11 drug sweeps, little dirt. (Trib article) Sending in 30 officers to a school

As a Libertarian, as an educator, as a state senator, acts like this would need to stop. Here is a great example of going overboard.

11 drug sweeps, little dirt - PittsburghLIVE.com About 30 police cars pulled up in front of Sto-Rox High School within minutes of each other Tuesday morning. The school was locked down while officers and drug-sniffing dogs searched lockers and classrooms for about 90 minutes.

The drug sweep coordinated by the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office and involving 10 police departments netted no arrests and no contraband. In fact, police have arrested only one person as a result of 11 such searches at area schools this school year.

Where is the accountability?

If this is going to occur, results are needed. But the operations are being foiled. The invasion is heavy handed. So, where are the justifications?

The Homeschooling option looks more and more viable for a greater number of children and families when these instances occur.

"S" is for "snake" so says Havens

Police union head upset, Trib The president of Pittsburgh's police union called Mayor Tom Murphy a 'snake' ...

Hypocritical.

Business as usual.

"Murphy's sitting there saying the ICA board is wasting the taxpayers' money for trying to challenge the firefighters contract. Now he's wasting taxpayer money trying to appeal language in the police contract that was given to the firefighters."

My long-standing position has been announced and repeated often. Mayor Murphy needs to move to the private sector as soon as possible. The longer the city has the same crew within the Mayor's office, the steeper and quicker the decline. Holding out until the end of 2005 is going to make the recovery much more painful and worse.

Rather than name calling, I listen for a new tune. Many would do, such as:

Hit the road Jack.

Step on the bus, Gus.

These boots were made for walking.

Leaving, on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again.

Where is the FOP Chorus Leader on those tunes?

Get him out. Fill his parking space away with a broken police cruiser, garbage truck and public works van, -- hour by hour, day by day.

TV news on 11 at 11 -- got in some quotes

I was interviewed by TV 11 at the school meeting. The segment ran as the lead story in the 11 pm news.

"All the king's men and king's horses can't put Humpty together again. But, we can flourish when and if all get involved."

I have the story on tape. We'll see what TV 11's web site posts in the AM.

Health care industry leads state lobbying

Health care industry leads state lobbying The health care industry accounted for one-fourth of all lobbyist spending reported in the state Senate during the last two-year legislative session, more than any other category, according to an unofficial tally.

State subsidies of doctors' malpractice insurance rates, which were approved in both years, and proposed caps on pain and suffering awards in malpractice lawsuits, which were rejected, were the top issues for health-care lobbyists, industry officials said.

Learning, feedback, two events

Greenway Middle School hosted a Pgh Public Schools feedback forum. I participated. A consulting firm has been hired to get comments from citizens. The meeting was with butcher paper on the walls and people with markers. It was much like a walk-in suggestion box opportunity.

My sons were in tow, and with their arrival another page went up on the side for kids' comments. The giggles there included the expected, "too much homework, not enough play time, and more music and recess." Then my youngest asked for healthier lunches -- meanwhile 95% of his fruit intake is from strawberries. The older wants larger portions at lunch. Both kids eat lunches we pack at home.

My rants on the posters included a blurb under technology, "Sad about Elbie." Within minutes, another scribe wrote a reply with an arrow pointing to my comment, "Glad Elbie is gone." Oh well.

I was rushed and didn't get a good chance to read all the other comments. I hope the materials flow out into the public in due time.

TechSoup.org's International event on Online Learning and Collaboration is slated for April 18-22, 2005, at www.techsoup.org/onlinelearning.

What are the issues and challenges involved in using online learning? What does it mean to collaborate and learn online? How can you and your organization use online learning and collaboration to achieve your organizational mission? This week-long event will answer those questions and demystify online collaboration tools. Join us as we discuss collaborative approaches for online learning communities, conferences, as well as classes and workshops. We will introduce you to the free tools available on the Web for online collaboration. We will also examine (and demonstrate) software and platforms in addition to best practice examples from the Tutor/Mentor Connection and Knowplace. The Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC), based in Chicago , uses the Internet as a resource library and meeting place for people interested in helping inner city youth. Knowplace is a customized International learning community that helps organizations and individuals move into the online world quickly and efficiently.

* An overview of ideas and practices integral to online learning and collaboration.

* Best-practice examples of learning community meetings and conferences.

* A live demo of a synchronous session.

* Free or inexpensive tools for teaching, training , and building an online learning community.

* The steps it takes to go from in-person to online learning.

No show

The first three way debate opportunity tonight at the Hilton Hotel downtown turned into a two way give-and-take between Wayne Fontana, D., and myself. The new "R" was absent, unexpectedly. We even switched around the program waiting for him to show. The Mayor's race candidates went first, then came city council candidates.

Oh well.

Post debate polling score:

Mark Rauterkus = 8 out of 10.

Wayne Fontana = 7 out of 10.

Michael Diven = 0 out of 0.

Others, with names, are free to recap in the comment section. I took plenty of notes and will try to post them in a day or two.

O'Connor exudes endorsements from 7 out of 9 -- but we have 8 now.

Tip to Bob O'Connor. We now have eight members of city council. Change your numbers. Reprogram your poise.

O'Connor exudes poise - PittsburghLIVE.com: "During much of the campaign, O'Connor has relied on repeating a few sayings to convey how he would operate. He is less likely to offer detailed plans, unlike his opponents.

O'Connor frequently promises to become the CEO of Pittsburgh, which he describes as 'a $417 million operation with 3,500 employees.' The campaign promise harkens back to his days as operations manager for Pappan's Restaurants, a job he last held 13 years ago before his election to City Council. He simplified how he would scrutinize city spending by way of example. At the Pappan's restaurants, 'I could always see at how much money was coming in and how much money was going out,' he said.

O'Connor's gregarious nature is on regular display. At the debate, he arrived late, prepared to steal the show.

'Seven of the nine City Council members are supporting me,' he told a crowd of roughly 200 in East Liberty. 'I'm still working on Bill,' glancing at one of his challengers, City Councilman Bill Peduto, who slowly shook his head as the laughter quieted.

If Bob had all that support on City Council -- why is it that the Mayor is still getting his way with things around here? Why is it that the mayor got over for so long?

Bob has the support because Bob has been one of the supporters. The whole gang is suspect.

If I don't get the endorsement of Onorato, that is a feather in my cap. Onorato would have to do a lot of fancy footwork to endorse O'Connor for Mayor and endorse Rauterkus for PA Senate. That would be a challenge for him. Onorato isn't going to expend that type of energy.

If Jim Roddey doesn't sign my petition to allow me to get onto the ballot, as was the case in 2001, that is a victory for me. Roddey is part of the establishment. Roddey was part of the problem as well. A small part -- but a part nonetheless. Roddey is tickled with Diven's switch. Roddey, in 2001, talked every day with Tom Murphy. The Roddey - Murphy relationship went cool, but later.

Real reformers are hard to find within the ranks of the powerful.

The voters, however, know what's what.

A recent poll, conducted by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, put O'Connor well ahead of his two top rivals, Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb, 42, of Mt. Washington and Peduto, 44, of Point Breeze.

That poll isn't so recent any more.

The polling data is interesting. The media does the polls when the race is hot to drive up ad spending among the candidates. Bob and Tom went at it in 2001. They held a dozen debates with only Bob and Tom and there were an similar amount of polls taken.

We need polls to be fair. We need the reporting on the polls to make sense.

A poll from a month ago isn't recent.

Finally, it is the hope of many that city council one day goes to five, not nine.

What we really need to hear is a candidate say that one day, as mayor, five out of the five on council will be supportive of the mayor's efforts of debt reduction and reforms. AND, all five on the council then will not be from the council of today. That dream is about new Pittsburgh leadership, new regional voices that overcome the same-old same-old.

Calendar: 4/10/05 -- I'll be there too. Hilton at 6:30 pm on Monday.

Business calendar: 4/10/05 Pittsburgh Downtown Neighbors Association, candidates forum, 6:30 p.m., Hilton Pittsburgh, Downtown. Participants include Michael Lamb, Bob O'Connor, William Peduto, Joe Weinroth, Sala Udin, Michael Diven and Wayne Fontana. Call John Valentine at 412-281-1160.

This event, Monday evening, is the first where all three candidates for PA Senate, 42nd district, share the same podium. Jon Delano of KDKA is going to be the moderator.

I am confirmed for the event. Come on out if you can.

Newsday.com: Hey, Mom, I'm famous (On the Internet)!

Interesting article about blogs and fame -- an at.

A fellow stay-at-home dad, but this bloke is from NY, has fun with his kid and photos. Don't worry, it's all clean.

Newsday.com: Hey, Mom, I'm famous (On the Internet)!: "
Others stumbled on cash for fame, including Jeremy Zorek, now 3 years old, whose fame may fund his college education.

His father, Michael Zorek, 44, a stay-at-home dad in Manhattan, snapped a photo of Jeremy when he was 4 months old, posing with the Barber brothers, Tiki and Ronde, twins and pro football players. Then Zorek snapped a photo of Jeremy with actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

A friend who received the photos via e-mail suggested posting them online. WhoIs ThatWithJeremy.com now has 119 photos of Jeremy with celebrities, including Madonna, Billy Joel and Ringo Starr. The Web site lists nearly a dozen shows that featured Jeremy. 'Not bad for 2 1/2!' the site says.

Jeremy has achieved fame 'to a certain extent,' Zorek said, but added, 'He has absolutely no idea what any of this means.'

But he will in 15 years, when income generated from the site will help pay for Jeremy's college costs, as Zorek usually charges for permission to publish photographs, bringing in several thousand dollars last year. (Zorek won't disclose the exact income figure.)

'We looked for a way to sort of make this something that could help him in the future,' Zorek said. 'And college, of course, is no cheap thing.'

Does he have a photo of his kid on The Great Wall?

What about with the Harlem Globetrotters? He's from NY after all.

What about with a panda bear on his lap?

How about on a boat in S.F. Bay with the Blue Angles about 50-yards over his head?

I don't go for the celeb shots. Rather, I'm more into the experiece.

Next mayor will face safety issues

My comments within the article:

Peduto: The COP program (Community Oriented Police) has a nice ring to it. However, I'm not convinced of its honest effectiveness. It might sound better than it performed. Putting officers into dinky mini-stations was not the same as putting them onto the street. Why did we need the mini-stations? Where the mini-stations a place to hang out? Were the mini-stations really a place to hang a big sign and not really serve much of any purpose?

I'm not going to lend support to the COPs program. At this time, I'd nix that as a position plank.

Next mayor will face safety issues Lamb would ask the Legislature for tighter gun restrictions within the city limits and work with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency on drug prevention programs.

Tighter gun restrictions, and begging to Harrisburg some more. No thanks on both matters. We don't need to change the rules. We don't need to be in a begging position seeking changes to the rules. Furthermore, changes to the rules won't really help in the end.

Lamb: "... placing civilians in administrative Police Bureau jobs can get more uniforms on the streets."

Better use of technology could get more information out the the neighborhor and others on the street.

Better use of traffic police, or a traffic division -- like crossing guards, could get more help out on the street. Crossing guards were paid and part of the police force. They gave us a big bang for the buck. They could have been doing some more enforcement, but that could be part of the program when they are put back into serious operation.

Better use of civilians throughout the city and region can get more assistance and understanding for the police and the struggles we all face. The civilian police academy was cut by Mayor Murphy. Bad move. The Civilian Police Academy could have been made into a stand-alone department that pulled its own weight financially. Creative management lags in Pittsburgh.

The end of the drug wars, especially against grass, could help get a lot more done in terms of overall safety.

High marks for Lamb to Lamb encourage participation with the Citizens Police Review Board, which has been largely ineffective without city government's support. My stance is along the same lines, but much more advanced. I'd not only encourage participation, it would be demanded.

The voters put the citizens police review board to Pittsburgh. It has been a joke -- due to the miss-management of the administration and others. The city council appointment to the board has done nothing in the past 16 month (or more). Nothing.

The citizens police review board isn't perfect. But, it needs to operate as it could and should for the first few years. Then it can evolve into the tool we all need and voted to create.

In 2001, both Carmine and I took the citizens police review board seriously. Murphy and O'Connor didn't lift a wimper on this topic.

Strong nods to Lamb too for his mention of technology with the building inspection duties. An overhaul of all tech components of government is needed. These efforts need to be rooted in the realm of open-source solutions.

Mt. Oliver is kicking Pittsburgh's tail in terms of building inspection, enforcement, and governmental cooperation among all parties. Great for Mt. Oliver -- as they are trying. Pittsburgh doesn't even care.

There is a lot to do in terms of inspection and enforcement in the city. Things go to hell around here and there isn't any way to get anyone to even care. The iron curtin in the city is alive and well in this area with a contrast to what occurs in suburban Pittsburgh.

The color and geneder of the police force. Murphy hired a few classes of recruits and they were mostly white guys. I'm a white guy too. Come on. This city's diversity among its workforce needs some attention.

This is a point, (diversity among police force recruits) to Bob O'Connor's credit, that he yapped about four years ago. It isn't getting much attention now because it was only a gottcha with O'Connor in 2001. Murphy's policy and performace was so bad that it was painfully obvious. Furthermore, in recent years, the police force has been shrinking, not expanding with new hires. A couple of new classes have been in the works. What are those numbers Bob? Do you care? Continue that conversation.

Is the diversity among the men and women in blue a point that served its purpose, like the citizens review board? Time to move on? Time to let it rest?

Don Walko, D., North Side, State Rep, wants to change the rules, making it more difficult for bounty hunters. Peduto wants to put parole enforcement into police cars. Perhaps the two can be talked about in the same discussion. Peduto should issue a release saying he does NOT like the Walko suggested rules.

The college credit elements for the job application process for the police was not talked about. Jim Motznik has some strong opinions on that topic.

I have great respect to the professionals working in Pittsburgh with Fire, Police and EMS. I am not close to any service group. All have been dumped upon by the present mayor. I think that each group could do more to remove him from office sooner and help with the discussions among our public landscape. But, they all are jaded. All are burnt out. All are pushed past the max -- mostly.

One of the biggest jokes is the concpet of a merger among EMS and the hospitals. Dream on. It took a major miracle to get 911 services to merge in nine years. There is no way they are going to be able to even start the conversation with EMS and hospitals, yet alone Fire.

Wellness is very important to me and our region. We need to allow these topics to be our strengths in the future. Now they all are liabilities.

I'm a lifeguad at heart and in my history. I understand that these endeavors are important and time based. Support needs to be present. Too many are running on empty. The interactions among managers, performers, citizens, customers and even things like BILLING are disjointed.

New relationships and understandings need to be forged. This is going to take time and lots of effort.

I'd rather have a mayor care more about the public service elements and less about the convention center hotel, retaining the Pirates, knocking down the Civic Arena, new condos in town, or making a re-do of the Gateway Center T-stop.

Candidate survey from Pittsburgh Catholic

Not sure if this went via fax or was idle in the office and never sent.

Tom Murphy boasts of sandbagging the Legislature

Murphy didn't blink. I'll give him credit for not blinking. His head was in a hole, and still hasn't moved. But if he says he didn't blink, I'll not challenge that self-assessment.

No blink. Did stink.

Tom Murphy boasts of sandbagging the Legislature - PittsburghLIVE.com Recalling his conversation with Bloomberg, Murphy said in an interview, 'We had this conversation and he said, 'How did you win?' I said, 'Because I was willing to take the city into bankruptcy.' If I were (New York) mayor, I would probably have shut down the bridges coming in from Long Island. ... We just didn't blink and the Legislature blinked.'

Univ of Pittsburgh's School of Health and Rehab Sciences

Happy Anniversary. Its 35 years old. We're celebrating.

Supporting a loser. Onorato takes a LTE hit from Beechview

This is a letter to the editor from another person (Emily), just reposted here.

Supporting a loser - PittsburghLIVE.com Supporting a loser - Friday, April 8, 2005

I think Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato is making a huge mistake by endorsing Bob O'Connor for mayor of Pittsburgh (O'Connor picks up Onorato's support,' April 1).

Onorato is supposed to be a reform-minded politician, yet he's supporting someone who has been a key player in creating the problems that our city government is currently facing.

O'Connor is a politician of the old school, having supported Mayor Murphy's costly spending until it became convenient for him to do otherwise in election years. He's a two-time loser in the mayor's race for obvious reasons -- where was he all those years that the city was being irresponsible with our money?

I'm greatly disappointed by Onorato's decision. We have a chance to move this city forward by electing a new mayor, but he wants us to choose someone who represents everything we should be getting away from.

I guess he's not the kind of leader I thought he was.
Emily Waschak, Beechview

I'm not exactly sure what Onorato will do in the PA Senaate race, nor when. Dan has some political strength, of course. However, political strength isn't something that I'd put as his ace in the hole. What does Dan's Onorado blog tell us as to what he's projecting and thinking about? Then we'd know and he'd have more sway.

Lt. Governor Long List... 2006 from Politics PA

The site, PoliticsPA, has message boards that are vile harbors, and forced to disclose data to authorities for investigations.

Lt. Governor Long List... 2006

Auditor General Jack Wagner:  Fresh off an impressive victory, Jack Wagner provides an impressive resume, geographic balance and a good shot at 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Wagner's former seat is still empty, and others are putting him on a list as a possible replacement for Lt. Governor.

Property Taxes Got You in a Pinch? Get a tent.

Eyes changes for appointments -- with a wink and a lobby group

Yesterday while walking on East Carson Street a young women walked by with a black t-shirt that displayed the words on the front, "Question authority."

We need shirts like that and on the sleves we'd be able to put Elect.Rauterkus.com and Platform.For-Pgh.org.

Peduto eyes changes for city appointments Democratic mayoral candidate William Peduto said yesterday that he wants to 'professionalize' appointments to city agencies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority or the zoning board by choosing candidates from a list developed by a third-party panel.

The two other major mayoral candidates, Michael Lamb and Bob O'Connor, have also talked about the mayor's appointment powers on the campaign trail, saying they would use them to add more minorities and women to boards.

Peduto, a city councilman from Point Breeze, said if he were mayor, anyone could apply to be on the city agencies, and a third-party panel would study the candidates and issue recommendations on appointees to the mayor.

My solution is more democratic, more elegant, more effective.

Retention votes should be a regular part of our politcal landscape in terms of boards, authorities and voter participation.

Board members should face retention votes to remain in their positions.

Furthermore, term limits make sense in most situations.

The proposed measures insert accountability into the process and inject election opportunities. These are short and mid-term steps as overall evaluations occur for each and every authority. The best long-term solution is the outright elimination of all the authorities.

With the proposed plan, the appointment powers of council, mayor, county executive (and such) would continue. However, to stay in the job, the voters would need to certify the board members with positive votes for retention.

Peduto wants to appoint a new, third party pannel to pick the appointments. Who picks the pickers? Is the third-party pannel really made from those of a third party? (joke)

Peduto could be on to something if the Green Party and Libertarian Party got to pick all the people to the various authority boards. That is an idea that could energize this city. Sadly, I suspect, Bill's idea of third-party is really just more of the same hand-picked sillyness that chokes the region.

When the elected official makes appointments to boards, then the elected official is accountable. When the boards are picked by a picking authority, then nobody is accountable.

City council gets to pick a member to the Citizen Police Academy. That person, so goes the press reports, has NOT been to a meeting of the Citizen Police Acadmey for the past year-and-a-half. That board appointment is the responsibility of the city council. City council is fumbling. The others on the board have asked for a resignation. The city council members should toss out the culprit as soon as possible.

It is time to toss the bumbs out and make accountability a real part of our public landscape.

Tom G's Letter to Editor about the Pope's passing

The letter ran in the Trib but noticed online in the Libertarian discussion email list.

Friday, April 8, 2005

There is much in Pope John Paul II's thought, as expressed in both his writings and his life, for libertarians to admire:

a.. By his words and his example, he affirmed the dignity and rights of every person, regardless of country or creed.

b.. He did much to inspire the peaceful resistance that ended decades of Soviet tyranny in Eastern Europe.

c.. He spoke for peace and mutual respect among nations, and against aggressive wars, including the U.S. war against Iraq.

d.. He had a qualified but very real appreciation for the free market, proclaiming it morally as well as economically superior to socialism.

e.. He was skeptical of government attempts to solve social problems, preferring that they be addressed by the voluntary associations of civil society.
Pope John Paul II didn't propose a political blueprint, and his social thought can't be tagged with any ideological label. But he was a true friend of freedom, and he'll be badly missed.

Thomas Gillooly
Forest Hills

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."