The union rides to the rescue -- again

The yes vote on the new four-year contract by the members of Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Workers – the drivers, mechanics, and supervisors of the Port Authority – is another heroic example of our public servants voting for the best interest of the people they serve, even when it means a personal loss.

And these workers took quite a personal hit. They gave back another $60 million dollars in wages and benefits, on top of the concessions from the last four-year contract, adding up to more than $100 million in concessions in the last five years. To save public transit, the workers have agreed to work for and with less.

Their courageous vote will save our region's economy, environment, quality of life, and our future.

Without this vote, massive public transit service cuts and fare increases would devastate our community. With little public transit and a huge influx of cars on the roads, businesses would lose. Their customers would not be able to reach them, and neither would their employees. Travel times for ambulances and fire trucks would vastly increase, meaning the difference between living and dying for some. Just as we are starting to grow our population after decades of loss, our region would be far less attractive to students, workers, and new employers. And the addition of more vehicles on our streets would make our air quality dangerous on far too many days.

These workers cannot – and should not– do it alone. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald led the negotiations, and has pledged to do his part. Gov. Corbett has apparently promised – behind closed doors, as he does most things – to pay the state's fair share temporarily.

But we need to solve the funding issue permanently, and stop demanding more and more concessions from our public workers.

Our state leaders need to stop demonizing both the people who rely on public transportation, and the hard-working people who run it, and pay their fair share.

It's fashionable in many quarters – including some progressive areas – to say that our public workers are out of control, that they demand too much.

People forget that they are our teachers, our police, our firefighters, our bus drivers – and they are all our neighbors. They make our society run.

And we made a pact with them. We agreed to pay them a decent wage, health benefits, limited job security, and to allow them to pay into a pension plan that will allow them to live with dignity after their years of service. They agreed to work hard, and to serve under many restrictions, which varied by group. In most cases, they have limited promotion opportunities, and really good wages come only after decades of service. Many have restricted rights on their political activities. And all agreed to serve the public to their best.

But then came the destruction of our economy. The collapse of the financial industry – caused by the collusion of voracious and gluttonous megabanks that were "too big to fail," and elected officials and regulators who dismantled all protections for the people – meant the pension funds were no longer as healthy. The massive tax cuts to the wealthy during two wars plus a near-depression meant trickle down tax increases in every local community.

Led by the braying rightwing and echoed by the news media, "greedy workers" became the problem. And when no one in Harrisburg would act like an adult, take responsibility, and work to save our vital public transportation system, it was up to the union and its workers to ride to the rescue.

So next time you ride a bus or the T, or even pass one, give those terrific heroes a wave and say thank you. They didn't cause the problem. But they are solving it.

The fare you put in the box is nothing compared to the cost these public servants paid to keep our transportation going. We all owe them a big one.

Vice President Joe Biden in town this Saturday!!!

We need tons of volunteers to help out. Please email at erin.anne.hutton@gmail.com and please include your phone number in the email. After that, she'll be in touch with you once we have nailed down the details of the event.  

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Everyone's entitled to Jeanne's opinion: Newt Gingrich - The 'Kiss My Ass, Women Voters' Ca...: It should come as no surprise to anyone that Newt Gingrich has a gender chasm going against him with women. How could he not? His disdain...

Attorney General Debate

Sunday, January 29, 2012   
Meet and Greet 1 p.m.   Debate 2 p.m.  

Wightman School Community Building

5604 Solway Street,  Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh

For Directions: www.carriagehouse.org/Wightman_House/about_wightman.htm

Co-Sponsored  by the 14th & 7th Ward Democratic Committee & 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club

Are you tired of hearing that no Democrat has ever been elected as the Pennsylvania Attorney General? This is the year we can change that.  Democratic Candidates Kathleen Kane and Patrick Murphy will be in attendance and presenting their case for their election as our Democratic nominee. Come join us. It’s free and we’ll have good food.  For more information contact Sam Hens-Greco at samhensgreco@gmail.com  or at 412-427-2486

OH MY!

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-blinq/Is-Tom-Corbett-running-a-state-or-a-circus.html

Is Tom Corbett Running a State or a Circus?

Journalists live and die by a standard often called the Cheerios test. That is, how will a story play over breakfast? Specifically, will graphic details and/or language render an average reader sick to her stomach, unable to chew and swallow?

I have pushed the limit on this test and must give props to my colleagues Angela Couloumbis and Amy Worden today for their artful handling of this  front-page story about Harrisburg's most bizarre bureaucrat.

I refer to the brief, righteous reign of Robert W. Patterson, a $104,470 official at the Department of Public Welfare who moonlighted at a conservative faith-based journal, where he wrote stories about semen as a mental health elixir for women.

Yes, that guy. The one who likened sperm to a no-cost and plentiful antidepressant and said women who take birth control pills do so at the risk of winding up spinsters.

Patterson, my colleagues explained, was hired in October by Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander as a special assistant. In addition to his duties lording over millions of poor Pennsylvanians, Patterson had a side job: He edited The Family in America, a journal published by a Midwestern research center that promotes the "natural human family" and opposes abortion, divorce and homosexuality.

In the journal, Patterson has weighed in on everything from what he called "misguided" programs that grew out of the 1960s War on Poverty - programs now administered by DPW - to what he described as a woman's ideal role in society: married and at home raising children, the story explained.

For instance, he wrote about research that he said showed that if women wanted to find "Mr. Right," they should shun birth control pills; and if they wanted to improve their mood, they should not insist that their men wear condoms lest they miss out on beneficial chemicals found in semen.

I have not had the privilege of meeting this shining star of state government, but he must be the only public official in modern history to argue that condoms are the enemy.

I am also super-interested in finding therapists who prescribe unprotected sex for depressed female patients. Anyone? Anyone?

Patterson, my colleagues found, also wrote that "semen-exposed women" [his phrase, fabulous isn't it?] perform better on concentration and cognitive tasks. If that's an established fact of science, why aren't parents injecting girls with the good stuff before crucial standardized tests and the SATs?

And, not to question Patterson's homophobic street cred, but women aren't the only people who can "absorb" semen. So can't gay men benefit from this miracle drug, too?

The Corbett administration quickly accepted Patterson's resignation after my colleagues began poking around. No one would say why such a luminary was hired for a six-figure state post, but let's not forget that Alexander himself has had an, er, notable tenure.

The DPW chief seems to see his job as punishing the poor, booting more than 150,000 people -- including 88,000 children -- off medical assistance and imposing an asset test on Pennsylvanians who receive food stamps.

While I'm thinking about it, Corbett also made a curious choice in his health commissioner Eli Avila, he of the badge, jacket and super-sized ego.

So what is it: Is the governor running a state or a circus? Wherever does he find these fellas?

-- Monica Yant Kinney

Running for Office is $$$$

Running for any office gets pretty expensive pretty quickly, and running for president burns up money faster than any other office. Lots of candidates sell t-shirts with their names on them to supporters to raise money, but the Obama-Biden re-election campaign is going above and beyond with some of the merchandise they have for sale this year.

The “Made in the USA” mug makes light of the “birthers” who questioned whether the president was born in the United States and who have been a lot quieter since Obama’s long-form birth certificate was released. That same document is printed on this mug, while on the other side, the president laughs that anyone would get so worked up about the natural-born citizen clause.

Click here to buy a Made in the USA mug

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have lunch together once every week, but the Vice President can join you every morning at breakfast. Start your day off right with a “Cup of Joe” mug.

Click here for Cup of Joe!

Later in the day, he will join you for your own private “Beer Summit” if you pick up this can holder, emblazoned with the Vice President’s photo and the toast “Cheers champ.”

Click here to buy the Joe Biden Can Holder

Finally, grill some burgers at a summertime voter registration drive wearing a “Fired up – ready to grill” apron and spatula with the 2012 logo.

Click here for the tailgate pack!

Death of Margaret Wolak, former member of the Seventh Ward Committee and Edward Frank, father of Rob Frank

From the desk of Barbara Ernsberger, Ward 7 District 2
October 26, 2010

Dear Shadyside Dems:

Margaret Wolak, a former member of the Seventh Ward Democratic committee passed away on Saturday, October 23, 2010. She lived on Wallingford Street and was a member of the committee when Jim Cunningham was a chairperson. It was a liberal and independent committee in the days when there really was a machine. They helped Pete Flaherty get elected as Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh and defeated endorsed Democratic candidate, Harry Kramer. (Harry Kramer went on to become a Common Pleas Court Judge.) The viewing will be at Freygogel's funeral home on Wednesday afternoon and evening, and the funeral is 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 28, 2010. Check the obituary for the location. On a personal note, my Mother became friends with Margaret when they were both undergraduates at Pitt on scholarships in the 1940's. Margaret lived with my Mother's family on the South side, when she needed a place to stay, (no dormitories and a housing shortage during the war) and my Mother introduced her to her husband, Michael in a blind date. The Wolaks had six children and their daughter, Maryann, was a friend on mine at Pitt in the 1970's ,and sponsored my membership for the Tri Delta Sorority. We have remained friends and in contact to this day although maryann is now a doctor in New York.

Margaret remained active her entire live: most recently in the anti-war demonstrations, and in parish committees on racial outreach. She was a volunteer on my campaign last year and specialized in phone calling.

The other news is that Edward Frank, father of Rob Frank, died on Sunday, October 24, 2010. He was a photographer for the Press. His son is a member of the Nineteenth Ward Committee, State Committee, and has worked for Gene Riccardi as a council person, and as a volunteer in campaigns for Max Baer, Bill Peduto, Dan Onorato, and Me (to name a few). The viewing is before the funeral that will take place on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of the Mount. Rob Frank can be reached at 116 Augusta Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15211, or (412) 431-4828, and robfrank@winning.com.