Thursday, April 12, 2001
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
Speech: To Pump & Pittsburgh Next
Talking Notes from Mark's from April 11, 2001An event at the Downtown Carnegie Library auditorium was held with five organizations including Ground Zero, PUMP and Pittsburgh Next. Pittsburgh Young Professionals (pyp.org) was involved too.
The event's administration was bogus. Everyond did a fine job as far as being proper gentleman, but the event was silly from the outset. Strong objections to the format were voice weeks ago. All-in-all, the event was another sink and squandered opportunity. The organizers had plenty of clout, but they caved to the heavyweight candidates. They blinked. We all lost. So, these squeeking wheels roll for another day.
Ken Rice, you are a watchdog. You are part of the professional broadcasting media. You need to do your duties. Roles need to be filled. A bulk of the blame rests upon your shoulders.
The downside of the non-debate format includes the lack of will on the part of the young professional leadership for accelerated efforts in the next round. There is little hope that the group will get it right for the General Election if they so badly fumbled this round. This cycle was to be a dress-rehersal for events yet to come in the months of May, June, July, August, September and October -- getting set for the November 6th general.
My advice to the other organizations: Save face and plan your own events for the summer months. And, talk with the candidates or the ex-candidates in depth in advance of the program decisions.Format Flaws:
Give and take among the candidates is needed. We need follow-up questions. We need to hear each other's replies. We need to run a campaign that isn't in a vacume. We need to get to the issues, and those who prevent that from happening are part of the problem. The Mayor is not being held accountable. The Mayor's show-and-tell is going to unravel as soon as the formats are done with some hints of fairness. There is very little justice at work in this city when there is no justice in the campaign process. It is not fair to be told that I can not listen to what my competitors say. Being closed minded is never a good option.
The news director at KQV said that the event was "worthless." He is right.
As a candidate who is going to trumpet justice, I can not take part in events that are unfair -- such as the one being organized for the next week by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance and the Warhol Museum.
Life isn't fair. But, we need to hold our government in the role of protecting freedoms, rights and fairness. It is the role of government to insure fairness in justice. That is the highest mission of order -- and the justice is lacking with Mayor Murphy and Bob O'Connor.
These themes are not new to my campaign messages. On the very first instance when I shared a podium with three of the other candidates, I made a big point to the hosting organization, then at the JCC, that I was not happy that all the candidates were not invited and provided with equal time. Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice does. At times 99% correct is 100% wrong.Opening
Young man, Young Man!
Your arms are too short to box with God.
My arms are too short to box with God.
The late, great, #8, Willie Stargell had powerful, athletic arms -- and they were too short.Martin Luther King, Jr. -- his arms were too short to box with God.
Mayor Murphy -- He can't even climb into the ring.Lone Voice
As a single voice, it is impossible to make serious changes against the forces of tides. As a lone voice, they will break you like a twig.A Struggle Brews within Pittsburgh
A struggle is in our midst.
This struggle is not between the Pirates and another franchise of million-dollar entertainers.
Not between the spectator and the empty seats and quotas of Nacho consumption.
Not between Bob O'Connor and Tom Murphy and a cast of sideline characters.
Not between the Democrats and the Republicans.
Not between the Liberals and the Conservatives.
Not even between those that "Have" and those that "Have-Not."True, Real, Actual, Serious, Insightful, Wise battle / fight / wages / campaign
The Real Struggle comes down to The New vs. The Old.
As a Free-Market Republican, I'm going to claim that this struggle has on one-side: The natural marketplace forces. This is very organic and includes respect for the web-of-life.
On the other side is what is known as "corporate welfare." Government intrusion for the sake of a few corporate entities. It's eminent domain. authority-driven, top-down attitudes.Simple Terms for this struggle I see:
Those who want to make history or those who are slaves of history.
The real struggle is about the process: Should it be Bottom-Up or Top-Down.
Distributed or Centralized power grids.
Email and Web-Site Campaigns or old-school backslapping.
Should leaders emerge from the ranks of the ordinary or should they be anointed?
Should officials act like humble servants or else like pompous incumbents?
Is the purpose: By the people and for the people -- or else -- to the people?
Do votes mater and should they even occur -- or -- should work happen with leverage appointments and Authority Boards -- URA, Water-and-Sewer -- Stadium Authority. To a lesser extent, the Mayor has been running a charade with Plan C Task Forces and Riverlife Task Force.
Are Grant Street actions for the flow and the means -- or - about the Ends? What about Results? Mayor Murphy says what gets done matters most. Murphy's talks say, "Look at the results." The key word in his campaign is RESULTS.
I care more about HOW things get done rather than what gets done.
Classic question: focus on the Destination or Journey? This is Government, not Business. When we look long and hard at things, the Mayor's story unravels. The ways, the being, the endeavors and the mingling count most -- not the end-result.
Mussolini got the trains to run on time. Maglev, more on that later.
Woops. I was going to have that be my "big line" of the night. It didn't get delivered. I'll have to use it in another setting later.
Citizenship or cronies, board-rooms, done-deals.
Open-source software or closed, proprietary, deals where we have to subpoena methodology from Sabre Systems.
I crave inclusion -- and the Mayor is quick to point out Naysayers.
Let's level-the-playing field, not perpetuate the status quo.
I want to heighten our mobility and extend our free flow of thinking. We need to better our decision-making models. Or -- do we want to spin our wheels in a rut?
A fluid, interactive approach or else dogmatic directions.
Sustainable development or Nordstroms, Subsidies, TIFs.
Being Free or being a subject.
Total wellness or band-aids and triage from the emergency room.
Proactive -- or too-little and/or too late.Behind-the-scenes struggle:
The struggle takes many perspectives. I hope to share hundreds of them with you all on the web and in a couple of books. We need to take some time and connect the dots. We need to illustrate and come to common ground.Republicans and Dems
I'll deliver the sustainable discussion and content that can take us to new civic insights. That is the message of tonight.
Republicans, I want a landslide endorsement and support in the primary. Democrates, please read the book, make a donation, copy the handout.First Clincher for Courage: Justice
Those who work on Grant Street have been lacking in their execution and respect for justice. The bulk of our problems center upon justice. When you boil it down, the justice in our lives is wanting. Justice can be the sole reason for toss them out of office.Second Clincher for Courage: Imagination
Beyond justice, the heavyweighs are lacking in imagination. The creativity, the brilliance, the scope and depth of understandings and solutions have been wanting.
They both pale in both JUSTICE and IMAGINATION.
Once we engage all of our people in moment -to-moment justice and then inject some short-term and long-term imagination into the political landscape -- Pittsburgh will soar. Pittsburgh can thrive, not just survive.
We need a plan for success. What Bob and Tom deliver sustains and quickens our declines for opportunities and population growth.
Courage:
Voting for Josh and Leroy Hodge is not a wasted statement. Not in the primary season.
This next session didn't get delivered. I closed with the metion of Humpty Dumpty.
Imagination for Solving Problems
Some say that it is not possible to solve problems. Rather, decisions trade one set of problems for another. Some say government has no business solving marketplace problems, rather it only needs to administer justice.
The Mayor's focus on results, says watch him solve problems.
When the Mayor becomes a developer, then the developers become the government.
Insightful leaders, those with great imaginations, choose pathways and make decisions from a long list of alternatives. It takes more imagination to develop that long-list of alternatives. It takes a great deal of inclusion to get all the ideas forward and flowing into the quilt of possibilities.
Leadership with lacking imaginations often feels that the list of possibilities is short. Our elected officials need to realize that the potential list of creativity and imagination is alive and well within the people.
There are plenty of other alternatives.
Think again.
Courage to Campaign
To remove Mayor Murphy, we need big investigations into the alternatives. We need to know how the various candidates think and how they act. We need to know where they measure themselves on terms of justice and the matters that count the most.
Let's play some volleyball with the issues. Let's learn to bump, set, spike.Let's have a contest in this pursuit so we all can win.
Questions that came from the audience:
Questions about my experience:
I've never held any elected office. I'm not with a lot of experiences in stealing the tax-payers money. I prefer to be an open candidate and Mayor. I'm not versed in how to hide money from the public view and deceit.
As a coach, I'm confident that I can lead and manage. I know how to ask people to perform and work with them to get the best out of us all.
As a college educated person, I know how to communicate. I have a web-site. I'll use email. The one's who have graced the stage before me don't even have web sites.
What about the PAT Bus Fares going up?
Public transportation is a very big item in the city. That is one of the important aspects of making a more livable city.
The PAT set-up is an Authority. They are low accountability. They are appointed boards. I want to move away from those styles of government.
We need to get away from the corporate welfare and then we will have a lot of additional nickles in our pockets. The under river tunnel to service the North Side is going to cost some additional $600 Million. We don't need that type of spending.
Question: What would you do for small business so that my computer firm would be able to compete with another much larger firm? (i.e., Computer Associates)
I'd hope that if you can make a better widget than the other firms, the world will beat a pathway to your door. As mayor, I'd try to get the city to do some things -- such as cutting away red tape. We can look into ways to make the city vibrant so that you can recruit and retain employees. We can work to cross the digital divide with our citizens. We can provide better high-tech infrastructure, broadband wireless.
What about Charter Schools, Vouchers, Education?
The city has some choice in education now with the magnet program. That is good. More choice is better. We have a nice system of private schools. The city has a lot of home-schooled kids n the city as well. I think that there is a lot that the city and the Mayor's office can do right away to toss out some services for the home-school population within the city, such as with Citiparks. I want to retain those families within the city.
My opponent is going to talk endlessly about Charter Schools. That is fine. He can do it to a fault.
I think some Charter Schools can be great. Mostly, I'd love to open up 15-new Charter Schools because we have a million-people living within Pittsburgh again. We can open up the new schools with new arrivals to town.
The Mayor can do a few things for education. For starters, the mayor can look into taking the older buildings that are closing off of the hands of the School District. We can look into making plans for their use in better ways -- sustainable ways.
Monday, April 09, 2001
Big League Swimming
Big League Opportunity with Aquatics Programming and Community Experts
by Mark Rauterkus, 412-481-2497,
TRA's new General Manager & Advocate for Sports
Executive Summary:
This paper explores some of the recreation, instructional and competitive programs offered within the city. Some of the programs are hosted by the city itself. The Aquatics Division has its mission, and another recreation department, more instructional and competitive, is the Big Leage programs. Other programs are hosted by non-city agencies that exist within Pittsburgh, such as with the Three Rivers Aquatics competitive swim team, (TRA).
Finally, Pittsburgh Pubic Schools provides another slew of opportunities for enhanced swimming programs. Those facilities can't be overlooked either, if we really want what is best for our kids.
Great untapped potential exists if only the Aquatics Division, the Big Leage program and out-side experts could be put into better harmony. New programs, growth and great levels of excitment can touch many adults and kids in and around Pittsburgh if Mark Rauterkus is given some freedom and support to from Aquatics and Big Leagues for such endeavors.
Pool Wranglings:
It is the opinion of some that better organization and better programming are possible. Given the lengh and depth of the discussions each year at City Council, it is fair to say that all of the city council members have strong opinions about the swim pools. In general terms, I think widespread agreement would support the notion that the pools and swim programs can be and should be upgraded so as to provide better opportunities for the citizens. The methods of financing these aquatics programs would make for debate, to be sure, but the possibilities for changes and enhancements exist. These changes might include some additional
privatization, agressive marketing, community ownership-stake-holders and even some user-fees endeavors.
Perhaps a way to increase the quality of the opportunities is to re-examine the interplay among the Big League Programs, the Aquatics Division, and our outside groups, such as TRA (Three Rivers Aquatics). The outside groups have specialized interests and motivations in aquatics programming.
With a few modest areas of change, the Big League program can expand into some pilot programming opportunities that have been not explored before within the city. The Big League office can work with the Aquatics Division and with some outside specialized leadership to make this occur in the summer of 2000.
Let's propose and work to create a few specialized centers for:
- competitive swimming,
- masters swimming,
- water polo, and
- underwater hockey.
Other considerations and information are presented as a way to begin the dialog and planning, well in advance of budget considerations. These programs are going to cost very little, but they will be a significant enhancement the offerings to the citizens.
Background:
Beyond Baseball at Big Leagues
The City of Pittsburgh's Big League program began with baseball. Of course this is no surprise, as baseball is Lou's passion. It takes a driven leader to make programs successful. Today, the Big League program has grown to include much more than the famous and popular "Rookie Ball."
Kids play baseball at all ages, softball, Air-It-Out NFL-sponsored Flag Football, Deck Hockey and other sports too.
Aquatics Programs:
Open Swims / Lap Swims
The bulk of the city's aquatics program deals with lifeguarding, staffing the facilities and keeping everyone at all the 32 city-run pools safe and happy. Pittsburgh's diverse facilities and its diverse populations make for a challenges in operation that the aquatic's staff handles with the highest-regards and professional outcomes.
Aquatics Programs:
Instructional and Competitive Aspects:
The city's aquatics programs have swim lessons (some free and other for a user fee) and some swim teams. Most of the swim teams are free. New water festivals and some new equipment such as water basketball have been given to the pools in recent years.
There are some aquatic exercise classes at the Oliver Bath House and perhaps at some of the other outdoor pools.
Outside the City Sponsored Programs, TRA
The Three Rivers Aquatic team practices at Oliver Bath House and Highland Park Pool, but these programs are NOT administered by the city. Rather TRA is a separate organization that has its own management, fees, payroll, coaches and sponsorships.
Other competitive swim teams exist too, such as Team Pittsburgh (PITT) and the Jewish Community Center Sailfish.
Areas of Synergy with TRA and the City Aquatics Program
As the TRA program are offered to city kids, and as the program is a success (hopefully more so than in the past) the city's Park's Department realizes some significant benefits to its overall mission.
The TRA team, like the others, offers basic instructional programs to those who can already pass a deep water test. Participants generally need to have swimming lessons before advancing to the swim team.
An attracitve TRA experience is going to help drive more people into the lesson programs.
The TRA team members are often a prime area for the recruitment of city lifeguards. Many city lifeguards on the staff now have been members of the TRA team, as well as its prior name, the D.P.R. (Department of Recreation) team.
----
End of draft:
Mark Rauterkus
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412-481-2540
New Role: General Manager of Three Rivers Aquatics
Hosea Holder is still the Emeritus Head Coach for TRA.
Investing into the internet - bubble?
INVESTING IN THE INTERNET
BACKGROUND
The Internet economy has grown at an unheard of rate -- over 170% annually -- and may be responsible for a third of the growth in the national economy. Many e-commerce-related IPO's have been super successes, encouraging investment in yet more startups. Traditional businesses like Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and Compaq also are working to "e-commerce" themselves and compete in this new environment. The Internet as a global phenomenon permits information to move freely, at little cost, across continents.Nearly everyone, including individual investors, corporate investors like Microsoft, and venture capitalists has been betting on the Internet as The Next Big Thing.
A selected and limited number of sports organizations have jumped on the internet bandwagon as well. However, most of the players in sports have not tapped into the potential of the internet, just yet, due to many reasons.
But is the Internet economy a "bubble"? Could it burst? What then for entrepreneurs and their prospects? Entrepreneurs have seen e-commerce and Internet initiatives as welcome avenues for business creation. Will this remain the case if the bubble pops or will the entrepreneur be blasted away? How can an entrepreneur plan for possible dramatic change?
Letter to AMS swim coaches at swim meet at Highland Park Pool
Mark Rauterkus
formal role and job title to be announced later
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1226
Mark@
formal role and job title to be announced later
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1226
Mark@
AMS Coaches
Dear Coach,
Welcome to Pittsburgh's Highland Park Pool!
I'm passing around this letter as a way to get your feedback and make an introduction of myself. Are you ready to share ideas? Let's touch base with one another, anytime, anyway, if you so desire. Catch me on-deck, send email, call, or let's talk on the first day of JOs.
Pittsburgh's city-based team, Three Rivers Aquatics, is going to attempt to make some changes with its programs. TRA does not need a head coach. Hosea is going to continue as the head coach, for sure. Perhaps you can help in other ways?
I'm going to lend administrative assistance and leadership with TRA. A news release about this role is pending for the weeks ahead. But for now, can you please spare some of your insights as we make an evaluation and inventory of assets?
This city has some excellent facilities. However, we realize that the city kids and region's competitive swimmers are not connecting with excellent programs. We want better opportunities with facilities, city-kids and regional swimmers.
The TRA team is small and central to the city. One potential agenda is to host and coordinate a number of special events that can include swimmers from your team. But, what to host, when, and for what groups is our question. What activities do you desire and what would gain your comfortable endorsement and encouragement? Some examples follow to stimulate early discussions.
We'd like to hold a week-long day camp at Highland Park that would feature morning long-course practices and an afternoon zoo camp.
We'd like to hold spring water polo practices one-time per week and a summer evening practices geared for boys and girls over the age of 13. Perhaps a Pittsburgh team could travel to an out-of-town tournament as well.
We'd like to have a youth bike race and some developmental sessions at the new bike course very near to Highland Park. A staged triathlon, perhaps in association with the Marathon or Great Race could be held too.
We'd like to utilize the month of August, after zones, for swim carnival events. The beach volleyball courts are to be done soon. Even Lifeguard Competitions and Canoe Polo could help to stimulate and engage the senior male swimmers.
We'd like to hold challenge practices on a monthly basis for test-sets, data collection and pulse-plots.
We'd like to host a sports-lecture series attracting national and international sports coaches and athletes from Olympic sports. Furthermore, we'd like to have a literacy program/book club that could supplement the headline events. Cable and radio broadcasting crew duties.
Other considerations include built-in extras to better accommodate participation. Finder's fees, open records, optional attendance, open-door welcoming of area coaches, advanced booking of visiting experts, flexible co-leader roles, team-wide reservations, and summary statements mailed to your home.
Reminder: These are all simply ideas. No program decisions or announcement is included in this letter. Rather, we are most interested in getting your feedback and insights for the betterment of the region's suite of swimming experiences.
Thanks for your interest.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Rauterkus
Sports Advocate, Retired Publisher, Full-time Dad
Friday, April 06, 2001
Ebook Discussion List Contributor
Contributions to the e-book discussion list
1. eBook-List Archive
---------------------
Due to popular demand, and because it is a good thing to do, I spent the
weekend cleaning up and uploading the entire archive of eBook-List to
Exemplary's server. The archive files are currently downloadable via
anonymous ftp at:
ftp://ftp.exemplary.net/pub/ebook-list/
The file 'archive.info' gives complete information on the archive, including
a strong copyright statement.
It is hoped in a few weeks to a few months to implement a Web-based archive
search engine for the entire eBook-List archive, but it is intended that the
ftp-based archive will still be maintained.
2. eBook-List Daily Digest
--------------------------
Several people have asked for a digest to eBook-List, and I have been working
hard on this the last few days.
Since:
1) eBook-List may move servers in a few weeks to a few months, and
2) Implementing digest-mode in Majordomo may be problematic on the current
server,
I decided to take Bowerbird's advice and setup the eBook-List digest at a Web
mailing list service, specifically, OneList. This digest is intended to only
be a temporary solution (for a few weeks to a few months).
For various reasons, including the need to keep list administration simple,
the daily digest is accessible ONLY by the Web -- it will not be mailed out.
It is not possible to post or subscribe to this digest apart from eBook-List.
The URL to access the daily digest is:
http://www.onelist.com/viewarchive.cgi?listname=ebook-list-daily
(The list at OneList is called 'ebook-list-daily', and so named to reflect
that it is a daily digest.)
Note that you do not need to be a "member" of OneList to access the daily
digest.
Also note that I have turned off subscribing and posting to ebook-list-daily
at OneList -- it is strictly a "mirror" of eBook-List. If you wish to post
to eBook-List, you still have to do it as currently done, *and* of course you
have to be a subscriber of eBook-List to post. But if you do not intend to
post to eBook-List, and only wish to read daily digests of all the posts made
to eBook-List, then this should work for you.
3. Charter
----------
I have updated the Charter to mention the new archive and temporary daily
digest, and to amplify on posting etiquette. Since the "etiquette" changes
are only amplifications and clarifications on the current Charter terms, I
felt no need to ask the subscribership for prior feedback. The new Charter
will soon be posted to eBook-List.
4. Miscellaneous
----------------
On the fun side, while cleaning up the archive, I had a few moments to answer
a question which has interested me for a while: "Who is the most prolific
poster to eBook-List since it started?"
To answer this pressing question of great importance, I did a simple 'grep'
of the archive files, and out of the first 5600 posts in the archive, here's
all those who have made approximately 50 or more posts:
562 Bowerbird
449 Jon Noring
267 Michael Hart
206 Eric Eldred
162 Roy Johnson
137 Laura Kecherson
130 Don Kafrissen
97 Charles Demas
94 Ron Gustavson
92 Lee Harrison
91 Chet Novicki
88 Daniel Munyan
85 Paula Mader
78 Bennett Kobb
62 Tony O'Seland
60 Michael Ward
60 Ben Trafford
58 Jean Lorrah
53 Julie Petersen
53 James (N. Post?)
51 Mark Rauterkus
50 Art Pollard
My congratulations to Bowerbird for his posting stamina. Of course, I came
in a close second, and Michael Hart came in third. The only excuse for my
high numbers is that some of my posts are administrative-related. :^)
Anyway, here ends the latest administrative news for eBook-List-Land.
Jon Noring
eBook-List Admin
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Tuesday, April 03, 2001
A struggle awaits
A struggle is happening. Today, the Dems are in a struggle.
The majority of Pittsburghers -- a great majority of people don’t vote -- are watching that Dem struggle.
The two nights in shinning armor -- Bob and Tom -- are going to go at it with each other.
The personality match.
Meanwhile, the real dragons are not being addressed.
We, (Republicans) have been in neutral. We have been mostly idle. Starting line.
We need to light a fire under you all now. The waiting is over.
Bob said on KDKA Radio -- it is a 1-million-to-1 chance that a Republican Mayor can win in November.
That 1-M-2-1 matter -- it has got to fire you up. Hundreds of folks are switching parties to the Dem’s side?
I am here to tell us all -- the struggle has got to go a certain way. A new way. The greater struggle is from the old-ways to the new-ways.
Sure, they will fight it out among themselves, but we have to encircle them and ride the waves that they create to great new heights. We have to use that negaitve, mindless, sense-less buzz and turn it into positive buzz -- into wonderful wisdoms, into engaging discussions, into nimble relationship building opportunities.
Frankly, you all need to know that I can’t walk in the shaddow of an ant. And, I’m not going to try.
Their island of their fight is very little. Their island of knowledge is very small as well.
We have to tell everyone -- over and over -- to think again.
Great change is not caused by ideas alone. But, great change can not happen without ideas. Pittsburgh needs great organized ideas. And, Pittsburgh needs organized people. And most of all, for this change to happen -- we need passions. Heat and passions are needed to melt the chains of past authorities that have been keeping us down for all too long.
Their passions are kindling and we need to capitalize uponn them -- use them to our advantage. We need a ying-yang approach to take their furry and put it to our benefit. We need to dance above it all -- and we need to be nimble, graceful, and with great scope and depth.
Compelling Sense in the end. Groupware now. You roles are obvious to me.
I am the team builder. I can -- with a bit of your help -- make the case for a new era -- for a FREE MARKET Republican time for the next four-years. I’m prepared. I’m out there now. I’ve got the insights and have made the city-wide efforts to deliver an avalance of compelling reason to turn on all the people of Pittsburgh.
Right now -- the enemy is us.
We need to turn you all on. We need to get an endorsement. I need to win that by 100-1. I need to have you all come to me, understand me. Then -- I need you to start with your marching orders.
I need $300 to create a large stack of $1-million-dollar bills. We need to tell Bob O’Connor and the rest of the city that we’ll take him up on his odds. We’re not out of the picture and we’ve got a guy who is publishing a book. Just check out that web site. Wait until you hear him speak.
His opponent is no slouch -- But Rauterkus.com is an inspred stay-at-home dad who doing all of this on his own -- like a great coach does -- because he is fed up and he is getting us all involved. He is grass-roots. He is prepared. He is worthy of my effort and time. We are going to have fun with this and we’re going to make history -- not be slaves of it.
History makers and the die-hard advocates are on his side now. We understand.
Check it out.
This is no April Fools Joke.
I want your Groupware address now.
I want to get you over to our campaign headquarters ASAP.
I want Million-$-Bills this week -- and I want you all to pay for them. I’ll pass these out through channels -- gimic style -- and then we are going to do wooden nickles.
We’re going to have fun. And, we’ve got messages to deliver.
I can deliver messages -- a book on biking and Schmoozing.
Enjoy.
Pondering some ideas for the neighborhood
From the website of:
Mark Rauterkus
Mayor's Race Candidate
http://Rauterkus.com Mark@Rauterkus.com
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
April 3, 2001
Some Ideas to Ponder
Dear Neighbors of the South Side and Citizens with Interests in Phillips School,
Tonight, I'd love to start the process rolling where we could plan serious quality time together in the near future. In this Mayor's Race, very few opportunities have been afforded to the citizen-candidates. Our messages are not being covered by the watchdog journalists in town. And, on-the-trails conversations are getting trampled by heavyweight opponents who refuse to "debate."
If the process of the campaign is only that of a personality contest -- then we all are going to suffer into the future. Nobody wins. Our democratic landscape suffers. The success of democracy depends upon the reaction of the people to the opportunities presented.
This formal request goes beyond the School Board vote, also a very important matter. There is much to do in that endeavor as well, and I'll help there as well. But, my burden now centers upon the Mayor's Race.
Requested Action Items
Let's sponsor a serious, in-depth, forum for a full-fashioned policy address about education and public policy. I would love to have the podium to give a 45-minute address about what we as a community should do and focus upon.
The Republican opponent could also be involved to give his policy address too. It could be the same night, or afternoon, or else at a second night. So, I'd like to be "fair" in this treatment of the topic as there are plenty of great ideas that would flow between my opponent and myself.
The School-Board Members, as well as others in government, as well as others who are candidates could be engaged in this event as well. We could have minor roles for them to play in the event. They could ask questions. They could give shorter emphasis talks. They could meet and mingle with the audience. They could provide campaign literature.
The Republican Party in Pittsburgh, and this is more than 8,000 members, as well as the Republican Party in the County, could also be invited and play a role as to filling the audience, creating excitement. This would allow the school and the neighborhood to showcase itself to plenty of visitors.
A various media outlet, perhaps a Radio or TV station, perhaps a newspaper, could use the event as a way to promote and be engage in the community. This is possible, but we'd have to get the process started quickly. Perhaps PCNC Nightalk would be able to tape the event and play the highlights for others to see later. Perhaps there is a PC21 show that would want to have an exclusive access to the broadcast rights?
The school administrators, teachers and union workers from around the district should have more access and opportunity to get in-depth awareness from the various candidates and ideas.
The home-schooled population, the private school parents and teachers, as well as the other minor groups that exist in the greater community -- such as the charter school advocates -- should all have an opportunity to gather and mingle with neighbors and share ideas on various educational issues.
An event(s) that is visional, if done well, can be a joy to organize. Most of all, the event can be a dress-rehearsal for the next season's general election cycle. And, given the resources of who is in the area, our central locations, and the buzz of local politics starting to re-energize the city -- these events can become long-term opportunities for Phillips to make meaningful contributions with the ideas and nonprofit cash flow. Yes, these events can make money.
Let's set in motion a sponsorship for serious, in-depth, forums for full-fashioned public policy talks and gatherings for the general election cycle. I would love to be sure that the winners of the Primary Election Cycle (as well as any Indies) have plenty of opportunities to cover the issues of the day in the General Election Cycle as well. Presently, that opportunity is wide open.
The other party members need opportunities. I'd like to be "fair" in this treatment of the topics as there are plenty of great ideas that would flow between my opponent and myself.
Thanks for your interest and feedback.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Rauterkus
start the process rolling
From the website of: Mark Rauterkus
Mayor's Race Candidate
http://Rauterkus.com Mark@Rauterkus.com
Tonight, I'd love to start the process rolling where we could plan serious quality time together in the near future. In this Mayor's Race, very few opportunities have been afforded to the citizen-candidates. Our messages are not being covered by the watchdog journalists in town. And, on-the-trails conversations are getting trampled by heavyweight opponents who refuse to "debate."
If the process of the campaign is only that of a personality contest -- then we all are going to suffer into the future. Nobody wins. Our democratic landscape suffers. The success of democracy depends upon the reaction of the people to the opportunities presented.
This formal request goes beyond the School Board vote, also a very important matter. There is much to do in that endeavor as well, and I'll help there as well. But, my burden now centers upon the Mayor's Race.
Requested Action Items
Let's sponsor a serious, in-depth, forum for a full-fashioned policy address about education and public policy. I would love to have the podium to give a 45-minute address about what we as a community should do and focus upon.
The Republican opponent could also be involved to give his policy address too. It could be the same night, or afternoon, or else at a second night. So, I'd like to be "fair" in this treatment of the topic as there are plenty of great ideas that would flow between my opponent and myself.
The School-Board Members, as well as others in government, as well as others who are candidates could be engaged in this event as well. We could have minor roles for them to play in the event. They could ask questions. They could give shorter emphasis talks. They could meet and mingle with the audience. They could provide campaign literature.
The Republican Party in Pittsburgh, and this is more than 8,000 members, as well as the Republican Party in the County, could also be invited and play a role as to filling the audience, creating excitement. This would allow the school and the neighborhood to showcase itself to plenty of visitors.
A various media outlet, perhaps a Radio or TV station, perhaps a newspaper, could use the event as a way to promote and be engage in the community. This is possible, but we'd have to get the process started quickly. Perhaps PCNC Nightalk would be able to tape the event and play the highlights for others to see later. Perhaps there is a PC21 show that would want to have an exclusive access to the broadcast rights?
The school administrators, teachers and union workers from around the district should have more access and opportunity to get in-depth awareness from the various candidates and ideas.
The home-schooled population, the private school parents and teachers, as well as the other minor groups that exist in the greater community -- such as the charter school advocates -- should all have an opportunity to gather and mingle with neighbors and share ideas on various educational issues.
An event(s) that is visioned, if done well, can be a joy to organize. Most of all, the event can be a dress-rehersal for the next season's general election cycle. And, given the resources of who is in the area, our central locations, and the buzz of local politics starting to re-energize the city -- these events can become long-term opportunities for Phillips to make meaningful contributions with the ideas and nonprofit cash flow. Yes, these events can make money.
Let's set in motion a sponsorship for serious, in-depth, forums for full-fashioned public policy talks and gatherings for the general election cycle. I would love to be sure that the winners of the Primary Election Cycle (as well as any Indies) have plenty of opportunities to cover the issues of the day in the General Election Cycle as well. Presently, that opportunity is wide open.
The other party members need opportunities. I'd like to be "fair" in this treatment of the topics as there are plenty of great ideas that would flow between my opponent and myself.
Thanks for your interest and feedback.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Rauterkus
Mayor's Race Candidate
http://Rauterkus.com Mark@Rauterkus.com
Some Ideas to Ponder
Dear Neighbors of the South Side and Citizens with Interests in Phillips School,
Tonight, I'd love to start the process rolling where we could plan serious quality time together in the near future. In this Mayor's Race, very few opportunities have been afforded to the citizen-candidates. Our messages are not being covered by the watchdog journalists in town. And, on-the-trails conversations are getting trampled by heavyweight opponents who refuse to "debate."
If the process of the campaign is only that of a personality contest -- then we all are going to suffer into the future. Nobody wins. Our democratic landscape suffers. The success of democracy depends upon the reaction of the people to the opportunities presented.
This formal request goes beyond the School Board vote, also a very important matter. There is much to do in that endeavor as well, and I'll help there as well. But, my burden now centers upon the Mayor's Race.
Requested Action Items
Let's sponsor a serious, in-depth, forum for a full-fashioned policy address about education and public policy. I would love to have the podium to give a 45-minute address about what we as a community should do and focus upon.
The Republican opponent could also be involved to give his policy address too. It could be the same night, or afternoon, or else at a second night. So, I'd like to be "fair" in this treatment of the topic as there are plenty of great ideas that would flow between my opponent and myself.
The School-Board Members, as well as others in government, as well as others who are candidates could be engaged in this event as well. We could have minor roles for them to play in the event. They could ask questions. They could give shorter emphasis talks. They could meet and mingle with the audience. They could provide campaign literature.
The Republican Party in Pittsburgh, and this is more than 8,000 members, as well as the Republican Party in the County, could also be invited and play a role as to filling the audience, creating excitement. This would allow the school and the neighborhood to showcase itself to plenty of visitors.
A various media outlet, perhaps a Radio or TV station, perhaps a newspaper, could use the event as a way to promote and be engage in the community. This is possible, but we'd have to get the process started quickly. Perhaps PCNC Nightalk would be able to tape the event and play the highlights for others to see later. Perhaps there is a PC21 show that would want to have an exclusive access to the broadcast rights?
The school administrators, teachers and union workers from around the district should have more access and opportunity to get in-depth awareness from the various candidates and ideas.
The home-schooled population, the private school parents and teachers, as well as the other minor groups that exist in the greater community -- such as the charter school advocates -- should all have an opportunity to gather and mingle with neighbors and share ideas on various educational issues.
An event(s) that is visioned, if done well, can be a joy to organize. Most of all, the event can be a dress-rehersal for the next season's general election cycle. And, given the resources of who is in the area, our central locations, and the buzz of local politics starting to re-energize the city -- these events can become long-term opportunities for Phillips to make meaningful contributions with the ideas and nonprofit cash flow. Yes, these events can make money.
Let's set in motion a sponsorship for serious, in-depth, forums for full-fashioned public policy talks and gatherings for the general election cycle. I would love to be sure that the winners of the Primary Election Cycle (as well as any Indies) have plenty of opportunities to cover the issues of the day in the General Election Cycle as well. Presently, that opportunity is wide open.
The other party members need opportunities. I'd like to be "fair" in this treatment of the topics as there are plenty of great ideas that would flow between my opponent and myself.
Thanks for your interest and feedback.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Rauterkus
Sunday, April 01, 2001
A speech to City Republicans
A struggle is happening. Today, the Dems are in a struggle.
The majority of Pittsburghers -- a great majority of people don’t vote -- are watching that Dem struggle.
The two nights in shinning armor -- Bob and Tom -- are going to go at it with each other.
The personality match.
Meanwhile, the real dragons are not being addressed.
We, (Republicans) have been in neutral. We have been mostly idle. Starting line.
We need to light a fire under you all now. The waiting is over.
Bob said on KDKA Radio -- it is a 1-million-to-1 chance that a Republican Mayor can win in November.
That 1-M-2-1 matter -- it has got to fire you up. Hundreds of folks are switching parties to the Dem’s side?
I am here to tell us all -- the struggle has got to go a certain way. A new way. The greater struggle is from the old-ways to the new-ways.
Sure, they will fight it out among themselves, but we have to encircle them and ride the waves that they create to great new heights. We have to use that negaitve, mindless, sense-less buzz and turn it into positive buzz -- into wonderful wisdoms, into engaging discussions, into nimble relationship building opportunities.
Frankly, you all need to know that I can’t walk in the shaddow of an ant. And, I’m not going to try.
Their island of their fight is very little. Their island of knowledge is very small as well.
We have to tell everyone -- over and over -- to think again.
Great change is not caused by ideas alone. But, great change can not happen without ideas. Pittsburgh needs great organized ideas. And, Pittsburgh needs organized people. And most of all, for this change to happen -- we need passions. Heat and passions are needed to melt the chains of past authorities that have been keeping us down for all too long.
Their passions are kindling and we need to capitalize uponn them -- use them to our advantage. We need a ying-yang approach to take their furry and put it to our benefit. We need to dance above it all -- and we need to be nimble, graceful, and with great scope and depth.
Compelling Sense in the end. Groupware now. You roles are obvious to me.
I am the team builder. I can -- with a bit of your help -- make the case for a new era -- for a FREE MARKET Republican time for the next four-years. I’m prepared. I’m out there now. I’ve got the insights and have made the city-wide efforts to deliver an avalance of compelling reason to turn on all the people of Pittsburgh.
Right now -- the enemy is us.
We need to turn you all on to this campaign. We need to get an endorsement. I need to win that by 100-1. I need to have you all come to me, understand me. Then -- I need you to start with your marching orders.
I need $300 to create a large stack of $1-million-dollar bills. We need to tell Bob O’Connor and the rest of the city that we’ll take him up on his odds. We’re not out of the picture, and we’ve got a guy who is publishing a book. Just check out that web site. Wait until you hear him speak.
His opponent is no slouch -- But Rauterkus.com is a place to be inspred with a stay-at-home dad who doing all of this -- like a great coach does -- because he is fed up and he is getting us all involved. We can be grass-roots. I’m preparing. Our energy is worthy of our effort and time. We are going to have fun with this and we’re going to make history -- not be slaves of it.
History makers and the die-hard advocates are on his side now. We understand.
Check it out.
This is no April Fools Joke.
I want your Groupware address now.
I want to get you over to our campaign headquarters ASAP.
I want Million-$-Bills this week -- and I want you all to pay for them. I’ll pass these out through channels -- gimic style -- and then we are going to do wooden nickles.
We’re going to have fun. And, we’ve got messages to deliver.
I can deliver messages -- a book on biking and Schmoozing.
Enjoy.
A day in the life of Tom Murphy, campaign mailer.
Tom Murphy was a bad mayor. This is sorta funny now. The 16-page book is not worth the paper it was printed upon. But, he spent $1M in the campaign.
Compelling Sense -- opening of a book -- draft version .03
Compelling Sense
Crafting a Philosophy of Performance Through Politics Pittsburgh's People, Public Policy and Passions
Perspectives Linking Our Past, Present and Future
Prime Contributor: Mark Rauterkus, Republican Candidate in the Mayor's Race, City of Pittsburgh, 2001
Latest edition posted at: http://www.Rauterkus.com/communications/compelling-sense/
Mark+@Rauterkus.Com
Version .03 alpha, April 2, 2001 Copyright, 2001 with the Digital Science License and Public Domain
Draft Introduction (giving a peek into the book)
Pittsburgh is distinctive. Pittsburgh is someplace special. Yet, Pittsburgh is still in the making, or depending upon your vantage point, Pittsburgh is still in the breaking. Either way, Pittsburgh is a living space. As life marches, time tugs at Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh moves into the future with grace — or with rust and gridlock. A struggle between the old and the new is unfolding.
The mission of Compelling Sense is a shared one. The task at hand is to create the foundation for a community-wide, sustainable discussion. Pittsburgh's civic wellness is to come into focus.
To introduce some unity into life, some harmony into thought, action and feeling, is a central achievement. To realize one's relation to others and guide one's own life thereby, is life's noblest rule.
To find vent for the capacities of feeling, of emotion, of thought, of action, is to find oneself. The result is not anarchy. The self so found has as the pivot of its life the power of control.
Concerning power, control and the delivery of messages, the mayor's race presents a ripe opportunity. Organized ideas coupled with organized people can garner power. Being fresh counts for getting media buzz. Having depth and scope counts more for getting the citizen activist to join our camp.
If the traditional Mayor's race campaigns linger in the mode of sound-bite and personality/popularity contest, we all lose. We can do better. Pittsburgh deserves such. Let’s interact and make it so.
The keys to Pittsburgh's success have got to include at least one plan that aims for success. This is a pursuit for excellence. These ideas start to map a collective vision for improving our civic landscape. Let's come to understand and ponder potential.
To thrive and to survive are not similar. Pittsburgh's overall condition is in serious decline. Our population base is dwindling. Debt runs high. Taxes have increased again. Our collective health is on the brink. The downward spiral continues. A public-policy noose binds us to an anchor of excessive corporate welfare.
Pittsburgh's present leadership seems to dwell upon various band-aid approaches. Too often our choices amount to selecting outcomes that are just slightly better than worse. Grant Street movements are not proactive and arrive in doses that are too little and too late. (Examples: the flood in Hays, the unified taxes, closing schools and budget deficits.)
Desired pathways for exceptional government can't be stumbled upon by continually pressing legal proceedings and waiting for the judges' decisions. Pittsburgh can't tolerate additional court-orders, consent decrees, city hall lawsuits, investigations, more independent reviews of the auditor's independent reviews. The negative tension on Grant Street is reason enough to cleanse and vote against the incumbents.
Our process of dealing with each other and with various community issues seems flawed. Our language is convoluted. We can't hope to thrive when we can't come together in the same space. Our aim is off the mark.
The hope for a reverse of the downward spiral arrives here, on the backs of the citizens with a
grassroots movement.
Pass the word. Mention: Freedom, liberties, justice, democracy, inclusion, the free marketplace, quality of life, infrastructure, respect, duty, shared interactions.
Vote for new leadership that blends the passions of Pittsburgh with its wonderful people.
We need to accentuate our character to a higher degree. Mindful actions that push and pull our distinctive edge can provide short-term benefits and fabulous new opportunities for thriving in the future.
To accentuate is to heighten for effect. To accentuate is to pronounce or mark with an accent or stress. To emphasize matters is critical. Stay bold, distinctive, determined and pleasant.
As parents, we raise our children to be proud, to communicate well (to use their words and express their ideas), and our boys are asked to be gentlemen. This campaign is partly about parenting, stewardship and trust. This is about sacred responsibilities. This is about governance.
Insights and ideas matter. Expressed inclinations on issues are on the internet. But this is more so about inclusion. A Free Market Republican values interactions. Interactions are idea transactions. Just as the free market itself values transactions, sustainable development and energy that springs from liberty, a free-market politician can enliven everyone's inclusion.
Imagine inclusion. Meanwhile, let's ignore corporations seeking subsidies. A free market approach is at the opposite end of the spectrum from a corporate-welfare approach. The heavyweight opponents include two corporate-welfare Democrats. I'm more with Libertarian views.
Great change is not caused by ideas alone. But changes can not happen without the ideas. Pittsburgh needs organized ideas and organized people. But at this juncture, Pittsburgh does not have either the organized ideas in a blueprint, nor are the people in ranks for movement.
We to need to build on two fronts. Pittsburgh needs an in-depth conversation of merit that goes far beyond the sound-bites and campaign promises. As we dive deeply into the Pittsburgh web of life and come to better understand the scope and magnitude of our surroundings, Pittsburgh needs to gather in ranks.
Knowledge of how the system works today takes a back seat to imagination of how the system of the future can be built for everyone's benefit.
On-the-job experience can be made into handicaps when we agree on the ideals in our aspirations. Solutions are not to be found, rather they are to be lived.
The dogmatic statements made here begin a shared foundation. This is a bottom-up and not top-down effort. To advance, our basic elements should be tightly described. The groundwork centers on heavy issues, truths, values and ideals. Meanwhile, the delivery of the specific steps that address the typical polarized issues are for later, in due time. Rather than giving nitty-gritty details about whether or not to renew the contract for the Chief of Police, let's explore and come to some understanding on the global situations.
Those who must jump ahead to look at a specific element, check for replies with inclinations via the internet and ask questions from the campaign trails.
As a candidate for mayor, I'm inclined to enact a Living Wage ordinance, turn heavily to land-value taxes, eliminate the deed-transfer tax and institute an immediate hiring freeze so as to begin to contain costs. These details are on the campaign's website (http://Rauterkus.com).
Cookbook approaches make for a hollow base of understanding principles, ideals, and philosophies. The essence of Pittsburgh and our struggles for success in our shared spaces and relationships are much more telling. Let’s think again and then go into action on how to disassemble the Urban Redevelopment Authority, or not.
Thanks in advance for your attention, patient attitudes, feedback and involvement. Your reactions matter, and the success of our democracy depends upon your reactions.
A deep-rooted personal hope is to be known as the most inclusive candidate you will ever have the opportunity to vote for. My background and my ambitions drive me to become the ultimate team builder in this race. My team building is going to extend beyond this race as well.
Winning the Republican primary on May 15 is an obvious goal. And, in doing so, moving to the November general election provides opportunities and time to reduce skepticism for both long-term and short term gains.
As a Republican emerges from the primary season, there will be an inspired option. In the fall, no voters will feel that they are being asked to pick between the lesser of two evils. The November 2001 ballot will include a performance centric choice in the Mayor's Race, at least on the Republican ticket.
In the next seasons, volumes of issues and ideas are going into the public domain. We are going to gather ourselves. We are going to put forth a sustainable discussion. We are going to express visions. We are going to increase hopes and extend the conversations. We are going to decide to make choices so we can all THRIVE.
To keep our unique nature is easier to say than to accomplish. We need to understand Pittsburgh and the qualities that we value. Our distinctive Pittsburgh is a product of our unique civilization.
Pittsburgh and our government makes a combination product which is still in the making. Ways of being and historical ruts work upon Pittsburgh's character. To understand the new, which is our main purpose, we must glance at the old.
The thoughts within this pamphlet, it is to be called, Compelling Sense, aim to link Pittsburgh's past with the future. We are here to make history, not be a slave of it. To do so, we'll build bridges of perspectives.
At the time of the American Revolution, one immigrant patriot, Thomas Paine, produced a small book called Common Sense. That work, published in 1776, had a tremendous reach. In the colonies, one-out-of-five had come to know that book, by reading it, or having it read to them. Common Sense, just as is the hope with Compelling Sense, set the stage for independence. Reading stirred emotions and feelings. That book helped to motivate a society to choose a huge change. Paine's writings were actually read to the troops of George Washington on the eve of some expecting battles.
The Revolutionary War pitted an underdog, grassroots force against the Red Coats and the King of England. This campaign that we're in now has some common threads besides a similar sounding title to a book.
Incredible odds, “one-million-to-one” so it was said on KDKA by City Council President, Bob O'Connor on March 30, favor the heavyweights.
Rising taxes without earnest representation press upon the thoughts of the people.
The battle-ground of issues includes increased independence, enhanced democracy, accountability in government, and authoritarian rule:
Authorities and top-down attitudes in leadership cripple Pittsburgh: Does the URA, Parking Authority, Port Authority, Stadium Authority and Water-and-Sewer Authority help or harm? To a smaller extent, the neighborhood groups that live upon the handouts from the Mayor's office need to be questioned too. The corporate-elite (PNC, Mellon, Heinz, Alcoa, Lazarus and TIFs) sway office-holding, Democrat, leaders causing even greater harm to our civic-governmental landscape. Our attitudes in government have encouraged an endless parade of lawyers and consultants employed by a bloated government.
Many Pittsburghers call themselves, “liberal democrats.” The liberal legacy matters in who we are and what we've created for ourselves. But mostly, it isn't understood. The tag of “liberal,” just as the tag “conservative” — as well as the hundreds of other labels tossed about in our conversations are as clear as river-bottom mud. Our language gets twisted and does more to confuse than to soothe. We need a common base of understanding for our shared foundation in dealing with the future. Let's go back to common sense. And, as we get back to the basics, let's reflect and explain both the landscape and principles. Then we can move into better decisions with various campaigns. Let’s think again and not be so quick to assume all the terms, tags and labels are universally understood by all of our people in all of our converstations.
Pittsburgh's legacy of “liberalism” is going to change. We are going to concentrate upon the fabric of our civic place. Let's look at the big picture and appreciate our interdependent web of life.
Shouting, “The emperor has no clothes!" isn't becoming a lone voice. Heckling can't work when the goal is the advancement of the greater good. Rather, much more is needed. We'll wage our battle with scope and depth based on true meaning and dialog. We'll draw illustrations from within and without history. If descriptions fit and can prove a point, then let's dress the heavyweight incumbents in matching red coats -- just as the opponents wore in the late 1770s.
Summary:
All-the-king's horses and all-the-king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. In Pittsburgh we need the people plus the king, plus the king's horses, plus the king's men to put Humpty together again. Humpty isn't going to look the same. Yet Humpty can still evolve and remain distinctly Pittsburgh. But, the truth of the matter is, we are all going to come together and put our efforts into fixing our places. And, by all means, this is going to be a lot of fun trying.
Friday, March 30, 2001
Mark Rauterkus, candidate questionnaire, 2001 to the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh
Note: I did not get that organization's endorsement. Not sure if there was much thought in the discussion and decision at all.
Candidate FAQ&A
Gertrude Stein Political Club's FAQs
3 / 30 / 2001
FAQs and Replies from Mark Rauterkus Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh
PO Box 8108 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-521-7061
Candidate Questionnaire 2001
This questionnaire will be used by the members of GSPCGP in deciding our endorsements. Please send your response by e-mail (if possible) and fax or send the hard copy. You are also welcomed to enclose any campaign materials you wish, and to comment on other issues. We use the term "sexual minorities" to mean lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people. Responses to the questionnaire may be publicized; let us know if you want GSPCGP to keep your specific responses confidential.
1. Give your name, office sought, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address.
Mark Rauterkus, Mayor in the City of Pittsburgh 108 South 12th Street Pittsburgh, (South Side) PA 15203-1226 headquarters phone: 412-481-2497 no fax Mark@Rauterkus.com
2. What is your experience in government, politics, and public issues?
My personal experiences are limited when it comes to holding an elected office. My political party experiences are very modest as well. However, as a consumer, lifelong voter, activist, advocate, citizen and member of society at large -- I've been vigilant throughout my entire life.
I have a journalism background, and that has much to do about public issues. Freedom-of-information, ethical behaviors by choice, balanced treatments and public dialog are all things where I have had great experiences.
I've worked in all sorts of settings: private-university, public/state university, religious university, public school district (K-12) (9-12), city government, park-government, small business, self-employed, non-profits, private consulting, and even with zero-earnings in recent years.
Public issues present a large spectrum with my past actions and interests. Some examples include: Public hearings (I've organized for City Council), public demonstrations (spoke at some, attended many), public domain advocate (often contributed and helped to protect and advance in high-tech sectors), public health champion (book publishing), and many other flavors of the public life are understood and respected. Some of what we deal with needs to be re-tooled. The infrastructure of what should be and what is our public realm is sadly worn. Case in point, public broadcasting and public tv issues. I think it is wrong for QED to sell off the air-rights of Channel 16 (WQEX) to a commercial owner. Likewise, it is wrong for QED to squander their responsibilities to the public by doing a simulcast for far to many months.
Most of the big issues of our day boil down to public understandings of the public process concerning public outcomes. I'm a generalist who sees the whole picture and has some hands-on experiences with a fabulous array of small-picture elements as well. In a nutshell, I'm a Free Market Republican, and that comes to mean that we should not be doing public subsidies for corporations with city government actions/resources. Our free market is being choked and our freedoms and liberties dwindle under the hyper-active legislations and policies.
What is more of a shame, in my view, is the realization that most of the people's policy, good-intended measures are not enforced nor executed well by city leadership (i.e., Mayor's policy and will for true improvements). We need to change the existing leadership as they are not doing a good job for the public sector. And, we need to enliven the public will to new insights and energy by getting new leaders who are sensitive and keen to the real issues that matter to the wellness of our global public health. So, I think we can make a strong case for new leadership with new directions that steer us more to freedoms.
3. What is your position on affirmative action to combat racism and sexism?
Racism and sexism are not to be tolerated at all from me. I push and pull people to the Nth degree as I become aware of bad behaviors. I'm so proactive that affirmative action is made into a worthless, historical benchmark.
The combat word in the above question opens up a can of worms that I'd love to cover in another setting. I'm a peacemaker. And, it takes lots of pressure and proactive communications to bring about peace. When I come in from the fringe (so to speak) I blur the traditional notion of "sides" and this tends to topple the polarized ruts we often find ourselves stuck within. So, let me say that my style of "combat" is of a multidimensional one that is unlike what most others would do. Hence, the old battles are often declared finished as we move on to more root problems.
Affirmative action, in the traditional sense, is not something I'm so keen upon. I do feel that the best person for the job should get the job. And, the best person may or may not be the most qualified in terms of only years of experience. On-the-job training can be good training or bad training. I'm not so quick to be judgmental as to what decisions a manager should be forced to make. Case in point: I feel that I could make for a splendid Mayor, as I'm able to leverage my personal insights and skills into a new role. People can rise to the challenges. And, likewise, people who are floundering in those positions need to be moved.
I'd predict that we'd have a much more fluid work force in the city under my leadership as Mayor. I'd hold extensive interviews, staff-meetings, department meetings and even provide good opportunities for thoughts to be communicated on paper and in on-line writings. That oversight and first-hand witnessing would turn up the heat in many quarters. I'd challenge others to justify decisions and listen to what is being advised and has been done in the past. I'd get into the awareness zone and do some nudging as I saw fit. I'm not scared to be bold when it comes to doing the best things for the right reasons.
My oversight as Mayor would empower others to retool our habits and priorities as needed. But, it in no way is my style meant to be a hint at micro-managing. Rather, I am the type to dig in on principle and with person placement matters. I base my justifications and judgements upon what I see as ideal in both performance and philosophy.
I call my framework "proactive" and not "progressive." My work is going to be out in the open, in the field, so to speak with the citizens and employees. I'll have the town-hall meetings, and the video cameras and streaming content will be there. We'll be accessible and we'll make history together. We'll hear from the right people and perhaps see the open-blunders all in the course of our actions, as clear as can be. Our bosses are going to have public accountability and we'll gather in earnest to instigate and agitate for the ideal solutions. Good leadership as well as great execution needs to be more evident in the city, and this is going to happen with my proactive style that creates great public discussions.
I assume that much of the day-to-day talk of our city now happens now behind closed doors, if these folks are at all on-the-ball within themselves. But, sadly, I don't have much evidence of it as a very engaged citizen who watches for it. In turn, the customer or citizen appreciation of this city is at an all-time low. This needs to be reversed by being more open and "proactive."
Pittsburgh needs to crack apart the pervasive done-deal, top-down mentality. Too much happens behind closed doors. The citizens are left to only assume things about certain actions. Rather, as Mayor, I'd move discussions out into the open. I'd be inclusive in our ponderings. We'd encourage people to "think again" within our public spaces. We'd be proactive, and that is not going to be "neat" -- but it is going to make sure that awareness flows. Our values need to be put into perspective and some new priorities need to be charted for all to witness if they so desire. The jaded attitude of the power elite is a turnoff for many of our people -- and too many have already voted in the past decades by leaving the area. People have been and are still ready to vote with their feet and migrate out of Pittsburgh because they are kept in the dark by a design and intent from the power-elite.
When it is all said and done, and sorry for the long answer, affirmative action is going to take a back-seat to proactive action. I hope to have the opportunity to prove this to be so.
4. What is your position on pay equity and comparable worth?
Of course.
5. In approving appointments and/or staff hiring, do you support a policy of
nondiscrimination toward sexual minorities?
Of course.
6. Are there any areas of employment where you feel sexual minority people
should not be hired? If so, what areas?
No.
7. Do you favor government support for AIDS prevention programs,
including needle exchange?
I think it is wrong that the current laws of Pittsburgh do not allow for a needle exchange program. The needle-exchange program is legal in the City of Brotherly Love, our cross-state City of Philadelphia.
However, in the long-run, I think it is wrong to have a city-sponsored/subsidized needle-exchange program.
As a Free Market Republican, I'd be proactive in handling this issue as Mayor. Let me explain. From time to time, I think it makes sense to ensure that the right things come about -- and by all means, I think that the issue of needle exchange is one such cause. But, here is what I would do, and why.
While it is right to obey the laws, we can work to change the laws. Then, we obey the new, better, more laws.
In this case, the might and awareness of city government should stir and come awake from a slumber. A new Mayor (with the clout of the city) could fix this wrong that exists today.
After the fix, the next step would be to end the sanctions of the subsidies. Overall, I'd advocate a multiple-step approach that takes us closer to the ideal. At times it is hard to go from bad performance to the ideal without an evolution and migration over time. I want progress and evolutionary changes to take root. I'd want to turn up our listening, inclusion, discussions and passion on these ideas.
So, I think it would be okay for the city departments to begin to set into motion -- or else to set up a functional needle exchange program where there is none now -- and where it is illegal to do so even. These actions would come from the city-government so as to break the gridlock for the non-profits agencies who dare not take those risks and tangle with the power of government. To obey one's heart and do what is right (for the non-profit activists) is hard to do when it is more necessary to do what the strongest say must be obeyed. Justice without might is helpless. The might of city government is coming down on ways that hinder justice in global ways -- giving our options to be far more tyrannical than ideal.
In the end, it would be my strong advice that the city program for a needle exchange program have its plug pulled. But, we should plug in a program to insure that it can be done and be legal for others to do so. Then the city can plug out and allow the non-profits or the activists or the private sector to enter into the market.
The cost to our overall society is great when it comes to HIV, drug abuse, and many other serious ills. Often, society is in a rut when it comes to our options in dealing with the greater good and patching up some of our serious sticking points. I want to move to solutions that are for smaller government, stronger people, expanded freedoms that build in harmony with individual responsibilities. We've got too many laws and restrictions that have not gotten in our own way. There are certain areas where city government needs to be fluid, move in and sooth a trouble, and then evaporate. Government can reply and then exit situations. I feel that a drive to the Free Market solutions are going to get us to greater total wellness in the long run.
There are a few areas where this proactive process could be applied in our city. The issue of the needle-exchange is one. So, I'd start a city-backed needle-exchange program, and then, in due time, I'd be sure to end it as well. The ending of the program comes as the non-profits and activists enter. We would use the strength of the city to make the needle-exchange a legal act. Then, we'd stop the city-funded program. But, then, others, should they so decide, could resume the program or have it evolve in other ways.
Perhaps this is much like the "Sunshine" type acts that end. Making endings is good. We need more exit strategies for our governmental programs. Closure is much like a graduation then.
My four-year term as Mayor would end and the city would have expanded and contracted in many different ways. We'll learn to be more fluid. We'll flex muscles and then relax muscles too. In the end, the city will be much more lean and healthy. In the end, the scope of government and its boundaries will be much more defined and trust on all parts will increase.
Deeds from our history:
1. Activist who want to provide a needle exchange should not do so with a threat of arrest.
2. More so, volunteers who aim to feed the hungry should not do so with a threat of arrest. The delivery of food to the homeless can't happen in Market Square today as the Mayor has made serious threats and has been hostile beyond reason. The volunteers who help the homeless in Pittsburgh are perhaps the most generous of all among us. Yet sadly, the Mayor's office kicks dirt in their faces as thanks.
3. And too, the advocate with the pamphlets who aims to nourish hungry minds of willing citizen readers can't even begin to cause a spark in our public spaces without the heavy threat of the police and the administration. The delivery of any handouts, from prayer books to campaign handouts to petition gathering is not permitted in downtown's Market Square. Similar actions are not permitted at the city-run farmers markets.
Exceptions/footnote: Guy Costa, a Mayor's chief assistant, does allow a table to be set up in Market Square by the Steelworkers Union to hand out VIP passes to Al Gore's rally held at Point State Park at the end of a Labor Day Parade. But, that is another example of the injustice from the power elite.
The Democratic Mayor, the Administration, with the willing consent of the Democratic City Council too, along with the backing of the Police and Citiparks has made it clear that they all will strike out in harsh ways against all handouts to citizens. The powers that be in Pittsburgh want and work hard to facilitate handouts for the Steelers, the Pirates, Lazarus, Alcoa, Heinz, PNC, Mellon, USAirways and Nordstrum. The big corporations are getting big amounts of corporate welfare. The unified tax in the City of Pittsburgh gave the LTV Corporation a $60,000 per year tax break for its under-utilized land in Hazelwood. The reassessment increases in taxes is landing on the backs of the home-owners and renters. Meanwhile, the homeless, the hungry, the citizen activist and even the most desperate who are perhaps addicts of drugs and risking of getting AIDS get crushed further by our elected leaders.
How in the heck can you expect our city's leaders who are in office today to mount a campaign for a needle exchange when we can't even allow for ways for the children of this city to freely visit and splash about the 32 existing public swim pools in the heat of the summer?
The needle exchange program would be a wonderful flag to raise as a candidate as it can come to tell a story of so much more that is under the scope of awareness for the average Joe on the street. But, we need to tell the entire story and give the reasonings that make it all come together. We need to make it a process-based agenda that isn't just about addicts. The true addicts are the corporations and the heavyweight politicians that drunken themselves with corporate welfare deals at the expense of the citizens, time and time again.
Another illustration
Consider Pittsburgh and the story of the caterpillar. It is my great hope that we can all agree that Pittsburgh should be at the twilight of its time as a corporate-welfare, Democrat, liberal, caterpillar. Overall our city acts like a caterpillar with high consumption and mobility full of creep.
My arrival as Mayor would provide three steps:
1. The caterpillar's ending
2. The cocoon's transitional period of slumber and shock
3. The butterfly's emergence
My campaign for Mayor needs to inject the hope and imagination of turning Pittsburgh into a thriving city and region again -- much like the transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly. The evolution in nature of the caterpillar can happen in Pittsburgh too should the people have the willing perceptions and desire to make it occur.
The campaign endeavors happening in part at Rauterkus.com need to move our city to both a transitional phase (offering a huge shock) and then to a graduation phase (offering a huge new outlook). Should I become Mayor, Pittsburgh as a caterpillar would end its ways, go into a cocoon, and then emerge as a butterfly.
In the general election cycle, we need to take the time to gather as a city. This should begin to happen in larger amounts in the later months of the fall election campaign. The transition period would shock our system and then shock us into a season where we go, by choice, into a cocoon. We'd look within ourselves for answers. We'd internalize our struggles and issues. Perhaps the slumber happens in earnest after the election day and throughout the first winter after the new office holders arrive.
Then in the months to follow, Pittsburgh would emerge as a butterfly -- say in March, 2002.
We don't need Bob O'Connor to win the election as Mayor so we can run to Harrisburg for more handouts. Should O'Connor win the election, and to carry this illustration to the next chapter, it would amount to the caterpillar moving to another tree so it can continue to devour all the leaves over there because the one we are in now has been picked bare. I hope that the voters of Pittsburgh and the endorsement bodies that are part of our political landscape choose to end our consumption-driven mode of operations.
Should Tom Murphy win his third re-election, the caterpillar's life would be extended too. In this case, Murphy would be less welcomed to move to another tree for more food (as per trips to Harrisburg for O'Connor), rather Murphy's administration is smart. It would figure out ways to grow teeth and devour the existing leafless tree's bark, branches, trunk and roots. The Murphy caterpillar has an appetite and can grow teeth.
My advice is for a system-wide change that would be a big shock to the caterpillar. Sure, we'd cast our web tightly around ourselves. We'll be frozen in time for a while even. But, my win would present a wonderful new rebirth. To flourish, we need to grow massive wings. The caterpillar's death is but a renewal for the hope of the butterfly that Pittsburgh can become.
8. What is your position on a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion?
As mayor, it would be my duty to uphold the law.
9. Do you support the enactment of laws amending anti-discrimination
statutes to protect the rights of sexual minority people? If so, what specifically would you be willing to do to secure their passage, implementation, and enforcement?
All discrimination is bad. I don't tolerate discrimination in my actions. I despise it. I think everyone has rights and I understand that rights are different from power. We all suffer when one among us has his or her rights trampled. But, being proactive in my approach to life, I'd rather not legislate morality and good behavior. Rather, I'd make it happen to the best of my powers and abilities as a willingness to do the just deeds.
10. Do you support the enactment of laws amending Hate Crime laws to
protect the rights of sexual minority people? If so, what specifically would you be willing to do to secure their passage, implementation, and enforcement?
Hate crimes are very ugly indeed. Last night the news had a story about a home in Hazelwood that had a torching of a Tom Murphy sign in its front yard. Many signs had been stolen from there in the days preceding the torching. A series of crimes have been done, perhaps by thugs from the other heavyweight's camp. That stinks. But, was that a "hate crime?" If that person is caught, should he or she go away to prison for 10-time the punishment?
For me, hate crimes are crimes. I think that the police and the authorities can pursue, can press and be more keen to crimes of a gross violation -- but we don't need to make a new category of crime to see that happen. Perhaps we need better management and people of principle to be bold and proactive in such matters. I do not support the creation of more laws such as hate crime presents. But, I'd go far to protect the rights of sexual minority people.
11. What will you do to reduce the number of sexual violent acts committed?
I think that all sexual crimes are violent acts. The best way to reduce the numbers of violent acts committed is to empower the people. Being educated, self-assured, connected, and empowered can be a huge strength in terms of wellness and general health. Being dependent, ignored, weak and alone is a sure way to increase the chances for bad things happening.
I've been a coach. I've organized activities that have greatly empowered young people. We need more programs and more opportunities for our younger, middle-aged and senior people to build their strengths from within. These programs need to challenge and stimulate. These are not easy to accomplish, but we need to try in these areas to a much more determined degree.
I think that the Citiparks programs are mostly lame. They are nice, but there is so much more that we can do to go closer to our potential with these programs and with the participants. The recreation -- or should I stress, Re-Creation needs to be re-tooled in a proactive way so we have greater opportunities for brushes with excellence.
With our new Convention center, I think that it is important to stage events that are citizen driven/focused. Sure, the corporate auto-shows and robotics shows are nice and needed. However, I went to Chicago with my son to speak and enjoy a national convention for Stay-At-Home-Dads. The empowering, understanding, kinship and ready-made resources for ourselves made for an ultimate uplifting.
We are at a time when the news is full of dads (and moms too) who have set fire to their home with their kids inside, drowning others, crushings the little bones of flesh and blood offspring. That hopelessness is so ugly that it makes sense to me to do something different with our society and culture.
Showcasing a new car is great for TV ads and perhaps it is needed for convention center bookings. But, in my perspective, I could do with much less of the sexy, Madison Ave., new-car glitz -- and more with the humanistic help that might flow from a celebration of grandparents. We can teach ourselves how to be better parents. We can teach ourselves how to be better voters/citizens. But, we need to put ourselves first, and then put those among us on stage and let it flow.
Furthermore, these grass-roots participation interactions that celebrate the human spirit should NOT be subsidized from the city's budget. We can build these plans at little or no cost, launch them into the free marketplace of ideas, and reap the rewards with stronger people and break-even programming. If we had the right leadership, Pittsburgh could be a meca for visitors and wellness. Our outcomes would pay huge dividends.
12. What is your position on the right of sexual minority people to be considered on their individual merits in custody and adoption matters?
Of course.
13. What is your position on civil marriage for same-sex couples?
Sure.
Perhaps the pressing issue that looms behind this question has to do with employment and health insurance coverage. Public health can be a massive, long-term discussion that I can lead artfully in the years ahead. This should be a huge strength for us, and I ask what has UPMC done for us recently?
That system is one of American's greatest hospitals -- and I would only wish that they would act like it more often.
I think city employees would be better employees if they were on the job and understood that their loved ones were being insured. This could also come to extend to other generations as well. We could extend health-care coverage in many ways. We need to put our minds into that quagmire and take the lead nation-wide in doing.
14. Do you support access to insured medical care for HIV positive persons?
Yes. I think every person should have the opportunity to be insured. I don't want to be the one not covered. Nor do I want my loved one's not covered.
15. Do you support access to insured medical care for transgendered persons?
Yes.
DATE AND SIGN YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE SENDING IT TO US.
Delivered in person on March 30, 2001 by the candidate. Delivered via email too. This document won't change. However, an updated version might be posted to the net as we have more time to proof read our replies.
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