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E-mailValley Laurels & Lances
Lance: The Regional Asset District Board. Reason No. 4,781 of why we hate the RAD Board -- kowtowing to wealthy communities. The Allegheny County Library Association, facing some funding shortfalls due to the economy, came up with a sensible formula to provide more of its RAD money to libraries in middle- and low-income areas, believing local support would be more available in higher-income communities. But the wealthy communities -- most notably Mt. Lebanon -- whined to the RAD Board, which tossed out the library association's formula and continued its previous funding method.
Although Valley taxpayers provide millions to RAD, virtually no money comes back here. And the libraries in Springdale, Tarentum, etc., get no extra help.
Laurel: To downtown revitalization efforts. The Vandergrift Improvement Project is leading in the downtown effort and had put together a consortium of private funding, university know-how and the imagination of Kiski Area students to renovate the old J.C. Penney building on Grant Avenue. The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is the financial backer, University of Pittsburgh Professor Lisa Weiland is the project leader and the Kiski kids are developing ideas to use part of the building as a community center. We're anxious to see what comes out of this.
On the "Watch List": The Springdale Council voted Wednesday to hold off on the demolition several dilapidated structures in the borough after the owners came forward to say they intended to rehabilitate the buildings. The council gave the owners 30 days to present the renovation plans and we hope they stick to a strict timetable.
Lance: To voter apathy. Lack of interest is among the factors that killed a Westmoreland County Bar Association forum that was to feature the three judge candidates -- Chris Scherer, Michelle Bononi and Meagan Bilik DeFazio -- running for two openings on the Westmoreland bench. A forum before the spring primary with eight candidates drew only marginal interest. How sad. Court of Common Pleas judges have enormous responsibilities. Electing them shouldn't come down to which candidates post the most campaign signs.
Lance: To restricting free speech. The Community College of Allegheny County finally realized it had no business deciding what its students could -- and could not -- be exposed to on campus. In the spring, CCAC told a student she could not pass out fliers recruiting students to join a pro-gun group. It took a while, but the college's attorneys finally figured out the First Amendment trumps whatever Big Brother reason CCAC had to restrict the spread of ideas.
Laurel: To "Threes." Don't try telling Amanda and David Faher of Allegheny Township that bad things come in threes. For the Fahers, it is quite the contrary. On Sept. 30 -- the 30-year-old couple's third anniversary -- Amanda gave birth to triplets after a 33-week pregnancy in Room 1233 at Allegheny General Hospital. Congrats to the Faher family.
