Now Hiring

You are invited to consider, apply for and interview for a position with a
new team. The campaign of Mark Rauterkus for Pennsylvania Senate would like
to deploy your talents in meaningful opportunities in the weeks and months
to come.

Help make waves and win battles on issues. Building team seeks creative
participants. Earn political capital at the polls and gain experiences. The
special election for PA Senate is May 17, 2005.

Apply to: Launch Director, Robert Maple, an indie voter with email to:
GetHired@Rauterkus.com

Wanted: Tech literate, engaged citizens who want to make history and not be
a slave of it.

The Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign committee has people from all parties (and
that's more than two), various sections of the county, wide experiences and
diverse aspirations. http://Rauterkus.com http://Platform.For-Pgh.org
Candidate: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432 (cell phone) Headquarters in the
historic South Side. (EOE - of course)

Pledges grants

Can we get it right once in a while, please.

I am in favor of safe pedestrian avenues, walking to school, crossing guards, ped bridges, curb cuts, bike lanes, and cross-walks. There are few if any that are as jazzed about sidewalks. The urban life needs clean and safe passage.

I've pushed strollers around town to a point that the tires went bald. Pittsburgh stinks in its surface treatments. Oh the stories that I'd tell -- for another day.

So this is great news:

Rendell pledges grants - PittsburghLIVE.com: "repair sidewalks and curbs and put up signs and maps in Oakland's Fifth and Forbes avenues corridor."

But the sticking point for me is that there are no schools around Fifth and Forbes, other than the colleges and universities. If we had an elementary school or middle school in town, that would be a different matter.

Fifth and Forbes needs a serious touch up. The present administration has starved that area by design. This area needs extra help, but it should be from the city, not the state.

When we burn money from the state, it is still our money. I don't care if you take it from the front pocket or back pocket, it is still our money. That money came from us, the taxpayers.

We need to take care of what we got. We can't punish areas like has been done at Fifth and Forbes and with other parts of town. We can't let our guard down so far. These sidewalks and curb cuts need to be a much higher priority.

Philadelphia & Saidel tops campaign cash list

Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/01/2005 | Saidel tops campaign cash list: "Philadelphians got their first glimpse of some of what really matters: the money.

Oh my gosh. Think again. What really, really matters is NOT the money. Money can't buy you love. Money can't buy you talent. Money can't buy you health. Money can buy you the friends that you might not really want.

New campaign-finance reports reveal who of the dozen or so rumored Democratic mayoral contestants spent time actively raising money last year.

At the top of the heap: City Controller Jonathan Saidel, who has raked in nearly $194,000, ending 2004 with nearly $380,000 in the bank for a campaign committee...

I'm on the task force that is working on a new suite of laws for Pittsburgh's campaign finance reform matters. We meet for the second time tomorrow.

The City Controller in Phili is a big advocate of the Land Value Tax. That is also a big point in my campaign. And, for Pittsburgh, we had it and lost it, thanks to Bob O'Connor. So, here is something that Phili is moving to and Pittsburgh is moving from. Harrisburg, as in the city of Harrisburg, has made some great strides to the land value tax and is seeing great results.

Great quote: "How much money a candidate raises is an indication of what sort of appeal he or she has to political fat cats."

Swim and skate opportunities

The two events, both with a sporting theme, were fine events.

The Carlington High School guy won as they host Montour. Pack the pool night worked. Meet at the meet worked. Should have made hand fans. Do that for next year. Got to meet with some swim parents in the stands.

The outdoor Schenley Ice Rink for Peduto's event was fun. Schenley Park, a RAD Park, (no RAD parks are on this side of the river) delivered good weather. A group of rug rat neighborhood kids came along for a good cause. Bill Peduto is gearing up for a two race season. He'll be defending his city council seat and, perhaps, being on the offense for the mayor's race. More news in a few weeks on the mayor's run.

My wife, kids and some friends should be there. My boys were the one's with helmets. Our family uses the rink once a week or more throughout the winter. They all love to skate. Sadly the city's lone indoor ice rink is closed, still.

When I do my kickoff for my re-election campaign, I'll make the party at the re-opened indoor ice rink on the South Side. I expect it will be a new building, energy efficient, green and such. And I expect it will have a private operator too, like it used to have.

I'd be involved and deliver plenty of oversight and management. When the private operators don't do what is required by contract, they'll be gone. The city did too little, too late and was too closed in the past in terms of these deals. And, the city shares much of the blame for cutting weird deals as well.

Love great music. Universal outreach. And not hidden for long

This artwork is from the cover of a band, The Three of Us. Funny for three reasons as the small group size fits my campaign staff. The campaign committee is growing. And, a new recruiter has signed up. Second, the hidden element fits on many fronts. The candidates are just starting to climb out into the open. Third, the music behind the cover is great. One song, Burgers and Fries, is one I hope you'll hear soon.


We had a great time at three different concerts this weekend with Mindy Simmons. She played on the radio the the SLB, in Shadyside and again in a private event.

Diven's in GOP: "Who's Next"?

Michael Diven is now a member of the Republican Party. Finally, a crack for Pennsylvania Republicans to exhibit some sway in the city of Pittsburgh.

Diven, who has oftentimes voted along Conservative issues, wasn't a great city councilman. Not even a good one. Don't know how he's done in the state House. A few former constituents told me that he was unresponsive and lousy.

Let me defend Mike: maybe the Democrats in leadership let him down and didn't give him anything. But now that he's a member of the Majority party, I think it should be rather nice to be a state House constituent. Maybe some Walking Around Money will make a couple of projects "happen."

Don't know if he'll win the Republican nomination for state Senate. He's going against a decent suburban guy; not known outside of his own town...but a decent guy. Diven certainly has the "news cycles" and name recognition.

But the interesting question is: will anyone else have the guts to follow? State Representative Harry Readshaw (D-Carrick) perhaps? Readshaw is the classiest guy in local politics, the Republican party would increase its power in the region expedentially, and there isn't anyone in the 36th legislative district dumb enough to run against Harry.

If Ralph Kaiser was still in the game, you know he might have gone. GOP probably doesn't want a guy like Ken Ruffing; I've been at the West Mifflin borough council meetings as a reporter and watched Mr. Ruffin inject himself into municipal politics.

The Republicans, if they were smart, would even go after a guy like Bill Peduto...conservative fiscally...while he might be more liberal socially, who really cares.

State Senator Sean Logan from Monroeville would be another interesting suburbanite to look at.

Do you think Republicans in the state House and Senate would be smart enough to talk with County Executive Dan Onorato? Might not have to, as he ran as a stronger fiscal conservative than one-time GOP powerhouse Jim Roddey.

But the city is the big jewel. Diven has taken a big risk; even if he weren't to win the Senate seat vacated by Jack Wagner, hope he stays in the GOP as a member of the state House. With majority rule in Harrisburg, the 22nd legislative district looks like it could be a nice place to live.

It'll be interesting to see what (if anything) happens.

Sala Udin would NOT be my choice for Dept. Mayor

I'm not making these types of job offers to Sala.

Sizzle in the steak house, fizzle on the field - PittsburghLIVE.com: "The word on Grant Street is that Lamb would appoint city Councilman Sala Udin deputy mayor

I respect Sala. He has a lot of sizzle. He'd be great in plenty of roles in the private sector.

Being his own man

Mike Diven: Being his own man - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Diven's critics will say the switch is about opportunism and ambition.

Not quite. Diven gave a hint what it's about last week.

First the headline. Bing his own man. Well, I'm all in favor of boys growing up to be men. I'm also in favor of people being themselves and not morphing into your manhood or being someone else's man. Slave trades stink.

But Diven ran away from one party and figured out he couldn't stay on his own as an independent and ran himself into the cozy confines of another party. Diven ran from a straw house to one built with sticks much like the little pig did when the big bad wolf came huffing and puffing.

If he was his own man, he'd handle the thug on his own turf.

Brad also misses the point when it comes to generous, overboard hype. Diven can give a "HINT" at a point and have it turn up in some manifesto.

Diven's career has been like a string of pearls -- all hinted together. Hints are not hard hitting to me.

Finally, being his own man is really not the goal that one should aspire to in the represenative form. He was elected.

As Diven was ejected by the dems, he ran away from accountability. And Diven ran to exploit an opportunity.

If Wagner's seat wasn't open, Diven would still be a Dem.

Diven could and should switch to the R's side and not run for the Senate.

Lost his phone lines

Brookline Democrat Diven switches to GOP: "Harrisburg Bureau chief Tom Barnes can be reached at tbarnes@post-gazette.com or 1-717-787-4254.)

Note to Tom Barnes of the PG: Please make a mention of the one who is IN the race. Duty calls. Friends, please give Tom Barnes a call and ask him to be an objective reporter and always mention all the participants in the race when talking about the 42nd race. Barnes (with the PG) has an message machine at: 717-787-4254.

To reach Diven, now that his phone lines were cut off and he didn't make other avenues available, use his cell phone: 412-418-6691.

To reach me, Mark Rauterkus, use my cell phone too: 412-298-3432.

County Council's phone, for good measure, so as to leave a message for Wayne F, 412-350-6490.

Listing the numbers is healthy as we have a lot to talk about in order to get this city and region healthy.

What's Jayson's phone contact? Is there a political office with a phone for the row office guy too?

A.J. SPEAKS OUT -- and goes after my heart no less

Nice rant:

A.J. SPEAKS OUT I am now registered as no affiliation and I have no intention of supporting a system that lies to it's people. I challenge everyone of you to think with your own mind and don't just vote democrat or republican anymore because they don't care about you or me and If we do nothing then we will lose the greatness of this country and that greatness starts with voting.

You go, guy! Click to see the entire posting.

Perhaps this guy should be courted to the Libertarian party.

Flaherty won't run for mayor

PG: Tom's not running. Friday, January 28.

Because of his opposition to efforts to merge some Pittsburgh and Allegheny County services, City Controller Tom Flaherty announced yesterday that he will not run for the Democratic nomination for mayor.

Flaherty has said for weeks that he was seriously considering a run but yesterday said he did not want the job.

The announcement leaves one official candidate in the race -- Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb -- as well as former Council President Bob O'Connor, who has not yet made a formal announcement.

City Councilman William Peduto likely will make some kind of announcement next week, and others could still get into the Democratic race.

Republican Party officials also are seeking a candidate.

Flaherty, oh where to begin? I hope that the people in the controller's office and who have been part of the fight of opposition will come, in due time, to join my true struggle. Sure, the 21-year controller has been a big part of the problem. But sure, he has stood up to some of the ills as well. Some good. Some bad.

Flaherty does not need a resume building campaign like Lamb and Peduto do. Flaherty doesn't want to be mayor and have the city in a worthless, weakened, stalled condition. Without the WAM, Flaherty crams. (WAM = walking around money)

I could take some of the "opposition efforts" of Flaherty and recast them into more principled counter attacks that have more purpose. And my points of opposution isn't to prevent progress, as was the case with the machine. But, we've had recent progress in the wrong directions.

In the entire SABRE Systems saga, Flaherty attacked. But, the Flaherty attacks were leveraged against the wrong points and only landed on the person of Jim Roddey, R. Flaherty didn't attack the "unified tax plan" that Bob suggested and Tom Murphy had to embarace as well. No, the baby went out with the bath water and Flaherty was a front row witness.

I had agreement with Flaherty in that the city should not have celebrated 'distressed status.' The city's leaders should NOT have given up their control of the city to overlords. The power to the people has evaporated. However, I feel that the struggle from Flaherty should have materialized for much more meaningful justifications. And, now that the oversight board is here, as well as Act 47, I can live for a new day and new rules.

Take the good and use it. There is good and bad in each decision. We can't turn back time.

Those in the controller's office can be very independent. That's good. There is hope that they'll join in the campaigns I'm associated with in the future.

Recording an album with our friend, Mindy Simmons, in Pittsburgh!

Mindy Simmons in Pittsburgh. The CD / Album is due.  

AP -- Dem close to joining GOP

AP Wire | 01/28/2005 | Allegheny County Dem close to joining GOP: "Senate Democratic aides said Diven this week asked them for $54,000 in campaign funds to pay off debt in exchange for him remaining a Democrat. Diven, who reported a $35,000 debt in December, said he never made such a request and that he would not base his party affiliation on it.

I'll meet with anyone. Mike called me yesterday and we got together this AM for a civil conversation as the 2-hour delay unfolded.

Understanding that I'm a realist and not in a fantasy land, here are some highlights from my vantage point: One: I'm in the race. Diven isn't. There is a great chance that he'll get second among Republicans and not make it to the special election.

Two: I've got my ideas and platform out there now. People have a clue as to what I stand for and what I care about. I'm in this for ideas, principles, values that are dear to me and to our community. Without a platform from him, its hard to have much of a conversation. Should I see ten press releases and position papers that deal with technology with the youth (he did start a computer lab that closed the minute he left city council) and recreation -- then I can begin to lift a smile. The formation of a Park District shouldn't be a foreign to the solution line-up in the months to come.

Presently, I've never heard Diven tell Mayor Murphy to resign. He still needs to go from Grant Street. Diven likes Murphy, alot. (gulp)

Presently there is a Deer Creek TIF in the process at Allegheny County Council. I hate TIFs. I've spoken against that one at its public hearing. Wayne Fontana, Dem, possible race participant as well, is in FAVOR of the TIF. He'll have to take some heat on that sprawl position, even for infrastructure. We need infrastructure redevelopment too. Diven who voted against a TIF or two back in the day needs to put out the word that the TIF is bad. Will he?

There is more that should be left for future postings. And, its time for the family meal.

Elsewhere mentions of mine in other blogs.

See the comments area:

One is to Grassroots PA: "PoliticsPA."

TV 11 says Tom F. won't run for Mayor: No Bob vs. Tom rematch.

Four years ago as I was a candidate, it was generally Bob vs. Tom. A dozen debats had ONLY Bob and Tom. Bob and Tom each spent $1M. Frick and Frack. Machine politicians. Then Tom Murphy is out but inject a different Tom! Oh no!

Now we hear that TOM Flaherty won't run for Mayor, so says the report on TV 11.

Humm.... Months ago I would have never expected him to be a candidate. Then I was more convinced that it was possible. Tom has some capacity to get fired up. But, he'd have the potential to overheat and melt-down too. And, perhaps, there might be others out there that might try to make his road more trouble than it is worth.

The other alliance to watch is between Tom F and Bob O. Will Tom stay neutral as he is the chair of the Dem party? I can't see him being "above the fray" in terms of the back-room dealings.

Thanks for your feedback.

Radio shows - Here I come Homespun!

Called into the Bowyer show today. Talked a moment about the race for state senate. Tonight at a school meeting, "key communicators," one of the fellow parents came up to me and said she heard the call. She had a lot to say about the players involved.

Furthermore, I hope I was able to get Doug of Homespun Bloggers the content for the radio show he's been coordinating. Should be fun. I'm just getting some elbow room to do more with those elements in the production aspects.

Yesterday I was on hold for 20-minutes to the Boywer show and had to bolt. Spoke to the producer and just couldn't wait any longer. Not fun being behind a caller who is a real bible technical debater as those calls can eat up the minutes.

The theme then was about Pittsburgh and hitting bottom. One prior caller gave a recap of the Sala Udin rant about how he wanted to abolish the I.C.A. -- or ask that the state do that. Then the comment was, wrongly, that no others were standing up against such foolishness. Well, there is some opposition to Sala on council. I heard Alan H. say that Sala has as much chance of getting rid of the I.C.A. as they did in getting a $144 Occupation / Commutter tax. Some do have cooler heads, but then again Alan H. is about to leave city council as he is NOT seeking re-election this year.

In a nutshell, Pittsburgh has yet to hit bottom. And, I'm optimistic.

Obituary: William J. Schofield III

I will miss, as will countless others, Mr. Schofield. He was a giant in many ways. I was always warm to talk with him. Open, candid, and such a dad. He was a swimming parent -- for sure. His son, no pup now, is a coach. Mr. Schofield, we'll miss you.

Obituary: William J. Schofield III / Insurance executive with knack for politics and community service: "William J. Schofield III, a successful Shaler insurance executive with a booming voice who was involved in local Republican politics, died Monday of an apparent heart attack. He was 78."

...

In 1984, Mr. Schofield was defeated by Larry Dunn for the position of county Republican Party chairman. Mr. Schofield had campaigned on a pledge to shake up the GOP establishment from the top down.

He contended that the party apparatus had neglected local campaigns, siphoned local funds into state and national races and generally was responsible for a decline in the number of GOP elected officials, morale and achievement in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

Saturday morning's concert details - North Side - tune in or be there

Our friend, Mindy Simmons, performs two concerts this Saturday. Please turn out or tune in. The Saturday morning event is on the radio and open to all to come for free, at the North Side's Children's Museum.

I've been providing CDs of the song, One World, written and sung by Mindy, in our activities about town in the past weeks. She is very talented and has offered a lot to the campaign with her song.

The following comes from the radio host on Saturday. He plays another role too as he is also going to be at the concert Saturday night, 8 pm, First Unitarian Church, Shadyside, on Morewood Ave.

Other great things happened this week. SLB was featured in AIRSPACE, a national publication showcasing best practices in public radio (see http://www.slbradio.com). Also, thanks to flagship station WRCT (http://www.wrct.org) you can now listen to SLB live via streaming MP3 (as before) or Ogg Vorbis, a new technology said to offer higher quality at lower bandwidth.

On this week’s radio program, ... we’ll have special guests:

At 8:20, Jeffrey Dorsey previews Unblurred, the monthly arts event put on by the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative (PAAI) as part of its efforts to revitalize the Penn Avenue Corridor between Negley and Mathilda avenues through the arts.

At 11, we’ll feature live music with Mindy Simmons, a Sarasota-based musician whose performances have been described as Peggy Lee meets Carol Burnett! In addition to her joining us on air, we’ll join Mindy to emcee her 1/29/05 performance at 8 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, Morewood and Ellsworth Avenues, Shadyside.

As always, we hope you'll tune in on the radio or be part of our studio audience. Doors open at 10. There is no admission fee, you can hear great live music, and watch how a radio program comes together as well as sample the Children's Museum's grand hall, museum store, and cafe. After our broadcast, stick around to learn more about our radio studio and visit behind the scenes or consider touring the rest of the museum with purchase of admission wristband at the front desk.

Thanks for being part of The Saturday Light Brigade, a public radio tradition from Pittsburgh, PA.

-- Larry Berger

Dan O wanted an opportunity to counter offer. Counter zero.

County Executive Dan Onorato wanted an opportunity to give a counter offer to US Airways before the news dropped as to the job losses. Dan is mad. Dan is bad that the past state, county and government money has evaporated (my word).

My approach is different.

You can't be mad at the market place. Life is too short to be mad at things like gravity. We have to deal with the facts. I do.

I would have given zero to US Airways. That's a counter offer that makes the most sense. We got burnt. Lots of money went away to them and the relationships for corporate welfare didn't have the weight to keep them here.

My plan for keeping US Airways in Pittsburgh is to rush and give away $0.

On other fronts, I'm all in favor of turning up the heat for CCAC and job training. That is an effort that gives to everyone, not to corporate welfare. I would strongly support CCAC efforts, technology efforts, lower tax efforts.

Allegheny County to US Airways: Take our spaces at $10 a square foot put on the table. Gov. Rendell offers $1.25 M for relocation and $1.2 M tech transfer. Ten day response in writting. Our offer appears to be much better. But, it needed to be ten times better. Dan thinks that the deal was a win-win for the taxpayers. Perhaps it will be a win-win that they didn't take it.

Odd way to interact: US Airways broke the leases at the airport. Didn't bargain in good faith with Jim Roddey. Don't deal in good faith with the unions.

Lynn Swan, good to meet you

I got to talk for a few minutes with Lynn Swann today. He is now aware of some of the political landscape from my perspectives. Being aware is good.