City Council 'consultants' funds build political support

This is what I mean by calling the miss-spending by those on City Council a "WHICH Hunt" -- rather than a "WITCH Hunt."

They all are guilty as the day is long. Guilty of fumbles in public trust. Guilty of padding their own "nests."

City Council 'consultants' funds build political support: "An activist wonk. A tree trimmer. Some buddies who can do office work. A political backer. All have been considered professional services consultants under Pittsburgh City Council's loose spending guidelines.

Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, whose spending has been referred to county prosecutors and the State Ethics Commission, is council's top spender on consultants. Since 2002, she has steered $134,300 to two dozen private individuals for services, including a half-dozen who were also involved in her 2003 election campaign.

A review of other council members' spending shows that none steered as much money to consultants as she did. But most, at one time or another, have used city funds to pay a friend, buy something for a key community group, or even retain a lawyer to intervene in a private legal fight. The funds have served to build political support.

All council members interviewed yesterday agreed that more controls were needed, but defended their own spending."

We don't need anything more in terms of "built in controls" that go beyond the city's charter. We don't need a third or fourth oversight group as we already have TWO and neither of them are doing a good job.

What we need is already built into the city charter and has been DEAD. The city is to have a "Ethics Review Board" -- but Mayor Murphy saw to its closure. It was shut down as new appointments were never made to the five person board.

This is the same ploy that crippled the "Citzens Police Review Board." They kill the body by starvation. Don't feed it new members and appointements.

Yesterday a KQV Poll asked about the re-creation of the Ethics Review Board and a huge majority of listeners (both callers and with the on-line clicks) wanted it to come back. The numbers of the poll won't be released until the end of the week, if you didn't catch them on the closing comment at 7 pm. (sadly)

The City's GOP Committee wrote a letter to new Mayor, Bob O'Connor, in January 2006 asking for him to restart the ethics board too. That was the right thing to do -- as we have a new administration. We need the new mayor to fix ills of the past administration.

But there has been no reply on this topic, to the best of our knowledge.

Bob was part of the problem when he was City Council President. That's when the ethics board died -- also on his watch. So, I do hold out hope -- as I'm thinking about the positive. But, I'm not holding my breath.

Paul Sentner, an activist who helped to put an end to the ugly "WE HAV" program, emailed me today with another great idea. He'd like to see KQV Radio take up the cause of getting an Ombudsman put into the fabric of city and county government.

The new County Charter had an Ombudsman component that was taken out of the plan at the last moment before it went to the people for ratification. That quick switch was under the watchful eyes of Michael Lamb.

Meanwhile, Bill Peduto is all hyped about sharing his "template" for revealing how his office spends its taxpayer money, nearly $100,000 annually, or nearly a half-million dollars per term.

That was above and beyond the cool $1-million each office got as part of the "neighborhood needs money" from not too distance years. The City's Republican Party, and I too, had called for the ending of those pork accounts as well -- years ago.

The neighborhood needs money SCAM was (and is to this day) a joke. It is the personification of a big fat corruption, cronie, $9-million ploy to make the rich richer and the poor poorer -- all while keeping power right where it sat.

If any news organization wants to do a real investigation, begin to look at that money and miss-spending. Then perhaps the investigators (legal authorities) could put a few others (WHICH ONES) out of office and into the limelight of public review and eventual convictions.

First things first: Re-start the ethics board.

If William Peduto really wants to be candid with public disclosure on spending, he needs to re-awaken a past project I was involved with -- campaign finance reform. An advisory group was pulled together in 2004-2005. We had meetings. We issued a report to the councilman. But, the report was never made public. He sat on it. He didn't do anything.

Part of my suggested solution that came about as a result of those discussions is a transparent PAC account. PAC accounts need to be transparent, just as office accounts. And, citizen / voters need to see these funds come and go as well. And, the transparent PAC account goes way, way, way beyond what is being suggested as a 'template.' We should see real-time movement of money, not just what someone types into a computer form.

Cooking the books will be harder with Transparent PAC Accounts -- and TRANSPARENT Officeholder Accounts.

Young boy does historic swim, but not here

ESPN.com - MORESPORTS - Boy, 7, completes historic swim from Alcatraz Island SAN FRANCISCO -- Fueled by several slices of pizza, a 7-year-old boy braved the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay on Monday and became one of the youngest swimmers to cross the channel from Alcatraz Island to the city.

Nice job!

Meanwhile, we don't put our kids in the river. We should be making news on a swim from Sandcastle to Station Square.

Oh well, in due time.

Who is going to win today????

BeyondChron: San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily News - Paradise Lost: A Recipe for Gentrification in Chicago, San Francisco, and Beyond

Talking about our struggles and defeating Mayor Murphy's half-baked plans.

BeyondChron: San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily News - Paradise Lost: A Recipe for Gentrification in Chicago, San Francisco, and Beyond Newsom is not the first public official to be seduced by this appealing picture. After visiting downtown Chicago in 1996, Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy decided to use the power of eminent domain to demolish 60 buildings and condemn 125 mostly locally owned businesses occupying several blocks along the Fifth and Forbes corridor in downtown Pittsburgh in order to build a multi-level retail mall containing many of the same upscale shops as the Magnificent Mile. Murphy even pegged Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties to manage the area’s redevelopment.

Through local organizing efforts, a coalition of small business owners, historical preservationists, and supporters of immigrant and African American rights eventually forced Murphy to abandon this project. Their concerns were buttressed by research compiled by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance which showed that roughly two-thirds of the revenue generated by chain stores and franchise operations like McDonald’s routinely leaves the local economy and the metropolitan area altogether. In fact, a 2004 report entitled The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics demonstrated that, contrary to conventional wisdom, locally owned, independent businesses generate 70 percent more revenue for the local economy per square foot than national chains.

Navy Pier in Chicago.

Song: The Ballad of the Pennsylvania Pay Raise

The words to the new, hit single, by Quince Eddens, (violosity -at- verizon -dot- net) released on April 24, 2006, Copyright 2006.

Listen to the MP3 by clicking here, if you computer is able to play file.

The Pay Raise

On a cool summer morning at approximately 2 AM,
The Pennsylvania Legislature voted them a new pay raise,

Within 24 hours it had hit the fan,
The radio was blastin, "It's an outrage" man,

And you could hear a tiny voice,
Echo down the Capital halls.......

It ain't about the pay raise,
What's an honest voter to do?
It ain't about the pay raise,
Because a thousand judges got one too!
It ain't about the pay raise,
A legislator can't live like a saint,
It ain't about the pay raise......
The hell it ain't.

The boys on the hill wondered, "what the heck are we gonna do"?
They thought it would be over in about another week or two,

Then a Lebanon man with a broom in his hand,
Said, "Time to sweep out the trash", "This is OUR land".

And you could hear a thousand voices as they echoed down the Capital halls.

It ain't about the pay raise,
A taxpayer ain't as dumb as you think!
It ain't about the pay raise,
Let's vote em out and get rid of the stink.
It ain't about the pay raise,
Just pack your stuff, and try not to faint!
It ain't about the pay raise.....
The hell it ain't.

We got something in this State we call
The su-preme law of the land,

And it especially applies,
To all elected hired hands!

For all the "pay-jackers"...
Here's a news flash...

Don't legislate a check, that your ass can't cash,

And you can hear a million voters,
As they heed this clarion call!

It ain't about the pay raise,
It's time to take back our state!
It ain't about the pay raise,
We'll start it over with a fresh clean slate!
It ain't about the pay raise,
It's kinda like peelin old paint,
It ain't about the pay raise....
Like hell it ain't.

Things to do: PNC Park for High School Baseball, City Championship Game on WED. gates open at 3:30 pm

Langley Mustangs...

Come join us.

Langley High School plays for the City League Title in baseball at PNC Park. Gates (left field) open at 3:30 pm on WEDNESDAY.

Parking tips: Red Lot #6 on General Robinson and Gold Lot #4 on Maz Way.

Go Mustangs.

I'll be at the park to get some of my own autographs. Yep, I'll have my nomination papers at the ready for voters of the 42nd.

He is NOT my father.

Pittsburgh Homes Daily - A Blog on Pittsburgh, its Real Estate, Realtors, Homes for Sale, and Things to Do � Supreme Court decision in Cuno a loss for

Pittsburgh Homes Daily - A Blog on Pittsburgh, its Real Estate, Realtors, Homes for Sale, and Things to Do -- Supreme Court decision in Cuno a loss for Pittsburgh residents? On May 15th, the Supreme Court handed a loss to Toledo taxpayers in Cuno when it held that the taxpayers did not have standing to challenge the decision to provide tax breaks to Daimler Chrysler. Pittsburgh also provides this type of tax break (there was a large discussion back in February that can be seen on Mark Rauterkus’ blog here). This issue is particularly relevant to Pittsburgh because of the effect of university supported developments on the tax base (check out the 2004 USA Today article here and the 2003 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article here).

It is unclear whether or not this is a win for Pittsburgh taxpayers. On one hand, it may be that the business development would not otherwise happen in Pittsburgh without tax breaks and the development will ultimately generate more revenue than is lost to the tax breaks. On the other hand, it might be a loss for Pittsburgh taxpayers because it hampers the ability of residents to challenge the decision of who gets the tax breaks and the tax breaks may not generate enough revenue to cover that which is lost.

Interesting insights.

OMG - Council wants to beef up OVERSIGHT???

This is unreal.... Unreal!!!!

Pittsburgh has two oversight bodies now. The I.C.A. and the Act 47 crew. Two where there was NONE. And now, Council wants to beef up OVERSIGHT. Do they want a third body? What about a fourth? This goes without a mention of the JUSTICE Depatartment that just left with the bad habit of being less than color blind. And yet, Mary Beth B is still poking around.

We've got overlord overload. Perhaps the Heinz Foundation should put out invitations to host an Overlords Ball. Put them all in the same room, how about the Great Hall at Heinz Field, and then lock the doors. Force them to watch QED's OnQ from start to finish, with multiple screens and gab fests, even off of the JUMBOTRON. That company and agenda, with plenty of chips and dip, will be sure to put them into a slumber of the highest order. Then we'd be able to go about with a new lease on life.

Pittsburgh Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The Twanda Carlisle affair has prompted Pittsburgh City Council to consider beefing up oversight of how council members spend their discretionary accounts. City Solicitor Susan Malie has referred to the county district attorney and state ethics officials several of Ms. Carlisle's disbursements. Credit City Council President Luke Ravenstahl and acting City Controller Tony Pokora for the proposal. But the question has to be asked: Why have things been so lax for so long?"

Since we have OVERLORDS now, can anyone find out if they are awake? Why can't they do the duty of being a 'watch dog?'

Back in my perfect world, we'd have real media watchdogs too.... And, to their credit, the Trib and TV 11, Rick E., have done a good job at barking up Twanda's tree.

But, in the next breath, they missed the daffy wi-fi deal, the fix is in gambling deal, the we don't have the money except from Australia Mon Valley Toll Road, the Runnel, and a rather extensive list of other folly and spending elements that are sure to keep us down for generations to come.

Pittsblog: Economic Development as a Zero-Sum Game

Pittsblog: Economic Development as a Zero-Sum Game Economic Development as a Zero-Sum Game

My post in that thread goes like this:

I too post about the feudal Pittsburgh. That is the one with LORDS and SERFs. There are favorite ones and then everyone else. The Humpty Dumpty falls, and the king's horses and men can't put him together again.

Much of that is 'rooted' (pun intended) into "land." Hence, another reason why we need to tax land and not income.

But, as to networking, more of the theme you set, I like to talk about the "lump of coal" approach. If I have it, you don't. If I sell it, it is yours. It is a carbon based transaction. Bankers in Pgh are quick to invest in iron (i.e., printing press) but won't touch an author/publisher, even with only an Olympic Gold Medal to prove one's viability.

In the "digital" economy, I have an idea and share it with you -- sell it perhaps -- and we both still have that idea. You get it, but I don't loose it. And, if it is valued, we both have MORE value. If it is flawed, my bottom line is not inflated with false hopes of percpetion in value.

So, we come to a better discovery of the real value of ideas only after they are shared (and/or understood) by others -- in a digital world.

Then, the real value resides in the relationships. My trust gets a boost in your realm for a tip that made sense.

This becomes and 'open source' way as well. We all prosper when real solutions are leveraged and crafted.

This gets to why downtown development, IMNSHO, is a joke with O'Connor. His cronie gets the deal, based on the land, and it is a carbon-based mine vs yours folly.

Statement from Russ Diamond, Independent for Governor, on the Pay Raise and the Governor’s Race

Website
media -at- russdiamond -dot- org

It is amusing to watch Ed Rendell and Lynn Swann point fingers at each other regarding the pay raise of July 7, 2005.

Lynn rightfully points out that Ed is the one man who could have stopped the pay raise dead in its tracks - a statement I made months ago. Instead, Ed quickly approved it with his signature and proclaimed, “it’s legal, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

Later, Ed began to backpedal when he saw the reality of voter anger. His comments ranged from calling it “good legislation” on July 8 to saying it was “possibly illegal” on September 12 to calling it “a black eye” for government on November 5.

But he signed it nonetheless, and must bear full responsibility for it.

A few weeks ago, Ed revealed that he signed the bill - which most Pennsylvanians correctly believe violated more than one section of the PA Constitution – to “kiss a little butt” of payjacking legislators in order to curry favor for his own agenda.

I have a very pointed question for Ed: What did you know, and when did you know it?
The people of Pennsylvania have a right to know what knowledge of the pay raise you hid from them in the weeks and months leading up to July 7.

Ed rightfully points out that Lynn endorsed payjacker Bob Jubelirer, stumped for Jubelirer and refused to take a firm stand for anti-pay raise legislative challengers. It has also been reported by a Pittsburgh newspaper that Lynn lent some volunteers to the Jubelirer re-election effort in the last days before the primary election. This would seem natural, as Jubelirer contributed $15,000 to Lynn’s campaign.

I also have a very pointed question for Lynn: Why does it appear that you are more worried about who butters your bread than you are about government following our Constitution? You can’t have it both ways.

After visiting their campaign websites, I have more questions for both gentlemen:

Why is it that I cannot even find a link to the PA Constitution on your websites? Don’t you know how important this document is to carrying out the duties of the Chief Executive of our Commonwealth? Do you even care that this is what the people of Pennsylvania are concerned about now, first and foremost?

In order to predict how any person will perform as Governor of Pennsylvania, voters must look to how they reacted to the pay raise. Actions speak louder than words.

Ed - the Captain of the SS Pay Raise - firmly put his stamp of approval on the legislature’s violations of the Constitution.

Lynn - by consistently trying to play both sides of the fence - is now relegated to the role of a mere stowaway on the very same ship.

There is only one gubernatorial candidate who consistently and loudly opposed the pay raise, opposed the people who brought us the pay raise, worked to raise candidates to change business-as-usual and made the principles of our Constitution - and in turn, the best interests of every Pennsylvanian - his number one priority.

The race to reform has now begun in earnest. Pennsylvanians must examine each candidate’s reaction to the pay raise to understand which of them will actually bring real change to the Governor’s office and use it as a bully pulpit for change and which of them will only give lip service to the reform agenda.

The choice is clear.

RUSSDIAMOND.ORG Blog
RUSSDIAMOND.ORG Audio
RUSSDIAMOND.ORG Newsroom

Report deals Harrah's a strong hand - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Report deals Harrah's a strong hand - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A Pittsburgh Planning Department report praised the location of a proposed Station Square casino, but doubted its ability to handle heavy traffic.

There is no way that the casino is going to generate heavy traffic. The Pens and the Pirates can't generate heavy traffic.

The flaw of the report might and the would-be casino builders might be found in the heavy traffic that could be generated with Duquesne University and its new basketball coach. The DU team is on the rise. That is a big source of heavy traffic -- that has NOT materialized in recent decades.

If the men's basketball -- or even women's team too (but we'll sit on that as a prediction) were to get hot, as they should be, then there would be serious troubles with the casino crowd with the Isle of Capri plan and location.

But who am I to defend the Planning Department for Pittsburgh. That group has done more damage to the city than any other, other than Tom Murphy, Cox, Leeper, and the ex-URA head, Buru, and ...

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And, when you've got a failed plan to start with, you are sure to fail.

I suggested that the entire planning department be NUKED. Send them all to the private sector. Hire a traffic engineer and life in the city would improve.

Fire Fontana

Fire Fontana. This is the best Fontana has got to offer the district.

FONTANA REMINDS VETERANS TO ATTEND ENTREPRENEUR BOOT CAMP - 5/22/2006 PITTSBURGH, May 22, 2006 - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today reminded vetera=
ns and their spouses who are looking to start their own business to attend t=
he Entrepreneur Boot Camp Seminars.

The event is being facilitated by Donn Nemchick, a U.S. Navy Veteran and adv=
isor to entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Rome burns.

Daily Kos: Taking the PA House; where we stand

Daily Kos: Taking the PA House; where we stand: "Taking the PA House; where we stand
by ortcutt
Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:37:30 PM PDT

The Republicans have controlled the Pennsylvania Legislature for about as long as I can remember. This control has had serious implications not only for Pennsylvanians but for all Americans, since Pennsylvania's Republican Legislature has controlled the redistricting process decade after decade. Democrats are within striking distance of taking the Pennsylvania House and we've only got three elections left (2006, 2008, and 2010) if we are going to have a say in the 2010 redistricting.

Part of the problem with these Pennsylvania House races is that there is very little information on the races. There are 203 Pennsylvania House members (a ludicrously high number). Each member represents a little over 60,000 people. It's difficult for such small races to get any attention."

Right on.

I've been working less on the blog and more on the wiki, Platform.For-Pgh.org, so as to fix this problem of little attention to state rep and state senate candidates. It is a big problem. And, a big solution is hard to unfold. But, with some technology, and a few others helping -- hey running mates -- this can be another tool for the reformers.

Peek at this. http://69.36.175.17/wiki/index.php/Special:Recentchanges

WEBCommentary - Political winds of change blow strong in Pennsylvania

WEBCommentary(tm) - Political winds of change blow strong in Pennsylvania: "Incumbent Pennsylvania legislators who did not face challengers in the May 16 primary shouldn't feel too confident that they've survived the voter backlash.

Only 61 of the 228 legislators whose terms expire in 2006 faced opponents in the primary. But 18 of the incumbents were already sent packing by the voters, primarily by disgruntled conservative Republicans, in a political upheaval not seen in Pennsylvania for two decades.

The bloodbath included the top two Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania Senate, President Pro Tempore Robert Jubilerer and Majority Leader Chip Brightbill, who collectively spent $2.5 million to defend their seats against unknown and under-funded challengers. Jubilerer and Brightbill weren't just defeated at the polls, they were slapped around by voters.

Photos of Brightbill and Jubilirer posing with Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell were widely circulated by conservatives. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Those photos may have cost Brightbill and Jubilerer thousands of votes.

Any friend of liberal Ed Rendell is no friend of the Republican Party. That's the message Republican primary voters sent to Brightbill and Jubilerer, widely regarded as RINOs (Republican In Name Only.) The two veteran politicians were the most visible leaders of the pay raise debacle, in which legislators voted themselves pay hikes of up to 54 percent in the middle of the night without any debate.

Now comes a reality check for other incumbents. Almost all of the 40 incumbents who won on May 16 will face challengers in the Nov. 7 general election. And there's another 50 to 60 candidates waiting for a chance to take on incumbents in a year when voters want blood.

That includes independent, Libertarian, Green Party and Constitution Party members. There's even a Socialist Party member planning to run against a Republican incumbent in mostly-GOP Chester County. Don't look now, but Democracy is breaking out all over Pennsylvania.

How willing are voters to vote for somebody other than the incumbent?

Consider this. James Babb, a Libertarian who plans to challenge Rep. Carole Rubley in the 157th House District reports that he collected all of the signatures he needed for his nominating petition in one day � Tuesday, May 16.

Pennsylvania election law requires third-party and independent candidates to collect 466 signatures from district voters to qualify for the ballot in the 157th District, according to the Babb campaign."

State GOP chairwoman Eileen Melvin resigns : The Morning Call Online

Another one bites the dust.

State GOP chairwoman Eileen Melvin resigns : The Morning Call Online: "State GOP chairwoman Eileen Melvin resigns

She gives no reason, but observers point to party turmoil.

The primary week purge that brought down two of the state's most powerful Republicans has claimed another victim.

On Friday, state Republican Chairwoman Eileen Melvin announced that she will not stand for re-election when Pennsylvania's GOP foot soldiers gather for their quarterly meeting in Harrisburg next month.

What does this have to do with Swann's run?

Two hot areas...

http://www.greaterphilachamber.com/currentissues_state.asp#9

PA Lobbyist Update - Chief Justice of the PA Supreme Court Ralph Cappy recently responded to PA Speaker John Perzel's request indicating that he is unable to create an advisory group to assist with development of legislation regulating lobbyists because it would compromise the unbiased consideration in potential litigation. He suggested that legislative leaders consider input from retired judges such as Russ Nigro. Perzel issued a statement outlining his plans to work with House and Senate members and the Governor's office to enact lobbying reform measures that lead to more openness and true transparency in government.

And a song, http://www.pacleansweep.com/payraise.mp3
. That will need to go onto my next CD.

More notes about music to come shortly.

Boycott Bud - a new BLOG pops it lid, cheers!

Some in the blog world might be gathering at Finnigan's Wake tonight for the blog fest. We'll see what beverage they choose.

Boycott Bud: "Word was handed down from St. Louis today that Rolling Rock beer will no longer be brewed in Old Latrobe, but instead in Newark, New Jersey.

Newark, New Jersey!

Clearly, this is the end of Rolling Rock as we know it. It may be in a green bottle, but it ain't Rolling Rock if it comes from Newark! If you love our region and its beer, strike back at Anheuser-Busch by never again purchasing or drinking one of its beers. Let us strive to never again look down a bar and see one of our fellow Western Pennsylvanians swilling any of the following evil brews:

All Budweiser brands
All Busch brands
All Michelob brands
All Natural brands
O'Doul's NA
Bacardi Silver
Bare Knuckle Stout
Tilt
Tequiza
Hurricane malt liquors
King Cobra malt liquor
Red Hook ESB
Hefeweizen
Harbin

And, yes, sadly...Rolling Rock. Show me a mountain spring in Newark!

Leave your name, hometown, and comment below to show Anheuser-Busch that we won't stand for them killing our beer!"

Cheers.

Witch -- err, WHICH Hunt gains speed

I've said all along that this is a "which hunt." Which one do you want to peg first? Which one next? I feel that they all are guilty of fumbling their duties in respect to the needs and wants of the citizens and taxpayers. They all are guilty of driving our city into the gutter.

Solicitor refers Carlisle inquiry to DA Pittsburgh Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle spent approximately $400,000 in city money on 26 consultants since 2002, and some of that spending warrants referral to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala and the state Ethics Commission.

That's the result of a two-week inquiry by City Solicitor Susan Malie, requested by Council President Luke Ravenstahl, and revealed today.

Council President Luke Ravenstahl said he will propose reforms to council spending procedures Tuesday.

Forbidden City's doors are about to open... ever so slowly.

Fast Ed on KBN: "She clocked everybody."

Much like an ancient spanking, if you know what I mean.
Clocker....

Gov. Rendell said Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll's runaway victory over three opponents in the Democratic primary for that office proved an absence of anti-incumbency sentiment in that race.

"Look at Catherine Baker Knoll," Rendell said at a stop in Bethlehem, Pa., yesterday. "She clocked everybody."

Valerie wasn't about a 'fresh face' either. She is way younger, but has been around the block from row office, to row office protection spokesperson, to city council with some failed budgets and school board member with huge divides among students.

Furthermore, voters in PA have a way of thinking one way when it comes to selecting individuals to serve on legislative bodies and another way when it comes to picking executives. Often, and this is my theory, the voters go to one way in one category and the other way in the other choice. For example, when Rendell was elected, same too were more Republicans put into the state house and senate.

So, if this holds true again, if Rendell gets elected with KBN -- and they 'clock' both challenging camps, then, I expect that a number of other Democrats will fall too.

That's balance.
Got Balance?