China Bike Slide Show -- nearly 500 images

Bikes: no oil, more toil - Pitt News article

Bikes: no oil, more toil - News: "A bike is more than a mode of transportation for senior Steve Kurpiewski. It's a source of freedom. "

I love bikes. The city of Pittsburgh can do much, much more with bikes.

In the past, Mayor Murphy put in about 15 miles of bike baths along the edges of the rivers. He was here 12 years. His legacy amounts to about one new mile of trail for each year in office.


Some think that Murphy did a lot. I think he was a joke as a mayor and his bike legacy is a joke as well.

We've lived in two of the world's greatest bike cities: Chengdu in China and Christchurch in New Zealand.

Bike ways need to go to where we live, work, shop, worship and play. Along the river is fine, but we don't get from here to there by going along the rivers, often.

We should take a much more aggressive approach to bike through ways in our neighborhoods. Bikes do NOT need to be along the main business streets. Bikes do NOT need to be on the sidewalks either. But bikes can we woven on many streets, alleys, and by ways.

From NZ bike

Furthermore, bikes do NOT work in every single neighborhood and section of the city. But there are plenty of places where they do work very well -- after we get the infrastructure established.

Bikes need to be woven into the city's landscape along with a new effort to greatly increase 'in-fill parking.' We need to get some cars along some streets to be parked in better places.

There are lots and lots of spaces off the streets that need to be made into mini parking lots. Most of all the city gets in the way. But more so, the city can offer better tool for in-fill parking.

In a global way, if we bike more in Pittsburgh, we'll be building up the city life, city residents, and city property values. The city should be a priority, not urban sprawl.

From china - my bike

I have a plan that I'd love to research while on the job after being an elected official to tackle health care concerns with bikes and bikers. Discussions and solutions about bike riders, accidents, injuries and prevention could make Pittsburgh a much better place for fitness. We can spending on gasoline, help the environment, and make for more interesting options in a holistic way.

Bike Pittsburgh is fine. But, I'm sure that they could be much more aggressive in the demands for bike treatments.

The Birmingham Bridge that connects the South Side to Oakland has been a sore spot. The sidewalk stops! Cuts to the jersey barrier would allow people to be split about from the cars.

Ron Paul on ABC's Good Morning America

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/player?id=3697666

Tax land, not buildings - Letter to the editor

Herb hits on the policy for fixing Pittsburgh. I fully agree. We must change our ways and tax land, not buildings.

Tax land, not buildings - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Tax land, not buildings

Sunday, October 7, 2007

The Trib's article about a coalition of 113 nonprofits agreeing to voluntarily contribute to the City of Pittsburgh's finances reported seemingly good news for Pittsburgh ("Nonprofits to renew pledge to city," Oct. 2 and PghTrib.com).

Unfortunately, voluntary donations from nonprofits are unfair and also unwise sources of funds. The nonprofits compensate adequately for their tax-free property by attracting residents and visitors to the city.

The value of taxable land in the city is increased because of the money spent by users of universities, hospitals, museums, churches and other nonprofits.

The city should obtain the needed revenues by a higher taxation rate on land than on buildings. During recent years, the city's land has increased in value much more than its buildings.

A revenue-neutral lower tax rate on buildings stimulates construction, which increases further the city's revenue from taxable buildijavascript:void(0)
Save as Draftngs.

The beneficial effects of having a lower tax rate on buildings than on land are enjoyed by more than a dozen cities in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh until 2001 was one of these fortunate cities.

Herbert Barry III, Oakland

Pennsylvania and Oklahoma -- chatter about ballot access and more

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h has an article about ballot access, something that is near and dear to my heart -- and the heart of Democracy.

Imagine collecting signatures for a petition being a crime. Welcome to Oklahoma!

According to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News, Oklahoma has the worst ballot access laws in the country. Groups like the Libertarian Party and the Green Party are trying to change that -- right now.

But Oklahoma's most powerful political figures, including state Attorney General Drew Edmondson, are, with Southern segregationist fervor, trying to make things worse for non-incumbent citizen activists.

Paul Jacob is a long-time, prominent Term Limits Advocate. Now, he's under indictment.

His crime? Recruiting petitioners to collect signatures for a ballot initiative proposal called TABOR which limits how much the state government budget can grow from year to year.

You might think I'm missing something -- that I'm understating it? Surely that's not a crime?

Oh, but you haven't heard the whole story! It's more farcical than it sounds. And that's part of why Paul Jacob is my guest on today's Downsize DC Conference Call.

But the other reason is that Paul Jacob has the heart of a DC Downsizer. He told Reason this week, "I happen to believe people ought to be free and the way to keep people free is to keep people in charge of politicians rather than the other way around." Paul's Common Sense commentaries have included mention of the Read the Bills Act, and criticism of the Senate's practice of "hotlining," which we told you about earlier this week.

Well, we'll talk about all that as well. And you can talk with us. 1-800-259-9231 is the call-in number.

My one-hour Sunday program starts at 4:06 PM Eastern (3:06 PM Central, 2:06 PM Mountain, and 1:06 PM Pacific). And the best way to hear it is at GCNLive.com.

Archived episodes are available in mp3 format at the DownsizeDC.org blog.

The Downsize DC Conference Call is sponsored by DownsizeDC.org and Gun Owners of America.

Jim Babka, Host, Downsize DC Conference Call

Ron Paul Supporters Make Impact on Internet Bookie

Ron Paul Supporters Make Impact on Internet Bookie: "Ron Paul passes Senator McCain in odds department at World Sports Exchange"

Hockey Hell -- Media Alert: I'm available to talk about community facilities and hockey matters

Media: I'll walk around the South Side Park to get updated photos at 3:15 pm today, Friday. I'll be happy to provide some insights and comments to this latest development. At 4 pm today, my son finishes his afterschool activities at Phillips Elementary School on Sarah Street. I'll be there to pick him up then, as they finish playing deck hockey on the outdoor playground.

From Pens Village

I have a lot to say about the sports facilities and discussions that are brewing and have been cooking for years around the city and the South Side.

From playground - usa

Today's news hit the Trib:

Pens eye practice rink for new arena - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pens eye practice rink for new arena"

By Jeremy Boren TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Friday, October 5, 2007

Amateur hockey players in Pittsburgh might be able to hone their slap shots on ice where the pros play -- or where they practice, anyway.

The Penguins are talking with the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority about including a practice ice rink that could be rented for public use in the $290 million arena to be built Uptown.

"They want to put a practice rink in the arena for college and high school kids," City Councilman Jeff Koch said Thursday after meeting privately with sports authority officials. "The Penguins would be responsible for the extra cost," he said, primarily created by the need for a second set of equipment to maintain the ice.

Discussions of a practice rink are only beginning, "but it's fair to say that it's being explored," authority Director Mary Conturo said. It's unclear when a decision would be made.

"We are definitely looking at where (a practice facility) might fit," said Ken Sawyer, Penguins CEO. "If we can do it, we would love to do it. It is just an added feature with a double benefit because it would help the inner-city community have a rink, which is not the case right now."

The Penguins, which open the 2007-08 season at 7 p.m. today against the Carolina Hurricanes, practice at the Iceoplex at Southpointe in Canonsburg.

Privately, Penguins officials said their goal is to make the rink available to amateur teams and ice skaters.

"We think that it is a good idea. We support whatever they want to do," said Noor Ismail, city Planning Department director.

She said the rink would answer calls from people who attended seven focus-group meetings in July about what public amenities the arena could offer. The size of the arena won't necessarily increase to accommodate the second rink, she said.

If the rink is part of the arena slated to open for the 2010-11 season, the Penguins would be the third National Hockey League team to have a separate practice rink on the site of the normal game-day rink. The Columbus Blue Jackets had the first in Nationwide Arena, which opened in 2000. The New Jersey Devils will be the second when the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., opens Oct. 25

"It's nice because there are synergies to having the practice rink in the same place. You can use the same locker room, weight rooms and medical facilities," said Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based Sportscorp LTD, an adviser to Allegheny County officials who worked out deals to build Heinz Field and PNC Park on the North Shore in the 1990s.

"Ice sheets are in high demand, especially in urban areas around the country," Ganis said. "And if you have an ice sheet where the professional team plays, it adds a lot of cache to the venue, and you can charge a premium price."

Staff Writer Rob Rossi contributed to this report.

Jeremy Boren can be reached at jboren@tribweb.com or 412-765-2312.

hockey hell

Click To Play

Blast from the past:

Group wants rink reopened - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Activist group feels everything's nicer on ice

By Tony LaRussa, TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Sunday, February 16, 2003

It might be the coldest winter in Pittsburgh for nearly a decade, but ice is in short supply for devotees of hockey and ice skating.

Community activists on the South Side would like to add a little more ice to the supply by seeing the former Neville Ice Rink on 21st Street reopened.

The rink would be a welcome addition to a local hockey organization if the facility is up to the standards of other rinks in the region, said Ed Sam, commissioner of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League.

From Mark Rauterkus

"I think if somebody went there and addressed the issues that existed before it closed, and then went out and recruited some of the schools in the area, they should be able to make a go of it," Sam said.

Sam said the problems mostly had to do with limited access to the downstairs locker rooms, which raised concerns among parents about the safety of players, and the condition of the boards surrounding the ice.

The rink is owned by the City of Pittsburgh and was leased to an operator. It was closed in 2001 after city officials received several complaints from residents about noise from all-night "rave" parties that were being held, said Duane Ashley, head of the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

Ashley said a consultant who recently conducted a review of the facility determined that it is in "relatively decent shape."

"Most of what's needed is cosmetic, and the amenities such as locker rooms are sub-par," he said. "Other than that, it is in surprisingly good condition."

Community activist Mark Rauterkus of South 12th Street said discussions at a number of the community organization meetings that he attends have increasingly turned to the issue of reopening the ice rink.

"People feel that it is a shame for us to have a facility like this just sitting empty," said Rauterkus, 42, who has two sons. "I just think we need more amenities, more things to offer our young people. Having the rink closed creates a dark hole in that part of the neighborhood."

Mark Kinney, who serves on the Market House Children's Athletic Association board, is working to reopen the rink. The association coordinates recreational programs for more than 500 South Side children.

"It's not like we have a vacant piece of land, and we're saying we want to build a new ice skating rink on it from scratch," said Kinney, who lives on Leticoe Street. "The facility is already there. We just need to get people together and work with the city to get it opened."

The president of one of only two public high school hockey programs in the city said her club has been struggling since the rink closed.

"We now have to drive out near the airport to practice and play games," said Cheryl Sullivan, president of the Carrick Hockey Association. "If the rink opens on the South Side, we'll be first in line to book ice time."

Ashley said a financial assessment will have to be done to determine the cost of reopening the rink and then it will be presented to the mayor's office. The city also would gather public comment on the project.

"We will be looking for long-term commitments from ... the community," Ashley said. "The last thing we want is to spend money to reopen it and then see it go south again."

Carey Harris, executive director of the South Side Local Development Co., said a number of residents have expressed interest in seeing the rink opened.

"At public meetings we've held, residents have been loud and clear in voicing their desire to see the ice rink returned to public use," Harris said.

Harris said reopening the rink could be part of an overall revitalization of the corridor leading up from the $170 million South Side Works project. The rink is less than a block past UPMC South Side and the Brew House complex. The ice rink site is connected by steps to the Slopes, where a baseball and football field are situated.

Kevin Zielmanski, who has been coach of the hockey team at Central Catholic High School in Oakland for the past six years, said having a rink so close to the school would be a great asset.

"Right now, we have to use three separate facilities each week," Zielmanski said. The team plays its games in Harmar and also practices at rinks in Monroeville and Marshall.

Tony LaRussa can be reached at tlarussa@tribweb.com or 412-320-7987.

Pittsburgh Penguins - News: Recchi, Crosby Purchase Suites For Charities - 10/04/2007

Pittsburgh Penguins - News: Recchi, Crosby Purchase Suites For Charities - 10/04/2007: "Recchi, Crosby Purchase Suites For Charities"

How nice.

Here is the butter up. Call me skeptical, but something big is about to come next.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Oct 4, 2007

Sidney Crosby and Mark Recchi have purchased suites at Mellon Arena for the 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins season and will make them available to numerous children’s charities throughout the region.

At the Penguins’ home opener on Saturday night against Anaheim, Crosby’s suite will host kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation while Recchi’s suite will host Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Many other children’s charities will be involved throughout the season.

“We think it’s very important for professional athletes to give back to our community, and we can’t think of a better way than enabling kids who are disadvantaged or have special needs to experience the excitement of a Penguins game at Mellon Arena,” Crosby and Recchi said in a joint statement.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins organization always has been active in charitable and community projects, but we’re especially proud that our players have taken this step to provide unique opportunities for these children’s charities,” team president David Morehouse said.

The Penguins also take part in a number of charity events involving all the players on the team during the season – starting with the Project Bundle-Up event on Monday, Oct. 22, when they will assist a group of disadvantaged children in purchasing warm winter clothing.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The first thing that the bikers need to do is stay off all sidewalks.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review On the 'Watch List': The 'Ghost bike' campaign. It's all well and good that the bicycling community is placing bikes at locations of past bike-car accidents around the city. It's an effort to educate the motoring public that cars and bikes share the roads. That said, the biking community would do well to also educate their numbers to obey the rules of the road -- which means not weaving in and out of traffic, not going through red lights and not acting as if they have special privileges. Capice?

Bikes should not be zooming on sidewalks. Walk on the sidewalk. Crawl on the bike on the sidewalk. That's it.

On the road, I have little reason to worry about bike behaviors among the cars.

Tax evaders in custody, marshal says - A Concord Monitor Article - Your News Source - Concord NH 03301

Good that none were killed or hurt. But, this stinks.

Tax evaders in custody, marshal says - A Concord Monitor Article - Your News Source - Concord NH 03301 U .S. Marshals arrested tax protesters Ed and Elaine Brown at their Plainfield home yesterday, ending the couple's eight-month standoff without bloodshed. The Browns vowed never to be taken alive, but U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier said yesterday that both Browns were arrested without incident on their property around 7:45 p.m.

'The Browns may now begin serving their 63-month federal prison terms,' Monier said in a written statement last night. A representative for the marshals refused to answer any questions about the arrests last night.

'High-profile situations like this are always difficult, but they don't have to be tragic. I'm glad no one was injured, and that the community remained safe throughout the operation,' Monier said."

The Burgh Report: Local Blogger: Ravenstahl Security Detail Seized Cell Phone, Deleted Photograph, Violated Constitution

The Burgh Report: Local Blogger: Ravenstahl Security Detail Seized Cell Phone, Deleted Photograph, Violated Constitution: "Ravenstahl Security Detail Seized Cell Phone, Deleted Photograph, Violated Constitution"

This is an ethics violation. File an complaint to the Ethics Hearing Board. The forms are on my documents page. You'll need to get it notarized. Call me if you want some help.

See the comments section of that other blob post to see my remark about how my camera and I caused serious constitutional meltdowns at a PAT Public Hearing and a City Planning Commission Meeting when a full house came to a session at 200 Ross Street.

Value Added Mini Series

The hard drive on my computer just maxed out. Ouch. To be honest, the computer I've been using most of the time these days is my son's. My two Macintosh PCs have been taken apart since our return from New Zealand. So, I'm in a computer funk of sorts.

My recent video efforts with the TV show(s) has been a bit of a struggle. I told another parent it feel like getting the camel through the eye of a needle.

Well....

I'm going to make a "Value Added Mini Series" with various segments of the larger TV show. This value added mini series will be broken into 'chapters.'

Meanwhile, the bigger TV Interview will come in parts.

TV Interview, part 2, Host David C. Adams interviews Mark Rauterkus, L, candidate in two races in 2007

This is a long file. Hope it works for you. It might take a while to load in your web browser.

Click To Play

Same media but different URLs:

http://blip.tv/file/410777

Right click and save file.

Click To Play

First 28 minutes of TV interview of Mark Rauterkus with host, David C. Adams

The pre-release of this DVD is happening today at 3:30 pm. However, the first 28 minutes of the 58 minute show is online with Google Video.



Same content but posted at Rauterkus.blip.tv.

Click To Play

ETHCIAL CHALLENGES (News) from Pgh City Paper about Rauterkus efforts

By: Chris Young - October 4, 2007

Mark Rauterkus, a South Side political activist and vice chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, doesn't do anything by half measures. He is running in not one, but two races on the November ballot. And last month he filed not one, but three complaints with the city's Ethics Board ... and one of those complaints alleged a lack of ethics by the board itself.

Rauterkus' complaint against the board arises from a section of its own ethics code. The code asserts that any person filing or "precipitating" the filing of a complaint against another person could be subjected to an ethics investigation if "the person publicly disclosed or caused to be disclosed that a complaint against a person had been filed with the board."

That provision "muzzles whistle blowers," Rauterkus contends. "People aren't going to file a complaint if they subject themselves to investigation by making it public. It's a way to sabotage complaints right from the get-go."

His complaint calls for the Ethics Hearing Board "to strike down the concept of imposing secrecy onto citizens. ... The Ethics Hearing Board should never wrongfully punish and threaten all citizens who file complaints."

By talking to City Paper about the grievance -- and by posting some of his complaint on his blog, rauterkus.blogspot.com -- "I'm breaking the code," Rauterkus acknowledges. "Have you been to jail for justice lately?"

But ethics board members "need to be pushed," he contends. "Hopefully they don't come back to push me into 30 days in jail."

When asked whether Rauterkus would be investigated for going public with his complaint, Assistant City Solicitor Kate DeSimone said, "I really can't speak to that, because I don't want to violate that code myself.

"The code mandates that complaints be kept confidential."

"Absolutely unconstitutional," says Vic Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, referring to the confidentiality provision of the ethics code. "The First Amendment protects matters of public concern."

Walczak does not know the ethics board's motive for keeping complaints from becoming public, but "wanting to avoid controversy is not a justification to suppress free speech."

According to DeSimone, the Ethics Hearing Board is considering an overhaul of the ethics code, but she says it has not specified changing the provision Rauterkus objects to.

Ethics Hearing Board Chairwoman Sister Patrice Hughes did not return phone calls from CP seeking comment.

Rauterkus' complaint with the Ethics Hearing Board was accompanied by two others, each filed against a rival in the upcoming election: Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb, and Democratic City Council candidate Bruce Kraus.

Lamb, the complaint points out, is a board member of A+ Schools, a nonprofit group that advocates improving the Pittsburgh Public Schools. But Lamb is also a candidate for city controller -- a job whose responsibilities include financial oversight of the school district. That dual role, Rauterkus alleges, constitutes a conflict of interest.

"I don't know that I agree," Lamb said after being informed of Rauterkus' complaint. The controller audits the district's books, he says, but the position has no responsibility for setting budgets. Even so, he says, he has discussed the issue with people at A+ Schools, and "I have contemplated stepping down if I'm elected controller.

"If I'm fortunate enough to win the election, I'm going to ask the ethics board if it's a conflict or not."

Rauterkus' complaint against Kraus stems from his belief that Kraus has "expressed desires to the mayor and to others in the administration" that would prevent outgoing city councilor Jeff Koch -- whom Kraus beat in the primary -- from being "rehired into suitable job openings within the city." Koch was a former employee of the city's Public Works department.

In his complaint, Rauterkus states that he has "strong reasons" to suspect that Kraus has "blacklisted" Koch. "I don't have any hard evidence," he tells CP. "That's just the word on the street."

Kraus calls the accusations "rubbish."

"It's nonsense," said Kraus. "Why would I wish unemployment on [Koch]? What power do I have to do that?"

The 'evidence' from the power hungry candidate within the complaint is found in a prior news release from Kraus himself. Back in the special election in 2006, Kraus ranted to muck around with Koch's work schedule with his night shift. http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics/

Calling classmates: Penn Hills Senior High School, class of '77

kdka.com - U.S. Attorney To Investigate Ravenstahl's Car Use

kdka.com - U.S. Attorney To Investigate Ravenstahl's Car Use But that assurance was not enough for U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, who issued this statement: "The recent allegations regarding improprieties by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl that have been brought to the attention of my office will be reviewed as are all allegations of misconduct by public officials. Without complete knowledge of the facts, it would be premature to discuss potential federal criminal violations."

But Ravenstahl says he did nothing wrong.

"No, not at all," said Ravenstahl. "I don't think there's the appearance of impropriety here."

Think again, Luke.

The Sick Knicks -- fast forward Pittsbugh's City Hall

Luke gone wild might have Pittsburgh's city hall looking like this in a few years, if not in a few months.

The Sick Knicks: "The Sick Knicks"

Put the new slots parlor within the soon to be empty airport

We built US Airways a new airport. Now the flights are fleeing. Can we put the slots parlor in terminals A, B and C? We'll use Terminal D for airplane boarding.

This is a bit of a joke, of course. But, I wasn't joking years ago when railing against the corporate welfare deals. And, I still think we should be putting the new slots parlor within the Convention Center -- another white elephant.

Ron Paul’s fundraising shocks political circles. He is the real deal.

CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker Paul’s fundraising shock �: "WASHINGTON (CNN) – He's locked in low single digits in most polls, but Texas Rep. Ron Paul raised more than $5 million for his presidential bid in the third quarter, roughly equal to or just short of several of his higher -profile rivals.

'Dr. Paul's message is freedom, peace and prosperity,' Paul campaign chairman Kent Snyder said in a statement announcing the total. 'As these fundraising numbers show, more Americans each day are embracing Dr. Paul's message.'

Paul's fundraising total is a 114-percent increase over what he raised last quarter and is also only $2 million shy of what Democratic White House hopeful John Edwards raised during the same period. It is also roughly equal to the fundraising totals of Arizona Sen. John McCain and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson."