Blogger is tossing all sorts of errors. Not able to update easily.

I've got to pull the switch to get to blogger 2.0. Or, I should re-locate the blog to my own site. But now, I'm getting a lot of errors, sadly.

Form letter from Dan Onorato about the silly spending of the tunnel under the rivers

January 22, 2007

Dear Mr. Rauterkus:

Last week during my monthly radio program on KDKA-AM, Marty Griffin shared your e-mail regarding the North Shore Connector. Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding the project.

The North Shore Connector has been in development for a decade and was supported by prior County administrations. The federal government has committed to paying for 80 percent of the project, a level of subsidy that will not be available for future transportation projects.

I requested the money to be used for another project in Allegheny County, but was told by the Federal Transit Administration, in no uncertain terms, that if we did not move forward with the twin tunnels under the Allegheny River, the $348 million in federal funding would be transferred to a transportation project in another region. Please be assured that I am also working with County Council to limit the County’s financial exposure on this project.

The North Shore Connector will be a crucial link in the regional transportation network in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The extension will serve regional assets including CCAC, Carnegie Science Center, Heinz Field, PNC Park and the new Majestic Star Casino. The project also represents the first leg of building light rail from downtown to Pittsburgh International Airport, as well as possible light rail extensions to the North Hills and Allegheny Valley.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your comments. I truly appreciate your input.

Sincerely,

Dan Onorato
Allegheny County Chief Executive

This doesn't wash with me. A decade ago Dan was on City Council -- in that part of the city. Then he became County Controller, and had the ability to audit the agency. Dan helped to make this project occur.

The airport is on the other side of the river, last I checked. If this is the first leg to the airport, then we're talking about the first blister on a million mile march.

The design of the light rail takes it to an end at the West End Bridge. The rail lines will NOT be able to navigate around the West End Bridge without another serious investment.

Furthermore, I'd not be so upset about the extension of LTR's system if the stops were placed at CCAC and Allegheny General Hospital. But these stops are for the stadiums. With some effort they could have taken the line to the business district up farther on the North Side.

Raw video of first day of PAT Hearings from Oakland event

Watch the Video Nothing special. About 13 minutes.

WAS: Russ Grimm -- still available to run for at Large Seat on Allegheny County Council -- as Libertarian

UPDATED on Jan 24, 2007: --- NEVER MIND. ---

---

Russ. Give me a call.

If you are looking for something meaningful to do in the fall, other than football, I've got a great challenge that might be perfect way to shape your future. Let's do a rush on liberty. Let's protect the constitution. Let's huddle and then call plays with the people.

Perhaps we can get Lynn Swann on the team as a policy advisor or finance guy. Swann could build his resume and distance himself from the neo-cons.

You know, Chuck Knoll got a number of write in votes in the November 2006 election. No joke.

UPDATED on Jan 24, 2007: --- NEVER MIND. ---

YouTube - Bill Peduto for Mayor ad

YouTube - Bill Peduto for Mayor ad Bill Peduto for Mayor ad

Are we still up the creek? Is Bill a paddle?

Will messages like this get more than 200 visits this time around?

Pittsblog: Sports in Perspective

Pittsblog: Sports in Perspective: "Sports in Perspective"

My comments posted at Pittsblog.

Nice article.

Thanks for the pointer.

But you know, what Mayor Tom Murphy and Tom Cox did in Pittsburgh is worse. Way worse. No joke.

The Pgh Interfaith Group had lined up free computers, free service, free install, free support, free network connectivity -- and a plan to put 4 PCs into 6 Rec Centers in the city. Tom Murphy, MAYOR, said no. The city's cost was $0.

He said the cost would be more than $200k and that if the demand was there he'd put it on the list for Citiparks to do in a year or so.

Six months later he closed all 32 outdoor swim pools and 16 rec centers. Closed. Locked down. Stayed that way for more than 6 months. Only then did we pry the keys off him to open a few centers where there was booster money and skin in the game for our kids.

From playground - usa

These were and still are -- OUR FACILITIES.

Meanwhile, Tom MURPHY promised to make Ultimate Frisbee Fields in Highland Park, near the bike oval. That was a broken promise, but Tom needed to get the support of the ignorant young people. They bought it hook, line and sinker -- until I showed them the light of day.

Then, Bob O'Connor said if he was elected mayor, he'd open ALL the swim pools. Yeah, right.

The All Star Game came and there was a red carpet from the downtown hotel to PNC Park for convertables and million-dollar ball players.

Little has been done.

Pittsburgh does not need to take a back seat to anyone in terms of the lost opportunities we steal from our kids.

No wonder people vote with their feet. No wonder the Pgh Public Schools are shrinking faster than expected. No wonder our kids shoot each other -- as there is nothing else for them to shoot for!

P.L. is a natural at this. Try it. It is hard to do.

But how do you make these images look better? They seem too fuzzy to me.

Blast from the past: T-shirt story

From S6 Concert Hall

Thanks L for the tip. At the Pgh Podcamp I asked her if she had any Libertarian t-shirts and she said, "No."

iheartpgh.com The PG is looking for your t-shirt stories
Posted on 01.20.07 by Lindsay @ 12:40 pm

I saw this little post on the website for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today. I thought this might be of interest to some of our blog readers. I am not sure if they are only looking for Pittsburgh stories or for stories from all over. I think I might submit my story about myIheartPGH t-shirt. I am looking forward to reading this article when it comes out.

Seeking Your Help: Your favorite T-shirt
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Every favorite T-shirt usually comes a with good story on why it’s so special to you. Maybe you were wearing it when you met your future spouse. Or you got it at the best concert you ever attended. Or it’s from a special reunion. No matter how old or how tattered, you’ll never give it away. We’d like to hear your stories about your favorite T-shirts. Please send your reflections to Virginia Linn at vlinn@post-gazette.com. Include your name, home town and daytime phone number.

I made up a batch of t-shirts last year before the Steelers won the SuperBowl XL.

But there is more to this story as I was a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council in a special election on March 14, 2006, as a Libertarian. And the t-shirts went to everyone who attended our first ever house concert. Johnsmith, singer from Wisconsin, was here with his song, "Don't Put Me In a Box" (another theme of the campaign).

An opponent, Bruce Kraus, D, who didn't win -- thankfully, stood up at a community forum hosted at City Theater and said that all the different neighborhoods in the district have all sorts of different needs. What the people need in Allentown is different from what they need on the South Side Slopes. The needs in Oakland are so much different from what the people want on the South Side Flats. All this diversity presents a big range of needs to a city councilman to fill. One size does NOT fit all he claimed. Blah, blah, blah.

In the line of candidates, when it was my turn to speak, I stood up and blasted the concepts put forth by Mr. Kraus. I said, "I can't disagree more with Bruce Kraus. He is wrong because I feel strongly that one size does fit all. The Founding Fathers had it right. We need freedom, liberty and justice for all. That fits me well. That fits my neighbors well too -- regardless of the neighborhood residence. Liberty is what everyone in Pittsburgh needs, and that comes in one size. I want Extra Large Liberty, Liberty XL.

The affinity of the XL from the SuperBowl -- made the shirts popular and warm to all. One gal took the shirt to Detroit with her to wear to the game -- under the black & gold jersey, of course.

Of course the Steelers won, but I didn't win the election. But my message scored a touchdown. The t-shirt history lesson did make the goofy candidate for city council change his tune. He didn't campaign and express those silly thoughts again. Not with me around, at least.

See this image of the t-shirt:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.rauterkus/S6ConcertHall/photo#5023045145074368690

And look around the photo album of our S6 House Concert venue -- in our game room.

All my images are in the public domain.

Mike Tomlin - Wikipedia

Mike Tomlin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Tomlin (born March 15, 1972 in Hampton, Virginia), is an American football coach and is the new head coach of the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mayor pledges clean campaign

Where is this 'pledge' exactly? Is it a headline, or a real promise? And, what if the promise is broken? Then what?

Ravenstahl pledges clean campaign - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If the pledge can't be put into the news article, I'm not sure how we can expect the thing to be followed.

To promise a clean campaign is much like a redd up campaign.

The League of Women Voters is as spicy as ginger. The pledge that they offer is not that bold as they are not that bold. Expect pledge breakers to be scolded with a frownie after lunch.

I can't rant in a negative way because the pledge is a nice step, and because I'm slated to speak to the League of Women Voter's meeting this weekend on How To Run for Public Office.

I'd like a pledge with the media. I'd like a pledge with the parties. I'd like a pledge with the unions. When the fur flies, the ones on the stump can generally shrug and say that it wasn't his fault. Michael Diven and Wayne Fontana were negative as hell. They didn't sign such a pledge, but if they had, they just give an excuse that the money flowed from other political sources, not their direct campaigns.

By the way, the League of Women Voters as well as the non-partisan watchdog thingie org that came out in 2005 spring were asked to engage in elections beyond the mayor's race primary. But, they choose to stick to the knitting, go after the headline and not rock the boat in other races in our region.

What statements would you like to see in a pledge?

Can We Achieve Peace in the Middle East?

Can We Achieve Peace in the Middle East? Practically speaking, our meddling in the Middle East has only intensified strife and conflict. American tax dollars have militarized the entire region. We give Israel about $3 billion each year, but we also give Egypt $2 billion. Most other Middle East countries get money too, some of which ends up in the hands of Palestinian terrorists. Both sides have far more military weapons as a result. Talk about adding fuel to the fire! Our foolish and unconstitutional foreign aid has produced more violence, not less.

Will there be coverage or podcasts of today's events?

I'd love to have the podcast or coverage of events in the community today. Two four hour sessions with lots of citizen speakers is slated. Plus, Mr. Peduto finally tosses his skate into the ring as mayor. If things do get uploaded, please let us know.

Rally and Speakers, Rise UP against PAT. Hit em high and hit em low!

The floodgates open today. The citizens speak and we're ready. Take your gloves off when you step on the soap box. Break a leg everyone as that is what these cuts are going to feel like once they've been implemented. Our mobility is never going to be the same. Our quality of life is to spiral downward, again, for many compounded reasons.

Fewer buses mean more cars.

Get to know him. Biographical Information of Ron Paul -- candidate for President of the USA

Local and libertarian.

PAUL, Ronald Ernest - Biographical Information PAUL, Ron

State College grew despite status as inaccessible

Do you think that the Mon Valley could take a page from this example?

Centre Daily Times | 01/21/2007 | State College grew despite status as inaccessiblemThe joke is as old as the Farmers High School and may even predate the institution chartered in 1855.

An outsider asks directions of a local man who, happy to oblige, answers confidently at first, but has to stop and restart several times.

Finally, in frustration, he sputters, 'You can't get there from here.'

The Mon Valley Toll Road is a project that should not be built. The worst part of it is the leg that rips into the foot of Bates Ave at the Oakland Exit of the Parkway East and crushes Hazelwood. That last part should NOT be built.

For the record, I've been against the Mon Valley Toll Road for many years.

The article talks of jitney drivers. We'll be talking more and more of this hired car, like a taxi, as the buses depart.

The roads to and around State College are not as they were even a decade or two ago. Wide highways have been built.

Summit Against Racism

Updated.

I went to part of the annual program organized by the committee -- called a Summit Against Racism. Powerful stuff. I've got some video.





Click to watch video, 13-minutes, keynote presentation by ex-police officer.

How do you post a 13 minute video on YouTube?

A video file is 51 megs in size and runs for 13 minutes and some change. When posted to YouTube, an error message is generated as the limits are 100 megs and 10-minutes in length.

What are some of the work-arounds for posting longer videos to YouTube?

I'm sending the file to Rauterkus.blip.tv now.

Are there better options?

Update: http://www.DailyMotion.com/Rauterkus My first upload didn't work. Mostly French it seems.

Steelers pick Tomlin as head coach

Steelers pick Tomlin as head coach Steelers pick Tomlin as head coach

He isn't Mike Singletary, but I'm happy with this choice.

Perhaps we can get Russ Grimm to run for the at-large position on Allegheny County Council as a Libertarian, now that he needs something to do this fall.

Pittsburgh - Bus Cuts Unkind - News - News Briefs - Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh - Bus Cuts Unkind - News - News Briefs - Pittsburgh City Paper Kay Parker, Carnegie, oakland

I find it unacceptable that the governor, mayor, and County Chief Executive Dan Onorato is putting so much energy toward saving the Penguins and not advocating for saving our transit. Do they realize how these route cuts will paralyze our city???

Agree. Dan might say he is doing something. But, I say he has done the wrong thing. And for the past four years he has done little to nothing.

Dowd enters council race. Stupid statements on day 1 occur.

Not a good way to break into the realm of city council politics, if you ask me. He talks of TIFs. That is madness, D-party madness. The vision is missing on council as it has been a rubber stamp for all the TIFs that have come down the pike. Few if any have worked. I'm not in favor of any TIFs given the unaccountability of the process and the hurt it causes for the marketplace.

TIFs do NOT encourage people to live in the city. TIFs are a good reason why people move out of the city and vote with their feet. Tax breaks for some, and not others, is a great way to was away the concern for justice.

Quotes from Mr. Dowd's campaign manager re not welcomed either. Let the candidate talk for himself.

Likewise, I feel that city council needs to do more about transportation and advocate for the benefits of the city. But, we need smart actions, not just hyper activity without purpose. What smart solutions does Patrick have about transportation? Complain louder doesn't cut it with me.

Then Patrick talks in glowing terms about the Pittsburgh Promise. It is sure to be a broken promise. The lie of that program is not something that I'm going to rest on the backs of our kids.

Patrick is leaving the school board at a bad time. The schools are NOT in a good position. The gifted education program, magnet schools, and high school situations are all on the rocks.

Mr. Roosevelt is a darling of the foundations and a foe of parental involvement. He wants to make discipline a priority for next year. Why wait? Discipline needs to take root now. I don't want to have the work of the board and administration hide behind a task force. I want that to come to the surface in real time, with real discussion, with real input from all.

The plan to rightsize called for the closing of small schools. The plan for the high schools calls for opening of small schools. What is it?

I want our educaitonal system to fit the city and the buildings that are part of the landscape. Not do more with less. Rather, start with what you got and do a splendid job with what is presented. Then evolve as necessary. Don't close 22 schools in one cut of the ax and wonder, where did all the people go?

I'd like someone to be on council that can stand up to the URA. The South Hills High School should be owned by the URA, not Pgh Public Schools. The transfer of that building is lagging. That needed to be done. We need to work between the city and schools -- and the schools are getting the short end of the stick at every turn -- and Dowd has helped that along.

Then the alternative in the D primary is Len B. He gotta go. I'd take Dowd over Len -- I think. But, neither do anything for me as a concerned citizen of Pittsburgh.

Patrick's got another opportunity to sway my opinions when he begins to speak for himself and when he publishes a web site. But thet talk so far gets him a F-minus!!!! And, he is 'experienced.'

Patrick, why are the city school sports teams not in the WPIAL yet? You could have fixed that, and didn't. Why are the city sports coaches still tied with those ugly union contracts -- forcing good coaches to retire from the sidelines just because they retire from the classroom? You could have fixed that too.

Dowd enters council race The council, he said, currently lacks the vision necessary to deal with the 'bigger issues facing the larger framework of Pittsburgh as a whole,' such as housing reform and public transportation. Dealing with these two issues, he said, will make Pittsburgh more competitive in the future by encouraging people to live in the city.

One of Mr. Dowd's initiatives for housing involves creating residential 'zones,' areas for the council to establish tax increment financing for home buyers. Such tax incentives would offset property tax payments and encourage more people to move into the city, said Abby Wilson, Mr. Dowd's campaign manager.

Mr. Dowd also sees public transportation as a crucial issue for city residents, who make up the majority of Port Authority riders.

'I definitely think City Council needs to be advocating more on this subject,' he said. 'This is a question of equality and public development.'

Mr. Dowd said he would also focus on public safety, government reform, arts and recreation, the environment and energy, and economic development.

Drawing on his experience as a school board member, Mr. Dowd said he would bridge the relationship between the board and City Council, noting that the proposed Pittsburgh Promise scholarship program was a starting point.

'City Council needs people who believe that education is a priority,' he said.

Mr. Dowd, the father of six and a history teacher at The Ellis School in Shadyside, has served on the school board since 2003.

During his term, Mr. Dowd has been a supporter of school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and has been leading the effort to extend the superintendent's three-year contract beyond August 2008.

In searching for Mr. Dowd's District 2 successor, the same grass-roots coalition that helped him win in 2003 has backed candidate Heather Arnet, 32, also of Highland Park. The District 2 School Board Coalition voted Jan. 6 to endorse Ms. Arnet, executive director of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania. She also supports Mr. Roosevelt.

Furthermore, I'm not happy to have a sub-group hold an election and take away democratic powers of the citizens, before the real election occurs. Perhaps there is a need for more coordination to rid ourselves of a sitting politicians who is clueless -- like Patrick did with D. Harris years ago. But the need for that type of authority and call for lock-step boosterism for an open seat is a poor way to govern.

I'm in favor of an open election. Hold forums. Hold debates. Organize point-by-point match-ups and sustain the conversation for fixing our city. Don't annoint a person as a favorite son or daughter.

Finally, what about the pledge from Patrick to NOT use the office of school board member as a rung in the ladder of political ambition? He wasn't going to be a candidate for other office. He was going to be a school board member -- and not do just what he was doing. That was a pledge that is valid. Now it seems to be ignored.

I want all Pgh Public School Board Members to NOT run for other offices -- as a part of our city's charter, if need be. They use the position for power grabbing, not for serving the needs of the kids and education. I'd rather require that the school board offices be terminal roles then we'd have a different quality of discussions and self-interest of the people on the board.

Give something better than not Len, please.

Patrick Dowd, Dr. John Thompson, then Superintendent of PPS; Mark Brently (far right). My photo from Pgh Interfaith Impact Network public event in October 2004. people & vips

UPDATE: Don't pass over these comments. One is from the Dowd campaign manager.