Koch files ethics, but not court, complaint against Bruce Kraus, hypocrite

Bruce Kraus fumbles, big time.

Koch files ethics, but not court, complaint: "Bruce Kraus is a hypocrite who refuses to follow his own laws. How can we trust him with the welfare of the city of Pittsburgh when he cannot follow the very laws that he wrote and is subject to? Its deceptive, hypocritical and reveals a dangerous proclivity to say one thing, do another and violate the law for his own benefit.

Mr. Koch is considering all possible avenues in an attempt to address this matter. He is filing his ethically sound financial disclosure reports to the Allegheny County Board of Elections by todays deadline."

I was there when this law was hatched. I helped it NOT occur in an earlier edition. Then I was put onto the task force to help craft the law.

Some of what I wanted did NOT make it into the law. Some did.

But with this fumble from Bruce Kraus, if it was up to me, and I speak as a member of the task force appointed to study and craft a bill for city council, I would have the guilty with a scarlet letter punishment. This means that Bruce Kraus would not get any more pay checks. He could keep his seat, but the controller would suspend his pay until he resigned. Then if he did resign, he'd be able to run again the next time. Or, he can choose to not follow the rules and serve out his term -- but not get paid anything to do so.

Furthermore, those that paid the extra money to the candidate would be on a black list and those people and firms would not be able to get any money from the city either. Once Kraus was out of office, they'd be okay to resume business with the city.

In the city, we choose to not sell property to anyone who has an outstanding property tax due to the city. That is a good policy. This punishment option I suggest is similar. The city should choose to not do business nor make city payouts to anyone that choose to break the campaign finance laws of the city.

2 Political Junkies: Campaign Shenanigans

2 Political Junkies: Campaign Shenanigans: "Campaign Shenanigans"

Doug Shields is toast.

Come Live Over Here - Moving to Pittsburgh

A woman on Linked In posted:

I will be moving closer to Pittsburgh with my son. Need neighborhood advice.

I would like to know which areas of the city is quiet, inexpensive, and low crime rate. Could anyone in the group give me advice?

A nice discussion unfolds.

Some highlights:

Ed wrote: I just moved to Pittsburgh last July. I have 2 sons that are 15 and 13.
We moved into the Avonworth School district which is a hightly rated, small Class A school in the North Hills. My kids adapted great and made good friends right away.
There are several areas to live with a wide range of home prices so I am sure you could find something either in Ohio Township, Emsworth, Ben Avon or Sewickley.
Steeler Chris Hoke and Penquins Coach Dan Blysma both have kids attending
the in the Avonworth School District. I highly recommend it!

Summary: Making friends is important, as are sporting families in the neighborhood. And my take: Sports is a way to make friends. Plus, being in a highly rated yet smaller school is prime. Avenworth is a smaller-sized WPIAL school. Avonworth is a bit larger than Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, and the boys at CAPA. But not as big but very near to the classifications of Pittsburgh Sci-Tech, Pgh Oliver, Pgh Langley or Pgh U-Prep. Avonworth High School would not be highly rated if it played sports against all the biggest teams in the WPIAL.

Another voice: Leon posted:

Like Ed above I moved in July of last year. I have a 12 & 17 yr. old. We did extensive research on schools and looked at Upper St. Clair, Mt Lebanon and Hampton. We came from Indianapolis area and chose Hampton (20 minutes north of downtown) due the schools.

What sealed the deal was the visit to Hampton. Smaller but very tight knit, excellent academics, decent sports & music. The teachers and admin staff were very open and welcoming. Based on the kid's progress this year it was a good decision.

See how "decent sports and music matter to people.

Then Lu from Monroeville posted about having 5 neighborhood pools that are volunteer run, and kids only have to swim a length to be on a team (ours gives 6 weeks of daily lessons for 45$). Most neighborhoods are attached at some point to a park; ours has a dog park and a walking trail in the woods. Lately people have been down there playing cricket. So it's an interesting place!

Right on! Swimming and international sports. See the trend yet?

Pittsburgh Public Schools has some way better than 'decent' music and sports opportunities -- but its hit or miss. And, at times, things in those realms can suck.

People are moving to the area, but not to the city so much, based upon some clearly seen opportunities to play well with others and all that sports brings to their lives. Pittsburgh needs some type of sports reform in these matters.

TerraTrike - The Tandem - Official Site Of The World's Most Comfortable Recumbent Trike / Recumbent Bike

TerraTrike - The Tandem - Official Site Of The World's Most Comfortable Recumbent Trike / Recumbent Bike: "A tricycle built for two?"

Cost is $4,599.

My political hero!

I didn't get a chance to watch the whole debate last night, but here's a condensed version with Ron Paul's answers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMmVwW8h4Ho

Parkways to display estimated travel times

Parkways to display estimated travel times: "Parkways to display estimated travel times"

So is this going to be a signal as to how many text messages one can reply to then?

I would rather see a display of available sparking spaces as one enters the South Side, or the North Shore, or the Arena area.

Or, how about a display of the minutes until the bus arrives posted at the bus stop?

Or, how about, minutes until the draw bridge lifts, ... wait. We don't have one of those. Never mind.

How about the number of minutes for the length of term of some local politicians?

Education Week: Let's Focus on Gaps in Opportunity, Not Achievement

Education Week: Let's Focus on Gaps in Opportunity, Not Achievement: "Let's Focus on Gaps in Opportunity, Not Achievement"

The opportunity gap is large when considering the opportunities of those in suburban schools and the others in the Pittsburgh Public Schools in terms of sports and athletics.

What happens in the WPIAL is not like what happens in the City League.

What happens at WPIAL schools is not like what we provide to PPS schools.

Who the he'll is this unknown Daniel Malloy?

By Daniel Malloy, Post-Gazette Washington Bureau

"Lesser known." What hole has he been living in for the past decade?

Ron Paul is a member of the US Congress. You would think a Washington based reporter would know that. And this is the third time Doctor Paul has run for the office of US President. First as a Libertarian, then as the last one standing in the last election where McCain got the nomination of the Rs.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11126/1144518-84.stm

Sports is out of whack | Professional | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.

Two decades later, sports is out of whack | Professional | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.: "Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson moving as much earth as he could to try and keep the city's National Basketball Association team in team in town despite the fact that the unemployment level had hit 12 percent in his region. At the same time he was rounding up $10 million in marketing partnership for the owners of the NBA Kings, the Maloof brothers, Johnson was cutting workers at the city's police and fire departments and school administrators were trying to figure out whether they can keep sports going in Sacramento public schools."

If professional sports teams in North America had RELIGATION, then that problem in Sacramento would not happen. We need to insist that cities that want to have big league teams PLAY into those leagues by insisting that the worst of the major league teams drop down to a minor level to make room for the new arrivals. Moving a team is NOT an option. Then all are held hostage. But, building a team, from the bottom or from minors is a great option. Furthermore, those that squander a slot in the top league need to know performance matters, or else.