The Housing Authority of Pittsburgh controls nearly 6,000 public housing units and administers more than 6,000 Section 8 vouchers throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Our Housing Authority was the first created in Pennsylvania and one of the first in the nation. Many of the units and communities were constructed many years ago and are badly in need of modernization and better service provision. A recent independent audit revealed some serious concerns about how contracts are awarded by the authority and how services are provided. Public housing residents should not have to live in substandard conditions. They should not have to wait for an audit to see improvement in their communities.

Our permit parking system for residential neighborhoods was developed in the 1980s and is long overdue for an overhaul. As more large institutions and job centers move into areas bordering residential neighborhoods residential parking pressures have increased and longtime residents are fighting for neighborhood parking with commuters. We want to make the city viable for increased economic development and job growth. We also need to find better ways to preserve parking for long-time neighborhood residents. If we’re going to fix this issue, we need 21st century solutions. The one-­size fits all residential permit parking system currently being employed is not working for everyone. Neighborhoods throughout the city have different needs, and a cookie-­cutter RPP program does everyone a disservice.

A diverse alliance of labor, community and environmental groups rallied in support of Bill Peduto this morning. Peduto supporters from groups including 32BJ SEIU, The Sierra Club, United Steelworkers, UFCW, Ironworkers, IATSE, Clean Water Action, and the League of Conservation Voters gathered at the Gardens at Market Square—the first development which will be fully covered under the 2009 Service Worker Prevailing Wage Bill strongly supported by Bill Peduto.

One of the core responsibilities of government at all levels is to ensure opportunity for all of our constituents. However, government as in our society as a whole often falls short of this goal and doesn’t adequately reflect the true diversity of our citizenry. The City of Pittsburgh has made strides through initiatives like the Personal Department’s DiverseCity 365 that seeks to attract more minority job applicants. But we still fall short when it comes to equal representation on boards, authorities, and commissions, as department heads, and as minority contractors on city-sponsored projects. The city’s Equal Opportunity Review Commission is charged with working towards greater representation and has recently been further empowered via legislation that I gladly voted for on City Council, but we need to double down on our efforts to make Pittsburgh city government reflect the diversity of our city and provide opportunities for everyone. To further these goals I will create an Initiative on Equity and Diversity led by a cabinet-level appointee who will serve as the city’s “diversity auditor.”

Come on out to the Brillobox tonight, May 16th, for Musicians for Peduto. Performances by Emily Rodgers & Erik Cirelli, The Beagle Brothers, and Josh Verbanets & Jody Perigo. David Conrad will be the special guest for the evening! There will also be a DJ for any downtime before and after the acts, as well as drink specials provided by Brillobox. This is a FREE event!

The men and women of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are, by and large, good hardworking people who truly care about this city and its safe. However, the financial scandals and incidents of police brutality that have shocked our communities, damaged the bureau, and severed ties of trust with many Pittsburghers, particularly African Americans. It is critical that we develop a comprehensive strategy for restoring this trust and proving to our citizens that our police will serve and protect them regardless of where they live or the color of their skin. I will make this a top priority of my administration and begin working on it on day one. Yet, I can’t do it alone. We must address this issue as a community, keeping in mind these problems won’t be solved overnight. I know together we can make the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police the best in the country. We owe it to our communities and the hardworking men and women who we serve.

Back when Pittsburgh’s zoning code was first rewritten, it was ahead of its time. The zoning code contained some forward-thinking development standards that advocated for environmental sustainability and the protection of our natural topography. It recognized the changing economic landscape of the city and moved us away from industrial development and instead towards education, medicine and neighborhood business districts. However, it has been nearly 20 years since our code was rewritten and much has changed in the field of city planning, the economy of our city, and development patterns and techniques nationwide. Therefore, we need to reassess our zoning code and find ways it can be streamlined, made easier to understand and comply with, and ensure it is compatible with our 21st century city. Rewriting a zoning code is no small task. It will require a great deal of community input, technical expertise, feedback from developers, and cooperation from all political stakeholders. But it is a task well worth taking on and one that I think can have a highly positive impact on the future development of our neighborhoods.

If you’re planning to vote using an absentee ballot for the May 21 Primary Election, here is what you need to know. Today is the Deadline to Apply for an Absentee Ballot. Completed Absentee Ballot applications must be received in the office of the Elections Division no later than 5 p.m. TODAY.

The latest ad by the PAC chaired by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is false and wholly misleading. A review of the ad’s cited sources reveals information completely different from the ad’s claims and, at times, indicates the opposite.

These blatant distortions reflect how desperate the Wagner campaign is getting as voters learn the truth about his siding with Republicans on budget cuts that harmed children and seniors, while increasing his own pay and raising his own pension 50 percent.

Pittsburgh has a rich and diverse faith community and throughout my time on City Council I have been privileged to be included in many enriching activities and initiatives across many different faiths. I have worked with my Jewish friends to provide food to the hungry and critical social services to new immigrants. I have worked with my Christian friends to push for an end to gun violence and to secure shelter for the homeless. I have worked with my Muslim friends to confront racism and advocate for peace. I have worked with my Hindu friends to advance public health and educational opportunities. While I strongly believe in a fundamental separation between church and state, I also know that our faith communities have much to give to the people of Pittsburgh. I would like to find ways to strengthen partnerships between the city and our faith communities for the betterment of all of our citizens.