PITTSBURGH, PA – October 22, 2024 – Today, Senator Jay Costa joins State Representative Abigail Salisbury to announce $2,542,950 in LSA Grant funding benefitting their district.
“I am delighted to be announcing the recipients of these LSA dollars to benefit our communities,” said Senator Costa. “These dollars will help deliver safety, quality of life, and basic needs to our friends and neighbors across the 43rd district. I look forward to seeing these dollars improve our municipalities and improving the daily experiences of our fellow residents.”
“It’s exciting to see new funding coming home to support projects to repair our roads, improve our wastewater services, transform vacant properties into public spaces and revitalize our downtown centers.” Salisbury said. “These are investments that address real-life needs, expand access to jobs and community services and make life safer and more promising for residents.”
In coordination with Representative Abigail Salisbury, Senator Costa announces the following grants:
- Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority was awarded $300,000 for Carrie Blast Furnace Electric Expansion
- Chalfant Borough was awarded $175,000 for Improvements to the Borough of Chalfant Public Safety Building.
- Chalfant Borough was awarded $225,000 for the reconstruction of five roads in Chalfant.
- Churchill Borough was awarded $124,950 for School Zone Radar Warning Signs.
- Edgewood Borough was awarded $425,000 for Edgewood Municipal Complex Improvements.
- Rankin Borough was awarded $250,000 for ALCOSAN Regional Takeover Repairs – POC-M-50 – Phase II.
- Rankin Borough was also awarded $158,000 for Phase II of Municipal Building Improvements, including making the building ADA compliant.
- Swissvale Borough was awarded $250,000 for M-48 Stormwater and Groundwater Remediation Project.
- Swissvale Borough was awarded $35,000 for a Traffic Calming Study.
- Wilkins Township was awarded $300,000 for Queenston Sewer Lining Project involving six thousand linear feet of pipe.
- Wilkinsburg Borough was awarded $300,000 for the purchase of a street sweeper for the borough.
Learn more about the LSA Program here.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ priorities for every Pennsylvanian here.
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PITTSBURGH, PA – October 22, 2024 – Today, Senator Jay Costa joins State Representative Aerion Abney are proud to announce $580,000 in LSA funding benefitting their districts.
“I am delighted to be announcing the recipients of these LSA dollars to benefit our communities,” said Senator Costa. “These dollars will help deliver safety, quality of life, and basic needs to our friends and neighbors across the 43rd district. I look forward to seeing these dollars improve our municipalities and improving the daily experiences of our fellow residents.”
“These dollars are personal investments in the health and livelihood of neighbors and communities and help honor local first responders who gave their lives to save fellow citizens,” state Rep. Aerion Abney, D-Allegheny, said, “Thank you to Sen. Costa for his collaboration in securing the funds.”
The awardees they announce together are as follows:
- Pittsburgh City was awarded $80,000 for two vehicles for the Pittsburgh Park Rangers.
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $500,000 for phase III of the construction of the New Granada Square Building, entailing HVAC upgrades.
Learn more about the LSA Program here.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ priorities for every Pennsylvanian here.
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PITTSBURGH, PA – October 22, 2024 – Today, Senator Jay Costa and Representative Dan Frankel together are proud to announce $913,348 benefitting their districts from the LSA Grant fund.
“I am delighted to be announcing the recipients of these LSA dollars to benefit our communities,” said Senator Costa. “These dollars will help deliver safety, quality of life, and basic needs to our friends and neighbors across the 43rd district. I look forward to seeing these dollars improve our municipalities and improving the daily experiences of our fellow residents.”
“These grants will not only strengthen our shared community infrastructure but also support the rich diversity that makes our corner of Pittsburgh such a special place to live,” said Rep. Dan Frankel. “Through this funding, we will help foster a more secure, inclusive, and thriving environment for all.”
With Representative Dan Frankel, Senator Costa announces:
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $350,000 so that Congregation Poale Zedeck could enter Phase II of building an Emergency Egress.
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was also awarded $32,224 so the Latin American Studies Association Cultural Center can make improvements.
- Finally, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $531,124 so that Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh can complete renovations and supply equipment to Yeshiva Schools 403 Greenfield.
Learn more about the LSA Program here.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ priorities for every Pennsylvanian here.
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HARRISBURG, PA − October 17, 2024 − Yesterday, Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law Senate Bills 169 and 170 – now Act 107 and Act 108 of 2024 – to implement reforms needed to improve outcomes for youth, families, and communities, with a continued focus on protecting public safety.
Senate Bill 169 implements a requirement that courts hold a disposition review hearing at least every three months to make sure children placed outside the home are getting the care, treatment, and services they need, and to make sure children are returned home as soon as is appropriate. Senate Bill 170 creates an expungement process for juvenile records and requires that the Chief Juvenile Probation officer notify the court when records are eligible for expungement and request that the court initiate the expungement process.
Senator Jay Costa (D-43) and Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) co-chaired the Juvenile Justice Task Force, which produced a report in June of 212 containing 35 recommendations for reform. Of those reforms, Senate Bills 169 and 170 address recommendations 2, 5, 16, and 23.
“I am very happy that the Senate could work in a bipartisan way to get these bills over the finish line,” said Senator Costa. “The Juvenile Justice Task Force brought to light some unfortunate findings about the way we treat our young people in our legal system, and I am glad we are taking steps to reform our processes. I am hopeful that our work will lead to rehabilitation and a thriving future for these youths.”
“These reforms are designed to align our juvenile justice system with proven methods for improving youth outcomes and addressing significant gaps in current practices,” said Senator Baker, majority chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. “By improving the law, we are taking important steps to give young people a true second chance.”
“For young people in the juvenile justice system to succeed, it is critical that there are supports and pathways to help with the transition into adulthood and to allow these individuals to lead productive lives,” said Senator Santarsiero, minority chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. “I want to thank Senators Baker and Costa for their roles as co-chairs of the Juvenile Justice Task Force and their work to find meaningful ways to improve outcomes for youth exiting the juvenile justice system.”
Senate Bills 169 and 170 secured the support of the Pennsylvania District Attorney Association, Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, Governor Shapiro’s Administration, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police, Office of Victim Advocate, ACLU-PA, and many other organizations.
Learn more about the Juvenile Justice Task Force here.
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HARRISBURG, PA – October 15, 2024 − Today, the Commonwealth Court denied two of the three lawsuits filed by the PA Senate Democrats in defense of Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. Since the Senate Republicans passed SR 334, forcing Pat Browne to disclose sensitive taxpayer data or else be detained by the Sergeant at Arms, Senate Democrats filed suit to affirm Secretary Browne’s decision to follow the law and withhold identifying information about private citizens.
In response, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issues the following statement:
“I am disappointed by these results, but maintain our resolve that Secretary Browne is following the law as it is written,” said Senator Costa. “The Senate of Pennsylvania has taken the extraordinary step of passing a resolution attempting to hold the Secretary in contempt. The facts of this moment are notably distinguishable from those of the case referenced in the court’s decisions. If or when the Senate tries to hold the Revenue Secretary in contempt, we will assuredly renew our efforts to have this subpoena thrown out on the merits.”
View Senator Costa’s remarks on the floor regarding SR 334 here.
