Hard numbers haunt district: City schools' debt $476 million - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Hard numbers haunt district: City schools' debt $476 million - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Hard numbers haunt district: City schools' debt $476 million

Reactions welcomed in comments. My thoughts later today.

Running to city council now.

Mayor vetoes campaign finance reform

Forced. That was the word Luke used in his description ... labor would be 'forced to' blah, blah, blah.

Mayor vetoes campaign finance reform: "Under the current bill, the labor community, whose funds are raised at the small dollar level from working men and women, and distributed through PACs, would be forced to find 50 PACs to contribute at the maximum levels proscribed by this bill to match the wealthy, anti-labor candidate.'

First of all, many labor unions force their members to give to their political action committees. Unions often extract money by force from the ranks of the union's membership. Some of those incomes are spend in PACs.

If Luke wants to talk about 'force' -- let's talk about it.

Furthermore, and more to my core of being, is the feeling that unions would be forced to match up to a wealth opponent in the spending department. The amount of money raised does not guarantee votes.

If 50 PACs each donate the limit to a candidate to match, dollar for dollar, what the wealthy opposition has invested / spent, so what. Money can't guarantee votes. The boots on the street and the people going to the polls are much more valuable than the capital in the check book of a wealthy opponent.

Finally, the PAC can give the limit and then pass the word that each of the members of the PAC give from personal accounts. The members of the union can write a check for $50 or even up to $2000 each.

The donation from the PAC to the candidate is just the tip of the point. The wood behind the arrow's point is the additional donations from individuals to the candidate directly.

Pittsburgh mayor vetoes campaign finance limit bill - Pittsburgh Business Times:

The expected veto by Luke Ravenstahl o campaign finance reform arrived. I asked via a note to the mayor for him to to sit with me and consider some counter-proposals to come along with his veto. I didn't want him to veto it. And, even if he signed the bill, he could have offered further, different suggestions for election reform.

The mayor has nothing to say, except offer four letters?

Pittsburgh mayor vetoes campaign finance limit bill - Pittsburgh Business Times:: A bill that would have limited political contributions to candidates for public office in Pittsburgh was vetoed Monday by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Pittsburgh City Council last week voted 5-4 to limit candidates for a city office to a $2,000 donation from an individual and $5,000 from a group, corporation or union.

But Ravenstahl rejected the bill, which Councilman Bill Peduto, the measure's primary sponsor, said was disappointing.

'This is just emblematic of a backward thinking, old-school political town, and it's embarrassing, frankly, that Pittsburgh can't enact progressive legislation like almost every other city and state in this country,' he said.

'(Ravenstahl) said this isn't real reform. (Then) why was it supported by Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Democracy Rising, and other reform-minded organizations?

'This has been in process for five months, and the mayor never spoke a word until he vetoed it,' Peduto said.

A spokeswoman for Ravenstahl did not immediately return a call for comment.

Update:

The Trib says that the veto came with a four page memo. I would love to see it. I'll post it here as soon as I get a copy.

Ravenstahl vetoes campaign finance limits - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "'The ordinance before me is fraught with problems,' Ravenstahl, whose recent mayoral campaign benefited from unregulated contributions, wrote in a four-page veto message to council members. 'It provides an unfair competitive advantage for the wealthy and will have a chilling effect on the labor movement.'"

Swim coach: Jack Pidgeon: Hundreds honor Kiski headmaster's life

Hundreds honor Kiski headmaster's life: "Hundreds honor Kiski headmaster's life"

I wish I would have known him. Always wanted to meet him. He was coaching in recent years with Indiana Univ. of Pa.

Help us reach out to the city -- and in turn -- the world

If you can send out this pointer, it would be great.

http://AforAthlete.Wikia.com/Olympicpedia

Mark Rauterkus, a dad, coach, publisher and community activist is holding a day camp in June and July as a lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, called Olympicpedia. We'll work on wiki content in a computer lab M-F from 11 am to 1 pm and drop ins on a day-by-day basis are welcomed. Mark@Rauterkus.com 412 298 3432 or see http://AforAthlete.Wikia.com/Olympicpedia.

Thanks!

HealthCare4All-Downloads

HealthCare4All-Downloads: "Single Payer for Business (.pdf) NEW!

Legislative Action Letter (.pdf)

Single Payer Brochure (.pdf or .zip)

Latest Single Payer Presentation (.ppt)

Two Plans for Pennsylvania comparison sheet (.pdf)

The plans versus what we have now comparison sheet (.pdf)

101 reasons balanced health care reform works for Pennsylvania (.pdf)

Senate Bill 300, Mar. 2007 (.pdf)

Senate Bill 1085, Feb. 2006 (.pdf)

Presentation explaining SB1085 pros and cons (.pdf)

House Bill 2722, June 2006 (.pdf)

Universal Single Payer Health Care presentation (.pdf)

House Bill 700, Mar. 2007 or the governor's Prescription for Pennsylvania plan (.pdf)"

Draft Chelsa 2009

A new blog on the Pittsburgh political landscape.

Draft Chelsa 2009: "This blog is dedicated to building a grassroots movement to draft State Representative Chelsa Wagner for Mayor of Pittsburgh in 2009.

I have nothing to do with that blog. I did call Chelsa the other day and I'm waiting for her return call about some serious school matters, however.

Chelsa-target-polling - Fix PA: "Chelsa-target-polling"

Good bye to two

Sad times with the death of Dwight White and Jim McKay.

How Obama Did It - TIME

How Obama Did It - TIME: "Obama's Chicago headquarters made technology its running mate from the start."

Schenley High supporters want council hearing on school closing

I put my name to the petition at the city clerk's office this week.

Schenley High supporters want council hearing on school closing: Schenley High supporters want council hearing on school closing
Saturday, June 07, 2008 By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Far from giving up their fight to save the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building, supporters are going around Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and appealing to school board members, legislators and City Council.

They may have an ally in Councilman William Peduto, who said he's working on a plan to fund renovations to the Schenley building and redevelop the former Reizenstein Middle School property in Shadyside.

'What if we didn't borrow' to pay for the Schenley work? he said.

Schenley supporters gathered enough signatures to force council to hold a hearing into Mr. Roosevelt's proposal to close the building at the end of the school year. Council may vote Tuesday to have the hearing scheduled.

City government is so worried about abandoned buildings that it should hold the public hearing on that basis alone.

The worst and biggest abandoned building trouble spots are the empty schools. There is no plan of re-use of the schools. There is no plan of getting value or keeping value to these schools.

The empty schools are assets that are being squandered. Hell, let's not get too worked up about the empty schools because the ones that are filled with our students are getting squandered too. They are doing poorly at all aspects -- with the open schools and with the closed ones.

The most recent cost estimate, which Mr. Roosevelt released on May 19, 2008, was $76.2 million. That is not the costs to remediate asbestos. That costs includes the fix up the massive pipe organ at Schenley High School. Does Mr. Roosevelt then expect there to be a pipe organ at Reizenstein? Rather, Mr. Roosevelt is playing the taxpayers and the media like a fiddle. But his tune has gone flat now.

The cost to fix up Schenley by removal and repair of asbestos is, according to the reports that Mark Roosevelt has on his own desk, is $3.459 million. NOT $76.2 million.

Of course the district can't afford a $76.2 million fix up of Schenley. We don't want that. But we can fix some of the weak plaster there this summer and re-open that school for much, much less than what Mr. Roosevelt is trying to do.

Some other costs that Mr. Roosevelt is not talking about:

Create a grade 6 to 12 school (new school) = $11 million. Those are ex-Schenley students.

Create a grade 9 IB program at Frick, first year costs, $1-million to $2-million. Those are Schenley students.

Relocate the IB program (new school) and expand it to grades 6 to 12 in year two for a four year period at the inadequate Reizenstein building is $5-million. Those are Schenley students.

To renovate Reizenstein, now a closed school, to become a permanent home would cost, as reported in the papers recently, $35-million to $50-million. Gulp. Those are Schenley students.

Go figure. It gets worse.

The cost to relocate a one of the existing and best middle schools, Rodgers CAPA, from Lincoln-Lemington's neighborhood to downtown is $5-million. And, that makes another abandoned building in a poor, mostly black neighborhood.

Renovate Frick Middle School, an existing and very good middle school in Oakland, where my one son attends and where the other might like to go too, in two years, costs $14-million. Those are Schenley students mostly.

It gets worse still.

The soft costs for the fix-ups to the other schools are not being reported by Mr. Roosevelt and the media. And, these days, construction costs are increasing about 15% per year. Those numbers are not being told. But, those amounts are part of the Schenley fix up.

What's that about doing math and counting apples to apples, Mr. Roosevelt?

Furthermore, many asbestos and plaster repairs have been made at Schenley. Some of the classrooms have already been given new lights and a suspended ceiling. Those rooms are done!

The stair well ceiling that fell last summer was not original plaster. It was a patch. It was under the stairs where the flexing occurs due to the years of kids running and and down the stairs. The sky is not falling! The building needs a bit of touch up. There has never been an asbestos related air quality issue at Schenley, despite piles and piles of records and testing.

If Schenley was unsafe, how in the hell did they get away with having school in there this year?

Building inspections occur. The city has a department of Building Inspections and they don't like to ignore areas where our kids go.

The superintendent's spending can easily be added together to get to amounts that exceed $100-million. That's what Mr. Roosevelt wants to do. That's crazy. That must be stopped. First, we need to see the entire picture. We need a 'wholistic' view and approach.

Meanwhile, let's fix Schenley and spend $5-million to clean up the asbestos and plaster in that building forever. Done. School opens again after the summer fix up.

By keeping Schenley Pgh Public Schools can also sell Reizenstein. Sell it. That is valued land. That has parking. That is next to Bakers Square re-development. Reizenstein's re-used for many other mixed opportunities from business park to flex space to land for condos next to a park to extend Shadyside.

Ky keeping Schenley, Pgh Public Schools can sell the more valued property that is known as the Board of Education Building. Sell that, not Schenley High School. Move the administration and board to Langley High School, just past the West End.

There are other expenses that are not in the mix yet too, that were spent this year. They already paid big bucks for fix up of professional development spaces in what used to be Greenway Middle School (now Pgh Classical Academy Middle and the Pgh Gifted Center). A floor or two of that building has been remodeled. Those spaces are not for students, but for faculty and staff uses for in-service activities.

Gifted Education is also changing for the worse as well, thanks to Mark Roosevelt's plans. His pilot program is going to cost a few million that should not occur. Again, another successful program is being torn apart while the troubled areas of the school district are getting no attention and being ignored.

What about Vo Tech Education? They are not talking about that. We need Vo Tech in Pittsburgh. We've had plans from Dr. Martins sitting for years. He is now not with the district -- out of frustration.

The alternatives that make sense are quite simple, help educational goals and are prudent. Here is what can be done.

First, put the proposed "science and technology school" into Westinghouse High School. Westinghouse got a major fix up in recent times. Westinghouse is all about science and technology. People will go there if the program is special. There is a ton of capacity at Westinghouse now.

Don't mess with Frick Middle School. It is a good school now. Keep it.

Second, put the University Prep school into Schenley with the I.B. program. Change the existing neighborhood component of Schenley into University Prep with the partnership. Meanwhile, the I.B. aspects of Schenley can co-exist with the University Prep. That is a major advantage and why Schenley has been so successful in blending the kids together as a melting pot. All the aspects of last year's Schenley fit into Schenley -- just fix, or continue to fix, a few of the ceilings. Do it.

Rodgers CAPA was to move into the Milliones Middle School. That was the plan a couple of years ago. Rodgers can stay where it is. Do NOT move Rodgers downtown and jam the middle school students, the yellow buses and their performance spaces into downtown among the high school students. Keep Rodgers right where it is in Lincoln-Lemington. If necessary, in the course of the next three years, Rodgers could make a move to Milliones, as was the original plan.

The extra two floors at CAPA downtown that have become available due to an option in the building (above the old jazz club and next to the strip joint) can be obtained. But use the additional space to accept additional high school students to CAPA. CAPA is a great school for some kids. Accept more students into that school. Expand it. It is, by far, the best school in terms of academic performance. Grow what works.

In the future, I'd love to see another performing arts middle school in the city in the south, such as at the closed Knoxville.

Furthermore, don't go selling off the buildings that are empty at fire-sale prices. If the value isn't there -- don't do the deal. The closed building at South Vo Tech sold for $1-million. The deal had a 60-day window to close, as per the bid process. Well, it didn't close on time. Don't sell it. The buyer should be out his hand money and the district should keep that building.

South Vo Tech is worth $20-million. It sold for $1-million. They could put 20 condos in South Vo Tech for $.5 to 2-M each.

Furthermore, we need a good Vo Tech High School. South Vo Tech can be re-opened, modernized, and used as a Vo Tech. Duhh! The city was promised a new Vo Tech Program and direction when South Vo Tech was closed.

One of the new Vo Tech Programs at the new Vo Tech High School should be 'historic preservation.' Don't you think we have plenty of working laboratory spaces for learning about the building trades!

Back to today's P-G article:

Mr. Roosevelt says the district cannot afford to remediate asbestos and address other maintenance problems at the landmark Oakland school. The most recent cost estimate, which Mr. Roosevelt released May 19, was $76.2 million.

Lies.

Today's P-G has the headline WVU president to quit Sept. 1. It would be nice if the P-G and Trib would spend one tenth the time on looking at Mark Roosevelt as it did in efforts to dig at WVU. Now that victory in Morgantown has been secured, I hope the educational investigative reporters show up in the halls of Pittsburgh Public Schools. Garrison got knocked off the fast track. Same too should Mark Roosevelt.

I've asked Rich Lord, P-G reporter, about Schenley. He says that he has a "life mission" to not write a word about that topic. Humm. Why is that? Some bloggers call Mr. Lord a 'battle cat." I've never heard such a weird statement about a hot topic from a journalist. Has the word been passed through the news room about Schenley's situation?

Oh, and the last time Mark Roosevelt had big news about Schenley and school reform about a month or so ago, the P-G reporter on the school beat, Joe Smydo, had a 'vacation.' The news from the sub reporter on that beat nearly made me barf. She, no rookie, took the Roosevelt news hook-line-and-sinker. It was like a flashback to the Pittsburgh Promise kickoff and the $5,000 check delivery by John Tarka with Luke Ravenstahl looming. Oh well.

Mark Roosevelt wants the school board to vote June 25, 2008 to close the building.

Mark Roosevelt could be gone by June 25, 2008. He'd flee to avoid the perjury charges for his bold face distortions, as the public starts asking these questions.

Mr. Roosevelt proposed that Schenley's remaining students be reassigned to the Reizenstein building beginning next school year. Future ninth-graders would have various options, such as attending new International Baccalaureate and university-partnership schools.

Students within Pgh Public Schools have choices now. Present ninth-graders can make some tough decisions as to where to go: CAPA (performing arts), I.B. (International / Schenley), Engineering at Alderdice, Robotics at Schenley, Classical HS at Perry Traditional, Teaching at Langley, Heathcare at Carrick, ROTC at Oliver, etc.

The choices are in the system today. They are not 'great' options. The system works for many and fails lots. But, all in all -- Roosevelt's plans often remove choices. There will be 90 kids at Milliones, a new school in the fall, only for 9th graders, that have no choice. They gotta go there. There are minority students who have the talent for CAPA, but who are on the waiting list because the quota has been reached and there is no more room there.

None choose to go to Westinghouse from around the city today. But that would change once the science and technology program is put there, if it is done right, and questions about that remain high.

Until the May 19 meeting, Schenley supporters had been lobbying Mr. Roosevelt to save the building. After his recommendation to close it, the supporters stepped up a campaign to influence other community leaders.

Perhaps the supporters were more convinced that Mark Roosevelt had a brain, a calculator and a fair grasp of logic -- until recent weeks. It makes no sense to close Schenley. None. We could see this. We would explain why -- as we did a few years ago -- and the tides would change. The good guys generally win.

Roosevelt's plan just came out in May, 2008. It isn't really a plan, but his final word was given. Now comes the time to organize before the vote. The school board has to make moves in the next weeks. Now we see that Roosevelt low-balled the numbers for Reizenstein, by about $40-million.

In e-mails, leaders of the "Save Schenley" movement have urged supporters to write to school board members, council members, legislators and even to the local foundations that support Mr. Roosevelt's work.

And in blog postings and personal meeting too.

Council has no direct authority over school affairs, and school board member Theresa Colaizzi urged council to respect the boundaries between the two bodies.

City council has some authority over school affairs. Perhaps not with CAPA's electronic sign, but that is another matter. Council cares about abandoned buildings, right? Council cares about traffic at rush hour downtown, right? How many yellow busses do you want to bring downtown each school day to drop off and pick up in the cultural district -- with middle school kids? Twenty?

Council cares about the population loss. Pgh Public Schools is shrinking by 1,500 students every year. The rate of outward migration since Mark Roosevelt's arrival has increased sharply. His Rightsized plan closed 22 schools and yanked families around, again. Many got fed up and left for suburban Pittsburgh where they don't close your school a few times in your k-12 academic years.

Council cares that the Pittsburgh Promise is only a 'cruel joke.' Those are the words of the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Foundation as he indicated that only 20% of the Pittsburgh Public School students that go to college stay in college. Giving away college scholarships to those who can't succeed in college due to a lack of preparation is a cruel joke. People are not falling for it. Their boom is a bust! Their high school reform is a college scholarship.

Pittsburgh city council cares that taxes for city schools are about to triple. The capital costs for the district are out of hand and way over the top. The district can't open and close schools at the drop of a hat and expect the other branches of government to cut their costs by 75%. Not too long ago, city council had a capital budget that was $0. Now Mark Roosevelt wants to spend $100-million on projects that are not only not necessary but will cause great damages to the city's schools. The population base is racing to nothingness.

City council cares that the Pittsburgh Promise does not apply to kids who go to Catholic Schools nor Charter Schools nor Home Schools. Those kids and families live in the city and pay taxes.

City council cares about ethical presentation of facts to the public from other public officials. They care about being honest and transparent. They care that the level of skepticism among locals for the governmental process is at a all-time low. They care that public trust is being flushed down the toilet because of a few patched walls in a building that will last another 100 years.

City council cares about air quality and building inspections too.

"City Council should be honest with the people and tell them [council members] have no say so in this matter. It is out of their hands," she said.

Councilman Patrick Dowd, a former school board member, agreed that council "has no jurisdiction in the matter." He said council could make a statement with a nonbinding resolution about Schenley, but said it has much research to do on the issue before taking that step.

Patrick Dowd did plenty of harm on the school board and did as much as he could to sustain the rampage that has unfolded with Mark Roosevelt. Dowd was a 'yes vote' -- without doubt -- for Roosevelt. And, Dowd was always quick to pounce on others who raised doubts, questions and ask about governmental policies. The school board has been reporting to Mark Roosevelt. It should be the other way around. Dowd helped him get his power.

There was a community driven process of high school reform -- with hand picked leaders by Mark Roosevelt. That group held secret meetings without minutes for more than a year. That group made some strong statements about the direction of the schools. They did research. They visited schools, like John Thompson used to do when he was in town, and traveled to some others. The high school reform task force made its report and it didn't mention a peep about closing Schenley High School. They knew and we all know that Schenley is one of the best schools in Pittsburgh. The high school reform report went right out the window one day. Mr. Roosevelt tossed it. He said so himself. Everything changed because he wanted to revert to the old battles from the rightsizing plan.

Within a month of Mark Roosevelt's arrival -- the first rightsizing plan was sprung onto the city. Deals had to have been crafted way back then about the building or property of Schenley. The rightsize plan was about elementary schools, not high schools, except for Schenley, for some still undocumented reasons. Schenley was saved then. Schenley has been starved since.

In the end, in 2009, we'll elect new board members. Mark Roosevelt will be gone. This plan will be re-done anyway.

Patrick Dowd needs to distance himself from his days on the school board, as does Darlene Harris. Our schools are frail. They used the school board as stepping stones, like others before them. Its politics 101.

While acknowledging the city has no direct authority in school affairs, Mr. Peduto said council has a legitimate interest in the vibrancy of the city and can influence school district affairs through zoning and planning processes. He said people in his district want the Schenley building saved.

"The structural problems that it has shouldn't be the reason for it closing," Mr. Peduto said.

Mr. Peduto said he's been working on a plan that would link Schenley's rehabilitation with redevelopment of the 13-acre Reizenstein site.

Under his plan, sale of the Reizenstein property would yield a quick burst of money to help pay for Schenley renovations. Reizenstein's conversion into a mixed-use development would generate new school district property taxes and wage taxes, which would be applied to the Schenley project.

Mr. Peduto said the school district would enter into a partnership with a private developer who would help to control costs by leveraging tax credits for historic and environmentally friendly buildings. He said he plans to unveil more plan details next week.

There was a time when some foolish parents told Bill Peduto to cool it. The school district's struggles should not be a political football. They were wrong to give him the advice to back off. Peduto was wrong to follow their suggestions.

The schools should not be political footballs. But, Patrick Down made a ground game in that realm. And, most things boil down to politics. I wish that the city schools played football within the WPIAL. That would be some interesting political football.

And that leads us to another thought from another friend. Some have told me that they feel that the Pgh Public Schools are being sent through the ringer so as to better merge the city and county. Could be. That is another theory, not mine. It has been known to happen before. Remember how Downtown got crushed for years, without simple trash pick up nor URA funds, yet 'blighted status' by design by Tom Murphy. He did that so he could get Urban Design folks here and Nordstrom. Well the upscale department store didn't move downtown -- and the only thing the city got was lots of trash for many years and the departure of Candy-Rama. Back to schools ....

Schenley supporters are calling on the school board to delay a vote on the building's closing until Mr. Roosevelt presents a comprehensive plan for high school renewal. Though he's called for overhauling district high schools over five years, he hasn't provided plans for each school, leaving Schenley supporters to hope the building still might be needed.

Here is what needs to happen. Mr. Roosevelt needs to do his homework. He is in charge of the schools and has yet to turn in his homework. Most recently he said that he never promised to deliver a comprehensive plan.

Mr. Roosevelt -- the homework is late.

Mr. Roosevelt -- we do the grading.

So far, Mr. Roosevelt, you've been a total failure.

In the past, Mr. Roosevelt said that the solution was to open schools from grades K to 8. Now the solution is to open schools that go from grade 6 to 12.

That's just the tip of the story.

The extended school year -- with the opening of schools in August -- is a total failure too. The ALAs (Accelerated Learning Academies) are empty in August - as they should be. Yesterday, a classroom in one of my kid's school was at 100-degrees F. In the other side, in the shaded corner, it was 95 degrees. It was cooler out doors. The same weather is expected in August.

It is too hot for Mark Roosevelt and the 'yes people' on the school board to pull the wool over the eyes of the public, our kids and our neighbors any longer.

Patrick Dowd -- speak up.

You be the judge

Is Pennsylvania a Pro-Pedophile State?

By Mike Ference

PA State Rep. Lisa Bennington, D-Allegheny County, held a press on May 12 in Harrisburg, PA to discuss House Bill 1137, legislation known as the Child Victim’s Act of Pennsylvania, which addresses statute of limitations and identifying sex abusers.

If the bill passes, it would change the age at which a civil suit could be filed from until the accuser is 30 to 50, bringing the civil statute of limitations in line with the criminal statute. The bill would also suspend the civil statute of limitations for two years in child sex abuse cases in which the statute has expired so that people over the age limit could file a suit. And it would allow the filing of such actions against child sex abusers and their enablers in both public and private institutions.

According to Bennington, it’s the private institutions where offenders have been allowed to move on and continue with their lives. “Their victims have been left behind to pick up the pieces, never getting their day in court and or a chance to see justice carried out. They live with this horrific crime for the rest of their lives,” she points out.

A 2005 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report uncovered 63 priests in the Philadelphia archdiocese who had abused hundreds of children over several decades. In some cases, archdiocese leaders intentionally concealed the abuse to protect the church.

And Bennington stresses, her bill does not target the Catholic Church. Rather, “it pertains to all religious institutions, public schools, youth groups and any organization where child sex abuse has occurred. This bill would give all Pennsylvania victims their fundamental right to hold those accountable that afflicted or allowed the abuse to occur.”

Sounds reasonable and seems like a good thing. Similar legislation has passed in California and Delaware in recent years. In California, about 1,000 victims came forward and 300 predators were identified. Yet, there’s one PA lawmaker who strongly opposes the legislation and doesn’t even intend to give the bill a hearing.

State Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone D., (Berks County), the House Judiciary Committee chairman, says the proposed bill is driven by victims’ desire to win large legal payouts. Caltagirone goes on to say the bill is all about money, not about justice.

Ironically, Caltagirone was quick to vote with fellow legislators for a 50 percent increase in their pensions in 2001 and the infamous middle of the night pay raise in 2005. The state rep along with other lawmakers chose to take the self-induced pay grab immediately in unvouchered expenses. Many PA residents felt this made the elected officials look like money-hungry crooks, as it was eventually declared unconstitutional.

As expected, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference deplores the bill. Choosing to continue to protect perverted priests, rather than seek justice. Likewise, the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania is also against the bill. And while Caltagirone has officially declared HB1137 dead, his puppy-protection bill seems to be racing for the finish line.

Could the PA state rep be more concerned about protecting puppies than innocent children abused as sex toys by grown men and women? His recently unveiled, HB 2532 which would forbid dog owners from performing surgery on their pups went before the Judiciary Committee on May 14, 2008, and could be voted on as early as June 10.

As someone who has been investigating clergy abuse in Pennsylvania for almost 20 years, this writer can’t help but thing that something is amiss.

On the eastern side of the commonwealth of PA the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office issued a scathing report on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for the high level of sexual abuse among Catholic priests and the cover ups and the reassigning of credibly accused Catholic priests by Cardinals Bevilacqua and Krol and their aides. It should be noted that Bevilacqua first served as Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese before his transfer to Philadelphia. Insiders claim Bevilacqua left his successor, Donald Wuerl, quite a mess.

For example, while Bevilacqua was still assigned to the Pittsburgh Diocese he agreed to place Fr. John P. Connor, an admitted child molester first within the Pittsburgh Diocese and later, after Bevilacqua took over in Philadelphia Fr. Connor was assigned there. According to testimony in the Philadelphia Grand Jury the arrangement was based on a “tradition of bishops helping bishops.” Sadly, Fr. Connor went on to abuse others and Bevilacqua was found to be a liar according to the grand jury report.

One has to wonder why the Pittsburgh Diocese voluntarily settled with 32 alleged survivors of clergy abuse. $1.25 million for crimes the Pittsburgh Diocese will never have to admit ever occurred. The settlement would not tarnish the stellar reputation of Archbishop Donald Wuerl who never had to pay a dime to any clergy abuse victims during his tenure as bishop in the Pittsburgh Diocese.

Oddly enough, an underling – so to speak – Auxiliary Bishop Bradley reconciled the situation, only weeks before Bishop David Zubik was to be installed as the new leader of the diocese. So it seems everything fell into place.

32 survivors received a few bucks, the diocese is off the hook for any future civil or maybe even criminal suits based on the settlement. Wuerl continues to do in Washington D.C. whatever it is that Archbishops do and Zubik was allowed to get a fresh start in the Pittsburgh Diocese without the interference of those civil suits that were resting in limbo for several years.

The settling of the civil suits certainly allowed for an impressive and dignified installation of Bishop Zubik, no hecklers or demonstrators from any groups with compassion for children sexually abused by Catholic priests.

And, although I have no proof, nor anyway to calculate, I would be willing to bet the farm that more money was spent on Zubik’s festivities than was awarded to 32 survivors of alleged abuse by Catholic priests from the Pittsburgh Diocese. No big deal, the worst is over.

Unless of course, somewhere down the road – maybe a year, a few months, a couple of weeks, or perhaps in the next few days – information turns up that the cases of sexual abuse actually occurred and that cover ups were the norm in the Pittsburgh Diocese just like cover ups and shifting priests from parish to parish was the norm in the archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Anyone with a little common sense would be concerned that a man of the cloth might be tempted to hide crimes of clergy sexual abuse of young children only on the eastern side of the commonwealth of PA and not the western side as well.

That’s a lot of ifs ands or buts – only time will tell if Pennsylvania is indeed a pro-pedophile state. For now it’s three cheers for Rep Bennington and HB 1137 as for Rep. Caltagirone – one politician who obviously cares more about dogs than children – maybe it’s time for the law maker to rollover and play dead.

Mike Ference is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and amateur investigative reporter who has been probing clergy abuse in Pennsylvania for almost 20 years. He’s currently sharing details about his investigation with Pennsylvania State Trooper John Woodruff. Is a formal investigation forthcoming? Only time will tell. Mike Ference may be reached at 412-233-5491 or email him at Ference@icubed.com.

Think again about high school reform

Why mess with two good things?

Mark Roosevelt is messing with the best high school in the city in terms of academic performance, CAPA. CAPA is a downtown high school. His plan is to put kids in grades 6, 7 and 8 downtown too -- with CAPA High School.

Worse, the kids that are going to be squeezed into CAPA come from Rodgers Middle School. Rodgers CAPA is presently a good middle school. Kids go there and learn. It does well in academic performance too. It is one of our best middle schools in the city. It is in Lincoln-Lemington -- and Mark Roosevelt wants to close the Rodgers Middle School -- moving it downtown.

Closing good schools and making radical changes to them is not only silly -- but perhaps -- a civil rights issue.

CAPA is doing well. Great. Expand it. Allow for additional high school kids to get into CAPA.

Replicate what works. Fix what is broken.

Rodgers is doing well too. Replicate it. Open a second performing arts middle school. Open up Rodgers South or Rodgers West.

The second performing arts school can compete with the existing one. Perhaps there will be more of a challenge to get into the downtown CAPA as the feeder pattern would demand that the middle school students excel to get into the next level.

And CAPA can expand into additional space. Expand it as a high school.

The high school theater space at Downtown's CAPA is nice. But it is in high demand now. It can't be duplicated and made to fit the middle school and high school too.

If the plan goes into effect, there is going to be a net loss of arts education. And, arts education is working.

In case you missed Erik's interview on KDKA TV this week, here are some screen shots

From Erik

TV Show about Schenley High School and the 'sky is falling' falsehoods

Update:

In case you missed the show, stay tuned:

• The show will air on city cable at other times in the weeks to come. (Insert dates and times here.)
  

• The show has been recorded with my old, trusted, point the video camera at the tv style of recording. I'll upload it shortly to Blip.TV. (not yet live)
  

• Furthermore, you can listen to the audio now as a podcast at TalkShoe.com. Or, click the play button below.
  

[412] Schenley High School -- fixing asbestos costs $3.4 Million -- according to their experts -- big city lie gets attention on TV today

[412] Schenley High School -- fixing asbestos costs $3.4 Million -- according to their experts -- big city lie gets attention on TV today: "Schenley High School -- fixing asbestos costs $3.4 Million -- according to their experts -- big city lie gets attention on TV today"

I sent out an email blast today. I didn't send any in the month of May.

Hi All,

"The sky is falling!" That is what we have been told about Schenley High
School. They want to close it. They claim costs are to great to fix that
some damaged plaster.

Today, (Friday, June 6, 2008) from 3-4 pm, a live TV call in show will
feature two parents, both experts on this topic. See PCTV 21 on city cable
or the web, http://www.pctv21.org.

The truth of the financial outlook of Schenley High School is much unlike
what the PPS school superintendent has presented. Using the same reports
obtained from Pgh Public School sources -- you'll hear a different story
with much different costs.

The quote for asbestos removal at Schenley High School is only $3.459
million. Schenley High School has never presented a dangerous air quality
reading.

The inflated numbers reported to the public by Mark Roosevelt include such
items as an overhaul and repair of the massive pipe organ at Schenley. Go
figure. Think again.

To move to Reizenstein, the alternative location for some of Schenley's
students, costs much more than to simply fix up of the weak plaster at
Schenley.

Saving Schenley, because of both the building and for the educational
ramifications, is the best thing to do. A domino factor with his high school
reform is not being reported, and the costs that the district expects to
rack up is going to kill city taxpayers. Hope of a sound education in the
city for our kids is at stake, now, because of this Schenley decision.

Plenty of bogus information is flowing from the administration from our
schools. This isn't unexpected. In Penn Hills the superintendent resigned
and a large chunk of the faculty had to be fired because of bad
budgets/planning coupled with too little too late actions from the public
and parents. In Pittsburgh, it isn't too late, yet.

We've got plenty of smart people in our neighborhoods. We know much more
than they do. Their proposals have serious flaws.

This conversation about Schenley High School isn't over.

I'm a zealot for:
+ our kids,
++ educational opportunities and
+++ prudent spending of taxpayer's money.

school chatter, again

Meeting Tonight: 6 P.M.
Hill House Center
1835 Centre Avenue

To address issues, concerns, and ideas regarding the closing of Schenley (the building and the separation of the programs) and the other elements of High School reform.

************************************

At Tuesday's Education Committee meeting, Frick was recommended for the location of the new Science and Technology school, opening in Fall 2009. Renovations will be made to the building while the current students (plus the extra 9th grade year) are in the building next year.

For more information about Science and Technology and plans for the IB program, the 2 powerpoints shown to the board are available on this page: http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/pps/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=284756

The science and technology ppt has a slide that describes a new lottery system for that school, as well.

***********************************

It seems as though the message that there is a lot of change coming that hasn't been vetted by parents, teachers, community members or the school board seems to finally be getting through. Keep up your efforts to get the word out there that this whole thing can't just be described as one big, set in stone, lump sum amount for Schenley for which the board has to choose yes or no. There are many different options and choices the board can consider, which haven't even been presented.

Planning for the future for the whole district and trying to maintain the best of the system while directly and quickly attacking the failing parts seems like the most rational way to approach it!

Jen Lakin

Peduto to travel world in lieu of mayoral bid

Peduto to travel world in lieu of mayoral bid: "Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto plans to spend 40 days exploring the summits of sustainability over the summer, and has sworn off a 2009 bid for the political promised land of the mayor's office.

Bill, you can bunk down with us in Beijing in August to soak in the Olympic Games.

To the other members of city council -- if you want, I'll have you over to look at our photos from our past trips. The tulips in Holland were wonderful.

State ethics panel refuses to rule on who pays legal bill

State ethics panel refuses to rule on who pays legal bill: "'I am in the process of consulting with other legal sources' on the invoice, said Mr. Shields.

Let's get this straight. The State Ethics Commission was asked a question. The State Ethics Commission failed to give an answer to the question. So, Doug Shields, of City Council, has to hire additional attorneys (other legal sources) for consulting about that failed answer from the Ethics Commission. And the root of the failed question is if city council can hire an attorney and pay for the attorney services without advance approval.

Like Mr. Roberts told me yesterday as we exited an elevator in City Hall -- "You can never hire too many attorneys."

As government attorneys enter into a fray among themselves -- they all win and we (taxpayers, residents, citizens) all are non-winners.

And, the key to the solution is to look to see who is causing the folly and who is sustaining it.

Doug Shields is in the process of consulting with other legal sources. Doug Shields is a folly enabler.

This snowball is rolling down hill, gathering more steam, and going to crush the city.

The next chapter's character was introduced to the public yesterday. The new member on the city's Ethics Hearing Board was named. He joins with the sister, a priest and a rabbi. He is an attorney.

Budget adjustment neved due to the Kraus plan of shared responsibility and swim pool passes

I posted this to the comments area of 2 political junies, another blog. Might as well re-post here.

It has come to my attention that two people who file in the new governmental registry handled by some bureaucrat in city hall would have the benefit of getting a family pack of swim passes from Citiparks.

Pool tags cost $60 per year for a family of four. Meanwhile, they are $30 per adult and youth, $15 each. A savings of $30 if that 'partnership' is on the books.

Over 10 years, that's a $300 savings -- and well worth the effort of going to town with three proofs of shared responsibility.

Windfalls!

I don't know if city council will need to make a budget adjustment to its 5 year plan to reflect the shortage of income/revenue or not. I can't predict what those folks might do. But, then again, there is no five year plan from council to amend.

Nope. Mr. Kraus is too busy making sure that the animal shelter is churning dogs and cats, despite starting meetings 30 minutes late.

Luke broke my heart. Another gets the nod for the Ethics Hearing Board.

Luke picked another, not me, for the open slot on the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board. And, it is a lawyer.

I saw Mr. Roberts today in city hall. He is a lawyer who is an "OVERLORD." I asked him what he thought of the possibility of city council hiring its own attorney. I had suggested that city council use the crack lawyers from one of the two oversight boards that are still in town, rather than contracting for its own legal advice only to pitch fights among different departments -- like intramurals.

Mr. Roberts gave a cute reply when he said that you can never hire too many attorneys.

Taxpayers got another kick in the teeth -- straight from the overloard.

I think it is fitting to call 100 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean a 'good start.'

And on the 4th of July Luke is going to marry a couple. He doesn't know how to do it. If I was mayor, I'd marry someone every weekend. It would be a boost for destination weddings -- in Pittsburgh. And, we'd do lots of wedding receptions, renewals, reunions and block parties too.

I assume the ceremony is going to involve a man and women.

This weekend is the Riverview Park 5K. Good if you are fit, part goat and wear Heelies for the downhill. Luke has run that race in the past. Wonder if Jason is going?