General

02/06 2014

Public Hearing On Land Bank Bill Rescheduled For Thu, Feb 20, 6pm

RESCHEDULED: PUBLIC HEARING ON LAND BANK BILL
Public Hearing on Proposed Land Bank Bill Rescheduled for Thursday, February 20th at 6pm
Greetings Residents and Neighbors of District 6-
As per a prior communication our office sent out last week, City Council is currently reviewing an ordinance that would create a land bank for the City of Pittsburgh (to access a copy, click here). The legislation will forever change how real property and development are dealt with in Pittsburgh. In District 6, certain neighborhoods, such as the Hill District, Perry North and South, hold up to 50% of properties which would be eligible for the land bank.
To review, key highlights in the bill include:
  • The creation of a new authority in the City to manage the land bank
  • The creation of a Mayoral controlled board to oversee the authority with no formal oversight or checks and balances from City Council, or the community
  • The ability for the authority to seize any and all property they deem necessary including owner occupied, tax-delinquent property
  • The lack of a process for formal community input
Given the significant impact this legislation will have on the City of Pittsburgh and in our District, it is important to inform ourselves of the bill’s provisions, its implications, and to discuss how it could be improved to better serve the interests of our communities. To this end, I encourage you to attend the rescheduled Pubic Hearing being held on Thursday, February 20, at 6pm in Council Chambers. 
For those interested in participating and providing public comment, you must call to register before 2pm on the 20th at 412-255-2138.
I look forward to seeing you there, as we work together to craft a bill that truly benefits the residents of our district and the greater City of Pittsburgh.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle
02/04 2014

Mayor Announces Aplications For Spring Civic Leadership Academy Class

MAYOR ANNOUNCES APPLICATION PERIOD FOR SPRING CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS
Sent 02/04/2014 @ 2:41 pm

 

PITTSBURGH, PA – Mayor William Peduto today announced that applications for the spring 2014 Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) are now available. Pittsburgh residents and business owners are invited to apply to this free 10-week course to learn about City government. The CLA meets every Wednesday evening from March 26 to May 28, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Applications are available online at http://pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/cla/application?m=application and must be submitted by March 7 .

 

“By offering this class for citizens, we hope to grow a crop of civic-minded leaders who will step up to the plate and help create the Next Pittsburgh,” said Mayor Peduto. “The CLA is a win for the participants as well as the City. We are excited to continue the program this spring.”  

Participants interact one-on-one with City department directors and staff members through tours, interactive presentations and hands-on demonstrations. Session topics include urban redevelopment processes, city planning and park services, protection of waterways and rivers, public safety efforts, and more. To date, the City has held seven classes with nearly 140 graduates.

 

Following the 10-week course, the civic leaders implement a service project. Previous classes have led river cleanups in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewage authority, raised money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and planted native plants at the Larimer Community Garden.

 

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and live within City limits and/or be a business owner who operates within City limits. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7. For more information and to apply, visit http://pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/cla/application.


Full notice:

http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/release?id=2736

02/04 2014

Mayor Peduto Issues Exec Order To Form Summer Youth Employment Task Force

MAYOR WILLIAM PEDUTO ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FORM SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT TASK FORCE
Sent 02/04/2014 @ 12:52 pm

Pittsburgh, PA – Mayor William Peduto issued an executive order today announcing the creation of a Mayoral Task Force on Summer Youth Employment Opportunities in order to assess the City of Pittsburgh's Summer Youth Employment Program. The task force will be charged with presenting concrete recommendations and an action plan for expanding access and improving the quality and diversity of placement opportunities.

"I want to ensure that every young person in the City of Pittsburgh who wants to has both the opportunity for meaningful career development and the ability to earn a little extra money through this program,” said Mayor Peduto. “Through this Task Force, I will engage the business community, labor, nonprofits, foundations, and partners at the national level to help us reimagine this program to serve more young people and provide a clear pathway to their future success.”

Currently the Summer Youth Employment Program serves approximately 400 young people out of nearly 1,000 who apply. Cities across the country have successfully engaged their corporate and philanthropic communities and the federal government in expanding similar programs and offer the option for specialized training in high-tech STEM jobs as well as vocational and office work.  

The recommendations and action plan devised by the Task Force will be submitted to Mayor Peduto no later than April 30, 2014 so that the administration can review and begin implementing them this year.

Full text:

http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/release?id=2735

02/03 2014

Thur 2/6 Public Meetings on Land Bank Bill Cancelled – Will Be Rescheduled

Thursday's Public Meetings on the Land Bank Bill Have Been Cancelled and Will Be Rescheduled
Sent 02/03/2014 @ 12:27 pm

Greetings, 

This message is to inform you that the public hearing and the post agenda which had been scheduled for Thursday, February 6, have been cancelled. The meetings will be rescheduled at a later date. We will be sure to keep you posted once the new dates have been confirmed. 

In the meantime, should you have any questions or concerns regarding the land bank bill, please feel free to contact our office at 412-255-2134. 

Sincerely, 

District 6 Office 

01/30 2014

Public Hearing And Post Agenda On Land Banking Bill – Thu 2/6/14 1pm

Public Hearing and Post Agenda to focus on Land Banking Bill currently under consideration in City Council
Sent 01/29/2014 @ 10:53 am
Greetings Residents and Neighbors of District 6-
In late 2012, the State of Pennsylvania passed legislation authorizing municipalities to create land banks, entities that acquire, manage and dispose of vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties to facilitate their redevelopment and reuse.
City Council is currently reviewing an ordinance that would create a land bank for the City of Pittsburgh (to access a copy, click here). The legislation will forever change how real property and development are dealt with in Pittsburgh. In District 6, certain neighborhoods, such as the Hill District, Perry North and South, hold up to 50% of properties which would be eligible for the land bank.
Some key highlights in the bill include:
  • The creation of a new authority in the City to manage the land bank
  • The creation of a Mayoral controlled board to oversee the authority with no formal oversight or checks and balances from City Council
  • The ability for the authority to seize any and all property they deem necessary including owner occupied, tax-delinquent property
  • The lack of a process for formal community input
Given the significant impact this legislation will have on the City of Pittsburgh and in our District, it is important to inform ourselves of the bill’s provisions, its implications, and to discuss how it could be improved to better serve the interests of our communities. To this end, I encourage you to attend a Pubic Hearing being held on Thursday, February 6, at 1pm in Council Chambers to share your thoughts on the Land Bank bill. There will also be a Post Agenda on the subject the same day,February 6, 2pm in Council Chambers.
I look forward to seeing you there, as we work together to craft a bill that truly benefits the residents of our district and the greater City of Pittsburgh.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle
01/29 2014

Work this weekend on Bates St – Feb 1, 2

A contractor Bartlett will be conducting work on Bates Street this weekend.
 
The crews will arrive at 7:30am on Saturday, February 1 and work until 5pm.  If they don’t finish on Saturday, then they will be back on Sunday at 7:30am and will work until the job is finished.
 
The scope of work includes the removal of dead invasive trees and vines on the North bound side of Bates St.  The cleanup effort will focus in the first 20ft. from the edge of the road.   They have received approval from PennDot to conduct this work and have gotten permission to temporarily close a lane. 
01/28 2014

MAYOR PEDUTO ORDERS WARMING SHELTERS OPEN, REFUSE COLLECTION DELAY AHEAD OF POLAR VORTEX

With temperatures forecast to to dip below zero and wind chills as low as -15 degrees tomorrow, Mayor William Peduto has ordered refuse collection to be suspended for Tuesday only and for warming centers to be activated across the City.

“Temperatures tomorrow will again be potentially hazardous and we all must take precautions to make sure our friends and neighbors are safe,” said the Mayor.

Refuse, bulk waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day, with trash collection starting again on Wednesday. The schedule will proceed as follows:  If your scheduled day of collection is Tuesday, Jan. 28, you will be serviced on Wednesday, Jan. 29 and so on for the remainder of the week. This will continue through the end of the week with Friday’s normally scheduled collection being picked up on Saturday.

In addition, warming centers will be available for residents who need them. All city facilities will be open tomorrow, including senior centers, and will function as warming centers throughout the day.  Five warming center locations will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday as well:

CITY WARMING CENTERS (MAP)
Greenfield Healthy Active Living Center 745 Greenfield Avenue 412-422-6551
Homewood Healthy Active Living Center 7321 Frankstown Avenue 412-244-4190
South Side Healthy Active Living Center 12th and Bingham Streets 412-488-8404
Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center 720 Sherwood Avenue 412-777-5012
North Side, Allegheny Center Healthy Active Living Center Allegheny Square 412-323-7239

If temperatures dip to unsafe levels this evening or thereafter, or if there are power or heat outages, the city will work with the American Red Cross to provide overnight shelter for residents needing assistance.

01/28 2014

Black History Month Exhibit

In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Pittsburgh will collaborate with Toonseum to present a monthlong exhibition in the lobby of the City-County Building titled "Beyond the Funny Pages:  The works of art and life captured in comics.”

The public is invited to attend a reception for the opening of the exhibit on Monday, February 3, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The reception will include refreshments, musical entertainment and remarks by Mayor William Peduto and other individuals involved with the City’s Black History Month celebration.

Black History Month Exhibit