Harrisburg, PA – Octubre 31, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 1772, which increases the total funding for the hugely successful Nonprofit Security Grant Program from $5 million to $10 million. Senator Costa and Representative Dan Frankel championed the creation of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the wake of the Tree of Life Massacre in 2018, when a white supremacist murdered eleven Jewish worshippers.
In response, Democratic Leader Jay Costa, releases the following statement:
“I am extremely proud of the nonprofit security program, and I am glad we are expanding it to meet the overwhelming demand from the community,” said Senator Costa. “Along with my colleague Dan Frankel, we have already seen this program deliver critical security upgrades in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania. It’s up to us to protect our vulnerable communities from bad actors, and offer marginalized people safe spaces to gather, worship, dance, and make friends. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill over the finish line and drive out these dollars to keep vulnerable communities safe.”
The most recent round of Nonprofit Security Grant Awardees was announced in Abril 2023. Applications for the next round of funding closed on Octubre 30, 2023.
Signed into law in 2019, Act 83 directs PCCD to administer grants to 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 Hate Crime Statistics publication.
Details about how the grant funding is administered is accessible on the PCCD’s website.
Harrisburg, PA − Octubre 26, 2023 – Today, State Senator Jay Costa joins calls from Jewish constituents in his district and across the commonwealth to adjust the date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election to respect Passover. If the primary date remains Abril 23, 2024, many Jewish voters may be disenfranchised from the voting process. Additionally, Jewish people may be unable to serve as poll workers, and Jewish houses of worship likely cannot be used as polling places.
The PA Senate Democratic Caucus has been vocal in its call to find a new date for the 2024 primary to balance the need for Pennsylvania’s voters to have a larger say in presidential candidates with the need to avoid conflicts in the Jewish calendar. Many have suggested moving the date up one week to Abril 16, 2024, which does not coincide with any major religious holidays.
“I cannot stand by as Jewish people are forced to choose between observing their faith and making their voices heard in primary elections,” said Senator Costa. “The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania must immediately return to the table and end their obstinate opposition to moving the date. In this moment, as Jewish and Israeli people are mourning a terrorist attack and hundreds of deaths, we must affirm that Jewish people are welcome in Pennsylvania and that their voices are critical. I will continue to push the County Commissioners Association to agree to a primary date that is respectful of this high holiday.”
“Without any action, the 2024 primary date will fall on Passover,” said Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti, Democratic Chair of the State Government Committee. “Keeping this date for the primary is disrespectful to the entire Jewish community in Pennsylvania. Jewish voters and poll workers deserve the space to observe this important holiday without their civic duties overlapping on their observances. We all knew this was coming, and it is of the utmost importance that we take urgent action to confirm a new primary date before it is too late.”
The Jewish Legislative Caucus, which is co-chaired by Representative Dan Frankel and State Senator Judy Schwank, also released a statement expressing great disappointment over the coincidence of the primary election and Passover.
HB 224, which would move the date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election, is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.
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Pittsburgh, PA – Octubre 13, 2023 − Today, State Senator Jay Costa announces over $12 million in funding for affordable housing projects in his district in Allegheny County. This funding comes from the 2 022 Fiscal Year budget and utilizes ARPA funding to help fill the gaps in housing needs.
“I was proud to lead the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus to ensure that as much federal American Rescue Plan Act funding as possible was pumped into our local economy to make investments that would be long lasting for working families,” said Senator Costa.“Towards that end, we were proud to allocate $100 million toward the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Yesterday, PFHA awarded over $12 million to projects from Swissvale to Hazelwood to Braddock to Homewood. I am grateful to have partners like my Senate Democratic colleagues and the workers at PHFA who are helping deliver a safe, affordable home for every Pennsylvanian.”
The projects funded in the 43rd district are described in detail below.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: African Queens Apartments
Location: 2159 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Ownership Entity: Amani Christian Community Development Corporation
Affordable Housing Units: 9
Reservation of Grant Funds: $900,000
Scope: African Queens Apartments will be a 18,000 SF mixed-use development with 1,700SF of commercial space on the ground floor, and a total of 12 apartments on the second, third, and fourth floors. Nine of the apartments will be reserved for applicants making less than 60% AMI, and the remaining three will be reserved for applicants making less than 80% AMI. Of the nine apartments reserved for applicants making less than 60% AMI, three will be reserved for very low-income households and six will be reserved for applicants that are special needs or homeless.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Homewood Affordable Housing Construction
Location: 536-538 Brushton Ave, 541-545 Brushton Ave, 7704-7706 Tioga St, 7638-7644 Tioga St, 7309 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Ownership Entity: Homewood Redevelopment LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 37
Reservation of Grant Funds: $1,500,000
Scope of Work: This project encompasses the acquisition and rehab of blighted properties in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The properties to be redeveloped located at 536, 538, and 541-545 Brushton Ave., 7309 Hamilton Ave., and 7704-7706 and 7638-7644 Tioga St., and total 37 units. This project seeks to ensure that residents of Homewood can remain in their community, have safe and secure housing, and benefit from redevelopment in the place where they already live and raise their families.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Homewood Housing Rehabilitation
Location: 7301 Hamilton Ave, 7811 Hamilton Ave, 7812 Formosa Way, 7819 Hamilton Ave, and 7818 Formosa Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Ownership Entity: RT Homewood LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 17
Reservation of Grant Funds: 1,020,000
Scope: The Homewood Housing Rehabilitation project contains 17 units of affordable housing and will prevent displacement of vulnerable families in the Homewood Neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. 4 two-bedroom units are for families below 30% AMI, and 13 units are for families below 60% AMI. The exteriors of all the buildings will be substantially renovated with new roofs, porches, and masonry repairs. Other proposed renovations include energy efficiency upgrades, and the installation of new porches and decking.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Independent Housing Resources East
Location: 2531-2543 S. Braddock Ave, Swissvale, PA 15218; 606 Swissvale Ave, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221; 117 N. Winebiddle St, Pittsburgh, PA 15224; 5757 Stanton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Ownership Entity: Independent Housing Resources East Inc.
Affordable Housing Units: 24
Reservation of Grant Funds: $1,400,000
Scope: Independent Housing Resources East is a four-building scattered site project that was developed in the 1990s and contains 24 units of affordable housing. After 30 years, significant capital improvements needed both inside individual units and to the exterior areas of the sites. Proposed improvements to the buildings include HVAC upgrades, new windows, basement repairs, exterior site improvements, and various interior updates to all units.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Hazelwood 2023
Location: 20 Almeda, Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Ownership Entity: RTH Investments LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 9
Reservation of Grant Funds: $540,000
Scope: Hazelwood 2023 located at 20 Almeda in Pittsburgh encompasses the full renovation of a 9-unit affordable housing complex to ensure the safety and comfort of the residents. This project is intended to preserve affordable housing in the area that may otherwise have been turned into high end apartments and displacing the current residents.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Hazelwood Affordable Rental Preservation Program (HARPP): Stabilization Initiative
Location: Scattered Sites, Pittsburgh, PA
Ownership Entity: HAARP, LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 61
Reservation of Grant Funds: $1,861,552
Scope: This project encompasses the rejuvenation of 61 scattered-site affordable rental units through the Hazelwood Affordable Rental Preservation Project located in the Pittsburgh area. Improvements to the sites will address items needed to ensure safe and secure housing for the residents. These improvements include structural repairs, roof replacements, appliances, energy efficiency upgrades, facade improvements, and general improvements unique to each site.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Wood Towers
Location: 810 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Ownership Entity: Wood Towers MF Grant LP
Affordable Housing Units: 97
Reservation of Grant Funds: $5,000,000
Scope: Wood Towers is a 97-unit affordable housing apartment building located in Pittsburgh that serves the elderly and persons with disabilities. HOP funding will be used for renovations including roof replacements, HVAC replacements, sitewide Wi-Fi, security improvements, new elevator system, new hot water heaters, and various cosmetic upgrades.
Additional information about PFHA is available on their website.
Learn more about the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats Priorities, including affordable homes for every Pennsylvanian, on our website.
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Harrisburg, PA – Septiembre 20, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate advanced HB 27, a bill to distribute crucial school mental health funding and community violence prevention funding.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) personally advocated an amendment that disperses $100 million for mental health programs in schools.
Regarding its passage, Senator Costa offers the following statement:
“I am very proud that HB 27 has cleared another important hurdle, as it approves spending for vital programs to benefit our schools, students, educators, and mental health professionals,” said Senator Costa. “As this commonwealth continues to face an unprecedented mental health epidemic, it’s heartening that both houses of the PA Legislature are taking this crisis seriously and funding solutions that we are confident will work. I look forward to continuing to improve access to mental healthcare and promoting safe communities for every Pennsylvanian.”
HB 27 clarifies language on the community violence program so that funds can be distributed.
The bill also streamlines school safety programs by requiring the Department of Education to work in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for collecting important data and developing programs to support students, reduce student delinquency, and promote better learning environments.
Lastly, the underlying bill provides for the extension of an important waiver program that allowed for flexibility for schools to use additional personnel for filling substitute teacher and paraprofessional positions.
HB 27 now goes back to the House of Representatives for its concurrence.
The text of HB 27 is accessible here.
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RADNOR, 24 de agosto de 2023 - La senadora estatal Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), presidenta del Comité de Política Demócrata del Senado de Pensilvania, y la senadora Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) fueron co-anfitrionas de una audiencia pública ayer en Radnor para discutir los juegos de habilidad en Pensilvania.
La audiencia, celebrada en el edificio municipal de Radnor Township, contó con tres paneles de testimonios de expertos en juego, regulación y aplicación de la ley para debatir la situación actual de los "juegos de habilidad", una batalla judicial en curso sobre la legalidad de los juegos y cómo afectan a las personas directa e indirectamente.
"La cuestión de los juegos de habilidad en Pensilvania es un tema complicado y realmente tenemos que ser reflexivos y considerar todas las perspectivas sobre este tema - la aplicación de la ley y los reguladores de juego, sino también la de los propietarios de pequeñas empresas y nuestros VFW que dependen de estas máquinas para obtener ingresos", dijo Muth. "La audiencia de ayer fue muy informativa y espero continuar esta discusión y trabajar con mis colegas para abordar las cuestiones planteadas en relación con los juegos de habilidad en Pensilvania."
En el testimonio presentado, la American Gaming Association (AGA) indicó que el número de "juegos de habilidad" supera con creces las 25.746 máquinas tragaperras reguladas en todo el estado. La AGA calcula que el 61% de las máquinas de juego de Pensilvania no están reguladas en la actualidad.
"Cualquier expansión de la industria del juego en la Commonwealth es motivo de escepticismo y requiere una acción reflexiva. La alarmante tasa a la que estos llamados 'juegos de habilidad' están creciendo en prevalencia exige una respuesta. La audiencia de ayer arrojó luz sobre las numerosas formas en que estos juegos de habilidad causan daño a los residentes de Pensilvania y a nuestra economía", dijo el senador Cappelletti. "Me fui dispuesto a proponer soluciones a estos problemas. Espero que mis colegas se unan a mí".
El senador Cappelletti ha distribuido un memorándum de copatrocinio proponiendo añadir los "juegos de habilidad" a la lista de dispositivos de juego ilegales del Título 18. El lenguaje de su proyecto de ley propuesto será similar a lo que se propuso en el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 212 de la sesión 2021-22.
"La audiencia de ayer me ayudó a mí y a mis colegas a entender las preocupaciones muy serias que varias organizaciones y partes interesadas tienen sobre la industria del juego de habilidad y cómo se regula", añadió el líder demócrata del Senado Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). "Espero seguir encontrando soluciones que sean justas y equitativas para cada Pennsylvanian".
Participaron en la audiencia Kevin O'Toole, Director Ejecutivo de la Junta de Control del Juego de Pensilvania; Jeff Morris, Vicepresidente de Asuntos Públicos y Relaciones Gubernamentales de Penn Entertainment; Chris Cykle, Vicepresidente de Relaciones Gubernamentales de la American Gaming Association; Jack Stollsteimer, Fiscal de Distrito del Condado de Delaware; y Curtis Jones, Líder de la Mayoría del Ayuntamiento de Filadelfia.
El senador Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) y el senador Sharif Street (D-Filadelfia) también participaron virtualmente en la audiencia.
Todos los testimonios presentados en la audiencia y el vídeo completo están disponibles en SenatorMuth.com/Policy.
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Orden del día →
Testimonio
Panel 1 : Junta de Control del Juego de Pensilvania
Panel 2: Industria del juego
Panel 3: Efectos delictivos de los juegos de habilidad
Documentos adicionales
Pittsburgh − Agosto 2, 2023 − Today, a jury sentenced Robert Bowers to death for his 63 charges related to the Tree of Life massacre. State Senator Jay Costa, whose district includes Squirrel Hill, offers the following statement in response:
“Legally, today closes the book on this painful, horrendous chapter in our community’s history. I sincerely hope that the families and loved ones of those murdered can begin to find some peace and healing. As we move forward, we must support each other and work together to make sure a tragedy like this never occurs again.”
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