Appreciation for Parent Involvement Conference

Getting a pat on the back is a nice thing. Sadly, the next decade PPS would only be passing out kicks in the teeth. 

On TV show, Talkback

Mayor hopefuls agree on development agency -- I'd move to liquidate all the authorities

Mayor hopefuls agree on development agency Mayor hopefuls agree on development agency...

Pittsburgh has too many authorities with too many powers and too many assets. That amounts to too little accountability.

I'd MOVE to LIQUIDATE the various authorities. I'd turn in that direction. This take apart is going to take years to occur. Don't just sell all the properties in one blink -- as the market would get a knock and all the other property values would nose dive. That's bad. A steady sell off makes sense.

Then, if the next leaders want to re-build the authorities -- they could have that option.

Political lawn signs cleared from Allegheny County land

I am NOT doing lawn signs. I am doing CDs and artisitc buttons.

Political lawn signs cleared from Allegheny County land: "The signs had sprouted like wild weeds over the last few days.

Tough battle for Wagner's District 42 Senate seat -- PG article

Tough battle for Wagner's District 42 Senate seat The campaign has been heated. Diven and Fontana regularly trade shots at public forums and through their advertising campaigns. Mark Rauterkus, a former Democrat and Republican running as a Libertarian in this race, seems to take turns blasting his opponents.

That is a good recap. I'm able to put out my ideas -- and -- I'm willing to knock the lame ideas I see from both the opponents. I've been picking on both equally as hard. And, with luck, neither will slam me.

"He's an independent thinker who will do what he thinks is best for his district."

Bingo. That answer above scares me.

Our 42nd districe needs a senator -- not a city councilman-like, hand-holding-ish, get-your homestead exemption form-filler-outer, reactionary.

Pennsylvania needs a senator who will do what is best for the citizens of the commonwealth -- for the sake of general landscape. This contrast and thought came together within my closing statement on the debate that will be on TV on Sunday at 7 pm on WBGN. Watch for it. The other two gave their identical answer as expressed in the quote above.

We don't need a senator who is only about bringing home the pork. We've tried that style of local government -- and it has not been effective. The state "bailout" is less than it needed to be. The band-aid for transportation is going to fall off in less than two years. The economic development efforts are geared only for the management of decline.

We are broke. The system is broken. We can't be spending what isn't available. The debt -- thanks to past city council efforts it way too high. We can't elect special interest tax and spend career politicians and expect to flourish.

This election calls for a choice of a senator who is going to understand concepts of freedom, justice for all, liberties, -- and being an American in both a modern and classical sense.

Diven and Fontana have been so negative and miss-placed in their priorities in the campaign and in the past half-decade that neither should be rewarded.

This is a short term opportunity. May 17 is a special election to fill the vacant seat. If I win, trust me, they'll be back. Or, someone better will be back from the old parties in seemingly no time at all.

Putting a Libertarian in the PA Senate will send a message that the people of Pittsburgh know how to "think again." We are not satisfied with the same old same old.

Join with me. Wear a button. Come get my CD. Tune into TV 11 tonight at 6:30 pm for Talkback, as I'll be the guest. Tune in -- and tape -- the TV debate, 7 pm on Sunday evening at WBGN.

Spread the buzz.

Propaganda Tour to Spread Random Student Drug Testing

Drug Czar in Pittsburgh on Thursday!

I've talked a lot about the creation of a YOUTH Technology Summit. A different type of summit is slated for this week, one I don't favor in terms of policy push.

Drug Czar John Walters is traveling around the country on a taxpayer-funded drug war tour to promote student drug testing as the "silver bullet" to adolescent drug use. He comes to Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Fellow Pennsylvania parents, take a moment and make mentions educators, coaches, other parents and our kids about Walters' quick fix solution. Their plans are ineffective and with dangerous unintended consequences, like taking drugs. To violate the rights of parents and the physical and moral integrity of young people isn't what America is about. We can't simply violate the Pennsylvania Constitution -- even for drug abuse reasons.

Since the 2003 Supreme Court case, which upheld Pennsylvanians' heightened constitutional right to privacy, many school districts in Pennsylvania have abandoned their programs, however some districts continue to test.

Join with us and others (such as the Drug Policy Alliance) to speak against this
insidious policy at the Pittsburgh summit.

In Walters' first two summits held in Dallas and St. Louis, Alliance members made their voices heard with thoughtful questions that pressured the ONDCP to acknowledge the harms of student drug testing. Their inquiries highlighted the flaws and inconsistencies in the messages of the presenters for other attendees.

An online toolkit contains action ideas and it has a meet-up tool to connect you to other reformers to strategize before attending the summit.

An organizer, jkern@drugpolicy.org, asks for copies of the summit's handouts, photos and other insights, if you attend.

The event is from 9 am to 5 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2005, at Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh, 1160 Thorn Run Road.

Drug TESTING is humiliating, costly and ineffective, but it's an easy anti-drug soundbite for the White House. Student testing breaks the trust between children and
adults, and drives students away from extracurricular activities. What's more, studies even show that student drug testing doesn't work to deter drug use.

Even corporations are getting into the act, sadly. PPG is one such employeer that gets a thumbs down from me for their drug testing policy.

PG loves Udin for city council

The PG picked Udin. Oh my gosh.

Sad that the other candidates were not at the PG meeting. Sad too that the PG editors are not seeing these three in action at community meetings.

Editorial: Udin in District 6 / The Democrats' best choice is the incumbent Neither Ms. Payne nor Mr. Brentley met with the Post-Gazette editorial board, but it hardly matters. Sala Udin is someone we do know.

Formerly seen as a prickly antagonist for minority jobs during the stadium and convention center constructions, Mr. Udin has more recently gained the reputation of a fiscal tightwad.

To write that Udin is "a fiscal tightwad" is a classic ROTFL. That's net jargon that means Roll On The Floor Laughing.

Solid track record in putting Pittsburgh into the hands of two oversight boards. Sala was there helping the city go into its tailspin.

Put Sala into the private sector -- too.

Pittsburgh school board races heat up

Pittsburgh school board races heat up When it comes to serving on the Pittsburgh Public Schools board, hard-won experience trumps good intentions, says defending incumbent board member Theresa Colaizzi.

I'm sorry I didn't hold a debate among the candidates. In the past I've organized and hosted such events -- along with others.

P-G Letter to Editor - candidate Rauterkus

Op-Ed to the Post-Gazette about candidates Rauterkus and Fontana

Dear Editor:

I take exception to the unstated assertion in the PG's endorsement for State Senate District 42 ("Fontana for Senate", 5/1/2005).

The editorial states that Libertarian candidate and community activist Mark Rauterkus can't match his opponents' knowledge of Harrisburg. Turn that coin over and it follows that career-oriented Harrisburg politicians can't match the community-oriented knowledge of local activists like Mark Rauterkus.

The mess in Harrisburg is made worse when well-intentioned media unknowingly promote the unspoken assertion that public service must be considered in strictly career terms that value titles and out-of-town mailing addresses over local activities and accessibility.

Volunteers from all walks of life become citizen soldiers and make our military the world's best. Volunteers from all walks of life, not career politicians, should be able to do the same for Pennsylvania's legislature.

That's why we should never dismiss a swim coach and community activist from consideration for the position of citizen legislator.

Prison industry thriving - Park's programming dying

Do we want to build more prisons. Or, should we perhaps work to challenge our kids in structured programs with coaches, teamwork, fitness, and personal excellence?

Prison industry thriving - PittsburghLIVE.com Prison industry thriving...

This gets to the roots of the approach I want our society to embrace.

I want our prisons empty because I want our ballfields, theater groups, net cafes and swimming pools filled with dedicated, respectful, hard-working, eager learners who are rooted in communities. In my vision, we have young people, middle-aged people and seniors training themselves with a passion of performance. These citizens are thinking clearly and making great decisions.

Editorial: Fontana for Senate / The County Council member is the better fit

Better fit -- as in fitness -- was an interesting choice of words for the headline. As we campaign, I feel that I am the candidate who is most concerned with fitness, wellness, kids, and better quality of life.

Editorial: Fontana for Senate / The County Council member is the better fit There's also a third candidate, a Libertarian, Mark Rauterkus, 46, of the South Side.

Other mentions from the PG editorial include:

Mr. Rauterkus, 45, a swim coach from the South Side, ran unsuccessfully in the 2001 Republican primary for mayor and offers some different perspectives, but he can't match the experience in public office of his opponents and the knowledge that it brings.
...
In this case, picking between two dedicated public officials, and one quixotic candidate, almost demands a judgment on which party will best serve the district.

See the comments for the full story.

A few other parting thoughts: This is a time when the city and suburbs need to focus on the survival of Pittsburgh. But, it is the D party that has done so much damage to Pittsburgh, especially the city proper, so that the survival is so critical.

Furthermore, the Fontana plan for Pittsburgh's survival is best presented to the voters when it hidden from everyone's sight. Fontana isn't talking about lowering the deed transfer tax, making assessment buffering a state-wide option, merging Citiparks and County Parks & Rec with a NEW Pittsburgh Park District, nor does he want to liquidate the Parking Authority so as to lower the parking tax to 15%. I do.

Schools, wellness, democracy, transportation plans and economic development efforts that make sense are needed and absent from Fontana's agenda.

What isn't absent in Fontana's agenda is atrocious. This is from Fontana's lastest direct mailer. Fontana wants to punish companies who (sic) break their word and ship jobs overseas.

Suburban voters will get to choose among three candidates, all from the city. The two others are career politicians with the experience of city-styled operations. That is a liability if you ask me. Their experience is with making TIFs, for begging for handouts, for doing wasteful capital projects. I've been injecting different ideas and making efforts to turn away from envy and greed and lead to self-reliance for a number of years. Some people in the city have different views and different values from the present leadership in the city. The opposition within the city is alive and should be supported with votes.

I will win a number of votes in the city. But this campaing's success relies upon the suburban voters to choose to go away from the machine-styled policians of the city's horrid past. Not only is there is a chance to break from the blue-state vs. red-state mentality, but there is a choice and chance to break from the same-old-same-old mentality that has driven Pittsburgh to the brink.

The PG has been a long-time supporter of "machine politicans." The endorsement was given because it rewarded experience. However the experience is troublesome.

I think that this PG editorial is something that can help me in the suburban reaches of the 42nd.

Way to go Pitt Graduates

Hats off to you all.

Graduates, go forth and do great work. Make the world better, healthier, and more open-minded. See the big picture. Act in prudent ways. Make peace -- and stay rested as the work of the peace maker takes constant energy.

May some of you be my neighbors again. May we all think of ourselves as neighbors for a long time to come, wherever regular sleep, play, worship, study and work takes you.

Lead Sunday Editorial: Post-Gazette endorsement gives respect and reveals logic

All along, I knew I would NOT be getting the endorsement of the Post-Gazette. I have been in the trenches working with others in battles, hard-fought struggles on iissues, against the lame policies of Mayor Tom Murphy. Meanwhile, the Post-Gazette had generally endorsed the Murphy agenda.

Four years ago, I didn't get the endorsement of the PG in my only other race for public office, for Mayor in a contested GOP Primary.

Four years ago, the PG editors endorsed Tom Murphy. Frankly, I was glad I didn't get the endorsement.

Times have changed. Many of my worst fears came to pass. The fallings for the city have been noted.

I have different perspectives. The PG noted that. I got some respect in the editorial meeting, and in the recap.

The PG editors had ripped Fontana just a month prior for his failure to resign from County Council. That was noted. Strike one for Fontana. But that was less of shocker.

Diven struck out. He missed on the proposal to turn downtown public buildings into loft apartments. Strike one. Strike two on the flip flopping for the wrong reasons. And strike three on the recent pro-dem stance.

I think Diven would have gotten the endorsement had his ideas made sense. His plan for Pittsburgh is a sure-fire prescription for killing this town.

I saw Wayne Fontana tonight. He leaked the news to me on the endorsement article. He thinks it is a major victory for himself. It is. Fontana gets a star by his name now.

I feel that the PG was open minded about both Diven and Fontana. Their endorsement could have gone either way. It wasn't a done deal for either old party career politican.

The PG didn't hurt me, and for that I'm okay with the coverage.

Next up, seeing what comes out of the Trib. Wayne will be on hostile ground there. Diven might be the wonder boy -- but his stock will fall faster than a Kennedy's once the Trib editors get a sniff of the new authority Diven wants to establish.

No coverage at all is still an option with the Trib's editorial board. Perhaps the Trib editors will watch the TV debate (WBGN) and then have us come into their offices. That would be wise of them. Our TV debate comes next Sunday, 7 pm. Then the Trib editors can go deeper into materials that spin out of those debate presentations.

Time will tell.

Other media interviews, beyond the Trib, today

I was on The Saturday Morning Light Brigade in its visit to our South Side Market House. Plus, I gave an interview to The History Channel, the cable TV station.

I was on the air with Bill Peduto and a the Comcast Gov. Affairs boss.

Comcast didn't endorse anyone in our race.

Nor did the Pgh Federation of Teachers.

Great to hear the Westmost Chorus.

Furthermore, my boys, Erik and Grant, were on the air with the radio and behind the camera with the TV interview.

Investigation of driveway paving under way - PittsburghLIVE.com

Smile, you're on candid camera.

Investigation of driveway paving under way - PittsburghLIVE.com: "He said he learned about the matter when a TV reporter brought a videotape from a neighbor showing a city road crew doing the paving.

Romaniello said the controversy is the latest in a series of disputes with some of his neighbors. The two sides accuse each other of calling police, animal control officers and building inspectors to lodge petty complaints.

'All they keep doing is trying to find stuff to get on me,' Romaniello said. 'I ran for office to be in a position to help my community. I don't get paid for it.'

Costa said he plans to bill Romaniello for the work, which he estimated cost the city between $700 and $800.

Humm...
A TV 11 reporter let me know of this story before it broke. The Diven camp was very worried that the news would be associated to the campaign.

My solution: Those on school board should NOT be eligible to get onto any ballot for another public office for two years from the end of their term on school board.

School board members have used the school board as a stepping stone to other offices. Barbara Burns, Valerie McDonald, and now Mark Brently. Others are in this league too.

If school board office was a "dead end job" -- then those seeking power would NOT run for school board. Then, only those who want what's best for the schools would run for school board. The grandstanding would evaporate as well.

I still want to elect board members, but I want to have a provision that they can't run for other office. And, as is the case with Mr. Fontana on County Council too long -- as is the case with those who work in the White House -- the off-limits designation needs to sustain itself well past the "resignation."

Campaign manuals on how to run for public office often provide the advice that you should start your political career at the level of school board director. That's bunk. Worse advice might have never been given and taken as such reasonable conventional wisdom.

To grow your power base while using the students as stepping stones is ugly. This is one reason why our schools are having such problems.

We need school board members who are there to serve the best interest of education while being aware of costs and taxpayers.

Capitol Notes: Pennsylvanians recycling at a record pace

The recycled electron joke is one I use -- as I'm publishing online, and not killing trees and using much paper.

Capitol Notes: Pennsylvanians recycling at a record pace THIS NEWS IS MADE OF 100 PERCENT RECYCLED MATERIAL:
Good news on the recycling front -- Pennsylvanians recycled a record 4.45 million tons of municipal waste in 2003, the most recent year for which data is available.

That's according to reports from the 67 counties, made to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The growth of recycling is beneficial in several ways, the DEP says.

PA can do much more about efforts to recycle, reuse and restore.

Mayoral TV ads a battle of bland

Mayoral TV ads a battle of bland: "The latest television commercials by the major Pittsburgh mayoral candidates are a lot like the campaign so far. They focus on fiscal issues and are surprisingly bland.

Bland is as bland does.

Bland has been rewarded in the media in Pittsburgh throughout the years. Bland has been rewarded in the institutional circles in Pittsburgh throughout the years as well.

Bland is what career politicians seen when they look into the mirror -- and they try to use it as a benchmark of their success in this market. They have been conditioned to strive for bland.

He's a nice guy -- I know him -- Its his time -- Gotta -- Bland, bland, bland.

These guys are playing defense. Most have. They seemingly want to manage the downward spiral of the region.

To break out of the bland mold, you'd have to have something to say beyond the unified dog-license sales office, one's grandparents from Italy, and french fries sales from the days before the drive through window was invented.

Even when Bob put up an idea that wasn't too bland -- streetcar line between Oakland and downtown -- he got knocked around for it.

When Sophie put up the idea of a new baseball park -- she got knocked around by Tom Murphy for even suggesting the idea. Then Murphy went ahead and made TWO stadiums and championed the folly just months later, after being elected.

Because so little gets told in the media -- bland rules. Once you air out the story, the policies, the positions -- then bland crumbles as does the mindlessness.

I have a TV ad -- here on my desktop. It won't get onto the air. It isn't bland.

The ads should be bland, really. This is no fault of the campaigns. But, the coverage does NOT need to be bland. The coverage should be front on and raw.

Senate election expected to set spending record - PittsburghLIVE.com

Real ink for the race hits today in the Trib.

Senate election expected to set spending record - PittsburghLIVE.com Rauterkus, who is active on the campaign trail in person and via the Internet, is not expected to spend much on ads.

The only typo: My wife's name is Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D. Her name is Palmer, not Parker. When we got married, Catherine had a long list of academic publications in her profession. She had done research and had it published in her field, and name identification in the academic world is very important -- just like it is in politics, if not more. Women who rise in the ranks of scholars have a serious burden when asked to change their name when getting married.

Presently, Catherine is the director of audiology at UPMC's Eye and Ear Institute and an Associate Professor at Pitt's School of Health and Rehab Sciences. I like to say that she is the W2 of the family.

Another round of hate mail showed up in the mailbox -- trees are moving to the city to escape slaughter.

How many times must the negative mailer be sent -- before they fall all the trees?

How many times must the insults be shared -- before the voters show that they care?

The answers my friend, are blowing in the wind. The slander is blowing like the wind.

---

I'm in a musical mood tonight. More direct mail arrived in my mail box today. Its like music to my ears. My old-party opponents, Diven (the new Republican) and Fontana (the Dem who didn't get a D-majority in his endorsement bid) are punching and counter-punching with four-color direct mailers to voters in the 42nd district. As their folly accelerates, they burn more money and kill more trees. That isn't what the melody I'm looking to hear. But their silly mailers are helping me climb in popularity.

What's more, the mailers are not even that good. My wife read the first mailer that the Dems sent out that hit against Diven -- and my wife's reaction was, "My, this is going to help Diven."

So, not only are the old-party hacks weak with their own case and merits on themselves, but they are floundering at efforts to illustrate weakness within the opposition.

In another week, both Diven and Fontana should have sealed their auditions for new roles in any future remake of the Keystone Cops. Children giggle at the slapstick comedy of the Keystone Cops, providing some redeaming value. In this situation with the Ds and Rs, the redeaming value lies elsewhere. Anyone else who runs against these critters, today and in the future, is going to be blessed.