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It’s our last day at University Prep working on our project with MGR Foundation and Mr. Sigal’s 9th grade civics class to make student-produced videos about gun laws, gang violence, drug use, and high school drop-out rates in Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Stay tuned; those videos will be released on youtube soon!
The taped Mayoral debate on public safety will air again in its entirety at the following times on cable channel 21 (PCTV) between now and the election:
It’s not too late! You can still hear what the candidates had to say about safety in our neighborhoods five more times between now and the election, May 19th.
The community safety mayoral debate is in full swing here at the kingsley association on this rainy night. First question: when will we see an assault weapons ban?
Catch the full debate on PCTV ch 21 on May 16th, just before the election!
So the mayoral debate we worked with the League of Women Voters to schedule with KDKA and the primary candidates was postoned and has now been rescheduled — mark your calendars for 8pm on Saturday, May 2nd when it will air.
(That’s only 17 days before the election, folks!)
We’re going to be giving away print copies of our 2009 Primary Voter Guide at The Big Throwback, the killer monthly funk/soul dance party, this Thursday, April 23rd from 9-10pm. And it’s their 3-year anniversay, no less!
Back in 2006 we worked to help stop a disenfranchising Voter ID bill, HB 1318. Unfortunately, the issue has not gone away, and has reared its ugly head again, this time in the form of SB 514.
The ACLU of PA has made it easy to send a message to your state senator about this bill. I already did. Your turn.
From ACLU-PA:Tags: legislation, Pennsylvania, state senate, take action, voter ID
“After a historic election in 2008, some state senators want to block the vote. Senate Bill 514 would implement strict ID requirements at the polls, potentially disenfranchising the elderly, the working poor, and racial minorities. The only states that have had success this year in moving voter ID bills have been those states with a history of voter suppression and discrimination. Tell your state senator to oppose SB 514 and protect the vote in Pennsylvania. The right to vote is one of America’s most precious freedoms. It must be protected.”
Our scheduled Mayoral Debate for this Wednesday, April 15th at 7pm has been cancelled by KDKA due to the police officer deaths that recently took place. The mayoral debate that was scheduled for Apr 6th on WPXI was also cancelled and has been rescheduled for May 4th.
This debate, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, was going to be the only user-submitted question debate aired before the primary election.
We’re hoping to reschedule for some time in May, but right now the candidate’s schedules aren’t matching up. We’ll keep working on it and let you know.
Meanwhile, note these other upcoming debate times:
(’*’ indicates it is co-sponsored by the PA League of Young Voters)
April 20th, 7pm WTAE
*April 28th, 7pm - LIVE forum at Kingsley Association (on community safety issues)
May 4th, 7pm WPXI
*May 6th, 7pm - Chatham University’s Eddy Theater
*April 27th, 7:30 pm - Jefferson Middle School Auditorium
Tags: candidate, debates, election, mayor, mt. lebanon, pittsburgh, primary, school board
The PA League of Young Voters and the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh have teamed up with KDKA to bring you the best mayoral debate Pittsburgh’s had yet — one where citizens ask the questions!Starting now , you can upload your question to the KDKA website. Then, on April 15th at 7pm, tune in as 
mayoral candidates Luke Ravenstahl, Patrick Dowd, and Carmen Robinson will respond to the questions submitted!
The concept is based off the wildly-successful (in our opinion) YouTube Presidential Debates of last year…and we’re happy that KDKA was willing to take this innovative format on at their studios.
TIP: Direct your questions to all three candidates, and keep them under 30 seconds (which is plenty long for video!). Don’t forget to say who you are and where you’re fro
m, or what group you’re with, and a couple sentences about why you care about the topic (to make it more interesting).
UPLOAD YOUR QUESTION HERE: http://kdka.com/debatequestion
PS — and don’t forget to check out our voter guide, being released this Saturday April 4th at The Town Tavern on the South Side –featuring a free “make-your-own-taco” bar, $2 drinks, DJ! Probably a few candidates, too. 9pm-Midnight
Tags: carmen robinson, debate, KDKA, luke ravenstahl, mayor, mayoral, patrick dowd, pittsburgh
First stab at school reform…, originally uploaded by paleague.
“Pittsburgh was a great, great city” began Mark Roosevelt at the ‘community dialogue’ facilities planning session that the Pittsburgh Public School system is holding as part of their school reform process. They expect to have the whole plan and report done by July (6 months) and as the rep from the DeJong consultant said, “We want the masses to participate.” A survey will be posted tomorrow on the district website that’s the same as the one we’re doing right now in small groups. The next special community meetings will be geographically based on May12th and 13th. One more thought from Mark Roosevelt: “more now than ever, what you earn is dependent on what you learn.”
‘Consensus’, originally uploaded by paleague.School reform survey results were collected at the end of the public meeting. Some examples:
People remember the YouTube debates of the presidential primaries last year, right?Now it’s Pittsburgh’s turn. On April 15th at 7pm, all three of Pittsburgh’s mayoral candidates — Luke Ravenstahl, Patrick Dowd, and Carmen Robinson — square off in a debate where YOU submit the questions.
This debate is hosted by the PA League of Young Voters, the League of Women Voters, and KDKA. Big thanks to KDKA — Check back here Monday for a link to submit your question!
Tags: carmen robinson, debate, KDKA, luke ravenstahl, mayor, mayoral, patrick dowd, pittsburgh, video, youtube
