I'm too angry to post about this at the moment. Interaction with a detective / PAT Police at public hearing.

A women came to me while I sat in the front row of the 3rd public hearing hosted by PAT about its looming service cuts. I had testified a few moments ago. The place was packed, but they were running ahead of the slated agenda time. I spoke quickly about the Octopus Card. These electronic bus passes would provide PAT with much better data on trip "segments." Better access to data would lead to better decisions on routes and price adjustment options. (More later.)

This women comes to my side. "I'm from Achieva," she said. "Could you come with me?"

Well, okay. I packed my coat, briefcase and camera. I had heard about 10 folks give their rants. Its is all 'rip your heart out' insights, as Steve Bland was quoted in the radio news today about yesterday's experience. As a speaker ended, I moved from my seat to the back of the room. She wants me moving faster, and then wants me to move with her out of the room and down the hall and away from everyone else.

"No way. I'm not going into some private room with you, woman. What is it you'd like from me?"

She insists, but I'm just outside the door to the main room, and I'm not moving. Then she shows me her badge attached to her belt. She idenitifies herself, now, as a police officer.

Fine. Now that I know you are a police officer, and not working for Achieva, a nonprofit agency that owns the building where the hearing is hosted and does wonderful work with special needs populations -- I'm still not going down that hallway and leaving this public gathering.

You can whisper what you'd like to tell me now.

She says, "We were talking, and my camera is making people uncomfortable."

Humm....

"Yes, I've got my I.D," I tell her. I easily offer my name, address, a peek at my check-book that was handy in my back pocket. "No, you don't need to see my drivers license. No, you don't need my social security number either, for your report."

I stay cool, but puzzled and say I'll keep my camera in my bag and go back into the meeting. Clearly, she doesn't want any video of the meeting.

I let uon the I think it must be Steve Bland, PAT's CEO, that has become uncomfortable. PAT is a public agency. The detective grunted.

I wish I had the camera running when I went back into the room for an additional 20-minutes or so. PA's Auditor General, Jack Wagner, showed up at the meeting. And, I wish I had the pep talk presentation from Ken Z, the dude who is yacking at every hearing from the transportation committee of the Allegheny Conference. Oh well.

At City Council's meeting today, also at 10 am, I had just talked about cameras. (More on this blog about that later.)

I've got another meeting on "red light cameras" to attend at 1:30 today.

For the fourth meeting today, there isn't any public coverage concerning the 2 pm meeting at 200 Ross Street about the South Side Bar Bill, in City Planning.

The PAT public forum today was packed, just like the prior two hearings. Bring your camera if you dare.

Gotta run, and do a cool down. Her name is Kerr, and she works for the PAT Police. And, I don't want to read about this in some Yapper blog in two years. For what its worth, I wasn't handcuffed.

(First posted at 1:15 pm.)

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.