Progress Pittsburgh

With three days to go, these are the reports that we have been hearing from the mayoral campaigns:

Dok Harris:

• Robocall from Franco
• Rally in Homewood
• Trick-or-treating in Squirrel Hill

• RT @pittnews: Where’s Luke? Harris hits Ravenstahl hard in new TV ad – http://fwix.com/article/39_2607f3b3a9 #
• RT @JenEngland: Is it negative to ask why the Mayor doesn’t attend community meetings or go into the neighborhoods? http://bit.ly/278T82 #
• RT @pittnews: More local takes on Verbanac/Ravenstahl – http://fwix.com/article/39_fbebf3e932 #
• RT @bobmayo: Entire mayoral debate video now online. See blog note: http://bit.ly/La3Vu #
• “you have to say this for Verbanac: For a guy with such long arms, he leaves very few fingerprints. ” http://ow.ly/wnFE #
• look – a new contract – just weeks before election day … Pittsburgh firefighters approve new contract http://ow.ly/wnGw #
• RT @JonDelano: @GilesBHoward “Ravenstahl snubs students, cancels appearance at Sun night forum http://www.gilesbhoward.com. “not good, Luke! #
• RT @grassrootspa: Acklin attacks Ravenstahl ads on jobless rate… http://ow.ly/15XT1k #

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Here is an update from the Pittsburgh Film Office about the PA Film Tax Credit Program – looks like this survived the budget process.  This was included in a recent email from the Pittsburgh Women in Film and Media.

Dear Supporters of the Film Industry in SWPA:

Thank you for all of your hard work and support of the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program.

We are thrilled to announce that because of the great support for this valuable program, the Film Tax Credit Act of 2007 will continue! The Governor and the Pennsylvania Legislature can see the economic benefits and jobs the film production industry produces for the Commonwealth. That said, in this very difficult budget year, the cap has been set at $42 million. Next year the cap will increase to $60 million, continuing the tremendous expansion of the film industry in Pennsylvania! More »

I just saw a tweet from Kevin Acklin that I found so hard to believe that I immediately went to the Post-Gazette to verify.  It’s not about corruption in the mayor’s office.*

More »

• RT @Harrisforpgh: More support for Dok! http://bit.ly/UENtp #
• RT @FunkyDung: @Rauterkus They don’t matter to me because I’d vote for a sock puppet over Ravenstahl. #
• Follow the Health Care Money to Congress http://post.ly/8ilx #
• Sister Shout – Pittsburgh’s Newest Podcast – Upcoming Episodes http://post.ly/8lWd #
• HealthCare 4 All PA Opens Office on Murray Ave, Harrisburg Rally http://post.ly/8r33 #
• “Harris denied allegations today that he is ineligible to run for [mayor].” http://bit.ly/JNj0H #
• RT @PGHCityPaper: CP BLOGS: Debate 1: Ravenstahl Crushed It http://is.gd/4o9wF #
• Are WAMs Constitutional? http://post.ly/9Hf9 #
• RT @Bram_R: Sitting down to write the big Pat Ford post. No bombshells, just an interesting major update for the folks who have missed him. #
• did anyone go to Green Drinks last week? What did @lukeravenstahl say? #
• Will it be time for Klein? http://post.ly/9biZ #
• RT @Harrisforpgh: –I WILL be at DOKTOBERFEST tonite. Debate airs at 7. DVR it and come to party. http://bit.ly/1whnJG #
• RT @pittnews: Mayoral Interviews: Franco Dok Harris – http://fwix.com/article/39_78671ef8cf #
• RT @ccj0nes: Saw Franco Harris being interviewed by WQED in Oakland. My coworker said, it’s good he’s running for mayor.. #
• RT @NeilCandyPizza: watching mayor ravenstahl blabber rhetoric at chatham. #
• RT @mnashpgh: as if more reasons NOT to reelect ravenstahl were needed http://tinyurl.com/yzjlm7w #
• we need a hashtag for the mayoral debate -anyone have any ideas? #
• hash tag for mayoral debate and all things mayor #pghmayor #

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Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WAMs: Guilty as Charged

We are indebted (if you'll excuse the expression) to Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery) for proving that WAMs are unconstitutional. Writing in " Daylin's Blog ," he not only defends WAMs but describes the process forbidden by a 1995 court decision, Common Cause of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth 668 A.2d 190. Click here for a legal memo about this case and why WAMs violate the Constitution.

Leach, a lawyer, wrote, "The way DCED Grants work is that a certain amount is passed as part of the budget in open session. Each caucus then gets access to a percentage of the total, and legislative leaders then divide that amount up among their members. Organizations can apply to receive grants. Members can then decide which projects in their district get funded within the constraints of the total amount of money available and the legal parameters of allowable grants."

While Leach defends WAMs as beyond reproach, he fails to explain:

• Why neither lawmakers nor the governor document how much money is sequestered in which line items throughout the budget.
• Why there has never been an independent review and annual list of those who got grants, those who didn't, and why.
• Why senior citizens in his district deserve state support more than seniors in far poorer parts of PA.
• Why beautifying sidewalks is ever more important than, say, safe water, which was cut $11 million (100%).

P.S.
Rumor has it that some legislative leaders will use caucus surplus funds for WAMs. We'll keep watching.

Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

1. “After three years as mayor, he has yet to articulate a vision for the future.”
2. “He does not have a reputation for working with the state legislative delegation.”
3. “He needs to put some distance between himself and the party machine, to generate independent thinking for Pittsburgh’s growth and progress.”
4. “ethical lapses after taking office upon the death of Bob O’Connor”
5. “his service as mayor remains a work in progress”
6. “It is incumbent on the mayor to assemble more top talent on the city’s behalf”

An investigation by KDKA turned up information suggesting that Dok Harris may be ineligible to be mayor.  The home rule charter lays out the requirements for taking office as mayor:

The mayor shall have been a resident of the City for at least three years immediately preceding election

Harris held a press conference today, where he admitted (1) he only registered to vote in Pittsburgh this year, (2) he has never voted in the City of Pittsburgh, and (3) he had an apartment in the City of Pittsburgh, while voting in Sewickley.

More »

Pennsylvanians United for Single Payer Healthcare and Healthcare4AllPA
invites you to a Grand opening of their 2101 Murray Ave office. The
event is from 4 to 9 pm Oct 17, 2009.

Rally for Single Payer Healthcare:
The Economic Solution: PA 2009 United States 2010
100 N. State St
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Contact Mary Pat for bus information at 412 421-4242

You can hear the October 14th interview with Mary Pat Donegan PhD
(Western PA Coordinator) & Chuck Pennacchio (Executive Director) at
www.TheUnionEdge.com

Supporting State (HB1660 / SB400) and National (HR676 / S703) Health
Care Reform Efforts. Join thousands of single payer supporters in the
Capitol Rotunda. This is a critical rally.

Speakers include:

Sen. Jim Ferlo…………Name sponsor of SB400 and Keynote Speaker

Wendell Potter…..Former CIGNA Executive, whistle blower and single
payer advocate

Katie Robbins……..Assistant National Coordinator, Healthcare-NOW

Donna Smith.………Political Organizer / California Nurses Assn; star of “SiCKO”

Tim Carpenter………National Director, Progressive Democrats of America

Bill George………………..….President, PA AFL-CIO

Members of the Baucus 8…Kevin Zeese, Russell Mokhiber, Margaret
Flowers and Katie Robbins

For more information:
Visit: www.healthcare4allpa.org/rally.htm
Email: action@healthcare4allpa.org
Call: Eastern PA – Jerry at 717.295.0237
Western PA – Mary Pat at 412.421.4242
Get the latest updates! Join the mailing list at: info@healthcare4allpa.org

Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

Sister Shout is Pgh’s newest lesbian and queer women’s broadcast/podcast.

Follow Sister Shout on Twitter http://twitter.com/SistershOUTshow
or @sistershoutshow

Upcoming shows:

Sister Shout http://sistershout.outonline.com

October 18 – Mitchell Lieb, Pittsburgh Lesbian & Gay Film Society –
The 2009 Film Festival

October 25 – Eli Kuti, Pittsburgh Dyke March

November 1 – Maria Lupinacci, 2 Political Junkies Blog – the 2009 Elections

November 8 – Anne Bowman, The Pgh Lambda Foundation – The Lambda Ball

November 15 – Kara Holsopple, East End Food Co-op

November 22 – Sue Frietsche, Women’s Law Project

November 29 – TBA

December 6 – Handmade Arcade

December 13 – Victoria Bradley, Lez Liquor Hour

December 20 – TBA

December 27 – Jessica Burgan and Sandra Telep, Hoi Polloi

Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

• Power Shift PA Conference – Oct. 23-25, 2009 http://post.ly/7lP3 #
• RT @PAPolHack: “…I will note that the Acklin Campaign will use any occasion to take a swipe at Dok…says 2politicaljunkies #
• RT @CutAndRun: @JanePitt wanted to make sure you heard that the crowd at Mellon Arena tonight booed when they played a clip Ravenstahl. #
• GET INVOLVED: Union Project’s Side Yard Project – help create more community space in Highland Park http://post.ly/7paB #
• Abandoned Greenfield Home Still Standing After Rape Case – @kevinacklin @Harrisforpgh any response? http://ow.ly/tFya #
• RT @RyanRMiner: Hey Pgh: Any thoughts on the Mayoral election? I have met @kevinacklin a few years ago and he has some ideas. Thoughts? #
• Obama Endorses In NYC Mayor’s Race – http://ow.ly/tFAK – who would Obama endorse in PGH mayors race? #obama #pittsburgh #
• RT @JustinKownacki: Cities making their municipal data available to open source developers is the new black. #
• RT @Harrisforpgh: FYI–Doktoberfest at the Church Brew Works event NOW moved to 7pm 10/21 #
• RT @JonDelano: @LRADstahl Despite claiming to be “Luke Ravenstahl” this is obviously NOT the mayor. Does the real Luke even tweet? #
• RT @Pazzler: Anyone have an email contact for the Ravenstahl campaign? His inbox is evidently full. #

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Side Yard Project – Next meeting Oct 14th at 7pm

Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

Power Shift Pennsylvania is our state’s first large-scale youth summit
focused on climate change and environmental justice. Organized by the
Keystone Environmental Youth (KEY) Coalition and partner organizations
of the Energy Action Coalition, this conference will inspire youth
leaders to step up and unite for clean, just solutions in
Pennsylvania. Please register yourself now!

Oct 23- 25 @ State College, PA

http://pennsylvania.powershift09.org/

Posted via email from progress pittsburgh’s posterous