Well?

I am putting up a new poll after watching tonight's Presidential Debate. Who do you think was the clear winner?

Update October 4, 2012 PM From Undecided Voters: Round One Goes to Romney
By Chris Kofinis and Frank Luntz

Now, we don't agree on much, but reality is reality. Gov. Romney won the debate.
No way to deny it, spin it, or paint a different picture. It was the moment the Romney campaign was looking for -- a decisive victory that could change the narrative -- and he got it.
One knew from the opening answer that Gov. Romney had come loaded for bear. From that very first answer on, he was passionate and forceful. He recited a blizzard of facts and offered well-structured answers. He was empathetic and respectful to the president. And, he pushed a coherent and focused message. In fact, for these 90 minutes, he was the opposite of the campaign and the candidate the American people have seen.
Yes, he was quite good.
President Obama, on the other hand, was passive bordering on disinterest. He seemed displeased at times, and even worse, he showed it. He had no message and he meandered. He ignored facts and specifics he could have used to attack Gov. Romney. He didn't have an effective frame or any message. Interestingly, one of President Obama's best answers came when he defended his health care plan, but he still did not undermine Gov. Romney in this exchange. How is that possible? On health care?
Worst of all, he let Gov. Romney control the debate from beginning to end. Folks, it's Debate 101 that you never -- ever -- let your opponent control the debate. At a minimum, the president needed to be as aggressive as Gov. Romney. But he wasn't.
Putting aside our observations, based on an AOL-sponsored debate night focus group of 25 undecided voters, the results were clear. Romney won. President Obama lost.
When asked whether they felt that Romney improved his image, the answer was a resounding yes. When asked whether they felt this would energize his campaign, the answer was yes. While the president did show signs of improvement in the second half of the debate among our group, it just wasn't nearly enough.
So what did we learn from tonight's debate and what does it mean for the remaining two presidential debates?
1. Be On-Message: Watch the debate again. Count how many times Romney said the word "jobs" versus President Obama. Does anyone want to make a $10,000 bet how many more times Gov. Romney said jobs? It is inexplicable that the president ceded this word and issue to Gov. Romney. This election is about jobs and the economy, yet the president rarely talked about jobs. Gov. Romney kept talking about jobs and the economy, even when he was asked about something else. In doing so, Romney won the message war.
2. Expectations Matter: Much as George W. Bush won the debates in 2000 because voters expected so little, Mitt Romney "won" last night because he so exceeded expectations. Let's be honest, most folks expected Gov. Romney wouldn't do well tonight. In fact, if you were watching his campaign you would have expected -- predicted -- some disastrous gaffe or mistake. The expectations were low, and that kind of expectations game creates a dangerous dynamic. Voters come in thinking they're going to witness some caricature of a candidate they've seen and heard. But when they see and hear something different, the reaction and effect is even greater than the debate performance may even warrant.
3. Passion Matters -- a Lot!: Gov. Romney sounded and looked passionate, the president did not (except on health care). Gov. Romney spoke like he truly believed in what he was saying, while President Obama's tone missed the mark. He seemed unwilling to sell to the American people on his vision and policies in the passionate ways we have heard in the past. The word we heard most to describe Obama: "flat" -- and this is at a time when Americans want their president to rise to the challenge and inspire us to greatness again.
4. Stats Matter: Here's a little debate trick to remember: If you want to sound substantive, use statistics to reinforce nearly every response and attack. It's the "facts" voters say they crave. Romney did just that. He was a human statistics machine. He used them to not only reinforce his answers but to undermine the president's. Were these statistics all true? Who knows? But the president did nothing to undermine Gov. Romney's statistics and arguments. As a result, Romney's answers sounded more informed, more convincing, and more credible.
5. Be Aggressive: Aggressiveness is more appealing than defensiveness, and the president displayed no willingness to engage. He did not press. He did not counterpunch. He did not mention the 47% video or a litany of attacks his campaign has used to define Gov. Romney. Why? It's almost inexplicable. President Obama simply failed to take the fight to Gov. Romney, even as his own campaign takes the fight to Romney very day. There were clearly moments -- many of them -- where he could have forcefully engaged Gov. Romney. Instead, President Obama chose a more cerebral and filibustering approach, which does not work when you face a determined opponent.
So where do we go from here? Will this change the course of the election?
We'll see, but one thing is clear. The next presidential debate just became as important to President Obama as it is to Gov. Romney.
Let the battle continue.

Chris Kofinis is a Democratic strategist. Frank Luntz is a Republican pollster and strategist.

Yea! Voter ID cards are no longer needed.

Yesterday, Commonwealth Court ruled that voter IDs can be requested but are not necessary for voting in the Nov. 6 election. The judge's decision is "to allow eligible voters to cast their ballot regardless of whether they have photo identification."

Court rules no voter ID at Pa.'s polls Nov. 6  "The devil is in the details, and those details will be litigated after the election at some point."
So get out there and vote!!!

"Stride and joy"

Tomorrow, October 3, 2012 marks the 16th annual Walk to School Day. According to Better Homes and Gardens article, "Stride and joy," 4,000 schools across the US participated in last year's Walk to School Day. Who's Walking in PA indicates that Mt. Lebanon is not participating in this initiative organized by the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Mt. Lebanon always prides itself on being a walking community. Critics will say that our kids participate every day.

Some schools are encouraging kids to wear their school colors and carry balloons or celebratory signs.  No "What the Kluck" signs will be held anywhere in the United States. 

Families don't have to register in order to participate. Walk to School Day 2013 will take place on October 9.  Visit walkbiketoschool.org to learn more.

Comprehensive plan survey results

From  mtl Magazine comprehensive plan survey results

In August,  the “Elevate Mt. Lebanon” comprehensive planning team headed by Municipal Planner Keith McGill passed out surveys to residents asking them what things they thought needed to change in order for Mt. Lebanon to remain a great community.  The survey also was available online.
The comprehensive plan, intended to be a blueprint for the community’s next 10 years, will be completed by spring 2013.  Assisted by a consultant, the planning team has solicited opinions from residents in various ways, including on www.mtlebanon.org and www.facebook.com/ElevateMtLebanon.  The team also has passed out information at community events, conducted three photo safaris and held focus groups.  On Thursday, October 11, dubbed “Thursday Night Live” residents are invited to the municipal building to hear the results of the team’s work so far, including the survey, and to provide additional feedback.
On the survey, residents shared their opinions on things ranging from their satisfaction with municipal communications, variety of local shopping, parking and transportation, to the kind of development that should occur and whether or not our parks and recreational programs and facilities needed improvement.
Two hundred ninety three people completed the survey, helping round out the planning team’s growing sense of what community views as priorities. Residents could check as many items they thought needed to change from a list of 16 possibilities . They could also add comments.
Only a few people—6.9 percent—said nothing needed changing; the community is great the way it is.  And 46.2—the highest percentage on a single question—agreed that cost of services/taxes was a concern.  Most interesting, in light of the ongoing debate about what recreation improvements are needed and how much should be spent, were people’s responses to questions regarding recreation. When asked what needed changing in Mt. Lebanon, 33.8 percent included park maintenance among their choices, 24.2 percent pointed to recreation/park services as something that needed attention, and 34.6 percent said recreation/park facilities, making recreation the respondents most singular focus.
People were generally satisfied with municipal communications and the frequency of community cultural/social events, with only 9.6 percent and 10.8 percent respectively indicating any cause for change. Transportation safety and the types of community cultural/social events were of a bit more concern, with 14.1 percent and 13.1 percent of respondents suggesting that change is needed.
Other than taxes and parks/recreation, however, the only areas that significant numbers of people said needed improvement were parking (21.2 percent), variety in local shopping services (29.2 percent) and the type of redevelopment occurring in the community (23.5 percent).
Comments explaining why people felt things needed changing or improving ran the gamut.  A number of people said they wanted the community to be more bike friendly while also acknowledging that lack of bike paths, heavy traffic, hazardous drivers and drivers cutting through residential streets makes that a challenge.  Others urged more investments in the schools, so the quality of education and the infrastructure can be maintained and the schools can remain competitive with other communities.
Several residents bemoaned the lack of convenient grocery stores.  Others complained about deer, overnight parking and general ticketing policies and wanted parking to be more “merchant friendly.”
A few comments focused on field maintenance (not necessarily turfing) and improving the swimming pool.  The need for better maintenance of rental property also was cited.
Finally, there were comments asking for more transparency in government and more progressive government , along with a wish for more  residents who are wiling to pay taxes for the entire town’s benefit even after they are retired.
And by the way, don’t raise taxes!
Thanks to everyone who completed the survey, one small but important component of the data that has been collected and will be incorporated into the final plan.

I don't think it is a case of sour grapes...

OK, members of the School Board and Commission filed a police report against me for publishing a comment using the word, "Execute." I removed the comment.

Read Josephine Posti's latest one,  Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett bombing public education into Stone Age

I am told that I have hate in my heart. But Posti continually writes about the evils of Corbett and charter schools. It is written in her post:

Giving only parents the authority to make executive decisions about the school their students attend marginalizes other local taxpayers and silences the voices of the rest of the community and the locally elected school board members. 

I am confused. Isn't that what was done to four thousand residents when we signed that petition to cap the renovation project? Or is that the hate in my heart again?

What are their answers?

October 3, 2012

7-8:30 a.m. at Uptown Coffee on Washington Road

Coffee with 

Josephine Posti, Mary Birks and Larry Lebowitz 

October 4, 2012

7-8:30 p.m. at Orbis Caffe on Washington Road 

Coffee with 

Elaine Cappucci, Dale Ostergaard, Mary Birks and Bill Cooper

Invitation to the 2012 Photo Section Galleria Show

The Photographic Section of the Academy of Science and art of Pittsburgh invites you to its 2012 Photography Exhibit, Friday, October 5 - Wednesday, October 17 at the Galleria Mall in Mt. Lebanon.

 

Please pass this information along to friends, family and other members of your organization.

 

For more information:  http://www.pghphoto.org/

Best advice

In the latest issue of mtl Magazine, Susan Morgans shares her thoughts on the best advice. http://lebomag.com/7156/in-this-issue/

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?
That question prompted a lively debate on our deck one evening this past summer with people of various ages sharing good advice they had received ranging from the serious to the seemingly silly.
My parents and other caring adults surely gave me thoughtful advice that I followed, but I can’t recall their words specifically. What I remember more clearly are random comments that turned out to be useful advice.

This got me thinking about an anonymous comment which I approved on the thread, Posti too busy for Commission

Anonymous said...
I only occasionally come upon your blog and am certainly not a regular reader, but those time that I have, I notice that you do have hate in your heart. Jo Posti was right.

Did you ever watch the Muppet Show in the 1970's? Do you remember those grumpy old guys who sat up in the balcony? They never actually did anything but just criticized the performers. You and some of the commentors here ("anonymous" ones and otherwise) remind me of them, criticizing everyone but not actually doing anything except, in your case, running a blog -- which is fine, but unlike those you so readily and pettily criticize, you have zero accountability.

Instead of being defensive, if someone tells you you have hate in your heart, you should think about it.

September 27, 2012 2:32 PM

Oddly, both comments are conveying the same message to me. Maybe Jo's prayers are working.

Wait, Is it Morgan or Stadium?

I am getting confused. Change order #GC-03-03 is to Nello Construction for repair of Morgan Drive as required by the Municipality totals $63,148.

In my post of September 17, 2012, Not $30 Million...Not $15 million... where I wrote:

On another note, Peterson has instructed the Board to litigate $63,148 (cost of repaving Morgan Drive) with the Municipality after the project is completed.

I sent this email to Steve Feller on September 18, 2012.

At last night's School Board meeting, a change order was approved for the work done on Morgan Drive. Their solicitor advised the School Board to litigate the amount of $63,148 because they believe it is the fault of the Municipality and Gateway.  Have you responded either verbally or in writing to the District's claim?
Elaine

I promptly received this scorcher from my commissioner.

Ms. Gillen,

I have spoken with numerous officials at the SD today about this rumor, and NONE of them told me that the SD plans to sue the
municipality. Mr. Remely, when discussing the change order, asked
their solicitor how they, if they were to choose to do so, would go
about seeking funds from someone other than the SD to pay for the
re-paved road. The solicitor did not "advise litigation" as you
suggest. He did tell them that such a process was an option. The
change order vote passed, and it was decided that the SD would speak with the other parties (architect, contractor, Muni., etc) to discuss the issue further.

In addition, Mr. Feller and Dr. Steinhauer are in contact often, as
affirmed by Mr. Feller today. At this time, there is no reason to
respond to a false rumor or misinterpretation. Talks are ingoing
bewteen our staffs, as always.

I hope this clarifies any confusion you may have had about the SD's discussion.

Kristen Linfante
Commissioner, Ward 3

A follow up comment on the blog on September 18 at 3:38 PM was approved:

Let's be clear here...anyone can go back to the podcast and make no mistake that both Dan and JoPo were throwing the municipal engineer under the bus.

The idea that now Kristen comes back and says there will be no lawsuit is a little early in the process I think. No doubt the school district will keep all options on the table until this is resolved.

I wonder if the municipality responded to the school board meeting from last week or not. I am sure they heard the comments from Dan and Jo. And I am also sure that if I was them, I would not appreciate one of my employees being thrown to the wolves for doing his job just so the board could blame someone else for its change order.

Here is what was received from Steve Feller when asked for a municipal response. It was obtained through a Right To Know.

Communication from Municipal Engineer RTK Rus Del Ra, the contractor contact seemed a little cranky over Horsman and Stadium Drives.

Either all the information was not granted in the Right To Know Request, there was no response over the school board meeting when Gateway was thrown under the bus, or the change order was listed for the wrong road.  Does anyone out there know anything differently? Kristen, I don't need to get another scorcher from you.

Sewage Bill in Your Mail Box UPDATED

If you haven't received your sewage bill from Jordan Tax Service, you should be getting it in today's mail. Prior to this, Alcosan and Mt. Lebanon charges were billed on your water bill. For me, this means I have to write a check to Jordan Tax Service monthly instead of having it electronically deducted from my bank account. I thought I could write one check a year to Jordan, but that has now changed. There is no option to pay this bill electronically.

About that stormwater fee that was mailed out to everyone, including churches and temples, let me remind you that Raja was behind that fee.  He always talks about how he cut taxes, but he never mentions how even the tax exempt folks are getting charged with the largest fee increase in the history of Mt. Lebanon.

Updated September 28, 2012 2:11 PM According to Susan Morgans' never dated release on the Municipal website,

By October, Jordan hopes to provide electronic billing options.

REACH OUT & HELP BEAUTIFY

MT. LEBANON PARK

 

Saturday, September 29, from 9 am. to noon

The Mt. Lebanon Commission & others who love our community’s precious greenspace invite you to help them spruce up our historic main park.

BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORT. LET’S HAVE SOME FUN AND SHOW OUR LEBO PRIDE!

Please enter the park off Cedar Boulevard and park in the Recreation Center lot. A volunteer check-in table will be located near the playground equipment.

Work may include weeding, picking up sticks and trash or cleaning play areas. Come dressed comfortably (with gloves or gardening tools, if possible) for a one-hour shift, but stay as long as you want.

Information: Contact public information, 412-343-3407, smorgans@mtlebanon.org

PK has quite a racket going

Greater Latrobe School District had hired Pursuant Ketchum in 2011 to do a feasibility study to raise $15 million.  Sound familiar?

Through a Right To Know (I didn't realize this could be done), the results and contract follow.
Greater Latrobe Fundraising Study
Of Counsel Philanthropy

What I find interesting is how thorough PK was with Greater Latrobe. The first link is 42 pages. Either our school board is holding back or PK didn't put as much effort into our study as they had with Greater Latrobe. The second link is the 8 page consulting agreement.  I guess this is what we are in for...

Are you in the 7%?

The School District website has released the SPECIAL STUDY AND REPORT ON THE FUNDRAISING POTENTIAL OF MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT With twenty hours remaining to vote on poll, fifty one votes have been cast. So far, there are four individuals (7%) who are willing to donate.

In concert with creating communications materials that explain the strategic vision, the School District must heighten the community’s awareness of the importance of philanthropy, now and in the future. An integrated and multifaceted Awareness and Cultivation Program should be planned and implemented as an integral part of pre- campaign activities and procedures.

To initiate a Targeted Awareness-Building and Cultivation Program, I am asking those four individuals to send an email to schoolboard@mtlsd.net explaining that you were in the 7% of the Lebo Citizens poll and would like to donate. Thank you so much for understanding the importance of philanthropy. With your help, it could mean only $18 a month for me. If those 7% do come forward, I just identified four donors for free. That is my donation - that and heightening the community's awareness.

To read more about this in the School Board President Reports, don't go here.  Go here.  Or here.

Letter to the Editor: The Importance of Being Earnest UPDATED 2x

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Blog reader and Mt. Lebanon resident, Bill Matthews.

Several years ago, the Municipality embarked on a second journey to develop the property on Washington Road, across from where I attended first and second grade. We began our trip with an RFQ (Request for Qualifications). The thought was that by seeking out an established developer with the demonstrated credentials to build on this site, we would avoid the delays and ultimate failure experienced with the site's predecessor project. It was a good plan and we in fact received a response and proposal from one such firm.

Then we picked the other one. 

Zamagias Properties showed no experience developing residential condominiums when the firm was first selected to develop this property and handed more than $1,000,000 in TIF loan proceeds. Following a review of their website this morning, it appears not much has changed. Please see the attached letter I sent to the Commission regarding this project, more than six years ago. My letter includes the firm's original submission to demonstrate their competencies. 

The Municipality's web site indicates there will be a "Zamagias update" on October 22. It is time for the Commission to move on with a developer who maintains a successful track record for developing first class projects appropriate for this site. If the Commission elects to continue its partnership with this developer, it must also insist on the developer making good on the TIF loan. 

Bill

Update September 23, 2012 11:00 AM In response to today's 7:25 AM comment, Bill Matthews felt it was easier to post the documents rather than try to describe the repurchase agreement and extension.
Zamagias - MLPA Sales Agreement The repurchase section is on page 15 of the agreement.
Zamagias Agreement 6th amendment Note: The seventh amendment was in January 2012.

Update September 24, 2012 11:59 AM Here is supporting evidence of the conflict of interest mentioned in Bill Lewis' item number three of his 6:05 PM comment. Ballon Conflict of interest Ballon was the vice chairman of the Parking Authority and remained so until dismissed in July 2011.

PA Cyber cleans house

In yesterday's Post Gazette,
PA Cyber Charter School fires most top managers:

"The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School board has axed its director, finance director, personnel director, compliance officer and a longtime lawyer, in a near-sweep of its top management that education experts on Tuesday characterized as highly unusual and potentially damaging in the long term."

There was no mention of former Mt. Lebanon School Board President, Joe Rodella this time. My August 12 post, Former School Board president's PA Cyber connections prompts federal inquiry, the Post Gazette stated that the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and a federal grand jury were probing some people who have been associated with PA Cyber, including Mr. Rodella.