Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority has given a local human services nonprofit $1.5 million to build a new facility in East Liberty.
The East End Cooperative Ministry says the URA grant is the last piece of funding it needs to begin construction of the $13.5 million site.
EECM Board President Mark Bibro says the Penn Circle “Community House” will have a LEED Platinum certification for environmental impact. He says the structure itself will be “like none other,” and augment current redevelopments of East Liberty.
Currently, EECM operates from about twenty churches in the East End, providing services like a homeless shelter, a food pantry, a soup kitchen, and several youth programs. Bibro says this new facility will house them all, including a much-expanded homeless shelter and transitional housing for disadvantaged hospital patients.
Bibro says getting the URA grant has made new tax credits possible, which should put about $2.4 million more toward the project in the future. He says construction will begin this fall.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Call for Independent Panel For Congressional Redistricting
Later this year, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly will pass a bill re-drawing the state’s congressional districts. Some government reform advocates want to change the way the process works.
A special bipartisan commission will redraw state House and Senate boundaries, but Congressional districts are formed through the regular legislative process. Barry Kaufman of Common Cause PA doesn’t like the approach. “Common Cause believes that this is a bad idea, in that it both exposes legislators to pressure from federal politicians, and involves the legislators in potential conflicts of interest, as a result of voting on the form of districts in which they may plan to run themselves someday,” he said, arguing for an independent panel at a recent redistricting hearing.
Republicans control the House, Senate and governor’s office, so GOP lawmakers will be able to shape the boundaries in a way that helps Republican incumbents. Pennsylvania loses a congressional seat this year. Daryl Metcalfe, who heads the House Committee that will help draw the new boundaries, says eliminating a district will be challenging. “When you’re shrinking from 19 members in Congress to 18, you have to grow the districts. And somebody’s going to lose a congressman. We as a state are going to lose a congressman. I think that’s our greatest challenge,” he said. Because of the GOP stranglehold on Harrisburg, the new map will likely merge two incumbent Democrats’ districts.
A special bipartisan commission will redraw state House and Senate boundaries, but Congressional districts are formed through the regular legislative process. Barry Kaufman of Common Cause PA doesn’t like the approach. “Common Cause believes that this is a bad idea, in that it both exposes legislators to pressure from federal politicians, and involves the legislators in potential conflicts of interest, as a result of voting on the form of districts in which they may plan to run themselves someday,” he said, arguing for an independent panel at a recent redistricting hearing.
Republicans control the House, Senate and governor’s office, so GOP lawmakers will be able to shape the boundaries in a way that helps Republican incumbents. Pennsylvania loses a congressional seat this year. Daryl Metcalfe, who heads the House Committee that will help draw the new boundaries, says eliminating a district will be challenging. “When you’re shrinking from 19 members in Congress to 18, you have to grow the districts. And somebody’s going to lose a congressman. We as a state are going to lose a congressman. I think that’s our greatest challenge,” he said. Because of the GOP stranglehold on Harrisburg, the new map will likely merge two incumbent Democrats’ districts.
Councilwoman to Meet With President
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak joins a group of other young elected officials from across the country for meetings at the White House today (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) with administration officials followed by a reception with President Obama.
Rudiak says a small number of members of the People for the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network were invited to the White House to discuss important issues facing states and municipalities. She says they will be talking about the $600 million cut this year from the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) nationwide...
"We actually had to cut $2 million from our budget this year because of cuts from the federal government. So this actually means hundreds of less jobs for youths in our city."
Rudiak says she's also concerned that the federal COPS program, through which Pittsburgh receives a grant to keep police on the street, was trimmed by $296 million dollars when the federal government shutdown was threatened unless spending cuts were made. But Rudiak says it's not all about money, there are policy issues as well. She wants the administration including EPA officials to understand the environmental impact of Marcellus Shale drilling on Pennsylvania's environment.
Rudiak calls the president a steadfast ally to cities...."but it's important for the president to hear from young elected officials about programs meaningful to us. There are always things we need to make choices about and I think he needs to know what our highest priorities are.
Rudiak says a small number of members of the People for the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network were invited to the White House to discuss important issues facing states and municipalities. She says they will be talking about the $600 million cut this year from the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) nationwide...
"We actually had to cut $2 million from our budget this year because of cuts from the federal government. So this actually means hundreds of less jobs for youths in our city."
Rudiak says she's also concerned that the federal COPS program, through which Pittsburgh receives a grant to keep police on the street, was trimmed by $296 million dollars when the federal government shutdown was threatened unless spending cuts were made. But Rudiak says it's not all about money, there are policy issues as well. She wants the administration including EPA officials to understand the environmental impact of Marcellus Shale drilling on Pennsylvania's environment.
Rudiak calls the president a steadfast ally to cities...."but it's important for the president to hear from young elected officials about programs meaningful to us. There are always things we need to make choices about and I think he needs to know what our highest priorities are.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
PA Unemployment Falls a Notch
Although the state’s unemployment rate dropped only slightly from April to May, the number of jobless Pennsylvanians has decreased 1.3% from this time last year.
In what Department of Labor & Industry spokesman Christopher Manlove calls a “mixed bag” of statistics, resident employment fell by 6,000, but the number of unemployed residents was also down by 7,000 over the past month. The unemployment rate slid .1%, to 7.4%.
Manlove says nine of the eleven job “supersectors” have gained jobs over the past year, but eight of them lost ground from April to May. However, he says it’s important to consider that fact in a broader context.
“The decrease in May jobs followed an April increase of 23,900, and that was the second-largest gain in Pennsylvania jobs since 1997,” says Manlove. “So when you see that kind of very large increase followed by a considerable decrease, it could be that it’s due to a shifting seasonal pattern.”
But the Keystone Research Center says the loss of 14,000 jobs in May "raises serious concerns" about a renewed weakness in the economy, both nationally and on a state level.
"With unemployment still high and economic growth slow going, the economic climate in Pennsylvania is translating into severe hardship for tens of thousands of unemployed and underemployed workers across the state," says KRC Labor Economist Mark Price.
Price says state lawmakers should "tap all available revenues" to limit budget cuts and save state-funded jobs.
The Government supersector has experienced the largest yearly drop, losing 33,100 jobs since May 2010. The only other division to experience a yearly decline was Financial Activities (comprising real estate, banking, and insurance jobs); that supersector lost just 100 jobs.
Manlove says the Mining & Logging division continued to gain jobs, making it the fastest-growing sector in the state. He says that is due in large part to Marcellus Shale-related industries.
In what Department of Labor & Industry spokesman Christopher Manlove calls a “mixed bag” of statistics, resident employment fell by 6,000, but the number of unemployed residents was also down by 7,000 over the past month. The unemployment rate slid .1%, to 7.4%.
Manlove says nine of the eleven job “supersectors” have gained jobs over the past year, but eight of them lost ground from April to May. However, he says it’s important to consider that fact in a broader context.
“The decrease in May jobs followed an April increase of 23,900, and that was the second-largest gain in Pennsylvania jobs since 1997,” says Manlove. “So when you see that kind of very large increase followed by a considerable decrease, it could be that it’s due to a shifting seasonal pattern.”
But the Keystone Research Center says the loss of 14,000 jobs in May "raises serious concerns" about a renewed weakness in the economy, both nationally and on a state level.
"With unemployment still high and economic growth slow going, the economic climate in Pennsylvania is translating into severe hardship for tens of thousands of unemployed and underemployed workers across the state," says KRC Labor Economist Mark Price.
Price says state lawmakers should "tap all available revenues" to limit budget cuts and save state-funded jobs.
The Government supersector has experienced the largest yearly drop, losing 33,100 jobs since May 2010. The only other division to experience a yearly decline was Financial Activities (comprising real estate, banking, and insurance jobs); that supersector lost just 100 jobs.
Manlove says the Mining & Logging division continued to gain jobs, making it the fastest-growing sector in the state. He says that is due in large part to Marcellus Shale-related industries.
Symposium on Causes of Youth Violence Held
A symposium on reducing youth violence was held in the North Side on Thursday. It will continue on Friday.
About a hundred social workers, teachers, clergy and those in the mental health field gathered to hear speakers talk about violence in Pittsburgh and projects to reduce it, ways to respond to the cycle of violence and trauma, working with violent youth, constructing and maintaining a non-violent environment and tools for therapists to work with troubled youth.
The symposium was free and held at the Manchester Bidwell Corporation.
About a hundred social workers, teachers, clergy and those in the mental health field gathered to hear speakers talk about violence in Pittsburgh and projects to reduce it, ways to respond to the cycle of violence and trauma, working with violent youth, constructing and maintaining a non-violent environment and tools for therapists to work with troubled youth.
The symposium was free and held at the Manchester Bidwell Corporation.
ICA, City Prepare for Financial Conversion
Pittsburgh is getting money to convert its financial record-keeping system to a new, digital format that it will share with Allegheny County.
The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which is appointed by the state to oversee the city's finances, will hire a financial consultant to "clean up" all of Pittsburgh's open accounts before the switch.
ICA Executive Director Henry Sciortino says that means looking back through decades worth of city-funded projects, to see if money is left over.
"There are enterprise funds, there are a variety of trust funds that exist that have been created over the years for special projects, for parks, for recreation services, for the purchase of specific equipment," says Sciortino. "All of those things have a separate life."
Sciortino says the end balance can't be in the red, because if a project had ended up short of cash, the city would have had to put more funding into it. But he says in the current system, there's no method for tracking unspent dollars.
The result will be a clearer picture of Pittsburgh's finances, which should help streamline budget talks in the future. Sciortino says the city, the county, and local authorities should all be running their finances by the state-recommended standard.
The executive director says closing out all of the city's stagnant accounts will take time, so he hopes to fast-track the process beginning this July. He says the ICA wants to bring together the city's administration, Council, Controller, Act 47, and the ICA consultant to discuss the conversion process in a few weeks.
The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which is appointed by the state to oversee the city's finances, will hire a financial consultant to "clean up" all of Pittsburgh's open accounts before the switch.
ICA Executive Director Henry Sciortino says that means looking back through decades worth of city-funded projects, to see if money is left over.
"There are enterprise funds, there are a variety of trust funds that exist that have been created over the years for special projects, for parks, for recreation services, for the purchase of specific equipment," says Sciortino. "All of those things have a separate life."
Sciortino says the end balance can't be in the red, because if a project had ended up short of cash, the city would have had to put more funding into it. But he says in the current system, there's no method for tracking unspent dollars.
The result will be a clearer picture of Pittsburgh's finances, which should help streamline budget talks in the future. Sciortino says the city, the county, and local authorities should all be running their finances by the state-recommended standard.
The executive director says closing out all of the city's stagnant accounts will take time, so he hopes to fast-track the process beginning this July. He says the ICA wants to bring together the city's administration, Council, Controller, Act 47, and the ICA consultant to discuss the conversion process in a few weeks.
Court: NRA Does Not Have Standing to Challenge Pittsburgh Law
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal by the National Rifle Association of lower court rulings on the city of Pittsburgh's lost or stolen gun ordinance. In 2008 City Council approved the law which requires gun owners to report to police within 24 hours of discovering that the firearms have been lost or stolen. The ordinance is intended to cut down on ""straw purchases" of guns where a person buys a gun and then sells it to someone who legally cannot purchase the firearm. Then when the gun is used in a crime, the original legal buyer claims it was lost or stolen.
The state's highest court opted not to hear the NRA's appeal of lower courts' decisions that the organization does not have legal standing to challenge the ordinance. The NRA claims the Pittsburgh ordinance violates a state law that bans local governments from regulating guns. Supporters argue that this law does not regulate guns but only requires owners to report when they are lost or stolen. The NRA has not indicted whether they will go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In addition to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and 45 other municipalities have enacted such laws.
The court rulings on the Pittsburgh ordinance have only been on "standing" only and not on the constitutionality of the measure.
The state's highest court opted not to hear the NRA's appeal of lower courts' decisions that the organization does not have legal standing to challenge the ordinance. The NRA claims the Pittsburgh ordinance violates a state law that bans local governments from regulating guns. Supporters argue that this law does not regulate guns but only requires owners to report when they are lost or stolen. The NRA has not indicted whether they will go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In addition to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and 45 other municipalities have enacted such laws.
The court rulings on the Pittsburgh ordinance have only been on "standing" only and not on the constitutionality of the measure.
Governor to Sign Bath Salts Ban
A ban on hallucinogenic chemicals known as “bath salts” and synthetic marijuana is headed to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s desk, and his spokesman, Kevin Harley, says the governor will sign the measure into law.
The unanimous Senate vote came days after the House approved the measure. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association had pushed for a statewide ban. Executive Director Richard Long says municipal and county laws weren’t enough. “[Abuse of bath salts has] taken off dramatically. Just really in the last six to nine months, the numbers have grown exponentially, literally. And it’s hit certain parts of the state harder than others,” he said, adding eastern and central Pennsylvania have seen more problems than the western part of the state.
A growing number of municipalities and counties had instituted bans, but Long said a statewide measure will be more effective. He added the new law will help solve two big problems. “First it was the synthetic marijuana. That was a problem. Then the bath salts came in, and the conduct of people – the behavior of people taking the bath salts became an even bigger issue than the people using synthetic marijuana. It was more outrageous, more dangerous behavior with the people talking bath salt.”
The law creates a penalty of up to five years in prison for possession of bath salts, with intent to sell. Users would face fines, and up to a year behind bars.
Jobless Benefits Measure Moves Forward
State lawmakers have reached a compromise on an unemployment compensation reform bill, setting the stage for legislation to reach Governor Tom Corbett’s desk in the nick of time.
Federal guidelines – and the fact Pennsylvania has borrowed more than $3 billion from Washington since 2009, to pay out benefits -- require a change to state laws by Saturday. Otherwise extended benefits would disappear for 45,000 people. (The deadline actually passed last weekend, but legislators realized they had an extra week to pass the bill, due to a lag in paperwork processing at the Department of Labor and Industry.)
The House had been expected to vote on a measure saving $147 million in annual costs earlier this week. But when Monday and Tuesday went by without a vote, it was clear the Republican caucus had splintered on the measure, and GOP leaders didn’t have enough votes to pass it.
The new language, crafted with the support of Democrats, would save about $114 million a year by freezing and delaying maximum weekly benefits, among other changes. That’s substantially less than the $630 million dollar decrease House Republicans had pushed for earlier this month, and about $25 million below last week’s first compromise, which was amended into a Senate unemployment bill. Majority Leader Mike Turzai still tried to frame the deal as a win, though, saying, “It is the most extensive unemployment compensation reform package that we have seen – it’s the only unemployment compensation reform package that we’ve seen in ten years. And there are significant reforms that are being brought to the table. “
The new language requires unemployment recipients to actively look for a job, and would offset benefits for people earning more than $17,000. (That’s a higher ceiling than the amended Senate bill, which would have begun offsetting benefits at $11,000.) The legislation drops language restricting benefits for people who are fired, which had become a point of contention for Senate Republicans, Democrats and labor interests.
“Well, look. We’re happy that we were able to work a compromise,” said Democratic Minority Leader Frank Dermody, reflecting on the fact the House has gone from considering a $630 million cut to the current $114 million savings measure. “We’re happy we were able to stick together with 91 Democrats and almost 30 – at the time of 2nd consideration – Republicans,” he added, referencing the broader Republican bill’s failure on a preliminary vote. “But it was the right thing to do. That money was not coming from businesses or any place else. It was coming from unemployed workers.”
Federal guidelines – and the fact Pennsylvania has borrowed more than $3 billion from Washington since 2009, to pay out benefits -- require a change to state laws by Saturday. Otherwise extended benefits would disappear for 45,000 people. (The deadline actually passed last weekend, but legislators realized they had an extra week to pass the bill, due to a lag in paperwork processing at the Department of Labor and Industry.)
The House had been expected to vote on a measure saving $147 million in annual costs earlier this week. But when Monday and Tuesday went by without a vote, it was clear the Republican caucus had splintered on the measure, and GOP leaders didn’t have enough votes to pass it.
The new language, crafted with the support of Democrats, would save about $114 million a year by freezing and delaying maximum weekly benefits, among other changes. That’s substantially less than the $630 million dollar decrease House Republicans had pushed for earlier this month, and about $25 million below last week’s first compromise, which was amended into a Senate unemployment bill. Majority Leader Mike Turzai still tried to frame the deal as a win, though, saying, “It is the most extensive unemployment compensation reform package that we have seen – it’s the only unemployment compensation reform package that we’ve seen in ten years. And there are significant reforms that are being brought to the table. “
The new language requires unemployment recipients to actively look for a job, and would offset benefits for people earning more than $17,000. (That’s a higher ceiling than the amended Senate bill, which would have begun offsetting benefits at $11,000.) The legislation drops language restricting benefits for people who are fired, which had become a point of contention for Senate Republicans, Democrats and labor interests.
“Well, look. We’re happy that we were able to work a compromise,” said Democratic Minority Leader Frank Dermody, reflecting on the fact the House has gone from considering a $630 million cut to the current $114 million savings measure. “We’re happy we were able to stick together with 91 Democrats and almost 30 – at the time of 2nd consideration – Republicans,” he added, referencing the broader Republican bill’s failure on a preliminary vote. “But it was the right thing to do. That money was not coming from businesses or any place else. It was coming from unemployed workers.”
U.S. Rep: Deportation is Destroying American Families
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