We won't see how they recovered from the shooting. Go Dukes

The Duquesne University men's basketball squad tips off its season tonight. Fall 2006 was a brutal time for the team and the university given the fact that five of the boys got shot while on campus a couple of months ago.

Tonight's game is not, I expect, a time nor place to judge how they are all doing. A KDKA Radio newscaster said, "We'll see how they have recovered from the shooting tonight."

I'm a bit skeptical to expect that display to be part of the proceedings.

The game and the opening of the competitive season presents a giant milestone, no doubt. Hope they have fun. Hope they win their share. Hope the program 'rebounds' and becomes a source of inspiration for us all.

Go Dukes.

And, how is the women's squad?
Walkons.

Board of Elections Meeting on Monday morning, 10 am

As the vice-chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, I'm going to go to the Allegheny County Board of Elections meeting slated for Monday at 10 am.

An invalidation of our letter seeking a represenatative for the vote tabulation happened. What's up with that?

To the Various Dignitaries of Various Political Parties

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Allegheny County Board of Elections meets Monday, November 13th, at 10:00 a.m. We members of VoteAllegheny will be presenting various reports (mostly in draft form pending incorporation of further information) to the BoE at that time. (We do not know whether we will be granted time for comment on the agenda.)

It seems to us that as a practical matter it would be efficacious for each political party to have some representation at this meeting, and at the subsequent Board of Elections meeting scheduled for November 27th at 10:00 a.m.

As there may be issues contained in our reports which may concern the various parties, we shall deliver copies to each of you by email. If someone other than or in addition to you should receive a copy, please let me know.

Thank you.

Audrey N. Glickman, Secretary/Treasurer, VoteAllegheny

The Board of Elections meets in conference room A of the County Court House which is on the 1st floor (up one level from ground) next to the county manager's office.

Dave's questions: What should be the game plan then? Anybody have specific questions/issues? Any chance anybody (Rich King?) can get me references to the relevant law(s)? I'd like to have them in my hand. Any specific legal priciples/issues/vocabulary I should be familiar with?


Allow transparency and access into the election process. Transparency has radidly disappeared with the arrival of electronic voting. The administration has denied access, avoided, deferred and delayed communication, erected barriers, misrepresented and played dumb to avoid transparency and access in the process of choosing our system of elections and in the accountable running of our elections.

Department of State Directive (PDF)

What constitutes a "session of board" includes the "logic and accuracy testing"... where no member of the Board of Elections was ever expected to be present prior to the election. The County Solicitor maintained, off the cuff that sessions of board did not include the central tabulation as the DOS directive specifically refers to. Also, they said that the portion of law referred to by the state was not the relevant portion of law.

Bottom line: the judge agreed with the county solicitor. That is what they tend to do. The Board (and the Dept. of State) must get the county to agree to the DOS directive.

Any viable party has the right to have three observers at sessions of the board (including all preparation, testing, tabulation, and computations before, during and after the election.)

Memo from Monday, November 7th, 2006

To: Mr. Mark Wolosik, Manager, Divison of Elections, Allegheny County

Dear Mr. Mark Wolosik:

In accordance with PA State Law Section 25 P.S. 2650 which states:

(a) Any party or political body or body of citizens which now is, or hereafter may be, entitled to have watchers at any registration, primary or election, shall also be entitled to appoint watcher who are qualified electors of the county or attorneys to represent such part or political body or body of citizens at any public session or sessions of the county board of elections, and at any computations and canvassing of returns of any primary or election and recount of ballots or recanvass of voting machines under the provisions of this act. Such watchers or attorneys may exercise the same rights as watchers at registration and polling places, but the number who may be present at any one time may be limited by the county board to not more than three for each party, political body or body of citizens.

As Chair of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County I duly authorize Richard King and Chad Dougherty to be qualified watchers on our behalf for all election procedures including tabulation of the vote, sessions of the county board. This authorization intends to allow them access to all preparation, testing, and tabulation relevant to the election in Allegheny County on November 7th, 2006, and with specific reference to and including parallel testing. I encourage all parties concerned to review the attached directive of the Department of State regarding Watchers

Sincerely and Respectfully,
Dave Powell, Chair Allegheny County Libertarian Party.

Notes: Reference is made in the DOS Directive: "Regarding the Rights of Watchers, Candidates and Attorneys" link

Long list of Pittsburgh mayoral hopefuls already lining up

Long list of Pittsburgh mayoral hopefuls already lining up the mayor's race is on.

Meanwhile, ... Rauterkus speaks at Pod Camp.

There are a number of people on the P-G's list, a lame-list indeed, that need to be discounted. And, the list itself is but a joke and a way to eliminate viable contenders and set the agenda to sustain the status quo.

The race itself will only topple the region's gravity of 'status quo politics' once the newspapers do something other than run status quo newsmaker's bios.

Eight white men had their photos in the paper. All are men. Not a single woman. All white so as to eliminate all others. minority. All are Democrats -- without the hope of any others from another party.

All have held office except one and the lone exception had his father die while serving as mayor. So the only way to get into the club that the P-G plays gatekeeper for is to have held elected office or have it blessed upon you by your father.

Even Michael Lamb's dad was a State Senator.

This year's budget isn't going to have much 'raw meat' in terms of a window into Ravenstahl's administration and tenure. The budget for 2007 is really Bob O'Connor's work, coupled with that of the overlords.

If I had been mayor, I would have released the budget to city council before I gave it to the overlords. Then we'd have something to 'chew upon.'

The presentation of the budget to council can't be considered raw as it already had some time to simmer with the ICA Board (overlords). The budget isn't raw. To use the food lingo -- the budget goes to council as seconds.

If anyone on council wanted to pitch a fit about the 2007 budget, the opportunity was a month or two ago when the content was 'raw' as it headed to the overlords. That is when the interception and big stink about unhealthy rawness should have happened. And, it would have taken an "insider" to make that case. We only heard about the lack of 20 or so Crossing Guards.

Furthermore, the noise about the Crossing Guards came from Doug Shields who is bucking to run for city controller, not mayor. Bill Peduto was too busy running around to events and schmoozing to raise many objections about the budget.

Seems to me that fixing the city should take a priority.

A modest objection came about the budget process and the steps of mayor to overlords and finally to the public and city council. But those meek reminders run counter to what those on city council already did. Peduto wants the overlords. Peduto voted for the overlords to come to Pittsburgh. Peduto offers bigger government kinda support and he needs to support the status quo on these fronts and not talk of much change. It is what it is -- except when he's in charge.

Peduto should and could have issued a citizens budget or a Peduto budget from a zero- or needs-based perspective. This year's budget is going to be set upon history's legacy. Peduto talked about starting every year's budget with ZERO and working from priorities and a vision -- not a legacy.

Where is that talk been this year?

Photos of Readshaw, Frankel, and Fitzgerald make for good excuses for those guys to raise some PAC money -- and send out a letter to their "supporters." That money can then be leveraged in other races for their existing jobs or to buy influence in other races with other candidates as they see fit. But, they won't be able to raise the cash to run a traditional race for mayor from a traditional power-base.

None of those guys are going to be blogging anytime soon. Those guys can't break the mold -- because -- they are built from the mold.

There is news in the article. Scratch Jim Ferlo and scratch Jack Wagner. I wish I saw direct quotes however. Perhaps the P-G can release the recording of those two conversations or perhaps each can make a press release saying that they are NOT in the hunt for the mayor's race.

Take a deep breath. Dive in. Psyching up for an address to a camp audience. Swim Camp to PodCamp.

I'm speaking at Pod Camp tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous. I might ask everyone there to go topless, so as to 'break the ice' and calm my fears. The last audience I spoke to at a camp was topless -- and is shown in the photo.

(Click photo for larger view. Or, go to Rauterkus.blip.tv to see the latest upload about 'drag' in open water swimming from Coach Bower. That segment was from the same morning the photo above was taken.)

In other news, my wife heads to Chicago Sunday morning to chair a meeting with 400 people. Safe travels to her and all others.

We'll be swimming at the Oliver Bath House from 6:30 to 7:30 on Sunday -- as the Steelers play.

Our meet today was a success. It was the first dual meet of the season. We beat Riverside.

PodCamp Pittsburgh

Today, after our swim meet, I got to hit a bit of the afternoon at PodCamp at Pgh Filmmakers. Looks like a great event. Lots of fellow Pgh Bloggers are there. Lots of others from around the nation as well.

I'm on stage on Sunday afternoon.

Time will tell what comes out in my presentation. I've got a few ideas.

kdka.com - Pittsburgh Marathon Could Make A Comeback

kdka.com - Pittsburgh Marathon Could Make A Comeback (KDKA) PITTSBURGH After a three year absence, it looks like the Pittsburgh Marathon will be back again.

Pittsburgh should host a 10-mile spring road race, not a marathon.

Should the marathon return, it should be in the fall. Furthermore, the marathon should NOT be run in the loop fashion like it was done in the past. Rather, more prudent routes, perhaps of an out-and-back nature, on the busway for part, should be part of the events staging.

The marathon was killed because the overtime from the police killed it. The costs were too great. The sponsors too poor. The local support was nice, but not anything to take to the bank.

A more purdent course structure would be welcomed in terms of cutting the race overhead by 80 percent.

A 10-mile race in the spring would generate a 500% increase in local support as well. Perhaps the Kenyons won't arrive, but frankly, I don't give a Volla Budd if they do.

Should a marathon take root, it should be coupled with an Iron Man as well. I'd love to see a three day staged race with a Friday swim in the rivers. A Saturday 110 mile bike race. Then a Sunday marathon.

The Politics of Play | Metropolis Magazine

The Politics of Play | Metropolis Magazine There is a movement afoot to create recreational spaces that better serve our cities and our children.

Nice try... We need less urban design and more coaching. We need a simple solution, as in teamwork, sport, teaching, friendship making, discipline and effort.

The Politics of Play | Metropolis Magazine “We wanted to invert the typical layout, where caretakers are on the outside,” Nash says.

Who says caretakers are on the outside? Come on. We've got layers of issues here. Parents and caretakers are not to be on the outside in a vibrant setting. But, there are lots of ways and times when parents are put on the outside by various institutional designs.

I fully agree that some need to "think again" and "rethink the relationship among children, playground design, and public space. Creating more inclusive spaces for children and families, so the logic goes, is one step toward making the entire city a safer and more welcoming place for kids."

Bingo!

The City of Pittsburgh has a long, long, long way to go before it is more welcoming place for kids -- and for safety.

Pittsburgh should not be trying to build subsidized downtown lofts for rich folks without kids.

Pittsburgh should not be short on Crossing Guards and long on downtown safety ambassadors, hired by the Pgh Downtown Partnership with its own BID (Business Improvement District) tax.

Pittsburgh's improvements to its parks landscape is a joke. The short-term goal of a bike path from Etna to McKeesport isn't something that is going to be of value to kids. But kids would really like to be able to ride a bike to school and secure it without getting killed on the way or have the bike stolen.

By the way, the Merry-Go-Round in Schenley Park is a sure way to put the caretakers on the outside, perhaps at the Coffee Bar or with a Danish. No insult intended for the Danes or Danish landscape architect Helle Nebelong. Perhaps I should say spectators with a mega sized muffin, not Danish.

And the merry-go-round that has been taken out of parks in the USA isn't like the one at Kennywood. I think they are talking about the spinning platform that you push, run and jump on before falling off dizzy as a drunk at 2 AM on East Carson Street merry-go-round.

A party man once more. Georgia guy, Bill Ferguson

I love the opening graph in his column:
This election season passed through us like a kidney stone - a very painful experience that we're all glad to have behind us.
The rest of the article works for me too.

KRT Wire | 11/09/2006 | A party man once more presents my viewpoint particularly well, and during the campaign season the mud-slinging completely turns me off to both sides. So there I am - a political free agent looking for a friendly port in the political storm.

And I've found that port, at least for the time being, with the Libertarian Party. I don't agree with every plank in their platform, but in general I think the spirit of small government and respect for individual liberty that first attracted me to the party of Reagan in the 1980s has found new life with the feisty Libertarians.

So this year I voted for the Libertarian in every race where that option was available. If any Republican or Democrat in those races had convinced me that they deserved my vote it was there to be had, but none of them came close to doing so.

Go ahead - tell me I threw my vote away. Tell me I wasted my time with a lost cause. I'll answer back that I voted my conscience. I'll answer back that although I am disgusted with the two party system, I still believe in this country. I still believe in our potential.

Do you think this bloke is going to Pod Camp?

What's going on here? Take a guess. Hint, the next quote helps. And, this is in a park area.

County, city parks aim toward joint work

Here is the steeple. Open the door and there are no people.

Isn't it wonderful that the Riverview Chapel now has running water in the kitchen. Splendid advancement for our Citipark.

Isn't it great that we can ride a merry-go-round year round in another key park. Plus, we can get a bit to eat too -- from a corporate vendor, not a pushcart nor a food truck. Yuck to that.

Does it send chills up your spine when you look at the garden and gateway in Highland Park and rest assured that the shrubs and landscaped flowers are going to return to the way it was in the 1920s. How inspirational is that to turn back the clock?

County, city parks aim toward joint work After helping to lift a steeple in one park and build a temporary bridge in another, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said yesterday that he is investing in the city's play areas and continuing talks with Allegheny County to establish more cooperation on parks.

While accompanying the mayor at the raising of a wooden steeple at the reconstructed Riverview Chapel Shelter in Perry North, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato said they are 'weeks' away from announcing a plan to collaborate on their parks.

Well, I've been barking about parks cooperation for many years. I was named by one on County Council to a task force for one of the parks. But, they only had two meetings and never had minutes of those meetings. Then it died an unspoken death.

There are NO county parks in our part of the county, by the way.

The city and county want to work together on capital costs because there is NO capital budget for parks in the city. There hasn't been a capital budget for parks since the kids who are 18 or so now were born.

Onorato, while on city council, helped to damage the parks. The decline then was advanced.

The band-aids are old.

Maintenance has been postponed for decades.

The last big thing to happen from any elected offical at a park in the city and county was when Jim Roddey was in charge and he took the bull by the horns and ordered "jersey barriers" along stretches of South Park's roadways after a senior driver hit pedestrians. That sums it up, besides the new steeple and running water in the kitchen.

When a real park discussion begins, I'll be there.

Quote: The problem with elections is ...

The problem with elections is that no matter who wins, you're only
flushing half of the toilet.

Toilet -- a good one -- in China.

Toilet to go! It is on the back of a bike.

Google Calendar - Community Charter School Forum

Google Calendar Charter School Forum Tue Nov 14 5:30pm - Tue Nov 14 8pm

20061114T173000/20061114T200000

Bidwell Training Center, 1815 Metropolitan Street Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Not sure if you can see my Google Calendar. But you can link to it from the sidebar of the blog or at Rauterkus.com. I'd love to share calendars with others around Pittsburgh.

Bloggers, podcasters meet in Pittsburgh

Join us.

Bloggers, podcasters meet in Pittsburgh: "Scores of Internet technology professionals and enthusiasts are expected to gather over the weekend at PodCamp Pittsburgh, an informal meeting to trade tips on creating blogs, Web sites and podcasts, an organizer said Thursday.

The free event is among several being planned in cities from San Francisco to Berlin to pair established Internet media producers with newcomers 'to improve the quality of our creations together,' said Justin Kownacki, a Web video producer.

'It's a completely grass roots effort,' he said. The meeting's unconventional format allows participants to help shape the agenda and 'blow past all the formalities of a conference and get the brain trust in the room,' Kownacki said."

Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute

News comes that Pgh Public Schools are way below the projected numbers with the student enrollment. Now this comes.

Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute

Thursday, November 09, 2006
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shaye Carter and Janie Lewis each risked a $300 fine yesterday because they had refused to withdraw their children from Career Connections Charter Middle School and enroll them in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

You attract more with honey than with a $300 fine.

City school budget released

City school budget releaseddip into the reserve fund

$21.9 M deficit

6-percent spending cut, across-the-board.

Humm.... When does across-the-board really come to be understood as cutting what should be cut and keeping what should be retained, if not improved upon.

Dick's buys naming rights to Colo. sports complex

Seems like a nice investment and complex. Too bad it is in a different time zone.

Dick's buys naming rights to Colo. sports complex Dick's Sporting Goods has signed a 20-year naming rights deal to put its name on a Colorado property being touted as the largest soccer sports complex in the world.

The new Dick's Sporting Goods Park, scheduled to open in April, will be home of the Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids and will include an 18,000-seat outdoor stadium and 24 outdoor fields, according to the announcement from site owner Kroenke Sports Enterprises.

The sports complex will anchor a 917-acre public-private project in Commerce City, Colo., that will also include a new municipal hall, retail stores and a visitors' center for the nearby Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ryun's run ends in DC

PittsburghTrib.com Ryun, a Kansas Republican and once the world-record holder in the mile, lost in his bid for a sixth term in the House.

'I am really, really grateful for all that you have done,' Ryun said in conceding. 'There are so many rich stories and rich memories. I cherish those.'

Congressman Ryun was pushed out in the blistering given to the Rs yesterday. He is a friend to 'audiology' and was helping in a specific healthcare effort.

Jason, you'll be hearing about this shortly.

Ryun is hearing impaired and wears hearing aids. Years ago he helped with our book about hearing and athletics called, "Time Out! I Didn't Hear You." http://rauterkus.com/PDF/SPORTS/TIMEOUT.PDF

Best of luck at the Ryun Running Camp in 2007, http://www.ryunrunning.com/ryun/.

City questions URA's blight designation request

Breaks on Blight!

City questions URA's blight designation request The city planning commission yesterday questioned the city Urban Redevelopment Authority's application for blight certification as part of its plan to aid development of the old Nabisco plant site in East Liberty.

The URA is seeking blight certification as part of pursuing tax-increment financing, or TIF.

Think again! Pittsburgh needs to end TIFs. Plus, Pittsburgh needs to end the expansion of the designation of blight. Blight is everywhere, because they designate blight throughout the city.

The former NABISCO plant does NOT sit in an area of blight. Nor should the former plant get a TIF.

Election Day +1

Quote from the P-G coverage:

Mr. Swann dodged interviews and spoke in vagaries, ...

Bingo!

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania won't elect a person to stand with the people when the candidate hides from the people and attempts at honest, direct, communications on issues.

An elite glow came from the Team 88 efforts in the early stages. At the end of the campaign, candidate Lynn Swann was doing line dances with seniors in Homestead. And that interaction is a new verse of the same message -- don't engage in issue discussions.

Lynn Swann and Bob Casey both used the same playbook in terms of being a good guy in a suit that says little. Meanwhile, Rendell and Santorum are both bold. Swann's sticking point was being unknown beyond the celebrity status and football legacy.

Good guys with little to say, or I could say, GREAT GUYS who are new to the scene and choose to play defense in terms of political discussions won't win.

Casey is unlike Swann because Casey has run for public office in the past. Casey ran and won and ran and lost. But Casey has run.

Swann should be gearing up for County Council, perhaps as the at-large candidate. Or, for County Executive. Or, for State Rep in 2008. I think it is too late to have Swann move into the city and run for mayor in 2007.

Swann needs to stand on his issues and ideals all by himself. I'd love to see Swann dance in political circles in isolation. Win or loose, it won't matter. But, Swann needs to gain confidence and trust with the people in the realm of being a political governor.