Political conditions could be ripe for Republican revenge

Political conditions could be ripe for Republican revenge - PittsburghLIVE.com He said his decision to switch his party affiliation paved the way for like-minded constituents. He claims that 200 people came into his South Hills office asking for the forms to switch their registrations in the first two weeks after he became a Republican.

And, I ask, how many of those converted and changed their party?

The numbers within the voter registration data are part of the public record. A few of us here can figure it out. Conte can figure out the facts from the fiction as well.

I'd not want to call it a "retraction" -- but perhaps a clarification would seem very wise for the Diven camp in the next 48 hours. They could tell us how many became GOPers and do a time line on the switch of parties. Diven switched when? In week # 1, how many switched to the GOP side. What party did they leave? In week #2, and so on.

When I ran for Mayor in 2001, I switched 100 (+/- 5) people to the GOP party. About 90 came from the Dems. Some, I know have switched back. Some have not. I know that these people switched because I took the voter registration forms into the county election department myself.

Here is a hypothesis: To date, given 2001 and 2005 numbers, I imagine my impact on recruting to the GOP party is three times as great as that of Diven's. Said another way, I do not think Diven was able to get more than 30 new GOPers to the party since he switched his party registration.

Prove me wrong. I'd be glad to eat my words. But, the data has to be from the voter database. Not from some form handouts in the office.

Mr. Conte, you, or Dave Brown even, can be the judge.

The real spirit of the story, as I see it, isn't about becoming a Republican. The real buzz is about the frustration of the voters and citizens with both of the old parties.

Case in point: Have you seen the wonderful rant from J of PennF? She began a draft Barbara H for Gov site. She is angry and with justifications. But, she isn't gonig to run to Diven's camp as one of her core issue is a woman's choice.

I think that the real action for real change won't be able to be delivered by a back-bench party switcher who is really a buddy of Mayor Murphy's ways.

As if teens don't talk enough, now there are blogs

I'm all for free expression, free speech, free travel, free trade, free markets.

Funny, the best way to get free expression is to do boneheaded moves such as these -- dragging kids into the principal's office.

Blog on.

As if teens don't talk enough, now there are blogs North Allegheny students, posting messages on their online forum, www.nasucks.com, ping-ponged back and forth over a report that school officials had called students into the office to question them about the site's content.

And a controversy over a school administrator's alleged ban on same-sex couples and friends holding hands, hugging or kissing at Downtown Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts High School prompted a furious and instantaneous call for protest on another student-fed forum, >www.livejournal.com/community/anticrapa/.

'Find a buddy of your own gender, hold hands with them whenever possible,' one CAPA student wrote on March 17. 'Make out in the halls with anyone you can find.'

Govenor's Election Reform Task Force: Public Comment Opportunity

On THURSDAY, March 31, 2005, the PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION REFORM TASK
FORCE will meet in Harrisburg to discuss the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and how its requirements are being implemented in Pennsylvania. This meeting is open to the public. Celeste Taylor of Project Vote, Larry Frankel, Legislative Director, ACLU-PA, Paul W. O'Hanlon, Disabilities Law Project and Bonita Hoke, Co-Chair of the PA Voters Coalition are all scheduled to speak, and the Agenda includes an opportunity for the public to be heard.

This is an excellent opportunity to let the Governor's Task Force know how you feel about voter-verified paper ballots and other elements of transparent, reliable, publicly verifiable elections. You may only have a few moments to speak, so prepare something very brief in advance.

Some good talking points:

a. Voter-verified paper ballots (VVPB) can help ensure our votes are counted as cast, and we deserve that much

b. E-voting systems without VVPB have irretrievably lost votes in other states; let's not make that costly mistake here

c. Nothing in HAVA prohibits VVPB; other states have used HAVA funds to pay for VVPB systems

d. We can achieve both accessibility and auditability by choosing wisely

e. The most reliable --and cost-effective-- option is precinct-based optical scan, made accessible with ballot-marking devices

f. Accessible VVPB systems build voter confidence and increase voter participation

North Office Building, Hearing Room #1, Ground Floor, Commonwealth Avenue, Harrisburg, PA

Thursday, March 31, 2005, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

http://verifiedvoting.org/stateview.php?area=39

With your help, we can make history in Pennsylvania and create meaningful election reform - this year! Please join us in Harrisburg on Thursday.

City 'at a crossroads'

Long article:

Next mayor to inherit city 'at a crossroads' - PittsburghLIVE.com

Roads are a minefield of potholes.

Residents deserve better -- especially after paying more in taxes this year. Furthermore, residents deserve better from the elected officials. The first major milestone on the serious pathway to improvement begins at the ballot box. Don't elect career politicians who have made this mess. Don't vote for Diven nor Fontana as both have been big parts of the problem.

I agree: Taxes have gone up, and they (old school politicians) don't do nothing for you. Furthermore, now they can't do anything at all. They are broke. They can't advance and agenda other than that of power containment.

In the past, the politicians could do something for the fat cats. Sure, politicians generally do little for the citizens and voters. Now, without any money left in the public treasury, politicians can't even help the special interest groups as much.

No time like the present. Now is the time to strike back and take back various offices. Let's make gains in the city and region with new people and new purpose in various elections.

And, sad to say, the hard facts of the matter are that there isn't much that the next guys and gals will be able to do for you either. My pledge is to do what I can for the citizens, shun the corporate interests, and pledge self-reliance efforts. We'll need to fix this ourselves. We'll need to engage as volunteers. We'll need to take charge on our own. We'll need to interact like never before.

The next mayor and the next wave of elected officials get to inherit a broken system. The fix isn't with the same old same old.

It is great to read how Andrew Conte of the Trib writes that "conditions are not likely to improve, either. " Sadly, he is on the money. We've been talking about these matters in realistic terms for years. Folks, it is going to get worse before it gets better.

Mayor Murphy's positive spin on his legacy is a joke. Don't even interview the guy. I don't even need to waste the recycled electrons on this blog to talk about the failed policies he and his type have championed. But, sadly, Diven and Fontana are from the same pod. Diven has been a Murphy buddie for years.

The Diven legacy and the Murphy legacy are nearly identical. The abrasive part with enemies in Harrisburgh and elsewhere is dead on identical.

Meanwhile, Fontana sat on County Council and approved TIFs. The TIFs (Tax Incremental Finance) deals are text book Murphy. The moves come right out of Murphy's playbook. Deer Creek Crossing was something I stood up against. Fontana voted for it, and many others. (As did Diven.)

I said, "NO TIFs, period." when I was running for Mayor in 2001! I still have the same resolve in 2005. TIFs hurt us on many dimensions. It's like cocaine. The career politicians are hooked. Perhaps in some remote way, under the care of experts, they'd have some value in theapy. That view isn't our reality.

These TIFs won't expire for years to come. And, I'm only one voice.

Murphy's reform of taxes is his biggest joke. His new tax policy is going to kill Pittsburgh for decades to come. There was no real reform. And, the changes are generating less money and providing more shelters. Wait until we see the results and the failout. That might come in a few months. The schedule is way less than what is to come.

Murphy is proud of the EMS tax -- so people making less than $12,000 have to pay and then get a refund for next year? Same and scorn is what's due.

Pittsburgh is open for business if you discount the tallest office towers, ignore how USAirways, a top employer is going, and all the other woes.

More to come. Good job Andrew Conte!

Streetwise group gets great ink in effort to head off city violence.

Great service. Nice ink.

Streetwise group trying to head off city violence ... soldiers tackle some common goals -- mentoring, resolving conflicts, intervening in crises and guiding clients through the human services system.

The group also has had impact with the launch of Community Days, neighborhood picnics in Manchester and Beltzhoover, and summer basketball programs, most notably a revived league at the Hill District's Kennard Park, which drew thousands.

Garland said it was critical that One Vision, One Life continue to work closely with churches, community groups and schools. 'We're not the solution to all the violence in Allegheny County, but we do hope we can slow things down.'

L.B. is doing his part. He supervises basketball teams in Northview Heights and volunteers at Shuman Juvenile Detention Center.

'I was one of those people that was the problem,' he said. 'Now I'm trying to solve the problem.'

Programs such as this are fine. We need them because of the crisis.

We've ignored the leagues, the basketball, the coaching, the youth. We've let the kid's fend for themselves -- and trouble results. We have not been healthy.

This program is about prevention -- and some of it is about wellness. We need an attitude that services those who are going to hang at the sandlots and those at the stadiums can fend for themselves for a while.

Those 20-year olds who were part of the problem and are now trying to to help solve the problem need people like me who have never been part of the problem and are keenly interested in helping to solve the problem too. This is a teamwork approach. This is a winning approach.

Together we need to fix this -- not just with the king's horses and king's men. All of us need to be part of the solutions. And, its hard and messy.

Sadly, those on Grant Street have been okay with their shutdowns. They close a rec center and don't care. They punt and hope Elsie Hillman will come up with some cash and "save our summer." Trouble brews as many on Grant Street who do want to help don't want to help in ways that make the most sense. They want to help in their feel good kinda ways.

I want good grief and response from trusted, valued, buddies on the streets in day to day instances. Sure, we need to give these guys a raise. Let's engage. Let's find common ground in accountability on all sectors.

But, by all means possible, let's not stop there. These in the trenches operations are NOT going to be able to get us to prosper.

We also need others on other fronts but in the same neighborhoods to be planting seeds that allow opportunities to soar. We need to get these kids to live past next summer. And, we need to know that some are going to Cornell, Princeton and Case Western.

By the way, when is the next picnic? Perhaps we'll toss one for you in the summer. Call me, 412-298-3432, and we'll set a date. How about a China theme? We'll do noodles or dumplings, and something with authentic spices. Want to help? Leave a comment or send an email.

Demolish. That word is what I want to hear from the Mayor's office only about itself. Nothing else.

Could this be an April Fools Day story, just a bit early?
Sadly, I think the story is truthful. I fear the worst. And, the worst is yet to come.

City of stairways may lose some of its character - PittsburghLIVE.com By mid-summer, the Public Works Department expects to provide city officials with a list of 60 to 100 staircases it recommends be demolished, said Rob Kaczorowski, the assistant director of public works.

Demolish! Stop already.

The city is being taken apart, step by step.

Don't demolish the steps. Don't do anthing else Tom Murphy, except leave.

The city's steps are a treasure. These people don't know how to be stewards.

We need to take care of what we have. We need to make infrastructure repairs a top priority.

These steps are a transportation issue.

The steps matter greatly. The steps need to be repaired. The roads need to be repaired. We need to take care of what we have. We don't need to be doing wrongheaded projects elsewhere such as a rebuild of the Gateway Center T-Stop to make it "glass enclosed."

The steps are a great example of what we need to do well and do right. The steps are not going to be as sexey as Michael Diven offering to give away a big cardboard check to a new umbrella development company in Beechview. Diven has his priorities in the wrong places. The steps crumble. The neighborhoods crumble. The character of Pittsburgh is being destoyed. The urban density is being hijacked.

Bloggers and Politics: Online politicking rules under debate

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Thursday proposed new ways of apply campaign finance rules to political activity on the internet, asking for public input on limited regulations for the medium.

The FEC, which is beginning to consider restrictions on political advertising, blogs, and other online activities. A pending document may describe the legal issues it plans to take on over the next few months. The agency plans to hold a public hearing on the issue and then vote on the final regulations later this year.

Members of congress concerned about possible new regulations have sent letters to the FEC urging that a press exemption apply to the net. Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev., has also introduced legislation that would exempt internet politicking from most of campaign finance regulations.

Netizens have likewise been actively trying to persuade the FEC on the issue. In preparation for the FEC's expected vote, a group of bloggers and political activists have organized a petition to the commission through the website Online Coalition . The petition has received more than 3,200 electronic signatures as of Friday morning.

NY Times: Election Commission Urges Finance Rules For Online Politics

Washington Post: FEC Signals Light Hand On Internet Campaigning

News.com: Bloggers Have Rights Too

ZDNet: Bloggers Narrowly Dodge Federal Crackdown

Rules Could Be Blocked

FEC Draft Rules

Of course I've signed the petition. You should too.

The war on copyright communists

I'm an open source software advocate. I've been a part of that movement for some time. It is more of a lifestyle and can have great benefits for our public endeavors.

Additionally, I've been a small business owner, publisher and netizen. Plus, I'm a Libertarian. Furthermore, I've been to China and expect to go again. So that mix of politics swirls around in my realm, as well as being a "free market advocate."

Now comes one of the more interesting article of the season.

Guardian Unlimited | The war on copyright communists The war on copyright communists

Bill Gates wants software patents to protect his profit, not the public

Andrew Brown, The Guardian

Bill Gates is an intelligent man who has done a great deal of good in the world. So when he gets caught out in a bare-faced lie this should matter to all of us; and last week, when he called the opponents of American intellectual property law a 'communist' movement he was encouraging a mistake that could impoverish the entire world.

He said: 'Of the world's economies, there's more that believe in intellectual property today than ever. There are fewer communists in the world today than there were. There are some new modern-day sort of communists who want to get rid of the incentive for musicians and moviemakers and software makers under various guises. They don't think that those incentives should exist.'

The argument in principle that Gates makes against 'communism' starts in exactly the right place. But his vested interests lead him to drag it in the wrong direction. It is as if the Sheriff of Nottingham were to announce that it's enormously important that your property was protected from criminals - so he'll take everything you have that might be stolen and lock it up for safety in his castle.

I'm jazzed about OpenOffice.org and its 2.0 release with XML. As soon as it is avaiable, I'll be putting it onto some CDs and passing them out around town.

This brings us to another point. I need to get blank CD-Rs. They cost money. We'll need to raise some money. Not a lot, but a little. This effort should yeild fruit in many areas.

Just today I pulled up a document needed for a presentation for my wife with OpenOffice.org's software that could NOT be opened with the M$ stuff. It works well.

Open Source is ruling the world!

The New Zealand Herald dumps on Microsoft's Gates

The New Zealand Herald If you wondered how Bill Gates topped the Forbes rich list for the 11th year with a personal fortune of US$46.5 billion ($63 billion), look no further than the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office.

Patent 525484, accepted by the office and now open for objections until the end of May, says Microsoft invented and owns the process whereby a word-processing document stored in a single XML file may be manipulated by applications that understand XML.

It is one of a raft of patent applications Microsoft has dumped on the overworked staff of the office, and on patent offices worldwide.

Some of them might have more merit than this particular piece of junk, but they are part of a strategic effort by Microsoft to control another generation of technology, just when its grip on the personal computer is being undermined by the Open Source movement.

Taxes foot bill for board members' cars

Transportation is one of my key platform points in my campaign. This isn't what I think the taxpayers want to hear about.

A Dormont supporter / advisor suggested a future press conference outside of a West Liberty Ave auto dealership selling luxery rides -- to talk about transportation. She is "on the money" as to what is going to resonate with voters and this campaign.

Taxes foot bill for board members' cars - PittsburghLIVE.com

I've got some music that goes very well with this theme as well. But, first I've got to get the Johnsmith tunes online. I'm close. But the song is from Dave Nachmanoff -- "Waiting for the Light to Change." It is very much a song about peace, patience, anti-road rage. The spiritual is uplifting. Baby, we are just sitting here waiting for the light to change.

Dave is going to be in Cleveland in May. Cross your fingers. But first, we need a nice turn out for April 7. Are you going to be able to attend? Come to the Holiday Inn Express, South Side, on 10th Street at 7 pm on April 7.

Contract controversy, of course. Grant Street envy and buyers' remorse yet to settle in for taxpayers.

Contract doesn't extinguish controversy - PittsburghLIVE.com

So, the ICA, the Act 47 coordinators, the mayor's office, city council, a big union, and the governor's office are having another fight. There are winners and loosers.

The mayor does NOT play well with others.

Their teamwork stinks. Never expect anything else from them. New people can give different results.

Mayoral rivals take sides (Dem side with two guys and a legal side with another)

Dave Brown wrote a nice article that compared and contrasted three in the mayor's race. I can't compare the coverage to the statements as I wasn't at the event. However is are some of my reactions based upon the statements in the press and prior knowledge.

Mayoral rivals take sides - PittsburghLIVE.com 'I have real concerns with the legality of it, despite the fact that similar legislation exists in other cities. I made it very clear to them (the SEIU) that I had problems' with the law.

Peduto and O'Connor both go to the side that calls upon the city's legislation to invade the operation of a commercial enterprise. I don't agree with those two.

Meanwhile, I don't agree with Lamb either. Lamb raises a legal question. Lamb doesn't disagree with the principle of the matter. Rather, he raises doubts about the legality of the legislation.

Perhaps Lamb, the lawyer, wants to govern through the courts and bench. We've seen that style in action from our present mayor and it stinks.

How is it that the city can go simply fire hundreds of its workers. Between 800 and 900 were laid off in the Augusts 2003 reductions. However, the city powers do not want to allow the private sector to have the power to do the same with private workers. Citiparks workers got two weeks notice and then came their pink slips. Citiparks workers didn't get six months notice.

The government's role has nothing to do with keeping a "very delicate balance" in the market place.

Rather, Peduto means to say is that he is on very thin ice with the unions. Peduto has to walk a tight rope. Peduto has some feats of delicate balance between Peduto's own hope for a career in Pittsburgh's political ring and labor/management issues to resolve within Peduto's past.

Meanwhile, O'Connor has never seen a market that wasn't worthy of a governmental headlock. Bob can squeeze the private sector with new regulations and smile thinking it should be called a hug.

Here is a suggested script for for Michael Lamb. He could use these terms the next time he's given the opportunity:

"The city has no business telling the private sector how to behave. If I was mayor, I'd have vetoed that law. As mayor, I want to encourage business operations to flourish in the city. As government intrudes, matters worsen. Recently Pittsburgh has seen three of its largest buildings go up for sale. A firesale of CNG, Dominion and USX is upon us, without even a mention of the legacy decline the encircles Fifth & Forbes debacle. The outcomes are clear.

"The wrongheaded approaches of the present mayor and city council have hurt Pittsburgh. We have too many vacant offices. We have too many bankrupt enterprises. We have too few jobs. Pittsburgh prosperity can't rebound when government is in the way.

"As the old guard continues to make new laws that hasten our city's decline, the private sector is going to continally vote with their feet and depart.

"Furthermore, if I was mayor, I'd do everything I could to reach out to those workers in those buildings. I have real alternatives that begin to address the needs of the people in this community. With a wellness initiative, we'd inject a sense of purpose in terms of continual education, job trainning, ...."

The 'other' Pittsburgh, where crime is common and life is fragile

Brian O'Neill talks about violence and the tale of two cities in Pittsburgh. Nice article. Let's pick up on some of his closing words.

The 'other' Pittsburgh, where crime is common and life is fragile ... That's our Pittsburgh. That won't change.

The other one has to...

The words, "That won't change." speaks to the greatness of Pittsburgh and its wonderful quality of life. Brian and I share this city. We both have kids here and choose to live here, crossing the same paths. Our Pittsburgh, in that respect, is swell.

We differ on the perspective of Pittsburgh's propensity for change. Brian is so bold in his prediction that Pittsburgh won't change. He feels that the goodness is always sure to be.

It is my hope that the good Pittsburgh won't change. But Pittsburgh is on the brink. It is changing. Pittsburgh won't be a legacy town much longer. We need to scramble to insure that it won't change.

There are a number of struggles that are being waged in this city at the same time. Among the violence comes the fight between gangs or drugies. Among the peaceful is the struggle to engage or be at rest. Then of course, there is the matter beteen the cops and the robbers. There are other dimensions as well. The blending and spill-over from one realm to the others is starting to swirl as never before.

When a cup of poison goes into a gallon of water, the purity is gone. The buffers are spent. Containment slips.

Sure Brian, the other side has to change. But I worry greatly that the change agents are now without the capacity to do their jobs. We are at the brink and beyond on a number of critical tipping points. The youth have been ignored for so long that the kid's kids have become a challenge that is ten-times the effort. And we've got one-tenth the capacity and are using lame programs as well.

The life that our kids know today is special. We are not the norm. Those in our Pittsburgh have a life that is similar in many ways to the life of all the kids of 30 years ago.

Summary: Ninty-five percent of the kids shared the same Pittsburgh 30 years ago. Today, 30 percent of the kids share the good Pittsburgh. In 20 years, that old, good Pittsburgh could be but a memory. None will be afforded what is ours today, still.

Meanwhile, in suburban areas, a bulk of the kids are still in the same general groupings. The disparity among the kids in Franklin Park (North Allegheny School District) is super thin compared to what you properly describe between the two Pittsburghs.

Next, we need to roll up the sleves and ponder the fix for the situations of the two Pittsburghs.

Some advocate a crash and burn. Some want to flee and just make Pittsburgh a sore with puss that festers. Some want to take apart the city and have the county take over.

My approach is to think it out, get up the will for action, find the strongest counter measures, and attack on all fronts. We need to flourish with the best and the brightest. We need to soar everywhere we can. And at the same time, we need to insure that the ones in the other Pittsburgh are given opportunities to soar too.

We need to demand the best from everyone -- while being patient and persistant.

Community Technology Conf in Cleveland in June. Rush to finish paper proposals

See the comments area for details of the event and its scope.

Swimming Lessons and more at Carlynton

Last night was our year-end swim and party with the Carlynton Swim Club. Great season. Good fun and conditioning. Looking forward, here are some details of programs.

Lifeguarding classes with coach Mike Schneiderlochner.

Call before May 6 (412 215 2766) or email. Request a confirmation on emails. Times are 7 to 10 pm. Dates are May 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25. Cost is $140 for full class, $80 for recertifications, $35 for CPR on May 21 (9-11 = recerts; 11-3 pm for full class)

Swim lessons
Sessions 3, 4, 5, 6. Cost is $30 for first swimmer, $25 for each additional in the same family. There are 10 x 40-minute classes or 9 x 45-minute classes.

Session 3 = Registration, 5-6:30 pm on Tue, March 22 at the Carlynton HS Pool
Classes are March 23, 30, 31, April 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 from 6-6:45 pm.

Session 4 = Registration, 5-6:30 pm on Tue, March 22 at the Carlynton HS Pool
Classes are April 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 from 6-6:40 pm.

Session 5 = Registration, 7-7:30 pm on Wed. April 20 at the Carlynton HS Pool
Classes are April 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, May 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 from 6-6:40 pm.

Session 6 = Registration, 7-7:30 pm on Wed. April 20 at the Carlynton HS Pool
Classes are May 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 from 6-6:40 pm.

Email registrations are accepted AFTER the in-person registration, and based upon availability.

Swim Team, Carlynton Swim Club
March 29 to July 15, $50 for first swimmer and $25 for additional in same family.

A pre-competitive summer program is to occur June 13 to July 8 on M, W, Th from 7:30 to 8:30 am at $30 per family or $25 if one.

Allegheny Club and the Sports Garden

The Pirates are trying to keep their 1979 World Series trophy off the auction block. The trophy and other memorabilia are about to be sold as part of bankruptcy proceedings at the Allegheny Club.

Remember the Allegheny Club? It is a text book case in how not to treat others.

Same too with the joint near to Station Square that closed due to a bartender's filthy talk, the Sports Garden. Remember the 30-day trial? That owner from Texas pulled up stakes and won't ever come back to this state.

This present tailspin is going to take some time to play out.

Our region needs to make some serious changes and then begin to heal. This is going to take a long time. People in Pittsburgh need to understand that we need to start to champion long-term views. The quick fix of the Murphy-led economics are still coming back to bite.

The Pirates, the Stadium Authority, the mayor and others stuck it to the Allegheny Club. Perhaps they'll be able to buy back the trophy on eBay. I won't be tearful.

Study details city school students

DUHH!!!!

Study details city school students The biggest percentage loss is at the middle school level. This year, there are 11.8 percent fewer students in sixth grade than there were last year.

Jeepers. Where have you been?
I get beside myself here. This is another example of how many people just don't get it. I'm not saying I know all the answers. But, I get to say this again, "I TOLD YOU SO."

I'm not "gifted." I'm not the only one. I retell as I can from great insights and wisdom from others I meet and talk with.

We know that the Pittsburgh Public Schools has a piss-poor record (yeah, I'm hacked off and slinging slang) at the retention of kids as the family's oldest child goes to middle school.

The leap to middle school is an invite to suburban living. This is not just a sticking point -- it is a killer. We are choking here.

And, you don't fix the serious problem by holding a walk-a-thon for kids. (See my other post below.)

When the kids hit middle school ages -- you can't fool em like you used to be able to do. The toddlers, pre-schoolers, elementary kids are easy to fool.

I'm not interested in fooling our kids. I want to challenge them. I want to get them to perform. I want them to be able to master at levels of excellence.

Here is another fact that doesn't show up on any "street list." -- Too many 9th graders fail algebra. Not 15% -- more like 65%.

People and families vote with their feet.

We've asked for these numbers in the past. I've been denied. It is GREAT to have this study. We need to do the homework now and begin to understand the real issues and real solutions.

Mr. Lamb, this isn't something for a cabnet level administrator. This is something for the mayor to come to grips with him/herself. I took no comfort in hearing from Bob O'Connor that he was going to hire a cracker-jack manager to run the city if he was mayor. Lamb pointed out that that manager should be the mayor, not the mayor's hired gun. And I'd go a step further and say the mayor needs to really understand schools and the city. And, sadly, I've seen little from A+ Schools to show that there is anything there other than a resume bullet.

To bring this back home to the PA Senate race. Diven had a big hand in messing up the election process in the school board races four years ago. That was a power grab that was a total failure and hurt the system greatly. It set the stage for the justification for the foundation pull-out of support for PPS.

Let's avoid the cluelessness.

Schools are critical to our region. Schools issues go way beyond the buildings. This quagmire is more of a software problem. Schools and the success of the students have little to do with bricks and mortar.

As one looks at the numbers, what is more important to grip is not the number of 6th graders from this year to last year. No. Look at the number of kids who moved from 6th grade to 7th grade. Follow the kids, name by name. Micro decisions matter most. Even on a class basis, there are hundreds of kids moving out, but being replaced by another hundred. So, the real migration isn't being charted.

We churn the kids, the families, and in turn the troubles. This is like baseball. We got to keep our eye on the ball. Follow the students, as individuals and as members of families.

Then we begin a real conversation.

I want to know, over the past 20 years, how many of the oldest kids in the family went to 5th grade and didn't advance to a PPS 6th grade class. And, is 5th grade the only choke point?

Another hunch, we have a lot of kids who move into the PPS district in the high school grades. They've been branded in their home district and they need a new setting with a ton of diversity, and it is found in the city schools.

The frustrations are noted with the bogus street names and maps. That is another sign of our decay in infrastructure, but on a data-driven level. We can't even get good maps around here.

Resolving conflict. Restoring relationships. Building peaceful communities.

Gale McGloin, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Mediation Center, 100 Sheridan Square, 2nd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15206-3019, 412-365-0400, sent along this pointer:

Carolyn is a dynamic speaker, fresh from a presentation last week that was attended by members of our foundation community who were very impressed. Wouldn’t this be a great way to resolve some of our community issues?

TO: All Interested Parties

The Pittsburgh Mediation Center, the Mediation Council of Western PA and the ADR Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association are again co-sponsoring the Lawrence W. Kaplan Lecture in Conflict Resolution. It will be held April 5 at 5:00 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel downtown.

This year's lecture is "Conflict Resolution and Deliberative Democracy", by Carolyn Lukensmeyer of AmericaSpeaks, www.americaspeaks.org. Ms. Lukensmeyer is known worldwide for her work in engaging large groups (500 to 4500) of citizens in the public decision-making process through interactive technology and other innovative techniques.

Along with changing the nature of public decision-making, interactive dialogue is one of the most effective forms of conflict prevention. Ms. Lukensmeyer has taken this process to new heights. For example, see how NE Ohio is mobilizing to use these techniques to involve the community in regional planning.
We are very excited to be part of the effort to introduce the Western Pennsylvania region to her innovative work.

This event promises to be a unique opportunity to enrich your thinking in the fields of conflict resolution and deliberative democracy. I urge you to make attending this event a priority. Deadline to RSVP for the lecture is March 29, 2005.

Download & print the invitation (doc format)

To receive a paper copy of the invitation, contact Marlene Ellis at the Allegheny County Bar Association.

Deliberative Democracy is a new term to Pittsburgh, mostly. This isn't new to the rest of the world. I've been hosting "deliberate.com" for a years with Dr. M. Davis. http://www.Deliberate.com.

Pittsburgh can't get into the new styles of engagement with its wrongheaded leadership approaches. The people we have in office now are just not cut out for these efforts, sadly. So, we need to replace them with others who are.

All the king's horses and all the king's men could not put Humpty together again. Same too holds for Pittsburgh. This MUST be a community process. Humpty is NEVER going to look the same.

To make peace is hard work. Democracy is messy. Bring it on -- with glee because authorities are killing our region. The union attitude (small "U") is driving people away.

For Pittsburgh to thrive, we'll need many opportunities to get our heads around issues such as "deliberative democracy." Count me in. This is wellness on a grand, civic scale.

Bill Cosby to hold town hall meeting at Reizenstein

Can't enter unless you go to that school.

Bill Cosby to hold town hall meeting at Reizenstein Bill Cosby will hold one of his noted town hall meetings April 5 at Reizenstein Middle School in East Liberty. Billed as 'A Conversation with Bill Cosby,' the event, 6 to 9 p.m., is open only to Reizenstein students and parents and will feature local speakers as well. The names of those speakers have not yet been announced.

The VP is in town and you can't just waltz into that meeting as well.
These would be great meetings for STREAMING on the web or with a community television broadcasting effort.

Fair and Biting

Thanks for the posting Salena Z:

Fair and Biting My epiphany with his inability to recognize opportunity and face challenges began this week.

My epiphany was about five years ago.

Good to have you on my side on this. We, however, are in the minority, yet.