Jeff Koch takes his seat at the City Council Table and swears to uphold the Consitution!

Photos to come later.

Well, day one is coming to a close, and Jeff Koch, D, the city's newest member of city council, has done no harm! And, he served up some nice snacks and sandwiches too.

Jeff was a loyal opponent in the race and I'm not going to badger him too, too much. But, he needs to know that his honeymoon is over as he has won the seat for just a year and a month or so until the next election -- the D primary. There might be folks looking to bump him off then. He has to hit the ground running.

The talks that were given today were from Bob O'Connor and Jeff Koch. Bob's was much longer.

The new mayor said, This is a very, very good day for the city of Pittsburgh." He honored to be there. He's know Jeff for many years. Jeff will do a great job because he is a good father, husband, businessman, worker, has an excellent track record and cares about the City of Pittsburgh. Jeff cares about the people.

This can be one of the best city councils in history. They work together. They care about our community. That is what Jeff excels in.

There is a lot of exciting things happening in Pittsburgh. Yesterday was the kick off for Pittsburgh Roars.

"I saw families from all over western Pennsylvania there celebrating all the great things we have: parks, culture, universities, hospitals, rivers, community. That is what Jeff exlemplifies best. He represents Pittsburgh and all the good things about Pittsburgh.

Enjoy that first election as it never gets any better than that. There is nothing like your first day in office. Congrats!

---

Jeff's remarks went about 100 seconds.

Thank you all for your support. It will be a priveldge to serve. Then a phone rings the first time. The phone is being carried by one of the TV news camera men.

I'm looking forward to many challenges. I know I'll have to put in a lot of work to solve them, but I know we will get it done. Thanks...

Make our neighborhood safer... and then the phone rings again. Can you get that. Laughter.

I'm not a desk person. I'll be out and about. I want to make sure all your concerns are being taken care of. My committment is wide ranging and long term.
Claps.

Then we had cookies!

Pgh Public Schools Key Communicators -- details of pending meeting

Helping kids.

At the Legislative Meeting on March 22, 2006, the Board approved the District’s recommendation to pursue a new district-wide curriculum and agreed to a three year contract with Kaplan K-12 Learning Services, LLC. Kaplan K-12, which has a 70-year history and experience with large-scale curriculum reform similar to what Pittsburgh needs, will custom design the curricula, assessments and professional development for the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear first hand how Kaplan K 12 will be working with students, staff and parents in our district. All parents K-12 are invited to hear this presentation. Please reserve a spot by calling 412-622-3617 by Wednesday March 29th.

Key Communicators’ Meeting is from 6:30 pm to 8:30 on Thursday, March 30, 2006, in
Conference Room A.

Welcome & Introductions, Donna Vlassich, Assistant Director Public Engagement

Opening Remarks, Superintendent, Mark Roosevelt

Introduction of Kaplan K-12 Learning Services, Lynn Spampinato, Deputy Superintendent

Presentation of Information, Kaplan K-12 Representatives

Questions

Major gambling interests focus on Pa. - PittsburghLIVE.com

What if we said, "We don't want slots in Pittsburgh. But, we'll take table games instead." Then what?

Major gambling interests focus on Pa. - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Though table games won't be allowed, up to 61,000 slot machines will be enough to draw interest from the biggest names in gambling.

The other line in the news that I must get notice is, "(AP) - With an expansion of gambling stalled elsewhere in the country, major gambling interests have set their sights firmly on Pennsylvania, ..." So, gambling is not expanding anywhere but here. Gambling is on the downturn. The gambling marketplace has come to its peak and is in a fast decline.

The sun is about to set in terms of gambling -- and now Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania is going to dive in.

It is too late in the game for slots.

It might be too late in the game for table games too.

Just as we built the huge convention center -- and it won't ever reach its capacity nor be sustainable -- because the rest of the nation zipped on past Pittsburgh, the same holds true with gambling.

There is good reason to fear that our casino is going to suck. It might not work. It will need to be scaled down and back and won't pull the promised income the hyped politicians and developers have expected.

Ninth member of city council gets sworn in today, and I'll be there.

New guy joins city council today at 2 pm.

I'm not too sure what to blog about with the arrival of Jeff Koch, D, to city council today. I have mixed emotions. So take what you want from the photo above -- as I'm not sure if that is to show him or me -- or just my mood. We need a watchdog, for sure. And, the dog show just concluded. That puppy didn't win. And, every dog has its day in the sun. Enough.

The other day on another forum (and with various conversations) I heard some 'down-beat' comments about Jeff. One person said or posted that 'he (Koch) does NOTHING for me.' Jeff might score 0 for some on a 1-to-100 scale. I'd like to re-frame that position in a few ways.

First, the scale I hold as a measure spans from minus 100 to plus 100. With that in mind, I'd also score Jeff in the low zone. I'd give him a "zero" -- if that zero means right in the middle. To me, now, Jeff becomes a neutral addition to city council.

I could be a lot worse. Some might have come to council with a minus 90 score, in my opinion, given my score methods. Your mileage may vary.

Furthermore, I've talked to a few on Grant Street and the impression I get is that Jeff needs to prove himself. He'll need to do things in the first months as he does come up for a re-election in a year for the Ds endorsement and November 2007 for the general election.

If Jeff is slow to move on items -- he'll be a weaker candidate. He's going to need to show some action. Jeff doesn't have much of a honeymoon. Bob O'Connor is still in a honeymoon -- but Jeff Koch's time to shine is NOW.

I'd like to see and hear a big opening day pitch from Jeff at the microphone. But, he isn't a 'talker' -- so he says himself. Well, he had a couple of weeks to plan and prepare. I hope he takes a good and bold first step. I'll be there -- and with my recorder.

To be sure, Jeff is a supporter of Bob O'Connor. And, the support went to Jeff from Bob as well. Some, but not too much, I'd say. And, we've got a new mayor and we should be charting a new direction for the city. That's great. I want to get rid of all the Murphy ways and notions as quickly as possible. So, this election give more wind into O'Connor's sails -- and he had better make good progress as there is much to do.

Let's not forget to LISTEN close to the words as Jeff takes his oath of office -- as this was a point I made here and on the trails. He'll swear to uphold the consititution -- NOT to be a hallmark of service to the citizens who all want a hand-out.

Dave Nachmanoff - The Official Dave Nachmanoff Website - CALENDAR

Dave Nachmanoff, a friend and musical talent like none other, is returning to Pittsburgh with Al Stewart, his side-kick (if you ask me or my wife or my mother-inlaw) for a Sunday night concert on May 7 at Club Cafe, just down 12th Street. He's great and played a couple events for us in the past. One was the 9-11 concert before Dan Onorato was elected. Dave also helped with a concert to open the Musicians Hearing Clinic at UPMC's Eye and Ear -- with my wife's department.

Dave Nachmanoff - The Official Dave Nachmanoff Website - CALENDAR Sunday, May 7th, 2006, Club Cafe
8 pm

With Al Stewart!

Mark Cuban on C-Span - and how our paths come from the same fabric

Mark C did a great job with an interview on C-SPAN. Two thumbs up. I saw the last 20 minutes or so this morning and dashed off a quick email to him before I took the kids to school.

There are a lot of things we have in common beyond our first names, hometowns and similar ages. I returned to Pittsburgh and he stayed in Texas -- where I had been. I went to graduate school at Baylor in the Heart of Texas and spent some time in Dallas. Recently, I was called the "maverick" candidate and he owns the Dallas Mavs of the NBA, but we both lean Libertarian in politics. He said he won't be a politician -- and I had never expected to be either -- until Mayor Murphy had such an easy time trashing our city and its future. Then I jumped from the sidelines into the game of politics -- as a candidate.

I never started a chain letter, as Cuban did in his college days to help pay his way through school, but I too payed my way. I went to Ohio University, and looked long and hard at Indiana University, twice. I took the Journalism, he business. If I dig, I'll find letters from I.U., as Doc and Hobie were there. I coached swimming and also earned some scholarships throughout my undergrad days to pay my way.

I worked in a computer store too as he did. I went to Nabih's (an indie dealer in Chicago -- Evanston, really). That's where I met my wife, as she was in grad school at Northwestern. So, we are both techies.

Long ago gave an interview to Cuban's partner when they were working Audio Net. I was helping a buddie at his trade show booth as he geared up his software publishing firm. I was doing some marketing with him at a San Jose email/web trade show. His database/webserver product then only ran on a Mac. So our paths crossed then and I knew of the Pittsburgh connection, but this was no big deal.

Pittsblog has been watching the Cuban feed and putting up a few ideas about how Pittsburgh couldn't embrace a Mark Cuban in its culture. I agree.

When they were talking about tearing down Pitt Stadium, I put in a word to the Pitt Rocks folks that Mark Cuban might be a go-to guy to team with Ditka and T.D. to save the ol gal, but they only huddled and had too many delay of game calls for my fancy.

As I'm re-tooling from the election and wondering what's up next for me -- beyond swim coaching and playing with the kids and other basics -- I generally go back to the sports, business and media enterprises. Politics is going to matter to me forever more, but in my heart of heart, and as I said on the trails in this election, I'm into politics now because of the crisis.

Schenley Plaza project uproots old trees

Told you so. I obected to this project years ago. It is a waste, a joke and very expensive. To build a merry-go-round is very fitting -- as it is a living example of what to do for total frustration. A merry-go-round is designed so you can never get ahead. It is even a 'poor' (pun intended) 'cheap thril'.

Schenley Plaza project uproots old trees: "Not long after the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy had 10 London plane trees cut down there last week, several University of Pittsburgh employees and others fired off e-mails to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
'One by one, [the trees] were systematically mowed down,' wrote John Hempel, a member of Pitt's Department of Biological Sciences, who also is chair of the Braddock Hills Tree Committee. 'Apparently, old trees need not apply for space at their new plaza.'"

The merry-go-round project takes away parking spaces -- in a lot where people would wait in line to park. Often there were 10 to 15 cars in a que just sitting to wait to enter the parking lot.

People who live in Pittsburgh understand where to park and how to slide into the side streets and garage spaces. But people who visit don't. It was often visitors, a precious asset that we need, that used that parking lot that is now but a memory.

The parking lot could have been turned into a parking garage -- with green space on top of the garage. I would have loved to have seen a second level of that garage with bike and pedestrian ramps from all directions and over all the near-by roads. Then the parking incomes could have supported the building of the garage -- upwards.

Pittsburgh needs to build UP.

Pittsburgh's centers of business, academics and density needs to get away from this 'green space' fascination and make more functional, buseinss friendly junctions.

Even the vendors took it to the teeth (pun intended) with this plan. We used to be able to get a hot dog, or some other goodies, from the push-carts. Pitt didn't like them cutting into their 'food court operations.'

Next we'll get an upscale garden cafe for a high-tea and place to wear your big Easter Hat.

Forget the ride with two Double E tickets and give me a free swin set that costs nothing.

In Georgetown, as In D.C., the football team holds its practices on the roof of a parking garage, because space is so tight. There is a nice green space lawn at the front of Soldiers and Sailors Hall. That is a great example of good space use. But, they didn't see that? Nor do out of town visitors who are looking for a short-term parking space either.

We could also try to turn this space into a 'free speech zone.' Yeah, right.

Here is my simple test, Q1: How much "coaching" is going to happen in this park? -- NONE.

Test two: Are the rich getting richer and poor poorer? YES.

Test three: Does it help with flow? NO.

So, this place will do little for fitness, flow nor freedom. It even hurts our city's finances as there are going to be less parking incomes and less parking tax collected. This little park is a concentration of resources in places that don't need further investments when there are so many other more worthy places that are such great need.

Broken furnace cancels today's performance of "Veronica's Veil"

This is so sad.

Broken furnace cancels today's performance of "Veronica's Veil": "Broken furnace cancels today's performance of 'Veronica's Veil'"

The theater company should host its performances at South Vo Tech's auditorium and have it turn into a dinner theater. They could also hold a meal and mixer for the audience and build up the 'experience' in the years to come. And, this could be as a rental, not ownership.

Then, the stage and building that they now own could be either moth-balled or re-positioned into condo spaces.

But, the players won't have the option of using the South Vo Tech spaces -- if the building gets sold. We need to have a better plan and handle on the building's ownership and use. We can't let South Vo Tech be sold as is the plan for next week, even.

It makes more sense to have an overall view of all the assets. Sell the Veronica's Veil building first. Keep South Vo Tech -- a place that buses can reach -- for a bigger venue, community, job production site.

Missed chances: Delays in seeking treatment, gaps in care mean few receive drug treatment for stroke

I love lifeguarding stories -- and this is a big one in the Sunday P-G:

Missed chances: Delays in seeking treatment, gaps in care mean few receive drug treatment for stroke: "But delays in getting to the hospital and gaps in the system of care mean that stories such as Mr. Mayros' remain the exception. "

Longterm: I think EMS should merge -- among CITY and COUNTY wide entities. We'll need to really work hard on that merger as there are so many smaller EMS groups in the burbs.

Furthermore, the academic folks at Pitt need to be pulled into a leadership role in that discussion -- so its focus is on best practices and patient care with evidence.

Finally, we need to do much more in the city with defibrillators -- devices that can re-start the heart's beating -- as that is proving to be more of a help than CPR. And, we don't have the devices in public spaces as we should in the city.

It took our old mayor, Tom Murphy, nearly 12 years to merge 911 services. That merger (of 911) was a no-brainer. To make a real movement, we'll need to move along to EMS and other merger discussions.

Chelsa Wagner - for State Representative, 22nd District - About Chelsa

Chelsa Wagner - for State Representative, 22nd District - About Chelsa Chelsa Wagner crossing the finish line at the Marine Corps Marathon, her first marathon, Washington 2005

She has a fundraiser on Thursday night in Shadyside. And, she has done a marathon. We'll have to get her to upgrade to a Triathlon some day. But first, get the issue pages uploaded to the new site.

Up & Down in Erie

At least Erie has an indoor swim pool that brings people to take a dip with a family get-a-way.

Up & Down It couldn't be more fitting, this week the Erie City Council passed a tax on amusement. Yes, having fun in Erie is now taxed... needless to say it won't raise much money.

Meanwhile in Erie, former Mayor Rick Filippi claimed stupidity, rather than criminal behavior, in his secret participation in a land deal. Since he is from Erie, it might be believable. But PoliticsPA must share in his down arrow for naming him in 2003 one of Pennsylvania's best mayors.

Ride a bike!

Ride a bike!: "We're hard at work planning BikeFest for this summer. This year BikeFest will be held from June 23rd - July 4th. That's twelve fun days filled to the rim with bicycle-goodness!

We're looking for individuals and companies of all sizes to sponsor BikeFest this year. Please contact us at info@bike-pgh.org for more information."

Bike Pittsburgh has a new blog.

Running mate: Ken, made a suggestion: Film and site, "WHY WE FIGHT" -- now a MUST see

You need to see this film and visit its site -- so says Ken. I listened and agree.

http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/

Tom Martin for US Senate

Tom Martin for US Senate Tom Martin is the Libertarian Party candidate for the United States Senate from Pennsylvania.

PIAA Boys' Basketball: Results and Pairings

Must have been a heck of a game. I wish I would have gone.

PIAA Boys' Basketball: Results and Pairings Lower Merion 60, Schenley 58

And the blow-by-blow coverage from the next day...

PIAA Class AAAA Boys Basketball: Schenley's sweet dreams are CRUSHED
'Everyone in the state was saying Schenley was this big, bad wolf from Pittsburgh,' Downer said. 'To be honest, I saw glaring weaknesses with some of the stuff they ran and we thought we could expose it.'

New contract extends Dixon's stay at Pitt

New contract extends Dixon's stay at Pitt Pitt and Dixon came to terms late Friday on a new contract that will put him in a new tax bracket. Pitt nor Dixon would disclose terms of his salary last night, but indications are that he will be in the neighborhood of $900,000 per season. That would put him in the upper half of the Big East coaches in terms of compensation.

Dixon had four years remaining on his old pact and had three more added. The new deal runs through the 2012-13 season.

'You can rest assured that his salary is in line with where he has brought the program in the Big East and nationally,' Pitt athletic director Jeff Long said last night. 'We've provided him with a good salary, one that is competitive in the Big East and one that shows we're happy to have him as our head coach.'

Nice payday for a guy under contract.

Constitutional dependence II - PittsburghLIVE.com

Tom's letter to the editor... in part:

Constitutional dependence II - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Justice Cappy was and is one of the primary backers of the pay grab. His court has been conveniently acquiescent when issues that are clearly unconstitutional or violate existing law -- but benefit the court or the Legislature -- come before it.

The best example of this, but not the only one, is the 'unvouchered expense' provision. There are so many other similar issues (legislative benefits not permitted by the Constitution, legislative secrecy, gun registry by the state police, etc.) that no court, nor Judge Colville, has any credibility with me on this issue.



Thomas A. Portante
O'Hara"

MLB stars to visit Pittsburgh in style

MLB stars to visit Pittsburgh in style When baseball's elite players cluster in July, they needn't worry about tapping into their All-Star bonuses for taxicab or limo fare to reach PNC Park.

As part of the Hollywood-style, star-studded events surrounding the 77th edition of Major League Baseball's mid-summer classic, the 64 All-Stars from the National and American Leagues will parade in convertibles on a red carpet from the Byham Theater across the Clemente Bridge to the ballpark.

Have them walk. And, these guys might be heros for the pill-popping culture, but they are not worthy of any idol status for me and my family. Hell no.

If you want to see a real cavalcade of stars, go to the city league baseball championships -- or a WPIAL baseball championships, if not softball.

I hate it when we rob our kids of basics -- like rec centers, ball fields, and swim pools. Then we heap frills on those that don't need them. It is another example of miss-placed priorities. And, it is another example of the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer.

We should celebrate the game. Games have players. Big deal.

PCTV is streaming -- and feedback is welcomed

Hello Pittsburgh Community Television Producers, Friends and Supporters,

We need your Feedback.

PCTV has just added a video streaming component to our web-site www.pctv21.org so that PCTV programming can be watched on the internet globally. We need you just to take a little time out of your busy schedules to look at the site and let us know if you are able to see PCTV programming on your computers? Is the image clear? Is it difficult to access the live feed? Are their any other issues that we should know about to make this better. You will need Media Player software on your computer; I believe you can easily download it for free. Again, we are not asking for too much time but this will be a great help and your feedback will only strengthen our site.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing your comments.

Thomas Poole

The streaming works for me -- but it is really bad. I'm watching the slide show -- between a show -- and the frame for the media container (stream) is about half my screen size -- but the video within that frame is about 1/3 of that container's size. So, I only get a postage sized video of the station's video. I can't even tell what it is, visuall.

The audio is GREAT.

I've got a PC with Cable Modem and the PC had all the necessary plug ins already -- so it was a snap for me to get the stream started. Good job there.

Ben and John gave Pittsburgh some big plugs on National TV between the games tonight

The Men's NCAA basketball coaches -- each with a Pittsburgh connection -- (Ben H and John C) face off in the elite 8 game on Saturday night as UCLA and Memphis clash. They were interviewed between the games and tossed out a few mentions of Pittsburgh.

I wanted to call up Bob O'Connor and see if he could fly out to the game so he could get some tv time too. Heck, the rest of the nation is everywhere but here -- and Bob might be able to get some others to think about moving back.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, the Women's hoop team at Pitt is glowing in a NIT game -- held at The Fitz -- NOT The Pete. The Pitt News gave some high praise for the venue now mostly in mothballs. A wrestling event is in the big, new arena and the women's games are in the old hangar building -- that is much more intimate.

This is FANTASTIC in that Pitt didn't tear down The Fitz Field House after it built the new Event Center. Pitt has some flexibility now. Pitt had a net gain with its indoor sports venues.

This example is a perfect match as to why the city needs to keep the Civic Arena -- AFTER the building of a new hockey arena. To really have a net gain -- we need both, the old and the new. Don't churn and call that 'progress.' Don't tell me 1-1 = 2. Only 1+1=2.

How did the women's team do anyway?

And, if the Pitt Women do win, when and who will they play next? And, where? Do they keep those games in the Field House?

We could NOT attend either of the past games -- but will do our best to make the next one if it is in Pittsburgh. Especially if it is in The Field House.