Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Veto political

Councilman: Plan veto political - PittsburghLIVE.com: "the mayor's decision was unduly influenced by his longtime supporter, Paul Renne, who announced plans to run for Hertzberg's District 2 seat.


This issue has been a monumental pain.

Open Letter is pending.....

I've crafted an open letter. It's due on the blog shortly.

On the brink.... Brink of what?

O'Connor on brink of announcing another run for mayor Lamb, who announced his mayoral run Jan. 10, has said many of the same things.

He has also painted himself as a progressive who supports making local government smaller, including merging the prothonotary's office into other court-related county row offices, and has said he supports the cost cuts in the city's Act 47 recovery plan.

Peduto, if he runs, largely supports the same cost-cutting initiatives.

We are big Patriots and Pats fans too.


Monday, February 07, 2005

Pennsylvania business news in brief

AP WireWarner Centre, site of failed downtown revitalization efforts, was sold Monday at the Allegheny County sheriff's sale for $2.7 million to a Washington, D.C., investment company.

Allied Capital will do 'the normal things any developer would do' to attract new tenants, including renovations if necessary, said Alex J. Guggenheim, company vice president.

Allied hadn't spoken with Mayor Tom Murphy's office regarding Warner Centre's role in Murphy's most recent proposal for downtown redevelopment, Guggenheim said.


Perhaps Allied Capital didn't speak to Tom Murphy's office about the investment and the pending plan because it would have been a waste of time? Those who are working with Murphy are on the way out. Those plans that have the Murphy seal of approval are about to end in the trash can.

The center is at the location of the Warner Theatre, which was built as an opera house in 1871 and was later renovated as a movie theater.

---"

We-Hav's new wrinkle from Paul

Paul S who has worked with a network of citizens to fight the We-Hav program notes that the Councilman wants to give people less, and use it refund money to those who bought the appraisal.

Send your opinions in an e-mail to Council members at the City website, call or do both. He wrote, "The other members are probably the ones to communicate to, as our Rep
seems to live in another mind-zone."
www.pauljsentner.com/no_wehav

By the way, Paul Sentner, D., is on the Elect.Rauterkus.com committee as a Member-At-Large. Paul is interested in community interactions.

GASP and those heavy-duty diesel vehicles that are on idle

GASP has been working with the Allegheny County Health Department to develop anti-idling regulations for heavy-duty diesel vehicles. The school bus idling regulation GASP pushed for is now an enforceable law, so now we must push forward to prohibit the needless idling of other heavy duty diesel vehicles, including delivery trucks, garbage trucks, tractor trailer trucks, PAT buses, and tour buses.

Diesel exhaust consists of the black smoke that we see and also particulate matter(PM), invisible specks of solid or liquid matter, including dust, ash and soot. Particulate matter, especially with particles of 2.5 microns or smaller, has been linked to such health problems as asthma attacks, coughing and difficulty in breathing, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung capacity, lowered resistance to infection, and premature death. Children, the elderly and people with existing respiratory ailments are especially sensitive to particulate matter.

Please review the proposed regulation and sign up to speak at the public hearing Feb. 14. If you can't attend, please send in comments to help make the regulation even stronger or just to voice your support for the regulation. If needless diesel or gasoline powered vehicle idling is of concern to you, GASP can use your help.

To learn more or become involved in anti-idling efforts, send a message to gasp@gasp-pgh.org

WHAT: Notice of Public Hearing for proposed amendments to Allegheny County Health Department Rules and Regulations, Article XXI, Air Pollution Control. To add section 2105.92 "Diesel Powered Motor Vehicle Idling." The proposed addition is to prevent unnecessary idling by heavy-duty diesel powered motor vehicles.

WHEN: Monday, February 14th, 2005 at 10 am

WHERE: Building #7, First Floor Conference Room, Clack Health Center, 301 39th St. Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Copies of the proposed amendment may be examined beginning January 14, 2005, at the Allegheny County Law Library, Room 921 City-County Building, Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; at the Allegheny County Health Department Library, Building 7, Clack Health Center, from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM Monday thru Friday; on the Allegheny County Health Department web site: www.achd.net; or by calling 412-578-8120 to request a mailed printed copy. It can also be viewed at GASP's website
http://www.gasp-pgh.org/action/dieselreg.pdf

Oral testimony must be pre-scheduled by calling 412-578-8008 no less than 24 hours in advance of the public hearing. Speakers will be limited to five minutes and should bring a written copy of their comments.

The Board will accept written testimony beginning Friday, January 14, 2005, and concluding Monday February 14, 2005, by mail to:

Board of Health
3333 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

By email to BOH@achd.net

By Fax to 412-578-8325

toehold

Diven Senate win would give GOP a toehold in city - PittsburghLIVE.comGOP a toehold.

Think again.

More words and insights into Dave Hines

Dave and I have been talking. Here is more from him. If you want to help filter what can and should be included within the platform, please lend your remarks.
David Hines column Born in a mill town, David Hines has seen work as a furniture mover, computer programmer/analyst, and professional musician. Observation of politics began as a toddler, since the polls were in his parents' store. He developed a keen interest in history when permitted some independent study time in junior high school.

With a wide range of interests, he is accused by friends of possessing more useless information than any other of their acquaintance. He has officially studied music and psychology, and unofficially nearly everything else. Like many a Mensa member, he can usually be found hip deep in books. Detractors can blame the thin air of the Rockies, where he once lived, for the dearth of brain cells.

Song: Quantum Uncertainty by Dave Hines


Quarks are runnin' round my brain.
Their politics are quite insane.
I need a dose of Ritalin
So I won't be a kid again.

A dropout has explained to me
the shape of relativity.
He's in need of close restraint
'Cause normalcy's not his complaint.

Quantum Uncertainty...

A pigeonhole, a cookie there
we standardize our children's care.
Assimilate and don't be deaf
or answer to the ATF.
(Resistance is futile!)

Two million plus in prison camps
pushing papers, licking stamps
working for the master race
selling stuff in cyberspace

Checkers spell 'cause humans don't.
If it takes effort, then we won't.
The best is what they say it is
in magazines about the Biz.

Tonal centers shift around
to make a most obnoxious sound.
But sometimes chaos has a place
in speaking to the human race.

Quantum Uncertainty...

Song: Libertarian Blues by Dave Hines


An elephant's your daddy.
He tells you what you must and mustn't do.
Make your son a caddy.
Some day he might join the chosen few.

A donkey is your mammy.
She wipes your butt and fills your face with snacks.
Whatever makes you happy
is cause enough to raise another tax.

Libertarian Blues
There's no candidate for me to choose.
No matter how the vote I'm bound to lose.

They say Bill screwed an intern.
The TV pundits made it such a fuss.
Screwing is illegal
unless they're doin' all of us.

Libertarian Blues...

Choke the smokers, eat no fat.
(Mmm... rack o' ribs!)
Lifestyle police is where it's at.
(Come out with your hands up, barbecue breath!)
Bureaucracy will fight your fights
(gunshots)
And eat away your civil rights.
(He won't be worryin' 'bout no cholesterol.)

So give away your freedom
until there's nothing left to save.
Sing the lawful anthem
to the home of the slave.

Chorus two times

Song: KARATE LESSON by Dave Hines


You're busy casting out your demons, I'm told
Just please be careful. Yes please be careful.
Don't demolish what is best in your soul
As Mr. Nietzsche said a while ago.
When you find something to believe in
You're inclined to carry the word
to the heathen living all around you
and you cry to make yourself heard

Hold to your center.
Keep balance true.
You may discover
the truths inside of you.

When living isn't still the reason for life
we've lost our balance.
We've lost our balance
Restless yearnings are the causes of strife
Wiser men than me have said it before:
There's a time to think about the future.
There's a time to cherish the past.
It's a gift living in the present.
Only now is a moment to last.

(CHORUS two times.)

FAQ & A: Running as ...

More outreach brings more questions. Great. FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions. I try to write the question and the answer, hence, FAQ & A.
Actually, I have checked out your blogs more. I have to ask this: are you running as an independent or a Republican?

I'm running for PA Senate in the special election on May 17, 2005 as a LIBERTARIAN.

I joined the Libertarian Party the day I read the news covered on the front page of both daily papers about an 18-page letter written by five Republicans outside the city (Jane Orie, Mike T, etc). They wrote a letter that gave advice to the oversight board (I.C.A.) about the city. Meanwhile, I had called those Rs in the county and with positions in Harrisburg on MULTIPLE instances. Dozens of calls were placed to some of those who had the time to craft an 18-page letter but qouldn't field any of our concerns.

If they had the time to write that letter -- and the letter had some good and some bad within it -- but not sit with us in the city who know what's what -- then they are hardly friends of mine nor are they friends of the city. I had had enough. I was and still am - a little "down" on what came out of Harrisburg. I care about the city and the county. I'm a volunteer. My understandings of what's been going on around here have proven to be on the mark for a number of years.

Now I'm a LIBERTARIAN. I was elected to the county Libertarian Party Board since then.

Then I accepted the nomination to run for the PA Senate in the 42nd in December at the holiday party / monthly meeting.

Should I run for Mayor, I stand by my words expressed in October on the KDKA radio show with Chris Moore. I'd run as an INDIE.

I hope to be a State Senator. I'm working hard in this quest. I have a lot to offer in that role, for the region, the city, our kids and our freedoms. We need to climb out of the ruts we find ourselves in -- and this effort for a state office as a Libertarian just makes good sense. It makes brilliant sense when you begin to explore and consider what the two old parties are doing.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

My measured reply for the call to help at PghBloggers.org

Yesterday, I was honored to be a presenter at the League of Women Voters annual seminar on how to run for office. I spoke about some third party perspectives and about the media. Within the context of my talk, I gave serious praise and endorsements to the sites and services of PghBloggers.org as well as Blogger.com.

No candidate should be without a blog these days. If you don't have a blog, you shouldn't be on the ballot. The cost is $0. The impact is huge. Blogs are more functional and easier to create than ever. Blogs should be a higher priority for a candidate than the building of a static web page.

One avenue beats blogging, but I'll save the details for another entry.

Furthermore, I'm nominating the organizers of PghBloggers.org for a civic leadership award from by The League of Women Voters. I announced my intentions from the podium to an audience of more than 50 people.

The mostly faceless organizers at the hub site, PghBloggers.org, put out a call to help a week or so ago. They have some heavy lifting to keep the site going and growing. Here is my reply to them, sent in just a moment ago.

Hi Mike and others:

I'd be happy to help you with the site, but I'm only interested in itching my own itches. That is the way of the world in open-source, collaborative projects. Perhaps you've realized this fact of life by now.

I'm interested in putting an eVote interface onto this venture. True democracy. It is going to be a wild ride, if you choose to step out of the box.

We could meet and talk about this. We could meet at my office on the South Side or at an associate's office in Carrick -- as he has a high-tech firm. You'll be impressed either way. Or, you can give me the green-light and I'll just dive in with gusto. That calls for "trust."

Mike and I talked a bit about the ideas at the second blog fest. I was there when there were about ten others.

Letter to the Editor - welcome in the GOP

Beaver County Times Allegheny Times

Democratic Allegheny County state Rep. Mike Diven announced he was switching his voter registration to the Republican Party last week.

Diven stated that state House Democrats have consistently chosen to pursue political soap operas and personal agendas over the concerns of hard-working, law-abiding citizens.

Diven went on to say that he has learned how the legislative process works, and, sadly, how out of touch the leaders of the Democratic Party have become with the very real needs of workers, small businesses, retirees and young people.

House Democrats departing their own caucus have become quite commonplace under the leadership of House Minority Leader DeWeese and House Minority Whip Mike Veon.

Diven joins a long list of departing Democrats to the GOP in recent years. These include former representatives Pat Carone (Butler), Ed Krebs (Lebanon), John Lawless (Montgomery) Thomas Stish (Luzerne), and now-state Sen. John Gordner (Columbia).

As a Republican, I welcome Diven to the Republican Party and embrace his call for putting people above politics. Perhaps following the sixth departure under their caucus leadership, DeWeese and Veon finally get the message.

Dennis Pittser Jr., Bridgewater

New site: South Hills Sports.com

There is some potential here. Welcome to the digital landscape. Good luck with the venture.

southhillssports.com - Your Homefield Advantage!: "What is SouthHillsSports.Com?"

Maps of PA 42nd, for PA Senate race

Look at these twists and turns within these maps.

I'm in the race for PA Senate 42nd.

Allegheny insert PA Senate map:
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/LIB/bcel/20/9/allegheny_region_senate.pdf

Pittsburgh insert PA Senate map:
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/LIB/bcel/20/9/pgh_city_senate.pdf

Call Out for Stories of Preschoolers

Nice lead:
Sticky Notes: Call Out for Stories of Preschoolers: "Call Out for Stories of Preschoolers

The Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers are now accepting submissions for Chicken Soup for the Mother's of Preschoolers Soul. Deadline is April 29, 2005. Payment is $200.

New friend is publishing a book --- well --- perhaps I shouldn't leak the topic.

Family matters are important to me. We've got a lot of great stories about our kids. Trouble is, we have to ask our friends to tell them to us as we have to re-write over those parts of our brains to keep room for the more recent chapters in the saga.

Isn't it wonderful how parents have this built in partitition in their hard-drives (brains) that often exceeds the disk quota and re-writes the stuff that should be zapped.

Recently. Grant (1st grade) was asked about his teacher. Do you like Ms. Moore. He said, "Yes. She gets most of my jokes." His K teacher got all of his jokes.

Grant raised his hand in class, just after the student teacher's evaluation teacher from the campus departed the room. Grant's in a school where there are a lot of teacher education opportunities throughout the week. There is a dynamic flow of mentoring and student-teacher activities. Grant's question to the student teacher," Can we miss-behave now?"

Today in LifeCraft at our church, Erik, 10, got to sing his song called "Family."

If you happen to remember any of the stories from our kids -- plug em in here and we'll go for the $200 bills.

Our best outcome -- no pullups. They never came into our house. Both boys did potty training on their own. Both came to the realization and asked, "Why are you putting a diaper on me?" I use the toilet now. Sure. Okay. Done.

I guess we'll get our struggles in other matters.

Leturgey News and Views covers Bowyer in The PULP

Leturgey News and Views: Media Maverick Jerry Bowyer Uses Intelligence To Surge In Radio


Tom used his blog to post this article. Great read. Thanks.

I was on the Jerry Bowyer show this past Thursday to talk a bit about my race for the PA Senate.

Where Christians Meet -- gives recycled electrons to Rauterkus campaign

Check it out. It is Sunday!
The Conservative Voice - News: "Rauterkus is a swimming coach and community activist who has spoken out in opposition on many issues.


As we go to church today, my big wonder is how many "candy bars" are going to be wagered by my son on today's game. He is a big Patriots fan. :)