Long before the Wu Tang Clan, there was Sho' Nuff from "The Last Dragon"
R.I.P. Julius Carey.
"Who's the Master?"
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Pat Ford Blows the Whistle As He Resigns
Honestly, this letter of resignation speaks for itself.
All I want to know, Mr. Ford is:
1. What happened the day the planning commission passed the plans for the Arena?
2. What happened the day the August Wilson home was supposed to go up for its Historic Designation (the first time)?
3. What else was being said when no one else was around?
Thanks.
Text of Pat Ford's letter of resignation as URA executive director
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
27 August 2008
Mr. Yarone Zober, Chairman
Board of Directors
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
200 Ross Street, 12th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2069
RE: Letter of Resignation Patrick B. Ford, Executive Director
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
Dear Mr. Zober,
I am resigning from my position as Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (No. 6 of contract) effective the end date of my contract term. Per the term of my contract, I expect to be compensated for the remainder of 2008 (No. 3 of contract).
When I returned to work for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, I believed that great things were about to happen in this City. I hoped for those same things when I was promoted by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Unfortunately, I have not seen that to be the case.
To this day, my wife and I are being persecuted with no support from the administration I served, for no real reason whatsoever. Although I was cleared nearly two weeks ago by the State Ethics Commission, no discussion has occurred in regard to my future. Today, I want to set the record straight that I do not support the actions of what I believe to be a failed administration and no longer desire to return to a position where I will again be forced to serve as a scapegoat for the inappropriate affairs and activities of others.
Over the past two years I have told myself that I was a "good soldier," and that I did what was asked of me by the Mayor I served. I believed that by working together we could have a positive impact on this City, embracing all that it has to offer. But that vision never materialized, and as I have always said, "Where there is no vision, people perish." I have no desire to perish along with Luke Ravenstahl's Pittsburgh.
It is clear to me that as long as I continue to fight to have my name restored by this administration, I will only be further tarnished by this culture of deception and corruption. I have stood by recently and watched as you personally retaliated against those who tried to support me, and I cannot allow others to be penalized for not understanding that, when it comes to Pat Ford, honesty is not appreciated.
I have worked for 20 years as a city planner, zoning official and planning consultant, and I, as I have said from the beginning, want to get back to work. However, it has become clear to me that I will not be able to continue my career in this town, and I hereby tender my resignation. I will contact Rob Stephany to make arrangements to remove all personal items from my office.
Sincerely,
Patrick B. Ford
CC: Luke Ravenstahl
Don Kortlantdt
First published on August 27, 2008 at 10:36 am
All I want to know, Mr. Ford is:
1. What happened the day the planning commission passed the plans for the Arena?
2. What happened the day the August Wilson home was supposed to go up for its Historic Designation (the first time)?
3. What else was being said when no one else was around?
Thanks.
Text of Pat Ford's letter of resignation as URA executive director
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
27 August 2008
Mr. Yarone Zober, Chairman
Board of Directors
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
200 Ross Street, 12th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2069
RE: Letter of Resignation Patrick B. Ford, Executive Director
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
Dear Mr. Zober,
I am resigning from my position as Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (No. 6 of contract) effective the end date of my contract term. Per the term of my contract, I expect to be compensated for the remainder of 2008 (No. 3 of contract).
When I returned to work for the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, I believed that great things were about to happen in this City. I hoped for those same things when I was promoted by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Unfortunately, I have not seen that to be the case.
To this day, my wife and I are being persecuted with no support from the administration I served, for no real reason whatsoever. Although I was cleared nearly two weeks ago by the State Ethics Commission, no discussion has occurred in regard to my future. Today, I want to set the record straight that I do not support the actions of what I believe to be a failed administration and no longer desire to return to a position where I will again be forced to serve as a scapegoat for the inappropriate affairs and activities of others.
Over the past two years I have told myself that I was a "good soldier," and that I did what was asked of me by the Mayor I served. I believed that by working together we could have a positive impact on this City, embracing all that it has to offer. But that vision never materialized, and as I have always said, "Where there is no vision, people perish." I have no desire to perish along with Luke Ravenstahl's Pittsburgh.
It is clear to me that as long as I continue to fight to have my name restored by this administration, I will only be further tarnished by this culture of deception and corruption. I have stood by recently and watched as you personally retaliated against those who tried to support me, and I cannot allow others to be penalized for not understanding that, when it comes to Pat Ford, honesty is not appreciated.
I have worked for 20 years as a city planner, zoning official and planning consultant, and I, as I have said from the beginning, want to get back to work. However, it has become clear to me that I will not be able to continue my career in this town, and I hereby tender my resignation. I will contact Rob Stephany to make arrangements to remove all personal items from my office.
Sincerely,
Patrick B. Ford
CC: Luke Ravenstahl
Don Kortlantdt
First published on August 27, 2008 at 10:36 am
Monday, June 16, 2008
It's Been a Long Time . . .
I shouldn't've left you
without a dope beat to step to
--- Eric B & Rakim
First up:
I'm getting ready to pack up and be "gone fishing". Can't wait.
This was a long year full of extensive drama (of all kinds) and your girl is bringing the curtain down in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .
Speaking of, "The Color Purple" left town on Sunday and I'm sad. What a wonderful production. If you missed it, you missed one of the best musicals in the last century. Seriously. The production, the original music, the actors, the dancing, the set / scenery, costumes and most importantly---the story---are unmatched, especially with Oprah Winfrey's financial support. Thank you Alice, Thank you Oprah!
The cast of "Dr. Goddess Goes to Jail" performed at the "Purple" Celebration (a local celebration of black arts in honor of the musical) presented by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation. It was great. We did a 24 minute medley of our show and folks were cracking up and so we were. We had to mix it up a little and keep it fresh. Every performer was wonderful. Every one.
The Langston Hughes Poetry Society is having another event performing Slave Narratives on Thursday, June 19 (Juneteenth). It's going to be good. I really like this group of folks. Go Lewis, Go Dessie, Go Jonathan!
Learning 2 Unlearn's Mic Melter's Series (with Nathan James as host) is coming back on Thursday, June 19th, too. Dr. Goddess won the first poetry slam and please let me tell you that I needed the cash prize ;-)
The African American Council of the Arts Awards are being held on June 27th and my friend, Lamman Rucker (Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? Meet the Browns) is the celebrity guest. So proud of you, Lamman. Sorry I'll miss it. I'm gone fishing . . .
Folks are organizing to Save Schenley High School --- a most worthy cause. I support it but I just can't shoulder another one right now. Spread the wealth . . .
And finally, another most worthy cause is saving Free Speech Radio. Anyone who has ever worked with Rustbelt Radio, Andalusia Knoll or any progressive, grassroots media can appreciate their struggle. Let's donate something.
And on that note, I'm gone fishing.
Holla back at your girl a bit later. A Sista needs a vacation. Divas need love, too! :-)
without a dope beat to step to
--- Eric B & Rakim
First up:
I'm getting ready to pack up and be "gone fishing". Can't wait.
This was a long year full of extensive drama (of all kinds) and your girl is bringing the curtain down in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .
Speaking of, "The Color Purple" left town on Sunday and I'm sad. What a wonderful production. If you missed it, you missed one of the best musicals in the last century. Seriously. The production, the original music, the actors, the dancing, the set / scenery, costumes and most importantly---the story---are unmatched, especially with Oprah Winfrey's financial support. Thank you Alice, Thank you Oprah!
The cast of "Dr. Goddess Goes to Jail" performed at the "Purple" Celebration (a local celebration of black arts in honor of the musical) presented by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation. It was great. We did a 24 minute medley of our show and folks were cracking up and so we were. We had to mix it up a little and keep it fresh. Every performer was wonderful. Every one.
The Langston Hughes Poetry Society is having another event performing Slave Narratives on Thursday, June 19 (Juneteenth). It's going to be good. I really like this group of folks. Go Lewis, Go Dessie, Go Jonathan!
Learning 2 Unlearn's Mic Melter's Series (with Nathan James as host) is coming back on Thursday, June 19th, too. Dr. Goddess won the first poetry slam and please let me tell you that I needed the cash prize ;-)
The African American Council of the Arts Awards are being held on June 27th and my friend, Lamman Rucker (Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? Meet the Browns) is the celebrity guest. So proud of you, Lamman. Sorry I'll miss it. I'm gone fishing . . .
Folks are organizing to Save Schenley High School --- a most worthy cause. I support it but I just can't shoulder another one right now. Spread the wealth . . .
And finally, another most worthy cause is saving Free Speech Radio. Anyone who has ever worked with Rustbelt Radio, Andalusia Knoll or any progressive, grassroots media can appreciate their struggle. Let's donate something.
And on that note, I'm gone fishing.
Holla back at your girl a bit later. A Sista needs a vacation. Divas need love, too! :-)
Monday, May 19, 2008
East of Liberty II: The Fear of Us, Bakery Square
Today is May 19, Brother Malcolm X's birthday. If that means something to you, great. If not, perhaps it should but I'm not forcing it on you.
Let's talk about the power of art, caring and sharing. The first time I saw Chris Ivey's "East of Liberty: Part One", I cried. I then showed it here on the Hill and some folks came out but not enough. Now, "East of Liberty: Part Two" is out and I've not seen it yet because I had schedule conflicts with each screening. I'll probably cry again when I see this new chapter because I'm sensitive. I realize this might be hard for some to believe, especially if you've only seen my angry or righteous indignation side; but the truth of the matter is that most artists are extremely sensitive at all times and when you see injustice and inhumanity so close and personal, it causes a very human reaction--empathy, sorrow, despair, rage.
So, imagine my glee when Chris Ivey, the Documentarian / Hyperboymedia put an excerpt called "Bakery Square" on YouTube for us all to watch.
I have some great advice for the folks in East Liberty / the East End if they are seeking a Community Benefits Agreement or any type of proper reinvestment. You know where to find me.
Thank you, Chris, and let me know your thoughts, folks.
Happy Birthday, Brother Malcolm. I'm so sorry we don't appreciate you enough but my elders didn't even when you were alive, so I'm not surprised.
Let's talk about the power of art, caring and sharing. The first time I saw Chris Ivey's "East of Liberty: Part One", I cried. I then showed it here on the Hill and some folks came out but not enough. Now, "East of Liberty: Part Two" is out and I've not seen it yet because I had schedule conflicts with each screening. I'll probably cry again when I see this new chapter because I'm sensitive. I realize this might be hard for some to believe, especially if you've only seen my angry or righteous indignation side; but the truth of the matter is that most artists are extremely sensitive at all times and when you see injustice and inhumanity so close and personal, it causes a very human reaction--empathy, sorrow, despair, rage.
So, imagine my glee when Chris Ivey, the Documentarian / Hyperboymedia put an excerpt called "Bakery Square" on YouTube for us all to watch.
I have some great advice for the folks in East Liberty / the East End if they are seeking a Community Benefits Agreement or any type of proper reinvestment. You know where to find me.
Thank you, Chris, and let me know your thoughts, folks.
Happy Birthday, Brother Malcolm. I'm so sorry we don't appreciate you enough but my elders didn't even when you were alive, so I'm not surprised.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The One Hill CBA
So, this Saturday, the One Hill CBA Coalition is going to vote on Saturday to pass the tentative CBA Agreement "up or down". Despite reports that Chair, Carl Redwood, is quoted as saying that "the majority" of the members must vote in order for it to pass, the reality (confirmed last Monday and the Monday prior) is that only twenty (20) of the 98 supposed members of One Hill need to vote in order to meet "quorum" and only a majority (as opposed to the consensus touted by Tom Hoffman at the beginning of this situation) is required to pass.
So, at bare minimum, only eleven (11) people need to vote "yes" in order to pass the One Hill CBA. It's so sad, it's amusing, especially considering that the negotiation team is nine (9) persons and the strategy team is a total of twelve (12) persons, which includes the negotiation team. So, quite frankly, the strategy team can vote the entire CBA "up" with very little effort (or approval) from the community.
Unfortunately, I'm not confident that many of the organizational representatives or their members really know what's in the CBA and what they're voting for. There were over 50 persons in attendance two weeks ago; but there was so much confusion over what was actually in the CBA (including the most recent inclusion of the value / reinvestment amount of the 28-acre site) that some of the members asked for another week to ask questions, get answers, etc. And, unfortunately, it seems the next meeting (this past Monday) was not advertised because approximately 15 persons (total) showed up. Evan Frazier was well-meaning in attempting to answer the questions posed but he did not know many of the answers and it was clear that any revisions offered from the week prior either weren't considered or just weren't taken seriously---and certainly not included.
Carl Redwood announced that the CBA will not be changed at all this week and that members needed to vote the present CBA up or down. I later found out after the meeting that the CBA is still being worked upon every single day and that the Pens have even attempted to provide a further clause. This sort of back-and-forth between the lawyers was presented as the reason for which the detailed CBA was not passed out three (3) weeks ago.
It's pretty amazing how this is all going down.
In its present form, I would not vote for the CBA and here's why:
1. The last-minute inclusion of the 28-acre site WITHOUT proper reinvestment is a sham, plain and simple. Sure, there is job inclusion and work on the Masterplan but the Pens are trying to get away with not providing ONE DIME of reinvestment based on the 28-acre site.
2. The Neighborhood Partnership Program that is proposed offers $500,00 per year for six years with a POSSIBILITY to renew for another six years, which is not enough.
The problem? The Pens aren't paying one dime into this fund either. They are going to help "in good faith" find corporate partners. Gimme a break. (For the record, the NPP was suggested by Jake Wheatley as a START 1.5 years ago).
3. The Pens spent a year and a half telling everyone within an eye or ear's reach that the Arena is not built with public subsidy, therefore they should not have to provide reinvestment relative to the CBA. Now, they have allowed for language regarding the 28-acre site but with little to no PROPER reinvestment (i.e. not one dime based on the huge amount of public subsidy and profit to come from this site). For those who might have forgotten the gargantuan amount of public subsidy the Pens received, click here. This is unacceptable.
4. The City and the County robbed the Hill District community of Don Barden's $350 million dollars of spurred development in the Lower Hill with a focus upon sweeping that development up through the Centre Ave. corridor and above Crawford Street. They chose to give it to the Pens but are not forcing them to provide PROPER reinvestment for the arena and the 28-acre site.
5. The BEST part of the CBA has the LEAST amount of proper investment --- the One Hill First Source Hiring Center (patterned after the Milwaukee Big Step Program), which is set to be funded at $90,000 per year for two (2) years, subject to the availability of funds and with the hope that the Falk and Heinz Foundations will supplement this gap. But this is not their responsibility, the funding should come from the PENS.
The Hill Faith and Justice Alliance has been repeatedly maligned in this process because we insist on much more and, you know, a novel idea that---we live, work and play here.
And now for the amazing One Hill double standard:
1. In April 2007, the Hill Faith and Justice alliance demanded, among other things, $10 million dollars in reinvestment funds for development.
Now, One Hill's negotiating for $3 million dollars in reinvestment funds for development with the possibility of $3 million more if the NPP program is renewed for another six years. Add the $1 million for the grocery store and we're at $7 million total.
We were considered elitist, extortionists, greedy, crazy, the whole nine.
2. We were kicked out of One Hill, supposedly, for negotiating separately for the CBA when we are the ones who secured a commitment for the CBA to begin with. The truth is, we were kicked out because of the agreement between three entities because we were considered too radical and demanding too much---supposedly without the community. This was entirely untrue, it was all about control but at the end of the day, preventing the history from ever being known to One Hill members, as a whole, in addition to relentless attacks from various parties inside of the organization only served to maintain the division, no matter how many times we reached out. Carl's response: "just join One Hill", which is hilarious.
Hypocritical much?
I could go on but I'll have to get into it later. Just thinking about this makes me sleepy and I have set new limits of what I can tolerate for myself.
All that I ask at this point is that Ron Porter not be allowed to return to the Hill House Association Board to help advise or otherwise manage monies flowing through the Hill House Association after he "temporarily resigned" from the Board to take a Senior Consultant position with the Pittsburgh Penguins to negotiate a substandard CBA and talk smack on the community the entire time.
Shady much?
See ya.
So, at bare minimum, only eleven (11) people need to vote "yes" in order to pass the One Hill CBA. It's so sad, it's amusing, especially considering that the negotiation team is nine (9) persons and the strategy team is a total of twelve (12) persons, which includes the negotiation team. So, quite frankly, the strategy team can vote the entire CBA "up" with very little effort (or approval) from the community.
Unfortunately, I'm not confident that many of the organizational representatives or their members really know what's in the CBA and what they're voting for. There were over 50 persons in attendance two weeks ago; but there was so much confusion over what was actually in the CBA (including the most recent inclusion of the value / reinvestment amount of the 28-acre site) that some of the members asked for another week to ask questions, get answers, etc. And, unfortunately, it seems the next meeting (this past Monday) was not advertised because approximately 15 persons (total) showed up. Evan Frazier was well-meaning in attempting to answer the questions posed but he did not know many of the answers and it was clear that any revisions offered from the week prior either weren't considered or just weren't taken seriously---and certainly not included.
Carl Redwood announced that the CBA will not be changed at all this week and that members needed to vote the present CBA up or down. I later found out after the meeting that the CBA is still being worked upon every single day and that the Pens have even attempted to provide a further clause. This sort of back-and-forth between the lawyers was presented as the reason for which the detailed CBA was not passed out three (3) weeks ago.
It's pretty amazing how this is all going down.
In its present form, I would not vote for the CBA and here's why:
1. The last-minute inclusion of the 28-acre site WITHOUT proper reinvestment is a sham, plain and simple. Sure, there is job inclusion and work on the Masterplan but the Pens are trying to get away with not providing ONE DIME of reinvestment based on the 28-acre site.
2. The Neighborhood Partnership Program that is proposed offers $500,00 per year for six years with a POSSIBILITY to renew for another six years, which is not enough.
The problem? The Pens aren't paying one dime into this fund either. They are going to help "in good faith" find corporate partners. Gimme a break. (For the record, the NPP was suggested by Jake Wheatley as a START 1.5 years ago).
3. The Pens spent a year and a half telling everyone within an eye or ear's reach that the Arena is not built with public subsidy, therefore they should not have to provide reinvestment relative to the CBA. Now, they have allowed for language regarding the 28-acre site but with little to no PROPER reinvestment (i.e. not one dime based on the huge amount of public subsidy and profit to come from this site). For those who might have forgotten the gargantuan amount of public subsidy the Pens received, click here. This is unacceptable.
4. The City and the County robbed the Hill District community of Don Barden's $350 million dollars of spurred development in the Lower Hill with a focus upon sweeping that development up through the Centre Ave. corridor and above Crawford Street. They chose to give it to the Pens but are not forcing them to provide PROPER reinvestment for the arena and the 28-acre site.
5. The BEST part of the CBA has the LEAST amount of proper investment --- the One Hill First Source Hiring Center (patterned after the Milwaukee Big Step Program), which is set to be funded at $90,000 per year for two (2) years, subject to the availability of funds and with the hope that the Falk and Heinz Foundations will supplement this gap. But this is not their responsibility, the funding should come from the PENS.
The Hill Faith and Justice Alliance has been repeatedly maligned in this process because we insist on much more and, you know, a novel idea that---we live, work and play here.
And now for the amazing One Hill double standard:
1. In April 2007, the Hill Faith and Justice alliance demanded, among other things, $10 million dollars in reinvestment funds for development.
Now, One Hill's negotiating for $3 million dollars in reinvestment funds for development with the possibility of $3 million more if the NPP program is renewed for another six years. Add the $1 million for the grocery store and we're at $7 million total.
We were considered elitist, extortionists, greedy, crazy, the whole nine.
2. We were kicked out of One Hill, supposedly, for negotiating separately for the CBA when we are the ones who secured a commitment for the CBA to begin with. The truth is, we were kicked out because of the agreement between three entities because we were considered too radical and demanding too much---supposedly without the community. This was entirely untrue, it was all about control but at the end of the day, preventing the history from ever being known to One Hill members, as a whole, in addition to relentless attacks from various parties inside of the organization only served to maintain the division, no matter how many times we reached out. Carl's response: "just join One Hill", which is hilarious.
Hypocritical much?
I could go on but I'll have to get into it later. Just thinking about this makes me sleepy and I have set new limits of what I can tolerate for myself.
All that I ask at this point is that Ron Porter not be allowed to return to the Hill House Association Board to help advise or otherwise manage monies flowing through the Hill House Association after he "temporarily resigned" from the Board to take a Senior Consultant position with the Pittsburgh Penguins to negotiate a substandard CBA and talk smack on the community the entire time.
Shady much?
See ya.
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