"Last night a business on South 15th street displaying a Kraus sign had a plate glass window shattered. (Pictures attached) No windows displaying Koch signs are known to have been damaged."Here are pictures of the second Kraus supporter store to be vandalized:
Notice Kraus sign in the window on the right?
The League asks Mayor Ravenstahl and other City Officials to "step up and ensure safe, fair elections and to discourage voter intimidation and campaign violence in the days between."
The full press release:
Broken Windows, Stolen Signs Intimidate Kraus Supporters in District 3
Mayor: Please Step Up and Ensure Fair, Safe Election
Pittsburgh, PA: The Pennsylvania League of Young Voters Political Action Committee calls on Mayor Ravenstahl and City Officials to step up and ensure safe, fair elections and to discourage voter intimidation and campaign violence in the days between.
Just days after city workers were photographed wearing Koch shirts on city time and suspended for the violation, Kraus supporters and residents of District 3 have experienced increased levels of intimidation, violence and vitriol in this already heated race.
Throughout the campaign Kraus signs have repeatedly been stolen. But this week the negative campaigning escalated to violence. Two businesses displaying Kraus signs were vandalized on two consecutive days near the Carson Street business district. The first, located at the corner of 18th and Carson, was playing a commercial for Bruce Kraus on a large TV in its 18th street window. Sometime over night on Friday or Saturday someone threw a brick threw the window. Last night a business on South 15th street displaying a Kraus sign had a plate glass window shattered. (Pictures attached) No windows displaying Koch signs are known to have been damaged.
With the escalation in violence and shady campaigning the PA League of Young Voters PAC is concerned that Election Day will bring widespread efforts to disfranchise voters in District Three. PLYV PAC calls on Mayor Ravenstahl and city officials to take steps to ensure safe and fair elections for all city residents and in light of recent events, especially District 3.
"The Mayor and City Officials have an obligation, both ethical and legal, to end this sort of shady campaigning and ensure that citizens in District Three can exercise their conscience in the voting booth on May 15th" stated Lou Takacs, chair of the PLYV PAC.The PLYV PAC also calls on the officials to look into these incidents along with the continued incidents of city workers wearing Koch shirts even after several members of Public Works were suspended for the same violation..
11 comments:
I think Ernest T. Bass is back in town.
Over at the Burgh Report someone referenced a 72 hour rule. Apparently this is the case as the Post-Gazette and the rest of the MSM seems to have ignored this story. I was going to joke about Jimmy Carter being called in to monitor the elelctions on the South Side (and I just did), but I do feel really bad for the people whose windows were broken. I certainly hope no gets hurt on election day, for whatever reason.
The 72 hour rule is a joke. There is no such rule.
The P-G and Trib have been breaking it -- if it exists -- in regard to write in candidates, at the least.
We don't need Jimmy Carter to watch elections -- we need the sheriff. Woops. What about the D.A. --- woops -- what about the County Executive. -- woops. -- What about the present president -- oh, nevermind. You got a valid point.
Call Jimmy Carter.
But, I bet the only intimidation Kraus can muster is a piece of sheet cake for polling people along with a big basket of junk-food.
In the special election one year ago, Kraus was passing around baskets of junk food (chips, etc) to polling workers (as in those who work the electronic voting machines). These were not for the one's outside the polls begging for votes.
Oh well.
I'm going for a bike ride.
The write in results won't be known for weeks from now.
By the way -- go Rich Swartz. Hope he has a fun day.
Make sure he gets drunk tonight and that he still shows up for work tomorrow.
Is it just me or does this whole window breaking thing seem just a bit tooooo convenient? Maybe, just maybe, the windows were broken NOT by Koch supporters, but instead by Kraus camp folks wanting this very blog -- and others -- to falsely accuse? Wag the dog a bit? Just a thought!!!
Justin,
Did you ever consider that maybe martians did it?
Just a thought!
Oh for God's sake, I can't let Justin's comment pass by with just a joke!
After all the other ILLEGAL crap the Koch campaign has done:
- The T-shirts
- The campaign call on record on city time
- Taking illegal contributions
...And you are going to try to suggest that it's the other guy, Kraus -- the one who hasn't done anything illegal -- who suddenly decides to throw bricks?
PUH-LEEZE!
I remember the last election when Kraus ran against Koch. I was at the polls all fucking day poll watching. I remember all the big goons around the poll for Koch. I also remember seeing my friggin' ACDC member whispering to the 80+ crowd INSIDE the polls -- I'm sure telling them who to vote for. I also remember how they tried to throw me out of the poll when it came time to count the vote despite the fact that I had a certificate to stay as a poll watcher.
But, oh yeah, it must be the Kraus crowd throwing bricks.
Gimme a fucking break!
The break that you look for, "give me a * break," may arrive May 16. When you stop hitting your head against the wall, it feels good. But, that break is sure to be temporary.
Or, if you want a big break -- it can arrive when a break is made for another city. Uproot = break. (Not that you should do that, just observations.)
Moving is hard work. The grass is always greener elsewhere too.
But, all in all -- more people vote with their feet in Pittsburgh than vote at the polls. They've been voting with their feet by leaving town. They've all said, "give me a break."
Another way to get a break -- take a vacation. Visit another continent. :)
Maria, I understand that it must be hard for you to hear the truth about Kraus, but is it necessary for you to use such repulsive language??
Mark Rauterkus said...
In the special election one year ago, Kraus was passing around baskets of junk food (chips, etc) to polling workers (as in those who work the electronic voting machines). These were not for the one's outside the polls begging for votes.
I AM SO SORRY TO REPORT TO YOU THAT YOU ARE FULL OF CRAP. I DELIVERED THE SNACK BAGS LAST YEAR AND THEY WERE ONLY FOR THE VOLUNTEERS OUTSIDE; WE DID NOT GIVE ANY TO THE WORKERS INSIDE. NICE TRY, THOUGH.
Market House. I was there. Early in the morning about 30-50 minutes after the polls opened. Bruce was making the delivery himself, double parked, in his SUV. I had my son in tow.
The baskets went in -- and they were not for senior citizens.
They came out like a boomerang too.
I didn't pitch a fit. And, I wasn't shocked. No need. It was zeal and rookie antics.
Those baskets were beautiful. Ribbons, bows, clear plastic wrappers, fluffy, tied nice -- big like a two or three bread baskets. Treats galore -- and no crap at all. It would have been hard work fitting 20 of those suckers in the SUV.
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