Progress Pittsburgh

Thirty-seven years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to privacy that includes a legal right to terminate a pregnancy for any reason during her first trimester and in order to protect her health after that.  With a U.S. Supreme Court today where George W. Bush filled the seats of Sandra Day O’Connor and William Rehnquist with  John Roberts and Samuel Alito, the ability of Roe v. Wade to withstand being overturned has never been so much in danger.  If this decision were overturned, abortion-rights would be in the hands of each state.  Pennsylvania is a neither a state that has passed a trigger law that would outlaw abortion if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned, nor have we passed a law to ensure that women’s rights are protected.

It is with that background on Roe v. Wade’s anniversary that the Hoeffel Campaign sent out a release announcing that Kate Michelman is endorsing Joe for governor and will head his Women for Hoeffel committee.  Michelman is the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

The full text of Michelman’s endorsement letter is below the fold.

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Trash Talk

One complaint that we hear from time to time is that poor neighborhoods often get the leftover trashcans from other neighborhoods.  One example taken earlier in the year (Kevin Acklin used this particular example in the second mayoral debate, back in October): a trashcan behind the Homewood-Brushton YMCA labeled “Bloomfield”.

Here’s a photo taken today:

Problem solved?  Glad to see that the mayor is still getting it done.

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.*

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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.

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PUMP & The University of Pittsburgh Graduate Student Association invite you to learn about the status of the Healthcare Reform in America!  JOIN us on Friday, October 23rd, 2009, as we host our own town hall meeting geared at helping YOU understand this complex and controversial issue.

University of Pittsburgh
October, 23, 2009 6:00 – 8:00pm (Doors open at 5:30) ”
This event is FREE.
CLICK HERE to register for this event

Featured Panelists: 

• Paul H. O’Neill 72nd Secretary of the US Treasury, Co founder of the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative & Founder of Value Capture, LLC.  During his government service, Mr. O’Neill helped to shape many of the policies which define the American health care system today. 
• Congressman Jason Altmire D- Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional DistrictCo-chair of the New Democratic Coalition’s task force on health care reform and serves as a subcommittee chairman on the Small Business Committee.  Prior to his election to Congress in 2006, Jason spent 15 years in health care policy, working as a congressional staffer, a hospital association executive and for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
• Congressman Tim Murphy R- Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional DistrictCongressman Murphy relies on his three decades as a child psychologist to advocate for meaningful reforms in the U.S. healthcare system.  As one of only a handful of members of Congress with a background in healthcare, Tim quickly established himself as a leader on the issue.  He is Co-chair of the 21st Century Healthcare Caucus, Mental Health Caucus and Men’s Health Caucus, and currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he sits on two subcommittees:  Health and Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Moderator: Dr. Beaufort B. Longest M. Allen Pond Professor and Director, Health Policy Institute

COAL COUNTRY is a dramatic look at modern coal mining. We get to know working miners along with activists who are battling coal companies in Appalachia. We hear from miners and coal company officials, who are concerned about jobs and the economy and believe they are acting responsibly in bringing power to the American people. Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations, and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. Everyone shares a deep love for the land, but MTR (Mountain Top Removal mining which has leveled over 500 Appalachian mountains) is tearing them apart. We need to understand the meaning behind promises of “cheap energy” and “clean coal.” Are they achievable? At what cost? Are there alternatives to our energy future?

“A balanced, sober look at the reality of coal; both the good news and the bad, and the staggering phenomenon that is mountain top mining. It not only reminds you what it takes to turn your lights on, it’ll make sure you remember to turn them off when you leave the room.”
Peter Horton, director.

Sept. 21, 2009 – 7pm @ Pittsburgh Filmmakers Melwood Screening Room

RSVP on Facebook

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Posted via web from progress pittsburgh’s posterous

This is a follow up to a story that has been unfolding since 2006.  In 2006 the PA League of Young Voters wanted to run ads on Port Authority buses informing ex convicts that they have the right to vote.  The Port Authority would not run the ads.  The PA league of Young Voters and ACLU sued the Port Authority on this issue. On Friday, Judge McVerry ruled against the Port-Authority.

From the Post-Gazette (Port Authority loses lawsuit over nonprofit bus ads, Friday, July 31, 2009)

U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry ruled that the authority engaged in “viewpoint discrimination” in refusing to sell ad space on buses to the Pittsburgh League of Young Voters Education Fund.

Also see the PG article from 2008 – Port Authority ad policy called discriminatory, May 7, 2008

Last week as we left Loew’s and a sneak preview of Funny People, once again we found ourselves appreciating just how awful the design of the Waterfront is.  It’s as if the bad mall martians flew in from outer space, landing on one of the most key-critical, history rich and defining sites of Pittsburgh’s past, wiping it out – and in it’s place, leaving a bubble of bland, consumerism in an enclosure with little to no accessibility to the town from which is was annexed, not to mention, with little to no economic benefit as well.

And yet, I continued to wonder, as my husband was winding his way through this design-flaw filled space, how have we managed to do it again?  The Steelers have invited the very same developers, the same poor designers, to do their “magic” on a piece of public land central to our city’s north side.  Talking bad about the Steelers is kind of like insulting your mama in this town, but let me just point out that the Steelers are a privately owned commercial enterprise.  Why would a sports team have so much power and leverage in decision-making about public land?  After all, they are not elected, are they?  And why would this publicly owned land be sold for a song to a commercial enterprise with little to no public oversight or accountability?  Especially without any clearly defined benefits to people living in the surrounding communities the development will affect.  Aha!  you say what about about the over site boards, the Planning Commission and the Sports Authority– aren’t they publicly accountable?

Well, let’s just see:  The mayor appoints individuals to the Planning Commission, the Sports Authority, the Water and Sewage board, Port Authority oversight, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, not to mention the the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Historic Review Commission and the Shade Tree Commission. Millions, if not Billions, of dollars are in the hands of these individuals — not to mention the long term political and economic implications of their decision making.  Their appointments are supposed to be given rigorous scrutiny by City Council, and yet in the last July 2009 go-round, the Council gave the mayor 5-4 support without any hearings or review of his appointments.

At a May 2009 Planning Commissionmeeting, 170 people showed up, in the middle of a work day, to give testimony regarding the negative impact proposed development will have to their neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s north side.  We are talking about the afore mentioned, Steelers proposed development designed by Continental Development of Columbus Ohio, the authors of the Waterfront.  Do you think the voices of 170 people made a bit of difference to the unelected, appointed members of the Planning Commission?  And do you think they made a difference to the mayor?  (who was essentially appointed and never has had to work his way through the rigors of an election campaign cycle, that is, be responsive to voters)  In the words of John Belushi, “noooooooooooooo”

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by what we are capable of tolerating, myself included. But there is some part of me that has to beg the question to my fellow participants in democracy, “Why are we putting up with this condition as a city and as a region?” We won’t tolerate pushing aside the democratic process of public accountability in our national government.  We proved that as a nation in our last election cycle.  But somehow, when this top-down, Executive dominant way of doing things that we associate readily with Bush-Cheney is at our own back door, we easily hold our collective nose and look the other way.   Just why, oh why, are we putting up with this condition?

Today’s post-agenda on Community Benefit Agreements held in Pittsburgh’s City Council Chambers had some in the audience all a-twitter.  Here’s what happened:

Today, City Council held a post-agenda to give residents the opportunity to speak about the issue of Community Benefit Agreements in the City and other recent events.

The Acklin campaign posted a video of Kevin Acklin’s remarks:

Kevin Acklin: CBA Remarks Before City Council from Acklin for Pittsburgh on Vimeo.

So while the battle for heath care is being waged on a National Level it is interesting that some things have also been brought to light here in Pittsburgh about development and jobs. Here is a quick summary…

Last Week

It has been an interesting frew weeks in Pittsburgh.  Last week Northside United staged a protest to demand better jobs for the North Side outside of one of the buildings managed by Continental Real Estate on the North Shore – click here to read the previous blog post about last week.

Friday at the City County Building

• Morning – Over 100 protesters arrived on the 5th floor of the city county building to talk to Mayor Ravenstahl about jobs
  • From WPXI - The protesters said they want the mayor to address the problem that many of the new developments, subsidized by taxpayer money, have created low-wage jobs, keeping Pittsburgh families in poverty.
• Doors to the Mayors office were chained-  A city worker chained and padlocked the door to the mayors office from the inside – the mayor WAS NOT inside the office
  • From PGH City Paper - A half-dozen city police officers showed up, insisting on clearing a path to the door — even when the door itself was padlocked. (The lock was eventually removed.)
• Protesters Leave City hall, promise to return at 2pm
• 2pm Protesters return to City Hall, No Luke RAvenstahl
• City Councilman Doug Shields invites protesters into city council chambers
  • From PGH Comet - Reportedly at some point Council President Doug Shields swung open the doors to City Council chambers with the announcement, “Your government is ready to listen.” Thereafter began an impromptu unofficial hearing participated in by Shields, Bruce Kraus, Darlene Harris, and Bill Peduto chief of staff Daniel Gillman, in addition to representatives of the coalition.
  • Video is available here
• Yarone Zober makes a statement on behalf of the mayor
  • PGH Comet has 2 youTube clips of Yarone Zober’s statements
• Mayoral Candidate Dok Harris Releases a Statement

The City needs to develop a comprehensive policy to ensure that development that is publicly funded or subsidized in any way provides good, family-sustaining jobs.  It is imperative that the community has a seat at the table to guarantee that development benefits the city residents and neighborhoods; not just the developers, politicians, and their supporters.

From day one of my candidacy I have expressed my life long views that workers deserve fair wages and fair treatment. In my administration it will be a priority to guarantee good jobs in all publicly-funded developments. We will work with community leaders to protect the needs of our neighborhoods and to improve Pittsburgh’s economy by protecting the middle class.

• 2 Political Junkies has a summary of media coverage of today’s events

Some questions

• Where was Luke Ravenstahl today? If President Obama can take the time to talk to the white house press corps about the Cambridge, MA police, then why isn’t Luke Ravenstahl available to talk to Pittsburgh citizens
• Have any of the members of Continental Real Estate contributed to Luke Ravenstahl’s campaign?
  • Walnut Capital – one of Ravenstahl’s biggest campaing contributors
    • From the Trib - Ravenstahl’s biggest donors run Shadyside development company Walnut Capital. President Todd Reidbord and manager partner Gregg Perelman donated $10,000 each. Reidbord is a member of the city Planning Commission.
  • Walnut Capital has received public funding for Bakery Square Project
    • From PGH Comet - Walnut Capital already qualified for public Tax Increment Financing for its Bakery Square project without even the usual strings attached in regards to labor agreements. It is a fact that Walnut Capital is the City of Pittsburgh’s number one campaign contributor, and that one of its two owners, Todd Reidbord, sets development policy as a senior member of the City Planning Commission.
• Is all of this developer driven development, supported by public money really good for Pittsburgh?  Is there another model that might work better to move Pittsburgh forward.  Is it possible that continued retail, office and hotel development isn’t really what is needed.
  • From the Post-Gazette in Feb 2009 - The gloomy retail climate prompted one expert, Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director of SRG Insights, to predict 2,000 to 3,000 shopping malls and shopping centers nationwide could go belly-up this year
    • Even in the city – there is vacant retail space in every business district from the new South Side Works, to Walnut Street, to the East Side development to Downtown – yet we continue to develop more retail spaces – who is going to rent these spaces and open up shop?

Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondent has the press release from last weeked protest and the PGH Comet has a posts about the protestors that were arrested last week.

• The protests took place outside the Delmonte headquarters
• The Delmonte HQ is managed by  Continental Real Estate
• Continental pays their building service workers poverty wages with no health benefits.
• The statdium authority has sold some of the land around the stadiums to  Continental Real Estate to develop
• Northside United wants to make sure that with the new development better jobs with fair labor and benefits are part of the package

Here are the details on the rally that is being organized for Thursday, July 23, 2009

North Shore Development Rally, July 23

The fight continues to ensure that Continental Realty, the developer of a hotel and amphitheater on the North Shore, agrees to a

Community Benefits Agreement that will benefit impacted Northside communities.

Join us for a rally …

5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 23
Calvary United Methodist Church
971 Beech Avenue  Pittsburgh 15233
(Beech and Allegheny Avenues)

Sierra Club and others are joining Northside communities in seeking:

Silver LEED certification for the hotel and amphitheater

Diesel emission controls on all construction vehicles

Parks and open spaces.

For more information, contact Tom Hoffman at tghoffman2@gmail.com or visit:

www.alleghenysc.org

www.pittsburghunited.org

Better late than never, on the eve of the primary I just wanted to call everyone’s attention to BikePGH’s Bike the Vote questionnaire 

BikePgh asked each of the Mayoral candidates to discuss the status quo with respect to making Pittsburgh as bike friendly as possible, and asked them as well to what each of them would seek to do as Mayor to further cycling as a viable mode of transportation citywide.  The resultant questionnaire, which each candidate completed at some length, informs not only the cycling issues at hand, but also the candidates’ respective visions for Pittsburgh generally.  An excellent and illuminating read. 

And while you’re at it, why don’t you donate while you’re over there.  If I’m not mistaken, thanks to a generous benefactor, donations this summer will be matched one to one.  You’ll get to feel twice as good about supporting one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the city.