Must Read: Jeanne Clark's Open Letter to Mayor Ravenstahl on George Trosky's Promotion

The promotion by Pittsburgh Bureau of Police of Zone 2 Commander George Trosky to assistant chief of investigations has not been without controversy due to a history of violent episodes in his past.

Women's advocate Jeanne Clark pens an open letter to the the mayor of Pittsburgh about the promotion that starts with this:

Your public attack on me in the reception line at the Cookie Cruise – berating me for criticizing your promotion of George Trosky to assistant police chief, screaming that I was a "hypocrite," and threatening to "go public" with what you perceive to be my failure to support all domestic violence survivors – was bizarre, to say the least. Coming on the heels of the same threat made to me on your behalf by City Councilmember Theresa Kail-Smith the day before, it was clear you intended to silence me.

That's not going to happen. Three women are murdered by spouses or ex-spouses in this country every day, and it must be stopped. I believe that promoting Trosky will make the problem worse here. Not just for women, but also for other police officers, and for the city as a whole. But you insist on taking actions like this promotion – actions that harm our city – just because they serve your personal needs and desires.

I'm sure you'll want to read her entire letter here.

Speaking of banning...

I'm not all that emotionally invested in lap-dance banning and strip club zoning (though I can understand how some are), but for the love of God, can someone please ban this commercial which invades my home on a regular basis?

(Not exactly safe for work)

I guess we have to give it to Blush for hiring the disabled as this woman apparently does not have the use of her arms and hands while walking.
.

Post-Election Interview w/Bill Peduto

The line has been attributed to Otto von Bismark. It's old and by now it's cliche - Politics is the art of the possible (Die Politik ist die Kunst des Möglichen, auf Deutsch).

That line was at the heart of the situation facing Bill Peduto in the run up to the recent election for Pittsburgh City Council president.

Prior to the early evening on Sunday, the vote was more or less set. He, Peduto, didn't have the 5 votes needed to secure the presidency of the council and, as I wrote before, 5 votes were already lined up to support Theresa Smith.

But the phone calls kept flying. Peduto was able to confirm to me that he'd called Darlene Harris in the early evening to ask for her vote.

And here's where things get interesting.

By Sunday evening, she responded to Peduto and told him that she could not vote for him. How about a compromise? How about keeping Doug Shields as president? No, she responded again. Her only possible vote was, she said, for either Smith or herself.

So Peduto engineered an end run. His 4 votes plus her 1 vote for her to become president. Not his first choice for the seat (that would have been himself, of course) or his second. Or even his third. While no one's first choice, Darlene Harris (whom Peduto called "honest to a fault" and "incorruptible") sitting as president would at least guarantee the independence of the council.

This was necessary for a city government, Peduto said, rife with graft.

Otherwise with the inexperienced Smith in charge (the plan orchestrated by Patrick Dowd and Luke Ravenstahl would have given those with the least experience the most power) all legislative actions would be controlled by the Mayor's office. Favorable legislation to the Mayor's office would survive and unfavorable bills would be killed.

This - the legislative and executive branches run out of a single office - was unacceptable to Peduto. The first order of business, he said, was to make sure council was not taken over by the mayor. It was necessary to maintain checks and balances.

He added, "When you are in a no-win situation the first order of business is to protect a functional government - if we did not support Darlene, independence is lost. We did not have the luxury to choose our first, or second or even third choice for President. Those options were taken away from us. If you analyze it objectively, rather than subjectively, it becomes the only option."

Hence the deal.

Harris announces some Chairs

President Pro Tempore: Theresa Kail Smith

Standing Committee Chairs:

Finance and Law: Bill Peduto (Peduto retains Chair)

Public Safety Services: Theresa Kail Smith (formally Kraus)

Public Works: Bruce Kraus

Land Use and Economic Development: Doug Shields (formally Burgess)

General and Government Services: Natalia Rudiak (formally Motznik)

Others TBA
.

Pittsburgh City Council Election: The Fix Is In!

Just got off the phone with a political insider who had a sad sad story to tell.

It's a confusing tale, to be sure, but the bottom line is that back room deals were struck, backs were stabbed, and the fix seems to be in for the next Pittsburgh City Council President.

Not a pretty picture.

As there are 9 members of the City Council, a majority of 5 votes is needed to elect a president. It seems that 4 vote blocks are easy to get. It's that last, fifth vote that's all important.

Here's Rich Lord's setup from the end of December:

Pittsburgh City Council will pick a new leader Monday, and the biennial jockeying is in full swing.

On its surface a contest between Councilmen Ricky Burgess and William Peduto, it is also an opportunity for council to declare either a more collaborative approach to the mayor's office or a more independent stance. The last two years have seen the city's nine lawmakers swing wildly between those poles.

With a week left before two new members are sworn in and a president is picked, the post could still easily go to some other member.

Which is true. While it looks as though a deal's been struck, things could swing around. Perhaps if the details saw the light of day.

This is what I know so far:

A deal was struck between Ricky Burgess and Patrick Dowd on the one hand and Theresa Smith and Darlene Harris on the other to form a voting block. But what of the fifth vote?

Enter Representative Jake Wheatley. In a deal orchestrated by Mayor Ravenstahl and Representative Wheatley, Theresa Smith would get the City Council Presidency, Patrick Dowd would step down as Finance Chair and in exchange for his vote (the all-important fifth) incoming member R. Daniel Lavelle would be named Finance Committee Chair - on his very first day on City Council. Has that ever happened in Pittsburgh history?

Smith would be elected president with 8 months experience on Council. Has that ever happened in Pittsburgh history?

I was told that the deal was struck in mid-December at this meeting described by Rich Lord:

A similar tango occurred Dec. 17, when Mr. Burgess, Ms. Smith, Ms. Harris, Patrick Dowd and departing members Jim Motznik and Tonya Payne shuffled in and out of the mayor's office, talking about the since-killed tuition tax and the presidency.

Participants in those meetings said that if Mr. Peduto wins, he has pledged to give the high-profile post of finance chair to Mr. Kraus. Mr. Burgess is said to have promised that job to Mr. Dowd.

The choice of one or the other -- or neither of the above -- may be made by incoming member R. Daniel Lavelle. Members agreed that he's a likely swing vote, being wooed by both sides.

It was at this time that Wheatley and Ravenstahl struck the deal for the fifth vote. Read between the lines here:

When Tonya Payne wanted help during her four just-ended years on Pittsburgh City Council, she turned to her friend Luke Ravenstahl.

"The biggest thing that I had in my arsenal was: Luke Ravenstahl became the mayor," she said in an interview.

Now, as she embarks on a bid for a state House seat, she's doubtful that she can pull that arrow from the quiver again. This time, the mayor needs support in Harrisburg and in Council Chamber that can only come from her foes, Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, and incoming Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle.

And a few paragraphs later:

Now Mr. Lavelle is believed to be a pivotal player in Monday's vote for the council presidency, courted by mayor-friendly and mayor-skeptical factions. Mr. Wheatley could be key to Mr. Ravenstahl's hopes of getting state help next year with the city's fiscal problems. And Ms. Payne has a seat on the powerful Urban Redevelopment Authority board, but needs a job.

"Tonya has always been a great supporter of mine, and I'm thankful for her leadership on council and her friendship," said Mr. Ravenstahl. "But we haven't had a discussion, despite some of the reports that are out there, about a job, or [campaign] support. ... I'm sure we will."

So Lavelle votes with Burgess and Dowd and gets finance chair, Luke gets a far more friendly City Council and more friends in Harrisburg.

And Patrick Dowd? He gets the satisfaction (as I was told) of beating Bill Peduto and Doug Shields.

And that's all I heard.

UPDATE: From Super Bob's blog:

Patrick Dowd confirms he now backs Smith for Council President. Says they need someone who can work together with others and reach across divides. Says Smith has shown that capacity and will serve them well, moving forward.

Interesting...

UPDATE: From Chris Potter:

I'm going to suggest -- just for a second -- that we put aside the questions of who supports the mayor and who doesn't. Let's just analyze whether council will be led by people who know what the hell they are doing.

Like I said last week, I think Kail Smith's handling of the tuition tax could betoken a promising future. If she were being chosen as a compromise candidate -- if Ravenstahl hadn't just pulled his prevailing wage stunt -- there'd be reason to see a silver lining in her presidency. In such circumstances, she'd likely have a steady hand at her side -- Peduto serving as finance chair, for example. She'd have the benefit of experience, but without being laden with all the baggage.

But so far, at least, that ain't what's happening. Instead, the two city legislators with the most experience seem likely to end up with the least amount of power.

That is a surefire recipe for a weak, ineffectual council -- however well intentioned Kail-Smith or anyone else might be. Like I said last week, if council's choice isn't Peduto, "what other choice is there if council wants to be taken seriously?" I'm still not sure. But the choice definitely isn't a president and finance chair with less than a year's experience between them. That makes council a joke -- which of course would suit the mayor's agenda perfectly. It suggests council doesn't even take itself seriously -- so why should anyone else?

Again, though, things can change between now and council's meeting.

Anything can happen.

Some notes for today's primary election

The ADB has a press release from Councilwoman Smith.

Slag Heap considers what a Zappala Peck win would mean.

Infinonymous notes that Ravenstahl can't even be trusted with taking care of the beer.

The Pittsburgh Comet finds that Tony Ceoffe ♥ scofflaws.

I will be voting for Patrick Dowd for mayor and Hugh McGough for Court of Common Pleas and cribbing from Progress Pittsburgh's Big Endorsement List (among other lists) for judicial votes (Barbara Behrend Ernsberger, Joe Williams, Susan Evanshavik DiLucente, Alex Bicket, Philip Igneizi, Anne Lazarus).

If I was in District 2 I'd vote for Georgia Blotzer, if I was in district 4 I'd vote for Natalia Rudiak, if I was in District 8 I'd vote for Bill Peduto, if I was in Wards 9 & 6 I'd vote for Susan Banahasky, and if I had to choose between Motznik and Diven I'd get a really big hammer and a really big steel spike and drive it into my own head.

I'll be poll watching all day, so no more posts from me today until fairly late (if any), so I'll say it now:

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!
.

Ravenstahl, Smith & Reilly Falsely Claim Post-Gazette Endorsements

Pittsburgh's in the middle of an epidemic, folks, but it ain't the Swine Flu. It's mendacious pols with misleading fliers which make it appear as if the Post-Gazette endorsed them when that is in fact A BIG FAT LIE.

Only yesterday the P-G ran an editorial blasting City Councilwoman Theresa Smith for her deceptive fliers which claimed a P-G endorsement when they had in fact endorsed Georgia Blotzer for Council District 2...twice. Now the P-G reports that Lil Mayor Luke and Patrick Reilly are in on the act. They all juxtapose the Post-Gazette logo on their fliers to make it appear as an endorsement. (Is their some dank basement or dark alley where these folks meet to compare notes on how best to lie to voters?)

Let's review:

The P-G endorsed Patrick Dowd for Mayor, not Lukey Steelerstahl Bathroomstahl WTFenstahl Ravenstahl.

The P-G endorsed Georgia Blotzer for City Council District 2, not Theresa Smith Kail-Smith Smith.

The P-G endorsed Natalia Rudiak for City Council District 4, not Patrick "Who?" Reilly.

http://www.dowdformayor.com

http://www.georgiaforcouncil.com

http://nataliarudiak.com
.

Post-Gazette Slams Councilor Smith for False Flier

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette makes it clear that they did not endorse Theresa Smith in the race for Pittsburgh City Council District 2 -- they endorsed Georgia Blotzer -- twice.

They had to make it clear as Smith has been distributing completely misleading fliers to voters:

Campaign fliers being distributed by city Councilwoman Theresa Smith in her bid to be renominated in Tuesday's primary have left a bad taste in our mouths here on the Post-Gazette Editorial Board.

[snip]

Nonetheless, after voters chose Ms. Smith, we published a congratulatory message welcoming her to council and wishing her well in the tasks ahead. It is that editorial that Ms. Smith has reproduced on campaign material, under the headline: "Endorsed Democrat for City Council." It is true that she was backed by the local party committee, but the reprinting of our editorial below it suggests to many that she was endorsed by the newspaper.

So we'll reiterate. The Post-Gazette endorses Georgia Blotzer for City Council because we believe she is the strongest candidate for District 2 Democrats and would best serve the city as a whole.

Read the full editorial here.

Kudos again to Bram for posting the fliers!

Blog Reactions:

Councilwoman Smith: Lying Her (Bleep) Off , The Pittsburgh Comet

Pittsburgh City Councilor Theresa Smith's Deceptive Fliers, 2 Political Junkies

Friday: In the Hands of Hobbits..., The Pittsburgh Comet

PG edt blasts Smith camp, Early Returns

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Obligatory Disclaimer: As mentioned before, I've been paid by the Georgia for Council campaign to create and maintain her web site: http://www.georgiaforcouncil.com/

.

Pittsburgh City Councilor Theresa Smith's Deceptive Fliers

Bram at The Pittsburgh Comet has posted a flyer from Theresa Smith who is running in the primary election on Tuesday for City Council in District 2. He points out that the flyer makes it seem as though Smith won the endorsement of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The P-G endorsed Georgia Blotzer (both for the May 19th primary as well as in the shockingly low turnout February special election which Smith won):

Blotzer in District 2: She's the best council choice for the Democrats
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Active choice: Blotzer deserves a seat on City Council
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Moreover, Smith's flyer also misleads voters about what funding she has secured.

Naturally, she's the Committee endorsed candidate.

[sigh]

On the brighter side, Georgia Blotzer has won the endorsement of Michael Lamb.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Obligatory Disclaimer: As mentioned before, I've been paid by the Georgia for Council campaign to create and maintain her web site: www.georgiaforcouncil.com
.

Quick Hits

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), in a strongly worded press release, denied attending any meetings with Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-IN) group of Blue Dog "ConservaDems." "Pennsylvania is Blue, Obama won, and the people want his agenda passed. Why on Earth would I align myself with that bunch of obstructionist douches?" Casey asked. (Post-Gazette)

In a surprise move, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) decided to throw his support behind the Employee Free Choice Act. "I have a reputation to maintain as a Centrist. I absolutely will not damage that reputation just because I will be challenged by a dangerous far right opponent in a Republican primary." (Early Returns)

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, in response to challenger Patrick Dowd, said that far from wasting over 20 million dollars those monies were actually part of the Ravenstahl Administration's stimulus spending package. (KDKA)

District 2 Pittsburgh City Councilor Theresa Kail-Smith is now fully behind real campaign finance reform. Local blogger and Kail-Smith supporter Matt H applauded the change at his Pittsburgh Hoagie blog. (She also said that she would update her campaign web site to include that "Kail-" thing.) (Pittsburgh Hoagie)

The Republican "alternative budget" calls for a massive tax cut for the wealthy. The top marginal tax rate would be slashed from 35 to 25 percent which would just be CRAZY. (Huffington Post)

Speaking of taxes, the ginormous tax increase on cigarettes scheduled to go into effect today has been postponed indefinitely when it was discovered that the nation already had a high percentage of obese people and that smoking does indeed look "cool." (Washington Post)

Starting tomorrow, I will be posting exclusively at Twitter -- no more blogging here at 2pj (You can find me at Twitter here). Words are the enemy! Also, I'm really, really happy that I wasn't laid off yesterday along with many of my co-workers.
.

Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Campaign Finance Reform

Georgia Blotzer, Democratic candidate for Pittsburgh City Council District 2, released the following statement on campaign finance reform yesterday:

"My opponent in this election, Councilwoman Kail-Smith, is a cog in the special interest machine that has put so much of Pittsburgh up for sale. From her rabid support for the unremarkable policy initiatives that have done so little for the West End to her fixation on the type of politics that arranged her special election victory, Theresa Smith represents more of the same. Her recent obstruction of commonplace campaign finance reform and her acceptance of tens of thousands of dollars in large contributions now proves that."

"Gathering signatures and meeting voters during my listening tour has taught me many things about Pittsburgh, and what the residents of District 2 want in a councilmember. I am pleased to accept the suggestion of a West End neighbor in announcing my new campaign slogan:

"Georgia Blotzer: Some things aren't for sale."

City Councilor Bill Peduto has also been pushing for reform for YEARS:

Councilman William Peduto first sponsored campaign finance reform legislation in City Council in 2004 and re-introduced and passed legislation in 2008, prior to a mayoral veto. Councilman Peduto now plans to amend the Mayor and County Executive’s proposal to include three key provisions. First, an elimination of all no-bid contracts. Second, donation limits that are significantly lower than currently proposed and comparable to similarly sized cities. Finally, public access to political contributors and contracts.

“Comprehensive campaign finance reform is an essential first step in the effort to reform City government,” said Councilman William Peduto. “I will not vote for any legislation that does not include these three key provisions.”

He held a post agenda meeting on campaign finance reform on Tuesday.

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

From his press release:

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.

Bob Mayo has a chart offered by Peduto during City Council's meeting on the topic which compares the Onorato-Ravenstahl proposal to limit political contributions to campaign finance reform in other cities. It demonstrates how seriously out of whack the O-R plan is.

The Post-Gazette reports that "Facing a potential train wreck of competing campaign reform concepts, city and county council members may create a joint committee to hash out legislation that would cap political donations to candidates, possibly even in borough and township races."

I wish I could be hopeful...
_____________________________

Obligatory Disclaimer: As mentioned before, I've been paid by the Georgia for Council campaign to create and maintain her web site: www.georgiaforcouncil.com

.

The week that was (and the circle of life)

Tis the season -- gearing up for May primaries -- when there's oodles and oodles of local political news.

First, we have City Councilor Patrick Dowd officially announcing his Democratic primary run for Mayor of Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, newly minted now-fellow City Councilor Theresa Smith Kail-Smith Smith got sworn into office. As Bram noted Smith, "thanks God once; thanks Pete Wagner three times." As I will note, her statement that:

"Throughout the last several months, so many people offered insight about who controlled the votes in District 2 and what I should do to capture the votes," she said in her speech. "In my heart, I believe there is only one person who truly controls the votes, and I thank God for guiding me here."

does makes me wonder if she is saying that God is in the touch screens (like the devil is the details) or if she just called her deity a person (which would make them not a deity by definition).

Her statement did remind me of yet another person in the news this week: Charles P. McCullough. Also a councilor -- county, not city -- McCullough got himself arrested as the result of a criminal investigation that started back before another primary...two years ago. When Chucky won that primary he stated:

"Obviously, it was by the hand of God and also by the voters of the county (that I won)."

Which makes one wonder if God is so invested in the politics of this city how come there isn't more smiting taking place?

And, since we're on a metaphysical bent here, we cannot not mention another election this week (Hey, the judges do vote!). Teh bloogers' favorite Top Chef real-life Muppet, Carla, made it to the final three. I like Carla and hope she wins the whole enchilada (or maybe that should be the whole amuse-bouche) even though she sometimes consults her "spirit guides" on what to cook.

Better a chef with culinary-inclined spirit guides than a councilor with a deity with a thumb on the scale, I always say.

And, Carla brings us back full circle to Patrick Dowd.

How, you may ask?

Well, Top Chef is all about the gourmet cooking and it's on the Bravo channel which used to be très artsy. And, here in the Burgh our Democratic primary elections often have the same dynamic as the R vs. D presidential elections. Namely, a self-proclaimed Real American^TM candidate vs. a smarty-pants elitist who can't understand real Americans. Locally, of course, this plays out as the self-proclaimed Real Pittsburgher^TM vs. the smarty-pants elitist who can't understand real Pittsburghers.

Think Luke vs. Bill; think getting trashed at a Steelers game and handcuffed vs. being a member of the cupcake class; think anyone Matt H endorses (Real Pittsburgher^TM) vs. anyone who runs against his endorsed candidate (smarty-pants elitist).

Lil Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is of course a self-proclaimed Real Pittsburgher^TM. Dowd undoubtedly is the kind of guy who might actually watch the Bravo channel -- he taught at a private school for chrissakes -- while Ravenstahl is the kind of guy who changes his name to Steelerstahl and whose TIVO is undoubtedly entirely filled up with sports events.

The one thing that might give Lukey pause is that Dowd beat this dynamic before.

Dowd was the smarty-pants elitist who beat self-proclaimed Real Pittsburgher^TM Len Bodack (a man so "real" that his own supporters called foul on having any debates because they said he wouldn't be up to the task).

Dowd can and is running on "change" (though unfortunately also pocket change) at a time when we're all scared shitless of the status quo. And, I have to agree with Chris Potter that the "Nobody's Boy" bit is a good one (while also having the same reservations about Dowd's style that Potter expresses).

So there you have the Pittsburgh Circle of Political Life, or maybe it's Six Degrees of Matt H Chad Hermann Mark Rauterkus Carla!
.