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.

High Times on Poorhouse Run

Examining the future of a relic. Revisiting a not-so-distant area from my childhood in words and pictures, one that stands to weather changes that may affect us all.

As an infant, my parents brought me home to an apartment above a garage behind my grandfather’s house, on Pleasant Drive in Center Township, Beaver County.  Before my brother was born the following year, our family moved to a house in the Plan 12 section of Aliquippa. 

A good portion of my childhood was spent in the company of relatives who lived on Pleasant Drive - I remember lots of grassy areas and woods, illegal fireworks on July 4th, and my grandfather's large garden. Target practice with a BB gun from my uncle's patio. A neighbor was a long-haul trucker and radio hobbyist, who helped fuel a passion for things wireless that lasts to this day. 

Topographic map of Poorhouse Run.
Horsehead plant and former Poorhouse site are in upper left.
Credit: USGS GNIS / Google Maps 



Poorhouse Run.

Pleasant Drive hasn’t always been known by that name. Until around 1945,  it was known as Poorhouse Run Road. As the road moves north from Center into Potter Township, it follows the general path of Poorhouse Run, a small stream that moves into underground piping at the road’s intersection with Frankfort Road, also known as Pa. Route 18.

Beaver County Home and Hospital (1853-1959), Potter Twp.
Photo circa 1921. Credit: J.A. Cole / Poorhousestory.com

Beaver County Home and Hospital (1853-1959), Potter Twp.
Rear of building - Credit:   JoAnn Bishop

Poorhouse Run empties into the Ohio River just downstream from the former Beaver County Home and Hospital, AKA "The Poor House". Originally constructed in 1853, with additions in 1876 and 1940, the facility was replaced in 1959 by the Beaver County Geriatric Center in Brighton Township, known today as Friendship Ridge.

Beaver County Home and Hospital (1853-1959), Potter Twp.
Main entryway - Credit:  JoAnn Bishop

Horsehead Zinc Smelting Plant, seen from the west.
Former poor house buildings are at the lower left corner.
I-376 Vanport Bridge is in the background.
Credit:  Horsehead Corporation  

The Poor House buildings still stand today on land owned by Horsehead Corporation, which operates one of the country's largest zinc smelting facilities there. This facility begins a concentration of industrial sites along the south shore of the Ohio River, to the West Virginia border. 



These facilities include a Nova Chemicals plant, formerly known as the Kobuta plant, which manufactured butadeine, a component of synthetic rubber, during World War II. 


One of my mother's earlier childhood memories is the smell that came over the hill from that plant. The plant was recently sold, but is expected to continue operations.


Bruce Mansfield Power Plant, Shippingport,
with church in foreground.

Further downstream are the FirstEnergy Bruce Mansfield power plant and Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station, built near the site of the country's first commercial reactor for power production, at Shippingport. 

Beaver Valley Power Station, seen from the north on the Shippingport Bridge.
 The small domed structures house the facility's two nuclear reactors.

                                  




                                      
These facilities may seem removed from the greater Sewickley area, but in reality are rather proximal. The Horsehead plant is just down the hill - and usually upwind - from the Beaver Valley Mall. The 10-mile emergency evacuation zone around the nuclear plant extends to just short of Leetsdale. Depending upon the type of hazard involved, this complex of industrial sites is truly just down the road, as the crow flies...

An ethane cracker facility.
Credit:   Borouge Illustration / Beaver County Times

This area has seen its fortunes wax and wane with changes in demand for the various products produced there, including energy. Those fortunes are now showing significant potential for improvement with the recent announcement that Shell has chosen the Horsehead site for the development of an ethane cracker plant. 


This facility, if constructed, will cost in the area of $ 1 Billion to build, and stands to infuse the area with thousands of jobs, and the associated residential and commercial development that accompanies such activity.


The potential positive impact on the local economy is being touted to the levels one would expect with such an announcement. Interest in real estate in the immediate area is expected to increase - speculative optimism may also fuel development and efforts at entrepreneurial activity as the process moves along. Municipalities and school districts may already be developing visions of new infrastructure and larger operations dancing in their heads.

Should the Shell project and all associated with it actually come to fruition, there stands to be significant change in both the landscape and nature of life and living in the small towns and open spaces that coexist with the industrial necessities of modern living.

Two such towns caught my eye while exploring this area. One is Hookstown, a small borough along Route 168, completely surrounded by Greene Township and home to  all things rural, in particular the annual fair.

Another is Georgetown, a seemingly isolated riverside community accessible by only two roads, both originating in Hookstown. The town has a robust history as a riverboat stop, but seems extremely quiet for a modern day small town. 

Hookstown.

Driving around, the town felt reminiscent of the mythical town of Spectre in Daniel Wallace's novel (and Tim Burton's film) Big Fish. This was despite both the lack of shoes flung over any overhanging utility lines, and the red pickup truck that followed me from 2 blocks away until I left town the way I came in. 

I'm wondering, as I'm sure many of the residents of these areas are, how the development, construction, staffing, and operation of a major new industrial facility will affect their quality of life. 

Along with these living examples of local history, I'm also concerned about the artifacts of the past that appear destined for the wrecking ball - especially the site of the former Poor House. 

Georgetown.

I recently spoke with Ali Alavi, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Horsehead Corporation, about the future of the Poor House site as it relates to making it available for those who wish to document the site's interior for historical purposes, similar to what was done at the former Dixmont State Hospital in Kilbuck Township, south of Sewickley.

Mr. Alavi stated that it was "too early in the process" to make a statement about what, if any access would be granted to historical societies or other groups prior to any planned demolition. He also stated that it was his impression that Beaver County and/or Potter Township had adequate photo documentation. 


Mr. Alavi added that the 1940 addition to the complex was used as corporate offices for a time, but have since been moved, and the entire facility fenced off, because the buildings are "unsafe" and in "severe disrepair". 

This past week I spoke with Mark Berton, Managing Editor at IN Community Magazines and author of the Arcadia Publishing book on Dixmont. He stated that he was unfamiliar with any effort to photograph the interior of the Beaver County site. 


Hopefully,  those involved in both historic preservation and the re-purposing of the Poor House site can find common ground on a way to properly document the building for perpetuity.  Parts of the structure are as old as Sewickley Borough itself. 

I have lived in an area of the western U.S. where the economic fortunes of an entire region have twice been shaken by the boom-and-bust volatility that is often the hallmark of large energy projects.

As much as the proposed ethane cracker facility brings the promise of improved economic conditions, the potential also exists for changes to the area that are not exclusively positive.

I encourage due diligence and a healthy skepticism on the part of our elected officials, and also encourage citizens to become active, involved, and elect leaders who espouse the above qualities in abundance. This includes a healthy respect for the past, and of the dangers of repeating previous mistakes. 

It's also incumbent upon us as citizens to recognize both the importance of places like the Poor House and whatever it is demolished to make way for, to remember not only our way of life (past and present), but the potential for disruption should we forget.

Thanks to the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation, and their Director, Brenda Applegate, for their assistance and referrals for locating information and photos. 

Have a good week ahead.

Property, Preservation, Parking = Community, Constituency, Communication

Where some alliterative arithmetic may help to illustrate the comparative connections between two building brouhahas.

Those who follow news in my local area on Sewickley Patch and other media outlets are undoubtedly aware of two disputes involving the planned re-purposing of property in two communities:

• The purchase of a historic Sewickley home by a local church, which had plans to tear it down and build a youth center that opponents believe will sully the perceived architectural and historical integrity of the neighborhood.                                             
• The purchase of residential property in Leetsdale by the local school district, with the apparent intent of acquiring additional adjacent residences, demolish them, and pave paradise and put up a parking lot, with traffic routing changes for the nearby high school. Residents of the neighborhood, bolstered by their municipal officials, are questioning the district's actions, justifications, and planning processes.

There are numerous area stakeholders who are taking a stand regarding these projects. Some are community leaders in business and other arenas, who live in or near the neighborhoods involved. Others are elected officials, whose properties are in the proverbial cross hairs.

One of these officials, District Justice Bob Ford, asserted during a recent Leetsdale Council meeting that "they" (unspecified) were trying to connect these disputes together, when they were in fact radically different.

From a legal standpoint, he's right - one involves a private property transaction, and the other the acquisition of property by a governmental entity, possibly by force if some of the rhetoric is to be believed.

However, there are other factors that seem to permeate these two disputes, providing insight not only into the likely root cause, but also the means by which the issues have been affected by cooperation, media coverage, and community activism.

Pink House Polemic 

Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Rebecca Droke

When the Presbyterian Church of Sewickley purchased the nearby property from the descendants of Elliott and Carolyn Coyle earlier this year, is it possible that they could not have foreseen the outrage that their obtaining a demolition permit from Sewickley Borough could have brought toward their plans and their organization?

Were they fully aware of the potential for confrontation with neighbors and other property owners, upset with what they may see as an assault on the integrity of "The Village"?

Provided that the required funding can be secured, it sounds as if the Pink House will get its reprieve. Setting aside who was right or wrong, one thing is certain - those forces in the neighborhood did not like the apparent lack of communication, and leveraged knowledge and a few other resources to influence the project's current status. 

One big factor was the amount of media attention paid to the controversy - and not just local. In late March, the Post-Gazette published several stories by Homes Editor Kevin Kirkland - you can read them here, here, and here. The last is basically a short op-ed on how Mr. Kirkland thinks the house and grounds should be reconfigured for church uses. 

That's an extraordinary amount of column inches, not counting any photos. It made me wonder why. 

I spent some time growing up in this neighborhood, albeit a couple of blocks down Grant Street. When walking into the Village, I always went behind the church to access Duquesne Way (it's now fenced off), and walked down the alley, past the rear of the Coyle house, to Walnut Street.

On Thorn Street, behind the Pink House on the other side of the alley, the Hamill kids were growing up, too. One of them, Sean, is now one of the better reporters at the Post-Gazette.

In an excellent Saturday Diary post from last year, Mr. Hamill credits his neighbors, award-winning photographers Randy Olson and Melissa Farlow, for planting the idea that led to his choice of journalism as a career. That's the same Melissa Farlow who is one of the primary motivators behind Save the Pink House, and was featured in one of the Kirkland pieces.

Another question is whether or not the neighborhood was even entitled to a voice. The church is a landmark in and of itself, as well as a fixture of the neighborhood where it sits. Many neighbors are not as enthusiastic about the church's vibrant existence - they bemoan the lines of cars parked on Beaver Street during Sunday services, especially when driveways are blocked. Ironically, the project as planned would help to address some of that.

Still, I wonder if an attempt to proactively communicate with the neighbors  - whether entitled to know, be involved, or otherwise spectate - would have resulted in a more measured, reasonable beginning to this disagreement, and prevented some of the spectacle that transpired. 

At least one local resident finds fault with the Pink House 'movement' as perhaps anti-American. In a passionate letter to Sewickley Patch, Richard Zucckero of Glen Osborne accuses the  concerned citizens of looking at the Pink House "as if its sole purpose is to pose background to the broad-stroked painting of their own presence and property". He adds that this raises the spectre of a "co-op" mentality, something akin to the fascism practiced by many condominium associations and subdivision HOA's through restrictive covenants.

Wait a minute, though - there are zoning ordinances and other devices of government already shaping the use of property. In one of the Kevin Kirkland stories, it was reported that the efforts of St. Stephen's Church to demolish what is now Henning House were rebuffed by a borough architectural review committee - if that house was saved, why wouldn't the same process apply to the Coyle property? 

Henning House, part of the campus of St. Stephen's Church

.

Sewickley Borough manager Kevin Flannery was kind enough to spend a few minutes to explain that the Pink House does not fall within the boundaries of the three Historic Districts established by ordinance in the 1980's. St. Stephen's, and the cavernous old duplex next door that is now an impressive example of restorative architecture, are. 

Those commenting on the Patch letter also alluded to so many other things going on in the world, and the amount of comparative energy being expended on such a seemingly trivial cause. There's some irony here, as Ms. Farlow has likely seen much of the world as a photographer for National Geographic. I can sympathize a little, but can also see something positive coming from this.

Frank Lloyd Wright, while being a true creative genius, was also a narcissist, womanizer and spendthrift. He is rumored to have said of his own life, "So long as we had the luxuries, the necessities would pretty much take care of themselves". 

Perhaps in that context we can see the Pink House as a metaphor for the gradual decay of the middle class, civility, and compassion in this country. If this solid old structure can somehow be salvaged, and then populated with those intent on carrying out some of the true mission of Christ - ministering to the poor, caring for youth and those struggling to care for themselves - then maybe there is hope for the rest of Sewickley, and our fragile society as well.

Nah - we're doomed. Let's take the Lexus down to Azul for one last margarita before it's all over.

They'll probably park in front of the house again.

Politics, Purpose, and Planning

In contrast, the burgeoning dispute in Leetsdale between local residents and the Quaker Valley School District involves other factors on top of just property use. 

Leetsdale Borough officials, led by Council President Joe McGurk (whose property is also in the area of interest), have publicly questioned the school district's assertions that they have communicated with the borough over the years regarding traffic and parking issues at the high school. The district has countered that they have had "informal" discussions with the borough, although it's unclear exactly who with. 

Other borough officials and residents have openly questioned the district's stated emphasis on student safety, while criticizing a rendering of the proposed traffic solution as not in keeping with the varying accounts of safety solutions discussed with various officials over the years. 

Credit: Sewickley Herald - Kristina Serafini

The Sewickley Herald has focused the bulk of their coverage on the student safety issue, specifically the practice of stopping in front of the school entrance to drop off or pick up students, which is prohibited. Herald reporter Bobby Cherry documented vehicles stopping and dropping off students during both school hours and evening events, with no apparent presence by either police or school district officials. 

Missing from the two Herald stories was any comment from Leetsdale Police about the issue. When contacted in mid-April, Chief James Santucci stated that his department has been conducting targeted enforcement at the high school at least 2 days per week, and had issued about 40 citations for impeding the flow of traffic. 

Display at Leetsdale Borough Hall
on Primary Election Day, April 24.

Per Chief Santucci, this type of enforcement typically takes two officers to conduct safely. Chief Santucci added that his officers were "getting carpal tunnel" from writing parking tickets for those areas adjacent to the high school where parking is prohibited.

The parking issues around the high school have also been a long-standing issue, especially during after-hours events. Chief Santucci stated that the owners of Quaker Village Shopping Center, adjacent to the high school, have given him assurances that students and event attendees may park in their lot, so long as they use the spaces furthest from the stores. He also noted that available spaces at the high school athletic complex often go unused in favor of street parking (illegal and otherwise), because "no one wants to walk up 'cardiac hill'".

Draft plan of  proposed QVHS traffic control measures.
Quaker Village Shopping Center is in the upper left .
Credit: QVSD / Sewickley Patch

This brought up several questions regarding parking, and the proposed traffic plan, that I posed to Martha Smith, QV's Communications Director. She relayed the following answers from Superintendent Dr. Joseph Clapper:

Q: Has the district had any official communication with the owners and/or managers of Quaker Village Shopping Center regarding this project? If so, what have the results been? Does the district have any other agreements with the Center ownership or management?

A: The District has had no communication with the property owners at the Quaker Village Shopping Center.  I am not aware of any agreements that the District has with the owners of the Quaker Village Shopping Center.  

Q:  I have heard reservations..regarding the proposed parking and traffic solution, and its lack of at least egress into the rear of the shopping center. This would appear to be of paramount concern in an evacuation or other emergency scenario. Would the district consider approaching the shopping center to establish the kind of relationship necessary to provide for a traffic management plan that addresses these concerns?

A: The district might have some interest in this discussion especially because it relates to safety.  However, obviously, it is premature to conduct such a discussion.  The Board is giving serious consideration to conducting another traffic engineering study.  I'm sure the topic of emergency evacuation will be a part of this study including recommendations.

I greatly appreciate the district's willingness to respond to these queries, but I'm not sure about how establishing any form of dialogue with a long-standing, major commercial neighbor to their property could be considered "premature".

As of last week, the District is still considering another traffic engineering study. That's a good idea - the first one seems to betray some thinking for which I cannot think of better terms than "isolationist" and "counter-intuitive". I'm trying to imagine what it would be like to try and get my car out of that lower parking lot in an emergency, with only one way in and out. 


Conclusions

1. These two conflicts seem to have at their root a fundamental lack of communication caused by two different sets of circumstances. In the case of the Pink House, the neighborhood wasn't considered a vital stakeholder in the process because there wasn't any legal justification for it. There appear to be strong opinions on both sides of that argument. 

As a consequence, Sewickley Borough may be encouraged to evaluate those areas of the borough that are designated for historic review. It's been 25 years since the last historic district was codified as part of their ordinance, and it's hard to fathom how an area that showcases examples such as the Pink House could be left out.

2. In the case of Leetsdale, the school district appeared to engage in some insular thinking here. Judging from the reactions of several borough officials (some with expertise in these areas), the draft plan for "improving" traffic flow, combined with a seemingly inexplicable lack of communication with the Shopping Center, made the entire initial exercise seem ham-handed.

District administration and the school board also appeared to fail by not taking into account some political factors - two elected officials, including the President of Council, having their properties potentially targeted without an attempt at communicating proactively with them, and other property owners,  in advance.

It also didn't help when the President of the School Board mentioned the "nuclear option" of eminent domain so early in the debate - it seemed to betray some thinking on his part that they're the big, bad school district, and they'll "negotiate" from a position of strength.  Perhaps Quaker Valley could do itself and its constituents a favor by refocusing themselves on the fact that they are, first and foremost, public servants.

3. In the process of reading, listening, and asking questions, I've found that the reaction of Leetsdale Borough appears to be justified, but that they may have also contributed to their own indignation. There seemed to be a lack of continuity in determining what kind of information the borough had, when they had it, and who was responsible for conveying it to the remainder of borough government, as well as citizens, for substantive action and follow-up.

This bolsters my opinion, expressed last year, that the lack of a 'point person' to represent the borough on a daily basis, and coordinate the relationships between governmental entities and other stakeholders, hampers the borough's ability to operate credibly and efficiently.

4. The media seemed to play a decisive role in communicating facts and information, and may have even become part of the story a bit. From the possible leveraging of long-term relationships, to "investigations" of when things are enforced and when they're not, the reporting was nonetheless relevant and enjoyable. The online presentations and user commentary cemented the value of both hyperlocal news-gathering and regional specialty reporting.

5. At the end of it all, it seems that reasoned (if at times impassioned) discourse has triumphed in creating a pathway for which the two sides in each of these disputes can navigate their differences, and perhaps arrive at a solution that is in the best possible interest of everyone concerned.

This is perhaps an example of how America functions best - informed citizens engaged in civil debate to air and resolve differences, with respect as a solid foundational value, and a free press (including the Internet) to make sure that the facts are available to everyone.

Have a great week ahead.

A Great Day for Dollars

Fame...and shame. From March 2012, the new statue of Mario Lemieux in front of Consol Energy Center, with the disintegrating Civic Arena in the background.

As many of you know already, I have been a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins since I was a teenager. Some of my fondest memories of growing up involved Saturday night trips to Pens games. A bunch of us would catch the same 16A bus, walk up 7th Avenue to the Civic Arena, and go to the ticket window for a seat in the 'E' balcony. 


After the ticket and round trip bus fare, there was still enough of a $10 bill left for a popcorn or a drink. 

Pittsburgh Civic Arena, circa the 1960's. Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation

I have a common feeling of nostalgia, with many others that I know,  about the 'Igloo'. I saw lots of other things there besides hockey - tennis, soccer, Roller Derby, concerts - once with the roof open. Its loss makes sense only to those who possess a greater vision for the vitality of the city and the region that surrounds it. That's a nice way of saying that the arena wasn't special enough to save because of the land it sat on. 


Like many other Pittsburghers, along with the ghost of perhaps the region's greatest architectural visionary - Edgar J. Kauffman - I politely reply, "Hogwash".  It doesn't make sense to go crying over spilled landmarks, though.


The arena's construction in the 1950's took out a large chunk of Pittsburgh's Hill District, and they want it back. Can't blame them, really. 

Consol Energy Center interior. 

In the arena's place is the Consol Energy Center, which I've been fortunate enough to visit twice since I moved back to Pennsylvania. I got to see the Penguins several times in Denver and Phoenix, and managed to to see my first home game there last month. I brought Leslie, who had never been to any Penguins game before.


Since my most recent hockey viewing experiences had been in Denver, while at the game I was comparing Consol to the Pepsi Center, and one word kept creeping into my thought process - tight. 


The Consol center's website claims that the venue has "the most comfortable seating arrangement in the NHL — seats up to 24 inches wide, with an accompanying increase in legroom". Those seats must be really expensive, because the very expensive ones I had were just the usual size, with a little less legroom than similarly sized arenas such as Pepsi Center. 

I also noticed that the hallways behind the seats were a bit narrower than what I've seen before. While there is a lot of space allocated to food courts, reducing wait times for consumers, there appear to be fewer public restrooms, increasing wait times for those who have consumed, and need to go. 

This is sort of understandable - they decided they had to wedge a full-size multi-purpose arena in between Centre and Fifth Avenues. Not as easy task to design and build, and equally not as easy to navigate around. 

In the larger scheme of things, these are minor annoyances in comparison to what you're there to experience - and for that part of it, Consol achieves what it was designed to achieve. It provides the capability to use all manner of multimedia tools and marketing gimmicks common to today's professional sporting event. I'm familiar with the 360-degree LED display rings and advertising blimps from watching the Colorado Avalanche. 

The audio-visual capabilities, leveraging of text messaging and Internet resources as part of the overall entertainment experience, sweet digs for the athletes, and the apparent commitment to making customer service a priority all seem to cement Consol's reputation as a first-class venue of its kind. I wonder what their evacuation plan looks like, though...

As a result, Pittsburgh is back on the map for all manner of sports and entertainment events - and the money that they bring in. The NCAA Basketball tournament, numerous high-end concert tours, and next year's NCAA Frozen Four - all will help support the hotel, restaurant, parking, drinking, ticket scalping, and related sub-economies within the city and the immediate metropolitan area. 

The Penguins are an exceptional organization, much improved over those intermittent lean years, what with multiple bankruptcies, changes in ownership, and uncertainty over whether the team would stay here. In remembering that last obstacle - getting a new arena - and reading about it from Colorado, it felt as if no one wanted to fail, but also that the Pens were going to do what was necessary to thrive - not just survive - on their terms. That attitude is a testament to the team's owner and most famous face.

Which brings us to the present day, as the Penguins prepare to begin another playoff run, this time what is sure to be an entertaining series against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Pens have displayed the same level of class and professionalism as that displayed by Mario Lemieux over his storied career as both a player and an owner. 

This does not sit well with a lot of other teams and media in other cities. The Pens' most recent visit to Denver was a lovefest for the visiting team. A friend that was there said it looked and sounded as if there were more Pittsburgh fans in attendance than Avs fans. 


The voices elsewhere claim that the Penguins enjoy special treatment from NHL management. Sidney Crosby is vilified , not only by the fans in other cities, but by national media both in the US and Canada. This includes NBC analyst and former coach Mike Milbury, and CBC commentator and former coach Don Cherry, who reminds me of Classy Fred Blassie of WWE fame.

Don Cherry is kind of directly responsible for a feature in the new Consol Energy Center that was first started in the old Civic Arena - the rigid tunnel that is slid out when opposing teams enter or exit the ice. 

Cherry was the coach of the Boston Bruins when, after a controversial 2-1 win over the Pens during the 1979-80 playoffs, he and his team were showered with beer and pelted with debris on the way to the locker room, which they had to cross the ice to get to in the old arena. I was there, watching (not participating) from above in the E seats. The Pens lost the series in Boston, and the tunnel made its debut the following season.

This is one of many interesting memories from many years of watching the Pens, and hockey in general. The level of excitement, intensity, speed, and endurance is something that doesn't exist in any other sport. 

To excel as a team, a marketing force, and as an entity willing and capable of significant charitable contributions and community good will, the Penguins need to be financially viable. This process has led to ticket prices that are out of reach for the majority of us on a regular basis. A fact of life, no more or less than that. 

I'll probably plant myself in front of a big screen at a local watering hole at least once or twice during this playoff run, and may check out the really big screen outside of Consol if the opportunity presents itself. 

Luckily, I'm also a baseball fan. PNC Park is another incredible stage for the interactive community theater that is the essence of the game. I also enjoy minor league baseball - Grand Junction would get a team the year I moved away. From what I've heard, the Wild Things and the Curve are also worth the trip. 


Beat 'em Bucs. Let's Go Pens.

See you in the cheap seats.

Fuzzy Fuel Marketing Math

I've been struggling with how to begin a post about fuel prices; it's kind of like writing about death and taxes. We all know that gasoline prices are high, and that a lot of it has to do with imported oil, production challenges, and speculation. I struggled with how to explore the issue from a more local perspective, where it makes sense to the consumer that has to deal with it every day.


When I lived in Colorado, I often passed by two competing convenience stores that were on opposite corners of the same busy intersection. While they sold the same brand name of gasoline, the price for regular would often differ as much as 12, and as high as 24, cents per gallon on any given day. No one would provide a straight answer as to why, and the local media bristled at the suggestion that they weren't doing enough to find out. 


Perhaps it's not really surprising that these price disparities exist at different stores, but what about a chain of outlets that are all owned by the same company?


In the photos below, I've documented prices at several different GetGo outlets - these are owned in part by Giant Eagle, whose parent is the Kroger Company in Cincinnati. They also own the King Soopers and City Market grocery chains in Colorado. On this particular day, a 10 cent price swing existed between the Moon, Leetsdale, and Ohio Township stores. 

University Boulevard, Moon Township - March 22, 6:47 PM

Ohio River Boulevard, Leetsdale - March 22, 7:13 PM

Ben Avon Heights Road, Ohio Township - March 23, 3:13 PM

I can also personally attest to a consistent, 4-to-6 cent price difference between the GetGo outlets in Wilkinsburg and Edgewood (Regent Square), and the store in Squirrel Hill, at Forward and Murray Avenues. These stores are all within 2 miles of each other - why should gas cost more on one side of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel than the other?


GetGo's website has links to convenient apps and pages for mobile devices, to show what the price of gas is for outlets that are close to your location, or where you live or work. This app will only show one store at a time, however - comparison requires a lot of back and forth. 


GetGo is a popular location for gas because of their Foodperks and Fuelperks promotions, which tie discounts on gas to grocery purchases, and vice versa. I've found, however, that I can often get better deals on groceries at other stores, and in the wake of the high cost of fuel I've been cognizant of better prices at other places, such as warehouse clubs, where the price difference exceeds the occasional Fuelperks discount. If you had a 10-cent Fuelperks discount on March 22, however, it would have gone a lot further in Ohio Township than it would have in Moon.


Of course, these practices and observations are dependent upon one's individual circumstances and preferences. For me, brand loyalty is often overrated.


Giant Eagle media relations staff did not return calls this week seeking comment about their gas pricing. A few weeks ago, I spoke with a representative of Roberts Communications, a PR firm under contract to Giant Eagle, who stated that the company would not discuss either their marketing practices or market areas for gasoline.

A sample screenshot from a 
gasbuddy.com mobile app - Credit: thedroidguy.com

As it seems to be happening in so many areas of our lives, the Internet is facilitating the ability of the consumer to make more informed choices. Fortunately, there appears to be an independent resource for this type of information in the form of Gasbuddy.com, which enables consumer members to report gas prices so that many can potentially benefit. 



This information is available for the Pittsburgh area at Pittsburghgasprices.com. Their mobile app will provide available price information for your geographic location. There are some drawbacks, though - no one is posting price information for the stations in Ambridge. Might just have to do that. 


A representative of the site was also willing to shed a little bit of light about the nature of gasoline pricing on a  more local basis. According to Gasbuddy's Gregg Laskoski, the following factors influence what we pay at the local pumps:


Taxes - There's a map online that shows the disparity between states. New York - whew. When driving cross country on I-70, I always know to fill up in Missouri. 


Sales Volume - Another factor, along with how much gasoline sales make up the actual profit a store makes from selling "convenience" items at "convenience" (read exorbitant) prices. 


Wholesaler - Gas stations buy their gas from a wholesale dealer - when the station takes delivery of a fresh load of gas, and how much they paid the wholesaler for it, will obviously affect the price. GetGo is owned in part by Guttmann Oil of Belle Vernon, Pa. - how does the use of a sole source wholesaler affect the price in different geographic areas? How should it?


Local Market Trends - Often as inscrutable as the wind, but sometimes predictable. In general, the closer you get to an airport, the higher the gas prices get. Is that in response to higher business costs, businessmen returning rental cars, or a perceived sense that those who need gas in this area can afford to pay more or will not care as much if they do? Then again, how does this explain that gas prices across the county line in Ambridge are comparable with airport-area stations, and nearly a dime more than just down the road in Leetsdale?


Applicable Law - Some states have laws that prevent retail outlets from selling items below cost to attract customers to buy other things from them - the so-called loss leader strategy. Pennsylvania is one such state - the Pa. Unfair Sales Act was pointed to by many retailers in response to the GetGo Fuelperks discounts, and warehouse clubs such as Sam's and Costco may be exempt because they restrict sales to their members only.


The Gasbuddy folks also keep a close watch on past trends and potential future developments that could affect gas prices across a region, or across the US and Canada. One such potential development is the threatened closure of a Philadelphia gasoline refinery that could negatively impact supplies, and therefore prices, across the northeast U.S., including the Pittsburgh region. 


It was reported today that there could be as many as 4 interested parties in purchasing this refinery, which could definitely help keep prices at their current unreasonable level, or keep their unreasonableness from multiplying more unreasonably than already anticipated.


Does it make sense to drive across the county for cheap gas? I don't think so. For my car,  a 10-cent per gallon savings is $1.50 - does that justify driving an extra 20 miles, or burning nearly a gallon of gas, to get that savings?


Most of us remain too involved in the day-to-day business of living to get too deep into the subtleties and complications that surround the oil business, or any other attempt to profit from the procurement and marketing of fossil fuels. All we can hope to do is make sure that we can find what we need at the most reasonable price we can, without going to unreasonable lengths. 


Perhaps it's not too much to ask of our "neighborhood" gas retailers to show some consistency in how they price their product, or at least be more up front and honest about what factors impact the prices they set. 


But before you set your sights on that clerk behind the counter, think twice - the answers, and those who can provide them, are somewhere else entirely.


Have a great month ahead.