This Week in "Perceived" Impropriety

I've heard of Pay to Play, but this is ridiculous.

"It's a private club, just like the Duquesne Club," he said. (P-G, Lord and Sherman)

To my knowledge, no 31 year-olds have ever been wheeled out of the Duquesne Club in a sack.

[Peter Karlovich] said it only got scrutiny because he and [Steven] Herforth are prominent. "Because people don't like us -- we have a big house, we're successful in the community, we donate money to charity -- they feel like they have to knock us down."

They sure are sounding exactly like your typical pay-to-play playahs so far.

After getting the order from the Bureau of Building Inspections, Mr. Karlovich and Mr. Herforth met with Mr. Shields at a Strip District restaurant. In 2007, they had contributed $500 and hosted a fundraising event for his losing bid for city controller.

"I read the law to them," Mr. Shields said. He said the sale of items probably wasn't a big problem, but "the go-go boys are a big no-no here ... And then they said they'd go to Yarone."

Yikes -- someone said the magic word. Now we know it's serious.

"If I'm contacted by a constituent or a business directly, whether it's on my office phone, or cell phone, or by e-mail, I try to make sure that any issues that are brought to our attention are resolved to the satisfaction of all parties," [Ravenstahl chief of staff Yarone Zober] said.

Is that why the Bureau of Building Inspection has such singular track record of achievement? How about letting them do their job once in a while?

Pittsburgh's Lesbian Correspondent has some thoughts:

Ironically, this article demonstrates that the gay community has reached some level of equality. The police raided the Stonewall Inn. The Bureau of Building Inspection sent a letter to Club Pittsburgh. Stonewall patrons and owners fought back using direct action. Club Pittsburgh fought back by placing a call to the Mayor's Office and changing their website.

They did exactly what any other heterosexual owned business would do when facing a threat to their business. They made a few calls and there was no need to take the streets to get BBI to back off.

By that logic, then, we can all proceed as though there's nothing unusual. Club Pittsburgh is more like Lamar Advertising than the Duquesne Club as far as we're concerned.

As to its fate: the owners are obviously being fantastically coy about what they are operating, and are playing what one might call the sexual orientation card [RETRACTED 1/08]. If North Huntington officials can shut down a straight sex club masquerading as a church, Pittsburgh officials can shut down a gay sex club masquerading as a health spa.

Shouldn't have messed up.

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A West Coast businessman at the crux of a pay-to-play investigation in New Mexico has political ties to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and a contract with the state.

David Rubin, head of CDR Financial Products Inc. of California, contributed $40,000 to Mr. Rendell's political coffers between 2001 and 2005, campaign finance reports show. His company also has had $599,000 worth of no-bid contracts with the state since 2003, including a current one for $45,000, according to records released yesterday. (P-G, Tracie Mauriello)

Those financial advisory firms, man. Especially the ones that deal with bond deals. Gotta watch them.

House Republicans used the CDR connection as an opportunity to press for an end to no-bid contracts.

"This governor has made a sport of playing around with the rules regarding procurements ... and he's been able to get away with this stuff," said state Rep. Doug Reichley, R-Lehigh, who is leading an effort to pass a package of bills that would change the way contracts are awarded.

That's good. Cede the issue to Republicans.