tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post3953009759424563222..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: Sunday Politics: Jump BallBram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-30894167179944696432011-03-27T23:40:53.941-04:002011-03-27T23:40:53.941-04:00I'm guessing that if you tried to say "op...I'm guessing that if you tried to say "opportunity costs" at a meeting with UPMC officials about Hazelwood, they would only be able to refrain from laughing because working for a large corporation forces you to learn not to laugh when people don't make sense. I suppose I could be wrong, but I did google and the only positive I learned is that Wiz Khalifa has a house there.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-44672932419826696502011-03-27T23:15:52.069-04:002011-03-27T23:15:52.069-04:00MH - There's opportunity cost. Connected to th...MH - There's opportunity cost. Connected to that there is also the idea of what explicit ties to the local cultural ecosystem might mean down-a road. We're trying to back a total paradigm shift here. Of course yes, medical facility vs. casino should mean something within that.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-78998290316539444982011-03-27T22:08:42.429-04:002011-03-27T22:08:42.429-04:00I think UPMC would point out the difference betwee...I think UPMC would point out the difference between a casino and a high tech manufacturing facility in terms of what it brings to the neighborhood. Unless the viruses can get away, it doesn't sound like there are many negatives for Hazelwood.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-40297475577384705472011-03-27T21:19:49.743-04:002011-03-27T21:19:49.743-04:00Rauterkus - Tell me about this UPMC CBA. I'm s...Rauterkus - Tell me about this UPMC CBA. I'm sure they *could* be, I'm a little surprised / skeptical that they *have been*.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-56559169910619592142011-03-27T08:20:46.968-04:002011-03-27T08:20:46.968-04:00I helped to push UPMC into a CBA, long before ther...I helped to push UPMC into a CBA, long before there was such a name of CBA, on its UPMC South Side development. So, UPMC could agree to a CBA. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.<br /><br />When I was at the table and pitching a fit, it was the lame nonprofit bosses that were happy for a crumb off of the table that got in the way.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-17756576033928367312011-03-25T10:46:00.169-04:002011-03-25T10:46:00.169-04:00Can I complain about the bus thing again? To my m...Can I complain about the bus thing again? To my mind, when the union waits until 48 hours before cuts are to come into place to offer concessions, they aren't trying to prevent they cuts. They're just going for PR or they are incapable of being behaving collectively (rather a problem for a 'union').<br /><br />I have the same thoughts about the legislature's attempt to blame Congress for not going along with their hair-brained toll thing, but even they gave more than 48 hours to adjust.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-23505886018430570892011-03-25T10:40:51.014-04:002011-03-25T10:40:51.014-04:00I'm thinking UPMC would be more likely to get ...I'm thinking UPMC would be more likely to get a break to bring that facility to Hazelwood. Unless vaccine plants actually leak virus bits or something.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-88699160032018562172011-03-25T09:42:59.116-04:002011-03-25T09:42:59.116-04:00Has anyone heard about a possible CBA with UPMC if...Has anyone heard about a possible CBA with UPMC if the vaccine plant in Hazelwood goes through? Would UPMC ever agree to one?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-79074158500832221532011-03-25T00:25:31.569-04:002011-03-25T00:25:31.569-04:00I also think the most subversive thing Pgh United ...<i>I also think the most subversive thing Pgh United could possibly do is organize legions of folks with legions of progressive interests to join the North Side Leadership Conference.</i><br /><br />Sure, but only because painting "MFONE" everywhere has been done.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-24569332638313318532011-03-24T21:25:11.797-04:002011-03-24T21:25:11.797-04:00I feel like I should revise and extend my remarks....I feel like I should revise and extend my remarks. When I say something is a CBA, I'm not saying it's a <i>good</i> CBA. I wouldn't think a one-time $3 million from a <b>CASINO</b> to any singular entity or umbrella entity is entirely sufficient to help balance out the economic equation around major gov't sponsored development. But it is an A between a developer and a C that provides B, and it fits well enough within the model that if we want people to start expecting CBA's to occur with development (and we are not REMOTELY there) it wouldn't hurt to point to it as an example of something that needs to happen, and preferably happen even better.<br /><br />I also think the most subversive thing Pgh United could possibly do is organize legions of folks with legions of progressive interests to join the North Side Leadership Conference. It'll pay off in small ways every week and huge ways every year.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-25551685835995395442011-03-24T13:05:22.818-04:002011-03-24T13:05:22.818-04:00Wouldn't it be nice if the Pitt and CMU buses,...Wouldn't it be nice if the Pitt and CMU buses, as well as those that ferry folks for UPMC, could pick up riders beyond employees? <br /><br />Then, perhaps, a subcontractor could operate some routes. <br /><br />The "management of power to neighborhood" could mean showing up for a series of candidate debates, for example. It might also mean working on position papers with diverse individuals and groups.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-2055271994929812092011-03-24T11:23:32.723-04:002011-03-24T11:23:32.723-04:00Something like 20% of Pittsburgh uses transit, whi...Something like 20% of Pittsburgh uses transit, which isn't a small subset by the standard of any transit program or most government programs. If it loses the middle class riders, it loses most of its ability to get funds (to the extent that it has this ability). But, I do agree that some of the longer runs need to either go private or have a much higher fare or get a subsidy from the suburb they serve. Westmoreland runs it's own buses to Oakland and Downtown. Butler could do the same if it wanted to.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-82721803584913804892011-03-24T01:02:39.009-04:002011-03-24T01:02:39.009-04:00It seems the more I look at PAT, the more I see a ...It seems the more I look at PAT, the more I see a gov't entitlement program. I don't think it can be called a public service because it serves a very small subset of the public.It seems that the poorer the neighborhood, the more they depend on public transport.So operating from that premise, maybe PAT can change the way they charge.Let the more affluent communities on the fringes like Cranberry get a Lenzer or someone who is willing to create a market.Cutting back on the long routes will save fuel costs. Make monthly passes more affordable for the daily user, raise the daily fare for random riders.rich10ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11815670014265733834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-11350338376500800232011-03-23T11:33:38.856-04:002011-03-23T11:33:38.856-04:00Did one group get cut-out?Did one group get cut-out?MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-85371000969105430802011-03-23T11:13:34.025-04:002011-03-23T11:13:34.025-04:00note "groups" plural.note "groups" plural.rcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-28034722958498130772011-03-23T10:16:23.746-04:002011-03-23T10:16:23.746-04:00Thanks. Usually when I yell about the buses, peop...Thanks. Usually when I yell about the buses, people just move to another seat.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-30266625983876800322011-03-23T09:42:36.263-04:002011-03-23T09:42:36.263-04:00Good suggestions MH. I've been talking up the ...Good suggestions MH. I've been talking up the Sq. Hill/Oakland circulator bus idea on the city council campaign trail. I'd also like to try to get Pitt and CMU to start running rush hour shuttles for their students.Chris Z.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-89382858470959650852011-03-23T09:36:17.869-04:002011-03-23T09:36:17.869-04:00From Wikipedia:
"A Community Benefits Agreem...From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Benefits_Agreement" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>:<br /><br /><i>"A Community Benefits Agreement ("CBA") in the USA is a contract signed by community groups and a real estate developer that requires the developer to provide specific amenities and/or mitigations to the local community or neighborhood. In exchange, the community groups agree to publicly support the project, or at least not oppose it. Often, negotiating a CBA relies heavily upon the formation of a multi-issue, broad based community coalition including community, environmental, faith-based and labor organizations."</i><br /><br />I don't read "often" as 'by necessity'. The words "broad based community coalition" could also be bandied back and forth.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-53865602204901442842011-03-23T09:26:16.482-04:002011-03-23T09:26:16.482-04:00Driving under all of that train/freeway stuff bet ...Driving under all of that train/freeway stuff bet is teh creepy. I wonder if they can fix that right?MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-24138562355986710462011-03-23T09:05:07.580-04:002011-03-23T09:05:07.580-04:00You make some fair points Rachel, but "intell...You make some fair points Rachel, but "intellectually honest"? See things from the other aspect. What they call it and when they call it that only has so much of an effect on what a thing is. The One Hill CBA coalition was an umbrella group made up of different community orgs rather like the NSLC itself, except the NSLC of course did not have as many KINDS of different groups such as ACDC precincts for example. It was a different kind of CBA than the Pgh United model fwiw. By the way when they renovate teh decrepit train overpass near my home that will accrue to the benefit of many persons and interests not just the NSLC, not to mention the Federal St. development aids and the housing project in Manchester.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-41150589624407859262011-03-23T08:17:07.319-04:002011-03-23T08:17:07.319-04:001) they didn't call it a cba before there was ...1) they didn't call it a cba before there was a cba campaign a year after they got their agreement<br /><br />2) it's a completely different kind of agreement than the One Hill CBA, for example. (they got discrete benefits (3 years only) for one organization (nslc)) <br /><br />I thought you understood the cba concept. I'm just asking you to be intellectually honest. <br /><br />as to whether the "cba movemnet" should claim it-- what would be the point? it's the opposite of the model the "movement" is trying to advance. <br /><br />ps, it's not just about how inclusive it is, it's about the actual benefits gained.rachelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-28085857287446487192011-03-22T19:07:30.691-04:002011-03-22T19:07:30.691-04:00Even if blimps land there, "Transportation Ce...Even if blimps land there, "Transportation Center" is still six kinds of stupid as a term for anything.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-71452884287833622442011-03-22T17:35:13.599-04:002011-03-22T17:35:13.599-04:00MH - Give it X number of years. Port Authority bus...<b>MH -</b> Give it X number of years. Port Authority buses are eventually going to get involved, and by then maybe the 1st floor will be full of Zipcars.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-26285172556897199762011-03-22T16:47:34.752-04:002011-03-22T16:47:34.752-04:00Bram, please don't call the bus station a Tran...Bram, please don't call the bus station a Transportation Center. It is not one.MHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-22373334146890432222011-03-22T16:40:48.083-04:002011-03-22T16:40:48.083-04:00Rachel,
Fatla & co. make a strong argument th...Rachel,<br /><br />Fatla & co. make a strong argument that it is a CBA. It's a benefits agreement with a community group, that much is indisputable. As to how inclusive / participatory was the community group and its negotiating process, that is something I'm starting to believe will be a contentious issue amongst ALL cba's until the end of days. Now that what's done is done, it may be more profitable for the CBA movement to dub the casino's concessions to the NSLC a CBA with a cautionary tale chaser about proactive organizing in urban areas.<br /><br /><b>MH & Rich10e -</b> It'd be nice if our public transportation policy was integrated with our automotive e.g. parking transportation policy. I think the Grant Street Transportation Center was supposed to eventually spark such synergies. I do think to the extent that public transit is a priority, automotive conveniences are candidates for curtailment for the sake of efficiency (unless you think we need an "everything & the kitchen sink" transporation policy, in which case, boy that's a lot of energies directed toward transportation!)Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.com