Progress Pittsburgh

The Allegheny County Democratic Committee is raising the fee for candidates for State Legislature to file for the ACDC endorsement (PG article). Apparently, the fees were too low, allowing for widespread competition (i.e. democracy). Perhaps this is a delayed reaction to the Clean Sweep movement of 2006 or perhaps its just good, old-fashioned old boys’ network scheming.

As citizens consider whether to be offended or indifferent to this development, they might consider the following information in their cost-benefit analysis.

Here are some ideas or what $3,000 could buy you in a State House race instead of filing for the endorsement:

* all the yard signs, buttons, ans t-shirts you would need for the entire campaign
* 3 part-time field staff for the final month
* phones and paid poll workers for election day
* printing and postage for a nice direct mail piece to supervoters
* rent for campaign office for at least 3 months
* production and decent run on a radio ad
* color walk lit for most of campaign
* paid voter identification calls to your district

So, even if you were to WIN the ACDC endorsement, does your $3,000 get you close to the value of any of those things?

Governor Ed Rendell has set a Special Election for the May 18th Primary Election Day to fill the unexpired term of the late Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Johnstown…Republicans and Democratic Party officials each will nominate a candidate for the May ballot to fill out the term…in addition to the election for the rest of Murtha’s term, voters will be asked to select Democratic and Republican candidates for the November election to a full term for the Congressional seat…if the Party leaders are good at their jobs, they will figure out a way to pick a candidate to fill the seat ’til January – a man or woman who stands a good chance of winning the Party Primaries on the same day…this is going to be very interesting…

Mary Beth Buchanan – former U. S. Attorney for Pennsylvania’s Western District – has filed papers to run as a Republican against incumbent Democratic CongressmanJason Altmire…she has yet to make a formal announcement…three others – Bob Klein, Keith Rothfus and John Vinsick – already have announced intentions to seek the Republican nomination…

Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty holds a news conference this morning to announcehe is dropping out of the Democratic Primary for Governor and instead seek the Party nomination to succeed the retiring State Senate Floor Leader Bob Mellow…the Democratic contest for the gubernatorial nomination continues forward without formal Party endorsement…State Auditor General Jack Wagner won a majority of the endorsement votes but fell short of the required two-thirds of the votes for endorsement…more and more the race is looking like a struggle between Wagner and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato…

Harrisburg Online is a publication of Greenlee Partners, LLC. (It tends to be conservative-leaning but provides good information.)

From Chris Potter:

You’ve probably heard of the “Anybody But Luke” crowd, right? Well, I can tell you where everybody who is anybody will be on the night of Dec. 3.

They’ll be hanging out with city councilor Bill Peduto.

Here’s the details on that party, from billpeduto.com:

Here is how you can show your support for Bill – and build a better Pittsburgh! We need you to help us to make this event even more special.
Please join us and bring your friends.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 412-414-1430 or email Mike Devanney at Mike.Devanney@gmail.com.

Host Committee
Co-Chairs

Voters in parts of Shadyside (7th Ward) and Bloomfield (8th Ward) may not be able to vote, unless people sign on for open slots in the district Boards of Election. (These are the people who have you sign in and set up the machine for you to vote. They are also the ones who count the votes.)
 
For info on what these jobs entail, go to http://www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/volunteer.aspx.
 
To find out where workers are needed the worst, call Jeanne Clark at 412-736-6092 or jeannekcc@aol.com and she’ll put you in touch with the folks at the County Elections Department.

P2pac invites you to its monthly happy hour (always the third Tuesday) at 900 Cafe & Lounge in the Northside. The evening will include P2tini’s, good conversation, and the annoucement of who the P2pac has chosen to endorse for the May 19th primary election.

Come and bring your friends for some politics and cocktails on the Northside. A $10 contribution is suggested; all funds raised at this event will go directly to support endorsed candidates.

900 Cafe & Lounge is a non-smoking establishment. It is accessible by the following buses: 16A, 16D, and 500.

Who: YOU!
What: P2pac happy hour(s)
Where: 900 Cafe & Lounge (900 Western Avenue, 15212)
When: Tuesday, April 21st; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Why: because you are the change you want to see

Here is the press release that was sent out from the Dowd Campaign today.

Dowd Slams Ravenstahl’s Half-hearted Campaign Finance Legislation:  ‘Luke’s Half a Million Dollar Veto Says it All; Outlines reform agenda.

March 25, 2009 – In response to yesterday’s post agenda on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s campaign finance bill, Democratic Mayoral candidate Patrick Dowd called the Ravenstahl bill “a hollow gesture that falls short of real reform.”

Last year, Ravenstahl vetoed a bill supported by a majority of council that imposed federal contribution limits, $2,300 per person per cycle, on municipal elections.  Since his June veto, Ravenstahl has raised approximately $500,000 according to public filings.

“Luke’s attention to reform is a year late and $500,000 short,” Dowd said.  ”When the council passed sweeping reform in June, he blocked it, only so city contractors could keep funneling cash into his campaign.”

Ravenstahl’s current proposal is a watered down version of the legislation he vetoed last year. It allows for double the limit for individual contributions, and fails to provide for transparency in electronic reporting.

More importantly, Ravenstahl’s legislation places no restrictions on the awarding of no-bid contracts to contributors. In light of recent press coverage, this means the legislation fails to address the rampant pay-to-play politics currently going on in Pittsburgh.

In response to what he termed a “complete failure of leadership” on campaign finance and eliminating the appearance of impropriety in contracting, Dowd outlined his campaign finance reform agenda:

In a Dowd Administration

1)    I will introduce comprehensive, common sense campaign finance legislation that is tied to federal contribution limits within the first 100 days;

2)    I will end the practice of awarding no-bid contracts to campaign contributors;

3)    I will ensure that every contract over $25,000 will be competitively bid;

4)    As an incumbent Mayor, I will not solicit campaign contributions from any firm that does business with the City of Pittsburgh or its Authorities;

5)    I will make all finance reports electronically available to the public on the state and county filing dates;

6)    I will ensure the creation of and integrate searchable electronic databases of all city contracts and all campaign contributions of all city elected officials;

7)    I will publish my public schedule on the city’s website so that any Pittsburgher can see who I am meeting with.

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P2PAC is getting ready to make it’s first round of endorsements ever! To get in on the action, send your favorite candidate to the P2PAC website to download the questionnaire: http://p2pac.com/2009/03/02/primary-2009-questionaire/

P2PAC develops, supports, and helps to elect candidates who demonstrate vision, progressive values, and electability. It considers candidates whose districts touch the City of Pittsburgh, and supports candidates that will make good, progressive leaders at higher levels of government. P2PAC provides support in the form of endorsements, campaign contributions, and organizing. It also empowers its supporters with information critical to making informed choices at the ballot box.

News outlets are reporting today that County Councilman Chuck McCullough (R-Upper Saint Clair) has turned himself for the crimes that committed roughly two years ago. As you may recall, McCullough was found to have stolen checks from an elderly client and written contributions to local political campaigns. He was already on the ballot for County Council when the charges became public and, despite a lack of campaigning, he was elected.

You might wonder, who the heck would elect a guy that stole checks from an old lady? The answer, sadly, is your neighbors. We need to hold our elected officials, our candidates, and ourselves to higher standards here in the Pittsburgh region.

This story on WPXI.

State Budget Basics 101: What Every Progressive Leader Needs to Know

With the current economic situation, understanding Pennsylvania’s revenue system, tax policy and budget is a critical priority for people involved in progressive advocacy, politics and policy. Join Susan Gobreski, Executive Director of Education Voters PA and Sharon Ward, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center for a primer on Pennsylvania’s budget and tax system and the implications for policy priorities, including education funding and up to the minute information about the impact of the stimulus package.

Founded in 2005, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) is a nonpartisan, statewide policy research project that provides independent, credible analysis on state tax, budget, and related policy matters, with attention to the impact of current or proposed policies on working families. The Budget and Policy Center analyzes and disseminates information on short-term budget, policy and revenue proposals as well as long-term trends and challenges.

Pittsburgh Brown Bag Lunch
Thursday February 18th, 11:30 am- 1pm

United Steel Workers Building
5 Gateway Center
Stanwix St & Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh PA

Join Education Voters PA on Facebook and rsvp : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=709937891#/event.php?eid=63384611487

or rsvp through email: anne@educationvoterspa.org

or phone: 215 -564- 2299

Sponsored by:

Education Voters PA is a non partisan organization working to promote a pro-public education agenda to ensure that every child gets an excellent education, including working to elect people who support public education. Education Voters Institute is working to engage the public in public education policy issues.

The Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL) is a national political training institute that develops diverse leaders who can effectively advance progressive political and policy change.

Image by Archie McPhee Seattle via FlickrAs we have been circulating the invite for the Innauguration Party we have been getting a few questions about this website and the PAC

What is Progress Pittsburgh and P2pac?

Progress Pittsburgh is a group of people that got together after the 2004 presidential election to talk about how to take the energy of the presidential election and get people involved in local politics.  Read more of that story on the About  page.  Currently Progress Pittsburgh exists as a website and blog to share information about groups, events and issues in Pittsburgh.  We invite everyone to read and join the discussion about issues in Western PA.

P2PAC is a political action committee that supports candidates whose districts touch the City of Pittsburgh and whose agendas are consistent with its mission: good government, sustainable development, and social equity. P2PAC endorses candidates who meet these criteria and provides resources to advance their leadership. We see leadership as the primary vehicle for positive change in service of our mission.  Lots more information about the pac is available at P2pac.com.

Inauguration Party and Monthly events – when Progress Pittsburgh first started we would hold occasional happy hours to get like minded people together to discuss politics in the same room. In the past many volunteers have rallied around a particular issue or candidate – after the election these networks are often forgotten and contacts are lost.  One of the goals behind the P2pac is to plan a consistent monthly event for people to gather on a monthly basis.  In 2008 we were successful in hosting an event on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.   In 2009 we are lucky that the 3rd Tuesday is also inauguration day!  We hope that you will join us to celebrate and support the PAC.  We are asking for a suggested donation of $10.  All of the proceeds of the monthly events go to the PAC to support electing candidates in Pittsburgh.  If you can’t attend please consider a donation to help us kick off 2009 our challenge to raise $2009 for the 09 elections.

Who: YOU!
What: Inauguration Celebration and P2PAC Fundraiser ($10 contribution requested)
Where: New Amsterdam (4421 Butler Street, Lawrenceville)
When: 01/20/09 @ 5:30 p.m.
Why: because Obama rocks and Pittsburgh deserves better

RSVP on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=41852859445

We will have beer specials and free food!

The Tribune-Review today gives a brief mention to the fact that our city’s redevelopment authority is under investigation by a federal grand jury:

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s office announced the probe. And that’s a hoot, considering there was no love lost between the mayor’s office and the URA during Pat Ford’s tenure at the latter. City Controller Michael Lamb previously said the URA gave mortgages to a developer on properties at double their assessed value. This could get interesting.

Thanks to the URA’s (and others’) mortgages to the aforementioned developer (read speculator), the Beechview neighborhood has massive vacancy in the heart of its business district. The politics of development in this city need to be brought into check and if it takes a federal investigation to do so, let’s go.

There have been lots of articles and conversations about the Obama campaign – what they did and why it worked.  So I have been thinking about campaigns on the local level – what have been some of the best political campaigns in Pittsburgh and why?  What does a campaign need to be successful in Pittsburgh? If you were running for office who you want to run your campaign?

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.

Image by PMAHCC via FlickrWe looked on the city of Pittsburgh website, but there is no sign up for a newsletter.  Thought other might want to see the update from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

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CITY OF PITTSBURGH
“America’s Most Livable City”
Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl

Dear Neighbors,

Over a six month period during 2007, I hosted 10 Neighborhood Forums throughout the City.  I, along with all City directors, engaged in dialogue with more than 650 residents during the forums.  I reported on the state of the City, while challenging residents to envision their neighborhoods 10 years ahead, laying the groundwork for future initiatives.  My Office of Neighborhood Initiatives collected and analyzed the feedback from each of the forums, highlighting the top three issues and concerns: 1) public safety; 2) blight; and 3) economic development.  My staff has attended community meetings and block watch events throughout the past year following the forums and has continued to analyze feedback on issues of high priority and concern with residents.   Public safety has remained a recurrent issue at neighborhood community meetings. More »

The beat cop is a much coveted neighborhood tool. Neighborhood groups across the City, beg and plead with their Zone Commanders and the Mayor to acquire just a few hours a week of such a person’s time. In an article in today’s P-G, the questions is raised, “Will Squirrel Hill get a dedicated beat cop?”

If any neighborhood needs a beat cop, it’s not Squirrel Hill. However, because the neigbors and businesses there fussed (and have a lot of money…to contribute to political campaigns) (and turn out to vote), it looks like a distinct possibility.

This is just another example of how community and economic development decision-making in this city is based on politics, not what’s best for the City. Police allocation decisions should be made on crime data. Yes, it’s that simple. And someone should tell Squirrel Hill that it’s got the safest, wealthiest neighborhood in the city and it doesn’t need a beat cop. Oh, wait, they know:

“We don’t have any big, bad issues,” said Mr. Sigal.