Mergers talk spreads to school districts

PG (cont): "Murphy lamented that the idea of merging some or all of the county's 43 school districts rarely comes up for discussion.

I've talked about mergers of school districts, plenty. Wilkinsburg, Sto Rox, and even Woodland Hills' history is on my radar.

However, the A+ Schools group, and the Mayor's Commission on Public Education -- group that Tom Murphy had a had in forming -- FUMBLE constantly. They are absent. They don't have open meetings. They don't publish minutes. They don't invite outside voices who have knocked repeatedly at their doors. They blacklist. They operate just as Tom Murphy does.

Furthermore, until 2000, schools were a topic that was without even a breath of Tom Murphy's concern. He avoided all interactions and comments about schools at every turn. The people at Pittsburgh Public Schools knew Tom Murphy and Tom Cox only when they would rush to them for a TIF (tax favor for some hair-brained corporate welfare scheme).

Then in 2000 and 2001, my campaign for Mayor and that of James Carmine, Ph.D., professor who teaches many teachers, talked long and hard about schools. That can of worms got plenty of shaking from us then and it was an area that was totally foreign to Tom Murphy and Grant Street.

We need to put schools and districts and mergers and re-organizations into the discussions. Bring it on. Start by insisting that A+ Schools (an on-going front organization) meet with me and begin to address my long-list of serious concerns.

Ex-Gov. Thornburgh assails 'dysfunctional' system

Ex-Gov. Thornburgh calls for mergers of towns: " tackle the region's problem of municipal-government fragmentation."

I assail dysfunctional leaders. The system isn't broken. The ones with the controls are dysfunctional.

Let's attack solution fragmentation from dysfunctional thought and leadership.

Thornburgh is giving a free pass to the elected leaders. Thornburgh is clueless as to what happens in Pittsburgh. If Thornburgh had the same view as city residents, he'd change his tune. That's my 'free pass' to him.

Dear ex-Gov: The ways of Pittsburgh and the characters involved here in these times are unlike the public servents in other parts of this great land. Selfishness, corruption and lack of cooperation is pervasive. You can't force these leaders to cooperate, This crew in Pittsburgh can't even agree among departments to hold meetings. We must first force them out of office. Then new people can begin to correct the situations. We must get our own house in order first. Then new deals of cooperation could be struck with a keen sense of democracy throughout. But, first things first. The worst of all outcomes would occur if we began to merge towns to enable the bumbling, bankrupt, and hopeless leaders with more power and influence.

The oversight board came to Pittsburgh, with another group (Act 47) no less, to take away power from the mayor and city council. Now if I read between the lines of your statements -- or perhaps the coverage of those statements -- one could ponder your intent to mean you'd like OVERSIGHT BOARDS and AUTHORITIES to come into power by merging towns. That possibility is Un-American and not to be tolerated.

City Cable TV bureau may be saved

Headline should be: TV bureau still slated for closing.

PittsburghLIVE.com: "County Council President Rich Fitzgerald said council has just begun looking into the feasibility of getting council meetings on the air....

County Councilman Vince Gastgeb, who also has been working on the broadcast project, believes the county is 'behind the times' because it does not broadcast its meetings. "

Jeepers guys, let's get with it. Here we go again as the leaders are not leading. They do too little too late. This rumor of a cut in the city cable bureau has been around since it was part of a mid-summer play by the mayor.

The one thing Pittsburgh does NOT need is more "done deal thinking" and "less light."

We need to watch these meetings and the actions of the elected with more awareness. Turn the lights on, more brightly. Meanwhile, some like to scury in the cover of darkness. Mayor Murphy does NOT want to be accountable and visible. Mayor Murphy does not want to be blasted for not meeting with City Council Members for months at a time. Mayor Murphy does not want to hear about the rats the size of lapdogs after he fired the rodent control crew.

Ripple from the blast about the new "PHONY" ink

As I reach out via email, (often called an email blast) a number of interesting ripples appear. See the comments.

Phony Budgets and Current Events - archived of my blast email, 412-public-remarks, to more than 8,000 contacts on Wed. Sept. 22, 2004.

No We-Hav

We have no We-Have!

Finally, the fight ends with victory! City Council voted to NUKE the bogus We-Hav in September. I guess the mayor didn't veto it. A notice arrived from the city clerk.

Citizens of Pittsburgh's West End areas made a great showing at a public hearing on July 7, 2004. Sadly, a cable broadcasting and rebroadcasting of the hearing was not ordered by city council in July.

Shamefully, the We-Hav organizers had a provision in their by-laws that their board meetings are NOT OPEN to visitors and the public. Unreal.

The termination of the We-Have program, called by a petition of more than 4,000 home owners, is slated NOW for September 1. It was pushed off the agenda in mid-July by Council President.

Those on city council SHOULD vote to terminate the undemocratic (small "d") program.

The City Clerk said she understood this to be so that the Councilmembers (4) who were not at the Hearing, the Solicitor and the Administration study the transcripts.

The first vote was delayed for the weeks of the summer recess by City Council. Action is expected to occur at the Sept. 1, 2004 meeting.

www.pauljsentner.com/no_wehav/

Bluff Overflows with Vikings and Indians

Good "Quad A' football was played at D.U.'s stadium on the bluff as Central Catholic hosted Penn Hills Friday night. Nice game, nice venue -- but a bad fit.

The game should have been played at Heinz Field. There were too many fans in a space much too tight.

Central Catholic should have its own stadium / field. Same too for North Catholic. When I'm mayor, we'll talk. But, this is not to ignore Schenley, Peabody, Perry, The Dice, Carrick, Langley and Westinghose. I don't see why we don't play some high school football at PNC Park in October and November. They used to play Steelers and Pitt football games in Forbes Field.

A band festival, hosted by Central Catholic, is slated for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 25 at South High School (South Side at 9th Street and East Carson). Go bands!

Transit Rally and Protest in Harrisburg, Oct 5, 2004

Here is another nail in the coffin of Pittsburgh, the Port Authority's proposed, massive, service cuts on nights and weekends. More public hearings and committee meetings are slated. But come to Harrisburg on Oct 5.

Public transit is a youth issue. More transit talk at http://Ratsburgh.blogspot.com

Bus trip had some room for more. Cost is $15 per seat or what ever you can give. If you are in a tight spot right now don't let that stop you from going on this trip. Three Rivers Community Foundation is helping. Call Steve D. at 412-361-3022 to get on the bus and then all you got to do is SHOW UP.

DEPART: 7am from 4th Avenue and Ross Street downtown

ARRIVE: State Capitol around 11am

STUFF: Rally with folks from PA from 11 to noon in the rotunda.

DEPART: 4 pm, and exit Capitol by 3:30.

ARRIVE: 8 pm.

Next meeting

Wed, Oct 6 @ 6:30 PM. UCP Association, Neville Street at Centre Avenue. Time is running out for these bills. There is no guarantee that they will pass before the session ends. If they don't we
(those of us who ride on weekends or at night) are in deep trouble.

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.