Thanks to Maria Lupinacci for photos from gathering. Making points about change.

What was said, is still be be posted. But how I looked as I said it is here. Click the image for a larger view and to get a look of the intent listening on that second photo.

The meeting was upstairs at Marios on the South Side, just a few blocks from our office. There was standing room only -- as I'd say 55 were there.



Photos by Maria Lupinacci.

I wasn't the top bill -- as Bill and Mike were. I just got to close out the presentations with a few minutes to highlight some past questions (one was on land value tax), to introduce myself and the campaign to come, and to call notice that I'd post at my blog more insights.

Statement to County Council at the public hearing on a TIF for Deer Creek

I live in the city and county. I have a home on the internet too.

I'm against the TIF. I'm sure you'll hear a number of good reasons why from some of the others.

But tonight, on a rainy January evening, it would be great if we had this meeting put on governement telivsion. It would be great to have the speakers recorded and put on the internet. I'd love to stay at home and watch what the others say. Or, be out at swim practice with my kids or even going to a Pitt basketball game. The county could do more to open up the meetings for access of information at other times.

FYI: County council didn't support the idea of putting together a deal to save the city's cable tv department in December 2004. The county council meetings are not telivised. They should be. The members on council knew of the point I made.

FYI 2: I worked a bit of guesswork on the line-up for the speakers. I called to get my slot in the middle of the agenda as I knew of the swim practice time crunch. But, when I rushed to Grant Street, the doors to the building were locked. Then after opening, the scanner equipment was shut down. I rused to the meeting and slipped to the podium just two speakers out of order. Thanks John M and Wayne F (chair) for that extra lattitude.

I'm against the TIF as I want to see the Free Market work. And, TIFs are proven to be failures locally. Lord & Taylor and Lazarus are closed.

As a candidate for PA Senate, I'll work to go to Harrisburg and try to amend the TIF laws to prevent such deals from happening. Perhaps we can rewrite state law or just make it more clear as to what should occur.

FYI 3: This TIF isn't legal under state law. The law was made to allow TIFs for the sake of urban areas and blight. This proposed deal isn't urban and it isn't blighted in the slightest. Other speakers at the hearing drove home those points much better than myself.

If we don't change the state law, perhaps it makes good sense to issue a 10-year moratorium on all TIFs in Western Pennsylvania.

When I ran for Mayor of Pittsburgh in 2001, one of my big points that was very well received was the call for the elimination of all TIFs. I expect you'll be hearing more and more of these concepts. The people like that approach.

FYI 4: The speakers are given five minutes in County Council. I took less than two minutes.

FYI 5: I was suprised to see the number of people in the audience who were in favor of the TIF. They had signs. Someone mentioned to me that they were Walmart shoppers. After me the Texas developer of the project spoke. He was vilainized by some others.

FYI 6: Mr. Liller spoke on behalf of the poor people of the region who are getting screwed by this deal. (His words) Mr. L is always colorful. He talked about the lack of any black faces in the entire room, the union busting, the poor. Then a guy in favor of the TIF became a little heckler while Mr. L had the microphone at the podium. Bad idea. Rude too. "Stay on the topic," was shouted. Mr. L turned and said, "I am on the topic." He rattled off the three or four points he made -- all very reasonable to me in terms of the target of the discussion. Then he called anyone else to prove him wrong. Silence.

FYI 7: One other gentleman on my side, really I'm on his side, spoke well of the typical frustrations. The public hearing wasn't called with a public announcement. The public hearing was rushed onto the agenda without the plan being available. Some sections of the plan are still missing as the public hearing unfolded. The ones in power used a lot of the tricks in the book. Council members were even in and out of the meeting, talking in the hallway, working angles and advising supporters throughout.

Southwest flies into town without a nickle from a subsidy

Folks, these ideas work! Give nothing away, and we get the best possible outcomes.

I think we should end all corporate welfare. Once we end corporate welfare locally, and, once we are proven to do so -- then we'll begin to thrive.

These statements are not new to me. I've been harping on these matters since I began making public statements about public matters. These views are part of my bedrock, without doubt.

What is new to the conversation today is the fact that this approach I've been stressing for some time is being proven to work in the real world with real outcomes that we can all visualize. Before, these concepts were foreign, sadly. Now they are taking root. Let me explain in a rather long post.

We must end all TIFs. We must end all corporate welfare. We must end all boondogles. We can't spend money we don't have. We can't miss-spend the money we can muster in prudent ways.

Those who have lived on handouts are going to wilt. But, they are fly-by-night hucksters. Let them wilt. Let them close.

Those who don't want handouts will arrive and thrive. The marketplace gets a comeback to health. We'll get real prosperity and those who know how to make it here in Pittsburgh again. Some know how to judge the landscape and see how Pittsburgh's process has fouled up and even punishes the wealth builders.

We've been in one rut after another. We need to get out and "level the field." But, to do that, we do nothing by design. And, we put our intentions out in the public for all to see, know and understand.

I've been speaking harshly about corporate welfare for years. Those that have been part of the games in the past can't stand up and change their tunes now and have it carry any weight.

Trust the markets. Trust our own willingness and ambitions. Trust our inventiveness in building based on our own values, without the crutches of handouts or the need to get funny money from some development deal. To do it and be clean of extra burdens is so rewarding. And, to compete in the market and not need to bid against others who are living rent free is unjust.

When handouts are made, someone benefits at the expense of the others. And, we all pay for the handout by getting poorer products and higher taxes. That is privildege that nets us lower outcomes.

When the system is full of poisons and give-a-ways and bogus dealings -- those who want to make honest industry and honest services and quality goods pack their bags and go elsewhere. Not only do we pay for the higher taxes, get less in return -- but we drive away the bulk of the masses who want to be straight.

Most people expect the courts, the leadership, the deals from the government sector to be straight, open, honest, transparent, easily understood and accessible. When Pittsburgh's wacky weenies churn, blow smoke, inject fear, and over hype with miss-placed priorities, its noticed. People see what's going on. Note to self, "GET OUT OF TOWN." Humm, ... Austin, St. Paul, Tuscon, Chapel Hill, and other places look good next to our disjointed fussing of the managed decline and downward spirals.

When things are seen to be unfair, then people vote with their feet. People leave.

More people left Pittsburgh since Tom Murphy was Mayor than voted for him to continue being our mayor.

The population decline from the past 4 years isn't about the loss of the steel industry. That slip was news in the 1970s.

People vote with their feet. And, that voting can be away from Pittsburgh. But, what is the upside, that vote can be to Pittsburgh as well.

If we clean up, if we change, if we put new people in place, if we validate new priorities, if we hold honest and robust elections with campaigns among people, if we are open minded, if we don't do bone-headed deals, if we are prudent with governmental funds, if we make sure every person and opinion is valued, if we are inclusive, if we are principled, if we have tough-love and live that talk daily ---- THEN WE'LL FLOURISH.

We gotta want it. We gotta express it. We gotta make it happen. And, we have to go out of our way to mend, heal, and set straight the crooked. We need whistleblowers. We need to challenge ourselves and our friends and our loyal opposition.

This isn't the time to be silent and let the staus quo persist. This is change.

I want a holistic approach. That isn't about doing WHOLE deals (like taking over the entire 10-block area of Fifth and Forbes). We got the WHOLE ball of wax with two stadiums and a convention center. Except, we didn't get the hotel. We didn't get the whole package in the end as we have a big HOLE in the budget to maintain these facilities. They are about HOLES and WHOLES. I'm about being holistic, being organic, being faithful to the marketplace trends and civic duties. I'm about balance and power with the voters and people. They are about development companies, unelected boards, commissions without accountability, corporate welfare, back-room dealings.

When we have US Airways -- we've got to build them the airport they spec. We've got to give them lots of tax breaks. We've got to beg them to stay in town for ticketing, or for the new airport hanger, or whatever -- we are begging. You can't beg and prosper. Why should the taxpayers build a new hangar for US Airways? They need it, they should build it.

When we have US Airways and the capacity to make give-a-ways, we don't get Southwest. Look at what has happened with Jet Blue or others who have tried to enter the marketplace. An upstart arrives and charges much less for tickets to Florida. Bang. US Airways drops its prices and matches the fare. That's fair.

The University of Pittsburgh, meanwhile, and other corporate operations too, should choose to fly with the upstart. But, they didn't. The one's with power here insisted that they keep using the others who are here and contain the power and transactions.

When the new airlines came -- and have since gone -- (voting with feet) -- Pitt and others prohibited their people (ha) from booking tickets with the upstarts.

I'm an upstart too. Do you think the media powers or the Pennsylvania Economy League is going to be willing to put me on the air for a debate on issues? Think Again!

You've read this far -- give it a whirl. Let's have a new TV advertiser -- Southwest -- tell the station managers that it wants to see candidate debates on the air this spring. And, ask the PENNSYLVANIA ECONOMY LEAGUE to moderate the event. Ask the Airport Area Chamber of Commerce when its going to hold a forum for candidates for PA Senate. WQED should be doing more. Are those events being booked for Feb, March, April?

We'll flourish again as Pittsburgh and this region cleans up the market place.

Finally, I spoke to a group in December and the question came from the audience. "Mark, what are you going to do about US Airways and the airport?" Yes, that is part of the PA Senate District. Yes, there has been a great deal of hardship and heart wrentching times for many in this saga. Someone close to me in my family works with the company. As I type this blog entry, my wife is boarding a plane and headed to DC for a few days for meetings. We use the airport often, as travelers. I feel the pain. But, here is the answer to the question, "nothing."

I'll rush to the situations, listen, interact, understand the issues. I'll also be there with a different set of priorities and goals.

How can we make sure that the de-icers don't cause pollution and toxic run-offs?

How can we make sure that our existing capacities and capabilities are understood throughout the industry and with the passengers so the black-eyes of lost bags at Christmas in Phili wouldn't dare happen in Pittsburgh. Our workforce and intra building controls are different. We can't discount our care to serve as neighbors and workers. We'll rest peaceful at night knowing the jobs are being done well with pride -- because we are solid with honesty and a work ethic that isn't easily duplicated elsewhere.

How can we eliminate some of the County Police overtime?

Let's lighten up when you're diving around the circle and knuckle down when you go through security. There is a time and place for everything. I don't want a boot up someone's pants for giving a hug and hand to Aunt Mable as she gets to the car.

Maglev to the airport -- no thanks.

Development of the sprawling land around the airport as a priority, no thanks. Its okay to sell that land. Allow for developers to buy and build. The owners have property rights. But, I'm not going to push TIFs and subsidized development. And, I'd even work to end that bad habit.

Finally, let it be know that we are in a crisis. Let it be known nationally that our mayor and others are leaving their posts because their agenda of give-a-ways has been proven to fail. Let's broadcast our misery and our hunger for change. Old habits die hard. But, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

The the annointed stumble and fall -- there will be a lot of thunder. That's great. Everyone will notice the bumbling, fumbling, un-coordinated, unprincipled contrasts.

As we think again, we'll come to discover great victories -- such as Southwest's arrival. We'll change the philosophy. We'll get a different NORTH STAR as a way to navigate and problem solve.

That's the news and rebirth for our region. That's the kind of place others want to embrace. When we send the signals and messages out that we are not only with fresh faces -- but with different understandings -- those who have left might return. Others will discover Pittsburgh and set up shop here. But, mostly, those that are here now will stay and start with fresh ideas of their own. We've been supressed. We've got new challenges to meet. We'll all do more for ourselves and our neighbors -- because we are able to get things done without red tape and jumping through hoops.

I want self-sufficient solutions.

I want Southwest to come with the understand of $0 in return from government. I want Southwest to know we've got open minded managers who will insist on the option of Southwest tickets for themselves and others in their organizations.

Pull Your Own Weight!

Spoke to two standing room only audiences tonight

Busy night. First double header of the season with double presentations (both short) and two power meetings with supporters as well.

The Democracy Meet Up generated the following feedback from me to the organizers. (Photos in another posting above.)

Good discipline. Good sticking to the agenda. Thanks for having all three speakers. Would not do a TV thing in the future.

I'll post my reactions to what was said in terms of the candidates' talking points at my blog -- http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com -- in the next 24 hours. There were some biggie statements made that won't fly for long if these guys (Bill Peduto and Michael Lamb) want to run with Bob O'Connor. We've got to have public discussion on these ideas and real issues debate. That would help the candidates and the community.

To be progessive is to be able to and welcome the opportunity to "THINK AGAIN."

I want change. I want real change. I hate way the city's elected politicians have let the city spiral downward so far. We'll have to rebound with not only new people, but also with the right ideas. Personally I'm scared by SOME what I heard from Peduto and Lamb. We had better have a great INDEPENDENT option in the GENERAL Election. That's what I hope to deliver, if I'm not hired as State Senator first.

The Common Man presents The Great Pennsylvania Property Tax Calamity

Another site I've got to explore. Are there any platform planks within these pages.

The Common Man presents The Great Pennsylvania Property Tax Calamity... all Pennsylvanians are not treated equally when it comes to property taxes.

Justice matters. Otherwise, people vote with their feet.

First discussion meeting of city council for 2005 spends more money from 2004

City Council has a new budget for 2005. But, it is still spending money from 2004. There has always been funds that have been spent from past years. The tangled web is typical. But, because it has always been done this way can't make it right.

The city's budget for 2005 is not balanced. There is a $6-million hole where there is no legal obilgation to get money from the non-profits.

The mayor's office, the controller's office and now the sticking point comes from the clerk's office on spending of past year's money in 2006.

BTW, Bill Peduto ABSTAINED. Some leadership. Alan and Gene voted no. The others voted yes.

Campiagn Finance Reform Bill held for 12 weeks

Bill Peduto's half-baked bill about campaign finance reform was held for 12 weeks. It seems Bill has hand picked a group of citizens to make a better plan and law. Meanwhile, three on council spoke well to the list that Bill put on the table. The list was weak -- to say the least.

The list didn't include me.

The list has some nice people. Some people I know well and work with including Evans Moore of PIIN, Celeste Taylor (a community star in many ways), the League of Women's Voters leader who gave me props at the public hearing, and Mike English of PUMP.

The list was read and not made public by Bill. I'll make it public as I pry it out into the open.

Sala U., Alan H., and Gene R., each on council, raised serious questions to Bill's move by putting that list together so as to exclude others who are on the inside of this issue and have first hand knowledge.

Bill Peduto makes another fumble on this important issue. Sure, Bill took the ball and ran like the wind -- down field for 30 zig-zaged yards. But then he fumbles. With fumbles along the way, this is no gain. Making a fumble is a worse outcome.

Thomas Jefferson Think Tank to cover Health Savings Accounts

Update: I've been invited to make a brief presentation at the FEB meeting of the Thomas Jefferson Think Tank.

These guys and gals hold fine gatherings. I think I'll be at the public hearing in the Gold Room to speak out against the TIF at Deer Creek. But, perhaps this is your cup of tea? If you go, ask them to invite me to the Feb meeting to speak about the PA Senate race and the special election.

A key feature of President Bush's 'Ownership Society' is the Health Savings Account feature of the 2003 Medicare bill. HSA's give you more choices and allow you greater control over your medical care and expenses. In addition, they also allow you to accumulate any unspent amounts in a 401k like investment vehicle. Learn all about HSA's and how they apply to you and your family. Is this more government control in your life? Or less? Is this another step to socialized medicine? Or a step away?


Come find out!

For a lively, fun, and informative discussion, bring a friend,
your questions and opinions and join us at:

SILVIONI'S RESTAURANT 2125 BABCOCK BLVD

(ONE MILE FROM THE MILLVALE EXIT OF MCKNIGHT ROAD NEXT TO THE EVERGREEN FIRE HALL)

WEDNESDAY, January 5th. 2005
***DINNER (Optional - Please arrive and order before 6:45 PM)*** DISCUSSION WILL START AT 7:15 PM

THE THOMAS JEFFERSON THINK TANK MEETS MONTHLY TO PRESENT AND DISCUSS ISSUES. WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY POLITICAL PARTY. EVERYONE IS WELCOME REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PERSUASION.

Please feel free to forward this to anyone that believe
would be interested in attending.

RSVP OR QUESTIONS TO RAY HORVATH PHONE 412-630-9292 Badray531 - at - cs.com

Last night's social gathering: Drinking Liberally

Great time. Seems that the event is going to be a weekly gathering, each Tuesday at Finnigan's Wake on the North Side, near to PNC Park.

Well done John!

Got to talk with a half-dozen fellow bloggers. Got to re-meet a slew of others from all around the area.

I'd say the first gathering was a smashing success with 55 or so attending. To fix Pittsburgh, one beer at a time, well -- not since the chart room has there been such a spark. That comparison is mine, not that of the organizers. The connect was to the once popular Ground Zero meetings at the now closed pub, the Chart Room, in the Fifth & Forbes district.

Tonight's meeting: Democracy For Pittsburgh is at Mario's South Side

Perhaps I'll see you at this event. I'll be there, just after I give public comment in the County's Gold Room about my objections to the TIF at Deer Creek. We don't need subsidy retail plans in eco treasures.

I'm on the agenda, and I'll be quick. Next month I'll air out a few more items and issues.

DemocracyForPittsburgh - January 2005 Meetup

Agenda

6:00pm Happy Hour/Dinner
7:00pm Announcements
* Janis Williams, Trip to DC to demand challenge to election results
* David Tessitor, The Pittsburgh Open Government Initiative: http://www.openpgh.org/
* Matt Preston, Pittsburgh VIE: need data entry help
* Ed Dobson, Flood Aid report
* New North Pittsburgh Meetup Group (Baden, PA): http://dfa.meetup.com/731/
* New Organizing Meeting: January 12, location TBA. Please sign up if interested.
* Upcoming Event: Inaugural House Parties: January 20

7:15 pm Watch video from DFA: 'How Democrats and Progressives Can Win: Solutions from George Lakoff'
7:40 pm Discussion and exercise
8:00pm Special Guests about Pittsburgh Mayor's race:
Bill Peduto and Mike Lamb scheduled to speak. Also Mark Rauterkus, time permitting.
9:00pm?
Wrap-up (stick around as late as you like)

Steelers give slumping Pittsburgh a boost - Article in Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com City faces financial woes reminiscent of the 1970s, but resurgent football team offers relief. By Sara B. Miller | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

PITTSBURGH – It was the 1970s, and Pittsburgh's steel industry was on the decline. Mills would begin shutting down one by one along the city's three rivers.

Nice general story.

Sabina Deitrick, associate professor of public and urban affairs at the University of Pittsburgh gets the A+ for the day with this graph.

Already the city has shut down recreation centers and swimming pools and laid off workers. "People are going to notice it. And it's only going to get worse over time."

Exactly. It is going to get worse before it gets better.

Pittsburgh Mayoral Race: Ricciardi Bows Out Of Crowded Field

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Pittsburgh Mayoral Race:Councilman Alan Hertzberg won't seek re-election, but is thinking about a run for mayor.

Follow-up.

Traffic update and radio reports from the Wabash Tunnel

Yesterday was the first real rush hour for the Wabash Tunnel in outbound directions. Our drive at 4:45 pm was without another soul -- forward or back -- for the entire distance of the tunnel.

It felt like a ghost tunnel.

Rush hour is brewing all around the city, but not there.

We should be blasting traffic reports on the radio from the Wabash Tunnel.

My suggestions:

1. Drop the HOV (2 or more people needed at certain times) requirement all the time. I love car pools. But, I hate waste. If it becomes used in the future, put the HOV restrictions back into effect.

2. Make the other lane open to bikes, peds, blades and parents pushing stollers.

This makes is a nice short cut if you want to walk or jog from Brashier High School to downtown. Or, if it isn't being used, it might be nice to run in the tunnel at lunch hour if you worked in town.

The Wabssh Tunnel would make a nice TRAIL addition. It always could have been a trail facility. Tom Murphy can't even open up the HOT METAL Bridge for peds. That is another high priority that I saw years ago.

Let's think again. The Wabash Tunnel was last ueed ago some time ago -- like when this TOWN was run by REPUBLICANS. Hey, we can open the Wabash Tunnel -- and perhaps that opens up the ghost of political parties of the past and future as well.

Finally, if I'm elected mayor, or I should type, when I'm elected mayor, we'll hold the block party and gala within the Wabash Tunnel. That's the January venue and place to be for an all-night party in 2006.

We can't allow for big expenses to occur within the city and the county for things like the Wabash Tunnel. We're burning money. We're not able to do the things we need to do and are doing the wrongheadead -- and won't get ahead.

Report on sewage

Report on sewage to be released A National Academy of Sciences report scheduled for release this week will make recommendations on how hundreds of municipalities in 11 counties can cooperate to halt the sewage pollution that is fouling southwestern Pennsylvania's rivers and streams.

A major component of the report will address how that cooperation could trim millions from the estimated $10 billion cost -- $3 billion in Allegheny County alone -- of repairing aging, broken sewer systems that spill raw sewage every time it rains and threaten the region's public health, environment and image.

Pittsburgh's dance with the rivers is an often pondered issue. But, really, this river and city connection is more like a fad that comes and goes with the wind.

Mayor Murphy's claim of making riverfront development is more like a joke and less than truthful.

Okay, we've got the Convention Center. It faces the river. I has an under floor level water treatment that costs more than all the swim pools in the city -- and it broke last year. It has no functional purpose.

Okay, we've got Heinz Field -- by the river and with a city-scape view, if you can see around the massive scoreboard.

Okay, we've got a Jail Trail, but that's hardly a river's edge thing as it is squeezed between the bluff and Parkway East.

Then again, there are some blueprints for a re-do of the Mon Warf and the bypass by the parkway again. Might as well try to connect that to the Mon Valley Toll Way, but that's another story.

These efforts along the river net a letter grade of "D+" at best in my book. We can do much, much more. And, before we do the expensive things along the edge of the rivers, besides the new jail, we need to make sure our water gets to where it should and our waste doesn't mingle along the way.

We have serious infrastructure problems. The Democrats in town and in the county have been doing their best to ignore these serious problems.

Let's look for that report as it comes. Let's not ignore important elements -- such as infrascructure. Sure, it isn't sexy. But is is mandatory.

Our wants and our needs are not the same. Mature people understand those distinctions.

Study: Blog creation, readership grew in 2004

Study: AP & PittsburghLIVE.com: "'Blogs have been around for several years, but because of the coverage in the political campaign, a lot more people became aware of the idea of blogging and certainly went online to read blogs,' Rainie said."

If you want RSS feeds of this blog, we got em. You can also subscribe to the blog and its comments via an email subscription.

2005 Political Environment, Stu Rothenberg via Tim C.

Thanks for these notes by Tim C. He tunes into some C-SPAN coverage and puts up a recap. See the comments.

Nov 04 was a 'status quo' election.

Hertzberg won't seek another council term

Hertzberg won't seek another council term: "Councilman Alan Hertzberg announced yesterday that he will not seek a fourth term representing the city's western neighborhoods."

Another bites the dust.

I like Alan for a number of resons, personal and professional. He's a swimmer, triathlete, lawyer (and there are few on council), has put forth the idea of reform for the Pittsburgh Development Fund. Alan was in the the Mayor's plan and was on the URA Board. But, then he fell out of favor and was punished by the mayor. He was taken off the board and I suspect given the silent treatment for the next couple of years.

On the other hand, Alan was going the wrong way on WE-HAV. And, I can't figure out why. He didn't, to my knowledge, stand to defend the program and the entire endeavor.

The wild card in this move is his ambitions. Alan could make a decent candidate for Mayor. His name has been tossed into the discussions. Alan might need a break from office -- but he'll be back. Alan isn't like Dan Cohen or Barbara Burns, both former city council members who have worn out their times in public office and won't be back in any great capacity.

Finally, it is great to see the on-time announcement of Alan's intentions. It isn't early, nor late, just right as it should be. That resignation shows good respsonsibility and duty on his part.

Now the race can begin in earnest in the district. I love it. I want a race. I would love to see a few good people kick into high gear and awaken the area's political hunger. That area has been alive already to some degree. But, it is now okay to kick it up a notch or ten.

Bill said: We're not done -- but you've been fired! My Cable TV rant.

A C-SPAN for city governement. A nobel idea that wasn't done. Yes, we need an open governement system. I was ranting about that element within the ICA plans months ago as soon as it was in the released plan. December 31, 2004 came and a deal didn't. The city's cable TV department has been chopped. Three are out of work. Some remained.

Bill Peduto went on and on and needed to thank City Council at the end of the meeting. He mentioned that everyone got together and tried to make it happen. But Bill, it didn't happen. Mayor Murphy got personally involved.

Others in the administration, Rodney A., and Dale P., really tried to keep the department whole. Sure.

Theme: Whole not holistic.

We do need to struggle to get the cable TV department to function well and in the best interest of the residents. But, when you can't advance an agenda that makes so much sense, you all need to look in the mirror. More effort. More sweat. More heavy lifting.

Not only did I rant about the melting cable TV department months ago, but I tried to help. I nudged PCTV into the fray. On another front, I called Penn State University. I got PSU interested in the city's Request for Proposals. That was mandated by the oversight board. I talked to PSU officials and they were interested in getting a tour of the station and facilities. TV folks at PSU wanted to meet with the present employees. They had technical people that were going to come from State College. This was all on less than a week notice too.

I called dozens of others beyond PSU, from private operators to others. But, most wouldn't want to waste their time after hearing of the opportunity. Talk is cheap. But partnerships with real equity and investment with Pittsburgh's public leadership is just too risky and insane.

The city's RFP wasn't well advertised. It wasn't part of a press release. It was mentioned within the city's web site, but again, more advance PR was needed.

Here is another problem with the city-owned and operated cable TV department. KDKA TV doesn't care. The commercial broadcasters might find themselves at odds with the public / government station efforts. News at 11, I won't hold my breath. The diss-connect widens.

So, Penn State calls, wants to help, wants to do the discovery and due diligence. Guess what. PSU is denied. They are told "NO." The city officials won't grant them a tour. Can't says the mayor's crew. They really know how to apply the brakes.

That's execution. That's the shaft. That's the blame.

Furthermore, I (Mark Rauterkus) kept my nose out of the process as best I could when it came to dealing with Tom Murphy's administration. I didn't taint the dealings. I could only instigate efforts and bring people knocking to the door of the mayor's office. But, the door slamming in the face was for others who get city pay checks to do.

The act of entertaining the private bids as part of the RFP to operate the staion was nothing but a joke. The private sector didn't fail -- but -- the bosses in the city did. The employees didn't fail either. But, more could have been done. More still needs to be done.

Where are those public notes? Twanda Carlisle of City Council went to meet with Dr. John Thompson, Superintendent of Pgh Public Schools. She was flanked by three employees. They gave a great presentation that won over the support of Dr. T right away. Where is that presentation? Put it on line.

You say that the deal is off -- for now. Well, now is the time to redouble the efforts to have OPEN Government in the planning stages. There were too many things going on behind closed doors. How ironic as we need the telivision to shine the light on the meetings -- but we have to fight the fight in the darkness.

Here is an idea -- do a TV show on the TV station. Put the interview with Dr. T and the city council member and the three employees -- on TV. Let's all watch.

It took six years to merge 911 servies among the city and the county. I dare say it is going to take years to do TV and media services. And, for something complicated like EMS -- decades.

Pittsburgh is dead in the water and the ring-leader Bill Peduto is heaping praise and high tanks for jobs that are incomplete. Thanks for floundering. Folly and failures leave us empty.

My tough love suggestion to you today -- hold the next meetings in the studios with a live TV stream. Start by getting Dr. Thompson to the front of the camera. Let's here what his offer was and is. Where are those letters. Back track. Publish. Be open yourself.

This is a time for reflection. The image isn't good. To move forward, you have to be honest about where you've been.

Dan Onorato seems to be the fall guy. But, when I talked to County Council's Brenda Fraiser -- back before Labor Day -- she was a "NO." She knew what was what. She wasn't willing to support the program. Dan Onorato knows about the cable TV operation as he has been on city council. He knows how things operate. He sees the blatent self-serving, self-promotion and lack of objectivity in the extra programming that runs on the cable station.

It is a bad show to see the continual replays of Gov. Ed Rendell standing next to Tom Murphy with a three-foot cardboard check for state handouts (pork) about Frick at Sommerset. Then Rendell says he has not heard of ANYONE -- and he stresses N0BODY -- who has lost faith in Pittsburgh. Nobody is pulling up stakes he said. Nobody has tossed in the towel -- his words. He's standing on a slag dump for subsidized rich housing. He's not getting around. Gov Rendell is telling me he is out of touch.

I expect to see the miss-placed priorities from Tom Murphy. But, it rots the mission and the purpose of the cable TV division when they are run like a rented mule as a toy of the administration. Watching the state-sponsored TV in China is quite a bit like watching the staged city cable TV shows in Pittsburgh.

That, for what its worth, Bill P., is NOT what happens at C-Span. To have that C-Span vision, you'd have to leave something behind. What is trash in the present and recent past needs to be jetisoned. Call it what it is. Build up an ounce of respect and trustworthyness. Sanction the slop and NUKE it from the air. Be critical when needed -- and the needed times are frequent if not continual.

Dan Onorato does not want to play the role of a sucker and BAIL OUT the city's cable TV department. An expansion of same old same old is just more pain in the future.

To move this forward, as I hope it goes, you need to offer a self-study that is critical of where you've been. These workers might be brilliant -- but the outcome has been a lot of brilliant and trashy spin in un-objective programming.

Bounty Hunter oversight from Walko -- meanwhile we're 100 police officers light

Democratic State Represenative, Don Walko, of the North Side is pushing for new state requirements of Bounty Hunters. Jango Fett, watch out. You're not welcome here much longer.

Who are some bounty hunter characters from the movies or TV from wild west settings?

The PA Senate Judiciary Committee had a new law in committee a couple of years ago. It didn't go anywhere. Walko is in the house committee and he aims to push for the re-introduction of new measures.

The plan is to make the bounty hunters follow some extra rules set by the judges and the courts. What exactly, I'm not sure. Rep Walko, please share the details.

The matter has come to the front burner as two bounty hunters recently were in the course of their jobs in the North Side and shots were fired with rubber bullets -- and the fugitive died. Alleged. This hasn't been put to court. The DA is investigating.

One guy is dead. He jumped bail. He was in Pittsburgh hanging out and had been in trouble elsewhere.

We are to the point now where we should be empowering bounty hunters. Let's invite them to Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania. Let's not make it more troublesome for the guys who are working against trouble makers.

Mine is a tough on crime stance. Walko's isn't.

A woman small business owner in Oakland was robbed and on the TV news the other day. She begged for more police on the streets and slammed Pgh's Chief of Police, Robert McN, by name.

The city council president, Gene R., was on KQV's live line (Jan 4, 2005) and was asked about the police force strength directly. Interview host asked, "Do you think the people of Pittsburgh should feel safe now that the police force is at 800 rather than 900?"

Gene said, "Absolutely not." Gene then went on to talk about the quick need and support for the two new classes of police recruits that are to be trained and hired this year.

There is another example of the trend: Too little and too late. Now the force is too small. The new hires are coming too late.

Meanwile, in Harrisburg, our State Rep wants to make it more difficult to get the bad guys off the streets. Putting more red tape and burdens before the small business people who are helping bring bail bond skippers before the judges is wrongheaded.

Furthermore, this situation comes without any update as to how short we are in terms of police cars. What's happening at the shop now? And, the Citizens Police Academy is gone as well. I want to restart the Citizens Police Academy, and make it pay for itself. It could be a revenue source!

We could ask Plex, #80 for the Steelers, for the first donation to restart the Citizens Police Academy. On Sunday, while he's on the road wiht the team, three alleged theives hit his home and take some $65,000 with other goodies. Thank heavens for our nebby neighborhood ways -- as they were caught.

Keep up the good work neighbors. Go out of your way to watch out, make calls, and stay aware.

Ken's LTE gets a reply -- buzz about city conditions in poltical circles

Some noise is hitting the papers in recent weeks about candidates for mayor and the opportunities and fitness of the city's Republicans.

Letters to the editor, 01/03/2005RINO watch

After reading Ken Heiss' Dec. 28 letter, 'City Republicans,' I now more than ever understand the Democrat's death grip on the city of Pittsburgh over the last 70 years. Here we have a Republican chairman in District 2 who doesn't even believe in his own party. I always thought it was socialite Elsie Hillman who ran the Republican Party of Pittsburgh into the ground. But it seems the RINO (Republican In Name Only) forces are deeply entrenched throughout the city.

I live in Butler County where we actually stand up for our party and its platform. We know we offer a better choice of government and are not afraid to stand behind it.

I grew up in Allegheny County and I am ashamed of what Pittsburgh has become under Democratic leadership. Politicians chased me as well as many others north to escape the impending fall of the city. Now that it's happened, all the Republicans can do is act like their counterparts. If you can't govern, then get out of the way and let someone else who can.

TIM HABERMAN from Prospect

I don't want to PILE ON and heap more critical remarks to Mr. Heis or the City GOPers, but something must be written.

I have to say: I tried. I joined the Republicans. I joined the fight for the city with them. I know in my heart we need to do better than what we got now and what we've had in the past.

We can't give up. We, in this regard, stands to mean those who favor dissent. Churchill said, NEVER give up. Good advice for Pittsburgh too.

But, we can change our party registration. I did. I am now fighting under the party flag of LIBERTARIAN. I hope to make more friends with this more. I hope to keep old friends with this move. I hope to be even more friendly with Dems because of the move to Libertarian too.

We got a lot to do in the city. I'll not only help others, but hope to welcome your help in this campaign and battles yet to come.

Ken's article was published and the word I heard from some others was we (GOPers) are weak because of weaklings.

I'm not weak. I can't walk in that shaddow. Nor am I able to live under the shaddow of the Dems either.

Ken's letter found in the PG:

City Republicans

The Dec. 6 editorial "The Next Mayor: Is It Time for a Republican to Lead Pittsburgh?" is on target. However, the city Republican Party is weak. We have a severe case of city non-acceptance along with an environment of political apathy.

A Republican candidate would need more than a good platform. He would need an NFL pedigree or a magic wand to capture the hearts and attention of our voters in the city of Pittsburgh. He would have to have shoulders broad enough to accept the blame that would be heaped on him from the corner into which the city government painted itself.

The candidate would have to form a much stronger bond of trust with state government and he would have to have an acceptable, honest plan for the union rank-and-file that would constitute a fair solution their leadership could accept.

So far Act 47 and its oversight panel have been a way for Pennsylvania to drag its feet and punish our city in the name of political posturing because Pittsburgh (or any other city) can't support our one-party city along with our suburban neighbors on our property-tax driven safety budget. Perhaps if the mayor's next act in this administration were to drop the keys to our city on Gov. Ed Rendell's desk, state government might then see what a difficult task we have here.

We need a Republican candidate who likes Democrats as much as he likes Republicans -- maybe even more. I don't think the average Pittsburgh voter will accept that easily.

Good candidates do not grow on trees. Perhaps Lynn Swann will loan us one of his interior lineman as a city of Pittsburgh mayoral candidate.

KEN HEISS, Mount Washington

Editor's note: The writer is the city of Pittsburgh District 2 Republican chairman.

Ken hosted a half-dozen meetings about this very topic a year or so ago. I asked for a copy of the outcome documents. Notes, minutes, position papers are nice, IMHO. Well, I was told everything is in Ken's head.

I spoke at one meeting. My message to the 20 or so gathered had to deal with each getting five new GOPers each week for the next 60 weeks. That goal was about outreach. That mission would have generated 6,000 new party registrations for the city's GOP ranks. It was do-able, affordable, and significant.

I called for that as a course of action. I had in the past generated more than 100 new GOP re-registrations in the city in a course of a month. Been there, done that -- and know what's what in terms of work and investement.

Guess how much support my comments generated?