GroundReport | After floods: urged to work on prevention

GroundReport | After floods, UN urges countries to work on prevention After floods, UN urges countries to work on prevention

Humm...

I've been talking about prevention and infrastructure for a long time. We need to do and measure what is prudent.

It is sad that Pittsburgh needs to look to the playbook of Bangladesh to figure out what should be done and where our priorities need to be placed.

Another one bites the dust

Tommy Thompson, R, from Wisconsin is out of the US Presidential race.

Romney: Win Not Hollow -- GOPUSA Historically, the straw poll has helped winnow the field of presidential candidates and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who ran sixth, dropped out of the race Sunday.

I got to meet Mr. Thompson. He spoke to a group of people at a Washington D.C. hotel located next to the White House. He gave a nice presentation.

He had been out of the cabinet for a week or two. He told the story about his first day back in the 'real world.' He got up in the morning and headed to work. Walked to the car and sat in the backseat. After a moment he realized he was alone. No driver.

Next he talked for two minutes about how hard it is to both find you way around town, be it DC or elsewhere, without a driver. And, how hard it is to find a parking space after you get to where you want to go.

Welcome to the real world Tommy boy!

We did talk about Tommy's brother, an elected official in a small town. He was 'mayor' and he is a Libertarian.

I'm not sure where he is now. And, I wonder what he had to say about Tommy's race for President contrasted to Ron Paul. Now that might be a good tidbit for the history books.

The T.T. for President website had this statement about the Iowa Straw Poll:

Tommy Thompson For President - Statement by Governor Thompson on Ames Straw Poll Participation To skip the straw poll is to show fear...fear that a campaign's lack of support will finally be revealed and fear the entire country will see that the king has no clothes.

Both Senator McCain and Mayor Giuliani skipped out of the Iowa Straw Poll.

Bye!

How Extremists Are Getting US-Bought Guns

How Extremists Are Getting US-Bought Guns At least three U.S. government agencies are now investigating the massive 'disappearance' and diversion of weapons Washington intended for Iraqi government forces that instead have spread to militants and organized gangs across the region. The potential size of the traffic is stunning. A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office last month showed that since 2004, some 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols, bought with U.S. money for Iraqi security forces, have gone missing.

There is a good reason why they hate the United States. This is bad. Corruption with contractors is ugly.

Romney "Out Pauls" Paul

Dr. Ron Paul, the Republican candidate for President, has been heralded as the King of the Internet by his supporters for his purported omnipresence on the World Wide Web.

On WashingtonPost.com recently, this blurb by Jose Antonio Vargas in regards to the "back on" YouTube debates with Republicans:

"Romney, the lone GOP holdout, has posted more videos on his YouTube channel (283 as of Sunday afternoon) than any other presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat. But he has resisted the debate, in which videotaped questions are submitted through YouTube. In an interview with Manchester Union Leader, Romney said, 'I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman.'"

I think the YouTube debate for Republicans could be fun; however, I too believe that it would simply be a venue for "cheap shots" for a historically non-Republican audience.

Then again, Mitt Romney has more of an Internet presence than any other candidate. I reserve the right to be wrong.

Citizens Police Academy to Open Again

This is great news. The Citizens' Police Academy is to re-open. When it closed, I spoke with others, saying that the decision to close was poor judgement. This venture, operated by the city, could be money maker. We asked that the program be expanded to serve the region, not just the city. It could be turned into a new revenue stream for the city.

Plus, the benefits of the program are huge for the overall community.

Briefs: Motorcycle hits tree in Mt. Oliver, victim found nearby - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Citizen's Police Academy applications accepted The Pittsburgh Police Department is accepting applications for the Citizen's Police Academy, set to begin Sept. 4. The program will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at police headquarters, 1203 Western Ave., North Side, police Lt. Jennifer Beidle said. Participants learn about law-enforcement functions, some criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, firearms, crime scene processing and other topics. The class is free and limited to 30 people. Applications must be received by Aug. 24. For an application or more information, call Beidle at 412-323-7889.

Trib Brief: Fourth Candidate Enters Race for Mayor

Briefs: Motorcycle hits tree in Mt. Oliver, victim found nearby - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Oakland Fourth candidate enters race for mayor An Oakland man filed paperwork to run for Pittsburgh mayor as a Libertarian, which makes four candidates for the city's top office. Tony Oliva, 27, filed Thursday to be a replacement candidate for Libertarian Mark Rauterkus, who withdrew from the mayor's race Wednesday. Rauterkus is running as a Libertarian for City Council in District 3 and for city controller. Democratic Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also faces Republican Mark DeSantis and Socialist Workers Party candidate Ryan Scott in the Nov. 6 election.

Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another

Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- The Libertarian Party candidate for mayor said he will withdraw from the race and pass his slot on the ballot to another candidate. Mark Rauterkus said he will, however, continue to run for city controller and council, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its Web site Wednesday. Public safety worker Tony Oliva, 27, said he will take the ballot position for mayor Rauterkus had secured.

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Same news in Philly:

Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another | AP | 08/08/2007 Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another

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The Trib got this blurb into the paper as we pushed the paperwork around town and the election department:

Oakland Libertarian files for mayoral run - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Oakland Libertarian files for mayoral run

Great being with the Buckeye Swim Club in a long-course meet at Kenyon

Wonderful team. A merger should have happened. Oh well. 

Ravenstahl Could Lock Up Potential "Interesting" Race With Strong Post-Flood Showing

Let’s be honest. Interim Mayor Luke Ravenstahl doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to the November election. Mark DeSantis, the Republican who should have a decent showing if he had any kind of money, is really the Republican’s best chance in years (by the way, it doesn’t matter if the Socialist gets on any TV debates, I have more of a chance than winning than he does, and I’m not on the ballot).

DeSantis’ only hope for a respectable showing now rests on how the Interim Mayor responds to the flooding and weather situation (which may or may not include a tornado in downtown Pittsburgh).

So far, Ravenstahl has looked good and done what he needs to do. There was a significant population in the community that was put off by his sometimes childish antics. Everyone knows the story about him golfing in a celebrity tournament when a controversial action was taking place downtown. There was the attempt to get in Tiger Woods’ face during the U.S. Open that was taking place in suburban Pittsburgh, presumably for a picture to put on his office wall, or perhaps a billboard.

Ravenstahl says he declared a state of an emergency for the city. County Executive Dan Onorato did the same for the county. There’s damage to the Carnegie Science Center and a building the Uptown community. Specifically a minority-run barbershop partially collapsed.

Now if Luke can put on a good “leadership” face and make people believe he’s more than a political puppet, albeit a very young and conceivably an immature one at that, this could be a landslide victory of "mandate" proportions.

This election will have more to say about our next 12-20 years in this city than any since I’ve lived here (I still am convenienced that if Luke wins, it's his until he decides to give it up). You can line up all the Costas, Wagners and Murphys you want; if Luke looks good after the flood, he's in until the Pirates are competitive again.

Thankfully, our last "made" Mayor Tom Murphy is gone and disappeared into the vapors. Who even knows if he lives here anymore, there’s never any word on the street about the former “leader?”

Here comes the rain again. It most assuredly could wash away any hopes of an interesting mayoral race.

Pittsburgh agency might offer new business breaks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh agency might offer new business breaks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The Urban Redevelopment Authority is poised to clear the way for new tax breaks to businesses by revising old incentives drafted during Mayor Tom Murphy's administration.

No new TIFs. No old TIFs. No TIFs at all. I am not in favor of any TIFs. Pittsburgh needs some time to heal from all of the goofy deals it has hatched. Most have never paid off as promised.

Pittsburgh's 1st public art manager begins soon - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh's 1st public art manager begins soon - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review If Pittsburgh wants to attract more young people -- and convince them to stay here -- the city must become more attractive, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.

Enter Kim Baker, 30, formerly of Seattle. The new Lawrenceville resident starts Aug. 20 as Pittsburgh's first-ever public art manager.

Welcome to town Kim. Now, if you please, duck.

I do not agree with the concepts stated in the quote above by Luke Ravenstahl.

First, it begins with a big "if." If Pittsburgh wants to attract more people. So, Pittsburgh might not give a flying "IF" to attract immigrants.

Then there is the whole 'young people' focus. Should Pittsburgh put the 'young people' as a priority? Do the young people follow the trends? Are the young people flocking to the South Side in the nights and weekends and being a negative for the city's image -- as we heard early this week from consultants with the SSLDC.

The city "MUST" be more attractive. Wait. Didn't the city already clean up its smoky city image. Isn't the city blessed with one of the most attractive views anywhere in North America?

Are looks that important? Isn't it superficial to only want to be pretty -- attractive -- as flash that is only skin deep and nothing else.

What about Pittsburgh's personality, moxie, attitude, smarts, and fitness? Are those all meaningless to Luke.

And then there is the part about an 'investment into the city.' Really, this is an expense. This is a salary.

We NEED public art. Humm. Don't we already have public art? Do we want to be dynamic, or attractive?

Do we 'want' public art -- or do we 'need' public art.

I don't think Luke has a good grip upon what we 'want' and what we 'need.' The two are not the same.

The Heinz Endowments are going to pay for the $52k salary. But, she will be an employee. Pension, healthcare, overhead -- who's counting.

Great art draws people to the cities, so they think. Sigh.

Here is a clincher of a quote. She must have used this line in the interview to get hired: "I like public art, in particular, because access is available to everyone." (get out)

We've got a real, how do you say, 'hum dinger' there.

Did you know that Pittsburgh has this thingie -- but enforcement has been a problem. It hasn't been enforced for years. E-N-F-O-R-C-E-M-E-N-T

Enforcement in Pittsburgh is a joke. What is to be enforced is often a giggle.

But a new dawn is about to break. She hopes that in three to five years the city will commission artists to produce.

Public relations talk about three to five years might as well be talk of 30 to 50 years. The public treasury will still be in litigation with the the former executive from PAT who is seeking his back pension three years from now.

NoDrinkTax.com web site -- cheers to one round messages.

NoDrinkTax.comPoliticians in Allegheny County are trying to raise taxes on adult beverages (beer, wine, and spirits) by as much as an additional 10%. Increasing the already burdensome drink tax will cost jobs, hurt local businesses, and deal a major blow to the local economy.

Wasted away again in Allegheny-ville. They do not know how to create jobs -- but they are great at the creation of new taxes.

Gay support could cost candidates - Peter A. Brown - Politico.com

Gay support could cost candidates - Peter A. Brown - Politico.com Quinnipiac University polls of voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- the big three Electoral College swing states -- found voters by large margins more likely to see the endorsement of a gay rights group as a reason to vote against, rather than for, a candidate.

That is especially the case among independent voters -- often the key to winning these critical states -- and much more so among men than women and Republicans than Democrats.

Libertarian withdraws from mayor's race; stays in 2 others

Libertarian withdraws from mayor's race; stays in 2 others: "Libertarian withdraws from mayor's race; stays in 2 others"

Ravenstahl putts for Chicago expo - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

How ironic.

The mayor is in the promotion mode, again, with golf as a back-drop. Meanwhile, for the past year the only public golf course in the city, at Schenley Park, recently named for the late Bob O'Connor, is on the brink of closing. The course is bankrupt. The course does not make money. The course does not pull its own weight. The course is a drain on the city's budget. The nonprofit group that runs the course can't get the job done.

Pittsburgh has plenty of golf course around the region. We have some nice public venues. But, we are also known for plenty of 'country clubs.'

The other ironic mention, putting. Might as well say put-put. Puttering, floundering.

The word, putter, as in puttered and puttering:
To occupy oneself in an aimless or ineffective manner.
v.tr.
To waste (time) in idling:

The city has wasted plenty of time by not looking at, thinking about and doing acts that tackle the countless list of problems in the city and the region. The Bob O'Connor golf course is a prime example of how nothing has been done to insure that it can survive without another last minute bailout.

End the puttering.

Ravenstahl putts for Chicago expo - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said a marketing campaign showing a cartoon of him chipping a golf ball onto a putting green is a hole-in-one.

'Meet our Mayor: And putt your way to Pittsburgh,' says a headline above the cartoon of a rolling golf course and wedge-toting golfer. Beneath the drawing, the ad touts Pittsburgh's 'eco-friendly convention center, #1 airport in the U.S., unique meeting venues, world-class hotels, 212 Downtown eateries and walkable city.'"

West End gets federal money to fight crime - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

West End gets federal money to fight crime - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today that eight West End neighborhoods will be eligible for up to $1 million to combat gangs, drugs and other crimes that have plagued those neighborhoods.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Justice's Weed and Seed Program, which is a joint community and law enforcement effort to improve neighborhood safety.

'These funds are not going to be used just to weed the bad elements from your communities, they'll be used to revitalize,' Buchanan said.

Eighty Percent say "YES" to the inclusion of 3rd party candidates in debates for Pgh Mayor's Race

Today's Trib newspaper (printed edition) has news of yesterday's KQV Radio Poll. Yes, Trib Editor, I am a subscriber. After the poll closed is the first I am blogging about this question. And, I did NOT call in to record a vote on this matter myself.

WEDNESDAY'S QUESTION

Several debates with Pittsburgh mayoral candidate are planned by the local broadcast media. Republican Mark DeSantis will debate incumbent Democrat Luke Ravenstahl. Broadcast executive must now decide whether to include two so-called third-party ballot-qualified candidates, Libertarian Mark Rauterkus and Socialst Workers Party member Ryan Scott.

Do you think those third party candidates whose names will be on the Nov 6 ballot for Pittsburgh mayor should be included in the debates?

YES = 80 percent (191 votes)
NO = 20 percent (47 votes)

Of course citizens and voters of the region are open minded. Of course the crony mentality to label others and discount opportunities for others thrives among Grant Street among politicians. The majority want to hear from all voices.

But, what will the executives of the mainstream media outlets want?

Will the ones who control the airwaves want to side with the people or choose to play it safe?

Libertarian candidates in Pennsylvania for 2007's general election

Candidates in 2007 from Pennsylvania:

D. Michael Blackie for Philadelphia City Council

James Babb for Council of Censors, Montgomery County

James Babb for Montgomery County Sheriff

Erik Viker for Selinsgrove Borough Council, Snyder County – ON BALLOT

Mik Robertson for Clarion County Commissioner – ON BALLOT

Berlie Etzel for Clarion County Register and Recorder – ON BALLOT

Myron Deitrick for Mayor of Avis Borough, Clinton County – ON BALLOT & incumbent

Vance Mays for Venango County Commissioner – ON BALLOT

Mary Lea Lucas for Strattenville Borough Council, Clarion County – ON BALLOT

Tony Oliva for Mayor of Pittsburgh – ON BALLOT

Mark Rauterkus for Controller, Pittsburgh, – ON BALLOT

Mark Rauterkus for Pittsburgh City Council, 3rd District – ON BALLOT

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The Libertarians did have some candidates not get onto the ballot. These individuals either did not request assistance and/or did not respond to contacts. There were also a couple of late candidate inquiries. One late candidate effort was Chris Bectloff in Lancaster County. The PA Chair was not able to get an update, yet.

Tony Oliva in Pittsburgh worked with the Allegheny County organization. They responded incredibly well to support Tony when they became aware of his desire to be a candidate. The Libertarians throughout Pennsylvania need to find a way to consistently help candidates along and make sure they can submit the paperwork needed to get on the ballot. Local organizations are key to making this work.

Current rushes around me

Thumbs up. All systems go. Things look good. (Click on the photo above to zoom in for a closer look.)

I'm out of the mayor's race. It's washing over me -- down the drain. Refreshing.

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