Ravenstahl is a Bad Egg (Pittsburgh)

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/politics/19515534/detail.html

I read this and I just get disgusted.

Don't get me started on Ravenstahl. I had such high hopes for him when he ascended to the Mayorship. I thought some young blood might change things, but he's turned out to be one of the dirtiest politicians I can remember in this city... Didn't acknowledge Dowd (one of his two opponents) in his concession speech, didn't accept his concession phone call. He pulled the same crap when Peduto ran against him. They slandered Peduto so hard that now, a really smart and great guy who could have done wonders for our city, will never again run for Mayor. This time it was Dowd's turn I guess. How dare he question the Mayor! How dare he point out that the people who donate the most to Ravenstahl as far as campaign contributions ( for Pittsburgh mayor it's UNLIMITED contribution limits) are the ones who just HAPPEN to get the city contracts in no bid situations. How dare he point out that Ravenstahl has lagged behind on any truly forward thinking initiative. Given lip service to truly necessary conversations in this area like city/county merger...just enough to make people think he's for it, then do absolutely nothing about it.

Ravenstahl is just a prick. Sorry to anyone who likes the guy, but he's a corrupt little frat boy, and will not provide the leadership our city needs.

At first I thought new blood would be a good thing too. Then I thought at least he might be the least of all evils (last time), then I thought maybe continuity with some of these projects, casino, Mellon arena and Hill District renovation, cleaning up some of these slumlord abandoned property type places, might be better not to change horses midstream. Then I was trying to straighten out all the judges in my mind (court of common pleas, magisterial, State supreme court, State Superior court - it was all very confusing to me) and in researching that, I found more bad stuff about Luke. Then I voted for Dowd. Oh well, my American Idol didn't win either.

...but this is related. Just saw on the news he wants to more than double the "occupation tax" or whatever tf they call it now. Make the Dems look like the stereotypical tax happy jagoffs they say we are why don't ya, saying this a couple days after you're elected. Dammit!!! If this does go through it should be on some kind of sliding scale at least, not the same fee for all. It's one night out for some white collar or other but it really hurts people like me. Say you're some barely-above-poverty-level waitress with three jobs, (as I was until recently) 50 bucks really hurts. Now he wants to make it $144. What happened to me and everyone in a similar situation is that each employer automatically took out the tax, then you have to prove to the others that the primary employer took it out already, then hope, wait, and pray you get your own damn money back before the utility bills bounce.

Why does this town think parking fines and drink tax are the only ways of raising revenues while they roll out the tax free red carpet to corporations that go back on their word and screw us over again and again???

That was a rhetorical question.


At least the Pens are on their way to another Stanley Cup.

The taxes on corporations in Pittsburgh are OUTRAGEOUS. Why do you think places like Southpointe have so many businesses there now, or up in Cranberry? The city taxes are so high that businesses either don't go there, or they choose to go to the suburban business parks where taxes are lower. There are only a couple of corporations that screw the city, like UPMC which get away with non-profit status even though they're monstrously huge and really act more like a for profit company than a non-profit that really fucks the city.

Most businesses, small businesses, restaurants, shops, medium sized businesses, factories, etc all get the shaft from the city and nobody wants to actually have their business their if they can help it.

And a higher occupation tax isn't going to help.

Seriously it's crazy. Plus try and deal with the city on the tax accounting side and the entire financial wing of the company will start screaming to relocate. It's red tape out the wazoo. My companies business manager spends more time on the city of pittsburgh than anything else including 3 other states and cities. Pittsburgh takes the cake.

However the city has to get money someplace to afford all the crap that it has to pay for...but having 1 party dominate the city for so long has made it a beurocratic nightmare. What we need to do is have a city/county merger so we can level off taxes for the region, and make the people who benefit from living near Pittsburgh actually pay something for the priviledge. As it is now they benefit from the city, without paying a damn thing for it.

That has to change. Instead of an occupation tax, we need city/county merger.

while welcoming you to DU :hi:

I have a real interest to discuss this, as an elected official of Monroeville.

I think we need to discuss pro's and con's...

What say you?