After a period of soliciting requests and reviewing streets throughout District 4 and the City, the Department of Public Works has delivered to us a list of streets that are to be paved during the spring/summer 2013 season. We've put together a handy map where you can review the streets that were on this list--click this link to check it out.

PennDOT District 11 has announced that the the long-awaited reconstruction of the intersection at Rt. 51 and Rt. 88 will begin in June and continue through November 2015. PennDOT plans to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on Rt. 51. Any temporary detours will be posted. Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions!

Yesterday, I passed a Will of Council condemning the state legislature's attempt to transfer the power to determine non-profit status to the state. Today, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is expected to announce that the City will challenge UPMC's non-profit, tax-exempt status. Here's my take.

The city is currently examining its Responsible Hospitality program, particularly in major entertainment destinations such as the South Side, Lawrenceville, Downtown, and Oakland.  In December, we received a draft of the plan.  This is a presentation that my office put together to summarize the major points of the plan for those that are interested.

Click here to view the summary presentation

If you have any questions about the plan, please feel free to contact my office. 

Councilwoman Rudiak joined with transportation advocates, labor leaders, and religious activists today, introducing a Will of Council calling on Governor Corbett to produce a strong and sustainable plan to fund transportation in the region-- both infrastructure like roads and bridges, and public transportation. The Will of Council passed unanimously. 

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak cited what she called "a frightening lack of investment in our roads and bridges and buses and rail cars ... our mass transit system has suffered from years of crises and cuts and last-ditch rescues. We need a comprehensive transportation agenda that keeps Pennsylvania moving." --Advocates push Corbett, legislators to better fund public transportation- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania has been shirking its responsibility for upkeep of its infrastructure, according to Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak.

"It's really our fathers and our forefathers that left us this tremendous amount of wealth in the form of this transportation infrastructure," said Rudiak. "It's up to us to maintain it and keep it going, and I refuse to let my generation be the one to squander this inheritance." --Labor, Religious Activist Groups Join Forces to Call for Transportation Funding in Allegheny County- WESA

Check out our latest article for updates on the long-awaited Brookline Boulevard Reconstruction Project! 

Check out our new photos page, featuring pictures from events in the neighborhoods and City Council. 

http://pittsburghpa.gov/district4/photos

Read our most recent e-newsletter for updates on projects around the district, like: 

• Brookline Blvd Reconstruction
• Beechview Senior Center
• *New* Park & Ride on Rt. 51
• Brownsville Road "Dairy District"
• *New* Senior Housing Developments 

....and much more!

Not subscribed? Sign up here!

On November 13th, I co-sponsored a bill that will provide another tool in our battle against blight.  The legislation directs the Chief of the Bureau of Building Inspection to post signs in front of as many as ten of the worst properties around the city-- properties that have been continually cited, without any action taken by the owner to correct the problems. These signs will list the name of the building owner, their publicly available addresses, and their telephone numbers. If neighbors believe that there is a property near them that deserves consideration, they can petition the department to take an extra look. 

Many other cities across the country, including Boston, Milwaukee, and Allentown have had success with similar programs, finding that this technique frequently encourages property owners to clean up their blight. 

There is no silver bullet, but this proposed legislation is additional ammunition in our continual fight to keep our neighborhoods clean!  You can read the bill here.

Our office has received numerous calls from concerned citizens about hunting activity in our City greenways. City code prohibits hunting in the greenways, punishable by as much as a $1,000 fine. If you see or hear of hunting in the greenways, please call 9-1-1. 

Click here to read more information on our hunting law and enforcement. 

Click here to get the facts about the proposed Billboard Tax legislation, sponsored by Council President Darlene Harris and Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak. 

Councilman Bruce Kraus and I walked the length of Brownsville Road, from Mt. Oliver to the City line. We talked with business owners & residents, and took inventory of maintenance issues that needed attention-- everything was reported to 3-1-1! Click the link to watch a video highlight reel!

Women’s voices are uncommon on the Pennsylvania political scene. In fact, the state ranks 47th in the nation in terms of female representation and participation in politics. That’s one reason photographer Martha Rial took a closer look at the political lives of three women of different generations in the region. Watch the video to hear what Councilor Rudiak has to say.

Missed the Post Agenda, or want to take a second look?

Click here to view the full PDF presentation.

Or, see what people are saying about it.

Post-Gazette: UPMC Criticized for Tax Exempt Status

Pittsburgh Business Times: Council Takes 'Closer Look' at UPMC Non-Profit Status

Post-Gazette: Allegheny County, Pittsburgh officials push to re-evaluate nonprofit tax exemptions 

In a weekly series on Essential Public Radio, Josh Raulerson interviewed Councilor Natalia Rudiak about what kinds of books she reads-- mostly travel writing! Natalia also talks about her home branches of the Carnegie Library, Carrick & Knoxville. Click the link to read the full story and listen to the audio. 

Council unanimously passed a resolution against HB 2191 on Tuesday, saying the bill would “trap borrowers in debt.”

Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak wrote the Will of Council. She said HB 2191 would not only increase interest rate caps from 24% to as high as 680%, but it would also codify “balloon payments.”

“Which basically means that the borrower must secure the loan with a post-dated check,” said Rudiak. “So, let’s say their entire first paycheck would go to repay that loan, meaning that they would have to take out another loan in order to pay their other bills, be it medical bills, grocery bills, childcare bills, et cetera.”

Click here to read the full story. 

Click here to view PA HB 2191

A study conducted in 2009 identified pay disparities and low morale among half of Pittsburgh city workers. The city found pay disparities related to gender and race, advancement barriers for women, politically based decision-making, and perceptions of unfair treatment, among other problems. Now city council members are conducting an audit to see whether conditions have changed in 3 years. Council member Natalia Rudiak talks about the audit and the disparities.

Click Here to listen to the full story 

"Natalia Rudiak nailed it with her op-ed ("A Sorry Story of Transit and Taxes," April 18). It's a shame more elected officials don't recognize the value in providing a steady source of funding for transit." Read the full letter in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

"We are the wealthiest nation in the world. So why are we struggling to maintain basic public services?" Read Natalia's take on our region's ongoing transit crisis, and our state legislature's responsibility to solve it. Read the full text in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Were you unable to attend the Brookline Blvd Reconstruction Final Design Meeting in March? Click the link to see the full presentation and learn more about the details of this exciting project! 

“These fees that we’re getting, we’re actually not even using it to regulate the impacts of drilling, the environmental impacts. We’re using it to patch other holes in the state budget,” said Rudiak. “Some of the money is going into what’s called a Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund. That’s actually practically giving some givebacks to the industry, like buying natural gas vehicles and using the money for tax breaks.”

Click the link to learn more about Carrick and Overbrook joining with our Southern suburban municipalities to advocate for improvements and investment that will benefit our shared economic and transportation corridors.

Be sure to read this fantastic feature in Pop City about Beechview's newest main street restaurant, Casa Rasta!

The Crested Duck Charcuterie is yet another new addition to Broadway Avenue in Beechview that originated at the Pittsburgh Public Market in the Strip. Read this article and be sure to stop by and support our new neighbors!