Yard sign drop off

Some good soul, (unknown to me) delivered an Arlen Specter yard sign to our house this morning. Thanks.

I wonder if the sign came because I miss-spelled both of his names in a blog comment at some other site this past week. Woops. I don't claim to be a good speller. I'm way better as a re-write communicator. I always try to touch up my prose and typos. But, I can't re-visit and edit my postings on other sites.

The sign will sit in the office in easy view as penance. It won't go in my front window as I'm staying "neutral" in the elections (so far). I've got a few public roles to fill. From the podium one can't be too overboard in partisanship.

Flogged by the blogs

PittsburghLIVE.com: "As in all revolutions, first, the old order must be destroyed, then we will learn both the strengths and the shortcomings of the new order. We're now getting a glimpse of the Internet bloggers' strength."

The eiditorial is about Dan Rather by an out-of-town writer. Perhaps that same headline will ring true when it comes to Mayor Tom Murphy and his administration. Time will tell.

He Said She Said

Union bosses attack official on Act 47 plan: "Marlene Lamanna at a news conference yesterday -- said Lieberman also told them to lobby against the recovery plan."

What the heck is going on here? Generally I'm in the know. Generally I have a sense of what's about to happen before it is ever reported (as far as city politics). I'm not bragging, but more so discounting what get reported.

But, from time to time, as this is, I find a real head scratcher.

Bill Lieberman is on the ICA (oversight board). For starters, Lieberman should resign. Isn't he the one who wants to be a player in a new gambling venture in the city? For even thinking about the play for the lone license -- I sense a real conflict of interest. His conflict occurs in the gamble to get the gambling permit -- not after hitting the jackpot.

Next, he's puffing up the ICA (oversight board) and taking the air out of the Act 47 Recovery Team. Right? Is this just a selfish power play? Is this just a deal where more power can be secured by helping the enemy of an enemy?

But, why in the hell does any enemy exist? Just to undercut?

And, why are we only seeing about this comment in the PG now? Because of the press event? And, what did the other union officials say about what got said. Is the crossing guard union president being left out in the wind and rain by Rossi and Vesci and who knows who else.

PA Aspen and how to land on your wallet at the slopes

Bank takes control of Laurel Mountain ski lodge: "We have some very interested parties lined up,' said Somerset Trust Vice President Lee Murdy."

We can (as does the State) sell management rights to facilities and keep on top of the contractors for the sake of the public good.

The closed indoor ice rink on the South Side that was once operated by a contractor -- but there was NO oversight from the city, sadly.

Welcome Cornhuskers

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Three cheers to the good people of Nebraska for taking Steve P off our our hands. He is your Athletic Director now. You sent him to us, and I'm glad we could send him back. Sorry, an 'at.

Enjoy your stay.

Pitt's campus, should you care, is in a part of town called Oakland. That's where you'll find the acadmic buildings, the medical centers, a wonderful cultural hub and the old as dirt Cathedral Of Learning -- the landmark building for education.

The Cathedral of Learning, Pitt's visual showcase, was built some time ago -- just about the time of the once great Pitt Stadium. When Steve was in town he did all he could to put the wrecking ball to the grand old venue called Pitt Stadium. He ripped it from our landscape before a lease to use Heinz Field was even crafted.

Pitt should be playing Nebraska at Heinz Field. But, the band should hold its practices, the track team should hold its meets, the intramural games could occur, and the injured athletes could get their rehab at Pitt Stadium too.

Point being: If my neighbor offers me the use of his new motor home for our family summer vacation each year -- great. I don't need to get rid of the family station wagon for the other 355 days a year.

We are doing the same foolishness with the talk of the Penguins arena. They want a new home for NHL hockey, should it ever resume again. Fine. Mario can build a new home without destroying the existing Civic Arena. Then we could host a city-league or PIAA championship basketball game in town and have a NHL game on the same date.

Steve's failed lesson: 1 + 1 = 2
But, he's in good company as Mario and others around here can't seem to grapple with that as well.

We churn. We even got two new stadiums (PNC Park + Heinz Field) but lost 3RS and it had a $50-million mortgage still outstanding.

Hope he doesn't bring Nebraska more of the same.

And, how did that loss at home to a non-confrence foe feel last week?

Corporate Welfare at Work

PAPower: GOVERNOR RENDELL PRESENTS ALMOST $78 MILLION FOR PHILADELPHIA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: "Governor Edward G. Rendell today presented checks totaling almost $78 million for 16 community and economic-development projects in Philadelphia. "

 “Funding for these projects is part of my ongoing commitment to change how we do business in Pennsylvania, err, Philadelphia." said Governor Rendell.

Fast Eddie is at it again. He's spending. He's taking our money. He's giving it all to the eastern part of the state. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh gets a gift for the Rooneys on the North Shore. Pittsburgh gets a merry-go-round for Oakland. Pittsburgh gets a stern letter and finger wagging that calls for more lock-step actions for the Mayor's agenda.

Big-screen excitement

This blog, now with movies too, (see below) will keep its $0 admission.

Big-screen excitement: Workers rush to ready SouthSide Works Cinema for tomorrow's grand opening: "General admission will be $8.50, with senior citizens (62 and over) and children $6. All seats before 6 p.m. will be $6."

I still think that the best theater in town is the Earth Theater behind the bones in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. That's where I want my movie to play on its grand opening, other than Cannes, of course.

GOP chair yacks back to PG editorials

Allegheny County's GOP chair, new to the job in 2004, fired a letter to the editor to the PG in response to recent PG stances that so strongly favor Kerry. See the comment section for a replay of his email and letter.

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.