Hi Everyone,

Hope you had a great Christmas. Wish all of you and your families a Wonderful 2008.

Here are some updates since the Election:

• I have been working on two ideas to help with the Mt. Lebanon budget for 2008. I have shared these ideas with the Commissioners, Municipal Management and with various groups/boards. The first is with regard to cutting costs and to do this by providing a significant one time bonus (pro-rated in proportion to the savings) to the Municipal management now for cutting operating costs without impacting services or debt; this can only be done after the final budget has been presented. The second is with regard increasing revenue by putting in place a Vision for the Business District, creating grass roots level plans and executing on the same. I have write-ups on both these ideas; so please contact me for details and I will share them with you. (I need to figure out how to post these articles online and put links to them in the blog. Maybe, my good friend, McKeesport Councilman Paul Shelly who is a blog-whiz can help me here!!)
• Pittsburgh Magazine has the 25 most beautiful people in Pittsburgh in their January 2008 edition and I am in this magazine  …  Your disbelief is understandable and you are right :). While I did not make the top 25 list, I am on Page 55 of this magazine. Christine O’Toole is the writer for this article and she lives in the 1st ward; I believe that I knocked on her door prior to the elections and she contacted me after I won. (Knocking on doors has some unforeseen advantages; thanks, Chris!!) Here are the online links to the same: http://www.wqed.org/mag/index.php (Main page of Pittsburgh magazine) and http://www.wqed.org/mag/features/0108/raja.php (Direct link to the article).
• All commissioners are featured in Mt. Lebanon Magazine for January and I am the first one since I represent the 1^st ward. Here is the online link to the same: http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=2330.
• The Business mentoring group (that I initiated several months ago) is beginning to show results. The Mt. Lebanon Magazine has a “Business Update” on Mave and their commitment to move to Mt. Lebanon. Here is the link that has this article: http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=2349.
• The Swearing in Ceremony is on Jan 7th (Monday) at 8pm at the Mt.
  Lebanon Municipal Building. I invite all of you to attend; hope to see you then. Judge Cashman has graciously agreed to swear me in and I thank him for the same in advance. The first Commission meeting in on Jan 14th (Monday). I am excited to begin work on the Commission and look forward to making a difference.

Happy New Year!! 

Raja