PITTSBURGH, PA – January 16, 2025 – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $5,717,807 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) benefitting the 43rd district, encompassing parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
The purpose of VIP funding is to provide grants and technical assistance to address community violence throughout the Commonwealth. For the purpose of this funding announcement, ‘community violence’ is defined as intentional interpersonal violence (e.g., gun violence, group-related violence, domestic violence/intimate partner violence) in areas of Pennsylvania with high rates of firearm-related violent crime and/or firearm-related injury.
“I am so proud to announce these dollars, which will go towards keeping our friends and neighbors safe,” said Senator Costa. “We know that when we invest in strong, vibrant community spaces and programming, we can reduce violence, improve lives, and build critical life skills among our young people. I look forward to seeing this funding to go good use in the 43rd district.”
VIP Grants Awardees in the 43rd senatorial district are as follows:
- 1Hood Media was awarded $620,000 to expand and enhance their We Keep Us Safe (WKUS) media literacy and violence prevention program for young adults ages 16-26 impacted by community violence. WKUS promotes healthy and informed social media use, arts education engagement and sports activities, as well as safe, fun community service gatherings for youth through “Fridays on Deck” events.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh was awarded $900,000 to provide evidence-based youth mentoring programs at five schools in East Pittsburgh—Woodland Hills High School, Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy, and Propel Schools Braddock Hills Elementary, Middle, and High Schools—that share an area critically affected by gun violence.
- Carnegie Library of Homestead was awarded $582,666 to expand and enhance their Youth Development and Restorative Justice Program. Funds will be used to engage at-risk youth by providing restorative justice circles, educational workshops, and recreational activities to reduce violence and promote positive youth development.
- Homewood Children’s Village was awarded $950,000 to support its Holistic Anti-Violence Education Network (HAVEN) program, which embeds violence prevention in community schools, trains parents and family members in anti-violence techniques, provides youth mentorship, and expands access to therapeutic services.
- Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc., was awarded $949,991 to expand its P4: 247 CommUNITY program, which provides culturally sensitive, trauma-informed interventions (mentoring and counseling) to youth/young adults and families impacted by gun violence within Allegheny and Beaver Counties.
- The Legacy Arts Project was awarded $434,840 to implement the expansion of the Drums Not Guns, which is a culturally enriching program to reduce gun violence and participation in gang activity.
- The University of Pittsburgh was awarded $949,856 to support expansion of the Empowering Teens to Thrive (ET3) hospital-based violence intervention program and community-based mentorship program for youth ages 12-25 injured or impacted by community violence.
- Youth Enrichment Services, Inc., was awarded $950,000 to enhance its youth-led peer engagement and violence prevention programming. Program components include the Fitness Fun Involving Sports and Health program, implementing youth-created Big Ideas for addressing gun violence, and scaling the annual Teen Violence Prevention Symposium.
From the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grant program, Early Excellence Project was awarded $235,446 to expand High Impact Tutoring Program to out-of-school time (OST) settings in the Southside of Pittsburgh.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to safe communities for every Pennsylvanian here.
#####
HARRISBURG, PA – January 4, 2025 − Yesterday, the Commonwealth Court issued a ruling in the Hommrich v. Boscola defamation case, reversing the trial court and holding that the statement in Senator Boscola’s net metering co-sponsorship memo is protected by legislative immunity.
J. Cohn-Jubelirer authored the the 6-1 decision, concluding that the “co-sponsorship memo falls within the sphere of legitimate legislative activity, thus immunizing Senator Boscola from suit in accordance with the legislative privilege doctrine.” This is a win for protected speech under the Speech and Debate Clause, Art. II, Section 15 of the Pa. Constitution and will protect legislators from future lawsuits ancillary to their efforts to craft legislation.
The defamation claim in question was brought against Senator Boscola by Mr. Hommrich after she issued a co-sponsorship memo to all Members in 2023 seeking support for her legislation that would, “upon the recommendation of the [PUC] . . . close the Hommrich loophole by limiting net metering to generator’s system designed to generate no more than 110% of the customer-generator’s requirements for electricity.”
Legislators commonly use co-sponsorship memoranda to kickoff the legislative fact-finding process and express the intent to fellow members behind their soon-to-be introduced legislation.
The phrase “Hommrich loophole” in the memo related to a 2020 court ruling in Hommrich v. Pa. PUC holding that the PUC exceeded its statutory authority when it established limits on net metering for solar facilities producing up to 3 MW of electricity.
Constitutional legislative immunity protects the legislative process from judicial interference with legitimate legislative activities. In a strong opinion, J. Cohn-Jubelirer concluded that “there is no doubt as to the applicability of the legislative privilege to the Co-sponsorship Memo.”
The “preparation and circulation of co-sponsorship memoranda are core legislative functions within the legitimate legislative sphere,” and “[t]o subject legislators to litigation for actions taken during the legislative process would, in essence, permit the very ills against which the legislative privilege seeks to protect.”
Of note, House Democratic and both Republican Caucuses filed a joint amicus brief in support of Senator Boscola’s legislative immunity claim.
“I am grateful the Commonwealth Court ruled in my favor yesterday,” said Senator Lisa Boscola regarding the outcome of this case. “Co-sponsorship memorandums are an essential component to the legislative process. Subjecting elected officials to lawsuits for the contents of those memorandums would have a chilling effect on the legislative process. I am proud that the Senate Democratic Caucus led the charge to defend the Speech and Debate clause and that the other three caucuses joined in our efforts.”
“I am very pleased with yesterday’s Commonwealth Court decision, which affirms lawmakers’ protections as we carry out our duties in office,” said Senator Costa of the ruling. “Our primary concern as legislators, regardless of our party or chamber, is to draft and advocate for bills that will improve the lives of every Pennsylvanian. The protections afforded us in the speech and debate clause allow us to do our jobs without fear of frivolous lawsuits, retaliation, or bullying by bad actors seeking to interfere with the legislative process. I am proud to have supported my friend and colleague Senator Boscola throughout these proceedings, and I am glad that the courts ruled in favor of our democratic processes today.”
Read more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to fighting for every Pennsylvanian here.
#####
PITTSBURGH, PA – December 11, 2024 – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $2,753,914 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) benefitting the 43rd district, encompassing parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
“I am so proud to announce these dollars, which will go towards keeping our friends and neighbors safe,” said Senator Costa. “From supporting our law enforcement officers to advocating for victims of assault in our court systems, it’s critical to invest in community safety. I look forward to seeing this funding to go good use in the 43rd district.”
Awardees from the Federal Victims of Crime Funds, Rights and Services Act Funds, and Victims of Juvenile Offender Funds are as follows:
- Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh was awarded $53,147 to assist victims of IPV in criminal court.
- Pittsburgh Action Against Rape was awarded $80,395 for RASA/VOJO Services to Sexual Violence Victims.
- Center of Victims was awarded $855,638 for RASA/VOJO Services.
Awardees from the Federal Project Safe Neighborhood Funds are as follows:
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer was awarded $37, 068 for Allegheny County Police PSN 4.
- Brothers and Sisters Emerging was awarded $26,520.
- Neighborhood Resilience Project was awarded $18,623 for Project Safe Neighborhoods.
- The Pittsburgh Contingency, Inc. was awarded $32,361 for South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace.
SisTers PGH Corp was awarded $75,000 from the Federal STOP Violence Against Women Act Funds for Project T Housing Support.
Swissvale Borough was awarded $150,000 from the Federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds.
A Child’s Place was awarded $47,000 from the State Children’s Advocacy Center Funds for ACP Allegheny and regional 2025.
Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer was awarded $1,378,162 from the Continuing County Adult Probation and parole Grant Funds for their 2024-25 programming.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to safe communities for every Pennsylvanian here.
#####
PITTSBURGH, PA – December 2, 2024 – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa circulated Co-Sponsorship Memoranda for bills he intends to introduce for the 2025-26 Legislative Session.
Those memoranda include:
More co-sponsorship memos will be introduced in the coming weeks.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
#####
PITTSBURGH, PA – November 21, 2024 − Today, the PA Broadband Development Authority met to award grants from the Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP). This grant program will provide laptops to non-profits, community anchor institutions, and governments who will then loan or make the laptops available to Pennsylvanians to improve education, workforce development, health, and employment outcomes.
“In our modern technological reality, laptop computers are a critical resource for learners, workers, job-seekers, patients, and more,” said Senator Costa. “I am delighted to be announcing hundreds of laptops for invaluable community organizations, and I look forward to seeing them continue to do good work for the people who call our senate district home.”
The following grants were awarded in the 43rd senatorial district.
- A Giving Heart was awarded 70 Laptops
- AIMED Human Services was awarded 20 Laptops
- Carlow University was awarded 100 Laptops
- Computer Reach was awarded 200 Laptops
- Operation Better Block was awarded 100 Laptops
- Ruth’s Way, Inc. was awarded 20 Laptops
- The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh was awarded 50 Laptops
- This Generation Connect was awarded 75 Laptops
More information on the program can be found here.
Learn about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
#####
