Tuesday: It's On The Streets

People are most likely to buy newspapers when sports teams win championships, when politicians get elected, or when one's own name is in the paper.

Today's news falls short on those counts -- for most of us -- but all the same I have the feeling that for some political junkies, today's edition of the Post-Gazette in particular offers a unique glimpse at a quietly pivotal moment in Pittsburgh history.

Pivotal enough that in years ahead you may get a kick out of rediscovering it in a trunk, hauling it out, smelling it, and exclaiming, "Ah .... the Liquor Control Board was under fire back then, too! Do you remember the Liquor Control Board, Brittney?"

So that's all I'll mention about the Post-Gazette today. Buy one.

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The Regional Equity Monitoring Project needs volunteers to monitor governmental activities (meetings, etc) whose charters operate with a stated commitment to providing equal opportunity. That's most of them. Join them at the Phase 2 Monitor Training Session on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m (see website).

Phase 2 appears to be about encouraging the federal stimulus money to make it where it's truly needed, and about holding our leaders' feet to the fire. I notice that REMP is also getting on board with the Public Square Project for obvious reasons.

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NullSpace likens the Water Authority bond situation here in Pittsburgh to something that blew up in Jefferson County, Alabama. And has some thoughts on same. For a little more background into the Alabama situation, revisit our Sciortino dossier.

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The Pittsburgh Hoagie clearly has great instincts for when it's time to hit the Google. That or he maintains files on everybody interesting.

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Don't let my Michael Lamb piece totally get buried.

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And now, gaze upon the face of destiny:



NEW CUMBERLAND - A new executive director of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle (BDC) was introduced at Thursday's Hancock County Commission meeting.

Patrick Ford, who hails from Hardy County in West Virginia's eastern panhandle, stated that he is looking forward to his new position as executive director. (The Review, Jen Matsick; h/t ADB)

Excellent that he's back to doing what he does best. Hopefully the BDC (h/t NS), like any responsible regional development organization, will send Mr. Ford to execute only the very highest-quality of missions.

Excellent that he's still sort-of around here -- but considering the circumstances, excellent that he's not really around here. I can't imagine how one could live in the same city or county as the Ravenstahl administration and be contractually compelled not to disparage it.

Excellent that he's earning again -- but it's worth pointing out that although Ford hasn't worked for the City or the URA since April of last year, we are continuing to pay him his old salary through June of this year, because he is titanic. So for spring and early summer, he's going to be cashing two paychecks.

Knock on wood. For the first time in what seems like a long while, our former URA director / Department of City Planning superdirector / Parking Authority chairman / Housing Authority chairman appears to be accountable to somebody!