Voter Testimonial -- Tide is turning to our favor! Get your handouts and spread some love too!

Do you ever sleep? You must have come to our house late last night because my wife was watching TV pretty late and missed you.

Just listened to your CD: wonderful! At last a guy who presents good ideas POSITIVELY, without name-calling. Good job with Jerry Bowyer: He's a tough guy! (And the only conservative talk show host I really like!)

I've already sent my support to a couple of email lists, and cc'd you on one so you'll see what I'm saying. Any suggestions for improvement?

I'll be handing out flyers (and CDs and buttons more selectively) all day.

Do you want me to be at the (NAME DELETED by WEBMASTER) polling place on Tuesday?

Many of us are so disgusted with the mainstream campaigns that you could get a lot of votes from members of both parties. I supported Diven against Nerone in the last primary because I hated the dirt in Nerone's campaign. I started out with a "Democrats for Diven" lawn sign for Michael this time, but the "party hack" flyer he sent out pushed me over the edge to pull up the sign and find out more about you. It all looks good so far, Mark. Go for it!

Al

Linux Users Group meets on special topic

A Western PA Linux Users Group meets from 7 to 9 pm, Tuesday, at Carnegie Mellon University, Wean Hall 5409. The talk covers "'Infectious' Open Source Software: Spreading Incentives or Promoting Resistance" with Greg Vetter Assistant Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center.

This meeting is free and open to the general public.

Directions to 5409 at http://www.wplug.org/pages/wplugmap/
The door marked "DW" is the 1st floor entrance to Wean Hall. You may park in the "Park Here Free" area as listed on the map.

Abstract:
Some free or open source software infects other software with its licensing terms. Popularly, this is called a viral license, but the software is not a computer virus. Free or open source software is a copyright-based licensing system. It typically allows modification and distribution on conditions such as source code availability, royalty free use and other requirements. Some licenses require distribution of modifications under the same terms. A license is infectious when it has a strong scope for the modifications provision. The scope arises from a broad conception of software derivative works. A strong infectious ambit would apply itself to modified software, and to software intermixed or coupled with non-open-source software. Popular open source software, including the GNU/Linux operating system, uses a license with this feature. This talk assesses the efficacy of broad infectious license terms to determine their incentive effects for open source and proprietary software. The analysis doubts beneficial effects. Rather, on balance, such terms may produce incentives detrimental to interoperability and coexistence between open and proprietary code. As a result, open source licensing should precisely define infectious terms in order to support open source development without countervailing effects and misaligned incentives.

Professor Vetter received his B.S. summa cum laude from the University of Missouri in Electrical Engineering in 1987. He then worked in software for nine years as a project manager, product manager, and then as director of marketing, which included a variety of intellectual property and contractual responsibilities. During these years, attending evening courses, he received his M.S. summa cum laude in Computer Science from the University of Missouri and his MBA summa cum laude from Rockhurst University. He left full-time employment in 1996 to attend law school. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from Northwestern, serving on the Northwestern Law Review as associate articles editor. Upon graduation from Northwestern, Professor Vetter practiced at Kilpatrick Stockton's Raleigh, North Carolina office for two years in the firm's technology law group. During this time he obtained registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a patent attorney. Next, he clerked for one year for the Honorable Arthur J. Gajarsa on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. Professor Vetter then joined the University of Houston Law Center faculty in 2002. Professor Vetter's research interests include intellectual property, patents, the role of intellectual property in commercial law, and information technology law.

Doors open at 7pm, light refreshments served. Talk 7:15 8:15 pm. Adjournment at 9pm

Upcoming Schedule
May 21 Installfest 10 am to 5 pm
May 18 GUM - Subversion 10 am to 2 pm
June 7 GUM - Myth TV 10 am to 4 pm
June 11 Special Event - Regular Expressions 10 am to 2 pm
July 9 GUM - TBD - 10 am to 2 pm
August 7 - Annual Picnic

Victory Party Scratched for Private Time and Looming Travels

This blog's sidebar had mention of a "victory party" until now. We scratched the room reservation. The party is not going to be held. On May 18, the day after the special election, our family has out of town travels. As such, we'll only have a small family party and pack.

By the way, we have house-sitters whenever we travel.

CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT getting back into the public limelight again

Yes. Finally. We are able to take the lid off of a plan for new rules in the realm of campaigns in Pittsburgh. This isn't perfect. And, some of this isn't to my liking -- but -- some of it is.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2005, a public hearing is slated for city council chambers at 1:30 pm. I'll be there to testify.

I served on the task force. In 2004 I called for a public hearing about this bill as it was first introduced to council. The first draft was way out of bounds and it got sidetracked, thankfully.

Task Force Draft 3/10/05

Sponsored By: William Peduto

WHEREAS, the integrity of the political process and the trust of the people is essential to a representative government; and

WHEREAS, the cost of running a successful political campaign has become so exorbitant as to dissuade people from running for office; and

WHEREAS, because campaign contributions have risen in recent years, public perception is that special interest groups and wealthy individuals may have unjustified influence in the political process; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Government and most state and local governments have successfully enacted legislation that prevents a “pay as you play” cycle of politics; and

WHEREAS, regulating campaign contributions would promote participation and confidence in and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby amends the City Code by adding, Title I, Article I, Chapter 109 Campaign Financing.

AN ORDINANCE

A. Definitions

(1) Election Cycle. A four-year period that begins on January 1st of the year following the last general election and ends on December 31st of the year of the general election for the office the candidate is seeking.

(2) Contribution. Money, gifts, forgiveness of debts, loans, paid labor, or things having a monetary value incurred or received by a candidate or his/her agent for use in advocating or influencing the election of the candidate.

(3) Expenditure. The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money or any valuable thing by a candidate, political committee or other person for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a covered election.

(4) Person. Any actual individual, any business partnership, sole proprietorship, or other form of business organization permitted under the laws of the Commonwealth to make political contributions.

(5) Political Committee. Any committee, club, association, political party, or other group of persons, including the campaign committee of a candidate for office in a covered election, which receives contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a covered election.

B. Campaign Contribution Limits

(1) No person shall make total contributions per election, including contributions made to or through one or more political committees, of more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) to a candidate for Mayor or City Controller, and one thousand dollars ($1,000) to a candidate for City Council per election cycle.

(2) No political committee shall make total contributions per election of more than four thousand dollars ($4,000) to a candidate for Mayor or City Controller, and two thousand dollars ($2,000) to a candidate for City Council per election cycle.

(3) The limitations imposed by this Chapter shall not apply to contributions from a candidate’s personal resources to the candidate’s own campaign.

(4) The limitations imposed by this subsection shall not apply to volunteer labor.

C. Campaign Accounts

A candidate for Mayor, City Controller, or City Council shall have no more than one campaign committee and one checking account for each city office being sought, into which all contributions for such office shall be made, and out of which all campaign expenditures for that office shall be made. If the candidate for office maintains other political or non-political accounts for which contributions are solicited, such funds collected in these accounts shall not be used for any campaign for municipal office.

D. Eligibility for City Contracts and Grants

Any entity which is owned by or employs a person found to be in violation of this ordinance may not be awarded a competitive or non-competitive city contract or grant for four (4) years from the date on which the person is found to be in violation.

E. Enforcement

1. Any person residing in the City of Pittsburgh, including the City Solicitor, may bring an action for injunctive relief in any Court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any violations of, or to compel compliance with, the provisions of this Ordinance.

2. If it is determined that a person makes, or a candidate accepts a political contribution in violation of the limits set forth in section 2 of this Ordinance, and is found by the Court to have violated this ordinance, the Court may award treble damages, a penalty equal to three times the amount over the limits set forth in section 2.

3. If it is determined that a person makes, or a candidate accepts a political contribution in violation of the limits set forth in section 2 of this Ordinance, and is found by the Court to have violated this ordinance, the Court may award to prevailing plaintiff in any such action, his or her costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney fees.

F. Severability

If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.

G. Conflicting Provisions

Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.

This bill will take effect January 1, 2006

Diven, Fontana trade jabs. Numbing jabs

Fontana makes a mountain out of a mole hill. I gave an interview on KQV about this today.

Diven, Fontana trade jabs in 42nd District race: "His opponent, Democrat Wayne Fontana, accused him this past weekend of failing to pay his Allegheny County property taxes in a timely manner and lying about why.

Frank G of KQV and I were talking on the phone today. He started the conversation saying he thought he saw two TV commercials for me this past weekend, one after another.

Say what?

He explained that he saw an ad by Fontana that was against Diven. Then he saw another ad by Diven against Fontana. All in all, it adds up to two ads for me.

Yep. He's right.

Then later a call (among others) came from a fellow in the burbs. He was so happy to see an alternative to Diven. He was very angry about Diven's negativity. He asked for lawn signs, fliers, poll info and whatever I had.

When I told him I didn't invest in "lawn signs" -- he was even happier still. I dropped off some literature (our new brochures are hitting the streets and neighborhoods) and a dozen CDs.

Do you want a batch? Let us know.

More Q & A via PoliticsPA web board

More Qs and my replies via another web board, found at PoliticsPA.

Let’s say the voter turnout is 48,000.  What portion of that vote do you see yourself getting, and why?

Visualization. Furthermore, I'm good at predictions, forecasting, as I've got plenty of perspectives. Seeing into the future is fun work. Plus, I like to use my imagination too. One day I'll have a business card -- and it will have my fifth favorite job title: Futurist.

Being a stay-at-home dad, coach, and publisher are still better.

If the voter turnout is 48,000, I can see myself with 40,000 and each of the others with 4,000. I see myself as a slightly better candidate, but most of all, a much better senator. Ten times better than both opponents.

I could see myself getting second as well.

Or, I can see myself getting third.

There is a candidate-speak, trite, "fire in the belly" thing that I learned about in 2000 and 2001. So, I'll say little more other than I want to win and I'm working hard to do as best I can to win votes and win on issues.

Do you trust the voters of the 42nd district will make an informed decision when electing their next Senator?

 
I have far more trust for fellow citizens and voters than I do with the media. But, that's not really saying much as I have thin expectations on informed decisions from the watchdogs. Voter education matters greatly.

I feel confident that if a voter was able to sit with each of the candidates for one hour, plus some debate time, for example, then I'd get the most votes -- in a landslide.

When the number one issue in the 42nd district is property taxes, why do you choose to deal with other items like corporate welfare, pool schedules, trash pick-up and so on?

The question is based on a false belief. I've not talked about pool schedules, but in a brief passing to show how the priorities are out of touch. I've talked about trash pick-up in terms of making a service for the citizens without holidays. These are brief mentions out of hundreds of postings.

I do talk about corporate welfare. Corporate welfare caused a system melt-down in Pittsburgh. The system is broken. The treasury is broke. After we ended corporate welfare, we'd begin to thrive again. Corporate welfare is one of the root problems here.

I've spoken frequently and continually about property taxes. PA needs statewide assessment buffering. We need to drop the deed-transfer tax (property tax matter). We need to move back to the land-value tax in the city and throughout the county. These solutions hit upon the number one issue.

I spoke out about the unified tax plan in 2000. It makes the downtown towers drop in value and in turn gets more of a burden onto the neighborhoods.

These are root problems and I've offered solutions that are wonderful fixes to the overall situations.
 

Name what you see your number 1 accomplishment is that defines your term/terms as senator.

If I win on May 17, 2005 -- the signal would be clear. Negative mud-slinging doesn't work. Old-party politics and same-old-same-old folly isn't welcomed. My victory would set the stage for great people to actually run again. My message has depth and scope and is rooted in the community.

Serious solutions count.

Community efforts are noticed.

Party labels don't matter as they used to around here.

Pittsburgh and the region is willing to "Think Again!"

In my first, 19-month term, I would push hard to focus upon self-determination, self-reliance, self-discovery. The Youth Technology Summit can begin in earnest. The Park District model can take root in planning stages and wide discussions.

These are community endeavors.

I've told the story of Humpty Dumpty many times. All the king's horses and all the king's men can't put Humpty (or in this case the region called Pittsburgh) together again. But, with the people's help -- we can. Humpty won't look the same -- but it will be fun and it will be ours.

An old woman comes into your State Senate office and tells you that she can no longer afford her property taxes and unless she pays $2500 in back taxes by month’s end, her house will be sold at sheriff’s sale.  What would you do for her, or what would you tell her?

I won't write a law for her. I'd suggest she talk to her family, her city council member and her support people.

Perhaps Michael Diven will be a better aid to her. He could tell her how to dodge the tax payment with much better insight than I could muster.

As a Senator, I could tell her to talk to her State Rep -- perhaps Michael Diven.

If we lowered the deed-transfer-tax -- or got rid of it in our crisis region for a 10-year period -- we'd not TRAP people in their houses. We'd like to have people in a house that fits. Things fit that shouldn't when there is a massive tax bill as the deed-transfers. Those POINTS are costly in many ways -- both for the seniors and the youthful who don't have much savings.

The tax break can't be given to the seniors because we gave away so much to the likes of Lazarus and Lord & Taylor. Downtown property values are dropping fast. People with homes in the city and county are going to be punished again. It is going to get worse, until TIFs and corporate welfare end.

I think the top three issues in the 42nd PA Senate District are as follows:

A number of great questions came from the renewed message board at PoliticsPA.com. They were directed to me there -- but here goes some of my replies.

The top issues, as I see it, are more global. They can be organized as:

1. Status quo nonsense:
City's downward spiral.
Same old, same old.
Band-aid mentality.

2. Uncertainty in properties:
Rising taxes.
Flat or declines in home values.
Overall condition of neighborhoods, infrastructure, services, protections (in both perception and certainty)

3. Economy:
Budgets (state, county municipals and schools)
Expanding government in size and weight
Small business hostilities
Bleek job prospects and outlooks
False hope in gambling's windfall (suckers' bets)

Of course there are some other pressing issues, depending upon who you talk to. Some are interested in national and internation matters. Social Secuity, War and its funding, Abortion, Corporate agendas, Cronies', Transporation (roads, PAT, getting to and from work), Violence (among kids, distressed neighborhoods, drug dealings, home invasions, hitting elderly), Corporate Welfare, Schools (costs, accountability, NCLB, true learning).

---

Within the campaign, I have a voice that is dedicated to certain issues. As a state senator, I'm not going to have much sway within the debates on Social Security, military conduct and mission in Iraq, nor southern border patrole.

I need to make mentions that resonate with the people, that I'm confident in speaking about, and are able to be done while a state senator.

I understand that parks are not the most pressing issue today among the people of the 42nd. But, it is one of my main talking points. I try to connect the dots and illustrate that our kids are shooting guns at each other, dying on the streets. The kids are not being challenged in extra activities and are being ignored. However, this means we have vandalism with the spray painting of the city, with idle violence and intimidation of seniors.

We can build more prisons. Or, we can build up our engagements among our kids, coaches, parents, seniors. We need serious challenges for the kids. The young people need to learn how to play well with others. They need friends and excuses to stay locally -- not leave when they need a job because they have no real network of friends and opportunities.

So, my talk of the parks also deals with the issues of democracy, outward migration, crime, better school usage afterhours, more volunteerism, city-county consolidation and better quality of life. Plus, it talks about making investments into our health, wellness and human side of life -- not corporate welfare for new shopping malls.

Same too with the esablishment of the Youth Technology Summit. This goes to workforce development, academic cooperation, effective governmental services with better technology utilizations and helping small business while using the white elephant convention center.

Nanny 911 -- TV show tonight

This has nothing to do with my past life as a stay-at-home dad.

Our friend, musician, songwritter, Dave Nachmanoff, is going to be on the TV show, Nanny 911, tonight.

Dave was the guest performer at a 9-11 concert I hosted on the South Side. We have that event on tape and it will, one day, be a TV special. Speakers included Jim Roddey and Dan Onorato.

But tonight -- it is a friend on national TV. Break a leg Dave.

Corporate Welfare is Killing Pittsburgh

Dan's letter below is an plug for the D's race for mayor for Lamb. However, it is built on the same concept I'm always stressing. We have too much corporate welfare. We need to turn away from that avenue.

In the debate that was on TV last night, Fontana stood up to the charge I've been making about corporate welfare, TIFs and the vivid, recent example from his time on County Council as he voted to give a TIF to "DEER CREEK CROSSING." Fontana's reply was comical. He said he believed in "property rights."

Duhh.

Property rights have little to do with corporate welfare. I'm much stronger on property rights than any of these others as I've been on the line to end EMINENT DOMAIN. That's a property right matter, not TIFs.

If the property owners of Deer Creek Crossing want to build a mall, fine. But, don't give them a TIF. Don't get out the county checkbook and make it easy for them to do the development with public money.

The two pages of text of a correctred handbill that Dan is passing out:

Corporate Welfare makes you pay to subsidize politically connected businesses.

Corporate Welfare drives out businesses who don’t want to play the subsidy game.

Corporate Welfare destroys more jobs than it creates.

Corporate Welfare has brought Pittsburgh to near bankruptcy.

Corporate Welfare corrupts politics, with corporate welfare recipients making huge campaign contributions.

Michael Lamb is our best defense against Corporate Welfare.

Michael Lamb is the only viable candidate who is not up to his eyeballs in corporate welfare.

Michael Lamb has openly criticized corporate welfare.

Michael Lamb is the only candidate who would change our tax system to promote development without corporate welfare.

A vote for Michael Lamb is a vote against Corporate Welfare.

---

Dear Fellow Citizen,

I have been fighting corporate welfare in Pittsburgh since 1978, and I believe Michael Lamb is the candidate who can turn Pittsburgh back in the right direction, not Bob O’Connor or Bill Peduto.

O’Connor complained about Murphy but rarely stood up to him. He voted to fund stadiums after we defeated the stadium-tax referendum. He voted to buy the site of the new Heinz plant at four times its value and to give Heinz millions in tax breaks to build what they had already agreed to build. He voted to subsidize PNC, Mellon, Giant Eagle and a host of other politically connected corporations at your expense. He voted to subsidize Home Depot, which led to the closing of dozens of local competitors.

O’Connor also drove up property taxes for most home owners. Before he changed us back to conventional property tax, homeowner property tax bills were lower in the city than in most suburbs, but the cost of holding land while waiting for subsidies was much higher. This tax reform promoted development without subsidies. O’Connor destroyed the work we had done with Bill Coyne and other council members to make our property tax cost home owners less and land speculators more.

Bill Peduto also indulges in corporate welfare. He got subsidies for a Giant Eagle store in "blighted" Shandyside, even though Giant Eagle has closed stores in neighborhood that ARE blighted, and he got subsidies for an upscale mall on Baum Blvd. that will compete with existing businesses.

For all these reasons, I ask you to support Michael Lamb for mayor.

Sincerely, Dan Sullivan, director, Saving Communities
627 Melwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) OUR-LAND (412) 687-5263

The Political Graveyard: Politicians: Lamb -- State Senate years are unknown

I'm doing a bit of research. Who can tell me the years of service in the PA Senate for Michael Lamb's father, Thomas Lamb?

The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Lamb: "Lamb, Thomas F. (b. 1922) — of Pennsylvania. Born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa., October 22, 1922. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; member of Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1959-66; member of Pennsylvania state senate, 1966-. Catholic. Member, Knights of Columbus. Still living as of 1971.

Lamb was the Senate majority leader in his time. When did that time end?

i ask because in the debate, showed on TV last night, Michael Diven made a false claim in his opening statement. Diven though it was more than 70 years ago since the Pittsburgh area had a member in the senate in the majority party. Thomas Lamb, PA Senator, was the majority leader in his time.

Diven is 40-years off the mark -- at least.

Diven is wrong too as there have been others in the area who have represented parts of Pittsburgh in PA's Legislature and Senate from the GOP who were much more recent than 70 years.

Ohligarchy: A Head In the Clouds Versus the Man In the Moon

Ohligarchy: A Head In the Clouds Versus the Man In the MoonA Head In the Clouds Versus the Man In the Moon

Some buzz brews about last night's TV (tape delayed) debate in the comments section.

Pondering my (Mark Rauterkus) reply to the PG's Voters Guide

This is what I wrote:

State Senator, 42nd District Mark Rauterkus, 46, South Side

Education: B.S. journalism, Ohio University, 1982; graduate school, Baylor University, Texas, 1982-83.

Occupation: Community activist, swim coach.

Qualifications: GOP candidate for mayor of Pittsburgh, 2001; May 2004, released 150-page parks merger position paper; coached 30 years, proving leadership and teamwork; published 100 how-to books proving abilities of handling technical content, similar to skills necessary for the crafting of legislation.

Answer: I'd launch a youth technology summit. I'd establish a regional park district. I'd end tax increment financing, lower deed transfer tax, fund transportation and squash horrid big-ticket spending. I'd halt sprawl to boost our urban fabric. Supporting schools and neighborhoods makes common sense. Career politicians put the region in a tailspin. My opponents display experienced leadership of folly. Serious opposition must counter their giveaways. Elect.Rauterkus.com is about performance, kids, wellness, accountability, communication, openness, open-source technology, freedoms, personal responsibility, taxing land, prudent spending, real democracy and respect of the marketplace.

Pondering Diven's statement in the PG's voter guide

State Senator, 42nd District: "Michael Diven, 35, Brookline

Education: B.A., history, minor philosophy, Duquesne University, 1993.

Occupation: State representative, 22nd District.

Qualifications: Pittsburgh City Council, three years; state representative, 22nd District, elected 1997.

Answer: I will introduce a bill in the Pennsylvania Senate which will be a vehicle to consolidate administrative office space in Downtown Pittsburgh. A study that I commissioned showed that we now have 1.1 million square feet of office space, and we can easily consolidate this into 350,000 square feet. This would increase efficiency, create construction jobs, revitalize the Downtown business corridor, and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used to relieve the unfair burden of property taxes.

Let's start with the vehicle mention -- as in state car. Transportation issues are huge. PAT is running today with a 2-year band-aid. Let's hear something about THAT from our Harrisburg politician.

The bill to consolidate office space downtown creates a NEW AUTHORITY. I hate authorities. I hate debt. This Diven idea is a TIF on STEROIDS that jacks up debt by $50-million for Pgh and $300-million for the state. It is just about as big as 'growing greener 2' -- but it makes loft apartments. All in all, the Diven plan would KILL the city. It goes in the wrong direction on many fronts.

I have heard Diven's plan -- in depth. I wish everyone had the opportunity to hear all about it. It is a deal breaker plan.

Diven wants the state of PA with its new authority to take over the public office buildings owned by the city, county and schools. He ignores the STATE building and the FEDERAL buildings. If all the buildings were in the mix, that would be different.

Then Diven wants to build up Fifth & Forbes with parking, retail and a RIDC like office park for city, county and school buildings -- but not state or feds. This is a mega building.

Then all of the other buildings now in use by the government turn into loft apartments.

Who wants to live in the Gold Room? Who wants the Mayor's office?

I just wonder, do we get to keep the jail as it is or is that part of the mix as well?

My approach is more organic. Let us evolve in continual steps.

Do get rid of the governmental buildings -- like the PARKING AUTHORITY ASSETS. We should liquidate the parking authority, over some years. then we can lower the parking tax to 15%. There is no reason why the government needs to be building parking garages. Make the parking authority a department.

Our parking authoriy is just opening its own court room now. Overboard public project are sure to zap out all energy from the marketplace and end any type of investments from regular owners.

PNC Bank expanded to Firstside and the city was suckered (forced) into building them a new T-stop and new parking garage. That's a bad deal and it costs everyone. PNC Bank does not need to build its own parking garage for its employees because it can have the city build it for them.

Hence, no private builder is ever going to build another parking garage in downtown. There is poison in the marketplace. Investment stops. Real efforts go to other markets where the 900-pound gorilla isn't a public authority with an endless supply of money.

I have better ideas for some big projects downtown. Downtown does have serious weaknesses.

Pondering Fontana's statement in the PG's voter guide

State Senator, 42nd District: "Wayne D. Fontana, 55, Brookline

Education: Community College of Allegheny County, 1971.

Occupation: Sales manager and associate broker, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (on leave while running for Senate).

Qualifications: 19th Ward Democratic committeeman, 11 years; Allegheny County Council, five years, served as vice chair, also committee chair of Property Assessment, Economic Development, Executive, Redistricting, Budget and Finance and Property Assessment Oversight.

Answer: I would support and facilitate attempts made by local governments to merge services and departments such as public works. I am a proponent for row office consolidation in Allegheny County that would save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. I also support a joint purchasing program similar to the state program that purchases in bulk at a lower cost. We need to explore tax collection at the regional or county level vs. local tax collection.

Fontana is a proponent for row office consolidation in Allegheny County -- but when he was on the council he didn't support Onorato's plan to drop the row offices to two. Fontana doubled the number to put onto the ballot. Onorato's legislation said two. Fontana and the others on council established a bundle to four.

The claim of saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars is another empty promise. Perhaps that is over the course of two decades. Perhaps the number could be a little less foggy.

Row office consolidation isn't really about saving money. It we really wanted to save money, we'd be voting to elminate the authories, not the row office.

An elected official in the row office has a salary that is established by the charter. An appointed row office official is going to have an increased salary and it won't be subject to the lower limits now in place.

If we really wanted to save taxpayer money -- we would NOT be doing any TIFs. Fontana voted just recently (within the last 3 monts) to give a tax break to the developer for Deer Creek Crossing. That is a tax give-away. That move hurts the taxpayers.

Fontana wants to explore regional tax collectors. That is sure to fix all our problems -- not.

Joint purchases are sure to be a massive windfall too -- hardly.

Would-a, could-a, should-a! Why didn't you do these things while on county council? The city and county don't do joint purchases now. Should-a! Didn't!

State Senator, 42nd District -- PG has its VOTERS Guide out today -- Monday, May 9

State Senator, 42nd District State Senator, 42nd District
VOTE FOR ONE

Term: 19 months Salary: $69,648

Duties: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government. It is composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. The Senate approves executive appointments while it is in session.

Question: What changes in state law would you support to provide incentives for more efficient and cost effective local government operations?

The voters guide is out within the PG. See section D.

The voters guide is called a "primary" -- but -- there is more than the primary to occur on May 17, election day.

The state senate race is a special election. The term is 19 months. It is brief. It is okay to send a Libertarian to the senate for 19 months. Think of the ful we'll have.

CTCNet - Want to car pool to Cleveland? Consider the event as this is the type of community development I'm interested in promoting.

Our community development efforts in Pittsburgh are too much about bricks and mortar projects. Little is done to teach people to read or how to use the net for effective living.

CTCNet: "CTCNet's 14th Annual Community Technology Conference will be held June 17-19 in Cleveland!

Register Online Now!

Exhibit or Sponsor!
Current Initiatives

Youth Visions for Stronger Neighborhoods
Engages youth in local community-building and decision-making, incorporating the tools and training commonly offered by community technology centers. Learn about the 2005 Youth Visions grantees.

Connections for Tomorrow Project
Supports organizations that serve youth and homeless people by providing grants towards organizational capacity-building and best practices development. Learn about the 2005 Connections for Tomorrow grantees.

CTC VISTA Project
The CTC VISTA Project has provided coordination, recruitment, training and support for more than 100 AmeriCorps*VISTAs who have been working in CTCs and organizations across the country.

America Connects Consortium
ACC is a partnership of Education Development Center, CTCNet, and the National Institute on Out-of-School Time at Wellesley College . Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, CTCNet has been a partner of ACC since its inception in 2000.

Access 2 Action
Explores ways to help bridge gaps between the fields of community technology and community development and increase the capacity of CTCs to become a force for positive social change at the community level

Four more city pools won't open in 2005 -- we can do much better.

Four city pools high, dry - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Four city pools high, dry

Pittsburgh officials say four more city swimming pools won't open this summer.

Save Our Summer -- 2004 -- is DEAD. In 2004, the SOS effort was to raise money to get a band-aid to put onto a dead body.

Allegheny County was trying to get the operation of the newer city pool up in Lincoln Place. What happened with that deal? Let me guess. Perhaps those on Grant Street displayed their lack of willingness to play well with others.

"The pool is all we have here," said Marlene Emro, 64, a long-time resident of Lincoln Place. "We have the city school Mifflin Elementary, the pool and no other city things here. It's a shame. Our kids are out here at the end of the world."


"It's not fair," Emro said. "We pay taxes, and the children deserve the chance to go up and take a dip."
...
Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields, whose 5th District includes Lincoln Place, said the tentative closing there is especially troubling because McBride is a newer pool; it opened just a few years ago to replace an above-ground pool.

Lincoln Place residents are worried the new pool will deteriorate if it's not used and maintained.

Shields, of Squirrel Hill, said he plans to work with state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick, to investigate getting a state grant to operate McBride.

As for the closings citywide, Shields said: "If you open one and not the other, someone else is going to feel the pain. There are no good choices to be made here.

WRONG!

Before McBride opened, I voiced a protest. I went on the record saying that the swim pool there should NOT have been built. Readshaw, D, PA House, brought home some pork for the building of that pool. It is a dinky pool. It took the place of another dinky pool. It is inferior. Our kids got robbed. Our city got robbed.

I raised the objections that the pool should be built in the first place. I didn't want to spend the state money on the pool. It was no gift as operational costs were not part of the solution.

I said that the city should build the pool there only after the aquatics task force had suggested that it be built. The aquatic task force was concerned about the city's swim pool landscape -- but it was another joke miss-managed by the city's mayor and city council.

The Mt. Washington pool is another sad note. Paul Renee, a candidate for city council in the D primary for the seat formerly held by Alan Hertzberg, was one of the champions in 2004 in efforts to reopen Reams. Rene, with some help, paid to open the swim pool at Reams in Mt. Washington last year. He got a great lesson in how hard it is to operate a rec facility. It isn't easy -- it isn't hard -- it is long.

What is worse, the pool opening in Mt. Washington blazed a new pathway in city and community cooperation. But sadly, the operations are not going to be sustained. It would have been wonderful if the REAMS model was able to pull its own weight and expand to other now closed pools.

No large-scale money-raising effort is under way to open more pools. John Ellis, spokesman for the Pittsburgh Foundation, said last year's "Save Our Summer" campaign -- which raised more than $600,000 for the pools -- was a one-time effort. The pools' futures are in the hands of the city this year, he said.

These make good examples as to why we need a new direction. Let's work to form a new Pittsburgh Park District.

PG Editorial: O'Connor for mayor

Giuliani of New York was a REPUBLICAN.

Giuliani of New York broke a long string of DEMs as mayor of New York. Pittsburgh faces the same-old, same-old Democrat Bob O'Connor. The future with O'Connor in Pittsburgh is unlike what New York had with Rudy Giuliani.

Editorial: It's O'Connor / Democrats need a consensus builder for mayor "Mr. O'Connor sees himself as Pittsburgh's Rudolph Giuliani, the mayor who cleaned up New York. 'When we start believing in ourselves, this thing will turn around,' he told the editorial board. We certainly hope so -- because what the city lacks in money it must make up in determination.

Bob O'Connor, who deserves the nomination, is the party's best hope for rekindling a spirit of renewal.

Bob's determination isn't able to be discounted. But, this city isn't about Bob's determination. This election isn't about the next in que and highest in determination. Rather, this process is about the determination and will of the people of Pittsburgh. Citizen centered perspective need to take the helm, not next in line thinking for annointed ones. The PG perspective is NOT match my perspective.

A vote for O'Connor shows little "determination" from the voters.

Those with a loud and strong desire for a different type of determination won't choose O'Connor.

---

... Pittsburgh was a different place four years ago. Today it is financially distressed and under the watchful eye of two state agencies. Police have been laid off; fire stations and swimming pools have been closed. While neighborhoods are trying to hold it together, parts of Downtown (despite new development) look shabbier than ever.

Told ya. We knew what was happening, back in 1999, 2000 and 2001. We knew Tom Murphy was trouble. The PG endoresment went to Tom Murphy in 2001.

In 2000 and 2001, I went to the public. I ran for mayor and helped the guy that beat me in the contested primary. I (and others) knew that Pittsburgh was in serious trouble. Pittsburgh was in trouble in 2001. Pittsburgh is in trouble in 2005. Pittsburgh is NOT a different place now. The PG can't ignore the facts of our poor conditions.

That giant whizzing sound you're about to hear will be an exodus of Pittsburghers -- unless they have a chance for a mayor who will do more than restore financial stability, but will also build hope for the future. In the Democratic field, that candidate is Bob O'Connor.
ABOUT to HEAR? Come on.

More people had left Pittsburgh in 2001 while Tom Murphy had been mayor than voted for him then to continue being our mayor. People have been leaving for some time.

People who leave don't get to vote for the opposition that remains.

Pittsburgh has an empty feeling. We can't even gather enough for a good disaster drill because of the years of disasters that have come in the past dozen years.

Bob O'Connor was on council when the city's debt mounted. Don't forget it and don't reward it with an endorsement or a vote.

Sure, O'Connor is backed by city worker unions and orthodox party leaders. So, I say the next mayor should not be part of the same cloth.

Because the next mayor has Act 47 bean counters -- we have an opportunity to pick an inspired leader who is less experienced. Act 47 and the Oversight Board serve as TRAINING WHEELS for getting on the right track.

The fiscal straight-and-narrow is not a guarantee, but it is more assured. We might not fall hard -- but we still might not go anywhere near prosperity. The old guard won't have the same influence if the voters choose to elect NEW PEOPLE. The old guard will have the same influence if we keep electing those who have made the troubles continue.

The PG editors wrote, "Among the seven Democratic candidates, only three have notable credentials for the job."

NOT-ABLE, as in not able?

Or, Note -- as in a note of debt. We have some who are okay with debt and notes.

That debt advancing history is not a prerequisite for the job of mayor.

I agree that the other Democrats care about their city. But prime time values are not lost on me because one is 'retired.'

The PG welcomes a robust debate in the fall between the party nominees on the best solutions for the city's problems. --- NOTE: The PG does NOT welcome another into that debate, say from neither the Ds or Rs.

If O'Connor had fervor for improving Pittsburgh, he would NOT have left city council. He would not have left the fight to claim the vote in protest in 2001. O'Connor knew the vote totals were rigged -- a dozen different ways. But, he didn't out the ways of the cheaters -- as he didn't want to rock the boat that much. He didn't have the fervor I would have hoped to have seen.

O'Connor has been playing defense in his campaigns, in 2001 and 2005.

Oh well. The PG and I don't see eye to eye again.

Row Office Reform: YES and NO editorials in Sunday's PG Forum Section

The Yes-vs.-No ballot question on the May 17 election, right next to our special election for PA Senate, 42nd, makes for some interesting discussions.

Recap from my perspectives:

Months ago, I pushed and pulled as best I could to the County Executive and to County Council Members to junk the plans put forth for the ballot question. The question is not nearly as good as it should be.

Voters are asked to choose a bundle. YES votes call for a drop from ten (10) row offices to four (4). NO votes say keep the system of 10 row offices -- just as it is for now.

The bundle is bad. The bundle forces a discussion into certain areas. The voters got ripped off at the ballot box -- before the vote was even taken. The question of 10 to 4 stinks.

Dan Onorato wanted to drop from 10 to 2. He had a different bundle. That was a bad question as well.

Would-a, Could-a, Should-a from the Rauterkus perspective: Ask each each question for each office on its own merits in seperate votes.

Should the county controller continue to be elected? YES -- or -- NO?

Should the county's recorder of deeds continue to be elected? YES -- or -- NO?

These questions would continue for all ten row offices.

That is what should have happened. That isn't happening. We need elected people who know and care about democracy.

Among the candidates in the race for state senate, Diven seems to be on the side of voting "YES." Fontana was on county council and he didn't do what should have been done, as I suggested. He went with the flow and fumbled into an expansion of four offices put onto the ballot in a crafted compromise that ends up putting the region in another goofy situation -- much like being a dead skunk in the middle of the road.

We need leaders that push forth better solutions. We don't need back bench leadership. We don't need guys who cave on important issues.

Back to today's PG editorials. On the "YES" side was Dick Thornburgh, and he got his taken by David Tessitor.

Thornburgh put up a call for a YES vote because of some an ancient relic reasoning. Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, -- and even George Washington -- are "ancient." But they gave us freedom and in turn the Constitution. Hey Thornburgh -- being ancient has its advantages and is heads and shoulders over the style of leadership and bone headed people we've in too many offices of power running the region in these MODERN TIMES.

Let's turn back the clock and thrive again in terms of our democracy.

The closing statement from the "NO" side from Tessitor is powerful. Note NO! We need more deomocracy, not less.

Thornbergh does not give one reason WHY the old doesn't work. He streamlines democracy and the power with the people -- and that's something that we should question. He thinks an appointed leader is going to give better customer service than an elected one. Why? Thornburgh's spin without substance.

Hanging one's hat on modernized IT is a joke. IT is Informational Technology. I know a thing or two about public IT elements. The county's IT plan isn't about modern solutions, such as open source software. I have no confidence in mega networks run by those who less than 10 years ago didn't have any computers. A distributed network is stronger, better, more modern. We don't want Thornburgh styled, monolitic IT plans lead by career politicians.

If we had a real IT pro among the flock of those in charge, then I'd re-consider my stance. We don't have the talent nor know-how in the top leadership, sadly.

Red tape for citizens and business isn't in the row office structure, but is in found in the AUTHORITIES such as the URA, Water & Sewer, Parking, Stadium, and Housing. We need to work on those authories. I'm the one that wants a vote to eliminate the authorities.

We are barking up the wrong tree.

Onorato is not bucking powerful people in his own party when Michael Lamb, a candidate for mayor, is also standing up to say the same should occur. Onorato is going with the flow among the corporate power base. That isn't bad, in and of itself. But, don't tell us Onorato is bucking the establishment. I'm not crying any tears on these matters for him going out on a limb.

Power would have gone to the people with a one-by-one vote on each office. That would have been the way to buck the system in an effective way.

Wellness in the Workplace -- TV 4 show hits a home run for me.

WTAE TV 4 does a Healthy 4 Life tv show on Wellness in the Workplace. Wellness is a plank in my platform. Great stuff. Marilyn Brooks made the report. Well done!

Health fairs, health screening, extra activities, and many other extra examples.

The concern is the bottom line. Can't afford it -- ha. To a lunch and learn. A health fair is no cost. The health assessment is

Medrad. Inc., 1,200 employees, medical products, northern suburban location has some great applications of wellness in the workplace. Its coupled to the philosophy.