Celebrating a Near Giant

The last black tie event I attended was, humm. I shouldn't even say that. The last time I wore a tux was at my wedding.

This photo is from Sept. 23, 2004 at Dr. Bluestone's celebration. I'm not calling it a retirement. Here I am with another guest (not Dr. Bluestone). More on our interactions later. His statements are most interesting, and I hope to cover them in great detail beyond the blog.

But for now, who does he look like to you? Can you tell where he is from?

Cheers to Dr. Bluestone and all the amazing people he has helped as both patients and professionals!

Candidate Under Fire

A women in the south, a Pitt Law School grad, and a candidate for judge might need some "home-town cooking."

Rachel Lea Hunter, Go,Go, Go!

The University of Pittsburgh has come front and center recently. Rachel's opponents are considering Pitt to be a subpar school by saying that her graduating in the top third of her class in law school meant that she probably couldn't get into a 'prestigous' institution such as Duke.

Opposition Says

"Her web site says that she graduated in the top third of her class at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. That's respectable, but hardly impressive for a Supreme Court justice. The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is ranked about 50th among law schools. Duke is ranked about 10th. She probably would not have been in the top half of her class if she had been at Duke (if she were even admitted)."

Rachel's web site www.rachelforcourt.com has more. It's getting interesting in NC. More on the attack from NC Rumors.com

Statement supporting college students and professors - http://www.rachelforcourt.com/

In the past, Rachel's campaign manager, Cameron DeJong, wrote (in part):

Anything that you can do to promote Rachel's campaign on the web is greatly appreciated. We need all the help we can get as we are not depending on the 'establishment' to get us through this one.

I think it is time for Pittsburgh folks and Pitt folks to get moving. Send notes to your friends in NC. Send letters to the editor there. Put up links to her site on our sites.

Black Tie

Catherine and I on our deck before a "black-tie function." I had not worn a "black tie" for more than a decade.


Mingle with guests from Australia. This researcher uses sports and communications in interesting ways down-under.

Pittsburgh Commuter Tax: Bad Idea

http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/briefs/vol4no36.pdf

One one hand, the Mayor puts forth a "phony" budget. One the other, City Council President, Gene Ricciardi, has asked the Mayor to cut to the chase and push now for the "commuter tax."

The commuter earned income tax is a wrongheaded strategy that is unlikely to bring about the desired results. First, this is a tax paid mostly by city residents. Next, the tax can't fetch money for the city from those who live elsewhere if they have to pay elsewhere. In all, 28,609 commuters from twelve communities would pay no commuter tax.

Moreover, a many home rule communities (with 19,231 commuters) can raise their home rates and lower property taxes so as to nullify any gains to Pittsburgh.

See the report has the details. Thanks Jake.

Rally for those who need MENTAL RETARDATION SERVICES

Call Kathy at ACHIEVA: 412 995-5000 X 509.

PA Self Advocates & Families United to End the Wait are to rally to demand that the Rendell Administration END THE WAIT FOR THOSE WHO NEED at 1:30 on October 19, 2004 at the Capitol Rotunda, in Harrisburg.

Hundreds of individuals waiting for services and their families will descend on the State Capitol to inform Governor Rendell that new funds are needed in the community MR system and that the Governor's budget proposal due in February 2005 MUST include the following:

Sufficient funds to end the "Emergency" Waiting List

sustain the community services already in place

The 2,102 on the "Emergency" Waiting List are desperately counting on our success. More than 20,230 people are waiting overall. The Mental Retardation community system received one 2% increase in three years. Community-based services are being starved.

Contact your Legislator and set up a meeting with them prior to the Rally. Thank them for passing the last budget which included funds to support 475 people on the Waiting List and for passing the 2% Cost of Living Adjustment. Ask them for their continued support to seek adequate funding and ask them also to encourage the Rendell Administration to fund this need.

Buses and vans will be available for the rally. General Information on the PA Waiting List Campaign 1-877-372-WAIT. Southwest Region, Barb Telhorster (The Arc of Indiana County) 1-724-349-8230. Thanks to the PA Self Advocates & Families United to End the Wait!

Analysis: Guard memo blunder raises questions about future of '60 Minutes,' Dan Rather and journalism

Analysis: journalism "The old mainstream media are not all that they once were in terms of being the gatekeepers,"...

We have no time to pat bloggers on the back.

[412] Phony Budgets and Current Events

Hi Friends and Neighbors,


The Mayor of Pittsburgh issued his PHONY budget today. Even the Post-Gazette
calls the budget "phony" in its online headline.

Your invite to react: http://Rauterkus.Blogspot.com

Genuine opposition to phony, pea-brained actions in Pittsburgh is needed.

Just as the rivers swelled and washed over too many friends and neighbors,
same too comes another flood of falsehoods with additional red ink. Today's
source of sludge that cripples Pittsburgh is neither heaven nor hell -- but
Grant Street.

The mayor and city council have fumbled their financial duties. To
complicate matters, oversight board members are bucking for the lone
gambling license and are moving out of the city.

Too much common ground is shared between certain media outlets and
politicians that thrive upon fear. Too many seem to thrive because of
special interests and the creation of divisions.

On a national front, another dark cloud is due to arrive with the
Presidential debates. The stage for the Presidential debates won't match the
choices on the November ballot.

Debate organizers and the networks want to deliver tight, easy 1-on-1
debates. Red states / blue states. They serve up sanitized, prepackaged food
for thought. As the watchdogs need watchdogs, I crave a democracy that is
deliberate and genuine. I want coverage, concepts and interactions that are
"raw."

Doom and gloom prevails. We are bogged down locally and nationally. We have
elected leaders who choose to break laws and act with phony intentions. They
should depart. If not on their own, then may the educated voters prevail.

In this quest for a smarter citizenship and raw thoughts, I'd love to
get your input and feedback at my blog, http://Rauterkus.Blogspot.com.

Visit. Read. Post when the spirit moves you. Comment on any of the
articles. Your idea contributions (ideas only) are most welcomed in these
times. This blog on 'current events' in Pittsburgh has more than 130
messages.

So join in. Let's vent together. And, on a final uplifting note, let's
sing together too. Save the date, get a babysitter -- Thursday, Oct 21,
2004. I'll be helping to host a voter education event and concert with one
of the best performer you'll ever hear! More news soon. And, catch the
details in advance at the blog, http://Rauterkus.Blogspot.com.




Ta.

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

Mayor submits budget with (phony) tax hike

PG coverage.

Expect Mayor Tom Murphy to use MONOPOLY money next. Then he can build "hotels" and "houses" out of green and red plastic.

"Let me be clear, I absolutely do not support this [property tax] provision, and I will not implement such an unfair increase on our residents and businesses," Murphy said in a prepared statement.

Murphy won't implement what he proposes. He should not propose it then.

What's phony isn't the budget. Rather, it is our mayor, the city's administration and our city's leadership. The phony Mayor is often out-paced by city council. Council should have held its own budget hearings already. Other cities have had legislative branches that have already completed the "budget process."

Releasing the annual operating budget this early is something new for the cash-strapped city, which is on track to run out of money in mid-December.

But, it isn't too early for Pittsburgh this year. And, other cities have completed their budget process already.

Lieberman called "NO PUBLIC SERVANT."

City Council President, Gene Ricciardi, ranted and asked Bill Lieberman to resign from the ICA (Oversight Board). In 14 years in governement, Gene has never asked anyone to resign.

Gene, I'm glad to have you on my side, finally. I asked for Lieberman's resignation in mid July, 2004.

Leaders need to lead. Gene should ask for Tom Murphy's resignation. Murphy is another road-block to recovery. We can all dream, but, as multiple resignations occur, we'd have a real trend. The sweeping tide might roll right over those on city council too.

Three Stoms Hit Florida, no joke

Click the image to go to the site and see a better image showing how the three storms hit Florida and the county by county breakdown of pink and blue results from 2000.
Being God's will doesn't wash with me, for the record. But, it worth a peek as some may think this way.

Barking up the wrong tree: Lynn Cullen and her radio guests

Open Debates | The Issue

The CPD (Commission on Presidential Debates) exists to decieve American voters in order to protect the major party candidates, and that deception unacceptably harms our democracy.

Want a unique way to get in depth on the presidential election coverage -- worthy goals for Evon, Dianna and Lynn. But, your hitching your wagon to the wrong horse. The debates are bogus as the ballot isn't on the stage.

Who wins the election and who gets to debate are not factors that should be equal. The debate isn't to pick the winner. The vote picks the winner. The debate is to frame the issues and the old parties do not have any monopoly on ideas.

The show of the debate would be much better if all the candidates were on the stage.

Back when Bob O'Connor was a candidate for Mayor, in 2001, I told him to NOT go into any debate with Tom Murphy without insisting upon the others who were on the ballot. Bob O'Connor got smashed in the debates. He went into the debates and Tom Murphy cleaned the floor with Bob's bumblings. Bob O'Connor didn't follow my advice. Bob O'Connor LOST the election.

Had Bob O'Connor gone into the debates with Josh (the young guy), LeRoy (the black guy) and Earl (the retired guy) -- then Bob would be our mayor now. In the Dem primary in 2001, there were five candidates on the ballot. But at least three debates were on TV with only Bob and Tom.

Shame too spreads to the local broadcasters: PCNC, WPXI, KDKA, and now Renda Broadcasting and PCNC. Campos.com

No steam for EMS again as agenda swirls in toilet

No deal to privatize city's EMS this year - PittsburghLIVE.com: "A proposal to save money by privatizing Pittsburgh's emergency medical services is not likely to be part of a five-year budget scheduled to be unveiled today. "

Merging EMS with the Firefighters was promoted as a "solution" by Tom Murphy and his Administration some years ago. When that failued, the next wish-upon-a-star promise from Mayor Murphy was a merger of EMS with the local hospitals. Both plans, as is the overall agenda of Mayor Tom Murphy, are stalled. He can't move an agenda forward.

On the hard issues, there is no hope with Tom Murphy as our mayor. The political capital in city hall is gone. Too much betrayal in the past is proviing too great a burden for the present.

"The timing is short. The hospitals themselves are not of one mind what to do. They don't know how to approach it," Lieberman said.

The timing on the EMS deal has been looming since the first re-election of Tom Murphy. Promises were made in the late 1990s that still smolder as burt bridges. The timing is long, not short. And it is not the duty of the hospitals to solve the city's mess. The hospitals are going to be guarded, thankfully, on any approach.

Jim Roberts, who heads the Act 47 recovery team, said ... the five-member board backs the idea... "We support the formation of an authority to run the EMS with the hospitals contributing the revenue for the operation," Roberts said.

Of course a non-elected oversight board member would endorse the creation of a new authority. But, all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to fix this.

Pittsburgh can begin to heal as soon as Tom Murphy leaves Grant Street.

"The hospitals are an attractive partner for us because they understand the job we do," said Jeff Vesci, president of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics.

The unsaid: The Mayor's office and the authority boards don't understand the role and vital mission of the professional paramedics. The mayor and the annointed are clueless when it comes to building complicated solutions.

PA Row Office Races Money Update

Grassroots PA
With six weeks to go, I find it strange that those with more money in the bank are given props as to being 'ahead.' If one is really putting forth the effort to win the election, then the cash on hand might be much closer to zero. On the other hand, folks like Jack Wagner are more interested in a career in politics. They want a "war chest" so other races can be waged. The idea for them is not to win the race and do something in that office. Rather that rules is self-preservation.

These row office politicians are more sizzle than steak. And, most of their real meat is parked in their wallets under their seat. Or, it is already put into the freezer.

Auditor General

Jack Wagner, of Pittsburgh, raised about $357,000 in cash and in-kind contributions and spent $161,600 in the period. He now has $387,200 on hand. Overall, Wagner has raised nearly $692,000 and spent $287,500 in the race.

Former Scranton police officer and federal prosecutor Joe Peters, raised $246,000 and spent $136,400 in the period, and now has almost $135,000 on hand. Peters has raised a total of $463,300 and spent $330,000 in the race.

Treasurer

Robert P. Casey Jr. raised $352,000 in cash and in-kind contributions in the period and spent nearly $124,000, and has about $528,700 on hand. Casey, who is the state's two-term auditor general, has raised $979,000 and spent more than $417,000 in the race.

Jean Craige Pepper, a financial consultant from Erie who has not run for public office before, raised $110,000 in cash and in-kind contributions in the period and spent about $83,400, and now has $34,400 on hand. All told, Pepper has raised about $269,000 and spent $240,000.

Parents, nonprofits stepping in to keep Pittsburgh facilities open (phillyBurbs.com)

(phillyBurbs.com)

Keeping Pittsburgh facilities open

by JUDY LIN, The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - Across the river from downtown Pittsburgh, Mark Rauterkus walks around his neighborhood and sees basketball courts in need of repaving, a swimming pool in need of water and an indoor ice rink in need of restoration.

Fed up with Pittsburgh's political leaders, ....

We are still making progress, so we dust off this blast from the past. Our first night of soccer at the Market House was a success. We could use a few more 10, 11 and 12 year old players however.

Next, the search begins for badminton players! Stay tuned.

Burgh not that drunk of a town

Survey coverage in PittsburghLive says, "They know how to handle their liquor. "

As a South Side resident, I'd dispute the degree of self-control displayed in Pittsburgh's late-night. Sure, we might not have as many alcoholics and lower 1/1000 rates of liver disease. Our D.U.I. rates are also down, but, I bet that is more of a factor of aggressive enforcement. But, many folks can drink and stumble home without getting behind the wheel, as we have bars closer to our homes.

Left out of discussions

PittsburghLIVE.com: "'We weren't even included in the discussions when decisions were made that will affect our ability to do our jobs,' King said following the meeting. 'They just want us to sit back and swallow what they give us...'

Councilman Len Bodack Jr., who chairs council's public safety committee, said he, too, has been left out of discussions about restructuring the fire bureau. "

Mayor Murphy does not play well with others.

Music fans will miss this place

PittsburghLIVE.com: "Unfortunately, the Rock and Roll Hotel has heard its last note, long before most Pittsburghers ever got a chance to visit."

This is so Pittsburgh. Write about it after its dead.

Mike, please don't wait until I'm dead to talk about the things I do and care about.

Suburbs melted into Ontario's 'Steeltown'

PG covers Ontario's 'Steeltown': "Government consolidation -- or what Canadians call 'amalgamation' -- took place in Hamilton in two stages spaced nearly 30 years apart. In 1974, the province of Ontario eliminated through mergers five of the 11 municipalities in the Hamilton area. Simultaneously, the province superimposed a new county-like government, called the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Council."

Fine. That's called "evolution." Pittsburgh needs to evolve. Pittsburgh does NOT need a massive jamming.

This is a serious but subtle problem with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's leadership has been stuck in self-service and can't and won't evolve with modest steps. To close schools, for instance, takes a massive upheaval. Rather, schools should be phased out over time and everything at everytime needs to be under constant evaluation. Rather than call for the elimination of seven or eight or nine row offices in one sweeping cut of the ax, let's close one office each year for the next five years. Row office reform was such a hot topic a year ago and both candidates (Dan O. and Jim R.) wanted some type of it. However, now is the time and it isn't getting done.

I don't want "metropolitanism." Rather, I want serious, measured, ongoing change that is calculated, managed, obvious and sets a trend to actions based on principles and common sense. Furthermore, everything is on the table at all times. The creativity needs to be in the mix at all juntions.

For example, the hoped for merger of EMS and the Firefighters didn't happen. People in the Mayor's office have been working on that for years and failed. Then then hope of getting the hospitals to pick up the EMS units is now the pathway of narrow-minded, agenda driven, top-down wish-for-the-sky approach. Folks, it isn't going to work.

All the king's horses and all the king's men can't put Humpty together again.

For example, think Fifth and Forbes. The Mayor's plan called for a massive re-do. His golden ticket was tied to "critical mass." Now it is time for us all to be critical of the mayor and his mass-appeal. He can't move along his agenda as he isn't creative. He is spent. He is an all-or-nothing bone head who can't manage day-to-day instances.

Finally, the media doesn't get it either. The PG is looking for that fountain of youth and award winning story. It is hard work to cover the ordinary done in exceptional ways.

Time, again, to kick-in at the Market House

We play today!

Our kids are going to be running around at the Market House again. We should be holding a ribbon cutting.

The Market House Childrens Athletic Association is about to resume programming after a year of no activities due to the lay-offs and closures by the Mayor.

Sign ups for the fall youth soccer program will be from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, Sept. 10 and from 10 to noon on Saturday, September 11.
The Market House is located on the South Side, at 12th Street, and Bingham Square, very near to East Carson Street, the main street through the South Side Flats.

The Market House youth soccer program, for both girls and boys, is slated for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for ten weeks. Times are 5 pm for ages 4, 5, and 6; 6 pm for ages 7, 8 and 9; and 7 pm for ages 10, 11 and 12. Charges are a $25 nonrefundable registration fee of $25 for the first child and $15 for each additional child. Additional info and scheduling will be provided at signups and in the first week of practice to follow.

The goal is to get up to 15 players on six teams in each age group --- and no more. Registration will be limited. Parents are needed as volunteers and coaches.

Hope to see you there.

The Pittsburgh Hip Hop Initiative's Education Series Presents:

Carnegie Mellon's University Lecture Series on Thursday, September 23. The lecture will take place at 6 p.m. in Rangos Auditorium"