PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Pittsburgh's Wealthy Elites Forced to See Riff Raff!
by Stephen Donahue Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 12:26 PM
sdonahue412@hotmail.com

"Let Them Eat Cake Party" Shows Up at Ruling Class "Power Play" Gala. ( from the "Why I Never!" department)

“Luminaries” and “visionaries” from throughout the area gathered in the new $375 million D. L. Lawrence Convention Center for a self-congratulatory gala on Saturday night, September 20. They called their party a “POWER PLAY.” Attendees at this private party were promised opportunities to, “execute their own power plays with the dynamos who energize the Pittsburgh region.” Some of the “dynamos” present at this gala included PA Governor Ed Rendell, PA General Assembly members, and local policy makers including the Mayor. Also present in force were Pittsburgh’s corporate leaders and rich elites. Yep, all the ingredients were there for a genuine “power play.”

Near-by the new convention center, on the corner of Penn Avenue and 10th Street another group met for a party hosted by the bus and trolley riders’ group Save Our Transit. These people were more ordinary. No “old guard” or “new guard” here, just those who need and use such vital public services as mass transit, public education and programs assisting the physically and mentally challenged. This “Let Them Eat Cake” party was intended to offer a lighthearted but nevertheless in-your-face contrast to the Power Play gala going on inside the convention center.

Save Our Transit stalwarts have been dogging PA lawmakers for over a year attempting to keep them focused on the need for reliable state funding for public transit. Many public transit riders have also been quite concerned about the fiscal crisis facing both state and local government and the seeming imminent demise of all public services. So when the news broke that the ruling class was going to celebrate its potency at a fancy convention center opening gala honoring the “visionaries” among them, Save Our Transit members decided that it was time to tell these so called “visionaries” to go get an eye exam.


After considering that the city is on the edge of bankruptcy, that over 700 city workers had recently been laid off and that all public services were in grave danger, Save Our Transit decided to counter the Power Play gala with their own “Let Them Eat Cake” party.

The Let Them Eat Cake party featured clowns, the grim reaper, a fat cat, Ms Management for FY 03-04, a Renaissance servant-girl, bucket drums, whistles, posters, cake for everybody and of course fun. Chants such as “Power Play? No Way!” and “The children have no recreation centers?” “Well, let them eat cake!” greeted the politicians and other socialites venturing into the gala Power Play. Real anger that these movers, shakers and rule makers would dare to celebrate their power and wealth even as so many are suffering the consequences of policies that are killing public services was displayed in a sarcastic manner that was not lost to those in the convention center gala.

Save Our Transit and friends had their usual positive outlook however. It’s simple. They positively want a city and a state that works for EVERYBODY and not just for the POWER PLAYERS.

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