Harrisburg – November 29, 2016 – Redevelopment of the site at 7800 Susquehanna Street in Homewood will be bolstered by $1 million in state grant funds, state Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Representative Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The $1 million grant was approved through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
“I’m so pleased to join with Rep. Gainey to bring these critical grant funds back to Homewood,” Costa said. “Homewood is a growing, thriving community that has so much potential. This project opens the door to new opportunities for businesses and industrial partners to expand their operations. New business ventures mean new job opportunities for residents. What more could we ask for?”
The 150,000 square foot redeveloped building provides affordable rental space for manufacturers and will help spur local investment, bringing renewed energy and expanded employment opportunities to the area.
“I want to thank Governor Wolf for releasing this crucial Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant because of the economic opportunities it will bring for the Homewood community, as well as Senator Costa for his hard work and collaboration on this endeavor.” Gainey said.
Mark Peterson, president and CEO of Bridgeway Capital, added, “7800 Susquehanna Street has created new jobs and economic opportunity for Homewood. This new $1 million grant allows us to expand and build out custom spaces for more small manufacturers and job training organizations. We greatly appreciate the RACP program and Sen. Costa’s and Rep Gainey’s support in bringing much needed new investment to Homewood.”
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Harrisburg – November 16, 2016 – Senate Democrats today elected leaders for the 2017-18 legislative session. State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was re-elected Democratic Floor Leader.
“It is an honor and a privilege to once again be chosen to serve the caucus as Leader,” Costa said. “We face many challenges moving into the new session but our members are focused and determined to address key issues and provide for the needs of all Pennsylvanians.”
Costa was elected to the Senate in 1996 and was elected into leadership in 2006, serving first as Caucus Chairman and later Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Costa will be joined in leadership for the 2017-18 legislative session by:
Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Phila./Montgomery), Democratic Whip. Williams has served in the state legislature since 1988 and was elected to the Senate in 1998. He has served as Democratic Whip since 2011.
Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery), Democratic Appropriations chair. Senator Hughes was elected to the Senate in 1994 and served the caucus previously as Caucus Chairman. This will be Hughes’ fourth term as Democratic Appropriations chair.
Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), Caucus Chairman. Fontana was elected to the Senate in 2005 and was appointed to the leadership team in 2011 as Caucus Administrator where he served for four years.
Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia), Caucus Secretary. Sen. Farnese has represented the First Senatorial District since 2009 and has served on the Democratic leadership team as Caucus Secretary since 2014.
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), Policy Committee Chair. Boscola has served in the legislature for more than 20 years and was chosen to serve in 2010 as Caucus Administrator and elected in 2011 as Policy Committee chair.
The leadership positions are effective Dec. 1.
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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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