tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post4052262052626648305..comments2023-07-10T08:28:51.479-04:00Comments on Lebo Citizens: I don't know where to begin PHOTOS ADDED Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-20605021775189598232014-05-02T11:10:01.397-04:002014-05-02T11:10:01.397-04:00Mt. Lebanon has declared that donations made direc...Mt. Lebanon has declared that donations made directly to the Community Endowment qualify for federal tax deductibility, which is true except for the purpose for which such donations are intended. The actual purpose is to fund the construction of a municipal facility designed for the private use of local youth sports groups, mostly private corporate entities, and not the general public. This has been borne out by existing documentation that the alleged increase in playable hours because of the planned turf installation will be allocated entirely to the youth sports groups.<br /><br />A basic tax deductibility criterion is that the money be devoted entirely to a charitable use by the general public and not for private use.<br /><br />To contest this you'll have take it to the IRS and federal courts, and LOL with that ! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-88755466588318220142014-05-02T10:50:46.527-04:002014-05-02T10:50:46.527-04:00Yes 7:02 PM, but you have to file a complaint with...Yes 7:02 PM, but you have to file a complaint with the IRS, which will take months for them to respond for your documentary evidence and then tell you months later, indirectly of course, that the claim is too small in $ terms to justify their assigning investigative resources. I've been that route.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-71452049029777791662014-05-01T19:02:10.289-04:002014-05-01T19:02:10.289-04:00With respect to fundraising for the non-Municipal ...With respect to fundraising for the non-Municipal share, Dave Franklin spoke about "trying to roll this into the United Way Annual Day of Giving". Is he referring to the Pittsburgh Foundation's May 6 Day of Giving event?<br /><br />http://www.pittsburghgives.org/<br /><br />Isn't lobbying citizens to contribute to a project that benefits private non-charitable groups not really "tax-deductible" to the donor?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-34718205037854839912014-04-30T22:35:50.908-04:002014-04-30T22:35:50.908-04:00Maybe ask the firefighters in Lebo about the recor...Maybe ask the firefighters in Lebo about the records of floods... but do it before Brumfield gets to them.<br /><br />From 2000:<br /><br />"In Mt. Lebanon, firefighters rescued a woman trapped on the roof of her car, which was stuck in 5 feet of water on Cedar Boulevard near Greenhurst Drive sometime after 10 Sunday night."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-23457232867506372962014-04-30T19:21:19.893-04:002014-04-30T19:21:19.893-04:00What's that old saying...hmmm....ah, yes---a p...What's that old saying...hmmm....ah, yes---a picture is worth a thousand words. I'd say those pictures say it all!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-49841316543426356282014-04-30T18:40:08.515-04:002014-04-30T18:40:08.515-04:00Ere's where you lose me 5:55.
I could care les...Ere's where you lose me 5:55.<br />I could care less if Brumfield has more money than Bill Gates, is better looking than George Clooney and plays football better than Mean Joe Green.<br />In my opinion he makes a terrible commissioner and isn't very straight on the Wildcat turfing project.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-87759607524824146012014-04-30T17:55:43.219-04:002014-04-30T17:55:43.219-04:00I don't think Brumfield makes enough money to ...I don't think Brumfield makes enough money to pay for a lot of things. Hence, the unbridled house/field envy. Based on his unhealthy appearance last week, I'd bet he spent most of his life with jock envy, and his desperate attempts to appease and please the SAB at all costs is nothing more than the manifestation of the fat kid still wanting to be liked by the jock crowd. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-41054939278894432292014-04-30T15:47:42.640-04:002014-04-30T15:47:42.640-04:00In an article about the 'GRASS TURF' (we m...In an article about the 'GRASS TURF' (we must be accurate) from ESPN— "It costs between $800,000 and $1.2 million to install FieldTurf. It costs $28,000 each time a field is re-sodded. Of course, there is more maintenance and upkeep on grass. And, naturally, there is more wear and tear on a grass field."<br /><br />http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/clayton_john/1461243.html<br /><br />Fist question: $800,000 to $1.2 million to artificially turf a professional stadium and little old Mt. Lebanon is looking to fork over that or more for a bunch of amateur kids!<br /><br />Hell, these stadiums are charging 60,000+ fans $100/ticket and up and charging $10/beer. Youth sports are planning on turfing by charging players $25 and selling signs for $750. What the hell is wrong with this picture?<br /><br />Plus ESPN says it cost around $28,000 to resod a field. At that rate we could resod WC/M each and every year for 42 years!<br /><br />I'd opt for resodding WC/M every 8 years as a civic duty. If the sports groups aren't happy with that they can come up with the additional $28,000 every year that want new "grass turf."<br /><br />See Linfante-- there's a viable alternative, your buddy Brumfield might not like it, but tough sh*t. He wants something else, he can pay for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-38510879122456580612014-04-30T14:38:06.115-04:002014-04-30T14:38:06.115-04:002:09pm - Pardner, there's nothing wise that go...2:09pm - Pardner, there's nothing wise that goes on in this town. Since I came up here I've discovered that there's more gas above ground than in the shale!Bob D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-22417572154141418922014-04-30T14:34:35.374-04:002014-04-30T14:34:35.374-04:00The fields are fine the way they are, correct? The...The fields are fine the way they are, correct? They only cancel 4-6 games a year. That is NOT a major problem. That is NOT worth spending an extra cent. If the sports orgs want to fix the field, let them pay 100% of it. The municipality has a duty to ALL citizens and not just a few sports kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-31100447091866489242014-04-30T14:09:37.147-04:002014-04-30T14:09:37.147-04:0012:59, I don't understand your comment.
Do not...12:59, I don't understand your comment.<br />Do nothing is always an option to every thing, but there are some issues with both our municipal and school district fields especially considering what we pay in taxes.<br />Before we shell out a million dollars for artifical turf, we better get some people working for us that know how to properly take care of fields.<br />We're going to let the school district that burned through 8-10 year lifespan turf in six years, maintain another $1.2 million investment, is that wise?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-21089157729741714722014-04-30T12:59:26.806-04:002014-04-30T12:59:26.806-04:00Have you signed the petition yet, 12:19 PM?
Elaine...Have you signed the petition yet, 12:19 PM?<br />ElaineLebo Citizenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936908236243700005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-63312535588607078502014-04-30T12:59:26.154-04:002014-04-30T12:59:26.154-04:00The only alternative is DO NOTHING. There are othe...The only alternative is DO NOTHING. There are other problems that are more important than Brummie's kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-8047373916084680812014-04-30T12:34:16.871-04:002014-04-30T12:34:16.871-04:00There are natural grass alternatives that cost a h...There are natural grass alternatives that cost a helluva lot less.<br />We could improve Wildcat/Middle, Bird and Mellon for less than the $750,000 public share of artificially turfing WC/M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-17203880403582713602014-04-30T12:19:40.816-04:002014-04-30T12:19:40.816-04:00Elaine, I stated that I would be even more against...Elaine, I stated that I would be even more against it, which means that I am against the turfing of the fields. BUT, if we are going to turf the field, I would NOT want the overly expensive organic infill and waste 2-3x more money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-30210033324928826452014-04-30T12:09:12.532-04:002014-04-30T12:09:12.532-04:00At the risk of being called rude...again, that is ...At the risk of being called rude...again, that is the most ludicrous comment I have ever heard, 10:41 AM. This Republican is more concerned about the health and safety of our children. The organic infill option was only added to reduce SOME of the environmental, health, and safety hazards to toxic turf. Linfante. Brumfield, Bendel, and now Silverman are all in favor of the synthetic and less expensive toxic turf. <br />I am opposed to any kind of artificial turf. Both options are toxic. We have beautiful , natural grass on those fields. Artificial turf, any kind, is NOT a financially viable option. <br />ElaineLebo Citizenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936908236243700005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-89797613241778522512014-04-30T11:56:58.064-04:002014-04-30T11:56:58.064-04:00Hey Ms. Linfante, where are those alternative prop...Hey Ms. Linfante, where are those alternative proposals from the past?<br />Which fields? How much were the estimates? Were they natural grass proposals or artificial turf proposals?<br />Which companies or products were looked at?<br />Open the books, let your constituents see the exact history trail that brought us to this point!<br />Yeah, I know file a friggin' RTK! Tell you what commissioners, until you show all the alternatives and their specifications, I won't believe there were any.<br />You work and represent us, not the other way around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-9062326145504556742014-04-30T10:41:00.848-04:002014-04-30T10:41:00.848-04:00I would have been even more against the project if...I would have been even more against the project if they included organic infill. That was never a financially viable option. It was just used as a political softball to the Dems. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-11275767493039994822014-04-30T04:24:48.578-04:002014-04-30T04:24:48.578-04:00Once again Linfante stretches the truth— according...Once again Linfante stretches the truth— according to the Almanac: "She went on to say that alternative proposals had been studied in the past and that the current proposal was the only “viable option” for addressing the community’s lack of field space."<br /><br />For one thing artificial turf is not the only option for fast field recovery after a rain storm. There are natural grass field systems that allow fast drying, for some inexplicable reason commissioners aren't interested in allowing those companies to make a presentation. Why is that?<br /><br />Number two, artificial turfing doesn't add field space! Only adding a field adds field space, turfing doesn't make the WC/M field any larger. As Stephenson points out there are minimal rain outs to begin with and the claim of simultaneous play at Wildcat/Middle is absurd, it is once again the same sized area grass or turf.<br />If they can hold simultaneous games on turf there is absolutely no reason that can't be held on grass too.<br />As for field availability in January-Feburary, football is over at the high school stadium and its highly unlikely that space couldn't be made available for lacrosse. Plus do we want to spend over $1,000,000 for a few more lacrosse practices?<br /><br />So there are viable options out there, Linfante just doesn't want to talk about them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-48178642619687855342014-04-29T21:42:30.177-04:002014-04-29T21:42:30.177-04:00Please note the photos showing the trees that will...Please note the photos showing the trees that will be removed for Phase II in my post about the educational forum on artificial turf. The meeting will be tomorrow evening.<br />ElaineLebo Citizenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936908236243700005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-3699076473169231322014-04-29T21:25:30.015-04:002014-04-29T21:25:30.015-04:00Grrr, I should have said from the comment I read d...Grrr, I should have said from the comment I read during Citizen Comments, "This is poor governance on steroids." I was rushing since the clock watcher was timing me.<br />ElaineLebo Citizenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936908236243700005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-64670579424146756972014-04-29T20:15:00.012-04:002014-04-29T20:15:00.012-04:00Remember that Deiseroth can't blame anyone els...Remember that Deiseroth can't blame anyone else for the costs - he's the one writing the specifications and has had meetings with all the turf manufacturers and installers, and even hired an "expert" turf consultant from the get-go ! <br /><br />His is a fascinating history of repeating this kind of thing over and over. He always lowballs initial cost estimates, or what government wonks call "OPC's" (Opinion on Probable Cost's), for projects favored by government officials to permit them to go forward. And high OPC's for those not favored. <br /><br />By the time final cost estimates for favored projects materialize higher, the governments have invested too much time, their limited energy and political capital to call a halt. It's too easy to somehow "find" tax money hidden away, or issue or increase a bond to cover the difference.<br /><br />Welcome to the world of home town governance. It's not really that different than County, State or Federal government, just smaller in dollar terms. The people involved, elected and appointed, however, are just as morally, ethically and sometimes even as financially corrupt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-86425046476781663962014-04-29T19:56:07.165-04:002014-04-29T19:56:07.165-04:00No, 6:50 PM, this is part of the dog and pony show...No, 6:50 PM, this is part of the dog and pony show. They are establishing the fact that organic infill is too expensive. Dave Franklin does not want organic infill. He wants rubber crumb infill. And what Dave Franklin wants, Dave Franklin gets. <br />ElaineLebo Citizenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936908236243700005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-50534327450053641282014-04-29T18:50:27.730-04:002014-04-29T18:50:27.730-04:00Now we're talking about a $1.57 million turfin...Now we're talking about a $1.57 million turfing project instead of a $1 million project!<br />Considering Gateway's track record at preliminary estimating we're in a lot of trouble when the final bids come in!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395310382514169324.post-51718275415716885242014-04-29T18:39:14.285-04:002014-04-29T18:39:14.285-04:00Let me see...elected officials come up with a plan...Let me see...elected officials come up with a plan that is purelu aesthetic, not purpose driven. They show virtually no evidence of anyone im favor of the project. When asked for details, they obfuscate and outright lie. The cost is murky and keeps changing. They claim to have "considered" alternatives but insist on going with the most expensive option. They embark on personal attacks against people who disagree with them. And in the end, the project creates no benefit whatsoever for the community. Now where have we seen this before? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com