Author: pghgal

Here is a photo of the damage – no one was hurt.  Looks like damage occured early Sunday morning.  More details available here.  Darlene Harris is the current city council representative for Pittsburgh District 1 and the president of city council.  She is running for reelection and facing 3 other challengers – Vince Pallus, Bobby Wilson and Steven Oberst.

Image via Wikipedia

With the end of the hockey season there has been a lot of discussion about what should happen to Mellon arena now that the Penguins will be moving to their new home across the street.  What do you think should happen to the Mellon Arena?  Please add your thoughts and ideas in the comments section too.

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COMMUNITY MEETING – Open Discussion of Proposed Development Project at Doughboy Square

Wednesday, February 3rd from 6:30-8PM at Engine House No. 25, 3339 Penn Avenue

Please join the Lawrenceville Corporation and Lawrenceville United to learn more about an important project being proposed for our neighborhood by Al DePasquale of Central Real Estate Holdings LLC. Your thoughts and feedback are needed! Please plan to attend.

Questions? Contact Lawrenceville Corporation Executive Director Maureen G. Ford at 412-621-1616 x101 or maureen@lawrencevillecorp.com

Well it is a busy day in Pittsburgh politics.  Here is a press release from the Dowd Campaign…

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Dowd calls for sweeping reform: ‘cut waste to fund cops, youth programs, and jobs.’

Touts record on School Board increasing accountability and raising test scores.

Councilman Patrick Dowd today addressed his record as a reformer, and called for broad changes in order to fund a variety of city services that will improve the quality of life for Pittsburghers.

“In this economy, we can’t afford to have any waste and mismanagement. We need a new approach that saves tax dollars and focuses on our priorities, like public safety, youth programs, and economic development,” said Dowd.

“I’m proud of my record of reform on the School Board and the Council.  That’s why I’m running for Mayor – to put our money where it’s needed, professionalization of city services, growing the job base of the city, reducing violence and improving the quality of life for all.”

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This looks like a great opportunity if you are working on a green project.

Greenworks, a company that makes green cleaning products, the Sierra Club, EcoFabulous and The Lazy Environmentalist are sponsoring a contest to give away 5 $10,000 grants.

We want to recognize and reward you for your efforts to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Enter The Green Works™ Green Heroes Grant Program and you could be one of five Green Heroes who’ll each receive a $10,000 grant to help your eco-friendly community project grow and flourish!

Click here for detailed information about the Green Hero’s Grants.

Who do you think is doing a good job of promoting green in Pittsburgh?  Here are just a few projects and organizations that are worth a look.  What other groups or businesses would you add to this list?

YERT – Year Long Environmental Road Trip – Mark Dixon spent a year driving around the USA to see what people are doing to go green around the country.  Mark now lives in Pittsburgh and is still working on YERT videos and all things green.

BikePGH – is a bicycle advocacy group that is a doing a great job of making Pittsburgh a friendly place for bicycle riders.

Oh Yeah Ice Cream and Waffles – Oh Yeah offers organic and vegan ice cream and waffles, the shop is constructed out of reclaimed materials and uses recyclable or reusable cups and utensils. Check out this Huffington Post article about Oh Yeah.

Fresh Heirlooms – Fresh Heirlooms is a shop in Lawrenceville (and online) that offers gifts and furniture made from recycled and reclaimed items.

E-A-Poos – Pittsburgh company that makes cloth diapers.  Check out the Post-Gazette profile on E-A-Poo’s from last summer.

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From Bill Peduto’s latest newsletter…

Back in the 80s, I used to DJ.  Now, I will be hosting a monthly YouTube night. Each month, we will be raising money for a charity around a holiday.  This month we celebrate MLK day by helping the Union Project, where they continue Dr. King’s dream every day.  Please join me as I host YouTube Night at Cappy’s Cafe on Walnut Street on Saturday, January 24th at 10 PM.

Image via WikipediaWhile this blog is primarily focused on Pittsburgh, we will try to post events and activities that might be of interest to the region too. These smaller races are often stepping stones for candidates to run for higher offices.

The 2009 Municipal Election Cycle for Indiana County:

• five PA judges
• a magisterial district judge for the Homer City area
• Indiana County
  • Treasurer
  • Prothonotary
  •  Register/Recorder
  •  Coroner
  • Jury Commissioner
• Community leaders throughout the county will be selected to serve in many capacities such as Borough Council, Township Supervisor, School Director, Mayor, Auditor, Poll worker, etc.

The League of Women Voters of Indiana County is offering a CANDIDATE WORKSHOP for SCHOOL BOARD and LOCAL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS on Jan 31 at Rustic Lodge from 8:30-2 p.m.
For more information and registration forms, go to http://www.palwv.org/indiana

To run for office: go to the Commissioner’s Office to pick up your nominating petition to get your name on the ballot for the spring ballot.Petition signatures can be gathered beginning Feb 17th and must be filed by March 10th.

Image via WikipediaIt was looking like a quiet, post holiday January evening.  But surprise surprise – some interesting information about the mayoral race – will Patrick Dowd challenge Luke Raventahl in the may primary election?

A story by Rich Lord showed up on Post-Gazette.com at 5:47 pm this afternoon and Matt. H reports that KDKA mentioned a Dowd run on the news.  (Thank Matt – you have been doing a great job on the political reporting lately.)

I think one of the interesting things to note is Dowd’s comments to the Post-Gazette about the murder rate in 2008 is significant.

He said last year’s highest-in-15-years murder count, and “stories [that] emerge monthly, sometimes weekly, that serve as distractions,” have led him toward a challenge to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

It seems like the Ravenstahl administration has done very little to discuss the increase in violence in Pittsburgh.

One of the lesson learned in 2008 is the importance of the campaign season for discussing problems and ideas for solutions.  The extended primary season allowed for a more extensive public discourse about major issues facing this country.  Pittsburgh deserves the same opportunity to have a discourse and exchange ideas about how to deal with some of the issues facing this city.

The Clinton campaign has just announced that this ad will begin airing in PA. What is up with the use of the “its 3am line” – is it really effective? What do you think – will this ad influence votes?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XpaK-cGO9U[/youtube] (more…)

Here are the candidates that have been endorsed by the Steel-City Stone Wall Democrats:

United States President
Hillary Clinton www.hillaryclinton.com

Pennsylvania State Treasurer
Rob McCord www.mccordforpennsylvania.com

United States Congress, District 14
Mike Doyle www.mikedoyleforcongress.com

United States Congress, District 18
Beth Hafer http://haferforcongress.com

PA House of Representatives 19th District
Jake Wheatley – www.pahouse.com/wheatley

PA House of Representatives 21st District
Brenda Frazier www.friendsforfrazier.com PA House of Representatives 23th District
Dan B. Frankel www.pahouse.com/frankel

PA House of Representatives 24th District
Joe Preston www.pahouse.com/preston

PA House of Representatives 27th District
John Paul Johns

As we mentioned last week – the Post-Gazette has an online poll about the MonFayette Expressway.

Do you want a private-public partnership to pay half of the $3.6 billion cost of completing the Mon-Fayette Expressway?

Click here to vote at the Post-Gazette.com 

The responses have shifted in the past few days

• A. Yes, the road needs to be completed -
  • Feb 4 – 341 (55%)
  • Feb 11 – 1163 (45%)
• B. No, let the state fund it
  • Feb 4 -  57 (9%)
  • Feb 11 – 258 (10%)
• C. I oppose the entire project
  • Feb 4 – 219 (35%)
  • Feb 11 – 1192 (46%)

Why would Bill Peduto write a letter on Tawanda Carlisle’s behalf?

Tribune-Review: Ex-councilwoman Carlisle ordered to serve 1-2 years

Zottola imposed the tougher sentence despite pleas for leniency from eight supporters, including M. Gayle Moss, president of the NAACP’s Pittsburgh chapter. Zottola received 34 letters of support, many touting Carlisle’s good deeds in the community.

Among those writing letters on Carlisle’s behalf: City Councilman Bill Peduto, former city Solicitor Jacqueline Morrow, former City Councilman Sala Udin and two Philadelphia-area lawmakers, state Rep. Harold James and state Sen. LeAnna Washington.

Carlisle’s scheme was beyond understandable.  When elected officials break the law it is a violation of the law and the public trust. Carlisle seemed to have little remorse for her actions – this was not one small error – it was many violations of the law and she didn’t seem to thing she was doing anything wrong.

Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Claus pointed to Carlisle’s council resignation letter as a sign of her lack of remorse. In that letter, Carlisle said she could no longer afford to “volunteer” her time.

So why would Bill Peduto write a letter on her behalf?

This email from Howard Carpenter, of the Regional Chamber Alliance, speaks volumes on the position of the chamber alliance on the MonFayette. I had to read this twice, honestly I thought it was a joke at first. As one of the young people that Pittsburgh is trying to retain here – it absolutely saddens me that this is what the alliance of chambers is spending their time on. There are many many other things that I would hope that this alliance would be spending time and energy on that would produce immediate gains for businesses in the area.

I would like to see a list of businesses that support this organization, as I do not want to continue supporting this kind of thinking around development.

A call, email or fax urging your local representatives to attend the following event will communicate how important completing the Expressway is to our region. Will you take a moment?

At the urging of the Expressway Partnership Initiative, Dan Onorato invited representatives from the entire region for “Advancing the Mon/Fayette Expressway” next Friday, January 11 (8:30AM), at the Regional Enterprise Tower in Pittsburgh.

The objectives of the meeting are clear:

1) AGREE Expressway completion is essential for economic revitalization;

2) IDENTIFY funding strategies to advance project now;

3) ACTION timeline (with milestones) to measure real progress toward completion of that which is essential to our region’s economic revitalization.

Legislative Contact List

Thank you,

Howard Carpenter

EXPRESSWAY BENEFIT SUMMARY
The RCA is a regional chamber of commerce organization committed to improving the business environment and quality of life for all Mon Valley communities. Your partnership with us greatly enhances our ability to compel real and lasting change.

www.RCA-PA.com

3001 Jacks Run Road (Hwy 48), McKeesport, PA 15131

Tel: (412) 678-2450 Fax: (412) 678-2451

Chamber Goals

Advocate policy supportive of business, fiscal sanity, and academic excellence

Drive regional activities accelerating completion of the Mon Valley Expressway

Promote member businesses

Provide members with competitive advantage

Support business community with information and business education

Jon Delano hasn’t blogged since June?  Has he left the blogosphere for good or is he just on summer vacation?  WTAE’s Wendy Bell stopped blogging this summer because she got too many responses to deal with.  Pitt Girl has a summary of Wendy’s blog ending.