posted by Joe Polk at 9:46 PM /
Yes, I know...this is the time of year where are our plants begin to die and the political yard signs begin to grow. Each April and October, signs supporting one candidate or the other sprout in our yards showing our support of a particular candidate or candidates. Mt. Lebanon is no different that anywhere else with regards to this.
What I want to know is -- why are candidates' signs showing up in areas that they shouldn't be? While I'm not going to name names, I'm very curious as to why I'm seeing a signs for someone on the other end of Mt. Lebanon -- nowhere near the area they are running to represent. I can totally understand saturating your own ward that you want to represent, but I think that is is unfair (and totally confusing to some voters) to place your signs all over the municipality. It's also totally inappropriate for signs to be placed on municipal property -- which I have definitely seen as well.
If any of the candidates read this blog, I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts (or reasons) why we're seeing signs in places that they shouldn't be.
What I want to know is -- why are candidates' signs showing up in areas that they shouldn't be? While I'm not going to name names, I'm very curious as to why I'm seeing a signs for someone on the other end of Mt. Lebanon -- nowhere near the area they are running to represent. I can totally understand saturating your own ward that you want to represent, but I think that is is unfair (and totally confusing to some voters) to place your signs all over the municipality. It's also totally inappropriate for signs to be placed on municipal property -- which I have definitely seen as well.
If any of the candidates read this blog, I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts (or reasons) why we're seeing signs in places that they shouldn't be.
Labels: campaigns, politics, yard signs
34 Comments:
Finally some election talk:
Earlier this week I was thinking about the upcoming elections and particularly the 1st Ward race between Raja and Bonnie Van Kirk. This seat is up for grabs this year as Barbara Logan takes a run at County Council. I'm sure the D's would love to keep it and the R's would love to steal it (not that I think party politics has that big of a role in municipal government).
Therefore, I find it odd (and somewhat disheartening) that with the exception of littering the entire Ward with signs, neither candidate has (as best I can tell) done anything to reach out to the voters.
I would note that Raja maintains a blog on his website, but unfortunately he has only posted about 4 entries since the Primary. He also hands out balloons at assorted community events, but frankly that's something you do once in office and may not be the best way to reach the much smaller group that can actually cast a vote in the race.
On the other side, Mrs. Van Kirk's website talks about her vision for Lebo, and it sounds like the perfect mission statement that any resident would prepare. However, it's pretty short on detail.
Both candidates appear to be well-intentioned, nice people and they each have the required assortment of flashy and important Lebo names on their campaign committees.
But where's the beef?
Specifically, I'm curious to know where each candidate stands on issues such as property assessments, taxes, swimming pools, TIF spending, traffic, our aging infrastructure and shrinking tax base, their plans for maintaining the quality of life in our community in an ever changing region, etc. Certainly, these candidates have opinions on these important issues and I would like to think that they would want to share them with us.
Right now, I'm a Ward 1 voter with a blank stare.
I just moved to Mt Lebo a few months ago. I feel like the races for commissioner are all about who has more signs out. Besides Raja, I have yet to see a candidate out campaigning. I did speak to a volunteer for Andy Reinhart who was going door to door, but it would be nice to actually meet the candidates running in my ward.
It's not a huge amount of ground to cover - but I could see how someone who is not serious about the race wouldn't want to spend all day Saturday going door to door. As George W. Bush said "It's hard work."
I haven't been in Mt. Lebanon long, but in my experience this situation (i.e. little to no contact from candidates) seems to be the norm whenever you get out of the city limits. I guess people just look for the big "D" or "R" and pull the trigger.
I'm with Schultz. As I see it, the Ward 1 race will likely be decided by a couple hundred votes. It stands to reason then (and I'm no campaign manager) that with a little effort, a candidate could secure that gap by spending a few hours on N. Meadowcroft, Overlook, Morrison or Newburn. Look what its done for Matt Smith.
From my perspective, if you really want the job, you'll make an effort to meet as many people as possible. As Schultz said, its not a big area to cover.
Are the commissioner jobs here full-time gigs, or just something these individual's do on the side?
I believe these are unpaid positions, which brings me to something I was thinking about the other day when I posted here. Is it better to have this leadership by committee or should the town be in the hands of a mayor who, since
he is paid and has to run for re-election, is going to do what is best for municipality as a whole.
Also, with it being his full time gig, a mayor will be able to dedicate his time towards attracting businesses and development here in town. I am sure there is some fat in the budget that they could trim to make way for a new salaried position.
History tells me that having Allegheny County run by three commissioners was not a good thing for the region - Mt Lebo is obviously smaller, but is it possible that the commissioners may vote only for things that benefit their wards?
I'd be all for a mayor for the reasons you stated, although I hope we'd institute a better line of succession than the city of Pittsburgh has, which for some inexplicable reason jumps right to "Head paper boy" after mayor.
I think the system we have -- the "council-manager" form of government -- is the way to go - albeit broken. 90% of what goes right in the Community is because the staff sees to it. And 90% of what goes wrong is because select Commissioners pursue rogue initiatives, refuse to recognize realities or just plain meddle in daily affairs. It is time for a change. This election will breathe some much needed fresh air into 710 Washington Road.
Most of the candidates have been out and about in their wards and attending municipal meetings. If you have not had an opportunity to talk with your candidates - contact them!
While I freely admit that it is my responsibility to contact my commissioner if I have a problem or question, I do find it a bit odd that it is my responsibility to reach out to candidates, neither of whom have bothered to knock on my door. However, I think this makes for a good experiment. I will pose the same questions to each candidate via their respective websites and compare the responses.Thanks for the idea Bill.
Ward 1 Voter -- Would you mind sharing the results of your emails to the candidates with us here? I'd be very interested to see what they say.
I forwarded the following questions to both Raja and Bonnie VanKirk. Perhaps someone can email them to the candidates in the other Wards as well:
1. One of the largest retail spaces in our Central Business District - the Denis Theatre - has remained dormant for a number of years. Certainly, it would add to the vibrancy of our communtiy and the existing retail and dining establishments if this asset was once again put to good use, or even redeveloped for a new use as soon as possible. How would you prevent similar property owners from sitting on these prime retail locations while doing nothing?
2. As I travel to my children's soccer games around Western Pennsylvania, I have noticed that the community fields in several other areas put Mt. Lebanon to shame, both in number and overall condition. Further, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Mt. Lebanon's fields cannot meet the present demand. Do you have a position with respect to developing additional field space, while maintaining or updating our existing field space?
3. Do you have a position regarding the various swimming pool proposals that have been presented?
4. Do you support TIF funding for the condominium project on Washington Rd?
5. In recent years, traffic has become one of the single biggest issues facing our community. As you may know, a traffic calming policy was implemented a couple of years ago and several recommendations for effected neighborhoods have been presented to the Commission. However, only one (Mission Hills) has been formally implemented. Are you in favor of increased funding to support traffic calming measures or do you believe that traffic is something that we simply must accept as part of life in Mt. Lebanon?
6. For several decades Mt. Lebanon was able to market itself to first time homebuyers and growing families by promoting its excellent schools, its stately homes on quiet streets and its proximity to Downtown. However, many neighboring school districts have made up the gap and, in some instances, passed Mt. Lebanon. Many of our once quiet streets are now busy cut through routes for residents living south of Mt. Lebanon. And our stately (aging) homes are now a tough sell to a family of 4 or more, particularly when you compare them to the newer homes in Wexford, Pine Richland and Cranberry, all of which are becoming increasingly convenient to Downtown with 279 North, the HOV lanes, etc. How do you plan to market the "new" Mt. Lebanon to first time homebuyers and growing families?
Not a softball in the bunch. There is a lot here, with lots of tentacles.
For example: #1 could lead to a long discussion of personal property rights vs. public good ….. or even property assessments. The property is currently assessed way below its asking price. Once sold and updated, will a revitalized property enhance the tax base with an increased assessment? Or will it be "2002" and not a penny more? Does “under” assessing encourage / permit underutilization. For example: The Stevenson family business sold 12 acres in the heart of MTL to become James Place extension for $400,000, just a few years ago. The entire property was valued for assessment purposes at just over $600 for many, many, many years, until it was finally sold. Had the property been “fairly assessed” - would it have been developed sooner? Is holding 12 acres in the heart of MTL different than holding the Denis Theatre?
Personal property rights vs. the public good? Sorry, Bill. Not going to happen here. Floating that kind of conversation in Mt. Lebanon is liable to get a person threatened with a lawsuit!
We are at point Bill where we don't have any softballs left hit to hit in Mt. Lebanon.
As I pointed out in #6, we have been able to sustain Mt.Lebanon pretty much on the basis of good schools and nice neighborhoods. In essence, the community sold itself and the role of the Commission was to simply steer the ship through rather peaceful waters.
Things have changed and I think we need to expect our elected officials to be able to hit a curveball or two.
Wow. It's hard to know where to start. I think each of those questions could be its own Blog-Lebo posting...
Re: The Denis. I did the owners really "sit on" the property, or did they just not get any good offers? Residential real estate moves very slowly in Pittsburgh, and I imagine commercial is worse. A movie theater without its own parking lot certainly seems like it might have trouble attracting buyers, and redevelopment for some other purpose would require extra capital that would reduce the sale price.
Re: Traffic. Are you in favor of increased funding to support traffic calming measures or do you believe that traffic is something that we simply must accept as part of life in Mt. Lebanon? This is a false dichotomy. In fact, I think the best way to reduce cut-through traffic on side streets is to find ways to speed up the traffic on the main arteries. Since we don't ahve a "parkway south," the way to do this is by coordinating all the traffic lights. The problem is that traffic flow in Lebo is affected by the traffic lights outside of Lebo, and can't really be optimized locally. I'm in favor of a centralized traffic light system like the one they have in Austin, but implemented county-wide. Though I'm sure this would elicit massive protests from every one of the 100+ municipalities in the county.
I’m glad the blog is back in action because this site is a valuable way for me to learn more about the issues we face in MTL, and I certainly appreciate the dialogue and comments concerning the way the candidates do (or should) get their message to the voters.
To answer the question about where are the candidates, I have been at every First Friday (handing out balloons) and I’ve been door knocking on weekends and after work. I hope that is evidence of how seriously I take this election. The day that Mr. Schultz met one of my volunteers, I was right there, just at a different part of his neighborhood. Since then, I’ve stopped back to speak with him, we’ve exchanged e-mails, and he’s learned more about my positions. I appreciated him commenting as he did, and I hope he appreciated me responding as I did.
I (and the volunteers that take valuable time out of their own lives to help me) struggle to strike a balance between meeting as many potential constituents as possible, and “bothering” my neighbors in the 3rd Ward at night and on weekends. While the people I have met on the streets and going door to door have been, without exception, polite and often enthusiastic, I am still aware that I am taking them away from meals, time with their families, yard work, etc. (I am not foolish enough to knock on doors during a Steelers game.) Others prefer to learn more about me from my website on their own time. That’s fine, too. And if someone wants to talk, I’ll stay all day. My point is, whether I speak to someone personally, a volunteer does, or we just drop off some literature, I make sure people know they can contact me by phone or by e-mail (which several have, to their satisfaction, I believe). If someone still wants to speak to me in person, I am happy to do that, too. But by Election Day, I will have knocked on doors on every street in the Ward.
Finally, as to Joe Polk’s original inquiry about yard signs, for my own part I can only say that the vast majority of my signs are in the 3rd Ward. But I don’t see a problem with having a sign outside the ward in which you are running. If a candidate wants to go beyond the boundaries of his or her ward in order to reach more voters who may see the extra signs, that’s a decision each campaign has to make for themselves. I don’t think there is a right or wrong decision, but I don’t think it’s “unfair.”
Now here are the questions Ward 1 Voter posed, and my answers.
1. One of the largest retail spaces in our Central Business District - the Denis Theatre - has remained dormant for a number of years. Certainly, it would add to the vibrancy of our community and the existing retail and dining establishments if this asset was once again put to good use, or even redeveloped for a new use as soon as possible. How would you prevent similar property owners from sitting on these prime retail locations while doing nothing? I’m sure most property owners do not want to sit on unused or empty storefronts, but they are entitled to try to get their asking price if they sell or rent. I think the Commission needs to work harder with the municipality’s Economic Development Council to support existing local businesses, new businesses, and those in transition. BTW, I understand the Denis may be getting a new owner and a new life.
2. As I travel to my children's soccer games around Western Pennsylvania, I have noticed that the community fields in several other areas put Mt. Lebanon to shame, both in number and overall condition. Further, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Mt. Lebanon's fields cannot meet the present demand. Do you have a position with respect to developing additional field space, while maintaining or updating our existing field space? I think some of our athletic fields are in great shape, others need some work. Having small children who are not yet involved in athletics but probably will be in a few years, I am obviously in favor of giving them the best facilities that we can afford and sustain. Prioritizing expenditures is difficult and the Commission has to balance our recreation needs with other budget requirements such as public safety and infrastructure renewal. For that reason, I would like to revisit the necessity for the proposed McNeilly Field complex, which won’t be developed until 2009 (at a cost of $3MM), with restrooms, bleachers and concession stands not added until 2011. Is this the best use for this parcel?
3. Do you have a position regarding the various swimming pool proposals that have been presented? I want to look closely at them before voting. However, I applaud any Commissioner who has asked that the consultant go back and give the Commission cheaper options or hybrid options. As others have noted, there is no question MTL benefits from a first-class outdoor pool; the only question is what kind of outdoor pool. It may be a recreational pool or a competitive pool with some community-friendly recreational features, but I do not believe MTL can support, nor would I vote for, a waterpark and competitive pool. It’s worth noting that Pitt decided to renovate their pool rather than rebuild. I’m also talking to other former pool managers regarding pool usage and the competitive needs in this community. I think there were significant gaps in the consultant’s report. I question whether there is adequate community support (inside and outside MTL) for an elaborate “waterpark” complex, particularly since USC is moving forward on its own plan for a similar aquatic complex at Boyce-Mayview Park. I also question where the forecasted net annual positive operating cashflow of $22K will come from. Finally, I would like the municipality and school board to work together on these needs.
4. Do you support TIF funding for the condominium project on Washington Rd? I am in favor of supporting appropriate development in MTL, particularly in areas such as the Washington Park area that have gone unused. But as to the substance of the TIF issue, I would have voted against it for reasons having to do with the TIF process and policy. First, I believe the Commission should have pursued more energetically a developer for Washington Park who would have developed the property out of its own pocket, not ours. I do not believe the evidence supports a contention that it was “the TIF or nothing” as far as developing that plot was concerned. As to the TIF policy of providing public improvements, while the elements financed by the TIF qualify by law, they do not, in my opinion, offer substantial public improvement that would warrant diverting taxes should the project be built. Many of the public improvement elements included in the TIF (e.g., the turning lane) are improvements that would be made by any development, regardless of funding source.
5. In recent years, traffic has become one of the single biggest issues facing our community. As you may know, a traffic calming policy was implemented a couple of years ago and several recommendations for effected neighborhoods have been presented to the Commission. However, only one (Mission Hills) has been formally implemented. Are you in favor of increased funding to support traffic calming measures or do you believe that traffic is something that we simply must accept as part of life in Mt. Lebanon? Again, I would like to see additional data in this regard. The municipality has a Traffic Board which can make recommendations to the Commission to improve traffic conditions and respond to citizen requests in this area. We also have a traffic consultant who prepares traffic studies for this purpose. I would encourage any resident who believes there is a specific traffic issue to bring it to the attention of the Traffic Board.
6. For several decades Mt. Lebanon was able to market itself to first time homebuyers and growing families by promoting its excellent schools, its stately homes on quiet streets and its proximity to Downtown. However, many neighboring school districts have made up the gap and, in some instances, passed Mt. Lebanon. Many of our once quiet streets are now busy cut through routes for residents living south of Mt. Lebanon. And our stately (aging) homes are now a tough sell to a family of 4 or more, particularly when you compare them to the newer homes in Wexford, Pine Richland and Cranberry, all of which are becoming increasingly convenient to Downtown with 279 North, the HOV lanes, etc. How do you plan to market the "new" Mt. Lebanon to first time homebuyers and growing families? I think the attractions of Mt. Lebanon you mention—schools, homes, streets, location—are still big reasons families, like mine, move to Mt. Lebanon. People who want new homes with every convenience are going to move to Cranberry or Peters no matter what. But people who want sidewalks, tree-lined streets, homes with character, a central business district and a sense of community you won’t find anywhere else in western Pa. are still moving to Mt. Lebanon, as our changing demographics demonstrate. What the Commission can do is exercise sound judgment to make difficult decisions concerning competing interests and create a stable, responsible government that creates confidence in homeowners and business people alike. Supporting transit-oriented development and the uptown hotel project is a step in that direction.
Thanks for asking for my thoughts, and for providing a space where I can give them.
My responses: -
1. Ah yes, eminent domain. That worked out so well during Tom Murphy's reign as mayor. The municipality or local business owners could help with brokering a deal with potential buyers but I don't see any role for the town beyond that.
2. Soccer fields? Where would we put these fields? I'm sure the quality of our public schools would put those of other towns to shame, which should be good enough. I'm not sure why there has to be this arms race mentality with other towns.
4. Time will tell if the TIF was a wise move. I'm thinking that this new development could spark a boom to our business district. We can't really build "out" in Mt Lebanon so we need to build up. The single and even two story retail buildings need to be renovated - condos, apartments, and even more office space should be built above what is already there. More on this in #5.
5. One of the single biggest issues? Really? If you think suburban traffic is bad in Mt Lebanon then I don't know what to tell you. Besides the I've been working outside of Chicago and some of the traffic way out here in the suburbs is more gridlocked than what we have downtown. Sprawl happens. Pittsburgh is one of the most sprawling MSA's in the US. Having our town throw money at traffic management would be a lost cause.
This is really a county issue and a regional issue, although Mt Lebanon could do something to help it's cause. By creating a thriving business district we would have more people actually come into Mt Lebanon to work - rather than driving through to downtown or Oakland. Having the T right next to our central business district is something we need to take advantage of. A hotel is coming, and some transit oriented development projects have been kicked around already. TOD is already on the radar screen of Matt Smith, among others, but my worry is that people will raise a stink just like they did the Washington Park development.
6. I think this is a non-issue. The demand for houses in Mt Lebanon far outstrips the supply of homes for sale. If people want lower taxes and more land - sure they can move out to Peters - but there is no comparison between Mt Lebanon or Peters Twp.
Andy,
I did appreciate you stopping by and I look forward to speaking with you soon. I agree with most of your responses, especially #6.
Chris
Dear 1st Ward Voters,
I’ve been enjoying reading the enthusiasm for the upcoming November 6th elections on the blog! Mt. Lebanon voters are active and engaged. That’s a great thing!
I thought it might be helpful to post a short update on my own campaign for 1st Ward Commissioner.
First, I’ve been focused on going door to door for the past several weeks and have personally been to the doors of about 85% of the residents of the 1st Ward. I expect that I will have completed visiting personally the remaining residents prior to the election. I’ve been identifying issues on the minds of local residents and have been addressing them each week by working with the Commissioners and appropriate members of Mt. Lebanon Municipality.
Second, I initiated a Business Mentoring Group several months ago to bring new businesses into Mt. Lebanon. www.mtlebanon.org/index.asp?nid=496 provides an overview of the Business Mentoring Group. Things are already happening. From these meetings, we’ve identified one company, Mave, (www.mymave.com) who has tentatively agreed to move to Mt. Lebanon. Mave was profiled in the Post Gazette (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07074/769600-28.stm) and this, in my view, is a great example of the ideal company for Mt. Lebanon’s next wave of economic growth. We are in the process of working with 5 other companies to start their businesses in Mt. Lebanon – please stay tuned. The next Business Mentoring Meeting is on Oct 23rd at the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building.
Third, as you may already know the current commissioners appointed me to serve on the Economic Development Board and I’ve been attending these meetings regularly. The meetings have given me a good snapshot of some of our immediate and long range challenges. I’ve also attended the Mt. Lebanon Partnership Meeting to present feedback on the Business Mentoring Group.
Fourth, since the Primary I’ve enjoyed attending the Mt. Lebanon Commission meetings. While I’ve enjoyed observing the procedural mechanics of these sessions, it’s given me an important understanding of the types of issues – from sidewalks to pools – that are important to residents beyond the “big picture” actions list for our community.
Finally, I will be presenting the details on my vision for Mt. Lebanon, innovative ideas to reduce taxes as well addressing the various issues that are faced by Mt. Lebanon residents during a series of neighborhood Meet & Greets over the next couple of weeks. I’d to see each of you there! Please visit my website www.joinraja.com on the dates/times of these Meet & Greets. I welcome the residents of the 1st Ward to come listen to my presentation and I would enjoy hearing your personal vision for Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine Warren is hosting one of these Meet & Greets today at 6.30pm. Scott Deaton is hosting the next Meet & Greet on Oct 24th at 6pm. Please check my website for details and drop by!
Thanks.
Raja
Interesting response by Schultz.
I read his response now 5 times and all I have gotten is his pompus reaction...You don't like it MOVE!
"Arms race?" Mt. Lebanon may be better than Peter's and others at this point, but they are young and upcoming communities These communities will continue to grow and prosper where Mt. Lebanon is falling behind---FAST. W
Why is Mr. Schultz commenting the school district, is he also running for school board?
I have personally been embarrassed when friends have come into Mt. Lebanon for events for the 1st time. They have looked around our schools, gyms, fields and other facilities that are in such disrepair. Many have questioned how such a wonderful school district looks so run down. I have no response. I would like one from our commissioners.
Ward 1 voter is correct in his/her comment of the position of the commissioners in the past to steer thru calm waters.
Where is the vision?
My question to Mr. Schultz is why not make Mt. Lebanon the best place to work, live, learn and play?
Raja,
While I appreciate you posting your campaign update, I was wondering if you were going to answer the questions posed by Ward 1 Voter.
Andy Reinhart took the time to address each one and I was hoping that you could/would as well.
I didn't realize Schultz was a candidate, but I'm happy to pick up the debate.
1. I don't think the question had anything to do with eminent domain. Instead, I would be curious to learn what efforts have been made by the Economic Development Board, the Commission or the Manager's office to introduce potential buyers and developers with the owner. I'm sure the owner wouldn't mind the help. And let's not forget, the Denis sat empty a lot longer than it has been on the market.
2. Last I checked, the schools in Upper St. Clair, Peters Twp., North Allegheny, etc. were all pretty good - if not better in certain respects. Don't think for a minute that amenities such as field space are not important factors in where people decide to live.
4. Personally, I don't have a problem with the TIF. I think it is important to make a special attempt to develop properties like this one. However, I'm beginning to look at the potential for development on this site in the same light as the downtown casino - I'll believe when I see it.
5. As a former member of the traffic board for over 5 years, I can attest that traffic in Mt. Lebanon is a very serious issue (at least in the minds of many of our residents and current Commissioners). The monthly meetings in the last 2 years have usually reached well beyond 3 hours. The majority of the folks that have appeared before the Board contend that they moved to or stayed in Mt. Lebanon because it is a walking community. However, with the increase of cut through traffic, many of them were reluctant to allow their children to walk to school or elsewhere.
The municipality's traffic engineer has done an excellent job of providing alternatives and calming measures designed to take the burden of our of "residential" streets. These measure have included, among other things, the timing of the lights on the main arteries. You should know, however, that such measures are rather expensive and involve the input of PennDOT. PennDOT has advised that they are not interested in a piecemeal fix of the light situation in Mt. Lebanon and will only do so when we elect to replace (and pay for) many of our outdated signals. Personally, with the sprawl surrounding Pittsburgh, I believe that increased traffic in Mt. Lebanon is an unfortunate fact of life. Also, traffic is like water. It will find and use the path of least resistance. Therefore, changes implemented to cure one neighborhood will inevitably push the problem to another neighborhood. Further, the main arteries (Cochran, Bower Hill) are already overburdened during rush hour and were not designed to accommodate the amount of traffic they already have. This, I believe, is why the Commission has been reluctant to act upon the various calming proposals (from the Traffic Board) that have been before it for many months.
6. I'd be curious to hear from one of our many local real estate agents to learn if the demand really exceeds the supply. There seem to be more houses for sale in my neighborhood than ever before. Plus, I think a large percentage of homeowners elect to add on rather than move. Also, I don't think it's as simple as a straight supply and demand analysis. Many of the houses in our community are bought by folks who already live here. They are upgrading or downsizing within our borders. That doesn't alter the balance much. Instead, the question is how many first time buyers or those in other communities looking to upgrade or downsize are looking at Mt. Lebanon as an option.
I don't understand all of the gloom and doom talk that is constantly on this blog. Mt. Lebanon is still one of the top places to live in the Pittsburgh area.
While I wholeheartedly agree that continual updates need to be made, and we do need to work at that, overall Mt. Lebanon is an exceptional place to live.
We have fantastic schools, and a great community, where in my experience, you get to know your neighbors. When you add in the proximity to a "major" city, there is no place in the world like Mt. Lebanon.
The key for any candidate both school board and comissioner should be to keep taxes at current rates while continuing to maintain the exceptional services that Mt. Lebanon already provides.
While I do understand that there are things that need to be addressed, I think sometimes we should step back and think how good we have it compared to a lot of places.
On another note, having moved here from Washington, DC, traffic here is not a problem.
First, you won't find a stronger supporter of Mt. Lebanon than me. I agree that most of us have it quite well here, and certainly the seemingly trivial issues facing Mt. Lebanon are not nearly as critical as those issues facing the City of Pittsburgh or other parts of the country. However, I have lived here for 40 years and I think many folks who have lived here a long time (say, 10 years or more) will agree that while still very special, Mt. Lebanon has indeed changed. Change is not necessarily bad, and its not necessarily due to forces within Mt. Lebanon. Nevertheless, I believe that it will be increasingly difficult to maintain the many wonderful things about our community. Let's face it, nice parks, clean streets and good schools all come at a price. I don't think that is "doom and gloom" just a reality. No one wants to pay more taxes, but no one wants to give up what we have either.
Second, I agree with the premise that for too long Mt. Lebanon has excelled in our region largely on the basis of our great schools. One need only look at some test scores and other criteria to see that other districts have caught up. People moving to or around Pittsburgh now have choices when it comes to quality public education, and that's certainly a good thing. However, that also means that our Commissioners, rather than the School Board, are drawn to the fore front. It is now for them to determine how we will set ourselves apart from other communities when it comes to business development, amenities, taxes, services, public works, infrastructure and overall quality of life.
Let's face it, we elect our Commissioners to set taxes, oversee a huge budget and ensure the availability of many critical services and community resources. Therefore, I believe it is important to get a sense of their individual priorities and preferences. Stated differently, how do they want to spend our money? And how do they want to raise that money? I think those are fair questions, and important ones to ask before we vote, regardless of how good we have it.
"I read his response now 5 times and all I have gotten is his pompus reaction...You don't like it MOVE!"
How is my responses to the questions pompous? Pompous would be if I corrected your misspelling of the word but....that's besides the point.
My point was that our town, my new town since I just moved here from the city, has so many good things going for it, and while there are things that need improvement it seems ridiculous, at least coming from where I came from, to compare us to other towns who have "things" that we do not have.
If abundant soccer fields are what one cherishes in a town - maybe they are in the wrong place? Like others have said on here this place is unique. When we decided to move out of the crumbling city known as Pittsburgh I told my wife Mt Lebanon was the only place I would move to because it was the only "burb" that I felt had some real character. Places like Peters are a dime a dozen in the country. Sure, they will continue to grow and will have more land, bigger houses, as well as many more giant McMansions. Their taxes will eventually catch up with them, but they will have bigger, nicer, and newer things than us - but will do so at the cost of looking like Cranberry Township. Nothing against Cranberry - I know a lot of folks who like all the "newness" up there - but to me it is cookie-cutter town USA. Well, enough about my disdain for suburban sprawl, I'll save that for my blog.
I like Mt Lebanon for the same reasons you like it. When I referred to the "arms race" mentality what I was saying is I don't like that just because USC, Peters, Bethel, etc etc have something we don't have, like a new soccer fields, we think we have to get it here in Mt Lebo.
We should strive to be the best place to "work, live, learn and play", but we shouldn't be worrying so much about what our neighbor's in the town next door have when we are the ones living in what is truly the "most livable" community.
Mt. Lebanon doesn't need gold-plated athletic facilities, but the facilities that it does have -- both for school-related and recreational sports -- are in many cases inadequate from an objective point of view (rather than subjectively compared to other towns), both in quality and in quantity.
Where that problem should stand on the long list of municipal priorities (let alone in the scheme of problems facing the broader world) is, of course, a separate question.
Mike,
Something ironic ccurred to me after reading your post. I had you post that notice back in early September about the "Volunteers and ideas wanted" for the Pittsburgh 250 grant money. I thought it was a great opportunity to bring something new to the community but unfortunately I didn't receive one email in response to your post.
That would have been the time for those who want a new soccer field, a bike path (my idea) or some other new facility in Mt Lebanon, to come forward and help make something happen. Unfortunately I didn't have the bandwidth to pull that off on my own at that time, but I am hoping in the future some of us can come together to work on some solutions to the "problems" discussed on this here blog.
Raja has already taken the initiative to start his business mentoring group here in Mt Lebanon. I hope it will be a catalyst for that "Tech Lebo" that some of us have talked about.
Chris:
Wouldn't it be great if we could afford to buy the Denis and use it for the co-working space we started talking about a long time ago?
Heck yeah Joe, that would be sweet!
Schultz,
Quite sorry that I mispelled, thank you for putting me in my place.
I too am relatively new to Mt. Lebanon--from the city--5 years.
Please do not assume-you do know what happens when you assume?--that you know why I like it here.
I moved here soley for the school system, otherwise I would have been in Peter's, Cranberry or a smaller district.
I do have children who are very active in school, their church--in the city, volunteering in this community and elsewhere and sports. So the soccer fields you are harping on are not my only interest. (My children have never even played soccer) Just one of many concerns.
***Have you ever tried to walk around Lindendale and Kurt in Cedarhurst during "rush hour"? I have yet in the 5 years seen the police in the area doing speed checks. But the commissioners have put money into speed bumps in Mission Hills. The boro could make a fortune with tickets they hand out.
***The "McMansions"-- What do you call the new homes that are being built in Mt. Lebanon? They may not have the lot size but look at the homes on Robb Hollow,Main Line and the new development in Sunset Hills. Are they faux McMansions.
The point is there are many concerns and many perspectives, and to assume that the status quoe is acceptable in a township with a tax base as large as Mt. Lebanon is ludicrous. It take our commissioner years and years to make changes that keep our town in tune and competitive.
You really should run for school board--you would fit right in.
Lin,
You are ridiculous. You started off by calling me "pompous" for voicing my opinion. Okay, so I gave you a little dig back. Get over it.
"You really should run for school board--you would fit right in."
Oh brother, grow up!
Where was I "assuming" anything about you in the last point?
I do not see sprawling 5,000 square foot cookie cutter McMansions anywhere in Mt Lebanon. New development is fine as long as the character of the old homes isn't overrun with these space and energy wasting clunkers.
I'm not too familiar with some of the areas you mentioned so please excuse my ignorance. Like JP and myself said in earlier posts, I don't think the town can do much to reduce traffic, our bandwidth is limited, and with more people moving south of us it will only get worse. But, if greater police presence will reduce the number of drivers who speed through your neighborhood, and reduce number of drivers running stop signs (a serious problem all over Mt Lebo!) then all I can tell you is to keep voicing your concern and have your neighbors do the same. I'm sure if enough people step forward the town will do something about it.
I don't have any issues with the concerns you mentioned in your last post and my previous comment wasn't directed at you personally. Others on this board don't necessarily agree with my comments but did they call me pompous?
Chris, Lin -- Enough with the personal asides. You've both made your points. Other readers can judge who has made stronger arguments *on the merits.* But time outs from this thread (no more comments) for both of you.
Mike
Sure thing Mike. I just wanted to say that I did find the "McMansions" that Lin was referring to. My bad!
Response from Bonnie VanKirk:
As I'm sure with the other candidates, I appreciate the interest the voters have on where we stand on issues. This is not a national election year, but it's important that you all vote.
What have I been doing?
At the beginning of my campaign, I
assembled a bipartisan committee,
representing both Republicans and Democrats in Ward 1. As we reach the end of this campaign,I'm thankful to have a strong support group, and the support of so many others,
Since August I've been door knocking at every opportunity in
Ward 1. I'm impressed by the enthusiastic reception I receive, and the time people spend with me talking about their issues.
I've been meeting with Mt. Lebanon officials and department heads to gain a better understanding of their challenges. Maintaining full police and fire protection is critical, along with solving traffic problems and moving forward on the pool.
I've had meetings with neighborhood groups since last May regarding traffic and zoning. I've met with county and state officials on how we can work with them on traffic and project funding grants. Our State House Representative, Matt Smith, is committed to working with me on these issues.
I attend commission meeetings, and other meetings that concern our citizens (i.e. deer culling, child predator laws, etc). During my six-year term on the Library Board, I attended many commission and budget meetings, and understand the process on both sides.
In addition to events during the primary, I'll spend every
Thursday and Friday night from September to the election at neighborhood events that my bipartisan supporters have held for me in their homes so that I can answer questions and state my positions.
We've sent two mailers out to date,
and distributed many pieces of literature to doors. This is done by me and my volunteers to keep our campaign costs down.
Answer to Ward 1 voter:
1. Dormant Retail Space: There is nothing,as long as we believe in individual rights, to keep property owners from sitting on prime retail locations. We have to work with these owners to solicit economic development grants in order to encourage them to develop the properties.
2. Sports Fields: We have to have adequate sports fields to attract young families. McNeilly
field should be developed as a playing field, but we can add the grandstands, etc, in the future as the budget permits. The commission and the school board should work together on coming up with solutions to fields.
3. Swimming Pool: As I have said,
"we need a new pool, but we don't need an amusement park". We have three proposals on the table that that suit community needs. Let's stop "over-consulting" and move on this. Every year we delay, it costs us more money.
4. Each TIF proposal should be decided on it's own merit. Rollier's received tax abatement and revitalized Washington Road.
This property has been vacant for 15 years, with no tax revenue. This would be an ideal location for affordable condos for young professionals and seniors who want to stay in Mt, Lebanon.
5. Traffic: Funding for public safety is a priority. More stop signs, police patrols and rumble strips will slow down traffic. Residents who see cars speed and blow through stop signs, putting their kids and dogs at risk, don't want to be told by a consultant that there is nothing that can be done. I'll work with our state officials,and our police chief, listen to the people, and get something done.
6. Marketing Lebo: As I've been door knocking, I find that families from all over the U.S. are selectively choosing Mt. Lebo because of our strong sense of community and schools. You can find larger, newer homes elsewhere,
but you don't have neighborhoods and our local commercial districts with our great restaurants and shops. And, we have a wide range of homes that appeal to different income levels.
We have to sell to our strengths.
I draw on my 35 years in Mt. Lebanon, my corporate business background, and my regional board and volunteer experience to focus on how we can solve the issues and concerns of our citizens.
Bonnie VanKirk
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