Do Growing Greener Right and Do It Now, Coalition Demands

This came to me from another source, hence the ITALIC type. Authorship / ownership tip: As a style convention on this blog, generally, a good way to tell that I (Mark Rauterkus) didn't write the text is from the ITALIC messages.

Growing Greener implementation legislation is in the balance in Harrisburg at this moment. As you are likely aware, the budget process is supposed to be finished by June 30 (tomorrow), so this is the crazed rush time of year where everything gets thrown into the mix. The good news is that Growing Greener is in that mix. But, we need to make sure that what comes out the other end is what we all voted for in May.

PLEASE contact your legislators NOW and urge them to implement Growing Greener, but to do it RIGHT. See talking points below from a press release issued yesterday by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Conservation and Restoration (PARC). Sierra Club is a founding member of PARC, and urges our members to support PARC's positions in their communications with their Representatives and Senators.

Legislative Delay Violates Voters’ Trust, Risks Farmland and Environmental Cleanup

Harrisburg –With time running out for action this summer, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation (PARC), a coalition of sporting, environmental and civic organizations working together to protect Pennsylvania’s environment, who were the main organizers behind the resounding vote for environmental cleanup on the May ballot, called on Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to implement the voters' mandate for new spending on the environment. Instead of the House-passed version of Growing Greener, HB 3, which takes away $85 million a year in existing environmental funds to provide $115 million, the Coalition's 30 organizational members asked the legislature to adopt a general obligation bond, to be paid out of future revenues and not out of existing environmental programs, and to take that action prior to adjourning for its three-month summer recess.

"The voters overwhelmingly embraced the existing Growing Greener program with their 61 percent approval of the $625 million bond question in May," said Jan Jarrett, PARC co-chair and vice president of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture). "They didn't vote to take money from one set of environmental priorities to fund another, nor did they turn out to hand over state dollars to local government. They voted to preserve open space, clean-up abandoned mine lands, and restore our rivers and streams. Instead of playing shell-games with the taxpayers' money, the legislators and the governor need to stand up and do what the voters asked them to do."

"The proposals put forth so far by the governor and legislators violate the voters' intentions because they divert funding from other environmental programs or fail to make the significant investments needed in conservation and restoration programs," said Andrew McElwaine, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and PARC co-chair. "This new money must be used for environmental programs to protect farmland and open spaces and to clean up our water and maintain places for hunting and fishing. Anything less is a betrayal of the voters' wishes."

The PARC coalition sent Governor Rendell and the leaders of the General Assembly a set of guidelines for spending the voter-approved $625 million bond, which includes:

The new program must address critical needs to conserve dwindling open space and farmland, to restore land and water damaged by coal mining, to protect and restore watersheds, and to repair infrastructure maintained by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission;

Funding for these purposes must not come at the expense of existing environmental programs such as recycling;

The existing trash dumping fee should remain dedicated to its current purposes; and

Funding to address Pennsylvania's environmental problems and to conserve our natural resources must be in place for the long term to ensure a high quality of life in our communities.

Patriot Act - statement of opposition got the endorsement from County and State Libertarians

The Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania chapters of the ACLU sent out an endorsement call and both the Libertarian Party of Allghengy County and the Libertarian Party of PA are included on a letter that has just been sent to the Judiciary Committee Chair of the US Senate, our own Arlen Specter, Republican.

The exercise accomplished the following:

* Added weight to the very real concerns surrounding the Patriot Act.

* Presented the LPPA and LPPGH names out there where our "LP" brand should certainly stand apart from some of the left-leaning groups.

* Established some contacts within the ACLUs of PA and Pittsburgh that we can use in the future.

* Reminded them that we are "the third largest political party in Pennsylvania" and that when necessary we can be organizationally responsive to an appropriate request
even if requested in an awkward way. (Although, I hope they learn to be a little more proactive and maybe feel just a little guilty.)

* Gave local Libertarians an opportunity to respond to a "fire drill" where we had to react quickly to an opportunity to promote liberty and to promote ourselves. We passed, but I hope we can do this even smoother next time.

Hats off to Mark C, a local Libertarian leader, who was on best behavior with the
ACLU and keep on this side of being tolerant of those who make it difficult for us to do them a favor.

A few feel that the letter is pretty lame, but maybe it has to be and too long.

Mr. Bill Robinson -- he's considering a run for City Controller

Lump Camp bumped into Bill Robinson, present member of county council, headed into Giant Eagle.

I asked him if he is considering a run for City Controller -- and he is! That's good news.

He has, he assured me, taken into consideration the eventual resignation of his council seat. He said he'd not want to have me on his back while he was still on county council yet running for another public office.

Good answers Bill. Good on both accounts. I hope he gets into the city controller's race. And, I hope he pulls out of the county council before or at the proper times.

Wayne Fontana didn't. Wayne's lack of action in getting off of council at the right time set a bad policy that shouldn't be repeated.

China heat could kill Olympic horses in Hong Kong -- Downers.

SI.com - Olympics - Official: China heat could kill horses Horses could die in the heat if Olympic equestrian events are held in Hong Kong during the 2008 Beijing Games, the former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation was quoted as saying Tuesday.

How do the elephans survive in the heat of Thailand?

Is it because elephants don't "compete?"

Are horses more prone to going prone in the heat? Or, is it the humidity?

Can't the horse races occur at dawn, so as to be in prime time in the WEST COAST? It would be cooler at dawn.

What do you call a cow without any legs? .... Ground beef.

But that kiddie joke isn't funny any more as there is a word, "downers" now is an official world in the vet and cattle circles. A downer is an animal that can't get up. Those downers are all tested now -- for mad cow disease.

A cow in the American West recently tested positive for mad cow disease.

I'm sure that the control freaks in China would much rather have the lifestock all go to Hong Kong. No sense in spreading the illnesses of the world to Beijing and putting a BILLION PEOPLE to bed hungry with some infection that could spread.

China is now running into some big problems with its birds. A flock of ducks or geese were hit with a "bird flu" (not flew) in the past weeks. This was in the interior of the country and the animals were migrating. In a blink of time, thousands if not millions of fowl could be infected. That is scary on many dimensions.

If Hong Kong won't have the equestrian events, I could see those events being offered to Taiwan.

Horse racing is a big deal in Hong Kong, by the way. They were building a big race track very near to the center of the city last year. Gambling is a big deal too, at the track. They are called, Jockey Clubs.

Another interesting concept in China, polo. Not water polo but polo with horses. A former dynasty in China got into polo for a bit. It is a game for kings. Polo didn't fly in modern times nor with the communist. But, there were some rather large public art pieces in squares and such that featured polo.

I don't think POLO is an OLYMPIC sport. Perhaps it could be pulled into the offering for Hong Kong as an exhibition sport.

Perhaps China couls sweeten the deal and be able to put horses in Hong Kong if a deal was cut to also allowed the jockey clubs of Hong Kong to permit gambling and book making on the Olympic events. In house bets on DIVING would be a real draw.

Red Alarms: Theater District Revival Plan smacks of elitism, cronies and stupidity

A gathering of 75 out-of-town building, planner, designer, developer wonks is being held downtown at the Renaissance Hotel to gather, ponder, pitch and fester about some parcels of "key" spaces that are controlled by and within the Cultural District.

That's fine, except.....

Only outsiders were allowed to attend and participate.

Pittsburgh individuals and firms were EXCLUDED by DESIGN.

How stupid can they be?

But, remember, fools like this run the PDP, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. The PDP held a candidate night for participants in the Pittsburgh Mayor's race -- and told people that they were NOT invited. There were people who were not allow to attend as spectators. A black woman walked to te event from her home in The Hill -- and the PDP morons shut the door in her face.

We've got too many with 1940 style country club attitudes in our downtown institutions.

I won't raise my concerns with the AARP again, now as another example.

The headline in the Trib, "Rivival continues in theater district" -- is plain old B.S. Same old sh*t.

The information I'm blabbing about in this post comes from a few trusted sources. I'll be happy to eat my words and make a public retraction as soon as I see the list of those who attended the sessions. Then we'll call the Pittsburgh-based people and firms and figure out why they were 'blacklisted.'

It is uneasy for me to write this. It is a shame to have to read it. And, I'm sure that some who read this are going to be livid at me, the messenger, and ignore the real message.

I think the creative people that have been invited are the one's who call home something other than Pittsburgh. The ones from here are homers and they might have the luck of setting up the rules, playing gatekeeper, and doing catering duties.

Another head-scratching point: A pedestrian bridge is mentioned in the article. It is to go over Ft. Duquesne Boulevard. They're attempting to span the wrong gulf.

The cultural district is a fine jewel, no doubt. But, I have a big problem with elitist running around acting like they've got rocks in their heads.

All the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put Pittsburgh together again.

I guess that the photo in the story shows the first residential structure to be built in Downtown Pittsburgh in the past three decades -- if you ignore all the abodes from the homeless, loft conversions, the new Allegheny County jail that's overflowing, (plus the new-new temp housing jail annex), and units within downtown's spitting distance (The Hill and North Side, and anything Uptown???).

We should have more downtown housing. I'm in favor of that. But, I don't want to have subsidized housing for the rich.

We should have open community forums to dream big and plan for sensational, stars-bound landings. But, I don't want any leader nor leadership entity to display the slightest closed-door mentality yet alone outright hostility. What gives when people who live here, and who are experts here, are spat upon?

To right the impressions -- publish the minutes of the meetings, online, in haste. I'd like to see the documentation from those brainstorming sessions. And, I'd like to know what other buildings are going to be needed -- perhaps by eminent domain -- to make this a public-good "darling."

Please, make me eat these words. I want to be wrong.

Lump camp swings into high gear

This week, my boys are engaged in Lump Camp. This isn't anything new to us. We've gotten quite good at this activity in past summers as well.

We are going to get some of the details of this fantastic experience documented this year so as to allow others to sign-up for it in the future. But most of all, I'm hoping that my kids will grow up to one day be camp leaders for their own Lump Camps. They are still campers. Next year we might allow for one to graduate to Junior Leadership Roles.

Lunch is provided at lump camp, only if you ask for it, and ask at the proper times. Plus, lunch depends upon available leftovers in the refrig or hotdogs in the freezer.

We got a leg up on this week's lump camp this weekend. It is always good to build up to the activities of nothingness and not go 'cold turkey' so you don't hit the wall.

We did have a little bout of Thai Boxing at the end of lump camp today. But, officially, that session was AFTER Lump Camp's day ended. Thai Boxing and other such motions are strongly encouraged and permitted after mom walks in the door at the end of her long day at the office. We have to keep the daytime pure and void of activities.

In our Thai Boxing lessons, Grant, 7, worked on keeping his head up so as to avoide the headlock position between my ankles.

Next week, Grant goes to half-day Zoo Camp. So, our time in the zone, the sweet zone of nothingness and naps, is fleeting.

When it is 90+ degrees (F) outside, we have great weather for lump camp. You can't drop into Lump Camp. We have a strict policy on visitors. But, for the future, should you get the clearance and apply early, say for next year, be sure to bring sweaters. The air conditioning is on 'high.'

One of the nice perks of the Green Tree Swim Team is the 8 to 10 pm swim practice as it doesn't bump into Lump Camp. Time to shave and head to the pool.

Pippy's bill strikes out on what is REALLY needed

PA Senator, John Pippy of the south and western parts of Allgheny County is putting forth a bill that is nice, but isn't really what is called for.

June 24, 2005

Pippy Bill to Prevent Windfall Tax Hikes Approved by Committee

Requires revenue-neutral millage rates following reassessment, unless approved in separate, public vote.

Harrisburg – Legislation sponsored by Sen. John Pippy (R-37) to protect Allegheny County taxpayers from tax increases following a countywide reassessment has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee. Senate Bill 726 now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

"The purpose of property reassessment is to provide accurate data for fair taxing, not to provide a back-door tax increase," said Pippy. "This legislation will stop automatic increases and require an open, public discussion."

The measure requires that following reassessment municipalities and school districts determine millage rates that are revenue-neutral compared to the previous year. To set a tax rate higher than the revenue-neutral rate, they would have to take a separate and specific vote in a public meeting. A municipality or school district that violates the limitations would have to refund with interest the excess taxes paid by homeowners.

The Second Class County Code permits a taxing body to institute a final tax rate up to five percent greater than the amount it levied on properties the year before. Under the proposed legislation, in cases of dire need – to purchase new equipment related to public health and safety, for example -- a political subdivision may petition the court for approval to increase the millage rate beyond the five percent that was approved via public vote.

Local efforts to limit tax hikes following reassessments remain bogged down. Common Pleas Court ruled May 12 that Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato's property assessments plan is illegal and would create more problems for the system. Rep. Mark Mustio (R-44) has introduced legislation similar to Senate Bill 726 in the House of Representatives.

"Representative Mustio and I began this effort in May and I'm encouraged that we're already seeing legislative action," said Pippy. "We're both going to work hard to see that this legislation is approved by the Senate and House and signed into law as soon as possible."

Everyday people don't care much if taxes are flat, held at 5-percent or increase in municipal-wide ways. Windfalls of the whole township or city are but a pimple of pain to individual taxpayers.

What matters to the individual is the specific tax bill that comes to the individual. We need to have leadership that considers the bottom line for that person as a greater force to deal with rather than the bottom line for that person's community.

They real point of pain and problem is being missed.

As it is now, when a reassessment is made, the gross value of increase is not to exceed by five percent. Pippy's plan changes the five percent to zero.

This is a yawner.

When the first major reassessment came, taxpayers were told that one third of the property values were going to go up, one third would remain about the same and the final one third of property values would go down. We were told that all in all, this reassessment would be a wash with the ups being matched by the downs. The process was just to right-size the values to make everything more fair.

That song and dance was repeated thousands of times in all of our communities.

This trend is like batting at the leaves on the tree of suffering. We need to have those in power go to the real roots of problems. One of the roots of the problem reside within the changes to the specific tax bill that individual gets.

Pippy should be talking about assessment buffering. he's not. Neither is Fontana.

If today's tax bill is $1,000 per year, and then the new tax bill comes in at $1,600 -- that is a big problem. If you are on fixed income, you can't just come up with the extra money. Banks need more money for monthly payments to cover the mortage and the taxes. These changes happen right away. Family budgets are blown out of the water with one piece of mail.

Changes, as in price increases, to a person's taxes on real property need to be made in a gradual, year-by-year basis.

A re-assessment comes with "sticker shock." That shock can be dealt with in a universal way if Pennsylvania would allow for "assessment buffering."

Let's say you are fortunate to have your assessment go sky high. You must be living in a neighborhood that is seeing the home values increase. Your home is making money, once you sell it. That's the theory at least.

But now the tax bill has shot up frmo $1,000 to $1,600 per year. With Assessement Bufferws over a three year period, the rate of increase will be something that people will be able to manage and deal with over time. Next year's tax bill goes from $1,000 to $1,200*. Then to $1,400. Then in the third year to $1,600.

* The formula is a little more complicated than 1/3 over three years. The down to the decimal change put into places is generally 1/3 plus 10-percent of the increase. But, that detail is not so important, yet can't be overlooked. A whole tutorial is available if needed, say for Pippy and others. FYI to the digit heads, 10-percent in year one (with a $600 increase) is $60.

The neighborhing state of Maryland allows for this type of tax billing to ease the changes upon new assessments.

People don't like to be jerked around. Assessment buffering calms the storm.

Another huge benefit is the time allowance factor. When Allegheny County had its new assessment a couple of years ago, it too two years or so to deal with the flood of appeals. Perhaps your property went from $1,000 to $2,500 per year. Your appeal might have only been able to be scheduled for two years later because the line was so long. The assessment might have been wrong, but you still needed to pay the inflated amount while you waited for the appeal's outcome.

With Assessment Buffering, the rush to fix broken assessment values is NOT a grave. The extra time takes plenty of stress out of the system. Refunds are less of a problem. Schedules are less pressing. Lower workforces are able to be employed. The knee jerk reactions vanish -- or at least are not as connected to the wallet.

This is not a way to lull people to sleep. But, it is a way to respect family budgets.

If you know a new assessement is in the works, you might not buy that new car, take a vacation, invest in a musical instrument, change your job, go back to school.

You might not want to buy a new house either -- because that tax bill at $1,000 might triple and then you've got a home you can't afford nor sell to any other sucker.

I think that the overall marketplace would be much more healthy if the sticker shock associated with a new assessment was always buffered.

Senator Pippy --- how about if you extend this conversation about assessment buffering to the halls in Harrisburg. In the neighborhoods in the 42nd district, as I campaigned in the past months, we were able to inject these concepts and always had favorable reactions.

Take the ball and run with it. Be "Mr. Touchdown" and score a major victory for all the taxpayers in Pennsylvania. There is no downside to this measure. Slip it on as an amendment to what you've already started.

Trail Party, 4 to 7 pm on July 8 on the South Side

Friends of the Riverfront is holding a Heritage Trail Party and Dedication from 4 pm to 7 pm on July 8 at the Trail Head Facility (Intersection of McKean and Bingham).

All are invited. I'll try my best to attend too.

I'll try to get a new CD out with a video of a new song for the event, Kicking the Stone by Johnsmith.

South Side's 10-1 Trail Segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail (aka "the missing link") is finally completed. No need to R.S.V.P.

Walk, bike or blade along the Heritage Trail to the new trail head facility in Pittsburgh’s South Side at the Terminus of Fourth Street at the Intersection of McKean and Bingham off Carson Street.

We will enjoy food, entertainment and an inaugural bike ride. The dedication is being cosponsored by Dasani in conjunction with the Rails-to-Trail Conservancy, Friends of the Riverfront and Bike Pittsburgh. The event will serve as an unveiling of a new Community Bike Program, a first in the City of Pittsburgh.

http://www.railtrails.org/membership/corporate/dasani.asp

Fatal Error: Can't run new game, Lego Star Wars, the video game

Fatal error:
sorry, but your machine is unable to run this game. It requires a praphics card which supports Pixel Shaders v 1.1. this game will now exit.

The computer was purchased six months ago, in December 2004. It is a Compaq Presario, 3200+. The display adapter is VIA/S3G UniChrome 1GP driver version 6.14.10.194.

The game's developer is Eidos.com.

Skinny on the game at Download.com isn't good. I read how many others are also in the same pickle. But, if it works, the game seems nice.

Support at Compaq's chat, just now, was hopeless and without a clue. If the system works with other games then there isn't a problem with the computer. I'm not looking to fix blame, yet. I'm looking to fix the problem.

I saw a few more mentions in the read me file. But, I can't get to that unless I install the game on another computer. The other PC, same age, different maker, gave the same error. That PC is an Emachine. That PC has a different make of video card. The game is on this computer -- but -- I can't get to the read me file.

Bottom line: DO NOT PURCHASE THE GAME: Lego Star Wars. Don't do it. Be sure you can get over the hurdle with Pixel Shaders v1.1.
One report says TARGET won't take it back as a return.

PA Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival - Berks County event in Sept

The first annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival is the consummation of years of interest, research, experimentation and interaction in the world of renewable energy and other Earth-friendly related disciplines.

The Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association, along with many diverse groups, clubs, and individuals have come together to host his two day festival on September 23rd and 24th of 2005 at the Kempton Community Fairgrounds, Kempton (Berks County) PA, 19529.

Speakers, national exhibitors, workshops, hands-on demonstrations, vendors, live music and entertainment, children’s activities, food and more. This wide-ranging educational program offers you the chance to debate the key issues, whilst a groundbreaking exhibition creates the perfect environment to evaluate the solutions – all under one roof! The Festival will promote solar, wind, hydrogen, biofuels, green building, organic farming, green political awareness and much, much more.

If you've ever dreamed of powering your home or business off solar or wind energy, and growing and preparing wholesome organic food, don't miss this unique opportunity to learn how to make your dream a reality.

The Pennsylvania Chapter is a proud sponsor of this event and will have several tables. Scot Case of the Center for the New American Dream and a Sierra Club activist is slated as one of the keynote speakers. Judy Johnsrud, Energy Chair, will be conducting a workshop.

To volunteer contact Bob Flatley, Chair of the Kittatinny Group, e4bob@yahoo.com or 610-756-6625

Slogan stumbles for 2008. Hey, BOOC, Think again. One size doesn' fit all.

Every Olympics has an organizational stumble and snafu, or two. It is good to see China's approach is to get its stumble out of the way early. They must have said, "Let's get this money off our backs and do a major screw up now, in 2005. Then we'll be done with all the screw-ups and expect smooth sailing the rest of the way.

BEIJING (AP) -- The slogan for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be "One World, One Dream."

This slogan "embodies the common aspiration of the 1.3 billion Chinese people in establishing a world of peace and better future," said Liu Qi, president of Beijing's Olympic organizing committee.

The slogan was chosen from 210,000 proposals in Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages, Liu said.

Chinese Cabinet member Li Changchun announced the slogan Sunday at a gala in the city's Workers Stadium featuring breakdancers, basketball players performing with a military band, and television celebrities. The ceremony was televised live.

Also Sunday, China started construction of its 160-acre Olympic Village, where 16,000 athletes and officials will live during the games. It is to be completed by the end of 2007, organizers said.

The slogan, "One World" is a darn great slogan. I love that part as the song, "One World" is on my CDs that I've been giving out since late 2004. Mindy Simmons, friend, singer and songwritter, provides the song, "One World" as part of my campaign CD.

By the way, Mindy is going to be back with her music and guitar very soon. She'll be doing a concert on Monday, July 11 in Kenyon College as part of Summer Institute. Plus, Mindy is doing a service and concert at First Unitarian on Sunday morning, July 17. First Unitarian is in Shadyside. If you can go -- please do. She's great.

The song, One World, from a female, American singer associated withe a free-market community guy in Pittsburgh comes from a point of view that is grossly unlike that from China's top officials in Beijing.

One World, One Heart -- that would work for me.

How about One World, Countless Dreams -- that would work for me too.

I just hate to see the "one dream" part as it feels too much like we'll be stuffing too many square pegs into round holes.

As for other Olympic stumbles -- how about the motocycle crash in Athens? But there are countless official, coach, athlete blunders. Do you remember the unleashing of the masot well in advance of the Atlanta Olympics? That was a royal joke. It was like this droopey white star that was like a puffed potato chip. That character was gone before anyone could say, "Give-me-Coke and a smile while calling Disney ASAP."

How about, "One World, One Spirit of Determination!"

The Three Rivers Post & Standard -- and new blog with fellow Libertarians and beyond

The creator of this site, J.E., just became a father for the third time! Way to go J and Libby. His family now has THREE BOYS.

The Three Rivers Post & Standard Welcome to The Three Rivers Post & Standard, a new journal covering the Pittsburgh region’s general mess…

I think the blog will be a welcome addition to the overall landscape. Some good minds are involved. The technology is kwel too. I just posted a bit about our family's open house on the 4th of July there. I like the features and wish some of them were at Blogspot as well.

Training for the Triathlon

My self-paced swim workout was greater in distance than the distance for the actual race. The race is 1.5K in the Allegheny River. Looking at the course, the first 1/3rd goes upstream and the back 2/3rds flows with the current.

Swim 400 with flip turns (no stopping)
Swim 400 with open turn, head up at mid length for peeking (no stopping)
Pull 1 x 200
Pull 4 x 50 (10-sec rest between, swimming faster)
Paddles 1 x 200
Paddles 4 x 50 (10-sec rest between, faster)
Swim Breast 1 x 200
Swim Breast 4 x 50
Kick 1 x 200 (Breast)
100 swim down

Jack Writes Letters: 'world' of a mayor award and ICA's wind in its sails

Jack Wagner, quck to write a letter about Tom Murphy, might want to consider sending in a piece of his mind to this outlet, CityMayors.com, too:

Tinley may have a 'world' of a mayor: "The City Mayors profiles of Richard Daley and Tom Murphy, of Pittsburgh, are credited to 'Josh Fecht, U.S. Editor,' but in fact are ripped word-for-word from biographies published on the cities' Web sites.

If Jack's words can re-ignite the ICA (oversight board), perhaps they can skuttle any hope for glory on Tom's exit.

Here is the Trib's Whispers mention in the Sunday paper:

Wild Thing, you make them Dems sting - PittsburghLIVE.com A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MAYOR MURPHY MISERABLE? Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner just couldn't resist.

With only six months to go before he leaves office, time is running out to take shots at Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy. Wagner, a longtime political foe of the mayor, evidently realized the clock is ticking.

Wagner recently sent a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell and key state legislative leaders requesting they maintain the city financial oversight board established last year by the General Assembly.

There has been talk in Harrisburg of dissolving the board, which has been a frequent thorn in Murphy's side. Most legislators don't mind the panel being a mayoral irritant, but they are concerned about it also sparring with the Act 47 financial recovery team appointed by Rendell.

Wagner, a former City Council president who lost to Murphy in the 1993 Democrat mayoral primary, had a hand in establishing the board when he was a state senator.

As a state row officer, he really doesn't have standing to inject himself into the debate over whether the oversight board should survive. Knowing how miserable the panel could make Murphy's final days in office probably helped convince Wagner to lobby to keep it alive.

Jerry Bowyer is out at WPTT, 1360 AM -- talk show switches

On the 4th of July, WPTT has a new line-up. Frankly, I don't like it. I'll miss Bowyer.

7-9 am = Laura Ingraham Show (syndicated)
9 to noon = Lynn Cullen (Pgh's own)
Noon to 3 = The Thom Hartmann Show (syndicated)
3 to 6 = Uncle Dougie, Doug Hoerth

Boywer is leaving for a new talk show on WORD-FM (101.5) starting in September.

Clark Howard (syndicated) is from 6 to 10 pm.

Just getting my head above water.... What do you make of these numbers?

On May 18, just after the May 17 election day, we went over the Pacific Ocean for a month. I'm just now getting my act in gear in terms of catch-up.

What do you make of these election result numbers?

http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/elect/200505pri/rpt301.asp

At first blush, I see that at every polling place, I got someone to vote for me. I didn't get ZERO anywhere.

The totals again:

Mark Rauterkus = 2,542

Michael Diven = 13,353

Wayne Fontana = 19,834

I got more than 7 percent of the total vote in the three way race.

The City Paper ran a blurb after the election and they had the numbers wrong. I was outspent about 250 to 1 by each candidate. But I was NOT outvoted by such an amount. I was outvoted 5 to 1 by Diven. I was outvoted 7.8 to 1 by Fontana.

Insights welcomed. Mine detailed insights yet to be posted.

New principals are appointed to city of Pittsburgh schools

There are plenty of changes. New principals are appointed to city of Pittsburgh schools

Delano goes 'ga-ga' over Swann -- but ABC and FOX are worthy matches

Jon Delano wrote, in part:

Swann's problem is this. Once he announces formally, ABC Sports will drop his lucrative contract as a football commentator during the 2005 season. How lucrative? I am told it's in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a few months work, but who knows. Bottom line, forget the money -- it's also great publicity for a would-be candidate running statewide. Of course, the more visible Swann becomes as a candidate during this pre-election season the greater the pressure on ABC to admit the obvious. So Swann has a narrow political (and legal) path to trod. He wants everyone to think of him as a candidate, to promise him support, and give him lots of money -- but he doesn't want to give ABC (or opponents contacting ABC) any excuse to drop him from national broadcasting this autumn.

If Swann makes all the right moves on his timetable, don't expect a formal announcement of candidacy until next January.

What about Ed Rendell's contract to give insights on Sundays about the NFL for FOX? Rendell is on the air -- and he must campiagn too. What is good for the goose is good for the gander too, or in this case the swan. (honk, honk, honk)

I don't think ABC needs to drop Lynn Swann from the football broadcasting gig in the fall of 2005, even if Swann tosses his hat, formally, into the race for the GOP nomination for PA Gov spot. Nor should ABC do so.

At the most, perhaps ABC would put a memo together to ask him and the counterparts on the air to stick to football. And, if things made viewers blink twice, keep Swann out of the games in Phili and Pittsburgh. That would help calm fears, perhaps.

So, if I'm the boss of ABC Sports, Lynn, you'd not be benched for being a candidate.

Equitable's new North Shore HQ opens -- and it is a major letdown

Equitable's new North Shore HQ opens When oversized scissors snipped the blue ribbon at the new Equitable Resources Inc. headquarters next to PNC Park yesterday, it marked a moment for which Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy had been waiting eight long years.

This is an average building. This is a splendid space and a poor choice for a corporate headquarters.

The building blocks the views of the river.

The building is nothing special and fails to reach the necessary potential that the site should exhibit.

I think, and others who are in agreement, say that this is a classic example of a blown opportunity. Pittsburgh should have done much, much better.

City pools open, for now anyway - Lifeguard shortage is a world wide problem

Swimming:

City pools open, for now anyway: "Though City of Pittsburgh pools are scheduled to open today, some face the possibility of closure in July due to a scarcity of lifeguards.

The city has 103 lifeguards ready to go, reflecting the bare minimum needed to operate 13 pools, said aquatics supervisor Shelley Terlecki. There are not enough lifeguards in reserve to handle the inevitable vacations, call-offs, and resignations, she said.

A lack of lifeguards is a problem. Sandcastle needs them. REAMS will need them. Beaches around the world need lifeguards too.

Lifeguards are made in years of play at the pools. Swim teams are often great sources for lifeguards. There is an aquatics mentality that is made over time. The pool rats are the ones that aspire to be lifeguards.

One can't just wake up one day and turn into a lifeguard. You have to be able to swim well. Nonswimmers are out. Average swimmers are out too.

When Pittsburgh's officials worked to pull the plug on its swim team that used to operate at the Oliver Bath House -- I raised a warning flag. We don't have enough kids that can swim well enough to become lifeguards. And, we don't have enough kids who want to be lifeguards either.

Without the kids at the pools -- you'll never be able to fill the need.