Who is being "picked on now?" -- The kids are the one's in the cage here.

Kids in cages. Happy nonprofit weenies. Film at 11.

	"Help. I'm stuck in this cage. I want opportunities."
From people & vips

Pop Star The Hellertown, Pennsylvania, native ought to know.

"I'm getting picked on," said Luke Ravenstahl. Well, Luke is NOT the one in the center of this image.

Luke, who is getting picked on? It looks like the taxpayers, residents, parents, and workers are getting picked on by the big party politicians.

Based on the issues, the one's getting picked on are the voters.

Mayoral candidates debate nonprofits, privatizing - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Blast from Past: You Paid For It Report (and Reminder)


Now back to regularly scheduled programming...

Mayoral candidates debate nonprofits, privatizing - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "'It has worked in other cities, and there is every reason to believe it can work here,' he said."

The question about privatization had weak answers from all the candidates. When it was asked, I whispered to the guy next to me: Zoo, Aviary, Phipps.

None of the candidates talked about what really needed to be said. Other cities isn't the same as THIS city.

I'm sure that everyone in the room has been to one of those facilities. The PPG Zoo and Aquarium, Phipps Conservancy (flower show / botanical gardens), and the National Aviary on the North Side are all wonderful examples of what should be said when there is talk of privatization.

All facilities are doing very well now. All are wonderful asset. All were once owned and operated by the City of Pittsburgh. All are much better institutions now that they are NOT under the city administration's care.

The city has a vibrant legacy with privatization. Those stories needs to be revisited, understood, retold, and reviewed.

All efforts to privatize have NOT been nearly as successful as the big three spin offs.

+ When the auto garage was sold by privatization -- the costs to the city increased.

++ The city did a half-way job in the indoor ice rink on the South Side. It allowed for a private operator to upgrade a facility in public spaces. However, there was no oversight as the private operator stumbled and eventually fell. In recent years, the city has done NOTHING but block access to this public facilities.

+++ Then there is the asphalt plant.

++++ Even the authorities need to be examined in this chatter with privatization. City officials sold the sewer pipes for goodness sakes.

What is public and what is private is not always clear -- and it is NOT as it should be.

For example, letters from the Ethics Hearing Board to the mayor should never be considered PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

I think the city has a long way to go in this realm. The city needs to get its act together. Be straight. It's crooked. It does goofy deals.

The Housing Authority is selling city land to one place but giving private development rights to the space above that land.

The city builds stadiums for the Steelers and Pirates -- yet still owed millions on a stadium that was torn down (3RS).

From playground - usa

Another question that unfolded at the debate last night was about Don Barden, the owner of the slots license. The question was about the treatment he was getting from the various neighbors including the other North Side institutions (Science Center, Steelers, Pirates).

My answer would have started by tossing the question to the dirt. The Steelers and Pirates are RENTERS. They are not "neighbors" in a sense of having an equity position on the North Side. I've been pushing to have the Steelers purchase Heinz Field. I'll insist, as best I can, that the Pirates OWN PNC Park. After they own those properties, then I'll consider them 'good neighbors.'

Don Barden is building his own facility, Majestic Star Slots Parlor. Don Barden has purchased the property. He is able to make money with a license given to him from the state -- but -- at least he is going to own his own property. The same should be said for the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.

From Convention Ce...

The UPMC SportsWorks site, part of the Carnegie Science Center, was recently purchased by PAT (Port Authority Transit). PAT's move makes MORE of the North Side land in the hands of PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. Remember the Gimbles Warehouse?

The land is needed for the expensive tunnel under the river. Part of the need for the tunnel is to take people to UPMC SportsWorks. How ironic is it to build a tunnel to get tourist and visitors to the a destination that was trashed to build the tunnel.

From Convention Ce...

Furthermore, the buzz today is about another delay for the eventual opening of the slots parlor. It won't open until 2009. The politicians have been spending the incomes from that casino since the city's 2006 annual budget. Talk of fruitless, pre-mature politics has never a problem with phantom budgets.

The slots parlor could be operational already. I wanted Don Barden to purchase the white-elephant David Lawrence Convention Center and put the slots parlor in there. We could have been rolling in the cash as soon as the All-Star Game's fan fest concluded.

Teacher. Wordsmith. Madman.

Teacher. Wordsmith. Madman.: "BEEF ON WECHT, PART THREE"

Onorato's budget eliminates 200 Allegheny County jobs

Onorato's budget eliminates 200 Allegheny County jobs Mr. Onorato also called for full implementation of the 10 percent alcoholic drink tax and $2 car rental tax to fund the county's $28 million share of mass transit costs.

Onorato, true to form, invents new taxes and plans on putting them into high gear at the outset.

Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh — Less Government, More Jobs and Freedom for Pennsylvanians

Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh — Less Government, More Jobs and Freedom for Pennsylvanians Libertarians Say “No!” to Drink Tax Bailout of Inefficient Government Transportation

Private businesses and citizens are scrambling to protect their pocket books as local politicians seek ways of dodging the real problems of public transit (e.g. government supplied transportation) — an inefficient and bloated socialist model — by using a drink tax to dump the problem on the backs of local citizens who deserve better.

Nice posting.

Went to the debate tonight. Four candidates.

Well, I was there. I'm not going to Monday morning quarterback, just yet. I'd like to do so after the podcasts are live. That might be a few more minutes or months with the P-G multimedia gurus.

Tony Oliva, the Libertarian candidate, did well.

Luke was Luke. Mark DeSantis was okay. Those guys were as expected.

The highlight of the evening for me was meeting fellow blogger, Char. Seriously.

And, I got to tell Mr. Zober to check out Google Calendars.

The low light of the evening, sad to say, the Socialist Workers Party candidate. Wow. You know, if he would have given 10 or 15 second answers, he might have won the debate. After 20-seconds of talking his "persuasivenesses" was grossly marginalized. After he got into deeper into his replies, say :45 seconds, it became painful. Burning tires would have enhanced air quality.

Who is old enough to remember The Gong Show?

Open Letter to Luke Ravenstahl -- use a Google Calendar

Dear Mayor Ravenstahl,

You got toasted today on Marty Griffin's KDKA radio show. Both Marty Griffin and Jon Delano made you look irresponsible. Today's goofy discussion came about because of a schedule issue.

Months and months ago (December 9, 2006) -- I gave you and others in city hall some specific advice. If you had followed my suggestions, you would have never been in such a predicament. See http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2006/12/city-clerk-webmaster-for-city-of.html

Luke, you should keep a public calendar or two. You should insist that others, such as the city clerk, city council, authority boards, zoning board, ethics hearing board, and others keep city schedules accurate and up to date.

Google calendars are free. This suggestion would cost you nothing. It would not cost the city a dime. However, it would be a great aid to overall communications.

I have been keeping a "Google Calendar" called Pittsburgh City Hall for many months. I asked before, and I'll ask again, that you take up this policy.

If you want to schedule a meeting with me, I'll be happy to show you a framework to implement the schedules and use the utilities to be much more effective. Let me know, and then I'll put the meeting into MY PUBLIC Google Calendar. You can see and subscribe to my calendar by going to my blog and clicking on the calendar. It is located on the left column. Or, here is the URL: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=mark.rauterkus%40gmail.com

Thanks, again, for the consideration.

Mark Rauterkus
Mark@Rauterkus.com

412 298 3432

PS: Please come join with me on Friday in asking that the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board code be adjusted so as to strike down the silly confidentiality clause and liability statements.

Hi Jon and Marty, Symbiotic Relationship -- Yeah, right.

My KDKA Radio talk back message:

Never a back room deal about politicians doesn't wash when talking (or NOT COVERING) about "LIBERTARIANS."

Does Delano always call the Libertarian? Does he do a story on the controller's race too?

Fairness talk puts you both on thin ice -- with me.

Did either of you watch the DVD I gave you?

I'm picking on you. There is a pattern here, people.

412 298 3432

(I'm going to talk about hockey today.)

---

Jon Delano is on the Marty Griffin KDKA Radio show. They are jumping on the mayor for blowing off a speech that was slated to be delivered to 4,000 at the recent convention. Luke blew them off at the last moment.

Connected: New device changes life of hearing-impaired

Catherine, my wife, got ink this week in the Post-Gazette. She didn't even talk to the reporter, yet was quoted.

Meanwhile, I'm calling upon reporters all the time and some just ignore me. Others are great. But I'd love to make some headway with some: Joe, Jon, Marty, Lynn, Colin, Susan and Fred. A few are doing little to advance discussions and drill down for real solutions.

Well, here is the article.

Connected: New device changes life of hearing-impaired Connected: New device changes life of hearing-impaired
Saturday, October 06, 2007 By David Radin

Don Selig used to sell consumer electronics, which exposed him to high sound volumes for many years. That may have contributed to his hearing problems -- problems which he has been solving with various types of hearing aids.

The first hearing aid he purchased was 20 years ago; and he has refreshed his devices every couple years by replacing each one with newer technology. Most of the new devices have brought him better hearing than the previous device, even as his hearing has deteriorated. Except that $7,000 hearing aid he bought last year. It was so bad that he replaced it with the hearing aid he had worn earlier.

Last month Mr. Selig asked his doctor if he could get a Cochlear Implant. The implant is for profoundly deaf people. Unlike traditional hearing aids, it doesn't amplify the sound. Instead, it bypasses the part of a person's hearing mechanism that is not working, allowing the person to "hear" the impulses.

Unfortunately for Mr. Selig, although his hearing has been deteriorating, it was not bad enough to qualify for the implant. So Dr Barry Hirsch, his physician at UPMC, suggested that he stop by the facility's audiology department to see what types of new technology might be available to him.

The audiologist, Dr. Catherine Palmer, introduced him to a new tech hearing aid, from a company called Phonak (www.phonak.com), which has changed Mr. Selig's life for the better. Although used primarily as a hearing aid, the $6,000 device also can be used as an iPod accessory and conference call device.

Mr. Selig wears pieces in both of his ears so he can hear equally well in each. They slip over the back of his ear like traditional hearing aids. There's also a separate device, called SmartLink that transmits wirelessly to the ear pieces -- acting as a microphone. At lectures, he asks the speaker to wear a SmartLink around his neck and Mr. Selig can hear every word crisply enough to differentiate between "f" and "s" -- letters that had earlier caused him confusion. The stage production of "My Fair Lady" was a joy, as Mr. Selig plugged into a wireless FM receiver provided by the theater.

He can also place his SmartLink on a conference table and set it to hear sound from multiple directions instead of from a single focal point. And when riding in a car, Mr. Selig gives it to the people in the back seat, so he can carry on a perfect conversation.

Occasionally, you might see Mr. Selig sitting back staring into space; but he's really listening to a book. He does it by plugging in his iPod, which has books in mp3 format, allowing him to listen with crystal clarity with sound in both ears -- without taking out his hearing aid ear pieces. Unlike standard iPod ear buds though, Mr. Selig can switch his ear pieces to a setting that allows sound to come in from around him as he listens to his iPod. (I can sense jealous parents drooling as you read this.)

His hearing device can even connect wirelessly to his cell phone using Bluetooth technology; so he can have a phone conversation without having to hassle with his hearing aid.

While talking with Mr. Selig, one can sense the enthusiasm he has about his newly enhanced hearing -- and his joy about being able to better carry on in his profession and daily life. It's hard to even tell he has a hearing disadvantage.

But I guess at this time he really doesn't -- thanks to great new technology.

First published on October 6, 2007 at 12:00 am

David Radin is a business consultant and free-lance writer. You can contact him at www.megabyteminute.com.

Allegheny Institute Blog says Pens are feathering their nest

Allegheny Institute Blog The Pittsburgh Penguins are proposing to put a practice rink into their new arena. The arena, being constructed primarily with the tax from slots machines as well as other assistance from taxpayers, should have been privately constructed. This new practice rink idea illustrates the point.

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