Special Election for a State Rep seat

Folks,

Apparently, State Rep Alan Butkovitz has resigned after something like 15
years as a state legislator. As a result, there is a special election being
held on March 14, 2006 for State Rep district 174 which I believe is in
Philadelphia. I have the paperwork that must be filed by January 23, 2006.

Please let me know if you or someone you know living within that district
would be interested in running for this office.

David Jahn, Chair, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
610-461-7755

Going to speak to the Board of Pittsburgh Public School

Tonight I'll be speaking to the board of Pittsburgh Public Schools, again.

I'll hit upon Schenley High School's move out of Oakland as well as the looming changes to the Gifted Education program.

[412] News Release: Key Campaign Staff for Mark Rauterkus for City Council

[412] News Release: Key Campaign Staff for Mark Rauterkus for City Council [412] News Release: Key Campaign Staff for Mark Rauterkus for City Council

News Release: Immediate

Michael Cooper, Campiagn Treasurer, Announces Staffers for Mark at Rauterkus.com Campaign for City Council


Contact:
Michael Cooper, HQ = 412 904 2976, Treasurer at Rauterkus.com


Daniel Repovz, graduate student at Duquesne University, has joined the reform-minded team at Elect.Rauterkus.com to drive Mark Rauterkus' election bid onto Pittsburgh's City Council. Repovz' title is Media Coordinator. The special election is slated for the first Tuesday in March, 2006.

In May 2005, Repovz was on the ballot for Mayor of Pittsburgh in the Democratic Primary.

Repovz earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh in Finance. This semester at Duquesne brings Repovz's final course before he obtains a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Rauterkus and Repovz were both on the campaign trails in 2005. While Repovz was debating Bob O'Connor, Bill Peduoto, and Michael Lamb for the Democratic endorsement for mayor, Rauterkus was seeking a State Senate seat in a campaign against Wayne Fontana, D, and Michael Diven, R.

"We saw each other many times at various community forums. I was flattered to hear from Daniel that he was greatly impressed with the way we ran our campaign for State Senate, especially with the negativity and gross expenditures from the competitors. The messages and the mission must have resonated with Daniel, thankfully," said Rauterkus.

Repovz said, "I want to be part of the driving force in a team Rauterkus victory. Mark's financial reforms and parks initiatives will win with voters and future generations of all ages: children, parents, students and seniors. These are vital quality of life issues that are very important to Pittsburgh's future as well as the region around Pittsburgh."

In the day-to-day operations of the campaign, Repovz will issue press releases and field analysis to reform Pittsburgh's financial position.

"With the advance leadership ability of Daniel and others, we will be able to offer solutions for the short-term and long-term," said Rauterkus.

Vicki Duesch, a parent and long-time South Side resident and homeowner, has been named the campaign manager for the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign.

"Vicki brings heart and soul to the campaign. Vicki and her son bike daily on the paths around the South Side and continually access recreation resources in the third district," said Rauterkus. "Vicki is a wonderful example of a citizen leader in action. Her grassroots leadership will make a difference in Pittsburgh and our region."


###

Additional contacts and resources:

+ Daniel Repovz, HQ = 412 904 2976, Media at Rauterkus.com
+ Vicki Dusch, HQ = 412 904 2976, Manager at Rauterkus.com
+ Mark Rautekus, candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, cell = 412 298 3432, Mark at Rauterkus.com
+ Logo: http://rauterkus.com/art/06/Foil-Logo-png.png
+ Photo of Mark Rauterkus, http://rauterkus.com/art/signs/mark-470.jpg

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

These odds are not so bad. There are 25 applications and 14 winners.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it has received 25 application submissions for licenses to operate gaming facilities in the Commonwealth.

“This is an historic day for gaming in Pennsylvania,” said Chairman Tad Decker. “My fellow Board members and I look forward to the complex and important work that lies ahead in awarding licenses for Pennsylvania’s 14 gaming facilities.

The biggest objection I've had from the get-go on this gambling deal is that the licenses are sold once and they never terminate. The rights come at a price, $50-million. But, there is no renewal.

If I was a legislature, and I called them all as this was hatching, I would have been certain to terminate the licenses at a future date. Have some of them expire in 15 years, some in 20. Stagger their end date.

Nothing is sold "FOREVER." You don't get a license to practice your profession from the state (for example a medical doctor) and have the license last until you die. Things need to have some type of renewal. Even a drivers license is not forever. But these gambling licenses are.

State slashes anti-tobacco funding (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times

Don't smoke. And, don't cut the funding from the tobacco settlement to help in the process of getting more people off of the tabacco habit and addiction.

State slashes anti-tobacco funding (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times ... the state slashed 25 percent of its funding for Pennsylvania's tobacco prevention and cessation programs, state and county officials said.

I've looked a good deal at the stop-smoking programs of other states. We visited with many health-care groups in the state of Arizona, for example. They had nearly a dozen organizations in the state with messages about stop smoking. PA has been behind the times in terms of public outreach and education here.

It is a shame to see this tobacco money get reduced.

A friend of ours is considering a run for PA House. His entire campaign will be built upon the pledge of clean air for all workplaces. With the clean sweep efforts, a clean air twist and his history, he could have a real opportunity to make serious votes.

Chicago Tribune | Fundraising clicks over Internet

Chicago Tribune | Fundraising clicks over Internet Fundraising clicks over Internet
Politicians pick up on ease of getting campaign dollars

By Mike Dorning, Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago congressman spearheading the Democratic effort to win control of Congress, now schedules regular conference calls with influential liberal bloggers, and the top political professional working for him maintains a presence on their sites, often posting campaign-related messages.

Save Schenley High School Petition

I signed the petition. Our kids should go to Schenley High School.

Save Schenley High School Petition To: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Superintendent Mark Roosevelt & All Board Members

To put Schenley into the "right-sized" plan is silly. It is a high performing school. This makes all performance based decisions a joke.

Democrat Chad Kluko to challenge Murphy for seat in 18th District

To run against Tim Murphy, R, is one thing. To win or even just challenge, there must be a competitive primary. The fact that there are two, or even three Dems, is going to be GOOD for the overall chances for the eventual winner of the D primary. The contested primary is needed in these situations.

Next, it would be good to get a women in the race too.

Democrat Chad Kluko to challenge Murphy for seat in 18th District: "Mr. Kluko, 44, is a graduate of Gateway High School and the Center for Media Arts in New York City. He spent most of the past two decades working in California at positions including director of national operations for Verizon Wireless and executive director of broadcast operations for the Fox Television Network.

Mr. Kluko said that family concerns had brought him back to Pittsburgh recently. Since then he has worked as CEO of the Diora-Ling Co., a small business concentrating on software development.

Mr. Kluko said he expects to make a formal declaration of his candidacy sometime in the next 10 days."

Allderdice used to host an invite swim meet

New mayor gets his shoes dirty in visit to public works shed

We don't need a unified voice coming from city hall. I like a little harmony in my songs. Perhaps we should all be singing in the same key, and perhaps the same tempo might be nice too.

The lockstep boosterism is what got Pittsburgh into its huge mess.

New mayor gets his shoes dirty in visit to public works shed The meetings did not result in big decisions. They were an effort to build toward what council President Luke Ravenstahl called 'a unified voice coming from city hall.'

He and perhaps other council members will meet weekly with the new administration, he said. That's a change from years past, when council often complained that it was left out of decisions by Mayor Tom Murphy."

This unified voice that may come from city hall will lead to the same-old-same-old. The expected outcomes will be more meetings that do not result in big decisions.

My aim is to join City Council and offer a different voice. I am sure that there are others who are very capable of going to council and offering no voice or the same voice as to what we've already got.

However, it is wonderful to see the meeting with the mayor and councilmembers. There is no way I could have survived on that body, for even a week, if Tom Murphy was mayor.

If Gene Ricciardi had quit his role in City Council and Tom Murphy was still mayor, I would NOT be running for the council seat. I would never have wanted to be on council with Tom Murphy as mayor. Heck, I could not even be in the same PARTY as Tom Murphy as he was the leader of the city's Democrats. That was not for me to join and support.

Now that Bob O'Connor is in the Mayor's office, I feel that I can make excellent contributions for the future of our city. And, because it is Bob, I'm needed on the job in Council Chambers more than ever.

Companies oppose latest North Shore casino proposal

Here is a stretch.

Companies oppose latest North Shore casino proposal He also believes the casino will enhance housing, pointing out that some of the most expensive real estate in the country is in gambling mecca Las Vegas.

Perhaps that expensive housing in Las Vegas is because it is in the middle of a desert. But, I dare say, most of Las Vegas isn't that expensive for housing. Furthermore, Las Vegas has low taxes -- so -- the housing values can rise.

It was stated on a local panel by an expert Ph.D. that local house values in the immediate area of a casino could go upwards. However, once the casino is no longer your neighbor, or within your near neighborhood, there is no bump, either up or down, from the casino.

This area under discussion, between the West End Bridge and the Carnegie Science Center, has been studied at considerable lengths by a friend. He has done models of many North Side locations.

Frankly, I don't think we are getting the highest and best use out of the very valuable land that is now occupied by the Equitable office nor Del Monte's offices.

This is a worry: He estimates that his casino, once it reaches 5,000 slot machines, will generate $230 million for the state each year at a 54 percent tax rate and $22 million for the city of Pittsburgh.

Before everyone goes off and starts to spend that $22-M per year, note the catch. That income is projected AFTER the casino reaches 5,000 machines. The proposal on the table is NOT that big. I would like to know how much is projected for the city and the state in the first year.

If Video Poker Machines were legalized and done right, they'd pull in $7 million to $13 million per year for the city.

Christmas Letter and CD hits homes around America

The Christmas letter was a bit harder to get out the door this year. It came with a CD that plays in both the computer (data) and a boom box (audio). But, it has been mailed and I got two early replies so far via email. See the comments.

At least the CDs arrived before the Wise Men!

Tip: If your computer is set up to play audio CDs automatically upon the entry of the CD in the drive -- you'll need to sidestep this act to see the photos and other data goodies. Right click with your mouse button on the CD image and then it opens on the desktop.

Is that right?

International friends ... sorry. I tossed the CDs into the mail without putting extra postage on the CDs to you all. We'll send them out on Monday.

O'Connor touts old West End police station

This is a promise that Bob O'Connor made and the folks in the west neighborhoods are going to make him stick to his word.

O'Connor touts old West End police station: "New Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor toured a former West End police station yesterday, saying he wants to increase law enforcement's presence in a part of the city that has complained about being under-served.

Mr. O'Connor said any decision would be made as part of an evaluation of 351 city-owned facilities that will determine which should be kept, merged or sold.

'This we're looking at for mainly public safety,' he said of the station, as he stood in a narrow hallway between lockers and a weight room. 'The people in the West End deserve a better police presence.'"

Bob's promise is on the line. There are a number of folks who are going to hold his feet to the fire about the re-opening of the station.

On the QED show last night, Roddey, Mystic and Moore were talking about O'Connor. All predicted that the O'Connor honeymoon might be very short. That will be the story of the month, so they pondered on the show.

To go empty on the promise on the police station for the folks in the west is going to be ugly for Bob.

I felt that the Bob O'Connor might have been behind the statement last month from the ex-Chief of Police. He said he wanted to move the station out of the South Side to Rt. 51. O'Connor didn't have any comment at the time.

That is a typical ploy. Make the scapegoat be the outgoing guy. He'd be the fall guy.

I propose that we do move the Zone 3 Police Station from its current home on 18th Street. I think it should be located at South Vo Tech High School. South should stay an important vital building for public use.

There is parking at South, more so than at the present location.

There is room at South. We own the building at South.

With the Police move there, they'd be closer to Rt. 51, the west (by a bit) and even downtown.

EMS could move back into the space in the other building on 18th.

I HATE Bloggers word verification on my own POSTINGS!

THANKS!

This is now fixed. (Jan 9, 2006, just a day or two after blogging about it.)

Blogger support -- help! Turn off the word verification already.

Anyone out there have to deal with this too? Tips on getting it noticed are welcomed.

Mayors make wager on outcome of Sunday's game - PittsburghLIVE.com

There is good and bad in this little wager.

Mayors make wager on outcome of Sunday's game - PittsburghLIVE.com The loser must travel 280 miles for a day-long tour and non-stop gloating session in the winner's city.

I don't think Bob has any extra time. To have him head to the Queen City for a day is a tragic waste of time when he is needed at home. However, it would be nice if he'd be able to pick up a few pointers on chilli and sliders to insert into the food court at some downtown mall he'll be building soon -- or casino -- or hockey arena.

We might be a nation of burgers and fries, but they are able to kick our butts at White Castle.

It wasn't too long ago when our downstream friends had their city erupt with violence for nights on end because of ugly race problems. More recently the on-edge community was at the Glass Bowl -- Toledo. Perhaps there are some valued lessons O'Connor can obtain when he visits, if he visits, those cities.

One nice mention about the bet was the stakes as contrasted to what Mayor Murphy did once. I think he put a wager together with the mayor of Boston and it had to do with a Steeler win meaning Murphy would get a bucket of Lobster. However, a Steeler loss meant that they got a flat screen TV from Sony, among other goodies that went above and beyond the average perk of a bet. Murphy couldn't even place a decent wager in terms of knowing how to cut a square deal and what he had to give up.

Go Steelers.

Today was Black & Gold day at school, and my boys opted out. They must have that, "Don't Put Me In a Box" feeling washing over them. Wonder where they get that from?

Mark C's recent Letter to Editor about dangers

Mark C reported:

I had a LTE in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review today (1/4/2006). I responded to a Sunday guest columnist who advocated a nationwide gun ban as a result of a tragic loss in her family (www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_407919.html).

She was sloppy and often wrong with many of her "facts" and conclusions according to one of my most reliable contacts in Firearms Owners Against Crime. While my FOAC contact is drafting a more thorough and lengthy reply, I thought I'd try a different approach in less-than-200 words.

My angle was cars. If you blame things for tragedies, I'm pretty sure that cars have it hands down over guns in terms of deaths, serious injuries and property damage.

So what happens if we ban cars (in 200 words or less)?

Mark C.

---

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/letters/s_409943.html

Gun control's dead end, Wednesday, January 4, 2006

A tragic family-member loss ("Gun control lobby is thinking small," Opinion and Commentary, Liberal Page, Jan. 1 and TribLIVE.com) is undeniably painful, but it can confuse and mislead one toward false remedies. A nationwide handgun ban is one such false remedy.

To show this, consider that each year thousands are killed and injured in vehicle accidents. The suffering by those victims and their families is no less painful.

Imagine if some of those victims called for a nationwide ban on private vehicles and government force made it happen. Where does that road take us?

Confiscation. Honest livelihoods and industries outlawed. Hobbies and traditions now crimes. Parts regarded like drug paraphernalia. Another costly "war on something."

It also takes us to a new government agency with three functions: to transport people government-style, to relocate people where government wants them and to jail
people. Undoubtedly, it will perform these functions with FEMA-like efficiency.

Bans on cars, guns or whatever are alternate routes to the same dead end: bigger government, poorer citizens, less freedom, more intrusion, fewer choices and more helplessness.

Let's not take this wrong turn.

Mark Crowley, Plum

Team 88 is now off the sidelines and into the game!

The wide-out from USC was a bit busy in Pittsburgh. His old team was trying to hook the horns of Texas in the BCS championship game. Swann is running for Governor! Run, run, run!

We went and handed out about 200 one-page flyers as people exited the Heinz History Center. Saw some folks from the city and plenty from western PA. One gentleman was from California.

I'm glad he is in the race.

It is good to see him energize the political landscape. We need more of that.

Finally, it was G-R-E-A-T to see #88 use the CITY of Pittsburgh for the kick-off to his campaign. I'm glad he came to the city.

Activists hope to reform state government : The Morning Call Online

I hope that the push for more and more reforms does not make for an implosion. The band of reformers might be best suited for a team victory if they were nimble and light. Too much heft with the reform agenda and the wheels could begin to wobble. Time will tell.

Activists hope to reform state government : The Morning Call Online

By John L. Micek, Call Harrisburg Bureau

HARRISBURG | The loosely knit band of activists who helped derail last year's legislative pay raises plans to spend the new year pushing for reforms to state government.

''We believe that 2005 prepared 2006 to be the 'Year of Integrity' in Pennsylvania politics,'' said Tim Potts of the activist group Democracy Rising.

Potts and about a half-dozen other pay raise foes gathered in the Capitol on Tuesday to roll out their agenda for 2006.

Their playbook includes calls for lobbyist disclosure and campaign finance reform, a broader open records law and, for some, the wholesale rejection by voters of incumbents in the primary and general elections.

The activists say this year will also serve as a place-setter for a ''citizens' constitutional convention'' in 2007.

I do like to have the depth for the discussions. We can take the concepts and string them into the Platform.For-Pgh.org.

Injured Kwan must petition for Olympic spot

Skating show on New Year's Eve -- fantastic!

Speaking of ice skating, we went out for New Year's Eve and attended the party hosted at the RMU Island Sports Center. It was a family celebration. Lots of fun, people, skating and friends. B. McKain skated in the shows and it was a hoot to see her on the ice -- as well as the others. The performance was just right for the night. Other activities included curling and a RMU varsity hockey practice. Great event. See you there next year. I'll do more to advance it then.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Injured Kwan must petition for Olympic spot - Wednesday January 4, 2006 4:27PM

Michelle Kwan struggled at an exhibition event in Boston last month, her season debut. Michelle Kwan struggled at an exhibition event in Boston last month, her season debut.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Adding an Olympic gold to her enormous collection of medals just got much tougher for Michelle Kwan.

Maybe impossible.

Now joining the campaign CD

Mark Rauterkus and Ken Waldman at a concert in Pittsburgh. Ken is both a great musician and storyteller. His cut, "Suffering Democracy" is part of the latest campaign CD. Read the poem on the wiki page.