PITTSBURGH, PA – December 16, 2022 − Today, Senator Jay Costa announces over $20 million in funding for Allegheny-based agencies and organizations from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This funding will deliver equipment, support, and resources to keep Allegheny County residents safe in the places they call home.
“All of us deserve a network of support and care in the face of crime or emergency, and I’m proud to have delivered funding that will bring much needed resources to these shared values,” said Senator Costa. “I look forward to seeing the fruits of this funding as we move forward into the new year, and I hope that we can continue to deliver safety, care, and advocacy for everyone.”
The funding recipients, as well as the source of the funding, are as follows:
Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds – Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program Recipients
- Pittsburgh City was awarded $17,598,124 for portable radios and related hardware.
- Swissvale Borough was awarded $291,000 for technology upgrades for station and in-vehicle computers; in-vehicle cameras; interrogation suite technology; and retention bonuses.
- Wilkinsburg Borough was awarded $809,005 for upgrade to records management system; in-car cameras; mobile data terminals; retention bonuses; surveillance cameras; and server upgrade.
Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds – Gun Violence Investigation & Prosecution Grant Program Recipients
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer was awarded $2,348,536 to support ACPD personnel salaries and benefits, overtime reimbursement, vehicle and equipment purchasing, software purchasing and licensing, and training. It will also be used to support salary and benefit reimbursement for additional ACDA personnel, software purchasing and licensing, and equipment purchasing and installation costs.
State Funds – Women’s Reentry Services Initiative Recipients
- Three Rivers Youth, Inc. was awarded $10,000 for their Employment Support Program
Federal State Opioid Response Grant Funds – Augmentation Recipients
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer was awarded $533,647 for the Allegheny County Jail MAT Methadone Program
State Children’s Advocacy Center Funds Recipients
- A Child’s Place was awarded $47,000 Employment Support Program Women’s Reentry
- UPMC – Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was awarded $47,000 to bridge the Emergency Department to CAC Gap
Federal STOP Violence Against Women Act Funds Recipients
- SisTers PGH Corp was awarded $75,000 for Project T Housing Support
Federal Victims of Crime Act, State Rights and Services Act, and State Victims of Juvenile Offenders Funds Recipients
- Womens Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh was awarded $111,882 to assist Victims of IPV in Criminal Court
- Pittsburgh Action Against Rape was awarded $169,250 for RASA and VOJO Services to Sexual Violence Victims
- Center for Victims was awarded $1,801,266 for RASA/VOJO January 2023 – December 2024
- Crisis Center North, Inc. was awarded $39,119 for Continued Magisterial Services
- Alle-Kiski Area Hoper Center was awarded $31,992 for HOPE RASA Services 2023-2024
State Violence & Delinquency Prevention Program Funds Recipients
- Amachi Pittsburgh was awarded $100,000 for the Allegheny County YJAB-C Pilot
- Youth Enrichment Services, Inc. was awarded $99,919 for Jasmines Story Youth Council at YES
A total of $5 million available for the NonProfit Security Grant Program was available, but only $3,987,450 was recommended for funding. PCCD anticipates an additional round of applications will open for the rest early in the new year.
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Harrisburg, PA − December 14, 2022 − Today, Senator Jay Costa and Representative Dan Frankel are proud to announce the Allegheny County recipients of Nonprofit Security Grant Funding. The program is funded by Act 83 of 2019 and administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). In the wake of the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, Sen. Costa and Rep. Frankel secured this grant funding so that nonprofits who could be targets of hate crimes could improve security measures and protect members from hate-based violence.
“All of us deserve the freedom to practice our faith and gather with community members safely, without fear of violence,” said Senator Jay Costa. “In order to deliver on that crucial freedom, I am proud to have worked so closely with Rep. Frankel and members of the Jewish community in Allegheny County to secure funding that will keep worshippers, families, and communities safe. It saddens me greatly that these funds are necessary, but as long as they are, I am proud to do what’s necessary to keep people of all ages, races, faiths, and backgrounds safe in the places they live and gather.”
“I look forward to a day when these grants will not be necessary – that Pennsylvanians can worship and be together with their communities without fear. While we continue to fight for that future, I am proud of the success we have had to direct resources toward every effort to ensure that our vulnerable constituents can feel safe and secure,” said Representative Dan Frankel.
The recipients of this round of grants based in Allegheny County are as follows:
- Chabad House on Campus, Inc.: $25,000
- Chabad of Squirrel Hill: $150,000
- Christ Temple Church of Pittsburgh: $10,000
- Community Day School: $25,000
- Jewish Family & Children’s Service $24,683
- Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh: $67,820
- The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, Inc.: $150,000
- Tzohar Arts: $25,000
- Universal Education Foundation: $25,000
- Yeshivath Achel Tmimim of Pittsburgh: $25,000
The funding comes from Act 83 of 2019, which established a new program at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Act 83 directs PCCD to administer grants to Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s 2017 Hate Crime Statistics publication. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry; religion; sexual orientation; disability; gender; and gender identity.
Applicants were eligible for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the Commonwealth that is owned or operated by the nonprofit organization. More information about the grant is accessible on the PCCD’s website.
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Harrisburg, PA – November 29, 2022 – Today, Senator Jay Costa forcefully opposed the vote on the package of impeachment resolutions that would govern the impeachment trial of District Attorney Larry Krasner on the grounds that carrying the proceedings over from the 2021-22 to the 2023-24 legislative session is unconstitutional.
November 30 marks the end of the 2021-22 Legislative session. The Constitution of the Commonwealth and the prior practice of the body are clear that any business before the Senate that has not been finally completed prior to midnight on November 30, 2022, ceases to exist.
“The package of impeachment resolutions adopted today will not survive tomorrow’s deadline,” said Senator Jay Costa, the Democratic Leader. “The conclusion that the rules resolution survives the expiration of session sine die violates the constitution and establishes a terrible precedent. There is no impeachment exception to the PA Constitution that pending matters carry over from one General Assembly to the next.”
Furthermore, the Articles of Impeachment were adopted by the House of Representatives by a simple resolution of the House. The conclusion that the package of impeachment resolutions survives the expiration of the session sine die violates the constitution and establishes a terrible precedent. That resolution loses all force and effect of law upon the expiration of session sine die on November 30, 2022.
“We cannot ignore that the current majority in the House of Representatives that sent us this impeachment resolution was voted out, and control of the chamber flipped from Republican to Democrat,” continued Senator Costa. “To proceed with this trial would undermine the voice of the people of this commonwealth, who voted just weeks ago to send new representatives to the halls of power.”
Based on the clear constitutional language of Article II, sections 2, 3 and 4, the undisputable conclusion is that the Articles of Impeachment, as well as the package of impeachment resolutions discussed today, expire and cease to have any effect after November 30, 2022.
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November 16, 2022 − Today, Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) grant recipients. These grants help ensure that municipalities, authorities, councils of government (COGs), non-profit and for-profit businesses can deliver vital economic development for present use as well as future use.
“These recipients play a crucial role in sustaining Allegheny County’s vibrant culture and community, and I am glad to entrust them with this grant funding,” said Senator Costa. “I look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition in the coming months and years, and I hope our friends and neighbors’ quality of life continues to improve.”
The recipients and their projects are as listed:
- $125,000 was awarded to Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments for Oakmont Borough Park Improvements.
- $100,000 was awarded to Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments for Verona Road Reconstruction Projects.
- $75,000 was awarded to Borough of Forest Hills for renovations and upgrades to Westinghouse Lodge Building & surrounding property including safety upgrades.
- $100,000 was awarded to Bridgeway Capital for a Sustainable Redesign of the Parking Lot at 7800 Susquehanna Street, including conduct pre-site development to expand the existing facility.
- $88,750 was awarded to Rodef Shalom Congregation for roof replacements and upgrades.
- $75,000 was awarded to Steel Rivers Council of Governments for a Community Playground Facility and New Municipal Sign.
- $200,000 was awarded to Wilkinsburg Land Bank (WLB) for their Wilkinsburg Land Bank Residential Redevelopment Plan Phase 1 Acquisition of local land.
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Harrisburg, PA − November 15, 2022 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership team for the 2023-24 legislative session.
The Senate Democratic Caucus proudly welcomes a new member, Senator Nick Miller of Allentown.
The new and returning members elected the following Caucus Leadership Team:
- Leader – Jay Costa, Jr.
- Caucus Whip – Tina Tartaglione
- Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes
- Appropriations Vice Chair – Tim Kearney
- Caucus Chair – Wayne D. Fontana
- Caucus Secretary – Maria Collett
- Administrator – Judy Schwank
“I am honored and humbled to announce that I will be serving as the Leader of the PA Senate Democratic Caucus for the next two years. I’d like to thank my fellow Democratic senators for entrusting me with this responsibility, and I hope to do our caucus proud,” said Senator Jay Costa. “I am excited about the work before us, and I am honored to be leading the Democratic caucus as we continue to deliver for PA’s families. Let’s get it done.”
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Program will help approximately 100 low-income families in Allegheny County make critical home repairs or accessibility accommodations
November 2, 2022 − LAWRENCEVILLE, PA − Today, at the Goodwill of Southwestern PA, Senator Lindsey Williams, Senator Jay Costa, and Representative Sara Innamorato announced the allocation of $2 million to ACTION Housing to be delivered to low-income homeowners in Allegheny County. The grant was awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
Eligible households can receive funding by applying via ACTION Housing to make infrastructure repairs, accessibility accommodations, or weatherize aging homes. Allegheny County in particular has an aging housing stock, with half of homes in Pittsburgh being constructed before 1940. This pilot program, soon to be followed by Whole Home Repairs, is accessible to families at 80% of AMI.
“Everyone deserves a safe home they can afford, and I’m so proud of the work Lindsey Williams has done to fight for working families to stay in their homes,” said Senator Jay Costa. “Senator Williams has been on the front lines of fighting for our families, and this funding will help make sure people stay warm in the winters, dry in the rainstorms, and safe in the homes they own and love.”
“The Allegheny County Rehabilitation Program will do so much more than fix a roof or repair a foundation. It will offer residents a chance to stay in homes that they love and the communities that they helped to build,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “It will stop properties from becoming abandoned and blighted, which keeps our communities safer. I’m incredibly proud to have worked with my colleagues to secure funding for the program and can’t wait to see the results.”
“This grant will allot crucial dollars to households in the communities I’m proud to represent,” said Representative Sara Innamorato. “My neighbors will be able to implement structural safeguards and related improvements to their homes, thus ensuring the safety and well-being of their families.”
“With our aging housing stock, public health, wellbeing, and economic stability are affected every day by leaking roofs, crumbling foundations, and dangerously inaccessible homes,” said Sharpsburg Mayor Brittany Reno. “This program will help our neighbors make critical repairs to their homes and improve the quality of life here for all of us.”
Kyle Webster of ACTION Housing announced that applications for families to take advantage of this $2 million funding are open at ACTIONHousing.org or via phone at 412-639-9416. Webster also encouraged contractors interested and available to do housing repairs to contact ACTION Housing. Contractors can call 412-281-2102 x 2016.
A livestream of the press conference is available at Facebook.com/senatorjaycosta.
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