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Governor calls on youth to help revitalize politics

The Times-Tribune - News - 03/17/2006 - Governor calls on youth to help revitalize politics “Young people, I find, generally ... are less cynical, less beaten down, more optimistic and more idealistic about the world. We need those voters in the system,” he (Gov. Rendell) said.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - one given to the voters of District 3

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com Lance: To voters. There are more than 24,000 registered voters in Pittsburgh City Council District 3. Fewer than 14 percent bothered to vote in Tuesday's special election to choose a successor to Gene Ricciardi, now a district justice. The winner, with about 1,500 votes, was Jeff Koch, a city public works employee. We wish Mr. Koch the best of luck. Perhaps he can figure out a way to boost voter participation.

In other news, the Trib endorsement for District 3 is .... absent with out leave.

Oak Hill housing advocates plan march tomorrow

Oak Hill housing advocates plan march tomorrow: "Some residents of the Hill District's Oak Hill section plan to march tomorrow to demand housing on a piece of land also coveted by the University of Pittsburgh.

'We're going to be demanding what was promised to us - more housing on empty public housing land,' said Oak Hill Residents Council President Eloise McDonald. 'It's now time to take it to the streets.'

The march will start at noon at Allequippa Hall and proceed to Wadsworth Hall. State Rep. Jake Wheatley, Pittsburgh Councilwoman Tonya Payne and Urban League of Pittsburgh President Esther Bush are expected to speak."

Steelers to add more seats to stadium

A $4-million expansion is slated for Heinz Field to get 700 additional club seats. So each seat is to cost $5,714 to build.

That's about the same as a cost of a crossing guard, yes?

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Steelers plan more club seats PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to add about 700 club seats at Heinz Field.

'The Steelers are pleased to be in a position to expand the seating capacity at Heinz Field. The demand for club seats has proven to be very strong since moving to Heinz Field,' Steelers president Art Rooney said Thursday.

The team submitted the plans to the Sports and Exhibition Authority, the city-county entity which owns the stadium and leases it to the team.

The additional seats would bring the stadium's capacity to 65,050. The project also includes adding about 20,000 square feet of enclosed club space. Construction is scheduled to begin in April at a cost of approximately $4 million.

The seats will be offered to those on the season ticket waiting list and some season ticket holders who want club seats."

How about if the Steelers just purchased Heinz Field. Buy it outright. Then the Steelers organization can do whatever it wants to its stadium.

This is what big government looks like

My Way News Senate Passes $2.8 Trillion 2007 Budget

Mayor reports that his unconventional approach has 'worked so far'

Mayor reports that his unconventional approach has 'worked so far' Keeping the Penguins in town is 'a big priority,' he said. 'An arena is crucial.'

Why? Because the Pens say it is so?

Why not invest in a better hockey team rather than the building that the team plays within. The building does not score any goals.

I'd like to see someone prove the facts and figures of the hockey mess and why the arena is cricial.

Philly Locals Want Green Bay Packers-Style Ownership For 2 Papers

Philly Locals Want Green Bay Packers-Style Ownership For 2 Papers Philly Locals Want Green Bay Packers-Style Ownership For 2 Papers

By Mark Fitzgerald

Published: March 15, 2006 1:55 PM ET

CHICAGO A former high-powered Philadelphia advertising executive has received commitments 'well in excess of $100 million' to buy The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News in an ownership structure similar to the community-owned Green Bay Packers pro football team, he told E&P Wednesday.

Brian Tierney said he has lined up 20 'super-successful' Philadelphia businesspeople in an investment group ready to partner with others, including the Newspaper Guild, to buy the papers. The Inquirer and the tabloid Daily News were sold Monday by Knight Ridder to The McClatchy Co., which immediately announced they and 10 other papers were for sale.

In a telephone interview, Tierney said the group was committed to long-term ownership. 'We're looking at this as partly a good economic investment, and partly as good community involvement,' he said. 'It would be a sort of Green Bay Packers kind of ownership.'"

What about this type of ownership for the Pittsburgh Penguins? We talked about it a couple of months ago -- when I was in the election. Well, now, I've got more time on my hands.

If the Philly papers get the deal with community ownership, perhaps we could get them to start an entry into the Pittsburgh marketplace too.

Poynteronline warns of end of stock pages in newspapers

NYT Stock Pages: Buh-Bye! It makes little -- all right, no -- sense for daily newspapers (with a handful of exceptions) to print pages and pages of stock prices. Statistical research might prove me wrong, but I believe most investors go
online to check their stocks, bonds, mutual funds and so forth these days. Also, they rely on e-mail or mobile alerts about major price changes or news developments, portfolios that show the value of individual and total investments, and so forth.

My son's gifted program does not even use the newspaper to track their pretend stock investments.

War Rally this weekend and other events

A big peace rally is slated for Saturday. I can't attend. But these items caught my attention:

AFTER THE MARCH is a screening of Why We Fight at the Regent Square Theater (1035 S. Braddock Ave, Edgewood) at 9:15 pm. Why We Fight is Eugene Jarecki's new documentary about the military industrial complex.

The Iraqle Debacle Concert to Mark the 3rd Anniversary of the War in Iraq is a concert to benefit the New Orleans Musicians on
Sunday, March 19, from 7 pm to 11 pm at Brillobox, 4104 Penn Avenue (Lawrenceville) with Anne Feeney, Jack Erdie, Mark Dignam, HutchSimonProject, John Marsiglio of the Knobs, Duo Prime of Turn and Gene Collier. Suggested donation: $10.

More at http://www.PittsburghEndTheWar.org.

Tuesday, March 21: “Spy In” on Government Spying

The feds are spying on us. You've heard of sit-ins, sleep-ins and die-ins. Well, you are invited to resist government spying and join us for SPY-IN. On Tuesday, March 21, 12:00 noon at the Federal Building (Grant and Liberty, Downtown). Dress in spy gear (trench coats, black suits/fedoras (a la Abramoff), sunglasses, etc. -- try your local thrift shop). Bring cameras, toy cameras, note pads, binoculars, telescopes.

- What does the federal government know and when did they first know it?

- What are the spooks doing with all of our tax dollars?

- Why aren't the feds investigating their own -- those who lied about going into Iraq, those who say they don't need to get approval from anyone to spy on US citizens, those taking illegal campaign "contributions" from lobbyists?

- Why can't we sit in on THEIR planning meetings, THEIR discussions, take pictures of THEM going in and out of the federal building (afterall, they are paid with OUR tax dollars and are ultimately accountable to US)?

Is this action ridiculous? Sure it is. But so is the Pentagon, the NSA and the FBI spying on US citizens and groups with no history of violence or threats to anyone. Our intent is to spoof the spooks!

For more information visit www.PittsburghEndtheWar.org or email spooks@pittsburghendthewar.org or call 412-361-3022. This action is called by the Thomas Merton Center Anti-War Committee and the Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Defense Campaign.

Pgh Public Schools -- key communicator meeting for March 30

We are embarking on yet another exciting time in the lives of the Pittsburgh Public School children and you, as a Key Communicator, play a very important role.

As a Key Communicator whether you are affected by a closing school or receiving school, this is an opportunity to utilize the leadership skills you have that brought you to the table. Working collaboratively with other parents will help to make the transition process a lot smoother.

Information will be shared on how you will play a key role in the transition process that the district has been working on to make this experience a smooth and rewarding one for all involved.

The March 30th meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room A. A light dinner will be served for those who register.

Please call Wanda Spencer @ 412-622-3617 no later than March 27th to register.

Parent Wellness Workshop - REMINDER - meeting is MONDAY (tonight)

First posted on March 16, 2006.

Calling All Parents!
You are cordially invited to a special “Health/Wellness” Information Session from 6 to 8 pm, Monday April 3, 2006, Conference Room A, first floor, 341 S. Bellefield Avenue.
Presentations:
* University of Pittsburgh Minority Health Center
* PPS Wellness Policy
* Food Services
* Step 2 Diabetes
* Panel discussions

Sponsored by the Title I DWPAC. Eat well- Stay Healthy-Keep Fit!

RSVP to Toni Corinealdi by March 31, 2006 at 412-622-3615

Light Dinner for those who Register!

Golden Dot goes to Clean Sweep site -- way to go

PACleanSweep Takes 2006 'Golden Dot' Award

ANNVILLE, PA [03.16.06] - The George Washington University's Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet awarded PACleanSweep the Golden Dot Award for excellence in online campaigning at its annual Politics Online Conference at The George Washington University.
Golden Dot Award Winner The 2006 Golden Dot Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the use of the Internet as a political tool between the dates of January 21, 2005 and January 20, 2006.

PACleanSweep was one of five finalists nominated for the Institute's Best PAC or Nonpartisan Internet Campaign award. PACleanSweep and winners in other categories were announced at last weekend's conference.

"The Internet is a printing press without the overhead," said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond. "Like pamphleteers in revolutionary Philadelphia, Internet users have taken advantage of a very inexpensive method of transmitting information to a much wider readership."

PACleanSweep was launched on July 18, 2005. Since then, the website has logged nearly 5.5 million hits from 200,000 unique visitors. Over 675,000 pages and 4.1 million files have been requested by visitors to pacleansweep.com.

Nearly 11,000 posts by 620 members of the PACleanSweep online discussion group have kept individuals across Pennsylvania informed of the group's activities in raising 96 candidates - to date - to run for legislative seats.

"We set out to be a springboard for local grassroots activity," added Diamond, "and this award is a sign that we've accomplished that to some degree. We proudly accept it on behalf of our 5900 subscribers, volunteers and candidates. It belongs to them."

Santorum's primary challenger, ex-L, John Featherman, drops out of race

Let's talk about the flat-tax.

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Santorum's primary challenger drops out of race Featherman got just under 48,000 votes in a race against Santorum, Democrat Ron Klink and two other candidates as the Libertarian Party's nominee in 2000. He also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in a special election in 1998.

Santorum sent a letter to ask for a debate.

Training for 2006 State Candidates and Campaign Staff

Education Issues Workshop, A Non-Partisan One-Day Program for Pennsylvania Legislative Candidates and Staff, Sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center

8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, March 17 – Valley Forge

Saturday, March 18 – Monroeville

Tuesday, March 21 – Harrisburg

For Voters and Candidates in Pennsylvania, Education Issues will be key topics in the 2006 Campaign.

Are you Ready?

Will you be the candidate best prepared to discuss these issues?

Will your campaign material and your statements highlight these issues?

Will you have the best ideas?

Will you be a leader?

Will you do your best in this campaign?

Learn More About These Important Education Issues:

"No Child Left Behind" (NCLB)
Governor's Proposed 06-07 Education Budget
State Academic Standards PA's Education Funding System
State Assessments for Students
Act 72 of 2004
Governance of Public Education Property Tax Relief Proposals
Local vs. State Control Local Referendum
Early Childhood Education Special Education Funding
Teacher Quality and Supply Issues Charter Schools & Cyber Schools
School Leadership Home Schooling
State Initiatives to Help Struggling Districts & Students
Higher Education Governance
State Takeovers of Districts Higher Education Funding
State Education Policy Levers Community Colleges

Only $59 for entire Workshop including lunch and the 2006 Issues Workbook. (Campaign funds may be used for tuition and travel expenses.)

Workshop Registration Form

Workshop Agenda

7:30 a.m. Registration/Coffee

8:15 a.m. Welcome

Introduction to Resource Book & Materials
8:30 a.m. K-12 Educational Governance in Pennsylvania
Federal-State-Local Roles
State-Level Education Governance
Governor, PDE, Legislature, State Board of Education
State-Level Education Policymaking Process – Statutes & Regulations
Policy Levers Available to State Policymakers
School Districts, School Boards and Superintendents

9:30 a.m. Standards-Based Reforms in Pennsylvania

Background of Standards-Based Reforms in PA
Requirements and Impact of “No Child Left Behind” Act
Assessment Issues
Accountability and Consequences
Key Issues for State Policymakers


10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. State Policies to Support Student Achievement

“What Works” and Educational Capacity at the School, District & State Level
Interventions for Failing Schools and Students
Early Care and Education
Pre-School and Kindergarten
Teachers and School Leaders - Quality and Supply
Parents and Community
High School Reform – PA Project 720
SBE Project – PAGE 1
School Choice (Vouchers, Charters, Home Schooling, etc.)
PDE Web Site resources

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Networking

12:45 p.m. Education Finance

Understanding PA Education Funding System
History, What’s Wrong, How We Got This Way
Special Issues: Special Education, Charter Schools, Construction
Principles of a Sound Education Funding System
Review of Rendell Administration Initiatives
Governor’s 2006-07 Education Budget Proposal
Act 72 of 2004
Update on Special Session on Property Tax Relief
Key Issues for State Policymakers

2:15 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. Higher Education Issues
Governance
Funding
Student Aid
2004 National Report Card on Higher Education
2006 Report on Condition of Higher Education in Pennsylvania

3:30 p.m. Q & A with Panel of State Policy Leaders and Advocates

4:45 p.m. Other Information Resources and Wrap-Up

5:00 p.m. Adjourn

The Education Issues Workshop is sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center, 800 North Third Street, Suite 408, Harrisburg, Pa. 17102 - 717-260-9900 - www.eplc.org

My next race is expected to be this...

Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race Sunday, August 6, 2006

I might do some other races between now and then. You never know.

Storm of challenges precedes May primary election

Storm of challenges precedes May primary election Oh my gosh.

VICTORY smells like this: Mayor O'Connor reveals his spending plan for Pittsburgh

Mayor O'Connor reveals his spending plan for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor released a revised city budget yesterday that would boost spending by $28 million over last year, increase police coverage and fully fund school crossing guards and the Fire Bureau.

Read those words.... FULLY FUND SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.

The loyal readers to this blog and the one's on the campaign trails know that I've been standing on my head to say that we need to bring back the crossing guards.

This is how WE win.

If you want to be SAFE -- then you don't move the police station out of the zone and out of the city. Clueless. That was a suggestion from Kraus at a campaign event.

The way to move in a real effort to being safe is to put the crossing guards back on the streets. And, to re-tool them with additional support.

Furthermore, one of the other candidates in the recent election worked with the OLD city councilman. He was unhappy to hear me blame the past city council for its FUMBLES in funding the crossing guards. Jason Phillips, G, worked with Gene Ricciardi, D, when those cuts came. And, the cuts came at repeated instances.

The city screwed up here. We need to fix another of Tom Murphy's messes.

If we want a safe 1,000 foot zone around the schools -- start by putting CROSSING GUARDS back into the neighborhoods. That is a budget and funding issue first. That is a duty of the city's budget, not the school budget.

Slots group silent

Perfect! Great theme to this article.

Slots group silent - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Slots group silent

By Andrew Conte, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 16, 2006

In the three months since Pittsburgh's Gaming Task Force last met, a new mayor has taken office and three bidders for the city's slots casino began marketing details of competitive, multimillion-dollar plans.

But no one has heard from the task force, a group charged with exploring the impact a casino could have on the city.

Right on the mark. Not only is the gaming task force silent -- but what about the blasted GRAFITTI TASK FORCE? Bruce Kraus was so quick to mention all his experience with that group -- and the group is SILENT. What about the Chamber of Commerce? Silent mostly.

What about the PARK's BLUEPRINT or whatever the SSLDC did about a "feasibilty study" of the now closed, lone indoor ice rink and "green space" in the South Side.

These groups put forth by Tom Murphy are "weenie groups" that did little to nothing except pad resumes. And those that used them to pad their resumes are 'do-little takers' from the community too.

Rick B is on that task force -- and that task force is a JOKE.

They always try to "HIRE CONSULTANTS" and make "studies." Then they don't even get the reports printed up. Nor are the reports put online. And, when you try to get your input into the reports, they are ignored.

This is the same old "mode of operation" of dozens and dozens of groups around here. Then when one group really figures out how to kick up smoke, say the WEST PITTSBURGH PARTNERSHIP, they teach the others how to do the same tricks to hoodwink.

And, on top of all of this -- the I.C.A. and Act 47 Task Force -- are absent too. And those OVERLORDS don't meet and work on the problems before us all either.

We don't want 'free rides.' We don't want dead weight.

I put other organizations into the same global category as well.

I got involved with a clean election task force in 2005 under Bill Peduto's leadership. We gathered. Many smart people were involved. But the results and outcome of those meeting is still hidden -- thanks to Bill Peduto. This stinks. I've been a squeeky wheel. Bill needs to call a blasted public hearing and allow for the task force to present its outcomes. He needs to MOVE and do SOMETHING on this issue.

I got involved with City's Aquatics Task Force. What a joke. This was an appointement that was promised under Faith Gallow -- the old Citiparks Director who has been dead for a number of years. The Aquatics Task Force met twice in five years. They all the pools were closed. And then the SOS came into being -- another do nothing group except get a 60-minute special on QED's on Q with Elsie Hillman. What pools should be opened and what pools should be closed should NOT be decided by the rich woman who writes the checks. Elsie Hillman does NOT use the city pools.

Too often we have clueless power grabs -- and spineless players who don't want to make a mention on something crucial.

Jack Shea is right. And, in this area, at least the UNIONS are day-to-day leaders on concerns near-and-dear to them.

More TV tonight - Russ Diamond and a star studded cast

PCN is showing the Libertarian Convention from two weeks ago, tonight, Thursday March 16. Please record these for future use.

8:00 – Russ Diamond, Operation Clean Sweep (and more)

9:10 – Matthew Brouillette, Commonwealth Foundation President

9:30 – Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre & Mifflin Counties

10:00 – Property Rights

11:10 – Ballot Access

12:15 (am) – Separation of Church and State

12:35 – Young Americans for Freedom