Peduto to Mayor: Name a Stimulus Comittee

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto is calling on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to name the members of a “Stimulus Oversight Committee” as required by legislation passed 6 months ago. Peduto says the city is missing out on millions of dollars in federal stimulus funding and the committee could help land the grants he says are going to other cities. Peduto says,” we had applied for funding over one grant application and the application was done improperly. We received no money in the policing grant that went to other major cities. Most recently on the economic recovery for community revitalization, we received none. We did not even apply for a Wi-Max or Wi-Fi grant.” Peduto says council members have forwarded to the Mayor’s office names for his consideration but have been ignored. The mayor says he does not intend to name the committee. He says the city has a grant officer and has secured $20 million from the stimulus program and another $20 million from other state, federal and private sources in the last 3 years.