Topic
City Council
After the April 29 storm, a top priority is getting generators into every fire, EMS, and police station. Three council members said they weren't kept informed after the storm and had no point person to contact. One suggested naming a council member to receive and share information in emergencies. So far, the city has doubled its supply of oxygen tanks that work without power.
City Council
In the 2022 Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, rescue dogs had to come from eastern Pennsylvania. Now, the state has given the city $6 million for a task force specializing in collapses, floods, and other disasters. An assistant fire chief tied the need to that collapse and said two puppies are already in training. They'll be the only live-find dogs west of Harrisburg.
City Council
Some lower-income neighborhoods lack a city recreation center or a strong nonprofit offering after-school programs. A bill would let city staff run programs in Pittsburgh Public Schools buildings there instead. A pilot for kindergarten through fifth grade would start in October at schools in Lincoln Place, Sheraden, and Brookline. Details are still in the works, but it won't cost the city.
City Council
The police academy hasn't had a full class of 40 recruits since before the pandemic. A $40,000 request would pay for sales-style training for police recruiters. A city official said applications have risen to about 100 a month, crediting the bureau's full-time recruiters. Grant money the city already received would cover the cost.
City Council
The Stop the Violence Fund, which pays for violence prevention, hit its $10 million ceiling this year. A bill would set new rules for how that money gets spent. Instead of receiving grants, community groups would compete openly for contracts. Council gave the bill a unanimous recommendation, and the final vote is set for July 8.
City Council
A bill would make the minimum penalty for sex work a $100 fine, like a traffic ticket. Currently, it's a misdemeanor, with up to a year in jail for a first offense. The bill doesn't decriminalize sex work, though. Council unanimously advanced it, and a final vote is set for July 8.
City Council
Firefighters' current burn site sits on a floodplain and can't be used. A $1.8 million assessment of a former VA site would be the first step toward a public safety training campus. If it isn't done by the end of May 2026, the land goes back to the federal government. For now, council has put a two-week hold on the bill.
City Council
Council's committee meeting this week ran 8 hours, and almost 70 people gave public comment. The largest group, 59 speakers, favored strengthening the Stop the Violence Fund. Speakers also weighed in on protections for trans healthcare and sex workers, and 11 opposed a public safety training campus. Top agenda items included reducing the minimum penalty for sex work.
City Council
Through Safe Passage, some Pittsburgh Public Schools students train to interrupt violence in and out of school. On May 14, council heard from students and adults about its results. A public safety official reported discipline events down 27% and no homicides among 13- to 17-year-olds in 2024. Piloted at Perry High School in 2021, it's now in seven schools.
City Council
Since its dedicated officer retired in January, the police car theft unit has relied on two part-time officers. Now, Council has accepted State auto theft prevention funds for one dedicated detective, plus overtime, equipment, and vehicles. Still, a council member noted a previous similar grant went unused. The acting police chief said an abandoned vehicle cleanup is coming soon.
City Council
The police K9 unit's 15 dogs find missing people, narcotics, explosives, and hidden electronics. Council has voted on two bills letting police pick between breeders, with spending capped at $30,000 over three years. Usually, the force buys one or two dogs a year. A council member said it's the only time she sees kids in her district run toward police.
City Council
Most City EMS vehicles and a third of fire vehicles are past service life or mileage limits. On May 6, council members agreed both council and the administration need to find funds. Proper upkeep would take $10 to 15 million a year, the public safety director said. Yet the five-year outlook allows only $3 million a year, a council member noted.
City Council
At an April 8 meeting, council members discussed a longstanding crossing guard shortage and its danger to children at busy intersections. Now, a new union contract creates a Neighborhood Crossing Guard position. It lets qualified residents bid on specific local spots, which makes the job more accessible. Council authorized a budget-neutral transfer to match the new union contracts.
City Council
Residents had trouble reaching 911 during the storm because heavy call volume overwhelmed the phone network. Despite early reports, the County's 911 system itself didn't go down. For now, the deputy mayor has given Council early feedback on the City's response. A full review with Duquesne Light and others will follow once the emergency ends.
City Council
The City's disaster emergency declaration now runs until May 30. It allows waiving contract rules, clearing fallen trees on private property, and documenting the response for possible State or federal aid. Meanwhile, residents can drop off yard waste at City sites for free. A council member worried about misuse, and the deputy mayor promised a public record of all purchases.
City Council
Police have identified untested sexual assault kits tied to backlogged cases. Now, council has unanimously advanced a request for $37,000 from a 2023 grant, mostly for detective overtime on those cases. The request also sets aside $1,000 for a soft interview room for victims. Still, the number of untested kits wasn't mentioned.
City Council
An average of 20 people die in traffic crashes in Pittsburgh each year. In March 2024, the city joined Vision Zero, a worldwide effort to end traffic deaths and serious injuries. A progress report now marks 30 of 57 tasks as completed or completed and ongoing. Still, crash data for 2024 won't be available until this summer.
City Council
Pittsburgh police are short on officers and looking for new ways to recruit. Now, the department has asked to spend $32,000 from a state grant on a recruitment video for social media and YouTube. It'd show officers in units such as K-9, SWAT, and River Patrol. Council was pleased to hear that more people are taking the civil service exam.
City Council
Two city intersections will get safety upgrades paid for by state grants. In North Oakland, Centre Avenue and North Dithridge Street will get a traffic light in place of a two-way stop. On the North Shore, East General Robinson and Sandusky streets will get a modernized traffic light. That project also includes a road diet meant to improve pedestrian safety.
City Council
The Pittsburgh Fire Department will provide fire and disaster management services to Wilkinsburg under a five-year deal. Council approved the agreement, which has a total cost of about $11.9 million. The two have had these deals since 2011, and the new one is retroactive to January 2024. Services include smoke detector installation and fire code enforcement, but each keeps its own emergency medical services.