tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post1638003229554593199..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: How We Got Here to Begin WithBram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-48305048412630420292008-01-11T13:24:00.000-05:002008-01-11T13:24:00.000-05:00Troll(ey)rider,We do NOT want "cash" and after all...Troll(ey)rider,<BR/><BR/>We do NOT want "cash" and after all that is said and done, I just truly resent your statement. We want better institutions that have a stronger infrastructure so we can have a sustainable community. That cannot possibly be hard for you to understand.<BR/><BR/>Richmond, I tried to send about three responses over on the Burgh report blog but I kept getting a 'wait 20 seconds' response and was never able to submit. Lots of typing gone down the drain. In short, though, I apologized for calling you Richard (it was an honest error) and while I agree that elected officials are handy and helpful, please see my blog (drgoddess.blogspot.com) to get a blast from the past. We always had Jake Wheatley. Tonya Payne backstabbed all of us and stayed with the Mayor's firm upper lip and the Pens' (Morehouse's) arrogant stance and has not budged, except to say "I have always supported One Hill". Riiiiigggghht. <BR/><BR/>For those who are unaware, One Hill was created *against* Wheatley and all the rest of us. But, we still support the cause because we live here, so we became two groups and remain active to this day. There is really nothing that One Hill has done, successfully, alone. And vice versa, after June 2007. It has taken the entire community. I don't believe One Hill represents the entire Hill District. I don't believe our group represents the entire Hill District. I DO believe that both One Hill and our group represent the BEST INTERESTS of the ENTIRE Hill District and that is where I stand firm. <BR/><BR/>One Hill chose to cast its lot with Tonya Payne because Carl Redwood got mad at Jake and has old school beef with Sala, that he revisited upon our generation. I don't appreciate that; but I suppose we will deal with his errors at a later date. In the meantime, Tonya Payne and her supporters, with the exception of corrupting One Hill's process from the beginning, has provided little to the group except lip service and the passing out of flyers.<BR/><BR/>So, I hear you about elected officials but Bill Robinson and Brenda Frazier have written letters of support. Jake Wheatley's is on the way and I would almost bet my next heartbeat that you will never get anything substantive in writing from Tonya Payne. <BR/><BR/>Ed Heath: You hit the nail right on the head and I actually yelled at both Onorato and Ravenstahl at our April 2007 meeting because of how casually they treated the Barden promise / development rights issue. I told them that the city was broke and that THEY do not have $350 million to spare, so why did they think this was something to sneeze at, by robbing us of a willing investor in our neighborhood who has also demonstrated much more neighborly qualities (even with a CASINO!!!) than any of the other applicants?!! Onorato claimed his hands were tied and that's what sports teams were doing all over the country. Luke sat there silent. And then Onorato promised that something substantive could still come out of this, so they promised to allow for six months to engage in a CBA process. That was a hilarious meeting because Marimba Milliones also told them to "elevate the status of their conversation" because they all broke out in laughter when we mentioned Barden and his promise. Obviously, we didn't and do not find it funny at all.<BR/><BR/>Senator Ferlo? Yeah, okay. He initially supported it (he's on the KDKA TV clip on my blog) but he's been entirely silent since---just like during the gaming scenario. So, thanks Senator Ferlo. Speak up anytime now . . .<BR/><BR/>And I just have to stress that the CBA is MAINLY between the private developer and the community. The City and County are supposed to be the ones to fill in the gaps and ensure that it happens properly. So, Char especially, please, PLEASE stop telling people that we are asking the government to totally build and then guarantee us a grocery store. Indeed, my coalition didn't even ask for a grocery store because we knew this is how the conversation would go. Just give us the money. We know what to do with it. And a large chunk of it is ours, anyway.<BR/><BR/>As for Councilwoman Goddess? I think that's probably one of the funniest titles I've heard all week. My neighbors have been asking me to run. Forgive me for saying it's a job I know I could do well but that I don't actually want. <BR/><BR/>Unlike Tonya Payne, however, I would not run and then be complaining about how much I want for my job to end. She's just mad because she's been on the wrong side of essentially everything.<BR/><BR/>Richmond, I firmly believe you will see a change in the next election; but I'll be damned if we're going to let someone continue to be a Payne in our behinds until then.Raise Your Hand! No Gameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06201854465616243392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-78441918666822312352008-01-10T20:11:00.000-05:002008-01-10T20:11:00.000-05:00Councilwoman Goddess... Humm....We just elected a ...Councilwoman Goddess... Humm....<BR/><BR/>We just elected a minister to city council.<BR/><BR/>The ministers themselves are picked from above -- with the one vote that really matters the most. Calling.<BR/><BR/>An elected official standing with the posse gives weight to some -- and takes away from others. <BR/><BR/>Mr. Portis ran for that seat against Sala (and lost). I remember him as one of the guys who wanted to build the LOW SPEED MAGLEV from the mega parking garage at the top of the hill to the edge of downtown. <BR/><BR/>With elections and elected officials and elected want-a-bes -- things get overly complicated at a blink of the eye. <BR/><BR/>I just say, be careful for what you wish for. <BR/><BR/>And, keep up the good fight while working on the issues. What matters more than who. And, a lot of PEOPLE are going to make a bigger difference working together.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-36349694422481047642008-01-10T18:27:00.000-05:002008-01-10T18:27:00.000-05:00After thinking about it for a few hours, I think t...After thinking about it for a few hours, I think that I've come up with a way of stating my opinion that will sound far less problematic to everyone concerned.<BR/><BR/>I think that all of us can agree that, no matter how many ministers, congregations, beauty parlors, Boy Scout troops, and community activisits are involved in the One Hill coalition, it could be far more powerful and persuasive if an elected official -- any elected official from the neighborhood -- was standing up there with the One Hill leaders at all of these news conferences and negotiating sessions.<BR/><BR/>It's great that people are involved in a grass roots way. But if you combined that with support from the Hill's elected representatives, things would be even better. The elected official would automatically lend credibility to the effort, and would serve to keep the organization informed of what's happening in the halls of power. That would be far more potent than the self-selected citizens of One Hill all themselves.<BR/><BR/>That sounds reasonable, right? Anyone disagree?<BR/><BR/>In the end, that's really all I was trying to say. Having the elected officials -- as near as I can tell, every last one of them -- on the other side of the issue takes away all that additional credibility that they could have given the One Hill cause if they were on the same side of the table.<BR/><BR/>Again, if Ms. Payne et al. are really leaning against the collective will of their legislative districts, then I hope like hell that someone from One Hill will stand for election next time around. Then the organization will be able to reap the benefits of the legislative support that they should have had from the very start.<BR/><BR/>I also think that "Councilwoman Goddess" has an especially nice ring to it.<BR/><BR/>When I say things this way, it doesn't sound nearly as divisive as my original comments. And it more or less amounts to the same sentiment.<BR/><BR/>Does that work better?Richmond K. Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05352144240244956283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-12878700736912954602008-01-10T18:23:00.000-05:002008-01-10T18:23:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Richmond K. Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05352144240244956283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-57647898741201514712008-01-10T17:11:00.000-05:002008-01-10T17:11:00.000-05:00So, 350 million dollars disappeared because no one...So, 350 million dollars disappeared because no one wanted to let Don Barden have any part of property around the arena? The Ravenstahl administration is willing to let 350 million dollars worth of investment just evaporate? Meanwhile, Ravenstahl said, during the campaign, that he was at every community meeting, he was in continuous contact with community groups, that the community groups were happy with his level of involvement. African American neighborhoods did vote for Ravenstahl in huge numbers, though I can’t quite figure out why. Ravenstahl now talks like a man who has found a new religion – stinginess – saying that not one dime of anyone’s money will be put in the hands of private citizens. Barden gets to save 350 million dollars and the city gets to renege on any promises it made by claiming the community groups are asking for things never promised and illegitimate anyway. <BR/>Impressive.EdHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109361235271107574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-80722939477987169852008-01-10T16:48:00.000-05:002008-01-10T16:48:00.000-05:00Hmmmmn. Check your facts on the committment side....Hmmmmn. Check your facts on the committment side...though you may want to continue to demonize Don Barden...it was Barden who committed first to the arena deal and the Station Square group who committed last. <BR/><BR/>Either which way...the hill district community should be fully invested in this process...it is so interesting how those with a certain kind of priviledge in America tend to throw temper tantrums when they get picked second.<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-12679390441486580842008-01-10T12:34:00.000-05:002008-01-10T12:34:00.000-05:00THAT'S what I was waiting for.I still haven't resp...THAT'S what I was waiting for.<BR/>I still haven't responded to the 2nd part of your comment char, but i'm stil planning on using it as a device.<BR/><BR/>BY THE WAY, what do you guys make of this thread?<BR/><BR/>http://forums.steelersfever.com/showthread.php?t=15453<BR/><BR/>Looks to me like some contractors and developers are asking the government for COLD HARD $$$$CASH$$$$$Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-65455740695327929232008-01-10T11:49:00.000-05:002008-01-10T11:49:00.000-05:00Ditto the Admiral.Ditto the Admiral.Charhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06725494226277483936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-61204610302670041202008-01-10T10:46:00.000-05:002008-01-10T10:46:00.000-05:00Simply blown away, Bram. You've done some good po...Simply blown away, Bram. You've done some good posts before, but this one is simply fantastic. I found it enormously instructive. Even though I was living right there while all the events you discuss were happening. Even though I am a news and politics addict. Even though I was following things with what I thought was rapt attention. I still never put all the connections together like you did here.<BR/><BR/>This post was an incredible public service. Or at least an incredible service to me. This post, all by itself, has moved me closer to convergence with your perspective on this matter.<BR/><BR/>Really, mate. Good work.Richmond K. Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05352144240244956283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-80885118671921227462008-01-10T10:28:00.000-05:002008-01-10T10:28:00.000-05:00I can only assume some of that would have been put...I can only assume some of that would have been put in big-ticket items on the prime 28 acres to which Barden was denied ... and then some would have gone in to the "fingers" into the community.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-24972328432402328352008-01-10T10:26:00.000-05:002008-01-10T10:26:00.000-05:00$350 million in community development for the lowe...$350 million in community development for the lower hill. Can someone tell me how many square feet are even in the lower hill??? How many dollars per square feet is that??? How many people live in the lower hill? Could we just split the $350 million among the residents evenly and let them decide individually what they should each do with the money?<BR/><BR/>These are serious questions, I'm not being facetious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com