Local Government

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Bitter Petty Bureaucrat — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:43:31 GMT

You're right about the "saving" frenzie. The mayor created Pat's big ticket job, complete with staff, while every routine job opening spends months in the budget office before authorization comes through - a hugh money saver that results in continual turnover. Just about the time a spot gets filled another city employee has left in disgust. There has been no Assist. Dir. of Planning for over a year and a half since PF moved his hand picked successor up to Dir. when he went off to be czar. It's like he wanted the department to fail after he left by hiring away planning staff to the URA knowing full well it would be ages before/if those positions were filled.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

gary4957 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:22:37 GMT

This should have happened as soon as Mayor Ravenstahl took office. Time to get the sleeze out of our government.

So long to Dennis Regan and that gang he brought in to manage the Mayor's Office, so long to Pat Ford and his slimey way of doing the "people's" business.

Next, the Mayor, if he is serious, he needs to get rid of the rest of the O'Connor holdovers starting with Scott Kunka and Yarone Zober.

Kunka is too busy "saving" money to let the City provide the needed services to the CIty starting with emergency vehicles, maintenance of City facilities and the hiring of needed people. As savings increase so does the violence. I guess $80 million in the bank is nice trade-off for all of the dead bodies in the street.

If Zober was a good right-hand to the Mayor, he would have been arguing for the need to spend some of this money on critical services.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

bpb — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:20:58 GMT

"A good soldier" ? Shouldn't executive directors be leaders?

The O'Conner/Ravenstall administrations should be ashamed and investigated for perpetuating the city of Pittsburgh's "good ole boy" mentality at the taxpayer's expense. How many other backroom deals have been consumated on their watch? Ford is the tip of the iceberg. Where there's one cockroach, you will find many more...Good riddance to the classless Mr. Ford.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Suburbanite — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:07:11 GMT

Everything he says may be true. He was thick as thieves with the mayor. His wife was in the middle of it all, too. Ford took the gifts, worked in the smoke-filled rooms, did the deals and how did the city benefit? Now he's indignant? We should be indignant with him. Give me a break.

But as for the mayor, he's too young to realize he's a throw-back to the old way things were done - good ole boys and all that. I think he needs Onorato to tie his shoes for him every day. Something tells me that in this case, where there's smoke, well, you know the rest.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

MB — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:54:39 GMT

What do you expect from a person when you call him a Czar? I'm glad that Alicia just had to tell someone about that great gift, and all the moving and shaking that "our Hero" was doing. Good bye Pat! Thanks for the 4 months of amusing news articles and blog stories.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

bonsai — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:19:32 GMT

Are you kidding me? Injustice. This kind of stuff - collecting a paycheck and not doing a thing - happens ALL the time in the working world. And to a much greater extent than what Pat Ford will make. It's standard practice. Some employees are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to resign from their position. Employees are 'paid off' all the time - do some investigation on the drug companies and you will certainly be in shock. Pat signed a contract and that contract has to be fulfilled - that's what contracts are all about. Maybe it's the whole 'negotiating a contract' world that is unjust - not just Pat Ford.

I feel some sympathy towards Pat because I really don't believe that he is the only culprit in this mess. People can put on a smooth and honest-looking front and we never really know what lies underneath that shiny exterior. That can be said about most people. It takes two to tango - we just need to know who's leading who around the dance floor.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

vicsbean — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:38:18 GMT

In GOD I trust, and only in God do I trust!

(And my daughter and son)

We hold these TRUTHS to be self evident!

Councilman William Peduto has called for a City Controller's Office audit of URA contracting policies. Today he e-mailed from Norway, where he is studying city government, writing that the issue "goes much further than Pat Ford. Pittsburgh is no longer a city that is open for business, Pittsburgh is a city for sale."

One contract recently questioned was a URA contract recently awarded for construction management to McTish, Kunkel & Associates, despite the fact that it was not initially the lowest bidder. That type of contract does not need to go to the lowest bidder, and URA spokeswoman Megan Stearman said in a statement that after "understanding the actual requirements, [McTish, Kunkel] submitted a bid lower than the other responsive bidder."

Matthew McTish, president of the firm, gave Mr. Ravenstahl's campaign a $10,000 contribution in December 2006.

Let us get down to just how pathetically weak the mayors administration is.

Am I the only soul to wonder why the city has workers who go out at RUSH hour to empty garbage cans and hold up rush hour traffic?

Is that, no, THAT ADMINISTRATION IS that pathetically weak that now the masses can say,

"look at the city, busy as bees keeping it clean! The mayor must be doing a good job!"

What do those workers do the rest of the day?

You never see them, and you never see the police!

PGH garbage collectors and Port Authority drivers are the hardest working people in the county, city and local governments!

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

vicsbean — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:12:44 GMT

Today I took a good look at the new transportation center.

The electronic sign that is partially hung on that building WAS NOT a last second decision.

Ford may or may not have taken a gift. But there certainly was and is co-conspirators on that back door OK for the permit.

That sign took months to design and fit into the design of that building.

To think that Lamar and Ford are the only two to have inside information is absurd.

Fess up Sir Luke.

Your city continues to go down the drain with your inept administration.

And quit patronizing the Hill district!

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Former Pittsburgher — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:47:18 GMT

This is why I left Pittsburgh and probably never will return. The whole country laughs at this place and I am out of excuses to make on its behalf.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Mike Staresinic — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:45:30 GMT

The City of Pittsburgh lost a year of development work while Pat Ford dallied over resigning for trade in inappropriate gifts. This is called letting the ass hit you in the door. Good riddance, although it would be better if you didn't take our money.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Bitter Petty Bureaucrat — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:18:41 GMT

At least Rob Stephany is a known quantity. PF is known for hiring/appointing/bringing folks to positions - often of his own creation - without benefit of advertising or interviewing. He got his wife jobs that way, too. Whatever will his followers do without his hand up their backs? And that includes Luke. Now what? As was stated earlier, those with local planning experience AND integrity are gone. Maybe there should be another oh so successful nation-wide search like there was when all the department heads were asked to submit letters of resignation.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

In God I Trust — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:41:35 GMT

I believe that it is such a blessing that this man has finally stepped aside so that the city can continue it's steady assention, which began just a few years ago. I find it reprehensible that Mr. Ford would attempt to create a smoke screen by making unfounded accusations about the Mayor's administration merely for personal benefit, although I suppose we should expect it from his past actions. I cannot even fathom the audacity that it takes to fault an administration for not having your back after you have been proven corrupt. I applaud the Mayor for standing up against the back room politics of the past, and ousting those like Ford who use public service for personal gain.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Ed Heath — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:33:04 GMT

I think that Mary Beth Buchanon should be interviewing Mr. Ford right now. Or the City law departmenr should be preparing a lawsuit for slander (or whatever would apply). But alas, nothing will happen.

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

smitty — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:24:28 GMT

Good riddance...he can now take his"sirkus" back on the road. Powerhungry,megalomaniacal,and apparently much dumber than perceived, Ford and his blogger/videographer/wife Alicia Sirk should head to New Orleans,the land of opportunity.. winkwink

Re: What do you think about URA boss Pat Ford's resignation?

Dart Gun — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:29:43 GMT

I couldnt agree with the previous posters more. Pat's resignation is a boon to our city, public process can once again resume, citizens can once again have a voice in development projects.

While there does exist a culture of coruption at the highest levels of the URA and our city's executive branch, Pat was most certianly a huge part in it. Unfortunatly our city's slimiest politico seems to have come through this fiasco unscathed: Yarone Zober.

On the bright side, I beleive Rob Stefany has been doing a great job at the URA in Pat's absence. He has kept an open line of communication with the CDCs and is pushing great projects through the pipeline, while ensuring adequate public input.

Lets move on! Hopefully with Rob at the helm of the URA!