Jonathan B. Robison

Jonathan and Mary Robison
154 N. Bellefield Ave. #66, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-683-0237 jon@jonrobison.org www.jonrobison.org
April 16, 2010

This is the Robison political newsletter, which is sent in advance of the primary and general elections to about 2,000 people by e-mail and bulk mail. If any friends don’t receive the e-mail edition, it’s probably because we don’t have a correct e-mail address (or have an ‘.edu’ address, which gives us a problem). We will be happy to add any names to the list, preferably with their e-mail address. Some of our friends contribute to help support the newsletter, and we are grateful. If you would like to help with the costs, you are invited to send a check to Robison Political Action Committee, 154 N. Bellefield Ave., #66, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Please forward or give copies of this to any interested friends. The newsletter also will be up on our website.

The Democratic Primary May 18 will feature two good U.S. Senate candidates, an excellent candidate for Governor, and two good candidates for Lieutenant Governor.

Joe SESTAK for Senate
For the U.S. Senate, we prefer Congressman Joe SESTAK over the incumbent, Arlen Specter. Both are pro-choice and supporters of lesbian and gay communities. Sestak is a solid liberal Democrat; Specter has been better since he changed to Democrat. We appreciate that Specter tried to be a moderate-to-liberal Republican. This country was in better shape when we had more of them. Sestak has offered leadership on economic and social issues. On the other hand, Sestak has supported sending more U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan, going beyond President Obama’s position. Yes, the Taliban is awful, but our current “allies” in Afghanistan do not deserve our blood and treasure. We should support and fund the various women’s groups.
Sestak enjoys top ratings from progressive organizations ranging from the AFL-CIO to NOW, and endorsements including the Jewish Chronicle. He will gain support as he becomes better known, and we think that he will be a stronger candidate in the fall against an extreme right-wing opponent. For more information or to volunteer, click on www.JoeSestak.com.

Joe HOEFFEL for Governor
For Pennsylvania Governor we warmly endorse Joe HOEFFEL. He describes himself as “socially liberal and fiscally responsible”. This includes support for early childhood education, environmental protection, affordable health care, and the other essential elements of President Obama’s Democratic program. It includes support for ending our state’s legislation that tries to undo Roe v Wade. It includes standing up to the gun lobby. It includes support for full civil rights and marriage equality for the lesbian and gay communities. Joe Hoeffel is a consistent supporter of adequate funding for public transportation. His leading opponent had said during the previous transit funding crisis that he would block funding for the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) until PAT makes “reforms.” This was strange since, as County Executive, he controls PAT.
Joe Hoeffel is, as he says, “the true progressive” in the Governor’s race. That is why we backed him in 2004 when he ran for the U.S. Senate against Arlen Specter, then a Republican. For more information or to volunteer, click on www.JoeHoeffel2010.com.

Jonathan A. SAIDEL for Lieutenant-Governor
For Lieutenant-Governor, there are again two good candidates. We prefer Jonathan A. SAIDEL over Doris A. Smith-Ribner. Both are well qualified and staunchly liberal. We supported Philadelphia Judge Smith-Ribner when she ran for state court; she would have been excellent. We think Jon Saidel is stronger on the state issues which he would work on as lieutenant-governor. We reviewed both candidates’ questionnaires as members of the Gertrude Stein Political Club, the political organization for LGBT rights. The Stein Club came to the same conclusion we did. It endorsed Saidel and gave Smith-Ribner an honorable mention. (The Stein Club also backed Sestak; Joe Hoeffel was an easy choice.)

Congress and the Legislature
For U.S. Congress, our 14th District Representative Mike DOYLE has no opposition in the primary and no strong opposition for the general election. In the South Hills 18th District, Dan Connolly is unopposed for the Democratic nomination against the Republican incumbent Tim Murphy. In the 4th District to the north, Jason Altmire has no opposition in the Democratic primary; he will probably face right-wing Republican Mary Beth Buchanan this Fall.. Altmire decided to vote against President Obama’s health care reform bill, despite all the revisions. A serious independent candidate with a base in the trade union movement is a possibility for the November election.

In our 42nd State Senate District, Sen. Wayne Fontana has done a good job and has no opposition filed for either the primary or the general. In the 38th State Senate District, which adjoins our district, incumbent Jim Ferlo also has no opposition filed for any party, which is remarkable for a long time comrade and fellow community activist.

There is no primary contest for Legislature in our election district, the 12th District of the 4th Ward, which is represented by Dan Frankel, who is knowledgeable, hardworking, and progressive. The G.O.P. did manage to find someone to put on the ballot against him in the general, possibly because he spends so much time and effort helping Democratic candidates in other districts. There is a fight for the Democratic nomination in the adjacent 9th Election District where we formerly lived. (No Republican filed.) Jake Wheatly is the incumbent in the 19th Legislative District, which is mostly the Hill. He is being challenged by Tonya Payne, who was defeated for re-election to the Pittsburgh City Council. Both candidates are good, pro-choice, and supporters of the rights of the LGBT communities. Rep. Wheatley has diligently sent staff to community meetings in Bellefield and Oakland. The Stein Club, after discussion, endorsed Payne because of her work on domestic violence prevention, while giving an honorable mention to Wheatley. Also running is Mark Brentley, Sr., who is a member of the Board of Education and somewhat erratic. Adam Ravenstahl, the mayor’s brother, is a favorite for the 20th District seat vacated by newly-elected Common Pleas Judge Don Walko. This is an “open seat,” with no incumbent running. We wish that there were a progressive woman in the race. In the 22nd District, West End and Mt. Washington, Chelsa Wagner, who has become increasingly progressive, also has no opposition filed from any party. In the 24th District, Homewood-Brushton and Wilkinsburg, incumbent Joe Preston, has two opponents in the primary and is endorsed by the Stein Club. In the 39th District, in the Mon Valley, labor activist incumbent David Levdansky is unopposed in the primary; two Republicans filed for the Fall.

Democratic State Committee
Every State Senate district will elect members of the Democratic State Committee in the primary, men and women members apportioned according to the Democratic strength in the district. The State Committee endorses Democratic candidates in the primary and gives direction to the party. We have several friends, known progressives and feminists, among the candidates. We note Pamela Macklin of the Wilkinsburg Borough Council, and former County Council member Brenda Frazier of Stanton Heights, running for one of the female seats in the 38th State Senate District, along with West Oakland-based political activist Daniel Jimenez, running for one of the male seats in that district. (Five will be elected. including at least two women and at least two men.) Another candidate we know is Robert Vincent Frank of Mt. Washington, president of the South End Active Democrats (SEAD) running for one of the three male seats in the 42nd District. Former Pittsburgh Democratic City Chairperson Barbara Behrend Ernsberger of Shadyside and Barbara Daly Danko from Regent Square, chairperson of the 14th Ward Democratic Committee, are running for the three female seats in the 43rd District. County Council President and liberal leader Rich Fitzgerald and Marvin Leibowitz from the 14th Ward, board member of the Gertrude Stein Political Club, are running for the three male seats in that district. Allegheny County Democratic vice-chair Carmella Mullen of Braddock is running for one of the two female seats in the 45th Senatorial District.

SAVE OUR TRANSIT - AGAIN
Some five years ago, we had a funding crisis for public transportation. Finally, we thought, the PA Legislature solved the problem with Act 44 – dependable, almost adequate funding for our buses and trolleys. Act 44 was to be funded by putting a toll on Interstate 80. Then the Federal Highway Administration denied permission to toll I-80. Suddenly we have don’t have money for public transit, or fixing roads and bridges. PAT has a $25 million hole in its budget. SEPTA in the Philadelphia area is even worse off. As President of the Allegheny County Transit Council, I - Jon – am working with PAT and others to find a strategy to avoid the disaster of major fare increases and cuts in service.

MS Walk – Again
Let us make a personal appeal. I - Jon – have Multiple Sclerosis. We’re still raising money for research on MS. A cure would be nice. I’m doing the 5 kilometer route in my power wheelchair, since I can’t walk. More information is available from National MS Society, www.nationalmssociety.org - or from the Allegheny District Chapter, 412-261-6347, 1501 Reedsdale St. #105, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. The MS Walk is Sunday, Apr. 18, so it will probably be over before you read this. You can still check in and support me. Please make a check payable to the National MS Society and send it to me.

In addition, two of the many fundraising appeals we received in the mail were so compelling that we want to mention them.

We had never heard of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. It provides modest financial support to more than 1,000 needy non-Jews who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. The website is www.jfr.org. It tells 145 tales of daring deeds and amazing successes in 26 countries under Nazi rule.
The other appeal is from Madre. We have known for years of its work for woman’s rights and human rights in Latin America. We just received a letter from them with an initiative in a new and challenging area. They are working with women in Afghanistan, perhaps the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman. They are raising money for an Afghan Women’s Survival Fund. Find out more at www.madre.org/survivalfund.
As we have mentioned previously, there are one-hour vigils for peace in Iraq and Afghanistan every Saturday. I, Jon, am at a vigil almost every Saturday, usually at Noon in Regent Square, at Forbes and Braddock, or sometimes at 1 pm in East Liberty, at Penn and Highland (organized by Black Voices for Peace). There are also vigils in the North Side, and in surrounding counties. For more information, contact the Thomas Merton Center, 412-361-3022.
Mary and I have two wonderful grandchildren. Participation in the vigils will enable us to tell them that we did something about the wars. And now there is something positive to do: support Madre’s Afghan Women’s Survival Fund. Also, please join us at the vigil some Saturday.

Love and Peace,
Jon and Mary