Leaders hope mayor's illness doesn't slow city's progress

Leaders hope mayor's illness doesn't slow city's progress Pittsburgh trying to sustain civic momentum

So, close Point State Park for a year. That will help sustain civic momentum.

This front page article ran on the same day that the news hit about Point State Park's year-long closing that nixes the Regatta, fireworks, Jamboree, and the Three Rivers Arts Festival. And, the event organizers were not told about this pending closure -- until the newspaper reporters told them seeking comment.

Duhh....

The optimism comes with behind closed door decisions from the Allegheny Conference about PARK spaces. Who voted them as stewards of our public spaces?

Let's call for a vote on those plans and I'm sure my side will win 90-10 -- without a dime in the budget for PR needs.

The public face of new optimism got a black eye on the same front page news coverage on July 13th -- must have been an unlucky day, if not week, for the city. This bad luck I rant about now comes on the heels of the worse news of Mayor O'Connor's health. So, the joy in Mudville is fleeting, for sure.

Point State Park renovations = ABSURD

Foolish looks like this:

Point State Park renovation to displace big events: "Arts Festival, Regatta, fireworks, Dollar Bank Jamboree to be shut out"

Really, really foolish looks like Fontana and Wheatley giving slaps on the back to each other for bringing home the pork in yet another project that won't have any hope of improving our lives.

FONTANA & WHEATLEY LAUD POINT STATE PARK PROJECT - 7/14/2006 FONTANA & WHEATLEY LAUD POINT STATE PARK PROJECT - 7/14/2006

Jeepers. These guys are clueless.

On the same day, the P-G had an article about Point State Park closing to the Three Rivers Arts Festival, fireworks, Jamboree, and Regatta -- it had another article in the wake of the All-Star Game about sustaining the forward progress the city had made in cration of some 'buzz' with tourists and the hoopla.

The All-Star Game and Fanfest and that 'big sport spectator-ville, red-carpet hype' has little appeal to me from the outset. It isn't what I'm about, yet I can appreciate its glitz as a pathway to a destination of 'Tickle-town USA.' Big farting deal to that, yet to each his or her own.

But then we are to let another turd into our common well of community with the year-long closing of Point State Park and allow them to call it 'progress.' What's up with that? And let's do the 'big dig' tunnel at the same time.

Before one was able to ride from Mt. Lebo and get off the T-stop at Gateway Center, go to a pep rally at Point State Park, and walk to a Steeler game over the Ft. Pitt bridge, on the sidewalk, with a fresh funnel cake from the push carts that could have been at the entrance of Point State Park.

In seasons to come, the Black & Gold nation pep rally will be held at a Park-and-Ride in Peters Township, with door-to-door service to Heinz Field so as to skip the downtown pedestrian hassle.

Think again.

But with the true cost of the ride on the T factored in, we might as well try to license passenger service for that ride from suburbia to the stadiums to the Hooters franchise. And while we're at it, lets insist that all ticket scalpers stand next to the Nacho vendors on the jail-trail keeping an eye out for the rewards for narking on the hidden homeless who missed the call from homeland security sitting service and private security guards employed by the casino.

The web they are weaving is getting tighter on our collective choke points.

Raj For Congress

Raj For Congress: "Take the Biden Challenge & Contribute Today"

Platform.For-Pgh.org wiki tops 1,000 pages and 122,148 home page visitors

Tell us about, who you are, where you live, work, play, organize and worship, and what organizations you watch and interact with.

Your input is welcomed. Go to the Wiki, Platform.For-Pgh.org, and start editing. The famous Wikipedia effort has a NPV, (neutral point of view). Meanwhile, my -- err, our wiki project, has a different slant in that it takes ALL POINTS of VIEW. So, you can feel free to put your rants about people, places, issues, solutions, and visions on the wiki on their own page or else blended with the discussion pages.

Furthermore, feel free to set links to your blog rants on suitable pages within the Platform.For-Pgh.org. If you've ranted about 'Highland Park' or 'Bill Peduto' -- you can add your blog link under the Links --> Blogs of suitable pages.

On the road again. New footnotes from life with and among the Running Mates

I've got to attend this event in the Boston area next month. Anyone else what to join me there? We won't be able to travel together, but I'd love to hook up with folks at that event. I'm not sure I'll be able to attend all three days, but I do want to go.

Road trip expected to Wikimania in Cambridge, Mass, in August 2006 (click for more insights).

Today I gave a kiss and hug to my wife and kids -- and they left town for a week. They are attending our annual church camp without me. This is the first time we've done this split for such a long time. So, I'm home alone with two cats. Grant was sad to leave his kitten behind, by the way.

Amy Carol Webb at the SUUSI bookstore in a past year.

Missing SUUSI is a big deal for me. I'll miss concerts by some of our best musical friends: Amy Carol Webb, Joe Jencks, Greg Greenway, and Mindy Simmons. Mindy and her son spent last night with and she's in a mini-car caravan with my wife as they make the 7 hour trip to Blacksburg. She left only AFTER I got a copy of her new CD, "If It Were Up To Me." It is wonderful and very politically engaged.

The title song, If It Were Up To Me, the world would be... Then Alice, after Alice In Wonderland, about the war. The tune, One World, that has been on my campaign CDs is the third track. Then, Try A Little Faith. Perhaps I should blog about the CD in length later. It is great. Her songs can be very pointed -- but not too over the top. Her voice is like silk.

Last night Mindy joined us along with Don Anderson to talk about an event in the fall -- we hope. Mindy does a 2-hour concert, a tribute to PEGGY LEE. Don Anderson and I were able to noodle about a special event -- and Don does a good job doing Sanatra. Don is a much better singer than Sanatra these days as Sanatra is dead. Today Don Anderson is at the Borders up 28 at Mills. He shared some of the backstage details of his act with Mindy and I and they traded insights.

Seems Peggy Lee and Frank Sanatra did perform together in real life. It could happen again.

Miss Mindy Simmons -- looking the part of Peggy Lee without the mole.

A local politician, state rep Michael Diven, a former opponent of mine in the PA Senate race in May 2005, has gotten into some hot water for getting dead people to sign his nomination petitions to get onto the ballot. This is old news to the political junkies out there. But the new news is the fact that I'm not going to overlook the dead people when it comes to my campiagn in 2006. No sir! I'm door knocking in heaven -- with the help of the spirit of Peggy Lee. If dead people are going to vote on November 7, 2006, I'm going to count on their support and vote.

I'm not asking them to sign my petitions, however.

Speaking of getting signatures for access to the ballot for the next election, that's where I should be now. One of the reasons I stayed home and didn't attend the weeklong out of state camp is because I'm going to hit the streets, fulltime, to get voters' signatures on my nomination papers. This act helps me, of course, as well as fellow INDEPENDENT candidate, Russ Diamond. Diamond is running for Governor. I'm the only Independent candidates in PA that is running for PA Senate on the Russ Diamond ticket. Others throughout PA are seeking PA House seats.

Today I'm hopeful to attend events in Polish Hill, South Side Works, Schenley Park (grand prix), Crafton (movie) and hit a swim pool or another park along the way. I already went to a church service too.

But, I could really use some company at these events throughout the week. Anyone want to help on WEDNESDAY night -- or SATURDAY morning, especially, let me know. We've got swim meets then and I'm sure I can get another 50 to 100 signatures in an hour or two at both instances.

On Saturday morning, we had our biggest swim meet of the season, a dual meet at Scott Township -- and our team, The Crafton Crocs, won! It was great to see so many of the kids on our side do so well. The depth of our team really showed. Many first year swimmers really got the hang of the sport this year and are putting together some inspirational races with smooth strokes and strong conditioning.

Crafton won by about 70 points. It was close for a swim meet.

This was the year Scott was to win it all, so they hoped. On paper, at the outset of the year, they had a good chance. But, we really have had a good summer of pushing our kids to faster times and it showed. In some races Scott got first place, but Crafton got 2nd, 3rd and 4th. So, looks like Crafton is going to win the dual meet championships again, in our 5 team league.

We practiced all week, to prep for the Scott meet, without starting blocks. But, we show up and they've got blocks installed. It was the first time ever. Great gamemanship there!

Grant, my 8-and-under breastroke speedster, did have a bit of trouble again, navigating to the 2-handed finish. Ouch. Rob Perkey, a state swimmer who just graduated, put his feet on the deck on a flip turn too. So, we'll have to do some extras to prep for the Championships, next Saturday, also at Scott.

My wife and kids will be home Friday night, we hope. Then Saturday is the Championship meet. So, their one-week taper takes hold while at camp.

Seems one of the traditions of the Crafton team is a team banquet slide show. Can't wait. Hope to get a copy of that one disk and share it here or at another URL. I'm not so swift at taking photos and coaching at the same time. Stay tuned.

The team photos did come, and they look splendid. Stay tuned 2. Erik was on his trip to an Amish vegie field on team photo day -- so some "GIMP" touch-ups are necessary to get his head in there. I don't use Photoshop. GIMP is the open source alternative.

Last year I was finishing the Pittsburgh Triathlon and then sleeping in the car as we drove to SUUSI, my wife behind the wheel. I was spent after the race and we arrived a bit late. But this year the triathlon is in August. But, it seems I'll be out of town for the race in 2006.

85 years young -- today

Sunday is a birth day.

Guess....

Tip, its not a person.

Tip 2, its double hard until you figure its summer-time birth, (of course) and that many in the area are sure to know this ....

Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/15/2006 | Court says campaign cash limit is invalid

I wonder if Bill Peduto will now get off his do-nothing stance and do something about campaign finance reform in Pittsburgh. Puduto has fumbled the ball for YEARS now on this topic.

Peduto thinks that Philly law and Pittsburgh law are connected. They are different. So, he used the excuse of the court challenge of Philly's campaign finance reform law as reson to not proceed and even hold a public hearing about the hoped for activities to clean up some of Pittsburgh's political process mess.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/15/2006 | Court says campaign cash limit is invalid: "Court says campaign cash limit is invalid
Former Controller Jonathan Saidel challenged the ordinance. The judge said it failed to define 'candidate.'

By Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Staff Writer

The city's campaign-finance limits cannot be enforced against one potential mayoral aspirant because City Council did not define the word candidate when it wrote the ordinance, a judge has ruled.

SI.com - More Sports - Gunmen kidnap Iraqi Olympic committee chief - Sunday July 16, 2006 12:49AM

Sports Illustrated Gunmen kidnapped the head of Iraq's Olympic committee and more than a dozen employees Saturday after storming a meeting of sports officials just days after the coach of Iraq's national wrestling team was killed.

Sports happen in a complicated, networked, society -- where they should be hosted.

New rail route no sure thing - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

New rail route no sure thing - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Why vote palm cards

The Pittsburgh League (of Pissed Off Voters) is putting together a new palm card and we need help to fill in the "Why Vote" section. We are having a contest between today and Friday, July 21 at 5 PM for the hippest, BRIEF, statements about why it is in the interest of young people to go to the ballot booth twice a year for the rest of their lives. Send us your witty catch phrases. The winning statements will be used on the palm cards, which will be distributed throughout the Southwestern PA area.

Please send all entries to Jeremy at jerecp@bu.edu by Friday, July 21 at 5 PM.

---

My top suggestion:

Voting makes your teeth whiter.

My wife's suggesting: "So we don't have a president like we've got now."

That seems to be enough of a reason to go vote -- continually.

Charter School Public Hearing in Pgh

A public hearing has been scheduled by the Pittsburgh Board of Education for the resubmitted application for the Education InnovationsLAB Charter School.

We are seeking your support as we bring what will be the best K-12 public school in the District. For more information about the school, please visit www.educationinnovations.org.

Your testimony will go a long way in helping us get the school started. If you cannot make it, we can submit a short email from you as your testimony. However, you still need to call the District to be placed on the agenda. The number to call be placed on the agenda is: 412.622.3600. They will ask for your name, address, and telephone number. Make sure they know you want to be on the eiLAB Charter School public hearing agenda.

The meeting will take place: Monday 17 June 2006, 6:30 PM at the Pgh Board of Education Administration Building, Conference Room A, 341 South Bellefield Ave, in Oakland.

Again, put yourself on the agenda, even if you can’t make it. if you won’t be making it, email us your testimony (s.wilcox@educationinnovations.org) and we will submit it on your behalf.

Also notify ifif you have placed yourself on the agenda.

Tom Lingenfelter says “LET’S KICK BUTT”

Gov. Ed Rendell stated in April that he signed the pay raise because
sometimes “YOU HAVE TO KISS A LITTLE BUTT” – but Lt. Gov. Candidate Tom
Lingenfelter thinks Gov. Rendell has it all wrong and has made a campaign
promise to be the first butt kicking Lt. Gov. in PA history.

Lingenfelter and his running mate, Independent for Governor Russ Diamond, must clear the first hurdle of getting 67,070 voters to sign petitions to get on the ballot by July 29. This legislative requirement is 65,070 MORE signatures then needed by Rendell and Lynn Swann to get on the ballot!

Lingenfelter said his petition drive “Let’s Kick Butt” is asking concerned Pennsylvanians to get off their butts and get a little exercise collecting signatures to put Independent butt kickers, Diamond and Lingenfelter, on the ballot.

Ed Rendell has made it clear that his vote is for sale. Lingenfelter said “the midnight pay raise that legislators gave themselves, supported and signed by Rendell, has shown Pennsylvanians that the buying and selling of power must not be tolerated. Pacleansweep.com, founded by Diamond to “vote ‘em all out” is leading the charge to clean house in Harrisburg.

Fifty encumbent lawmakers have already been kicked in the butt and will not be returning next year. The chief payjacker, Ed Rendell, also needs to receive a swift one where it will do the most good. Lynn Swann, the GOP candidate, who has aligned himself with ousted payjacker Senator Jubelirer and the other half of the political duopoly, will not be doing any kicking.

Butt, it all comes down to 67,000 signatures. Lingenfelter, a former USA Counter-intelligence Special Agent and a real butt kicker said, “if you want to ‘kick butt’ give him a call at 215-230-5330 or check-in at www.RussDiamond.org and join Pennsylvania’s Butt Kicking team.

Amanda plans to compete in fourth Olympics

SI.com - Olympics - Beard�plans�to compete�in fourth Olympics - Friday July 14, 2006 8:13PM Amanda Beard is aiming for her fourth Olympics. Beard made her debut at 14 at the 1996 Atlanta Games, collecting a total of two gold medals, four silver and one bronze. Now 24, Beard is training for Beijing in 2008.

Baseball Begins to Listen to Sweatshop Foes

Baseball Begins to Listen to Sweatshop Foes Dave Zirin & Derek Tyner

Major League Baseball's All-Star game is supposed to be a breezy exhibition of the sport's brightest stars. It's also a place for baseball's corporate patrons to be wined, dined and reassured about the current state of the game.

CollegeSwimming.com reports that N.J. budget ills force cuts to Rutgers Swim Team

This sucks.

CollegeSwimming.com The casinos can remain open, but apparently not the swimming team. Following a turbulent week that saw the state government shut down over the legislature's inability to pass a spending bill, the Rutgers Board of Governors today approved a universitywide budget for the 2006-07 academic year that includes the elimination of men's swimming. The cuts are a part of a larger $50 million package of spending cuts across the state university.

The Scarlet Knights have been enjoying growing success under Chuck Warner. The men's team has moved to the top half of the Big East while sending swimmers onto NCAA's in three of the past four years. More importantly, the institution is New Jersey's flagship university.

There is plenty of talk in our region about how gambling is going to bring in all this money. Well, in Jersey, home of Atlantic City, what is going on there? They've had gambling. Now they get this mess up.

Gambling is bad. But the ill that comes in the wake of gambling's discussions are very bad for folks far from the slots and casinos. This is bad for everyone. We can't put a fire-wall around the gambling backlash crud that has already shown its face and is going to get worse.

If you hate gambling -- as I do. We've got to fight. One candidate for governor wants to NUKE the gambling law, by the way, Russ Diamond.

Any Rutgers grads, swim fans or common sense folks out there in or around Jersey want to fight for that swim program -- jump on board too.

Just "LAY THE SHOVEL DOWN" -- and say NO to the North Shore Tunnels

The light rail line on the North Shore, as it is going to be constructed, can't even pass around the north side of the WEST END BRIDGE. So, going down the North edge of the Ohio to the airport is just another 'false hope' and 'pipedream.'

This plan sucks. It should be stopped.

To go to the airport with light rail, use the blasted airport bus way for goodness sakes.

Small Brain Behaviors are NOT welcomed in our public arena

Clean Sweeper on a bike and feeling tidy.

Question: Shouldn't the goal be to get elected and THEN you could push for changes from the inside?

Not for me. And, not for the sake of my kids, their peers, and their kids.

I want to live in a world where there are NOT "insiders" and "outsiders." I want a world where people stand and fall on their own merits. When that happens, our public life is going to be much better.

When we are more able to elect great candidates regardless of the person's party designation, then we're going to soar in Western PA and throughout the state. When people have the real freedom to associate without fear of being less effective, then we'll be stronger too.

So, part of this fight, for me, is to fight against small brain behaviors from fellow citizens who are too quick to put labels on others and keep tiny, neat, small boxes around people and ideas that should NOT be there.

Concerning the drive for 5 on council -- from 9

We need people to write laws. Those people should be on city council. Then we need managers. They should be in the Mayor's Administration. Then we need journalist watchdogs. They should work at various places with editors who can see the big picture. Finally, we'll need voters to hire the right people for the right jobs.

Recently, our city council has been doing to much work for individual constituents. This happens because the Mayor's office has been kissing but with PNC, gambling, and the Rooneys -- All Stars, etc.

Then we have overlords who are out to lunch and bailouts that are worthless. The whole system is a mess.

My hope is that a cut to five on council will work to make council do only what it should -- and not be the mayor's complaint center (which all got the ax).

Garner puts All-Star Game in motion

Great game-coverage.

Garner puts All-Star Game in motion: "Phil Garner managed an All-Star Game in Pittsburgh the same way he played in the city a quarter-century ago. His NL players got their uniforms dirty, ran the bases aggressively, even pushed each other out of the way to get to popups.

The man once known as 'Scrap Iron' was tired of hearing how the AL had a tremendous advantage in talent and motivation, and he pushed nearly every button possible to try to squeeze out a surprise victory.

You all come back now, you hear.

Notary Rejection

This came in via email:

A volunteer for the campaign of Russ Diamond attempted to get a petition notarized in the office of Rep. Stanley E. Saylor (R-94)
today, but was refused. The constituent lives in the 94th Assembly district.

A call to the Cape Horn Plaza office by David Lynn, the campaign's Assistant Treasurer (that's me) confirmed that the staff was unsure whether or not nominating petitions could be notarized by the Assemblyman's staff.

If you think that's as ludicrous as it sounds, send Rep. Saylor an email at ssaylor@pahousegop.com. You can also call him and tell him what a great job he and his staff are doing. You can also call him at 717-244-9232 (Red Lion, PA) or 717-783-6426 (Harrisburg, PA.)

If possible, I plan to seek this notary's commission. If I'm not mistaken, a notary should be able to notarize any legal document, regardless of its content.

I'm going to take a few pages of my petitions to a local state rep in the next day or two to see if I get the same treatment.