Schenley Plaza project uproots old trees

Told you so. I obected to this project years ago. It is a waste, a joke and very expensive. To build a merry-go-round is very fitting -- as it is a living example of what to do for total frustration. A merry-go-round is designed so you can never get ahead. It is even a 'poor' (pun intended) 'cheap thril'.

Schenley Plaza project uproots old trees: "Not long after the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy had 10 London plane trees cut down there last week, several University of Pittsburgh employees and others fired off e-mails to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
'One by one, [the trees] were systematically mowed down,' wrote John Hempel, a member of Pitt's Department of Biological Sciences, who also is chair of the Braddock Hills Tree Committee. 'Apparently, old trees need not apply for space at their new plaza.'"

The merry-go-round project takes away parking spaces -- in a lot where people would wait in line to park. Often there were 10 to 15 cars in a que just sitting to wait to enter the parking lot.

People who live in Pittsburgh understand where to park and how to slide into the side streets and garage spaces. But people who visit don't. It was often visitors, a precious asset that we need, that used that parking lot that is now but a memory.

The parking lot could have been turned into a parking garage -- with green space on top of the garage. I would have loved to have seen a second level of that garage with bike and pedestrian ramps from all directions and over all the near-by roads. Then the parking incomes could have supported the building of the garage -- upwards.

Pittsburgh needs to build UP.

Pittsburgh's centers of business, academics and density needs to get away from this 'green space' fascination and make more functional, buseinss friendly junctions.

Even the vendors took it to the teeth (pun intended) with this plan. We used to be able to get a hot dog, or some other goodies, from the push-carts. Pitt didn't like them cutting into their 'food court operations.'

Next we'll get an upscale garden cafe for a high-tea and place to wear your big Easter Hat.

Forget the ride with two Double E tickets and give me a free swin set that costs nothing.

In Georgetown, as In D.C., the football team holds its practices on the roof of a parking garage, because space is so tight. There is a nice green space lawn at the front of Soldiers and Sailors Hall. That is a great example of good space use. But, they didn't see that? Nor do out of town visitors who are looking for a short-term parking space either.

We could also try to turn this space into a 'free speech zone.' Yeah, right.

Here is my simple test, Q1: How much "coaching" is going to happen in this park? -- NONE.

Test two: Are the rich getting richer and poor poorer? YES.

Test three: Does it help with flow? NO.

So, this place will do little for fitness, flow nor freedom. It even hurts our city's finances as there are going to be less parking incomes and less parking tax collected. This little park is a concentration of resources in places that don't need further investments when there are so many other more worthy places that are such great need.

Broken furnace cancels today's performance of "Veronica's Veil"

This is so sad.

Broken furnace cancels today's performance of "Veronica's Veil": "Broken furnace cancels today's performance of 'Veronica's Veil'"

The theater company should host its performances at South Vo Tech's auditorium and have it turn into a dinner theater. They could also hold a meal and mixer for the audience and build up the 'experience' in the years to come. And, this could be as a rental, not ownership.

Then, the stage and building that they now own could be either moth-balled or re-positioned into condo spaces.

But, the players won't have the option of using the South Vo Tech spaces -- if the building gets sold. We need to have a better plan and handle on the building's ownership and use. We can't let South Vo Tech be sold as is the plan for next week, even.

It makes more sense to have an overall view of all the assets. Sell the Veronica's Veil building first. Keep South Vo Tech -- a place that buses can reach -- for a bigger venue, community, job production site.

Missed chances: Delays in seeking treatment, gaps in care mean few receive drug treatment for stroke

I love lifeguarding stories -- and this is a big one in the Sunday P-G:

Missed chances: Delays in seeking treatment, gaps in care mean few receive drug treatment for stroke: "But delays in getting to the hospital and gaps in the system of care mean that stories such as Mr. Mayros' remain the exception. "

Longterm: I think EMS should merge -- among CITY and COUNTY wide entities. We'll need to really work hard on that merger as there are so many smaller EMS groups in the burbs.

Furthermore, the academic folks at Pitt need to be pulled into a leadership role in that discussion -- so its focus is on best practices and patient care with evidence.

Finally, we need to do much more in the city with defibrillators -- devices that can re-start the heart's beating -- as that is proving to be more of a help than CPR. And, we don't have the devices in public spaces as we should in the city.

It took our old mayor, Tom Murphy, nearly 12 years to merge 911 services. That merger (of 911) was a no-brainer. To make a real movement, we'll need to move along to EMS and other merger discussions.

Chelsa Wagner - for State Representative, 22nd District - About Chelsa

Chelsa Wagner - for State Representative, 22nd District - About Chelsa Chelsa Wagner crossing the finish line at the Marine Corps Marathon, her first marathon, Washington 2005

She has a fundraiser on Thursday night in Shadyside. And, she has done a marathon. We'll have to get her to upgrade to a Triathlon some day. But first, get the issue pages uploaded to the new site.

Up & Down in Erie

At least Erie has an indoor swim pool that brings people to take a dip with a family get-a-way.

Up & Down It couldn't be more fitting, this week the Erie City Council passed a tax on amusement. Yes, having fun in Erie is now taxed... needless to say it won't raise much money.

Meanwhile in Erie, former Mayor Rick Filippi claimed stupidity, rather than criminal behavior, in his secret participation in a land deal. Since he is from Erie, it might be believable. But PoliticsPA must share in his down arrow for naming him in 2003 one of Pennsylvania's best mayors.

Ride a bike!

Ride a bike!: "We're hard at work planning BikeFest for this summer. This year BikeFest will be held from June 23rd - July 4th. That's twelve fun days filled to the rim with bicycle-goodness!

We're looking for individuals and companies of all sizes to sponsor BikeFest this year. Please contact us at info@bike-pgh.org for more information."

Bike Pittsburgh has a new blog.

Running mate: Ken, made a suggestion: Film and site, "WHY WE FIGHT" -- now a MUST see

You need to see this film and visit its site -- so says Ken. I listened and agree.

http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/

Tom Martin for US Senate

Tom Martin for US Senate Tom Martin is the Libertarian Party candidate for the United States Senate from Pennsylvania.

PIAA Boys' Basketball: Results and Pairings

Must have been a heck of a game. I wish I would have gone.

PIAA Boys' Basketball: Results and Pairings Lower Merion 60, Schenley 58

And the blow-by-blow coverage from the next day...

PIAA Class AAAA Boys Basketball: Schenley's sweet dreams are CRUSHED
'Everyone in the state was saying Schenley was this big, bad wolf from Pittsburgh,' Downer said. 'To be honest, I saw glaring weaknesses with some of the stuff they ran and we thought we could expose it.'

New contract extends Dixon's stay at Pitt

New contract extends Dixon's stay at Pitt Pitt and Dixon came to terms late Friday on a new contract that will put him in a new tax bracket. Pitt nor Dixon would disclose terms of his salary last night, but indications are that he will be in the neighborhood of $900,000 per season. That would put him in the upper half of the Big East coaches in terms of compensation.

Dixon had four years remaining on his old pact and had three more added. The new deal runs through the 2012-13 season.

'You can rest assured that his salary is in line with where he has brought the program in the Big East and nationally,' Pitt athletic director Jeff Long said last night. 'We've provided him with a good salary, one that is competitive in the Big East and one that shows we're happy to have him as our head coach.'

Nice payday for a guy under contract.

Constitutional dependence II - PittsburghLIVE.com

Tom's letter to the editor... in part:

Constitutional dependence II - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Justice Cappy was and is one of the primary backers of the pay grab. His court has been conveniently acquiescent when issues that are clearly unconstitutional or violate existing law -- but benefit the court or the Legislature -- come before it.

The best example of this, but not the only one, is the 'unvouchered expense' provision. There are so many other similar issues (legislative benefits not permitted by the Constitution, legislative secrecy, gun registry by the state police, etc.) that no court, nor Judge Colville, has any credibility with me on this issue.



Thomas A. Portante
O'Hara"

MLB stars to visit Pittsburgh in style

MLB stars to visit Pittsburgh in style When baseball's elite players cluster in July, they needn't worry about tapping into their All-Star bonuses for taxicab or limo fare to reach PNC Park.

As part of the Hollywood-style, star-studded events surrounding the 77th edition of Major League Baseball's mid-summer classic, the 64 All-Stars from the National and American Leagues will parade in convertibles on a red carpet from the Byham Theater across the Clemente Bridge to the ballpark.

Have them walk. And, these guys might be heros for the pill-popping culture, but they are not worthy of any idol status for me and my family. Hell no.

If you want to see a real cavalcade of stars, go to the city league baseball championships -- or a WPIAL baseball championships, if not softball.

I hate it when we rob our kids of basics -- like rec centers, ball fields, and swim pools. Then we heap frills on those that don't need them. It is another example of miss-placed priorities. And, it is another example of the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer.

We should celebrate the game. Games have players. Big deal.

PCTV is streaming -- and feedback is welcomed

Hello Pittsburgh Community Television Producers, Friends and Supporters,

We need your Feedback.

PCTV has just added a video streaming component to our web-site www.pctv21.org so that PCTV programming can be watched on the internet globally. We need you just to take a little time out of your busy schedules to look at the site and let us know if you are able to see PCTV programming on your computers? Is the image clear? Is it difficult to access the live feed? Are their any other issues that we should know about to make this better. You will need Media Player software on your computer; I believe you can easily download it for free. Again, we are not asking for too much time but this will be a great help and your feedback will only strengthen our site.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing your comments.

Thomas Poole

The streaming works for me -- but it is really bad. I'm watching the slide show -- between a show -- and the frame for the media container (stream) is about half my screen size -- but the video within that frame is about 1/3 of that container's size. So, I only get a postage sized video of the station's video. I can't even tell what it is, visuall.

The audio is GREAT.

I've got a PC with Cable Modem and the PC had all the necessary plug ins already -- so it was a snap for me to get the stream started. Good job there.

Ben and John gave Pittsburgh some big plugs on National TV between the games tonight

The Men's NCAA basketball coaches -- each with a Pittsburgh connection -- (Ben H and John C) face off in the elite 8 game on Saturday night as UCLA and Memphis clash. They were interviewed between the games and tossed out a few mentions of Pittsburgh.

I wanted to call up Bob O'Connor and see if he could fly out to the game so he could get some tv time too. Heck, the rest of the nation is everywhere but here -- and Bob might be able to get some others to think about moving back.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, the Women's hoop team at Pitt is glowing in a NIT game -- held at The Fitz -- NOT The Pete. The Pitt News gave some high praise for the venue now mostly in mothballs. A wrestling event is in the big, new arena and the women's games are in the old hangar building -- that is much more intimate.

This is FANTASTIC in that Pitt didn't tear down The Fitz Field House after it built the new Event Center. Pitt has some flexibility now. Pitt had a net gain with its indoor sports venues.

This example is a perfect match as to why the city needs to keep the Civic Arena -- AFTER the building of a new hockey arena. To really have a net gain -- we need both, the old and the new. Don't churn and call that 'progress.' Don't tell me 1-1 = 2. Only 1+1=2.

How did the women's team do anyway?

And, if the Pitt Women do win, when and who will they play next? And, where? Do they keep those games in the Field House?

We could NOT attend either of the past games -- but will do our best to make the next one if it is in Pittsburgh. Especially if it is in The Field House.

Pgh Public School has a wellness policyt -- and hear about it on WED night

Are you aware of the District's Wellness Policy? Do you have questions for Food Services or about childhood Diabetes. A special Town Hall Health/Wellness information meeting will be held on Monday April 3rd in Conference Room A. Please help to pass the word by reproducing the attached flyer for all parents. Staff is also welcome to attend.

In order to plan accordingly with materials and food, you are asked to RSVP to Toni Corinealdi at 412-622-3615 no later than March 31st.

Music therapist strikes a chord at Children's Hospital

My grandpa, Joseph A. Rauterkus, Ph.D., in music, worked music therapy too -- at the V.A. Hospital even.

Music therapist strikes a chord at Children's Hospital: "Music therapist strikes a chord at Children's Hospital

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)