Prepared statements: Pittsburgh City Council: Garment workers are not rocksalt

To be presented at Pittburgh City Council - March 30, 2010

KENNETH MILLLER, Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance, 412-867-9213

nosweatshopsbucco@yahoo.com

The Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance participated in a celebration of Martin Luther King Day with garment workers in Bangladesh this year. It was an opportunity for us to discuss what we have in common and our shared hopes for the future. Two action items were put into motion during that celebration. Workers decided to:

SOLICIT testimony from union members that work is specific factories that have entered into contractual arrangements with the City of Pittsburgh

VISIT Pittsburgh to deliver this testimony.

Members of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity will be here on Tuesday April 27, 2010, less than one month from now.

I know that this community is against sweatshop working conditions and that we support Human Rights. This Council and the Ravenstahl Administration are eager to enforce our anti sweatshop ordinance.

The ordinance is designed to leverage our procurement of apparel. Immediately, you can see several obstacles:

The apparel we are referring to has already been purchased. The policy cannot be implemented by guiding a procurement decision/we have contracts that have to be remediated.

We have purchasing agreements with Allegheny County and it is unclear exactly who executed the contracts that procured this apparel.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE: The success of any anti sweatshop procurement policy is about our ability to leverage procurement. It follows that the larger the procurements being leveraged, the more successful the outcome, the more effectively we will meet the intention of our law.

Often, intergovernmental cooperation is lauded as the best way to achieve efficiencies in government or leverage government dollars in the market place to save money. My message to you today is that GARMENT WORKERS are not ROCKSALT. You need the governments of Allegheny County and the State of PA to respond to the testimony you will receive on April 27. Your work with these governments will require a little more persistence and rigger than the kind of work you might apply to determine benefits the city might receive from a contract for rocksalt.

Timothy Johnson at Allegheny County’s Department of Administrative Services has the list of factories that the City of Pittsburgh has been supplied by and is able to affirm that these are specific factories we are reviewing testimony from on April 27. John Dieghan in Procurement is requiring venders to promise that the apparel they are providing is not made in sweatshop working conditions. The testimony we will receive on April 27 will directly contradict the bid specifications that were agreed to.

Governor Rendell has asked Secretary Creedon to rigorously implement his anti sweatshop Executive Order of 2004. The City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County will need to work with them and enter into specific agreements… such as a “SweatFree Consortium” or a joint contract with a credible 3rd party investigator. Secretary Creedon and his staff are very alert to the logistical and financial difficulties the implementation of this legislation could have on cities such as ours and have developed strategies that take this into account.

The Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity is coming here with the clear and reasonable expectation that we will RESPOND to their testimony in a way that empowers them to exercise their Human Rights and be able to go to work in a garment factory that is not a sweatshop. Please, Council President Harris, arrange for them to come and present their testimony here in City Council at 2 PM on Tuesday April 27.

What needs to be done in preparation for April 27 is difficult. This is not an intergovernmental agreement about rocksalt. This is about human beings. This is responding to people telling us about Human Rights abuses they are experiencing and that we have a legal mandate to address. I believe that this Council has the fortitude, where-with-all, intelligence and commitment to Human Rights.

from Citizens Against Government Waste

Porker of the Month: Rep. Louise Slaughter

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named House Rules
Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) Porker of the Month for
conjuring up an eponymous House "rule" that would have
allowed House Democrats to ram through the $2.3 trillion healthcare
reform bill without directly voting on it. The invocation of the
"Slaughter Rule" was one of the last steps in the tortured
journey of the bloated, expensive healthcare bill. In an effort
to absolve vulnerable House Democrats of having to take an unpopular
vote on the Senate version of the bill without an ironclad guarantee
that the Senate would later enact corrections to the most toxic
provisions, Chairwoman Slaughter jury-rigged a proposed
"self-enacting" rule that would allow the House to vote to
"deem" the Senate bill as passed without forcing members
to cast individual votes up or down. To quote former House
Speaker Newt Gingrich, "Last year, the House was passing bills
without reading them. This year, they're passing bills
without voting on them." This mind-boggling disintegration
of the legislative process into procedural travesty enabled by
Chairwoman Slaughter provoked questions of constitutionality,
fairness, and transparency, and in the end was not used to pass the
abominable healthcare bill. For her mindless slaughter of the
legislative process and leading an assault on the credibility of
Congress, House Rules Committee Chairwoman Slaughter is CAGW's
March Porker of the Month. Read more about the Porker of the
Month.

http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=qz_MY9frZx9mBhKxSdU51A..


CCAGW Praises GOP for All-Out Earmark Moratorium

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) commended
House Republicans this month for enacting a unilateral ban on
congressional earmarks, including those that are tariff- and
tax-related, for fiscal year (FY) 2011. The GOP's move
came one day after House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey
(D-Wis.) and Defense Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-Wash.)
announced that the committee would no longer accept earmark requests
directed to for-profit entities. "House Republicans have
finally stepped up to rein in wasteful and corruptive earmarked
spending," declared CCAGW President Tom Schatz.
"This move has been a long time coming and tens of thousands of
wasteful earmarks worth hundreds of billions of dollars have been
enacted while taxpayers waited for authentic leadership from members
of Congress." Due to the efforts of waste watchdogs,
earmarks have been on a downward trajectory over the last four years,
as documented by CAGW's Pork Database. In FY 2006,
Congress stuffed the appropriations bills with 9,963 earmarks totaling
$29 billion. In FY 2009, the appropriations bills contained
10,160 earmarks costing $19.6 billion, a 32 percent reduction in
dollar terms. During that same period, Congress began requiring
that all earmarks be accompanied by the name of their congressional
sponsor, a significant improvement in transparency.
http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=0RwTQi9eUTrZ5p5OugsPSw..

Read more about the House Republicans' earmark moratorium

http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=eKXByx90mwzaN036aLL_WQ..
CAGW Applauds President's Support for Fraud "Bounty
Hunters"
CAGW applauded President Obama for announcing on March 10 that he will
use private-sector auditors to root out fraud in the country's
two massive government-run healthcare plans, Medicare and
Medicaid. The practice of using private-sector auditors,
technically called recovery audit contractors (RACs), to identify and
recover improper payments to healthcare contractors and providers has
been a staple in the private sector for many years. The Office
of Management and Budget reported on November 18, 2009 that federal
improper payments across the board totaled $98 billion in FY 2009, an
increase of 38 percent over the $72 billion in FY 2008. Medicare
and Medicaid accounted for $54 billion in improper payments.
Even though a limited three-state Medicare RAC demonstration project
implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services between
2005 and 2008 initially encountered stiff resistance from hospital
associations, some providers, and some members of Congress, the
program was nonetheless rolled out nationwide by January, 2010.
"Recovery auditing has been a critical tool in the
government's anti-waste arsenal for several years," said
CAGW President Tom Schatz. "We are pleased to see the
President publicly recognize its importance and advocate its use to
claw back tens of billions of taxpayer dollars lost to waste and
abuse." Read more about the savings produced by Medicare fraud
"bounty hunters."

http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=29AH0BxkzzAIbbu-O5G19w..

CAGW Applauds Georgia Budget Task Force

CAGW has congratulated Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle (R)
upon the release of the report of the Budget Task Force. The
seven-member Task Force performed a detailed review of state
government spending and operations, and the report provides 50
recommendations that have the potential to save more than $3
billion. The proposals can help alleviate the state's $1.6
billion budget shortfall without raising taxes. "Georgia
is the latest state to undertake the kind of detailed review of
programs and functions that should be performed by governments at all
levels, from federal to local," asserted CAGW President Tom
Schatz. "States from South Carolina to Nevada have been
issuing similar reports over the past several years and adopting
recommendations to make government more efficient and effective.
The Georgia report notes that the 50 states are facing an overall $350
billion budget shortfall in fiscal year 2011, making these task forces
even more essential." CAGW has been working with and
encouraging the creation of state cost-cutting commissions around the
country in order to promote more effective and efficient government
and to help balance budgets without raising taxes. Read more
about the Georgia Budget Task Force's recommendations
http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=Y9pXm4RmGvEjakc8Mvv2tQ..

Take Action!

Tell Congress: Sign the No Pork Pledge!  http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=CtmIAaeSgFujUk4AJkrfWw..

Sign the Citizen's Demand to Ground the Joint Strike Fighter Alternate
Engine Program! http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=OWdANuEpgNNkTyz8sM4F7Q..

Washington Residents: Help Stop a Tax Increase in Your State! http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=X7XzVTdJgBIcWi4wdLDhgQ..

CAGW Commentary: "Sex, Drugs and BlackBerrys" by CAGW President Tom Schatz, http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=XAotVZRY-Qzg9kfZl343eQ..  The Washington Times (March 16, 2010)

Visit CAGW's Blog! - Give us your opinions and tips about government waste in your area on
"The Swine Line"!  http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=FAebB8RCEOZXCzP3Zqb4bQ..

Read more
http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=x3NKFyqn_G32UyrrBzV3UQ..

about the Pork Advisory System.

Wastewatcher Read the monthly newsletter online.
http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=-7Sj9kfnWgZ96hB2tN2rfQ..

This month's issue includes the articles:

"There Ain't No Rules Here": Vote Buying, Fix-its, and Budget Gimmicks Used to Ram  through Healthcare Bill http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=zSpR0PiJcj-nPcw_fuX-5Q..

Government Broadband is too Broad http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=u4EV5-hBnTv4-k7bmoKqmg..

It is Time to Deflate Federal Salaries http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=1B9eUzQC0_I-3AVi1KZU1g..

To Infinity and Beyond! http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=Dw3Dq2jqmjpzzJq6YzeIMA..

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul: Trying to Track Stimulus Money Robs Oversight of Other Federal Spending http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=NXanbNG_v2Ym_ZbovhxNhQ..

Shop CAGW! http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=UcflCZ_fgmLz1ii5L2c6tw..

In the News...

The Washington Post(March 23, 2010): "Breaking the Earmark
Addiction" http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=HJXjdl9ZXRX4gUTGp2zhkg..

The Cleveland Plain Dealer(March 21, 2010): "Health Care Bill Arrives at Historic Vote Today in U.S. House of Representatives" http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=ZxS6WUCDL-mld-zEDETVNg..

FOX News (March 17, 2010): "Watchdogs Barking at Taxpayer-Funded
Traffic Barrier 'Art'" http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/R?i=i8ljxFy_mU0rIszi6i2k_g..

Fw: DR News: Can Corbett See the Forest for the Trees?

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: Tim Potts Democracy Rising PA <tim@democracyrisingpa.com>

Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:46:57 -0400 (EDT)

To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>

Subject: DR News: Can Corbett See the Forest for the Trees?

Democracy Rising Pennsylvania

UNSUBSCRIBE HERE Referendum & Convention Update Here's another reason for a Constitution convention: Clouding Up Sunshine Law, Editorial, Dubois Courier-Express, March 22 And here's another candidate who has signed the petition for a referendum this fall: In the Lehigh Valley, Justin Simmons is opposing Rep. Karen Beyer in the Republican primary. Can Corbett See the Forest for the Trees? Although a jury returned guilty verdicts against former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon, D-Beaver, and two staff on Monday, Attorney General Tom Corbett didn't have long to savor his victory last week. The rest of the week was all downhill. Click here for a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story summarizing the verdicts. At his victory news conference on Tuesday, Corbett exposed a curious myopia about the relationship between the trees felled in the trial (as well as 13 more defendants awaiting trial) and the forest of government that he hopes to lead as he campaigns for governor. "Hopefully the people of Pennsylvania can have a little bit more faith in their state government today now that these defendants have been convicted," Corbett said in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Click here. Other news reports also quoted Corbett as saying that we will never know whether lawmakers have learned a lesson from his prosecutions. Corbett seems to be unaware and unconcerned that after three years of investigations, trials and pleas, lawmakers have not enacted a single law to make sure that this scandal, which has now cost taxpayers more than $10 million according to some estimates, will not happen again. New laws, plus better enforcement of existing laws, can raise citizen confidence and show that lawmakers are determined to repair the conspicuous problems with state government. Now they seem to be biding their time before reverting to the culture of corruption that allowed the Bonus Scandal in the first place. Given his roles as both attorney general and gubernatorial candidate, Corbett is in the ideal position both to recommend new laws to prevent a repeat of the Bonus Scandal and to campaign for a Constitution convention where citizens can decide for themselves how to alter and reform their government. He has done neither. By the end of the week, that dual position became more troublesome. A preliminary hearing for another defendant, former Rep. and former Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler, D-York, had to be postponed. Stetler's attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges against him with the accusation that Corbett engaged in the same practice of using tax dollars to subsidize his own election campaigns. Click here for a story from the York Daily Record. Judge Richard Lewis has given Corbett two weeks to respond to the motion. Also, an attorney for one of the staff convicted on Monday has asked the judge to declare a mistrial. A juror wrote in a blog post that jurors had visited the capitol building during lunch one day to see the scene of the crimes. However, jurors are not permitted to do their own investigations and must limit their deliberations to the evidence presented in court. Click here for a Post-Gazette story. Lewis gave Corbett two weeks to respond to that motion, too. While finding a variety of activities to be illegal, jurors did not find another act to be illegal. That is the practice of lawmakers charging taxpayers for meals on top of the three meals a day taxpayers already buy them with per diems . Veon and a cadre of basketball buddies charged taxpayers more than $15,000 for meals following their after-hours pick-up games. Click here for Brian O'Neill's latest column in today's Post-Gazette. Questions for lawmakers: We often pose questions that citizens and reporters may want to ask their lawmakers. Now the AP's Mark Scoloforo has compiled a list of questions that voters can ask incumbents as a result of the Bonus Scandal. Click here. And here are a few of our own: When will PA debate a "resign-to-run" law to prohibit public officials from serving in one office while running for another? How many meals do taxpayers have to pay for each day? Why aren't three a day enough? When will the House and Senate adopt a rule (better yet, a law) that tax dollars may not be used for food beyond what lawmakers receive in per diems? Which "leader" is going to make that happen? When will the House and Senate require lawmakers to document their expenses in order to receive per diems, just as everyone else in America must do? A New Reality We don't have to settle for whatever government lawmakers, judges and governors want to give us. 1. Click here to sign the petition for a referendum on a Constitution convention. 2. Forward this edition of DR News to others and ask them to sign the petition. 3. Donate to keep the pressure on. A new reality is up to us, because only we can keep democracy rising! Democracy Rising Pennsylvania abides by strict NO-SPAM rules. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details. We can be reached at: P.O. Box 618, Carlisle, PA 17013  © Democracy Rising Pennsylvania 2001-2010. All Rights Reserved. Powered by the Action Potential Nonprofit Web Toolkit

Fw: City Council: Garment workers are not rocksalt

From: PGH Sweatshop <nosweatshopsbucco@yahoo.com>

Workers from Bangladesh are coming here to provide testimony that will directly contradict legal documents that their bosses have signed… the bosses promised our local governments that the working conditions were much better than they actually are.  These sweatshop bosses lied to take advantage of government contracts. 

Members of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity are coming to Pittsburgh on April 27 and they expect us to implement our laws in ways that will empower them at work.   They know that we have laws in the City, County, and State that are designed to protect their rights… laws designed to leverage our governmental procurement and be felt as improvements to sweatshop working conditions in Bangladesh.  The workers are coming to ask us if our laws work, if our legal system and administrative policies can have an impact for them.

Our answer is YES!  The Pittsburgh Anti  Sweatshop Community Alliance does not underestimate the challenges this testimony will pose to our government officials, but the resources and capacity to take action are at our finger tips.   Members of PASCA will speak before Pittsburgh City Council at 10 AM on Tuesday March 30 and to Allegheny Council at 5 PM on Tuesday April 6… The message for the members of Pittsburgh City Council this Tuesday is simple: Garment Workers are not rocksalt. 

The momentum towards April 27 has surged forward with a grant award from the Three Rivers Community Foundation that will help pay for the workers' visit.  Thank you TRCF for believing in a Civil Rights Bridge from Pittsburgh to the Floor of the Global Sweatshop.  Yes, 'Change not Charity.'

NINE different labor unions, civil rights organizations, individuals, and businesses have stepped up to co-sponsor this workers visit with generous donations for $50 - $200.  Please join them. 

CONTACT: Kenneth - 412 867 9213 or nosweatshopsbucco@yahoo.com

Send a donation to: PASCA c/o Thomas Merton Center, 5125 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Fw: Tea Party Battle Hymns Celebrated in Spin Magazine

By, Angie Ress, Staff Writer, http://RestoreTheRepublic.com

On page 28 of the 25th anniversary edition of Spin Magazine, Ted Nugent says, "Basically, these guys are telling the government to 'Leave me the f*** alone.'" in reference to the "Band of Patriots" single "Take Our Freedom Back" written by Glenn Hudson, Gary Franchi and Billy Worley.

"The Nuge" was on hand to provide punditry and interpretation for the April issue of Spin in the article titled, "Battle Hymns of the Republic". Spencer Kornhaber who penned the article provides a guide to the top 5 most popular Tea Party Anthems where the song produced by Franchi came in number #1.

Kornhaber writes of the Restore the Republic produced "Band of Patriots" song "Take Our Freedom Back", "It sounds like if Lynyrd Skynard cut their hair and featured pennywhistle solos."

"We wanted something that would evoke songs of old and inspire people to stand up," says Franchi on the pages of Spin Magazine. Kornhaber further clarifies Franchi's statements by pointing out the Revolutionary War as the founding inspiration for the Tea Party tune.

Three members of the "Band of Patriots", Glenn Hudson, Gary Franchi and Billy Worley stand out on a star spangled backdrop along with four other leading music figures of the Tea Party Revolution. Lisa Mei Norton, an Air Force vet who came in at number two and sang "A Revolution is Brewing".  Steve Vaus, a.k.a. Buck Howdy, came in third place with "We Must Take America Back". Nashville's Brion Butterbaugh who was inspired by Rick Santelli's now famous statements on CNBC in 2009 rounded out 4th place with "It's Time to Party". The self-described "proud black conservative" Lloyd Marcus, took fifth place with his song "American Tea Party Anthem".

When asked about the recent spotlight on the dedication of the "Band of Patriots" Franchi stated, "We're moving in fast, and we're going to take our freedom back town by town, iPod by iPod. The song is free but freedom isn't. Those who came before us paid a price so we could sing songs like this and I'll be damned before the 'War on Terror' is turned into the 'War on Liberty.'" Franchi's statements were made in light of the recent advisory, by security industry professionals to DHS, to raise the Terror Alert in response to the public outcry against the health care bill.

He continued, "This song is the anthem we march behind on the front lines of the new revolution and we're crossing over into popular culture thanks to Spin Magazine."

The "Band of Patriots" are:

Glenn Hudson - Songwriter, Lead Singer, Guitars, Vocals.
Billy Worley - Songwriter, Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals.
Gary Franchi - Lyricist, Poet, Video Director, Producer.
Bito Cruz - Guitars
Berto Gonzalez - Drums

Spin Magazine enjoys a monthly circulation volume of 462,000 and an audience of 1.8 million. Spin Magazine Online traffic reaches 4.2 million unique visitors and 48 million monthly page views.

Restore the Republic was co-founded by the late producer Aaron Russo who managed Bette Midler and is credited for booking Led Zepplin's first American gig at the famous Chicago hot spot the Kinetic Playground.

The music video of the "Band of Patriots" single, "Take Our Freedom Back" can be seen and downloaded in MP3 format at http://BandOfPatriots.US

# # #

RestoreTheRepublic.com, 3149 Dundee Rd #176, Northbrook, Illinois 60062, USA

Education Week: Struggling Georgia School Firing Entire Staff

Who wants a job in Georgia?

Education Week: Struggling Georgia School Firing Entire Staff A failing Savannah high school is firing its entire staff in an effort to avoid further sanctions from the state and to make the school eligible for up to $6 million in federal money, officials said Thursday.

"You're fired." Now pay us money.

So, the taxpayers see 200 people going onto unemployement. And, the district gets lots of extra money because such drastic measures were taken.

Tell Congress to Sign the No Pork Pledge!

Tell your lawmakers to sign CCAGW's No Pork Pledge and to reject the pork-barrel earmarks that corrupt the federal budgetary process. Please click the link below or visit the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste's web site, http://www.ccagw.org/, to send a letter today.
To take action on this issue, click on the link below:
https://secure2.convio.net/cagw/site/Advocacy?s_oo=Q7fXrbD1DkFWSE_GxEARHg..&id=615

Kissing a toad leads to this madness

Once upon a time, ...

Police: Man tried to revive dead possum; alcohol involved Police: Man tried to revive dead possum; alcohol involved
Friday, March 26, 2010
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Police said a man will be charged with public drunkenness after several witnesses saw him attempting to resuscitate a road-killed opossum.
State police said they charged Donald Wolfe, 55, of Brookville, Jefferson County, after they arrived at the scene on Route 36 in Oliver Township around 3 p.m. Thursday.
A news release from police does not state how he was trying to revive the opossum.

Thankfully, the porcupine got to the other side of the road.

Urban Forest takes root in Hazelwood

A Facebook message that can be shared.

Hazelwood Food FOrest WOrkdays! :)

We are happy to announce that we will be hosting a Food Forest workday this Saturday, March 27th 1pm-5pm. If you are interested please read this entire email, as it contains important information! :)

1. You will need to bring your own tools! Sorry about this! We are working to get tools for future workdays but you will need to bring your own until further notice. Bring water, gloves and a hat as well. Its supposed to be sunny! :)
2. Please respond to this email if you plan to addend the workday this weekend. Also email us any questions/ concerns. I will provide those who respond with my cell phone number, in case you get lost trying to find us!
3. Email us if you do not wish to receive notification of workdays! We really dont want to bug you if you are not interested!!
4. The site is located on Irvine/ 2nd Avenue. E-mail pghfoodforests@gmail.com if you plan to attend and we will give you more specific directions.
5. Future work dates are included and will be held from 1pm - 5pm.

Tools you could bring if you have them! (There is some work that can be done without tools....so please come even if you dont have any of the items below, also we will have some to share...we just dont have enough for everyone!)
maddox- to remove tree roots
spades
hard rakes
digging bar/ pry bar
loppers
tree saw
gloves
blue recycling bags
garbage bags/ cans

Work days:

March 27- continue clearing
April 3- import soil, compost, mulch? begin forming pathways
April 10- import soil, compost, mulch? begin forming pathways

Workshops:
April 17- fence in site/ sheet mulch/ form raised beds
April 24- plant trees/ shrubs

Thanks SO much!!! We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you this Saturday!
Juliette

The fix is in. A quote from Today Show about Health Care Bills

They said it, "The fix is in."

Gosh.

Belmont Club » “It’s For the Children”

Belmont Club » “It’s For the Children” Admission to top Chicago schools has long been a competitive and murky process, with longstanding rumors of abuse. Mr. Duncan created a formal appeals process in 2008, and when he left to join the Obama administration, his successor, Ron Huberman, created a system to stop the gaming of the system.

If a school soars with a waiting list and there is more demand, then the school could be expanded.

Does it scale?

I went to a meeting about afterschool activities in Pittsburgh the other day.

By the way, another open informational meeting will be held for all and any afterschool providers on Friday, tomorrow, at 9 am (to 10) on the South Side on Sarah Street at the Brashear Association, right next to Phillips Elementary School. Join me there if you can.

There are lots of questions and issues that swirl around the whole concept of afterschool and getting the best for our kids -- while they are in school and out of it.

One of the questions was about scaling programs.

I look at swimming as an afterschool activity that scales -- and I don't mean like the skin of a fish either. Rather, we need to teach swimming to kids of all ages and even can have masters (adults) swimming. Plus, we can have and should have swim lessons at all our city pools -- in the schools. I want to lead a learn to swim enterprise that teaches swimming from the east end to the west end -- and all the places in between.

Here is another way to look at scales in a fun light.

Board votes to close 2 Pittsburgh schools

Board votes to close 2 Pittsburgh schools: "The board, in an 8-1 vote, approved the closure of Pittsburgh Vann K-5 in the Hill District and Pittsburgh Rooney 6-8 in Brighton Heights, effective June 30.
Pittsburgh Weil Accelerated Learning Academy K-8, also in the Hill, will be reconfigured to Pre K-5 beginning with the 2010-11 school year."

Fw: Hi, it's me. The Internet.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: The Internet <info@freepress.net>

Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:59:17 -0500 (CDT)

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

Subject: Hi, it's me. The Internet.

Dear Mark, It's me, the Internet. Can you help me? My future is in danger, which means your online freedom is in danger, too. The FCC just released its National Broadband Plan to get me into more homes in America, but the agency punted on the most serious problem: Companies like Comcast and AT&T have made me too expensive, too slow and too scarce. Even with this plan, you won't see a better me anytime soon, and many Americans still won't have access to me. You've already done so much for me. But I urgently need your help again today.  Can you donate $3 a month to save me? The FCC has sent their plan to Congress, and industry lobbyists will be out in full force to try to make the plan meet their own interests rather than yours. My friends at the Free Press Action Fund are working to make sure that the FCC hears from you, and that industry lobbyists don't strong-arm the FCC into accepting their anti-consumer agenda. Your contribution today will help the Free Press Action Fund to: Turn the lofty goals of the National Broadband Plan into reality Give you a voice at the FCC and in Congress, where Internet policy is being decided Fight to make sure the FCC crafts clear, strong Net Neutrality rules Rally public support across the country for building the super-fast, world-class, ubiquitous, open Internet you deserve Your access to information and freedom to communicate will be decided in this monumental fight. Don't let companies like AT&T and Time Warner Cable take away the free-flowing platform I was born to provide. The National Broadband Plan is my best chance to thrive — but it won't happen without strong leadership from the FCC. Defend me with a $3 monthly gift If thousands of people chip in just $3 a month, it will go a long way toward sustaining the Free Press Action Fund's work. And it will ensure that I'm here and healthy for generations to come. Thank you — and see you online! Your friend, The Internet P.S. Your monthly gift to the Free Press Action Fund will help get me, the Internet, into every home and business in the country. Without access to me at my best — fast, affordable and neutral — millions won't have access to the world. That's a future none of us can afford. Please donate today! Want to learn more? Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. If you haven't already, you can also join our E-Activist list. You ( mark@rauterkus.com) are receiving this e-mail as an opt-in subscriber to Free Press' E-Activist Network. You can unsubscribe or manage your account at any time.

School District may scrap neighborhood school alignment

Get this, parents cheering at a school board meeting. How refreshing.

Montour may scrap neighborhood school alignment during renovation The Montour School District likely will drop its neighborhood school alignment for a year while its high school is renovated.
Under the scenario laid out by acting Superintendent Donald Boyer at a crowded public meeting Tuesday night, grades 8-12 would move into David E. Williams Middle School in the fall, with grades 6-7 into Ingram Elementary School, grades 3-5 into Burkett Elementary and grades K-2 into Forest Grove Elementary.
The plan drew cheers from many in the audience. Many parents have called for moving the high school to David E. Williams so those students could have a full curriculum and a somewhat normal year of high school.

I have been an advocate, and some others agree with me, that the Pittsburgh Public School District should go to an "All Choice" system for all high school students. This would get rid of the "Feeder Pattern" system of locking in certain students to certain high schools based upon where their parents say that the kid resides.

In our high schools, we should give the kid a choice to go to a city-wide magnet such as Perry Traditional, CAPA, Sci-Tech, U-Prep, or the International School (IB at Obama) -- as well as the more traditional schools of Allderdice, Carrick, Brashear, Langley, Oliver, Peabody and Westinghouse.

If everyone had the freedom to go to what school they desire, perhaps fewer would go to the Charter Schools too. Likewise, private and Catholic schools are an option as well.

If the city gets rid of the feeder pattern for high school students, the district would retain more families in the city too.

140 Character Conference

Anyone up for a NYC Road Trip?

140 Character Conference: "Welcome to Jeff Pulver’s 140 Characters Conference! (#140conf)
The 140 Characters Conference: New York City (#140conf) will be taking place April 20-21, 2010 at the 92nd Street Y. This event is shaping up to being the largest worldwide gathering of people interested in the effects of the real-time Internet on both business and “we” the people.
If you are thinking about attending #140conf NYC, now would be a great time to secure your seat. With the ticket costing only US$ 140 for the two day event, register NOW to guarantee yourself access to the event. Based on the strong demand for the “early bird” tickets, we are now on a pace to sell all of the available tickets before mid-April."

Final 500 of the high school season, Erik at States.

Erik swam in lane 8 and did a 5:08 in the 500 free. I don't know if that is a team record or not? It was a personal best.

More PIAA Swim Video to come soon.

Wishing to work on sports reform for the Pittsburgh Public Schools

I just sent the following email to Principal Vader of Brashear High School:

Hi Principal,

Please count me in on any and all work on PPS' sports overhaul plans
as talked about yesterday with Mr. Lopez. This is something that I've
been asking for for many years. Put me on your lists and feel free to
call or email at any time.

I understand that there is much to do. I have plenty of suggestions as well.

Looking forward to the next chapter and meetings.

Yesterday, on March 22, a meeting was held for all sports coaches by Mr. Lopez, a PPS Administrator, concerning PPS sports. It was a mandatory secondary schools coaching meeting.

All in all, I'm very happy to see this begin. Mr. Lopez was there to get the support of the coaches so that the district can move forward in the next five years. The conversation began. Roles are to be discussed.

Sports are an important function of schools and the educational process, as pointed out by Mr. Lopez, because being part of a team is essential to human growth. In every field of human endeavors, we are called upon to produce on a team. This is true in schools, in college studies, in the workplace.

Coaches model commitment for athletes, so it was stressed. There is some reading between the lines there. Lopez also said it wasn't wise to give athletes a pass. Coaches can't call off practices. A coach's professionalism is paramount.

Some of the talk was just get to know you stuff from Mr. Lopez. He had to unload on a few fronts and then kick off the discussions. Unsportsmanlike behavior was a bullet point. Ongoing issues include, practices, recruiting, student misconduct and sportsmanship, Title IX (brewing big), team size, parents and community perceptions.

No joke.

The Title IX report is a year late and an inch thick and the space between Mr. Lopez' thumb and first finger is still empty as the report isn't released -- yet.

A commission to study athletics within PPS is going to be formed. The members will include folks from central office, a principal at least, coaches, parents and students.

Time will tell if I'm invited. I hope so.

Some other notes from the meeting: Business as usual is not acceptable.

I'd love to see some talk about the role of boosters, the role of the athletes, the role of the parents and the role of the community. It has to be more than just a principal, coach, teacher club. What about the role of the taxpayers?

Sports do have value in many ways. Mr. Lopez likes that the students are learning new skills within a new construct. They have to sort out the team positions and relationshps as well as the sports skills. He thinks coaches are the adult of last resort. I say that the slide should be re-written to say "FIRST" and not 'last.' If coaches are the last to know, then something is wrong. I just posted about how Big Ben called Coach Tomlin from Georgia.

A giggle moment did come when Mr. Lopez said that our kids want to grow up to be the next Michael Jordan or Big Ben. -- Well, a fresh example for #7 might make for less blushing.

Mr. Lopez was a track coach with 150 athletes on his squad. He recruited them. But, that is a hot potato word, recruitment. Coaches are told to recruit in the school but not outside of the building.

Questions came from right field to left field -- of course. The middle school seasons are too short. The snow day policy is not uniform. The segregation of fans, teams and all who attend a game is unhealthy. The depth of participation in the city is small. The legacy honors and banners are absent. Access to fields and facilities on Saturdays and summers is impossible.

There is much to do. If the crazy stuff of PPS sports was removed, then this process would be half way to finished. It sounds as if Mr. Lopez is well intentioned. Time will tell. Video is pending.

Pittsburgh parking ticket writers to make up snow days - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh parking ticket writers to make up snow days - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh parking ticket writers to make up snow days

Here is an idea. Let's change the time and the enforcement for parking at a meter in the South Side around East Carson Street -- near the bars -- from the present periods of enforcement (9 am to 5 pm) into the later hours when the parking is at a premium. Put on enforcement from the hours of 9 am to 3 am. Then, others who park in illegal ways will also get tickets too.