I have been endorsed by the Firearms Owners Against Crime (FOAC)!!!!!!!!

 The Committee to Elect Carmen L. Robinson is requesting your participation in a contest!  We are asking you to get involved in the growth of your city.  Please submit your ideas concerning how to retain such valuable young talent.  Three winners will each receive a limo package for their upcoming prom.  Submit your ideas by April 19, 2009 – 7 pm.  Three winners will be announced April 21, 2009.—We will place all entries on this site! 

Please submit all entries to info@carmenformayor.com. 

Remember you are our hope for a sustainable Pittsburgh

And the winners are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James Traylor, CAPA high school— 

As a senior at the Creative and Performing arts high school of Pittsburgh (CAPA) I am surrounded by a large amount of talent. There are so many teenagers with various forms of talent in the city of Pittsburgh outside of CAPA but these talents cannot be brought to light due to the fact that there are not enough functions geared towards kids and teenagers that want to show off their unique talents. We pressure education so much in the world today that we forget about the teens and what they want and what they enjoy doing.  As a teen if I had the opportunity to go to a free school on the weekends with professional teachers that could help me form and bring out my talents that would help out so much!! I say this because even though I am enrolled in a performing arts high school, I am still using my talent to get a grade. There is an overwhelming amount of teens that do not enjoy doing what they love for a grade and for this reason they are put on  the back burner and nobody notices there talents and for this reason they feel as though there is no reason in having this talent if I cant use it, and enjoy it the way I want to so a large amount of it is lost.  So in conclusion my idea to retain such valuable young talent would be to hold a class at local schools, local Y.M.C.A’s and other organizations and buildings two Saturdays a month that would offer teens and kids a chance to present their talents and have the opportunities to showcase the talents they possess to an audience thus putting them in a better position of becoming recognized for there many artistic attributes. This way their talents can be used and not thrown away. We have to give to, the less fortunate, opportunities and chances- If we do not– then they cannot receive.

Aidan Schnupp- Brashear High School—

3 key factors for keeping Pittsburgh high school and college graduates in

our city:

1.       Good job opportunities

2.       Ability to buy a home

3.       Recreational activities for people in their 20’s and 30’s

I think the main reason college graduates leave the Pittsburgh area is to go after a good job opportunity.    If given a choice between similar job opportunities, I would choose the job in Pittsburgh so I could stay close to my family and friends.  In order to create job opportunities, Pittsburgh needs to attract companies and convince them to locate their offices, operations and manufacturing facilities in our area.   The city could also encourage small businesses by offering them the same type of tax break offered to large corporations.  We also need to reward companies for choosing to do business in our city.  A committee (possibly the city and county council) could be established to perform an annual survey of all companies located in the city, to evaluate and rank companies according to their contribution to the city.  The companies could be broken down into several categories (large corporations, mid sized companies, small companies and small business owners).  The result would be an award that would each of the winning companies a title like ‘the Best Pittsburgh Partner 2009’.  One of the areas that they could be rated on is hiring recent local high school and college graduates.   These results can be published in the paper and an awards ceremony held to announce the winners.   The ceremony could take place during a Steelers half, Penguin period break, or Pirate 7th inning stretch.  The winners could also be profiled in the game program.  This would give the winning companies community visibility and free advertising.    Once people get a job, they want to move out and buy a home.  Pittsburgh has affordable housing, but the city can get younger homeowners to look at housing within the city by offering incentives such as waiving the property tax for the first year or two, and giving homebuyers additional incentives if they purchase an abandoned city property and fix it up.  I would like to see more money invested into the Parks and recreation centers and have more city-sponsored adult functions, and possibly re-open some of the area pools. 

Monica Denae Bryant, Penn Hills– 

I am hoping to be able to return to Pittsburgh after graduating and obtain employment in Pittsburgh.  First, I am excited to know the young adolescents, such as myself, have an advocate who is running for Mayor and who is not only interested, but also, willing to go the extra mile to “fight” for the city of Pittsburgh’s young adults.  I believe in order to retain valuable young talent in the city of Pittsburgh, we need to work together and instill the importance of a solid Foundation.  If the young adults can first get employment, but more importantly, employment with opportunities, which will allow us to become successful, this would give the young adults a reason to remain in the city of Pittsburgh. Secondly, we need to get and stay actively involved in the community with programs for young adults to get involved in which would focus on leadership skills. And last, but not least, we need safe neighborhoods in which we can live and raise our own families.  If the aforementioned is achieved, I strongly feel you can retain the valuable young talent in which you seek.

Fighting the good Fight!

While I agree safe neighborhoods, good schools and a strong local economy are the building blocks of a livable city, those goals will not become a reality without a fighter at the helm.

Pittsburgh, I’m not afraid of THE GOOD Fight!

I’ve gone up against a formidable opponent!

I’ve dealt with all that goes along with fighting the good fight and won.

I’ve am conscious, mobilized and ready!

I’ve come out of battle better, stronger and wiser.

If you’re looking for an advocate and not a politician vote for a fighter, Carmen Robinson, as your Mayor May 19th.

Setting Low Contribution Limits-  $2,000. Per person & 5,000. Per PAC

Campaign finance laws should be written to promote open, honest, and accountable government and to bring about political equality.

As Mayor, I would support legislation that informs voters about potential and perceived influences over elected officials.   I would also support legislation setting low contribution limits.  This legislation would eliminate the real threat of influence over a candidate, while preserving the voter’s first amendment right to take part in the political process.  In addition, setting low contribution limits enhances the speech of the voter whose true political participation is often blocked or diminished by “pay to play” politics. Further, implementing low contribution limits, levels the playing field for all candidates regardless of wealth or connections.

As Mayor, I will set the tone and assure the Office of Mayor is above reproach.  The granting of No-bid contracts is a policy ripe for corruption.   The common excuse that has supported this outdated policy (professional quality work), can be countered by a solid legal department within city government.

As Mayor, I would support legislation that informs voters about potential and perceived influences over elected officials.   I would also support legislation setting low contribution limits.  This legislation would eliminate the real threat of influence over a candidate, while preserving the voter’s first amendment right to take part in the political process.  In addition, setting low contribution limits enhances the speech of the voter whose true political participation is often blocked or diminished by “pay to play” politics.  Further, implementing low contribution limits, levels the playing field for all candidates regardless of wealth or connections.

VIOLENCE-

I am troubled about the state of Pittsburgh’s youth especially in our most distress neighborhoods.  The number of young black men who either killed or were killed, in shootings has risen at an alarming rate.  Although the overall rate of homicides in the United States remain relatively low, the landscape is quite different for our children living, and some dying, in violence-infested neighborhoods.
Seizing on President Barack Obama’s stimulus initiative, as an opportunity for more funding, we need to invest in our children and families.  In essence, we need a BAILOUT for our kids at risk.

NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH-

More than anything else, small businesses are what we need to make Pittsburgh’s economy run. Small businesses take the risks, often with little start-up money and nothing to fall back on. They do most of the innovating , as well as most of the hiring. For people of every background, small businesses are the path to success and to the American dream. Small businesses are the lifeblood of every local economy.
In this very tough time for our economy and for workers and families across our city, job creation among small businesses is crucial.  It is just one reason why the government should never take the hard work, sacrifices, and earnings of small business owners for granted. As mayor, my goal will be to get our economy running at full strength again, and a major key to achieving that is supporting small businesses.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY-

As we find ourselves having just celebrated the city’s 250th anniversary, we see even more clearly the challenges that face us, from economic distress to neighborhoods in decline.  Pittsburgh is a good place, but we can be great!  We can become a better city for all of our citizens. A better city requires better leadership and better leaders understand that leadership is actually about stewardship, which is simply the role a mature leader assumes in taking care of the taxpayers property and financial affairs.  A serious leader assures that current spending programs and tax policies are affordable and sustainable over the long haul and does not mortgage the future of our city by selling off revenue generating property.  A strong leader does not so willingly give up the Sovereignty a city, that leader protects the future of successive generations.

Mayor walks out on Barack Obama
June 26, 2008
Senator Barack Obama introduces Mayor Luke Ravenstahl only to find he has vanished. Hello, Luke?