City Council Speaker

Check out the movie! This is a new feature for the blog.

My presentation at City Council in early September, 2004. We didn't get an award for the re-opening of the Market House, like they did for the South Side Slopes Step Trek. And, we didn't have a ribbon cutting, but we could.

The overall tone of talk from the speakers in the public comment period at city council meets has seemed to have taken a turn. The edge is sharp, all in all.

Few dollars for public works - York Daily Record

Let's get in a spitting match to find the worse place, YORK vs. Pittsburgh:

York Daily Record smashes Pittsburgh and proves to be ahead of the game too: "Brenner, who returned from meeting with Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, said things in York aren't so bad. He said Pittsburgh had to lay off hundreds of firefighters and police officers, completely shut down the parks and recreation programs and be subject to a state takeover with an outside board governing the city.

'As bad as things look with our budget, things could be worse,' Brenner said.

After hearing the condition of Pittsburgh, resident Gerry Turner slumped in his chair.

'I feel like I've been to the graveyard,' he said."

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, we've not had one budget meeting. Last year the budget was passed on New Year's Eve. We operate on a too little too late schedule. This smaller city is well ahead of our progress. Shame on Pittsburgh's leadership.

Called as a "free radical"

I love Pittsburgh:

Quotes: '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.' - H.L. Mencken

PSU to train Indian Principals - Knowledge

PSU got a $1-million grant from the US Dept. of Ed to expand its American Indian Leadership Program.

Wonder if an mentions are made to gambling prevention within the overall program?

Family trivia: Years ago, Catherine (my wife) was a 2nd grade student teacher in New Mexico at an Indian school. She values that lesson / experience and still keeps in touch with some friends from there.

A new challenge for Catherine comes in the form of grant a Pitt from the Air Force. The first days of activities covered some of the Air Force culture -- interesting as well.

Meanwhile, the new grad students in Catherine's class come from all around the nation. Sixteen students entered the multi-year program this fall, from Washington state to the east coast. Only two graduated from Pitt as undergrads. Not only is brain size and class size increasing a bit, but the years of study has gone up and the number of out-of-state students is much greater. That makes a triple win for Pitt.

In mid-week, all of the students in Catherine's class were clueless as to Pitt's football opponent this weekend. Its Nebraska. Grad students have more pressing matters to ponder.

Question: Why does Nebraska have a big red "N" on the side of its helmets?

Answer is found in the last word in this blog-entry's headline.

Pittsburgh, corruption, bonds, -- oh my

Feds seek paperwork that links to payoffs: "Federal investigators are looking at a possible Pittsburgh connection to a corruption probe focused on officials tied to Philadelphia Mayor John Street.

Mayor Tom Murphy's administration is catching a subpoena.

Too many times there have been grumblings about bond deals -- but nothing ever happened -- other than blogger's head scratching. Smells fishey still.

Family living gets back to even steven in downtown and is shut-out in South Side Works

Great example of how the city administration makes life with kids in the city such a struggle. Why eliminate the parking at the outset? Why not insist that day care centers be incorporated within new neighborhoods -- such as at South Side Works?

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Laurel: To the city Department of Engineering. It has reinstated a drop-off zone near three Downtown day care centers. Much to the consternation of parents, the zones along Penn Avenue were eliminated during the new convention center's construction. Police then began tagging parents attempting to drop off their little tykes. We're glad to see common sense prevail. "

The ribbon cutting for the South Side Works site, a new extension of the neighborhood that promised to generate 4,000 new jobs, generated ZERO increases in our day care capacity. Fumble, again.

Laurels from Trib for Ad sales

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Laurel: To Jim Motznik. The Pittsburgh city councilman is proposing the city sell advertising space on the fences at 83 multiuse sports fields. Great idea. On street furniture. Great idea. On the city Web site. Great idea. And on city government cable broadcasts. Great idea. Mr. Motznik doesn't have an estimate of how much such advertising would generate. But every bit helps, doesn't it? "

The parks position paper put forth in May, 2004, also called for the sales and advertising. Why can the Penguins keep the money for the naming right for Mellon Arena. That was a public asset built with public funds. However, the Pens got to keep the money. Meanwhile, we who work with the kids in the neighorhood can't do similar deals.

Les Ludwig gets the biggest laurel for starting this type of chatter.

I'd also give Motznik a laurel for his lone vote to reject the $5-million from Gov. Rendell for a new merry-go-round in place of parking in Oakland.

Pleads for pension - slam shut case

Its safe to assume Terlecki isn't surfing the net and reading our blogs, as he is functionally illiterate. He wants his $2,263 in monthly benefits for his reward and contributions. His productivity must rank him with the poorest work record in the world, other than that of crack salesman, Gil Martinez.

Guilty ex-city boss pleads for pension: "Terlecki -- a former Democratic Party ward chairman and supporter of Mayor Tom Murphy who started working for the city in 1964 -- is 'functionally illiterate' and 'can barely read or write.'"

Sadly, City Controller Tom Flaherty is loose again with the purse strings. And, he was the one to employ Martinez.

Water Taxi -- might as well paddle

A new water taxi service just opened and is serving Pittsburgh. One of the features mentioned in today's news account is the city's skyline. It is all about the service, not skyline. The service is slim.

With all the chatter about swift boats, too bad the taxi service can't move in a like manner. Everything is fast at the Olympics, I guess. And, sadly, does everything need to be so slow in Pittsburgh, hence making the skyline enjoyment some consolation.

On one hand, the service will cost nothing from the city's budget. But, we pay via the Feds to subsidize the service.

Moreover, the taxi service is starting as a boost to the Convention Center. They want to get tourist. They want another feather for out-of-towners.

Why not build the service for residents? Why not start the service early in the morning rather than at 10 am. Who can go to work at 10 or 11 am? One can't even get to City Council meetings that late.

We need to use the rivers. But, we need to have real use. We need sustainable projects.


Folks, who wants to go from the Mon Warf to the Convention Center? Other stops are going to include PNC Park, Heinz Field, Point State Park, and the Cultural District. Nobody lives at any of these stops.

Run the service from 10th Street Bridge. Run the service from 18th Street on the South Side. Run the service from the new South Side Works -- where there will be lots of housing and some is already there.

Run the service from the West End, from Hazelwood, from Highland Park even.

The scope of service is too small. And, the time of service is too short. This will flop. And, I really want it to work.

That big sucking sound is coming from the big white building -- the convention center. The debt is high. It is still not finished. The hotel space is too slim. And we are even now going to move the light rail T-Stop to its back doors, near the dumpsters. A stop is just a short two blocks away that could be used.

Update: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04261/380708.stm

Libertarian Doubleheader Hits Pittsburgh

Libertarian Doubleheader Hits Pittsburgh: "will visit Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 26th" -- check em out.

A 'grand' groundbreaking

A 'grand' groundbreaking - PittsburghLIVE.com:

#1) ... Mayor Tom Murphy expressed satisfaction with the project, saying the city 'would not settle for anything that was not grand.'

Rauterkus Replies

Pittsburgh needs to settle for things as they are. We don't need "everything to be grand." Murphy's wants exceed his needs. Murphy's wants are so grand that the budget can't pay for them. When Murphy said he won't settle for anything that isn't grand, he sends the wrong message of being prudent. That is typical Murphy, the poor leader, the over spender.

When only the grand can get his attention, then the others don't rate. The homeless problem -- just use a grand broom and sweep the problems away.

The little things are the keys to making a great manager and a great city.

#2) ... nearly $4 million from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and $1.3 million in equity from the Cultural Trust.

Who's money is that of the Cultural Trust? And, we'll see less than truthful statements that not a penny of city money went into this project. At least there isn't $10-million from the water authority under a cloak here -- or is there?

#3) ... a half-dozen other projects are in the pipeline.

Sure, the pipeline is primed now. Always is. Pittsburgh's population was going to explode, some 6, 5, 4, 3 years ago too. Things have been on hold since Tom Murphy has been in the Mayor's office.

#4) 'I think more (people) living Downtown encourages more retailers and restaurants,' said Murphy, who envisions more living options working in partnership with retail development.

Retail, gambling, and Hard Rock --- tickets to salvation for Tom Murphy's vision. False hopes all.

#5) Tom Cox, chairman of the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority, said 'the URA is here to stay in developing Downtown.'

Tom Cox makes more complicated deals that are going to be harder to untangle to insure that the URA can't go away. Tom -- take your golden parachute and beg for a job in Detroit.

#6) 'But I've been wrong in my predictions in the past on who will live in other new housing developments, such as Washington Landing and Summerset,' he said.

Murphy's past predictions have always been wrong. He has poor forecasting skills. He can't understand that Nordstoms isn't exactly what Pittsburgh needs. And, here we go opening a new cinema, this time in South Side -- while others are closing in Monroeville (Wilkins) and Mt. Lebo. Tom would have had us build the big complex as part of Fifth and Forbes. It was another looser of an idea.

#7) For example, Murphy said he did not believe Summerset at Frick Park, a massive new housing development under way at the former Nine Mile Run slag dump site between Squirrel Hill and Swisshelm Park, would attract families with children. 'At least half the families that purchased houses in Summerset have children,' he said. "

Developing the slag dump pulled homeowners out of their other city neighborhoods and into another. And, it took money that didn't go to the frail neighborhoods and made for new upscale homes. All the work on the stream, green goals, creek run off and such was necessary and should have been the priority. In Murphy's way, elements of the environment were an afterthought that needed attention.

Cultural District Apartments for upscale

First, we don't need to have a super-tight focus and only build in the downtown sector. There are lots of fringe areas within an easy walk that should be better suited for the new residential buildings. Sure, some can go downtown. But, 10 to 20 times the potential and upside is just a short walk beyond downtown.

Lower bluff, West End, North Side of the West End Bridge, both sides of Station Square, bottom of Bates. Then go a tiny bit farther and the real gem is Hazelwood.

I don't think it makes sense to make subsidized housing for rich folks. Frick at Sommerset is not prudent in terms of priorities for the public dollars.

Why is the URA putting money into quarter-million dollar apts in the Cultural District? Its $4-M that I'd strongly object.

If you put housing in downtown that families would use -- then you'd have places that empty nesters, college kids and young urban types would use as well. Why build temporary housing just so folks move in and move out?

If we make places that people are not going to leave -- then we'll have real demand. A marketplace will form that will be sustainable.

Aim low, don't miss. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh slips some more.

However, I do think we need some student housing in downtown. That is a no brainer. And, I would also love to see a large time share complex as well. Think of all the Pittsburghers who are not living here any longer. My we all love to come home. But how we hate to stay with aunts and uncles or older parents, should they still be around. But, a week at a time, once a year. They'd sell like hotcakes, even without the fries.

More at Fester's blog. See his downtown housing post.

Who is mentioning parents rights in the presidential campaign

Parental rights opens a big can of worms. It is both a local and national issue. I'm not hearing much about this topic in the race for president.

Grassroots, Jewish, Gratis Training

A Grassroots Training Seminar is slated for Sunday, September 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, 300 W. Station Square, Pittsburgh for the Jewish Republican leaders from Pittsburgh.

Learn effective ways to reach out to potential supporters of President Bush's policies

Receive special training in heightening grassroots awareness and activity

Work with grassroots, Jewish, and political experts on ways to "deliver the message"

Listen to experts from Washington and New York discuss 'the message” and “how to deliver it."

This one-time training seminar will provide you with the tools, language and skills to reach out to the general Jewish community and reach the hidden, potential supporters of President Bush's policies on Israel, Jewish security, economic security, and other issues of concern.

A 70 page Briefing Book on the issues of the day will also be distributed to participants.

RSVP Is Required. Please respond to: Marc Radasky, 202-638-2909 x 107, Email: MRadasky @ RJCHQ.org, NOTE: SALOMON DINNER WILL BE SERVED.

Yes, the training is free. All that is required is an email address at the door. Please mention it to others. Explain to people that they will have to give their email addresses.

If you attend, I'd love to hear how it went. Please share your observations with the comment section or offline in a direct email.

Transportation

Transportation: "Federal funds could revive Maglev project
"
Slide over to my other budding blog, dedicated to transportation rants.

Stadium authority worker accused of taking $200,000

Stadium authority worker accused of taking $200,000: "Writing numerous checks for small amounts -- but also once taking a bank bag containing $20,000 of the Stadium Authority's money -- authority accountant Jeffrey S. Harmon managed to elude detection for more three years while embezzling nearly $200,000, "

What are these folks thinking? The Pgh Parks Conservancy had an employee steal some serious money as well.

In China, folks who got caught steeling get shot. When the public trust gets shaken over and over, it is little wonder that the public trust is stretched so thin around here.

Furthermore, it is one thing to steal for yourself. It is another matter to steal from the public purse and pay others for outright deeds of little public value. The shame patrol needs to out both types.

For the later, we've got a legacy of miss-deeds such as the paving of streets, the lowering of property values, handouts of consulting contracts, the buying of bogus PR campaigns, etc., etc.

County hires consultants for minority outreach

County hires consultants for minority outreach: "The Rev. James Simms, former president of the county council, will assist faith-based and community groups in identifying county and other government resources to develop social service, housing and public works efforts."

Sounds like re-treads. Perhaps Sala Udin will be getting jobs like this with the state or county after he is booted from office in the city.

Those guys are both with big respect and big scorn. I've never crossed either, personally.

I wish they would care a lot more about parks and opportunities for our kids -- within the city especially -- and less about minority contracts that have lead mostly to pass throughs and scandal.

The concept of "faith-based outreach" is fine with me. But, the hook and attractiveness of that effort is to save money and get things done. It isn't about more pork, more red tape, more consultants.

Time will tell if these folks are productive or not -- but -- time has told us something already. Both have been around the block, or should I say the around the downward spiral.

I wonder why Dan O, our county executive, wasn't quoted in the new article? I assume he hire them personally. Where is a quote from him on these hirings?

Airport to step up wooing

Pittsburgh's airport, with its hub and spoke model, is about as modern as the wheel in the image. Pittsburgh overspent on the airport. It is mostly idle, too large, with huge debt. The airport isn't the type of economic engine Pittsburgh needs. The building project is going to saddle our kids with debt for years to come. Sadly, same goes the Convention Center. And, even worse, same goes the underwater tunnels to the lower north side to service the stadiums and alter the light rail. Wrongheaded.

Airport to step up wooing of all fliers: "The authority has launched a $272,000 advertising campaign designed to generate more local traffic"...

FWIW (for what its worth), its easy for Tom Murphy to catch a flight out of Cleveland from his home in Butler County.
Here is more "boosterism" to make our load of image-gap all that more of an uphill challenge. The airport authority shouldn't be running a quarter-million-dollar PR campaign. The authorities are way out of bounds around here. And, it is money like this that goes to the media outlets that then allows the watchdogs to fall to sleep. They can't bite the hands that feed them.

Meanwhile, we are building a new airport in the northern edge of the county. More corporate welfare.

PIAA District 8 - draft handbook

A number of volunteers have reviewed and edited a new handbook put forth by the Pittsburgh Public Schools for its coaches. A PDF version, unofficial, 36-page copy has been posted at http://Dorm.CLOH.Org/hot/AthleticHandbook(Sept04)R.pdf.

The Pgh Public School District serves the City of Pittsburgh and is much like an island only unto itself in terms of scholastic sports. The suburban schools have a different sporting landscape than what occurs in the city. In a sense, there is an "iron curtin" around the city in terms of many issues, including the way we play our most organized games among communities.

I think the handbook is a great first step in the process to benefit the students and overall community with PPS. However, the real solution rests with the merger of the city schools to the W.P.I.A.L. (The WPIAL is also known as PIAA District 7.)

My position paper on parks calls for the gradual elimination of the "city league" on a sport-by-sport basis with a gradual flow among various schools as well.

WPXI.com - Money - City Council President Wants Commuter Tax

WPXI.com - Money - City Council President Wants Commuter Tax: "Ricciardi will call on the mayor to immediately petition the common pleas court to impose a commuter tax.

Ricciardi said 25 years of lobbying the state for tax reform has not worked. He also called Murphy's proposed 40 percent hike in property taxes for 2005 unfair."

Gene Ricciardi, City Council President, should be pushing anyone and everyone to make a removal of Tom Murphy from the Mayor's office. Gene, push to impeach Tom -- now. The key to that process is with city council.

Otherwise, put in public and private calls to John Kerry. Demand that Kerry announce, upon his election, that Kerry would appoint Murphy as an ambassador to Ireland, or New Zealand, or Greece, etc. If Kerry pledged to get Murphy out of town, he'd get a ton of votes from western PA's swing voters.

Tom Murphy's been playing chicken with those in the state house and state senate for a few years now. He put our children into the front seat -- and it still hurts. Next he'll be putting the homeowners into a mission impossible ramble to misery. Murphy can't move the agenda to a "commuter tax" because he can't move any agenda. He must burden those who are stuck here who have yet to be drained in full. Murphy can't even stick it to seniors -- as you can't get blood from a rock.

Pittsburgh is in a hopeless place with this mayor. And, the hopelessness increases as the leadership of city council is so lame.