Point State Park Plans

==Rauterkus rips plans for makeover of Point State Park while Fonata and Wheatley nod like bobblehead dolls==
State Senator, Wayne Fontana, D, and State Rep, Jake Wheatley, D,
issued a press release on July 14, 2006, raving about the pending
makeover of Point State Park. Meanwhile, Independent candidate for PA
Senate and swim coach, Mark Rauterkus, 46, of Pittsburgh South Side,
says, "Think Again!"
Rauterkus is active in community issues, recreational leadership and
studied these topics as an undergraduate and graduate student. He has
been a long-time critic of the public participation process in the
region and fought for the reopening of the city's 31 swim pools and 16
recreation centers in the wake of Tom Murphy's crisis and inadequate
state bailouts.
"The plans for a re-do of Point State Park signal yet another silly
decision from Western PA officials. Once again they are choosing to
spend a lot of money. In the end, the public benefits are minuscule.
They feel good about bringing home the pork. However, nothing here
satisfies me, my family, my neighborhoods nor our region as it should
and could," said Rauterkus.
"I'd stop this program in its tracks if I was elected," Rauterkus
said, a candidate in the November 7, 2006 general election for PA
Senate (42nd). "This goes to show that Senator Fontana and
Representative Wheatley are clueless as to how to fix the ills of the
region."
"Parks, recreation and the entire theme of wellness are central to
what I value in my life and in my professional calling. So, I care
about Point State Park and for years I've been persistent in driving
home points on these topics."
In 2004, Rauterkus hosted a PCTV 21 special that included details of a
position paper he authored devoted to Parks. "I've sat with planners,
architects and even traveled to great parks in other cities including
Peoples Park in Chengdu, Southwest China, and the river parks in
Vienna and Prague." His position paper calls for the formation of a
regional Pittsburgh Park District.
Rauterkus contends that Pittsburgh's public policy concerning parks
fails the citizens. Moreover, elected officials present the largest
part of the problem. "Giving sanction to this, as Fontana has done, is
wrong."
Pittsburgh is loosing its population. "Our handling of parks and
recreation hastens the outward migration. A re-do of Point State Park
so food vendors can more easily hook up trailers to sell funnel cakes
isn't going to help our local economy, population loss nor sense of
civic pride.
"Let's not fool ourselves. Kids in the city are running around
shooting themselves with guns because they have nothing better to do.
We've given them little to shoot for. Filling in some ditches nor a
'rib cookout' is the ticket that I desire for my children.
Rauterkus challenges these urban planners to point to the word
'coaching' within any of these plans for our parks. Meanwhile, the
inverse holds true in day-to-day life in suburban green settings. "In
their fantasy realm, kids don't exist and are not welcome downtown,"
said Rauterkus.
This week's Post-Gazette (July 13, 2006) had two conflicting front
page articles. One covered Point State Park's closure for next year
with the venue elimination for the Regatta, Three Rivers Art Festival,
fireworks, Jamboree, plus other community events. The headline in the
second article, in the wake of the 2006 All-Star Game, read
"Pittsburgh trying to "sustain civic momentum."
"The cronies at the Allegheny Conference hatched this plan for Point
State Park's makeover, and I don't buy it as a viable, worthy,
efficient project. If we put their plan up for a vote on a general
election ballot, I predict that more than 90-percent of the residents
of the city would side with me, seeing that their concepts are nothing
but hogwash.
"Sure, Senator Fontana likes the plans," said Rauterkus. "Fontana also
sits on the board of the Stadium and Exhibition Authority and he voted
for citizens and taxpayers pick up a bulk of the tab for an expansion
of seats at Heinz Field due for the kickoff of the 2006 season.
Senator Fontana is a sucker for these types of corporate welfare
deals. I don't think he should be re-elected as he brings us no
leadership against the status quo.
For further information, contact candidate, Mark Rauterkus at: 412 298
3432, Mark@Rauterkus.com, or http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com.
category:plank
Category:Platform Planks from Mark Rauterkus