A bill is before Governor Rendell that gives the casinos the option of providing free drinks to its patrons.
I think it would be better for Pennsylvania if the bill was vetoed. It should not come about. I would not have voted for the bill if I was in either the PA Senate or PA House.
The gambling casinos are coming. They need to act like the other establishments in our communities. It is not legal to use booze as an incentive for any operation. I would not want it to be legal for casinos.
The competitive forces that are at play in this bill is beteen the casinos and the rest of the community. Not the casino in West Virginia (and there are no free drinks in W.Va casinos) or Las Vegas and those in Pennsylvania.
This is a bill about the LCB (liquor) and not a rider on the gambling legislation.
The bill is bad on principle. It is bad for small business. And, the bill is bad in terms of governmental operations. The legtislative process for this bill is suspect, to say the least.
The members of the PA House and PA Senate, and executive branch, have been drunk on gambling money for some time. The PAC money from gambling has flowed into their slush funds for years while the gambling bills were drafted. Now, these folks in Harrisburg want to get drunk again, but this time on the stipulation of free drinks within the casinos.
There was "little or no public comment" on the bill before it was approved by the House and Senate. The bill has become the latest in the long list of last-minute legislation that hurts the commonwealth. It was added as an amendment to a bill making changes in the state liquor code and didn't receive three separate days of hearings in the House and Senate. This is required by the state constitution.
People on the South Side are worried about the traffic patterns with the new casino that could open in Station Square. We might wish for bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout our streets if all the patrons depart with a drunken state due to the free drinks. At least they'll be going so slow we'll be able to dodge some of them. Or, arrest them.
Why give free liquor between the hours of 7 am and 2 am? If I was able to, I'd say that the free drinks can happen from 2 am to 10 am. Then there would be some peace in the neighborhoods. And by 10 am, we'll be able to have all the police picking up the drunks as they exit the parking lots.
As it stands now, the drunks are hitting the streets when there isn't any mass transit. And, it is impossible to hail a cab.
The Libertarian in me said that free drinks should not be restricted. Rather, allow for any business to offer free drinks anytime. Why should some have to curb all free drinks while others get the right?
But, if you give away free drinks, you can't tax them.
The huge amounts of money that has flowed to the Mohegan Sun in its early days of operation proves that there is no need for 'free drinks' to make these places a success.
Rendell has until Saturday to decide whether to veto the bill.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Carlynton Swim Club Calendar
A public calendar for the Carlynton Swim Club is available. Those on the team might want to subscribe, by clicking the button.
Speaking of women in high places. How about ski jumping.
Events for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouber are being set and in the hunt is:
Skicross.
Skicross runs on the circuit now and features a downhill race among a handful of athletes over bumps and without lanes. Snowboarders did it last time. Think short track speed skating but on a mountain.
Women's ski jumping.
Individual curling.
Team luge.
My favorite is the involuntary luge. Picture someone giving NBC's Today weather personality, Al Roker, a huge push and unwilling sendoff while at the top of the bobsled run. We'll have to turn to YouTube for that sport I fear.
Women don't do ski jumping in the Olympics now. Nor do they do the 1500 meter event in swimming, sadly. It is only fair that they have a medal opportunity too. The first world championships for women in ski jumping isn't slated until 2009. So, this might be your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new sport and hit the big time.
Pittsburgh, give its Mt. Washington landscape, and the backdrop of the city, could be a wonderful venue for the 2007 women's ski jump state championships. I have never understood why we don't have soap box derby events down Mt. Washington too. We did have a great professional bike race, but that went poof!
I'd like to put my voice along with that of the Canada's women ski jumpers asking the Vancouver organizers to "embrace this opportunity to remove the final barrier to equal participation by women at the Vancouver Olympics."
If you have not heard, Philly is NOT in the hunt for hosting a future summer olympics. They pulled the plug on that effort some time ago. But in the UK, the British government announced that costs for the main Olympic complex for 2012 had gone up by $1.7 billion to $6.25 billion, mainly due to higher steel prices and security concerns. Some suggest the total cost could reach more than $15.1 billion.
London organizers and the IOC insist, however, that many of the costs are not directly related to the Olympics, and are meant for the long-term regeneration of the rundown east London site where the main Olympic park is being built. The actual games operating budget is around $3.87 billion, and the IOC says it is satisfied with the pace of preparations.
Perhaps we should push for McKeesport and the Mon Valley as a host for a future Olympic Games. And, we'd have the steel prices under control as we could fire up a historical steel mill. That would make good sense for a heritage project. And, perhaps we'd then be off the hook and have volunteers run the operation, like they do now with the model train displays. That could by-pass any prevaling wage and union issues.
The I.O.C. may or may not provide news still pending from Italy's Olympics. Still in limbo, like the ones in Guantanamo Bay, is the alleged doping substances, equipment at the lodgings, and the Austrian cross-country and biathlon teams from the Turin Games. An update from them might come concerning the continuing investigation. Perhaps Dr. Cyrl Wecht should hop a flight and get to the bottom of this, along with Sheriff DeFazio, of course. Preliminary findings from Italian authorities have been furnished (pun), but not enough exists to take any action so far.
Tell the travel agent, the meeting is in Kuwait.
Skicross.
Skicross runs on the circuit now and features a downhill race among a handful of athletes over bumps and without lanes. Snowboarders did it last time. Think short track speed skating but on a mountain.
Women's ski jumping.
Individual curling.
Team luge.
My favorite is the involuntary luge. Picture someone giving NBC's Today weather personality, Al Roker, a huge push and unwilling sendoff while at the top of the bobsled run. We'll have to turn to YouTube for that sport I fear.
Women don't do ski jumping in the Olympics now. Nor do they do the 1500 meter event in swimming, sadly. It is only fair that they have a medal opportunity too. The first world championships for women in ski jumping isn't slated until 2009. So, this might be your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new sport and hit the big time.
Pittsburgh, give its Mt. Washington landscape, and the backdrop of the city, could be a wonderful venue for the 2007 women's ski jump state championships. I have never understood why we don't have soap box derby events down Mt. Washington too. We did have a great professional bike race, but that went poof!
I'd like to put my voice along with that of the Canada's women ski jumpers asking the Vancouver organizers to "embrace this opportunity to remove the final barrier to equal participation by women at the Vancouver Olympics."
If you have not heard, Philly is NOT in the hunt for hosting a future summer olympics. They pulled the plug on that effort some time ago. But in the UK, the British government announced that costs for the main Olympic complex for 2012 had gone up by $1.7 billion to $6.25 billion, mainly due to higher steel prices and security concerns. Some suggest the total cost could reach more than $15.1 billion.
London organizers and the IOC insist, however, that many of the costs are not directly related to the Olympics, and are meant for the long-term regeneration of the rundown east London site where the main Olympic park is being built. The actual games operating budget is around $3.87 billion, and the IOC says it is satisfied with the pace of preparations.
Perhaps we should push for McKeesport and the Mon Valley as a host for a future Olympic Games. And, we'd have the steel prices under control as we could fire up a historical steel mill. That would make good sense for a heritage project. And, perhaps we'd then be off the hook and have volunteers run the operation, like they do now with the model train displays. That could by-pass any prevaling wage and union issues.
The I.O.C. may or may not provide news still pending from Italy's Olympics. Still in limbo, like the ones in Guantanamo Bay, is the alleged doping substances, equipment at the lodgings, and the Austrian cross-country and biathlon teams from the Turin Games. An update from them might come concerning the continuing investigation. Perhaps Dr. Cyrl Wecht should hop a flight and get to the bottom of this, along with Sheriff DeFazio, of course. Preliminary findings from Italian authorities have been furnished (pun), but not enough exists to take any action so far.
Tell the travel agent, the meeting is in Kuwait.
Monday, November 27, 2006
He is Pgh and so is she.
IamPgh This is a post to an open call to Pittsburghers that want to be a part of IamPgh.All is well except the part about honesty. Honesty hurts. It is what we need. But honesty isn't what people really want.
Here is what you need to do:
* Send an email to donorkoskey AT gmail DOT com
* Include the following:
* Name
* return email address
* Neighborhood
* Job/ Degree
* Age Group
* A short paragraph about yourself
I will write you back and ask a series of questions. Answer the questions as honestly.
Perhaps the bios can become a good source for points from the who category at the Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki/.
Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America
Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America by Peter PhillipsMSM = Mainstream Media. Humm... What interlocks do we have to deal with in Pittsburgh?
That would make an interesting map and network.
City Council back to nine. Now 6 + 3. Welcome D. Harris.
Darlene Harris, new to city council said that public safety includes building inspection. "There are a lot of buildings that need torn down."
To be or not to be!
That was the quote from KQV Radio. Proudly, my son, 11, heard the news report with her voice while we were driving home from swim practice and said, "buildings need to be torn down."
We have three on council who are women, now. The report said that Pittsburgh's council makes history with three being women. Wow. We are cutting edge now. Western PA really needs more women in elected office.
However, one of the next news stories reported on a Pitt Law Professor who just filed a friend of the court brief about a women who was attempting to keep a judgement about gender discrimination and a wage dispute. She had been under paid on the job next to all the others -- all men. But, the appeal seems to have set a 180 day period for the need to file a complaint. If that fails to be overturned, the rights to equal pay are going to be set back decades.
Last week, Pitt's University Times, a faculty and staff newspaper, had a story about equal pay among university professors throughout the major research institutions. That story gets my attention, given that we live off my wife's salary. Women are not making much progress in terms of their take home pay, so said the article.
Darlene's honeymoon has just begun. The clock has started to tick. I figure she'll have some time to coast with decent voter approval to her benefit as the months turn into the spring primary. However, if Darlene talks like a 'yinzer', and if Darlene talks with paper-thin depth of issues, and if Darlene stays without a web site -- alarms will come quickly.
We do have issues with the city and public safety. However, we have bigger issues for city council's attention. City council means little because we have two overlords, the I.C.A. and Act 47 team. Our democracy has expired.
Some want to cut city council from 9 to 5. Others say cut it from 9 to 7. I say, cut it by 50-percent in terms of pay checks for as long as we've got overlords here in Pittsburgh doing the jobs of all of its elected officials.
The people on city council should not be making their full pay checks because they have been replaced. The overlords are doing the jobs once done by those on city council, by the mayor and by the city's controller.
For the past few years, the citizens have been paying city council for doing little. And, we have to pay for the ICA and Act 47 stewards. We are paying triple!
Futhermore, there is no incentive to get back to normal conditions. I want my democracy to work -- if not flourish. But, we shouldn't be rewarding their failures. If we gave city council a 50-percent pay cut, and in turn, cut the pay for all the overlords too, then put the money into escrow until AFTER the city is solvent again -- then we'll have some leverage and might get somewhere.
Getting out of this financial mess is going to take some effort. I agree they should be paid. But, let's pay them after the work is done. Let's hold the bulk of the pay until they've proven that the city is back on its feet financially.
One should never pay a contractor in full as the work is being done?
You pay a good faith amount. You cover the costs and supplies. But, you hold the bulk of the money until after the work is done.
Furthermore, once we come out of our financial funk, I'd suggest that we hold another 50% (that's 50% of the 50%) for three additional years as a guarantee that the city won't slide back into distressed status again.
We don't have any built-in incentives. Nor do we have any guarantees. Both of those problems can be fixed with this solution.
Cut the pay of all elected city officials by 50-percent. Hold the pay cut in escrow. Pay out half of the amount from escrow after the departure of the overlords (both Act 47 team and ICA czars). Pay the final portion from escrow to the credited city officials, or their heirs, three years after the departure of the overlords if the city is still on solid financial footing.
Likewise, cut the pay of the overlords and have them sare the same deals as that of the city council, mayor and city controller.
To be or not to be!
That was the quote from KQV Radio. Proudly, my son, 11, heard the news report with her voice while we were driving home from swim practice and said, "buildings need to be torn down."
We have three on council who are women, now. The report said that Pittsburgh's council makes history with three being women. Wow. We are cutting edge now. Western PA really needs more women in elected office.
However, one of the next news stories reported on a Pitt Law Professor who just filed a friend of the court brief about a women who was attempting to keep a judgement about gender discrimination and a wage dispute. She had been under paid on the job next to all the others -- all men. But, the appeal seems to have set a 180 day period for the need to file a complaint. If that fails to be overturned, the rights to equal pay are going to be set back decades.
Last week, Pitt's University Times, a faculty and staff newspaper, had a story about equal pay among university professors throughout the major research institutions. That story gets my attention, given that we live off my wife's salary. Women are not making much progress in terms of their take home pay, so said the article.
University Times Gender Inequity: AAUP report faults higher ed.Darlene's tenure on City Council might be brief. She is due to face the voters again in a few months. Her seat comes due in the spring, 2007, primary and again in the 2007 general election. Same too with Jeff Koch of District 3.
Darlene's honeymoon has just begun. The clock has started to tick. I figure she'll have some time to coast with decent voter approval to her benefit as the months turn into the spring primary. However, if Darlene talks like a 'yinzer', and if Darlene talks with paper-thin depth of issues, and if Darlene stays without a web site -- alarms will come quickly.
We do have issues with the city and public safety. However, we have bigger issues for city council's attention. City council means little because we have two overlords, the I.C.A. and Act 47 team. Our democracy has expired.
Some want to cut city council from 9 to 5. Others say cut it from 9 to 7. I say, cut it by 50-percent in terms of pay checks for as long as we've got overlords here in Pittsburgh doing the jobs of all of its elected officials.
The people on city council should not be making their full pay checks because they have been replaced. The overlords are doing the jobs once done by those on city council, by the mayor and by the city's controller.
For the past few years, the citizens have been paying city council for doing little. And, we have to pay for the ICA and Act 47 stewards. We are paying triple!
Futhermore, there is no incentive to get back to normal conditions. I want my democracy to work -- if not flourish. But, we shouldn't be rewarding their failures. If we gave city council a 50-percent pay cut, and in turn, cut the pay for all the overlords too, then put the money into escrow until AFTER the city is solvent again -- then we'll have some leverage and might get somewhere.
Getting out of this financial mess is going to take some effort. I agree they should be paid. But, let's pay them after the work is done. Let's hold the bulk of the pay until they've proven that the city is back on its feet financially.
One should never pay a contractor in full as the work is being done?
You pay a good faith amount. You cover the costs and supplies. But, you hold the bulk of the money until after the work is done.
Furthermore, once we come out of our financial funk, I'd suggest that we hold another 50% (that's 50% of the 50%) for three additional years as a guarantee that the city won't slide back into distressed status again.
We don't have any built-in incentives. Nor do we have any guarantees. Both of those problems can be fixed with this solution.
Cut the pay of all elected city officials by 50-percent. Hold the pay cut in escrow. Pay out half of the amount from escrow after the departure of the overlords (both Act 47 team and ICA czars). Pay the final portion from escrow to the credited city officials, or their heirs, three years after the departure of the overlords if the city is still on solid financial footing.
Likewise, cut the pay of the overlords and have them sare the same deals as that of the city council, mayor and city controller.
Pitt Football: Turn down any bowl invite. Hold spring game at Cupples Stadium on the South Side
The University of Pittsburgh football team has lost its last five games of the year. They should NOT get a bowl bid. And, if they do get a bid, they should NOT accept.
Pitt's seniors might like another road trip. However, they should be packing their bags for the senior all-star games. Palko will suit up in one of the games. Great for him. Good for the others as well.
Pitt's payday for a bowl game that would have the team is not going to be serious money.
Pitt will get a good pay check due to the BCS Bowls because of the Big East's revenue splits. Louisville, Rutgers, and WVU can soak up the cash and give a share to Pitt, this year. Perhaps Cinci goes to a bowl game too.
Let Cinci play Ohio U. in Detroit on Dec 26.
Let Cinci play Western Michigan in Toronto on Jan 6.
Pitt should stay home, train (as indididuals or in small groups), lift (of course), recruit, study, heal and plan for its spring game.
Pitt should hold its spring football game on the South Side. It could be hosted at South Vo Tech, also known as George K. Cupples Stadium. It would be nice to know of Cupples as a place where Pitt plays, besides the Pittsburgh Passion.
The spring football weekend could bring a giant all-sports parade down East Carson Street. The players, band, coaches and students should all be a part of the activities. Each department could host its own social at various watering holes. Sidewalk sales, alumni outreach, and plenty of networking could fill the days and nights. And, the blue vs. gold game could be hosted to a sell out crowd.
This can be the South Side Spring Sports Street & Stadium Spectacular.
Bring on all the sports teams, not just football. The basketball teams can hold a clinic. The softball and baseball alumni can play on the neighborhood field. The track team can hold a specialized meet -- perhaps with D.U. -- in the stadium, 1 hour before kickoff.
In City Theater, we'll hold a special concert and pepper it with messages to the audience about how to park cars in the South Side.
Pitt's seniors might like another road trip. However, they should be packing their bags for the senior all-star games. Palko will suit up in one of the games. Great for him. Good for the others as well.
Pitt's payday for a bowl game that would have the team is not going to be serious money.
Pitt will get a good pay check due to the BCS Bowls because of the Big East's revenue splits. Louisville, Rutgers, and WVU can soak up the cash and give a share to Pitt, this year. Perhaps Cinci goes to a bowl game too.
Let Cinci play Ohio U. in Detroit on Dec 26.
Let Cinci play Western Michigan in Toronto on Jan 6.
Pitt should stay home, train (as indididuals or in small groups), lift (of course), recruit, study, heal and plan for its spring game.
Pitt should hold its spring football game on the South Side. It could be hosted at South Vo Tech, also known as George K. Cupples Stadium. It would be nice to know of Cupples as a place where Pitt plays, besides the Pittsburgh Passion.
The spring football weekend could bring a giant all-sports parade down East Carson Street. The players, band, coaches and students should all be a part of the activities. Each department could host its own social at various watering holes. Sidewalk sales, alumni outreach, and plenty of networking could fill the days and nights. And, the blue vs. gold game could be hosted to a sell out crowd.
This can be the South Side Spring Sports Street & Stadium Spectacular.
Bring on all the sports teams, not just football. The basketball teams can hold a clinic. The softball and baseball alumni can play on the neighborhood field. The track team can hold a specialized meet -- perhaps with D.U. -- in the stadium, 1 hour before kickoff.
In City Theater, we'll hold a special concert and pepper it with messages to the audience about how to park cars in the South Side.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Is it time to rein in current gargantuan deficit spending habits?
Perspective:
The Three Rivers Post & Standard � Bond Rating Up for Pittsburgh… But other Shoes Will Drop ... Government accounting makes Enron accounting seem like an addition mistake on a Girl Scout’s cookie order form...
Main Page - PittsburghPlatform
Main Page - PittsburghPlatform The home page of my wiki site, Platform.For-Pgh.org, has been accessed 199,906 times since the last time the counter has been reset. The magic 200K number is about to come. The site has swelled to 1,685 pages. Meanwhile, my Ford Tarus station wagon is about to flip beyond 100,000 miles.
Safe travels to everyone, regardless of your odometer's setting and altitude.
Safe travels to everyone, regardless of your odometer's setting and altitude.
Smurphy claims Steelers' save - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
I blogged about this early in the week.
Smurphy claims Steelers' save - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review FORMER MAYOR'S CLAIM. Talk about your revisionist history.But, you still don't see anything from this blog in the best of the blog area of the Trib. Such is life in this region.
Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy essentially and inaccurately claimed last week that his efforts to build Heinz Field kept the Steelers from leaving town.
There aren't words to describe this tragedy.
SI.com - Spanish cycling champ dies after bike crash - Sunday November 26, 2006 World track cycling champion Isaac Galvez of Spain, a runner-up in a Tour de France stage last summer, died after crashing during a six-day track race in Ghent. He was 31.
Galvez died Saturday night after crashing against the railing during the next-to-last day of the Madison competition, event organizer Rob Discart said. Galvez, who raced for the Caisse d'Epargne team, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
kdka.com - Allegheny County Council Loosens Smoking Ban
kdka.com - Allegheny County Council Loosens Smoking Ban (AP) PITTSBURGH Allegheny County Council has loosened its new workplace smoking ban even more.
The ban, which takes effect January second, bans smoking in any work place or public building and was passed to protect the health of people who are forced to work in those buildings.
But the amendment approved yesterday will let people smoke within five feet of a building's entrance, instead of the original 15-foot buffer zone in ordinance.
The smaller zone is meant to make it easier for patrons and employees to step outside for a quick smoke.
But opponents, including the five County Council members who voted against the amendment yesterday, say it will expose some employees -- like doormen and security guards -- to even more smoke than they faced before.
Libertarian Party Gives Thanks
The Libertarian Party wishes Pennsylvanians a happy Thanksgiving, and gives thanks this holiday for:
* Iraq holding free elections with multiple candidates. Perhaps this will serve as an example for bureaucrats who believe Pennsylvanians cannot handle more than two candidates in any statewide race;
* Continued cooperation among independents and third parties regarding reform of Pennsylvania’s unreasonable ballot access laws;
* The Clean Sweep movement for sweeping big government incumbents from office;
* Ed Rendell opposing tax increases for a few months. He waited until the polls closed before he announced his plan to raise taxes;
* Our Founding Fathers, who created a constitutional republic (not a democracy) that established laws to protect our rights to life and property.
The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with more than 600 officials serving in office throughout the nation. Visit www.LP.org or for more information on the Libertarian Party.
Rendell -- we deserve it! Westinghouse to build NUKES for China while Gateway NUKES teachers.
Gov. Rendell says Westinghouse should come to Western Pennsylvania with additional jobs because "We deserve it."
Wrong!
Mary Griffin, on KDKA-radio, just called me a 'naysayer.' Well, he is part right.
Understand that China is going about to build 400 Nukes -- for electrical power (i.e., Three Mile Island) in the next ten years. That is a given. They approved the goal. It is going to happen.
On the table now for Westinghouse is how to supply a share of those plants. They've got the nod to build four, as tests. If these go well, they'll build 100 more, if not 300 more.
A number of suppliers are going to build Nukes in China, and Westinghouse is in the mix. It makes good sense for China to diversify and keep the plants from various builders with various technology applications so as to be competitive.
The business decision made by Westinghouse executives won't put any weight on those attitudes that the Governor talked of -- "We deserve it." And, those attitudes from the top politician in PA say plenty as to where and where not to locate a big business venture.
A tax abatement from the Gateway School District is not going to be the factor to make a "go" or "no-go" decision for Westinghouse in this deal. If those jobs come, they'll come here because of the overall landscape of the business climate for Westinghouse and its hope of doing well in the building of those nukes for its new, best customer, China.
Some hyper charged Keystone Opportunity Zone -- or Enterprise Kiss Butt Tax Give-Back -- is NOT going to factor into this global policy. It amounts to a pimple in the scope of the marketplace forces and the deals that they'll be hatching. A pimple.
But, to Gateway Schools -- it might mean 30 teachers. It will be serious. And, the take-a-way comes from the kids that are with us today. And, the take-a-way comes with a serious cost to our freedom.
If you want to talk about what matters and what doesn't -- let's talk about building NUKES here in the USA. Westinghouse has to go to China to revitalize its NUKE Building Operations because there are no customers here in the USA.
Let's talk about about energy! I like to turn on the lights and have them work. I love to have heat in our home. I'd love to drive an electric bike around town.
China is increasing its competitive outlook for its people and its companies. It is building -- and we're trying to make give-a-ways to benefit some mega corporate deal at the local level. Yet what we build for them is not welcomed here!
Senator Logan talked about building Nukes for Japan. Duhh....
The Governor said that the ones who speak up against these 'corporate welfare' deals might be right when it comes to a philosophical confab. But, then Rendell said, "this is the real world." He needs to get these jobs from Westinghouse to land here in Western Pa and not North Carolina or Tennessee. The other regions are giving incentives too. In the real world you have to give up something. You have to make an investment.
Well, the real world value of these tax breaks amounts to nothing except a loss of liberty.
The wheeling and dealing that the Governor and those like Jane Orie and Sean Logan are huffing and puffing about with Westinghouse is a power and influence charade. They want to be the one's who are bringing in new jobs. They want to make noise -- then take the credit. They want to say they were instrumental in landing those jobs.
Don't be fooled.
If Marty's Army sends thousands of letters to Westinghouse executives saying -- "stay here", fine. A letter writing campaign will create a lot of noise. The signal should not be, "because we deserve it." Nor should it be, "because Ed Rendell is a nice guy."
Rendell said in the interview on the radio that he is NOT permitted to talk about the specifics of the deal, as ordered by Westinghouse, until a decision is made. So, we've got behind closed doors deals being hatched. And the Governor is proud of this.
Westinghouse has the upper hand and is able to silence the Governor. And, the Governor is happy about his loss of freedom to talk to the public.
I don't want a governor that is able to be silence by corporate interests.
It is China where there are mega problems of humanity because people there are not free to speak without the state's blessing.
It is in China where web surfing at Google gives one set of results that have been filtered to meet the wills of the authorities -- not here.
Now China is going to crack into our landscape by being a big customer for a big corporation -- and in turn our state's top politician is going to act like the Communist Party acts in China.
In the next posting, we should examine what they do in China at its Casinos in regard to free drinks. West Virginia doesn't offer free drinks to those that play the slots. But, in Macao, China, at the Playboy Casino, you get more than drinks if you book a party for more than a dozen customers. Sigh.
My game plan is different. My priorities are not like that of the big-government Dems and Reps. And, this isn't a D vs. R thing. Here, the Ds and Rs are both to blame and are equally guilty. Governor Ridge created the Keystone Opportunity Zones.
The Governor should put together a task force. The task force could be chaired by the Governor himself. He can be the point person on this. It is a big deal, understood. But, don't make any give-a-ways. Westinghouse needs to get what it needs -- and it must pay for what it needs and gets.
I'd insist that Westinghouse pull its own weight, from day one. I'd insist that we be open, transparent, eager partners, flexible, and creative. Be straight with all parties. But, I'd not sell out for hype, nor for the sake of our freedoms. I want state, regional, county, schools and municipal cooperation along with that of the wonks and the lockstep boosters such as the chamber of commerce.
Cooperation does not mean taking from one and giving to another.
We are going to thrive in Pennsylvania, if we are free. That's the hinge.
We've taken the low road. We've lost our freedoms. We've got a frail democracy. We've put so many bobbles on the getting of new jobs that we take from elsewhere and speed up the decline.
The turn around that we seek isn't going to come with 3,000 new jobs that are wrapped with corporate welfare dealings.
Self reliance matters. That's how we need to thrive. We can't take the 'we deserve it' pledge to the global marketplace and expect to get anything other than squat.
Wrong!
Mary Griffin, on KDKA-radio, just called me a 'naysayer.' Well, he is part right.
Understand that China is going about to build 400 Nukes -- for electrical power (i.e., Three Mile Island) in the next ten years. That is a given. They approved the goal. It is going to happen.
On the table now for Westinghouse is how to supply a share of those plants. They've got the nod to build four, as tests. If these go well, they'll build 100 more, if not 300 more.
A number of suppliers are going to build Nukes in China, and Westinghouse is in the mix. It makes good sense for China to diversify and keep the plants from various builders with various technology applications so as to be competitive.
The business decision made by Westinghouse executives won't put any weight on those attitudes that the Governor talked of -- "We deserve it." And, those attitudes from the top politician in PA say plenty as to where and where not to locate a big business venture.
A tax abatement from the Gateway School District is not going to be the factor to make a "go" or "no-go" decision for Westinghouse in this deal. If those jobs come, they'll come here because of the overall landscape of the business climate for Westinghouse and its hope of doing well in the building of those nukes for its new, best customer, China.
Some hyper charged Keystone Opportunity Zone -- or Enterprise Kiss Butt Tax Give-Back -- is NOT going to factor into this global policy. It amounts to a pimple in the scope of the marketplace forces and the deals that they'll be hatching. A pimple.
But, to Gateway Schools -- it might mean 30 teachers. It will be serious. And, the take-a-way comes from the kids that are with us today. And, the take-a-way comes with a serious cost to our freedom.
If you want to talk about what matters and what doesn't -- let's talk about building NUKES here in the USA. Westinghouse has to go to China to revitalize its NUKE Building Operations because there are no customers here in the USA.
Let's talk about about energy! I like to turn on the lights and have them work. I love to have heat in our home. I'd love to drive an electric bike around town.
China is increasing its competitive outlook for its people and its companies. It is building -- and we're trying to make give-a-ways to benefit some mega corporate deal at the local level. Yet what we build for them is not welcomed here!
Senator Logan talked about building Nukes for Japan. Duhh....
The Governor said that the ones who speak up against these 'corporate welfare' deals might be right when it comes to a philosophical confab. But, then Rendell said, "this is the real world." He needs to get these jobs from Westinghouse to land here in Western Pa and not North Carolina or Tennessee. The other regions are giving incentives too. In the real world you have to give up something. You have to make an investment.
Well, the real world value of these tax breaks amounts to nothing except a loss of liberty.
The wheeling and dealing that the Governor and those like Jane Orie and Sean Logan are huffing and puffing about with Westinghouse is a power and influence charade. They want to be the one's who are bringing in new jobs. They want to make noise -- then take the credit. They want to say they were instrumental in landing those jobs.
Don't be fooled.
If Marty's Army sends thousands of letters to Westinghouse executives saying -- "stay here", fine. A letter writing campaign will create a lot of noise. The signal should not be, "because we deserve it." Nor should it be, "because Ed Rendell is a nice guy."
Rendell said in the interview on the radio that he is NOT permitted to talk about the specifics of the deal, as ordered by Westinghouse, until a decision is made. So, we've got behind closed doors deals being hatched. And the Governor is proud of this.
Westinghouse has the upper hand and is able to silence the Governor. And, the Governor is happy about his loss of freedom to talk to the public.
I don't want a governor that is able to be silence by corporate interests.
It is China where there are mega problems of humanity because people there are not free to speak without the state's blessing.
It is in China where web surfing at Google gives one set of results that have been filtered to meet the wills of the authorities -- not here.
Now China is going to crack into our landscape by being a big customer for a big corporation -- and in turn our state's top politician is going to act like the Communist Party acts in China.
In the next posting, we should examine what they do in China at its Casinos in regard to free drinks. West Virginia doesn't offer free drinks to those that play the slots. But, in Macao, China, at the Playboy Casino, you get more than drinks if you book a party for more than a dozen customers. Sigh.
My game plan is different. My priorities are not like that of the big-government Dems and Reps. And, this isn't a D vs. R thing. Here, the Ds and Rs are both to blame and are equally guilty. Governor Ridge created the Keystone Opportunity Zones.
The Governor should put together a task force. The task force could be chaired by the Governor himself. He can be the point person on this. It is a big deal, understood. But, don't make any give-a-ways. Westinghouse needs to get what it needs -- and it must pay for what it needs and gets.
I'd insist that Westinghouse pull its own weight, from day one. I'd insist that we be open, transparent, eager partners, flexible, and creative. Be straight with all parties. But, I'd not sell out for hype, nor for the sake of our freedoms. I want state, regional, county, schools and municipal cooperation along with that of the wonks and the lockstep boosters such as the chamber of commerce.
Cooperation does not mean taking from one and giving to another.
We are going to thrive in Pennsylvania, if we are free. That's the hinge.
We've taken the low road. We've lost our freedoms. We've got a frail democracy. We've put so many bobbles on the getting of new jobs that we take from elsewhere and speed up the decline.
The turn around that we seek isn't going to come with 3,000 new jobs that are wrapped with corporate welfare dealings.
Self reliance matters. That's how we need to thrive. We can't take the 'we deserve it' pledge to the global marketplace and expect to get anything other than squat.
Township officials back recreation center proposal
Township officials back recreation center proposal multi-municipality community recreational center.This is music to my ears. Cooperation. Playing well together. Teamwork.
They are making steps that make sense. They are closer to the formation of a park district.
Hill District activist faces lawsuit - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Speak up. Then speak with the lawyers. Whistleblowers beware.
Those with juice and power really don't like it when citizens do reseach and connect the dots.
Hill District activist faces lawsuit - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Hill District activist faces lawsuitWhy not change the name of the campaign from "Raise Your Hand! No Casino on the Hill" to, "Raise Your Finger!" You fill in the rest.
Those with juice and power really don't like it when citizens do reseach and connect the dots.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Frick Middle School Swim Team -- schedule
I posted a Google Calendar for the Frick Middle School Swim Team schedule. It is unofficial. Google Calendar is a nice utility.
I won't put these dates in the Google Calendar.
OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
SCHOOLS DATE TIME PLACE
ALLDERDICE December 11, 2006 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
ALLDERDICE January 10, 2007 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
BRASHEAR December 4, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
CAPA January 16, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Library
CARRICK January 11, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Library
LANGLEY December 12, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
OLIVER January 9, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
PEABODY January 8, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
PERRY January 24, 2007 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
SCHENLEY December 18, 2006 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
WESTINGHOUSE January 11, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
I won't put these dates in the Google Calendar.
OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
SCHOOLS DATE TIME PLACE
ALLDERDICE December 11, 2006 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
ALLDERDICE January 10, 2007 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
BRASHEAR December 4, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
CAPA January 16, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Library
CARRICK January 11, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Library
LANGLEY December 12, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
OLIVER January 9, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
PEABODY January 8, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
PERRY January 24, 2007 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
SCHENLEY December 18, 2006 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
WESTINGHOUSE January 11, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
MercuryNews.com | 11/21/2006 | A final incarnation for Pacific Commons?
OMG2. The Steelers almost left town. Say it isn't so, doubting Tom. My impressions of you have not change a bit.
The stadium known as Heinz Field was built into a community -- yet today it still needs light rail under the river to succeed. ???
The stadium is not surrounded by 25 acres of property -- as I guess it is an island surrounded by water????
The stadium's surrounding property includes a Parking Authority garage that isn't being used. And, if the garage was used, it would finally empty each Sunday around halftime of the Monday Night Football game.
Don't those VIP tents look great next to the stadium on the surface parking lots, built into the community. The deadlines for the re-development of the land have long passed. What's up with that? Do the Steelers still have the rights to the land too?
If you really want to see a stadium that was built into the community then you needed to look no further than what was once Pitt's grand dame -- Pitt Stadium. That was built into the community. That was were hospital patients could take a wheel-chair walk and catch a bit of the game. That was where players could walk to work. That was where injured athletes could go from dorm room to whirlpool or visit with the rehab folks -- without getting onto a bus and crossing the river.
Pitt Stadium was where you could go after an alumni reception with professors, on campus. Go to Pitt Stadium and watch a game with the family after a visit that injects a sense of academic pride of the research, knowledge and student-life a campus setting should engage. That's community.
Good luck Freemont. Take the advice of Tom Murphy and cronies like him for what they are worth. Zippo.
MercuryNews.com | 11/21/2006 | A final incarnation for Pacific Commons? Another example is Pittsburgh. Tom Murphy, a senior fellow with the Urban Land Institute, was mayor of Pittsburgh overseeing the development of a stadium. Failure would have meant losing the Steelers. The odds were long that the team would stay in town and even longer that a new stadium could be built, but the city got it done.Well, where to begin.
``The referendum to pay for the development was defeated by 70 percent. But we decided we're going to do it anyway, because the Steelers were important to Pittsburgh in terms of our psyche and in terms of who we were,'' Murphy said. ``We were a Rust Belt, declining city and we were losing our Steelers.''
Murphy said $262 million was raised from the team, the state and hotel and sales taxes to build a baseball park, a football stadium and a convention center. The former mayor believes the development succeeded because it was incorporated into the city, rather than standing apart.
``We built the stadium into the community and the city -- it's not sitting there as an icon surrounded by 25 acres of property,'' he said.
The stadium known as Heinz Field was built into a community -- yet today it still needs light rail under the river to succeed. ???
The stadium is not surrounded by 25 acres of property -- as I guess it is an island surrounded by water????
The stadium's surrounding property includes a Parking Authority garage that isn't being used. And, if the garage was used, it would finally empty each Sunday around halftime of the Monday Night Football game.
Don't those VIP tents look great next to the stadium on the surface parking lots, built into the community. The deadlines for the re-development of the land have long passed. What's up with that? Do the Steelers still have the rights to the land too?
If you really want to see a stadium that was built into the community then you needed to look no further than what was once Pitt's grand dame -- Pitt Stadium. That was built into the community. That was were hospital patients could take a wheel-chair walk and catch a bit of the game. That was where players could walk to work. That was where injured athletes could go from dorm room to whirlpool or visit with the rehab folks -- without getting onto a bus and crossing the river.
Pitt Stadium was where you could go after an alumni reception with professors, on campus. Go to Pitt Stadium and watch a game with the family after a visit that injects a sense of academic pride of the research, knowledge and student-life a campus setting should engage. That's community.
Good luck Freemont. Take the advice of Tom Murphy and cronies like him for what they are worth. Zippo.
Hill clergy lead effort to rebuff slots casino in Hill
OMG. That's short for either Oh my gosh. Or, in this case, might as well say, Oh My God!
The ministers are now backing the plan for the casino placement at either the North Shore or at Station Square. That makes sense.
They are right in saying that few people live near the Station Square and the North Shore site. Those locations are already entertainment destinations. They are not residential areas.
But what kills the story is the fact that they hit upon Toyna Payne of Pittsburgh's City Council but gave a free pass to Gov. Ed Rendell. It was Rendell that was the one who put gambling into our local landscape. It was the state reps who passed the bills to allow it to arrive.
If the ministers had been against Ed Rendell in the past season, I'd have more understanding of their actions now.
The ministers are saying good things -- but it is too little and too late.
Russ Diamond was a candidate for Governor and he wanted to get rid of the gambling law. He wanted to nuke the entire bill.
Rev. Tom Smith of Monumental Baptist Church said, in the article, "This is our first action to ensure that the spiritual and economic well-being of this community is not compromised." The first action should not come a month before the final decision is announced. The news is expected December 20, 2006.
Folks, it is good to speak up. It is always good to speak up. When you speak up late -- fine. Do it. But, we really need more people to speak up sooner.
Frankly, the Isle of Capri plan should not be considered because of the silence treatment the public has been subject too from the Penguins. The "Lockstep Boosterism" and "contract agreements" of non-statements between the NHL's Penguins and the Isle of Capri effort to secure a gambling casino sucks.
The closed-mindedness stinks. It is only matched by the other killer action of hatching deals behind closed doors.
If the Penguins and Isle of Capri want to get into bed with each other -- fine. They can hop in bed with each other on their own time, and with their own dime too. Don't expect to win a public license for an exclusive gambling license from under the covers. Don't wager a secrecy campaign in our public spaces where we have the calling to be concerned as citizens, neighbors and taxpayers.
The pathway that the Penguins, as an organization, has taken is sad. I had hoped that the new ownership group would have been more bold and open-source in their ways. This amounts to a communications deal. And, the Blackberry's screen has gone blank.
The Penguins have fumbled an opportunity to connect with the city and region. But, fumbles don't really happen in hockey as the puck sits on the ice.
The Penguin ploy was to rush the ice with wave after wave of public officials to speak in support of the new arena. They had line changes down pat in the first period. They went to an early lead, sure. But once the counter-attacks came, the only defense was to field multiple goalies.
The entire process is built upon some false hopes. The new arena isn't the top priority. Oh well.
Hill clergy lead effort to rebuff slots casino in Hill 'We don't want it in Pittsburgh, period. If it must come, let it go to the North Side or Station Square. We don't want it near our residential district,' he said.Bless their souls too.
The ministers are now backing the plan for the casino placement at either the North Shore or at Station Square. That makes sense.
They are right in saying that few people live near the Station Square and the North Shore site. Those locations are already entertainment destinations. They are not residential areas.
But what kills the story is the fact that they hit upon Toyna Payne of Pittsburgh's City Council but gave a free pass to Gov. Ed Rendell. It was Rendell that was the one who put gambling into our local landscape. It was the state reps who passed the bills to allow it to arrive.
If the ministers had been against Ed Rendell in the past season, I'd have more understanding of their actions now.
The ministers are saying good things -- but it is too little and too late.
Russ Diamond was a candidate for Governor and he wanted to get rid of the gambling law. He wanted to nuke the entire bill.
Rev. Tom Smith of Monumental Baptist Church said, in the article, "This is our first action to ensure that the spiritual and economic well-being of this community is not compromised." The first action should not come a month before the final decision is announced. The news is expected December 20, 2006.
Folks, it is good to speak up. It is always good to speak up. When you speak up late -- fine. Do it. But, we really need more people to speak up sooner.
Frankly, the Isle of Capri plan should not be considered because of the silence treatment the public has been subject too from the Penguins. The "Lockstep Boosterism" and "contract agreements" of non-statements between the NHL's Penguins and the Isle of Capri effort to secure a gambling casino sucks.
The closed-mindedness stinks. It is only matched by the other killer action of hatching deals behind closed doors.
If the Penguins and Isle of Capri want to get into bed with each other -- fine. They can hop in bed with each other on their own time, and with their own dime too. Don't expect to win a public license for an exclusive gambling license from under the covers. Don't wager a secrecy campaign in our public spaces where we have the calling to be concerned as citizens, neighbors and taxpayers.
The pathway that the Penguins, as an organization, has taken is sad. I had hoped that the new ownership group would have been more bold and open-source in their ways. This amounts to a communications deal. And, the Blackberry's screen has gone blank.
The Penguins have fumbled an opportunity to connect with the city and region. But, fumbles don't really happen in hockey as the puck sits on the ice.
The Penguin ploy was to rush the ice with wave after wave of public officials to speak in support of the new arena. They had line changes down pat in the first period. They went to an early lead, sure. But once the counter-attacks came, the only defense was to field multiple goalies.
The entire process is built upon some false hopes. The new arena isn't the top priority. Oh well.
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