Spurious Signal Propagation

So much has been going on lately that I started alliterating subheadings in my head to try to keep them straight, and try to organize my thoughts about them.

While pondering them in recent days, they seemed to resemble too much unwanted feedback on a landscape of information and occurrences. I tried to have a serious discussion with my wife about religion - and wound up with a headache instead of anything meaningful. That doesn't usually happen.

All of this reminded me of what in radio terms is called spurious signals, or "undesired signal energy present at any frequency at the output of a device that was not present at the input". It's all the noise that gets in the way of what really needs to come through. More about this later.

Here is a sampling of some of that intentionally organized, yet unwelcome random stuff that stands in the way of real progress in my own personal growth - perhaps more of a picture of how my brain works (or doesn't) than one might like.

Brought to you by two letters of the English alphabet.


Surveillance, Secrecy, Snowden - Past is Present 

Has anyone else noticed that this entire episode started out eerily like the first several minutes of The Bourne Ultimatum, right down to the same media outlet breaking the story?
Hopefully it doesn't follow the plot line completely, even though I'm sure that the reporter Glenn Greenwald and his staff are taking whatever precautions they feel are necessary. The same can be said for their source.

Despite all of the additional revelations and events that have transpired over the last two weeks, I will stick with my first impressions about Edward Snowden after reading the interview that the Guardian conducted with him in Hong Kong, and released two Sundays ago - 

"I carefully evaluated every single document I disclosed to ensure that each was legitimately in the public interest," he said. "There are all sorts of documents that would have made a big impact that I didn't turn over, because harming people isn't my goal. Transparency is."

Courageous, misguided, naïve, unafraid, narcissistic - these and so many other adjectives have been used to describe the man. I personally think that he did a service to the cause of personal privacy and controls over what the government can find out, and what they can do with it.

I was listening to Mike Pintek talk about this on KDKA last week. He referred to the Pentagon Papers controversy, which this affair is being compared to, as "ancient history".
Please, Mike - we were both alive when it happened, and just because it happened 40 or so years ago does not make it any less relevant. 

Daniel Ellsberg is also still alive, and commented rather astutely in the Guardian on Snowden's actions:

"Snowden did what he did because he recognised the NSA's surveillance programs for what they are: dangerous, unconstitutional activity. This wholesale invasion of Americans' and foreign citizens' privacy does not contribute to our security; it puts in danger the very liberties we're trying to protect."

Ellsberg also makes a comparison of the NSA's activities to that of the East German Stasi during the heyday of the former Soviet bloc. The 2006 Oscar-winning film The Lives of Others is an excellent dramatic rendering of what it might have been like to live in a society where the fear of someone listening actually affects the nature of the discourse, regardless of the innocence of that discourse.

That is perhaps the best point I have heard in response to all of the reporting, hype, and outcry - that people will "self-regulate" themselves into what they think is palatable to what the government will tolerate.

This is an affront to the liberty of thought that no free society, that wishes to remain so, can tolerate for very long. The fact that all of this started to become public knowledge on the 49th anniversary of the publication of Orwell's 1984 has apparently not been lost on a lot of people.

The government may choose to throw the book at Edward Snowden, or do nothing at all - let him live out his days with one eye continuously looking over his shoulder. There is, however, enough of an outcry on both sides of the political spectrum - including ACLU litigation and a very popular White House petition demanding Snowden be pardoned - that some action to curtail the NSA's activities will likely have to be considered.

We The People, at least those of us who care deeply about the free expression of ideas and dissenting opinion, will not stand for it. Apparently, many citizens are planning to take to the streets this 4th of July in support of the Fourth Amendment. How appropriate is that?


Sewickley Sewer Street Shutdown Surprise - Prolonged

Over the several months, an ongoing project to connect portions of Aleppo Township and Glen Osborne to Sewickley's sewer system has resulted in several street closures and other traffic-related issues - many not communicated in a way motorists and citizens would probably appreciate or expect.

This trend apparently continued with the closing of Beaver Street in the heart of the Village two weeks ago. The Herald's story, dated Tuesday June 4, announced the closure and detour of Beaver at Logan Street to last two days.

The Quaker Valley School District sent a mass e-mail the previous evening, attempting to quickly notify parents of the closure. Communications Director Tina Vojtko made it a point to write that "we were just informed late this afternoon" of the impending detour - I imagined I could almost hear the banging of annoyed fingers on Ms. Vojtko's keyboard as it was being written.

I can't tell you if I was surprised or not to go to church two Sundays ago and see the closure - and associated heavy equipment - still in place. It was later reported that the "2 day" closure ended a little over a week after it commenced.

From last year's closure of Beaver Road in Glen Osborne, to the recent single-lane restrictions on Route 65 in the same community, up to and including this last closure, whomever is responsible at Sewickley Borough needs to make a better effort at communicating restrictions on traffic flow and other services, especially if those delays take longer than expected.

On my regular commute down Route 65 this week, I took note of the backhoe, fresh trenches, and pipe staged below where the road passes behind Osborne Elementary School. Hopefully something will be said about it..well in advance..if they intend to disrupt traffic again.


Sewickley Photoplay Philanthropy Shortage

The Village Theater Company is approaching a self-imposed deadline to obtain total pledges of $1.5 Million to construct a new movie house in the heart of Sewickley Village.

They've got a way to go to reach that goal by the end of the month. This past week I sent them an example of how a community comes together to make a great space possible - something that transcends the space itself.

Village Theater Company needs the community's help, at a fundamental level, to make this happen. It starts with financial resources, at this point in any amount. Best wishes to them in their efforts.


Penguins Paradoxically Plummet - Still Supportive

After following the Penguins during their successful campaign through a lockout-shortened regular season, and then over the first two rounds of playoffs that were rocky but eventually successful, it was distressing to see them basically not show up at all the first two games against the Bruins.

Since the Pens' season ended, there has been the predictable amount of speculation, announcements, signings, and accolades. Here are a few observations while we're waiting for next season to start:

1. Despite the post-season reaffirmation of Marc-Andre Fleury as the team's "franchise goaltender", this doesn't really explain or forgive his being thrown under the bus by Coach Dan Bylsma during the playoffs. If the team elects to jettison Fleury after saying this, it will  be tough to get behind anything they have to say in the future.

2. As for Coach Bylsma himself, General Manager Ray Shero apparently believes the team needs stability at the coaching level, and that the current coaching staff is best equipped to manage the team through numerous personnel additions, and perhaps some deletions.
Nevertheless, there's a bit of serious evaluation warranted for the way in which the team basically didn't show up for the first 2 games against the Bruins, and how to prevent that in the future.

3. It's nice that we have Evgeni Malkin for a long time, but the team's overall effectiveness will be diminished if they can't re-sign Kris Letang.

4. Sidney Crosby is probably the best individual player in the NHL. Those who play with him seem to agree with that statement - Congratulations, Sid, on your award.
With that in mind, consider the following statement from Wikipedia:

Although the rules do not specify any other distinction between the captain and his teammates, the captain has numerous responsibilities to the team, particularly in North American professional hockey. The captain is a dressing room leader, and also represents the players' concerns to management. During the game, captains are expected to motivate their teams, particularly captains who are stars or franchise players.

Considering the talent that Ray Shero amassed for this year's campaign, including Brenden Morrow and Jerome Iginla - both of whom left their previous teams as the captain - is there room for discussion as to which of the Pens may be best qualified to serve in that role in the future?


Public Station Programming Problem has Solution Starting

Two years ago this week, I wrote about the loss of jazz music programming on the FM airwaves in Pittsburgh. Two recent events have brought the return of this programming to local radio a significant step closer.

Pittsburgh Public Media announced the closing of their purchase of Bethany College's radio station, and the establishment of studio facilities in Pittsburgh's southern suburbs. According to the Post-Gazette, the group estimated that the station could begin broadcasting jazz music and other offerings of the currently online-only Pittsburgh Jazz Channel by sometime next month.

The group singled out Essential Public Media, the owners of the former WDUQ, for selling them some of that station's old equipment to help facilitate the start-up. It was nice of EPM to try to make amends in this way.

The station's current transmitter site will cover mainly the south and west suburbs of Pittsburgh, on 88.1 FM.  The group states that it will be actively seeking additional frequencies and transmitter sites to cover the remainder of the Pittsburgh area, and is seeking public support to gather funds for that purpose.

Coincidentally, this week the FCC announced that they are accepting applications for Low Power FM station licenses, made possible by the passage of the Local Community Radio Act in 2011. This could be an avenue for the jazz radio folks to gain access to the FM airwaves, while admittedly at low power, but with the proper transmitter placement could attain the coverage goals that they're looking for.

Great credit should be given to the Prometheus Radio Project for helping to spearhead the passage of the law, and for continued efforts to educate and inform non-profits and community groups about the availability of LPFM to inform, connect, and motivate local communities to action.

Come to think of it, there may be an opportunity for some forward-thinking locals to band together and make a go of it in our immediate area. I can say from personal experience that it can be lots of fun and hard work, with intangible rewards, and sometimes meaning beyond words.

Speaking of signals..Radio Free Leetsdale, anyone?

Enjoy the summer. 

Familiar Territory...Again

This is the t-shirt that I pulled out of my closet to wear on Monday morning. By mid-afternoon, its significance to me had changed dramatically.

The shirt is at least 10 years old; I bought it from the crew at Ladder 15 / Engine 33 of the Boston Fire Department, while walking past their station at the corner of Boylston and Hereford Streets in the Back Bay section of Boston - about 3 city blocks from where the bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Theirs is one of the busiest fire stations in the country, and the one closest to this latest example of how freedom isn't as free as we would like.

Boston is a familiar and frequent destination - especially the Back Bay. While I've never been there for the Marathon, I've had the opportunity to experience several times the richness, in both literal and figurative terms, that these few square blocks have to offer. I've walked these blocks, from Boston Common past the Public Library to the Prudential Center, over to the Christian Science Headquarters, Symphony Hall, the Berklee and BU campuses, and eventually to Fenway Park.

There are numerous personal and professional benchmarks for me associated with this small area - too numerous to list here.

That many of these institutions and attractions have had their operations significantly altered or halted by the bombings, as well as the manhunt that unfolded today, speaks not only to the density of the area, but its fragility in the face of the commitment to freedom and liberty that it also collectively represents.

One question that will stick out for me is the amount of disruption that occurred today - a major city basically shut down, house-to-house searches carried out - all to track down one man - I'm wondering how much our society will be changed or de-sensitized to this, or how our priorities as citizens are affected. "They searched the basement? Well that's a shame, but they cancelled the Bruins and the Pens!"

The fact that this attack occurred on Patriot's Day - Massachusetts' official commemoration of the first battles of the American Revolution - should serve as a clarion call for resolve to live as those first patriots did - moving forward, without fear.

This is a most volatile week in our nation's history - our resolve to not cower in the face of terror, regardless of is origins should be strengthened by our recognition of our history and a commitment to keep us safe, peaceful, and free in spite of the cowardly and cruel actions of others.

The Back Bay area, like the metropolitan area around it, is a locus of cultural, tourism, business, historical, and shopping activity that ranks right up there with similar, more famous destinations around the country. That it is suddenly the latest addition to a list of battlefield sites in a war as difficult to understand as it is to fight and prepare for is sad and unfortunate.

I'm hopeful that the apparent quick apprehension of the perpetrators will show not only our resolve as a people to live free and without fear, but also that the freedom that Boston represents for all Americans must be respected by those we entrust with the power to protect and to govern.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those touched by this tragedy.

Aurora Observations

                                                                          Karl Gehring - The Denver Post

A week ago this past Friday I was engaged in my normal routine of getting ready for work. This includes getting up at 4:30 AM. One part of this routine is taking a look at the news online. There really wasn't anything of significance on the local and national news sites I look at regularly.

It wasn't until I got in the car and turned on KDKA, and John Shumway teased about "complete coverage of the tragedy in Colorado coming up", that I knew something significant had happened. There were about 5 anxious minutes of driving, wondering about the where and what out there (my son lives in western Colorado), before the initial blurb was broadcast about yet another active shooter incident, this time in the large Denver suburb of Aurora. 

When I got to work, I got a couple of questions from co-workers about what I knew about the incident and the location involved. I'm somewhat familiar with the area, and have driven past the location of the incident on I-225 many times. I'm familiar with how public safety operations in the immediate area, and across metro Denver, are conducted. A former co-worker, who has been a dispatcher at the Aurora dispatch center for many years, was interviewed as part of the initial media coverage. 

Fortunately, none of the friends I have living in the metro Denver area were involved or anywhere near the scene of the shooting. Prayers have been going out for those impacted, including the responders.

Having had the time to take in some of the reporting and commentary over the last week, I've identified some points that seem to either connect or contrast with conditions or situations in the Pittsburgh area and in Pennsylvania.

1. The general public's understanding of this tragedy has been enhanced by comprehensive coverage in the Denver media, especially the availability of recorded radio traffic during the incident. KUSA-TV tied this audio in with some excellent interviews of the dispatchers involved, providing the public with a look at the human side of the job that doesn't get seen very often..or often enough.

The Denver media obtained the radio traffic either from the comprehensive hobbyist site radioreference.com or similar websites. This site also offers recorded archives to those who pay for memberships to support the site's operations.

There is streaming scanner audio available online for all of southwest Pennsylvania, through Radio Reference, other sites, or smartphone apps. There are also recordings of radio traffic from the Aurora shooting posted to YouTube. 

These recordings continue to drive reporting about the incident, including reports about the lack of ambulances at the scene in the initial minutes, resulting in many of the victims arriving at local ERs in the backs of police cruisers.

Also intriguing are some extraordinary attempts by prosecutors and the courts to lock down access to court records and involved officials. These attempts are being challenged by numerous media organizations. 

The use of these types of recordings by journalists is occurring more frequently for many recent critical incidents around the country. This would appear to be a potentially important resource for media outlets in Pennsylvania, since the official recordings are not considered open records here as they are in other states, including Colorado. I've written about this disparity previously. 

I haven't seen any major print or broadcast media outlet in our area post links to or utilize online scanner audio as part of their reporting. To try and ascertain the local media's awareness of this resource, or their policies regarding its use, I sent email inquiries to the Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review editorial departments, as well as the news desks of three Pittsburgh TV stations. None of these media outlets chose to reply. 

If we can say for the purposes of argument that accountability and transparency in government results in a better level of service provision for all citizens, then a lot of what's happening in Aurora in the aftermath of this tragedy should be something that citizens interested in reform here should be reviewing. This is particularly important when looking to expand and improve the availability of government documents and records to citizens and the news media. 

After all, it wasn't that long ago that the Pittsburgh area experienced its own mass shooting tragedy. How would a more comprehensive approach to reporting and information gathering by local media and others improve our community's understanding of what transpired? Is there a need for greater openness or access to public records? How can the public interest be competently served?

2. There seem to be some eerie similarities between the Aurora shooting suspect, James Holmes, and John Shick, the Western Psych shooter. Both appear to have been intelligent, excellent students with impressive credentials, from seemingly stable home environments and possessing ample financial resources.

It wasn't until this past Friday, when reports surfaced that Holmes was seeing a psychiatrist, that the Post-Gazette ventured a comparison between the two men, apparently becoming the first mainstream media to do so. 

There are some questions that come to mind about these two unfortunate individuals:

What are the social or other factors that contributed to the mindset that led to their actions?

Did the use or abuse of prescription medications or illegal substances possibly contribute to their isolation, or other problems that manifested themselves in their actions?  

How did two men that showed such promise in their academic life suffer such a descent into irrational and violent behavior? 

I hope that some investigation and answers will be forthcoming, and not just to satisfy the prurient interest of the TMZ or Smoking Gun crowd.

Can we as a society learn more about what is causing these people to act the way they did, and learn from it? I hope so...

                                                                                      facebook.com

3. As one would expect, this incident has generated lots of debate about gun laws and gun rights. I can see the point about the right to bear arms if one chooses to, but I have to wonder out loud how much arms a citizen needs to be able to bear to 'protect'  themselves, and how much involvement the government should have in the process of tracking the sale of such weapons. There has been much commentary online about the regulatory hypocrisy when it comes to guns - the attached photo is but one example.

What really concerns me is the lack of discussion about improving both community awareness of recognizing the signs of potentially dangerous behavior, and/or improving access to mental health and crisis intervention services, regardless of social or economic status. 

It almost seems as if trying to ratchet down gun laws further, regardless of the opposition, is an easy way out compared to taking a comprehensive look at ourselves. What is about our society that causes promising young people like this to go crazy? How do we do something about it?

We got a taste of this locally last week, when a Leetsdale man was charged with drug and weapons offenses after police discovered an apartment full of knives, chemicals used in explosives manufacture, and notebooks with some interesting entries that police claim may constitute malevolent intent.  

Some of the commenters to the above Patch story seemed not only defensive of the suspect, but hostile toward the police that investigated and took action. Leetsdale Police Chief James Santucci expressed surprise that someone with Zachary Clifton's alleged propensities could exist "under the radar".

Some would advocate turning up the range and sensitivity of that "radar", through legislation and enforcement activities designed to catch people before they act - a sort of pre-crime detection strategy.

As with any discussion about these kinds of issues, emphasis will need to be on improving awareness, assuring diligence in service provision, and protecting the individual liberties of law-abiding citizens. Despite all of the clamor and cries for justice and protection that seem to exist in the immediate aftermath of something like this, we must place trust in the checks and balances of a free society. 

We also need to help and care for each other. 

4. One of the hallmarks of that free society, especially in the digital age, is the diversity and seeming universality of information, including entertainment products. As the entertainment industry, specifically the film industry, is inexorably tied to this latest tragedy, I found and have remembered several links to information, opinion, and stories that may help understand these concepts further.

Film critic and American man of letters Roger Ebert wrote an excellent column for the New York Times shortly after the tragedy.

Controversial filmmaker and activist Michael Moore has been focused on the issue of guns in America since his Oscar-winning documentary Bowling for Columbinewas released. He also wrote a blog post after the Aurora incident, referencing the same salient points that he made nearly 10 years ago. He also provides a link where you can watch the whole film for free online. It's worth it.

Also check out The Lives of Others and Minority Report for an illustration of how we as a society can degrade the cause of freedom through fear, control, and intolerance.

There's lots to think about, probably more than we have time for every day. The important thing is not to be afraid. Easier said than done, but essential to maintaining our way of life, and our freedom in challenging times.

Enjoy your August.

Civics and Civility

Civics is the study of the theoretical and practical aspects of citizenship, its rights and duties; the duties of citizens to each other as members of a political body and to the government.       

                                                                                                                                       - Wikipedia

The last couple of weeks have seen a familiar tone in the news for this time of year. As the school year winds down, court cases and related news stories pop up around the country as students are denied admission to the prom, commencement ceremonies, or other activities associated with the rites of passage that mark the end of high school. These restrictions are typically related to aberrant behavior, criminal activity, or lifestyle choices that school officials find disruptive, or potentially so. 

Most adults probably don't pay much attention to these reports, perhaps with the realization of the significance of these events to life in general. In all honesty, some of the complaints seem rather petty in relationship to the larger issues of the day. For example, the graduates of a suburban Cincinnati high school who are being denied their diplomas because people cheered too loudly for them at commencement. I'm sorry, but that's just ridiculous.

However, two recent incidents locally have raised some interesting questions, and exposed what may be some disturbing trends. 

Any person indicted stands before the bar of justice clothed with a presumption of innocence and, as such, is tenderly regarded by the law. Every safeguard is thrown about him. The requirements of proof are many, and all moral, together with many technical, rules stand between him and any possible punishment.

                                                                 - People v. Riley (1941), Illinois Supreme Court

COPS is filmed with the men and women of law enforcement. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

                                                                 - Fox Television

The first incident involved a student who had been denied the ability to participate in graduation because he had simply been charged with an offense related to drug or alcohol use. 

As the Post-Gazette reported on May 24, this student, Mitchell Klemencic, challenged the Mount Lebanon School District's actions in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. The judge declined to intervene on Mr. Klemencic's behalf, and made statements supportive of the district's efforts to reduce drug and alcohol use among students.

Both Mr. Klemencic's attorney and Witold "Vic" Walczak, Legal Director for the Pennsylvania chapter of the ACLU, expressed concern in the P-G story over the broad scope by which schools are attempting to arbitrarily discipline students for incidents that do not involve the school or school-sponsored activities. 

This case has some relevance to recent events in the Quaker Valley School District. In April, QVHS senior and basketball player Jamal Gloster was arrested and accused of selling marijuana from his Sewickley residence, as well as possession of an assault rifle. More recently, Mr. Gloster was charged with fighting another male in a Leetsdale Park. 

As Mr. Gloster was free on bond, and the offenses he was accused of did not appear to involve the school or school functions in any way, the question arose in my mind whether or not QV would attempt to prevent Gloster from participating in graduation or other "extra-curricular" activities, especially in light of the recent events in Mt. Lebanon.

District spokeswoman Martha Smith declined to comment on any individual student's situation, but did refer me to several school board policies that both define the district's likely response, and raise questions about how much authority the school board believes it has when dealing with issues outside its walls.

The board policy on Chemical Use and Co-Curricular Activities appears to mirror much of the Mt. Lebanon policy as described in the P-G story. Another policy, titled Social Probation, includes the following:

“Social probation is a restriction placed upon a student who fails to demonstrate responsible behavior and who has chosen to violate the school’s code of conduct, school board policy or the law.” (emphasis mine)

For me, this issue seems more centered on the legal concept that a person accused of a crime in this country is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This same policy also includes the following sentence:

Upon request by the parent or student, the principal will meet informally to review the issue and afford appropriate due process.

That being said, does a public school district, itself an arm of the government, have the right to arbitrarily restrict someone from participating in events that they would otherwise be permitted to take part, simply on the basis that they have been only accused of a crime, and are thus presumed innocent by the judicial system?

Doesn't a school district have an obligation to respect due process of law as it applies to all branches of government, not just theirs?

According to at least one legal expert, the answer is yes..and no.

Mr. Walczak from the ACLU, contacted late last week, provided some supporting statute and case law information that would appear to bolster his assertion to the Post-Gazette that "If it's outside the school day, unrelated to a school activity, the school's got no jurisdiction, no authority".

Mr. Walczak disagreed with the notion that a judicial presumption of innocence would be an effective defense against any punishment that a school would want to mete out under these kinds of conditions. He equated this with the practice in many public safety agencies of suspending or even firing personnel who have been accused of law violations.

I'm not sure that I agree with that, however. These government agencies set expectations of behavior for employees in whom they have placed critical levels of trust. Whether teenagers can be reasonably expected to meet the same standard, at least enough to have a critical legal right ignored by a government entity, is questionable.

One thing I've noticed in research is that the courts are very reluctant to interfere with the decisions of school boards, unless there are clear or blatant conflicts with existing law, regulations, or legal precedent. 

Another thing I've noticed is my own personal ambiguity with the plight of these young men. Do these kids really deserve to be excluded, guilty or not? This is based on trying to balance what I've read in the media with how I would like to be treated if I were placed in a similar predicament - especially if I had not done what I was being accused of.

As a Colorado resident during the time of Columbine, I understand the rationale behind some of the measures taken in the name of "school safety and security". I nonetheless believe that these types of school policies that target non-school related activity tread too closely to a sacred line that our school officials seem only too willing to cross more frequently.

This institutional arrogance needs to be tempered with a respect for the rights of all citizens - including students - as well as recognizing the responsibility to work with other branches of government on behalf of those citizens. This is something that QV may be learning about already. 

According to Sewickley Patch Editor Larissa Dudkiewicz, Jamal Gloster walked with his classmates as a member of the Class of 2012 at Quaker Valley'scommencement ceremony this past Monday. 

Martha Smith advised me that the "school board/administration and school solicitor will be reviewing these student policies for the 2012-13 school year". 

Best wishes to all the graduates out there. 

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

                                                                   - John 8:3-7 (NIV)                          

I have often struggled to live up to the lesson from this scripture. Indeed, when considering the earthly consequences of the actions of ourselves or others, we realize that we are flawed, that we will often redirect our own attention or that of others in an attempt to conceal our own weaknesses, and it is only when there is no other avenue for escape that only then will we admit those weaknesses, and ask for forgiveness.

Nowhere in recent years has there been a more relevant and painful example of this than the reports of sexual abuse by clergy, especially in the Roman Catholic church. 

The local perspective on this has been shaken in recent weeks by the report that the pastor of St. James Church in Sewickley has taken a leave of absence while allegations are investigated that the priest sent Facebook messages to a minor. These messages were reportedly characterized by the Allegheny County District Attorney as "a matter of poor judgment".

The DA has thus far declined to press criminal charges.

According to Larissa Dudkiewicz, this story has generated more comments than any previous individual story on Sewickley Patch. Most of the comments appeared to be precipitated by an initial comment from a representative of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), who stated:

We hope that anyone who may have knowledge or who may have been harmed by Fr Dan Valentine, will have the courage to contact the police,.. 

This was followed by numerous comments from readers (including myself) defending Father Valentine and/or the process being used to fully investigate the allegations.

There were also several comments from readers who seem to be close to theongoing controversy surrounding Catholic clergy accused of illegal behavior, therecent trial in Philadelphia that has re-energized this issue, and the perception that either the church, the government, or both are engaged in a complex and extensive cover-up. 

Local media outlets seemed mostly consistent in reporting the information released by the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, along with attempting to clarify the information released through other sources.

Unfortunately, at least one broadcast outlet tried to fan the flames of controversy, for seemingly little more than the desire to titillate or gain ratings points. KDKA-TV cited "sources close to the investigation" to try and provide additional information regarding alleged specific behaviors, illegal or otherwise, that had not been publicly released, and served no useful purpose for me. 

As a member of the clergy, Father Valentine and his position most certainly qualify as one in which a critical level of trust has been placed. The investigation by the District Attorney, as well as Father Valentine's employer, is warranted, as is a release of information to the public through the media.

Transparency is essential to develop, maintain, or rebuild an atmosphere of trust.  

civ·i·lized [siv-uh-lahyzd] adjective

1.having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.

2.polite; well-bred; refined.

3.of or pertaining to civilized people: The civilized world must fight ignorance.

                                                      - dictionary.reference.com

As members of a civilized society, we have a responsibility to engage in conduct and discourse that reflects a level of both mutual respect for each other, as well as those public and private institutions in which we place a measure of trust.

We can and will disagree - this does not mean we must be disrespectful or loud. There is a time and place for that type of behavior, usually reserved for when these institutions become unresponsive to debate and/or adopt an autocratic, insulated approach to leadership or governance. We haven't arrived there yet.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.

                                                      - Desiderata

Reading the comments about Father Valentine on Patch, Facebook, and other online sources, I was impressed with how many commenters were pleading for restraint, to allow the system in place to run its course. It appears as if perhaps many of our citizens are tiring of loud accusations, intractable viewpoints, and inflammatory language. 

This is especially important as we enter another political season and presidential election. 

Those who are advocates or adversaries around these causes, along with the media who clamor for the next controversy, might do well to pay heed to another scripture verse that my wife, who is extraordinary in her knowledge of the Bible, brought to my attention recently:

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

                                                 - Proverbs 26:20 (NIV)

On that note, keep it civil, and have a good week ahead.

Tough Calls and Sunshine

Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.

                                                                           -  Justice Louis D. Brandeis

“Yes?”

The quiet, almost mouse-like voice on the other end of the line was nearly imperceptible, and required me to say “Hello?” one more time to be sure that I heard something above the noise of work in progress at Allegheny County’s 9-1-1 center.


After another minute or so, I was able to get the small child’s first name, and from there was able to establish a better line of communication. The next step was to get a responsible adult on the phone – something my child caller was having difficulty with: 
Operator: “You need to get Mommy or Daddy.”


Child: “Mommy’s sleeping.”


Operator: “You need to wake her up.”


Child: “She won’t wake up.”


Thus began what I would describe as a tough call – one that would require all of the components of a best practice – technology, processes, and people – and a little bit of creative thinking to help bring the call to some kind of tangible resolution. 


Technology provided us with the location that the call was coming from – an apartment complex -  but no apartment number. Processes had to address one of the limitations of that technology – because the phone had no regular cell service, it was important to keep the child on the line, because we couldn’t call the phone back.


Lastly, effective People skills – creating an atmosphere of trust with the child, so much that he would open the apartment door to see if there were numbers on the outside of it – helped to keep him calm and cooperative, and also helped direct responders to the correct apartment. 


Mommy woke right up for the nice police officers. 


This type of call is indicative of many calls that 9-1-1 operators receive every day - “open line” calls caused by children playing with an old cell phone that doesn’t have service any more, that adults often give to the child as a toy – not realizing that every cell phone can call 9-1-1, so long as it has power and a signal.  


Dealing with these calls ties up critical human resources, and the sheer volume that are accidental can create an unreasonable burden on specialized personnel resources that are already difficult to hire and retain. That’s one of the reasons calls like these are tough – they can frustrate in the face of so many other ‘real’ emergency situations.


Tough Stuff, Out in the Open


As the New York Times reported last month, some of these calls can have tragic circumstances associated with them. Listening and keeping an open mind is part of the process of trying to distinguish between what is an open phone in a teenager’s pocket and the subtle signs of a critical incident. 


This is not the easiest thing to do – sometimes even more so when presented with a scenario that can appear to be mundane and routine, when in fact the individual circumstances can be anything but. 


9-1-1 personnel in Pierce County, Washington found that out the hard way in early February, when Josh Powell took his 2 sons from a social worker who was there to do a supervised visit. He attacked the boys with a hatchet, then blew his house up, killing his sons and himself.


In the days following this incident, it was reported that the 9-1-1 calltaker that spoke with the social worker may have not correctly understood the seriousness of the incident. This report was corroborated by the recordings and transcripts of two 9-1-1 calls, obtained and released by local media under the open records laws in Washington state.


In listening to the call, I could almost hear the wheels of repetitive experience grinding away at the foundation of an open mind and common sense. I thought what he might have thought - "more child custody drama". This is an easy trap to fall into. 


Within a few days, numerous media outlets had picked up the story,  some for what they no doubt consider the sensational nature of when things go wrong - which appears to be MUCH more interesting to them than when they go right. Other media sources, including those dedicated to the trade, attempted to gain a greater understanding of the issues at hand, and to leverage what appears to be a very public, straight up, head-on approach to dealing with the situation. 


The Pierce County 9-1-1 agency issued a brief, yet eloquent statement that expressed sympathy for the family, respect for the employee involved, and a commitment to investigate fully and report back to the community. The 9-1-1 operator that received the call was interviewed on national TV – and took responsibility for the manner in which he handled the call. 


Even in situations where the system functions without problems, the ability of the public to hear exactly what transpired has the potential to educate, as well as reinforce the trust of citizens in their public safety system. The recent shooting at Chardon High School in northeast Ohio is such an example, with recordings of 9-1-1 calls during the incident released for public review.


Running Into the Wall


Take the short drive from Chardon into Pennsylvania, and you will find an entirely different atmosphere altogether.


As I've written previously, recordings of emergency communications are locked down by state law, unless the agency in control of them or a court determines that the public interest will be served by their release.


Unfortunately, we have a local equivalent of the Chardon incident to compare the response of our public institutions to. The March 8 shooting at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic was a tough call. Numerous calls came in to the 9-1-1 center. Would the public interest be served by the release of the recordings?


When government can unilaterally make that determination, the answer is too often no, as it is with the recordings of 9-1-1 calls from the Western Psych incident. The family of the lone innocent fatality, WPIC employee Michael Schaab, has taken to speaking out in the media, which could reasonably be attributed to UPMC's failure to communicate with them in a meaningful way.


To its credit, the local media has done the best it can with what is being given them, including some informative and engaging reporting about the private descent of a promising young man who became the shooter, John Shick. 


This is why transparency and openness are so important in the majority of our interactions with government. When it isn't present, you can really tell the difference.


Sunshine on my Shoulders..


This past week was designated as National Sunshine Week, described by its organizers as “a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information”.  


It’s a given that information related to critical public safety responses can be controversial if not sensational, depending upon the level of ethics present among those involved as a victim, responder, or reporter. That fact, in and of itself, does not justify government from restricting or withholding access to this information by citizens or the media.


Members of the fourth estate have expressed frustration to me about this as well. Sewickley Patch Editor Larissa Dudkiewicz passed along her memories as a reporter for the Sharon (Pa.) Herald, covering crime stories in Ohio as much as in Pennsylvania:

"It was strange going to cover court hearings in Sharon or Farrell and not being able to photograph or record, and then go over to Ohio and be able to take pictures and record..so long as you did not disrupt the hearing". 

Lillian Thomas, Sunday Editor at the Post-Gazette, echoed the same concerns with the lack of open records, especially in major public safety incidents:

"Too often we have to establish relationships with others who can relay only pieces of information. This does not allow us to do the kind of job we could if we were able to evaluate the information on our own..compared with the experiences we have had when covering stories in places such as Ohio or Florida".

Ms. Thomas also lamented what she termed "a long history" of a lack of openness on the part of government officials, as well as "no strong advocates in the Legislature" to assist those in Pennsylvania seeking to further the concept of open, transparent government here.


What Are We Afraid Of?


As a public safety communications professional for most of my adult life, I must accept the additional scrutiny as part of the critical nature of the job. Having practiced that trade in a state where public records were more readily accessible, that includes the possibility of hearing yourself on the evening news. This has not always been easy.


In an age where the weight of symbolism and reputation appears more important than the system and standards those symbols represent - when managing the message seems more important than managing the problem - how can we effectively deal with anything of significance if we are preoccupied with how it will be perceived more than than how effective we will be in responding to the issues at hand?


I fear that much of this reticence (at least in Pennsylvania) may have at its root the innate desire to maintain the status quo of organizations and other hierarchies that present a veneer of responsibility, but are largely hollow underneath that surface. One moderate impact to that shell, such as negative publicity over a response delay, and the entire structure is at risk. 


Are we too afraid of change, or too comfortable in the trappings of the past, to see that going forward is much more conducive to thriving in the future than standing still?


Great Power, Great Responsibility


In the end, all of this is not to say that everything that happens should be out in the open - by this I mean the personal tragedies that impact families just like mine and yours every day. Some may be worthy of news coverage, some not. That is the job of those empowered in both government and the media to determine what is in the public interest, without rules that can be arbitrary and capricious in both their interpretation and application.


Let's take the case of young Howard Nicholson, late of McKeesport. Howard was on this earth for only three days last month when a family dog maimed his tiny body so severely that his injuries were incompatible with survival.


This was a tough call.


This incident has generated, and continues to generate, considerable public debate about the plight of dangerous dogs, irresponsible owners, and the ability of the state to do anything earthly about the consequences when the two wind up together. 


Knowing what I know, do I think that the 9-1-1 call would provide any greater measure of understanding for the general public? Would the manner in which these issues are addressed  be changed significantly, or would the recording just fuel those fringe aspects of what claims to be journalism on too many cable news channels? Would Nancy Grace be going live from Tube City? 


I don't believe that the recording would help at all. However, that's not my call. Nor should it be that of government to arbitrarily restrict access to these types of records. 


Responsible governance, just like responsible journalism, must possess a level of maturity and commitment to service that transcends fearmongering, sensationalism, and subterfuge.


Enjoy the nice weather. Be safe.