Porkers on the Federal Level

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named New York Senators Hillary Clinton (D) and Charles Schumer (D) Co-Porkers of the Month for pledging to fight the President's reforms of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Sens. Clinton and Schumer lashed out at the President, with Sen. Clinton describing the federal economic development grants as "a lifeline" for New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet. Yet past grants in New York have included $25,000 for construction of the Music Conservatory of Westchester (one of the wealthiest counties in the nation) and $500,000 for "streetscape improvements," also in Westchester. For resisting much-need reforms in a wasteful program, for exaggerating the supposed benefits of CDBGs, and for leaning on federal grants to cover up local problems, CAGW names New York Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer its February Porkers of the Month.

Public transit: No more band-aids.

State funding dedicated to public transportation obviously is a problem. I (and for those who depend on public transit) hope we see our State Senate and Governor, act responsibly. Pass permanent legislation to provide permanent, dedicated funding to public transit. Public transportation is vital to a thriving, growing area.

Given the population demise in Pittsburgh, along with the rising tax structures in Allegheny County, related municipalities and school district, why did the management of the Port Authority of Allegheny County not take earlier steps to tighten its own belt?

Several years ago after a rate increase, as an employee of a downtown company, I took the personal steps on my own. My former bus commute became a 3o minute walk. I made the decision to walk from home to work and back. I was lucky that I had the choice, the good health and the modest distance for a daily hike. Unfortunately, many others are dependent on public transporation and can't take the same simple steps.

The importance of public transportation is noted at www.publictransportation.org. Summary: "Public transportation provides greater freedom, access, opportunity and choice for Americans. It also strengthens America's communities by stimulating the economy, reducing traffic congestion, decreasing dependency on foreign oil, preserving a healthy, safe environment and creating jobs…"

Slopes Town Meeting on Monday night

A TOWN MEETING TO DISCUSS DRUG ACTIVITY SURROUNDING THE VICINITY OF
ST. PAUL MONASTERY is slated for St. Paul Retreat Center, Main Lounge Area, 148 Monastery Avenue at 7 pm on Monday, February 28, 2005.

Expect Commander William Joyce, Zone 3 and Commander William Valenta, Narcotics and Vice Unit. Come with your questions and concerns.

Peduto a hockey player

Peduto officially enters mayoral race Peduto, a hockey player, noted that the United States Olympic hockey team won a gold medal 25 years ago today, two days after beating the favored Soviet Union team in the so-called 'Miracle on Ice.'

Pittsburgh has a marathon runner in the mayor's office now and the city doesn't even have a marathon any longer. The marathon ended on Murphy's watch. But, he's on the way out.

Peduto, a hockey player, has been on city council while the lone indoor ice rink in the city has stayed closed. So our next mayor could be like our last. A hockey guy with no hockey venue just as a marathon runner without a home-town race.

If Bill wants to run as a miracle hockey player -- he'd better think a bit about the now closed indoor ice rink. I've done everything I can do. But, I'm not holding elected office.

Furthermore, Bill comes over to the South Side to announce his campaign's start. Welcome to the neighborhood. He wanted to stand on the roof of an old building and look out over the city's skyline. Sounds like my house. But, he went to Terminal Way, a building that's crawling with a lot of non-profits now. That site used to be for commerce and wealth creation.

Bill's arrival into the race is welcomed. His winning the office, that is another matter to be sure. Time will tell.

Last night Bill came over to a meeting I was attending, "Drinking Liberally." Good to hear from him there. He said that a number of his views in the last three years had changed. I've noticed. I expect that the transformation will continue in the next three years as well.

Bill and I agree in most places as to the problems. So, as he talks, he is about 75% right on with my perspectives too. However, that last bit as to how to fix things -- he turns to a solution of a super authority, an authority over all other authories, as in transit. Ouch.

But, there is something to be said for talking it out.

In an email his office needs lamps, folders, computer monitors, furnature. Send that to him if you have it. I don't need any of that for my office. We're covered. However, I'm in the market for 6,000 blank CDs, jewel cases optional.

My wish list: CDs. Pointers and blank media welcomed.

Heads up for St. Louis, the other gateway city

I submitted a letter to the editor for publishing in the St. Louis newspaper as Dr. John Thompson is a finalist for the Superintendent's job there. See the comment area.

Campaign Finance Reform - my solution - as Peduto's plan was put in play

Vendors, Shade, Advertisements

The citizens are pushing at City Council on a few matters.

I stand for the free markets! If I was in charge, we'd expand and loosen the vendor restrictions.

Meanwhile, the city is going in the wrong directions. The city is kicking out the vendors in Oakland. The vendors provide valued services.

The shade tree commission is about to see its stream of income diverted into the general fund. The income to the city from the bus shelter ads is to go directly to the commission now. However, some on council want to change the existing policy.

The best solution would be the creation of a Pittsburgh Park District that would include the revenue stream and the responsibility of the existing shade tree commission. We need to work on quality of life matters and not be bogged down with other city business matters such as roads and police.

A new Pittsburgh Park District, using the model that operates in Illinois, would be a perfect setting for these discussions and deliberations and decisions.

As to the ads in the ballfields --- same solution different problem. The parks people should make park decisions. And all the citizens should be part of the public park process. An open entity, operating with the sunshine laws, devote to the green, healthy, web of life elements is so important to our mission as a region.

We need a Pittsburgh Park District. As a state senator, I'd insure its arrival. Then all these matters can flow into that body for us to discuss and act upon.

Race field narrows

Diven gets GOP nod - PittsburghLIVE.com Mark Rauterkus, of the South Side, is running as a Libertarian.

Dave Brown, thanks for listing us all.

Diven gets GOP nod for state Senate seat: "Diven, the hand-picked candidate of the GOP leadership in Harrisburg, ..."

Campaign Finance Reform memo from Mark Rauterkus

Memo:

From: Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com

Present roles: Candidate for PA Senate (42nd dist) in the special election on May 17, 2005 Task force member of Bill Peuduto's campaign finance reform legislation.

To: Task Force, and Public

Date: Feb. 23, 2005

Our work on the campaign finance reform task force is coming to a close and now it is time to make the next push, out into the community at large. We have had some good discussions so far. Now we will see what can take root and help in our shared landscape in our political world.

I have major points to stress. I will take these points far and wide in efforts to get them approved and blended into our future solutions. I hope to get the approval of the task force on two of these matters. Points #3, # 4 and # 5 don't fit into the task force mission.

#1. The banks need to be asked to form a new type of account for PAC that is fully transparent.

#2. The enforcement needs to include a no-contract “scarlet letter” designation for guilty parties that prohibits all city contracts from such people, organizations and corporation for the duration of the candidate's term in office.

#3. The city can offer a suite of interactions among candidates and citizens that cost little or nothing so as to have better educated voters.

#4. Candidate debates should include all candidates on the ballot. Otherwise, serious measures of accommodation should be enacted.

#5. An ethics program and task force of sorts should be instigated. I'd be willing to participate in those discussions.

Heavy Or Not

ACLU Pizza video is clever. It is at AdCritic.com.
http://www.adcritic.com/interactive/view.php?id=5927

Thanks for the pointer Bob.

Grassroots PA reports on the first old party selection that ended today

Grassroots PA
...
27 -Scoscia
2 - Jason

I posted there, in the comments, in closing: "Now to pick up and polish some pebbles so as to better arm the sling shot. (Hint: Think David and Goliath.)"

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Hempfield sacks coach

PittsburghLIVE.com Hempfield Area football players went all out in defense of their coach Monday night, but their last-ditch attempt to persuade the school board to reinstate Robert 'Bo' Ruffner Jr. was to no avail.

My heart goes out to these kids and the coaches in this saga. These stories occur around here every year, sadly. Paul Seneca, girls varsity basketball coach at North Allegheny, didn't get his contract renewed last year.

In a few weeks or months, I'd love to interview Bo in the TV studios.

One of my sideline sites is CLOH.Org. It can come to mean Coaching Legacy Of Honor. Seems to me, from being from afar, that coach is taking the high road with the situation -- as all great educators generally do. That's honorable.

Some who's who listing -- hardly a lesson as to what's what however

State Rep. Kotik joins race for Wagner's state Senate seat: "
Two incumbent council members, Peduto and Sala Udin, face challengers Sunday. Harlan Stone, a lawyer, has filed in the 8th District, opposing Peduto, who is seeking the council endorsement in addition to his mayoral quest. Udin is challenged by Tonya Payne, the Democratic chairwoman of the 1st Ward.

The 2nd District council seat is open due to Councilman Alan Hertzberg's decision to run for judge. It has attracted six Democratic candidates: Melissa A. Rossiter, Michael Galovich, Paul F. Renne, Daniel Deasey, Paul Mastandrea and William Urbanic.

Do you believe in miracles?

I do.

Twenty-five years ago, I was coaching swimming as an assistant with the Ohio University men's team. We were at a swim meet at Bowling Green State Univ. BG had a player or two on the USA Squad, so the place was really buzzing.

Today, just hours after plugging in the PayPal account, we're able to report that the donation pipeline is "open and flowing."

Perhaps that's another miracle to some. To me, its not.

To mark a milestone, the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign has already exceeded the total amount of contributions in cash from my past camapign four years ago. I ran for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, in 2001. I was in a contested Republican Primary. Back then, I and others knew the city was in serious trouble. We needed to do something about our town before we drained the public treasury. Well, I ran for Mayor. I got 46% of the GOP vote, a percentage that was higher than my age. In that quest, I got votes city-wide for $.30 each when looking at the $ spent and #s of votes earned.

Mayor Tom Murphy and then City Council President Bob O'Connor got votes for $30 each. Do the math.

My efforts in 2001 was a "paper campaign" so I've come to discover. That's political jargon. As a rookie, I raised $600, then. Today, within a day of opening the new PayPal account -- this campaign has exceeded the amount raised from the entire duration of the last campaign.

The Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign is my second ever. It is the first that I'll be on the ballot in the "general election." To date, no Democrat has ever had the opportunity to vote for me. It is safe to say, I'm NOT running a "paper campaign" in 2005.

No online donations have yet been deposited within the Politics Online process / utility. That just got approval some hours ago. If you'd like to be the first -- please be my guest. The links follow below on this blog.

I'm here to join with others who want to shape the future. We want to make history -- not be a slave of it.

Thanks for your support and consideration.

New candidate jumps into race in Dem's field for PA Senate

Tonight I got to meet and greet in the 4th Ward (Oakland) and heard an interesting point among the presentations of judge candidates.

Seems that a candidate from the western suburbs, a state rep, jumped into the race against County Councilman Wayne Fontana for the Dem's endorsement. That is a new wrinkle -- if not shock. Seems that the cages rattled a bit with the news of a possible run by Eileen Wagner, but, that was just noise. This isn't.

More news later.

Politics Online Donor Button for Elect.Rauterkus.com

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Green Building Awards, call to nominate.

See the comments for details on the awards and lunch events. Seems to be a first ever. Four are to be honored in different categories.

Nine city recreation centers reopening -- Ten staying closed.

Nine city recreation centers reopening Monday, February 21, 2005, PG

The City of Pittsburgh today is reopening nine community recreation centers that had been closed because of budget problems. Private donations had been sought in late 2003 and last year to reopen pools and recreation centers. The centers will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. They will offer sports, fitness and after-school programs. The centers are Arlington, 2201 Salisbury St.; Brookline, 1400 Oakridge St.; Jefferson, 605 Rednap St., North Side; Magee, 745 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield; Ormsby, 79 S. 22nd St., South Side; Paulson, 1300 Paulson St., Lincoln-Lemington; Phillips, 201 Parkfiled St., Carrick; Warrington, 329 E. Warrington Ave., Beltzhoover; and West Penn, 450 30th St., Polish Hill.

The rec centers makes a classic half-full or half-empty question. Nine open while ten stay closed. Furthermore, the centers closed in August 2003. That's a long time for a kid, say the age of 10, like my oldest and his classmates.

Another glimmer of hope comes in the fact that the South Side Market House, a city rec center, is now a place for activities too. The volunteers and parents of the area pulled together to offer programs for the kids throughout the fall of 2004. We conducted a 10-week indoor soccer program on three nights a week for three age groups. This was without city workers, without city insurance, without city toilet paper. Yep, we supplied our own T.P.

The fix to this numbness is the creation of a Pittsburgh Park District. Pull the parks and recreation elements out of the city, county, school, RAD (Regaional Asset District Tax) Board and make a citizen driven, democratic, accountable entity.

In other news, the Market House Childrens' Athletic Assn begins its hockey programming tonight. Should have started in early January. But the city delayed operations for a few reasons including gym floor refurbishing.

Playing well with others

In the wee hours of the morning I sent out an email blast to 8,705 contacts. I have not sent out a message since mid-October, 2004. So, I'm sure I'll get a few bounces. Funny to me, the first of 26 bounces some 12 hours later is this:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Jack Wagner"
To: <412-public-campaign-bounces@rauterkus.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 03:17:56 -0500
Subject: automated response
Thank you for your note!

We read all of the mail that we receive and try to send personal responses to each message. We just wanted you to know in the meantime that we have received your note and will be in touch soon.

FRIENDS OF JACK WAGNER

I'm running for Jack Wagner's old seat. They are keeping the email on for me -- like keeping the seat warm -- or "....We'll keep the light on for ya." Tom Bodet of Motel 6 fame. Thanks for such a quick response to my email.

Is it so strange and newsworthy that people get along? In the real world, outreach and communication generally builds respect.

When old rivals get along is one thing. Wait until Deleno gets a sense of our Elect.Rauterkus.com political action committee's make up. A Green Party campaign manager, a yellow-dog Democrat as Social Policy Director, lots of Republicans and a few other Libertarians, Indies too! The big tent and playing well with others is part of who I am.

Jon Delano mentioned in his email blast to PSF:

New Found Friends:

Hey, what's with all these reports that former President Bush and former President Clinton have become good chums? I hope it's true, and certainly their trip to tsunami-ravaged lands can only deepen whatever friendship is emerging. Both men, of course, belong to a very exclusive club wherein they can call each other "George" and "Bill" (and "Jimmy" and "Jerry"), but it's probably more than that. The shared experience of being president is so unique that it ought to give the one-time occupant plenty of grist to talk about. Then, let's not forget that Bill Clinton is the world's number one charmer. Now that his son "W" has won a second term, George I has nothing to fear from the Clintons . . . unless it's Jeb v. Hillary in '08!

On a local level, I have been struck by how two one-time adversaries, former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford (D/PA) and the man who beat him, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R/PA), have become friends. I know both well, and both have told me how they have found common ground on faith-based initiatives and AmeriCorps. Santorum once ridiculed the latter [remember his Kumbayah comment?], but -- thanks to Wofford -- has now become a leading advocate for the program in the Senate. I think their friendship is genuine, even though both would admit they have lots of other policy differences.

I come from the school of politics that says lots of things are more important than political ideology. When I was chief of staff to a Pennsylvania congressman, a Democrat, back in the 1980s, some of my closest friends were top aides to Republicans like my friend Dave Gribbin, Cong. Dick Cheney's chief aide. That was considered normal back then. It's a sad comment on today's politics that it becomes a big news story when two former presidents share a friendship!