Penn Hills, Pensilvania - 1 de febrero de 2019 - Hoy, el senador Jay Costa y el representante Tony DeLuca anunciaron $ 3 millones en fondos estatales para un proyecto de carreteras en el municipio de Penn Hills.
La subvención procede del Fondo Multimodal y se utilizará para repavimentar y mejorar las calzadas de todo el municipio más necesitadas de reparación, completar los rebajes y aceras conformes con la ADA y hacer las calles más accesibles para el tráfico ciclista.
"Las comunidades habitables y transitables son una de las razones por las que la gente se traslada a nuestra zona, y esta subvención supondrá enormes mejoras en la accesibilidad de Penn Hills", ha declarado el senador Costa. "Espero ver este proyecto a través de, y la apertura de nuestras carreteras para los peatones y ciclistas para viajar con seguridad."
"Cuando se piensa en mejorar las infraestructuras, se tiende a pensar en construir una nueva carretera o en arreglar un puente, pero repavimentar las carreteras y hacerlas y las aceras más aptas para peatones y ciclistas forma parte de la construcción de mejores infraestructuras, que es clave para hacer de nuestra comunidad un lugar más seguro para vivir para todos", dijo DeLuca. "Esta subvención es una buena noticia".
El Fondo de Transporte Multimodal concede subvenciones para fomentar el desarrollo económico y garantizar que los residentes de la mancomunidad dispongan de un sistema de transporte seguro y fiable.
Los fondos pueden utilizarse para el desarrollo, la rehabilitación y la mejora de los activos de transporte a las comunidades existentes, el paisaje urbano, la iluminación, la mejora de las aceras, la seguridad de los peatones, la conectividad de los activos de transporte y el desarrollo orientado al tránsito.
Brewster, Costa, Kortz y Davis reciben información actualizada durante la conferencia telefónica
McKeesport - 25 de enero de 2019 - Los senadores estatales. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) y los representantes estatales. Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) y Austin Davis (D-Allegheny) recibieron una actualización de los funcionarios del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Allegheny sobre el incendio del 24 de diciembre en Clairton Coke Works de U.S. Steel.
La información se facilitó durante una conferencia telefónica celebrada por la mañana.
"Tuvimos una conversación con la Dra. Karen Hacker y su equipo del departamento de salud sobre el incendio y sus consecuencias", dijo Brewster. "Las conversaciones continuarán en una reunión pública el 7 de febrero en el edificio municipal de Clairton".
Brewster explicó que el debate se centró en los procedimientos adecuados de notificación a la comunidad, el control de la calidad del aire, la mejora de las comunicaciones y la respuesta en caso de emergencia. Dijo que los funcionarios del condado se comprometieron a tratar estos temas en la reunión pública de febrero.
El incendio dañó el sistema de procesamiento de gas de la fábrica de coque. El incendio y su respuesta fueron el tema central de una reunión pública celebrada en Clairton a principios de esta semana.
Brewster dijo que se dispondría de información adicional en una reunión pública, que es una audiencia conjunta de la Comisión de Política Demócrata del Senado y la Cámara de Representantes, prevista para el 7 de febrero a partir de las 12.00 horas en el edificio municipal, 551 Ravensburg Boulevard, Clairton.
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Pittsburgh, Pa. − Enero 22, 2019 − At a press event today in Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto’s office, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., Representatives Ed Gainey and Sara Innamorato, and the Mayor announced plans for a property tax relief program for Pittsburgh.
As Pittsburgh continues to experience increased investment and development pressure in specific neighborhoods of the city, longtime owner occupants have been and will continue to be put at risk of being forced out of their homes due to rapid increases in property taxes. Given these rising costs, the City of Pittsburgh sought options to keep homeowners in place.
The current state law requires for Allegheny County to enact an ordinance that would then allow the other municipalities within the county to enact their own programs to defer or exempt increasing taxes. However, Allegheny County has been unable to create a program that defined the parameters of the program specifically enough to satisfy court challenges or flexible enough to meet the varying needs of is many local governments.
Senator Costa is currently seeking cosponsors on a bill that would allow Allegheny County to create a longtime owner occupant program (LOOP).
“Rising living costs and constantly increasing tax burdens are pushing longtime residents out of the homes they have worked their entire lives to own and age in,” said Senator Costa. “It’s important that we provide relief from these increases to help stabilize property tax bills, home ownership, and communities.”
Proposed changes would involve:
- Modificación del título de la ley de "Ley de desgravación fiscal sobre bienes inmuebles de primera y segunda clase de condados" a "Ley de desgravación fiscal sobre bienes inmuebles de primera y segunda clase de condados y ciudades ";
- Modificación de las apariciones de "condados de primera y segunda clase" por "condados y ciudades de primera y segunda clase";
- Debate sobre la necesidad de modificar el artículo 4749.4(c).
- Modificar la Sección 4749.5(c)(2) de "Los distritos escolares y los municipios dentro de un condado de segunda clase pueden..." a "Los distritos escolares y los municipios dentro de un condado de segunda clase, incluidas las ciudades de segunda clase, pueden...".
“We want our neighborhoods to be better, but we don’t want to price people out,” said Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Allegheny. “We need to make sure that as Pittsburgh rises, the people who have lived in our communities are not left behind, or removed to make way for new development. We have an affordable housing crisis in this city, and it is our moral responsibility to invest in and defend those longtime residents who have built lives in their neighborhoods.”
“As Pittsburgh continues to grow economically, we need to invest in our communities in a way that is sustainable and equitable,” said Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny. “New development and investment should never be at the expense of residents who were here during the hard times, who have invested their lives in their neighborhoods. As our city advances we need to make sure that the fabric of our neighborhoods is not torn apart, and that everyone gets to benefit from growth in their neighborhood.”
There are distinct differences between the application of the statute in a county of the first class with one municipality and a county of the second class with 130 municipalities. Most notably, there are practical challenges in the ability to properly define the eligibility parameters and designated geographic areas for counties of the second class given the large number of municipalities.
“We need to make sure those who stayed in Pittsburgh through the bad times can remain in their homes through the good times. This legislation will help us ensure that,” Mayor William Peduto said.
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Harrisburg, PA − Enero 17, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today circulated a memo seeking cosponsors for a bill that would create a no-interest loan fund for federal employees during the shutdown.
Federal employees that are working are not eligible for unemployment benefits, but while the shutdown continues they are also not being paid a salary.
There are three groups of employees going unpaid due to the Trump government shutdown: Federal employees not working and not being paid; and, contract employees going without work. Both categories of workers are eligible for typical UC benefits. However, a third group — federal employees that are working but not paid — are ineligible under federal law for UC benefits.
“This third category of workers are caught in a must work-without-pay without UC benefits trap. This is unfair and immoral,” said Senator Costa. “We should do all we can to make sure that these hardworking people are being provided the means to take care of their families.”
Senator Costa’s bill will create a loan fund within the Department of Labor and Industry to provide these temporary benefits. Should an unpaid, working federal employee choose to receive a loan they will be required to fully reimburse the fund for the loan interest free.
Initial estimates based on claims from federal employees that are not working and applying for benefits indicate that about $5 million is needed to cover a month of loan benefits for this additional class of employees. While this amount should be near revenue neutral, L&I would need administrative funding to run the program. These costs are well worth it to help struggling families.
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Mon Valley, Pa. − Enero 17, 2019 − The Mon Valley is in the midst of a public health situation; one that could have been avoided, and one that needs to be immediately remedied.
Since the US Steel Corp.’s Clairton Coke Works fire on Dec. 24th, the plant has been in violation of the maximum legal safety threshold for sulfur dioxide emissions six times. What makes this worse is that the public was not notified about the violations and resultant danger until Enero 9th.
The 22 effected communities should have been informed and have been provided clear direction on how to minimize the danger to those that are most at risk.
The Clairton Coke Works is a known, ongoing violator of air pollution standards. The facility has been fined over $4 million, even prior to the most recent violations following the fire. While the plant has taken steps to reduce emissions violations, it must do more and quickly. And the continuing violations triggered by the fire must be brought to a quick end.
An ongoing local health study being conducted by Duquesne University School of Pharmacy physicians Dr. Deborah Gentile and Dr. Jennifer Elliot has provided eye opening, real time results showing the danger presented by the post-fire emissions failures. Comparing children from inside and outside of the sulfur dioxide emissions zone before and after the fire, the physicians have been able to show negative health conditions as a result of the fire aftermath. Proof positive that the plant, and perhaps the delay in notifying the public, led to public health consequences.
To resolve this, we are calling for:
- The Senate and House Democratic Policy Committees to hold a joint hearing in the effected communities to hear from US Steel officials, the Allegheny County Department of Health, local public health and environmental advocates, and members of the community;
- Complete transparency about daily emissions from the Clairton plant, the planned resolution for repairing the plant from the fire including specific timelines, and in the near future, specifics on how the longer-term emissions problems are going to be addressed; and
- To get to the bottom of the legal confusion causing delays in important public health notifications. The public needs to know sooner and get better information on how to react.
“Folks have a right to know about potential concerns with the air they breathe,” said Senator Jay Costa. “That didn’t happen here, and we need more transparency as we move forward. Public health is at stake.”
“We’ve seen a recurring problem with this plant, and it’s time to address it,” said Senator Jim Brewster. “I have concerns about the health and welfare of the employees that work at this plant, in addition to the people who live in this region. The Mon Valley needs to be kept informed about the air quality so that our health doesn’t suffer.”
“We are sure that once we hear from the community and stakeholder more action items will come to our attention, so we must first open this issue up for public dialogue, and we must act quickly,” said Representative Austin Davis.
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Pittsburgh, PA - 16 de enero de 2019 - El senador Costa emitió la siguiente declaración sobre el Distrito Escolar de Penn Hill:
Hoy, el Departamento de Educación de Pennsylvania (PDE) anunció que el Distrito Escolar de Penn Hills tomará sus próximos pasos hacia la recuperación financiera completa al entrar en el Programa de Recuperación Financiera de la Commonwealth. Mientras que en el estado de vigilancia financiera PDE identificado varias áreas que el distrito puede mejorar para ponerlo sobre una base financiera sólida. Este nuevo programa traerá personal experto y nuevos recursos a Penn Hills para asegurar que se mantienen en curso a la recuperación financiera completa, manteniendo el control local.
El primer paso será el nombramiento de un puesto de personal financiado por el PDE denominado Director de Recuperación (CRO). El CRO será el principal punto de contacto entre el distrito escolar y el PDE.
El consejo escolar y el CRO se encargarán primero de realizar un análisis diagnóstico de las finanzas y los programas académicos del distrito para obtener más información sobre las áreas específicas en las que el distrito puede mejorar.
Una vez finalizado el diagnóstico, el consejo escolar y el CRO elaborarán un plan de recuperación financiera, que ofrecerá una guía sistemática, estratégica y exhaustiva para que el distrito recupere la plena autosuficiencia y la salud financiera y académica a largo plazo.
