UPDATE: He’s ALIVE! And pissed that people wondered where he was all day.  Even though Council couldn’t find him all day today, Lukey just held a press conference saying he’s been in Pittsburgh all day. So he was NOT in New Orleans!  And no, I’m not the only one that heard that rumor.  The media heard it too and NOT from me.

Where he’s been all day?  Who knows.  Should his press secretary have known where he was? Heck yes.  Does it look bad that no one knew where he was?  Yep.

But he’s here.  He says he’s been here the whole time, and I guess that’s that.

This is a game.

Like Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.

Luke Ravenstahl is missing.

I’ve been hearing rumors for days now that he planned to go to Mardi Gras. At this point, they’re just rumors, but here’s the problem: NO ONE KNOWS WHERE LUKEY IS TODAY!

He was not in his office today.  His car has not been seen.  Zober hasn’t been seen for days.  Luke did not attend the funeral of John Murtha.  He was supposed to sign an Emergency Declaration Extension yesterday, but he wasn’t around to do it.  He canceled all of his meetings for today.

“Mayoral spokeswoman Joanna Doven said she did not know Mr. Ravenstahl’s whereabouts today but he is in Pittsburgh.”

The Dread Lord hasn’t responded to my email, which is rare.

What if Lukey is lost, you guys?!  What if he couldn’t take his regular routes around town because some of the streets were iced over or unplowed, and therefore took an alternate, meandering, confusing route.

HELP US FIND OUR MAYOR!

On your marks, get set, GO!

Also, just for fun, Lukey at the Foggy Goggle on his birthday while the Snowpocalypse was happening!

On a serious note, of course the Mayor has a private life and he should be allowed to live that private life in a respectable fashion when it doesn’t interfere with serving the public.  However, as an elected Mayor of a major metropolitan area, it is almost NEVER okay to go AWOL and from what the media and others are telling me, Lukey has gone AWOL.

Category: Mayor Ravenstahl | tags: Luke Ravenstahl | February 16, 2010 | |

63 Responses

1. BethH Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 1:51 pm

   Someone check the Applachian Trail!

   Seriously, this is so embarrassing to our city. First, he “rents” a condo from, surprise, a developer who does business with the city on the night we were supposed to get a foot of snow (surprise!), and now no one can find him…sigh. Four more years. Good job, D-voters (and I’m looking at you, my sweet, lovable grandma!).

2. MN Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 1:58 pm

   What a putz.

3. P.O. Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 1:59 pm

   The alley that leads to my driveway and that my garbage truck accesses has yet to see a snow plow, and yet “my mayor” is @ mardi gras… yaaaaa… seems about right

4. butcher's dog Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 2:00 pm

   Well, if the governor of South Carolina can go to Argintina for five days (BethH’s Appalacian Trail reference…that’s where his people said he was) then Lukey can go missing for a day. Except that whole signing-the-emergency-declaration thing smacks of dereliction of duty.

   Let me go out on a limb here and state that I’m not completely convinced the uproar of his being away while the snow fell is completely justified. I mean, the phones still worked, right? Did he really have to see the snow on the ground before the street department was allowed to roll the trucks? Don’t they have departments and meetings and procedures for this? So he took off and it snowed; why didn’t life go on?

   I’m not looking to get flamed here, but if anyone has a valid reason why clean up and plow out would have been better had he been in town than when he wasn’t, I’d love to hear it. Otherwise, it should have been people doing their jobs with or without direct mayoral supervision.

5. Carpetbagger Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 2:06 pm

   He’s dying to get on “Mayors Gone Wild.”

6. P.O. Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 2:07 pm

   butcher’s dog…

   its about being responsible and portraying an image that you at least care a little bit… if a boss of a company in the private sector chose to delegate to his employees and get out of town when the snow came thats one thing.. but for an elected official to blatantly and repeatedly show complete disregard for his position of authority in a major metropolitan area, something is very wrong. Luke has proved time and time again to brush off problems with “promises” to look at things and examine in the “coming months”…. to say that he doesn’t have to be here to over see the operations of the city because “he took off and it snowed, why didn’t life go on?” is like saying you don’t have to go to your grandmothers funeral because “she took off and left and died, why didn’t life go on?” or any other kind of ridiculous comparison to be made on why someone isn’t where they are supposed to be.

7. no plow on my steet Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 2:08 pm

   and here i had my geography all wrong. i didn’t realize the appalachian trail went right through new orleans.

8. Al Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 2:11 pm

   $20 to the first person that posts of photo of Lukey flashing his breasts for beads.

9. aDerek Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 2:17 pm

   @butcher’s dog: Didn’t you see on the news coverage how much better the snow plows and salt trucks worked when the Boy Mayor was aboard? Of course we need him to be here!

10. SusanV Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    And I really don’t think it is ok to go party at Mardi Gras in New Orleans when your city is full of snow and chaos.

    IF that’s where he is.

    I think we all have our theories.

11. BethH Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    @butcher’s dog: We really don’t expect much from city government — trash picked up, snow removed, easy peasy. And what does it take to do that well? A fundamental love of the city. Not rocket science, not a fancy degree. Just a love of this city and all of the mundane things it takes to keep this city running well. Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t love this city. He loves attention. He loves having fun. And that’s great — just stop being the mayor of the city I love so you can let someone who actually loves this city do the work a mayor is elected to do.

12. OldNorthSider Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    He’s hitchin’ a ride on the Mardi Gras float with Drew Brees. Who Dat!

13. one-eyed dick Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Found him! Will drop in nearest mailbox. You should be receiving him in a day or so…..

14. Ben Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:37 pm

    LOST: One Boy Mayor. Answers to “Luke” Likes being patted on head and told he’s a good boy.

15. Jen Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    Making it rain French Quarter?

16. Craig Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    No sign of him down here in Georgia, they have a huge ego tax and if he had come through the fiscal crisis would have ended by now.

17. Nicole Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    I’m with @butcher’s dog. If Luke had celebrated his b-day here, photos would have no doubt leaked and everyone would be on his case for being irresponsible and, god forbid, celebrating his 30th birthday. It seems, for once, Luke actually did the responsible thing by going out of town to celebrate. I’m sure had the local wx people actually forecasted the 2 ft of snow we ultimately got, he would have stayed here.

    As for today, I haven’t heard a verified reason for why he needs to be present today. To sign the emergency declaration? The city law department apparently opined that Luke’s signature wasn’t needed. So clearly there’s a difference of opinion. That a few members of city council now claim that he does (at a time when they know he’s not around), smacks to me of an attempt to play “gotcha.”

    I agree with Ginny … no elected official should go AWOL. And Luke has without a doubt done some stupid things. But until proof surfaces to the contrary, I think this all much ado about nothing. And borderline slanderous.

18. LB Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    You just know he’s on a balcony slinging beads with one hand and recording it all on his handy cam with the other. I say we create a “Have you seen our Mayor” FB page and ask people to post sightings. First one to post a pic wins….if bare breasts (not his) are included, winner gets the key to the city and a free ride in a snowplow. Go Lukey…It’s your Birthday….You’re gonna party like it’s your Birthday!

19. Shelly Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:48 pm

    Here’s a link for potential Mayoral spotting:

    http://www.earthcam.com/events/mardigras/2010/

20. Virginia Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    Nicole, asking where the Mayor is is not slanderous. Regardless of whether or not Lukey is in Pittsburgh or New Orleans, it should never take this long to find the man. It is three o’clock in the afternoon and no one, not even his press secretary, knows where he is.

21. Bojack Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    Money line is +500/-700 that he’s in NOL hangin’ with some bitches courtesy of Burkle Air!

22. Dan (Not Onarato) Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    Snow must be getting to everyone…boards have been fiesty over the past few days

23. J Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    I think he’s going to appear on the CBS show “Undercover Boss”….riding a garbage truck, snow plow, etc….come on now, we don’t want to blow his cover

24. W. D. Orkoskey Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    IMPEACH RAVENSTAHL

    Clearly this idiot does not deserve to be in office any longer. Disappearing just as information starts to come out about the man who died because an ambulance couldn’t get to him during the storm. Add to that the fact that there are STILL streets that have not been cleaned going on two weeks after the snow started to fall.

    Last Friday (a week after the storm) I drove my wife to an appointment on the Southside. Both S. 21st street and Sidney St. had not been touched but the city owned lot on Sidney (between S. 20th and S. 21st) had been plowed down to the pavement. So someone working for the city decided that cleaning a parking lot made more sense than cleaning the street leading to said lot. wtf?

    We seriously need new leadership in this city – real leadership too. Not leadership that is just a puppet. Let’s remove the prick from office. My dog could run the mayors office more effectively.

25. BethH Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    @Nicole — so the City Solicitor he handpicked apparently issued an opinion that supported him? Go figure.

    And why don’t you tell Sharon Edge that it’s really no big deal. You’re familiar with her, right? Her husband died in Hazelwood 2 days after the snow started (and our mayor started partying outside of the city but, according to him, was in COMPLETE control) because HIS EMS crew couldn’t/wouldn’t get their ambulance to their home in Hazelwood 2 days after the snow.

    Spare us. He’s an adult AND an elected official. He can’t turn either one off and on as the holidays/his birthday come up.

26. Pittsburgh Council says mayor must sign emergency declaration… | GrassrootsPA Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    [...] Where’s Lukey?… [...]

27. Bram R Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    @Nicole: Where did you pick up that stuff the City law dept has “apparently” put out? It hasn’t been circulating. And “borderline slanderous”? I do not think that word means what you think it means. Folks, we’ve got a live one!

    My guess is he’s with Tiger Woods.

28. KGC Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    @Nicole: Is that you, Luke’s Mom?

29. Le Cachot Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    Ginny,

    To be honest with you I’ve about had enough of Luke Ravenstahl. As for this most recent fiasco there is still plenty to do – our streets remain a mess. It’s a joke really. I for one do not have any confidence in the competence of this mayor to do what is best for Pittsburgh. We have a decent lineage of fine mayors in our city and Luke Ravenstahl is certainly not one of them.
    Impeachment seems like such a drastic measure, but having said that – where’s the petition?
    I’ll sign.

30. unsatisfied Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    apparently, he’s still here in pittsburgh — if this is to be believed:

    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10047/1036236-100.stm

31. unsatisfied Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    as for calling for his impeachment — and, I’m the last one to defend steelerstahl — but, who else would do the job the way we (at least, on this here blog) want it to be done?

32. Virginia Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    That’s the quote I used up in my post. His spokesperson claims he’s in Pittsburgh, she just doesn’t know where.

33. More details on mayor's getaway (Updated) - Early Returns - post-gazette.com Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    [...] 2: Ginny at That's Church writes on the "Where's Luke?" theme — and posts a photo of Ravenstahl supposedly at the Foggy [...]

34. Dan (Not Onarato) Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    @30 Unsatisfied….apparently #23 Orkosky’s dog could be a suitable replacement…

    Im just sayin…

35. Carl Prine Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    He’s at a press conference in the mayor’s office.

36. Memory Lane Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    I agree with “Nicole”. Without a doubt, Luke has done some stupid things. -> http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/11317354/index.html

37. unsatisfied Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    @31 Ginny — ahhh, gotcha. that’s what I get for speed reading.

    @33 Dan — can he clear snow with his paws?

38. GF Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    He’s in intense therapy after taking a verbal beating from Grandma in Hazelwood.

    http://kdka.com/video/?id=68838@kdka.dayport.com

39. Laura Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    You are so funny Ginny!

40. SC 'Burgher Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    Well, it appears he’s not visiting Governor Sanford’s ex, Jenny, here in Charleston.

41. W. D. Orkoskey Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    @Dan, @unsatisfied,

    He’s hairless so he’s probably no good at clearing the snow on his own but he can better dictate ways to get the job done and won’t be Zober’s puppet (he’d probably bite him though I’m sure Yarone would just bite back).

    I’d like to see a few different local elected officials try their hand at mayoring. I would have voted for a Republican over him (and trust me, I’ve very liberal so that’s saying something).

42. Bojack Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    He’s getting some 1 on 1 mentoring in quality Mayoring from
    the stupendous NO Mayor Ray Nagin.

    Proly helpin’ Ray trying to locate his still-missing Mom in the 9th Ward.

43. Nicole Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Whoa there, kids. First of all, I never meant to imply that any one particular person – and least of all, Ginny – was slandering the mayor by asking where he was. I agree, we should get a response that is more specific than “he’s in Pittsburgh somewhere.” My point was simply that the rampant speculation, as a whole, was imo veering beyond parody/satire.

    Second, I am familiar with Ms. Sharp’s story. And it’s a sad one. But I fail to see how the mayor being present would have gotten the ambulance to her and her late husband any sooner. If the dispatcher(s) failed to escalate the call to a supervisor what makes you think it would have been escalated to the mayor’s office?

    Finally, @Bram_R – you’re correct. I haven’t actually read that the solicitor blessed the administration’s position though I presume that is the case when the mayor’s spokeswoman said that “administration views the public safety director’s signature as sufficient.” Perhaps that’s giving too much credit where none is deserved; apologies for presenting my mental leap as fact.

    In any event, my (poorly made) point was simply that the mayor and city council are constantly at one another’s throats and imo this seems to be another instance of one being adversarial/disagreeing for the sake of putting the other in a bad light. (Both sides are guilty: Luke did it with the prevailing wage bill on NYE) The thing about law – that keeps lawyers in business, btw – is that anything can be interpreted in any number of ways. I’m just not buying the argument that we’re in the middle of some crisis that requires the mayor’s presence.

    Agree to disagree.

44. Ecstatic Pitt Student Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    Wow. Lukey just TOLD the media who’s boss. “It’s unfortunate that when we’re talking about somebody that died that I’m worried about responding to you, and you, and you, and you, about me being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.” I think our Boy Mayor has just become a Man.

45. Sam Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Fire this incompetent hack.

46. Bluetail Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    IMPEACH RAVENSTAHL indeed! I second W. D. Orkoskey’s proposal, and as a very angry city resident who was rendered ‘unemployed’ last week because of deplorable road conditions, i think Pittsburgh deserves better leadership and maybe it’s time to organize a campaign to get something on the May ballot.

47. Elmer Fudd Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    Boy, I just watched KDKA report on this man that DIED because of the ambulance crew that would not cross the bridge to help this man. I was in EMS and ran ambulance as a volunteer for ten years back in the 90′s. When you have a situation like this, you call in for backup and the local fire department or your own service sends a crew for a lift assist to help you. You never under any circumstances have the patient walk to you, and tell them if he does not then you are going back home. Also the 911 center operator should have sensed what was going on and alerted thier supervisor of the situation. This is a VERY big story and effects everyone from the mayor on down. This make the Snowpocolipse look like a dusting. Before this is all done, Heads will have to roll..

48. redram1 Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    BethH Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
    Someone check the Applachian Trail!

    That’s the same thing my wife said. I still think he was “toe tappin’” in the mens room.

49. Scott Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Just saw Lukey on WPXI news ripping the press a new one for implying he was out of town. Worth catching the replay if you can on the local news.

50. Mayor Luke Doggy Dogg Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Whut up, Ya’ll…?

    Can’t tha Lukey get a day off and hit up Club Erotica and Blush?

    I had a late night gettin’ my swerve on and baggin’ bitchez like they groceries!

    Sheeeeit. I’m tha mayor, ya’ll. I ain’t got ta’ tell no one shit!

51. OldNorthSider Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    Lil Luke becoming a man today? Proving a Point to the media? More games, more silliness. When is this madness going to stop. It seems as though the media was played…so much so they forgot to ask the $64,000 question.

    Please tell me Mayor, how much did YOU pay in rental fees for the condo on a peak winter weekend?

52. MN Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    I bet that condo rental fee is being negotiated and paid as we speak!

53. gunnlino Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    Lets’ see now mayor’s getting a divorce…. drops from sight for a time…. celebrates b-day in mountain resort…. seems to me a secret booty call my have been in progress…… as in: you drive to the parking lot of K Mart…. I’ll meet you there in a rental car… you leave your car there and we’re off to the no tell motel. Seems reasonable to me.

54. BethH Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    The mayor sets the tone for the entire administration. Why didn’t the EMTs know what their boss expected in the face of this snow crisis? Maybe because there was no communication. Why didn’t these EMTs respect the citizens they serve and show an extraordinary commitment to them? Maybe because their boss doesn’t. And yelling at the media? Sure, maybe he was set up. But an adult never would have put himself in this position in the first place. He’s lost all trust and accountability.

55. smb Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    Someone just posted this on my FB wall … a place to rate the mayor of your city! Too funny-but possibly very effective…

    http://www.citymayors.com/mayor_monitor/pittsburgh-ravenstahl.html

56. Bojack Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Would this be the newly re-trained 911 system that failed to tell
    the Pgh PD that the domestic call in Stanton Heights involved an well-armed perp that resulted in 3 dead police officers??

    That 911??

    Who was it that thinks merging the whole county into one big city is a good idea??

57. Elmer Palmer Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    I hear his farts echo inside the Liberty Tunele

58. Bojack Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Hey!!

    All of you city one-party Dems re-elected this public “servant!!”

    @ $100K/yr

    Live with it!!

59. Cordicron Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    Joseph Sabino Mistick’s usual opinion of the Mayor:
    http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/s_666963.html

60. RAVENSTAHL BLASTS MEDIA FOR ASKING WHERE HE WAS… | GrassrootsPA Says:
    February 16th, 2010 at 9:19 pm

    [...] Earlier: Where’s Lukey?… [...]

61. nomorewyrehangers Says:
    February 17th, 2010 at 9:50 am

    How many of you on here voted for Mayor Luke??

62. Community Tea Party Organizer Says:
    February 19th, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    As Joe Dinardo was so fond of saying, “It’s winter; it snows.” 48 hours before the Snowpocalypse estimates were as high as 15 inches. Most of yinz presumed that a Mayor of a near bankrupt city with an underfunded city pension of only 38%, who once took a city vehicle to a concert and returned it with party trash still littering the seats, would have celebrated his birthday in one of the City’s fine restaurants, not miles away in a bar called the Foggy Goggle taking pictures reminiscent (at least to me) of Gary Hart aboard Monkey Business.

63. Ravenstahl-Gate | 40ag.com Says:
    February 22nd, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    [...] Here’s Pittgirl’s post. Potter again: I mean, there’s a weird phenomenon going on here, especially where Montanez is considered. More than a year ago, I noted that local media outlets were willing to bend all kinds of rules for her. Back then, of course, Montanez was anonymous, blogging under the name “PittGirl.” And reporters indulged that to a surprising extent: [...]