He's baaaack!

Bill Peduto is back on Pittsburgh's airwaves--along with some neighborhood icons--with a brand new ad. Enjoy:

 

Josh Wanders the Road Less Traveled to Election Day

There are many paths that one can travel as a candidate for elective office. Some running for mayor might give years of public service, put out 100 policy papers, knock on doors all over the city, and attend hundreds of community meetings -- others try a road less traveled...

Here's the one taken by Josh Wander, Republican nominee for Mayor of Pittsburgh:

 

August 2012

Do a creepy "mock interview with myself pre and post an Apocalyptic event...."

December 2012

Appear on a national television show referring to the city that you want to become mayor of as an "urban deathtrap." Also be filmed running around a park with your buds covered in fake blood--guns in hand--playacting your response to some catastrophic event.

January 2013

Publish a YouTube video pushing your government conspiracy theory:

"I see the government playing a sort of PSYOPs game against the 2nd Amendment lovers, against people that care about their rights of bearing arms. What I mean by that is that I think that they're trying to bait us. I think they're trying to get us riled up and they're trying to get one of us that's possibly on the edge to do a crazy act of desperation..."

April 2013

Do a local TV interview where all you do is bitch about how terrible Pittsburgh is and why no one would want to live here.

June 2013

Do a newspaper interview moaning about how no one takes your campaign seriously.

August 2013

Admit you're not in the race to win.

September 2013

Relate in an interview that you've sold your home, moved with your family to a foreign country, and "expects to return in time for the Nov. 5 election against Democrat Bill Peduto but would instruct campaign staff to assume his duties otherwise."

Have your press secretary resign citing law school commitments.

 

 

*** Obligatory Disclaimer: As everyone should know by now, I've been working part-time for People For Peduto since 2010

Bill Peduto Files for Mayoral Run, Already Endorsed by County Exec Rich Fitzgerald

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto announced this morning via Twitter/Facebook that he filed the paperwork necessary to make him eligible to run for Mayor of Pittsburgh:

Pretty much simultaneously, an email was sent by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald that he had contributed the maximum donation allowable by law to Peduto:

Peduto will officially announce his run for Mayor after the November 6th election.

This was covered on TV by the local noon news shows as well as (so far) by the following:

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Pittsburgh City Paper (BlogH)
• PoliticsPA
• Progress Pittsburgh

(As well as predicted yesterday by John McIntire's AntiSocialCommentator.)

As anyone who's read this blog for any length of time knows, I've been all for Bill since its inception back in 2004 because I see him as a smart progressive with a real love and vision for this city. I feel obliged to mention, once again, that I've been working for People for Peduto since 2010. I want to mention that in that time, my respect for him has only grown stronger.

GO BILL!

Look on the bright side...

...The Burghosphere will have tons of material for the next two years.

(Ravenstahl: 64% DeSantis: 35%)

Lukey at Daily Kos

The Pittsburgh mayoral race is mentioned briefly in this Daily Kos front page post.

Scroll down the comments section to get to the thread on Lil Mayor Ravenstahl.

You know those people?

You know those people -- say, a Britney Spears, a Paris Hilton -- those people who, maybe despite your best efforts, you end up having to hear about their latest stupid moves?

You know how you wish they would just go away?

You wish they wouldn't be allowed to creep into your head because you happened to pass a magazine stand, or someone in your office is talking about them, or worst of all, some news director thinks that their latest exploits actually constitute news.

Maybe a wee part of you enjoys their latest train wreck but ultimately you wish they'd just STFU and go away.

Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing to be able to vote them off the island? (Don't you wish you didn't even know what that phrase means?)

Now just think for a moment how truly lovely it would be to never have to hear about one more Luke Ravenstahl boneheaded move.

According to today's Post-Gazette:

The city's home rule charter states the winner of today's race will officially become mayor as soon as the county certifies the election, which Mr. Wolosik said should happen in 20 days -- possibly on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Think about that.

We have the power to just make Lil Mayor Luke just go away.

No more turning on the TV or opening up the newspaper and reading about Lukey firing whistleblowers, or getting handcuffed, or forgetting where he spent the night in NYC, or stalking another celeb, or taking a $9,000 golf outing gift from UPMC, or missing meetings with minorities and women, or blaming women for his own inaction on police with domestic violence problems, or joyriding in a Homeland Security SUV, or letting kids play in lead contaminated parks, or hearing him lie about each and every one of these things over and over again.

It would be just like never hearing the name "Paris Hilton" again. Just like never seeing Britney's panty-less bottom one more time as she exits her tricked-out SUV. Just like never seeing a promo of some chick sobbing over the latest "Bachelor."

Not one more cringe-inducing crazy celeb moment (nor any more hysterical fan's defense of their hero's cringe-inducing episode).

Except of course, ultimately, Britney's and Paris' latest exploit don't really impact on your own life (other than to temporarily lower your IQ), whereas Lukey's latest cockup actually affects the lives of the residents of this city and region.

Right now -- today -- you have the power to vote Lukey off the island.

Just do it.

You broke my Photoshop!



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Delano's take on tomorrow

In addition to his KDKA TV report, Jon Delano riffs on the mayoral race on his Delano's Den blog (expectations game, etc.).

For the record, I expect DeSantis to do well but not win.

[sigh]

Hey, Pittsburgh! Why don't you surprise me?
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Luke as farce

According to Sue at Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, Lil Mayor Luke Ravenstahl must be worried about the gay vote because:

It would seem that Luke's people realized what a huge gaffe he made last week by saying he does not favor civil unions. Thus, he has scheduled a meeting with representatives from the Steel City Stonewall Democrats at 2:30 PM Monday. To clarify.

Apparently, Luke has stated that he doesn't know what a civil union is.

The Mayor of Pittsburgh -- a Democrat under the age of 40 -- does not know what a civil union is.

That is so blissfully ridiculous that there's simply no need for further comment.

As I commented at her blog the day before:

by Maria in Pgh on Fri 02 Nov 2007 02:28 PM EDT Profile Permanent Link
I heard that Lukey stonewalled the Stonewall Dems -- promising to get back to them with answers to their questionnaire and never delivering.

Small wonder since his real answers on such a questionnaire would have "outed" him before he got whatever cash he could grab.

Someone else commented there that "Luke blew off the Steel City Stonewall Democrats reception Saturday afternoon in Shadyside with Barney Frank."

This reminds me ever so much of his position on contraceptives:

1)Try to remain as neutral and uncontroversial as possible in public.

2) But, whisper to the bubbas in private that he's doing the "right" Catholic thing.

3) Then flail around and lie when outed.

What a nice, principled, young man!

Once again, it behooves us to mention that Ravenstahl -- who is always claiming that he stands for Democratic Party principles -- is extremely anti choice and anti gay, while his Republican challenger, Mark DeSantis is pro choice and pro gay.
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Reminder: WQED Mayoral Debate Tonight

From WQED:

Mayoral Debate officially titled: WQED Presents: The 2007 Pittsburgh Mayoral Debate will air on:

WQED TV-13 and WQED HD (13.1) will first air on Thursday, 11/1/07, 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Program will repeat on WQED TV-13 Saturday, 11/3/07 from 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

Program description:

Who will be the next mayor of Pittsburgh and how is that person going to address the many issues that face the city & affect the entire metropolitan region? Meet the candidates and hear what they have to say about tough issues. Moderated by Stacy Smith. Produced by WQED in partnership with the League of Women Voters.

Live Studio Audience--please report to WQED Studios, 4802 Fifth Avenue in Oakland by 7:30pm on November 1.
Live Simul-Stream at wqed.org from 8-9pm on November 1
Public invited to post questions for the candidates before November 1 at http://www.wqed.org/
Debate panelists: Michael Bartley, Chris Moore and Tonia Caruso

Halloween Edition

1) I know it must be Halloween because I received something in my mailbox designed to curl my hair (too late -- already done) and cover me in goosebumps. Yes, I got the most recent Ravenstahl mailer -- the one that has the big picture of GW on it beside a photo of Mark DeSantis. On the back it reads: "Say no to George W. Bush, Say no to Republican Mark DeSantis." OHMYGOD, Karl Rove will appear under my bed at midnight on election day if I vote for DeSantis! SAVE US ALL!!!!

2) FEMA is looking into Lil Mayor Luke's joyriding in a Homeland Security SUV. Very scary . . . for Lukey!

AND, TRULY FRIGHTENING:

3) Looks like Interim Mayor Luke Ravenstahl may get his wish and have a vote on City Council Bill No. 2007-1797 (Police and Domestic violence) postponed until after the election.

It's no secret that Ravenstahl does not support this bill or that the FOP opposes it and has LIED about what passage of it will do. They are claiming that Council does not have the authority to pass it (BULL!) and that that commanders who accidentally violated an ordinance could be subject to criminal charges (MORE BULL).

What I find more frightening is that only Doug Shields and Bill Peduto (the two cosponsors) have so far come out in favor of the bill (though Twanda Carlisle may be leaning in its favor).

If you haven't yet, email your councilor RIGHT NOW and ask them to support Bill No. 2007-1797 and the four amendments.

The police cannot and should not police themselves as they want.

(Also, check out Behind the Blue Wall a blog that tracks domestic violence issues with police nationally.)

UPDATE: Click here for something m,ore fun than scary.
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Motznik Chastises the Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Councilman Jim Motznik railed against the Post-Gazette's endorsement of Republican Mark DeSantis during today's City Council meeting.

He bemoaned what he said was a less than factual endorsement. His complaint centered on this one sentence in the P-G:

Instead of privatizing a service like trash collection, he extends it to Wilkinsburg -- not because it saves Pittsburgh money but because it's created a few more city jobs while helping a municipal neighbor.

Motznik said the move actually saved the city $815,000.00 a year and that it also took 30 garbage trucks off the streets (Council President Doug Shields chimed in saying it actually saved the city over a million a year).

He also said the following:

"...it doesn't matter to me who they endorse for mayor." (Yeah, right)

"I'm frustrated at the crap that a newspaper I used to think was credible would print." (You mean when they printed your bogus claim that Ravenstahl created the 311 line?)

"Don't they have a board of directors that reviews their stories to make sure they are accurate?" (Uh, Jimmy, that wouldn't be the job of a board of directors.)

"Why isn't the editor reading this stuff?" (Uh, Jimmy, it's the editors who WRITE the editorials.)

"Why isn't the editorial board reading it?" (See above.)

"I'm not here to tell you to vote for Luke Ravenstahl." (Well, yeah, you kind of are.)

He also compared the Post-Gazette to AM talk radio and said that the people of Pittsburgh weren't as dumb as the media thinks they are.

In case you're reading this, Councilman Motznik, I don't automatically assume that privatization is a good thing and even if you're correct on any monies saved (and I don't know that you are), you're only addressing one line in the P-G's endorsement.

You can take your yellow boots off again because, as you say, the people of Pittsburgh aren't as dumb as someone may think we are.

Two Bizarre Phone Calls

I got two weird calls this morning.

The first was a message on my machine. I'm used to Jehovah Witnesses occasionally coming to my door, now they're leaving messages on my phone inviting me to meetings.

The second call I picked up live. It was a recorded message that purported to be a poll. It went something like this:

We have a mayors race. If you are going to vote for Ravenstahl press 1, DeSantis press 2, Olivia press 3, Scott press 4, if you want to keep your choice private press 5. There's also a controllers race. If you're for Lamb press 6, etc.

OK, When the message began, I was excited. Maybe someone was conducting an independent poll!

But as the message continued I thought it odd that they didn't indicate who was conducting the poll. Lots of times polls do not indicate who's paying for the poll, but they at least give the name of a market research outfit.

I really started to wonder when the "poll" seemingly wouldn't let you vote for both mayor and controller -- what's up with that?

There was no pause to vote for mayor before controller and at the end it said to press zero to leave your email address if you wanted the results of the poll.

At some point in listening to the message, I thought that it sounded a bit like Mark Rauterkus.

I pressed 2 for DeSantis at the end of the message but that didn't allow me to also press o.

Was it you, Mark?

I don't really know how the poll could even be functional.

Bizarre!

Comes a new dawn

Well, the Post-Gazette has endorsed a Republican for mayor for Pittsburgh and . . .

. . . the sun still rose,

the three rivers have not turned to blood,

and there is no rioting in the streets . . . yet . . .

Post-Gazette DeSantis Endorsement Is Online

Here's the link:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07301/828883-35.stm

It not only says what is wrong with interim Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, it says what is right with challenger Mark DeSantis.

The editorial starts:

Pittsburghers are living in a unique time. There has never been an election for mayor in which the incumbent has served for 14 months, in which the winner will get only two years and where the future of the city, now under strict oversight from the state, hangs in the balance.

Unusual times call for more than the usual leadership. For Pittsburghers on Nov. 6, that means voting for Mark DeSantis, the first Republican the Post-Gazette has endorsed for mayor since John Tabor in 1969.

Why should a city dominated by Democrats consider a Republican for mayor? Because one-party rule has failed Pittsburgh and failed it repeatedly. It has failed to prevent population loss and business erosion. It has failed to head off the city's near-bankruptcy and job loss. It has failed to generate the big ideas that should be propelling Pittsburgh into the 21st century.

It ends by reminding their readers -- the voters -- that only they have the power to enact real change.
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Sierra Club has posted mayoral candidates' responses to questionnaire

You can see the questions and answers that our local Sierra Club asked Luke Ravenstahl and Mark DeSantis here (scroll down the page).

The Sierra Club is one of the oldest, largest and most influential environmental groups in the nation. It lobbies legislatures on behalf of the environment and helps to educate the public.
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WTAE's Mayoral Debate

The other political junkie attended the debate live so I'll let him do the big write-up, but my impressions are as follows.

No real fireworks though DeSantis and Ravenstahl accused each other of not answering questions and Ravenstahl accused DeSantis of "selling the city down the river" regarding the police union.

A couple of things that I didn't understand:

- I assume that when Ravenstahl said he became an ACDC member at age 15 that that was just a slip as he's said before that he was 18 -- but then I mix up some stuff that happened in my teen years too.

- Ravenstahl claimed that he was "proud of what the Democratic Party stands for" but since it's pro choice and he isn't I guess he allows himself some wiggle room.

- I still don't get how Luke thinks that opening the firefighters' contract would cost the city money especially when he said that after they had discussed an upcoming report that was expected to recommend closing down some stations...

I just got a call from David who has something very interesting to say about what happened right after the debate ended...

Stay tuned!
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Now this is a puff piece!

Those who thought that The New York Times article on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl earlier this month was a real puff piece might want to read today's article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to see what real puffery is all about.

Nearly 60 paragraphs in length, only one paragraph is devoted to Ravenstahl's cock-ups.

The rest is family friends and Councilman Motznik praising the Boy Wonder -- and in the case of the family friends, the emphasis (like his campaign lit) is on the boy.

He could tell time when he was three years old! He was Cool Hand Luke on the B-Ball court in the seventh or eighth grade! And on and on...

It should also be noted that Motznik repeats the fiction that Luke created the 311 line.

The sub-headline states: "Pittsburgh's 27-year-old mayor says the election focus should be on his record, not the controversies in which he's found himself." Funny that, aren't the controversies part of his record?

The article also recounts Ravenstahl's deep family political roots and quotes Ravenstahl saying, "I became a Democratic committeeman when I became 18 and eligible to vote."

That sure sounds like to me that he was appointed and not elected (a birthday gift?). Anyone know for certain?

Also my burning question (posed here at Mayo's blog) has been answered: Luke is the oldest boy. His baby pics now have so much more meaning for me!

Mayor Luke's Baby Pics Revealed! ...In His Campaign Mailer

Hey, gang! Did you receive your Luke Ravenstahl campaign brochure in the mail yesterday?

I did.

And, I must say WTF???

I'm a super voter. That means I've received tons of campaign lit over the years. Out of all the campaign lit to make its way into my mailbox or storm door Luke's mailer is a first -- the first time a candidate has not one, but two baby pics in it.

Let's review the whole thing, shall we?

First of all it's a glossy, color, double sided four-pager (8 pages of "content") and unlike most, it's saddle-stitched (stapled), in other words: an expensive production.

The outside cover has the now ubiquitous photo of Lukey with hands on hips (strangely dark, I must say) with the words: "Mayor Luke Ravenstahl A Pittsburgh Story" and there's an insert picture of what I'm assuming is Luke and his two brothers as small children decked out in football helmets and meant-to-be endearingly large football T-shirts (Nativity!) holding...a football.

When you open it up to the first two inside pages, two-thirds of it are Ravenstahl family pics: Luke with Mom and Dad and siblings, Luke with wife, Luke in graduation cap and gown (is it for high school or college? I don't know. I suppose a real reporter like a Mayo, Delano, Lord or Earl would investigate the red cap color and have a real reporter's answer, but being a blogger, I'll take a pass).

A full page is devoted to a sepia-toned baby/toddler pic of Lukey and his bros. Which one is Lukey? I don't know! Am I supposed to know his birth order? Did I miss that in Teen Beat magazine? I don't know!

But it is a cute picture and I suppose it's supposed to evoke some sort of warm, fuzzy feelings in me, especially as a woman (do cute baby pics work on guys?). I'm also guessing that it fills in for the pics of candidate's kids that often make there way into these types of lit (but they are not typically full-page).

Mostly however, when coupled with the copy on the page, I'm guessing it's supposed to evoke the warm, fuzzy feelings that Burghers have had in the past for Luke. Something for the "He's just a regular Burgher/Give the kid a chance/Great young hope" crowd.

You know, remind the folks why they liked the adorable little Opie in the first place before he sorely tested our patience and we now want to give the kid a spanking instead of one more chance.

The text simultaneously reminds us that Luke comes from a longtime Pittsburgh political family (father a judge and grandfather a state rep) while saying he's just like us all (He grew up here! A lifelong Pittsburgher! A familiar face on local school and sports teams!). Perhaps most tellingly, it lets us know that he and his wife are members of Holy Wisdom Parish. I mean, do we even know if DeSantis is a Catholic? (What kind of candidate doesn't tell us where he does or doesn't worship!? Commie bastard!)

The next two inside pages get down to the real business at hand and are titled "Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Answering Pittsburgh's Call."

They evoke the late Mayor Bob O'Connor's passing and a bolded, set-off paragraph proclaims:

And in one of the city's darkest hours, Luke answered Pittsburgh's call."

(Would that be when a tornado and flooding came to town and Lukey was hobnobbing at a Steeler's training? Hmmm...maybe not.)

OK. Can anyone name a single politician in town who wouldn't have answered "the call" to be mayor if it was handed to them on a silver platter? (OK, pols, don't trip over each other running to claim the title.)

There's pics of Luke hugging an older woman, skoolin' some old dude on fiscal policy (note the framed photo of Bob O'Connor looking on) and sitting with adorable minority children (one case where Ravenstahl actually managed to make a meeting with some of Pittburgh's African American community members).

The last two inside pages proclaim "Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Fresh Leadership for Pittsburgh's Future" and have snips of headlines like "Pittsburgh's Great Young Hope, CBS News" (I'm guessing that David Letterman, Tiger Woods and Sienna Miller declined to have their pictures used).

It is only until page six that any sort of actual policy is discussed.

Here, for example, Luke notes that he's put more police on the street. (It does not explain that he gamed the numbers by merging housing and city police to get around the mandate for 900 officers). It also says that Luke gave police "improved technology to do their jobs" -- that wouldn't be, say, a tricked out Homeland Security SUV that Luke uses for joyrides, would it -- and, how is that FOP endorsement of your opponent working for you? There's also a big photo of Lil Mayor Luke pouring over more reports.

The back page contains another beauty shot of the mayor with a quote that Lukey loves the city and needs our help.

Most interesting on this page is instead of the expected "Paid for by Friends of Luke Ravenstahl" or "Paid for by Ravenstahl for Mayor" we see "Paid for and authorized by the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee."

Are there some folks worried out there?

Doesn't Lil Mayor Luke have a big war chest to pay for this on his own?

Is Luke worried that if DeSantis makes a good showing, he'll not only need that money to fight off a slew of contenders in two years, but he'll also have to spend the next two years campaigning -- as if he ever stopped in the last year?

Will he need to break out some TV ads?

Will they contain even more pics of Lukey as an adorable tot? (You can bet your ass they will!)

Stay tuned for these and other questions.

Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!

A Tale of Two Brochures:




DeSantis Vs. Ravenstahl


I'm Luke! I was an adorable tike in Pittsburgh! Which adorable tike am I? Who cares!


I'm Maria! I was a semi-adorable tike in Pittsburgh!Does it matter which tike? Apparently not!Does it qualify me to be mayor? Apparently so!
NEXT: New Ravenstahl print ad to feature adorable family pets.
PUPPIES! KITTENS!
New TV ad to feature dangling keys! Ooooo! Shiny!
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HA! Pgh Police Union Endorses DeSantis

From the Post-Gazette:

The union representing City of Pittsburgh police today endorsed Republican mayoral challenger Mark DeSantis over incumbent Democrat Luke Ravenstahl. The Fraternal Order of Police was announcing the choice at an afternoon press conference.

The article also said, "The Ravenstahl campaign was not immediately available for comment."

I'll bet!

I hear tell of another group who would normally be expected to endorse Luke is now heavily considering endorsing DeSantis. Let's just say that they're folks who are also comfortable with weapons...

Dan Simpson on Pittsburgh's Single Party Rule

It can be summed up in two words: Bad Government.

The cool thing about Dan Simpson is that as a former career diplomat, he's able to bring a broader perspective to some local issues. Like the effects single-party rule brings to a place.

In Burundi the party was UPRONA, the Union for National Progress. In Bulgaria it was the Bulgarian Communist Party. In Zaire, it was the Popular Movement of the Revolution and in the Central African Republic, the Central African Democratic Assembly. In Chicago, under Mayor Richard J. Daley, it was the Democratic Party, as it is here.

Pittsburgh has been under Democratic Party control for more than 70 years. It shows virtually all of the effects of single-party rule, with the exception of the use of police and other security forces to keep the ruling party in power, although one of this year's mayoral candidates, Ryan Scott of the Socialist Workers Party, complained repeatedly about police repression in the mayoral candidates' forum the Post-Gazette sponsored last week.

He adds that one of the many problems single-party rule brings is that serious issues do not get addressed. Locally, that's city-county consolidation. Simpson sez: Won't happen here. Why?

...everyone knows that consolidation has to occur if Pittsburgh is ever to break out of its vicious cycle of insolvency and high taxes, but the Democrats do not want to achieve that efficiency since it would mean moving their supporters out of patronage jobs.

He takes a stab at Mayor Luke and does that broader context thing to find another example:

When Mr. Ravenstahl grows up he might make a decent mayor. At 27, being 27, as he tells us when we the media point out what he is doing, he feels free to accept gifts from the Penguins and UPMC and to commit the typical cardinal sin of officials in a one-party state -- employing public assets for his private use. Only someone who knows he will get elected no matter what he does would use a Department of Homeland Security-provided vehicle to go on a recreational outing with his wife.

But that is normal behavior in a one-party state. President Mobutu Sese Seku of Zaire used to requisition the planes of the national airline, Air Zaire, for personal trips to his vacation homes around the world. For him there was no distinction between public and private property -- what was his because of his position and what was his personally. No party but the ruling party in a one-party state would dare put up for election such a candidate.

Now I can imagine all the Luke Supporters who crowd this blog (and you know who you are!) wanting to get all medieval on Simpson's behind for comparing their boy to one of the more obviously corrupt dictators of Central Africa. They'd be looking, I would think, to distract the conversation away from Mayor Luke's obviously improper use of a DHS vehicle as his personal ride to criticising Simpson for saying that Pittsburgh's Ravenstahl was as bad as Zaire's Mobotu (and if you look carefully, Simpson didn't say that at all).

On the other candidates, Simspon is less than enthusiastic:

...Bill Peduto, who either deliberately or unwittingly put forward the message that there are different points of view within the ruling Democratic Party. That is an illusion that the population should not buy. If someone like Mr. Peduto were elected mayor, it would be highly unlikely that he would change anything significant, having incurred the debts that he would have had to incur within the party to get elected.

And:

So is there any way out of this mess? It's hard to say. The Republican candidate, Mark DeSantis, is not exactly a ball of fire, either. Ryan Scott, 24, the Socialist Worker candidate, and Tony Oliva, 27, the Libertarian candidate, are basically repositories of undeveloped ideas, works in progress like Mr. Ravenstahl.

So there you have it. Single-party rule: Bad. For Pittsburgh, there's little chance of any way out of it.

Thus Spake Simpson.