[412] Community gathering about city-owned, closed ice rink on South Side -- PLUS -- running mate news with an final invite for YOU to RUN too.

My email blast went out on a Thursday night. If I don't have your email address, I'd love to get it.

[412] Community gathering about city-owned, closed ice rink on South Side -- PLUS -- running mate news with an final invite for YOU to RUN too. [412] Community gathering about city-owned, closed ice rink on South Side -- PLUS -- running mate news with an final invite for YOU to RUN too.

I've got some "running mate news" and an invite to you to consider running for public office.

First, a non-political invite: I'm holding an open community meeting to discuss the city-owned, presently closed, indoor ice rink facility once called Neville Arena. We are going to gather at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in the cafeteria at Phillips Elementary School on Sarah Street. A RFP (request for proposals) has been issued by the city.

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2007/03/community-meeting-called-huddle-to.html

Now for exciting election news:

Weeks ago I announced my intention to run, or I should say, STAND, for six offices for the November 6, 2007 general election. Now the count has been reduced to five. Everyone in Pittsburgh knows that Bill Peduto dropped out of the race and left the field vacant, other than for the incumbent. This isn't the case for me. I'm dropping out of a race, but others are coming in to take my place. I'm moving to increase competition, voter choice and accountability.

A fellow Libertarian is going to work with me and get onto the ballot for the slot for the member at large seat on the Allegheny County Council.

Furthermore, others have stepped up. We are just about to begin our quest to get signatures for our nomination papers. The ELEVEN following candidate roles are now filled.

1. Allegheny County's Chief Executive, -- Mark Rauterkus

(I'm the only candidate other than Dan Onorato and Rich Swartz, both Democrats. And, Mr. Swartz faces the judge tomorrow morning, Friday 3-30. Lawyers working on behalf of Onorato are trying to knock him off the ballot. Despicable.)

2. Allegheny County District Attorney -- (not me)

3. Allegheny County Sheriff -- (not me)

4. Allegheny County Treasurer -- (not me)

5. Allegheny County Controller -- (not me)

6. Allegheny County Council Member, at-large -- (not me any longer)

7. Allegheny County Council Member, district 13 -- still me, Mark Rauterkus

8. Mayor, City of Pittsburgh -- Mark Rauterkus

9. Controller, City of Pittsburgh -- Mark Rauterkus

10. City Council, district 3 -- Mark Rauterkus

11. City Council, district 7 -- (not me)

A few of the above slots are still in a 'place holder status.' For example, I'm still listed five times. But, by the end of the summer, I hope to better target and focus my race to one spot and have five other citizens standing with me -- all of us running for the various,
respective offices.

Many other municipal seats are still without opposition and are wide open for challengers. More are considering the options and possibilities. How about you? For instance, to run for boro office in Sharpsburg, only only needs 10 VALID signatures to get onto the
ballot.

However, to be a candidate for the general election on November 6, 2007 -- you need to be certain to opt OUT of the "D" and "R" parties within the next week. Do it now. You can't run for public office as a Libertarian or as an Independent if you are a member of either old
parties within 30 days of the PRIMARY election.

Early April -- right now -- presents the last opportunity for YOU to change your registration so you are eligible for the ballot in the fall.

I can help you. I will get you the voter registration forms if you need one. I will tell you want offices are open in your area. I will ponder and talk with you about what we are doing and how we can work together so that the present flock of politicians are not give a 'free ride' come the fall election.

Thanks for your consideration.

Ta.

Mark Rauterkus
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com http://Platform.For-Pgh.org
412 298 3432 = cell

PS: Michael Phelps, USA swimmer, is making waves at world championships in Australia. He has four gold records and is going for eight. So, this could prove to be the perfect season to enter multiple events and head south of the equator. FYI: On April 28, my family and
I are traveling to Christchurch, New Zealand, for teaching, study and writting. Go Phelps!

Michael is up to four golds

Go Michael Go!

Republicans -- dead in the water and Dimiti covered both sides of the issue

Dimiti spent 90 minutes of air tim on KDKA Radio talking to two Republican Party leaders, Bob Hillen and Bob Glancey. They reached a deal so the boss of the RCAC.net would not need to get smacked down by the judge. The court date was looming large.

I'm glad that a new love fest is starting in the Republican realm. For a few years now, the chairman of the Republican Party in the County didn't speak to the chir from the city.

In 2007, the local republicans are putting a few candidates on the ballot. There are some judge candidates. There are two )used to be three) running for Allegheny County Council At-Large. The guy with the office now has had enough. There is a guy for sheriff. Perhaps a few are running for office in the municipal races, but none in the city, except David Adams, who is going to mount a write-in campaign shortly for City Council District 9.

The killer of that entire spell of interivews and remarks was Dimiti who said at the end. "Well, there you have it. We covered both sides."

Producer at KDKA Radio, "Mark, we can't take your call because we have equal time concerns."

Dan Onorato was on the air talking about a few different issues with the Honz Man today, after 2 pm. I called.

My pre-air conversation with the producer when like this: I'd like to point out to Fred that Dan is interested in letting the voters decide about the sheriff but his lawyers are working on his behalf to knock off his lone Dem party challenger in court tomorrow.

Dan will be zero for three tomorrow.....

Then I'm on hold for two minutes.

Then comes the voice of a producer, "Mark, we can't have you on the air as we are worried about equal time concerns." click

Say what?

Onorato blasts judiciary. Onorato is ZERO for TWO and the third is on deck for Friday.

Dan Onorato is blasting the judiciary. He struck out twice in the last two days. Well, his third at bat comes tomorrow, before the judge. His lawyers are bringing the challenge to the bench to knock Rich Swartz off the ballot.

Onorato blasts judiciary - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This reminds me of Ben Howland, UCLA coach, saying that the deck was stacked against his team after the NCAA picked the brackets for the March Madness. Oh well, it worked out for the Bruins.

Dan's real problem with property tax assessment isn't because of anything that they are doing in Beaver County, Westmorland County nor Butler County. Dan's problems are in Allegheny County.

Dan doesn't have the magic to turn the clock back to 2002. And he tried. And, he thought that his turn-the-clock-back solution was viable.

Dan is also crying the blues because the voters will choose who is going to be the sheriff, not him.

Dan Onorato is not good for democracy.

Dan Onorato is not good for a modern Allegheny County. Dan, you can't turn back the clock. Time has its ways. Once you're bald, even your hair won't grow back.

Dan says "home rule" is about voters controlling their own destiny. Duhh. Voters are going to control the destiny -- by electing a sheriff every four years.

Talk about frustration.

Dan won't win in the challenge and Dan won't win in the removal of the challenge either. His lawyers, when they see that the challenge is not going to stick are going to back away.

Community Meeting called. Huddle to discuss the city-owned, vacant, closed indoor ice rink in South Side Park

Come one, come all.

I'm calling and hosting a meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, to discuss the stituations with the now vacant indoor ice rink located in South Side Park.

The Neville Ice Rink was closed in 2001. A private operator let it die and the city did little in oversight of its operation.

Now the city has issues a RFP, request for proposals. See it on the city's web site. It is a long PFD.

Feel free to pass the word about this meeting. If you'd like to speak at the meeting to insert an agenda item, call or email me in advance. 412 298 3432. Mark@Rauterkus.com. Everyone will be able to speak. But, if you have more to say or present -- let me know, please.

I expect I'll release an agenda the day before the meeting.

I love viable, open alternatives. Progress in the real world. Get OpenOffice.org.

The OpenOffice.org Community announce the release of OpenOffice.org 2.2, the latest version of the leading open-source office suite. With upgrades to its word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, and database software, the free software package provides a real alternative to Microsoft's recently-released Office 2007 product - and an easier upgrade path for existing Microsoft Office users. OpenOffice.org 2.2 also protects users from newly discovered vulnerabilities, where users' PCs could be open to attack if they opened documents from, or accessed web sites set up by, malicious individuals.

In version 2.2, users will immediately notice the improvement in the quality of text display in all parts of OpenOffice.org. The reason for this is that the previously optional support for kerning, a technique to improve the appearance of text written in proportional fonts, has now been enabled by default. OpenOffice.org's unique pdf export function has also been enhanced with the addition of the optional creation of
bookmarks feature, and support for user-definable export of form fields.

While OpenOffice.org 2.1 functions well on Microsoft's Windows Vista, version 2.2 makes use of some of the new cosmetic changes available in Vista, the new file dialogues being an example. Apple Mac users will notice a smaller download and a smaller installed size. The Apple Mac Intel version has many stability improvements, and bug fixes ranging from .ppt export to improved UNO connections. Version 2.2 now requires Mac OS X 10.4.x running X11.

Turning to some of the enhancements made to the individual components of OpenOffice.org, the Calc spreadsheet has received additional enhancements to its support for Microsoft file formats, including improved support for Pivot Tables and some specialised trigonometric functions. Base, the database component, has improved SQL editing functionality as well as a new "Queries within Queries" feature. Compatibility options for some database drivers, such as Oracle ODBC, have been improved. Impress, the presentations component, offers improvements in the handling of hidden slides which has been made more intuitive.

It is important to remember that OpenOffice.org is not just a software package, but is also a development and user community. One demonstration of this is the ability of third party developers to create extensions in a simple manner. Third party extensions can now be more closely integrated and features have been added to dramatically simplify the installation and updating of these. In addition, features have been added to assist those participating in the translation and localisation of
OpenOffice.org.

In addition to being immediately available for download from the traditional download servers, OpenOffice.org is also available from a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. Alternatively, OpenOffice.org Community Distributors supply the software on CD-ROM in many countries and native language translations will be available from their relevant communities.

About OpenOffice.org

The OpenOffice.org Community is an international team of volunteer and sponsored contributors who develop, support, and promote the leading open-source office productivity suite, OpenOffice.org®. OpenOffice.org's leading edge software technology (UNO) is also available for developers, systems integrators, etc to use in OpenOffice.org extensions or in their own applications.

OpenOffice.org supports the Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) OASIS Standard (ISO/IEC 26300) as well as legacy industry file formats and is available on major computing platforms in over 70 languages. OpenOffice.org software is provided under the GNU Lesser General Public Licence (LGPL) and may be used free of charge for any purpose, private or commercial.

The OpenOffice.org Community acknowledges generous sponsorship from a number of companies, including Sun Microsystems, the founding sponsor and primary contributor.

OpenOffice.org 2.2 may be downloaded free of charge from
http://download.openoffice.org/

Pgh Public Schools Parent Involvement Policy sees light of day

The Parent and Family Involvement Policy recently passed by the Board is now available on the web in the policy section, http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/Policies.asp
It is also posted from a link from the Parents Page, under Parent Involvement, on the left navigation.

The district is planning and providing Professional Development to principals, staff and parents. Information and opportunities for parental engagement both district-wide and school based will be provided.

Please feel free to begin discussions on the Policy through your PSCC, PTO/PTA meetings.

There have been plenty of changes in the way the district interacts with the parents. Not all for the good, in my humble opinion. For the past couple of years, there have been walls created. Let's take a peek and see if this policy works to build more division or make for better interactions.

Running Mate Meeting

That's me, (on the left) with the newest member of the Libertarian Party. A new dawn is about to break!

The Housing Bubble Blog - Both Lender And Borrower Underestimated The Risks

Someone with a blog in Arizona points out some twisted logic. Downtown housing is happening. So, our mayor wants to give away free rides by lowering taxes to the elite. Meanwhile, the rest of the city gets to pays more.

Condo sales are happening without the tax break. Don't provide a tax break for some, and not for others, when the tax break is not necessary. Don't rob Peter to pay Paul. Don't rob neibhorhoods to pay for downtown. Don't rob some and give to others.

Even if this tax abatement plan is bigger than downtown, don't do it. Do it for everyone or do it for none.

Don't reward neighborhoods that are in decline. That is the type of reward that only provides benefits to the speculators.

The Housing Bubble Blog “Both Lender And Borrower Underestimated The Risks” The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “David W. Bishoff is so pleased with condominium sales at the Carlyle, the soon-to-be-converted Union National Bank building at Fourth Avenue and Wood Street, Downtown, that he’s ready to try it again — right next door.”

“While it might seem like too much to some, Mr. Bishoff has no doubt the market can support it. ‘The question isn’t whether this city can absorb 200 or 400 or 600 or even a thousand. This Downtown should easily absorb and keep filled several thousand units,’ he said.”

“Mayor Luke Ravenstahl used the ribbon cutting to pitch his proposed tax abatement program for residential housing that is now before City Council.”

“One Carlyle buyer, Brian Ritz, likened his investment to ‘owning a piece of the Golden Triangle.’”

People are less interested in owning a piece of the Golden Triangle and more interested in owning the people who govern. Who owns the mayor? Who owns the County Executive?

Open thread. Jason Phillips meets Bruce Kraus in court to seek past promised wages

Jason Phillips was hired at one time to work on the Bruce Kraus campaign for city council. Some sum of money was, reportedly, not payed to Jason from Bruce. So, he quit. And, then he jumped into the race himself. And, to get his money, he sued.

Today the guys met before the judge.

A decision is expected in the next three days.

I don't know what's what, really. But perhaps we'll find out various versions on the street or in this blog in the comments below.

Cough, cough -- $16K -- Lithuanian Hall stung for smoking. "Oh 64," ...

Walking in the neighborhood today, I noticed both the WTAE TV van and the KDKA TV van. Meanwhile, our city's and county's democracy gets choked to death.

Health Department fines South Side bingo hall Lithuanian National Society on Jane Street in the South Side was fined $16,250 for failing to adopt and implement a workplace smoking policy and allowing 65 people to smoke at its bingo on March 21.

McNeilly suit's expense might top $185K for Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This is not how I want to see our city's taxpayer money spent.

McNeilly suit's expense might top $185K for Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh's decision to settle police Cmdr. Catherine McNeilly's civil rights lawsuit out of court could sting taxpayers for $185,000 -- or more.

City lawyers are recommending payment of $85,000 to McNeilly -- who makes a yearly salary of $79,877 -- to compensate for emotional and professional damage she suffered by being demoted to lieutenant on Dec. 7, after she made confidential police personnel records public. Her lawyers fees are expected to top $100,000.

Judge: County sheriff must be elected - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Who wants to run for Sheriff as a Libertarian?

Judge: County sheriff must be elected - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Allegheny County's longstanding tradition of electing a sheriff will carry on, at least for another five years, a county judge ruled today.

Common Pleas Judge Eugene B. Strassburger III sided with the Sheriff's Association of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in its lawsuit to keep the county and Chief Executive Dan Onorato from holding a public referendum in May asking voters to decide whether the county sheriff should remain an elected position or be appointed by the chief executive.

We need a candidate for this office.

Our misguided mayor is not a fluke. We've got a real problem, Dimiti.

Dimitri V of the Pgh Tribune Review, a four-day host of a KDKA Radio show, asked callers to vote for either "Mayor Luke - or - Mayor Fluke."

I called in. After a few words I was clicked off the air.

Our misguided mayor is for real. We have real problems in the mayor's office. Those are not to be taken lightly.

This is Mark Rauterkus. You don't beat the mayor by offering insults and name calling. You beat him by offering real alternatives.

... click ...

Dimiti said he didn't realize he was making an insult.

This way my email to Dimiti, Dimitri@KDKARadio.com, at 8:55 am today, sent before he went on the air:

---

Hi Dimitri,

As vice chair of the Allegheny County Party -- and one who is working hard to get candidate recruitment and voter education for ballot access for myself and other candidates, I'd love to get on the show.

Dan Onorato is without any opposition from other parties. He is trying to toss off the other D who put in papers to run against Dan in the primary. Other than me, L.

Luke Ravenstahl is without any opposition within and beyond his party. Other than me, L.

County Controller -- no opposition, other than a L. (I recruited.)

County Treasurer -- no opposition, other than a L. (I recruited)

The list goes on.

The municipal elections are another big can of worms too. Plus, Sharpsburg, Upper St. Clair -- and everywhere gets to elect school board members and boro folks. We need to get the movement to the 3rd party, and Libertarian, option.

It takes 10 signatures to get onto the ballot as a Libertarian in Sharpsburg as a boro council member.

I'd be able to help callers, either on the air or after the show -- do research for their areas.

And, I've got to get onto the ballot with thousands of signatures of voters in Allegheny County. A guy had his signature tossed off the nomination petition by the judge because he didn't use his middle initial when he signed his name.

Many ABSURD rules are killing democracy by thousands of paper cuts.

I can't get the election department to get me a PDF of the nomination papers. I'm going to take them to court next week if this isn't resolved.

---

Dimitri is a Libertarian. He is free to do what he wants. But, as a Libertarian, I would wish he'd have a much different approach.

I have respect for the man, Luke Ravenstahl, and office, Mayor of Pittsburgh. But, I have no confidence in his "direction." His policies are lacking. They'll lead the city to further ruin. Luke is the mayor and there are real problems on Grant Street.

The fluke comes in the thinking that a negative campaign that is riddled with name calling is going to help at all. Bill Peduto stated as much. Dimiti seemed saddened that Peduto pulled out of the race.

Once real libertarian alternatives are presented, then hope will arrive.

Dimiti offered three hours of air time to Luke Ravenstahl OR his SPOKESPERSON for the show on Thursday. Three HOURS. And, the offer was extended 'on the air.' Furthermore, Dimiti is okay to only speak to a spokesperson, not the mayor.

Nobody from the administration, including Luke, is going to go on the show with Dimitri. No way.

If I was on the show for three hours, and if the Tribune Review had a different policy about covering the whole story so as to be sure to include the perspectives of local Libertarians and local opposition candidates, then we'd have a winning approach.

If I was on the show for three hours this week, and if the Trib printed, covered and interacted about our news, letters, positions and solutions -- then thw mayor would have reason to be on the air and be accountable to the voters.

MacYapper: RUN BILLIE RUN? EDITION

MacYapper: RUN BILLIE RUN? EDITION JOHN,
you should know that as several attorney's have pointed out to me, the very fact that Bill submitted nominating petitions for the race as a Democratic means that he is automatically disqualified, under the so-called 'Caliguiri Rule', from running as an independent in the General Election. Everyone seems to know about the first part of the Caliguiri rule, which requires you to switch parties 30 days before the primary, but the second part of the Caliguiri rule also says that you cannot run under a different party banner if you have submitted nominating papers in the previous primary election.

I'm not a lawyer, but I know several who have looked at this and said Bill is disqualified, and would easily be removed from the ballot should he try to run....

Three for Three. Swimmer is still golden. Five more to go.

The World Championships for aquatic sports is happening in Melbourne, Australia and the excitiment is building.

Michael Phelps has his third gold and shatters 200 Fly World Record. To be more exact, Phelps obliterated his 200 butterfly world record with an eye dropping 1:52.09. The prior world record had been 1:53.71 set at the Missouri Grand Prix a month ago. China’s Wu Peng took silver in 1:55.13, while Russia’s Nikolay Skvortsov grabbed bronze in 1:55.22.

Phelps got his first medal as part of a USA relay. In the second event, the 200 free, he won and also got a world record, one that he hadn't held before.

Phelps could get EIGHT golds in the meet.

Suit Settled For Police Commander - News

Housekeeping of bad headline:

Suit Settled For Police Commander - NewsCity Council Approves McNeilly Settlement

The headline, above does not match the last line of the article. It is posted below.

The settlement is still subject to approval by Pittsburgh City Council.

No bill for the payment of this settlement has gone before city council, yet. It is pending. It might come in a week or two. Furthermore, there might be two bills. One for the payment of the police officer. The other for the payment of the officer's attorney. The later has not been revealed.

When either bill comes before city council, citizens will have the right to call for a public hearing on this matter by getting a petition signed by residents of the city.

RFP for Neville Ice Rink, book and letter

Buy this RFP booklet: https://shop.cloh.org/product/city-of-pittsburgh-rfp-for-neville-ice-arena/

Make a Splash

Make a Splash Drowning is a leading killer of American children.