This is NOT what I mean by an upgrade to activites on the lake at Panther Hollow

Last night, I released a statement that called for new activites at Panther Hollow -- in the lake / pond there -- with kayaks. We can do more in terms of recreation. Another buddie wrote to me and say I was onto something as that place has been going to the dogs for far too long.

This is close, but not exactly, what I have in mind.

Click on the image for a little video clip of three folks in kayaks and a suprise visitor.

Mayor may fill finance vacancy

Mayor may fill finance vacancy - PittsburghLIVE.com Under O'Connor's administrative reorganization, Kunka could become director of the mayor's Management and Budget Office, which might replace the position of finance director. City Council would need to approve a change.

This is a great appointment. If I was elected a member of city council, I would, after an extensive interview, in the open, in public, move to approve the changes necessary to allow for a new directorship for Bob O'Connor's Administration.

Scott Kunka gets a great deal of respect from me for the job he has done in the past years. He does not get a new job without sitting on the hot seat for a few minutes. But, he's a good person for these duties. He could offer a lot of insight to the new mayor in an area that is pressing, like few others.

New ink at South Pgh Reporter

: Mr. Rauterkus believes the best way to make the city attractive again is by getting neighborhood youths more involved in activities. He claims the problem with juvenile delinquency makes this part of the city unattractive and unsavory for any one planning to raise a family to want to move to this area.

Running out to swim practice now, so I can't do much but put up a pointer to the latest article. The City Paper article on the race will appear on WEDNESDAY. The PG gives the race coverage on Friday, I expect.

Thanks to all for the effort for the fine event last night in Oakland, at the Student Union.

My League of Young Voters statement

Focus on freedom, liberty and justice for all favors everyone, not specific cronies nor constituents from single demographics.

All benefit with: Bike lanes on streets; Trust in democracy; Annual Youth Technology Summits; Day-cares and Preschools; Subsidized housing for poor (not rich); and Graduate housing at Pitt's "River Campus" in Hazelwood.

In-fill-parking treatments in established neighborhoods make more sense than subsidized garages on Second Ave.

I'll deed city-owned properties to college juniors and post-grads as bonus scholarships to encourage home-ownership and roots to Pittsburgh past graduation.

Cutting taxes, (i.e., the deed-transfer-tax) helps young home buyers.

Expect kayaks in Panther Hollow, under lights, a marathon, and community fitness to give urban participants goals to shoot at and for, not each other with guns.

My tech interactions push fairness, transparency, engagement and open-source solution building. Give input at Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki.

Business as usual? - PittsburghLIVE.com

Honeymoon. JSM makes a case that what I call a honeymoon might be ending.

Business as usual? - PittsburghLIVE.com Everyone wishes O'Connor well. Yet even some of O'Connor's supporters already are grumbling that the man who ran as the 'business' mayor is looking a lot more like the 'business-as-usual' mayor.

I do think that time has been wasted. But, O'Connor has done okay in getting that 'dream team.'

The next key to the dream team is the 9th member of city council. If it is one just like O'Connor, or just like what we used to have -- then that hope for change goes down the drain.

Hooking O'Connor's fate to a hockey arena -- well -- say it ain't so media pundit. Because O'Connor is NOT kissing up to the hockey arena thing is proof enough that this is NOT business as usual. Murphy already built two new stadiums and a convention center that will never be used to its full capacity. We don't need another mayor to build massive things that then act like anchors to our public life.

The arena, now, is simply a distraction. Talk of the arnea takes the eye off the puck (or ball) to what really matters around here. Pittsburgh is more than a bunch of professional sports spectators.

Bob told the Pens to "Think Again." Wonderful.

Bob told the Pens, he has some more pressing things to handle, like the budget. Fine. Now Bob needs to move on those areas, then we'll re-measure his honneymoon and his team's effect on change -- or not.

The arena proposal is not O'Connor's Waterloo! I'm certain of that, despite what Pens fans and Mario might think.

Taxpayer score of Congress Critters

VS_2005.pdf (application/pdf Object)

USOC intends to address bad-boy behavior - Saturday February 25, 2006 1:13PM

Woops.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - USOC intends to address bad-boy behavior - Saturday February 25, 2006 1:13PM Miller failed to finish in the first run of the slalom and officially ended his Turin stay with zero medals in five races.

Scherr was obviously aware of reports from the Alpine venues of Miller's late-night tequila shots at the Irish Igloo.

'We have certain expectations,' said Scherr, detailing the code of conduct for the U.S. team. 'The athletes have to prepare themselves and compete to the best of their ability. And their behavior should bring honor to the United States.'

Student crowds Downtown discussed

Student crowds Downtown discussed She said Pittsburgh's Downtown should still be perceived as 'one of the safest urban centers in the country,' and will be helped further in summer by the partnership's hiring of 'ambassadors' who will walk the streets and serve as extra eyes and ears for police.

I think it is sorta silly to hire ambassadors. We should hire crossing-guards.

I think it is sorta silly to put more and more kids onto PAT buses when we should have some service for school buses to and from neighborhoods to our high schools.

I think it is dangerous to close Schenley High School -- in Oakland. I don't like the idea of moving Schenley HS to the east end into Reisenstein Middle School's building. That would put Westinghouse, Peabody and Schenley all into an area that is too close to each other -- and -- someone else has said it would be "a hornets nest."

Building a guys only campus and a girls only campus is another trend that should be examined in Pittsburgh.

The other cheap and obvious solution, should violence become more and more of an issue for the high school kids is to go to a 'uniform' policy. The uniforms are not 'fool proof' of course, and there is some downside to that move, but, it can help and everything needs to be on the table.

Finally, the kids are not going downtown to play basketball or use recreational facilities. That's for sure as there are no decent facilities for them to gather in productive ways downtown.

Until recently, there used to be a swim pool at the Salvation Army -- closed. There used to be a swim pool at the YWCA -- closed. The gym spaces are for the more up-scale corporate clients in town.

What do we have for our kids to shoot at or to shoot for -- other than themselves? That is the nagging questions I want to ask and fix. I want to attack the problems from the other end of the spectrum, from a holistic approach. We need to challenge and coach our teens.

Seniors vote. Seniors have been not only at the top of the priority list -- but the only thing on the priority list. That mentality has lasted far too long.

We have a generation of kids having babies. We need to give new focus to parenting and support areas such as pre-schools and day cares and playgrounds where coaching occurs.

Just 150 words needed to answer this question

What specific policy initiatives will you implement to improve campus
life, the quality of life in Oakland (South Oakland in particular) and make the city more student friendly?

* Deadline for submission: Monday 2/27/06 @ 5 pm.

This question begs for a few wise guy answers, for blog submissions. Suggestions welcomed.

chill, wait, double fallback, could, should,

Those words don't sound like the words of hockey.

Penguins will wait out slots process - PittsburghLIVE.com The county and city continue to discuss an alternate plan, O'Connor said. They could release details by late March.
'We all want the same thing,' he said. 'We want the Penguins to stay here, and we want a multipurpose arena.'
Onorato's spokesman Kevin Evanto called the Plan B a 'double fallback position.'
'If we lose the team because there's not an alternate plan, then people are going to come unglued because of that,' he said.
Evanto encouraged Penguins supporters to lobby the other casino applicants to include money for an arena in their plans.

What became of grinding it out? Pass, shoot, block, counter-attack. Change lines. Do it again. There is political football -- why not political hockey. A hockey game in the political relm is desired instead of our politicians, dear sports franchises and upstart casino bidders playing a game of chicken with eventual lawyering on the sidelines.

Going somewhere? Vote anyway

Allegheny County Elections Division Announces Absentee Ballot App lication Deadline for March 14 Special Election - 2/22/2006

PITTSBURGH - The Allegheny County Elections Division today announced that County residents who need an absentee ballot for the upcoming March 14 Special Election to fill the vacancy in Pittsburgh City Council District 3 must apply before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7.

Absentee ballots are available to registered voters who will be absent from their municipality on March 14, or to those who cannot reach the polls because of an illness or physical disability.

Absentee ballot applications may be requested through the mail or in person at the Allegheny County Elections Division, 601 County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Eligible voters may also obtain an application by calling 412-350-4520 or by visiting www.dos.state.pa.us.

Registered voters are encouraged to request their absentee ballot application as soon as possible. Applications must be completed and returned to the Elections Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 7. An absentee ballot will then be mailed to the applicant.

The voted absentee ballot must be returned to the Elections Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10.

Hoops update

Westinghouse Bulldogs Girls basketball, Overall Record: 22-3, Section Record: 15-1, hosts Schenley's squad tonight, Friday, at 6:30 pm.

In the boys city league....

Schenley powers way to final - PittsburghLIVE.com Schenley advances to the City League championship game next Thursday night at Mellon Arena to face Allderdice, which beat Peabody, 63-43. It will be the Spartans' third trip in a row to the championship game. Last year, they beat the Bears in the title game, and two years ago, they lost the crown to Perry.

U.S. wins first curling medal

Another excuse to drive around town beeping your car horn is here! Curling rocks!

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - U.S. wins first curling medal - Friday February 24, 2006 10:06AM U.S. wins first curling medal

Did you get a peek at the Curling Calendar?

The Curling News Blog They even got a photo of the streaker on the blog.

Libertarian Party Convention in State College, next weekend

The 2006 Libertarian Party of PA Convention gathers in State College, March 4 and 5, 2006

Statewide Candidate Selection and Speakers from PA Clean Sweep, Commonwealth Foundation and PA State Legislature

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) released PR and details on the agenda for its 2006 convention in State College. Pennsylvania.

At the convention, the party will nominate its 2006 candidates for statewide office.

This year’s convention is also filled with prominent speakers including Russ Diamond, founder and chair of Operation PA Clean Sweep, Matthew Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation, and the Honorable Kerry Benninghoff PA House, District 171 (Centre and Mifflin Counties.)

Convention organizer, Barry Dively, said, "I am very excited about the upcoming convention. Our opening reception on Friday evening (March 3rd) provides a fun opportunity for people who care about liberty to gather and share ideas. Our business meetings provide a great way for attendees to contribute to the direction of the LPPA and to learn more about being active in the political process. And this year’s speakers are emerging players in Pennsylvania politics."

Banquet speaker, Russ Diamond, was a key voice in bringing about the repeal of the legislature's massive and unconstitutional pay raise. His organization is working to restore responsible government to the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Matthew Brouilette leads a free-market think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation. The foundation is well known for publishing the Liberty Index which informs Pennsylvanians how well (or how poorly) members of the state legislature and governor’s office defend our liberty.

Kerry Benninghoff is a five term member of the PA state House who has been a strong voice against additional government spending and against tax increases. He serves on the Professional Licensure, Finance and Health and Human Services committees, and chairs the Subcommittee on Human Services.

Members of the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Commission will be attending to conduct a panel discussion on the Voters’ Choice Act as will members of Toastmasters International to conduct a meeting.

David Jahn, Chair of the party, added, "I invite all who are interested in restoring common sense, economic freedom and social tolerance in Pennsylvania to join us in State College." Additional information about the convention can be found at www.lppa.org.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with more than 600 officials serving in office throughout the nation. Visit www.lp.org for more information on the party.

Expectations especially high for Beijing in '08

SI.com - Olympics - Expectations especially high for Beijing in '08 - Wednesday February 22, 2006 11:41PM: "Even before they're over, the Winter Games in Turin are being overshadowed by Beijing, with expectations soaring that the 2008 Summer Olympics will be like none other.
Beijing Games organizers can be found at venues all over Turin, videotaping security procedures and working in ticketing offices, methodically adjusting the playbook for 2008."

Candidate meeting update - 30th ward

I gave a talk at Knoxville Block Watch - and talked in part about the girls high school basketball game. I gave the game score, 71 to 31, and someone spoke up saying -- it was 71 to 30-something-else. I said, "Where you there?"

Carrick HS is just over the hill from where we were presenting. So, I wasn't certain if a parent of a player or uncle might have been at both events. It was just a remark from the sidelines.

The big news of the night, besides the presence of the City Paper photographer, was the appearance of the 30-year-old Republican -- his first event in public. He mentioned support to avoid TIFs, as M.B. and I generally do, but didn't know -- or miss-spoke -- on the actual meaning of the TIF word. TIF stands for, "Tax Incremental Finance."

Yes, we need to end TIFs. We need to end tax-breaks for corporations. TIFs are a way to have the super rich get richer and the poor get poorer. TIFs make for bad policy. TIFs are not fair. TIFs are confusing and come without an open accounting of their progress and performance.

I've campaigned in the past that TIF laws in Harrisburg should be changed. Futhermore, and most important, we need to elect people who are AGAINST ALL TIFs. The city, under Murphy's rule, and with his fellow Dems, has gone overboard on TIFs.

When TIFs are used, they become a "BRIBE" to get a business to open up here. Often after the tax break fades, so too does the company. They close. Rather, we want sustainable business development.

When TIFs are used, the hurt all the honest business operations who need to compete with the business that gets to pay less in taxes. So, when Lazarus had a TIF and didn't have to pay much in taxes, an established clothing store, perhaps that sold mens' suits, had to compete against Lazarus. The market place gets poison with the TIF as then you need to give a tax-break to be 'fair' to the other store owner too. That can't work.

So, the one's without a TIF vote with their feet -- they leave. They close. And, the one's we want to move to the area to open -- won't. They see how things work here and go elsewhere.

When US Airways went down the tubes and the message was sent out from the US Senators and others in the top elected offices that there would be NO MORE GIVE-A-Ways to US Airways (no new hangars, no new rebates, etc.) -- then Southwest had an opening to move here.

US Airways had LOCKED up all the gates at Pittsburgh's airport. As another firm would start up service -- US Airways would undercut them. As a result, all passengers from Pittsburgh paid more. The lack of competition hurt us.

Playing favorites is a bad way to govern.

Knocked off ballot in Ohio -- for Congress

See the comments for another story about a Careless Congress Critter Want-a-Be.

School kids in China -- wearing uniforms and taking their bikes to school.

State Senator Jim Ferlo was in City Council Chambers today, with a deligation of people from Tiawan. The ambassador and I had a brief chat. He said that I'd been to two of the three Chinas. He's right.

I hope they have a fruitful experience in Pittsburgh.

A+ Schools Brown Bag

I went to the Regional Enterprise Tower to a brown-bag discussion led by A+ Schools as they are rolling out their school report that sums up many academic performance results in a nice book, school by school.

I got my copy of the report last night at a meeting hosted at Pgh Public Schools. It is a nice tool.

Again, my first bit of critical advice is to not pit the city schools against each other. Rather, a family that is going to move out of the city because of schools wants to know how Pgh Public School stack up against suburban schools.

Case in point: The I.B. program at USC just got canned. I.B. = International Baccalaureate program. USC = Upper St. Clair (not St. Clair Village). Pittsburgh has a great I.B. program at Schenley High School.

Presently we're not fighting for the I.B. program, we're fighting for the entire Schenley H.S. experience and location.

People in suburban areas, and I know a lot of them, are green with envy with the way we handle our 'gifted education.' So, the Gifted Center is moving -- to Ridge on the North Side. We might be breaking something that is working.

The move to Ridge is going to be a one-year program. That has to be adjusted right away.

The other strong suit for the city in terms of educational offerings is the magnet program and the languages that are taught at many schools starting in kindergarden. That's wonderful and we're far ahead of most other school districts.

But one of the short-falls of the nice book by A+ Schools is that there are few other markers in the entire book that compare and contrast the academic performance of city kids against that of the kids in the state and suburban districts.

People at one school shouldn't be trying to be as good as another city school -- when the real prize is to be the best in the region -- or the best in the world.

Bob O'Connor agrees.... put the city kids into the WPIAL

A long-standing proposal of mine got the attention of Mayor Bob O'Connor today. He was giving an interview to KDKA about the shootings among our youth in downtown yesterday and at Westinghouse in the morning yesterday too.

Bob went into the school and attended a girls basketball game. I told him the final score and said that we should get our kids into the WPIAL.

He said, "You're right."

I'm ready to make this happen in the first weeks of joining city council.

Say what???? Some readers might not understand what I'm ranting about. Let me explain.

The city schools have a city league. They play against each other day-in-and-day-out. The game yesterday was Westinghouse vs. Carrick, for example, 71-31, final score. That's no fun. Nobody wins.

We have an "iron-curtin" of sorts that rings the city so that the city kids play against city school competition -- and the suburban kids play against other suburban schools. The suburban schools, by and large, are part of the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League).

Some pre-season, exhibition, post-season, tournament games happen between schools from the city to those from around the region. But, those competitions don't happen as they should, day-to-day.

We need to get our kids to compete in the global marketplace but can't even get them to compete with Shaler Area, Baldwin or Keystone Oaks.

To rally the citizens for the sake of the schools and performance in academics -- we need to hold a rally and celebrate competition from the outside.