Pittsburgh

04/01 2014

Pgh Dept Of Public Works Receives Recycling Grant

From the Mayor’s Office:

The City of Pittsburgh recently won a $476,031 recycling grant, which was an increase over the grant the previous year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the Recycling Performance Grant after the city and private haulers together recycled more than 59,528 tons of residential and commercial material. The grant for collections in 2012 was an increase from the roughly 53,000 tons collected in 2011, which resulted in a $433,000 grant.

The funds go directly into the city’s General Fund.

“Recycling not only helps our planet but our city budget too,” Mayor William Peduto said. “I want to thank all of our residents and businesses for participating, while challenging them to do even better in the future.”

The recycling program is part of Pennsylvania Act 101, which mandates recycling in the state’s larger municipalities.

02/10 2014

Black History Month Event at Thelma Lovette YMCA THIS Sat 2/15 12pm

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AT THE THELMA LOVETTE YMCA
A Celebration of Black History Month to be Held at the Thelma Lovette YMCA this Saturday

Greetings Friends and Neighbors-

This upcoming Saturday, at the Thelma Lovette YMCA in the Hill District, a Black History Month Celebration will be hosted which will be open to all:

Where: Thelma Lovette YMCA, 2114 Centre Ave
When: Saturday, February 15, 12pm-2pm

Councilman Lavelle will be present to kick off festivities which include:

  • Black Pittsburgh Historic Presentation/Black Civil War Enactment Group by John Ford
  • Centre Avenue Historic Presentation by Leon Haley
  • Wylie Avenue Days Film Documentary
  • Presentation of the Hill District Historic Wall
  • NAKA Entertainment
  • Miller School African Dance and Drum Troop
  • Presentation of Black Genealogical Study
  • Children and Family Activities
  • Teenie Harris Collection by Carnegie Library

For more information on the festivities, you can visit the Thelma Lovette Y site by accessing this link, or by calling them at 412-315-0990.

City Council District 6

01/30 2014

Public Hearing And Post Agenda On Land Banking Bill – Thu 2/6/14 1pm

Public Hearing and Post Agenda to focus on Land Banking Bill currently under consideration in City Council
Sent 01/29/2014 @ 10:53 am
Greetings Residents and Neighbors of District 6-
In late 2012, the State of Pennsylvania passed legislation authorizing municipalities to create land banks, entities that acquire, manage and dispose of vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties to facilitate their redevelopment and reuse.
City Council is currently reviewing an ordinance that would create a land bank for the City of Pittsburgh (to access a copy, click here). The legislation will forever change how real property and development are dealt with in Pittsburgh. In District 6, certain neighborhoods, such as the Hill District, Perry North and South, hold up to 50% of properties which would be eligible for the land bank.
Some key highlights in the bill include:
  • The creation of a new authority in the City to manage the land bank
  • The creation of a Mayoral controlled board to oversee the authority with no formal oversight or checks and balances from City Council
  • The ability for the authority to seize any and all property they deem necessary including owner occupied, tax-delinquent property
  • The lack of a process for formal community input
Given the significant impact this legislation will have on the City of Pittsburgh and in our District, it is important to inform ourselves of the bill’s provisions, its implications, and to discuss how it could be improved to better serve the interests of our communities. To this end, I encourage you to attend a Pubic Hearing being held on Thursday, February 6, at 1pm in Council Chambers to share your thoughts on the Land Bank bill. There will also be a Post Agenda on the subject the same day,February 6, 2pm in Council Chambers.
I look forward to seeing you there, as we work together to craft a bill that truly benefits the residents of our district and the greater City of Pittsburgh.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle
01/28 2014

Mayor Peduto Orders Warming Shelters Open, Refuse Collection Delay Ahead Of Polar Vortex

With temperatures forecast to to dip below zero and wind chills as low as -15 degrees tomorrow, Mayor William Peduto has ordered refuse collection to be suspended for Tuesday only and for warming centers to be activated across the City.

“Temperatures tomorrow will again be potentially hazardous and we all must take precautions to make sure our friends and neighbors are safe,” said the Mayor.

Refuse, bulk waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day, with trash collection starting again on Wednesday. The schedule will proceed as follows:  If your scheduled day of collection is Tuesday, Jan. 28, you will be serviced on Wednesday, Jan. 29 and so on for the remainder of the week. This will continue through the end of the week with Friday’s normally scheduled collection being picked up on Saturday.

In addition, warming centers will be available for residents who need them. All city facilities will be open tomorrow, including senior centers, and will function as warming centers throughout the day.  Five warming center locations will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday as well:

CITY WARMING CENTERS (MAP)
Greenfield Healthy Active Living Center 745 Greenfield Avenue 412-422-6551
Homewood Healthy Active Living Center 7321 Frankstown Avenue 412-244-4190
South Side Healthy Active Living Center 12th and Bingham Streets 412-488-8404
Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center 720 Sherwood Avenue 412-777-5012
North Side, Allegheny Center Healthy Active Living Center Allegheny Square 412-323-7239

If temperatures dip to unsafe levels this evening or thereafter, or if there are power or heat outages, the city will work with the American Red Cross to provide overnight shelter for residents needing assistance.

10/30 2013

Free Home Repair Workshop – Nov 6 6pm-7:30pm

Time: 6PM to 7:30PM Location: East End Food Co-op • 7516 Meade Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208

DEAWP’s (Diagnostic Energy Auditors, Western PA) approach to solving some of the most common but hidden problems underneath our roofs by looking at case studies of three homes in the East End. Free! 6-7.30pm, Nov 6 at the East End Food Co-op • 7516 Meade Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208

  • The first case study is a Victorian home that had been plagued with comfort and health issues.
  • The second house is a 1950s ranch that was merely a furnace and air conditioning upgrade until the entire house was examined.
  • The third project is a 1950s two-story home that began as a health hazard and turned into healthy home.

Click to check out their website

10/22 2013

City-Wide Public Safety Mtg – Wed. 10/23 6-8 PM

City Wide Public Safety Meeting October 23, 2013 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

You are invited to the Fall, 2013 City Wide Public Safety Meeting

Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:00 – 8:00 PM

South Hills Retirement Center, 125 Ruth Street, Mt. Washington

Meet City Department Heads and staff including all Law Enforcement and Public Safety Personnel

Call: Liz Style at 412 255 4772 for more information

Agenda Activities include:  Cops and Kids Camp Donor Awards, Resource Tables, Speakers, CeaseFire, Coalition Against Violence, Emergency Management Agency new Program and more

Heads of city departments and public safety personnel will be available to answer your questions and concerns.

09/15 2013

Public Hearing on City 2014 Capital Budget Wed Sept 18 6:30PM

NOTICE: PUBLIC MEETING ON CITY’S 2014 CAPITAL BUDGET
Public Hearing opportunity for residents to proivde input on 2014 Capital Budget
Sent 09/13/2013 @ 4:39 pm
The City of Pittsburgh will hold ​its final public hearing to seek input from interested residents, community organizations, and the business community on the 2014 Capital Budget. Th​is hearing ​is separate from the 2014 CDBG Program hearings.
Th​is​ hearing ​is being held prior to the release of the 2014 draft Capital Budget to enable the City to adequately review citizen comment. Those attending the hearing are invited to comment on the use of the City’s Capital funds and other federal and state funds. Written comment may also be provided.
​The hearing will begin at 6:30 P.M. and will be held at the following location:
Wednesday, September 18th
Beechview Senior Center
1555 Broadway Avenue, 15216

Anyone interested in providing public comment at the hearing should contact Jennifer Sample at 412-255-2640 or jennifer.sample@pittsburghpa.gov.

Link to article on City website

08/26 2013

Applications For Free Sidewalk Tree Due Sun Sept 15

If you’re interested in a free tree for the sidewalk, click here to download the Tree Request form and bring it to the SONG meeting on Wed Sept 4, or give or mail it to David Zwier at 235 Atwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.  The deadline to have them as part of this neighborhood grouping is Sunday Sept 15.  There will be a site inspection, because not all locations are suitable for trees.

You can also volunteer to help plant and maintain the trees.  More info on TreeVitalize Pittsburgh’s website

08/12 2013

Parkway East Ramp Inspection To Restrict Traffic In Oakland

Inspection of the outbound Parkway East off-ramp at Forbes Avenue-Oakland will cause daytime traffic restrictions this week, PennDOT announced.

A westbound lane of Second Avenue, the Boulevard of the Allies eastbound ramp to the Parkway East and lanes in both directions on the parkway will be affected during the work, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through next Monday.

The PG Article

08/05 2013

Hazelwood section of bike, hiking trail to close temporarily

Last summer, officials lauded the launch of a new bike trail in Hazelwood as a new step toward revitalizing the struggling neighborhood. On Monday, the trail will close for the same reason.

The closure of the two-mile portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is supposed to be temporary while earth-moving and grading begins for a $1 billion redevelopment of the former LTV coke works. But it could still take “several months” before another trail — currently linking Hazelwood Avenue with the Hot Metal Bridge — can be built, said Thomas Baxter, executive director of Friends of the Riverfront.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/hazelwood-section-of-bike-hiking-trail-to-close-temporarily-697850/#ixzz2b7ZSfwVN

07/09 2013

NEW DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP TO UPLIFT CITY OF PITTSBURGH YOUTH

SUPPORT THIS NEW DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP TO UPLIFT CITY OF PITTSBURGH YOUTH
Sent 07/09/2013 @ 12:23 pm
Greetings,

I am happy to announce that Dream Cream Ice Cream in Downtown Pittsburgh has partnered with the Jeron Xavier Grayson Foundation to provide funds to support local youths in Pittsburgh for scholarships.
The Jeron Xavier Grayson Foundation has been chosen as a ‘Dreamer’ for the month of July, and have chosen ‘Cookies & Cream’ as their flavor. For each sale of the Cookies & Cream ice cream that takes place this month, a portion of all sales will go the the Grayson Foundation.
This is a fun and refreshing way to support the youths in our community and your support would be greatly appreciated. I encourage everyone to go to Dream Cream Ice Cream located at 539 Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District to be a part of this amazing fundraising opportunity.
For more information on the Jeron Xavier Grayson Foundation, please contact Harry Johnson at JXGFoundation@gmail.com
Thank you,
R. Daniel Lavelle
06/17 2013

WalkPittsburgh – Summer Walk Challenge Programs

WalkPittsburgh is here!

On Friday, May 10, 2013 the three Southwestern Pennsylvania Transportation Management Associations – Airport Corridor Transportation Association (ACTA), Oakland Transportation Management Association (OTMA) and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership TMA (PDP) –  jointly launched WalkPittsburgh.org, a web-based initiative which aims to reduce the region’s carbon footprint, encourage individuals to stay healthy, and promote safe walking as a commuting alternative.

The fun and easy program allows users to participate by visiting WalkPittsburgh.org to create a user name and password and choose the neighborhood in which they currently reside and/or work. Once registered, participants are able to keep track of steps taken by downloading a free app that turns the user’s iPhone or Android Smartphone into a pedometer which count steps, tracks progress, and uploads the information (identifying you only by neighborhood) to WalkPittsburgh.org. Each time a participant signs in to WalkPittsburgh.org they can see their own private walking profile page, view and compare the progress of surrounding neighborhoods, and see how many gallons of gas has been saved by walking.

Check out their website

06/13 2013

City Gears Up For Another Action-Packed Summer

From the Mayor’s Office:

June 6, 2013   Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that the City is gearing up for another action-packed summer.  Free copies of the 2013 Citiparks Summer Magazine are now available at various locations throughout the City, providing easy information on the City’s 2013 schedule of summer events such as community festivals, competitions and family activities like movie and jazz nights in the parks. The 60-page booklet is also available online at www.Citiparks.net.  (or http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/2013-Citiparks-SummerMag-final.pdf)

Read the Full Article