Gorilla played dirty. He had this guy working as a double agent. I tried to tell Bob's committee that Gorilla was in it to win it, but sadly, nobody would listen to me. The MLRC let me down once again.
34 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Another sad day for Mt, Lebanon government. We are the laughing stock of the county.
Yes and no. I've been involved in city/county politics for a very long time. Outsiders know what's going on here.Lebo is no longer viewed as a stellar community. It's not.
as someone who has lived in the southhills for over 60 years,,despite the Democratic machine backward City and County government,, the great well run fiscally responsible communities were run by Republicans,, Mt Lebanon was the shining star,,
A long-time Lebo resident with impeccable credentials and service to the community gets beaten by a newcomer that thinks we should be embarrassed about our community’s “riches”...
Good jobLeboGOP, continue to sit silently in your little monthly meetings waiting for friends to bring in friends and soon we’ll have artificial turf everywhere, on-street overnight parking fees, PAYT and 100 years of donor-dictated school projects funded with taxpayer dollars. Looking forward to hearing from you in late October 2019.
Personally, I’m a lot more irritated with the Democrats in Sunset Hills who either didn’t educate themselves before selecting Grella or who blindly pulled the D lever like they have for 35 years. I doubt that 75% of them even know what he looks like, let alone what he stands for. And I’m sure 99% of them don’t know he has a date with the Magistrate tomorrow morning. But sure, blame the Republicans who ran a wonderful candidate, with a great record of service and who refused to take the low road.
7:02 AM, please read my latest update. Those 99% Dems in Sunset Hills should have been educated by the Republicans, who "refused to take the low road." I tried to tell you that it was your responsibility to put it out there and let the voters decide for themselves. What a waste of a wonderful candidate. Bob relied on his committee for guidance. You messed up royally. Elaine
7:02, good republicans refused to take the low road. You’re right, that was the just an honorable thing to do, but the fact remains they lost to Grella. Winning and taking the low road aren’t mutually exclusive.
Look at Grella’s Campaign, what wisdom, what ideas, what proposals did he present that made him the superior candidate? What accomplishments, what in his resumé convinced voters to choose him over Fischer besides having a D after his name?
For some reason, which is baffling to me, Mt. Lebanon has gone from being traditionally Republican for almost its entire 100+ year history to being predominantly Democrat.
This is the reality that the R party has yet to come with terms with.
Look at the vote on the property tax exclusion passed. A sure sign what voters are looking for. Which candidate, Grella or Fischer, stood for fewer taxes, fewer fees and more fiscally responsible spending?
Winning doesn’t necessarily mean one has to take the low road. It just means the candidate and especially the party must have a clear and consistent message of who they are and what they stand for and it must be front and center all the time. Not just for a few weeks prior to an election.
“Winning doesn’t necessarily mean one has to take the low road. It just means the candidate and especially the party must have a clear and consistent message of who they are and what they stand for and it must be front and center all the time.”
What did Grella stand for? What was front and center? Public intoxication and DOT violations. What else?
If this election proves anything it’s that the concentric zone theory is alive and well in Allegheny County. Look it up in your old Sociology text book. Lebo is now closer to the City than it is to the suburbs. Ds out number Rs and I don’t think that will change any time soon. But unlike City Ds, the Lebo Ds expect/demand A+ schools, nice fields, excellent public services, safe streets and leaf removal and they want it all for the same price that they paid in the City. These things should be free, right?
Make no mistake about it, the great schools, hospital, library, public works and public safety in our community were established by strong Republicans. Decades of them. Contrary to the notion that Rs are fiscally conservative, the old school Lebo Rs spent a ton (a TON) of money (and raised taxes) because we wanted a community that stood apart. After all, there was no USC, Peters, S. Fayette, North Strabane or Cranberry when Mt. Lebanon was leading the way. If you want a true R community these days, you need to be in USC. They cull without debate. They upgrade field and schools (including with turf) without protests. They let their school administrators administer and their teachers teach.
I think this election may mark the last hotly contested General election in Lebo for a long time. It appears that the races from now may be won at the D primary. Kinda boring.
8:02, somewhat true. For one ISC is still a growing community with room for building and an expanding tax base. MTL on the other hand is basically built out and has very limited resources to find more tax money. Also, USC and it’s school district run a combined PIO office for a fraction of the costs of Lebo’s two offices.
“Beal and Strotmeyer support turf on the Rockpile, so we’re off to a good start.”
So 7:02, what will the LeboGOP’s response be to the effort to turf not one, but three more fields?
The school district consistently claims it’s under extreme financial pressure to continue its excellent educational programs, it instituted a “private” fundraiser to help it continue that fine tradition and raises property taxes beyond Act 1 limitations year after year through exemptions and exclusions. Yet somehow they have $5 million available for - ta da - artificial turf.
So on your high road 7:02, what candidates did you and the LeboGOP offer to voters? Remely? Caste? CAPPUCCI?!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Here’s some info I’d like you and every taxpayer to read and ponder, 7:02 while you travel your high road.
“Lawmakers Demand Big Artificial Turf Investigation”
Doubtful anything changes but any election that removes the likes of Mary Birks is a win for the community. Voters do have a conscience. I couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning. Same with Mr. "We will come in at $90 million but vote for a budget of $113 million" Remeley. Long overdue.
Too bad about Fischer. He was and is a stand-up kind of man.
I know you hit the committee a lot but the fact is, Mt. Lebanon isn't even purple any more. Maybe the committee could have held back the tide a little while but not for long given the shifting demographics. Mt. Lebanon is a community of elites now run by elected liberal elites. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule but they are few and far between. Tell me when you think you'll get another R majority Commission. Those days are over, unfortunately.
8:02, I think there is some confusion about MTL Republicans and fiscal conservative. You are right, our historically our Rs spent and spent a lot and through their efforts created a community that people longed to move into. But the key you miss is that those Rs spent “well” and within their means.
Unfortunately, now it appears, we have people like Grella that believe we should be embarrassed by our “wealth” and be ready to surrender it to whatever program or development a small cabal desires.
Two things are in play though. Mt. Lebanon’s tax base is limited now in its ability to expand and we have a mature population. Their use to be 9,000 students in the district which meant young families with potentially good income growth. Today there are seniors on fixed incomes. We also have a municipal government that does things like taking large parcels of land off the tax roles and a school district that wants to commit sports fields to half million dollar replacements every 8-10 years.
I don’t see turf as a political issue, as evidenced by the fact that Ds and Rs alike in Lebo (and just about every other city) support its safety and its use. Guess what - turf is being employed as a field alternative EVERYWHERE. Middle schools, high schools, parks, colleges, universities. Is everyone else just as stupid as we are? I doubt it. Also, why is that whenever there is any sort of debate in this community someone introduces turf. Is that really the biggest downfall of our elected officials. Personally, I’m a lot more disappointed with the complete lack of effort to do something about the lot across from St. Bernard’s, the empty lot across from the Castle Shannon T station, the public works minefield, the lack of development associated with our own T stop, Our D leadership should take a page from Mayor Peduto (can’t believe I just said that) and put the screws to the private developers just like he did with the Penguins. It’s amazing what happens in the private sector when the government uses its leverage and says “No!”
I’m curious to see how things play out on the school board. The candidates told me a lot before the election. I plan to hold them to it. I even kept the emails.
8:55, I agree with you almost 100%. It’s deplorable that the empty lots you reference sit idle and weed infested. At the very least the municipality should enforce the codes that do on individual homeowners. Try letting your lawn go to weeds and see what happens. As for developing that vacant lot across from the Castle Shannon T station, this is going to be interesting. ‘When’ those condos ever go in that intersection is going to be more of a mess than it is now. Add something on the vacant lot and it’s going to be pure gridlock. As it is now it is impossible to get out of the RiteAid except to exit to the right off Cooke onto MTL Blvd and circle around Leboshops to get onto Castle Shannon Blvd heading to Scott Rd. Wonder if the commissioners have any plan for dealing with the increased traffic from the new storage units, future condos and if the vacant lot gets developed. As for turf, you don’t think millions of dollar replacements every 8-10 years is a big deal? $100,000 deer culls, PAYT garbage collection, overnight parking fees, stormwater fees all coupled together are a big deal to me.
8:22 AM, I agree that Cissy Bowman needs to go, because now she thinks she is an election judge as well. She crossed an ethics line yesterday. I hope the new school board addresses that. Elaine
“How Taxpayers Get Fooled On The Cost Of An Artificial Turf Field” http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/09/28/how-taxpayers-get-fooled-on-the-cost-of-an-artificial-turf-field/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/09/28/how-taxpayers-get-fooled-on-the-cost-of-an-artificial-turf-field/
If you’ve got the money 8:55, to pay for turf replacements every 8 years instead of grass that kids played on for decades good for you. Donate to the Century of Excellence Fund and leave me out of it.
Elaine, do you think Mr. Lebowitz that smiled and declared everything is fine on the Century of Excellence Campaign and allowed Mary to vote on Outreach funding for years will bother himself with Cissy’s violation. I suggest not holding your breath.
10:12 AM Larry doesn't run the board any more. Will be interesting to see what the new president does, but I'm guessing it won't be nearly as charitable as what Larry would have done (nothing).
1:02 Lebo Larry May not be the board President, but he certainly is the head cheerleader any time there is spending involved. Watch the board meetings closely, he’s always excited... to buy turf... to beg for money (while spending more than coming in), to build sports stuff (except for the rifle team).
34 comments:
Another sad day for Mt, Lebanon government. We are the laughing stock of the county.
Cappucci having a BIG night. Bad night for Republicans.
Truly 9:39 the "county" doesn't care about Lebo politics
Is Capucci winning?
Who will fill the vacant school board seat now that Riemer has won both?
9:52-
Yes and no. I've been involved in city/county politics for a very long time. Outsiders know what's going on here.Lebo is no longer viewed as a stellar community. It's not.
There will be interviews for the seat.
Elaine
But the good news is that three of the four from the Timmy ticket LOST! Best news E V E R! Thank you, Mt. Lebanon!
Elaine
as someone who has lived in the southhills for over 60 years,,despite the Democratic machine backward City and County government,, the great well run fiscally responsible communities were run by Republicans,, Mt Lebanon was the shining star,,
What makes you think anything will change with the school board?
Wait. Who is the double agent? He looks very familiar. I saw him somewhere with crazy Mykie.
Here is some math for you, 10:32 PM.
Cooper + Cappucci + Lebowitz = 3
Riemer + Beal + Olbrich + Strotmeyer + Diamond = 5
Maybe now, the board can come up with 2017-2018 goals for Timmy. With Birks and Remely gone, Timmy will have to work.
Elaine
Beal and Strotmeyer support turf on the Rockpile, so we’re off to a good start.
Good job LeboGOP and Steve Lane.... one of these days you’ll figure it out. 🤣
A long-time Lebo resident with impeccable credentials and service to the community gets beaten by a newcomer that thinks we should be embarrassed about our community’s “riches”...
Good jobLeboGOP, continue to sit silently in your little monthly meetings waiting for friends to bring in friends and soon we’ll have artificial turf everywhere, on-street overnight parking fees, PAYT and 100 years of donor-dictated school projects funded with taxpayer dollars.
Looking forward to hearing from you in late October 2019.
Nick M. - thanks to your hard work, we have a new beginning. R.I.P., my friend.
Elaine
Personally, I’m a lot more irritated with the Democrats in Sunset Hills who either didn’t educate themselves before selecting Grella or who blindly pulled the D lever like they have for 35 years. I doubt that 75% of them even know what he looks like, let alone what he stands for. And I’m sure 99% of them don’t know he has a date with the Magistrate tomorrow morning. But sure, blame the Republicans who ran a wonderful candidate, with a great record of service and who refused to take the low road.
7:02 AM, please read my latest update. Those 99% Dems in Sunset Hills should have been educated by the Republicans, who "refused to take the low road." I tried to tell you that it was your responsibility to put it out there and let the voters decide for themselves. What a waste of a wonderful candidate. Bob relied on his committee for guidance. You messed up royally.
Elaine
7:02, good republicans refused to take the low road. You’re right, that was the just an honorable thing to do, but the fact remains they lost to Grella.
Winning and taking the low road aren’t mutually exclusive.
Look at Grella’s Campaign, what wisdom, what ideas, what proposals did he present that made him the superior candidate? What accomplishments, what in his resumé convinced voters to choose him over Fischer besides having a D after his name?
For some reason, which is baffling to me, Mt. Lebanon has gone from being traditionally Republican for almost its entire 100+ year history to being predominantly Democrat.
This is the reality that the R party has yet to come with terms with.
Look at the vote on the property tax exclusion passed. A sure sign what voters are looking for. Which candidate, Grella or Fischer, stood for fewer taxes, fewer fees and more fiscally responsible spending?
Winning doesn’t necessarily mean one has to take the low road. It just means the candidate and especially the party must have a clear and consistent message of who they are and what they stand for and it must be front and center all the time. Not just for a few weeks prior to an election.
Exactly right, Elaine!
“Winning doesn’t necessarily mean one has to take the low road. It just means the candidate and especially the party must have a clear and consistent message of who they are and what they stand for and it must be front and center all the time.”
What did Grella stand for? What was front and center? Public intoxication and DOT violations. What else?
If this election proves anything it’s that the concentric zone theory is alive and well in Allegheny County. Look it up in your old Sociology text book. Lebo is now closer to the City than it is to the suburbs. Ds out number Rs and I don’t think that will change any time soon. But unlike City Ds, the Lebo Ds expect/demand A+ schools, nice fields, excellent public services, safe streets and leaf removal and they want it all for the same price that they paid in the City. These things should be free, right?
Make no mistake about it, the great schools, hospital, library, public works and public safety in our community were established by strong Republicans. Decades of them. Contrary to the notion that Rs are fiscally conservative, the old school Lebo Rs spent a ton (a TON) of money (and raised taxes) because we wanted a community that stood apart. After all, there was no USC, Peters, S. Fayette, North Strabane or Cranberry when Mt. Lebanon was leading the way. If you want a true R community these days, you need to be in USC. They cull without debate. They upgrade field and schools (including with turf) without protests. They let their school administrators administer and their teachers teach.
I think this election may mark the last hotly contested General election in Lebo for a long time. It appears that the races from now may be won at the D primary. Kinda boring.
8:02, somewhat true. For one ISC is still a growing community with room for building and an expanding tax base. MTL on the other hand is basically built out and has very limited resources to find more tax money.
Also, USC and it’s school district run a combined PIO office for a fraction of the costs of Lebo’s two offices.
“Beal and Strotmeyer support turf on the Rockpile, so we’re off to a good start.”
So 7:02, what will the LeboGOP’s response be to the effort to turf not one, but three more fields?
The school district consistently claims it’s under extreme financial pressure to continue its excellent educational programs, it instituted a “private” fundraiser to help it continue that fine tradition and raises property taxes beyond Act 1 limitations year after year through exemptions and exclusions. Yet somehow they have $5 million available for - ta da - artificial turf.
So on your high road 7:02, what candidates did you and the LeboGOP offer to voters? Remely? Caste? CAPPUCCI?!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Here’s some info I’d like you and every taxpayer to read and ponder, 7:02 while you travel your high road.
“Lawmakers Demand Big Artificial Turf Investigation”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/12/08/lawmakers-demand-big-artificial-turf-investigation/
So 7:02, will the LeboGOP get involved now or wait and throw up a pathetic effort in the next election?
Doubtful anything changes but any election that removes the likes of Mary Birks is a win for the community. Voters do have a conscience. I couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning. Same with Mr. "We will come in at $90 million but vote for a budget of $113 million" Remeley. Long overdue.
Too bad about Fischer. He was and is a stand-up kind of man.
I know you hit the committee a lot but the fact is, Mt. Lebanon isn't even purple any more. Maybe the committee could have held back the tide a little while but not for long given the shifting demographics. Mt. Lebanon is a community of elites now run by elected liberal elites. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule but they are few and far between. Tell me when you think you'll get another R majority Commission. Those days are over, unfortunately.
Thanks for the blog, Elaine.
An old friend
8:02, I think there is some confusion about MTL Republicans and fiscal conservative.
You are right, our historically our Rs spent and spent a lot and through their efforts created a community that people longed to move into. But the key you miss is that those Rs spent “well” and within their means.
Unfortunately, now it appears, we have people like Grella that believe we should be embarrassed by our “wealth” and be ready to surrender it to whatever program or development a small cabal desires.
Two things are in play though. Mt. Lebanon’s tax base is limited now in its ability to expand and we have a mature population. Their use to be 9,000 students in the district which meant young families with potentially good income growth. Today there are seniors on fixed incomes.
We also have a municipal government that does things like taking large parcels of land off the tax roles and a school district that wants to commit sports fields to half million dollar replacements every 8-10 years.
I don’t see turf as a political issue, as evidenced by the fact that Ds and Rs alike in Lebo (and just about every other city) support its safety and its use. Guess what - turf is being employed as a field alternative EVERYWHERE. Middle schools, high schools, parks, colleges, universities. Is everyone else just as stupid as we are? I doubt it. Also, why is that whenever there is any sort of debate in this community someone introduces turf. Is that really the biggest downfall of our elected officials. Personally, I’m a lot more disappointed with the complete lack of effort to do something about the lot across from St. Bernard’s, the empty lot across from the Castle Shannon T station, the public works minefield, the lack of development associated with our own T stop, Our D leadership should take a page from Mayor Peduto (can’t believe I just said that) and put the screws to the private developers just like he did with the Penguins. It’s amazing what happens in the private sector when the government uses its leverage and says “No!”
I’m curious to see how things play out on the school board. The candidates told me a lot before the election. I plan to hold them to it. I even kept the emails.
Yes, you are an old friend, 8:35 AM! Thanks for checking in. I knew you would be pleased.
Elaine
8:55, I agree with you almost 100%. It’s deplorable that the empty lots you reference sit idle and weed infested. At the very least the municipality should enforce the codes that do on individual homeowners. Try letting your lawn go to weeds and see what happens.
As for developing that vacant lot across from the Castle Shannon T station, this is going to be interesting. ‘When’ those condos ever go in that intersection is going to be more of a mess than it is now. Add something on the vacant lot and it’s going to be pure gridlock.
As it is now it is impossible to get out of the RiteAid except to exit to the right off Cooke onto MTL Blvd and circle around Leboshops to get onto Castle Shannon Blvd heading to Scott Rd. Wonder if the commissioners have any plan for dealing with the increased traffic from the new storage units, future condos and if the vacant lot gets developed.
As for turf, you don’t think millions of dollar replacements every 8-10 years is a big deal? $100,000 deer culls, PAYT garbage collection, overnight parking fees, stormwater fees all coupled together are a big deal to me.
8:22 AM, I agree that Cissy Bowman needs to go, because now she thinks she is an election judge as well. She crossed an ethics line yesterday. I hope the new school board addresses that.
Elaine
8:55, I see you haven’t read 8:23’s article yet.
“Lawmakers Demand Big Artificial Turf Investigation”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/12/08/lawmakers-demand-big-artificial-turf-investigation/
Or how about this from Forbes magazine.
“How Taxpayers Get Fooled On The Cost Of An Artificial Turf Field”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/09/28/how-taxpayers-get-fooled-on-the-cost-of-an-artificial-turf-field/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/09/28/how-taxpayers-get-fooled-on-the-cost-of-an-artificial-turf-field/
If you’ve got the money 8:55, to pay for turf replacements every 8 years instead of grass that kids played on for decades good for you. Donate to the Century of Excellence Fund and leave me out of it.
Ethics——— on the school board! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Elaine, do you think Mr. Lebowitz that smiled and declared everything is fine on the Century of Excellence Campaign and allowed Mary to vote on Outreach funding for years will bother himself with Cissy’s violation.
I suggest not holding your breath.
10:12 AM Larry doesn't run the board any more. Will be interesting to see what the new president does, but I'm guessing it won't be nearly as charitable as what Larry would have done (nothing).
You did good, Elaine. Thank you.
1:02 Lebo Larry May not be the board President, but he certainly is the head cheerleader any time there is spending involved. Watch the board meetings closely, he’s always excited... to buy turf... to beg for money (while spending more than coming in), to build sports stuff (except for the rifle team).
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