Incumbent Party fixin's (letter to editor by Mark Crowley)

Two party blockheads as shade looms larger.

As a Libertarian Party member, I think the election reform article on the Presidential Funding Act of 2006 ("Incentives can fix campaign financing" by Bill
Bradley and Marty Meehan, Opinion and Commentary, Sept. 24) needs another headline.

Try "The fix is in again."

The Presidential Funding Act of 2006 is the latest protection "fix" for the bipartisan Incumbent Party (i.e., Democrats and Republicans). Prior fixes include:

BiCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act) protects incumbents by limiting free speech before elections. It restricts challenger parties with regulations to which the Incumbent Party is more immune.

Pennsylvania's 2006 ballot-access signature requirements paralyze statewide challenger parties. Compare 67,000 signatures required for third-party challengers to only 2,000 for Incumbent Party candidates.

The Help America Vote Act mal-aligned the election process so even balloted candidates might not be properly counted. What chance do challenger type-ins
(write-ins) have?

Given the direction of the country and that the Incumbent Party has controlled the White House and the Congress for generations, I can see why they need to "fix" it again.

Source.

Bloomfield Garfield Crop has a job for Youth Employment Coordinator

See the posting in the comments area if interested.

Lane 9 News Archive: Chinese Diving Coach Threatens to Pull Divers From Country

Where are the divers?

Lane 9 News Archive: Chinese Diving Coach Threatens to Pull Divers From Country Chinese Diving Coach Threatens to Pull Divers From Country -- September 20, 2006

BEIJING, China, September 20. ACCORDING to Reuters reports, Yu Fen, China’s former Olympic diving coach, has threatened to pull her divers from the country due to local policies.

Operating out of Tsinghua University, Yu’s divers are not allowed to compete within the organizational structure of the Chinese national team. Since they do not train in diving exclusively throughout the day due to their studies at the university, Yu’s divers are considered non-specialists. The Chinese sports ministry excluded non-specialists from taking part in major events and Olympic trials.

Due to this policy, Yu has lost some of her students to the sports ministry training program.

In response, Yu is contemplating taking her students to train out of the country.

SOS -- for Rutgers Swimming. Jersey Legislatures get calls

CollegeSwimming.com: Bob Steele, retired men's coach at California State Bakersfield and head of the College Swimming Coaches Assocation of America's Save Our Sport (SOS) committee, has been coordinating efforts to preserve the Rutger's men's swimming program.

Steele is working to contact all of New Jersey’s swimmers (past and present), swim parents, coaches and fans of swimming and eliciting their efforts to contact New Jersey state Legislators. This all-out effort, designed to take the high road, by showing why saving the program is good, not just for the swimmers, but also for the university and the state. Steele is also requesting that Non-Jerseyites, 'help by sending letters to university president and people of influence.

Making the process easier is the organization's website, saverutgersswimming. There volunteers can see how they can help, get links to their New Jersey representatives, and send a letter in your own words.

The site also offers valuable talking points to help supporters as they craft their communications. Supporting Rutgers will help stem the tide of cutting swimming in American universities and colleges and thus provide opportunities for men AND women swimmers to:

* compete in a sport they love
* continue developing as a person and student-athlete
* perhaps receive an athletic scholarship
* contribute to the Rutgers university/community
* become a loyal, giving Rutgers alumnus

Libertarian Party Candidates Honor the Right of Self-Defense

Calls for Annual Tax-Free Week for Firearms-Related Purchases

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, For Immediate Release, September 25, 2006

Harrisburg, PA – Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) candidates in this November’s election today issued a resolution

· supporting the right of self-defense as acknowledged by the Pennsylvania Constitution;

· condemning any who propose to infringe upon this right and thereby violate the Constitution;

· recommending that the state legislature adopt an annual “tax-free week” for firearms-related purchases in honor of our vital right to self-defense.

The candidates’ proposal contrasts with the planned introduction (scheduled for 9/26/2006) of a jumble of misguided gun control bills staged by a vocal minority of state legislators who seem to be unfamiliar with and thus simply afraid of any and all defensive weaponry.

James Babb, State Representative candidate for the 157th District in Montgomery County (www.jamesbabb.com) , articulates the Libertarian perspective “Self defense is a basic human right and not a privilege granted by the government.”

Tom Martin, State Senate candidate for the 30th District in Centre County (http://members.aol.com/martin4senate/) notes “Having a tax-free week on firearms-related purchases would be an important demonstration that our freedoms are not supposed to be taxed and regulated. Not only does the first amendment protect one’s right to yell for help, the second amendment protects the means to help defend one’s self.”

Jeremy Levan, State Representative candidate for the 129th District in Berks County (http://www.voteforjeremy.610knows.com/) adds " I think a tax-free week on firearms related sales is a great way to celebrate a right that other countries only wish they had. "

Contact your state legislators and insist that they embrace freedom, support the Libertarian Party tax-free week plan, and reject all legislative efforts to criminalize self-defense.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with over 600 officials serving in office throughout the nation. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information on the Libertarian Party.

Going To Jail For Doing Your Job Is Not The American Way Of Justice

Going To Jail For Doing Your Job Is Not The American Way Of Justice If Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada go to jail for doing their job, this will be another black eye in American history and by all accounts, it may be the case. As many already know, Williams and Fairnaru-Wada have done a series of investigative pieces on the BALCO case and thanks to much of their hard work, columnists like myself have been able to expound, enlighten, infuriate and even chastise numerous subjects on this matter.

But what they are known for right now is the fact that their work has gotten rave reviews from common people who are not even sports fans to the President of the United States for the steroids issue. Congress moved on hearings because of their work. And that’s the irony because now the very government that applauded them in 2003 is now trying to put them in jail three years later.

'It's a tragedy that the government seeks to put reporters in jail for doing their job,' said San Francisco Chronicle executive vice president and editor Phil Bronstein after the hearing.

As a candidate, I support(ed) the crafting and enforcement of great 'shield' laws.

7 pm Meeting on Monday, Sept 25, concerning South Side Bars

Nightlife

With almost 200 liquor licenses in the South Side, many believe that South Side is THE place to visit on weekend nights. But there are also people who live here, and many hope that those visiting recognize that this is a PLACE, not just a party. It is a neighborhood with many taxpaying residents who are entitled to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of their homes, respect for their properties, and understanding from visitors that we call South Side our home.

Due to increased concerns about quality of life issues here in the South Side, South Side Community Council has formed a Bar Task Force. This Task Force is working to actively address serious concerns regarding public safety and liquor license enforcement. Come learn about the recent work by this volunteer group of residents and business owners and how you can help.

Monday, September 25th at 7:00 p.m.

Brashear Center, 2005 Sarah Street

Refreshments will be provided.

Posted on Sept 21. Now for the insights.
Trivia question: Where am I? Who am I?

(Click to read some answers in comments.)

Call to speak to County Council about voting machines

eVote Blog: "ASK Allegheny County to verify the voting software!

Given that our votes are not observable, recountable, or auditable.

Let at least have software verification and parallel testing!

Call County Council: 412 350-6491

Please Sign Up by Monday 5PM to Speak to County Council on Tuesday, September 26th!"

PS: While you are there you might want to ask about the date of the next mayor's election.

AntiRust: Housing Subsidies: But How Will the Fat Cats Survive?

City life...

Great blog talk at Anti Rust. I am NOT in favor of subsidized housing in Downtown. I am in favor of housing, but it needs to be build if there is a demand for it to be built. The subsidization is one sure method of stopping its supply. Downtown housing won't occur in Pittsburgh once it is subsidized. The subsidization is a poison for the marketplace.

AntiRust: Housing Subsidies: But How Will the Fat Cats Survive? Housing Subsidies: But How Will the Fat Cats Survive?

And this post too.... with a classic line in the threaded comments:

AntiRust: Demand for Downtown Housing Explodes: No Word on Fate of Unnecessary Subsidies: 'Pittsburgh is kind of like NY, run by Homer Simpson.'

kdka.com - Remembering Mayor Bob O'Connor

kdka.com - Remembering Mayor Bob O'Connor The former council president beat a political newcomer to become Pittsburgh's 58th mayor

KDKA is re-writting history.

In the General Election in 2005, Bob O'Connor beat Joe Weinroth, R. Wienroth had run for City Council four years prior. Weinroth was on the STATE GOP Committee. He had gone to Republican National Conventions. Weinroth wasn't a 'light weight' nor a 'political newcomer.'

Titus North, Green, was also in the race in 2005.

Bob O'Connor (Dem) 40,226 67.1%

Joseph Weinroth (Republican) 16,321 27.2%

Titus North (Green) 2,392 4.0%

David Tessitor (About Open Gov) 625 1.0%

Jay M Ressler (Socialist) 397 0.7%

Totals 59,961

Present candidate for State House, Vote on Nov 7

Bill Ogden is on Crafton Boro Council. Bill is on the ballot for State House.

From Joe Jencks ho...

Clean Sweeper of the Week -- photo from Thailand

Photo of "Clean Sweeper of the Week." This guy works at the Presidential Palace in Bankok, Thailand. He is a real clean sweeper. Thailand is hold a 'coup.' They are not interesed in any lame-duck leadership and will have a trustee take over until the October general election. The trusetee just happens to be a military boss with a nod to the king.

Saturday radio

Russ is on with Ron Morris, 1360 AM. I'm on via TalkShoe.com.

Panel delivers advice to Bayou

Panel delivers advice to Bayou 'One of the most amazing things we found was that, for some reason, in the city's long history, hardly anyone seems to have crossed the bayou' and developed the wetlands and pine savanna on the west side of the waterway that gives the town its name, said Tom Murphy, one of the panelists and a former mayor of Pittsburgh.

Golly.
So, let's subsidize the bayou. Get a critical mass. Then tax it to the heavens.

Bugs, critters, waste water, and other tidbits like infrastructure won't present a problem when we all 'work together' and use government money.

Public access to the docks land means public subsidization. If private developers were to enter the scene, they'd want to invest private dollars and marketplace forces. You don't want a free-market landscape because only the government officials should wine and dine and pick the developers. That way government corruption and kickbacks are on the backs and in the pockets of the governement officials.

The 'power point' presentations are nothing but hype. I've got some nifty power point presentations to show you of downtown Pittsburgh that never came true.

These types of gigs are right up Tom Murphy's alley. He gets to come in, present without much follow-up, without much advance community discussion, and then leave. Plus, he gets to use soft money to make slide shows.

On page two of the article comes the 'Tom Sawyer attitude' and getting everyone on a committee. Once there is a committee, there won't be any votes. Once everyone is on the list -- the guy who manages the list becomes the czar. His committee model is all about power for the one at the top and no power for the pawns and everyday citizens and committee members.

Accountability and democracy vanishes in the Tom-Murphy world. You don't need democracy because the committee suggested it. And, the committee is all of us. (Yeah, right.) The vision isn't a shared vision, it is his vision. The vision doesn't need to stand up to public comment as all public comment happened with the private developers and the RFPs (Request for Proposals) and the pre-paperwork to qualify as to who can submit a RFP. There will be RFQs too, Requests for Qualifications.

RFQs are gatekeepers to screen out anyone who isn't able to play the 'cronie game' of kickbacks and secrecy.

Some road closings start tonight for Great Race

Tell me why some of the roads need to be closed on Friday at 7 pm for a race that happens on Sunday at 8 am. That is silly.

Image from the new Mark Rauterkus public domain photo album called signs.

The races should be able to happen without such a choke hold on the neighborhoods. If a driver screws up in a race zone, it should be double the fines, such as with a 'construction zone.' Then they can close the road at 6 am and get along just fine.

Some road closings start tonight for Great Race Some road closings will begin tonight in advance of the 29th running of the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race on Sunday morning.

The Finish Line area, located at Penn Avenue and Liberty Avenue between Stanwix Street and Commonwealth Place and Stanwix Street between Penn Avenue and Liberty Avenue, will close at 7 p.m. today and will remain closed until 3 p.m. Sunday.

Better yet, and this was the case with the now defunct Pittsburgh Marathon, don't run the race on the roads. Move a good portion of the race off of the roads, then things go much more smoothly.

The Pittsburgh Marathon was designed to snarl traffic. It needed way to many police officers, on bonus pay. It needed too many road blocks. It was a major road nightmare. Many of the churches had trouble too.

We should hold a marathon in this city -- and not utilize the roads but when necessary. Then use only a bit of the roads so as to night tie up major roads from start to finish.

Run the race down the busway. Run the race on a river path. Run a race in a park. Run a race on Sarah Street -- not East Carson Street. Run a race in an out-and-back fashion too. Or, run the race in loops.

Candidates full of suggestions

Flashback from March, 2006:

---

The P-G covered the city council race in a news story today (Monday).

A couple of points to note follow:

Candidates for Ricciardi's City Council seat full of suggestions For instance, how about having residents dial 311 to report nonemergency problems that police would handle during lulls in the 911 calls? That idea comes from Mark Rauterkus, a swim coach from the South Side Flats who ran for mayor as a Republican but is now a Libertarian.

It is funny to see the Neville Ice Arena mention as I'll be putting out a press release on that shortly.

The lead about a "lot of interesting ideas" is on target for what I've been trying to bring to the election and campaign. Many of my ideas have even started to take root within the words of the other candidates.

For example, Krane had NOTHING to say about kids until this meeting with the P-G. He was silent on the most pressing topic within the city. Krane woke up on this, finally, and that is always a good thing. But, I think he is still clueless on how to engage kids -- because it isn't about giving the kids $100 check books.

... end snip ...

---

This is a happy moment -- where the "I told you so" comes true on a POSITIVE side.

Today's P-G (9-22-06) had this bit of insight:
Ravenstahl holds course on city budget

Ravenstahl holds course on city budget The plan includes $120,000 to create a new problem line, similar to the existing 911 emergency phone number, that would be in operation within months.

'Whether it's a pothole that needs patched, whether it's a tree that fell across the road, whether it's a street that needs salted, [residents] can dial 311,' said Mr. Ravenstahl, and the complaint will be routed to the proper department.

Then the next idea is about 'technology' being put in with the building inspectors.

I often hit my head against a wall. I often put out new ideas that don't get picked up after I say them, when it comes to city government especially. However, there are times when things that are blabbed about do get planted, like seeds, and spring to life in other times.

Time does tell.

It is great to see Luke is moving forward on the 311 project. It will be welcomed.

Democracy Rising News

Special report on the PA Court: "YES" to the pay-jacking
DR News - June 28, 2006: "The PA Supreme Court today:

* upheld the way the pay raise was passed;

* declared “unvouchered expenses” to be unconstitutional but allowed lawmakers to keep them – and the higher pensions resulting from them; and

* declared the non-severability clause “unenforceable,” thereby upholding the pay raise for some 1,200 judges throughout the state and local judicial system – including back pay to the date the pay raise was repealed last November.

This is a conspicuously bad decision by a court that has conspicuous contempt for citizens....

Cyberspace invaders seek votes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Cyberspace invaders seek votes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Calling David Conti.... I tried to find your myspace page, to be sure you have had at least ONE friend by now. But, I couldn't locate your page on myspace. You could make me a friend.

http://www.myspace.com/rauterkus

Creative uses key to Market Square's appeal

P-G article: Creative uses key to Market Square's appeal

If you really want to be creative as to what happens in other urban park settings, and I think we should, take a look at a slice of video I just uploaded.

They say that Market Square should have ten activites. Well, this could and should be one. Look at the gathering of the people.

It is from People's Park, Chengdu.

http://blip.tv/file/get/Rauterkus-PeoplesParkInChengdu343.MPG

---

People's Park in Chengdu

---

Here is another activity that should happen at Market Square, going to the art tykes.

---

Or, the same video that has been uploaded to Blip.TV, but with a different opening icon/image.

Buckets of water

---

Put in benches in Market Square.

However, the trend has been to take benches away from neighborhoods. They have ordered benches to be removed because people sit on them. People then stay planted for too long. So, they yank the benches. Seniors need benches to sit on an rest while taking walks. Parents and babies and tykes need benches too. These benches in the photo are from Ocean Park in Hong Kong. They are attractive -- yet not so soft for your bottom.

---

Post newspapers.

Reading the newspapers that are posted in public spaces, like at bus stops, would make for interesting community spaces. Plenty of interactive web based ideas were dished at the Idea Round Up. How about a few simple, carbon based ideas first. If the City Paper or Trib PM came out like this, around town, they'd not need to litter the streets with so much paper.