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| Bob Donaldson, P-G |
Surprising to the last:
Pittsburgh City Councilman Patrick Dowd will announce today that he will step down to head Allies for Children, a newly formed advocacy group.
Mr. Dowd was elected to council in 2007 to represent District 7, which includes the Strip District, Lawrenceville and several East End neighborhoods. He is also a board member of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. Prior to that, he served a four-year term as a Pittsburgh Public Schools board member. (P-G, Moriah Balingit)
A loss for City Hall in terms of capacity and moxie. I was looking forward to him pivoting against Mayor Bill Peduto, whom he supported in the election, because screw all and just to keep him honest.
This presumably sets the stage for a very Special Election in the fall wherein party committees designate nominees. Suitable Democratic possibilities which leap to mind include Lauren Byrne, Tony Ceoffe III and maybe even Jim Ferlo.
MORE ON DOWD: City Paper Blogh
MORE ON CEOFFE: City Paper Blogh
Good luck to Lauren Byrne — best of the group you mentioned.
In October, Byrne was appointed by Ravenstahl to the Planning Commission.
So she's got that going for her, which is nice.
She is young — but very professional, thinks issues through, and actually listens to others and considers their input.
The City, not just District 7, would be blessed to have her as one its leaders. She would add a level of maturity to council that has sorely been lacking for years.
Lauren has been propped up by the Ravenstahl administration for years. Her first job was with Luke, Luke also got her the Lawrenceville United job (which was formerly held by Coeffe's father).
Her mother is the secretary to the Director of Public Works. She's been inheriting roles for a while now. Why stop now?
I believe she started under O'Connor.
Her Grandmother is Aggie Brose. Aggie should run.
City Of Pittsburgh Councilman Patrick Dowd Resigns. Council District 7.… Have to wander if his push for Carnegie Library Tax, didn’t grease appointment…(to new position).
MONK
Regardless of the issue, when young people with crayons, do what politicians can’t do: I wander. 12 year old Boy Scouts marching in Gay Pride Parades.
No one can argue against Rainbows or Libraries. Dowd used children for personal gain.
MONK
Library Tax?
One last comment: Jim Ferlo!
MONK
If you wander, it really isn't a parade.
That would be the very ungenerous interpretation of the libraries tax. A more generous one would be that the libraries tax was a project that appealed to Dowd, that it probably appeals to childrens' advocates too, and that there's no surprise like finds like.
One mitigating factor on how generous we should be, is that the quarter-mil libraries tax was enacted *by referendum*.
Oh, in addition,to Lauren's Mom being the Director of Public Works' Secretary, her Father also works, and has worked for Public Works for over 30 years. The way I figure, the City of Pittsburgh is absolutely blessed to have such dedicated, diligent workers with strong work ethic.
Dowd's district has changed quite a bit. His 2003 election to School Board, when he was running against Dem machine entrenched Darlene Harris, is but one harbinger of the change. Peduto pretty much won the Council District. I have a feeling that being a relative of an old pol (Bodack), or public works' employees (Byrne), or an old poll in the flesh (Ferlo), won't be quite the guarantee of a win as it was previously. Many of the people living (and voting) in Lawrenceville are new comers, they don't give a rat's behind about the local Dem machine.
The Dad in DPW is a bully
All the districts have gone through fundamental changes over the past 20 years — not just 7. A lot of it is based upon the economic changes in the neighborhoods.
Peduto, Rudiak and others were smart enough to recognize this change that started as a ripple and turned into a wave.
The “old” machine is indeed on the way out; but, make no mistake about it, it will be replaced by a “new” machine led by Fitzgerald, Peduto and others. Ward chairs are smart enough to switch alliances when it helps them maintain their neighborhood power base. Those that can't adapt will soon be looking at car driving away wondering why they got left behind.
The two points being is that the change is not limited to one area of the City and that there will always be a machine just in different forms with different leaders. Until we get real political competition in this City, that is the facts of life.
I have worked with Dowd on many issues. He is always prepared and expects you to be prepared also. He is a true professional and treats you with the respect that you display.
I think he would have been a fantastic mayor— he just jumped into the pool too quickly after winning his first term on council.
He will do a great job for the non-profit.
If his paycheck is better — so what? He has given many years of his life and of his family's time dedicated to serving this City.
I wish him well in his life venture.
I haven't been here for a while. Did I forget how little sense he makes, or has Monk become even more incomprehensible?
The “there will always be a machine” hypothesis is a strong theory, but not yet adequately tested.