CHS Gift Card Drive (Steelers Watch Party & Chevy Test Drive)

Community Human Services Corporation (CHS) provides a variety of services (see below) to those in need in South Oakland and the greater Pittsburgh area.

They have many opportunities for you to help out kids, families and adults this holiday season and there's a really fun one this Sunday hosted by iheartPGH.com:

Chevy Road to the Playoffs Steelers Tailgate Party/Holiday Drive for CHS
WHEN: Sunday, December 5, 2010 6-10pm, 6pm: Tailgate Party Starts, 8:20: Kick Off Steelers Vs. Ravens
WHERE: Double Wide Grill, East Carson and 24th Streets, South Side, Pittsburgh 15203
WHAT: "Come down to Double Wide Grill to watch the Steelers game, test drive Chevy vehicles, donate gift cards to CHS and win prizes

Please consider bringing an extra gift card to donate to the CHS Holiday Drive (http://www.chscorp.org//Holiday%20Giving.htm) Scroll down for additional gift card info.

Everyone who attends will receive an entry to the raffle for Steeler’s Gift BAskets and Double Wide Gift Certificates. For each $5 in gift cards donated your will receive another raffle entry."

RSVP @ Facebook here.

Via CHS:

More than 300 children and adults in our area will benefit from this year’s Holiday Gift Drive sponsored by Community Human Services Corporation (CHS), a Pittsburgh-based non-profit, with the help of two notable co-chairs: Kevin Acklin and Monica Douglas.

CHS seeks donations of gift cards, presents and cash contributions and provides a host of opportunities for individuals, families and groups to become involved. This includes adopting an entire family, sponsoring an individual, contributing a food basket or donating gift cards from local retailers and restaurants.

CHS assists more than 1,500 homeless children, seniors, veterans and adults by providing affordable housing, mental health supports, health care, shelter, rental assistance, and eviction prevention programs and also provides a variety of services for families, seniors , disabled adults and youth.

“With high rates of unemployment and increasing reliance on safety net services such as food stamps, it might seem frivolous to focus on holiday gifts,” observes Sue Kerr, CHS Program Director. “However, this program helps families maintain a semblance of normalcy in the midst of economic chaos and perhaps avoid making disastrous financial decisions based on emotional needs rather than their basic financial needs.”

With 50% of votes in, Ravenstahl far ahead and Acklin conceding

From Early Returns:

At 49.5% of the city votes counted, the mayoral percentages are holding steady:

56% for Ravenstahl, 24% for Harris and 20% for Acklin.

and

With around half of all votes counted, Independent challenger Kevin Acklin has conceded to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, his campaign spokesman said tonight.

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Pittsburgh Mayoral Debate at Noon on WPXI

A reminder that the third and final Pittsburgh Mayoral Debate will be broadcast at Noon today on WPXI.

And, Lil Mayor Luke has lost one of his biggest boosters.
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Why I'm voting for Franco Dok Harris

It ain't just a vote against Lil Mayor Luke.

A few months ago I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Franco Dok Harris. His campaign had invited a group of progressive, activist women to have a conversation with the candidate. Can anyone imagine Ravenstahl doing this kind of outreach? Yes, I guess that is rhetorical.

The endorsements that Harris have received are telling: gay rights organization Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh, the Veterans Alumni Association of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania National Organization for Women. They speak to a candidate who is truly progressive.

His platform is also progressive. First, he has a positive vision for the City of Pittsburgh, but one which recognizes the problems that we face including: violence in our neighborhoods, a [city with a] history of actively excluding strong professional women from City Governance and a current administration who is unwilling to listen to those who feel they have no voice. He also is a candidate who cares about campaign finance reform and transparency.

Franco Dok Harris is a candidate with actual business and entrepreneurial experience who promises to focus on creating family-sustaining jobs and revitalizing our neighborhoods by empowering small-business owners.

He has a vision for a Pittsburgh which is not just green buildings, but also creating sustainable businesses and sustainable neighborhoods -- an actual platform for our future.

During our sit-down, I found a candidate who is sharply intelligent, knowledgeable, funny and self deprecating -- a world away from our present mayor.

And Kevin Acklin? I truly appreciate his focus on the Ravenstahl Administration's personal and corporate favoritism. He also has a compelling personal story. However, that story reminds me that here is a person who faced great financial hardships growing up, yet somehow came to the conclusion to become a Republican -- can you say cognitive dissonance? And, yes, he supported Santorum and Hart and only switched party affiliations right before running for mayor. (He's also someone who couldn't even beat a candidate who dropped out before an election). Moreover, Acklin is anti choice and I simply do not trust anti choice candidates as having my best interests at heart "pro life" personally but pro choice practically speaking but won't call himself pro choice or something like that (see comments).

For all these reasons, I will happily cast my vote on Tuesday for the person who I believe offers the best opportunity to actually move Pittsburgh forward:

Franco Dok Harris


***********************************************************************************

NOTE: The Other Political Junkie would like to add that he no longer lives in the City of Pittsburgh, but if he did, he would vote for Harris.
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Pittsburgh Mayoral Debates, Round 2

Regarding last week's debate, I noted the following exchange:

The candidates are allowed to ask each other questions and Acklin asks Lukey, "Who are John Verbanac and Ed Grattan and what role do they play in your administration?" Lukey answers with "John Verbanac and Ed Grattan are friends of mine and they have no formal role in my administration."

The other shoe dropped last night when Acklin followed up with this:

"Our campaign has come into receipt of very specific documents and e-mails that prove that Mr. Verbanac has had a very intimate relationship with your administration," Mr. Acklin said to the mayor.

"He has written your speeches. He literally puts words into your mouth. He's called the shots on who you hire and fire. He advises you on city policies and developments. . ... It is very clear, Mr. Ravenstahl, that you lied to the people of this city on Saturday."

The mayor responded, "Your accusations are wrong, they're inappropriate and I think it shows the level to which apparently this campaign is going to go over the next couple of weeks, bringing private citizens into conversations, making accusations that are false like Kevin just did. ... I would just advise Mr. Acklin to be very, very careful."

Bram has excerpts of some of the emails at The Pittsburgh Comet.

If nothing else, they demonstrate that Verbanac has a profound relationship with and influence on Ravenstahl's Administration -- formal or not.

While the Acklin campaign has turned over the documents to the FBI has said that the documents were turned over to the FBI before the campaign received them, whether or not any actual illegalities occurred is unclear. Acklin has a press conference scheduled at his campaign headquarters this afternoon to speak about the contents of the Verbanac emails.

It's certainly been apparent for a while now that Acklin likes to play hardball. He's also good at it. If memory serves me correctly, Patrick Dowd had far more concrete ammunition against Lil Mayor Luke but couldn't get much traction. Which leads me to Franco Dok Harris.

It's sad to read in the P-G that after the debate:

While reporters shuttled between the mayor and Mr. Acklin, Mr. Harris, who turned in a solid debate performance, was largely ignored by the media.

It's a shame because I think that Harris provides a very positive vision for Pittsburgh, has progressive values like concerns for transparency and campaign finance reform, and yet, is not afraid to speak to issues like violence in the neighborhoods.

And, Luke? While he may have curbed his tendency towards tacky and juvenile public and semi public displays, he still comes off as an arrogant frat boy during the debates. Mr. Privilege. They may have had to talk Acklin down last night, but Lukey was constantly speaking out of turn. Also, when he talks about taxing college students and hospital patients, he seems to forget that many of them are actual Pittsburgh residents.

UPDATE: More on the Verbanic issue at Bob Mayo's blog.
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2nd Pittsburgh Mayoral Debate Tonight

WHAT: Pittsburgh Mayoral Debate
WHEN: Tonight, Wednesday, October 21, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
WHERE: On your teevee (WTAE)
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Just a reminder

Just a reminder that when the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette declares this in today's less-than-ringing endorsement of Lil Mayor Luke

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who was not endorsed by the Post-Gazette in the Democratic primary, is being challenged by two independents: Franco Dok Harris of Shadyside and Kevin Acklin of Squirrel Hill. [Emphasis added]

...that they had to remind folks back during that primary that they had not endorsed Lukey for that race despite what his campaign fliers falsely implied then.

Maybe Lukey actually does have a " vision for the future" vision of the future.


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Today's Pittsburgh Mayoral Debate Available Online Now

While the debate between incumbent Democrat Lil Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and independents Franco Dok Harris and Kevin Acklin (moderated by Ken Rice and Jon Delano) won't air on KDKA until Noon today, you can watch it online now at:

http://kdka.com/video/?id=63992@kdka.dayport.com

Here's my thoughts on the debate:

Lukey claims he's taking this campaign seriously, but I notice that his campaign web site appears not to have been updated since May.

Acklin and Ravenstahl both seem to be far more up the butts of the police while Harris raises concerns about their actions during the G-20.

Acklin mentions that he was for the expansion of an "anti-discrimination bill" up before County Council and how that cost him among Republicans but he somehow leaves out that the expansion was all about teh gays. Is he having it both ways with the teevee audience who will likely not look this up or is this a genuine oversight?

On explaining why he's running as an independent rather than as a Republican (which he's run as before), Ackin says "I woke up one day and found myself on the other side" but fails to mention that that day was right before he started his mayoral campaign... (Lukey is the only one on the Republican ticket.)

The debate got a bit testy when questions arose about Harris' qualifications for mayor. He is qualified because he has lived in the city for the required number of years but was still registered to vote in Sewickley until earlier this year.

Drinking Game: Take a shot every time Acklin says "door knocking."

Check out the look on Lil Mayor Luke's face when Acklin mentions that he's met with current members of Lukey's administration. Harris is amused.

Rice mentions Pat Ford. Lukey says that he's "growing increasingly comfortable with staff we have." Well, I hope so, it's been three years, no?

Harris mentions that he's spoken with Judy O'Connor. (I wish the camera had been on Luke for that.)

The candidates are allowed to ask each other questions and Acklin asks Lukey, "Who are John Verbanac and Ed Grattan and what role do they play in your administration?" Lukey answers with "John Verbanac and Ed Grattan are friends of mine and they have no formal role in my administration." (Verbanac Wikipedia page here. More on both of them in the comments section at the The Pittsburgh Comet here and here.)

Harris makes a play for women, minorities and labor.

After watching the debate, I still like Harris best and will be voting for him.

http://www.harrisforpittsburgh.com/

http://www.acklinforpittsburgh.com/

http://www.lukeformayor.com/

UPDATE: Notice that in the above URLs Harris and Acklin are both for the city and Lukey is for...himself!
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Call a whambulance for Lil Mayor Luke!

In an article in yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Lil Mayor Luke Ravenstahl goes whaaaaaa that he's had to suffer running in elections* and that people have had the gall to actually run against him in those elections:

"What I can tell you is that the existing relationships we have, in many cases, are not beneficial to the residents of the city," Mr. Ravenstahl acknowledged.

"I think what's been unique in my three years, from day one and even as we sit here today, I've constantly been running for office," he said. "One of them [Councilman Patrick Dowd] ran against me. Another one [Councilman William Peduto] started to, a third [Council President Doug Shields] had indicated his interest, and so that political battle that they've been engaged in really has been unhealthy for city government."

Someone needs to remind Fluke Ravenstahl that the circumstance which led him to face two elections in three years is the same one that installed him in the office without an election.

Later in the same article, Lil Mayor Luke sheds more tears with this:

"When you look back and consider some of the things that have been said -- I mean literally accusations that this administration should be in jail, or I should be in jail, or I've broken the law, some of the personal attacks that they make -- it's very difficult for me to deal with somebody that believes that or at least says that."

The mayor insists he wants better ties in the future, but added: "Right now, I don't sense the other side of the hall, the majority of the other side of the hall -- I do have some good relationships -- being genuine about putting the past behind us. If they're genuine about it, then we're genuine about it, but it's hard for us. We can't make the entire lift; it has to be a two-way street."

Let's also remind Lukey that he both threatened the paychecks of Council's staff and had his creature threaten his opponents on Council with immediate removal from office for crossing him.

And finally, he should be reminded that when talking about jail, Steelerstahl has only really been handcuffed by his own actions.


* Luke's not the only one who thinks that elections are some big distraction for the public.
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Debating the Mayoral Debates

From Camp Acklin:

MAYORAL CAMPAIGNS ACCEPT ACKLIN DEBATE CHALLENGE, REFUSE TOWN HALL FORUM

PITTSBURGH - After three months of challenges and delays, the competing candidates for Mayor of Pittsburgh have accepted Kevin Acklin's call to debate, agreeing to participate in three televised events. Neither Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, nor Franco "Dok" Harris, agreed to take part in a town hall forum debate, which the Acklin Campaign proposed and at least one local station was interested in hosting.

"I'm thrilled that voters will be able to see all three of us on the same stage," Acklin said, "But I'm also disappointed that the other candidates refused to answer questions directly from voters. As candidates for public office, we have a responsibility to interact with voters and directly address their concerns."

"I'm out in the neighborhoods talking to voters every day, and they always get straight answers from me. That will be my commitment when I'm elected Mayor."

The debates will be broadcast on KDKA, WPXI, and WTAE. The KDKA Debate will be taped on Friday, October 16th, and most likely air the next day. WPXI will tape on the 29th and air on WPXI Saturday, November 1st, and on PCNC November 1st and 2nd. WTAE will record its debate on Wednesday, October 21st, and most likely air it that night at 7pm -- making it the only prime-time debate this election cycle.

All three debates will be podium-style and will not be filmed in front of a studio audience, despite calls from the Acklin campaign for a more interactive, voter-friendly format.

Camp Harris Responds:

Inaccurate statement by challenger amounts to intentional misleading and smearing of opponent

Challenger in Mayoral Race Kevin Acklin released a misleading statement today regarding the willingness of Candidate for Mayor Franco Dok Harris to engage in specific debate formats. “This amounts to a flat out lie by the Acklin campaign and we’d like to see it retracted,” commented campaign manager Michael Capozzoli.

The Franco Dok Harris campaign has been expecting to engage in debates since their initial announcement in March. Furthermore, the initial release requesting debates included Town Hall Meetings as a desirable format.

“This kind of inaccurate and insinuating release has no place in a progressive and above board campaign," says Franco Dok Harris. "It’s a minor point, did we ask for town halls or not, but it’s sleazy and is exactly the tactic that I am campaigning against. To somehow insinuate that I am unwilling to debate and answer voters' questions, or that he was the sole individual pushing for debates is ludicrous."

In fact, the debates were organized by Franco Dok Harris' campaign manager, Michael Capozzoli. “The Mayor has one person on staff who happens to be an old friend of mine. When we approached them about putting together debates, he asked me to help set them up, which we both did. So, in reality, Acklin is accepting our invitation. While we could have spun that to make Acklin look insignificant, we chose not to. We intentionally took the high road because Dok believes this should be about ideas and about who is the best candidate, not about who can lie or spin most effectively,” said Capozzoli. “Furthermore, in my conversations with the stations, I heard strong resistance to trying to do a town hall based on logistical issues. I suggested taking questions by email and Youtube and a number of possible ways to incorporate voter questions. In the end, we settled on the format the broadcast outlets wanted. We’re just happy the Mayor agreed to debate at all, frankly.”

The Harris campaign is calling on Acklin to issue a retraction of that statement and to clean up their campaign to exclude this kind of pointless politicking and focus on the issues.

The Post-Gazette's Early Returns blog notes:

We haven't talked to the TV stations, but it seems like it's easier for them to shoot in a closed studio space than set up for a more complicated town hall -- in fact, we can't remember a Pittsburgh TV station ever taking live audience quesitons in a mayoral debate. And if you're trying to gauge TV interest in the debate, note that none of the three debates will be anywhere close to live -- the second debate won't be broadcast for three days. [Wouldn't that be the third debate? See below.]

I will note that the Acklin Campaign will use any occasion to take a swipe at Dok.

Here's the debate schedule:

- KDKA will tape on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 16, and likely broadcast the following night (Saturday, October 17th) after college football.
- WTAE will record its debate on Wednesday, October 21st, and most likely air it that night at 7pm.
- WPXI will tape on the 29th and air on WPXI Saturday, November 1st, and on PCNC November 1st and 2nd.
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Franco Dok Harris Joins Kevin Acklin In Airing TV Ads

I was surprised while watching MSNBC this morning to see a campaign ad for Franco Dok Harris. For a couple of seconds, I thought that I was watching a local news report until I realized that I had switched from local news to cable.

Here it is:


I did receive a press release from the Acklin campaign (specifically from Chad Hermann, Communications Director) two days ago stating that Acklin purchased the first TV ad buy of the fall campaign, but I haven't actually seen his ad on the air yet (you can view it here).

Luke, your turn.


Campaign Web Sites:
http://www.harrisforpittsburgh.com
http://www.acklinforpittsburgh.com
http://lukeformayor.com
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Douchebaggery

I've taken petitions around for numerous candidates to get them on a ballot. Some of you may have as well.

If you have, you know the drill. (You pretty much can repeat it in your sleep.)

1) You caution folks that their signature has to be legible (don't sign it like you'd sign for your debit/credit card).

2) You give them the right date to enter (because you don't want, say, signatures dated 2/11/09, then one after those signed 2/10/09, then others following with 2/12/09 -- got's to be chronological order).

3) And, you tell them to write out "Pittsburgh" even though there's not a lot of room. If they screw up and write "PGH" you let them know that it leaves an opening for some douchenozzle to waste time and money on a challenge, but ultimately their entry won't be thrown out on that basis alone (mostly I believe because the US Postal Service accepts that as an abbreviation).

So what do we know about the challenge of Franco Dok Harris' petitions from "lawyers tied to the campaign of another independent mayoral candidate, Kevin Acklin"?

Well, first we know that the Acklin campaign put out a telephone conference for the media, a downloadable, colorful 11-page .pdf, and a follow up summary email all disputing Harris' right to be on the ballot the morning of the court challenge.

We know that Harris won the court challenge.

And, we know that 'the challenge included questions about voters who failed to spell out “Pittsburgh” and wrote “PGH” on the petition' (according to the Harris campaign).

I'm surprised that Republican newly independent candidate Acklin didn't work in ACORN into his presentation to the media.

Douchebaggery indeed.

Was it worth it?

Thankfully, we seem to be back on track today with both Harris and Acklin calling for debates and Lil Mayor Luke -- as expected -- not responding.
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Franco Dok Harris Challenges Rivals to Put Limits on Campaign Contributions

From an email from the Harris camp sent to other Pittsburgh mayoral candidates:

To All Candidates for the Office of Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh:

I declared I would maintain campaign finance contribution limits on day one of my campaign, and I have kept my word. Because I am committed to the people of this city, not large contributor, back-door influence peddlers of the past, I remain the only candidate to enforce federal limits.

Following in the footsteps of President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, I am choosing to hold to the federal fundraising guidelines so that the people of the city of Pittsburgh can elect our Mayor--not special interests. We all need to have a voice in our future and we need to know that no one will have special privilege with the Mayor because they contributed greatly to his or her campaign. The federal limits of $4800 per individual and $10,000 per PAC are fair limits, and for candidates dedicated to transparency in government this should be enough. These limits offer every single person from every single neighborhood in this city an opportunity to have a voice in who they want to lead us towards a green future full of jobs that can sustain a family, and safe places for our children to play.

I invite Mayor Ravenstahl and all Mayoral candidates to join me in utilizing the federal fundraising limits so that we can ensure that the Mayor is beholden only to the people of the city of Pittsburgh.

Sincerely Yours,

Franco Dok Harris
Independent Progressive
For Mayor

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Kevin Acklin Officially Kicks-off Indie Mayoral Bid Tomorrow

WHAT: Kevin Acklin to Officially Kick-Off His Independent Mayoral Campaign
WHEN: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Program begins at 6:45 p.m.
WHERE: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, (Corner of Fifth and Shady Avenues), 6300 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

"Acklin will address supporters and lay out his vision for reforming city government and unleashing Pittsburgh’s potential."
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Acklin Pulling Out the Big Guns

From Acklin for Pittsburgh:

KEVIN ACKLIN ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF VETERAN REPORTER ANDY GASTMEYER AS PRESS SECRETARY

PITTSBURGH – Independent Mayoral Candidate Kevin Acklin announced today that veteran news reporter Andy Gastmeyer will join his mayoral campaign and serve in the position of Press Secretary.

“I’m honored that someone of Andy’s impeccable reputation and journalistic integrity has agreed to join our campaign team. Andy has always been committed to making our city a better place, and I’m grateful that he’s joining our effort,” Acklin said.

“Kevin Acklin has what it takes to win this race and be a tremendous mayor for the city of Pittsburgh. I’ve covered Pittsburgh politics for many years, and I’ve seen first-hand how Grant Street runs. I know we can do much better. So I look forward to this new challenge, to working with many of my former colleagues in a new capacity, and to bringing Pittsburgh the kind of leadership it deserves,” said Gastmeyer.
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Andy Gastmeyer was a reporter for NBC Affiliate WPXI in Pittsburgh for over twenty-four years. He was a member of WPXI’s Investigative Unit and regularly covered Pittsburgh city politics. Andy retired from WPXI in December 2008. Pittsburgh City Council declared December 9, 2008, “Andy Gastmeyer Day,” to honor him for decades of excellence in reporting.

I'm only half kidding about the "big guns" part -- after all Lil Mayor Luke uses out-of-state hired guns for his campaign -- but I do think that Gastmeyer is a good addition to the assumed participation of Matt Merriman-Preston. (Even with Early Return's reminder that DeSantis had former WTAE-TV reporter Meghan Jones Rolla as his spokesperson.)
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I had a feeling...

...When I heard Matt Merriman-Preston, political consultant to Natalia Rudiak (& Chelsa Wagner & Bill Peduto), talking up independent mayoral candidate Kevin Acklin in this video interview with Bram that Matt might have more than a passing interest in Acklin.

This evening I received a email invitation from Merriman-Preston to join the Acklin for Pittsburgh Facebook group.

So, I guess we know what Matt will be up to after his vacation.

(Acklin filed petitions on the 19th to secure his place on the ballot in the November 3rd general election.)
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Another Independent Bid for Mayor: Kevin Acklin

Kevin Acklin has been mentioned (see here and here) as a possible Republican challenger to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Yesterday, he announced that he will run as an Independent:

Today I filed with the Allegheny County Elections Division to register as an Independent. Over the next two months, I’ll be meeting with residents and activists, with public servants and private citizens, with elected officials and community leaders of all parties and political persuasions, to hear more about what they want for Pittsburgh, and to test the waters for an independent mayoral run.

Many people have approached me and encouraged me to seek the Republican nomination for mayor of the city of Pittsburgh. My name has often been mentioned in the press as a potential, even likely, candidate for that nomination. While I appreciate both the support and the encouragement, I’ve decided, after careful thought and deliberation, that I cannot in good conscience follow that path.

I’ve spent countless hours working and volunteering all across Pittsburgh, helping to revitalize the city one project and one neighborhood at a time.. As I've been working in the neighborhoods, many people have approached me to talk about the new kind of leadership they want for Pittsburgh, and they’ve urged me to help bring that change. They’ve told me to listen to my heart, to follow the courage of my convictions, and to consider running for mayor as an Independent. I’ve been listening to them, and I’m going to continue to do so.

I’ve set this timeline and established this process because I want to be sure that whatever I do is in the best interests of the people and the city of Pittsburgh. If I decide to enter the mayor’s race, I want to be the kind of candidate who’s both inspired and empowered by his fellow citizens.. And I pledge to run the kind of campaign that makes it possible to run the best kind of government: one that unites, and that truly speaks for, everyone in the city.

You may remember Acklin as the guy who ran (and lost) against Chuck McCullough for an at-large seat on Allegheny County Council.

While Acklin, an attorney, doesn't appear to have been your typical R (he provides volunteer pro bono legal services for green technology companies, community groups, and victims of domestic violence; he's the founder and Executive Director of RenewPittsburgh which, among other things, helped in the restoration of playwright August Wilson's boyhood home in the Hill District; he attended the January rally for equal rights for the LGBT community) make no mistake, his heart belongs to (the) daddy (party).

If it was up to Acklin, Mittens would be Prez, Missy Hart would be back in the House, and he ♥s Tim Murphy. Ick!

Of course, he'd still be better than Lil Mayor Luke but that's damning him (and anybody else) with faint praise.
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