Category: default || By jt3y

Who are the brain surgeons that decided to restrict the Homestead High-Level Bridge (yes, I know they changed the name, but no one calls it the "Homestead Grays Bridge" yet) during the Christmas shopping season? Ryan Kish of the News talked to merchants about it the other day.

Ironically ... or maybe not ... ones on Eighth Avenue are less worried about it than ones at The Waterfront. Because while it's very difficult to get to The Waterfront without using the bridge, it's easy to get to the Avenue from any number of different directions.

I find this funny, because when The Waterfront was being planned, the developers didn't try to hide their contempt for the shopping districts in the three boroughs it traverses. That's why there are only three entrances --- the bridge, the ramp near the Rankin Bridge, and the Amity Street railroad crossing --- and why The Waterfront turns its back to the community. You'll also notice that it's easier to get to The Waterfront in a car than on foot.

As many people who live and work in the Steel Valley will tell you, that's because the developers don't particularly want Steel Valley residents shopping there. They want people from Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and Oakland shopping there. I guess the people buying $300,000 riverfront condos, shopping at Talbot's and eating at P.F. Chang's don't want to mingle with retired steelworkers, babushka-wearing grandmothers, and single mothers working at Wal-Mart.

So, allow me a little schadenfreude at The Waterfront's expense. And if you can't get in there, there's plenty of parking on the Avenue, and the cookies at Mantsch's bakery are mighty good. Main Street in Munhall has lots of spaces, too (and they're free).

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In other news, it's time for an old Tube City Almanac feature we haven't done recently ... Good Government Marches On!

Allegheny County's ethics commission plans to ask embattled Sheriff Pete DeFazio whether it should investigate campaign fundraising abuses in his office.

An ongoing federal grand jury investigation has revealed that sheriff's deputies were forced to contribute to political fundraisers for DeFazio and other Democrats. The county ethics code prohibits officials from soliciting campaign contributions from employees.

Michael Louik, chairman of the county Accountability, Conduct and Ethics Commission, said Thursday he would write a letter asking DeFazio: "Although we're aware of the ongoing investigation, are there matters that should be referred to us?" (Dave Conti, Tribune-Review)

It's a little known fact that this is how the FBI began investigating Dillinger: "Dear Sir: It has come to our attention that $3 million in bank deposits are missing. We have reason to believe that this money may be stuffed in satchels in the back of your car. Please advise. Sincerely, Melvin H. Purvis."

The commission, according to Conti, "claims it cannot launch an investigation without a formal complaint. Members said they decided to write the letter to remind DeFazio -- and other public officials -- that the ethics code exists."

I'll try to suppress my laughter at the thought of Allegheny County's political apparatchiks investigating the "accountability, conduct and ethics" of one of their own.

We already have a sheriff who gives all of the appearance of being a law-enforcement officer although under the state constitution and county charter, he actually doesn't have any responsibility for enforcing laws.

Now, it seems that we also have an ethics commission that gives the appearance of investigating ethics, but no actual responsibility (or desire) for doing so. This all makes sense, in a sick, twisted way.

Thanks, by the way, to the 55.8 percent of Allegheny County voters who voted to return Laverne's dad to office next year. (That includes almost 76 percent of voters in Our Fair City, 66.5 percent in West Mifflin, 63 percent in Munhall and nearly 70 percent in North Versailles Township, to name just a few Mon-Yough area communities. As I've said before, and I'll say again, we're in no danger of having our own chapter of Mensa any time soon.)

And thanks, too, to the muddle-headed Allegheny County Republican Party, which couldn't seem to muster up the energy or interest to support their own candidate. Fine work, fellows. Take a couple of extra golf balls out of petty cash.

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Local News You May Have Missed: A group of alumni from Turtle Creek High School are trying to save the building, currently used as Woodland Hills East Junior High School. Although many people of note attended TCHS, the best-known alumni may be Bill Burkette, Don Miller, Hugh Geyer, and Chuck Blasko. You know them better as the original Vogues.

Ready or not, North Huntingdon is getting a Wal-Mart Supercenter. It'll be built on the so-called "Mills Tract" adjacent to the former Lincoln Hills Country Club, itself slated to disappear for a housing development.

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By the way: The Wal-Mart at Mills Pointe Shopping Center will serve those customers who are not already within five minutes' driving distance of the Wal-Mart in neighboring North Versailles (9.4 miles away) or the Wal-Mart in Hempfield Township (5.9 miles away).

Experts now say that by the year 2020, it will be possible to drive the entire length of Route 30 merely by going from Wal-Mart parking lot to Wal-Mart parking lot.

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To Do This Weekend: McKeesport Symphony Orchestra presents its annual holiday show, entitled "I'll Be Home For Christmas," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium of McKeesport Area High School, 1960 Eden Park Boulevard. Call (412) 664-2854. ... Also, speaking of McKeesport Area High School, there's a football game of some sort going on Saturday in Hershey. I seem to remember seeing a thing or two about it here. (Good luck!)

Correction: This entry originally referred to "Shirley's dad." All right-thinking Americans know that Shirley's last name was "Feeney," while Laverne's last name was DeFazio. Thus it should have referenced "Laverne's dad" (actor Phil Foster), whose first name was "Frank," anyway.

We're sorry that this factual error soiled the good (?) name and reputation for accuracy (??) and reliability (???) for which the Tube City Almanac has become known. Those responsible have been sacked.