South Side Meeting gets Kraus speaking like G.W. Bush -- quote: "Shock and Awe" for South Side -- oh my gosh

Monday night's Community Council meeting was interesting. It was yet another community meeting on the South Side. A South Pgh Reporter reporter was there, so next week we'll get a review from his news in that weekly newspaper.

At the meeting we got to visit with another slew of police officers. Rather than sending one police officer to the South Side meetings, we get four. That's up from two in the past. Next month, who knows, six officers might be attending.

When and if Bruce Kraus becomes city councilman -- it appears we'll have neighborhood meetings where the whole darn shift is taken off the streets and pulled into these meeting with the neighborhood groups.

At least the police chief wasn't attending tonight. So, there is some good news.

I blogged about this in the past. My advice: When a member of the police force attends a meeting -- come alone. Don't bring back up. The seniors and concerned citizens are not going to cause too much trouble.

Pie was served at tonight's meeting -- wonderful pies. So good. Really.

Another presenter at the meeting was the neighborhood coordinator from Mayor Luke's office. She mentioned a few of the initiatives the mayor's office was working on. For two or three of them -- only one person knew what the heck she was talking about. Her big point, "It is all about 'communication.'" Blah, blah, blah.

I made sure she knew what I felt about the disconnect in communication with the still closed indoor ice rink in the big park on the South Side. That abandoned building was left to die by the Penguins and now three different mayors. Do not try to say, "It is NOT just the mayor's fault." Not buying it.

The mayor has the keys to the building. The mayor's office has blocked its reuse. Proposals were delivered. The cooperation from the mayor's office stinks.

"I'll look into it," she said. Today I'm going to send an 'open letter to the SSLDC.'

In the headline of the night, the police shared impressions of past months. Some important quality of life trends have been unfolding. Since April of 2007, the South Side has been blessed (or cursed) to have a flood of new officers working extra shifts and swarming the neighborhoods in the weekend nights. Up to 18 officers, often many more than 12, have been working Fridays and Saturdays on East Carson Street and flowing in and out of the back streets too. These officers, some in uniform, some not, have been dishing out tickets, citations and arrests. They've been busy throughout the greater neighborhood. DUI check points, undercover cops, beat cops, duty police (as usual at bars), etc., etc.

From planning-urban

In these past months, there have been 810 tickets given to pissing bar patrons. Here, we're drawing attention to guys who piss in public. Sorry for the toilet talk, but these folks are taking care of business without being in a private toilet.

The count is at 810, as of last night. I propose that the South Side have a big harry party at the end of a public count-down for the luck 1,000th customer who gets a urination citation. Perhaps the prize could be a free rectal exam at South Side Hospital. At the going rate, the winner could be found between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Taking a leak on a South Side Street, in an alley, behind a car, next to a porch, in some bushes or on a house can cost $300 or more. Its a stiff penalty, if you know what I mean.

Despite the added enforcement officers on the streets -- there has no sign of any improvement. They've been dishing out tickets after tickets -- and there isn't any difference. The police can't get a grip on the problem and stop the flow of public urination, despite attempts to curb such behaviors. This gives new meaning to the age old saying, "When you gotta go, you gotta go." At least there is a new verse, "Hi officer."

Likewise, all the talk about graffiti in recent weeks, months and years has netted no changes. They've been really trying to crack down on graffiti. But, guess what -- nothing has changed. Today the graffiti problem is as bad as it has ever been. Bruce Kraus has been a knight in shinning armor put here to slay graffiti -- and he's been without any impact.

Public urination, graffiti, DUIs, fights, vandalism, noise, house parties and an array of other nasty behaviors have not been impacted by the super-duper extra crack down of police throughout the neighborhoods -- so say the police.

However, one area has improved. Only one. The police are reported that improvements have been made with open container violations. Fewer people are walking the streets with open bottles and cans of beer.

Next for the goons wishing heavy handed enforcement are speed traps on the Parkway East and Route 28. They will be deployed in rush hour and days after rock slides as traffic never moves faster than 5 miles per hour. (giggle)

If I'm controller, this situation opens up plenty of conversations and research. I want to know a lot more -- as controller. I'd love to audit the crime reports, the work hours, police overtime, paid income from tickets/citations, the penalties delivered, the judge-by-judge breakdowns of fines. This presents a big can of worms, in more ways than one. Performance isn't being measured with a direct connection to priorities and quality of life benchmarks.

How much is the city taxing those that party here and get caught. And, I want to know if these fines are paying for the extra police protection in terms of impacts to the budget.

I would also like to know about drug offense and victim-less crimes? What are the ratios among the crimes and patrols. I sense that the grip on these reports, incidents, calls, and outcomes is fleeting. As controller or as a city council member, I'd be sure that reports were flowing to citizens in real time ways -- not 30 days later and after the reports have been scrubbed.

Yes, the police 'scrub' the data. That's part of their job. Home owners scrub the sidewalks. Police scrub the data. Scrubbed data is exactly what must be seen. Of course conformity with national crime stats must exist. But, an open source software solution with lots of interested eyeballs getting to see the data would work wonders.

By the way, crime reports cost citizens $35 each. That's about $35 too much.

Get this. Some police don't write the same number of citations as others, Sherlock stated. Guess who is getting promoted.

Bruce Kraus made certain to grandstand with a typical long-and-winding-road statement (but not nearly as long and winding, nor whining as this blog post) that ends with a question and shrug. He quoted from a report that was delivered to the South Side this summer. Four experts came from out-of-town to visit with community folks. They offered a report -- still being scrubbed by someone somewhere. But the preliminary reactions came. This trip by the experts was funded with URA money (still known as taxpayer money to me). The key interaction were with the South Side Local Development Corporation.

(See posting 'ding-dong-witch is dead.) I went to the meeting where a 'pre-report' was delivered. A final report is due any time now. It won't come out until after the election, I expect.

Well, I'm not exactly sure of the full quote that Kraus relayed from these outside experts -- but -- the core of the suggestion included the deployement of a full-frontal press of police intervention to fight back the rowdy bar patrons in a "SHOCK AND AWE" effort. The precise quote eludes me. But, without a doubt, it did include 'shock and awe.'

Yes, 'shock and awe.' Not 'shock and ouch' as with urination on an electric fence.

The Kraus statement sounded a lot like something George W. Bush would advance. The South Side has been in a mega clamp-down-mode -- but next comes a needed "surge."

I whispered to the guy next to me, "Jeepers, the shock and awe treatment hasn't worked out so well in Iraq or Afghanistan."

This 'shock and awe stuff' came on the heels of the prior statement from Kraus about how the bar task force has now reached success with a new ordinance from city council that limits the number of bars that can open in the South Side.

I think Kraus figures that great progress is underway considering the crackdown from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl last spring + new ordinance that limits the number of bars + shock-and-awe still to come + an exit strategy (egress). The still to come 'egress plan' is a way to get people out of the bars and back home at 2 am -- much like they move fans out of Heinz Field.

Perhaps late night bar patrons will get fuzzy slippers and a good-night mint. Then they all will tip-toe back to their cars for their ride home in the HOV lanes. Some might think that the key to peace and quiet on the South Side in the early morning hours of weekends is to open the HOV lanes in the Wabash Tunnel in a southern direction. Go figure. Who would have thunk it would have been so simple.

At least nobody claimed that the hundreds of surveillance cameras that the mayor and police want to install around the neighborhoods will insure peace and quiet.

I'm glad that people are concerned and care for our city. However, I'm frustrated to know that they are clueless as to how to fix the various problems. This is a struggle. But it isn't going to be won with property ownership clashes, with zoning code enforcements, and crack downs from the building inspectors.

People come to the South Side because we are organic, we mix, we get along, we are free to be who you want to be. Lock downs, curfews and countless arrests are sure to chart a course in a direction that I don't want to go.

I think we can have peace and quiet without turning this place into a ghost town.

Another resident at the meeting spoke about a neighboring house that has been the site for plenty of wild weekend parties. They get very loud as they chug. They've thrown things at her house. They party outside in the yard through the night and past 2:30 am. Police come but do little -- so far. After a dozen or so calls, things have been a little better, for some unknown reasons.

Perhaps the kids are getting ready for mid-term exams.

A libertarian solution to her problems would take money and damages from those that would invade her space with noisy trespass. She'd get compensated. Settlements from an independent arbitrator could work time and time again, as situations are presented.

Presently, Pittsburgh's system isn't set up to handle and reinforce this libertarian type of dispute resolution between people. Pittsburgh has a state-authority-crack-down model. The fines get pushed (or not pushed) by public employees. Residents need to call someone they know to get real attention. If fines get collected, the cash is kept by the city or county. The victim gets nothing, except endless headaches. Residents develop with more frustrations by trying to get the city to deal with her problems for her.

Victims should benefit. The victims, not the city, should get the money.

In my humble opinion, fix urination problems with more urinals. They want to create more 'sex offenders.'



People that visit the South Side and live in off-campus housing are smart. Lots of them are in college and grad school. Go figure. I think they can be trained on how to behave.

The South Side has too many bars. But, this saturation is going to fix itself as soon as the new slots parlor opens. I expect 30 bars to close within a year of the opening of the new, mega-sized "casino." The market place will make an adjustment.

A world of troubles exist. But, they are not getting fixed with heavy handed police work. And, heavier handed enforcement with more police so as to make a shock and awe surge is going to yield the same results as the foreign policy of the neo cons.

From signs

Tom jumps ship from MeetUp coordinator to Ron Paul's Pennsylvania Organizer

Way to go Tom! I'm with you! I'm with Ron Paul, too. You go. Go, go, go!

There is going to be a big rally in Philly, with 5,000 or more, on the Saturday after the Tuesday election.

Dear Members,

It has been an exciting five months since we began our effort here in Pittsburgh. I remember our very first meeting, when there were only eight or so of us sitting around talking about why we liked this guy, Ron Paul. It seems so long ago, as we've accomplished so much and come so far. I want to say how proud I have been of all the things our group has accomplished, and what faith I have in what all of you will be able to do.

This is a campaign that requires belief and faith in ourselves and one another. No one ever gave us a chance, but we continue to grow and become more influential. As part of that growth, the campaign has made the decision to come into Pennsylvania, and we're going to begin doing operations here. They have asked me to serve as State Coordinator, and beginning tomorrow, October 9th, I will do just that.

Because of this, I have to tender my resignation as organizer for Western PA, and for the various groups that I lead. I have faith that the grassroots effort will continue to do very well, and you can also rest assured you will be hearing even more from me, but I won't be able to plan the events anymore. Steve has already stepped up for the Meetup Group. Nick will be handling Allegheny County. And we're working on the state group.

I just want you to know it has been some of the most fun I've had in my life leading this group and meeting such great people. Now, the challenges are different, but I'm going to be asking more of everyone, but only what you can give. The campaign is coming in here because they want to win, and believe they can do so. I wouldn't have taken this position had I believed otherwise.

I want to thank you all for what you have given, for what this has meant, and for what is yet to come. Better days are coming, for all of us, and for America.

Yours,
Tom

Docked about the Doc.

Should have just built a beach instead.

LaGrotta points fingers at top Dems

LaGrotta points fingers at top Dems: "A former state House member under investigation on allegations he put family members in state jobs and then padded their pay, has given extensive details to the attorney general's office about inside dealings in the Democratic caucus as part of a growing investigation into the use of state workers for political campaigns."

Jeepers. This isn't news to me.

Perhaps this explains why and how the PA Senate's office (district 42) in Harrisburg was leveraged as a research arm in August 2006. They have been using office staffers to do campaign work -- a real "no no."

After I filed papers with the state to get onto the ballot for PA Senate, against Senator Wayne Fontana, I got a challenge and was rushed to court. The paperwork that was delivered to me by the sheriff concerning the challenge was a political document of the highest order. It was a 'hit piece.' It aimed to remove me from the ballot so Wayne Fontana would be without an opponent.

Well, the fax header remained on the document. The document went through the Senator's office, with the 717 area code, clearly visible on all the pages.

I got two copies. One was served via US Mail, The other came via in-person notice from the court's delivery constable. The letter head was from a mid-state attorney's office. However, fax numbers remained on one of the copies.

Those in the State Senate 42nd office worked to bring a challenge against me concerning ballot access. These are court records, entered into the official record. The judge in Harrisburg found the documents very interesting. He said that they were for another judge another day to deal with.

Well, the very next day I was due to start a coaching gig in Canada with my sons. I didn't have the ability to stay in Harriburg for the next two weeks to prove that I was eligible to stay on the ballot. So, I pulled off the ballot and headed north, knowing that this matter would get its due attention in due time.

Ethics violations with the state do NOT expire for five years.

Let's see. I could have camped in Harrisburg or gone to camp in Canada.

Meanwhile, Titus North was in a battle to say on the ballot and won. But, he lost a month of his life in doing so. And, the Green candidate for US Senate was fighting to stay on the ballot and was hit with a $400k bill with court costs.

The Spanish at Frick Middle School -- it is el sucko

Today was open house and parent teacher conference day for the Pgh Public Schools.

Our Elementary School, Phillips, -- or is it now, Pittsburgh Phillips, a K-5 school, has wonderful Spanish opportunities. The school is half-magnet and half-neighborhood. It is a great school.

However, when the kids go to Frick Middle School for grades 6, 7 and 8, they regress.

Last year, there were four or more Spanish teachers for two slots. This year, the Spanish teacher skipped parent teacher conference night.

Special event: Fast Break for Fathers - Sunday, Nov 4, 2007 -- UPMC SportsWorks next to Heinz Field

From family - travels

UPMC SportsWorks is the site for our FIFTH event -- Fast Break for Fathers.

http://rauterkus.com/PDF/FastBreakFlyer2007.pdf

You can go for free. However, you have to get the form and fax it to the Pittsburgh office of the National Fatherhood Initiative. You, and your kids, must be pre-registered.

The UPMC SportsWorks is going to go away shortly. PAT (Port Authority Transit) has recently made a deal with the Science Center to buy the building so it can be used for a few years as a temporary building zone for the under river tunnel.

I'm on the local advisory committee for the Fatherhood group. I'll be at the event, like past years, helping. It is a good time. In the past years, we had exercises and other fun with the participants.

What could happen around and within the new hockey arena

The stadium in the background and a track in the foreground. How about if the Pens build a track and field venue around the new arena.

Playgrounds in China often have fitness equipment. This goes beyond typical swing sets. Adults like to mingle with the kids and use the equipment for some exercise.

The Columbus Day Parade and a snub from school board member, Mr. Romaniello

My sons and I went to the Columbus Day Parade after Saturday morning's violin class at CAPA. We mingled with spectators and walked up the parade route in the opposite direction along side of the street -- in the shade. Then as the tail of the parade passed, we worked through the crowd back to the parade's end along the other side of the street.

Bill Peduto and others were in the parade. We shook Bill's hand, walking out onto the street. But, we were on the sidewalk mostly. Mark DeSantis switched to the other side of the street when he saw us coming, so thought my 12-year-old.

Along the way, we saw and talked with Pgh Public School board member, Dan Romaniello. I reached my hand out to say 'hi' and shake his hand. He wouldn't. Humm... He might have had a touch of thin skin.

He held his ground with a few insults. One was "get a job."

The other thing he said, "I read your blog. You post all that shit."

I said, "What shit? I've posted more than 5,000 comments to the web. What are you talking about?"

He said, "Don't you read what is on your blog?"

I said, "I write most of what is on my blog."

He said to his wife, 'Honey, you don't want to talk to him. (She has taking my campaign literature.) He writes mean stuff about you.'

I said, "Oh, this has to do with Michael Diven." I mentioned that he was old news and I offered to shake his hand again. No luck. He wasn't going to shake my hand.

Puzzled, I did a web search on this blog by looking through all the content posted here on ROMANIELLO. Dan Romaniello, an elected member of the Pgh Public School's Board, has a wife who worked full time in the office of State Rep Michael Diven, D & then R. Diven switched his party from D to R. Then he ran for PA Senate 42nd district in a special election to fill the seat of Jack Wagner, D.

I was in that special election too, as a Libertarian. Diven out spent me 500-to-1. In the final vote count the margin between Diven and I was 5-to-1.

Diven's campaign, office, and supporters had a bit of trouble since that special election. The next year he had a race to hold onto the seat as a Republican. Michael Diven got voted out of office. One storm came after a number of dead people in the Republican party seemed to have signed Diven's nomination papers to allow him to get onto the ballot.

This blog didn't go into a lot of detail and coverage with another incident in Romaniello's past -- the paved driveway saga. I don't really know why, how or who from what public works crew felt the need to get the bumps out of the driveway of the Romaniello property. So, I didn't blog about that.

Looking deeper into what I posted, I can't find anything to get really yanked off about.

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/search?q=Romaniello


I de-briefed with my sons as the weirdness of the behavior of that one guy we encountered at the parade and what was said. I offered that the best I could do was be kind and move along. My guess was that the "job remark" hits close to home with him as Diven is not in office any more and his office staff must have been put out of work. My kids know about notarized nomination papers, getting signatures, and other paperwork challenges of ballot access. Oh well.

We, Libertarians, will have a table at the Thursday PUMP event

This Thursday night, PUMP is hosting a debate for two of the mayor candidates. The Libertarian, Tony Oliva, is being excluded. He won't be able to be on the debate stage because -- well -- I'll stop typing here.

So, as the vice-chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, I've requested a table at the event. The request was approved.

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

Duquesne University’s A.J. Palumbo Center

PUMP Mayoral Candidates Forum

Co-sponsored by Pittsburgh City Paper, Comcast, Duquesne University & the Greater Pittsburgh Non-profit Partnership (GPNP)

Featuring two Mayoral Candidates and ignoring two other YOUNG candidates. This is a young person's group for goodness sake.

6:30 pm - 7:30pm (doors open at 6 pm)

Moderator: Tonia Caruso, from WQED’s OnQ & host of Comcast Newsmakers

Civic Engagement Fair & Reception to follow: 7:30 - 8:30pm

Confirmed Exhibitors

* PUMP
* Greater Pittsburgh Non profit Partnership (GPNP)
* Everybody VOTE
* Black Political Empowerment Project
* League of Young Voters
* Young Republicans & Young Democrats of Allegheny County
* PA Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy
* Coro Center for Civic Leadership
* People for the American Way
* www.influencegovernment.com

Come for the Candidate forum, stay to network! Representatives from organizations that focus on voter engagement and participation will be on hand to help you get information and to connect you to important issues facing our region. Candidates & Elected Officials welcome!

For more information, please contact Erin Molchany at erin@pump.org or 412.338.2133

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.