Rendell to unveil arena funding plan next week

Rendell to unveil arena funding plan next week 'Obviously if they get the casino license they're committed to stay. But we think this Plan B is going to be good enough that it will cause them to stay here in any event,' he said.

Rendell offeres up another big assumption. I do NOT think that there is anything to say that if the Isle of Capri gets its license the Pens will stay in Pittsburgh.

However, if the PENS owned the new arena that was to come about, perhaps, with the windfall of the gambling license acquisition -- then -- the PENGUINS would have real roots in Pittsburgh. Insure the Pens do stay by putting ownership of a building -- that can't move -- onto their backs.

But, the Pens had an interest in a hockey arena on the South Side -- and it is closed.

The Pens had an interest in the ice rink where they moved too after departing the South Side -- and that was broken too.

So, the Pens track record of keeping things and running them well is marginal, at best. Well, it really just sucks eggs. But, who else is going to notice?

Fast Eddie will be at Pitt's Law School this afternoon

I went to a technical Law School event at Pitt this AM -- before doing other things in Oakland. There I learned that the Gov is going to be at Pitt to a meeting hosted by the Pitt Law School Dems -- around 3:30 pm.

Casey, 2 foes to debate, but topics unclear

The news has changed. -- See the comments.

Those that want to debate but don't want to allow for the conversation to go freely are not worthy of a vote.

Casey, 2 foes to debate, but topics unclear Casey, 2 foes to debate, but topics unclear
Thursday, March 23, 2006
BY BRETT LIEBERMAN
Of Our Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Democrats vying to challenge U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum have agreed to two debates next month, although it remains unclear on which topics they'll touch.

Challengers to state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. said he agreed to an April 8 debate at Slippery Rock University only if abortion rights and stem-cell research are off the table.

Arena meeting planned

Arena meeting planned Mr. Rendell has said he is crafting a plan that would not involve slot machine revenue.

Yesterday, US Senator, Rick Santorum, was on the radio with Mark Madden, ESPN afternoon drive time trash-talker. Santorum was pandering saying:

-- 90 percent of the people of the region use the arena each year. (Gross inflation)

-- Santorum could think of nothing better to spend the windfall of the cheap gambling license -- other than a new arena. (Lack of creativity)

Crossey can't run for seat in 27th District, judge rules

Too bad for Mike Crossey. But, there were and still are too many folks in the hunt for that seat. To beat the pay-jacker who is in that seat now, you have to put all the opposition on the back of ONE challenger.

Crossey can't run for seat in 27th District, judge rules The withdrawal means Mr. Maher will have no opposition in the primary or general election.

But the big problem with the news is in the article in the line above. John Maher of the State House might still have an opponent in the GENERAL ELECTION. The petitions for getting onto the ballot are not due yet. A Libertarian, Indie, Green or Socialist (yeah right) could still get onto the ballot.

Well, a Socialist might not be such a bad idea now that USC (Upper St. Clair) is in such a tizzy with its I.B. program.

People without in-party opposition and people without other major party opposition can still face opposition in the general by third party challengers.

Visited the SEA today -- Sports and Exibition Authority

I went to the Authority Board Meeting today, 9 am, in room 333 in the Convention Center. And, I spoke to them at the end of the meeting. This was the first meeting for both Wayne Fontana, D, PA Senator (and possible foe again in the Nov 2006 election) and Luke Ravenstalh, D, City Council President. The new guys have just been appointed to the board.

We've got a new direction in town now. And, the new faces on the Authority Board did nothing to show us that they are with any new idea nor new blood.

The entire process was nothing but a 'rubber stamp' for the status quo. And the status quo around here stinks.

Has anyone noticed????

The SEA Authority is paying for research into the new convention center hotel -- by giving a contract to Oxford Development. There is rich getting richer and cronie contracts.

Next, the SEA Authority is giving more room to a United Parcel Service store. There had been three spaces, now it will all be lumped into one space. That's a move that is bad for small business and diversity. We need to build up small operators, diversity of businesses. Putting in three shops is way better than one. This is retail space for goodness sake.

Then the SEA Authority board could not make a decision on parking rates that need to be put into place on April 1. In another parking decision, the SEA had a contract let with the Pirates so they get 150 new parking spaces. Details on dollars were missing. We already have a Parking Authority. I just hate to see the SEA get into the Parking Authority game. Then the Parking Authority gets into housing. The wires are all twisted and crossed. And, it was never stated as to how much the Pirates are going to pay for the parking spaces. I think that they might be FREE.

Next, we are getting some new art. More bricks and mortar if you ask me. The problem isn't a hardware problem. Our city's need is about programming.

The cost of insurance for the Convention Center went down a bit. That's good news. But, insurance is a big cost -- one of the largest -- especially because of all the owned art.

Free speech around the convention center is still only a pipe dream.

These guys are clueless as to how the city needs to operate in the future. We've got to cut the ties to the old ways of doing things -- because we're broke. We need to stop doing the wasteful, big-ticket spending. We need to lay the shovel down -- and then we need to cut our losses.

The Steelers got the green light to build the 700 new seats at Heinz Field. I don't think the Steelers should have to come to the SEA to get permission to build new features at Heinz Field -- because I think the Steelers should OWN Heinz Field. I'd draw up papers and make the Steelers an offer it can't refuse. Sell Heinz Field to the Steelers and be done with it.

Rather, public money is going to be inveseted into the seats and club lounge at Heinz Field -- so the Steelers can make more money. Sure, a tiny bit of the money comes to the city in terms of new taxes (amusement taxes). And, public money only has to pay for about a third of the costs of the new expansion within Heinz Field. But -- sell off Heinz Field to the Steelers and let all of those upgrades be a private concern -- and not something to worry upon GOVERNMENT's back.

The Senator and City Councilman have no business running a stadium, nor a stadium expansion project. Govern .... and don't wave be content to wave pom-poms.

Worse than rubber stamps -- hoodwinked Rubber stamps.

What about the Civic Arena's turn-the-lights-off hockey game? The SEA has an annual contract with a firm (another no-bid, professional services contract for cronies) to review the facility as paid for by RAD (Regional Asset District) taxes. The facility is in good shape -- but the lights go out so the Pens fans get to chant about a new hockey arena. Who is in the dark, board members?

The public sits blind-folded -- and another round of 'pin the tail on the donkey' unfolds. The donkey, still, seems to be the Authority. After today, LUKE R and Wayne F have their skin in the game. And both are quick to do-nothing but rubber stamp.

Gosh, we need leaders who are okay at setting a new agenda. We got leaders who are more willing to give credit to the pricks and sit in the leader's chair -- without really leading.

The convention center is, by-and-large, a huge waste. It is costly and under-utilized. It has no hope of reaching its potential as it was built in a time of Murphy leadership and un-founded economics. The convention marketplace is saturated -- and the City of Pittsburgh, as well as Allegheny County, is holding onto a lot of debt and a lot of heft -- without real benefits. The authority board needs to wake up and take stock and measure in what it got and what it costs to maintain.

Furthermore, many of the conventions that might come to Pittsburgh in the future are sure to go elsewhere after the casino arrives. The gambling town attration is a sure turn-off for a bulk of the convention marketplace. So, the casino is going to make the existing convention center a bigger anchor on the backs of the authority and taxpayers.

Meanwhile, another multi-million dollar facility is needed in the city -- a new casino. We should sell the existing Convention Center so it can become the home for the new casino -- even if it was for a five-year period.

We could open the new casino within the Convention Center -- selling the public debt to the casino operators. They'll get a big, beautiful building with parking and all sorts of nice space.

Then the casino operator can also host conventions too. They'll be able to manage the facilities and events as best they can to maximize the opportunity. Perhaps for the two weeks of the Home Show, the casino shrinks to 1/5th its size because there is a demand for exhibit space. Fine. They can handle all of those issues -- because they are NOT government issues.

New Heinz Field club seating approved The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority board this morning approved a 700-seat addition to Heinz Field in time for next season.

Day two of PA's pigeon season -- and out done again by New York City

Pitt's basketball coach is off to the "SHOW-ME State" for an interview.... oh no. There is another minor-market town message.

Pittsburgh is proving to be bush league again -- given our pigeon shooter next to the excitement in New York City with its wild game hunt.

A coyote's romp in Central Park ended yesterday with a tranquilizer dart and a nap, but only after a messy breakfast (hold the feathers), a dip in a chilly pond and a sprint past a skating rink-turned-movie set.

There was also a final chase that had all the elements of a Road Runner cartoon, with the added spectacle of television news helicopters hovering overhead, trailing the coyote and the out-of-breath posse of police officers, park officials and reporters trailing it.

The coyote's pursuers joked that it even tried to turn itself in. It was hunting for a place to sleep it off after being hit by a single tranquilizer dart, and that place was a Fire Department dispatching station next to the Central Park station house overlooking the 79th Street transverse.

Seems like a smart cayote -- to turn to a fire department station house for a place to slumber.

Source: NYT

City Paper: two-fisted voting action

Pittsburgh City Paper - Archives An altercation between Krane and Kraus was, in fact, narrowly averted on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Witnesses say the dispute, in which the candidates argued over last-minute efforts to appeal to voters, nearly came to blows.

City training police divers to improve river security

All this for the Pirates that will take to the river to make a no-sweatshop Bucco statement that weekend. We'll be much safer it seems.

City training police divers to improve river security: "The City of Pittsburgh is defending against river-borne terrorism in a federally funded upgrade of its aquatic security capabilities driven in part by the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
The city is buying a high-powered airboat and advanced sonar equipment. It's putting eight employees through rigorous underwater hazard search training.
Overall, said city Emergency Medical Services Chief Robert McCaughan, it represents 'a significant upgrade. It enhances our ability to have a more consistent presence [on the rivers] with newer equipment and advanced technology.'"

Neighborhood Clean UP slated for Saturday

Clean-up in Allentown on Sat., March 25 is to happen with the Hilltop Health Ministries Consortium along with the Concerned Citizens of Beltzhoover, Allentown Civic Association and Duquesne University’s Pittsburgh Plunge. All area residents are invited to help “Clean Up Our Streets!” in Allentown, Beltzhoover and Knoxville on Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Hilltop United Methodist Church, 633 E. Warrington Avenue and the Youth Hostel parking lot on Arlington at Manton.
Call Joanna Deming at 412-381-4710 to volunteer.

Thanks for the info Ed.

Jabbour leaving County Council; Robinson unsure

This makes no sense Bill.

Jabbour leaving County Council; Robinson unsure Mr. Robinson will decide today if he is staying in the race against Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr., D-Hill District.

'I'm still contemplating how I can best serve the county,' he said yesterday. 'Right now, I'm still a candidate.'

Bill said, in print, that he is STILL a candidate. BUT, all members of County Council MUST resign once they become a candidate for another office.

They county cronie council critters have double talked their way into holding onto their seats by not being counted as candidates -- unless it suits them.

Robinson can't beat Jake -- so, we assume he'll STOP being a candidate and hold onto his council seat. Then he'll loose that in the next election as he is just a double-speaking politician who can't follow simple rules voted upon by the people of the county -- twice.

Rendell offers to pay for Upper St. Clair school program

Oh my gosh.

Rendell offers to pay for Upper St. Clair school program Gov. Ed Rendell has pledged $85,000 toward the cost of keeping the International Baccalaureate program at the Upper St. Clair Schools but no one is saying if that offer will be accepted or if it will save the classes.

In a March 15 letter to Upper St. Clair School Board President William Sulkowski, Mr. Rendell says the state will fund the program.

Rendell should pay for the building rehab at Schenley. Next, Rendell should give the pro-IB candidates for school board that live within USC $10,000 each as a political donation -- not as a tax-payer funded handout for a rich district that should be able to govern itself.

Example: The rich getting richer and poor getting poorer.

Citizens & Police gather for public safety council's re-birth

QUARTERLY CITYWIDE MEETING is slated, so we here, for 7 pm on MONDAY, APRIL 24 at OUR LADY OF ANGELS (ST. AUGUSTINE) at 37TH AND BUTLER Streets.

The speakers are BECKY HAZLETT, PA REGIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING INSTITUTE,
HOMELAND SECURITY (HOW IT AFFECTS YOU) WITH COMMUNITY POLICING.

Each Pittsburgh Police Zone has a Citizens Police Public Safety Council which holds Zone meetings. All Zones come together quarterly at the citywide meetings. Two Zones pair up to host, organize the program and provide refreshments. Zones 2 and 3 will host the April meeting.

A list of the Zones and their addresses.

These important meetings are a way for people in all of the Pittsburgh Zones to come together to meet Public Safety officials and other people who are working to keep their own neighborhoods safe. Many Wired Blocks Network members know one another and come together online to share information specific to their own community. The citywide meetings provide our online community with a way to meet and see one another face-to-face and to become better educated about all areas of Public Safety including Homeland Security.

http://groups.msn.com/WiredBlocksNetwork/infamy.msnw

Everyone is welcome to attend the Zone meetings and the citywides -- and to bring a friend.

Do Pittsburgh Schools Make The Grade?

Let's give credit where credit is due. The gains in school performance by the 5th graders of last year -- and recent prior years -- have NOTHING to with with Mark Roosevelt, the new guy who was just hired in the summer of 2006. Dr. John Thompson gets this credit. And, next year's test results are also a reflection of Dr. Thompson as well.

My son has been in three days of testing -- as I blog about this even. Next week there are three additional days of testing too.

WPXI.com - Education - Do Pittsburgh Schools Make The Grade?: "On the Pennsylvania System of Student Assessments, Pittsburgh fifth graders considered proficient between 2001 and 2005 increased 19 percentage points.

Pennsylvania as a whole improved 16 points in the same time frame.

'Pittsburgh is a great story. They've been making some modest gains over the years but under the leadership of Mark Roosevelt, the new superintendent they're completely overhauling the instructional system,' said Michael Casserly, Council of the Great City Schools.

When a council spokesperson says something that is so silly -- funny thing -- I loose some faith in such an organization. "Modest gains." Okay. But now we're zooming ahead. The redemption of faith comes in knowing that the media can turn the story and the quotes to serve its agenda. So, the real story might not be there on that site or in that TV news report. So, I'll now go look for the report's details.

For example, he said what?

WPXI.com - Education - PPS To Cut More Than 100 Jobs Roosevelt said, “The flattening of the central office very important part of the plan. That means there will not people working here, more people in schools directly impacts what students learn."

Who is making the grade -- or not?

Open Business

I've been pounding on the internet in the past few days, doing some reading and catch-up on various issues. I need to tinker with some business ventures, I feel.

OpenBusiness OpenBusiness is a platform to share and develop innovative Open Business ideas- entrepreneurial ideas which are built around openness, free services and free access. The two main aims of the project are to build an online resource of innovative business models, ideas and tools, and to publish an OpenBusiness Guidebook.

Blast from the past: LABOR -- Not Just for Dems Any More (Sort Of)

From Pittsburgh City Paper, March 22, 2006

One thing the March 14, 2006, special election for City Council District 3 demonstrated, again, is the rift between labor unions and the local grassroots "progressive" movement. Take the Feb 27, 2006, candidates' forum in Oakland organized by the League of Young Voters: The event's biggest applause was bestowed on Republican Neal Andrus -- who criticized frontrunner Jeffrey Koch's labor endorsements.

"We're accused all the time of not inviting enough people in," says Jack Shea, president of the Allegheny County Labor Council. "But we think of ourselves as progressives too, and we want people to talk to us."

In fact, Shea notes that the labor council, an umbrella group for county unions, will hold its endorsements for this year's primary on March 24-25, 2006. Candidate interviews will be held at Carpenters District Council Hall, located at 495 Mansvield Ave, in Green Tree.

The process, Shea stresses, is inforal: Candidates need only call the council at 412-281-7450 and pick a 15-minute time slot. "Very few of the interviews are contentious," Shea assures. But if you want labor's endorsement, you need to sway two-thirds of its representatives -- and that means taking such worker-friendly positions as supporting an increase in the minimum wage, or opposing job cuts on the city payroll.

Shea makes no apologies for that: "No one thinks of themselves as special-interest. But I'm sure college students would like to lobby officials about tutition costs." In fact, he says, "We've had issues where we've coalesced with college groups on important issues" -- though he acknowledges he "can't remember any right now."

While labor backs Democrats the vast majority of the time, Shea notes that unions have endorsed candidates from other parties as well, even Republicans. "(State Rep) John Pippy was had our support," he notes.

In Philadelphia, actually, there are rumblings that some unions are seeking to endorse the re-election of Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. Some building-trades unions there are even threatening to split with their AFL-CIO chapter over the endorsement.

Shea says he knows little about the rumors: "I've learned years ago to keep my nose out of other people's business."

-- by Chris Potter

Elections - Two-Fisted Voting Action

From Pittsburgh City Paper, March 22, 2006

The March 14, 2006, special election of a new city councilor from District 3 didn't lack for passion: Two candidates nearly got into a fistfight on Election Day.

But voters apparently felt less strongly about the contest to replace former council member Gene Ricciardi, whose district includes the South Side, adjoining hilltop communities, and portions of Oakland. According to unofficial returns, 3,349 votes were cast -- a turnout of under 14 percent. There were few surprises. The endorsed Democrat, Arlington resident and public-works employee Jeffrey Kock, trumped the eight-man field with 1,449 votes. That edged out South Side businessman, Bruce Kraus, who polled 1,271 votes.

"I was surprised by how close Kraus got," says Koch. "But I just knew more people."

And as Kraus backers had feared, Bruce Krane, another South Side businessman, drew critical votes away. Krane won 215 votes, roughly three dozen more than Kraus would have needed to win.

An altercation between Krane and Kraus was, in fact, narrowly averted on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Witnesses say the dispute, in which the candidates argued over last-minute efforts to appeal to voters, nearly came to blows.

Krane confirms a confrontation took place, and acknowledges warning Kraus to leave "before your teeth end up on the ground." Kraus declined comment on the fracas.

"Votes got split," says Khari Mosley, the local head of the League of Young Voters. All along, grassroots progressives worried that Koch was too close to the Democratic old guard. But they didn't rally behind Kraus until a Feb 12 candidates' forum held by Progress Pittsburgh and other groups. By then, "The race had gotten personal," Mosley says. "By the time people started talking about narrowing the field, it was too late."

Krane says that Kraus supporters claimed "I was put in the race by (Mayor Bob) O'Connor. ... No one who knows me has ever questioned my independence." But, he adds, "Call me a spoiler if you like; it's OK with me."

Kraus declines to do so. "Krane took some votes," he says, "but we had everything working against us. We lost the (Democratic) endorsement; we were the last name on the ballot. God knows there were enough other candidates on the ballot. ... But as a first-time candidate, we did well.

There had been hopes that Pitt students, who live on the district's Oakland outskirts, might play a decisive role. But despite a get-out-the-vote effort Mosley's organization targeted at students, only 93 votere were cast at Pitt's Posvar Hall polling place.

The League of Young Voters sought to register 1,000 students for the election; Mosely hoped 300 would vote. "It was an ambitious goal," Mosley says. But I'm disappointed we didn't reach it."

Still, Mosley observes, "Many districts had fewer votes than Pitt did." And even that, organizers contend, is a step forward.

"Students showed up in suprising numbers, given the extent to which they were ignored," says Andrea Boykowicz, an Oakland resident and member of Progress Pittsburgh. The candidates focused on issues such as litter and graffiti, which she says didn't resonate with students.

Koch will hold office only for 18 months, to fill out the rest of Ricciardi's term. His top legislative priority? "The same thing I said all along: trying to get Warrington Avenue repaved." As for the majority of voters who picked someone else, "I need to convince them that they made the wrong choice."

Neither Krane nor Kraus will say whether they plan to run again. But Boykowicz will be watching.

"Kraus made a respectable showing," she says. "He could run again, and I'll be intereted to see if he makes his platform more meaningful. If not, there are other people we can run."

-- by Chris Potter

Saturday evening concert: ISLA

Calliope Legends Concerts & The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh present ISLA at 8 pm on March 25, 2006.

First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh is at 605 Morewood Avenue, Shadyside.

Admission is $15.00 at the Door, Students pay $5.00.

Catch ISLA live on the Saturday Light Brigade (SLB) 88.3 WRCT- FM, with Larry Berger the morning of the concert, March 25. They also will appear on the SLB Variety Show at the SLB Studio in the Children's Museum, 1:30 PM. Based in Nashville, TN, ISLA performs traditional Celtic [favoring Scottish] and American music. They will perform as a duo and have been featured on public radio, including such syndicated programs as Thistle and Shamrock, Celtic Connections, The Folk Sampler, and Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. http://islamusic.com

---

Coyote, April 8, 2006: The songwriting duo of Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro
makes the beautiful island of Ocracoke, NC their home.
http://www.coyotemusic.net

Getting submarined

Empty plate.

Often, a strong position to take on the campaign trails is the fact that the candidate is a "business person." For sure, that statement scores some points with some folks. But, I don't give it much value at first blush. There are many other follow-up questions that I want to know beyond the business person label. What kind of business was it? What ax is there now to grind? Was it a fast-food business -- woops. Sorry Bob. I might be walking on some holy ground with that question and associated judgements.

Eric H in the Trib talks about a state rep who is going overboard -- with over-reaching from the halls of government. We don't need to get in the way of business people and too often PA's elected leaders do the wrong things.

Hmmm ... lawmaker feeling not so toasty - PittsburghLIVE.com Daley insisted his company's management was not responsible for its failing. He blamed Quiznos' rigid rules for contributing to the downfall not only of the Quiznos his company operated, but also of several others in Western Pennsylvania.

'One time, we ran out of (Quiznos) provolone cheese, so we went to Sam's Club and got some more,' he recalled.

'During our monthly inspection, Quiznos found we weren't using the right cheese and so they put us in default. You get just two defaults, they can shut you down.'

Curiously, most franchises appear to be able to avoid the second default. One of the quick-service restaurant industry's fastest-growing chains, Quiznos has more than 4,500 locations throughout the United States and 15 other countries.

Asked specifically what he wants authorities to investigate, Daley said he wants a probe of a corporate business model that 'really, in my mind, doesn't really work for a lot of franchises.'

The All Star Game is being played in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2006, as it was here in the past, in 1959. I don't remember that game, but I was alive then.