Rec Center Proposal Fires Up USC Residents

Ambitious, wishful speaking, costly, medicine balls.

kdka.com - Rec Center Proposal Fires Up USC Residents A proposal for a recreation center in Upper Saint Clair has some residents fired up. Dozens of citizens crammed a commissioners meeting to speak out on the center, which includes swimming pools and a gym.

Concerned residents say they can't afford a tax increase or the proposed membership fees.

Others at the meeting did speak in favor of it.

Letter to Editor from Rick Hays

Running Mate, Rick Hays reports his thoughts, on Sept. 1. I posted this letter for about 10 minutes and then took it down until was placed in ink in the P-G.

To the Editor:

Pittsburgh is truly at a crossroads in this 21st Century with the upcoming Mayoral Race. We have been doing things way too long in a 19th and 20th Century mindset. In these days of the Internet, mobile phones, 24 hour news and information sources plus a global economy, dire change is needed and NOW!!!! Otherwise our city cannot ever hope to utilize its awesome potential.

The best way to describe this is by using the dictionary. "Democrat" is found in your dictionary between DECEASED and DINOSAUR, while "Republican" is located between RENAISSANCE and RESURRECTION. In other words, the difference is between OLD and NEW.

Therefore, to make sure Pittsburgh becomes NEW again, we must not continue being ruled by the OLD. I urge all my fellow Pittsburghers to make everything NEW again by selecting Mark DeSantis as our next Mayor. On November 6, 2007 we can bring Pittsburgh instantly into the 21st Century. Join me at your polling place and vote for Mark DeSantis. You'll be glad you did!!!!!!!

Rick Hays (Richard M. Hays, Jr. aka 'Rick from Mt. Washington')

http://edgewood.freetoasthost.com/ Edgewood Toastmasters web site
http://www.d13tm.com/ District 13 Toastmasters online
http://www.metro-cities.com/ Metro Cities Communications worldwide radio/podcasting

"Doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way will assure you of an extraordinary future." Zig Ziglar

"The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people of this generation and those that follow." Buckminster Fuller

More from Rick.

Thanks for the above event on your blog. However, one thing as a correction.
I'm NOT A MARK DESANTIS associate. My letter recommending Mr. Desantis as
Pittsburgh Mayor was sent after many of your blog articles, plus those of
John McIntyre(http://www.macyapper.blogspot.com/ ), and P-G/Trib Review
Mayoral Race coverage as well. I wrote it as a concerned PRIVATE CITIZEN in
the City of Pittsburgh.

I'll keep you posted about if that letter gets published. You can also check
daily online at http://www.post-gazette.com/ .

---

Letters to the editor Pittsburgh is truly at a crossroads in this 21st century with the upcoming mayoral race.

Promises, promises: The Pittsburgh college tuition plan needs help

I spoke out against the Pittsburgh Promise the day it was announced. I went to the news event at the PFT. I was in shock. Meanwhile, the press was smitten with young Luke.

Promises, promises: The Pittsburgh college tuition plan needs help Promises, promises. Eight months later, at the start of a new school year, the Pittsburgh Promise remains full of potential and empty of achievement. As Post-Gazette reporter Rich Lord reported last week, nothing much has happened. While an initial estimate puts the cost at $3 million in the first year, the only commitment is $10,000 from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

Duquesne U. basketball player suspended

Duquesne U. basketball player suspended Duquesne University junior power forward Stuard Baldonado, who was one of five basketball players shot last year, was suspended from the school yesterday after his arrest Friday on drug charges.

From ads - political

This is a story with blowback to the 'drug wars.' The black college basketball player was found guilty of being in a taxi. Guilty of having a cell phone. Guilty of being in a city neighborhood. Guilty of being on academic probation. He plays a team sport and another claim to fame, is his ability to catch a bullet.

Two bags of grass were found on the other guy. How much? Were they as big bags, like carrying bags of school books? Or, were they tiny bags?

What became of the other guy, the 'dealer?'

The Duquesne University standard of accountability seems to apply to accompaniment. Share a cab and get the boot.

From Come Live Ove...

Photo shows weeds on the street and what isn't here any more. Photo shows were we want our kids to hangout.

Meeting lessons. Wisdom without charge

When you have a problem with a certain theme, generally, the way to fix the problem is to do something different. Don't do the same thing by choosing to replay that same theme. Don't do what makes the problem worse.

So, let's say an organization has a problem with stability. Things in an organizational life do go up and down from time to time. In the example, let's just say that matters are 'out of control.' Going moment to moment with a community institution is hard work. Healthy organizations have storms, fine. Storms are a part of nature. We cope. We deal. They blow past.

However, good leadership of an organization isn't going to call for a re-do and cause a repeat of the storm and insure that troubled conditions linger.

So, with the example, don't fix the problem of 'stability' by offering workers a super short term contract. Go long.

A problem with stability needs to be countered by offering contracts to key people that extend for 2, 3, 4 or 5 years, not months.

Lesson two of tonights, gratis words of advice.

In life, most moves are either that of playing offense or playing defense. The acts are to either move the ball forward. Or, to play defense and protect what one already has.

When hard times have come and assets are at very low levels -- don't play defense. Get on offense. When you are down and out, use the nimble, hungry and flexible nature that comes with the crisis and act. There is a time to plant and scatter seeds.

The Steelers have the option of 'punting.' Generally, life does not give that option. So, when you have the ball and it is 3rd down and 12 yards to go, but you have 98 yeards until a touchdown, go for it. Run a play with the offense. Don't bring out the defense. Punting can't work.

PennDot: Nearly one-third of local bridges structurally deficient - NewsFlash - PennLive.com

PennDot: Nearly one-third of local bridges structurally deficient - NewsFlash - PennLive.com

So, let's NOT dig a tunnel under the river. Rather, let's repair what we already have.

From Convention Ce...

Chicago is 2016 Olympic bid city for United States

SI.com - Olympics - It's official: Chicago is 2016 Olympic bid city from US

From planning-urban

We love Chicago. I fell in love in Chicago, and, we are still married.

True Chicago Family Trivia: Once while in Chicago, my wife went to vote, and she was handed two ballots. As a bonus, she wasn't even dead.

From family - travels

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: Bob O'Connor's Vision

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: Bob O'Connor's Vision Bob O'Connor's Vision

My comment there and here:

Bob already had supported the building of the mega projects -- the stadiums, the convention center, the Mon Valley Toll Way, the tunnel under the river, the downtown NORDSTROM department store, with its $50-million seed money, Lord & Taylor, Lazarus, etc.

Bob also got a finger in the eye on day one of his final campaign when he floated another HUGE spending spree on the return to streetcars. That went over like a lead balloon.

Bob then turned to the little things -- because that was the only dream he could sell. "Would you like an order of fries with that fixed pothole?"

When he talked about the big deal developments -- like the streetcar thingie, it exploded in his face. Other bid deal developments had blown up in his past as well.

Pgh City Council district 9, campaign kick off for David Adams.

Press Release: September 4, 2007

Independent Candidate David Adams will formally announce his candidacy for the 9^th district City Council seat on Friday September 7, 2007 at the Frick Park Entrance on Homewood Avenue, and Reynolds in the North Point Breeze community. The time of the event will be 12:30 P.M.

Adams will highlight the points of difference between what Ricky Burgess has presented as his plan, and the strategies Adams has envisioned, and is currently developing for the district, which Adams says will “change the way the 9^th district does business as a community!”

The event will also include special guests, who are running for various positions in the November 6^th election.

This event is open to the district residents, television, press and radio.

Adams sends a special invitation to candidate Ricky Burgess, in order to clarify any stated errors concerning his plan.

David's press release is above. I consider him a 'running mate.'

I will be attending the press conference to lend him my support and encouragement. I too am a candidate for the voters in the 9th city council district as I'm on the ballot for a city-wide race, controller. So, I want the voters in the district to elect David Adams for city council and to cast another vote in another race on the same day for me for the office of Pittsburgh Controller.

Czech capital Prague officially enters bid for 2016 Summer Olympics - Tuesday September 4, 2007 10:54AM

SI.com - More Sports - Czech capital Prague officially enters bid for 2016 Summer Olympics - Tuesday September 4, 2007 10:54AM PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Prague officially entered the race Tuesday to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, joining a strong field that includes candidates from the United States, Japan and Brazil.

I love Prague. Been there. It would be a GREAT place for the summer games.

But, the city isn't really named "PRAGUE."

Call it what they call it: Praha.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague

Infrastructure Matters

Pittsburgh Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Coming back to bite: Pittsburgh's failure to maintain its aging infrastructure keeps coming back to bite it. The latest example came Thursday when a major feeder line ruptured under Dithridge Street in Oakland. Tens of thousands of gallons of water flooded a widespread area causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage. A city that can't maintain its infrastructure is a city in decline.

Two hour delay for Plum High School (Tues)

A threat was made, so it was reported (WTAE TV) at Plum. The high school has a two-hour delay today.

I'll be in Plum for a 10 am funeral at Our Lady of Joy Church. Hard times.

Another visitation and funeral continues for the Hill family. Tomorrow is the burial. That is in Wilkinsburg. One twin boy is still in Children's Hospital.

Oh brother.

The third reason for heartache is the sophomore Pitt student from eastern PA who was killed this weekend as a Parkway East pedestrian.

Enough.

County looking to consolidate four row offices

This is proof positive of exactly what is wrong with the Dem Party Leadership and the process that only elects Ds. They promise. Then they promise again. And, they often promise some more when it comes to jobs. Political life of Pittsburgh Democrats is about jobs.

County looking to consolidate four row offices County Chief Executive Dan Onorato has promised the workers in those offices that no one, except for the elected officials and the individual solicitors, will lose their jobs.

So, the promise isn't being made about 'good government.' The promise isn't about being effective. The promise isn't to the taxpayers. The promise isn't to do the right thing.

Nope.

The promise is that jobs will not be lost.

The priority is jobs -- and that priority is exactly what I don't want. They've got the wrong goals. They've got the wrong targets and benchmarks.

Hindsight is 20/20. That vision thing.

O'Connor left behind one-page 'vision' for city through 2010 The vision was summarized in 33 words. 'By 2010, Pittsburgh is one of the safest, cleanest cities in the country. It is a vibrant, developing city that is financially sound. All of us as Pittsburghers are proud of our city.' Mr. O'Connor made sure that the vision and the strategies with which he would achieve it were concise.

I don't know if it is safe to talk (and blog) about Bob O'Connor and his vision yet. I have a hunch that it isn't a wise thing to do.

I miss Bob. We all miss Bob.

The 10th Street Bridge is no more, Yeah, right.

We got a new bridge that leads to and from the South Side -- sorta.

Pedestrian killed on Parkway East ID'd as Pitt student

Pedestrian killed on Parkway East ID'd as Pitt studentPedestrian killed on Parkway East ID'd as Pitt student

So sad.

Labor Day Parade

Here we come.
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Go fast. Work hard. Coaching wisdom.

Fellow Bloggers -- I want you phone number. Call me

If you run or help with a blog -- I want you to send me an email with your phone number. Or, just call me. I want to talk to you in the next days.

I'm cooking something new. I'd love to have you as part of the process.

Send your email to me at Mark @ Rauterkus. com.

My cell phone is 412 298 3432.

Hope to hear from you -- now.

t-shirt

From signs