Remember when the school district increased our taxes by 10.5% in May 2010? Sure you do! Mt. Lebanon Passes Budget To Pay For School Renovations Want to know how excessive that tax increase was? I filed a Right To Know for Jan Klein's July 1, 2013 report presented to the school board directors. My July 16 request was finally granted today.
The ONE PAGE report is located here. Notice the excess funds available from the May 2010 tax increase $2,375,000!!!!! How about that General Capital Fund, Dave and Dave? $6,350,000!!!
The commission majority wants to turf Mellon Field and the School District is sitting on $8,585,000, yet they want to wrap bonds to pay for the entire balance of high school renovation.
Dave Brumfield, Kristen Linfante, John Bendel, Dave Franklin, and all the rest of the sports people that were at the commission meeting last night: Why aren't you going after the school district to fix their own damn fields? For that, our sidewalks are missing on safe walking routes, people are plagued with flooding issues, our municipal building can't be locked securely, the golf course can't have a tractor, staff has to cut back, we can't close the pension funding gap, haven't paid for McNeilly, and we haven't started to fund the TOD project. But hey, you have $829,561 just burning a hole in your pockets. So what do you want to do? Turf a school district field because it is a "safety hazard." Equally hazardous as people losing cars and damage to their homes due to flood waters or making kids walk to school on busy streets that have no sidewalks. What are you thinking, boys and girls??????
74 comments:
Damn that $25 student parking fee sure went a long way to patching that budget hole difn't it?
The taxpayers should be the first consideration, Pension and bond or any other financial obligations the last !!
Why should anyone outside the city limits of Detroit be responsible for the incompetence of their elected officials ? There should be no guarantees from out of control spending and absolutely no "bail outs" !! If any government entity goes bankrupt, pensions and financial obligations take the hit because of their mismanagement of the taxpayers money !!
Laws should be passed guaranteeing the taxpayers form each town, city, township, county, state or what ever area that has the right to fund pensions and borrow money come first !! This goes for any related entity that has the right to use state pension funds for its employees or bonds.
After Detroit, Who's Next?
Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr has outraged unions and investors by seeking to subordinate the city's debts to the welfare of its residents via bankruptcy. But what probably disturbs the creditors even more is that his plan could set a precedent for other municipalities that are going broke.
For years Detroit has been gutting services and sucking taxpayers dry to finance retirement and debt obligations. Nearly 70% of parks have been closed since 2008, and four in 10 street lights don't work. The city has cut its police force by 40% in a decade. Response times are five times longer than the national average, and it has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.
Mount Lebanon is in serious financial trouble.
How many people in the private sector lost pensions due to their employers going belly up. Who bailed them out?
Want to be bring back common sense, let Detroit live with the mess they created. So far, that seems to be Obama's position. They know there are a whole lot of other cities and municipalities lurking to see if bankruptcy is the easy way out of their financial messes.
I just sent this email to the commissioners and copied Steve Feller. I attached the document from Jan Klein.
"Commissioners,
In case you have not seen this on my blog, I had filed a RTK with the school district. They are sitting on millions of dollars and are not using any of it for the second bond issue. Let them pay for for their own fields. Why don't the field sports people go to school board meetings and hound them about turfing Mellon? They have enough money to turf Mellon, McNeilly, Wildcat, Middle, and have money left over. What is going on? Why has it become your project?
Take care of the people who have flooding issues. The plumber from Mongiovi says that there are 55 back flow valves. They work!! Look at all the school safe walking routes and think about sidewalks for all those areas. How about a better quality of life for the people who were flooded? Or how about watching out for all of the children, not just the ones who play field sports?
Elaine Gillen"
cause the board doesn't have brumfield
Mount Lebanon can't keep their sidewalks safe. how will they keep safe turf? Look at other districts who are adjusting their budgets to meet silly demands:
"By Michele Molnar of Education Week
Parents affected—and in many cases angered—by the Chicago school district's decision to shutter 49 schools already are making decisions about how to direct their children's education, even as some who fought the closings vow to harness that momentum going forward.
The reaction to those shutdowns is being watched as a sign of how parents will respond personally and politically in the wake of a largely unpopular decision. The District of Columbia, Newark, N.J., New York City, and Philadelphia also have announced plans to shut down schools at the end of this school year.:
Mount Lebanon has threatened to shutter elementary schools for two years. How long will it be until we shutter schools because we got turf?
Thanks,Brumfield, Bendel, Linfante, Chip, Danallan, Feller, Morgans, Steinhauer, Lebowitz, Birks, Cappucci, Posti, and Cooper, Kubit, and all the parents who rallied for more athletic turf when your school district is in financial trouble. When your kids are only admitted to a struggling state university instead of their college of choice, you can thank Dave Franklin and the Turf Board for sinking your child's future.
Another fee for parents coming soon to a school near you.
Georgia will develop its own tests for common core standards. Math and English tests will cost parents $29.50.
Detroit does not equal Mt. Lebo. You are comparing apples and elephants.
As for homeowners plumbing issues, I don't think that I should have to bail them out.
10:19 AM, of course you don't. You want turf. And let the little brats learn how to dodge speeding cars walking to and from school. The nerve!
It is not your problem when people's cars get totaled when they are sitting in their own driveways and garages. It is not your problem when garbage pick up is delayed three or four days from all the debris caused by flooding. Who cares if your sewage is showing up in someone else's basement? As long as you don't have to clean it up, it is all good.
You might want to read the article in The Almanac about Mt. Lebanon addressing flood issues. http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20130723/NEWS/130729973#.Ue6ioyd5mc0 But then again, you might not because it doesn't concern you.
Elaine
10:19...many people and I don't think we have to turf fields for you! If they're not up to your expectations go build your own.
Oh, by the way you're right Lebo isn't Detroit, but Detroit will want Lebo (and elsewhere) taxpayers to bail them out. So stick your head in the sand as to why Detroit is in the predicament it is in.
And it is certainly acceptable for the school district to overcharge us by $2.4 million in 2011, right 10:19 AM? We're paying for your athletic wing that just had to be built for a 21st century education.
Elaine
Who said that I want turf???????? I don't want to pay for your French drain.
I paid for my own French drains, thank you very much. Like it or not, we are all paying for the claims filed against the municipality. Two cars were totaled up the street from me in 2004. I think Dan Dieseroth said that four cars were totaled in the last storm. The back flow valve installed on my property is on my driveway. French drains are for rainwater. I had sewage overflowing out of my toilet and floor drains. We were waist high in raw sewage three different times. I love the compassion in this community. It is heartwarming.
Elaine
10:19 FYI
Apparently, according to this PDF municipalities can be held responsible if they allowed construction that diverts water onto private landowners property.'
So it is plausible 'we' might be responsible for fixing residents plumbing problems.
http://lawlibrary.unm.edu/nrj/41/4/06_lachman_municipalities.pdf
Oh, so let met get this straight, when "we" pay for something that you want it's compassion, but when "we" pay for something that you don't want we are greedy. I get it now, it's all about you!
Yes, that is correct. I have not have any raw sewage in my house since 2005. Thankfully, I have not lost any cars. I had only had one garbage can half full at my curb last week. I had no damage in the last major storm. Yes, it is all about me.
Idiot.
Elaine
Elaine - don't you understand ? We're to take everone's shit here. The neighbors', the Commissioners', and the School Board Directors' !
Good one! And the trolls!
I paid my taxes today. I know that my money will let some five year old out there play lacrosse. It warms the heart.
Elaine
From The Almanac:
Areas that were hit hard by the flooding include Shadowlawn Avenue, Castle Shannon Boulevard and Morgan Drive, where pavement was uplifted from sewer pressure.
Deiseroth said Mt. Lebanon has been proactive with storm water management with the municipality’s road improvement projects now including storm water renovations, a recently passed storm water fund and a recently completed $10,000 project on Castle Shannon Boulevard that included installing 50 additional feet of sanitary sewer pipe.
WOOPIE! DEISEROTH SAID WE SPENT $10,000 ON 50 ADDITIONAL FEET OF SANITARY SEWER PIPE IN MOUNT LEBANON.
BOY AM UNI IMPRESSED WITH BRUMFIELD, LINFANTE AND BENDEL FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR TURF NEEDS INSTEAD OF LETTING OUR HOMES AND STREETS GET WATER DAMAGE.
TIME TO SELL YOU HOME AND MOVE NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE.
50 feet of additional sewer pipe isn't anywhere near enough to deal with with the new bullsh*t being deposited in the commissioner meetings.
10:19 why don't you do a close examination of the facts where properties owners were inundated, look at storm sewers where the water is coming from and then get back to us if you still think its and individual homeowners problem.
They could french drain 'til the cows come home, that wouldn't stop the water that is rushing onto there property.
Some of you may think Mount Lebanon is not Detroit but look at the facts:
1) The parks were first to go in Detroit. Parks are what Franklin is complaining about.
2) Police protection was cut substantially in Detroit. Mount Lebanon has discussed cutting the number of police.
3) The main streets are being paved but the secondary streets are degenerating and being ignored.
4) Sidewalks are in bad shape and many are not in safe-walking condition for children.
5) Sewers in Mount Lebanon are backing up and we only put 10 grand into extra repairs according to the municipal engineer.
6) The Manager and Department Heads in Mount Lebanon appear satisfied to do what three commissioners want instead of what they know is really good for Mount Lebanon. Leadership has been lost here.
7) Detroit split tax dollars with an adjoining community. Three commissioners want to pay school district bills instead of doing what is right for the community like fixing sewers and streets.
We may not be Detroit yet, but we will be before the younger families move out.
I'd like to see some CPAS weigh in on this one.
Municipalities and school districts are not supposed to be for profit. They're supposed to be break-even entities.
5:29 PM's post is scary but right-on, I fear.
When is Mt. Lebanon going to wake up to the fact that we're rapidly becoming a has-been place?
What is MT.LEB.SD doing with 2.4 million extra dollars in ONE *1* tax year?
That $800,000 the municipality wants to spend on the turf won't even cover the first two years (out of four in this contract) of the teacher grievance.
"The District contends if the relief sought by the Association is granted it will cost the District an additional $529,822 in salary and benefits for the 2011-2012 school year, $625,900 for the 2012-2013 school year and additional charges for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years."
(Figures are from the arbitration hearing between the teachers and the school district as posted on this blog.)
Mount Lebanon's teachers are grieving to raise their salary and benefits in mid contract. At the end of the contract the teachers pay and benefits will be higher than they negotiated with the District.
The Municipality is paying for turf but indirectly subsidizing the teachers grievance.
The school board has hidden the personnel agenda - with the Step placements - from public view for over 10 years. Does Mount Lebanon really want to reward the school board for this behavior by paying extra municipal taxes?
This is just another step on the way to becoming Detroit. What schools will be closed in Mount Lebanon to cover the mistakes of poor government?
Why would the board initiate a lousy $50 student parking fee while sitting on millions and then a year later raise it a $25? That really is a couple of pizzas.
If they didn't charge it would the high school renovation been in jeopardy? A $110,000,000 would atop because they would be $2,500 short?
Or was it a trial balloon. To see if they could? Then a teat to see if they could raise it ever year.
It is so silly considering they turned right around and distributed $5,000 in raises months later.
Perhaps if the get Lebo to accept student parking fees, the union can use that as an example to other districts that want to be like Lebo.
Anyone have a theory? The parking income is like spitting into an ocean of money... why?
Hoover, next would be Foster....both with enrollment under 50% of capacity
Why would you run two buildings under 50% capacity?
Private industry shutters facilities at higher percentages than that.
They aren't going to close any schools. If they can overtax residents every year, as they have been, it will be fine.
Plus, since turf is what lures people to Mt. Lebanon, buyers will overlook flooding issues. Also, families move here because of the schools. So what if kids have to walk to school on busy streets that have no sidewalks, it is totally worth the risk in this walking community!
Elaine
9:07 PM, Your suggestion of closing . Hoover and Foster sounds fair on the surface. The enrollment in both schools is under 50% of capacity Hoover can fit into the Jefferson Complex and is on the JMS side of town. Foster is on the MMS side of town. The pain is felt districtwide.
Remember, the Superintendent said he wants to close a centrally located school. My questions to you is will centrally located Markham, fit into Foster and/or Washington? Or, will Washington fit into Howe and Markham?
Or will Washington fit into Howe, Markham and Lincoln? Remember the Board added extra strength to the Lincoln addition structure so they can add four rooms on top of the Lincoln addition.
If they closed Washington then the municipality probably could save the $87,000 on the new crosswalk.
, I think they will close schools in about four years. Your original blog post states there are reserves of $8,585,000 and the district is still wrapping bonds and borrowing interest on the bonds, which indicates financial weakness.
$4.000.000 will be spent on district capital projects over four years leaving $4,585,000. Subtract $1,155,722 for the first two years of the grievance. That leaves $3,429,278. Dale identified three other needs for reserves including Other Post Employment Benefits. He did not include another $1,100,000 for two more years on this contract if the grievance is lost
In effect the District is spending their reserves quickly. The sustained use of reserves can be devastating to District finances because it indicates our schools are spending more than their revenues will support. The need for sufficient funds will require closing buildings, eliminating programs and reducing staff.
529 In writing about Detroit you failed to mention the obvious. Democrats have been in charge since the 60s. Who is in charge in Lebo?
And id like to know why the SD has so much money sitting around. Something stinks.
Would someone please answer these questions?
If athletic facilities with turfed fields are in such great demand and desirable by the pruported majority on Lebo residents, then why hasn't the private sector invested and built them?
Why do we need government to invest directly?
I will tell why there isn't private sector investment.
Nobody can invest and generate the revenue that would be required to make a profit.
The business can't generate enough revenue because there aren't enough patrons that want to buy the services - and there aren't enough patrons because the DAS are the minority of the community!
11:26 that's why we need some people like Hill on June board that actually understand accounting!
And will tell it like it is.
You CAN NOT eliminate staff! No! Not in PA... Land belonging to the Union School Teachers. Actually they will re-do each school making the classrooms so small that they will have to hire several more Slimy Pebble grads that can't pass a 5th grade comp test. It's all for the kids... Right? Wouldn't it make more sense to eliminate ALL the schools, sell the property, and give the parents the amount of money spent on each student so the parents could send their kids to a school of their choice. Think of all the people that would move to Mt Lebanon because of the lower taxes. No high paid adminators! No more Union-backed School Board!
Oh if ONLY the people of Mt Lebanon knew what's coming! I remember years ago Dave B. bragging at the Crystal Dr block party about his "Dream" High School complete with indoor field and super swimming pool. Guess which sports HIS kids are in? Last year he ran his mouth on his next "Dream" ideas. Now the poor neighbors next to him are on the List of Liened Properties. The old ones on the other side of him better watch out! But in Dave B.'s world the old farts would be gone and replaced with those he can steal more money from. That's a failed lawyer for you....
If your children are in the high school they should be OK because of the reserves we have now. However if your children are in middle school or below we will run out of resources for education.
The increased State aid that Birks and Posti are so fond of won't help much because Mount Lebanon doesn't have the robust tax base to grow with it and support our educational infrastructure. Here is what your kids have to look forward to:
1) fewer student trips,
2)cuts in extra curricular activities including sports,
closing buildings,
3) outsourced food activities,
4) outsourced custodial activities,
5) outsourced technology,
6)elimination of classes because you can't fire teachers for economic reasons,
7) increase in class size,
8)reduced elective courses,
9) delayed text book purchases,
10) decreased tutoring,
11) elimination of summer school,
12) cuts in fine arts,
13) cuts in teacher support staff,
14) cuts in foreign languages,
15) cuts in physical education,
16) cuts in math and sciences,
17) cuts in English,
18) cuts in social studies.
I know some won't believe these cuts but before you dismiss them think about the fact that contributions to pensions in 2013-2014 were almost triple what they were in 2009-2010. Pension costs will continue to increase until 2020 when pension costs will total 30% of payroll costs.
Mr. Obama started making speeches about economic growth yesterday but talk doesn't make economic growth and increased Federal and State aid will not offset the revenue problems of districts without a robust tax base growth.
My conclusion is your taxes will grow as your child's education crumbles one cut list at at time and the Municipal side isn't big enough to offset the District's spending increases.
Good Luck Parents!
Yeah, 7:43 AM, but spending for athletic programs, fields an-at will increase cause of all the prospects for college scholarships, pro contracts and parental ego's and self esteem !
According to Sports Digest, the odds of junior going pro:
NBA- .03%
NFL- .08%
MLB- .4%
Soccer- .08%
That's nationwide. And that's just going "pro" which as any sports fan knows only involves being signed, not necessarily playing. And many who are initially signed dont make it to the real game. So all you moron parents who think pouring money into sports in the hope your little angel becomes a highly paid athlete would be better off playing the lottery. Dumb. Just dumb.
How many of your kids will play professional sports? Zero
How many of your kids will become an engineer, business professional or tradesperson? Probably most of the graduating class.
It really doesn't make a lot of sense to invest in athletics, does it?
Let's not forget junior is capable of playing sports with his buddies on his own. Sports fields are not for kids, they are for parents who dump their kids at day care all day long then want to make-up for lost time by being a coach. Mount Lebanon used to have smarter parents who REALLY CARED about their kids. Now parents dump and run from kids.
6:03 that's because they're working their butss off paying for the overpriced McMansion, Beemer and the local taxes.
But its worth it isn't...how many US communities can lay claim to owning a million dollar dog walk in another municipality!!!!
There is an excellent article in Lacrosse Magazine.
Five Big Things Every Lacrosse Parent Should Know
Two of the five big things are listed below:
There is no pot of gold at the end of the recruiting rainbow.
The hazards of sport specialization - How do you become a better team player? By playing other team sports.
Elaine
I just moved to Mt. Lebanon a few months ago, and I've been following this blog closely because it has a lot of interesting things to say. Why a discussion about turf and the use of municipal funds devolves into a slam on working parents is beyond me. I support the use of our funds in a way that is legal, community-oriented and efficient. I agree that turfing shouldn't be a priority, given the recent floods. I am also a working mother. Some of you have a mean streak ("idiot", "dumb ass"), and nobody in this community outside of this limited forum is going to take you seriously when you lower yourself to cheap insults, no matter how valid your arguments are. It's too easy to dismiss you. Do yourselves a favor and be civil - your goals are important, and I hope you succeed. Even if you think I am a stupid working mother living in a McMansion and dumping my baby in daycare.
Elaine, I'm glad you read Lacrosse Magazine. It's a good read. I agree with you 100%. In many of the traditional hotspots for lacrosse (Philly, Long Island, Baltimore, Jersey) kids focus almost exclusively on lacrosse from a very young age. However, in Lebo we have thousands of kids who play multiple sports. In the Spring/Summer, for example, most of the kids who play youth lacrosse also play baseball. In the Fall, most of those same kids move to football or soccer. In fact, I would offer that so many kids playing multiple sports throughout the year underscores our need for useable field space.
Dave Franklin
Welcome to Mt. Lebanon, 9:47 PM. Most of us have had our kids in daycare and don't live in McMansions. We're just trying to survive. I didn't appreciate that comment either. The worst comments, many of them not published, seem to come from elected officials or those in the public information business. We're dismissed at public meetings. Make sure you visit my website, www.lebocitizens.com. I have podcasts of how rudely our elected officials treat us. And these elected officials can be found in both sides of our local governement.
We're pretty tired of how we are being bullied. But the sad part is, not only are we being bullied, we're expected to sit and take it. There is a small group of people who have made a large group of people feel like we don't fit in. Check out this hateful group on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/stophbsb76?hc_location=timeline
Here is an example from that group: "Look at all these people crying! Bottom line, you signed on the dotted line. Taxes are your patriotic duty. Those who cant afford their taxes, whether they are able-bodied, retired, disabled, etc should have planned ahead. Cant pay? Dont stay? You dont deserve a home. GET OUT! Make way for someone who actually wants to contribute to society, so we can step up and be productive.."
How about this one:
"Host a foreclosure party" kit and signs. We might even invite you to our private group. If you know anyone in your neighborhood losing their home, lets have a party!"
This mentality is starting to make its way here.
Elaine
Here is another quote from that Facebook group. " If you can't afford the increase in taxes, you don't deserve your home anyways!"
I think there are people who are always crying for turf have said something to that effect. I know I heard it when we were trying to keep the cost of the high school renovation to $75 million. To think that we could have bought one of Pittsburgh's largest hotels, Sheraton Station Square for the low, low price of $61 million...
Elaine
This article might explain the McMansion comment more fully. It wasn't meant to be a slur as much as an observation, that many of the middle class parents in an effort to get their kids the best education they can afford buy homes that coupled with the rapidly rising taxes are paddling as hard as possible to stay afloat. Then their is the obligatory BMW or SUV.
It's wasn't an insult just an agreement with the observation made at 6:03 about dumping kids in sports.
Don't kids ever have pick-up baseball or football games anymore? Drive by any field at 1:00 pm on a weekday...they're empty.
Nobodys on Wildcat, Middle or Mellon. These kids supposedly crave sports, but they're not outside playing them until mom or dad gets home and rushes them to a scheduled organized game.
Oops, here's the McMansion article link:
http://m.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/06/will-the-mcmansion-ever-die/276563/
Take a look at what sports have become for kids, 8 year olds are embarrassed if they don't have a pair of $100 spikes, a $200 composite bat, $80 underarmour shirt and their parents show up on their snack day with apples and Hug fruit juices.
What happened to the days when the kid got themselves up early, threw on a white Tshirt, torn jeans, dusty ball cap and PF Flyers, grabbed the nailed and taped cracked bat and ran to the field so they wouldn't get stuck in the outfield.
The kids organized their own games, knew who the real pitchers were, who had the range for shortstop and how to divvy up players so the score wasn't lopsided.
It's not wonder bullying is so rampant they don't know how to get along without adult intervention.
The kids here are over-programmed. Its based not on what they want to do but what their parents want them to do. Its so destructive.
110: awesome post. Sums it all up. Kids today are such wusses but i dont blame them. I blame the parents. That tether is way too long.
So says the wuss who won't sign his name.
Dave Franklin
Really, Dave? You and I both know that you have submitted your share of anonymous comments.
We all know you have guts to ask for turf when people are still cleaning up from the floods, a building was condemned on Bower Hill Rd., businesses were lost, and kids get to walk to and from school on busy streets with no sidewalks. You are definitely not a wuss. That absolutely takes guts, Dave.
Elaine
Typical, Mr. Franklin. Take the low road, don't engage in a discussion as to whether the kids are being hovered over, coddled and that eight years olds given the chance to discover their own capabilities to play sports, form teams, interacti with their peers with out adult interference and learn early life lessons that in almost every activity there are winners and losers.
No crawl down in the gutter , name call, stick out your tongue and yell Nyah, Nyah, pooh pooh.
You suppose to be an educated man, and attorney and the best response you can come up with is is... who's the wiuss?
Typical!
And no I'm not signing my name. I'm not asking for any tax money, I'm not asking for people to buy me stuff.
I'll have and adult conversationhere with you or anyone else that wants too, signed in or not.
If you just want to engage in name calling bullying forget it, sign your name all you want. You won't sway me.
Anonymous!
"A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess."
-- A. Philip Randolph, U.S. civil rights and labor leader
That is an interesting quote, one would think that democrats in Mt. Lebanon, would hold that sentiment near and dear, right?
Unfortunately, which party faithful, Rs or Ds, consistently engage in efforts to silence or "talk over" community members with whom they disagree.
Picketing a town hall, or snickering and catcalling while someone is addressing the school board would be good examples of "talking over."
Don't forget school board directors and friends talking over and downplaying residents with professional structural engineering thru letters submitted to the Almanac.
These aren't nice people and they certInly don't want open, transparent conversations.
"The less you respond to RUDE, CRITICAL, AGUMENTATIVE people, the more peaceful your life will become". Sometimes it just is not worth the time because the result seems to be the same.
Connie
That may be true, Connie, but I am not going to make it easy for them either.
Elaine
Connie, how peaceful did life become for Kluck, Stephenson, Fraasch and the rest of the people that attempted to put on a Town Hall?
And don't tell me they rude rude, disreprectfull and argumentative because that would not be true. They opened the door and one of their most vocal opponents was in attendance and allowed to speak without catcalls or interruption.
Did the Town Hall have it's short-comings sure, due to limited budget and lack of seating, but you didn't see the PIOs or "What the Kluck" people ask to buy into joint town halls... they wanted it shut down.
Connie, You are really out of touch with what happened in the town hall meeting. One of the speakers was from the Allegheny Institute so I went on their website and downloaded a printed copy of his remarks before the town hall meeting. I knew what one of the speakers was going to say before I went to the meeting. It was logical to expect the other speakers to mirror the same theme, and they did.
The ignorant person with the "What the Kluck" sign could have done the same thing but she and her comrades were too concerned the meeting was about closing the high school project rather than concentrating on the content of the meeting which was living in a high cost town. If she had used her head she would have realized ML has always been a high cost town so the subject matter of the meeting was relevant.
It is really a blot on ML that we had so many uninformed protestors were standing outside not knowing what they were talking about. Then they added insult to injury by contacting the PG to have one of their north-hills reporters do a hatchet job on ML.
Worse yet, the voters in the third ward elected a protestor as an ineffective commissioner. Ignorance really damaged ML and folks still are out of touch with the nonsense going on in our town.
Speaking of not knowing what is going on in our town,a Wall Street heavyweight is weighing in on municipal bonds. Jim Tisch has an eye for value. His late father grew his business from one hotel to the $18 billion Loews Corp. The Tisch family grew Loews by buying valuable assets when they could get them at cheap prices.
Tisch sees value in muni bonds. Earlier this year, he said bond yields were so low, they were competing in an "ugly contest." Since then, yields on the 10-year Treasury jumped from 1.6% to 2.6%, a huge move in a short time. The higher yields, coupled with the Detroit scare, have pushed prices for muni bonds down. And CNA Financial Corp, a Loews subsidiary, increased its municipal holdings from $9.6 billion in the first quarter to $10.1 billion by the end of the second quarter. CNA said it bought more municipals this month.
Is our Board is looking to sell bonds at prices billionaires think are cheap?
It is too bad that the "What the Kluck" protesters did not see the relevance of facts of the town hall regarding the highly taxed community trying to thrive in a very costly environment. If the municipality is to be successful well into the future then the commission better make the TOD a 200 million dollar project that makes Mt. Lebanon the hub of commuter activity that feeds the Pittsburgh area and is attractive enough to stand on its own for a thriving business and residential community. Public Safety in Mt. Lebanon is second to none and should be attractive for a very successful project. I just hope that the municipality does not give the town away when they try to negotiate with developers who will gain magnificently from the enormity of a project of this kind. It can be done and the administrative staff should take the lead to make Mt. Lebanon the community every person would look up to and wish to live in.
GOOD LUCK,
Connie
Connie,
Good luck with the TOD. History tells us we have had only two successful projects in several decades. We moved Rolliers to Washington Rd. and we added two floors to the Bognar building.
Unfortunately the replacement for Rolliers moved to Peters because his increased real estate taxes were too high leaving a net two floor addition to puff up Washington Rd.
So far the Dennis is not a smashing success and the hotel is yet unproven. I really have to wonder how commissioners who can't prioritize municipal needs can evaluate a TOD. The last three times we tried real estate development projects here they failed.
Oh, sorry, we did successfully redevelop the Walker Pontiac building on the second try.
That is not good enough if the tax burden is to be continually levied on the residents. It can be done if we have officials and staff engage in a long term dream as opposed to short term agreements to sell the town down the road. Keep the unassigned fund to attract major players who feel the project can be a reality. Major adjustments in attitude need to be implemented if Mt. Lebanon is to be viable in the future.
Again, GOOD LUCK,
Connie
Mount Lebanon is here if developers want to locate here. If they don't want to locate here we will just have another failure with big subsidies to developers.
Why won't you invest, Connie?
12:00am when you talk about Rolliers being a successful development a question.
Before we start, love Rolliers, love the management, the staff, prices and what they've done to attract people to Washington Road and in creating jobs.
My queation though was this a real development,as in bringing something new in. Wasn't the old Rolliers store in Mt. Lebanon also?
I will invest if the administration can prove that they are 100% behind making this dream a reality. It takes balls to make a dream come true and so far I have not seen the kind of commitment from administration that warrants a serious monetary infusion that can make this plan a reality.
Again,
GOOD LUCK,
Connie
The old Rolliers was in the red barn and it moved to Washington Road under a tax subsidy from the municipality and the school district.
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