My only real gripe with anything slated as #Occupy, is that I feel that it’s not been given a direct voice from specific people spearheading the “Operation Occupy.”  I just feel that without a direct voice, people are protesting, but can’t all be heard as one.

Some of the confusion stems from the nature of the movement itself. Members have agreed in general to oppose what they view as corporate greed, but individuals are free to promote their own causes as well, a common trend among quickly growing, leaderless movements.

This quote is taken from the Post-Gazette’s report and I am inclined to completely agree.  While I understand the right to give everyone their voice, there are parties getting involved looking to promote their own issues as well as the direct goal of these protests.

That makes it skewed, and the voices become many, and not just one large collective assault on the masses.

Asked how he promotes the group’s message when there are so many different causes, Michael Lawson, who is overseeing Occupy Pittsburgh’s hospitality efforts, said with a smile that there’s “no easy answer, especially when there are a lot of people with a lot of different opinions.”

Across the nation, Occupy Wall Street spinoffs have prided themselves on their efforts to be all-inclusive.

“Because the original group on Wall Street calls itself a leaderless movement … there is all of the potential for people to bring their own signs and make their own demands,” said Michael Kazin, a Georgetown University professor who studies social movements. “It is a carnival of activists.”

Low and behold, I don’t think you will find a ton of people who disagree with the assessment. I am a supporter, I think big business and big government work hand in hand to monopolize and give for their own, rather than the people that make it so.

Who knows though, as this is a totally random post, I just hope that the collective voice finds its way, and at least changes something to make someone’s life a bit easier.

The Tribune Review posted an article detailing why and how the Port Authority had to cut its service.  It’s a pretty in-depth look as to why, so we’ll post some excerpts here so you can read.  All in all, its plagued by political strife, and employment issues:

Port Authority’s financial struggles have long been a problem, many of which stemmed from increasing health care costs beginning in the 1990s.

From 1996-2006, the cost to provide health care for Port Authority’s 2,600 retired drivers and mechanics quadrupled. Since 2006, the agency has carved $52 million in annual expenses out of its budget, with measures that included cutting service, freezing pay, increasing employees’ health care and pension contributions, and shedding more than 400 jobs.

Fare increases in the 2008 and 2010 fiscal years translated to $14 million a year in increased revenue.

In December, then-Gov. Ed Rendell shifted $45 million in federal funding to bail out the agency, which initially proposed cutting more than 500 jobs. The outgoing Democrat called the money a temporary fix, saying state legislators must increase transportation funding this year. Port Authority will spend $33.8 million of funding this fiscal year to close its budget deficit.

A last-ditch attempt to stave off layoffs, services cuts and a privatization of some routes failed Friday when Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and the authority’s board rejected wage and raise givebacks offered by the union.

After a 70-minute, closed-door executive session on Saturday, the board voted 6-1 to authorize Lenzner Coach Lines, an Ohio Township-based private transit firm, to take over a popular commuter route in the North Hills, a move the union staunchly opposes.

Charles J. Martoni cast the lone nay vote. He wanted to grant a request from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85, which represents Port Authority employees, to delay the cuts and extend negotiations another week.

“It’s privatization, outsourced, Wal-Mart on wheels — here we go,” Pat McMahon, president of the transit union, shouted to reporters after the vote. “I don’t know how they sleep with a decision like that.”

Union members at the hearing booed and shouted as board members quickly exited the room after the meeting.

“What our riders need more than anything else is stability. They need to know where and when buses are going to be, and we need to turn our focus to long-term solutions rather than these one-week-at-a-time, one-month-at-a-time, one-year-at-a-time bailouts, limp-alongs and Band-Aids,” Port Authority CEO Steve Bland said after the vote.

The route cuts are expected to reduce Port Authority’s costs by $20 million.

Officials from the transit union have opposed the cuts. They contend that if the authority spent the entire $45 million bailout right now, routes could have remained intact through January 2012. Instead, the agency plans to set aside $11.2 million in emergency money for next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

“Cutting now is going to put the entire burden on the people who are losing their buses, whole communities that are losing access to public transit,” said Marty Marks, a spokesman for the union. “If everybody throughout the state shares the burden at the same time, the outcry will be so great it will cause the governor and the Legislature to act.”

Good to know the actual past behind it, and what this cut actually does. Personally, the unionized issue is a large one, and while they cry foul, there’s no need to be paying anyone that much money.  The union wants to cry foul, but really, it’s highway robbery in what they’ve attained for its employees, benefits and large pay increases.

To anyone that was affected by these cuts, what do you say on the subject?

Let me be clear, this move alone would have done more harm than good for the people around the city.  Jacking up the prices to work and visit here, would have hurt small businesses throughout the city, and would have given people another reason to not want to come and work/live here.  Also, the next best thing about this, is that it increases the growing rift between City Council and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.  Too many times I’ve read that there have been issues, bickering and name calling, and while I feel the rift is bad for the city as a whole, this time it was a blessing.  No way no how, could the city handle becoming privatized and have one of the highest parking rate structures in the United States.  Anyways, let’s move on to what the Post Gazette reported about this release:

Councilman Patrick Dowd said the lease plan has little support among council members and will never have enough council support to become law.

“This proposal is dead. We need to get his dead alternative off the table,” Mr. Dowd said of the mayor’s plan.

Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak agreed.

“The plan is dead. I’m not voting for it. Most of my colleagues are not voting for it. It’s time to get it off the table,” she said.

I like how these people think, even though they too do some brash things, I’m glad they can mostly come together and realize what this proposed “bill/law” could do to the city.

Their comments came after they joined Council President Darlene Harris in introducing legislation today to sell all of the city’s parking assets — one parking garage, five street lots and about 7,000 meters — to the parking authority for $220 million in a move to generate revenue for the city pension fund without leasing garages and meters to the public sector.

The legislation puts onto council’s table a plan that city Controller Michael Lamb proposed about a week ago and repudiates Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s proposal to lease city parking assets and parking authority facilities to a group of private investors for 50 years.

Mr. Lamb proposed selling the city’s share of parking assets to the parking authority and using the $220 million in proceeds to boost the pension fund, averting a state takeover of the fund at year’s end. Mr. Lamb said the parking authority could float a bond issue, backed by parking rate increases, to pay off the debt.

Believe me, I’m all for keeping the business in the city. This way even sounds more logical than just renting the rights away. Finally here’s the difference between the two proposed deals, and how they’re structured differently.

In a separate bill, the council members outlined a series of meter rate increases that would enable the authority to meet new debt obligations.

Hourly meter rates currently range from 50 cents to $2. Under legislation introduced today, the rates would range from 50 cents to $3 by March 31; from 75 cents to $3 by January; and from $1 to $3 by 2012. There would be no additional increases through at least 2015. The legislation does not speak to parking rates at the city-owned Mellon Square garage.

Mr. Ravenstahl’s lease plan calls for higher meter costs — hourly rates would range from 50 cents to $4.50 — by 2015. He also would increase parking rates at city and authority-owned garages by as much as $10.25 a day through 2015, with later increases tied to inflation.

While the council-Lamb plan would have overall lower increases through 2015, the mayor’s plan would have lower rates in certain neighborhoods at certain times. For example, in 2011, part of Oakland would have lower meter rates under the mayor’s plan than the council-Lamb plan.

The mayor proposed the rate increases to make the deal as attractive as possible to potential bidders. But the proposed increases have been a lightning rod for criticism, with some council members, residents and businesses saying the proposed rates would damage neighborhood business districts and drive more shoppers to the suburbs.

Mr. Ravenstahl sent council legislation for a 50-year lease with an investment group led by J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Connecticut-based LAZ Parking.

The group offered nearly $452 million for the lease. Under the deal, the consortium would lease about a dozen parking authority garages, plus about 30 authority-owned lots, the city-owned Mellon Square garage, five city-owned lots and about 7,000 on-street meters.

All in all, this article is an awesome read, and if you’re interested in city politics/business, check it out.  The full article can be found here at: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10285/1094568-100.stm

His idea is as follows:

Mr. Lamb suggested that the Pittsburgh Parking Authority could buy, from the city, the parking meters, Mellon Square Garage, and several surface lots the city owns. His proposed purchase price, $150 million, would go into the city’s ailing pension fund.

The authority would have to borrow the money to make that payment, but could pay off the debt by raising rates around 3.5 percent a year for five years. Mr. Lamb characterized that increase as around one-third of the rate hikes that would result from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s plan to lease the garages and meters to a private consortium.

In addition to the payment from the authority, the city would have to make a $60 million payment from its reserves into the pension fund in order to ensure that its assets total more than half of its obligations, Mr. Lamb said. That money could be returned to the savings account next year, he said.

Actually, it sounds like a much better option to be honest.  I personally don’t understand why we’re still running with pensions in the city either.  Get to the 401k program and be done with it, just like everyone else.

“This is a system that is far less expensive to future ratepayers than the mayor’s lease,” said Mr. Lamb. It also alleviates concerns about transferring control over so much property to a private company for 50 years, as the mayor’s plan would do.

Mayor Ravenstahl’s proposed plan does go to the absurd, buy letting a bank come in and pay for the leases, while raising the prices up to $5-6 dollars per hour parked by 2015. That’s just unreal, and it makes living, working, and enjoying the city of Pittsburgh almost unbelievably out of the question.

Finally, the last tidbit to showing how possibly absurd Luke Ravenstahl’s idea really is:

If the fund can’t cover 50 percent of its long-term obligations by Jan. 1, it faces state takeover, which Mr. Ravenstahl has said would bring higher taxes or service cuts. Mr. Lamb said that under state law, the city doesn’t have to maintain the 50 percent funding level after that date. He acknowledged that his plan was not a long-term fix for the pension fund’s woes.

The mayor’s lease isn’t a long-term fix, either, he said. Under the lease plan, he said, “10 years from now, we’ll be back to 30 percent funded, and we won’t have an asset to show for it.”

All that money paid by the people who live and work here, and nothing to show for it? Let’s at least keep it in house and try and figure out a way to not take this to the extremes.  If you’re looking into actually get down there and attend their hearing, here are the details below:

Council has scheduled a series of public hearings on the mayor’s plan and other options for bailing out the pension fund.

The hearings will be 6 p.m. Tuesday at the West End Senior Center; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pittsburgh Phillips K-5 on the South Side; 6 p.m. Oct. 11 in council chambers, Downtown; and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at King PreK-8 on the North Side. Council still may schedule other hearings.

I tell you what, it’s always something in this dreary city of ours.  Quotes and excerpts taken from: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10272/1091237-100.stm

In all honesty, if I were a bus rider, I’d be revolting right about now.  While the Port Authority is floundering, the Connector has had millions of dollars worth of cash thrown at it for the past two years.  We’re also not talking a few million, we’re talking hundreds of millions.  I don’t even see how they thought it was a great idea to begin with, but I guess when you’re pushing for the G20 at the time, and doing all you can to promote a city that wasn’t ready to handle the load of people, you’ll do anything to try and get it.

So the Tribune Review published this article yesterday, and it’s worth every second to read it:

In a report released Tuesday, Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn and Arizona’s John McCain said the $528.8 million light-rail extension beneath the Allegheny River to bring T riders to destinations such as PNC Park and Heinz Field is an example of stimulus dollars spent to fund projects with “questionable goals,” or those that “are being mismanaged or were poorly planned.”

The “Summertime Blues” report, their third in a series, identifies 100 projects throughout the country that received money from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law 18 months ago by President Obama. Those projects, they said, “give taxpayers the blues.”

“Almost immediately, the North Shore connector went over budget, blowing through cost projections at alarming rates,” the senators said. “Original estimates put the final tally at approximately $390 million, but quickly ballooned.”

Beyond its cost, they said, “The North Shore Connector has become a political hot potato,” citing a 2006 Tribune-Review editorial labeling it the “tunnel to nowhere” and warning taxpayers to expect politicians to take credit for jobs and growth it created.

It really is unbelievable.  I don’t even see how the jobs created were worth it in the long run, especially if it cost funding for the failing port authority who will eventually either have to do mass job cuts, or face the eventual strike from the union.  I guess it’s funny how that all works out.  Take jobs from one place, and say you’re creating more, when all you’re really doing is removing them for another.

The Trib Article goes on to explain the situation, and obvious disagreement by other politicians:

White House officials and Rep. Mike Doyle, a Forest Hills Democrat, dismissed the publication by Coburn and McCain as a transparent, error-filled partisan attack.

“Not only did they make the mistake of labeling projects as ‘unwise Recovery spending’ that weren’t even Recovery Act projects, but they also attack Recovery Act projects that have been praised by members of their own party,” said Liz Oxhorn, White House spokeswoman for the stimulus bill.

“Everyone should keep in mind that in 2004, the North Shore Connector was chosen in a peer-reviewed, merit-selection process as one of the top five transit projects in the country, and the Federal Transit Administration signed a full funding agreement for it,” Doyle said. “With the project 75 percent complete, it makes no sense not to finish it.”

Construction began in January 2008 and is scheduled to be completed in late 2011, said Jim Ritchie, spokesman for Port Authority of Allegheny County. The 1.2-mile line between Downtown and the North Shore should begin carrying people in early 2012, he said.

Port Authority put $62.5 million in stimulus money toward the project. The senators cited criticism by Gov. Ed Rendell, who in February 2009 described the project as “a tragic mistake” and said, “I wish the project had never started.”

But Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said yesterday, “Governor Rendell would disagree that the project was a waste of stimulus money at this point,” noting the project was under way when Port Authority sought stimulus money to help pay for it. “We had to finish it at that point; otherwise, we would have spent several hundred million dollars and been left with an unfinished hole in ground,” Tuma said.

So not only did the Port Authority ask for stimulus funding for it, when they had reported losses of $100 million?  Sounds like a whole lot of mismanagement from all parties, and it’s a situation that should have been looked at more closely.  Oh, and of course Rendell will disagree with his comments from the past,  republicans disagree with it now, so why would he want to show the same feelings as his counterparts.

In the end, the North Shore Connector will be looked at as a giant hole to nowhere.  It’s almost just as good as Sarah Palin’s bridge to nowhere in Alaska.

Rendell and lawmakers are debating how to fill a $475 million hole in the state’s transportation budget for bridges, highways and mass transit systems. Port Authority warns its $47 million deficit could bring drastic service cuts and hundreds of layoffs.

The senators chastise the North Shore project for cost overruns. Despite eliminating an $85 million track to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, the project costs about $100 million more than a February 2009 estimate of $435 million, the report said, citing Port Authority’s website. Coburn and McCain quote a 2007 audit by state Auditor General Jack Wagner that concluded “poor planning” mushroomed its cost.

In all actuality, I blame the local politicians and the Port Authority for sucking all around.  They knew what they were getting into and still pushed for it.  So now we have a giant hole to nowhere, and a failing transit system that can’t find money from anywhere.  Today is one of those sporadic days where I just want to see Ravenstahl and just give him a facepalm.  People need to realize what’s going on.  That money could have helped the situation a ton, and instead, it was wasteful spending.

We’ll start with the absolute biggest news of the day.  It just so happened to make national news it was so huge.  Soon to be FORMER Senator Arlen Specter lost to Congressman Joe Sestak yesterday in what could be considered a shocker.  Arlen Specter is the longest running Senate member in the United States.  He’s been around long enough to see the JFK assassination and even give it a theory.  For the young readers out there, check out the “Magic Bullet Theory,”  Specter was the one that made it up.

During Specter’s conceding speech he made mention of a few points worth repeating here:

“It’s been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania…”

“I have just called Congressman Sestak to congratulate him and to tell him that I think it is vital that we keep this seat with the Democratic Party and I will support him in the election,”

“This election is about you,” he said. “It’s about you and everyone in this great Commonwealth who stood up and wanted their voices heard. This is what democracy looks like – a win for the people over the establishment, over the status quo, even over Washington, D.C.”

Now that Sestak is in control and running for the Senate seat, he’ll have to face Republican Pat Toomey in what should be a very close race.  Pat Toomey stated yesterday after finding out about Specter losing in the primary:

“I want to put those aside for a minute and acknowledge a man who has spent 30 years working very, very hard,” he said. “He’s worked hard for the people of Pennsylvania and I want to tell you, I will pledge to you that as your senator, I will carry on the work ethic – the tremendous work ethic that Sen. Arlen Specter demonstrated for the people of Pennsylvania.”

Moving on to the Pennsylvania Governor position, it’s now clear as to who will be running against each other for the seat.  Dan Onorato(D) and Tom Corbett(R).  We’ll start with Corbett first, who one in a landslide taking 70% of the vote with 90% of the districts reporting in.  His opponent, state Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-128, took the remaining 30 percent of the vote. That’s literally a blow-out.

Dan Onorato had resounding success as well.  He beat out three other hopefuls to take the Democratic bid for Governor.  Of the three he beat, one of them was Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, who after the defeat responded in a phone interview as saying:

“I called Dan Onorato earlier this evening and congratulated him on his impressive victory and told him I would fully and enthusiastically support him,” Hoeffel said in a phone interview Tuesday evening. “I look forward to doing everything I can to help.”

So now that we’re all set in terms of voting in the upcoming election, it was a great day by all.  Pennsylvania had a decent turn out and even kinda sorta shocked the world.

I’d like you to read a little article that the Post-Gazette posted today about Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.  He’s come out in the public and said he supports the Sugary Drink Tax.  Now, what’s the Sugary Drink Tax you might say?  The Sugary Drink tax is a potential bill that could tax a soft drink per ounce, which has the potential to double the cost of all sugary drinks.  Which is a major reason it has come under fire.  It’s provided heavy skepticism and even made the Coca-Cola company come out and say that they are being treated like the cigarette companies.

For once, this is a situation where I must stand by the company.  I don’t feel that the taxes that could potentially be imposed are worth it.  Sure it promotes “healthy” living, and sure it’s for “health reform,” but I don’t trust it.  I don’t believe that companies should be forced to have their profits cut into because they make so much money and the government wants a ride because they know they can get some cash.

It’s everything I’m against personally, and that’s all I see from the government.  Coca-Cola, by all means has some pretty sugary drinks, along with Pepsi, however both companies provide suitable drinks to the masses that promote healthy living as well as a better alternative to enjoy on a daily basis.   So why do we feel the need to take more money from a public company?  Tell me it isn’t just because the government is out of ideas regarding health care reform.  Tell me it isn’t because the government see an untapped market of potential that they can’t get their grubby little hands on.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today expressed support for Philadelphia’s proposal to enact a tax on sugary drinks.

Pittsburgh estimates it could get $25 million annually from a tax of 2 cents per ounce, Joanna Doven, the mayo’s spokeswoman, said.

Mr. Ravenstahl will discuss the possibility with state lawmakers during a visit next week to Harrisburg, she said.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has proposed the tax to raise money and promote healthy living.

What’s to say this isn’t treated like the Fair Share Tax? The Fair Share tax around Pittsburgh came under fire as well, and practically still is. Not just because it ruffled anyone feathers, however they ended up using the money on other things outside of the Public Transportation.

The WHOLE reasoning with the Fair Share Tax was to correct the Port Authorities potential bankruptcy, once the Port Authority became stable, the government as always looked for other ways to spend the money, infusing it into road and budget money. Many, including myself was questioning this move, wasn’t this just solely for the Port Authority? Of course, the people that mattered the most in this city felt otherwise, and the money is being spent on transportation as well.

All I’m simply saying is, is that if this new Tax does come into light, and is passed.  What’s to stop them from doing other things including everything elsewhere.   Taxing things to the point of absurd is the opposite what we were told when it came election time.  I guess that really doesn’t matter.

Muhtar Kent the chief executive of Coca-Cola had this pretty funny thing to say back in September of 2009:

“I have never seen it work where a government tells people what to eat and what to drink,” Mr. Kent said, according to a report by Bloomberg News. “It if worked, the Soviet Union would still be around.”

I just can’t believe a thing that man says, but it makes more sense as to why the older people voted for him.  He gave them the pathway to providing mindless entertainment with their social security checks.  Sounds like a win win for them and him.  Regardless getting back on the topic it hand, an excerpt from the Post-Gazette’s website stating just exactly what is and what could potentially happen withe proposed table game bill:

Democratic leaders said yesterday that the Democrat-controlled House had “reached a consensus” with the Senate Republican leaders on the measure during a conference call yesterday.

Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Republican leader Dominic Pileggi of Delaware County stopped short of saying there was a consensus but said that a bill could be approved in the next few days. “We are optimistic,” he said.

The announcement came as Gov. Ed Rendell said he may be forced to lay off as many as 1,100 state employees if a deal wasn’t reached by Friday. He asked Cabinet members yesterday to develop a plan for layoffs, starting Friday if there is no agreement. Most of the layoffs would come from the state prison system and the Department of Public Welfare.

A key disagreement between House and Senate members was whether to add a third license for a resort casino. The 2004 slots law permitted two of these smaller casinos, which could have up to 500 slots and perhaps table games like blackjack, poker and roulette. One of the two existing licenses has been awarded.

The bill also would increase the number of slot machines a resort casino could operate to 600 from the current 500.

Legislative officials said leaders agreed on a provision of the bill that would create an open application process for the remaining resort license, which would give Nemacolin Woodlands resort in Fayette County a chance to compete for it. A convention center near Gettysburg may also seek that license, which has prompted strong opposition from historical groups because of its proximity to the Civil War battlefield.

There will also likely be another license created in 2017 under yesterday’s agreement, officials said.

Really, I’d love to be optimistic about this, and saying that the lay-off crisis would be diverted if the bill was passed would be great.  However, the change wouldn’t affect anything short-term, and the issue with the lay-offs would still be relevant?  It’s all a wishy washy subject, as one second a politician says he’s not going to tax us, and then three months later he taxes twice as much as he said he wasn’t going to do in the first place.

Personally, I’m for the table games bill.  There really was no point in adding an electric casino to an area that gets little traffic volume with the exception of the Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers football season.  Now maybe, just maybe I’d pay a visit to a casino that actually felt like a real casino.  The last thing stopping me is the ludicrous alcohol charges while you are gambling, as most casinos comp you free alcohol as long as you are gambling.  They need to fix that because I’m not spending $7 on a captain and coke that’s 2 ounces in total.

Finally the last little bit from that article states:

The Legislature approved a budget last fall that depended on $250 million in license fees and taxes from the legalization of table games at state casinos, which only have slot machines. The House and Senate have approved different versions of a table games bill, but had been unable to settle differences over the past six weeks.

Under the agreement forged yesterday, officials said, licensing fees would range from $7.5 million to $16.5 million depending on the size and type of the casino. Casinos would pay a 14 percent state tax and a 2 percent local tax in the first two years.

Good deal, just as long as more money goes to the state, and the people that live in this state get some kind of reprieve.  I’m tired of the constant tax increases.  I’m still a little bit steamed over the Turnpike increase.  While my route only went up by 5 cents, it’s still stupid I have to pay it for a road that’s really barely taken care of in most spots.

It was proven again yesterday that they couldn’t handle a 3rd string QB and let the score get close enough for an upset.  Even though the Steelers secondary had three interceptions yesterday, the game was closer than it should of been up until the end.  Either way though, the Steelers essentially left their fate to other teams and paid for it.

Here’s to next year and a middle first round draft pick.  I have faith that the Black and Gold will turn it around, as Tomlin all but assured it in his press conference and even body motion during the ending of that game.  He had seen enough.  On another note, most people who haven’t watched the Pens so far this year because of the Steelers, will now start making the switch.  They are on a 5 game slump, and look to break out of it soon.  Without a doubt in my mind the Pens are so close to being my favorite team of the Pittsburgh it’s not even funny.

Moving on to the University of Pittsburgh, they beat up on the number 5 Syracuse Orange(men), pretty handily and have shown that they are a very scrappy team willing to get what it has to do done, to win.  I’m pumped for them as their season goes on and into the longer months of Big East play.  Them beating the Orange, should start to open people’s eyes, that they are a good fresh team of new faces. 

Well, aside from sports that’s about it.  The biggest issue glaring with me is that the Pennsylvania Turnpike fees have gone up yet again.  Reasoning, well I have no reasoning, the roads are full or pot-holes and terrible road crew working regardless when it’s bad outside.  I’m not sure what I’m really paying an extra 15-30 cents for.

I thought the whole reasoning of leasing the name of the turnpike to whoever was to off-set the charges being raised for drivers.  I guess nothing is untouchable for Mafioso Rendell.  I can’t wait until he’s out of office.  He’s a crook to the max.

Well, that’s about all I have for this Monday morning special, being back to work in full-on get stuff done mode is hard enough.  Here’s a few links for you guys to read while you trudge through the day.  Welcome to 2010 Pittsburgh!

Coach considered a hero after plane incident – PittsburghLive

Pirates Money Being Spent Strategically….what?

LaVelle assumes Pittsburgh Council seat

Malkin takes blame for Penguins’ 6-2 loss at Florida

I strongly disagreed with the situation that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl proposed a few weeks ago regarding his ideas for a new tax.  He wanted a 1% tax in order to recover money and funds for pensions.  They called it the “Education Privilege Tax” or something or other.  All this did was create even more controversy with the Mayoral office, just right about the time that the news broke that Ravenstahl and his wife were splitting.

It also brought up a basic outrage from the students who went to school in this city.  Most of the political officials that pushed for this

Dan Onorato

tax/tuition increase stated that this was because the non-profit businesses weren’t sharing enough(like they have to anyways).  So they wanted to enforce it on the students who wanted to attend the schools inside the city and not on the actual businesses themselves.  Idiotic at best, but what can you do.

Well, Democratic governor hopeful and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato says taxing the students is wrong.  The real situation must be worked out with the Non-profits and the city together, and keeping the students out of it.  I’m on board with this, and being a gray area voter, sounds pretty good.  Regardless, there most likely isn’t a chance in hell I’d vote for the man, and that’s solely based on the decision to tax us drinkers.  Petty I know, but when you live and work in Pittsburgh, this city is practically built around beer and steel.

Onorato was stated as saying:

“I support the mayor, and I support the city’s effort to get the $6 million that a lot of people thought was coming back in 2004,” Mr. Onorato said.

Ravenstahl also has had some doubts lately and is offering to work with various universities and non-profits to find a way to
secure proper funding to help the city.

I will make this very clear in what I’m saying.  If the non-profits want to help the city and give more money that they make then by all means, more power to them.  I do not feel that by way of government power they should have to pay more, because the city is struggling.  The government does not and should not have the power to enforce higher standards for a non-profit.  It’s absurd.

Luke Ravenstahl

Anyways, the Steelers play tonight against the Cleveland Browns.  Not much needs to be said, if they win great.  If they lose to the Browns however, good bye 2009 season.

Quotes and information used from: http://post-gazette.com/pg/09344/1019823-298.stm

*UPDATE*

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has made a public demand of the universities.  He says that if they cover 5 million, he’s willing to let the 1% tax increase slide on the tuition and call it clean.  If I were the non-profits at this point, I’d be giving him the middle finger all the way to the bank.

It’s not even an a demand, it’s more of an ultimatum, do this the easy way, or we’ll do it the hard way.  Mayor Ravenstahl, the non-profits don’t have to do anything for you.  You either tax them or tax something else, get with it.  I’ve never seen a Mayor push so hard for someone else do something they technically don’t have to do.  I just don’t get it.  Seriously, who voted this guy into office?

Article of the update can be found here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09344/1019998-455.stm?cmpid=latest.xml&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter