Nonprofit event for capital fund planning on North Side, May 13

FYI

A Breakthrough in Non-Profit Capital Funding

The Seeds Of Hope Foundation / Linx 2 Funds presents Val Hills, a speaker from Atlanta. at 1 pm on Friday, May 13, at CCAC (North Side) Allegheny Campus, Byers Hall, 808 Ridge Ave. Val's 90-minute presentation of invaluable information helps to establish a sustainable capital funding campaign for nonprofit organization. Learn how to replace dried up donations with a new flow of funds.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

•Bypass all the challenges of traditional fundraising!
•Do the fundraising work ONE TIME and CONTINUE to receive tax-free dollars YEAR after YEAR!
•Supporters don’t have to attend any functions or buy anything!
•Everyone benefits! DONORS, VOLUNTEERS and YOUR ORGANIZATION!

Registration, $20, due by May 6, 2005. Make check available to CCAC. Contact Mary Jo Guercio; North Side Allegheny Campus Byers Hall; 808 Ridge Avenue; Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Marsha Miller, 724-832-3891, Project Director, The Seeds Of Hope Foundation, 724-832-3891, mjmiller -at- zoomlinx -dot- net

Zip Codes in the PA Senate District -- 42nd

The 42nd District includes parts of these zip codes:

15017
15106
15108
15136
15202
15203
15204
15205
15210
15211
15212
15213
15216
15219
15220
15222
15225
15226
15227
15228
15233
15234
15236
15243
15282

Questions from another source

2005 General Assembly Special Election Candidate Questionnaire

Dear Candidate:

We hope you will take just a few minutes to answer the attached questionnaire. Your responses will be provided to all of the organizations listed below.

The candidate must sign and date this form to signify agreement with all statements made. Please also initial each page. Please answer all questions, and please print or type. We welcome additional comments and clarifications.

Please return your completed questionnaire as soon as possible. You can return your questionnaire by fax to: 215-351-5594 or return it by mail to the address below.

NAME_________________________

Office sought:____________District:______
Party___________Campaign Manager _____________

Campaign
Office Address ______________

Home
Address_________


Telephone Numbers (Campaign) ___________ (Fax)______

(Home) __________
(Work)_______

I certify by my signature that I have read and agree with the statements I have checked and/or the written comments I have made on the attached questionnaire.

____ Yes, I wish to have the endorsement and support of pro-choice organizations.

____ No, I do not wish to be endorsed by pro-choice organizations.

___________________________________________________ _________________________
(Candidate Signature) (Date)

Organizations that participated in the development and distribution of the questionnaire are listed below. These organizations will also receive a copy of candidate responses:

NARAL Pro-Choice Pennsylvania
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Chester County
Pennsylvania's Campaign for Choice
Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania Advocates
Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania Advocates
Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC
Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania Action Fund
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Bucks County
Planned Parenthood Advocates of North East Pennsylvania
Planned Parenthood of the Susquehanna Valley Action Fund




Return form to or contact with any questions:


Public Affairs Dept.
Planned Parenthood Southeastern PA
1144 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-351-5505




I. PREVENTING UNINTENDED PREGNANCY

A. STATE FUNDING FOR FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES
State Funding: In Pennsylvania, some 750,000 low-income women are at risk of unintended pregnancy and qualify for subsidized family planning services, but no more than 300,000 actually receive services. Family planning services include screening for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sexually transmitted infections and cancers including breast and cervical cancer, as well as a variety of birth control methods. By preventing unintended pregnancies, subsidized family planning services prevent 70,000 abortions in Pennsylvania each year. Family planning also allows women to plan their pregnancies. Women who utilize family planning services seek prenatal care earlier and have healthier babies.

These services save taxpayers money. Often, an unintended pregnancy will cause a woman to lose her job and precipitate an episode of welfare dependency. Nationally, an annual family planning examination and provision of birth control for one year costs a patient between $300 and $400 per year, while the birth of a child costs between $8,000 and $12,000.

Currently, subsidized family planning services are supported by federal grants, limited state funds, patient fees, and private donations. The present network of providers is able to serve fewer than one-half of the eligible women at risk. Increased state funding, such as the proposed Keeping Women Healthy program (which would provide a broad range of preventive health care services) is needed to support and expand this network to serve more women.

1. Do you support state funding for comprehensive family planning? (These services do not include abortion.)

_____ Support _____ Oppose


Federal grants support confidential services to teens. The effectiveness of these services in reducing teen births and abortions has been demonstrated over twenty years, as has their effectiveness in preventing and treating sexually transmitted diseases among youth. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), without family planning services, the number of teenage pregnancies would likely increase by 20 percent. In Pennsylvania, 46 out of one thousand teenagers become pregnant each year. The Journal of Pediatrics has noted that 85% of teens said they would not seek care for a sexually transmitted disease if parental consent or notice were required. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports the provision of confidential family planning services for teens without requiring parental consent, as does state and federal law. Although reports have noted a decline in teen pregnancy, a recent study by AGI found that 80% of this decline from an increased use of more effective methods of birth control.

2. Do you support comprehensive confidential family planning services to teens?

_____ Support _____ Oppose



B. COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION
"Abstinence-only" sex education programs teach a "just say no" approach to sexuality and exclude information about birth control and safe sex practices. Comprehensive approaches include discussions of abstinence, work to build self-esteem and enhance refusal skills, and provide age-appropriate information about the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Studies have repeatedly shown that quality, comprehensive sex education helps teens delay sexual activity, prevent unwanted pregnancy, and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

3. Do you support the teaching of responsible, age-appropriate sex education, including information about both abstinence and contraception, in public schools?

_____ Support _____ Oppose

Insurance Coverage for Birth CONTROL
Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and nearly half of those unintended pregnancies end in abortion. Contraceptives have a proven track record of enhancing the health of women and children, preventing unintended pregnancy, and reducing the need for abortion. Although contraception is basic health care for women, many insurance policies exclude this vital coverage. A recent study found that only 29% of Pennsylvania insurers typically include contraception in their prescription plans. As a result of this type of inequity, women of reproductive age spend 68% more out-of-pocket for their health care then men do. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and one federal district court have ruled that not providing for equitable contraceptive coverage is a violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. As reported in HealthPlan, an industry magazine for health insurers, cost-effectiveness studies show that “every dollar spent on contraception saves several dollars in costs associated with unintended pregnancy.” (HealthPlan, Nov/Dec 2001) Twenty-two states have now passed Contraceptive Equity legislation requiring insurance companies to cover prescription contraceptives in the same way they provide coverage for other prescription drugs and devices.

4.Do you support requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraception drugs, devices, and services if they cover other prescription drugs, devices, and services?

_____ Support _____ Oppose


EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Emergency Contraception contains hormones that reduce the risk of pregnancy when taken soon after unprotected intercourse. The sooner the Emergency Contraception is taken after unprotected intercourse, the more effective the treatment. It is currently recommended that medication be started within five days after unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraception does NOT interfere with an already established pregnancy as defined by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the US Department of Health and Human Services. According to a recent survey, out of the 89% of Pennsylvania hospitals surveyed, only 46% routinely offer and provide Emergency Contraception to victims of sexual assault.

5.Do you support legislation that would require all hospitals in Pennsylvania to provide Emergency Contraception to victims of rape and incest?

______Support _______Oppose





II. SAFE, LEGAL ABORTION

A. RIGHT TO CHOOSE ABORTION
In 1973, the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision established a framework to regulate the provision of abortion services in the United States. Roe and subsequent Supreme Court decisions stated that government may not ban abortion before the point of fetal viability. After the point of fetal viability, Roe allowed the government to prohibit abortion except when it is necessary to preserve the life or health of the woman. More than 70% of all people in Pennsylvania believe that the decision to have an abortion should be made by a woman in consultation with her family and doctor without interference from the government.

6.President Bush has stated that he would appoint anti-choice justices to the US Supreme Court. If this happens, the likelihood that Roe v. Wade would be overturned would increase dramatically. Do you support legislation that would guarantee a woman’s right to an abortion as provided for in Roe v. Wade?

_____ Yes _______ No


B. ABORTION METHOD BAN
Anti-choice organizations have tried to erode the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision (which ensures a woman’s Constitutionally protected right to choose) by banning specific abortion procedures. Congress recently passed, and President Bush signed, legislation outlawing one abortion procedure. This law has been blocked by the courts from taking effect and is the subject of several court cases because it does not provide for an exception to preserve the woman’s health – an exception that the US Supreme Court ruled in 2000 is required. Abortion method bans like the one signed by President Bush interfere with a physician's ability to choose the safest method when abortion must be performed to protect a woman's life or health. This type of legislation also interferes with a woman's right to choose, in consultation with her physician, the method of abortion that will best protect her life and preserve her health. The Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act already prohibits all methods of abortion at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later while providing exceptions to preserve the woman's health and life.

7.Do you support a woman’s right to choose the abortion method most likely to preserve her life and health, in consultation with her physician, and free from government interference?

_____ Support _____ Oppose


C. ABORTION ACCESS FOR LOW INCOME WOMEN
The Constitutionally protected right to choose abortion means little to low-income women who can not afford to exercise this right. At present in Pennsylvania, the Medical Assistance program (which pays for health care for low-income persons) covers abortion only for women whose health or life is threatened by continuing their pregnancy or who are pregnant as a result of rape or incest. Unintended pregnancy is very common among women of all economic classes in the United States. One half of all pregnancies are unintended and half of those end in abortion. For a low-income woman, an unintended pregnancy can prevent her from completing education or job training or from obtaining employment, with the result that she and her family remain in poverty. As a result, several states have continued to provide Medical Assistance coverage for abortions in order to guarantee that low-income women have equal access to the right to choose.

8.Do you support the restoration of Medical Assistance coverage of abortion for low-income women to ensure they have equal access to choose abortion?

______ Support ______ Oppose



D. PENNSYLVANIA'S ABORTION CONTROL ACT
Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act, which was designed to restrict and limit access to abortion, went into effect in March of 1994. Since its first year of implementation, women, hospitals, and reproductive health care providers reported an increase in the number of adult and teenaged women who left the state in order to choose abortion and an increase in the number of women unable to exercise their right to choose at all.

Mandatory 24-Hour Delay and State-Mandated Lecture
Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act requires a woman to receive a state-mandated lecture and then delay her decision at least 24 hours before having an abortion. There is no public health rationale for these restrictions, which were designed solely to make abortion more difficult to obtain. The mandatory 24-hour delay often causes a wait of up to a week that can result in riskier procedures.


9.Do you oppose the restrictions that require a mandatory 24-hour delay and a state-mandated lecture prior to having an abortion?

____ Yes _____ No


Mandatory Parental Involvement for Minors Seeking Abortion

Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act requires that a teen seeking an abortion obtain the written consent of a parent. In order to give consent, the parent must also listen to a state-mandated lecture and wait at least 24 hours. If the minor and her parent cannot meet this requirement, the teen must appear before a judge to obtain a court order, often a difficult and traumatic process, or leave the state to obtain an abortion. Reproductive health providers work to help teens involve their parents in these decisions, and most do. Forced parental consent, however, does not encourage family communication; rather it puts teens at risk. Such statutes cause later abortions and may contribute to self-induced or illegal abortions. The law also places teens from dysfunctional families at risk of physical, emotional or psychological harm. In other states, an adult other than a teen's parent, such as her minister, rabbi, aunt or uncle, may consent to her abortion.


10.Do you oppose Pennsylvania's mandatory parental consent statute?

______ Yes _____No


E. STOP CLINIC VIOLENCE
In recent years, a campaign of violence, intimidation, and harassment has been waged against reproductive health providers, patients, and their families. NARAL-PA and Planned Parenthood believe that all levels of government should take an aggressive role in enacting and enforcing laws to deter these illegal acts, and in prosecuting the perpetrators of such acts.

11.Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation, and harassment specifically directed at reproductive health providers and their patients?

_____ Support _____Oppose

Can you spell and visualize "disaster"

The city needs actors and extras (about 900 and 14,000 respectively). It should be a really cool event, so they say. Efforts are to provide a learning tool to Pittsburgh's emergency medical system.  

And who can pass up A FREE CONCERT WITH DONNIE IRIS, JOE GRUSHECKY, AND B.E.
TAYLOR? 

Get involved with www.swpa.redcross.org

A simulated disaster drill at PNC Park is to occur on May 7, 2005. The PNC Park Disaster Drill is a full-scale exercise testing the emergency response capabilities of the City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Pirates and PNC Park, local area hospitals, and various response agencies from around the region.

The event will take place in real-time over a 6 - 8 hour period. The agencies involved will test many facets of emergency response including the PNC Park evacuation plan, medical injury classification or triage, victim transportation, scene preservation, scene security, decontamination and communications.

The true success of this exercise greatly depends on the participation of individuals such as you. As a participant in this exercise, you will get a first hand look at how our community would respond to a terrorist event.

Entertainment from the "Pittsburgh All-Stars" featuring Donnie Iris, Joe Grushecky & B.E. Taylor will be provided to volunteers that day! In addition, each volunteer/participant will receive incentives for participating in the disaster drill. These incentives include two free tickets to a Pirates game, a Red Cross First Aid Kit and a Replica of PNC Park. Free parking is provided.

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.