Raja Announces Comprehensive Plan for the Pittsburgh International Airport.

PITTSBURGH – This morning Raja, candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive, released his sixth major policy initiative, a detailed three-point plan for the Pittsburgh International Airport. In his remarks Raja said, “The Airport is one of the county’s greatest yet most underutilized resources. We are putting forth a real plan that outlines ways to address these issues through practical solutions and innovative ideas. We need a new direction in Allegheny County.”

The Three Point Plan:

1. Develop Land at Airport
o High Tech Incubator
o Marcellus Shale Companies
o Shale byproduct companies
o Safety and environmental companies
2. Increase Air Traffic at Airport
o OND Support
o Lower Landing and Gate Fees
o Continuing to Modernize the Airport
o Market PIT as a Cargo Hub
o Other Options
3. Long Term Rapid Transit Planning

Raja went on to say “This is what the County Executive needs to be about. Have a vision, set benchmarks, and strive to reach this goal.”

The press conference was held online via concert-oh web meeting technology via Concert-Oh.com a Monroeville based company.

Raja is a candidate for Allegheny County Executive. He co-founded an Allegheny County technology company. The firm is a leading national provider of cutting edge IT solutions. Raja is a former Mt Lebanon Commissioner. He lives in Mt Lebanon with his wife Neeta and their two children.

Full Policy Below:
The Raja Airport Plan

Raja Announces Comprehensive Plan To Reform the Port Authority.
Fitzgerald still recycling failed policies.

PITTSBURGH – This morning Raja, candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive, released his fifth major policy initiative, a detailed three-point plan for reforming the Port Authority. In his remarks Raja said, “The Port Authority is in need of serious reform. We are putting forth a real plan that outlines ways to save the Port Authority through practical solutions and innovative ideas. We need a new direction in Allegheny County. We need to set a new path of reform.”

The press conference was held at the EQT Natural Gas Station in the Strip District.

Raja’s Modernization plan will focus on the following areas:
1. Lobby for a change in state law.
a. Pension Benefits for New Employees
b. Encourage Competition
c. Permanent Funding Solution
2. Use of Public-Private partnership
a. Support P3 Legislation
b. Enhance Transit Service
c. Partner with Private, Educational and Medical Sector
d. Work with Private Industry
3. Pursue cost saving opportunities.
a. Convert Bus Fleet to Natural Gas
b. Continue to Replace Existing Fleet
c. Investigate Ways to Streamline Service

Raja went on to say “This plan shows the stark contrast between me and my opponent. We need a new mentality on Grant Street. We need to leave behind the tax and spend policies that Rich Fitzgerald has pursued for over a decade. We have to start to look at innovative ways to solve these problems.”

Raja is a candidate for Allegheny County Executive. He co-founded an Allegheny County technology company. The firm is a leading national provider of cutting edge IT solutions. Raja is a former Mt Lebanon Commissioner. He lives in Mt Lebanon with his wife Neeta and their two children.

Detailed Policy Below:

Raja Port Authority Plan

Raja Announce Education Plan.
4th Major Policy Initiative.

PITTSBURGH – This morning Raja, candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive, released his fourth major policy initiative, a three-point plan for developing partnerships between education institutions and industry. Raja said about his education plan, “By promoting partnerships and developing programs that bring education and business together we can educate and train our students for the job market. There is a belief by industries that the skilled labor they need isn’t here and a belief from our students that there are no opportunities here. Both are wrong. By bridging the gap we can make Allegheny County a place where young people and industries alike see great opportunity and have the skills to seize it.”

The press conference was held outside Project Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Oakland.

Raja’s Education plan will focus on the following areas:
1. Matching higher education curriculum to the needs of the area’s industries
a. Extending University of Pittsburgh’s Industry Board concept.
b. Train workers for Marcellus Shale Jobs
2. Support High School Students
a. Support organizations like the Pittsburgh Regional Compact
b. Work across all sectors to make high education more affordable to keep young minds here
3. School Districts
a. Look to save money by identifying and correcting duplication of services.

Raja knows the importance of education. As a first generation immigrant from India Raja came to Pittsburgh to go to school and considers that decision to be one the most important in his life. He understands that education is the path to prosperity, not only for himself and his family, but for every family in Allegheny County.

Raja went on to say, “Education gave me my start in Pittsburgh. We need to make the opportunities that were given to me available to all Allegheny County Students. Quite frankly, the tax and spend course my opponent has followed while on County Council will not provide these opportunities. We can’t continue to do the same things over and over and expect a different result is, according to Einstein the definition of insanity.”

Raja is a candidate for Allegheny County Executive. He co-founded an Allegheny County technology company. The firm is a leading national provider of cutting edge IT solutions. Raja is a former Mt Lebanon Commissioner. He lives in Mt Lebanon with his wife Neeta and their two children.

Full Policy Paper Below:

Raja Education Plan

Raja wins KQV radio poll in a huge blow out!

KQV did an opinion poll yesterday on our race.

The results were definitive! Raja wins huge!

Raja – 56%

Fitzgerald – 39%

Undecided – 5%

Momentum for this campaign is growing every single day! We need your help. Go to the volunteer section of our site and sign up to volunteer or consider a contribution to our campaign. We need every one of you to help make this opinion poll be a reality on November 8th!

Raja Announces “ShaleShakedown.com” to Highlight Rich Fitzgerald’s Unethical Behavior

PITTSBURGH – This morning Raja’s Campaign for County Executive, announced the launch of ShaleShakedown.com, a website dedicated to highlighting Rich Fitzgerald’s unethical behavior while in office. The new web presence includes a video contrasting Rich’s record and Raja’s vision.

The television ad and accompanying website highlights Fitzgerald’s January email to a Shale Industry head demanding money in return for a friend in the office. The email explains Fitzgerald’s thoughts on the role of money in a campaign and the veiled threats of repercussions if that money doesn’t materialize.

Raja campaign spokesman James Genovese said, “The voters of Allegheny County deserve to know about Rich’s unethical behavior. His shakedown of an entire industry is wholly inappropriate and unethical. Voters this fall will have a chance to end the corrupt policies that Fitzgerald has pursued for over a decade.”

Plan will Create jobs and make County Government More Effective
Fitzgerald campaign still void of any substance.

PITTSBURGH – This morning Raja, candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive, released his third major policy initiative, a five-point plan for promoting new ways of thinking through innovation. In his remarks Raja said, “By promoting innovation across all sectors, especially Allegheny County government, we can change the culture of county government to improve service and decrease cost to the taxpayers.”

The press conference was held at Project Olympus a CMU Incubator site*. Raja has called for creating an “Innovation Zone” on Airport property to encourage start-ups companies to locate and stay in Allegheny County.

Raja’s Innovation plan focuses on the following areas:
1. Promote Innovation in County Government
2. Promote Innovation at the State Level
3. Promote Commercialization of University Research
4. Promote Innovation in Private Sector
5. Promote Innovation in Marcellus Shale

Raja knows how to promote and execute innovation. As a successful business owner in the IT field he knows that without the encouragement of innovative ideas and practices companies go stagnant and fail. He has kept his company on the cutting edge primarily through innovation. Allegheny County has that potential. Innovation must continue to be a prominent part of Allegheny County as it has been in the past.

Raja went on to say, “There is a stark contrast in this race. As a member of County Council for over a decade, my opponent has had the opportunity to promote innovation and make progress for the county. Unfortunately, he squandered that opportunity by continuing the same ‘politics as usual’ rhetoric while blocking reform and supporting job killing policies. The people of Allegheny County deserve better.”

Raja is a candidate for Allegheny County Executive. He co-founded an Allegheny County technology company. The firm is a leading national provider of cutting edge IT solutions. Raja is a former Mt Lebanon Commissioner. He lives in Mt Lebanon with his wife Neeta and their two children.

* Carnegie Mellon University is a nonpartisan institution that does not endorse candidates.

Follow link below for full plan:

The Raja Innovation Plan