Harrisburg – October 26, 2016 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) called on the state House of Representatives to pass – without any changes – legislation to restore the gaming industry’s local share assessment which was invalidated by the state Supreme Court. The local share is generated by an assessment on casinos.
The measure passed the Senate today and is headed for the state House of Representatives for its consideration.
Costa’s statement follows:
“I encourage the House to move quickly and pass the legislation that restores the local share assessment, without amendment. We (Senate Democrats) believe the consideration of complex internet gaming or gaming expansion that may be loaded into this measure by the House at the last minute would do a disservice to our communities.
“Amending this temporary fix that provides a level of predictability to our communities would jeopardize the legislation and imperil the continuation of the local share distribution.
“The passage of the legislation, in its current form and without amendment, would ensure that the local share continues to be available as we work toward a final resolution.”
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Harrisburg – October 25, 2016 – More than half a million dollars in grant funds have been awarded to support the development of walkways, green space and streambank restorations in Allegheny County, according to state Sen. Jay Costa (D- Forest Hills) and state Rep. Paul Costa (D-Wilkins Township).
Three projects will receive funding made available by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The CFA is an independent state agency responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages including the Multimodal funds, Watershed Restoration and Protection funds and the Act 13 programs.
“These projects are critically important to the future of our communities,” Sen. Costa said. “Investing in local projects opens the door to new job opportunities and sparks continued economic growth and development. That’s an investment that will pay dividends for years to come.”
Through the CFA’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Funds program, the following grants were approved:
- Churchill Community Developments, $240,320 to construct a pond and boardwalk at The Shoppes in Pittsburgh Studios located in Churchill Borough;
- Riverview Apartments Inc., $240,000 for the construction of accessible walking pathways and multi-generational outdoor activity areas in Pittsburgh.
Rep. Paul Costa said that the former Westinghouse Research property in Churchill has significant economic potential and he was pleased that the funding was approved.
“The new state investment and development of the site will result in more jobs, commercial activity and business opportunities,” Rep. Costa said. “The redevelopment will help the economy of the entire region.”
“The funding will be used to add amenities that will enhance the value of the property and increase its attractiveness as a place to visit and conduct business.”
In September, Sen. Costa and Rep. Costa announced that $2.5 million in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds were approved for work on the project. Earlier this year, $1 million in state CFA multimodal funding was also approved to install traffic signals, build bus shelters, construct roads and a round-about at the site.
In addition to multimodal funds, the CFA announced grant awards from the Watershed Restoration Protection Program to:
- Borough of Oakmont, $85,000 for a gravel bar removal and streambank restoration on Plum Creek in the Borough of Oakmont.
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Monroeville – October 13, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on the role of charter schools in public education.
“I hope today’s hearing gives us a better sense of how the charter school system works; how it complements — or detracts from traditional public schools; and ways we can make these schools more efficient, transparent and accountable,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee.
Brewster, who is introducing charter school reform legislation, added, “Charter schools must be accountable to the taxpayer and demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and properly supported by the community.
“I asked that this hearing be held in Monroeville to give our region’s school officials, as well as representatives from the charter school community, the opportunity to offer their views on this important issue.”
Boscola said she was pleased with the diverse make-up of the panel, which included state officials, public school superintendents, charter school administrators and others.
Calling Pennsylvania’s charter school law the “worst in the nation,” State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a 95-page audit last month that revealed numerous examples of financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest and poor oversight. DePasquale testified at today’s hearing.
Many of the critical findings recommendations in DePasquale’s 2014 charter school report were incorporated into Brewster’s legislation. The bill would require greater school board and Department of Education oversight, toughen the fiscal viability requirements for charter school applicants, ban charter board members from having a financial interest in leasing arrangements, step up teacher certification, and require approval from all of the school districts where a charter school draws 25 or more students from. The Brewster legislation would also place a moratorium on new cyber-charter schools.
According to the state Department of Education, Pennsylvania has 162 “bricks and mortar” charter schools (20 in Allegheny County), and 14 cyber charter schools.
Claiming that charter schools disproportionately harm poorer school districts, Mckeesport Area School District Superintendent Dr. Rula Skezas called charter schools the top financial problem for public schools.
“The two most obvious effects that charter schools have had on our school districts are that they have significantly drained the resources available to those students who remain in our schools; and created considerable increased costs for our taxpayers,” Skezas said.
Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Alan Johnson added that his school district will spend nearly $15 million of its $90 million budget on charter school tuition.
Ron Sofo, who serves as CEO of the City Charter High School in Pittsburgh, countered that his school provides a quality education “at $6,000 to $8,000 less per pupil than our authorizing school district.” He argued that charters and public school districts should engage in more collaboration and less competition.
Joining Brewster and Boscola at the hearing were Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), and Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria).
The following testified at the hearing:
- Matthew Stem, deputy secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education;
- Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale;
- Dr. Rula Skezas, superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District;
- Nathan Benefield, vice-president of policy, Commonwealth Foundation;
- Anthony Pirrello, vice-president, PA Coalition of Public Charter Schools Board, & CEO, Montessori Regional Charter School, Erie;
- Ron Sofo, CEO, City Charter High School, Pittsburgh; and
- Richard Livingston, president of the Clairton City School Board
- Jeremy Resnick, Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools, executive director, Propel Schools, Pittsburgh
- Dolores McCracken, vice president, PSEA
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Contact: Charles Tocci
Phone: 717-787-5166
Email: ctocci@pasenate.com
Harrisburg – Sept. 30, 2016 – Efforts to redevelop the former Westinghouse site in Churchill will be bolstered by more than $2 million in grant funds announced today by Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Representative Paul Costa (D-Allegheny).
The $2.5 million grant for the project was approved through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
“We are fortunate to be able to bring such critical investments to Pittsburgh,” Sen. Costa said. “Projects like this bring excitement, provide jobs and spark economic growth and development and are vital to the future of Churchill and communities throughout the East Hills.”
Sen. Costa said that once completed, the Westinghouse site will be home to Pittsburgh Studios along with retail and office space.
“I’m pleased the governor has chosen to invest in Pittsburgh and we share in his commitment to revitalize our communities,” Rep. Costa said. “When we invest in these projects, we’re investing in people, growing jobs and providing opportunities for families to grow and thrive in our communities. That shared vision is what makes projects like this so important.”
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Harrisburg – Sept. 30, 2016 – Redevelopment grant funds totaling more than $2 million will be used to support the Edge at South Side project, Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The $2.5 million grant for the project was approved through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
“This grant provides an opportunity to revitalize the riverfront on the South Side, continuing the efforts that have been ongoing for a number of years,” Costa said. “The project brings new investment to South Side while maintaining the historic character of the neighborhood.”
Funding awarded to the project will be used for the development of office, retail and residential space as well as exterior building improvements and investments in multimodal infrastructure including bike and automobile parking.
“This grant award is exciting news for the city,” Wheatley said. “This project will expand and upgrade the existing location and help retain and attract new businesses to the South Side.”
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SCRANTON, August 24, 2016 – State Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) today joined numerous members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees at a joint committee hearing at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton.
The hearing was convened to discuss the reauthorization of Title 35 – which contains the Emergency Management Services code which governs how the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) functions and provides the framework for how the Commonwealth and local governments prepare for and respond to disasters.
“Today’s discussion was very important to our panel of state legislators as we prepare to make critical revisions and updates to Title 35 to ensure that best practices are being utilized and required in our emergency response efforts across the Commonwealth,” Blake said. “Thank you to the committee chairman of both Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees – Sen. Randy Vulakovich; Democratic Leader, Sen. Jay Costa; and Rep. Chris Sainato – for coming to Scranton and convening this hearing in my 22nd District.”
The hearing included testimony from Richard Flinn, Jr., director of PEMA and a panel discussion with Robert Kagel, Executive Board Member of the South East PA Regional Task Force; Stephen Libhart, Chair of the South Central Regional Task Force; and Robert Werts, Program Manager of the Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Counter Terrorism Task Force.
“The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Code has not been received a comprehensive review and update nearly twenty years.” Sen. Jay Costa added. “As our first responders know all too well, threats, both natural and otherwise have intensified requiring a more sophisticated and comprehensive response. The House and Senate committees’ review of this, along with guidance from PEMA and regional, county and municipal emergency response coordinators will help us prepare a more current set of standards and tools for emergency responders.”
Blake noted that there are nine regional task forces across Pennsylvania which operate under Act 227 of 2002 – the Counter Terrorism Planning and Response Act – that was enacted following the terrorist attacks in 2001. The reauthorization and update of Title 35 would also refine the language pertaining to the nine regional task forces.
“While it is unlikely that the updates to Title 35 will be completed in the limited time remaining in this session, it is our hope that measures to legislate much needed updates to our public safety and emergency response laws will occur early next year,” Blake added. “Thank you again to the Gino Merli Veterans Center and Commandant Vito Ruggiero for hosting this important joint hearing and discussion.”
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