Transportation blog and the call for accountability for board members

Transportation I've been worried about the fact that these boards are hand-picked and never accountable for years.

See my other blog on my thoughs about Authority Board Members facing retention votes.

JetBlue marks anniversary with free travel offer

Here is a free market come on that needs your attention.

JetBlue marks anniversary with free travel offer As an enticement, Mr. Barger announced a 'gift' of free travel to any Pittsburgh-area resident who books a flight on the Forest Hills, N.Y., carrier by Saturday. To qualify, you must be a member of JetBlue's frequent-flier program, TrueBlue, and the flight must take place between June 26 and Nov. 15.

Travelers who book flights through www.jetblue.com will receive 100 TrueBlue points at the conclusion of their travel, which can be redeemed for a free trip anywhere JetBlue flies. JetBlue serves 54 cities with up to 575 daily flights. The TrueBlue points will expire in one year from the date of issuance.

I've never flown with JetBlue. So, I'm not a JetBlue frequent flier. So, I guess I can't take them up on the offer.

In run for White House, Giuliani stops in the Strip

In run for White House, Giuliani stops in the Strip With businessmen Jimmy and Nino Sunseri as his tour guides, the former mayor picked up some pasta and peppers before heading out onto Penn Avenue for a brief walking tour.

I feel better about him already. Why didn't he go to a downtown department store too?

Rudi kissed a baby. Didn't he also pucker up to Mark DeSantis?

Mitt is next.

DeSantis should be with all of these guys on every visit. Locals should be cutting checks to the national guys -- AFTER they cut one for the local guy.

Beijing weather leaves Oly officials in haze - Wednesday June 27, 2007 8:22PM

SI.com - Olympics - Beijing weather leaves Oly officials in haze - Wednesday June 27, 2007 8:22PM Even by Beijing standards -- the city is one of Asia's most polluted -- Wednesday stood out. By early afternoon, a thick haze significantly reduced visibility. At street level, soot and humid air produced a fog of pollution.

After several days with temperatures hovering near 100 degrees, a rainstorm cooled but further darkened the city with vehicles using headlights most of the afternoon.

This is sorta funny to me. When we were in China, mostly in another part -- the southwestern part -- the drivers didn't use their headlights in the evening or nights. It makes no sense for the drivers in China to turn on their car's headlights at night when there are streetlights in the city.

The act of shutting down the factories in the period of the Olympics will work wonders.

I've blogged about this before somewhere. When we first arrived in China, it was in the first week of May. They have a major week of holiday the first week. Everyone is encouraged to travel to different parts of China. The schools are shut and so too are the big factories. It is a national holiday. May Day and beyond. This is a new holiday as well.

On May 8, I awoke in the middle of the night and it seemed as if there was a house fire down the street. The air was dirty -- like that of a not too distant fire.

There was no fire. The vacation was over. People were back to work.

Throughout our months there, we could generally see the moon two to four times a month. These were on windy days. Otherwise, the smog was such that the moon was not visible.

Beijing's filthy air is one of the biggest concerns of the International Olympic Committee and 2008 Olympic organizers, who worry that elite athletes may be unable to perform under such conditions.

My worry would not be for the elite athletes. There will be a 'level playing field.' Everyone gets to compete in the same 'air.' The top level athletes will be fine.

From china - foods

Clothing Drive

Network of surveillance cameras proposed for Pittsburgh

Network of surveillance cameras proposed for Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto said there must be a 'transparent set of rules on who views [video data], who's authorized to view it, and that it's not being specifically targeted' to given groups or institutions.

We've got transparent rules that are not enforced.

We've got news about the CIA and FBI and family jewels too.

The video cameras need to be pointed at the government officials, the police, the budgets, the tax collectors. Until those folks are documented and really transparent, we should not point anything at the citizens.

Here are the numbers DeSantis needs to consider

Mark DeSantis is a Republican who wants to run for mayor. I asked him before his kick off in our personal meeting who he liked for President. I pointed out that the mayor's race and the race for county executive is going to take a back seat, sadly, to the race for the White House. We nominate and elect a president/vice-president in 2008. But, we've got lots and lots of coverage already devoted to that race. We've even had a hand-full of debates for the 2008 races and none for the 2007 general election.

So, the race for president is going to, at times, overshadow the race for the city's and county's top executive.

In no uncertain terms, I favor Dr. Ron Paul for president. Dr. Paul is a former Pittsburgher, former Libertarian and presently a Republican in the US House and from Texas. I love what he has to say on most issues and I love how he says it. Plus, his is a real grass-roots and internet driven campaign.

Since Ron Paul is a Republican, I figured I'd ask DeSantis what he thinks of him and who he likes in the GOP race for the nomination for President.

Perhaps DeSantis didn't want to hurt my feelings, or perhaps he hasn't thought about the issue. But, it is sure to come up.

President Bush's Approval

Pennsylvania voters disapprove 67 - 29 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, his lowest score ever in the state.

Voters disapprove 70 - 26 percent of the President's handling of the war in Iraq and say 60 - 34 percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

From May 22 - 28, 2007, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,318 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 575 Republicans, with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points, and 585 Democrats, with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.

Getting voters in Pittsburgh, in November 2007, to vote for DeSantis, R, is going to be nearly impossible. The impossible becomes probable as Luke Ravenstahl does further damage to the city and continually acts in ways suitable for 'moron status.' However, this isn't the year to be a Republican running for office because we'll still have George W. Bush as the most powerful man in the world.

On another blog in another discussion, one wrote that a vote for DeSantis could be considered after he would renounce his party affiliation and become an Independent, not a Republican. That sentiment is real and pervasive.

I would have ever thought we'd find our political landscape with these compounded situations:

1. Our city is on the brink -- as it is and has been -- with no end in sight.
2. Our mayor acts in nearly worthless ways.
3. Our city council is fully marginalized by its own doings.
4. The biggest political problems loom in the nation's capital, not on Grant Street.

This is not the year for DeSantis to run for mayor as a Republican and expect to sway many voters.

I'm never going to say it is impossible. I think in positive ways. I'm optimistic. I'm a realist. I've seen the tide turn in a number of ways in a number of instances throughout life. I've helped turn the tide in a number of instances as well. It is fun going downstream after going for a long time against the current.

DeSantis can win if he is brilliant and if Ravenstahl is arrogant.

Arrogant is neither 'good' nor 'bad.' I predict that Ravenstahl can be bad and responsive or else good and responsive and this will work well enough for Ravenstahl to keep voters on election day. A responsive Ravenstahl, even should he fill his resume with repeating blunders, is still going to trump a brilliant, Republican DeSantis.

Basically, we're screwed locally until 2008. By the end of 2008, Bill Peduto should announce that he's switching his party from D to independent. Furthermore, by 2008 Dan Onorato's ambitions are sure to buffer the harm he can cause to Allegheny County. In 2009, there will be another mayor's race as well.

With better planning, the 2009 mayor's race will occur in the fall. And, by then, the guy or gal running for the GOP won't need to carry the weight of the world on every step.

Tips for navigation of the landscape in 2007 follow:

Mark DeSantis needs to talk in candid ways about who he supports in the unfolding 2008 GOP Presidential Primary.

I would love to hear that Mark DeSantis loves Ron Paul too. That would be great. But, I don't know that.

I figure Mark DeSantis is not a 'small government advocate.' Rather, he is a 'good government advocate.' That's what he told me, and I take him at his word. But, there are plenty of ways to read that between the lines.

'Tom Ridge Republicans' like John McCain. Melissa Hart liked McCain too. It is fair to say that I don't get along with the typical 'Jim Roddey Republicans'. Jim Roddey Republicans voted for Dan Onorato in May 2007 and are not far from the Tom Murphy Administration. Hillman and hundreds of others love to wheel and deal with government money, corporate welfare, contracts from DC (even defense department contracts) and central planning actions.

Those folks are "bad" in the eyes of many die-hard Dems. I'm not that judgmental. But, it is fair to say that I'm not excited by the typical Republican directions and policies put forth from those in power in Allegheny County and Pennsylvania.

So, it is fair to say that we need to size up Mark DeSantis and his Republican Roots. He should do that for us in public in an urgent way.

Should DeSantis likes George W. Bush and like the idea of a first strike against Iran -- then ouch.

I think that the DeSantis campaign would double in size and strength in one week should he announce that he'll serve as an "Independent" as mayor of Pittsburgh. Within a month, that message will allow his campaign to grow tenfold.

Jumping from a BLUE State to a RED State -- yet alone a BLUE to RED city -- is a big leap. DeSantis needs to meet the city and region half way.

The other day as we talked about party stuff and this issue of liabilities with being a Republican he said it was like he was half-way on a journey in a row boat. He is crossing the ocean. He is way out there. He can't turn around now. It is what it is.

But, I think that there is more to that story. If a smart guy is half way between England and the US in a row boat and a cruise ship or sail boat or freighter comes along -- he's out of that row-boat. He'll 'jump ship' because that row boat is now a liability. He'll pick up a larger crew. He'll keep the row-boat as a great memory, but he'll look to the days and weeks to come. His chances for survival are greatly increased when he's is pushed along by the company of many others.

"Our City is Not Fulfilling Its Promise."

That was a sign at the DeSantis kick-off. I think it is fair to say that our nation is not fulfilling its promise too. And, DeSantis should 'de-cloak' and make a promise as to what kind of politician he supports and wants to stand with in the years to come.

The promise of doing nothing is bad news for the city. Do something makes for a good theme as long as DeSantis himself does indeed talk and make deeds occur.

Calling Penn Hills High School - class of '77 - reunion invite

I'm a grad of Penn Hill High School, class of 1977. We're gearing up for our 30th reunion. This will be the first reunion I've attended. Others are going to return home from the corners of the world.

Details here:

http://Rauterkus.com/PDF/PH77-Class-Reunion-Invitation.pdf

Change would limit time acting directors can serve

Here is a move that is nothing but a power grab.

Change would limit time acting directors can serve City Council President Doug Shields said yesterday that he will introduce legislation today to change the city code to prevent acting department heads from serving indefinitely without council approval.

It is funny to watch a power grab play out when there is nothing else to grab upon. City Council is worried about directors on the totum and cats running at large in the city. They are working on things that are nearly meaningless. This is why they've become meaningless. They've not looked at the various situations with keen insight and figured out a way to do something otherwise.

I've called for the removal of George Specter as the 'acting city solicitor.' But I think he should be fired.

So, a member of city council wants to put together new legislation that will prevent an acting department head from serving for more than 90 days in that role. But, we have a mention in the city charter that says that it should not occur.

How about this instead: Enforce the city charter and then you don't need to make new legislation.

Doug Shields should NOT approve the invoices on city council until George Specter is terminated. That's the only bit of power those on council have. Stop paying the guy. Stop paying everyone until this is resolved.

I'd be fine if the city stopped paying the entire law department until it had a director. And, as a member of city council, the body that approves the invoices, that could be accomplished.

Doug Shields could also stand outside the law department offices with a stack of cardboard boxes and offer to move George Specter's personal belongings OUT of the city's building. That is another positive move, a media ploy, that would begin to offer up solutions to this nagging problem.

DeSantis says no to city status quo

DeSantis says no to city status quo Four years ago, Republican nominee Joe Weinroth managed to raise only about $20,000 in the face of a million-dollar war chest raised by the late Mayor Bob O'Connor."

Since DeSantis has to hurdle history, let's not re-write it in the process. The Weinroth campaign wasn't four years ago. It was two years ago.

How many votes did Bob O'Connor get with his $1-million war chest in 2001? What about in 2005?

It is a mistake to say how much money one hopes to raise. The newspaper says that DeSantis said he EXPECTS to be able to collect more than $250,000. Nuts to that.

Survey Results of an internet based e-democracy forum effort by Steven C.

Survey Results As a participant (or future participant) in an E-Democracy.Org forum, how important are the following to you?

Nothing jumps out at me from this.

One day, my goal is to establish a Pittsburgh-based issues forum.

Humm. Now what?

 

Two birds taking a long walk on a long pier on a fall day. These are birds of a feather. One may decide to be free and fly away.

Trip to Promote UC's China Strategy�Pays Off�in First Comprehensive Agreement With Chinese University�

Trip to Promote UC's China Strategy Pays Off in First Comprehensive Agreement With Chinese University Trip to Promote UC's China Strategy Pays Off in First Comprehensive Agreement With Chinese University

A two-week trip in April by high-level UC academic leaders resulted in discussions about future involvement with 14 universities, as well as an immediate agreement for creating a multi-faceted relationship between UC and Shandong University in Jinan, China.

This is how others go to China and score big results for home. Meanwhile, Onorato's trip to China was without such rewards nor new relationships.

kdka.com - DeSantis Officially Kicks Off Mayoral Campaign

kdka.com - DeSantis Officially Kicks Off Mayoral Campaign

Doing nothing is the worst.

Latest Pittsburgh GOP hope dreams large - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Latest Pittsburgh GOP hope dreams large - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Although Ravenstahl has been in office under a year, analysts say he's made several blunders that DeSantis can use against him:

This race won't be about Mark DeSantis. It will be about Luke Ravenstahl. It will be about one-party rule. It will be about rookie mistakes in a time of crisis. It will be about the city being on and over the brink.

If that is the case, then the challenger has some opportunities to edge out better than Carmine's typical 23% of the vote on the election day.

Break a leg, cowboy. Call us if you need to kick-up some dust and hold a round-up!

Photo caption: "Mark, we're about to saddle up and get ready for a 9:30 am meetin' N@. Call us if yinz need some back-ups for the round-up."

Hint: That "Mark" isn't this Mark. Two Marks have the same name and nearly the same age.

Vandals among us - Trib and tonight's yack fest

Vandals among us - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Rende and detectives Daniel Sullivan and Alphonso Sloan are the Pittsburgh Police Bureau's graffiti task force, three men policing a citywide graffiti problem.

Some gathered at a meeting at the Brashier Assn tonight to talk about this issue. I went.

It was nice to see all three officers of the new task force in the room at the same time. However, I hope that the three don't make it a habit of going to the same meetings. Send one. The two others can be working on the streets. And, send different ones each time.

I don't have a problem with the paint spilling on the Jail Trail. The area was given a green light by Tom Murphy's administration. Fine. On the other hand, I have problems with the paint and vandals in other areas beyond the jail trail.

The worst thing to do is to put the crap onto the news and into the newspapers. Don't show it again.

Zero tolerance is not going to work. It didn't work in the past. It isn't working yet. It won't work in the future. When I hear "zero tolerance," it makes me wonder if the person standing for such opinions has a matching amount of wisdom.

I then hope that my kids and their friends won't be arrested one day in the future for possession of a magic marker. Then, among other times, "zero tolerance" sucks.

Little to no talk was devoted to a citizen's depot of materials for fix up. We all don't need buckets of red, black, white, gray and other colored paint, brushes, gloves, scrubbers, pressure washers, ladders, drop cloths and so on. We could use a centralized clearing house for pick-up and perhaps for delivery of tools and supplies.

Morph Blog � Blog Archive � Snow on the way?

Morph Blog - Blog Archive Snow on the way? It has been bitterly cold for the last few days, so the conditions are defiantly right to snow. The MetService is also predicting that it might possibly snow for the next 3 days.

We left Christchurch on June 9 -- just in time for the arrival of their winter. Meanwhile, we're about to get into some hot summer days.

In other New Zealand swimming news, see the comments for updates on the NZ swimmers who have come to California for some big-time swim meets.

United Way offers nonprofits grants to help teens

Updated below:

United Way offers nonprofits grants to help teens: The United Way of Allegheny County is seeking grant proposals for $470,000 to support up to three, two-year grants to help teens and young adults.

The funds are for general operating support to help organizations address the problems of academic failure and unemployment for youth 15 to 24 years of age.

Applicants must be nonprofit health and human service organizations in Allegheny County that are not current United Way Impact Fund partner agencies.

To download the request for proposals, visit the United Way Web site at www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org. Proposal summaries are due July 23. An information session for applicants will be held July 11 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Eat'n Park training facility at the Waterfront in Homestead. To register for the training, e-mail communityimpact@uwac.org.

Subject: Before We Can Register Your Agency for RFP Training

Thank you for your interest in the United Way's RFP- Helping Teens and Young Adults. We recognize how extremely busy you are and how time consuming responding to an RFP can be. Before we register you for the training workshop we ask that you please take a minute to review the following eligibility criteria. To apply your agency must be:

* A 501(c)(3) organization located and providing a health or human
service in Allegheny County and not currently a UWAC Partner agency

* In full compliance with all federal, state, county and local requirements and laws pertaining to non-profits, including the USA Patriot Act and other counterterrorism laws

* Meets the requirements of the Solicitations of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in December, 1990

* Is able to provide all documentation as noted in Step 1 (copy of 501(c)(3) determination letter and Step 2 (Audit(s) covering 2 years, Board List, IRS Form 990

In addition, please note that all funded applicants must be prepared to document their results in achieving at least one of the following required outcomes:

* Out of school youth return to school and graduate with proficiency, or complete a GED

* At risk youth stay in school and graduate with proficiency

Finally, you should have a track record in serving one or more of the target populations of 15 to 24 year olds for this RFP:

* Youth who are not in school and not working

* Youth with poor school attendance or other risk factors for dropping out

* Youth with low grade point averages and low scores on standardized measures of academic proficiency

* Youth in areas of the city or county with high rates of poverty and low rates of high school graduation

If after reviewing this information you feel that your agency meets these minimum requirements for RFP applicants, please complete the form below and email it to communityimpact@uwac.org to register for the applicant training. Registration Deadline is Friday, July 6th. Thank you for helping us make the best use of your time.

Yes, our agency meets eligibility requirements and I would like to attend the RFP Training Workshop

Agency Name
Name of Staff Person Attending
Email of staff person attending.

Sicko stuff

The movie is about to open in local cinemas. Read more about efforts in the comments.