Staff -- I'm the older guy in this photo

Found a photo of me on as a summer camp staffer in the past in Canada.

I couldn't keep up the pace with these guys -- but I gave it a go. Camp Chikopi was a great bit of fun.

While there, I did work to set up the water polo course and took our polo caps.

Put a fork in the City's Ethics Hearing Baord

Pittsburgh has an Ethics Hearing Board. It stinks. And, it stinks as to how City Council set it up and maintains its mission and adjusts its framework. The shame is big and wide and everyone in City Hall is to blame as well as those who have been on the board there. They've done next to nothing and there is no hope in sight.

So today's news of a PIC bring a new wrinkle. Let's just get rid of the City's Ethics Hearing Board. Of course the PIC isn't for real just yet. But, we do know that the Ethics Hearing Board in Pittsburgh is really bad.

Good News: Public Integrity Commission Proposed


Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester, today announced that he will introduce legislation to create the PA Public Integrity Commission (PIC). The PIC, which would incorporate the existing State Ethics Commission, would have new powers to root out public corruption among PA’s local, state and federal officials in all three branches of government. Click here for today’s story in the Harrisburg Patriot.


At a news conference in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Schroder said, “Our freedoms and liberties, guaranteed and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, are under attack and the threat is from within. The corruption that has taken root in our system of government here in Pennsylvania is a direct threat to the social contract that establishes our government subject to the consent of the governed.”


Unlike the current Ethics Commission, the new Public Integrity Commission would have a cadre of trained law enforcement personnel to “look over the shoulders” of public officials, investigate allegations of corruption and refer cases to state or local prosecutors when warranted. The PIC also would have subpoena power and the power to grant immunity in order to compel reluctant witnesses to testify in corruption cases.


Schroder began asking for co-sponsors last Wednesday and as of this writing has 28. The bill is being revised and will not have a bill number until it is formally introduced. When that happens, DR News will let you know.


Another prime sponsor is Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York. At the news conference, DePasquale made a telling observation.


“When lawmakers introduce a bill, the first question is always, ‘Why do we need this?’ With this legislation, no one is asking why. We all know why,” DePasquale said.


As if to underscore the point, the news conference occurred on the same day that two former House leaders were back in court. Former Speaker Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, and former Whip Mike Veon, D-Beaver, are seeking different things from the court. At a preliminary hearing, DeWeese is arguing that he should not go on trial for allegations of using tax-funded offices and personnel for partisan political campaigns. Veon, currently serving 6 to 14 years after being convicted of using millions of tax dollars for illegal campaign activity, is in court seeking a new trial on that conviction.


Click here for an early story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the DeWeese hearing.


Independents and Education


Two other elements of the proposal warrant attention. The bill requires a nominating committee to select potential members of the commission. Both the nominating committee and the commission membership must include members who are neither Republicans nor Democrats. This gives the large percentage of voters who do not belong to the two major parties a seat at the table for the first time.


Another key feature of the PIC proposal is a requirement to educate public officials about legal and illegal conduct in office. This aspect gains new importance as defendants claim they didn’t know their actions were illegal.

Attorneys for DeWeese and others who await trial – former Revenue Secretary and Rep. Steve Stetler, D-York, and former Senate Whip Jane Orie, R-Allegheny – argue that the existing law is too vague for public officials to know what they can and can’t do. They also argue that their clients should be set free because “everyone else was doing it” and that whatever illegal activity might have occurred didn’t amount to much.

Click here for an Orie story from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.


The PIC proposal is not perfect, and it is likely that some lawmakers will seek to strengthen it with amendments to ban gifts and gratuities for public officials (favored by 66% of PA voters), for example. All of that will take place in a public process that citizens can watch and weigh in on.


Questions:
Has your Representative co-sponsored this proposal?
If not, what are his or her objections?
If so, how will your Representative work to move the proposal through the House?


Note:
Because we are a tax-exempt non-profit organization, Democracy Rising PA does not endorse specific legislation or lawmakers. However, we can acknowledge proposals and lawmakers who make extraordinary efforts to advance higher standards of public integrity.


This PIC proposal is the only comprehensive attempt in the past five years to change the culture of corruption in the capitol. For that alone, it deserves the close attention of citizens throughout the Commonwealth.
Please forward this edition of DR News and encourage your friends to sign up for future editions by clicking here .


Please support DR’s work with a tax-deductible contribution.
Thanks!




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

Tech President email newsletter and Wikileaks

Wikileaks' Afghan War Logs: The Crowdscouring Begins The New York Times, Der Spiegel and The Guardian have all had the chance to provide depth and context to the cache of secret documents about the war in Afghanistan that WikiLeaks released yesterday. Now, writes Micah Sifry, we must wait and see if the rest of the Internet will also read the archive and add further meaning and insight.


Wikileaks Releases Giant Trove of Secret US Documents on Afghan War Here's Micah Sifry's first take on the release of the documents, from Sunday night. "If you didn't think technology was changing politics," he suggests, "perhaps now you'll reconsider?"

Wikileaks and Sourcing "Under this new world order," Nancy Scola asks, the new order being one in which a globe-hopping actor like Julian Assange can publicize sensitive government secrets on such a massive scale, "what has changed about the relationship between citizens and what they can expect to know about what their countries are doing in their names, even on the other side of the world? It might take a white-haired, admittedly oddball resident of Iceland —" that's Assange — "to get us to start considering that question."

Fw: Free Outdoor Movies Start This Sunday at Station Square withGhostbusters

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From: Station Square <email@stationsquare.com>

Sender: Station Square <email=stationsquare.com@mallfinder.com>

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:43:22 -0600 (MDT)

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

Subject: Free Outdoor Movies Start This Sunday at Station Square with Ghostbusters

Summer time is a perfect time for FREE OUTDOOR MOVIES.  Station Square proudly presents this August MOVIES ON THE MON  -  a unique salute to some of the 1980's classic movies including Ghostbusters (August 1st), Back to the Future (August 8th), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (August 15th) and The Goonies (August 22nd). 

Movies are held on Sundays in August beginning at sunset (between 8pm and 8:30pm).  Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets and come to Bessemer Court behind the Hard Rock Cafe for the next four Sundays to experience a new Station Square tradition.

We'll have consession stands set up selling popcorn, candy, soft drinks and more.

Click here to visit Station Square now.

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Advice

A friend in liberty asked for advice. So I replied.

Honored that you'd ask for my advice, so here is my #1 bit of advice to fellow advocates:

Do NOT burn out.

Thanks for all you do.

--- His reply. ---

Thanks for your note.  Of course you sent the single most important advice.

We must keep going.  I have been involved in many such movements. They seem to go painfully slow and we all get discouraged.  But if we stick with it, we can win.

Usually this takes a generation, which is slow in our lifetimes, but rapid in historical terms.

After I receive all the replies, I will be back to the group.  

Yours in freedom—Julian

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Fw: [wplug-announce] WPLUG InstallFest,Sat. July 31 at Northland Library

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-----Original Message-----
From: DK <wplug@curlynoodle.com>
Sender: wplug-announce-bounces+mark.rauterkus=gmail.com@wplug.org
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:58:00
To: mark.rauterkus@gmail.com<mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Announcements only <wplug-announce@wplug.org>
Subject: [wplug-announce] WPLUG InstallFest,
Sat. July 31 at Northland Library

Hello Folks,

Well its that time again, WPLUG is hosting an InstallFest on Saturday,
July 31 from 10a until 3p at the Northland Public Library in
McCandless Twp. The library is on Cumberland Rd, just off Route 19
and McKnight Rd. See the URL below for more detailed directions.

The InstallFest will be held in the first floor meeting rooms 148.
Happily, the space is climate controlled and should be comfortable if
the heat stays with us into next weekend.

The library has an access ramp to the first floor lobby, located on
the left side of the building. I will have a hand-truck and cart
available to haul in equipment, so please feel free to stop in first
if you need to use one.

In addition to the typical InstallFest activities, I will be
presenting demos of the Kiddix Platform from Kiddix Computing,
http://www.kiddix-computing.com/home/index.php, a Gentoo-based OS
designed specifically for kids. If you are a parent looking to
introduce Linux to your child(ren), please stop by to take a look.

Even if you cannot attend, please help spread the word and mention
this event to family, friends and colleagues whom are users or might
have an interest in Free Open Source Software.

Event page with directions and more information:
http://www.wplug.org/wiki/Meeting-20100731

Thanks and hope to see you there,
David Kraus
_______________________________________________
wplug-announce mailing list
wplug-announce@wplug.org
http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug-announce

Dedicated Kingsley coach pushes swimmers in and out of the pool - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Dedicated Kingsley coach pushes swimmers in and out of the pool - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Dedicated Kingsley coach pushes swimmers in and out of the pool"

By Ellen Mitchell
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 24, 2010


The waters of the Kingsley Community Center pool churn as more than 32 young swimmers race back and forth.

Standing at the edge of the pool, head coach Hosea Holder draws on his 45 years of experience molding young athletes into champions.

Dressed in a green polo shirt and hovering along the edges of the pool deck at the East Liberty community center, Holder, 74, bombards his swimmers with an endless stream of critiques: "Keep your body straight." "Come off the blocks harder." "Don't be afraid to put your face in the water."

Behind him, a dry-erase board bears three words and a question: "Participant, Competitor, Champion. Which one are you?"

"They all write their names under champion, but almost all should move their names to participant," Holder said about his swimmers, an indication of his high standards.

As the head coach of the Kingsley Stingrays, he trains boys and girls from the community, ages 6 to 18, making sure they live up to their highest potential -- in and out of the pool. His former swimmers have become nurses, teachers, lawyers and managers, and he takes pride in them all.

Chinnie Gregory, the mother of three boys who have swam under Holder for the last five years, said they have improved in school since working with Holder, and their attitudes have vastly changed.

"They believe they can overcome anything now," Gregory said. "Their mental development is beyond anything I could have imagined."

Gregory's sons, Norman, 13, Isaiah, 11, and Kilani, 8, all ranked in the top 10 in their events at a swim meet in North Carolina last month, where more than 800 swimmers competed.

"It's a no-brainer that we all love swimming with Coach Holder," Isaiah Gregory said. "Even though he's hard on us, he wants us to get it done and do it correctly."

Now in his 45th year as a coach, and sixth year with the Kingsley Stingrays, Holder is a full-time coach and is paid by the swimmers' parents.

Born in Birmingham, Ala., in 1936, Holder moved with his family to Homewood in 1945. Taking up swimming in junior then in senior high school, he swam the breaststroke and individual medley at Westinghouse High School. After graduation in 1954, Holder enlisted in the Army.

From 1958 to 1960, Holder was based in Schweinfurt, Germany. While his fellow soldiers were happy to simply girl-watch at the city's Olympic-sized pool, Holder stole every moment he could to swim laps, sometimes for hours on end.

In the beginning

After returning home to Pittsburgh, he worked first as a janitor at the University of Pittsburgh, then as a part-time lifeguard at the Oliver Bath House in South Side in 1964. It was there that he began his coaching career in 1965, when a black swim coach was a rarity.

In March 1965, the Oliver Bath House director asked Holder to get some swimmers together to compete in the city's annual St. Patrick's Day meet. After Holder saw how well the other teams were put together, he decided to improve the program at the bath house and the team that later became the Three River Aquatics.

Holder started out slowly.

"If you had 15 kids come try out, you were lucky if more than three stayed," Holder said.

Though fees to swim on the team were modest, Holder said he had to pay for many kids out of his own pocket, covering their 75-cent memberships for the Amateur Athletic Union and the 25-cent fee to enter each child in a competitive event.

By 1968, his swimmers had become formidable competitors, one of whom in the 10-and-under category even broke two junior Olympic records in one week.

Holder said he endured a cold shoulder or two at meets because of his race. Once, when he went up to accept an award at a swim meet in Ohio in the 1970s, the woman passing out the trophies told him to give the award to the head swim coach. After he told her he was head of the team, she looked at him in disbelief.

At another event, two of Holder's 12-year-old boys kept pace with their 18-year-old competitors until the last 25 meters in an event usually swam by college students. He said the rumor was that he gave his swimmers pep pills, which was not true.

Other teams made racist remarks to his swimmers, he said, and there was snickering and laughter at their lack of nicer swimsuits.

"The opposing force has to accept that you won whether they like it or not," Holder said. "If you think I'm not as good, when my swimmers out swim yours, you have to accept it. It nullifies perceptions of races, of color."

His team -- once all-black -- today is about evenly divided between whites and blacks.

In the fall of 2000, the city pulled the pool permit from Three River Aquatics at the Oliver Bath House. Holder moved the team to the Kingsley Community Center in 2004, changing the name to the Kingsley Stingrays.

With all the technological distractions youths now face, Holder said the number of truly dedicated swimmers is dwindling.

"There is a different breed of swimmers today than there were in the 1960s," Holder said. "Swimmers then were dedicated and committed to swimming only. Now, kids have much more to distract them and other sports that take away from their focus. There's only a select few that'll be committed and dedicated completely."

Costs seem to be a major blow to his swim team, with a fee of $1.75 per person per event, and $60 for a Amateur Athletic Union card. Pool fees of $6,500 for 10 1/2 months indoors and $1,700 for eight weeks spent outdoors in the summer are split among team members. No companies sponsor the team, but Holder said he is always looking.

"The fees are low to make it more affordable, but many low-income families still complain," Holder said.

A swimmer under Holder for 18 years, Cheryl Washington, the aquatics manager at the Kingsley Center, said Holder was like a second dad to her.

"He's brought a lot to the team as far as values," Washington said. "He's helped turn a lot of lives around."

Though he has received offers over the years to coach other teams, Holder has refused to leave the Kingsley Community Center.

"By staying, I give people of low income an opportunity to swim under a great program," Holder said. "I do this for the love of the sport and the love of the kids. It's hard to pass the baton off."

Fw: [ronpaul-965] New Meetup: Second Annual PA Liberty Conference

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: Scott Davis <meetup@parevolution.com>

Sender: ronpaul-965-announce@meetup.com

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:09:48 -0400

To: <ronpaul-965-announce@meetup.com>

ReplyTo: ronpaul-965@meetup.com

Subject: [ronpaul-965] New Meetup: Second Annual PA Liberty Conference

Announcing a new Meetup for Pennsylvania Revolution!

What: Second Annual PA Liberty Conference

When: Friday, October 8, 2010 10:00 AM

Where: Harrisburg Hilton
1 N 2nd St
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-233-6000

Join Liberty Lovers from across Pennsylvania for a 2-day conference in Harrisburg. Classroom Training geared towards running for State House/Senate in 2 years, Liberty Celebration and two big events coming for day two. Register before July 30th and save $20.

Who: Liberty Lovers
What: Second Annual Pennsylvania Liberty Conference & Fair
Where: Harrisburg Hilton (1 North Second Street)
When: Friday October 8th, 2010 & Saturday October 9th, 2010
Event Registration Cost*:
$45 (before July 30th)
$65 (July 31st October 1st)
$75 At the Door

RSVP to this Meetup:
http://www.meetup.com/Pennsylvania-Revolution/calendar/14201759/




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Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York 10163-4668 | support@meetup.com

LTE

This was in Thursday's Trib.

http://www.pittsbur ghlive.com/ x/pittsburghtrib /opinion/ letters/s_ 691402.html

I thought the final paragraph was interesting - rather than a ruling class, libertarians on the Constitutionality Review Board would constitute a vetoing class. Still very similar to the wise philosopher- king of Plato's Republic. And just as Utopian. {;-)

--Harold

Full letter text below~~~~~~~~~~

There has been much talk recently about changing state government in Pennsylvania, including a constitutional convention and reducing the size of the Legislature. Change we must, but the changes must include the following.

1. Eliminating salaries for legislators.

2. Convening the Legislature only by remote majority vote.

3. Creating a constitutional review committee that would evaluate any legislation passed by the Legislature.

Regarding elimination of legislative salaries: New Hampshire has a larger legislature than Pennsylvania but its state representatives and senators receive just $200 a year. Such a situation serves as an incentive to meet as seldom as possible.

The current situation in Pennsylvania (and everywhere else) has resulted in the creation of a political class that charges us for deciding how to control our behavior and spend our money. It encourages the Legislature to sit around and think of things to do. We need less of that.

Regarding convening the Legislature only by remote majority vote: By requiring a vote to even meet, much mischief can be prevented.

Regarding a constitutional review committee: At present, it takes a lot of effort and money to undo legislation that is unconstitutional. The burden is placed on the citizens. Instead, the creation of a constitutional review committee, consisting of libertarians who understand the moral and constitutional limits of government, serve for life and personally appoint each of their successors, will keep the Legislature from exceeding its authority by nullifying any legislation that it finds unconstitutional.

Nick Kyriazi
Deutschtow
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Fw: Contact information for athletes

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "Marie E. Wilson" <mewilson@tribweb.com>

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:32:49 -0400

To: mark@rauterkus.com<mark@rauterkus.com>

Subject: Contact information for athletes

Hello Mark,

 

This is Marie Wilson from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. We spoke about a week and a half ago about your views on the legislation about gender equity reporting in high school athletics. I’ve been talking with lawmakers and other sources for the story, and I’m wondering if you can help put me in touch with some athletes and other coaches so I can get their views on the issue and their experiences in high school sports. If you want, you can give my phone number to anyone who may be willing to speak with me so they can call me when it’s convenient. My number is (412)380-5609.

 

Also, do you have any more information about when the next meeting of the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ task force about gender equity in athletics will be?

 

I have some time next week to work on the story, so please get back to me whenever you get the chance.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Marie

 

Marie E. Wilson

Reporter

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(412)380-5609

mewilson@tribweb.com

 

Physical education revisions opposed in North Allegheny

Physical education revisions opposed in North Allegheny: "Proposed changes to the state's health and physical education requirements would cut into North Allegheny's academic schedule, create an unnecessary tax burden and cost the district about $1.6 million, according to a resolution opposing the changes."

Ranting at PureReform's blog and a slew of questions from A+ Schools

The signal to noise ratio isn't what is hoped for nor is it what is needed in terms of the discussions and fight for the best solutions for Pittsburgh Public Schools.

http://purereform.blogspot.com/2010/07/schools-questions-plans-for.html

Folks, ... here we go again, around and around. There is a lot of suffering going on. And, sadly, I feel that most of these discussions are just batting at the leaves on the tree of the suffering.

Tuesday night's (community meeting) featured talk of 'power.' Folks from Homewood attended and it was lead by Randall Taylor and Dr. Barnett.

Golly. The power isn't with the people, of course. But, before power is taken and earned -- we've got to have some conversations that get to the roots of the problems. Certain issues matter. Ranting wildly has fleeting value in terms of fixing system-wide problems.

How. Why. Those make harder questions. That discussion takes discipline to occur. Yep, we also need to be speaking of lack of discipline in the schools' classrooms and hallways. But this lack of discipline needs attention as we meet in community and online too.

The personality and "who" of Mr. Roosevelt is what it is. To dwell and have the conversation stuck on him is to choose weakness. It was even said to me by a few that they like the idea of 'single gender' but they are against it because it is of Mark Roosevelt's administration. Say what? Go figure.

We got to dance on the problems and stomp them out of the plans.

We know a single-gender public school approach is blowing into town through Westinghouse.

Even these A+ questions, nice as they are, amount to more spinning in circles.

In my not so humble opinion, we -- (whole community of caring stewards for strong public schools) -- MUST put our leverage to play in meaningful spots so as to have a tactical impact upon the outcomes.

I sense that there is way too much of the reactionary bumbling around from citizens.

Precision would serve us better.

Here is a question: Why do we need feeder patterns for high school students? Can we get rid of feeder patterns for high school students come January 2011? With the end of feeder patterns for high school students, what are the ways that OVER SUBSCRIBED SCHOOLS are going to determine who gets admission.

Presently, for what it is worth, the only schools in PPS where there is a demand for spots is at CAPA (grades 6-12, Creative and Performing Arts School now located Downtown) -- and Sci Tech. With Sci-Tech, they have a lottery. It is harder to get into the grades of 6, 7 and 8 at Sci-Tech as they have smaller classes in those years. And, some in the early years are getting asked to leave. So, there are more spaces in Sci-Tech, by design, at the grade 9 and above stages.

So, if an extra 300 people want to attend Allderdice, as is the big fear from elsewhere, but I expect it to be a non-issue, then how does the district handle that problem? Is it POLITICAL CLOUT for string pullers to get kids into Allderdice?

I think Allderdice, if it gets way more popular, could design a few admission requirements in the weeks and months to come that are fair and public. Then we can discuss those.

For example, if a student in 8th grade wants to go to Allderdice in 9th grade, that student will need to make an application and not have missed 20 days of school in the 8th grade. If demand is greater, perhaps more than 10 days away from school in 8th grade will be a kiss of death for admission to Allderdice as a 9th grader.

Perhaps students will need to have a letter, or two, of reference from a teacher or two from grades 6, 7 or 8 to get into Allderdice.

With CAPA, there is an audition process.

With the I.B. School, students need to have good grades and have a good grasp on a world language (either French, German, Spanish, or Japanese). Those that enter the I.B. program, in middle school years and in high school years, have to have some education/understanding of a language as all the students at that school have been with strong languages.

We might need to have an application process for other schools that can't expand to match the demand.

But more to the point, if Allderdice is way more popular of a choice for a school, then Allderdice can expect more from the students that attend there. If there is trouble from a student, and homework isn't getting done, fights, whatever -- then that student can be removed from a popular school and another admitted.

Most of all, if there is a demand for an extra set of seats at Allderdice, then the school should expand. Perhaps some 12th grade students would like the option of being on a later schedule -- or something. Not only can more students fit into the building, but the building could grow.

In other schools, if there is less of a demand, that school will shrink. So be it.

Let the people vote with their feet in their choice of schools at the high school level.

But, for now, people, let's find the few important issues that should be put front and center -- so that the board can manage the policy and do its job -- and the plans now on the table can make better sense in their eventual application.

---

Upate: Part 2

The aim is for good schools to get better. That is one goal. The good schools are not yet good enough. (Some have told me that NONE of the PPS schools are worth a darn, but I don't buy fully into that position.)

With a no feeder pattern HS policy, any kid who desires can get into a good school.

Now we might have a good school or two or three -- (CAPA, IB, +), BUT only CERTAIN KIDS can get into them. (via audition @CAPA, language @IB, lottery @ SciTech).

Excellence for all.

Not, good for some.

Then, without the feeder patterns, the not-so-good schools now will get worse in that they will empty of students who want to get an education at a place that fits them.

Lets say that NOBODY would choose to go to DROP OUT FACTORY #1 -- then it would close for a lack of students or else the PPS would work VERY HARD to re-do the school into an attractive model to retain and recruit students from the neighborhood as well as from throughout the city.

Remember, all the schools in the city are less than half of what they used to be. Ten thousand students are now absent from PPS -- forever -- with no end in sight.

So, people are really leaving the city already and have been.

The model of subtraction of students (as students vote with their feet) and closing more schools with new forced feeder patterns is keeping Pgh on the downward spiral. It is all about the management of decline.

PPS has been closing schools anyway. I say that some schools might need to close if they are doing a poor job and none choose to attend there.

Schenley's closure was a forced one as people wanted to go there. That is the wrong way to close a school. PPS can shift feeder patterns and do what it wants.

Given this real world example of Westinghouse with its single gender classrooms, what if they built it and nobody showed up? FINE. To another degree, what about U-PREP. How many would be there if it was an OPTION among all the other schools throughout the city.

If PERRY HS gets its act together -- it could be the hot school for students as it was in the past. Kids all around the city wanted to go to Perry and cried for a week if they didn't get in back in late 80s, early 90s. If Perry flounders as a school, it will drain itself of its students / customers.

If CAPA HS is in such demand, why not expand it? Recently it absorbed more grades 6-7-8 with the closing of another high demand Rodgers. That was a move and not an expansion. If CAPA is working, -- it has the best scores - then DUPLICATE it. Replicate it. Repeat what works.

I would not have a problem turning Westinghouse into CAPA ver 2. More might go there, with a proven model, than would go to single gender classrooms.

We need the district to act in a way that is more about customer service. FEEDER PATTERNS prevent the consumer centric thought cycle from being a part of the PPS culture.

Feeder patterns allow the district to yank the students and families around at will, and on a whim because some are not going to move from the house they live in nor lie about residency.

Finally, if we give folks who buy a house in the area of a school, say, DROP OUT FACTORY #1, the option of sending their student to ANY SCHOOL in the city, then there is HOPE that the neighborhood would get new investment. City-wide benefit occur with the ending of the feeder patterns. DEPRESSED areas can't rebound in Pittsburgh while PPS forces kids into schools that are DROP OUT FACTORIES or are NOT a good fit for that student.

New investments into the city and our neighborhoods can come. But, new investment money demands guarantees of positive public fixtures. Investments will stay away from building upon a foundation of shifting sands. Those feeder patterns, and their shifts, are like shifting sands to investment money.

I predict an economic revival in the city-wide housing market with the removal of the PPS FEEDER PATTERN policy.

---

Wonderful Q from the thread at the other blog:

Where do the struggling students go when all the competive schools are filled up? Prison high, or we don't care anymore high?


Humm. We care.

We need to work hard to make sure that the 'competitive schools' are able to expand. Then they won't fill up.

Building capacity (bricks/mortar) isn't the real issue. PPS has buildings and plenty of room.

(Past rant) Expansion of 'competitive schools' was one reason I wanted CAPA to expand into the other floors of its downtown building -- but to NOT fill with grades 6, 7 and 8. A bigger CAPA as a downtown HS with expansion made more sense.

Then PPS would have needed to make TWO middle school replacements for RODGERS, such as at Knoxville (south) and another East school if not a fix-up of Rodgers.

EXPAND what works!

We should be talking about a CAPA-styled program moving into Westinghouse, given that CAPA is popular and it is working. How about a CAPA with sports, and even a CAPA where the kids get to switch their major if they want or a CAPA where the kids get a MINOR. Then CAPA Downtown can be specialized and CAPA east (at Westinghouse) can be more well rounded.

But, again, there should be no feeder patterns.

The IB School needs to be able to expand too, and with the move to Peabody, that might be better able to occur. But really, an expansion onto Reizenstein building with a second gym, auditorium and cafeteria would have been more ideal than uprooting and fitting into Peabody without windows, etc. The Reizenstein physical space is expandable. New classrooms could be added there are there is plenty of land.

I hear that the sizes per grade at the IB school (Pgh Obama) might have been pushed to 200 as a goal rather than 150 as a limit. ??

There are spaces at IB now -- but students need to want to work hard and have a background of languages before admission.

PPS must allow for expansion without dropping in quality.

A serious issue is "struggling students." Some are smart but don't conform in a specific school setting. They struggle with others. Some do struggle with learning and doing their work so as to advance.

One tactic is a willing transfer while still on good academic / behavior standing. Too often we shift expelled and suspended students from building to building -- AFTER they've blown up / melted down. If PPS didn't force them into a school setting with the feeder pattern enslavery, then they might opt elsewhere once they figure out that 'this place isn't right for me.'

Restarts to different schools while on good terms (and prior visits of consideration) should be encouraged as a way to prevent drop-outs and ejections.

As for PRISON High, we've already got one of those. Is it at capacity? I don't know.

Closed in the past PPS Connelley and closed PPS South Vo Tech were warm, family-like schools that gave support and kept kids in school and became places where kids gravitated too. Those options were places for some who might be called 'pluggers' to flourish. Gone from our landscape, sadly. That 'Gateway School' might be part of the answer too. ??

Judge rules competitive cheerleading isn't a sport

Judge rules competitive cheerleading isn't a sport: "The evolution of cheerleading was at issue Wednesday before a federal judge in Connecticut, who ruled that it might have come a long way from the sidelines of other competitive sports, but it doesn't yet qualify as a competitive sport itself."

This is very bad.

More soon.

S. Side revelers, residents trading insults

I'm putting this into the WTF category.

South Side
revelers, residents trading insults: "A nasty exchange of Internet
postings this week between South Side residents and the revelers who throng East
Carson Street bars has underscored the city's struggle to manage a 'hospitality
economy' that brings vibrancy and heartache to the neighborhood.
Neighborhood businesses say the tension normally builds on warm summer
nights, but Pittsburgh police plan to increase patrols after some members of the
bar crowd issued a call to disrupt the neighborhood this weekend."

Issued a call to disrupt the neighborhood this weekend. Give me a break.

BTW, I can't find this discussion online. Pointers welcome in comments.

States Embrace National Standards for Schools

States Embrace National Standards for Schools: "Less than two months after the nation's governors and state school chiefs released their final recommendations for national education standards, 27 states have adopted them and about a dozen more are expected to do so in the next two weeks.
Their support has surprised many in education circles, given states' long tradition of insisting on retaining local control over curriculum.
The quick adoption of common standards for what students should learn in English and math each year from kindergarten through high school is attributable in part to the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition. States that adopt the standards by Aug. 2 win points in the competition for a share of the $3.4 billion to be awarded in September."

Ready to play at Summer Dreamers Camp

Fw: STOP Primary Residence Protection Plan

From: "Bob Logue" <ucblogue@verizon.net>

 

Subject: Fw: STOP Primary Residence Protection Plan

Finally, someone with the courage, intelligence, and expertise is suing to prevent the collection of property taxes.  The suit is based on violations of the uniformity clause of the PA Constitution. 

Below are two E-mails I have received from George Kuney that are self-explanatory.  As George, explains...he is not looking for financial support from you or me, instead he needs examples of the system's unfairness...that he can present as part of his suit.   He hopes to have a class action suit that will rise to the Supreme Court and extend his legal attack on the corrupt property tax system to the entire state. 

If you have examples of unfairness and lack of uniformity in the property tax assessment and collection system, please contact George at the E-mail address at the bottom of this note. You may even call him if you wish as he has provided his phone number for us to share with you. 

At the very least, send words of encouragement to George and thank him for his efforts.

   

Linked to below this blog post are George Kuney's Tax Appeal and his Pre-trial memo.  Please read them.  But, first, read his memos below to get acquainted with him. 

   

STOP has been hoping and praying that some able person would step forward and attack the PA property tax and equity theft mess in court.  We're pleased George has decided to do it and that he could not be disuaded by a property tax assessment reduction on his property. 

---Bob Logue, STOP Primary Residence Protection Plan   

********************************************************************************************************

My name is George Kuney.  I am challenging the right to collect property taxes in Philadelphia in an upcoming appeal.

I have filed my pre-trial memo and have been offered a very generous settlement option; however, I am more interested in solving the underlying problem for everyone as opposed to just fending for myself.

I am therefore contacting you to see what support and interest there might be for moving forward with the current matter and thereafter a class action suit.

If you have any interest in offering any guidance, support, or information that might be of assistance, please contact me.

If you know of anyone who is interested in this matter and could be of help, please forward this email to them and/or provide me with their contact information.

With appreciation,

George Kuney

(215) 465-8541 After 10 AM up till 11 PM EST

http://www.blogger.com/

I am attaching the "Tax Appeal Attachment" submitted to the BRT Board and my pre-trial memo that was submitted by the deadline of Aug 6.

A quick review of those documents will show that the central point is the non-uniformity issue.  The problem I face is to be able to prevail without an expert witness.

I do not need money, I need facts that do not depend on an expensive expert witness.  I need "public facts" that there is not uniformity in the system.

Please feel free to pass these documents and my emails to others who are interested in this cause.  The real gambit in my apporach is to put the City in the following no-win situation:  a) If they give me all my taxes back, they set a precedent, or b)  If they don't, then I have pursued all my options on this level and can move on to a class action suit.

I need to make the effort at this level credible so that I can prevail in higher courts.


Thanks,

George

---

From: ucblogue@verizon.net
To: geokun@hotmail.com
Subject: STOP Primary Residence Protection Plan
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:25:05 -0400

Hi George:  I'm delighted to hear about your court action on property taxes.  STOP is a grassroots group that has been fighting the property taxes on primary residences since January, 2002.  We have lots of information that may be helpful in your suit at http://www.grandoldusa.com/ 

    Also at http://www.spedunkie.com/  hit on the STOP PAGE.

    STOP is not a formal organization..and has no treasury.  However, a number of our STOP supporters have indicated a willigness to help if someone is filing a suit...but as a volunteer I can't get in the middle of that. 

    What I can do is forward your E-mail to them and invite them to contact you...and if

they feel comfortable supporting your efforts financially...that will be fine with me.  You and they can work that out.

     Since none of us know you...is there a way you can verify to me the information about the suit, when it was filed...any articles in the news media about it...in other words documentation about what you state in your e-mail. 

    If so, send it along to me and when I feel comfortable with your credibiity (no disrespect, we just need to be careful on not misleading our group's supporters of the cause) I will add it to your e-mail when I send it to them.

    I would enjoy reading on what grounds you are attacking the property tax.  Perhaps I can add some thoughts and info to what you're doing. 

    You now have my e-mail address.  Keep in touch regularly and let me know any progress.

     Waiting to hear from you....Best regards,  Bob Logue, STOP Primary Residence Protection plan.

Links: http://fixpa.wikia.com/wiki/George_Kuney

End Feeder Patterns in Pgh Public Schools for all high school students

I was at a meeting tonight -- news at 11 -- and I suggested that we need to push for the elimination of feeder patterns for all our high school students in Pittsburgh.

An objection came: I don't trust Pgh Public Schools.

Okay.

So, then do you trust feeder patterns then?

Of course not.

Well then. It would be wise and logical to end feeder patterns for our high school students.

I trust the families and the students to make the best decisions for themselves. I would rather trust the families and students to make a good decision as to what school to attend rather than the so-called address of the student.

Choice is important. Choice means an elemination of feeder patterns. With feeder patterns, the choice is gone.

Feeder patterns enslave people to certain schools based upon geography of a residence. That's poor logic. That's not ideal.

This hits close to home. I was in another court room in the same days as Carl Romanelli was too

Carl Romanelli Fights Pennsylvania Democrats with a Federal Lawsuit Related to "Bonus-gate" Convictions.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – "Bonus-gate" in Pennsylvania has resulted in numerous convictions of public officials for theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy with more trials yet to come. "Bonus-gate" convictions include efforts to challenge the nominating petitions of candidates Ralph Nader in 2004 and Carl Romanelli in 2006 using state employees and state resources.
"The two most outstanding examples of misappropriation of taxpayer resources in petition challenges were found in the challenges of Ralph Nader, for President in 2004, and Carl Romanelli, for US Senate in 2006," announced Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania attorney general, July 10, 2008, in his presentment which led to the arrest of two recent state representatives and ten legislative staffers.

Ralph Nader filed 51,273 petition signatures to be on the 2004 Pennsylvania ballot for president as an independent but was denied a ballot spot as a result of the petition challenge. Pennsylvania courts ruled, after the 2004 election, that Nader must pay $81,802 on fees to cover the administrative costs of the petition challenge. That was the first time in US history that a candidate has been assessed fees for losing a petition challenge trying to run for office. No other state has such a policy and Pennsylvania had never done this prior to 2004.

Carl Romanelli filed 95,544 petition signatures, well over the 67,070 valid petition signature requirement, to be the 2006 Green Party of Pennsylvania candidate for US Senate. Those signatures were challenged in court and Romanelli was denied a place on the ballot. In January 2007 a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge ruled that Carl Romanelli must pay the state $80,408 in fees because he lost the petition challenge. Nader and Romanelli have not paid the fees assessed by the courts and are asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reconsider the penalties in light of criminal convictions connected to their petition challengers.

"Getting a bill from the state for more than $80,000 because you tried to run for political office is a crime against democracy," said Christina Tobin, founder and CEO of the Free and Equal Elections Foundation. "I can't believe this is able to happen in the United States of America. What makes this situation even worse is that Democratic Party operatives worked on these petition challenges while they were being paid by the state and using state resources. The Democratic operatives involved in this should be paying those costs, not Ralph Nader and Carl Romanelli."

Romanelli filed a lawsuit, July 12, against the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and their House Democratic Caucus. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court, additionally names Rep. William DeWeese, former Rep. Michael Veon and a number of former and current House Democratic staff employees found to have worked on the petition challenge that removed Carl Romanelli from the 2006 ballot for US Senate. Romanelli alleges in the lawsuit that state employees were paid to do political work while using state resources and equipment in that effort to challenge his petitions.

Romanelli backs up his allegations by pointing to the recent convictions of several defendants in this lawsuit including former House Democratic Minority Whip, Rep. Michael Veon who received a 6 to 14 year sentence on June 18, 2010 and Brett Cott, a former policy analyst for Rep. Veon and Rep. DeWeese, who was sentenced from 21 months to 60 months in May 2010. Michael Manzo and Jeff Foreman were given deals to testify against Cott and have not been sentenced. Rep. William DeWeese faces trial in the coming months.

"I hope Carl Romanelli gets the justice he deserves from our courts," Tobin said. "If this stands it will have a chilling effect on democracy. This will scare candidates away for fear of not making the ballot and being penalized with large fees because they tried. We've invited Carl to help educate the public about this new threat to our democratic election process on our Free and Equal BlogTalkRadio show Tuesday, July 20."
Free and Equal is broadcasting a live radio show from 10 p.m. to midnight ET each Tuesday night that can can be listened to live at the Free and Equal website or at BlogTalkRadio and is immediately archived for later listening.

Contact

Carl Romanelli
Email: cjromanelli@gmail.com


Christina Tobin, founder and CEO of Free and Equal Elections Foundation
Phone: 312-320-4101
Email: christina@freeandequal.org

Fw: So You Want Reform? Here's Your Chance!

I want NOTA on every ballot. That is NONE OF THE ABOVE.

I want equal ballot access for all.

I want the Ds and Rs to PAY all expenses for their closed primary votes every spring.

I want assessment buffering so property taxes can only rise a percent of the changed amount over years.

I want a land tax to be at least 1 percent of all property tax bills so it has standing everywhere and can be a point to eveolve into over time.

A read the bills act makes sense. Then the legislature that passes the bills and budget must at least read it.

I want to cut the size of the staff of Pa House and Pa Senators so each gets only 1 helper. They should do the work themselves. The bloat is worse than the size of the districts.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: PACleanSweep <info@pacleansweep.com>

Sender: PACleanSweep <campaign@russdiamond.ccsend.com>

Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:07:48 -0400 (EDT)

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

ReplyTo: info@pacleansweep.com

Subject: So You Want Reform? Here's Your Chance!

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

You're receiving this email because of your interest in government reform in Pennsylvania. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us.

 

You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.

So You Want Reform? Here's Your Chance! July 20, 2010   Dear Mark,   If you had your way, what government reforms would you enact?   Term limits? Changing the size of the legislature? Ending gerrymandering by fixing the way we draw legislative districts every ten years? Altering the way we select judges? Returning to a two-year budget process in Harrisburg? Putting new rules in place for campaign finance? Making elections fairer? Setting up an independent compensation commission? Recall? Referendum? Initiative?    No matter what your favorite reform is, chances are you won't get it through the regular legislative process in Harrisburg. It's not because all legislators are bad people. Rather, it's simply because human nature gets in the way of voting for something that may diminish your own personal power or status.   Here at PACleanSweep, we want to give Pennsylvanians an opportunity the legislature currently isn't offering: a chance to gather together with like-minded citizens to discuss and debate reform topics.   Ultimately, we're working to convince the legislature to authorize a limited citizens' constitutional convention to do just that. But we understand that many legislators may be afraid of risking any of their current power or status. We also understand that some Pennsylvanians either don't understand, or have some fear of, the convention process.   To address these points, PACleanSweep is planning to hold a Constitutional Convention Exhibition in early 2011 in the Harrisburg area, and you're invited to be a delegate!    During this exhibition, we envision up to 150 reform-minded citizen delegates from across the state getting together to debate and vote on a select number of proposed changes to the Pennsylvania Constitution aimed specifically at reform. What will those topics be? It's entirely up to you!   Of course, this will only be an exhibition, so any proposals approved by the delegates will not be binding upon anyone. But who knows - perhaps the legislature will take notice of the process and realize that an actual convention is the only way to solve Pennsylvania's crisis in confidence. Along the way, we'll be educating other citizens on how the convention process works and dispel some of their misconceptions.   While PACleanSweep will facilitate the exhibition, its size, scope, and duration - and the public support it generates for an actual convention - will be entirely up to those who volunteer to participate as delegates.   To gauge interest in such an exercise, we're asking potential delegates (YOU!!!) to sign up and provide some information on the PACleanSweep website. We'll use this information to better determine the duration, scope, and other pertinent aspects of the Constitutional Convention Exhibition.   You've always wanted to voice your reform opinion and have it make an impact, right? Well now you've got your chance. We look forward to hearing from you!   Sincerely,   The PACleanSweep Team   For more information: www.pacleansweep.com info@pacleansweep.com 1.877.867.5617

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