We're Just Saying

We can feel the news cycle inexorably moving forward, but our minds are stuck on these selections from a Jeremy Boren article dated April 4:

Ravenstahl also will stop officers from arranging off-duty side jobs for their colleagues and taking their own cut, Skrinjar said.

"The whole idea is to bring this under the control of the police department, without any freelancing by individual officers," said Skrinjar, who added that all off-duty assignments will be tracked by computer.

-snip-

"This would make if fair so that everyone can bid on the same jobs," said Jim Malloy, president of police union Fort Pitt Lodge No. 1.

The way we see it, either the Tribune-Review needs to issue a correction, or else the Mayor's office needs to explain what happened to change "the whole idea" so quickly.

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Thank you for joining us. We expect to have a very special interview posted by the time you wake up on Tuesday morning. Have a nice weekend. Look alive out there.

T.G.I.F. Odds & Ends

We know what you're thinking -- what ever happened to that Agent Ska business? You would think that after the first two days, if Mayor Ravenstahl failed to summon Marty Griffin for a confessional, there must be nothing to the story. You would be wrong.

Although things may not lead to the Sundance Film Festival as originally envisaged, the trail is not exactly cold. No less than two city beat reporters from a major local newspaper are continuing to make inquiries. Sources indicate that at least one of these reporters is "totally cute."

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City Planning Commission meetings, if you haven't figured it out already, are just super. They're better than whatever you're likely to find on reality television; they are, in fact, your reality television.

The next major Planning Commission meeting on the PITG development is scheduled for early May. Can we tailgate on Ross St? We could park RVs, grill, drink, and pop discreetly in and out of the meeting room. Hope to see everybody there!

Comet Totally Interviewed

WPXI news reporter Andy Gastmeyer stopped us on the way to work yesterday, and asked us about the new Downtown evacuation plan. Fortunately, we were blissfully, totally ignorant of this story. He asked some leading questions, obviously wanting to elicit the response, "How can we not have an evacuation plan already? I am outraged!" We tried to give a measured, nuanced response; we were fairly certain that the different authorities Downtown must have their own evacuation procedures.

We were sure Gastmeyer would take us out of context -- this happened to us once before with KDKA's Mary Robb Jackson. However, Andy selected a very neutral and representative clip from our interview: "I did not know we don't have a formal evacuation plan." He could have done us worse. He left it to another passerby to deliver the stinging indictment.

Then again. As we parted ways, we were left thinking, "It has been six years since 9/11. Why don't we already have an evacuation plan?"

T.G.I.F. Spectacular: Three Pairs

The P-G's Rich Lord reports on a perplexing meeting between Hill District leaders, and Ravenstahl, Onorato, Ferlo, Wheatley, and Payne. Marimba Milliones and the Rev. Johnnie Monroe are demanding a lot, but there are considerable questions as to whether they represent a community consensus.

P-G columnist Tony Norman blames our population decline on a "lack of dynamism and elasticity of spirit." And also machine politics.

The TRIB's Andrew Conte has Mark Hart of the Steelers saying they had a "cooperative but very frank and forceful discussion" with Majestic Star representatives about traffic. The discussion included the metaphor of a cannonball fired down North Shore Drive, and not hurting anybody.

The TRIB editirial board is handing out its Laurels and Lances ... and they're all out of Laurels!!

UPDATE: We are fairly certain those wily purveyors of supply-side economics reconnoitered their Lance / Laurel designations since this post went online. (You know your names.)

The Courier's Deborah M. Todd reports on endorsed Democratic candidate Ricky Burgess promising "credible, competent, community-focused leadership" for District 9.

Debbie of the Courier also provides a heads-up on the need to find a new favorite Japanese restaurant.

Planning Commission Shelves Casino until May

A heated procedural discussion broke out among members of the city planning commission, just prior to its adjournment on Tuesday evening.

The commission had heard PITG Gaming's presentation of its master plan for approximately four hours, and had heard public comments from the Steelers, the Science Center and many others for another two.

During the final few comments, there was already a lot of shifting and whispering in the room, like when the class knows the bell's going to ring soon, and teacher is wrapping things up. The last few public speakers all joked about everyone's exhaustion.

Finally the Commission chairwoman made it solemn again, underscoring the massive importance, and massive complexity, of this development. She said six hour meetings aren't common -- asked the other members if they remember any -- and said it indicated the profundity of the whole undertaking.

The Chairwoman pretty much begged and pleaded with the parties -- Barden, the Steelers, the Pirates, the Science Center, the Riverlife Task Force, the University of Pittsburgh, the North Side / North Shore Leadership Conference, the Pittsburgh Design Coalition, and Mr. DeSantis of West Allegheny -- to work out their own differences, at least as much as possible, before the next meeting in May. Because then, time really becomes a factor.

Another lady on the planning commission, named Mistick (any relation?), offered a stirring speech about the possibilities and opportunities that good compromise will achieve. She also echoed the Chairwoman's urgings that the parties to reach out to one another, take initiative in solving these problems.

Shortly thereafter, another woman on the planning commission moved to speak. One could just tell it was going to get dark, and it did.

She suggested that with the special awesomeness of the undertaking before them, and with the undeniable time pressure, and with the major parties so very far apart -- maybe this Planning Commission should hold an extra meeting or two.

The Chairwoman started to speak dubiously of this idea, and as she spoke she scoped out the room, and saw everyone scowling a bit. Mistick was like, no thanks. This was a heavy six hour meeting, and these lawyers are costing people money, and you can't just keep jerking the multimillionaire around. (Actually, Mr. Barden and his people did not seem to fidget or mutter at the suggestion).

Anyway, the Chairwoman politely and firmly shot down this other woman's suggestion about amping up the Commission in light of this once-in-a-decade city planning conundrum. The moment the meeting adjourned, the woman, clearly showing frustration, reservedly stalked out of the room.

Editorial comment: We obviously don't know the players involved, but we found ourselves identifying with this last woman. After a six hour (very good!) meeting, the idea of scheduling a whole new meeting is always a tough sell. We acknowlege that the Planning Commission is busy with other things.

Yet we hope, as the dust settles, that all members of the City Planning Commission, including its chair, reconsider the wisdom of making this kind of extra push, during this most especially critical period in the history of city planning. Although Mayor Ravenstahl, and the task force that he chairs, are charged with forging these compromises over the next month, perhaps the attentions of the Planning Commission would help focus everybody's minds on a superlative outcome.

Wednesday Quick Skim [More Updates]

Mayor Ravenstahl says he will add a $3.85 per hour cost-recovery charge to police secondary employment gigs. (Rich Lord, P-G)

The new plan includes a concession to the union -- allowing businesses to use entrepreneurial officers as "designated schedulers" rather than getting officers solely through the Police Bureau's events office. The bureau spent $30,950 in 2005 on software for scheduling the jobs.

Nonetheless, there was much rejoicing. (Burr Reporr)

(Pictured: James Malloy, police union president, c/o P-G)

UPDATE: Also Jeremy Boren, TRIB.

The Rich Lord selection above appears to contradict the Jeremy Boren selections below. Please advise if we are missing something:

"The whole idea is to bring this under the control of the police department, without any freelancing by individual officers," said Skrinjar, who added that all off-duty assignments will be tracked by computer. [emphasis added]

Police Lt. Thomas Atkins, who privately arranged for officers to work Pirates games, said he would abide by the city's decision. "I'm a team player," he said. "Whatever they tell me to do, that's what I'll do."

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Councilman Koch & City Planning Commission: No new liquor licenses within 150 ft. of any two other licensees. Only for business districts of 7,100 ft. or more, that is, just Carson Street. (Ed Blazina, P-G) The Trib's Mike Cronin has a slightly different take on that last point.

P-G Editorial Board calls elected sheriff's office a "political patch," would rather have seen referendum ending it. (LINK)

Dowe's on 9th bankruptcy and closure dispute going to court. (Ron DaParma, TRIB)

TRIB columnist Eric Heyl gives the Ravenstahl campaign the Eric Heyl treatment.

UPDATE: The Admiral is back!! (LINK)

Steelers Slam Barden's Traffic Studies...

... while some in the community bite the Steelers right back.

We attended PITG Gaming's presentation of its master development plan to the city planning commission. We arrived just as PITG was wrapping up its end, and just before the public comment period.

Two attorneys spoke for the Steelers: classic good cop and bad cop. They questioned the very seriousness of PITG's traffic and parking data, and presented their own forecasts, based on 30 years of experience and deep study in the area. They conclude that additional volume will create nightmare scenarios for events patrons -- think eight mile traffic jams.

However, both Mark Fatla of the North Side / North Shore Leadership Conference, and John De Santis, resident of West Allegheny and Home & Garden Show director, testified to PITG's great demonstrations of cooperation. Both the Steelers and the Penguins were chided for failing to be so open and collaborative during their own developments, and it was suggested that PITG can not be held responsible for the Steeler's own problems.

Don Barden himself briefly took the mic to point out that while looking forward to working with stakeholders, he at least is building a massive parking garage, and he is already getting "taxed" for the new hockey facility. On this point, several of his entourage were heard to mutter, "Mmm-hmm!"

The Carnegie Science Center added some concerns about foot traffic and bus access; a surprising number of school buses cycle through every day. They also raised lighting concerns: the Heinz Field lights themselves, when lit, already ruin the Observatory.

Another meeting is scheduled in about a month. The commission strongly urged all parties to collaborate over that interval, and work out as much as possible in advance. Responsibility for facilitating this negotiation appears to reside with the Mayor, and with the new city task force.