Be there if you care: 3:30 pm on Thursdays at Carol's.

From people & vips

World anti-doping chief praises Beijing Olympics preparations, help in U.S. steroid raids - Thursday September 27, 2007 12:49PM

The war on drugs -- Olympic style.

SI.com - More Sports - World anti-doping chief praises Beijing Olympics preparations, help in U.S. steroid raids - Thursday September 27, 2007 12:49PM The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday praised China's assistance in massive U.S. raids on illegal labs that recovered millions of doses of steroids, much of which originated in China.

Dick Pound also endorsed new Chinese drug-control measures and said the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics were on track to be the most doping-free in the event's recent history.

David Adams yanks at his opponent to get out into the community -- or else

From the Office of the Adams for the 9th Campaign Team

Press Release:

David Adams, independent candidate for the 9th district city council seat, expressed frustration with Ricky Burgess’ obvious apprehension with meeting him to discuss an opportunity to debate informally, in order to provide the constituents of the district an opportunity to view the candidates and base their decision upon their plan, or in Adams’ case strategies for the district.

“I am sending this press release in order to satisfy 9th district residents Adams said, everyone I come in contact with wants to see us together discussing what we believe are the important issues.

Hiding as he is will not keep him from discussing the issues. We both will face the editorial board of the Post Gazette on October 10th. The residents of the 9th district have suffered from this kind of under cover, underhanded scheming for far too long; Burgess has no plan, other than opening the door to the corrupt developers, who sit in wait licking their lips to take over our district land. Through my investigative team the Conscience Group, I have received serious information about the true nature of Burgess’ agenda; it may not be his at all!”

“If Ricky Burgess does not come forward, by calling the office of the Adams for the 9th campaign team, by Monday October 1, I will personally challenge him in his church during a service, or resort to Marine tactics which will definitely force him out in the public,” Adams stated.

“The choice is his, Adams said, I represent the youth, the young adults, progressive seniors, and the residents who wish to preserve and rebuild our community, and especially our neighborhoods. We may not have the big money everyone outside of our community continues to throw in our face right now, but I swear before my God, this city will not push us out of our district! They may have purchased “Burgess,” thinking they have the key to the 9th, but I send this out to all that may hear… THE 9th DISTRICT IS NOT FOR SALE!!!! Under the Adams administration, residents can count on something similar to the Harlem Project.

Peduto floats Pittsburgh parking plan - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Peduto floats Pittsburgh parking plan - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh City Councilman William Peduto is asking state lawmakers to require the city's parking authority to reduce rates in line with a parking tax reduction.

Gosh darn. Peduto is running to state lawmakers. Talk about hopelessness doesn't want to go away.

The PA lawmakers demanded and mandated the reduction in the parking tax.

But my big concern is that Pittsburgh people and Pittsburgh's leaders are NOT taking care of Pittsburgh's problems.

The Parking Authority is a city authority. Why not take care of our own mess ourselves?

Furthermore, I have no confidence that the Harrisburg politicians have any clue as to how to find the best solutions.

Wal-Mart is pulling out of Kilbuck site

Wal-Mart is walking out of the development in Kilbuck Township.

Meanwhile, Jeff Koch, D, city council member for a few more months, has been calling Wal-Mart officials to try to get them interested in moving into city council district 3. I think that there is a site up the hill -- near or in Arlington.

Those calls have not started today. They've been plugging away for a few weeks.

Hummm....

I'm glad that Wal-Mart has had the smarts to "Think Again" about its site with the mega land slide. That's a mature move. Be flexible. Have the capacity to think again.

So, thumbs up to Wal-Mart for finally making the right decision in the end.

Wal-Mart gives up on Kilbuck development: Wal-Mart gives up on Kilbuck development

Ethics Hearing Board boss, Sister Patrice, due any moment on KDKA Radio

Why would Sister P.H., boss of the Ethics Hearing Board, be slated to a KDKA Radio call-in show today? She'll be on Kevin Miller's show. Who is booking her to those appearances?

Is the Sister going to speak out about the arrival of the new Bishop?

Is the Sister going to speak about the secrecy of the Pittsburgh nonprofit trust fund that generates money for the city in unknown ways from unknown sources in unknown amounts with an unknown future -- by design?

I hope to call into the show and ask her if she'll hold a meeting in October. The last monthly meeting was scratched as a quorum was not present.

Am with good assumptions that the Sister would have gotten copies of these documents by now. They were delivered to her via the Pgh Law Department on Friday. http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics/

As one who files a complaint, I'm under the thumb of 'confidentiality.' But, is she?

Blab about it bloggers.

Message to City Council on Sept. 26, 2007

Raw video of my message to Pittsburgh City Council, September 26, 2007. Talk begins under protest as there were only four in the room as the meeting began. As I was talking, a fifth member of council arrived. Five are needed to make a quorum.

Mentioned ethics, Jim Motznik, a DVD gift, education, schools and campaigns.

Quote: I've been filing a few ethics complaints. I'd hate to have reasons to file some more.

The Ethics Hearing Board has been having a hard time getting a quorum for their meetings. (Last months meeting did not happen as not enough members showed up. Many meetings were missed in the past because members of the Ethics Hearing Board were not showing up to do their duties.

In my talk, I call out to the members of the Ethics Hearing Board to show up for the October meeting as they have some work to do.

Message to the members of the Ethics Hearing Board -- "Come on down!"

Next meeting of the Ethics Hearing Board is posted on the second Friday of October, October 12. See the Google calendar.

I care a great deal about schools and lifelong learning. City Council and the City Controller could do a lot for education and citizen learning, as well as schools.

The decline of the city has a lot to do with the condition of our schools. As childrens get older, families often move out of the city as the oldest child hits 5th, 6th and 7th grades. Middle schools are "iffy" in the city. The high school are worse.

I was hopeful that the new high school reform agenda would talk about high schools. I've been disappointed, sadly.

We need to fix Pittsburgh by growing a new generation of competitive students. They need to be part of a region that has opportunities and prosperity. These kids are in our schools now. They are precious and the kids are the key to Pittsburgh's future.

Click To Play

Sunday event, Pgh Design Fair on North Side, 11-5 pm

Click for larger view. Check the Google Calendar for events.

My liquidation plank gets mentioned by Motznik on Nightalk TV show

Jim Motznik, D, of Pittsburgh City Council was on PCNC's NightTalk TV interview show last night. Motznik was absent at that day's city council meeting. See the other link about my address to council and my birthday gift for him.

As I watched the interview with Mr. Motznik, the highlight of his chatter was a comment that Motznik would, "liquidate the Parking Authority after becoming mayor."

Both parts of the statement by Motznik, (the liquidation and being mayor), are worthy blog bait.

Jim Motznik isn't running for mayor. He never has run for mayor. He has run for city council president and couldn't get a majority of nine to vote for him.

Would Mayor Motznik hire Michael Diven as his Denny Regan / Yarone Zober? Would Mayor Motznik call County Executive, Luke Ravenstahl, 'the boss?' Would Mayor Motznik call for more bailouts from Governor Dan Onorato?

I doubt that Motznik would get far in his big-government circle with talk of liquidation.

For years, I've been saying that the Parking Authority should be liquidated. So, perhaps, Jim Motznik is reading from my playbook and the Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki/. I love liquidation talk. However, there are important additional steps that I am promoting that I have yet to hear from Jim Motznik.

The gist of Motznik's interview was about keeping a high parking tax. The parking tax in Pittsburgh was elevated to 50% in the recent past. For example, if a $10 parking fee from a parking garage operator in the city gets joined by an additional tax of $5 for the city. The tax gets slapped on what the garage operator gets so that the total to the consumer is $15.00.

State laws have come into being from suburban legislatures that mandate lowering the parking tax. The bailout that the city got from the state required that the parking tax decrease. It was 50%. In 2007 it had to be 45%. In 2008 it is to go lower.

The city budget is out and the fight is about to get hot. The 5% drop in parking tax hurts the city about $3-million a year.

When talking liquidation, let's begin with the Parking Authority and move beyond.

I want to make liquidation talk happen without needing to be mayor first. Jim Motznik could introduce legislation to liquidate the Parking Authority as a member of city council.

But the kicker of my platform plank that wasn't mentioned by Mr. Motznik. I suggest that we drop the parking tax by large amounts as liquidation began and it would end up at 10% (or so) as full liquidation occurs.

Civic Arena Free Skate

Tom, Grant, Erik and #86, Simon. Grant took off his helmet for the photo, as they exited the ice.

By the way, the RAD tax still stinks. It needs to be re-tooled.

And, the Civic Arena should still be saved.

Today's meetings

I'm speaking to a group of senior citizens at the South Side Market House today at 11 am.

I'm speaking to any interested media at 3:30 pm in the West End at Carol's Restaurant, 410 South Main Street.

Luke's lies get hammered on KDKA and Jon Delano makes nice, again

Jon Delano takes the mayor at his word. Delano is a sucker.

The meeting at Langley High School on Monday had all the suits of the city there, so says a caller to the Marty Griffin show. Guy Costa, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Community Contact in Mayor's office, Public Works Zone director, Citiparks Director, City Planning folks, etc., etc. -- they are all going to these community meetings. The parade was there a couple of weeks ago on the South Side Slopes. The ploy sucks.

Those people are campaign pawns, thanks to Luke.

This is why they were all asked to resign. But, this is why they all had their resignations not 'accepted.' Ha, ha.

I don't want the mayor to show up to community meetings with the city administration.

A few weeks ago I told the mayor's staff to take off. For the rest of September and all of October, the staff should NOT work in the evenings and nights, unless they are at their Grant Street offices.

I don't want the police chief to be a political pawn.

One guy with ethics, the ex-director of Building Inspectors, lost his job. Perhaps he didn't want use his BBI uniform as a campaign pawn for Luke's benefit in neighborhood meetings -- when campaign debates should be happening.

Senate Endorses Plan to Divide Iraq

Senate Endorses Plan to Divide Iraq: "Senate Endorses Plan to Divide Iraq By Shailagh Murray The Washington Post Wednesday 26 September 2007

Action shows rare bipartisan consensus.

Showing rare bipartisan consensus over war policy, the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed a political settlement for Iraq that would divide the country into three semi-autonomous regions."

A few years ago, I talked about this same concept. The US power-players have been trying to 'hold together the nation of Iraq' for some time. So stupid on many levels.

So, Iraq won't be the 51st state. It could be 51, 52, and 53.

Next up, let's split Pittsburgh Public Schools into different school districts.

Program aims to get city fit - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Oh my gosh.

Program aims to get city fit - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The city closed the bridge for the event, which began with 30 minutes of dodgeball. It's great exercise, which is exactly what Pittsburghers need, officials said.

No. Playing dodge ball on a closed bridge in the middle of the day is NOT exactly what Pittsburghers need, Mr. and Mrs. Official.

I am all about fitness. Fitness is one of the cornerstones to my framework. Fitness is super important. I wish I was able to attend this event. It might have been as fun as playing basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters on the mall in front of our nation's capital.

insert photo

But, jeepers: Playing dodge ball isn't what city officials should be doing -- exactly. Not for the next 250 years nor 250 minutes.

I'm going overboard on this quote, I understand. It is twisted out of context, I hope.

Let's talk and do fitness frequently.

Rauterkus = Uberblogger via The Busman's Holiday's Holiday

The Busman's Holiday: The Busman's Holiday's Holiday

Uberblogger this week. Last week I was called a 'Fixture.'

From Mark Rauterkus

By the way, new postcards arrived yesterday. The headline: "Elect a Fixture for Freedom."

I passed out some of the postcards last night while at the Civic Arena for the free, open skate. The arena was 'cool' place to be on a muggy evening. I let our family's other candidate skip swim practice so he could go for the first skate of the year in a building that won't be around by the time he graduates high school, sadly.

(insert photos - check back soon)

Skipping a swim practice is a big deal on a Tuesday in the month of September because of there isn't any workouts for the rest of the week. Our new our home team, the JCC Sailfish, holds practices at the Jewish Community Center. That facility is closed for another holiday. Well, it is the last one for a long while.

I did get Erik with a bribe to help me on Thursday night for downtown literature drop activities, after violin lessons. And, Erik, Grant and I will pedal with critical mass on Friday. Meet at Dippy in Oakland. See the public calendar.

Full text of the postcard:

Elect a Fixture for Freedom

Mark @ Rauterkus . com

Libertarian candidate for Pgh Controller and City Council, district 3.

As an elected official, I promise to do more for the families, kids and youth of Pittsburgh than all the others combined.

back

Elect.Rauterkus.com

Vote on November 6, 2007

We need aggressive watchdogs that care. Mark has the capacity to communicate solutions on the internet with a modern, open, network for all.

412 298 3432 = cell

Mark @ Rauterkus . com

Guess I'll need to make up some Uberblogger postcards next.

Mark Rauterkus – CANDIDATE for City Council, district 3

2.1 What steps would you take to solve the current fiscal crisis in the city?

Lay The Shovel Down. Stop expensive boneheaded projects with little lasting benefit. Many boondoggles curb freedom and cripple Pgh's future with debt.

I'll create teamwork among citizens and institutions. Let's distill better solutions; sustain discussions; inject debate and diverse perspectives; re-establish values. My priority is to compete like never before.

= 51 words

2.2 Do you support merging some services with the county, and if so, what are they?

Corporate welfare, police brutality, firefighters contracts, downtown interests, and Luke's golf drown everything else. Kids and families are ignored. Youths need coaching, not more shootings. Let's teach how to play. Volunteerism would soar by removing Citiparks, County Parks & Rec, and PPS afterschool from city hall. Build a democratic entity: Pgh Park District. (2004 positions at Play.CLOH.Org) Illinois uses this model so regional assets are cared for by parks and rec interests.

Cut URA. Merge Parking Authority by liquidation to marketplace.

= 82 words SUMARY: 51 + 80 = 131

I meet with the Post-Gazette Editorial Review Board, Wed at 11:30 am

But first, a word from the archives.

This video comes via an interesting route. It was shot while I was on the other side of the world, in New Zealand. It comes after the polls close following the primary election , May 2007. It shows the arrival of a city council person, Jim Motznik, to a victory party of Bruce Kraus. Kraus was excited. Kraus won the D party primary election over the endorsed Dem, Jeff Koch.

For a few weeks, this video was part of the digital archives of Agent Ska, back in May 2007. Then it vanished. Now it returned.

The life history of this content flows much like sealed court records on the Allegheny County Pothonatary site: here, there -- gone -- now elsewhere.

Scaife demands documents from Post-Gazette: "The Scaifes filed for divorce Feb. 8. The court ordered the documents sealed in March, but, according to Prothonotary Michael Lamb, the seal was broken Aug. 28 when an employee in his office may have neglected to make the necessary computer step when scanning in a new filing in the case. The window remained open for several days after that, he said."

And, the P-G reported upon the video clip of the embrace, so, it must be news:

Catty council

When Pittsburgh Councilman Jeff Koch put the last claw in the kitty coffin of colleague Jim Motznik's cat licensing legislation today some in the chamber thought immediately of primary election night, May 15.

That's when Mr. Koch's brief political career came to an apparent end with his defeat at the hands of Bruce Kraus. Blogger Agent Ska caught on video a touching moment, when Mr. Motznik walked into the victor's party wearing a Kraus campaign shirt, and got a warm shout out and a big hug from the future councilman from South Side.

Now, Early Returns isn't saying that Mr. Koch's no vote deciding the fate of Mr. Motznik's signature legislation was payback. It's our understanding that Mr. Motznik did little to help the Kraus campaign, though he later implied that he was glad there would be some turnover on council. And far be it from us to suggest that Mr. Motznik's Sept. 5 characterization of Mr. Koch as one of the "weak links" on council would ever play into the outgoing councilman's decision involving an important civic issue.

But on council, it's often personal relationships and diplomacy that win the day as much as the merits of the issue, so who knows?

And if one of Mr. Koch's two pet cats is seen prowling around Mr. Motznik's backyard fish pond any time soon, we may alter our judgment.
First published on July 24, 2007 at 4:27 pm

Let's follow the bouncing ball.

Today, I'm going to meet with the P-G editorial board in solo interview. The last time they huddled and sent out this article with an endorsement for independence.

Kraus in District 3: Democrats should seek independence on councilMay 03, 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Just when Pittsburghers in City Council District 3 were getting to know their new councilman of 13 months, voters will go to the polls May 15 to decide if he deserves a full four-year term.

Although the face-off between incumbent Jeffrey Koch of Arlington and challenger Bruce Kraus of South Side Flats is technically the Democratic primary, the eventual nominee will be heavily favored to win in November since no Republican is on the ballot. That nominee should be Bruce Kraus.

We say this although we've seen growth by Mr. Koch, 45, since he joined council in March 2006, after winning a special election that included Mr. Kraus and six other candidates. This time it's a one-on-one affair for Democrats in Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, Mt. Washington, South Oakland, South Side Flats, South Side Slopes and St. Clair Village.

Mr. Koch, a former employee of the city public works department and a party committeeman, arrived on Pittsburgh council by the traditional route. He has familiar allies, with endorsements from the county Democratic Committee, Allegheny County Labor Council and various units of the United Auto Workers, Teamsters, Fire Fighters and Fraternal Order of Police -- all of which gives us pause.

Pittsburgh is a city that requires courageous decisions on spending. Public-employee contracts, pension debt and streamlining the workforce are live-or-die issues for a government in fiscal distress. What happens when the needs of a councilman's powerful backers collide with the interests of taxpayers?

Councilman Koch clearly has a desire to work for the district. He is pushing legislation to limit the number of liquor licenses in dense business zones like Carson Street, lobbying the Port Authority to complete the East Warrington Avenue resurfacing project and working to obtain federal Weed and Seed funds for anti-crime programs.

But Mr. Kraus, 53, is the more independent choice.

The challenger is a forceful and articulate advocate for the district. As the operator of an interior design firm, he knows the city both as a resident and as a business owner. He has grown impatient with city government's approach to bar patrons whose drunken revelry trashes the neighborhood around Carson Street and he finds the councilman's liquor-license legislation poorly crafted and timed for election-season benefit.

Even without being on council, Mr. Kraus has rolled up his sleeves on behalf of the community -- as chair of the Pittsburgh Anti-Graffiti Task Force, an original member of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, a board member of the South Side Community, president of the South Side Chamber of Commerce and a player in the United Way Neighborhood Leadership Program to promote healthy living habits.

The candidates agree on many issues, but we give the edge -- and our endorsement -- to Bruce Kraus because of his citizen involvement and his independent voice.
First published on May 2, 2007 at 5:59 pm

Jimmy!

Happy Birthday wishes to Jim went out from Agent Ska, http://AgentSka.blogspot.com.

I had hoped that she'd put this clip onto a different site that is better at 'mash-ups' -- JumpCut.com. But, I'm glad to see the recycled electrons on the wire again.

Mark Rauterkus – CANDIDATE for Controller, City of Pittsburgh

Mark Rauterkus, 48, Libertarian, seeking office of controller, city wide.

108 S. 12th Street, South Side
412 298 3432
Mark@Rauterkus.com
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com

Biographical
Education
Journalism, Ohio U., '82, with honors
Grad school at Baylor, P.E.

Occupation
swim coach

Qualifications
Authoring book on public policy: Planks
Blog ranked 3rd most influential in PA politics (9-07)
Elected board of Allegheny Libertarians (vice chair) and ex-GOP city committee
Ran grassroots campaigns on issues and mayor, PA senate, council.
Consistent task force participant

Q: 2.1 What are the important problems of Pittsburgh that the city controller can address?

Schools. Citizen Engagement. Loss of liberty.

See Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki.

Schools must have discipline and parent/community involvement. Build upon successful programs. Fix high schools already.

Words = 32

Q: 2.2 What specific procedures should the controller's office use to address the fiscal crissis of the city?

I'll create and organize a CITIZENS' CONGRESS with hundreds of volunteer activists working as deputy auditors. Engaged residents must establish a tight grip on city government and schools The city is at the brink and out of control. Our values, priorities, benchmarks, and open dialog need an overhaul. We need to think again and create community with new leaders and real citizen empowerment.

I'll launch a Youth Technology Summit. I'll leverage open source software methods everywhere.

Words = 76
Total allowed, 125. Total above = 32 + 76 = 108

Hey Teacher, leave that W2 alone.

PRESS RELEASE, Yardley PA , Sept 25.

With information obtained under Pennsylvania's Right To Know law, StopTeacherStrikes, Inc. today posted the individual names and compensation details for all teachers in the Cumberland Valley school district in Cumberland County, on its web site www.stopteacherstrikes.org

StopTeacherStrikes President, Simon Campbell, commented:

"The Cumberland Valley teachers union issued an implied threat with their recent informational picket. The threat is that the union will launch a full strike if taxpayers do not meet their demands. This type of coercive behavior that hurts children is illegal in thirty-seven (37) other states. The posting of the teachers' salaries is designed to remind public employees that they are public servants who are accountable to taxpayers. It provides for public transparency, accountability and oversight. Despite the outrage from the union, we will continue to post teachers names and salaries in strike-threatened districts"

For more information about StopTeacherStrikes, Inc. or this press release, please contact:

Simon Campbell
President, StopTeacherStrikes, Inc.
668 Stony Hill Rd #298
Yardley, PA 19067
Tel 215-586-3573

Bob Dylan and Mark Rauterkus -- a greatest hit and folk combination for Pittsburgh

Click it. It is short.