- but -- what are the names of these men and/or women?

Please cover the entire story. Our democracy (small "d") depends on the watchdogs doing their jobs to the fullest.

And, when are we going to hear about others beyond Nader who have gotten onto the ballot for the President? I've asked Tom Barnes -- and don't have a reply yet.

$15,000 for Highland Park fountain

City council voted to spend $15k on the entrance and fountain at Highland Park. This is a turn-back the clock upgrade to make the entry like it used to be near the turn of the century -- not 2000 but 1900. That's a great example of how Pittsburgh's leaders sum up the progress in our parks today.

X-Game, Dirt Biker

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/nationalsports/s_206486.html

The photo in the Trib on Aug. 4, 2004, page C13, of the X-games athlete, Chris Doyle of Plum, on an airborn bike, without a helmet is shameful. The photo editors, photojournalist and athlete should be scolded.

Good to see the coverage in the paper. Good luck in the games. But, athletes and media pros need to be responsible to the physical body and only loosers are wreckless.

The headline, Taking to the air, might be fitting. Going to the air isn't the hard part. The trick is landing. Good to see the photo off of the web site already.

Wylie Ave deal -- typical smoke and folly

So, let's have a public authority own the land and the developer own the buildings. Then we ask for a PILOT (payment in lew of taxes).

Sala, it is underhanded to have the land owned by someone and the building by another. That is underhanded and underfooted and under the foundation junk wrangling.

The sweetheart deals are deals that are not freemarket deals. The well of the marketplace has been tainted with poor deals in the past. Real development and real prosperity would flow into Pittsburgh once City Council stands up to these lame efforts.

"It is a new day!" said Councilwoman Carlise. However the old way of thinking came when it was time to vote. This 9-0 means more of the same.

Another one bites the dust - PDP boss departs

Ms. Geyer, head of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, (PDP), is leaving town with no major disappointments during her tenure. Accomplishments include bike racks, new trash cans and a back alley facelift.

Fifth - Forbes failures and the lack of a downtown grocery store .... ho hum.

The PDP can go away, along with its executive director.

Our city: a time of JEOPARDY

www.Post-Gazette.com/pg/04216/355666.stm

The College Championship shows are to air from the Petersen Event Center, one of Oakland's finest food courts. Its grand prize is $100,000.

Quiz, Answers, Comments, -- all welcomed.

Quiz Utility at CLOH.Org

You can roll your own quiz for placement on the web at the URL above.

Wishing again for a MN political landscape

Those open-minded folks in MN are at it again, freethinkers making their points, based upon what and how one thinks -- not based upon a lockstep of mental numbness and norms established by some conformity.

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly (a DEMOCRAT) Endorses President Bush

snips of news... St. Paul, MN -- In a remarkable show of support, St. Paul Mayor, Randy Kelly announced his endorsement for the re-election of Bush-Cheney.

Democrat Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) stated, "I am really pleased Mayor Randy Kelly has joined me in the effort to re-elect George W. Bush. Mayor Kelly knows, as I do, that George W. Bush represents the values of America's heartland. President Bush is a man Democrats and all Americans can rely on to stand by his commitments to fight terrorism and support our troops. The President is also making sure that working people keep more of their hard earned money and send their kids to schools that give every child a good start in life. These are values that my fellow Democrats and all Americans can support."

"Mayor Kelly today again proved what I have long known: he is a fine man, whose first priority is not partisanship, but the wellbeing of St. Paul and the entire nation. Mayor Kelly recognizes that jobs are being created and that tax cuts have stimulated that job growth. He has done the same for St. Paul. He also understands that we are engaged in a war on terror and now is not the time to change horses in mid-stream. The mayor has never been afraid to reach across party lines to get things done. I applaud him for following his conscience and his concrete convictions. This is bipartisanship at its finest,” stated Bush-Cheney '04 Minnesota Campaign Co-Chair Senator Norm Coleman.

Kelly concluded, "With just over 90 days left before the election I feel extremely confident that the message, priorities, and policies of President George W. Bush will better serve America and the people of Minnesota over the next four years."

The point of this story is to show that people elsewhere break ranks. People in power, even mayors, can endorse candidates of other parties. In Pittsburgh, we are too old school. In Pittsburgh, our "lockstep style" is a turn off. In Pittsburgh, those who break ranks are forced to vote with their feet and leave town. Pittsburgh is half of what it was because of the culture that demands lockstep actions. As we shrink in our freedoms and are held back by past anchors, our local dispair will sustain.

What elected DEM in the city would endorse a Republican?

The conventional wisdom and standing joke is that the devil himself could get 100-percent support and endorsements with local Dems. Could that be true? I have heard variations on the same story many time on the streets in Pittsburgh.

However, it was very interesting to note that Al Fondy of the Teachers Union passed an endorsement of Senator Spector, R, -- for re-election of his umpteenth term with a huge campaign war-chest. How can that be explained? Perhaps it is don't back the looser? Perhaps it is don't buck the establishment?

On the flip side, there are a number of GOPers who would and do endorse Dems. Jim Roddey won't help a Republican candidate. Western PA's Barbara H supported the Dem for PA Gov. while she was holding state office as a Republican.