DeSantis Proving True Reasons To Make A Mayoral Change

It was reported today that Republican Mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis has unveiled a spending plan that would drastically cut city spending.
It’s innovation like this that Pittsburgh has needed for decades, not just years. The plan predicts a $193 million savings by 2012. We aren’t receiving plans like this from the Interim Mayor, Luke Ravenstahl.
The most impressive aspect of the plan is cutting the bloated and heavy Mayor’s Office. In times of financial crisis, there is no reason whatsoever to easily be able to trim $500,000 from the Mayor’s staff, which is generally nothing more than a dumping ground for political supporters and other “friends” in the neighborhood.
Looking at the city’s expenses like a business is what’s needed. If a hiring freeze is needed for non-essential workers, as DeSantis proposes, then it has to be considered.
Seeking a home-rule-charter amendment that ties city spending to the Consumer Price Index and population levels is only smart business. Politics generally doesn’t coincide with business, hence the financial straights of many urban epicenters.
Selling city-owned real estate is paramount. There’s no reason for the city to be in the business of real estate speculation. That’s for the private sector. The current system simply isn’t working, so it has to be re-evaluated. Add to that a desire to increase the entrepreneurial spirit in Pittsburgh, and that’s a “no brainer.” That has to be done for the city to once again experience fiscal growth.
Pittsburgh also has expensive real estate, wage and payroll taxes. DeSantis floats the idea of cutting those taxes as a way of spurring growth. Raising taxes has never, in recorded history of man, ever meant positive economic growth, especially when city services are terrible compared to virtually every other municipality in Allegheny County. There have to be financial incentives for good people, families and others to plant roots in Pittsburgh. Under the current spend-happy series of Democratic regimes, there aren’t any fiscal advantages to being a “real” Pittsburgher. It’s almost universally less expensive to live in any of the county’s other 129 towns, boroughs and municipalities.
Worker’s compensation and overtime costs are a small gold mine for city workers, firefighters in particular. It’s more than time to get those costs under control. It’s possible to hire three firefighters for the $120,000 some individuals make. That’s abusing the system of overtime and compensation.
The city’s population continues to drop at incredible rates. Continuing on the current path of economic destruction will not reverse trends.
Mark DeSantis was very slow getting out of the gate, but he has improved in recent weeks. There’s more reason than ever to vote for change on November 6.

Pittsburgh nonprofits to support to city finances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh nonprofits to support to city finances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "He said the identities of the donors will be kept confidential, as they have been in the past under the terms of the agreement."

This is less than open and less than honest. It might be ethical, but it isn't how a municipal government should be operated.

We don't have 'trade secrets' in the public realm.

Who writes the checks? How much are they?

As controller, I would work hard to end the secrecy. To 'move forward' Pittsburgh has to go beyond its legacy as a 'smoke filled city.' This deal has dollars and lots of smoke.

This is how Dan Onorato wants to run the parks too -- with private funds -- with secret slush that isn't predictable.

The begging isn't becoming. Beggars are not free. Kids don't want to grow up in a land where their parents have put themselves into debt, slavery and blindness.

TV Interview with Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian, and David C. Adams

Hope you click and watch this opening segment. High quality interview -- much like a "Prequel."

Click To Play

Stay tuned!

Other links to same content:

Direct media link URL: http://blip.tv/file/405847

Source data in Windows Media, .wmv: http://blip.tv/file/get/Rauterkus-TVInterviewOpeningSegment293.wmv

Web, Flash Video: http://blip.tv/file/get/Rauterkus-TVInterviewOpeningSegment293.flv

YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/v/8HyjGpSQsMQ

New URA -- yeah, right.

I posted at another blog something that should also reside here.

A big Sunday feature on the new URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) had some great insights.

Pat Ford was all about "law" and "justice" in the article because of the bad rap of zoning, planning, authorities and more. This is a town where 'corruption' rules -- or at least the perception of corruption.

FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) works.

Smokey City works.

Getting the deal done is about being good with favorites. Insiders vs. Outsiders.

Developers vs. Neighborhood activists.

Being legal for them is about not getting caught.

As a Libertarian, I have a different take, of course. Zoning is so bent, we should toss it all out the window. The counter measure would be a robust system where those that do ills are on the hook for damages.

Litter Gitters

Oct. 12-14 brings October Redd Up. The event aims to get 5,000 people to hit the streets, bags in hand, in more than 80 city neighborhoods and communities in Allegheny and Beaver counties.

Boris Weinstein, Citizens Against Litter, has coordinators and is looking for more help. Contact him at 412-688-9120, boris.weinstein@verizon.net or info@citizensagainstlitter.org.

Letter to Editor by Russ Diamond on PG Judical Retention Editorial

Thanks to fellow Libertarian, Mark C., for this insights:

Russ Diamond had a LTE in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette responding to last Sunday's editorial objecting to PACleanSweep's call for non-retentions of judges that accepted the infamous pay raise.

The PG is, of course, entitled to its opinion, but I thought that their wording last Sunday was, well, an indication that they should switch to decaf: "Now a pair of activists are trying to pervert our civic duty by calling for the blind ouster of more than 60 judges who are on the November ballot for retention."

To the PG's credit they gave Russ a chance to respond and they put his response in the bottom corner of the LTE section where they gave it its own graphic and drew a box around it. You can't see that on the on-line version, but I consider it prime real estate in the LTE section of the hardcopy version.

Mark

---

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07273/821441-35.stm

How can we trust our judges when they've failed us on the pay raise

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, September 30, 2007

Your Sept. 23 editorial regarding judicial retentions ("Vote Smart: Don't Be Stampeded on a Blanket Ouster of Judges") made assumptions that deserve to be addressed.

The delegates to the 1967 state constitutional convention believed a retention system was "a good thing" when they proposed it. Unfortunately, since then judges have regularly breezed through, effectively providing permanent tenure. That is not democracy. What looks good in theory does not always pan out in practice.

You held up the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Web site as a resource for voters to investigate retention candidates. Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin's response there touts 10 cases out of approximately 7,500 decisions the PBA claims she's had a hand in. Can such a tiny sampling of the caseload -- handpicked by the candidate -- provide a fair assessment of her overall record?

Although Supreme Court Justice Tom Saylor dissented on the pay raise case, he took the money anyway. Actions speak louder than words. His dissent utterly failed to address the very troubling constitutional issues that were part and parcel of the "judicial swindle."

PACleanSweep seeks to restore constitutional rule in Pennsylvania. We could care less if replacement judges earn the same salary as current judges. This fight is not about how much money a judge earns. It's about the sneaky, underhanded way they got their pay raise.

In every judge's oath of office, allegiance to the Constitution comes first. If we cannot trust judges to support, obey and defend the Constitution, how can we possibly trust them to sit in judgment of other matters of law and our fellow citizens?

RUSS DIAMOND, Chair, PACleanSweep
Annville, Lebanon County

WHAT ABOUT BOB?

WHAT ABOUT BOB?: "WHAT ABOUT BOB?"

I agree with everything except the end. The blog post ends with the mention, "We are screwed."

That's the spin. Well, the spin isn't working.

Luke is Bob = false.

So, Luke is screwed = true.

Pitt plans to negotiate for Hill District land, developer says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pitt plans to negotiate for Hill District land, developer says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A legal fight with Pitt has delayed Beacon/Corcoran from beginning the second part of the Oak Hill development. Pitt owns land next to the proposed development near Robinson Court and wants additional land from the city to use for athletic fields. The amount of land is under dispute.

Pitt, Luke, Others: Put the gosh darn athletic facilities on the flat land that is now empty in Hazlewood. That is where Pitt should expand to. Call it Pitt's RIVER CAMPUS. Then Pitt could have upper campus, lower campus and river campus.

The River Campus should have ball fields, intramural facilities, an alumni hall for Pitt, as well as another for CMU, graduate student housing, the Pitt football practice facilities, and some serious community blending.

Go to down and back between the river via Panther Hollow and a people mover. WVU and Morgantown has one. Inclines used to fill this city and bring a low-tech, easy pathway. Hong Kong has a people mover, incline too.

From Pens Village

From Come Live Ove...

Nonprofit Orgs -- what are you waiting for?

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. If you're a nonprofit organization in the U.S. with 501(c)(3) tax status, apply today for the YouTube Nonprofit Program.

It is better to ask for forgiveness than approval.

Come Live Over Here: South Side ink and images in Boston Globe

Nice slide show. Our street, 12th Street, is the third image.

Boston Globe Article in Travel Section

From Come Live Ove...

Link.

A gloriously gritty groove
Moving beyond its industrial past, the South Side pulses with a funky vibe yet stays true to its working-class roots

By Necee Regis, Globe Correspondent | September 30, 2007

Thursday night at 11:30 a line is forming at the corner of East Carson and 17th streets for grilled chicken wrapped in pita bread that locals fondly refer to as "cat on a stick."

Beautiful day -- heard about another race, so I showed up -- and got in the news

I got some much deserved and desired KDKA-TV news coverage today for my participation in two races. As die-hard blog readers know, I'm running as a candidate for Controller and City Council, district 3. Well, in case you missed the news on TV, the full extent of the coverage is outlined below. Big-time news coverage can help to pivot a campaign. Earned media, like this, can't be bought. Oh boy. The campaign is going to new heights!

	That's me standing next to the no parking sign on the left side. I'm clapping and cheering for the runners, so I guess that's why there is a blur.
From people & vips

My day started at 2 am, as usual on the weekends. That's the drunks outside our window. They were cheering for Ron Paul. Gosh. They must have just found out that this quarter's fund raising goals were met.

At 5:30, I wake to take my boys to AM swim practice at the JCC. Then the real fun began. I hit the starting line of the 5K. I got to wish hundreds of runners "good luck." I got to do some last minute coaching for some as well. My advice, "Remember the scene in the movie 'The Lion King' when there is a stampede? Well, run straight. Don't zig zag."

Saw some teams in the road races today. The CV basketballer squads were doing the 10K. Same too the Chatham swimmers. The BP boys and girls swimmers, with coach, did the 5K.

Saw a lot of friends. Some thanked me for running. "No, I'm not in today's Great Race. I'm running in two other races."

The setting at the 10K starting line was a bit more intense than that of the 5K. More fences, more hard bodies, more off the bus and to the back of the line because that first hill is a mean one.

From people & vips

I shook hands and shouted out to my peeps -- including one dude in a Lamb T and another in a Peduto shirt.

From people & vips

That was Jason, who was keen on dogging the mayor out on the course. That was his month-long strategy. He caught Luke at the first water stop, 2-miles. But, he was too winded to do much chatting.

From people & vips

It is an ethics violation to shoot the gun and run in the race? I understand that the Mayor could shoot the gun for the start of the 5K, and then run the 10K. But even there, his mom was in the race. It could raise doubts. What if she would have leapfrogged to the front of the line after some body language que, ala Belichick, (films are under review.) for an unfair advantage? Then, did he pull the trigger in the 10K too? OMG. I'm sure that isn't legal -- two roles: starter and racer.

I was getting ready for my TV interview, so I didn't see the start of the 10K. Here is another image, from the TV website, zoomed in.

From people & vips

Then I went to church service on the North Side.

	Peek into Picasa for a peek into a wonderful verse of a splendid song, "Have you been to jail for justice?"
From people & vips

BTW, my kids got to their church service with a lift from my wife. Now, It is out again to another church service -- with a youth group. Should be fun. Pizza and a talk.

John Edwards is taking a back seat to Ron Paul

I am connected to plenty of email lists. A bit ago I got an email blast from the John Edwards Presidential campaign seeking funds. They wanted to raise $1-million in the last push of this month to look good on the campaign funding report period that ends on October 1.

Ten days ago, we put our online campaign in your hands. We did the math, and told you that to stay on target we needed to raise $1 million online by midnight tonight. None of us knew if that was possible. We knew that you had come through for us before—could we count on you again?

Today, as I write this, we only have $79,212 to go. We can do it.

At the same time, nearly, I got an email from the Ron Paul camapign. They Paul campaign folks said that they wanted to raise $500,000 in the final week.

A few days later, the Ron Paul campaign emailed back. Plus, it had one of those tickers that went up like as money came in. The $500,000 level had been passed and the re-tooled the ask to hit $1-million. And, again, a bit later, another email came.

Ron Paul's campaign goal of $1-million had been reached.

Meanwhile, John Edwards is getting close.

In other campaign news, Newt G of Georgia is not going to run for President. That's good news. Very good. His statements some months ago in New England about rights of citizens were right out of Saturday Night Live skits.

Wear Black - National Student Walkout slated for 1 pm on Monday, Oct. 1 -- in Pgh too!

This is in 24 hours:

NATIONAL STUDENT WALKOUT
Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 1 PM Eastern Time

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING: www.mxgm.org

www.myspace.com/SankofaEmpowerment

Artist/ Activist Mos Def along with M1, Talib Kweli, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game, the National Hip Hop Political Convention, and student leaders from 50 campuses call for a National Student Walk-Out to rally and show support for the Jena 6, who are being denied their human rights by the Louisiana criminal justice system.

If you wish to sign up your organization as a supporting institution email Assata at assata@pitt.edu then email Shona at srclarke1@gmail.com or Amira at amira.09@gmail.com to get involved with the local coalition's NATIONAL STUDENT WALKOUT MOVEMENT

WEAR BLACK & WALKOUT/ASSEMBLE @ CENTRAL LOCATION ON YOUR CAMPUS @ 1PM EST

CMU & CHATHAM STUDENTS START MARCH DOWN FORBES...

JOIN PITT STUDENTS as THEY MARCH DOWN FIFTH AVE AND JOIN CARLOW STUDENTS as THEY MARCH DOWN FIFTH AVE JOIN DUQUESNE STUDENTS. WE ALL CONTINUE MARCH DOWN FIFTH AVE & JOIN POINT PARK & ROBERT MORRIS STUDENTS

END @ 436 GRANT ST & DELIVER DEMANDS TO DA's OFFICE IN FRONT OF COUNTY COURT BUILDING DURING RALLY & PRESS CONFERENCE

1- WALKOUT & ASSEMBLE @ 1PM @ CENTRAL LOCATION ON EACH CAMPUS:
‡ CMU = "FENCE"
‡ PITT = WILLIAM PITT UNION
‡ CARLOW = TBA
‡ DUQ= TBA
‡ POINT PARK =
‡ ROBERT MORRIS =
‡ CCAC-NORTH= TBA

2. RALLY MARCH TIMELINE & ROUTE
1-1:15 CMU & CHATHAM Assembly Rally @ "The Fence"
1;15-1;30 The 2 Schools March down Forbes to PITT
1: 30-1:40 The 3 Schools March down FIFTH AVE to CARLOW
1;40-2;00 The 4 Schools March down FIFTH AVE to DUQ
2:00-2:15 The 5 Schools March down FITFH AVE TO THE DA"s

436 GRANT ST, COUNTY COURT BUILDING PGH PA 15218
TOTAL WALK = APPROX 2.5MILES

2:15-3:15 The 5 Schools Join POINT PARK/RMU/CCAC @ DA's HAVE LARGE RALLY/PRESS CONFERENCE/ DELIVER JUSTICE FOR JENA DEMANDS

END: STUDENTS WALK OR CATCH BUS W/ IDS BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPUSES

Good Luck Great Race participants!

Run, run, run!

Insightful TV interview of dual candidate, Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian

Test. For the next 60-seconds, this post is airing a test of the Emergency Blogger System. This is only a test. You can play around here, if this does not work, I'll not be alarmed.

Click for Insightful TV Interview of Mark Rauterkus

This one hour interview is being posted, in part, to test the capacity of Rauterkus.blip.tv. Other formats might be posted as well. Same interview with QuickTime. (This file loaded for me after about 20 minutes. And, the visual frame was trashed.

This interview will air or TV.

This interview is available on DVD.

TRANSIT TAX PUBLIC HEARING slated for Tuesday. What to speak?

I am signed up to speak. What about you?

Allegheny County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed taxes [10-percent poured-drink tax and $2 per day rental-car tax] that may be established to provide the additional local matching funds necessary to receive the additional State funds earmarked for public transit in Allegheny County.

The public hearing will be THIS-COMING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. IN THE GOLD ROOM [COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING CHAMBER] OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 436 GRANT STREET [AT FIFTH AVENUE] IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH.

PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING MUST PRE-REGISTER WITH THE CHIEF CLERK AT LEAST 24-HOURS IN ADVANCE:

* Telephone: 412-350-6495
* Electronic Mail: JMascio@county.allegheny.pa.us
* IN PERSON at Room 119 County Courthouse

Public comments at this public hearing are limited to three minutes per speaker.

The restaurants and taverns of Allegheny County are organizing to oppose the poured-drink tax. At least one car-rental company [Enterprise] has already testified, in front of County Council's Budget and Finance Committee, in opposition to the rental-car tax.

If you want to make your voice heard on this issue, be sure to pre-register to speak by Monday and attend on Tuesday. At this link is the official public hearing
notice:

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/agenda/oct27/publichearing_taxincrease.pdf


For news articles on this issue:

http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/pat/2007fundingcrisis.html#drinktax


PHILADELPHIA HIKE IN TRANSIT TOKENS AND TRANSFERS - Yesterday, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority [SEPTA] approved 15-cent increases in both transit tokens and transfers, to take effect on Monday. This was done to make-up income that was originally scheduled to come to SEPTA after the elimination of paper transfers last month. After the City of Philadelphia sued SEPTA to prevent the elimination of transfers, a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge ordered that SEPTA retain paper transfers.

SEPTA has appealed the court decision and has indicated that if their appeal is upheld, the increase in the price of tokens would be rolled-back, and of course, transfers would then be eliminated.

For news articles on this latest SEPTA Board action:

http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/septa/2007fundingcrisis.html#tokenhike

Great read of an important document with values, priorities and action

Ron Paul 2008 Declaration of Independence

Check it out.

My question to the mayor candidates has been submitted. Replies welcomed. Ball is in their -- or -- YOUR court.

The Post-Gazette editors are holding a debate for the mayor candidates in the second week of October. I've email this question to them for consideration.

Rec centers and swim pools have closed in recent years. Mark Rauterkus, a swim coach and political fixture himself, claims that coaching, mentoring, programming, volunteerism and leadership of city kids, teens and young adults is poor.

Do you favor the creation of a new "Pittsburgh Park District" that pulls Citiparks, County Parks & Rec and after-school access out of Grant Street political circles and into a new, democratic, entity sustained, in part with the RAD Tax.

Mr. Rauterkus claims stronger students with a more robust kid and parent engagement in new networks are necessary to grow Pittsburgh out of its mess. Our city's loss of young talent coupled with the violence has been a 1-2 punch on the city for years.

Will you work for a new approach and cut the ties from the city to Recreation so others with more energy and vision can come to care for our parks and our youth?

Ron Paul video in Congress ranting as to how the dropping dollar hurts the poor

Electing Ron Paul to President of the US would be a wonderful move for the poor people of America.

Note to John K: Take it elsewhere already. You're behavior is worst than that of a stripper. You are a like a repeated flasher on a playground.

Great day for a bike ride. Look for us at Critical Mass

See us in Oakland at Dippy just after 5 pm on Friday.