Going to the Opera -- In Italian -- with two intermissions!

The opera goers gathered outside of the school and the center on South Side. They headed to the cultural district after getting the insights into the opera at a class a few days prior. This is a wonderful program that my kids and wife enjoy. I got to take the photo.


Headed to the opera.

The show has two intermissions -- much like a hockey game with three periods. I expected that my youngest would be sleeping throughout the show, prior to departure. Wrong. He was on the edge of his seat all night. They arrived home after midnight. The sleep part came on Saturday morning.

Jennifer Madge, our violin instructor, played first chair too.

Big games -- or not

Pitt is behind, 27 to 0 in the second quarter at RUTGERS.

Big weekend of Red Sox baseball, hosting the Yankees.

My call-in to Pippy on KDKA-radio about the 5% windfall shrink to 0%

The South Hills' John Pippy, R, was on KDKA radio talking about the plan in Harrisburg that NUKES the provision that allows for a 5-percent windfall for taxing bodies as a result of new property assessments. Presently, a community with a new assessment can get up to a five-percent bump in gross tax incomes. So, for exmaple, the Penn Hills School District, which is part of Allgheny County, would have all of its properties with new assessment figures because the county did a re-assessment. The old values of the properties would up up to X. Then the new values of the properties would up up to Y. The law has said that Y can be up to 5% greater than X.

In essence, the present law kept the total municipal property gross close to zero, with a little wiggle room, i.e., the 5% fudge factor.

Some argue that the municipality can "raise taxes" by five percent without voting on a tax hike. Rather, the taxes were raised under the cover of the reassesement's new figures.

The controller's office, once held by Dan Onorato, needed to crunch the numbers and then could have taken a case to the courts fighting local school districts or boroughs who set the taxing levels too high so that the 5% limit was over-stepped.

The tax rates and the math that is matched with the new property values isn't "rocket science." However, the numbers are not simple and transparent for citizens nor elected officials as the benchmark is found within the sum of all municipality's properties.

Furthermore, the new assessment numbers are often in a state of flux. High percentage of people apply for appeals. So, the sum of the assessments is a moving target. Estimates are necessary within the process. Additionally, the county executive often makes blankt-changes to the forumlas and jacks around with the outcomes.

In a perfect, ideal world, no tax increases should occur without a vote for the tax increases. So, a zero windfall makes sense. But, we don't live in an ideal world.

Plus, this won't be enforced. It is a joke. It is a ploy. The legisilation is lame and feel good from Harrisburg represenatives --as usual. The new law doesn't get to the roots of the problem.

There have been many municipalities that have broken the existing five-percent windfall rule and NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. If the law gets broken and nothing happens with its enforcement -- then the law isn't worthy.

Another serious issue that was downplayed on the radio by Pippy, as a result of my on-air question, goes to 'new development.' Pippy said that this is not a big deal and he's wrong. Statewide, he is very wrong.

For example, there are many rural communities that are turning farmlands into new suburban housing. A township can see a new development with 600 or 6,000 new homes and need to take that into account when making the tax incomes match the citizen services. A community might need new police, new road crews, new garbage pick-up crews and streetlights -- because of new developments. So, the new law puts the township supervisors in a pickle.

What if Homestead, the site of the Waterfront Mall, had to keep its total tax incomes at zero -- the year that the Mall opened. Do police not cruise the mall and just go to those who paid the same from last year?

The new law needs to make some allowances for new growth and new tax incomes that were not there the past year -- and not have that included to the zero windfall benchmark.

Duhh!

The PA zero windfall proposal is a lot like zero tolerance in schools as well. A first grade kid that wears a Pirate costume to school for Halloween shouldn't be suspended for two weeks because of his sword and the zero weapon rule that ties the hands of administrators and teachers.

If Pippy wanted to do a better job -- put out the numbers from past tax increases from past assessments on a district by district basis. Then, go after the entities that took more than a 5-percent windfall. Pippy and others should enforce the existing law before they go ahead and create a new law.

If Pippy wanted to do a better job -- talk about and study, as well as enact, a different type of law that applies to an individuals tax situation that hits with new assessment figures. We need each household to add the numbers together and fight the good fight with tools that impact families -- NOT GROSS MUNICIPAL INCOMES.

Assessment buffering is needed. If we had assessment buffering -- we'd not need any ZERO WINDFALL LAW. And, assessment buffering, a point that I campaigned upon in my race for State Senate in 2005, makes a perfect solution for every tax payer throughout the state.

TCS: Tech Central Station - The Technorati Candidate

By all accounts, I'm a wired citizen and from time to time, a wired candidate. However, I've not yet gone overboard to predict a victory and only earn 5% of the vote.

TCS: Tech Central Station - The Technorati Candidate In the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore found out that it was possible to win the popular vote, and still lose the electoral vote. In last week's Democratic primary for New York City Public Advocate, Andrew Rasiej found out that it was possible to win the blogger vote, and still lose the popular vote.

For the two months leading up to the primary election on September 13, Rasiej captured the hearts and minds of bloggers like no other candidate since Howard Dean with a technology-centric campaign that included a plan for citywide wireless Internet access, a video blog (in addition to a regular blog), and a plan for making 911 calls from the NYC subway. On the day preceding the election, in fact, 'Rasiej' ranked as one of the ten most popular search terms on the blog search engine Technorati. Anyone convinced of the power of the blogosphere to determine the fate of political careers (Trent Lott, anyone?) would surely have guessed that Mr. Rasiej was on the cusp of sweeping into office with a broad new mandate to revolutionize politics.

Massachusetts moves ahead sans Microsoft | CNET News.com

Five years ago I had a platform plank that called for actions like this. The movement is now, finally, taking root in the US in other states with better awareness of technology policy.

At times, it can be hard to show what isn't there. No Microsoft to oil the palm.

Massachusetts moves ahead sans Microsoft | CNET News.com Massachusetts has finalized its decision to standardize desktop applications on OpenDocument, a format not supported by Microsoft Office.
The state on Wednesday posted the final version of its Enterprise Technical Reference Model, which mandates new document formats for office productivity applications.
As it proposed late last month before a comment period, Massachusetts has decided to use only products that conform to the Open Document Format for Office Applications, or OpenDocument, which is developed by the standards body OASIS.

Thanks for the tip, Amos_thePokerCat.

My camera died today while on the field trip to the Pgh Zoo and Aquarium. I had some nice photos of a nice field trip -- but the best I can share with the blog readers is this photo of some fish -- for sale on the street -- literally on the street. We got to feed the fish at four different tanks. Cool.

October 6 -- WQED Community Reception

Go there and demand community meetings on issues that impact the community! Go there and demand that candidate debates occur.

Meet WQED personalities, hear about upcoming programming on WQED tv 13, WQED fm 89.3 and Pittsburgh Magazine. This is also a great time for input on issues affecting your community, and how WQED can better serve you. This Community Reception will be held at Robert Morris University.

For more information and to RSVP, call 412-622- 1313.

Economic TV -- or -- DoWop?

What would YOU do if you had two weeks in Hong Kong, starting early next week??

We are headed to Hong Kong. This is your chance to give us last minute pointers or tasks.

My wife is a visiting scholar / teacher at HK University.

We are staying in an apartment in Discovery Bay. We'll take a ferry to Hong Kong Island.

Our group includes our sons (Erik is turning 11 there, Grant, 7), two Pitt Graduate students in their own apartment about a 10-minute walk from ours, and a HS senior from CT (step-nephew).

We'll touch down there on Monday and spend Tuesday at the new Hong Kong Disney. There is a serious Disney connection with the step-nephew.

My note of introduction to the faculty of the HK Univ. Human Performance (Physical Education) follows in the comments. I've already got word on when they hold swim practices.

I'm thinking that we'll shop for plenty of 'tea' -- and host a few 'Pittsburgh tea parties' so as to warm up the mood for a revolution of sorts. The same worked in Boston some time ago when they held the Boston Tea Party. But, we'll drink ours and take the revolution to the voting booths on election day.

So, note if you have a favorite tea from China, please.

Time to junk the Microsoft Office Suite and go to OpenOffice.org -- because it is community driven, free and better.

OpenOffice.org 2.0 has gone from being a Beta to a Release Candidate

As an RC, OpenOffice.org 2.0 RC still -- even more so -- needs to be downloaded and tested by the community. You are urged to download and start the application. The sooner we clean up the bugs, the sooner we can come out with OpenOffice.org 2.0.

OpenOffice.org 2.0 is the world's best and easiest to use free productivity suite. Read the product page and features pages for more information.

* Product
* Features

*** NOTE: Windows user with OpenOffice.org's older, beta and past developer builds should remove them prior to the installation of the RC because of an incorrect interpretation of their version information by the Windows Installer. As a matter of course the stable version OpenOffice.org 1.1.x (most recent: 1.1.5) can be used concurrently.

Free Pennsylvania = highly moderated. Yuck.

Good luck Jason. First order of business, get rid of the moderation. Just nuke it.

Free Pennsylvania, http://www.freepa.org. It is a highly moderated discussion site for political discussion among those that consider themselves conservatives: whether fiscal, social, or both. There are forums for general discussion, news, and a Campaigns section to discuss the various political campaigns currently being waged. Over the last few days I have had a few friends register and make a few posts in order to make sure that everything is functional. Now that thebugs are worked out (I hope), it’s time to let the masses know that Pennsylvania conservatives finally have a home on the Internet. Please take a moment to register and help to get this community started.

Ticket given to woman sitting on park bench -- without a kid

In Pittsburgh, we are about to get finger-printed and ticketed for being in the cultural district without a home or without lunch money.

7Online.com, WABC-TV A woman was given a ticket for sitting on a park bench because she doesn't have children.
The Rivington Playground on Manhattan's East Side has a small sign at the entrance that says adults are prohibited unless they are accompanied by a child.
Forty-seven-year-old Sandra Catena says she didn't see the sign when she sat down to wait for an arts festival to start. Two New York City police officers asked her if she was with a child. When she said no, they gave her a ticket that could bring a one thousand dollar fine and 90 days in jail.
The city parks department says the rule is designed to keep pedophiles out of city parks, but a parks spokesman told the Daily News that the department hoped police would use some common sense when enforcing the rule.
The spokesman told the paper that ticketing a woman in the park in the middle of the day is not the way you want to enforce the rule.

Laws and rules are sure to be enforced in stupid ways. Laws need to be smarter. Often, the smartest law is no law at all. Otherwise, things like this happen.
Parents, don't leave your kid alone in the park. Plus, if there is a problem with a person in the park -- call the police. Police, meanwhile, need to arrive on the park scene and deal with the issues.
Playground area in a park we visited.
Pittsburgh's City council is trying to fight, "aggressive panhandling." Yeah, right.
Councilman Peduto wants to take the fight to all solicitations.
Meanwhile, County Executive Dan Onorato has a 10-year plan to help the homeless. That might start in a few years.

What is going to happen to Mardi Gras in 2006? Predictions are welcomed. Would you go?

Transcript: Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt

Transcript: Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt duck Q: Mr. Roosevelt, do you feel that the current system is able to survive financially with out cutting programs?

Mark_Roosevelt A: We do have serious financial issues. We are spending about 40 million dollars more than we have in revenues. And we have spent down the surplus that we had so that it will be entirely gone at the end of 2006. There will have to be cuts. And we will have to work with the state and the foundation community to gain as much new revenue as possible. But there is no way that this problem can be solved without making some very difficult decisions.

So, what do you do about tax give-a-ways? The URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) is now calling upon the city, county and THE PGH PUBLIC SCHOOL District to build parking garages with tax incomes. Please say "NO." We can't give anything away.

Family Flashback (Aug 7, 2004)

Flashback! Top row: Phil, Bill, Leo (my dad), John, Kevin and me (Mark). Bottom row: Mary Lee, Margie, Audrey (my mom), Geri Ann, Michele and Catherine (my wife). Those are my four sisters and their husbands. We are with the giggles because we always have a great time together -- even when the camera's automatic shutter is the focus.


Our kids. To be exact, my two sons are in the photo along with their cousins. Since the photo, one year ago, the family has grown by one.

IT: Forbes Fund -- yada, yadda, yaddda.

Photo shows a nonprofit playground computer workstation.

The Forbes Funds is pleased to announce that the 2005 research studies funded under The Tropman Fund for Nonprofit Research are complete. These studies address many of the strategic challenges and opportunities affecting nonprofits in the Pittsburgh region.

You are cordially invited to a special half-day conference on November 2, 2005, featuring these new research findings. At the conclusion of this special event, we will announce the recipient of the fifth annual Alfred W. Wishart, Jr. Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, as well as present the 2005 Frieda Shapira Medal. Also, The Pittsburgh Foundation will present the Isabel Kennedy Award. (We’ll have lots to celebrate!)

This year's Annual Nonprofit Research Conference is presented in cooperation with Robert Morris University (our host), as well as Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Public Policy, Duquesne University’s School of Leadership, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 3:00-4:00 pm Workshops
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Research and Awards Presentations

5:30 pm Reception

Hosted at the Sewall Center, Robert Morris University, Moon Township Campus, Main Campus, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108.


PARKING NOTE. Parking is available in the upper lot for which the campus will have electronic signage posted.

RSVP: Amy Thomas at thomasa@pghfdn.org, accepting RSVPs by e-mail only.

When you RSVP to Amy Thomas, please indicate if you will:

A. Attend a workshop; and, if so, which one. (Please see the list below.)
B. Attend the research and awards presentations.
Or
C. Attend both a workshop and the research and awards presentations.

Three concurrent workshops will be held from 3:00 until 4:00. All rooms are located in the Sewall Center, Robert Morris University, Moon Township Campus. All 3 workshops will be limited to the first 30 respondents.

WORKSHOPS
1. The Cost of Meting Compliance: A Case Study of Challenges, Time Investments and Dollars Spent (please designate this as session 1 for RSVP)

2. Service Clustering: Building Cohesive Public Service Capacity (please designate this as session 2 for RSVP)

3. Why Engage? Understanding the Incentive to Build Nonprofit Capacity (please designate this as session 3 for RSVP)

These 3 research projects will be presented and discussed in brief during the session beginning at 4:15pm in the International Suite at the Sewall Center. (Seating for the research and awards presentations is limited to 300 people.)

Please RSVP soon. We apologize, in advance, if we cannot accommodate your participation in one of the workshops. As with our recent conferences, we will maintain a waiting list, if necessary, and advise you about openings.

We hope you will join us for this special opportunity to explore emerging issues and cutting edge methodologies for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh.

Forrest City -- sits on property in Cleveland

This is a great read.

Peirce for Ohio Governor 2006 - On the Trail -- Can Cleveland Use Property Taxes to Prod Intransigent Developers? Forest City had hyped similar plans in 1989, after it gained control of much of the property, but nothing happened. The convention center's implosion has the company reverting yet again to squirrel mode. "It will sit for a long time," the co-chairman of Forest City, Sam Miller, said of the peninsula.

Peirce for Ohio Governor 2006 - Eminent Domain comes to front in race and state

Eminent domain is getting attention in Ohio, now. My recent eminent domain talk/blog posting got attention and a link from a site in Oregon.

Peirce for Ohio Governor 2006 The Supreme Court of Ohio will hear oral arguments regarding the demolition of Joe Horney's and Carl and Joy Gamble's homes on Wednesday, September 28th at 9 AM.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio, the Peirce for Ohio campaign, and other property rights groups are currently organizing a petition effort to amend the Ohio Constitution.

Murphy wants more state help with budget

The big elephant behind the three Americans, (Erik, Mark and Grant). Talk about the elephant in the room already.

Murphy wants more state help with budget - PittsburghLIVE.com 'We did not talk about what some people call the elephant in the room today,' Murray said. 'We didn't talk about 20 percent of the budget going to pay that debt service.'

Step Trek -- Volunteer in my absence -- but do it for yourself

We missed the South Side Slopes StepTrek -- but we hit some other steps in the hopes of generating some good karma with those back home.

Erik's taking a trek.

This year's South Side Slopes Steptrek, Steptrek.org, occurs soon -- while we are in Hong Kong. We'll walk Victoria's Peek and make other treks on the other side of the world -- and we'll be thinking of you on the South Side Slopes. Does that mean that when I'm over there walking up a pathway, it would be like walking downward over here? However, check out this opportunity to participate with a last call from Bev, one of the great community organizers. Good group of people, nice cause, splendid views.

StepTrek Volunteer Meeting! We will need upwards of 50 volunteers this Sunday and we have ~ half that amount. Please help us out!

There will be a meeting, at which you will receive a free Trek tee shirt, on this Thursday, September 29th at 7:00 pm at my (BEV's) house 126 Pius Street. It will be a quick meeting. We will go over the event and where volunteers are needed.

There are many jobs. We need a driver, people to walk the route and put up direction signs, we need a couple of people along the route to direct walkers. We have 6 artist venues with 3 water stations where people need to be. We need people to help park cars, put up tents, take down tents, set up tables & chairs, register people, sell pedometers, cut fruit, you name it & there is a job for that!

Please email me here if you want to volunteer & can't make it Thursday. We also need pick up trucks to deliver to the water stations. Volunteers times go from 8:00 am to - 4:30 pm. On hour, or as many as you can give!

Volunteers Saturday, October 1st! We will quickly walk the routes one last time this Saturday. The majority of the litter was picked up last Saturday, but we want one last check of the route. Also, I will be at the Triangle Garden 18th & Josephine. Lamar is supposed to fix it by Friday - I am not holding my breath. For those who missed it an overzealous subcontractor weed-whacked it - 3 weeks ago. Anyway it looks like crap. It will need some sprucing. The Greeley Garden also needs some TLC. We will meet at 21st & Josephine Streets at 9 am.

StepTrek October 2, 2005! Here it comes, our 5th Trek! We would like you to come & be a part of it. The website is full of details. Our Honorary Chairperson is Adelaide LaFond, she has graciously allowed us to use one of her designs on the tee shirt front. It is beautiful! The event formally runs from noon to 4 pm. Trek it out!

Thanks, all! We need you! Bev :)