PA S.B. 881 to combat eminent domain abuse -- Sending Support!

The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit group that has been fighting the good fight to curb eminent domain abuse, put out a call about legislation headed to the PA Senate.

I have a longer statement against eminent domain that I provided to a state-hearing held in Pittsburgh on this bill a few months ago. I hate eminent domain and think it needs to be stopped at all instances in Western Pennsylvania in the years to come. Their call is reposted below, with slight edits.

Friends,

The Pennsylvania state senate will vote soon, probably Mon., Nov. 21, on an eminent domain reform bill that could be a model for the nation. It's a good bill - an identical one already has passed the House - and needs all the support it can get. Now is the time to contact your state senator to express your support. Below is information on the bill. Of particular note, there currently are efforts afoot to exempt Philadelphia from the provisions in this bill, so contacting senators in that region is particularly important.

Background:

Senate Bill 881 is in the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Opponents (such as Rep. Dan Frankle, D.) continue to try to defeat or weaken the bill.

This bill will not pass without your support. This legislation is the best chance Pennsylvanians have for real and significant eminent domain reform. If you want to protect your home or small business from eminent domain abuse, you must CALL OR EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TODAY and urge them to pass S.B. 881 without amendments that weaken its protections by creating loopholes that allow the abuse of eminent domain for private development to go unchecked.

An identical bill passed the PA House, H.B. 2054.

Members of the Pennsylvania Senate with email addresses

Phone numbers and contact information of those in the PA Senate.

Statement of the Institute for Justice in Support of Legislation To Protect Pennsylvania Home and Small Business Owners

The Institute for Justice is the nation’s leading advocate for home and business owners who are affected by the abuse of eminent domain for private development, and it represented Susette Kelo in the now infamous Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London. The Institute supports S.B. 881 and H.B. 2054 as written and opposes any amendments that will eliminate or weaken any of the protections they provide to home and small business owners.

In Kelo, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution allows governments to take homes and businesses for potentially more profitable, higher-tax uses. In the aftermath of that decision, the defenders of eminent domain abuse in Pennsylvania have already begun desperate attempts to keep the power to take homes and businesses and turn them over to private developers. The beneficiaries of the virtually unrestricted use of eminent domain-local governments, developers, and planners-are frantically lobbying to prevent any attempt to diminish their power and have taken aim at SB 881 and HB 2054, two balanced bills that strike at the heart of eminent domain abuse.

The Bills Are a Thoughtful Response

Pennsylvania legislators have been holding hearings across the state regarding the abuse of eminent domain over the past several months. They’ve heard from people on both sides of the issue and the legislative responses are the result of these well-attended meetings. There’s a genuine consensus among many lawmakers -- that’s why so many have sponsored the bills.

The Bills Are Balanced and Appropriate

The bills are not radical -- they make certain that home and small business owners in this state know that they can keep what they’ve worked so hard to own.

Eminent domain will still be allowed for traditional public uses like roads, schools and post offices. Utilities and other public services will still be built. Urban communities remain able to clean up areas full of abandoned and dangerous properties, but under these bills blight designations are reserved for only those situations where there are real threats to public health and safety.

Economic Blight Amendments Must Be Defeated

Any attempt to include a concept of “economic blight” in the bills must be defeated. This will ultimately lead, as it does already, to the transfer of homes and businesses to developers who promise increased tax revenue and jobs. Communities would no longer be razed because some consultant considers them “economically undesirable.”

Economic blight cannot be a justification for eminent domain because that means no one’s home or business is safe -- any home can make more money as a luxury condominium and any small business can make more money as a big-box store. Under the bills, governments will no longer be able to take properties from private individuals and hand them over to wealthy, well-connected developers.

Pennsylvania Has a Horrible History of Eminent Domain Abuse

Between 1998 and 2002, the Institute for Justice found more than 10,000 abuses of eminent domain around the country and many of these were in Pennsylvania. Some continue, and new ones seem to be added every day:

Ardmore - City officials are trying to strip the historic downtown district of its unique character, in order to replace it with cookie-cutter mixed-use development. A charming, Main Line suburb along the old Pennsylvania Railroad, Ardmore’s quaint downtown business district is home to many locally owned small businesses passed through generation for over a century. A half-block of successful small businesses is slated to be demolished and replaced with mall stores, upscale apartments, and a large garage.

Pittsburgh - There are several horrible situations worth noting, but two stand out: H.J. Heinz used the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority to bully the Kumer family and Pittsburgh Wool Company from its location, though three years later Heinz sold the property to a Cleveland developer for upscale apartments. Mayor Tom Murphy sought to take 64 buildings and 125 businesses for a movie theater and Nordstrom for his failed Fifth and Forbes project. In the end, all the project created was considerable disinvestment.

Coatesville - Dick and Nancy Saha waged a six-year battle to keep their family farm from becoming a golf course. Spending the bulk of their retirement savings on legal fees, the couple were finally successful when the city council agreed to drop the eminent domain taking in exchange for the right to purchase five acres of property that the Sahas had offered the city for free at the beginning of the dispute.

Washington - "The Crossroads" development calls for a new office building, hotel, retail, and residential space where popular local businesses like World West Galleries and Fine Art Printers, Shorty’s Lunch, and Jerry’s Shoe Repair currently exist and thrive.

Eminent Domain Is Not Necessary for Economic Development

City officials often claim that without the power of eminent domain, they will be unable to do worthwhile projects and their cities will fall into decline. They are wrong. There are many ways to encourage economic growth without taking someone else’s property. These include, for example, economic development districts, tax incentives, bonding, tax increment financing, Main Street programs, infrastructure improvements, relaxed or expedited permitting, and small grants and loans for façade improvements.

Development happens every day, all across the country, without the use of eminent domain. Defenders of eminent domain for private development present a false choice between protecting people’s rights and economic development. In fact, we can have both.

Eminent Domain Is Not a “Last Resort”

In most cases, the threat of eminent domain plays an important role from the very beginning of negotiations. Cities know that most home and business owners will be unable to afford to fight; this fact gives cities a strong incentive to threaten property owners with condemnation at the very start.

Procedural Changes Will Not Stop Eminent Domain Abuse

More process and public input and better planning are not the answer. These measures will do absolutely nothing to protect the rights of home and business owners. Despite overwhelming public opposition by citizens and Ardmore’s invited consultant, the Urban Land Institute, the Board of Commissioners still voted to destroy a third-generation office supply company, a popular Chinese restaurant and the local American Legion and VFW posts. Local legislators typically know the outcome they want and then follow the procedures necessary to get it. Indeed, all of the examples of abuse occurring here in Pennsylvania and across the country proceeded according to the current procedures, evidence alone that changes are necessary.

Better planning is also no solution and will do nothing to protect home and business owners from losing their property to private developers. Planners call for even more of the kind of planning that, if implemented, necessitates forcing some people out of their homes and businesses to make way for other, supposedly better-planned uses occupied by more economically desirable people. While all of this additional planning will no doubt bring lots of money to planners, it will not prevent the use of eminent domain for private commercial development and in practice will probably encourage more abuse.

In crafting these bills, everyone’s concerns have been considered and compromises have been made. The result of this thoughtful approach is that these bills stand as models for the rest of the country. We urge passage of these bills and oppose any attempt to weaken them. We also hope Governor Rendell will sign these necessary reforms into law. Pennsylvania deserves it.

So, contact your and other senators.

Great moment: with humor: Wife of state rep takes exception to the clean sweep philosophy

A wonderful presentation unfolded on the South Side tonight as Russ Diamond, founder and leader of Operation Clean Sweep, http://www.PACleanSweep.com, talked for more than 90 minutes to the South Side Forum. A group of nearly 30 people, from all parts of the county, got the "sermon" and were treated to a wonderful community moment.

A short series of questions came from Mrs. Readshaw, wife of current PA State Rep, Harry Readshaw, D. Readshaw is a popular guy in these part. I know I would not run against him. But, I do understand the logic and philosophy behind the 'clean sweep' efforts for reform in Pennsylvania.

Sadly, Mrs. Readshaw doesn't.

A very pleasant exchange was in clear view for all to see. I've got it on tape, I think. So, I'll save you all from the details. Plus, it's too late to rehash.

Safe to say -- it was worth a good chuckle and a timeless moment, worth the price of admission.

Erik, top center, needs to get into "rest position." You too Phillip.

Grant awarded for Schenley Plaza work

Jeepers. Is it any wonder why have the housing for the poor that we do? In our area, we get a green space grant. Don't get me wrong. I love park. However, this project is but bad joke.

Grant awarded for Schenley Plaza work The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing a $248,000 grant for the development of Schenley Plaza in Oakland.

A parking lot off Forbes Avenue is being transformed into a three-acre lawn serving as an entrance for Schenley Park. The project will be completed in the spring.

The federal government gave the grant to the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced last week.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is spearheading the $10.15 million project."

PA Amber Alert -- OFF -- solved in IN

-- Indiana State Police say they have captured the 18-year-old man wanted in Pennsylvania double homicide; 14-year-old girl with him is unharmed. (as of 12:30 pm on Monday) -- orginal posting below was 6:20 pm Sunday, Nov. 13.

I'll nuke this from the logs in a day or two.

The Pennsylvania State Police has issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert For the Warwick Township Police Department , Lancaster County.

The Warwick Township Police Department is searching for Kara Beth Borden, white female age 14, 5'1", 100lbs., brown hair with blonde highlights. She was last seen wearing a black sweat shirt with "Pillar" across the front , blue jeans and black sneakers. She was last seen at 8:00 Am on Sunday, 11/13/05 at 15 Royal Drive, Warwick Township, Lancaster County. She was reported abducted at gun point, after the murder of her parents, by David G. Ludwig, white male, age 18, brown hair and eyes.

Last seen operating a red Volkswagen Jetta bearing Pennsylvania registration EHH0994. Anyone with information about this abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

This has been an Amber Child Abduction Alert for the Warwick Township Police Department, Lancaster County.

Affected Counties: Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, York, Cumberland, Adams, Huntington, Mifflin, Snyder, Northumberland, Franklin, Berks, Chester.

eWell Being Awards 2005

The Pittsburgh version of this award could be given at the annual Youth Technology Summit -- a vision of mine.

eWell Being Awards 2005 SustainIT's eWell-Being Awards are the UK's only national Awards that identify and promote social, economic and environmental benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Valerie is ready to play in the major leagues

Look who is ready for the big-leagues. Valerie, daughter of a big-time Democratic-party leader, former school board member (PPS is being reinvented), former city council member (with $0 as a capital budget and two oversight boards), and present Allegheny County row-office holder (with the Recorder of Deed's office slated for closure due to Row Office Reform vote).

But, Valerie will be up against Catherine Baker Knoll.

I do like the notion of calling to the ghosts of the past -- as in 1933 -- when the Grays were hot.

See her campaign lift-off speech in the comment section.

She really didn't have a decent reply on the election night coverage on PCNC TV. She was on with Bill Green, James Roddey and a TV host. They all jumped her about her defense that the Pittsburgh financial crisis can't be pinned upon the Democratic party.

This is the same party that had a lock on Grant Street since 1933. "Oh, but they are not the only ones to blame."

Schools Linux project wins award for community building

Folks, we're getting blown away. America is going to slip further behind in terms of teaching and dealing with technology.

This story, an award winner, talks about two areas of South Africa where they installed 150 computer labs with a blend of open source and volunteers.

TECTONIC: Schools Linux project wins award for community building The tuXlabs project was founded by the Shuttleworth Foundation and installs Linux-based PC laboratories into schools in the Western and Eastern Cape and the Limpopo province. The project, which uses volunteers to assist in installing the computers, has installed 150 laboratories in the past two years.

Volunteers that participate in the project are taught how to install, configure and maintain the Linux computer centres. Once they are skilled in the process they in turn teach other volunteers. Learners and teachers at the various schools are also involved in the installation of the computers.

tuXlabs project manager Hilton Theunissen says that what makes this award special, however, is that it is not a technology award. 'We have always said the benefit of open source software is not so much the technology but the opportunities it creates. This award is focused on building capacity, skills and communities. Open source software makes these more accessible.'

This is huge. Furthermore, we are doing nothing. Zippo.

A couple of years ago I tried to establish mini computer labs in a few of the recreation centers in the city. I was part of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network. We had a committee devoted to making a significant change with the youth. We wanted to put in six computer labs. We wanted to have a good core of volunteers for on-going support. The initial hardware was already obtained. Comcast has a contract with the city and the high-speed internet should be in 88 facilities already.

We had a flat-out failure due to the city's unwillingness to embrace technology.

This has to change. This will change as soon as I'm elected to city council.

Challenge to PghBloggers.org --- say, how many black men have blogs out of the 300 in the network?

I don't know the answer to this question -- but would like to know. How many blogs are run by black-males within the 300-plus at PghBloggers.org? I've never counted.

Sorry, I missed the last blog-fest as we were in Chicago.

Among the "running mates" there are a few black men engaged in the campaign. But, they don't post to the blog here with any frequency.

So, first question: How many are in the network now? Any? And, does it make sense to do a bit of outreach and get five new bloggers signed up and at the next Blogfest in January?

Black males rare on nation's campuses: "To some degree, said Dr. Larry Davis, dean of the School of Social Work and director of the Center of Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh, black women fall under the umbrella of the women's movement, but black males have no allies.

'For many of them, there is no such thing as brotherhood. White men aren't saying 'Come on in, brother.' '

Once higher education is no longer an option, their job choices narrow significantly, which can lead to crime, unemployment and imprisonment, said Dr. Davis."

Analysis: Roosevelt aiming to reinvent Pittsburgh's schools

P-G on Pgh Public Schools Nine of the district's 10 high schools posted low achievement test scores last year, and some have posted low scores repeatedly. Two, Peabody and Westinghouse, received a rating of 1 on Rand's performance index.

Mr. Roosevelt said he would appoint a working group to study the high schools and called high school reform 'a serious piece of business ahead of us in Pittsburgh.'

Peabody and Westinghouse should both become single-gender schools. Have the boys go to one location and the girls go to another location.

Oakland Catholic (only for girls) and Central Catholic (boys) are single gender high schools that do very well. Peabody and Westinghouse could be public school rivals to the single-gender, Catholic schools. The single gender, public-school setting gives families in the city another interesting option.

If you don't care for the single-gender setting for your high-schooler, go to one of the other schools in the district, including Schenley that will be much closer, as it moves to R's building.

As for support of the plan -- hell yes. Our school system need an overhaul. To 'reinvent' as the headline says, rubs me the wrong way. But, to overhaul is fine and wanted. Retool and reform, please.

I'd love to be a part of that high school task force. And the second effort (after single-gender schools) to consider is the merger of the sports programs into the W.P.I.A.L.. The city-league kids need to compete with the suburban players.

Missoulian: Ambitious young pols blog it out on the Net

You betch ya. Spoofing is one of the worst crimes on the net.

Missoulian: Ambitious young pols blog it out on the Net “But what started out as something funny was taken too far when they fabricated a response from me. What I don't want them doing is impersonating me to Denny's constituency. That's not funny. That's identity theft.”

New Biz Cards are here.
The next version of the CDs are getting into the pipeline. If you have any Christmas tunes that could be included on our CD, please call.

Peppermint Patty

I'm a Peppermint Patty, so says the quiz, FWIW.
Discover which Peanuts Character fits your answers. Brought to you by Quizilla
Proof? After a game of water polo.

Illness next challenge for Guy Costa -- Get well soon

Guy, for goodness sake, "Get well soon!"

Illness next challenge for Guy Costa - PittsburghLIVE.com Costa has earned a reputation as a fair, hard-working manager who often rolls up his sleeves and works alongside employees repairing roads and working on other infrastructure projects.

That reputation is accurate.

Florida Trailer Trash -- after Wilma

Our Dear Aunt Debbie of Florida, God-Mother of our artist son, sent along these photos from her neck of the woods. Wilma was bad. Very bad.

The pile at the end of our street keeps getting bigger. Your can see a home marked for demolition still stands (sort of) in the middle of it. Two good friends of mine, Terri and Lorraine, live right across from this eye sore. Must be depressing. Both of their places can be repaired at least!

This is true blight. This is "need" personified. Click image for larger views.

Pay raise opponents take aim at lawmakers -- Russ Diamond due to visit South Side on Monday at 7 pm meeting

Hope to see some running mates on the South Side at 7 pm on Monday. we are running -- but not running away from the voters. I'm running to the voters. I am running with the voters. The meeting is being held at the Brashier Assn. community room on Sarah Street, around 21st, just one block off of East Carson Street. It is behind the South Side Steaks (SSS) and next to Phillips Elem. School.

The Herald Standard - Archives - 11/10/2005 - Pay raise opponents take aim at lawmakers 'Lawmakers should run, they should run fast and not look back,' said Russ Diamond, chairman of the citizen activist group PACleanSweep. 'They should realize that things have changed in Pennsylvania.'

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra launches blog

Article from Philly about the new, Pgh blog -- PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra launched a blog to share insights from musicians and others and engage the public in the orchestra's activities.

New Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Blog

New ice-making system for Oly hockey arena -- we've got a failed ice rink too, on the South Side

Ice troubles have hit the city's lone indoor ice rink in recent times too. It's been closed. I think we need people in leadership roles who care to run what we have with energy. We've been squandering our assets, sadly.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - New ice-making system for Oly hockey arena - Saturday November 12, 2005 4:42PM The ice-making equipment at the secondary hockey arena for the Turin Games will be replaced after failing at an Olympic test event.

Another bad joke with eminent domain. Kick out a tire dealer and put in a different tire dealer.

We should not use eminent domain as it just drives up the prices of doing business for the city. It costs too much. And, the end game is not an advantage. FOXNews.com - Politics - Oakland Seizes Land, Swaps Retailer The city also used its power of eminent domain to obtain the parcel for a commercial retailer, Sears, which wants to put in its tire store.

To a reporter...

I'm going to make a lot of news -- now, later, and in the race. We need to shape a positive conversation that is sustained -- and for the good of the greater community.

Call any time on any issue.

I think Bob O'Connor's win presents, and even demands, great opporutnities for injecting additional insights -- to 'think again.'

P-G says, I am emerging

Candidates seek Ricciardi's council seat Candidates for Pittsburgh City Councilman Gene Ricciardi's seat have begun emerging.

Mark Rauterkus, also of the Flats, said he'll run. He is a stay-at-home dad, author and activist who ran for mayor as a Republican in 2001, and for state Senate as a Libertarian in May.

In special elections, party committee members choose nominees. Often some candidates run as independents. The winner will serve out Mr. Ricciardi's term, which runs through 2007.

The district includes Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, South Oakland, the South Side Flats and Slopes, St. Clair Village and part of Mount Washington.

I'm also a swim coach.

New Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County -- expected shortly

Tim has resigned. Dave is in. More news shortly.

The Allegheny County Libertarian Party is a solid group of concerned citizens. Monthly meetings are held. Minutes are kept. Elections occur each year as scheduled. Funds for operations are managed. Messages get delivered. Interactions and relationships with state-wide and national associates are maintained. And, policy is impacted.

Mark Twain's story on Diplomacy

This may be taken down from the site in a few days so as to not clog the archives.

Last spring I went out to Chicago to see the Fair, and although I did not see it my trip was not wholly lost – there were compensations. In New York I was introduced to a major in the regular army who said he was going to the Fair, and we agreed to go together. I had to go to Boston first, but that did not interfere; he said he would go along, and put in the time. He was a handsome man, and built like a gladiator. But his ways were gentle, and his speech was soft and persuasive. He was
companionable, but exceedingly reposeful. Yes, and wholly destitute of the sense of humor. He was full of interest in everything that went on around him, but his serenity was indestructible; nothing disturbed him, nothing excited him.

But before the day was done I found that deep down in him somewhere he had a passion, quiet as he was – a passion for reforming petty public abuses. He stood for citizenship – it was his hobby. His idea was that every citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman, and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution. He thought that the only effective way of preserving and protecting public rights was for each citizen to do his share in preventing or punishing such infringements of them as came under his personal notice.

It was a good scheme, but I thought it would keep a body in trouble all the time; it seemed to that one would be always trying to get offending little officials discharged, and perhaps getting laughed at for all reward. But he said no, I had the wrong idea; that there was no occasion to get anybody discharged; that in fact you mustn’t get anybody discharged; that that would itself be a failure; no, one must reform the man – reform him and make him useful where he was.

“Must one report the offender and then beg his superior not to discharge him, but reprimand him and keep him?”

“No, that is not the idea; you don’t report him at all, for then you risk his bread and butter. You can act as if you are going to report him – when nothing else will answer. But that’s an extreme case. That is a sort of force, and force is bad. Diplomacy is the effective thing. Now if a man has tact – if a man will exercise diplomacy -”

For two minutes we had been standing at a telegraph wicket, and during all this time the Major had been trying to get the attention of one of the young operators, but they were all busy skylarking. The Major spoke now, and asked one of them to take his telegram. He got for reply:

“I reckon you can wait a minute, can’t you?” and the skylarking went on.

The Major said yes, he was not in a hurry. Then he wrote another telegram.

“President Western Union Tel. Co.:

“Come and dine with me this evening. I can tell you how business is conducted in one of your branches.”

Presently the young fellow who had spoken so pertly a little before reached out and took the telegram, and when he read it he lost color and began to apologize and explain. He said he would lose his place if this deadly telegram was sent, and he might never get another. If he could be let off this time he would give no cause for complaint again. This compromise was accepted.

As we walked away, the Major said:

“Now, you see, that was diplomacy – and you see how it worked. It wouldn’t do any good to bluster, the way people are always doing – that boy can always give you as good as you send, and you’ll come out defeated and ashamed of yourself pretty nearly always. But you see he stands no
chance against diplomacy. Gentle words and diplomacy – those are the tools to work with.”

“Yes, I see; but everybody wouldn’t have had your opportunity. It isn’t everybody that is on those familiar terms with the president of the Western Union.”

“Oh, you misunderstand. I don’t know the president – I only use him diplomatically. It is for his good and for the public good. There’s no harm in it.”

I said, with hesitation and diffidence:

“But is it ever right or noble to tell a lie?”

He took no note of the delicate self-righteousness of the question, but answered, with undisturbed gravity and simplicity:

“Yes, sometimes. Lies told to injure a person, and lies told to profit yourself are not justifiable, but lies told to help another person, and lies told in the public interest – oh, well, that is quite another matter. Anybody knows that. But never mind about the methods: you see the result. That youth is going to be useful now, and well-behaved. He had a good face. He was worth saving. Why, he was worth saving on his mother’s account if not his own. Of course, he has a mother – sisters, too. Damn these people who are always forgetting that! Do you know, I’ve never fought a duel in my life – never one – and yet have been challenged, like other people. I could always see the other man’s unoffending women folks or his little children standing between him and me. They hadn’t done anything – I couldn’t break their hearts, you know.”

He corrected a good many little abuses in the course of the day, and always without friction – always with a fine and dainty “diplomacy” which left no sting behind; and he got such happiness and such contentment out of these performances that I was obliged to envy him his trade – perhaps would have adopted it if I could have managed the necessary deflections from fact as confidently with my mouth as I believe I could with a pen, behind the shelter of print, after a little practice.

Away late that night we were coming uptown in a horse-car when three boisterous roughs got aboard, and began to fling hilarious obscenities and profanities right and left among the timid passengers, some of whom were women and children. Nobody resisted or retorted; the conductor tried soothing words and moral suasion, but the roughs only called him names and laughed at him. Very soon I saw that the Major realized that this was a matter which was in his line; evidently he was turning over his stock of diplomacy in his mind and getting ready, I felt that he made in this place would bring down a land-slide of ridicule upon him and maybe something worse; but before I could whisper to him and check him, he had begun, and it was too late. He said, in a level and dispassionate tone:

“Conductor, you must put these swine out. I will help you.”

I was not looking for that. In a flash the three roughs plunged at him. But none of them arrived. He delivered three such blows as one could not expect to encounter outside the prize-ring, and neither of the men had life enough left in him to get up from where he fell. The Major dragged them out and threw off the car, and we got under way again.

I was astonished; astonished to see a lamb act so; astonished at the strength displayed, and the clean and comprehensive result; astonished at the brisk and business-like style of the whole thing. The situation had a humorous side to it, considering how much I had been hearing about mild persuasion and gentle diplomacy all day from this pile-driver, and I would have liked to call his attention to that feature and do some sarcasms about it; but when I looked at him I saw that it would be of no use – his placid and contented face had no ray of humor in it; he would not have understood. When we left the car, I said:

“That was a good stroke of diplomacy – three good strokes of diplomacy, in fact.”

“That? That wasn’t diplomacy. You are quite in the wrong.
Diplomacy is a wholly different thing. Once cannot apply it to that sort, they would not understand it. No, that was not diplomacy; it was force.”

“Now that you mention it, I – yes, I think perhaps you are right.”

“Right? Of course I am right. It was just force.”

“I think, myself, it had an outside aspect of it. Do you often have to reform people in that way?”

“Far from it. It hardly ever happens. Not oftener than once in half a year, at the outside.”

“Those men will get well?”

“Get well? Why, certainly they will. They are not in any danger.
I know how to hit and where to hit. You noticed that I did not hit them under the jaw. That would have killed them.”

I believed that. I remarked – rather wittily, as I thought – that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram – battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite different thing and not in use now. This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass – in fact, I had it on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.

We started to Boston the next afternoon. The smoking-compartment in the parlor-car was full, and we went into the regular smoker. Across the aisle in the front seat sat a meek, farmer-looking old man with a sickly pallor in his face, and he was holding the door open with his foot to get the air. Presently a big brakeman came rushing through, and when he got to the door he stopped, gave the farmer an ugly scowl, then wrenched the door to with such energy as to almost snatch the old man’s boot off. Then on he plunged about his business. Several passengers laughed, and the old gentleman looked pathetically shamed and grieved.

After a little the conductor passed along, and the Major stopped him and asked him a question in his habitually courteous way:

“Conductor, where does one report the misconduct of a brakeman? Does one report to you?”

“You can report him at New Haven if you want to. What has he been doing?”

The Major told the story. The conductor seemed amused. He said, with just a touch of sarcasm in his bland tones:

“As I understand you, the brakeman didn’t say anything.”

“No, he didn’t say anything.”

“But he scowled, you say.”

“Yes.”

“And snatched the door loose in a rough way.”

“Yes, that is the whole of it.”

The conductor smiled pleasantly, and said:

“Well, if you want to report him, all right, but I don’t quite make out what it’s going to amount to. You’ll say – as I understand you – that the brakeman insulted this old gentleman. They’ll ask you what he said.
You’ll say he didn’t say anything at all. I reckon they’ll say, how are you going to make out an insult when you acknowledge yourself that he didn’t say a word.”

There was a murmur of applause at the conductor’s compact reasoning, and it gave him pleasure – you could see it in his face. But the Major was not disturbed. He said:

“There – now you have touched upon a crying defect in the complaint-system. The railway officials – as the public think and as you also seem to think – are not aware that there are any kind of insults except spoken ones. So nobody goes to headquarters and report insults of manners, insults of gestures, look, and so forth; and yet these are sometimes harder to bear than any words. They are bitter hard to bear because there is nothing tangible to take hold of; and the insulter can always say, if called before the railway officials, that he never dreamed of intending any offense. It seems to me that the officials ought to specially and urgently request the public to report unworded affronts and incivilities.”

The conductor laughed, and said:

“Well, that would be trimming it pretty fine, sure!”

“But not too fine, I think. I will report this matter at New Haven, and I have an idea that I’ll be thanked for it.”

The conductor’s face lost something of its complacency; in fact, it settled to a quite sober cast as the owner of it moved away. I said:

“You are not really going to bother with that trifle, are you?”

“It isn’t a trifle. Such things ought always to be reported. It is a public duty, and no citizen has a right to shirk it. But I shan’t have to report this case.”

“Why?”

“It won’t be necessary. Diplomacy will do the business. You’ll see.”

Presently the conductor came a on his rounds again, and when he reached the Major he leaned over and said:

“That’s all right. You needn’t report him. He’s responsible to me, and if he does it again I’ll give him a talking to.”

The Major’s response was cordial:

“Now that is what I like! You mustn’t think that I was moved by any vengeful spirit, for that wasn’t the case. It was duty – just a sense of duty, that was all. My brother-in-law is one of the directors of the road, and when he learns that you are going to reason with your brakeman that very next time he brutally insults an unoffending old man it will please him, you may be sure of that.”

The conductor did not look as joyous as one might have thought he would, but on the contrary looked sickly and uncomfortable. He stood around a little; then said:

“I think something ought to be done to him now. I’ll discharge him.”

“Discharge him? What good would that do? Don’t you think it would be better wisdom to teach him better ways and keep him?”

“Well, there’s something in that. What would you suggest?”

“He insulted the old gentleman in presence of all those people. How would it do to have him come and apologize in their presence?”

“I’ll have him here right off. And I want to say this: If people would do as you’ve done, and report such things to me instead of keeping mum and going off and blackguarding the road, you’d see a different state of things pretty soon. I’m obliged to you.”

The brakeman came and apologized. After he was gone the Major said:

“Now, you see how simple and easy that was. The ordinary citizen would have accomplished nothing – the brother-in-law of a director can accomplish anything he wants to.”

“But are you really the brother-in-law of a director?”

“Always. Always when the public interests require it. I have a brother-in-law on all the boards – everywhere. It saves me a world of trouble.”

“It is a good relationship.”

“Yes. I have over three hundred of them.”

“Is the relationship never doubted by a conductor?”

“I have never met with a case. It is the honest truth – I never have.”

“Why didn’t you let him go ahead and discharge the brakeman, in spite of your favorite policy? You know he deserved it.”

The Major answered with something which really has a sort of distant resemblance to impatience:

“If you would stop and think a moment you wouldn’t ask such a question as that. Is a brakeman a dog, that nothing but dog’s methods will do for him? He is a man, and has a man’s fight for life. And he always has a sister, or a mother, or wife and children to support.
Always – there are no exceptions. When you take his living away from him you take theirs away too – and what have they done to you? Nothing. And where is another just like him? It’s unwisdom. Don’t you see that the rational thing to do is to reform the brakeman and keep him? Of course it is.”

Then he quoted with admiration the conduct of a certain division superintendent of the Consolidated road, in a case where a switchman of two years’ experience was negligent once and threw a train off the track and killed several people. Citizens came in a passion to urge the man’s dismissal, but the superintendent said:

“No, you are wrong. He has learned his lesson, he will throw no more trains off the track. He is twice as valuable as he was before. I shall keep him.”

We had only one more adventure on the trip. Between Hartford and
Springfield the train-boy came shouting in with an armful of literature
and dropped a sample into a slumbering gentleman’s lap, and the man woke
up with a start. He was very angry, and he and a couple of friends
discussed the outrage with much heat. They sent for the parlor-car
conductor and described the matter, and were determined to have the boy
expelled from his situation. The three complainants were wealthy Holyoke
merchants, and it was evident that the conductor stood in some awe of
them. He tried to pacify them, and explained that the boy was not under
his authority, but under that of one of the news companies; but he
accomplished nothing.

Then the Major volunteered some testimony for the defense. He said:

“I saw it all. You gentlemen have not meant to exaggerate the
circumstances, but still that is what you have done. The boy has done
nothing more than all train-boys do. If you want to get his ways softened
down and his manners reformed, I am with you and ready to help, but it
isn’t fair to get him discharged without giving him a chance.”

But they were angry, and would hear no compromise. They were well
acquainted with the president of the Boston & Albany, they said, and would
put everything aside next day and go up to Boston and fix that boy.

The Major said he would be on hand too, and would do what he could
to save the boy. One of the gentleman looked him over, and said:

“Apparently it is going to be a matter of who can wield the most
influence with the president. Do you know Mr. Bliss personally?”

The Major said, with composure:

“Yes; he is my uncle.”

The effect was satisfactory. There was an awkward silence for a
minute or more; then the hedging and the half-confessions of overhaste and
exaggerated resentment began, and it was resolved to drop the matter and
leave the boy’s bread and butter unmolested.

It turned out as I had expected: the president of the road was not
the Major’s uncle at all – except by adoption, and for this day and train
only.

We got into no episodes on the return journey. Probably it was
because we took a night train and slept all the way.

We left New York Saturday night by the Pennsylvania road. After
breakfast the next morning we went into the parlor-car, but found it a
dull place and dreary. There were but few people in it and nothing going
on. Then we went into the little smoking-compartment of the same car and
found three gentlemen in there. Two of them were grumbling over one of
the rules of the road – a rule which forbade card-playing on the trains on
Sunday. They had started an innocent game of high-low-jacket and been
stopped. The Major was interested. He said to the third gentleman:

“Did you object to the game?”

“Not at all. I am a Yale professor and a religious man, but my
prejudices are not extensive.”

Then the Major said to the others:

“You are at perfect liberty to resume your game, gentleman; no one
here objects.”

One of them declined the risk, but the other one said he would like
to begin again if the Major would join him. So they spread an overcoat
over their knees and the game proceeded. Pretty soon the parlor-car
conductor arrived, and said, brusquely:

“There, there, gentlemen, that won’t do. Put up the cards – it’s
not allowed.”

The Major was shuffling. He continued to shuffle, and said:

“By whose order is it forbidden?”

“It’s my order. I forbid it.”

The dealing began. The Major asked:

“Did you invent the idea?”

“What idea?”

“The idea of forbidding card-playing on Sunday.”

“No – of course not.”

“Who did?”

“The company.”

“Then it isn’t your order, after all, but the company’s. Is that
it?”

“Yes. But you don’t stop playing; I have to require you to stop
playing immediately.”

“Nothing is gained by hurry, and often much is lost. Who authorized
the company to issue such an order?”

“My dear sir, that is a matter of no consequence to me, and -”

“But you forget that you are not the only person concerned. It may
be a matter of consequence to me. It is indeed a matter of very great
importance to me. I cannot violate a legal requirement of my country
without dishonoring myself; I cannot allow any man or corporation to
hamper my liberties with illegal rules – a thing which railway companies
are always trying to do – without dishonoring my citizenship. So I come
back to the question: By whose authority has the company issued this
order?”

“I don’t know. That’s their affair.”

“Mine, too. I doubt if the company has any right to issue such a
rule. This road runs through several States. Do you know what State we
are in now, and what its laws are in matters of this kind?”

“Its laws do not concern me, but the company’s orders do. It is my
duty to stop this game, gentleman, and it must be stopped.”

“Possibly; but still there is no hurry. In hotels they post certain
rules in the rooms, but they always quote passages from the State law as
authority of these requirements. I see nothing posted here of this sort.
Please produce your authority and let us arrive at a decision, for you see
yourself that you are marring the game.”

“I have nothing of the kind, but I have my orders, and that is
sufficient. They must be obeyed.”

“Let us not jump to conclusions. It will be better all around to
examine into the matter without heat or haste, and see just where we stand
before either of us makes a mistake – for the curtailing of the liberties
of a citizen of the United States is a much more serious matter than you
and the railroads seem to think, and it cannot be done in my person until
the curtailer proves his right to do so. Now -”

“My dear sir, will you put down those cards?”

“All in good time, perhaps. It depends. You say this order must be
obeyed. Must. It is a strong word. You see yourself how strong it is.
A wise company would not arm you with so drastic an order as this, of
course, without appointing a penalty for its infringement. Otherwise it
runs the risk of being a dead letter and a thing to laugh at. What is the
appointed penalty for an infringement of this law?”

“Penalty? I never heard of any.”

“Unquestionably you must be mistaken. Your company orders you to
come here and rudely break up an innocent amusement, and furnishes you no
way to enforce the order? Don’t you see that that is nonsense. What do
you do when people refuse to obey this order? Do you take the cards away
from them?”

“No.”

“Do you put the offender off at the next station?”

“Well, no – of course we couldn’t if he had a ticket.”

“Do you have him up before a court?”

The conductor was silent and apparently troubled. The Major started
a new deal, and said:

“You see that you are helpless, and that the company has placed you
in a foolish position. You are furnished with an arrogant order, and you
deliver it in a blustering way, and when you come to look into the matter
you find you haven’t any way of enforcing obedience.”

The conductor said, with chill dignity:

“Gentlemen, you have heard the order, and my duty is ended. As to
obeying it or not, you will do as you think fit.” And he turned to leave.

“But wait. The matter is not yet finished. I think you are
mistaken about your duty being ended; but if it really is, I myself have a
duty to perform yet.”

“How do you mean?”

“Are you going to report my disobedience at headquarters in
Pittsburgh?”

“No. What good would that do?”

“You must report me, or I will report you.”

“Report me for what?”

“For disobeying the company’s orders in not stopping this game. As
a citizen it is my duty to help the railway companies keep their servants
to their work.”

“Are you in earnest?”

“Yes, I am in earnest. I have nothing against you as a man, but I
have this against you as an officer – that you have not carried out that
order, and if you do not report me I must report you. And I will.”

The conductor looked puzzled, and was thoughtful for a moment; then
he burst out with:

“I seem to be getting myself into a scrape! It’s all a muddle; I
can’t make head or tail of it; it’s never happened before; they always
knocked under and never said a word, and so I never saw how ridiculous
that stupid order with no penalty is. I don’t want to report anybody, and
I don’t want to be reported – why, it might do me no end of harm! Now do
go on with the game – play the whole day if you want – and don’t let’s
have any more trouble about it!”

“No – I only sat down here to establish this gentleman’s rights – he
can have his place now. But before you go won’t you tell me what you
think the company made this rule for? Can you imagine an excuse for it?
I mean a rational one – an excuse that is not on its face silly, and the
invention of an idiot?”

“Why surely, I can. The reason it was made is plain enough. It is
to save the feelings of the other passengers – the religious ones among
them, I mean. They would not like it, to have the Sabbath desecrated by
card-playing on the train.”

“I just thought as much. They are willing to desecrate it
themselves by traveling on Sunday, but they are not willing that other
people -”

“By gracious, you hit it! I never thought of that before. The fact
is, it is a silly rule when you come to look into it.”

At this point the train-conductor arrived, and was going to shut
down the game in a very high-handed fashion, but the parlor-car conductor
stopped him and took him aside to explain. Nothing more was heard of the
matter.

I was ill in bed eleven days in Chicago and got no glimpse of the
Fair, for I was obliged to return east as soon as I was able to travel.
The Major secured and paid for a state-room in a sleeper the day before we
left, so that I could have plenty of room and be comfortable; but when we
arrived at the station a mistake had been made and our car had not been
put on. The conductor had reserved a section for us – it was the best he
could do, he said. But the Major said we were not in a hurry, and would
wait for the car to be put on. The conductor responded, with pleasant
irony:

“It may be that you are not in a hurry, just as you say, but we are:
Come, get aboard, gentlemen, get aboard – don’t keep us waiting.”

But the Major would not get aboard himself nor allow me to do it.
He wanted his car, and said he must have it. This made the hurried and
perspiring conductor impatient, and he said:

“It’s the best we can do – we can’t do impossibilities. You will
take the section or go without. A mistake has been made and can’t be
rectified at this late hour. It’s a thing that happens now and then, and
there is nothing for it but to put up with it and make the best of it.
Other people do.”

“Ah, that is just it, you see. If they had stuck to their rights
and enforced them you wouldn’t be trying to trample mine underfoot in this
bland way now. I haven’t any disposition to give you unnecessary trouble,
but it is my duty to protect the next man from this kind of imposition.
So I must have my car. Otherwise I will wait in Chicago and sue the
company for violating its contract.”

“Sue the company? - for a thing like that!”

“Certainly.”

“Do you really mean it?”

“Indeed, I do.”

The conductor looked the Major over wonderingly, and then said:

“It beats me – it’s bran-new – I’ve never struck the mate to it
before. But I swear I think you’d do it. Look here, I’ll send for the
station-master.”

When the station-master came he was a good deal annoyed – at the
Major, not at the person who had made the mistake. He was rather brusque,
and took the same position which the conductor had taken in the beginning;
but he failed to move the soft-spoken artilleryman, who still insisted
that he must have his car. However, it was plain that there was only one
strong side in this case, and that that side was the Major’s. The
station-master banished his annoyed manner, and became pleasant and even
half-apologetic. This made a good opening for a compromise, and the Major
made a concession. He said he would give up the engaged state-room, but
he must have a state-room. After a deal of ransacking, one was found
whose owner was persuadable; he exchanged it for our section, and we got
away at last. The conductor called on us in the evening, and was kind and
courteous and obliging, and we had a long talk and got to be good friends.
He said he wished the public would make trouble oftener – it would have a
good effect. He said that the railroads could not be expected to do their
whole duty by the traveler unless the traveler would take some interest in
the matter himself.

I hoped that we were done reforming for the trip now, but it was not
so. In the hotel-car, in the morning, the Major called for broiled
chicken. The waiter said:

“It’s not in the bill of fare, sir; we do not serve anything but
what is in the bill.”

“That gentleman yonder is eating a broiled chicken.”

“Yes, but that is difference. He is one of the superintendents of
the road.”

“Then all the more must I have broiled chicken. I do not like these
discriminations. Please hurry – bring me a broiled chicken.”

The waiter brought the steward, who explained in a low and polite
voice that the thing was impossible – it was against the rule, and the
rule was rigid.

“Very well, then, you must either apply it impartially or break it
impartially. You must take that gentleman’s chicken away from him or
bring me one.”

The steward was puzzled, and did not quite know what to do. He
began an incoherent argument, but the conductor came along just then, and
asked what the difficulty was. The steward explained that here was a
gentleman who was insisting on having a chicken when it was dead against
the rule and not in the bill. The conductor said:

“Stick by your rules – you haven’t any option. Wait a minute – is
this the gentleman?” Then he laughed and said: “ Never mind your rules -
it’s my advice, and sound; give him anything he wants – don’t get him
started on his rights. Give him whatever he asks for; and if you haven’t
got it, stop the train and get it.”

The Major ate the chicken, but said he did it from a sense of duty
and to establish a principle, for he did not like chicken.

I missed the Fair it is true, but I picked up some diplomatic tricks
which I and the reader may find handy and useful as we go along.

Half Price Tickets -- if you want to risk the seat's availability

From Jerry Starr....

Please check out the Post-Gazette op-ed page today for an editorial by Jules Lobel and me on the Guantanamo detainee controversy. Today’s City Paper and tomorrow’s Post-Gazette also will contain previews of this weekend’s play, Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom.

I want you to be the first to know that, in an effort to make the play available to as many as possible, we have decided to offer half price tickets (just $25) thirty minutes before each performance. Seating is open and a buffet reception with opportunity for discussion follows every performance.

Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday matinee at 2:00pm at the Open Stage Theatre, 2835 Smallman Street in the Strip District (412-257-4056).

Again, just come 30 minutes early to purchase half-price tickets. Proceeds go to the theatre and to the Center for Constitutional Rights, the legal advocate for the rights of the Guantanamo detainees.

For those are curious, I have attached a copy of the program, which can be downloaded with Adobe Reader 6.0.

Jerry Starr, Producer, Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom.

Chicago --- it is nice to be back.

Chicago, here we come!

My wife and I are in Chicago. We are celebrating our anniversary. We flew from Pittsburgh tp O'Hare with first class seats. That was a suprise for me and my kids kept the secret. They wanted to come instead of us because of that upgrade (frequent flyer miles).

Catherine is a visiting scholar at Northwestern University. She meets with faculty today. Tonight we'll all socialize. On Friday she presents to students most of the day.

I'm blogging from the computer area of the massive, beautiful Chicago Public Library. I had a morning business meeting with Mitch at Triumph Books. More on that later.

Last night's meeting with friends has uncovered another interesting blog story to -- and you'll have to wait on that too. Just no time now. Our friends, Mead and Gail, have this company and they were on the phone to The White House while we were there. They are getting set for the China trip, and I'll keep you in suspense....

Another victory for science and public schools -- Dover

All eight members up for re-election to the Pennsylvania-base school board that had been sued for introducing the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in biology class were swept out of office yesterday by a slate of challengers who campaigned against the intelligent design policy.

PA Clean Sweep leader to visit South Side soon

PA Clean Sweep's leader and founder, Russ Diamond, will be visiting with me and others in the area at two events in the near future.

Russ will be at a South Side meeting next week. See the South Pittsburgh Reporter. I'll be there.

Plus, Russ is the invited speaker for the Libertarian Holiday Party in December.


Russ Diamond presented for more than 90 minutes at a South Side meeting after the November 2005 election. He has plenty to say about PA Clean Sweep and more.

Claiming victory with the No vote for retention on one out of two

PACleanSweep Claims Victory for Pennsylvanians

ANNVILLE, PA [11.09.05] - PACleanSweep declared a victory for the citizens of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth's Constitution after learning the voters had ousted Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro in Tuesday's election. No appellate court justice has ever been not retained previously in Pennsylvania. The race was largely viewed as the first volley in a battle for the future direction of government in the Commonwealth.

In the other Supreme Court retention race on the ballot, Justice Sandra Schultz Newman narrowly retained her seat with apparently less than 54 percent of the vote. Judicial candidates for retention in Pennsylvania traditionally enjoy being retained with at least 75 percent of the vote in their favor. Newman will be forced to retire in 2007 when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

"Pennsylvania has been stalled at a constitutional crossroads for four months," said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond. "We're pleased that the people have decided to boldly move forward by insisting that those charged with serving as guardians of the supreme law of the land take their duties and their oaths of office seriously."

In recent weeks, the PA Supreme Court has been at the center of a controversy over an unconstitutional pay raise enacted by the General Assembly on July 7. A cadre of anti-pay raise organizations, including PACleanSweep, banded together to protest the Supreme Court's role in the pay raise, pointing out a number of questionable rulings handed down over the last few years.

In just the last week, the two chambers of the General Assembly became deadlocked over a stunning last-minute repeal of the raise, which applied to all three branches of state government. The sticking point in the legislative standoff is the judicial portion of the increase, which may have added fuel to the electorate's angst.

"Voters have sent a loud and clear message to all public officials: You will be held accountable by the voters who've elected you," said PACleanSweep Media Relations Director Jerry Kelley.

Diamond was quick to note that the election results were only the first stirrings of the winds of change in Pennsylvania.

"This is not the end of our fight, it's only the beginning of a revolution in Pennsylvania. The last four months have seen a reawakening of the Commonwealth's citizens to the need for government to regularly consider the Constitution in their day-to-day activities rather than viewing it as some archaic document hanging on a museum wall for school children to admire on field trips.

"Our attention now turns to the Governor and the Senate, who are charged with appointing and confirming a temporary replacement to the bench until a contested election can be held in 2007. We advise Mr. Rendell to tread carefully in this matter, as he is up for re-election in 2006 along with the 228 incumbent lawmakers we've been targeting since July 18th."

"These results should put the entire legislature on notice," added Strategic Director Mike Bergmaier. "We intend to hold every last one of them to the constitutional fire in the upcoming months. The people have simply had enough, and it's time for lawmakers to focus on public service, not self service. Otherwise, they'll likely find themselves in the unemployment line next to Russell Nigro."
About PACleanSweep

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and replacing them with true public servants. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com.

For More Information, Russ Diamond, PACleanSweep Chair, info@pacleansweep.com

Grimm got burnt and quits

Bethel Park school chief resigns his post The Bethel Park school board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Superintendent Ronald Grimm at its meeting last night.

How did Coon do in her race for school board in Baldwin?

Commonwealth of PA - Election Night Returns -- Retention Votes

Unofficial.
Commonwealth of PA - Election Night Returns

NEWMAN, SANDRA SCHULTZ
'Yes' = 597,411
'No' = 493,115

NIGRO, RUSSELL M.
'Yes' = 529,999
'No' = 533,767

Election Results -- part 1 -- 39K

Mayor Murphy in November 2001 had 39k votes. A similar number is being recorded for Bob O'Connor in November 2005. The vote totals, not so much the percentage, was what I was watching. Would Bob score more than 40,000? Would Bob loose and get low 30,000 or even less?

There was no way that Weinroth was going to win, outright. But, it was very positive news -- yet unconfirmed -- that Winroth won at least one polling place. The score was 70 to 61 to 1, so I understand, in Brighton Heights at one polling location. That shocking news.

Election Results
Bob O'Connor (Dem) 39,416 = 66.6%
Joseph Weinroth (Rep) 16,269 = 27.5%
Titus North (Gre) 2,374 = 4.0%
David Tessitor (Abo) 618 = 1.0%
Jay M Ressler (Soc) 476 = 0.8%
Totals 59,153

Four years ago, the GOP challenger got 12,000 votes. This time Joe jumped the number to 16k. I thought it would be a win to get more than 15,000.

Titus North scored more than 2,000 votes. Not bad.

I was impressed to see far more Titus North signs around town and at the poll vs. the showing of Weinroth signs. There are a few Weinroth signs here and there, and along the Parkway West.

We have yet to hear about the Les Ludwig write-in vote total. Counting those dangling chads might take weeks. David Tessitor, the Indie, got 100 votes more than I projected. He slid past the Socialist Workers Party by .2 percent. David T's vote total was equal to the same amont of votes that split the tight race in the spring 2001 primary between Bob O'Connor and Mayor Murphy.

The Pitt News - Another Democrat favored to win Pittsburgh mayor

The Pitt News - Another Democrat favored to win Pittsburgh mayor Pittsburgh residents probably won’t find many reasons to get out and vote today in an election that appears to have been over before the polling places opened.

Associate Dean of Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Dr. David Miller said that voter turnout in Allegheny County is expected to be low because of relative apathy and a lack of public discussion.

No vote, then no hope.

Why bother voting in local elections? That is why people will not vote. I will say I never missed an election in my life, but I don't think I am going to go vote today, this is pittsburgh, and we know who will win. If there were any issues, state or federal elections I would vote, but for local elections my vote means about as much as a snow ball in h***.

I don't see any point in voting this year.

You should vote or else you'll be 'branded' as 'brainwashed.'

Vote because we need a "NO vote" from you twice so as to make history. Say "NO" to the PA Supreme Court Justices on the retention votes.

We have a city of 300,000 people and around 30,000+/- are going to choose to vote for Bob O'Connor. If 90% of the people stay home and don't choose the mayor. The Republican (and I know that the above emmail came from a Republican) can win if 90-percent of the Republicans in the city came out and voted for the Republican.

Vote because Americans are fighting for the rights of others around the world to vote -- and we should do so here at home. Vote for the duty of citizenship because it is a lot less of a burden than service in the armed forces. Because those in the service answer their call -- we should vote to answer our call as well, with them in mind.

Voting is a great way to resolve issues and deal with problems. We solve conflicts -- with peace -- with votes. There's hope with voting. That reason is enough to convince others to vote rather than picking up a rock (or worse) and bashing it around in frustration.

Teachers strike -- and health coverage gets NUKED. Meanwhile Dad's in the ICU with his baby....

Oh my gosh.

Penn-Trafford board accepts teachers' offer to return to work... Striking teachers who tried to use their health benefits last weekend found out they didn't have any... Health benefits for members of the teachers union had been cut off...

... The lack of health benefits affects all of the teachers, but especially those who are pregnant and one whose wife delivered a son nine weeks premature. He is in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Magee-Womens Hospital... His father found out Friday his insurance was canceled.... The tactic is legal.

What would Bob Do -- not Bob O'Connor, but Bob Casey.

The Pennacchio for Pennsylvania email from November 8, 2005, was interesting. It has spunk. He needs it. Our community needs leaders with the right kind of spunk as well. Pennacchio is a Dem who is gearing up to run against Santorum for US Senate in 2006. But, he'll need to be the big boy from his own party, Bob Casey, to get a whack at PA's Junior Senator, the guy most in Western PA love to hate. Well, here is the email, reposted here.

Note, I post a lot of info at the blog. Some I like and agree with -- other times is is just for everyone's awareness. I don't have much to say about the candidates for the US Senate race -- yet. So, don't fly off and think that this posting is an 'endorsement.' Rather, it is a good sign of spunk in a place and time when we need it.

The Congressional Quarterly is reporting that Bob Casey, Jr. has agreed to meet a challenge issued by Rick Santorum's campaign to say "how he would vote on the important issues before the United States Senate." Hey, when they're right, they're right; and it isn't often so let's not discourage them. Santorum's campaign has asked for Casey's position on twenty-two issues. Given Mr. Casey's refusal to address any issue of substance publicly, we'd settle for two.

Living Wage: Chuck supports a living wage; Rick Santorum opposes it. Where does Bob Casey stand? One out of five American children lives in poverty. Last year, 1 in 10 Pennsylvania households experienced food insecurity. 1.38 million Pennsylvanians have no health insurance. The majority of these citizens are employed or from working families. In 1968, the federal minimum wage was 86% of the poverty level. Today, it is 64%. Business interests have predicted disaster every time the minimum wage was raised. It has never happened. Legislators' wages are cost-adjusted; government benefits are cost-adjusted. Where does Bob Casey stand on a living wage for workers?

Alito Nomination: Judge Samuel Alito voted to overturn the Family and Medical Leave Act passed by Congress, upheld the strip search of a woman and a ten year old girl based on a warrant to search a man and his house, and ruled that the government could force a woman to notify her spouse before seeking an abortion -- with no exception for abuse or estrangement -- in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA v. Casey. Judge Alito is more concerned with business interests than with the freedom of citizens, especially women and minorities. Chuck opposes Judge Alito's confirmation; Rick Santorum supports it. What would Bob Casey, Jr. do?

If you agree with Chuck on living wage legislation and the Alito nomination, help us take the fight to the US Senate. Someone once said if you want to keep gettin' what you're gettin', keep doin' what you're doin.' If we keep electing the same kinds of politicians, politicians who are indebted to corporate interests, we're going to get the same old non-solutions that keep monied interests happy and the rest of us struggling. You can change politics by backing candidates who refuse corporate money and influence. Chuck doesn't take any PAC money; Casey and Santorum do -- lots of it.
gel button "contribute"

Thanks for your support, and for taking time today to vote. The polls open at 7AM and close at 8PM.

Pennacchio for Pennsylvania

AntiRust: Subsidies for Wealthy Tourists: The Baltimore Sun Has (Finally) Had Enough

AntiRust: Subsidies for Wealthy Tourists: The Baltimore Sun Has (Finally) Had Enough

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Final Thoughts on the 2005 Pittsburgh General Election

I put a different spin on today's election at another blog. Go there and see his posting and then my comments (also posted below).

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Final Thoughts on the 2005 Pittsburgh General Election
It feels a bit presumptuous to have 'final thoughts' on a topic on which I've barely had first thoughts.

---

I wrote on his blog:
No, no, no....

I dare say you are close on some of your assumptions, but the final step to close the thought is missing...

The ratio isn't nearly as important as the vote totals. Murphy go 39K. Bob was in the primary with 30k against Murphy in 2001.

Will O'Connor get 40K? Will he get in the 30s? Will he get less than 30K?

I think Weinroth will do a lot better than Carmine. But, that means 15,000 or so. A 4,000 increase would be way better.

Plus, look back to the vote totals in 1998. You'll be shocked.

Next, Elsie. That choice is much like Roddey. Roddey did win county wide. Been there, done that. But you are right. That is the type of person we'd need for 'mayor.' But, we've got Joe Weinroth. Joe is not radical in the slightest. On one hand you'd say it is his strength -- but also a weakness.

Joe didn't rock the boat much in the campaign. He isn't a flashy guy. He didn't do any breakout moves.

This is where the break-out must come -- on council. We'll have Bob O as the mayor with smiles and handshakes. But we'll need the tough-love approach on council. We'll crave balance, and the break-out needs to come in that role, I dare predict.

Hence vote for Gov Rendell (D) for top spot and give more seats to Rs in the state house and state senate.

But, then again, the real challenger may not be Republican. It isn't just a two-party system, here.

2 of 3 voters may stay away. --- People always vote with their feet. Hence Pittsburgh is half of its former self.

My oldest son is 11. Both of my kids have lived their entire life while Tom Murphy served as Mayor of Pittsburgh.

I would have tried to get the Liberty Bridge and Liberty Tunnel renamed for Tom Murphy -- if he had resigned from office before today's election. Won't happen. Oh well. Some of us tried.

2 of 3 voters may stay away - PittsburghLIVE.com Although Pittsburgh voters will choose the city's first new mayor in more than a decade, voter turnout in the city and across the county probably won't top 30 percent of nearly 900,000 registered voters in Allegheny County, predicted Mark Wolosik, director of the county's Election Division. That's because many local offices up for grabs this year essentially were decided in the May primary. The ballot contains no major statewide contests.

In the race for a successor to replace three-term Mayor Tom Murphy, Democrat Bob O'Connor, of Squirrel Hill, is a heavy favorite to win over Republican Joe Weinroth, also of Squirrel Hill. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city by about 5 to 1, and the Democratic primary has decided the mayor's race for seven decades. Other candidates for mayor are Green Party contender Titus North, of Squirrel Hill, independent candidate David Tessitor, of Squirrel Hill, and Socialist Workers candidate Jay M. Ressler, of Lawrenceville.

Eroding the PA Constitution, why we vote "NO" for the PA Judges

In handling the Constitution, the PA Supreme Court gives an absurd level of deference to the legislature. The following wording has appeared in numerous opinions over the past ten years:

"It is well established that a statute is presumed to be constitutional and will not be declared unconstitutional unless it clearly, palpably and plainly violates the Constitution... Therefore, the party challenging the constitutionality of a statute has a heavy burden of persuasion."

And the following sums up who the Court's bias favors:

"Historically, our Court has refrained from inquiring into alleged procedural irregularities in the passage of legislation and has presumed that a statute has been legally enacted."

Most Pennsylvanians have now come to understand that assuming the legislature works within the confines of the Constitution is akin to believing in the tooth fairy. It all sounds nice, but it simply isn't so.

Additionally, the PA Supreme Court has handed down decisions over the past few years which have directly eroded the protections offered by the PA Constitution, including:

Pennsylvania School Boards Association v. Commonwealth Association of School Administrators (PSBA v. CASA, 2002), which allowed the legislature to change the entire meaning of a bill at the last minute, effectively voiding the Single Subject and Three Day protections. Justice Newman and Justice Nigro both concurred.

Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion Fund, Inc. et al. v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania et al., where the Court upheld Act 71 of 2004 - the slots bill - despite apparent violations of the Original Purpose and Single Subject protections. The decision cited PSBA v. CASA.
PAVING THE WAY FOR THE PAY RAISE

Justice Nigro concurred on Act 71, while Justice Newman recused herself due to a conflict of interest apparently arising from ownership of horse racing interests. This decision was handed down on June 22, 2005.

On July 7, 2005 the legislature approved the pay raise. The Governor quickly signed it. The Chief Justice praised it. It was later revealed the Chief Justice of the court helped author the pay raise legislation and actively lobbied for its passage.

Although Chief Justice Cappy publicly praised the pay raise, Justice Newman and Justice Nigro failed to speak out against it. The pay raise violates the Single Subject, Original Purpose, Three Day and Separation of Powers protections. It also violates Article II, Section 8 in two distinct ways.

LIVING LIKE ROYALTY

$85.00 bottles of wine, $300 dinners, On Star systems for taxpayer-funded luxury cars, paid drivers, car washes and golden junkets in luxury suites at both island and mountain resorts are just some of the expenses the Supreme Court Justices have determined are necessary to their duties and have billed taxpayers for.

In an AP story on October 30, Justice Nigro accused those opposed to his retention of making an unfair attack without examining his record. Justice Newman declined to comment.

We believe the record is very clear and points to advocating a "NO" vote on both Newman and Nigro on November 8.

Got Ink: Parents, community groups hope for best from city schools reorganizaton

I'm quoted in an article that starts on the front-page of today's P-G. This coverage is not about election day, but rather about community and schools.

Parents, community groups hope for best from city schools reorganizaton
Mark Rauterkus, a South Side resident with two children in city schools, said public input should be taken, and responses given, at a series of town hall meetings. He said data that Rand used to analyze school effectiveness should be put online for parents to review.

Mr. Rauterkus said the reorganization will result in some jostling among teachers and administrators for new jobs. He said he's concerned that reassignment of effective principals and teachers could undercut schools already striving for excellence.

Nice article.

Yes, the RAND DATA should be open for "peer review." It should be defended in academic and community circles. This needs to happen online. I'm sure folks in other cities will want to peek at the logic, numbers and outcomes as well.

Frankly, I'm still waiting for the pointer to go live from the main page of the PPS site for the academic presentation in Power Point. See http://www.pghboe.net. Look for the Nov. 1 presentation. I have a copy of the handout. But, others do not.

Furthermore, these forums that I dream about are much more than a one-way conversation to individuals from the school administration. How about minutes from these meetings? Too often as objections are raised, they ping around the room like B-Bs and are never strung together. How are the pearls pulled together like a necklace? The feedback needs to be collected, harvested, organized. If you are not there in the room, you miss a good deal. Give-and-take isn't being broadcasted, gathered, tested, and weighed with real inspection.

Who is going to hold these "round-table forums?" I don't think that the P-G, RAND, A+ Schools nor the Pgh Public Schools can do it. They each need to be there as well as the unions. But tonight, I'm not sure who can offer the glue to make this work as it should. As you might guess, I'm talking about something more than a new parent hot line phone number. Sure, the phone hot line for parents is great. Call 412 622 7920. But we need some serious advancement to leap over the $47-million gap between expenses and revenues for next year at PPS.

And, we don't need a new gambling task force thingie either. Spare us yet another authority creation for goodness sake.

As to the quote above and the concern about jobs and the expected reassignment of effective principals and teachers, let me be clear. I was asked about the worries that are brewing in the community. I don't have many myself, other than that of a dad with a kid going into 6th grade next year. That's a big time to ring alarm bells. But I feel that there are going to be a lot of worries in the months to come about teacher and administrator positions. Who is going to lead this academy? Who is willing to teach to 5:30 pm? Who is going to go here and help jump start those test scores? Meanwhile, who is going to stay put and work with the influx of others. There are plenty of good teachers. There are a number of great teachers too. But, I wonder about there being enough ambitions in the ranks of the professionals because I sense that they are going to have to put some serious skin in the game.

Frankly, some principals, some naysayers and some who might be burnt out for whatever reason are going to balk. I hope that the uninspired and excuse-makers land in Peters Township by April 2006.

We need to strive for excellence everywhere. And, we'll need to have good energy in all the schools. These are my hopes. These are not my worries. But, for the professionals in the schools, I'm sure these (and other) thoughts are going to enter into unfolding decisions.

I have confidence that the goals being set forth are not intended to undercut schools nor students who are already striving for excellence. But I'm also sure that this thought is going to enter into the discussion now and again in the weeks and months to come.

An interesting trend to the city might materialize. Some of the best teachers from throughout the region could be attracted to new roles in Pittsburgh. The new quest for excellence that is unfolding in the Pgh Public Schools might cause some professional mixing. We'll have new directions and new challenges that have been proven to work in other cities and with some charter schools. This district can be more attractive for existing teachers and be an attraction for top notch teachers elsewhere.

Pgh Public Schools can be known as a great place to make a career for gung-ho teachers and administrators. Let's make it so.

Mascots for Beijing Olympic Games to Be Unveiled Soon (photos attached)

Wow. This is impressive.

Mascots for Beijing Olympic Games to Be Unveiled Soon (photos attached)
'The First,' a Beijing-based newspaper dedicated to sports and the Olympic Movement, will launch its 'learn 1,000 English Sentences in 1,000 Days' campaign in collaboration with an agency under the Beijing Municipal Government to promote Beijing residents' enthusiasm to learn foreign languages, especially English. From November 12 till the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on August 8, 2008, the newspaper will carry one frequently-used English sentence every day on its front page.

Does any running mate want to join with me as we set up sidewalk press stands to sell "The First" on the streets of Pittsburgh, shoulder to shoulder with the sales guys pushing The Trib PM?
Beach sign: Keep away from the shark prevention net. (Another excuse to run another of my photos from China.)

Business Opportunities Weblog | Be Glad You’re an Entrepreneur Now

Nice excuse to publish another photo from China, taken on our most recent trip.

Should have showed this photo to Joe Weinroth and the other three (or four) now a part of "The Whack Pack."

Business Opportunities Weblog | Be Glad You’re an Entrepreneur Now: "Be Glad You’re an Entrepreneur Now

Because everyone loves lists, Inc. has put together a list of 75 reasons to be glad you’re an entrepreneur right now. Some of the really good ones:

* Because English is, more than ever, the language of international business. There are more Chinese learning English than Americans speaking it.

Analysis: Closing plan may start new era for city schools

This statement is a little out of context, in my humble opinion.

Analysis: Closing plan may start new era for city schools He has said right-sizing is part of a broader vision for overhauling the district. He clearly plans to do this once, do it in a big way and move on.

'He doesn't want to go back in a year or two and close more schools,' Mr. Sternberg said. 'He wants this to be what has to be done. Frankly, it needs to be done this way.'

We are going to need to go back and close some more schools in a year or two. The high schools are not being looked at in this round of closings and retoolings. The plan slated for release this week attacks at the elementary and middle school levels. The high schools plan is for another year.

And, should this plan not work out -- other changes are going to be necessary. I think that this plan has a lot of accountability. And, if certain schools do well while others flounder, again, the ax will swing again.

Great. Let's think again, and again. I don't mean to say we'll back track. Rather, we'll be flexibile from this moment forward and do the dance that needs to be done -- for the sake of the kids that are in the classrooms today.

The biggest fear among the parents is that this generation of kids are going to be lost -- too.

Now that I'm talking about high schools, while the others are yet to start -- here is one bold plan that I'd consider.

Turn Peabody and Westinghouse into single gender high schools. Put the boys in one school and the girls in another school.

With single-gender schools, among other benefits, Central Catholic High School would gain a public school rival. Same too for Oakland Catholic.

Let's talk about this again in 2006 -- after we come to understand the new plan this week for the little ones.

Council postpones vote on payments by nonprofits

A big part of the discussion about the nonprofit centered upon the UPMC owned facility on the South Side that is rented, in part to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt for its male-only football team.

This facility is what drove me to get involved in politics. The planning was goofy to me then, as a newbie in this realm. The promises that were made have been broken. It wasn't square from the get-go.

UPMC, a nonprofit, purchased the prime riverfront land from the URA (city owned Urban Redevelopment Authority). The land came at a bargain price. These 30 acres were sold, and deals were struck, so that the Steelers could have a place to practice. A practice field on the North Side was taken with the building of Heinz Field.

A PLIOT -- Payment In Lieu of Taxes -- was struck. Or, so the joke was told.

This happened years ago. Back then I was not okay with the sale of the land. I was not happy with the design of the dwarf football fields. I was not okay with the pledge of community access. I was not happy to see the loss of tax incomes by selling the land to a nonprofit owner. I objected. I spoke up. My protest, and that of some others as well, got the new owners, UPMC, to dump some additional money back into the community. I call that 'hush money.' The $6,000 grant offer from Jerry D was laughed at and the amount went up ten-fold from one meeting to the next. He is long gone from UPMC's administration. I'm still here. I'm still with a vivid memory of the broken promises too.

Now at the city council meeting, today, the deal got twisted again. The money that UPMC is paying for the land is still part of the sales agreement. Say what? That needs to be put on tape. But then again, the weirdness came from Sala Udin, a URA Board member and long-time 'yes man' to Mayor Murphy. Sala's time on council is ending shortly.

Sala's statements need to be researched. If nothing else, that deal needs to be unlocked and put in the open -- finally.

Council postpones vote on payments by nonprofits Mr. Shields called that 'circular logic' and said the obvious solution would be the release to council of all existing agreements with nonprofit organizations. 'What's the rush to this?' he said of the contract vote. 'The agreement before us is incomplete.'

One long-term solution to these nonprofit struggles should be the construction of a land-expansion-moratorium for the whole nonprofit community. We need to do a complete inventory of land. This needs to be cataloged by year in square foot. And, the trend has to be put in reverse.

Mayor Murphy was happy to give away land to nonprofits. Then he is quick to cry the blues because so much land is owned by the nonprofits.

I've been talking about the crisis of nonprofit land ownership for years -- and that was the reason I jumped into politics.

Now there are others who are finally starting to 'think again.'

Lifting the curtain on the PPS plans

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt is calling out an invite for parents to attend a Press Briefing at 2 pm on Wednesday afternoon, November 9, 2005. He will announce the Plan to Right-Size the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Go to Conference Room A, Pittsburgh Board to Education Building, 341 S. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland.

Get the outline of the educational enhancements and resource realignment for the 2006-2007 school year.

Pittsburgh City Council members jockey for presidency

Classic.

Pittsburgh City Council members jockey for presidency 'Council should not be a department of the new administration,' said Mr. Peduto. 'We need to have as much independence as the [fiscal overseers] if we're going to remain a relevant voice.'

Sorry. City Council has become less and less meaningful -- thanks to pushes from Peduto. Peduto wanted the overlords. Now Peduto wants to be with as much independence as the overlords. Peduto wants to be equal with the overloards.

The vote to remain relevant happened when the overlords were invited into this city. The last relevant vote council took was to give up its power and accept the oversight boards. The reason that the overlords were called to the city is because city council and the mayor miss-managed public funds. The overlords were called to Pittsburgh for good reason.

The overlords are goiong to need to see good reason to depart and it is the job of city council to prove that it is relevant again. That is my call. I'll be running for city council to prove that council is again a relevant voice -- and it is necessary for the city to thrive again.

I want to help push the oversight boards out of town by doing a great job with the budget and democracy. We need to fix ourselves. We need to heal the city -- in acts, deeds and determined leadership from all elements of the city's population and political systems.

Pgh School Shake-up Hits this week -- starting with crossing guards again

Our schools are in trouble. And, again, we find that the powers that be are dinking over crossing guards. Frustration mounts.

Doug Shields on City Council got to serve as a crossing guard for an hour recently. He lived to talk about it today at the council meeting.

This was an issue last year and the year before. It is still a big issue in the budget for 2006. The oversight board wants to have a meeting with the city and schools to shift the cost of the crossing guards onto the backs of the school budget. And, city council members want to get the city, county and school leaders to meet to talk about the crossing guards too.

Wrong.

The city has had a duty to pay for crossing guards. Mayor Murphy messed up, as usual. Now, you got to go back and fix up his mess.

School crossing guards should be paid for by the city. Those who are in charge of doing the budget, city council, should fix the problem that lingers.

The crossing guards work the streets that go before city, charter, private and cathlolic schools. The streets are for drivers, walkers, bikers, bus riders and our kids. This is the realm of POLICE and public safety.

I want my school budget to pay for reading coaches, math teachers and algebra tutors. Our school system needs to teach kids -- not make sure that neighborhoods are safe. The city council and mayor need to make sure the neighborhoods are safe.

The oversight board wants to take money away from the schools to pay for crossing guards. Meanwhile, the school performance is so bad -- we run the risk of the entire school district being taken over by the state. There is a bad idea in the middle of becoming real. Rob the school district, over and over again, then take it over for failing to meet state standards. Pay more later when the state takes over all the schools of the district.

These guys are trying to kill the schools, and in turn the city. And, the city council members are letting this happen.

ELECTION DAY event: KISS YOUR LEVERS GOODBYE PARTY!

Come pull a lever on one of our wonderful walking lever machines and get a Hersey's kiss as we KISS OUR LEVERS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY "GOODBYE".

TOMORROW, Election Day, 11/8/2005

TIMEs: 11 AM to 1PM and 3 PM to 6 PM

LOCATION: Outside the Polling Station on the sidewalk (And maybe across the street at the bus stop) Forbes Avenue side of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) at 5738 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

This will be the last time Pittsburghers vote on the venerable lever machines after decades of service. What will replace them? We hope it will be a voting machine with a voter-verified paper audit trail (V-VPAT) with a routine audit.

Our county will be purchasing new machines in the next months. HB2000/SB977 provide electronic voting machines with V-VPATs and routine audits in our elections in PA. We will be handing out educational literature on how HB2000 will safeguard our elections in PA.

Thanks for helping to safeguard the integrity of our elections in Pennsylvania.

Cheers, Richard King

PS - Don't miss the special county council hearing on our county voting machine purchases, November 17th. Call for more details!

Richard King, Ph.D. (412) 400-3773, kinggaines@comcast.net,
www.PA-VerifiedVoting.org,
www.verifiedvoting.org

Links for Pennsylvania HB2000/SB977:
Voter Verified Paper Records with Routine Audits
www.PA-VerifiedVoting.org (locate&email your legislators)
www.VotePA.us (Listserve for voting reform activists)
democracyforberks.com/countmyvote (List of co-sponsors)
http://www.coalitionforvotingintegrity.org/
http://www.congressweb.com/cweb4/index.cfm?orgcode=VTUSA&hotissue=2

Abercrombie & Fitch to pull line of T-shirts

Abercrombie & Fitch to pull line of T-shirts Saturday, November 05, 2005
By Monica Haynes and Moustafa Ayad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Retail giant Abercrombie & Fitch, bowing to increasing national pressure started by a local girls group, has agreed to stop selling several controversial T-shirts.

Splendid singing, music and message -- with a recent victory!

The hardest element of this posting is trying to figure out who should get top billing. All were excellent.

Emma Blackman-Mathis join with Emma's Revolution to bask in the glory of the recent victory.
Pgh's Emma and DC-based Emma's Revolution hooked up in Friendship. Check out the t-shirts. (Click image for larger view.)

Girlcott co-organizer, Emma, (16-year old from Pittsburgh) back from major network appearances, and triumph with A&F's decision to yank the t-shirt line. (keep reading)

Musical power.

In May 2002, the song, (my favorite) "Swimming to the Other Side" was featured on NPR's All Things Considered. In the interview, Pete Seeger said, "The powers that be can control the media (but) it's hard to stop a good song . . . Pat's songs will be sung well into the 22nd century." The tremendous and unprecedented response by NPR listeners made Emma's Revolution CD, "Hands," the #1 seller on Amazon.com for three days following.

Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow, (neither named Emma -- but both want to dance at the revolution) were in the process of moving to the Washington DC area from New York City on September 11, 2001. Since then, they have been performing at concerts, teach-ins and rallies. At one event as Gulf War II began, the singers/songwriters lead 10,000 people in an outdoor concert in NYC in the singing of their song "Peace, Salaam, Shalom." That inspiring event, less than a month after September 11th, was requested and repeated at an all-night peace vigil in NYC on the first 9-11 anniversary.

"Democracy Now!" with Amy Goodman plays a number of their songs. Rhythms Magazine called the "Hands" CD a "powerful and energetic album. . . one of the best of 2001." Sheet music in PDF format of the peace song is online.

Anne Feeney stages another great event.

Back to the t-shirt story:

On November 2, 2005, the news was about free PR for A&F and the girls. Since then, the A&F changed its tune. The t-shirts are gone.

Newsday.com: Student 'girlcott' protests Abercrombie t-shirts

With a few words on their T-shirts, Abercrombie & Fitch lets young women send a message: 'Who needs a brain when you have these?'

A group of female high school students have a message for A&F: Stop degrading us.

The Allegheny County (Pa.) Girls have started a boycott -- or girlcott, as they're calling it -- of the retailer. The campaign, conceived three weeks ago during the group's monthly meeting, went national on NBC's "Today" show. (Emma was on all the major networks: CNN, Fox, etc.)

"We're telling [girls] to think about the fact that they're being degraded," Emma Blackman-Mathis, the 16-year-old co-chair of the group. "We're all going to come together in this one effort to fight this message that we're getting from pop culture."

Abercrombie has been a lightning rod for criticism:

In 2003, a catalog containing photos of topless women and bare-bottomed men provoked so much outrage that the company pulled the publication.

Last year, after the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team failed to win a gold medal, the company sold T-shirts with the phrase "L is for loser" next to a picture of a gymnast on the rings. Those shirts were pulled from the racks after USA Gymastics called for a boycott.

While Abercrombie backed down in those cases, it show no signs of doing so this time. (Ha! A&F did back down this time. The young women from Allegheny County won.)

"Our clothing appeals to a wide variety of customers. These particular T-shirts have been very popular among adult women to whom they are marketed," a company spokesman said in a statement.

News of the girlcott hadn't reached Tawana Clark, 20, who was applying for a job at the Abercrombie & Fitch store in Water Tower Place on Tuesday. But she doesn't think the protest will work.

"I think it's only older people that have a problem with it," she said. "Teenagers don't have a problem with it." (Ha, ha, ha!)

Clark sees the shirts as funny, not offensive. "It's not to be taken seriously," she said. (Say what?)

The aim of the girlcott is to convince people that the T-shirts are offensive, but young people don't care if they are, according to David Krafft, senior vice president of Chicago-based Graziano, Krafft and Zale Advertising.

"You figure they're appealing to a younger audience demographic and (young people) are going to want go for brands that are more cutting edge, or viewed as more cutting edge," Krafft said. "So it's just going to be a benefit anyway to Abercrombie & Fitch."

The attention from this boycott is likely to help Abercrombie's image, and its audience will be attracted to the controversy, said Steve Bassill, president of Libertyville-based QDI strategies, a marketing consulting firm. (WRONG!)

"That's been their whole strategy, isn't it, to be radical?" Bassill asked. "I think that's what we've seen for quite a while from them."

Krafft says the "Today" show appearance was tantamount to free advertising.

According to Chicago-based media company Starcom USA, a 30-second commercial on "Today" costs approximately $58,000.

The girlcott girls were on for several minutes. The girlcott almost is "playing into their hands," Bassill said.

Heather Arnett, adviser for the girls' group, said it doesn't matter if Abercrombie gets free advertising. They're already a giant as far as she's concerned. What matters is empowering young women, she said, who in turn serve as examples to other young women.
"A week ago, Katie Couric knew who Abercrombie & Fitch was, but she didn't know who Emma Blackman-Mathis was," Arnett said. "A bunch of teenage girls are being interviewed by national media about what they think. And that is the news."

Blackman-Mathis admits that, at first glance, the T-shirts are a little funny.

But the more she looked at them, the less amusing they were. She's still stunned to have appeared on national TV and is hopeful the message will reach young girls.

"Worst-case scenario, I just want girls to at least think about everything that they buy," Blackman-Mathis said. "Think about the message that it conveys to themselves and other people when they wear it."

Her best-case scenario?

"They would stand up and say something for themselves and for girls."