Free State Project Talk: Secession and Democracy

Speaker: Jason Sorens, founder of the Free State Project at 6 pm on Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at the University of Pittsburgh Law School, 3900 Forbes Ave.

More at: http://freestateproject.org/news/events.php

McKeesport Ink on my call for a resignation

The Daily News Part of the pressure was on the chairman of that committee.

Link to article, and more chatter on it below.

Comments From Left Field - Gallery - Politics/Drinking Liberally March 8, 2005 - 04

Here we are: Katrina B, (campaign manager), Robert O., (candidate for city council), Mark Rauterkus (candidate for PA Senate), Wilburn Hayden, (director of social policy and research), Tom L. (friend, still, with a role to come I hope soon, right?)

Comments From Left Field - Gallery - Politics/Drinking Liberally March 8, 2005 - 04: " http://commentsfromleftfield.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-77"

That's Dr. Hayden's beverage in front of us. Heck, it's called Drinking Liberally!

It took us four years to get that stop sign in by the park

I got to speak and take question in Wingate tonight. Great event. Best sweet potato pie I ever had too.

Bob O'Connor was speaking and said, "It took us four years to get that stop sign installed." It was one that was a problem, being near a busy interchange near a park.

So, we need to hire him as he has experienced leadership. With his experienced and effective leadership, it will take my 10 year old 80 years to hit his 60th birthday.

Nutty logic. Expert advice and rediculous rule.

Council Vice President Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, has said he will resign after Tuesday's council meeting.

He's required to do so by county law in order to pursue a state Senate seat in a special May 17 election.

Mark Rauterkus, the Libertarian running against Fontana for the seat vacated by Auditor General Jack Wagner, wants an immediate resignation.

"Every minute of additional delay goes without an excuse and serves to break the trust with the people throughout the county," Rauterkus claimed. Fitzgerald disagreed.

"I think it's a ridiculous rule," Fitzgerald said, recalling other councilors who have had to quit, including Mike Crossey (running for state House), the Rev. James Simms (county controller) and Richard Olasz (West Mifflin council). Only Olasz was elected.

Fitzgerald wants Fontana, a real estate broker, to work with council after his resignation.

"We need his expertise, particularly in this assessment turmoil we're in again," the council president said. "I will ask him to be our expert when this committee meets in the future, and hope the chairman of the committee would utilize Wayne Fontana's expertise."

If Wayne is such a blasted expert, and he's been on council so long, why are we in an assessment turmoil again?

Meanwhile, Bob O'Connor said he'd be sure to put professional real estate people onto the URA Board. And, then he'd move them off the board to get new talent ever couple of years. But we have a this cancer called real estate speculation too. We don't need real estate people on the boards of authorities, we have them in the halls of government. We have them on County Council even -- and they are not resigning when they should.

We need real estate people doing real estate deals. Then we need governmental people doing good government. Then we need to not have the government do real estate deals. And, we don't need real estate people doing government.

We got some serious role issues here. They are all goofy.

I'm a person who knows what government should do and what it should NOT do. And, I'm one who wants to make Pittsburgh better for what it is and I'm not happy to try to turn Pittsburgh into something that it isn't.

We need to elect new regional leadership.

Election details: 107 for City Council and 1041 for Mayor

To run for City Council in District #6 as a candidate who is NOT either Democrat nor Republican, one needs 107 signatures on the papers to get onto the ballot. Those are due before the first of August, 2005. Then that person gets on the ballot for November, 2005.

Robert Oldenski is the guy I'm going to support in that quest.

I talked with my past loyal opponent, James Carmine, Ph.D. He is going to put his energy into helping another candidate, Mark Brently. Brently is running against Sala Udin and Tonya Paine. Tonya got the endorsement from the Dem party recently.

To run for Mayor, and get onto the general election ballot, one needs 1041 signatures on the papers.

PG Editorial: Fontana's fumble / The council member should have resigned by now

The editors of the Post-Gazette know how to read plain English, even if Wayne Fontana can't.

Editorial: Fontana's fumble / The council member should have resigned by now

Wayne Fontana should have resigned post in Allegheny County Council when candidate for PA Senate

Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/09/2005 | Senator owns land sought for slots

Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/09/2005 | Senator owns land sought for slots Senator owns land sought for slots

State Sen. Michael Stack 3d said he abstained from the vote to sell the property. A Las Vegas firm is interested.

By Nathan Gorenstein and John Sullivan, Inquirer Staff Writers

State Sen. Michael Stack 3d (D., Phila.) holds an interest in a company that owns land at a potential site for a slots parlor along the Delaware River north of Penn Treaty Park.

The property was purchased in 2004 from the state after the asking price for a total of 22 acres was reduced from $1.5 million to $100,000. State officials said the price was cut to offset the cost of removing pollution left on the ground by a long-defunct shipyard.

This is a great example of land speculation. Our region is full of land speculation deals and more important, policy. Land in certain areas are ignored to the benefit of that in other areas. Hence, the flux in property is where the bandits make out. The land speculators are not about sustaining life, raising families, making community. It boils down to the gamble of the profits. And, with place like The Hill District, people are okay to buy land and let it sit for a decade or more. Then the land will rebound. But, the speculators don't help it to rebound. They let it decay and are poor neighbors. They look for the one-time windfall.

For the record, I don't own land elsewhere.

The abundance of speculation and the depression/inflation cycles makes a good reason why we don't need more real estate brokers in the Senate. Too much of what has been happening in the public life is centered upon land deals and what I call, "bricks and mortar."

The powerful too over joyed in the hardware. I'm more about the software. I care about the human elments.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Elections or is this an endorsement with journalism groups?

Journalists Push for Government OpennessBy SIOBHAN McDONOUGH
Associated Press, WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seven journalism organizations and The Associated Press are joining to promote accessible, accountable and open government.

The Sunshine in Government Initiative seeks to combat what the groups see as increased government secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues.

'National security depends on public trust,' AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. 'The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. We must be vigilant at explaining and fighting for accountable government in every jurisdiction.'

Splendid news from the news hounds.

For some strange reason, the PG put this coverage in the ELECTION Section with the online placement.

I have a degree in Journalism, BSJ, Ohio University, 1982. The new coverage is important. It is an important factor in our quality of life.

More details from this story and from the overall effort are sure to be in my platform. I want open government. I want structural accountability. I want e-gov for its transparent benefits.

Fontana not leaving Allgheny County Council just yet

Fontana not leaving Allgheny County Council just yet Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian candidate in the race, challenged Fontana last week to step down immediately from his council seat, but Fontana said he has opinions from the county solicitor and council's solicitor stating that he has 30 days from the time he was nominated to resign. The county home rule charter requires council members to resign when seeking other elective office.

The county solicitor didn't call me back. I called him a couple of days before I broke this story. I called him a second time after I broke it. His silence is telling.

The county solictor is appointed to his job by the chief executive and approved by the county council. If the county solicitor gave an unfavorable opinion to the county council members, he'd be steps closer to losing his job. He'd be sure to lose his favor among the council members.
People have asked me if I'm going to push this matter in court. That is a legit question.

I'm not going to run to the courts and judge. No thanks. I've got better things to do. I have a high threashold against litigation. Mayor Murphy has a bad habit of keeping things in the courts. He had ballot questions tossed off the ballot. The current cronies on Grant Sreet took a few cases to the PA Supreme Court -- and lost. Those cases cost the taxpayers dearly.

My approach is to present the facts and insights. Then we'll let the voters decide. That is the court of public opinion.

The next time you see Wayne Fontana, ask him to point out the part in the county charter that says 30-days after being is a candidate for another office a resignation from county council is necessary.

If Wayne wants to vote a certain way on a bill, Wayne should have been sure that that bill wasn't delayed on Council. They choose to do nothing on this matter last week.

I didn't complain in force until that meeting concluded, the Tuesday after the Sunday vote. That was the end of the grace period for my taste.

More news on this and other related topics shortly, I promise.

Michael Cooper! Tall and with brains too.

Cronyism and incompetence in the Democratic Committee (PG editorial)

This Post-Gazette editorial nicely sums up the cronyism and incompetence of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.

Editorial: Dreary Democrats / Are Woods and Flaherty the cream of the party?

The more I learn about Pittsburgh politics, the more I believe that the Democratic establishment is an obstacle to democracy in this town.

League will keep tabs - PittsburghLIVE.com

League will keep tabs - PittsburghLIVE.com The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh will referee this year's mayoral primary to see if candidates run a clean campaign.

Think-a-thon = my cup of tea.

The Eighth Annual Pittsburgh Public Schools Think-A-Thon will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2005 at John A. Brashear High School.

More than fifty teams of 4th through 12th grade students will compete in seven different creative events designed to test their creativity, teamwork, artistic expression, higher level thinking skills, and dramatic and communication ability.

We need judges for each event! If you like kids and love to see them think creatively and solve problems together, you will love this! We need your time (8 am - 12 noon); in exchange we'll give you a chance to work with some great kids. We will train you that day so don't worry about having to know anything in advance…. and you'll get a free breakfast, lunch and a………..

FABULOUS Think-A-Thon T-shirt.

If you want to know more, please call: Joyce Clark, Think-A-Thon Chair, at (412) 323-3958 or email me at jclark1 @ pghboe.net. I really need your help!!!!

Bigger better for Pennsylvania schools?

Bigger better for Pennsylvania schools? - PittsburghLIVE.com
'Other states have had this progressive countywide system including North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia,' Chapaloney said. 'The representative also feels we can't have true education funding reform until we actually change the source of funding and find another system. You can't keep doing what you're doing and expect change.'

Speaking to Drinking Liberally group at a North Side Pub.

Public Comment to City Council by Mark Rauterkus

Exact date uncertain.

From Mark Rauterkus

Today I come to council with good news —— and there is some good n

news in the air.

This is the time.

Good News for Modern Man —— that's the name of the New Testament.

Easter is about to be with us.

This is the time for-rebirth. This is the time for spring.

This is the time

To be biblical —— the guy on council with the other gospel-writer's name —— Luke (Ravenstahl), had good news. ‘

Mathew, Mark, Luke and John -—

I'm Mark —— He's Luke.

Luke had good news yesterday.

He took a stop watch into the neighborhoods.

Stopwatch. Time.

That is my tool. I use a stop watch all the time.

No so much as to time my talks to fit into 3 minute segments ——

But as a swim coach. ‘

Luke figured that the 4-minutes to get the fire equipment into reaches of Troy Hill was okay.

That is good news.

That's a good test.

But I wonder about the timing of this....

It is 2005. We all knew that fire houses needed to close to save money.

It took how long to close them?

Mark's good news is about music.

I'm holding a community concert.

I'm also passing around CDs. One of the songs is "Don't Put me in a Box."

If you are in a box - you won't be able to attend.

If you are in a box of party conformity, you'll be punished if you attend.

If you can't step out of the box -- we can't fix Pittsburgh.

The other song deals with CHANGE in the AIR. This is a time for rebirth and change in Pittsburgh.

But this is NOT a time for change for the sake of change.

I expect that city council will change greatly in the years to come.

But change to what?

We need changes -- but we need serious, calculated, time-honored, changes of accountability.

Modern, efficient, leadership.

Michael Diven (formerly of Pittsburgh's City Council and at the time in the PA House) changed his party. His change is for change's sake -- and not for any real benefit.

Wayne Fontana (formerly of Allegheny County Council -- then to PA Senate) changes from one job to another. But that isn't real change for Pittsburgh,

It is for Fontana —— but not for Pittsburgh.

Find out what I'm about -- at the concert. At the web site.

Hope to make my points of change known to you all.

- ASSESSMENT BUFFERING

- TRANSPORTATION

- HUMAN Development -- not corporate welfare and wrongheaded investments that are not helping.

Fontana resigning County Council seat for Senate run

The date on this resignation is still unsure. It seems as if he is going to announce the date of his intention to resign. This isn't clear to me.

Fontana resigning County Council seat for Senate run: "Fontana resigning County Council seat for Senate run

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Wayne Fontana, the Democratic candidate for state Senate in the 42nd District, will announce today his plans to resign his Allegheny County Council seat.

Fontana said yesterday he would leave the seat before April 1, but he was still selecting a specific date.

He is running against state Rep. Michael Diven, a Republican, and Mark Rauterkus, a Libertarian, in the May 17 special election to replace Jack Wagner, who was elected state auditor general.

Fontana's seat on County Council is to be filled within 30 days of his resignation. Those on council get to select the replacement and that person needs to be in the same party as the one who has departed.
The hand-picked replacement would serve the remainder of the terms, until early January, 2006. No special election would be held, perhaps. I've heard conflicting advice on the need for the special election, or not.
Only one person filed papers for the Dem Party endorsement for the seat.
Wayne Fontana is not expected to file papers for re-election to his seat, today, at the Elections Department. The term expires this year.
We'll know shortly if there is going to be any other Dem (beyond Rich N.) or Republicans seeking that seet as well. Libertarians and other third party candidates can still seek the seat by starting to get signatures tomorrow. Those papers (not petitions) are due by August 1, 2005, and would get the candidate onto the November general election ballot.
So, my question, what date will Wayne Fontana choose to resign?

Bill Green Running For DJ

Bill Green, political gadfly, has announced that he is running for District Magistrate (formerly District Justice) in a trendy suburban district.

Green, 59, operates Bill Green and Associates, a political campaign firm that's best known for running...um, no. That was Kent Gates' campaign. Green ran...no, that was the other guy's.

Ah buggers, I don't know what Bill Green and Associates REALLY did. Bill was best known for pontificating on Jerry Bowyer's radio show, in print, and in other outlets.

If Green wins, he reportedly will be able to continue opining on races countywide, throughout the state, and around the country.

Don't think that's actually right...but best of luck to Mr. Green.

Don't know if his company will continue, as the Magistrate job is supposed to be full-time.

If he wins, Green will hold the seat for a 6-year term.