South High School - getting a new lease on life, we hope

A requested zoning change and a conditional use application involving redevelopment plans for South Hills High School received unanimous approval March 22 from the City Planning Commission in their positive recommendation to City Council.

The now vacant high school building was built in 1916 and closed to students in 1986. Plans call for renovation for residential and limited commercial use.

A previous hearing on March 8 drew about a dozen Mount Washington residents who said the plans, if realized, would increase tax revenue, create more jobs and attract more young families to move to the area. “Most of Mount Washington seemed to support this,” Bob Reppe, zoning administrator, told the planning board at their more recent meeting.

A number of schools are sitting around, idle. We should look to turn the hardest to use properties into projects that are put at the front of the line. The easy projects should be mothballed as possible schools for the future.

Election Day -- May 17 here. Today in Eastern PA

Today is an election day in the eastern part of the state. A special election is being held to select a state senator. The race has been nasty, so I hear. There is NOT a third party candidate in the race.

I think that my arrival to the race is going to help keep the race here more on issues and more with a tone of civility.

Our state senate special election is being held on the primary day, saving the taxpayers $250,000. That is right and just. I pushed for that date to be selected.

Wonder what the turnout will be in the special election there?

Wonder what the turnout will be for our special election?

March Madness Ends. Sadly, Murphy's Madness Sustains

They cut down the nets at the end of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament last night. The Final Four became a single victor, North Carolina Tarheels.

March Madness ends, but sadly, the madness at the hand of Mayor Tom Murphy sustains itself with a new bond deal for the city. The city, already in great debt, is racking up more debt.

This time of recent unpleasantness is what we might call this era.

The Tarheels won in 2005 while all of the city lost. Some might look to the sky blue, while others think of the black heel, the tar and convert that to the asphalt plant, the pedestrians, the potholes, the destruction of stairways that this bond might help to fund.

Murphy wants to borrow money to better destroy the city. Some of the money to be used after it is taken on load, is for the removal of city steps, already in decay. These are projects from the WPA that won't ever be rebuilt. And because they are done with debt, the progress for the future is but a wish away wiht a lottery ticket in hand.

But this isn't only Murphy's trouble. It is Diven's as well. Diven would do the same thing. He'd borrow the money. Diven and Murphy would act the same. They generally have.

Here is a chance for either of my opponents to stand tall and say what they think should be done.

Councilman dislikes bond fee - "Go Doug Go"

Councilman dislikes bond fee - PittsburghLIVE.com The team of underwriters, lawyers and advisers figures to earn about $2.3 million on the deal.

Doug doesn't like this deal as he isn't in the drivers seat. And, the deal puts the next mayor, perhaps Bob O' (Doug's past mentor) into the back seat once he is mayor. The debt and bond agents are going to be in the front seat, with some others, for some time yet to come.

But the more debt that is racked up by Murphy and the present council, the more our children are going to need to pay down. And, the more the bain-drain and exodus is to occur.

How that money is to be spent is another matter, to be dealt with in additional messages.
The other concern is the intention of Peduto to really walk his talk -- or not. This is a pay-to-play concern. Insiders, cronies, are getting the deal. The payout for them is high.

I hate no-bid contracts. This is a no-bid contract.

Pittsburgh is a patronage town. Pittsburgh is in the hole because we have contract patronage -- such as this deal.

This deal hurts a number of people: children who need to pay back the debt, older people because the children are not staying around to pay off the debt, families who are sure to move in and then move out again because of the debt, the marketplace who is going to shrink and go elsewhere where things are fair, etc.

The deal helps cronies who get the windfall, Mayor Murphy, and those on city council who have driven this city into its crisis.

The money from the bond's income is going to keep a new coat of lipsitck on the pig for another year so that the riots in the street don't happen while this group is still in office. This is worse than band-aid politics, as it is a band-aid on a credit-card.

These are the ones who are worried about zoning laws for quick cash bandits and neighborhood retail zoning ordinances that prohibit preditory lending outfits.

Bond deal corruption cases litter the landscape of American politics. City by city, there are bad deals that are being done. This is a prime example of what not to do.

Doug Shields, I'll stand with you on this one. We share some of the same motivations. Sadly, I think we'll stand alone.

---

A small vicotry came as the vote was delayed, for at least a day.

City residents get street cleaning schedule alert

City residents get street cleaning schedule alertCity residents take note, street cleaning began Friday and parking restrictions will be strictly enforced, says the Department of Public Works. Parking restrictions are posted on street-cleaning signs, but a grace period for ticketing cars will be in effect through April 18 to give residents a chance to adjust to the schedule.

The parking restrictions will be enforced beginning April 19 through Nov. 30.

The city needs to make up some of the income from the missed Penguins season. So, expect to see a lot of tickets and few street sweepers. Its an income thing. And, it is another way to spank the citizens.

The entire street sweeping program needs a serious evaluation. Alerts to residents should be simple, if a network was operational. But, these governmental officials don't think about customer service nor outreach nor modern communications.

Women say gender inequity not biggest issue for startups

Women say gender inequity not biggest issue for startups: "Mary Del Brady and Angela Kennedy have no time for hand-wringing over the fact that they are anomalies -- veteran female entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh's male-dominated high technology industry.

This points to the fact that we need a high-tech youth technology summit. If I was elected State Senator, I'd be able to help start such events.

http://Summit.CLOH.Org

Furthermore, a look at the number of women in the high tech field is only outpaced by the lack of women in politics. We need good candidates who are women. We need good campaign workers who are women too.

If you'd like to help, or if you want help -- ask.

I could use more women on my side as well.

Legislature expected to tweak new $52-a-year municipal tax

Legislature expected to tweak new $52-a-year municipal tax'We didn't dot the i's and cross the t's on this legislation,' said Rep. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe. 'We've opened up a Pandora's box with this thing.'

They need to "think again." Imagine that. They also includes my opponent. They should be moved to the private sector for doing such sillyness.

Venue: Holiday Inn Express, South Side on 10th Street

Johnsmith played at the Holiday Inn Express on the South Side on 10th Street. The event was organized by Mark Rauterkus.

Bill Godshall and others are to tackle campaign finance reform on the county level

Bill wrote:

To: Allegheny County Campaign Finance Advocates

At its meeting scheduled for 5PM tomorrow (Tuesday), Allegheny County
Council is scheduled to consider Doug Price's Campaign Finance legislation,
which now includes three amendments offered by Rich Fitzgerald that were
approved at last week by the Council's Committee on Campaign Finance
(see news article in the comments).

April 5th's County Council meeting agenda.

Those testifying are encouraged to:

1. Urge council to support effective campaign finance legislation.

2. Urge council to lower the limits (that were amended into the bill) for individual contributions to County candidates.

3. Remind council that Rich Fitzgerald's stated intent to amend the legislation to also apply to federal, state and municipal candidates would conflict with federal law, state law, and the City of Pittsburgh's Home Rule Charter. It's uncertain, however, whether Fitzgerald's amendments would actually apply to federal, state and muni candidates.

4. Remind council that Rich Fitzgerald's intent to amend the legislation to limit a candidate's contribution to his/her own campaign (at $5,000/year) would violate the Buckley vs Valeo decision by the US Supreme Court. Once againg, however, it's uncertain whether Fitzgerald's amendment would actually limit the amount a candidate can contribute to himself/herself.

If anyone wants a copy of the amendments that were approved at last week's committee meeting, please let me know and give me your fax number. Following is last week's Tribune Review article on the bill.

Bill Godshall
(W) 412-351-5880

I am for sensible campaign finance reform. I'm most interested in legislation that is going to work and still allow the region to soar.

Homeowners haven't shown passion for tax plan

Homeowners haven't shown passion for tax planm Sunday, April 03, 2005

One of my favorite rules in politics comes from Senate GOP political guru Mike Long:

'If you take the folks who are mildly for your candidate, and give me a smaller number that are passionate for my candidate or issue, I will beat you every time. Because passionate people show up, they work and they vote. Folks who don't have a compelling reason to vote, often don't.'

Long's 'passion wins' theory seemed particularly appropriate to me after listening to Gov. Ed Rendell stump for his property tax reduction plan Thursday night.

See the rest of his remarks in the comments.

Rendell Watch: Using Rendell's Money to Bash Rendell's Tax Increase

Giggles mount.

Rendell Watch: Using Rendell's Money to Bash Rendell's Tax Increase: ... switched parties and is the Republican nominee against Allegheny County Councilman Wayne Fontana in a special election for [Auditor General Jack] Wagner's old district of Pittsburgh and its suburbs.

'The Democrats, trailing in this one, are using funds raised by Rendell to attack Diven for voting for the governor's tax hike. What does that tell you about Rendell's popularity in the southwest?'

That's sweet, sweet irony -- using money raised by Mr. Rendell to criticize a man for supporting Mr. Rendell's tax increase. Amazing.

Blogs, Everyone? Weblogs Are Here to Stay, but Where Are They Headed? - Knowledge@Wharton

Blogs, Everyone? Weblogs Are Here to Stay, but Where Are They Headed? - Knowledge@Wharton: "Recently, blogs have been credited with everything from CBS News anchorman Dan Rather's departure, to unauthorized previews of the latest Apple Computer products, to new transparency in presidential campaigns. The big question is whether blogs, short for weblogs, have the staying power to become more than just online diaries. Will bloggers upend the mainstream media? What legal protections should bloggers have? Is there a blogger business model? While no definitive answers exist just yet, experts at Wharton advise questioners to be patient. Blogging, they note, will be around for a long time.

Riverlife Task Force plans competition to design footbridge across Ohio River

Is this a bridge or just some different treatments to the access to the West End Bridge?

Riverlife Task Force plans competition to design footbridge across Ohio River

Wired News: FEC Eyes Bloggers' Political Ties

Nice insights Mike:

Wired News: FEC Eyes Bloggers' Political Ties 'The real question is where do we go from here,' said Mike Krempasky, co-founder of conservative blog RedState.org. 'There's not a real understanding of how politics and the internet works at the Federal Election Commission.'

Too bad none of the others on the GOP slate are working on their ideas at Red State.org.

Joe Weinroth, Sam and others should have a blog at RedState.

Lamb details development plan

Lamb details development plan
Sunday, April 03, 2005 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

County Prothonotary Michael Lamb, a candidate for mayor of Pittsburgh in next month's primary, yesterday said the city can reboot itself economically if established businesses are supported, new ones developed and housing stock replenished.

Lamb said a $50 million blight-relief fund, as well as community development block grants and other economic development funds could be used to pay for such efforts.

He said women-owned businesses must be encouraged because area women are among the best educated in the state, make up 60 percent of the local workforce and are the least likely to leave Pittsburgh.

The use of the word, reboot, is interesting. To reboot gives us areas to ponder -- like the crash or frozen climate we must be in now.

Use Linux -- rather than Windows (or M$ WinDoze) -- and rebooting is so common. The open-source world provides Linux, and stability.

If established businesses are supported -- then the reboot will work. But, we've already been supporting established businesses. To some, that's called corporate welfare. We've been down that route. We supported the Pirates, the Steelers, PNC, Heinz, US Airways. We've given them what they wanted for years.

If those efforts can be paid for by the spending from the other piles of money -- then the reboot works. Blight grants!

---

Lamb's star credential as a reformer, however, was his role as campaign manager of the 1998 movement to adopt the county's new home-rule charter form of government led by a chief executive and a 15-member county council.

While Lamb has lofty goals, voters will want a more concrete plan before Election Day, said Jerry Shuster, who teaches political communications at Robert Morris University and the University of Pittsburgh. "He's got to get off the ideal focus and get more specific in terms of programs that are directly related to the needs of the constituency, such as street repair," Shuster said.

Lamb contends that he's laying out a platform of what voters can expect of him through a series of position papers, including his views on consolidation of services, transportation, education and other topics.

"You'll always know where I stand on an issue," he said. "You may disagree with it, but you'll know where I am.

Objection 1: The important role of ombudsman is missing from our county's charter. It was in there, and it got lost in the get-along. The reform continues.

Objection 2: Lamb didn't see anything wrong with Fontana's lack of resignation from County Council when he was a candidate. Lamb was asked to stand with me in the call to reform -- and he didn't.

Objection 3: Lamb spoke to a group on the South Side a few months ago. I was there. When the question of the Mon-Valley Toll Road was raised, Mr. Lamb, the "you'll know where I stand on an issue" candidate, said nothing. His statement of the voters always knowing where he stands on the issues is thin, at best.

Slate will revitalize city

Great to see a sate of GOPers. Great to read of a few of these issues. Great to see some press coverage too.

Not so great to see such hype.

Yes, the URA shoud be liquidated. Yes, the development fund should be nuked. No, this isn't gonig to be easy. The work to unravel the URA is going to take a decade or more. Heavy lifting will be necessary.

Slate will revitalize city - PittsburghLIVE.com ... the candidate promised to sell all assets held by the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority and liquidate its development fund.

'When I say I'll make the change,' said Weinroth, of Squirrel Hill, 'you can count on it being done.'

The candidate proposed cutting city spending, slashing the nine-member City Council to five and eliminating the city's parking and stadium authorities.

In 2001, Weinroth lost the race for the District 8 City Council seat to Democrat William Peduto.

Peduto, Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb and former council president Bob O'Connor are the leaders among seven candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the mayor's race.

Pittsburgh, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 5 to 1, hasn't produced a Republican mayor since the early 1930s.

The GOP is also fielding candidates for three City Council slots and a seat on the city's school board:

# Sam Berninger, 28, an information technology professional from Sheraden, will run for the District 2 seat, vacated by Alan Hertzberg last month after he was confirmed by the state Senate to fill a seat on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

# Bob Hillen, 47, of Beechview, chairman of the city's Republican committee, will run -- for the third time -- for the District 4 seat. This time, he will face Councilman Jim Motznik, an Overbrook Democrat seeking a second term.

# If Councilman Sala Udin, the Hill District incumbent, survives a primary challenge from Tonya Payne of the Hill District and city school board member Mark Brentley Sr. of the North Side, he will face Republican Alan Perry, 59, of Manchester, founder and owner of an insurance company.

# Tom Baker, of Squirrel Hill, a career counselor at Carnegie Mellon University, will seek to unseat Pittsburgh Public Schools board member Theresa Colaizzi.

Violet Law can be reached at vlaw@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7884.

Great to see Violet covering politics as well.

The oversight lawsuit: Account, please - PittsburghLIVE.com

The oversight lawsuit: Account, please - PittsburghLIVE.com Isn't it time that Gov. Rendell, Mayor Murphy and a subservient City Council account for themselves in the light of day and against the objective standards of the law?

Onorato spars with critic over assessments

Onorato barks for state help - PG article Onorato repeated his plans to lobby the state Legislature in Harrisburg to make assessments revenue neutral.

Onorato needs the help of the state. So much for self-reliance.

The barking from Onorato should switch away from the stance of being "revenue neutral" and to "assessment buffering." To the home owner and tax-payer -- being revenue neutral throughout the entire county is meaningless. To the taxpayers, having assessment buffering means the world.

BUILD YOUR OWN POLITICAL POWER from Jonathan Robison

Jonathan is ramping up some new activist-classes, it seems. I post it here without an endorsement. J.R. is a staunch Dem.

J. R. is at 154 N. Bellefield Ave. # 66, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-683-0237, jonmary1@juno.com

Here’s how you can build your own personal political power.

Many people are active politically for various candidates and for causes such as peace, the environment, economic justice, lesbian and gay rights, reproductive rights, and civil liberties. Especially in the wake of the extreme right victory last year, there are many new people.

People want to do politics effectively. If you are in it for the long haul want to increase your own personal political power so that they can better help their candidates and their causes. Building you own political power can help accomplish personal goals for you and your community, and also can be fun

How? There will be a series of seminars to discuss various tactics and techniques.

The first session will be Monday, May 2, at 8 p.m., at St. Andrews Lutheran Church 304 Morewood Ave., corner of Centre Ave.

We will discuss how you can use your involvement in the upcoming May 17 primary to increase your own political power. The session will NOT discuss and recruit you for any individual candidates. We assume that by May 2 you will already have a candidate in whom you are interested. We will discuss how you can help that candidate in ways that do the most for that candidate and also build your own political power. The session will be right after the MoveOn May meetup, which is at that church at 7. However, you are welcome regardless of whether you are associated with MoveOn, DFAPittsburgh, the Sierra Club, the Thomas Merton Center, or anyone or no one.

There will be more sessions later. Possible topics include: the Democratic Party Structure, Duties and Responsibilities of Committeepeople, Circulating Nomination Petitions, Turnout - “Pulling” Voters, The Structure of a Winning Campaign, Electoral Politics and/or Direct Action?, Third Party or First?, Anarchism - the Third Thread in Progressive Politics Today, the Internet and Electoral Politics, Absentee Ballots/Provisional Ballots, and From Paper Ballots to Touch Screens. The seminars will be planned to be especially useful to new committeepeople and people considering running for the Democratic Committee next year. Please share any ideas for topics.

The “Build Your Own Personal Political Power” seminars will be led by Jonathan Robison. Jon is a long-time activist in politics, the peace movement, and the community. He has worked in over a hundred campaigns, going back to Gene McCarthy in ’68, and ran three times for Pittsburgh City Council. He is an attorney and vice-chairperson of the 4th Ward Democratic Committee in Oakland.

The sessions may be on a regular monthly basis, structured so that people can attend ones that interest them. Interested groups will be consulted on the schedule, and those at the May 2 seminar will be asked about dates and a place.

We might have to ask for a contribution of $10, possibly to the Thomas Merton Center, primarily to make people’s RSVP’s meaningful. The introductory session May 2 will be free. There will be no charge of materials distributed at the sessions.

Please pass this on to anyone interested. For further information or comments, contact Jon at 412-683-0237 or jonmary1@juno.com.

NAN tip

NAN is the neighborhood awareness network. The group is building an "amber alert" type of rapid response chain to get messages around the South Side Flats.

WARNING TO BUSINESSES
Zone 3 officers were dispatched to the Beechview area for a man standing in the back of a pick up truck going through garbage that he retrieved from a drug store. The actor told police that he was going through the garbage to get receipts to give to another person. He refused to give the name of the person he was doing this for. LET'S GET THE WORD OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SHREDDING PAPER AND RECEIPTS THAT NEED DISPOSED OF. THE CRIME OF IDENTITY THEFT IS ESCALATING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!