Progress Pittsburgh

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• The Hot Sheet » Blog Archive » What’s hot in the streets for 2009? – There’s so many things to do, so little time: what should the PA League prioritize in 2009? Well, we’re asking our supporters for their input!
• Free Wheels: The Scraper Bike Movement Rolls On – Interesting look at a bike program for youth in Oakland, CA.
• Keeping it in the driveway – Brian O'Neill article on Brookings Institute study on driving.
  When I asked about the Mon-Fayette Expressway, that billion-dollar-plus toll road that ends well south of Pittsburgh, he called it "a great example of a roadway project we may need to rethink."

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• City hires coordinator to help it become greener – Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced he has hired the author of the Green Government Task Force's study on how to make city government more environmentally friendly as the city's first "sustainability coordinator."

  Lindsay A. Baxter, who is working towards a master's degree in environmental science and management from Duquesne University, will be charged with implementing the report she wrote for the task force. She began work Monday and will be paid $45,347.

• The Ravenstahl Administration suspends Costa again – this time he gets 4 days for making "insubordinate comments." Costa apologizes and looks forward to getting back to work.
• WireTap Magazine – 20 Questions With Billy Wimsatt – This is a great interview with Billy Wimsatt who is the founder of the League of Young Voters – he talks alot about some of the work that is happening in organizing – the article has some great links to other organizations and resources

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• The Energy from Biomass and Waste Conference starts today in Pittsburgh – only $20 to attend – "energy from biomass and waste" can make a significant contribution to oil-independence and climate protection with clean power, heat, and vehicle fuels. The technology opens up new earning potentials and markets (domestic & international) for the waste management & power generation industry, as well as for new market players such as the agricultural sector. With the EBW Exposition & Conference we have created the premier North American showcase and educational forum for this growth business.
• Trouble brewing at Starbucks – The Starbucks Coffee Co. is in the process of an extreme revamping of its workforce policies according to company documents obtained by the Starbucks Workers Union of the Industrial Workers of the World. The initiative, dubbed "Optimal Scheduling", will require employees to make themselves available to work essentially around the clock to obtain so-called full-time status. Even for workers able to make the extraordinary sacrifice to obtain "full-time" status, no work hours are guaranteed- identical to Starbucks' current system of part-time status for all retail hourly workers. In addition, Starbucks will lay off workers who cannot meet minimum availability requirements. As baristas learn of the new program, discontent is rising.
• Prez Debate Watch Party with PA League of Young Voters – Wed. at the Shadow Lounge -

From the PaHotsheet.com…

Make sure every cote is counted correctly!  Write a letter to the editor urging County Executive Dan Onorato to have voting machine software verified ASAP!!!

Electronic voting machines have been in PA for a few elections now, but the Allegheny County hasn’t certified the authenticity of the software, which can be hacked or replaced fairly easily.

The Everest Report, commissioned by the Ohio Secretary of State, showed that these voting machines have almost no security features. The voting machines are stored in an unwatched and unlocked warehouse, where it wouldn’t be hard for someone to tamper with them. If we can’t have a paper trail, THE LEAST we can have is the assurance that our electronic voting machines have been checked by a third party for software authenticity.

County Executive Dan Onorato is on the three-person county Board of Elections for Allegheny County.   The other two members have publicly stated that they are in favor of certifying the software.

Follow this link to send a Letter to the Editor
encouraging Mr. Onorato to get our voting machines verified!

Read more:

• Debate hot over e-vote security, Tribune-Review, Oct 6, 2008
• County says it can’t audit voting machines, Post-Gazette, 10/4/2008
• Trusted votes: The public needs confidence at the polling place, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 23, 2008

More »

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• BarackToberFest…With Soul – October 19, 2008 at the Shadow Lounge – Help put our team over the top while the Steelers top the Bengals. Come pledge a donation, and plan time to make phone calls and work on election day.
  Yes, the Steeler game will be on! and we'd like to get everyone plugged in to get out the vote, contact undecided voters, and fight the smears.
• PA League of Young Voters PAC – The League of Young Voters PAC is now on Facebook – join the group and check out their endorsements
• Sleep-In for the Homeless – On the night of Friday October 17, 2008 – beginning at 6:30 PM – until the morning of Saturday October 18, 2008 at 6:30 am – the portico and first floor lobby of the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh will be transformed into a place where local citizens can learn more about homelessness in Allegheny County as they participate in Pittsburgh’s first Sleep-In for the Homeless.
• Perspectives on a Sustainability-Driven Industrial Revolution – Movie and Discussion – Perspectives on a Sustainability-Driven Industrial Revolution
  Thu., Oct. 9, 6:30-9 p.m.
  Economy film & discussion.
  412-258-6644, www.C4SPgh.org/know.html.

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• The Hot Sheet · Today’s News: Volunteer with us! – The PA League of Young Voters makes the Post-Gazette. You don't have to be young to volunteer with the League of Young Voters
• Troopergate Witness Flips Like a Pancake « Mudflats – This is an interesting post with a great picture to compliment it.
  "One of the witnesses called by Stephen Branchflower (independent investigator of the legitimate Troopergate investigation) put herself in a tricky spot."
• McKees Rocks tries to take the politics out of hiring a new police cheifmc – To find and hire Bob Cifrulak, now the McKees Rocks chief, the borough brought in Gamble as its hiring consultant.
  "We went outside and got somebody who was not involved in politics," Muhr said. "There's no controversy, and nobody can say anything like 'This guy is a friend of somebody' and this and that."

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• John McCain Owns VoteForTheMILF.com? | GOVGAP – - URL Registered within ~36 hours of McCain’s Decision to select Palin as running mate
  - Redirect sends users specifically to a palin.htm file, but only on the FIRST redirect
  - Whois Privacy Information Matches JohnMcCain.com Whois Privacy
  - URL Held by same registrar
  - Note that the .net and .org versions also redirect to the McCain Campaign Website.
• WireTap Magazine – From Slingshots to Solutions: Goals for Organizers – Interesting article at WireTap that discusses effective organizing in light of the actions at the RNC
• Unlock the Vote – PA League of Young Voters has record day in voter registration at the county jail – volunteers registered the inmates at the Allegheny County Jail today — and came back with 456 new voter registrations!

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• Another Jet/Golf Scandle? – from one of the comments at the Burgh Report
• Pa. ranked 38th most bike-friendly state – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – The Washington-based League of American Bicyclists has been designating individual communities as bike-friendly since 2003, but this is the first time they have ranked the 50 states based on such criteria as legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education, planning and enforcement.

  While Pennsylvania was praised for its "exemplary route network," the League faulted its lack of a safe-passing distance law and a complete streets policy.

  "About a dozen states have safe-passing distance laws stating that cars must maintain a certain distance to pass a cyclist," said Elizabeth Preston, director of communications for the League. "The other is a statewide policy saying that when roads or facilities are built, all users are considered. Not just motorists, but pedestrians, people in wheelchairs and bicyclists."

• Doug Shields Asks U.S. Attorney and the state Attorney General to investigate city development affairs – calls Fords Settlement Hush Money – Pittsburgh Council President Doug Shields formally asked the U.S. Attorney and the state Attorney General to investigate city development affairs today, in the wake of yesterday's settlement between the Urban Redevelopment Authority and its former executive director, Pat Ford.

  "The time for wringing of hands is over," Mr. Shields said. "It's time for action. … Where there's smoke, there's fire."

  The URA board voted yesterday to pay Mr. Ford through June, though his $117,875-a-year contract runs only through December, in return for an agreement that he won't sue or disparage the agency or city government. The deal amounts to $93,000, plus the value of health benefits through June.

  Mr. Shields called that "hush money. … We have a board, the URA board, led by the mayor, at the mayor's direction, at [URA board Chair Yarone] Zober's direction, entering into an agreement that buys his silence."

• New Organizing Institute – Pittsburgh Training at the Union Project Sept. 19, 2008 – If you attend 1 training this fall – this should be it. Free for college students and recent graduates.
  The New Organizing Institute is excited to announce a one-day "Organizers Summit" training on online organizing and political technology on September 19 in Pittsburgh, PA! This training will help nonprofit staff build on a core set of skills that are fundamental in a new, more technology-focused world — including organizing, communications, field, and evaluation — for both civic engagement and electoral work.
• League of Young Voters speaks to the Allegheny County Council – Terry Griffin, the League's Western PA Field Coordinator, joins with our neighbors to urge the County Council to audit our voting machines so accuracy is assured.

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• Wednesday Hostorical Markers, Now On Thursday – Another great historical marker from the mobloggers at The League of Young Voters
• League of Young Voters Volunteer Orientation — Monday Sept. 8th – MONDAY, SEP 8th, and 7PM, at our office (6101 Penn Avenue Suite 302).
• Turnpike Commission Triples Act 44 Debt from $14 Billion to $44 Billion | Commonwealth Foundation – The Commonwealth Foundation overs an in depth look at the Turpike Commissions debt under Act 44.

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• Biden will lead city’s Labor Day parade – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Joe Biden will be in Pittsburgh on Monday to walk in Pittsburgh labor day parade which is one of the largest in the country.
• Letters to the editor – MonFayette Expressway – 2 Letters to the editor in todays Post-Gazette against the Mon-Fayette Express way plans.
• The Hot Sheet · The Latest News from the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters – The PA League of Young Voters has a new website to see upcoming events and pictures posted right from the field.