Rocky Mountain News: Avalanche & NHL

This is the exact word I do NOT want to see in the news. We don't want to "replace" the civic arena. To churn and burn is no way to get ahead. If Mario wants to build a new arena, fine. But, we need to hold onto what we've got.

Progress is not about one step forward and one step backward.

Progress is about fixing and upkeep of what you have -- and creation of new value and wealth.

Rocky Mountain News: Avalanche & NHL OFFICIALS WORK TO SAVE PENGUINS: Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Bob O'Connor are working to find a way to replace Mellon Arena and secure the Penguins' future in the city, Onorato said.

Owner-captain Mario Lemieux said has he is doubtful the team will remain in Pittsburgh after its lease expires in 2007, citing lack of progress on a new arena."

Phillips First Swim Team

My son, Erik, at top in blue shirt, and other swimmers on the Phillips Elementary School's Swim Team with stretching exercise before the city meet. That's a big sister and former Carrick swimmer, Amanda, leading the kids.

Erik won the 25 breast.

Ryan got 4th in the 25 back.

All the kids did really well. They did some excellent races.

Interesting meet notes. There was no warm-ups. Kids were not allowed off of the blocks. And, no butterly. But, the 2nd swimmer in the medley relay and free relays dove off the deck in the shallow end.

USATODAY.com - Lemieux doubtful on Penguins future in Pittsburgh

Think again.

USATODAY.com - Lemieux doubtful on Penguins future in Pittsburgh The Penguins are projecting a $7 million loss this season, a figure that assumes the team will draw near-capacity crowds and advance to the second round of the playoffs.

The Pens are helping in the city's collection of the Parking Tax. But, that money isn't Penguin money. It is needed for things such as crossing guards and snow removal.

Peoria's son, RIP: Pryor

I lived for three years in Peoria, Illinois. Home of Richard Pryor. They knew it.

Meanwhile there is an expression -- "will it play in Peoria?"

I played in Peoria. Pryor, without a doubt, played and made it from Peoria too.

His comedy is real. His characters were 'out there' -- but -- he kept real, not a model nor a forgery. Pittsburgh and Peoria are bad places to be artificial.

I'll be interested in reading what is said in Peoria about Pryor.

Barnestormin: While Pennsylvania Burns

I got a plug at another blogger's site. And, he's a journalist too. But, I really don't do all this for the stokes and plugs elsewhere. I raise my voice, in all sorts of ways, to combat all sorts of ills. We have to fix ourselves. PA is behind the times in terms of what it tolerates from the "lobby industry" that serves "special interests.

Barnestormin: While Pennsylvania Burns Pennsylvanians, where is your outrage? Have the flames of your anger been doused by the pay raise repeal?

If I told you that your pants were on fire and you saw the flames, you’d run for water. But I tell you how Pennsylvania state legislators are regularly influenced by corporate interests, and almost nobody comments. None of my three readers commented, and with the exception of blogger Mark Rauterkus, none of the local media picked up on it. Almost none of the local blogging community mentioned this problem, perhaps because local bloggers prefer to complain about the money spent on stadiums and they prefer to tout local websites, but they don’t want “hard” news. Or maybe they like having their legislators answer to special interests.

'Slim chance' Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh, Lemieux says

'Slim chance' Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh, Lemieux says Owner cites lack of progress on new arena

Build your own arena. Go to McKeesport. Go to Cranberry. Go to Washington County. Go to the nonprofits and ask for it to be built on the river on the land in Hazelwood.

Mario, be creative. Be original.

If there was a chance of getting a new arena AND saving the old arena -- without the Penguins -- without public money flowing into the project -- then Mario would be sininging a different tune.

The Penguins are not running out of time. The Penguins have run out of creativity, perhaps.

I do agree that the city and county have not been working with the Penguins. However, get some new blood in there that is willing to talk the hard talk -- and work the hard work -- in serious ways -- then we'll have a whole new chain of interactions. The ones who are in there now are "push-overs," or worse, "do nothings" when the going gets tough. They quit on your Mario because that's a sign of their best response and lack of creativity.

But, they also quit on our kids and parks as well. And, I won't let that continue either.

Mario, I'd be glad to meet with team administrators of The Penguins and come up with some better, alternative plans. Then I'll champion a new home for the Pens -- given that there is no public money involved and given the fact that the Civic Arena gets a new life as a 'civic arena.' I don't want to have the Pens build something new and destroy what is already here. No churn and burn. The Civic Arena is a community asset.

Finally, the I assume Mario knows that Pittsburgh has something else to offer besides the Penguins. We have excellent health care facilities, people and institutions. Those capacities have to be fresh in Mario's mind since this past week when his heart went hyper. He might be glad he's in Pittsburgh and not somewhere else in times like those.

Meet with me. Drop the frustrations. Set a new course. Gain a new attitude.

First hint of a Candidate's night, Jan 10, 2006

The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Assn has its third President and new board for the year. Their news -- the group is to host a candidate's night on January 10, 2006.

We hope to see you for a Candidate’s Night for the Special Election for our City Council Seat, once the Honorable Gene Ricciardi resigns. As you all know, he has been elected to our District Justice position. From the first candidate to announce, we will invite all of the many candidates who have since announced their interest in the position. Each candidate will be given equal time. SSSNA President Brad Palmisiano will be moderating. We will have refreshments and you need not be a member to attend.

Roosevelt faces hard choices in balancing financial, education needs -- my quote and extra insights

I am quoted in today's Post-Gazette.

Roosevelt faces hard choices in balancing financial, education needs 'They're the generals, and we're just the minions ... I think that's a Smoky City legacy,' said South Side parent Mark Rauterkus, who complained Mr. Roosevelt developed the budget cuts behind closed doors instead of seeking the community's input.

The proposed closing of Pgh Public Schools Gifted Center is very bad news. The decision isn't going to get support from me. And, the moves announced this week might sink the entire reform agenda.

I talk about this "smokey city legacy" in the quote. And, it is illustrated with great clarity with the quote at the end of the article. "Some of the sacrifices, I think, in the end will be understood not to be sacrifices," said the director of A-Plus Schools. Bingo! See what I mean.

We (citizens, parents, customers of our schools) take crap. They (foundations honchos, unelected leaders, appointed neighborhood weenies, special-interest takers) call it A+ Beef. We have to eat it. In the end, they'll expect to be thanked by the citizens (minions).

Meanwhile, another 10,000 flee the city this year. The one's who value choices and freedoms vote with their feet.

I wanted to see a meeting among the parents of gifted students. I wanted to see some open meetings among the teachers, or various sections of the city. How about a meeting of gifted center alumni too. What do the gifted center staffers say? I wanted to have the facts put out before us for all to see.

Just a year or two ago we (citizens) heard that the Pgh Public Schools was running a nice, healthy surplus. Then the RAD tax was stolen. Then the crossing guards pay was shifted onto the backs of the kids in the classrooms -- rather than the mayor's budget. Then the foundations pulled $3+ million a year for a few years. That's all in all more than $20-million.

Dr. John Thompson said that there wasn't a budget problem. Now Mr. Roosevelt says we have a $49-million annual shortfall.

I remember when James C. Roddey said that Allegheny County government was an island of stability in a sea of red ink from all the other failing governmental entities. Then Dan Onorato came into office and the story changed in drastic ways. And, Mr. Roddey defended his claims for the next number of months.

Who do you trust? Who is right?

Perhaps they are all wrong.

There has been a changing of the guard. Around here that must mean that there is about to be a purge of the opposition. That's a smokey city way that is tolerated.

Bob O'Connor gets the spotlight shifting to him next. We'll see. Is there a "budget surplus" (already kicked around by Murphy) or not?

We need change, of course. We need to make stong, bold steps to moderize and right-size -- of course. But, we don't need to churn and burn. We don't need to have this shoved down our throats. We need to have the best possible solutions -- and that takes time, effort, communtity and interactions. Those qualities are absent in Roosevelt's actions so far.

Thanks to the director of A-Plus Schools for proving my point in such vivid color.

We need to think again. I would insist we act out in the open. I'd insist we seek valued input from all sectors. I would overhaul the process for change. I would make an open system. I want a more transparent governement -- so we can terminate this "smokey city", behind-closed doors, knee-jerk reaction mode of operations.

I would be PROACTIVE among the entire community.

I know that this is messy -- but it is original and it makes a huge difference. You can't be self-reliant when all the brians and brawn are concentrated in the few.

This week alone we have opened up the newspaper to read for the first time that the outgoing police chief is expecting the South Side Police Station to close -- and the school superintendent and board are going to close the Gifted Center. That's a big one-two punch -- and they are SUCKER PUNCHES, blindsided bad news, little options for ducking or sidesteps or even rolling with the punches.

But in the end we'll thank them --- ha, ha, ha. You better be good because Santa is coming to town.

Gifted Center Counter Proposal

My two children attend The Gifted Center.

My father is a retired Pittsburgh Public School teacher. At the end of his career, he was assigned to The Gifted Center.

I think it might make great sense to end all bussing to The Gifted Center. But, keep the Gifted Center open.

Children go to The Gifted Center one day each week. Today, with a 2-hour delay, none of the kids will go to The Gifted Center. But, on days where the kids go to The Gifted Center, they go to their home schools for a half period (home room). Then they get on buses to The Gifted Center. To the end of the school day, the kids go from Gifted Center back to their regular school. Then comes the end of the school day.

Some kids need to take four bus trips on days that they go to The Gifted Center. From home to regular school, to Gifted Center, back to home school, and then finally back home from the regular school.

New on Gmail

New enhancement on Gmail are here. So, those that read this blog, and there are a few of you -- can subscribe to it via the RSS feed within Gmail. More than a dozen subscribers watch this blog in real time.

Feed me
View your favorite RSS feeds right in Gmail as “Clips” along the top of your Gmail screen. Display clips from blogs, news sites and other online sources. Pick from the latest headlines, random popular feeds, or add any RSS/Atom feed you want. Learn more

See it now
Don’t want to wait for an attachment to download? Now when you get Microsoft Office, OpenOffice or .pdf attachments, you can view them as a web page in HTML by clicking the "View as HTML" link right next to it. For when you're on a mobile device or you don't want to install some new software just to view a document. Or if you just want to see it faster. Learn more

Tuesdays with M...

We went out to see City Theater's Tuesdays with Morie -- and were entertained, greatly.

Today I got to talk with three State Reps. Plus, got to speak with a boss at the Tribune-Review. I thanked him for the fine correction in today's paper.

Early today, I had my own, Tuesdays with Morie moment. The full story later, as a podcaste. In 1982 I graduated from Ohio University and organized an event for all graduating sports lettermen and women. This was held the week of graduation at the student union. The sports banquet that year was nixed and as seniors, we all got a deck of playing cards from the Athletic Department. Well, that wasn't good enough.

I was a senior, and, I had been a coach for four years as well. We scrambled and pulled together our own banquet and party. I asked three to be the keynote speakers -- and all invited speakers came. Plus, we got a good audience. Today, I revisited those tapes and listened to the event. From the archives to a podcast soon, it should be fun to release it, finally.

In Tuesdays with Morie, Mitch is a sports reporter who connects with his college professor after 16 years. This presentation is from nearly 24 years ago. The poduim was set with a women's field hockey coach with roots from Ireland, a sociologist who was a national, masters champion in orientiering, and a philosopher tennis player. Nice line-up then. Good messages to this day too. Stay tuned.

By the way, it is great to live on the South Side and walk home from the City Theater in three inches of snow. It is falling fast. I expect a two-hour delay, at least.

Still At Large, article from Russ Diamond

See the comments for an article from Russ that has a fun twist to the state pay raise that has been revoked.

Meet the activist and author at a county-wide Christmas Party, event at 7 pm on WED. Dec. 21 at John Harvard's Brew House in Monroeville. Be there if you can.

Fixed online. Yesterday's untruth is but for digital dust.

This is what is online now -- changed from yesterday.

3 contenders line up to replace Ricciardi - PittsburghLIVE.com: "and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus, a part-time swimming coach and a stay-at-home dad, from the South Side.

The printed edition of the newspaper has a correction on page B2. It reads:

Pittsburgh City Council candidate Mark Rauterkus is a part-time swimming coach and a stay-at-home dad. his employment status was incorrect in a story on page B6 Wednesday.

Thanks for the truth.

TheStar.com - Odds against Penguins staying put

Hey there. Canadian weather arrives -- and now talk of Pittsburgh from Canadian news.

TheStar.com - Odds against Penguins staying put ... Yet Crosby's days in Pittsburgh might be numbered and it has nothing to do with the Penguins languishing in last place in the Eastern Conference with only seven wins in 27 games.

For months, Crosby's teammate and Penguins owner Mario Lemieux has been in a battle with one Las Vegas heavyweight and several Pittsburgh big shots for the right to acquire a licence from the state of Pennsylvania to operate slot machines.

I don't think they had the news of Mario's check in to the hospital with heart ticker weirdness.

Activists protest against voter bill - PittsburghLIVE.com

Activists protest against voter bill - PittsburghLIVE.com Voting-rights activists gathered in Pittsburgh on Wednesday to protest a bill pending in the state Legislature that they say would disenfranchise poor and elderly voters.

'Our voting statistics are getting lower and lower on almost every election -- not only for black people, but for white people as well,' said Tim Stevens, president of the Black Political Empowerment Project. 'This state does not need to discourage anybody from voting.'

Candidates lining up to replace Ricciardi on council

Candidates lining up to replace Ricciardi on council ... and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus.

To Luke, "May the force be with you!"

Luke, 24, D, has floated to the top of City Council. Not Luke Skywalker. But rather, the North Side's own, Luke Ravenstahl.

Luke won the vote today to be City Council President. The nine members of council vote among themselves to pick their leader. The move out of the president's seat by Gene Ricciardi was hoped for weeks ago, but none on council could muster the five votes to insure a win, until today. Luke got five votes.

Furthermore, beyond the power of the force, Luke, I'd love to be appointed to the chairmanship of the committee on Citiparks and Youth in the event I'm elected to city council. So, save me a seat, if you please.

City residents, businesses may face steep fees for false burglar alarms

A few points on the false alarm news and how I'd want to think again. First, if the fees go from $0 to $50, as would be the case with "free passes" that would diminish, the number of false alarms will drop.

So, presently the city resident gets four calls for $0 cost. The plan is to make it 2 calls for $0 cost. The next two calls would be $50 each.

As for the budget, lets say a resident had five calls in 2003 and paid $15. The Act 47 look at this and say that the fee in 2006 would be $150. That is an increase of $135. But they are dreaming. The new plan isn't going to generate those kinds of windfalls. Some increases, but think again about the totals.

When the prices get jacked up, residents will be more careful with their systems or else will disconnect from the 9-1-1 system or just leave the alarms off more frequently.

Another point: $50,000 for the software. I'd put out a call for an open-source software solution. For $50,000 you'd be able to hire the programmers and get the job done. And, you'd be able to give some incentives to the open-source software teams for their efforts. The code could then be used in other areas of the county, state, country or world.

This move to open-source software won't be a lot cheaper in the first instances, but it will be much better in the long haul and much cheaper. And, I don't think it would be bad to hire a programming coordinator who does open-souce software and can manage a number of different projects via Sourceforge and such.

Third point: The city has a bad track record with billing, colllections, and application of fees to end-users in the realm of public-services delivered. The EMS system could have been a profitable enterprise on the whole if it would have had the dedicated assets to do the necessary billing and paperwork. People get rushed to the hospital and the city does not get paid. The bills don't go out. The health insurance red tape is huge, but there needs to be some follow-up to get paid for services delivered.

Too often the Act 47 team looks at the budget and sees that the billing department costs could be cut by $200K, but they fail to realize that if an extra $100K was put into the budget then the work would get done as it needs to and the windfall would be 10 or 30-fold increases of incomes.

The overlords and Grant Street politicians are too often penny wise and dollar foolish. They need to think again about the overall solution.

City residents, businesses may face steep fees for false burglar alarms: "The Act 47 recovery team, which wrote the plan, found that 31,000 annual false alarms accounted for 9 percent of police calls.

The city collected $17,400 in false alarm fees last year, according to the Police Bureau. The Act 47 team found that higher fines and better collection could quickly yield $250,000 a year.

'We feel very confident that it will raise a minimum of $200,000 in revenue next year without additional staff' if the software is purchased, Mr. Stern said."

As for the online payments, the quote in the newspaper is, Mr. Stern said he also would like to upgrade the city's Web site to allow people to pay fees and taxes online with credit or debit cards. Mr. Skrinjar said the mayor-elect could support online payment, if taxpayers want it and if all information and funds can be transferred securely. Duhh....

Of course we should be doing online bill payments of city services. Of course it needs to be secure. Making an eMayor suite of servers were planks I talked about when I was running for mayor in 2000 and 2001. That was a long time ago and those efforts have not been put in place.

Furthermore, I'm not sure Bob O'Connor is the type of guy who can make the internet and open-source software a top priority of day-to-day operations. I've never seen an email from Bob O'Connor.

Heck, we still have both the city and the county selling dog licenses. Michael Lamb ran for mayor and talked about how there are two offices on Grant Street doing the same thing (simple dog licenses) and how this was wrong. He barked about those fumbles hundreds of times around the city, in nearly every community he visited. Well, it still happens.

How about if the city provided a way to get a dog license online!

Council proposal not Godly, but wise - PittsburghLIVE.com

A public hearing would be a good idea.

Council proposal not Godly, but wise - PittsburghLIVE.com: "The two East End councilmen were planning to hold a vote on the ordinance Wednesday, but they have instead opted to hold a public hearing on the measure."

The reception area at City Council have been flooded with phone calls about this issue. As of today, I don't think that there is a public hearing. I'm not sure if one will happen or not.

City police considering move from South Side station

Just go away. We're sitting here, waiting for the mayor to change. Then we hear about the old police chief who wants to change a police station. I don't think so. This is no time for McNeilly to create a legacy for himself, the department, nor the outgoing administration. City police considering move from South Side station Pittsburgh's Police Bureau is considering alternative locations for its South Side station, Police Chief Robert W. McNeilly Jr. told City Council yesterday.

He stressed that no final decision had been made. 'We've just been looking around,' he said.

'Route 51 divides the zone,' he noted, so sites along it might be considered. He said the bureau hadn't yet narrowed its search.

His comments may begin a new chapter in the search for a policing solution for neighborhoods south of the rivers.This is going to go over poorly. But, there has been some trouble with the station, and parking. Nothing else really matters.

The EMS station moved out of the South Side location. They moved into a site that is a pit in terms of working conditions. Let's ask EMS how their move has worked for them.

Perhaps EMS can move back into the building that they were kicked out of by the police squads expansion.

I'd have no problem with the police and EMS moving into South Vo Tech High School. That should be a public building with jobs. Might as well put the Citiparks and County Parks there too, under one roof, as well.