tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post4067753602859053762..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: FiRE DRiLL!Bram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-21243405648058655032008-07-17T22:11:00.000-04:002008-07-17T22:11:00.000-04:00As I think about it, there are other interesting a...As I think about it, there are other interesting angles.<BR/><BR/>Conventionally, CBAs have been between communities and developers, and government entities have been brokers of a sort. This CBA thus far has been signed by a community coalition and an Instrumentality of the City.<BR/><BR/>When you think about it, there IS a place where EVERYBODY'S voices can come to the table, and everybody can lobby in the way they desire, such that the strength of their arguments can be judged on their merits -- it's called the city's planning and zoning process and much of its starts with the Dept. of City Planning.<BR/><BR/>There's also a place that has "staff" to support the development of a master plan, and in fact already employs professional master planners -- that's also the Department of City Planning.<BR/><BR/>There have long been indications that the URA has been "gutting" the Department of City Planning by draining it variously of its function or its personel. In fact, further exciting changes were in the works until.<BR/><BR/>Has the URA apropriated this CBA idea in order to justify taking over a major downtown development master plan AND a comprehensive neighborhood plan which impacts the Golden Triangle, in order to relieve the Dept. of City Planning of any responsibility in the equation? The entity with all the open public processes, direct accountability to public officials, and whatever professionalism still there remains?<BR/><BR/>Be that as it may. I still think, given we are where we are now, that if the four board spots for the community on the strategic planning committee can still be said and be seen to be compellingly representational of that community -- that will make this CBA a victory.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-72715728563613075072008-07-17T14:29:00.000-04:002008-07-17T14:29:00.000-04:00Bram, You keep respecting everyone and getting all...Bram, <BR/><BR/>You keep respecting everyone and getting all the good stories. <BR/><BR/>Leave the occasionally funny smart-assery to other like me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-42869636232196588902008-07-17T14:21:00.000-04:002008-07-17T14:21:00.000-04:00Rauterkus - Great comment.Schmoltics - I guess it ...Rauterkus - Great comment.<BR/><BR/>Schmoltics - I guess it is a little unclear on its face. I know it involves not being allowed to negotiate with the Penguins ... but did they mean, not with any government as well? Any developers?<BR/><BR/>The original idea was that the rule was supposed to keep the community united -- it was said to be so important to have a unified bargaining position, to not have internal squabbling. Problem is, the impossibility of the proposition just made the squabbling about 100 times worse.<BR/><BR/>It's my hunch that the rule was Pittsburgh United's contribution, from back when One Hill was in its incubation phase, but I'm sure it appealed to the city council rep as well.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-32391588070288609492008-07-17T13:16:00.000-04:002008-07-17T13:16:00.000-04:00Sorry. I'm kinda ignorant on the whole thing. Do...Sorry. I'm kinda ignorant on the whole thing. Doesn't mean I'm not interested. Confused, though.<BR/><BR/>What does it mean to "negotiate outside of One Hill's process"? Does that mean that other groups/individuals who are members of the coalition can't cut side deals of their own? Only the URA is allowed to do development in the Hill? If that is the case, then it does seem rather silly. One Hill can accomplish its goals while others invest in the area as well, and still keep a degree of control over what happens in the hood, which is what I thought was one of the points of the whole endeavor.<BR/><BR/>Help?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-20527291020803230312008-07-16T22:49:00.000-04:002008-07-16T22:49:00.000-04:00My $.02:The Knights we all came to know and love ...My $.02:<BR/><BR/>The Knights we all came to know and love sat at 'round tables.' That saga with The Hill is exactly UNLIKE that. They play games. They create folly. The use big words like 'democracy' when they are really hide behind power grabs and in-fighting. <BR/><BR/>Bram, when you come to realize that these neighborhood groups are NOT places where real solutions are crafted it will be a good day. They are not democratic and all the elections are fixed. When real hot issues come up -- with guitar or otherwise -- votes are not taken and meetings are not held. Hey, sounds like the stadium authority's plan: don't meet.<BR/><BR/>Recap: KRAUS = reactionary. <BR/><BR/>PEDUTO = sky is falling. And he is right. But, few care.<BR/><BR/>HARRIS = enforcement wishes. Golly, they can't even legislate. So she wants to over-reach and further fog the lines of responsibility and duty. <BR/><BR/>PAYNE = power grabs and folly.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-10126618927812902852008-07-16T17:35:00.000-04:002008-07-16T17:35:00.000-04:00Faith Hill & Justice Alliance ---I just laughed ri...Faith Hill & Justice Alliance ---I just laughed right out loud here at my desk somewhere in the city government.<BR/><BR/>It's after 5:30 so no one is here to hear me!<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-65709912337888612662008-07-16T16:41:00.000-04:002008-07-16T16:41:00.000-04:00I'm dying to start calling them that, but that wou...I'm dying to start calling them that, but that would be disrespectful.<BR/><BR/>Not that that's usually a problem for me, but I'm learning there's an extra importance to these things when it comes to the Hill saga.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-23236526195423024422008-07-16T16:28:00.000-04:002008-07-16T16:28:00.000-04:00Where can I join the Faith Hill & Justice Alliance...Where can I join the Faith Hill & Justice Alliance, she's hot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com