Wednesday: The Reckoning

At least two people have met with investigators from the U.S. attorney's office, the FBI and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development about some accusations made against Mr. Ford and some made by him. (P-G, Rich Lord)

That's the news.

Mr. Ravenstahl said yesterday that he does not expect to become involved in the Lamar hearing or the Rolling Rock sign debate.

He said he'll let the process "run its course ... I've been pretty straightforward and clear that I'm not opposed to billboards. In fact, in general I support them and think that they're a good thing if done appropriately."

What does this have to do with anything? Is he or is he not opposed to obeying the law? Because it is the law that determines how, when and where billboards, electronic signs and other structures may go up, not the whim of a Mayor.

Mr. Reichbaum, 32, of East Allegheny, authors The Pittsburgh Comet, at pghcomet.blogspot.com. He could not think of a local precedent for a representative of the new media being interviewed by federal investigators.

Minor clarification: We were asked by Mr. Lord whether we could think of a local precedent for a representative of the new media being interviewed by federal investigators, and we answered truthfully, "No."

We did not go in there like, "We're the first! Wooooo!"

Update: Our Partner in Crime, the Burgher, expounds. (Burgh Report)

Also:

The state Ethics Commission is expected to rule Friday whether it will undertake a full investigation into Pittsburgh's suspended development chief.

Pat Ford's chances of returning to work as the Urban Redevelopment Authority's executive director largely depend on whether the commission's preliminary inquiry shows that Ford violated the state's ethics act, city and authority officials said this week. (Trib, Jeremy Boren)

Well. In part.

By the way:

"[Doug Shields] just told members of my staff this week that he's running for mayor next year. So I think you need to filter all of his comments through a political filter right now," Ravenstahl said. (Trib, Jeremy Boren)

Mr. Ravenstahl will be running for Mayor as well. Do we need to filter all of his comments through a political filter also?

Let's do that...

As building inspectors made a sweep of property conditions in Central and South Oakland yesterday, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and University of Pittsburgh officials reviewed some of the successes of previous sweeps and said the program would soon expand to other neighborhoods. (P-G, Diana Nelson Jones)

It sure looks like he's campaigning to us.

By the afternoon, Mr. Ravenstahl had talked with the gaming board's executive staff, his office said in a statement.

"During our brief telephone conversation, I expressed the need for an immediate face-to-face meeting on this very serious matter concerning the future of our city. These issues need to be addressed in person and as part of a larger discussion on what is right for Pittsburgh residents." (P-G, Toland and Lord)

It sure sounds like he's grandstanding.

Don Barden's Majestic Star Casino was a bad bet and it's time to walk away from his table. (P-G, Edit Board)

The only thing certain is uncertainty.