City Council to get Anti-Brothel Legislation

A recent review of Internet billboards dealing with prostitution found there are an estimated 15 brothels in the city of Pittsburgh posing as massage parlors and another seven in the rest of the county. The news prompted Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields to draft legislation that would force all massage parlors in the city and their employees to be licensed.

Shields says the $100 fee and other requirements will not negatively impact legitimate operations but it will strike fear into those who are running something that is not above board. Inspectors from the City’s Department of Finance will be able to enter the business at any time to make an inspection of the facilities and its books. “We are going to know who’s operating the business, and we are going to know a lot more about the people that are here, and more importantly, every employee on the premises must have a licenses to conduct this activity,” says Shields.

Shields says the inspections will open the door to criminal investigations if the inspector sees something questionable, “the employees don’t speak English, they don’t seem to have the documentation necessary to be here in this country… Were are your 1099’s if they are contact employees, if they are not contracted where are their W-2’s.”

Advocates say many of the women working in the sex trade are brought into this country by individuals who tell them they will be working as housekeepers and nannies. They are then kept against their will in brothels. That is why the legislation includes provisions to make sure doors are not locked from the outside.

Legislation cosponsor Natalia Rudiak says this is not someone else’s problem. “This is happening in many cases within blocks of our homes, within blocks of our schools,” says Rudiak.

It is unclear how many legitimate business and massage therapists would fall under this licenses class. Facilities that hold other licenses such as physical therapy clinics would be exempt from the law.

Council 9-0 for Shale Gas Ban

A ban on drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale formation under the city of Pittsburgh is all but on the books. Pittsburgh City Council today took a final 9-0 vote on the controversial ordinance. The mayor has not yet said if he will sign the ordinance but the unanimous vote makes it veto proof. Doug Shields, who championed the cause, says the focus on controlling gas drilling cannot wane. He called on council members to turn their attention to a bill sponsored by Councilman Patrick Dowd that would limit where a gas company can drill through zoning rules. Shields also called on council to continue to serve as a role model for other municipalities. “Honestly, I never really realized how broad and how far this council’s voice was heard,” says Shields. Other municipalities are considering similar bans.

The legislation could run afoul of state law that prevents a municipality from banning any type of activity within its borders. Shields says it is time for the state to act to protect the health and the rights of the citizens of Pennsylvania rather than looking out for big business and their bottom lines. Shale drillers have threatened to pull business from Pittsburgh based companies and say they may not locate headquarters or other offices in the city. Marcellus Shale Coalition executive director Kathryn Klaber says “The vote represents a blow to the city's weak financial standing, and at the same time is a straightforward attack on individual property rights. At a time when the natural gas industry is generating jobs and prosperity for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians and economic development across the Commonwealth, it's unfortunate that the council continues to maintain a shortsighted view regarding responsible shale gas development and its overwhelmingly positive economic, environmental and energy security benefits."

Council President Darlene Harris scoffed at threats of losing jobs, “Yeah, they’re bringing jobs alright, There are going to be a lot of jobs for funeral homes and hospitals. That’s where the jobs are.” The comments drew applause from the audience. Harris encouraged them to continue to put pressure on elected officials at all levels saying a lawmaker may be wavering but “when about 800 constituents come walking into a room and tell you, ‘this is not what I want’ you get a vote for a ban.”

After the 9-0 vote, supporters in the audience gave council a standing ovation and several council members stood up and applauded them.

PGH Council Says 'No" to Shale Drilling

Pittsburgh City Council has given preliminary approval to a ban on future Marcellus Shale gas well drilling. The bill, which was first introduced in August has gone through several rounds of debate at the council table and has been the subject of more than one public input session. Bill Sponsor Doug Shields says over the weeks it has become clearer to him that the ban is needed if the city is to protect its water supply, property values and quality of life. Most council members and legal experts believe the bill runs afoul of state law but Shields says it is far too important of an issue for him to worry about a legal challenge. “Maybe some members are comfortable with this challenge, some members aren’t, but I won’t concede an inch on a legal argument. I will not concede anything until that argument is made. I will not be preempted. I hope we do not preempt the city’s voice,” says Shields.

Shields says he is not certain that the drilling companies would want to launch the fight but if they do he has been in contact with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. A representative of that group says he will put in writing that the CELDF will provide free legal assistance to the city if a challenge if filed.

The bill was passed 7-0 with councilmen Ricky Burgess and Daniel Lavelle not in the room at the time of the vote. While the mayor has not taken a stance on the bill the 7 votes means council would be able to override a veto.

Mayor Spends Budget Address Blasting Council

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl spent more time chiding City Council during his annual budget address this morning than he did laying out the numbers. Mayor Ravenstahl says council members are sending the city into a “financial nightmare” if they do not approve his plan to lease the city’s parking assets. The mayor says he has balanced the 2011 budget and a five-year plan by using reserves but he says the picture will be very different in the sixth year. “The first year following the five year plan our fund balance will be depleted. We will be forced to make a $91 million payment to the state pension system,” says Ravenstahl, “ That is a quarter of our city’s entire budget and more than it costs to operate any city department.”

Ravenstahl says that can all be avoided if the council would just approve his plan to lease the parking assets and use the proceeds to shore up the faltering pension program. He says he refuses to take on more debt as has been suggested by some council members and he hopes he and the council can find a way to revive the lease plan. Council members have been invited to meet with the mayor this afternoon to talk about a modification of the lease bid submitted by J.P. Morgan and LAZ Parking. The administration believes that can be done without having to issue a new request for proposal.

Councilman Bill Peduto says today was the mayor’s day to talk to the council about the budget and that did not happen. “I did not hear the budget today. I heard a lot of lobbying on behalf of a ‘Wall Street’ plan but I missed out on the budget today,” says Peduto. Councilman Doug Shields says he was, “a little bit chagrined to hear it is all council’s fault.” “There is a viable plan that the council enacted on the table and he does not seem to be making mention of that fact,” Says Shields. Shields and Peduto both say it is in the mayor’s best interest to listen to council’s ideas in an effort to find a solution.

The mayor says he did not spend his time talking about the budget because it is very similar to the 2010 spending plan. He says it contains no tax increases, no service cuts and no new programs so he thought it better served the public to talk about what is looming in the future. Spending in 2011 will come in around $450 million with a slight addition to the surplus. The five-year plans calls for a surplus in 2012 and then deficits in the next three years. The mayor says he also hopes to talk to the state about new revenue options but he thinks it is clear that the state will not talk until the city “puts its own financial house in order,” and he thinks that includes leasing the parking assets.

Mayor Ravenstahl characterized the relationship he has with council as “not good.” Doug Shields says the current mayor and council have it the worst relationship he has ever seen.

Listen to the mayor's budget address to council here.

Shields Wants Answers on 'Espionage Against citizens'

Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields says he is “flabbergasted” by the actions of the security contractor hired by the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security. The nonprofit group was apparently keeping tabs on people protesting Marcellus Shale drilling and other hot topics. Shields says since the news broke, people have been calling his office and saying they are afraid, asking him if they are “on a list somewhere.” Among the events apparently monitored by the department was this week’s public hearing in Pittsburgh city council chambers on a bill that would ban shale drilling in Pittsburgh. Shields says in a report tat was leaked to reporters, the group that received the contract with the state painted shale protesters with a broad brush as extremists. Shields says he wants to know more about the group. “Who is on the board of this not for profit corporation, how is it that a nonprofit corporation begins to receive contracts from the state of Pennsylvania to engage essentially in espionage against citizens of the commonwealth who spoke up?” Shields says people want to know if there is a dossier on them, and if pictures were taken while they were at Monday’s hearing or if they have been tracked at other events. “While people may say I’m a bit paranoid there are other people in the state feeling the same way I do,” says Shields, “am I on a list somewhere… where images of me captured at Frick Park along with 600 other of my neighbors who went to see Gasland?” Shields says this incident should not be without consequences. He has called for an investigation by an independent legal council. He wonders if this is a politically motivated issue, “When you have people who had connections to the federal government that are now working them, and yes I’m talking about the former Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge, and a company with a huge footprint here in the Marcellus Shale beds, Halliburton Company, having connections with Dick Chaney, who’s reaching in and directing our agencies of our state?” says Shields.

Group May Pay City's Bill to Fight Shale Drilling

Legislation that would ban drilling for Marcellus Shale within Pittsburgh city limits has been held for three weeks to allow bill sponsor Doug Shields to set up a post agenda meeting. Shields hopes to bring in a panel of experts to give council more information about how the ban would work. The ban was the subject of an emotional public hearing this week and while most council members are in favor of the idea, most, like councilman Patrick Dowd, also believe it will eventually lead to a lawsuit being field against the city. The measure seems to run afoul of state law. Dowd says he wants to hear from the city’s legal department about how they will defend council’s position. During today’s City Council meeting Councilmen Bill Peduto and Doug Shields noted that they have been contacted by the Chambersburg based Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. Peduto says the group’s the Projects Director, Ben Price, seems to be willing to cover the city’s legal costs. Shields was unwilling to expand on his conversation with Price. Councilman Dowd says he has never been contacted by Price and he demanded to know more. Shields says he will learn more during the post agenda meeting. Council hopes to be able to hold that informational meeting some time in the next three weeks. Dowd says his goal is to “look after the health, safety, and well being” of all Pittsburghers and since he has “serious concerns” about the safety of shale drilling he is not in favor of it happening in the city or in any part of the watershed that feeds into the city’s drinking water supply. However, he says he is not always able to do what he wants, “Passing a ban, I think, is what we all want, but what we want is not always the right thing. I love to eat greasy foods but if I want to live to be 90 that’s not the right thing.”

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund did not return calls for comment on this story.

Can Pittsburgh Ban Marcellus Drilling

Pittsburgh Council holds a public hearing at 7 this evening in council chambers to get citizens' input on drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale formation in the city. The public could also comment on Councilman Doug Shields' proposal to ban drilling within the city's boundaries.
Supporters of the drilling say it will create jobs, generate revenues for municipalities and the state and spur economic development. Opponents say the drilling poses an environmental threat because water, mixed with sand and chemicals, is used to fracture the shale 8,000 feet below ground level. Critics fear this fracking water could seep into underground water sources and that the chemically-treated water that returns to the surface might not all be recaptured and instead pollute streams.
But Shields plan to prohibit drilling in the city could face a legal challenge. In February 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that municipalities can use zoning ordinances to limit where wells can be drilled but cannot ban the drilling completely.
Still, Shields believes the Pennsylvania Constitution supports his proposal...
"People have the right to clean air, pure water and to the preservation of natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people including generations yet to come.

Shields says he doesn't know how much support he has among his colleagues on council and is open to amendments..."I'm looking for a dialogue centered on constitutional issues and centered on public health and safety issues."

A spokeswoman for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says the city solicitor is looking at Shields' proposal to determine if it's enforceable.

Councilman says 'No' to Drillers

Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields says he is not going to follow the advise of the city law department and will instead move forward with plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit Marcellus Shale drilling in the city. The law department and legal scholars have told Shields in the past that such legislation runs contrary to state law. Shields says he wants to protect the residents of Pittsburgh from some of the environmental impacts being attributed to shale drilling in other parts of the state. However, he says the decision to introduce the legislation goes beyond gas drilling. He says it is about “local self government” and the ability to “say ‘no’ to corporations that will cause damage to our community.” Although no drilling applications have been filed in the city there are reports of energy companies sending letters to residents laying the groundwork for drilling in a handful of neighborhoods in the city including Lawrenceville.

Shields Wants Cease and Desist Sent to PWSA

Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields is taking his fight with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to the next level. The authority began offering an opt-out water line insurance program this year that added a $5 charge to all customers unless they formally declined the offer. The anger grew when many of those customers learned that the insurance would not even cover their lines. Shields says city code makes “Negative Option Billing” illegal. Shields sent a letter to the City’s Law Department asking it to, “send to PWSA a cease and desist order to prevent continuation of this illegal activity.” Shields says the department has been “unresponsive to his letter” and has now has asked City Council President Darleen Harris to send a similar letter. Shields notes that city code includes a fine of as much as $500 a day per offense. “If you want to solve our pension problem, we can perhaps levy the fine against the Water and Sewer Authority and they will have to pay it, and right now it’s tallying up into the millions of dollars,” says Shields. Shields anger seems to be at least somewhat shifting from the PWSA to the Law Department. He says, “The solicitors office has been rather nonresponsive since last Wednesday on the matter. I guess they don’t have an answer, or can’t read the law.”

Shields Wants to Table Mayor's Choices for CPRB

Pittsburgh Councilman Doug Shields says it's not a political battle between Council and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl "it's an obligation of council to amend the city code and offer a clear, consistent way to have appointees come before council and to replace members as they cycle off the board."
Shields is referring to the dispute between council and the mayor over the 7 nominations Ravenstahl made to the Citizen Police Review Board (CPRB) on June 18--the same day the administration was in court fighting efforts by the board to get access to police records regarding the G20 Summit. The mayor has denied allegations he was trying to thwart the board but said the 60 day timetable for acting on suggested nominations by council was nearing an end.
Ravenstahl nominated 5 new members and re-appointed 2 current ones. But Shields is asking council to table those nominations because the process of appointing members "is as clear as mud." Shields wants council to clarify the language in the city code before they act on any nominations to the CPRB. Shields says the code specified how the original board was to be constructed and the process to fill a vacancy when a member resigns, but he says there is no specific language on how to appoint successors to members whose terms expire. Currently, they remain until they are replaced, even a year or two later.
Shields says the problem is the mayor treated the appointments as if there were 7 vacancies and there was officially only one.
Shields says he doesn't want the CPRB's integrity challenged "so it can do its work and not worry about if a member was legitimately appointed or not."
Shields plans to introduce his bill Tuesday to clear up the nominating process. He says if council passes it, the mayor would be free to nominate the same 7 people as he did June 18.

Clean Air, Water Acts Arrive at Pgh City Council

Environmental activists, union members, and several community organizations gathered outside Pittsburgh City Council Chambers today to support new legislation aimed at cleaning the city’s air and water.

Councilman Bill Peduto’s Clean Water Act of 2010 would require publicly-funded developers to try to contain storm water runoff. Its partner bill, the Clean Air Act, would mandate that diesel-powered construction vehicles be retrofitted with cleaner exhaust systems or replaced with cleaner vehicles.

Council members Bruce Kraus, Natalia Rudiak, and Doug Shields also support the bills.

Pittsburgh United Executive Director Barney Oursler says Council should have six yea votes in order to get the measures passed, because Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s administration might not back the legislation.

Oursler says his group is working to garner support for the bills in Councilman Patrick Dowd’s district.

“We’re going to keep on pushing other Council members until we get to six, seven, eight, and nine, as we did with prevailing wage,” says Oursler. “We will win, but we will only win because we work really hard and stick together.”

Service Employees International Union spokesman Sam Williamson says Pittsburgh residents deserve clean rivers and clean air.

“We deserve a government that ensures that when we use public money, taxpayers’ money, to fund private development, we’re going to make our environment cleaner, not dirtier,” says Williamson.

City Councilman Pushes Towing Bill

A city councilman is introducing a new bill that would make city towing companies more accountable and help prevent people from being victimized. Councilman Doug Shields wants to require towing companies and those licensed to tow cars to register so that the city sees them “on the radar.” He says there are already laws in place that address towing companies, but they are not enforced.
For instance, Shields says violation for parking in a private lot cannot exceed a $110 fine after being towed. If a towing company charges more than that, one can go to a district magistrate to appeal the fine. However, filing that charge costs $70. He says he wants to see language in the bill saying the towing company should also take the responsibility of that fee. Another law that’s in place he says is never enforced regards ancillary use lots. If a lot is closed at night, but a warning sign that remains shows a tow warning is void if the parking lot is not gated. Under city code, Shields says towing a car in a lot that is not gated at off hours should be fined $1000.
There is a post-agenda meeting regarding the bill on Friday, March 12 at 10am. Shields says those who are knowledgeable will speak on the matter and the event will be aired on the city channel 13.

Harris Becomes City Council President

Pittsburgh City Council today elected a new President, Darlene Harris. Harris, who represents the 1st district was nominated by Councilman Bill Peduto who originally sought the position. Peduto says he nominated and voted for Harris because he couldn't get the 5 votes he needed to become President and he did not want the Mayor to have any more of an opportunity to manipulate the process of electing a council President. Peduto says the Mayor was calling meetings with other council members to discuss the council Presidency. Harris said she is excited to hold the position and looks forward to working cooperatively with the Mayor and rest of council. Harris also named chairs to some of City Council's committee's. Bill Peduto will chair the Finance Committee, Theresa Smith will chair the Public Safety Committee, Bruce Kraus will chair the Public Works Committee, Doug Shields will chair the Land Use and Economic Development Committee and Natalia Rudiak will chair the General and Government Services Committee. All of the people who were appointed to committee's voted for Harris as President except for Smith who was also nominated for the Presidency.

City Passes Prevailing Wage Legislation

Pittsburgh City Council today approved a bill that would guarantee that workers in future developments that contain city funding earn wages that are based upon the average earnings of their peers in the market. The vote on the legislation was unanimous but came after a shouting match devolved in council chambers. Councilman Patrick Dowd tried unsuccessfully to un-table a series of amendments that he voluntarily tabled when the bill was still in committee and eventually ended up in a shouting match with Council President Doug Shields over his right to be heard by the council. Councilman Peduto was able to introduce amendments that clarified how grocery stores were to be considered and also added a fine for violating the measure and eased reporting regulations among other things. The legislation will apply to projects of more than 100,000 square feet or 25,000 square feet for grocery stores that get $100,000 or more of city grants, favorable loans, financing, discounted land or infrastructure help. When approved the legislation received a standing ovation from the members of the audience.

Also passed today was the city's budget that did not include the 1% student tuition tax.

Bill Would Require Good Wages at City Developments

A bill that would provide good wages and benefits to workers employed at new city-subsidized developments has been introduced by Pittsburgh City Council President Doug Shields.

Janitors, food service workers, grocery store employees, and certain hotel workers stand to gain from the bill, which seven of nine council members sponsored.

Shields says one opponent of the legislation is Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s office, which he says put forth propaganda against the bill as soon as the idea was brought up.

Shields says many developers also oppose his bill, but he respects their position.

“It’s a fairly risky business, now more so than ever,” says Shields. “But at the same time, you’ve got to look at the big picture. You’ve got to look at the overall health and welfare of this community.”

A public hearing on the legislation will be held Thursday, December 10, at 2:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

A final vote on the proposition could come as early as Tuesday, December 15.

Shields Wants Legal Opinion

Pittsburgh City Council President Doug Shields is calling on the mayor’s office and the two boards that have oversight control over the city’s budget to step forward with a legal opinion on the “Post Secondary Education Privilege Tax.” The 1% tax on tuition payments made to Pittsburgh based colleges and universities is part of the mayor’s 2010 budget. The so-called “Fair Share Tax” will be used to make $15 million annual payments to the faltering Pittsburgh pension fund. As soon as the tax, or fee, was proposed elected officials and other leaders in the region began taking sides on the legality of the proposal. While some feel the city has the right to impose the tax most feel it runs contrary to sate law. Shields says he wants to hear from a lawyer with the Ravenstahl administration why it is legal and he would like to hear opinions from the ICA and ACT 47 boards. Ravenstahl has said publicly that the tax meets state code but has yet to send a representative to council. Shields says it is council’s job to vote yes or no on a budget and he can not send it up for a vote until he knows it will win any legal challenges. Council will begin debating the budget later this month and must have a spending plan in place by December 31st.

Shields: ICA Needs to Approve Budget

Pittsburgh City Council President Doug Shields says the council cannot vote on the mayor’s proposed budget until the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority gives its final approval. The ICA gave a “conditional approval” to the mayor’s spending plan in October, noting that the budget was still 15 million dollars out of balance. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl plugged that hole last week by proposing a 1% Higher Education Privilege Tax to be levied on the tuition paid by students attending colleges and universities within the city. Ravenstahl says he has met the conditions of the conditional approval and by not rejecting the plan the ICA has given its tacit approval. Doug Shields feels otherwise. He says until the ICA board gives him specific approval he cannot precede. Shields sent ICA Chair Barbara McNees and ICA Executive Director Henry Sciortino asking for clarification. Calls and emails to McNees and Sciortino have not been answered.

City Council Debates a Hold on Library Funding Bill

Pittsburgh City Council brought a bill to the floor Thursday that would have sent $600,000 dollars to the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh but there was very little debate on the provisions of the bill. As soon as it was introduced, Council President, and bill sponsor, Doug Shields asked for a one week delay. That set off an hour-long debate on how long the bill should be left on the table. The measure would use money left over in the city’s 2009 fuel budget to shore up the libraries’ flagging 2010 budget. Shields asked that the bill be held for a week but other members called for a four-week hold. Shields says if the bill is put on a four-week hold members will ignore it until December and that is not acceptable. He says he will be more than happy to put another one-week hold on the bill if more time is needed but the issue needs to come before the council every week to make sure council holds the collective feet of all the parties involved to the metaphorical fire. Those feet belong to the State, the Mayor’s Office and the Library Board. Shields was among a group of lawmakers calling on the library board to publish more details of its proposed budget. Councilman Patrick Dowd says the council clearly does not have all of the numbers it needs to debate the bill and the state needs time to take action. He is calling for the longer delay. He says he would also like to see the measure taken up after a city budget is finalized. That budget may include a provision to fill the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh funding gap. He says it is in the council’s best interest to not have the bill at the table every week where it can be passed prematurely. The measure was ultimately put on the table for one week and will be called again Wednesday.

Council Legislation Would Send $600K to Libraries

Pittsburgh City Council President Doug Shields says the Carnegie Library system is in crisis and the city can come through with a temporary fix. Shields introduced a bill in council Thursday that would send $600,000 to the library system this year. He is also planning to introduce a bill that would allocate an equal amount in next year’s budget. The money would be sent to the library system only if management promises to keep open for another year the four branches slated to be closed. Shields says the city budgeted for gas at $4.00 a gallon in this year’s spending plan and has seen big savings in that line item. The money for this year’s grant would come from that fund. Shields says he thinks he will be able to get the needed votes to pass the legislation. Last week nearly every councilmember weighed in during a council meeting in favor of finding a way to keep the branches open.

Gunshot Detector Bill

A city council member is pushing for a bill that has been proven to deter gun violence. City Council President Doug Shields says it's a detection system that works by using a network of microphones to triangulate a location when the shot was fired. It distinguish a firecracker from a gunshot, and the program alerts 911 dispatchers of the location and how many shots were fired, along with whether the weapon was high caliber or low caliber. Shields says a turn key operation would cost about $300,000, allowing the system to be used within a square mile radius.

He says that while Pittsburgh is a relatively safe city, it isn't when it comes to gun violence. If the bill passes, he says he would look to install it in the more troublesome neighborhoods where much of the gun violence occurs, such as Homewood or the hill top neighborhoods like Beltzhoover.