WTAE PIttsburgh: Mayoral Recall Case

[JM]

has been dismissed by the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Only the legislature has the power to recall mayors in PA.

Later,
JM

[bleedingheart]

1. I think that's the right thing to do. if people don't like him...vote him

out next time.

Personally I think his biggest problem is the fact that he is sucking up to big business instead of focusing on the issues of Pittsburghers.

[JM]

2. Agreed...

Personally, I wish I could find out if the bozo who started the campaign to oust Murphy vited in the last election.

Murphy needs to focus far more on homegrown business development and tech transfer from the Universities.

Later,
JM

[Spoon]

3. Is this him?

http://www.pittsburghpulp.com/content/2003/08_21/news_cover_story.shtml "No, Really.
Impeach Him. "

[bleedingheart]

6. yup that's the Mayor...

He has been playing republican for so long pandering to business interests that his mind has gone soft.

[HootieMcBoob]

4. Pittsburgh is a great city.

It needs desperately to take advantage somehow of all those kids from Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. A lot of cities would kill to have access to that natural resource. Focus on putting businesses in place that will keep the younger people from leaving town and that in addition to the area being really gorgeous and full of outdoor activities the city could take off like nobodies business. It's too old folks focused now. Think young.

[bleedingheart]

5. Yes...Pittsburgh does need to think young...its a great place

I love it but .... the cynicism is so bad that you could cut it with a knife, serve it on toast and choke on it.

My nephew is currently at CMU (software/robotics)...doing well I would like to keep him here!

[young_at_heart]

7. It's our former home and I miss it often

I remember reading an article that said Allegheny County was the second highest in terms of senior population (Dade County, Fl was the highest). The young people leaving was always a topic of conversation and I guess it still is.

[Junkdrawer]

8. I'm actually working on my little corner of the problem....

Lots of great technical resources, lots of politicians willing to help, no business people. Oh, there are lots of corporate climbers but no entrepreneurs who understand how to put together a decent business plan w/ decent marketing.

And I say that as a technical person who has, at one time of his life, been in an area of the country with real, honest-to-god business people. I sit in "business development" meetings as the technical guy and, when I hear the "business people" speak, I think "My God, I know three times what these people know about marketing. We are so screwed."

[Efilroft Sul]

9. Pittsburgh: Formerly Someplace Special

As a Gen X-er, I view the biggest problem with Pittsburgh is its conservatism. I mean this in its apolitical sense.

Pittsburgh has never, ever been kind to new ideas. Half the population still thinks the steel mills are coming back, the Steelers will win a fifth Super Bowl, the new ballyard will make the Pirates competitive, and the city government should exclusively be run by the Irish.

The corporate environment is outright hostile to hiring the whiz kids out of any local college or university, even when times are good. During the Internet boom of the Clinton years, the Carnegie Mellon types knew better to skip town to where their talents would better be appreciated. The only New Economy company that made any mark in Pittsburgh was Free Markets, and that isn't saying much considering it's nothing more than a glorified shopping service.

Any attempt by local government to lure young workers and/or retain them is half-hearted. Young professional groups like PUMP say they do all they can to attract and retain the best and brightest, but they do so halfheartedly and instead seem to focus their energies on getting everyone piss-drunk in Market Square on Fridays during summer rather than riding herd on the civic leaders.

In fairness to the guy who tried to lead the recall effort, Mayor Murphy has been a complete jackass. Six years ago there was a referendum to fund the new stadia for the Steelers and Pirates that was defeated by a 60/40 ratio. Murphy, on the night before Thanksgiving recess, was able to get public funding for these stadia tacked on to an appropriations bill as a rider -- which the legislators never read because the vote happened late at night. The next day, Murphy was gloating over his bureaucratic ju-jitsu move and blamed the legislature for not taking the time to do their jobs. Fiscally responsible types have never forgotten this.

With social-political conditions such as these, it's no wonder cynicism flourishes in Pittsburgh. Until the young are appreciated for what they bring to the table, and until the young prove their seriousness about resolving issues, the situation will never change. If you left Pittsburgh for greener pastures, you'd be crazy to come back here. If I find something better, the family and I will pull up stakes, too. This town needs an enema.

[Jack The Tab]

10. My Mom was telling me about that move by Murphy...

She said it was a slimy republican move by a man who should have known better.

My Dad is a city employee who could possibly be laid off by next year. Apparently, they've been SLASHING city jobs in an effort to head of the bankruptcy.

My Mom also said that Murphy pulled a fast one with the state legislature that they haven't forgotten about and are now giving him some payback by delaying some funding or something like that.