Pittsburgh Dish

CNNC election results

New slate on board

Photo by Frank Kownacki

After months of mudslinging that rivaled the presidential campaign, the election for seats on the CNNC Board of Directors ended last night in an upset.

About 200 Central Northsiders filled the MLK school auditorium to cast their votes for seven candidates to fill available Board positions. None of the CNNC-supported slate were elected and were replaced by the Northside Neighbors group.

Ousted were many long-time CNNC members and residents of the Central North Side. All seven of the Northside Neighbors group - comprised of some who've been critical of the purchase of the Holy Trinity Greek Church on North Avenue, more homeless services on the North Side and a proposed Land Trust that may help provide affordable housing - were elected.

The winners are:

John Augustine
Bill Buettin
Kirk Burkley
Chris D'Addario
Randi Marshak
Greg Spicer
Randy Zotter

Central Northside Neighborhood Council election tonight

The end of the contentiousness?

Tonight, the members of the CNNC cast their ballots to fill seven seats on the group's Board of Directors. Democracy in action, and such. Nice.

But the path leading up to the election has been anything but nice. The ChatNorthside message board has been as friendly as a nest of vipers, with one person (just an example of the tone) cheering the demise of the Western Avenue restaurant, Muriel's. Some friendships seem to be disintegrating.

The CNNC-supported slate has been called naïve, soft, obstructionist and unfit to lead an organization. These accusations don't ring true to Dish, though there appears to have been some foot-dragging in response to requests from the opposition slate. The opposition have been tarred as fascists, which is a little over the top. In fact -- though Dish has seen a member or two wear a brown shirt -- they seem to have more than a few good ideas, despite having used words like "takeover" and "coup d’état" instead of "join."

From an outside (not being CNNC members) yet inside (as neighborhood residents) perspective, so much of the discourse surrounding the election has been far too personal. Everyone involved can do better.

What comforts Dish is a belief that whoever gets elected tonight wants to serve the Central North Side to the best of his or her ability. Let this be so, because, if it is, a mix of tried-and-true ideas and new energy could be
a catalyst to moving the neighborhood forward.

A little mutual respect in the wake of this evening's balloting, regardless of the result, will make our fine neighborhood better. That cooperation, Dish believes, is of equal importance to any ideas each slate of candidates have to offer.

So, here are the pertinent details: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Gymnasium.

Only members in good standing (those who have paid their dues and have attended at least one regular meeting during the last calendar year) may vote.

Breaking news: Barack Obama garners at least two votes

North Side sources say trend may be irreversible; Dish calls race (in ward 25, at least) for the junior Senator from Illinois

Around 8 a.m., two Central North Side residents entered the polling place at the intersection of Buena Vista Street and Sampsonia Way. They subsequently voted.

When they left, the interviewed themselves.

"I voted for Obama," said the one who called himself Mr. Dish.

"Me, too," said Mrs. Dish. "I also voted for the delegates pledged to him."

With that, they loaded their dog, Shirley the Gentle, into the car and Mrs. Dish dropped Mr. Dish off at work.

Upon returning to the neighborhood, Mrs. Dish took a drive up Buena Vista, across Armandale, and down Monterey before returning home. She saw that there were at least eight signs supporting Obama and just one for Hillary Clinton.

Therefore, Dish calls the Pennsylvania primary election for Barack Obama, projecting a 10-to-1 margin of victory.*

*Statistical projections may be rendered invalid and/or profoundly wrong by virtue of an extraordinarily small sample size, wishful thinking, omission of 99.9 percent of the Commonwealth's electors, poor math skills,
and an inadequate breakfast.

Clinton's Connecticut clinch pinched

Despite saturated stumping, Nutmeggers point to Obama

Photo by Jeff Glagowski

From the New Haven Independent:

A funny thing happened on the way to Super Tuesday: New Haven and Connecticut took center stage.

One presidential candidate — albeit from 2004 — came to the Stevenson Road home of New Haven schools Superintendent Dr. Reggie Mayo just before the Super Bowl Sunday. John Kerry gave a brief, energetic pitch for Barack Obama to a gathering of some 60 political activists and Yale students busy this weekend lining up votes for the Illinois senator in Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary.

Meanwhile, the two current Democrats candidates made plans for last-minute stops nearby. Hillary Clinton was planning a Monday morning appearance in New Haven at the Yale Child Study Center, her second Connecticut visit in eight days. And Obama plans to visit Hartford’s Civic Center Monday afternoon for a campaign rally.

And leading GOP presidential candidate John McCain came to Fairfield Sunday.

All this in a small state, just one of 22 states (plus American Samoa) voting in what is basically a national primary Tuesday, with delegate-heavy states like California and New York the big prizes. Until the past week no one expected Connecticut to play much of a role in the primary or to host visits from leading candidates. Now the race between Clinton and Obama has tightened, too close to call, Nutmeggers have registered to vote in record numbers, and the state suddenly matters. New Haven has come alive with hundreds of volunteers canvassing neighborhoods all over the city in the lead-up to the primary.

State Rep. Jason Bartlett, co-chair of Clinton’s Connecticut steering committee, said his candidate is looking for a knock-out punch. Obama has no chance of winning other New England and mid-Atlantic states, Bartlett argued, which leaves Connecticut — currently too close to call — his only hope of a regional victory.

Election wrap-up

Two more years of Ravenstahl

Luke Ravenstahl won. He will be mayor for two more years.

Illustration by Karl Huber

Breaking news!

No recent reports of mayoral moronosity

Pittsburgh Dish is pleased to report that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hasn't done anything to publicly embarrass this city or himself in nearly 24 hours. While it's possible that Ravenstahl has made a gaffe in his private life,
Dish maintains it is his right in that arena to behave as any other 27-year-old would.

Cast your vote

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Click image for larger view of details

RSVP: schultzchr@gmail.com

Dear Idiot Mayor

You are an arrogant twerp

Dish understands the story below doesn't rise to Watergate-level seriousness and, frankly, Dish could see itself having something like this as a pre-adult, but geez, Luke, when your employees behave in a juvenile fashion and you defend them, you, too, look juvenile. At the risk of being repetitive, Mayor Ravenstahl, if you want to giggle at frat boy antics, do so as a private citizen:

City worker rigged radio poll to favor mayor

The Associated Press

A city government employee developed a computer program that let him rig a radio station's online poll in favor of the mayor, who is seeking re-election Tuesday.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration said the employee, who works in the city's computer department, would not be disciplined.

"As far as I'm concerned, it was all in good fun," the mayor said.

The employee found a way around restrictions on repeat voting, allowing him to bombard the site with votes favoring the mayor, the mayor's office acknowledged. The poll, posted last week, showed 86 percent of listeners believed the media was too harsh in its coverage of Mr. Ravenstahl, compared with 14 percent who didn't.

Ravenstahl spokeswoman Alecia Sirk said there were no grounds for discipline because the employee rigged the poll on his own time.

"He did it as a private citizen. He's well within his rights as a person," she said. "People do it privately all the time for American Idol and nobody investigates that."

Two separate online polls asked listeners who they were supporting for mayor. One ended in favor of Mr. Ravenstahl and the other in favor of his Republican challenger, Mark DeSantis.

Dish meets DeSantis

Republican mayoral candidate candid in leadup to Nov. 6 election

Photos by Frank Kownacki

Mark DeSantis has a lot going for him. The bright and articulate 48-year-old is Chief Executive Officer of ANGLE Technology Consulting and Management. He has worked as a policy analyst to the Science Adviser of President George H.W. Bush (the first one).

He has also served as an aide to the late Senator John Heinz, the only Republican many Pittsburghers ever voted for. He boasts many advanced degrees.

But last week, DeSantis was in surroundings humbler than the corridors of power or the corporate boardroom as he hosted a $35-a-head fundraiser in the second-floor private party room of the landmark Downtown Mitchell's Restaurant & Bar.

"We beat Ravenstahl in this (fundraising) reporting period," he said with a smile. That's great, but in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-to-1 margin, one needs ideas as well as dollars to persuade a stodgy, traditionalist electorate.

By way of ideas, DeSantis mentioned Ft. Wayne, Ind., as a model for what he promises will be a fiscally prudent, performance-based DeSantis administration. Ft. Wayne, he said, compares the cost and benefits to the public of city services to "model" city services provided elsewhere. The results are annually released to the public and Ft. Wayne resident can see, in black-and-white, the bang they get for their tax bucks. This method, DeSantis says, drives city department heads to become increasingly
efficient.

Throughout his campaign, DeSantis has beat the drum of fiscal responsibility, of doing more with less in city government. Another hallmark of the DeSantis campaign is a promise to make Pittsburgh more attractive to entrepreneurs.

DeSantis proposes to eliminate the gross receipts and payroll tax on new business for three years. But what of the revenue lost? Minimal at best. "This region has created zero net private sector jobs in the last seven years," he said.

If this and other incentives to create more private-sector growth are successful, DeSantis says, any cash lost through this tax cut will be recouped as business grows. And, as businesses grow and jobs become more abundant, other tax instruments will bring in more cash to Pittsburgh's coffers without raising tax rates or creating new taxes.

Another method of goosing private sector job growth would be to persuade local foundations and private investors to create a pool of cash for "microloans" to small business, DeSantis said. A small grant of a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars, he said, can go a long way for a small company in its infancy. DeSantis pledged to spearhead a microloan program regardless of his electoral fate Nov. 6. The private investor will be Pittsburgh's salvation, he said, not a bloated government.

If there's an unstated motto for the DeSantis campaign, it might be something along the lines of "Create, Don't Stagnate." And it was perfectly clear after 30 minutes with DeSantis (it would have been longer had his handlers not dragged him away to chat up the people who actually paid to get into the fundraiser--the man likes talking public policy) that he sees the continuation of Luke Ravenstahl's administration as an anchor on this struggling city's prospects.

"Listen, retail politics is dying. Three of the city council candidates endorsed by the (Democratic) party lost," he said. "I'm (in the race) because these guys (the traditional city power brokers) screwed up."

Photo this page: DeSantis chats with North Side residents at Mitchell's

Mayor no show, again

Who's missing from this photo?

Photos by Frank Kownacki

More than 60 people attended a meeting at the New Hazlett Theatre on the North Side Tuesday night with numerous representatives of city government to discuss the concerns of residents.

Mayor Ravenstahl, though slated to attend, did not show. He was in Bloomfield, according to one of his representatives. This was the third meeting on the North Side (the mayor's neighborhood) that he failed to attend.

The meeting, sponsored by Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Tonya D. Payne, was titled "Keeping our Priorities in Order." Payne represents District 6, which includes the North Side and Hill District communities.

City representatives included various police department officials, a fire department chief and Pittsburgh school board member, the Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Authority for the City of Pittsburgh. In addition, the departments of public works, city bureau of building inspection and representatives from the Mayor's office and Allegheny County District Attorney's Office were in attendance.

Payne said the meeting was part of a campaign promise she made to hold community forums with each of the neighborhoods she represents. She passed out spreadsheets showing the number of calls to the Mayor's 311 response line for the areas she represents and the topics covered by those calls. Some of the main concerns raised during the meeting were the number of homeless people living in and around West Park and the elementary schools in that area, gun violence in the neighborhoods, building and zoning code violations.

Questions and concerns were raised by residents of the Mexican War Streets, Allegheny West, Fineview, Perry South, Perry Hilltop, Central North Side, the North Charles Street area and others.

Mary Fleming of the city's Bureau of Building Inspection said the office has received 1,041 complaints so far this year. Of those, 500 concerned building code violations; 438 involved overgrown lots; 40 were for abandoned or junked vehicles; 29 involved illegal dumping; 11 were for graffiti and vandalism and 23 for bad sidewalks. Fleming said 60 percent of those complaints have been resolved, and her department handed out an additional 610 citations for other violations while out investigating those called in to the office.

Payne said a meeting will be held at a date and time that is to be announced to discuss the plans of a developer to open a strip club near the Majestic Star Casino on the North Side. She said the meeting will be public and held at the offices of the Pittsburgh Planning Commission.

Claudia Keyes of the Central Northside Neighborhood Council, encouraged residents to support the programs at Jefferson Recreation Center to give positive activities to children in the area.

Mark Brentley, school board representative for District 8 - which includes the North Side -- said he will discuss with school officials and school district police about the concerns of residents regarding the number of homeless people living near the elementary schools along West Park and monopolizing the facilites and playgrounds meant for students and children living in the area.

Brentley also said he recognizes that there are far fewer school recreational sports and other programs for youth today than existed when his generation was growing up.

Karl's Krap

SUV key to war on terror

Mayor fears release of information will lead to formation of Al Qaeda in Pittsburgh

Citing national security, mayor mum on SUV specs

Friday, October 05, 2007

By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration would not release documents yesterday that describe the appropriate uses of a Police Bureau GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle that he used for business and personal
travel.

"The City of Pittsburgh cannot release them, they are 'Official Use Only: Sensitive Homeland Security Information,'" mayoral spokeswoman Alecia Sirk wrote in an e-mail response to questions.

To read the remainder of the worst excuse ever, go here.

OK, Li'l Mayor, of late you've stepped in more fecal matter than a divot-stomper at a polo match. The above doesn't help. Even, in the unlikely event that your office is truly forbidden from talking about what a motor
vehicle purchased with Americans' tax money can be used for, perhaps it would have been better to respond by saying ... Crap. Dish can't even come up with reasonable excuses for you anymore. You, young man, have truly made a mess of things.

Invariably your public comments reflect a callowness and cluelessness unbefitting the mayor of a city this size or, frankly, the president of a fraternity. You are petulant and prone to bouts of dishonesty and lapses in
judgment. This city is at a crucial point (though when has it not been since the death of the steel industry?) and needs someone with experience and maturity to lead it.

Resign. You will then be free to have as many drinks as you like with your wife, enjoy concerts and get into fights with cops at Steelers games. Though you will have to use your own car to travel to these social events. Pity.

Pittsburgh, we know Luke Ravenstahl will not leave voluntarily. Therefore, vote for Republican Mark DeSantis http://www.desantisformayor.com in
November. At the very least, a DeSantis administration would be less embarrassing that what we're dealing with today.

LukeatRedSoxgamegate update

A report from the scene

The message on the JumboTron welcoming Luke to Fenway Park rattled one fan sitting in the seats on Tuesday.

A North Side resident and Boston transplant attended the Red Sox game in Boston. He was perplexed as to Ravenstahl's presence.

"I saw the JumboTron and having received the invite postcard a few days before, I thought, 'Hey isn't he supposed to be at the meeting on the North Side?'"

While Ravenstahl was sitting amid big foam fingers at Fenway, fists were shaking on the North Side. The mayor's no-show at the casino meeting outraged neighbors who believed hizzhonor would be there. The incident gave Republican opponent Mark DeSantis ammunition at the first mayoral debate Thursday night.

"The generally held view of the people that live here is that there is no real dialogue," said DeSantis. "Certainly, one of the most important things if you're mayor, is if you're going to call a meeting and engage
in this dialogue, you need to be there, you need to hear the residents and hear what they have to say. That hasn't been done."

Ravenstahl said he never intended to go to the meeting and blamed the foul-up on his office.

Li'l Mayor Enjoys Ballgame

Mr. Li'l Luke Ravenstahl was honored at the Sox game. When he was supposed to be on the North Side.

A close confidant of Dish happened to be in Boston Tuesday. What did this gent see? L'il Luke Ravenstahl being honored by the Boson Red Sox at Fenway Park on the Jumbotron: "The Boston Red Sox Welcome Pittsburgh's Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to Fenway Park." During a baseball game. When he was supposed to be in Pittsburgh. At a meeting on the North Side. About the new casino. Which is controversial. Which he might have been interested in attending. As it is controversial. And he is the mayor. Of Pittsburgh. Not Boston. Asshat.

Mayor kinda sorta apologizes for missing casino meeting

Next excuse? The dog ate my proposed budget.

So, a little while ago North Siders received postcards from Mayor Luke Ravestahl's office inviting them to "please join (him)" at a public meeting regarding the proposed design of the nascent North Shore slots casino.

The meeting comes around on Tuesday. Ravenstahl was absent as he was in Boston looking at a public housing project with that city's mayor.

Ooops.

In today's Post-Gazette Ravenstahl apologizes by blaming his staff.

Rich Lord writes:

Weeks ago the city sent a direct mail piece, bearing the mayor's signature, in which he invited residents to "please join me" for Tuesday night's meeting at the Pittsburgh Project. Some 150 people attended, with some
chanting "Where is the mayor?"

Mr. Ravenstahl said last night that the trip was planned months ago, and until a staff member notified him of the fervor at the meeting Tuesday night, he was unaware the mailer indicated he would be present.

"It was a mistake by the office," he said. "The letter that went out was technically wrong."

Miss Manners shakes her head in disapproval at your blame-the-peons gambit.

A little unsolicited leadership advice, Luke.

1) The left hand and the right hand should know what one another are doing, lest you look like an ass.

2) As soon as possible, organize another community meeting regarding the casino. Show up. Listen to what people have to say. Before doing any of this, make sure to check your calendar.

3) Next time something goes wrong (which will likely happen today, considering your track record), take responsibility. Sadly, you're the one who's in charge. Act like it. Someone once said something about some sort of buck stopping somewhere. Look it up.

Or, just go play some golf. North Siders will pay your greens fees. Perhaps, then, we'll merit your attention.

September 27, 2007 in North Side, Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 29, 2007

Local lifecaster slammed

Bad day for Justine Ezarik

The 23 year-old Internet It Girl and spokesblonde for Councilman Bill Peduto is facing harsh criticism this week. Ezarik was profiled as one of Yahoo's "People of the Web" today and her appearance was met with fierce commentary locally and on the Internet, which she claims she owns.

In the video, Ezarik explains her reasons for broadcasting her every move on the Web via a camera affixed to her cap. "I grew up where there was no neighbors," she said. "I had no one to hang out with."

She also comments about the hardships of lifecasting. "It's weird how like it'll affect you. It's like I can't sit at my computer or I feel bad. I should be doing something. Because these people are expecting you to do something."

Many of her critics urged her to "get a life," "read a book" and cease her ceaseless self-promotion.

Let me get this straight.. She complained about her 300 page iphone bill.. And now... she's exploiting herself on the net and she's 23 yrs old. What a goal in life.. Come back in 20-30 yrs after sitting on your duff and lets see you then. I'm tired of her already!

Two of only about a handful of Ezarik defenders wrote:

More power to you Justine. I've seen you on Flickr but I didn't know about your webcasting. Don't sweat your detractors -- you'll be laughing all the way to the bank while they sit in the basement of their parent's homes, wishing they had your perserverance..

and

What they're doing is not retardid (sic). I've never actually watched it but maybe to you it's retardid (sic, once again) but maybe some of your hobbies would sound retardid (yes, another sic) to them. If all you people can do is go around and make fun of other people then you're the one's with no life. Just leave them alone! You don't even know them and i'm sure they're very nice. But you have no place to judge so back off!

After appearing in Peduto's debut video last week, some comments were equally biting as regards the lack of depth in her questions to Port Authority CEO Steve Bland and Jim Hassinger, President and CEO of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission:

I don’t understand what this is supposed to be? It’s clearly contrived, why not acknowledge the interviews by thanking them for taking the time. And why can’t we get some impartial commentary? Clearly the girl has no clue what’s going on, it seems like she can’t even follow what these guys are saying. It was nice though for Mr. Bland to ride the bus, I wonder if that was a real ride they took or a set up. . . . I’m leaning towards the latter because I doubt he’d actually get on a bus with regular people.

My advice is to get an interviewer who knows at least something about what she’s asking so she can ask better follow up questions and doesn’t have to be so scripted. It might also be wise to get one who doesn’t seem to distract her subjects and can maintain eye contact (not necessarily her fault).

and

Boy, how interesting, and great sound and video quality. I know every time I ride the bus the CEO of transit is next to me. What freakin’ crock, get a better lookin’ chick.

August 29, 2007 in News , Politics | Permalink | Comments (12)

August 22, 2007

Our li'l mayor

Excuse lamer than a three-legged ocelot with a degenerative disc
problem

From today's Post-Gazette:

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says a mayor is obligated to support the community by taking part in charitable events, but he can't afford to do so from his own pocket.

From Dish's "Give Us Free Stuff" manifesto:

Mr. and Mrs. Dish say as operators of the finest online news source in Christendom they are obligated to support the community they cover by taking as much free stuff as humanly possible because, otherwise, they'd have to endeavor to live within their means.

Yes, Luke is defending his right to play $9,000 rounds of golf with famous and wealthy people on UPMC and the Pittsburgh Penguins' dime by claiming that it's his obligation as accidental holder of the highest office in the
city to support charity by not contributing any of his own money.

Ok. That's fine. It's not like Luke has any important dealings with UPMC and the Penguins that could be influenced (or at least be perceived to be influenced) by their generous support of the Mario Lemieux Foundation and Luke's golf game.

Dish has gained access to a top-secret list of other excuses the ethically clueless Luke considered before deciding to employ the above example of pretzel logic before the city's Ethics Hearing Board.

And here come the excuses!

"I allowed two entities the city does business with on a regular basis to pay my way because:

* "I'm not particularly wealthy, but I want to play golf with Joe Theisman."

* "Mommy said I could."

* "All the cool kids were playing."

* "I gave at the office."

* "I expended the family charity budget bidding on items at the Clueless Mayors of America Foundation auction."

* "Vote Quimby!"

* "I stood a much better chance of getting on television than had I kept with my original plan of watching tapes of my place-kicking exploits at Washington and Jefferson while listening to Bruce Springsteen's 'Glory Days' on endless loop and weeping gently into my wadded-up letterman's jacket."

Post-Gazette photo

August 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 20, 2007

Bubblegum politics?

Peduto launches really awesome website

Over the winter, Dish met city council member and occasional mayoral candidate Bill Peduto. He seemed pleasant enough, in a lumpy sort of way. These days, though, Peduto is sexxxing it up by funding a nifty new website that will make Pittsburgh practically perfect in every way.

Justine Ezarik, the web-cam chippie who thinks it’s pretty compelling to watch her sleep, is part of Peduto’s sexxxy delivery system.

Dish undertook minutes of in-depth research charting the emergence of reformpittsburghnow.com and has uncovered a horrifying truth: Peduto, et al, have been laying the groundwork for a takeover of the interwebs that will leave all of us very, very sad.

Dig.

OK, so Justine gets herself on Wikipedia after becoming a national It-Girl for her iPhone bill.

Pittsburgh is named 3rd bloggiest city.

Then Peduto launches his site, with Justine as one of three overseers.

Now, look at this older entry on Justine’s site that chronicles her trip on Just Ducky Tours with Peduto. In retrospect, this is obviously a preview of the kind of incisive political commentary we can expect from the Pedudo partnership blog. The depth, it is deep. Who better to contribute to a blog that’s also a political action committee and will ostensibly address serious issues?

Perhaps, though, there is another problem afoot. Look at Justine’s iPhone bill. Can we really trust her to take part in a blog that’s supposed to stand for good governance, which, one would assume, includes thrift and self-control as one of its values? More than 300-pages of text message transcripts?

Elements of the Pittsburgh blog community are atwitter.

Dish just wishes it was prettier. Look into Justine’s doe-like eyes and tell us you wouldn’t want to challenge Guy Costa on road-paving schedule issues.

August 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 25, 2007

Perry Hilltop: 911 response time down

A tale of two neighborhood meetings

by Tom Wilson

On the evening of July 19th, while Mayor Luke Ravenstahl patted himself of the back at a Neighborhood Forum down on the Flats of the North Side, several other politicos gathered at the Pittsburgh Project on North Charles Street to meet with local residents about the alarming increase in gun violence in Perry Hilltop.

The meeting was called by Perry Hilltop Citizens' Council (PHCC) President Janet Gunter at the urging of fellow Council members and local residents who insisted that "something has to be done." Ms. Gunter sent out invitations to many local, State and Federal officials.

Ravenstahl scheduled the Neighborhood Forum for the same evening.

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan; Assistant U. S. Attorney Steve Kaufman; Director of Governor Rendell's Southwest Regional Office, Allen Kukovich; Senior Executive to Senator Jim Ferlo, Lloyd Wright; County Councilwoman Brenda Frazier; Pittsburgh Public School Board member, Mark Brentley Sr.; Clyde Duffy, of City Councilwoman Darlene Harris's office; Elizabeth Style, of the City's Weed and Seed office; Rhonda Brandon and Mark Fatla, of the North Side Leadership Conference; Brian O'Malley of Representative Don Walko's office; Acting Chief Deputy Sheriff Joseph Rizzo; and Beth Ann Cushanick of Representative Jake Wheatley's office, spent two hours discussing the issue of public safety with over 50 residents.

When Mary Beth Buchanan asked about response times to 911 calls, and was informed that there was sometimes an hour delay or even no-shows by police (even though the Zone One police station is less than five minutes away from most of Perry Hilltop), former Assistant Chief Craig Edwards explained his understanding of why there are lag times and no-shows.

(Note the shock on the face of County Councilwoman Brenda Frazier.):

Several followup meetings are planned.

Photo by the Post-Gazette

July 25, 2007 in City Council, Cops, Politics | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 19, 2007

Ravenstahl needs protection?

Bodyguards earn more than the body they're guarding

OK, click here.

Now that you're back, you're a bit cheesed, no? From a purely economic perspective, this makes no sense. It's kind of like assigning a lump of coal to guard a gold nugget (Note: In no way does Dish believe our city's mayor resembles a gold nugget, except as a indication of relative value in comparison to the detectives who guard him. Oh, and the detectives are most assuredly of higher value than coal. It's just a facile metaphor, people, simmer down).

Just, Dish means, shouldn't the guy in charge of stuff earn more than the guys he's in charge of?

In this case, perhaps not.

Nevertheless, it's becoming painfully clear to Mr. and Mrs. Dish that somewhere along the line they made horrible career choices.

Therefore, Mr. Ravenstahl, Mr. Dish will take a bullet for you for $85,000 per annum. Plus benefits.

Photo by Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette

July 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 30, 2007

Billy the Kid tops kid mayor

Garden marquee turf war afoot
Photo by Frank Kownacki. Click for larger view

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, boy wonder of the world, was to have top billing on the Garden Theater marquee, thanks to his single-handed handiwork in the demise of the house of porn, according to some.

Luke's glory was shot down this week by Billy the Kid, who's rootin' tootin' life will be played out by Quantum Theatre in June.

Dish is investigating rumors that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has ordered the exhumation of the Old West outlaw in order to, as Ravenstahl put it, “Tattoo my name on his decomposed rump.”*

*Quote may be entirely fictional.

......................................................................................................

Quantum Theatre

The Collected Works of Billy the Kid
Adapted from Michael Ondaatje’s award-winning book of poems and directed by Dan Jemmett

June 14 – July 1. Opening and Press Night: June 15.
Performances: Wednesdays-Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 5:30 & 9; Sundays at 7 p.m.

The Garden Theatre
12 W. North Ave., on the corner of W. North Ave. and Federal St., North Side

Tickets: $25 Wednesdays & Sundays; $28 Thursdays & Fridays; $30 Saturdays; plus a limited number of $15 student tickets. Call 412-394-3353 or visit www.proartstickets.org

May 30, 2007 in News, kinda, North Side, Politics, Rebuilding Pittsburgh | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 10, 2007

Inanimate endorsements

A look at the 2007 primary from a thoughtless perspective

Dish has an affinity for Pittsburgh politics. So much so that Mr. Dish is considering mounting a write-in campaign against accidental incumbent Luke Ravenstahl. (Mr. Dish’s qualifications include, but are not limited to, a high tolerance for abuse, above average height, a winning smile, and a tendency to mumble.)

In any event, it’s primary season and the candidate-touting signs are dotting our city’s hilly landscape. While Dish is loath to endorse any particular candidate (being that Dish would like all those running to advertise with Dish), Dish has been patrolling the streets in order to sort out which pols are favored by vacant lots and buildings. Ready thyself for the Dish review of inanimate objects’ political endorsements.

We start with Chainlink Fence. Chainlink Fence favors Darlene Harris, Cathleen Bubash, and Luke Ravenstahl. Explaining its choices, Chainlink Fence said, “I’m in favor of security and exclusion. After all, I am a fence. I find that these three candidates support my position regarding the separation of one side of something from the other. I fear that others would simply straddle me, refusing to commit on the issues.”

Liberty Launderette stands squarely behind Doug Shields. “Shields is a man who likes his government clean and well-pressed, with just the right amount of starch,” Liberty Launderette said. “I, too, value a clean, crisp white oxford, particularly those crafted by Thomas Pink. He makes very nice garments.”

Dilapidated House (pictured on page one) touts Michael Lamb. “He shares a surname with a delicious item of livestock,” Dilapidated House said. “I cannot control my desire to spread mint jelly on his gams. Yummo.” (Ed: An investigation of the county’s voting rolls shows that Dilapidated House is forbidden to vote as it has been institutionalized on may occasions.)

Shady Lot is for Costa. When asked why it holds three Costa signs, Shady Lot replied, “Looking at me, you might not think this is true, but I’m actually three lots. Look at the Allegheny County real estate website, for Pete’s sake. It’s true. By virtue of not being joined into one lot, I have three votes and I’m pulling the lever for Sheriff-to-be Costa all three times. Law and order, man.”

Grassy Knoll embraces Cathleen Bubash and Bubash alone. “You see, other lots, medians, homes, and businesses think they need to make some sort of statement on all the races. Not me,” said Grassy Knoll. “My kind got a bad rap back in ’63 because of that one Knoll in Dallas. My point here is to show that I, a Pittsburgh Grassy Knoll, embrace law and order. I do so by touting Judge Bubash."

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The Mr. Dish for Mayor campaign starts now.

May 10, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 01, 2007

Peduto pleads for paving protocol

Politicians to pick pothole priorities

From Peduto HQ:

On Wednesday City Council will be voting to change the way streets are selected for resurfacing. In the 1990s, Pittsburgh spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to conduct an engineering study of our streets. Several factors -- including composition, type of surface, amount of traffic, speed limit -- were analyzed, and a rating system, along with the needed software system, was created so that politics would be taken out of the process.

Unfortunately, that system has been scrapped, and instead we are left with politicians deciding whose street gets paved and whose street does not get paved. Although this is a small part of a much larger problem, it is symbolic of the politics as usual that guides city hall.

If you are tired of the old way of doing things in Pittsburgh, then do something about it TODAY! Email City Council and the Mayor, and tell them you demand that we reinstall the Paving Management System. Let them know that you support a government that is fair, equal, and transparent. Tell them that you will be watching on Wednesday and that you expect them to support legislation to reinstall this system.

District 1 - Darlene Harris, 412-255-2135 darlene.harris@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 2 - Dan Deasy, 412-255-8963 dan.deasy@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 3 - Jeff Koch, 412-255-2130 jeffrey.koch@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 4 - Jim Motznik, 412-255-2131 james.motznik@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 5 - Doug Shields, 412-255-8965 doug.shields@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 6 - Tonya Payne, 412-255-2134 tonya.payne@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 7 - Len Bodack, 412-255-2140 len.bodack@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 8 - Bill Peduto, 412-255-2133 bill.peduto@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

District 9 - Twanda Carlisle, 412-255-2137 twanda.carlisle@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, 412-255-2626 mayorcompl@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

May 1, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 30, 2007

Free beer, politics on tap

Grill the candidates tomorrow night. Did we mention free beer?

Hear from the Candidates. Ask your questions. Engage the panelists. Have a drink.

Who: City candidates in contested races (City Council, Controller)

Moderator: Tom Sokolowski, Director, The Andy Warhol Museum

Panelists: Chris Potter, Editor, Pittsburgh City Paper; Khari Mosley, Pennsylvania Director, League of Young Voters; Erika Fricke, V.P for Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood of Western PA

Where: The New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square, North Side

When: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 6:00pm – 8:00pm

What: Debate the issues facing Pittsburgh today

What Else: Beer and munchies

What’s More: Guaranteed heckling of no-show candidates.

Admission Fee: One good question for the candidates

RSVP: dubins@warhol.org or 412-237-1664

Sponsored by: The Andy Warhol Museum, The New Hazlett Theater, Everybody Vote, The League of Young Voters, Penn Brewery, Pittsburgh City Paper, Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania

April 30, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 25, 2007

Scoop du Jour: Caffeine & Cupcakes

The best cupcake: Dozen? CoCo? No. No.

Also: North Side Coffeehouses

Photo by Frank Kownacki

Amani International Coffeehouse & Café (507 Foreland St., North Side, 412-537-5510) is hosting "Midnight Moods Cafe" from 9 p.m. to midnight this Friday featuring Tony Campbell (saxaphonist) & Friends. Complimentary wine for the first hour; entertainment begins at 10; $5 cover. On Monday, April 30, meet candidates running for office: Robin Miller (City Council); Cathy Bubash (Judge); Heather Arnet (School Board); Joe Williams (Judge). Call for start time.

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Beleza Community Coffeehouse (1501 Buena Vista, North Side, 412-321-4210) has introduced a Happy Hour every Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Any latte is now $1 cheaper. But the coffee and good company are always rich. Try their cinnamon buns (pictured above).

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Last December, the press slobbered over the cupcake craze that iced Pittsburgh. Dozen Cupcakes (pictured left) in Squirrel Hill and CoCo's Cupcake Café in Shadyside became the Ali/Fraizer fight of frosting. Who had the better selection, the creamier frosting? It all became very tiresome, especially since there are other cupcakes in the Burgh that are far more toothsome.

If you haven't yet, try the cupcakes from Food Glorious Food (5906 Bryant St, Highland Park, 412-363-5330) and you might be less enchanted by The Big Two. Sold only on Saturdays at their little bakery, these cupcakes are extremely moist and, unlike Dozen’s, the buttercream frosting actually tastes like buttercream, not just sugar. Inside is a velvety injection of vanilla buttercream that flows like warm caramel. FGF’s bakery opens at 10 a.m. and offers all sorts of tarts, cakes, and yummy French- sounding desserts. They also sell kitchen items, offer cooking classes and cater. Call to make sure cupcakes are available.

April 25, 2007 in Business & Retail, Caffeine, Food and Drink, Mexican War Streets, North Side, Politics, Scoop du Jour | Permalink | Comments (4)

April 20, 2007

Luke goes Garden-ing

Pittsburgh mayor makes everything better; deserves much praise.

Yes, yes, hooray, no more porn theater. Yeah, sure, whoopee, the North Side will likely see more development in the vicinity of Federal and North. (Seriously, though, that's super.) In summary, hip, hip, hooray, the Garden is gone.

To celebrate the removal of the Porn Palace, the powers that be have decided to post a lovely, little massage on the Garden's marquee: "The Return of the Garden: Directed by Luke Ravenstahl." Grand job, Luke. Oh, wait, you really didn't have a whole hell of a lot to do with a process that began when you were still in short pants. If there's anyone to thank or praise here, Luke, it's the Commonwealth's Supreme Court, various lawyers and Pittsburghers for their tax dollars.

Frankly, Master Mayor, Dish thinks that the city should have paid off the Garden's property-owning pornographer years ago, adverting the expenditure of brazillions of dollars in legal fees. But, if you want to take credit, pal, be our guest. Just make sure it takes less time to transform the Garden into an assest for the North Side than it did to remove the blight.

In the interim, Dish brings you other things Luke Ravenstahl is taking credit for:

• The fine weather we're having today, which is expected to last through the weekend.

• The view from Mount Washington.

• The Penguins' 105-point season (though not the playoff series loss to the Senators).

• The miracle of birth.

• The intricate dance between hydrogen and oxygen molecules that gives us water.

• The radiant and timeless beauty of Julianne Moore.

• The wheel, fire, anti-lock brakes, good cole slaw and the afterglow caused by love well made.

• Pittsburgh Dish.

Politicians. Is there anything they can't do?

April 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 19, 2007

It's Lambing season!

Candidate per-Lamb-ulates around North Side

Michael Lamb, Democratic candidate for city controller, popped into the Mexican War Streets last evening to press the flesh and stuff campaign literature into doorjambs and such.

Around 6 p.m., the grey-suited Lamb was blazing a path up Monterey Street, followed by a team of volunteers clad in fluorescent green pro-Lamb T-shirts (photo right). Lamb is one in a crowded Democratic field.

As the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review put in in late March: "For the first time in a decade, Democrats don't have a single candidate campaigning to become Pittsburgh's financial watchdog.

They have five.

The crowded city controller field includes former lawmaker Michael M. Dawida; Prothonotary Michael E. Lamb; newcomer DaMon Macklin; acting Controller Tony Pokora, who inherited the post; and City Council President Doug Shields, a protege of late Mayor Bob O'Connor.

Their contest could open eyes about an office that might be second only to the mayor in the power it can wield.The controller -- paid $80,955 a year -- audits city departments, reviews contracts and cuts checks. The office is a check-and-balance to the mayor and City Council. It offers quite a bully pulpit.

Dish concedes that it knows little of Lamb (though it knows that Mary had a little one). We'll let other websites, such as 2 Political Junkies help you out as regards choosing the best controller.

What Dish will do for you, and itself, is to get all the asinine Lamb puns out of its system right here and right now. Dish promises that in any future election coverage and during a possible future Lamb regime it will not use any of the following horrid Lamb puns:

• Lamb on the run

• Wham, bam, thank you Lamb

• Lamb sheepish over mishandled funds 

• Lamba-Lamba ding-dong: Lamb campaigns door-to-door

That is all.

April 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 16, 2007

Yappy-headed Joe

Of course he supports Imus, he still thinks the Iraq war is going just fine

Photo by Paul Bass

By Paul Bass for the New Haven Independent

As radio shock-jock Imus finally got the boot for calling Rutgers basketball stars "nappy-headed hos," one of his longtime enablers, Connecticut U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, finally issued a public statement about his longtime friend's remarks. Sort of.

Lieberman (CFL-CT) has long enjoyed getting boosts from visits to the openly racist Imus show, as he has with even more over-the-edge hate-radio jock Bob Grant, on whom he showered praise. (Grant regularly refers to African-Americans as "savages"; he's also cruel to gays.) But the recent flap over Imus forced regular famous guests who never expressed a problem with him in the past to take some kind of stand. Lieberman has never previously felt a need to comment on any of Imus's or Grant's slurs against blacks or gays. (On the other hand, he did criticize Bill Clinton for sexual indiscretions with an intern. He also regularly blasted makers of violent video games.)

Can you figure out Lieberman's new "stand"?

Lieberman's press-release statement: ""Don Imus' comments were deeply offensive. He is right to apologize and strive to make amends. Because he is a friend and I know he is a better person than his remarks would suggest, I will continue to appear on his show. Don's task now is to heal the wounds that he opened by his hurtful comments about the young women on the Rutgers basketball team."

Read comments in the Independent on this story.

April 16, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 22, 2007

Peduto pulls out of mayoral race

Believe that

Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh's only hope for a mayor with a five o'clock shadow, dropped out of the race yesterday.

Well, at least the citizens of Pittsburgh will have the pleasure of watching Mayor Opie graduate from knickers to long pants.

March 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 20, 2007

Blog revenge

City employee accused of pimping Luke on company time strikes back

Matt H's good, albeit annotated, name was dragged through the mud on local political blogs. He was mad as hell and wasn't going to take it anymore. So he retaliated in a way a 20-something Gemini who enjoys the Real World, Inked and "any South Side bar" would--he launched his own blog.

H ruffled the skirts of more than a few local political bloggers with his pro-Luke, O'Connor-Is-My-Hero comments. He was accused of running "a blatant public relations campaign in support of Mayor Ravenstahl" on one blog and posting comments on company time on another.

H was a bee in many local bloggers' bonnets. His pro-Luke pom poms whacked too many cheeks in the pro-Peduto blogoshphere. So they retaliated in a way many bloggers with a penchant for anonymity would--they outed him.

After some private dicking around by a few local bloggers, Matt H was identified as Matt Hogue. The company? The City of Pittsburgh. Political trash talk piled up.

Hogue, described by the City Paper as "an in-the-tank-for-Luke committeeman," is an employee of the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. After his identity and occupation were revealed, Hogue was accused of leaving pro-Luke comments on city time. From The Pittsburgh Comet:

I am a local political blogger who wishes to remain anonymous, at least for the time being for obvious reasons. But I must say this -- all bloggers need to do is check the information gathered by their site meter. Mine records information such as I.P. numbers and time of visit. Then just cross reference that information to the comments that were posted on your site. I have determined, for instance, that there are certain I.P. addresses which are identified as City of Pittsburgh and County of Allegheny computers that often visit and leave comments on my blog. Many times, the comments are anonymous and other times, the same I.P. address leaves comments under an alias -- but not registered. Also, the comments are left at times that would be normal working hours and not just during lunch hour. It is actually quite easy. Through a little detective work, I was able to determine that during times that a certain I.P. address registered to the County of Allegheny was logged into my site, there are several pro-Lamb comments being left on my blog. As a matter of fact, ALL of the pro-Lamb comments left on my blog are done so at times this certain computer is logged on. Coincidence?? I hardly think so. It's be interesting to see if this computer is in the Prothonotary's office and if so, whose desk it sits on.

Hogue's outing happened in late January. Though it took two months, Hogue struck back. On March 8, the 22 year-old launched his reprisal--"Pittsburgh Hoagie-All meat no filler." The reasons? Identity theft was first on his list:

The biggest reason I created this account is so people know it's really me posting under the name "Matt H." I have seen a couple of posts that people have made using my name "Matt H." I don't appreciate that but I guess it was bound to happen.

On his bio, however, Hogue still goes by Matt H. So now that Luke is properly represented in the local blogoshere, why doesn't Hogue use his full name?

"I didn't mind the my identity was "outed" a while ago," Hogue wrote in an email. "I have really never hid the fact of who I am. I am proud of who I have worked for and what I have done in my life. The only reason I still use "Matt H" is because that's what I'm known as on the blogs. I have posted under that since the start so why should I change it up now?"

Hogue denies blogging on company time. He also denies blogging at the behest of Ravenstahl.

"Neither Mayor Ravenstahl or [sic] his campaign have asked me to start a pro-Luke blog," Hogue wrote. "I decided to do that on my own. I got tired of all the anti-Luke blogs & posts so I wanted to support the man I am backing for Mayor. I was spending too much time in buried comment sections of blogs. I wanted to get my message out on the "font [sic] page" instead of being buried."

There you have it folks.

March 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 12, 2007

Like, it's Luke

Mayor Luke's public service announcement yesterday

In case you missed Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on "CBS Sunday Morning" yesterday, the following is the transcript from the show (video not posted on the CBS website). Since its airing, the producers of "Valley Girls, Like, The Sequel" have decided to shoot the film in Pittsburgh.:

CBS— Smokestacks still rise above the three rivers in Pittsburgh, once home to America's steel industry. But today, so do new stadiums, museums and high-tech businesses. It's more than a face-lift — Pittsburghers are trying to draw new money and new energy to town.

Leading the welcome wagon is 27-year-old Luke Ravenstahl. He is America's youngest big city mayor and was thrust into a situation no one saw coming.

Last September popular mayor Bob O'Connor died weeks after he was diagnosed with a fast-developing brain tumor. His death stunned the city. Ravenstahl was catapulted from relative obscurity as city council president into the national spotlight, but he never doubted that he could do the job.

"I never did — honestly, I never did," he told Sunday Morning correspondent Joie Chen. "We knew as a family it would be difficult because of the frenzy and the circumstances under which I would become mayor. But I never had any doubt that I was able to do the job."

He has his work cut out for him. Two years ago, the state pulled Pittsburgh back from the brink of bankruptcy.

"We're upside-down financially, as many Northeastern cities are," Pittsburgh Tribune Review columnist Joseph Mistick said. "We have more revenues going out than coming in."

The other day, the Penguins, the town's hockey team, threatened to leave if they don't get a new arena. In this sports-crazy city, that's a big deal.

Ravenstahl is well aware of that; his family has de