The Blog of Burgher Jon

I promise to get back to the city council and SOON, but since my internet connection at the Philadelphia Airport Shack (Hilton) is so slow I would have been better off sending my Grandmother walking down the turnpike for my Post-Gazette, research was out of the question.

In the mean time, I want to join all the other bloggers in Pittsburgh and briefly comment on Chris Briem’s article in the Post-Gazette on Sunday on the migration away from Pittsburgh. I think Chris’ point, that due to America’s mobile work force all cities experience more migrations (both in and out) then in the past, is plain to see and fairly irrefutable. Consequently, instead of commenting on that I’ll say that I think the reason that people lament over what sometimes seems to be a constant outward migration is not that we’re losing total population or even prestige but that friends and loved ones who want to stay simply can’t.

I graduated Penn State with a degree in Information Sciences in 2005 with several friends who also hailed from Pittsburgh. I’m back, but only because I begged both of my serious offering companies to let me stay in the Burgh, finally the one that wanted me to move to NYC (the other one wanted me in San Francisco) agreed to let me stay and I became a “Location-Neutral Migrant.” We all wanted to come back, several of us (not myself) even accepted scholarships that were contingent on our staying in Pennsylvania or Allegheny County. Unfortunately, all those scholarships are being paid back now; I only have one other friend from college who was able to stay in the Burgh, he was so adamant he didn’t even look for a job nationally, and now he’s making little more then half of what the rest of us are with the same degree.

One thought that crossed my mind as a potential contributing factor is the fact that we all wanted to come back so badly, we all would have taken less money to return. Do you think there is any potential that this region loyalty drives salaries down (and consequently people out)?

So in profiling the city council representatives I decided to simply go in order. That means District 1′s Darlene Harris is up first. What an interesting lead off hitter she is too. I did a lot of scouring the Internet looking for stories about her that I could post that were factual. There’s a lot of hate for her out there in the blogosphere, but I’ll try to post only stories from reliable, unbalanced (or at least mostly unbalanced) sources.

Name: Darlene Harris

• School Board Member: Late 90s to 2003
• Won a special election to take Mayor Ravenstahl’s spot on city council.

Notes:

• She was not endorsed for election last year by the Post-Gazette. The Post-Gazette (a lefty paper in general) endorsed the republican candidate.
• She was notorious for being a deliberate, inquisitive penny pincher in her time at the school board. Occasionally, this got in the way of her relationships with her fellow board members. These disputes were, apparently, the reason that several charitable funds pulled donations from the city schools.
• She, much to the dismay of several bloggers, had a device that eliminates smoking odors installed in her office in the city-county building, where smoking is against the rules.
• She was not elected through a primary process to run in 2006, she was appointed by the democratic committee.
• She supports saving money through combining municipal and county purchasing.

I realize she’s a polarizing figure, and I hope if there is anything critical that I’ve missed (good or bad) that my readers will add it in comments.

Sorry it took me so long to post again. I’m impressed by all the bloggers that blog at the same time everyday, I apologize that I lack their diligence. You remember that guy in college that was always doing his semester long projects on the last day of the term? That was me, and I’m bringing that attitude all the way from Penn State to the blogosphere. Anyway, my evening news check netted some perfect Sour Kraut to go with your Hot Dog:

• There are three things the Steelers should NEVER have. First, cheerleaders. Second, a dome. Third, a mascot. Looks like somebody forgot to tell the Rooneys and one Mr. Steely McBeam about #3.
• In case you’ve been hibernating in an air conditioned cave the last few weeks, Barry Bonds broke Hank Aarons career home run record*. The font doesn’t get any bigger for that asterisk, I tried. In related news, the Pirates have decided to deflect some of PNC Park’s boos from their current players by giving us a video opportunity to boo Barry.
• I have my problems with pork barrel politics and with the federal government stepping on the states, but if the systems in place we might as well use it. With that thinking in mind, it’s nice to see the West End get some money for crime prevention.

Warning: My advanced political readers, probably don’t need this. However, since I’m hoping to be “breaking down the burgh” for anybody and everybody who wants to follow politics, I’m going to include it.

Before I continue to break down the politicians that run the Burgh I (and maybe you too?) need to try to figure out the whole city council thing.

What Does City Council Do?
When we were kids we all learned about what Congress did and what the President could do, but anybody remember the 10th grade class on city council? Me either. So here’s a breakdown courtesy of Progress Pittsburgh:

City Council is the legislative branch of government. It carries out duties in accordance with the Home Rule Charter and the laws of the state, and is primarily responsible for making laws which govern the City of Pittsburgh. City Council proposes, debates, and votes on legislation governing and/or affecting the city. This body also approves appointments as provided by the Charter, regulates revenues and expenditures, incurs debt, and approves the final operating and capital budgets for the city. Council is responsible for the introduction of legislation generated by the Administrative Branch of city government. Council may also introduce legislation generated by individual Council Members or Council as a body.

Who’s my Councilman?
In 1989, city councilman began being elected to represent regions, districts, of the city. Consequently, when council elections are held you get to vote for only one member of city council to represent you (as opposed to the whole city electing 8 officials). So, to figure out who your city council representative is you’ll need this map.

How do Councilmen Get Elected?
City Councilmen are elected to two year terms. The odd number districts have elections in the odd numbered years and vice verse.

Alright I feel much better. Tomorrow, I’ll profile councilman number 1 (District 1′s Darlene Harris).

From the respectable, national news source, the Onion:

PITTSBURGH—Despite a series of phone calls to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made right up to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline, Pirates GM Dave Littlefield was unable to secure the rights to surefire Hall of Famers Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter in exchange for those of rightfielder Xavier Nady. “I don’t understand… This was a trade that could have benefited both teams,” said Littlefield, frustrated by the Yankees’ refusal to consider the trade even after Littlefield sweetened the deal by offering shortstop Jack Wilson for pitcher Mariano Rivera. “We would have gained sorely needed offense in the infield, while the Yankees had a chance to get a little younger and pare payroll at the same time. Plus, they could have bolstered their defense, as Xavier plays first base, too.” Littlefield also confirmed that that the St. Louis Cardinals had pulled the plug on a potential Shawn Chacon-for-Albert Pujols deal at the last second.