Edwards lifts poverty as his platform - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'We've got two public school systems in America. We've got one for those who live in wealthy suburban areas and one for everybody else,' Edwards said at the Hill House Association in the Hill District.
'We have got to build one public school system' to give all students equal opportunity for education, Edwards said to applause from a crowd of about 250.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Edwards lifts poverty as his platform - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Donna Vlassich, Assistant Director of Public Engagement is slated to retire
She has been the Assistant Director of Public Engagement for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. We'll miss her.
This is sad news to all the parents who have worked hard in the district in the past years.
This is sad news to all the parents who have worked hard in the district in the past years.
Ron Paul is headed to Pittsburgh for August 3 - North Hills
Ron Paul in Pittsburgh!
Ron Paul will be in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Friday August 3rd and will hold a rally for supporters.
Please come and hear Dr. Paul talk about freedom, peace and prosperity in the city that helped shape him in his youth and taught him the importance of family and work ethic.
The event will be held from 7 to 10 pm at the Four Points Sheraton North. The address of the hotel is: 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, PA 16646. The phone number is 724-776-6900.
The event will be free of charge, contributions are welcome. To RSVP, please click here.
Honesty matters to me. With public issues, like treatment at the parks, honesty's value is double.
Birds of a feather, Luke and Dan.
Lies suck. Luke and Dan have not learned that lesson.
Geese mate for life. Likewise, a stigma of telling lies is sure to stick for life as well.
They said that they would NOT kill the Canadian Geese in North Park. They did kill. Onorato not only lied, but he was too chicken to have County workers thin the flock. The feds did the dirty work in the early hours on a weekend, so it is reported. Pass the buck, err, duck, to the feds.
The crap in the park is one thing. Crap behaviors that allows lies from our politicians to fly is something that can't be tolerated.
Federal agents euthanize 272 Canada geese in Allegheny County - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Lies suck. Luke and Dan have not learned that lesson.
Geese mate for life. Likewise, a stigma of telling lies is sure to stick for life as well.
They said that they would NOT kill the Canadian Geese in North Park. They did kill. Onorato not only lied, but he was too chicken to have County workers thin the flock. The feds did the dirty work in the early hours on a weekend, so it is reported. Pass the buck, err, duck, to the feds.
The crap in the park is one thing. Crap behaviors that allows lies from our politicians to fly is something that can't be tolerated.
Animal-rights groups quickly attacked the move, which they called a violation of earlier pledges to avoid euthanasia.
"Extermination was not the answer, and it is not going to be the answer," said Peter McKosky, 26, of the North Side, a wildlife coordinator with Voices for Animals of Western Pennsylvania. "They lied about what they were going to do. And now they're going to have to deal with a lot of ongoing controversy from people who appreciated the geese being there.
Pole vaulter banned for diary. Drug war gone wild.
This is over the top, pun intended.
SI.com - More Sports - Pole vaulter banned for role in doping scandal - Wednesday July 18, 2007 11:15AM Gibilisco is mainly being punished for his association with Santuccione. He's among a growing list of Italian athletes suspended for doping without testing positive.These officials are over the line. Are they high? (more bad puns)
AVOID ROCK SLIDES - swim to work
Carbolic Smoke Ball: TO AVOID ROCK SLIDES AND ROAD CLOSURES, MORE AND MORE COMMUTERS ARE SWIMMING TO WORK DOWNTOWN Swimmers say they're getting to work faster, despite backups at PennDOT's orange buoys
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
John Edwards hits the trail at the Hill House to talk about poverty. "We" were there!
The big buzz at our seats in the balcony at The Hill House before the start of the John Edwards event was about the use of the "Royal WE." Well, we were there. Erik and I attended.
Jon Delano says he 'never uses it.' Other bloggers were in the house! We get to clap when we hear something we like. The slaves in the MSM don't.
A number of big points were made on stage that are worthy of blogging.
John Edwards is in favor of "Magnet Schools." We I shook his hand as he was about to depart, I said, "Keep up the strong messages about magnet schools." He said he will. Erik attends a middle school magnet, Pittsburgh Frick. And, our elementary school is also a magnet, Pittsburgh Phillips. Grant goes there and Erik did as well.
John Edwards thinks, as do I, that we need great urban schools. They need to be so good that our suburban parenting peers are willing to send their children to our magnet schools too. Not all of them, of course. But, this is one technique to bridge the concept that we don't live in ONE AMERICA. Rather, we have the wealthy suburban communities and the poverty heavy city schools.
The urban magnets are important stepping stones to more equity throughout our region. John Edwards understands this. For that, I can clap and cheer.
More to come later.
Jon Delano says he 'never uses it.' Other bloggers were in the house! We get to clap when we hear something we like. The slaves in the MSM don't.
A number of big points were made on stage that are worthy of blogging.
John Edwards is in favor of "Magnet Schools." We I shook his hand as he was about to depart, I said, "Keep up the strong messages about magnet schools." He said he will. Erik attends a middle school magnet, Pittsburgh Frick. And, our elementary school is also a magnet, Pittsburgh Phillips. Grant goes there and Erik did as well.
John Edwards thinks, as do I, that we need great urban schools. They need to be so good that our suburban parenting peers are willing to send their children to our magnet schools too. Not all of them, of course. But, this is one technique to bridge the concept that we don't live in ONE AMERICA. Rather, we have the wealthy suburban communities and the poverty heavy city schools.
The urban magnets are important stepping stones to more equity throughout our region. John Edwards understands this. For that, I can clap and cheer.
More to come later.
Campaign promise that goes beyond the campaign
Preamble: Why is the DeSantis website without the pledge points? I want to quote the source.
This "REQUESTED PROMISE POINT" -- goes out of the realm of a campaign challenge. DeSantis might as well offer to stay sterile for the time that he is in office, and force Luke to do the same. Neither of the guys have children. And, no recent mayor was in office while a baby was delivered. It would be a huge competitive advantage for Luke to become a father while in the mayor's office in a race against DeSantis. Even the news of a baby shower would send Luke's approval ratings through the roof. DeSantis won't want to compete against baby photos N@, even in 2009. Talk about being a vedor for the city will be put on its head after mom and dad depart UPMC McGee.
Point being, pledge challenges about campaigns should focus on behaviors of the campaign. Don't make a framework challenge that talks about city outcomes for years to come. Rather, raise those issues in another set of leadership and policy points.
I think it is important to know that DeSantis is going to do everything in his power to insure that the city NEVER go bankrupt. That is a prime motivation for the DeSantis campaign. Something is in the air with that.
Leading the city to bankrupt status is something that was celebrated by Tom Murphy. He was so happy to get the distressed label. Getting there and pinning blame is a big snowball -- on a hot summer day. But what is harder to figure is the future.
If the city goes bankrupt -- then what?
The city has been on the brink. The city is very heavy with debt. The city might want to go bankrupt. I'm not sure. But, I'm sure I want to keep that open as an option.
The sky is falling. And, the sky will continue to fall for the next generation or two. We need to know how bad it is. How bad it will get given various options. And, how in the world it is going to be put onto a normal status again.
Will my child, now age 9, ever have any hope of living in Pittsburgh when he is an adult? Has the overspending of the past decades been so great that the one's that stay will never be able to catch up?
Opportunities can't come to Pittsburgh when the public debt is such that it crushes the people, the taxpayers, the economy, and many other sectors. So, if Luke or Mark has a child while in office in the next two year term, and either one of them become a dad, like me, will they be able to look the child in the eye and say that Pittsburgh is a place where anything is possible.
Pittsburgh has been driven to ruin. Turning to bankrupt status might not be such a bad option.
2PJ has the point in question:
#3: The candidates put forth a plan to prevent the City of Pittsburgh from entering bankruptcy. The plan will be submitted by both candidates on or before October 1, 2007;
That point does NOT wash as a viable point in the document. DeSantis should re-do the contract and take that framework plank out of the campaign behavior agreement.
Of interest to me, the last point calls for 8 (eight) debates to happen AFTER August 1. That's the date of of deadline for putting in as a 3rd party candidate.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns Mr. DeSantis also said he will release a plan to keep the city out of bankruptcy, and asked the mayor to do the same.I would NEVER agree to that pledge. That is a bogus pledge request among a list of campaign offers. However, the reporting of the request is also in doubt.
This "REQUESTED PROMISE POINT" -- goes out of the realm of a campaign challenge. DeSantis might as well offer to stay sterile for the time that he is in office, and force Luke to do the same. Neither of the guys have children. And, no recent mayor was in office while a baby was delivered. It would be a huge competitive advantage for Luke to become a father while in the mayor's office in a race against DeSantis. Even the news of a baby shower would send Luke's approval ratings through the roof. DeSantis won't want to compete against baby photos N@, even in 2009. Talk about being a vedor for the city will be put on its head after mom and dad depart UPMC McGee.
Point being, pledge challenges about campaigns should focus on behaviors of the campaign. Don't make a framework challenge that talks about city outcomes for years to come. Rather, raise those issues in another set of leadership and policy points.
I think it is important to know that DeSantis is going to do everything in his power to insure that the city NEVER go bankrupt. That is a prime motivation for the DeSantis campaign. Something is in the air with that.
Leading the city to bankrupt status is something that was celebrated by Tom Murphy. He was so happy to get the distressed label. Getting there and pinning blame is a big snowball -- on a hot summer day. But what is harder to figure is the future.
If the city goes bankrupt -- then what?
The city has been on the brink. The city is very heavy with debt. The city might want to go bankrupt. I'm not sure. But, I'm sure I want to keep that open as an option.
The sky is falling. And, the sky will continue to fall for the next generation or two. We need to know how bad it is. How bad it will get given various options. And, how in the world it is going to be put onto a normal status again.
Will my child, now age 9, ever have any hope of living in Pittsburgh when he is an adult? Has the overspending of the past decades been so great that the one's that stay will never be able to catch up?
Opportunities can't come to Pittsburgh when the public debt is such that it crushes the people, the taxpayers, the economy, and many other sectors. So, if Luke or Mark has a child while in office in the next two year term, and either one of them become a dad, like me, will they be able to look the child in the eye and say that Pittsburgh is a place where anything is possible.
Pittsburgh has been driven to ruin. Turning to bankrupt status might not be such a bad option.
2PJ has the point in question:
#3: The candidates put forth a plan to prevent the City of Pittsburgh from entering bankruptcy. The plan will be submitted by both candidates on or before October 1, 2007;
That point does NOT wash as a viable point in the document. DeSantis should re-do the contract and take that framework plank out of the campaign behavior agreement.
Of interest to me, the last point calls for 8 (eight) debates to happen AFTER August 1. That's the date of of deadline for putting in as a 3rd party candidate.
Edwards to push plan for 'economic integration' of schools - On Politics - USATODAY.com
Edwards to push plan for 'economic integration' of schools - On Politics - USATODAY.com His campaign staff is saying he'll make news by talking about the need for 'economic integration' of the nation's schools, which he has been saying throughout the campaign are still 'separate and unequal.'So, John Edwards is worried about the economic integration of the nation's schools.
Well, first of all, we don't have many 'national schools.'
But secondly, I am worried about the economic integration of our local schools and the various situations regionally.
More than a year ago I spoke in public about about the situations with a Pittsburgh neighborhood district in distress, Duquesne schools. Duquesne will not have a high school this year, because it was so bad.
When the Pittsburgh Public Schools issued its "Rightsize" plan, it was 'blind' to Duquesne. I thought that shortcoming was wrong. We needed to plan for Duquesne.
Pittsburgh should have administrators and plans that have the vision to adjust in the future based upon the needs of those here and near.
Schools that are on the side of the city that are closest to Duquesne should not have been closed.
Children that live in Duquesne should not need to be put on a buses to ride 45 minutes to schools, one way, even if that bus is subsidized by federal funds.
In AP-Ipsos Poll, 'none of the above' now leads GOP side; Gallup disagrees - On Politics - USATODAY.com
None of the above is winning the poll because the poll is without the option of Ron Paul. Ron Paul needs to be an option in the poll. He is not. How silly.
In AP-Ipsos Poll, 'none of the above' now leads GOP side; Gallup disagrees - On Politics - USATODAY.comAccording to the latest AP-Ipsos national poll:
• Among Republicans surveyed, 23% 'can't or won't say which candidate they would back,' from their party's contenders, 'a jump from the 14% who took a pass in June.' Rudy Giuliani leads the list of those who are chosen, with 21% support. Fred Thompson is second, at 19%. Sen. John McCain's support stands at 15% and Mitt Romney's is 11%.
Getting into the golf bogies now for the sake of public trust about nonprofits
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns 'We're not commenting on anything,' an employee told us. 'It's a private golf event.'Shame on you. What employee said that?
The public figure attended a private event. The public wins out on disclosure.
The private event is for a nonprofit. The nonprofit has a duty to be open and transparent so it keeps its nonprofit status. It the Mario events aim to be private -- then the organization has squandered its duty as a nonprofit. It has lost the trust of the people. It should depart with the nonprofit status.
A private organizaiton can make a donation to a nonprofit. However, the private organization does NOT get nonprofit status. The money that the nonprofit collects is NOT tax exempt.
With answers like the one's above, Mario's nonprofit, good-will, and charity centered activities and organization is doomed. That is NOT service to the community.
The Mario organization needs to come clean with the press and the public on its affairs. Those matters are PUBLIC affairs. Don't continue to hide information.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Jazzed about open water swimming's re-birth.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — July 16, 2007, Austin, Texas
The Highland Lakes Challenge: An Open Water Stage Race
The American Swimming Association, L.L.C. (ASA) announces the first-ever open water swimming stage race: The Highland Lakes Challenge, to be held Wednesday, October 24 – Sunday, October 28, 2007. The Highland Lakes Challenge will consist of races in 5 consecutive days in 5 lakes: Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, and Travis, all lakes formed by dams in the Colorado River.
Swimmers will opt to compete in one of four stage races:
1. The Highland Lakes Monster Challenge — a 5-day race of distances ranging between 2.6 and 4.0 miles per day.
2. The Highland Lakes Mini Challenge — a 5-day race of distances of either a half mile or a mile per day
3. The Weekend Warrior Monster Challenge — a 3-day race of distances ranging between 2.6 and 3.5 miles per day
4. The Weekend Warrior Mini Challenge — a 3-day race of distances of either a half-mile or a mile per day
Places in each stage race will be determined by swimmers’ aggregate times.
Swimmers may also participate in single day stages of either Monster Challenge or Mini Challenge distances. Entry information and applications may be accessed at: http://www.AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com
In 2007, The American Swimming Association hosted the first-ever open water swimming high school state championship and what may be the first-ever open water race on New Year’s day in the continental U.S. On November 3, 2007, ASA will host the first-ever open water swimming national collegiate championships.
For more information contact:
Dr. Keith Bell, Race Director, 512-327-2260
Email: info@AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com
Transit vote looming from Chelsa Wagner
An email arrived:
I'm a big advocate of transit, as I know you are. I just heard that Rep. Chelsa Wagner - whose remarks about how to save transit are on You Tube. She is not only going to vote against the transit bill, but is also advocating for other members to oppose it as well.Beats me about the change of position.
As you can imagine, an Allegheny County member lobbying against legislation to aid the Port Authority is raising a lot of red flags. Wonder why she's suddenly changed her position?
Reason Magazine - The Ron Paul Movement
Reason Magazine - The Ron Paul Movement It's transpartisan.
Paul's fan base stretches all the way from Howard Phillips to Alexander Cockburn. His libertarian message has resonance, as you'd expect, among free-marketeers dismayed by the GOP's love affair with federal spending. It is also attractive, as you'd expect, to lefties who like his opposition to the Iraq war and the post-9/11 incursions on our civil liberties. But the race has no shortage of anti-spending conservatives and antiwar liberals. Paul is especially appealing to people who don't fit the narrow stereotypes of Blue and Red: to decentralist Democrats, anti-imperialist Republicans, and a rainbow of independents.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Google HQ visits with candidate Ron Paul
This video is 65 minutes in length. It is excellent. This is MUST SEE material. If you have never watched Ron Paul -- you gotta watch this.
DeSantis staff and PR
Kerry may have to ketchup - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review DeSANTIS SHORES UP STAFF. Republican Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis has tapped a former WTAE-TV newscaster to be his press secretary.When I first heard the news, former WTAE person, I thought of Lynn Cullen. Then I wondered, did Johnny Mac work at TAE too?
DeSantis announced last week that Meghan Jones has joined his campaign.
Jones resigned from WTAE in January 2006 after five years with the station to pursue a full-time legal career. She is an attorney and adjunct professor of media law and regulation at Duquesne University.
DeSantis will take on Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in November in the special election to fill the remaining two years of the late Bob O'Connor's term.
I hope Megan can blog! We'll find out shortly.
Kerry may have to play ball with the guy with red on his white sox under his red one
Kerry may have to ketchup - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review One possible Republican challenger to Kerry is Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who suggested on a radio show several months ago that he might be interested in running.Play ball.
Schilling hasn't completely ruled out the idea, but since has said his current plans are to return to baseball in 2008, which obviously would kill any Senate bid.
And one more 'thing' about debates that needs to be aired. This is OUR city.
Good for them.
This is a public election with a public process and public candidates and some in Pittsburgh figure that they should hold meetings to talk in very broad ways without the public. Go figure.
I don't think it is wise to hold closed-door debates.
Sure, hold meetings and limit the number of people who can attend. Have a lottery and allow a limited number of people, even if it is a dozen. Or, allow each member of the association be able to bring one or two friends.
I don't want a bunch of folks to go into the HYP Club, the PAA nor the Duquesne Club and have a meeting that excludes others and have a debate.
Even when the P-G has its "endorsement meeting" and the results are put into the newspaper, I like to -- from time to time -- drop in and witness the conversations. The P-G doesn't have room to accept even five extra visitors. But, the P-G does grant access if possible.
So, my advice to the Pgh Civic Design Coalition, a good group, is to make that invite to the architects, planners, civic leaders and a limited number of city voters on a RSVP basis.
Furthermore, it is great that WDUQ is going to air the debate. Well done on that front too.
Another weird thing that occurs from time to time at debates is the exclusion of the candidates who are speaking. I always rant about debates that exclude candidates that are on the ballot as I feel that should never occur. However, some event organizers will have a debate of sorts (more like a forum) and insist that the candidates go into what amounts to a 'sound proof room' while the other candidate(s) speak.
This has happened to me twice -- against my strong objections. PUMP and some others did it ONCE way back in 2001 in an event hosted at the downtown library auditorium. In 2006 the same type of goofy format was used in an event held at Club Cafe hosted by some 'friends of Bill' (i.e., Peduto-heads).
The floor is given to "candidate A" while "candidate B" is not allowed to be present nor listen.
Being mayor and being an elected member of city council is not about being 'secret.' It is a public job and, like most of life, it is an 'open book test.'
Furthermore, if you want honest answers from the candidates, make certain that the opposition candidate is present. It helps if video cameras and audio are recording too.
It was in this closed, private setting that Bruce Kraus opened up his heart and told the progressive audience that he is gay -- so we came to understand. In turn, Bruce got the 'endorsement' from that group. That 'news' leaked beyond the walls of that meeting over the weeks to follow but didn't really hit the spotlight until his next election, a year later.
I'm not interested is events where being hoodwinked is more possible -- yet alone probable. When candidates say one thing to one group and then another thing along an opposite theme to another group -- I worry. That's double talk. It happens with neighborhood groups. Say something to folks on the South Side Flats and say something else to folks in Allentown. Say something to a veterans group and something else to peace protesters. Say something to union workers and something else to business groups.
Of course this happens all the time. But it will happen less and less as meetings with public candidates are open to the public. And, turn on those cameras too.
The final ironic spike in the news of this debate is that the gathering is going to be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center -- a public building of grand scale, costs and debt. The debt is resting on the backs of the public. However, the public isn't able to attend. I think a couple extra rows of seats can be made available for those Jane and John Q. Public.
Update on July 18, 2007:
Coalition to hold forum for mayoral candidates and will not be open to the general public.Bad for us.
This is a public election with a public process and public candidates and some in Pittsburgh figure that they should hold meetings to talk in very broad ways without the public. Go figure.
I don't think it is wise to hold closed-door debates.
Sure, hold meetings and limit the number of people who can attend. Have a lottery and allow a limited number of people, even if it is a dozen. Or, allow each member of the association be able to bring one or two friends.
I don't want a bunch of folks to go into the HYP Club, the PAA nor the Duquesne Club and have a meeting that excludes others and have a debate.
Even when the P-G has its "endorsement meeting" and the results are put into the newspaper, I like to -- from time to time -- drop in and witness the conversations. The P-G doesn't have room to accept even five extra visitors. But, the P-G does grant access if possible.
So, my advice to the Pgh Civic Design Coalition, a good group, is to make that invite to the architects, planners, civic leaders and a limited number of city voters on a RSVP basis.
Furthermore, it is great that WDUQ is going to air the debate. Well done on that front too.
Another weird thing that occurs from time to time at debates is the exclusion of the candidates who are speaking. I always rant about debates that exclude candidates that are on the ballot as I feel that should never occur. However, some event organizers will have a debate of sorts (more like a forum) and insist that the candidates go into what amounts to a 'sound proof room' while the other candidate(s) speak.
This has happened to me twice -- against my strong objections. PUMP and some others did it ONCE way back in 2001 in an event hosted at the downtown library auditorium. In 2006 the same type of goofy format was used in an event held at Club Cafe hosted by some 'friends of Bill' (i.e., Peduto-heads).
The floor is given to "candidate A" while "candidate B" is not allowed to be present nor listen.
Being mayor and being an elected member of city council is not about being 'secret.' It is a public job and, like most of life, it is an 'open book test.'
Furthermore, if you want honest answers from the candidates, make certain that the opposition candidate is present. It helps if video cameras and audio are recording too.
It was in this closed, private setting that Bruce Kraus opened up his heart and told the progressive audience that he is gay -- so we came to understand. In turn, Bruce got the 'endorsement' from that group. That 'news' leaked beyond the walls of that meeting over the weeks to follow but didn't really hit the spotlight until his next election, a year later.
I'm not interested is events where being hoodwinked is more possible -- yet alone probable. When candidates say one thing to one group and then another thing along an opposite theme to another group -- I worry. That's double talk. It happens with neighborhood groups. Say something to folks on the South Side Flats and say something else to folks in Allentown. Say something to a veterans group and something else to peace protesters. Say something to union workers and something else to business groups.
Of course this happens all the time. But it will happen less and less as meetings with public candidates are open to the public. And, turn on those cameras too.
The final ironic spike in the news of this debate is that the gathering is going to be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center -- a public building of grand scale, costs and debt. The debt is resting on the backs of the public. However, the public isn't able to attend. I think a couple extra rows of seats can be made available for those Jane and John Q. Public.
Update on July 18, 2007:
Pittsburgh Pist-Gazette: Get Them While They're Hot: Judith said attendance is by “invitation only” because the coalition wants to make sure they do not exceed room capacity and have adequate refreshments for the crowd, etc. She did add, however, that anyone interested in the issues of civic design can request an invitation by forwarding her their mailing address. Judith can be contacted at:
Judith A. Kelly, Judith Kelly Associates, LLC, Chamber of Commerce Building
jak@judith-kelly.com
Saturday, July 14, 2007
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