tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post4594865549757642883..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: Final Notice. Save Your City. Please.Bram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-61318664565533736022007-09-01T20:10:00.000-04:002007-09-01T20:10:00.000-04:00Mark -- do you have any conflicts of interest you ...Mark -- do you have any conflicts of interest you would like to declare regarding UPMC? Any *perceived, possible* conficts of interest?Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-9750793891894802152007-08-30T14:20:00.000-04:002007-08-30T14:20:00.000-04:00I've been blogging and fighting the fight with UPM...I've been blogging and fighting the fight with UPMC since 1999. <BR/><BR/>Get a grip on this folks. <BR/><BR/>Act 55 is NOT the problem. <BR/><BR/>What is NOT sustainable is the swelling of land into the control of nonprofits, such as UPMC.<BR/><BR/>The root of the problem -- no pun intended -- is the LAND. <BR/><BR/>UPMC's profits are not a problem -- unless you want to be driven by envy. I don't. <BR/><BR/>Furthermore, much of that 'profit' -- as was covered today in the hearing -- is paper money profits / investments. They come and they go. That is development money. <BR/><BR/>If UPMC would cash out those profits into REAL PROPERTY -- by buying up land -- then the city is dead forever. They can knock us out by getting off of Wall Street and onto everyone's front stoop.<BR/><BR/>We need serious blocks to all nonprofit land expansions -- NOW. That is the key to sustainable development. <BR/><BR/>Running after Act 55 is like trying to hit the leaves on the tree of suffering. Go for the roots.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-26056963985472206182007-08-29T17:56:00.000-04:002007-08-29T17:56:00.000-04:00I think local government might have some other for...I think local government might have some other forms of leverage to use - doesn't UPMC have to apply for building permits when they purchase property, and don't they have to pass code inspections, etc.? What if these were denied, unless they paid up? There must be other stuff too.<BR/><BR/>Electeds need to go into that meeting & fight for us. They need to have lots of answers to all of the objections they're sure to hear. They need to have lots of alternative solutions. For example, UPMC says it doesn't want to pay taxes? Fine, it can provide health insurance to all city workers FOR FREE.<BR/><BR/>UPMC needs running water going into its buildings? Fine, it has to pay for it. UPMC needs cops to respond to calls, fine, it needs to pay for every call.<BR/><BR/>etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com