Councilman Bruce Kraus, who, along with council President Doug Shields, wrote the legislation, said the measure aims "to show that Pittsburgh is in fact a very progressive and forward-thinking city" and position it to "attract good-quality employers, and good-quality employees." (P-G, Team Effort)
Kraus was on KDKA this morning. Marty Griffin played his show's version of city council's theme song, If I Only Had a Brain, as an introduction.
Marty was upset that council is concerning itself with a "gay registry" when there are serious problems in our city like failing schools, guns on the streets, and council members that do not get along with the mayor. He also thought it was a dumb idea to ask gay people to register as gay, and to ask them to hand over personal information to the city like utility bills in the process.
Kraus dealt with all that as best anybody can.
##
Councilwoman Tonya Payne said Schenley's closing would be "flat-out wrong" but didn't know what council could do, except pass a nonbinding resolution urging the school board to study the Schenley matter further.
"There are a lot of stupid decisions made, I think," Ms. Payne said of government. "Usually, they hurt adults. But these are kids." (P-G, Joe Smydo)
Tonya! Darling! Always a pleasure reading your name in the paper. Agree or disagree, know we're always getting the Straight Talk Express.
##
"Obviously, it continues our agenda to advance green investment in Pittsburgh, and we felt it was really important to demonstrate that the city government is serious about being green," Mr. Ravenstahl said. A staff member and a trust fund dedicated to the concept should help link efforts going on in various departments, and bring about business buy-in and foundation funding, he said. (P-G, Rich Lord)
Wow. Parlay this together with the Department of Public Works' Green Team and the auto pool formerly known as Flexcar, and it's like, Holy Progressive-Looking Mayor, Batman!
The 2-year-old task force, which the mayor co-chaired with Councilman William Peduto and state Sen. Jim Ferlo, is expected to make its recommendations to council next week.
Groovy.
##
We'll deal with you two later. (P-G, Hart & Bucco)
(It is hard to look at this week's City Paper without thinking of this oldie but goodie.)
The Trib's David Brown had a nice little article over the weekend about the new wave of young Republicans doing battle in the region.
County Democratic Chairman James Burn said he doesn't feel threatened by the GOP push. Among Allegheny County's registered voters, Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2-to-1.
"It's going to be difficult to generate excitement with young voters when there's nothing on the Republican side to get excited about," Burn said. "We haven't even had to cast out a net. For the last 10 months, young voters have been jumping in the boat."
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Too bad, because we need a healthy Republican party to absorb all the conservatives; otherwise we don't know who and what we're voting for, and we get stuck with personality politics. Unfortunately, today's Republican has become less conservative and more anti-rights and anti-global fellowship, so hopefully this new crop can get things back to sustainable.
[Elizabeth Yorio] sums up the GOP's appeal to young voters this way: "Less government and keeping hands out of the taxpayers' pockets.
"Limited government really resonates with young Republicans," she said.
Whatever you say. If we liberals didn't get this lecture every once in a while, we'd probably socialize footrubs or something.
Meanwhile, the Comet got to chatting with Elizabeth Emery Rincon, newly the state director of the League of Young Voters, and asked her what's news.
"Rauwr", she replied.
"What?"
"Roo Roo!"
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"RURAL!"
Oh! Rural! That makes a lot of sense. Obama is monopolizing all the arable land in the city and even in the suburbs for the moment, but when it comes to Pennyslvania's heartland, there may yet be virgin doors awaiting their first knocking.
Not quite as easy as canvassing Highland Park again, and maybe not as gratifying as revolutionizing city politics directly. Yet if things like transit funding and public school funding rely on the state ... shoot, even our city politicos pass the buck off to Harrisburg with regularity. It would be nice to have somebody chasing down those issues over there.
That would be the amount necessary to adequately and safely repair Schenley High School, according to speakers at a news conference yesterday evening. The figure was alluded to by B-PEP chairman Tim Stevens, made explicit by researcher Kathy Fine, and supported by civil engineer Nick Lardis, all of the Save Schenley movement.
In addition, the cost of preparing other buildings to accommodate Schenley students came under intense scrutiny. The $11 million originally quoted to repair Reizenstein, for example, was "wildly underestimated" by the School District administration, say activists, raising the usual questions about the rest of the District's preliminary numbers.
The notion of a full-blown asbestos crisis was flatly rejected by activists. Airborne asbestos particle levels, which are measured every two weeks, have on every occasion measured lower than the legal limits to be adhered to even after asbestos remediation procedures; moreover, damage to plaster is not so widespread as reported, being limited to a few areas that were rapidly "patched" at some point years ago.
The group demanded that 1) the School Board vote no on permanently closing Schenley High School, that 2) the School District move to immediately create and present a workable, cohesive, comprehensive plan for high school reform, and that 3) a committee comprised of both citizens and School Board members be convened for the purposes of exploring all possible methods and revenue streams for preserving Schenley -- including the possibility of a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.
That last "offhand" notion seemed to take on a bit more gravitas when Vivian Loftness of CMU's School of Architecture stepped forward to make her own presentation, centering around the superior long-term cost efficiency of investing in the Schenley building, as opposed to lesser buildings or new construction.
In order to achieve increased independence for city government, and more power over local matters, the people of Pittsburgh adopt this home rule charter as an instrument of progress and hope.
It has been created in a long labor, open to all citizens and participated in by many.
The purpose of this charter is a responsible city. A responsible city is one which seeks to ensure that all of its citizens' needs are met, whether from public or private, city, county, state or national sources.
A responsible city is one which expects aggressive action from its officials toward the achievement of dignified housing, useful employment, pure air and water, efficient transportation excellent education, health, safety, recreation and culture, and the other conditions conducive to human growth.
It is one which provides equal protection of the law for all citizens, with no one denied the enjoyment of civil, economic or political rights, or discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of race, color, creed, national origin, age, handicap or sex.
It is one where all citizens have reasonable access to records and officials and where police power is under civil direction at all times.
It is one where citizens generously accept service in government, participate thoughtfully in public decisions, support public employees in the performance of lawful duties, avoid frivolous use of their rights and supply their government with sufficient resources to meet its responsibilities.
The achievement of the purpose of this home rule charter depends upon the constant interest and concern of citizens.
According to the forward, "The Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter was approved by the voters on November 5, 1974."
THOUGHTS:
1. "The achievement of the purpose of this Home Rule Charter depends upon the constant interest and concern of citizens." We are fortunate that the technology is finally catching up to the need!
2. The need for achieving "dignified housing" is the first specific imperative laid out in the Charter, and it demands "aggressive" action.
3. This can fairly be classified as a liberal charter, what with all that clatter about the government being there to provide for "conditions conducive to human growth."
She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes...
Approached at his Butler Street office Thursday, Mr. Edelstein pointed out a wall of awards, across from a walk-in closet full of keys to the scores of properties he manages. He would not answer questions for the record.
A year ago, WTAE-TV reported that Mr. Edelstein was giving the URA and the Bureau of Building Inspection sharply different estimates on the cost of his facade work. The reports generated a city controller's office audit. (P-G, Rich Lord)
So we're still waiting. It's been a little over a year.
The URA had required that Streetface grants be based on three bids from registered contractors. In recent years, it dropped that requirement for developers that use what Ms. Straussman called "their own contracting companies."
It seems like most of the dubious transactions must have taken place before Pat Ford's reign of terror at the URA, and before his wife Alecia Sirk's spokespersonly reign of terror at Streetface -- correct? -- despite the fact that Edelstein is another anointed "best friend" of Ford. (Maybe that's just how Ford describes people?)
The recent policy changes at the URA outlined in this article clearly point to an increase in the likelihood of government waste. The whining about having to pay "prevailing wages" is a whole 'nother political issue on top of that one.
##
We just can't get over how good this Ruth Ann Daily column is. (P-G, Ruth Ann Daily)
Honestly, we're like, numb.
While "there's a master plan showing the footprints" of all the longed-for developments, says Stadium Authority Executive Director Mary Conturo, "no schematic drawing" of what a finished North Shore might look like has been produced. Not many of us are very good at extrapolating a finished visual from a mere blueprint -- not even some pros. For instance, the artist's rendering of Continental's contested amphitheater-and-hotel proposal shows a building of uncertain height apparently situated in a meadow surrounded by old-growth trees.
Oh, you know. Shiny buildings. Benches. Children holding parents' hands, eating ice cream. At nighttime, it will glow brightly.
Seriously. Now that the land is once again ours to control, why not figure out what we most want to do with it? Even if the answer does turn out to be, "sell it to the highest bidder and let the Adam Smith's invisible hand fulfill our wildest dreams", how about we shop around for that highest -- or best -- bid?
##
In regards to Schenley High School, the "spend money on kids not bricks" argument just got a whole lot thinner.
Vivian Loftness is university professor of architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, where she served as head of the School of Architecture from 1994 to 2004. (P-G, Vivian Loftness)
She praises the building for natural lighting, high ceilings, good natural ventilation, thoughtful social settings -- a demonstrably positive place to learn.
This reminds us of some reform notions put forward by the first wave of Save Schenley activists -- if the District wants to improve performance, why not take advantage of free federal government programs to serve a breakfast of fresh vegetables everyday, which has shown to increase performance by so-and-so percent?
It's as though the efforts of the administrators are less about educating children, and more about marketing the District. Which is ironic, because something like Schenley can be hugely marketable.
Once asbestos is abated, the solid materials and craftsmanship in the Schenley High School building will ensure that maintenance, replacement and repair costs are lower than all newer schools with less durable construction.
"Abated" is a key word. The industry standard of asbestos encapsulation would be less costly and every bit as safe as a ponderous removal program -- that's why it's the industry standard. Take that lower figure ($40-$50 million), and try to shave some more frills off the renovations (does that still include air conditioning? Why, in my day...), and then finally look for some creative funding sources.
That way we get a lot closer to a School District we really want -- one that is financially responsible, and that also offers the best of what a first-class city ever had to offer.
Is Penguins Bannergate still leaving a bad taste in your mouth? This is an issue worthy of every Pittsburgher's consideration.
One thing we have noticed among bloggers (at least the political bloggers around here) is an unwavering belief in and reverence for the "organic" nature of their blogs, bordering well past the point of superstition.
With extremely rare exceptions, anything that has been written or committed is fine.
Long, ponderous essays are always just what the doctor ordered when they happen to arrive -- as are bursts of artistic genius, stale and formulaic mass programming, long periods of dead airtime and biting, unnecessary sarcasm. Issues can be championed and then dropped abruptly; we after all must "leave it to the universe from here on out." Old blogs die and new blogs are born.
To be sure, other conversations occurred during the meeting, but in a way it was all fluff.
##
Councilwoman Harris got to asking about the saga of the CAPA school sign approval.
Turns out, the city first granted a temporary one-day permit due to the arrival of visiting dignitaries, then a one-month permit, then three months, and only thereafter did it get a permanent permit. No word on when during this Zoning Administrator Pat Ford's unilateral determination that it was an Advertising Sign was vacated in favor of Artwork.
Ms. Harris: And if you do have any information on CAPA in a group of papers there, could I get a copy of it?
Mr. Ford: You would not get a copy of my business log, but I would be sure to have -- you might want to consult your legal counsel and the legal counsel of the school board before you ask me to start sharing information with you that was subject to discussion between me and Ira Weiss and attorneys.
Councilman Dowd would later characterize this to us as McCarthyistic. "I have names. I have names."
Ms. Harris: I'm not asking for the information between you and the attorney, but there was a lot that went on with the school board also at that time. Mr. Ford: Just take a look at the list that I circulated, and you have everybody that I talked to.
Ms. Harris: I know who you have talked to. I mean, I looked over the list.
Mr. Ford: Would you like to just start randomly going over some of these conversations, Councilwoman? [Ewwww!]
Ms. Harris: Over their conversations?
Mr. Ford: Yes.
Ms. Harris: No, I'm not asking to go over conversations. You said that you brought a number of pieces --
Mr. Ford: All of these are my conversation records going back to 2003 chronologic order, tabulated. So if you wanted to know what I said to Mr. Ira Weiss at 12:30 at August 11, 2003, I could pull that out there, and I could share with you and council what we talked about.
This is where the Internet rumors of Mr. Ford's intense and allegedly damaging hoard of "notes on every conversation he's ever had" got started.
A little later:
Ms. Harris: So you are not circulating the rest of it?
Mr. Ford: I'm not circulating my business logs, no.
Mr. Harris: Is that all business logs?
Mr. Ford: But, I also have correspondence, but that correspondence is related to e-mails that were circulated regarding the 6 for 36 deal, not the CAPA school sign.
##
Dan Deasy said some fine words about Mr. Ford being a hard-working director, and about the questionable need to bid out rights to remove and capitalize on old billboard stock, in what we would later confirm to be an illegal sign-swapping arrangement, given that Lamar Advertising owns almost all of the existing stock in the city.
Deasy also thanked David Onorato (the Executive Director of the Parking Authority!) for being the kind of guy that was "always in touch with the board members and you let us know what was going on. You negotiated, its sounds like, a good deal on the sign."
##
Then, He Who Does Not Want To Appear As An Attorney On Television got his turn:
Mr. Dowd: I actually have a large number of questions, most of which are not pertaining directly to this matter. I am curious though, you had made some comments about the CAPA sign, and this was that board for the school system, and I am curious, and maybe that was an important time for city, what did take place in that conversation on August 11, 2003 with Ira Weiss?
This is the example, above, that Pat Ford half-volunteered, seemingly at random, to offer to give to Councilwoman Harris.
Pat Ford drags his big briefcase up on the table.
Button. Button. One strap, other strap. Fiddle fiddle.
Open.
Remove. Place. Remove. Place. Unsheathe.
Flip, flip, flip.
A full 30 seconds of physical comedy.
Mr. Ford: What's the date?
Mr. Dowd: August 11, 2003. You also talked with the chief of staff, Tom Cox, at that time.
Mr. Ford: August 11, 2003. What time?
Mr. Dowd: 12:25 for Tom Cox?
Councilman Dowd, you see, had simply picked out conversations during that time frame involving then-Murphy administration Zoning Administrator Pat Ford, Murphy Chief of Staff Tom Cox, and School District Solicitor Ira Weiss.
We would go through voicemails, phone tag, conversations, the outlines of meetings and random inquiries. Here is our fairest possible reassemblage.
Mr. Ford: At 12:30 Ira Weiss, 412-391-9890. "Re: CAPA sign. The administration is having a change in an opinion. I must call Ira Weiss. The discussion should be discrete and confidential. Discussions will be precedence in setting. We won't (sic: want) no advertising, and we have no problem with the changing display of art. The events listed will be okay on the board."
Remember, Zoning Administrator Pat Ford had seen a Coca-Cola advertisement during a test run and interceded to the effect that a permit was necessary. He issued a stop-work order.
Mr. Dowd: 2:15: Ira Weiss, the following day.
Mr. Ford: "2:15, Councilman Gene Ricciardiis interested in preparing an ordinance that will make the sign permissible as originally proposed. Maybe we can split it into art and convenience information. The art is not regulated, and the information will meet the new size requirements proposed by Councilman Ricciardi. The electronic messaging will be permitted by Ricciardi as well, and it is similar to two signs that were already up in the cultural district."
Note to selves: Get Gene Riccardi's take on this.
Meanwhile, temporary permits for the electronic structure (for the benefit of incoming dignitaries) -- would be asked for and granted.
Mr. Ford: "I told Ira that I was attempting to get a ninety-day temporary occupancy permit for the artwork. I will know at the end of the day today, and we will work with a joint motion with George Specter and send it to Specter for review upon his return, and then we will amend the application for 80 square feet convenience information and 520 square feet of art.
Mr. Dowd: And that day you also talked with Tom Cox, and it says, here, "Tom cox, 2:55 p.m., parenthetically secured deal -- exclamation point.
Mr. Ford: Yes. he said -- I told Tom Cox that we have a deal with the school board, and that he told me that take baby -- he said, Pat, take baby steps and he is okay with the temporary occupancy with the sign. However, he wants no advertising.
So at first it would be considered an Advertising Sign on which there were special restrictions to the effect that no advertising would be permitted. This would embolden Lamar Advertising to plead "modernization" and summarily demand 50 or more LED permits from Ford. (After an unknown interval, higher authorities at the Department of City Planning would vacate Ford's unilateral ruling and deem the whole thing Artwork.)
Mr. Dowd: You later talked with Ira Weiss at 3:15.
Mr. Ford: Yes, and I wrote, "I will not require a permit. It is art, if there is no name, numbers or letters. I don't want letters requiring, requesting ninety days for the artwork.
Mr. Dowd: That's enough. Thank you. That's sufficient for now.
Boy was it ever.
##
Lo, and then Bruce Kraus, city council's fullback, scourge of graffiti artists and champion of civil rights, made allegations and insinuations suggesting that Zoning Administrator Susan Tymoczko and City Planning Director Noor Ismail must be pushing through this Grant Street Transportation Center permit on orders from URA Director and Ravenstahl administration Development Czar Pat Ford.
Kraus produced administration e-mails and organizations charts and media accounts that seemed to attest to that high probability. What they did was agree to disagree.
Kraus inquired why this was never brought before the board of the Parking Authority. What they did was agree to disagree.
Kraus inquired why legal counsel was never sought or acknowledged to assist in this area of alleged grayness or silence in the city code. What they did was agree to disagree.
Kraus inquired why clear indications of displeasure by the Planning Commission, by Department of City Planning and by the general public, were not heeded over this Lamar billboard, but rather a loophole allowing "minor" amendments to duly approved project development plans was exploited for Lamar's privilege.
What they did was agree to disagree.
Kraus and Ford then would congenially enough discuss Ford's big plans for sweeping structural reform of our city government. Kraus would complain that City Council was being kept out of the loop in all the big excitement, and would bemoan that in this, as in this electronic sign case, nobody was at the table representing the people -- the People! -- of the City of Pittsburgh.
Pat Ford would say something about the plans not being ready for wide circulation yet. (Plans which would soon thereafter be put on hold due to Ford's preemptive media tell-all and temporary self-banishment from city government.)
##
Next came Shields. Most of it was like this:
Mr. Ford: Right, but I disagree with you, for the record.
Mr. Shields: That's fine. I didn't ask you if you disagree with me. I'm not asking that question.
Mr. Ford: Since it's becoming litigious, I want to make sure --
Mr. Shields: I'm not being litigious.
Mr. Ford: Yes, you are.
Mr. Shields: Excuse me! [This was a bona fide Council President roar.] You are not here to ask me questions or comment on what you think I think. [And we want this on a T-shirt]
Mr. Ford: But I'm here to tell the truth and give my opinion when you give me your question.
Mr. Shields: You know me, Pat, I asked you the question, and your answer was fine, and I got it, and you don't seek precedent to the commission, but you seek precedent elsewhere. You didn't look to the commission for precedence in this particular case. Fine. It's a fact. I'm not being litigious. I'm not suing anyone. I'm asking questions.
They would argue more like this on the laws that were apparently being twisted, stretched or broken to get this LED up, and Shields would wrap up for the moment, but not before Columboing into one more...
Mr. Shields: And how does that square -- have you visited -- just briefly. Hae you visited the Monroeville case at all?
Mr. Ford: No, I have not.
Mr. Shields: That's all I have.
##
Bill Peduto would say some fine words, and allow Ms. Lubineau of City Planning's Contextual Design Advisory Panel the time to explain why it was that body's belief large-scale electronic advertising surface might not be the best thing for that end of Grant Street. Tonya Payne would voice the opinion of some of her own constituents' that the LED is a great idea.
Patrick Dowd would make some allusions to the need for Councilmatic oversight of the URA, and repeat publicly his fervent desire to see a budget for the organization. Bruce Kraus would reiterate his desires that Council be represented in any negotiations involving governmental streamlining or the like.
Doug Shields got more to the point.
Today this city is embarking on a merger of some sort that we're not privy to between a city department and authority, and I will advise you as executive director, forget it. Don't bother.
And so on. (See? All fluff.)
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Reverend Burgess: And I think the last thought is this, we are not just new members of a council. In many ways we are a new council in composition. We are learning. We are growing. We are learning each other. We are learning to function as a body, but I will say that this kind of deliberation I think will be consistent with this council. We are a council that is completely interested in process, in collecting information and are willing to spend time both in the public eye and in private doing due diligence and research and learning information.
And I thought that the information gleaned today was exceptional. It will help us to go forward. I think that this public hearing will also generate other public hearings and other post agenda conversations.
Conversation would die not long after Ravenstahl development czar Pat Ford threw himself at the mercy of the State Ethics commission. Except on the blogs, as of yet.
##
You may remember that citizen Patrick Dowd filed a protest appeal of the zoning decision with the city Zoning Board, and that Councilmembers Shields, Burgess, Kraus and Peduto joined it. You might also remember that Lamar Advertising sued all five council members for improperly waging a conspiracy, and both sides drew their swords in federal court.
The four interceding councilmen would seek to have their attorneys' fees paid for by the city, since Law Department of the City of Pittsburgh was conflicted and seemingly of little help.
That Law Department would opine that the council members risked forfeiture of their jobs if they pressed ahead and voted on the legislation.
The four would seek a second opinion on the possible conflict of interest and on the consequences of voting about it from who else but the State Ethics commission.
Those four members sent to the commission background information regarding the Lamar litigation at issue, including Pat Ford's and Solicitor Specter's involvement in the issue, the circumstances of Ford's departure, and information regarding other complications that have arisen from Ford's conduct of his many roles in city government.
The State Ethics commission ultimately took a definitive pass on advising council about the vote to pay legal expenses, but as yet has given no indication about the larger issue of presumed investigations into Pat Ford's conduct. Everyone is hoping for a speedy resolution, as Mr. Ford continues to collect on his handsome salary, and the city is being deprived of his vision, expertise and industriousness.
The ordinance before me today is fraught with problems. It provides an unfair competitive advantage for the wealthy and will have a chilling effect on the labor movement. It will inhibit the ability of challengers to mount successful campaigns against incumbents.
Also, Lamar Advertising and Liberty Pacific Media told me they didn't like it.
The title of this bill -- campaign finance reform -- is a common goal that we can work towards. We, however, must recognize that a title alone does not make good reform. I have judged this book not just by its cover, but by its contents and hereby reject it with this veto.
A piecemeal debunking of the Mayor's objections to reform should not be difficult to get across; certainly not while there are a bevy of brilliant examples of cronyism and special favoritism just waiting to be seized upon by resourceful opponents.
In fact, it might be profitable not to dwell as much on defending the bill's supposed drawbacks (and in so doing, waging the dialogue on Ravenstahl's terms), but rather to illustrate the historic nature of gains Pittsburgh could have made against public corruption, and the unprecedented extent of special-interest overreaching now being defended with this veto.
Now. If you egomaniacalchuckleheads can just get it together to settle on a respectable challenger, this will be over before most of us know it.
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Councilman Bruce Kraus, who, along with council President Doug Shields, wrote the legislation, said the measure aims "to show that Pittsburgh is in fact a very progressive and forward-thinking city" and position it to "attract good-quality employers, and good-quality employees." (P-G, Team Effort)
