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From YouTube: Pittsburgh City Council Community Meeting - 8/2/21
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A
Good
evening,
everyone,
I'm
councilwoman,
theresa
kel
smith,
and
I'm
here
today
with
councilman
reverend
ricky
burgess
councilman
dan
lavelle
councilman,
bruce
krauss
councilman
corey
o'connor,
and
we
expect
other
members
to
join
us.
I
want
to
thank
madam
clerk's
office
for
sending
these
meetings
up
so
quickly
and
I'm
here
with
mike
straleek
as
well
from
our
city
council
budget
office.
A
We're
going
to
begin
briefly
with
mike
giving
a
brief
present
a
brief
comment
about
how
we
voted
and
or
why
we
voted,
and
then
we're
going
to
turn
it
over
to
reverend
burgess
and
councilman
lavelle
for
a
brief
presentation
that
we
really
want
to
cover.
Even
though
there's
not
a
lot
of
people
here,
come
sit
closer,
please
if
and
so
that
we
can
have
a
conversation
and
we'll
turn
over
the
car.
We'll
engage
in
the
conversation
and
then
we'll
join
the
meeting.
B
Right
so
a
brief
note
about
why
we
did
what
we
did
or
why?
Council
sorry,
I'm
not
I'm
not
elected
why
the
council
had
to
pass
the
budget
before
we
went
on
council
recess
december
of
2020
when
we
passed
the
2021
budget,
it
was
basically
two
six-month
budgets,
so
the
first
six
months
from
january
to
june
contained
a
lot
of
cuts.
170
vacant
positions
were
cut
about
14
million
dollars
from
elsewhere
in
the
the
budget
was
cut.
B
Now
the
second
six-month
budget
was
a
the
serious
one
containing
the
serious
the
potential
to
fire
over
600
employees
just
eliminate
a
whole
lot
of
city
services.
B
B
So
we've
heard
questions
about
why
we
had
to
do
a
four
or
five
year
plan.
It's
it's
by
law
and
the
2021
budget
that
was
passed
with
those
horrible
cuts
contained
those
cuts
that
council
just
uncut.
C
C
There
is
a
presentation
that
councilman
level
and
I
will
do
I'll-
do
the
initial
part
and
make
sure
you
have
the
handouts
and
then
he'll
go
into
some
detail
and
then,
after
that,
we'll
be
able
to
answer
specific
questions
and
the
city
of
pittsburgh's
allocation
of
funding
for
the
american
rescue
plan
act
of
2021.
C
The
arp
money
is
designed
to
support
the
core
functions
of
local
government.
Now
we
are
not
the
only
government
who
received
these
funds,
the
state,
although
they're,
not
a
local
municipality,
they
receive
money
the
and
there
are
the
three
local
municipalities,
the
county,
the
city
and
the
school
district
and
all
of
them
have
you
know
this
is
my
my
my
thing
is
backwards,
but
that's
okay.
I
can
do
it
this
way.
Kobe
19
triggered
lost
tax
revenues,
placing
the
city
of
pittsburgh
in
a
dire
financial
emergency.
C
If
we
have
not
received
additional
monies
by
july
1st,
we
would
have
laid
off
600
employees,
firefighters,
paramedics,
some
city
services.
Thankfully,
in
march
2021,
the
american
rescue
plan
allowed
the
city
to
restore
its
2021
budget
and
the
required
five-year
plan.
The
american
rescue
act
provided
funds
to
those
governments,
as
I
talked
about,
is
given
380
million
to
the
county
of
allegheny,
335
million
to
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
80
million
to
this
school
district.
C
Now,
the
reason
that's
important
is
because
each
form
of
government
forms
a
different
function,
performs
a
different
function,
the
county
of
allegheny
and
that's
a
lot
of
people
when
they
try
to
compare
pittsburgh
to
other
cities.
You
have
to
be
very
careful
because
all
cities
are
not
created
equally
they're
all
created
slightly
different.
Some
cities
have
their
own
human
services
built
in
like
philadelphia,
which
is
a
city
and
a
county
does
both
the
school
district.
It
controls
both
the
school
district
and
it
controls
its
human
services.
We
do
not
we're
a
second
class
city.
C
We
do
not
control
either
the
county
of
allegheny
controls,
human
services,
human
criminal
justice
in
the
court
system,
district
attorney,
allegheny,
county
court
of
column,
police,
adult
education
through
the
community
college
of
allegheny
county
and
the
board
of
elections,
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
and
and
the
school
district.
As
we
know,
I
can
do
that
from
my
own
head.
The
school
district
performs
stuff
for
children
and
young
adults.
That's
the
function
that
the
city
schools!
Do
we
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
C
What
we
do
primarily
is
public
safety,
fire
ems
code
enforcement,
public
infrastructure,
mobility,
paving
roads
all
that
sort
of
stuff.
C
We
do
pwsa
drinking
water,
getting
rid
of
lead,
changing
the
pipes,
all
that
sort
of
stuff
their
redevelopment
authority
does
for
sale,
housing
that
does
some
affordable
housing,
but
it
creates
the
avenue
for
business,
economic
and
neighborhood
development,
and
then
certainly
the
housing
authority
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh
does
public
housing
and
affordable
housing.
C
And
of
course
I
talked
about
the
school
district
already.
So
I'm
doing
this
from
from
from
my
head
does
early
childhood
initiative
stuff
and
it
does
education
for
children,
youth
and
young
adults
once
they
get.
I
think,
after
21
years
of
age,
they're
no
longer
eligible
for
services
through
the
board
of
education.
C
Now
the
city
is
receiving
a
335
million
dollar
allotment.
It
comes
to
us
in
two
two
pots
of
money,
one
this
year,
one
next
year
this
year
we
received
a
few
months
ago,
167.5
million
dollars
in
2021
and
the
same
time.
Next
year
we
will
receive
the
exact
same
amount,
167.5
million
dollars.
These
funds,
though,
are
extraordinarily
tired
of
government
initiatives.
C
Now
the
federal
formula
dictates
the
city
receives
funding
to
replace
revenue
lost
by
the
pandemic.
They
determine
how
much
revenue
they
thought
we
lost
or
losing
over
that
period
of
time,
and
it
is
primarily
to
be
used
for
operating
expenses
to
restore
payroll,
to
avoid
layoffs
in
the
field
positions
necessary
to
fully
operate
the
city.
Now
the
city
created
a
trust
fund
to
strengthen
accountability
and
increase
public
transparency.
C
So
all
the
money
went
into
the
trust
fund
and
it
will
over
time
be
parceled
out
according
to
this
budget,
and
that
will
of
course,
include
more
public
hearings
and
more
chances
of
the
public
to
participate
in
this
distribution
of
those
funds.
Now
these
funds
are
specifically
designed
to
be
spent
on
things.
The
city
would
normally
spend
money
on
in
this
regular
course
of
business.
That
was
the
whole
idea
of
the
fund
was
to
replace
the
revenue
that
we
lost
so
that
we
can
continue
services
as
needed.
C
The
funds
are
designed
to
be
expended
on
essential
city
services,
but
because
of
the
funding
formula,
there's
a
small
amount
of
discretionary
spending
money
that
we
can
a
little
bit
of
it,
that
we
can
spend
in
specific
ways,
federal
federal
best
practices
and
we've
had
a
number
of
those.
The
city
has
had
a
number
of
those
workshops
and
it
indicates
that
any
discretionary
spending
be
invested
primarily
in
long-term
capital
improvements.
C
In
other
words,
best
practice
is,
do
not
spend
this
money
on
social
services,
because
if
you
spend
this
money
on
social
services,
it'll
be
gone
next
year.
If
we,
you
know,
if
we
all
of
a
sudden
feed,
2
000
people,
or
we
give
rent
beep
rates
to
not
2
000
2
million
people,
whatever
the
number
is
once
we
do,
that,
there's
no
investment.
There's
no
return
on
that
investment.
Certainly
those
needs
are
significant,
but
once
we
spend
it
that
money
is
gone
with.
C
Significant
arp
funds
spent
on
non-essential
programs
or
programs
not
substantially
related
to
cities.
Extension
essential
obligations
could
and
would
have
significant
unforeseen
consequences,
because
people
don't
really
understand
how
the
city
works
now
remember.
These
dollars
are
not
going
to
be
spent
by
themselves,
they're
going
to
be
put
in
the
city's
budget
over
these
next
few
years,
and
the
city
will
spend
it
as
part
of
its
ongoing
budgetary
process
when
we
spend
it
as
part
of
our
budgetary
process.
C
So,
in
order
to
make
sure
we
do
this
and
to
do
this
in
a
way
that
we
believe
has
these
long-term
benefits,
especially
to
new
communities
of
color,
the
city
enacted
the
equity
first
spending
plan,
and
it
did
a
couple
of
things:
it
accounts
for
the
funds
necessary
to
avert
layoff
and
job
termination,
so
the
first
bunch
of
it
goes
to
make
sure
we
don't
lay
people
off
it.
Funds,
public
infrastructure,
lead
water,
replacement,
neighborhood,
recreation,
centers
and
other
quality
of
life
centers.
C
It
prioritizes
investment
in
communities
and
economic
development
projects
in
the
city's
black
neighborhoods.
Now
one
of
the
things
I
think
that
people
are
unaware
of,
I
really
don't
kind
of
think
about.
We
have
aging
vehicles
that
pave
our
streets
and
aging
vehicles
to
plow
our
streets
and
aging
vehicles
and
materials
that
cut
grasses
cut
grass.
C
Now
if
these
vehicles,
first
of
all
the
way
that
we
do
paving
and
plowing
and
those
things
we
do,
the
roads
that
are
heavily
trench,
they're
heavily
written
on
transported
first,
so
because
of
the
amount
of
volume
fifth
avenue
is
always
going
to
get
paved.
C
C
When
we
don't
have
enough
resources
to
plow
to
to
to
to
to
plow
streets
and
to
pave
the
communities
that
will
be
impacted,
the
most
will
be
african-american
communities.
So
when
we
update
the
fleet,
even
though
it
does
not
seem
like
that's
a
specific
investment
in
african-american
communities,
it
really
is
because
what
it
does
is.
It
makes
sure
that
the
whole
city
gets
equitable
services
and
the
only
way
we
can
make
sure
that
the
city
gets
equitable
services
is
by
having
the
material
and
the
resources
to
serve
the
entire
city.
C
All
right
last,
two
things
I'll
turn
on
to
councilman
level.
Talk
about
equity,
the
equity
first
spending
plan,
there's
a
in
the
in
the
and
again
we
can
give
you
copies
of
the
handout
sean
where
you
at
behind
me.
Maybe
we
have
we
have.
We
have
copies
for
those
of
you
and
a
handout
of
all
of
the
expenses
that
says
basic
seasons,
but
it
gives
you
the
lost
revenue
and
how
the
federal
government
calculated
this
amount.
They
didn't
just
give
us
an
amount.
C
They
used
these
major
categories
to
determine
where
our
loss
resources
were,
and
you
see
you
know
the
167
million
a
year
that
they
think
we
lost
and
it
shows
where
those
categories
come
from:
public
safety,
community,
health,
negative
economic
thing,
broad-based
water
administration,
that's
where
all
those
kind
of
you
see
how
we're
going
to
make
up
those
funds
in
the
broad
base
categories,
and
then
the
next
slide
talks
about.
Okay,
we
have
this
money,
300
million
dollars.
How
are
we
going
to
spend
it
over
the
next
few
years?
C
C
One
pittsburgh:
that's
the
guaranteed
income
program
where
we're
going
to
get
some
primarily
single
mothers
with
kids
and
give
them
a
monthly
stipend
right
and
because
we
know
when
they
use
those
monthly
stipends,
it
does
not
go
to
the
casino
or
to
partying,
but
they
actually
use
the
money
to
pay
for
their
children.
C
D
Madam
president,
also
wanted
me
to
remind
you
that
there
are
refreshments
by
the
door
when
you
came
in
so
please
help
yourself
to
them.
So,
as
reverend
burgess
already
mentioned,
part
of
what
we
wanted
to
do
was
ensure
that
the
dollars
that
we're
allocating
go
into
the
neighborhoods
that
he
mentioned
that
have
historically
not
seen
their
fair
share
of
investment,
and
we
wanted
to
invest
in
those
places,
as
well
as
the
people
to
the
greatest
extent
possible.
D
In
addition
to
that,
this
plan
dedicates
18
million
to
vacant
property
maintenance.
Some
neighborhoods
don't
do
not
have
this
problem,
but
in
speaking
for
myself,
one
of
the
main
calls
we
get
is.
Can
you
please
maintain
vacant
lots
if
you've
paid
any
attention
to
our
most
recent
city
council
meetings?
We've
been
having
a
conversation
about
vacant
lots,
vacant
property
and
how
to
maintain
it.
D
In
addition
to
that,
we
also
have
heard
over
the
last
year
about
ensuring
that
we
have
more
social
services,
that
decrease
police
interaction,
and
so
this
plan
dedicates
10
million
to
the
office
of
community
services
to
provide
social
services
to
residents
in
distress
and
diminish
the
chance
for
unnecessary
interaction
with
law
enforcement.
And
again
this
was
an
initiative
that
we
heard
for
over
the
course
of
a
year
and
a
half
that
this
was
critical
and
needed
to
our
city.
D
Then
we
move
into
our
capital
budget,
which
is
approximately
close
to
60
million
dollars
that
we
have
allocated.
First
and
foremost,
we
wanted
to
make
sure
that
our
city
or
excuse
me
our
children
and
our
residents
have
safe
places
to
go
for
their
children.
If
you've
ever
been
to
any
one
of
our
rec
centers
across
the
city,
you
will
know
that
most
of
them
are
tremendously
aging.
Therefore,
we're
dedicating
20
million
to
upgrade
facilities
across
our
city
and
I'll.
D
Let
you
read
them
all
for
yourself,
some
of
which
we're
actually
building
new,
some
of
which
we're
sort
of
gut
rehabbing
and
totally
renovating
some
of
which
these
dollars
also
go
to
funding
gaps
that
kovit
created.
So
as
an
example
in
my
district,
the
robert
e
williams
building
we're
building
brand
new,
but
due
to
covid,
we
now
have
an
additional
half
million
dollar
gap.
So
these
dollars
are
funding
those
additional
projects
that
were
already
budgeted
within
our
previous
budgets.
D
We
want
to
ensure
that
everyone
has
clean,
safe,
affordable
drinking
water,
and
in
doing
so,
we
are
working
to
protect
the
public's
health
by
continuing
to
replace
lead
water
lines,
as
well
as
we're
preventing
runaway
rate
increases
by
allowing
pwsa
to
avoid
paying
43
million
in
debt
service,
to
borrow
the
same
amount
of
money
to
do
this
needed
work.
If
they
had
to
borrow
that
money,
our
residents
would
absolutely
see
rate
increases
to
avoid
that
burden
on
the
residents.
D
We're
putting
that
money
in
we're
also
moving
approximately
75
million
over
to
our
urban
redevelopment
authority,
which
will
be
broken
down
into
a
number
of
different
buckets.
First,
we're
dedicating
22
million
to
own
pgh
own
pgh
and
initiatives
is
an
initiative.
Excuse
me
to
renovate
vacant
homes
and
sell
them
to
residents
and
families
with
low
and
moderate
incomes
to
foster
home
ownership.
D
D
What
does
it
say,
five
million
into
another
pot
of
funding
to
actually
save
existing,
affordable
housing,
because
it
is
much
less
expensive
to
preserve
housing
than
it
is
to
build
new
housing.
We've
already
spoken
about
the
land
bank,
we've
spoken
about
the
money
that
we
want
to
set
aside
to
preserve
buildings.
Now
we're
going
to
put
money
into
a
program
to
help
people
renovate
those
buildings
and
turn
them
into
affordable
housing.
D
You
all
may
have
seen
when
we
launched
an
initiative
called
avenues
of
hope.
This
plan
dedicates
seven
million
dollars
to
rebuild
black
business
business
districts.
Excuse
me
across
our
city,
and
you
can
clearly
see
the
seven
for
yourself,
but
probably,
but
one
of
what
we
openly
acknowledge
for
some
time
is
that
we
have
to
create
and
help
build
more
wealth
within
our
af
american
community,
and
this
plan
begins
to
do
so.
D
Lastly,
we're
putting
2.5
million
into
one
pgh,
which
is
the
nonprofit
that
is
going
to
be
used
to
provide
the
2.5
million
and
guaranteed
basic
income
pilot
initiative
due
to
state
law.
The
city
is
limited
on
how
we're
able
to
provide
direct
payment
to
assist
people.
Therefore,
we
have
to
put
it
through
a
non-profit,
and
this
is
that
initiative.
A
Okay
and
with
that
said,
we're
going
to
go
on
to
our
registered
speakers
and
we
have
dr
rudia
first,
you
can
go
to
the
mic
there
if
people
come
or
do
you
want
to
bring
it
over
to
them,
if
you
could
bring
it
over
to
them,
that'd
be
better.
I
don't
want
them
to
have
to
stand
with
their
back
to
the.
D
A
E
Members
of
city
council,
I
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
regarding
the
use
of
american
rescue
plan
act
monies.
My
name
is
barbara
rudiak
and
I'm
the
president
of
the
southside
community
council.
As
you
are
no
doubt
aware,
the
southside
flats
neighborhood
is
undergoing
a
challenging
time
this
spring
summer,
as
the
city
opens
up
after
the
covet
closures
of
2020.
E
E
Patrons
of
the
bars
and
those
that
are
partying
in
the
streets
have
assaulted
and
or
robbed
others
on
the
street
they've
also
ventured
into
the
residential
areas
to
get
their
cars
and
engage
in
loud
conversation,
fist
fights,
some
of
which
have
ended
in
shootings
for
years.
There's
been
problems
with
east
carson
street
business
district.
When
the
south
side
local
development
company
dissolved,
it
stated
that
it
had
done
so
because
south
side
had
arrived.
E
Unfortunately,
the
community
businesses
and
residents
were
left
with
no
one
other
than
volunteer
organizations
to
tend
to
the
needs
of
the
community,
which
have
been
difficult
to
do
with
no
one
working
on
behalf
of
east
carson
street.
We
are
seeing
quite
a
few
massage
parlors
tattoo
shops,
vape
shops,
nightclubs
and
empty
storefronts.
E
Over
the
years,
the
southside
community
council
has
reached
out
to
foundations
and
others
for
funding
a
main
street
manager,
but
to
no
avail.
A
few
years
ago
we
worked
with
the
ura
in
bruce
kraus's
office
on
a
carson
street
study.
After
receiving
the
results
to
the
study,
we
were
unable
to
follow
through
with
the
next
steps,
because
there
was
no
one
leading
the
work
other
than
overworked
ura
staff
and
community
volunteers.
E
Currently,
we
as
a
council
have
applied
for
a
neighborhood
economic
development
grant
which
would
provide
us
with
fifty
thousand
dollars
each
year
for
four
years
for
a
total
of
two
hundred
thousand
to
support
a
main
street
manager.
Although
we
think
we've
stated
our
case
for
the
funds
very
well,
we're
aware
that
other
community
organizations
feel
as
deserving
of
this
one
grant.
If
we
are
fortunate
to
receive
it,
we
would
need
an
additional
two
hundred
thousand
in
order
to
find
a
qualified
person
to
fill
the
position.
E
This
funding
could
very
well
assist
us
with
our
these
carson
street
challenges
of
coupled
with
public
safety
plans.
Turning
back
to
the
current
east
carson
street
challenges,
it's
my
understanding
that
the
city
is
planning
to
use
some
funds
for
city
jobs
that
could
have
been
cut
if
federal
funding
was
not
received.
E
It's
our
hope
that
these
city
jobs
could
include
positions
that
focus
on
south
side
enforcement
of
occupancy
limits
and
bars
determining
if
bars
operating
windows
need
to
be
closed
because
of
loud
music
and
to
comply
with
noise,
ordinances
and
enforcement
officers
to
enforce
residential
permit
parking
in
the
residential
areas
of
the
south
side.
In
addition,
street
lighting
one
block
of
east
on
east
off
of
east
carson
street
needs
to
be
updated
to
improve
pedestrian
safety
and
decrease
the
potential
for
crime.
Thank
you.
A
F
F
Just
going
through
a
couple
here,
it
shows
like
1.7
million
for
phillips
wreck,
that
building
in
the
pool
is
literally
falling
apart.
So
I
mean
I
don't
if
you
guys
want
to
go
up
and
take
a
look
at
yourself,
but
that's
fine,
a
couple
other
things
on
here
when
it
says
going
to
hire
more
people.
I
worked
32
years
in
public
works
and
refused.
So
I
know
it's
like
a
life
hard
to
start
in
78.
I
burlap.
F
I
don't
know
if
you
guys
remember
that
with
the
sack-
and
I
see
these
rubbish
men
now
or
especially
working
a
buyer,
there's
two
guys
on
the
truck
they're
supposed
to
be
three
and
you
can't
get
people
to
go
home
rubbish
for
13
bucks
an
hour
to
start
out.
So
I
think
they've
been
screwed
for
many
years
in
their
contract
same
as
public
works,
but
anyhow
to
move
on
carrick
business
district
needs
redone.
I
know
you
want
to
do
other
districts.
We
have
probably
70
empty
storefronts
up.
F
I
have
to
have
a
condom,
but
we're
going
to
start
doing
that
too.
Brownsville
road
needs
to
be
redone
because
they've
done
every
other
road.
In
south
hills,
you
know
this
is
getting
down
to
car
street.
Again
they
did
was
up
for
brookline
boulevard,
they
did
broadway
and
brownsville
road
is
a
main
road.
It
goes
all
the
way
from
from
you
know,
starts
at
18th
street
all
the
way
to
verizon
pa,
but
we
want
it
done
from
the
border
of
mount
oliver
to
the
border
of
brentwood.
F
I
mean
the
road
needs
redone,
you
know
new
street
like
just
like
they
did
everywhere
else
new
sidewalks.
You
know
something
to
do
with
the
storefronts,
because
we're
just
esther's
candy's
closed
down.
Now
the
one
pizza
shop
I
go
out.
I
don't
think
it's
closed
because
it
is
or
what
but
they've
only
been
open
a
couple
years.
They're
gone,
I
mean
just
there's
so
many
empty
store
fronts.
It's
just
it's
horrible
and
I
mean
we're
trying
to
do
our
part.
I
mean
just
we're
volunteer,
I
mean
we
work.
F
We
try
to
bust
our
butt
a
couple
other
ones
here:
public
works
division.
I
don't
think
it's
even
started
yet
I've
written
down
a
way
before
I
understand
the
fourth
division.
I
worked
at
public
works
I've
driven
years
ago
when
they
run
out
of
salt
from
braddock
avenue,
251
to
salt
dome
and
if
you
ever
go
through
probably
never
go
through
the
tunnel
with
chains
on
it's
something
you
really
don't
want
to
hear,
but
to
build
that
division
with
no
dumb.
F
First
of
all
and
no
salt
dome
even
under
one
side
or
closer,
you
can
still
go
back
and
forth.
It's
just.
I
don't
know
what
I
mean
on
you
know.
Working
in
the
public
works
in
incomprehensible,
okay,
the
other
part
of
the
capital
we
want
to
tear
buildings
down.
I
thought
I
had
pictures
on
my
phone.
I
must
delete
them.
There
was
a
big
fire
in
a
big
apartment,
building
on
spencer
avenue
a
year
ago
over
a
year
ago,
and
we
had
so
it
was
up
or
it's
been
condemned.
F
F
There's
there's
one
narrative
that
might
not
be
torn
down
next
year
and
he's
torn
down
now
before
somebody
gets
hurt,
but
I
guess
it's
basically
it
and
I'm
pretty
much
out
of
time.
New
vehicles
and
public
works
would
really
help
too.
I
drove
it.
For
years
we
had
a
lot
of
broke
down
vehicles,
in
fact,
all
the
years
I
worked
there
2005's
first
year
to
go
out
to
big
new
international
dumps.
That's.
A
F
A
Where's
the
timer,
I
said,
I'm
giving
them
one
minute.
Thank
you
so
much.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Ikahana
hell,
makina.
G
G
G
Not
that
I
came
here
to
talk
about
bars.
But
it's
like
those
people
are
flooding
the
south
side,
because
there
aren't
many
establishments
for
our
people
to
go
to.
But
there
needs
to
be
an
action
plan
to
stop
the
bloodshed
in
the
inner
city.
Kovit
did
nothing
more
than
expose
the
already
growing
problem
in
the
city.
G
A
Thank
you
for
coming
down.
Thank
you
so
much
and
I'm
going
to
mention
that
we're
also
joined
by
school
board,
member
veronica
edwards
ap
ella
did
I
say
that
correct.
If
I
didn't
please
correct
me,
please
correct
me:
when
you
come
to
the
mic.
I
apologize.
A
H
My
title
was
pronounced:
apoyala
ahuba.
I
am
the
oracle
of
the
iroquois
confederacy
of
aboriginal
people.
Most
of
my
focus
is
in
education.
I
teach
engineering
electrical
fiber
optic,
audio
engineering
and
I
like
to
say
that
within
two
blocks
of
my
home,
there's
20
abandoned
homes,
walk
two
blocks.
This
way
two,
you
know
just
a
two
block
square
and
I
remember
growing
up.
We
had
traits
and
there's
a
lot
of
skilled
people
in
our
communities
that
could
teach
traits.
You
don't
need
a
school
per
se.
H
You
need
people
who
are
qualified
and
people
who
have
skills,
and
I
think
we
need
to
address
some
of
these
people
who
have
skills
that
can
teach
by
empowering
them
and
giving
them
the
resources
to
be
able
to
go
in
the
neighborhoods.
They
live
in.
Look
at
the
empty
houses
that
are
there
and
begin
to
rethink
what
these
neighborhoods
could
look
like
begin
to
rethink
the
streets
that
the
children
have
to
walk
up
and
down.
You
have
weeds
growing
up
through
the
sidewalk.
You
have
weeds
growing
up
through
the
basements
of
buildings.
H
They
don't
see
any
hope,
and
if
we're
all
adults-
and
this
is
the
this-
is
the
imagery
we're
showing
our
children
there's
a
problem,
because
we
are
later
going
to
take
those
same
children
and
lock
them
up
for
bad
behavior
or
not
having
viable
places
to
spend
their
time
or
skills
or
whatever
have
you.
So
we
can
nip
all
of
that
in
the
bud
by
rethinking
just
what
this
land
was
supposed
to
be
about.
H
H
They
don't
have
skills
and
they
can't
go
on
to
stand
on
their
own
two
feet.
What
are
they
going
to
do
to
survive
so
the
funds
that
are
available?
We
need
to
start
targeting
people
in
our
neighborhoods
who
have
skills
who
could
take
some
of
this
funding
and
revitalize
the
neighborhoods
the
streets.
I
don't
have
to
wait
for
the
city
to
come
and
pave
my
street
the
equipment's
available.
We
have
skills,
we
know
how
to
do
it.
We
have
people
who
know
how
to
pour
concrete.
H
I
I
I
Can
you
give
me
an
answer
because
it
doesn't
look
like
there's
too
many
people
here,
and
this
doesn't
look
like
a
community
to
me.
It
looks
like
a
group,
a
group
of
a
few
people
remember.
I
said
this
to
you:
y'all
spun
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
for
agency
to
consult.
If
this
plan
would
work
or
not,
have
you
spun
anything
close
to
that
amount?
Advertising
these
community
meetings
you're
the
only
one
who
even
retweets
the
announcements
of
these
community
meetings?
No
one
else
does
what's
going
on
with
that.
I
I
I
I'm
calming
down
you
keep
telling
me
no!
No,
when
you
trying
to
interrupt
me,
but
ain't
gonna
be
no
interruptions
when
it
comes
to
335
million
dollars,
I'm
gonna
speak
and
I'm
gonna
speak
loud
and
you're.
Gonna
hear
me
clear,
because
this
is
what
happens
when
y'all
get
together
and
your
special
partnerships,
like
you,
said,
ricky
burgess.
This
is
what
happens.
This
is
the
outcome.
People
are
outraged.
I
Listen
tell
them
units.
My
name
is
william
park,
I'm
running
for
mirror
I'm
on
the
ballot.
Let
them
put
their
hands
on
me
and
put
it
on
the
news:
go
ahead,
cause
I'm
the
one
who
was
down
here
speaking
up
for
my
community,
all
right.
Okay,
so
I
want
everybody
at
home
to
pay
attention
to
what's
going
on.
These
people
are
not
being
inclusive
with
the
money
and
we
need
to
make
sure
that
these
community
meetings
are
advertise
properly.
They
need
to
invest
in
them
and
we
need
the
equity
layout
behind
this
funding.
I
J
K
K
K
Mr
burgess,
I
know
that
you
receive
5.5
million
dollars
to
bring
street
activists
to
stop
crime
for
social
workers
to
come
out
outside
of
the
pittsburgh
police
training
budget
that
was
in
november.
We
see
this
massive
rash
of
violence
happening
right
now
across
our
city
and
specifically
here
on
the
south
side,
it
is
dangerous.
K
We
need
to
enact
our
law
enforcement
officers.
We
are
the
most
highly
trained
officers
in
this
country.
We
are
empathetic,
we
are
professional,
I'm
saying
we
like
I'm
still
there.
They
are
professional
and
empathetic
and
professional
at
the
highest
level.
You
need
to
utilize
those
police
officers.
Rerouting
traffic,
as
we
saw,
does
not
work.
K
Deep
policing
does
not
work.
We
are
in
a
tragic
situation
across
our
city.
Right
now
we
are
losing
police
officers
at
a
rate
that
has
never
happened
before
we
are
now
losing
more
police
officers
to
resignation
than
we
are
to
retirement
and
those
are
first-year
officers.
We
do
not
know
how
much
it
costs,
because
nobody
will
give
us
the
number
what
it
is
to
train
an
officer
and
they
are
going
out
to
different
areas.
K
Our
pension
fund
is
in
trouble
because
it
is
not
safe
downtown.
We
do
not
have
an
answer
for
the
lack
of
parking
parking
is
going
to
the
park.
Tax
parking
tax
is
what
funds
our
pension
on
the
municipal
officer
and
firefighter,
and
that's
going
to
implode.
There
is
no
answer
there.
They
are
not
able
to
tell
me
how
that
is
going
to
be
fixed.
So
if
we
can
address
those,
I
would
appreciate
it.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
A
L
Hi,
my
name
is
jose
gonzalez
and
I'm
a
graduate
student
in
social
work,
I'm
getting
my
msw
and
I
would
just
like
to
say
that
the
economic
theory
behind
the
idea
of
not
making
direct
payments
is
fundamentally
flawed.
It's
been
said
that
that
money
wouldn't
go
into
our
economy,
but
it's
been
shown
over
and
over
again
that
when
you
give
people
who
do
not
have
money
funds,
they
spend
it
almost
immediately,
and
so
it
gets
reinvested
almost
immediately.
L
The
economic
impact
shows
that
for
every
dollar
that
you
spend
for
a
person
in
poverty,
you
get
about
five
back
into
the
community.
It
doesn't
make
sense.
I
mean
we
have
seen
over
and
over
and
over
again
that
austerity
politics
on
a
federal
level
have
been
dismissed
out
of
hands.
They've
just
been
shown
to
not
work,
but
on
a
city
level
we're
still
sort
of
reproducing
that
ideology.
L
One
that's
been
discredited
since
the
80s
respectfully,
I'm
gonna
have
to
disagree
with
mr
morano.
I
I
don't
think
what
our
community
needs
are
more
police,
but
I'm
also
gonna
have
to
disagree
with
you
guys.
If
you
want
to
see
an
improvement
in
the
quality
of
life
with
people
in
pittsburgh,
we
need
direct
economic
stimulus
and
not
through
the
construction
of
like
luxury
condos.
L
I
see
that
that
says
it's
being
broadcast
as
development,
but
development
for
who
it's
not
eliminating
poverty,
to
push
poor
people
out
of
the
city,
and
so
I
just
have
to
say
that
we
are
not
taking
care
of
the
most
vulnerable
people
in
our
community.
We
can
talk
about
these
programs,
but
the
thing
that's
going
to
have
the
most
dramatic
and
direct
impact
is
direct
transfer
of
funds
to
poor
people
and
yeah.
That's
all
I
had
to
say.
A
E
M
Good
to
be
in
front
of
city
council,
when
you
all
said
you
were
going
to
host
these
meetings,
I
decided
to
get
out
here
and
make
sure
all
around
the
city
that
the
school
district
recognizes
that
you
do
want
to
be
partners.
I
want
to
be
partners,
and
I
want
it
all
to
benefit
the
citizens
of
the
school
district
and
the
city.
That's
what
we're
here
for
that's!
Why
I'm
here?
That's
why
you
are
here,
so
I
just
wrote
a
couple
of
notes.
First,
I
thank
you
for
holding
these
sessions
so
that
people
can
come.
M
We
do
have
to
advertise
a
little
better
everybody
so
that
they
get
out
into
their
communities
and
have
an
opportunity
to
talk
in
front
of
you.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
the
funds
to
the
pwsa
they've
been
working
in
my
community
they're,
doing
good
work
and
we're
seeing
the
work
they're
doing,
and
I
know
the
neighbors
appreciated
teresa.
Thank
you
and
the
equity
plan
for
the
first
spending
bringing
back
safe
places
and
spaces
for
our
children
is
number
one
they
have
to
have
something
to
do.
M
M
Drugs
aren't
manufactured
in
the
black
community,
but
they
are
being
brought
in,
so
we
need
to
get
the
people
who
are
bringing
them
in
or
giving
them
to
somebody
to
bring
in
and
for
the
10
million
to
the
office
of
community
services.
I
agree
with
that
also
and
I'm
willing
to
work
with
you
in
any
way
possible.
I
can
thank
you,
president.
A
So
with
that
said,
I'm
just
going
to
let
members
say
a
few
words
first,
but
I
do
want
to
say
that
director
edwards
you're
not
wrong,
and
neither
was
mr
parker
about
the
comment
about
enough
notice
for
the
meetings
that
I
th.
That
is
my
responsibility,
and
I
apologize
for
that.
A
But
we
did
do
a
news
con,
a
news
release
for
it
from
the
clerk's
office
saying
that
we
would
have
these
meetings,
but
I
did
it
because
I
wanted
to
make
sure
that
people
knew
that
we
I
had
promised
a
group
of
people
that
we
would
have
them
meetings
and
I
don't
want
to
not
go
back.
I
didn't
want
to
go
back
on
that.
I
promised
I
would
have
them,
but
this
is
just
the
beginning
of
the
conversation.
A
There's
other
meetings,
there'll
be
additional
times
and
opportunities
to
talk
to
council
as
reverend
burgess
and
councilman
lavelle
pointed
out
we'll
also
be
working
on
the
22
budget.
So
I
think
that
there's
a
lot
opportunity
for
for
additional
dialogue.
This
is
just
the
beginning
and
I
hope
people
think
of
it.
That
way-
and
I
do
apologize
for
not
giving
even
additional
notice,
but
we
did
the
best
we
can
with
the
time
frame
we
had.
Thank
you.
A
A
As
like
a
public
comment
time,
I
wanted
to
be
able
to
go
back
and
forth
and
have
a
dialogue,
but
I
want
you
know
that
we
did
hear
some
of
your
comments
and
and
some
of
your
concerns,
I
hear
your
concerns
about
carrick
and
I
hear
the
same
concerns
about
areas
of
my
district
as
well
and
as
you
mentioned,
there
are
several
places
in
your
district
four
that
did
get
some
funding
and
to
get
some
some
help.
H
C
Yeah,
you
can
help
me
with
this.
My
understanding
of
the
way
you
talked
about
the
the
parking
tax
diversion
into
the
pension.
My
understanding
is
and
I'll.
Let
you
sort
of
explain
how
we'll
continue
to
do
that.
B
Yeah
you're
correct:
we
did
the
parking
thing,
so
we
raised
parking
rates
meters,
so
additional
parking
money
and
the
same
amount
that
we
raised
we
put
in
as
additional
money
into
the
pension
fund,
but
there
was
a
slight
break,
so
it's
not
directly
from
the
parking
garages
into
the
pension
fund.
When
we
did
that
machination
the
state
made
us
separate
it,
and
also
it
was
a
good
idea
as
to
you
know
today
we
what
happens
if
no
one
parks,
what
happens
if
there's
flying
jets
and
cars
and
we
don't
have
parking
revenue.
B
K
K
C
Each
other
there's
two
different
things
that
when
we
did
the
pension
save
the
city
around
2017
2027
starts
to
hit
a
debt
cliff.
That
is,
we
will
have
more
money
to
be
able
to
dedicate
ourselves
to
the
pension.
C
So
the
reason
that
the
parking
tax
was
used
was
in
actuality
to
be
a
temporal
amount
over
a
period
of
years
until
we
hit
the
death
cliff
debt,
cliff
of
where
our
loans
and
the
bonds
we
take
out
are
fully
repaid,
and
then
the
city
will
have
be
liquid
enough
to
increase
significantly
its
own
bond,
its
own
payment
to
the
pensions.
So
that's
why
the
pensions
are
not
really
in
danger,
because
now
there's
another
you
know
pandemic
or
something,
certainly
that
takes
care
that
that
hurts
our
bottom
line
and
our
savings.
C
But
up
until
this
year
the
con-
the
city
council
and
the
mayor
has
been
very
conservative.
We've
built
up
the
fund
balance
for
that
very
reason,
so
that
we'll
have
money,
ongoingly,
the
pension
and
the
obligation
to
those
who
retire
from
our
city,
that
police
fire
ems,
even
the
city
workers,
making
sure
that
their
those
obligations
to
those
workers
is
one
of
the
highest
priority
of
our
city,
and
so
we
have.
We
have
worked
in
many
ways
to
make
sure
that
that
pension
is
stronger.
C
It's
stronger
now
than
it's
ever
been
in
the
last.
What
probably
1905.
yeah
this
has
ever
been
and
the
plan
will
be
even
if
the
city
recovers
from
act
47,
we
will
have
more
money
to
put
into
the
pensions,
so
that
just
that's
just
to
answer
your
question.
The
the
the
lack
of
parking
does
not
endanger
at
this
moment
our
ability
to
take
care
of
the
pension.
K
Do
you
realize
that
the
city
has
cut
off
pension?
I'm
sorry,
medical
benefits
for
police
widows
and
they've
made
us
go
into
the
step
one
process
and
offered
us
six
months.
Encoded
payments
to
our
police,
widows,
they've
dropped
them
and
we
go
back
as
far
as
2005,
and
there
is
no
money
in
this
plan
to
take
care
of
our
police
widows.
A
Our
beliefs,
so
I
just
want
to
say
I
I
understand
that
there's
still
things
that
we
might
need
to
address
and
concerns
that
we
have,
but
I
want
to
give
everybody
an
opportunity
to
now.
I
appreciate
everyone
coming.
I
just
want
to
give
everybody
an
opportunity
to
talk
and
make
sure
everybody
heard
one
another,
and
I
want
to
make
sure
you
ekana
ike,
hana
and
veronica
edwards.
A
F
F
A
J
J
A
I
think
that
we'll
continue
to
have
these
meetings,
but
I
think
the
next
meetings
will
have
time
a
timer,
even
though
that's
not
what
I
want.
I
was
hoping
we
could
sit
down
like.
We
are
now
and
have
this
conversation,
but
obviously
it
didn't
go
exactly
the
way
I
planned,
but
but
at
least
we're
having
a
little
bit
of
a
conversation
now,
but
I'd
rather
have
more
of
one
with
that
said.
Is
there
anything
else
from
anyone
here?