Fish tricks fill front page of section in Trib = Pyrite Proof

The world is buzzing about a YouTube video of a fish that plays soccer! The finned athlete is named, Comet. Not the Pgh Comet -- nor the Pgh Comment.

I've been making some noise that the signal among Pgh Bloggers is hitting a new phase -- and that the silver age is behind us. linkZ, linkY, comments & linkX.

Fish tricks in Gibsonia entertain Web surfers - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewFish tricks in Gibsonia entertain Web surfers

Comet, the Pomerleau family pet, can soar through hoops, squirm beneath a lowered limbo bar and chase after a soccer ball.

Go fish.

Join the 1 political junkie who is taking a break and hung a sign, "Gone Fishin."

My favorite fish video that I produced:

Instant Message to KDKA Radio and Marty

Background: There is some noise on the radio with KDKA's Marty Griffin. There is chatter about a $100 per year tax on parking spaces in Robinson Township.

The tax on LAND, such as land that is put aside for surface parking spaces, is GREAT public policy. Pittsburgh (and Allegheny County) should SHIFT back to a LAND VALUE TAX.

The killer is the TIF. I'd end all TIFs and tax breaks to favorites.

The formula is the land-value tax!

Mom and Pop Biz Folks do NOT get tax breaks (TIFs). They go to the big boys who loaf with bullies.

Track Clinics in the City -- leading to June 28th Track Meet at Schenley's Oval

Track & Field Mobile Clinic

Presented By:

Citiparks

&

Future Stars Track Club

May 16, 2008 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

• West Penn Recreation Center
• Columbus Middle School

May 30, 2008 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

• Warrington Recreation Center
• Phillip’s Recreation Center (Carrick)

*The track clinics are FREE for all kids ages 6-18. Each participant gets a healthy nutritional bag.

*Track coaches will introduce participants to various events and go over healthy eating habits for race day and everyday.

*You can participant at any site and more than once.

Call Magee Recreation Center to pre-register (412) 422-6546.

Update:

Citiparks is helping to sponsor a city track meet on June 28, 2008. This is the first ever track meet of this kind in the city. The Recreation Centers are getting involved and helping to field track teams.

Events in the novice division for the June 28th track meet include:

• 100 meter dash
  
• 200 meter dash
  
• 400 meter relay
• long jump
• turbo javelin

Mike's brush with Bill. Well, it was more than a brush and hand shake.

Nice story from Mike. He is a Pittsburgher and thinker.

Citizens for Legitimate Government: "I proceeded to tell President Clinton that I was a professor at Duke and North Carolina Central University, where I teach argument. I said that I was very disappointed in my fellow academics, too many of whom support Obama. I teach my students that a good argument is a claim with reasons. Obama, I said, makes a lot of claims without any evidence to support them. He agreed and said he couldn't believe that he'd gotten away with it to this point. At this, he took his arm from my shoulder and thanked me for my support."

Jen's email blast about school stuff

Hey -- I'm always sure this is going to be a quick little email...but it's not! (There's some good stuff at the end to make up for all of this in the middle.)

-- Today's paper: Roosevelt plans to make his recommendation on Schenley future May 19

-- "High School Chaos" story on KDKA: http://kdka.com/video Video from May 2 2008 7:23 pm

"Costs to renovate Reizenstein coming in higher than expected," notes Mark Roosevelt.

How high? It can't hurt to ask your school board member if they know this number -- particularly since that's probably the most valuable piece of property the district has to sell, not only would we not spend the money on an inferior building, we could make money from its sale.

We'll know on the 19th when the vote on the Schenley building is, I assume, since it had been scheduled for this month and now it's moved to June. That seems a bit ominous, though hard to say. It's an interesting position to be in limbo longer -- if you want to email me or call me (412-xxx-xxxx) I'll be happy to share my opinions, but other than saying that you should make your concerns known to your school board member (and any other board members you know), I'll stop here!

There's also a meeting tonight for anyone who wants to show up at Panera (Blvd of the Allies in Oakland) 8 pm about this/reform/Frick, etc.

Please do let people know about the whole situation -- some of the emails on this list are kicking back at me now and some have never worked, so I know that there are people who aren't getting them.

-- Was anyone at the University Prep meeting last week? None of the my usual sources made the meeting, so I can't report anything other than that there were said to be only about 5-6 parents there. No mention of the meeting in the P-G that I saw.

While I do love the way that A+ runs a meeting, I think many of us have come to feel that the input/report they pass along from us is quickly filed away, never to be looked at again. Heaven knows parents and students (and teachers and probably principals) don't have any idea how the schools are run now or any realistic and viable ideas for improving them. (Oops, there's some bitterness rearing its head, I'm trying not to let that happen, I promise.)

Speaking of which don't forget to sign up for more meetings! -->> http://www.aplusschools.org/excel.html

-- I've heard from lots of people that they are exploring other school options (charter, private, homeschool, suburban) or no longer telling friends, co-workers, prospective employees that their children can get a good education in the PPS. If you are one of these people considering pulling a kid or one of those that can't endorse it at this point or know someone like that, please consider (or ask if they'll consider) writing a letter to the school board, the newspaper, or testifying at a public hearing (see next bullet point).

I'm not ready to go, but I can't be the booster I once was for this system. At the risk of sounding maudlin, public education is one of the best things ever in my book. I hate to see how good things from this district have been dropped and removed, pushed out by No Child Left Behind demands and an elementary curriculum that seems designed to ignore the developmental needs of younger kids. I really can't imagine (or see) how this is promoting a love of learning and reading and being in school -- the things that might get kids through high school and on into the future. Dang! There I go again with the bitter.

-- Next public hearing -- Monday, May 12th, 7 pm --

To speak at a Public Hearing, call the Superintendent's Office at 412-622-3600 beginning one week before and no later than noon on the day of the Public Hearing.

Link to Procedures for Testifying at Public Hearings

Location:

Conference Room A, Board of Education Administration Building, 341 S. Bellefield Avenue, 15213

-- No bitterness allowed section:

Kelly Critic review: "All Shook Up," Schenley, April 24-May 3

Not great quality, but even so, you can still tell what an experience it is to be there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DBisFs4oZs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=706Oa6QLseE

Memories of last year?

Rock of Rages

River Deep, Mountain High

If you hunt around on youtube (my classes are over now, can you tell?!), there's now video from long gone Schenley years, too. Amazing stuff.

Jen Lakin

Roosevelt plans to make his recommendation on Schenley future May 19

They are still spreading FUD (FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, DOUBT).

Roosevelt plans to make his recommendation on Schenley future May 19 Last night, Mr. Roosevelt said the additional study has cast the building's status in a 'different light,' but he declined after the meeting to elaborate.

So, after months of badgering, they finally released the first study. Then they have another. But, it isn't being released either.

And, the studies were not even read. The executive summary statements didn't match with the content within the body of the study.

FUD.

Here is another zinger: about $64 million to address asbestos and other maintenance problems. Red flag.

First, there are no other maintenance problems. None other than regular, expected, normal, routine, fixes that should be part of all buildings. The problem is that there were very few maintenance matters addressed in the past years. They let the drips build up. They didn't fix them as they should. Every facility needs on-going maintenance. Those are NOT maintenance problems.

What's next. Will the kids in first grade be called 'problems' because they can't read yet.

There are NO OTHER MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS.

And, if I stand corrected, please post them in the comments of this message.

Futhermore, there are no asbestos problems. Asbestos has never been a problem at the school. The air quality has been tested and tested and tested -- and there is no problem. Sure, don't eat the floor tiles. That's it. Be sensible. Asbestos is in every school. Asbestos is in our new cars. Asbestos is not a problem with the other schools because they don't want to close them -- yet. They made asbestos a problem in Schenley by design. The asbestos in Schenley can be dealt with.

Fixing asbestos at Schenley does NOT need to include new air conditioning for the entire building. They inflated the fix up numbers. They depressed the real cost of the move elsewhere. Now those numbers are 10-times higher than what they said. And, the fall-out for the students, families, taxpayers and even teachers is massive. The district is about to die.

Faculty wants president's ouster

Wonder what the rank and file members of the Pgh Public Schools teachers would vote if given the option. Would they want to retain Mark Roosevelt or not?

I'm sure that the union is in bed with the administration's brass. But, the teachers, on a one-by-one basis, that would be a different matter.

WVU faculty wants president's ouster faculty wants president's ouster

Hard to think that there were even 19 to vote to keep him.

Changing grades is a serious academic crime. Giving otu degrees is a career breaker.

Wright Might Have Sunk Obama, All Presidential African Americans for Two Decades

The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, clearly not on the side of Jesus Christ, has forced Barack Hussein Obama's hand into a full-blown denunciation.
There is a lot of discussion whether Wright purposely sabotaged the junior Senator from Illinois, or was just on his tour of hatred, controversy and wackiness to sell copies of his upcoming book. Obama, while still ahead in the Democratic delegate count, has clearly and utterly been sunk for November. Fiscally conservative Reagan Democrats, who could hold considerable sway this fall, will never vote for Obama knowing that he either put up with Wright's dementia or never showed up for services altogether.
Knowing that barring a political miracle—Obama tackling Osama bin Laden himself near the espresso machine Hilary Clinton didn't know how to operate—Barack is looking at a November thumping of Mondalian proportions.
The question now becomes: Has Jeremiah Wright single-handedly destroyed an African American's chances of being President for the next 50 years?
Fifty might just be an overstatement but it does grab your attention. Obama was designated to be the poster dude, the salvation for those simply tired of the Clinton shock and awe of self-pomposity. Young, thin, sounds identical to WWE wrestler The Rock, Barack was believed to be exactly the "fresh face" the Democratic Party needed. Never mind the vapid-minded vocal stylings of Michelle Robinson Obama; Barack was to be the King of the Castle, the cut-and-run General in John Murtha's race from the Middle East.
Now the man who officiated Obama's marriage and baptized his children, has by himself knocked the Golden Bird from his perch.
Jeremiah Wright has stolen a great deal of the spotlight from Obama and has actually uncovered a "Black Church" phenomenon that few white folks didn't know existed. It turns out that some churches that count a large African American congregation agree with Wright. A discussion with my own pastor brought this to my attention and an African American church goer at my office attested to the fact that on any given Sunday, one may hear similar rants from "pastors" who should be sharing knowledge of Christ's teachings and not inflaming improper rhetoric.
Every black candidate who will ever come down the pike again will be scrutinized accordingly. Religion, one of the building blocks of the greatest nation in the history of the planet, continues to be of utmost importance to folks in "fly over country," whether liberals like it or not.
Radio host Glenn Beck recently ran Jeremiah Wright's Palm Sunday message for an entire hour on his program. The inflammatory hate and anger that exploded from Wright will resonate not only with voters still eligible to vote in the primary, but all the way to November if Obama makes it past the Democratic National Convention. This process continues to be one for the history books.
Due to Wright's involvement, Obama is now absolutely unelectable in the fall. It's really too bad because a good-looking radical lefty who would send America into an economic tail spin would be fun to have in the race regardless of whether he has incredible character defects (surrounds himself with the most un-Patriotic Dream Team any major party has ever assembled), but now it's apparent that no self-respecting, God-loving voter will ever plunk Obama's name in November, even if gas is $4 a gallon. Tell me how gas prices will go "down" if oil companies are besieged with taxes? They will simply pass the tax onto consumers. People have to go places. That's pure economics.
It really is unfortunate that Obama's political chickens "have come HOME to ROOST."
That's to Jeremiah Wright's audacity of hate, Barack Obama will not be our next President. Nor will any other African American candidate for 20-30 years. Not even Will Smith can overcome this stigma anytime soon.

STEEL CITY DERBY DEMONS HOLDING SKATER TRYOUTS

The Steel City Derby Demons, Pittsburgh's all-female, roller derby league is holding tryouts for skaters. Applicants must be 21 or over, female, and
have basic skating skills.

For more information or to register, email joinscdd@gmail.com

Visit www.steelcityderbydemons.com to find out more about the Steel City Derby Demons.

So -- who in the hell is running for mayor -- and -- is Luke Ravenstahl wounded?

People are asking me all the time, "Who is running for mayor?"

Gosh. What do you think?

The talk is that our existing mayor has worn out his welcome. Well, at least some of the people that talk to me are saying such things. This deal with the URA seems to have flipped a few others to the side that Luke must go.

But, I'm not so sure as to what will happen.

I know that the mayor's race is a big deal and should be a two-step process with primary and general election. It is going to take a one-two combination to land someone other than Luke in the office in January 2010.

I do like the fact that the Dem primary and the races of 2008 have been kicking up such a cloud of dust that people are not yet with a focus on the local races for 2009. But, a little chatter and a little advance planning would be nice.

Funny too, about the media: I expect that when they think about local candidates that they'll do what they have always done. The local media always gets off to a bad start. The editors like to begin the coverage by printing stories of people who are NOT running for mayor.

Pittsburgh Peabody Event, Saturday at 8 am

This Coming Saturday... begins at 8 a.m.

Promise for the Future: Reducing Teen Violence and Enhancing Life Opportunities

EVERYONE WELCOME

May 10, 2008

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Speakers, Large Provider Fair, Community Workshops, Breakfast and Lunch, Youth Talent Showcase from 1 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Hosted by Pittsburgh Peabody High School and its Community Partners

"I wish I could steal it." A quote from the Pgh Public School Biz Meeting, tonight

Tonight I went to a Business Committee Meeting of the Pgh Public Schools with administrators and most of the members of the school board. A few things came up.

The director of the school district's technology department gave a presentation. The 'dashboard' system is on its way out. Rather, they cooked up a new system.

A guy with a Pitt connection got to say a couple of words in support of what the district has been building. His main statement was, "I do a lot of consulting work with other districts around the region. I wish I could steal the system that you have. It is very good."

After he spoke, I went over to him and say, "You should be able to steal it. Why can't you."

He laughed.

I was serious.

There is no reason why the software that the Pgh Public School is building isn't open source software.

Furthermore, the first question from a board member after the presentation was, "Is there a revenue stream that could be developed with the software." The question came from Heather Arnet. It was her only question in that period.

It is a fair question, given the hype, but it is the wrong direction.

The answer from the tech administrator from the district was wierd too. He said that they've talked a good deal about the business model and the possibility of selling the software and such. But he was leaning to a 'service model' for a possible sales avenue. The PPS District could scan the test answer sheets from the classrooms of the various schools in other school districts and then offer them a turnkey data evaluation and reporting system.

The real value in the system now is the high-speed scanning and the quick turn around. When the central administration gets the test scores by 9 am, the results are generally kicked back to the schools by noon of the same day. Great.

So, the enterprise and value seems to be in the service provider elements. Interesting.

But, the system is NOT open source. And, there was NO discussion of open source, open access and open ways with the entire discussion.

The technology department is trying to be with a good customer service model. They are gearing up to be user driven. Fine. The users are the administrators, principals, coaches (science coaches, math, reading, etc.), and teachers. Humm...

Not a peep about the customers being the parents, the communities, the taxpayers nor the public.

As the public schools develop software, the work product should be put into the public domain.

I'm not looking to harvest personal data and make privacy screw-ups. But, I want the systems to work for the right populations and have the priorities that make sense.

The red flag was raised, slightly, by a couple of board members. The elected school board members are NOT part of the audience from the technology department. School board members have been totally locked out of the data so far. Total firewall. Total blackout. Total denial of services to school board members has been the norm from the get go by design.

The question was asked, and the bureaucrat said, "We'll look into it." He gave the wrong answer. Well, it wouldn't wash with me.

The school reports and data that is now being delivered is a work in progress and it has some merit. It is 'very good' for them to pat themselves on their backs about now. The teachers know nothing of these systems yet. And, teachers have always been a big sticking point.

But, very good isn't good enough, especially when talking about vaporware.

The golden ticket that I'm looking for was NOT mentioned. In this big packet of information there wasn't a peep given to "rate of improvement." That is the key. That is what needs to be identified.

I have a coaching friend in California that has done a lot of work with data and kids -- in swimming. Swimming has data like no other avenue. The golden key is 'rate of improvement.' That number (rate of improvement) needs to be generated by kid, class, teacher, grade, school, district, county, race, gender, subject, skill set and all the other benchmarks that can be imagined.

Kids grow older. We know that. And, they grow at different rates. We know that too. But I want to know if they are getting smarter and more skilled at a rate that is better than before, their peers, and expected.

Allegheny County councilman aims to phase out drink tax - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Bottom's up.

Allegheny County councilman aims to phase out drink tax - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -- Allegheny County Councilman Charles P. McCullough on Tuesday will propose halving the county's 10 percent tax by July 1 and eliminating it by Jan. 1, 2009.

Big Government Responsible for High Gas Prices

full article

Basic economics says that when government restricts the supply of a good, the price will increase. Yet Congress continues to reject simple measures that could increase the supply of oil. For example, Congress refuses to allow reasonable, environmentally sensitive, offshore drilling. Congress also refuses to remove the numerous regulatory hurdles that add to the prohibitively expensive task of constructing new refineries. Building a new refinery requires billions of dollars in capital investment. It can take several years just to obtain the necessary federal permits. Even after the permits are obtained, construction of a refinery may still be delayed or even halted by frivolous lawsuits. It is no wonder that there has not been a new refinery constructed in the United States since 1976.

Good reason to vote them all out of office when given the chance to do so.

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper:

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congress men, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress.

In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority.

They have no legal ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.

I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con / scam regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall.

No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget.

He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.

Who is the speaker of the House?

She/He is the leader of the majority party.

She/He and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.

If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.

I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ .

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people; and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

Eleven of us met at Panera yesterday to discuss high school reform, focussing on Schenley/Frick

Eleven of us met at Panera yesterday to discuss high school reform, focussing on Schenley/Frick. The group represented input from Schenley, Frick, Linden, Colfax, Liberty, former East Hills, and Westinghouse. Sorry if I missed anyone.

As usually happens when we get together, we talked about our frustrations with the admin/board who seemingly refuse to listen to our legitimate concerns. Nick, our engineering expert, repeated again that in his educated and experienced opinion, there is no danger for students to remain at Schenley for another year while better plans are made.

ACTION PLAN: The next board hearing is next Monday, May 12, so sign-ups to speak begin today. If you can take a few hours time, please sign up to speak at the hearing. We need to get the message through to this board that they should not make any more decisions concerning our children using our tax money until a master plan is complete. The rapidly declining numbers of the Pittsburgh Public Schools show an increasing distrust of this system.

Contact your board member by phone, by letter, and or by email, letting him/her know that no actions should be taken at this time that commits more money to a failing reform that does not have the support of its constituents. Individual board members might agree to listen to us. If meetings can be arranged, I am sure that a small group of us would be willing to meeting individually or in pairs with board members, especially Mark Brently, Randall Taylor, Thomas Sumter, Sherry Hazuda, and Heather Arnet, the board members who have demonstrated their willingness in the past to be open to us. (sorry for the run-on sentence).

I am very afraid that many parents have given up the fight and are willing to go along with the stated plans. After talking and listening to various groups, including the Westinghouse parents, I am sorry to say that I do not trust these plans, and I think that we need to stay vigilant to react when the promises are delayed and/or broken. Cate Reed has repeatedly stated that all of our concerns will be answered but it is May and there are still too many unanswered questions. What will happen in September if (when) they realize that we were correct and the sign-up lists didn't mean a thing. If only 50 kids show up at Frick for a program that is geared for 150, what happens to the program and the teachers of that program? Frick is having problems with language teachers now, how is that going to be solved by adding another grade with a need for 4 different language teachers?

TUESDAY MEETING: I will try to be at Panera by 8 pm on Tuesday but I am coming from church in Edgewood, so give me a few minutes leeway. Maybe we aren't accomplishing anything with these meetings but at least we know that there are others that are as concerned as we are. It helps me to know that I am not alone.

I have added a few new names to my list. If you do not want to be on the list because you are already on someone else's, just let me know and I will remove. I do not share my list and only send blind copies.

amy moore
(phone #s nuked from this blog)

Called into Marty Griffin, KDKA Radio

Not on hold any longer, after waiting about an hour.

Marty Griffin of KDKA Radio, reported that he had an epiphany this weekend. Marty, it is GREAT to stand up for the "NAYSAYERS."

The bullies do NOT get it.

Marty is ranting, over and over again, about how there needs to be cuts in government, not new taxes. The small business folks and family folks are facing higher and higher bills. Everyone is cutting, except government.

The theme of Marty's ranting hits a bigger, more fundamental philosophy. I'd like to drag his awareness to a higher understanding. It is more than just the economic conditions. That's a huge burden that can't be down-played. It is the economy stupid. Sure thing. But bigger fights are still to be fought, about and beyond the economy.

The root problems are not just within the economy.

We need dissent for democracy to work. Funny how the bullies are generally Dems.

Marty is mad at Ed, Dan and Rich. They want to say that the small business owners who are putting up opposition to the drink tax are 'crazy.' Seems that Dan Onorato called the radio station on Friday -- as did Rich Fitzgerald? -- to complain saying that the kickback to the drink tax is "not newsworthy."

That same day, Dan Onorato was holding his 'closed door meeting' with select police and fire folks from around the county. (see the post below)

Closed door meetings and pegging opposition as crazy naysayers is their mode of operation.

The watchdogs need to do their duties. We naysayers need to do ours. And, bullies need to get their noses rubbed in the crap that they've littered about these parts for so long now.

Job lead: Government Affairs Associate and other: Communications

Interested? Apply there, not to me.

There are two jobs in the same agency.

idealist.org - Government Affairs Associate: "Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, a statewide children’s advocacy organization located in Harrisburg, PA, has an opening for a full-time Government Affairs Associate."

The second job looks good for A.S.

idealist.org - Communications Specialist: "Communications Specialist"

I did find a good job for "our hero" too. But that is with another agency. Seems a Philly nonprofit needs a global development czar. See Global Economic Development.

BTW, I'm not sure who reads this blog. Okay to forward to your friends and foes. Click that envelope email button and a message gets sent to them. And, I don't get to read the messages.

Allegheny fire, police mergers explored

Allegheny fire, police mergers explored - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: About 50 elected leaders, administrators and public safety officials from many corners of the county met Downtown on Friday with County Chief Executive Dan Onorato to talk about the possibility of voluntary police and fire consolidations.

News of the behind-closed door meeting is showing up in the newspapers now.

I hate closed door meetings. Still do. Closed door meetings should not be tolerated among public officials. Pittsburgh is still a 'smokey city' because these closed door meetings can occur. Things get hatched in 'smoke filled rooms' where there isn't transparency and open ways. Those things are good for the power hungry and bad for the citizens.

One of the major, initial topics after the closed door meeting begins is 'supporting grants.' They want to spend more money. The idea of mergers is to save money. The money will help to oil the way -- greese the palms. With money, all problems are much smaller. But, the problem is the money! Duhh...

Power is going to shift with mergers. But, these 'supporting grants' is needed for a pay-off.

If the purpose was to make good government and better services for the citizens, there would be no talk of 'pay-offs.' The money is needed to get the good people thinking in terms of greed and envy -- not quality protection in times of urgent need.

Onorato said he hopes to offer incentives to trigger police and fire consolidations, such as offering foundation support, capital money and state funds.

Onorato wants to offer incentives = pay-offs. Onorato needs to buy the support he needs to gain in power for central command and control.

We need to talk about communications. We need to talk about coordination. We need to champion specializations that have already been nurtured among the various departments in various communities. We need to talk about trouble spots, trouble situations, trouble communities and the roots of those troubles.

We need to talk about best practices. We need to highlight recruiting. We need to look at performance of various departments in an array of situations. Where are the benchmarks?

What are the costs and how are the budgets organized? What are real-time expenses in the various locations among various elements of the budgets? Operating expenses and demands should be put on the table -- for all to see -- for all these communities.

The notion of a 'voluntary discussion' and 'voluntary mergers' is interesting. These people are public servants and they often volunteer. That's the talk and focus I'd love to touch upon first. The ranks of the volunteers is depleted as it stands today. And, the one's that are running these departments have to think about raising the bar in terms of getting more volunteers into the various systems. The hinge of volunteerism is localization. The talk of merger means less localization and in turn, less volunteer engagement.

This is about natural, grass roots vs. OVERLORD thinking.

Futhermore, the residents should have their will be measured, with votes, under the systems of democracy, to see if pathway of merger is desired. Citizens need to volunteer their hopes into the merger bandwagon. That is where the real authority for volunteering mergers should reside.

Onorato's 90-minute meeting offered a refreshing take. Humm... It is easy to not answer questions, as many questions went unanswered, and look good. It is easier to look good when others are not watching.

I could hold my own closed door meeting to counter Onorato's closed door meeting and issue a report that my meeting was "super duper refreshing." But, in the end, it isn't refreshing to have a closed door meeting. I can't get past the stench. Even when you eat in the dark you can smell the food.

Volunteers to fight fires don't have rank nor pensions. So, they think that the fire volunteers don't have standing and can be yanked around at will. Wait. They have it backwards. The one's with rank and pensions can be told what to do much more easily than the volunteers. They take orders for a living. If they don't want to do what they are told -- they can give up their pay checks and pensions. Fine. Others can be hired to replace them but under different terms, more ideal terms among departments and service status.

You don't merger and yank around volunteers and expect them to show up 'at the end of the day.'

Furthermore, volunteers who fight fire have standing. They are there because of quality of life issues. They are there out of a call to duty and service for their neighbors. If you mess with the system and best practices are going to suffer -- you'll not only kill the ranks of the volunteers, you'll also kill the entire community. People will vote with their feet two ways. They won't volunteer for the fire service. And, they won't volunteer to live there. The community will empty. Houses will be put up for sale. Properties will become vacant. Economic prosperity will nose dive.

"Consolidating police departments would be more of a challenge because of pay and pension issues," he said. "These people have rank, and what do you do? But fire departments are volunteer."

Mr. Onorato and his staff will help set up meetings and attend. But, will these always be closed meetings? These meetings will be IR communities want to discuss mergers. But real communities don't hold discussions behind closed doors.

The money matter raises its head again, in terms of bricks and mortar spending. Onorato pledged to seek state matching money to help with mergers such as building or enlarging a fire hall. Gosh. The sticking point isn't in a bigger development deal with a larger fire hall. Development is the extent of what Onorato does. Too often, Pittsburgh gets politicans that only focus upon the ribbon cutting opportunities -- the bricks and mortar projects. They are about buildings. They are about 'hardware.' But the real solutions are within software, programming, services, acts, deeds, humanity.

Whenever there are closed meetings, I get upset. But others are not invited too. Most police chiefs ... of the Alle-Kiski Valley said they were not invited to the meeting ...

Updated post.

LOST -- my iPod Nano

So sad.

Today, Sunday, at the JCC (Jewish Community Center) in Sq. Hill, my iPod with a black arm strap with velcro went missing. We got home and the only thing here was the ear buds. Went back to look and didn't find it.

If you find my iPod -- I'd love to get it back.

Call me: 412 298 3432.

Thanks!