Public Statements Regarding
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science
Pittsburgh

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Legislative Session of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
Tuesday Morning, May 28, 2002

1) Glenn A. Walsh of 633 Royce Avenue in Mount Lebanon.

2) You may have seen the article [and photograph] in this morning's Post-Gazette regarding opposition to the current plan for the proposed Pittsburgh Children's Museum and Center.

3) I was one of a dozen people who went before the Allegheny Regional Asset District Board on August 27 to oppose funding of the current plan that would render two historic scientific instruments unusable:
* a) Zeiss II Planetarium Projector -- the oldest operable, major planetarium projector in the world !
* b) 10-inch Siderostat-type Refractor Telescope -- the second largest operable Siderostat telescope in the world !

4) The Post-Gazette article says we are opposed to public funding for the project unless the Children's Museum restores and reuses the equipment.
Let me clarify this !

5) What we are asking is that the equipment remain in the original installation where they can be used.

6) The Buhl Planetarium building has five exhibit galleries. There is no need to convert the historic Theater of the Stars into yet another exhibit gallery, as they plan to do. This conversion would make the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector unusable.

7) The Children's Museum can use the Theater of the Stars as a theater or auditorium. The Zeiss II projector was the first projector in the world to be placed on an elevator. Hence, when the projector is not in use, it can be lowered below the floor, out-of-the-way, so the Theater of the Stars can be used for other assemblages.

8) As unpaid volunteers, I and others are willing to provide occasional demonstrations of the historic equipment to the public--and perform routine maintenance on the equipment.

9) If the Children's Museum is to receive:
* a) Allegheny Regional Asset District tax funds for this project
AND
* b) Use of this City building for only one dollar per year
The least they can do is keep this historic equipment in their original installation, where they remain usable.

10) Thank You.

** Following Mr. Walsh's statement, a statement was made by Ms. Yvonne F. Brown; her beginning comments were in support of the Walsh Statement, then she commented on other City affairs.
** Mr. Walsh and Ms. Brown were the only two members of the public who chose to provide public comment at this meeting.
** Following the Public Comment segment of the meeting, Pittsburgh City Councilman Jim Ferlo asked the City Clerk to request a report for City Council, from General Services Department Director Dale A. Perrett, regarding the current status of lease negotiations for the Buhl Planetarium building.

News Media Coverage:
1) Interview with Glenn A. Walsh broadcast on August 27 afternoon newscasts of WPTT-AM Radio(News/Talk radio format).
2) Newspaper article in the August 28 afternoon edition of The Daily News of McKeesport. Note that the reference to "Mark Mintak" is an error; the reporter is really referring to Timm Barczy.
3) Newspaper article and photograph of the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector in the Westinghouse "worm-gear" elevator pit in the September 5 morning edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Note that the reference to "Norm Dempsey of McCandless" is an error; the reporter is really referring to Norm Downey.
4) Interview with Glenn A. Walsh by KQV-AM(All-News radio format) on the morning of September 5.

Testimony in opposition to request of Pittsburgh Children's Museum, to the Allegheny Regional Asset District, for $4 million to aid in construction of the proposed Pittsburgh Children's Museum and Center project --

People providing oral testimony(three minutes or less, during Public Comment period) in opposition to project: (in order of testimony) Glenn A. Walsh, Francis G. Graham, Norman Downey, Lee Madden, Judy Madden, Richard Wood, Mark Bier, Gayle L. Thrasher, David Tessitor, George Larson--who gave his speaking time to Timm Barczy, Timm Barczy, Barry Mitnick. Note: John McCarter, who also opposes the project, attended the meeting but chose not to speak.

Written testimony in opposition to project, provided by people who could not attend the meeting, submitted by Glenn A. Walsh: John D. Weinhold, William Blair, Emil M. Quatchak, Patricia M. O'Hare, Jim Price, Sandra Douglas, Iain P. Douglas, Alan M. Paris.