The air in Pittsburgh may be a little cleaner in the future.
Pittsburgh Council has given preliminary approval to a bill that would require developers to put filters on diesel engines used in projects funded with more than $250,000 in tax revenue.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Councilman Bill Peduto, says that would cut down on particles in diesel exhaust which are linked to asthma, cancer, and other health problems. The legislation has been in the works for about two years, as Peduto sat down with environmental organizations and labor unions to craft a bill that appeased both groups.
Labor raised concerns that the retrofits would be too expensive for small developers, so Peduto helped create a fund to help them buy the filters. There’s also a cap on how much can be spent on retrofits.
Councilman Ricky Burgess says the bill will have little effect on the city’s air quality because it only concerns publicly-funded projects. But Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak says there’s more to it than that.
“Yes, we are retrofitting construction vehicles for public projects, but it’s not like that retrofit is going to come off as soon as that vehicle’s done on this public project,” says Rudiak. “These vehicles, from here on in, are going to be working on private projects across the region.”
Last week, the bill was held an extra seven days so Peduto could address a final concern from the operating engineers’ union about the cost of retrofits. The amended bill cleared its committee unanimously and final passage is expected next Tuesday.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Bald Eagle Rebounds in PA
In 1983 there were 3 bald eagle nests in the Commonwealth. This year the count stands at 203 in 50 of Pennsylvania's counties. State Gaming Control Spokesman Jerry Feaser says people have a greater opportunity today of seeing a bald eagle nest than since the before the Civil War. He says while they're proud of this accomplishment, they will continue monitoring the population "to see when and if we can ever remove the bald eagle from the state's threatened species list." He says they count the nests through Game Control employees and volunteers. Feaser attributes the come back to pollution controls and in 1983 the Commission and a number of other states partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to repopulate the species by bringing in chicks from Canada. Allegheny County only has one nest, while Crawford and Pike Counties both have 19. And while they don't give the specific locations of many nests because they're on private property, Feaser says they are working on an eagle watching guide which is posted on their website, so people can find nests on public lands.
City to Get Help in Financial Management Transition
Pittsburgh's financial oversight board has hired an accountant to review all of the city’s open accounts. The analysis is in preparation for Pittsburgh joining Allegheny County’s computerized fiscal management system.
The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority says Pittsburgh-based firm Gleason & Associates will work with city government to smooth the financial transition.
The firm will likely close out several inactive or empty accounts, and ICA Executive Director Henry Sciortino says Gleason may even find some extra money in old projects that went under-budget. The accounts range from those opened in the current administration to funds earmarked decades ago.
Sciortino says the firm will also examine both the capital budget and the operating budget to help the city understand its current standing.
But Sciortino says the real goal of the project is to make sure all of Pittsburgh’s finances are ready for the conversion by the end of the summer.
“In that conversion, we want the city to be able to go through all of its accounts, and then match up with the accounts in a way that they fit into the County system,” says Sciortino.
Gleason & Associates was hired in a $35,000 contract that was paid for by the ICA. Sciortino says the financial review will probably take four to six weeks to finish.
The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority says Pittsburgh-based firm Gleason & Associates will work with city government to smooth the financial transition.
The firm will likely close out several inactive or empty accounts, and ICA Executive Director Henry Sciortino says Gleason may even find some extra money in old projects that went under-budget. The accounts range from those opened in the current administration to funds earmarked decades ago.
Sciortino says the firm will also examine both the capital budget and the operating budget to help the city understand its current standing.
But Sciortino says the real goal of the project is to make sure all of Pittsburgh’s finances are ready for the conversion by the end of the summer.
“In that conversion, we want the city to be able to go through all of its accounts, and then match up with the accounts in a way that they fit into the County system,” says Sciortino.
Gleason & Associates was hired in a $35,000 contract that was paid for by the ICA. Sciortino says the financial review will probably take four to six weeks to finish.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Fireworks Cap Regatta
Pittsburghers love their fireworks and the folks at the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta know it. A 25-minute fireworks display will cap off the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta tonight at 9:00. The show will launch from four barges moored in the Ohio River just off the Point. “It’s a ‘pyromusical,’” said Pyrotecnico show designer Ralph Piacquadio, “For me downtown is great [for viewing] Mount Washington is supper, but here at Point State Park, the North Shore, the South Shore, great places to see it, make sure you listen to the music because it does tell a story.”
Pyrotecnico has been working on the show for months. “On the design side it takes about two hours a minute, that just sitting saying OK we’ve got the effects and now we are going to insert them into the audio.” The team also logs hundreds of hours traveling to find the right shells, building the effects and loading the barges. “We usually do that to the end,” said Piacquadio, “someone will call and say, you know what I was thinking about this last night, lets put this in too.” Piacquadio said the show can be tweaked right down to the last minute because the company’s home is just up river in New Castle.
However being so close add different pressures. “We live here, my family, my friends my neighbors are here, we’re going to bring it, there’s no doubt.”
(Photo courtesy Pyrotecnico)
Friday, July 1, 2011
Regatta Taking Over Water, Land, and Air
Pittsburgh is gearing up to host the 34th Three Rivers Regatta - complete with a massive sand sculpture, air acrobatics and boat racing. The festival takes over Point State Park downtown from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The event includes a Kids' Zone, Drumline and acrobatics on the main stage. A flight show and skydiving takes place above, including a "sky-yak" jumper plunging 6,000 in a kayak into the Allegheny River (with a parachute). Regatta organizer Michael Dongilli says spectators will be able to see the action from both sides of the river - including water skiers, and "anything that floats" race and the Powerboat Superleague North American Championships. More information is available at threeriversregatta.net. Also, expect portions of the city's rivers to be closed intermittently to boaters Sunday and Monday for the Regatta and fireworks. Specific areas and hours can be found on the Post-Gazette's website.
Study: Wind Turbines Kill Bats
A recent study confirms the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s fears that wind turbines kill a significant amount of bats every year.
Game Commission Wildlife Biologist Tracey Librandi Mumma says the turbines kill more than 10,000 bats and about 1,700 birds each year.
While songbirds are dying by colliding with the windmills, Librandi Mumma says the bats, mostly the high-flying migratory species, are dying in a different way.
“A lot of the bats that we’re finding underneath turbines have no visible lacerations, broken bones, anything like that,” says Librandi Mumma. “They’re actually dying of barrow trauma, which I equate to getting ‘the bends’ when you scuba-dive, when you come up too fast. There’s a pressure difference when the blades are moving on a wind turbine, and that pressure difference is causing the bats’ lungs to explode.”
She says most energy companies with turbines in the state are now voluntarily seeking input from the Game Commission, to better decide where to place them.
Librandi Mumma says it's possible turbines will be equipped to emit high-frequency sounds that would deter bats from coming near them.
Game Commission Wildlife Biologist Tracey Librandi Mumma says the turbines kill more than 10,000 bats and about 1,700 birds each year.
While songbirds are dying by colliding with the windmills, Librandi Mumma says the bats, mostly the high-flying migratory species, are dying in a different way.
“A lot of the bats that we’re finding underneath turbines have no visible lacerations, broken bones, anything like that,” says Librandi Mumma. “They’re actually dying of barrow trauma, which I equate to getting ‘the bends’ when you scuba-dive, when you come up too fast. There’s a pressure difference when the blades are moving on a wind turbine, and that pressure difference is causing the bats’ lungs to explode.”
She says most energy companies with turbines in the state are now voluntarily seeking input from the Game Commission, to better decide where to place them.
Librandi Mumma says it's possible turbines will be equipped to emit high-frequency sounds that would deter bats from coming near them.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
City Council Rethinks Capital Budget
Pittsburgh elected officials say it’s a good time for the city to borrow money, so it can help pay for capital budget projects it can’t afford right now.
Looking for ways the city could buy new police cars, fire trucks, and Public Works vehicles, Councilwoman Theresa Smith called for a post-agenda hearing on the city’s capital budget.
Pittsburgh’s Director of Finance, Scott Kunka, says the city can refinance its debt, issue a bond, or do both, offering several specific options that would inject money into the 2011 capital budget.
City Controller Michael Lamb says he supports borrowing money to help spread out payments on large capital projects.
Several Council Members say the city should completely redo every capital budget line item after borrowing money.
Looking for ways the city could buy new police cars, fire trucks, and Public Works vehicles, Councilwoman Theresa Smith called for a post-agenda hearing on the city’s capital budget.
Pittsburgh’s Director of Finance, Scott Kunka, says the city can refinance its debt, issue a bond, or do both, offering several specific options that would inject money into the 2011 capital budget.
City Controller Michael Lamb says he supports borrowing money to help spread out payments on large capital projects.
Several Council Members say the city should completely redo every capital budget line item after borrowing money.
Study Shows Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual Youth Experience Bullying More Often than Peers
A study to be published in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health surveyed 28 other studies from throughout The US and Canada and found that gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students are more likely to experience sexual abuse, parental physical abuse and bullying from peers than other youth.
The study was authored by professors from The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. Mark Friedman, a professor of behavioral and community health sciences says these types of abuse are one of the driving forces behind mental health problems, substance abuse and risky behaviors for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. The abuse is a result of their self-identifying their sexual orientation.
Friedman said they compared the results of the studies done in the 1990's to studies done in the 2000's expecting that the abuse would have diminished and were surprised to find out that although societal attitudes have changed, the rates of bullying of youth have not.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
The study was authored by professors from The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. Mark Friedman, a professor of behavioral and community health sciences says these types of abuse are one of the driving forces behind mental health problems, substance abuse and risky behaviors for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. The abuse is a result of their self-identifying their sexual orientation.
Friedman said they compared the results of the studies done in the 1990's to studies done in the 2000's expecting that the abuse would have diminished and were surprised to find out that although societal attitudes have changed, the rates of bullying of youth have not.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
State System Tuition up $436
The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education voted today to increase in-state full-time tuition rates for new students by 7.5%. The moves come less than 24 hours after the PA House approved a $27.15 Billion budget for 2011-2012 that cut spending for the State System by $90 million or about 18%.
“As we said at our budget hearings in both the House and Senate earlier this year, we will not ask our students to bear the entire burden of the budget cuts we are facing,” said PASSHE Chancellor Dr. John Cavanaugh. “The tuition increase approved by the Board today will fall significantly short of the funding we need to replace what we lost. Above all, we must keep tuition affordable for our students and their families.”
The new annual tuition rate for full-time, resident undergraduate students beginning this fall will be $6,240. The 14 State System schools host nearly 120,000 students. Among the schools are California University of PA, Indiana University of PA, and Slippery Rock University.
“As we said at our budget hearings in both the House and Senate earlier this year, we will not ask our students to bear the entire burden of the budget cuts we are facing,” said PASSHE Chancellor Dr. John Cavanaugh. “The tuition increase approved by the Board today will fall significantly short of the funding we need to replace what we lost. Above all, we must keep tuition affordable for our students and their families.”
The new annual tuition rate for full-time, resident undergraduate students beginning this fall will be $6,240. The 14 State System schools host nearly 120,000 students. Among the schools are California University of PA, Indiana University of PA, and Slippery Rock University.
PA AFL-CIO: Budget Hurts Workers and Business
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale calls the state’s soon-to-be-signed 2011-2012 budget short sighted and balanced on the backs of working families. The group is decrying cuts in basic education, higher education, and job training.
“In a time when we are trying to build a world class education system and businesses keep talking about the needed for an educated workforce and a trained workforce, this budget goes exactly the opposite direction,” said Bloomingdale, “This budget doesn't create jobs, it destroys jobs.” The AFL-CIO argues that lawmakers should have looked at increasing the size of the budget from the approved $27.15 billion.
Bloomingdale said the first source of additional revenue should have been the nearly $700 million dollars in surplus income generated in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Bloomingdale would like to see the loopholes in the corporate net income tax closed and a tax on shale gas extraction enacted as ways to boost the size of the budget.
Along with the cuts in basic and higher education, Bloomingdale points to cuts at the department of Labor and Industry as being detrimental to the state. “A lot of that money went to help companies… who were trying to get a trained workforce and had special needs. L and I would provide them money to get their workforce trained,” said Bloomingdale. The nearly $6 million line item for training was completely removed from the budget.
AFL-CIO officials say they will hold the lawmakers who voted yes on the budget accountable for their actions. “We’re going to be working over the year to make sure the general public understands what government does, I think too often these folks in Harrisburg can make these cuts because most of the tax payers don’t really understand how government impacts them,” said Bloomingdale.
“In a time when we are trying to build a world class education system and businesses keep talking about the needed for an educated workforce and a trained workforce, this budget goes exactly the opposite direction,” said Bloomingdale, “This budget doesn't create jobs, it destroys jobs.” The AFL-CIO argues that lawmakers should have looked at increasing the size of the budget from the approved $27.15 billion.
Bloomingdale said the first source of additional revenue should have been the nearly $700 million dollars in surplus income generated in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Bloomingdale would like to see the loopholes in the corporate net income tax closed and a tax on shale gas extraction enacted as ways to boost the size of the budget.
Along with the cuts in basic and higher education, Bloomingdale points to cuts at the department of Labor and Industry as being detrimental to the state. “A lot of that money went to help companies… who were trying to get a trained workforce and had special needs. L and I would provide them money to get their workforce trained,” said Bloomingdale. The nearly $6 million line item for training was completely removed from the budget.
AFL-CIO officials say they will hold the lawmakers who voted yes on the budget accountable for their actions. “We’re going to be working over the year to make sure the general public understands what government does, I think too often these folks in Harrisburg can make these cuts because most of the tax payers don’t really understand how government impacts them,” said Bloomingdale.
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