Progress Pittsburgh

Please share your election day parties with us – we will keep updating this list as we learn of more election day parties

Allegheny County 

• Eat Up Cafe at the Union Project – $1 coffee with proof of voting; $3 wrap specials (see event details here)
• IBEW, 6pm – The Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Auditor General Jack Wagner, State Treasurer Candidate Rob McCord, Congressman Mike Doyle, and the IBEW Local #5 cordially invite you to attend the Election Night Victory Celebration.
• Red Hot & Blue at the Waterfront, 5pm – will have red state and blue state margaritas and appetizer specials. Present your voting stub for 1/2 off your first drink (via PUMP).
• Sports Rock Cafe in the Strip, 8pm – The Urban League Young Professionals with NSBE AE chapter, NABA, Voice Your Vote and the National Coalition on Black Participation will be hosting the 2008 Presidential Election Results Party. ($8 at the door/$5 for members of any participating organization)

Indiana County

• Indiana County Democratic Party will host an election night party at The Coney.

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

• Watch Election Protection Training on PCTV – PCTV.org will be showing a video recording of election protection trainings all week.
• Hart-Altmire debate canceled – "Unfortunately, Congressman Altmire could not attend (tomorrow night's) debate because they rescheduled it without conferring with us and we had a conflict," said Tess Mullen, the Altmire campaign spokeswoman.
• Sen. Obama caught in double play – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – The Chelsa Wagner – Bill Peduto Halloween party makes the Trib whispers column this week.

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

• Meet the Real Joes – Keystone Progress is interviewing real Joes. We've travelled around Pennsylvania and we've met some very interesting people who we believe represent the reality of Joe-ness. Check out these video interviews
• Our Vote Live | Allegheny County, PA – This site lists real time lists of voting problems that have been reported in Allegheny County. Check it out if you want to see what issues are being reported here. This site also offers reports for all of the US.
• Trick or Vote! – October 31st – Nationwide GOTV canvass

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeTuesday, October 28th, 2008
6:00 pm – 8:00pm
Diesel Club Lounge, 1601 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

RSVP on Facebook here.

Are you PUMPed about the upcoming Presidential election?! Join PUMP & Diesel Club Lounge for a spirited night of debate on the issues that are permeating the upcoming Presidential Election. We are proud to host two teams of elected officials and community leaders ready to square off in support of Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.

Special Guests include:

• Team McCain
  • Senator Jane Orie, Pennsylvania’s 40th District
  • Meghan Jones-Rolla, Attorney with Meyer Darragh
  • Bill Green, Republican Strategist
• Team Obama
  • Patrick Dowd, PittsburghCity Councilman, District 7
  • W.M. Nzambi, CFP®, Financial Advisor, Mariner Financial Group

This Event is Free, and a cash bar will be available. As we move closer to November 4th, come celebrate Democracy with PUMP!

Watch the debate.  Have a drink. Go vote.

For more information, please contact Erin Molchany at 412.338.2133 ext 10 or erin@pump.org
A program of the PUMP Civic Engagement Committee

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

• UPMC laying off 500 this week – maybe they could have saved a little cash by not putting a sign on the building downtown.
• Hart-Altmire debate postponed – Sarah Palin's arrival is the reason for the postponment.
• What Jack Murtha and Barack Obama get wrong about race and class in western Pennsylvania. – By Dennis B. Roddy – Slate Magazine – Dennis Roddy writing for Slate.com takes a look at Murtha's comment and race play in Western PA – especially older working class Western PA.
• VoteAllegheny accepts audit of Allegheny County voting machines – Members of the advocacy group VoteAllegheny this morning said they are satisfied with Allegheny County's software audit of 18 touch-screen voting machines, even though they would have preferred a bigger random-sample audit size.

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

• Get involved with GLUE – How to Get GLUEy Today – GLUE – IS – PEOPLE! In less than three weeks, we will have elected a new president, and many of you will have new-found free time to devote to, let's just say for the purposes of argument, mega-regional collaboration between civically engaged city dwellers, natch. How can YOU help us hit the ground running in anticipation of a new administration in January?
• Obama East End GOTV Strategy Meeting- Oct. 15 6:30pm – MoveOn sent out an email about this today – this meeting is about their GOTV strategy.
• WXDX goes conservative – Mark Madden, who was fired from ESPN AM radio several months ago after making some crude comments about Ted Kennedy upon word of his brain tumor, was hired by WXDX for a 3-6pm show. In his debut on the air yesterday, instead of the usual metal and hard rock we got Mark Madden telling us Obama is a secret terrorist.

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 -

Image via WikipediaP208 - Click here to see other events around the 2008 Elections in Western PA. Know of an election event in town? Please leave the a comment with the event details here. Click here to see the Progress Pittsburgh Calendar.

14th Ward Independent Democratic Club Debate Party!

Please join the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club in watching the
final Presidential Debate

At Silky’s Sports Bar & Grill, 1731 Murray Ave in Squirrel Hill

On Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Starting at 8pm (Debate at 9pm)
Snacks will be provided

For more information call: 412-421-0966

What is the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club?  The 14th Ward is the largest Ward in the City of Pittsburgh, and the second largest ward in the state. It includes the neighborhoods of Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, North Point Breeze, Regent Square, Park Place, and Swisshelm Park. Approximately 17,000 Democrats reside in the 14th Ward.

More »

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeP208 - Click here to see other events around the 2008 Elections in Western PA. Know of an election event in town? Please leave the a comment with the event details here. Click here to see the Progress Pittsburgh Calendar.

Everybody VOTE, is a nonpartisan collaborative that works to increase voter participation by people who have traditionally been left out of the political process, including young people, minorities and low income communities.  This Monday Ocober 13, Everybody VOTE is having a fundraiser at the Shadow Lounge from 7-9pm.  $15 gets you great Indian food made by Alik Widge, free Everybody VOTE schwag, a night of awesome music and schmoozing galore.  There will be a cash bar, so we can eat, drink, be merry, and support a great cause all at the same time!

Everybody VOTE partners with national organizations including the Center for Civic Participation’s Pennsylvania VOICE initiative, and the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network. They partner locally with the Black Political Empowerment Project, the Urban League, the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, and over a dozen participating nonprofits in the Pittsburgh area. They partner statewide with the Pennsylvania VOICE network of over 60 nonpartisan organizations.

Their network of partners has registered over 200,000 new voters and is contacting 1.2 million registered voters who would otherwise be unlikely to hear from partisan campaigns.

More »

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeP208 - Click here to see other events around the 2008 Elections in Western PA. Know of an election event in town? Please leave the a comment with the event details here. Click here to see the Progress Pittsburgh Calendar.

Here are some the Steel-City Stonewall Dems upcoming events…

• Meet Steel-City endorsed candidate for PA Treasurer: Rob McCord & host Tom Dickson for Complimentary Appetizers and Refreshments at Eastside’s Newest Rooftop Deck
  • When: Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
  • Location: 2 Red Lounge, 134 South Highland Ave, PGH, 15206
  • Please RSVP email: rsvp.mccord2008@gmail.com
• Steel-City Stonewall Democrats Big Bon Fire
  • Hot Dog/Vegan Dog Roast with Smores & Entertainment: Tracy Drach. Plus, Free Campaign Signs & Bumper Stickers.
  • When: Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 at 4:00 PM
  • Location: 1343 Sharps Hill Road, PGH, 15215
• Steel-City Stonewall Democrats Presidential Debate Watch Party
  • Come Watch the Last & Most Important Presidential Debate of 2008 with Steel-City Stonewall Democrats. Free Pizza, Cash Bar. Spin is a smoke-free Bar.
  • When: Wed., Oct. 15, 2008 at 8:30 PM (The Debate starts at 9 PM)
  • Location: Spin: 5744 Ellsworth Ave, PGH, 15232
  • For any additional info: email Lance at historycat101@aol.com

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

• GLUEspace » Blog Archive » Open Your Eyes, Raise Your Voice, Click Your Ticket – Does your city have 311? Like 311, SeeClickFix allows citizens to record and track wrinkles in urban living.

  Some tickets have been clicked in GLUE cities (Buffalo!), and we are looking to build momentum for this project in Pittsburgh. I just clicked a ticket along my daily bike route. Any burghers ready to click?

• Facebook | Dirty Coal Wants to Buy Your Love During Thursday’s VP Debate – Text Messaging to Counter the Dirty Coal Industry Spin!
• VoteForChange.com – Register to Vote | Early Vote | Find Your Polling Location – Last day to register to vote in PA is just 4 days away – register to vote or check to make sure you are registered to vote today!

P208 - Click here to see other events around the 2008 Elections in Western PA. Know of an election event in town? Please leave the a comment with the event details here. Click here to see the Progress Pittsburgh Calendar.

Pittsburgh Women for Obama invite you to join us for the First Presidential Debate Watching Party

Friday September 26th at 8 PM
Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
10 S. 19th Street, Southside, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

RSVP to pghwfo@gmail.com or visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsx4tm

Join us to watch our next President, Barack Obama, debate his opponent on issues of Foreign Policy and National Security. The debate begins at 9PM EST and will be shown on a large screen.

We will have Bellinis (for a $2 donation) and other beverages, Women for Obama stuff, fun and games, and probably some surprises. Please bring “O-D’oeuvres” to share (finger foods only, please.) There is ample free parking in the adjacent lot and on the lighted street.

Bringing friends, especially undecided ones, is highly encouraged!

Who says fun and politics don’t mix!!

P208 - Click here to see other events around the 2008 Elections in Western PA. Know of an election event in town? Please leave the a comment with the event details here. Click here to see the Progress Pittsburgh Calendar.

The student organization Carnegie Mellon Students for Barack Obama is hosting a dynamic event showcasing Senator Obama’s progressive policies on innovation, technology, the Internet, and how these policies mean more jobs for Pennsylvanians. Barack Obama has made innovation a cornerstone of his vision for America. Pittsburgh has also embraced advanced technologies, forward-looking innovators, and a trained workforce to rebuild after steel’s collapse. Pittsburgh’s leaders will discuss their triumphs and challenges, what innovation means for the region, and how more economic growth would be possible under President Obama, on Tuesday, September 23 at 7:00 pm in the Alumni Concert Hall in the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University.

Speakers include

• Marge Krueger, Communications Workers of America
• Mark Kryder, CTO and VP of Research for Seagate
• Nathan Martin, CEO of Deep Local
• Sean McDonald, CEO of Precision Therapeutics

Moderator: Jon Peha, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University

The most important speaker is you. All members of the audience will have the opportunity to record a short video clip to share their views. CMU Students for Barack Obama will send the videos to the campaign.

What: Changing Technology & Innovation from Words into Jobs: How an Obama Administration Will Help
When: September 23, 2008, 7:00 PM
Where: Alumni Concert Hall College of Fine Arts Building Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

The media and community are encouraged to attend.

More info: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/gsx4ws 

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

• Null Space: watching the bus drive by – "More politics involved this time for sure, but one of my answers is that the Port Authority's upper Management and fellow travelers have spent a lot more time and effort on PR this time around. Think about that some."
• Diondega 412: Bram & The Trib weigh in on Ford-Gate. – Are these voices a militant minority of Luke-Haters? Or does this reflect a bigger problem for the Mayor as the 2009 primary nears. STAY TUNED.
• Arizona governor stumps here for Obama – Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano — in town today campaigning for the Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama — received an earful today from Obama supporters worried the campaign isn't pushing back hard enough against attacks by Sen. John McCain.
• Fewer driving that long, lonesome Mon-Fayette Expressway – Barry Stout – "I'm as totally committed today as I was in 1970, when the Mon-Fayette Expressway wasn't a cubic yard of concrete," he said. "Soon we'll have 57 miles. This is a road we're building for the future, for our grandchildren, so they won't have to leave southwestern Pennsylvania to work and live."

  Sigh – how can we get these officials to see that the future of Western PA is not going to be determined by more super highway – if you want to think future think mass transit please!

• Shields calls for probe of URA deals, irks mayor – "Mr. Ravenstahl responded in a statement that Mr. Shields "has forgotten that he was sent to council to do the people's business, not to promote a political agenda focused on hurting me and aggrandizing himself."

  Dear Luke – it isn't all about you. It is the people's business to maybe question why you are spending lots of taxes payer money for settlements with people that you are supposed to be working with to move Pittsburgh forward. Thank You

Image by Getty Images via Daylife With the election less than 60 days away – there are tons of events to attend and volunteers needed.  We have been working to keep you up to date on election happenings around Western PA.

Help us help you keep track of Election 08 Events!

Please list your event here – just leave a comment and we will add it to the p2 calendar.

Click here to see all Election 2008 Events on Progress Pittsburgh – we will tag all election events with the tag p208.