South Side Slopes Neighborhood Assn said Thank You

This organization was one of my favorites. 

Tales of Asia - a web home page. Gordon's site.

Gordon runs this web -- err, WORLD WIDE WEB site. Plus, he's going to be a dad soon. We'll be meeting him later this year, and bringing him a gift for the baby. This will be fun. Check out his site and wonderful photos.

Tales of Asia - Home If a picture says a thousand words I just avoided writing 50,000 of them. Have a look at the photo gallery, Angkor temples, Tonle Sap scenes, China, Myanmar, much more... and bring your Visa card!

FF Union's Joe King for Mayor?

This is Tom's posting / editorial.

It's been rumored that Joe King, head of the Firefighter's Union, will run for Mayor as an Independent.

That would be disastrous for the vast majority of the public, who are not city workers.

King is a "union only" type of guy. Which is good for his job. It's a terrible possibility for the city, as 98% of the population is not of a "special interest group." A list of the highest paid city employees recently printed in the Pittsburgh Business Times (I've heard that it was in the P-G as well) is flush with Firefighter hierarchy. Some argue that that's one of the reasons why the city's in its current financial mess.

Belt tightening, making "tough" decisions and making innovative initiatives (and having the wherewithal to pull it off) is the key to this race. I have opinions on the current field of candidates, but that's for another blog rant. However, Mr. King, while an excellent representative for his union (if the union wants him to continue in that role, that's where he's best served), has not publicly exhibited the ability to take "shots to the gut" with much aplomb.

And the next Mayor of Pittsburgh will certainly be taking shots to areas of the body lower than the waistline for many years to come.

Libertarian Reform Caucus

Thanks for the pointer H.

Libertarian Reform CaucusStatement of Purpose

We, the members of the Libertarian Reform Caucus believe that America needs a real libertarian party, a party that promotes liberty while being conscious of political reality, a party designed to win elections and begin rolling back excess government now. In particular, the party needs:

* A platform that proposes a realistic vision for the next few years, as opposed to an idealistic vision of a libertarian future. The public expects a party platform to show what a party's candidates intend to do during the next term of office. If the party wants a long term vision statement, it should be in a separate document labeled as such.

* A platform that unites libertarians rather than dividing them. Where libertarians disagree, the platform should be silent. The party should be a tool for all libertarians.

* A platform based on the realization that there are other important values in addition to the non-initiation of force. Freedom is extremely valuable, but it is not the only value.

Propel officials will outline renovation plans for school in Robinson

Propel officials will outline renovation plans for school - PittsburghLIVE.com Propel officials will outline renovation plans for school

Some comments about the article follow.

Seeing an investment into a building for adaptive reuse is great.

Commissioners Chairman Bill Blumling said his main concerns are losing taxes on the building. Well, how much has the building and property pain in taxes in the past years? Let's see a chart. And, let's also not the tax increases. And, note too as to how much in taxes go to the various sources, such as schools, county, municipal.

The worry of higher public safety costs is groundless. A school is not going to be a drain on public safety costs. If so, prove it with the numbers.

A city without any people has no worry about needing money for public safety. Nobody is there.

The cost and liability of having an empty building is greater than anything a school delivers.

Seeing that McMichael Road is already heavily traveled without the school makes good sense. You WANT to put schools are busy road. You don't want to put schools in neighborhoods on lightly used roads and wedged among homes.

In the city we have some empty school buildings. I want to take the buildings that are among the houses, in the neighborhoods, on lightly traveled roads, and turn those into senior housing or else condos. Put housing in among the other houses. Put schools into the properties that are heavy with travel and transit.

"With all the schools we have in the area, I don't know that a charter school could do anything more. Why do we need one?" Blumling said.

But that question isn't one commissioners are being asked to consider, said Propel Executive Director Jeremy Resnick.

Right on. But there is more to understand. You want this school for a number of reasons. The arrival of a charter school is going to increase the service and satisfaction among those who go to the traditional public school. Competition helps. The regular school is going to raise their levels of teaching and expectations.

Furthermore, with our educational system, we know that the square pegs don't fit well in the round holes. Some are not gonig to feel at home and thrive at some schools. Others are going to do well at other settings. We want diversity in the market place of schools. We want freedom, options, choices, and other places for those who are unhappy to move to. One size does NOT fit all in most situations.

If everyone is happy with the local public school, then there will not be any students at the charter school. Hence, the charter school will float away.

Perhaps some in Robinson will move to the charter school. Those same people might have left Robinson to move to USC, Mt. Lebo or the North Hills. With the school in Robinson, Robinson wins. The local homeowners have a choice.

Others might go to the school in Robinson from homes elsewhere in the area. A teacher hired for the school who lives in Plum or Baldwin might decide to buy a home in Robinson. Same too with a family that like the charter -- but doesn't like the drive. They might move into Robinson.

Montour School Board President Charles Snowden said he thinks Propel's purpose is a bit murky. Propel appears to be attempting to capitalize on Montour's "good name," he said.
Giggle.

Debate late night

TV 4 did a debate. I watched. I taped. I should have gone to sleep. Nothing new came from the chatter.

Bob wasn't so smooth.

Mike's close wasn't so smooth.

Slogan of interest: In Bob O'Connor's open, he said, "Do more with less." And twice in Mike Lamb's close he said, "Do more with less."

One of the questions was right on target for Les as well. The question asked about "alternative funding."

Who won? Cleveland, Columbus, Charleston, D.C., Harrisburg, Buffalo, Erie.

Who lost? Everyone in Pittsburgh.

What is killing me about this race is the total lack of "pick-up power." None of the front runners are able to absorb the ideas of any other in the race. These guys are running a race that is stuck in the first inning. Give and take is absent.

However, given a long-view, many of the buzz phrases I've posted about are being injected into some of the discussions. Bob O'Connor said Pittsburgh has been too heavy in a "bricks and mortar" mindset. The Penguins of the NHL got zippo in terms of any promises from any of the candidates. Bob O'Connor is talking about schools and school aged kids. Bill Peduto raised the point about Pittsburgh's sky high 'deed transfer tax.'

Bill and Mike are improving. Bob's fade is every so gradual. The gap for those in catch-up mode might take months or years. So, the best hope is still a series engagements with updated content and an eventual knock out landed to O'Connor in November's general election.

It is going to take teamwork and fresher content. Sadly, I don't see much of a 'dance' from the challengers. And, this is a prime reason why all the challengers needed to be present.

WTAE-TV Hosts Mayoral Debate without the full field of candidates. Another 8,000 to depart next year too!

ThePittsburghChannel.com - WTAE-TV - WTAE-TV Channel 4 To Host Mayoral Debate The debate, moderated by WTAE-TV Channel 4 Action News anchor Michelle Wright, airs April 24 at 11:35 p.m. after Channel 4 Action News at 11 p.m.

The debate will feature the 2005 Democratic primary candidates for mayor: Michael Lamb, Bob O'Connor and Bill Peduto.

This is why Pittsburgh is in a decline. Ignore real people. Think with half a brain. Close conversations. The "done deal mentality" must come to an end for Pittsburgh to thrive. Meanwhile, it lingers and another 8,000 depart on an annual basis.

Trib Whispers

Can't we all just get along? - PittsburghLIVE.com WAYNE'S WORLD WHIRLING INTO BLACK HOLE? Despite hitting the TV airwaves before his competitor, former Allegheny County Councilman Wayne Fontana's state Senate campaign seems to have hit a dry spell.

The candidate held an April 14 fund-raiser that drew only 40 people - and the two guests of honor never showed. Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Democrat U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle of Swissvale were supposed to be the headliners but neither came to the event.

That bodes well for Michael Diven, the Democrat-turned-Republican who will be Fontana's foe in the May 17 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Jack Wagner, now the state auditor general.

A fund raiser with 40? That is how many came to my event on April 7. And, our star performers were there.
But with the Dem money flowing from Harrisburg, why would Wayne even need to hold an event? He can suck down the big purse that the two old parties have built up since before gambling's arrival.
I'm not sure what big names would even go to a Diven fund raiser. Weinroth? Hillen? Pippy? Hart? Habay? Tom Murphy?
I'm sure Mike has a lot of friends. Same too with Wayne.
Colin of the TRIB, would he attend a fund raiser? Whould he return calls? Is there going to be an endorsement from the Trib?

Mark C, a Libertarian pal, wrote a P.G. LTE about the Patriot Act. His letter was in response to a Forum piece by a Pittsburgh-based US Attorney who (no surprise here) called for retaining all the powers of the Patriot Act.

Why should we trust government claims about the Patriot Act?

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan's endorsement of the Patriot Act ("The USA Patriot Act Works," April 17 Forum) reads like a televangelist demanding money to save souls.

The assurance of "no reported abuses" of individual rights brings to mind the PG story about millionaire John Gilmore ("Grounded," by Dennis Roddy, Feb. 27).

Gilmore was denied passage on a plane because the law said he needed a government ID and he didn't even have a driver's license. When he officially asked to see the law, he was officially told that his seeing that law would violate the law.

How can we trust any "no reported abuses" claim?

Congress overwhelmingly passed the Patriot Act and did so before having an opportunity to read the bill. If they didn't read it, what makes you think they would read about its aftermath?

This is why the Patriot Act doesn't work. It must be repealed.

MARK CROWLEY, Plum

"I gave up hockey for the campaign," Peduto says. "This is my workout."

In the Sunday newspaper feature, Bill Peduto was quoted.

"I gave up hockey for the campaign," he says. "This is my workout."

Bill isn't the only city resident to give up hockey. The city has a lone, indoor ice rink that had plenty of hockey teams -- until it closed. The closed rink behind the South Side Hospital, in the area below Quarry Field, used to be home to Pitt's club hockey team, the Penguins and even a NHL All-Start practice. But, it closed a few years ago. It sits vacant, idle, and with little hope of ever getting opened again under the current administation of Tom Murphy -- and present members of city council.

Bill is a hockey player. Bill knows our lone indoor rink is closed. Bill has done nothing to reopen the rink.

The rink can and should re-open without costing the city a nickle. The rink was operated by a private individual with a long-term lease. The city still owns the land and building.

I'm not a hockey player. But I want the community asset to open again.

Bill is a hockey player. He and others on council have done nothing to open the rink and be stewards of our resources, our assets, our programs, our opportunities, our youthful experiences, our volunteer capacity venues, nor our park spaces.

This goes to the lack of 'teamwork' that Bob O'Connor harps about. Bob is able to echo the chant from my rants in the past years. "They don't play well with others."

We, as parents, as coaches, as educators, as volunteers, as concerned citizens, as taxpayers -- and as voters -- need to see our elected officials engaged in solving problems, in making efforts, and in being productive.

The outcome in terms of being a hockey player in the city is -- no ice.

The program, HOCKEY IN THE HOOD, had a great feature on WQED's OnQ TV show. There are kids who get into vans in the heart of the city, trek to the airport a few times each week, fighting evening traffic, to play hockey. They should be able to do these activities in the city.

If you're in a "hockey family" -- you're going to move out of the city. Why not go to school at B.P. and walk the length of the parking lot from school to rink? Why not do the same in Mt. Lebo. Rinks are throughout the burbs. Hence, folks into that game go to the burbs, generally, if they have the family to enable that move. It is a no brainer.

---

Bill gave up hockey for the campaign. Peduto's hockey hobby was left behind because his professional calling in politics drove him to campaign for mayor. Implied is the meaning that the youngster, Peduto, matured and settled down for serious campaign efforts and a new challenge. Bill has skated away from lesiure sports to politics.

For me, the realm of sports in the city was such that I was called into politics. I too left the day to day of sports. But my sports, team, coaching quest of high performance and reaching potential helps to drive the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign.

I walked straight to politics and a campaign and away from sports when I had had enough. My swim coaching retirement and efforts in politics has sports-minded goal. I want to fix sports because the system around here is broken and the public treasury is broke too. Plus, we might as well fix the rest of the city and region as well by injecting more freedom, liberties and free-market expectations as well. That's real competition, accountability, competitiveness.

I helped to rescue a floundering swim team that practices at the Oliver Bath House. The team, Three Rivers Aquatics, TRA, was set to close forever. The parent volunteer booster board was pulling the plug. Hosea Holder, the head coach, and I didn't let that occur. We moved to restore the team's operation in the summer of 1998 (or was is 99). I've been fighting upstream ever since.

Hired coaches!

Coaches for the Green Tree Great White Sharks, summer of 2005. Bill Straw and Jason Miller.

I was on the board of the swim team and we conducted interviews and hired these guys.

Swim team sign-ups happen in the spring and the kids got the chance to meet and mingle with the coaches before the summer season began.

Race for Mayor: Peduto says he's unfazed by critics and doubters

Wow, my recent posts about the issue distinctions of Bill Peduoto's campaign made my heart skip a beat when I saw this at first. I got a bit of ink, and it isn't harsh to the Peduto camp, thank goodness.

The Race for Mayor: Peduto says he's unfazed by critics and doubters: "Those communities are the chief targets of his effort, quarterbacked from his crowded headquarters at the cusp of the Strip District. There, the results of his team's door-knocking and phone calls are entered into computers nightly, and charted by a geographic information system program. Peduto's Saturday foray into Beechview strayed from his focus communities. But those neighborhoods can't be ignored, because a special election for its state Senate seat contest is expected to spur an unusually high local turnout. That race, between state Rep. Michael Diven, who recently switched to the Republican Party, former county Councilman Wayne Fontana, a Democrat, and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus is a priority of both statewide political parties.

More on the overall letter tonight.
Now I'm running out to see Rebecca F of Green Building fame with a presentation at our church, Sunnyhill.org.

Allegheny County Health Department: lends good excuse for not running TV ads this week

I'm not going to air any TV ads for my campaign for PA Senate in the 42nd out of the utmost repect for this fine effort from the Allegheny County Health Department. We do need to get out more and exercise -- until our own Park District forms.

Allegheny County Health Department: The Allegheny County Health Department is asking you to pledge to participate in TV Turnoff Week!

Meanwhile, more mud tossing is expected between my loyal opponents on the boob tube this week. They gotta get their message out there. And their messages are way out there now.

County Bar Association releases judicial endorsements

County Bar Association releases judicial endorsements

Highly recommended
Kathryn M. Hens-Greco, 47, of Squirrel Hill; Jon Pushinsky, 50, of Highland Park; Jack McVay, 48, of the North Side; Dwayne Woodruff, 48, of McCandless; Edward Borkowski, 54, of Stanton Heights; Chuck Evans, 62, of Squirrel Hill; Anthony Mariani, 52, of Ross; Tony Basinski, 58, of Upper St. Clair; Beth Lazzara, 39, of the North Side; James Mahood, 57, of Richland; Roger Wise, 59, of McCandless.

Recommended
William T. Simmons, 55, of East Liberty; Jacqueline Morrow, 48, of Squirrel Hill; Michael E. McCarthy, 55, of Ross; David Joseph DeFazio, 50, of Shadyside; Frank Cecchetti, 56, of Mt. Lebanon; Patricia A. McCullough, 48, of Upper St. Clair; Dan Cusick, 56, of Mt. Lebanon; Alan Hertzberg, 48 of Crafton Heights; Wrenna Leigh Watson, 50, of the Hill District; Sumner L. Parker, 54, of Ross.

Not recommended at this time
Douglas Walgren, 64, of Mt. Lebanon; Kelly Eileen Bigley, 39, of Upper St. Clair; Tom Flaherty, 54, of Shadyside; Kathleen Miskovich, 48, of Richland.

Unqualified
Stephen Begler, 46, of Squirrel Hill; Robert Downey Jr., 51, of Penn Hills.

Mayoral hopefuls debate police review board - Anybody But Bob comes between the lines

This issue was a big issue four years ago. It has not gone away.

Mayoral hopefuls debate police review board 'If you have a mayor who coddles the police, they're going to continue to run amok. Bob O'Connor's in bed with the [Fraternal Order of Police] -- he's not going to challenge the FOP,' Kendrick said.

James Carmine and I were both in strong agreement with the Citizens Police Review Board in 2001. Meanwhile, the front-running Dems were not.

In 2005, Bob O'C has not chaged his tune. Now Bob is the only one still out of touch on this important issue.

But, as a small note, where is the City Council member to the Citzen Police Review Board? A seat designated for appointment by that body has been empty for a year. So, what's up with that?

Peduto pushed for the Citizens Police Review Board at the start -- but what about the follow-up? I worry and wonder.

Continual execution of the plan and continual outrage of its stumbles are needed from council's members -- and other leaders who might like to one day be mayor.

We don't need Bob to build new bridges here and there as much as we need hi to walk all around the pavement that is already in place. We don't need new bridges. We just need the right people to be forced to show up -- or go work elsewhere.

And I don't take too much comfort in the answer from Bob about how he'll "follow the law." If a lawyer told me to do xomething -- then that's what I'll do. Yeah, right. The lawyers you pay often have a way of giving you the answers you want to hear. Mayor's have a good pool of lawyers to leverage on their behalf.

The citizens voted to enable the citizens police review board. The citizens want it still. The review board has never worked well. The city has an opportunity to recraft energy for the board and get it rolling.

In two or three years, then we can look to retool the CPRB, if needed. Let's get it moving as it should in 2006.

African Americans in the arts honored in youth essay contest - Not this year Erik!

Last year, my older son, Erik, won first place in this contest in his age group. He and a school mate were pictured in the PG's coverage.

This year, he didn't enter the contest. However, something much better arrived at our house this week. The cash prize from last year's win was very, very nice, but we'll take his report card grades over a win in the city essay contest. The big milestone, Erik got a "B" in his handwritting grade. Grandma had to come up with $10.

Students who entered the event -- and to the winners -- way to go. My hat is off to your scholarship and self expression, as well as research.

African Americans in the arts honored in youth essay contest This year's essay asked writers to look at contributions of African Americans in the arts.

Writting has become another hot area in schools in recent times. Some are taking handwritting classes, while in high school even. There has been a shift to a hand-written component in the standardized college entrance exams -- such as the SAT (or is the ACT?).

In China, there is a great bit of empahasis on penmanship, and brush strokes too. They use ink and paper in traditional forms. At parks there are often art salons areas for kids to do paint by numbers, coloring, brush work.

On our next trip, I hope we can get the boys some lessons.

In schools today, the pressure to do more writting is hard on the teachers. If you have 30 students, and need to correct spelling tests -- that is one thing. But, try to handle a three page paper and the challenge increased by 20 or more times.

I think that there could be more volunteers to work at the schools in reading and grading duties.

I think we could have more essay contests, more poetry contests, more public grading challenges, more community interaction on written elements. The volunteers would NOT even need to come into the buildings nor ever meet the children.

Just as peer review works in the research and higher academic settings, some style of group feedback among volunteers in the public would serve plenty of benefits among the overall educational missions and outcomes.

Do you think the teachers' union would care?

Definitely doable. Kwel. CMU's student web site, unofficial, to hack PSP for surfing

Two tech articles, both with local connections, shows the range of the topic area. First I love. Second not so much. You'll need to snoop into the comments to get the full force of the other story, from Freedom.

At the outset is a how-to for getting the most out of a new piece of high tech hardware. A CMU student is mentioned, but not by name. Who is this bloke? Tell him or her to keep up the good work. We'd love to have him stay in the area upon graduation.

This is another great reason why we need to have an annual, YOUTH TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT. We need to get folks like this on stage, among community, sharing insights, being problem solvers, crafting relationships. If nothing else, it is a no-brainer workforce development gold mind.

Quad-City Times Newspaper Online - the Quad-Cities Home Page: "Start browsing: First, start “Wipeout Pure,” and head over to the Download section. Once there, select the name of the connection you just created. This will take you to an unofficial PSP Web site created by a student at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. Then, use the PSP’s buttons to type in a URL or enter a search query into Google, which is a link on this site. Because there is no keyboard or touch screen, it can be a little tricky to navigate the Web or check your e-mail, but if you have patience, it’s definitely doable.

Peduto is getting to resemble Al Gore

Al Gore invented the internet. Yeah, right.

Bill Peduto seems to have invented everything Al didn't. -- OMG.

PITTSBLOG: I wanted to be the first democratic mayoral candidate to recognize the importance of local blogs, and I hope the other campaigns will follow suit.

The pioneer is generally the one with the arrow in his back.

Being first is always a great claim if you want to get in serious trouble, especially on the internet. The hype is moving past the brim.

Bill did write that he wanted to be the first "democratic" mayoral candidate... But, I don't even care. Be right. Be truthful. Be straight. To peak early isn't always such a good thing. And, peaking earlist is nothing to brag about.

I feel frustrated as I think that less time spent patting oneself on the back for being the early bird could be replaced with more time wrestling with the issues.

In our office now we have three words: Message, Media and Matterials. The message isn't the media nor the matterials. But, I need the media and the materials to get out the message.

In every box of Cracker Jacks there is a suprise.

Here is another sports jargon story -- to put me over the top. When I hear a sports reporter say that the team's game plan is to get on the scoreboard early, I giggle. Think again. The game is won by those who score more points as the game concludes. The rabbit does not win the race. The winners are those that stick to it and perservere.

More twisted statements: Because it is true. Because its absent on Grant Street. Those are the reasons to be optimisitic!

How depressing.

Here comes another authority. The overloard jumps ship into a new vessile

I don't like overlords. I don't like authorities. I want real democracy. This is a major problem for the city and the Pittsburgh region.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Laurel: To Robert Jubelirer. The Republican president pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate has named former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey to Gov. Ed Rendell's new statewide transit advisory panel. It's a deft move given the nine-member commission was shaping up as a rubber stamp for diving into taxpayers' pockets. Mr. Roddey says 'reform' is the key. And reform we expect to see. Perhaps Messrs. Roddey and Onorato can forge a wonderful working relationship.

Lances for attempts to defend the indefensible

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Lance: To Mr. Onorato. The ACE says he's 'extremely disappointed' that the Sto-Rox School District and a Franklin Park homeowner have contested his cap on property tax assessments. Well, what did he expect? The cap is a blatant violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution's tax uniformity clause. Instead of calling on Stowe and McKees Rocks residents to express their displeasure with the school board, he should be planning on how he's going to justify the expense of defending the indefensible.

Wayne Fontana helped in this parade of misery. Fontana sponsored the bill.

Let's hope that the courts step in quickly before that tax bill goes out. Then Allegheny County won't spin its wheels too much.

Would be nice to get a court verdict before May 17 as well.

Dan should not be the only one to have his neck on the line.

This vote, for the 0-1-2-3-4 plan, came down to a 1-vote margin. There were plenty on council then that wanted to delay the entire process. To wait was an option. But, with Fontana on the council then, as he should have left by then already, the vote to table for a year was NOT passed.

A friend suggested that the ethics group be called. Perhaps the vote to table could be put into question because Fontana was on the council when he should have been off.

Then, the chief executive, Dan O, does not need to pay out the money to defend the indefensible. Rather, the indefensible isn't made part of the laws of the land -- until more study has occured.

Would-a, could-a, should-a!

I would have never gone for a 0-1-2-3-4 plan.

Fontana could have fixed the mess while he was on council.

Fontana should have resigned sooner and taken himself out of the urgent re-do of the mess in property taxes. Fontana was the chair of that committee.