Issues

Image by zeul via Flickr Friday, August 27th Pittsburg, PA Venue: Frick Park,  Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Directions at: http://www.pittsburghparks.org/frick-directions Rain: In the event of rain, this event will be held on Saturday, August 28th 7:00 PM: Doors Open 7:30 PM: Live Music 8:15 PM: Film Begins 9:30 PM: Q&A with Director Josh Fox and Local Organizations There is no admission charge for this...
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Image by justgrimes via Flickr The Sunlight Foundation is an organization and a campaign to use technology to bring more transparency to government. Last week the Sunlight Foundation kicked off their Public Equals Online campaign with a panel discussion at the Google Headquarters in Washington DC. Panelists included: Jake Brewer, engagement director of the Sunlight Foundation Mark Tapscott,...
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Yesterday – Congressman Jason Altmire stated that he would vote no on health care reform bill. Today the Steelworkers responded to Representative Altmire’s decision at his office in Aliquippa.
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If you missed yesterday’s news in the governor’s race, you missed some really bizarre behavior from the Onorato campaign. Just before the close of business on the final day that petitions could be challenged, the Onorato campaign filed objections trying to block Joe Hoeffel from being on the ballot. The Hoeffel campaign fired back in a statement...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Image by davipt via Flickr 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...
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Image via Wikipedia check out this report from Maplight.org Money Received Near Votes Interest groups supporting or opposing a bill gave these contributions to Jason Altmire within 3 days of his vote on that bill: Table lists the last vote on each bill in this legislator’s chamber, excluding motions to reconsider. Contributions Contributor Interest Group of contributor Position of orgs in interest...
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My biggest take away from Netroots Nation is that it’s not enough to elect Barack Obama President.  I have work to do in getting the change I want passed into legislation.  Right now, that means getting the Public Option passed into national healthcare reform. Monday I heard Arlen Spector on NPR saying that Health Coops...
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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...
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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...
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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:
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