Mass transit bill weighed

Put this into the trends: The devil is in the details and be careful for what you wish for.

Trib: "Mass transit aid bill weighed

HARRISBURG -- Mass transit agencies across Pennsylvania would get $200 million more each year from the state under a bill introduced with bipartisan sponsorship Wednesday to raise the state's realty transfer tax.

Wrongheaded indeed. To raise the realty transfer tax is exactly the wrong way to go.

EXTRA CREDIT: Bush Outlines Plan for HS

From Associated Press:

"President Bush on Wednesday began his push to require high school students to take the math and reading tests now required of younger students under the No Child Left Behind law, the most ambitious item on the president's slate of second-term education proposals.

'Testing is important,' Bush said at J.E.B Stuart High School in this Washington suburb. 'Testing at high school levels will help us become more competitive as the years go by. Testing in high schools will make sure that our children are employable for the jobs of the 21st century. ...

Testing will make sure the diploma is not merely a sign of endurance, but the mark of a young person ready to succeed.'"

"In education, Bush's focus is on high schools and on expanding the No Child Left Behind Act that is designed to raise achievement among poor and minority children and penalize schools that don't make adequate yearly progress. It's part of his campaign pledge to improve high school standards and enhance the value of high school diplomas.

" 'We're not interested in mediocrity,' Bush said at the school, which was the lowest-performing among those in relatively prosperous Fairfax County, Va., in 1997, but met its academic goals under No Child Left Behind Act in the 2003-04 school year. 'We're interested in excellence so not one single child is left behind in our country,' he said.

"Bush wants to require states to test students annually in reading and math in grades three through 11. That's an expansion of the law he signed in 2002, which requires those tests in grades three through eight, and at least once during grades 10 to 12.


"The president also wants to give states $250 million to require that the 12th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress be administered in every state in reading and math every two years, just as it is in those subjects in grades four and eight. That would produce the first-ever state results for high school seniors on this national test, helping policy-makers evaluate their school standards.

Receive the NCLB Extra Credit update.

NCLB Extra Credit provides a regular look at the No Child Left Behind
Act, the education reform initiative passed with bipartisan support. For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Education at (202) 401-1576.

Kind reactions to today's meeting

Mark,

I was discussing the meeting with Terry and we feel that your assertion about getting the keys to the recreation center to let the kids in is completely correct. It is wasteful and ridiculous if these expensive buildings, that belong to the taxpayers anyway should be left idle all summer. We also discussed the possibility that in light of the financial problems with the city would the payments have been made to procure the insurance to keep the city from being sued. I don't know. I really sincerely hope that we can find a way to assist the kids this summer because to do otherwise would be unthinkable. Please if I can be of any help I'll make every effort to do so. I can't help feeling betrayed by Mayor Murphy. Just like the CEO of a company he bears the responsibility of keeping the city financially sound. I'm sure many people feel the same way I do. Thanks for what you are trying to do this family appreciates your efforts. I can't help feeling a little frustrated myself. I want to do something I just don't know what!!!

Robert E Michel

P.S. I like your version of the flyer its more eye catching.

New TV show, The E.D. Speaks, from PCTV 21

Pittsburgh Community Television is premiering a new show, The E. D. Speaks, airing on Pittsburhg's Cable Channel 21. The E.D. Speaks is hosted by Thomas Poole, PCTV's executive director, and Barry Hamlette, president of the board. The program looks at the inner workings of the organization, promotes the work of community producers, has interviews with media experts and showcases a variety of talent that is associated with PCTV.

Watch but also e-mail or call (412) 322-7579 Tom with feedback. What works and what doesn't? What types of segments and guests would you like to see? Who do you think can benefit from this show?

Air dates:

Wednesday, Jan. 12 11am-1pm

Friday, Jan 14 6pm-8pm

Saturday, Jan.15 9pm-11pm

Tuesday, Jan.18 7pm-9pm

Friday, Jan. 21 6pm-8pm

Tuesday, Jan. 25 7pm-9pm

Thursday, Jan. 27 Noon-2pm

Mr. Roberts doesn't know when city council's votes occur

Mr. Roberts told our city council president that he was against a bill that was slated to pass. Mr. Robers had thought that the final vote was the other day. Nothing from Mr. Roberts was put on paper, yet it was requested.

City Council votes to spend leftover funds despite recovery team's opposition: "Pittsburgh City Council approved some small budget changes yesterday that were opposed by the Act 47 recovery team, which may also get it in hot water with the city's fiscal oversight board."

We need to end encumbered funds for year after year spending. This is a plank in Platform.For-Pgh.Org within the finance section.

The administration and various departments have had secret passbooks that are leveraged for matters that council may not want.

Weird accounting that favors the administration has to go, even if and when I'm heading the administration. Ideal accounting principles would have ongoing, weekly reports and charts as normal operations. We need to run the city more like a household. The administration policy is twisted by design. Even members of city council don't know when or if money in various accounts from past years has been spent -- or not.

Block grants for neighborhood needs should have listings on the reports too. Not only is the budget process in need of an overhaul, but same too the general fund and various balances within the system. Income from one year should be matched with spendings that same year.

Consistent treatment for all departments is but a pipedream now.

Act 47 coordinators have an obligation to inform city council when actions violate the plan. They don't have an obligation to make statements on their likes and dislikes. The obligation stands for violations. Wants, needs and violations are all distinct.

The mayor has squirreled away money in so many different locations that it might take a year of constant searching to uncover the situations.

Another matter is the lack of any capital money. Now the West End landslide occurs and the budget impact is $600,000. But, no money is available.

Security is on everyone's minds

Tonight at a community meeting on public safety, we heard from a women who had her car stolen once, suffered two home break ins, had been robbed twice as well. She's upset. It's understandable. I'll try to meet with her to build a quick response network to warn each other of troubles and issues.

More news on that soon. Another type of warning signal came in via email from good sources.

CAR JACKERS NEW SCHEME:
Be aware of new car-jacking scheme where you walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift into REVERSE, and you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into PARK, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view... When you reach the back of your car that is when the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!! Your engine was running, ladies would have their purse in the car) and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. BE AWARE.

Drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later. A purse contains identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home address. They already HAVE your keys! This scheme has been reported to have occurred in the states of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan.

He's running

Howard Dean, M.D., is running for the DNC Chairmanship. See comments for his email.

Cullen show and blogging

On the web, and in the blog landscape, there are a lot of folks to the far right and the far left. But, this blog is a centralist, populist blog. This is where most are.

Sure, there is some bad info. But free expression is welcomed.

Eastern PA sets Special Election for PA Senate to April 5, 2005 -- OMG

I'm a participant in a special election for the PA Senate in the spring of 2005. The date has been set for eastern PA, April 5, 2005.

Our opening is due to occur on January 18. So, the date should be known after that date.

Parking Authority opens its own court and privitizes the judges too

The Parking Authority is going to privatize the entire operation of court, judges, ticket collection and more.

The parking tickets given by the police are going to be put before a judge in court. But parking tickets given by Parking Authority officials are going to the parking authority court.

I'm in favor of an elimination of the Parking Authority. Take it out, over time. This is a function of public life.

Those in the Parking Authority have seen the storm clouds brewing. They are now in a land grab mode and are expanding. That is wrongheaded. They are going in the wrong direction.

I am not in favor of an additional Parking Authority court system.

Public Hearing set for Ballfield Ads in Parks

At 9:30 am, Wednesday, February 9, 2005 in City Council Chambers. Be there.

Should and how should the city sell ads for the fences of the ballfields?

The art-advertising elements in the city need to be explored and applied. There is gold in them thar hills -- if the prospectors to the job with the heavy lifting and with the heavy thinking.

Controller sues both Mayor and council because of the cuts to the department

This story is finally getting some ink. It has been brewing for a while.

One of the planks in Platform.For-Pgh.org addresses the level of litigation within city government. Too often the decisions are taken to the judges to decide. The best solutions in life are worked out among parties and don't include people in robes. But that's hard work and heavy lifting that takes a grand view -- and Pittsburgh is short in those characteristics with the officials we've had.

PG coverage 'Mayor Murphy and the Pittsburgh City Council have refused and neglected to comply with the reasonably necessary funding requirements of the controller's office and are thereby impairing and/or destroying the city of Pittsburgh's home rule government,' the lawsuit says.

Flaherty's lawsuit, filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, is the latest court challenge to the city's Act 47 recovery plan: Both the police and firefighter unions have cases before Commonwealth Court attempting to block its contract controls. Flaherty pledged last year to sue if the city followed through on the cuts to his office.

Pittsburgh's controller is an in-house auditor, who performs yearly financial reports, studies government services -- through so-called performance audits -- oversees bidding and contracts, and cuts checks to employees and city contractors.

Underscoring all the possible functions of his office, Flaherty's lawsuit contains 18 pages of appendices listing jobs his employees perform.

Wonder how many pages, or if anyone will ever count and report upon the length, of this blog? What about the number of pages in their platforms? Les has two pages, one sheet, front and back. How long is Lamb's platform. What about Bob's? Do they exist?

Flaherty, who has been controller since 1984, has used the performance audits as a platform to criticize government policies, often going after tax increment financing plans and other business incentives and Allegheny County's property assessment procedures.

That often gets him in hot water with other government officials, which Flaherty claims leads to politically motivated attempts to cut his office down. When then-Mayor Sophie Masloff tried to cut his spending in 1992, Flaherty also sued, and Common Pleas Judge R. Stanton Wettick ruled the controller's office should have 74 full-time workers.

Flaherty has used that 12-year-old decision to ward off other cuts, though he said his office has dwindled to 65 full-time workers currently.

Flaherty was a vocal opponent of the Act 47 recovery plan last year, and the latest cuts required by the city, the Act 47 team and the oversight board are another attempt to silence him, he said.

The controller's office is 'treated the worst in the entire city and I'm just tired of it. There was no analysis done on our office. This was punitive, arbitrary, capricious, you name it,' he said yesterday.

Asked if there was some irony in the city's fiscal watchdog trying to block spending cuts, he said, 'I'm not trying to get more money, I'm trying to keep what I have. ... I'm trying to keep the fiscal watchdog office there, or it'll be lost in no time.'

Mayoral spokesman Craig Kwiecinski had no comment on the lawsuit.

Tierd. Hard work. You name it.

We don't need a sleeping watchdog. We don't need a big watchdog office. We don't need need a watchdog without teeth that barks at the wrong things. We do need a new sense of fairness.

I'm in. Peduto invited me to join his Campaign Finance Reform task force

Today I got a call from an aid to city council member, Bill Peduto. I've been invited -- and accepted of course -- to participate on the panel that is going to study and put forth solutions to the city's campaign finance reform measures -- in 12 weeks or so.

I'm happy.

Now there is some serious responsibility and interesting challenges to navigate.

I know a few of the others who have been picked. Should be interesting. Stay tuned.

Ideas on campaign finance reform are welcomed, of course.

Groupware

Way before its time.

Lamb

The sacrificial lamb jabs are now off the radar. When I was called such, I held a gyro party for my supporters. Yep, I know. That's really goat, not lamb.

I do have a great story about the three billy-goats gruff brothers, if you care to see it performed -- just ask.

When Lamb gets edged out, I hope that he and his supporters will come to my campaigns. And, even before the primary, we'll keep him in the loop as to the run for PA Senate. He can vote for me on May 17, 2005. Because I'm a DEM, I won't vote for him. And, I'm not too sure why I would.

Tip to Mr. Lamb --- come up with a statement about the Mon Valley Toll Road. How could you not know?

Lamb officially enters race for mayor - PittsburghLIVE.com Michael Lamb, Allegheny County's prothonotary, became the first person to officially enter the race for mayor of Pittsburgh, which is trying to turn around its bleak finances with reduced spending and altered taxes.

This news is very bad news for Mr. Ludwig. This is bad news for Mr. Jones too. And, its bad news for the citizens fo Pittsburgh as well.

1 + 1 + 1 = third.

We're being told 1 + 1 + 1 = first.

These other two are not people?

These other two don't have the "rights" to run?

As Pittsburgh is in a crisis because of numbers. Those on Grant Street can't ad when it comes to budgets. And, there is a problem with balance.

Other candidates have announced for mayor but are not expected to run legit campaigns that pay for TV, radio and print ads.

Lamb could have stood up and said, in part, he's happy to enter the campaign and debate the issues with all the other participats. If I'm Lamb, I'm asking the others who are running for the same post to drop out and support me.

Finally, it was very interesting to hear the radio news blurb. Lamb spoke saying he'd "Do More with Les." Exact quote. It is right from the Les bumper stickers.

Once I run the city, we'll be sure to do events like this each month. OpenOffice.Org plug

OpenOffice.Org is a splendid open-source software package that can take the place of Microsoft's Office for $0. It works on WIN and other platforms. Go get it yourself. I use it.

As part of the Technology Summit we should be holding, we'd hold other build-up events such as this. Details posted from The OpenOffice.org Conference Team.

After Hamburg in 2003 and Berlin in 2004, we are searching for the perfect location for the OpenOffice.org Conference in 2005.

We are collecting applications from teams who are willing to organize OOoCon 2005 in locations outside Germany.

Interested teams should send their applications to the mailing list conference@marketing.openoffice.org in the following format:

Key Question: In 200 words or less, answer this question: Why is your location and the date you propose the best for the OOoCon 2005?

Your application MUST INCLUDE:
* Location (country, city, conference center/university)
* Proposed Date(s)
* Team Lead (main contact person)
* Team Members (all members should be willing and able to commit at least 3 hours per day to planning the conference during the last two weeks before OOoCon 2005)
* Local events that are taking place in parallel (or right before/after)
* Special visa or entry requirements, e.g. vaccinations

Your application COULD INCLUDE:
* Large local OpenOffice.org deployments (for user keynotes and success stories)
* Names of local OpenOffice.org developers (for developer sessions)
* Names of local OpenOffice.org vendors/partners (potential sponsors)
* Travel costs (e.g. flight costs from the following cities: London, Paris, Rome, Beijing, Sydney, New York, Hamburg, Dublin, San Francisco, South Africa, Tokyo)
* Accomodation costs (youth hostel, hotel)

According to the OOoCon 2004 attendee survey, proposed locations should meet the following requirements as much as possible (order by priority):

* attract the largest number of community contributers
* be near enough to allow a large number of Sun's OpenOffice.org
developers, who are in Hamburg, to attend
* low accomodation costs
* cheap flight and train tickets
* the conference venue is for free
* alignment with large IT event (e.g. CeBIT, Systems, Comdex)
* strong local OpenOffice.org community
* strong sponsor support

The deadline for submissions is January 23, 2005. Shortly after that date we will publish the applications at http://marketing.openoffice.org/conference/
and call for votes.

Information about the last two OpenOffice.org Conferences can be found at:
http://marketing.openoffice.org/conference/

http://marketing.openoffice.org/conference/OOoCon2003.html

Pittsburgh House Concerts Promotion

Click to join PbgHouseConcerts

City to feel pain before the gain

Trib article

"To get the city back on track financially, everyone will have to feel some pain -- both inside and outside of government," said Bill Lieberman, chairman of the city's state-appointed financial oversight board. ...

Hitting the mark, however, will be easier for some officials than others.

Hitting the mark with Mark! How's that for a slogan / button / bumper sticker?

Pain is here. Pain is going to linger. I don't see a guarantee of gain -- yet -- from them.

The gain plan is to be found in our campaign and with its successful outcome.

Deadly high drama on the rivers with workers and tons of coal

The stories, lives, heavy lifting, struggles of the rivers, industries, and event the history should be made known and shared to a much higher degree. This is our legacy and a larger share of our present day landscape. But, to most, it is unknown.

Three die in barge wreck - PittsburghLIVE.com: "The tug was pushing the barges -- each loaded with about 1,000 tons of coal -- out of the lock chamber when the intense current pushed the barges sideways into the river, dragging the tug with it.

'He was shoving out of Montgomery Lock and Dam and something happened -- we have no idea -- and the boat went over the dam,' said Don Grimm, president of Campbell Transportation, one of the region's largest river-transport firms. "

Scattered Abroad: Thousands of Pittsburghers who left yearn to return

People vote with their feet. People leave. We all know this. But, in time, people might vote with their feet again and return -- if there is a significant change.

Scattered Abroad: Many of the thousands of Pittsburghers who left yearn to return Scattered Abroad: Many of the thousands of Pittsburghers who left yearn to return