Ravenstah says he is not investigation target

When suspended Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford resigned his post he did so with a fiery letter claiming there was a culture of corruption in the Raventsahl administration and he no longer wanted to be part of it. Later, rumors of an investigation into charges of corruption surfaced and during a news conference mayor Luke Ravenstahl said as far as he knows that is not true. He says neither he nor anyone else in his administration have been contacted by investigatory authorities. Ford’s attorney Lawrence Fisher says his client “has cooperated with authorities on maters of mutual interest.” He refused to elaborate on that comment. It has been reported that lowest responsible bidders were passed over for city contracts in favor of firms close to the Ravenstahl administration. Ford has been suspended with pay since allegations that he improperly accepted gifts from Lamar advertising surfaced.

Ravenstahl says he is not investigation target

When suspended Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford resigned his post he did so with a fiery letter claiming there was a culture of corruption in the Raventsahl administration and he no longer wanted to be part of it. Later, rumors of an investigation into charges of corruption surfaced and during a news conference mayor Luke Ravenstahl said as far as he knows that is not true. He says neither he nor anyone else in his administration have been contacted by investigatory authorities. Ford’s attorney Lawrence Fisher says his client “has cooperated with authorities on maters of mutual interest.” He refused to elaborate on that comment. It has been reported that lowest responsible bidders were passed over for city contracts in favor of firms close to the Ravenstahl administration. Ford has been suspended with pay since allegations that he improperly accepted gifts from Lamar advertising surfaced.

Pole Dance Instructor Sues For Permit

A pole dance instructor is suing a Butler County township over whether her studio should be considered an "adult entertainment" business. The American Civil Liberties Union says Stephanie Babines was improperly denied an occupancy permit in Adams Township. The classes involve no nudity, no spectators and no sexual activity. The lawsuit says the township is denying Babines' First Amendment right to teach and communicate ideas about art and fitness.

Greensburg Diocese and Local Colleges Linked

The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg has inked an agreement among its two high schools and the three catholic colleges in the area to allow students to more easily earn college credits while still in high school. The high schools will work with Seton Hill University, Saint Vincent College and Mount Aloysius College to build freshman level classes that will be taught in the high schools with a guarantee that the credits will transfer. Diocese spokesperson Jerry Zufelt says this fits with the diocese’s educational vision of “life long learning in formation.” He says the goal it to allow parents to put their children in a catholic pre school and move them through every grade and now into a local catholic institution of higher learning. He says that will not only help build the church but also the community by keeping the kids in the area while saving parents tuition money. The three schools will also offer special scholarship opportunities to graduates from the two high schools.

Work on Film "Production Park" starts in Strip

Mogul Mind, LLC has begun work on a 300,000 square foot movie production studio. The building on 31st street in the strip will include sound stages, office space and post production facilities. The goal is to accommodate all aspects of film and television production in one place. Mogul Mid feels there is a growing demand for this type of facility with more productions coming to the region thanks to state tax breaks. The first phase of the facility is to be open early next year. Industry insiders say it is important to be able to place all aspects of a production other than location shooting under one roof to save time and money.

PA applies for abstinence only funds

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is applying for $1.7 million in federal grants for abstinence-only sex education. In the past the Rendell administration has not applied for the grants partially because the administration does not think anything short of a comprehensive sex education is adequate. Health Dept. spokesperson Claudine Battisti says this does not represent a shift in policy. She says the state is still not spending any of its money on abstinence only education it is only serving as a conduit for the federal dollars. The federal grants require a 43-percent match and the applicant will have to provide those funds without state assistance. Battisti says the department wants to be fair to schools and community groups that want to emphasize only avoiding sex before marriage.

FACT Referendum Illegal Solicitor Says

Allegheny County Solicitor Mike Wojcik issued a legal opinion yesterday declaring that the referendum proposed by the group Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation (FACT) should not be placed on the November ballot.

FACT had gathered over 44,000 signatures on a petition for their question which asks if voters are in favor of slashing the the drink tax from 10 percent to 0.5 percent.

Allegheny County Council also issued their own referendum question to be placed on the ballot which reads, "Shall the county enact an ordinance to increase real estate taxes in order to repeal the alcoholic drink tax?"

Wojcik says FACT's referendum is illegal because it violates the Home Rule Charter and does not suggest an alternative source of revenue in place of the drink tax. He also ruled that the question proposed by council is legal. His opinion will be forwarded to the elections panel--which consists of Common Pleas judges Jill Rangos, Christine Ward, and Dwayne Woodruff--who will review both FACT's and county council's question.

FACT member and owner of the Carlton restaurant Kevin Joyce says he is not at all surprised by the solicitor's opinion. Joyce also expects a long legal battle between the two sides with the ballot question case potentially going all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Either side has a chance to appeal any election panel decision within 7 days.

CLPGH Shows Off New Hill Digs

The building at the corner of Centre Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street is set to open Oct. 25 with a kick off event that will feature August Wilson’s play cycle. It is the first new library opened by the system since 1980. The $3.15 million project will replace a basement branch at Centre and Dinwiddie Street that the library now rents from Allegheny Union Baptist Association. To help highlight playwright August Wilson’s ties to the Hill District on wall of the building will hold a 10’ by 7’ map with 12 numbered sites, each corresponding to a location in on of the plays. The building is silver LEED certified. Among the green aspects of the building is the use of natural light, "low emissivity" glass windows, a roof made of reflective rubber, and the use of recycled materials throughout the building. The building is part of the "Libraries for Life" capital campaign which has completed 7 others projects. Library officials say the hill branch along with other recent projects in the neighborhood shows the “new face” of Center Avenue.

Pittsburgh Wages Lower Than Average

The average pay in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area is slightly lower than the national average, according to new figures from the U.S. Labor Department. On a scale that puts the national average at 100, Pittsburgh rated a 96 last year. That means wages in the Pittsburgh area are four percent lower than the national average. Philadelphia fared better: it rated a 105. Johnstown averaged an 85.

Regional Economist Gerry Perrins says for the Pittsburgh area, the pay difference is significant but not drastic. And he notes that pay is not the only reason people choose to live in a particular area; cultural amenities and climate are among other factors. He also says the pay figures do not indicate anything about cost of living.

The Labor Department also released new figures for unemployment and the Consumer Price Index, which is a measure of inflation. In Pittsburgh, both of those figures were below the national average.

Ravenstahl will vote for Obama

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is in Denver this week for the Democratic National Convention. He says even though he supported Sen. Clinton in the primary he will cast his vote for Sen. Obama. He says he feels the party coming together around Obama and says Clinton did a good job of moving her supporters when she pointed out that the real fight was not about her but about ending the republican mistakes of the last 8 years. Ravenstahl says it is important for Pittsburghers to vote for Obama in November because he is the one who will restore funding for issues important to big cities and he is the candidate that understands the needs of urban dwellers.