PITTSBURGH, PA (January 2, 2018) As single digit temperatures continue the City of Pittsburgh announces extended hours  at three Citiparks Senior Healthy Active Living (HAL) Centers. The extended hours will run from Tuesday, January 2nd through Friday, January 5th, 2018.  

The following three centers will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., including this evening.  

Homewood Healthy Active Living Center    

7321 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208   

Jan. 2-5, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.  

412-244-4190   

South Side Market House   

12th St. & 1 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15203   

Jan. 2-5, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.  

Contact: 412-488-8404    

Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center  

720 Sherwood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15204   

Jan. 2-5, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.   

Contact: 412-777-5012   

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 4, 2018) - The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works has issued a Level 1 Snow Alert effective 3:00 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2018.   

At 3:00 a.m. tomorrow, the Snow Plow Tracker will be activated for the Level 1 snow event that is expected to begin between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. and last until approximately 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 5th.

Approximately 50 vehicles will be deployed sometime overnight, if it even snows, and handing it off to over 70 vehicles on daylight at 6:00 a.m.. 

During a Level 1 Snow Event, DPW has 24 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets. DPW will continue to monitor weather forecasts and street conditions and crews will be following the primary, secondary and tertiary plowing routes exclusively until the early morning hours on Saturday. 

Winter Storm Levels & 311 Response Center  

The Department of Public Works classifies storm conditions into Winter Storm Levels. Levels determine the required response timeframe for a given snowstorm. Based on the storm levels, it will be expected that all streets will be serviced with clearly defined response times. 

Depending on the severity or level of the weather event it can take up to 48 hours to treat the streets with salt and/or calcium chloride after a snow/ice event. 

Level 1 Event (1 - 3"): Crews have 24 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets. 

Level 2 Event (3 - 6"): Crews have 32 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets. 

Level 3 Event (6 - 10"): Crews have 48 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets. 

Level 4 Event (> than 10"): Calls will not be taken until weather event drops to a Level 3 (6-10"). 

Winter Weather Resources  

The City of Pittsburgh Snow Plow Tracker  is a resource available to monitor the travel history for all vehicles dedicated to snow and ice control throughout the time frame of a snow event. 

Residents should contact the 311 Response Center if a street is not treated within the designated timeframe following a storm

Meeting With Spacial Initiatives Manager Laura Drogowski

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer & Office Of Management & Budget Director Jennifer Presutti

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Assistant City Planning Director Andrew Dash

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

Pittsburgh, PA (January 4, 2018) Mayor's Office & Office of Community Affairs is calling for volunteers to assist elderly and disabled residents with home snow removal this Winter 

The Office of Mayor William Peduto and the Office of Community Affairs launched Pittsburgh Snow Angels-a city-wide program that pairs elderly or disabled city residents with volunteers to assist with snow removal during winter months. 

This year marks year two that the City has assumed full responsibility for this city-wide program. In our first year we easily discovered many issues with pairing volunteers to recipients. We recognized that in order to meet the need, we needed to increase our level of outreach. By partnering with our partners at the County, and reaching out to local non-profits, corporations, faith based institutions, educational institutions, we are hoping to fill the critical gap in volunteers. 

Conjointly, we realized the need to make it easier for volunteers to signup. Last year volunteers had to fill out handwritten consent forms. This year we have formed a easier process to signup, volunteers can simply call 311 or fill out the application online. Once we have paired you, we will reach out and contact you.  

In addition to enhancing the process for recruitment, we are also implementing a text messaging service, which will notify volunteers of inclement weather. The text messaging system will work in conjunction with the Department of Public Works and their system for classifying snow levels. All volunteers will be notified for snow levels 1 and up.  

For residents 60 years and older and those with disabilities seeking help, you can request an application by calling 311 or by visiting Snow Angels Program. The city ensure it will try its best to match volunteers and participants in need. The City wants to add another layer of information and support services to ensure that all residents 60 years old and older and those living with disabilities live active and healthy lives. 

Volunteers Sign Up 

Interested volunteers can sign up with a 311 operator or by filling out the Online Form. 

Resident Sign Up 

Residents in need of snow removal assistance should call 311 or Request Application. 

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Early Childhood Manager Tiffani Gorman-Simoneaux

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Department of Mobility & Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With WPXI's Aaron Martin

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Office Of Community Affairs Manager Corey Buckner

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 5, 2018) - The West Ohio Street Bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks within Allegheny Commons West Park in Pittsburgh’s Northside is closed to vehicular traffic. The closure is necessary due to deteriorating condition of the bridge and continued violation of the three ton weight restriction. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic will be permitted to utilize the bridge. Motor vehicles travelling between Western Avenue and Allegheny Common are advised to utilize Brighton Road, North Avenue and Federal Street as the alternate route. 

West Ohio Street Bridge carries SR 4084 through Allegheny Commons West Park. The closure and detour has been coordinated with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 

Local access to Allegheny Commons West Park will remain open between Brighton Road and Ridge Avenue. 

The bridge is expected to be closed for a period of two years before a new bridge is constructed and opened.   

Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will monitor traffic impacts and operations as a result of the detour and make adjustments as necessary to facilitate operations and maintain community quality of life. 

Contact: Jeff Skalican, Deputy Director, Department of Mobility & Infrastructure, (412) 255-2373 jeff.skaclican@pittsburghpa.gov  

Working From Home

Time: 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald 

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Penn Film Group Reception

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: The Clemente Museum, Upper Lawrenceville

Pittsburgh, PA (January 8, 2018) More than ever, the City of Pittsburgh is recommitting itself to supporting and advocating for our residents affected by the president’s announcement to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Since the announcement we have signed on to a formal submission, drafted by the City of Montreal and the global city network Metropolis, which aimed to point out the vital role that local municipalities play in migration, and should therefore have a voice at the table. Also we partnered with the DC Immigration Hub signing on for the Pennsylvania congressional delegation to pass the Dream Act this year. 

According to New American Economy in the state of Pennsylvania 87.9% of DACA recipients are employed, earning over 223 million in income, and paying over 20 million in state and local taxes. But beyond data, DACA recipients, and residents that are affected by the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) changes, are our friends, our classmates, our neighbors, our colleagues, and are our fellow Yinzers. In 2018 we aim to be more welcoming than ever before, and that goes beyond our local government and our Welcoming Pittsburgh initiatives; but every resident should make it a priority to be more neighborly, to host and or participate in welcoming events, host welcoming dinners, and advocate for those who need it. 

Being welcoming goes beyond our immigrant and refugee population, but it also means to be intentional in welcoming other residents and every resident that is represented in our city and county. As a city we should set the standard for the country to follow.  As a city we build bridges, and we welcome all our neighbors.  

 Here’s how to participate: 

1. Dial 1-888-778-6856 and wait for the “welcome” message. 

2. When prompted, enter your zip code 

3. Wait for your call to be connected to your Representative or Senator and tell them to pass a clean Dream Act now. 

Suggested Script 

Hello, my name is __________ and I live in __________ (city and state). As your constituent, I am calling to urge you to pass a clean Dream Act. Every day that Congress fails to act, 122 community members lose their DACA status and are at risk of being deported. Please pass a clean Dream Act. Thank you for your time. 

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valerie McDonald-Roberts

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At Leadership Pittsburgh's Annual Champagne Luncheon

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: The Fairmont Hotel, Downtown Pittsburgh

Meeting With Katie O'Malley

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Administration Officer & Director of the Department of Human Resources & Civil Service Debbie Lestitian

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Operations Guy Costa

Time: 3:45 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pennsylvania Municipal League Legislative Monthly Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting Of Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Blue Ribbon Panel 

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Department Of Innovation & Performance Director Lee Haller & Assistant Directors Laura Meixell, & Heidi Norman

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Larimer Consensus Group's Open Body Panel Discussion

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Kingsley Association, Larimer 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 10, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works is pleased to announce it made 27 playground and park improvements last year, and has plans to add amenities at another 29 playgrounds and parks in 2018. 

"Pittsburgh is blessed with 128 playgrounds citywide, and we are doing our best to keep them fun and safe for all our children and families," Mayor William Peduto said.  

The work included the placement of ADA-accessible swings, which was announced last month and will be available in 78 parks around the city. 

The City completed the following playground and park improvements in 2017: 

• Banksville Park: installed concession stand, sidewalks, patio, picnic tables and graded site 

• Brookline Memorial: sidewalk repair 

• Chartiers Park: installed field goal post for youth football program 

• Chartiers Park: sidewalk repair 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: demolish/install safety surface 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: furnish safety surface 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: Electro-Kote swings 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: furnish play structures 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: furnish safety surface 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: install fence around play structures 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: install play structures 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: new safety surface 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: demolish/install safety surface 

• Emerald View-Grandview Park: furnish safety surface 

• Fairywood Park: demolish multipurpose court and asphalt around play structures 

• Fairywood Park: furnish play structures 

• Fairywood Park: furnish safety surface 

• Fairywood Park: install play structures 

• Fairywood Park: new safety surface 

• Fairywood Park: new concrete curbing and sidewalk 

• Kennard Park: court repair with Armor Crack and color coating 

• Marmaduke Park: ADA bleachers for dek hockey rink 

• Mellon Park: new safety surface 

• Moore Park: sidewalk repair 

• Moore Park: recreation center stair replacement 

• Stratmore Park: sidewalk repair 

• Swisshelm Park: new safety surface 

The City paid for the park and play area improvements through its Capital Budget, with $2.8 million total budgeted in 2017 and $5.7 million budgeted in 2018. 

The following park and play area projects are planned this year: 

• Ormsby Park: replace Parts  

• Ormsby Park: safety Surface 

• Esplen Tot Lot: safety Surface 

• Allegheny Commons Park: replace parts 

• Allegheny Commons Park: safety surface 

• Herschel Playground: new safety surface 

• Herschel Playground: paint structure 

• Herschel Playground: replace parts 

• Osceola Park: replace parts 

• Osceola Park: safety surface 

• Stratmore Parklet: new play structure 

• Stratmore Parklet: new safety surface 

• Tropical Park: replace parts 

• Tropical Park: safety surface 

• Vincennes Park: replace parts 

• Vincennes Park: safety surface 

• Woods Run Park: replace parts 

• Woods Run Park: safety surface 

• Seldom Seen Greenway: improvements 

• Brookline Park: park lighting upgrade 

• Allegheny Commons Park: sidewalk repair 

• Larimer Park: sidewalk repair 

• Leolyn Park: sidewalk repair 

• McKnight Park: sidewalk repair  

• Phillips Park: improvements 

• Paulson Park: sidewalk repair 

• Spring Garden Park: sidewalk repair 

• Stratmore Parklet: sidewalk repair 

• Wightman Park: improvements and green stormwater mitigation  

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 11, 2018) City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed and refuse collection suspended on Monday, January 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. 

Closed facilities include Citiparks recreation centers and Healthy Active Living centers, and the Schenley Park Skating Rink . The Mellon Park Tennis Center will be open. 

There will not be any refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection.  

Residents with a scheduled day of collection Monday, will be serviced on Tuesday, January 16.  those with a collection day of Tuesday, January 16 will be serviced on Wednesday, January 17 and so on through Saturday, January 20, 2018. 

Those with questions about collection may contact Environmental Services at 412-255-2773. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 11, 2018) Officials in Mayor William Peduto's administration and the Department of Public Works (DPW) are monitoring weather reports regarding a possible snow and ice event Friday and Saturday, and preparing accordingly. 

Forecasts are still showing uncertainty about the impacts of the weekend weather event but DPW is preparing its equipment and supplies in order to address whatever transpires, weather it be snow, ice, freezing rain or a combination of all. 

DPW equipment is being fitted with plows and wheel chains. City supplies of road salt and Liquid Calcium Chloride are at good levels and with extra deliveries being made today and tomorrow. Public Safety emergency vehicles will be fitted with chains if necessary. 

Residents are advised that they should stay off roads and travel on them only if necessary — especially in the case of freezing rain. If there are fewer vehicles on roads, that allows DPW crews to treat them more effectively and gives Public Safety first responders better access to emergencies. 

There is a chance freezing rain may begin to fall between 3-6 p.m. Friday. Employers may want to consider letting workers go home before the Friday afternoon rush hour to make travel less treacherous. 

Chief Operations Officer Guy Costa and DPW Director Mike Gable will be available to talk to reporters about weather preparations at 10 a.m., Friday, January 12, on the City-County Building Portico. 

Pittsburgh, PA (January 11, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works advises that Grant St. will be temporarily affected in order to remove the Holiday Tree at the City-County Building. Drivers should expect delays.  A single lane will be closed on Grant Street adjacent to the City-County Building between 4th Avenue to Forbes Avenue on Thursday beginning at  9:30:00 am – 3:00 pm. and on Saturday, January 13th. beginning at 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

2018 Spirit Of The King Award Ceremony

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: The Kingsley Center, Larimer

Meeting With Director Wendell Hissrich & Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 11, 2018) City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed and refuse collection suspended on Monday, January 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. 

Closed facilities include Citiparks recreation centers and Healthy Active Living centers. The Mellon Park Tennis Center will be open. 

Correction, Schenley Park Skating Rink will be open, having an extra session 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and regular hours 4:00 p.m. tp 6:40 p.m..

There will not be any refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection.  

Residents with a scheduled day of collection Monday, will be serviced on Tuesday, January 16.  those with a collection day of Tuesday, January 16 will be serviced on Wednesday, January 17 and so on through Saturday, January 20, 2018. 

Those with questions about collection may contact Environmental Services at 412-255-2773. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 12, 2018) Snow Levels Elevated to Level 2 (3" to 6" forcasted snow/ or ice) 

Our weather service (SKYWATCH) has issued a warning for 2” to 4” of wet, widespread snow from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Friday January 12 to 6:00 am to 9:00 am Saturday January 13 BUT it also includes a period of rain changing over to freezing rain and sleet between 5 pm to 7 pm today.

Until 6 pm today we will have 10 vehicles ready should the rain begin to turn over as freezing rain, but we believe it will be slightly past 6:00 pm. At 6 pm today and until 6 am Saturday morning we will have at least 52 vehicles canvassing the city applying rock salt treated with Liquid Calcium Chloride due to the icy conditions and falling temperatures. There is rain west and south of us and we do not believe we will get the opportunity to pre-treat our roads because the material will be washed away.

Since this will initially be a rain/freezing rain/sleet event before turning over to only snow later this Friday evening, most of our dump trucks will be out applying materials without any plows – they will be fitted with plows later in the evening when it turns over to snow and they go back to the yards to reload with deicing materials.

DPW Heavy Equipment in addition to First Vehicle Services will have personnel working to address vehicle breakdowns and repairs in order to keep as much equipment on the road

This is expected to be a quick moving storm, roughly only 15 hours, but temperatures over the next couple of days will present a challenge for refreezing streets.

If there are any tree issues due to any accumulating ice we have our Forestry Division and contractors on alert

Snow Plow Tracker will be activated at 6 pm on Friday, January 12, 2018

Winter Storm Levels & 311 Response Center 

The Department of Public Works classifies storm conditions into Winter Storm Levels. Levels determine the required response timeframe for a given snowstorm. Based on the storm levels, it will be expected that all streets will be serviced with clearly defined response times. 

Level 1 Event (1 - 3"): Crews have 24 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets.  

Level 2 Event (3 - 6"): Crews have 32 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets.  

Level 3 Event (6 - 10"): Crews have 48 hours after the storm has ended to treat streets.  

Level 4 Event (> than 10"): Calls will not be taken until weather event drops to a Level 3 (6-10").   

Winter Weather Resources  

The City of Pittsburgh Snow Plow Tracker  is a resource available to monitor the travel history for all vehicles dedicated to snow and ice control throughout the time frame of a snow event.  

Residents should contact the 311 Response Center if a street is not treated within the designated timeframe following a storm. 

Pittsburgh, PA (January 12, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh, Department of Public Works, advises that Boggs Avenue, between Southern and Soufell, has been closed due to a rock slide. Street maintenance is currently out working to remove the debris. Once the debris is cleared the hillside will remain under evaluation until deemed safe to reopen. 

CityLab Q&A Phone Call

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Meeting With City Planning Director Ray Gastil

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Thomas De Graeve Of Belgian Public Television

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Deputy Chief Of Neighborhood Empowerment Majestic Lane

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

CLARIFICATION: THIS INCIDENT WAS AT PIZZA MILANO IN UPTOWN AND NOT MILANO'S PIZZA IN OAKLAND.

"This morning I was made aware of the deeply disturbing video from Milano's Pizza. I have worked through the day with Pittsburgh Police leadership and charges have now been quickly brought. I want to thank the community for their assistance in the investigation, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for their hard work throughout the day. It is my sincere hope that these charges are another step in sending a very clear signal that Pittsburgh will not tolerate violence against women and that we will work as a community to protect all women, and notably African American women, from physical and emotional violence." - Mayor William Peduto

PITTSBURH, PA (January 13, 2018) It is now 9 am Saturday and the remnants of the winter weather storm are exiting the Pittsburgh area.

There were varying depths of snow around the Pittsburgh area but the official measurement was 5” at the Airport.

Crews have been plowing and salting through most of the night into this morning and we will continue with that approach for the remainder of the day and overnight into Sunday morning.

We have 60 vehicles this shift until 6 pm, the attention is getting our primary streets opened up as wide as possible and treated, and then putting attention to our secondary and tertiary routes.

Temperatures are not going to be in our favor and the daylight helps some but if we don’t get the sun to come out, there isn’t going to be a very recognizable difference in the condition of the streets but we want to get material down on all the streets so when the temperatures rise and the sun comes out the rock salt and calcium chloride will be effective.

We are already calling in personnel for our 6 pm to 6 am shift Saturday night into Sunday morning, we will advise of total number of vehicles for that shift

We didn’t get as much freezing rain and sleet as forecasted but even a little of that precipitation made things very difficult for the crews.

Crews will now focus on getting material on all streets before the 32 hour window after the weather event, which is 5 pm Sunday. We appreciated the cooperation of the businesses yesterday in letting their employees go home early, it helped to make a difference in our operations, and we request the patience of the residents as we get our streets in better shape.

Updates to follow…

Pittsburgh, PA (January 13, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works advises that Grant St. will be temporarily affected in order to remove the Holiday Tree at the City-County Building. Drivers should expect delays.  A single lane will be closed on Grant Street adjacent to the City-County Building between 4th Avenue to Forbes Avenue on Thursday beginning at  9:30:00 am – 3:00 pm. and on Saturday, January 13th. beginning at 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

CLARIFICATION: THIS INCIDENT WAS AT PIZZA MILANO IN UPTOWN AND NOT MILANO'S PIZZA IN OAKLAND.

"This morning I was made aware of the deeply disturbing video from Milano's Pizza. I have worked through the day with Pittsburgh Police leadership and charges have now been quickly brought. I want to thank the community for their assistance in the investigation, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for their hard work throughout the day. It is my sincere hope that these charges are another step in sending a very clear signal that Pittsburgh will not tolerate violence against women and that we will work as a community to protect all women, and notably African American women, from physical and emotional violence." - Mayor William Peduto

Working From Home

Time: 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

East Liberty Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty

MLK Day Celebration

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: The Union Project, East Liberty 

Presenting Pittsburgher Of The Year Award With Pittsburgh Magazine

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Rivers Casino, Chateau 

Meeting With Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Director Robert Weimar

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corporation Developers Forum

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: The Henry W. Oliver Building, Downtown

Meeting With Dan McCaffery & Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Command Staff

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 16, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today regarding the conditions of streets and changes his administration will make to winter weather procedures:

"The City clearly needs to do a much better job addressing snow and ice on streets across Pittsburgh. Our workers did their best, working around the clock for days, but we need to give them and our residents the tools to provide better service and support in the future.

My administration will immediately take four actions to address this situation.

First, we will invest in more road salt and liquid calcium chloride, and study ways to improve the chemical composition of the ice-fighting materials that the Department of Public Works is placing on roadways. Most streets throughout the city were treated with salt and chemicals this past weekend but due to low temperatures and other factors the materials did not clear streets nearly well enough.

Second, we will work with our Department of Innovation and Performance to increase our public presence on nights and weekends and ensure that resident complaints are efficiently received, responded to, and routed to the appropriate City officials.

Third, my administration will meet with DPW partners to explore ways to get more drivers onto streets, particularly on weekends, nights and holidays similar to last weekend. Our employees performed at their best the last four days – working back to back 12-hour shifts responding to a nightmare scenario of rain, freezing rain, snow and ice – but we need to find new ways to send more of them onto the streets and provide Pittsburgh residents the services they deserve.

Finally, we will issue a request for proposals for a redesign of our snow removal routes to make sure they are being addressed in the smartest, most efficient and most productive manner.”

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 17, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and members of Pittsburgh City Council have committed to finding a home in the city's southern neighborhoods for the 4th Division of the Department of Public Works.  

The division was closed in October 2017 after a structural engineering report found its facilities on Bausman Street in Knoxville were unsafe for both workers and machinery. 

The Peduto administration today agreed with council members from southern and western neighborhoods of the city to find a location for the 4th Division by July of this year. Pending the search for a location no budget has been set for the project, but there is almost $1 million set aside in the city's Capital Budget for 4th Division improvements in prior year funds. 

"Providing public works services promptly and efficiently to our residents is one of the most important roles the city performs. Having a new 4th Division will help our workers do just that," Mayor Peduto said. 

"Thank you to Mayor Peduto. This is great news for southern neighborhoods and will help promote core services within the city," Council President Bruce Kraus said. 

"Closing the 4th Division presented us with unique challenges," said Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith. "I want to thank the Mayor for recognizing that reopening it will address critical needs for our residents, and they will be very happy with the news." 

"As one of my first acts in office, I am thrilled to work with my colleagues and the Mayor to bring forth the announcement of the re-building of our 4th Division Public Works facility," Councilman Anthony Coghill said.  

"As we saw over this past weekend, having our drivers come from different areas of the city caused drastic delays in service to some of our hilliest neighborhoods in South Pittsburgh. By re-opening this division, the city can assure that the hard working men and women of the 4th Division can provide coverage for our residents' basic needs in District 4. I look forward to working with our communities to find an appropriate site on which to construct the new facility. A special thanks to Chief of Staff Dan Gilman and Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith for the unwavering support and efforts on behalf of the people of my district." 

Pittsburgh,PA (January 17, 2018) The Citparks Healthy Active Living Centers would like to open the following Warming Centers from 4 pm to 7 pm:

1. Homewood Healthy Active Living Center

           7321 Frankstown Avenue, 15208; 412.244.4190

       2. Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center

            720 Sherwood Avenue, 15204; 412.777.5012

        3. Southside Healthy Active Living Center ( aka Southside Market House)

             12th & Bingham Streets, 15203; 412.488.8404

Interview With Marty Griffin On KDKA Radio

Time: 9:45 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Cirque de Soleil Welcoming Proclamation

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Director Robert Weimar

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Adam Smeltz

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Wendell Hissrich & Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

United States Conference Of Mayors Prep Call

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With BOOM Concepts Thomas Agnew

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 17, 2018) The following statement is from Mayor William Peduto and Leon Ford:

"After five years of arduous litigation, all parties are pleased to announce that we have reached an amicable resolution in the federal lawsuit Leon Ford brought following the November 11, 2012 shooting incident. The City has agreed to pay Mr. Ford and his attorneys $5.5 million dollars. This settlement is in the best interest of Mr. Ford, Officer Derbish and the City of Pittsburgh, and will provide all involved the closure needed to move forward in a positive direction."

Meeting With Highmark's Evan Frazier

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Second Nature Summit Prep Call

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Policy Analyst Feyisola Alabi

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Cities United Phone Call

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Carnegie Library Of Pittsburgh - Main Branch Community Input Meeting

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, North Oakland

Speaking To Pittsburgh United Student Government Meeting

Time: 7:30 P.M.

Location: Chatham University, Squirrel Hill North

Radio Interview With WDVE

Time: 8:45 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Second Nature Conference Prep Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

ICLEI Board Of Directors Call

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Lunch With Former Mayor Thomas Murphy 

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting Point Park University Student Winner Of Pittsburgh to Paris Video Production Contest

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Fox Business

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Gateway Studios, Central Business District

Interview With BBC World Media

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

2018 Master Builders Association Annual Reception

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Duquesne Club, Central Business District

Pittsburgh, PA (January 19, 2018) Beginning this weekend Saturday, January 20, 2018, those who own property along Pittsburgh’s 35 miles of riverfront are encouraged to review the Pittsburgh Department of City Planning’s proposed changes to the existing riverfront zoning code and participate in a 30-day public comment period. City Planning will send letters next week to property owners in and adjacent to the riverfront districts notifying them of the opportunity to comment on the zoning updates. 

The proposed changes were developed over a two-year public process that included a series of community meetings, focus group sessions, stakeholder interviews and public surveys. The updated zoning increases predictability for communities, property and business owners, and developers, and balances the needs of different uses, including residential, commercial, mixed-use and ongoing industrial activities.  

“Pittsburgh’s current riverfront zoning doesn’t reflect the full range of ways that Pittsburghers use our riverfronts today.” said City Planning Director Ray Gastil. “The zoning changes are a way to make sure that everyone is better served by being responsive to today’s riverfront businesses, opening up riverfront access to the community, and encouraging smart new development and redevelopment.”  
 
The proposed zoning creates five new zoning districts that recognize and accommodate the varied uses and characteristics of the Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. It also establishes a performance points bonus system that encourages new development to include public benefits such as riverfront trails and amenities, enhanced rainwater management landscaping and increased energy efficiency in exchange for requested additional building height or reductions in the riparian buffer. 
 
The 30-day commenting period starts this Saturday, January 20 and ends on Monday, February 19, 2018. The proposed zoning will be the subject of a public hearing before the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission on February 20, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Property owners in the riverfront zoning districts can review the proposed zoning online at www.pghriverfrontzoning.com/documents-presentations/ and submit comment via email to City Planning’s project manager Andrea Lavin Kossis at andrea.lavinkossis@pittsburghpa.gov. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 22, 2018) Mayor William Peduto today issued an Executive Order adopting recommendations of his Blue Ribbon Panel on restructuring Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority governance. 

After a year of study, the panel last month issued recommendations that the PWSA remain a public asset while having its board of directors named by an independent Board of Nominators, insulating it from political influence. The Mayor's Executive Order adopts that recommendation and empowers the panel to hire legal counsel to prepare a contract between the City and the PWSA regarding the panel's recommendations.

The Order calls for the contract to be adopted by March 31 of this year. 

"[Because] the Mayor understands that it is important to make long-overdue changes in the way The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is governed and invest in our water and sewer infrastructure, he appointed the Blue Ribbon Panel in March of 2017 to advise the City on the selection of a consultant to provide an independent review of the current state of PWSA and recommendations for improvement," the Order reads in part.  

"[While] the Blue Ribbon Panel report stated that PWSA has made significant progress in recent months, PWSA, working with its new Board of Directors, must continue to pursue aggressively its transformation into a high-functioning, customer-oriented organization and its plan to repair and replace the existing water supply infrastructure." 

The full Order is available here. 

Working From Home

Time: 8:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.

Interview With Pittsburgh Business Times

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With David McClure OF NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

OnePGH Workshop

Time: 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Location: Energy Innovation Center (Clifford B. Connelley Trade School), Crawford-Roberts

Meeting With Lucas Piatt & Herky Pollock

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Heinz Endowments President Grant Oliphant

Time: 3:30 P.M. 

Location: The Heinz Endowments, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 23, 2018) - Mayor William Peduto is traveling to Washington, D.C., today for the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 86th Winter Meeting.  

Under the leadership of the USCM President New Orleans City Mayor Mitch Landrieu and hosted by the District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, more than 300 of the nation's mayors will convene in the nation's capital during the week of Jan. 23-26. Topics of discussion throughout the week will include building an inclusive economy, innovation and summer youth programs, growing local business economies, and literacy and immigrant communities.  

Traveling to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors 

Time: 12:00 p.m. 

Mayor's & Senators With Mitch Landrieu 

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Location: FedEx Townhouse 

Opening Reception  

Time: 6:00 p.m. 

Location: Capital Hill Hilton 

Mayor's Group Photo on Dais 

Time: 6:30 p.m. 

Location: Capital Hill Hilton 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 23, 2018) In 2017 the City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) cut review times in half and began accepting credit cards for payment, among other accomplishments. All Permit Plan Review to Be In House as of February 1, 2018 – leading to faster and higher quality plan reviews.

In 2018 the department will evolve even further, adopting online licensing and other measures, according to Director Maura Kennedy. 

Last year PLI conducted approximately 37,000 property maintenance and zoning inspections, and 22,000 permit-related inspections. The construction value of the permit inspections was more than $1 billion. 

The department was fully staffed at 78 employees, and while historically one of the city's least diverse department as of last year it employed 45% women and minorities, 44% of whom are managers. 

In plan review and permitting PLI has brought all plan reviews in-house; reduced initial plan reviews from an average of 23 days to 12 days; begun accepting concurrent reviews with Zoning; and began offering over-time construction inspectors to service customers faster 

The department rewrote demolition contracts with more enforceable standards and qualified bidders; refocused on community outreach, sending a monthly newsletter to more than 1,00 developers, architects, contractors and residents; and created an appeals board for licenses and inspections. 

In technological upgrades last year PLI began accepting credit cards for payment, began sending closed case receipts to property owners when violations have been abated, and began the Burghware project, which will allow for online licenses. 

In 2018 the department plans to introduce online licensing, implement rental registration, scan more records and make them available to the public, and streamline building code ordinances to adopt best practices, overhaul the business licensing code which was last substantively updated in the 1980s and will also evaluate all departmental fees.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 24, 2018) - Mayor William Peduto is travelling to Washington, D.C., today for the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 86th Winter Meeting. During today's visit the Mayor will be meeting with the Pennsylvania Senate Delegation, Senator Pat Toomey and Senator Bob Casey to discuss continuing efforts to support Pittsburgh and the regions on going growth.  

The Mayor's attendance to this conference allows him to both chair and listen to panels that bring together national leaders. They are able to delve deeper into many subjects that are affecting cities all over the country to discuss strategies and tactics on how to work conjointly to address hurdles that hold far to many Americans behind.  

Opening Press Conference  

Time: 11:30 a.m.  

Location: Capital Hill Hilton  

Opening Plenary Luncheon 

Time: 12:30 p.m. 

Location: Capital Hill Hilton 

Meeting With Senator Toomey 

Time: 2:15 p.m. 

Location: Russell Senate Office Building 

Meeting With Senator Casey 

Time: 3:00 p.m. 

Location: Russell Senate Office Building 

Mayor Jorge Elorza – A Children Accord Workshop 

Time: 4:00 p.m.  

Location: Hyatt Place  

Building Resilient Cities: Preparing For Disater & More 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Location: Capital Hill Hilton 

Dinner With Mexican Ambassador 

Time: 7:30 p.m.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 24, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh, Department of Public works will roll out a major pothole blitz throughout the entire city. The blitz is to run daily 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, January 25, 2018 to Saturday, January 27, 2018 weather permitting.  

Currently, DPW has been notified and identified roughly 300 potholes. Residents are urged to call or tweet 311 and inform them of any potholes. 

We are looking to utilize all available resources to do potholes. 

311 Contact Information 

Telephone: 412-255-2621  

Twitter: @PGH311 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 25, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh will host the PWSA Blue Ribbon Panel Community Forum. The forum will take place on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 5th Floor, City-County  Building.  

The panel will use this meeting to provide an overview of its restructuring and improvement recommendations for PWSA. Community participation and feedback is highly encouraged. 

Registration is not required to attend this event. Come ready to listen, learn, and engage with the Blue Ribbon Panel.  

Event Details 

WHEN: 6 p.m., Tuesday., January 30, 2018 

WHERE: Council Chambers,  5th Floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant St.

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 25, 2018) - Mayor William Peduto is in Washington, D.C., today for the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 86th Winter Meeting.  

Today the Mayor will be attending or participating in various panels, co-hosting a reception for Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution and meeting with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

The Mayor's attendance to this conference allows him to both chair and listen to panels that bring together national leaders. They are able to delve deeper into many subjects that are affecting cities all over the country to discuss strategies and tactics on how to work conjointly to address hurdles that hold far to many Americans behind.   

Education & Workforce Development: Preparing the Workforce of the Future 

Time: 9:15 a.m. 

Location: Senate Room, Capitol Hilton 

Meeting with Uber 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Lunch with Will Marshall 

Time: Noon 

American Progress Panel Discussion with Patrick Dolan, manager of State and Local Government Affairs 

Time: 1:45 p.m. 

Location: 1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor 

Infrastructure: Investing Locally to Grow Nationally. Panel discussion with Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles; Mayor Harry LaRosiliere of Plano; Mayor Jon Mitchell of New Bedford; Mayor Dave Berger of Lima; and Mayor Mark Stodla of Little Rock 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Location: Federal Room, Capital Hilton 

Book signing reception for Bruce Katz, Brookings Institution 

Time: 5 p.m. 

Location: Continental Room, 2nd Floor, Capital Hilton 

Meeting with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

Welcoming Reception 

Time: 8 p.m. 

Location: Embassy of Canada, 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 26, 2018) - Mayor William Peduto returns from Washington, D.C., today, where he has been attending the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 86th Winter Meeting.  

The Mayor's attendance to this conference allowed him to both chair and listen to panels that bring together national leaders. They were able to delve deeper into many subjects that are affecting cities all over the country to discuss strategies and tactics on how to work conjointly to address hurdles that hold far too many Americans behind.   

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Friday, January 26, 2018: 

Panel on Automation and the Impacts on American Cities 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton 

Call with Bishop Dorsey McConnell 

Time: 10 a.m. 

Friday Morning Plenary Session with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Iasaacson; and WeWork founder and CEO Adam Neumann. 

Location: Capitol Hilton 

Lunch 

Time: Noon 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, January 27-28, 2018: 

Saturday, January 27, 2018 

Builders Guild of Western PA and Pittsburgh Penguins Career Fair and Community Workshop 

Time: Noon 

Location: PPG Paints Arena, Main Concourse 

Sunday, January 28, 2018 

No public events scheduled 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 29, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works is preparing to treat and salt roads starting early this evening in anticipation of expected snowfall.  

DPW expects 1-2 inches of snow. Starting at 6 p.m. this evening the department will deploy 70 trucks to treat and salt roads, and crews will work through 6 p.m. on Tuesday.  

The department will activate the city's Snow Plow Tracker at approximately 6 p.m. as well.  

If necessary the City will post further updates on its webpage. Residents may also track updates on Twitter at @PGHDPW, @CityPGH, @PghPublicSafety, or @Pgh311.  

Residents may submit street treatment requests at any time to @Pgh311.  

To register non-emergency calls about snowy or icy conditions residents may call 311 and speak to a live operator from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. (Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621.)  

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 29, 2018) Mayor William Peduto today will be attending a press conference regarding the "Prescribed to Death Memorial" at 12:30 p.m. in the William Pitt Student Union, Lower Lounge. 

The memorial, which opens to the public tomorrow, is a tribute to the victims of the opioid crisis, featuring their faces and stories. The University of Pittsburgh describes it this way: 

"The Memorial includes a wall of 22,000 white pills, each carved with the face of an individual who passed away from an overdose. Aside from the wall, the Memorial will feature personal effects from families who lost loved ones to overdose, and a place where visitors can add the names of loved ones who have died. There will also be pill-return envelopes (to safely dispose of unused medications still in the home) as well as 'Opioids: Warn Me' labels that visitors can put on their insurance card or pharmacy loyalty card when purchasing their prescriptions." 

In addition to Mayor Peduto, today's event is expected to include University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg and others. 

Meeting With Justine Kasznica

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Daniel Gilman & Fuse Corps Leigh Halverson

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At University Of Pittsburgh's Prescribed To Death Press Conference

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, North Oakland

Meeting With Public Parking Authority Of Pittsburgh Director Dave Onorato

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

City Channel Annual Interview

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation To PAEYC

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Hazelwood Early Learning HUB, Hazelwood

Meeting With Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian, Chief of Staff Daniel Gilman, & URA Board Chairman Kevin Acklin

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Meeting With Jack Wagner

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Janera Solomon & Kelly Strayhorn Theater Team

Time: 10:45 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With GeekWire Co-Founder Todd Bishop & Staff Writer Taylor Soper

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Call With PNC Financial Services Group President & Chief Executive Officer Bill Demchak

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Tour of New Point Park University Playhouse With President Paul Hennigan

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Point Park University, Forbes Avenue, Downtown

Meeting With Urban Redevelopment Authority Board Chairman Kevin Acklin & Director Robert Rubinstein

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Critical Communities Initiatives Manager Laura Drogowski

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Rich Lord

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Public Source's Dale Shoemaker & Jeff Benzing

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Recognition Of The City Of Pittsburgh's Employee Of The Month

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Press Call With Robin Chase

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Wendell Hissrich & Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 31, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh today issued the first "Sophie Masloff Award" for Employee of the Month, issuing the distinction to Tyrone Clark of the Department of Public Works.

Tyrone Clark has served the City and DPW since December 15, 2003. He has often put the safety and prosperity of the City of Pittsburgh before his own personal life, showing a true and honest dedication to the well being of others.   

Tyrone has been a dedicated servant to that Department, working his way from the position of Laborer to Foreman. He is admired and revered for his continuous dedication to better serve the residents and guests of the City of Pittsburgh.  

Mr. Clark received a proclamation today from Mayor Peduto in recognition of all his hard work and dedication.

Meeting With Brian Schreiber & Rabbi Ron Symons

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: JCC Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill North

Meeting With Director Wendell Hissrich, Solicitor Sanchez-Ridge, & Gretchen Love

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Joanne Chu Director Of The Hong Kong Economic And Trade Office

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

GeekWire Welcome Party

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: 2000 Smallman Street, Strip District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 2, 2018) City of Pittsburgh Director of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich released the following statement regarding the indictment of former Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Detective Margaret Sherwood, which was announced today by the office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro:  

"The City of Pittsburgh holds all of its officers to the highest possible standards, and fully cooperated with the Attorney General's office on this investigation. 

Decisions regarding cases in which the detective was involved will be left to prosecutors and the courts." 

Sherwood joined the Bureau in November 1989 and retired in June 2017. 

Call With Bob Cranmer

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Office Hours

Time: 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking to Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: The Duquesne Club, Downtown Pittsburgh 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 5, 2018) The public is invited to attend a reception in celebration of "African-Americans in Conservation" on Monday, February 5, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. The ceremony in the City-County Building's grand lobby will include refreshments by Legacy Cafe, a musical performance by the Afro American Music Institute and remarks by Chief of Staff Dan Gilman and Dr. Jamil Bey.

The exhibit will be displayed in the City-County Building throughout Black History Month. It celebrates African-American conservationists who have dedicated their talents and skills to preserving and protecting their heritages and cultural identities via public service, art, music, and science.
 
The City of Pittsburgh's 2018 celebration of Black History Month is presented by the Office of Special Events and sponsored by WAMO100. 
 
For more information call the Office of Special Events at 412-255-2052 or visit http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/special-events

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 8:00 A.M.

Meeting With Policy Analyst Lara Sullivan

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Call With Pew Charitable Trust’s Stephen Fehr

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Administration Officer & Director Of Human Resources & Civil Service Debbie Leatitian

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Office Hours

Time: 12:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

As we look ahead to Black History month one must reflect on why we as a nation observe the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The observance of such a man challenges us to live a life of personal reflection and examine the role that we individually play in making our neighborhoods, communities, and this City an equitable place to live, work, play, and do business.   

We live in a country that has far too often forgotten what it was founded upon; and we as a city will endeavor to remember the sacrifices, the persecutions, and the victories that has brought us this far. We must understand that our growth is determinant on each resident investing in building our knowledge of those that have helped build this country and those that have helped build this city. The City of Pittsburgh has been selected to participate in the inaugural Cities for Racial Equity and Racial Healing Technical Assistance Initiative. This initiative will help us to advance strategies and build the internal infrastructure for racial equity.   

In 2014 the Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment (BNE) was formed as a key bureau within the Mayor’s Office to build our city’s low and moderate income neighborhoods from the ground up by addressing issues surrounding affordable and mixed income housing, education and youth development, immigrant, veteran, LGBTQIA+ and challenged populations, nonprofit and faith-based community initiatives, small business development, economic opportunity, and equity and inclusion in the City of Pittsburgh.    

"It is incumbent upon all governmental officials to not just celebrate Black History Month but, more importunately take real action to ensure equality that is needed for African Americans and all those underserved. Black History Month is an continuous endeavor."said Chief Urban Affairs Officers Valerie McDonald-Roberts.  

Coming out of the Obama administration, Michelle Obama gave us all words of wisdom, "when they go low, we go high." These words were to encapsulate the fact that we must not stoop to the level of our aggressor, but we must aim to be greater than our biggest hero. Martin Luther King Jr. is a symbol of just that. Being the best we can be, despite of opposition on almost all fronts. We are still in an age that has a glimpse of darkness, but as Dr. King Jr. said, "darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."    

We must remember that the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. was not just another federal holiday, or a day that we celebrated the life and legacy of a man. It was a day that represented years of civil unrest, years of demonstration, and years of pain and suffering on the backs of a group of people. While we understand that this pain has not been completely subdued, it is important that we recognize the pain and the importance of healing in a community that has had to fight tooth and nail to sit at the table. As we enter Black History Month, we will hear, read, and learn stories of men and women who in the past and present demonstrate(d) great courage in a time that did not welcome that courage, and sometimes still doesn’t. It is this same courage that each of us should glean from, to take the first step in addressing our personal biases, and ways we do not advocate for people of color, and for equal opportunities for all. You might ask, "What role can I play?" We must acknowledge that there is still racial division that exists, and think of ways you and your circle of influence can positively impact other members of your community in your work, home, school or business. Take advantage of the great events and opportunities to learn from workshops, speaker series that different organizations, and institutions will be holding during Black History Month and throughout the year. These are just a couple of steps that each resident can take, it will take all of us to make our city an equitable place for all.   

UPDATE: 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 7, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh is still responding to snow and ice on roadways citywide as the winter weather system continued into Wednesday afternoon.

The Department of Public Works was able to get more than 80 vehicles onto streets beginning late Tuesday, and will continue to overlap shifts into Thursday so there are no coverage gaps. Crews that typically begin work at 10 p.m. will be starting early at 6 p.m., and will be treating roads with salt and Liquid Calcium Chloride to fight against icing, as temperatures are expected to dip below 20 degrees in the early hours of Thursday morning. More crews will come on to further treat and plow roads from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Motorists are urged to remain very careful when driving this evening and tomorrow morning. Pedestrians should also be wary of icy conditions.

Residents may continue to track plowing and salting of city streets on the online Snow Plow Tracker.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 6, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh is making preparations for snowfall, possibly mixed with rain, which is projected to begin falling early Wednesday into the morning and afternoon rush hours. 

Department of Public Works crews will begin pre-treating streets with salt and Liquid Calcium Chloride during the 10 p.m. shift tonight and will switch to plowing snow when it begins to fall sometime after 2 a.m.  

City officials are urging DPW employees to work in 12-hour shifts to allow for snow and ice clearance before the morning rush hour, during rush hour and during the Wednesday afternoon rush hour as well. Shifts will overlap to allow for the maximum number of DPW vehicles on streets to prepare for peak commuting times. 

DPW could have more than 70 vehicles on city streets and will use vehicles and personnel normally reserved for maintaining parks. 

Hours for the live operators at the 311 Response Center will be extended two hours on Wednesday to field service requests by residents. Phone calls to 311 will be taken for 12 hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and shared with DPW crews. (Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621.)  Residents may submit street treatment requests over Twitter at any time to @Pgh311.   

City forestry crews will also be on alert Wednesday to respond to trees and tree branches that could fall due to snow or ice. 

Weather conditions on Wednesday could include snow, rain and freezing rain. Commuters are urged to stay off roads during hazardous conditions and if they must drive use extreme caution.  

DPW will activate the city's Snow Plow Tracker at approximately 10 p.m. this evening. (Tuesday afternoon it was tracking Monday night's snowfall.) 

If necessary the City will post further updates on its webpage. Residents may also track updates on Twitter at @PGHDPW, @CityPGH, @PghPublicSafety, or @Pgh311. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 6, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Tempe, Arizona, today speaking at the 2018 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, a nationwide gathering of academics working on climate change initiatives. 

The Mayor is on the summit's plenary panel today, which is entitled "Pittsburgh's Cross-Sector Approach to Climate Action." Other participants include: David Finegold, President, Chatham University; Andrew McElwaine, Senior Program Director for Sustainability and the Environment, Heinz Foundation; and Joylette Portlock, President, Communitopia. 

According to the Climate Leadership Network their members agree to: 

"[A]Carbon Commitment (focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions), a Resilience Commitment (focused on climate adaptation and building community capacity), and a Climate Commitment that integrates both. The Climate Leadership Network comprises more than 600 colleges and universities in every state and the District of Columbia who have committed to take action on climate and prepare students through research and education to solve the challenges of the 21st century." 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule Tuesday, February 6, 2018: 

Plenary panel on Pittsburgh's Cross-Sector Approach to Climate Action 

Time: 10:15 a.m. 

Location: DoubleTree Hotel, 2100 South Priest Drive, Tempe, Arizona. 

(Live stream of panel available here.) 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 6, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget has officially launched "Balancing Act," an online public engagement tool that allows you to be in charge of the city budget through three components.  

The goal of this tool is to allow OMB to engage more people and collect more feedback. Currently, they host two public meetings yearly to collect feedback on the capital budget. This tool not only aims to broaden the way OMB receives feedback but allow greater transparency and access for a better understanding of the process. "OMB continues to work to make the budget process more interactive and simpler to digest. We always strive to include as much public input as possible."said OMB Director Jennifer Presutti.  

Through the Balancing Act  interactive tool you will be able to set your own priorities and preferences for the city's budget. You also can see an estimated receipt of how your tax dollars are being spent in the budget. The tool is made up of three parts: tax receipt, capital budget simulator, and operating budget simulator. 

Tax Receipt Tool: Allows you to see an estimate of what you contribute to the city. Try Tax Receipt 

Capital Budget Simulator: Explore the capital budget, make your own blueprint for city spending. Try Capital Budget 

Operating Budget Simulator: Test your ability to manage city books and balance the city budget. Try Operating Budget Simulator 

Community participation and feedback is highly encouraged. Feedback collected online and during capital budget meetings is submitted and considered during the budget creation process.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 7, 2018) Mayor William Peduto travels to San Francisco today to participate with other mayors from around the nation in the National League of Cities Silicon Valley Policy Roundtable. 

The roundtable discussions with tech industry leaders will review best practices for cities as they confront challenges with transportation, climate and economic issues. 

Other mayors at the roundtable include: Hardie Davis Jr. Of Augusta, GA; Dennis Doyle of Beavertown, OR; Cyndy Andrus of Bozeman, MN; Patrick Wojahn of College Park, MD; Stephen Benjamin of Columbia, SC: Sylvester Turner of Houston; Chokwe Antar Lumumba of Jackson, MS; Mark Stodola of Little Rock, AR; Francis Suarez of Miami; Wayne Messam of Miramar, FL; Richard Thomas of Mount Vernon, NY;  Harry LaRosiliere of Plano, TX; and Polly Low of Rosemead, CA;  

The roundtable follows Mayor Peduto's invitation to the 2018 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, a nationwide gathering of academics working on climate change initiatives. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule Wednesday, February 7, 2018: 

Welcoming Reception, National League of Cities Silicon Valley Policy Roundtable 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

Location: Premise Data, 185 Berry St., San Francisco 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 8, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in San Francisco today to participate with other mayors from around the nation in the National League of Cities Silicon Valley Policy Roundtable. 

The roundtable discussions with tech industry leaders will review best practices for cities as they confront challenges with transportation, climate and economic issues.  

The NLC is partnering with Tech4America on the sessions. TFA describes their work this way: 

"T4A.org’s mission is to create a safe space for private and public sector leaders to serve their country through dialog, two-way exchange of ideas, and the creation of public-private partnerships that benefit all Americans. We achieve our mission through TechTables, where we convene our Innovators together with a “Convening Guest” from the public sector, who brings a particular challenge to brainstorm. 

Each TechTable ends with a discussion of potential areas of continued partnership and collaboration between our Innovators and the Convening Guest; we believe that as we develop world-class public-private partnerships, we will help spur creative and collaborative solutions that benefit all Americans." 

Other mayors at the roundtable include: Hardie Davis Jr. Of Augusta, GA; Dennis Doyle of Beavertown, OR; Cyndy Andrus of Bozeman, MN; Patrick Wojahn of College Park, MD; Stephen Benjamin of Columbia, SC: Sylvester Turner of Houston; Chokwe Antar Lumumba of Jackson, MS; Mark Stodola of Little Rock, AR; Francis Suarez of Miami; Wayne Messam of Miramar, FL; Richard Thomas of Mount Vernon, NY;  Harry LaRosiliere of Plano, TX; and Polly Low of Rosemead, CA.  

The roundtable follows Mayor Peduto's invitation to the 2018 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, a nationwide gathering of academics working on climate change initiatives. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule Thursday, February 8, 2018: 

Panel on Future of Cities: Transportation 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Location: 185 Berry St., San Francisco 

Panel on Future of Cities: Climate and Energy 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

Location: 111 Sutter St., San Francisco 

Panel on Future of Cities: Work & Workers 

Time: 12:30 p.m. 

Location: Thumbtack, 1355 Market St., San Francisco 

Panel on Future of Cities: Work & Workers 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Location: Microsoft and LinkedIn, 222 2nd St., San Francisco 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 9, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in San Francisco today to participate with other mayors from around the nation in the National League of Cities Silicon Valley Policy Roundtable. 

The roundtable discussions with tech industry leaders will review best practices for cities as they confront challenges with transportation, climate and economic issues.  

The NLC is partnering with Tech4America on the sessions. TFA describes their work this way: 

"T4A.org’s mission is to create a safe space for private and public sector leaders to serve their country through dialog, two-way exchange of ideas, and the creation of public-private partnerships that benefit all Americans. We achieve our mission through TechTables, where we convene our Innovators together with a “Convening Guest” from the public sector, who brings a particular challenge to brainstorm. 

Each TechTable ends with a discussion of potential areas of continued partnership and collaboration between our Innovators and the Convening Guest; we believe that as we develop world-class public-private partnerships, we will help spur creative and collaborative solutions that benefit all Americans." 

Other mayors at the roundtable include: Hardie Davis Jr. Of Augusta, GA; Dennis Doyle of Beavertown, OR; Cyndy Andrus of Bozeman, MN; Patrick Wojahn of College Park, MD; Stephen Benjamin of Columbia, SC: Sylvester Turner of Houston; Chokwe Antar Lumumba of Jackson, MS; Mark Stodola of Little Rock, AR; Francis Suarez of Miami; Wayne Messam of Miramar, FL; Richard Thomas of Mount Vernon, NY;  Harry LaRosiliere of Plano, TX; and Polly Low of Rosemead, CA;  

The roundtable follows Mayor Peduto's invitation to the 2018 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, a nationwide gathering of academics working on climate change initiatives. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule Friday, February 9, 2018: 

Panel on Future of Cities: The Horizon 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Location: X – The Moonshot Factory, 100 Mayfield Ave., Mountain View, CA 

Panel on Future of Cities: Transportation 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

Location: Zoox at Stanford SLAC, Palo Alto, CA 

Panel on Future of Cities: The Horizon 

Time: 12 p.m. 

Location: Andreessen Horowitz, Palo Alto, CA 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 9, 2018) Debbie Lestitian, Pittsburgh's Chief of Administration and Director of its Human Resources Department, is leaving city government for a new role overseeing the restructuring of the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority. 

Lestitian has been part of the Peduto Administration since 2014 and first worked with Mayor Peduto when they were members of the city Stadium Authority, where she impressed him with her integrity and commitment to public service. 

"Anytime I've needed help, whether it be with finances, pension funds or personnel, Deb has always been there for me and the residents of the city of Pittsburgh," Mayor Peduto said. "She's going to continue with that assistance, this time in implementing the wholesale changes needed at the fragile but improving water and sewer authority." 

Lestitian's new position at PWSA will be Chief Corporate Counsel/Chief of Administration. Her resignation from the city is effective February 11. 

"Your confidence in me has been humbling and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served as your designee in labor matters and to have chaired the Comprehensive Municipal Pension Trust Fund Board and the Board of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority," she wrote Mayor Peduto in her resignation letter. 

"My reputation within your administration has been that of a 'fixer' and I believe that the greatest need for my abilities and experience now rests with the PWSA." 

Lestitian will focus on the ongoing overhaul of the agency and recommendations forwarded by the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Panel on the authority. Acting PWSA Director Robert Weimar will continue overseeing operations and engineering. Lestitian will resign from the PWSA board once she begins her new position. 

Janet Manuel, currently Deputy Director of Human Resources and Civil Service, will be named Acting Director of the city department. 

Note: This press release has been corrected to fix a spelling error.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 9, 2018) PITTSBURGH, PA (February 9, 2018) Due to weather conditions this weekend, the City of Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and PennDOT, have cancelled their plans to close the Westbound I-376 exit ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies Sunday morning. Updates will come as to when they will complete this work in the future. 

The City of Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, in partnership with PennDOT, will be closing the Westbound I-376 exit ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies early this Sunday morning. The closure is necessary to remove and install new railing along Forbes Avenue between the Birmingham Bridge and Forbes Avenue exit ramp off the Parkway East.   

The closure is necessary so that the City Construction Division can remove the current railing and allow Allegheny Fence to install new railing. The work will close the inbound Boulevard of the Allies exit ramp from I-376 to the Boulevard of the Allies between 12:20 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., on Sunday, February 11, 2018.  

Motorists are advised to use Bates Street and Boulevard of the Allies inbound as a detour. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. Those with questions may contact DOMI Deputy Director Jeff Skalican at 412-496-5919.    

Attending Mass Of Remembrance & Healing

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: St. Paul's Cathedral, North Oakland

Urban League's Centennial Celebration

Time: 3:45 P.M.

Location: Central Baptist Church, Middle Hill

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 12, 2018) Governor Tom Wolf, Mayor William Peduto and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin will hold a ceremony this morning to celebrate Pittsburgh's improved financial status.

WHAT: Governor Wolf, Mayor Peduto and Secretary Davin Celebrate Pittsburgh’s Improved Financial Status
WHEN: 10 a.m., Monday, February 12
WHERE: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building
 

Governor Wolf & Mayor Peduto Holding Ceremony On Improved Pittsburgh Financial Status

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Senator Randy Vulakovich

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At School District Of Pittsburgh's Obama Academy Speaker Series

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Barack Obama Academy, East Liberty

Meeting With City Of Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority Director Robert Rubinstein

Time: 2: 00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Council President Bruce Kraus

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Sergeant Michael Pilyih

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of The Department Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 12, 2018) Governor Tom Wolf, Mayor William Peduto and Secretary of the Department of Community Development Dennis Davin today signed documents officially taking the City of Pittsburgh out of Act 47 distressed municipality status. 

The City agreed to Act 47 oversight – which led to controls on spending, increased taxes and adoption of fiscal reforms – in 2004. It renewed that status in 2009 and again in 2014. 

Today the Governor, Mayor and Secretary signed formal determination letters terminating Pittsburgh's distressed status.  

“This turnaround wasn’t easy – it took a lot of hard work, a lot of collaboration, and yes, some constructive arguments about where the city was headed, but in the face of it all, Pittsburgh stood united – desperately working to improve its stability and its financial health,” said Governor Wolf. “Pittsburgh’s recovery has captured the attention of the nation, and, frankly, the world. We’ve transformed a rust belt city that was a symbol of economic decline into one of the most dynamic examples of innovation for the new economy in the world. My administration has been proud to support your efforts and will continue to do so in the years ahead.” 

With the city facing deep service cuts, layoffs and possible bankruptcy, then-Councilman Peduto was the first member of Pittsburgh city government to call on the city to enter Act 47 protection. In his budget address in November of last year Mayor Peduto announced  that the time was right to finally end the state oversight. 

"I want to thank city residents and workers for all their patience and sacrifices the past 14 years," Mayor Peduto said. "Act 47 was the tool we needed to bring our financial house in order and pave the way for Pittsburgh's economic resurgence. Now our challenge is to continue building upon the fiscal discipline it taught us and not revert to the poor budget habits of our past." 

When making his Act 47 announcement in November the Mayor introduced legislation to Council to cement that fiscal discipline by adopting caps on pension enhancements and standards regarding debt service; retiring unspent capital funds; and maintaining a healthy fund balance. 

In addition to the city workers impacted by Act 47, Mayor Peduto thanked the many officials who worked on the city's recovery from the administrations of Mayors Tom Murphy, Bob O'Connor and Luke Ravenstahl; his Chief Financial Officer Sam Ashbaugh; Office of Management and Budget Director Jennifer Prescuitti; his former Finance Director Paul Leger and current Director Margaret Lanier; City Controller Michael Lamb; City Council Budget Director Bill Urbanic; and the city's longtime Act 47 coordinators at Public Financial Management and Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellot. 

Mayor Peduto especially thanks the four then-Councilmembers who joined him in approving the first Act 47 plan and having the courage to vote for Pittsburgh's future: Alan Hertzberg, President Gene Ricciardi, Doug Shields and Sala Udin. 

A copy of the DCED Act 47 Rescission Report and Hearing Report released today is available here. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 13, 2018) - The City of Pittsburgh and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) have announced that Inclusive Innovation Week 2018 will take place Monday, April 2 through Sunday, April 8, 2018.

Now in its third year, Inclusive Innovation Week (IIW) is a citywide initiative dedicated to providing equal access to the products, services and people needed to solve complex challenges through the infusion of new ideas, people, and technology. Led by the Department of Innovation & Performance, IIW programming is designed to increase awareness of opportunities across the city, encourages cross-sector collaboration and serves as an interactive demonstration of Mayor William Peduto’s commitment to making Pittsburgh a city for all.

“Inclusive Innovation Week is an opportunity for the City of Pittsburgh to showcase the organizations, businesses and individuals who are generating progress and tackling tough challenges through inclusive, equitable an innovative solutions,” said Mayor Peduto. “It’s remarkable to see Pittsburghers unite in their efforts to eliminate barriers and create pathway to success through accessible, inclusive and welcoming programming.”

Highlights for IIW 2018 currently include the following events:

• Inclusive Innovation Week Kick-Off, April 2 – Begin the week long celebration by learning from and problem solving with innovators across the city at the Inclusive Innovation Week Kick-off event, in partnership with Robert Morris University, UpPrize and BNY Mellon Innovation Center.
• Facebook Live Stream, April 5 – Interact with a Facebook Live Stream from Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation, featuring Inclusive Innovation Week Ambassadors, elected officials, a live studio audience and several surprises. The event will bring together people from across the city to engage in a live, social media discussion about inclusion.
• Silent Disco, April 7 – Dance the night away at a Silent Disco in partnership with organizations and individuals connected to Pittsburgh's disability community.

Inclusive Innovation Week 2018 will activate neighborhoods with programming and engage businesses, organizations and individuals through larger campaigns and collaborative events. Many events and partnerships created through the Inclusive Innovation Pittsburgh Meetups. Learn more about the planning process and the work of the team on Medium.

The City of Pittsburgh, URA and Inclusive Innovation Week partners invite all residents and visitors to attend events throughout the week. Follow the conversation on Social Media by using and searching #WeInnovatePGH.

Complete details and a full calendar of events can be found here. Additional resources and details are available at WeInnovatePGH.net.

For more information on how to get involved, host an event or volunteer for IIW 2018, contact:

Christine Marty, Civic Innovation Specialist, City of Pittsburgh

christine.marty@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (FEBRUARY 13, 2018) In mid-January, the City of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Bureau became one of the first in the state to begin operating a naloxone leave behind program. Through the program, city paramedics and EMTs leave naloxone, the opioid antidote, with patients who decline transport to the emergency department.  

Naloxone leave behind, which was sanctioned by the statewide disaster emergency declaration on heroin and opioids signed by Gov. Tom Wolf on January 10, represents one component of the City’s evolving strategy to link people who use drugs with supportive services. 

“We commend Pittsburgh EMS for joining the leave behind program, made possible by Governor Wolf’s emergency declaration,” said Allegheny County Health Director Dr. Karen Hacker. “This is one more action step in our fight to address the opioid overdose epidemic. While naloxone is not treatment, it can save lives and provide opportunities for recovery. We hope more agencies that provide emergency medical services in the county follow suit.” 

This program was developed within the EMS Bureau and led by Patient Care Coordinator Mark Pinchalk and Chief Robert Farrow. All of Pittsburgh’s first responders, including park rangers, carry the overdose reversal medication. Naloxone kits for this and other Pittsburgh first responder programs are made available through funding from Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and a program managed by the Allegheny County Health Department.  

“The naloxone leave behind program targets the post-overdose patient who declines transport to a hospital and who is at a high risk of overdosing in the future,” said Chief Farrow. “The ability of EMS to leave behind naloxone to the post overdose patient, family member or other responsible party will undoubtedly save lives and build trust and hope in our communities. Pittsburgh EMS will continue to partner with the public health community to positively impact the opioid epidemic for both the short and long term.” 

"Pittsburgh EMS views the naloxone leave behind program as part of our overall continuum of response to the opioid issue. Naloxone leave behind is a short term harm reduction initiative, which we combine with improved medical  management of opioid overdose by paramedics in the field as part of our Core Critical Care programs, said Pinchalk.

According to Mayor’s Office Critical Communities Initiatives Manager Laura Drogowski, "We commend the leadership from EMS and will continue to prioritize naloxone availability in parallel with prevention and resource linkage. We never want Pittsburghs’ first responders to be in a situation where they cannot save a life."

Meeting With Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valerie McDonald Roberts & Manager of Equity & Inclusion Ricardo Williams

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

University of Pittsburgh - UPMC Press Event

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: 500 Baum Boulevard, Bloomfield

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With City Planning Director Ray Gastil & Urban Redevelopment Authority Director Robert Rubinstein

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Bloomberg News

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

District 15 Groundbreaking Ceremony

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: 15th & Smallman Streets, The Strip District

Welcoming School District Of Pittsburgh Westinghouse Student On Disability Mentor Day

Time: 11:45 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Housing Authority Of The City Of Pittsburgh Director Castor Binion & Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valarie McDonald-Roberts

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With University of Pittsburgh's Dean Of The School Of Education Valarie Kinloch

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 14, 2018) Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Housing Authority and the City of Pittsburgh and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh are proud to announce their acceptance into the ConnectHome USA Program. This national program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the digital inclusion non-profit, Everyone On, closes the digital divide for individuals in HUD-assisted housing.

The partners will be launching the initial vision and convening partners around this work tomorrow, February 15th at 10:00 a.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Hill District, at 2177 Centre Ave.

The ConnectHome national data survey shows 35% of individuals in HUD assisted living go without in-home internet access. Lack of access impedes the ability to complete homework, participate in online banking or apply for online job applications once all public locations for free internet access are closed. Furthermore, 2016 research from the Obama Administration, The Digital Divide and Economic Benefits of Broadband Access, verifies individuals with in-home internet access are employed 25 percent faster, translating to more than $5,400 in additional annual income.

Through ConnectHome USA, the county, city and housing authorities seek to increase internet adoption, in-home computer device access, and digital literacy training to ensure everyone has the tools necessary to engage with the changing digital landscape.

"Technology has the opportunity to provide equity in many ways, but that is only if our most vulnerable residents have access," said Frank Aggazio, Allegheny County Housing Authority Executive Director.

"We are committed to working together as champions of digital equity to serve our residents," said Caster D. Binion, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh.

The ConnectHome USA platform catalyzes collaboration towards a bigger vision for the city and county around digital inclusion. The initiative provides a framework for building a more substantial plan for digital inclusion in addition to providing resources through local and national partnerships and mentorship from cities leading in connecting residents.

“As a resident of Allegheny County Housing Authority for over seven years, I welcome the opportunity to have some competitive choices in our cable and internet service providers. Most live without because they cannot afford the service at all," said Minister Erwin R. Harris, Pleasant Ridge Resident.

Learn more tomorrow, February 15th at 10:00 a.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Hill District, at 2177 Centre Ave. We invite you to join us for the public launch of this initiative and hope you will be part of the vital work moving forward.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 14, 2018) Mayor William Peduto, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Innovation & Performance, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA), the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), and the Pittsburgh Parking Authority announced the third cohort of the PGH Lab program today.

PGH Lab is a city-led program that connects local startup companies with the City of Pittsburgh and local authorities to test new products and services in a real world environment for 3-4 months. In the program, startups are encouraged to test, gain valuable market feedback, and iterate. In turn, the program gives local government the opportunity to explore new ways to use technology and new services to make government more efficient, transparent, sustainable, and inclusive. The City of Pittsburgh and participating authorities have collaborated with a total of eight startups in previous cycles including HiberSense, Kaarta, Renerge, and Cognowear among others.

“For the past couple of cycles, companies have been working with us to test their new solutions to improve local government. Other cities have noticed and have implemented their own version of PGH Lab,” said Mayor Peduto. 

For cycle three, applicants proposed innovative and creative solutions related to wellness and fitness, parking meters, smart network optimization, smart facilities management, and more. This application cycle sought startups coming from diverse backgrounds that have gone through local and nationally-ranked accelerators and incubators such as the Y Combinator, Alpha Lab and Alpha Lab Gear, Ascender, and incubators provided by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Cycle three runs from January to the end of May 2018. To ensure the startups gain real time feedback on their products and services, they have been matched with a “City Champion,” a government employee who will work with the startup throughout the duration of the pilot project.

"The Housing Authority is excited to work with the startup companies. We look forward to collaborating to ensure all parties involved benefit from these initiatives," said Caster D. Binion, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh.  

“The URA is thrilled to continue working and supporting our local startups through the PGH Lab program. Our goal through the program has been to engage with as many startups as possible and provide them interesting case studies where both our staff and the startups gain valuable experience and access to new technologies.” said Thomas Link, Director of the URA’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The City of Pittsburgh and participating authorities welcome the third cohort of startups that will utilize Pittsburgh as their urban lab: 

• Cropolis solves some of the biggest challenges faced by small and medium-sized farms by automating the best practices in farm marketing, sales, and administration. The company increases the availability, accessibility, and ease of purchase for healthy, local foods. Cropolis will be matched with the Department of City Planning, City of Pittsburgh.
• Global Wordsmiths is a social enterprise dedicated to improving language access in the region for LEP individuals who cannot access services as a result of the language barrier. Global Wordsmiths provides language translation, interpretation, training, and consulting services. Global Wordsmiths will pilot its full-stack language access planning service with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh.
• LeanFM Technologies helps facility managers make data-driven decisions by using patented data integration technologies and artificial intelligence to consolidate work and cost information of buildings. LeanFM Technologies helps increase situation awareness, save time, reduce waste, and transition to an efficient and proactive mode of operations. LeanFM Technologies will be testing their building facility management software solution with the Office of Management and Budget, City of Pittsburgh.
• Meta Mesh Wireless Communities is a non-profit organization that bridges the Digital Divide in Western Pennsylvania by using mesh networking technology to provide communities with a low-cost public Wi-Fi option. Meta Mesh builds these networks and teaches others about networking and Wi-Fi. The company will be matched with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh.
• NetBeez is a Pittsburgh-based network performance monitoring company that provides proactive network monitoring from the end-user’s perspective. NetBeez’s hardware and software sensors enable proactive identification of the most complex network issues by revealing the issue before it impacts users. The company will be matched with the Department of Innovation & Performance, City of Pittsburgh.
• Qlicket is workplace communication solution that offers organizations a simple, natural way to solicit feedback. Qlicket’s software drives engagement and helps companies address workplace issues more effectively by providing the most direct and scalable way to hear and respond to the voice of their employees. The company will be testing its new internal communications tool with the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
• Steel City Soils is a cooperatively-managed group that works together to recycle food and yard waste. The group focuses on making the highest-quality end product possible for urban food growing. Steel City Soils will be matched with the Office of Environmental Services and the Forestry Division of the City of Pittsburgh. 
• Zensors uses artificial intelligence software to provide human-centered and actionable sensor output with minimal hardware installation, allowing the user to make data-driven decisions. The company will be testing its smart camera software system with the Pittsburgh Parking Authority.

Selected startups will be offered coworking space, access to the City of Pittsburgh’s network, and mentoring and guidance from city affiliates.

For news and updates, visit PGH Lab website, follow PGH Lab on Twitter at @PGH_Lab or the Innovation & Performance Medium.

Contact: Annia Aleman – PGH Lab Program Manager at annia.aleman@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 14, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure must conduct emergency work today on the Forbes Avenue railing above Boulevard of the Allies.

The inbound Boulevard of the Allies exit ramp from I-376 to the Boulevard of the Allies will be closed between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, February 14, 2018 as a precautionary measure. Motorists are advised to use the Bates Street exit to inbound Boulevard of the Allies as a detour.

Those with questions may contact Deputy Director Jeff Skalican at 412-496-5919.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 15, 2018) The Department of Public Works will close a section of Herron Avenue in Polish Hill/Upper Hill briefly this morning to repair potholes in the area.

Herron Avenue between Bigelow Boulevard and Ridgeway Street will be closed today at 11:30 a.m. for roughly one hour so crews can treat the potholes with cold patch asphalt.

Paid Sick Leave Press Conference

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

ConnectHome Launch Event

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Middle Hill

Visiting Pittsburgh Penguins Morning Skate With NHL's Willie O'Ree & Children From The Neighborhood Academy

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: PPG Paints Arena, Central Business District

Meeting With John Perkun

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & City Planning Director Ray Gastil

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief of Staff Daniel Gilman & Deputy Chief Of Economic Development Kyle Chintalapalli

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 15, 2018) The National League of Cities has appointed Dan Gilman, Chief of Staff to Mayor William Peduto, the chair of its University Communities Council. 

NLC member councils connect municipal officials whose communities share common characteristics. Members share best practices with peers from around the country, generating policy ideas and creative solutions to the unique challenges facing university cities. 

“When local officials share their successes, the entire nation benefits,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities (NLC). “The National League of Cities member councils give city leaders from across the nation a place to convene and identify the tools they need to address challenges in their communities.” 

In addition to networking and information sharing opportunities, member councils also contribute to NLC’s advocacy efforts, ensuring that the needs of university communities are reflected in NLC’s National Municipal Policy. 

"I want to thank the NLC and my fellow council members for this appointment, which will further demonstrate how Pittsburgh and other cities can work with their universities to promote innovation, opportunity and economic growth," Gilman said. 

The University Communities Council is specific to elected officials from NLC member cities with an institution of higher education within their borders or within adjacent municipalities. The Council will meet again in March of 2018 at the Congressional City Conference in Washington. 

2018 University Communities Council Leadership 

• Chair: Dan Gilman, chief of staff, Pittsburgh 
• Vice Chair: Gloria Betcher, councilmember, Aimes, Iowa 
• Vice Chair: Tanaka Vercher, councilmember, Nashville, Tenn.  

NLC press contact: Meri St. Jean (202-626-3167 | stjean@nlc.org) 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 16, 2018) Mayor William Peduto issued the following statement regarding contract talks today between leaders of Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT): 

"Both the County Executive and I have offered our assistance in brokering a compromise and helping in all ways to solve the contract dispute between the PFT and the schools administration.  

My hope is that the President and Superintendent will be able to reach a deal today.  

If not, I will continue to work to assure that the interests of our students and their families come first. And I will continue to reach out to the Superintendent and the Board to offer my resources, and the resources of our city, to resolve this issue before our schools close.  

To be certain, I will continue to be involved in this matter, as would any Mayor who had the possibility of a strike in their city."  

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Veteran Recruit Graduation

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Bureau of Police Headquarters, Chateau

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin & Policy Analyst Lara Sullivan

Time: 11:30

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Pittsburgh History & Landmarks President Arthur Ziegler, Joe Hardy, Cheri Bomar, & Michael Sripasert

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Media Event

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Highmark Stadium, Station Square, South Shore

UPDATE:

(February 18, 2018) The roadway is being washed off and will reopen by noon Sunday.

Crews worked throughout the evening to clear debris from the adjacent hillside and dig a trench behind the retaining wall to collect further mud and debris that may slide down the hillside.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 17, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works has closed a section of McArdle Roadway in Mount Washington due to a landslide.

The closed portion of the roadway is between the Liberty Bridge and Grandview Avenue. Engineers are being dispatched to the site to assess the stability of the hillside and the roadway will remain closed until future notice.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 18, 2018) New landslides have forced the closure of streets in Mount Washington and Spring Hill, even as crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW) worked through the weekend to make two other streets traversable after slides. 

In Mount Washington, multiple landslides related to a major slide on McArdle Roadway have forced the closure of William Street between Boggs and Arlington avenues. There is resident access only to the street, which will be closed until further notice. No through-traffic is permitted. 

In Spring Hill, a landslide on Gershon Street between Luella Street and Sunset Avenue has also forced a closure until further notice. Residents may enter Gershon Street from either end but no through-traffic is permitted. 

Engineers have been inspecting both streets and are determining courses of action with officials from the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI). 

Rainfall and shifting temperatures matched with saturated ground conditions have led to landslides and rockslides around the region, which are expected to continue. Teams from the city are ready to respond to the slides, but motorists are advised to use extreme caution when faced with landslides and not attempt to travel around them. 

Sections of both McArdle Roadway in Mount Washington and Noblestown Road in the West End were closed for portions of the weekend after landslides and rockslides respectively. Crews worked through Friday and Saturday nights to clear the hillside above McArdle, and reopened it at midday Sunday. They worked rapidly on Sunday to clear Noblestown and plan to reopen it by 6 p.m. this evening. 

"I want to extend my appreciation and that of the whole city to the DPW and DOMI crews who have been working on these cleanup efforts, all the while working on snow and pothole response at the same time," Mayor William Peduto said. "Unfortunately weather forecasts for the next two weeks are not giving us much relief, so I thank residents for their patience while our workers are responding to these matters as quickly as possible." 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 2, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh is a signatory on an international pact among governments, transportation, technology and climate organizations adopting common principals on mobility that promote equity, efficiency and sustainable urban communities. 

The "Shared Mobility Principals For Livable Cities", to which each signatory committed, lay out 10 collective values that each signatory pledges to abide by:  

1. We plan our cities and their mobility together.  
2. We prioritize people over vehicles.  
3. We support the shared and efficient use of vehicles, lanes, curbs, and land.  
4. We engage with stakeholders.  
5. We promote equity.  
6. We lead the transition towards a zero-emission future and renewable energy.  
7. We support fair user fees across all modes.  
8. We aim for public benefits via open data.  
9. We work towards integration and seamless connectivity.  
10. We support that autonomous vehicles in dense urban areas should be operated only in shared fleets.  

Technology and transportation firms signing onto the pledge included: BlaBlaCar, Citymapper, Didi, Keolis, LimeBike, Lyft, Mobike, Motivate, Ofo, Ola, Scoot Networks, Transit, Uber, Via and Zipcar.   

It was also signed by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. Pittsburgh is a member of both groups and Mayor Peduto is on the ICLEI USA board of directors, and Pittsburgh was among the first cities to sign on to the principles. 

The Mayor praised the accord in an international conference call Thursday with Paris Deputy Mayor Jean-Louis Missika and leaders from the tech and transportation firms.  

"Twenty-first century mobility is more than just getting from point A to point B. It's about facing down social problems and providing opportunity for everyone," Mayor Peduto said.  

"We can't make the mistakes of the past, when transportation decisions made life more difficult for people. We have to get ahead of the problems and create transportation solutions that provide an underlying foundation of sustainability and equity in the future."  

To advance these principles, last year the Mayor created the new Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) to focus on safe, accessible, sustainable and efficient transportation options for the city.  

"Mobility is not an end in itself, it is a fundamental means to access and opportunity leading to social and economic mobility. How we deliver it can make or break communities, environmental quality and quality of place. These shared Principles commit us all to a higher path and shared support," said DOMI Director Karina Ricks. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 18, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has closed Noblestown Road between Weaver and South Main streets in the West End due to a rock slide.

Crews are cleaning the road and hope to have it reopened this afternoon.

Meeting With Deputy Chief Of Urban Affairs Valerie McDonald-Roberts & Manager Of Equity & Inclusion Riccardo Williams

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Senator Wayne Fontana

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Manager Of Community & Government Affairs Grant Gittlen & Policy Analyst Lindsay Powell

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Policy Analyst Feyisola Alabi, Jim Wolf, & Charles Stout

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Dan Frankel

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of The Department Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks 

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 19, 2018) Crews from the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works are working around the clock  – weather permitting – to patch potholes in streets citywide. 

DPW expects to have crews cold-patching potholes nonstop from 10 p.m. tonight (Monday) through Wednesday afternoon, when rain is forecasted to resume. 

When there is rain or snow potholes cannot be effectively patched: cold-patch asphalt will become dislodged if placed in a pothole containing precipitation. Periods of rain or snow are currently predicted most days over the following two weeks but crews will be patching whenever possible in dry weather. 

Pothole season has been especially bad this year following a record-cold January and repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles. In the past six weeks there have been 3,769 pothole requests sent to the city's 311 Response Center as compared to 1,240 requests for the same period in 2017. From October 2017 through February 2018 there have been 5,036 pothole requests versus 2,271 requests in the same period of 2016-2017.

Hot-mix asphalt is the best material for patching potholes but it is typically not available until April. 

Resurfacing streets in warm weather months also helps fight potholes. The City's budgets for street resurfacing have more than doubled since 2014, which has made the streets more resilient, but after years of neglect and under-investment there are still many road surfaces in need of improvement. The City's 2018-2023 Capital Improvement Plan includes $103 million for street resurfacing, with $16 million allocated in 2018. 

On other weather-related matters city crews, with help from geotechnical engineers, are continuing to study landslides in Mount Washington and Spring Hill that forced the closure of two streets on Sunday. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 20, 2018) A significant landslide by Goehring Street and Kenzig Avenue has forced the evacuation of six homes in the Spring Hill neighborhood. 

Officials at the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) inspected the site Monday afternoon and ordered that four homes on Goehring and two homes on Kenzig be vacated and posted as imminently dangerous. 

Geotechnical engineers are inspecting the site today and will provide PLI with a preliminary assessment of the landslide and possible next steps. Residents will be allowed to return when the hillside is safe. 

The landslide follows another in Spring Hill over the weekend and others in Mount Washington and the West End. 

Jewish Federation Community Study Press Conference

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location:  JCC Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill South

Citywide Management & Performance Improvement Workshop

Time: 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Location: CitiStats Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Paul Burton Of Bond Buyer Newspaper

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 21, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh will restrict the outbound lane on Second Avenue on Thursday, February 22, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to allow a contractor to fill a void under the sidewalk on Second Avenue between B Street and Try Street. 

If you have any questions, please contact Deputy Director Jeff Skalican at 412-496-5919.

Electric Vehicle Press Event

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Google Impact Challenge Pittsburgh

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Google Pittsburgh, Bakery Square, Larimer

Meeting With Representative Frank Dermody

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Dom Costa

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Dutch Consul General Dolf Hogewoning

Time: 3:15 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valarie McDonald-Roberts & Housing Authority Of The City Of Pittsburgh Director Caster Binion

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Attending The 82nd Annual Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Dinner

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 21, 2018) A landslide on a Broad Street hillside has forced the evacuation of four homes in the Garfield neighborhood. 

Officials at the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) inspected the site in the 5000 block of Broad Street and ordered that four homes on the hillside be vacated and posted as imminently dangerous.  

Geotechnical engineers are inspecting the site and will provide PLI with a preliminary assessment of the landslide and possible next steps. Residents will be allowed to return when the hillside is safe. In the meantime the Red Cross has been alerted. 

Soil and trees also slid into the adjacent parking lot of the Fairmont Apartments for seniors on Penn Avenue. Portions of the lot have been closed but the apartment building is not impacted. 

No updates were yet available on geotechical studies of a previous landslide that forced evacuations of homes in the city's Spring Hill neighborhood. 

Pittsburgh is among 35 Champion Cities That Will Embark on 6-month Testing Phase in Competition for Grand Prize

City generated an idea to help reduce its residential energy burden and transition to renewable energy sources.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 21, 2018) Pittsburgh is one of 35 Champion Cities selected today as finalists in the 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge, a nationwide competition that encourages city leaders to uncover bold, inventive ideas that confront the toughest problems cities face.

These 35 urban innovations rose to the top of a competitive pool of more than 320 applications. The Champion Cities will now begin a 6-month testing phase where they will conduct public prototypes of their ideas with grant funding of up to $100,000 per city, a new addition to the Competition this year. The Mayors Challenge returns to the U.S. as the first investment in the American Cities Initiative, a $200 million suite of new and expanded programs that will empower cities to generate innovation and advance policy that moves the nation forward.

Pittsburgh now advances to the six-month “Test, Learn, and Adapt” phase of the competition. Cities will refine their ideas during this process with up to $100,000, as well as personalized support from innovation experts, to test and begin building support for their urban innovations and submit a new application in August 2018. In October, four cities will receive $1 million awards and one will receive a grand prize of $5 million to bring their ideas to life.

"We received hundreds of bold and creative ideas from cities around the country in response to the 2018 Mayors Challenge, and these 35 really stood out for their potential to improve people’s lives. The next six months are a great opportunity for the cities to test their ideas and make them even more innovative and effective,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City.

The 35 Champion Cities performed the best against four key criteria - vision, potential for impact, implementation plan, and potential to spread to other cities. A prestigious selection committee Co-Chaired by Former Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Former Xerox Chairman & CEO Ursula Burns and comprising distinguished policy experts, artists, academics, business executives and social innovation leaders assessed the applications.

An aging and inefficient housing stock has made Pittsburgh the sixth worst in the country for residential energy burden; resulting in its residents spending more than double the national average on utility bills. The city of Pittsburgh is proposing a solution that could increase demand for retrofitting residential properties by reducing costs through group purchasing of materials and the facilitation of DIY product installation. Pittsburgh is one of 35 U.S. cities competing for the grand prize; others include Boston, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

“Urban innovation is the key to pioneering solutions for real-world problems that affect us on a global scale,” Mayor William Peduto said. “That's why I am thrilled to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies, a champion in the urban innovation space, to help Pittsburgh reach its goal of 100% renewable energy sources by 2035, which has been challenging living in a fossil-fuel rich region like Pennsylvania. This funding gives us an opportunity to explore a new idea that not only empowers citizens to meaningfully engage with the energy consumption conversation, but, also invites them to take action.”

The 2018 Mayors Challenge builds on the success of previous Bloomberg-sponsored Challenges in the U.S. (2013), Europe (2014), and Latin America and the Caribbean (2016). For more information, visit mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org and @BloombergCities on Twitter and Instagram.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies works in over 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $600 million. For more information, please visit www.bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.

Media Contact

Bloomberg Philanthropies, Courtney Greenwald, (212) 205-0361, courtney@bloomberg.org

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 21, 2018) - Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference tomorrow with members of the local immigrant community to demonstrate the importance of protecting the 800,000+ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in the country.  

Through the support of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, mayors across the country have participated in DACA Days of Action, uniting in an effort to protect DACA recipients, urging the President to maintain the program and urging Congress to quickly pass the Dream Act, pending bipartisan legislation that would enable Dreamers to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they meet necessary criteria.  

DACA Days of Action Press Conference 

Who: Mayor William Peduto, Welcoming Pittsburgh, DACA Recipients, and members of the Pittsburgh immigrant community  

When: Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. 

Where: City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 5th Floor Lobby 

More information on the U.S. Conference of Mayor's efforts to support Dreamers and protect DACA recipients, including a joint https://www.usmayors.org/issues/immigration/.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 22, 2018) Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert released the following statement in response to community concerns about the officer-involved shooting that occurred in Homewood on February 11, 2018:

"The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police values its long-standing relationships with Pittsburgh residents and understands frustration within the community regarding officer-involved shootings, especially when they result in death.

Due to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Allegheny County Police Department, we are unable to go into specific details. However, our goal is to be as transparent as possible while maintaining the integrity of the investigation and our independence from it.

Parallel to the outside investigation, the PBP follows its own internal protocols following critical incidents, which includes officer-involved shootings. Officers are placed on administrative leave, their performance files are reviewed, and they are subject to a psychological evaluation. Based upon the findings of the outside investigative agency and the District Attorney’s office, the Public Safety Director and the Bureau then determine when and if the involved officer will return to active duty.

The use of deadly force is always our last resort, but we expect our police officers to actively patrol and to be proactive in order to keep our city safe. Our goal is to reduce the levels of violence and criminal activity impacting our communities.

I know there is a lot of speculation surrounding the death of Mr. Mark Daniels, but I ask the community to allow the Allegheny County Police Department to complete a thorough and impartial investigation based upon the facts and evidence in the case." 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 22, 2018) Preliminary geotechnical engineering reports performed for the Department of Permits Licenses and Inspections (PLI) recommend that homes evacuated in Spring Hill and Garfield remain in danger from adjacent landslides and should not be occupied until the landslides and the homes are stabilized. 

After two separate landslides PLI ordered the evacuation Tuesday of six homes on Goehring Street and Kenzig Avenue in Spring Hill and on Wednesday the evacuation of four homes on Broad Street in Garfield. It asked a geotechnical engineering firm to further study the areas and today, in a preliminary report, the engineers agreed that the slopes are unstable and the homes should remain vacated. 

The department will work with landowners to help them with surveying the slides and designing and executing a safe slope. Exactly how that stabilization work will be performed, or when, will not be known until a full geotechnical study is performed. 

PLI Director Maura Kennedy is contacting the ten impacted homeowners and updating them on the preliminary geotechnical reports. 

The Red Cross is also working with the families. 

Officials in Mayor William Peduto's office are studying the needs of each family with hopes of connecting them to additional services to assist them. 

The geotechnical reports are preliminary and not being publicly released. 

DACA Press Conference

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Amazon Expansion Press Conference

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: South Side Works, South Shore

Meeting With John Valentine

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Mossie Murphy & Greg Puschnigg

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi, Consul General of Japan in New York

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of The Commission On Human Relations Carlos Torres

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge & Chief Financial Officer Sam Ashbaugh

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meet & Greet With Stefani Pashman & Katharine Kellman

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: One Oxford Centre, Central Business District

Magee-Womens Hospital Tour

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, South Oakland

Presenting Proclamation To Dr. James Morris Of Carnegie Mellon University

Time:  11:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Four Mile Run Watershed & Mobility Plan Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Joining Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra For Grammy Win Celebration

Time: 9:00 P.M.

Location: Heinz Hall, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 23, 2018) Pittsburgh officials are monitoring four new landslide sites across the city, but as of early Friday afternoon only a street in Spring Hill was forced to close due to the activity. 

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) with the assistance of the Department of Public Works (DPW) closed Diana Street at Ives Way in Spring Hill due to a slide that is possibly impacting a retaining wall. 

Forward Avenue and Commercial Street in Squirrel Hill/Swisshelm Park was closed but reopened. Officials are watching a retaining wall for future activity. 

Two active slides are on Granger Street in New Homestead. The road is open to homeowners but it is vulnerable and motorists should use caution. 

There are three active slides on Mooney Road in New Homestead/Lincoln Place. DOMI has hauled away material from the slide and the road remains open, but it is possible the slide could impact Mifflin Road. 

This release will be updated if more information (including intersections) becomes available. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 23, 2018) Agencies across the City of Pittsburgh are preparing for flooding, street closures and other impacts of heavy rains that are expected through Sunday. 

Impacts will be greatest around Downtown, low-lying areas, hillsides and riverfronts but residents citywide are urged to be vigilant about weather-related issues, street and highway closures and possible power outages and landslides. Motorists are strongly advised to turn vehicles around if they encounter pooling water on roadways. 

The Pittsburgh region is expected to receive more than 3 inches of rain this weekend, with the heaviest downpours tonight and late Saturday into Sunday morning. Forecasts are – conservatively – for the 25 foot flood stage Downtown to be reached by Sunday morning and crest at 26 feet by Sunday night. 

Starting this morning sections of the Penn Avenue bike lane Downtown between 6th and Stanwix streets will be closed. This will allow Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal (PACT), which has tunnels vulnerable to flooding, to stage a pump in one of its vaults. If the pump is activated Fort Duquesne Boulevard between 6th and Stanwix streets may be closed along with the same section of Penn Avenue. Other adjacent streets may also be closed depending on the severity of flooding. 

Motorists should also be aware that flood-prone roadways such as River Avenue in the North Shore, Washington Boulevard, and the "bathtub" section of I-376 Westbound in Downtown could be subject to closures. The 10th Street bypass Downtown is already closed. 

Residents with basements that regularly flood should be prepared for belongings to become water-damaged and may want to move such materials in advance of the weekend storms. 

Public Safety, the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) are all planning for weather events along with other local, state and federal partners. 

Public Safety is: 

• Readying EMS, Fire and Police flood response units and swift water rescue teams 

• Preparing pumps and generators 

• Preparing to open its Emergency Operations Center, in conjunction with Allegheny County Emergency Services  

DPW is: 

• Clearing debris from roadway catch basins  

• Acting on standby to help DOMI and other agencies with debris, road closures and fallen trees 

• Putting aside barricades in commonly flooded areas such as the North Shore and South Side 

DPW addressed 1,265 pothole complaints in a 44-hour period between Monday night and Wednesday evening. Residents should note that the cold-patch asphalt placed in the potholes will be dislodged during the weekend's heavy rains, forcing DPW crews to address them again during favorable weather. 

DOMI is primarily responsible for responding to any events that block or damage roadways. It is: 

• Designating on-call staff to respond to roadway events 

• Notifying outside contractors in case assistance is needed 

• Monitoring roadways it has evaluated to be most prone to landslides 

• Developing alternate routes around closed streets to ensure continued access and mobility to the public 

Landslides developed around the city this week that forced roadway closures and the evacuation of homes by the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections. With soil around the region saturated by record levels of rain this month more landslides are a possibility. 

Public Safety has designated the Fire Bureau to be first responders to reports of landslides, which will then be evaluated by PLI if homes are impacted. 

Officials in the Mayor's Office are working to develop plans to connect evacuated families with needed services. 

Residents should call 911 to report any emergency situations such as flooding or landslides and contact 311 regarding potholes and other non-emergency issues.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 24, 2018) Landslides continued in Pittsburgh Saturday, with more possible due to the weekend's wet weather.

A landslide on Greenleaf Street in Duquesne Heights caused the closure of the street by the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) and residents of a home were ordered evacuated by the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI). Materials slid down a slope against the home. The Red Cross was notified, utilities were shut off and Animal Control took two dogs from the scene. Forestry crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW) were at the site Saturday morning to assess trees on the hillside.

Forward Avenue/Commercial Street in Squirrel Hill/Swisshelm Park was again closed just after 9 a.m. due to a landslide. It was also closed for a period Friday.

DOMI also closed Newton Street in the South Side Slopes due to a slow slide down toward Windom Street, but residents could access homes via city steps.

Updates will be issued when more information is available.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 25, 2018) A landslide that started Friday on a hillside on Greenleaf Street in Duquesne Heights worsened this afternoon, forced the closure of a nearby section of Route 51 and knocked out electricity in adjacent neighborhoods in southern and western parts of Pittsburgh.

The slide poured over a retaining wall on Route 51 near the West End Bridge, causing a closure of that section of the roadway. It is not certain when it will reopen and motorists should plan for delays and detours, possibly into tomorrow morning's rush hour.

The slide, which began on the eastern side of Greenleaf, today crossed over the street and knocked out utility poles on the other side, which caused power outages for nearby neighborhoods.

Officials in Mayor William Peduto's office are contacting Gov. Tom Wolf's office and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to seek assistance.

A house on Greenleaf that was evacuated Friday evening is now destroyed. Owners were able to retrieve essential belongings yesterday.

The slide is on the border with the city's West End neighborhood.

Updates will be issued when more information becomes available.

Speaking At SEIU Labor Rally

Time: 8:00 A.M.

Location: Mellon Square, Central Business District

Meeting With Laurel Foundation President Dayton Baker & Colcom Foundation Vice President John Rohe

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Jake Wheatley

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Chris Potter

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Oxford Market Grand Opening

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: One Oxford Centre, Central Business District

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Command Staff

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference room, City-County Building

Black Elected Officials Community Forum

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Community Empowerment Association, Homewood South 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 26, 2018) Mayor William Peduto's administration is proposing to add $800,000 to the city's 2018 paving budget, which will increase its street resurfacing by 50 more city blocks. 

Legislation being introduced to City Council tomorrow would raise the city's street resurfacing budget to nearly $17 million this year. 

"I'm proud that the City has more than doubled its spending on paving since I took office four years ago, and this extra funding will do even more to provide infrastructure improvements and build roads that are more resistant to potholes," Mayor Peduto said. 

According to Department of Mobility and Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks, every mile of city streets costs about $260,000 to pave. The new funding will allow about 4 more miles to be repaved or roughly 50 more city blocks. 

More paving information is available here. 

To pay for increased paving the Office of Management and Budget is proposing a combination of capital and operating funds; capital for projects closed or not immediately needed; and unused funds budgeted for phase two of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority restructuring. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 26, 2018) City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works crews were back patching potholes overnight last night and will continue doing so in overlapping shifts 24 hours a day, weather permitting. 

After the weekend's poor weather and landslides DPW crews resumed pothole patching at 10 p.m. Sunday night. The daylight crews that start at 6 a.m. will be asked to work 12-hour shifts, and the night turn crews will be brought in four hours early to take over the patching work at 6 p.m. Those revolving shifts will continue until rain is forecasted to resume Wednesday or Thursday. 

DPW crews addressed more than 1,200 pothole complaints last week but much of the cold-patch asphalt they applied was washed out by the weekend's rains. DPW street divisions, park divisions and specialty divisions will be participating in the latest pothole-patching operation, while also emptying litter receptacles, collecting leaves and addressing gravel and trash accumulated along city streets. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 27, 2018) The Department of Permits, Licences and Inspections (PLI) has ordered the evacuation of a home on Semicir Street in Perry North due to a landslide.

The landslide was reported shortly after noon today and PLI ordered an evacuation until the landslide and the home can be stabilized.

The Red Cross was notified.

Office Hours

Time: 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

OnePGH Advisory Committee Meeting

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Jared L. Cohen University Center, Squirrel Hill North

Meeting With Hyperloop Team

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Adam Ravenstahl

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

GeekWire Farwell Event

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: K & L Gates Center, Central Business District

Civic Light Opera Performance Of Arriba Arriba

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Clemente Museum, Lower Lawrenceville 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 28, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith are reminding customers that businesses in the West End remain open despite detours caused by a nearby landslide, and they will be offering free street parking over the next week. 

Motorists can enter the business district from Wabash Street and shop at any of the businesses on or around South Main Street. Barricades are in place at South Main near the ramp from Route 51 at the northern end of the street but local through-traffic is allowed in other parts of the district. 

Additionally the Pittsburgh Parking Authority (PPA) is suspending street meter parking enforcement in the business district through next Wednesday, March 7. 

Henry Horn-Pyatt, the Small Business and Neighborhood Redevelopment Manager for Mayor Peduto, met with West End business owners Tuesday, and relayed requests to suspend parking enforcement to the Mayor and PPA officials. 

Streets closest to the landslide remain closed as soil is being removed from the hillside. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (Feburary 28, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and the Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to launch the commission and honor Women's History Month.

WHAT: News conference to launch Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission with Mayor William Peduto, the commission's executive director and commission members.

WHERE: 5th Floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant St.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Thursday, March 1, 2018.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 1, 2018) The Departments of Public Works (DPW) and Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) have again been forced to close sections of Commercial Street and Forward Avenue due to a landslide. Soil material is sliding onto the roadway creating unsafe conditions for motorists, and with rains expected to continue through the evening crews will not be able to clean the roadway and assess its safety for an indeterminate time.

The segment of the streets is between Whipple Street in Swisshelm Park and Summerset Drive in Squirrel Hill. The same segment was closed last week before reopening.

Please note the closure will greatly affect this evening's rush hour and routing of school buses in the area.

Motorists are reminded not to drive around DPW barricades.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 1, 2018) A plan two years in the making, the EcoInnovation District (EID) Plan establishes a community vision for equitable and sustainable development in one of Pittsburgh’s oldest neighborhoods. The planning process led by the Department of City Planning included monthly community steering committee meetings that helped guide the development of the plan, 70+ interviews and focus groups, block parties and open house events attended by over 600 residents and stakeholders, and a robust online presence that drew over 10,000 visitors.

When Mayor Peduto released the draft plan at a community meeting on July 11th, 2017 he made it clear that the plan is the City’s attempt to answer a simple question: “How do we develop a community for all that makes sure that the people who have gone through the bad times will be there for the good times?” An indicator of the plan’s success was the presence of leadership from Uptown Partners, Avenu, Duquesne University and UPMC Mercy who followed the mayor’s comments by expressing their excitement at getting to work making the plan a reality.

The First Adopted Neighborhood Plan

The EcoInnovation District Plan is the first time in many decades that the City has led a community planning process and created a plan that will guide the activities of both community and public partners.

“The EcoInnovation District Plan represents not only the vision and hard work of the community and staff, but a collaborative model in how we determine our future,” said Ray Gastil, Director of the Department of City Planning. The final plan adopted by the City’s Planning Commission can be found on the project website, www.EcoInnovationDistrict.org along with news about projects that implement the plan and ways to stay involved. Printed copies of the plan are also available to review at public offices and libraries in Downtown, the Hill District and Oakland.

An Innovative New Land Use System

Through focus groups and community meetings it became clear that land use regulations were limiting development and part of the plan’s vision for a green and equitable neighborhood could be realized if innovative new tools were introduced into the City’s Zoning Code.

Planners at the Department of City Planning looked to national best practices and the p4 Collaboration between the City and the Heinz Foundation to craft a new Uptown Public Realm District and Performance Points System.

Derek Dauphin, the project manager for the EcoInnovation District Plan and lead author on the zoning proposal explained the City’s strategy: “The neighborhood has always been mixed-use with offices and workshops next to grocers and rowhouses – we aren’t changing that. We’re focusing on how new buildings contribute to the neighborhood’s goals. If a new building is taller than the historic structures in the district, it’s because it’s implementing the community’s plan.”

The Performance Points System, created in alignment with the p4 metrics, allows developers to take advantage of height bonuses if they provide affordable housing, build energy efficient structures, generate power renewably, manage stormwater with Green Infrastructure, rehabilitate older buildings, or build new buildings that match the district’s historic character – all goals of the EcoInnovation District Plan. City Council adopted the zoning in November and it was signed into law in December.

Through a new development guide website and collaboration with the Green Building Alliance, the Department of City Planning is working hard to make it clear that the new regulations provide many opportunities to those thinking about developing in Uptown. This will include free green building reviews for larger projects in Uptown to provide information about green building and educate developers about the new height bonus opportunities available to them in Uptown.

What Comes Next?

One of the first major projects to take advantage of Uptown’s new zoning will be development on land owned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the City of Pittsburgh at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Dinwiddie Street. Input from a public design process currently being rolled into a development request for proposals (RFP) that will be issued this year. Implementing the plan is about much more than the creation of new buildings. DCP’s Division of Public Art and Civic Design is finalizing a request for proposals for the first of three public art projects it will carry out over the next two years using public funds. Matching funds are being sought to increase the scale of the second and third projects.

In addition to art, over the next year Uptown will see new public art, transportation safety improvements, green infrastructure planning, and other projects that begin to realize the vision in the plan. Leading these efforts is another recommendation from the plan – the Uptown Task Force. This group, convened by Duquesne University, creates a platform for district governance and plan implementation. Subcommittees have already formed around each of the EcoInnovation District’s chapters and are creating work plans to execute the strategies in the plan. Learn more about the Task Force at its website: www.UptownTaskForce.org.

A key element of the planning work, the proposal for a citywide Bus Rapid Transit system is also moving forward with a funding proposal submitted to the Federal Transportation Authority in September.

Contact:

Derek Dauphin
Senior Planner | Strategic Planning
City of Pittsburgh
Department of City Planning
200 Ross St, 4th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-255-4897
Fax: 412-255-2838
derek.dauphin@pittsburghpa.gov
pittsburghpa.gov/dcp

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 1, 2018) With the start of Women’s History Month 2018 the City of Pittsburgh is proud to publicly launch its Gender Equity Commission, one of the few such commissions in the entire country. 

Mayor William Peduto signed an ordinance last year that authorized the commission to conduct analyses of City departments, employment, and services to uphold the principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)[TM1].  

Beginning last month, the Commission commenced monthly meetings, which are open to the public and held on the third Tuesday of each month. With representation from different expertise areas and lived experiences, this Commission of 15 diverse community stakeholders coordinates with Executive Director anupama jain, who works in Mayor Peduto’s Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment. 

According to jain, “Throughout the world, the majority of women. Especially those from marginalized communities and trans women, cannot count on achieving adequate safety and success according to most measures of quality of life. I am honored and privileged to be working with local leaders and visionaries to devise concrete solutions to our city’s challenges regarding equity and inclusion.”   

"Shirley Chisolm, one of my favorite female revolutionaries and someone who I try to model, said 'Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.'. In 2018, this is still the case, and quite frankly, I'm over it. If I can do anything to push barriers for women, especially as a black woman, then I'm there. That's why I'm serving,” said Commission member Kelauni Cook, founder and CEO of Black Tech Nation. 

The Commission will be using data analysis and evidence-based interventions to pinpoint patterns of inequity and then work with experts in different areas to devise sustainable and affordable solutions for those problems.  

“These are not ‘women’s issues’ but deeply human issues about which all reasonable people care, such as education and work, public and personal safety, diversity of viewpoints for innovation, and support for families,” jain said.  

The Gender Equity Commissioners are: 

Megan Block         

Attorney, Civil Rights, Union and Employment  

Kelauni Cook        

Founder and CEO, Black Tech Nation; Co-Director, Beta Builders Coding Boot Camp Community  

Kathi Elliott  

Executive Director, Gwen's Girls  

Lee Fogarty          

Leader, Cities for CEDAW Pittsburgh  

Deb Gross             

Councilperson, City Council, District 7, City of Pittsburgh  

Sarah Hansen        

Senior Director of Operations, Pennsylvania Women Work  

Magdeline Jensen         

CEO, Greater Pittsburgh YWCA  

Sabrina Korbel     

Attorney, Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh  

Janet Manuel        

Acting Director, Department of Human Resources, City of Pittsburgh  

Amanda Neatrour        

Manager, Women's Leadership and Mentorship Program, Robert Morris University  

Chelsea Pallatino   

Postdoctoral Associate, Magee Women's Research Institute  

Jessie Ramey         

Director, Women's Institute, Chatham University  

Sarah Schulz         

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Point Park University  

Mike Strelic           

Senior Budget Analyst, City Council Budget Office, City of Pittsburgh  

Ricardo Williams          

Manager of Equity & Inclusion, Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment; Administrator, Equal Opportunities Review Commission (EORC), City of Pittsburgh  

PITTSBURGH,PA (March 1, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, in conjunction with PennDOT, will be removing and installing new railing along Forbes Avenue between the Birmingham Bridge and the Forbes Avenue exit ramp off of the Parkway East this weekend.  The City’s Construction Division will be removing the railing and Allegheny Fence will handle the installation.  The work will close the inbound Boulevard of the Allies exit ramp from I-376 to the Boulevard of Allies between 12:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., on Sunday, March 4, 2018.  Motorists are advised to use Bates Street and the Boulevard of the Allies inbound as a detour.  Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.   

If you have any questions, please contact Deputy Director Jeff Skalican at 412-496-5919. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 3, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada today for the Change for Climate Global Mayors Summit. 

The summit is "an opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss the critical next steps for combating climate change. Hosted by Mayor Don Iveson and the Global Covenant of Mayors, the day and a half long day summit will be a key opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss the critical next steps for creating integrated city climate strategies. Mayors will exchange ideas, identify knowledge and policy gaps, and come together around the courageous leadership needed to address climate change." 

Mayor Peduto has taken on a global leadership role in efforts to combat climate change, joining the the board of directors of ICLEI USA and attending United Nations Climate Change Conferences in Paris and Bonn. 

Organizers are covering travel costs for the Edmonton conference. The Mayor returns to Pittsburgh on Monday. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 3, 2018 

Welcome Dinner Hosted by Mayor Don Iveson Short speaking program with Gary Klassen, Deputy City Manager, Regional and Economic Development, City of Edmonton; Stuart Lee, President, EPCOR Utilities. 

Location: Cafe Lacombe at Chateau Lacombe Hotel 

Time: 6:30 p.m. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 4, 2018 

All locations Chateau Lacombe Hotel unless noted 

Welcome & Opening Remarks. Master of Ceremonies: David Miller, Former Mayor of Toronto and CitiesIPCC Cities & Climate Change Science Conference; Master of Ceremonies Convener: Mayor Don Iveson, City of Edmonton. Convener: Amanda Eichel, Executive Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Convener: Jenny Gerbasi, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Cities: Emerging Climate Leaders A keynote address and discussion about cities as leaders in climate action, the role of research universities, and the partnerships that will generate compelling solutions to our shared climate challenges. Keynote Presenter: Dr. David Turpin, President, University of Alberta 

Time: 8:45 a.m. 

Identifying Gaps and Exploring Solutions From the perspective of mayors and city network organizations, this series of short subject-matter-expert-led presentations and roundtable conversations will work towards identifying priority knowledge and information gaps. Moderator: David Miller Presenter: Debra Roberts, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Subject Matter Expert: Aromar Revi, Director of the Indian Institute of Human Settlements Subject Matter Expert: Dr. Amy Luers, Executive Director of Future Earth Subject Matter Expert: William Solecki, Professor, and Founding Director, Emeritus, CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Beyond Edmonton – Taking Action Moderator: Mayor Don Iveson, City of Edmonton. Edmonton Declaration Presenter: Amanda Eichel, Executive Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Subject Matter Expert: Michael Doust, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group  

Time: 1:15 p.m. 

Closing Panel Discussion with Mayor William Peduto and Mayors of Saskatoon, Canada; Guelph, Canada; Victoria, Canada; Yellowknife, Canada;  Chefchaouen, Morocco; and Rajkot, India. 

Time: 2:30 p.m. 

CitiesIPCC Welcome Reception SHAW Conference Centre 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 2, 2018) Mayor William Peduto travels to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada today for the Change for Climate Global Mayors Summit. 

The summit is "an opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss the critical next steps for combating climate change. Hosted by Mayor Don Iveson and the Global Covenant of Mayors, the day and a half long day summit will be a key opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss the critical next steps for creating integrated city climate strategies. Mayors will exchange ideas, identify knowledge and policy gaps, and come together around the courageous leadership needed to address climate change." 

The conference includes a number of the world’s largest city network organizations, including Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCM), Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, and United Cities and Local Government (UCLG). 

Mayor Peduto has taken on a global leadership role in efforts to combat climate change, joining the the board of directors of ICLEI USA and attending United Nations Climate Change Conferences in Paris and Bonn. 

He is on a panel Sunday with Mayors of Saskatoon, Canada; Guelph, Canada; Victoria, Canada; Yellowknife, Canada;  Chefchaouen, Morocco; and Rajkot, India. 

Organizers are covering travel costs for the Edmonton conference. The Mayor returns to Pittsburgh on Monday. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 3, 2018) Ramps from Route 51 to West Carson Street and the West End Bridge reopened tonight after a being closed for a week due to a major landslide.

Teams from PennDOT and the city of Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) worked 24-hour shifts since a landslide last Sunday forced the closure of the road and adjacent streets in the city's Duquesne Heights and West End neighborhoods. 

Contractors moved nearly 15,000 cubic yards of materials from the landslide site to allow Route 51 to reopen.

Greenleaf Street, where the slide first began, remains closed as crews continue to regrade the slope as a protection against future slides.

In a related landslide matter portions of Forward Avenue and Commercial Street in Squirrel Hill/Swisshelm Park remained closed after a landslide caused a tree to lean on electrical wires. Crews are working to address the matter.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 3, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada today for the Change for Climate Global Mayors Summit. 

The summit is "an opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss the critical next steps for combating climate change. Hosted by Mayor Don Iveson and the Global Covenant of Mayors, the day and a half long day summit will be a key opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss the critical next steps for creating integrated city climate strategies. Mayors will exchange ideas, identify knowledge and policy gaps, and come together around the courageous leadership needed to address climate change." 

Mayor Peduto has taken on a global leadership role in efforts to combat climate change, joining the board of directors of ICLEI USA and attending United Nations Climate Change Conferences in Paris and Bonn. 

Organizers are covering travel costs for the Edmonton conference. The Mayor returns to Pittsburgh on Monday. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 3, 2018 

Welcome Dinner Hosted by Mayor Don Iveson Short speaking program with Gary Klassen, Deputy City Manager, Regional and Economic Development, City of Edmonton; Stuart Lee, President, EPCOR Utilities. 

Location: Cafe Lacombe at Chateau Lacombe Hotel 

Time: 6:30 p.m. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 4, 2018 

All locations Chateau Lacombe Hotel 

Welcome & Opening Remarks. Master of Ceremonies: David Miller, Former Mayor of Toronto and CitiesIPCC Cities & Climate Change Science Conference; Master of Ceremonies Convener: Mayor Don Iveson, City of Edmonton. Convener: Amanda Eichel, Executive Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Convener: Jenny Gerbasi, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Cities: Emerging Climate Leaders A keynote address and discussion about cities as leaders in climate action, the role of research universities, and the partnerships that will generate compelling solutions to our shared climate challenges. Keynote Presenter: Dr. David Turpin, President, University of Alberta 

Time: 8:45 a.m. 

Identifying Gaps and Exploring Solutions From the perspective of mayors and city network organizations, this series of short subject-matter-expert-led presentations and roundtable conversations will work towards identifying priority knowledge and information gaps. Moderator: David Miller Presenter: Debra Roberts, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Subject Matter Expert: Aromar Revi, Director of the Indian Institute of Human Settlements Subject Matter Expert: Dr. Amy Luers, Executive Director of Future Earth Subject Matter Expert: William Solecki, Professor, and Founding Director, Emeritus, CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Beyond Edmonton – Taking Action Moderator: Mayor Don Iveson, City of Edmonton. Edmonton Declaration Presenter: Amanda Eichel, Executive Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Subject Matter Expert: Michael Doust, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group  

Time: 1:15 p.m. 

Closing Panel Discussion with Mayor William Peduto and Mayors of Saskatoon, Canada; Guelph, Canada; Victoria, Canada; Yellowknife, Canada;  Chefchaouen, Morocco; and Rajkot, India. 

Time: 2:30 p.m. 

CitiesIPCC Welcome Reception SHAW Conference Centre 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 5, 2018) Mayor William Peduto returns from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada today where he attended the Change for Climate Global Mayors Summit. 

The conference included a number of the world’s largest city network organizations, including Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCM), Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, and United Cities and Local Government (UCLG). 

Mayor Peduto was on a panel Sunday with Mayors of Saskatoon, Canada; Guelph, Canada; Victoria, Canada; Yellowknife, Canada;  Chefchaouen, Morocco; and Rajkot, India. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 5, 2018: 

Flight to Pittsburgh

Time: 8 a.m.

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

City Of Pittsburgh Foundation Meeting

Time: 8:30 A.M.

Location: Centre City Tower, Central Business District

Interview With Pittsburgh Magazine's Lauren Davidson & Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Roxanne Sewell

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich, Mobility & Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks, Permits, Licences & Inspections Director Maura Kennedy, & City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Giant Eagle Chief Executive Officer Laura Karet

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Hannah Beresford

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Voting In The City Of Pittsburgh's Council District 8 Special Election

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: St. Bede's Parish, Point Breeze 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 6, 2018) Affordable housing initiatives in Hazelwood and Lawrenceville are set to go before the Urban Development Authority board of directors on Thursday, further expanding the agency's support of housing programs in the two neighborhoods. 

In Hazelwood the board will consider a $30,000 grant for a Homeownership Incubator project by the Hazelwood Initiative (HI) that will renovate a blighted vacant house and transform it into two affordable rental units.  

HI will lease the units to households that are interested in learning to become homeowners. The households occupying the units will enroll in monthly homeownership counseling sessions while repairing their credit, and a portion the tenant’s monthly rent will be set aside toward their down payment requirements.  

The expectation is that one household per year will become a homeowner through this incubator program, which has an overall budget of $197,750.  

While the project involves only a single building, HI regards this initiative as a key component of a larger strategy to reduce blight and increase homeownership for low-to-moderate income Hazelwood residents. 

Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh has been the general contractor for HI’s “Rehab for Resale” imitative and is a partner in the Discount Home Repair Program. The URA has supplied HI with grants, loans and second mortgages for "Rehab for Resale,"  which supported the renovation of more than six homes to date. They have all been sold to households with incomes at or below 80%  

In Upper Lawrenceville the URA board will consider a $50,000 grant to support scattered site land acquisition and housing rehabilitation in phase two of the Lawrenceville Community Land Trust, which aims to build four new affordable units in the neighborhood at a total cost of $1 million. 

Land trusts create permanently affordable home ownership opportunities for individuals who have been priced out of the private market. They build homes that are guaranteed to be permanently affordable and if sold provide sellers a return on investments while ensuring  homebuyers at the same income level have access to affordable homes. 

The URA provided $445,000 in grant funding for the 7-unit ($2.222 million) phase one Community Land Trust development.  All 7 units will be permanently affordable to households with incomes at or below 80% AMI. 

The Lawrenceville Corporation and Lawrenceville United contracted with EvolveEA to lead a community planning process for Upper Lawrenceville with funding from the Design Center. With the input of over 200 residents and a neighborhood steering committee, the Upper Lawrenceville Community Plan was released in the summer of 2013. One of the priorities of the Community Plan is that Upper Lawrenceville must offer “housing for all,” and that community partners must move to ensure that both economic diversity and affordability are maintained amidst the exponential growth in the residential real estate market.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 6, 2018)  The Public Art and Civic Design Division of the Department of City Planning is currently seeking proposals from an artist, an artist collective, an arts institution, educational institution, or designers, to implement a public art project within the Uptown EcoInnovation District (EID).

Artists should propose a concept for the project, and the artist will be selected based on this concept and will work with City Planning staff and the community to develop a final proposal. The first site that will be utilized for this initial project will be Tustin Park, located at 2028 Tustin St.

There will be a series of three permanent art installations within the EID, the first project being awarded via this March 2 request for proposals. Two subsequent RFPs will be released for the additional projects. The deadline for submission for the current RFP is March 30, 2018.

The Public Art and Civic Design Division (PA+CD) promotes and ensures quality design of city-owned architecture, infrastructure, and landscape in order to create and enhance place-making by the inclusion of art and arts programming to reflect the city's history, diversity, and culture. The division performs three main functions: administering the City's Art Commission; conservation and maintenance of the City's collection of public artwork, monuments, and memorials, and; implementation of new commissions of public art and arts programs and initiatives on City property, citywide.

Working with the neighborhood planner for Uptown, PA+CD plans to implement a project that aligns with its goals and principles as well as the recently adopted Uptown / West Oakland EcoInnovation District (EID) community plan.

The EcoInnovation District (EID) Plan establishes a community vision for equitable and sustainable development in one of Pittsburgh’s oldest neighborhoods. The planning process led by the Department of City Planning included monthly community steering committee meetings that helped guide the development of the plan, 70+ interviews and focus groups, block parties and open house events attended by over 600 residents and stakeholders, and a robust online presence that drew over 10,000 visitors. The plan was adopted by the City’s Planning Commission in September of 2017 and work began immediately to implement the document’s bold vision.

The first project to implement the EcoInnovation District Plan was the creation of innovative new tools in the City’s Zoning Code that sought to unlock the development potential of the neighborhood while making sure that new buildings address community goals and are consistent with the principles of the City and Heinz Foundation’s p4 Collaboration. This unique approach to development continued with a community-led design process for a key publicly owned development site at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Dinwiddie Street. In Uptown, there has been a clear and consistent desire to improve the safety and health of the neighborhood at the same time that it becomes a more vibrant and amenity-rich urban environment. With an active community of artists and significant collection of artwork on display, there is a strong desire for art to continue to play a role in expressing the community’s identity.

The Public Art and Civic Design Division is launching the Uptown Art Program as one of the first initiatives to realize the EcoInnovation District Plan vision. Three sites are being selected in collaboration with the community for artistic interventions ranging from experiential objects to interactive experiences.

Contact:

Yesica Guerra

Public Art and Civic Design Manager

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St. 4th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] yesica.guerra@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 6, 2018) The board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority is poised to provide $100,000 towards funding for a $5 million fund to support women-owned businesses in the city. Next Act Fund, LLC ("Next Act") is an early stage women-owned business focused venture fund. Next Act's mission is to invest in early-stage, women owned companies in Pittsburgh.  

Next Act will fill an important gap in Pittsburgh's early stage business capital flow by focusing on women-led companies. Next Act is already building significant interest from local women entrepreneurs with over 50 Pittsburgh companies preliminarily engaged for possible funding.  

Next Act plans to use its initial $2.5 million fund raise to invest in up to 40 companies. The average investment will be $75,000 per company with a range of $50,000 to $100,00. The vast majority of these companies are likely to be located in the City of Pittsburgh. Additionally, the substantial majority of those investing in the funds are women making their first angel investments. 

The URA plays an important and significant role in support of Pittsburgh's entrepreneurial eco-system. URA direct business investment programs such as Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Fund and URA supported investment tools and programs such as Keystone Innovation Zones, Riverfront Ventures, Alpha Lab Gear, several co-working spaces, and more critical elements of this eco-system—creating and growing hundreds of Pittsburgh businesses creating thousands of jobs across the City of Pittsburgh. 

"As the URA advances its commitment to p4, Next Act provides an opportunity to strengthen their commitment in support of women entrepreneurs and to expand their impact by leveraging substantial private investment." said Mayor William Peduto.   

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 6, 2018)- The City of Pittsburgh's Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) and Carlow University invites women business owners to attend its third annual Women Business Enterprise (WBE) event "How to do Business" program on March 8th, 2018.   

“The Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Agency’s Business Center which is operated by The Enterprise Center is pleased to support the City of Pittsburgh 3rd Annual “How to Do Business” Series in collaboration with Carlow University. This event is designed to help Women Business Enterprises strengthen their networks that will lead to mutual opportunities for growth. MBDA Business Center brings together businesses and institutional partners from the state of Pennsylvania who works tirelessly to highlight women and minority businesses through their commitment to equity, inclusion, and local economic impact.” said Victoria Hosendorf – Director of Minority Business Development Agency-(MBC-PA).  

The "How to Do Business" series was developed based on the feedback that women business owners shared with the Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) during a special roundtable discussion in 2015. Over 25 business owners from the region participated in this focus group discussion.  

As a result, the EORC created a yearly event that educates, informs, and encourages networking between procurement officers and vendors with the goal to reduce barriers of entry for women owned businesses. "Our annual outreach event provides a unique opportunity for women business owners to understand the procurement process directly from the decision makers and to also gain some valuable information on how to be successful in the government contracting arena.” said Ricardo Williams Manager of Equity and Inclusion.  

The event on March 8th at Carlow University will include practitioner led workshops from business lending professionals and government subject matter experts in an effort to expand participation from women-owned businesses seeking contract opportunities. The City of Pittsburgh's EORC and our stakeholders ultimately want to increase the vendor pipeline by providing the necessary resources for businesses to compete for future contract opportunities. 

The free event will take place on Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Carlow University's AJ Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology, 3333 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 

Please register online at alumni.carlow.edu/wobe2018 

### 

Groundbreaking For Allegheny Health Network's New Cancer Center

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Allegheny General Hospital, Central North Side

Meeting With Urban Redevelopment Authority Of Pittsburgh Executive Director Robert Rubinstein, Board Chair Kevin Acklin, & Dan McCafferty

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Her Majesty's British Consul-General In New York Antony Phillipson

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 7, 2018) The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, with support from Mayor William Peduto's administration, invested nearly $7 million in small businesses across the city last year, which supported almost $24 million in neighborhood development projects.  

The businesses were URA loan clients, facade clients, Neighborhood Business District funding recipients, and manufacturers supported through the agency's Manufacturing Assistance Program in partnership with Catalyst Connection.    

It supported in total 46 businesses and 9 neighborhood district improvement projects, with $6,977,613 in direct URA dollars invested and $23,981,644 total project costs.    

"Supporting small businesses is one of the most powerful tools we have to provide economic opportunities for all. I'm proud of the focus the URA has for neighborhood businesses, which sometimes doesn't get the attention it deserves," Mayor Peduto said.  

The spending has included support for businesses and initiatives such as Everyday Café in Homewood, Little Angels Learning Center in Bloomfield; Federal Galley in Allegheny West; Micro Diner in Mount Washington; and the Hazelwood Business District Plan.  

A full list of small businesses and the URA's 2017 investments in them is available here.  

According to Tom Link, the director of the URA's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the URA has a variety of other programs that provide direct assistance to neighborhood businesses as well. They include:  

• Keystone Innovation Zones (Urban Innovation 21/Pittsburgh Central and Greater Oakland).  The URA helped create the KIZ program in Pittsburgh and provided ongoing financial support to Urban Innovation 21 (through membership fees).  In 2017, 43 Pittsburgh companies received about $2.5 million in KIZ tax credits. KIZ awardees in Pittsburgh include Roadrunner Recycling and URA borrowers such as ShowClix, Savage Visual Effects, Treatspace, Thread, and dozens of others.  The full state 2017 KIZ report is here.    
• Alpha Lab Gear.  The URA helped seed Alpha Lab Gear in partnership with Innovation Works (IW), philanthropy, the state, and Federal government.  Alpha Lab Gear is one of the nation's most recognized and lauded hardware company accelerators. To date, it has hosted 32 companies through its accelerator programs including notable companies such as Identified Technologies, Trusst (also a URA borrower), Sole Power, and dozens of others.   
• Riverfront Ventures, which the URA helped seed in 2014. The IW-managed $25 million Venture Fund was seeded in partnership with philanthropy, universities, the state, and private investors.  Riverfront Ventures has invested in 9 notable, job- creating Pittsburgh companies including Wombat Security, Thread, Containership, and others http://riverfrontventures.com/portfolio  
• Forty-four companies have formed and/or received growth funding through Alpha-Lab Gear and Riverfront Ventures. Two companies in particular, NoWait and Wombat, had successful acquisitions by leading, global companies. To demonstrate the positive impact these companies have on Pittsburgh's economic vitality, the 44 companies have raised an additional $211 million from the private sector and employ nearly 300 people. 
• BizFit Entrepreneurial Training, a training program for disadvantaged construction entrepreneurs through Riverside Center for Innovation. The URA helped seed this program. To date, BizFit has supported about 40 disadvantaged construction firms since its inception in 2016.    
• Small Business Resource Fairs, monthly programs in partnership with neighborhood business district partners to bring URA programs and support programs into our neighborhood business districts.  The URA has done more than 30 of these in the last 3 three years.   
• PghLab, for which URA staff provides oversight to the program in partnership with the City's Department of Innovation and Performance. Pittsburgh startups, including Haversines, Remerge and others have gone through the program.   
• Next Act, a $5 million fund to support women-owned businesses in the city that the URA board is poised to support with a $100,000 investment. Next Act plans to use its initial fund to to invest in up to 40 companies, most of them in the City of Pittsburgh. Additionally, the substantial majority of those investing in the funds are women making their first angel investments.   
• Additionally, tools such as Launch and, Neighborhood Business District support / Mainstreet programs also flow through the URA.  

"In addition to programmatic efforts, my team is consistently engaged with networking and outreach activities meeting new businesses and entrepreneurs and helping to direct to services that can help," Link said. "In 2016 -– 2017, CIE staff had 534 touch points with entrepreneurs, businesses and outreach events.  My team attends events across the city weekly and monthly meeting small business owners.  Just last week we had tables at the 17th annual Government Conference for Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and Hill District Quarterly meeting with program information and staff available to answer questions."     

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 8, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works is preparing to treat and salt  roads early this evening in anticipation of expected snowfall. 

DPW expects 1 – 2 inches of snow. Starting at 6 p.m. this evening the department will deploy 57 trucks to treat and salt roads, and crews will work through 6 p.m. on Friday. 

The department will activate the city’s Snow Plow Tracker at approximately 6 p.m. as well. 

If necessary the City will post further updates on its webpage . Residents may also track updates on Twitter at @PGHDPW, @CityPGH, @PghPublicSafety, or @Pgh311. 

Residents may submit street treatment requests any time to @Pgh311. 

To register non-emergency calls about snowy or icy conditions residents may call 311 and speak to a live operator from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. (Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621) 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 8, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington, DC, today for a meeting of the Alliance 50x50 Commission on U.S. Transportation Sector Efficiency. 

Mayor Peduto is a board member of the 50x50 Commission, an effort by business, government and civic leaders to work together on ways to reduce energy use in the U.S. transportation sector by 50 percent by 2050 while meeting future mobility needs. A list of the full membership of the commission is available here. 

The commission is part of the Alliance to Save Energy, which was founded in 1977 by U.S. Senators Charles H. Percy and Hubert Humphrey in the midst of the 1970s oil embargo. It has worked for 40 years to create a more energy-productive world by promoting effective bipartisan legislation, regulatory actions and administrative policy. 

Last month the 50x50 commission published a study of the ongoing transformation occurring through increased use of alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, automation and shared mobility that may lead to significant reductions in energy use. 

Mayor Peduto last year signed an executive order committing the city to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity consumption for municipal operations; a citywide zero waste Initiative to divert 100 percent of materials from landfills; 50 percent energy consumption reduction citywide; and development of a fossil fuel free fleet.  

He joined the 50x50 Commission board last year. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 8, 2018: 

All locations: Rooftop Atrium, Hogan Lovells - 555 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20004 

Welcoming Remarks & Introductions Commission Co-Chairs Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America Dean Seavers, President, National Grid  

Time: 9 a.m. 

Setting the Stage: Progress to Date. Karen Hughes, Strategic Initiatives Director, Alliance to Save Energy 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Technical Work to Date. Technical Committee Chairs provide feedback on market dynamics and policy areas. Commissioners to address questions identified by the TCs 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Modeling the Impacts. Tony Markel, Senior Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory  

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

Policy Discussion: Commissioners & Technical Committee Chairs provide feedback on policy opportunities 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Outreach & Implementation Kateri Callahan, President, Alliance to Save Energy  

Time: Noon 

Next Steps. Commissioners and Technical Committee Chairs on next steps for policy phase 

Time: 12:45 p.m. 

Return to Pittsburgh 

Time: 3:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 8, 2018) Pittsburgh's Chief Legal Officer and City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez Ridge is stepping down from her role next month and returning to private legal practice. 

She gave her resignation letter to Mayor William Peduto on Tuesday and her final day in the Law Department will be April 6, 2018. 

Mayor Peduto appointed Sanchez Ridge at the beginning of his administration in January 2014.  

In her resignation letter she said the Mayor "envisioned a city government free of corruption and committed to ethical conduct. Again, you gave me the tools and supported me in working to achieve this vision. Today we have a fully functional Ethics Hearing Board independent of political influences. You demanded that departments consult with the Law Department before making decisions that may have legal consequences. You always want to do the 'right thing.' In short, you set a tone at the top that transformed city government's culture to one that makes city employees proud to be public servants. I would not have continued to be City Solicitor for this long had this not been the case." 

Sanchez Ridge also thanked Pittsburgh City Council and City of Pittsburgh employees. 

"I would be remiss if I didn't mention my gratitude for the support that City Council has given me through the years. The people of Pittsburgh elected committed and honorable people. I have worked very closely with all Council members in passing legislation and addressing their legal needs. They have always been respectful and collaborative. Pittsburgh's best asset is its people. I am honored to have served them and will continue to do so in any way I can." 

Interview With Paul Burton Of Bond Buyer Podcast

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

New Century Careers Event With Governor Wolf 

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: 305 East Carson Street, South Side Flats

Interview With Takashi Ebuchi From The Asahi Shimbum

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 13, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement regarding the Pittsburgh-area congressional election:

"Conor Lamb was a great candidate for Congress who with many friends ran a great campaign, and he sends a message to the entire country that we must work together for our better good. I look forward to working to spread the prosperity of Pittsburgh's new economy throughout western Pennsylvania."

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 13, 2018) Legislation introduced to Pittsburgh City Council today would lead to green infrastructure improvements to McKinley Park in Beltzhoover and Bon Air. 

The green improvements would include landscape work, tree plantings and trimming, interior trails and steps. ADA-compliant ramps on Michigan Street, a new shelter with water and electrical hook-ups and interpretive signage will also be part of the work. 

"This kind of project is good for our urban forests, good for our residents and good for the planet. I'm happy it can be done in our southern neighborhoods," Mayor William Peduto said. 

The park includes parts of Council Districts 3 & 4, represented respectively by Council President Bruce Kraus and Councilman Anthony Coghill. 

"After years of hard work by DPW, CitiParks, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, PWSA, and numerous members of the South Pittsburgh community, we are so thrilled to take this next step in completing a much needed improvement of McKinley Park," Kraus said. "This historic park is a critical asset for our southern neighborhoods, and the partnership's investment in active play space and green infrastructure shows our city's commitment to securing the future of this nearly 150 year old gem. I look forward to working with my colleagues on council in passing this partnership agreement and continuing our work to make the park improvements a reality."  

"Bringing green infrastructure and landscape improvements to McKinley Park is an exciting step forward for District 4," Coghill said. "We know that storm water management is a major issue in our district and I am proud to be a part of working towards a solution." 

The work is expected to cost up to $373,000. The Department of Public Works will perform some of the upgrades and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy – which first applied for grant funding for the project in 2015 – will install and maintain some of the green components. 

“The Parks Conservancy’s green infrastructure work brings value to Pittsburgh through stormwater management and improved health of park ecosystems, supportive habitat for plants and animals, and visual enhancement of the park landscape,” said Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Director of Community Projects Heather Sage. “We are thrilled to continue this work by bringing these benefits to McKinley Park and the communities that surround it.” 

If approved, construction is expected to begin in May. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 13, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington D.C. for the National League of Cities 2018 Congressional City Conference, where more than 2,000 city leaders are gathering to advocate for interests facing cities nationwide. 

The Conference this year is reviewing matters such as resilience, affordable housing, data-driven decision making and the opioid epidemic. 

Pittsburgh hosted the National League of Cities conference in 2016 and has received several NLC grants, including funding for programs regarding financial inclusion, summer meals and youth health care.   

The Mayor returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule - March 12, 2018 

Mayor at National League of Cities Congressional City Conference, Washington, D.C. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – March 13, 2018 

Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) Breakfast 

Time: 7:30 a.m. 

Location: Marriott Wardman Park 

DMO Alumni/VIP Premier Advisory Board Reception 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Location: Marriott Wardman Park 

DMO Board Meeting 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Location: Marriott Wardman Park 

Closing General Session with: Joe Buscaino, National League of Cities Second Vice President and Councilman, Los Angeles; Anna Maria Chavez, Former CEO of Girls Scouts of the US; Mark Stodla, Mayor, National League of Cities President and Mayor, Little Rock, Arkansas; Randy Hultgren, U.S. Congressman, Illinois 14th District; Dutch Ruppersberger, U.S. Congressman, Maryland 2nd District; Tim Scott, U.S. Senator, South Carolina; and Cory Booker, U.S. Senator, New Jersey 

Time: Noon 

Location: Marriott Wardman Park 

DMO Political Council Reception 

Time: 7:15 p.m. 

Location: Marriott Wardman Park 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 14, 2018) The City is seeking applicants to participate in a working group to establish the framework for the Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) zoning overlay. This is a planning tool that could be used in different neighborhoods. This process is to develop the tool that will be available for neighborhoods, not to identify the specific neighborhoods where it could be applied as it is intended that neighborhoods will determine potential locations through neighborhood plans or other planning efforts.

The City of Pittsburgh’s Cultural Heritage Plan called for study to determine the feasibility of adding Conservation Overlay Districts as part of the Zoning Code. Subsequently, City Council passed legislation that supports the possible development of conservation districts and backs the adoption of legislation that will allow for the establishment of these districts. This lead to work initiated by the Department of City Planning with Winter & Company studying the application of Conservation Districts. The NCD Working Group will take that work and define how neighborhood conservation districts can be applied in Pittsburgh and develop guidelines that will delineate eligibility for future NCD overlay candidates.

Neighborhood Conservation Districts are a zoning overlay tool intended to protect a neighborhood’s character. This overlay will consider the relationship between place and architecture and community.

Neighborhood Conservation Districts will be used to conserve and enhance significant areas within a community beyond what is specified in the existing zoning code in Pittsburgh.

The Department of City Planning will work with the NCD working group to establish the structure of the Neighborhood Conservation Districts definition citywide and the Guidelines that will govern this overlay. The NCD policy requires a broad consensus among experts in urban design, architecture, planning and culture with a strong knowledge of the City’s neighborhoods.

Applicants for the NCD working group should have architectural experience and expertise discipline with a strong and diverse urban design aesthetics and experience. The working group also welcomes applicants with other backgrounds like urban sociology, community development, public art, cultural and architectural history. The applicants should be willing to dedicate a minimum of four hours a month for a period of six months.

To learn more about NCD’s & to apply to the NCD Working group please visit our website at:

http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/projects/ncd/index.html

Contact Information:

Felipe Palomo LEED AP BD+C – Project Manager

Neighborhood Planner

Department of City Planning

felipe.palomo@pittsburghpa.gov

412.393.0160

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 14, 2018) Several main thoroughfares throughout Downtown Pittsburgh will be closed Saturday, March 17, for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Other measures are in place for those patronizing South Side businesses on Saturday. 

Downtown street closures will begin at 7:30 a.m. along the parade route, which includes Liberty Avenue, Grant Street, the Boulevard of the Allies and the parade's end at Stanwix Street.  

Streets will be opened up again at approximately 1 p.m.  

The parade will form on Liberty Avenue from 11th to 26th streets.   

Parking will be restricted along the parade route, including in the staging area and other locations reserved for bus parking and/or parade-related activities. 

During the parade, the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee will once again host a family friendly event in Market Square from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  

After the parade the Market Square Merchants Association will hold the "Irish Fair in the Square" event in Market Square, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Participating restaurants and bars can serve alcohol at their sidewalk cafes, and open containers will be allowed in the plaza space of Market Square starting at 2:00 p.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. Market Square will be cleared of patrons by 6:00 p.m.    

Roads leading into Market Square will be closed to through traffic.  

Pittsburgh Public Safety personnel will be patrolling in Downtown and the South Side through the day and evening. There will be zero tolerance for driving while intoxicated or disorderly conduct.  

For those patronizing the South Side, the Second Avenue Parking Plaza will be open for 24 hours of free parking and free shuttle services from the lot to the South Side, beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday. Riders can find where the shuttles are located with the Real Time Shuttle Tracker at www.ssNiteRider.com.  

Starting this year a new NiteRider shuttle stop has been added to the First Street Parking Garage and T Station, so visitors can ride the T, get off at First Avenue and ride the NiteRider directly to the activities on the South Side.  

Shuttles and shuttle stops will be marked with shamrocks. 

Those celebrating St. Patrick's Day are urged do so responsibly and to use public transportation, cabs or ride-sharing services to get around the city. 

“This St. Patrick's Day, everyone has a role to play in keeping our communities safe,” said Craig Ewer, Uber Pennsylvania spokesperson. “Whether you take an Uber, a bus, or a train, we urge you to plan ahead and don’t drink and drive.” 

Lyft Marketing Manager Josh Huber said, "Lyft worked with the Pittsburgh police to identify pick-up locations that work with the expected crowds in the South Side and scheduled road closures throughout Downtown." 

To facilitate traffic flow and emergency access to the neighborhood, no parking will be allowed in the public safety lane on East Carson Street between 12th and 17th starting at 4 a.m. Saturday, March 17 until 4 a.m. Sunday, March 18.  

South Side parking meters will be operating and enforced as normal on Saturday until midnight, as will the Residential Parking Permit areas.  

The Department of Public Works will be cleaning streets after the celebrations and will do their best to attend to trash cans during events, though that work may be impeded by heavy traffic. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 14, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and his Task Force on Women in Public Art are seeking the public's help in selecting an African American woman to be honored with a statue at the site of the Stephen Foster statue in North Oakland. 

There are very few monuments in Pittsburgh dedicated to the many women leaders who have left their mark on the city. At present, there are no African American women represented. As the Stephen Foster statue is set to be removed from its current site in April, the city has a unique opportunity to build something in its place honoring the legacy of African American women and their impressive leadership in Pittsburgh.  

Public art is a vehicle to tell local histories, to enhance quality of life, to add beauty and value to the urban landscape and to inspire people across all cultures, generations and economic circumstances. The City of Pittsburgh believes in inclusivity and equality, and ensuring that all can see themselves in the art around them. It is imperative then that our public art reflect the diversity of our city and that we accordingly represent our diverse heroes. 

The Peduto administration has been working with a myriad of organizations including Gwen’s Girls, Hill House Association, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Women and Girls Foundation, the Women’s Institute at Chatham University and the Urban League to begin the process of commissioning public art representing women of color and their many notable achievements. To that end they are urging that the Pittsburgh community be involved in helping to select an African American woman be honored in statue-form in place of the Stephen Foster installation. 

Community meetings to gather public input will soon be scheduled and a web forum will be open so that residents can nominate African American women who should be celebrated as a statue. The forum can be found at http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/survey/index.html. 

The Task Force will use input from the community meetings to inform a Request for Proposals that will be issued for the artwork. The City’s Public Art Commission will review and deliberate on the proposed location and artwork. The Public Art and Civic Design Division in collaboration with other city departments will then support the procurement and installation process. 

The Task Force on Women in Public Art was formed last year by the Mayor's Chief of Staff Dan Gilman when he was still on City Council. Members include: 

Heather Arnet, Chief Executive Officer of the Women and Girls Foundation 

Terri Baltimore, Director of Neighborhood Engagement of the Hill House Association 

Olivia Benson, Community Engagement Director of the Women and Girls Foundation 

Esther Bush, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh 

Dr. Kathi Elliot, Executive Director of Gwen's Girls 

Kevin Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild 

Dr. Jessie B Ramey, Director of the Women's Institute at Chatham University 

Valerie McDonald-Roberts, Chief of Urban Affairs 

Itha Cao, Policy Analyst 

Gloria Forouzan, Office Manager 

Yesica Guerra, Public Art and Civic Design Manager 

Lindsay Powell, Policy Analyst 

“As Mayor, I am excited and passionate about this project. Public art shows what we value and want to memorialize for all to see," Mayor Peduto said. "I look forward to the community’s input to see how we can remember and commemorate African American women and all their contributions in the City of Pittsburgh." 

Meeting With Director Wendell Hissrich & Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's Annual Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: U.S. Steel Tower, Central Business District

Speaking At Grand Opening Of The Frick Art Museum's New Van Gogh, Monet, Degas Exhibit

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: The Frick Pittsburgh, Point Breeze

Meeting With Swedish Consul General Leif Pagrotsky

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Video For Point Park University's Participation In Pittsburgh's Inclusive Innovation Week

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Paul Burton Of Bond Buyer Podcast

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Attending The University Of Pittsburgh's Graduate School Of Public Health 70th Anniversary Gala

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: University of Pittsburgh, West Oakland

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Recruit Class 17-01 Graduation Ceremony

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: CCAC Allegheny Campus, Allegheny West

African-American Chamber Of Commerce Power Breakfast

Time: 8:00 A.M.

Location: One Oxford Centre - Rivers Club, Central Business District

Meeting With Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy President Jayne Miller & Former President Meg Cheever

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Web Summit 2018 Preparation Call

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Tour Of Carnegie Learning

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Union Trust Building, Central Business District

A Symposium Celebrating The Life & Legacy Of Ambassador Daniel M. Rooney

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Duquesne University, Bluff

Meeting Of Construction Industry Task Force

Time: 10 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Jordan Concoran

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

A Faithful Conversation About Gun Violence

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: JCC Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill North

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 20, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works is preparing to treat and salt roads starting early this evening in anticipation of expected snowfall.   

DPW expects 2-4 inches of snow. Starting at 2 p.m. this afternoon the department will deploy  trucks to treat and salt roads, and crews will work through 6 p.m. on Tuesday.   

311 will extend its hours tonight until 8:00 p.m. to field any related request.  

If necessary the City will post further updates on its webpage. Residents may also track updates on Twitter at @PGHDPW, @CityPGH, @PghPublicSafety, or @Pgh311.   

Residents may submit street treatment requests at any time to @Pgh311.   

To register non-emergency calls about snowy or icy conditions residents may call 311 and speak to a live operator from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. (Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621.)   

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 20, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will join labor and community leaders, elected officials, small business owners, tax experts, and affected families for a roundtable discussion on the newest federal tax bill and its impact on Pittsburgh's working families.  

WHAT: 
Roundtable on the overwhelming effects of the tax bill in Pennsylvania. 

WHO: 
Mayor William Peduto 
Sam Williamson, 32BJ SEIU 
Diana Polson, PA Budget and Policy Center 
Connie Cavara, MomsRising 
Andrea Purse, Advisor for Not One Penny 

WHEN: 
Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 10:00 AM EST 

WHERE: 
Pittsburgh City Hall 
5th Floor - Mayor’s Conference Room 
414 Grant St 
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 20, 2018) As a part of the City of Pittsburgh’s continuing commitment to creating as safe and productive work environment for all employees, Pittsburgh municipal leadership will be introducing legislation to create an expanded set of protections and procedures to prevent workplace harassment.  

The centerpiece of this effort will be a new ordinance requiring the Department of Human Relations & Civil Service to institute a mandatory anti-harassment training program, the first of its kind in City of Pittsburgh history, sponsored by Council President Kraus.  

“If we are to continue our work to make Pittsburgh a truly world-class city, we must continue to hire and develop a world-class workforce,” Council President Kraus said. “Every employee has the right to work in a safe and harassment free environment, and we set the example for all employers in the region with our high level of professionalism and training in harassment prevention.” 

“Every City of Pittsburgh employee has the right to a harassment-free work environment,” said Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto.” As Mayor, I am committed to ensuring that rigorous anti-harassment training is available to all employees and that we continue to encourage a culture of civility in the workplace." 

Additionally, Councilman Corey O’Connor will introduce legislation forbidding the use of non-disclosure agreements as part of any potential settlement with victims of harassment in the workplace, a practice which sees many victims lose their rights and dignity in the event of a harassment or discrimination incident. 

"We need to make sure that the City of Pittsburgh leads by example. We must do what we can to prevent any and all types of harassment, protect victims when it does occur, and properly address offenders," said Councilman Corey O'Connor. 

“We currently comply with Equal Employment Opportunity requirements but the message we are sending with these ordinances is that we will do more to ensure civility in the workplace and be better,” said acting Human Resources and Civil Service Director Janet Manuel. 

Speaking At Press Conference For Announcement Of City Of Pittsburgh's Sexual Harassment Policy

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation In Honor Of Carol Peterson With Councilwoman Deborah Gross

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With John McIntire

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Welcoming Danish Ambassador To The University Of Pittsburgh's Pittsburgh-Denmark Energy Exchange 

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Energy Innovation Center (Clifford B. Connelley School), Crawford-Roberts

Meeting With Kent Bey

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Greg Daigle

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Kathryne Connor

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Trump Tax Plan Press Conference

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation For Pittsburgh Day Of Puppetry - Following Show By Pittsburgh Students

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Grand Lobby, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Wendell Hissrich & Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

La Palapa's Grand Opening

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: 2224 East Carson Street, South Side Flats

Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corporation Annual Dinner

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Wyndam Hotel, Central Business District

Interview With WDVE

Time: 8:45 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Phone Call With University Of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Harvard HBX Live Mayors Course

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office Of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Heinz Hall Taskforce

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Heinz Hall for the Performaning Arts, Central Business District

Meeting With Cornell Jones

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Headquarters, Chateau

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Jeff Harris

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Welcome National Society Of Black Engineers Conference To Pittsburgh

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Grand Opening Of South Side Traveler's Rest Hotel

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: South Side Traveler's Rest Hotel, South Side Flats

Unveiling Of The United States Post Office Mister Rogers Commemorative Forever Stamp

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Fred Rogers Studio - WQED-TV, Squirrel Hill North

Meeting With Gloria LeDonne & Janet Scullion

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Penn State RULE Event

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Renaissance Hotel, Central Business District

Meeting With Chris Beichner

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation For Phillip Horn's Retirement Party

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: City of Asylum, Central North Side

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 23, 2018) We stand in solidarity with students who are demanding change and in support of the student actions that have occurred in schools within the city and around the region. Students from more than 30 schools in the region participated in the National Walkout Day on March 14th, 2018. These students stood united with other young people from around the country to ensure that schools are a place for learning and growth, not fear and tragedy. Students are demanding action to end the public health crisis of gun violence at school. The student’s participated in this national action by observing 17 minutes of silence or walking out of class for 17 minutes. This was to acknowledge and reflect on the lives of the 17 individuals that lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14th, 2018.  
 
We applaud the leadership of students in our region who are demanding change. Nia Arrington, a senior at Pittsburgh Public School CAPA and intern at One PA states "…the students in this city are tired of feeling like our voices are not heard so we are going to begin to demand change from our city, our government officials and our schools to ensure that real change will come out of this. We are marching for our lives so that our children will not have to march for theirs."
 
All students deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and should not have to worry about being gunned down in their classrooms or on their school campus. In order to keep students safe there is a need for bipartisan collective action. The Welcoming Pittsburgh Youth Advisory Committee says “It is important for every student to know that regardless of if they can vote, they can make a difference. Students have always been on the forefront of change, whether it has been in Birmingham, Alabama or right here in Pittsburgh Public Schools. We are proud of Pittsburgh area students for raising their voices to create an impact on the issue of safety in schools. Youth are not only the future, but the present. As students stand up and use their voices to call for change across the United States, Pittsburgh will stand alongside them." The powerful voices of students have changed the national conversation around school safety and as public servants it is up to us to advocate for the reforms that are needed to keep them safe. Our administration will continue to honor the voices of students and to amplify their message.   
 
Schools that participated in the March 14th as a demonstration for National Walkout Day (per Pittsburgh Public School):  

• Taylor Allderdice High School 
• Greenfield Elementary-Middle School 
• Brashear High School 
• Brookline PreK-8 
• Pittsburgh Obama 
• Pittsburgh CAPA 
• Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy 

March For Our Lives participants will begin gathering on the portico at City-County Building at 11:30 a.m.. Remarks will take place on the portico 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.. The march will begin at Noon and end in Market Square wiith additional speeches and appearances by student activists, local thought leaders, and City and State representatives.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 23, 2018) City Council has approved Mayor William Peduto's appointment of Janet Manuel as the new Director of Human Resources and Civil Service.   

Manuel began working for the City of Pittsburgh January 16, 2017, as Deputy Director, Human Resources and Civil Service. Later in the same year through an Executive Order on April 19, 2017, she was tasked with responsibilities as EEO/Diversity and Inclusion Officer.  

Manuel is replacing former Pittsburgh's Chief of Administration and Director of its Human Resources Department Debbie Lestitian, who left the city in February for a new role overseeing the restructuring of the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority.   

"I am honored that Janet Manuel has agreed to serve the employees and residents of this City.  Director Manuel has a bold vision for a modern Department of Human Resources and Civil Service that will work in the best interest of all of our employees, " said Mayor Peduto.  

“I am grateful and appreciative of the opportunity that Mayor Peduto, Chief of Staff Gilman, Council President Kraus and City Council have given me to advance the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service for the City of Pittsburgh and to positively impact those that we serve,” said Director Manuel.   

Prior to joining the City of Pittsburgh, Ms. Manuel held the position of Vice President, Human Resources for Vincentian Collaborative Services a HealthCare and Social Service organization.  

Manuel serves on the Executive and General Board of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association (PHRA). In 2018, she will serve as President-Elect for the PHRA than hold the position of President for the PHRA in 2019.  Manuel serves as Chairperson for the CCAC Job Placement and Career Advisory Board (representing all four campuses) and Manuel also serves on the General and Executive Employer Advisory Board for West PAC (Consortium of 40 plus Colleges and Universities in Western PA).  

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 23, 2018) - The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works advises that there will be refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Friday, March 30, 2018. 

City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed.   

Questions concerning refuse collection should be directed to Environmental Services at (412) 255-2773.  

The following Citiparks facilities will adjust operating hours during the week of March 26 to March 30 as follows: 

Health Active Living Centers (Senior Centers) 

• All Healthy Active Living Center will be closed on Good Friday 

• Note: These centers are not open Saturday and Sundays 

Recreation Centers 

• From Monday 3/26 to Thursday Rec. Center hours are as follows: 

• Ammon, Brookline, Magee, Warrington, Ormsby, and Phillips: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

• Jefferson and Paulson: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

• West Penn: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

• All Recreation Centers will be closed: Friday 3/30, Saturday 3/31, and Sunday 4/1 

Aquatics/Swimming 

• Friday, March 30 Closed (Good Friday) 

• Saturday, March 31 Closed 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Lifeguard Recertification) 

• Sunday, April 1 Closed (Easter)  

Mellon Tennis Bubble 

• Closed Easter Sunday 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 23, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh invites you to attend a public meeting being held for the McFarren Street Bridge Project (in the Duck Hollow community). This meeting offers an opportunity to view the new alignment, configuration of the bridge deck, plans for Maintenance and Protection of Traffic during construction and the construction schedule. The project team will also be available to answer questions. 

MEETING DETAILS 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018 

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

6:30 p.m. Presentation 

Jewish Association on Aging 

200 JHF Drive 

Pittsburgh, PA  15217 

For more information, please contact: 

Jeff Skalican, Deputy Director  

City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure  

(412) 255-2373 or Jeff.Skalican@pittsburghpa.gov 

The meeting facility is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  In addition, if you or an individual with whom you are familiar does not speak English as their primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English, and desires to participate in this meeting, or if you require special assistance to attend and/or participate in this meeting, or need additional information, please call the number above. 

Saturday, March 24, 2018

March For Our Lives

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: City-County Building, Grand Portico

Sunday, March 25, 2018

No public events scheduled. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 26, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh announced today that the Division of Sustainability and Resilience, a part of the Department of City Planning, will be sending notification letters to the owners of all buildings that must comply with the Pittsburgh Building Benchmarking Ordinance (Ord. No. 29-2016). The letter will include a guide on how to comply and additional information about the benefits of regularly monitoring building performance. 

Passed in October 2016, the Pittsburgh Building Benchmarking Ordinance requires owners of all non-residential buildings over 50,000 sq. Ft. to track and report annual energy and water consumption data to the City. Starting this year, the data for buildings required to report must be submitted to the City by June 1st. Following this submission period, the City will prepare a report to contextualize this data and make it publicly available.  

Buildings in Pittsburgh account for 81% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. Benchmarking gives building engineers, managers, owners, and tenants valuable information on how their buildings perform over time, as well as how they compare to peer buildings.  

While the Building Benchmarking Ordinance does not require buildings owners to take any measures to reduce energy or water use, elsewhere the increased awareness of energy and water use brought about by benchmarking has been shown to result in a 4 to 7 percent reduction in utility use. 

More information about the ordinance, how to comply, and the list of buildings that must comply can be found at: http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/programs/building-benchmarking. 

If you have any questions concerning the building benchmarking ordiance please contact Flore Marion, Flore.Marion@pittsburghpa.gov. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 26, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh today issued an RFP (Request for Proposal) for optimized snow removal routing and services.  

The Optimizes Snow Routes should include the following: 

• Route Generation 
• Route Management 
• Dynamically Generated Routes 
• Monitors plow up/down and spreader on/off 
• Optimizes salt storage locations 
• Gas monitoring and low fuel notifications 
• Salt monitoring and low salt notifications 
• Optimizes DPW division lines 
• Include GPS units in vehicle with voice turn-by-turn directions 

"This is an important step to creating a 21st century snow removal process. We must give our workers the tools to succeed," said Mayor William Peduto.  

The bid will be posted to Beacon within the Bid Opportunities page. Interested bidding participants must be registered on beacon to submit their proposals electronically.  

Questions can be directed via email to the REP coordinator listed within the RFP. RFP submission opens Monday, March 26, 2018 and will close on Wednesday, April 20, 2018 at 4:00 p.m..  

Meeting With Rocky Bleier

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting Hill District Community Development Corporation

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 27, 2018) - The City of Pittsburgh offices and Citiparks will be closed on Friday, March 30, 2018 in observance of Good Friday.  

Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Friday, March 30, 2018 will continue as scheduled.  

Questions concerning refuse collection should be directed to the Bureau Environmental Services at (412) 255-2773.   

The following Citiparks facilities will adjust operating hours during the week of Monday, March 26 to Thursday, March 30 as follows:  

Health Active Living Centers (Senior Centers):  

• All Healthy Active Living Center will be closed on Good Friday  

• Note: These centers are not  regularly open Saturday and Sundays  

Recreation Centers:  

• From Monday, March 26 to Thursday, March 29, Recreation Center hours are as follows:  

• Ammon, Brookline, Magee, Warrington, Ormsby, and Phillips: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  

• Jefferson and Paulson: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  

• West Penn: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  

• All Recreation Centers will be closed: Friday, March 30, Saturday. March, 31 and Sunday, April, 1.  

Aquatics/Swimming:  

• Friday, March 30 Closed (Good Friday)  

• Saturday, March 31 Closed 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Lifeguard Recertification)  

• Sunday, April 1 Closed (Easter)   

Mellon Tennis Bubble:  

• Sunday, April 1 Closed (Easter) 

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Press Conference

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Police Headquarters, Chateau

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Policy Analyst Lara Sullivan

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Jeff Betten, Erik Cirelli, & Emily Rodgers

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief of Staff Daniel Gilman & Director Of The Office Of Management & Budget Jennifer Presutti

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Rich DiClaudio

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: The Duquesne Club, Central Business District

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Bureau Of Police Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking To Opening Session Of The City Of Pittsburgh's Civic Leadership Academy

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Speaking To City Of Pittsburgh's LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Conference Room B, City-County Building

Pressley Ridge "R 2020" Groundbreaking Ceremony

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: 530 Marshall Avenue, Perry South

Meeting With David Roger, Scott Izzo, Grant Oliphant, & Maxwell King

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Kenneth Wolfe

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting March City Of Pittsburgh Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

National Association Of Women Business Owner's Award Ceremony

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Gaetano's Banquet Center & Restaurant, Beechview

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

CCAC Workforce Initiative Meeting

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Kicking Off Pittsburgh's Inclusive Innovation Week

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: BNY Mellon Innovation Center, Central Business District 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 2, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety have named Chris Togneri as Public Information Officer, a role in which he will lead communications for the city's Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Animal Care and Control bureaus. 

Togneri, of Troy Hill, will begin work on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. 

Togneri is an award-winning writer who has lately worked as a freelance journalist following positions at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Modesto Bee and the Slovak Spectator in Slovakia. He is a multiple winner of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania's Golden Quill awards and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Keystone Press awards, and has received awards from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Pennsylvania Women's Press Association and the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors. 

He received a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2004 and a Bachelor's degree in English from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, in 1997. 

Togneri replaces former PIO Sonya Toler, who left the City to become Senior Director of Communications for Propel Schools. He will work in tandem with Assistant Public Information Officer Alicia George. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 2, 2018) Crews from the Department of Public Works today began their annual street cleaning work, which will continue weekdays through November. 

Motorists are reminded to check street cleaning schedules that are affixed to signs along city roadways. Those parked in designated street cleaning zones will be subject to fines. 

Enforcement officers from the Pittsburgh Parking Authority will issue warnings the first two weeks of this month and begin issuing tickets to those parked in street cleaning zones on April 16.  

Street cleaning is necessary to address debris that collects along curbsides during winter months and gravel that is dislodged by potholes. This year DPW also plans to focus on street cleaning in neighborhood business districts, which will be performed during overnight hours, and on keeping storm catch basins cleared. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 3, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and Public Safety officials will hold a press conference tomorrow morning with officials from Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute and Metro21 to discuss the latest predictive modeling of structure fire risk.  

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2018 

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building 

Vincentian de Marillac Grand Reopening

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Vincentian de Marillac, Stanton Heights

Paid Safe Leave Press Conference

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

FamilyLinks Luncheon With Former Pittsburgh Penguin Kevin Stevens On Opioid Crisis

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: PPG Paints Arena, Central Business District

KDKA Interview On Summer '18 With Allegheny County Executive

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Community Affairs Liaison Oliver Beasley

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Community Affairs Liaison Leah Friedman

Time: 2:45 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Children's Museum Of Pittsburgh Great Night Gala Kick-Off Party

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: The Residences, 550 Market Street, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 3, 2018) Mayor William Peduto joined community partners today to announce an Executive Order creating a Paid Safe Leave policy for city employees victimized by domestic abuse. 

Many individuals in the city – and particularly women – face intimate partner violence, which can lead to lost workdays and cuts in pay. Those who experience intimate partner violence typically forfeit 7.2 days of work-related lost productivity according to the National Partnership on Women and Girls.   

The Mayor's Executive Order directs the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service to create a policy that provides relief for those facing domestic abuse while also protecting their privacy and confidentiality. It will be offered to all non-union employees. 

"It is critical that we provide our most vulnerable city employees with needed resources to address these life threatening circumstances," Mayor Peduto said. 

The Mayor was joined at a press conference by Department of Human Resources and Civil Service Director Janet Manuel and representatives from organizations including the city's Gender Equity Commission, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Women's Law Project, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape and the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. 

While the Executive Order impacts only non-union City employees (since their workplace conditions are not subject to collective bargaining) it is hoped that Paid Safe Leave will ultimately be adopted for workers across the public and private sectors in Pittsburgh. 

The full order is available here.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 3, 2018) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure advises that there will be a complete closure of the intersection of Smithfield Street and Oliver Avenue for one week in order to accommodate the erection of a tower crane located at 350 Oliver Avenue. The closure will begin on April 7, at 7:00 a.m., and end on April 14, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.  The intersection and roadways will be open to traffic on April 15.    

The construction of the tower crane is required for the development of the 350 Oliver Avenue site. A detour for all vehicles traveling along Smithfield Street, including Port Authority buses, will be posted.  The detour will utilize Fifth Avenue, Grant Street, and Sixth Avenue. Oliver Avenue will be closed to through traffic at the intersection.  Affected bus stops along Smithfield Street will be temporarily suspended during the closure.   

Maxim Crane Works, LP is performing the work.   

Pedestrians will have access to all buildings and businesses as well as access through the intersection of Smithfield Street and Oliver Avenue.   

If you have any questions concerning this closure, please contact Mr. Pete Bianco, Project Manager for the General Contractor, Mosites, at 412-923-2255 x206, or via email to peteb@mosites.com. 

Inclusive Innovation Week - Tuesday - April 3rd, 2018 Schedule: 

Language Access Summit  

Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm 

Location: Ascender (6401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206) 

CONNECTS: FDA Vision for Novel Technologies  

Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm 

Location: Carnegie Mellon University Newell Simon Hall (3305 Hamerschlag Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213) 

The Link Between Diversity and Impact/Social Entrepreneurship  

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm 

Location: K&L Gates (210 Sixth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222) 

Best Buy Teen Tech Center Open House  

Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm 

Location: Best Buy Teen Tech Center (5850 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206) 

Prototyping & Design Lab: 3D Printing and Laser Etching  

Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm           

Location: Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (Entrepreneurship Hub 2nd Floor, 6585 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206) 

ART, ACTIVISM, TECHNOLOGY AND THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS  

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm 

Location: 1 Hood Media (460 Melwood Ave, Suite 207, Pittsburgh, PA 15213) 

Legal Basics Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs  

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm 

Location: Chatham Eastside (6585 Penn Ave, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15206) 

Documentary Screening of After Spring with Hello Neighbor  

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm 

Location: Frick Fine Arts Building (650 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15260) 

Here Is Black Tech in Pittsburgh!  

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm 

Location: Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science (5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213) 

Gentle Flowga at YOGAMOTIF  

Time: 6:15pm – 7:45pm 

Location: YOGAMOTIF (124 South Highland Street, Studio 210, Pittsburgh, PA 15206) 

Inclusive Decision Making for Business and Community  

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm 

Location: Repair the World (6022 Broad Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206) 

Annual Memorial Ceremony For Fallen Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Officers Paul Sciullo, Eric Kelly, & Stephen Mayhle

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Zone 5, Highland Park

Meeting With Michael Madaio

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Fire Risk Prediction Press Conference

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Speaking At CeaseFirePA's Memorial Ceremony On The 50th Anniversary Of The Assassination Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: The Union Ballroom, Duquesne University, Bluff

Filming Interview With Bloomberg Philanthropies

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Filming Interview With Bloomberg Philanthropies At Phipps Conservancy & Botanical Gardens With Director Richard V. Piacentini

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Phipps Conservancy & Botanical Gardens, Schenley Park

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Patrick Dowd & Kevin Kinross

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Chief Financial Officer Sam Ashbaugh, & Director Of Management & Budget Jennifer Presutti

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Farewell Event For Todd Owens

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, The Strip District

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Trinity Cathedral, Central Business District

Carnegie Mellon University Energy Week Forum

Time: 7:30 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Squirrel Hill North

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 4, 2018) Mayor William Peduto joined officials from the Departments of Public Safety and Innovation & Performance and from Carnegie Mellon University today to detail their latest collaborative efforts to use data sharing to provide Pittsburgh residents with better city services. 

The Mayor lauded a predictive model built by CMU Ph.D. student Michael A. Madaio that determines fire risk in the city's commercial buildings, which since last year the Fire Bureau has used to help inform its fire inspections. There are roughly 22,000 commercial properties in the city and the Bureau cannot inspect every last one, so the model from Madaio, a doctoral student at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, helps the Bureau prioritize its inspection work. 

The model was built with data including historical fire incidents from 2009-2017, property assessment and valuation data and non-fire related inspection data from the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections. It is updated every week. 

In the project's first six months, beginning in July 2017, the model identified 57 properties with a high-risk of fire. Of that number 50 of the properties (or 88%) indeed experienced fire incidents. 

"The technology being pioneered in Pittsburgh is making residents safer, and it is proven to work," Mayor Peduto said. 

New York City and Atlanta have similar predictive modeling technology for fires but only the model designed for Pittsburgh is updated every week, using assistance from Innovation & Performance and the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center. 

The Mayor said similar predictive analysis is planned for the Bureau of Police and that Pittsburgh – working with university and foundation partners – is poised to become a worldwide leader in the predictive analytics field. 

Further details on Madaio's work are available here. His research is a project of CMU's Metro21 Smart Cities Institute, which is a multidisciplinary effort to find ways to improve quality of life for residents of urban areas. Carnegie Mellon’s Smart Cities work has also contributed to improved traffic flow, pollution reduction, and public safety efforts in Pittsburgh. 

In 2015 the Peduto Administration and CMU were founding members of the national MetroLab Network, which similarly works to find solutions to challenges facing metropolitan regions. 

Inclusive Innovation Week Wednesday - April 4th, 2018 Schedule:

Economic Opportunity Forum with the Sprout Fund

Time: 9:00am – 11:30am

Location: Energy Innovation Center (1435 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219)

Data 101: Intro to Mapping

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: Beechview - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (1910 Broadway Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216)

CMU Energy Week 2018 - Day One Kickoff and Welcome

Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University (5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA,15213)

Tap into your inner child—yes, play is for all ages! Come play at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh!

Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Location: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh (10 Children's Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Small Business Resource Fair

Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Location: Iron Workers Local Union No. 3 (2201 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222)

Panel: Workplace Equitability: Taking it from Theory to Reality

Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Threadbare Cider House (1291 Spring Garden Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Pittsburgh 50 Years Later, Moving Forward - Remembering MLK

Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: CCAC Auditorium (808 Ridge Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Saving with Zero Waste Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Location: East Liberty (130 S Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

Exploration of Identity and Gesture with the Mattress Factory and Wesley High School

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Mattress Factory (500 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Re-igniting Gender Equity Conversations

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Threadbare Cider House (1291 Spring Garden Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

A Conversation Between Designers Brett Yasko and Bonnie Siegler

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University Wean Hall (Room 7500 Hamerschlag Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213)

Tx3 Power: Shattering Color and Gender Barriers with Your Thoughts, Talents, and Tenacity

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Ascender (6401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

Distinguished Mayor’s Forum: Energy & Resilience: How Smarter Cities are Preparing for the Future

Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University (5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213)

Inclusive Innovation Week Thursday - April 5th, 2018 Schedule:

PANEL: Codesigning the Future of Pittsburgh Together

Time: 8:30am – 10:00am

Location: Spaces Bakery Square (6425 Living Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

Accessible Art at The Andy Warhol Museum

Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm

Location: The Andy Warhol Museum (117 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Facebook Live Stream from Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation Digital

Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Sustainability Weekend Launch

Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University (5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213)

CONNECTS: The Hustlenomics Way: Hip-Hop Business 101

Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business (322, 3rd floor, Faculty Conference Room, Tech Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213)

Girl Powered - Girls of STEM with Robomatter

Time: 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Location: Magee Recreation Center (745 Greenfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217)

Immigrant Entrepreneurship Panel & GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays Special Edition

Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Roland's Seafood Grill (1904 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222)

An Inclusive Path from Making to Manufacturing

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: University of Pittsburgh's Manufacturing Assistance Center (7800 Susquehanna Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208)

Everyone Is Welcome: An Inclusive Sustainability Showcase

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: The Frame Gallery (5200 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213)

Disrupted: The Risks and Opportunities of Emerging Technologies

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Community Forge (1256 Franklin Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221)

Civic hacking is for everyone!

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Location: Code & Supply Community Center (3rd Floor, 5648 Friendship Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

Creative Conversation Series: Giving a Voice to the Issues We Face Together

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Location: Union Project (801 N Negley Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 5, 2018) Fitch Ratings today affirmed the City's AA- bond rating and judged its financial outlook to be stable. 

The ratings "incorporate the city's improved operating performance, including its exceptionally strong ability to manage through downturns given a solid reserve cushion and significant independent legal ability to increase revenues," the Fitch report said. 

The bond rating affirmation was the first since the City exited Act 47 fiscally distressed status in February. 

"The city recently exited the Commonwealth's Fiscal Recovery Act (Act 47), which provided strong state oversight and significant control over expenditures. Despite the absence of state oversight, Fitch believes that Pittsburgh is well positioned to manage its budget in line with the current rating level," the report said. 

Inauguration Of Councilwoman-Elect Erika Strassburger

Time: 10:00 A.M. 

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Interview With Vice News Tonight’s Sheila Kumar

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With AFSCME Local 2037

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

North Side Chamber Of Commerce Business Award Luncheon

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Heinz Field, North Shore

Interview With Sean Hamill

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of City Planning Ray Gastil & Public Art & Civic Design Manager Yesica Guerra

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

OnePGH Meeting

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Carlow University Women Of Spirit Award Ceremony

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Music Hall, North Oakland

Tropical Forest Flower Show Debut

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Schenley Park

Meeting With Bob Kennedy & Michael Grace
Time: 10:30 A.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Harish Saluja
Time: 12:00 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge
Time: 2:30 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Deputy Chiefs Kyle Chintalapalli & Majestic Lane
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Benefit For Puerto Rico
Time: 6:30 P.M.
Location: Melwood Theater, North Oakland

Civic Light Opera SPARK Festival
Time: 7:30 P.M.
Location: Andy Warhol Museum, North Shore

Inclusive Innovation Week Friday - April 6th, 2018 Schedule:

Leveraging Our Innovation Economy: A Roundtable Discussion on How to Grow Community-Driven Innovation with InnovatePgh and the Allegheny Conference

Time: 9:30am – 11:00am

Location: Kingsley Association (6435 Frankstown Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

Computer Reach Volunteer Computer Recycling for ConnectHome USA Initiative

Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Location: Computer Reach (214 N Lexington St, Pittsburgh, PA 15208)

Introducing Startups to Obama Academy

Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Location: AlphaLab Gear (6024 Broad St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

GitHub Patchworks: Introduction to GitHub

Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm

Location: CoLab18 (100 S Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Corporate Social Responsibility, Diversity, and Inclusion

Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University (5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213)

Shaping Equitable Development: Design as Activism

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Module Demo Unit (1726 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219)

Pittsburgh Fringe Festival Preview Performances

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Nova Place (100 S Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

VaultArt Studio - A Project of ACHIEVA

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: VaultArt Studio (5100 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224)

Early Learning Providers Soiree

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: NavusHouse (1515 Boyle Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212)

Games for Change Student Challenge News Literacy Game Jam

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Alloy 26 (100 S Commons Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

PGH in 360: Youth Perspectives

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Nova Place (100 S Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Youth Innovation Night Sponsored by Google

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Nova Place (100 S Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Unblurred - First Fridays

Time: 6:00pm – 11:00pm

Location: Penn Avenue (Penn Ave, Garfield, PA)

Games People Play with the Banksville Civic Association

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Location: Banksville Park Facility (1495 Crane Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15220)

FUTUREMAKERS Labs with the Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Time: 8:00pm – 11:00pm

Location: Kelly Strayhorn Theater (5941 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule - April 7 & 8, 2018.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

No public events scheduled.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

No public events scheduled.

Pennsylvania’s Automated Vehicle Summit
Time: 12:30 P.M.
Location: DoubleTree By Hilton, Central Business District 

Carnegie Mellon University-K&L Gates Conference On Ethics & AI
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Jared L. Cohen Center - Carnegie Mellon University, Squirrel Hill North

Interview With WESA’s Kevin Gavin
Time: 3:30 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation To 412 Store
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting
Time: 4:30 P.M.
Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

45th Annual Art Rooney Awards Dinner & Auction
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Location: William Penn Hotel, Central Business  
 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 10, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has closed Rialto Street in Troy Hill. This is required as a routine inspection of the Lowrie Street Bridge discovered deficiencies in that structure that could threaten the safety of traffic below. Barricades have been placed on Lowrie Street to shift motor vehicle traffic off of the vulnerable section. Pedestrian access on Lowrie Street is unaffected. Pedestrian access is prohibited on Rialto Street during the closure.   

The closure will remain in place until further notice while the Department pursues repair of the bridge.  

Motorists are advised to use Troy Hill Road as an alternative.   

For questions, please contact Deputy Director Jeff Skalican at 412-496-5919. 

Speaking At PA AFL-CIO 43rd Constitutional Convention
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Location: Wyndham Grand, Central Business District

Presenting At Bridges Without Boundaries North Central West Virginia Business Summit
Time: 1:00 P.M.
Location: Robert H. Mollohan Research Center, West Virginia

Meeting With West Virginia University President Dr. Gordon Gee
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Robert H. Mollohan Research Center, West Virginia

Tour Of High Technology Foundation With Jim Estep
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Location: 1000 Galliher Drive, Fairmont, West Virginia 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 10, 2018) A micro loan program supported by Mayor William Peduto for small businesses and entrepreneurs is set to go before the board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Thursday. 

The Micro-Enterprise Loan Program would offer loans of $5,000 to $20,000 to businesses citywide to help cover costs of machinery and equipment, working capital, and leasehold improvement, including façade renovations. The loans will have 2% interest, cover up to 90% of project costs, and come with technical assistance to businesses. 

The program will assist small businesses whose needs are not met by traditional sources of start-up capital, and follows the p4 development model advocated by Mayor Peduto, which focuses on people, planet, place and performance.  

The Mayor announced the micro loan program at the launch of Inclusive Innovation Week April 2. 

"This program will strengthen the URA's ability to spread opportunity throughout the city of Pittsburgh, especially to minority and women business owners who have not always had ready access to capital," the Mayor said. 

The pilot program will be administered by the URA's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and other URA staff with the assistance of 3rd party advisory committees to provide financial underwriting guidance and technical assistance to borrowers. 

PITTSBURGH, PA ( April 10, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Task Force on Women in Public Art will host five deliberative community forums to engage and collect more feedback in selecting an African American woman to be honored with a statue at the site of the Stephen Foster statue in North Oakland.   

The Task Force will use input from the community forums to inform a Request for Proposals that will be issued for the artwork.  

Event Details:    

Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018   

Location: McKinley Recreation Center - 900 Delmont Ave   

Pittsburgh, PA 15210  

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2018  

Location: Pittsburgh Project - 2801 N Charles St  

Pittsburgh, PA 15214  

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2018  

Location: Nazarene Baptist Church* - 7053 Hamilton Ave  

Pittsburgh, PA 15208  

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018  

Location: Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center (Senior Center)* - 720 Sherwood Ave.   

Pittsburgh, PA 15204  

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2018  

Location: Hill House Association* - 1835 Centre Ave  

Pittsburgh, PA 15219  

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  

To register for this event including child care, please follow this link. *Childcare will be provided for the Sheraden, Hill, and Homewood forums.   

PITTSBURGH, PA ( April 10, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Task Force on Women in Public Art will host five deliberative community forums to engage and collect more feedback in selecting an African American woman to be honored with a statue at the site of the Stephen Foster statue in North Oakland.   

The Task Force will use input from the community forums to inform a Request for Proposals that will be issued for the artwork.  

Event Details:    

Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018   

Location: McKinley Recreation Center - 900 Delmont Ave   

Pittsburgh, PA 15210  

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2018  

Location: Pittsburgh Project - 2801 N Charles St  

Pittsburgh, PA 15214  

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2018  

Location: Nazarene Baptist Church* - 7053 Hamilton Ave  

Pittsburgh, PA 15208  

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018  

Location: Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center (Senior Center)* - 720 Sherwood Ave.   

Pittsburgh, PA 15204  

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2018  

Location: Hill House Association* - 1835 Centre Ave  

Pittsburgh, PA 15219  

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  

To register for this event including child care, please follow this link. *Childcare will be provided for the Sheraden, Hill, and Homewood forums.   

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 10, 2018) The board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority is set to vote Thursday on three resolutions supporting 160 affordable housing units in the North Side, Hill District, and three Hilltop communities in southern Pittsburgh. 

One resolution would issue financing debt for the redevelopment of 126 affordable housing properties in the North Side communities of California-Kirkbride, Central Northside and Perry South. The URA is poised to issue up to $23.9 million in debt for the project, which is expected to take up to eight years. 

The project includes the historic rehabilitation of 124 units and new construction of two replacement units.  Renovations will include new roofs, windows, flooring, appliances and updated kitchens and bathrooms.  Most the units will be gutted and reframed, and will receive all new mechanical systems.  The approximate construction cost per unit is $175,000. 

Another resolution asks the URA board to issue roughly $4 million in debt and enter exclusive negotiations with developer Ralph A. Falbo for the redevelopment of the Western Restoration buildings in the Middle Hill District into affordable rental housing. 

The subject property is the former Tuberculosis Hospital building located at 2591 Bedford Avenue. Plans are for a total of 24 affordable units developed in the three existing buildings. The developer will upgrade all common areas including sidewalks, common area lighting, apartment kitchens, and bathrooms. The project includes approximately $135,000 per unit in renovation costs and the estimated total project cost is $6.7 million.  

The financing plan will restrict occupancy to households with incomes at or below 60% of area median income (AMI).  

A final resolution would grant $25,000 for the rehabilitation of up to 10 affordable homes in the Hilltop neighborhoods of Carrick, Allentown and Knoxville.  

The agreement is with Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh (RTP) to cover soft costs for the project, which is expected to have a total project cost of $545,485. The majority of the homeowners served will have incomes at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI).   

In the past, URA has entered into grant agreements with RTP to rehabilitate homes in Homewood, Hazelwood, Allentown and the Upper Hill District.

Pennsylvania Municipal League Month Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With MetroNews Talkline's Hoppy Kercheval

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: August Wilson Center, Central Business District

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 12, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh and Mayor William Peduto are actively seeking to recruit workers with disabilities, becoming the latest Pittsburgh-area employers to join the "21 & Able" Career Transition Project, an employee recruitment and retention initiative. 

Almost 1,000 individuals with disabilities graduate high school and enter the local job market every year. 21 & Able, an initiative of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, makes connections between those job-seekers and major area employers.  

This week the City began to implement the Career Transition Project (CTP), which over the past four years has connected 366 individuals ages 18-38 with disabilities to competitive employment in community organizations throughout Allegheny County. 

Studies show that these workers normally hold positions longer than those without disabilities and have fewer scheduled and unscheduled absences than those without disabilities. 

"A public service career within city government can be a life-changing experience for anyone, but especially someone with disabilities. I am honored that we have become part of this program," Mayor Peduto said. 

This week the City's Human Resources and Civil Service Department under Director Janet Manuel began introducing all city departments to the hiring initiative, which will be aided by Sabrina Clay-Brown, a Career Transition Professional (CTP) who will be embedded in the HRCS department. 

Her role will be to act as a non-traditional recruiter and job coach with the goal to act as career counselor for individuals with disabilities. She will assist and identify qualified job seekers of diverse backgrounds who are ready for a competitive work environment. 

She will also work with City officials to:  

• Provide recruiting assistance, guidance, training and general support to city departments regarding the hiring of individuals with disabilities. 

• Identify qualified candidates, assist them through the application process and serve as a resource for candidates through the selection process. 

The City of Pittsburgh joins other major employers including Giant Eagle, Peoples Gas, Fed-Ex, Allegheny County and the University of Pittsburgh in participating in the program.  

Participating agencies include: Life’s Work of Western PA; Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh; the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR); Achieva; Evolve Coaching Autism support and job coaches; United Way; and Bender Consulting Services. 

Groundbreaking For Tree Pittsburgh's Heritage Tree Nursery and Education Center

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Heritage Tree Nursery - Under 62nd Street Bridge, Upper Lawrenceville

Meeting With Roberto Clemente Junior

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Councilwoman Deborah Gross & Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse 15th Anniversary

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: 2425 Sidney Street, South Side Flats

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 13, 2018) The inbound (northern) lane of Commercial Street and Forward Avenue in Swisshelm Park and Squirrel Hill is being reopened this afternoon. 

The streets have been shut down due to landslide activity. Crews have been working to remediate the area and can now safely reopen the inbound lane going from Swisshelm Park north to Squirrel Hill. It will reopen by 1 p.m. today.

The outbound lane remains subject to landslides and is still closed. Motorists should follow posted detours. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 13, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) have finalized the list of 2018 street resurfacing projects, totaling nearly 55 miles of paving this year.  

Paving work is set to begin Monday.  

The full list of streets the City will be paving this year can be found here. Weekly work lists for individual streets will also be posted. 

The list of streets where work is being performed next week is here, and a searchable map of 2018 street resurfacing work via Burgh's Eye View is here. 

The City plans to resurface 35.7 miles (506,938 square yards) of asphalt paving on its own but the total amount of paving will be greater with the addition of work by utilities. In addition to the city's work there will be:  

• 8.93 miles / 143,649 square yards through utility coordination 

• 1.20 miles / 18,963 square yards done by utilities alone 

• 8.84 miles / 203,581 square yards of mechanical patching  

In all, that totals 54.67 miles of asphalt street paving work this year. 

The paving list was prepared by DOMI and finalized this week after discussions with members of Pittsburgh City Council on street paving needs in their districts. 

The city's overall street resurfacing budget for 2018 is nearly $17 million. The Peduto Administration introduced legislation in February adding $800,000 to that budget.  

2018 Greater Pittsburgh Community Leaders Prayer Breakfast 

Time: 7:30 A.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Meeting With The Warhol Museum's Patrick Moore & Karen Lautanenk

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With State Representative Dom Costa

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Waynesburg University Stovar Scholars Visit

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald & Duquesne University President Ken Gormley

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Duquesne University, Bluff

Meeting With Department Of Mobility & Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 15, 2018) In anticipation of heavy rains expected later today the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) will again temporarily close Forward Avenue and Commercial Street in Squirrel Hill and Swisshelm Park. The street will remain closed at least through tomorrow, Monday, April 16.

Forward/Commercial was reopened in the inbound direction toward Squirrel Hill on Friday after city crews established a buffer between a slide area and travel lane. The buffer shifts traffic away from the vulnerable hillside but does not prevent material from encroaching on the road should significant slide activity occur. 

The National Weather Service is predicting thunderstorms and between 1 to 2 inches of rain starting this evening. DOMI will close Forward/Commercial this afternoon prior to any anticipated heavy rains as a preemptive measure to protect the public. 

Travelers are advised to adhere to all signs and must not move barricades. The Forward/Commercial corridor will be reopened with the single inbound lane as soon as possible after the rains have passed. 

Monday, April 16, 2018

No public events scheduled.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 16, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will host a press conference tomorrow – Tax Day – to demonstrate "Balancing Act," the interactive budget tool from the Office of Management and Budget. 

It includes a tax receipt tool that gives taxpayers estimates of their contributions to city departments and services. 

WHO: Mayor William Peduto and Office of Management and Budget officials 

WHAT: Tax Day press conference on interactive budget tool 

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building 

WHEN: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 17, 2018 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 17, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to debut the city's five new Envision Solar EV ARC charging stations for the city's electric vehicle fleet.The stations are 100% emissions-free and can be used as emergency generators during natural disasters or other grid outages.

WHO: Mayor William Peduto, City and Pittsburgh Parking Authority officials

WHAT: Press conference on new solar charging stations for the city's electric vehicle fleet

WHERE: Pittsburgh Parking Authority Second Avenue Parking Plaza (Second Avenue Downtown, east of the 10th Street Bridge)

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Tax Day Press Conference On New Pittsburgh Budget Tool

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Mayor Ullrich Sierau, Lord Mayor Of Dortmund

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting with Reverend Aisha Stewart Of Brown Chapel AME Church

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Greg Victor & Henry Simonds

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Participating In 2018 Getting to Zero National Forum - Mayors' Panel

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Wyndham Grand. Central Business District

Meeting With Director Of Innovation & Performance Lee Haller

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Clemente Museum Ribbon Cutting

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: The Clemente Museum, Upper Lawrenceville 

Allegheny Conference On Community Development County Commissioners & Regional Transportation Alliance Of Southwestern PA Event

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Clemente Museum, Upper Lawrenceville 

APRIL 18, 2018: Rialto Street remains closed Wednesday due to challenges in repairing the Lowrie Street Bridge.

Rialto Street (which is on a 24% grade) proved to be too steep for workers to use their lift equipment to perform work on the bridge. Contractors were forced to construct stationary scaffolding at the site, which takes more time to both construct and deconstruct and so is leading to delays in both repairs and inspection.

It is hoped the work will be completed today.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 17, 2018) Work crews contracted by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) will be on site at Rialto Street under the Lowrie Street Bridge today to address deficiencies that were identified in the bridge last week.

Crews will remove loose concrete from the underside of the bridge and treat the steel structural beams beneath. City and PennDOT inspectors will be on hand to further evaluate the structural integrity of the bridge.

If cleared by inspectors the city will remove barricades currently blocking Rialto Street and reopen the street for all users on Wednesday, April 18. The public will be notified if further concerns are discovered and the closure must be maintained.

Rialto Street will remain closed while crews work. Pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic may be prohibited from using the Lowrie Street Bridge while crews are actively working on the structure. Work is expected to last no more than one day.

Rialto Street was closed one week ago after a routine inspection of the Lowrie Street Bridge found deficiencies that could threaten users of Rialto Street below.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 18, 2018) Mayor William Peduto joined other city officials today to debut five solar charging stations for the city's growing fleet of electrical vehicles.  

The Envision Solar EV ARC charging stations are 100% emissions free. Mayor Peduto is committed to making the city's entire vehicle fleet fossil fuel free by 2030. 

"These solar charging stations will not only help us expand our portfolio of electric vehicles but also assist Pittsburgh's resilience efforts. They will provide us with a new power source during the increasingly common severe weather events that take the rest of the power grid down," Mayor Peduto said. 

The units from Envision Solar International in San Diego are also equipped with emergency power (E-power) panels, which allow for their use as emergency generators during disasters or other grid outages.    

The City currently has four electric vehicles in its fleet. Later this spring the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections will be receiving another six new Chevy Bolts. All will be charged at these stations. 

The stations are currently for the City fleet only but plans are ultimately to allow them for use by the public. 

An internal combustion car equivalent to the current PLI fleet that drives 8,000 miles per year emits more than 8,000 pounds of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere each year. Driving a plug-in EV and powering the vehicle from the grid reduces those emissions by 62%; however to charge those vehicles from the grid still emits about 3,000 pounds of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere each year. 

"Charging an EV with the EV ARC reduces these carbon emissions by 100%. You are driving on sunshine," said Chuck O'Neill, the city's senior manager of fleet and assets. 

Enough solar energy is captured in one day to charge up to 225 miles of electric driving per day. Driving 10 DPLI cars consistently on sunshine each year saves more than $8,000 per year in fuel costs.  

The cost of each unit was $84,000 but the City will be reimbursed half of the cost through the State’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG). 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 18, 2018) Crews hired by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure are expected to continue working Thursday on loose material on the Lowrie Street Bridge, which has forced the closure of Rialto Street underneath.

Work on the bridge was delayed to enable crews to erect scaffolding at the site. Tomorrow crews will continue to work to remove loose material from the bridge and coat supporting steel on the structure. It is hoped Rialto Street can reopen Friday.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 18, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement on the passing of wrestling legend and South Oakland native Bruno Sammartino: 

"Bruno Sammartino was one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had. Like so many of us, his immigrant family moved here to build a new life, and through his uncommon strength and surprising grace he embodied the spirit of Pittsburgh on the world stage. 

Some of the fondest memories of my childhood are of sitting in the basement with my grandfather on Saturday afternoons and watching Bruno wrestle. They both came from the same part of Italy, and when my grandfather – who was five-foot-eight – would watch Bruno wrestle he became six-feet-ten. 

I consider it a great personal honor that Bruno and I later became friends. 

I join all other Pittsburgh residents in saying 'Thank you, Bruno' and we will miss you." 

Solar EV ARC Charging Stations Press Conference
Time: 10:30 A.M.
Location: Public Parking Authority Of Pittsburgh Second Avenue Lot, Bluff

Meeting With Pittsburgh Young Professionals
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Taping Promo With WQED-TV
Time: 12:00 P.M.
Location: WQED-TV Studios, Squirrel Hill North

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

2018 Citywide Public Safety Meeting
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Location: Teamsters Temple, Central Lawrenceville   
 

Groundbreaking For Victorian Fountain Restoration In Allegheny Commons Park

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Allegheny Commons Park, Allegheny Center

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Operations Guy Costa, Director Of Public Works Michael Gable, Director Of Innovation & Performance Lee Haller, & Superintendent Of Streets Bill Crean

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Speaking At Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council’s SHARE 2018

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Rivers Casino, Chateau

Carnegie Mellon University’s Spring Carnival Opening

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Mellon University - Jared Cohen Center, Squirrel Hill North

Speaking At Pittsburgh 2030 District Progress Report

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Nova Place - Alloy 26, Allegheny Center 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 19, 2018) Mayor William Peduto has joined efforts to oppose a Trump Administration proposal that would cut assistance to immigrant families. 

The Mayor issued a letter last week to the Administration regarding its proposed expansion of the public charge rule NPRM (RIN 1615-AA22). The rule, which has not been passed yet can have a profound effect on immigrant families. 

The National Immigration Law Center wrote in their Public Charge fact sheet: 

“The Trump administration is opening a new front in its assault on family-based immigration by making it harder for immigrants who might use essential public services to come to the United States and settle here permanently. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has informed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that it plans to propose regulations that discard longstanding policy about the meaning and application of the “public charge” provisions of immigration law.” 

What is “Public Charge”?  

The current definition of a “Public Charge” is any individual who is mainly reliant on government assistance. The current policy considers those who utilize cash assistance to help subsidize their income, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANFI) program as a public charge.  

What is the current policy?  

If authorities determine that an individual is likely to become a “public charge,” that individual can be denied lawful permanent resident (LPR) or entry into the U.S. Under the current policy, individuals or families that use Medicaid, CHIP, or other non-cash benefits were not considered in public charge determinations. 

What are the proposed changes? 

The proposed changes would consider whether individuals or their dependents have received or sought after any public service, such as CHIP, SNAP, WIC, Section 8 housing vouchers, etc. The federal government will not consider emergency disaster relief and school lunch programs in public charge determinations. 

Who would be affected? 

It will generally affect noncitizens who are applying for Legal Permanent Resident (LPR-Green Card) status through family-based visa petitions. Some immigrants such as asylees and refugees are exempted from the public charge determinations law. Those who have a Green Card and are applying for citizenship are also exempted from the public charge determinations law. 

What are the risks? 

If classified as a public charge, a non U.S. citizen can become ineligible for citizenship or permanent residency in the United States. In addition, the public charge determinations law can lead to decreased participation in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other programs among legal immigrant families, including their citizen children. (See news link below.) 

How can I help? 

Speak to your state and local legislators/policy makers about the economic impacts of immigrants and their contributions to the state and the local level. Inform community members that might be affected by the law change if its passes. 

Mayor Peduto has formally requested a meeting with the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before this rule change is published to discuss the economic significance of these changes to our City. OMB is legally required to accept these meetings.  

The letter sent to OMB read: 

Dear Mr. Theroux, 

As Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, I am working each day to push forward policies that support all of our residents and foster growth for our region. Like many post-industrial American cities, in order for us to continue on a positive trajectory forward, we must build communities where all are welcome and supported. It is with these goals in mind that I write to request a meeting with you to discuss the public charge NPRM (RIN 1615-AA22) currently under your review. 

The proposed rule creates a significant economic hardship that will directly impact local and state governments -- cities throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across the country. We know that the agency views this NPRM as one that is not economically significant. The reality, however, is that policy changes that affect who is considered a public charge will cause financial difficulty on the state and local agencies that administer the programs that would now be taken into account.  

If additional programs are included as factors in a public charge determination, these changes will impede participation by many in our communities, including eligible U.S. citizen children, and we expect families will opt out of these program. Moreover, the result in our communities will be detrimental including an uptick in hunger and uncompensated care and financially burden on our schools, child welfare agencies, public health systems, and hospitals. 

On the legal side, this proposal is a grave affront to the U.S. constitutional rights of U.S. citizen children of immigrants. US citizen children may be deprived of these benefits because their parents would be subject to deportation or denial of an immigration benefit by taking advantage of them.  Not only does that raise hardship and policy considerations, it raises US Constitutional equal protection concerns. To put forth a proposed rule that attaches penalties to immigrant parents who apply for public benefits for their US citizen children is an attempted attack on the American family unit through alienage. Time and time again, this type of disparate treatment where the direct negative effect is to treat a subcategory of US Citizens differently has been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Citizen children of immigrants would certainly bear this negative disparate impact if their immigrant parents are penalized per this proposed rule, if they apply for public benefits for their US citizen children. 

In advance of the publication of this rule, I hope to speak with you or a designee to further discuss its impact. 

Thank you in advance for your attention and response to this meeting request. 

Sincerely, 
  
William Peduto, Mayor 

City of Pittsburgh 

To find out more details regarding “Public Charge” please visit the links below. Both links were referenced in the press release. 

https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Public-Charge-Fact-Sheet-2018.pdf 

https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/fact-sheet/proposed-changes-to-public-charge-policies-for-immigrants-implications-for-health-coverage/ 

Contact: 

Feyisola Alabi 

Policy Analyst 

Office of Mayor William Peduto 

412-255-8680 

feyisola.alabi@pittsburghpa.gov 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 20, 2018) The Greenfield Healthy Active Living Center and the Magee Recreation Center—both located at 745 Greenfield Avenue are set to close by the end of this week.  This closure is due to replacing the entire Heating and Cooling/HVAC system.  When complete, this new system will be a tremendous asset to the centers and our guests—keeping all warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 

The closure details are as follows: 

GREENFIELD HEALTHY ACTIVE LIVING CENTER:  Beginning Wednesday, April 18, 2018, with an anticipated completion date of mid-September 2018.  During this time, all senior program activities and lunches for the Greenfield Healthy Active Living Center will continue uninterrupted at the Schenley Ice Rink.  For any questions, please contact 412-422-6551. 

MAGEE RECREATION CENTER:  Recreation activities and programs at the Magee Recreation Center will wrap up on Friday, April 20, 2018.  This center will remain closed until work is complete in mid-September.  During this time, Citiparks encourages the use of other Recreation Centers.  In addition, the Magee Summer Citi camp will now take place in the Burgwin Recreation Building at the Burgwin Spray Park.  Camp begins on Monday, June 11 and runs for nine weeks.  For questions or additional information, please contact the Brookline Recreation Center at 412-571-3222 

This project is a collaboration between the Department of Public Works and Citiparks; we thank you in advance for your patience during this renovation. 

Tropical Rainforest Restoration Groundbreaking

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: The National Aviary, Allegheny Commons West Park, Allegheny Center

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Council District 2 Showcase

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: The Le Mont Restaurant, Mount Washington

Interview With Pittsburgh Hockey Now

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Director Of City Planning Ray Gastil, & Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PA African-American Networking Convention Opening Reception

Time: 7:30 P.M.

Location: Marriott City Center, Central Business District

Speaking At School District Of Pittsburgh All City Arts Show Exhibition Opening & Awards Ceremony

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: August Wilson Center, Central Business District

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive & Regional Asset District

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

LaFabrique Welcoming Reception

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: Monterey Bay, Mount Washington 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 23, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh are welcoming two world-leading conferences to the city this week: La Fabrique de la Cité and the p4 Conference. 

The French think tank La Fabrique de la Cité is in the city today through Thursday to explore Pittsburgh's transition to a post-industrial economy and meet innovators in government, entrepreneurial and university sectors to study best practices in urban regeneration. 

La Fabrique brings together French and international experts to study urban development and propose new ways to build and renovate cities. Its work revolves around five key topics: mobility, urban development and construction, energy, digital revolution, and new practices. Cecile Maisonneuve, chair of La Fabrique de la Cité, will be moderating discussions throughout the organization's three-day Urban Expedition in Pittsburgh. 

It is only the second time the think tank has visited North America. 

The latest p4 conference – a collaboration between the Heinz Endowments and the City of Pittsburgh – is Wednesday and Thursday. Focusing on people, planet, place and performance, p4 seeks to further advance Pittsburgh’s potential as a global hub of equity, technology and innovation, with keynote speakers focusing on key developments in robotics, artificial intelligence and life sciences and how they may impact community well-being. 

More than 700 people are expected at the event including experts in the fields of technological innovation, community and civic leaders and urban design specialists from across the United States as well as the local southwestern Pennsylvania region.  

"Pittsburgh is increasingly being seen as a global hub of innovation, where experts from around the world are looking to find the best practices in urban rebirth and opportunity," Mayor Peduto said. "Matched with the city's OnePgh plan these efforts will plot the ways nonprofits, corporations, foundations and government can come together to address the shocks and tremors facing tomorrow's cities, today." 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 23, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh 311 Response Non-Emergency Call Center is pleased to announce the launch of the 311 Language Access Plan. Effective immediately, 311 operators will be able to connect city residents with a translator and answer resident's questions during calls. The 311 Response Center operates as a hub connecting residents, visitors and inquiring minds to City Departments.    

The 311 Response Center is the City of Pittsburgh Non-Emergency call center that allows residents and non-residents to report varying neighborhood problems (potholes, traffic problems, graffiti, litter abandoned buildings and cars, etc.) and to provide city information to residents (City office contact information, hours, upcoming events or meetings, volunteer opportunities, etc.).   

This plan is a transformational step to ensuring all Pittsburgh residents have access to the wealth of information and opportunities our city has to offer. With the increase in diversity in our city, being able to assist all residents and to provide access to all resources is a top priority.   

UPDATE (April 24, 2018) Work has been completed on the underside of the Lowrie Street Bridge, and Rialto Street has now been reopened for traffic.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 23, 2018) Crews continue to work on the Lowrie Street Bridge in Troy Hill, which has required the closure of Rialto Street underneath.

Contractors hired by the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) last week removed loose concrete from the bridge and reinforced its exposed steel strands. Today they are hanging plywood underneath the bridge as a barrier to catch any additional concrete that may fall from the bridge onto Rialto Street. They plan to continue working on this undershield today and tomorrow.

Further updates on the reopening of Rialto Street will be issued when available.

La Fabrique de La Cite Conference

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Energy Innovation Center (Clifford B. Connelley Trade School), Crawford-Roberts

Press Conference and Groundbreaking For Habitat for Humanity

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: 6900 Bennett Street, Homewood West

Meeting With Chief Daniel Gilman, Urban Redevelopment Authority Director Robert Rubinstein, & Kelly Strayhorn Team

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

La Fabrique de La Cite Google Site Tour

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Google Pittsburgh - Bakery Square, Larimer

General Electric Board Of Directors Dinner

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: The Pennsylvanian, Central Business District

La Fabrique de La Cite Conference Dinner

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: Distrikt Hotel Pittsburgh, Central Business District 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 24, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh has installed its first artistic design intersection at Brownsville Road and Parkfield Street in Carrick. The Carrick Artistic Intersection Project is a joint collaboration between Public Art and Civic Design Division (PA+CD) of the Department of City Planning, and the Department of Public Works.  

The intersection was initially envisioned and funded by the office of former District 4 City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak and completed under current Councilman Anthony Coghill. 

When planning for traffic improvements at the intersection began Councilwoman Rudiak and her staff became interested in intersection enhancements such as an artist-designed crosswalk or artist-designed intersection markings. 

As discussion continued with PA+CD and the Department of Public Works, it became increasingly important to garner community feedback about whether to pursue an artistic crosswalk or the artist-designed intersection markings. Community feedback was also needed in regard to the content of the design. 

Community meetings were led by PA+CD to garner interest from local business owners and residents. Community participants were asked to identify their interests in regard to the identity of Carrick; their interests in regard to design aesthetics for the artwork; their interest in placemaking for this area of Carrick; and their thoughts regarding safety for this intersection. Additionally, the community was engaged in a discussion around which type of implementation to pursue and ultimately the artist-designed intersection was selected, rather than artist-designed crosswalks. 

The community expressed safety as their number one interest for the implementation of this project. Some of the ideas that came up in regard to this were directional images or the use of muted colors. 

In terms of the identity of Carrick, there were a few re-emerging themes that occurred. Ideas of a family-oriented neighborhood that offers affordable housing came up, along with amenities such as a business district and Phillips park. The school was also frequently mentioned, as well as the suggestion of using the name “Carrick” in the design, or “The Rock” which translates from Gaelic. Also noted was “Carrick-on-Suir,” which originates from Ireland and has the symbol of a swan. Additionally mentioned was the “Dairy District” in regard to this location. 

When discussing aesthetics and placemaking related to design, the community was interested in evoking a sense of nature and residence through the use of houses, flowers, leaves, or trees. There was an interest in the design being colorful while also utilizing directional modes. Lastly, the community was hopeful that the intersection would become a conversation piece or reference point. 

The PA+CD in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget released a Request for Proposals (RFP) with the selected artist being Guy Ruff. The artist used imagery of a swan as a symbol of love, fidelity, grace, and beauty to represent Carrick. He did this by using triangle shapes inspired by the actual shape of the intersection, and nature themes, with muted colors as requested by the community. 

The intersection acts as a civic gateway while also enhancing the pedestrian level experience through the creation of a vibrant and engaging node.  Safety improvements were made by DPW  by installing a new traffic signal with pedestrian countdowns and the installation of a new high visibility crosswalk.  

(All photos Department of City Planning. Artist: Guy Ruff)

Contact:  

Yesica Guerra 

Public Art and Civic Design Manager 

City of Pittsburgh 

Department of City Planning 

200 Ross St. 4th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 

[p] 412.255.8996 

[e] yesica.guerra@pittsburghpa.gov 

Allegheny Dwellings Phase One Ground Breaking Ceremony

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: 1675 Sandusky Court, Fineview

La Fabrique de La Cite Session: Pittsburgh's Resilience: Social & Infrastructure Issues

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Energy Innovation Center, Clifford B. Connelley Trade School, Crawford- Roberts

La Fabrique de La Cite Session Closing Ceremony 

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, North Oakland

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh's P4 Conference Opening Session

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Pittsburgh Business Choice Awards

Time: 5:45 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 25, 2018) The board of the Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh, which is named by Mayor William Peduto, is set to vote on resolutions tomorrow to offer construction trades training for Housing Authority residents, and the spending of funds for mixed-income housing in the latest phase of the Larimer/East Liberty housing development. 

The Housing Authority regularly seeks to boost employment opportunities to residents, and the board is set to vote on awarding contracts to Pittsburgh A. Philip Randolph Institute and Community Empowerment Association to provide construction trades training and job readiness training services to up to 40 residents. 

Proposed are initial three-year, $100,000 contracts with CEA and the Randolph institute for 20 job training participants each. The HACP is proposing a performance funding mechanism that will reimburse the vendors based on enrollments, program attainments, graduations and job or advanced training placements by participants. Each contract has two one-year renewal options. 

Larimer/East Liberty is in the midst of developing 334 units in multiple phases at the site. Phase I of 85 mixed-income units is under construction and the 150-unit Phase II is in predevelopment. Units are due to be completed by 2020. 

Tomorrow's board action is to approve up to $692,000 in predevelopment activities for Phase III including site acquisition; design and implementation of public improvements and infrastructure; site and unit planning; and other activities to support approximately 45 units of mixed-income housing. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 26, 2018) BigBurgh.com, a collaborative effort of several local service agencies recently taken over by the City of Pittsburgh, has been honored by the Allegheny County Children Roundtable with the "Champion for Children" award.  

BigBurgh.com is an online application that directs youth and adults experiencing homelessness, or anyone in need, to free, low-barrier services in the City of Pittsburgh and greater Allegheny County. Designed for quick-and-easy use on your cell phone, BigBurgh has become an invaluable resource for police, teachers, clergy, medical and social services professionals, parents, and ordinary citizens alike. Most importantly, it’s for the homeless themselves – more than 60% of homeless youth have smartphones, and homeless adults frequently access computers at libraries and other centers. 

BigBurgh began when Joe Lagana, Founder of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, was speaking to Maurita Bryant, then Assistant Chief of the Pittsburgh Police, about the difficulty connecting individuals experiencing homelessness, especially youth, to resources. Joe then turned to Informing Design, a local firm specializing in untangling complex government systems, to answer the question, “could there be an app for that?” After 18 months of evaluation, and beta-testing with our Pittsburgh Police bicycle patrol officers, BigBurgh.com was created. 

After almost two years of piloting, testing, and growth, BigBurgh was adopted by the City of Pittsburgh in January of this year, and will continue to be used by city first responders, and will also continue expansion to all of Allegheny County. 

BigBurgh lists essential everyday needs, such as meals, shelter, clinics, showers and laundry, clothing and diapers, and expert help with financial, legal and employment matters, as well as essential emergency hotlines. List are shown based on the user’s location, and services are described in concise, jargon-free terms.  

“BigBurgh is a shining example of how a public-private partnership can work, all parties involved contributed in their area of expertise, and the result is a highly functional online resource that is easy and intuitive for the end user to navigate,” said BigBurgh Manager Sally Stadelman of the city's Public Safety Department. 

With the Office of Innovation and Performance providing funding to sustain the technology, Public Safety has been able to utilize and promote its adoption to improve communication between outreach and the bureaus while ensuring that people experiencing homelessness have access to free resources.    

 "BigBurgh is revolutionizing how we deliver services to our most vulnerable community members," said Assistant Chief Anna Kudrav. "We have a program here in Pittsburgh that is unlike anything anywhere else."   

BigBurgh’s great successes could not have been accomplished without the continued collaboration and support of its advisory council members: Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, The Allegheny County Department of Human Services Bureau of Homeless Services, United Way/PA 2-1-1 Southwest, Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net, The Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.  

"It's been shown time and again that one of the things that makes Pittsburgh special is the way many different partners can come together to make lives better for our residents, and especially those who are most in need," Mayor William Peduto said. 

To qualify as a service to be listed on BigBurgh, services must be free, with a minimum of documentation. If you would like to suggest a potential listing on BigBurgh, or would like a BigBurgh presentation at your organization, please contact sally.stadelman@pittsburghpa.gov (bigburgh@pittsburghpa.gov) or call 412-255-2239. 

Moderating Mayor’s Panel With Local & National Mayors At P4 Conference

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Delivering Closing Remarks At Pittsburgh’s P4 Conference

Time: 4:45 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Benter Foundation Fundraiser

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Benter Foundation, Central Business District 

Center That Cares Reception

Time: 6:15 P.M.

Location: Jeron X. Grayson Community Center, Crawford-Roberts

Parkinson’s Awareness Event

Time: 7:30 P.M.

Location: The Clemente Museum, Upper Lawrenceville

OnePGH Workshop

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Energy Innovation Center, Clifford B. Connelley Trade School, Crawford-Roberts

August Wilson House Project Update

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location 1727 Bedford Avenue, Crawford-Roberts

Presenting City Of Pittsburgh Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Department Of Public Works Environment Services, Strip District

Celebrating 40th Anniversary Of University Of Pittsburgh Architectural Studies Program

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Frick Fine Arts Building, Schenley Plaza

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 27, 2018) Members of the media are invited to attend a presentation by Mayor William Peduto this morning to leading city stakeholders regarding plans for a social benefits fund to implement goals of the OnePGH Resilience Strategy.

Since January, Mayor Peduto has convened working groups to identify, develop and associate costs with the transformational projects that will lead the city to thrive by 2030, covering needs including affordable housing, universal Pre-K education, safe water, eradicating hunger and homelessness, and social and economic mobility and opportunity. Working with more than 125 local leaders his administration has created an Investment Prospectus to cover the capital funding necessary to address those needs. Today he will discuss the creation of a social benefits fund that would mobilize Pittsburgh's public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to work together and make the targeted investments needed to improve quality of life for all Pittsburgh residents.

WHAT: Presentation on OnePGH social benefits fund by Mayor William Peduto

WHEN: 9 a.m., Friday, April 27, 2018

WHERE: First Floor, Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Ave., Hill District.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

August Wilson's Birthday Block Party

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: August Wilson House, Bedford Avenue, Crawford-Roberts

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Delivering Commencement Address At The University Of Pittsburgh's Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Peterson Events Center, North Oakland 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 30, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh Small Business Week (SBW) 2018 is running from Sunday, April 29 to Thursday, May 3, 2018. In recognition of Small Business Week, the City of Pittsburgh is recognizing one entrepreneur from each of our nine city council districts.  Over the course of the week, nine blog posts will be released each briefly telling the story of these hardworking Pittsburghers. Further, each post will include the agencies that assisted the entrepreneur along the way.  

Blog Release Schedule:  

District 1: Priory Hospitality Group  

District 2: Le Mont Restautant   

District 3: Ascend Pittsburgh 

District 4: La Catrina    

District 5: Staghorn Garden & Cafe    

District 6: Cobbler World

District 7: White Whale Bookstore  

District 8: Journeys of Life  

District 9: Dana's Bakery  

Click on the links in each article to learn more about resources you could use to pursue your small business dreams as well! http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/small-business/sbw.html  

No public events scheduled. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 1, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh has joined a bipartisan coalition of 18 states plus the District of Columbia, nine cities, four counties, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors in filing an amended lawsuit to block the Trump administration from demanding citizenship information in the 2020 decennial Census.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed last month in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, is led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. It was amended to add Colorado; Central Falls, RI (the site of the 2018 end-to-end test of the Census); Columbus, OH; Pittsburgh; Cameron County, TX; El Paso County, TX; Hidalgo County, TX; and Monterey County, CA as co-plaintiffs.  

The new co-plaintiffs join the Attorneys General of New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia; the cities of New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Providence, San Francisco, and Seattle; and the U.S. Conference of Mayors in the lawsuit. 

According to the complaint immigrants account for approximately 8.5% of Pittsburgh’s population, and in 2014, approximately 18% of Pittsburgh’s immigrant population was undocumented.  

Demanding citizenship information on the Census would depress turnout in states with large immigrant populations, directly threatening those states’ fair representation in Congress and the Electoral College, as well as billions of dollars in critical federal funds. The amended complaint specifically highlights the billions of dollars at risk for states and localities around the country. 

That includes approximately $10.3 million in in Community Development Block Grants funds Pittsburgh received in fiscal year 2016. 

Moreover, the complaint highlights the extensive funding and resources plaintiffs have already dedicated toward encouraging participation in the 2020 Census, which did not account for the citizenship demand.  

The amended complaint also highlights recent comments by Census and other federal officials, such as Census Director Ron Jarmin’s remarks before Congress last month that he expected the negative impact of the citizenship demand on response rates to be “largely felt in various sub-groups, in immigrant populations, [and] Hispanic populations.” Jarmin went on to testify that U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross disregarded the Census Bureau’s recommendation against including the citizenship demand. 

A copy of the complaint is available here.

On December 12, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice requested that the Census Bureau demand citizenship information in the 2020 Census form sent to every household in the United States, even though the Census is supposed to count all persons—citizens and non-citizens alike. Under the Constitution, the Census Bureau has an obligation to determine “the whole number of persons in each state.” Yet demanding citizenship information in the Census is expected to depress participation among immigrants, causing a population undercount that would disproportionately harm states and cities with large immigrant communities. Non-citizens are counted in the Census for the purposes of federal funds, apportioning of congressional seats and Electoral College votes, and the drawing of state and local districts. 

The lawsuit was brought under the Enumeration Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as this action by the Trump administration will impede an “actual Enumeration” required by the Constitution. It is also brought under the Administrative Procedure Act, which permits courts to set aside unlawful or arbitrary and capricious agency decisions. 

The Census Bureau’s own research shows that the decision to demand citizenship information will “inevitably jeopardize the overall accuracy of the population count” by significantly deterring participation in immigrant communities, because of concerns about how the federal government will use citizenship information. These concerns are amplified by President Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and pattern of actions that target immigrant communities. 

In 1980, the Census Bureau rejected the addition of a citizenship question, saying, “Any effort to ascertain citizenship will inevitably jeopardize the overall accuracy of the population count. Obtaining the cooperation of a suspicious and fearful population would be impossible if the group being counted perceived any possibility of the information being used against them. Questions as to citizenship are particularly sensitive in minority communities and would inevitably trigger hostility, resentment, and refusal to cooperate.” 

In 2009, all eight former Directors of the Census Bureau dating back to 1979 – who served under both Democratic and Republican presidents – affirmed that a citizenship question would depress participation and lead to a significant undercount, undermining the purpose of the Census itself. 

As the lawsuit describes, the administration’s decision is inconsistent with the Census Bureau’s constitutional and statutory obligations, is unsupported by the stated justification, departs from decades of settled practice without reasoned explanation, and fails to consider the availability of alternative data that can effectively serve the federal government’s needs. The demand would also cause irreparable harm as a result of the hundreds of billions in federal funds that are tied to demographic information obtained through the Census. 

The decennial census is also used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives, and each plaintiff state relies on population information from the Census Bureau to draw statewide redistricting plans for their Congressional and state legislative districts. Demanding citizenship information would cause disproportionate undercounts in communities with immigrant populations and therefore prevent plaintiff states from fulfilling the one-person, one-vote constitutional requirement, as well as create distributional inaccuracies in the data states use to draw district lines. Additionally, the citizenship demand would depress Census participation within the states’ diverse immigrant and undocumented populations, leading to inaccurate responses and a significant undercount of the states’ residents. As a result, an undercount of population in states that are home to large immigrant communities will impair fair representation, a principle fundamental to the fabric of our democracy. 

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ADA Accessible Flower Beds Ribbon Cutting

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: First United Methodist Church, Centre Avenue, Shadyside 

Meeting With Deputy Chief of Neighborhood Empowerment Majestic Lane & Fuse Fellow Cynthia Shields

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With NBC Nightly News

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: East Liberty Presbyterian Church

Visiting Duolingo Offices

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: 125 South Beatty Street, East Liberty

Meeting With David Rotman

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Urban Redevelopment Authority Director Robert Rubinstein

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Acting City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton'

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Blackture.com Event

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Alumni Hall - University of Pittsburgh, North Oakland

Hilltop Alliance Press Conference

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: McKinley Park, Beltzhoover

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PITTSBURGH, PA (May 3, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh is pleased to welcome the internationally renowned Ball-Nogues Studio from Los Angeles to open the 2018 Market Square Public Art Installation “Other Side of the World.”

The artwork introduces Pittsburgh to Amsterdam Island, the nearly-opposite landmass from Pittsburgh if one could travel through the center of the earth to the other side. Comprised of a modular timber substructure, coated with desiccated rubber from recycled tires, and finished with a gradient of brightly colored rubber granules, the installation becomes a playful, vibrant, and physically accessible representation of Amsterdam Island that invites visitors to climb, explore, and experience the artwork.

"Other Side of the World” is free and open to the public, on view in Market Square through May 25, 2018. Throughout the course of the installation, there will be complementary programming and on-site interpretation for the artwork. All are welcome. Please visit www.marketsquarepublicart.com for more information.

“Public Art is an essential tool for dialogue and building community. With this project the city intends to bring excellence in design and art to the citizens of Pittsburgh, and to bring people together to encourage exploration and discussion,” Mayor William Peduto said.

By encouraging viewers to reflect on the world’s vast geography, and consider the histories and stories of largely unknown places like Amsterdam Island, the "Other Side of the World" endeavors to spark curiosity, imagination, and new perspectives among Pittsburghers. Located in the South Indian Ocean, Amsterdam Island is one of the most remote places on the planet. The island's landscape includes an extinct volcano, craters, and vents amid the island’s coastal cliffs, grasslands, and shores. Amsterdam Island is now inhabited by only 25 French climate scientists who monitor CO2 concentration levels, study the impact of atmospheric contaminants, and observe the unique flora and fauna.

“We believe that ‘Other Side of the World’ is the perfect installation to kick off a season of free activities and events that enliven Market Square throughout the rest of the year,” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “We are thrilled to have the world-class talent of Ball-Nogues Studio bringing such an interesting concept to Market Square.”

"Other Side of the World" is presented by the City of Pittsburgh. It was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership with technical assistance and support from the Office of Public Art at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and partnership from the Public Art and Civic Design Division of the City of Pittsburgh. Additional technical assistance was provided by Flyspace Productions and Desmone Architects. 

About the City of Pittsburgh Public Art and Civic Design Division

This division promotes and ensures quality design of city-owned architecture, infrastructure, and landscape in order to create and enhance place-making by the inclusion of art and arts programming to reflect the city's history, diversity, and culture. The division performs three main functions: staffing of the City's Art Commission; conservation and maintenance of the City's collection of public artwork, monuments, and memorials, and the implementation of new commissions of public art and arts programs and initiatives on City property, citywide. For more information visit the Public Art and Civic Design Division website or contact Yesica Guerra, Public Art and Civic Design Manager.

About the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a dynamic, nonprofit organization comprised of business and community leaders,property owners, civic organizations, foundations and residents who provide energy, vision and advocacy for Downtown Pittsburgh. Working collaboratively with its partners, the PDP strives to create a positive Downtown experience for residents, workers and visitors alike. For more information, visit www.DowntownPittsburgh.com, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/downtownpitt and “like” us on Facebook.

About the Office of Public Art at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

The Office of Public Art expands the range of possibilities for artists to engage communities through technical assistance, educational programs, commissions, and residencies in the public realm.  Founded in 2005, we work with organizations and individuals in the public and private sector to facilitate the development of and information about public art. The Office of Public Art is located at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. For more information visit www.publicartpittsburgh.org.

Pittsburgh Public Schools Senior Signing Day

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, North Oakland

Dedication of Western PA School for Blind Children Pedestrian Bridge

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, North Oakland

Public Parking Authority Of Pittsburgh Annual Meeting

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Sheraton Hotel - Station Square, South Shore

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Allegheny County Courthouse

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Clean Pittsburgh Commission's Annual Meet & Greet Mixer & Volunteer Recognition Event

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: 242 51st Street - Moose Lodge, Central Lawrenceville

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 3, 2018) Members of the media are invited to view a residential lead service line replacement Friday morning.

PWSA contractors will replace a lead service line with copper by using an innovative and less disruptive “pulling” method. Contractors will attempt to pull the old lead service line while also threading a new copper line in its place. When successful, this method of replacing lead lines does not require a trench on private property, allowing replacements to be performed more quickly. PWSA and its contractors are using this method across the city to meet their mandate to replace 2,100 residential lead service lines by the end of the year.

WHAT: Demonstration of innovative lead service line replacement

WHEN: 9:15 a.m., Friday, May 4, 2018

WHERE: 5800 Block of Phillips Avenue (between Murray Avenue and Pittock Street), Squirrel Hill.

Media Contact:

Will Pickering

PWSA Communications Manager

(412) 657-4031

wpickering@pgh2o.com

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 3, 2018) The Department of Public Works is installing 15 additional free sunscreen dispensers at city park facilities this year, expanding the popular program first launched in 2015.  

The dispensers are filled with broad spectrum SPF-30 sunscreen and include instructions for proper use.  They will be installed over the next two weeks. 

The new dispensers will be available at the following locations:    

• Vanucci spray park  

• Burgwin spray park  

• East Hills spray park  

• Mellon spray park  

• Cowley spray park   

• Warrington spray park   

• Arlington spray park   

• Paulson spray park   

• Banksville dek hockey court  

• Brookline dek hockey court  

• Marmaduke dek hockey court  

• Paul J. Sciullo II Memorial dek hockey court   

• Highland Park tennis courts  

• Frick Park clay tennis courts    

• Schenley Park Oval Sportsplex  

Existing dispensers will be replenished with a fresh supply of sunscreen at:  

• Schenley Oval restroom  

• Schenley Park between Anderson playground and pavilion  

• Frick Park between tennis courts and ballfield at concession stand  

• Frick Park at Blue Slide playground  

• Highland Park on path between pool and lake  

• Riverview Park at Activities Building playground  

• Brookline Center at the playground  

• Mellon Park at the playground  

Funding for the dispensers is provided by Sun Smart Pittsburgh, a 501(c)(3) organization promoting sun safety founded by Dr. Christie Regula and Dr. Justin Vujevich of Vujevich Dermatology Associates. 

"Consistent sunscreen use is so important to prevent sun damage to the skin.  We are happy to partner with the city to provide this important public health service to the community,” Dr. Regula said.    

The dispenser program was founded by former City Councilman Dan Gilman in 2015 and was taken over by current District 8 Councilperson Erika Strassburger.  

“By increasing the number of free sunscreen dispensers available, we are creating a healthier and safer environment for Pittsburgh residents who play in our world-class parks every day. As someone who enjoys spending time in Pittsburgh's parks, I am particularly proud to have played a role in advancing this program to all corners of the city,” said Councilperson Strassburger. “I thank Dr. Regula, Sun Smart Pittsburgh, and our Department of Public Works for their work toward expanding this free service to our residents.”  

More than 8,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each day, making it the most common type of cancer in the United States. Experts say that applying sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher can prevent the contraction of skin cancer.  

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Sun exposure in childhood and over a lifetime is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma.  Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is increasing at an alarming rate: it is estimated that one American dies of melanoma every hour. 

Pittsburgh Marathon Press Conference

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Two Doughboy Square Groundbreaking At Historic Pennsylvania National Bank

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Butler Street at Penn Avenue, Lower Lawrenceville

Meeting With Dr. Barry Kerzin - Personal Physician To The Dalai Lama

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Frick Environmental Center Living Building Challenge Certification

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location Frick Environmental Center - Frick Park, Squirrel Hill South

Saturday, May 5, 2018

No public events scheduled.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

No public events scheduled.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 7, 2018) Mayor William Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh are excited to announce the initial two applicants in the 2018 Spark Pilot Program, which will create small street parks outside businesses in Downtown and Allentown. 

A Spark is a small park or street park. It is a sidewalk extension creating a temporary, public seating area comprised of one to two parallel parking spaces. They are placed in commercial areas and intended to generate more on-street pedestrian activity supporting a healthy sidewalk culture and nearby businesses. 

The pilot – a project of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and the Department of City Planning – is part of Pittsburgh’s overall strategy for creating safe, complete streets and new open spaces.  

"The streets and sidewalks around our neighborhood business districts are often untapped resources. The Spark program is a new way for all Pittsburghers to think creatively and re-use public space," Mayor Peduto said. 

The City is testing the program with two applicants before opening the program up citywide. The initial two applicants are Bae Bae's Kitchen at 951 Liberty Avenue Downtown and Onion Maiden at 639 East Warrington Avenue in Allentown. 

Resolutions approving both Sparks will be introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow. 

Bae Bae's Kitchen is proposing building a small greenhouse with seating in a parking space in a short block of Liberty Avenue with dedicated 24-hour parking. The greenhouse will feature an integrated rain barrel for watering plants and feature movable tables and chairs. 

Kitchen employees will maintain the greenhouse and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will store the structure in the winter. The location of the Spark compliments the PDP's Life on Liberty initiative, which seeks to prioritize pedestrian connections and safety, create dedicated transit amenities, reduce sidewalk congestion, and increase business opportunities in the area. 

The PDP and adjacent business owners and residents filed letters of support for the Liberty Avenue Spark with DOMI. The estimated budget is $11,498 with installation slotted for next month. 

In Allentown a steel and wood deck with seating is being proposed in a space in front of Onion Maiden and neighboring Skull Records. It has the support of the Hilltop Alliance, the Allentown CDC, the Allentown Business District Committee and adjacent property owners. 

There is currently no outdoor seating or dining in the business district and stakeholders are hoping the Spark will help attract new customers to the corridor as well as provide an outdoor gathering space for local residents and the neighboring Allentown Senior Center.  

The estimated budget is $7,400 and it is planned to be installed next month. 

Costs for the projects are covered by the applicants and their supporting organizations. 

Sparks are public spaces, meaning that even though a particular business is the applicant, they are designed to be used by anyone, not only patrons of the sponsoring business.  

Other business districts, business owners, community groups and designers elsewhere around Pittsburgh are encouraged to re-think the way that their streets are occupied. Following the 2018 pilot year, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is designing a permanent Spark program, with applications for additional Spark projects planned to be available this summer.  

No public events scheduled.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 8, 2018) A new, 3.25 acre park called Liberty Green is set to be constructed in the Larimer/East Liberty Choice Neighborhoods development. 

The board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh will consider an agreement this Thursday with the Richard King Mellon Foundation to provide $650,000 for the park at the corner of Larimer Avenue and Station Street in East Liberty.  

Liberty Green Park would be adjacent to the recently completed phase 1 85-unit Larimer/East Liberty Choice Neighborhoods mixed-income housing development, and the 150-unit phase 2 mixed income housing development underway.  

"Building this park is directly in line with the city's goal – outlined in the OnePgh plan – to provide parks or playgrounds within a 10 minute walk of every home in Pittsburgh," Mayor William Peduto said. "I want to thank the Richard King Mellon Foundation for this generous gift to city residents, which will help build one of the greenest parks in the country." 

The new neighborhood park will feature a community plaza, open lawn and picnic areas, and dynamic playground elements.  Liberty Green Park will also feature significant green infrastructure with the capacity to manage up to 4 million gallons of stormwater annually. The green infrastructure will culminate in a community driven art exhibit, River Roots, that showcases innovative solutions for stormwater management and is a visible and functional celebration of a decade of Larimer citizens working together for a sustainable future.   

The City and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh received a $30 million grant in 2014 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement the Larimer/East Liberty Choice Neighborhoods plan. 

Choice Neighborhoods focuses on three core components: housing, people, and neighborhood. The URA is charged with implementing the neighborhood component, which seeks to address issues of vacant land, public infrastructure needs, and greening/park goals. 

The URA led a robust public planning process in 2016 to develop a community wide vision for a proposed 25-acre park system in the Larimer and East Liberty neighborhoods, of which Liberty Green Park is the first phase. Outreach included 10 stakeholder and resident action team working sessions, three large neighborhood wide convenings, nine specialized workshops with youth and seniors, and a highly participatory park naming process. 

The URA board is also set to vote Thursday to commit up to $1 million in local funds (including the foundation grant) to match a $1 million state RACP grant to pay for Liberty Green Park construction. 

The URA expects to solicit bids for park construction next month. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 8, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh was awarded more than $1.4 million in state transportation funding today in support of school and sidewalk safety initiatives championed by the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI). 

The two initiatives were among 82 transportation projects approved for funding today by Governor Tom Wolf and PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards to enhance mobility and public accessibility statewide. 

Pittsburgh received: 

• $464,011 to hire a full-time Safe Routes to School coordinator to increase safe walking and bicycling opportunities for city students, purchase and distribute safety items (helmets, lights, reflectors); and expand the after school bike program. 

• $980,000 to enhance pedestrian safety and access by constructing sidewalks within critical gaps throughout the city. 

Sidewalks are the fundamental unit of mobility in any city and provide safe passage for pedestrians and other vulnerable users by providing a place to walk separated from vehicular traffic. Pittsburgh sidewalks are the responsibility of private property owners. This results in uneven improvement in the pedestrian network and periodic long delays in gaining compliance for a safe, traversable network for persons of all ages and abilities.  

The resources awarded by PennDOT will help the city act to address critical sidewalk gaps even while working with private owners. Critical gaps are typically those that connect communities to schools, transit stops, parks or recreational facilities or others.  

"The city is keenly interested in deploying these resources to neighborhoods of the city that have higher concentrations of residents who lack access to an automobile or other private means of travel," said DOMI Director Karina Ricks.  

Safe Routes to School is a program initially established in 2005 by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU), a national funding bill. More than just building infrastructure improvements, the Safe Routes to School funding category offers programmatic support to establish policies, designs and educational programming to develop safer places and safer habits for students.  

"DOMI is pleased with the support from PennDOT to establish a Safe Routes to School program in the city and, we hope, eventually throughout the region," Director Ricks said. 

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Harry Readshaw, Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, & ALCOSAN Executive Director Arletta Scott Williams

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Board Chair Paul Leger

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Annual Awards

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District

Interview For NECA Podcast

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Retirement Reception For Larry E. Davis Dean Of The University Of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: University Club - University of Pittsburgh, North Oakland 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 9, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh's "Adopt-A-Lot" program has reached a milestone, with more than 100 lots adopted since the program was launched in late 2015.

The Adopt-A-Lot program, developed as part of Department of City Planning's Vacant Lot Toolkit, was created in a collaborative process to allow residents a streamlined approach to accessing city-owned vacant lots for food, flower, or rain gardens. In an effort to productively use vacant city-owned lots, the program has three goals: foster neighborhood interaction, re-imagine the potential of vacant lots, and encourage environmental awareness.

In the first two years, 40 community projects have transformed a total of 114 vacant lots.

"The program is constantly evolving to adapt to what residents want,” noted Shelly Danko+Day, Open Space Specialist and Urban Agricultural and Food Policy Adviser at DCP, adding that there are hoop houses being installed on one project to extend the growing season, while another, initiated by a refugee community group, has adopted 35,000 square feet for a food and market stand garden, while others include neighborhood compositing projects.

A key goal of the program was to create more long-term access of city-owned lots for farming projects. Currently there are 23 projects in Adopt-A-Lot 3-year leases after completing their first successful year of stewardship. The success has prompted the URA to create a parallel program called "Farm-A-Lot" which will allow commercial farming projects on a subset of its property portfolio.

With better weather returning, residents and community groups interested in adopting city-owned vacant property should complete an intake form online at http://pittsburghpa.gov/adopt-a-lot/intake-form.html 

You can find the Vacant Lot Toolkit here http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/1760_VLTK_FINAL_10-28-15.pdf

For more information about the Adopt-A-Lot program, contact Shelly Danko+Day at 412.255.2287 or shelly.dankoday@pittsburghpa.gov

(Photo: Allegheny Mountain Lot, Brighton Heights. Credit: Department of City Planning)

InnovatePGH Board Of Directors Meeting

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Squirrel Hill North

Pennsylvania Municipal League Monthly Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 10, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in San Francisco today, where he is being honored with the NationSwell Innovation Award for leadership and achievement. He will also lead a panel discussion on innovative practices in Pittsburgh before an audience of 250 world leaders in venture capital, technology, finance, social enterprise, media, design and business. 

NationSwell is a social enterprise dedicated to accelerating the solutions and innovations that will renew America.  

NationSwell Summit West this year is focusing on mobility, opportunity and dynamism. The Mayor is on a panel called "American Revitalization: Local Solutions" that the summit describes this way: 

Despite a sense of national division, zooming in on the local level provides a different narrative about the direction of our communities and, collectively, the country. Pittsburgh in particular stands out as a shining example of a turnaround city. What can major metropolitan cities like San Francisco learn from places like Pittsburgh? How can cities of all shapes and sizes more effectively share best practices? 

The panel also includes Danel Lurie of Tipping Point and Alexandra Suich Bass of The Economist. 

Mayor Peduto is joining a storied list of speakers at past NationSwell gatherings including Governors Deval Patrick, John Hickenlooper, and Jon Huntsman; former U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan; retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal; former EPA Administrator Carol Browner; and author Sebastian Junger. 

NationSwell is covering the Mayor's expenses. He returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – May 10, 2018: 

All locations Terra, 511 Harrison Street, San Francisco 

Welcoming Remarks 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Panel: Talent for the New Economy, with Jamie Merisotis (Lumina Foundation) and Nellie Bowles (New York Times). 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Impact Spotlight and Signature Conversations Introduction featuring Mary Snapp (Microsoft Philanthropies). 

Time: 10:25 a.m. 

Panel: Vehicles of Change: Toward a Sustainable Future featuring Nicole Bassett (The Renewal Workshop), Hannah Dehradunwala (Transfernation), Topher White (Rainforest Connection), and Jana Hartline (Toyota). 

Time: 11:30 a.m. 

Panel: American Revitalization: Local Solutions featuring Mayor Peduto, Daniel Lurie (Tipping Point Community), and Alexandra Suich Bass (The Economist). 

Time: Noon 

Panel: Advancing Opportunity and Inclusive Prosperity featuring Jacquelline Fuller (Google.org), Aimée Eubanks Davis (Braven), and Karan Chopra (Opportunity@Work) 

Time: 1:30 p.m. 

Signature Conversations: Making Social Capital Available and Accessible for All; The Coming Post-Secondary Education Revolution; The Power of Finance: Impact Investing 2.0 and Capital for Good; The Power and Possibility of Diversity and Inclusion; Entrepreneurship Across America; Womb to Work: Preparing our Kids for the Future 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Panel: AI and the Future of Shared Opportunity featuring Roy Bahat (Bloomberg Beta) and Allison Dulin Salisbury (Entangled Studios). 

Time: 2:50 p.m. 

Panel: Leveraging Capital for Impact featuring John Duong (Lumina Foundation), Felix Ortiz (Veridis), Greg Shell (Bain Capital Double Impact), and Haley Cohen Gilliland (The Economist). 

Time: 3:15 p.m. 

Keynote: Restoring the American Dream featuring Richard Reeves (Brookings Institution) and Katy Steinmetz (Time Magazine) 

Time: 3:50 p.m. 

Closing Reception 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Meeting With Harvard University’s Mitchell Weiss

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 15, 2018) Mayor William Peduto departs today for 10 days in Europe, where he will tell Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and be honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Mayor Peduto departs today for Geneva, Switzerland, which is hosting the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders will study ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals. The Mayor will speak to the conference on Wednesday and Thursday about the Pittsburgh model, P4 development practices and the OnePGH plan. 

On Saturday the Mayor will receive the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza will present the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

On Sunday he will travel to Milan, Italy, for The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems. The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. 

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – May 15, 2018 

Flight to Geneva 

Time: 3 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 15, 2018)The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works and the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, have postponed the closing of the Forward Avenue on-ramp from Squirrel Hill to I-376 inbound due to inclement weather. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 16, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Europe, where he will tell Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and be honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Today Mayor Peduto is in Geneva, Switzerland, which is hosting the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders will study ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals. The Mayor will speak to the conference about the Pittsburgh model, P4 development practices and the OnePGH plan. 

On Saturday the Mayor will receive the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza will present the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

On Sunday he will travel to Milan, Italy, for The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems. The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. 

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – May 16, 2018 

AI for Good Global Summit 

Panel discussion on AI Fostering Smart Government with Renato de Castro, SmartCity Expert; Carla Dualib, Secretary of Communication and Press, Diademe City Hall, Brazil; James Noakes, Mayoral Lead for Energy and Smart City - City Councillor of Liverpool, UK; and Frans-Anton Vermast, Amsterdam Smart City Ambassador 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Panel discussion on AI Empowering Smart Citizens, with remarks by Mayor Peduto on P4 and OnePGH strategies and what role AI might play in planning for 2030. Speakers include Jacques Ludik, Founder & CEO, Cortex Logic; Founder & President, Machine Intelligence Institute of Africa "Health, Water, Smart Education & Smart Technology Services for African Smart Cities"; Joaquin Rodriguez Alvarez, professor and researcher EPSI-UAB, Leading Cities Coordinator; Alexandre Cadain, Co-Founder & CEO at ANIMA; XPRIZE Ambassador; and Renato de Castro, SmartCity Expert. 

Time: 4 p.m. 

Meeting with AI for Good Global Summit organizers  

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

AI for Good Reception 

Time: 7 p.m.

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m. Due to anticipated bad weather this work has again been delayed. It is now tentatively set for 9 p.m. May 17 through 5 a.m. May 18. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 16, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, advises that work is expected to resume on the Forward Avenue on-ramp from Squirrel Hill to I-376 inbound on May 16, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on May 17, 2018.

This closure is needed to reinstall the final pavement markings on the Parkway and the lower end of the Forward Avenue ramp as part of the Greenfield Bridge improvement project. A detour will be provided.

Work progress and duration will be subject to the weather. Residents are asked to have patience while the work is completed.

If you have any questions concerning this closure, please contact Aaron Pickering, Project Manager of Michael Baker International, at 412-269-6423, or via email to Apickering@mbakerintl.com.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 17, 2018) Large-scale paving projects are moving forward this week on Brighton Road in the North Side and Penn Avenue in Bloomfield, from its border with Garfield west to Lower Lawrenceville. 

The resurfacing projects from the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) follow those on other major arteries already completed this spring including sections of Frankstown Avenue in Homewood, Centre Avenue in the Hill District, Liberty Avenue from the Strip District to Bloomfield, and Fifth Avenue in Shadyside. 

DOMI will soon move its focus to southern and western parts of the city. Next week it plans to resurface parts of Lorenz Avenue in Elliott, Esplen Street in Sheraden, W. Prospect Avenue in Fairywood, Boggs Avenue in Mount Washington and Crane Avenue in Beechview. 

Milling began at 4 a.m. Thursday on Brighton Road at Harbison Street in Brighton Heights south to Marshall Avenue in Marshall Shadeland. Overnight paving of the roadway is set to begin this evening. 

Milling of Penn Avenue on the Bloomfield-Garfield border is set to begin Friday from Main Street west to Butler Street, and the next night east from Main Street to Friendship Avenue. Overnight paving of those sections are set for Friday and Saturday. 

All of the paving projects are subject to weather conditions. 

Smaller milling and paving projects this week are listed here. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 17, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Europe, where he is telling Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and will be honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Today Mayor Peduto remains in Geneva, Switzerland, which is hosting the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders will study ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals. Today the Mayor speaks to the summit on the "Beneficial AI Era (AI in every city)." 

On Saturday the Mayor will receive the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza will present the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

On Sunday he will travel to Milan, Italy, for The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems. The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. 

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – May 17, 2018 

AI for Good Global Summit 

Panel on Ideas for Impact: AI breakthrough team project pitches 

Time: 9 a.m. 

Panel on Projects in Action: Towards AI and Data Commons - Part One, with Chaesub Lee, Director of Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU; Urs Gasser, Executive Director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University; Sam Molyneux, GM, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; Terah Lyons, Executive Director, Partnership on AI; H.E Mr Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, United Arab Emirates; and Amir Banifatemi, AI Lead, XPRIZE Foundation 

Time: 10:15 .m. 

Panel on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, with Liu Yang, Astronaut and Pilot; first Chinese woman in space; Yelena Kondakova , Russian Cosmonaut; first woman to make a long-duration spaceflight; Samantha Cristoforetti, Astronaut and Pilot; first Italian woman in space; Anousheh Ansari, Member & Chair of Management,  XPRIZE Foundation Board of Directors, Space Ambassador; first female private space explorer 

Time: 11:30 a.m. 

Panel on Projects in Action: Towards AI and Data Commons - Part Two, with Chaesub Lee, Director of Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU; Vincenzo Aquaro,  Chief of Digital Government, Public Institutions and Digital Government Division, United Nations (remote); Stuart Russell, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, UC-Berkeley; Francesca Rossi, Research Scientist at IBM Research and Professor at the University of Padova; Wendell Wallach, Consultant, Ethicist, and Scholar at Yale University's Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics (remote); and Trent McConaghy, Founder, Ocean Protocol 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Panel on Collaborating and Investing in Beneficial AI, with H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Theneyan, Deputy Minister for Technology Industry and Digital Capacities, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia; Ambassador Amandeep Singh Gill, Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament; Taskforce on AI for India's Economic Transformation; David Li, Founder, Shenzhen Open Innovation Lab "AI Hardware from the Street"; and Frits Bussemaker,  Chair, Institute for Accountability and Internet Democracy (IAID). 

Interview with Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto on the Beneficial AI Era (AI in every city) with Bruno Giussani, Global Curator, TED. 

Time: 4:15 p.m.   

Panel on All Nippon Airways (ANA) Avatar Demo [Own Your Own Disruption], with Akira Fukabori and Kevin Kajitani, ANA AVATAR Co-Directors , ANA Holdings Inc. 

Time: 4:45 p.m. 

Panel on Towards AI for Good - Actions and Roadmap, with Reinhard Scholl, ITU, and Amir Banifatemi, AI Lead, XPRIZE Foundation  

Time: 5:15 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 18, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Europe, where he is telling Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and will be honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

On Saturday the Mayor will receive the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza will present the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

On Sunday he will travel to Milan, Italy, for The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems. The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. 

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Earlier in the week Mayor Peduto was in Geneva, Switzerland, for the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders studied ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals.  

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Friday, May 18, 2018 

Travel to Castel San Lorenzo, Italy 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Saturday, May 19, 2018 

Orgoglio Castellese Day 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Sunday, May 20, 2018 

Flight to Milan, Italy 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

CityXChange Summit Opening Welcome And Interview: Joining Forces For The Future Of Cities, with Michael Berkowitz, President, 100 Resilient Cities 
Charmath Palihapitiya, Founder & CEO, Social Capital 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 18, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh will conduct its first special biannual curbside yard waste collection on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Resident participation in this program supports the effort to sustaining a healthy environment by diverting valuable resources from landfills.  

Yard waste includes leaves, branches (4-inch diameter or less), brush, and grass.  

Leaves, brush, and grass should be placed in paper bags with a weight limit of 35 pounds per bag. Branches (4 inch diameter or less) should be bundled with fiber twine or natural rope in branch lengths of 5 feet or less. 

Materials must be placed at the curb in your regular recycling/ refuse pick up spot before 6:00 a.m. the morning of service.  

Yard waste should NOT contain any of the following prohibited materials; plastic bags, metal or wire, rocks, blocks, bricks, soil, dirt, gravel, glass, metal or plastic.  

Yard Waste found not meeting collection guidelines will be left at the curb.   

Questions? Please Call the Bureau of Environmental Services 412-255-2773/ 412-255-2631  

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 21, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Europe, where he is telling Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and being honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Today he is in Milan, Italy, for The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems. The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. 

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Earlier in the week Mayor Peduto was in Geneva, Switzerland, for the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders studied ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals.  

On Saturday the Mayor received the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza presented the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Monday, May 21, 2018 

CityXChange Summit Panel on Today's Smart City with Luis Bettencourt, Pritzker Director, University of Chicago - Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation; Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India; Micah Lasher, Head of Policy and Communications, Sidewalk Labs; Suzanne Wiley, Chief Executive, Belfast; and VanRoekel, Innovation Consultant, The Rockefeller Foundation 

Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 

Working Groups: Session 1--Presenting the Problem 

Time: 1-5:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 22, 2018) Pittsburgh City Council today voted to finally approve the city's Climate Action Plan 3.0, which commits Pittsburgh government to a series of climate change mitigation goals through 2030. 

The goals include: 

• 100% renewable energy use  

• 100% fossil fuel free fleet  

• Divestment from fossil fuel companies 

• 50% energy & water use reduction  

• 50% transportation emission reduction 

• Zero Waste 

Working toward these goals aims to reduce Pittsburgh's greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2023, 50% by 2030, and 80% by 2050.

The draft 3.0 plan was introduced last year after more than 100 meetings, workshops, and events to help gather input and content. More than 300 people representing 90 different organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities participated in writing the draft.  A public commenting period followed the release of the draft Climate Action Plan, including a public hearing hosted by City Council. Based on the feedback received during the public commenting period a few changes were made. In general, these changes included clarifying the goals set forth in the plan and expanding upon how community members and various stakeholders can get involved in the plan. 

More hearings and public meetings followed, leading to Council's vote. 

"Community engagement and the extended community process yielded additional support and insights that we will be using to create more community-climate connections and improved communications with community organizations," said Grant Ervin, the city's Chief Resilience Officer. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 22, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is expressing support for state legislation that will help workforce development in Pittsburgh and other cities by removing mandatory suspensions for non-driving citations and expunging records for non-violent, low-level convictions and non-convictions. 

Suspended licenses make it more difficult for residents to travel to work, school and other essential destinations. Records on low-level offenders stay in public records for years, even if charges change or are dropped, and that information is often sold to employers. Changing state law in both matters would help many residents find work, rather than create barriers to employment. 

Mayor Peduto wrote Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati and Speaker of the House Mike Turzai in favor of Senate Bill 529 and House Bill 1419, which are the "Clean Slate" bills on expunging records. 

"HB 1419 and SB 529 are not simply issues of justice. For many cities struggling to increase rates of employment, we must begin to address the barriers that formerly incarcerated people face and ensure that they have greater access to employment. For Pittsburgh, we see removing these barriers as essential to increasing our workforce and lifting people out of vulnerability. It is notable that these bills are supported by the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Chamber of commerce for Greater Philadelphia, the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Harrisburg Regional Chamber," the Mayor wrote. 

The Mayor wrote the Senate Transportation Committee in support of House Bill 163, which would eliminate driver's license suspensions for drug-related crimes that are not related to vehicle usage. 

"For those that have successfully served their time and are returning to society, we must remove any and all barriers to their success. Returning citizens who have difficulties getting a valid driver's license or identification card will also have difficulties getting stable housing and employment. Obtaining these things have proven to reduce recidivism and reliance on public assistance programs," he wrote. 

Copies of the letters are available here and here.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 22, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Europe, where he is telling Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and being honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Today he is in Milan, Italy, for The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems.  

Mayor Peduto will be the only government official speaking on an afternoon panel today on urban transit and mobility, along with tech officials and analysts.  

The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. Yesterday the Wall Street Journal reported that 100 Resilient Cities announced a partnership with Palo Alto venture capital firm Social Capital to commit $150 million to assist startup firms in working with local governments to address urban resilience and sustainability issues.  

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Earlier in the week Mayor Peduto was in Geneva, Switzerland, for the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders studied ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals.  

On Saturday the Mayor received the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza presented the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Tuesday, May 22, 2018 

Tech Demos: Part 1  

Time: 9:15 a.m. 

Tech Demos: Part 2 

Time: 11:15 a.m. 

Panel: Evolution in Urban Transit and Mobility, Frati Chapel How are recent tech innovations, including the proliferation of autonomous vehicles, impacting cities as they make plans to mitigate congestion and improve or adapt public infrastructure? What are the major policy and regulatory tensions surrounding new transportation-tech and how can cities and tech work together to ensure potential benefits reach underserved communities?  

Speakers include: Mayor Peduto; Dr. João Barros, Founder and CEO, Veniam; Marjory Blumenthal, Director, Science, Technology, and Policy Program, RAND Corp; Peter Calthorpe, CEO, Calthorpe Analytics; Courtney Sung, Director of Growth, Remix Software; Moderator: Bradley Tusk, Founder and CEO, Tusk Holdings 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Working Groups: Session Three 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Public Art and Civic Design Manager

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St. 4th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] yesica.guerra@pittsburghpa.gov

Anthony Cavalline

Arts, Culture, and History Specialist

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St., 4th FloorPittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] anthony.cavalline@pittsburghpa.gov

Public Art and Civic Design Manager

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St. 4th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] yesica.guerra@pittsburghpa.gov

Anthony Cavalline

Arts, Culture, and History Specialist

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St., 4th FloorPittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] anthony.cavalline@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 23, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Europe, where he is telling Pittsburgh's story at two international technology conferences, and was honored with the "Orgoglio Castellese" award from his family's home region in Italy. 

Conference and award organizers are paying the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Today he is in Milan, Italy, for the last day of The Rockefeller Foundation's 2018 City XChange Summit, where government, technology and venture capital leaders from around the world meet to collaborate on solving urban resilience problems.  

Yesterday Mayor Peduto was the only government official speaking on a panel on urban transit and mobility, along with tech officials and analysts.  

The summit is run by 100 Resilient Cities, which Pittsburgh joined in 2014. On Monday the Wall Street Journal reported that 100 Resilient Cities announced a partnership with Palo Alto venture capital firm Social Capital to commit $150 million to assist startup firms in working with local governments to address urban resilience and sustainability issues.  

Other cities being represented at the summit include: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Calgary, Alberta; Chennai, India; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pune, India; and Quito, Ecuador. 

Last week Mayor Peduto was in Geneva, Switzerland, for the AI for Good Global Summit, where world leaders studied ways to use artificial intelligence to support United Nations sustainable and equitable development goals.  

On Saturday the Mayor received the "Orgoglio Castellese" (or "Pride" of Castellese) award, given to distinguished natives and descendants of Castel San Lorenzo in southwest Italy. The city's Mayor Giuseppe Scorza presented the award to Mayor Peduto and Italian Army General Antonio Masi. 

He returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow evening. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 

Working Groups: Session Four 

Time: 9:15 a.m. 

Closing Forum and Participant Report-Outs, Frati Chapel • Moderator: Michael Berkowitz, President, 100RC  

Time: 11:30 a.m. 

Closing Dinner 

8 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 23, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh offices and Healthy Active Living Centers will be closed on Monday, May 28, 2018 in observance of Memorial Day.   

Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Monday, May 28, 2018 will be delayed one day. 

If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, May 28, you will be serviced on Tuesday, May 29.  If your collection day is Tuesday, May 29, you will be serviced on Wednesday, May 30 and so on through Saturday, June 2.  

The City of Pittsburgh CitiParks will have the following adjusted schedule in observance of Memorial Day: 

HEALTHY ACTIVE LIVING CENTERS (Senior Centers) 

• All Healthy Active Living Centers will be closed Memorial Day 

• Note:  These centers are not open on Saturdays and Sundays 

RECREATION CENTERS 

• All Recreation Centers will be closed:      

• Saturday, May 26   

• Sunday, May 27    

• Monday, May 28    

AQUATICS/SWIMMING 

• Oliver Bath House:  Closed Monday, May 28, 2018 

• Spray Parks Open Saturday, May 26, 2018 at NOON 

• All Spray Parks will be open Noon – 6 pm 

• Saturday, May 26 

•  Sunday, May 27 

• Monday, May 28 

• Outdoor Pools will open on Monday, June 11, 2018 

MELLON TENNIS BUBBLE 

• Closed Memorial Day 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 23, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today regarding the announcement that Uber is ending its automated vehicle program in Phoenix following a fatal crash in March and planning to resume testing in Pittsburgh this summer: 

"I made it clear to Uber officials after the Arizona crash that a full federal investigation had to be completed, with strong rules for keeping streets safe, before I would agree with the company to begin testing on Pittsburgh streets again. 

In talks with company officials, I and the city's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure additionally required conditions with Uber before Pittsburgh would agree to testing. The conditions included that: 

• Automated vehicles would never exceed 25 miles-per-hour in the city, on any street, regardless of legal speed limits. (The probability of pedestrians surviving a collision is much higher at speeds of under 25 mph. Even at 30 mph fatality rates increase dramatically.) 

• The company use its driver app to alert human drivers when they are exceeding speed limits, so human drivers adhere to speed limits as well. 

Uber did not tell me of today's announcement, and I was forced to learn about it through social media reports. This is not the way to rebuild a constructive working relationship with local government, especially when facing a public safety matter." 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 24, 2018) Mayor William Peduto today returns from a trip promoting Pittsburgh's story at two international conferences in Europe. 

Conference and award organizers paid the Mayor's expenses. No taxpayer money was used. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Thursday, May 24, 2018: 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

PITTSBURGH,PA (May 25, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh, Office of Mayor William Peduto and Citiparks, is excited to announce the Grand Opening of our newest Spray Park at Arlington, 1523 Fernleaf Street, on Saturday, May 26, 2018, with festivities beginning at Noon.  

The other seven Spray Parks will also open Saturday, May 26. (weather permitting) 

Hours of Operation for Memorial Day Weekend: 

Spray Parks are scheduled to open Saturday, May 26, 2018 (Weather Permitting)  

Saturday, May 26, 2018 through Monday, May 28, 2018:  Noon - 6p.m 

SPRAY PARK LOCATIONS & DIRECTIONS: 

• ARLINGTON—1523 Fernleaf Street (15210)—Arlington Playground   

  • From Southside, take 18th Street to Arlington Avenue.  Make left onto Arlington Avenue.  Follow Arlington Avenue to Fernleaf Street.  Turn right on to Fernleaf Street. 

• BEECHVIEW—1295 Orangewood Avenue (15216)—Vanucci Playground  

  • From West Liberty Avenue (outbound after driving through Liberty Tunnel):  Turn right onto Brookside Avenue and continue until street ends at Sebring Avenue.  Turn left onto Sebring; half block turn right onto Orangewood Avenue.  Take Orangewood until it ends at the Vanucci Playground/Field parking lot. 

• BURGWIN—328 Mansion Street (15207)—Burgwin Playground/Burgwin Field 

  • From Second Avenue, turn onto Mansion Street.  Take Mansion Street until you reach Johnston Avenue.  

• EAST HILLS—2300 Wilner Drive (15221)—East Hills Park  

  • From East Hills Drive turn on to Wilner Drive—Spray Park and Playground will be ahead on Right.

  • From I 376—take Wilkinsburg Exit.  Follow Ardmore Blvd/Rt. 8 N to Montier Street; follow Montier for approximately 2 miles to Wilner Drive.  Make left onto Wilner—Spray Park and Playground will be ahead on Left  

• SHADYSIDE—6601 Fifth Avenue (15206)—Mellon Park   

  • Located adjacent to the Mellon Park Tennis Center on Fifth Avenue at the intersection with Beechwood Boulevard.  

• TROY HILL—1200 Goettman Street (15212)—Cowley Playground  

  • From 16th Street Bridge (outbound from Downtown) continue straight on Chestnut Street.  Turn right onto Phineas Street (becomes Troy Hill Road).  Continue on Troy Hill Road and at top of hill make sharp left onto Goettman Street.  (Spray Park is located next to ballfield.) 

• WARRINGTON—329 Warrington Avenue (15210)—Beltzhoover  

  • The Warrington Spray Park is located adjacent to the Warrington Recreation Center.  From 51, turn on to Warrington and follow up hill to Rec Center.  Turn left on Estella Avenue. 

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Beechview Memorial Service

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Monument Park, Broadway at Shiras Avenues

Knoxville Community Appreciation Day

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: St. Paul AME Church

City Of Pittsburgh's CitiParks Arlington Spray Park Grand Opening

Time: 12: 00 P.M.

Location: Arlington Playground, Fernleaf Street

Sunday, May 27, 2018

No public events scheduled.

Memorial Day - Monday, May 28, 2018

27th Ward Memorial Day Ceremony

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Legion Park, Brighton Heights

110th Annual Lawrenceville Memorial Day Parade
Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Butler Street, Lawrenceville 

Soldiers & Sailors Club - Greenfield Memorial Ceremony

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Boulevard Drive, Greenfield

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 28, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference Tuesday morning regarding orders he is signing relating to city construction projects and workforce development matters.

WHO: Mayor William Peduto and labor and construction leaders

WHAT: Press conference on city construction projects and workforce development

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building

WHEN: 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Press Conference On Construction Order & Workforce Development

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

OnePGH Update Meeting

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With University Of Pittsburgh Swanson School Of Bioengineering’s Dr. Sanjeev G. Shroff

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Keith Figured, Richard Welkowitz,  & Michael Brubaker

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting The Key To The City Of Pittsburgh To Father Jack O’Malley & Jack Shea

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Bloomfield Citizens Council

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Karin Henriksson Of Sweden’s Svenska Dagbladet

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 29, 2018) Mayor William Peduto, in conjunction with the city's Construction Industry Task Force, today signed two Executive Orders supporting growth of the construction industry and access to family-supporting union jobs for city residents. 

The Orders relate to project labor agreements (PLAs) and workforce partnerships.  

PLAs are employment agreements between contractors and labor organizations on construction projects. They provide access to a reliable supply of well-trained, highly-skilled workers and help projects get completed on-time and on-budget.  

In Pittsburgh they would apply to city-managed projects of $500,000 or more and be subject to oversight by a Project Labor Agreement Review Committee. Minority workers would comprise at least 12% on the workforce on such projects, and the projects would continue to be held to the city's minority and women-owned contracting goals of 18% and 7% respectively. 

The workforce partnership order recognizes that minorities and women are underrepresented in the construction industry, and more efforts are needed to boost construction career opportunities in a time when the industry is in need of well-trained workers.  

The Construction Industry Task Force is already working on initiatives to bring more minorities and women into the apprenticeship and work site pipeline, and today's Order commits $350,000 for a Workforce Development Fund to support outreach and recruitment efforts including a pre-apprenticeship bridge program, online applications, website portals, and data sharing to track the initiative. The Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council has committed $100,000 and the City of Pittsburgh $250,000. 

"We believe these two steps are raising the bar for city construction projects and building a pipeline to the worksite for people who have traditionally been excluded," Mayor Peduto said. 

The Orders are the result of a year of work by Construction Industry Task Force partners including: City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle and Corey O'Connor; Pittsburgh Trades Institute; Community Empowerment Association; A. Philip Randolph Association; Intro to the Trades at the Energy Innovation Center; Oxford Development; Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council; Builders Guild of Western PA; Partner4Work; and City of Pittsburgh departments. 

Copies of the Orders are availalble here (Workforce) and here (PLAs).

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 29, 2018) Approved in October 2016, the Pittsburgh Building Benchmarking Ordinance requires owners of all non-residential buildings over 50,000 sq. ft. to track and report annual energy and water consumption data to the City. Buildings required to report must submit their data to the City by June 1, 2018.

Following this submission period, the City will prepare a report to contextualize this data and make it publicly available.

Building owners were sent two notifications with the necessary information to comply. Additionally, three free trainings were offered to provide in-person guidance with the compliance process.

Buildings in Pittsburgh account for 81% of the City’s carbon emissions through the consumption of electricity and natural gas. Benchmarking gives building engineers, managers, owners, and tenants valuable information on how their buildings perform over time, as well as how they compare to peer buildings.

While the Building Benchmarking Ordinance does not require buildings owners to take any measures to reduce energy or water use, elsewhere the increased awareness of energy and water use brought about by benchmarking has been shown to result in a 4 to 7 percent reduction in utility use according to EPA.

The benchmarking data will help the city plan our next steps to meet our goals set forth in the new climate action plan.

More information about the ordinance, how to comply, and the list of buildings that must comply can be found at: http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/programs/building-benchmarking.

Meeting With Dina Blackwell

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

ICLEI Local Governments For Sustainability Prep Call

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Endangered Species Act Proclamation

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Councilman Reverend Ricky Burgess, Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Director Of Public Works Michael Gable, & Director Of Management & Budget Jennifer Presutti

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Welcoming Pittsburgh Sister City Ostrava, Czech Republic To City Of Pittsburgh

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Cathy Lewis Long & Matt Hannigan

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With The Guardian's Oliver Milman

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting The City Of Pittsburgh's Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Mickey McManus

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Mike Mitcham

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Celebrating The 100th Anniversary Of The Signing Of The Pittsburgh Agreement

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Heinz History Center, Strip District

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 31, 2018) The procurement team in the City of Pittsburgh's Office of Management has been awarded an "Excellence in Procurement" award by the U.S. Communities Purchasing Alliance for implementing effective and efficient governmental purchasing principles.

The U.S. Communities Purchasing Alliance is a nonprofit government purchasing cooperative that reduces the cost of goods and services for participating public agencies by aggregating their purchasing power nationwide.

It is the only cooperative purchasing program founded by National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, Association of School Business Officials, United States Conference of Mayors and National Governors Association. The use of the U.S. Communities contracts have demonstrated cost savings thereby stretching public tax dollars through best value public procurement.

The Pittsburgh procurement office is responsible for organizing and directing the day-to-day operations of government purchasing; managing the intergovernmental purchasing agreement with Allegheny County; driving improvements in procurement processes, policies, and technology; and implementing cost management initiatives related to procurement, warehousing, and inventory management.

It has initiated innovative transparency and procurement best practices during Mayor William Peduto's administration, including OMB's purchasing website Beacon.

The city's procurement team is led by Jennifer Olzinger, and overseen by OMB Director Jennifer Presutti.

“I am so proud of the accomplishments made by the procurement team over the last few years. The City has realized increased efficiencies and professionalism in our procurement because of their hard work,” Presutti said.

Each year, U.S. Communities and its national co-sponsors recognize agencies from across the country who demonstrate leadership and dedication to procurement excellence. Earlier this year, U.S. Communities identified the City of Pittsburgh as a key enthusiast for innovative procurement practices via its continuous use of the U.S. Communities contract offerings which provide for greater economy and efficiency in purchasing.

As a result, U.S. Communities and its national co-sponsors selected the City of Pittsburgh to receive its Excellence in Procurement ward based on the city’s dedicated support to the principles of effective and efficient governmental purchasing principles.

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Jim Wholey

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Celebrating The Western Pennsylvania District Court's 200th Anniversary

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Joseph F. Weis Junior United States Federal Courthouse, Grant Street

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Video For SHARE Event

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 3, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference Monday morning introducing the new Prepared Pittsburgh programming, which aims to help neighborhoods prepare for climate-related risks and stresses.

WHO: Mayor William Peduto, Emergency Medical Services and Resilience officials 
WHAT: Press conference on Prepared Pittsburgh Program
WHERE: Homewood Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 7101 Hamilton Ave.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 4, 2018

Prepared Pittsburgh Press Conference

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Homewood Branch, Homewood South

Call With Bill Hunt

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Chief Financial Officer Sam Ashbaugh, Chief Of Operations Guy Costa, Director Of Public Works Michael Gable, & Acting City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Welcoming Delegation From Peru

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Special Initiatives Manager Feyisola Alabi

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PUMP Town Hall

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Union Project, Highland Park 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 4, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is proud to announce Prepared Pittsburgh, a series of resilience and preparedness resources open to all City residents. Prepared Pittsburgh aims to help neighborhoods better face climate-related risks and ongoing stresses affecting their communities.  

The classes will cover climate change in Pittsburgh, disaster preparedness, community medicine, energy efficiency, and water awareness. Descriptions of the classes are available here.

Below you will find a complete schedule of the classes and locations: 

CLP: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 

Please check our website calendar (http://pittsburghpa.gov/onepgh) to look for new and updated classes! 

Media Advisory 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 04, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference Tuesday morning introducing a partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and Ford. 

WHO: Mayor William Peduto, Director of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks, and John Kwant, Vice President, Ford City Solutions 

WHAT: Press conference on City of Pittsburgh and Ford Partnership 

WHERE: Energy Innovation Center - 1435 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Prepared Pittsburgh Press Conference

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Homewood Branch, Homewood South

Call With Bill Hunt

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Chief Financial Officer Sam Ashbaugh, Chief Of Operations Guy Costa, Director Of Public Works Michael Gable, & Acting City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Welcoming Delegation From Peru

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Special Initiatives Manager Feyisola Alabi

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PUMP Town Hall

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Union Project, Highland Park 

Prepared Pittsburgh Press Conference

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Homewood Branch, Homewood South

Call With Bill Hunt

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Chief Financial Officer Sam Ashbaugh, Chief Of Operations Guy Costa, Director Of Public Works Michael Gable, & Acting City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Welcoming Delegation From Peru

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Special Initiatives Manager Feyisola Alabi

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PUMP Town Hall

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Union Project, Highland Park 

PITTSBURG, PA (June 5, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh, Office of Mayor William Peduto is proud to announce the collaboration between, Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and Ford. Alongside jointly with public stakeholders and private partners Dell Technologies, Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership, and Microsoft to launch the “Pittsburgh City of Tomorrow Challenge,” a crowdsourcing platform for residents, businesses, and community groups to propose and pilot solutions that improve mobility in Pittsburgh.     

According to a United Nations report on world urbanization, 66 percent of the world’s population is projected to live in cities by 2050. As urban populations surge and new technologies take shape, the way people move around cities is changing, and the Pittsburgh of tomorrow will be very different from the Pittsburgh of the past – it will be green, accessible, sustainable and built around the needs of its people. The City of Tomorrow is Ford’s vision for the future that understands the need to make a continuous effort to implement solutions that address transportation challenges, such as crossing bridges, to enable people to get to work or spend more time connecting with friends and family.  

This is why Ford has created the City of Tomorrow Challenge – engaging communities around the mobility issues they care about most. The collaboration with Pittsburgh pairs the rich technology expertise of Ford and its partners with the real world experience and lived stories of Pittsburgh and its residents, creating an opportunity to propose ideas for how data, technology, and design might be put to use to address the city’s needs.  

“Nobody knows the Steel City better than its own hard-working businesses and community members, which is why we’re reaching out directly to them with the City of Tomorrow Challenge,” said Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh mayor. “We want to give anyone who’s interested in  

their city a chance to be a part of finding real solutions to the issues they face every day – and to put those ideas to the test for everyone’s benefit.”  

Throughout the eight-month program, residents, businesses, and community organizations are invited to share how they experience transportation in Pittsburgh and how mobility either enables them or serves as a barrier to accessing the important aspects of their daily lives. Pittsburgh officials are also seeking ideas to better their city in a number of ways, including improving access to travel information, building confidence in existing systems, and soliciting ideas for improvements that can supplement existing services. To encourage people to take part and to test out the best ideas, the Challenge includes $100,000 to fund pilots that test the top ideas.  

"Pittsburgh is at the precipice of change, and we need to make sure the bright future we see is one where everyone can thrive,” said Karina Ricks, Pittsburgh director of mobility and infrastructure. “The City of Tomorrow Challenge will put deep analytical power and industry insight in service of the people of Pittsburgh, bringing forward innovative, real-world solutions to today's mobility challenges that help us achieve an inclusive tomorrow."  

By working with Pittsburgh communities to crowdsource new mobility designs and innovations, and funding pilots to test the top solutions, the Challenge program’s goal is to identify meaningful opportunities to create immediate impact for Pittsburgh residents and support long-term improvements to how people get around the city.  

“No two cities are the same – that’s why we’re committed to really understanding their specific issues and their needs,” said John Kwant, vice president, Ford City Solutions. “With the City of Tomorrow Challenge, our goal is to provide a program and access to technology that makes it easy for cities to engage residents, businesses, and other groups in a way that can lead to real solutions.”  

How it works – and how you can get involved  

People can go to the Challenge website to share their experiences, sign up for community working sessions, and offer insight into the variety of ways people move around Pittsburgh today. Additionally, city staff will be out at a number of local neighborhood festivities and events to engage residents directly. On July 2, the application period will open, and participants can submit ideas for accessible solutions.  

In September, semi-finalists will be selected from among all submissions to attend a prototyping session and receive mentoring support to refine their ideas before submitting a final pilot proposal. During the Challenge’s concluding stage, $100,000 will be awarded to fund pilots to test the proposed strategy in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Ford, and the Challenge’s corporate partners.  

“We’re encouraging everyone to participate – from residents, community groups, and local businesses to universities and innovation centers across the U.S. and around the world – knowing the key to finding solutions and making a difference is widespread collaboration,” said Kwant.  

City Of Pittsburgh Mobility & Infrastructure - Ford Press Conference

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Energy Innovation Center - Clifford B. Connelley Trade School, Crawford-Roberts

Meeting With John Skrentney & Mary Walshok

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Allentown Community Development Corporation Monthly Meeting

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Allentown Senior Center, Allentown

Lawrenceville United Meeting

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: The Goodwill Building, Upper Lawrenceville

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 6, 2018) Flood gates designed to keep motorists off Washington Boulevard during heavy rains are functioning improperly, but Pittsburgh Police officers, as trained, are manually setting up barricades when needed.

A motorist struck a warning pole and component box on March 6, 2018. The City has been attempting to reinstall the damaged equipment since the time of the accident, however the system has been tested with inconsistent results.

On Tuesday evening, the system was manually activated and one gate located at Washington and Allegheny River boulevards failed to come down.

Police erected physical barricades, which have been positioned at this location since the March 6 accident.

The City is continuing to work on the system and hopefully will replace it with new technology. Until a permanent solution is found, Pittsburgh Police will continue to set up physical barricades to ensure the public’s safety. 

Motorists are warned to obey street closures erected by police personnel, and not drive around barricades.

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy President Jayne Miller, & Parks Conservancy Board Chair Daniel Booker

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Clean Pittsburgh Commission

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Interview With Texas Crew Productions

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Weekly Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Moving West Virginia Forward: A Leadership Exchange Dinner

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Founders Lounge at the Clay Center, West Virginia 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 7, 2018) Mayor William Peduto travels to Boston today for the International Mayors Climate Summit, which will focus on steps city leaders can take to address climate change globally and in their own communities.  

After the summit is the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which is also in Boston. Mayor Peduto returns to Pittsburgh Sunday. 

The International Mayors Climate Summit is being hosted by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. Mayor Walsh's office describes the summit this way: 

"The International Mayors Climate Summit will serve as a critical opportunity for some of the most influential mayors and leaders to strategize, collaborate, and learn from one another about approaches to the global crisis on climate change. Mayors will convene on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as the acceleration of renewable energy, and how to prepare for the impacts of climate change, including discussions on climate migration." 

The summit features remarks by former Secretary of State John Kerry, Bank of America Vice Chairman Anne Finucane and former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy. 

Last month the City of Pittsburgh approved its Climate Action Plan 3.0, which commits city government to a series of climate change mitigation goals through 2030.  

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Thursday, June 7, 2018 

Interview with WDVE-FM 

Time: 7:45 a.m. 

Flight to Boston 

Time: 9 a.m. 

Lunch with Climate Mayors Panel and Speaking Program with Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston; Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles; Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston; and Mayor Madeline Rogero, Knoxville 

Time: 11:30 a.m. 

All locations unless noted: Boston Marriott Copley Place 

Fireside chat with Secretary of State John Kerry and Bank of America Vice Chairman Anne Finucane 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Climate Finance Panel moderated by John Macomber with Mayor Don Iveson, Edmonton; Jens Peers, Natixis; Maeve Bartlett, AECOM 

Time: 2:15 p.m. 

Remarks by former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy 

Time: 3: 15 p.m. 

Climate Summit Press Conference 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Climate Summit Closing Reception 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 8, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today regarding a proposal by a housing developer to demolish the Holy Family Church in Lawrenceville:  

“The proposed demolition of Holy Family Church goes back on good faith agreements developers made with the Lawrenceville community that vital historic parts of the church would be preserved, while only non-essential buildings would be razed to make way for housing.

We must do all we can to protect the key historical assets that make all Pittsburgh neighborhoods special, and I stand with Lawrenceville United, the Lawrenceville Corporation and the greater Lawrenceville community in opposition to this demolition proposal.

For community-based development to succeed developers must continue to work honestly with the neighborhoods they build in, and not take actions that violate the trust of the community."   

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 8, 2018) In announcements at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Boston, Mayor William Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh are joining other cities in two key environmental initiatives regarding city energy consumption and science-based tracking of climate action plans. 

Pittsburgh is joining with Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago and other cities in a joint purchasing initiative on energy announced Thursday by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.  

Through the initiative cities will gather data on their energy needs and ask renewable energy developers for price estimates for projects that would meet their collective energy demand.  

The initiative is a natural next step for Pittsburgh, which through the Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium aggregates the power consumption of 30 local governments and authorities. 

"Working with other cities and pooling our purchasing power can help us be smarter – and more efficient – in how we both protect the environment and strengthen the economy. This will help governments nationwide and around Pittsburgh too," Mayor Peduto said. 

The effort dovetails with the City's Climate Action Plan 3.0, which commits Pittsburgh government to a series of climate change mitigation goals through 2030, including a target of 100% renewable energy use. 

"Our goal is to expand the consumption aggregation benefits of lower price and cleaner electricity for all consumers. We can do this through the generation of more local renewable power and the added benefits of creating local jobs and cleaner air," said the City's Chief Resilience Officer Grant Ervin. 

Pittsburgh this week became the first American city to sign on to the Edmonton Agreement, which calls on cities of all sizes to use key performance indicators (KPIs) to scientifically track their efforts to comply with the goals of United Nations Paris Climate Accords.  

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson announced the declaration (available in full here) at the Change for Climate Global Mayors Summit in March, which Mayor Peduto attended. 

The declaration builds upon current efforts in Pittsburgh's Climate Action plan and several climate change mitigation partnerships with other cities. The City is a partner in other greenhouse gas measuring protocols through ICLEI, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.   

Mayor Peduto is a board member of ICLEI USA. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 8, 2018) Mayor William Peduto remains in Boston today for the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and related international announcements regarding climate change initiatives. 

The meeting follows yesterday's International Mayors Climate Summit, which focused on steps city leaders can take to address climate change globally and in their own communities.  

Last month the City of Pittsburgh approved its Climate Action Plan 3.0, which commits city government to a series of climate change mitigation goals through 2030. Today Mayor Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh will join two key efforts to further address energy consumption goals and key performance indicators in tracking climate action plans. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Friday, June 8, 2018: 

All locations Marriott Copley Place/Boston unless noted 

U.S. Conference of Mayors Opening Press Conference  

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

USCOM Opening Luncheon with Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, SC and Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans. 2018 Mayors Climate Protection Awards Presentation by Kathleen McLaughlin, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Walmart. 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Panel on Housing Availability and Affordability with Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, Mayor Catherine Pugh of Baltimore, Mayor Jenny Durkan of Seattle, National Apartment Assoc. President and CEO Robert Pinnegar, and Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Managing Director Chris Herbert. 

Time: 1:45 p.m. 

Infrastructure Plenary Session with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles, Mayor Mike Rawlings of Dallas, E Smith Advisors Chairman Emmitt Smith, and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Board Chair Joe Aiello 

Time: 3:45 p.m. 

USCM Opening Reception with Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston 

Time: 6 p.m. 

Location: Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, 210 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston 

Dinner with Mayor Garcetti 

Time: 8:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 9, 2018) Mayor William Peduto remains in Boston today for the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow. 

Mayor Peduto signed on to two major initiatives regarding climate change initiatives yesterday, and on Thursday he attended the International Mayors Climate Summit, which focused on steps city leaders can take to address climate change globally and in their own communities.  

Last month the City of Pittsburgh approved its Climate Action Plan 3.0, which commits city government to a series of climate change mitigation goals through 2030.  

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Saturday, June 9, 2018 

All locations Marriott Copley Place/Boston unless noted 

U.S. Conference of Mayors Opening Plenary Session, Building Sustainable Communities: Sharing Success in America’s Cities. With Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, SC, Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

USCOM Luncheon and panel on Preparing for the 2020 Census. With Mayor Catherine E. Pugh of Baltimore, Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, Mayor Jenny Durkan of Seattle and conference on Civil and Human Rights executive vice president Ashley Allison 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Sunday, June 10, 2018 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: Noon 

Grand Opening Of The Carnegie Science Center’s New PPG Science Pavilion

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Science Center, Chateau

Highlighting Children Of Fallen Heroes Act & Continued Work For First Responders With United States Senator Bob Casey

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Station 17, 7106 Hamilton Avenue, Homewood South

Meeting With Urban Redevelopment Authority Of Pittsburgh Board Chair Kevin Acklin, Kate Wittels, & Eric Rothman

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With WESA’s Kevin Gavin

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Children’s Hospital Of Pittsburgh Of UPMC Physician In Chief Dr. Terence Dermody & Director Of Governmental Affairs Ellen Mazo

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 12, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City for the annual Yale Mayor's College and CEO Summit, hosted by the Yale School of Management. 

The Mayor's College and the CEO Summit bring together mayors from across the country on Tuesday to meet with experts on issues facing cities, and on Wednesday pairs them with leaders of international corporations, executives and think-tanks for in-depth policy discussions.  

The Mayor speaks on a panel today on Smart Moves for Smart Cities with Mrinalini Ingram, Vice President, Smart Communities; Verizon, and James D. Taiclet Jr. Chairman, President & CEO of American Tower Corporation. 

He will be on a panel Wednesday with leaders including James R. Clapper, former U.S. National Intelligence Director; John Negroponte, former Deputy Secretary of State; and Douglas H. Ginsburg, Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals. 

The discussions, held at the New York Public Library, are off-record and closed to media. Mayor Peduto's expenses are being covered by Yale and no taxpayer money is being spent. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Tuesday, June 12, 2018 

Session 1: Introduction from Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, Yale School of Management, Mayor Richard Berry of Albuquerque; and Douglas W. Rae, Professor of Management, Yale School of Management. 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Session 2: Creating New Economic Futures: Forestalling Financial Fiascos, with Evan Absher Senior Program Officer in Entrepreneurship, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Irene M. Baker Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase; David M. Walker, former United States Comptroller General; and Mayors Bryan K. Barnett, Rochester Hills MI; Luke Bronin, Hartford CT; Byron W. Brown, Buffalo NY; Jon Mitchell, New Bedford MA; Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore MD; Thomas Small, Culver City CA; Nan Whaley, Dayton OH; and Victoria R. Woodards, Tacoma WA. 

Time: 1 p,m, 

Session 3: Smart Moves for Smart Cities: Infrastructure & Innovation, with Mayor Peduto; Mrinalini Ingram, Vice President, Smart Communities; Verizon; James D. Taiclet Jr. Chairman, President & CEO, American Tower Corporation; and Mayors Richard J. Berry, Albuquerque NM; G.T. Bynum, Tulsa OK;  Jim Hovland, Edina MN; David R. Martin, Stamford CT; Mark Stodola, Little Rock AR; and Beth Van Duyne, Irving TX. 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Session 4: Quality of Life & Urban Vitality: Culture & Cardiology, with Michael A. Leven, Chairman & CEO, Georgia Aquarium; Ellen V. Futter, President, American Museum of Natural History; Anthony W. Marx, President & CEO, The New York Public Library; David J. Stern, Commissioner Emeritus, National Basketball Association; and Mayors Shane Bemis, Gresham OR; Jim Brainard, Carmel IN; David A. Condon, Spokane WA; Greg Fischer, Louisville KY; Toni Nathaniel Harp, New Haven CT; Madeline Rogero, Knoxville TN; Paul Soglin, Madison WI; and Tom Tait, Anaheim CA. 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Session 5: Our Towns: Good News from the Heartland, with James Fallows National Correspondent, The Atlantic; Author, Our Towns; and Mayors Christopher Cabaldon, West Sacramento CA; Will Joyce, Stillwater OK; Elizabeth Kautz, Burnsville MN; Tony Martinez, Brownsville TX; Lydia L. Mihalik, Findlay OH; and Kevin M. Scarpati, Meriden CT. 

Dinner 

Time: 6 p.m. 

Lifetime of Leadership Award to Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President & CEO Ethan Allen, with presentations by Nasser J. Kazeminy Founder & Chairman, NJK Holding Corporation, Chairman, Ellis Island Foundation; and Myron E. Ullman III, Retired Chairman & CEO, JCPenney Company. 

Time: 7:30 p.m. 

Shining Lamp by the Golden Door: Opportunity and Obstacle, with Joanne Lipman; Former Editor, USA TODAY; Author, That’s What She Said; James Fallows; Nat’l Correspondent, The Atlantic; Author, Our Towns; Ellen V. Futter, President, American Museum of Natural History; Catherine E. Pugh; Mayor; Baltimore, Maryland; Adam F. Falk, President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; Toni Harp; Mayor; New Haven, Connecticut; and Stephen K. Benjamin; Mayor; Columbia, South Carolina. 

Time: 8 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 12, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will sign legislation approved today by Pittsburgh City Council to provide free, on-site child care for city employees and those attending designated community events. 

The legislation will cover the costs of child care at up 15 days per year that the Pittsburgh Public Schools have scheduled closure days but are City of Pittsburgh work days: such days could include in-service days, certain holidays and parent-teacher conference days. Child care on such days would be provided at the City-County Building. 

Child care will also be provided at up to 20 citywide community events, such as Capital Budget hearings, as designated by the Mayor's Office. 

The services will be provided under a contract with Flexable LLC, a pop-up child care company, at a cost not to exceed $43,875. All Flexable caregivers have pediatric safety training and state-mandated clearances. 

The Mayor submitted the child care legislation to Council on May 21.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 13, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh and Mayor William Peduto are proud to launch City Cuts, a free grass cutting program for seniors 62 years or older, veterans, and those with a disability who reside in the City of Pittsburgh.    

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith piloted the program in District 2, after seeing its success she introduced legislation in 2017 to grow the effort citywide.    

The City is currently opening the enrollment period for residents to apply for City Cuts with an expectation that the program will go live in the next several weeks. Service for approved applicants will be provided approximately every two weeks, weather permitting, from July to September for 2018.    

Residents can apply by calling 311, filling out the online form, or visiting a branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.    

Local contractors or community organizations that wish to bid on providing services can do so through the City of Pittsburgh online procurement portal Beacon.    

To read more about this program, check out the website: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citycuts/.  

Update, 6:45 p.m., Friday, June 15: Both inbound and outbound lanes of Commercial Street and Forward Avenue have reopened this afternoon after work by contractors to clean up from landslide remediation. Lanes may have to be briefly closed for a period tomorrow for a small amount of remaining cleanup work, but the roadway will be fully open Sunday and thereafter.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 13, 2018) Commercial Street and Forward Avenue in Swisshelm Park and Squirrel Hill will be fully closed from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. for the remainder of the week to allow for excavation equipment to be safely removed from the adjacent hillside.

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) was forced to close the roadway in April after a landslide, but northbound/inbound lanes were allowed to open. Cleanup from the landslide remediation will now require both inbound and outbound lanes to be closed after morning rush hour today, Thursday and Friday, and possibly longer. The northbound/inbound lane will reopen each evening at 7 p.m.

The street will be restored to full, bidirectional operations after the clearance is complete.

Further updates will be issued as necessary.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 13, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City for the annual Yale Mayor's College and CEO Summit, hosted by the Yale School of Management. 

The Mayor's College and the CEO Summit brought together mayors from across the country on Tuesday to meet with experts on issues facing cities, and today pairs them with leaders of international corporations and think-tanks for in-depth policy discussions.  

The Mayor spoke on a panel yesterday on Smart Moves for Smart Cities with Mrinalini Ingram, Vice President, Smart Communities; Verizon, and James D. Taiclet Jr. Chairman, President & CEO of American Tower Corporation. 

He will be on a panel this morning with leaders including James R. Clapper, former U.S. National Intelligence Director; John Negroponte, former Deputy Secretary of State; and Douglas H. Ginsburg, Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals. 

The discussions, held at the New York Public Library, are off-record and closed to media. Mayor Peduto's expenses are being covered by Yale and no taxpayer money is being spent. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Wednesday, June 13, 2018 

Panel on  Shining a Light Abroad: Deep Thoughts on the Deep State at Home, with Mayor Peduto and others including James R. Clapper, former U.S. National Intelligence Director; John Negroponte, former Deputy Secretary of State; and Douglas H. Ginsburg, Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals. 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Panel on Shining Light on Free Markets: Allies, Adversaries, and Activists, with John Carryrou; Investigative Reporter, The Wall Street Journal; Scott Wapner; Host, Halftime Report, CNBC, Author, When the Wolves Bite; Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman & CEO, Blackstone; and Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman & CEO, Goldman Sachs 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

Panel on Technology and Consumer Insight: Taste, Tolerance and Wisdom, with Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo; Ivan Seidenberg, retired Chair & CEO, Verizon; Author, Verizon Untethered; and Marcelo Claure, President & CEO, Sprint Corporation 

Time: 1:45 p.m. 

Legend in Leadership Award to Brian Moynahan, Chairman & CEO, Bank of America 

Time: 3:45 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 6:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 13, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today on the decision by William E. Strickland Jr. to step down as president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corp: 

"Bill Strickland has positively impacted tens of thousands of lives in his 50 years at Manchester Bidwell, helping fellow Pittsburghers build new careers and providing a model for other cities to emulate. He is a leader who has inspired our entire city to do better, to be better. He is a trailblazer, who overcame all barriers to create a unique place that transforms lives.

Like many others, I am also lucky to call Bill a friend. 

I am happy he is staying on as executive chairman, that Kevin Jenkins is coming on as president and CEO, and that this bedrock institution in Manchester will continue to serve Pittsburgh for decades more."

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Foundation Community

Time: 8:30 A.M.

Location: Centre City Tower, Central Business District

Meeting With Office Of Municipal Investigations Director Erin Bruni

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Shawn Fox & Bombardier Executive Team

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

FISA Foundation & United Way Father's Day Pledge To End Gender Violence

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: United States Steel Tower Plaza, Central Business District

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Veteran Recruit Class Graduation

Time: 1:30 P.M.
Location: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Headquarters, Chateau

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Deputy Chief Of Staff Majestic Lane, & Assistant Chief Of Staff Lindsay Powell

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Aisling Healy

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

North Side Leadership Conference Meeting

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location Grand Hall at the Priory, East Allegheny

Turkish Cultural Center Iftar Dinner

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: Peace Islands Institute, Shadyside

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 14, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette fired award-winning editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers: 

"The move today by the leadership of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to fire Rob Rogers after he drew a series of cartoons critical of President Trump is disappointing, and sends the wrong message about press freedoms in a time when they are under siege. 

This is precisely the time when the constitutionally-protected free press – including critics like Rob Rogers – should be celebrated and supported, and not fired for doing their jobs. This decision, just one day after the President of the United States said the news media is "Our Country's biggest enemy," sets a low standard in the 232-year history of the newspaper. 

I've known Rob a long time. That has never stopped him from publishing cartoons that are critical of me, of my policy positions, or of my actions (or inactions) in office. He's even made fun of my weight. But he is one of the best in the world at his time-honored craft, and I know people of all political persuasions stand with me in support of him, even if the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette regrettably does not." 

Friday, June 15, 2018

No public events scheduled.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 18, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Montreal, Canada, today for the ICLEI World Congress 2018, a gathering of local and regional leaders from around the world working to advance sustainable urban development. 

Mayor Peduto is a board member of ICLEI USA, and has a meeting with that body this afternoon. 

He is speaking to the World Congress twice on Wednesday and returning to Pittsburgh that evening. ICLEI is paying the Mayor's travel costs. No taxpayer money is being used. 

Further information on the Congress is available here. It is being hosted by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Monday, June 18, 2018: 

Flight to Montreal 

Time: 9 a.m. 

ICLEI USA Board Meeting 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Location: Palais des Congres de Montreal, 1001 Jean Paul Riopelle Place, Montreal 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 18, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh is excited to announce the grand opening of Cool Globes in Pittsburgh.  The nearly 30 large globe sculptures - described as “public art with a purpose”- will be on display in Market Square, PPG Plaza, and Gateway Center through early October. Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet aims to raise awareness of and inspire viewers to take actions on climate change.  

“Cool Globes offers a message of hope and resiliency that is what Pittsburgh is all about," Mayor William Peduto said. ‎"I encourage everyone to visit the globes and learn more about what you can do to help combat climate change.” 

Each globe features a message on how both the public and businesses can help reduce and mitigate climate change every day through actions such as increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses, purchasing products made with 100-percent post-consumer material, increasing recycling and greening urban landscapes. 

“The conversation that ‘Cool Globes’ enlivens is perfectly aligned with Pittsburgh’s growing role as a climate leader,” said Andrew McElwaine, vice-president of Sustainability for the Endowments. “Our individual and collective efforts have a massive impact on the sustainability of our planet, and this innovative exhibit helps spread that message in a creative, informative and fun way. The Heinz Endowments are pleased to help underwrite this important body of work.” 

The Cool Globes Pittsburgh exhibit is made possible in part thanks to Heinz Endowments and PNC Foundation and will feature three new globes from local artists: Katy DeMent, Ashley Kyber, and Lindsay Wright.  

“The Cool Globes exhibit is internationally recognized not only for its artistry but also for shining a light on the environment,” said Greg Jordan, PNC general counsel, and chief administrative officer-. “The exhibit, and the globe we selected for installation at Triangle Park that represents green building, couldn’t be a more natural fit with PNC’s commitment to sustainability initiatives. We can think of no better place to showcase this exhibit and the work of local artists than our hometown.” 

Cool Globes, Inc. was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2006. The exhibit premiered in Chicago in 2007, in partnership with the Field Museum of Natural History and Mayor Daley’s Office of Environment, with more than three million viewers. The exhibit went on to travel the world, exhibiting in four continents, with plaques translated into nine languages. Pittsburgh will be Cool Globes 20th exhibition city.  

Cool Globes Founder, Wendy Abrams, explains, “It’s often difficult to talk about climate change in a positive light, given what is at stake. But this exhibit is about solutions and presents both hope and tangible actions.  It’s hard to use the words “fun” and “climate change” in the same sentence, but given the spectacular artwork of these artists, and the interactive nature of the exhibit, I think we’ve managed to do just that." 

The Heinz Endowments 

The Heinz Endowments seeks to help our region thrive as a whole and just community, and through that work to model solutions to major national and global challenges. The Endowments works to advance a sustainable future for our community and planet, successful learning outcomes for young people and their families, and a culture of engaged creativity for all citizens. For more information, visit Heinz.org  

PNC Foundation  

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $350 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 19, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Montreal, Canada, today for the ICLEI World Congress 2018, a gathering of local and regional leaders from around the world working to advance sustainable urban development.

Mayor Peduto is a board member of ICLEI USA. He is speaking to the World Congress twice on Wednesday and returning to Pittsburgh tomorrow evening.

ICLEI is paying the Mayor's costs. No taxpayer money is being used. Further information on the Congress is available here. It is being hosted by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Tuesday, June 19, 2018:

Opening Plenary Session with environmental activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of Global Environmental Facility

Time: 2 p.m.

Plenary 2: Visions for Cities and Regions in 2030, Ensuring systemic and inclusive action, with Celestine Ketcha Courtes, President of Network for Locally Elected Women of Africa, and Roland Hunziker, Director of Sustainable Buildings and Cities, World Business Council for Sustainabl Development

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Meeting with Mayor Plante

Time: 5:30 p.m.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 20, 2018) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today regarding a police shooting Tuesday in East Pittsburgh: 

"Any loss of life is tragic, and especially the loss of life of a child. This is a devastating situation and I am saddened for Antwon Rose and his family.  

While Tuesday's shooting was not within the city's official borders it impacts all of us in the Pittsburgh region, and particularly those in the African American community. In my reactions to the incident I should have acknowledged that these shootings affect all of us, no matter where we live, and for that I am sorry.  

Tuesday night I was receiving numerous calls and messages asking me to respond to the involvement of police in a shooting in East Pittsburgh borough, and at the time I was attempting to clarify for the national public that the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, which I ultimately oversee, were not involved.  

This was never intended to be, nor should it be, the focus of news coverage. I answer people when they reach out to me seeking factual information, just as all elected officials should be expected to do."  

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 20, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is in Montreal, Canada, today for the ICLEI World Congress 2018, a gathering of local and regional leaders from around the world working to advance sustainable urban development. 

He is speaking to the World Congress twice today and returning to Pittsburgh this evening. 

ICLEI is paying the Mayor's costs. No taxpayer money is being used.  

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule, Wednesday, June 20, 2018: 

Plenary 3: From local to global: Harnessing innovative solutions and the collective power of cities to drive global change, with Mayor William Peduto; Cathy Oke, Councilor, Melbourne, Australia; Mauricio Rodas Espinel, Mayor, Quito, Ecuador; Solly Msimanga, Mayor, Tshwane, South Africa; Ines de Medeiros, Mayor, Almada, Portugal; Zoran Jankovic, Mayor, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Janet Sanz Cid. Deputy Mayor, Barcelona, Spain; and Don Iveson, Mayor, Edmonton, Canada. 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Urban Transitions Forum: High-level Forum Opening, with Mayor William Peduto; Shu Zu, ICLEI East Asia Secretariat & ICLEI Beijing Office; Quingmin Bian, Yuhua District, Shijiazhuang,; Mariusz Skiba, Vice Mayor, Katowice, Poland; and Gino Van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Meeting with Ashok-Alexander Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn, Germany and Chairman of ICLEI Global Executive Committee 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 6 p.m.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 21, 2018) - The City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) has launched a Certificate of Occupancy search engine on their website. Certificates of Occupancy are documents that certify that a building or structure, or portion thereof, conforms to the applicable Zoning Code and Building Codes enforced at the time the Certificate was issued. The search tool will give residents, business owners, real estate agents and property owners the ability to determine the legal use of any building within the City limits. 

A user can search by street address, parcel ID, permit number, and ward. PLI has also created a Search Guide that helps users understand the different ways Certificates have been indexed over the years. The search tool and guide are accessible by visiting www.pittsburghpa.gov/pli/occupancy. 

This effort is a result of leveraging existing technology to digitize hundreds of thousands of paper records spanning from the 1930s to present. Until 2016, a requestor was required to come downtown to PLI offices and ask an employee to make a copy of the record. 

“Our Certificate of Occupancy search is a small but significant improvement in our business processes and speaks to our larger vision of transparent and open government. These records are public records and should be accessible to all.” said PLI Government and Public Relations Liaison Julie Asciolla. 

Questions about the search or Certificates of Occupancy can be directed to plirecords@pittsburghpa.gov. Users are also encouraged to report any errors via email. 

Centre & Herron Avenue Green Infrastructure Project Ribbon Cutting

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Centre Avenue at Herron Avenue, Terrace Village

Pittsburgh Employee & Community Meeting Childcare Service Bill Signing

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building 

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich, Director Of Human Resources & Civil Service Janet Manuel, & Acting City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Management & Budget Jennifer Presutti

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Director Of City Planninf Ray Gastil

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Lisa Hurm General Manager Of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Giving Farwell Remarks To Visting Hampton Roads Chamber Of Commerce

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location Heinz Field, North Shore

New Leaders Council Annual Reception

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Alloy 26, Allegheny Commons

The Sprout Fund Sunset Celebration

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: Clear Story Studio, South Side

Meeting With Partner4Work CEO Earl Buford

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation's Arthur Ziegler & Michael Sriprasert & Manchester Citizen Corporation’s LaShawn Burton-Faulk

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With American Middle East Institute's Simin Curtis

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Interview With Allegheny County Executive

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Public Art and Civic Design Manager

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St. 4th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] yesica.guerra@pittsburghpa.gov

Tony Cavalline

Arts, Culture, and History Specialist

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

200 Ross St., 4th FloorPittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412.255.8996

[e] anthony.cavalline@pittsburghpa.gov

Speaking At CIER Conference

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Duquesne University Power Center, Bluff

Meeting With Chris Sandvig

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Gordon Sheffer

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County’s Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 26, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Partner4Work today celebrated the start of the 2018 Learn & Earn summer youth employment program at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center.  

Now in its fourth year, Learn & Earn annually connects nearly 2,000 underserved Allegheny County and Pittsburgh residents, ages 14 through 21, with 6-week summer jobs in high-demand sectors. This year, 26 Learn & Earn providers paired young people with summer jobs at several hundred sites, where they will explore career options, develop valuable skills and gain work experience. Participants also receive 12 hours of work-readiness training, covering topics such as productivity, accountability, problem-solving and collaboration. 

“We’re very proud of the success of this program, providing over 1,800 youth in our community with summer employment that provides them with work-readiness skills as well as a paycheck,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Not only are youth given a summer job, but also an opportunity to explore a career in which they may be interested and to do work that is impactful for our community. The more that we can do to help our youth get ready for the workforce, the more prepared they will be to enter that workforce when the time comes.” 

During the event, Learn & Earn participants, employed through PHASE 4 Learning Center, showed officials the technology they are using at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center. Those employed at other Learn & Earn sites will gain experience in positions as varied as a camp counselor to an office assistant. 

“Learn & Earn is much more than an opportunity to earn a paycheck,” said Majestic Lane, Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Pittsburgh. “These jobs help young people build confidence, develop college- and work-readiness skills, such as time management, communications, and teamwork, learn from mentors, and dream big about their careers.” 

This model summer youth employment program includes a highly selective Corporate Internship component. More than 15 area businesses are lending their support by hosting dozens of paid corporate interns, who will expand their career-readiness skills in high demand industries and occupations. During the summer, Learn & Earn will supplement the interns’ on-the-job experiences with 18 hours of training to learn about financial literacy, resume writing and interviewing, and networking techniques. The program also provides interns with opportunities to learn from guest speakers from the business community. 

“We applaud Pittsburgh-area business leaders for supporting our region’s talent pipeline by participating in Learn & Earn’s Corporate Internship program,” said Debra L. Caplan, Chair, Learn & Earn Advisory Council and Partner4Work Youth Advisory Committee. “Learn & Earn brings together the public and private sectors to invest in our community’s young adults, opening doors to career pathways in Pittsburgh’s innovative, expanding economy.” 

 
Learn & Earn is made possible through a partnership between Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and Partner4Work, with support from organizations such as The Pittsburgh Foundation, PNC Charitable Trusts, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and McAuley Ministries. A representative from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield presented a $50,000 contribution to the Learn & Earn program during today’s kick-off event. 

This summer’s Learn & Earn season runs through August 3. To learn more about Learn & Earn, visit www.jobs4summer.org. 

About Partner4Work 

Nationally recognized for innovation, Partner4Work, formerly Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, is the workforce development organization that connects funding, expertise and opportunities for employers, job seekers, agencies, and policymakers to develop a thriving workforce in the Pittsburgh area. As stewards of more than $21 million in public and private workforce funds, Partner4Work oversees and funds workforce programs for adults, dislocated workers and youth; educates the community through labor market analytics; and implements innovative solutions to the region’s systemic workforce challenges. More information is available at www.partner4work.org. 

PITTSBURGH, PA ( June 26, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh is honored to celebrate the cultural diversity of the city during Immigrant Heritage month. The City additionally is proud to announce the launch of its first Resident Guide. The Residents Guide is an online resource that will offer Spanish-speaking residents helpful information about citywide services, resources, and function as a one-stop shop for residents needs.    

“This is a small step to make the city more accessible to all residents. We understand that knowledge is empowering; and by giving residents the tools and resources we aim to empower them and make this city an enjoyable and accommodating place for them, their families, and the greater community to live and thrive,” said Feyisola Alabi, Special Initiatives Manager.  

In 2017, one of the goals for the new City of Pittsburgh website was to create Resident Guides —  a page on the website containing important city information in one, accessible place and tailored to a community's specific needs. The Department of Innovation and Performance, Welcoming Pittsburgh, and the Commission on Human Relations came together to create the first guide tailored to the needs of the Hispanic/Latinx community.  

To ensure accuracy, relevance, and cultural appropriateness the team sought input from a diverse group of stakeholders in the Hispanic/Latinx community such as Casa San Jose, LACU, the Latino Community Center and Barrio Latino. After collecting all of the information, the city created an English guide that was then translated into Spanish by Nereida Daza of the Latino Community Center. 

“Guides like this one will serve as bridges between our City and its residents. The Commission will always support efforts of this kind as a means to ensure that every person who lives, works or visits our city feels welcome, and has access to information and resources in a language that they can understand,” said Carlos Torres, Executive Director for the Commission on Human Relations.  

This is the first of several guides the city hopes to publish on the website, each curated for a different community in Pittsburgh and translated into different languages. As information changes, it is the city's goal to update the guides regularly. To learn more about the process and how we came to create these guides, click here.    

Spanish translation: 

La ciudad de Pittsburgh lanza "Guías para Residentes" para recibir a nuevos habitantes de la ciudad. 

(Lunes, 25 de Junio de 2018) En honor al Mes de la Herencia Inmigrante, y con objetivo de celebrar la diversidad cultural de nuestra ciudad, estamos orgullosos de lanzar la primera "Guía para Residentes", en español. Éstas guías son un recurso electrónico, con información útil acerca de servicios y recursos a través de la ciudad, y funcionan como una parada única para las necesidades de los residentes hispanohablantes. 

"Éste es un pequeño paso de muchos, por medio de los que la ciudad busca hacerse más accesible a todos los residentes. Entendemos que el conocimiento empodera. Por ende, entre más sabe uno, más se está empoderado para usar las herramientas y recursos para hacer de la ciudad un lugar acogedor y agradable para usted, su familia, y su comunidad," expresó Feyisola Alabi, la gerente de Iniciativas Especiales para el programa "Welcoming Pittsburgh" 

En 2017, uno de los objetivos para el nuevo sitio web de la ciudad de Pittsburgh fue crear "guías para residentes": información importante para los residentes de la ciudad ubicada en un solo lugar, y adecuada a las necesidades de comunidades específicas. El Departamento de Innovación y Rendimiento (Innovation and Performance, en inglés), la iniciativa "Welcoming Pittsburgh", y la Comisión de Relaciones Humanas se unieron para crear la primera guía orientada a las necesidades de la comunidad Hispana/Latina. Para asegurar exactitud y relevancia social y cultural, el equipo buscó el aporte de un diverso grupo de miembros de la comunidad Hispana/Latina, tales como: Casa San Jose, LACU, el "Latino Community Center", y Barrio Latino. Luego de recopilar la información, creamos una guía en inglés que fue traducida al español por Nereida Daza del "Latino Community Center". 

"Guías como ésta servirán como puentes entre nuestra ciudad y sus residentes. La Comisión siempre apoyará esfuerzos de este tipo como manera de asegurar que cada persona que vive, trabaja, o visita nuestra ciudad se sienta bienvenida, y tenga acceso a información o recursos en un lenguaje que puedan entender," dijo Carlos Torres, Director Ejecutivo de la Comisión de Relaciones Humanas. 

Esta es la primera de varias guías que esperamos poder publicar en nuestra página web, cada una curada para cada comunidad de Pittsburgh y traducida a diferentes lenguajes. Como la información cambia a menudo, nuestro objetivo es actualizar las guías constantemente. Visite nuestra guía acá. 

Meeting With Governor Tom Wolf

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Fifth Avenue, Central Business District

Summer Of Earn & Learn Kick Off

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Best Buy Teen Center, Centre Avenue, Shadyside

Allegheny Conference Regional Investors Council Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: The Fairmont, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 27, 2018) Mayor William Peduto issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Janus v AFSCME: 

"This anti-worker decision was completely expected, and only strengthens our resolve to come together and protect the middle class jobs our city and country are built upon. 

We depend upon unionized workers to deliver core city services from police patrols to garbage collection, and pothole patching to fighting fires. They are here in our time of need and in turn we will be there for them. I and other elected officials from across the country will do all we can to stand with our workers and fight back against the powerful forces gathering against them." 

Meeting With Ray Funahashi

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At Pittsburgh Musical Theater Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Musical Theater, West End

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Interview With Pittsburgh's City Channel

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Penn Avenue, The Strip District

Phone Call With Betsy Hodges

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Korean TV Network Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Jamie Chesney, Monica Sample, & Jonah Reynolds

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (June, 29th 2018) - With temperatures expected in the 90s this weekend, the following City of Pittsburgh Citiparks facilities will serve as cooling centers on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1: 

Saturday, June 30

• Southside Market HAL Center, 12th St. & 1 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh PA 15203 - 11:00 am - 6:00 p.m. 

• Brookline Recreation Center, 1400 Oakridge St, Pittsburgh PA 15226  - 8:00 am - Noon (normal operational hours)

Sunday, July 1

• Southside Market House HAL Center, 12th St. & 1 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh PA 15203 - Noon - 4:00 p.m

Outdoor swimming pools will be open for normal weekend hours of operation from 1:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. A list of outdoor pools can be found at http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/citiparks-swimming/outdoor.html 

Spray Parks are open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., weather permitting. A list of Spray Park facilities can be found at http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/citiparks-swimming/spray-parks.html

Residents are reminded to prepare for the extreme heat expected in coming days. Allegheny County issued a helpful list of hot weather tips and resources this morning.

Presenting June 2018 Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With West Virginia University President Gordon Gee

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Call With Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Lindsay Williams, Summer Lee, & Sara Innamorato

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Sports & Exhibition Authority Director Mary Conturo, & Public Parking Authority Of Pittsburgh Director David Onorato

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 2, 2018) A select number of Citiparks Recreation and Healthy Active Living Centers will have the following hours Monday, July 2, 2018, through Friday, July 6, 2018, to serve as cooling stations: 

Healthy Active Living (Senior Community Centers): 

HOURS:         Monday, July 2—8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

                        Tuesday, July 3—8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

                        Wednesday, July 4—CLOSED 

                        Thursday, July 5—8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

                        Friday, July 6—8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

LOCATIONS:             Beechview                               Brighton Heights 

                                    Glen Hazel                               Hazelwood 

                                    Homewood                              Lawrenceville 

                                    Morningside                            Mt. Washington 

                                    Northview Heights                 Schenley Ice Rink (for Greenfield Center) 

                                    Sheraden                                  Southside Market House 

                                    West End 

Recreation Centers: 

*Ormsby, Phillips, Warrington, & West Penn Rec Centers do not have are conditioning.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 2, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh offices and Healthy Active Living Centers will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in observance of Independence Day. City outdoor pools will open at 1:00 p.m. on Independence Day with early closure of 6:00 p.m. 

Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, will be delayed one day.  

If your scheduled day of collection is Wednesday, July 4, you will be serviced on Thursday, July 5.  If your collection day is Thursday, July 5, you will be serviced on Friday, July 6 and so on through Saturday, July 7.   

The City of Pittsburgh CitiParks will have the following adjusted schedule in observance of Independence Day:  

OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS 

• All outdoor pools will open at 1 p.m. and close at 6 p.m. 

• Swim Team Practice and Swim Lessons will not be affected 

• Swim Team Practice begins at Noon 

• Swim Lessons begin at 11 a.m. 

SPRAY PARKS 

• All spray parks will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.  

HEALTHY ACTIVE LIVING CENTERS (Senior Centers): 

• Closed July 4th  

RECREATION CENTERS 

• Closed July 4th 

• No Citicamp on July 4th 

MELLON TENNIS BUBBLE 

• Closed July 4th  

ROVING ART CART 

• The Roving Art Cart will not be out on July 4th 

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM 

• There will be no Summer Food Service Program Meals on July 4th 

Regular Weekly Meeting with Director of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Commission On Human Relations Director Carlos Torres

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald 

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Phone Call With Pennsylvania Municipal League

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Tina Calabro

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

No public events scheduled.

Meeting With Congressman Mike Doyle, Senator Jay Costa, & County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Conference Room, City-County Building

Welcoming New Residents To UPMC’s Graduate Medical Education Program

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Circuit City Ballroom, South Side Flats

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Deputy Chief Of Staff Majestic Lane

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Phone Call With Mary Alice Haddad

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Phone Call With HBX Director David Margalit

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Women's Leadership Roundtable With Senator Casey

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Chatham University Mellon Center, Squirrel Hill North

Giant Eagle Delivery Press Event

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh, PA) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, advises that Swinburne Street between Greenfield Avenue and Childs Street will be closed on July 12, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and again on July 13, from 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., to allow the City’s contractor to complete test drilling. Motorists are advised to use Greenfield Bridge or Bates Street. The drilling will be weather dependent.  Residents are asked to have patience while the work is completed.  

If you have any questions concerning this closure, please contact D’Appolonia’s Project Manager Randy Meert at 412-229-1566. 

Lunch With 2018 Office Of The Mayor Summer Interns

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Shade Tree Commission

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With University Of Pittsburgh School Of Education Dean Valarie Kinloch

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pennsylvania Municipal League Monthly Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Donald Cohen

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chatham University President David Finegold, Kevin McPhillips, & Sam Williamson

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Representatives From The Gates Foundation

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building 

Meeting With Employees Of Pittsburgh's Department Of Innovation & Performance

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Department of Innovation & Performance, City-County Building

Harvard's HBX Mayor's Course

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With The Financial Times's Lindsay Fortado

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 12, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority are exploring moving city services from the John P. Robin Civic Building to a new Downtown location on the Boulevard of the Allies. 

A new location at 420 Boulevard of the Allies would allow for efficient, one-stop shopping – with parking – for residents seeking services from the departments of Public Works, Permits, Licenses and Inspections, Planning and Zoning, and Mobility and Infrastructure. URA and Housing Authority of Pittsburgh offices would also be moved to the building. 

The URA bought the Civic Building at 200 Ross Street from the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation in 1952 and it has not been updated in decades.  

"Years of disinvestment in this and other city facilities are crippling our efforts to give Pittsburgh residents the services they deserve. We need to look at a new location for these offices, while continuing ongoing upgrades to other buildings including public safety facilities, recreation and senior centers, and Public Works divisions," Mayor William Peduto said. 

All of the major building systems in the 12-story structure need to be replaced, with issues including: 

• No automatic sprinkler system 

• No fire service access elevators 

• No freight elevator 

• Malfunctioning central heating system 

• Malfunctioning cooling units 

• Water infiltration into basement and elevator pits 

City department and agency offices in the Civic Building are at maximum capacity, there is no additional storage space, and the floorplate of the 1907 building is outdated.  

It would cost an estimated $39.2 million to fully bring the building up to code and renovate its 12 floors of offices, while purchasing and renovating 420 Boulevard of the Allies would cost $38 million. The city could lease additional parts of the Boulevard building to bring in additional revenue. 

If the Civic Building were renovated it would require multiple office moves, disruption in services to residents and businesses, and additional off-site office lease costs. Only one move would be required to the Boulevard building, into an energy efficient, ADA-accessible, and newly remodeled site with more amenities for residents and workers. 

If ultimately approved by Pittsburgh City Council, the move to the new building could be completed in 2019. 

The URA board is set to make an announcement today. No legislation has yet been forwarded to City Council. 

Speech on OnePgh Plan to City Club of Cleveland

Time: Noon

Location: 850 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio

"Pittsburgh pastry artist and social justice activist Jasmine Cho of Revolutionary Art created a collection of cookie portraits depicting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) activists of both past and present. Fourteen portraits will be highlighted in the display, depicting well known heroes like Sarumathi (Saru) Jayaraman, an Asian Indian American attorney, author, activist and the co-founder of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) and Women and Youth Supporting Each Other (WYSE); and Grace Lee Boggs who fought for civil rights, labor rights, Black Power, feminism, Asian American rights, and the environment, or average AAPI residents who are politically active, like Resistance Auntie Anita Yavich or 20-month old JJ Kim who’s “WOKE” and participating during women’s march. 

These individuals all showcase politically active AAPI heroes, encouraging all of us to make positive life choices and community change.  

The artist Jasmine Cho is founder and “creative ninja” of Yummyholic and champions cultural values and charitable giving. Through bake sales, donations and gallery art, Cho uses her hand-crafted treats to contribute to the community. The art is on loan from OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates, Pittsburgh Chapter. 

The art exhibit will be available all month long in the City-County Building lobby." 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 13, 2018) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, advises that Forward Avenue, from Summerset Street to Commercial Road, will be closed weekdays for approximately three weeks beginning Monday July 16, 2018. The segment of street will be closed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Flaggers will direct inbound and outbound traffic between 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – motorists may experience some delay. Full normal operation will be restored each evening. 

This work is required to install a drainage system to manage stormwater on the hillside.  

Detours will not be posted and the work is not weather dependent. Residents are asked to have patience while the work is completed.  

If you have any questions concerning this closure, please contact Anthony Merante of Merante Contracting at 412-812-3205.   

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 13, 2018) – The following City of Pittsburgh Citiparks facilities will serve as cooling centers on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15, 2018.  

Saturday 7/14/18 

• Southside Market House HAL Center, 12th and 1 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, PA  15203 

  • 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

• Brookline Recreation Center, 1400 Oakridge Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15226 

  • 8 a.m. to Noon (Normal Operation Hours) 

Sunday 7/15/18 

• Southside Market House HAL Center, 12th and 1 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, PA  15203 

  • Noon to 4 p.m. 

Outdoor swimming pools will be open for normal weekend hours of operation from 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.  A list of pools can be found at http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/citiparks-swimming/outdoor.html 

Spray Parks are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (*East Hills Spray Park Hours Noon-6 p.m.).  A list of Spray Parks can be found at http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/citiparks-swimming/spray-parks.html  

Speaking At The American Federation of Teachers National Convention

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Central Business District 

Welcoming ASCE International Conference To Pittsburgh

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Wyndham Grand, Central Business District

Meeting With Nighttime Economy Coordinator Allison Harnden & WYEP’s Abby Goldstein

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Councilwoman Darlene Harris & Mobility & Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 16, 2018) Mayor William Peduto is introducing plans to City Council for more than $4 million much-needed infrastructure projects citywide this year, using unspent money from old capital budget plans.

The proposed projects include street paving, landslide remediation, neighborhood sports facilities, master planning in the Hill District and Sheraden, business grants for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and a new community center in Troy Hill.

"These bills will deliver core city services to neighborhoods all across Pittsburgh and streamline our budget procedures at the same time," Mayor Peduto said. 

Several pieces of legislation being introduced to Council tomorrow would close out more than $4 million in unused city capital funding for old projects dating back to 2003 – as well as some new Community Development Block Grant money from 2018 – and repurpose it  for needed projects this year. The new projects include:

• $1.7 million for the demolition and reconstruction of Cowley Recreation Center in Troy Hill
• $1.5 million for landslide remediation on Diana Street in Spring Hill; List Street in Spring Hill; Swinburne Street in South Oakland; Greenleaf Street in Duquesne Heights/West End; and Advent Street in Elliott.
• $1.3 million in additional street paving this year – equaling 5.5 miles of streets – in addition to the $17 million in street resurfacing already budgeted for 2018. 
• $140,000 in neighborhood master planning for the Hill District and Sheraden
• $100,000 in new funding for an Urban Redevelopment Authority program to help businesses address "one step" issues that prevent people in wheelchairs from entering their establishments
• $40,000 in matching funds for a dek hockey rink in McBride Park in Lincoln Place
• $15,000 for a new scoreboard at Kennard Field in Terrace Village

Funding for the projects comes from unused funding for past projects from 2003-2018. 

In related legislation also being introduced Tuesday, the Office of Management and Budget is proposing to budget an additional $1.9 million in CDBG  funds for 2018.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 17, 2018) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference tomorrow alongside Partner 4 Work, CCAC, and McDonalds.  

WHO: Mayor William Peduto, Partner 4 Work Chief Program Officer McCrae Martino, Local McDonalds Owner-Operator Michele Rice, and Local McDonalds Owner-Operator Darren Roberts.  

WHAT: Press conference on Pittsburgh Archways to Opportunity focused on Workforce and Education

WHERE: McDonald's 801 Allegheny Ave,15233 

WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2018  

Yesica Guerra

UPDATE: Due to forecasts for hazardous weather in New York, the Mayor's flights were cancelled and he was not able to travel to the United Nations forum.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 17, 2018) Mayor William Peduto at the United Nations in New York City today participating in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in which private and public sector leaders from around the world are discussing ways to advance climate change mitigation goals. 

The Mayor is the only United States elected official participating in the United Nations forum, which includes mayors and business leaders from dozens of countries. 

The forum is described this way: 

In collaboration with the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, the multi-stakeholder coalition Local2030 is bringing together experts from the public, private, and non-governmental sectors to work with local leaders and representatives from multiple United Nations agencies to present new local-level actions at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).  

Data, financing, capacity building in humanitarian and conflict settings, and climate action and clean energy will be at the centre of the different sessions. The focus of this multi-stakeholder event is on developing and presenting new solutions to accelerate and scale local-level implementation of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide innovative concepts for the UN-wide strategy on SDG localization under development by Local2030.  

Before speaking at the forum this afternoon Mayor Peduto will be meeting with Ashok Sridharan, the Mayor of Bonn, Germany, and the president of ICLEI/Local Governments for Sustainability. Mayor Peduto is on the board of ICLEI USA and attended the 2017 United Nations Climate Accords in Bonn. The mayors wrote an op-ed together comparing the industrial heritage shared by both cities and how they had developed into leaders in efforts to support sustainability and fight climate change. 

Mayor Peduto is covering the costs for the travel. No taxpayer money is being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh this evening. 

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule – Tuesday, July 17, 2018: 

Meeting with Bonn Mayor Ashok Sridharan 

Time: 2:30 p.m. 

Location: United Nations, New York City 

Session on Innovating for Local-level Data Solutions Leveraging innovative data tools and solutions for local-level development: the role of big data, citizen-led data in informal settlements and standardized data platforms. Moderator: Mr. Paul Clements-Hunt, CEO, The Blended Capital Group. Speakers include Mayor Peduto; Ms. Celestine Ketcha Courtès, Mayor of Bangangté, Cameroon, and President of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa; Mr. Alfred Bosch, Vice-president of Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Spain; Ms. Maria Aparecida Borghetti, Governo do Estado do Paraná, Brazil; Prof. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of the World Council on City Data, Director of the Global Cities Institute at the University of Toronto; Mr. Al Kags, Founder of the Open Institute, Kenya; Ms. Sylvia Mulinge, CEO of Vodacom Tanzania; Ms. Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary, UNECE. 

Time: 3:15 p.m. 

Location: United Nations, New York City 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 18, 2018) As part of the ONEPGH Resilience Strategy, the City of Pittsburgh has released the first annual report of the Pittsburgh Equity Indicators, a set of 80 measures that report disparities by race, gender, or income in four domains: Health, Food, and Safety; Education, Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship; Housing, Transportation, Infrastructure and Environment; and Civic Engagement and Communications. The report pinpoints the problem areas in which Pittsburgh’s residents of different races, genders and incomes experience vastly different health, social, and economic outcomes and access to resources and opportunities.

“Ensuring equity for all is one of the City's greatest priorities, and we are taking a data-driven approach to identify where the inequality is most pronounced, and then invest in eliminating it,” said Mayor William Peduto. “We’ll be working with the Forbes Funds to use the Equity Indicators report and do independent third party evaluations to ensure that we and our partners are delivering services effectively and equitably city-wide.”

The Department of City Planning and the RAND Corporation developed this tool in partnership with the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC). ISLG developed a pilot Equality Indicators tool for New York City, which has measured the city’s progress toward greater equality for the past three years across several areas including economy, education, health, housing, justice, and services. Pittsburgh was one of five cities selected to participate in this initiative after submitting an application stating its commitment and describing its efforts thus far to improve equality or equity across the city. Principle among these is ONEPGH, Pittsburgh’s citywide Resilience Strategy, which dedicates about one-quarter of its initiatives to creating equal opportunity for all residents.

“Just over a year ago, the City of Pittsburgh made a commitment through ONEPGH, the city’s Resilience Strategy, to address persistent inequality as a core resilience challenge,” said Otis Rolley, Managing Director for North America at 100 Resilient Cities. “Through today’s Equity Indicators release, Pittsburgh now has a concrete tool to help achieve that goal. 100RC is proud to support the city as it works to advance equity and thus build a more resilient city for all.”

Pittsburgh’s first comprehensive snapshot of inequity based on CUNY ISLG Equality Indicators methodology highlights that the city’s population experiences some significant disparities, measured in terms of access to resources and opportunities as well as in outcomes. This summary shows that the gap between black and white residents (or between other comparison groups) is particularly evident in health and public safety, housing affordability and stability, income and poverty, and infrastructure quality and neighborhood composition, all of which have been identified as high priority areas for additional investment by City and regional policymakers and stakeholders. The summary also reveals that the City is doing comparatively better in terms of equal access to transportation and civic engagement opportunities. However, it could be argued that the rates of access or participation for all city residents are nevertheless too low in these sectors, which would still demand further investment.

ISLG Executive Director Michael Jacobson said, “The Equity Indicators tool developed by the City of Pittsburgh and RAND Corporation will enable the development of more data-driven policy aimed at addressing systemic inequities in Pittsburgh. The tool builds on the City’s ONEPGH Resilience Strategy by transparently measuring the City’s progress toward achieving more equitable outcomes for its residents.” 

Overall, Pittsburgh’s 2017 indicators paint a picture of a city with substantial room for improvement. These indicators, and the underlying metrics and data sources used to support them, will serve as a tool to track the city’s progress over time towards improved opportunities and outcomes for all city residents. Additionally, this process will be repeated using 2018 data to evaluate year to year changes. The City will be working with 100RC and CUNY ISLG this fall to host workshops with key stakeholders to dig into the most troubling indicators and identify opportunities for action.

The City’s Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment and Division of Sustainability and Resilience will be using the Equity Indicators report to evaluate City programs and services, and leverage the City’s Capital and Operating Budgets as well as a new social investment fund to ensure that opportunity is accessible for all residents. Working with the Forbes Fund, this evaluation will be extended city-wide.

Read the full Pittsburgh Equity Indicators report here.

RAND Corporation

The RAND Corporation is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization. RAND develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.

City University of New York Institute for State and Local Governance

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance applies a data-driven approach to the challenges and opportunities confronting government. ISLG focuses on government at the state and local levels, working both nationally and internationally, because cities and states are ideal laboratories for developing new approaches to longstanding social problems. ISLG's mission is to work with government and non-government organizations to improve systems to produce better results that are worthy of public investment and trust. ISLG works with government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, philanthropic institutions and the private sector to improve the structure, financing, delivery, measurement, and evaluation of vital public services

100 Resilient Cities

100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) helps cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic, and physical challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. 100RC provides this assistance through: funding for a Chief Resilience Officer in each of our cities who will lead the resilience efforts; resources for drafting a Resilience Strategy; access to private sector, public sector, academic, and NGO resilience tools; and membership in a global network of peer cities to share best practices and challenges. For more information, visit: www.100ResilientCities.org.

Pittsburgh Archways To Opportunity Youth Education Kick-Off

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Allegheny Avenue McDonald's, Chateau

Weekly Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Evon Onusic

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Receptions For Partner4Work CEO  Earl Buford

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: August Wilson Center For African American Culture, Central Business District

Press Conference With Auditor General Eugene DePasquale

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Municipal Pension Fund Board Of Directors Meeting

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Ninth Floor, City-County Building

Meeting With Mayor Tom Murphy, Mark Masterson, Ralph Horgan, & Ray Meyer

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Jim Krenn

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Acting City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building 

Meeting With Phillip Ameris

Time: 11:00 A.M.