A Pennsylvania Superior Court candidate says he’ll wait until today’s noon deadline to decide whether or not to challenge the results of last week’s election.
Democrat Anne Lazarus leads Robert Colville by about two thousand votes in the race for the final Superior Court seat. She’s in front of Republican Temp Smith by about 33-hundred votes, and Democrat Kevin McCarthy is around nine thousand votes behind him.
Both McCarthy and Colville, a fellow Democrat, have informed the State Department they’ll waive their right to a recount, but Smith spokeswoman Monica Douglas says he may contest the results.
"The fact of the matter is we have gained approximately two thousand votes in the last week. We’re just looking at some of the outlying counties. As far as our threshold is concerned, we don’t really have a threshold. We just want to make sure that every vote counts and every vote is counted."
Douglas says Smith’s campaign doesn’t want to rush a decision.
"There are still some results that we’re actually waiting on—for example Lackawanna County and Erie County."
Department of State spokeswoman Leslie Amaros says Colville and McCarthy’s decision to sit out a recount wouldn’t scale back the effort.
"If there is a recount, the number of candidates that wish to have a recount would not affect the cost."
The State Department says a recount could cost up to 1.3 million dollars.
It would begin as soon as Monday, and conclude on November 25th. If Lazarus wins, she’ll b
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Bike Group Issues Biking to Work 101
The bicycle as commuter transportation advocacy group Bike Pittsburgh has produced a rather unusual how-to manual. The “Bike Commuting 101 Guide” takes the form of a graphic novel. The guide can be downloaded from the group’s web site and will be distributed in bike shops and cafes. Bike Pittsburgh Executive Director Scott Bricker says he thought that if his group produced a more traditional pamphlet the publications would be tossed in the trash so they decided to create the 32 page graphic novel instead. Rather than winding up in the trash Bricker hopes the guide will be passed from rider to rider. The guide covers things such as what type of bike to buy, how to ride in traffic, how to use hand signals, how to use lights and reflectors at night, what to do if there is an accident, tips for riding in inclement weather, tips for fitting a helmet, and what to do once you get to work. Bricker says he hopes the book will be able to “demystify” biking to work for those on the fence, answer a few questions for new riders and offer experienced riders a good refresher course. Membership in Bike Pittsburgh is growing and Bricker says more people in Pittsburgh are biking to work. He says his group is now working on getting more bike racks downtown and encouraging building and business owners to provide showers and lockers for employees who want to bike to work.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Bill Would Change DPW Payment System
House Minority Whip Mike Turzai of Mc Candless says a bill he’s introducing would streamline a Department of Public Welfare program’s spending, and help cut out waste. The bill comes on the heals of an August audit of DPW’s “Special Allowance Program,” which dispenses financial aid to lower income Pennsylvania residents. The audit found “lax oversight” and an “environment that encourages potential fraud.”
Turzai says his bill would help correct that. Among other things, the measure would eliminate the funding that is directly provided to welfare recipients for certain needs and programs such as schoolbooks, day care payments, and car repairs. Instead, Turzai would have DPW make those payments directly to the organizations or businesses providing the services. He says, “You don’t know what some of the folks are doing with the money, but if you have good documentation you pay it right to the end-user provider that’s providing that service. We’d require payments be made directly by DPW, no intermediaries.” Turzai and other Republicans say there are scores of examples of aid recipients using DPW grants to buy drugs and alcohol, but critics say the Republicans are drumming up anecdotal evidence, and exaggerating the amount of welfare fraud that’s taking place. Philadelphia Democrat Babette Josephs says there’s a disconnect between the Republicans’ rhetoric and actions. “On one hand, talking about dignity and preparing people for work and for a life that is an adult, responsible life. And on the other hand, taking money away from them because we’re not going to trust them to actually put it into daycare,” says Josephs. Turzai says the bill could save the state at least 100 million dollars. DPW did not return calls for comment.
Turzai says his bill would help correct that. Among other things, the measure would eliminate the funding that is directly provided to welfare recipients for certain needs and programs such as schoolbooks, day care payments, and car repairs. Instead, Turzai would have DPW make those payments directly to the organizations or businesses providing the services. He says, “You don’t know what some of the folks are doing with the money, but if you have good documentation you pay it right to the end-user provider that’s providing that service. We’d require payments be made directly by DPW, no intermediaries.” Turzai and other Republicans say there are scores of examples of aid recipients using DPW grants to buy drugs and alcohol, but critics say the Republicans are drumming up anecdotal evidence, and exaggerating the amount of welfare fraud that’s taking place. Philadelphia Democrat Babette Josephs says there’s a disconnect between the Republicans’ rhetoric and actions. “On one hand, talking about dignity and preparing people for work and for a life that is an adult, responsible life. And on the other hand, taking money away from them because we’re not going to trust them to actually put it into daycare,” says Josephs. Turzai says the bill could save the state at least 100 million dollars. DPW did not return calls for comment.
Allegheny County Budget Ready Early
The Allegheny County Council Budget and Finance Committee has already determined a 2010 budget about two weeks ahead of time—something its chairman says the state wasn’t able to do.
Committee Chair Bill Robinson says the proposed budget keeps the tax rate at 4.69—just as it’s been for the past 9 years.
Although this budget is balanced, as required by law, Robinson agrees with the County Controller that without new taxes or revenues, the county faces a financial crisis by 2012 or 2013 because of labor commitments, the need to put more into the pension fund, and because operating expenses are rising faster than the rate of inflation.
One possible source of new revenues, says Robinson, could be the non-profits that receive county services (such as using the county's mechanism to raise money through bonds). He thinks it's important for the county executive and council to coordinate an approach because he's heard the non-profits are willing to sit down and discuss the matter.
Robinson expects the full council to vote on the budget December 1st, as originally scheduled.
Committee Chair Bill Robinson says the proposed budget keeps the tax rate at 4.69—just as it’s been for the past 9 years.
Although this budget is balanced, as required by law, Robinson agrees with the County Controller that without new taxes or revenues, the county faces a financial crisis by 2012 or 2013 because of labor commitments, the need to put more into the pension fund, and because operating expenses are rising faster than the rate of inflation.
One possible source of new revenues, says Robinson, could be the non-profits that receive county services (such as using the county's mechanism to raise money through bonds). He thinks it's important for the county executive and council to coordinate an approach because he's heard the non-profits are willing to sit down and discuss the matter.
Robinson expects the full council to vote on the budget December 1st, as originally scheduled.
Veterans Day Parade Held Downtown
Many of the onlookers at this morning's parade have been going to the parade for years. Michael Pilewski of Brookline is a veteran of the Vietnam War and says he takes his children and grandchildren to the parade every year. He says helping the public to understand the importance of Veterans Day is now the responsibility of the younger generation of veterans. Dan Collavo believes that Veterans Day is beginning to be forgotten by the public. He says he can remember when the parade route would be packed full of spectators as opposed to today's parade, where there was no trouble getting a spot on the curb.
Bills to Make PA Right To Work State Moved
A group of Republican Pennsylvania House members has introduced a package of bills that would make Pennsylvania a Right To Work State. The “Pennsylvania Open Workforce Initiative” includes House Bills 50-53. The first bill would eliminate the ability to make employment conditional on union membership. In other words, if passed, the bill would make union membership an option even at workplaces where a collective barging agreement has been ratified. Labor leaders say such laws lead to lower wages, dangerous and unfair work rules and fewer employee benefits. Supporters say Right To Work States see job growth faster than other states. If passed, Pennsylvania would become the 23rd state to have such laws. State Representative Daryl Metcalf of Cranberry says, “Working men and women should have the freedom to join a union if they choose and to leave that union when it is in their best interest to do so.” He says if protecting a worker’s right to organize needs to be protected by law so must the right to not join a union. Supporters say jobs are already leaving Pennsylvania for Right To Work States and the flow must be stopped.
The three other bills in the package deal with more narrow union membership questions. One bill would allow teachers to not join a union if they choose. The two other bills would allow government workers to not pay union dues and to become members of other organizations. State Rep. Sam Rohrer of Reading says, “The freedom of association should not end when a teacher enters a school building or a local government worker enters a town hall or the county courthouse. In any other circumstance, we would find it unconscionable to even think about forcing someone to join a group with which they disagree. Compulsory participation in a private organization – which is what forced unionism amounts to – is contrary to the very foundation of personal liberty upon which our Commonwealth and our country are built.”
The three other bills in the package deal with more narrow union membership questions. One bill would allow teachers to not join a union if they choose. The two other bills would allow government workers to not pay union dues and to become members of other organizations. State Rep. Sam Rohrer of Reading says, “The freedom of association should not end when a teacher enters a school building or a local government worker enters a town hall or the county courthouse. In any other circumstance, we would find it unconscionable to even think about forcing someone to join a group with which they disagree. Compulsory participation in a private organization – which is what forced unionism amounts to – is contrary to the very foundation of personal liberty upon which our Commonwealth and our country are built.”
Deadline Near for CCAC Scholarships for Firefighters
Allegheny County and the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) partnered up in the spring of this year to develop the FireVEST program. The program provides full scholarships to residents of Allegheny County in exchange for an agreement to be a volunteer firefighter for the next five years.
Executive Director of the CCAC Allegheny County Works Alliance, Dr. Charles Blocksidge says the county recognized the need to encourage volunteer firefighters, which led to the creation of FireVEST in January 2009. Since then, 43 people have been awarded scholarships.
The deadline to apply for the scholarship for the spring 2010 term is November 15.
Blocksidge says this is an opportunity not only to help the volunteer fire companies to maintain the quality community service they provide, but it is also a huge educational opportunity that people should take advantage of.
Applications can be downloaded from the CCAC web site or obtained from the Allegheny County Fire Academy at 412-931-3158, ext. 5.
Executive Director of the CCAC Allegheny County Works Alliance, Dr. Charles Blocksidge says the county recognized the need to encourage volunteer firefighters, which led to the creation of FireVEST in January 2009. Since then, 43 people have been awarded scholarships.
The deadline to apply for the scholarship for the spring 2010 term is November 15.
Blocksidge says this is an opportunity not only to help the volunteer fire companies to maintain the quality community service they provide, but it is also a huge educational opportunity that people should take advantage of.
Applications can be downloaded from the CCAC web site or obtained from the Allegheny County Fire Academy at 412-931-3158, ext. 5.
Another Dem to Run For PA Governor
The Democratic field for governor of Pennsylvania has gotten a bit more crowded, now that Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty has entered the race.
Doherty, who recently won a third term as Scranton’s mayor, says he’d commit resources and attention to Pennsylvania’s cities and towns if elected governor.
The 51-year-old Democrat says he’s put together a strong record of economic development in Scranton, and he’d be able to carry out that challenge on a larger scale, despite Pennsylvania’s budget problems.
"I know that the state is tremendously challenged, financially, and has future challenges on the line with the pension obligations that will come. But we can still address those shortcomings and address those legacy causes, and redirect our budgetary monies, our operational budgets and our capital budgets, into investments for the future."
He joins Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and Auditor General Jack Wagner in the Democratic field.
Doherty, who recently won a third term as Scranton’s mayor, says he’d commit resources and attention to Pennsylvania’s cities and towns if elected governor.
The 51-year-old Democrat says he’s put together a strong record of economic development in Scranton, and he’d be able to carry out that challenge on a larger scale, despite Pennsylvania’s budget problems.
"I know that the state is tremendously challenged, financially, and has future challenges on the line with the pension obligations that will come. But we can still address those shortcomings and address those legacy causes, and redirect our budgetary monies, our operational budgets and our capital budgets, into investments for the future."
He joins Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and Auditor General Jack Wagner in the Democratic field.
Free Psychology Clinic Offered for Veterans
Duquesne University is offering a free psychology clinic for veterans and their families. Dr. Roger Brooke is the clinic director and a psychology professor at Duquesne University, he says the clinic will try to help veterans and their families re-integrate into civilian life. Brooke says the clinic has a special place for him because he served in the military in South Africa and his son has been deployed in Iraq every year since 2004. The clinic will offer free psychological assessments, counseling, group support, and family and children's service.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
County Councilman Concerned with Onorato
An Allegheny County councilman says he and his council members are concerned with Chief Executive Dan Onorato’s vetoing of two bills that council passed. Councilman Chuck McCullough says he believes the Chief Executive is not acting in a participative government, and never showed any indication that he wanted to work with council with the vetoed bills. McCullough is going to send a letter to Mr. Onorato to address the issues he has with his actions.
One bill that was vetoed would have approved the sale of the Allegheny County Health Department building in Oakland. The other dealt with collecting money from non-profits for their tax exempt properties. Mr. Onorato says the latter bill is illegal.
County Council will consider overriding the vetoes at the Nov. 17 meeting.
One bill that was vetoed would have approved the sale of the Allegheny County Health Department building in Oakland. The other dealt with collecting money from non-profits for their tax exempt properties. Mr. Onorato says the latter bill is illegal.
County Council will consider overriding the vetoes at the Nov. 17 meeting.
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