Irony in Lending and Ferlo's April Fools Day Efforts

This past Tuesday State Senator Jim Ferlo was before city council in advance of a program that is slated for today on Grant Street. Ferlo, staffers, and others are trying to raise public awareness and provide new governmental regulations to PREDATORY LENDING.

This is a bad problem where nasty events can unfold. Citizens can sign away their house by taking a loan that is worth more than the property. Then when trouble arrives, and it is often built into the contracts, equity is lost and more.

A Pittsburgh Community Investment Board has looked at this problem. Statements from its director presented the topic to those in the audience including the Oakland Catholic championship basketball team and myself. As the team was to depart the floor and return to school, I had an opportunity to speak quickly to the players and coaches and provide a quick civics lessons.

To start, I admit that predatory lending is a serious problem. This problem is growing like crazy. And, the present public officials have been trying very hard to fight it.

With the team meeting in the hallway of city hall I put the situation in a sports context. I asked them what would happen if a squad worked very hard, season to season in tireless training. However, the record and margins of defeats got worse and worse. With defeats mounting by bigger and bigger margins, season to season, in something taken seriously -- I expect that the coaches would be fired.

These governmental officials are spinning their wheels and the problems are getting much worse. They see the problem as a market problem or as a dumb-citizen problem. Sadly, the failures are never hitched to the people in charge of dealing with the problem.

Some type of accountability is necessary, for the governmental leaders. Sala Udin is on that board. He works, but it gets worse. Perhaps he is not able to be effective. Perhaps are doing the wrong things. I'm certain that they have NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

Goals should be tied to results or else other actions need to occur. When things get worse, fire the executive directors. Fire the board members. Nuke the organization. Make the organization a volunteer status, without pay, until certain benchmarks are established.

Athletes underestand how performances are hooked to measured results and to tenure.

Of course this is a poison pill from Fitzgerald

Officials eye campaign bill - PittsburghLIVE.com When the bill came up for consideration at a campaign finance reform committee meeting last night, council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, added an amendment to have the legislation cover all candidates for local, city, county, state and federal offices.
Price called the amendment a deliberate attempt to make the bill illegal. 'I think this is, in essence, the poison pill,' he said.

Fitzgerald is going to try to look like he cares -- but he is really taking the issue and killing it in a backhanded way. He had five amendments last month. They were all suspect.

From what we are seeing, Doug Price from County Council gets it. He gets two thumbs up from me on these efforts.

Hope that Bill Peduto sets a date for a public hearing for the city's version of campaign finance reform. It should be in mid-April. That bill was put into a 10-week task force. It is time for that work to come public.

I was named to the campaign finance reform task force. Not much work has been done in recent days as there is no known reaction from the legal beagles within the city. Oh well. We've waited long enough for their input. It can come at a later date.

GOP legislators defend fiscal oversight board

GOP legislators defend fiscal oversight board Republican legislators support the Pittsburgh oversight board's effort to nullify the city's new 'budget-busting' firefighter contract, but still hope that a nasty courtroom showdown between the board and city officials can be avoided.

AP Wire | 03/31/2005 | Analysts unclear

AP Wire | 03/31/2005 | Analysts unclear on effect: "Analysts unclear ...."

So this newsworthy. They don't know. Duhh.....

Of course they are unclear. Furthermore, of course the clarity comes within the reading of such insightful news editorial / commentarty / feature / profile -- not.

The only thing that we do know is that we don't know these other guys. And, the only thing that I'll be certain to repdict is that with two weeks to go in the campaign, the voters are sure to score a high percentage as "undecided" -- despite the wishes of the front-runner.

With Bob and Tom four years ago, the undecided percentage with two weeks to go exceeded 20-percent.

Skews go to FUD, (fear, uncertainty, doubt). Pile on brother. Kick up some FUD. Make a career of it here.

Campaign for Wagner's Senate post heats up - PittsburghLIVE.com

Campaign for Wagner's Senate post heats up - PittsburghLIVE.com Mark Rauterkus of the South Side is running as a Libertarian.

My photo directory isn't hard for the Trib to find. My cell phone is obvious too: 412 298 3432.

uComics Web Site featuring Tom Toles

Welcome to uComics Web Site featuring Tom Toles -- The Best Comic Site In The Universe! Toles

Cool political cartoon sent to me by a friend.

Other friends have just completed a "green book." I can't wait to read it. More on that later.

When it rains, it pours. Michael Lamb shows up for another job. But again, this isn't OUR Lamb.

Michael Lambs are everywhere. Too bad our Michael Lamb isn't everywhere. I'm sure Michael is a lot of places, so I don't mean to be critical in a mean-spirited way. It's just a chuckle.

Library director taking Ohio job Michael Lamb will take over while they look for a permanent replacement.

Tip to the Lamb for Mayor campaign. Invite everyone named Michael Lamb to Pittsburgh and hold a rally. Perhaps a whole flock could form?

In another type of chuckle, I was amazed to hear from the United Jewish Federation as they were searching for Joe Weinroth, R, candidate for Mayor and Jew. They couldn't reach Joe to invite him to a debate to occur in the future at the Jewish Community Center. The amazement builds as they contacted me in homes of trying to reach Joe.

Furthermore, when I was a candidate for Mayor in 2001 in a contested GOP Primary, I spoke at the event. I took that opportunity to scold the leaders of the organization for only inviting a few of the speakers on the Dem's primary ballot.

The chuckle turned quickly into an event that got my blood to a boil.

The United Jewish Federation is repeating the same mistake. Four years ago, Josh Pollock was on the ballot and litterally cut his teeth at the Jewish Community Center. He wasn't invited to the candidate's forum. Same too this year with Les Ludwig. With friends like that, no need for an enemy.

The UJF is part of the blame and explains why Pittsburgh is bankrupt.

We are getting Bob O'Connor in 2005 as a front-runner, who is in dodge mode, because he can take cover with the help of the UJF. The PDP fits the same mold. (pun intended)

When it rains, it is going to pour.

Ombudsman - A concept that is missing from our public landscape in western PA -- for now.

OmbudsmanAn ombudsman is a government official charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individual citizens. The term arose from its use in Sweden, with the Parliamentary ombudsman instituted in 1809 to safeguard the rights of citizens by establishing a supervisory agency independent of the executive branch. The word ombudsman and its specific meaning has since been adopted in to English as well as other languages, and ombudsmen has been instituted by other governments and organizations such as the European Union.

We don't have any ombudsman. None in the school district. None in city government. None in the county. None in house or senate districts or even with state government. Zippo.

The recent matter when the citizens entered into the struggle to remove the WE-HAV program makes a perfect illustration for the need of an Ombudsman.

The citizens can mobalize, organize and defeat poor governmental programs. However, it is always a long-shot operation. It is painful for the champions of the cause. It makes for burn-out and hard-feelings among neighbors.

This call for the the creation of an ombudsman is a splendid way to give the citizens more leverage to control government officials and the process of self-government.

As a state senator, I will push for the creation of an ombudsman on various levels.

As a citizen of Allegheny County, I'm putting out a call for others to join in efforts to introduce the concept of an ombudsman to be injected into the county charter. First, we need to eliminate row offices. But soon after, we need to retool our offices and make an ombudsman part of our public landscape. We can put out an educational campaign that is matched with a petition and a ballot question before the county council or if necessary, with the voters.

Open Letter from Candidate Mark Rauterkus

Open letter To residents of the Western Pennsylvania, especially the PA Senate 42nd district

From Mark Rauterkus

Libertarian Nominee

Citizen Candidate for Jack Wagner's vacated State Senate seat

in the Special Election on Primary Day, May 17, 2005

March 30, 2005

Dear voters,

As a parent, community activist, professional swim coach, and former publisher, my career life has been dedicated to performance and meaningful improvements.

I have coached state-record breakers in four states.

I've edited, published and marketed more than 100 books for athletes participating cutting-edge competitive sports.

I can write, communicate in technical terms, and interact among the broad spectrum of citizens.

I get along well with others. Anyone can discover and provide their own opinions on numerous issues at my website: Platform. For-Pgh.org.

I believe my abilities and acquired skills are important qualities suited to any legislator's responsibilities in our modern, crisis-driven times.

My candidacy for community service and elected office is a call for the emergence of a strong voice for new regional leadership. I understand that our system of local and state government is broken --and, financially "broke”, as well.

Career politicians have put the Pittsburgh region in a tailspin.

As necessary, I will buck established authorities and will demand personal and fiscal accountability, sacking the practice of "done deals," promoting fair competitiveness, and encouraging participation of a fully-informed public in the affairs of their governing.

Winning, in sports and life, entails being prepared, showing up, and scoring more points. We should aim to thrive, not merely survive.

As a citizen candidate, and not a political-machine player, I intend to represent the broad social-economic diversity of the multi-generation, multi-cultural population of the entire 42nd district, ranging from the city neighborhoods to the suburban municipality boundaries.

Mis-use and abuse of state laws in schemes such as the attempted WE-HAV tax on Southwest Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and the practice of TIFs such as Deer Creek Crossing in northern Allegheny County have no place in the prosperity of all. Public funds should be applied to maintaining existing public roads and pedestrian-ways and trails; and providing affordable efficient mass transit; not squandered on the Mon Valley Tollway which wreck havoc through our neighborhoods.

page 2 

 I've actively struggled for preservation and re-use of our historic sites and valuable local resources, including St. Nicholas on the north side, the Pittsburgh Public Libraries, WQEX 16, the now-closed and lone indoor ice rink in the city (Neville), city recreation centers, and some swimming pools.
I battled against corporate give-a-ways that loomed in Fifth & Forbes (plan A, B, and C) and pushed for pedestrian accommodating design, reliable transit funding, and internet-accessible property assessment listings.

Assessment-buffering and land-taxes work for the benefit of regular taxpayers, while the unified-tax-plan, taxing freezes, and the deed-transfer-tax cripple the economy and work against the benefit of the region.

I questioned UPMC'S expansion to the South Side Works. I fought eminent domain, the loss of Pitt Stadium, and the stadium tax. I raised alarms with the redcarpet arrival of dual oversight boards.
I want self-reliance; and I say no to wrongheaded spending on an Oakland merrygo-round in place of parking-area and vendors. Yes, a real merry-go-round is in the works. Its not a figure of speech.
Wasteful spending, in my opinions include the glass-enclosed subway station re-do in Gateway Center, the one-way HOV-ish Wabash Tunnel, and the under-the-river route of T-expansion to the North Side.

I demanded rodent control, a traffic engineer, Vo-tech opportunities, citizens' police academy, Community College of Allegheny County outreach, public comment at public meetings,
In my opinion, lawful efforts of bounty hunters shouldn't be hindered when we have a police shortage and an abundance of criminals that need to be captured.

Liquidate the parking authority, then lower the tax to 15%. Create a yearly Youth Technology Summit and a Pittsburgh Park District replacing a portion of the RAD tax and forcing cooperation among volunteers with sunshine laws and democratic participation by citizens.

I'm supporting campaign finance reform that has a prayer of working as intended. Political debates should include ALL candidates.

Pittsburgh's greatest treasure is the people. I always support human investments and shy away from governmental investments to corporations. I'll struggle hard to better the environment, health care and wellness efforts for all.

With respect,

Mark Rauterkus, Candidate

vote as you see fit on May 17.

Resident of South Side, Pittsburgh http://Elect. Rauterkus.com Mark@Rauterkus.com 412 xxx-xxxx

Letter for politics

Johnsmith's music on iTunes

Called into the Jerry Bowyer show today and got to talk with Ron Morris who was a sub host and his guest of MacWorld. Ron is a big Macintosh fan, as am I.

This iTune button takes you to Johnsmith's song, Kicking the Stone.



The title track for the concert, however, is called, Don't Put Me in a Box.



Check it out. Come to the concert at 7 pm on April 7 at the South Side Holiday Inn Express on 10th Street.

As the weather breaks -- guard your bike.

Stop Head Start, says the Trib editorial

Stop Head Start - PittsburghLIVE.com Stop Head Start

Monday, March 28, 2005

The scandalous mismanagement of the misnamed Head Start program is another reminder that a village cannot raise a child.

Humm....
The one quote that stands out like a sore thumb, "Parents must be allowed to reclaim their children."

That line makes a show stopper and doesn't wash well enough. I'm okay with the headline. It is my feeling that we need more attention paid to the middle school and high school kids than we do to the tiny tots. My other hunch is that the school teachers unions have been making a push to head start as a way to grow their base and influence.

I want to keep schools out of the lives of the youngest kids as parents and other care givers are better suited. Private day care centers are great, not just mom, dad and grandma.

I'm scratching my head when the editorial speaks about parents being allowed to reclaim their children. That's a big stretch.

I've been very fortunate to be able to stay home with my children for most of the past ten years. My kids are 10 and 7. These have been the best times of my life. It is, without a doubt, the best job ever. I'd wish the same on nearly every couple. But, we are lucky for these choices.

It takes a good bit to stay home with your kids. But I'm thinking that it takes a good bit more to get your kid through ninth grade algebra too. More parents are capable of keeping a 16-week kid in a smooth setting with the right stimulation than a 16-year old kid.

I'd want to lean lightly on the governmental programs for the wee ones -- and dedicate more energy and coaching to the more difficult years between 6th and 11th grades.

In an ideal world, those in 10th grade would get a good glimps of what it means to be with a baby so as to take out the glamor of having one at such a young age.

Our first kid came when I was 35. Patience pays dividens when it comes to parenting. And we could all use more of it.

Michael Lamb, senator, and parade switch-a-roo. Who would have thunk this long-shot?

File this in the "say what" category. Perhaps it fits in City Paper's news of the weird as well. And, put a little humble pie on my plate too. But, check out this final giggle.

Herald and News: Klamath Falls, Oregon Under the watch of the Jaycees, the theme of the Fourth of July parade had been 'Horse and Buggy Day' since the 1970s, said Michael Lamb, senator for the Jaycees. A Jaycees senator is a member who has passed the age limit - the group is open to people age 21 to 40 - but stays active.

Today was the deadline. I had not only predicted, but also suggested a different pathway for Michael Lamb (of Pittsburgh). I was one of many who said in private that Lamb should have joined the race for PA Senate (42nd district). Furthermore, I was one of the few who also gave the same suggestion in public.

The suggested move (pulling out of the Mayor's race and into the PA Senate special election) needed to be made by today. The deadline for putting in petitions to get onto the ballot as an Independent was March 28. Lamb could have done both races and tossed aside the need to get the Dem's endorsement by putting in a switch to "I" and re-directing his effots to the PA Senate race.

Well, the closest to the truth comes today. Seems a Michael Lamb is a senator -- and is in the hub of a 4th of July parade switch with the Jaycees and Chamber. But, we have to go to Oregon to make the prediction have any sense of slight of name irony.

Michael Lamb of Pittsburgh is the son of a PA State Senator. Perhaps he'll be able to run for the State Senate in two years.

Oh well.

"... Lamb said ... isn't calling it quits."

"We certainly hope to rebuild," he said.

Well, I was wrong. Munch, munch, munch. I'll eat the humble pie.

As for the 4th of July, come on down to the South Side. We don't have any pony rides, but we do host an annual 4th of July party. Then we'll serve up some real pie. Tonight it is just that weird tasting digital humble pie bytes.

Next up, since operation musical chairs didn't materialize, is a real musical event. Our concert is on for 7 pm on April 7, 2005. Be there. Music to be delivered on the web shortly.

Peduto mentions the "B" word.

The seldom mentioned "B" word is BUDGET!

Our Budget is BROKEN.

Furthermore, we've got a two-stage problem: One, the public purse is broke. Two, the budget process is broken.

One of Tom Murphy's greatest weakness, followed only by that of City Council -- was the management of the budget. They all failed. Murphy faild. And, City Council failed too. All the players let Pittsburgh's budget slip right into the toilet. The city is NOT in the toilet, but the budget efforts have been.

Most of all, I talk about the new Pittsburgh Park District, and the Youth Technology Summit. But more of an impact is the proposal I wrote about months ago to hold a citizens budget process.

The Platform.For-Pgh.org has a page devoted to Citizen Budget Summit.

KDKA's Jon Delano ended his TV news segment by saying this is a battle of who can cut more.

Meanwhile, Lamb says he is qualified when it come to shrinking a budget. Great confidence there. Vote for Lamb as he'll shrink the city to a better degree than the others.

Vote for Peduto as he'll put a chain saw to the budget. Frankly, I think our kids and the public has already been through a buzz saw. Is a chain saw to impress us? What about a cut with a lazer beam or a light sabre?

Vote for O'Connor as he has experience cutting to the bone with his driving of extra-crunchy Popeye's Chicken.

If feels like a gray Monday in March in Pittsburgh. I don't really want to have a campaign for the city's mayor office based upon who can manage the decline better than the other one who wants to put a fork in the city more quickly.

The way to get out of this, and even Tom Murphy will agree with me on this, is to grow our way out of it. But, how to grow is where Tom Murphy and I are at such drastic odds. Murphy wanted to grow the city with stadiums and convention ceners and downtown retail. I knew that his plans would fail. I want to grow the city with sandlots, not stadiums. I want to put people first, not special interests.

Peduto and I agree that special interests are killing the city. But Peduto has another suite of those with special interest who are not in the drivers seat. He'll want to switch out the special interest group in control now with another set who are on the outside looking in. Pick your poison, pinstripes or loafers. The same outcomes are expected. Either way the city is going to be but a fraction of what it was in the past. None of the folks are really getting to the pathway we need to get to prosperity for Pittsburgh.

The budget is a mess and O'Connor, Peduto and Lamb all share a good deal of the blame. They all were in office and they all let matters coast.

North Side Connector may have chance - PittsburghLIVE.com

This is a big deal issue for me. I hate the idea and so do the people of the county. We need to stop this project. It needs to stop dead until other more pressing things happen.

North Side Connector may have chance - PittsburghLIVE.com Three months behind schedule -- and counting -- the Port Authority of Allegheny County's under-river subway to the North Side finally has a chance to get under way.

Tougher penalties on teen drinking and DRIVING. Okay by me.

Legislators seek tougher penalties on teen drinking "Legislators seek tougher penalties on teen drinking..."

In Norway, you never drink and drive. The DUI (driving under the influence) ramifications are much, much stronger and harsh.

I would never want to drug test a kid to have them on the school band. But, if that kid was behind the wheel and not 100% sober, watch out. I'd be in favor of a removal of the drivers license for kids for at dusk and beyond.

In another interesting twist, however, is the backlash. I'm well aware of this, I hope.

For example, today there are kids who pass out at a party and drop into a coma like state and are in serious health trouble. These kids need to be rushed to a hospital. However, they are left without aid because of the stiff fines, penalties, and other ramifications that are sure to follow. If an underage kid goes flat at a house party, the home owner is going to have some explaining to do and might be behind bars. So, the hope and gamble is to wait it out. That deep sleep with be a hangover in the morning -- or it could be a coma in another 30-minutes. Decisions were impaired long ago.

"It's one of those issues that people don't like to talk about, especially parents, but it's a serious problem,'' Logan said last week.

I care to talk about these issues. I'm not sure who doesn't want to talk about them -- other than career politicians, school officials and teens (perhaps). I welcome such conversations.

Some of the parents I know have been very concerned about drinking and drugs in light of their life with teenagers.

These would be great sideline conversations and presentations at a proposed Youth Technology Summit that I'm calling for to begin in earnest as soon as I'm elected. It could start in late 2005 or early 2006.

FYI, I was never an underage drinker. I'm too squeeky clean. I would never drive while drunk.

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.