Jonathan B. Robison

The Democratic Ticket

We have been in politics some forty years, but this year we are saying something that we probably never said before – vote the Democratic ticket.

It isn’t the individual candidates, although the Democrats are mostly pretty good, and several are excellent. It’s the parties. The Democrats continue to range from moderate to liberal. But the Republican Party, on the state and national level, is firmly in the grip of a gang that is committed to making the rich and powerful more rich and powerful. This gang spreads lies and fear to get us into war around the world, while they spread fear to undermine our Constitution at home. That is a consistent philosophy. It’s called fascism. What they are trying to do to our country and to the world, is scary. So we are suggesting that you pull the Democratic Party lever.

There are many issues on which a Democratic majority in Congress and in the PA House offers hope and on which continued power in the hands of the so-called Republicans is a menace. There is economic justice, and the growing gulf between the rich and poor. There is global warming and the entire environment. There are constitutional rights. It’s hard to believe that the gang in power wants to water down both the Geneva Convention and the ancient writ of habeas corpus.

Then there’s Iraq. Our thinking has just been confirmed by the National Intelligence Estimate, the consensus of all 16 of our government’s own intelligence agencies. The continuing war helps spread terrorism – it helps the terrorists recruit, raise funds, and train for their future. We should get out before conditions get worse. Meanwhile, I will continue to vigil against the war. Almost every Saturday I (Jon) am either in Regent Square (Forbes and Braddock) from Noon to 1, or in East Liberty (Penn and Highland) from 1 to 2.

Bob Casey for U.S.Senate.

The first candidate on the ballot is also the most difficult for us. We ask your vote and support for Bob Casey for the U.S. Senate.

Why are we supporting, for the first time in our years in politics, a candidate who is opposed to a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion? In one word – Santorum. Not to belabor the obvious, Santorum is a fascist. Casey is bad on reproductive rights, but the incumbent is much worse. Casey is wishy-washy on Iraq – but the incumbent is pro-war. Casey is not solid in support of single-payer health care, but the incumbent is opposed. I am sore at Casey’s backers for pushing Barbara Hafer out of the race, but the incumbent is the leader of the gang that runs Congress.

In World War II, we had to make some unpleasant alliances to defeat fascism. I’m not comparing Santorum to Hitler — Mussolini, maybe — Francisco Franco definitely. Santorum not only represents continued control of Congress by the gang in power. He actively supports policies which are making the rich richer and the poor poorer. He supports continuing the war, trashing our Constitution and our environment, and so on.

I appreciate single-issue politics, especially on abortion rights. Before Roe v. Wade, one-third of all the beds at Magee Hospital were occupied by women with problems caused by illegal abortions – and that did not count the women who could go to Sweden, the women who had a good doctor willing to break the law, and the women who went straight to the morgue. That’s why we must defend Roe v, Wade. But this year at the polls, we must defeat fascism.

And on many issues Bob Casey is good. For example, he has been endorsed by Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, who was cruelly murdered for being gay. She pleas “as a mother” because Bob Casey stands for “the rights of all human beings” and opposes the intolerance that led to the death of her son.

You can help Bob Casey in your neighborhood, and help make sure that the voters who are leaning Democrat actually vote Democrat. You can also sign up to volunteer at the Casey headquarters. The Western PA office is 3 Parkway Center, Suite 325, 875 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh 15220. The phone is 412-444-0171 and the website is www.bobcasey.com.

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Re-elect Governor Ed Rendell.

The next office is easy. For Governor and Lieutenant Governor, re-elect Ed Rendell and Catherine Baker Knoll. Ed Rendell has done a good job, especially with the Legislature in hostile hands. He is been solid for workers’ rights, programs such as public transportation, civil rights, lesbian and gay rights, and reproductive rights. His opponent may be capable of this big job. We have no way of knowing.

CONGRESS: MIKE DOYLE, CHAD KLUKO,

& JASON ALTMIRE

Our congressman, Mike Doyle, is good on the issues and excellent serving his constituents. Like his predecessor, Bill Coyne, he is getting better and better, especially on social issues such as reproductive rights and lesbian and gay rights. No Republican is running; his only opponent on the ballot is Titus North, representing the Green party. We like many things North says, but his candidacy is symbolic. We personally like Mike Doyle and happily support him.

The other Congressional races are close, and important to win Democratic control of Congress. The 4th Congressional District runs north from Pittsburgh; the bizarrely gerrymandered 18th runs sort of south and east. In the 4th, the candidate is Jason Altmire, who works in health care and is making it his special issue. In the 18th, the candidate is Chad Kluko, who is stressing the Democrat platform on social issues and increasingly working with independent groups such as Move On.

Incidentally, pro-choice Democratic women are winning primaries and special elections around the country. Emily’s List is doing important fundraising for pro-choice Democratic women.

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PA LEGISLATURE

Shamefully, Oakland is divided among three State Senate districts by the same gerrymandered reapportionment that helps give the Republicans a solid majority in the State Senate. There is little action in that front - State Sen. Jim Ferlo is opposed only by a Constitution party candidate, Sen. Wayne Fontana has no opposition, and Sen. Jay Costa is not up this year.

There is even less action in State Representative districts in this area. In the 19th, including part of Oakland and the Hill, Rep. Jake Wheatley is unopposed. In the 23rd, which includes most of Oakland as well as Squirrel Hill, unopposed incumbent Dan Frankel is one of the leading progressives in the state In the 21st, which stretches from North Oakland to Ross Township, a promising newcomer, Lisa Bennington, is unopposed. Ms. Bennington defeated a good incumbent, Frank Pistella, in the primary. In the 20th, Rep. Don Walko from the upper North Side, an active liberal legislator, has a Republican on the ballot.

One important local race which will help determine control of the Pennsylvania House is Matt Smith in the 42nd District, the Mt. Lebanon area. There is no incumbent – the Republican was defeated in the primary. Another is the 22nd, including Mt. Washington and Overbrook, in which Chelsa Wagner is running against turncoat Michael Diven. Most Democrat incumbents in Allegheny County have little or no opposition, and we will work to defend a Democratic seat in the 30th, including Fox Chapel, Shaler, and Hampton. Sean Flaherty won the usually Republican seat in a special election.

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SPECIAL ELECTION FOR CITY COUNCIL

ON THE NORTH SIDE

There will be a special election for the 1st Council District, which includes the upper North Side and East Allegheny. The Democratic nominee is Darlene Harris, who has experience in government as a member of the Pittsburgh Board of Education. She is outspoken and active, and we certainly need more women on City Council. There is a Republican candidate and several who filed as candidates of their own political parties.

REFERENDUM

There is also a referendum at the top of the machine, authorizing $20 million in bonded indebtedness for state benefits for veterans of the first Exxon war – we mean the first Gulf war. We will vote “yes.” The veterans served, and the mess wasn’t their fault.

SAVE OUR TRANSIT

This fall, we must fight to save our transit system. Pennsylvania’s assistance for operating funds is simply inadequate. Years of interim action and inaction have caught up with us. PAT’s budget for fiscal 2006-2007 requires $31 million in additional operating funds. Without new state sources of money, PAT (and ACCESS) would need fare increases and elimination of about a quarter of their service. That would probably mean NO service on Sundays, very little on Saturdays, and none after 9 p.m. Otherwise, sometime in April, PAT runs out of money and shuts down.

Governor Rendell saved the system two years ago by “flexing” federal highway funds, but he can’t do that again. In January, the legislators have to start everything from scratch, and leaving the problem to them is likely to mean disaster for our public transportation system.

Our best hope is a “lame duck” session of the Legislature, after the election and before the Legislative session ends Nov. 30. The Governor’s Transit Funding and Reform Commission issued a draft report, spelling out the need for $659 million to keep the state’s transit systems going – and $1.013 billion needed for repairs and maintenance on our bridges and roads. (The $1 billion would fund NO significant new capacity highways.) The draft report didn’t offer a solution.

It is hoped that with the election the Legislature and the Governor will approve a solution to funding both for public transportation and for maintaining and fixing our bridges and roads.

What can we do? There will be a public forum Oct. 26, 7 pm, at the Petra International Ministries, 235 Eastgate Dr. (the old East Hills Shopping Center). The sponsor is the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN), an association of some two dozen religious congregations, including several parish councils, several Presbyterian churches, Calvary Episcopal Church, Temple Sinai, and the Islamic Center in Oakland to the Unitarians and the Friends. PIIN will bring together over 1,500 people to get commitments from elected officials and candidates on several key issues, including adequate, dedicated state funding for public transportation. (Single payer health care is also on the agenda.)

Join us Thursday Oct. 26. Mark your calendar. Save the date and help Save Our Transit.

There is some positive transportation news for Oakland. Funds have been approved to do an Alternatives Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the long-sought rapid transit line from downtown to, and ideally through, Oakland. As I (Jon) have repeatedly said, Oakland is the third largest trip generator in the state, ahead of Harrisburg, Erie, or any other PA city.

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New Voting Machines

– hope for the best

So – Allegheny County has new electronic voting machines. The election boards in all the voting districts have been trained.

There are no written back-up voting records, which many other states mandate. People worry about computer problems and hackers. We hope for the best.

Family Matters (Democratic Party)

We have a new chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Jim Burn, who is also a member of the Allegheny County Council and is heading up a team developing an action plan on public transportation for County Executive Dan Onorato. He has started a committee to do new party rules for the county Democratic Committee. We hope the new rules won’t pretend to somehow “enforce” the party endorsements. We know it will never be applied to the big shots. Anyway, congratulations and good luck to Jim Burn.

As you may know, I didn’t run for ward chair. My MS – multiple sclerosis – has me too fatigued to do a proper job. We have an active new chairperson, Eileen Conroy of 3385 Parkview Ave. She is the main staff person for our new City Councilman for the 3rd District, which is some of Oakland along with South Side and Beltzhoover. Congratulations and good luck to Eileen.

A look ahead into 2007

All of a sudden, the mayor of Pittsburgh is Luke Ravenstahl, upon the sad death of Bob O’Connor. Ravenstahl was president of City Council.

The City Charter requires an election for the mayor’s replacement, “as soon as permitted by state law”. Who will be elected? And when? Will it be next year, or not until 2009, when the mayoral election would normally be held? The courts will decide the date. I, Jon, read the City Charter, and my opinion is that the mayoral election should be next year.

Luke Ravenstahl is trying to build on what Bob O’Connor started. Councilman Bill Peduto, who ran in 2005, will probably try again. He has new ideas and a lot of activist young supporters. There are other possibilities, including Mike Lamb, who had been elected Allegheny County Prothonotary before the Country Charter was amended and most county “row offices” abolished.