Pittsburgh

04/26 2013

Squirrel Hill Tunnel Outbound Detour this weekend Fri 4/26 10PM – Mon 4/29 6AM

An alternative detour will be in place during this weekend’s closure of the eastbound (outbound) Squirrel Hill Tunnel for ongoing construction work.

During the closure, a detour on the Parkway East (Interstate 376) will be in effect from 10 p.m. on Friday through 6 a.m. on Monday. Expect significant delays and allow extra time.

The ramp from Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) to eastbound I-376 will also be closed this weekend, so PennDOT will use the alternative tunnel detour that sends traffic through Wilkinsburg. Signs will be posted to guide drivers.

(See official detour map | Alternate detour map)
WTAE news report

04/24 2013

Calling all shoppers: Please support OPDC this Saturday! 4/27

Shop at Ten Thousand Villages in Squirrel Hill this Saturday, April 27th between 4pm-6pm and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to OPDC.  Our staff will be there to greet and provide all shoppers with complimentary refreshments. This is a great way to get a head start on Mother’s Day and graduation shopping while supporting your local community development organization and fair trade artisans at the same time! Ten Thousand Villages is located at 5824 Forbes Avenue in the heart of Squirrel Hill’s business district.

04/23 2013

OPDC’s School 2 Career offering free workshops about The Pittsburgh Promise scholarships.

Do you have a child attending a City of Pittsburgh public or charter school? Do you work with youth or youth organizations?

OPDC’s School 2 Career (S2C) program is offering free workshops for adults interested in learning more about The Pittsburgh Promise. Students who attend a City public or approved charter school can be eligible for up to $40,000 in scholarships. S2C is providing these workshops to ensure your children or students receive the maximum award possible.

For more information about how you can become a Promise Coach, contact Karla Stallworth at 412.682.1144 or kstallworth@s2c.opdc.org

The full article

04/21 2013

Final Approved Reapportioned City Council Districts 3/12/13

After each decennial census, City Council is required to make changes to council districts to reflect the new population distribution throughout the City. Districts are required to be as equal in population as practicable, compact, contiguous, and in compliance with the federal voting rights act.

The 2010 Federal Census established the population of the City of Pittsburgh at 305,704–a decrease from 334,563 from the 2000 Census–putting the “ideal” district size at 33,967. Due to the population changes over the last ten years, current districts range in population from 28,695 to 39,259.

Check the website for maps and info.

Reapportionment Advisory Committee Website

04/21 2013

City Council Discussion On Parking Meters – Tuesday, April 30, 2013 1:00 PM

AGENDA ITEM AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER COREY O’CONNOR Discussion on parking meters

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 1:00 PM

Residents who may have questions regarding the pay-by license plate parking meters recently installed throughout the city should be sure to check this FAQ sheet for answers.

 Parking Authority Website

04/19 2013

PRC Provides Hard-to-Recycle/E-Waste Collections

The Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) in partnership with the Allegheny County Health Department and Colcom Foundation is providing opportunities for area residents to properly dispose of a wide variety of materials at  “hard to recycle” collection events scheduled in 2013.

At the upcoming events, individuals can drop off televisions, e-waste (including computers, monitors, keyboards printers and more), cell phones, printer/toner cartridges, compact fluorescent bulbs, alkaline batteries, ink and toner cartridge, paper for shredding.

NEW THIS YEAR – PRC is partnering with NOVA Chemicals and Appliance Warehouse to collect hard white molded Polystyrene packaging material free of charge, at each Hard to Recycle collection event.

For more info contact Sarah Alessio Shea at saraha@ccicenter.org

City of Pittsburgh specific event:
Saturday 8/17 9AM-1PM at City of Pittsburgh Environmental Services, 3001 Railroad Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Official website

04/19 2013

CITYWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY MTG – KEEPING OUR YOUTH ON TRACK

Zone 2 and Zone 5 Citizens Public Safety Councils, with the
support of the Zone 4 commander, will host a Citywide public
safety meeting for all City of Pittsburgh residents. Attendees will
learn about City programs and policies to help keep our youth safe
and out of trouble this summer, and will hear from City officials
and meet other community leaders concerned about safety.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
East Liberty Presbyterian Church
116 S. Highland Ave.
(the big church in the center of Penn Circle)
6:00 p.m. – refreshments and information tables
6:30 p.m. – presentations begin
RSVP Appreciated
Speakers will include representatives from:
Allegheny County Shuman Juvenile Detention Center
and the
CISP Program (Community Intensive Supervision Program)
Your RSVP by Friday, April 19 th would be
appreciated for food orders.
Questions and RSVPs can be sent to Melanie Brown at
melanieb.1@verizon.net. or call 412.281.8199

http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/Citywide_PS_Mtg_April_2013_(1).pdf

04/19 2013

PUBLIC WORKS: 2013 PAVING PROGRAM

Greetings,

I would like to announce that the Department of Public Works Paving Program for 2013 has begun. This program is an opportunity for the residents of the City of Pittsburgh to submit addresses or intersections that are in need of paving or have potholes that are need of filling.
For District 6 residents that would like to request paving in their neighborhoods, please call the District 6 office at 412-255-2134 or via email at Daniel.wood@pittsburghpa.gov or shanalee.russell@pittsburghpa.gov.
Please note, our office cannot promise the final priority of streets that the Department of Public Works chooses to pave, but your input is greatly needed and impactful.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle
============
SONG note: District 3 – Bruce A. Kraus, Councilman
City-County Building,    Suite 510/Floor 5
414 Grant Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Telephone: 412-255-2130
Brandon Forbes, Policy Director
brandon.forbes@pittsburghpa.gov
Website
04/19 2013

Council District 6 – April Employment Opportunities Newsletter

Greetings,

The bedrock of a sustainable community is an economically stable community.  Since being elected, our office has taken a proactive approach towards helping our constituency find employment opportunities.  Please click herePDF File for a few employment opportunities that are currently available throughout the City of Pittsburgh.
The District 6 office will hosting the “Pittsburgh JobStart Employment and Resource Fair” on Saturday, May 4, 2013 Northside Institutional Church, 302 W North Ave.  Be on the look out as more information will be released in the upcoming weeks.  If you would like to volunteer or participate to be a featured sponsor at our upcoming employment/resource fair, please give our office a call at 412-255-2134 or email Bernelle Wood
Regards,
R. Daniel Lavelle
04/16 2013

Pittsburgh Police chief plans to disband Graffiti Squad

Acting police Chief Regina McDonald plans to disband Pittsburgh’s three-officer graffiti squad, a move being criticized by other city officials who say the detail will be needed in the future and just have to be re-formed anyway.

McDonald isn’t commenting on her plans reported Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, which obtained a memo from the chief announcing the decision last week

WTAE Report

Contact info for City Officials:

Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
512 City County Building | 414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
telephone: 412-255-2626 | facsimile: 412-255-2687
Mayor’s 311 Hotline Online Submission Form
===========

District 3
Bruce A. Kraus, Councilman
City-County Building
Suite 510/Floor 5
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Telephone: 412-255-2130
Fax: 412-255-8950
Brandon Forbes, Policy Director
brandon.forbes@pittsburghpa.gov
Telephone: 412-255-2130
Website
=============

District 6
Office of Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle
414 Grant Street, 5th Floor | City County Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
telephone: 412-255-2134 | facsimile 412-255-0737
daniel.lavelle@pittsburghpa.gov
Website

 

 

04/16 2013

COUNCILMAN LAVELLE INTRODUCES VALET PARKING ORDINANCE

COUNCILMAN LAVELLE INTRODUCES VALET PARKING ORDINANCE
Valet Parking Licensing Program to be Managed by Department of Public Works
Sent 04/16/2013 @ 12:38 pm

During today’s City Council regular meeting, Councilman Lavelle introduced an ordinance regulating valet parking in Pittsburgh. The proposed bill would shift management responsibilities of the City’s licensing program for valet parking from the Police Department to the Department of Public Works, would institute penalties for violations, and would require operators to display proper signage for valet drop-off and pick-up points.

The ordinance is modeled after similar measures taken in Chicago, IL and Charlotte, NC, and includes clauses pulled from Pittsburgh’s police variance regulations. Councilman Lavelle’s decision to sponsor the bill resulted from complaints of improper management of valet services in Market Square. Various reports of improper utilization of public street parking spaces in Market Square, Graeme St, Forbes Ave and Fourth Ave prompted the Councilman to respond with the proposed bill.

Among the provisions in the ordinance, the proposed valet parking regulations include:

  • Requirement that every valet parking service obtain a license from the Department of Public Works.
  • Requirement that valet operators display City approved and issued “No Parking” signs at the parking space or spaces utilized for drop-off and pick-up of valet parking.
  • Requirement that the valet operator provides legal off street parking spaces of at least 15% of the occupancy of the business they work for.
  • Implementation of penalties for violations that are the responsibility of the valet operator.
04/11 2013

ARTPGH + DESIGNPGH PUBLIC MEETINGS: APRIL 2013

PlanPGH

ARTPGH is developing a strategy for the City to engage local, regional and national artists, facilitate care for its extensive art collection, and involve artists in public space, facility and infrastructure design. DESIGNPGH is examining existing types of urban design and devise a plan with set guidelines that will inform future developers about the quality and character of design that is expected and feasible in our neighborhoods.

The public art and urban design plans are heavily dependent on public participation and are estimated to be completed over the next 9 months. There will be ongoing opportunities and subsequent public meetings for the public to become involved. Please visit planpgh.com to sign up for email updates related to ARTPGH, DESIGNPGH and other components of PLANPGH.

Six dates & locations to choose from

On April 22nd-25th, 29th and 30th, there will be a second round of public meetings for ARTPGH and DESIGNPGH, the Public Art and Urban Design components of PLANPGH, the City’s first comprehensive plan. These will be six “open house” meetings conveniently located throughout the City that will allow residents to participate near where they live or work.

RSVP is requested, but not required.

Check out the website for more details