How do you spell relief?

You're going to put that where? - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Given our intense civic pride, we would never suggest that some of the more rundown parts of Downtown Pittsburgh resemble a disaster area.

But we had to chuckle when the head of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership recently resigned her post to run -- get this -- a disaster relief organization.

Mariann Geyer left her job with the partnership last month to journey out west to Utah, where she will head the Greater Salt Lake chapter of the American Red Cross.

During her more than two years on the job, Geyer watched as Mayor Murphy and other city officials failed to jump-start redevelopment in the dilapidated Fifth-Forbes corridor. She also watched as two highly touted projects expected to spur further Downtown revitalization -- new Lazarus and Lord & Taylor department stores -- went out of business.

Given the decrepit state of a good chunk of Downtown real estate, we have to wonder if Geyer's resume touted her time with the partnership as disaster leadership experience.

Another bites the dust.

Flow of emails to my wife after national ink in magazine feature

The magazine, REAL SIMPLE, subtitle: life/home/body/soul, interviewed my wife some months ago. This is a newstand magazine, glossy, NY offices, on 'simplicity' that is a shooting star as Martha's operation has floundered. See the February 2005 issue. The cover has The (no-diet) diet: healthy, easy, delicious.

The article ran and it generated 30 emails in one day from girl friends, former students and others who saw the quotes and dropped her a note. Interesting to learn who's reading what.

This is about wellness, an area within the Platform.For-Pgh.Org.

Top feature, Save it, pal!, page 35. The good things in life don't lanst forever. Strategies for consering gas, an open bottle of wine, your hearing, and more. Quarter page sections on face, wine, your soles, your brain, your ears, gas, room for dessert, a seat at a movie theater, email, the ozone layer.

Your Ears
Listen up. "the sooner you start paying attention to your ears, the longer you'll be without a hearing aid," says Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., director of the Audiology and Hearing Aid Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The key is avoiding loud noises. The burst of a nearby firecrack or prolonged exposure at a rock concert can cause permanent damage that adds up. "If you can't be heard easily by someone inthe room, or if you have decent earphones and people around you hear your music, it's too loud," says Palmer. So lower the volume (if a song's just too good to sush, turn the bass up and the treble down), and invest in good earplugs. The best ones, the custom-fitmusicians' type (sold at music stores and Etymotic Research, www.etymoticresearch.com), block out up to 25 decibels, bringing a 110-decible concert down to a safe -- for three hours, anyway -- 85. For unexpected blasts, you have two options: namely, your index fingers, which can shut out 15 20 20 decibels.

Our good friend, Mead Killion., founder and driving force to Chicago-based Etymotic, (link above), is a mentor and professor of Catherine. Mead has been to Pittsburgh a few times and takes credit for introducing the two of us while we both lived in Evanston. (Another story) Mead came to Pittsburgh to speak at the grand opening of the MUSICIANS' Hearing Clinic a few years ago.

Funny side-bar about ink like this. Catherine often can't win as this time the UPMC connection was made and that doesn't please her bosses on the academic side at Pitt's School of Health and Rehab Sciences. And, at other times it goes to the other department. She's got two jobs. More than enough for both of us.

This time the academic chair, Dr. McNeil, might give Catherine a free pass. He was just in China on some tour and went to Chengdu for a day. Catherine has a godess like stature and reputation in that part of the world -- and he now knows all about it. It is great to be praised so far from home and have others find out first-hand. We still need to meet to talk and de-brief about his trip -- and I hope that is soon. Had I known he was going to be Chengdu, I would have had him bring me back some more badminton equipment.

By the way, if anyone here is headed to Chengdo, let me know. I have an assignment for you. Simple really.

Get yours on news stands today!

The last time a good friend had ink in a national newstand magazine, I didn't get a copy. Marilyn Davis, Ph.D., prime organizer of eVote, http://evote.blogspot.com, was part of a cover story on voting technology and discussion groups, including blogs, in Linux Journal.

As I post on a Sunday afternoon, Catherine is back from her DC trip yesterday and is at DePaul giving a talk to parents of babies that have been identified with some issues with their hearing. While in DC, (some exciting news yet to be shared on that), a few of Catherine's fellow board members and staffers at the national organziation had remarked that they had seen my news on the national LP.Org web site. A couple of weeks ago I was on the front page of the Libertarian site, which goes into their magazine too.

So, from time to time, the news flows back and forth as we both are sources.

I'm sorta waiting for an article to run in the AP about Pittsburgh by Allison S. I gave a longer interview just last week on our city and its decline. Perhaps my mentions will be included in that story. If AP editors feels a similar story ran recently, perhaps she'll post it to her blog. (hint, hint)

An educational reporter from the Trib couldn't connect with me this past week. She was writting about a possible switch of time to the school day for Pgh Public Schools. I called her a handful of times but we still have not connected.

Mayoral candidates turn on, tune in

E. Heyl on PittsburghLIVE.com: "Some could accuse me of trivializing the nascent mayor's race by asking such a seemingly irrelevant and ridiculous question.

I would respond that given the restrictions now placed on the position, thanks to a dozen years of Murphy's bungling, his successor will require more than significant vision.

The new mayor also will need a significant fondness for television.

Makes no sense to waste the breath or even the recycled electrons to accuse Eric Heyl of trivializing, except to point out that I wasn't called to get MY opinions. How ironic.

Eric, feel free to call anytime, 412-298-3432.

Since the question has been asked, my reply is "Lassie." Talked about the dog in a recent post. Show was good family excitement, kid centric, inspiring, injected powers of the natural / organic nature, not some ghosts from some twilight zone.

I do like to eat big bowls of cereal and swimming pools, but that isn't enough to endear me to the Beverly Hillbillies.

As for the parades, it won't be long until the overlords nuke them from our civic landscape too. They might need to do so as the roads are just too dangerous to walk as a parade route. Potholes kill! You know, Pittsburgh only has enough money to repave four miles of roads for 2005. Our infrastructure needs more than a band-aid.

Other tv favorites, old re-runs of City Council on tape. Those were the days. Would be nice to reflect upon the old old days. I like the episode from 2003 when council approved the $250,000 for hanging plants. The tension mounted as the next week the citizens were urged to beg to Harrisburg as there wasn't any money.

Another older tv favorite of mine: The Art of News. I helped with that show. It ran on PCTV. In one episode I play an actor about dog-fighting in Fox Chapel. Funny stuff.

Computer Programming Contest at Blackhawk HS

Computer Programming Contest

Do you know of other events like this? It fits into the mission of the Youth Technology Summit, http://Summit.CLOH.Org

While at Blackhawk HS for a swim club meet, (we won), I noted a number of badminton standards and nets. Competition!

The Varsity coach at Blackhawk is a former OSU Swimmer. Great conversation about the olden days of the sport in this region and nationally. His freshmen team knocked off Spitz' I.U. squad. And, he went to Doc's house in Bloomington on a recruiting trip.

Best urban red-state writting I've seen in a long time -- once you exclude my rants

Visited a blog site and saw a document called a manifesto the other day. Weird names. 3 rivers infidel

So good, it looks too good.

I posted a few comments there as to the author(s). It is faceless blog. Hope the meet the author -- or see the author de-cloaked. This isn't some "draft bill silly puddy."

But then, poof! The interesting remarks are nuked. Gone. Dust on the information super highway.

Inspector would say, "very interesting."

Within my comments, I asked the author to give me a call. Sadly, some dozens of hours later, my phone, 412-298-3432, has not rung.

A number of hunches were hinted at in my posting on the comments. Some of my guesses, if we're playing to 20, wrote back to confirm they are NOT reponsible. If the game is 20 questions, not 20 guesses, then my first is to wonder if the content was the handiwork of a firm rather than an individual.

Anyone have any idea what I'm wondering about? Anyone have any insights?

Bloggers' White Out
White out came in a little jar with a paint brush and you'd dab a bit on the paper while in the roll of the typewritter to touch up typos en at. Today, we've got delete buttons.

A friend of mine wrote to me saying:

I read it but the Republican biases were too strong for me to agree with their analysis. It reads like most of the right-winged rhetoric that
Karl Rowe uses to justify faulty or false data. Without a doubt the
Democratic leadership can be faulted for not fixing the problems, but
they can not be blamed for creating the problems. Our problem have more
to do with the fall of large employers who had large payrolls before the
electronic aged took over; and the reality that industries need fewer
workers as well as the decline of what those industries were producing.
I do not belief the Republicans would have done much worst. From their
positions they would have assured that those who had got more, while
those with less got less.

DFA blog also mentioned the posting as Ben saw it too.

So, that's two against, and both are solid in blue-state camp.

South Side's getting hit with several violent robberies

Bad news. But, the good news comes as things are being done. The police are on their toes, I guess. And, the community is getting better organized.

A town hall meeting is to be held at City Theater on 7 pm on Tuesday, January 11 at City Theater.

City Theater is at 1300 Bingham Street. The topic will be crime prevention through cooperation between businesses, neighborhood oranizations and police.

Sponsors include the South Side Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the LDC and Zone 3 Police, City Theater and our City Council President, Gene R.

Dog suggesions from a dog kinda guy who owns a cat

Boggers are good for pet talk and cat photos. I should do more along these topics. So, here goes a letter just sent. Fellow is thinking of getting a dog for his family. They live in Little Boston.

Consider a collie -- like Lassie. Great with kids. Gentle but puts up a great game with you and can run and swim well too.

My dog was 3/4 collie and 1/4 St. Bernard. He came to me in college and would swim while I windsurfed. (Woops, as a candidate I don't want to get that windsurfer image out into the voters minds. :)

He would also run along the sidewalks as I biked. And, he was great while I was a swim coach. He'd circle the swim pool, (hearding instincts), while the kids swam practices (weekends only when no others from the public would be at the pool). Then when a kid would get out for a drink or a bathroom break -- my dog would follow the kid and watch and protect. Great way to motivate the kids to get back into the swim pool to rejoin the team at practice.

My swimmers / teams always work hard for for themselves with me as their coach -- the dog story is very effective to prove the point on the dog breed choice.

If I didn't live in the city -- no yard -- we'd be getting a dog too. Plus, we travel a bit too much for a dog or puppy now.

And, our cat is 16 years old.

Next, any tips on dealing with a cat that is going senile? She's started crying in the middle of day or night -- sorta like she is lost. Not good for sleep.

Finally, I'm a dog guy. That needs to get out there just in case I run against the guy who sells the dog licenses. :)

Diocese of Pittsburgh hosts Santorum for faithful citizenship

Diocese of Pittsburgh Press Release

U.S. SENATOR RICK SANTORUM SPEAKS ON FAITH AND POLITICAL LIFE AT LECTURE SERIES AT SAINT PAUL SEMINARY TUESDAY, JANUARY 11

PITTSBURGH – United States Senator Rick Santorum (R) PA, begins the winter 2005 segment of the annual adult lecture series sponsored by the Secretariat for Education, Diocese of Pittsburgh, with a lecture titled “Taking the Heat.” The talk will be given at Saint Paul Seminary Auditorium, 2900 Noblestown Road, Crafton, at 7:30 p.m. The theme of the lecture series is “Faithful Citizenship.” Lectures are open to the public and there is no admission fee.

A future speaker is Dan Onorato.

Draft Swann opens

draftswann@yahoo.com


SUBJECT: I really want to talk to Mr. Swann

TEXT: Hi, I ran for Mayor, 2001, City of Pgh in a contested GOP Primary. I'm running for public office again in 2005. I really would like to speak to Mr. Swann. Can you have him call me on my cell: 412-298-3432. Mark Rauterkus mark@Rauterkus.com http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

I was visitor 31, 34 and 36 at http://www.geocities.com/draftswann/.

Allegheny Conference spends $.5M on 300 pg plan that calls for more plans.

KQV Radio pointed out that the long awaited sewer study is out. It was sponsored by the Allegheny Conference. The 300 page docuement calls for more study. It cost half a million dollars.

Flush. Out of sight. Out of mind.

I suggest a new logo for the conference: It can incorporate an outline of the statue of "The thinker" -- you know the one with the guy who is sitting on a toilet.

My campaign tune, "Think Again," catches me some kind jabs when others say that the message that fits isn't to ask our present politicians to think again. Ask them if they have "Thought at all."

Theme: Change --- comes up again and again.

Mark Desantis / Politics of reality is path to needed changes Most of my friends in Pittsburgh believe everyone else here hates change. I used to think that too, but now I'm not so sure. I think Pittsburghers view change no differently than anyone else: a large percentage fear and therefore oppose it; an even larger percentage are ambivalent about it; and a very, very small percentage embrace it. What perhaps sets Pitts- burghers apart from the rest of the world is that most of the important, local changes have been bad, in some cases very bad.

Pittsburghers hate boneheaded changes. Pittsburghers hate change for the sake of change. That's called churning. And, Pittsburghers hate boosterism for change, hype about change, falsehoods about change.

The City's Finance Director resigned. Her resignation statement was about how Pittsburgh now has a fair and equitable tax structure is a great example. We hate the lies.

Mark D sees three change areas that begin with a complete restructuring of city government; he's hopeful about the possibilities.

Mark D writes of row office reform; he's an unabashed supporter.

Mark D and city-county consolidation; and he is currently ambivalent.

Personally, I favor a complete change within city governement in terms of the people at the helm and the the priorities of those who are going to lead. But, to call this a change in structure isn't prudent. I'd rather evolve the structural changes. But, let's make a radical switch among the elected leadership.

Personally, as to row office reform, sure. But that isn't a big deal. Ten to four, that is but a yawn to real change agents. But, that's okay too.

With the city-county consolidation -- Mark D and myself are together. I'm ambivalent too. We can't consolidate the city into the county as the city is too sick at present to allow for a great consolidation.

Thanks for asking where I stand. We do need to stare into the eyes of the Herculean task of creating an integrated, clear, and compelling picture of a whole new reality of our community. --- err ---- holistic new reality.

My personal "gut check" comes in the form of a NEW PITTSBURGH Park District. Others are going to be happy to visit that mission too, soon, in earnest. That is a win, win, win situation. Gut-check and volunteerism is bold when it comes to our kids. Plus, the New Pittsburgh Park District isn't about just saving money.

Changes like these are even more than they appear to be. If you advocate a complete restructuring of your government, which is what each of these changes represents, shoving a simplistic cost/benefit calculation in front of the community and expecting them to embrace it is at best naive. Whatever you may think of your local government, these institutions are embedded in the culture of the region; and simply advocating "cutting them out" without replacing them with a new reality of our community opens up a culture and political war that the change agents will lose. And that brings us to the messy piece of business about change.

Some people in positions or formal authority or influence will never get with the (change) program. The staunchest of them must be swept aside. Let's face it: No amount of effort, compromise or bargaining will bring them along.

Speak about a Pittsburgh that is better than anything we've known to date.

Pittsburgh doesn't need a 'populist' mayor - PittsburghLIVE.com

Pittsburgh doesn't need a 'populist' mayor - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Let's elect a 'populist,' by jove!

Not so fast. For we must first take stock of what a 'populist' really is."

On many fronts, I'm a populist. My platform logo, "We, the people" is textbook along these lines.

But, as Colin McN knows, we don't need a lover boy. At another site, there is an expression, "Everyone loves Bill." Right. I don't. And, its a darn good thing I don't love him. But that handle is going to be foreign to the descriptions of myself.

We need and I deliver what is generally called, "Tough love." Perhaps this is my coaching background. Perhaps it is my binary computer background. Perhaps it is my parenting background. Perhaps it is my holistic approach.

I've picked fights with the Trib. When the Pgh Biz Times got it wrong, I visited their office. The later fixed their untruths by zapping history re-writes from the web site. The former still is AWOL. Same too for others in the public light. I give props and give jabs as a loyal, civil player should. You'll get praise and critique from me, honestly. And, we all learn to build respect and live for another day.

... conservatives and libertarians want the government to leave Mr. and Mrs. Public alone. ... Modern-day liberals, socialists, progressives -- "new populists" -- want government to "save" them. My stance is as a Libertarian -- wanting government to leave us alone.

As in a person with a good, if not self-deprecating, personality and good social skills who understands we all have a stake in the future of the city -- sure. But we certainly cannot afford a "populist" in the historical sense. The public molestation in the name of the "public good" has gone on long enough. Many wounds remain open. The scars are deep. The carnage is widespread. The pockets remain turned out; the purse, pilfered.

Thus, we don't need a new mayor who has a degree in "urban design studies," "government dynamics," "progressive public policy" or some other fancy-schmancy elitist degree who thinks he can circumvent the fundamental laws of economics.

Amen Brother Colin!

The line, "PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS" --- like music. Said it often myself.

Homespun Bloggers Question, family vacations

What was your favorite family vacation (when you were a kid), and why? If you have children, have you taken your kids on that same vacation? If so, what did they think of it?

Our best trips were with cousins. As a family we had a drive from Pittsburgh to New York for a wedding of an older cousin. The NY clan moved out of our home town. They talked funny. Yet we all were family.

Another time was to the N.J. beach and a stay for a week at a campground, again with pseudo-cousins. Our family went with another family, and we called their dad Uncle Jack.

We didn't get out much. Hardly at all when contrasted to the travels of my family with our kids. As I type, my wife is in DC for her professional board meeting. We'll be back there in the spring for nearly a week, staying in a suite. My kids have been to China, Canada, Wyoming, California, Maine -- all in the same year. I took my first airplane trip after I graduated from high school.

Hockey's Lockout isn't only for NHL. It stretches to city kids still and again.

One of my nagging pet projects is the now closed, indoor ice rink. It's the only indoor facility in the city. it could be opened without costing the city a dime. So, real hockey isn't being played in the city, still. We've got teams and players too.

Another type of hockey we've played is indoor at the Market House. The season should start NOW. But, we're in the dark again, still.

Here is my letter to my city council member, Gene R., and city council's chair of Parks & Rec, Jim M. Just for added spice, I'm sending the email to Dan O, ACE. He's spoke at an event I hosted and talked about the rec center situation.

Guys -- we're hungry for info on the city REC stuff and the MARKET HOUSE


Hi Gene and Jim,

This is more of a personal plea of help.

The Market House on the South Side is a rec center that isn't slated to open. But, we need to get some answers as to what's what. Are the leases being changed? Are the nights available? Can the activities come under the city's insurance again?

In the fall, a handful of workers busted themselves to open the Market House for recreational use by the kids. We played indoor soccer 3 days a week. Kids 4,5,6, and 7,8,9 and 10,11,12 had a fun season. This was run by PARENT VOLUNTEERS without CITY staffers. We had the keys to the building, clean-up duties, supplied our own toilet paper. We payed a fee per hour of use. The
Association had to have its own insurance.

The kids got shirts and fund raised and our fees went up a significant amount.

But, we want to play INDOOR HOCKEY in the gym (wearing sneakers, masks, etc) in January.

As Ormbsy opens and as Phillips opens, perhaps???, then the kids might go over there. What programs are they running?

The one guy who works as our PRESIDENT is a city policeman. Another works for the city EMS. You know I've been around the block on this too over time.

Plus, we know that there are bigger things to deal with -- like the crazy taxing structure for the $52 fee. But, our kids can't wait.

We just want to do what is right and good for the kids.

The BIG LEAGUE group is gone now too. But, the rub is that the volunteers want and try to make things function, but we can't get the right insight and info from the City and those on Grant Street.

Can we run the hockey program at the Market House? Can the terms be just like they were in the fall?

My cell: 412-298-3432.

This is a GREAT example as to why we need to:

1. Form a NEW Pittsburgh Park District so we can have control of our own facilities and not be wrapped up in all the other headaches you've got to deal with on Grant Street with city government.

2. Force Tom Murphy to resign NOW. (I can still dream.)

3. Jim, if you want to call for a city-wide PARKS summit in the next few weeks, to air out what's what and what is going to happen -- let's do it. I'll organize it. Let's gather at a church or at the Market House itself. Let's get all the boosters to gather. Let's not do the same train wreck as
occurred with an AQUATICS Task Force. Jim, as chair of Parks & Rec, we crave that stand-up leadership and partnering in the community.

I understand that everyone is putting out fires and it has to be busy for you all. Reply as you can and are able. Let me know if and HOW I can help to instigate and agitate.

Idealist.org: Career Fair: Pittsburgh

Nice event always. Nonprofit folks should try to attend. This isn't for community development in terms of how Mayor Murphy looks at it as MAYOR. No worry about building facades here. Rahter as he looks at it with a Peace Corps mission. Perhaps he'll dust off his resume and come to scope out the job market. Idealist.org: Career Fair: at DU
Pittsburgh, Tue Mar 1 2005

The Idealist.org Pittsburgh Nonprofit Career Fair is generously hosted by Duquesne University Career Services and the Duquesne University Nonprofit Leadership Institute.

Students and alumni/ae from 43 colleges and universities in Western Pennsylvania are invited to attend this event as is the general public in Western PA.

The career fair will consist of: An informal networking period for nonprofit recruiters and representatives from local colleges and university Offices of Career Services.

The fair itself, where job seekers can distribute resumes and speak with organizational representatives about current and future employment and internship opportunities.

A series of information sessions offering free career advice to nonprofit job seekers.

Thanks to Maria Lupinacci for photos from gathering. Making points about change.

What was said, is still be be posted. But how I looked as I said it is here. Click the image for a larger view and to get a look of the intent listening on that second photo.

The meeting was upstairs at Marios on the South Side, just a few blocks from our office. There was standing room only -- as I'd say 55 were there.



Photos by Maria Lupinacci.

I wasn't the top bill -- as Bill and Mike were. I just got to close out the presentations with a few minutes to highlight some past questions (one was on land value tax), to introduce myself and the campaign to come, and to call notice that I'd post at my blog more insights.

Statement to County Council at the public hearing on a TIF for Deer Creek

I live in the city and county. I have a home on the internet too.

I'm against the TIF. I'm sure you'll hear a number of good reasons why from some of the others.

But tonight, on a rainy January evening, it would be great if we had this meeting put on governement telivsion. It would be great to have the speakers recorded and put on the internet. I'd love to stay at home and watch what the others say. Or, be out at swim practice with my kids or even going to a Pitt basketball game. The county could do more to open up the meetings for access of information at other times.

FYI: County council didn't support the idea of putting together a deal to save the city's cable tv department in December 2004. The county council meetings are not telivised. They should be. The members on council knew of the point I made.

FYI 2: I worked a bit of guesswork on the line-up for the speakers. I called to get my slot in the middle of the agenda as I knew of the swim practice time crunch. But, when I rushed to Grant Street, the doors to the building were locked. Then after opening, the scanner equipment was shut down. I rused to the meeting and slipped to the podium just two speakers out of order. Thanks John M and Wayne F (chair) for that extra lattitude.

I'm against the TIF as I want to see the Free Market work. And, TIFs are proven to be failures locally. Lord & Taylor and Lazarus are closed.

As a candidate for PA Senate, I'll work to go to Harrisburg and try to amend the TIF laws to prevent such deals from happening. Perhaps we can rewrite state law or just make it more clear as to what should occur.

FYI 3: This TIF isn't legal under state law. The law was made to allow TIFs for the sake of urban areas and blight. This proposed deal isn't urban and it isn't blighted in the slightest. Other speakers at the hearing drove home those points much better than myself.

If we don't change the state law, perhaps it makes good sense to issue a 10-year moratorium on all TIFs in Western Pennsylvania.

When I ran for Mayor of Pittsburgh in 2001, one of my big points that was very well received was the call for the elimination of all TIFs. I expect you'll be hearing more and more of these concepts. The people like that approach.

FYI 4: The speakers are given five minutes in County Council. I took less than two minutes.

FYI 5: I was suprised to see the number of people in the audience who were in favor of the TIF. They had signs. Someone mentioned to me that they were Walmart shoppers. After me the Texas developer of the project spoke. He was vilainized by some others.

FYI 6: Mr. Liller spoke on behalf of the poor people of the region who are getting screwed by this deal. (His words) Mr. L is always colorful. He talked about the lack of any black faces in the entire room, the union busting, the poor. Then a guy in favor of the TIF became a little heckler while Mr. L had the microphone at the podium. Bad idea. Rude too. "Stay on the topic," was shouted. Mr. L turned and said, "I am on the topic." He rattled off the three or four points he made -- all very reasonable to me in terms of the target of the discussion. Then he called anyone else to prove him wrong. Silence.

FYI 7: One other gentleman on my side, really I'm on his side, spoke well of the typical frustrations. The public hearing wasn't called with a public announcement. The public hearing was rushed onto the agenda without the plan being available. Some sections of the plan are still missing as the public hearing unfolded. The ones in power used a lot of the tricks in the book. Council members were even in and out of the meeting, talking in the hallway, working angles and advising supporters throughout.

Southwest flies into town without a nickle from a subsidy

Folks, these ideas work! Give nothing away, and we get the best possible outcomes.

I think we should end all corporate welfare. Once we end corporate welfare locally, and, once we are proven to do so -- then we'll begin to thrive.

These statements are not new to me. I've been harping on these matters since I began making public statements about public matters. These views are part of my bedrock, without doubt.

What is new to the conversation today is the fact that this approach I've been stressing for some time is being proven to work in the real world with real outcomes that we can all visualize. Before, these concepts were foreign, sadly. Now they are taking root. Let me explain in a rather long post.

We must end all TIFs. We must end all corporate welfare. We must end all boondogles. We can't spend money we don't have. We can't miss-spend the money we can muster in prudent ways.

Those who have lived on handouts are going to wilt. But, they are fly-by-night hucksters. Let them wilt. Let them close.

Those who don't want handouts will arrive and thrive. The marketplace gets a comeback to health. We'll get real prosperity and those who know how to make it here in Pittsburgh again. Some know how to judge the landscape and see how Pittsburgh's process has fouled up and even punishes the wealth builders.

We've been in one rut after another. We need to get out and "level the field." But, to do that, we do nothing by design. And, we put our intentions out in the public for all to see, know and understand.

I've been speaking harshly about corporate welfare for years. Those that have been part of the games in the past can't stand up and change their tunes now and have it carry any weight.

Trust the markets. Trust our own willingness and ambitions. Trust our inventiveness in building based on our own values, without the crutches of handouts or the need to get funny money from some development deal. To do it and be clean of extra burdens is so rewarding. And, to compete in the market and not need to bid against others who are living rent free is unjust.

When handouts are made, someone benefits at the expense of the others. And, we all pay for the handout by getting poorer products and higher taxes. That is privildege that nets us lower outcomes.

When the system is full of poisons and give-a-ways and bogus dealings -- those who want to make honest industry and honest services and quality goods pack their bags and go elsewhere. Not only do we pay for the higher taxes, get less in return -- but we drive away the bulk of the masses who want to be straight.

Most people expect the courts, the leadership, the deals from the government sector to be straight, open, honest, transparent, easily understood and accessible. When Pittsburgh's wacky weenies churn, blow smoke, inject fear, and over hype with miss-placed priorities, its noticed. People see what's going on. Note to self, "GET OUT OF TOWN." Humm, ... Austin, St. Paul, Tuscon, Chapel Hill, and other places look good next to our disjointed fussing of the managed decline and downward spirals.

When things are seen to be unfair, then people vote with their feet. People leave.

More people left Pittsburgh since Tom Murphy was Mayor than voted for him to continue being our mayor.

The population decline from the past 4 years isn't about the loss of the steel industry. That slip was news in the 1970s.

People vote with their feet. And, that voting can be away from Pittsburgh. But, what is the upside, that vote can be to Pittsburgh as well.

If we clean up, if we change, if we put new people in place, if we validate new priorities, if we hold honest and robust elections with campaigns among people, if we are open minded, if we don't do bone-headed deals, if we are prudent with governmental funds, if we make sure every person and opinion is valued, if we are inclusive, if we are principled, if we have tough-love and live that talk daily ---- THEN WE'LL FLOURISH.

We gotta want it. We gotta express it. We gotta make it happen. And, we have to go out of our way to mend, heal, and set straight the crooked. We need whistleblowers. We need to challenge ourselves and our friends and our loyal opposition.

This isn't the time to be silent and let the staus quo persist. This is change.

I want a holistic approach. That isn't about doing WHOLE deals (like taking over the entire 10-block area of Fifth and Forbes). We got the WHOLE ball of wax with two stadiums and a convention center. Except, we didn't get the hotel. We didn't get the whole package in the end as we have a big HOLE in the budget to maintain these facilities. They are about HOLES and WHOLES. I'm about being holistic, being organic, being faithful to the marketplace trends and civic duties. I'm about balance and power with the voters and people. They are about development companies, unelected boards, commissions without accountability, corporate welfare, back-room dealings.

When we have US Airways -- we've got to build them the airport they spec. We've got to give them lots of tax breaks. We've got to beg them to stay in town for ticketing, or for the new airport hanger, or whatever -- we are begging. You can't beg and prosper. Why should the taxpayers build a new hangar for US Airways? They need it, they should build it.

When we have US Airways and the capacity to make give-a-ways, we don't get Southwest. Look at what has happened with Jet Blue or others who have tried to enter the marketplace. An upstart arrives and charges much less for tickets to Florida. Bang. US Airways drops its prices and matches the fare. That's fair.

The University of Pittsburgh, meanwhile, and other corporate operations too, should choose to fly with the upstart. But, they didn't. The one's with power here insisted that they keep using the others who are here and contain the power and transactions.

When the new airlines came -- and have since gone -- (voting with feet) -- Pitt and others prohibited their people (ha) from booking tickets with the upstarts.

I'm an upstart too. Do you think the media powers or the Pennsylvania Economy League is going to be willing to put me on the air for a debate on issues? Think Again!

You've read this far -- give it a whirl. Let's have a new TV advertiser -- Southwest -- tell the station managers that it wants to see candidate debates on the air this spring. And, ask the PENNSYLVANIA ECONOMY LEAGUE to moderate the event. Ask the Airport Area Chamber of Commerce when its going to hold a forum for candidates for PA Senate. WQED should be doing more. Are those events being booked for Feb, March, April?

We'll flourish again as Pittsburgh and this region cleans up the market place.

Finally, I spoke to a group in December and the question came from the audience. "Mark, what are you going to do about US Airways and the airport?" Yes, that is part of the PA Senate District. Yes, there has been a great deal of hardship and heart wrentching times for many in this saga. Someone close to me in my family works with the company. As I type this blog entry, my wife is boarding a plane and headed to DC for a few days for meetings. We use the airport often, as travelers. I feel the pain. But, here is the answer to the question, "nothing."

I'll rush to the situations, listen, interact, understand the issues. I'll also be there with a different set of priorities and goals.

How can we make sure that the de-icers don't cause pollution and toxic run-offs?

How can we make sure that our existing capacities and capabilities are understood throughout the industry and with the passengers so the black-eyes of lost bags at Christmas in Phili wouldn't dare happen in Pittsburgh. Our workforce and intra building controls are different. We can't discount our care to serve as neighbors and workers. We'll rest peaceful at night knowing the jobs are being done well with pride -- because we are solid with honesty and a work ethic that isn't easily duplicated elsewhere.

How can we eliminate some of the County Police overtime?

Let's lighten up when you're diving around the circle and knuckle down when you go through security. There is a time and place for everything. I don't want a boot up someone's pants for giving a hug and hand to Aunt Mable as she gets to the car.

Maglev to the airport -- no thanks.

Development of the sprawling land around the airport as a priority, no thanks. Its okay to sell that land. Allow for developers to buy and build. The owners have property rights. But, I'm not going to push TIFs and subsidized development. And, I'd even work to end that bad habit.

Finally, let it be know that we are in a crisis. Let it be known nationally that our mayor and others are leaving their posts because their agenda of give-a-ways has been proven to fail. Let's broadcast our misery and our hunger for change. Old habits die hard. But, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

The the annointed stumble and fall -- there will be a lot of thunder. That's great. Everyone will notice the bumbling, fumbling, un-coordinated, unprincipled contrasts.

As we think again, we'll come to discover great victories -- such as Southwest's arrival. We'll change the philosophy. We'll get a different NORTH STAR as a way to navigate and problem solve.

That's the news and rebirth for our region. That's the kind of place others want to embrace. When we send the signals and messages out that we are not only with fresh faces -- but with different understandings -- those who have left might return. Others will discover Pittsburgh and set up shop here. But, mostly, those that are here now will stay and start with fresh ideas of their own. We've been supressed. We've got new challenges to meet. We'll all do more for ourselves and our neighbors -- because we are able to get things done without red tape and jumping through hoops.

I want self-sufficient solutions.

I want Southwest to come with the understand of $0 in return from government. I want Southwest to know we've got open minded managers who will insist on the option of Southwest tickets for themselves and others in their organizations.

Pull Your Own Weight!

Spoke to two standing room only audiences tonight

Busy night. First double header of the season with double presentations (both short) and two power meetings with supporters as well.

The Democracy Meet Up generated the following feedback from me to the organizers. (Photos in another posting above.)

Good discipline. Good sticking to the agenda. Thanks for having all three speakers. Would not do a TV thing in the future.

I'll post my reactions to what was said in terms of the candidates' talking points at my blog -- http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com -- in the next 24 hours. There were some biggie statements made that won't fly for long if these guys (Bill Peduto and Michael Lamb) want to run with Bob O'Connor. We've got to have public discussion on these ideas and real issues debate. That would help the candidates and the community.

To be progessive is to be able to and welcome the opportunity to "THINK AGAIN."

I want change. I want real change. I hate way the city's elected politicians have let the city spiral downward so far. We'll have to rebound with not only new people, but also with the right ideas. Personally I'm scared by SOME what I heard from Peduto and Lamb. We had better have a great INDEPENDENT option in the GENERAL Election. That's what I hope to deliver, if I'm not hired as State Senator first.

The Common Man presents The Great Pennsylvania Property Tax Calamity

Another site I've got to explore. Are there any platform planks within these pages.

The Common Man presents The Great Pennsylvania Property Tax Calamity... all Pennsylvanians are not treated equally when it comes to property taxes.

Justice matters. Otherwise, people vote with their feet.