2019

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 2, 2019) Tomorrow morning Mayor William Peduto will hold a ceremony honoring former Mayor Tom Murphy with the Key to the City. Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of Murphy's inauguration.

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building

WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, January 3, 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 2, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and the Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh are proud to announce that the authority’s homeownership program helped 21 low-to-moderate income families purchase homes last year, a five-fold increase since the program was relaunched in 2014. 

All 21 households received closing cost assistance and 12 received a soft second mortgage – a forgivable mortgage with no monthly payment provisions for a term of 10 years. The average amount of closing cost assistance granted was $5,157 and the average amount of the second deferred mortgage issued was $27,293. The sales prices of the homes purchased range from $143,500 to $67,500.  

The homes are located throughout the City of Pittsburgh, including the following communities: Hazelwood, North Side, Lincoln-Larimer, Sout Side, Hill District, Knoxville, Garfield, Homewood, Carrick, Crafton Heights, West End and Sheraden.  

HACP’s Homeownership Program helps qualified low to moderate income families overcome obstacles such as poor credit and inability to save by partnering with the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh to provide home buyer education workshops and pre-purchase counseling. Participants in the program are also eligible to receive up to $8,000 in closing cost assistance which can also be coordinated with additional closing cost and/or down payment assistance from organizations including but not limited to The Bartko Foundation, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, FHLB First Front Door Grant Program, The PNC Grant, and Dollar Bank’s 3-2-1 Match Program. 

The program helped four households with homes in 2014, and 16 households in 2017. 

The program maintains an ongoing relationship with a variety of local lenders including Dollar Bank, First Commonwealth Bank, PNC Bank and many others whom have provided low interest fixed-rate mortgages to program participants.  

The program is available to current HACP Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) or Low Income Public Housing (LIPH) residents as well as low-to-moderate income families that are qualified to receive Housing Choice Voucher or LIPH rental assistance, meeting the minimum eligibility requirements. Any first-time home buyer who is currently and continuously employed full time for at least one year, with a minimum household income of $17,000 annually is eligible to enroll in the program. Employment exceptions apply to elderly and disabled households but there are no minimum income exceptions.  

In order to purchase a home through the program, clients go through a process that consists of:  

• Completing HUD/ HACP approved Homeownership Counseling; 
• Securing a first mortgage pre-approval which will require the applicant to have a good credit profile; 
• Receiving a letter of eligibility from the Occupancy Department prior to entering into the Homeownership Program (Non Section 8 and LIPH participants); and,  
• Purchasing a home within the City of Pittsburgh 

Families and/or individuals interested in obtaining support toward their homeownership goals may contact DeAnna Vaughn at 412-456-5062 to discuss participation in HACP’s Homeownership Program. Current HACP residents are encouraged to speak to their assigned HACP FSS Service Coordinator. Families and/or individuals in need of credit counseling or debt repair are asked to contact the Urban League of Pittsburgh at 412-227-4815.  

Complete eligibility requirements and program information is available at www.hacp.org. 

Recording 90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" Radio Show with Kevin Gavin

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Community Broadcast Center, 67 Bedford Square

Presenting Key To The City To Former Mayor Thomas J. Murphy

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Chris Sandvig

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 3, 2019) Mayor William Peduto today issued the Key to the City to former Mayor Tom Murphy, and announced plans to rename the North Side riverfront trail in his honor. 

Murphy is the second-longest serving Mayor in city history after only David L. Lawrence and was inaugurated to the first of his three terms on this day in 1994. 

As Mayor he led the drive to construct 25 miles of trails along Pittsburgh’s riverfronts, much of them through former industrial areas. In honor of that effort, Mayor Peduto is sending legislation to Pittsburgh City Council renaming the North Side portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail after Murphy. 

“The City of Pittsburgh owes a lot to Tom Murphy, a visionary who led us through turbulent times and planted the seeds for the regrowth we’re seeing now. It is my honor to issue him the Key to the City and make a gesture of thanks for his many years of public service,” Mayor Peduto said. 

Mayor Murphy is also a long-time runner on the city’s trails and one of the few Pittsburghers who has run in every Great Race since it was instituted by the late Mayor Richard Caliguiri in 1977. 

“We were willing to think about Pittsburgh in a different kind of way,” Mayor Murphy said at today’s ceremony. “The riverfronts were there for thousands of years but nobody thought much about doing anything with them. We made the decision that they could be a great asset.” 

The son of a steelworker, Murphy was a North Side community activist as well as a state representative from 1979 through 1993. Since 2006 he has been a senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute, a role in which he regularly travels the world telling the story of Pittsburgh’s revitalization.

40+ mascots to take part in 32nd annual event at City of Pittsburgh outdoor rink

Where can you take to the ice with a penguin…a parrot…a fish…and a frog? Not to mention a skating cookie, cougar and kangaroo? Along with a dog, dinosaur and dozens of others?

Join 40+ mascots on Saturday, January 12, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the City of Pittsburgh’s 32nd annual “Mascot Skate” at the Schenley Park Skating Rink when a menagerie of skating mascots will meet and greet fans of all ages.  Parents can take pictures of special moments as their children take to the ice with many well-known characters.

Skating mascots will include Iceburgh, Pirate Parrot, Steely McBeam, Penn State Nittany Lion, Frankie the Fish, Mr. Froggy, Eat’n Park Smiley Cookie, Chatham Cougar, Kenny Kangaroo, McGruff the Crime Dog, Rita the Dinosaur and many others.

Admission to the Mascot Skate is $5 for adults, $3 for youth (17 and younger) and $4 for seniors and military. Skate rental is $3 and skate sharpening is $5.

For more information about the Mascot Skate, presented by WISH 99.7 FM, visit www.pittsburghpa.gov/schenley/rink or call 412-422-6523.

SCHENLEY PARK SKATING RINK is one of only four outdoor ice rinks located in Allegheny County – and the only outdoor regulation-size ice rink in the City of Pittsburgh. The Schenley Park Skating Rink operates seven days a week and offers a variety of public sessions, lessons and special events. Private ice rental is available throughout the winter months, and a banquet/meeting room with kitchen is available for rental year-round.

Meeting With Calvin Stemley

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valarie McDonald-Roberts

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Bloomfield Citizen Council's Janet Scullion & Gloria LeDonne

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Scheduling Meeting With Staff

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

No public events scheduled. 

Speaking At Leadership Pittsburgh's Champagne Luncheon
Time: 12:00 P.M.
Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Central Business District

Meeting With Dennis Astorino & Christopher Haup
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With The Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Bob Bauder
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building
 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 9, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh last week finalized a five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Joint Collective Bargaining Committee (PJCBC), which represents hundreds of workers in the Department of Public Works. 

The contract features annual raises of 3% every year from 2019-2023 and includes a 2% signing bonus retroactive to 2018. 

PJCBC represents 337 workers on the front lines of city services to residents every day. They include carpenters, custodians, painters, plumbers, roofers, laborers and heavy equipment operators. (The union does not represent DPW workers in the Environmental Services Bureau.) 

In addition to the raises, the pact includes increases in tool allowances for the workers and city payments for Commercial Driver’s Licenses, which will provide career advancement opportunities for interested personnel.  

In exchange the city received opportunities to involve more workers in snow removal efforts, as well as a redefinition of titled driver seniority unit work according to PA DMV CDL weight restrictions, which will greatly increase DPW’s operational efficiency. 

Mayor William Peduto signed the contract on December 21 and PJCBC chairman Philip Ameris Sr. signed it January 3. 

Pennsylvania Municipal League Monthly Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Calvin Stemley

Time: 10:15 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Patrick Clark and Ritchie Tabachnick

Time: 11:00 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

Filming Video For 100th Anniversary Of The Goodwill

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 9, 2019) Schenely Park Skating Rink will host its 32nd Annual Mascot Skate event Saturday, January 12, 2019, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. This is a popular event where you take to the ice with a penguin, parrot, fish … and not to mention a skating cookie, cougar and kangaroo. Along with a dog, dinosaur, and dozens of others, this family-friendly event is for people of all ages.  

Parents can take pictures of special moments as their children take to the ice with many well-known characters. Skating mascots will include Iceburgh, Pirate Parrot, Steely McBeam, Penn State Nittany Lion, Frankie the Fish, Mr. Froggy, Eat’n Park Smiley Cookie, Chatham Cougar, Kenny Kangaroo, McGruff the Crime Dog, Rita the Dinosaur and many others.  

Admission to the Mascot Skate is $5 for adults, $3 for youth (17 and younger) and $4 for seniors and military. Skate rental is $3, and skate sharpening is $5.  

For more information about the Mascot Skate, presented by WISH 99.7 FM, visit http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/schenley/rink or call 412-422-6523.  

SCHENLEY PARK SKATING RINK is one of only four outdoor ice rinks located in Allegheny County – and the only outdoor regulation-size ice rink in the City of Pittsburgh. The Schenley Park Skating Rink operates seven days a week and offers a variety of public sessions, lessons, and special events. Private ice rental is available throughout the winter months, and a banquet/meeting room with kitchen is available for rental year-round.  

Speaking At 2019 Spirit Of King Awards Ceremony

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: The Kingsley Association, Larimer

Meeting With Raymond Mendrola

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valerie McDonald-Roberts

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Video For NUMO

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Meeting On Increasing Community Inclusivity In Pittsburgh

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Howard Fineman

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Benedum Foundation President Jen Giovannitti

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Greg Enright

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Ed Gainey & Councilman Daniel Lavelle

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 11, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that the inbound lane of Grant Street will be closed on January 12, 2019, between 6:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., to allow the operation of a crane to remove the Christmas Tree, wreaths, and decorations at the City-County Building. 

 If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Ceoffe, City Forester, at 412-665-3626. 

Press Conference With Department Of Public Safety & Bureau Of Police

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Interview With Amanda Paulson

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Inauguration of Lt. Governor John Fetterman

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: State Capitol Building, Harrisburg 

Inauguration of Governor Tom Wolf

Time: Noon

Location: State Capitol Building, Harrisburg

Inaugural Celebration

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 15, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that due to a landslide condition, a portion of Forward Avenue/Commercial Street in Squirrel Hill and Swisshelm Park will be closed to vehicular traffic during daylight hours next week.

The roadway will be closed from Summerset Drive to Whipple Street from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. from Monday, January 21, through Friday, January 25, to enable contractors to drill core borings into the hillside. Emergency vehicles and school buses will be accommodated by workers onsite.

Those with questions may contact Paul Loy, Project Engineer at 412.255.8601.

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 15, 2019) The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is set to establish a new investigations unit this year focusing on domestic violence cases, using $500,000 in funding from the Nina Baldwin Fisher Foundation.

Legislation accepting the funding is being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council today. It would support creation of a Domestic Violence (DV) unit in the police bureau consisting of one DV Sergeant (new position), one DV Detective (existing position), one DV Detective Specialist (new position), and one civilian clerical specialist (new position).

“Pittsburgh Police officers respond to thousands of domestic violence calls every year, and this generous grant from the Nina Baldwin Fisher Foundation will enhance our services and responses to victims in desperate need of our help,” Mayor William Peduto said.
 
The unit will increase Pittsburgh Police resources in support of victims of domestic crimes, including those who are victim witnesses in criminal cases and those who file for protection from abuse relief.
 
The unit will expand data collection and processing to improve investigations of domestic violence and review all domestic violence incident reports. Unit members will participate in collaborative justice system projects and community outreach in the area of domestic violence. They will also participate in national training on domestic violence best practices for law enforcement and become leaders in implementing such best practices locally.
 
Pittsburgh Police respond to more than 13,000 domestic violence calls annually. In 2015, for example, there were 10,464 “domestic” calls to PBP as well as 2,522 “Domestic - PFA Service or Violation” calls. For calls to PBP for which arrests are made for crimes of intimate partner violence, there are about 1,500 a year.

In addition, officers in the PBP administer more than 1,400 lethality assessment screens every year to victims of intimate partner violence as they work to identify victims at high risk of being killed by their partners and refer them for supportive services.
 
The city will work with advocates at Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh to implement the unit.

Nicole Molinaro, President/CEO of Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, said “We applaud the level of commitment and collaboration from the City and the Bureau of Police in developing this new initiative. We are grateful for the Nina Baldwin Fisher Foundation’s leadership and for the funding provided to make all of this possible. The specialization of the new DV Unit will be critical for Pittsburgh to keep pace with national best practices and will enable the police to build on their exemplary work in the Lethality Assessment Program that has been lauded as extremely successful across the State and by the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We look forward to an expanded partnership with the police to better address domestic violence in the City.”

Pittsburgh Police have comprehensive policies and procedures for all officers to use when responding to DV incidents. However the police bureau and the DV victims it serves would benefit greatly from the addition of more DV specialists as well as a new database for the tracking of DV crimes.

“This will allow us to integrate our systems to better serve all domestic violence victims,” Assistant Chief of Police Lavonnie Bickerstaff said.

Funding for the five-year grant from the Nina Baldwin Fisher Foundation is set to begin January 31, 2019.

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 16, 2019) City of Pittsburgh offices and facilities will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 21, and refuse collection will be suspended. 

Citiparks facilities including recreation centers and Healthy Active Living centers will be closed MLK Jr. Day, as well as the Mellon Park tennis bubble and the Oliver Bath House.  

The refuse collection schedule will proceed as follows:  If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, January 21, 2019 you will be serviced on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.  If your scheduled day of collection is Tuesday, January 22, 2019 you will be serviced on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 and so on through Saturday, January 26, 2019. 

If you should have any questions concerning your collection, you may contact Environmental Services at 412-255-2773. 

Welcoming Delegation From Dubai To Pittsburgh

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Tom Balistrieri & Mike Kutzer

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Eileen Stewart & Susan Kalich

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Innovation & Performance Santiago Garces

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Grantmakers Of Western Pennsylvania's Annual New Year Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: The Duquesne Club, Central Business District 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 17, 2019) The Registered Community Organization (RCO) process is now underway. The Larimer Consensus Group and Oakland Planning and Development Corporation have completed the application process and are now established as RCOs. As RCOs, these organizations will receive notification of public hearings, be guaranteed meetings with developers/applicants prior to public hearings, be able to develop neighborhood plans for City approval, and be recognized on official maps, brochures, and directories as a result of their RCO status. 

The RCO legislation, supported by Mayor Peduto and approved as legislation by the City Council in late 2018, supports neighborhood groups and the work they do on behalf of residents and their communities. 

An organization can apply to be an RCO at any time throughout the year. Registration is free, and applications will be accepted throughout 2019 and beyond. Please download an application here.    

For community groups that are interested in applying for Registered Community Organization (RCO) status, the City of Pittsburgh is sponsoring free training with options for either classroom training or one-on-one sessions, both available for registration here.  

Classroom training will provide extra assistance on organizational strategies to engage their communities and other partners.  The class will also review systems and documentation necessary for submitting the RCO application.  If you sign up with other nearby community groups, there will be opportunity to plan and coordinate together.   

Your first opportunity to take advantage of this training and support is coming up!   

DETAILS:  

Date: January 25, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Location: The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management in Downtown Pittsburgh (339 Sixth Ave, Suite 750).   

Registration is open for all community groups.   

Can't make it in January? No worries.  Additional sessions will be held throughout the year and refined based upon feedback from community organizations. The calendar here posts up-to-date information.   

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

The Registered Community Organization (RCO) Program provides a standard and predictable method for community input on development activities and planning processes throughout the city of Pittsburgh.  The benefits of RCO status include notification of public hearings, guaranteed meeting with developer/applicant prior to a public hearing, Planning Commission adoption of neighborhood plan developed with RCO, and placement on Official Maps, Brochures, and Directories. This framework establishes criteria for becoming a RCO to promote transparency, inclusivity, and community engagement. The program outlines specific responsibilities and procedures that RCOs, the City, and any developers/applicants applying to work in that community prior to public hearings.  The RCO Ordinance permits more than one RCO within the same geographic area and encourages community organizations to work cooperatively with adjacent or overlapping community organizations.  For more information on RCOs, resources, and frequently asked questions, please see the website at http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/rco.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 18, 2019) All Public Works equipment – from plows with salt spreaders to smaller tractors and pickup trucks – are ready to respond to this weekend’s storms. The city has abundant salt supplies on hand, with enough to respond to 20 inches of snow. Public Works will begin working 12-hour shifts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, with over 60 trucks out. 

Crews will be focusing on treating roads at the expected beginning of the snow event Saturday afternoon with salt containing liquid calcium as well as new supplies of blue-tinted salt mixed with magnesium chloride, which is effective to temperatures as low as negative 25 degrees Fahrenheit. 

With freezing rain expected that can weigh down tree branches and threaten utility lines DPW has told its forestry division to be on alert, and has further alerted outside contract contractors that they may be called into service.  

DPW Director Mike Gable advised residents to refrain from driving as much as possible over the weekend – including the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday – to allow crews to treat and plow roadways as effectively as possible. If you must be out, it is advised to please drive slowly and with caution. 

311 will be open on Sunday, January 20, 2019,  9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to field any related request. 

Due to the extreme cold weather that is going to hit our area at the end of the weekend and into Monday, Citiparks will have 2 locations open for warming centers on Monday 1/21/19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.: 

• HOMEWOOD HAL Center--7321 Frankstown Avenue, 15208    412.244.4190 

• SOUTHSIDE MARKET HOUSE HAL Center--12th & Bingham Streets, 15203     412.488.8404

Meeting With Rebecca Bagley, Katrina Kelly-Pitou, Grant Ervin, & Feyisola Alabi

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Interview With Pittsburgh Quarterly's Evan Pattak

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Alan Hausman

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks & Jeremy Goldman

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Master Builders' Association's Annual Membership Reception

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Duquesne Club, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 19, 2019) Weather conditions in the City of Pittsburgh have changed since forecasts yesterday, with temperatures staying above freezing and the snow expected for today instead remaining rain.

The Department of Public Works expects temperatures to stay mild well into early Sunday morning, with snow now not expected until the early morning hours. Pretreating the roads with salt is not being performed until the temperatures fall, since this evening's rain would merely wash salt treatments away. 

Motorists should remain aware of possibly icy conditions tomorrow morning, when there could be a mix of freezing rain and snow on roadways.

"Drivers and pedestrians should not let their guard down and need to still give strong consideration to whether they need to travel in Sunday's conditions," DPW Director Mike Gable said.

Updates will follow as necessary.

Press Conference With Senator Jay Costa & Representative Ed Gainey

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Director Of City Planning Ray Gastil, Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks, & Director Of Urban Redevelopment Authority Robert Rubinstein

Time: 12:30 P.M.

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

Promotion Ceremony For Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Sergeant John Fisher

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Romanian Ambassador George Cristian Maior

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Jim Wolf, Craig Davis, & Chuck Stout 

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 22, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will host legislators and housing advocates this morning to discuss new homeowner-protection legislation.

WHO: State Sen. Jay Costa, State Rep. Ed Gainey, State Rep. Sara Innamorato, Mayor Peduto, City Councilwoman Deb Gross, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building

WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 23, 2019) Mayor William Peduto travels today to Washington D.C. for the Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where later in the week he will speak on two panels on the gun violence plaguing American communities. 

He speaks on a panel Friday morning called “City Initiatives to Reduce Gun Violence” moderated by Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. Later that morning he speaks on a panel called “Responding to the Growing Incidence of Hate Crimes” moderated by Gary, Indiana, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. 

Mayor Peduto also plans to meet during the week with the mayors of cities that have also experienced gun massacres like that on October 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Wednesday, January 23, 2019: 

Flight to Washington D.C. 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Panel on "Fostering Inclusive Prosperity Nationally" with Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Richard Florida 

Time: 2:45 p.m. 

Location: Hyatt Place, Washington D.C.  

Opening Reception 

Time: 6:30 p.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Tribute to Mayors Dinner, hosted by Latino Leaders Network 

Time: 8 p.m. 

Location: Mayflower Hotel, Washington D.C.

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 24, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington D.C. for the Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where tomorrow he will speak on two panels on the gun violence plaguing American communities. 

He speaks on a panel Friday morning called “City Initiatives to Reduce Gun Violence” moderated by Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. Later that morning he speaks on a panel called “Responding to the Growing Incidence of Hate Crimes” moderated by Gary, Indiana, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. 

Mayor Peduto is also meeting with the mayors of cities that have also experienced gun massacres like that on October 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Thursday, January 23, 2019: 

Breakfast and meeting with Vice President Joe Biden 

Time: 8:45 a.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Panel on Technology and Innovation: Visioning The Future Needs of Cities 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Meeting with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Panel on New Transportation Technologies and Opportunities 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Interview with The Hill 

Time: 4 p.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Dinner with U.S. Conference of Mayors President Stephen Benjamin 

Time: 8 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 25, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington D.C. for the Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where he is speaking on two panels on the gun violence plaguing American communities. 

He speaks on a panel today called “City Initiatives to Reduce Gun Violence” moderated by Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. Later this morning he speaks on a panel called “Responding to the Growing Incidence of Hate Crimes” moderated by Gary, Indiana, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. 

Mayor Peduto is also meeting with the mayors of cities that have also experienced gun massacres like that on October 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill.  

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Friday, January 25, 2019 

City Initiatives to Reduce Gun Violence panel, with Mayor Peduto: Mayor Cranley; Toledo Mayor Wake Kapszukiewicz; March for Our Lives –co-founder David Hogg; and Everytown for Gun Safety legislative director Sarah Trumble. 

Time: 9:15 a.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Responding to the Growing Incidence of Hate Crimes panel with Mayor Peduto; Mayor Freeman-Wilson; Anti-Defamation League counsel Michael Lieberman; Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke; Montgomery County Police Department Chief and Past President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association Tom Manger. 

Time: 11:45 a.m. 

Location: Capitol Hilton, Washington D.C. 

Lunch with Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

5 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 28, 2019) Mayor William Peduto’s administration plans to launch a free book program for children from birth to age 5 with generous support from the Benter Foundation.

Legislation is being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow to accept $250,000 from the foundation to establish a pilot effort to introduce Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program to the city. Since its inception in 1995 the program from the country music superstar has mailed more than 113 million books, for free, to children in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Studies of the Imagination Library have found that:

• Parents read aloud more to their children and were more comfortable reading as a result of the program.
• Parents believed their children were more interested in reading due to receiving the books each month.
• Participating children were excited when their books arrived in the mail monthly, addressed to them specifically.
• The positive views of the program and its impacts were present regardless of the demographic characteristics of the community or its participants, and longer program participation often resulted in more positive outcomes.

Once enrolled, a child receives a high-quality, age-appropriate book personally addressed to them until they reach the age of five. The Imagination Library is responsible for covering overhead costs, databases, a book selection committee, and monthly mailings. As an Imagination Library affiliate, the City of Pittsburgh would be responsible for covering the ongoing monthly costs associated with mailing each book, which costs $25 per child for one year, as well as enrollment and promotional activities.

Tiffini Simoneaux, manager of the city’s Office of Early Childhood in Mayor Peduto’s Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment, is leading the city’s enrollment in the program.

“Research shows that early literacy experiences including access to books in the home are fundamental ingredients for future academic success. This program will enable young children throughout the City to build a home library of up to 60 books,” Simoneaux said.

Once the funding from the Benter Foundation is approved the Office of Early Childhood will launch the first steps of the program, including outreach and communication plans, engaging with local organizations that work with young children and families, and the launch of program.

In addition to monthly mailing costs, the city would also use a small portion of the funding to pay for materials to advertise the program and for community outreach events to promote the program, largely in underserved areas of the city.

“We’re pleased to partner with the City of Pittsburgh and other community allies to help children develop a lifelong love of reading. Having your own books at home unlocks a new world of learning and language that can help Pittsburgh’s children thrive,” said Bill Benter, president of The Benter Foundation.

Meeting With Deputy Chief of Staff Majestic Lane & Special Initiatives Manager Feyisola Alabi

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Annual Interview With City Channel Pittsburgh

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Interview With Eva Tumiel-Kozak & Richard Howland

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 29, 2019) City of Pittsburgh departments, agencies and partners are preparing for several different possible impacts from the bitterly cold temperatures forecasted for the this week. 

Several Citiparks recreation centers and senior Healthy Active Living centers will be open to serve as warming centers. 

The Magee, West Penn, Brookline and Phillips Community Recreation Centers will be open until 9 p.m., and the Jefferson, Ammon, Paulson, Ormsby and Warrington centers are until 8 p.m. (Locations are listed here.) 

Typically senior centers close at 4 p.m. but on Wednesday and Thursday hours will be extended until 9 p.m. at the following four centers:  

• Greenfield, 745 Greenfield Ave. 

• Homewood, 7321 Frankstown Ave. 

• Sheraden, 720 Sherwood Ave. 

• South Side, 12th & Bingham St. 

Refuse collection by the Department of Public Works is expected to continue as scheduled, but if collection becomes unsafe for DPW personnel garbage left at the curbside will be collected a day or two later, and possibly during the weekend. 

Construction Junction in North Point Breeze will closed tomorrow, and due to that closure the City of Pittsburgh recycling drop-off center located 214 N. Lexington Ave. will also be closed to the general public.   

Please note the Schenley Ice Skating Rink will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. 

Pittsburgh Public Safety officials are preparing on several fronts.  

The Fire Bureau warns residents to exercise safety when using space heaters. Do not place them close to furniture, follow the manufacturers safety recommendations, and do not place heaters close to anything combustible. It is advised not to use kitchen appliances such as stoves and ovens to heat homes. 

Emergency Medical Services receives many slip-and-fall calls during extreme cold. Residents – and particularly seniors – are reminded to use caution and limit their time outside if possible. As a reminder, rock salt does not melt ice at negative 5-degree temperatures and below. 

Local rivers are starting to freeze and the Allegheny River is expected to freeze over. Residents and visitors should not walk on frozen bodies of water. Water Rescue will have an air boat ready to deploy for emergencies. 

By law, pets cannot be left outside for more than 30 minutes in freezing temperatures. Animal Control officials will be on patrol through the week. 

Pittsburgh Police will be checking on those experiencing homelessness. Low barrier, Downtown resources are listed below. A more complete list of free resources for people in need can be found at www.bigburgh.com. 

• Downtown Low Barrier Shelter, Smithfield United Church of Christ, 620 Smithfield St. It will have extended hours this week only from 6 p.m. - 8 a.m. Monday-Friday, and 6 p.m. - 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.  
• Catholic Charities Day/Warming Program, 212 Ninth St., regular hours 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday. 
• Wellspring Drop In Center, 903 Watson St., regular hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday-Friday. 

Meeting With Ted Lee

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of the Month Award

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Meeting With Bo Risgaard Pedersen, Head Advisor To The Minister Of Energy, Climate, & Utilities of Denmark

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 5:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 30, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is now soliciting bids for the second year of its City Cuts lawn-cutting program, and will hold meetings for interested contractors starting this weekend.  

Solicitation #19000024 went live yesterday on Beacon, the City’s transparent, web-based procurement platform.

City Cuts began in 2018 through legislation introduced by Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, and assisted more than 950 Pittsburgh seniors and those with disabilities with lawn cutting last year. 

“City Cuts improves the look of the community and helps people who need a helping hand,” the councilwoman said. 

Sign-up information for those seeking the complimentary service — available to Pittsburgh residents 62 and older or with a disability — will be announced at the end of March. Homeowners receiving the service will need to sign a liability waiver.

“We are looking forward to building on the 2018 pilot year to provide better service to residents. Improvements to the program will include hiring more contractors to cut lawns twice a month from May through October,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Operations of all sizes are encouraged to attend one of four upcoming pre-proposal meetings:

Saturday, February 2, 2019

1pm-2:30pm

California Coffee Bar

3619 California Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

11:30am-1pm

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Carrick branch

1811 Brownsville Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15210

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

6-7:30pm

City of Pittsburgh Office of Budget and Management

City-County Building

414 Grant Street, 5th floor, Ross Street side (enter building at Ross Street entrance)

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

6-7:30pm

City of Pittsburgh Office of Budget and Management

City-County Building

414 Grant Street, 5th floor, Ross Street side (enter building at Ross Street entrance)

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

In their bids, contractors need to specify in which neighborhood(s) they can provide service. Bids are due March 1, 2019 in order for the program to begin in May. 
 

WTAE-TV Project CommUNITY Interview

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Everyday Cafe - 532 North Homewood Avenue, Point Breeze North

Meeting With The Urban Redevelopment Authority's Tom Link & InnovatePGH's Sean  Luther

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony

Time: 2:00 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: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, & Director Of City Planning Ray Gastil

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Councilperson Erika Strassburger

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

No public events scheduled. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 1, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh has received an upgraded credit rating, with agencies praising the city’s financial management and operating surpluses. 

Credit rating agencies Moody’s and Standard & Poors issued reports this week grading City finances to be in stable condition in advance of issuing $60 million in bonds to pay for city infrastructure upgrades. 

S&P raised its rating on the city’s debt one notch to AA- from A+, and Moody’s retained its A1 rating. 

“The rating also reflects S&P Global Ratings' opinion of the city's significant strides during the past three years to improve overall finances and management practices. Budget performance has been positive and contributed to increasing reserves to, what the rating service considers, very strong levels. In addition, the embedding of new and long-standing financial practices and policies into the city's code should help maintain discipline to ensure fiscal stability,” said the January 31 report by Standard & Poor’s. 

Said Moody’s: “The A1 rating reflects Pittsburgh's diverse and vibrant tax base is supported by the anchoring presence of several renowned education and medical institutions ("eds & meds"), which has driven substantial ancillary business growth in technology, robotics and life sciences industries in the city. The A1 rating also incorporates the city's strong operating surpluses over the last few years, and current satisfactory reserve and liquidity levels.” 

Launch Event For The Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: National Robotics Engineering Center, Central Lawrenceville

Telephone Call With Michael Zamagias

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Speaking At Keystone Progress Summit

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location IBEW Hall - Local 5, South Side Flats

Sunday, February 3, 2019

No public events scheduled.

WAMO Interview

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Locations: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief of Staff Daniel Gilman & Chief Resilience Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 4, 2019) Mayor William Peduto’s administration plans to launch a free book program for children from birth to age 5 with generous support from the Benter Foundation.

Legislation is being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow to accept $250,000 from the foundation to establish a pilot effort to introduce Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program to the city. Since its inception in 1995 the program from the country music superstar has mailed more than 113 million books, for free, to children in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Studies of the Imagination Library have found that:

• Parents read aloud more to their children and were more comfortable reading as a result of the program.
• Parents believed their children were more interested in reading due to receiving the books each month.
• Participating children were excited when their books arrived in the mail monthly, addressed to them specifically.
• The positive views of the program and its impacts were present regardless of the demographic characteristics of the community or its participants, and longer program participation often resulted in more positive outcomes.

Once enrolled, a child receives a high-quality, age-appropriate book personally addressed to them until they reach the age of five. The Imagination Library is responsible for covering overhead costs, databases, a book selection committee, and monthly mailings. As an Imagination Library affiliate, the City of Pittsburgh would be responsible for covering the ongoing monthly costs associated with mailing each book, which costs $25 per child for one year, as well as enrollment and promotional activities.

Tiffini Simoneaux, manager of the city’s Office of Early Childhood in Mayor Peduto’s Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment, is leading the city’s enrollment in the program.

“Research shows that early literacy experiences including access to books in the home are fundamental ingredients for future academic success. This program will enable young children throughout the City to build a home library of up to 60 books,” Simoneaux said.

Once the funding from the Benter Foundation is approved the Office of Early Childhood will launch the first steps of the program, including outreach and communication plans, engaging with local organizations that work with young children and families, and the launch of program.

In addition to monthly mailing costs, the city would also use a small portion of the funding to pay for materials to advertise the program and for community outreach events to promote the program, largely in underserved areas of the city.

“We’re pleased to partner with the City of Pittsburgh and other community allies to help children develop a lifelong love of reading. Having your own books at home unlocks a new world of learning and language that can help Pittsburgh’s children thrive,” said Bill Benter, president of The Benter Foundation.

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Scott Astorino

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

City Of Pittsburgh Black History Month Exhibit Opening Gala

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Grand Lobby, City-County Building

Speaking At School District Of Pittsburgh’s Career & Technical Education Month Kickoff

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Westinghouse High School, Homewood West

Meeting With Downtown Community Development Corporation’s John Valentine

Time: 1:30 P.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

Hillel Academy Annual Dinner With Pittsburgh Public Safety Personnel

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Marriot City Centre, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 7, 2019) The Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) Advisory Board this morning voted to recommend that the URA Board of Directors approve three resolutions supporting hundreds of affordable housing units citywide.

The URA board will take action at its next meeting on Thursday, February 14.

Homeowner Assistance Program Administrators

The URA Board will consider HOF agreements with the following six non-profit organizations to serve as program administrators for the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP):

• Action Housing, Inc. in the amount of $500,000 to complete 18 - 22 homes
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh in the amount of $200,000 to complete 7 - 9 homes
• Hilltop Alliance in the amount of $400,000 to complete 14 – 18 homes
• Nazareth Housing Services in the amount of $100,000 to complete 4 - 5 homes
• Oakland Planning & Development Corporation in the amount of $200,000 to complete 7 – 9 homes
• Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh in the amount of $200,000 to complete 7 – 9 homes.

The HOF HAP provides financial and technical assistance to eligible borrowers for rehabilitating and improving residential owner-occupied properties citywide.  Through HOF HAP, the URA provides deferred 0% interest loans and grants to assist low-income borrowers to: bring their homes into compliance with city codes; undertake energy efficiency improvements; and undertake eligible general property improvements. The annual household income must be less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). 

The total amount in the HAP line item for the 2018 allocation plan is $2.375 million.

Residences at Wood Street

Another resolution before the URA Board is a HOF Rental Gap Program (RGP) loan agreement in the amount of $380,000 with the Residences at Wood Street for the redevelopment of Wood Street Commons, located in the Central Business District.

The HOF RGP is intended to help fund the creation of new affordable housing and/or preserve affordable housing City-wide, specifically targeting households at or below 30% AMI and 50% AMI.

Wood Street Commons provides housing and supportive services in the form of 259 single room occupancy units to low income adults. The facility offers valuable services to people living there, including help on becoming more self-sufficient. Additionally, there is 55,000 sq. ft. of commercial space which is occupied by job training services and other non-profit organizations.

The loan will allow the Residences at Wood Street to install a new sprinkler system pump, update sprinkler heads throughout the buildings, connect a residential elevator to an emergency generator, install door card-readers on remaining residential units, repair façade sections, install additional security cameras, and rehabilitate the building’s front desk. 

Parkview Manor

The URA Board will also vote on a HOF RGP loan agreement in the amount of up to $200,000 with Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) for the renovation of the Parkview Manor affordable living property.

The loan will provide combined construction/permanent financing for the renovation/preservation of this 15-unit (one-bedroom, one-bath) affordable living property for seniors and people with disabilities.

With HOF funding, OPDC will complete much-needed renovations and repairs, including replacing the roof, replacing the building’s shared hot water tank, installing new windows throughout the entire building, painting the exterior of the building, and the replacement of individual packaged thermal A/C units for each unit. Work is expected to be completed within six months of loan closing.

The HOF funds will be tied to five units at or below 30% AMI.  The building has a Project-Based Section 8 HAP contract. The current tenant portfolio includes 14 residents at or below 30% AMI and 1 at or below 50% AMI.

The URA Board of Directors will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, 2019 in the Wherrett Memorial Board Room at 200 Ross Street, 13th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

The HOF is holding five community feedback sessions citywide, starting Tuesday, on its allocation plans. More information is available here.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 7, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that McArdle Roadway will be closed on February 9, and 10, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to allow a contractor to remove debris along the road between the Liberty Bridge and Grandview Avenue.

The work being conducted is preventative maintenance on erosion of the hillside. No posted detours will be provided. Motorists may use the Liberty Tunnel to northbound Route 51 to Woodruff Street to Merrimac Street to navigate around the closure.

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

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Tom Dowling & Steve Radick

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Igor Volsky, Executive Director of Guns Down America

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chad Rasmussen

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Pittsburgh Ballet Theater 50th Anniversary Season Reveal

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, The Strip District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 8, 2019) Mayor William Peduto has made four appointments to spots on two city-affiliated boards. 

Last week City Council interviewed two appointments to the board of the Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh. They are Cheryl Gainey, a HACP resident, and Alexander Laroco, a U.S. Navy veteran. 

Next week he will forward to Council two appointments to Alcosan, a joint city-county authority.  The city’s appointments are Shannah Tharp Gilliam, director of research and evaluation at Homewood Children’s Village, and Brenda Smith, executive director of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association. (Smith is a reappointment.)

“I want to thank all those dedicating their time to serve the public on these important agencies,” Mayor Peduto said. 

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Location: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Training Academy, Allegheny West

Meeting With Michael Kutzer 
Time: 1:00 P.M.
Location: Penn Liberty Plaza, The Strip District

Meeting With Senator Wayne Fontana, Senator Jay Costa, & County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
Time: 2:30 P.M.
Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting With Gabriel Morgan
Time: 3:30 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Delivering Proclamation To Pittsburgh Open Squash Tournament
Time: 5:45 P.M.
Location: The Rivers Club - One Oxford Centre, Central Business District

Attending Quantum Theater's Performance Of The "The Gun Show (Can We Talk About This)"
Time: 8:00 P.M.
Location: Carnegie Library of Homewood, Homewood South

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 8, 2019) Mayor William Peduto’s administration today issued a request for proposals to bring safety and customer protections to towing procedures for vehicles involved in accidents on city streets. 

Under the proposal only one towing company would be allowed to operate in each of the city’s six Pittsburgh Bureau of Police zones, keeping towing companies from competing against each other to reach accident sites.  

The proposal would set towing rates, require companies to have 7-day-a-week access to their tow pounds, and require the tow pounds to be within two miles of the city border. Tow truck drivers would be required to be properly licensed and insured. 

Vehicle owners would have the option of calling other other towing companies to retrieve their vehicles if desired. 

The RFP is the result of months of study by the Peduto administration, its Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Public Safety. 

The RFP was posted at the city’s open and transparent procurement website Beacon, and a copy of it is available here.

Interested companies have until March 8 to respond. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 8, 2019) The Urban Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors will consider a resolution next week that will help small businesses become more accessible to all customers. The Board will vote to waive the URA’s Storefront Renovation Program (SRP) guidelines to allow for exterior accessibility improvements consistent with the City of Pittsburgh’s One Step Program.

The URA will take action at its next meeting on Thursday, February 14.

The city’s One Step program provides businesses and property owners technical assistance, fee waivers, and guidance to make their business more accessible to customers who use wheelchairs, scooters, and/or who have physical impediments.

The SRP is designed to help business owners make improvements to their storefronts and improve the appearance of city neighborhoods' commercial corridors. The program assists business owners by providing a 50% matching grant up to $5,000 for their façade improvement projects. 

Under the amended guidelines, URA staff will provide financial resources to businesses using the combined One Step Program and URA SRP to make their storefronts accessible.

"I am excited to expand upon the success of our Storefront Renovation Program to incorporate the important work of the One Step Program,” said Tom Link, director of the URA’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “Access for all is a theme we work toward everyday – access to jobs, access to housing, access to quality of life.  The One Step program is core to our mission and we look forward to helping small businesses across the city ensure they are accessible to all our neighbors. I want to thank Mayor Peduto and the city for providing the capital resources to extend this program.”

The SRP is funded through a combination of CDBG, City and state funds; including $100,000 from City 2018-2019 CDBG funds. 

The URA Board of Directors will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, 2019 in the Wherrett Memorial Board Room at 200 Ross Street, 13th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Contacts:

Gigi Saladna, Chief Communications Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, 412.255.6434, gsaladna@ura.org

Timothy McNulty, Communications Director, City of Pittsburgh, 412.660.1999, timothy.mcnulty@pittsburghpa.gov

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Speaking At Dr. Cyril Wecht Humanitarian Awards

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: 4428 Liberty Avenue, Bloomfield

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Speaking At TOMS End Gun Violence Event

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Repair The World - Broad Street, East Liberty 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 10, 2019) Department of Public Works crews are preparing for snowfall predicted for this evening that may impact the Monday morning commute.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 1.5 to 2 inches of snow beginning between 3 and 6 p.m. tonight and lasting through 9 a.m. Monday. DPW crews will begin their overnight work four hours early, beginning their shift at 6 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. In all, 48 trucks will be deployed overnight through tomorrow morning's rush hour, when temperatures are expected to return to above freezing and the precipitation converts to rain.

The city's new Snow Plow Tracker, which returned to service January 31, will be activated. Residents should note that not all DPW trucks have been upgraded with the new tracker technology so some streets will be treated by city crews but not be shown as such on the tracker site. 

Achieva Random Acts Of Kindness Press Conference

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: 711 Bingham Street, South Side Flats

Meeting With ACH Clear Pathways

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Northern Ireland Bureau Director Norman Houston

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Students From School District Of Pittsburgh Youth Council

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: City-County Building, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 11, 2019) Following is a statement by Mayor William Peduto on the passing of longtime Department of City Planning employee Richard Meritzer: 

“Richard Meritzer dedicated his life to serving others, and served the residents of Pittsburgh for more than 35 years, lately as our lead Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. 

He will be greatly missed by me and other city employees, and by communities he worked so closely with over the decades.”

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 12, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works introduced legislation to City Council today to receive a $350,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection for the purchase of 13,000 residential curbside recycling containers. 

Once approved, the funding will allow DPW to purchase the blue bins and distribute them to residents over the next two years. In an earlier pilot program more than 5,200 of the 32-gallon bins were distributed, largely in the North Side. 

Distribution plans for the new bins and sign-up procedures have not yet been finalized.

The grant funding from DEP will also help pay for a recycling education program consisting of printed materials, website updates and a social media campaign. DPW will also purchase stickers to be applied to the curbside container lids detailing what can and cannot be recycled. 

No public events scheduled. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 12, 2019)  The City of Pittsburgh and Office of Mayor William Peduto are pleased to report that the city has teamed up with Bromberg & Associates and Federal Compliance Consulting to aid in the rollout of the City’s  Language Access Plan. The City and consultants are moving forward with inclusively addressing the various communication and language needs of our City and community. Thank you to The Heinz Endowments for funding and making this initiative a reality.   

“Initiatives like this are essential to making Pittsburgh a welcoming place for all, no matter what communication or language needs you to have,” said Mayor William Peduto. “Enhancing our communication and language access services will help ensure that residents genuinely have the ability to obtain the information and services available to them.”  

Carmen Anderson, director of Equity and Social Justice for the Endowments, agreed, describing the Language Access Plan as “an important step in meeting Pittsburgh’s obligation to provide equitable access to services for all members of the community.”  

“The initiative will the provide the tools and other supports these residents need to help them thrive in the city,” she said.  

The communication and Language Access consultants are tasked with creating an integration strategy for the various languages and communication needs reflected in the city. The Implementation of this plan will utilize enhanced and expanded interpretation services to increase accessibility for residents who have a disability, are English language learners, or have limited proficiency in the English language.   

The consultants will be working with the Mayor’s office Special Initiatives Manager Feyisola Alabi, representatives from each city department, and the members of the Communication and Language Access Task Force. The consultants will facilitate Task Force meetings over the next four to six months. Meetings will evaluate departmental needs, teach best practices for communication and language access, provide training, and create strategies for how each city department can best assist all residents. The consultants and Task Force members will identify “key” city documents in need of being translated into Pittsburgh’s most commonly spoken languages. The city has identified languages such as Spanish, Nepali, Burmese, and Kurdish to name a few but through language access, the city will be able to translate in up to 200 various languages.  

Each city department will provide translation services in those mentioned above most commonly spoken languages. Each department will also be instructed to offer translation options for a broader selection of languages, and to provide aid for the hard of hearing, deaf, and blind communities. 

The Bromberg & Associates and Federal Compliance consultants have created a list of goals regarding the Communication and Language Access Plan which includes assisting city departments with identifying and complying best practices for language access expansion. Determine steps for monitoring, evaluating, and updating the language access plan. An additional goal is to ensure there are tools to provide website and city facility accessibility for LEP (Limited English Proficiency) customers. 

Pennsylvania Municipal League Monthly Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Study Team From Southwest PA Partnership For Mobility Council

Time: 11:30 A.M.

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

Stopping For A Cup Of Coffee At The Muddy Cup Opening Day

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: 1555 Broadway Avenue, Beechview

Visit To Brashear High School's Poster Session On Alternative Energy Options

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Brashear High School, Beechview

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 Kaylee Werner

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

One Northside Annual Celebration

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Heinz Field, North Shore

Contemporary Craft Building Opening

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: 5637 Butler Street, Upper Lawrenceville

Phone Call With Jack Rosen

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Josiah Gilliam

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Gabriella va Rij Founder Of The Dare to be Kind Movement

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Michael Wereschagin

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Pittsburgh International Auto Show's 75th Annual "Dancing with the Cars" Charity Fundraiser

Time: 5:30 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 15, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that McArdle Roadway will be closed on Saturday, February 16, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to allow a contractor to remove debris along the road. 

A full closure of McArdle will be in place between the Liberty Bridge and Grandview Avenue. A single lane closure will be in place between the Liberty Bridge and Arlington Avenue. The work being conducted is preventative maintenance for the erosion of the hillside. No posted detours will be provided. Motorists may use the Liberty Tunnel to northbound Route 51 to Woodruff Street to Merrimac Street to navigate around the closure.  

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

Lunch With Staff At Arnold's Tea

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: 502 East Ohio Street, East Allegheny

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Interview With The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Mark Belko

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Mickey McManus

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At Mendelssohn Choir Performance

Time: 7:15 P.M.

Location: Ebenezer Baptist Church, Middle Hill

Braveheart Foundation's Fundraiser "An Evening With Jackie Evancho"

Time: 7:45 P.M.

Location: August Wilson Center, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 15, 2019) The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority has announced that a segment of Herron Avenue between Bigelow Boulevard and Brererton Street will be closed this weekend for street paving.

A paving contractor will be working on the street from 7 p.m. this evening through noon on Sunday, February 17.

PWSA does not anticipate an interruption in water service. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 15, 2019) In another major legal victory for cities such as Pittsburgh that have policies that are welcoming to immigrants, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled today that the Justice Department cannot withhold public safety funding from Philadelphia due to its immigration policies.

The Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Justice Department to place immigration-related conditions on Philadelphia if the city were to receive Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney hailed the ruling, as did Mayor William Peduto.

"Pittsburgh police are here to protect all residents, including our newest ones, and are not deputized members of a national police force as the Trump admiinistration seems to think they are. This has been shown time and again by our nation's courts, and will continue to allow Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other cities to do what is right for all those seeking to come to our country to build better lives for themselves and their families," Mayor Peduto said.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

No public events scheduled.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Lunar New Year Parade

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 18, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is pleased to announce the commencement of construction of the Diana Street wall and street following several months of extensive geotechnical analysis and engineering design. The $900,000 project will remediate a significant landslide that occurred in February 2018 requiring the closure of a short segment of Diana Street in the vicinity of Ives Way.

Diana Street construction will begin today and last approximately six months. The community will initially see construction staging followed by clearance of the vegetation and preparation of the slope prior to construction of the wall.

Diana Street is one of several streets affected by landslides over the last year of record breaking wet weather. Like the $1 million response to the Greenleaf Street landslide in West End last year, this represents a significant investment in slide remediation. Several smaller projects have been completed over the past year with a number more in design. More than $8 million of local capital will be invested this year to protect and restore public rights of way.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 18, 2019) Mayor William Peduto’s administration is introducing a $2 million fund to boost the quality of early learning and Pre-K within the city by improving child care facilities.

The City of Pittsburgh Childcare Quality Fund, being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow, will provide grants to upgrade and improve child care facilities and help them obtain high quality designations from the state. The program and facilities upgrades that are required for a high quality designation are costly and can prove to be especially challenging for programs serving low and moderate income families.

Currently only 19% of Pittsburgh child care facilities have reached the high quality designation of STAR 3 or STAR 4 using Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System Keystone STARS. Programs that are with this designation follow Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards and employ staff who have extensive education and training in child development and education.

“I am committed to ensuring that all children in the City of Pittsburgh have access to high quality early learning and Pre-K. This grant fund will provide child care facilities with the means to improve their programs and will build the number of quality seats that we have in the City,” Mayor Peduto said. “This is a big step toward my goal of offering universal Pre-K.”

High quality facilities provide a stimulating, safe and nurturing environment for children that prepares them for school and to reach their full potential. Reaching a high quality designation not only ensures that children are getting the support they need to thrive: it also enables facilities to become more financially stable through increased child care subsidy rates. High quality facilities can tap into additional funding streams such as Early Head Start, Head Start and Pre-K Counts which enable facilities to serve additional low and moderate income families within their programs.

The funding will be administered by The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, a partner of the Allegheny County Early Learning Resource Center region 5, with oversight by a committee of City of Pittsburgh officials and experts. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Child Development and Early Learning announced last year the creation of Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) to provide residents and child care facilities with one-stop hubs for early education and child care needs. Within Allegheny County the ELRC will be jointly operated and administered via three partners: the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Trying Together and the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers. The Allegheny County ELRC will be in charge of providing coaching and technical support for programs wishing to participate and for distributing the city’s $2 million in grant funding.

Allegheny County’s ELRC will launch on July 1 of this year. Once established, the city’s Childcare Quality Fund will assist facilities with upgrades including:

• Roof repair/replacement
• Window repair/replacement
• HVAC repair/replacement
• Plumbing repair/replacement
• Flooring repair/replacement
• Mold testing/remediation
• Lead testing/remediation
• Fire suppression systems/sprinklers
• Playground equipment installation
• Playground surfacing
• Fencing and installation
• Security cameras and systems
• Painting repair/repainting
• Retrofitting areas of facility to open new classrooms

The fund will also support programmatic upgrades including:

• Curriculum and related materials
• Child Assessment instrument costs
• Professional Development for staff
• Literacy materials
• Fine and gross motor materials
• Dramatic play materials
• STEAM materials
• Child sized furniture
• Child safety materials
• Mobile handwashing sinks
• Mentor program costs

Meeting with Mark Kamlet

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Gilman and Deputy Chief of Staff Majestic Lane

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With CityLab's Brentin Mock

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Communications Manager Tim McNulty

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Gilman and Director Karina Ricks

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation Celebrating Pittsburgh Icon August Wilson

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Port Authority Of Allegheny County CEO Katharine Kelleman, & Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Sustainable Pittsburgh's Welcome Reception For Joylette Portlock

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Hotel Monaco, Central Business District

Media Advisory 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 19, 2019) This afternoon Mayor William Peduto will present a proclamation honoring the late August Wilson to his family, August Wilson House Board members, and August Wilson Center staff.  

WHO: Paul Ellis, Ronald Lee Newman Managing-Director August Wilson Center, CAPA students Amani Howe and Jamaica Johnson, Jamal Wali, and August Wilson House Board Members 

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building 

WHEN: 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 19, 2019 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 19, 2019) Motorists are warned to use caution and expect snowy and icy conditions for Wednesday morning’s commute, due to snow that is expected to fall around 5 a.m., followed by freezing rain. 

Department of Public Works will be treating streets overnight and then switching to plow mode once snow begins to accumulate. DPW’s night turn crews will begin prepping roads just after midnight and daylight crews that normally begin work at 6 a.m. will be brought in four hours early at 2 a.m. to supplement their work. 

In all DPW will have about 71 vehicles prepping city streets overnight, and when significant snowfall occurs another 36 vehicles with plows will be added to the effort. 

The forecast is for 2-4 inches of snow beginning around 5 a.m., followed by sleet and freezing rain from 9 to 11 a.m., which will then turn to rain. Temperatures are expected to keep rising through the afternoon and evening, making the afternoon rush hour an easier commute. 

The morning commute is another story. “Drivers need to proceed with caution and choose the best route in getting to work or other destinations. Those living on or near hillsides should consider going a little out of their way to stay on level ground whenever possible,” DPW Director Mike Gable said. 

Public Safety is prepared for the snow event. Emergency Medical Services will have four-wheel drive vehicles in service. Most all of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police vehicles are already all-wheel drive, and officers will be ready to respond to all calls for assistance. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, as always, is also prepared to respond to any emergencies, including weather-related events. 

For information on alerts and road closures, please follow Public Safety on Facebook and Twitter (@PghPublicSafety). The Public Information Office will utilize social media and other means to provide information in a timely manner.  

The city's new Snow Plow Tracker, which returned to service January 31, will be activated. Residents should note that not all DPW trucks have been upgraded with the new tracker technology so some streets will be treated by city crews but not be shown as such on the tracker site.  

For Planning Purposes Only 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 20, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and the City’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will host a press conference tomorrow morning, Thursday, February 21, to celebrate the first project under the city’s “Clean Construction” ordinance. 

The event will be held at the site of the McFarren Street bridge in the city’s Duck Hollow area in Squirrel Hill South. 

WHO: Mayor William Peduto  

Councilman Corey O’Connor 

DOMI officials 

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) officials 

WHERE: Browns Hill Road at McFarren Street, near Monongahela River (roughly under the Homestead Grays Bridge, on city side) 

WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, February 21, 2019 

Interview With American Sustainability Series' Alex Wynne-Jones

Time: 11:00 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 Tony Peduto

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Larry Ceisler & Sade Olanipekun-Lewis

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Post Gazette's 83rd Annual Dapper Dan Dinner

Time: 6:00 P.M.

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

Clean Construction Project Press Conference

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Browns Hill Road at McFarren Street, Squirrel Hill South - Swisshelm Park Border

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting with County Executive Fitzgerald & Bobby Zappala

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 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 21, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is set to begin reconstruction of the McFarren Street Bridge over Nine Mile Run, which is the first such project to be performed following the City’s “Clean Construction” guidelines. 

The guidelines require all city government construction projects costing $2.5 million and above to use diesel emission control strategies on construction vehicles, including the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The legislation requires the use of best available control technology, such as a diesel particulate filter, on all on-road vehicles, like dump trucks, and off-road equipment, such as backhoes and bulldozers, that are involved in the project. 

The Clean Construction guidelines were introduced by then City Councilman William Peduto in 2011 and then revised in 2016 to make them easier to follow for contractors. The McFarren Bridge project in the city’s Duck Hollow neighborhood is the first major project to come under the revised guidelines. 

“This project allows the City of Pittsburgh to be a model for construction activities that are responsible to both the planet and our budget’s bottom line,” Mayor Peduto said. 

The legislation has long been supported by Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), which notes that the construction industry is the largest user of diesel engines, which generate a third of all land-based, non-road nitrogen oxide emissions. 

“We are happy to finally see a City project include the clean construction requirements," said Rachel Filippini, Executive Director of Group Against Smog and Pollution. "We know that diesel particulate matter poses one of the greatest cancer risks from any toxic outdoor air pollutant and that the black carbon found in diesel pollution is a potent global warming agent.” 

GASP is pushing for others to adopt similar standards. 

“This project has been a long time coming and represents an important first step in advancing greener construction in Pittsburgh," added Filippini. "While we think the city’s clean construction legislation is important, its impact is unfortunately limited. To have a greater impact, we will need the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority—and other groups that undertake considerably more activity than the city—to also adopt the policy.” 

A new steel girder bridge will be constructed to provide access to the Duck Hollow neighborhood. The bridge will carry two lanes of traffic and one side with a sidewalk.  

The new bridge will connect Old Browns Hill Road with McFarren Street, upstream of the existing Second Avenue Bridge and the CSX Railroad Bridge. The new bridge will replace the existing Second Avenue Bridge which has an 11 ton weight restriction. Access to the neighborhood will be maintained throughout construction. Construction is expected to begin in May and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2020. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 21, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) has issued a letter to the Public Utility Commission regarding a proposal by Norfolk Southern to elevate bridges through North Side neighborhoods. 

DOMI is asking Norfolk Southern to provide alternative plans to protect North Side neighborhoods and residents, the historic nature of the area, pedestrian safety, air quality and other factors, and for the railroad to be more responsive to City requests on the matter. 

Attached is: 

The letter to PUC Secretary Chiavetta and a protest the city Law Department filed with the PUC on the project two weeks ago.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 22, 2019) A condemned home at 45 Semicir Street in Perry North that the City ordered to be evacuated a year ago collapsed today. No one was injured, and inspectors from the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) are responding to the situation. 

The home was not demolished since the hillside was insecure and it was not safe for the home to be taken down by contractors. Demolishing it also could have further eroded the hillside, endangering other structures on the street. 

For the same reasons the now-collapsed structure will be left there until it can be safely cleared away. 

The City's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) announced this week that engineers completed geotechnical borings on Semicir Street to assess the condition of the hillside. Plans for retaining the hillside will be completed in an estimated three months, and remediation to stabilize it is expected to commence two months after design completion. 

Following record rainfall over the past 18 months landslides have surged in Pittsburgh and other communities in Western Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, PLI oversees homes and properties affected by landslides, while DOMI oversees roads affected by them. 

6th Annual Guest Reader Day At Miller Elementary School

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Miller Elementary School, Bedford-Dwellings

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Filming Video For Downtown Community Development Corporation

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Interview With KDKA's Marty Griffin

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 23, 2019) Mayor William Peduto travels today to the 33rd annual International Mayor’s Conference in Israel, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

While attending the conference in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Mayor Peduto will honor the 11 victims of the October 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, which was the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in U.S. history. 

Organizers are paying all costs for travel. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. 

Twenty-five mayors from around the world are participating.  

The conference is presented by the American Jewish Congress, the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.  

The Mayor returns to the United States on Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule, Saturday, February 23, 2019 

Flight to Israel 

Time: Noon 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 24, 2019) Mayor William Peduto travels today to the 33rd annual Isreal International Mayor’s Conference in Israel, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

Arrive in Jerusalem
Time: 12:00 P.M. 

Ceremonial Olive Tree Planting at Pittsburgh Tree of Life Memorial & visit  9-11 Memorial
Time: 1:15 P.M.

Meeting with Jerusalem Post & other media 
Time: 3:00 P.M. 

Visit to Church of the Holy Sepulchre 
Time: 4:30 P.M.

Meeting of Mayor's with Mayor Moshe Lion of Jerusalem & Jerusalem officials
Time 6:00 P.M.

Walking tour of Jerusalem
Time: 6:30 P.M.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 25, 2019) Gov. Tom Wolf today announced the awarding of $402,000 for the rehabilitation of Jefferson Recreation Center in the Central Northside.

The money comes from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Keystone Communities program, which supports local initiatives from around the state that grow and stabilize neighborhoods and communities, encourage the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors in the community, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.

A press release from the Governor's office said the $402,000 will support a new roof, windows, doors, masonry restoration, and ADA upgrades to the recreation center, as well as new playground equipment and basketball court upgrades.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 25, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is proud to support and participate in America Saves Week (February 25 – March 2) . America Saves Week brings together diverse nonprofit, government, academic, and business groups to encourage and support Americans to save effectively. America Saves Week takes place across the country with thousands of partner organizations planning events and activities to help Americans Save Effectively. 

Locally in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, ‘Fund My Future’ is the ‘America Saves Week’ Partner. Fund my Future is an incentivized savings program for all children in Allegheny County run by the Propel Schools Foundation.  The program helps families save by providing convenient deposit locations at community facilities, and entering each saver in a monthly raffle where 1 prize of $1000 and 30 prizes of $50 are given away. During America Saves Week a special additional raffle prize will be offered of $100 per day. 

On February 27, Propel Foundation will be in the City County Building Lobby to take sign ups for new savers from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

More information about Fund My Future and the America Saves Week Special Incentive can be found at www.fundmyfuturepgh.org 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 25, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Jerusalem today for the 33rd annual Israel International Mayor’s Conference, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

While attending the conference in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Mayor Peduto is honoring the 11 victims of the October 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, which was the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in U.S. history. 

Organizers are paying all costs for travel. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. 

The conference is presented by the American Jewish Congress, the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.  

The Mayor returns to the United States on Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule, Monday, February 25, 2019: 

Tour of Yad Vashem, National Holocaust Museum 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Lunch and discussion on cybersecurity with Check Point Software Technologies  

Time: 11:45 a.m. 

Location: Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 26, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Jerusalem today for the 33rd annual Israel International Mayor’s Conference, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

While attending the conference in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Mayor Peduto is honoring the 11 victims of the October 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, which was the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in U.S. history. 

Organizers are paying all costs for travel. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. 

The conference is presented by the American Jewish Congress, the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.  

The Mayor returns to the United States on Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule, Tuesday, February 26, 2019 

Opening of the Trade at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Presentation of Safe and Smart City Command & Control System by Octopus, a cloud-enabled physical security information management system 

Time: 10:15 a.m. 

Presentation on Using Cyber Defense Protection methods for Smart Cities in order to create a safer place for citizens, led by R-MOR, an Israeli cyber and data security company 

Time: 10:50 a.m. 

Keynote address by Imad Telhami, Chairman, Takwin VC, a venture capital firm making investments in high-tech companies run by Arab entrepreneurs in Israel 

Time: 11:20 a.m. 

Remarks by Eitan Bremler, co-founder of Safe-T, a firm that provides solutions to cities seeking to protect files and data 

Time: 12:40 p.m.

Remarks by Oren Shoval, CTO & co-founder of Via, a transportation network and ride-sharing firm with projects in Paris, the United Kingdom, Austin and Amsterdam 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Visit to Tel Aviv Smart City Command Center, which provides security for residents using camera-based command and control technology, panic buttons and other technologies 

Time: 6 p.m. 

Reception with Mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai 

Time: 7 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 26, 2019) City facilities remain open to serve as warming centers for those still experiencing power outages from the weekend’s severe winds. 

Citiparks recreation centers and Healthy Active Living Centers are open in most cases until this evening. 

On the North Side, the Allegheny Center Alliance Church and the Red Cross have teamed up to offer an additional warming center, which can serve as an overnight shelter if necessary. The church is located at the corner of East Ohio and East Commons streets.  

The Public Safety Department advises that anyone experiencing a weather-related emergency, or is concerned about the well-being of neighbors, should call 911. 

A complete listing of Citiparks Healthy Active Living Centers with addresses and phone numbers can be found at: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/senior-centers 

Citiparks rec center hours of operation are as follows: 

Brookline and Phillips are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Ammon, Jefferson, Ormsby, Paulson and Warrington are open from Noon to 8 p.m.; Magee is open Noon to 9 p.m.; and West Penn:  9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

A complete listing of all rec centers, addresses, phone numbers and hours can be found at: http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/rec-centers-info 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 27, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Jerusalem today for the 33rd annual Israel International Mayor’s Conference, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

While attending the conference in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Mayor Peduto is honoring the 11 victims of the October 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, which was the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in U.S. history. 

He is appearing on panels today to discuss how mayors respond to hate speech and hate crimes, and how municipal leaders react to security crises, in a forum presented by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. 

Other discussions today are part of MuniWorld 2019: Global Brainstorming on Smart Cities and Urban Security. 

Organizers are paying all costs for travel. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. 

The conference is presented by the American Jewish Congress, the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.  

The Mayor returns to the United States on Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule, Wednesday, February 27, 2019: 

Remarks by Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel 

Time: 9 a.m. 

Presentation on Safe Cities Using Social Media, let by R-MOR, a leader Israeli security firm 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Presentation on Challenges and Solutions of Drones in Urban Environments 

Time: 10:15 a.m. 

Panel on municipal leadership during and after security crises, presented by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. Speakers include Mayor Peduto and Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, France. 

Time: 1:30 p.m. 

Remarks by Roei Deutsch, founder of the online instruction firm Jolt 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Presentation on building smart and safe cities by Or Gil of Carbyne, which provides public safety and 911 technology 

Time: 3:40 p.m. 

Panel discussion on establishing an international coalition of mayors combating hate speech and hate crimes, with speakers including Mayor Peduto; Haim Bibas, Mayor of Modi'in Maccabim-Reut, Israel; and Jack Rosen, chairman of the American Jewish Congress. 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 27, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that Shiras Avenue in Beechview will be closed beginning March 4, at 7:00 a.m., for approximately five days, to allow the Construction Division of the Department of Public Works to construct a retaining wall by the roadway.

Posted detours will be provided. Motorists can follow local streets to navigate around the closure. The work is weather dependent.

Those with questions may call Acting Supervisor Tom Samstag at 412-782-7630.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 28, 2019) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the second of two bills this week expanding background check procedures for firearms purchases. Today’s bill would close the “Charleston Loophole,” so named because the white supremacist who killed nine African-American churchgoers in South Carolina in 2015 had a drug arrest that should have prevented him from buying a gun: 

“The bipartisan passage of these bills shows that Americans can and will come together to support measures to keep guns away from those seeking to kill. Background checks are supported by huge majorities of Americans, and these measures add to the momentum of those in Pittsburgh and across the country pushing for more common-sense changes to address the gun violence epidemic.” 

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 28, 2019) The historic accomplishments of Pittsburgh’s extraordinary women are largely unknown and uncelebrated. This March, Pittsburgh’s Notable Women project will kick off, with videos highlighting women in our region who contributed significantly to the shaping of our City. 

The series was produced by the Mayor’s Office, and numerous interns assisted with selecting subjects to feature, research, and drafting scripts for taping by the City Cable Channel. Staff members of various City departments provided each segment’s narration.      

Schedule: 

March 1 -10:  Dr. Jean Walls, the first African American woman to earn bachelor's and doctorate degrees from Pitt. Link: https://youtu.be/l9JIX7mH88I 

March 11 – 20:  Nonhelema, a Shawnee leader from the 1700s who, although a fierce warrior, lived her life seeking to create peace among tribes and Europeans.  Link: https://youtu.be/L9lI0EOXQVk 

March 21 -31:  Mary Pattison Irwin, emigrant from Northern Ireland who established a thriving rope making business in the 1790s.  Link: https://youtu.be/B5FgMIzJ7eE 

Additional segments will be produced in the coming months.  

Contact: Gloria Forouzan, Office of the Mayor, 412.255.2632.

PITTSBURGH, PA (February 28, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Tel Aviv today for the 33rd annual Israel International Mayor’s Conference, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

While attending the conference in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Mayor Peduto is honoring the 11 victims of the October 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, which was the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in U.S. history. 

Yesterday he appeared on panels to discuss how mayors respond to hate speech and hate crimes, and how municipal leaders react to security crises, in a forum presented by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. 

Organizers are paying all costs for travel. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. 

The conference is presented by the American Jewish Congress, the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.  

Other international Mayors attending the conference include: 

• Khalid Belisle of Belmopan, Belize 
• Astrid Fodor of Sibiu, Romania 
• Isidore Gnonlonfoun of Cotonou, Benin 
• Julian Gold of Beverly Hills, California 
• Daniel Guerrero of San Pedro Town, Belize 
• Timbi Pascal Kabore of Soaw, Burkina Faso 
• Vitali Klitschko of Kiev, Ukraine 
• Lasha Komakhidze of Batumi, Georgia 
• Jorge Macchi of Atendende de Vicente Lopez, Argentina 
• Chiri Babu Maharjan of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal 
• Daniel Martinez of Montevideo, Uruguay 
• Wild Ndipo of Blantyre City, Malawi 
• Igor Radojicic of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 
• Zoran Radojicic of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia 
• Ramon Antonio Ramirez of Alcalde Distrito Municipal Turistico Veron Punta Cana 
• Claudio Scajola of Imperia, Italy 
• Bojan Srot of Celje, Slovenia 
• Ethan Strimling of Portland, Maine 
• Constantin Toma of Buzau, Romania 
• Erion Veliaj of Tirana, Albania 
• Rene Polanco Vidal of Alcaldia, Santo Domingo Norte 
• Kayanja Vincent de Paul of Entebbe, Uganda 
• Ko Wen-je of Taipei, Taiwan 
• Nebojsa Zelenovic of Sabac, Western Serbia 

The Mayor returns to the United States on Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule, Thursday, February 28, 2019: 

Visit to Peres Center of Peace and Innovation 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Visit to Tel Nof Air Force Base 

Time: 11 a.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 1, 2019) The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is requesting proposals from developers and/or development teams to purchase and redevelop a combination of URA and City-owned sites at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Dinwiddie Street within the Uptown area of the City of Pittsburgh. 

The goal of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to implement the community supported vision as identified in the EcoInnovation District (EID) Plan that was adopted by the City Planning Commission in September 2017.  The vision described in the EID Plan calls for an Uptown that repairs the environment and provides its residents with healthy activities and connections to nature; allows everyone to benefit in the greening and growth of the district; serves as a model for sustainable development and renewable energy systems; and moves boldly forward while celebrating its history and unique urban character.

Prior to issuing this RFP, the Department of City Planning led a charette and open house event to gather input from community members, stakeholders, and design professionals around the reuse of the site.  A summary of the input gathered is included in the RFP.  Interested developers should plan to attend a pre-proposal conference on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at noon ET, as private appointments will not be scheduled. The meeting location for the pre-proposal conference will be at 1807 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA  15219, currently used as the City’s Department of Public Works warehouse. Responses are due April 10, 2019 at Noon ET. 

The URA uses Public Purchase, a web-based e-Procurement service for the automatic notification and transmittal of RFPs, RFQs, and bid opportunities at no charge to vendors. All parties interested in responding to this RFP or receiving notifications when the URA releases an opportunity must register with Public Purchase and then register with the URA. Instructions for the two-step registration process can be found on the URA’s website. All questions regarding this RFP should be submitted through Public Purchase.

Contacts:

Timothy McNulty, Communications Director, Office of Mayor William Peduto, 412-660-1999, timothy.mcnulty@pittsburghpa.gov

Gigi Saladna, Chief Communications Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, 412-255-6434, gsaladna@ura.org

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 1, 2019) Mayor William Peduto returned from Tel Aviv today, where he was attending the 33rd annual Israel International Mayor’s Conference, a global meeting of government, technology and energy leaders that studies leading examples of sustainable development. 

Organizers paid all costs for travel. No city taxpayer dollars were spent. 

The conference was presented by the American Jewish Congress, the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.

Mayor William Peduto's Public Schedule - Friday, March 1, 2019:

Flight to Pittsburgh

Time: 6:15 a.m.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 4, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference this morning regarding autonomous vehicles, in an event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 

WHO: Mayor William Peduto 

Department of Mobility and Performance Director Karina Ricks 

Autonomous vehicle industry representatives 

WHERE: Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom B Gallery, 3rd Floor of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. 

WHEN: 10 a.m., Monday, March 4, 2019. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 3, 2019) With a forecast today for 2 to 4 inches of snow, starting sometime early this afternoon, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works will begin its shifts at noon today, with night turn personnel coming in early at 6 p.m. to work a 12-hour shift. 

Snow is expected to taper off around 10 p.m. Initial work by DPW will concentrate on pre-treating secondary streets until the snow actually begins to fall: main road conditions may not deteriorate as quickly as the secondaries, and there is residual salt already on main road surfaces from the winter weather event last week. With temperatures falling in the early Monday morning hours DPW will be applying its blue tinted Magnesium Chloride Rock Salt, which is effective at low temperatures.

Light vehicular traffic today should help crews distribute salt materials widely. They will switch to plow mode when and if multiple inches of snow fall. 

Parks maintenance crews will be called in at 4 a.m. on Monday to attend to sidewalks, parking lots, bridge sidewalks and steps.

Later today residents will be able to monitor salting and plowing activity on the city's Snow Plow Tracker site.

Autonomous Vehicles Press Conference With Department Of Mobility & Infrastructure

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Ribbon Cutting For RDC's New Office Building

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Riverfront Landing, The Strip District

Meeting With City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 4:30 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 4, 2019) Mayor William Peduto issued an Executive Order today outlining City objectives and expectations for the safe testing of autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh, and assigning responsibilities for the development of transparent and constructive reporting guidelines for the growing technology sector.  

All five of the prominent entities currently developing autonomous driving systems in the city were on hand for the signing of the order, demonstrating the strong emphasis on partnership that is a Pittsburgh hallmark.   

Called the “Pittsburgh Principles,” the order is the first of its kind to be issued by any city worldwide and is a further model of the Pittsburgh’s longtime leadership in the technology, and of the city’s focus on providing safe and inclusive transportation opportunities for all residents.  

The Principles include: 

• Instituting transparent lines of communication between the City and partners testing autonomous vehicles, and annual reports on the implementation of AV policies  

• Promoting automated driving systems that encourage high vehicle occupancy with lower or no emissions, and lower cost and equitable transportation options 

• Engaging industry leaders and community stakeholders to collaboratively facilitate the further development and deployment of self-driving technology   

“Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to dramatically improve safety on our city streets and yield transformative benefits to equitable access and quality of life for all in our city. This can only happen when industry, agencies and people understand one another and work together,”  Mayor Peduto said.  

“My hope is that this Executive Order will not only provide the necessary platform and process to do that for our city, but serve as a model for cities and places across the globe.”   

The Executive Order designates the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) as the principal point of contact and directs the Department to collaborate with public agency partners, private sector industry, and general public stakeholders in developing policy around this emergent technology.  

The order further instructs the Department to develop guidelines for testing and to report back to the public at least annually on progress in testing and policy development.  

In concurrently releasing the testing guidelines and submission process, Karina Ricks, Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure stated, “These guidelines provide a framework for sharing information relevant to policymaking and building the public trust, which is essential to the success of self-driving development and its ultimate deployment in ways that strengthen our cities and communities.”   

Raj Rajkumar, professor and co-director of the General Motors-Carnegie Mellon Vehicular Information Technology Collaborative Research Lab, said “This Order and the guidelines help to protect the public while enabling this technology born in Pittsburgh 35 years ago to be tested and matured right here – attracting jobs, opportunities and talent to the City. We thank the Mayor, the Director of DOMI and the City for their vision and leadership in this regard."  

The five entities currently developing autonomous driving systems in Pittsburgh are: Aptiv, Argo AI, Aurora Innovation,  Carnegie-Mellon University and Uber.   

A copy of the Executive Order is available here. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 5, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce a new Artistic Intersection in Council District 8.

The Public Art and Civic Design Division (PA+CD) of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning invites artists, designers, and art collectives to apply for the creation and implementation of the second artistic design intersection led by the City of Pittsburgh. The site for this project is the intersection of Ellsworth and Maryland avenues in Shadyside.

The history of Pittsburgh is made of the contributions and influences of many different kinds of people. The Pittsburgh of today works toward the recognition and celebration of the many varied communities that continue to shape the City’s growth and future.  

The aim of this project is to create a vibrant gateway into a neighborhood that has been historically and culturally significant to many members of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQIA population, while supporting the work of artists and enhancing the experience of pedestrians. The installation of the artistic intersection this spring will pay respect to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, a landmark event in the history of LGBTQIA rights.

With public art, the City of Pittsburgh strives to enhance the built environment, reinforce neighborhood character, unify and activate spaces, create landmarks, and generate dialogue to promote better understanding of current issues. Therefore, as Pittsburgh builds its present and envisions for its future, the City is committed to Public Art as an integral component of Pittsburghers’ way of life.

For the call, Artists are asked to submit complete design proposals for this intersection, with a conceptual focus on inclusivity and the LGBTQIA culture of this neighborhood’s past, present, and future. The chosen design will be implemented by the artist in time for Pittsburgh’s annual Pride Week in June.

Artists of all experience levels and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

A copy of the Request for Proposals for the project is available here or through the "Bid Opportunities" section of Beacon, the city's procurement site. The submittal deadline is March 29.

For general questions about the project 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

For questions about the RFP contact: 

Dan Tobin
Sourcing Specialist
Office of Management and Budget
City-County Building, Room 502
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
[p] 412.255.2458
 
 

Meeting With Hayden Rigo & Marlon Lindsay

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Krystal Biotech Grand Opening

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: 2100 Wharton Street, South Side Flats

Meeting With Brandi Fisher

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Partnership For Mobility

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Two Chatham Center, Central Business District

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 Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 6, 2019) Procurement systems offered by the City of Pittsburgh have been rated the best in the country for small businesses and startup firms. 

The ratings by Citimart – an organization that helps cities innovate, save money and provide better quality of life for residents and businesses when buying goods and services – gave Pittsburgh its highest score nationwide in Small Business Accessibility, or how well cities provide businesses discovery and decision-making experiences. 

“Cities look to innovative solutions to face urgent issues like social cohesion and climate change. Mayors around the country have pledged to innovate and buy more from small business, but are they walking the walk?,” Citymart explained. 

“To answer this, Citymart has gathered data on 56 cities to provide the first comparative view on how accessible and open cities are to small business and their ideas. In all, we evaluated 70 government agencies in cities >500k population plus a few major counties and additional selected cities.” 

The full breakdown of ratings is available here. The five top rated cities in the report are Pittsburgh, San Antonio, San Diego, Harris County (Houston), and Charlotte. 

Pittsburgh’s procurement is overseen by the Office of Management and Budget and acting Director Jennifer Olzinger. Over the past five years under the Peduto administration OMB has implemented innovative and transparent procurement best practices, including OMB's purchasing website Beacon. 

“I want to thank OMB for all the work it has done to provide better services to businesses and residents alike,” Mayor William Peduto said. “The investments we have made in upgrading procurement technology, along with the creation of numerous policies and procedures to instill best practices in all aspects of City procurement, have clearly paid off.” 

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Video For Homewood Campaign

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With Welcoming Pittsburgh Steering Committee

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Presenting Awards For School District Of Pittsburgh Breakfast Poster Competition

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Colfax Elementary School, Squirrel Hill South

CitiParks Morningside Healthy Active Living Center Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting

Time: 11:15 A.M.

Location: Former Morningside School, Morningside

Meeting With Deborah Acklin & John Valentine

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Students From Acculturation For Justice, Access, & Peace Outreach

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With School District Of Pittsburgh's Board President Lynda Wrenn & Superintendent Of Schools Dr. Anthony Hamlet

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Board Of Public Education, North Oakland

No public events scheduled

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 11, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) today announced that the fourth annual Inclusive Innovation Summit will take place March 28 – March 30, 2019. Summit programming is designed to increase awareness and knowledge of best practices in inclusion, as well as encourage cross-sector collaboration. The Summit will shine a spotlight on important work that is done throughout the year to encourage innovation that uplifts everyone in the city. 

Previously known as Inclusive Innovation Week, the 2019 Summit will be structured differently than in years past. More than 40 events will take place over the course of three days, with all of the daytime programs occurring at a central Downtown location.  All of the programming will be free of charge and complimentary childcare, bus passes and refreshments will be provided.

“The Summit is an exciting opportunity for Pittsburghers to come together and gain valuable insights on inclusion and equity,” said Mayor William Peduto. “Having the Summit centered in one place this year means attendees can take part in more events and make more meaningful connections. We hope everyone has a chance to collaborate, learn from one another and celebrate the important work that is being done across sectors to promote inclusion."

“This year’s Summit is about strengthening partnerships to make Pittsburgh a stronger, more cohesive city,” added Robert Rubinstein, executive director of the URA. “The Summit will serve as a platform to elevate and amplify voices over the course of three action-packed days. We’re grateful to our many partners around the city who have made this event possible.”

The programming will be a combination of hands-on workshops, panels, presentations and discussions from a variety of organizations and businesses. It will be a great opportunity to meet leaders in the city and gain the tools and knowledge necessary to cultivate inclusion. A few events to look forward to include: 

3/28                 Kick-off at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater featuring a keynote by Del Johnson from Backstage Capital

3/29                 CreativeMornings Pittsburgh breakfast kick-off; Keynote address by Andre Perry; Silent Disco at the Children’s Museum

3/29-30           All-day programming at Point Park University and the new URA Building at 412 Boulevard of the Allies; Maker spaces, lightening talks, programming led by artists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, activists, journalists and many others

This Summit would not be possible without these sponsors: URA, City of Pittsburgh, Highmark, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Choolaah, Google, AARP, Point Park University, Innovation Works, Idea Foundry, Remake Learning, Comcast, Internet Essentials, Next Act Fund, BoardBookit, Lyft, ACCESS, Healthy Ride, Uber, Port Authority, Parking Authority, Pittsburgh Technology Council, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

For more information or to get involved visit our website. Pre-register for the Summit using this link. Participants and presenters are encouraged to download the App to assist with transportation planning, and scheduling for the weekend so you don’t miss out on events you want to be a part of. Follow @weinnovatepgh on Instagram and @pghip on Twitter to learn more about our partners and presenters and get a sneak peek at what to expect during the Summit.

Contacts:

Timothy McNulty, Communications Director, Office of Mayor William Peduto, 412-660-1999, timothy.mcnulty@pittsburghpa.gov

Gigi Saladna, Chief Communications Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, 412-255-6434, gsaladna@ura.org

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 12, 2019) The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is announcing an upcoming Request for Proposals to build mixed-income housing on publicly-owned parking lots on South Beatty and Mignonotte streets in East Liberty. 

The URA board plans to announce the RFP at its meeting Thursday. The authority is seeking to acquire two surface parking lots currently owned by the City and the Public Parking Authority and convey them to a developer through the URA’s disposition process.  

The goal is to select a developer or development team who can complete a high-quality mixed-use, mixed-income development with an emphasis on affordability and the inclusion of a parking structure that will fully replace the existing public parking spaces.  

The URA has been working closely with Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess and the newly formed Village Collaborative, a faith-based advocacy group focused on equitable and sustainable community development. 

The authority intends to release this RFP in early April. 

All parties interested in responding to this RFP or receiving notifications when the URA releases an opportunity must register with Public Purchase, a web-based e-Procurement service for the automatic notification and transmittal of RFPs. Instructions for the two-step registration process can be found online at: https://www.ura.org/pages/proposals-bids. 

PITTSBURGH PA (March 12, 2019) In partnership with the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), the City of Pittsburgh has completed a study which recommends actions to improve area farmers markets. These actions will increase equitable access to fresh, affordable, and culturally appropriate food, promote healthy eating choices, and support our regional food producers.

These recommendations include: establishing the City of Pittsburgh as an active facilitator of farmers market development; implementing effective city-wide programs and promotions; and managing best-in-class markets. The city plans to incorporate these recommendations into an action plan that complements the efforts already being undertaken to strengthen farmers markets in Pittsburgh. Specifically, the City will create a market operator’s guide and convene a Farmers Market Network.

The study, which included surveys, interviews, and community meetings, finds that Pittsburgh is incredibly well positioned to maximize the impact of its farmers markets due to a variety of factors including: the abundance of farms in the greater Pittsburgh region; a sense of regional pride; a robust network of community partners, health systems and universities; a network of existing farmers markets throughout the city; a dedicated base of customers; and a City government engaged in resiliency planning and market operations.

“Pittsburgh has been a leader in urban food policy, from a model urban agricultural zoning code to the focus on food and agriculture in the Climate Action Plan,” Mayor William Peduto said.

The study also identifies further steps necessary to make the programs work. As Jen Cheek from the Farmers Market Coalition notes, “success requires careful planning, robust promotion, strong partnerships, responsive programming, and constant monitoring.”

The study’s recommendations are divided into three broad goals. The first is providing clear support and services for markets, which can be accomplished by establishing the City of Pittsburgh as an active facilitator of farmers market development. The second is activating and supporting collaboration among all Pittsburgh markets, which can be achieved by implementing effective city-wide programs and promotions in partnership with the City, independent farmers markets, and other community partners. The final recommendation is increasing the capacity of (City-run) farmers market management and facilitating improved operations, promotions, and evaluation. This goal can be accomplished by having the city manage best-in-class markets that effectively serve a wide range of Pittsburgh’s residents.

Through the Division of Sustainability and Resilience, the City will create a market operator’s guide as a resource for new and existing farmers market managers and start to convene a Farmers Market Network made up of market managers, customers, and supporters to help promote all Pittsburgh area farmers markets and create ways to attract more shoppers to the markets.

Some of the improvements recommended in the Study have been in place since the Department of Special Events took over management of the markets in 2018.  They have hired a year-round market manager, created a digital inventory of vendors, and improved communications between farmers/vendors and the City.

Brian Katze, manager of the City’s Office of Special Events, said "Having this road map as well as increased resources and staff will help us take the city-run markets to new levels."

Shelly Danko+Day, the City’s project manager for the study, said “the key to success lies in cooperation and understanding that builds on this report’s work.” Danko+Day, who works with the Sustainability and Resilience division at the Department of City Planning, added that this is already underway. 

Leading up to the opening of markets this spring, farmers and vendors will convene on March 13, and a community partner meeting will be scheduled closer to the opening of market season.

Farmers and vendors interested in participating in markets around the city can find info on all 25 markets here: https://farmspread.com/pittsburgh-area/  Info on City run markets can be found through the City’s website: http://pittsburghpa.gov/events/farmers-market

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 12, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Partner4Work today announced that the Learn & Earn Summer Youth Employment Program is now accepting applications for this year’s program. Now it its fifth year, Learn & Earn annually connects young adults in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh with summer jobs and work-readiness training. 

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 including health care, education and STEM. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to the summer employment program. Learn & Earn opportunities can range from career exploration activities, service-learning or work-study to entrepreneurship and corporate internships.  

“We’re excited to see the growth and vitality going on in our community, but in order to see that continue, we need to ensure that we are connecting our residents with the skills that the workforce needs,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “The Learn & Earn program helps us do that by providing our youth will real-world experience while also ensuring that they learn skills like communication and teamwork which are in demand in today’s workplace.” 

Last year, 26 community-based Learn & Earn providers connected young people with jobs at more than 380 sites where they explored career options, gained work experience and developed soft skills required for career success, all while earning a paycheck. Collectively, participants earned more than $1.5 million in wages and received nearly 20,000 hours in work-readiness training. 

“I’m proud that Learn & Earn offered every eligible applicant a summer job in 2018, and for many who took advantage of this opportunity, it was their first work experience,” said Mayor William Peduto. “Learn & Earn provides more than just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to gain the skills and experience necessary to become college and career ready, opening doors to a range of possibilities.” 

Last year, Learn & Earn participants edited videos, performed archival research for a photography exhibit, promoted a community arts festival, learned coding and computer programming for the creation of socially conscious gaming, conducted social science research, and more. 

“Partner4Work is pleased to partner again with the county and city to provide young adults with quality work experiences through Learn & Earn, the leading youth summer jobs program in our area,” said Partner4Work CEO Earl Buford. “This model program is a community-wide effort, bringing together local government, businesses, foundations, and non-profits to empower young adults and prepare our region’s future workforce for in-demand careers.” 

The business community’s participation in Learn & Earn has ensured its success each year. For example, leading employers support and participate in the Corporate Internship Program, a highly-selective component of Learn & Earn which provides up to 50 young adults an opportunity to expand their career-readiness skills. Learn & Earn expanded the age range this year for the Corporate Internship Program (18-24 years old), extended the work period (8 weeks), and increased the pay scale (up to $10.35/hour). Young adults selected for the paid professional internships will be matched with major corporations and non-profit partners throughout the Pittsburgh area. In past years, interns have worked in industries such as engineering, finance and banking, and health care. 

Learn & Earn is now accepting applications for summer 2019 job opportunities. The application period ends May 31. Interested youth can find eligibility requirements and the application online at www.jobs4summer.org, or at one of the 21 in-person application support centers throughout Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh: https://www.partner4work.org/applicationhelp/.   

Employers interested in participating in the Corporate Internship Program, hosting an intern or sponsoring internships with local non-profits, should contact summer@partner4work.org. Learn & Earn staff screens candidates, arranges interviews, provides outgoing training and support, and processes paperwork and payroll.  

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 policy makers 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. 

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 13, 2019) Construction contracts for a new park are set to be approved tomorrow for Liberty Green, adjacent to the $30 million Choice Neighborhoods mixed income housing development. 

The 3.25-acre park at the corner of Larimer Avenue and Station Street on the East Liberty/Larimer border will include a plaza area to support neighborhood programming, open lawn and play mounds, a large playground area, public art and significant green infrastructure.  

Green infrastructure within the project is expected to capture up to four million gallons of storm water annually. As stated in the Larimer Vision Plan, Larimer Consensus Group’s goal is to become the greenest neighborhood in the city, and the plans were subject to an extensive community planning process the URA conducted with neighborhood partners. 

The board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is set to vote on construction contracts for the park at its meeting Thursday afternoon. 

The contracts include: 

• $4.93 million for site preparation to Tedesco Excatating and Paving 
• $365,000 for construction management and inspection services to Mackin Engineering Company 
• $100,000 additional for services during construction to Wallace, Roberts and Todd LLC 

Funding sources for these contracts include: Larimer Neighborhood Funds, East Liberty Neighborhood Funds, Larimer Choice Neighborhood Funds, Federal Choice Neighborhood Funds, 2018 CDBG Funds, DCNR C2P2 Grant, RACP Grant, PADEP Growing Greener Grant, ALCOSAN Grow Grant, PWSA Grant, local foundation grants, and/or other sources. 

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 14, 2019) Citiparks Aquatics is looking for City of Pittsburgh residents who are interested in being employed as a lifeguard this summer. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.

The City offers lifeguard certifications, and lifeguard training classes begin March 16 at the Oliver Bath House in the South Side and will continue every Saturday through April 27. Classes will also be available Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 2 through June 4.

For more information or to register for classes, contact the Aquatics Office at: (412) 323-7928 or aquatics@pittsburghpa.gov

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 14, 2019) Mayor William Peduto met yesterday with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India.

The Mayor joined Manchester Craftsmen's Guild founder Bill Strickland, Chicago businessman Steve Sarowitz and UPMC senior vice president Scott Lammie for the 10 a.m. meeting, after receiving an invitation from Dr. Barry Kerzin, the Dalai Lama's personal physician.

Dr Kerzin has been working in Pittsburgh with UPMC to train nurses in wellness and mindfulness for both themselves and patients. Mayor Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh are looking at offering the training to city youth and seniors with Dr Kerzin's assistance.

The Manchester Craftsmen's Guild operates in 12 cities around the world and Strickland is seeking additional global partners to expand his Pittsburgh model of opportunity to at-risk youth everywhere.  

The Mayor is paying all his expenses personally during this private vacation.

On vacation

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 18, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh in partnership with Neighborhood Allies is announcing the creation of Pittsburgh’s Financial Empowerment Center (FEC).  Pittsburgh’s FEC will provide free one-on-one financial counseling by appointment or walk in at locations around the city.  

FECs help clients take control of their debt, deal with debt collectors, improve their credit, create a budget, save, connect to safe and affordable financial products, and much more.

The Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund, a national nonprofit in New York City, is working to replicate the FEC model through its FEC Public platform. Through a competitive application process, the CFE Fund selected the City of Pittsburgh to plan for, and ultimately launch, a Financial Empowerment Center as a new public service. Advantage Credit Counseling has hired and trained a manager and four counselors, who have been deployed to eight locations.

This service in Pittsburgh is initially funded for two years at a cost of $666,000. The CFE Fund is generously providing almost half of this cost with the remainder coming from local philanthropies, financial institutions, and a $30,000 contribution from the City of Pittsburgh.

Legislation on the City’s contribution is being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday, March 19.

Free one on one financial counseling sessions will be available at eight partner locations so participants can find a place and time that works for them by calling Advantage Credit Counseling at (800) 298-0237.

For more information – including a list of locations – please see this handout.

The FEC Model
To date, the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s Financial Empowerment Centers have worked with more than 85,000 clients, helping them reduce their debt by more than $101 million and increase their savings by $10 million. Launched in 2008, FECs are operating now in 8 cities, with over a dozen local governments working to launch a local FEC initiative. Professionally trained FEC counselors help consumers with low incomes manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products. At the core of the FEC model is the integration of counseling into other social services, including housing and foreclosure prevention, workforce development, prisoner reentry, benefits access, domestic violence services, and more.

Neighborhood Allies
Neighborhood Allies is a unique community development partner that is part funder, part lender, part connector and part consultant.  Believing that Pittsburgh’s future is built upon strong neighborhoods, they are a forward-thinking, solutions-oriented community developer that brings hope, fresh ideas, expertise, and resources to distressed and transitional neighborhoods. They accomplish this work by listening to the needs of neighborhoods and serving as a catalyst for change. Their approach to neighborhood revitalization is comprehensive and multifaceted, and they make and support neighborhood-based investments that seed ideas, help transform vulnerable neighborhoods and identify scalable ways to create positive social impact, using their Healthy Neighborhoods Framework as their roadmap.  For more information visit: www.neighborhoodallies.org

Advantage Credit Counseling
Advantage Credit Counseling Service, Inc. (ACCS) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that has been successfully assisting consumers attain financial wellness for over 50 years.  Advantage helps individuals and families achieve financial wellness through its financial counseling services and financial literacy education.  The agency helps consumers at various points in their financial life, whether they are struggling with debt, building their credit, preparing for homeownership or trying to save their home from foreclosure.  The counseling services the agency provides gives consumers a resource that helps them to achieve their financial goals.  

On vacation

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 19, 2019) Lease terms are nearly final for a new start-up incubator in a city-owned building at 1555 Broadway Avenue in Beechview, which will complete the full occupancy of the building and bring more private investment to the neighborhood. 

The final lease with the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corp., which is managing the incubator, was introduced by Mayor William Peduto’s administration to Pittsburgh City Council this morning. 

The new tenant follows the Beechview Senior Center and the Muddy Cup coffee house as tenants in the building, and builds on the positive momentum happening in the neighborhood. 

“I commend the PHDC for their commitment in helping revitalize the business district in Beechview. The addition of the incubator will enhance the existing Senior Center, provide opportunities for businesses to grow and continue allowing more and more people the chance to experience this community on the rise,” said Senator Wayne Fontana. 

"I am excited for the next stage of development in Beechview where we will welcome a wonderful community partner in PHDC,” said City Councilman Anthony Coghill. “With the cooperation of our law department, the Mayor's office, Senator Fontana, PHDC, and my office, we are now able to bring new jobs and opportunities into our neighborhood. I look forward to the business district thriving and growing as we bring more businesses and non-profits to Broadway Avenue." 

The 29-year lease sets out maintenance and operating responsibilities for the PHDC at the leased space, and shared responsibilities for the rest of the building. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 19, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that the outbound lane of Washington Boulevard will again be closed on March 23, 2019, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., to allow the Department of Public Works to continue maintenance involving cutting back bushes, branches and collecting litter along the edge of Highland Park.  This closure will affect the lane from under the Highland Park Bridge to the edge of the woodland, before the right hand lane directing motorists to Washington Boulevard.  The work is weather dependent and no posted detours will be provided.   

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Paulin, Public Works Superintendent, at 412-995-0594. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 19, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is pleased to announce the commencement of construction of the East Carson Streetscaping Project. The $3,000,000 project will provide aesthetic consistency along the East Carson corridor between 10th Street and 25th Street with the streetscaping elements that were constructed as part of the South Side Works development.  Pedestrian level lighting will be installed to enhance safety and the overall experience of walking or biking along Carson Street.  Greening will be incorporated with hanging baskets and street trees.  Pavement restoration will be exposed aggregate concrete. A. Merante Contracting, Inc. is the lowest responsible bidder that has been awarded the work.   

Hours of operation will be Monday thru Friday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Construction will occur 2 to 3 blocks at a time. NO PARKING signs will be posted 24 hours in advance in areas we will be working in. If vehicles are parked in the work zone that has been posted for that day, the vehicle will be towed. 

Expect traffic delays.  We understand that this may be a short-term inconvenience and we hope to work together with you in a professional and amicable manner for the long-term improvement of your neighborhood. 

DOMI’s project will complement a PennDOT safety improvement project along East Carson Street from Smithfield Street to 33rd Street that involves intersection upgrades including signals, ADA ramps, and pedestrian bump outs, as well as roadway resurfacing.  The PennDOT project is estimated at $15,000,000. 

If you have any questions regarding this notice or the road construction project, feel free to contact the Project Manager at DOMI.EastCarson@pittsburghpa.gov.  Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this project. 

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 20, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) is performing traffic signal timing changes on Grant Street. The changes will increase pedestrian safety and the walkability of Pittsburgh’s Downtown Business District, and optimize travel for all users.

The traffic signal timing changes on Grant Street are part of a larger traffic analysis, optimization, and planning project to improve safety throughout Downtown; improve mobility and progression along certain corridors deemed priority routes for vehicles; and evaluate potential alternative street operations.

The most notable change to street users will be the sequence of green turn arrow phase for motorists, and WALK phase for pedestrians during the traffic signal cycle. As always, users should wait for appropriate signal indications before proceeding through an intersection.

DOMI will be monitoring Grant Street and making adjustments to traffic signal timings over the next 30 days. All changes to traffic signals on major corridors should be complete within 90 days. 

Those with questions may contact Municipal Traffic Engineer Amanda Purcell at 412-255-8846.

On vacation

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 22, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure advises that Swinburne Street between South Oakland and Greenfield Avenue is currently closed to perform soil clearance activities. The road is tentatively scheduled to reopen Sunday, March 24 after 6 p.m. Residents are asked to have patience while the work is completed.

For questions, please contact the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure at domi@pittsburghpa.gov or 412-255-8859.

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 22, 2019) Mayor William Peduto issued the following statement today on the verdict in the Rosfeld case: 

"Tonight I grieve with Antwon's family, friends, and the entire community. Words cannot heal the pain so many are feeling. Only action can begin the process, a process that will take work and understanding. An understanding that inequality exists and we have a moral obligation to address it. I offer the full support of the City of Pittsburgh, to help us find the light in darkness."

No public events scheduled. 

Carnegie Mellon University Energy Week Welcoming Ceremony

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Cohen University Center - Carnegie Mellon University, Squirrel Hill North 

Meeting With Aly Shaw & Pittsburgh United's Environmental Justice Campaign

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Foundations
Time: 8:30 A.M.
Locations: Centre City Tower, Central Business District

Meeting with Consul General of Sweden
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting with Philip Cynar from the Allegheny Conference
Time:11:30 A.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee of The Month Award
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Weekly Meeting with Chief Schubert and Director Hissirch 
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City County Building

Speaking At Pittsburgh's Civic Leadership Academy Opening Session
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building
 

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 27, 2019) Pittsburgh residents are welcome to pick up free mulch from the City's Christmas Tree Recycling Program, starting this Saturday.

This past holiday season, the City of Pittsburgh diverted more than 21 tons of Christmas trees from the landfill, over the course of one month. With the help of the Department of Public Works Environmental Services bureau, its Forestry Division, and local Girl Scout troops, Pittsburgh residents took Christmas trees to 10 locations throughout the City for recycling. The trees were then chipped into mulch.

Pine mulch is great for vegetable gardens, blueberries, strawberry patches, tomatoes, and eradicating weeds.

Residents interested in picking up mulch for their spring gardens may attend four Saturday morning collection events at Forestry Division headquarters in Highland Park. Users must bring their own buckets, gloves and shovels. 

Dates: March 30, April 6, April 13, and April 20th (While supplies last) 

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Location: City of Pittsburgh Forestry Division, 6520 Stanton Ave.

Speaking At VisitPittsburgh's 2019 Annual Conference

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Rivers Casino, Chateau

Department of Human Resources & Civil Service Women In Leadership Luncheon

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Schenley Skating Rink Banquet Room, Schenley Park

Meeting With Rob Tartaglia

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Department Of Innovation & Performance's Inclusive Innovation Summit

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 28, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh, Department of Public Works, advises that Swinburne Street, from Parkview to Greenfield Avenue, will be closed on Saturday, March 30, 2019, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am for paper picking and gutter work for water runoff.  

Six (6) to eight (8) jersey barriers will be placed at the top of the slide of Swinburne on Childs Street.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 28, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh was awarded grants for two major projects in Oakland and the South Side this week from the state Multimodal Transportation Fund. 

The City received $500,000 for the reconstruction of Bigelow Boulevard between Fifth and Forbes avenues in the heart of the University of Pittsburgh campus. Planned improvements include new sidewalks; bike lanes; a new and safer pedestrian crossing in the middle of the block; a new shuttle stop; and improvements to parking and ramps for the disabled.  

Another $500,000 grant will support reconstruction of 21st Street between Josephine and Carson streets in the South Side Flats. The project will include green infrastructure and stormwater controls; new curbs, street surfaces and sidewalks; and new lighting and signage. 

“I want to thank Governor Wolf for these grants, which will make these two important roadways safer and more efficient for all users, whether they are pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists or transit customers,” Mayor William Peduto said. 

Welcoming College Delegation From Ireland & Scotland

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Speaking At Builders Guild Of Western Pennsylvania Kid's Day

Time: 12:30 P.M.

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

Allegheny Conference Branding Initiative Interview

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Interview With Dr. Bryce Meredig For "DataLab: The Materials Information" Podcast

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Jonathan Mayo

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Speaking At Amen Corner Fundraiser

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location Wiggle Whiskey, Strip District 

Meeting with Ralph Falbo

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Gilman and Assistant Chief of Staff Grant Gittlen

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Speaking at Manufacturing & Technology Conference and Expo

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 1, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) and Office of Mayor William Peduto, in partnership with Allegheny County Health Department, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and United Way will host a series of community sessions to gather input on how to redesign the intersection of Frankstown Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Lowell Street and Enterprise Street to promote safety for all users.  

Beginning in September 2018, the City of Pittsburgh and local authorities joined the cities of Durham, NC and Huntsville, AL as part of the Safe Streets, Smart Cities Academy through the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America. A team of ten staff from local agencies in these cities have been working together to hone their skills in using safety countermeasures, creative placemaking, community engagement, and emerging technology to create safer streets. Each city, including Pittsburgh, will launch a temporary, on-the-ground demonstration project to transform one dangerous street or intersection into a safer place for people.  

The Pittsburgh team has chosen the intersection of Frankstown Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Lowell Street and Enterprise Street in the Larimer neighborhood. This multi-street intersection has been the site of multiple crashes over the years. A number of vulnerable users must cross this intersection on a daily basis including local school children, transit riders, and people traveling on bicycle. In addition it has a high volume of motorists and many points of conflict between modes. 

“Safety is our highest priority. But we also want to build a great city with streets that reflect and value the pride and people of our great neighborhoods. We are looking forward to working with local neighbors in this effort as they are the real experts of this intersection,” said DOMI Director Karina Ricks.  

Community input about safety conditions of the intersection and design ideas are being gathered using classroom activities with students and a parent/guardian survey at Lincoln Prek-5, which is located at the intersection. DOMI will be hosting an open community deliberative forum on April 2, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Urban Academy (437 Turrett Street). Registration is encouraged by calling 311 or visiting https://goo.gl/dvX5Zt . Free childcare is available upon registration.  

All information gathered from the community will be considered by the team that includes mobility and transportation planning experts to develop a safe and creative design for the intersection. A temporary street design will be installed during an event at the end of April with opportunities for feedback from people who use the intersection before the permanent design is put into place.  

“Every death on our roadways is one death too many,” said Emiko Atherton, Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “This program helps cities around the country explore new ways to make their streets safer for people of all ages and abilities and work toward the goal of eliminating deaths on our roads.” 

This technical assistance is funded through a Safe System Innovation Grant from Road to Zero, a coalition of more than 800 organizations committed to reducing traffic fatalities in the United States to zero over the next three decades. The coalition holds quarterly meetings to discuss innovative research and strategies and offers tools, resources, and grants to support safer streets nationwide 

### 

Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For more information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.  

The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, is a non-profit, non-partisan alliance of public interest organizations and transportation professionals committed to the development and implementation of Complete Streets policies and practices. A nationwide movement launched by the Coalition in 2004, Complete Streets is the integration of people and place in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation networks. To date, agencies nationwide have adopted over 1,400 Complete Streets policies. 

Tour Of Children's Museum's New "Museum Lab" At Historic Allegheny Center Carnegie Library
Time: 11:30 A.M.
Location: Children's Museum Of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Center

Meeting With Citizens Financial Group's Bruce Van Saun & Dan Fitzpatrick
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Wishful Wednesday Production's Karyn Zunich & Audubon Society of Western PA's Rebecca Tyers Brown
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Meeting With Christopher D'Addario
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Interview With Paul Muschick
Time: 5:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

Speaking At Pittsburgh's National Arts Program ArtsWork Annual Employee Art Show
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Location: Grand Lobby, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Graduation Ceremony
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Location: CCAC North Side Forester Center, Allegheny West
 

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Gilman, Chief Schubert, and Director Hissrich

Time: 10:30 A.M.

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

Meeting with Gloria LeDonne

Time: 11:30 A.M.

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

Attending “Pittsburgh Principles” Virtual Session Case Study

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Weekly Meeting with Chief Schubert and Director Hissrich

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Attending Allegheny Conference Regional Investors Council Meeting

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Fairmont Hotel, Central Business District

Interview with WPTS Radio Show

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: William Pitt Union, North Oakland

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Fallen Officers Memorial Service

Time: 7:00 A.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Zone 5 Station, Highland Park

Meeting With Dr. Heidi Ondek

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Councilman Reverend Ricky Burgess

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation To Eli Smith

Time: 3:15 P.M.

Location: Southwestern Regional Veterans Center, Lincoln - Lemington - Belmar

Italian Delegation Of Rail Supply Chain Conference

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: United Steelworkers Tower, Central Business District

Cross Award Ceremony For Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, North Oakland

Meeting With Parkland Students From Stoneman Douglass High School

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Operation Better Block Fundraising Gala

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Central Business District

Meeting With Jorge Aranovich

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Director Of Innovation & Performance Santiago Garces, & Acting Director Of Management & Budget Jennifer Olzinger

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Call With Former Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 3:30 P.M.
Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 8, 2019) A successful micro loan program helping small businesses that was started last year with the support of Mayor William Peduto is set to become permanent. 

The Micro-Enterprise Loan Program started in 2018 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh offers loans of up to $20,000 to businesses citywide to promote opportunities for those groups who historically have not had ready access to early stage business startup and expansion capital, including minority – and women – entrepreneurs. 

The loans help cover costs of machinery and equipment, working capital, and site improvements, including façade renovations. Over the past year the URA has made 23 such loans with 96% of them issued to minority and women-owned businesses.  

Started as a pilot program, the URA board is set to vote Thursday to make the loan program permanent.  

The program follows the p4 development model advocated by Mayor Peduto, which focuses on people, planet, place and performance. Mayor Peduto announced the loan program at last year’s Inclusive Innovation Week. 

The program is 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 9, 2019) The board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is set Thursday to adopt the City’s “Clean Construction” guidelines. 

The guidelines require all city government construction projects costing $2.5 million or more to use diesel emission control strategies on construction vehicles, including the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The guidelines require the use of the best available control technology, such as a diesel particulate filter, on all on-road vehicles, like dump trucks, and off-road equipment, such as backhoes and bulldozers, that are involved in the projects.  

The Clean Construction guidelines were introduced by then City Councilman William Peduto in 2011 and then revised in 2016 to make them easier to follow for contractors. 

The McFarren Bridge project in the city’s Duck Hollow neighborhood was the first major project to come under the revised guidelines. 

Environmental advocates have long called for city-affiliated agencies such as the URA to adopt Clean Construction policies. 

“Adoption of this policy by the URA will have a positive impact on the environment and those working on and living near the construction projects, where the policy applies and is implemented,” says the resolution going before the board on Thursday. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 9, 2019) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today regarding the announcement by Robert Rubinstein that he will be stepping down as Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh: 

"I want to thank Robert for his years of leadership on behalf of city residents, communities and businesses, and his dedication to URA staff. Pittsburgh wouldn't be what it is today without him.  I look forward to working with Robert in his new role." 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 9, 2019) Surrounded by family members and friends of those killed on October 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill and others affected by gun violence, Mayor William Peduto today signed new firearms regulations approved last week by Pittsburgh City Council. 

The Mayor noted that the common sense measures he and Council were approving would not only help safeguard those targeted by mass shootings but also help address the gun violence plaguing city neighborhoods every day. 

“If Washington and Harrisburg refuse to recognize this is a public health emergency, and refuse to stand up to gun manufacturers, then we must take action to challenge laws and protect our people,” the Mayor said. 

Bills sponsored by the two council members representing Squirrel Hill – Corey O’Connor and Erika Strassburger – ban the use of assault weapons in the city; the use of certain ammunition and modified guns; and implements Extreme Risk Protection Orders, in which courts would temporarily take firearms away from those shown to be a danger to themselves or others.  

The Mayor also signed legislation on the STOP the Violence initiative headed by Councilmen Rev. Ricky Burgess and R. Daniel Lavelle. 

“This is an historic day for Pittsburgh” said Councilman O’Connor. “I want to thank my Co-Sponsor, Councilperson Strassburger, and my colleagues who supported this common sense gun legislation that is a step forward in keeping our city safe.” 

“I am proud to have been a part of authoring these ordinances that rein in the use of assault weapons and certain firearm accessories, protect Pittsburgh’s children from the dangers of firearms, fund anti-violence and Group Violence Intervention initiatives, help to address suicide, family violence, and group violence in our communities, and increase public safety in our neighborhoods, public places, places of worship, and other institutions,” Councilperson Strassburger said. 

“I look forward to building on the progress of passing these ordinances and continuing to create a more peaceful and safer Pittsburgh. I thank Mayor Peduto and my Council colleagues for their support, especially fellow prime sponsor Councilman O’Connor for his leadership.” 

Last weekend the city hosted students and family members of those killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., to push for stronger gun regulations nationwide. 

On Wednesday Mayor Peduto will attend a meeting by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Toledo to discuss strategies to reduce gun violence.  

Legislative Meeting

Time: 12:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

National Center For Employee Ownership Annual Conference's Opening Session

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 10, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Toledo, Ohio, today for a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting on strategies to reduce gun violence. 

Mayors and police officials from several cities are expected to attend the session, which is being convened by Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, chair of USCOM’s Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force. 

Yesterday Mayor Peduto signed bills approved by Pittsburgh City Council to ban the use of assault weapons and certain kinds of ammunition in the city; institute Extreme Risk Protection Orders; and support the STOP the Violence initiative in city neighborhoods. 

He returns to Pittsburgh this afternoon. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Wednesday, April 10, 2019: 

Panel on Reducing Gun Violence Through Municipal Gun Safety Ordinances and Navigating State Preemption 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Panel on Encouraging Responsible Practices by Firearm and Ammunition Manufacturers Through Municipal Procurement Policies 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Panel on Preventing Gun Violence Through Red Flag and Other Extreme Risk Laws 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Seymore & Corinne Krause Commons Affordable Housing Ribbon Cutting

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill South

Interview With MSNBC

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Gateway Towers Studios, Central Business District

All In Pittsburgh Event

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty

Interview With WTAE-TV's Paul Van Osdol

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Center for VIctims' Technology Showcase

Time: 4:30 P.M.
Location: 3433 East Carson Street, South Side Flats

The Elly Awards

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location Rivers Casino, Chateau 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 11, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill will be closed between South Dallas and Braddock avenues on April 13, 2019, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to allow for tree removal by the Department of Public Works’ Forestry Division. No posted detours will be provided.

Those with questions may contact Lisa Ceoffe, City Forester, at 412-665-3626.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 12, 2019) Mayor William Peduto has been chosen as the 2019 recipient of the CEDAW Global Leadership Award by the United Nations NGO Committee on the Status of Women/New York.

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly and ratified by 189 countries.

The United States is one of five countries that failed to ratify the treaty, but in December 2016, Pittsburgh became the 6th U.S. city to adopt an ordinance based on CEDAW principles.   

The Cities for CEDAW campaign in Pittsburgh is led by a coalition of NGOs, including WILPF/Pittsburgh, New Voices Pittsburgh and the Women and Girls Foundation.

Mayor Peduto and members of the city council partnered with these NGOs. The ratification of CEDAW ordinance in 2016 aimed to improve the lives of all women and girls in the City of Pittsburgh by reducing and eliminating violence against women and girls, ensure better access to economic development opportunities and access to quality education opportunities. Recognizing that discrimination in these areas also affects the health and well-being of women and girls, the City seeks ways to improve or complement the work that is already being done at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Pittsburgh Public Safety Department. 

The award was issued during an event last month in New York City.

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 12, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference this afternoon to present a proclamation to CORE (Center for Organ Recovery & Education).

WHO: Mayor William Peduto

CORE Donor Brenda Tate

CORE Recipient Craig Smith

Joy Starzl

Max & Sue Sciullo

WHERE: Mayor’s Conference Room, 414 Grant St.

WHEN: 1:30 P.M., Friday, April 12, 2019

Presenting Proclamation For Donor Awareness

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Waynesburg University Stover Scholars

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Jim Turner & Paul Leger

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Kontos, Mengine, Killion & Hassen 6th Annual Firm Party

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Distrikt Hotel, Central Business District

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Awards Ceremony

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: CCAC Allegheny Campus - Foerster Student Service Center, Allegheny West

Speaking At Press Conference On Tax Fraud & The Reduction Of Government Revenues

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Emergency Medical Services Promotional Ceremony

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With Suzanne Romero

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 15, 2019) - The City of Pittsburgh offices and Citiparks will be closed on Friday, April 19, 2019 in observance of Good Friday.   

Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Friday, April 19, 2019 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, April 15 to Sunday, April 21 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, April 15 to Thursday, April 18, Recreation Center hours are as follows:   

• Ammon, Brookline, Magee, and Phillips: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.   

• Jefferson, Ormsby, Warrington and Paulson: 10:00 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, April 19, Saturday April, 20 and Sunday, April, 21.   

Oliver Bath House:   

• Friday, April 19 Closed (Good Friday)   

• Saturday, April 20 Closed 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Lifeguard Recertification)   

• Sunday, April 21 Closed (Easter)    

Mellon Tennis Bubble:   

• Sunday, April 21 Closed (Easter) 

After-School Feeding Program 

• There will be no After-School Food Service at Ammon Rec, Ormsby Rec, Warrington Rec, Sheraden HAL, Salvation Army-Homewood, Manchester Craftmen’s Guild, Carnegie Library Pittsburgh—Woods Run or Church of the Holy Cross from April 15-19, 2019.  After-School Food Service will resume normal operations on Monday, April 22, 2019. 

Links Edited

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 15, 2019) This Tax Day, City of Pittsburgh taxpayers can see where their local taxes go by using the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s online public budget tool Balancing Act. This tool provides transparent information about the city’s budgets and allows the community to submit feedback that will inform next year’s budgets.  

Balancing Act gives taxpayers an opportunity to see what their tax money is spent on, understand the Capital and Operating budgets, change spending allocations, and leave comments on the City’s budgets through these three tools: 

Tax Receipt – Enter your income and the value of any property you own in the City of Pittsburgh to receive an itemized receipt of what your taxes pay for. Try Tax Receipt  

Capital Budget Simulator – Explore how your tax dollars are distributed amongst departments and projects, see detailed explanations for spending items and add your changes and comments. Try Capital Budget  

Operating Budget Simulator – Try your hand at managing the city’s books and explore financial breakdowns of operating spending. Try Operating Budget  

After creating their own budgets, users can submit them and they will be reviewed by OMB, the Office of Mayor William Peduto, City Council and City Departments for the development of the 2020 budgets.  

This is the second year that OMB has used the online program to supplement feedback gathered at their two annual public capital budget forums to be held this summer. To be notified of the capital budget forums, sign up for the Office of Community Affairs’ newsletter at newsletter.pittsburghpa.gov. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 15, 2018) Two City of Pittsburgh baseball fields are set to be updated this spring with funding assistance from Pirates Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pirates Charities’ “Fields for Kids” program is donating $20,000 to the City to update Dinan Field in Stanton Heights – also known as the Officer Eric Kelly Memorial Field – and Devlin Field in Arlington.

Each field will have their infields resurfaced and new dugouts installed. Once approved by Pittsburgh City Council, the improvements could be started by the end of this month. Department of Public Works crews will do the work (while working around schedules of teams permitted to use the fields).

“I want to thank the Pirates for these kind donations, which will not only improve athletic opportunities for youth, but further honor the life and service of Officer Kelly,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Pirates Charities is donating $10,000 to each field project through the Fields for Kids program that provides financial support to improve youth baseball and/or softball facilities.  Since the Fields for Kids program’s inception in 2009, more than 330 individual grants have been distributed in the greater Pittsburgh region.

“We are proud of the positive impact the Fields for Kids program has had on thousands of kids throughout our region by helping to give them an opportunity to focus on productive activities and positive interaction with their peers, coaches and parents,” Pirates Charities Chairman Bob Nutting said.  “We are excited to partner with Mayor Peduto and the City to improve these two fields, and especially honored to help to continue to honor the life and legacy of Officer Kelly.”

Legislation accepting the donations is being introduced to Council tomorrow.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 15, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is now accepting applications for the second of year of its City Cuts lawn-cutting program. It is a free program for veterans, people over the age of 62, and those with a disability who do not have the financial or social means to assist with lawn care.

City Cuts began in 2018 through legislation introduced by Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, and assisted more than 950 Pittsburgh seniors and those with disabilities with lawn cutting last year.

“City Cuts improves the look of the community and helps people who need a helping hand,” the councilwoman said. 

Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. The City has the budget and capacity to serve 1,000 neighbors with twice monthly cuts from May through October.

“We are looking forward to building on the 2018 pilot year to provide better service to residents. Improvements to the program will include hiring more contractors to cut lawns twice a month from May through October,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Fourteen local contractors and community based organizations are being awarded contracts this year, up from five last year. Each contractor included a community development profile highlighting their neighborhood involvement in their response to Request for Proposals issued on the City’s procurement website, Beacon.

There are four ways for residents to apply: 

• Visit the City Cuts website and select ‘Click to Apply Online’
• Visit one of 18 Carnegie Library branches to fill out an application and mail it to the City. 
• Visit one of 13 Citiparks Healthy Active Living Centers to fill out an application.and mail it to the City.
• Call the Mayor’s 311 Response Line at 311 or (412) 255-2621

Applicants must own their own home and live within City of Pittsburgh boundaries.

Presenting Proclamation To House Of Soul Band In Recognition Of 25th Anniversary

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Celebrating 60th Anniversary Of Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Arts Education Center, Central Business District 

Press Conference On Pittsburgh's Department Of Permits, Licences, & Inspections OneStopPGH Website

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Phone Call With Civic Enterprises CEO John Bridgeland

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

United Way's "Toasting The Titans"

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 16, 2019) In December, the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections launched Phase 1 of OneStopPGH, a one-stop-shop for many of the City’s permitting and licensing services. Three months the rollout of Phase 1, and with the busiest season still ahead, more than 1,200 customers have successfully registered for their license via the OneStopPGH online portal.

The OneStopPGH portal allows trade, contractor and business license holders to apply for, amend, and renew licenses online. This first phase of the OneStopPGH project will bring the City’s development permitting and property maintenance processes online over the coming year.

Citizens may also use the OneStopPGH licensing database to look up existing business license holders via name, address, or license number, which is available here.

The online licensing launch is part of a larger licensing overhaul by PLI. Last year the department rewrote the City’s business licensing code for the first time since the 1980s and recalibrated license fees based on a study of associated Departmental time and costs.

Online business licensing was the first of a four part project to bring all of Pittsburgh’s development processes online, making it easier to live and work in the City. PLI and Department of City Planning permitting is set to go online this summer, and Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and Fire Bureau permits to follow later this year.

In anticipation of a busy spring and summer season, PLI held a community forum earlier this month to hear from customers directly.

The forum complemented PLI’s continued outreach efforts to educate and support trade, contractor and business license customers with navigating the OneStopPGH portal. Customers have also received postcards, the online newsletter the PLI Press, outreach via social media, and even on-site visits to offer one-on-one help and support.

Another community forum will be held May 10 at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held at 200 Ross Street in the first floor conference room. Follow this link to register.

For an overview of the OneStopPGH project, as well as step-by step instructional videos on how to create an OneStopPGH account and more, please visit here.

Stay up to date on all things PLI:

Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/PLIpgh

Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Department-of-Permits-Licenses-and-Inspections-1466309000366397

Sign up for the PLI Newsletter: http://pittsburghpa.gov/pli/community-resources-newsletter

Presenting Proclamation To Journeys Of Life Shadyside On Occasion Of Retirement

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Journey's Of Life, Bellefonte Street, Shadyside

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

Leadership Pittsburgh's The Big Table Event

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Interview With BCAP Youth Arts Team

Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

For questions about the art or artists 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

For questions about the park contact:

Andrea Ketzel

Senior Project Landscape Architect

City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works

414 Grant St. Room 301, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

[p] 412-255-8852

[e] andrea.ketzel@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 17. 2019)  The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) today announced the release of the first round of streets for asphalt pavement resurfacing for the 2019 paving season.  

The 2019 Capital Budget dedicated over $20 million to street rehabilitation with more than $15 million of that amount dedicated to asphalt resurfacing. The balance will rehabilitate numerous brick, blockstone and concrete streets; improve curb ramps for accessibility; replace and enhance pavement markings; and purchase pothole patching materials. 

The $20 million is the most budgeted for street upgrades in decades, and follows $17 million in paving spent in 2018, which itself was double the street improvements spent by previous administrations. 

DOMI’s street resurfacing homepage lists the first set of 2019 paving projects by Council District, by a full list in PDF form, and through an interactive citywide map. 

The streets announced today represent the first round of seasonal paving. Additional streets will be added when a new paving contract is awarded, which is expected in the coming weeks. 

The City is continuing to improve coordination between city paving work and public utility work in the streets, and additional streets will be paved this year through cost sharing cooperative agreements with the utility companies. This list will be released in the coming weeks.  

In order to best protect public assets and dollars, streets identified for scheduled utility work within the next two years were deferred from the 2019 list to enable utility work to proceed prior to street resurfacing. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 18, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh released the second annual report on 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. This report is a follow-up to a 2017 baseline report. Both reports shed light on 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. The second report shows the change in equality scores from last year’s baseline.

“This analysis is a start towards untangling the deep roots of inequality that exist in this city. By integrating the Equity Indicators into our work, we are aligning budgets, staff and policies to increase effectiveness and efficiency, and providing a government that better serves the people, planet, place and performance of this great city,” said Mayor William Peduto.

This work is being conducted as a partnership between the Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment of the Mayor’s Office and the Department of City Planning’s Sustainability and Resilience Division. Implementing the Equity Indicators methodology is an action identified in the ONEPGH Resilience Strategy released in 2017, which outlined racial and economic inequity and regional fragmentation as chronic stresses impacting the resilience of Pittsburgh. The City is using this analysis to guide budget and policy decisions, and together with The Forbes Funds, is convening partners for collective action to further analyze and address the lowest performing indicators: homicides, homelessness, childhood asthma hospitalizations, infant mortality, and residents without bank accounts.

“The value of our partnership with the City is to provide a framework for addressing the challenges in our sector that are the result of a rapidly changing environment. This partnership allows us to align our work as a capacity-building organization with the City’s resources to achieve stronger community outcomes,” said Fred Brown, President and CEO of The Forbes Funds.

Since the initial report, the City has focused increasing attention and resources towards those areas showing the greatest disparities by race, and partnered with The Forbes Funds to turn statistics into collaborative action items. As a start to implementation, the Mayor’s Office has announced investments of $10 million into the Housing Opportunity Fund, $2 million into funding quality childcare centers, and $500,000 into a new Stop the Violence initiative; the City and Neighborhood Allies recently announced the development of Financial Empowerment Centers; the Division of Sustainability and Resilience released its third Climate Action Plan and is working towards a transition to renewable sources of energy to improve air quality; all current and new Pittsburgh police officers are required to receive implicit bias training; the Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment will launch a new book-gifting program this summer for Pittsburgh children; and Public Safety now offers free safety training to childcare providers.

The overall 2018 city equality score remains the same as the 2017 city equality score. However, scores for individual indicators show some variability. For example, the disparity between black residents and white residents with a city capital project being planned or implemented in their neighborhood virtually disappeared from 2017 to 2018, resulting in an indicator score of 100. Also of note is a dramatic reduction in homicide victimization rates among black residents, down from 62 per 100,000 in 2017 to 28 in 2018. That said, while the rate dropped dramatically, the disparity between the black and white populations did not, contributing to a low equality score for homicides again in 2018. Similarly, child asthma hospitalization rates decreased by 35% and 30% for black and white children respectively between 2015 and 2016, but the disparity score decreased. This analysis is a valuable tool for looking at outcomes over time, focused on the different experiences for disparate groups.

“The Equity Indicators methodology represents a good first step toward identifying areas in which Pittsburghers experience vastly different outcomes based on race or income. The next steps will be to further investigate and act upon structural or systemic factors that may help to explain why some indicators are improving over time, while others are not improving, or even worsening”, said Linnea Warren May, a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation.

The Department of City Planning and Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment partnered with the RAND Corporation to conduct the analysis described in the report, and received funding and technical support from the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) over a two year period. ISLG developed the original Equality Indicators methodology through its pilot tool for New York City, which has measured the city’s progress toward greater equality for the past four years across several domains. Pittsburgh was one of five cities selected to participate in ISLG’s expansion of the Equality/Equity Indicators initiative, along with Dallas, TX; Oakland, CA; St. Louis, MO; and Tulsa, OK.

“Pittsburgh is a great example of the power of data to drive change,” said Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of ISLG. “These reports, and the actions taken by the City since the baseline findings were released, show that the City has committed to not only measuring disparities from year to year, but putting in the work to address them. In this way, Pittsburgh can serve as a model for other cities looking to make lasting changes to the inequalities faced by their disadvantaged residents.”

Read the full Pittsburgh Equity Indicators report at equityindicators.pittsburghpa.gov

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.

CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

The Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute within the City University of New York (CUNY). The Institute’s mission is to work with government and non-government organizations to improve systems to produce better results worthy of public investment and trust. We aim to advance data-driven approaches that influence policy and operations and that support work in diverse communities. In short, we help government—and organizations connected to it—do better. We focus on working with cities and states because they are ideal laboratories for developing new approaches to longstanding social problems, and are ripe with opportunities and momentum for real, sustainable change. For more information, please visit islg.cuny.edu.

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.

The Forbes Funds

The Forbes Funds advances the well-being of our region by helping human service and community-based nonprofits build their management capacity and increase the impact of their mission work. The Forbes Funds support these nonprofits both as individual organizations and as a unified coalition of leaders, funders, and advocates working collaboratively throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

Meeting with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Meeting with Mubarik Ismaeli

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking at Carnegie Mellon University  New Impact and Cleanteach Club Screening of Paris to Pittsburgh

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Mellon Simmons Auditorium

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 22, 2019) Six Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire stations are in line to be remodeled under legislation being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow. 

The Department of Public Works is seeking approval to spend up to $407,872 to for architectural and engineering design services at the six stations. Upgrades are set to include: 

• New bunk room configurations, toilet, shower and locker room updates and/or remodels 

• Kitchen updates and/or remodels 

• Updated HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and lighting where needed 

• Turnout gear locker installations 

• ADA accommodations 

The six stations (including their company/station numbers) are: 

• #19 on Homestead Street in Swisshelm Park 

• #23 on Brownsville Road in Carrick 

• #26 on Brookline Boulevard in Brookline 

• #34 on Perrysville Avenue in Perry North 

• #35 on Orchlee Street in Brighton Heights 

• #38 on Essen Street in Northview Heights 

Once approved, the design work is expected to take six to nine months to complete. Remodeling of the stations will then occur in 2020. 

Speaking at VisitPittsburgh Press Conference

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Bricolage Production Company, Central Business District

Speaking at African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania Annual Luncheon

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Central Business District

Speaking at Cities of Inclusion Summit

Time: 12:30 P.M

Location: Hyundai Club - PNC Park, North Shore

Meeting with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Senator Jay Costa, & Senator Wayne Fontana

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the County Executive, Allegheny County Courthouse

Launch Of Homewood Community Plan

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Bethany Baptist Church, Homewood South

Meeting With Mubarik Ismaeli

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Rod Frantz

Time: 1:00 P.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 Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich, & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Max Dennison

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking at Interfaith Vigil for Sri Lanka 

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Heinz Chapel, Central Oakland 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 25, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has released its first summary of findings on autonomous vehicle testing in the city, which lists the kinds of vehicles being tested around Pittsburgh, in what neighborhoods, the safety provisions being used, and job creation by the growing industry. 

The findings follow Mayor William Peduto’s Executive Order on AV testing. Announced in March, the Order was the first of its kind in the nation, outlining objectives and expectations for the safe testing of the vehicles, and assigning responsibilities for the development of transparent and constructive reporting guidelines for the technology sector.   

“The information provided by the five testers in the City provide us with critical insight into the scale, location and conditions of testing and safety protocols. This information is vital to a working partnership capable of advancing innovation while protecting the public,” DOMI Director Karina Ricks said. 

The DOMI report is the initial summary of findings since the adoption of the Mayor’s order.  The report – generated with the assistance of five entities performing AV testing in the city – lists all kinds of information about the vehicles and their technology.  

Information includes: 

• The number of vehicles being tested on city streets, including their makes and models 

• Neighborhoods and times in which the vehicles are being tested  

• A list of safety provisions, including driver screening and driver testing (despite being “autonomous” all AV vehicles have a high level of human interaction and management) 

• A list of the kinds of equipment and systems being used in the vehicles 

A copy of the summary of findings is available here. 

A copy of the reporting guidelines for AV testing entities issued by DOMI in March is available here. 

Carnegie Mellon University - Brookings Institute Panel

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Mellon University - Hamburg Hall, Squirrel Hill North

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Children's Museum - Museum Lab Thank You Gala

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Museum Lab, Allegheny Center

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 25, 2019) Governor Tom Wolf’s administration today awarded the City of Pittsburgh more than $200,000 to support its electric vehicle fleet. 

The state Department of Environmental Protection awarded southwest Pennsylvania more than $1 million in grants for nine clean energy vehicle projects that will help improve air quality and public health. All told, the projects will reduce annual annual greenhouse gas emissions by 5,745 metric tons. 

The City of Pittsburgh was awarded $135,160 to add eight electric vehicle charging stations to its fleet lot, and $67,500 to add nine electric vehicles to the fleet. Such vehicles are used by the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections and other city departments. 

“I want to thank Governor Wolf for this investment in making the city’s air and environment safer and more sustainable,” Mayor William Peduto said. 

Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission's Tree Seedling Giveaway

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

Meeting With Executive Director Of The Trade Institute Of Pittsburgh  Steve Shelton

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Take Center Stage: The August Wilson Center Gala

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 26, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh will conduct its first special biannual curbside yard waste collection on Saturday, May 4, 2019. 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 (April 26, 2019) The City’s Forestry Division, Tree Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission are sharing tips for tree owners in advance of the emergence of the 17-year cicada emergence coming this May in Western Pennsylvania.

Adult cicadas will show in tremendous numbers and be active for 4-6 weeks in the Pittsburgh region. Although not invasive insects, cicadas lay eggs in trees by cutting small grooves in tree limbs. The trees will suffer damage but – if healthy – will recover in the next year.

While attempts to cover young trees with protective netting may be well intentioned, this can cause more harm than good. Removing the netting will often break off more new growth than the cicada damage, and birds and other animals may become entangled.

Adult cicadas have neither mouths nor stingers and are no threat to people.

Cicadas do pose a choking hazard to pets and eating too many cicadas may make a pet sick. Keep a close eye on pets during cicada season.

Cicadas are high in protein, providing nutrients to thousands of common wildlife animals. Turtles, squirrels, mice, possums, foxes, raccoons, chipmunks, birds and more feast on these insects.

Male cicadas use special organs called tymbals to make their courtship calls, heard as amplified buzzing and clicking and filling the air with the sound of spring and summer.

More information on today's seedling giveaway in Market Square and the 17-year-cicada may be found on Tree Pittsburgh’s web site at:
https://www.treepittsburgh.org/event/arbor-day-seedling-giveaway-2/
https://www.treepittsburgh.org/cicadas

Contacts:

City of Pittsburgh Forester Lisa Ceoffe

lisa.ceoffe@pittsburghpa.gov
412 665 3625

Tree Pittsburgh Director of Urban Forestry Matt Erb

matt@treepittsburgh.org

412 781 TREE (8733)

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 26, 2019) The board of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is set to approve two employee-friendly measures already adopted by Mayor William Peduto and Pittsburgh City Council. 

Today the board will vote on a paid safe leave policy, in which employees victimized by domestic abuse may take days off from work to privately address the matter while not having to fear losing their jobs. 

Mayor Peduto signed an Executive Order on safe leave for City of Pittsburgh employees last year and urged other public and private sector employers to join him.  

“The cost of domestic violence for employers is the loss of productivity. Employees plagued by violence at home are often distracted and sometimes ill at work. This policy will allow employees in these situations to try and take steps to improve the situation without fearing the loss of their job,” a board statement says. 

The PWSA board is also set to adopt a paid parental leave policy similar to the one City Council approved and the Mayor signed in 2015, in which new mothers and fathers are allowed up to six weeks of paid leave after the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. 

The policy, says the board resolution, “will help PWSA recruit and retain the best possible workforce and will have a positive effect on employee productivity, employee performance and employee morale.” 

“We’re grateful to the City of Pittsburgh for leading the way and our Board of Directors for adopting these progressive employment policies. The changes will help protect the well-being of our employees, help retain talent and attract the best and the brightest to join our team,” said PWSA Executive Director Robert A. Weimar. 

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Homewood Early Learning Block Party - Launch Of City Of Pittsburgh's Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: 7219 Kelly Street, Homewood South

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence's "Looking Back, Marching Forward"

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Temple Sinai, Squirrel Hill North 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 27, 2019) A new program offering free monthly books to Pittsburgh children from birth to age 5 is now taking applications from parents and guardians, Mayor William Peduto announced today. 

The free book program – in conjunction with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Benter Foundation and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania – will mail all eligible children an age-appropriate book every month until their 5th birthday. Mailings will begin in 8-10 weeks. 

Those interested may visit this page at the Mayor’s Office website and have a registration form issued via mail. Online registrations will be available soon from the Imagination Library. 

“Providing greater access to books is a meaningful first step towards ensuring that parents and their children throughout the city have an opportunity to read consistently and reap the many benefits of early literacy,” Mayor Peduto said. 

Since its inception in 1995 the program from the country music superstar has mailed more than 113 million books, for free, to children in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The full program provides a 60-volume set of books, beginning with the classic “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. 

To be eligible for the program preschoolers must: 

• Be a resident of the City of Pittsburgh 

• Have a parent or guardian fill out an official registration form 

• Notify the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania of any address changes 

Mayor Peduto and his Early Childhood Manager Tiffini Simoneaux announced the beginning of registration today at the Homewood Early Learning Block Party. 

Legislation was introduced to Pittsburgh City Council in February to accept $250,000 from the Benter Foundation to establish the Pittsburgh program. The United Way is the required 501c3 mailing partner for the initiative. 

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Recognizing Workers Memorial Day

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

Speaking At Carnegie Mellon University's Manufacturing Futures Forum

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: David A. Tepper School of Business - Carnegie Mellon University, Squirrel Hill North

Speaking At Jewish Federation Vigil for Poway 

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill North  

Speaking At Annual Art Rooney Awards Dinner

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: The Westin Hotel, Central Business District 

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 30, 2019) Citiparks and our Citisports Division is excited to get the 2019 Baseball/Softball Season underway, with our expanded partnership with Pirates RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, an MLB initiative). This year, teams will begin vying for the Mayor’s Cup Trophy with a kick-off game on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Noon, at McGibbney Field in Brookline.

This season-opening game will feature the Pony AA Teams from Brookline and the 14th Ward. These two teams faced each other at the end of the 2018 Season in the Mayor’s Cup Championship at PNC Park with the 14th Ward coming out on top. This is going to be a great kick-off game for the 2019 Season!

Before the game, Citisports in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball will host PITCH, HIT AND RUN—the Official Skills Competition of Major League Baseball.

This Local Competition will take place from 10 a.m. to Noon (5/4/19) at McGibbney Field in Brookline Memorial Park (1452 Brookline Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15226). Open to Boys and Girls ages 7 to 14. (Age is determined as of July 17, 2019).

Pitch, Hit and Run will then continue with the Sectional Competition on Saturday, May 18, 2019—10 a.m. to Noon, again at McGibbney Field.

To register for this competition, please contact Citiparks-Citisports Division: ·

citisports@pittsburgh.pa

412.488.8397

Participants in PHR have the opportunity to advance all the way to the National Finals during MLB ALL-STAR WEEK.

“We are so excited to expand our partnership with the Pirates RBI," said Citiparks Director Ross Chapman. "It’s sure to be a great day at McGibbney Field and a fantastic season.”

Citiparks’ Roving Art Car will also be at the field with baseball crafts for the kids beginning at Noon.

Interview With PBS National Crew

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Dr. Zipora Gur

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At Innovation Interchange Annual Luncheon

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Wyndham Grand, Central Business District

Meeting With Dutch Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Pittsburgh Marathon, Then & Now Press Event With Shawn Flagherty

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Housing Celebration & Resource Fair With Urban Redevelopment Authority & Housing Opportunity Fund 

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: City of Pittsburgh's 412 Boulevard of The Allies, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 1, 2019) Mayor William Peduto today travels to New York City for the Mayors Leadership Institute on Smart Cities, hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. 

Pittsburgh has long been a leader in the smart city movement, by working with Carnegie Mellon University and other partners on the deployment of and response to new mobility and communications technologies such as autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and shared mobility. 

He is attending the institute with other Mayors including: Hardie Davis Jr of Augusta; Joseph P. Ganim of Bridgeport; Acquanetta Warren of Fontana; Debra March of Henderson; Robert Reichert of Macon; Adrian D. Perkins of Shreveport; David Condon of Spokane; and Reed Gusciora of Trenton. 

Organizers are paying the costs of the Mayor’s travel. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh Friday afternoon. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Wednesday, May 1, 2019: 

Flight to New York City 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Smart Cities Welcome Reception and Dinner  

Time: 6 p.m. 

Location: Saxon + Parole, 316 Bowery Street, NYC 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 1, 2019) Starting Monday, May 6, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will be reconstructing a portion of Grant Street due to the deteriorated condition of the bricks.

All bricks within the project limits will be replaced, along with replacement of damaged portions of the concrete subbase. This is the first year of a multi-year investment to repair Grant Street, which is maintained as a brick street due to its prominence and importance in the Central Business District. This is one component of the City’s $20 million street resurfacing budget for 2019, which includes asphalt, concrete, brick and blockstone streets. The asphalt resurfacing program also kicked off in April, and will be going strong through the summer and early fall.

When the contractor gets underway to start the brick replacement, the outbound lanes of Grant Street between Seventh and Liberty avenues will be closed for two months, beginning May 6 at 9 a.m., and will reopen on July 3 at 9 p.m.

Two-way traffic will be maintained on the inbound lanes of Grant Street. Posted detours will be provided and buses will be rerouted. The work is weather dependent.

Those with questions may contact Chief Engineer Eric Setzler at 412-477-6066.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 2, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City for the Mayors Leadership Institute on Smart Cities, hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. 

Pittsburgh has long been a leader in the smart city movement, by working with Carnegie Mellon University and other partners on the deployment of and response to new mobility and communications technologies such as autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and shared mobility. 

He is attending the institute with other Mayors including: Hardie Davis Jr of Augusta; Joseph P. Ganim of Bridgeport; Acquanetta Warren of Fontana; Debra March of Henderson; Robert Reichert of Macon; Adrian D. Perkins of Shreveport; David Condon of Spokane; and Reed Gusciora of Trenton. 

Organizers are paying the costs of the Mayor’s travel. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh Friday afternoon. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Thursday, May 2, 2019 (Unless noted, all locations NYU Wagner/Puck Building): 

Welcome and Initiative Go-Around 

Time: 8:30 a,m.  

Smart Cities: Overview and Current Trends, with experts including Debra Lam, Managing Director, Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation at Georgia Tech Center and former Pittsburgh Chief of Innovation; and John Tolva, CoFounder, CityFi and former Chicago Chief Technology Officer 

Time: 9:30 a.m. 

Building a Smart City Prototype, with Alexander Shermansong, Professor of Public Service, NYU Wagner School of Public Service 

Time: 11:15 a.m. 

Mayoral breakout sessions 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Smart Cities, Taking on Challenges, with Gordon Campbell, Professor of Public Service NYU Wagner School of Public Service 

Time: 2:30 p.m. 

Public-Private Partnerships, with Neil Kleiman, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Service NYU Wagner School of Public Service, and Lani Ingram, VP, Smart Communities, Verizon 

Time: 3:30 p.m. 

Smart Cities Institute Reception, with Clay Shirky, New York University, Vice Provost for Educational Technologies 

Time: 5 p.m. 

Location: NYU Abu Dhabi House, 19 Washington Square North 

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

Michael Homa

GIS Manager 

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

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

[p] 412.393.0157

[e] Mike.Homa@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 3, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City for the Mayors Leadership Institute on Smart Cities, hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. 

Pittsburgh has long been a leader in the smart city movement, by working with Carnegie Mellon University and other partners on the deployment of and response to new mobility and communications technologies such as autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and shared mobility. 

He is attending the institute with other Mayors including: Hardie Davis Jr of Augusta; Joseph P. Ganim of Bridgeport; Acquanetta Warren of Fontana; Debra March of Henderson; Robert Reichert of Macon; Adrian D. Perkins of Shreveport; David Condon of Spokane; and Reed Gusciora of Trenton. 

Organizers are paying the costs of the Mayor’s travel. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh late this afternoon. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Friday, May 3, 2019 (Unless noted, all locations NYU Wagner/Puck Building): 

Cameras are the New Streetlights, with Andrew Liu, SVP, Smart Cities, Parsons 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Drafting Smart City Plans 

Time: 8:45 a.m. 

Sharing and Critiquing the Mayors’ Smart City Initiatives 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

Smart City Planning to Spur Citywide Change 

Time: 2:30 p.m. 

Facilitated conversation about citywide reforms that will enable even greater smart city efforts, with Neil Kleiman, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Service NYU Wagner School of Public Service 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Institute Conclusion, with Gordon Campbell, Professor of Public Service NYU Wagner School of Public Service; Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director, U.S. Conference of Mayors; and Sherry Glied, Dean, NYU Wagner School of Public Service 

Time: 3:30 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman

Time: 10:30 A.M.

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

Tour of Pittsburgh Infrastructure Needs with U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Press Conference with Rep. DeFazio

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Location: PWSA Brilliant Yard, Highland Park

Speaking On Carnegie Mellon University's Panel On Religious Pluralism

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: WQED Studios, Squirrel Hill North

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 6, 2019) The Welcoming Interactive + Welcoming Economies Convening merges cutting edge policies and innovative ideas from the field of immigrant economic development with successful practices and inspiring stories of welcoming communities. This conference next week will host over 400 leaders from across the country and is a time to establish new connections. The host city of Pittsburgh, according to research published by New American Economy, is one of the most welcoming places for immigrants: as of 2016 7.3% of all immigrants in the city of Pittsburgh were entrepreneurs and those entrepreneurs have a combined spending power of $2.4 billion.

“Welcoming America looks forward to convening the largest gathering of local leaders around the country focused on creating more inclusive communities for immigrants and all residents. Few cities and regions better embody the values that represent this Welcoming movement than Pittsburgh,which has benefited from the social and economic benefits of its efforts to create a more welcoming environment, while also standing as a beacon in its work to combat hate after the tragic events of 2018,”  said Rachel Peric, Executive Director of Welcoming America. 

Immigrants make significant contributions to local economies and neighborhoods across the United States, and immigrant-owned businesses employ nearly six million workers nationally. Immigrant-owned businesses also play an outsized role in revitalizing neighborhoods through entrepreneurship, reversing population decline, and homeownership. Immigrant owned businesses help all ships rise in prosperity and the WIE helps to address learning opportunities for immigrants and long term residents alike.

Communities that attend the Welcoming Interactive + Welcoming Economies Convening discuss the power of immigrants to energize their neighborhoods, economy, and culture. Learning more about the people that make up our communities helps build a competitive advantage and gain access to opportunities to be recognized and share integration practices on a regional, national, and global stage.

The Convening is being held May 15-17 at the Omni William Penn.

Contact: Timothy Walden, Welcoming America Communications Manager, 404-736-6608, or Timothy@welcomingamerica.org

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 6, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) will increase public engagement and outreach on the testing and deployment of automated vehicles with the assistance of a major new foundation grant. 

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is committing $410,539 to DOMI to help demystify automated vehicles for the public, and provide transparent information to residents about their technology and testing on city streets. 

“This generous grant will allow the City to offer authentic participation by the public on autonomous vehicle policies, testing and deployment,” DOMI Director Karina Ricks said. 

The grant – which will be introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow – follows the public release last month of DOMI’s first first summary of findings on autonomous vehicle testing in the city. It lists data on the kinds of vehicles being tested around Pittsburgh, in what neighborhoods, the safety provisions being used, and job creation by the growing industry. 

Five entities are currently testing automated vehicles in the city: Aptiv, Argo AI, Aurora Innovation,  Carnegie-Mellon University and Uber.

The city is receiving funding as part of its participation in a Knight Foundation program along with the cities of Detroit, San Jose and Miami. The grant is for a three-year period starting in late 2019.    

Allegheny County Joint Career and Technology Center Signing Day

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location Energy Innovation Center, Bedford Dwellings

Remake Learning Days Kickoff

Time: 11:45 a.m.

Location: Carnegie Museum of Art, Oakland

Issuing Proclamation for National Alliance of Letter Carriers Food Drive 

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room

NAACP 65th Annual Human Rights Dinner

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Westin Pittsburgh, Downtown

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 7, 2019) East Liberty’s Mellon’s Orchard South development is set for 37 new affordable rental units, while another 17 rehabilitated for-sale units for low-income homebuyers are on the way for other parts of East Liberty, Larimer and Garfield.

Both projects will be presented to the board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh on Thursday.

In the Mellon’s Orchard South development at Station and N. Beatty streets, Trek Development is planning a 47-unit mixed-income multi-family development including 37 affordable units and 10 market rate units. Affordable units are supported with low interest loans from the URA and URA’s Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF). The project was also supported by an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).

Former residents of the Penn Plaza development will be given priority for occupancy at the Mellon’s Orchard South site.

The project will include 35 apartment units and 12 townhouses. The apartments include 25 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units in a three-story walk-up building. The apartment building will also include a community room that will be available to all residents of the development. Six units will be accessible to individuals with mobility and sensory impairments and a seventh unit will be accessible to individuals with sensory impairments. Parking will be available for 33 vehicles.

Last week the HOF Advisory Board passed a motion to award Mellon’s Orchard Housing LLC a Housing Opportunity Fund Rental Gap Program Loan (HOF RGP) in the amount of $690,000, in conjunction with the Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty (COR), a 501c(3) working with the developer.

The HOF Funding will support 20 units at or below 50% area median income (AMI) and four units at or below 30% AMI.

Of the 37 affordable units, four will be rented to households with incomes at or below 20% AMI, 20 units will be rented to households at or below 50% AMI, and 13 units will be rented to households with incomes at or below 60% AMI.  The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) will provide Project Based Vouchers to subsidize eight of the units.

The overall development cost is $13.6 million.

Nearby in other parts of East Liberty, Larimer and Garfield, East Liberty Development Inc. (ELDI) is planning to construct six new homes and rehabilitate 20 homes. Of the 26 total homes, 17 will be sold to low-income families.

ELDI will be working with several small but high-quality contractors from around the area to perform the work.

The board is set to approve a $1.5 million construction loan for the project, which has an overall budget of $8 million.  Additionally, second mortgage funding in the amount of $340,000 is being requested to make the units more affordable to the target population.  This project has also received a $7.0 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) from the Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives (PUI) which is the NMTC affiliate of the URA.

The new and rehabilitated homes will be on: N. Euclid Avenue (2 homes); N. St. Clair Street (4 homes); Auburn Street; Chislett Street; Rippey Street; Rural Street (2 homes); N. Fairmont Street (4 homes); Enright Court (8 homes); Mayflower Street; Shetland Street; and N. Aiken Avenue.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 8, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will host a press conference tomorrow afternoon to mark the launch of the city's Financial Empowerment Centers, which provide a free, one-stop shop for city residents seeking financial advice.

WHO: 

Mayor William Peduto

Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund

Presley Gillespie, President of Neighborhood Allies

FEC team members and counselors

WHAT: 

Press conference announcing launch of Financial Empowerment Centers

WHERE:

City-County Building Grand Hall, 414 Grant Street

WHEN:

2 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 8, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing that the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority will be closing Fifth Avenue, between Smithfield and Wood streets, to make emergency waterline repairs beginning Friday, May 10 and ending Sunday, May 19.

To ease rush hour congestion the daily closures will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Posted detours will be provided and buses will be rerouted.

Those with questions may contact Amanda Purcell, Municipal Traffic Engineer, at 412-255-8846.

Call with Civic Enterprises

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Press conference announcing Office of Equity

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room

Weekly scheduling meeting

Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Delivering Proclamation for Asian American Heritage Month

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Squirrel Hill Library, 5801 Forbes Avenue

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 8, 2019) Governor Tom Wolf and the state Department of Aging has issued grant awards to upgrade three Citiparks Healthy Active Living Centers in Brighton Heights, Greenfield and Homewood. 

The Senior Community Center grants total more than $200,000. 

The Brighton Heights Senior Center on McClure Avenue was awarded $100,000 for general reconstruction including electrical, heating, plumbing, reconfiguration, and lighting installation.  

The Greenfield Senior Center on Greenfield Avenue was awarded $66,055. Physical enhancements include the replacement of the flooring and the installation of an accordion wall in the large programming space.  Programmatic enhancements will include contracting with English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and offering one class per week at the center. 

The Homewood Senior Center on Frankstown Avenue was awarded $38,200 for both physical and programmatic enhancements. They include upgrades to the kiln room, the installation of an air curtain, and the construction of a fence and parking lot. The project includes the purchase of stationary exercise bicycles to be added to the center’s fitness room to promote an active lifestyle and fulfill the requests of the seniors who frequent the center. 

“Citiparks and the City of Pittsburgh are ecstatic to have received these grant awards made possible by Governor Wolf and the PA Department of Aging for three of our Senior/Healthy Active Living Centers,” said Citiparks Director Ross Chapman. “Additionally, none of this could have been realized without the ongoing support from our friends at the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, the support of Mayor Peduto and his administration and a host of City staff, all of whom are committed to improving the health and wellness of our senior members and residents.” 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 8, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce the city's new Office of Equity, which will work across City of Pittsburgh government to embed the importance of equity in government work, and address and eradicate inequalities.

WHO:

Mayor William Peduto

Deputy Chief of Staff Majestic Lane

WHAT:

Press conference on Office of Equity

WHERE:

Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building

WHEN:

12 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2019

Note: Open to credentialed media only

PITTSBURGH PA (May 10, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is kicking off Farmers Market season tomorrow with exciting new support and tools for all regional markets.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m. Mayor William Peduto, the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, Just Harvest and other community leaders will mark the start of farmers market season by highlighting the Pittsburgh Regional Farmers Market Network, a marketing and networking tool that will be free for markets across the region.

The event will take place at the Mellon Square Park farmers market, Mellon Square, William Penn Place, in Downtown.

Those joining the Pittsburgh Regional Farmers Market Network will be listed on a regional website, will be invited to networking events, receive free promotion and get access to a members-only listserv addressing issues in the farmers market community. A Market Operators Guide will also soon be issued.

The Friday morning event marks the launch of the first season following the release of the study Strengthening Pittsburgh’s Farmers Markets, which recommends actions to improve area farmers markets, and is aimed at increasing equitable access to fresh, affordable, and culturally appropriate food, promoting healthy eating choices, while supporting our regional food producers.

This year also features a new monthly farmer’s market in Larimer, which will take place on the 4th Sunday of each month in June through November from 3 – 7 p.m. It will be adjacent to the Larimer Community Garden and Urban Farm at Larimer Avenue and Carver Street.

The City of Pittsburgh Office of Special Events operates seven weekly markets:

• Squirrel Hill, Sundays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (opens May 12)
• East Liberty, Mondays 3 – 7 p.m. (opens May 13)
• South Side, Tuesdays 3 – 7 p.m. (opens May 14)
• Carrick, Wednesdays 3 – 7 p.m. (opens June 19)
• Beechview, Thursdays 3 – 7 p.m. (opens June 20)
• Downtown, Mellon Square, Fridays 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (opens May 10)
• North Side, Fridays, 3 – 7 p.m. (opens May 17)

City farmers markets this year boast year-round market staff, an extended market season, entertainment/giveaways and the development of the Market Operator’s Guide.

The additional launch of the Pittsburgh Regional Farmers Market Network is a step towards facilitating collaboration among all markets in and around Pittsburgh, not just those operated by the City of Pittsburgh.

Contact:

Shelly Danko+Day
Open Space Specialist and Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Adviser, 412.255.2287 or shelly.dankoday@pittsburghpa.gov

North Side Chamber Of Commerce Business Awards Luncheon

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: PNC Park, North Shore
 

Financial Empowerment Centers Press Event

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Grand Hall, City-County Building
 

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Deputy Chief Of Staff Majestic Lane, & Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building
 

Oakland Business Improvement District's Drink For Pink Event

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Central Oakland

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 10, 2019) Mayor William Peduto today signed an Executive Order creating the City’s Office of Equity, which will work across City of Pittsburgh government to embed the importance of equity in government work, and address and eradicate inequalities in all its forms. 

The Office of Equity will build upon the work of former Chief Urban Affairs Officer Valerie McDonald-Roberts accomplished at the Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment, and will be led by Chief Equity Officer Majestic Lane. 

The Office of Equity will follow on Mayor Peduto’s directive that if opportunities in Pittsburgh are not for all, they’re for none. Other cities in Pittsburgh’s peer network that have equity offices include Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, and Albuquerque. 

“Based upon the research from the Equity Indicators Report, OnePGH and the concerns I hear from constituents daily, we know we have more work to do on equity but I am proud of what this administration has been able to do thus far,” Mayor Peduto said. “The Office of Equity will build upon this foundation, and seek to bring further opportunities to all Pittsburghers.” 

The Office of Equity replaces the Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment within the Mayor’s Office. Since its creation in 2014 the Bureau celebrated accomplishments including: 

• The $2 million Childhood Equity Fund 

• Implementation of the Gender Equity Commission 

• Offering more than 2,000 city and county youth summer jobs through the Learn and Earn program 

• Expanding the use of Nalaxone to stop fatal overdoses from opioids 

• Hiring a full-time staffer to coordinate My Brother’s Keeper initiatives for African-American men and youth  

• Implementing the Welcoming Pittsburgh initiative 

• Working with Allegheny County to ensure a full 2020 U.S. Census count 

• Introducing Financial Empowerment Centers, providing free one-on-one financial advice citywide 

• A 100% score in the Human Right’s Commission’s Municipal Equality Index Scorecard 

The next steps for the Office of Equity will including joining the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), and reorganizing contracting oversight by the Equal Opportunity Review Commission. 

"Local government has the opportunity and capacity to address issues of equity and close disparities. I look forward to continuing to work with internal and external stakeholders to make Pittsburgh a more welcoming and equitable city for all," Lane said. 

A copy of the Mayor’s Executive Order is available here. 

### 

Celebrating Opening Day Of The City Of Pittsburgh's Farmers Market Season

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mellon Square, Central Business District

Interview With City Hub's John Tierney

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

City Of Pittsburgh's Office Of Equity Press Conference

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Pittsburgh Federation Of Teachers President Nina Esposito-Visgitis

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pennsylvania African-American Network Convention

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Marriott City Center, Central Business District

Meeting With Chief of Staff Daniel Gilman, Chief of Police Scott Schubert, Bob McGann, & Bob Cranmer

Time: 10:30 A.M.

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

Presenting Ladies Who Network Proclamation

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Chief of Staff Daniel Gilman, Deputy Chief Of Staff Majestic Lane, City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton, & Assistant Director Of Public Works Chris Hornstein

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Senator Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, & Sports & Exhibition Authority Executive Director Mary Conturo

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Welcoming Home Nobel Laureate Dr. Frances Arnold With Special Proclamation

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Music Hall, North Oakland

Meeting With Chase Patterson

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Emergency Medical Services Award Ceremony For Tree Of Life Response

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Training Division, Strip District

Press Conference Announcing Equity Legislation With The Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Fifth Floor Lobby

Presenting Proclamation For Apraxia Awareness Day

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 15, 2019) On Friday, May 17, 2019, Citiparks will honor their Senior Volunteers at the 33rd Annual Healthy Active Living Volunteer Gala, which will be held at the Sheraton Hotel at Station Square. 

Each year Senior Volunteers make significant contributions to provide healthy, active and independent living in their neighborhoods.  These volunteer contributions come from senior residents throughout the City, yielding over 100,000 hours of volunteer service.  Said Citiparks Director Chapman, “Citiparks could not do it without these invaluable participants!” 

With a thank you from Mayor Peduto, Friday, May 17, 2019, will be declared “Annual Senior Volunteer Recognition Day” here in our most livable City of Pittsburgh. 

Citiparks Community Services operates 13 Healthy Active Living Centers (Senior Community Centers) open year round, Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Each center focuses on improving the lives of older Pittsburghers—physically, intellectually, socially, culturally, and financially.   

Welcoming Atlanta ARC LINK Delegation To Pittsburgh

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Science Center, 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 

Pittsburgh, PA (May 15, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation CitiParks, in conjunction with the Departments of Public Works and City Planning, is excited to announce the Grand Opening of our 8th Spray Park at Paulson Playground (1300 Paulson Avenue, 15206).  The Grand Opening will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2019 with the festivities beginning at Noon. 

Join us for the day and let your imagination run wild in this three dimensional world of water.  It’s guaranteed to bring back memories of running through sprinklers…but with a lot more fun, color and movement. 

In addition to the Grand Opening of the Spray Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019 will also mark the official Grand Opening of the new Paulson Playground and it will give visitors the chance to enjoy the new art pieces and the hand painted mural on the Spray Park play area. 

Join City Officials and Community Leaders to celebrate this new edition! 

Paulson Spray Park Hours of Operation: 

Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) beginning Memorial Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (One exception: Saturday, June 1st all Spray Parks will be closed for Summer Staff Orientation) 

Daily beginning June 12, 2019—10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 16, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Denver today for the National League of Cities Capstone Leaders Forum on Uplifting Legacy Cities. 

The Mayor will address city, corporate and philanthropic leaders from around the nation today on equitable economic development strategies in Pittsburgh. 

The NLC describes the leaders forum this way: 

“Cities in America with historically strong manufacturing cores have endured wrenching economic transitions over the past several decades. These so-called “Legacy Cities’ are predominantly located in the Northeast and Midwest. They include very large cities like Pittsburgh and Detroit, and smaller communities like Utica, New York, and Gary, Indiana. Many of these cities have struggled to grow jobs in new sectors and to boost employment and income, particularly for their communities of color. Over the two-day convening, we will look at the various responses to the unique needs of these cities and at the role public and private industries can play in their revival.” 

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson is the president of the NLC. 

The NLC is covering the costs of Mayor Peduto’s travel to Denver. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh late Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Thursday, May 16, 2019: 

(All locations Oxford Hotel, Denver, unless noted) 

Opening remarks by Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

NLC and Lincol Institute of Land Policy: Legacy Cities Cohort, with Plot Strategies founder Jess Zimbabwe; Lansing Mayor Andy Schor; Lansing Economic Development Director Brian McGrain; and Rochester Business and Housing Development Director Dana Miller. 

Time: 8:45 a.m. 

Panel on Entrepreneurship and the Modern Economy, with NLC Local Democracy Initiative Manager Alex Jones; NLC Director of Innovation Ecosystems Scott Andes; Hartford Development Services Director Erik Johnson; and Waco Councilmember John Kinnaird 

Time: 10:30 a.m. 

Equitable Economic Development: Pittsburgh Case Study, with Mayor Peduto and NLC Director of Innovation Ecosytems Director Scott Andes 

Time: 1 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 17, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Denver today for the National League of Cities Capstone Leaders Forum on Uplifting Legacy Cities. 

Yesterday the Mayor addressed city, corporate and philanthropic leaders from around the nation on Equitable Economic Development in Pittsburgh. 

The NLC describes the leaders forum this way: 

“Cities in America with historically strong manufacturing cores have endured wrenching economic transitions over the past several decades. These so-called “Legacy Cities’ are predominantly located in the Northeast and Midwest. They include very large cities like Pittsburgh and Detroit, and smaller communities like Utica, New York, and Gary, Indiana. Many of these cities have struggled to grow jobs in new sectors and to boost employment and income, particularly for their communities of color. Over the two-day convening, we will look at the various responses to the unique needs of these cities and at the role public and private industries can play in their revival.” 

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson is the president of the NLC. 

The NLC is covering the costs of Mayor Peduto’s travel to Denver. No city taxpayer dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh tonight. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Friday, May 17, 2019: 

(All locations Oxford Hotel, Denver) 

Panel on Community Engagement, with Polco founder Nick Mastronardi; Columbus Council President Shannon Hardin; and Kresge Foundation Vice President Ari Simons 

Time: 8:30 a.m. 

Panel on the Role of the Private Sector, with Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone; CGI Communications executive Amy Velez; LinkedIn policy analyst Aaron Moore; and NLC Strategic Partnerships Director David Maloney 

Time: 10:15 a.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Paulson Spray Park Grand Opening

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Paulson Spray Park & Playground, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar

Sunday, May 19, 2019

No public events scheduled. 

Speaking At The American College Of Preventive Medicine's Annual Gathering

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Central Business District

Meeting With Duquesne Light Company Chief Executive Officer Steven Malnight

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

Meeting With 2019 Office Of The Mayor Summer Interns

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

Speaking At The American Society Of Civil Engineers' Environmental & Water Resources Institute's Screening Of "Paris To Pittsburgh" 

Time: 5:45 P.M.

Location: Wyndham Grand, Central Business District

Tour Of Argo AI Facilities

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Argo AI Offices, The Strip District

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Representative Michael Puskaric

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Delivering Proclamation To Pino's In Honor Of 25th Anniversary

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Pino's, Point Breeze

WQED 65th Anniversary Celebration

Time: 6:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 21, 2019) City of Pittsburgh offices and Healthy Active Living Centers will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2018 in observance of Memorial Day.    

The Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Monday, May 27, 2018 will be delayed one day.  

If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, May 27, you will be serviced on Tuesday, May 28.  If your collection day is Tuesday, May 28, you will be serviced on Wednesday, May 29 and so on through Saturday, June 1.   

CitiParks will have the following adjusted schedules 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 25    

• Sunday, May 26     

• Monday, May 27     

OLIVER BATH HOUSE 

• Saturday, May 25, 2019: Closed from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

• Sunday, May 26, 2019: Open Normal Operation Hours 

• Monday, May 27, 2019: CLOSED  

AQUATICS/SWIMMING  

• Spray Parks Open Saturday, May 25, 2019 at NOON  

• All Spray Parks will be open Noon – 6 pm  

• Saturday, May 25  

•  Sunday, May 26  

• Monday, May 27  

• Outdoor Pools will open on Monday, June 12, 2019  

MELLON TENNIS BUBBLE  

• Closed Memorial Day 

FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMS 

• The After School Feeding Program will end on Friday, May 24, 2019 

• The Summer Food Service Program will begin on Monday, June 17, 2019 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 22, 2019) Officials from Mayor William Peduto’s administration today will discuss a state grant of more than $450,000 to support safe routes to school for elementary and middle school students in Pittsburgh. 

A bill is set to be discussed at Pittsburgh City Council’s standing committees meeting accepting $464,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Transportation Set Aside Program, which provides assistance to municipalities to support the creation of safe and appealing alternatives to single occupant vehicle travel. 

More than 30 million Americans nationwide transport their children to and from schools every day, which research shows increases hazardous road conditions and harms the environment. The Safe Routes to School program seeks to address that by supporting walking and biking to school, leading to eased traffic conditions and better health for schoolchildren. 

“The ability to walk or bike to school has long been one of the classic characteristics of Pittsburgh, but over recent decades it has become increasingly hazardous for children, who are our most valuable and vulnerable travelers,” said Department of Mobility and Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks. “This grant will allow us to dedicate resources to help us collaborate with school leaders and parents to identify areas where low-cost improvements can be rapidly implemented.” 

DOMI is proposing using the PennDOT grant to hire a Safe Routes to School coordinator who is part educator, part engineer and will work on programming for students to walk and bike more easily. The coordinator will work on traffic calming and other safety improvements on streets near schools best suited for walking and biking. 

Once approved, DOMI plans to have a person in the position by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. 

Meeting With Donna Williams

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Interview With NRK Norwegian Broadcasting Team

Time: 1:15 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

Weinberg Terrace To Meet With Residents

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Weinberg Terrace, Squirrel Hill South

CeaseFirePA's "Guns Down" Town Hall With Igor Volsky

Time: 6:00 P.M.

NAMI CEO Pledge Signing With Department Of Human Resources & Civil Service

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With State Representative Michael Puskaric

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Pittsburgh 2030 District Progress Report

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Riverfront West at 3 Crossings, The Strip District

Iftar Dinner With Turkish Cultural Center & The Peace Islands Institute

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: Peace Islands Institute, Shadyside

No public events scheduled.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 24, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing the beginning of concrete slab and joint repair along Broadway Avenue in Beechview. The work precedes planned implementation of the Broadway Avenue Public Realm streetscape and safety improvements. Cilenti Construction Company will complete concrete slab and curb replacement along the 1700 block of Broadway Avenue (approximately from Coast Avenue to Rutherford Avenue).  

This work is scheduled to start May 29, and is estimated to last four to five weeks, weather permitting. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Restrictions will occur in both directions in all lanes, but construction will be limited to only one lane at a time so that through traffic in both directions will be maintained. No parking signs will be posted 24 hours in advance and any vehicles parked in the work zone will be towed. Minor work to prepare for the project may occur in advance of the May 29, start date. The Department’s personnel is working closely with the Port Authority of Allegheny County to minimize impacts to the Port Authority’s Light Rail “T” line.

Streetscape improvements designed through a 2017 community process will commence immediately following the concrete repair. Pavement markings will be completed by the Parking Lot Painting Company. Streetscape improvements include new lane and parking markings and street reconfiguration to expand pedestrian space and safe transit access by closing the existing slip lanes at the low-platform T stations to vehicular use. Future year anticipated work to improve the corridor includes design and construction of enhanced plaza space and reconstruction of transit platforms.

Those with questions regarding the project may contact the Project Manager at DOMI.Broadway@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 28, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is Toronto today for the Governing Cities in the 21st Century symposium, hosted by the University of Toronto’s School of Cities, where he will be a featured speaker. 

The hosts describe the symposium this way: 

What should governance look like in the 21st century? Can we leverage national, provincial and municipal relationships to advance urban governance? How do we scale up local responses to reach collective goals?  
  
At the School of Cities spring symposium, Governing Cities in the 21st Century, these crucial questions will be discussed with experts, including a lightning talk by Nasma Ahmed, Director, Digital Justice Lab; a keynote by Michelynn Laflèche, Vice President, United Way Greater Toronto; and a fireside chat with Bill Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh and Richard Florida, University Professor, School of Cities and Rotman School of Management. 

The symposium will be live-streamed here. 

Mayor Peduto will speak on the symposium’s final panel, “Governing an Inclusive City.” 

Organizers are covering all his costs. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh this evening. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Tuesday, May 28, 2019: 

All locations Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto 

Welcome & School of Cities Highlights, with Matti Siemiatycki, Associate Professor and Interim Director, School of Cities 

Time: 9 a.m. 

All Roads Lead to Opportunity — Building Great Cities that are Great for Everyone, with  Michelynn Laflèche, Vice President, Strategy, Research & Policy, United Way Greater Toronto 

Time: 9:15 a.m. 

Contemporary Governance: Creativity, Perseverance and Possibilities, with Sarah Sharma, Associate Professor and Director of the McLuhan Centre for Culture and Technology, University of Toronto; Nasma Ahmed, Director, Digital Justice Lab; Greg Cook, Outreach Team, Sanctuary Ministries; and Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Camacho, Administrative Coordinator of Research, Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto 

Time: 9:45 a.m. 

Navigating the 21st Century City, with Marieme Lo, Associate Professor and Associate Director, Education, School of Cities; Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group; Crystal Basi, Director of Research and Community Engagement, Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council; Sara Hughes, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto; and Jason Thorne, General Manager of Planning and Economic Development, City of Hamilton 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Governing an Inclusive City. Mayor Peduto, in conversation with Professor Richard Florida, will draw on his experience to share insights on governing the City of Pittsburgh. This exchange will touch on a range of topics, including: city-university partnerships, addressing inequality at the urban scale – particularly as it connects to pressure associated with tech sector growth – federal-municipal partnerships and innovative policy directions. 

Time: 12:45 p.m. 

Closing Remarks with Jacqui Lavalley, Shawanaga First Nation 

Time: 1:35 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 5 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 28, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce the installation of We Are Pittsburgh, a large-scale public art installation at the corner of Stanwix Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

We Are Pittsburgh transforms the facade of 625 Stanwix Street into a visual tribute to influential people who had their beginnings in the Pittsburgh area. The art installation takes place on a mixed-use building; comprised of 20 artistic banners covering the window bays of nine stories of the north and east elevations of the parking garage portion of the building. The composition depicts noteworthy individuals such as Queen Aliquippa, Art Blakey, Andrew Carnegie, Rachel Carson, Roberto Clemente, Thaddeus Mosley, Asa Philip Randolph, Dakota Staton, Gertrude Stein, Andy Warhol, Mary Lou Williams and August Wilson.

From steel industrialists to activists, poets, and singers, this installation celebrates those who, through their significant contributions and accomplishments, both in and beyond the city, have helped make Pittsburgh great. The artwork is created using pixilation, triangulation, bursts of color, and abstraction, generating an optical illusion that changes the artwork depending on the distance and viewpoint. The composition emerges in greater clarity when seen through a camera or phone screen, encouraging interactivity through technology.

This revolving project marks the first collaboration between the City’s Public Art & Civic Design Division (PA+CD) of the Department of City Planning and private developers. PA+CD worked with Joco LLP and Urban Growth Properties in the coordination and planning of this large public art installation in Pittsburgh. With the banners rising 80 feet high, and fronting the Allegheny River directly across from PNC Park, this dynamic and colorful intervention will be easily seen from downtown streets, from on the river, or from either shore.

The designers of We Are Pittsburgh, Joshua Chang and Aaron Ramon, responded to a Request For Proposals put out by PA+CD in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget. An advisory committee comprised of representatives from the City, project partners, Downtown business owners and stakeholders reviewed proposals. Proposals were scored on specific criteria, including the overall concept with regard to creativity, innovation, and aesthetics; thematic significance; relation to the urban context and visual impact on viewer’s experience of the natural and build environment; and the artist’s previous work and experience. Conceptual and design considerations stipulated that the artwork could be abstract or representational, the composition could be considered as individual panels or as a combined canvas, and the two sides of the building could be designed separately or as a continuum. The advisory committee recommended semi-finalists, with a City Committee selecting the final awardee, We Are Pittsburgh. The project was presented and approved at an Art Commission public hearing and a Planning Commission briefing and public hearing.

Ramon and Chang state that the key concepts of We Are Pittsburgh are “History, Togetherness, Pride, and Color.” Large plains of color and shape are seen up close, with the faces gradually becoming more discernible when viewed from a distance, creating a sense of discovery. The figures are backed by templates of historical maps combined with the bright tones of the current transit system. The overall composition celebrates Pittsburgh as a city whose identity and history was forged by the people who have called this place home. The positioning of the figures on the artwork creates a correlation between the individuals and the landscape, with Rachel Carson, Andy Warhol, and Roberto Clemente facing their respectively named bridges, and August Wilson looking towards the August Wilson Center.  

The project represents a critical endeavor to harness the power of art in the public realm and in the everyday visual and spatial experience of the public, as well as a tool to enhance the aesthetics of the public environment. In an era where funding for public art is limited, a partnership with a private entity – with clear City leadership throughout the process – becomes an important addition and a precedent to create opportunities for public art in the City of Pittsburgh. Projects of this scale and nature inspire excellence in design and showcase innovative artistic implementations, while paying homage to Pittsburgh’s legacy.

#WeArePittsburgh #WeArePGH

Photo credit: SteelCityPhoto

For questions about the project 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

Meeting With Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge Team

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Michelle Zuckerman-Parker

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Deputy Chief Of Staff & Chief Equity Officer Majestic Lane & The Urban Redevelopment Authority's Diamonte Walker

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Manchester Neighborhood Plan Final Community Meeting

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: MCC Center, 1319 Allegheny Avenue, Manchester

For Planning Purposes Only

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 30, 2019) On Friday morning Mayor William Peduto will join Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh officials and a new homeowner in Brighton Heights who purchased her home with help from the Housing Opportunity Fund's Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program.

WHO: 

Mayor William Peduto

URA Board Member Lindsay Powell

Housing Opportunity Fund Director Jessica Smith Perry

Homeowner Natalie Perko

WHERE: 

3224 Richardson Street, Brighton Heights

WHEN:

10:30 a.m., Friday, May 31, 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 30, 2019) As part of the City’s continued commitment to inclusive innovation, Mayor William Peduto and the Department of Innovation & Performance will host City of Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke for a virtual mayoral forum focused on the topic of Digital Equity. This event is free and open to the public and will take place on June 6th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation downtown. Point Park University was previously the host of 2019’s Inclusive Innovation Summit.

Questions for both Mayors will be accepted both on the Inclusive Innovation Meetup page as well as though Twitter (mention @PGHIP, with the hashtag #MayorToMayor). In addition to taking questions from the public, this event will also highlight initiatives in both Pittsburgh and Chattanooga that are focused on closing the digital divide. This event will be recorded.

Those who are interested in attending can RSVP using the Inclusive Innovation Meetup Page. Refreshments will be available, and both childcare and American Sign Language services can be provided upon request. For requests and additional questions, please contact Itha Cao at itha.cao@pittsburghpa.gov.

Bakery Office Three Topping Off Ceremony

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: 6480 Living Place, Shadyside

Speaking At Morningside Crossing Senior Living Grand Opening

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: 1808 Jancey Street, Morningside School

Charlotte Alliance Inter City Visit Panel Call

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award To Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Zone 4 Officer David Shifren

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Jewish Federation Celebration! Donor Appreciation Event

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: The Pennsylvanian, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 31, 2019) This morning the City of Pittsburgh and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh officials and Brighton Heights community members came together to celebrate with Natalie Perko, a new homeowner who purchased her home with help from the Housing Opportunity Fund’s (HOF) Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program (DPCCAP). 

Ms. Perko, one of the first people to participate in the DPCCAP, received $5,000 in assistance to purchase the house. 

"The Housing Opportunity Fund is here to not only help residents like Natalie, but to support whole neighborhoods citywide. I want to thank all those who have worked so hard on the fund, from City Council to the URA staff to the Housing Opportunity Advisory board for all their efforts," Mayor William Peduto said. 

The DPCCAP stimulates housing investment in the City and encourages homeownership by providing financing to first-time homebuyers in the City of Pittsburgh. The application for the DPCCAP was released in January 2019. To date, 16 residents have participated in the program for a total of $60,000 in assistance. 

“The Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program provides financial assistance for people to purchase their first home in the City and become a proud Pittsburgh homeowner. If you are thinking about buying a home, please call us to inquire about this program. We want to help you become a homeowner,” said Jessica Smith Perry, Housing Opportunity Fund Director. 

The HOF is the City’s local housing trust fund. The HOF was created in 2016 by City Ordinance to support the development and preservation of affordable and accessible housing in all areas of the city. In June 2018, the Mayor appointed a 17-person Advisory Board to help administer the fund. The Advisory Board members represent: local government, housing advocates, community members impacted by housing affordability and insecurity, the nonprofit and for-profit development community, and financial Institutions. The City committed to fund the HOF at the amount of $10 million per year for 12 years. It is anticipated that the $10 million in 2018 HOF funds will help at least 500 households. 

As part of the 2018 Allocation Plan, the HOF Department conducted the following five programs: 

• The Housing Stabilization Program – provides emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions 

• The Rental Gap Program – funds development/preservation of rental housing for households at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI) 

• The Homeowner Assistance Program – provides up to $30,000 of home rehabilitation to homeowners at or below 50% AMI 

• Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program – provides up to $7,500 for down payment and closing cost assistance to buyers at or below 80% AMI and $5,000 for buyers above 80% but below 115% AMI 

• For-Sale Development Program – funds the development of for-sale housing to be sold to homebuyers at or below 80% AMI 

Across all five programs, to date, over $5 million from the 2018 allocation has been committed to nonprofit developers, homeowners, and/or first-time homebuyers. 

Another $10 million in 2019 HOF funds will be available by the end of this second quarter. 

For inquiries about the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program, please contact 412-255-6677. 

Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance Press Event

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: 3224 Richardson Avenue, Brighton Heights

Interview With Boaz Frankel For Very Local Pittsburgh's "A Sandwich With..." Series

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Tootie's, South Side Flats

Meeting With Brian & Joshua Schreiber

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman & Deputy Chief Of Staff & Chief Equity Officer Majestic Lane

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

ALCOSAN Ribbon Cutting For Sheradan Park Green Infrastructure Project

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Sheradan Park, Sheradan

Taco Festival Ribbon Cutting

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Highmark Stadium - Station Square, South Shore

2019 Planned Parenthood Spring Gala

Time: 7:15 P.M.

Full Bloom - 11th Annual Kelly Strayhorn Theater Annual Fundraiser

Time: 8:00 P.M.

Location: Kelly Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty 

No public schedule. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 3, 2019) The Office of Mayor William Peduto, Bureau of Environmental Services,  Division of Sustainability & Resilience, and the Department of Environmental Protection to host four informational workshops on the importance of recycling and waste reduction.

Who: Local residents; commercial building owners; landlords; business owners; community leaders; local organizations/groups

What: Four informational workshops, demonstrating the importance of recycling and how to improve recycling and reduce waste in the City. Residential sessions are designed for people in single-family dwellings and small apartments; commercial sessions are specifically for businesses and multi-unit apartments. Topics in the workshops will include:

• Changes in recycling guidelines
• New regulations
• Tips to reduce waste
• Hard-to-recycle materials
• Expert panel discussion

Why: ‘Better Recycling, Better Burgh’ serves as an opportunity for the people of Pittsburgh to learn the impact of recycling in our community, as well as resources for better recycling in the City. In addition to discussing the value of recycling, the workshops will address current recycling guidelines and regulations.

When: June 5, 2019

            9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Commercial session

            6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Residential session

            June 12, 2019

            9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Commercial session

            6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Residential session                     

Where: Construction Junction, Community Room

              214 North Lexington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 3, 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is pleased to announce the commencement of construction of the Woodruff at Merrimac Intersection Improvement Project, a project identified by the Department as a Safety Improvement and Neighborhood Traffic Calming Response project funded through the 2018 Capital Budget.  The purpose of the $80,000 project is to provide pedestrians with safer marked street crossings by reducing motorists’ speeds. These objectives will be accomplished by installing a new pedestrian refuge island on Woodruff Street; modifying the existing traffic island at the intersection; better delineating lanes and motorist movements; providing new crosswalks across both Woodruff and Merrimac Streets at the intersection.

2018 speed and volume data collection found the median speed on Woodruff Street to be 32 mph, with 94% motorists travelling over the posted speed limit of 25 mph. Nearby on Merrimac Street, the median speed was 29 mph, with 81% of motorists travelling over the posted speed limit of 25 mph. After completion of the project, the Department will collect data to determine if project objectives for safety and speed compliance have been accomplished.

Work is tentatively expected to begin on June 3, 2019, and is expected to last approximately four weeks, weather permitting. Hours of construction will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Lane restrictions may occur. Alternating through-traffic, at a minimum, will be maintained. We understand this may be a short-term inconvenience required to achieve long-term improvement in the neighborhood.

This project is part of a group of traffic improvement projects throughout the City. Additional projects in Council District 2 will be discussed at an upcoming public meeting with the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and hosted by the Council District in Mount Washington - date to be announced.

If you have any questions regarding this notice or the road construction project, feel free to contact the Project Manager at DOMI.Woodruff@pittsburghpa.gov.  Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this project.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 4, 2019) More than 1,000 public garbage cans containing sensors that track how full the cans are have been successfully deployed around Pittsburgh. 

The Department of Public Works first proposed adopting the cans in 2017, when it recognized the need to replace hundreds of old litter cans around the city, and knowing that the smart cans would help with efficiencies and cost savings. 

Studies by DPW and the Department of Innovation and Performance of the smart cans since their original deployment have shown that they result in savings of at least half the labor hours needed for the emptying typical cans, allowing DPW to reallocate resources to other needed tasks, such as pothole patching, litter picking, and weed and debris clearing. 

“The smart cans allow DPW to offer better refuse services to Pittsburgh residents and neighborhood business districts, while freeing up our workers to do other work to keep the city tidy,” DPW Director Mike Gable said. 

“Based on our analysis, we expect that the smart litter cans will give us the ability to make process improvements that will reduce the amount of labor hours spent on emptying garbage cans by at least half,” said Matt Jacob, the project manager for the program for the Department of Innovation and Performance. “As a result, DPW will be able to reallocate those resources to other tasks." 

DPW is in talks with unions representing its workers to possibly open a centralized litter can division and introduce expanded weekend garbage can collection services in business districts. 

The city’s capital budgets from 2017-2019 earmarked a total of $670,000 for smart can purchases, covering both entirely new cans and lids with sensors to retrofit existing cans. The city’s vendor for the receptacles is Victor Stanley.  

Photo: Smart garbage cans with old cans in foreground. Credit: City of Pittsburgh Department of Innovation & Performance.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 4, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City today for the 2019 Yale Mayors College & CEO Summit, a yearly gathering of mayors and business leaders from around the country. 

The Yale School of Management describes the Mayors College this way: 

“Bringing together mayors from mid-sized to large cities across the U.S. with leading scholars in healthcare policy, urban sociology, and history, the Yale Mayors College is an intensive one day peer-driven roundtable, offering a highly interactive environment with case studies from participant and other leading global cities. Participants are joined by 150 global CEOs and policy figures for the linked Yale CEO Summit.” 

Organizers are paying the costs of Mayor Peduto’s travel. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow evening. 

Mayors attending are scheduled to include: 

Bryan K. Barnett, Rochester Hills MI; Byron W. Brown, Buffalo NY; Tim Keller, Albuquerque, NM; Harry LaRosiliere, Plano TX; David R. Martin, Stamford CT; Tony Martinez, Brownsville TX; Paul Soglin, Madison WI; Levar Stoney, Richmond VA; Victoria Woodards, Tacoma WA; Joseph P. Ganim, Bridgeport CT; Will Joyce, Stillwater OK; Dee Margo, El Paso TX; Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore MD; Libby Schaaf, Oakland CA; Tom Schwedhelm, Santa Rosa CA; Alan Webber, Santa Fe NM; Stephen K. Benjamin, Columbia SC; Jim Brainard, Carmel IN; LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans LA; David A. Condon, Spokane WA; Toni Harp, New Haven CT; Tim Mahoney, Fargo ND; Jon Mitchell, New Bedford MA; Jim Strickland, Memphis TN;  Steve Williams, Huntington WV; Luke A. Bronin, Hartford CT; Greg Fischer, Louisville KY; James B. Hovland, Edina MN; Christina Muryn, Findlay OH; Adrian Perkins, Shreveport LA; Madeline Rogero, Knoxville TN; Kevin Scarpati, Meriden CT; Thomas Small, Culver City CA; and Jeff Williams, Arlington TX. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Tuesday, June 4, 2019: 

Introductions by Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, Yale School of Management, and Richard Berry; Mayor (2009-2017), Albuquerque NM; Fellow, Yale CELI 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Community and Economic Development panel with Ray Dalio Founder, Co-Chairman & Co-Chief Investment Officer; Bridgewater Associates; Nigel Travis Chairman, Dunkin’ Brands; Lynn Taliento Founder & Senior Advisor, Philanthropy Practice; McKinsey & Company; and Carrie Morgridge Chief Disruptor, Morgridge Family Foundation. 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Crisis Management panel with Steven Lipin Founder, Chairman & CEO; Gladstone Place Partners, and Courtland Reichman, Managing Partner, Reichman Jorgensen 

Time: 2:30 p.m. 

Infrastructure panel 1 with Richard L. Kauffman Chair, Energy Research & Development Authority; New York State; Lani Ingram Vice President for Smart Communities; Verizon Communications; Lauren Love-Wright Vice President for Network Engineering; Verizon Communications; Ed DiSanto EVP, CAO & General Counsel; American Tower Corporation; and Ed Knapp, Chief Technology Officer, American Tower Corporation 

Time: 3:30 p.m. 

Infrastructure panel 2 with David P. Abney Chairman & CEO, UPS; Mark Fields, Former President & CEO, Ford Motor Company; and Doug Parker Chairman & CEO, American Airlines Group. 

Time: 4 p.m. 

Presenting the Maverick in Leadership Award to Edward W. Stack, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods

Time: 7 p.m.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 4, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City tonight where he will honor Ed Stack, the chairman and CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, for his work on behalf of common-sense gun safety measures. 

Under Stack’s direction, Dick’s removed all assault-style firearms, high-capacity magazines and bump stocks from its stores following the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He has also lobbied Congress to adopt universal background checks and other reasonable forms of gun regulation, and is part of an Everytown for Gun Safety business council. 

Mayor Peduto is at the Yale Mayor’s College and CEO Summit, where he will help present Stack with the summit’s Maverick in Leadership Award. Joining the Mayor in presenting the award will be Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President & CEO of  Ethan Allen. 

“It’s my honor to present Ed Stack with this award, and to celebrate the integrity and courage he has shown in taking on what we in Pittsburgh know to be one of the most important fights of our time – protecting our neighborhoods, schools, places of worship and all public places from the gun violence epidemic,” Mayor Peduto said. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods is headquartered in Coraopolis. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 5, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City today for the 2019 Yale Mayors College & CEO Summit, a yearly gathering of mayors and business leaders from around the country. 

The Yale School of Management describes the Mayors College this way: 

“Bringing together mayors from mid-sized to large cities across the U.S. with leading scholars in healthcare policy, urban sociology, and history, the Yale Mayors College is an intensive one day peer-driven roundtable, offering a highly interactive environment with case studies from participant and other leading global cities. Participants are joined by 150 global CEOs and policy figures for the linked Yale CEO Summit.” 

Organizers are paying the costs of Mayor Peduto’s travel. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh this evening. 

Mayors attending are scheduled to include: 

Bryan K. Barnett, Rochester Hills MI; Byron W. Brown, Buffalo NY; Tim Keller, Albuquerque, NM; Harry LaRosiliere, Plano TX; David R. Martin, Stamford CT; Tony Martinez, Brownsville TX; Paul Soglin, Madison WI; Levar Stoney, Richmond VA; Victoria Woodards, Tacoma WA; Joseph P. Ganim, Bridgeport CT; Will Joyce, Stillwater OK; Dee Margo, El Paso TX; Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore MD; Libby Schaaf, Oakland CA; Tom Schwedhelm, Santa Rosa CA; Alan Webber, Santa Fe NM; Stephen K. Benjamin, Columbia SC; Jim Brainard, Carmel IN; LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans LA; David A. Condon, Spokane WA; Toni Harp, New Haven CT; Tim Mahoney, Fargo ND; Jon Mitchell, New Bedford MA; Jim Strickland, Memphis TN;  Steve Williams, Huntington WV; Luke A. Bronin, Hartford CT; Greg Fischer, Louisville KY; James B. Hovland, Edina MN; Christina Muryn, Findlay OH; Adrian Perkins, Shreveport LA; Madeline Rogero, Knoxville TN; Kevin Scarpati, Meriden CT; Thomas Small, Culver City CA; and Jeff Williams, Arlington TX. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Wednesday, June 5, 2019: 

(All locations: New York Public Library) 

Welcome and Overview – Celeste Bartos Forum Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, Senior Associate Dean, YALE School of Management Anthony W. Marx, President & CEO, The New York Public Library 

Time: 8 a.m. 

Session 3 Keeping Your Head above Water: CEO Voice in Turbulent Global Seas, with Kevin Rudd; President, Asia Society Policy Inst.; 26th Prime Minister of Australia Ashton B. Carter; 25th US Secretary of Defense; Author, Inside the Five-Sided Box Lloyd C. Blankfein, Senior Chairman, The Goldman Sachs Group David P. Abney, Chairman & CEO, UPS Sara Eisen; Co-Anchor, Closing Bell; CNBC Maurice R. Greenberg, Chairman & CEO, CV Starr & Co. 

Time: 9 a.m. 

Session 4 Revising the Rules: CEO Voice & Fairness, with David M. Solomon, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, The Goldman Sachs Group Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman & CEO, Blackstone Joseph B. Ucuzoglu, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte US Roger McNamee; Managing Director, Elevation Partners; Author, Zucked Kara Swisher, Co-Founder & Executive Editor, Recode Andrew Ross Sorkin; Editor, DealBook, The New York Times; Co-Anchor, CNBC 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Session 5 Breaking through the Tech Clouds: CEO Voice & Clarity, with Ginni Rometty; Chairman, President & CEO; IBM Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman & CEO (2006-2018), PepsiCo Doug Parker, Chairman & CEO, American Airlines Group Ivan Seidenberg; Retd. Chair & CEO, Verizon; Author, Verizon Untethered Stuart Miller, Executive Chairman, Lennar Corporation W. Rodney McMullen, Chairman & CEO, The Kroger Co. Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO, ADP Alex Taylor, President & CEO, Cox Enterprises 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Session 6 Legend in Leadership Award to Virginia M. Rometty, Chairman, President & CEO; IBM Corporation 

Time: 4 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 7 p.m. 

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Boars Chair Paul Leger & Executive Director Robert Weimar, & Chief Sustainability Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Tree Pittsburgh's Pizza On The Porch Event

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Tree Pittsburgh, Upper Lawrenceville

Mayoral Forum On Digital Equity & Inclusion With Mayor of Chattanooga Andrew Burke

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Point Park University Center For Media Innovation, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 6, 2019) County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and City of Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto issued the following joint statement in response to UPMC’s announcement that UPMC Hillman Cancer Care will be available to all at in-network rates after June 30:

“We are delighted with today’s announcement by UPMC that UPMC Hillman Cancer Care will be available to all insurers at in-network rates. Along with yesterday’s announcements that prepayment will not be required from Highmark Medicare Advantage members and that UPMC will accept direct payment from Highmark for out-of-network emergency care at the same rate, these first steps continue to move us toward the goal of providing greater health care access for our region’s residents.

We have spent over five years working towards ensuring access for residents in our communities, and the greater region. This is how progress happens – by continuing to work together and engaging with all parties. We are thankful to the executives of both UPMC and Highmark for continuing to engage in conversation with us and acknowledging that our interest has always been about doing what’s in the best interest of our residents. We look forward to continuing these productive conversations and improving access to health care here in the Pittsburgh region.”

Contacts:

Amie M. Downs Allegheny County 412-350-3711 (office) 412-327-3700 (cell) amie.downs@alleghenycounty.us

Timothy McNulty City of Pittsburgh 412-255-2619 (office) 412-660-1999 (cell) timothy.mcnulty@pittsburghpa.gov

Presenting Proclamation To Moms Demand Action & Everytown For Gun Safety For National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Shannah Tharp-Gilliam

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Edda L. Fields-Black & Lee Pringle

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Mitch Swain

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With City Solicitor & Chief Legal Officer Yvonne Hilton

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 7, 2019) A new cooperation agreement between the City and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is being introduced for consideration by City Council next week. The updated agreement mandates that the authority will remain publicly-owned and reflects a more business-like relationship between the two bodies.

The current cooperation agreement between the City and PWSA ends July 5, 2019. Much of the language in the new agreement – such as requirements that the City make payments for PWSA water and sewer services, and that PWSA make payments for city services – is necessitated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which assumed oversight of the PWSA last year. Several provisions reflect recommendations made by the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on PWSA.

“In the past five years, following decades of disinvestment and poor management of the PWSA, the authority has been making great strides at becoming more accountable and more customer-friendly to Pittsburgh residents. This agreement is a needed next step in formalizing those positive changes,” Mayor William Peduto said.

“The updated agreement reflects the reality that PWSA is evolving into a mature and modern publicly-owned water, sewer and stormwater utility. The agreement creates a reasonable and justified footing for how the City and PWSA will interact in the future,” PWSA board chair Paul Leger said.  

Under the cooperation agreement:

• The City will pay PWSA for water, sewer and fire hydrant charges on a five-year phased-in basis beginning in January 2020
• PWSA will reimburse the City for PWSA employees enrolled in the City pension plan
• PWSA will begin paying City permit fees
• PWSA will take control over the Pennsylvania American Water Company ratepayer subsidy agreement
• All City facilities will be metered (with the cost of placing meters shared by both entities)
• The City will be treated like a commercial customer in regard to water service line and sewer lateral maintenance, with two distinctions (a five-year phase-in for City costs, and PWSA will maintain all lines/laterals in City parks larger than 50 acres)
• PWSA will pay for city services such as fuel for authority vehicles, fleet maintenance and street sweeping costs
• All payments between the City and PWSA will meet auditing standards

A copy of the proposed cooperation agreement is available here. Resolutions on the agreement will be introduced to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday and the PWSA board at its next meeting June 28.

Meeting With Peggy Ott

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Lynne Hayes-Freeland

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich, City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton, & Chief Of Police Scott Schubert

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Ralph Watson

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Bellevue, PA Mayor Emily Marburger

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Chief Of Staff Daniel Gilman, Director Of Innovation & Performance Santiago Garces, & Special Initiatives Manager Laura Drogowski

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

United Nations and Gender Equity Commission Presenting Mayor Peduto with Global Leadership Award 

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Wigle Whiskey, The Strip District

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 10, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh, Office of Mayor William Peduto and the Office of Management and Budget are excited to announce the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection's Alternative Incentive has granted the city with $135,160.    

These funds will be allocated to add eight new dual hosed electric vehicle charging stations to the Second Avenue fleet lot. This grant is a required 1:1 match from the City of Pittsburgh for this declared purpose for a total project cost of $270,320. Currently, the city has 19 charging stations and with the new addition will have a total of 27 stations. The date for the new charging station to be built has not been set.  

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection's Alternative Incentive program has granted the city $67,500.00 to purchase nine new electric vehicles to add to the city's fleet. Supporting funds for the purchase of the sedans are identified in the 2019 City of Pittsburgh Capital Budget. The existing fleet has ten electric cars and will now have a new total of 19 with the newly purchased vehicles. The new vehicles were purchased at the beginning of June.   

InnovatePGH Leadership Committee Meeting

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Oaklander Hotel, North Oakland

Produce Terminal Building Groundbreaking Ceremony

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: The Produce Terminal, The Strip District

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 12, 2019) Renovation of ten affordable homes in the Hill District, Lawrenceville and Oakland are set to be approved tomorrow by the board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. 

The URA board is also set to issue a Request for Proposals for a construction manager to oversee “Roof-A-Thon,” a pilot program to fix roofs at up to 30 affordable properties citywide. 

In the Hill District, the Housing Opportunity Fund is seeking approval for $85,000 in For-Sale Development Grants and a $50,000 deferred mortgage agreement to renovate and sell two affordable homes on Mahon Street and Landleiss Place by the Hill Community Development Corporation. 

The Hill CDC plans to rehabilitate the homes and resell them for homeownership to homebuyers at less than 80% area median income. 

The URA board will also consider $825,750 in financing for the acquisition and renovation of six affordable single-family houses in Lawrenceville, through a project by the Lawrenceville Corporation (LC), in partnership with the newly formed organization City of Bridges Community Land Trust.  

A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a tool that creates permanently affordable home ownership opportunities for individuals who have been fully priced out of the private market. Through the use of a ground-lease, CLTs set a maximum resale price designed to give homeowners a return on their investment, while also ensuring that future homebuyers at the same income level have access to affordable homeownership. 

The bulk of the financing for the Lawrenceville homes comes from the Housing Opportunity Fund For-Sale Development Program (FSDP), in a grant of $300,000. 

In Oakland, the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) plans to acquire and rehabilitate two homes on Parkview Avenue and Robinson Street for sale to homebuyers at less than 80% area median income. A CLT will own the land and the homebuyers will own the structures.  When the houses are resold, they must be resold to households at or below 80% AMI.   

It is being supported by a Housing Opportunity Fund FSDP grant of $140,000 and a FSDP predevelopment loan of $72,000. 

Finally, the URA board is set to approve a Request for Proposals from a qualified construction manager to help administer a pilot “Roof-A-Thon" program, in which the HOF would help low income homeowners fix leaky roofs that lead to health problems and long-term maintenance issues, especially in older housing stock. 

The HOF advisory board has reserved $250,000 of the 2018 Homeowner Assistance Program funding to seed the pilot program, which would fund roof repairs at 25 to 30 homes. The HOF will be taking applications from low-income homeowners who cannot afford such repairs. 

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

For information about the EcoInnovation Plan:

Derek Dauphin

Senior Planner

City of Pittsburgh

Department of City Planning

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

[p] 412.255.4897

[e] derek.dauphin@pittsburghpa.gov

Speaking at Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Visit to Pittsburgh

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Phipps Conservatory

Meeting with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Phipps Conservatory

Meeting with Thomas Hoffman and Brenda Smith

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Speaking at Allegheny City Stables Project Groundbreaking

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: 836 W. North Ave, Allegheny West

Speaking at Forward Cities Conference

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Westin Pittsburgh, Central Business District

Speaking at "Paris to Pittsburgh" Showing at Audubon Society  

Time: 8:20 P.M.

Location: The Oak Theater, Oakmont, PA

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 13, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget and Office of Community Affairs are hosting their two annual “Potholes and Pierogies: Dinner and a Discussion of the 2020 Capital Budget” deliberative forums. These forums offer residents a space to learn about the city’s capital budget, discuss priorities with other residents, community leaders and city officials, share their ideas on budget priorities, and add their voices to the budgeting process.  

The first forum is tonight: 

Thursday, June 13, 2019 
6:00-8:30 PM  
Allegheny Center 
Museum Lab at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh 
10 Children's Way 
Pittsburgh, PA 15212 

The second forum will be: 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 
6:00 – 8:30 PM 
South Side Flats 
Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers 
10 S. 19th Street 
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 

Each Deliberative Forum Includes: 
• A brief overview of the budgeting process 
• Small group discussions of budget priorities and residents’ needs 
• An opportunity for residents to ask questions of an expert panel 
• A survey for all attendees to complete to add their ideas and opinions to the budgeting process 
• Dinner and refreshments 

The forums are open and free for all residents. Dinner and on-site childcare are provided. Locations have free vehicle parking, bicycle parking and access to public transit and are accessible for all abilities. Interpretive services are available by contacting cip@pittsburghpa.gov in advance.  

Attendees can register at http://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/cip/. Residents unable to attend are encouraged to check out the City’s budget engagement tool to learn about and comment on the capital budget online at https://pittsburgh.abalancingact.com/capital. All feedback will be considered in the budget process.  

SWPA Father's Day Pledge

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: United States Steel Tower Courtyard, Central Business District

Ribbon Cutting For Sandstone Quarry Homes With Housing Authority Of The City Of Pittsburgh

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: 1660 Sandusky Court, Fineview

North Side Leadership Conference's Annual Scholarship & Awards

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The Priory, East Allegheny

Lawrenceville Corporation's Annual Community Catalyst Celebration

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: The Clemente Museum, Lower Lawrenceville

Welcoming Sesame Street To Pittsburgh Ahead Of Schenley Park Festival

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Carnegie Science Center, Chateau

National Flag Foundation's Celebration Of Unity and Civility For Flag Day

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: United Steelworkers Building, Central Business District

Odd Pittsburgh Interview

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Locations: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

1-579 Cap Groundbreaking

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: PPG West Lot - Centre Avenue & Washington Place, Central Business District

Fireside Chat With Mayor Nan Whaley Of Dayton - Hosted By All For All & Welcoming America

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Alloy Studios, Friendship 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June ##, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation is thrilled to announce the Summer Food Program will begin on June 17, 2019, and run until August 23, 2019. The Summer Free Food Program is for anyone under the age of 18 or residents with intellectual disabilities up to age 21.    

Citiparks’ Summer Food Service program provides healthy and delicious breakfasts, lunches, and/or snacks. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) operates at approximately 80 City locations throughout the summer, including our Mobile Food Truck. This service is made possible by funding from the US Department of Agriculture through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.   

CitiParks has been partnering with Pittsburgh Public School District since 2015 to provide the Mobile Food Truck (MFT). The MFT program operates in conjunction with the Citiparks Roving Art Cart and serves free lunches at all of it’s scheduled stops.  

The SFSP served approximately 142,000 meals in 2018 - 2,200 of those meals were through the MFT program. 

For list of locations click here.  

Speaking at CEIR Conference

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Duquesne University Power Center Ballroom

Meeting with FUSE Fellow Mica Williams

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting with Stephanie Turman

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location:  Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Mayor's Award For Public Art

Time: 12:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Dell Technologies Senior Leadership

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Councilman Anthony Coghill

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 19, 2019) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today on the arrest of Pittsburgh resident Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, on charges of seeking to assist ISIS in an attack on a church in the city’s North Side: 

“On behalf of the citizens of Pittsburgh I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their arrest today, and the daily investigative work they and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police do to protect us from acts of terrorism and hate.  

Today’s events are especially alarming due to the suspect’s alleged target of yet another place of worship in our city, like the Tree of Life synagogue, which should be peaceful places of refuge and reflection that are free of threats of violence. 

Pittsburgh has historically been a home for refugees and immigrants and will continue to be one. In debates over the refugee crisis the past several years, as people from around the world have sought to flee violence and misery and seek better lives for their families in the United States, I have always been consistent in our message: we welcome all refugees and immigrants, and we oppose hate against anyone in any form, and we also cooperate with law enforcement whenever legitimate and dangerous crimes are threatening us.  

Today, unfortunately, those threats come from everywhere. The record shows most terrorists attacking the United States are domestic, such as the man who murdered 11 Tree of Life worshippers in October. The City of Pittsburgh will continue to welcome newcomers to our city and nation, while diligently working with federal law enforcement and others to keep us safe, and to eradicate all attempts to threaten and terrify us.” 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 19, 2019) The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) and the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) will hold a public meeting Thursday on the Four Mile Run (4MR) Stormwater Improvement Project and the Mon-Oakland Mobility Project. 

The purpose of the public meeting is to update attendees on the progress and current status of the projects and encourage input throughout. The meeting details are as follows:

DATE:    Thursday, June 20, 2019

TIME:    6:00 to 8:00 PM. Doors Open: 6:00 PM. Presentations: 6:30 to 7:00 PM. Q&A and Small Group Discussions: 7:00 to 8:00 PM

LOCATION:         Local 95 Union Hall (300 Saline St., Pittsburgh, PA 15207)

The 4MR Stormwater Improvement Project will capture and route the flow of stormwater through a naturalized surface channel that will generally follow the path of the historic streams that formed Four Mile Run from Panther Hollow Lake to the Monongahela River. This project also includes the restoration of recreational uses of Panther Hollow Lake. At the meeting, PWSA will discuss its quality assurance and its peer review process that ensures the project is implementable and effective. PWSA will also discuss anticipated project costs and funding sources as they relate to the different components of the design.

In conjunction with PWSA, DOMI is initiating the Preliminary Design Phase for the Mon-Oakland Mobility Project. The Mobility Project is part of the City of Pittsburgh’s efforts to create a publicly accessible and controlled mobility corridor that will connect the neighborhoods of Hazelwood, Greenfield, Four Mile Run and Oakland. The plan also includes a separate bike/ped trail to enable non-motorized transportation between these neighborhoods. The bike/ped trail includes improvements to the Junction Hollow Trail in Schenley Park. At the meeting, DOMI will provide a study phase recap and present design phase next steps. 

For more information about the projects, visit www.4mr.org and www.mon-oaklandmobility.com.

The Public Meeting location 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 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 contact Carrie Machuga, at McCormick Taylor, Inc. at (412) 922-6880.

For questions regarding the PWSA 4MR Stormwater Improvement Project, please contact Rebecca Zito at 412-683-1462 or rzito@pgh2o.com.

For questions regarding the DOMI Mon-Oakland Connector Project, please contact Michael Panzitta at 412-255-0816 or michael.panzitta@pittsburghpa.gov.

Spirit Of King Honoree Plaque Unveiling

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Penn Avenue at Shady Avenue, Shadyside-East Liberty Border

Meeting With CB Bhattacharya

Time: 1:00 P.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

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 20, 2019) Mayor William Peduto today celebrated the kickoff of the 2019 Summer Food Program, and findings that the City’s food programs have served more than 1 million meals since they were reformed in 2015.

Meals served by Citiparks’ GrubUp program accompany many more food-related initiatives backed by the Peduto Administration the past five years, including:

• Providing meals during the 2018-2019 federal government shutdown
• Completing a study of City Farmer’s Markets
• Promoting National School Breakfast Week
• Promoting Minority/Women/Immigrant-owned and operated businesses during the Inclusive Innovation Summit
• Supporting urban agriculture
• Supporting volunteerism at food banks
• Promoting Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
• Joining the international Urban Food Policy Pact

In the Pittsburgh region, there are more than 42,000 children who are food insecure. To address that the City provides free breakfast and lunch programs at all PPS locations, and after school snacks and dinners at the City recreation centers.

About one in seven children take advantage of free summer meals in the Pittsburgh region. To expand access to the free meals in September of 2015 the Mayor launched Grub Up, the City’s summer meal campaign, which served 1,009,411 meals as of 2018.

“When children are underfed they cannot be empowered to live, play and learn to their full potential. I am proud of all the efforts we have undertaken to address that challenge, and other initiatives we have pushed to provide healthy and locally-sourced food to all,” Mayor Peduto said.

Following is a list of food-related work the administration has undertaken since 2014.

1) After School Meals Served- Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

 220,260 Total Meals Served as of 2018 (Snacks and Suppers)

• 2014-2015=3,124 Meals
• 2015-2016=85,041 Meals
• 2016-2017=85,180 Meals
• 2017-2018=46,915 Meals

2) Summer Food Meals Served-Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

789,151 Total Meals Served as of 2018 (Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks)

• 2014=138, 081 Meals
• 2015=182,039 Meals
• 2016=177,756 Meals
• 2017=149,896 Meals
• 2018= 141, 379 Meals

 3) Grab ‘n Go snack carts at Recreation Centers

• The goal of the “Grab ‘n Go” carts is to offer healthy snacks in a destigmatized way to kids from food insecure households, many who rely on free lunch at school and snacks and dinner in City-owned Recreation Centers
• 20,000 KIND bars were consumed, donated by 412 Food Rescue

 4) Federal Furlough Emergency Response

As a response to SNAP eligible individuals and families who experienced food shortages as a result of the 35 day federal government shutdown in late 2018/early 2019, the City partnered with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to coordinate emergency food pop up centers

• 412 Food Rescue Pop Up at West Penn Rec Center
  • 16 families served
  • 120 lbs produce
  • 300 lbs non perishables
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Convention Center Pop Up
  • 80+ families served

 5) Breakfast Poster Competition

• Goal: Celebrating National School Breakfast Week, recognizing the importance of a nutritious breakfast for all children and youth
• Theme: A Nutritious Breakfast Fuels Me Up!
• All 54 PPS schools participated
• About 150 submissions were received, 9 total winners grades K-12
• Partners: Share Our Strength, National League of Cities, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Allegheny County Health Department-LiveWell Allegheny, Allies for Children, City of Pittsburgh Art Commission, Adagio Health

 6)    Inclusive Innovation

The City partnered with the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council and All for All to hire nine Minority/Women/Immigrant-owned and operated businesses to cater lunch and dinner for the Inclusive Innovation Summit, which attracted over 1,000 attendees, engaged over 300 partners and resulted in larger wedding and catering orders from guests who tried their food and beverages for the first time. The businesses were:

• Casa Brasil, Everyday Café, MiEmpanada, Hello Neighbor-Syrian Cookies, Mr. Bulgogi, Nellie’s Sandwiches, Wigle Whiskey, Bea Taco Town, FreshFest

 7) Food Donations to 412 Food Rescue from Summer Food Program

• 2017 = 883 Meals
• 2018 = 1,190 Meals
• Total = 2,073 Meals

 8) Volunteering with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

• Starting June 2018-August 2018, City staff and interns will volunteer with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank at two City operated Summer Food sites to mentor and engage 50+ youth in fun activities to encourage more participation in the Summer Food program
  • Carnegie Library, Woods Run
  • III Rivers Manor

9) Urban Agriculture

• In 2015, the Urban Agriculture Zoning Code was updated to make it easier for residents to be self-sustainable by raising crops, chickens, bees, and miniature goats in the City.
• In 2016, the Adopt-A-Lot program was launched allowing residents to access City land for food, flower, or rain gardens
• To date, 152 lots have been adopted, making a total of 56 projects; 18 projects (66 lots) are for food gardens.
• This has saved the city over a quarter million dollars in maintenance over 3 years ($265,000)

10) Farmers Markets

Pittsburgh operates 8 markets and is lucky to have a farmers market every day of the week except Saturday, with two on Fridays and Sundays!

As part of the study “Strengthening Pittsburgh’s Farmers Markets,” the City created a network, and convened market managers from across the region to network, share ideas, best practices and resources in an effort to support the food system from its base of farmers. Direct sales are a farmer’s best return on their product and our goal is to strengthen the market system as a whole.

• In 2018 we had 67 vendors across all our markets
•  This year we have 84 vendors
• In partnership with Just Harvest, City Farmers Markets accept SNAP and WIC benefits, and for every $5 spent on produce, $2 are awarded for SNAP holders
• In partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Senior residents at our 13 Senior Centers are given vouchers totaling $20 to purchase fresh produce
• The City has more than 35 markets listed on the Pittsburgh Regional Farmers Market Network map.

 11) Farmer + Chef Match-ups

• DCP and SPC and Sustainable Pittsburgh held three speed dating type events for farmers and chefs to connect and do business. 
• Over 200 total attendees representing 120 food businesses including farms, value-added food producers, chefs, and retail establishments.

12) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

• The city is in its 3rd year hosting Dillner Family Farm's Community Supported Agriculture shares in City Planning with more than 50 employees participating, providing fresh produce to our employees and directly supporting a local farm.

13) Signing the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, an effort dedicated to the creation of just and sustainable urban food systems.

• The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact addresses the opportunities cities have to contribute to food security and sustainable development through urban agriculture and by developing food systems based on the principles of sustainability and social justice.

Celebration of City Food Initiatives and Summer Food Kick-Off Festival

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Allegheny Commons Park, W. North Avenue and Palo Alto Street, North Side

Lunch & Learn With City Of Pittsburgh Interns

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Housing Authority Of The City Of Pittsburgh Open House For East End Units

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: 6449 Centre Avenue, East Liberty 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 20, 2019) Today, the Urban Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors and Mayor William Peduto announced that Executive Director Robert Rubinstein will step down as head of the URA on July 31, 2019.

“For more than 30 years, Robert worked to support housing and economic development at the URA. Robert has played a critical role managing the City's large scale development projects, including internationally-recognized Brownfield redevelopment and helping to shift the focus of the URA toward affordable housing and inclusive, equitable development. 

Over the next few months, a Search Committee comprised of Sam Williamson, Dan Gilman, Janera Solomon, Lashawn Burton-Faulk and Grant Oliphant will be conducting a national search to find a new Executive Director. During this transition period, it is our priority to find the best individual to lead, while still maintaining a stable and effective organization. As such, we have named Diamonte Walker to assume the rule of Interim Deputy Director of the URA. Diamonte is currently serving as Director of Performance & Compliance at the URA, where’s she’s made enormous strides working to increase opportunities for business growth and development to minority and female business owners in the city. We will also name an Interim Director prior to Robert’s departure. 

We are deeply grateful for Robert’s leadership, and for his dedicated service and contributions to the city of Pittsburgh. As we look toward the future, we are excited to continue to expand the URA's commitment to equitable development and to forging a city for all.”

Contact: Sam Williamson, swilliamson@seiu32bj.org or (412) 607-8145‬

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 21, 2019) City Planning Director Raymond W. Gastil has been appointed David Lewis Director of Urban Design and Regional Engagement in the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. He will direct the Remaking Cities Institute and will teach architecture and urban design.  

Gastil succeeds Donald Carter who will remain a Senior Research Fellow. His new position begins September 1, 2019. 

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to Pittsburgh’s future as City Planning Director, working with remarkably talented and committed colleagues in partnership with Pittsburgh’s communities. I look forward to being able to continue to contribute in the new position,” Gastil said. 

Gastil has served as Director of City Planning for the City of Pittsburgh since 2014. In that role  his leadership and contributions have included: 

• Reestablishing the City’s partnership with communities in neighborhood planning, including a completed plan in the Uptown/West Oakland EcoInnovation District, and plans nearing completion in Homewood, Manchester-Chateau, and Hazelwood, and plans beginning in Oakland and the Hill District. 

• Key waterfront initiatives including the Riverfront Zoning ordinance, which established performance-based incentives for responsible growth along the 35 miles of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. 

• Major open space initiatives including programs to facilitate urban farming, preserve open space, and planning for parks, including the task force for the future of Hays Woods. 

• Arts initiatives including the public art projects in parks, intersections, and on buildings in public-private partnerships. Gastil also contributed to the ongoing planning and design review of major projects and the public realm, from the Produce Terminal/Smallman Street to the Hazelwood Green Master Plan. 

• The Department of City Planning incorporating the city’s sustainability and resilience team, building the work of the City’s Resilience Strategy and P4 principles into guidelines, code, and ongoing work for neighborhood and citywide planning. Gastil also worked closely on Mayor Peduto’s OnePGH plan. 

“Ray’s time here in Pittsburgh has coincided with a time of major redevelopment around Pittsburgh, as we changed from a city managing decline to one managing growth. That presented us with both opportunities and challenges, and Ray was the perfect person to help guide us through that transition,” Mayor William Peduto said. “I am happy he is staying in Pittsburgh and we will continue to work together closely in his new role.” 

The City will perform a national search to seek a new Planning Director. 

Before joining the Peduto Administration Gastil held similar positions in Seattle and in the Manhattan Office of the New York City Department of City Planning. He was the founding Executive Director of the Van Alen Institute in New York City from 1995 to 2004.  

Gastil has taught architecture and urban design at Pennsylvania State University and at the University of California, Berkeley, and has lectured and published widely on urban design, urban development, and waterfronts. 

Gastil is a graduate of Yale University with a Master of Architecture from Princeton University. 

About the Remaking Cities Institute: The Remaking Cities Institute (RCI) was formed in 2006 in response to the demand for a greater link between academic work and ongoing community initiatives undertaken by firms, government agencies and community groups. The RCI has three missions: international research in urbanism; education in urbanism; and Pittsburgh regional redevelopment impact through sponsored research projects. Of particular concern and focus are the urban issues confronting rapidly growing cities in the developing world and cities in transition or decline in the post-industrial developed world. 

About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 13,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. 

Speaking At World Refugee Day

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

World Peace & Prayer Day

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Andy Warhol Bridge, Central Business District

Urban Garden Factory

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: The Mattress Factory, Central North Side

Pittsburgh (June 21, 2019) -- The Steel City World Cup, a soccer tournament celebrating Pittsburgh’s vibrant ethnic and cultural communities, returns June 22 through June 29.

24 soccer teams represent the region’s vibrant ethnic and cultural communities
Finals Night slated for Highmark Stadium

The soccer tournament will host 24 teams representing countries from around the world, including Nigeria, China, Italy, Spain, India, Bhutan, Turkey, USA, Germany, and Argentina. Round-robin group play will take place on Saturday, June 22nd at the Montour Junction Sports Complex in Coraopolis. The top 16 teams from the group stage will qualify for the single elimination stage the following day, June 23rd, which will include the Rounds of 16, 8, and 4.  In total, over 60 games will be played across the first two days to narrow the field down to two final teams.

The Steel City World Cup is organized and hosted by PUMP, Open Field, Pittsburgh Riverhounds S.C., and Welcoming Pittsburgh (an initiative of the Office of Mayor William Peduto).

“From long-time Pittsburgh residents to our newest friends and neighbors, the Steel City World Cup is a great opportunity to share cultures and traditions and foster cross-cultural relationships and understanding on and off the soccer field,” says Brian Magee, CEO, PUMP.

On June 29, Finals Night will be held at Highmark Stadium as part of the Riverhounds “Celebration of Cultures” event. The final Steel City World Cup match will take place after the Riverhounds take on Birmingham Legion FC. A single ticket is good for admission to the Riverhounds match and the Steel City World Cup finals. Tickets can be purchased at SteelCityWorldCup.com/finals.

“We are proud to co-host an event that brings people of all ethnicities together. Soccer is a beautiful game, shared and loved by people of many cultures. We are excited to be a part of an event that celebrates these different cultures we have here in Pittsburgh." Kevin Johnston, General Manager, Pittsburgh Riverhounds S.C.

A portion of the net proceeds from the Steel City World Cup will be donated to Open Field (formerly CameroonFDP), a nonprofit with a mission to improve the lives and futures of youth through sport. Since 2010, Open Field’s global team has engaged more than 3,000 youth in educational soccer programming, mentoring relationships, travel abroad experiences, and cultural exchange in Cameroon, Africa and Pittsburgh, PA. Their innovative approach to Sport for Good empowers youth to be leaders in their community and gain skills to help them succeed on and off the field.

"Welcoming Pittsburgh is proud to be partnering with PUMP, Open Field, and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the third Steel City World Cup,” says Feyisola Alabi, Special Initiatives Manager, Welcoming Pittsburgh. “This event is sure to not only be an impressive tournament but also a true showcase of the diversity of people who call our region home.”

The Steel City World Cup presenting sponsor is BNY Mellon. Event sponsors also include the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Friends of Pittsburgh Professional Soccer.

Questions may be directed to Brian Magee at brian@pump.org or 412-338-2133 ext. 10. More information, full schedule, and tickets to the finals night: www.steelcityworldcup.com

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 23, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Pennsylvania approving 19th Amendment/Women’s Suffrage. 

WHO: Mayor William Peduto 

Gender Equity Commission Members 

Women’s Suffrage Committee Members 

WHERE: Mayor’s Conference Room, 414 Grant St. 

WHEN: 10:00 A.M., Monday, June 24, 2019 

Press Conference Celebrating The 100th Pennsylvania's Ratification Of The 19th Amendment For Women's Suffrage

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Allvision Press Conference On Strip District Parking 

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Pennsylvania Market, The Strip District

Argo AI & Carnegie Mellon University Press Event

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Gates & Hillman Center - Carnegie Mellon University, Squirrel Hill North

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Signing Memorandum Of Understanding On Climate Action Between Pittsburgh & The Cit If Aarhus With Ambassador Of Denmark To The United States Lone Dencker Wisborg

Time: 4:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 24, 2019) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement on the 10-year agreement announced today between Highmark and UPMC: 

“This is great day for health care in Western Pennsylvania. 

We have been in discussions with Highmark and UPMC for five years, and it has long been critical for those talks to be continuous, constructive and respectful. We will continue to mediate in that manner whenever necessary.  

This agreement allows us to enter a new chapter, and create a potential for new partnerships, where we can work together to create a global center of medicine that will be unparalleled in a region our size.” 

UPDATE, JUNE 25, 2019:

Please note that observation decks along Grandview Avenue remain open. The elevated platforms mentioned in the press release below are sidewalks cantilevered over the hillside adjacent to the observation decks. 

DOMI would like to remind motorists to observe the 25 miles per hour speed limit on the avenue – exceeding the speed limit is dangerous, particularly to pedestrians in the area.

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 24, 2019) Work is underway to make portions of Grandview Avenue in Mount Washington safe for visitors, and to clean up vegetation and debris along the popular corridor. 

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) has found it necessary to close portions of elevated sidewalk platforms along Grandview to protect public safety. The department is commissioning engineering designs for their restoration, which is expected to start in August and be completed by November.  

Reconstruction is expected to cost between $750,000 and $1 million.  

The Grandview Avenue platforms, stretching from Ulysses Street to Shiloh Street, were constructed in the 1960s and last rehabilitated in the late 1980s.  In 2017, one section of elevated sidewalk (“Platform 7”) between Maple Terrace and Shiloh Street experienced a failure and was replaced by a relocated on-grade sidewalk.   

In early April, the elevated sidewalk between Kearsarge Street and Maple Terrace (“Platform 5”) experienced a failure of one of the precast concrete sidewalk slabs, requiring closure of this platform.  

DOMI ordered inspection of the platforms and found similar levels of deterioration of the precast concrete sidewalk slabs located across from Ulysses Street (“Platform 1”) and Bertha Street (“Platform 3”) necessitating the closure of these platforms in order to ensure public safety. The remaining platforms and overlooks were found to be in satisfactory condition.  

Engineering design is underway for Platform 5 with reconstruction anticipated to commence in August. Engineering design for the restoration of Platforms 1 and 3 will follow with reconstruction continuing sequentially and completed prior to Thanksgiving.  

In the meantime the Department of Public Works is working to address other needs in the corridor. 

DPW is redoubling efforts to street sweep Grandview and empty litter cans. Crews are also increasing ongoing mowing and weeding in the area. 

Its Forestry Division is attempting to trim trees and vegetation where possible, but due to the Mount Washington hillside’s long history of landslides that work is limited. 

Ornamental fencing along the avenue also needs to be addressed, including structural repairs, sanding and repainting, and possible replacement of some sections.  

All work by DOMI and DPW will be performed in consultation with the community and District 2 Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith. 

“I want to thank the Peduto administration, Chief of Staff Dan Gilman and the directors of DPW and DOMI for their attention to this issue. Grandview Avenue has been suffering from disinvestment for more than a decade, and comprehensive plans are necessary to address its many needs,” Councilwoman Kail-Smith said. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 24, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that it and its partner agencies will begin working with the Oakland community this year to create a 10-year plan with a shared vision for Oakland’s future and the projects and programs necessary to make that vision a reality. Once adopted by the Planning Commission, the Oakland Plan will become City policy and guide public and private investments in the area. New land use regulations, transportation and infrastructure improvements, and public programs may also be recommended by the plan.

Why Oakland?

Oakland is known for its rich mix of cultural and academic institutions, businesses, and strong residential communities. In the last decade, the area has seen a sharp increase in development activity and investment, particularly on Fifth and Forbes Avenues. UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, and private developers are all proposing significant building projects over the next 10 years. Discussions with community leaders have made it clear that Oakland needs a shared plan to fully benefit from the changes taking place while increasing access to jobs and affordable housing. The Oakland Plan will also implement the City’s adopted goals from the Climate Action Plan, particularly those related to sustainability, energy efficiency, and livability.

Upcoming Events

The Oakland Plan Steering Committee will have its first meeting in October of 2019 and many events are being planned for the summer so that community members can engage with the topics before the planning work begins.

Fifth/Forbes Urban Design Workshop

• What: Open house format event where you can learn about urban design and how buildings can improve the pedestrian experience on Fifth and Forbes Avenues, hear more about the Oakland Plan process, and provide input to shape a regulatory tool (Interim Planning Overlay District) being considered to improve building design along these streets. Developers currently proposing projects will also attend and speak with attendees about their projects.
• When and Where: Thursday, June 27th. Two identical sessions will take place, a daytime session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a 5-8 p.m. evening session. The workshop will be held at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum (4141 Fifth Ave). This is a fully accessible venue.
• Details: Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Interpreters can be provided if requested at least one week prior to the event. A ramp and accessible entrance is located on the University Place side of the building.

Summer Education Series

• What: Informational sessions with City and non-profit experts on topics that will be covered in the neighborhood planning process, such as transportation and parking, stormwater, and energy.
• When and Where: Multiple evening sessions in July and August. Learn more at the Oakland Plan website.
• Details: Dinners will be provided. Interpreters can be provided if requested at least one week prior to each event.

How Can I Learn More?

The central place for project information is online at http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/oakland. Social media will include Facebook, Next Door, Twitter, and Instagram. As they are developed, proposals will be shared with the public online and in person through public events.

About the Neighborhood Planning Program

Pittsburgh can meet its goals to achieve a more sustainable and equitable future through the collective action of our neighborhoods. Community input informed the creation of citywide goals that are now being translated into action through a new generation of neighborhood plans.

Pittsburgh’s neighborhood plans focus on four topics areas:

• Community: Meeting the needs of the residents, employees, students, and stakeholders.
• Development: Maximizing the benefits of new development for the community.
• Mobility: Making it easier, safer, and healthier for people to get around.
• Infrastructure: Nourishing neighborhoods through new energy, stormwater, and open space systems.

The City’s neighborhood planning process offers many opportunities for active involvement including through a Steering Committee that includes representatives from a broad range of community interests, Action Teams that develop projects and programs for specific topics, community events such as block parties, workshops, and open houses that allow more casual involvement throughout the planning process. The project website and social media accounts will provide online opportunities to learn and provide input.

Staff from the Department of City Planning manage the overall planning process and support planning partners who lead discussions by topic. Partners include the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Green Building Alliance, and Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, among others. Neighborhoods that have already undergone City-led planning processes include Uptown, Homewood, Manchester-Chateau, and Hazelwood.

Contacts:

Derek Dauphin, Project Manager, Department of City Planning

Derek.Dauphin@pittsburghpa.gov

Andrew Dash, Assistant Director, Department of City Planning

Andrew.Dash@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 24, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and Danish Ambassador Lone Dencker Wisborg today signed a partnership agreement between Pittsburgh and Aarhus, Denmark, on their joint work to advance energy and climate objectives. 

Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark, is a fellow post-industrial city with a long track record of implementing clean energy standards, and can assist Pittsburgh on achieving similar goals. In the last decade Aarhus has cut its carbon emissions in half, which is something that Pittsburgh plans to accomplish by 2030. Aarhus has accomplished the emissions cut through efforts such as adopting district energy, moving to cleaner transportation methods, using off-site wind power and so on. 

Officials from the City and the University of Pittsburgh have already been working with the Danish government and others on energy collaboration matters, and today Mayor Peduto and Ambassador Wisborg signed a Memorandum of Understanding on further work between the two cities. 

As the MOU states: 

The City of Aarhus and the City of Pittsburgh are equal in population size and share a history as industrial cities. Today, both cities have a large share of manufacturing jobs while simultaneously they serve as higher education hubs attracting a young and educated workforce and creating an innovative business environment. Aarhus and Pittsburgh are both growing and aiming to accommodate this development by creating healthy and liveable cities and transforming old industrial areas to attractive urban spaces. 

Recognizing the Parties’ mutual interest in taking transformational actions to achieve their 2030 carbon reduction targets and create attractive, resilient, and liveable cities of the future; Recognizing the importance of finding efficient and lasting methods to manage decarbonisation that are compatible with the need for job creation, economic growth, and access to affordable energy, housing and transportation options . . . The Parties believe that an ongoing and robust exchange of information and experience regarding climate action and urban solutions will help the Parties in successfully achieving the two cities’ ambitious 2030 carbon reduction targets. 

A copy of the MOU, which sets out the objectives of the partnership between the two cities, is available here. 

Ambassador Wisborg and other Danish officials are in Pittsburgh this week for the annual conference of the International District Energy Association at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Tomorrow at the conference, Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh will be recognized by the United Nations Environment District Energy in Cities Initiative for their collaboration, vision and commitment to modernizing local energy infrastructure through district energy microgrids. 

The U.S. Department of Energy signed a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Pittsburgh on developing a district energy microgrid system in 2015. 

One of the world’s first district energy systems was the Bellefield Boiler Plant in Oakland, built in 1907 to provide steam heat for the Carnegie Museum. Once fueled by coal, it turned over completely to natural gas in 2009.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 25, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works advises that Shaler Street, in Duquesne Heights, will be closed on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. from Minnotte Square to Wells Street, for routine weed cutting.

Also, Greenleaf Street in Duquesne Heights will be closed on Thursday, June 27, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. from Fingal Street to S. Main Street, for routine weed cutting.

Those seeking additional information may contact John McClory, Supervisor in the 5th Division, at 412-287-0812.

50th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots Press Conference with Council President Bruce Kraus and Councilperson Erika Strassburger

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: City-County Building Portico

Meeting with James Bauerle

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Speaking at IDEA 2019 VIP Recognition and Awards Luncheon

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 26, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Paris today for the annual board meeting of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, a global organization of more than 9,000 local governments fighting climate change. 

The Mayor is the Covenant’s board member from the United States. Organizers are paying for the Mayor’s travel and no city tax dollars are being spent. 

Cities represent half of the world’s population and consume two-thirds of the world’s energy, so by banding together they can make significant differences to the Earth’s climate, even in the absence of national leadership on the matter. 

The Global Covenant describes its work this way: 

GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, built upon the commitment of over 9,000 cities and local governments. These cities hail from 6 continents and 132 countries. In total, they represent more than 800 million people. By 2030, Global Covenant cities and local governments could collectively reduce 1.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year. That’s the equivalent of taking 276 million cars off the road. 

The Covenant’s board meets today and tomorrow. The Mayor returns to Pittsburgh Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Wednesday, June 26, 2019: 

Working session with Board co-chair Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Location: Hôtel de Ville, Paris 

Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Board Meeting with Christiana Figueres, former New York City Mayor and U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg, and European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Location: Hôtel de Ville, Paris 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 26, 2019) Seeking to improve the quality of recycling in Pittsburgh and to boost efforts to meet zero waste goals, Mayor William Peduto today announced plans to provide thousands more blue recycling bins to city residents in coming years. 

Recycling has been mandatory in Pittsburgh since 1991 and residents have long placed their recyclables in blue plastic bags. Unfortunately, such bags clog equipment at recycling facilities, create roadside blight, and degrade the quality of recyclables (which reduces their value and increases costs for the City). 

Blue containers under 35 gallons in size consolidate recycling into one container, making them more convenient for residents and the refuse workers who empty them.  

Recycling bins are more than tools needed to easily participate in the City’s recycling program; they are invitations to join the City in its ambitious zero waste goals. 

“As the recycling industry and our climate continue to change, Pittsburgh needs to keep adapting to a stronger culture of waste reduction and material reuse. A strategic plan for purchasing and deploying blue recycling bins citywide will make that culture change more accessible, equitable and meaningful for all,” Mayor Peduto said. 

The Mayor is proposing adding $500,000 to the City’s 2020 budget to begin buying more bins for residents, followed by additional monies in future years to expand the usage of the bins citywide. 

The funding would be subject to approval by Pittsburgh City Council. 

Distribution plans for the bins have not yet been finalized. Residents will be alerted when new bins are available, likely beginning next year. Residents may also buy their own blue bins for usage at any time. 

Earlier this year City Council approved improvements to ordinances around waste and recycling forwarded by Councilperson Erika Strassburger, which included language on the blue bins.  

Mayor Peduto is proposing phasing-in purchases of the bins over coming years, possibly with the assistance of grants and nonprofit support.  

By delivering higher-quality recyclables the bins could generate more revenue for the city and other efficiencies for the Environmental Services bureau, which would offset bin costs. The City is launching a recycling education program to further improve the quality of recyclable materials, and decrease other waste sent to landfills. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 27, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Paris today for the annual board meeting of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, a global organization of more than 9,000 local governments fighting climate change. 

The Mayor is the Covenant’s board member from the United States. Organizers are paying for the Mayor’s travel and no city tax dollars are being spent. 

Cities represent half of the world’s population and consume two-thirds of the world’s energy, so by banding together they can make significant differences to the Earth’s climate, even in the absence of national leadership on the matter. 

The Global Covenant describes its work this way: 

GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, built upon the commitment of over 9,000 cities and local governments. These cities hail from 6 continents and 132 countries. In total, they represent more than 800 million people. By 2030, Global Covenant cities and local governments could collectively reduce 1.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year. That’s the equivalent of taking 276 million cars off the road. 

The Covenant’s board met yesterday and is meeting again today. The Mayor returns to Pittsburgh Friday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Thursday, June 27, 2019: 

Meeting of Global Covenant Mayors 

Time: 10 a.m. 

Location: Bloomberg Paris offices 

Board session with Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, former New York City Mayor and U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg, and European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Location: Hôtel de Ville, Paris 

Meeting on GCoM Key Priorities 

Time: 5 p.m. 

Location: Hôtel de Ville, Paris 

Meeting on 2019 Climate Events with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo; Ms Ami Koo, Seoul Mayors Forum; and Mayor Mohamed Sefiani ,UCLG World Congress, Durban 

Time: 5:30 p.m. 

Location: Hôtel de Ville, Paris 

Closing remarks by European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič 

Time: 6 p.m. 

Location: Hôtel de Ville, Paris 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 27, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh is committing to work with the National League of Cities, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Schmidt Futures to leverage foreign-born, high-growth entrepreneurs to improve the pipeline of new businesses within the City of Pittsburgh.

Immigrant entrepreneurs and businesses support a substantial portion of American job creation. Pittsburgh is home of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem where nationally ranked universities powerhouses for innovation, local incubators and accelerators, and economic development organizations work together to empower local entrepreneurs.

Over the next year, a cross departmental team from the City of Pittsburgh will work with leaders in the public, private, and university sectors to explore the possibility of creating a Global Entrepreneurs in Residence program here in Pittsburgh, leveraging the existing work from our community partners, and accelerating opportunities for foreign-born entrepreneurs to stay in the city.

This initiative ties directly into the Welcoming Pittsburgh plan that aims to make Pittsburgh a more welcoming city in which to live, work, and play.

Contact:

Annia Aleman

Senior Civic Innovation Specialist 

Innovation & Performance | City of Pittsburgh 

412.255.2152

annia.aleman@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 26, 2019) Mayor William Peduto returns today from Paris, where he was attending the annual board meeting of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, a global organization of more than 9,000 local governments fighting climate change. 

The Mayor is the Covenant’s board member from the United States. Organizers paid for the Mayor’s travel and no city tax dollars are being spent. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Friday, June 28, 2019: 

Flight to Pittsburgh 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Meeting With Dr. Darryl Canady

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Public Safety Swearing-In Ceremony For Canine Officers

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, North Shore

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 1:30 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 1, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh offices and Healthy Active Living Centers will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in observance of Independence Day. City outdoor pools will open at 1:00 p.m. on Independence Day with early closure of 5:45 p.m. 

Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Thursday, July 4 will be delayed one day.  

If your scheduled day of collection is Thursday, July 4, you will be serviced on Friday, July 5. If your collection day is Friday, July 5, you will be serviced on Saturday, July 6.    

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 5:45 p.m. 

• Special Note:  The Schenley Park Pool is closed for maintenance 

• 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., with the exception of East Hills which is scheduled to be open Noon to 6:00 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 

Interview For "Tomorrow's World Today" Podcast

Time: 11:45 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Phone Call With Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Lynne Hayes-Freeland

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With the University Of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Emily Brandt

Time: 2:00 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

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Graduation Ceremony

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: CCAC Foerster Student Center - Monument Hill, Allegheny West

Interview With AT&T Sports Network On Pirates Charities & City Of Pittsburgh Partnerships

Time: 8:30 P.M.

Location: PNC Park, North Shore

HONOLULU, HI (July 2, 2019) Last week at the second-annual Climate Mayors Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative (“the Collaborative”) — with which the City of Pittsburgh is partnering to electrify its city fleet — announced that 127 cities and 15 counties from across 38 states, including the District of Columbia, have joined the Collaborative and committed to purchasing more than 2100 electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of 2020. The City of Pittsburgh has committed to a fossil fuel free fleet by 2030 — helping to improve citywide air quality and public health. As of July, 2019, the City already owns and operates 19 fully electric vehicles.

By transitioning to EVs, cities like Pittsburgh are leading by example: helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet, saving taxpayer money, improving public health, and reducing our nation’s dependency on oil. With 127 cities committing to the Collaborative by the end of 2020, the EV commitments have the potential to:

• Cut gas usage by up to 1 million gallons each year;
• Transition to 25 million electric miles driven each year; and
• Add more than $75 million in purchasing power to the electric vehicle market

As part of Climate Mayors’ commitment to grow participation and offerings in the Collaborative, its procurement partner, Sourcewell, will be releasing a new national solicitation for electric school buses by the end of the year, enabling all electric school bus manufacturers to participate and become readily available for any public school system to access at competitive prices. The Collaborative will continue to expand in the future, including to transit buses and other vehicle types. With more than 470,000 school buses and 70,000 transit buses operating across the country, transitioning to electric school buses creates a big opportunity to make it easier for school children and across the U.S. to travel on a zero-emission bus.

“The clean transportation revolution is not a distant vision for the far-off future — it’s a reality hitting the streets of Los Angeles and cities around the world,” said Climate Mayors’ Founder and Co-Chair Eric Garcetti. “By expanding this innovative platform with zero-emission school buses and thousands of new commitments for electric vehicles, Climate Mayors are sending a powerful message to the global car market: if you build electric vehicles, we will buy them.”

“By committing to a fossil fuel free fleet by 2030, the City of Pittsburgh is tackling the transportation sector, a major contributor to poor air quality and carbon emissions, to improve the health of its residents and employees. We’re also powering the City’s electric vehicles with solar energy generated at our Second Avenue parking lot, and working to break down barriers for EV adoption for all of our residents by simplifying and expanding charging availability,” said Mayor William Peduto.   

“The electrification of Honolulu’s city and bus fleets will go a long way in making our island more sustainable and resilient in the face of the current climate crisis,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “However, it will also improve the natural environment for our residents and visitors by eliminating smoky exhaust fumes and noise pollution from our communities. By coming together under one umbrella with this EV Collaborative, mayors across the country are increasing the purchasing power of taxpayers while also showing love for Mother Nature.”

“Cities across the country are demonstrating critical leadership by committing to transition their fleets to electrification - reducing our dependence on oil, while also improving our nation’s health, and our economic and national security,” said Ben Prochazka, Vice President of the Electrification Coalition. “We hope other mayors around the country will see this as a call to action and plug their fleets into the Climate Mayors EV Purchasing Collaborative.”

In agreeing to purchase electric vehicles through the Collaborative, public agencies gain access to competitively solicited EVs and charging infrastructure, as well as innovative leasing options that allow cities to reduce EV costs by accessing state and federal tax credits. The Collaborative also provides support with analysis and best practices for fleet electrification to cities as they consider switching to electric.

With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Collaborative is working with the American Cities Climate Challenge, a group of 25 of the largest U.S. cities, including Pittsburgh, who are pursuing ambitious goals to cut emissions and fight climate change from the bottom-up. American Cities Climate Challenge cities represent about 700 vehicles of the total commitment.

Launched in September 2018, the Collaborative is a partnership between Climate Mayors, the Electrification Coalition, and Sourcewell. The program works with cities and other public agencies to accelerate the electrification of public fleets. The Collaborative provides technical expertise to purchasers and a program that reduces the costs and barriers to electrifying fleets.

###

About Climate Mayors

Climate Mayors, founded in 2014, is a diverse network of U.S. city leaders who have committed to fighting climate change. In response to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the network’s ranks swelled to more than 400 U.S. mayors from across the country who have committed to taking ambitious action to meet each of their cities’ current climate goals, while working together towards achieving our national Paris targets. Climate Mayors is founded and Chaired by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Co-Chaired by Mayors Madeline Rogero (Knoxville), Sylvester Turner (Houston) and Marty Walsh (Boston).

About the Electrification Coalition

The Electrification Coalition (EC) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit group of business leaders committed to promoting policies and actions that facilitate the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption on a mass scale in order to combat the economic, environmental and national security dangers caused by our nation’s dependence on oil. The EC works through several approaches to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles including consumer education, fleet electrification, public-private partnerships, comprehensive EV accelerator communities, policy advocacy, and innovative program development. Since 2008, the EC has been developing leading best practices to help cities, states, and the private sector influence the adoption of EVs by consumers and fleets.

About Sourcewell

Sourcewell is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education and government agencies throughout North America. They offer a cooperative purchasing program with over 300 awarded vendors on contract. On behalf of their 50,000 members, Sourcewell conducts competitive solicitations, awarding to the most responsive and responsible vendors. The result of this cooperative effort is a high-quality selection of nationally leveraged, competitively solicited contract solutions to help create efficiencies and meet the ever-challenging needs of current and future member agencies.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 3, 2019) A section of Grant Street that was closed for two months for brick replacement reopened today, on schedule and on budget.

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) closed the outbound lanes of Grant Street between Seventh and Liberty avenues in May due to the deteriorating brickwork on the street, saying they would reopen July 3. The project – part of a multiyear reconstruction of the brick street – finished today on schedule, and crews this morning were removing traffic cones that had restricted vehicular traffic.

A small section of the street will be repaved next week to smoothen the transition between brick and asphalt at the intersection with Liberty Avenue. That work is expected to occur at night and will have limited impact on motorists.

The new brickwork was part of the City's $20 million in repaving projects budgeted this year. Another section of Grant Street is planned to be reconstructed next year, and DOMI is still considering which part.

Photos: At top, Grant Street section completed; at bottom, Grant Street work in progress. Credit: City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure

No public schedule. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 5, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will host a free watch party Sunday morning in Schenley Plaza for the FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands. 

A large video screen will broadcast the game, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 7.  

The event at the Oakland park is free of charge and the Parks Conservancy, Citiparks and the City’s Special Events Office are planning to provide soccer-related activities, games and crafts, food trucks, face painting, noise makers and American flags for fans of all ages. 

Please follow @citypgh and @pittsburghparks on Twitter for any updates. 

Photo: U.S. Soccer

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 5, 2019) The City of  Pittsburgh is proud to announce that it signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief in three key LGBT cases that will be heard at the Supreme Court next term. The brief includes nearly 100 mayors and municipalities around the U.S. encouraging the Supreme Court to rule in support of LGBT nondiscrimination protections in the workplace. 

The cases concern three plaintiffs: Gerald Lynn Bostock, who was fired from his job as a court child welfare services coordinator in Georgia because he is gay; Aimee Stephens, who was let go from her job at a funeral home in Michigan after she shared with her employer that she is a transgender woman; and Don Zarda, who was fired from his job in New York as a skydiving instructor for being gay. 

“No one should experience discrimination because of who they are or who they love. Our LGBT neighbors and community members make important contributions to our community, and they just want the same thing as every other resident: to raise a family, to make a decent living, and to feel accepted in the city they call home. As Mayor, it’s my responsibility to make sure all of my residents are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. No form of discrimination has any place in the City of Pittsburgh, nor in the United States,” said Mayor William Peduto.  

The brief states in part: 

“Local anti-discrimination laws promote the prosperity and vitality of American communities. Among other things, these laws enhance innovation and economic opportunities. For example, researchers have found that state-level non-discrimination acts barring sexual orientation and transgender status discrimination result in higher rates of innovation, as measured by patents and patent citations. Adopting specific protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or transgender status has facilitated LGBT individuals’ participation in, and contribution to, their communities, enriching both the individual and the whole. And it has achieved that end with no real difficulties of implementation or administration, all while avoiding burdening taxpayer resources to remediate the harms of workplace discrimination against LGBT residents.” 

At the core of these cases is the question of whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, prohibits LGBTQ discrimination. A number of lower courts and federal agencies have already affirmed that it does. In addition, 30 

states and more than 250 cities around the country have comprehensive laws in place ensuring nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, including in employment. 

No public schedule.

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald & Duquesne University President Ken Gormley

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Presenting Proclamation To WYEP For Pittsburgh Music Month

Time: 11:30 A.M.

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

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Gateway Health Chief Executive Officer Cain Hayes

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Interview With Post Industrial

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Presenting Proclamation For 50th Anniversary Of Pittsburgh's Human Relations Commission Ordinance

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Highmark Penn Avenue Place  - Joseph Horne Co. Building, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 9, 2019) Changes continue to be implemented in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Narcotics and Vice Division following an October 2018 incident inside Kopy’s bar in the South Side, Mayor William Peduto and Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich announced today. 

Commander Jason Lando, who has deep experience and background in narcotics and vice investigations, was placed in charge of the division in late June and began his new role yesterday. Furthermore, new guidelines have been implemented for undercover work and additional supervisory personnel are being deployed at the division. 

After three independent investigations by the U.S. Attorney’s office, the District Attorney’s office and the city’s Office of Municipal Investigations – as well as interviews by Director Hissrich – no criminal charges have been filed against the four undercover detectives involved in the 2018 incident.  

The Mayor and Director announced today that the four detectives will remain on the force, but reassigned to other positions in the Police Bureau. 

Attending Pittsburgh Technology Council Meeting

Time: 9:00 A.M.

Location: Marriot City Center, Central Business District

Meeting With Allegheny County Executive Richard Fitzgerald

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Meeting With Jason Brown and Kim Amey

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Interview with 2019 Menino Survey of Mayor’s

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Pennsylvania Municipal League Legislative Co-Chair Committee Call

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Mayor’s Office Intern Picnic

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Schenley Park, Squirrel Hill South

Ronald McDonald House Charities Founders Reception

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh, Central Lawrenceville

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 10, 2019) A new order from the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas will lead to neighborhood-level oversight of enforcement actions by the City’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. 

DOMI regularly holds contractors and others responsible for violations on city rights-of-way, which can include utility cuts that are not properly restored, traffic closures outside of legally permitted hours, or sidewalks improperly closed without a permit. 

Until now such violations have been overseen by District Judges working at Municipal Court Downtown. Under a new order from President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark all such violations will now be heard by city District Judges in the Magisterial District Court office in the city neighborhoods where the alleged violations occurred. 

“This order provides for just what Pittsburgh residents and community groups have long wanted – more local oversight of quality of life issues by the neighborhood judges who know their communities best,” Mayor William Peduto said. “I want to thank the President Judge and the City’s 12 community-based District Judges for their attention to these important matters.” 

A copy of the order is attached. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 10, 2019) New affordable housing units are coming to the Hill District and Lincoln-Lemington through resolutions going before the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh board this week, as well as a program to help landlords offer more options to low-income renters. 

In Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, the Housing Opportunity Fund is seeking approval of a $650,000 loan agreement to support the creation of 54 units of affordable housing at the former Lemington Home for the Aged. The project will create a mixed-use development including 54 one-bedroom-units of senior housing with complimentary commercial uses coupling housing and health.  

The building at 1625 Lincoln Avenue was developed in 1982 as a nursing home, but has sat vacant since going into foreclosure over a decade ago. The redevelopment plan includes the replacement of all major building systems and various site enhancements – additional on-site parking and improved stormwater management. 

The Housing Opportunity Fund is also seeking approval from the board for a Small Landlord Fund, which will provide financing for 1 to 5-unit buildings for upgrades to make them eligible for Section 8 Housing Quality Standard inspections. 

The federal Housing Choice Voucher program (also known as Section 8) is a great resource for much-needed affordable housing in which low-income households pay 30% of their monthly income for apartment units, with the federal government paying the difference for monthly rent. Unfortunately some 70% of such households in the city cannot find private apartments for use with the vouchers since many units do not meet federal inspection standards.  

The proposed Landlord Fund – capitalized by a $500,000 loan from the PNC Foundation – would provide loans of up to $20,000 per unit for landlords to upgrade their properties and bring more Section 8-eligible apartments into the affordable housing market. 

In the Upper Hill, the board will consider acquiring 21 tax-delinquent and largely vacant properties to assist the Amani Christian Development Corporation and Catalyst Communities, LLC, turn them into a proposed affordable residential townhome development. The properties are on Herron Avenue, Milwaukee Street, Bryn Mawr Road and Ossipee Street. 

The URA board meets Thursday afternoon. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 11, 2019) A new public art project at the Upper McKinley Park basketball court in Beltzhoover is set to be funded by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. 

The proposal by artist Janel Young, who grew up in Beltzhoover, is called “Home Court Advantage” and was designed in consultation with input from the local community and youth from Voices Against Violence. 

The URA’s Economic Development Department is awarding $15,500 for the installation of the public art project at 900 Delmont Avenue, and it is expected to be implemented by this fall. 

Young’s proposal went before the City’s Art Commission in May and was described in part this way: 

“The artist pulled from her previous original works and experiences to develop 2 bold and exciting color palettes and an uplifting phrase for the court that embodies the expressed themes, “There is Victory in Unity.” The word “victory” being applicable to both the basketball court and everyday life. 

This color palette was inspired by a previous piece entitled “Victorious.” The dripping design plays off of the community “waterhole” analogy mentioned in the feedback to the significance of this court. The red and yellow overlapping rectangles symbolize the continuous giving to one another, building bridges across peers and generations.  The checkered pattern in the paint section resembles that of a finish line flag, encouraging the community to support each other in getting things done and crossing the metaphorical finish line together.  

Graphic: "Home Court Advantage" design by Janel Young/JY Originals

Attending "Topping-off " Ceremony for Allegheny General Hospital’s Academic Cancer Center
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Location: Allegheny Commons East

Attending EMS Swearing-In Ceremony
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 11, 2019) Five affordable housing developments in Pittsburgh were awarded low-income tax credits today, part of 39 such projects around the state receiving the support, Governor Tom Wolf announced. 

It marks the largest number of Pittsburgh developments to receive the low-income tax credits in memory, and was a priority of Mayor William Peduto. 

A jury of affordable housing professionals gave one Pittsburgh development – North Negley Residences – special “Innovation in Design” recognition for its adaptive reuse of a historic building in Garfield into 45 mixed-income units. Those rental units will incorporate significant energy efficiency and sustainable features, as well as community amenities.   

“Tax credits are the best tool we have for funding the construction of affordable rental housing,” Governor Wolf said. “Tax credits provide the incentive for investment, which in turn funds the construction. The end result is more affordable housing options for Pennsylvanians.” 

Seeking the 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency was one of Mayor Peduto’s top priorities for 2019. 

“I want to thank the Governor, PHFA and our local legislative delegation, led by Senators Jay Costa, Wayne Fontana and Lindsey Williams, for this much-needed support of affordable housing citywide,” Mayor Peduto said. “We still have a long way to go, but with their help, the URA’s Housing Opportunity Fund, City Council support and of course the support of our neighborhoods and housing advocates we are doing all we can to keep Pittsburgh a city for all.” 

The Pittsburgh developments receiving credits include: 

• Larimer/East Liberty CNI Phase 4 in Larimer by McCormack Baron Salazar/Allies & Ross Development, which includes the adaptive reuse and historic preservation of the former Larimer School including 35 units of mixed-income housing 

• New Granada Square in the Hill District by Hill CDC & CHN Housing Partners, which includes new construction of 40 affordable rental units plus approximately 7,200 square feet of first floor retail space 

• North Negley Residences in Garfield by Beacon Communities Services LLC, Ralph A. Falbo, Inc., MCAPS LLC, which includes partial adaptive reuse of existing classroom structure, development of 45 affordable housing units; integration of the B'Nai Israel Synagogue rotunda/sanctuary building 

• Flats on Forward in Squirrel Hill South by Action Housing, Inc., which includes new construction of a 6-story, mixed-use building to contain 43 affordable units, retail space, office space, and units for people with disabilities 

• City’s Edge in Uptown by Midpoint, which includes 70 affordable units and job availability to low-income residents of the development 

The full list of statewide recipients of housing funding including LIHTC and other awards is available here. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 10, 2019) Applications are being accepted to enroll in Catapult, an Urban Redevelopment Authority funded 12-month business incubation program. 

This will be the second cohort of Catapult: Startup to Storefront, which is a competitive program open to only 10 entrepreneurs citywide. The free program includes one-on-one mentoring sessions, educational seminars and strategic partnerships to help start-up businesses succeed. Retail, food and lifestyle businesses are preferred. 

The new round of applications is set to be announced at the URA’s monthly board meeting today. 

Applications will be accepted until August 5, 2019. The application form can be found here on the Circles Greater Pittsburgh website. 

The program will start on September 9 and classes will be held at the Gallery on Penn, 5935 Penn Avenue, East Liberty. For questions or assistance in filling out the application, call Circles Greater Pittsburgh at 412-623-9596. 

The first Catapult cohort graduated in January. Businesses included: 

• 360 Cafe LLC 
• Kin of Duncan 
• Naptural Beauty Supply 
• CobblerWorld 
• IMIHI 
• NQBikeRide 
• TLC Libations 
• Cultural Oasis 
• PBI Professional Barber Institute 
• WearAbility 
• Talk Over Tea by DBR 
• Mortar and Pestle Catering 

Speaking at Whiskey Rebellion Trail Launch Welcome Lunch

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Heinz History Center, Strip District

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 12, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh and the Public Safety Department issued the following statement as a follow-up to Tuesday’s announcement about the police incident at Kopy’s Bar on the South Side in October, 2018: 

City officials understand some questions may persist about this case but they are constrained from providing additional information due to the pending lawsuits against the City and the officers. In order to preserve the integrity of the litigation process, information about internal investigations and decisions is necessarily limited. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office separately investigated this matter and declined to charge any of the four officers. OMI and the Department of Public Safety conducted detailed investigations culminating in corrective action. However, the confidentiality requirements of the collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, state law confidentiality mandates, as well as the ongoing litigation prevent the City from disclosing additional details at this time.

“Even beyond the multiple independent investigations of the officers, the Department of Public Safety continues to take steps to ensure Pittsburgh has the best police protection possible,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Attending Zone 6 Community Day

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Zone 6 Station 312 S Main Street, West End

Speaking at Primanti Brothers' Wedding Ceremony

Time: 1:15 P.M.

Location: Primanti Brothers, Strip District

Attending "I am so Hill" Committee's Freedom Peace Assembly Block Party

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Centre Ave, Hill District

Sunday, July 14, 2019

No public events.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 15, 2019) Pittsburgh preschoolers last week began receiving their free books from the City of Pittsburgh's partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

The first shipment of books was sent to 1,402 children who were enrolled in the program at the beginning of June. Another 400 children have been added to the program since then and will receive their first books in coming weeks.

Legislation was introduced to Pittsburgh City Council in February to accept $250,000 from the Benter Foundation to establish the Pittsburgh program. 

Through the program children who are residents of the City of Pittsburgh receive age-appropriate books every month from birth until the age of 5. All children receive "The Little Engine That Could" as their first book, as it is Dolly Parton's favorite.

More information including instructions on how to apply for the program is available here.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 15, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is beginning construction of streetscape and safety improvements today along Broadway Avenue in Beechview. The Parking Lot Painting Company will complete this work along Broadway Avenue from approximately Wenzell Avenue to Fallowfield Avenue.  

Streetscape improvements were designed through a 2017 community process with the goals of improving the experience for transit riders in the corridor, improving pedestrian safety and reducing vehicle speeding and traffic incidents. The safety improvements to be installed this week include the expansion of pedestrian space at the T-station platforms, lane restriping, and new crosswalks. The existing vehicle lanes separating the T-stops from the sidewalk will be closed to improve safety for transit riders at the stop and shorten the pedestrian crossing distance. A separate contract consisting of concrete slab and joint repair was recently completed. Future year anticipated work to improve the corridor includes design and construction of enhanced plaza space, addition of public art at the T-stops and reconstruction of transit platforms.

Legislation is being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council tomorrow for DOMI to receive $20,000 from the Urban Redevelopment Authority to support the public art portion, which will including artist-designed curb extensions along the corridor.

Work is scheduled to start today and is estimated to last one week, weather permitting. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Restrictions will occur in both directions in all lanes, but construction will be limited to only one lane at a time so that through traffic in both directions will be maintained. No parking signs will be posted 24 hours in advance and any vehicles parked in the work zone will be towed. The Department’s personnel is working closely with the Port Authority of Allegheny County to minimize impacts to the Port Authority’s Light Rail “T” line.

Those with questions regarding this project may contact the Project Manager at DOMI.Broadway@pittsburghpa.gov 

Presenting Sophie Masloff Employee of the Month Award

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Attending United Steel Workers Installation Ceremony

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Central Business District

Speaking at Gaby et Jules Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: 6006 Penn Avenue, East Liberty

Attending Desmone Architects Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Ceremony

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: 3400 Butler Street, Lower Lawrenceville

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 16, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning is pleased to announce that Lawrenceville has been added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

The Register was authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, according to the U.S. Park Service, and it “is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.” 

The listing honors the neighborhood’s history but has no effect on private property owners in the district. 

“Lawrenceville was built into one of the city’s greatest neighborhoods through the hard work of generations of those who came before us — our challenge now is to protect it for generations to come,” said District 7 Councilwoman Deb Gross. 

“Lawrenceville is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, founded in 1814. It has such unique, historic character, which has directly led to its current economic boom,” said Brian Mendelssohn of the Lawrenceville Historical Society. “We are very happy the National Park Service recognizes the hard work by so many in preserving Lawrenceville’s historic buildings. This designation will only encourage more historic preservation. We love that it encompasses both the residential parts and the business district.” 

The City’s full National Register nomination document can be viewed here. It says in part: 

“The period of significance of the historic district extends from 1814 to 1950. 1814 is the date of the founding of the original village of Lawrenceville around the Allegheny Arsenal, also established in that year, all on land purchased by William Barclay Foster. By 1950, the neighborhood had largely been built out, and Lawrenceville’s industrial production had reached its peak. The historic district includes 22 blocks of Butler Street, the neighborhood’s primary commercial corridor; the site of the Civil War-era Allegheny Arsenal, part of which is now a public park, and remaining resources associated with this complex; industrial and institutional resources that provided employment and medical and educational services to the community in the 19th and 20th centuries; churches; two cemeteries, including Allegheny Cemetery, previously listed individually on the National Register; and many blocks of residential resources representing a range of architectural styles as expressed in, predominantly, working class housing from the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries.” 

The nomination was written by Angelique Bamberg of Clio Consulting, Jesse Belfast of Michael Baker International and by Carol Peterson, the late Lawrenceville historian, writer and preservationist. 

“None of this could have happened without support from the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and team members from Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation, who shared with us their well defined public involvement mechanism,” said city Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Quinn. 

Quinn had special praise for Peterson, who died of cancer in 2017.  

“This project wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful without her vast knowledge of Lawrenceville history,” Quinn said. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 16, 2019) Mayor William Peduto’s schedule today features a visit to the Frick Park Lawn Bowling Club in Point Breeze, which dates to 1937 and is the only lawn bowling club in Pennsylvania. 

The bowling greens on Reynolds Street are on land donated to the City by industrialist Henry Clay Frick in 1919. A history of the club is available here. 

Today’s event is to celebrate new lighting at the greens that was constructed this spring. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Tuesday, July 16, 2019: 

Meeting with Lauren Haffner 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Location: Mayor’s Office 

Visit to Frick Park Lawn Bowling Club 

Time: 12:30 p.m. 

Location: 7300 Reynolds Street, Point Breeze 

Meeting with Janis Burley Wilson and Jocelyn Malik, August Wilson African American Cultural Center 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Location: Mayor’s Office 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 17, 2019) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement today regarding the death of Pittsburgh Police Officer Calvin Hall, who was shot July 14: 

“On behalf of all residents of the City of Pittsburgh I want to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of Officer Hall, a man who was deeply committed to his public service to the community. The coming days will once again be difficult ones for our city, as we come together to mourn in pain and sadness. 

I am ordering all flags at city facilities to fly at half-staff through the officer’s funeral.”  

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 17, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington D.C. today where he will testify at the very first U.S. Senate hearing held by the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. 

At the 1 p.m. hearing Mayor Peduto and mayors from four other cities will discuss their efforts to cut carbon pollution and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. They will also discuss the role the federal government can and should play in helping cities achieve their clean energy goals and fight climate change. 

The other mayors are: Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta; Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu; Melvin Carter of Saint Paul; and Ted Wheeler of Portland. 

The Committee is chaired by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i and its other members include U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.). 

Video of the hearing will be available here (link updated).

A copy of Mayor Peduto’s written testimony is available here. 

Actively fighting climate change and saving the earth’s environment have been top priorities of Mayor Peduto over his quarter century in public service. He is the sole U.S. representative on the board of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, a global organization of more than 9,000 local governments addressing climate change, has fought the Trump Administration over its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords, and has long made Pittsburgh an environmental leader. 

Over the past plus-two decades he has: 

• Sponsored the Clean Air Act 
• Sponsored the Clean Water Act 
• Sponsored the Hillside Preservation Ordinance 
• Sponsored the Sustainable Development LEED Bonus Legislation 
• Co-sponsored Pittsburgh’s ban on fracking 
• Created the Shade Tree Commission 
• Sponsored Efforts for Tree City USA designation 
• Started Earth Hour participation in Pittsburgh 
• Been named the only elected official on the original Blue Green Alliance Board 
• Sponsored the City's First Climate Action Plan 
• Pledged the City's move to renewable energy by 2030 
• Acquired the largest park in the City's History 
• Garnered the first local elected endorsement from the Sierra Club 
• Recognized for environmental stewardship with awards from Green Building Alliance, GASP and Sierra Club 
• Secured nearly $50 million in state funds to replace lead water service lines 

In the past five years alone his administration has: 

• Acquired Hays Woods Park  
• Adopted into the Biophelic Cities Network  
• Adopted the Milan Urban Food Compact  
• Completed Farmers Market Community Benefits Study  
• Removed pesticide treatment at parks 
• Increased the number of lots being adopted by residents 
• Completed first facilities waste audits for City-County Building 
• Completion of Zero Waste Roadmap 
• Distributed blue recycling bins to residents 
• Conducted first city fleet baseline assessment that evaluates number of vehicles and fuel consumption  
• Decreased the size of the fleet  
• Deployed first zero emissions fueling stations with 5 solar-powered EV stations  
• Increased the number of EVs and Hybrids in the fleet 
• Completed City’s first professionally, peer reviewed GHG Inventory  
• Co-Developed the Edmonton Doctrine for City Emissions Reporting 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Wednesday, July 17, 2019: 

Testimony to Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis 

Time: 1 p.m. 

Location: U.S. Capitol, Senate Visitors Center Room 208, Washington D.C. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (June 17, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and City Councilman Corey O'Connor issued the following statements today on rulings by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in favor of a city ordinance requiring paid sick leave for workers, and against one requiring safety training for security guards: 

“Guaranteeing paid sick leave is a huge win for those who live and work in Pittsburgh. As I’ve long said, people should not be forced into the making the tough decision between staying home sick and missing a day’s pay, or coming in to work and spreading infection. I want to thank the Supreme Court for affirming Pittsburgh’s statutory powers to do what’s best for our people, and the four Pittsburgh City Council members who sponsored the 2015 Paid Sick Days Act: Corey O’Connor, Natalia Rudiak, Deb Gross and the Rev. Ricky Burgess. 

While I am disappointed the Court ruled against the Safe and Secure Buildings Act, I am confident SEIU 32BJ, the security officers union, will work diligently to ensure that officers are prepared to ensure the safety of those working in downtown buildings,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Councilman O'Connor said: “This is not only a historic win for workers in Pittsburgh but for all of Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh's leadership on this issue has shown a path forward for other cities to enact their own paid sick day benefits. I want to thank all the workers, SEIU, SEIU Healthcare, and Pittsburgh United for their support. I also want to thank my colleagues on Council and the Mayor for supporting this bill. This is not a win for politicians. This is a win for workers fighting for economic justice.”

Today’s Supreme Court rulings are available here, and the Paid Sick Days Act is available here. 

No public events scheduled

UPDATE: Cooling centers will now be open on Sunday as well.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 18, 2019) With an Excessive Heat Watch in effect in Pittsburgh starting at noon tomorrow, a select number of Citiparks Healthy Active Living Centers will serve as cooling centers from Friday through Sunday.

Healthy Active Living (Senior Community) Centers:

HOURS:          Friday, July 19: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

                        Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

LOCATIONS:            

• Greenfield Healthy Active Living (Senior) Center, 745 Greenfield Avenue  412.422.6551 

• Homewood Healthy Active Living (Senior) Center, 7321 Frankstown Avenue  412.244.4190 

• West End Healthy Active Living (Senior) Center, 80 Wabash Avenue  412.937.3068 

Outdoor swimming pools are open, weather permitting. A list of outdoor pools can be found here.

Spray Parks are also open daily, weather permitting. A list of spray park facilities can be found here.

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 18, 2019) Starting July 24, for the first time since TVs and computers were banned from Pennsylvania landfills in 2010, the City of Pittsburgh will subsidize a twice-weekly option for electronics and household hazardous waste recycling at a drop-off site in the Strip District.  
 
The City’s Bureau of Environmental Services will host a contracted vendor, Environmental Coordination Services and Recycling (ECS&R), to accept materials at their 3001 Railroad Street facility Wednesdays from 3-8pm and Sundays from 9am-5pm.  

Drop-off appointments must be scheduled in advance through ecsr.net/pittsburgh-recycling or by calling 814-425-7773. 

This program was approved last year by Mayor William Peduto and City Council from legislation introduced by Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith and former Councilman (and current mayoral Chief of Staff) Dan Gilman. 
 
E-waste and hazardous waste must be recycled in ways that comply with state and federal laws. The cost to recycle most TVs and computers will be 40 cents per pound, so the fee for recycling a 50 pound TV will be around $20. The full list of items and fees associated is posted at ecsr.net/Pittsburgh-Recycling  
 
Services will expand early this fall to include pick-up options for an additional fee, as well as neighborhood events.  

At-a-glance: 
 
Location:  
3001 Railroad Street (close to the 31st St Bridge) 
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 
 
Hours:  

Every Wednesday, 3 - 8 pm  
Every Sunday, 9 am - 5 pm  

Schedule a ten minute drop-off time at ecsr.net/pittsburgh-recycling/ or by calling 814-425-7773 

Fees apply for most items. Find material list and fees at ecsr.net/Pittsburgh-Recycling/ or contact 311  
 
Both checks and credit cards accepted for payment (3% card processing fee will be applied)  

Saturday, July 20, 2019:

End of Watch Ceremony for Officer Calvin Hall

Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Zone 1 Police Station, 1501 Brighton Road, Califonria-Kirkbride

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

Time: 11 a.m.

Location: Schenley Park, Squirrel Hill

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 19, 2019)  Citiparks and Mayor William Peduto are excited to announce the kickoff of the pilot class for its Rec to Tech Coding Initiative —PGHcode412. This initiative will happen at the Paulson Recreation Center in Lincoln-Lemington, 1201 Paulson Avenue, 15206, on Saturday, July 20, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and will be executed over a total of 4 sessions.

During this innovation series, youth will learn mathematical skills, problem solving skills, logic and abstract thinking, as it aligns to coding. (Coding is computer language that allows users to develop apps, website and software.) They will start with the basics of HTML, CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) and JavaScript.

“Citiparks, in conjunction with support from our office and other internal departments, plans to introduce technology based programs at four of the City’s Community Recreation Centers by the end of 2020,” Mayor Peduto said.  

While these four locations have not been fully vetted, Citiparks is looking at Jefferson Rec Center and two additional locations to be determined.

Per Max Dennison, PGHcode412 Program Supervisor, “The Mayor’s office began the conversation of connecting kids of all colors in the urban community to 21st Century tech skill sets. By providing a safe space in their community to foster those skills we at Citiparks look forward to fulfilling this mission.”

“Citiparks is excited to bring this innovation technology to Paulson Rec Center. We look forward to learning and growing from this pilot program so that we may help bridge the technology gap in an effort to get kids connected across our City!” said Department of Parks and Recreation Director Ross Chapman.

As the city moves forward with PGHcode412, it is important to keep in mind this program will represent only one piece of our overall Rec to Tech initiative. It will ultimately include Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and additional STEAM programs.

Meeting with Solicitor Yvonne Hilton

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Meeting with Kevin Acklin, Pittsburgh Penguins

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Meeting with Janis Burley Wilson and Jocelyn Malik, August Wilson Center for African American Culture

Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Meeting With Director of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich & Assistant Solicitor Kelly Mistick

Time: 9:45 A.M. 

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building 

Welcoming Interfaith Delegation from South East Asia 

Time: 10:00 A.M. 

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

Phone Call With Richard Garland 

Time: 11:30 A.M. 

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building 

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Gilman, Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, & Paul Leger 

Time: 12:00 P.M. 

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

Funeral of Pittsburgh Police Officer Calvin Hall

Time: 11 a.m.

Location: Soliders & Sailors Memorial Hall, Oakland

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 24, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh today announced a first-of-its-kind initiative - the Pittsburgh Mobility Collective (PMC). PMC is a self-organized collective of last mile and alternate commute mobility providers. 

Selected through a competitive solicitation process, the collective organizes a range of different mobility service providers into a unified mobility service offering providing last mile connections to transit and sustainable transportation alternatives to private drive-alone auto trips.  

The PMC pilot will complement and expand access to and utility of mass transit services and Healthy Ride public bike share. PMC is led by Skinny Labs (a.k.a. Spin) joined by the Transit app, Zipcar, Ford Mobility, Waze and Swiftmile.  

The collective will provide a suite of mobility services, platforms and infrastructure tailored to the needs of Pittsburgh residents, workers and visitors. The PMC mobility “toolbox” will include 150 electric pedal assist bicycles, expanded carshare, new carpool and shared ride services, multimodal trip planning built around existing backbone mass transit service, up to 50 public curbside micromobility electric charging stations, and, when available in the Commonwealth, shared e-scooter vehicles. 

These new urban mobility services will be deployed after engagement with local neighborhoods to develop community-defined pilots and mobility trials. The pilots will help the City and community gather public feedback and planning insight to deliver more resilient transportation options for all. Mobility experts from the NUMO Alliance, together with a local innovation non-profit, will help facilitate engagement, design, monitoring and measurement activities. 

“Expanding non-auto dependent mobility options is vital to meeting our affordable livability and climate change action objectives - needs that are getting increasingly more urgent,” said Karina Ricks, Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, which will oversee the initiative. 

“This demonstration project Is an opportunity to work with neighborhoods with limited transportation options and provide them with new urban mobility possibilities to support their economic mobility,” said Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor William Peduto.

Community discussions around the first mobility trials will initially launch later this summer. DOMI has posted a brief survey to gather input from the Pittsburgh community before neighborhood discussions begin. 

DOMI issued a Request for Proposals in April for those interested in forming a mobility demonstration project, and the PMC was chosen.  

For more Information contact Karina Ricks at 412-255-2523 or DOMI@pittsburghpa.gov 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 24, 2019) Pittsburgh residents are encouraged to bring their glass bottles, jugs and jars of 3 gallons or less to three satellite drop-off locations.  

While the Environmental Services Bureau of the Department of Public Works still accepts glass for curb-side recycling, glass in the city’s single-stream system often contaminates other recyclables, and is part of the reason why recycling costs have increased and some municipalities have stopped collecting glass altogether. 

As such, the city is experimenting with the glass drop-off locations to support proper source separation. The lime green gable top recycling containers were purchased through a Department of Environmental Protection grant to pilot collecting source-separated glass.  

The collected glass will be delivered to Superior Mulch, LLC by Environmental Services and then collected and processed by its sister company Carry All Products located in Mt. Pleasant, PA. 

What is accepted? 
Any traditional food grade glass bottle, jug or jar of 3 gallons or less is accepted in the glass roll-off container. All green, amber, clear, and blue glass is accepted and can be placed in the glass-only container altogether. All other recyclable items, such as cardboard boxes, should be placed in a separate recycling dumpster.  
 
What is not accepted? 
Pyrex, drinkware, plate, mirror, or automotive glass are not accepted and are contaminants. Other contaminants are, lids/caps, plastic bags, crates, electronic waste, household chemical waste, other recyclables, or general trash items deemed for landfill.  

Residents are urged not to recycle inappropriate contaminated materials during this pilot program. 

Satellite Drop-off Locations: 
  
Construction Junction 
Address: 241 N Lexington Ave  
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Monday –Friday) 
Weekend Hours: 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. (Saturday) & 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Sunday) 

Strip District 
Address: 3001 Railroad Street  
(under the 31st Street Bridge)  
24 hour access 

Beltzhoover 
McKinley Skate Park 
Bausman Street 
Pittsburgh, PA 15210  
24 hour access  
 

Meeting With Ivan Watson, President Of The Watson Foundation

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Filming Interview With Trib Total Media

Time: 11:30 A.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

Meeting With Allegheny Conference President Stefani Pashman, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber Of Commerce President Matt Smith, & The Carey Group's Kevin Kinross

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 25, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and Department of Innovation and Performance Director Santiago Garces today awarded 16 city employees for completing Gold Belt Certification for suggesting improvements on the delivery of city services. 

The value of the proposed improvements – which include such ideas as better disposal methods of equipment, building information portals and implementing filing system upgrades – have an estimated annual time-cost savings of $197,000. 

“The City of Pittsburgh has thousands of committed public servants who deliver critical services everyday. The Gold Belt program empowers our employees with tools to find more efficient ways of delivering those services. Their innovations streamline the work of the City so we can do more with less,” Garces said. 

The Gold Belt Certification is awarded to city employees who have completed a training workshop in process improvement and have applied the methods they learned to innovate for improvement in their department. Certified Gold Belts are process improvement experts in their department and can be called upon to assist any team to improve work processes.  

Certified members are developing the capability to improve processes and expand capacity to innovate toward improved deliver of services to customers and citizens. Certified members are taught to empower staff, reduce wait times, improve throughput and organize work spaces.  

They attended a half day training workshop during which staff members learn how to use tools to identify and eliminate waste in their department's processes. To be certified, participants must complete a "Just Do it Innovation" and apply what they have learned to improve their work area. 

Employees being recognized today include: 

Aiyana Stuart, DPW 

Carolyn Ristau, City Planning  

Derrick Buckner, DPW  

Debra Christian, I&P  

Eric Miazga, I&P  

Fredericka Greenwood, I&P  

Jeffrey Hovis, I&P  

Jennifer Lemasters, Special Events  

Joe Adiutori, DPW  

Keyva Clark, Mayor’s Office  

Laekin O’Hara, City Planning  

Elizabeth O’Neill, I&P  

Nicole Barone, I&P  

Stacy Hill, I&P  

Trever Stoll, I&P  

Wendy Urbanic, I&P/311 

Affirm Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Time: 9:30 A.M. 

Location: 30 Isabella Street, North Shore

Meeting With Adrie Fells

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Celebrating City Of Pittsburgh Goldbelt Cost-Saving Employees 

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 25, 2019) Mayor William Peduto, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Innovation & Performance, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County Airport Authority today announced the opening application period of the fifth cycle of the PGH Lab program.

PGH Lab connects local startup companies with the City of Pittsburgh, local authorities and independent institutions to explore new ways to use technology and new services to make local government more efficient, transparent, sustainable, and inclusive. The program provides an opportunity for local startups to test their beta-stage products and services in a real-world environment for three to four months. 

Through one common application, startups can propose innovative solutions, match with a participating organization and work with a “city champion,” a leader from the participating organization to guide companies through the duration of the pilot project.  

“The program has led us to form strong partnerships with our local entrepreneurs and authorities. Each cycle brings its own set of challenges and opportunities that are needed to innovate city services and create public value. We are very excited to welcome the Allegheny County Airport Authority this time around,” said Mayor William Peduto. 

The City of Pittsburgh and the participating authorities have successfully completed four cycles and engaged 22 local startups, putting forth a variety of technological and innovative solutions including waste management and composting, business processes automation, equity and inclusion impact pop-ups, and cyber security solutions.

“Throughout the PGH Lab program we were able to develop ideas, learn from experiences, and build a strong proof of concept for our future work. The time spent in the community and learning from our partners at the City of Pittsburgh was invaluable,” says Change Agency Founder and All for All Director Betty Cruz.

For the fifth cycle, the City of Pittsburgh and the participating authorities welcome the Allegheny County Airport Authority as a new testing partner organization. 

“Driving innovation is part of our mission at ACAA and PGH Lab is another connection to our region’s innovative start-ups and world-class tech economy,” said Katherine Karolick, Senior Vice President of Information Technology at the Allegheny County Airport Authority. “We are looking forward to exploring new ideas and concepts to continue driving efficiency and improving the passenger experience at Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport.”

Starting July 25, 2019, startups can propose solutions to complex challenges in the following areas: 

• Improve Operations: Further improve local government operations to make internal processes more efficient and effective. Solutions in the following sub area of interests will be highly encouraged:
• Process Improvement: Help us reduce the time it takes to coordinate between projects and eliminate waste in the workplace 
• Smart Cities: Help Pittsburgh become a smart city by exploring newer and smarter technologies and the use of data to create economic development, enhance the quality of life for people, and improve wide accessibility especially for people with disabilities working and living in the city.
• Citizen Engagement: Enhance the lines of communication among local government, non-profits, and citizens by expanding digital public engagement and increasing opportunities for all of Pittsburgh’s residents to easily access important information and resources. Citizen engagement solutions that include artists, graphic designers, and photographers are encouraged.
• Climate Change & Environment: Climate and environmental change are among cities' most pressing issues. Modern cities already monitor air quality, energy use, waste, and stormwater management.  Solutions in sustainability, food waste management, and circular economy or reuse/creating new products out of waste and recycling streams are highly encouraged. 
• Other: Suggest a pilot project that does not fall under any of the previous categories but will benefit and make a great impact in the City of Pittsburgh and the participating organizations.

Participating companies will be selected through a competitive process. The PGH Lab review committee is constituted of various departments, authorities, and non-profit leaders that will identify startup companies to best match priorities and resources within each organization. Program eligibility, application form, and legal requirements can be found on the website: pghlab.pittsburghpa.gov. 

The application deadline is August 25, 2019 at midnight. 

All local startups and small businesses are encouraged to apply to this great opportunity. 

For news and updates, follow PGH Lab on Twitter at @PghIP and with the hashtag #PGHLab. 

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

Interview With WESA's Kevin Gavin

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Telephone Call With Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Welcoming Visiting Students To City-County Building

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With Public Parking Authority Of Pittsburgh Executive Director David Onorato

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Selecting Next Neighborhood For East End Brewing's 90 Pittsburgh Neighborhoods "You Are Here" Series

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Commonplace Coffee, Central North Side

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Mission Continues & Operation Better Block Homewood Community Cleanup & BBQ

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Frankstown Avenue, Homewood North & Homewood South

Larimer Community Festival

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Larimer Avenue - East Liberty Boulevard to Meadow Street, Larimer

South Side Goat Fest

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: South Side Community Garden - Bandi Schaum Field, South Side Slopes

CitiParks & Pittsburgh Pirates Mayor's Cup Championship Game

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: PNC Park, North Shore

Sunday, July 28, 2019

OpenStreets Pittsburgh

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Forbes Avenue, Central Business District

Vine Rewind Strip District Music Festival

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Winery, Strip District

Celebrating Picklesburgh With Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Roberto Clemente Bridge, Central Business District

Meeting With Ramkumar Sathurappan

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Brian Helwig

Time: 1:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Canadian Consul General Phyllis Yaffe

Time: 3 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 29, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh has launched public engagement efforts to develop an ambitious and far-reaching transportation vision plan and is seeking broad input. PGH MOBILITY 2070 will create a framework to guide investment, development, and management in a complete and connected network of infrastructure, information, and services capable of supporting a fully revitalized Pittsburgh.  

The effort will also result in a tactical and strategic near term (two-year) action agenda to direct the activities and investments of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and partners in making continuous incremental progress toward the long range vision. 

The planning effort challenges the public to think about the transportation needs and solutions should the City recover a significant portion of population over the next 50 years that was lost in the last half century – growing from the current 302,000 residents to 450,000 residents (still well under the historic population high of 677,000). 

Public and stakeholder engagement kicked off in May with input work sessions to identify connectivity needs from the City to surrounding region, among city neighborhoods, and within sub-districts of the City as well as policy priorities to ensure connections promote equity, sustainability, and economic mobility for all. 

The 2070 Transportation Vision Plan website describes the effort in full detail, includes a survey for interested residents, and an interactive online map where users can identify mobility needs, trouble spots and opportunities. 

Idea gathering will continue throughout the summer and fall as DOMI staff attends community gatherings, festivals, and events to encourage contributions from all. A list of such events is available here. 

Please look for staff at these events, email MOBILITY2070@pittsburghpa.gov, and/or visit https://pittsburghpa.gov/domi/transport-vision-plan for additional project information. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 30, 2019) Mayor William Peduto released the following statement in the wake of this morning’s announcement by the board of directors of the Three Rivers Regatta that they are cancelling this year’s event: 

“Over the past week, my administration learned that the event management firm for the regatta, LionHeart Event Group, has not paid the City for police services the past two years, and learned the state-owned Point State Park and private vendors had not received payments either. I shared this information with members of the board, and worked with them on alternative plans to possibly hold the regatta on the North Shore instead. 

Efforts to save this year’s regatta were ongoing when it became apparent that LionHeart had not secured the mandatory insurance to hold the event either. At this point the regatta board decided to cancel the event, notified the City and County of its decision, and withdrew its application for a City permit. 

I want to thank the board and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald for their efforts to save this decades-old Pittsburgh tradition and will continue to work with them to secure the regatta’s future.” 

Three Rivers Regatta Press Conference

Time: 11 A.M.

Location: Rivers Casino, Ohio Room, North Shore

Governing's National Summit On Infrastructure

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Hotel Monaco, Central Business District 

Ribbon Cutting For New Fort Pitt Playground Basketball Courts

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Fort Pitt Playground, Garfield

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 30, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will join offiicals from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, the Garfield Gators Youth Sports league, and elected and community officials this afternoon for the ribbon-cutting of a new basketball court in Garfield.

WHO: Mayor Peduto, HACP Chief Community Affairs Officer Michelle Sandidge, Garfield Gators Coaches Mike Gay and Bob Jones

WHAT: Opening of new basketball court

WHERE: Fort Pitt Playground, Hillcrest Street, Garfield

WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 30, 2019) The Civic Leadership Academy is a free, 11-week course that encourages more informed, effective, and inspired community and civic leadership by giving City residents an opportunity to learn about their local government. The Civic Leadership Academy is held twice per year and applications are open to anyone who lives in, or owns and operates a business, within the City of Pittsburgh limits. Each class meets with over 15 departments, offices, bureaus, and authorities of the City of Pittsburgh to learn about their operations, programs, and services. 

The Fall 2019 session will be held every Wednesday, September 4th through November 20th, 2019, from 6-8:30 p.m. (There is no class on 10/9/2019). 

Childcare is available upon request, and dinner is provided with each session. 

Participating Departments Include: 

• Office of Mayor William Peduto 
• City of Pittsburgh City Council Offices 
• Department of Management and Budget 
• Department of Finance 
• Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority 
• Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services 
• Pittsburgh Fire Bureau 
• Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 
• Department of Parks and Recreation 
• Department of City Planning 
• Department of Mobility and Infrastructure 
• Department of Public Works 
• Urban Redevelopment Auhtority 
• Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections 
• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh 
• Department of Innovation and Performance 
• Pittsburgh Parking Authority 
• Commission on Human Relations 
• Office of Municipal Investigations 
• Equality Opportunity Review Commission 
• 311 

Learn more about the Civic Leadership Academy at pittsburghpa.gov/oca/cla and apply at applycla.pittsburghpa.gov

To receive notification of future opportunities with the Civic Leadership Academy and other programs and news from the Office of Community Affairs and the City of Pittsburgh, sign up for our newsletter: newsletter.pittsburghpa.gov 

Please contact Leah Friedman at 412-255-2217 or leah.friedman@pittsburghpa.gov with questions or concerns. 

Meeting With Bethlehem Haven Team

Tine: 11:30 A.M.

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

Interview With Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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

Presenting Proclamation To Sean McDowell of WDVE-FM

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Marriott City Center, Central Business District 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 1, 2019) Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection announced today that the City of Pittsburgh is receiving $245,000 to install six electric vehicle charging stations at a public parking lot in East Liberty.  

Mayor William Peduto’s administration and the Pittsburgh Parking Authority are seeking to  mprove air quality and support the usage of clean energy in the city and will use the charging stations at the lot at 6117 Kirkland Street as a pilot project that could be repeated in other neighborhood parking lots around the city. Charging stations are currently available in four PPA garages Downtown.  

The City will install two dual hose DC fast charging stations and four dual hose level 2 EV charging stations in the lot, allowing for usage by nearby residents, those using nearby small businesses, restaurants and hotels, and for electric vehicles in the City of Pittsburgh fleet. With DC Fast charging technology, a typical electric vehicle can charge up to 80% in less than 20 minutes, reducing range anxiety for motorists on the fence about purchasing EVs because of the long time it takes to charge a vehicle. 

“Pittsburgh is continuing to build out EV infrastructure citywide and make improvements in local air quality, getting us ever closer to reaching our goal of 50% transportation emissions reduction by 2030. I want to thank Gov. Wolf, the DEP, the Parking Authority and our hard-working city staff for believing in this vision and helping to make it a reality,” Mayor Peduto said.  

The charging stations are expected to be used by visitors to the business district, workers in office buildings and shared office spaces that have popped up in the neighborhood, and residents of East Liberty. The charging stations will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.    

With the dual hoses at the 6 charging stations, a total of 12 vehicles will be able to charge simultaneously. The City plans to install the stations by early 2021. 

The Governor’s announcement about the Pittsburgh charging stations was part of $8.5 million awarded statewide today to support the reduction of transportation pollution. 

Pittsburgh Technical Advisory Committee Meeting

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Central Business District

10th Anniversary Open House For Latino Family Center

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Latino Family Center, Hazelwood

Meeting With Consul General Of China In New York, Ambassador Huang Ping

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Administration

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Welcoming Reception For Pittsburgh Regional Alliance President Mark Thomas

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Playhouse, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 1, 2019) Several City of Pittsburgh redevelopment projects received $4.5 million in state funding today to support ongoing work to revitalize Homewood, Elliott, Larimer and other city neighborhoods. 

The funding comes from the 2019 Revitalization Assistance Capital Program, or RACP, which provides financial support for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects statewide. 

“I want to thank Governor Wolf and all our city House and Senate members for delivering this RACP funding, which will be used to transform city neighborhoods all over Pittsburgh. The City, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Authority thank all their state and community partners for their commitments to these projects,” Mayor William Peduto said. 

The RACP grants awarded today to City revitalization projects include: 

• $500,000 to preserve and stabilize the Homewood Coliseum 
• $500,000 for the expansion of Stargell Field in Homewood 
• $1 million for the renovation of Hunt Armory in Shadyside into a recreational facility 
• $1 million for the redevelopment of the historic Larimer School 
• $1 million for the rehabilitation of the historic Oliver Bath House indoor pool in the South Side 
• $500,000 for the redevelopment of Stevens Elementary School in Elliott into a new headquarters for the Bureau of Police Special Deployment Division 

Delivering Dan + Shay Proclamation

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Y108 Studio, Green Tree

Saturday, August 3, 2019

No public events scheduled

Sunday, August 4, 2019

No public events scheduled

Light Of Life New Facility Groundbreaking

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Voeghtly Street, North Shore

Meeting With Director Of Permits, Licenses, & Inspections Maura Kennedy

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Chief Of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services Ronald Romano 

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Director Of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Director Of Human Resources & Civil Service Janet Manuel 

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 5, 2019) The Forestry Division of the Department of Public Works will close Commercial Street between Whipple Street and Summerset Drive/Forward Avenue on Tuesday to place a crane in the roadway and to pull fallen trees out of the creek at the Nine Mile Run.

This closure will occur on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 7:00 a.m. and the street will reopen at 1:00 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this road closure, feel free to contact Lisa Ceoffe, City Forrester, at 412-665-3626.

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 6, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts today called for immediate state and federal action on common sense gun safety measures, similar to those approved by the City of Pittsburgh this year. 

The Mayor said federal and state lawmakers should act within 30 days on long-delayed measures, similar to those he and City Council approved in April banning the use of assault-style weapons and certain ammunition and accessories, and the adoption of a “red flag” law allowing courts to temporarily seize firearms from those who are a danger to themselves or others. 

“We have debated these issues for decades. It’s time for action. Anybody who ran for legislative office ran on the promise to citizens that they would vote on difficult issues, even issues they’re afraid of. If you’re not willing to vote, resign,” Mayor Peduto said. 

His announcement came after discussions with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts, in the wake of gun massacres last weekend that killed 29 people in Dayton and El Paso, and the October murders of 11 congregants at Tree of Life, New Light Congregation and Dor Hadash in Squirrel Hill. 

Moms Demand Action is the grassroots arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, which is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country and has more than 6 million supporters. 

Mayor Peduto today called for: 

• An immediate U.S. Senate vote on two pending gun safety measures approved by the House in March 
• Congressional approval of nationwide “red flag” laws 
• Congressional approval of bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines 
• Pennsylvania General Assembly legislation ending any state preemption of local firearms laws and criminal charges against local legislators 
• Approval of pending bills introduced by Senators Costa and Fontana, Representative Frankel and others banning assault-style rifles, high capacity magazines and adopting statewide “red flag” laws 

“It is time for the leadership in the House and the Senate of the Pennsylvania legislature to allow these bills to move from committee and allow all legislators to vote. Vote yes, vote no, but vote – and we’re calling on them to do so in the next 30 days,” Mayor Peduto said. 

Meeting with Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action

Time: 9:45 a.m.

Location: Mayor's Office, City-County Building

Law Department 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 11 a.m.

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

Bureau of Fire 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 1 p.m.

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

Department of Public Works 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 2 p.m.

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

Meeting with PWSA Officials on Green Infrastructure

Time: 4 p.m.

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

Call With the Delegation From Burkina Faso

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Weekly Meeting With Chief of Police Scott Schubert and Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting with Jonathan Allen

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Gilman, Deputy Chief of Staff Majestic Lane, Assistant Chief of Staff Lindsey Powell, Assistant Director of Public Safety Shatara Murphy & Director of Human Relations & Civil Service Janet Manuel

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Media Advisory

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 8, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will join community leaders this morning to open a renovated basketball court in Larimer.

WHO: Mayor Peduto, State Sen. Jay Costa, State Rep. Ed Gainey, City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess, representatives for state Sen. Lindsey Williams, Larimer community and sports officials

WHAT: Opening of renovated basketball court

WHERE: Larimer Avenue at Shetland Street

WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Thursday, August 8, 2019

Larimer Playground Basketball Court Renovation Groundbreaking

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Larimer Playground, Larimer

Meeting With Bill Benter

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Scheduling Meeting

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

TreePittsburgh's Pizza On The Porch

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: TreePittsburgh - 62nd Street, Upper Lawrenceville - Stanton Heights Border

Vigil Against Hate

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Sixth Presbyterian Church Of Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill North

City Paper - Best Of Pittsburgh 2019

Time: 10:00 P.M.

Location: NOVA Place, Allegheny Center

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 9, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure advises that the right lane and adjacent sidewalk of Center Ave heading WB and left lane and adjacent sidewalk of Webster Ave (EB -Bigelow Blvd) will be closed overnight Monday through Thursday from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. starting August 12, 2019 through August 29, 2019.

The restrictions are necessary to allow the contractor to perform demolition operations over I-579.  These restrictions may coincide with restrictions on I-579 and associated ramps.  

The overnight lane and sidewalk closures will not be implemented on nights when there is an event at PPG Arena.  Pedestrian Detour will be along Washington Place to Center Avenue to Chatham Street.  When travelling through the work area, use caution and expect delays.

The work is being performed by JB Fay Co., If you have any questions concerning this closure, please contact their Project Manager, Chuck Grabner, at 412-779-8354.

Meeting With Richard Caponi

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With PWSA Leadership

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Delegation From Cote d'Ivoire

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Bill Benter

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA(August 12, 2019) Today, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announced the launch of the Pittsburgh Safe Driving Pledge. The Safe Driving Pledge is a resident-led and empowered traffic calming and safety initiative. Drivers taking the Pledge commit to limit their vehicle speed to posted speed limits and stop for pedestrians wherever they travel to make our neighborhoods more safe, livable and appealing; reduce traffic deaths and serious injury; and reflect Pittsburgh’s core values of community care and neighborliness.   

Mayor William Peduto, PPS Superintendent Anthony Hamlet, and community leaders came together to launch the Pittsburgh Safe Driving Pledge. The event kicked off a two-week signing campaign to encourage participation at community and neighborhood events across the city. 

The Pittsburgh Safe Driving Pledge is part of the international “Neighborhood Pace Car” program. Similar programs exist in Columbus, OH, Toronto, ON, Atlanta, GA, and Boston, MA. More information on the city’s campaign can be found HERE. 

Residents, workers or visitors who sign the pledge will receive a vehicle magnet and/or window cling to visibly identify their vehicle as a neighborhood pace car keeping the speed of vehicle traffic on the street to the safe posted limit.  

Each year, hundreds of Pittsburgh residents are injured in traffic crashes, many associated with speeding. Redesigning streets for traffic calming is a slow process affecting only a small number of streets. The Safe Driving campaign will bring traffic calming to every street of the city, with motorists who have taken the pledge leading the way. 

For questions, please contact the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure at domi@pittsburghpa.gov. 

Department Of City Planning 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Department Of Innovation & Performance 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Commission On Human Relations 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Department Of Mobility & Infrastructure 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

Launching Department Of Mobility & Infrastructure Safe Driving Pledge With School District Of Pittsburgh Officials

Time: 4:30 P.M.

Location: Arsenal Middle School, Lower Lawrenceville 

Media Advisory 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 12, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will join Department of Mobility & Infrastructure and School District leaders this afternoon to launch Safe Driving Pledge.  

WHO: Mayor William Peduto, Department of Mobility & Infrastructure Director Karina Ricks, PPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet, PPS Director of Transportation, PPS Arsenal PreK-5 Principal Ruthie Rea, and PPS Arsenal 6-8 Principal Patti Camper  

WHAT: Launch of Pittsburgh Safe Driving Pledge  

WHERE: Arsenal Middle School, 220 40th Street, Lower Lawrenceville  

WHEN: 4:30 p.m., Monday, August 12, 2019 

Rivers Casino Hotel Groundbreaking

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Rivers Casino, Chateau

Department Of Finance 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Presenting Proclamation For Pittsburgh Style Week

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Office Of Municipal Investigations 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Department Of Parks & Recreation 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 3:00 P.M.

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

No public schedule. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 7, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Planning Department’s Sustainability and Resilience Division has released the first annual energy benchmarking report for municipal buildings owned and operated by the City of Pittsburgh. 

This information will assist prioritization of investments in the City’s municipal building stock. By revisiting the progress yearly, the City will be able to track the impact of implemented energy saving projects on overall energy and emission reduction and create accountability for the City’s actions. 

Initial findings include: 

• The City-County Building at 414 Grant Street stands out as the highest energy consumer due to its size and the age of its systems. Actions are being proposed to create energy savings in 2020, including LED lighting retrofit and calking windows to eliminate cold drafts. To amplify those savings, the City is evaluating solutions to optimize both the building’s systems and electricity demand to control utility spending in an increasingly changing energy landscape.  

• Most of the City facilities’ EUIs (energy use intensity) are high or average compared to the national median of buildings of the same use type, indicating some potentially great opportunities for energy savings.  

• The City spent $2,700,000 to operate the facilities analyzed in this report. If the City reduces energy use of these buildings by 50% now, it would save at least $1,350,000 every year.  

• Critical facilities such as 24/7 EMS facilities have a wide range of energy uses and EUIs. The Sustainability and Resilience Division is investigating further to identify critical loads of these facilities to better understand why the energy uses vary so much between buildings of similar size and use. This analysis also will include sizing of solar panels and batteries that would allow these facilities to operate fully even during power outages due to weather events. 

The report is available here. 

In October 2018, Pittsburgh City Council approved the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan 3.0, under which the City seeks to achieve dramatic greenhouse gas reductions by 2050 in an effort to address climate change and create a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Pittsburgh.  

Under this plan, established by Mayor William Peduto, the City aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050. It also seeks to reduce energy and water use by 50 percent by 2030.  

To reach these goals, the City must address buildings, which currently account for 80 percent of the city’s carbon emissions and for a significant portion of city energy use.  

To that end, City Council passed an energy and water benchmarking and transparency ordinance requiring all non-residential buildings over 50,000 square feet to share their energy and water consumption data with the City through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager by June 1st, 2018 and yearly thereafter. The City of Pittsburgh – through the benchmarking report – is leading the way by tracking energy use in municipal buildings with an eye on how to better improve the City’s building energy performance. 

This report will be followed by the online publication of the  compliance status of buildings for 2017 and 2018, as well as an overview report of energy use of the public and private building stock  followed by the publication of data on by the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center.  

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 15, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York today to speak at the NationSwell Council Social Impact Event. Past NationSwell speakers include Howard Schultz, Governors Deval Patrick, Bryan Stevenson, David Brooks, Wendy Kopp, Mayor Peter Buttigieg, Governor John Hickenlooper, and David Axelrod, and more.  

NationSwell honored Mayor Peduto in 2018 at their Mobility, Opportunity + Dynamic Summit with their NationSwell Innovation Award for his leadership and Pittsburgh’s achievement. 

The NationSwell event will focus on developing and scaling solutions to drive inclusive growth for all Americans. Mayor Peduto will be speaking about Pittsburgh’s story – the lessons therein for other cities around the country and the opportunities for collaboration and further progress that are ahead.   

NationSwell is a social enterprise dedicated to accelerating the solutions and innovations that will renew America.  NationSwell does this work through their digital media platform reaching 30 million people per month.  

Thursday, August 15, 2019 

NationSwell Reception 

Time: 6:30 P.M. 

Location: Project Farm House, Manhattan 

NationSwell Conversation & Questions 

Time: 7:00 P.M. 

Location: Project Farm House, Manhattan 

No public schedule. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 19, 2019) This morning Mayor William Peduto joined Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh, Phase 4 Learning Inc., Allegheny County Housing Authority, and Everyone On to celebrate the launch of "Bridges to Tech. This 10-week STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) pilot-program “Bridges to Tech”  will host 20 youth in Pittsburgh at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center. A Best Buy sponsored afterschool curriculum taught by staff from Phase 4 Learning, Inc. with an emphasis on videography, digital editing, robotics, and sound recording.

To make the program more accessible, participants were given bus passes and also awarded a Google Chromebook upon completion of the program.  These youth used their skills learned from Bridges to Tech at summer internships with Best Buy through the City and Partner 4 Work’s Learn and Earn program, and many also received Google IT certificates.   

Students interested in pursuing a college degree can receive free SAT tutoring through a partnership with College Board and Everyone On. All participating students will have SAT test fees waived and are provided scholarship opportunities. 

Bridges to Tech is part of a national initiative, ConnectHomeUSA, which seeks to remove barriers caused by low digital literacy and lack of internet access by providing HUD-assisted residents with the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital age. ConnectHomePGH is led by EveryoneOn, a non-profit that creates social and economic opportunity through connecting everyone to the internet.  

“As our nation and city move toward rapid job growth in the technology sector, it is important, now more than ever, to invest in our youth so they can gain the skills and opportunity to achieve their highest potential. Bridges to Tech and our partners are an example of how we are supporting our future generations,” said Mayor William Peduto. 

“The Allegheny County Housing Authority is excited to partner with PHASE 4, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, and the Office of Mayor Peduto for the Bridges to Tech program. Helping to end the digital divide is something that we are greatly invested in as an organization, and one of the best ways to do that is to reach the youth in our communities and make sure that they have access to the technology that will help them in all areas of life. We are looking forward to all of the wonderful accomplishments this program will produce!” said Beverly Moore.

"Bridges to Tech and, on a broader level, the entire ConnectHome initiative are indicative of HACP's commitment to digital equity. We're firmly committed to providing all HACP households with access to the tools they need to become self-sufficient and, in today's world, that means computers, accessible high-speed Internet and digital literacy programming," said Caster D. Binion.

“PHASE 4 is proud to partner with Best Buy to bring the Bridges to Tech Program to Pittsburgh.  To witness the smiles and enjoyment of the kids as they explore and learn is priceless.  The kids are our future; it is up to us to provide them with exposure and opportunities to build a great life,” saidTerrie Suica-Reed.

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with Phase 4, the Office of Mayor Peduto, and the public housing authorities to ensure these students gain critical skills and information that will open new opportunities for them. Thank you to Best Buy for making Bridges to Tech possible for the youth of Pittsburgh! We look forward to expanding this program here and in other cities," said Norma Fernandez.

Media Advisory  

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 19, 2019) Mayor William Peduto will join Department of Public Safety and CitiParks to recognize a few of our CitiParks Lifeguards and EMS staffers who engaged in some life saving actions this summer. 

WHO: Mayor William Peduto, Department of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich, CitiParks Aquartic Supervisor Shelly Terlecki, and Lifeguard Staff of Sue Murray and Highland Park Pools 

WHAT: Recognizing Lifeguards & EMS who saved lives this summer.   

WHERE: Mayor’s Conference Room  

WHEN: 3:30 p.m., Monday, August 19, 2019 

Bridges To Tech Event

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Best Buy Teen Tech Center, Shadyside

Meeting With Bree Leyer

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

School District Of Pittsburgh Back To School Celebration

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Pittsburgh Obama Academy, East Liberty

Recognition Ceremony For Pittsburgh Lifeguards & EMT's For Life Saving Actions This Summer

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 20, 2019) The Public Art and Civic Design Division, in collaboration with Trying Together and the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, are pleased to present Time Travelers, a new public art project in the recently renovated Elizabeth Street Park in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This vibrant mural by artists Edith Abeyta and Sandy Kessler Kaminski explores the Hazelwood community’s connection with time, place, and the continuous journey of being part of a neighborhood. 

On January 14th, 2019, the Public Art and Civic Design Division and the Office of Management and Budget released a Request for Proposals to solicit artists, artist collectives, and designers for a mural on the Elizabeth Street embankment facing the park. Applicants were asked to propose concepts that encourage education, playfulness, and interaction. A City Committee evaluated the projects under a scoring system that took into consideration the overall concept of the project with regard to creativity, innovation, aesthetics, and material presence; the applicant’s qualifications, experience, and references; their connection to the neighborhood; and the cost proposal. The highest score went to Abeyta and Kaminski, who were awarded the commission. 

Abeyta and Kaminski’s vibrant design references a game board and depicts the historical and contemporary journey of Hazelwood and its residents. Community members were asked to contribute significant events and key concepts from the history of the neighborhood to be incorporated into the design, which traces the community’s story from the days of the First Nations through the present day. 

Located on the corner of Roma Way and Gloster Street, adjacent to a KaBOOM! community-built playground, the Elizabeth Street Park was revitalized thanks to a grant from The Heinz Endowments. The location of the park was selected to help bridge the division created by the train tracks that split Hazelwood. The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative and Trying Together worked in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, and the office of Councilman Corey O’Connor.  

The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative and Trying Together will be celebrating the official opening of the Elizabeth Street Park in Hazelwood on Wednesday, August 28, from 5pm – 7pm, at Elizabeth Street Park. The festivities will include a mural unveiling and ribbon cutting ceremony, featuring music from the Center of Life’s KRUNK program, food, games, and Hazelwood-relevant information tables. 

For questions about the public art project, contact:                                                       

Tony Cavalline  

Public Art and Civic Design Division                                                       

Department of City Planning, City of Pittsburgh                                       

(p) 412.255.8996                                                                                       

(e) anthony.cavalline@pittsburghpa.gov                                                      

For questions about Playful Pittsburgh, contact: 

Sarah Siplak 

Director, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative 

(p) 412.421.3889 x 115 

(e) sarahs@tryingtogether.org 

Meeting With Lisa Hurm

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Carrie Mannino

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Anna Hollis

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 21, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure advises that Chatham Street will be closed overnight Wednesday August 21, 2019 and Thursday August 22, 2019 between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

The restrictions are necessary to allow the contractor to perform utility work across Chatham Street. Pedestrian Detour will be along Centre Avenue to Sixth Avenue to Webster Avenue. 

Traffic will be detoured to Sixth Avenue and can access Centre Avenue or Webster Avenue depending on the direction of travel. When travelling through the work area, use caution and expect delays.

The work is being performed by JB Fay Co., If you have any questions concerning this closure, please contact their Project Manager, Chuck Grabner, at 412-779-8354.

Meeting With Covestro Global Financial Officer Thomas Toepfer 

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Covestro Campus, Allegheny County, PA

Launch Of BankWork$ Program

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Jeron X. Grayson Community Center, Crawford-Roberts

Welcoming Delegation From DaNang Vietnam To Pittsburgh

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Reception For Visiting Delegation From DaNang, Vietnam

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: The Benter Foundation, Central Business District 

Media Advisory  

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 22, 2019) This morning Mayor William Peduto will hold a ceremony honoring retired Steelworkers President Leo Gerard with the Key to the City.  

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

WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 22, 2019 

Presenting Key To The City Of Pittsburgh To Recently Retired Steelworkers President Leo Gerard

Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Lyft's Grocery Access Program Launch 

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Bedford Hope Center, Bedford Dwellings

Office Of Management & Budget 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Office Of Equity 2020 Budget Meeting

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

27th Annual Mayor Bob O'Connor Cookie Cruise

Time: 5:00 P.M.

Location: Gateway Clipper Fleet, South Shore 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 22, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and Department of Public Works are announcing the beginning of an $805,363 reconstruction project along Grandview Avenue in Mount Washington.   

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure began restoration Monday, August 19, 2019, on three elevated sidewalk platforms along Grandview Avenue in Mount Washington. The work will be performed by the City’s contractor, A. Merante Contracting, Inc. The work will take place in the area between Ulysses Street and Maple Terrace. The project will replace the precast concrete slabs and sidewalks, perform concrete repairs, and clean and paint the railings on the platform areas. The project is estimated to be completed by November 27, 2019, weather permitting.   

The Department of Public Works is set to begin work along Grandview Avenue on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Approximately 1,400 feet of railing from Republic Street to the Trimont will be scraped and prepared to be painted black electrostatically. Vigliotti Landscape & Construction will perform the work. The project is estimated to take 4 to 6 weeks, weather permitting.   

Pedestrians will be detoured to the opposite side of the street throughout construction. There will be minimal lane disruption. During certain times of the process, there may be temporary lane closures on P.J. McArdle Roadway to ensure the safety of travelers; these closures will be announced in advance.   

“I want to thank the administration and our City departments for making these investments a priority. I also want to thank the community for their patience as we work towards a comprehensive plan for Grandview. Grandview Avenue is a scenic treasure of our city and one of the gems in District 2,” said Councilwoman Kail-Smith.  

“I want to thank all of those involved – the departments, Councilwoman Kail-Smith, and the residents  – for their dedication to ensuring these projects got off the ground. Grandview Avenue is a treasure to our city and our region, and we will continue to work with our partners to preserve this icon for generations to come,”  said Mayor William Peduto 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 23, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing the beginning of maintenance work on the Larimer Avenue Bridge crossing Washington Boulevard  

Work is scheduled to start Monday, August 26, 2019, through September 30, 2019.  Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Restrictions will occur in both directions in all lanes, on Washington Boulevard between Negley Run Road and Frankstown Avenue.  Construction will be limited to only one lane at a time so that through traffic in both directions will be maintained.  The Department’s personnel are working closely with the contractor to expedite this project and avoid as much inconvenience to drivers as possible. 

If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Eric Setzler, P.E., Chief Engineer at (412) 255-2883. 

Meeting With Richard Garland

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Lucas Piatt

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With Richard Engler

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Phone Call With Gregg Moser

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 23, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning is proud to announce the addition of two new members and the promotion of another staff member in the Department’s Sustainability and Resilience Division.  The positions will work together to support energy efficiency in municipal and commercial buildings, integrate the planning and development of district scale and renewable energy strategies for the city operations and projects within the City; and help coordinate the implementation of the city’s climate action plan. 

“It’s critical to add this additional capacity to support the advancement of energy efficiency in municipal operations and focus efforts on addressing the challenges of climate change. We’re fortunate to leverage resources from organizations like the National Resources Defense Council and Bloomberg Philanthropies to help us accelerate our efforts to provide cleaner sources of energy and mobility. Concurrently, these positions will help private and other public sector partners realize the environmental and economic benefits associated with energy efficiency and clean energy,” said Mayor William Peduto. 

Flore Marion will be serving in the role of Energy Advisor. Flore Marion joined the City of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability and Resilience Division in 2017 as the Energy Advisor through the City Energy Project. Her primary role is to implement the benchmarking ordinance and develop a strategy to achieve the Pittsburgh 2030 goals set by Mayor William Peduto with regards to buildings and energy use.  
 
Prior to this position, she was a Senior Researcher in the Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics at Carnegie Mellon University, where a subset of her work pertained to her current role with the City of Pittsburgh: She focused on stakeholder engagement for energy data access through the Energy Data Accelerator, a DOE Better Buildings Initiative, and she researched methods to leverage energy benchmarking data to improve the US building stock.  Flore holds a Masters in Sustainable Building Sciences from University Paul Sabatier, France and is a LEED AP BD+C. 

Will Bernstein will serve as Climate Advisor through the American Cities Climate Challenge, a program supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). His salary is fully paid by a grant. 

Will Bernstein has spent over a decade working in public policy and community development in Pittsburgh. Will has served recently as a public policy consultant with a focus on equity and good government, and before that as a policy analyst with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, where he specialized in community development, transportation and healthcare. Will has a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy from Brown University. 

As Pittsburgh's Climate Advisor, Will will be working to advance the City's Climate Challenge goals, including the reduction of building-related carbon emissions and supporting the implementation of high priority bike and pedestrian infrastructure 

Sarah Yeager is being promoted from the position of Resilience Analyst to be the city’s first Energy Planner. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from St. Francis University in Loreto, PA. She volunteers for Engineers Beyond Boarders, Environmental Water Resources Institute and the American Society for Civil Engineers. In her new role, Sarah will support the planning and integration of renewable and district scale strategies for municipal projects and new developments.  Sarah will also be helping to manage the city’s procurement strategies related to renewable power.   

Contact:  

Grant Ervin, Assistant Director, Division of Sustainability and Resilience – Department of City Planning (grant.ervin@pittsburghpa.gov ) 

Presenting Proclamation at Groceria Merante
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: 3454 Bates Street
80th Anniversary of Moore Park Celebration
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Moore Park, Brookline
Homewood PRIDE Pop-Up
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Homewood YMCA
Lincoln Rans Homegame
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Chadwick Park

No public events scheduled

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 26, 2019) Prevention Point Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of the Mayor are pleased to present the second annual “Honoring Survivors & Revivers” event to mark International Overdose Awareness Day by uplifting the lives of those who have survived an overdose and those who have revived someone experiencing an overdose.

On Tuesday, August 27th from 2-4:30 p.m. on the portico of the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh, speakers will be sharing their stories of surviving and reviving, local organizations will provide resources and information, and naloxone training and kits will be available for free to those interested courtesy of the Allegheny County Health Department. The event will be emceed by Alice Bell of Prevention Point Pittsburgh with confirmed speakers including: Kevin Kelley (President of the Turtle Creek Volunteer Fire Department), Nique (professional cook and aspiring professional chef), Dana Gold (COO of Jewish Family and Community Services), Kenneth Aquiline (Office of Representative Sara Innamorato), and Simon Taxel (crew chief of Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services). This event is an opportunity for the community to learn how they can support efforts to combat the opioid overdose crisis, promote harm reduction, and reduce stigma in care to those with substance use disorders.

The event is sponsored by Staunton Farm Foundation, Allies for Health + Wellbeing, UPMC PACT Clinic, Giant Eagle Specialty Pharmacy, Maitri Medicinals, UPMC Health Plan, UPMC Community Care Behavioral Health, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Accessible Recovery Services, Inc., Coordinated Care Network Pharmacy, Asti's South Hills Pharmacy, and Allegheny County Health Department.

About Prevention Point Pittsburgh

Prevention Point Pittsburgh was founded in 1995 when James Crow and Caroline Acker, along with a handful of dedicated volunteers, began providing needle exchange services once a week on a Hill District street corner to prevent the spread of injection-related blood-borne disease. In April 2002, PPP established a county-authorized needle exchange site in East Liberty. Since that time, over 5,000 injection drug users have enrolled into our program for critical prevention services. In addition to needle exchange services, PPP has grown to include comprehensive case management services, assistance to drug treatment, individualized risk-reduction counseling, health education, condom and bleach distribution, overdose prevention with Narcan prescription, and free HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI screening in collaboration with Allies for Health + Wellbeing, formerly the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. For more information, visit www.pppgh.org.

Honoring Survivors and Revivers: International Overdose Awareness Day 2019
https://www.facebook.com/events/678566665950343/
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
2-4:30 p.m.
City-County Building Portico
414 Grant St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Contacts:

Katie Houston                                        Laura Drogowski
Administrative Coordinator                    Critical Communities Initiatives Manager
Prevention Point Pittsburgh                   Office of the Mayor, City of Pittsburgh 
412.247.3404                                         412.742.2003
katie@pppgh.org                                   laura.drogowski@pittsburghpa.gov 

No public events scheduled

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 27, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is announcing traffic restrictions as part of the repairs on Grandview Avenue sidewalks and platforms 1, 3, and 5.

There will be temporary lane closures on P.J. MCArdle Roadway as needed for the duration of the Grandview Avenue repair project. These closures will be limited to Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm in 15 minute increments as necessary. Department personnel are working closely with the contractor to minimize the inconvenience to drivers as much as possible.

If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Patrick Bopp, Project Manager at (412) 255-0868 or patrick.bopp@pittsburghpa.gov.

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 28, 2019) City of Pittsburgh offices and Healthy Active Living Centers will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2019, in observance of Labor Day. Six regional outdoor pools will open at 1:00 p.m. on Labor Day with early closure of 5:45 p.m.  

Department of Public Works advises that refuse, bulk waste or recycling collection on Monday, September 2, 2019, will be delayed one day.   

If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, September 2, you will be serviced on Tuesday, September 3.  If your collection day is Tuesday, September 3, you will be serviced on Wednesday, September 4 and so on through Saturday, September 7.    

There will not be an ECS&R, Electronic and Household Hazardous Waste Collection drop-off  scheduled on September 1, 2019. 

OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS 

• 6 Regional Outdoor Pools open for the Labor Day Weekend 

• Highland Park, Jack Stack, Moore, Ream, Schenley Park, and Sue Murray 

• Labor Day Weekend Hours (Saturday 8/31 through Monday 9/2) 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. 

SPRAY PARKS 

• 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

• East Hills—Noon to 6 p.m. 

HEALTHY ACTIVE LIVING CENTERS (Senior Centers) 

• Closed Labor Day—Monday, September 2, 2019 

RECREATION CENTERS 

• Closed Labor Day Weekend—Saturday, 8/31, Sunday, 9/1 and Monday, 9/2 

• Summer Hours ended on 8/25/19—all Rec Centers are operating on their regularly scheduled hours. 

MELLON TENNIS BUBBLE 

• Closed Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2019  

No public events scheduled

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 28, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), insurance leader Highmark, and plant-based nutrition company Engine 2 are partnering to launch a month-long health challenge for City of Pittsburgh employees and their families called Heart of a Hero Campaign.   

The event kicks off on September 4th, 2019, at the Union Project with a keynote talk and cooking demonstration by Rip Esselstyn, a former Austin, Texas firefighter turned health ambassador and best-selling author. City employees and their families will then be invited to take the Seven-Day Rescue Challenge and eat a heart-healthy plant-based diet for one solid week, with a full menu of resources, recipes, online coaching, and support.  

Each participant will be provided with before-and-after biometric screenings to measure their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar. The challenge aims to demonstrate that there is a significant and measurable improvement that can occur in as little as one week. Typical seven-day results include weight loss and improvement in cholesterol levels and blood pressure.  

This initiative aligns with the City of Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan 3.0. The initiative is to lower meat consumption to 50% by 2030.    

Heart of a Hero Launch Event: 

Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019 

Location: Union Project - 801 N Negley Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 

Time: 6:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 28, 2019) The Allegheny Department of Public Works announced that there will be alternating traffic on Second Avenue at the road’s intersection with the Philip Murray (South Tenth Street) Bridge in the City of the Pittsburgh from 7 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2019 until 6 a.m. on Monday, September 9. The restriction is required for installation of new traffic signals as part an ongoing bridge rehabilitation project.

While the work is being done, drivers should expect delays and be alert for changing traffic patterns. Police and flaggers will be directing traffic from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, September 6; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, September 7; and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 8.

The work coincides with a previously announced closure of the Philip Murray (South Tenth Street) Bridge that is needed for milling and paving.

The $21 million bridge rehabilitation project is being conducted by the American Bridge Company of Coraopolis and in conjunction with funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal Highway Administration.

Presenting Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee Of The Month Award

Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Meeting With Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Speaking At Press Event On Lead Levels With Governor Tom Wolf & Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Central Lawrenceville

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 30, 2019) Crews from the Department of Public Works on Thursday removed an estimated 20 tons of debris, trees and vegetation from the banks of a stream by Saw Mill Run Boulevard in the West End. 

The debris has factored in flooding in the neighborhood. It was removed from the banks of the stream, near Saw Mill Run and McKnight Street. 

A second phase of debris removal will follow, which will involve access to the stream or access to adjacent parcels to reach other materials. The City is in talks with the Army Corps of Engineers to address related flooding issues that affected the area after a 2018 storm. 

The debris removal was performed by DPW crews including workers from its Forestry Division. 

"I want to thank the administration, the Department of Public Works, and my fellow elected officials for focusing on flooding in the West End. I and other stakeholders, including Mayor Peduto’s office, have been on site and in meetings over a half dozen times with the community over the past two years and have seen the impacts firsthand,” said Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith. “Removing years of debris from the stream was the first step and I look forward to working on longer term solutions so our residents are safe and their property is protected."  

No public events scheduled 

Attending Annual Labor Day Parade

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Central Business District 

Sharing & Caring Inc. Boat Ride

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Gateway Clipper Fleet - Station Square, South Shore

Meeting With Chris Sandvig

Time: 3:30 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 (September 3, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure advises that the northbound lane of Chatham Street between Bigelow Boulevard and Centre Avenue Downtown will be closed long term beginning the week of September 9, 2019 at 7 a.m. and remain closed until December 2019.

The restriction is necessary to allow the contractor to perform various construction activities such as excavating behind an existing retaining wall at Abutment 1, installing temporary shoring, and constructing a new abutment and park area for the I-579 Cap Project.      

Traffic will be detoured along Centre Ave. to Sixth Avenue and then to Bigelow Blvd/Webster Avenue.  The southbound lane of Chatham Street will remain open.

When travelling through the work area, use caution and expect delays.

A ramp from northbound I-579 to 7th Avenue Downtown will close on Friday for the same project. This PennDOT press release details the closure and associated detours.

The work is being performed by JB Fay Co., If you have any questions concerning the Chatham Street closure, please contact their Project Manager, Chuck Grabner, at 412-779-8354.

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 3, 2019) Legislation being introduced today by Mayor William Peduto’s administration would require all new or renovated City government buildings to be net-zero, meaning they are so efficient that they produce as much energy as they consume. 

Buildings are the largest end-users of energy in the world, and Pittsburgh and other cities seeking to fight the earth’s climate change crisis are seeking new ways – such as net-zero energy efficiency – to significantly address the challenge.  

The City of Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan 3.0 aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050. It also seeks to reduce energy and water use by 50 percent by 2030. To meet those goals, the City must address buildings, which currently account for 80 percent of the City’s carbon emissions and a significant portion of the City’s energy use and spending.   

“Pittsburgh is taking real steps to meet its energy goals, and moving to net-zero construction will be one of the most meaningful and impactful actions we’ve ever taken. It is not only the right move for the planet, but for the city’s budget too,” Mayor Peduto said. 

The proposed ordinance – being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council today – would cover all construction of new buildings on City owned property, and all major renovations of existing buildings on City owned property.  

It defines net-zero energy buildings as those that are “designed and constructed to be highly efficient and to produce enough energy through renewable resources to offset its energy consumption on an annual basis. A net-zero energy building could also be defined as a net-zero energy ready building that includes on-site or local renewable energy.” 

The ordinance includes exemptions for renovations of buildings that are being decommissioned or sold within five years; emergency renovations; short-term buildings (such as trailers); or other exemptions requested by the Mayor and City Council. 

A public hearing will be scheduled on the bill. 

In a related effort, the Planning Department’s Sustainability and Resilience Division last month released the first annual energy benchmarking report for municipal buildings owned and operated by the City. It followed adoption of an energy and water benchmarking and transparency ordinance requiring all non-residential buildings over 50,000 square feet to share their energy and water consumption data with the City by June 1, 2018 and yearly thereafter.  

Last month’s report will be followed by the online publication of the compliance status of buildings for 2017 and 2018, as well as an overview report of energy use of the public and private building stock  followed by the publication of data on by the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center. 

DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, PA (September 3 2019) Across three Friday Evenings in September, Market Square will be alive with sights, sounds and tastes of the international and immigrant communities of the greater Pittsburgh Area! “World Square – Welcoming All of Pittsburgh’s Neighbors,” is a free celebration with a global outlook and  a showcase for international and newcomer communities within the region. Visitors will find vendors of hand-crafted items, prepared foods, diverse, live entertainment, and. World Square aims to help build connections between communities through an entertaining and immersive experience that highlights the diversity of the various communities that call Pittsburgh home. 

Welcoming Pittsburgh, the initiative from the Office of Mayor William Peduto focused on support and integration of Pittsburgh’s immigrant and refugee communities, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP), came together to pilot the World Square Event. Through a wide collaboration of community partners and vendors, World Square is designed to be a highly visible platform to celebrate, promote, and welcome Pittsburgh’s international communities. Similar in style and scope to PDP’s Night Market program, these festivals are intended to cultivate a spirit of inclusivity and provide exposure in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. World Square aims to create an environment that welcomes international communities Downtown, provide a platform for vendors from international communities, and provide an opportunity for the large number of people who visit downtown to learn about, experience, and build connections with the diverse cultures and communities that help bring vibrancy to Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. 

“The city of Pittsburgh is pleased to be a partner in presenting this opportunity to celebrate the rich immigrant culture that continues to shape our city,” said Mayor William Peduto. “We look forward to these three Friday evenings of celebration and recognition of some of our newest neighbors.” 

A sampling of vendors includes: 

• Alquisiras Paletria – small batch popsicles and ice cream 

• Authentically African by Moa – featuring West African fashion and accessories 

• Bae Bae’s Kitchen – serving Korean Food 

• Cilantro & Ajo – serving Venezuelan cuisine 

• Costa Ricart – selling handmade crafts from reused materials 

• Flatboat Fair Traders – Fair Trade items from Nicaragua and Costa Rica 

• Salsa Aguilar – small batch gourmet salsas 

• Pop Up in Pittsburgh – Vietnamese 3d paper greeting cards 

Entertainment will vary each of the three evenings and additional entertainers are expected to be added to each evening;  full details for each night will be available on the event website. Features include: 

September 6 – DJ Simi, Kenia Ashby – a Brazilian Jazz Singer, Naina Kathak – performing traditional Indian dance, Balkan Babes – a Balkan Roma Band, Jmiirye – a Nigerian singer, and Appalasia – performing Appalachian – Chinese Folk 

September 13 – DJ Simi, Geña y Peña – performing Latin American and Caribbean music, Jemiriye – a Nigerian Singer, Noel Quintana & The Latin Crew – performing music from Latin America, Naina Kathak – performing Bhutanese music, and Los Sabrosos - a Latin dance company. 

September 27 – Global Beats DJ, Hugo Cruz & the Caminos – performing Afro-Cuban jazz, Pittsburgh Samba + Timbeleza – Samba Dancers with a live band, Purple Lotus Guzheng – Traditional Chinese harpists, and Los Sabrosos - a Latin dance company. 

According to Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, “World Square is an exciting opportunity to create a global marketplace and celebration, in the heart of Downtown. Providing Pittsburgh’s newest residents with an opportunity to share their culture, art, and more with the entire city will make for three vibrant, fun-filled evenings.” 

Details 

Fridays, September, 6, 13 and 27, 2019 

Time: 5:00  – 10:00 p.m. 

Location: Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh 

Website –WorldSquarePGH.com 

Additional community organizations served on the World Square Steering Committee and their contributions helped to create this event. These organizations include: 

• Change Agency 

• Duquesne University Small Business Development Center 

• Global Wordsmiths 

• The Global Switchboard 

• Hello Neighbor 

• Jewish Family and Community Services 

• Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation 

• PittGlobal, University of Pittsburgh 

• Program for Immigrant-International Entrepreneurs (PIE), Duquesne University 

• Vibrant Pittsburgh 

• VisitPittsburgh 

Generous support for World Square has been provided by the Benedum Foundation 

For questions regarding the City of Pittsburgh’s Welcoming Pittsburgh initiative, please reach out to Special Initiatives Manager, Feyisola Akintola, at feyi.alabi@pittsburghpa.gov or at (412)-255-8680. 

For media inquiries please contact Leigh Frank, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at lfrank@downtownpittsburgh.com or at 412-606-9877. 

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 3, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is naming Kevin Pawlos, currently the Assistant Director – Operating Budget in the Office of Management & Budget, as Pittsburgh’s new Director of the Office of Management & Budget.   

Pawlos joined the city in August of 2012. He has served as a budget analyst, senior budget analyst, operating budget manager, and then assistant director – operating budget starting in 2018.    

Pawlos is replacing former budget director Jennifer Presutti, who left the city last year to become the budget director of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.  

“I am excited that Kevin Pawlos has agreed to continue to serve the employees and residents of Pittsburgh. Kevin has been a diligent public servant for the last seven years, and has shown a commitment to providing strong budgetary oversight into 2020 and beyond," said Mayor Peduto.   

“I am proud to serve the people of Pittsburgh, work alongside such talented individuals, and honored to work for the Mayor and his administration,” said Pawlos.   

The appointment will be subject to confirmation by Pittsburgh City Council. 

### 

Press Conference With Highmark Leadership On Future Of Fifth Avenue Place

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Fifth Avenue Place, Central Business District

Opening Of Mill 19

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: 4000 Second Avenue - Hazelwood Green, Hazelwood

Filming Interview With AT&T SportsNet

Time: 12:30 P.M.

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

2020 Operating Budget Meeting

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

Congressional Homeland Security Committee Roundtable

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With Barbara Finch

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

LGBTQIA+ Council Meeting

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Ikea Room, City-County Building

Speaking At Mayor's Civic Leadership Academy

Time: 6:00 P.M.

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

Speaking at Comcast Veterans Program 

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: Veterans Leadership Program, Strip District

Phone Call With Jaison Morgan

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

2020 Capital Budget Meeting

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Presenting Proclamation for River City Brass

Time: 3:30 P.M.

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

Meeting with United Way CEO Bobbi Watt Geer

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Location: Mayor’s Office, City-County Building

Weekly Scheduling Meeting

Time: 4:30 P.M.

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

Presenting Proclamation to Rebecca Harris

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Chatham Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, Larimer

Attending Britsburgh

Time: 7:30 P.M.

Location: The Frick, Point Breeze

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Meeting With T.J. Bogdewic

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Phone Call With Greg Behrman

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Global Night Market

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 9, 2019)  Citiparks is pleased to announce the 20th Anniversary of Alphabet Trail and Tales on Saturday, September 14, 2019, in Frick Park—Blue Slide Playground (Beechwood Blvd. at Nicholson).  

With 26 letters of the alphabet, there is zany FUN for everyone! Mark your calendar for this wonderful day of family fun! This year marks our 20th Anniversary of this storied event in beautiful Frick Park. Six life-size, hand-painted story sets along the trail attract thousands of children and families annually for a day of reading and fun in an outdoor setting.   

Enjoy the best in children's early and elementary literature, art and enrichment, games, entertainment and tons of interactive activities from Pittsburgh's leading arts and cultural organizations. The EQT Children's Theater, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Reading is Fundamental, Cultural Trust, Animal Friends and Trying Together are a few of the many organizations joining Citiparks to support literacy in our region.  

Per Ross Chapman, Director of Parks and Recreation, “This event is great for the entire family, and we are really excited for this milestone Anniversary!”     

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 9, 2019) More than 250 small businesses across Pittsburgh have been assisted with $35+ million in support from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh the past five years, leading to almost $110 million in small business investment citywide.

A study of investments by the URA’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship shows that from January 1, 2015 through August 5, 2019 261 small business projects received $35.5 million in investments, leading to $109 million in total project costs. The investments created 786 jobs and retained another 590 jobs, and 30% of the grants were issued to minority and women-owned business enterprises.

“Small businesses are the bedrock of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods and these investments are critical to their growth. I want to thank the URA for this ongoing work, and welcome other businesses to apply,” Mayor William Peduto said.

The URA’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers a variety of gap financing products to help businesses close the financing for their business growth and expansion. The projects supported by CIE were made across the city to businesses in all nine City Council districts.

“We’re proud to have supported so many entrepreneurs, small businesses and micro-enterprises, including a host of amazing minority and women-owned businesses,” said URA Deputy Director Diamonte Walker. “In addition, these programs do more than provide capital to these entrepreneurs and businesses; they help to build wealth in the communities they serve.”

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 9, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington D.C. today, where he will join other mayors whose cities have suffered gun massacres to press the White House and Congress to adopt firearms background check legislation. 

The mayors have a meeting scheduled with White House officials in the afternoon, followed by a press conference where they will call upon the U.S. Senate, which returns to session today, to vote on background check legislation approved by the House in the spring. 

Last month, in the wake of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Mayor Peduto and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts called on the Senate to immediately come back to session and vote on gun safety measures.  

The U.S. Conference of Mayors organized today’s events. More than 275 cities nationwide have signed onto a bipartisan USCOM letter urging the White House and Senate to support background check legislation. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Monday, September 9, 2019: 

Meeting at White House with Nan Whaley, Mayor of Dayton, OH; Francis X. Suarez, Mayor of Miami, FL; Christine Hunschofsky, Mayor of Parkland, FL; John Giles, Mayor of Mesa, AZ; Betsy Price, Mayor of Fort Worth, TX; Bryan K. Barnett, Mayor of Rochester Hills, MI, & USCOM President; USCOM senior advisor and former Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey, and Houston Police Chief and Major Cities Chiefs Association President Art Acevedo 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Location: White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C.  

Press Conference on Bipartisan Gun Safety Background Check Legislation 

Time: 4:30 p.m. 

Location: U.S. Capitol, Room HVC200, First St SE, Washington, D.C.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 9 2019) The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announces the completion of a landslide remediation project in Homewood. The Stranahan Street project included  installation of a new curb, sidewalk, and subbase. The new subbase at the top of the slope will improve the drainage on the hillside.  

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 10, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in Washington D.C. today, where he will meet with Senator Pat Toomey to discuss common-sense gun safety legislation. 

Later today he will join local and federal legislators to discuss gun safety legislation in a press conference hosted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns/Everytown for Gun Safety, and then appear on a mayoral panel on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews. 

Yesterday the mayor joined other mayors whose cities have suffered gun massacres to press the White House and Congress to adopt firearms background check legislation.  

The U.S. Conference of Mayors organized yesterday’s events, and other mayors are meeting with their home-state Senators today as well. More than 275 cities nationwide have signed onto a bipartisan USCOM letter urging the White House and Senate to support background check legislation. 

Last month – in the wake of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton – Mayor Peduto and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts called on the Senate to immediately come back to session and vote on gun safety measures.  

Mayor Peduto will meet with Senator Toomey to discuss background checks and the ordinances Pittsburgh City Council approved this spring barring the use of assault-style weapons and accessories in the city, and the adoption of a “red flag” law authorizing courts to temporarily take firearms away from those who are a danger to themselves or others. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Tuesday, September 9, 2019: 

Meeting with Senator Toomey 

Time: 9 a.m. 

Location: 248 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 

Mayors Against Illegal Guns/Everytown for Gun Safety Press Conference 

Time: 3:30 p.m. 

Location: House Triangle, U.S. Capitol 

16th Annual Pittsburgh Region/Washington, D.C. Reception with Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce 

Time: 5 p.m. 

Location: Bullfeathers, 410 First Street SE, Washington, D.C. 

Hardball with Chris Matthews 

Time: 7 p.m. 

Flight to Pittsburgh

Time: 10 a.m.

Rally with Allegheny County Labor Council on Worker Safety

Time: Noon

Location: City-County Building Portico

Weekly Meeting with Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich and Police Chief Scott Schubert

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Meeting on 2020 Operating Budget

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room

Phone Call With Member Of The Pittsburgh Board Of Public Education Sala Udin

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Fire Promotion Ceremony

Time: 11:00 A.M.
Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Tour Of Hunt Armory

Time: 12:30 P.M.

Location: Hunt Armory, Shadyside

2020 Capital Budget Discussion

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Clean Pittsburgh Commission

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Green Building Alliance Emerald Evening

Time: 7:30 P.M.

Location: Museum Lab - Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Center 

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 13, 2019) Diana Street in Spring Hill reopened today after seven months of reconstruction work following a major landslide, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announced.

Wok included the construction of a soldier pile and anchor retaining wall, new inlet and cross pipe, and paving. The wall installation permitted the street to be returned to its original alignment and was paved to Itin Street. The new inlet and cross pipe were installed to direct runoff away from the wall.

The segment of Diana near Ives Way had to be closed following a February 2018 landslide, Several months of extensive geotechnical analysis and engineering design were required before construction could commence this spring.

Landslides over the past two years have led to more than $8 million in city capital investment to protect and restore neighborhood rights of way citywide.

The Diana Street reconstruction cost $880,000.

Photos: City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure

No public events scheduled

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 13, 2019) As part of an ongoing effort to make the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh more walkable and pedestrian-friendly, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership announced that construction will begin Monday, September 16, on a project to improve a section of Forbes Avenue.

Anchored by Market Square and extending one block east to Wood Street, the Forbes Avenue Sidewalk Extension will work to build upon the vibrancy of Market Square and extend it through this heavily-travelled corridor by extending the width of the sidewalks while incorporating dedicated zones for loading and drop-off/pick-ups.  

Work will begin starting nearest Market Square and continuing towards Wood Street. The total project duration is expected to be two months.

“We are thrilled to see additional enhancements to this corridor and appreciate the support from the City of Pittsburgh and the URA and their support of the many locally-owned businesses along this corridor,” said Jeremy Waldrup, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “After working with community stakeholders to develop some concepts, we’re excited to see the positive impact this will have on those who use Forbes Avenue daily.”

The sidewalk extension is one part of the vision is to reimagine Forbes Avenue as a dynamic and exciting corridor that attracts patrons and that better supports the needs of Downtown businesses. Developed through a series of workshops with stakeholders and business owners along Forbes Avenue and led by the PDP, the future of the Forbes Avenue corridor was identified as being:

• A great Downtown street with strong local business presence and activity
• A Downtown destination throughout the day and night
• A continuous feel and identity from Market Square onto Forbes Avenue
• A place where pedestrians are first

As this project was intended to extend the vibe of Market Square into Forbes Avenue, the PDP has contracted a landscape architect consultant to work with the stakeholders to identify streetscape and café seating concepts for the new sidewalk extension that complement the context of the area.These enhancements will likely be seen in the spring of 2020.

Additional details:

• Hours of construction are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• An 8’ concrete sidewalk extension will be installed along the southern side of Forbes Avenue between Market Square and Wood Street, with a “bump-in” for loading in front of the hotel and a dedicated loading and drop-off/pick-up zone to extend from Market Square to the parking garage.
• The on-street parking and loading lane will be removed and the road will be restriped to allow for continuous two way traffic for the duration of the project.
• The Forbes Avenue Parking Garage will remain accessible throughout the duration of the project.
• No equipment can start before 7:00 a.m. or extend past 5:00 p.m. Any request for work beyond these hours requires special approval from the URA one week in advance.
• No trailers will be on-site due to limited space, and the contractor is responsible for dust control and cleaning of streets.
• A minimum of a five foot clear and safe pedestrian path around the work site is required at all times.
• Flaggers will be on site if the work needs to impede on a travel lane for staging or to move equipment.

About the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA)

The URA is the City of Pittsburgh's economic development agency, committed to creating jobs, expanding the City's tax base, and improving the vitality of businesses and neighborhoods. The URA achieves this mission by assembling, preparing, and conveying sites for major mixed-use developments and by providing a portfolio of programs that include financing for business location, relocation and expansion, housing construction and rehabilitation, and home purchases and improvements. The URA is also committed to equitable development and incorporates best practices for equity and inclusion into its internal and external policies and activities.

About the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a dynamic, non-profit 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. The PDP’s strategic initiatives include clean and safe services, transportation, and economic development and advocacy. For more information, visit www.DowntownPittsburgh.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @DowntownPitt.

Contacts:

Timothy McNulty, Communications Director, City of Pittsburgh, timothy.mcnulty@pittsburghpa.gov or 412-660-1999

Colten Gill, Digital and Online Content Coordinator, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, 412-325-0151

Rinker Materials Reinforced Concrete Pipe Plant Tour

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Rinker Materials Pipe Plant, Oakdale, PA

UAE & American Middle East Institute Luncheon

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: K & L Gates Center, Central Business District

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With PennDOT Officials, Department of Public Works, & Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Headspace

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation For Cancer Awareness

Time: 4:30 P.M.

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

UAE & American Middle East Institute Evening Reception 

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The LeMont, Mount Washington

Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan Community Unveiling

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Hazelwood Green, Hazelwood 

Rinker Materials Reinforced Concrete Pipe Plant Tour

Time: 11:00 A.M.

Location: Rinker Materials Pipe Plant, Oakdale, PA

UAE & American Middle East Institute Luncheon

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: K & L Gates Center, Central Business District

Pittsburgh Bureau Of Police Promotion Ceremony

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Council Chamber, City-County Building

Meeting With PennDOT Officials, Department of Public Works, & Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority

Time: 2:30 P.M.

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

Meeting With Headspace

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Presenting Proclamation For Cancer Awareness

Time: 4:30 P.M.

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

UAE & American Middle East Institute Evening Reception 

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: The LeMont, Mount Washington

Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan Community Unveiling

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Location: Hazelwood Green, Hazelwood 

Media Advisory  

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 16, 2019) Tomorrow afternoon Mayor William Peduto will hold a press conference with the Gender Equity Commission to announce the release of a pathbreaking white paper about gender and racial inequality in our city. 

WHAT: News conference on Gender Equity Commission white paper with Mayor William Peduto; the commission's executive director; and commission members. 

WHERE: Mayor’s Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant St. 

WHEN: 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2019.  

Meeting On 2020 Operating Budget

Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Gender Equity Press Conference

Time: 1:00 P.M.

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

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 17, 2019) On Monday, Sept. 16, the Department of City Planning unveiled the neighborhood plan for Greater Hazelwood to more than 130 people. The open house event was held at Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute in Hazelwood Green’s Mill 19, a building repurposed from the site’s original use as a steel mill.

The open house gave community members the opportunity to review and comment on the draft plan as well as dialogue with planners, technical experts and the plan’s steering committee. Community members also had the opportunity to share their thoughts and respond to the Call to Action to join a team to implement the plan.

The Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan focuses on ways to strengthen and improve the community while preparing for future growth and change. The objective of the plan is to develop without displacement.

“The rollout of the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan was a huge success,” said Tim Smith, chair of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative and CEO of Center of Life. “The people of Greater Hazelwood remain energized about the plan and cautiously optimistic regarding implementation and outcomes. The leadership of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative will continue to provide community members with education and training on the details of the plan and direction on participation in teams that are addressing neighborhood priorities.”

The plan is organized around the topics of community, development, mobility and infrastructure. The community’s priorities are outlined and strategies for implementation are identified throughout the plan. The plan is available for viewing on the Department of City Planning website at https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/ghnp.

An open period for public comment began on Friday, Aug. 30, and will continue through Friday, Oct. 4. Comments can be made online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GQ8D5GM.

The Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan will be presented to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and there will be opportunity for public comment.

For More Information:

Ose Akinlotan

Project Manager, Neighborhood Planner, ose.akinlotan@pittsburghpa.gov

Andrew Dash

Acting Director, Department of City Planning, andrew.dash@pittsburghpa.gov

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 17, 2019) The Gender Equity Commission (GEC), housed in Mayor William Peduto’s Office of Equity, announces the release of a pathbreaking white paper about gender and racial inequality in our city. As part of a city-wide Gender Analysis, the GEC commissioned this report, which is being conducted by an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Pittsburgh. The report examines health, income, employment, and education indicators. It also introduces an innovative new tool that compares Pittsburgh to 89 other cities and determines where local interventions can be most effective.  
 
Major findings include serious inequality and opportunity for improvement in:  
Black women's maternal mortality, employment, poverty, and college readiness;  
Black men's occupational segregation, homicide rate, cancer, and cardiovascular disease;  
Low enrollment in college admissions exams and school police referrals for all students. 
 
University of Pittsburgh Associate Professor of Social Work Dr. Sara Goodkind explains, “An intersectional analysis of equity in Pittsburgh is more complicated than one examining only gender or race, but it is essential if we want to make Pittsburgh a more equitable city. Our research shows that White and Black women experience different types and degrees of discrimination and disadvantage, and that Black women in Pittsburgh face greater challenges than Black women in other cities. Our future research will continue to shed light on differential experiences in our city, extending beyond the groups included in this first report. We are pleased to have the chance to apply our research skills in conducting a rigorous, multi-part study for the city, and to partner with the Gender Equity Commission in this important work.” 
 
The GEC Chair, Dr. Jessie Ramey, states, “This white paper is a historic look at Pittsburgh’s inequality through both a gender and racial lens. If we are serious about making Pittsburgh livable for all of its residents, we will need to address these significant inequalities together as a community.” 
 
Based on the findings in this research and two more white papers this fall, the GEC will be developing recommendations for promoting equity through City policy and legislative changes. The Commission will also continue to collect input from diverse local communities and draw on the expertise of staff in City departments and authorities.  
 
Commission Executive Director, Dr. anupama jain, explains, “Historically under-represented or marginalized groups continue to face inequities throughout our country and here in Pittsburgh. Overcoming barriers to equity requires reliable and current data that is disaggregated, in order for initiatives like the GEC to develop sustainable solutions for problems facing the city as a whole.” 

  
Created by local ordinance in late 2016, the Gender Equity Commission consists of an Executive Director and at least 13 Commissioners who live or work in the City of Pittsburgh. They are tasked with identifying and overcoming systemic barriers to gender equity in terms of local government functions. Their approach is intersectional and recognizes that, even as gender impacts all people, it differentially impacts individuals and groups based on other identities and axes of power, including race, class, ability, sexual orientation, and other categories. 
 
The mission of the Gender Equity Commission is to achieve equity for women and girls in the City of Pittsburgh. Its vision is a future in which everyone in the City of Pittsburgh, regardless of gender identity or expression, is safe in all spaces, empowered to achieve their full potential, and no longer faces structural or institutional barriers to economic, social, and political equality. 
 
The University of Pittsburgh team includes Dr. Junia Howell, Sociology; Dr. Sara Goodkind School of Social Work; Dr. Leah A. Jacobs, School of Social Work; Dominique Branson, Linguistics; and Dr. Liz Miller, Pediatrics, Public Health, and Clinical and 
Translational Science. 
 
Read the report here. 

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

Judge For Dell Hack-A-Thon At Thrival

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Carnegie Music Hall - Carnegie Institute, North Oakland

Oriden Office Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Time: 6:30 P.M.

Location: 106 Isabella Street, North Shore

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 19, 2019) Mayor William Peduto and members of the Welcoming Pittsburgh steering committee will hold a press conference this morning on the Trump Administration's proposed changes to public charge rules, which will have a negative impact on immigrant communities.

WHAT: Press conference on public charge rule

WHERE: Mayor's Conference Room, 5th Floor, City-County Building

WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, September 19, 2019

"Believe the Burgh" Event

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: 2400 Penn Ave., Strip District

Press Conference with Welcoming Pittsburgh on Public Charge Rule

Time: 11 a.m.

Location: Mayor's Conference Room

Meeting with Chief Resilience Officer Grant Ervin

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Scheduling Meeting

Time: Noon

Location: Mayor's Office

Nicholas Coffee 100th Anniversary

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: Market Square, Central Business District

Meeting with Aldrick LaPlace

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Mayor's Office

Speaking At Winchester Thurston School Civics Class

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: Winchester Thurston School, Shadyside

Meeting With John Maher 

Time:  11:00 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Meeting With John Valentine 

Time:  11:30 A.M.

Location: Office of the Mayor, City-County Building

Attending Youth Climate Strike

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: City-County Building, Grant Street

Ribbon Cutting At Pressley Ridge School

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Pressley Ridge School, Perry South 

Meeting With Councilman Theresa Kail-Smith

Time: 2:00 P.M.

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

Meeting With Director Of Mobility & Infrastructure Karina Ricks

Time: 4:00 P.M.

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

Speaking At GirlGov Opening Reception & Dinner

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Location: Sheraton Hotel - Station Square, South Shore 

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 20, 2019) Mayor William Peduto welcomes participation by Pittsburgh residents, workers and students in the Global Climate Strike today at noon at the City-County Building.

Pittsburgh Public Schools students need written permission from their parents or guardians to leave school, and Mayor William Peduto will co-sign such permission slips for youths interested in validating their attendance at the historic event, which millions of people are joining worldwide in more than 150 countries. The Mayor is urging PPS to excuse any student who has parent/guardian permission to attend the event.

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 23, 2019) As summertime comes to a close, Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and Partner4Work are pleased to announce that the Learn & Earn summer jobs program served more young adults than ever this year.

There were 1,899 city and county youth who obtained jobs through Learn & Earn in 2019, 76 more than in 2018. There were also more young people that completed the program – 1,778 – than ever before in the program’s five-year history.

The numbers include the 55 corporate placements with 26 employers, the most corporate engagement yet. There were 1,074 city youth served and 825 from the county.

“We’re delighted to see this program continue to grow and provide skills that the youth in this county can continue to build on as they pursue further education or careers,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “This initiative would not have been possible without the support of our partners in the nonprofit and business communities who have opened up their doors to our county’s youth."

“Learn & Earn has successfully spread opportunity to Pittsburgh-area kids year after year and year, and I couldn’t be happier with its accomplishments. It all goes to show how successful we can be when the public and private sectors work collectively to invest in our future,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Learn & Earn is a paid summer jobs program that provides young adults with the opportunity to gain work experience, develop soft skills and explore careers. In addition to the time spent working, young people participate in professional development to hone their work-readiness skills.

The program continues to be an economic driver for the city and county. Since its start in 2015, Learn & Earn participants have earned more than $9 million in wages and worked more than 1,350,000 hours.

Youth have worked at more than 350 worksites throughout the region with experiences ranging from college preparation and introduction to construction to video production and developing marketing strategies. Corporate and non-profit partners in 2019 included A. Philip Randolph Institute, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, ATI, BotsIQ, the Buhl Foundation, Community College of Allegheny County, Citizens Bank, Office of City Council President Bruce Kraus, Office of Councilwoman Darlene Harris, the City of Pittsburgh, Consortium of Public Education, Ikos, Jones Day, MarcUSA, Mattress Factory, Never Fear Being Different, Partner4Work, PNC, Presbyterian Senior Care Network, Office of Representative Jake Wheatley, and UPMC. Recruitment is open now for 2020 corporate partners.

“Learn & Earn continues to be a model program in collaboration, bringing together local government, businesses, foundations, and non-profits,” said Earl Buford, Partner4Work CEO. "Thanks to our partners who continue to step up, and open their doors to the region’s future workforce, we are preparing the next generation to keep the economy thriving in the years ahead.”

A final report analyzing 2019 Learn & Earn program will be issued in December.

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 23, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City today joining government, corporate,, foundation and nonprofit leaders from across the globe at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit. 

He will be speaking today on a Ford Foundation panel about Pittsburgh advancing sustainable development goals, and Sustainable Future Forum panel on cities and companies taking the lead towards climate change. 

The Mayor is the North American representative on the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and on the board of ICLEI USA,/Local Governments for Sustainability. He has also attended U.N. climate change conferences in Paris and Bonn, representing United States municipal leaders at the forefront of the climate change fight. 

The U.N. describes the summit this way: 

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society. To boost ambition and accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is asking leaders, from government, business and civil society, to come to the 2019 Climate Action Summit on 23 September with plans to address the global climate emergency. The Summit will spark the transformation that is urgently needed and propel action that will benefit everyone. 

Organizers are paying the Mayor’s travel expenses. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh Thursday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Monday, September 23, 2019 

Panel discussion at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice on American Leadership in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: Advancing SDGs Local in the US; Spotlight on Pittsburgh. With speakers including Mayor Peduto; Ann Cudd, provost and senior vice chancellor, University of Pittsburgh; James Garrett, provost, Carnegie Mellon University; Lisa Schroeder, president, Pittsburgh Foundation; David Finegold, president, Chatham University; and moderator Ashok Regmi of the International Youth Foundation 

Time: 8:40 a.m. 

Location: Ford Foundation, 320 East 43rd Street, New York  

Towards an Equitable and Sustainable City Forum with Mayor Bill DeBlasio 

Time: 4 p.m. 

Location: Columbia University, Lerner Hall 555, 2920 Broadway Avenue, New York 

Sustainable Future Forum on Cities & Companies Taking the Lead Towards Climate Change with Mayor Peduto, Shimrit Perkol Finkel, marine biologist and founder of ECOcreme; Laura Jay, deputy director of Americas, C40; and Jonathan Rose, author and real estate developer of affordable environmentally-responsible communties 

Time: 6:50 p.m. 

Location: PNB Paribas, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York 

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 24, 2019) Mayor William Peduto is in New York City today joining government, corporate,, foundation and nonprofit leaders from across the globe at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit. 

He will be speaking today on a panel hosted by Liberal International, the world federation of liberal and progressive democratic political parties, and meeting with the organization’s leader Macky Sall, the President of Senegal. 

The Mayor is the North American representative on the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and on the board of ICLEI USA,/Local Governments for Sustainability. He has also attended U.N. climate change conferences in Paris and Bonn, representing United States municipal leaders at the forefront of the climate change fight. 

The U.N. describes the summit this way: 

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society. To boost ambition and accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is asking leaders, from government, business and civil society, to come to the 2019 Climate Action Summit on 23 September with plans to address the global climate emergency. The Summit will spark the transformation that is urgently needed and propel action that will benefit everyone. 

Organizers are paying the Mayor’s travel expenses. No city tax dollars are being spent. He returns to Pittsburgh Thursday. 

Mayor William Peduto’s Public Schedule – Tuesday, September 24, 2019 

World Economic Forum panel on Accelerating Climate Action 

Time: 9 a.m. 

Location: 730 3rd Avenue, New York  

Climate Resilience Concept Meeting with Liberal International President & President of Senegal Macky Sall; US State Department; Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Arctic Council Representatives; and Climate Change and Security Experts 

Time: 11 a.m.,  

Location: Senegalese Mission to the United Nations, 747 3rd Avenue, New York 

Second Local and Regional Governments Forum on SDGs 

Time: 3 p.m. 

Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York 

PITTSBURGH, PA ( September 24, 2019) The Department of Human Resources and Civil Service is introducing legislation to Pittsburgh City Council this morning to help improve hiring for Pittsburgh’s Fire Bureau.  

The department plans to contract with the National Testing Network (NTN) to study Fire Bureau hiring practices and particularly its ability to hire women and ethnically diverse candidates.  

NTN will assess hiring policies and practices to ensure there is an equal opportunity for all qualified participants applying for firefighter positions. NTN will identify areas of strength and weakness throughout the city’s policies and practices and will recommend solutions to rectify areas of weaknesses. 

The “Fire Barrier Assessment” contract is for a sum not to exceed $49,875.00. 

“The City of Pittsburgh takes pride in its efforts to improve its processes to source applicants that will lead to the hiring of qualified and eligible candidates to fill its openings. Having the Fire Barrier Study conducted could lead to information to help the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service understand what are the obstacles that are hindering applicants from applying and allow us the chance to review, revise and implement process improvements where necessary,” said Director Janet Manuel.  

NTN will be using the following workplan:  

• 1. Collect and review relevant written content related to hiring  

• 2. Compile Data   

• 3. Focus Groups/Meetings/Surveys with stakeholder groups  

• 4. Research other comparable cities 

• 5. Detail findings in a final report  

•  6. Final presentation and Q&A with stakeholders 

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 24, 2019) The Catapult: Start-Up to Storefront Program launched its second cohort earlier this month. Directed by Circles Greater Pittsburgh, and supported by a $150,000 grant from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Catapult is a 12-month business incubation program for entrepreneurs who want to start a business, or existing businesses looking to grow.

“Catapult is a great program that shows the City of Pittsburgh’s commitments to inclusive growth and the revitalization of neighborhood main streets and business districts,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Of the nearly 70 entrepreneurs that applied to participate in this year’s cohort, 15 minority-owned startup and early-stage businesses were chosen to complete the program:

•             I.T’s 4 Me: information technology systems

•             Zuri Beads: jewelry design and creation

•             Gentleman Brand: leather crafting

•             The Art of Natiq: artist