I owe, I owe, Its off to work I go.

Tip to those on Grant Street: Lay the Shovel Down!

You've dug a hole for the city. We are in over our heads with debt. Stop digging. Lay the shovel down.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Lance: To Pittsburgh City Council. This week it adopted Mayor Tom Murphy's plan to refinance $200 million worth of bond debt in a usurious deal that will cost taxpayers about $3 million to net about $6.5 million. Worse, the only alternative offered was a plan proffered by Councilman Doug Shields that actually would have increased the city's already crushing debt load. And Mr. Murphy and these councilors wonder why the public has so little faith in their 'leadership.'

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Trib editors catch on to "Don't Put Me in a Box" tune

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com But it represents fresh thinking that's outside the normally closed 'Burgh box. In the least, it's worth exploring.

You don't even need to read between the lines to see the message that springs from this song.
If you have my campaign CD -- you'll hear Johnsmith's tune, "Don't Put Me in a Box."

Arts and Culture Observator

Arts and Culture Observatory Transcript: Intellectual Property Law and its Effect on the Creation and Presentation of Art

Last night, a night and time among many, we made music and media.

Your comments on the postion paper and panel are welcomed.

Stakes grow for state Senate seat

Stakes grow for state Senate seat PG article that stands like a two-legged stool.

Steaks?
Meat?
Fat Cats?
Gambling?

What is growing, really?

What is up for question, for goodness sakes, is clarity, honesty, democracy, stewardship, and the status quo.

Ohligarchy: Signs of the Season -- and the links keep flowing

Another blogger posted:

Ohligarchy: Signs of the Season The special election for the vacant 42nd District Pennsylvania Senate seat is scheduled for May 19, Primary Election Day in PA. Diven has a worthy opponent facing him in this race, Libertarian Mark Rauterkus.

See Stupid Statement #2 -- from another blog

By the way, I was at another board meeting. We're interviewing coaching candidates for a summer swim team. Sorry I was late. Since I had already spoken at two prior meetings, I didn't expect to address the audience.

Jeebas -- Music, Politics, and Other Jounx: "OK onto crazy stupid statement #2, someone said this regarding the PA Senate 42 race when the discussion of whether to endorse Mark Rauterkus (Lib.) or Wayne Fontana (Dem.) came up:

'Mark has a lot a great ideas, but that seat needs to stay Democratic'

It seemed like the point he was trying to get at was to only vote for a third party candidate when a seat is safe for a Democrat. That's about the most un-Democratic thing I have witnessed since PA state legislators filed suit against Ralph Nader petition gatherers in the summer of 2004 to force him off of the PA ballot. People should vote for who they agree with most on issues, not because it might screw up other people's shot. Anyone who discourages people to vote for who they believe in is despicable.

Thanks. Nice recap.

Time not ripe for merger - PittsburghLIVE.com

Nice general article.

Time not ripe for merger - PittsburghLIVE.com 'Everybody here is saying we're at the crossroads. I'm a mile up the road,' said Peduto, touting his work on City Council to map out feasible consolidations in the city, county and region.

Bill is a mile up the road -- and -- sadly -- he is alone.

To go the next step with this story, consider a bulk of the other candidates at the crossroads. The Peduto is a mile up the road. Meanwhile, I'm out of traffic resting in the park, playing with the kids, talking with the other citizens, kicking a stone.

Peduto is elected. He is up the road, and others are not following. A leader, as he is, needs to guide and lead policy. We're going to go to Bill for leadership and guidance. However, he is riding his ideas into the sunset and they zoomed beyond clear sight.

Bill is okay with consolidation. He would work hard to take the city apart by design.

Meanwhile, Tom Murphy took the city apart by default.

My plan for consolidation goes to the parks for the next step. We need to talk about a NEW PITTSBURGH PARK District. Peduto could come back home, slide over into the parks, and then sound off on what he wants to do with this position paper on the park district concept.

Then he should do something with it -- such as call a meeting, host a post-agenda, introduce a bill for a task force. Do something that elected people do -- beyond running for office.

Start reading the position paper at DSL.CLOH.Org/v1/

The dog wags back!: The Last Mayor

The dog wags back!: The Last Mayor Les has high entertainment value. If you only hear one candidate before the primary, be sure to give him a listen.

Nice review of the race. No mention of HOP.

Les does have a web page, Do More With Les dot com.

Great event last night at the community concert and rally for Rauterkus

Thanks!

We had a great gathering last night at a community concert and Rally for Rauterkus. It was our best ever. It is followed by our best bank depost ever as well.

Last night's event featured, among other things, great music from Johnsmith.

Plus, the event allowed for the "birthing of our buttons."

The campaign, Elect.Rauterkus.com, has campaign buttons now. If you missed the event and want one, and each is unique and special, we can deliver.

As an introductory special, this week only, for a $25. campaign donation you'll get five assorted buttons. Payments in person at our headquarters with a personal check or else via Pay Pay at Elect.Rauterkus.com.

You'll want five as you'll be able to give a couple away. And, you'll want more than one for yourself.

Concert with Johnsmith for Elect.Rauterkus.com

Johnsmith entertained with pointed messages in Pittsburgh.
Photo by Mark Rauterkus. Click image for enlarged view.

Songs included:
Kicking the Stone,
Don't Put Me in a Box,
Rooks in the Castle,
Put the Pedal to the Medal and Go Straight Ahead.

Stakes grow for state Senate seat

Stakes grow for state Senate seat 'The stakes are very high in this race. It would be a significant defeat for the Democrats if they can't hold onto Wagner's seat,' said pollster G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.

Froth Slosh B'Gosh: Cafeteria Libertarian?

Froth Slosh B'Gosh: Cafeteria Libertarian?: "Cafeteria Libertarian?

I didn't catch this posting until now. My reply, posted here and at Froth's site. Thanks for the positive mentions too.

What if, 35 years ago, the then private transportation operators went bankrupt? What if they were not merged into the PAT?

Or, what if the 2005 band-aid recently applied to the public transit situation hit a snag and was NOT delivered at all? Plus, the recently saved PAT is presently with a two-year extension. PAT's long-term health is still set to expire.

Some 35-years ago we were moments away from a total system shutdown. Today the region is still just months away from a possible (if not probable) tansit melt down. Some were calling for ongoing operations until $0 was left. They wanted no service changes until gasoline and payroll could not be covered. No nights and weekend service was a build up to NO SERVICE at all.

The crisis 35 years ago was avoided, perhaps, but replaced with a bigger crisis that is knocking at our doorsteps.

For the past 35 years, we've given a lot of $ to transit and transportation. This just makes the real bust a crisis that is millions of times worse.

I don't want a total privitazation of the system of mass transit. I do think an evolution is necessary -- and it has to happen. We need to let it happen.

The brink of failure is still here. It is time to diversify in measured steps. And, as with the sell off of the schools -- I think the public has a place for doing the harder to handle jobs we confront in our communities.

DFA Endorsement

A progressive Pittsburgh group held an endorsement meeting. I had spoken to the group in the past and showed up tonight to plug the community concert I'm hosting tomorrow. Plus, I mentioned that I'm strong on democracy (small "d") skills and perspectives.

My Dem opponent spoke at the outset of the meeting, and I missed his pitch.

Then a ballot was taken -- among a number of races and a number of candidates.

Neither I nor Fontana got the endorsement. No endorsement is being made by the group for the race in the PA Senate 42nd district.

I'm fine with the outcome.

The one discussion point that seemed to resonate with everyone among the audience was the displeasure with the "Rs."

I'll leave the results for the other races to the DFA blog. The leaders there hosted another well run meeting.

62% Say Union Not Helpful With Bad Bosses

62% Say Union Not Helpful With Bad Bosses

Pittsburgh firm gets ink with BadBossology.com.

Republicans won a seat in state senate in eastern PA

A special election for the PA Senate was held on April 5 -- and the Republican won.

Elect.Rauterkus.com schedules April 7 concert and rally for South Side Venue

A Rally for Rauterkus and concert that includes the song, "Don't Put Me In a Box" by Johnsmith that is set for 7 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2005, is to be held at the Holiday Inn Express on the South Side on 10th Street. The hotel is next to the Oliver Bath House and the 10th Street Bridge.

This South Side venue is within easy walking distance of many dinning establishments and is non-smoking, handicap accessible, with parking and will also be home to the victory party on election night after the polls close for both the primary and the special election for the PA Senate 42nd district on May 17, 2005.

At the monthly meeting we had not secured the location.

Furthermore, a host of other events is going to occur that weekend. On Friday morning we'll hold a breakfast fundraiser. The fundraiser will begin at 6:30 am at a downtown location on Grant Street. On Saturday we'll hold a breakfast fundraiser at a neighborhood location. On Sunday we'll assocate with a park-based event.

That weekend in April is the same weekend that the Allegheny County League of Municipal officials gather in Seven Springs. While the cat is away, the mice will play -- big time.

Original posting was Feb 18.

Cosby: Parenting is serious stuff

Cosby: Parenting is serious stuff - PittsburghLIVE.com Cosby: Parenting is serious stuff

Of course parenting is serious. People know this. Pittsburghers know this. The media, well, they might not know the value and importance of parenting.

I've called myself a stay-at-home parent. Now, officially my role is "coach." So my at-home parent title isn't current. Nonetheless, there are few anywhere that take are more serious in parenting and advocacy for parenting.

Citizens for the Advancement of Democracy

A new blogger wrote:

Citizens for the Advancement of Democracy How about a man who gets re-elected in November as a Democrat and then in January switches to a Republican so he can run for State Senate? That's what Michael Diven did. He's an underhanded politician on every level.

Who are these folks, other than die-hard Peduto fans?

Daryl Metcalfe pushes Right To Work in PA

Daryl Metcalfe What simple change could the legislature make to Pennsylvania law that would promote a better economic atmosphere for job creation and restore an important individual liberty?

Answer: Pass House Bill 50, which would make Pennsylvania a Right to Work state.

Who is going to talk about laws that make it illegal to pay a CEO 100-times, or 1,000-times, what a person on the shop floor earns?

The right to work push is fine. But, I would want to open up the conversation on both ends of the spectrum at the same time.

Same too for a salary cap on sports teams. (The sports example is less of a threat to talk about. How about a salary cap that applies not just for the players, but for the owners as well.

The windfalls and golden parachutes and stock options are places to look for the real money.

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.