So far, we've seen slams from Fontana about Diven's ghost voting. But, we've also seen the ghost of Ronald Reagan, J.F.K,, 1960 Pirates, Magician, and Uncle Sam come into our mailboxes.
If Diven's win becomes as exciting as the '60 Pirates World Championship, then what would my victory match?
But the headline on the front of Diven's mailer is wrong too. It reads, "For the first time since the Pirates played at Forbes Field, we have the chance to elect a Republican State Senator." It seems to me that Diven is saying that the Republicans never even ran a candidate for State Senator. Perhaps the real story is the fact that we've had lots of opportunities to elect Republicans for State Senate since the closure of Forbes Field -- but they never won!
Now I wonder if we ever had the chance to elect a LIBERTARIAN State Senator?
That could be factually correct. Did a Libertarian ever run for State Senate in the city or in the county?
So, Diven's headline is not truthful. And, Diven's headline fits me like a glove -- if you swap out the Republican word and insert Libertarian.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Council race really hits close to home - with more negativity
Council race really hits close to home - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Printed next to the photo, fliers mock Payne's campaign slogan -- 'Let's get our house in order' -- with the slogan, 'On May 17 tell her, 'No Tonya, you get your house in order!'
See the comments for the entire article.
Internal polls -- reported in other sites
The skinny from elesewhere:
Fontana, the negative D, 44%
Diven, the new and negative R, 31%
Rauterkus, L, 25%
The internal poll numbers from the Fontana camp -- mentioned on the front page of PoliticsPA and GrassrootsPa, were reportedly from mid-weed, this week.
This is why neither Diven nor Fontana wanted the participation from a charging, popular, citizen candidate in the AARP debate.
Furthermore, the old-party candidates with negative campaign operations knew that I was the clear victor in the lone debate of the campaign, hosted in Mt. Washington on April 21.
The numbers above leave a lot to be desired.
What isn't being shown in the numbers above is the voter apathy to both Diven and Fontana. They are sapping out any energy from the race with their constant, negative mudslinging. Turnout is going to be much less than expected on this election because loyalist Dems and loyalist Republicans won't vote. They'll hold their noses and move onto another part of the voting machine, such as row-office reform or a local friend in a municipal race, school race or judge race.
Up to 90% of the voters who are still undecided are the ones who don't read junk mailers and don't watch TV. The final wave of undecided voters are breaking for the third party option. These are active and engaged citizens. These are the "do-ers" in the communities, and they have little faith in the status quo. Those who appreciate real grassroots campaigns have no confidence in what is being promised by Diven and Fontana.
This weekend's schedule is geared to connect with the busy community people who might still be undecided: Brighton Heights road race, a house tour, Pedal Pittsburgh on Sunday morning, a number of church visits in between, and a science presentation with elementary school kids in a local library (South Side), plus musical lessons (Carnegie) and a swim team function (Green Tree). Yesterday we watched a high school baseball game in Crafton with Langley.
I would love to stand next to one or both of the other candidates at Pedal Pittsburgh on Sunday morning. The contrast is dramatic.
The polling numbers also help to explain by a Diven operative approched us with enticements for pulling out of the race.
The Diven base crumbled. The personal friends that are clearly part of the Diven camp do not stretch to a district with more than 200,000 voters. Furthermore, the Diven approach does not work well with traditional Republicans. These people are principled voters who care about the big picture details such as message, freedom, and integrity. Diven's name ID is a factor. But, to the GOP core, the Diven name hinders. Diven has been part of Pittsburgh's city council and tied with close relationships with Mayor Tom Murphy. Diven has been a "self-proclaimed back bencher" and that does not build a viable resume to seek senate status.
Both Diven and Fontana have made a habit of putting up lawn signs in public right of ways and at empty / for-sale properties. Often two of the largest signs go at either end of the property line -- one for Diven and the other for Fontana. The foolishness is evident to the locals, some who even had signs appear in their yards without consent. At least the two heavyweights give themselves shelter from the folly.
Think again.
The Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign is doing much better than expected, in part because the heavyweights are doing their best to repeatedly harm themselves. Thankfully this is only a 19-month term.
Onorato's PAC (political action committee) gave $80,000 to Fontana recently. It was Fontana who co-sponsored the 0-1-2-3-4 property tax plan, pushed by Onorato. That bogus plan for taxing Allegheny County residents got tossed out by the judge for not being constitutional, and rightly so. That $80K can do plenty to whitewash the bill's memory from voters, but not so near to the election day.
Fontana, the negative D, 44%
Diven, the new and negative R, 31%
Rauterkus, L, 25%
The internal poll numbers from the Fontana camp -- mentioned on the front page of PoliticsPA and GrassrootsPa, were reportedly from mid-weed, this week.
This is why neither Diven nor Fontana wanted the participation from a charging, popular, citizen candidate in the AARP debate.
Furthermore, the old-party candidates with negative campaign operations knew that I was the clear victor in the lone debate of the campaign, hosted in Mt. Washington on April 21.
The numbers above leave a lot to be desired.
What isn't being shown in the numbers above is the voter apathy to both Diven and Fontana. They are sapping out any energy from the race with their constant, negative mudslinging. Turnout is going to be much less than expected on this election because loyalist Dems and loyalist Republicans won't vote. They'll hold their noses and move onto another part of the voting machine, such as row-office reform or a local friend in a municipal race, school race or judge race.
Up to 90% of the voters who are still undecided are the ones who don't read junk mailers and don't watch TV. The final wave of undecided voters are breaking for the third party option. These are active and engaged citizens. These are the "do-ers" in the communities, and they have little faith in the status quo. Those who appreciate real grassroots campaigns have no confidence in what is being promised by Diven and Fontana.
This weekend's schedule is geared to connect with the busy community people who might still be undecided: Brighton Heights road race, a house tour, Pedal Pittsburgh on Sunday morning, a number of church visits in between, and a science presentation with elementary school kids in a local library (South Side), plus musical lessons (Carnegie) and a swim team function (Green Tree). Yesterday we watched a high school baseball game in Crafton with Langley.
I would love to stand next to one or both of the other candidates at Pedal Pittsburgh on Sunday morning. The contrast is dramatic.
The polling numbers also help to explain by a Diven operative approched us with enticements for pulling out of the race.
The Diven base crumbled. The personal friends that are clearly part of the Diven camp do not stretch to a district with more than 200,000 voters. Furthermore, the Diven approach does not work well with traditional Republicans. These people are principled voters who care about the big picture details such as message, freedom, and integrity. Diven's name ID is a factor. But, to the GOP core, the Diven name hinders. Diven has been part of Pittsburgh's city council and tied with close relationships with Mayor Tom Murphy. Diven has been a "self-proclaimed back bencher" and that does not build a viable resume to seek senate status.
Both Diven and Fontana have made a habit of putting up lawn signs in public right of ways and at empty / for-sale properties. Often two of the largest signs go at either end of the property line -- one for Diven and the other for Fontana. The foolishness is evident to the locals, some who even had signs appear in their yards without consent. At least the two heavyweights give themselves shelter from the folly.
Think again.
The Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign is doing much better than expected, in part because the heavyweights are doing their best to repeatedly harm themselves. Thankfully this is only a 19-month term.
Onorato's PAC (political action committee) gave $80,000 to Fontana recently. It was Fontana who co-sponsored the 0-1-2-3-4 property tax plan, pushed by Onorato. That bogus plan for taxing Allegheny County residents got tossed out by the judge for not being constitutional, and rightly so. That $80K can do plenty to whitewash the bill's memory from voters, but not so near to the election day.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Base Closures - hold on. Let's not fight among ourselves in expensive ways.
Pennsylvania survived with less damage than was widely anticipated. Facilities widely considered at risk are slated for expansion. Carlisle Army War College is to stay open and Dickinson Law School stay operational in Carlisle for 20 more years.
The Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, is slated for closure, with a potential loss of 1,200 jobs.
The Air Reserve Support Unit in Pittsburgh is to close.
Pennsylvania will lose 429 civilian jobs out of the 18,223 civilian positions being cut - 2 percent of the total. We're losing 1,435 military positions of the total 10,728 cut or about 13 percent of the military jobs lost.
Rendell is doubling efforts to defend the jobs with a fund in excess of $1 million dedicate to fund local defense groups and Chambers of Commerce to persuade the DEFENSE from the removal of Pennsylvania installations from the closure list.
I don't want EXPENSIVE fights between two entities both funded with taxpayer money -- because then we all loose. A spending match between the two hands of the same body is a sure way to stay poor if not become poorer.
We need to present ideas. We need to think it through. Wise solutions are not held with the thickest wallets.
The Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, is slated for closure, with a potential loss of 1,200 jobs.
The Air Reserve Support Unit in Pittsburgh is to close.
Pennsylvania will lose 429 civilian jobs out of the 18,223 civilian positions being cut - 2 percent of the total. We're losing 1,435 military positions of the total 10,728 cut or about 13 percent of the military jobs lost.
Rendell is doubling efforts to defend the jobs with a fund in excess of $1 million dedicate to fund local defense groups and Chambers of Commerce to persuade the DEFENSE from the removal of Pennsylvania installations from the closure list.
I don't want EXPENSIVE fights between two entities both funded with taxpayer money -- because then we all loose. A spending match between the two hands of the same body is a sure way to stay poor if not become poorer.
We need to present ideas. We need to think it through. Wise solutions are not held with the thickest wallets.
CMU scores a Robo Cup victory
CMU team wins Robocup U.S. Open
Carnegie Mellon's team of Sony Aibo legged robots and its Search and Rescue team took first place at the International RoboCup Federation's U.S. Open competition, May 7 - 10, at Georgia Tech.
The team of autonomous soccer playing legged robots -- CMDash'05 -- beat the University of Pennsylvania in a closely contested championship game, winning 2-1 in overtime.
The Search and Rescue team placed first in the Advanced Mobility Class and in the Advanced Autonomy Class, and placed third in the RoboRescue League.
Carnegie Mellon teams will compete in the International RoboCup July 13 -17 in Osaka, Japan.
Venture Outdoors Festival needs helpers
Venture Outdoors, a one day festival with activities for the family is seeking volunteers and participants. It is at Pittsburgh’s North Shore Riverfront Park– near Heinz Field from 10 am to 5 on Saturday, May 21.
(412) 255-0564 or www.ventureoutdoors.org
The Venture Outdoors Festival is a free event where individuals and families can sample the many outdoor activities available in our region. The event features canoeing, kayaking, biking, dragon boating, rock climbing, inline skating, fishing and more. Participants can hone their skills or try these activities for the first time — with experienced instructors to provide guidance — and learn where to enjoy these activities all season long.
More than 80 different clubs and organizations with exhibits and information about outdoor recreational opportunities in the region. Local outdoor shops will also be on hand selling the latest gear. In addition to the physical activities, there will be an arts and craft section sponsored by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and tours of the river discovery vessel, the Pittsburgh Voyager. Free parking for Venture Outdoors will be available at Gold Lot #1 (you must enter the lot before 3:00 PM) Membership is not a requirement for participation – everyone is welcome.
If you or your high school or college-aged children or friends would like to volunteer for the Venture Outdoors Festival, please call Donna Bour at (412) 412-780-7802.
Subsidized housing for the rich is backdrop for Growing Greener 2 rally
Growing Greener II Rally with Secretary Yablonsky is slated for Friday, May 13, 2 pm at Summerset at Frick Park.
http://www.summersetatfrickpark.com/directions.asp
Contact: 717-787-5825
You're invited to a rally with Secretary Dennis Yablonsky this Friday to celebrate the Commonwealth's continued commitment to both economic development and our environment.
Smart Growth Conference, May 20
I will not be attending this event. Consider it. Be there with an open mind and challenge some of the content as you see fit.
Smart Growth Conference: Regional Participation for Sustainable Development, a gratis event is slated for Friday, May 20, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Downtown Pittsburgh.
Keynote Address: John Norquist, President and CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism (former Mayor of Milwaukee)
John Norquist is a national figure and proven leader on issues ranging from transportation reform and urban design to school choice. Under his leadership, Milwaukee transformed its downtown, revitalized its neighborhoods, and built world-class cultural facilities. He is author of "The Wealth of Cities: Revitalizing the Centers of American Life.”
Featured Speakers: Esther Bush, Jane Downing, Royce Lorentz, R. Damian Soffer, Linda Gwinn, Allen Kukovich, Steven Nesmith, Dennis Yoblonsky, Allen D. Biehler, Ron Painter, James Hassinger, Lew Villotti, F. Michael Langley
The conference will address the role of regional planning and public investments to revitalize Southwestern Pennsylvania’s communities.
Hear about proven strategies for sustainable development and targeted growth. Provide input to update the region’s official long-range plan through a special session by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Contribute to a policy guidance document that will be shared with public agencies responsible for the region’s planning processes – state, region and local.
Co-Chairs: Esther Bush, Urban League of Pittsburgh; Ron Painter, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board; Kevin Silson, Oxford Development Company
To register, email: info@sustainablepittsburgh.org or call 412-258-6642.
Another endorsement slips through the cracks
I was taught to not say anything is if I couldn't say something good. At least, I didn't get a LANCE in today's edition for making a huff. It might come to me sooner -- or -- it could come to me just after the election. But, I'll chime in on the Trib's ways. Until then, here are two postings from the Trib:
The Trib (5/13) has a Laurel and Lance blurb:
Sadly, Pittsburgh's worst days are still to come.
Endorsements 2005: Diven in the 42nd - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Endorsements 2005: Diven in the 42nd
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
When Democrat state Rep. Mike Diven became Republican state Rep. Mike Diven, House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene County, fumed that it was not unusual for him to 'abandon organized labor or Gov. Ed Rendell.'
Mr. DeWeese, fond of $50 words, got downright down-home when he said of Diven, 'He forgot where he came from.'
Rep. Diven, a former Pittsburgh councilman from Brookline, knows exactly where he came from. He was elected on a good government platform to the House seat formerly held by Frank Gigliotti, a veteran Democrat officeholder who pleaded guilty to extortion, mail fraud and filing a false tax return.
Diven faces former Allegheny County Councilman Wayne Fontana in next Tuesday's special election for the 42nd District state Senate seat. The district opened when Jack Wagner became state auditor general.
We have little to say about Mr. Fontana. He remains a machine Democrat in a city whose finances were destroyed by machine Democrats, and that says enough.
In Harrisburg, Mr. Diven found a party that in his estimation is run by left-wing thugs. We won't argue with that.
Declaring his emancipation from the ruinous policies of the Democratic Party puts Diven head-and-shoulders above his opponent and has made DeWeese and company furious.
So, in the 42nd, Mike Diven clearly is the right choice.
The Trib (5/13) has a Laurel and Lance blurb:
Lance: To Wayne Fontana. The Democrats' nominee for the 42nd Senatorial District seat complains that the Trib endorses Republican Michael Diven in Tuesday's special election only because Mr. Diven "is a Republican." Sorry, Mr. Fontana, but Diven clearly is the better guy. Oh, Fontana conveniently omits that the Toledo, Ohio, Block Bugler's main reason for endorsing him is that he's (drumroll, please) a Democrat. But that's OK, right, Wayne?
Sadly, Pittsburgh's worst days are still to come.
Wiki quote from Government 2.0 book
In the past weeks, I've done very little with the wiki, Platform.For-Pgh.org. We do have it on disk now. We do have buttons for the platform as well. That effort is a long-term project. Enjoy this snip.
Tomorrow's creative, flexible lawmakers will be tech-savvy politicians who use a variety of electronic means to help their constituents become better citizens and themselves be better representatives. In time, politicians who fail to embrace e-democracy tools are likely to see their bills defeated by sophisticated online issue advocacy campaigns - or see themselves pushed out of office altogether by tech-savvy newcomers.
William Eggers is Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and Global Director, Public Sector for Deloitte Research. An edited extract from his book Government 2.0, published by Rowman and Littlefield, ISBN 0-7425-4175-4, is at the wiki now via another e-newsletter.
PCTV Mayor's Forum Line-up
Your Last Chance to ask the mayoral candidates questions open forum on non-profit development comes on May 13, 2005, 6 pm.
The only live call-in show on Comcast Public Access Television Channel 21 "So you Wanna Be Mayor" with live call in phone number, 412-231-2288.
All candidates will be present.
PCTV's repeated live broadcast time and dates of the live forum May 13, 2005:
Saturday, May 14, 11 pm to 1 am
Sunday, May 15, 10 pm to midnight
Monday, May 16, noon to 2 pm
Tuesday, May 17, 1 pm to 3
Darlene Terry, is the Outreach Director of Pittsburgh Community Television, 1300 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. 15233. Phone: (412) 322-7570. Fax: (412) 231-2292. www.pctv21.org
Sadly, the PA Senate Race didn't have a bleep with PCTV. Furthermore, few among city council races were present there too.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Next Pittsburgh Mayor Faces Budget Cuts
Next Pittsburgh Mayor Faces Budget Cuts The city has $1 billion worth of debt, it has been reduced to no-frills budgets _ this year's did not even include money to fix potholes _ and it has two quasi-governmental boards that have a tight hold on the city's purse strings.
Seven Democrats and one Republican are running to succeed Mayor Tom Murphy, who is not seeking a fourth term.
'Right now I'd be happier with anything but what we've had,' said Jim Mannella, 48, lifelong Pittsburgh resident. 'I'm not sure how much better it can be.'
Email blast to 412 list: Final days before the May 17 election
Hi All,
Tuesday, May 17, 2005, is election day. It's a DUAL election, and I'm a candidate in the special election for PA Senate. Every registered voter (in the 42nd), regardless of party affiliation, can go to the polls and vote for me. The winner of this one-time, special election gets to be a state senator for 19 months. This is NO PRIMARY. Rather, May 17 presents a general election to fill an unexpired term.
In addition, two ballot questions (one is row-office reform and the second is on growing greener) give YES or NO choices for everyone to vote upon. Vote in the special election for state senate -- and -- vote for these ballot questions too.
The Post-Gazette's voters guide was published on Monday.
The Pgh City Paper printed an article and photo of me. See page 10 and 12.
HELP: We printed 40,000 fliers (black & white, positive) five days ago. More are still on hand in the office. We've been passing out the fliers around the district and downtown corners (also part of the district).
If you can help -- come over and pick up a bundle of literature. I'd LOVE to motivate another two dozen workers and provide you with your own materials for your own, self-paced LITERATURE DROPS. Give out the fliers to your neighbors, co-workers, fellow parents, church friends and transit riders.
Call me at 412 298 3432 = cell.
Materials (handouts, buttons, CDs) are at our office, 108 South 12th Street, South Side, just two blocks off of East Carson Street.
Most of the people we approach are very happy to vote for a POSITIVE CANDIDATE with real solutions. Lots of people in this district of nearly 200,000 are still undecided. Most of them are coming to our side as they become more aware of the options and choices.
Call me if you can help "spread some love."
Tuesday, May 17, 2005, is election day. It's a DUAL election, and I'm a candidate in the special election for PA Senate. Every registered voter (in the 42nd), regardless of party affiliation, can go to the polls and vote for me. The winner of this one-time, special election gets to be a state senator for 19 months. This is NO PRIMARY. Rather, May 17 presents a general election to fill an unexpired term.
In addition, two ballot questions (one is row-office reform and the second is on growing greener) give YES or NO choices for everyone to vote upon. Vote in the special election for state senate -- and -- vote for these ballot questions too.
The Post-Gazette's voters guide was published on Monday.
The Pgh City Paper printed an article and photo of me. See page 10 and 12.
HELP: We printed 40,000 fliers (black & white, positive) five days ago. More are still on hand in the office. We've been passing out the fliers around the district and downtown corners (also part of the district).
If you can help -- come over and pick up a bundle of literature. I'd LOVE to motivate another two dozen workers and provide you with your own materials for your own, self-paced LITERATURE DROPS. Give out the fliers to your neighbors, co-workers, fellow parents, church friends and transit riders.
Call me at 412 298 3432 = cell.
Materials (handouts, buttons, CDs) are at our office, 108 South 12th Street, South Side, just two blocks off of East Carson Street.
Most of the people we approach are very happy to vote for a POSITIVE CANDIDATE with real solutions. Lots of people in this district of nearly 200,000 are still undecided. Most of them are coming to our side as they become more aware of the options and choices.
Call me if you can help "spread some love."
Carol Rubley slammed over Growing Greener II scam
News release from James Babb, 2006 Libertarian Candidate for Representative in the General Assembly, District 157
Lower Providence Twp. - Libertarian candidate, James Babb is calling on Pennsylvania voters to reject the $625,000,000 bond scheme at the polls on May 17th. Citing the massive cost and ineffectiveness of similar coercive government programs, Babb joins other environmentalists and taxpayer advocates in opposing this new debt burden.
"I'm not surprised that career politicians like Carol Rubley co-sponsored HB 2, the deceptive bill that authorizes the bond referendum. "Formerly regarded as the 'party of small government', our Republican representatives in Harrisburg are helping Ed Rendell expand government at an alarming rate. Growing Greener 2 is just the latest example. Tax hikes alone can no longer satisfy their thirst, so politicians like Rubley are reaching for the taxpayer's Visa card again" noted Babb. "Even if you have no interest in the D & R primary races, concerned voters need to show up at the poll on May 17 to rejecting this bond scheme."
"HB 2 is so broad, that we can only guess where the money will end up, however, all sorts of goodies are promised in the state's own advertising materials, including industrial bailouts, farm subsidies, housing subsidies, and a wave of other socialist programs. Virtually every special interest group is represented in the proposed loot distribution. Sadly, the interest group not represented in this scheme, is that off our children and grandchildren, who will inherit this legacy of high taxes and debt."
"Voters need to know why the politicians are asking voters to authorize an additional $625,000,000 of tax-payer funded debt. Under the guise of environmental protection, the GG2 bond scheme rewards polluters in Pennsylvania, by shifting their cost of environmental cleanup on to the backs of overburdened tax payers. In addition to polluters, the GG2 scheme is a boon for some other groups. Bankers and investors will earn some handsome interest on $625,000,000. Perhaps as much as another $625,000,000. Politically connected lawyers and real estate firms will also profit handsomely at taxpayers expense."
"In a time when Pennsylvania is facing job losses and reduced revenues, its time to reduce government spending, not increase it. Pennsylvanians want to preserve the environment. Lets let them do it by reducing their tax burden and protecting private property from polluters." The Libertarian added, "Instead of paying for another failed industrial bailout or agricultural welfare scheme, Pennsylvanians should be free to invest in the parks or conservation projects of their choosing. We don't need to filter our efforts through Harrisburg bureaucrats. By holding polluters responsible instead of taxpayers, we can attract more nonpolluting businesses to the Commonwealth, increase prosperity, increase jobs AND protect the environment."
"Pennsylvania is the home of hundreds of thousands of environmentalists that have voluntarily contributed valuable time and resources to make our state beautiful. I hope you will join me in preserving the natural beauty of Pennsylvania by volunteering at your local park, contributing to a worthy conservation charity and voting NO to this bond referendum on May 17th!"
- -
James Babb is a business owner, musician and father. In 2004, his
campaign for State Rep. earned 18% of the votes in his home county.
Illegal: Onorato and Fontana's plan of 0-1-2-3-4 is Toast
The Judge proved what many, myself included, said for a number of months. The plan put forth, in large measure by my opponent for PA Senate in the special election, Wayne Fontana, Dem, and the County Executive, Dan Onorato, is ILLEGAL. It isn't able to be applied to property taxes for county residents. Their plan was not fair.
The plan was bogus from the outset.
The property tax mess in the county is massive. Fontana has been the chair of this failed effort and committee.
The 0-1-2-3-4 plan was a short-term fix. I hate short term fixes.
To soar, to thrive, to prosper again, we need leaders and concerned citizens who are going to work at getting to the roots of the problems. Too many around here are just batting at the leaves on the tree of suffering. Some of us care about the system wide problems.
We are not back to square one. Wrong. We are now behind the 8-ball again. We are now in deeper crisis mode. We are again putting matters before the judge to decide.
I want elections to decide. I want judges to come to the forefront when problems exist. I don't want to make problems at every turn and run to judges. The way to fix the mess -- elect candidate with solutions and a desire to get to those solutions.
The top solution for this challenge: ASSESSMENT BUFFERING.
We need a state senator who can take a state-wide fix, assessment buffering, and champion a new model, like is done in Maryland. When an assessment arrives, the increases in property values are buffered. Taxpayers have an opportunity to know what the taxes are going to be in the years ahead. Increases are much more gradual.
The assessment buffering utility is universal for all property owners. Hence, assessment buffering fixes the snag with the state constitution and the "uniformity clause."
Fontana's law about 0-1-2-3-4 was broken because it didn't have any fairness. Fontana's law wasn't uniform. It was clearly junk legislation. That is the best they can muster, sadly.
We can do better.
Another solution to this whole mess, and another idea that gets to the roots of the problem -- LAND VALUE TAX. As soon as we put more of a value upon the land, and less upon the building, then the system has stability and even greater fairness. This shift back to the land-value tax would send the region into a new round of building and growth.
Today, property owners are rewarded for letting their buildings decline. Turn you house into a shack and get a property tax break. That's wrong. Turn your house into a beautiful home and get penalized. That is wrong.
We want people to grow the value in their homes. We want people to be good neighbors and fix up their buildings.
Today the land speculators are getting rewarded for doing nothing with their weed covered plots of land. That isn't good economics. That isn't good for the neighborhodds. That isn't good for our region.
Once we tax the land to a higher degree than the property -- the land speculators will sell off the holdings because the taxes are too great. Or, the land speculators will try to do a fix up and make the property one of the best in the neighborhoods to maximize the investment and long term return.
Furthermore, our downtown office towers are becoming empty. The values to those buildings are dropping faster than ever. We need to keep the value in downtown and keep the taxes off of the backs of the smaller property owners in the neighborhoods. The taxes situation in the city is shifting away from downtown office building owners and onto the backs of the little guys.
Smart people who think again can appreciate the situations and we can make changes. We can fix the decline with some different policies.
The plan was bogus from the outset.
The property tax mess in the county is massive. Fontana has been the chair of this failed effort and committee.
The 0-1-2-3-4 plan was a short-term fix. I hate short term fixes.
To soar, to thrive, to prosper again, we need leaders and concerned citizens who are going to work at getting to the roots of the problems. Too many around here are just batting at the leaves on the tree of suffering. Some of us care about the system wide problems.
We are not back to square one. Wrong. We are now behind the 8-ball again. We are now in deeper crisis mode. We are again putting matters before the judge to decide.
I want elections to decide. I want judges to come to the forefront when problems exist. I don't want to make problems at every turn and run to judges. The way to fix the mess -- elect candidate with solutions and a desire to get to those solutions.
The top solution for this challenge: ASSESSMENT BUFFERING.
We need a state senator who can take a state-wide fix, assessment buffering, and champion a new model, like is done in Maryland. When an assessment arrives, the increases in property values are buffered. Taxpayers have an opportunity to know what the taxes are going to be in the years ahead. Increases are much more gradual.
The assessment buffering utility is universal for all property owners. Hence, assessment buffering fixes the snag with the state constitution and the "uniformity clause."
Fontana's law about 0-1-2-3-4 was broken because it didn't have any fairness. Fontana's law wasn't uniform. It was clearly junk legislation. That is the best they can muster, sadly.
We can do better.
Another solution to this whole mess, and another idea that gets to the roots of the problem -- LAND VALUE TAX. As soon as we put more of a value upon the land, and less upon the building, then the system has stability and even greater fairness. This shift back to the land-value tax would send the region into a new round of building and growth.
Today, property owners are rewarded for letting their buildings decline. Turn you house into a shack and get a property tax break. That's wrong. Turn your house into a beautiful home and get penalized. That is wrong.
We want people to grow the value in their homes. We want people to be good neighbors and fix up their buildings.
Today the land speculators are getting rewarded for doing nothing with their weed covered plots of land. That isn't good economics. That isn't good for the neighborhodds. That isn't good for our region.
Once we tax the land to a higher degree than the property -- the land speculators will sell off the holdings because the taxes are too great. Or, the land speculators will try to do a fix up and make the property one of the best in the neighborhoods to maximize the investment and long term return.
Furthermore, our downtown office towers are becoming empty. The values to those buildings are dropping faster than ever. We need to keep the value in downtown and keep the taxes off of the backs of the smaller property owners in the neighborhoods. The taxes situation in the city is shifting away from downtown office building owners and onto the backs of the little guys.
Smart people who think again can appreciate the situations and we can make changes. We can fix the decline with some different policies.
Judge rules county can't cap property assessments Onorato convinced County Council to change the county administrative code to allow the six categories because without them, he said, many taxpayers would face huge increases in their property taxes.
In a 20-page opinion and order, Wettick acknowledged the county had some problems after its last reassessment in 2003. But the cap system enacted by the county 'works to exacerbate rather than to correct these problems' because the caps would not allow properties to be assessed at their actual values.
Text of News Brief from City Paper
The article is in news boxes, and now live on the website.
State senate race: Third-Party Third Candidate Gives Office Second Try
Writer: MARTY LEVINE
Mark Rauterkus is hoping for an astounding voter turnout in the 42nd District state Senate race on May 17, one of the only spring contests that’s not a primary. Rauterkus, the Libertarian candidate, figures all he needs are several hundred Republican votes, maybe a fifth of the Democrats -- and all 8,000 people in the district registered with third parties, or as Independents.
Rauterkus, a 45-year-old South Side resident and Carlynton Swim Club coach, styles himself "a citizens' candidate. Let the idea reign supreme, no matter who it came from," he says.
It's the sort of thing you say when you’re fighting for attention amid ugly television ads from Democrat Wayne Fontana, until recently a County Councilor, and Democrat-turned-Republican Michael Diven, hoping to move up from his state House seat. All want to replace Jack Wagner, elected as auditor general in November. Rauterkus ran for Pittsburgh mayor in 2001.
Rauterkus is one of the few candidates this season without a major-party endorsement who nonetheless is mounting a full-scale campaign, albeit without money for television ads. He says his first legislative priority is the kids: He wants to create a "Pittsburgh Parks District," which would require the city, county and school district to pool their parks under new oversight.
County-wide property reassessment is at the center of the other two candidates’ campaigns, despite the state's less-than-central role in the process. Rauterkus’ solution is assessment buffering: splitting each new assessment increase into three parts and adding one per year for three years to ease the pain.
Like many third-party candidates, he sports the most specific -- or unusual -- ideas on other issues as well: The region should use heavy rail instead of light rail, and not under the Port Authority’s control. In fact, we should get rid of the various city authorities, or at least make their members stand for retention votes a while after they’ve been appointed. Rauterkus has also proposed the formation of transparent political action committee (PAC) accounts, in which citizens can track political contributions with the same ease as they can get a bank balance via ATM.
"Some of these items require senator-type leadership," he notes. "I'm trying to step out of the party game, as far as being a D or an R." Of course, the letter L has some implications as well. But Rauterkus isn’t worried. He points to the lack of polling in this campaign as a positive sign -- the other fellows must be afraid of his candidacy.
"It sends a message to me that I’m doing pretty well," he says.
See Rauterkus.blogspot.com, Rauterkus.com or Platform.For-Pgh.org.
Dave's promise
Dave Copeland, new and improved. Dave Copeland 2.0
New blog, new content, new stuff debuts summer 2005
New blog, new content, new stuff debuts summer 2005
Electronic medical records the goal of Murphy's bill
A Doctor friend at UPMC, Dr. E for now, is busy working on a few book chapters and papers. He and I have spoken about this record keeping nightmare that faces the nation. He took a year to do extensive research on the issues. Much of his work is about the human interface and the work habits of the doctors.
In the past the records were a tool to help doctors better care. Now a great deal of time is spent on the patient record so as to stay out of the courtroom. Seemginly more and more time is devoted to the paper trail and less and less to the sick, injured and unknowing.
Wellness is important.
This theme would be a great course of action, or track, for the proposed Youth Technology Summit.
I was at another event last night, and heard of a new concept -- a mini medical school. Humm. It sounded a bit like the citizens police academy, but for another major topic area.
Lifelong learning is so important.
In the past the records were a tool to help doctors better care. Now a great deal of time is spent on the patient record so as to stay out of the courtroom. Seemginly more and more time is devoted to the paper trail and less and less to the sick, injured and unknowing.
Electronic medical records the goal of Murphy's bill WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tim Murphy introduced legislation yesterday with a bipartisan group of House and Senate colleagues that would provide new grants and loans to develop electronic medical records systems in an attempt to reduce medical errors and health care costs.
Wellness is important.
This theme would be a great course of action, or track, for the proposed Youth Technology Summit.
I was at another event last night, and heard of a new concept -- a mini medical school. Humm. It sounded a bit like the citizens police academy, but for another major topic area.
Lifelong learning is so important.
A campaign in the neck
Whine.
Both sides is not all sides, here, and in most places in life.
A campaign in the neck Republicans are attempting to make a beachhead in the city with Diven, who has been a Republican for about a half-hour. He was elected to City Council as a Democrat, and then to the Pennsylvania House, but Diven jumped to the other party when he saw this opening, prompting a most uncivil war.
The level of innuendo and half-truths from both sides is exceptional even by the low standards of politics. These two have done everything but accuse each other of persuading Ben Roethlisberger to ride his motorcycle without a helmet, but then there are still five days until the election.
Both sides is not all sides, here, and in most places in life.
Growing Greener 2 Ballot Question
Ballot question:
Do you favor authorizing the Commonwealth to borrow up to $625,000,000, for the maintenance and protection of the environment, open space and farmland preservation, watershed protection, abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine drainage remediation and other environmental initiatives?
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