Friday, April 2, 2010

Easter Bunny Arrives Early At Council Chambers

A dozen Easter eggs -- to be distributed among the baskets of Darlene Harris, Bill Peduto, Patrick Dowd, Doug Shields, Natalia Rudiak and Bruce Kraus* -- for enjoyment during an open meeting concerning parking privatization for Pittsburgh:

1. How and when did the concept of a parking privatization transaction for Pittsburgh originate?

2. Which person(s) first mentioned or proposed a parking privatization plan for Pittsburgh?

3. Which city representative(s) first became aware of the subject?

4. Has anyone acting on behalf of the city communicated, directly or indirectly, with any of these people or entities (or their representatives or affiliates) about a privatized parking plan for Pittsburgh?
(a) Charles Zappala
(b) Gregory Zappala
(c) anyone named Zappala
(d) Bill Lieberman
(e) John Verbanac
(f) Edward Grattan
(g) Oxford Development
(h) Walnut Capital
(i) Gateway Financial
(j) any campaign contributor to Luke Ravenstahl
(k) any campaign contributor to Dan Onorato
(l) any campaign contributor to Jack Wagner
(m) any campaign contributor to a member of city council
(n) any state legislator
(o) County Executive Dan Onorato
(p) Government Ed Rendell
(q) any lobbyist
(r) Joe King
(s) GAI Consultants
(t) James Scalo
(u) Mascaro Construction
(v) Boich Companies
(w) Mosites Construction
(x) Bill Rudolph
(y) Forest City Enterprises
(z) a random blonde at Cain's Saloon

5. Has anyone associated with city government heard anything about participation (investment, employment, consulting, vendor) by southwestern Pennsylvanians in a privatized parking system?

6. Which southwestern Pennsylvanians have been mentioned concerning such participation?

7. Which outside advisors or consultants have communicated with city representatives concerning development, evaluation, or implementation of a privatized parking system?

8. Which prospective vendors have communicated with city representatives about involvement with a privatized parking system?

9. Who recommended Morgan Stanley for participation in a parking privatization project?

10. Were any other entities or persons considered for what has become Morgan Stanley's role in the parking privatization project?

11. Are you aware of any written analysis or review of alternatives to the transaction structure envisioned by Morgan Stanley?

12. Are you aware of any written analysis or review of experience(s) concerning other proposed or implemented privatized parking systems?

* The bunny visits only good boys and girls. Others get their goodies at the fifth floor of the City-County Building.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the way you think, the back room deals are famous on the fifth floor. The power is so abused and bought and sold that Lukey may be 30 but in political years he's 70 in a smoke filled back room. That's how he rolls. Rev Burgess is a snake in the grass and I'd like to know what he gets for being Lukey's new Motznik!

Infinonymous said...

Rev. Burgess gets nothing . . . directly.

His goodies -- a basket so full its betrays an obvious lack of discretion -- are routed through his political advisor.

And Luke does not roll . . . unless you count being placed in a cart and led around.

Anonymous said...

Great list of questions. I nominate Rev. Burgess to ask them.

Re: The power is so abused and bought and sold that Lukey may be 30 but in political years he's 70 in a smoke filled back room. That's how he rolls.

Luke's key advisor has made a career out of backroom deals.

Infinonymous said...

I disagree with the asssertion that Rev. Burgess is a snake in the grass. A snake in the grass conceals its position; Rev. Burgess has been remarkably open about his transformation from spiritual and civic-minded man of the people to practical and obsequious cog. His blatant soldiering for the parking transaction illustrates the point.

Anonymous said...

Jeff Thomas handles all of the stuff for Burgess.

Cash & carry...