Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Arena Discussion with Bram on a podcast
The biggest city planning meeting in our lifetime -- starts at 2 pm on Monday at 200 Ross Street.
Bram of the Pittsburgh Comet and the Burgh Report was kind enough to give me some time to get a better understanding of the fireworks associated with the developments of the new hockey arena in the Hill District. A Community Benefits Agreement (CBA for short) is on the rocks. It seems that what Mayor Ravenstahl wants does not match well with the dreams and ambitions with the various groups and residents.
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/901
We talked about this thread and another blogger:
Update: The arena is on for hearing and action on Monday. They are last on the
agenda. (Reported Dolores Hanna, Special Project Operations Manager, Department of City Planning)
Bram of the Pittsburgh Comet and the Burgh Report was kind enough to give me some time to get a better understanding of the fireworks associated with the developments of the new hockey arena in the Hill District. A Community Benefits Agreement (CBA for short) is on the rocks. It seems that what Mayor Ravenstahl wants does not match well with the dreams and ambitions with the various groups and residents.
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/901
We talked about this thread and another blogger:
New Arena Discussion - Page 42 - Steelers Fever Forums: "Re: New Arena Discussion"
Revelations - http://drgoddess.blogspot.com/
Update: The arena is on for hearing and action on Monday. They are last on the
agenda. (Reported Dolores Hanna, Special Project Operations Manager, Department of City Planning)
TEXAS SWIMMING: Olympic Coverage off to Rough Start
Honey, pay-back is a bitch, regardless of culture and TV celeb / news status.
TEXAS SWIMMING: Olympic Television Coverage off to Rough Start The Wall Street Journal article - complete with a translation
Franklin College Explores Addition of Swimming
There is a bit of a trend here -- going against the tide. Too many schools have cut the mens swim teams. Some are picking up swimming again.
Ohio University cut its mens swim team -- and I still hate them for that. I'm a graduate of O.U.
Slippery Rock too.
CollegeSwimming.com: Franklin College Explores Addition of Swimming: “The stars are aligned for this,” said Hass. “I believe the college, the area and the school corporations would all benefit from having a competitive program at Franklin College.Franklin College is in Indiana.
Ohio University cut its mens swim team -- and I still hate them for that. I'm a graduate of O.U.
Slippery Rock too.
Hired, other resigned: vindication, ethical and PROACTIVE
A number of issues are spin into this posting. Koch gets hired by the mayor. Lamb resigns from the board of A+ Schools and the Ethics Hearing Board gets self determination.
All three matters were woven into the packets of complaints that I filed with the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board a few months ago. http://www.Rauterkus.com/ethics/ Each are resolved.
First, today's P-G reports:
I was proactive in my challenge to the Ethics Hearing Board. I didn't have proof. But, the matter is resolved now.
Now we are left to wonder. Did the hiring of Koch by Ravenstahl come after the vote on Monday? Humm...
Hindsight: Koch's hiring could have happened in July. Then he could have resigned from city council and that office could have been taken out of its lame duck status months earlier. That would have pushed up the money in the city budget's vacancy allowance of unfilled positions. But, that's okay. I didn't rant about the lame duck members of council -- and their staffs -- but I pondered it. I'll make that point in a policy paper later and not be as bold in my attacks at people in jobs today.
But back to current events and inside Grant Street. The Kraus vote for Shields as City Council's President might have insured the hiring of Koch to the Public Works department. That's just a hunch.
However, it will be interesting to see if Kraus should pitch a fit, or, just get to the clean-up that is needed in Oakland.
Memo to the 'clean, green and mean' councilman, Kraus: Read the paper. Go pick-up that trash!
(insert blog artwork here)
The city should be working on INFRASTRUCTURE. That is a major plank and policy to promote at ever turn (pun intended).
I'm too much of a 'generalist' to campaign on a single issue. I favor the freestyle -- ranting at will upon things that need to be addressed. But others could pick up this mode of operation and find great success in winning votes -- and perhaps -- beating incumbent Democrats.
Sewer pipes, retaining walls, rehab of bridges and street lighting are not sexy political issues for candidates. But, if the nuts and bolts matters of public infrastructure are championed, candidates of any party would earn respect and votes. And by all means, I don't mean to imply that new tunnels under the Allegheny River to get to the stadiums should be put into the category of 'infrastructure stewardship.' Building the tunnel under the river is nothing but a boondoggle. Spending the nearly billion dollars to do that project is going to further weaken the budgets to take care of what we already have.
Second: Michael Lamb, the city's new controller, has resigned from the board of A+ Schools. I have learned from Carrie Harris, the executive director of A+ Schools, that Michael Lamb made a verbal resignation. That's good. That's behind us now too, thankfully, finally.
Third: Wrangling in city council at the end of 2007 about the budget and home for the Ethics Hearing Board have taken some of the pressure off the matters with the other complaint. I think that the Ethics Hearing Board is unethical -- and filed a complaint against that entity. But, things are moving to fix these issues. Most of all, when a complaint is filed with the Ethics Hearing Board, it won't get screened by the Law Department. The Law Department sat on my complaints. The complaints were filed, a meeting was held weeks later, and the complaints were NOT put before the Ethics Hearing Board because of Law Department red tape. A major divorce has to happen between the Ethics Hearing Board and the Law Department. Sister Patrice can open her own mail.
There is much more to be done. But, that round is over. We need to be proactive. We need to celebrate victories.
All three matters were woven into the packets of complaints that I filed with the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board a few months ago. http://www.Rauterkus.com/ethics/ Each are resolved.
First, today's P-G reports:
Ousted politicians land on their feet at city hall Former Councilman Jeff Koch, defeated in the May Democratic primary, is now a special streets program supervisor in the Public Works Department.Word on the street was a typical, but wrong, 'to the victor goes the spoils' saga. Mr. Koch is a long-time, valued, insightful guy who departed city council at the start of 2008. It made great sense to re-hire him as a city worker to do the work of residents as great help is hard to find. Koch gets things done. He works hard. He is down to earth and straight forward in his dealings. We need knowledgeable, skilled, city employees on the job.
I was proactive in my challenge to the Ethics Hearing Board. I didn't have proof. But, the matter is resolved now.
Now we are left to wonder. Did the hiring of Koch by Ravenstahl come after the vote on Monday? Humm...
Hindsight: Koch's hiring could have happened in July. Then he could have resigned from city council and that office could have been taken out of its lame duck status months earlier. That would have pushed up the money in the city budget's vacancy allowance of unfilled positions. But, that's okay. I didn't rant about the lame duck members of council -- and their staffs -- but I pondered it. I'll make that point in a policy paper later and not be as bold in my attacks at people in jobs today.
But back to current events and inside Grant Street. The Kraus vote for Shields as City Council's President might have insured the hiring of Koch to the Public Works department. That's just a hunch.
However, it will be interesting to see if Kraus should pitch a fit, or, just get to the clean-up that is needed in Oakland.
Memo to the 'clean, green and mean' councilman, Kraus: Read the paper. Go pick-up that trash!
Incursion of slobs rankles longtime South Oakland residents Some of those who remain are demanding that the city and the University of Pittsburgh do more to combat the trash and unruliness they see all around them.Two other interesting development to watch for in the future, should Koch get on the job, as hoped, in the months to come. When you see Mr. Koch on the job, either in a jumpsuit or a three-piece suit, look to see if you can spot any message on his t-shirt. And, look to the dashboard of his vehicle for the bobble-head doll.
(insert blog artwork here)
The city should be working on INFRASTRUCTURE. That is a major plank and policy to promote at ever turn (pun intended).
Skimpy water line waylays opening of county's bioterror lab ... The $5 million state-of-the-art bioterror lab in Lawrenceville took more than five years to build and is finally finished, but the county can't move in because the water line to the sophisticated laboratory is too small to support the building's sprinkler system.A good friend of mine has suggested to me that the 'infrastructure bandwagon' is one to jump upon with full force. Libertarian and Republican candidates in the city and region could win elected office if they harp upon INFRASTRUCTURE. Our pipes are crumbling. The rash of water main breaks hurt the economy.
The 10,000-square-foot building was finished in mid-December but couldn't get a city occupancy permit because of the water supply problem caused by a corroded, 4-inch cast iron water line dating to the 1930s, ...
I'm too much of a 'generalist' to campaign on a single issue. I favor the freestyle -- ranting at will upon things that need to be addressed. But others could pick up this mode of operation and find great success in winning votes -- and perhaps -- beating incumbent Democrats.
Sewer pipes, retaining walls, rehab of bridges and street lighting are not sexy political issues for candidates. But, if the nuts and bolts matters of public infrastructure are championed, candidates of any party would earn respect and votes. And by all means, I don't mean to imply that new tunnels under the Allegheny River to get to the stadiums should be put into the category of 'infrastructure stewardship.' Building the tunnel under the river is nothing but a boondoggle. Spending the nearly billion dollars to do that project is going to further weaken the budgets to take care of what we already have.
Second: Michael Lamb, the city's new controller, has resigned from the board of A+ Schools. I have learned from Carrie Harris, the executive director of A+ Schools, that Michael Lamb made a verbal resignation. That's good. That's behind us now too, thankfully, finally.
Third: Wrangling in city council at the end of 2007 about the budget and home for the Ethics Hearing Board have taken some of the pressure off the matters with the other complaint. I think that the Ethics Hearing Board is unethical -- and filed a complaint against that entity. But, things are moving to fix these issues. Most of all, when a complaint is filed with the Ethics Hearing Board, it won't get screened by the Law Department. The Law Department sat on my complaints. The complaints were filed, a meeting was held weeks later, and the complaints were NOT put before the Ethics Hearing Board because of Law Department red tape. A major divorce has to happen between the Ethics Hearing Board and the Law Department. Sister Patrice can open her own mail.
There is much more to be done. But, that round is over. We need to be proactive. We need to celebrate victories.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Ron Paul: McCain’s Reckless ‘100 years in Iraq’ Comment Endangers Americans — Ron Paul 2008
The guy who says 'no torture' (and I'm fine with that) says 100-years of occupation too. I'm not fine with a 100-years in Iraq, as per McCain's threat. Isn't that pledge a hint at a different kind of nationalistic torture. Boil it down to McCains vision of the US troops being a bully.
I don't wish to ship some of our best and brightest over there for extended stays -- without families -- wearing uniforms -- costing us dearly -- exposed to risks of the highest order. Our men and women should not be forced to go on tours of duty abroad.
I don't wish to ship some of our best and brightest over there for extended stays -- without families -- wearing uniforms -- costing us dearly -- exposed to risks of the highest order. Our men and women should not be forced to go on tours of duty abroad.
Ron Paul: McCain’s Reckless ‘100 years in Iraq’ Comment Endangers Americans — Ron Paul 2008: "Press Releases › Ron Paul: McCain’s Reckless ‘100 years in Iraq’ Comment Endangers Americans
Press Releases › Ron Paul: McCain’s Reckless ‘100 years in Iraq’ Comment Endangers Americans
January 7, 2008 2:32 pm EST
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – In response to John McCain’s comment at a recent town hall event that he would be fine with keeping American troops in Iraq for 100 – or even 1 million years – Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul issued the following statement:
“John McCain’s statement in favor of keeping troops in Iraq for 100 years or longer puts him out of sync with the majority of Americans, who want our troops to come home. Further, his comments recklessly put America at risk as such a statement will likely serve as a recruiting tool for Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, who appeal to radicals and incite violence against Americans by claiming that the US desires to occupy the Middle East indefinitely.
“It is time to act in the true national security interest of the United States and begin withdrawal from Iraq and the rest of the Middle East immediately. Americans will be far safer under a pro-America foreign policy that seeks to end the dangerous idea that the US should be the policeman of the world.
“Further, the financial costs of keeping troops in Iraq for a century would be massive – in addition to the steep price in American lives. If John McCain really wants such a long term presence, he needs to level with the American people and tell them that his policy means we will not be able to fulfill our obligations here at home.”
According to quarterly FEC reports, Dr. Ron Paul is supported by more active duty and retired military retirees than any other candidate to be the next commander in chief. An investigation by the Houston Chronicle revealed that Congressman Paul received “more donations from current military…and retired military…than any other candidate.”
###
Romney decides to pull ads in S.C., Fla. - Yahoo! News
Romney decides to pull ads in S.C., Fla. - Yahoo! NewsRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has decided to pull his advertising from South Carolina and Florida, in a sign of trouble for a campaign that badly needs a win.In more detail, the Romney campaign is pulling a page from the Bill Peduto playbook.
Spencer Zwick, Romney's national finance director, told the phone bankers: "If for some reason he is not the nominee, all those funds will be returned to the donor himself."
AP: Richardson to end presidential bid - Yahoo! News
Peace activists -- those who want to make peace and not war -- and all who want to avoid a vote for neo-cons and near-neo-cons! Come join the Ron Paul Revolution.
The military / industrial complex that the USA has become can be changed. That is the real change that people of the nation -- and the world -- desire. Our foreign policy has to change. Ron Paul will present that hope better than the rest.
I hope and expect that many of the Richardson voters will place their votes to Ron Paul now.
The military / industrial complex that the USA has become can be changed. That is the real change that people of the nation -- and the world -- desire. Our foreign policy has to change. Ron Paul will present that hope better than the rest.
AP: Richardson to end presidential bid - Yahoo! News New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson ended his campaign for the presidency Wednesday after twin fourth-place finishes that showed his impressive credentials could not compete with his rivals' star power.I know that a number of my D friends were big-time supporters and fans of Richardson. Until now, they had a reason to be excited about a candidate in the race.
Richardson planned to announce the decision Thursday, according to two people close to the governor with knowledge of the decision. They spoke on a condition of anonymity in advance of the governor's announcement.
I hope and expect that many of the Richardson voters will place their votes to Ron Paul now.
Townhall.com: Questions for the Fair Tax Crowd::By Jerry Bowyer
Townhall.com::Questions for the Fair Tax Crowd::By Jerry Bowyer Questions for the Fair Tax Crowdby Jerry Bowyer. Lots of comments there too.
Planning commission meeting on the 14th
The Pgh Planning Commission meeting agenda is out.
click comments or the google calendar
click comments or the google calendar
Junkies Comment on the 'painful' part of Patrick's vote -- IMHO
These are my words, posted at another blog.
Blogger: 2 Political Junkies - Post a Comment Dowd was yanked off, IMHO, because he wanted a public discussion of a legislative agenda from possible candidates -- before the vote.
It didn't happen.
So, he was forced into a vote without justification, without real merit.
He turned in his vote without doing the homework. Or, really, a better view would be -- he was the 'teacher' and he turned in a 'passing grade' to the student (Doug) without the student doing any of his assigned homework. Teachers don't give out grades lightly. It was painful for Dowd to give out a vote without merit. The basis of the vote was plain old politics of the past and of the person.
That was Dowd's first step. Leaving the 'high road' was done. Perhaps he can return to the high road, bailing out himself, by forging a common legislative agenda in the days and weeks to come.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
VotePA - Election Integrity & Voting Rights in Pennsylvania
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VotePA - Election Integrity & Voting Rights in Pennsylvania Fill out your e-mail addressThanks for the conference call. There is so much to do.
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Ron Paul was on Jay Leno -- for good reason -- talking about the exclusion from the debates
Ron Paul Talks About Fox on Leno
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 9:47 AM
By: Newmax Staff
Appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, presidential hopeful Ron Paul said he still doesn't know why he was excluded from Fox News� Sunday night Republican debate.
Paul was left off the GOP debate roster even though Paul and his supporters set a new one-day fundraising record, raked in nearly $20 million in the fourth quarter of last year -- and got 10 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses.
Rudy Giuliani, who got only 4 percent in Iowa, was included in the debate, along with John McCain, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, and Mike Huckabee.
Leno told Paul on Monday night's show: "I'm trying to figure out why Fox News chose not to put you on."
"You know, we tried to find that out," Paul replied. "But they didn't return our call."
A sympathetic Leno said: "You're being extremely polite for something I think you got screwed over. I mean, I might not necessarily agree with you, but I think, as an American, we like to see everybody get an equal shot."
Paul speculated that Fox "didn't want to hear the message. Maybe they're intimidated. Maybe they're frightened. Maybe they didn't want to hear the truth. Who knows?�
The Los Angeles Times' Andrew Malcolm observed: "So Paul gets 10 percent in Iowa and gets excluded, but Rudy gets 4 percent and sits on the left end of the Fox Box desk. Hmmm."
Me &Thee Blogspot: Quick Q and A with Joe Jencks
Check out this wonderful interview with Joe. He has a new band. We've got to get him back to Pittsburgh soon.
Me&Thee Blogspot: Quick Q and A with Joe Jencks ... with one of the most relevant singer-songwriters on the scene today ...More links:
Listen to Show #140 with Joe Jencks
The song, "Come With Me" is on the radio show interview in MP3 format.
Art of the Song - Listen: "Listen to Show #140 with Joe Jencks"
I love that song. "I will carry on!"
Wall Street Journal + Jerry Bowyer = NO FAIR TAX
Free Preview - WSJ.com: By Jerry BowyerI do NOT like the fair tax. The fair tax is a nice idea for the first 30-seconds. But, the fair tax is a bad idea for America at this time. It is a bad idea for the economy. It is a bad public policy.
If talk show hosts ran the world, we'd have a national sales tax. We'd have no immigration, and we would have long ago carpet-bombed the entire Middle East. We'd also have something called 'fair trade,' which means no real trade at all.
But they don't run the world; they just pretend that if they did, everything would be great. I would be a lot more confident that this was true if I didn't know so many talk show hosts. I would be even more confident if they had really run anything of consequence before. But I do, and they haven't.
Speaking of bad policy -- pointing to an article that can't be read. I'm not interested in getting the WSJ password. So, the rest of the Bowyer article is dark to me.
Radio ads hit Detroit -- in another language
Quote of the Day:
"War is the art of conquering at home."
-- Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man
Subject: 60 radio ads now running in Michigan
We proposed it. You funded it. We did it. 60 radio ads promoting Ron Paul's "American Freedom Agenda Act" are now running in the Detroit, Michigan area.
There's something special about these ads. It isn't only that the ads promote a bill that would . . .These ads are also special because . . .
- Stop our government from torturing suspects
- End rendition, which is government agents kidnapping people and sending them to foreign dictators to be tortured
- Restore habeas corpus, allowing people to once again challenge their detention in a court of law
- Repeal warrantless wiretapping
- Prevent the government from punishing Whistleblowers
- Cripple the use of Signing Statements, by which the President refuses to execute the laws of the land
They're in Arabic!
No, it isn't our purpose to promote multi-lingualism. Rather, it's our purpose to show those who fled foreign dictators (tyrants supported by the U.S. government) that there are still Americans, like Representatives Paul and Kucinich and Welch, who believe in freedom and the rule of law for all people.
Many who are hearing these ads are American citizens, who speak both English and Arabic. Many more are the mothers and fathers of children who are English speaking citizens. We want to let them know that America really is a refuge of freedom, or can be again, if we will all join together to fight for it.
The ads are running on WNZK 690 AM, Southfield (Detroit), Michigan, Monday through Friday between 12 PM and 5 PM. The first spot aired Friday during the 4-5 PM hour. The last spot will air January 16.
These ads are recruiting new supporters. But more can be done if you want it done. We'd love to broadcast more of these ads, in English. Provide the funding, and we'll do it.
We've found it necessary, because of government violations of the First Amendment, to establish an entirely separate contribution structure for these ads, complete with new accounts and new systems. If you want to contribute to run these ads you can do so, using that new account, here.
On top of that, we might need to be financially prepared for a government legal challenge against our First Amendment rights after the ads have aired -- a challenge to see that we dotted every "i" and crossed every "t."
Everyone who contributes to this project will receive a copy of our 16-page, glossy report, "The Downsize DC Vision."
In addition, those who contribute $76 or more, specifically to air these ads, will have their name listed in the left hand, green strip on the Radio Ad page for our campaign to "Support Ron Paul's American Freedom Agenda Act." Donors will be listed in rank order, with the largest donor getting the first line -- the slot we call the "John Hancock line."
But if we don't raise sufficient funds, we'll use the money for other projects. There's no shortage of opportunities right now. On the other hand, if contributions flood in, we'll expand and broadcast ads in other cities. So your contribution is urgent. Please give all that you can.
Even if you're mailing a check, please use the contribution form. Checks that arrive without this form will be deposited in our general fund. NO EXCEPTIONS. So if you're going to mail a check please print out the form, fill it in completely, and make the check to DownsizeDC.org, Inc. Write "radio ads" in the memo section. The mailing address is listed on the bottom of that form.
And whether you can send money or not, please send a message to your representatives in Congress, urging them to co-sponsor HR 3835, the American Freedom Agenda Act.
Thank you for being a DC Downsizer,
Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
MoveOn.org Political Action: Paper ballots for the 2008 election
MoveOn.org Political Action: Paper ballots for the 2008 election: "Paper ballots for the 2008 election"Is this a good idea or not? Well, -- we'll talk about it tonight at the gathering at TalkShoe.com.Paper ballots for the 2008 election
This Sunday's cover story in The New York Times Magazine makes plain the threat: The winner of the 2008 presidential election could be decided by flawed, insecure, and hackable electronic voting machines.
This is the most prominent news coverage this issue has ever gotten, so it could be our one last chance to get this right before the election in November.
Congress is poised to consider a new emergency paper ballots bill next week—but we'll have to convince them to act right away.
A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to local election officials and your members of Congress.
TalkShoe.com has made a major upgrade
TalkShoe.com, a Pittsburgh-based company, has a new release and a wonderful new upgrade. It comes just in time for the next two events I've got brewing. One is tonight. The other is tomorrow night. Both start at 10 pm EST.
The upgrade is a web client. This means that people will be able to join a telephone conference call via the web and NOT be forced to download and install the java applet. So, you can become a participant with one click.
The classic interface is still present, however. That is great.
Furthermore, the chat room text that flows onto the screen is now vertical and not horizontal. This new format is what most people are used to seeing in a chat setting.
Way to go Aaron and the others at TalkShoe.com.
The upgrade is a web client. This means that people will be able to join a telephone conference call via the web and NOT be forced to download and install the java applet. So, you can become a participant with one click.
The classic interface is still present, however. That is great.
Furthermore, the chat room text that flows onto the screen is now vertical and not horizontal. This new format is what most people are used to seeing in a chat setting.
Way to go Aaron and the others at TalkShoe.com.
Doug Shields -- council president -- not so big victory
 | Doug Shields -- confused by the Post-Gazette. View Video |
Doug Shields was in the limelight at the opening meeting of city council in 2008. Here is a blast from the past.
Humm.... There are plenty of thoughts that flow from the day of oaths on Grant Street.
Ethics reform remains a major theme
I hope Dan and Luke were listening.
Ethics reform remains a major theme | Philadelphia Daily News | 01/08/2008 Ethics reform remains a major themeI would LOVE to be a part of a team / process / discussion about a reform of Pittsburgh's Ethics. We'd start with the Ethics Hearing Board. After all the present members resign. We'd get people who want to move a bit faster than the average glacier. Next, we'd make suggestions to the law -- so as to eliminate the confidentiality clause. Then we'd hold televised meetings once a week. It would be nothing to spend no money -- but use public evaluation as a tool. No punishments would come from the Ethics Hearing Board itself. But, that board could better make the case for civil and criminal trails yet to unfold.
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