Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Mon Valley Water Service Restored
Pennsylvania American Water has lifted a mandatory conservation notice for customers in Clairton, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township Liberty, Lincoln, West Elizabeth, Dravosburg and Glassport. Water storage tank levels have been restored to normal levels following a major water main break Tuesday in West Elizabeth. Customers can resume using water for showers, dishwashing, flushing, cooking or drinking. Penn American Water has restored service to those customers impacted by the water main break.
PA Officials Hope Amnesty Response Picks Up
With a bit more than two weeks to go in Pennsylvania's tax amnesty program, the Revenue Department has collected 76.9 million dollars.
That's less than half of the effort's 190 million dollar goal.
Revenue Department spokeswoman Stephanie Weyant says there were a lot of applications in the first few weeks of the program, but that traffic slowed down in late May.
She says the department expects a big surge in the final two weeks, and has recently launched another advertising campaign to help boost awareness of the program.
"We had a television commercial that ran the first three weeks. We have a new television commercial running for the last three weeks of the program. We're also continuing all of the radio, print and online advertising throughout the rest of the program."
The General Fund is counting on at least 190 million dollars from the effort to balance the budget. Anything less would add to the state's 1.2 billion dollar revenue gap. Weyant says more than three quarters of applications came in during the final two weeks during the last amnesty effort, so she's confident the program will reach its financial goal.
"We know from last time that about 74 percent of people waited until the last two weeks before the deadline to apply. So if that holds true this time, we plan to reach the 190 million dollar goal."
Weyant says they advise people not to wait until the last minute because they anticipate the phone center will be very busy in the coming weeks.
That's less than half of the effort's 190 million dollar goal.
Revenue Department spokeswoman Stephanie Weyant says there were a lot of applications in the first few weeks of the program, but that traffic slowed down in late May.
She says the department expects a big surge in the final two weeks, and has recently launched another advertising campaign to help boost awareness of the program.
"We had a television commercial that ran the first three weeks. We have a new television commercial running for the last three weeks of the program. We're also continuing all of the radio, print and online advertising throughout the rest of the program."
The General Fund is counting on at least 190 million dollars from the effort to balance the budget. Anything less would add to the state's 1.2 billion dollar revenue gap. Weyant says more than three quarters of applications came in during the final two weeks during the last amnesty effort, so she's confident the program will reach its financial goal.
"We know from last time that about 74 percent of people waited until the last two weeks before the deadline to apply. So if that holds true this time, we plan to reach the 190 million dollar goal."
Weyant says they advise people not to wait until the last minute because they anticipate the phone center will be very busy in the coming weeks.
Water Buffalo Helps Water Customers
Pennsylvania American Water says it now has a water buffalo at the West Elizabeth Methodist Church (730 Fifth Street, West Elizabeth) where customers can get water for flushing, hand washing and other larger volume activities. Bottled water is still available at the same location. Customers are being told to bring their own containers. A water main break yesterday prompted Penn American to issue a mandatory water conservation notice in Clairton, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Liberty, Lincoln, West Elizabeth, Dravosburg and Glassport. Customers may see low pressure or no pressure at all. The company says it will notify customers when service has been restored at its web page under the Alert Notifications section. When service resumes a boil order will likely be in place until the system is fully operational.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
USW ALCOA Reach Deal
Pittsburgh based Alcoa says it has reached a tentative deal with the United Steelworkers on a new 4-year labor contract covering 5,400 workers at 10 manufacturing locations in the United States. Union members must still ratify the deal. “We are pleased to have a tentative agreement that is both fair to employees and addresses our cost concerns,” says Mick Wallis, president of Alcoa North American Rolled Products and chair of the Company’s Employee Relations Council. Contract talks began may 17th and strike votes had been taken at the plants. Wallis says, “We have spent the last two weeks working through some tough issues, and feel that this tentative agreement creates a future for good paying jobs at these plants. We hope for a successful outcome after the local unions have had the opportunity to talk to employees.” The previous contract expired last night but an extension kept the workers at their stations today. Union leadership has not commented on the deal. Members are expected to see the contract details soon.
Citizens Demand Freedom for Jailed Man
The Justice for Terrell Campaign rallied outside the City-County Building today to demand freedom for Terrell Johnson.
Johnson was convicted in the 1994 shooting death of Verna Robinson. He has served 15 years in prison.
Johnson’s wife, Saundra Cole, says the lawyer for the first trial was inept and failed to call several witnesses to the stand or cross-examine the prosecution’s key witness. She says this led to his conviction.
Cole says with two new witnesses who can refute the testimony that convicted Johnson, he can likely be exonerated on his August 2nd retrial.
Johnson was convicted in the 1994 shooting death of Verna Robinson. He has served 15 years in prison.
Johnson’s wife, Saundra Cole, says the lawyer for the first trial was inept and failed to call several witnesses to the stand or cross-examine the prosecution’s key witness. She says this led to his conviction.
Cole says with two new witnesses who can refute the testimony that convicted Johnson, he can likely be exonerated on his August 2nd retrial.
CCAC Study: We're a Good Investment
The Community College of Allegheny County is releasing numbers that show for nearly every dollar spent on the school system, the county sees a ten dollar return. David Hoovler, Director of Public Relations says their Planning and Institutional Research Department found that the system's expenditures resulted in a $147 million dollar impact through jobs in the county over the past fiscal year. They equated that to $6.89 for every dollar the county spent on the system that year. Coupled with an average of $2.96 from the state and federal governments for each dollar, they came up with $9.85 return on the dollar. Hoovler says CCAC supported more than 6,000 jobs in the county and brought almost $62 million in state and federal funding to Allegheny County in 2008/2009.
Hoovler says they conducted the study to update Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials on the financial status of the school, and while it is not an appeal for more funding, he says could always use financial help. He cites a jump in enrollment–up 11% this spring–which means an increase in tuition dollars, covering only a third of the cost of educating a student at CCAC.
Hoovler says they conducted the study to update Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials on the financial status of the school, and while it is not an appeal for more funding, he says could always use financial help. He cites a jump in enrollment–up 11% this spring–which means an increase in tuition dollars, covering only a third of the cost of educating a student at CCAC.
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.
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.
Battle Over Spending Cuts & Tax Hikes
State lawmakers have a month to negotiate and pass a state budget, if they want to finish the process before the June 30th deadline for the first time in Ed Rendell’s tenure as governor of Pennsylvania.
The state is facing a billion dollar revenue gap, and Senate Republicans say they want Governor Rendell to revise the 29 billion dollar spending plan he submitted in February. GOP leaders say the state needs to trim spending.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says one area Rendell could cut is basic education spending, where the governor is asking for a more than 300 million dollar increase.
"We have increases in spending in the Department of Public Welfare based on case load and utilization of services that we can’t simply ignore and not fund. But to make a discretionary increase in spending in any line, in any sector of the economy, is simply a luxury that we don’t have, given the available revenues."
Rendell agrees that spending needs to be trimmed, but he says targeted taxes on items like cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco need to be part of the final equation, as well.
Rendell has dropped his idea for a broadened sales tax, which he spent much of the spring promoting during appearances across the state.
"It’s just very complex, and you’d be stepping on the toes of a lot of special interests, and I don’t think there’s an appetite to do that this year. My guess is that whoever’s governor may have to visit that next year. But we’ll see."
Pileggi says his caucus has the same “no taxes” philosophy it held last year, when the impasse stretched into October. He does say Senate Republicans are willing to consider a severance tax, which they rejected last year.
The House has passed a spending package, and is set to vote on a revenue bill early this month.
Senate leaders say they’re waiting to see how May revenue figures impact the deficit, but that they plan on passing their own budget bills within the next few weeks.
The state is facing a billion dollar revenue gap, and Senate Republicans say they want Governor Rendell to revise the 29 billion dollar spending plan he submitted in February. GOP leaders say the state needs to trim spending.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says one area Rendell could cut is basic education spending, where the governor is asking for a more than 300 million dollar increase.
"We have increases in spending in the Department of Public Welfare based on case load and utilization of services that we can’t simply ignore and not fund. But to make a discretionary increase in spending in any line, in any sector of the economy, is simply a luxury that we don’t have, given the available revenues."
Rendell agrees that spending needs to be trimmed, but he says targeted taxes on items like cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco need to be part of the final equation, as well.
Rendell has dropped his idea for a broadened sales tax, which he spent much of the spring promoting during appearances across the state.
"It’s just very complex, and you’d be stepping on the toes of a lot of special interests, and I don’t think there’s an appetite to do that this year. My guess is that whoever’s governor may have to visit that next year. But we’ll see."
Pileggi says his caucus has the same “no taxes” philosophy it held last year, when the impasse stretched into October. He does say Senate Republicans are willing to consider a severance tax, which they rejected last year.
The House has passed a spending package, and is set to vote on a revenue bill early this month.
Senate leaders say they’re waiting to see how May revenue figures impact the deficit, but that they plan on passing their own budget bills within the next few weeks.
Summit in PGH Looks At Race
The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and the Center on Race and Social Problems is hosting a summit this week that organizers say will find solutions to some of the region’s most pressing race related issues. The summit titled, “Race in America” begins Jun 3rd and runs through the 6th. The event will include 20 different panels focusing on seven key areas: economics, education, criminal justice, race relations, health, mental health, and families, youth, and the elderly. There will also be two keynote speeches.
Conference organizer and Dean of the school of Social Work at Pitt, Larry Davis, says this is a one-of-a-kind event that will bring in what he calls the best minds in the nation. Davis says the speakers and panel members were told to bring their varied experiences and expertise and expect to put them to use to find solutions to real-world issues. Members of the local community will moderate many of the panels. Davis says they looked for leaders in the areas being discussed including the head of the Pittsburgh Public School District for a panel on education and Pittsburgh’s Chief of Police for a session about crime prevention.
Longtime civil rights activist and former NAACP board chair Julian Bond will give a free public address titled “The Road to Freedom: From Alabama to Obama” at 7 p.m. June 3 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall. Julianne Malveaux, economist and president of Bennett College for Women, will speak at 7:00 the next day at the Twentieth Century Club with an address titled “What is Economic Justice and How Do We Attain It.
Following the conference, a report and action plan for each of the seven areas of focus will be published. Davis says while the participants are from all over the Untied States it will be Pittsburgh that will benefit most from the open exchange of ideas and search for solutions. Davis says, “Times of challenge provide the opportunity to create change. As the nation continues its efforts to recover from an economic downturn, there has never been a better time to reexamine and correct racial inequalities in American society. It is our intent to make this the best conference ever on race in America. More importantly, it is our goal to make it the most useful one.” Updates will be posted on line during the event.
Conference organizer and Dean of the school of Social Work at Pitt, Larry Davis, says this is a one-of-a-kind event that will bring in what he calls the best minds in the nation. Davis says the speakers and panel members were told to bring their varied experiences and expertise and expect to put them to use to find solutions to real-world issues. Members of the local community will moderate many of the panels. Davis says they looked for leaders in the areas being discussed including the head of the Pittsburgh Public School District for a panel on education and Pittsburgh’s Chief of Police for a session about crime prevention.
Longtime civil rights activist and former NAACP board chair Julian Bond will give a free public address titled “The Road to Freedom: From Alabama to Obama” at 7 p.m. June 3 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall. Julianne Malveaux, economist and president of Bennett College for Women, will speak at 7:00 the next day at the Twentieth Century Club with an address titled “What is Economic Justice and How Do We Attain It.
Following the conference, a report and action plan for each of the seven areas of focus will be published. Davis says while the participants are from all over the Untied States it will be Pittsburgh that will benefit most from the open exchange of ideas and search for solutions. Davis says, “Times of challenge provide the opportunity to create change. As the nation continues its efforts to recover from an economic downturn, there has never been a better time to reexamine and correct racial inequalities in American society. It is our intent to make this the best conference ever on race in America. More importantly, it is our goal to make it the most useful one.” Updates will be posted on line during the event.
Bill Would Revoke Philly Casino License
A Pennsylvania Senate Committee wants to pull the state license for Foxwoods Casino to build and operate a casino in Philadelphia. Foxwoods was awarded a license in December 2006 but State Senator John Wozniak of Cambria County says the company has had 6 years, including the application period to come up with financing and a location for the casino. By a vote of 12-2, the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee approved Wozniak's legislation which would void the license with Foxwoods. The bill would allow for an open competition for the license to locate a casino in any county but Allegheny since the Rivers Casino is already operating in Pittsburgh.
Wozniak says Foxwoods has encountered numerous problems including public opposition to its proposed location and financing difficulties.
Under the slots law, Philadelphia had been designated for two casino licenses; only one casino is prepared to open and that is expected to happen in September.
Senator Wozniak says while people who work in Philadelphia are getting a break on their wage tax as a result of tax revenue generated by slots gaming at casinos throughout Pennsylvania, the casinos proposed for Philadelphia are not yet contributing toward that pot of money.
Wozniak says Foxwoods has had long enough to get its house in order and his goal is his goal is to get a casino up and running in Pennsylvania that will produce revenue for additional school property tax relief, support of the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania, construction jobs, and permanent jobs at the casino.
The legislation now goes to the full Senate.
Wozniak says Foxwoods has encountered numerous problems including public opposition to its proposed location and financing difficulties.
Under the slots law, Philadelphia had been designated for two casino licenses; only one casino is prepared to open and that is expected to happen in September.
Senator Wozniak says while people who work in Philadelphia are getting a break on their wage tax as a result of tax revenue generated by slots gaming at casinos throughout Pennsylvania, the casinos proposed for Philadelphia are not yet contributing toward that pot of money.
Wozniak says Foxwoods has had long enough to get its house in order and his goal is his goal is to get a casino up and running in Pennsylvania that will produce revenue for additional school property tax relief, support of the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania, construction jobs, and permanent jobs at the casino.
The legislation now goes to the full Senate.
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