tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post3347091691526105029..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: BestFriendsgate: "I Didn't Broker the Deal"Bram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-86764873419494869692008-04-18T14:03:00.000-04:002008-04-18T14:03:00.000-04:00Check out the deer in the headlights look the Mayo...Check out the deer in the headlights look the Mayor give the camera on the KDKA video when asked that it seems petty unusual that some won from Seattle would care who the mayor of Pittsburgh is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-70398010208116078872008-04-18T10:29:00.000-04:002008-04-18T10:29:00.000-04:00I would think that depends, Char. If, during the ...I would think that depends, Char. If, during the process of discovery, video is discovered of of JV sitting down with PF, who, twirling his mustaches, says, "Thanks to this bag of money you just offered me, I shall make sure you get your billboard no matter what! Do you want a receipt?" Then it could be said that PF *did* pressure ST and NI into granting the permit, which is a service that JV solicited on behalf of Lamar.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-47564386740443569012008-04-18T09:12:00.000-04:002008-04-18T09:12:00.000-04:00A few things to consider:1) Since Dowd filed by h...A few things to consider:<BR/><BR/>1) Since Dowd filed by himself as a private citizen and the other 4 filed as a group of city councilmen, it would be harder for Lamar to prove that FIVE concilmen conspired together breaking Sunshine Laws.<BR/><BR/>2) I oddly agree with Lamar in that LAMAR did not break the law, the CITY did. Lamar did not put a gun to Susan Tymoczko's head forcing her to run the sign by Ford instead of her real supervisor. And wasn't it FORD who approached LAMAR with the 6-for-1 swap in the first place?<BR/><BR/>3) Should the city pay for the removal of a sign that the city illegally ALLOWED up in the first place? Yea. Lamar is responsible for all the construction after the point where the city said "stop" and Lamar chose to ignore. But stuff prior to that was done with the city's blessings.Charhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06725494226277483936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-62874756001047155092008-04-18T02:13:00.000-04:002008-04-18T02:13:00.000-04:00It's not clear that Councilman Dowd didn't leave h...It's not clear that Councilman Dowd didn't leave himself some options. Filing as a private citizen may have changed the game somewhat. He should at least be given credit for having been first out of the gate with an appeal, no?Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-49496636368019866562008-04-18T00:11:00.000-04:002008-04-18T00:11:00.000-04:00Hey Dowd wake up you fool. This is no victory at ...Hey Dowd wake up you fool. This is no victory at all and you know it. <BR/><BR/>Lamar could always pull the plug oon this if it got to hot and they did.<BR/><BR/>Lamar, Your buddy Luke, Zober and more would have all faced some embarasing and possibly criminal emails and what not.<BR/><BR/>And you, the great statesman, pledged to not bring any action against lamar's application for a use exception. Thank god the other 4 decided not to sign on to that deal. Why take yourself out of the game? But, you did and thank goodness you did. Let the other ones do the heavy lifting you idiot. You did nothing in this mess but bail out Mayor Opie.<BR/><BR/>As if lamar was going to put them in that situation. I hear the lamar Corporate lawyers came into town and took control of the situation and< Dowd, fell right into their lap. Go back to the school board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-4780719183171967432008-04-17T23:10:00.000-04:002008-04-17T23:10:00.000-04:00One other point about ordinance 910 - it specifica...One other point about ordinance 910 - it specifically states that electronic sign messages in the Golden Triangle B (GT-B) zoning district shall only be permitted as a Conditional Use provided that they are limited in size to 300 square feet. The Lamar sign is 1200 square feet, so the ordinance does not technically even allow it as a Conditional Use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-72237004416321866972008-04-17T22:56:00.000-04:002008-04-17T22:56:00.000-04:00Ed ... I don't see how the City could be held liab...Ed ... I don't see how the City could be held liable, if it could be established that Lamar was complicit in improperly obtaining the original permit. Which is something the City would owe it to itself to argue, if it was being sued for $2M+.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-76333733098754354552008-04-17T22:43:00.000-04:002008-04-17T22:43:00.000-04:00I am pretty sure I read somewhere that George Spec...I am pretty sure I read somewhere that George Specter said if the part of the sign that has been put up so far has to come down, the city would probably be forced to compensate Lamar for their costs. <BR/>Sigh.EdHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109361235271107574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-2672345001387711742008-04-17T22:01:00.000-04:002008-04-17T22:01:00.000-04:00This is NOT a victory, in my view, until the 'no b...This is NOT a victory, in my view, until the 'no bid contract' is put up for competitive bid. <BR/><BR/>After the zoning officials determine that the sign is well suited for the side of the public building, then the city / authority officials should put together a bid package. <BR/><BR/>How much is monthly rent? How much is guaranteed? When do the terms of the first lease expire? Is there an optional period? Who owns the equipment? Who pays for upkeep? What about utilities? All the details. All in the open. <BR/><BR/>Are other properties blended into the mix (removal of other billboards)? Where? What sq. foot? What neighborhoods? <BR/><BR/>This isn't about the billboard / sign. It is about no-bid-contracts.<BR/><BR/>And, is the no-bid contract going to be a thing of the past for all operations in the city and all autorities?Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-62562543513737048882008-04-17T19:13:00.000-04:002008-04-17T19:13:00.000-04:00The Planning Commission's 9 members are appointed ...The Planning Commission's 9 members are appointed by the Mayor, they are:<BR/><BR/>Wrenna L. Watson, Chairwoman<BR/>Barbara Ernsberger, Secretary<BR/>E. Paul Dick<BR/>Lynne Garfinkel<BR/>Barbara K. Mistick<BR/>Monte Rabner<BR/>Todd E. Reidbord (of Walnut Capital fame)<BR/>Mary Lou Simon<BR/><BR/>Let the drawing of conclusions begin!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com