Have you gone to jail for justice? You'll be a friend of mine.

Last Sunday, I attended a church service on the North Side at the Allegheny U.U. Church. The star performer was Pittsburgh's Anne Feeney. She is one of the most dangerous musicians around.

Here is a snip of her song, that fits well with today's Pittsburgh City Paper article about my struggle with the Ethics Hearing Board.

Rotten Laws, until people like us deny it. View Video

If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qTPUqUYYo3c5ziPrmBbvzA

Statement to Pgh City Council, talking about parking tax and parking authority

Click To Play

Watch 3-minutes of public comment for Pittsburgh's City Council concerning Parking Tax and Parking Authority. Delivered on Oct 2, 2007.

This video has a different format with a slide-show elements. I used OpenOffice.org to make the various full screen displays of text that back up what is being said at the microphone.

"Rubbish" -- giggle, giggle, giggle. Go get a copy of the Pgh City Paper

This week's edition of the local newsweekly, tabloid, Pittsburgh's City Paper, is now available for free pick up in news boxes and stacks at cafes, etc.

The article concerning my struggles with the Ethics Hearing Board is on page 10, a nice position, at the top of the news / government section. The article is fair.

The online edition of becomes available tomorrow.

Rt 28 closed in both directions

An overnight rock slide forced the closure of all lanes along
Route 28 in Harmar Township.

Statement against the new taxes on drinks and rental cars

Tonight's statement delivered to the Allegheny County Council. I am not in favor of the new taxes.

Click To Play

County Council's public hearing on new drink taxes and new rental car taxes -- big fuss in shame for Onorato

I have a lot to say about the public hearing as well as the overall situation. But this sign is just too good to hold.

From Come Live Ove...

A union guy said that he's been to a lot of places and drank in many joints. He felt certain that the drinks in Pittsburgh are cheap enough now that a little extra won't be much of a hardship. Furthermore, if people knew that a quarter or thirty cents from every beer purchased at a bar was going to go to fund mass transit, people would drink even more. It would be going to a good cause!

I spoke. I'll try to upload my comments and more insights in the morning, after looking at what the newspapers print.

But the highlight of the night was Chelsa Wagner, State Rep., Democrat. She hit it out of the park! In her statement, she was disturbed that the good people were pitted against one another. She is against the new taxes.

The low light was a faxed letter from Dan Frankle, east end, state rep. His message, read by Rich Fitzgerald, was full of mumbo-jumbo b.s.

Tony Oliva getting some air-time with PCTV 21 show

We don't yet know the dates and times of the show, but Tony Oliva, Libertarian, candidate for mayor, had a sit-down interview with Bruce Krane, show host, in the studios of PCTV21.

From people & vips

Bruce Krane, on the left (very far left), and Tony Oliva, Libertarian.

Ron Paul signs are around town

From RonPaul

TV Interview: Mark Rauterkus with David Adams, part 2

Enjoy part two of the interview. Discussion begins with the question: what would people get from the leadership of Mark Rauterkus. Answer: "I care about kids."

Second half of this segment includes the story, Diamonds, from Meg Barnhouse. Her story has been featured on the Elect.Rauterkus.com CDs.

Click To Play

Part 2 links:

Link to media accessed at URL: http://blip.tv/file/407410

Source, Windows media (.wmd): http://blip.tv/file/get/Rauterkus-TVInterviewWithMarkRauterkusPart2989.wmv

Web, Flash video: http://blip.tv/file/get/Rauterkus-TVInterviewWithMarkRauterkusPart2989.flv

Thumbnail

Same segment on YouTube.com.

Scroll down on this blog for part 1, the opening.

Dave Schuilenburg For Council - New Leadership For True Change!

Dave Schuilenburg For Council - New Leadership For True Change!: "Our plan is to first attempt to persuade County Council to vote 'NO' to Allegheny County Council Bill 3375-07 on October 2nd, and should they refuse to do so, we will then proceed to the next step, that of getting a question on the next primary ballot so as they know just how many of their constituents agree or disagree with them on the issue. To follow the bill as it moves through County Council, click here. "

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."