In Memoriam: Cleophus Pettway

This is obviously not a statue of him, but for the record: his name was Cleophus Pettway.

UPDATE: Mayor Says We're Being Unfortunate

"Nothing was done for those individuals that wouldn't be done for someone who sent a random letter to our office," said Mr. Ravenstahl. He called reports suggesting that his campaign contributors get special treatment "unfortunate ... Every contributor that has ever given money to me has not been given preferential treatment." (P-G, Rich Lord, or watch it on WTAE, Bob Mayo)

It seems like it should go without saying, but here goes:

Should we believe The City's Number Two Official responds to every complaint received regarding B.B.I. cessation orders by personally arranging a "series of conversations" with the city's number one and number two attorneys -- culminating a handshake agreement, a total voiding of the cessation order, and absolutely no verification or follow-up?

I'm going to say no. I don't know who would believe such a thing.

For the record, I suspect this has less to do with a $2,000 contribution than it does with the Mt. Washington fundraiser -- specifically, the idea of continued fundraisers and events. In the wake of a dust-up involving his declared opposition to gay civil unions, Mayor Ravenstahl would be keenly aware of a need for political allies somewhere in the GLBTQ community.

Did Ravenstahl choose to nurture the right kind of gay leaders? I suppose we'll find out.

Did Ravenstahl's chief of staff run interference in order to do an exceptional favor for a political ally? That seems plainly to have occurred.

Would it be as big a deal if it weren't the world's longest pattern -- including Lamar and the billboard, Walnut Capital and the floating hotel, McTish and the parking lots, et cetera? No, it probably would not be quite as big a story, but there you have it.

It's an organizational compulsion.

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.

##

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.

Tuesday: Anticipating Arguments

Dan Onorato is glad that at least Judge Olson allowed him to use the money on capital improvements and debt service for the Port Authority; she didn't forbid him from spending it on anything besides Port Authority operating expenses, like Kevin Joyce wanted.

So she actually gave him some "leeway", provided a "roadmap", split it "down the middle". (P-G, Michael Henninger)

Really? Was that in fact what the plaintiffs were arguing for? Could be.

So we're to call it a draw.

##

"Everybody has been speculating about how much Onorato has in the bank, and we just wanted to be able to report where we stood prior to the Feb. 3 filing deadline," she said. (Trib, Deborah Erdley)

You know, just by the way, in case anyone was wondering. Judge Olson can't tell anyone what to do with that money.

An odd number of search engines hits here of late for terms mentioning Judge Wettick in one form or another. I am just wondering when the State Supreme Court is going to rule on the county's appeal of Judge Wettick's ruling that threw out the base year assessment system currently in place.

Is a ruling getting closer? That would be state-wide news and many counties are already fretting over potential reassessments. (Null Space)

Got to imagine a loss (er, a draw) on this one would be expensive in more ways than one. According to my inexpert calculations, we can expect a ruling around February 9th or March 9th or thereabouts.

##

Allegheny County's drink tax dropped with the new year, but that doesn't mean customers are seeing lower bar tabs. (P-G, Dan Majors)

Hey, that's nothing. Virtually the exact same day the City lowered its parking tax, the owners of the lot at One Oxford Center jacked their rates from $15 to $16.

For decades we've been told that raising taxes reliably leads to higher prices and diminished economic vigor, while lowering taxes always benefits the consumer and the employer and the employed and the country.

Could we possibly be learning that it just isn't so? Maybe there are so many other factors which impact economic decision making that so long as certain truly onerous taxation thresholds are avoided, 5% here and 15% there and 25% somewhere else hardly ever make a difference -- except to governments that are struggling to provide services that markets can not.

##

Yes, Trib, it is extremely special. It's also curious how you're either the only ones who have this story or else still think it's important. The whole sordid flaming mess didn't make anyone else's list.

Elegy for Beechview (by Bernardo Katz & pianist)

A Comet NewsTwit with Comet Stringer Bob Mayo

If you must, see also WTAE.

McCullough Alleges Conspiracy

The county has the money to do any critical road and bridge maintenance without cutting other areas of the budget, [County Councilman Charles] McCullough [R-Upper St. Clair] said. He accused the Democrats, including Onorato and council's majority, of massaging budget numbers in order to hoard cash and give a property tax cut during the 2010 election year, when some say Onorato might run for governor.

"All of their numbers are folly," McCullough said. "Everybody's been cutting deals because they think Dan is going to be the man. Everybody wants a part of that, and they're forgetting about the people."

Onorato spokesman Kevin Evanto and Councilman Jim Burn, chair of the county's Democratic Party, rebutted McCullough's comments. (Trib, Tim Puko)

Anyone heard this one before? It sounds like a thing capable of happening in this universe.

Meanwhile, county Democrats are warning that a property tax hike may now be necessary to replace the funds that had been inappropriately shifted from the transit taxes.

If it comes to that, city Democrats really ought to demand on behalf of their constituents -- particularly those living in struggling neighborhoods -- that any millage hike go hand-in-hand with property reassessments. If taxes must rise, why must they rise even as they grow ever more unfair with each passing year?

Thursday: In With The New

"Let's say you want to oppress a people," Mark DeSantis hypothesized to me once. Sounded like a fun game.

"The first thing you'd want to do is lower everyone's expectations of what is possible."

"I think we've made some significant advances," said Operations Director Art Victor. "The city's cleaner. I think we've gotten more efficient." (P-G, Rich Lord)

Well. Cleanliness is next to godliness, right?

It would be genuinely interesting to see data on whether or not Pittsburgh city government has gotten more efficient. Too bad there's not some kind of overarching director of all city operations whose job it is to be in command of those very facts, instead of relying on intuition. Oh wait.

"All in all, I'm relatively happy," said Public Safety Director Michael Huss. "The number of homicides concerns me, obviously."

The deadliest year in 15 years, and our Public Safety Director is relatively happy? I hope for Pittsburgh's sake that means he usually suffers from clinical depression.

I know Mike Huss is a professional guy and that everyone respects him, but this is no occasion for somebody in his position to be blowing rose-scented smoke.

##

The very best case for Pittsburgh 250, I think, is that it was a giant sleight-of-hand: While the region was off enjoying fireworks shows, movers-and-shakers were working behind the scenes, where few of us could see what's really going on, to shore up the economy. No one really wants to see the sausage being made, so we got to watch the cotton candy machine instead. So where's the beef? And why the secrecy?

I know the answer to the second question. Pittsburgh's leaders don't like the sunshine. (And you thought that our cloudy days were a product of nature!) I think that I know the answer to the first one. Pittsburgh is still on a sugar high, with little protein in sight. (Pittsblog 2.0)

##

Pittsburgh's former development chief has refused to cooperate with an audit that could shed light on how a politically connected firm won a $425,000 city contract. (Trib, Jeremy Boren)

NOW WE'RE HAVING SOME FUN!

But Lamb said Ford refused to help because his "separation agreement" with the URA prohibits him from making "disparaging or negative comments" about the city or the authority.

Providing facts to a city office does not constitute making "disparaging or negative comments". I can appreciate how certain facts might seem inherently disparaging or negative, but as long as one doesn't spruce up one's account with, "all of which constituted a culture of corruption," I don't see what the problem is.

Lamb this week told [Ford's attorney Lawrence] Fisher that city and URA officials cleared Ford to cooperate with Lamb's audits, but Fisher said he hasn't seen that agreement. He plans to talk to Lamb again Jan. 12.

Lamb wants to give Ford one more chance to talk. "I don't want to create an adversarial situation," he said.

They're stalling so the band can get back together one more time and get their stories straight.

After eight months of paid vacation plus another six months in gratuitous bonus severance, Pittsburgh doesn't owe anybody further courtesies. Out with it already.

UPDATE: Ruminating on the timing of that and this.

Welcome to 2009.