Oct 15, 2004

Keep the 15th of October open for The Deek Champions of politics extravaganza at the Regent
Square Theatre. You can pick up your "Grope the Vote 04" button there.

Not since working with the PCTV 21 show, The Art of News, have I seen such solid attempts a humor with a purpose. Wonderful, fun, and funny. My kids called them, "the funny guys." For a taste, see the AON opening, trailer., QuickTime movie, 1.1 megs.

False Ads: There Oughtta Be A Law! Or -- Maybe Not

False Ads: There Oughtta Be A Law! Or -- Maybe Not. - FactCheck.org: "candidates have a legal right to lie to voters just about as much as they want."

The good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; the decision, to the releasing of a trigger.
From The Art of War

A few friends asked me if I was running for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh. I expect to do so, but, I'm not really running yet. I don't have an open PAC (Political Action Committee) nor am I raising money as a candidate. However, if you'd like to talk about what is yet to unfold in Pittsburgh's landscape in 2005, let me know. We'll meet or chat on the phone.

Outsource jobs to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Business Times: "If we use our local expertise in health care, law, accounting, engineering, advertising and other professional services to collectively search outside the region for businesses, we can create genuine growth opportunities. In reality, our region has real cost advantages that -- combined with our technical sophistication -- make Pittsburgh very attractive.

I'd agree that Pittsburgh rocks in terms of health care and engineering. The others present a stretch. They sure don't count as genunie growth opportunities.

In advertising, we might be a good consultant for branding blunders. In law, we might present genunine growth in how to bring suit and prohibit valid voter petitions from making it onto the ballot. The other professional services make cutting-edge statements, more often than not, into old-school ways and a legacy build with bricks of discrimination.

Pittsburgh has a corner on the market on many fields, but sadly these fields are the wrongheaded ones that others who know better don't care to emulate.

Our legal profession's reputation for expertise in intellectual property is nice, but the world is turning to open source software. The GPL (General Public License) and CC (Creative Commons) have their roots in Boston at Harvard/MIT and the Bay Area at Standford. That is where the action is going. CMU is in the game too, but this game isn't a downtown corporate strength.

How can we be a source for international business when you can't get there from here? Pittsburgh is know more for its lack of international residents.

Yet, the average hourly fee paid by a business for an associate lawyer in the Pittsburgh region is $169. Compare that to $231 on the West Coast, $232 in New York, $302 in Washington or even $194 nationwide and you begin to see the picture.

The logic presented in this article, from $169 to $194 nationally, is frail. For starters, much of law is local. What knucklehead in Kansas City is going to outsource a zoning issue to a firm in Pittsburgh to save a few bucks? Beyond the local scope of the law is the local networks that play so loudly in law's practice. And, cheap legal advice is a headscratcher. Don't cut corners on the patent application, representation to the FDA or finance deals.

... the professional services community continues to use a somewhat inefficient economic model in which individual firms market themselves separately -- and often end up as competitors for national business. Perhaps a better solution would be a collaborative approach in which professional services companies would market the region's advantages while making national calls. It's a novel approach, but it just might bring in more new business.

Sigh. Competition provides the real roots for efficient economic models. The article has it all wrong. Let's drive for more competitors and competition, not less.

Summary: We need a free market mindset to flourish again. We need to push each other and have brushes with greatness. We don't need a cooperative, easy, lame, boosterism approach where everyone goes to the same beat in lockstep. We had one airline, and we needed more competition. We have one political party, and we crave more options.

The examples are endless. We had dozens and dozens of glass companies. We had many mines. We had many operators on the rivers. We had lots of steel, iron and finishing outlets. We can move goods on many rail lines. Give us an authority and a monoploy and watch us die on the vine and lag some more.

College costs and loans

This weekend the new grad students at the Univ. of Pittsburgh who are seeking their Au.D. (professional doctorate) got their "white coats." Many friends and family came to town to celebrate. All were impressed on many different levels.

Bowyer points out the trend with finances today

College Tuition InsightsSince George W. Bush took office, student loan rates have plummeted from 8.19 percent to 3.37 percent, an amazing 59 percent drop."

Pittsburgh Foundation scholarship opportuities are under utilized. Available funds have not been accessed as fully by Pittsburgh Public Schools' students as the foundation would like. Applications have gone directly to the schools' Guidance Office for several years without much success. I can probably count on one hand the number of applications we've received from a City school over the years, wrote Deborah Turner, Scholarship Coordinator, The Pittsburgh Foundation.

How's your heart rate

Pittsburgh's emergency response times are a hot topic. Where are our AEDs?

LIFESAVING RESOURCES INC.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and the American Heart Association (AHA) found that deploying automated public access defibrillators (AEDs) in public places and training citizens to use them can double the chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) for the general population. Each year about 450,000 Americans die as a result of SCA, making it the nation's leading cause of death.

Currently 95% of SCA victims die before reaching the hospital due to the length of time it takes for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene. In fact, a person's chance of survival is reduced by 10% for every minute spent waiting for a life-saving defibrillation shock.

The nationwide public access defibrillation or "PAD" study showed nearly double the survival rates for victims who were administered CPR and shocked by an AED as compared to those who only received CPR. During the two-year study, 124 cardiac arrests occurred in public facilities where an AED was available and 31% of those persons survived, versus 17% of the 86 arrests that occurred in venues where only conventional responses - CPR and a call to 911 - were available.

About 20,000 volunteers took part in the study of which half were taught to use AEDs and perform CPR and the balance to perform CPR only. Approximately 1,500 automated defibrillators were placed in over 990 public facilities such as office buildings, factories, airports, shopping and community centers, and sports and entertainment venues in 24 cities nationwide.

The AHA also told a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel in July it supports the removal of the prescription requirement for AEDs.

The FDA's Circulatory System Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee met to decide whether or not to lift the prescription requirement currently required for anyone wishing to obtain an AED.

Meanwhile, the State of New York has just passed a law requiring Health Clubs with memberships in excess of 500 members to have trained personnel and an AED available on the premises at all times.

Source, Gerald M. Dworkin, Aquatics Safety & Water Rescue,
LIFESAVING RESOURCES INC. Lifesaving.com

Wanted Executive Director, Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania

Idealist.org: "Executive Director
Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania

Who needs a job?

Tim Murphy (R) and Mark Bolles (D)

I'm digging for more insights on the platforms for Pittsburgh area candidates for US Congress. We are a city that is half of what we used to be. Our state and federal reps throughout the region can either deal with the city in some way(s) or ignore the situations. What is your take on what needs and should be done with the city -- if anything?

Next -- I'm digging for info on what you think about public transportation? In specific ways, what about the plan to put two tunnels under the Allegheny River to extend the light rail (T) in the city to the lower north side to serve the stadiums?

A bulk of that money comes from the feds. But, the local match isn't there and isn't a priority -- so says Dan O (County Exec).

Thanks for your insights.

Trunips on my mind

Please share what you can about turnips. A new turnip theme is under-development and your input and ideas are welcomed. More news to come.

We love getting links to Rauterkus.blogspot.com, please.

Happy First Birthday to 3 Rivers Fitness

Three Rivers Fitness turns one year old on October 4, 2004. Great facility and great reuse of an older building.

Parkwest center to host Bayer spinoff = corporate welfare

Parkwest center to host Bayer spinoff - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Dennis Yablonsky, secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development, and Dan Onorato, Allegheny County chief executive, are expected to announce a package of public financing to solidify Lanxess' employment base in the region.

Big win for the region, if you love corporate welfare

Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky and PRA
Board Member and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced last week two separate projects that will enable Bayer Corp. to retain 1,750 employees statewide and LANXESS Corp. to create up to 435 jobs within three years. LANXESS is a new company formed when Bayer Group combined and spun off its chemical businesses and large segments of its polymer activities. LANXESS leadership also plans to relocate a portion of its staff in Akron, Ohio, to Pittsburgh.

Germany-based Bayer has operations in four commonwealth counties, including Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland. (The fourth is Lebanon County.) It plans to invest $100 million in its Pennsylvania facilities and keep its U.S. corporate headquarters in Allegheny County. Recognizing the importance Bayer plays in the region, DCED offered the company a $1.7 million financial package that includes a $1 million Opportunity Grant and $700,000 in job training assistance. Allegheny County has offered up to $200,000 in the form of a Community Development Block Grant.

The commonwealth also offered a $1.86 million financial package to LANXESS that includes an $872,000 Opportunity Grant, $554,000 in job training assistance, and $435, 000 in job creation tax credits. LANXESS, meanwhile, has pledged to invest approximately $10 million in Pennsylvania over the next three years.

Lanxess was courted by officials from both Ohio and South Carolina, therefore, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance is pleased to have served the region in assisting with the LANXESS location as well as the Bayer decision. These developments show a new momentum gathering in southwestern Pennsylvania. We wish the leadership in both companies the best of success in their endeavors.

How can a start-up move jobs from Akron?

Gradual closings planned for future PPS actions

Trib: Gradual closings planned at PPS "The next round of city school closings will involve a gradual phasing out of schools or closing a smaller number of them to avoid the problems that occurred..."

This headline is huge. It is the one major point I made last year and in past years as well. You can't yank the citizens, families, students and staffs around. When that happens, people leave.

When South Vo Tech was scheduled for closing, I ranted at great lengths to close the facility over time. I wanted the school to shirnk by 50% per year for the next three years. Allow the kids that are in the school to graduate and not need to move to another school.

In a way, some of the rants from the past do come into the realm of being. There is little reason why this didn't happen last year.

Senate Debate: Saturday On WTAE Channel 4

WTAE TV hosts Senate Debate, Saturday at 11:30 pm

Debate participants are:
* Arlen Specter (Republican)
* Joe Hoeffel (Democrat)
* James Clymer (Constitution)
* Betsy Summers (Libertarian)

Finally, a full stage of participants that matches the ballot. Way to go PA Assn of Broadcasters.

Slate card to support firefighter's referendum

PG Dem Party leaders unanimously agreed to list the referendum on the slate cards issued at polling places, urging voters to approve it. Firefighters plan to work city polling sites Nov. 2 to distribute the cards.

Wonder what the GOP slate cards will contain. And, would the firefighters pass out GOP slate cards too?

Grays to DC

The Homestead Grays were in DC too? What's the next fantasy to shatter? Are we to learn that football's Steelers were once combined with Phili's Eagles and called the Steegles?

The Grays are tweeners, part this and part that. Everything in life isn't black and white. With the Grays back on the scene, we'll have another avenue to inject talk about racism, disparities and class wars.

DC's throw-back team name is fine. It could modernize, to flip-floppers, but baseball needs its stoggy legacy as it has little else.

As for mascots, a crew in Columbus and another in Pittsburgh is building a larger than life, Mr. Whaffle bobble head. The Columbus effort will travel on a truck on election day, is to be built with foam and sports big flip-flops below the head, in the style of Mr. Potato Head. Might make a nice DC-based mascot to race our pasta creatures at the ballpark.

Going against the flow now nets tickets

PG letters to the editor
Citations for going against the flow, oh no.

I remember my first parking ticket, in Texas, for parking against the flow. That was while in grad school in 1982. I was clueless that I had parked in an illegal manner. Get out!

I go against the flow in so many other instances in life, that I generally try to park my car properly.

As mayor, I'd be all in favor of of highlighting our Pittsburgh quirks and insure they are not punished.

Harvest & Holiday Boutique & Bake Sale

October 13-16, 2004 from Wednesday to Friday, 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, 1240 Washington Road (Rt. 19), Mt. Lebanon.

Relaxed holiday shopping for unique gifts and home decorations. Plus home-cooked soups, breads, and desserts.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at Sunnyhill's Harvest & Holiday Shop. Now in our 22nd year, we're pleased to offer a wonderful collection of handcrafted gift items, earrings, bracelets and necklaces; knit baby clothes, caps and scarves; ornaments and table decorations for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa; hand-thrown pots, bowls and plates; wreathes and swags; and much, much more. And, as always, we'll have our tub of Primal Element soaps in various scents and designs.

Treat your family to home-cooked soups (many varieties), breads, desserts and more!

Bring a copy of the coupon and receive $1.00 off a Primal Elements soap of your choice. More at
Sunnyhill.

Smearing example

Some dude with the handle, "kumufa", email address NUKED by intent, wrote in part:

Do we want to get together and watch his sorry ass make some stupid suggestions about the health care crisis?

My reply:

Perhaps it would be good to show a little more respect. If anyone who was working in my campaign spoke that way in a public email about a US Congressman and "LOYAL OPPONENT" -- I'd censor if not fire him or her.

We've got a duty. It isn't about smearing. Poke holes in the programs and the outcomes, please. Knock em out of the park if you can, on merit and with measured distinctions.

Look to the comment area for his entire email. He is working for a Doctor candidate, Mark Boles, a Dem. I like seeing health care talk and candidates with medical experiences in various races. And, the target, Tim Murphy, is also with his own expert background, perceptions and came from the psych profession.

PSO and Wilkinsburg Music

Efforts with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Wilkinsburg's music program are great. Bravo!

My grandfather, Dr. Joseph A. Rauterkus, started Pittsburgh's Symphony Orchestra as a work project venture in the Great Depression. Grandpa also started the school of music at DU and spent many years with Central Catholic, the VA doing music therapy, and even directed the musicians union at 4th of July concerts at North Park, when I was a young lad.

Furthermore, my mom and dad both grew up in Wilkinsburg. Dad marched in the Tiger band (baritone) and mom was a co-leader of the majorettes.

Today's musical leaders should contact UPMC's Eye and Ear Institute and talk to my wife and get hearing protection for the instructors and participants. Especially with all the drumming activities now in place. All the Pgh Public School educators got exposed to some quality health care advice via the launch of this new program in 2002-03. Now that program is taking root and will spread to other school districts.

The price is right, due to some grant funds. And, those precious hair cells don't grow back after being damaged.

Pondering Code of Conduct for 2005 Mayor's Race

Your feedback, either in comments below or directly to Mark04@Rauterkus.com are welcomed.

In the next couple of days, I'm going to make an effort to advance a "code of conduct" that centers on Pittsburgh's 2005 Mayor's Race. This will include a call to others to contribute ideas and offer solutions.

In 2001, Mayor Murphy made one debate in the general election. It was held on Sunday night before the Tuesday election. That can't happen again. And, it can't be forgotten.

In 2002, Mayor Murphy made a TV commercial that used the Mayor's office as a backdrop to endorse Ed Rendell. That calculated error should have been pulled from the airways and NOT run -- but the neither the media outlets nor the endorser nor the candidate saw fit to do the right thing.

In 2004, the game is about 527 organizations.

Serious legal questions abound again relating to Ed
Rendell and 527 Organizations with the Pennsylvania Kerry/Edwards Campaign.

Republican State Committee Chairman Alan Novak this week called the coordination between Governor Rendell, the State Democratic Party and ultra-liberal 527 groups an egregious violation of Federal Election Commission Campaign Finance laws.

Governor Ed Rendell is running the grassroots operation and get-out-the-vote effort of the Democrat Party of Pennsylvania through 527 soft-money groups such as Americans Coming Together," stated Novak. "He has some serious questions to answer."

In a letter dated September 20, 2004, Governor Rendell solicits funds for America Coming Together's (ACT) grassroots operation in Pennsylvania and promises ACT will spend nearly $10 million in Pennsylvania to elect Democrats at all levels of government.

Under Federal Election Commission (FEC) guidelines, it is illegal for coordination to take place between a candidate, or agent of that candidate, and any so-called 527 organization.

Governor Rendell, as an agent of the Kerry/Edwards campaign, sent out a recent email paid for by Kerry/Edwards 2004 seeking support for their grassroots effort in Pennsylvania.

Despite the clear prohibition against coordination between 527 operations and campaigns, it is apparent Governor Rendell and the State Democrats have been coordinating and communicating with 527 organizations operating in Pennsylvania for months. As far back as April, Governor Rendell, in a conference call set up by the John Kerry campaign, said that several Washington, D.C.-based soft-money organizations formed by Democrats will spur widespread Democratic voter registration and turnout in Pennsylvania.

In a recent Fox News interview, when asked about his party‚s grassroots organization, Democrat State Committee Chair T.J. Rooney made clear the coordination between the state party, Kerry/Edwards 2004 and ACT.

"Since the onset of the presidential campaign in Pennsylvania, there has been obvious coordination between 527s and the Pennsylvania Kerry/Edwards grassroots campaign. In case anyone had a doubt, these recent revelations are proof-positive that ACT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kerry/Edwards Campaign and the Democrat Party of Pennsylvania. Governor Rendell knows the needs and plans of the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Pennsylvania, now he is blatantly helping 527‚s coordinate and fund it," said Chairman Novak.

121 Communications - Vote121 Toolbar

121 Communications - Vote121 Toolbar: "Vote121 is an innovative new browser toolbar that brings all the latest campaign news and opinion straight to your browser."

When I'm mayor, we'd have a Pittsburgh toolbar for web browsers. My main surf station is on an iMac.

Jeff Habay makes great case for NOTA

Shaler native, PA State Represenative, Republican, Jeff Habay is in trouble with nagging ethics issues and the state's top attorney is pushing for larger charges. I'm not sure Habay he is guilty or not, but let's look at the bigger picture, democracy.
http://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/20040617habayp3.asp

Video of Jeff: http://65.254.51.42/~player/media/politics-others/habay-go-gop.MPG

NOTA is short for None Of The Above.

Habay is up for re-election in November, His term, like that of all state reps, goes for two years. On the ballot, Habay is without an opponent. Habay runs on the GOP ticket but has enough friends on the Dem side to write in Habay in the primary election so as to gain ballot access for both of the old parties.

I don't know who is going to beat Jeff Habay. However, someone should start to build a buzz about a write-in campaign for NOTA.

The NOTA option is used in elections elsewhere. When NOTA beats the candidates on the ballot, another election is called with different candidates. I'd like to see NOTA become a regular tool within our election process.

Town Meeting: Louisville on uniting city-county government

PG pushes its agenda
There is much to stay about these issues and the spin from the PG in its series.
I've been to Louisville. I've even taken bus-loads of people there. Young people. When a deputy mayor visited Pittsburgh a year or so ago, I talked to him following the PUMP presentation and asked, "Would the city of Louisville tolerate the closing of its swim pools?" He could not even imagine the thought nor begin to fathom the fall-out from such miss-deeds.

The merger efforts began with measures on the ballot. That's democracy. Meanwhile, we have a mayor who fights to remove the opinions from the voters. Mayor Murphy does NOT want to enable ballot questions. Our present mayor takes petitions with thousands of signatures to court to get them removed from the ballot.

Our mayor and those of his administration can't begin to even scratch the realm of the possible in terms of an earnest conversation about cooperation, unity, mergers, and civility.

We need to strengthen our democracy and our will to self-govern. Then we can begin to talk about changing the system. We have authorities that rule without accountability. We have "his honor" -- like a king who is without term limits. He buys votes with public money to stay in office.

All talks of grand principles of reform need to begin after the voters remove the lame leadership that governs Pittsburgh.

As mayor, I'd insure we put a handful of voter referendums onto the ballot at every election.

The process in Louisville took a lead-up of four referendums. That is where the seed of the real progress resides.

Meanwhile, the PG sees a false hope in more high-stakes "branding" -- such as the branding the merger to "UNITY." The switch in semantics was emblematic of a sophisticated and well-funded political campaign that sold the idea of a city-county consolidation to skeptical voters.

Give us a break.

Perhaps the $1.5 million campaign treasury just purchased the vote. Or, perhaps on the fourth attempty they got it right. The whole slew of TV commercials would not have amounted to squat had they been pushing the wrong solution. They got it right with the nod to political reality. The suburban municipalities stayed intact.

Perhaps the other votes "failed" (wrong word) because they were not good enough. Perhaps this one passed because backers were rich enough. Or perhaps, the real factor was that this measure was good enough.

More wrongheaded conclusions are being pushed upon Pittsburgh in too many articles such as this.

Furthermore, in Pittsburgh we've got this legacy that not only supresses what the people want by those who are smart enough to think for everyone. But, when the votes are taken on questions, at the polls, the results don't stick. It didn't matter that the people voted to NOT BUILD new stadiums. A short time later the new castles money were built with taxpayer money -- in spite of the referendum's result that said NO.

Skeptical electorate talk pins Pittsburgh, like the tail on the donkey. The people are not foolish for being skeptical. The people of Pittsburgh are wise to the ways of the "wire-pullers."

Pittsburgh's "done-deal mentality" has run its course. This marathon has been cancelled. Mayor Murphy and cronies have fallen for the last time and can't get up. Lawrence, Mellon and others can roll over in their graves.

Pittsburgh's revival begins with its voters and a new mindset. Think again! Pittsburgh will heal itself, thank you, as soon as all the king's horses and all the king's men figure out that they can't put it together again. Their time is up. The oversight boards have taken the mess they've made off their hands. The next Pittsburgh wave is about the people, the kids, our families, our limited and cooperative government.

We can merge the city and county governments as they did in Louisville. But, we've got to run the old, grey, and worn out of the barn and into the private sector.

Maverick enters mayoral race

AP Wire | 09/30/2004

Murphy has been forced to repeatedly deny bankruptcy rumors as the Nov. 2 election approaches. A scathing report issued by a city-commissioned law firm in September portrayed a dysfunctional City Hall with a history of keeping damaging information from public view. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department are investigating the city's financial practices.

It could be, but the news above is NOT about Pittsburgh. Rather its from the seventh largest city in the US.

The new entry, playing a spoiler's role perhaps is a sporting, surfer type. She insisted that a write-in candidate could win. She must submit 200 signatures and pay $500 by Oct. 19 for her name to be appear on a list of write-in candidates posted at city polling places. 'The public knows how to write,' she said. 'I am convinced that the citizens are smart enough to figure out how to write 'Frye' on a little line and fill out a little oval.'

Such a shame that western PA's infrastructure is so frail that sensible write-in options are not within our grasps. I'm seeking to change our backwards election policies to enable the true citizens voice to sound with greater force. Furthermore, the two who stand to most to loose with the new arrival in the race, Murphy and Roberts, invited the newest participant to participate in a series of televised debates.

A San Diego environmental lawyer and lifelong surfer called Frye a 'matriarch' in surfing circles. She was activist for clean water and got involved after her husband, a surfer, was sickened by dirty water.

My wake-up call came with the distruction of Pitt Stadium and the building of the dwarf football fields at the UPMC's Sports Center on the South Side -- still without the long-ago promised community access.

Budget Tomfoolery

Allegheny Institutue - vol4no37.pdf a PDF file about how the city isn't cutting, isn't moving parks to contracts, isn't liquidating.

Eric's jeopardy rant

His opinion mentioned: PittsburghLIVE.com"...quixotic Mayor Tom Murphy"

Humm..... as a mayor's race participant I was called quixotic in 2000/2001.

So, does that now mean that the name "front-runner" will come my way next?

PIIN "Rolling Thunder" Public Action Meeting - 3 pm, Oct 17

Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) hosts its third public action at 3 pm on Sunday, October 17, 2004 at Wesley Center A.M.E.-Zion Church, 2701 Centre Ave. (Hill District).

Congregations and organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania draw together to issue demands and act powerfully on local and regional issues. PIIN is a younger organization that has its methods of community-building, direct action, and negotiation with decision makers.

PIIN's first newsletter looks snappy.

Democracy matters to me

Few issues are as important to me as civics 101 -- public life in America. Democracy counts. It matters. When it is frail and flounders, as a habit, people depart and vote with their feet.

See and hear my statement before City Council on September 28, 2004 in a QuickTime movie.

Moving out for liberty

The Pitt News: "'Because you leave a nice house with great food and a loving mom and you go to, what, a studio apartment with a rusted Volkswagen in the driveway [and] a mini fridge with leftover bologna? Why would you do that?'

'The answer is liberty,' he added. 'You love Mom and Dad, but it's time to make decisions for yourself. Does the government love you more than Mom and Dad? The republicans want to be your daddy, and the democrats want to be your mommy.' "

Yard Sign for bloggers and beyond

Frances Resigned

Frances Barnes, Ed.D., had been on the board that fights against discrimination. She stepped down from that commission as she was discriminated against. The moment-to-moment justice in Pittsburgh is unreal. This is one of our greatest ills. The saga lived by Frances is a splendid example of what is so wrong here.

Her statement given with heavy heart.

If I was the mayor, I'd NOT accept her resignation. I'd make her in charge of the commission.

Visitors from Iraq visit Pittsburgh

A state department tour put two visitors into city council chambers. Hear their statements.

index

Female's statement
Doctor's statement

Click to see the Quicktime movies

Black Box Voting: Ballot - Tampering in the 21st Century

Black Box Voting site: "detail a 'long history of concealing problems' and a willingness to ignore potentially serious problems 'largely for the sake of corporate profit'. "

Has a book in PDF files.

Ninth floor visit to cable tv department

I went to the 9th floor of the city-county building and asked those in the cable tv breau for their help in working to keep them alive. The new oversight plans call for the elimination of the department. One of the worse things would be the holding of city council meetings without telivision coverage. We need more light and awareness on the matters of our public life, not less.

My name and contact info went to the union leader in that department. I doubt I'll hear anything of merit from them.

It makes sense to fund the department, and have new income streams from them via the County Council and the Pgh Public School board.

There is no way the money for PCTV 21, cable access, should be diverted to Grant Street. A letter was read into the record that suggested such a solution.

Another bites the dust

Carnegie Library Director Herb Elish is leaving! PG on Elish's departure. This is good news. Can he take the merry-go-round with him as he goes?

Rally without the political signs

A call to gather hit the inbox.

Friends,

This coming Sunday, October 3 (can you believe that it is October already?) we will be meetingat 11:30 AM in a show of support for the men and women in the military.

The rally will be held at Fort Duquesne in Point State Park -- Pittsburgh's oldest military facility. The temperatures are expected to be in the 70s with the possibility of some rain, so dress appropriately. However bad it might be, it will still be quite a bit more comfortable than conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is little or no chance at all of sandstorms, bombings, or firefights.

This rally is for the men and women serving this country. Not the politicians and not the government. This is for our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives, our neighbors and friends who are risking their lives for our security, our safety, and our well being.

Since that horrible day three years ago, there have been no more attacks here on our soil. One reason is that many of the would be bombers and attackers are engaged in a struggle against our troops in Iraq. They have made themselves the target so that we wouldn't be. We are able to go about our lives in relative security because of their service and their sacrifice. Come say thank you to these brave men and women.

Please forward this to everyone in your local email list and ask that they send it on to everyone in their's. I hope to see you all there.

Go here for full details:

www.nikkiusa.com/FreedomRallyII-Pittsburgh

Remember -- THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL RALLY. BRING YOUR FLAG, BUT PLEASE LEAVE THE CAMPAIGN SIGNS AT HOME.

Oversight board postpones on Pittsburgh budget

AP: "A state panel overseeing Pittsburgh's financial recovery has delayed a vote on the city's $433 million budget proposal, which includes a 34 percent property tax increase that the mayor, city council and the state oversight board do not intend to implement.

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority delayed a meeting set for Wednesday until Oct. 18 to study the proposed 2005 budget, said David O'Laughlin, an oversight board member.

Given the phony budget, these folks choose to not hold a meeting to talk about it in open. Perhaps the typical, backroom, closed-door deal-making isn't done. Perhaps this is why people are so skeptical. Perhaps this is why people choose to vote with their feet and leave the city and region.

Officials want 911 sit-down

They want a 'sit down?' No, not a sit-down strike. No, not a sit-in. Reasoned, trusted, public-service people can and do want measured progress. They want to sit down and get to the basics of planning for a better future. Many people out there care.

Officials want 911 sit-down - PittsburghLIVE.com

'We're ready to hand the keys over to you, once we have a sit-down about these issues,' Shaler Manager Tim Rogers told Onorato. 'We're ready to do it by the end of this year.' "

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh folks do a brush off. Dan O does a push away. Still, he acknowledged, the county is not yet ready to take on the extra duties."

We've got people who can't walk and chew gum at the same time. We need to think again. We can't linger and not have the plans put on paper.

Pittsburgh City Council earlier this year approved merging the city and county dispatch centers after more than a decade of wrangling. Mayor Tom Murphy hailed the shift as a way to improve the area's emergency response capabilities while saving the city almost $1 million a year in payroll and benefits.

The merger's delay, still not complete, made for a decade of failures that rest with the Mayor, Tom Murphy. Sure, council had to approve the deal. But, Tom Murphy had to deliver it. This too ten years. Only the promise of oversight boards doing the dirty work did anything happen. Tom Murphy had his hand forced with oversight boards. He would still be doing nothing if it was up to him. And, he'll claim the one move, that took a decade to complete, makes him a champion of mergers.

Tom Murphy was in the way. And, other city based officials are in the way. When the folks in the county want to sit down -- we should have leaders who sit down and talk.

Talk is cheap. Do it. That is all we got. We have nothing to give away. We might as well sit down and talk about cooperation in these times. These guys, the old guard of city's do-little elected place holders, are too used to in-action. They don't even talk.

Back and forth with Charles McCollester

I am NOT going back and forth with Mr. McCollester. He is doing the heavy lifting and pitching ideas to the PG and Jim Roddey -- in public. Here is some of the recent rumblings that arrived in my inbox.

Friends:

On Labor Day the Post-Gazette printed my Op-Ed entitled "Assault on City Workers" (attached). Jim Roddey followed with a very nasty and personal attack (see P-G, Sept. 13). As of this moment the Post-Gazette has decided not to print my "Reply to a Rebuttal"(attached and following), but I'd like your help in distributing it to those who might be interested.

Thanks,
Charlie McCollester

Response to a Rebuttal

Issues raised by Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority board member Jim Roddey

Leaving aside the gratuitous personal attacks, I'd like to respond to the points raised in Mr. Roddey's rebuttal article:

As anyone who has read my articles in the Post-Gazette over the last several years on Pittsburgh's financial crisis knows, I have been extremely critical of Mayor Murphy's development priorities, fiscal management in relation to Tax Increment Financing, and the brutal across-the-board closing of pools, recreation and senior centers.

That was phase one of the squeeze; phase two is upon us. The problem with Mr. Roddey's characterization of future recommendations from the ICA calling for a fairer sharing of the tax burden is twofold: First, they are in the future and therefore somewhat ill-defined and second, they must pass through a Republican controlled legislature. That is not to excuse Democratic complicity with the present situation. In a previous article I criticized Democratic legislators for failing to come to the aid of a city that has been very loyal to the party over the past seventy years.

As far as participation in the process goes, I interviewed a half dozen city unions about their experience with the Act 47 Recovery Team for the article. Their experiences ranged from little or no contact to a one-sided pushing of an agenda of privatization and cuts without serious bargaining or listening to either a critique of their assumptions or a presentation of union generated alternatives.

The city mechanics are a case in point. I personally attended the very first meeting of the ICA and my impression was that the entire process would have been much more under wraps if there were not a very vocal group of activists as well as the media demanding transparency.

The elimination of Pittsburgh City Cable certainly doesn't indicate any great concern for public access to the deliberations and concerns of the city's elected representatives.

As far as cuts either executed or proposed for police and firefighters, it's hard to see how public safety has not been materially affected. The whole thrust of the Firefighters referendum is to assert performance standards over mechanistic cost reduction. They want a guarantee that residents will be effectively served in any reorganization. Talking with firefighters in our local station, they were acutely concerned about an imposed plan that would undermine
their ability to serve the neighborhoods.

As to Mr. Roddey?s assertion that he never called for the elimination of City Council, the Tribune-Review on March 31, 2004 reported that the state oversight board is looking at dissolving Pittsburgh's government -- including eliminating the mayor's office and City Council -- as a way to solve the city's financial woes.

The May 15 edition of the Post-Gazette pinpointed Mr. Roddey's leading role: A March 31 draft of the oversight board?s recommendation, authored by board member and former Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey, urged the Legislature to dissolve the mayor's office and City Council and replace them with a part-time council and a city manager.

While I have urged City Council to get more backbone in their resistance to repeated violations of democratic legitimacy, I deeply respect their position as the elected representatives closest to the people, neighborhoods and workers of the city during this time of crisis.

As to my students receiving a very biased view of how communities prosper, I must respond that I have spent 25 years arguing that the preservation and modernization of our region's manufacturing base was critical to the region's economic health. The turning away from an understanding of how wealth is created and the importance of productive labor by people who grow, build and make things by much of our political and economic leadership has been one cause of our region's collapse.

I once admired Mr. Roddey for his early championing of MAGLEV, but lost a lot of respect for him when he declared the project dead in the course of his last campaign for county executive - apparently to gain a few not-in-my-backyard suburban votes. I continue to believe that the innovative work being done at the MAGLEV facility in McKeesport remains the best hope for a renewal of manufacturing in our region.

We cannot shop, gamble or entertain our way to sustainable prosperity. Investment in production and wealth creation is essential for the long-range survival of both our region and the nation. We also cannot strip our urban areas of essential services and amenities and expect them to prosper. The workers and residents of the City of Pittsburgh are ill served by the present undemocratic and unfair process. Mr. Roddey needs to take responsibility for his positions and not try to deflect legitimate criticism by personal attacks.

Boosterism and looking up to see the curb

The email today from the Allegheny Conference, a bumbling group that causes harm to the region, had an interesting quote:

"Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and
give up. They happen to break you down and build you up, so you can be all you were intended to be." (Charles Jones)

Is that the new slogan for the region? No, it's just a simple quote in an email. However, I wonder if that is that how they explain the circle in East Liberty or any of a number of other flops here?

We can't give politicians free passes. Nor should we give the free pass to various organizations that have been the cause of big fumbles.

Audio of Jim Carmine

Index of Jim's clips

In 2000 and 2001, I ran for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh. In that effort, I came to meet James Carmine, Ph.D., a loyal opponent. I lost the GOP primary to Carmine and then worked as his 'webmaster' for the general election. Without saying too much about those times here, let me re-introduce some audio snips from that period. I recorded these clips.

Let me know if they play for you. Leave comments below.

Crashing the Parties, 10 pm Wed. QED

WQED, a public tv station that has been the subject of some criticism, is slated to air an interesting PBS primetime special Crashing The Parties 2004 from 10 to 11 pm this Wednesday.

The program challenges the conventional notion that third parties are "spoilers" with no constructive role in the process. It is to showcase the candidates and their political platforms.

Who wants to host a documentary screening house party?

This special gives voters a behind-the-scenes look at third party campaigns and conventions in the 2004 presidential race, showcasing the serious political alternatives to the Democrats and Republicans. The one-hour program focuses on four major third party/independent bids:

Libertarian Party (Michael Badnarik),

Green Party (David Cobb),

Constitution Party (Michael Peroutka).

Ralph Nader, and in addition,

other candidates' bids for their party's nomination are featured, such as Libertarians Gary Nolan and Aaron Russo.

My advance hunch is that the coverage of others who are NOT on the ballot is just to discredit the entire show. Why cover the others? Edit!

In most markets, "Crashing" debuts the evening before the first Bush-Kerry debate - showing PBS viewers the candidates who were shut out of the presidential debates. In a few cities such as Boston, the third party documentary is the lead-in program for the Bush-Kerry showdown on Sept. 30.

WASHINGTON POST LIVE WEBCHAT ON 3rd PARTIES & INDEPENDENTS!

On Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m., PBS filmmakers Peter Koziell and Darren Garnick will be participating in a live Web chat about the making of "Crashing The Parties 2004" sponsored by The Washington Post. Join in the conversation during your lunchbreak! For more information, visit: www.washingtonpost.com and scroll to the bottom of the page for the "Live On-Line" links. Questions can be submitted earlier that day.

SEND "CRASHING" FEEDBACK TO PBS!

If you find the themes, scenes or commentary from "Crashing The Parties 2004" to be compelling, please consider sharing your thoughts with both your local PBS station and the PBS national network. The stations are always eager to hear from "viewers like you."

Sandy Heberer
PBS Programming
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314

And, contact QED directly.

The filmakers also appreciate feedback, crashingpbs@awardprod.com

Parenting woes or infrastructure issues

Its fixed! A new sewer cover and sidewalk has arrived. The city did its job, and cut down the three trees. The building owner did the sidewalk with cement contractors on Sept. 25. The saga started in early August. Not many drunks fell into the open hole.


Conventional wisdom says "bad parenting." However, I'm wondering if it is bad city infrastructure? Our children are falling between the cracks here. And, it takes little effort to get the right type of street treatments to prevent these types of accidents.

Notice that the storm gutter's slots are not the full length, but they do go in the direction of traffic. Bike riders have trouble with street coverings that have larger spaces as wheels get caught, flipping the rider. Inline skaters are sure to have issues. Many street treatments in Pittsburgh are bad for all sorts of reason.

Pittsburgh makes continual, classic mistakes and frustrates up the opportunities care for our kids. Pittsburgh makes parenting much more of a chore.



Seniors and children, yet alone drunks and little ducklings could get lost, hurt and perhaps wealthy by visiting our streets in Pittsburgh.

See the comment to learn more of a road study by the city. Sadly, these roads get attention every four years. An election is due next spring, so the Grant Street gang is making a list and will check it twice this fall so as to get the most votes.

$38 million in grants from Fast Eddie

City Life, a show of the Pgh Cable Television Breau, getting its plug pulled, perhaps, is due for a hand-slap if not a good freeze out.

On a show, Gov Rendell said, "Not one person, not one business, not one organization, has run up the white flag and said that they've had it with Pittsburgh."

He means to point out that those that are here are not giving up. In a way, he is good to say that there are lots of people who still care. Some of us are "fighters" and we'll be in the good fight for the long haul.

However, our Gov is just flat out wrong. Many have quit on Pittsburgh. Many have left. Many more are leaving in the future.

More people departed Pittsburgh since Tom Murphy has been mayor than voted for him to continue being our mayor in 2001.

The outward migration is massive. Those people are voting with their feet. Those people want to be more free. Those people have been frustrated with the city.

Today I talked to a guy working on a new sidewalk next door. He won't live not only in the city -- hell no -- but not even in the county. He'd rather live in Armstrong County. He gave up. He waved the white flag. He isn't going to post on this blog. He isn't going to write a letter to the Governor. He is going to go about his work and life -- and make it elsewhere as much as possible.

The other kick in the teeth from the city cable television department is the fact that these boosterism shows run on our cable. This isn't about public service -- but it is about being elected again and pushing PR.

Erik's homework with photos of landforms

I've set up my sons with their own blogs. See gRauterkus or eRauterkus for Grant and Erik. In due time, home pages. For now, I'll just pepper this space with some of their works.

Homework: Make a dictionary of various landforms. So, with my wife's help, my photos and uploads, Erik made a booklet that shows the various landforms, all from our travels in the past months.

See the presentation of 11 slides on the web with html pages:
http://65.254.51.42/~player/content/academics/erik/landforms/web/img0.html

Same presentation in a single PDF file (189 k):
http://65.254.51.42/~player/content/academics/erik/landforms/dictionary.pdf

What is a "Paladin?"

Pitt played the Furman Paladins at Heinz Field. After smacking Pitt around the field for three quarters, it is safe to assume this Division I-AA school won't be a guest again. Great game! Pitt did win in overtime.

Library -- still searching for TRFN and Wirless

PG: Main library articleAnne Candreva, director of information technology at the Carnegie Library, unveils the marquee near the library's entrance, ...

Animated messages are fine, but I'm still looking for TRFN and Wireless

The Oakland branch should be wireless. The Beehive, a South Side coffee shop, is now with free wireless. So, the library spend a hefty sum to modernize -- and we get signs that blink.

The real potential isn't in the bricks and mortar. Sure, some people don't leave the first floor. But many more don't even make it to the doors. The services of the Three Rivers Free Net made for great outreach. Those services are missed. Those services stopped just as the planning for the new expresso bar began.

If you are lost, there is nothing like Google or Ask Jeeves.

A Zillion .... excuses

By next year, Candreva said, the library may be wireless, but that is a major task because the building is chock full of steel, necessitating the placement of 'just a zillion' hidden antennas.

We don't need every inch of the library to be wireless. How about five antennas. Put one right on top of the pastry display.

Can't wait to go to the quiet reading room that features no computers. Perhaps a page was taken from the Parks Conservancy. Let's advance with a Highland Park rebuild a fountain and entry way that was just like it was in 1900. Same too with the library. Get rid of those nasty computers here. Too much noise.

No doubt that the library re-make was a lot of work and effort from all involved. However, here we go again with a "massive" remake instead of an evolution. Do something every year or two. In terms of overall facilities, little or nothing has been done since a few wheelchair ramps were installed -- other than the start-up of the internet and the killing of a wildly popular and necessary TRFN.

When the first planning meeting was held on the South Side to talk about its library face lift someone asked, "What about the books. Are we getting new books?" Sadly, this whole exercise is about bricks and mortar -- and there won't be an impact with the books. Without new parking, without new books -- some dare to ask, "why?"

South Pittsburgh Reporter - Carnegie begins planning stages for South Side Library

Summary:

The overall theme for finding the solutions for Pittsburgh is much more about software and programming and much less about hardware and buildings. The process and the software outcomes are where we need to put our creativity, energy and investments. Think again. The "build-it and they will come" mentality isn't the desired pathway for me in our quest for vibrant community.

Mergers talk spreads to school districts

PG (cont): "Murphy lamented that the idea of merging some or all of the county's 43 school districts rarely comes up for discussion.

I've talked about mergers of school districts, plenty. Wilkinsburg, Sto Rox, and even Woodland Hills' history is on my radar.

However, the A+ Schools group, and the Mayor's Commission on Public Education -- group that Tom Murphy had a had in forming -- FUMBLE constantly. They are absent. They don't have open meetings. They don't publish minutes. They don't invite outside voices who have knocked repeatedly at their doors. They blacklist. They operate just as Tom Murphy does.

Furthermore, until 2000, schools were a topic that was without even a breath of Tom Murphy's concern. He avoided all interactions and comments about schools at every turn. The people at Pittsburgh Public Schools knew Tom Murphy and Tom Cox only when they would rush to them for a TIF (tax favor for some hair-brained corporate welfare scheme).

Then in 2000 and 2001, my campaign for Mayor and that of James Carmine, Ph.D., professor who teaches many teachers, talked long and hard about schools. That can of worms got plenty of shaking from us then and it was an area that was totally foreign to Tom Murphy and Grant Street.

We need to put schools and districts and mergers and re-organizations into the discussions. Bring it on. Start by insisting that A+ Schools (an on-going front organization) meet with me and begin to address my long-list of serious concerns.

Ex-Gov. Thornburgh assails 'dysfunctional' system

Ex-Gov. Thornburgh calls for mergers of towns: " tackle the region's problem of municipal-government fragmentation."

I assail dysfunctional leaders. The system isn't broken. The ones with the controls are dysfunctional.

Let's attack solution fragmentation from dysfunctional thought and leadership.

Thornburgh is giving a free pass to the elected leaders. Thornburgh is clueless as to what happens in Pittsburgh. If Thornburgh had the same view as city residents, he'd change his tune. That's my 'free pass' to him.

Dear ex-Gov: The ways of Pittsburgh and the characters involved here in these times are unlike the public servents in other parts of this great land. Selfishness, corruption and lack of cooperation is pervasive. You can't force these leaders to cooperate, This crew in Pittsburgh can't even agree among departments to hold meetings. We must first force them out of office. Then new people can begin to correct the situations. We must get our own house in order first. Then new deals of cooperation could be struck with a keen sense of democracy throughout. But, first things first. The worst of all outcomes would occur if we began to merge towns to enable the bumbling, bankrupt, and hopeless leaders with more power and influence.

The oversight board came to Pittsburgh, with another group (Act 47) no less, to take away power from the mayor and city council. Now if I read between the lines of your statements -- or perhaps the coverage of those statements -- one could ponder your intent to mean you'd like OVERSIGHT BOARDS and AUTHORITIES to come into power by merging towns. That possibility is Un-American and not to be tolerated.

City Cable TV bureau may be saved

Headline should be: TV bureau still slated for closing.

PittsburghLIVE.com: "County Council President Rich Fitzgerald said council has just begun looking into the feasibility of getting council meetings on the air....

County Councilman Vince Gastgeb, who also has been working on the broadcast project, believes the county is 'behind the times' because it does not broadcast its meetings. "

Jeepers guys, let's get with it. Here we go again as the leaders are not leading. They do too little too late. This rumor of a cut in the city cable bureau has been around since it was part of a mid-summer play by the mayor.

The one thing Pittsburgh does NOT need is more "done deal thinking" and "less light."

We need to watch these meetings and the actions of the elected with more awareness. Turn the lights on, more brightly. Meanwhile, some like to scury in the cover of darkness. Mayor Murphy does NOT want to be accountable and visible. Mayor Murphy does not want to be blasted for not meeting with City Council Members for months at a time. Mayor Murphy does not want to hear about the rats the size of lapdogs after he fired the rodent control crew.

Ripple from the blast about the new "PHONY" ink

As I reach out via email, (often called an email blast) a number of interesting ripples appear. See the comments.

Phony Budgets and Current Events - archived of my blast email, 412-public-remarks, to more than 8,000 contacts on Wed. Sept. 22, 2004.

No We-Hav

We have no We-Have!

Finally, the fight ends with victory! City Council voted to NUKE the bogus We-Hav in September. I guess the mayor didn't veto it. A notice arrived from the city clerk.

Citizens of Pittsburgh's West End areas made a great showing at a public hearing on July 7, 2004. Sadly, a cable broadcasting and rebroadcasting of the hearing was not ordered by city council in July.

Shamefully, the We-Hav organizers had a provision in their by-laws that their board meetings are NOT OPEN to visitors and the public. Unreal.

The termination of the We-Have program, called by a petition of more than 4,000 home owners, is slated NOW for September 1. It was pushed off the agenda in mid-July by Council President.

Those on city council SHOULD vote to terminate the undemocratic (small "d") program.

The City Clerk said she understood this to be so that the Councilmembers (4) who were not at the Hearing, the Solicitor and the Administration study the transcripts.

The first vote was delayed for the weeks of the summer recess by City Council. Action is expected to occur at the Sept. 1, 2004 meeting.

www.pauljsentner.com/no_wehav/

Bluff Overflows with Vikings and Indians

Good "Quad A' football was played at D.U.'s stadium on the bluff as Central Catholic hosted Penn Hills Friday night. Nice game, nice venue -- but a bad fit.

The game should have been played at Heinz Field. There were too many fans in a space much too tight.

Central Catholic should have its own stadium / field. Same too for North Catholic. When I'm mayor, we'll talk. But, this is not to ignore Schenley, Peabody, Perry, The Dice, Carrick, Langley and Westinghose. I don't see why we don't play some high school football at PNC Park in October and November. They used to play Steelers and Pitt football games in Forbes Field.

A band festival, hosted by Central Catholic, is slated for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 25 at South High School (South Side at 9th Street and East Carson). Go bands!

Transit Rally and Protest in Harrisburg, Oct 5, 2004

Here is another nail in the coffin of Pittsburgh, the Port Authority's proposed, massive, service cuts on nights and weekends. More public hearings and committee meetings are slated. But come to Harrisburg on Oct 5.

Public transit is a youth issue. More transit talk at http://Ratsburgh.blogspot.com

Bus trip had some room for more. Cost is $15 per seat or what ever you can give. If you are in a tight spot right now don't let that stop you from going on this trip. Three Rivers Community Foundation is helping. Call Steve D. at 412-361-3022 to get on the bus and then all you got to do is SHOW UP.

DEPART: 7am from 4th Avenue and Ross Street downtown

ARRIVE: State Capitol around 11am

STUFF: Rally with folks from PA from 11 to noon in the rotunda.

DEPART: 4 pm, and exit Capitol by 3:30.

ARRIVE: 8 pm.

Next meeting

Wed, Oct 6 @ 6:30 PM. UCP Association, Neville Street at Centre Avenue. Time is running out for these bills. There is no guarantee that they will pass before the session ends. If they don't we
(those of us who ride on weekends or at night) are in deep trouble.

Celebrating a Near Giant

The last black tie event I attended was, humm. I shouldn't even say that. The last time I wore a tux was at my wedding.

This photo is from Sept. 23, 2004 at Dr. Bluestone's celebration. I'm not calling it a retirement. Here I am with another guest (not Dr. Bluestone). More on our interactions later. His statements are most interesting, and I hope to cover them in great detail beyond the blog.

But for now, who does he look like to you? Can you tell where he is from?

Cheers to Dr. Bluestone and all the amazing people he has helped as both patients and professionals!

Candidate Under Fire

A women in the south, a Pitt Law School grad, and a candidate for judge might need some "home-town cooking."

Rachel Lea Hunter, Go,Go, Go!

The University of Pittsburgh has come front and center recently. Rachel's opponents are considering Pitt to be a subpar school by saying that her graduating in the top third of her class in law school meant that she probably couldn't get into a 'prestigous' institution such as Duke.

Opposition Says

"Her web site says that she graduated in the top third of her class at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. That's respectable, but hardly impressive for a Supreme Court justice. The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is ranked about 50th among law schools. Duke is ranked about 10th. She probably would not have been in the top half of her class if she had been at Duke (if she were even admitted)."

Rachel's web site www.rachelforcourt.com has more. It's getting interesting in NC. More on the attack from NC Rumors.com

Statement supporting college students and professors - http://www.rachelforcourt.com/

In the past, Rachel's campaign manager, Cameron DeJong, wrote (in part):

Anything that you can do to promote Rachel's campaign on the web is greatly appreciated. We need all the help we can get as we are not depending on the 'establishment' to get us through this one.

I think it is time for Pittsburgh folks and Pitt folks to get moving. Send notes to your friends in NC. Send letters to the editor there. Put up links to her site on our sites.

Black Tie

Catherine and I on our deck before a "black-tie function." I had not worn a "black tie" for more than a decade.


Mingle with guests from Australia. This researcher uses sports and communications in interesting ways down-under.

Pittsburgh Commuter Tax: Bad Idea

http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/briefs/vol4no36.pdf

One one hand, the Mayor puts forth a "phony" budget. One the other, City Council President, Gene Ricciardi, has asked the Mayor to cut to the chase and push now for the "commuter tax."

The commuter earned income tax is a wrongheaded strategy that is unlikely to bring about the desired results. First, this is a tax paid mostly by city residents. Next, the tax can't fetch money for the city from those who live elsewhere if they have to pay elsewhere. In all, 28,609 commuters from twelve communities would pay no commuter tax.

Moreover, a many home rule communities (with 19,231 commuters) can raise their home rates and lower property taxes so as to nullify any gains to Pittsburgh.

See the report has the details. Thanks Jake.

Rally for those who need MENTAL RETARDATION SERVICES

Call Kathy at ACHIEVA: 412 995-5000 X 509.

PA Self Advocates & Families United to End the Wait are to rally to demand that the Rendell Administration END THE WAIT FOR THOSE WHO NEED at 1:30 on October 19, 2004 at the Capitol Rotunda, in Harrisburg.

Hundreds of individuals waiting for services and their families will descend on the State Capitol to inform Governor Rendell that new funds are needed in the community MR system and that the Governor's budget proposal due in February 2005 MUST include the following:

Sufficient funds to end the "Emergency" Waiting List

sustain the community services already in place

The 2,102 on the "Emergency" Waiting List are desperately counting on our success. More than 20,230 people are waiting overall. The Mental Retardation community system received one 2% increase in three years. Community-based services are being starved.

Contact your Legislator and set up a meeting with them prior to the Rally. Thank them for passing the last budget which included funds to support 475 people on the Waiting List and for passing the 2% Cost of Living Adjustment. Ask them for their continued support to seek adequate funding and ask them also to encourage the Rendell Administration to fund this need.

Buses and vans will be available for the rally. General Information on the PA Waiting List Campaign 1-877-372-WAIT. Southwest Region, Barb Telhorster (The Arc of Indiana County) 1-724-349-8230. Thanks to the PA Self Advocates & Families United to End the Wait!

Analysis: Guard memo blunder raises questions about future of '60 Minutes,' Dan Rather and journalism

Analysis: journalism "The old mainstream media are not all that they once were in terms of being the gatekeepers,"...

We have no time to pat bloggers on the back.

[412] Phony Budgets and Current Events

Hi Friends and Neighbors,


The Mayor of Pittsburgh issued his PHONY budget today. Even the Post-Gazette
calls the budget "phony" in its online headline.

Your invite to react: http://Rauterkus.Blogspot.com

Genuine opposition to phony, pea-brained actions in Pittsburgh is needed.

Just as the rivers swelled and washed over too many friends and neighbors,
same too comes another flood of falsehoods with additional red ink. Today's
source of sludge that cripples Pittsburgh is neither heaven nor hell -- but
Grant Street.

The mayor and city council have fumbled their financial duties. To
complicate matters, oversight board members are bucking for the lone
gambling license and are moving out of the city.

Too much common ground is shared between certain media outlets and
politicians that thrive upon fear. Too many seem to thrive because of
special interests and the creation of divisions.

On a national front, another dark cloud is due to arrive with the
Presidential debates. The stage for the Presidential debates won't match the
choices on the November ballot.

Debate organizers and the networks want to deliver tight, easy 1-on-1
debates. Red states / blue states. They serve up sanitized, prepackaged food
for thought. As the watchdogs need watchdogs, I crave a democracy that is
deliberate and genuine. I want coverage, concepts and interactions that are
"raw."

Doom and gloom prevails. We are bogged down locally and nationally. We have
elected leaders who choose to break laws and act with phony intentions. They
should depart. If not on their own, then may the educated voters prevail.

In this quest for a smarter citizenship and raw thoughts, I'd love to
get your input and feedback at my blog, http://Rauterkus.Blogspot.com.

Visit. Read. Post when the spirit moves you. Comment on any of the
articles. Your idea contributions (ideas only) are most welcomed in these
times. This blog on 'current events' in Pittsburgh has more than 130
messages.

So join in. Let's vent together. And, on a final uplifting note, let's
sing together too. Save the date, get a babysitter -- Thursday, Oct 21,
2004. I'll be helping to host a voter education event and concert with one
of the best performer you'll ever hear! More news soon. And, catch the
details in advance at the blog, http://Rauterkus.Blogspot.com.




Ta.

Mark Rauterkus http://Play.CLOH.Org
xCoach at Rauterkus.com http://CLOH.Org http://Rauterkus.com
412-298-3432 = cell

Mayor submits budget with (phony) tax hike

PG coverage.

Expect Mayor Tom Murphy to use MONOPOLY money next. Then he can build "hotels" and "houses" out of green and red plastic.

"Let me be clear, I absolutely do not support this [property tax] provision, and I will not implement such an unfair increase on our residents and businesses," Murphy said in a prepared statement.

Murphy won't implement what he proposes. He should not propose it then.

What's phony isn't the budget. Rather, it is our mayor, the city's administration and our city's leadership. The phony Mayor is often out-paced by city council. Council should have held its own budget hearings already. Other cities have had legislative branches that have already completed the "budget process."

Releasing the annual operating budget this early is something new for the cash-strapped city, which is on track to run out of money in mid-December.

But, it isn't too early for Pittsburgh this year. And, other cities have completed their budget process already.

Lieberman called "NO PUBLIC SERVANT."

City Council President, Gene Ricciardi, ranted and asked Bill Lieberman to resign from the ICA (Oversight Board). In 14 years in governement, Gene has never asked anyone to resign.

Gene, I'm glad to have you on my side, finally. I asked for Lieberman's resignation in mid July, 2004.

Leaders need to lead. Gene should ask for Tom Murphy's resignation. Murphy is another road-block to recovery. We can all dream, but, as multiple resignations occur, we'd have a real trend. The sweeping tide might roll right over those on city council too.

Three Stoms Hit Florida, no joke

Click the image to go to the site and see a better image showing how the three storms hit Florida and the county by county breakdown of pink and blue results from 2000.
Being God's will doesn't wash with me, for the record. But, it worth a peek as some may think this way.

Barking up the wrong tree: Lynn Cullen and her radio guests

Open Debates | The Issue

The CPD (Commission on Presidential Debates) exists to decieve American voters in order to protect the major party candidates, and that deception unacceptably harms our democracy.

Want a unique way to get in depth on the presidential election coverage -- worthy goals for Evon, Dianna and Lynn. But, your hitching your wagon to the wrong horse. The debates are bogus as the ballot isn't on the stage.

Who wins the election and who gets to debate are not factors that should be equal. The debate isn't to pick the winner. The vote picks the winner. The debate is to frame the issues and the old parties do not have any monopoly on ideas.

The show of the debate would be much better if all the candidates were on the stage.

Back when Bob O'Connor was a candidate for Mayor, in 2001, I told him to NOT go into any debate with Tom Murphy without insisting upon the others who were on the ballot. Bob O'Connor got smashed in the debates. He went into the debates and Tom Murphy cleaned the floor with Bob's bumblings. Bob O'Connor didn't follow my advice. Bob O'Connor LOST the election.

Had Bob O'Connor gone into the debates with Josh (the young guy), LeRoy (the black guy) and Earl (the retired guy) -- then Bob would be our mayor now. In the Dem primary in 2001, there were five candidates on the ballot. But at least three debates were on TV with only Bob and Tom.

Shame too spreads to the local broadcasters: PCNC, WPXI, KDKA, and now Renda Broadcasting and PCNC. Campos.com

No steam for EMS again as agenda swirls in toilet

No deal to privatize city's EMS this year - PittsburghLIVE.com: "A proposal to save money by privatizing Pittsburgh's emergency medical services is not likely to be part of a five-year budget scheduled to be unveiled today. "

Merging EMS with the Firefighters was promoted as a "solution" by Tom Murphy and his Administration some years ago. When that failued, the next wish-upon-a-star promise from Mayor Murphy was a merger of EMS with the local hospitals. Both plans, as is the overall agenda of Mayor Tom Murphy, are stalled. He can't move an agenda forward.

On the hard issues, there is no hope with Tom Murphy as our mayor. The political capital in city hall is gone. Too much betrayal in the past is proviing too great a burden for the present.

"The timing is short. The hospitals themselves are not of one mind what to do. They don't know how to approach it," Lieberman said.

The timing on the EMS deal has been looming since the first re-election of Tom Murphy. Promises were made in the late 1990s that still smolder as burt bridges. The timing is long, not short. And it is not the duty of the hospitals to solve the city's mess. The hospitals are going to be guarded, thankfully, on any approach.

Jim Roberts, who heads the Act 47 recovery team, said ... the five-member board backs the idea... "We support the formation of an authority to run the EMS with the hospitals contributing the revenue for the operation," Roberts said.

Of course a non-elected oversight board member would endorse the creation of a new authority. But, all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to fix this.

Pittsburgh can begin to heal as soon as Tom Murphy leaves Grant Street.

"The hospitals are an attractive partner for us because they understand the job we do," said Jeff Vesci, president of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics.

The unsaid: The Mayor's office and the authority boards don't understand the role and vital mission of the professional paramedics. The mayor and the annointed are clueless when it comes to building complicated solutions.

PA Row Office Races Money Update

Grassroots PA
With six weeks to go, I find it strange that those with more money in the bank are given props as to being 'ahead.' If one is really putting forth the effort to win the election, then the cash on hand might be much closer to zero. On the other hand, folks like Jack Wagner are more interested in a career in politics. They want a "war chest" so other races can be waged. The idea for them is not to win the race and do something in that office. Rather that rules is self-preservation.

These row office politicians are more sizzle than steak. And, most of their real meat is parked in their wallets under their seat. Or, it is already put into the freezer.

Auditor General

Jack Wagner, of Pittsburgh, raised about $357,000 in cash and in-kind contributions and spent $161,600 in the period. He now has $387,200 on hand. Overall, Wagner has raised nearly $692,000 and spent $287,500 in the race.

Former Scranton police officer and federal prosecutor Joe Peters, raised $246,000 and spent $136,400 in the period, and now has almost $135,000 on hand. Peters has raised a total of $463,300 and spent $330,000 in the race.

Treasurer

Robert P. Casey Jr. raised $352,000 in cash and in-kind contributions in the period and spent nearly $124,000, and has about $528,700 on hand. Casey, who is the state's two-term auditor general, has raised $979,000 and spent more than $417,000 in the race.

Jean Craige Pepper, a financial consultant from Erie who has not run for public office before, raised $110,000 in cash and in-kind contributions in the period and spent about $83,400, and now has $34,400 on hand. All told, Pepper has raised about $269,000 and spent $240,000.

Parents, nonprofits stepping in to keep Pittsburgh facilities open (phillyBurbs.com)

(phillyBurbs.com)

Keeping Pittsburgh facilities open

by JUDY LIN, The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - Across the river from downtown Pittsburgh, Mark Rauterkus walks around his neighborhood and sees basketball courts in need of repaving, a swimming pool in need of water and an indoor ice rink in need of restoration.

Fed up with Pittsburgh's political leaders, ....

We are still making progress, so we dust off this blast from the past. Our first night of soccer at the Market House was a success. We could use a few more 10, 11 and 12 year old players however.

Next, the search begins for badminton players! Stay tuned.

Burgh not that drunk of a town

Survey coverage in PittsburghLive says, "They know how to handle their liquor. "

As a South Side resident, I'd dispute the degree of self-control displayed in Pittsburgh's late-night. Sure, we might not have as many alcoholics and lower 1/1000 rates of liver disease. Our D.U.I. rates are also down, but, I bet that is more of a factor of aggressive enforcement. But, many folks can drink and stumble home without getting behind the wheel, as we have bars closer to our homes.

Left out of discussions

PittsburghLIVE.com: "'We weren't even included in the discussions when decisions were made that will affect our ability to do our jobs,' King said following the meeting. 'They just want us to sit back and swallow what they give us...'

Councilman Len Bodack Jr., who chairs council's public safety committee, said he, too, has been left out of discussions about restructuring the fire bureau. "

Mayor Murphy does not play well with others.

Music fans will miss this place

PittsburghLIVE.com: "Unfortunately, the Rock and Roll Hotel has heard its last note, long before most Pittsburghers ever got a chance to visit."

This is so Pittsburgh. Write about it after its dead.

Mike, please don't wait until I'm dead to talk about the things I do and care about.

Suburbs melted into Ontario's 'Steeltown'

PG covers Ontario's 'Steeltown': "Government consolidation -- or what Canadians call 'amalgamation' -- took place in Hamilton in two stages spaced nearly 30 years apart. In 1974, the province of Ontario eliminated through mergers five of the 11 municipalities in the Hamilton area. Simultaneously, the province superimposed a new county-like government, called the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Council."

Fine. That's called "evolution." Pittsburgh needs to evolve. Pittsburgh does NOT need a massive jamming.

This is a serious but subtle problem with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's leadership has been stuck in self-service and can't and won't evolve with modest steps. To close schools, for instance, takes a massive upheaval. Rather, schools should be phased out over time and everything at everytime needs to be under constant evaluation. Rather than call for the elimination of seven or eight or nine row offices in one sweeping cut of the ax, let's close one office each year for the next five years. Row office reform was such a hot topic a year ago and both candidates (Dan O. and Jim R.) wanted some type of it. However, now is the time and it isn't getting done.

I don't want "metropolitanism." Rather, I want serious, measured, ongoing change that is calculated, managed, obvious and sets a trend to actions based on principles and common sense. Furthermore, everything is on the table at all times. The creativity needs to be in the mix at all juntions.

For example, the hoped for merger of EMS and the Firefighters didn't happen. People in the Mayor's office have been working on that for years and failed. Then then hope of getting the hospitals to pick up the EMS units is now the pathway of narrow-minded, agenda driven, top-down wish-for-the-sky approach. Folks, it isn't going to work.

All the king's horses and all the king's men can't put Humpty together again.

For example, think Fifth and Forbes. The Mayor's plan called for a massive re-do. His golden ticket was tied to "critical mass." Now it is time for us all to be critical of the mayor and his mass-appeal. He can't move along his agenda as he isn't creative. He is spent. He is an all-or-nothing bone head who can't manage day-to-day instances.

Finally, the media doesn't get it either. The PG is looking for that fountain of youth and award winning story. It is hard work to cover the ordinary done in exceptional ways.

Time, again, to kick-in at the Market House

We play today!

Our kids are going to be running around at the Market House again. We should be holding a ribbon cutting.

The Market House Childrens Athletic Association is about to resume programming after a year of no activities due to the lay-offs and closures by the Mayor.

Sign ups for the fall youth soccer program will be from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, Sept. 10 and from 10 to noon on Saturday, September 11.
The Market House is located on the South Side, at 12th Street, and Bingham Square, very near to East Carson Street, the main street through the South Side Flats.

The Market House youth soccer program, for both girls and boys, is slated for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for ten weeks. Times are 5 pm for ages 4, 5, and 6; 6 pm for ages 7, 8 and 9; and 7 pm for ages 10, 11 and 12. Charges are a $25 nonrefundable registration fee of $25 for the first child and $15 for each additional child. Additional info and scheduling will be provided at signups and in the first week of practice to follow.

The goal is to get up to 15 players on six teams in each age group --- and no more. Registration will be limited. Parents are needed as volunteers and coaches.

Hope to see you there.

The Pittsburgh Hip Hop Initiative's Education Series Presents:

Carnegie Mellon's University Lecture Series on Thursday, September 23. The lecture will take place at 6 p.m. in Rangos Auditorium"

Education Innovations, Inc. is searching for a volunteer artist

Assignment: Draw our vision for the proposed, uptown, NatureLAB space. The drawing for perspective sponsors, customers, and partners is to depict the 26,000 square-foot property with greenhouse, geodesic dome classroom, performance space, and working mini-farm. If interested, s.wilcox @ educationinnovations.org or call 412.363.7707.

Source: Salvador Wilcox, CEO, Education Innovations . Org
914 Heberton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Humor in big type

Today's chuckles in PG sports headlines:

Strictly for the birds (i.e., Baltimore Ravens)
Stuck in idle (@ The Bus)
Little elbow room (@ #7's elbow injury)
A heap of trouble (@ Todd Heap, #86 for the Ravens after getting pushed back after being injured the prior play)

ESPN.com - MLB - Neyer apologizes for anonymous book review

ESPN.com - MLB - Neyer apologizes for anonymous book review

Posting under a fake name and posting as anonymous are two different matters. I have no problem with you being a faceless coward and voice in the crowd, like a heckler. Shout and duck and be without a name. But, don't post and say you are who you are NOT.

On this blog, you can post without a name. But, don't post as "Joe Sixpack," when that isn't your real name, please.

Furthermore, some do have real "nicknames." Pen names can work, if you always go there.

local disaster

Bush declares local disaster - PittsburghLIVE.com: "'We'll get through this because we are all working together,' said Mayor Tom Murphy."

Mayor Murphy's statement about "working together" is such a joke as it comes on the day City Council is holding a POST AGENDA and the Mayor has refused to show up and has instructed others in the administration to NOT show up. Tom Murphy isn't working together when he doesn't respond and stops others from responding. This is his duty. The topic of the Sept. 20, 2004, post-agenda is, get this, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES.

We'll get through this in a much better way when Mayor Murphy shows up in the PRIVATE SECTOR. As mayor, he isn't working with others. Tom Murphy isn't showing up in city council chambers to discuss a ballot question that will be in front of voters in the city in a few short weeks.

Our shared landscape has a lot of boats parked within Point State Park at the moment. But the real local disaster is when Mayor Murphy is parked elsewhere when he should be before the citizens and city council on matters such as EMERGENCY Response Times.

Mayor Murphy is absent on the agenda again.

Bucs sweep double header

Shiver me timbers! The Pirates played the Mets at PNC Park in two games and swept them both. Too bad it wasn't through Sharpsburg and Millvale. Great Sunday for a game, for all 86 people in the stands.

Yard sign drop off

Some good soul, (unknown to me) delivered an Arlen Specter yard sign to our house this morning. Thanks.

I wonder if the sign came because I miss-spelled both of his names in a blog comment at some other site this past week. Woops. I don't claim to be a good speller. I'm way better as a re-write communicator. I always try to touch up my prose and typos. But, I can't re-visit and edit my postings on other sites.

The sign will sit in the office in easy view as penance. It won't go in my front window as I'm staying "neutral" in the elections (so far). I've got a few public roles to fill. From the podium one can't be too overboard in partisanship.

Flogged by the blogs

PittsburghLIVE.com: "As in all revolutions, first, the old order must be destroyed, then we will learn both the strengths and the shortcomings of the new order. We're now getting a glimpse of the Internet bloggers' strength."

The eiditorial is about Dan Rather by an out-of-town writer. Perhaps that same headline will ring true when it comes to Mayor Tom Murphy and his administration. Time will tell.

He Said She Said

Union bosses attack official on Act 47 plan: "Marlene Lamanna at a news conference yesterday -- said Lieberman also told them to lobby against the recovery plan."

What the heck is going on here? Generally I'm in the know. Generally I have a sense of what's about to happen before it is ever reported (as far as city politics). I'm not bragging, but more so discounting what get reported.

But, from time to time, as this is, I find a real head scratcher.

Bill Lieberman is on the ICA (oversight board). For starters, Lieberman should resign. Isn't he the one who wants to be a player in a new gambling venture in the city? For even thinking about the play for the lone license -- I sense a real conflict of interest. His conflict occurs in the gamble to get the gambling permit -- not after hitting the jackpot.

Next, he's puffing up the ICA (oversight board) and taking the air out of the Act 47 Recovery Team. Right? Is this just a selfish power play? Is this just a deal where more power can be secured by helping the enemy of an enemy?

But, why in the hell does any enemy exist? Just to undercut?

And, why are we only seeing about this comment in the PG now? Because of the press event? And, what did the other union officials say about what got said. Is the crossing guard union president being left out in the wind and rain by Rossi and Vesci and who knows who else.

PA Aspen and how to land on your wallet at the slopes

Bank takes control of Laurel Mountain ski lodge: "We have some very interested parties lined up,' said Somerset Trust Vice President Lee Murdy."

We can (as does the State) sell management rights to facilities and keep on top of the contractors for the sake of the public good.

The closed indoor ice rink on the South Side that was once operated by a contractor -- but there was NO oversight from the city, sadly.

Welcome Cornhuskers

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Three cheers to the good people of Nebraska for taking Steve P off our our hands. He is your Athletic Director now. You sent him to us, and I'm glad we could send him back. Sorry, an 'at.

Enjoy your stay.

Pitt's campus, should you care, is in a part of town called Oakland. That's where you'll find the acadmic buildings, the medical centers, a wonderful cultural hub and the old as dirt Cathedral Of Learning -- the landmark building for education.

The Cathedral of Learning, Pitt's visual showcase, was built some time ago -- just about the time of the once great Pitt Stadium. When Steve was in town he did all he could to put the wrecking ball to the grand old venue called Pitt Stadium. He ripped it from our landscape before a lease to use Heinz Field was even crafted.

Pitt should be playing Nebraska at Heinz Field. But, the band should hold its practices, the track team should hold its meets, the intramural games could occur, and the injured athletes could get their rehab at Pitt Stadium too.

Point being: If my neighbor offers me the use of his new motor home for our family summer vacation each year -- great. I don't need to get rid of the family station wagon for the other 355 days a year.

We are doing the same foolishness with the talk of the Penguins arena. They want a new home for NHL hockey, should it ever resume again. Fine. Mario can build a new home without destroying the existing Civic Arena. Then we could host a city-league or PIAA championship basketball game in town and have a NHL game on the same date.

Steve's failed lesson: 1 + 1 = 2
But, he's in good company as Mario and others around here can't seem to grapple with that as well.

We churn. We even got two new stadiums (PNC Park + Heinz Field) but lost 3RS and it had a $50-million mortgage still outstanding.

Hope he doesn't bring Nebraska more of the same.

And, how did that loss at home to a non-confrence foe feel last week?