Policy and advocacy
Recognizing that their collective voice would be stronger than their individual voices, community groups across Pittsburgh came together in 1988 to advocate for holistic reinvestment in the city’s neighborhoods. From its very beginning, PCRG has been committed to advocating for sound public policy and government practices to revitalize low- to moderate- income communities.
Policy Updates
Local
Almost a year ago, Allegheny County Council voted 9-6 to remove the name serach function from the County’s property assessment page to protect Judges, Police Officers and victim’s. In doing this, they also removed a valuable tool for community groups in blight reduction and neighborhood revitalization. After meeting with County Council President, Rich Fitzgerald, an amendament to this Ordinance was proposed at County Council on September 9th, 2008. Click here for the text of theproposed amendment to the Name Search Ordinance.
Over the past 24 months, the Pittsburgh Public Schools has been ‘right-sizing’ the district by evaluating, condensing, and then, ultimately, closing the unused elementary, junior high, and high school buildings. They recently published their intention to facilitate the disposition of 18 closed school buildings via a proposal to hire an auction agency and auction the buildings off one at a time to the highest bidder. The vote took place Wednesday, August 28th 2008 with no public comment allowed during the meeting. Read PCRG’s letter to the School Board here.
State
September 2008
- September 17, 2008 - PA Senate hearing for HB 2600: State Housing Trust Fund. Read Bill here.
- September 15, 2008 - Activists Alarmed Over PA Bill to Allow For-Profit Credit Counseling. Read Press Release and PA Senate Bill.
August 2008
- The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has announced 2008-09 funding for the Core Communities Housing Program (CCHP). The program provides state-funded grants for affordable housing activities in core communities. Read more.
Federal
July 2008
- On July 31, 2008, the House Financial Services Committee unanimously voted in favor of HR 840, the HEARTH Act, which would reauthorize HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program. For more information, click here.
- President Bush signed “Housing and Economic Recover Act of 2008″ on July 30, 2008. Read a summary here or briefing materials from Housing Alliance of PA here.
January 2008
- S.2452: Home Ownership Preservation and Protection Act of 2007, Bill introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd and other leaders in the Senate. Read more.
