Bruce Kraus is so foolish to wish to play the role of ruler of the marketplace

Not only is he foolish, but he puts the economy of the region in danger.

The last attempt was to limit the number of bars and it failed. There were others on city council who supported it too. And, the mayor even signed the bill. But the courts won. Freedom won. Kraus lost.

So, the next round is even worse. He lost the last battle with a stick -- so now he picks up a bigger stick. He wants to double down or something.

Pittsburgh council gets new approach to Carson Street bars - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'I don't believe this ordinance is the be-all and end-all to solve the unruliness of the Carson Street corridor,' said Kraus, who hears complaints from residents about public drunkenness and vandalism. 'It puts a stop for now, until we can catch our breath and decide where we're going from here.'

The end all and be all to the problem is the marketplace.

Max and Erma's in Shadyside is closed. So what! Let it be. The corporation had problems. The economy took a dip. Nationwide, they couldn't stay in buesiness. Places open, and places close. There is good and bad. Time marches to a new day. That's how it should be without the city putting up red tape and hurdles to marketplace entry.

Kraus wants to see a balance. Of course he does, but it is his balance. He wants to rule the day, the streets and the lives of others. What Bruce wants is not what Bruce should legislate just because he won an election. Bruce can't legislate balance. Others are smart enough to realize their roles.

Frankly, I want to see freedom and liberties so that others who have a good idea can come here and set up shop as they wish. And, I want to have the people decide if they should support that business or not. And, decisions of employment are to be with the workers. Should they take jobs in that business or not is up to them. And, the banks get to decide if the owners should get capital to invest in that business or not. Thousands of decisions have to occur. Few or none of those decisions should be at the will of Bruce Kraus and others in City Hall.

What isn't serving the business district well is government intervention. "I don't care if it was drugstores that were opening. ... It's not serving the business district well to have almost a monopoly of one certain type of business," he said. Hey, the worst kind of monopoly is a state controlled monopoly. Furthermore, to curb the bars, he needs to curb the eating establishements. That is NOT the monopoly he wants to attack.

Nancy Eshelman, president of South Side Chamber of Commerce, opposes Kraus' ordinance.

"How dare he," Eshelman said. "What happened to free enterprise in this country? What's next? Is he going to decide how many tattoo parlors there are?"

There's no reason the city should restrict any small businesses from opening, said Eshelman, co-owner of Morning Glory Inn, a bed-and-breakfast on Sarah Street. "It's very hard to open a business, and if someone is willing to go through the effort, invest the capital, go through the process -- which is grueling -- he should not be able to say there are too many of them here. It's rather devious."

Kraus said his bill would attempt to prevent late-night drinkers from causing property damage or contributing to crime. "This is not about punishing anyone or going after businesses with alcohol licenses," he said. "This is about keeping people safe."

Again, he is miss directed, fully. No bar nor eating establishment ever wandered the neighborhood and caused property damage. People do that. Places don't. People from those places, perhaps, should be held accountable.

"We just have to begin enforcing the laws we already have instead of having new laws," she said. "I don't think controlling the number of restaurants and bars is going to change behavior."

More:

Bits of this & that ... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus, stymied in his efforts to supersede state law in determining the number and proximity of bars on the city's South Side, now wants to limit the number of restaurants there.
'I don't care if it was drugstores that were opening,' he said. 'It's not serving the business district well to have almost a monopoly of one certain type of business.'
Such arrogance cannot hide Mr. Kraus' ignorance. The South Side (excluding the SouthSide Works) long has been a wonderful, living, breathing laboratory for the free marketplace. Indeed, the success of such a funky and eclectic district has bred some problems, such as open drunkenness and public urination.
But not only are the South Side's problems tailor-made for beefed-up enforcement of existing laws by the local gendarmes, the Kraus proposal would be a slippery slope toward all manner of even more onerous government diktats that very well could kill the geese that lay so many golden eggs for Pittsburgh's tax coffers."

So sad.

In other news, this dude, is both a Spartan and Olympian.

Waterpark planned for Mills mall site

Waterpark planned for Mills mall site: "Waterpark planned for Mills mall site"

Think again, about swimming

Part 2:



Part 3:



Part 4:



Part 5:

Pay up on over due taxes -- and float another $2 Million in the budget

City council says, "Take this baseball bat and club the voters of the city, but do it under your name, not that of the City Council."

The overall theme of this policy brief is on the money. The city gives tax breaks to the new developers and that means it takes more from those who have been paying all along. The city is not fair.

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

---

January 13, 2010                                                                                                       Volume 10, Number 3

---

  Pittsburgh Tax Revenue: A Better Approach

When Pittsburgh’s plans to use projected tuition tax revenues were denied by the Oversight Board, the resulting loss of $15 million in projected revenue for 2010 necessitated some reworking of the budget to meet the balanced budget mandate.  One of the revenue sources picked for enhancement was delinquent tax collections. Instead of the $4.4 million anticipated in the earlier budget, the City boosted the amount to be collected by $2 million. The amended budget notes that “in anticipation of aggressive collection from a new agent,” the 2010 collection would rise to $6.4 million.

The new agent referred to in the budget document is a private company already employed to collect back taxes owed to Allegheny County. The company will add delinquent City, school, and Water and Sewer Authority bills to its efforts. How serious is the agency likely to be in going after delinquents?  One City Council member noted that the City was “…essentially handing a baseball bat to the tax collector and saying, ‘be more aggressive.’”

Just how forceful the collection agency will be depends heavily on the level of public outcry and pushback by those owing back taxes or water bills.  But it is fair to say that if the City is going to push forward to collect money from overdue bills it ought to expand the tougher approach to the other sources of taxes it already collects by strengthening efforts to ensure correctness and fairness across the board.  This would stand in sharp contrast to its previous modus operandi of appealing to Harrisburg for new taxes or higher allowable rates on existing taxes. 

The foremost example that leaps immediately to mind is the real estate tax, which accounts for $127 million in general fund revenues for the City.  Given the level of dependence on property tax (it represents 30 percent of all general fund revenue, tax and non-tax), one would think that the City would be doing everything in its power to guarantee that the County produces timely and accurate assessments.  Instead, the City remained silent and did nothing during the nearly five year battle over the County’s base year system. It did comment, albeit quietly and somewhat surreptitiously, in the 2009 budget message when the Mayor wrote:

Like all other municipalities in Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh

is faced with the prospect of little or no growth in this largest revenue source

due to the County’s use of a base year assessment system…The base year assessment system also fails to reflect changes in property values, suppresses growth, and leads to inaccurate assessments and disproportionate taxation throughout the City.

The last point in the statement about disproportionate taxation goes to the heart of the fairness question and uniformity issue the Supreme Court ultimately cited in tossing out the County’s base year system.

However, to its discredit, the City never felt the level of outrage necessary to prod it into joining the lawsuit against the base year or filing its own lawsuit. Assuming the City truly believed its claim about disproportionate (unfair) taxation, it should have worked much harder on behalf of its taxpayers who are over assessed or correctly assessed and are thereby forced to carry an inequitable share of the tax burden while the under assessed properties pay less than they should. 

Add to that the City’s policy of encouraging development that takes property off of the tax rolls completely and replaces it with very expensive structures such as PNC Park, Heinz Field, the new Convention Center, and the new Penguins Arena to mention some really large examples—well over a billion dollars worth of buildings.  Likewise, the City has engaged in massive subsidies for private development such as Lazarus using Tax Increment Financing, low cost loans, etc., that have failed miserably to earn a return for taxpayers. Indeed, several of these subsidies have resulted in huge losses.

Achieving solvency for Pittsburgh is probably more in its own hands than most people might realize. Tough enforcement of overdue tax collection is a start, but there also needs to be a shift toward making sure the City is collecting taxes fairly and uniformly from its tax base.  Perhaps revenues would rise enough to permit a tax rate cut, something the City needs.

Still, when all is said and done, there is simply no substitute for freezing—or even reducing—spending. Generating more revenue through available sources without raising tax rates is helpful but is not a permanent solution if spending is not controlled much more rigorously than anything yet undertaken by the City government. A continuation of the same old policies will inevitably lead to future attempts to find new sources of tax revenue such as college students, hospital patients, or people parking in Downtown.  

---

Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President                                                        Eric Montarti, Senior Policy Analyst

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: alleghenyinstitute.org

If you wish to support our efforts please consider becoming a donor to the Allegheny Institute.  The Allegheny Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible.  Please mail your contribution to: 

The Allegheny Institute

305 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard

Suite 208

Pittsburgh, PA  15234

Parks are in the news again

Parks are in the news again. Parks are seldom in the news. Most of the time when parks are in the news, it isn't good. For a while, parks was only in the news because of goose killings, lake sludge, closed swim pools, Closed rec centers, and more doom and gloom. Other times, the news is worse -- so let's leave it at that.

Now we are talking about parks to outlaw sled rides. No tubing. No fun snow saucers. No toboggans. Plus, Boyce Park, the only county park with a ski hill, is closed.

Dan Onorato has failed us in terms of his stewardship of the parks. Failed. So sad.

Mark McGwire’s Pound of Flesh

Mark McGwire’s Pound of Flesh In the ten years Brian Williams has anchored the NBC Nightly News, he has never once launched a broadcast by lambasting a public figure. Henry Paulson after the economic collapse? George W. Bush after Katrina? Dick Cheney after everything? All were spared the personal disdain of 'America's most trusted newsman.' Until yesterday. Williams began his broadcast by going after true evil: Mark McGwire.

Rumors and Rants » Blog Archive » What’s Really Going On At USC

Rumors and Rants » Blog Archive » What’s Really Going On At USC

GASP: State Implementation Plan to Clean Up the Liberty-Clairton Area now Available for Public Comment

The Clean Air Act requires the Allegheny County Health Department to create a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to show how it will bring the Liberty-Clairton area (made up of Clairton, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, and Port Vue) into compliance with the federal health-based standards for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5).

This SIP is now available for public comment. Let ACHD know you want a strong plan that will clean up our air sooner rather than later. (You may recall that the poor air quality in the Liberty-Clairton area is a big contributor to Pittsburgh's consistently poor national air quality rankings) More information on some shortcomings of the SIP below.

Jan. 14 Public Hearing
The Allegheny County Board of Health will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 6:30 PM at the Clairton Municipal Building, 551 Ravensburg Boulevard, Clairton PA, 15025 (maps and directions)

Oral testimony must be pre-scheduled by calling 412-578-8008 no less than 24 hours in advance of the public hearing. Speakers will be limited to five minutes and should bring a written copy of their comments.

GAST is coordinating a carpool from Squirrel Hill for those who'd like to share a ride to the hearing. If you are interested contact bryan@gasp-pgh.org by Tuesday, Jan. 12th.

Written Comments
ACHD will also accept written comments on the SIP

by email: BOH@achd.net

by mail:
Board of Health,
3333 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

by fax: 412-578-8325.

Please let us know at joe@gasp-pgh.org if you plan to attend the public hearing or submit written comments.

About PM 2.5
PM 2.5 consists of microscopic solid or liquid particles; most of these particles result from the burning of fossil fuels. PM2.5 has been linked to a number of negative health effects including asthma, stroke, heart attack, lung cancer, and premature death.

About the SIP
The Clean Air Act requires ACHD and many other state and local air quality agencies to create SIPs to bring areas where the air is unhealthy into compliance with federal health-based air quality standards. Right now most state and local agencies, ACHD included, are developing SIPs to meet standards for PM 2.5 that were set back in 1997. Based on better data on PM 2.5 effects on human health, EPA established a lower PM 2.5 standard in 2006, but ACHD (along with other state and local air quality agencies) are still working on SIPs to meet the unhealthy 1997 standards. Tell ACHD its SIP must meet the improved 2006 PM 2.5 standards.

The deadline to meet the PM 2.5 standards is April 5, 2010; however, ACHD's draft SIP would make use of every available opportunity to stretch out that deadline. Under ACHD's proposal, their attainment date would be extended 5 years to April 5, 2015, and even then ACHD proposes to make use of another extension provision to allow themselves to wait until April 5, 2016 to provide enough air monitor data for EPA to make a final determination that the PM 2.5 standards have been meet. In other words, 6 years after the standard attainment deadline, ACHD's plan would bring the Liberty-Clairton area into attainment with an air quality standard that is 19 years old and 11 years out of date! Tell ACHD we can't afford to wait until 2016 to breathe clean, healthy air.

It gets worse: To meet even its much-extended deadline, ACHD's air monitors in the Liberty-Clairton area must record its first of 3 consecutive years of data at or below the PM 2.5 standards in the year 2014 at the very latest. But according to ACHD's own numbers, their plan for cleaning up the air in Liberty-Clairton area won't obtain its first year of data at or below the PM 2.5 standards until 2016. After using every trick in the book to extend its SIP due date, ACHD's plan would still be late. Tell ACHD their plan can't just propose a deadline, it has to meet it, too.

In short ACHD's final SIP must:
Aim to meet or exceed the updated 2006 PM 2.5 standards, not the outdated 1997 standards.
Set its attainment deadline as soon as possible, not six years later than the normal attainment deadline.
Actually meet whatever attainment deadline it sets.

More information:
The Liberty Clairton SIP [PDF]
General Particulate Matter Information from EPA
EPA's Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule [PDF] -- a lengthy technical document describing the PM 2.5 SIP requirements

If you have any questions contact GASP's Legal Director, Joe Osborne at joe@gasp-pgh.org
PA Environmental Quality Board seeks comments on controlling particulate matter emissions from outdoor wood-fired boilers (OWBs)
The deadline for submitting comments has been extended until February 12, 2010. GASP will provide talking points in the near future.

A significant and growing source of PM2.5 emissions in Pennsylvania is from OWBs. OWBs, also referred to as outdoor wood-fired furnaces, outdoor wood-burning appliances, or outdoor hydronic heaters, are free-standing fuel-burning devices designed: (1) to burn clean wood or other approved solid fuels; (2) specifically for outdoor installation or installation in structures not normally intended for habitation by humans or domestic animals, such as garages; and (3) to heat building space or water by means of distribution, typically through pipes, of a fluid heated in the device, typically water or a water and antifreeze mixture. OWBs are being sold to heat homes and buildings and to produce domestic hot water.

The emissions, health effects and the nuisance factor created by the use of OWBs are a major concern to the PA DEP. The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management has conducted stack tests on OWBs. Based on the test results, the average PM2.5 emissions from one OWB are equivalent to the emissions from 205 oil furnaces or as many as 8,000 natural gas furnaces. Cumulatively, the smallest OWB has the potential to emit almost 1 1/2 tons of PM every year. Of the estimated 155,000 OWBs sold Nationwide between 1990 and 2005, 95% were sold in 19 states, of which PA is one. Unlike indoor wood stoves that are regulated by the EPA, no Federal standards exist for OWBs and the majority of them are not equipped with pollution controls.

For more information: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol39/39-42/1929.html

Written Comments -- interested persons are invited to submit comments, suggestions or objections regarding the proposed regulation to the Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477. Comments may also be submitted electronically at BoardatRegComments@state.pa.us. Comments, suggestions or objections must be received by the Board by February 12, 2010.

Group seeks better recruiting, staffing for Pittsburgh schools

Group seeks better recruiting, staffing for Pittsburgh schools: "The Downtown education group A+ Schools this morning recommended recruiting and staffing improvements for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, saying it's concerned about teacher turnover rates at the district's most vulnerable schools.

Score card of swim meet: Schenley vs. Carrick, a typical District 8 dual meet

SUPPLEMENTS Would-be experts and untested products feed a - 05.18.09 - SI Vault

SUPPLEMENTS Would-be experts and untested products feed a - 05.18.09 - SI Vault: "What You Don't Know Might Kill You"

Do not put weirdness into your body.

DA or Wise Guy?

DA Zappala public servant or public enemy
By Mike Ference of Clairton, 412-233-5491, Ference@icubed.com

Looks like the recent revelations of former Allegheny County Coroner and world-renowned forensic examiner, Dr. Cyril Wecht, may turn the tide in the bitter dispute between Allegheny County District Attorney Steven Zappala, Jr. and PA Senator Jane Orie.

According to Wecht, “Steve Zappala said to a legislator back in 2005 that ‘anybody who screws with me or my family is going to be indicted.’ Wecht even volunteered to take a polygraph exam.

If Wecht’s recollection can be proven and Zappala does use his office and all the resources that go with a district attorney’s position, for vindictive purposes this may be the worst case of terrorism ever chronicled in a non-third-world country.

One can only wonder is Zappala a district attorney or a wise guy?

A few predictions for a new prep decade - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Sports predictions:

A few predictions for a new prep decade - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Let's try to predict what will happen in the next 10 years:
» The biggest off-field threat to high school sports will be in 2013, when school districts will be obligated to at least double their contributions to employee pension funds.Taxes will be raised accordingly, and taxpayer-citizens groups will be screaming loudly. You can bet that cutting minor sports in various school districts will be a priority for such groups.
» What will become of small schools such as Leechburg, Springdale and Elderton? Unless additional funding streams are established — such as putting video poker machines in bars, newsstands and convenience stores — small schools will find it more difficult to stay open.
» Look for the City League and the WPIAL to merge. After Schenley closes in 2011, only eight schools will comprise the City League. That's too small for the City to have its own PIAA district.
» Installing artificial turf has been all the rage in WPIAL football the past 10 years. What's next? Schools could be installing video replay boards like Pine-Richland has."

Schenley High School is going to go away. But, U-Prep, Sci-Tech and B.O. High are opening. Perhaps Peabody goes away too?

But, all along, I've been a big fan of putting the city league into the WPIAL. This needs to be done well. It will take some years. But, it can occur and should be a priority so that more families don't move out of the city.

He's not heavy. He's my brother.

Because 99% of the rest of the football watching world looks at this video and thinks, "Dude, what an ass." And 99% of Steelers fans look at this video and think, "Dude, that guy is awesome!!! Wait, is that my brother?"

Full article on NFL's Most Annoying Fans - The Wildcard Winners and Playoff Brackets .

By the way, I don't have a real brother, just four sisters and four farly brothers in law!

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat points out that a box of rocks is Pgh's City Council President

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: "City Government watchdog group, says that 'A Box of Rocks provides the intellectual leadership that Council deserves.'

So, yesterday's vote on Pittsburgh City Council that flipped away from Theresa Smith and to Darlene Harris for the role of President was none other than Darlene herself.

Another interesting point is that Bruce Kraus was all for Bill Peduto. Peduto is a 'progressive.' I'm fine with that support. Bruce stated his intentions in the paper that he'd be voting for Peduto because the president of city council needs to be one who can be mayor should that be necessary. But in the end, Bruce Kraus voted for Darlene Harris so: Bill Peduto could be finance chair; a non-progressive could be president of council; another person from the North Side gets to lead the city's executive branch and the city's legislative branch as well as the county's executive branch; cats, dogs and smoke eaters rise in status; and Bruce Kraus gets out from the chairmanship of Public Safety and can now be the chair of Public Works. Bruce Kraus followed his marching orders and helped to insure a 5-4 unity vote.

Most of all, I'm sad that Bruce Kraus isn't going to be the chair of Public Safety. I had thought he had a great role there, for the past two years. His experience and wisdom with dealing with PFAs and other police matters are now shrunk. Public Safety was a good fit for Bruce, I dare say.

Furthermore, Urban Parks was a great fit for Theresa Smith. I had hoped she'd stay in that role too. Now she jumps to Public Safety. Double rats. Park's got no appointment on day one making it on the back burner again. Before Theresa Smith was the chair of the parks committee, Patrick Dowd was there. He did nothing in that role. Zippo. I watched, asked, pushed, suggested, pulled, challenged and more. Moss grew on Dowd in his Park's Chairmanship more than anything else. The Park's Department kept up with its ongoing efforts throughout, and since the time of Gene Riccardi, with no thanks to its council chair. Citiparks is well practiced -- to use a cook's illustration -- at making chicken soup with only chicken shit for ingredients.

So, I tweeted yesterday, "Who is going to be the chair of the Urban Parks & Recreation Committee?" I even had hopes that Theresa Smith could be voted as City Council President and yet still hold on to the chair's seat for Citiparks.

Today, we can ask again, "Who is going to be the chair of the Urban Parks and Recreation Committee?"

Patrick Dowd at Rec Chair has experience, kids, moss on the chair and some egg on his face.

Rev Burgess is keen on parks, or at least I've seen him at one in the past. Parks are more soulful, spirited and peaceful than the URA, generally. The parks don't need to be lonley places.

Daniel Lavelle, rookie, might get the parks post so he can earn his stripes and gets taken down a few pegs. We might get to see if he can pluck feathers off of some urban, free-range chickens or not.

Who knows?

Rocks grow in parks, right?

Russ Diamond for Lieutenant Governor

Russ Diamond for Lieutenant Governor: "Russ Diamond Launches Bid for Lieutenant Governor"

Solid list of new year's resolutions

I resolve to persevere in the struggle for freedom that many Americans have undertaken tirelessly, and in some cases have given their lives for.

I resolve to thank Libertarians who amplify their voice for liberty by running for office.

I resolve to congratulate Libertarian candidates who win their races, and thank Libertarian candidates who did not win but helped to spread the Libertarian message and to lay the groundwork for future Libertarian wins.

I resolve to thank Libertarian volunteers who help the Libertarian Party and our candidates in whatever ways they can.

I resolve not to forget that Republicans voted for the banker bailouts and Medicare expansion, and that Democrats voted for the Patriot Act and the Iraq War.

I resolve not to be fooled by "independent" organizations who say they want to "take back government for the people," but who really just want to use government power for their own purposes.

I resolve to keep the Libertarian Party door open for those who have worked through other organizations to promote liberty, but decided they might get a bigger bang for their buck working through the Libertarian Party.

I resolve to contribute financially to the National Libertarian Party, and to at least one state and county affiliate, and to at least one Libertarian Party candidate.

The next two, I've changed:

I resolve to vote for Libertarian candidates whenever it makes sense to do so.

I resolve to keep reminding people that every signature that helps to get a Libertarian or other minor-party candidate onto the ballot makes a difference.

Showing off the South Hills

Showing off the South Hills Showing off the South Hills

To sit in the big chair,

To learn personalities,

To throw weight around,

To show off,

To have envy for the overlook of Overbrook,

To address perceptions,

To hold secret one's vote while suspense builds and backroom deals are hatched,

Hummmm..... These are all elements of a good soap opera.

2010 Comes with a Splash -- in the Mon

I got to conduct some business on the Mon Wharf today, just before jumping into the River. I (Schenley High School) gathered with the head swim coaches of Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic and Brentwood High School to discuss future swim meets with them this season. We were hoping to get meets with those two schools to fortify our schedule -- and we sealed (pun intended) the deal today.

 

The one swimmer dude from Central said he'd say in the water for 3 minutes -- and he did. Merci's quote was great. "Well, they earned their varsity letters today." Funny.

 

Most of us were in and out in a matter of seconds, snow flakes in the air. Plenty of crocs were seen floating down the river near the shoreline.

 

The Brentwood coach, Robo, is a police officer in the city. Good to meet his wife too. She works at the school. He swam, as did Dave, Brentwood's Assistant Coach, and a Facebook Friend. We really missed Anna.

• More photos in Kirsten's FB album.  
• Team Photo, before the swim
• Trib article with photos: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_660415.html 
• WTAE TV coverage with slide show link: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/22105983/detail.html
• Best slideshow on Flicker from the social media wonks!

Another group: