It's about Time!

Those guys over in Harrisburg finally took their heads out of their asses and the state smoking ban is now out of committee. When I moved to Pittsburgh over a year ago, I was excited to see that a smoking ban had been passed for Allegheny county. Unfortunately, that ban was over-turned very rapidly. Now, after a year of the state discussing it, 6 people in a committee are finally ready to present a bill to the Senate and House of Representatives. Having seen the change-over to state-wide smoking bans while living in both Connecticut and New York and seeing that the sky didn't fall and all legitimate businesses continued to stay in business and do well, I'm a big proponent of these bills.

Frankly, it's been embarrassing to bring out-of-towners to Pittsburgh for one reason alone, the smoke when we go out to restaurants.

Unfortunately, it is a shoddy bill, but it is better than nothing. I would love to hear someone justify this exception as anything except pandering to constituents: "smaller 'mom and pop"'taverns where food sales don't exceed 20 percent of total revenue." Does Jack's count? Does the Town Tavern? Of course, there's the obvious casino exemption as well, so maybe the committee-members were just hedging their bets?

(reference: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08155/887031-100.stm)

Does anyone even like Rendell?

So Governor Rendell has voiced his opinion that Barden, whom nobody appears to like, has solid financing. This is news? That the governor thinks the plan is valid? Ok... I'll wait till there's actual financing in place before I believe it.

(reference: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08152/886340-85.stm)

I want a 3 hour lunch break!

Below is the scheduled list of meetings to discuss Port Authority's new bus schedule. Almost every location is scheduled for a 6PM-8PM meeting. One location on this list is scheduled for 11AM - 2PM, downtown and city. This is on a Tuesday! Why does Port Authority expect people who live downtown or in the city to 1) not work during the day or 2) be able to take a 3-hour lunch break on a Tuesday? Sounds to me like they just really don't care about the opinions of those who live in the city. What other possible conclusion can be drawn from this? I'm trying to ignore the fact that asking for public opinion a year after a project starts is a slap in the face to start with.

Western communities -- June 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Carnegie Borough Building, 1 Veterans Way.

Allegheny Valley and eastern suburbs -- June 23, 6 to 8 p.m. in the gymnasium at Community College of Allegheny County's Boyce campus, Monroeville.

Downtown and city -- June 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Downtown YWCA, 305 Wood St.

North Hills -- June 24, 6 to 8 p.m. at the West View Fire Department banquet hall, 398 Perry Highway.

South Hills -- June 25, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bethel Park Fire Hall, 5213 Brightwood Road.

Mon Valley -- June 26, 6 to 8 p.m. in the gymnasium at Community College of Allegheny County's South campus, West Mifflin.

(reference: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08144/884202-85.stm)

In other news, Let's go Pens!

Progress?

I leave for 2 1/2 weeks to suffer under the euro/dollar conversion and lo and behold the US Steel building now says "UP-C". Always something happening in Pittsburgh.

In other news, the Locker Room may be closing, but I think 3 stores opened up on Carson St while I was away - time to go shopping!

Something I Learned in Kindergarten...

Compromise.

A 10% drink tax brings in too much revenue.
The restaurants and general drinking public are pissed off that a drink tax was introduced to pay for Port Authority, and want to just eliminate the tax.
Mr Onorato feels that he has the right to tax the hell out of the county unless it involves raising property taxes and refuses to bend on the drink tax.
No one actually knows what the general public feels because we haven't had a chance to vote on this issue.

How about we compromise?
How about a 5% drink tax? Why hasn't anyone suggested that?

Councilman Chuck McCullough has the right idea. He wants to reduce the tax to 5% starting July 1. Of course, then he wants to eliminate it next year without offering a replacement source of funding, which isn't a compromise at all and thereby has no chance of passing in a council vote.

Maybe we should start electing kindergarten teachers to the County Council?

(references: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08123/878570-100.stm, http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08123/878445-85.stm )

Everyone drinks beer in January

Who's surprised that the drink tax is on schedule to bring in more money than expected? Not me.

The drink tax has brought in $7.5 Million in the first 3 months of operation. Right on target to pay for the $30 Million it was earmarked to generate. Of course, that's ignoring profits from the car rental tax. That's also ignoring that over 50% of the liquor license holders haven't yet paid for March..

According to Onorato's spokesman, "We don't believe that you can extrapolate the entire year's collection when we are just in the third month." I completely agree. Clearly, the profits from the drink tax will only skyrocket in the coming months. I've rarely seen the South Side bars more crowded than a day last week when the weather was beautiful. People love to go out to the bar in the spring/summer/fall when they can sit outside and enjoy a nice cold beer. Don't even get me started on how Steelers season brings people out to the bar...

So what's going to happen with all this extra money? And what happens to the drink tax next year?

(reference: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08121/877656-85.stm )

Oh, Barden...

So, there was enough public annoyance and talking about that Barden succumbed to not being a total a**hole. The money he promised to the Hill District will (in a roundabout way) eventually end up in the Hill District.

Thanks to the Post-Gazette and the Tribune-Review for reporting extensively on this subject and raising awareness of Barden's back-handed movements.

Of course, the bigger issue is why Barden (the dimwit) added money to the Hill District in his casino bid that was related to being awarded the arena area? Perhaps, in future bids, he'll stick to relevant items.

(reference: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08119/877286-100.stm)