In order to better understand the financial situation of the city and the Mayor’s demand of a student tax, it is essential to see the bigger picture. These documents provide the details of what the city can and cannot do - they also shed light on missed opportunities. Councilman Peduto and Controller Lamb have outlined an alternative plan to the Mayor’s proposed student tax - you can read all the documents here - including the Lamb/Peduto alternative.

Mayor Ravenstahl’s 2010 Budget - Understand who is paying and what you are getting.

Pennsylvania Local Tax Enabling Act - Understand the rules of what municipalities can tax and what we cannot.

Act 47 Five Year Recovery Plan - Understand the changes that were approved in July and then look at the Mayor’s proposed budget to see if we are doing it.

PA Act 55 Public Charity Act -Understand the limitations placed on municipalities in PA to receive voluntary payments in lieu of taxes from non-profits and the restrictions to tax non-profits.

Peduto/Lamb Alternative - Another option for our City.

City Councilman Peduto and Controller Lamb today presented a list of potential budget changes that will make up the $15 million shortfall in the city’s 2010 proposed budget. The ICA rejected Mayor Ravenstahl’s proposed student tax, leaving a $15 million hole in the budget. Controller Lamb and Councilman Peduto believe that this shortfall can be made up through other means - through recommendations approved during the Act 47 process and through other good government proposals that will stregthen the city budget and make it more transparent for years to come.

Their plan is available here.

Earlier this year, Councilman Bill Peduto introduced a plan to create an LED energy-efficient lighting system in the City of Pittsburgh. This plan would not only create a more environmentally-friendly lighting system, but would also save money for City residents by reducing lighting costs for years to come.

But this plan is not just about replacing light bulbs - this plan is also about creating a new model of urban lighting. This new model needs to utilize technology to do more than just create an energy-efficient system- it needs to realize the potential that light offers in creating a safe, livable community.

In New York City, Leni Schwendinger is an artist an designer who leads “Lightwalks” through the City at night. During these walks, Schwendinger shows participants the importance of street lighting in the night life ambience, and looks at street lights in terms of what they add to the community. Check out this video to learn more, and see part of one of Schwendinger’s Light Walks.

Also, check out this article from TreeHugger.com - Nightlife Made Sustainable: Street Lights that Match Evening Sensitivities Save Considerable Energy.  This article discusses the possibility of redesigning street lights to utilize less energy by using information about what part of the light spectrum the human eye is most sensitive to in the dark.

The announcement by the Pittsburgh Carnegie Library system that some of the neighborhood branch libraries will be closing has been met with much public outcry, and has sparked discussions about the role of libraries in our communities.

Bookless Libraries, an article published on Inside Higher Education’s website highlights the debate about the role of the library in the 21st century.

In the age of technology, can libraries be replaced by online substitutes? Or are the “bricks and mortar” of the library essential to it’s definition? These are the questions debated in this article, which discusses the different perspectives on the library as a community center, or simply as a place to locate information.

Today Mayor Ravenstahl presented his 2010 budget proposal to City Council.

View the Mayor’s Budget Proposal Here

Sincerely,
Bill Peduto

At the beginning of October, an initiative called the “Breath Easy, Stay Healthy” campaign was introduced with the goal of reducing the fine soot pollution in Pittsburgh’s air.  This fine soot is the main cause of Pittsburgh’s number one ranking as the “Dirtiest Air” city for two consecutive years.  This initiative was introduced by Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), and joined by leaders from the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and Clean Water Action, along with Dr. Evelyn O. Talbott of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology and Allegheny County Council President Richard Fitzgerald.

Councilman Bill Peduto will also be a part of this campaign with his “Code Green” initiative, as he begins to work on greening the City’s laws in accordance with the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan.  These amendments will work to cut both air pollution and greenhouse gas emission in Pittsburgh.

To learn more about the ”Breath Easy, Stay Healthy” campaign, read the PennFuture press release.

A recent article in The New York Times also discusses the issue of air pollution, but looks at how a reduction in air pollutant emissions can lead to an increase in polluted waters.  Read the article here.

Last Wednesday, City Council took an important step forward to create a responsible and forward-thinking five-year financial plan. The original plan that was introduced by the Administration contained several clauses that greatly concerned City Council and lacked new initiatives to create a more efficient 21st century government.

Through the leadership of Council Finance Chair Bill Peduto, Council Members Bruce Kraus and Theresa Kail-Smith, and Controller Michael Lamb, City Council offered several important amendments to the Plan.  The amendments fall under four general categories - City-County Consolidation of Services, Budget and Taxation Reform, Government
Efficiency, and Public Safety.  Some of the key features of the amendments are:

City-County Consolidation of Services

• Invsetigate consolidation services in Fleet Maintenance, IT, Payroll, Purchasing, and Tax Collection
• Create a Regional Parks Commission that oversees all RAD parks in the County

Budget and Taxation Reform

• Committing all slots parlor revenue windfalls to paying down debt
• Instituting new guidelines to ensure there is truth in budgeting
• Institute a .55% Payroll Tax on non-profits
• Go after waste, fraud, and abuse to collect taxes that are not being fairly paid

Government Efficiency

• Create a Facilities Master Plan for all City owned buildings
• Create a Recreational Master Plan for City pools, recreation centers, senior centers, and ball fields 
• Create a Fleet Master Plan
• Create a comprehensive Risk Management Plan
• Institute re-routing software to improve efficiency in street paving, snow plowing, and street cleaning

Public Safety

• Provide City employees with a five-year plan for increased salaries
• Investigate the feasability of keeping a North Side EMS station open 24 hours
• Keep open the Greenfield fire station
• Institute new initiatives to help with police retention and recruitment

As the primary campaign comes to a close, we would like to thank everyone who helped us during the past three months.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered, not only for Councilman Bill Peduto’s campaign, but for the campaigns of our allies.  Thank you to everyone that administrated the campaign - Matt, Gloria, Julia, Kayla, Adam, and Scott.

This campaign was never just about May 19th, it has been about building a new, reform-minded, progressive movement in the City of  Pittsburgh.  Yesterday we took a giant step in that direction - now that is really moving the city forward!

Thank you again to everyone involved!

Don’t forget - Tuesday, May 19th is the Democratic primary election in the City of Pittsburgh!

Your local poll will be open from 7am to 8pm.
Not sure where to vote? Check your polling location here.

There are several important races on the ballot that will help decide the future of our City. Voting is the biggest way that you can let your voice be heard - don’t forget to go out and support your candidates!