Category: default || By jt3y

Unlike our furry friend there, I don't actually harbor any ill will toward Picksberg Mayor Opie "Luke" Ravenstahl. Whatever missteps he and his retainers have made --- the Dennis Regan hiring, the Catherine McNeilly demotion, the attempts at "secrecy" surrounding the ethics board --- they've been so ham-handed and transparent that I have a hard time getting angry at him.

Politically, "Everybody's Boy" just seems feckless ... or maybe "feck-challenged."

Now, if he were devious and competent, my opinion might change, because it's a dangerous combination for someone in power. (See also Haldeman, H.R.) But "clumsy and trying to be devious" is almost charming in a way. At the very least, it's amusing. I suppose I would feel differently if he were my mayor.

One thing that I do find irritating about "Everybody's Boy" is his proclivity to put his name on everything. There may have been politicians who were more obvious about using public money to campaign, but none since Boss Tweed come to mind. It started when Ravenstahl stuck his name on Bob O'Connor's "Let's Redd Up Pittsburgh" campaign, and it shows no sign of abating.

Over at The Burgh Blog, Pittgirl teed this one up last week: "My own personal email address seems to have been added to the mailing list to receive 'Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Neighborhood Message.' That is what it is called. Not 'The Neighborhood Message' or 'Won’t You Be My Neighbor,' but 'MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL’S Neighborhood Message.' ... And boy, is it all about him."

Then, over the weekend, One of America's Great Newspapers had some fun at Opie's expense, pointing out that "Everybody's Boy" pushed aside a bunch of potential slogans for the marquee of the Garden Theatre and instead put his own name up in lights:

Last week, this slogan was announced as the one going up: "The Return of the Garden / Directed by Luke Ravenstahl." Many mayors and many officials have had a hand in the resurrection of the Garden Theatre, and Mayor Ravenstahl is the least of them. Talk about claiming credit for yourself. If it happens, someone should remind the mayor that his name will be on the marquee of what was until recently a porn theater.

There's something charmingly small-town about Ravenstahl's efforts. A lot of sheriffs in rural counties paint their names on the sides of their department's squad cars --- the Washington County sheriff used to, and I'm pretty sure that the Bedford and Somerset county sheriffs still do.

Some people may say that when the mayor of Picksberg insists on slapping his name on everything, he's behaving like a rank amateur, but I say it's just ... well, feckless.

So give the guy a chance, for goodness' sake! That's what his defenders keep saying, and I agree.

Just don't be surprised if, like the sheriff of Bumpkin County, his name is suddenly painted on the sides of the police cars. And if you see Hizzoner, tell 'im "Gomer says hey," and whistle a happy tune.

. . .

Closer to Home: Back in Our Fair City (where some of us think you should actually do something before you brag about it), Gov. Rendell and the state Department of Community and Economic Development have honored Mayor Jim Brewster, city council and administrators with the 11th annual "Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence."

The citation praises McKeesport for "cutting expenses, creatively negotiating labor agreements, refinancing debt and working with the city's stakeholders" to eliminate a $1 million budget deficit and generate several new commercial developments without raising taxes.

There are still serious problems, of course (read Tom Olson's story in Sunday's Tribune-Review about foreclosures --- McKeesport is full of "ramshackle" derelict houses), and no award wipes those away. Still, it's a nice honor for the city to receive.

(And someone should tell Everybody's Boy that Brewster didn't even need to stick his name on anything.)

Others honored included the Steel Valley Council of Governments and Anthony Russo Jr., executive director of the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority.

. . .


Speaking of other McKeesporters who have achievements of which they can be proud, McKeesport native, WNBA star and Olympic gold medal winner Swin Cash was honored at the annual Dapper Dan awards as "Sportswoman of the Year." She joined the Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Steelers owner Dan Rooney on the dais at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The P-G's Colin Dunlap says of Cash that her "basketball skills coupled with her off-court charm have made her the standard to which the current crop of local high school players strive."

Ravenstahl was at the Dapper Dan Awards. Do you think he learned anything from Swin Cash's example? Namely, that first you do something worthwhile, and then you accept accolades from other people. That way, you don't have to go around praising yourself all the time.

Ah, but what do we know? We're from the Mon Valley.