The most disappointing part of Mt. Lebanon’s deer management program that ended abruptly last week was “the divisiveness and mean-spirited rhetoric” that split the community, commissioners said at their meeting Monday night.
“For the good of the community, we must try to reset the dialogue,” President John Bendel read from a letter at the meeting.
It doesn't appear that some in Mt. Lebanon are ready to reset the dialogue, Mr. Bendel.
The Mt Lebanon Police Weekly Press Report dated Thursday, March 19, 2015 through Wednesday, March 25, 2015 is predicting more vandalism coming to deer killing traps in April.
Bird Park – Entry gate & receiver of deer corral damage, no trespassing sign taken. 04/15/15 1432
Power broker Barbara Logan has already made her feelings known to Democratic hopeful Andy Reinhart, running for Commissioner of Ward 3. On his website, andyreinhart.com, Andy talks about Mt. Lebanon Deer Management Issues.
Mrs. Logan writes:
Lebodeer conducted a survey in the Fall of 2014 which indicated that about 95% of residents support a lethal cull.Where the heck did you get that statistic, Mrs. Logan? She continues with:
The anti culling crowd lies, obfuscates, and intimidates, but these tactics should not influence legislation.Barbara, there were rumors that you contacted John Bendel and Kelly Fraasch with the same message. This time, you put it in writing. Not too smart.
78 comments:
Unpublished comment at 6:02 PM, I agree with you 100%, but I don't think I can put that on the blog. Sorry.
Elaine
As a Ward 3 resident, I like Andy's assessment and position on the deer issue. Well done.
I wonder if Ward 1 resident Barbara Logan read what Andy had to say before she went ballistic in her submission. Don't think so. Barbara is not a good listener, but loves to voice her opinion.
Another lethal cull in April? Hunting later in the year? Letal culls for the next 4 years? Kill them year round? Supposing the goal is zero deer alive? Logan is a piece of work with her incessant lies.
I hope Andy is a good replacement for the resigned commissioner. He sounds grounded and level headed. Somehow, he seems hopeful too and Mt Lebanon needs that. Best of luck, Lebo.
Mt Lebo residents should be signing a petition against this with hard signatures. Am sure the 1400 pro cull signatures could be beat.1400 out of 33,000 residents is not a majority. Not that Logan or any of them will listen.
Logan writes: "I really think that the number given for the community exists in our few blocks."
The number given for the community Ms. Logan, what would that be, the 196 from the aerial survey, the 400-500 from the municipal website, the 400-600 reported in the papers or the thousands proclaimed by the PG's Hayes?
Then there's the acquisitions of lies, obfuscates, and intimidation. Would you please list those instances?
Then there is the claim of reduced deer/vehicle accidents in USC. It'd be nice to see how many deer the South Hills Animal Control picked up there that they suspect were the victims of vehicle accidents, that Lauth referred too.
What is the number of deer to be slaughtered in April? 150-6 slaughtered in March=144? Is it still 250? Higher? If the goal isnt reached, will there be another cull a month after the next one ends or will the insanity keep going as long as it takes them to reach their goal?
The community should do its best to tell Mrs. Logan that we are sorry we cannot fulfill her dreams of killing off the white-tailed deer in her neighborhood and move on. This is how a community can pull itself back from the brink.
Did anyone stop to consider that maybe Logan is the cause of the deer problem?
She claims the whole herd might be congregated in her neighborhood and she gets 11 on her lawn alone.
Hell, our hired deer expect was trying and the most he could ever lure into his corrals was 3.
Maybe we should send the police over and cite her for feeding them. They're not showing up on her lawn to party with her that's for sure.
Barbara:
You should have told Benner this information, he could have put up the corrals in your back yard instead of mine and had more success!
You might want to consider being a little less dramatic.
"...I have seen 11 at one time on Larchmont, a group too numerous to count on Manor Place (do you not know how to count past 11?), 9 at the bottom of our street, 11 in my yard (must be a big yard, I have one acre and 28 acres across the street and I have never seen 11 deer) not the same 11 (how do you know? were they tagged? SO we have the "Manor Place 11" AND the "Larchmont 11", how cool!) as on Larchmont, 5 on Scrubgrass, 6 on Elmspring. I really think that the number given for the community exists in our few blocks. (Then set up the killing fields in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!) In addition, huge herds (again how many?; facts not drama!) wander behind Shadowlawn, the golf course is full of deer (again how many?; I'll bet that there are so many that the course will be closed due to all the interference from the deer) the as is the Kossman property and Woodridge.
I realize that your sanitized vision of utopia (this community) would be devoid of all wildlife but have you ever thought of embracing nature rather than fighting it? It really is a futile battle...
Roger V. DeLonga
http://www.mfablog.org/breaking-news-arizona-governor-vetoes-anti
I would feel sorry for Barbara Logan if she wasn't so intent on inflicting suffering and death on others, and exposing all of Mt. Lebanon's families and pets to danger from shooters and hunters for her tulips, and her own personal agenda. Still, it's hard to imagine the poverty of her inner life. In addition, her obsession and hatred for deer and wanting to see the doe and fawn that browse on her tulips have their brains blown out is incomprehensible. At her age, she should have learned to appreciate all life and beauty. It's a very sad commentary. Barbara, just plant some deer resistant flowers, and the deer will have no reason to come to your yard. It's no brain surgery!
Maybe Mrs. Logan needs to move on and find another place to live. Sewickly or Fox Chapel? After all, if the bullies in Mt. Lebo tell us taxpayers to move if we question the governance here, then tit for tat. Let's put the shoe on the other foot!
I wonder if it would be too much to ask of Ms. Logan to deliver a photograph of the 11 deer in her yard.
They are such photogenic creatures and I doubt many of us have had the pleasure of seeing that many together at one time.
Benner certainly didn't, did he.
"Lebodeer conducted a survey in the Fall of 2014 which indicated that about 95% of residents support a lethal cull." ~Barbara Logan
LIAR!! I never saw or received a survey. Let's see the paperwork on that one!!!!
Im stuck on the police report. They're post-dating crimes??
And maybe the little troll who keeps popping up could ask their stock question of Babs: is there anything about Mt. Lebanon she likes? She's welcome to leave. Maybe head somewhere with a smaller deer population, like the South Side. Perhaps a cozy apartment smack dab in the middle of downtown would suit her. But she needs to remember she speaks for herself, not tje community. Guess her lies and fairy tales will stand until someone publicly challenges them.
Remember, this lunatic backed other nut jobs who ended up as commissiomers and school board lackeys. She is no good and neither is her tiny circle of friends.
Watch for large political contributions. Money has a funny way of swaying people and by the looks of Andy's response, he's "open" to solutions.
I don't know what the "right" number of deer is and the fact is, neither does anyone else posting here. Deer are not like us, they don't live at a fixed address and the same deer that I might see in my neighborhood on my drive to work, might be in the Scott Conservation area during my drive home. That said, on Sunday I saw a group of eight deer in one yard on Scrubgrass. Just this morning I saw a deer dead in the middle of Scrubgrass. And last week I saw anotherone on Cedar (just short of the Cedar/Gilkeson intersection)
My point? There are large amounts of deer in Mt. Lebanon and the surrounding neighborhoods, and they are dying painful deaths. I am not a proponent of the methods used during this cull, but I am concerned that many who comment here would be opposed to any efforts to limit their number.
Also, not a Commissioner or one of the enemies, so please spare the speculation.
9:02, send us a photo of the 8 deer, I'd love to see it.
One of the enemies?
Deer travel in family groups. Counting three or eight or eleven or twelve deer in a group does not prove that we have large amounts of deer. The aerial surveys showed that. Oh wait. The infrared have been replaced on the MTL website. Now they are showing this. Even so, look at how many deer were counted within the municipality. 117!
The 2013 aerial survey is here. That showed 342 deer or 117 groups. Why isn't the 2014 report on the municipal website?
Elaine
NEWS FLASH!
Andy Reinhart has deleted all of the anti deer cull comments and left just Barbara Logan's pro-cull comment there! Despite saying that his web site is for his campaign only.
Interesting...
Roger V. DeLonga
There are deer on Scrubgrass and Scott township has posted a sign near Scrubgrass within the past couple of months to warn motorists. However, Mt Lebanon has not.
It is the responsibility of Mt Lebanon to warn people of hazards on the streets. Not everyone KNOWS there are deer there.
Pleas start a clock on how long it takes Mt Lebanon to hang their 12 deer signs in storage.
Roger, Andy has added this comment:
"I appreciate the many folks who have visited this site already to share their views. The website is a source for people to learn about my campaign and where I stand on the issues we face in Mt. Lebanon. I will respond to every question posed to me here. Along those lines, comments that were not directed to me or my campaign have been removed. I value the dialogue. Let’s keep it going."
Elaine
I don't think that Barbara's comments were directed at his campaign.
I agree, Roger. I'm disappointed that he kept hers up. I guess it is all about money.
Elaine
I'm a ward 3 resident, strictly anti-cull. Is Reinhart pro or anti-cull? Could not discern from his web site.
I'm a ward 3 resident, strictly anti-cull. Is Reinhard pro or anti-cull? Could not discern from his website
Could they, would they, if they could, would the gardeners aspire to heed the wisdom described so eloquently by Lisa Russ Spaar in the NY Times yesterday?
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/the-deer-in-the-garden/?_r=0
Me thinks both McLean & Reinhart are procull. Go with Gillen.
I'm not running, 11:15 AM, but thank you. I will be writing in my own name because I'm not voting for McLean. He wasn't too nice to me when I ran.
Elaine
It is most unfortunate that Mr. Reinhart has chosen to retain Mrs. Logan's comment. Those who oppose Mrs. Logan's views are labeled disagreeable.
Bottom line is this method is very cruel and inhumane. And people opposed to cruelty are disagreeable. People opposed to turning parks into killing fields are disagreeable. People opposed to shooting in densely populated areas are disagreeable. Wow.
I can't believe that Andy Reinhart starts a thread about deer on his website and says, "Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or COMMENTS on this or any other issue facing us in Mt. Lebanon." And then he deletes all the anticull/hunting comments, and leaves Barbara Logan's pro-cull post full of lies and misinformation. Most of the anti-cull comments were directly addressed to him, and many responding with facts to the lies that Barbara Logan posted, and who said "The anti culling crowd lies", and he leaves Barbara Logan's post intact, which was not a question to him, and was a divisive post. His response was a joke, "I value the dialogue. Let’s keep it going."! I'm VERY, VERY, DISAPPOINTED in Andy Reinhart.
Don't you just love how the local Democrats, excluding Kelly, placate Barbara Logan? I thought her comment did nothing to help Andy Reinhart's campaign.
Elaine
Money apparently speaks louder than decency and intelligence.
10:51 AM, Great article in The Times about deer. Thanks for sharing!
I didn't attend Lebo new math courses, but let's see if I can add correctly.
Deputy Chief Lauth (is he "bucking" for chief?;-) ) said animal control picked up 106 dead deer. Benner got 6, that's 112.
Now Logan has 11 in her yard, a group to numerous to count - we'll call it 12, 9 at the bottom of her street, 5 on Scrubgrass and 6 on ElmSpring for a total of 42 (she counted all those by the way without an airplane and hi-tech cameras).
So we have at least 154 deer accounted for in 2014. The 2014 aerial survey with all their technology only found 196 deer. Expert hunter, Benner, only managed to corral and kill 6 over a period of weeks, yet Logan and other continue to claim we have a deer population running rampant through our community.
How is it that somehow I don't believe a word Logan or the pro-kill people say.
Below is just one of the posts that Andy Reinhart deleted (Part 1)
Dear Mr. Reinhart,
Below are a few responses to some of the points that Barbara Logan posted.
1) Below is a link to a KDKA's Poll, "Are You in Favor of The Mt. Lebanon Deer Culling Plan?"
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/02/18/mt-lebanon-deer-culling-plan-in-effect/
RESULTS:
NO - 82.55%
YES - 17.45%
2) FYI, Commissioner Keith Mulvihill voted against the deer cull in 2006.
3) Ms. Logan's anecdotal deer survey is similar to a handful of pro-cull advocates, i.e. 11 deer on the roof, 6 in the garage, 5 on the front porch, the golf course is full of deer, and huge herds wandering through Mt. Lebanon.
However, the total failure of Mt. Lebanon's deer killing program is evidence that the "overpopulation" claims have been intentionally exaggerated to justify and to get public buy-in for this deer slaughter. Wildlife "Specialists" LLC had six corn baited corral killing sites at locations thought to have the highest density of deer (inc. 2 at the golf course), and five men dressed in camouflage with AR-15 assault rifles running around Mt. Lebanon, and they could only find 6 deer to kill, and decided to pack up and go home.
4) The car-deer collision justification for this deer killing program was a disingenuous campaign that was pushed by a handful of elitist residents with political influence, whose real motivation was to have the taxpayers pay to kill the deer that eat their tulips, and who refuse to plant deer resistant flowers, or use repellents and deterrents. This small group of residents knew that they couldn't justify turning Mt. Lebanon into a private hunting club or shooting gallery over tulips, and so they shifted their strategy to car-deer collisions.
Car-deer collisions with injury are less than 2% of all annual car collisions with injuries in Mt. Lebanon since they started tracking collisions. Mt. Lebanon reports car-deer collisions using the same criteria as Allegheny County. A reportable car-deer collision is one in which someone is injured or one or more vehicles cannot be driven from the scene. The Mt. Lebanon police reported (1) car-deer collision in 2011 (tracked since Sept.), (5) in 2012, (2) in 2013, and (4) in 2014. Lt. Lauth said that Mt. Lebanon's car-deer collisions have been very consistent since they started tracking them. So why is Mt. Lebanon so obsessed with reducing the cause of less than 2% of the car collisions with injuries instead of focusing on reducing the 98% of car collisions with injury? All car collisions are a serious issue, but an issue that can be effectively addressed safely without putting all of Mt. Lebanon's families, children, and pets at risk by shooting high powered rifles and weapons in our neighborhoods and parks.
5) Any comments that John Hayes, the pro-hunting Outdoors Columnist at the Post-Gazette made are all pro-hunting and culling, and are totally biased.
I noticed Andy deleted everyone's comment EXCEPT BARBARA LOGAN's. Why? She did not inquire about his campaign or his position on a issue. Her comment was HER position statement on deer. So he deletes all the anti cull comments and leaves the one pro cull comment. He just lost my vote.
Just what we need--another attorney.
I checked out his site and two things jump out. Why no clear party affiliation? And someone needs to tell him he's not running for school board so the picture of the school makes no sense.
Below is just one of the posts that Andy Reinhart deleted (Part 2)
6) Regarding Ms. Logan's expert testimony on the ecological and biodiversity damage caused by deer "somewhere"; well, there has never been any proof of any ecological and biodiversity damage to Lebo's parks, or an environmental impact study requested or done.
In addition, many forest and wildlife experts disagree with the general premise of her statement. "Acid rain is more responsible than white-tailed deer for forests not regenerating, claims [Bill Sharpe] a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences forest hydrologist ... They can kill all the deer, but it will take a lot more than that to fix the forests." Penn State Expert Blames Forest Problem on Acid Rain, Not Deer", Penn State Live, 5/17/02.
In addition, in a recent landmark study, "Regional-Scale Assessment of Deer Impacts on Vegetation Within Western Connecticut, USA", Angela C. Rutherford, et al., School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, Journal of Wildlife Management 74(6):1257-1263; 2010: DOI:10.2193/2009-068, concluded that deer density is not a leading factor determining variation in vegetation impacts.
Furthermore, a study from Ohio University, "Indirect Effects of a Keystone Herbivore Elevate Local Animal Diversity", Katherine R. Greenwalk, et al., Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Journal of Wildlife Management 72(6):1318-1321; 2008, concluded that management of deer populations (e.g., via culling, sterilization, or carnivore reintroduction) could have the unintended effect of reducing local diversity of herpetofauna and invertebrates.
7) It's difficult to believe that Ms. Logan is still using the Lyme disease scare tactic.
DEER and LYME DISEASE - THE FACTS
The blacklegged tick that transmits Lyme disease feeds on approximately 27 species of mammal and 70 species of birds. The bacteria is passed through the bite of a tick. But deer do not get Lyme disease nor do they pass it along. Rodents, on the other hand, particularly the white-footed mouse, do contract the disease and pass it along to other ticks that feed on them. Rodents are called “reservoir hosts” for this reason. Deer are not reservoir hosts, they are called “dilution hosts” because, even though a tick can feed on a deer, as one of the many mammals offering blood meals to ticks, the disease is not spread through the deer-tick relationship.
Below is just one of the posts that Andy Reinhart deleted (Part 3)
DEER and LYME DISEASE - THE FACTS (Continued)
A landmark book published by Oxford University Press called, “Lyme Disease, The Ecology of a Complex System” by Dr. Richard Ostfeld, analyzed and synthesized just about every study to date on this topic. Well over 100 studies are examined in the book, and the conclusion is crystal clear and accessible to the general public: There is little to no correlation between deer and Lyme disease. According to the book, only about 30 percent of ticks are infected with Lyme disease. Four small mammals (including white-footed mice) host 50% of the ticks, but account for 90% of infected ticks. That means that all the other possible hosts account for only 10% of infected ticks. There are, in fact, no credible (peer reviewed) studies that correlate a reduction in deer numbers with a reduction in Lyme disease.
"I am a research scientist who has devoted much of the past twenty years to understanding the ecology of Lyme disease, and other tick-borne infections. A comprhensive review of all the scientific literature on the relationship between numbers of deer and numbers of ticks reveals that the majority of studies find no statistical correlation at all. The lack of a correlation derives from the following facts: (1) deer do not infect ticks with Lyme bacteria, and actually reduce the infection prevalence in tick populations; (2) adult black legged ticks feed on at least 27 different species of mammals and are not specialists on white-tailed deer; (3) when deer populations are culled, ticks crowd onto the remaining deer, resulting in similar total numbers of tick meals; and (4) even when deer affect the number of eggs laid by adult ticks and resulting abundance of larvae, numbers of larvae do not predict numbers of nymphs (nymphs are responsible for transmitting Lyme disease to people). Moreover, although mention is made of deer thresholds in the non-peer-reviewed literature, no scientific data support the existence of a deer density threshold below which ticks decline to low numbers. Scientific literature on which my statements are based can be found in the book cited above." (Dr. Richard Ostfeld, Senior Scientist, The Cary Institute)
In addition, recent work by Dr. Tamara Awerbuch of the Harvard School of Public Health, confirms that deer are not the culprit for Lyme disease but in fact it is the white-footed mouse, ("Killing Deer Not the Answer to Reducing Lyme Disease", Says HSPH Scientist" interview dated 11/23/10). Dr. Awerbuch states that, "There is NO linear correlation between killing deer and the tick population."
This research emphatically refutes the notion that killing deer will reduce the tick population or lyme disease. In the face of this undisputable facts it becomes unsupportable to kill deer for Lyme disease reasons.
In addition, you can go the Mt. Lebanon's Deer Mgt. page and read an article by the Pa Game Commission on Lyme disease and deer, that agrees with Dr. Richard Ostfeld and Dr. Tamara Awerbuch's scientific conclusions.
8) The deer poop pandemic.
"Deer poop is just recycled grass", Dr. John, Small animal veterinarian.
On the question of dogs eating deer poop concerns, Dr. Patty Khuly replies: "most deer poop is pretty innocuous. It will NOT tend to make your dog sick."
Deer poop is harmless and is free fertilizer.
What's next - rabbit poop?
9) "The anti culling crowd lies"
I think that accusation speaks for itself. All of the above responses are based on facts and referenced studies. You decide.
If Reinhart is already taking this tack as a candidate... ""Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or COMMENTS on this or any other issue facing us in Mt. Lebanon." And then he deletes all the anticull/hunting comments, and leaves Barbara Logan's pro-cull post full of lies and misinformation" you can be pretty how he'll operate as a commissioner.
Present a petition on some future issue and he'll probably say he's gotten more emails and culls that are contrary to the petitions stance.
And what's this... "The anti culling crowd lies" from Logan on his site and he doesn't address it in the slightest with something like-- Mrs. Logan, that kind of accusation is not going to reunite the community so please inform my audience on why you think your neighbors are liars!
If he's not going to call people out when he's running for office, he's certainly not going to do it after he gets in!
I am an anti-cull Democrat in Ward 3. My write-in vote will be ELAINE GILLEN.
It's extremely inappropriate for Reinhart to allow Barbara Logan's survey lie to stay on his website, which will influence other Ward 3 residents that read his website, and he deletes a real independent KDKA poll showing the complete opposite results.
Logan posted, "Lebodeer conducted a survey in the Fall of 2014 which indicated that about 95% of residents support a lethal cull."
And then Reinhart DELETES a real independent KDKA POLL posted in RESPONSE to Logan's post:
Below is a link to a KDKA's Poll, "Are You in Favor of The Mt. Lebanon Deer Culling Plan?"
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/02/18/mt-lebanon-deer-culling-plan-in-effect/
RESULTS:
NO - 82.55%
YES - 17.45%
Thank you, 12:52 PM. Be careful what you wish for. If there are enough voters like you, that would be the end of this blog. ;)
Elaine
When the PG headlines an article "
Commissioners lament ‘divisiveness’ of Mt. Lebanon deer culling debate" [March 24, 2015 12:00 AM By Lexi Belculfine / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] anyhow does Candidate Reinhart address a post to his website that says this: "The anti culling crowd lies, obfuscates, and intimidates, but these tactics should not influence legislation"?
He responds with not a word. Not a question. Not a scolding, that this isn't the way to eliminate the "divisiveness" in the community then you pretty much know where he's coming from.
Elain, if we had honest Commissioners, we wouldn't need this blog.
I'm a Ward 3 Democrat, and I hate to see, that Puppet Master Baba Wawa got another Puppet Dem candidate running for office. Reinhart lost my vote!!!!!
This blog has gained notoriety in surrounding communities as well as outside states. The truth is being disseminated. Maybe the info used to attract residents to Mt. Lebanon should include persistence by the most elite and wealthy residents and all but one commissioner, to use an inhumane bait, corral and kill method to kill all white tailed deer, Pa's state animal. New residents can look forward to parks becoming killing fields on at leady a yearly basis. They can look forward to being intimidated by police for walking near the parks, anticipaye guys running around with semi automatic rifles andvshooting in the dark. Best of all, they can look forward to any anti cull opinions being deleted from candidate's websites.
Andy Reinhart has now deleted Barbara Logan's comment, too.
The best part of this is that in a public call for better dialogue the new candidate deletes unwanted comments. #classic
All it takes is one vocal person and change happens in Mt.Lebanon regardless what the majority wants or needs.. ie. the Leaf/mulch in RobHollow Park.. one lady who lived on Pinewood Drive above the mulch pile complained about how the smells were affecting her health..thus no more free mulch from our leaves for our yards...
Also.. i remember Barbara Logan was a Comm.. but what is her background?
Elaine, I still think you should run and then the blog can transform from an "outsider's" view of the MTL POWER STRUCTURE to an "insider-outsider's" view of the MTL POWER STRUCTURE ... there is and will be no better candidate than you.
- Jason M.
"The anti culling crowd lies, obfuscates, and intimidates, but these tactics should not influence legislation"? — Barbara Logan
Can we deduce from Logan's comment posted on Reinhart's website that both believe that the pro culling crowd's lies, obfuscates, and tactics SHOULD influence legislation?
My thinking is that the answer is YES.
Elaine Gillen for Commissioner.
Elaine Gillen for Commissioner.
Elaine Gillen for Commissioner.
Elaine Gillen for Commissioner.
Elaine Gillen for Commissioner.
Interesting response from Reinhart on his site over the Logan post.
Wondering, does this indicate that he 1. reads Elaine's blog and 2. will be responsive to public comments and input should he win a seat on the commission.
If 2 is indeed true he might, that is might be a breath of fresh air in the commission chambers. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that is so.
A Ward 3 voter should ask him if he'd push for a recall ordinance to be put into the Home Rule Charter.
Another question Ward 3 voters should ask Reinhart.
What is his position on throwing out the Super vote requirement in the Home Rule Chart?
3:20 It doesn't take one -- it takes a group, in most cases, to get anything done. Mt Lebanon has serious systemic problems. It doesn't help to promote pollyanna myths about how easy it is to change anything.
However, I, too, agree that ELAINE is Ward 3's only hope.
I think the theme song should be "Come on, Elaine" -- off the original "Come on, Eileen".
COME ON, ELAINE!
I'd endorse you with a good story about both your blog and resourcefulness.
-Mary E.
"The best ideas, however, will not work if they are not communicated well. As good as it is that we can attend Commission meetings, or watch them at home at our convenience, they can be a little intimidating or, let’s face it, a little dull. We can all learn from each other. That’s why if I am elected, I intend to have regular informal 3rd Ward “town hall” meetings where I can share what the Commission is doing, we can hear from our neighbors about what’s important to them, good or bad, and we can discuss issues we may need to address in the future." — Andy Reinhart
Why not pledge support for Elaine's blog, Andy. It is is the closest thing we have to an open, informative forum for the exchange of ideas and concerns.
At the very least... it's not dull.
This resident has learned a lot from her blog.
In fact, if I were a campaign advisor for any candidate for any office in Mt. Lebanon I'd recommending rather than fighting this forum that they open their arms and mind embrace it.
Off the bat, it would go along way to eliminating the divisiveness in the community and that'd be a start to making things better.
The deadline to put my name on the ballot is long gone. To be picked to fill in for Kristen is a long shot. Remember, the appointment is made by the commissioners. I am dead to Brumfield. I want "anyone but Bendel" to win in Ward 1, so I wouldn't get his vote. Silverman will do what Brumfield and Bendel do.
A write in campaign never works. I'm not one of the Republican good old boys. Sorry, it doesn't look good, but thank you!
Whoever is appointed as Kristen's replacement, can he or she go on the November ballot? I wish Neil Berch was still with us. He could have answered that question. Sadly, Neil passed away a couple of months ago.
Elaine
A game winning pledge for any commission candidate.
I pledge to put Elaine Gillian on the payroll of the MTL Public Information Office. Her position and subsequent column will be independent and autonomous from commission or municipal management control.
It would guarantee I think a majority vote for the candidate.
Elaine,
If it came to a popular vote, I think you'd be a shoe-in! People who care enough to get out the vote know your dedication and commitment to truth and they know your tenacity, too. We need another pit bull terrier on that commission. I urge you to apply for the vacancy, and I urge your base in Ward 3 to commit to support you in a write-in candidacy for the November general election. I cannot imagine a more qualified candidate nor do I know of one with greater integrity. So I join the chant: Elaine Gillen for Commissioner! Elaine Gillen for Commissioner!
To go off topic a bit, but when are we going to stop accepting the usual campaign rhetoric?
Every candidate, R, D or I, pledges to make this a better, safer, healthier... blah, blah, blah community and to it all with fiscal responsibility.
Talk about dull and boring, Mr. Reinhart.
How about doing something completely innovative (this for the other Ward candidates as well), climb up on the stump and give us your ideas for dealing with Twin Hills & McNeilly Parks. What you're going to do about the Newcomers Tax. How you're going to tackle the the turf maintenance and replacement.
How about something easy... like how many deer do you think we SHOULD allow in Mt. Lebanon. Is your accepted limit 5 per acre? 10? 50?
Then there is the PAYT issue. The drug problem? Taxes?
How do you intend to eliminate the divisiveness in our community? Will you demand evidence when people accuse their neighbors of lying?
March 31, 2015 at 6:00 PM
Counting Deer Wrong Focus and Thinking
Focusing on counting the number of deer in Mt. Lebanon at one specific moment in time, and asking candidates how many deer per sq. mile is acceptable, is the wrong focus and thinking for implementing a successful deer conflict resolution plan.
The main cause of the "deer problem" in Mt. Lebanon is the smorgasbord of irresistible flowers and plants that Mt. Lebanon plants in its 30+ flower islands, and that residents grow in their yards. It's this abundant food resource that is the major attractant causing deer to come into Mt. Lebanon to browse.
So counting deer that travel to Mt. Lebanon to browse as resident Mt. Lebanon deer makes no sense, and really doesn't establish a reliable population base line for future comparisons. Counting deer is like herding cats.
The solution is to reduce this abundant food attractant, that is causing deer to come to Mt. Lebanon to browse. If Mt. Lebo would have listened to the advice given by Laura Simon, wildlife biologist, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and planted deer resistant flowers in its 30+ flower islands, launched a community wide campaign asking residents to utilize deer-resistant gardening strategies, holding seminars to educate residents on deer-proofing their yards, and implementing successful collision reduction strategies already in operation elsewhere ( for example Rochester Michigan), they would have implemented a successful deer conflict resolution plan years ago. However, that's what needs to be done now and moving forward.
In a letter to the Commissioners Laura Simon, HSUS' wildlife biologist, wrote:
"I caution Mt Lebanon town leaders against setting unnaturally low deer density goals such as 3-5 deer per square mile.
[The USDA Wildlife Services set up a ridiculous deer per sq. mile objective. I think it was 3-5 deer per sq. mile to guarantee themselves an anual killing contract. So now any deer over that number is a trigger the pro-kill admin. uses to justify a killing program. 3-5 deer is typically one family unit, i.e. a doe, 2 fawns, and a yearling.]
Unless the town is willing to take unprecedented measures to drastically reduce deer habitat (suburbia provides prime deer habitat), the end result will be that the deer rebound quickly and exhibit extremely high reproductive rates and high survival, as the rich food resource and lowered deer density will trigger a ―boom in fawning. In addition, areas like Mt Lebanon are surrounded by communities with deer ---thus any voids created by hunting or culling will be re-filled, in part, by immigrating deer.
All told, setting a goal of 3-5 deer per square, or even a 20+ deer per square mile, is impractical. Somehow, we keep hearing communities state that having 20-30 deer per square mile is ideal, but this mystical number seems to have no basis - but is often repeated. Every habitat is unique, there’s no universal deer population number that will answer all concerns for all communities.
We encourage Mt. Lebanon’s leadership to not focus so much on the absolute number of deer desired, but rather, think in terms of what human-deer impacts need to be addressed, and direct intervention measures at the specific problem sources. Trying to keep deer at a certain number can be a futile, resource-draining battle, and diverts attention from practical solutions which can help people reduce both deer presence and browsing on their properties."
We need to change this group-think focus from counting the number of deer to implementing effective deer conflict resolution strategies.
Rochester Hills Michigan decreased car-deer collisions by about 40% through a resident education program, and the strategic placement of deer warning signs - this program costs $5,000.
"Lance DeVoe, a biologist with the city of Rochester Hills, discussed a non-lethal deer management program created and implemented in his city, arguing low-cost methods such as education of residents and improved road signage have been successful. ...'There's been about a 40 percent decrease in car-deer accidents and a 75 percent decrease in the complaints coming into the city,' he said, noting those results have been achieved even as the deer population has stayed 'pretty much the same.' ... Rochester Hills tried a culling program a number of years ago and brought in sharpshooters for about a month, DeVoe said. 'It was not very successful', he said. 'It was met with a lot of opposition from residents.'"
3:20 PM
It's unfortunate that you now have to pay for mulch. It's cheap so I am assuming that it's not that much of burden on you.
I would like to educate you on a few things.
First - Do you understand that the municipality has turned a residential neighborhood and "park" into an industrial activity area?
Second - Do you understand the municipality regularly violates the conditions of Act 70 grants from the government to purchase property for the sole use of preserving green space by using the property for the prior mentioned industrial activities?
Third - Do you have any idea of the amount of truck traffic delivering leaves from late October thru December and into January? The amount of truck traffic removing the leaves as recently as March and the mess that is left in the parks to rot?
My question is simple - Would you tolerate tri-axle dump trucks showing up at 6:30 AM, idling across the street from YOUR HOUSE in addition to all the truck traffic for months on end?
Just for free mulch?
Doubtful...
10:27 I didn't know about this issue until about a year ago and I was floored; I've never lived anywhere that abuses its parks. Transforming parks into spaces for industrial activity is truly offensive to me -- whether it be some sort of mulching enterprise or slaughtering deer in corrals to satisfy gardeners.
'Nature is not a place to visit. It is home'.
-Gary Snyder
9:48, I absolutely agree with your solutions to the deer population, but that was not the objective of my comment.
Had you let the question stand and pressed to hear candidates expound on their estimates of how many deer there are and how many there should be, we'd then have a truer picture of their agenda.
We do agree though that an accurate count is almost impossible to achieve. If it were possible the commissioners' hired experts would have offered it up long before this.
Another question for commission candidates, Roge.
Opps looks like i opened a wound concerning the RobbHollow leaf grinding! When i read back in about the incident in 2009, it seemed one woman, who had just moved in on Pinewood had medical issues and smell of the leaves bothered her..i dont remember hearing about trucks..
Also Mr. 10:27,, the leaves were never free, i paid the township for each container that i filled at the Golf Course. Because of our own medical issues, we have only one income in our family of 4 kids with two in college. we live near uptown on a very busy street and i love the noise of cars and trucks as they pass my house. I enjoy urban living with all its noise, smells, traffic and wildlife in my backyard!!
Don't we have enough Democrat Mt. Lebanon members in office? Why elect Andy? Elaine has a personal bone to pick with the R candidate but, since she isn't willing to run, why not get behind a fiscal conservative who won't necessarily go along get along?
We need diversification on the Commission and on the School Board. The Commission is the only opportunity within reach. Vote MacLean in ward 3.
Up until now 2:03 who has heard of MacLean and where dies he stand on any of the issues?
How about R candidates in the other Wards?
Are there any? How about for school board? The last couple of R candidates there were a big disappointment.
One even switched party's soon after being elected. So much for adhering to the Republican ideals.
2:03 AM, is there a website for McLean? Does he support artificial turf? What about deer? PAYT? Does he (or you) know what PAYT stands for?
Did you know that he was for the high school renovation? That isn't too fiscally responsible, is it? The good old boys from the Republican Committee were brutal about my stand on the high school project. They also were against my blog and how they wanted me to censor it. It isn't a personal bone to pick. Sorry.
The R's would never back me up, so I vote on issues, not by party. When there is no choice on the ballot, I write in a name. It could be an R or a D. When it was a choice between Clueless Joe or Linfante, I wrote in my name.
Elaine
Elaine:
What you and "April 1, 2015 at 8:39 AM" are saying points out the real problem: the local "major" political parties are just about indistinguishable. Couple that with a general lack of willingness to answer tough questions on the part of their candidates, and the result is what we have today. But I don't blame the candidates altogether for the mess in this town; our benighted residents don't know what questions to ask when candidates come knocking on their doors, nor do many of them care to know. As long as there is enough money for bread, circuses, and taxes, then everything is OK; so why bother to become informed!
There is an extremely bright young man who lives in Ward 3 named George Brown, a Libertarian, who ran for the 42nd Pennsylvania House District seat currently held by Dan Miller. I asked him to run for Commissioner, but he declined, citing a work schedule that takes him away from home regularly. This is too bad. He believes in individual freedom, the U.S. Constitution, and the rule of law. Isn't that remarkable?!
Vote Republican, seriously?
http://www.lebogop.com/leadership/
The local Republican committee doesn't even have a Secretary or a Ward 5 coordinator.
The website doesn't look like it has updated in quite awhile and makes this remarkable proclamation...
"About Us
Welcome to the website of the Republican Committee of Mt. Lebanon. The RCML is over 60 members strong, and we represent concerned Republican men and women from every ward and district in Mt. Lebanon."
60 strong... Wow impressive in a community of nearly 34,000 people.
They don't even bother listing the sitting elected officials any more on their site.
Not sure if they don't know or if that indicates that they're embarrassed over them.
Elaine, asked at 9 am this morning if McLean has a website and so far no has responded.
Boy, some real in touch people on the R committee.
Yeah, 12:36 PM - the R's are AWOL or have abandoned ship, and the D's are a complete embarrassment & disgrace in their so called *leadership*
Question to 9:51: Where did you get those wonderful quotes from the Michigan biologist, Lance DeVoe? I'd read about the reduction in accidents, but that 75% reduction in complaints caught me by surprise. I just wonder whether or not Rochester Hills has a population of "Garden Biddies" similar to what we have in Mt. Lebanon. Those women would complain if they knew there were a deer within five miles of their tulips or hostas! Anyway, is there some way we can enlist the help and input of Mr. DeVoe it force-feed some much over-due education into the Commissioners?
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