Wednesday, December 2, 2009
RAD Board Approves Funding For County Libraries
The Regional Asset District Board has approved a $5.175 million allocation of funds for the Allegheny County Library Association. The RAD board did however tell the ACLA that it needed to come up with a better revised funding formula for its member libraries within 6 months. The RAD board wants to see a plan that includes funding allocations that take into consideration local support, library circulation statistics and local population. ACLA Executive Director Marilyn Jenkins says they are working with the RAD board to create a plan that will work for everyone but the 44 members of the ACLA have their own local interests in mind. Jenkins says that makes it difficult to reach a plan that everyone can agree upon but says she is confident that a plan will be reached within six months.
Protest of President's Plan for Afghanistan
Peace groups plan to protest President Obama’s plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and to demand an end to the war. several peace groups will hold an emergency protest demanding an end to the war.
Pete Shell of the Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee says the longer the military stays there, the more resistance will grow. "The war is unpopular, it’s unwinnable, and it’s wrong.”
The president says the troops are needed because the situation has deteriorated and the additional personnel will help train the Afghan military so they can take over the job of security sooner. Mr. Obama says troops would start leaving in July 2011.
The protests are part of a nationwide day of actions sponsored by a wide variety of antiwar and peace groups, including the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, United For Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War, ANSWER, and others.
The Pittsburgh protest will take place this evening at 6 o'clock in Schenley Plaza in the Oakland part of Pittsburgh. Legal observers from the ACLU are expected to be present in order to help ensure that protesters’ constitutional rights are respected. That's the scene of more than 100 arrests during the G20 Summit in September.
Pete Shell of the Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee says the longer the military stays there, the more resistance will grow. "The war is unpopular, it’s unwinnable, and it’s wrong.”
The president says the troops are needed because the situation has deteriorated and the additional personnel will help train the Afghan military so they can take over the job of security sooner. Mr. Obama says troops would start leaving in July 2011.
The protests are part of a nationwide day of actions sponsored by a wide variety of antiwar and peace groups, including the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, United For Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War, ANSWER, and others.
The Pittsburgh protest will take place this evening at 6 o'clock in Schenley Plaza in the Oakland part of Pittsburgh. Legal observers from the ACLU are expected to be present in order to help ensure that protesters’ constitutional rights are respected. That's the scene of more than 100 arrests during the G20 Summit in September.
PA Delegation on President's Afghanistan Plan
Members of Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation are weighing in on President Barack Obama's new war strategy for Afghanistan. Senator Arlen Specter says he opposes the president's plan to send an additional 30 thousand troops there starting in January. Specter says Al Qaeda can operate out of other countries like Yemen and Somalia, so it doesn't make sense to center the fight in Afghanistan, where no one has succeeded in the past.
Senator Bob Casey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee, travelled to Afghanistan in August. He issued a statement saying the country deserves a full accounting of the challenges posed in Afghanistan. Casey's committee plans to question Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire of Pittsburgh's North Hills says he fully supports the Administration’s decision to provide commanders in Afghanistan with additional troops. "Make no mistake, the war in Afghanistan is still the central front of the war on terror. In order to keep our country safe, we must take the actions necessary to stabilize Afghanistan and to ensure that it will never again be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups.”
Congressman Joe Sestak, who is challenging Specter in the May Democratic Primary, says
the president has presented a plan to allow the nation to complete a mission that is as indispensable today as it was 8 years ago....
"It is a difficult decision. After years of war and with economic challenges at home, the American people are justified in their concern about an increased commitment in Afghanistan. But the President has made the right call. If we leave Al Qaeda behind in a safe haven and are struck again, what can we ever say to those we swore to protect?"
Sestak added that the clear emphasis of the overall goal must remain focused on eliminating the safe haven in Pakistan. And second, we should measure our progress not by a fixed timetable, but by benchmarks of achieving America's security.
Senator Bob Casey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee, travelled to Afghanistan in August. He issued a statement saying the country deserves a full accounting of the challenges posed in Afghanistan. Casey's committee plans to question Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire of Pittsburgh's North Hills says he fully supports the Administration’s decision to provide commanders in Afghanistan with additional troops. "Make no mistake, the war in Afghanistan is still the central front of the war on terror. In order to keep our country safe, we must take the actions necessary to stabilize Afghanistan and to ensure that it will never again be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups.”
Congressman Joe Sestak, who is challenging Specter in the May Democratic Primary, says
the president has presented a plan to allow the nation to complete a mission that is as indispensable today as it was 8 years ago....
"It is a difficult decision. After years of war and with economic challenges at home, the American people are justified in their concern about an increased commitment in Afghanistan. But the President has made the right call. If we leave Al Qaeda behind in a safe haven and are struck again, what can we ever say to those we swore to protect?"
Sestak added that the clear emphasis of the overall goal must remain focused on eliminating the safe haven in Pakistan. And second, we should measure our progress not by a fixed timetable, but by benchmarks of achieving America's security.
Energy Alliance Formed
The Allegheny Conference on Community Development met yesterday for its annual meeting. The Conference announced the formation of the Energy Alliance of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The new Energy Alliance will work to find solutions to energy problems. The Energy Alliance will be guided by CEO's of energy related firms and universities as it tries to figure out how southwestern Pennsylvania can expand upon its strengths in the production of energy, specifically, coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar and wind energy through public funding and public policy.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Library Allotted $600,000
Pittsburgh City Council unanimously approved legislation to transfer a $600,000 council surplus towards the $1.5 million Carnegie Library deficit. Suzanne Thinnes, Carnegie Library Communications Manager, says they are thankful to receive the money. She says it’s the concerned community members that discussed the lack of funds with city officials that pushed the money through. Thinnes says they need more long-term funding now in order to close the remaining gap, in order to not have the deficit reoccur every year.
There will be more community forums in the Hazelwood, Beechview, West End and Lawrenceville neighborhoods later this week and next week about getting the remaining money. Thinnes says these meetings will be two-way discussions between concerned residents and library officials.
There will be more community forums in the Hazelwood, Beechview, West End and Lawrenceville neighborhoods later this week and next week about getting the remaining money. Thinnes says these meetings will be two-way discussions between concerned residents and library officials.
Lazarus Wins Superior Court Seat
Anne E. Lazarus of Philadelphia has officially won the fourth Superior Court seat open in the Nov. 3 election. The seat was subject to a recount when four candidates finished election night with vote totals within a half percent of each other. When an election is that close an automatic recount is triggered unless the trailing candidate, or in this case candidates, agree to waive the recount. Judge Robert J. Colville and Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney Kevin McCarthy agreed to waive the recount but Mt. Lebanon attorney Temp Smith did not. The recount resulted in slightly different numbers than were seen election night bit it did not change the ultimate outcome. The list of candidates, in order of total votes, is as follows:
-- Judy Olson: 954,065
-- Sallie Mundy: 870,091
-- Paula Ott: 807,327
-- Anne E. Lazarus: 726,917
-- Robert J. Colville: 724,830
-- Temp Smith: 723,117
-- Kevin Francis McCarthy: 714,237
-- Teresa Sarmina: 690,682
-- Marakay Rogers: 127,492
The top four vote getters will be added to the court in January. This is the first time the law passed in 2004 triggered a recount in all 67 counties. Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes says a variety of factors contributed to minor differences between the vote totals calculated in the recount and those reported in unofficial returns, most notably absentee ballots, military overseas ballots and provisional ballots. He says, "I am encouraged that the state's first recount confirmed the election was conducted in a fair and accurate manner."
The final cost of the recount will not be known until all counties submit requests for payment.
-- Judy Olson: 954,065
-- Sallie Mundy: 870,091
-- Paula Ott: 807,327
-- Anne E. Lazarus: 726,917
-- Robert J. Colville: 724,830
-- Temp Smith: 723,117
-- Kevin Francis McCarthy: 714,237
-- Teresa Sarmina: 690,682
-- Marakay Rogers: 127,492
The top four vote getters will be added to the court in January. This is the first time the law passed in 2004 triggered a recount in all 67 counties. Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes says a variety of factors contributed to minor differences between the vote totals calculated in the recount and those reported in unofficial returns, most notably absentee ballots, military overseas ballots and provisional ballots. He says, "I am encouraged that the state's first recount confirmed the election was conducted in a fair and accurate manner."
The final cost of the recount will not be known until all counties submit requests for payment.
PA Launches Text and Email Alert System
People who want as much warning as possible when it comes to everything from prison breaks and chemical spills to severe weather can now sign up for text and email alerts from the state. The Governor’s Office of Administration launched “AlertPA” this week. The system allows residents to sign up to have the alerts sent via email or text message. Users are given a menu of alert options ranging from product recalls and flu alerts to chemical spills and nuclear accidents. Alerts can also be sent from state prisons. "AlertPA enhances the department's present system by adding text, email and voice message capabilities," says Corrections Secretary Jeffrey A. Beard. "It will be used in conjunction with prison sirens or whistles and the automated telephone system currently used by the department."
Lamar and Diocese Talk About St. Nicholas
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has a sales agreement with Lamar Advertising Inc. to sell the St. Nicholas Church property along Rt. 28 in Troy Hill. Word of the deal comes just days before the nonprofit groups Preserve Croatian Heritage and Northside Leadership Conference were set to issue a study showing reuse of the historic church is feasible both from the logistic and economic standpoint. Northside Leadership Conference Executive Director Mark Fatla says “It is a long way from a sales agreement to a sale.” He says no mater what Lamar plans to do with the site it will have to go through the Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission. In an email response to a request for an interview Lamar Vice President Stan Geire says, “The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is condemning properties along route 28. The states actions have impacted a significant number of billboards on this roadway. The abandon St. Nicholas Church property in Troy Hill is perfectly suited for the relocation of one of the impacted billboards. That will be the primary use of the property.”
The report to be released Friday will say an immigration museum would be the 15th most popular museum in the region if it were to be housed in the old church. Fatla says he is sure preservationists and Preserve Croatian Heritage will be fighting to keep the building in place. Fatla says it would be preferable to have the church on the site rather than "a billboard and jersey barriers." But only if the building can be made productive again. It is unclear if the parcel is large enough to hold both the building and a billboard. Geire says, “ I am happy to meet with any groups wishing to preserve the Church.”
There is still the mater of fundraising. Even if a non-profit group were to get hold of the structure it would have to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to create and run such a museum.
The report to be released Friday will say an immigration museum would be the 15th most popular museum in the region if it were to be housed in the old church. Fatla says he is sure preservationists and Preserve Croatian Heritage will be fighting to keep the building in place. Fatla says it would be preferable to have the church on the site rather than "a billboard and jersey barriers." But only if the building can be made productive again. It is unclear if the parcel is large enough to hold both the building and a billboard. Geire says, “ I am happy to meet with any groups wishing to preserve the Church.”
There is still the mater of fundraising. Even if a non-profit group were to get hold of the structure it would have to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to create and run such a museum.
Electric Rate Caps to Expire
With a month to go before electric rate caps start expiring for millions of Pennsylvania consumers, a House bill aimed at curbing rate increases appears to have stalled.
At the beginning of this year’s legislative session, House Democratic leaders said they’d make expiring rate caps a priority. A centerpiece of that plan was House Bill 20, which would limit rate increases to fifteen percent a year through 2012.
But the legislation hasn’t seen action since late April, when it was recommitted to the Appropriations Committee. Democratic spokesman Brett Marcy says party leaders started looking for alternatives when it became clear utility companies would demand interest on the deferred payments.
"The amount of money that the utility companies would have been able to recover from basically phasing in those increases in payment were something we believed could have been concerting to consumers. We didn’t want to help consumers while at the same time hurting them on the back end."
Gene Stilp of Taxpayers and Ratepayers United didn’t like House Bill 20 at the beginning. Stilp says lawmakers have time to expand rate caps.
"There’s a one-month clock of legislation. I’d like to see these legislators work around the clock through the month of December to ease the burden of the rate payers come January 1. And it can be done."
But Marcy says it probably won’t be moved in December. Caps for PPL customers disappear January 1. Met-Ed, Pennelec and other utilities’ caps expire in 2011.
At the beginning of this year’s legislative session, House Democratic leaders said they’d make expiring rate caps a priority. A centerpiece of that plan was House Bill 20, which would limit rate increases to fifteen percent a year through 2012.
But the legislation hasn’t seen action since late April, when it was recommitted to the Appropriations Committee. Democratic spokesman Brett Marcy says party leaders started looking for alternatives when it became clear utility companies would demand interest on the deferred payments.
"The amount of money that the utility companies would have been able to recover from basically phasing in those increases in payment were something we believed could have been concerting to consumers. We didn’t want to help consumers while at the same time hurting them on the back end."
Gene Stilp of Taxpayers and Ratepayers United didn’t like House Bill 20 at the beginning. Stilp says lawmakers have time to expand rate caps.
"There’s a one-month clock of legislation. I’d like to see these legislators work around the clock through the month of December to ease the burden of the rate payers come January 1. And it can be done."
But Marcy says it probably won’t be moved in December. Caps for PPL customers disappear January 1. Met-Ed, Pennelec and other utilities’ caps expire in 2011.
Specter, Sestak Disagree Over More Troops in Afghanistan
Pennsylvania’s two leading Democratic Senate candidates have different opinions on whether more troops are needed in Afghanistan.
Senator Arlen Specter says he opposes sending 30-thousand additional troops to Afghanistan, unless their mission is “indispensible in [the] fight against al Qaeda.”
Challenger Joe Sestak supports the increase, as long as it’s accompanied by clear goals and benchmarks, but both men agree that US forces should be focused on disrupting terror networks, rather than rebuilding the country.
Specter says American troops shouldn’t spend resources propping up Hamid Karzai’s government, which he calls unreliable.
"We don’t want to fight a war against the Taliban. That’s not in the US national interest. Al Qaeda, yes, but if al Qaeda can organize elsewhere, then I’m opposed to sending more troops to Afghanistan.
Sestak says he’s also lost faith in the Karzai government, and wants to see US officials build more partnerships with regional tribal leaders. He says he’s opposed to an Afghanistan mission focused on rebuilding the country and its government.
"It needs to be primarily and near-exclusively on al Qaeda, but with a sub-goal of leaving behind conditions that leave a probability that al Qaeda will not come back."
Specter agrees, saying he doesn’t support “a war on the Taliban,” instead of al Qaeda terrorists. Both men are calling for an increased focus on Pakistan.
President Obama will announce his new Afghanistan strategy tonight at 8. WDUQ-FM will broadcast the president's address.
Senator Arlen Specter says he opposes sending 30-thousand additional troops to Afghanistan, unless their mission is “indispensible in [the] fight against al Qaeda.”
Challenger Joe Sestak supports the increase, as long as it’s accompanied by clear goals and benchmarks, but both men agree that US forces should be focused on disrupting terror networks, rather than rebuilding the country.
Specter says American troops shouldn’t spend resources propping up Hamid Karzai’s government, which he calls unreliable.
"We don’t want to fight a war against the Taliban. That’s not in the US national interest. Al Qaeda, yes, but if al Qaeda can organize elsewhere, then I’m opposed to sending more troops to Afghanistan.
Sestak says he’s also lost faith in the Karzai government, and wants to see US officials build more partnerships with regional tribal leaders. He says he’s opposed to an Afghanistan mission focused on rebuilding the country and its government.
"It needs to be primarily and near-exclusively on al Qaeda, but with a sub-goal of leaving behind conditions that leave a probability that al Qaeda will not come back."
Specter agrees, saying he doesn’t support “a war on the Taliban,” instead of al Qaeda terrorists. Both men are calling for an increased focus on Pakistan.
President Obama will announce his new Afghanistan strategy tonight at 8. WDUQ-FM will broadcast the president's address.
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