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  • City Council

    City planning to send expiring pandemic relief dollars to food banks.

    The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Bank could split more than $55,000 in federal pandemic money. On April 29, council gave the plan preliminary approval. The money came from groups that couldn't use it in time or had finished their projects. Any remaining grant money must be spent by June 1.

    Survey

    How confident are you that Pittsburgh's food banks can meet current demand in your community?

  • City Council

    An agreement to keep young volunteers working in city parks to last 10 years.

    Tree canopy covers less than 20% of some lower-income Pittsburgh neighborhoods, the city's forestry division says. On April 29, council advanced a 10-year deal for Student Conservation Association volunteers to keep working in parks. The group's spring plan focuses on the tree canopy, its program director said. State money pays for the work, and the city doesn't have to match it.

    Survey

    How important is it for the city to prioritize tree planting in neighborhoods with lower canopy coverage?

  • County Council

    County jail inmates receive first paychecks after 200 years of unpaid work.

    Until this month, Allegheny County Jail workers weren't paid at all. Now, they earn $5 a day, and those in educational programs earn $2 per class. A council member said 377 workers got their first payments in early April. Still, people doing custodial work on their own pod won't be paid until a second phase, which has no start date.

    Survey

    Which of the following do you think should be the top priority for the next phase of the jail worker pay program?

  • County Council

    Proposed bill takes aim at officer anonymity amid immigration enforcement.

    Officers, including federal agents, couldn't wear masks or hide badges on duty in Allegheny County under a proposed law. Introduced April 14, it would punish each violation with a fine up to $500 or up to 90 days in jail. Undercover officers and those wearing medical masks would be exempt. For now, council has referred it to the public safety committee.

    Survey

    If a law enforcement officer is not clearly identifiable, what would you most likely do? (Select all that apply)

  • Forward Township

    Supervisors approve $500,000 grant application to repair two bridges.

    As part of ongoing infrastructure needs, supervisors approved a resolution to pursue $500,000 in funding to renovate the Kelly Hollow and Rippel Road bridges.

    Survey

    How concerned are you about the condition of local bridges like Kelly Hollow and Rippel Road?

  • Forward Township

    Blighted properties to enter demolition bid process.

    Supervisor Amy Cline gave an update on four blighted homes slated for demolition using Act 152 funds, a state-authorized program that supports removal of structures meeting blight criteria.

    Survey

    How should the township prioritize addressing blighted properties?

  • City Council

    Pirates charities and Laborers Union team up to upgrade 20 youth baseball fields.

    Drainage problems can stop play on city-owned youth baseball and softball fields. Now, a $300,000 Pirates Charities grant will cover upgrades, such as laser grading, at about 20 fields. On April 20, council also advanced a laborers' union donation for scoreboards at 10 fields. The city is still finalizing which fields will get the upgrades.

    Survey

    Do you think the city should dedicate a portion of its annual budget specifically to maintaining youth athletic fields?

  • City Council

    University of Pittsburgh joins push to fund city projects with $5M grant.

    A $5 million University of Pittsburgh grant could fund parks, Main Street programs, public safety facilities, and more. On April 20, council advanced the grant, which is paid over five years. Proposed spending will go into the capital budget for council approval, the chief of staff said. Still, a council member asked for extra spending reports, citing concerns about city trust funds.

    Survey

    The city has flexibility in how it spends the University of Pittsburgh grant. Which of the following should be the top priority?

  • City Council

    Pittsburgh may break even on the Draft with officials betting on the long game.

    Police and public works overtime for the NFL Draft will cost about $1.8 million, the acting budget director estimated. On April 20, council advanced a $2 million VisitPittsburgh grant to cover approved costs like those. Still, a council member noted the city will collect only parking tax from the event. The finance director said the city might break even.

    Survey

    When the city hosts large events like the NFL Draft, which outcome matters most to you?

  • City Council

    Pittsburgh plans to keep vape shops 1,000 feet away from schools.

    A proposed ordinance would keep vape shops at least 1,000 feet from Pittsburgh schools. On April 15, council advanced the bill to a public hearing that hasn't been scheduled yet. Following city planners' advice, it also dropped daycares and religious institutions from the distance rules. A council aide said the original list would have effectively banned vape shops citywide.

    Survey

    Council passed the ordinance putting restrictions on vape shops to decrease the likelihood of youth exposure, initiation, and experimentation with vaping. How do you feel about the city's decision?

  • City Council

    Council member trying to protect Bloomfield Pool from sinking.

    The Bloomfield Pool, the city's second most used according to a council member, relies on a long-closed recreation center. A $400,000 federal grant to study the center expires June 30, and a bill would spend it on demolishing condemned houses. On April 15, council held that bill for a week. Meanwhile, a council member asked the budget office to look for longer-term funds.

    Survey

    When a federal grant can no longer be used for its original purpose, how should the city decide what to do with the remaining funds?

  • City Council

    Council puts $481K snow removal invoice on ice — again.

    Snow removal contractor A. Folino Construction still hasn't detailed its $481,320 bill to the city. On April 15, council put off approving the invoice for another week. A council member said the public should know what the bill covered, since it's one of the larger ones. The acting public works director said he'd seek details, but Folino hadn't responded.

    Survey

    How important is it to you that the city publicly releases a detailed breakdown before approving large contractor invoices like this one?

  • City Council

    Land bank moves to sell more vacant properties to developers for affordable housing.

    Until now, the Pittsburgh Land Bank has sold properties one at a time, directly to owner-occupants. In a second pilot, it's looking to sell bundles to developers and contractors. The director said the land bank will try to favor buyers who commit to reselling to owner-occupants. Council advanced her request to acquire two bundles, in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar and Homewood.

    Survey

    Do you support the Pittsburgh Land Bank's new approach of selling bundles of vacant properties to developers for affordable housing instead of individual sales to owner-occupants?

  • City Council

    Council approves $134,831 to replace collapsed retaining wall.

    After years of advocacy, neighbors on lower Dunmore Street in Lincoln-Lemington are set to get a new retaining wall. Council voted to proceed with $134,831 to remove and replace the collapsed wall. The mayor's office had called it private property, but WPXI found conflicting property records. The money comes from an East End development fund.

    Survey

    How satisfied are you with the city's responsiveness to infrastructure infrastructure issues in neighborhoods?

  • City Council

    Mayor O'Connor wants to add $28 million in 2026 spending.

    The city's healthcare trust fund is insolvent, the budget director said. Three months into his term, Mayor Corey O'Connor wants $28 million more in 2026 spending, partly to restore it. On April 8, council rejected a member's amendments to keep $4 million for new emergency medical vehicles. Next, a public hearing is set for Tuesday, with a final vote Wednesday.

    Survey

    Do you support or oppose Mayor O'Connor's request to add $28 million in spending to the 2026 city budget, including funds to restore healthcare and retirement trust funds?

  • County Council

    Term limits for county officials remain up for debate in government reform committee.

    Allegheny County Council members, the sheriff, and other row officers have no term limits. On March 24, council amended a proposed November ballot question to give them the executive's limit of three straight terms. Two council members, however, want a public hearing before the final vote. The ordinance is back in committee for more discussion.

    Survey

    A proposed ballot measure would add 12-year term limits to county council members and row officers (controller, district attorney, sheriff, and treasurer). How do you feel about applying term limits to these positions?

  • County Council

    New life for the “de facto defunct” ethics commission.

    Allegheny County's ethics commission could only act when someone filed a complaint. Now council has sent the county executive an amended ethics code, its first overhaul in almost 20 years. A member who said the commission hadn't been functioning proposed an amendment letting it act on publicly identified issues. However, another member said the commission does function.

    Survey

    Some council members felt the ethics commission was not functioning effectively before the recent overhaul. What do you think would most improve public trust in the county's ethics oversight?

  • County Council

    New protections available for renters against landlord retaliation.

    Allegheny County renters who organize or report housing problems are now protected from landlord retaliation. On March 24, council approved the ordinance, and it took effect when the county executive signed it March 27. Still, the county's housing standards code covers only lead and asbestos, under certain conditions. Next, a council member said she'll start the process of adding mold.

    Survey

    Council Member Naccarati-Chapkis has proposed adding mold to the county's housing standards code. How much of a priority should addressing mold in rental housing be for county council?

  • Forward Township

    Council of Governments meeting recap: grants and infrastructure planning discussed.

    Cline gave a report on the recent Steel Rivers Council of Governments (SRCOG) meeting. Forward Township is a member of SRCOG, a coalition of 19 municipalities which collaborate on sustainable solutions to shared problems.

    Survey

    When working with outside groups such as SRCOG, what should the township prioritize?

  • Forward Township

    Township will remain eligible for block grants.

    Forward Township supervisors approved a resolution to opt into the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, keeping the township eligible to apply for federal funds for the next three years.

    Survey

    As funds become available, what funding is most important for Forward Township to pursue?