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From YouTube: Pittsburgh City Council Public Hearing - 12/4/21
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A
A
A
Listen
yes,
we
mentioned
you
thank
you
councilman
and
if
new
members
or
other
members
join
in
we'll
announce
them
as
they
as
they
enter,
we
will
now
move
on
to
testimony
from
registered
speakers
once
your
name
is
called.
Please
state,
your
full
name
and
address
for
the
public
record.
Each
speaker
will
have
five
minutes
to
address
counsel
three
minutes.
I
apologize
three
minutes
to
address
counsel.
If
you
did
not
register
in
advance,
we
will
open
up
testimony
after
we
have
exhausted
the
list
of
registered
speakers.
Non-Registered
speakers
will
receive
one
minute
to
testify.
A
A
C
C
My
name,
as
I
said,
is
tracy
evans.
I've
lived
in
wilkinsburg
since
1987.
I've
been
on
many
boards
and
commissions
been
actively
involved
in
the
community.
I
was
an
elected
council
member
between
2006
and
2012,
and
I've
been
the
executive
director
of
the
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation.
Since
2010.
C
wilkinsburg
has
made
progress
in
many
areas.
There
has
been
investment
throughout
the
borough,
nearly
100
million
dollars
in
funding
for
support
for
affordable
housing
parks
and
infrastructure,
school
buildings
and
educational
improvements
and
business
district
development.
The
median
home
price
has
increased
over
the
past
10
years.
New
businesses
have
located
in
wilkinsburg,
vacant
properties
are
being
restored.
C
C
Wilkinsburg's
population
was
15
hundred
and
twenty
ten
today
it
has
decreased
to
fourteen
thousand
three
hundred.
That's
a
ten
percent
decrease
in
ten
years,
far
greater
than
was
anticipated
and
very
different
from
what
our
neighboring
communities
have
experienced.
During
the
same
time,
wilkinsburg's
black
population
decreased
by
nearly
2
200
residents
over
20
percent.
C
C
There
you
go
wilkinsburg
pittsburgh
and
our
school
districts
have
successfully
combined
several
functions
over
the
past
15
years
we
have
contracted,
wilkinsburg
has
contracted
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh
sanitation
department.
Since
2006.
C
we
have
full
integration
of
wilkinsburg's
fire
department
into
pittsburgh's
department,
since
2011
and
the
public
schools
have
consolidated
their
middle
in
high
school
into
the
pittsburgh
public
school
since
2015.,
consolidating
wilkinsburg
and
pittsburgh
through
annexation
would
generate
benefits
for
residents
of
both
jurisdictions,
cost
efficiencies
and
rebalancing
revenue.
Rebalancing
I'm
done.
Okay,
thank.
A
D
D
Since
I
moved
here
in
2018,
I
have
personally
and
also
witnessed
a
lot
of
other
neighbors
and
community
members
completely
devastated
and
often
times
pushed
out
by
the
burdensome
property
taxes
and
also
many
of
the
barriers
that
come
to
enabling
full
growth
within
our
borough.
Sometimes
these
are
just
the
literal
barriers
like
like
the
taxes
for,
for
example,
sometimes
it's
that
we
have
short
staffing
in
our
borough's
essential
functions.
D
For
example,
this
summer
the
code
enforcement
department
was
was
not
stopped
or
was
not
answering
phone
calls
or
responding
for
at
least
a
month,
which
was
holding
up
house
sales
and
also
is
a
danger
to
rentals
to
get
occupancy
permits
and
people
safe
and
livable
housing.
D
Over
time,
we
felt
that
many
of
these
concerns
were
falling
on
deaf
ears,
and
last
summer
we
started
a
citizen-led
merger
analysis
committee.
I
was
the
co-chair
along
with
derek
tillman,
who
is
a
property
developer
more
broadly
in
the
region
and
is
another
wilkinsburg
resident.
D
Both
of
us
were
principally
concerned
actually
with
equity
issues,
because
the
current
property
tax
equation,
the
current
housing
stock.
The
fact
that
our
rents
are
actually
similar
to
those
of
pittsburgh
but
to
to
lower
effect
and
the
quality
of
housing
and
services
has
led
to,
as
tracy
evans,
pointed
out,
a
huge
exodus
of
low-income
and
particularly
low-income
people
of
color
from
the
wilkinsburg
area,
and
that
has
included
so
many
of
our
neighbors.
E
Hello,
everyone.
Thank
you.
For
this
time
my
name
is
bernie
wetzel.
I
live
at
424,
whitney
avenue
in
wilkinsburg
my
family
moved
into
wilkinsburg
in
1937.
I
graduated
from
wilkinsburg
high
school.
I
know
wilkinsburg
more
relevant
to
today
in
the
seven
years
leading
up
to
this
past
june.
I
was
board
president
of
the
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation.
E
We
did
a
lot
of
very
good
things
during
that
period,
but
when
the
conversation
turned
to
the
possibility
of
annexation
or
merger,
it
was
unanimous
on
our
board
and
staff
that
we
needed
to
go
to
work.
Roll
up.
Our
sleeves
gather,
the
information
assemble
the
facts,
get
the
data
together
to
determine
whether
we
would
advocate
for
that.
We
did
it.
E
E
So
what
we're
asking
of
city
council
is
to
let
democracy
work,
let
the
voters
in
wilkinsburg
determine
their
future.
Let
us
vote
on
whether
it
makes
sense
to
become
a
part
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
Now
there
are
those
in
wilkinsburg
who
are
opposed
to
this,
so
be
it,
but
let
them
make
their
case
to
the
voters.
E
Let's
roll
up
our
sleeves
talk
to
our
constituents
and
by
the
way,
putting
myself
in
your
shoes.
All
of
that
shouldn't
be
of
great
concern.
Your
constituents
want
to
know.
Is
this
going
to
be
a
burden
on
the
voters
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
we
hired
two
firms,
hrna
out
of
new
york
and
pfm
out
of
philadelphia.
E
F
Hello
hi,
my
name
is
madeline.
Can
you
hear
me?
Yes,
please
continue.
Okay,
my
name
is
madeline
joffrey.
I
go
by
maddie,
I'm
a
resident
of
wilkinsburg
513
people's
street.
My
husband
and
I
moved
into
the
area
in
january
of
2020..
I'm
from
pittsburgh.
Originally
he's
not,
but
we
both
went
to
cmu
very
familiar
with
the
area
and
we
absolutely
love
our
neighborhood.
We
love
the
neighbors.
We
love
the
area.
F
We
really
want
to
stay,
but
our
our
property
was
recently
reassessed
and
our
taxes
are
going
to
more
than
double
and
we're
a
one-income
household
and
it's
just
not
probably
not
going
to
work
out
and
I'm
honestly
nervous
about
selling
my
house
because
a
house
two
doors
down-
that's
exactly
like
mine,
couldn't
sell
because
of
the
high
taxes.
So
I
I
just
feel
like
we're
perpetuating
this
vacant
housing
problem
and
I'm
hoping
that
you
know
merging
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
reducing
the
tax
burden
will
really
really
help
that
issue.
A
I
don't
wanna
say
in
case
I
must
pronounce
them
ian
is
not
on
we'll
go
to
our
next
speaker,
we'll
try
to
come
back
to
ian
ed,
donovan,
d-o-n-o-v-a-n,
ed
donovan,.
G
G
I
suppose
in
terms
of
being
a
property
owner,
I
would
benefit
from
that
in
terms
of
income
tax.
I
would
not
benefit
from
that,
but
I
think
for
the
community.
I'm
not
really
sure
what
the
answer
is,
but
it
sounds
like
a
good
idea
to
at
least
give
the
residents
of
wilkinsburg
the
opportunity
to
vote
and
let
everybody
in
the
community
decide
not
the
bcdc,
not
the
council,
but
everybody
in
the
community
as
long
as,
obviously
it's
going
to
benefit
the
city
of
pittsburgh
as
well.
That's
all
thank
you.
H
Hi,
my
name
is
ashley
diehl.
I
live
at
805,
rebecca
avenue
in
wilkinsburg
and
I'm
a
20-year
resident
and
10-year
small
business
owner
in
wilkinsburg.
I
love
the
wilkinsburg
community.
I
love
my
neighborhood
and
I'm
hopeful
for
our
future.
In
the
20
years,
I've
lived
here.
I've
seen
multiple
waves
of
new
leadership
come
through
with
lots
of
motivation,
energy
and
dedication
to
helping
stabilize
this
community.
I've
seen
a
lot
of
good
people
bringing
their
best
ideas
and
making
their
best
effort
to
make
a
difference.
Here.
I
H
Care
to
working
on
the
issues
we
face
as
a
community.
However,
in
spite
of
decades
of
sincere
dedication
and
earnest
effort,
our
community
has
continued
to
struggle
as
tracy
evans
outlined.
You
know,
we've
continued
to
lose
properties
to
dilapidation
and
abandonment,
we're
losing
population
at
a
rate
much
faster
than
our
surrounding
communities.
H
H
More
resources
and
greater
efficiencies
across
the
board.
I
truly
believe
that
we
can
be
stronger
together.
So
I
think,
as
others
have
said,
if
you
consider
whether
to
vote
in
favor
of
the
proposed
annexation,
I'd
ask
you
to
consider
what
a
merger
would
mean
from
the
standpoint
of
what
might
be
useful
and
beneficial
to
the
city.
A
large
group
of
thoughtful
concerned
residents
in
wilkinsburg
have
organized
to
get
a
referendum
on
the
ballot
so
that
the
people
of
wilkinsburg
can
weigh
in
and
make
their
voice
heard
on
this
issue
directly.
H
K
L
Thank
you
very
much
for
allowing
us
to
speak
on
this
very
important
topic.
My
name
is
richard
wertheimer
and
I'm
speaking
to
you
today
from
a
very
unique
perspective,
my
wife
and
I
lived
in
wilkinsburg
from
1980
to
2019
39
years.
We
raised
our
daughters
in
wilkinsburg.
We
made
friends
in
wilkinsburg
and
we
continue
to
volunteer
in
the
borough
at
the
wilkinsburg
free
store
and
the
community
food
distribution.
L
We
have
a
deep
desire
to
see
will
wilkinsburg
rebound
as
a
community
in
2019,
my
wife
and
I
retired
became
empty
nesters.
We
decided
to
move
from
our
home
in
in
wilkinsburg
and
moved
to
an
apartment
in
pittsburgh.
We
live
in
oakland
for
over
40
years,
my
wife
and
I
have
spent
our
educational
and
professional
lives
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
We
attended
both
carnegie
mellon
and
the
university
of
pittsburgh.
L
My
wife
worked
downtown
for
a
consulting
firm
and
I've
worked
as
an
educator
for
the
pittsburgh
public
schools
and
as
the
co-founder
and
ceo
of
city
charter
high
school
in
downtown
pittsburgh,
we've
spent
our
entire
professional
lives
working
in
pittsburgh.
Having
lived
and
worked
in
both
wilkinsburg
and
pittsburgh.
I'm
here
to
state
unequivocal
unequivocally
that
it
is
time
for
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
and
the
borough
of
wilkinsburg
to
merge
to
become
one.
In
fact,
this
has
been
the
case
for
the
last
40
years.
From
a
wilkinsburg
perspective,
the
need
for
the
merger
is
obvious.
L
Also,
the
piston
public
school
providing
educational
services
for
7th
through
12th
grade
students
in
both
westinghouse
high
school
and
in
terms
of
the
magnets,
has
been
a
success
as
well.
L
It
certainly
is
apparent
that
wilkinsburg
has
shrunk
from
its
heyday
and
does
not
have
the
resources
to
recover
from
the
loss
of
the
steel
and
manufacturing
industries.
As
pittsburgh
has
done,
wilkinsburg's
property
tax
rate
has
risen
to
compensate
for
the
loss
of
its
tax
base,
and
it
has
reached
such
a
a
high
level
that,
ultimately,
it
is
timing,
any
investment
in
the
borough
and
has
kept
it
from
moving
forward.
A
merger
with
pittsburgh
would
resolve
this
issue
from
a
pittsburgh
perspective.
This
is
a
win-win
proposition.
L
The
borough's
location,
its
housing
stock,
its
population
proximity
to
transportation,
can
only
be
an
asset
for
the
city,
the
opportunity
to
expand
the
city
further
east
into
the
region,
square
area,
the
blackridge
development,
the
beacon
hill
development,
the
laketon
area
to
homewood
south
and
to
east
hills
as
a
natural
fit
for
our
city.
A
merger
would
add
a
diverse
population
with
respect
to
age,
race,
gender
and
economic
status.
It
would
add,
14
to
15
000
people
to
the
city's
population,
two
square
miles
to
its
land,
mass
and
millions
of
dollars
to
its
tax
revenues,
naysayers.
M
M
Oh,
can
you
hear
me?
Okay,
hi,
my
name
is
marina
balco.
I
live
at
5448
bartlett
street,
so
I'm
a
pittsburgh
resident.
M
My
mother
grew
up
in
edgewood
right
across
the
border
from
wilkinsburg,
so
I'm
you
know
that
it
has
a
very
special
place
in
my
heart,
but
I
wanted
to
take
a
second
just
now
to
sort
of
go
back
in
history
for
a
moment,
because
wilkinsburg
was
a
part
of
pittsburgh
at
one
point
in
its
history,
or
at
least
most
of
it,
so
in
1873
wilkinsburg
was
annexed
into
the
city,
but
two
years
later,
that
action
was
reversed
by
a
landowner
and
developer
named
james
kelly,
and
the
reason
why
that
action
was
reversed
is
because
he
fought
it
to
regain
control
over
his
land
and
control
over
the
the
local
government,
and
he
got
it
reversed
by
striking
the
names
of
all
the
women
who
had
signed
the
petition-
and
I
don't
think
many
people
have
really
taken
the
time
to
sit
on
that
injustice.
M
So
you
know
we
can
never
fully
undo
what
happened
and
the
years
of
history
since
then,
but
I
just
want
to
you
know,
say
that
I
think
it
would
be
incredibly
inequitable
to
not
let
wilkinsburg
residents
have
a
voice
now
as
to
whether
or
not
they
want
to
become
a
part
of
the
city.
So
thank
you
for
your
time.
A
A
A
A
We're
gonna
go
on
to
our
next
speaker
and
we'll
try
to
figure
out
what
the
technical
difficulty
may
be
there
and
our
next
speaker,
I'm
going
to
spell
the
last
name
in
and
say
it.
It's
a
ram.
A
Ram
kumar
the
triogen
I'm
to
spell
that
n-a-t-a-r-a-j-a-n.
N
Welcome
hi,
my
name
is
monica
garcia
and
I
am.
I
serve
the
wilkinsburg
community
as
the
vice
president
of
the
wilkinsburg
school
board.
I
also
volunteer
at
the
fresh
food
market
in
the
free
store.
I
am
a
homeowner
in
wilkinsburg.
I
live
at
1612
grand
boulevard
and
I've
lived
here
since
2013.,
I'm
a
single
mother
of
children
that
live
in
the
district.
One
of
my
my
youngest
attends
kelly
elementary,
and
I
would
say
that
years
when
I
first
moved
into
the
house,
there
was
a
beautiful
home
next
to
mine.
N
That
was
one
thing
that
you
know
really
motivated
me
to
want
to
get
involved
as
an
educator
in
the
local
schools,
and
so
I
I
never
honestly
at
that
point
in
time.
I
did
not
think
I
would
send
my
kids
to
wilkinsburg
schools.
N
However,
my
son
is
now
in
kindergarten
at
kelly,
so
I
feel,
like
our
schools
have
really
come
a
long
way
and
they're
doing
good
things.
There's
been
lots
of
progress
made
and
I
feel,
like
my
son,
is
in
good
hands.
I
feel
like
our
school
district
is
an
asset
or
would
be
an
asset
to
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
and
I
also
feel
like
so.
I
would
like
to
see
the
two
school
boards
come
together
and
discuss.
You
know
if
there
is
this
merger.
N
N
So
that
is
one
I
think
one
benefit.
We
have
been
able
to
decrease
the
property
taxes
you
know
and
which
isn't,
I
think,
a
great
thing
that
we've
been
able
to
do
that
again.
So
it's
been
twice
in
the
last
to
five
years.
However,
in
order
to
maintain
that
decrease
in
property
taxes,
we
need
to
have
a
return
of
our
of
many
of
our
charter
school
students,
and
so
so,
or
else
we
would
have
to
raise
taxes
again.
N
I
think
sometimes
people
don't
understand
that
we
don't
want,
of
course,
have
to
raise
taxes
again,
because
the
tax
burden,
as
we
know,
is
already
great.
In
fact,
I
pay
more
in
property
taxes
than
I
do.
My
monthly
property
tax
bill
is
higher
than
my
mortgage
principal
and
interest
and
as
a
single
mother,
that's
just
just
that's
just
this
there's
so
much
more.
I
could
be
doing
if
my
property
taxes
were
decreased,
and
so
I
would
like
to
see
that.
N
But,
of
course
you
know
again
as
a
school
board
member
and
a
mother
of
a
child,
that's
in
the
school
district.
I
really
want
to
make
sure
that
our
kids
will
be
set
up
for
success,
that
this
would
be
a
benefit
for
those
students
in
our
district,
as
well
as
the
families
and
property
owners
and
residents
in
general.
N
O
Yes,
hi,
my
name
is
tony
cornelli
and
I'm
a
resident
of
wilkinsburg.
My
address
is
601
hay
street
and
I'll
support
the
annexation
of
wilkinsburg
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
I
first
moved
to
wilkinsburg
from
brooklyn
new
york
over
30
years
ago,
and
I
was
immediately
drawn
to
wilkinsburg.
Throughout
my
years
in
pennsylvania,
I've
lived
in
wilkinsburg
pittsburgh
and
penn
hills
with
wilkinsburg,
now
being
my
final
destination,
with
the
due
to
the
sudden
loss
of
my
fiance
back
in
2018..
O
Over
my
30
years,
I've
seen
a
steady
increase
in
blight
property
and
the
decrease
in
population,
and
I
believe
that
wilkins
market
is
a
hidden
gem
and
if
an
annexation
became
possible,
more
opportunities
would
be
become
available
to
reduce
the
number
of
blight
properties
that
our
children
and
families
are
currently
being
exposed
to
on
a
daily
basis,
like
properties
create
unsafe
neighborhoods,
and
it's
not
good
for
one's
mental
health.
Just
to
name
a
few.
I
truly
want
better
for
the
community
I
live
in.
O
I
decided
to
join
the
merger
committee
last
year
so
that
I
could
have
a
voice
for
myself
and
others.
Like
me,
I
also
want
to
work
with
others
to
explore
ways
to
protect
renters
such
as
myself
and
those
on
fixed
incomes
from
being
displaced
due
to
investors,
purchasing
properties
and
charge
and
rents
therefore
exceed
the
average
volcan's
rent
affordability,
ultimately
pushing
them
out
of
the
place
that
they
once
called
home.
I
definitely
don't
want
to
experience
another
east
libya
fact
to
sum
it
all
up
in
the
three
minutes.
O
I
simply
I'm
simply
an
average
person
who
wants
better
for
myself,
my
family
and
my
community,
who
doesn't
want
better
when
there's
a
chance
for
betterment,
better
equates
to
growth,
and
that's
what
I
want
and
I
believe
in
annexation
with
the
wilkinsburg
and
the
city
of
pittsburgh
is
a
step
in
that
direction,
which
is
long
overdue.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
A
You
only
have
three
minutes
to
make
your
comments,
so
please
be
ready
and
and
continue
you're
muted
again.
A
A
And
you
can
make
sure
all
members
get
your
comments.
Kate,
luxembourg,
kate,
luxembourg,.
Q
Thank
you.
First
of
all,
first
of
all,
I
want
to
say
that
it
was
announced
several
times
that
the
deadline
for
submitting
petition
signatures
for
this
merger
question
was
december
1st.
I
have
kept
looking
at
department
of
court
records
and
they
know
nothing
of
the
submission
of
these
petitions
with
signatures,
so
that
is
a
problem
not
as
advertised.
Q
The
second
point
I
want
to
make
is
that
for
pittsburgh,
a
concern
for
pittsburgh.
If
pittsburgh
were
to
annex
wilkinsburg
is,
I
believe
that
pittsburgh
would
have
to
pay
off
the
bond
debt
that
wilkinsburg
has
and
refinance
it.
Wilkinsburg's
credit
rating
is
a
plus
recently
raised
from
a,
and
I
believe
that,
if
pittsburgh
had
to
refinance
the
bond,
it
would
be
at
a
higher
rate
of
interest
than
we
in
wilkinsburg
now
pay.
So
city
of
pittsburgh.
Council
members,
I
believe,
that's
a
concern
for
you.
Q
Q
I
live
toward
the
center
of
wilkinsburg,
I
forgot
to
say
my
address
avenue.
My
property
is
not
over
assessed.
I
do
not
consider
my
property
taxes
to
be
burdensome,
because
I
believe
that
my
property
assessment
benefits
from
the
fact
that
I'm
closer
to
the
center
of
wilkinsburg
when
there
was
the
countywide
assessment
in
2013.
Q
I
believe
I
saw
a
difference
in
assessments,
the
edges
of
wilkinsburg
near
edgewood
versus
the
center
of
wilkinsburg,
so
I
do
not
consider
my
property
tax
to
be
burdensome
because
my
assessment
is
moderate
and
I
know
many
other
people
who
say
the
same
thing,
I'm
doing.
Okay,
about
loss
of
black
population.
Q
Q
Yes,
that's
an
issue
about
investment,
but
there
is
no
mass
exodus
of
black
people
from
wilkinsburg,
with
the
implication
that
black
people
are
choosing
not
to
live
here
anymore.
That
is
just.
R
Hi
hi
hi,
my
name
is
rene
dalney
and
I
live
at
2315
orlando
place.
I
am
a
20-year
plus
resident
of
wilkinsburg.
I
want
to
testify
today
not
just
to
voice
my
opposition
to
any
proposed
annexation,
but
to
clear
up
a
misconception
that
pittsburgh
council
members
may
have
about
the
situation
on
the
ground
here
in
wilkinsburg.
R
We
know
that
the
annexation
push
is
not
being
driven
by
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
We
know
that
the
only
driving
force
for
this
is
the
wcdc
and
whatever
interest
it
is
that
they
represent.
Those
interests
have
nothing
to
do
with
the
best
interest
of
wilkinsburg
or
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
and
that
is
why
I
think
it
is
critical
that
you
understand
the
facts
on
the
ground
here.
In
wilkinsburg,
before
you
make
any
decision,
if
this
goes
on
the
ballot
it
will
lose,
it
will
lose
big
and
pittsburgh
will
look
bad.
R
Let
me
give
you
one
example
of
how
reviled
loathed
and
mistrusted
the
wcdc
is
by
this
community.
In
2019,
the
wcdc
began
their
stronger
neighborhoods
campaign.
Ostensibly
this
was
to
be
an
opportunity
for
wilkinsburgers
to
come
together
and
talk
about
how
to
improve
their
borough,
but
pretty
much
everybody
understood
that
this
is
a
back
door,
underhanded
front
to
lobby
for
annexation.
R
The
wcdc
had
an
over
200
000
budget.
We
don't
know
exactly
how
much,
but
it
was
minimum
two
hundred
thousand
dollars.
You
can
look
at
their
nine
nineties.
They
had
over
200
budget
for
this
campaign.
They
spent
five
figures
on
marketing
five
figures.
Every
gas
station
that
you
went
into
every
little
store
had
glossy
cardboard
flyers,
not
the
cheap
ones,
but
super
fancy
substantial
pieces
of
cardboard.
R
There
were
posters,
there
were
signs,
I
got
dozens
of
emails.
I
got
facebook
ads
and
said
everybody
else
who
lives
here.
You
could
not
escape
the
stronger
neighborhoods
advertising
barrage,
they
held
22
public
meetings
22
and
according
to
their
own
numbers,
the
numbers
that
they
released.
Not
my
head
count
or
anybody
else's
head
count.
They
had
143
total
participants,
not
unique
individuals,
but
143
total
participants.
R
I
went
to
three
meetings.
They
counted
me
three
times.
If
you
do
the
math,
that
is
six
and
a
half
people
per
meeting
at
the
meetings
that
I
was
at.
There
were
two
board
members
and
a
staffer,
and
they
counted
them
as
well.
They
spent
over
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
on
this
campaign
and
wilkinsburgers,
rightfully
completely
ignored
it
quickly.
To
give
you
another
example,
they
are
forced
to
pay
people
who
do
not
live
in
wilkinsburg
to
go
to
door
door-to-door
to
try
to
collect
these
signatures.
R
A
A
S
Hi
I'm
julian
ship.
I
live
at
2436
laketon.
S
I've
lived
in
wilkinsburg,
my
entire
life
and
I
have
been
through
both
the
wilkinsburg
school
system
and
the
pittsburgh
public
school
system,
and
it
is
my
belief
that,
like
wilkinsburg
has
a
pretty
good
school
system
and
like
it's,
it's
got,
it's
got
its
stuff
together
and
my
experience
of
the
pittsburgh
public
school
system
would
indicate
that
the
annexation
would
just
ruin
the
education
opportunities
for
the
students
of
wilkinsburg.
T
Hi,
my
name
is
john
stokey
and
I
live
at
1439
foliage
street
in
wilkinsburg.
I
pose
annexation
and
my
concerns
revolve
around
what
I
honestly
call
the
non-profit,
mafia,
the
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation
and
that
that
term
comes
from
my
personal
business
experience
with
that
organization.
T
I
had
moved
to
wilkinsburg
in
2015,
because
my
wife
and
I
had
purchased
nancy's
diner,
which
was
you
know,
a
venerable
institution
in
wilkinsburg
that
was
about
to
go
out
of
business,
and
originally
the
cdc
was
helpful.
T
They
got
us
some
media
exposure
and
they
helped
us
get
a
grant
for
a
little
sign,
and
that
was
nice,
but
then
in
I
think
it
was
2017.
T
They
acquired
the
entire
block
in
downtown
wilkinsburg,
where
our
diner
was
located,
and
so
they
became
our
landlord
and
things
got
weird.
They
they
started
pressuring
us
to
expand,
even
though
it
didn't
really
make
any
sense,
and
then
things
got
really
bad.
When
we
decided
to
sell
the
business,
they
found
us
a
buyer
and
they
were
pushing
this
buyer
and
the
buyer
didn't
have
enough
money
to
buy
the
diner.
They
had
like
half
of
what
we
were
asking,
which
was
a
very
modest.
T
It
was
not
a
you
know,
it's
a
diner,
and
so
we
had
a
meeting
with
tracy
evans
and
a
developer
named
bill
crawhay,
and
at
that
meeting
they
told
us
that
we
had
to
sell
our
business
for
half
of
what
it
was
worth
because
as
our
landlord,
they
would
refuse
to
approve
a
lease
from
any
other,
any
other
prospective
buyer.
T
T
But
I
think
everyone
these
days
is
sophisticated
enough
to
understand
that
non-profit
doesn't
mean
that
someone
isn't
making
a
profit.
So
I
looked
into
this
and
it
turns
out.
Their
motive
seems
to
be
that
the
diner
sat
in
a
qualified
opportunity
zone
and,
if
you,
if
you
look
it
up,
tracy
evans
is
a
big
proponent
of
this
trump
administrative
administration
initiative,
which
basically
allows
private
investors
to
not
pay
capital
gains
tax
if
they
put
their
money
in
in
areas
like
wilkinsburg.
T
So
the
cdc
was
only
worried
about
you
know
we
if
we
weren't
going
to
expand
because
apparently
the
way
this
program
works
is
you
had
to
improve
the
real
estate,
so
they
found
a
buyer
for
the
business.
Who
would
do
that
and
what
we
learned
was
they
don't
care
about?
Wilkinsburg
they
didn't
care
about
our
business.
They
didn't
care
about
the
hard
work
and
investment
that
we
put
into
that
that
business
all
they
cared
about.
Were
these
in
these
corporate
developers.
U
Good
afternoon,
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
my
name's,
paulo
hanlon.
I
live
at
959,
south
braddock
avenue,
which
is
just
across
the
street
from
pittsburgh.
U
After
living
in
the
city
for
over
60
years,
my
wife
fell
in
love
with
a
house
just
across
the
border
in
wilkinsburg
and
I've
been
a
wilkinsburg
resident
for
the
past
four
years.
The
house
we
purchased
in
wilkinsburg
has
high
real
estate
taxes.
I
can't
deny
that,
however,
the
tax
burden
on
the
property
was
reflected
in
the
sales
price
of
the
house.
U
In
effect,
we
got
a
bargain
on
the
price
because
of
the
high
taxes
speaking
in
all
candor,
it
would
be
extremely
profitable
for
me,
if
wilkinsburg
were
was
annexed
by
the
city
and
my
taxes
lowered
and
my
house
was
not
reassessed,
but
it
wouldn't
be
fair,
even
though
the
current
annexation
proposal
would
be
personally
profitable
to
me.
I
don't
support
it
and
I
certainly
don't
support
holding
a
referendum
in
a
primary
election
where
voter
participation
is
predictably
lower
and
where
people
not
registered
democrat
or
republican
have
little
reason
to
vote.
U
I
question
the
motive
and
ethics
of
proponents
of
this
effort.
For
proposing
to
hold
a
referendum
in
a
primary
election,
I
don't
support
the
annexation
effort
because
it
offers
no
benefit
to
the
majority
of
wilkinsburg
residents
and
it's
a
terribly
divisive
issue.
We're
told
that
annexation
would
approve
things
for
the
wilkinsburg
business
district
and
would
lower
property
taxes,
but
this
doesn't
make
a
lick
of
sense.
Look
at
homewood,
larimer,
west,
end,
sheridan,
elliott,
central
north
side.
The
decline
of
neighborhood
business
districts
is
a
regional
or
national
problem.
It
just
isn't
a
wilkinsburg
problem.
U
A
case
can
be
made
that
our
business
district
is
surviving
better
than
some
of
the
city
neighborhood
business
districts,
the
majority
of
wilkinsburg
residents
are
renters,
who
don't
pay
real
estate
taxes,
but
renters
pay
wage
taxes
and
the
wage
tax
in
wilkinsburg
is
lower
than
pittsburgh.
U
U
school
taxes
peaked
in
2012
and
have
been
falling
since
then.
The
financial
distress
of
wilkinsburg
isn't
something
new,
but
the
fine
is
the.
The
finances
in
fact
have
been
improving.
What
has
changed
is
it.
Wilkinsburg
has
become
a
majority
minority
majority
black
community,
which
makes
this
effort
now,
particularly
the
divisive.
A
better
use
of
our
time
and
resources
would
be
to
work
with.
J
Yes,
can
you
hear
me.
J
I
also
own
a
rental
property
in
wilkinsburg,
located
at
727
whitney
avenue
one
five,
two
two
one.
I
lived
at
that
property
for
about
three
years
between
2003
and
2006
and
renovated
the
building
while
I
lived
there
and
I've
rented
the
property
out
ever
since
I'm
strongly
in
favor
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
annexing
wilkinsburg
and
I
strongly
encourage
the
city
council
to
vote
in
favor
of
moving
forward
with
the
annexation
for
several
reasons,
I'll
submit
a
written
statement
regarding
the
reasons
related
to
schools
and
taxes.
J
J
The
city
is
not
enhanced
by
having
wilkinsburg
in
the
state
that
it
is
that
it
is
in
on
its
eastern
border.
I
would
encourage
council
to
obviously
do
its
own
due
diligence
and
do
the
math,
but
even
if
the
the
taxes
and
the
money
were
a
temporary
burden
on
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
the
conditions
for
successful
development
would
be
in
place
with
lower
property
taxes
in
what
is
now
wilkinsburg
and
I'm
confident
that
over
time,
wilkinsburg
would
be
transformed
as
it
is
now.
Wilkinsburg
is
not
changing.
It
is
certainly
not
changing
fast
enough.
J
I
lived
there
for
three
years
from
2003
to
2006
and
I
stayed
involved
in
in
the
neighborhood
there
since
then,
as
a
property
owner
with
the
annexation,
the
city
would
have
a
voice
in
remaking
wilkinsburg,
and
if
the
city
chooses
not
to
annex
wilkinsburg,
then
it's
virtually
guaranteed.
That
wilkinsburg
will
continue
down
the
path
that
it's
on
and
would
continue
to
be
a
detriment
on
the
eastern
border
of
pittsburgh.
J
Wilkinsburg
is
played,
plagued
with
a
disproportionate
number
of
abandoned
homes
and
homes
in
disrepair
and
as
a
property
owner.
I
understand
the
economics
of
renovating
a
building
to
turn
it
into
a
successful
rental
property
or
to
be
able
to
resell
it
as
a
homeowner,
with
the
tax
rates
in
wilkinsburg.
There's
no
realistic
path
towards
saving
the
abandoned
and
dilapidated
houses
that
exist
as
an
example.
J
A
hundred
thousand
dollar
property
in
wilkinsburg
has
taxes
of
almost
five
thousand
dollars
over
four
four
thousand
eight
hundred
dollars
the
same
one
hundred
thousand
dollar
property
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh
has
would
have
taxes
of
about
two
thousand
three
hundred
dollars
a
difference
of
over
two
thousand
five
hundred
dollars
for
anyone
looking
to
renovate
properties
as
a
business
model,
it's
a
business
model
that
simply
doesn't
work
in
wilkinsburg,
which
is
why
you
have
so
many
houses
in
disrepair
and
for
any
kind
of
larger
development.
V
Hi,
my
name
is
china,
lee
501
home
street,
I'm
a
wilkinsburg,
homeowner
landlord
long
time
resident.
My
family
has
owned
property
in
wilkinsburg
since
1978
and
I'm
absolutely
opposed
to
the
annexation.
I
wanted
to.
I
guess,
talk
about
the
wcdc
a
little
bit
and
their
failure
in
doing
what
they
were
supposed
to
do
for
wilkinsburg.
V
The
wcdc
was
awarded
millions
of
dollars
from
the
state
and
local
foundations
since
its
inception,
but
it's
failed
to
complete
its
mission
to
revitalize
the
wilkinsburg
business
district
and
doing
that
they
were
supposed
to
attract
more
people
to
wilkinsburg
instead
of
owning
up
to
its
failures
and
trying
to
correct
the
course
and
help
wilkinsburg
as
a
community
development
corporation
is
supposed
to
do.
The
wcdc
has
instead
focused
its
efforts
on
this
annexation
without
actual
regard
for
what
the
residents
want
or
what's
in
their
best
interest.
V
They've
engaged
a
very
small
sampling
of
people,
some
residents
and
some
not
to
claim
that
the
annexation
which
they've
consistently
referred
to
in
marketing
materials
as
a
merger,
which
implies
mutual
extent,
which
it
does
not
have,
is
what
the
people
want
and
that's
not
accurate.
Many
residents
do
not
know
what
will
happen
for
our
borough
employees,
jobs
to
our
police
force.
Homeowners
are
unclear
on
whether
there
will
be
a
reassessment
affecting
our
property
taxes,
and
yet
the
wcdc
has
provided
answers
to
these
questions
based
on
speculation,
not
facts.
V
While
every
city
town
borough
has
room
for
improvement,
including
both
pittsburgh
and
wilkinsburg,
wilkinsburg
has
been
successful
in
managing
its
affairs
and
does
not
want
to
be
annexed
to
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
The
trash
collection
and
fire
service
agreements
were
they
made
sense,
and
they
were
part
of
the
wilkinsburg
comprehensive
10-year
plan,
and
they
were
not
an
indication
of
an
eventual
consolidation,
wilkinsburg
and
pittsburgh.
Each
have
blighted
properties
and
have
both
lost
residents.
In
recent
years,
wilkinsburg
tax
base
has
decreased,
but
the
borough
taxes
have
not
increased
since
2004..
V
A
Thank
you,
china
and
our
next
speaker
is
joshua
rowland.
W
Yes,
so
thank
you,
honorable
council
members,
my
name
is
josh
rolon.
I
live
at
313
and
a
half
ellis
street
in
bloomfield,
I'm
in
favor
of
giving
wilkinsburg
residents
the
opportunity
to
vote
on
joining
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
I
used
to
be
the
main
street
manager
for
the
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation,
where
I
met
with
many
wilkinsburg
business
owners
residents
and
people
looking
to
establish
themselves
in
wilkinsburg.
W
W
Despite
the
challenges
that
the
community
has
faced,
wilkinsburg
has
taken
vacant
buildings
and
fixed
them
up
to
add
new
life,
former
schools
have
become
community
centers,
a
church
has
become
a
school
and
100
year.
Old
wilkinsburg
train
station
has
been
beautifully
redeveloped
for
a
restaurant
and
retail
space
as
much
progress
has
been
made.
The
weight
of
real
estate
taxes
really
makes
it
difficult
for
people
to
buy
and
repair
property
in
wilkinsburg
for
many
first-time
home
buyers.
W
If
wilkinsburg
decides
to
join
the
city,
the
lower
tax
rate
will
make
it
much
more
affordable
to
buy
a
home
or
fix
up
a
vacant
building.
So
why
should
the
city
annex
wilkinsburg
problems
that
cross
borders
like
crime
and
blight
can
be
tackled
together?
Already
wilkinsburg
and
pittsburgh
have
been
able
to
cooperate
on
the
fire
department.
High
school
merger.
Previous
speakers
have
pointed
to
studies
showing
that
wilkinsburg
would
not
be
financially
a
financial
burden
to
pittsburgh
and
the
city
controller
michael
lamb
has
spoken
positively
on
the
annexation.
W
Joining
wilkersburg
may
bring
more
federal
funds
to
pittsburgh
through
the
cdbg
program,
since
wilkinsburg
cdbg,
eligible
census
tracts
would
join
the
cities.
Finally,
pittsburgh
would
join
gained
population
for
the
first
time
in
50
years.
Even
though
pittsburgh
has
rebounded
from
the
steel
mill
closures
40
years
ago
every
since
they
still
see
more
people
leaving
the
city
than
joining
us
right.
Now
we
have
a
chance
to
welcome
14
000
new
residents
to
the
city
council
members.
Please
decide
to
empower
wilkinsburg
to
make
the
decision
for
themselves.
Thank
you.
A
X
I
moved
here
from
swissvale
about
four
years
ago.
I'm
trying
to
keep
this
a
little
bit
short
and
give
you
a
little
personal
story.
Well,
I'm
an
engineer,
and
I
volunteer
at
a
pittsburgh
public
school
stem
outreach
program.
It's
an
after-school
program
at
some
of
the
local
high
schools.
I've
been
there
for
about
last
five
years
and
I
think
it's
a
very
good
thing
that
the
pittsburgh
public
schools
have
going.
X
They
can
leverage
their
resources
and
size
to
try
to
bring
in
external
programs
like
this
for
their
kids.
I
have
a
wife
and
a
three-year-old
child,
and
I
would
like
for
him
to
have
a
full
opportunity
to
participate
in
programs
like
these.
My
wife
works
in
pittsburgh
and
we
we
love
it
here.
X
I
think
that
the
primary
is
the
right
place
to
hold
the
referendum,
because
I
mean-
let's
be
blunt,
that
is
really
the
important
election
for
for
these
local
communities
and
also
the
the
the
low
catholic
diocese
have
gone
undergone
a
similar
consolidation,
and
this
is
just
the
reality
to
stay
viable
in
these
areas.
Where
you
have
population
loss,
you
have
to
look
to
leverage
and
share
resources
to
tackle
problems
together
and
one
last
thing
you
know,
I
I
think
it's
good.
X
A
She's
another
one:
okay,
michael
dalton,
I'm
sorry
michelle
dalton.
A
Z
Hi,
my
name
is
michelle:
dalton,
my
family
lives
at
1432
woodlawn,
I
represent
a
in
wilkinsburg
and
I
represent
a
group
called
wilkinsburg
strong
and
we're
an
activist
group
that
came
together
and
hosted
a
peace
walk
in
2020,
just
amidst
the
news,
reportings
of
violence
happening
in
wilkinsburg
and
wanting
to
bring
the
community
together
and-
and
we
highlighted
the
death
of
romertale
and
since
then,
even
on
the
back
of
romertali.
This.
Z
This
merger,
this
and
this
incorporation
has
been
coming
up
and
I've
noticed
that
there's
been
a
lot
of
people
left
out
of
the
conversation,
a
lot
of
people
who
had
not
been
engaged
in
the
conversation
or
misled
on
what
this
was
supposed
to
look
like,
and
so
me
and
my
activist
group,
with
wilkinsburg
strong,
we
hit
to
the
streets
and
we
were
going
door
to
door
just
having
educational
conversations
with
our
neighbors
and
even
collecting
signatures
against
the
merger
and
just
wanting
to
amplify
the
voices
of
the
people
that
we
noticed
were
not
being
engaged
throughout
this
process.
Z
Some
of
the
things
that
came
up
is
that
you
know
this
looks
like
what
happened
in
east
liberty.
People
are
worried
about
being
displaced
when
you
use
the
wilkinsburg
future
website,
you
can
go
on
there
and
put
in
your
rent
and
how
much
you
make,
and
you
can
see
that
for
renters,
the
only
change
in
money
is
going
to
be
an
increase
in
their
taxes
when
it
comes
to
that
wage
tax.
Z
If
you
don't
own
property
and
like
many
people
already
said,
a
lot
of
the
majority
of
the
community
are
renters
and
that
affects
my
family,
and
so
we
did
just
want
to
just
make
sure
that
those
voices
are
being
heard.
I
just
learned
about
this
meeting,
so
a
lot
of
these
meetings
were
just
you
know.
These
same
people
are
being
missed
and
left
out
of
knowing
that
these
are
happening.
Z
So
I'm
fortunate
and
grateful
that
you
guys
are
here
to
hear
these
concerns
and
allow
me
to
speak-
and
I
just
appreciate
your
time
and
I'm
not
for
the
merger
just
so
we're
clear.
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you
very
much
for
your
comments
and
carolyn
sparrett
speranza.
A
Q
AA
AA
From
2021
plainview
avenue
in
brookline
15226,
I
am
a
working
artist
with
a
garage
studio
in
my
backyard.
AA
The
reason
why
I
mention
this
is
that,
in
my
experience,
wilkinsburg
has
been
a
good
place
to
live
for
my
full-time
artist.
Colleagues,
where
that's
all
they
do.
They
just
make
their
art.
It's
a
it's,
not
an
easy
life.
They
don't
have
the
benefit
of
an
academic
position
or
some
other
full-time
job,
but
somehow
wilkinsburg
has
supported
them
and
wilkinsburg
is
also
supported
by
gay
and
queer
and
trans
friends.
AA
I'd
like
to
see
my
friends
and
colleagues
in
wilkinsburg
benefit
from
pittsburgh's
lower
property
taxes,
but
also
there
are
other
resources
that
pittsburgh
has
for
people
like
this.
For
my
friends
and
colleagues
like
the
ura's,
zero
interest,
loan
home
improvement
and
rehabilitation
program.
AA
AA
We
have
a
lot
of
money,
but
with
this
zero
interest
loan
rehabilitation
program
we've
been
able
to
do
major
rehab
on
our
house,
continue
to
live
in
our
house
and
now
we're
paying
off
this
zero
in
interest
loan
at
about
96
dollars
a
month,
and
I
think
this
is
could
be
a
really
great
model
for
wilkinsburg
homeowners
or
people
who
want
to
become
a
homeowner
in
wilkinsburg,
but
they're
really
challenged
by
the
older
housing
stock
and
on
the
political
front
I
would
really
like
to
see
more
black
and
brown
representation
in
my
city
government
and
if
wilkinsburg
were
to
join
our
city
government.
A
Okay,
you
might
have
an
old
version
of
zoom,
so
I
would
just
say:
if
you
want
your
comments
to
be
heard,
you
can
either
call
in
and
what's
the
number,
madam
click
or
one
two
here
just
hit
on
your
mic.
A
K
K
K
AC
Yes,
my
name
is
jody
guy.
My
address
is
211
bevington
road,
I'm
15221
my
family,
since
1919
has
lived
on
south
and
center
avenues
in
wilkinsburg
and
in
2017
I
founded
and
now
run
a
non-profit
called
wilkinsburg
center
for
civic
arts.
My
comments
concern
the
following:
my
position
is
to
remain
independent
of
pittsburgh.
Wilkinsburg
has
its
challenges
but
annexation
to
pittsburgh.
AC
Where
officials
cannot
know
the
history
and
challenges
that
we
deal
with
up
close
and
in
person
is
not
helpful.
I
really
favor
the
ability
to
speak
plan
and
partner
with
our
elected
officials
and
leaders
who
are
only
blocks
away.
AC
Additionally,
I
know
others
have
mentioned
this,
but
the
tax
rates
wilkinsburg
residents
who
own
property
will
see
lower
property
tax
bills
and
lower
earned
income
taxes,
wilkinsburg
residents
who
rent
make
up
43.9
percent
of
the
total
population
and
also
represent
the
25
percent
of
residents
living
in
poverty.
Wilkinsburg
renters
may
see
lower
paychecks,
but
there
is
no
proposal
from
annexation
proponents
that
would
address
this
tremendous
impact
to
the
renters
and
what
will
all
of
these
renters
do
with
an
additional
park,
library
and
rad
tax?
AC
So
suddenly
the
one
percent
earned
revenue
savings
isn't
much
of
a
savings
at
all.
I
would
also
like
to
mention
you
know
the
benefits
of
the
school
district,
or
lack
thereof
for
more
than
20
years.
I
worked
for
for
in
with
pittsburgh
public
school
district
as
a
teacher,
a
curriculum
specialist
and
then
the
official
arts
coordinator.
AC
AC
I
I
wonder
if
that
would
happen
again
next
year
or
in
the
future,
so
that
means
that
they
will
need
to
cut
expenses
and
close
schools.
Usually
pps
closes
those
schools
in
the
low
socioeconomic
areas
which,
with
annexation,
could
be
wilkinsburg.
So
our
could.
Our
kids
then,
would
have
to
be
best
to
wear
homewood.
AC
A
Thank
you
and
our
next
speaker
is
draven
mourinho.
AD
AD
AD
It's
close
to
great
city
assets
like
frick
park
and
bakery
square,
and
I
was
in
talking
with
a
wilkinsburg
business
owner
more
than
a
year
ago
that
I
learned
about
the.
Why
related
to
wilkinsburg's
challenges,
I
found
out
that
a
business
owner
in
wilkinsburg
pays
double
in
property
taxes
than
if
they
were
located
in
penn
hills
or
the
city,
and
that
just
really
made
me
think
who
would
invest
here
and
it's
not
uncommon
for
communities
with
a
majority
black
population
to
have
high
tax
burdens.
AD
Given
the
history
of
redlining
in
this
country,
wilkinsburg
is
one
of
the
highest
property
taxes
in
the
entire
nation
and,
as
a
result,
it's
losing
its
black
population
at
double
the
rate
of
other
races,
and
all
you
have
to
do,
I
think,
is
drive
through
wilkinsburg
and
you'll
see.
You
know
the
the
abandonment
and
it's
just
interesting
to
me
that
we
live
in
a
time
where
you
know
social
justice
is
said
to
be
a
priority
among
a
lot
of
politicians.
AD
Yet
it
seems
there
are
some
in
government
that
want
to
prevent
this
fair,
just
and
win-win
effort
to
equalize
wilkinsburg's
tax
rate
with
cities.
In
my
opinion,
this
is
just
a
vote
for
equity
and
a
vote
for
the
democratic
process
say
that
fully
absorbing
wilkinsburg
will
take
services
away
from
city
residents
is
just
doesn't
seem
to
be
true,
based
on
what
I
am
aware
of
the
fire
and
refuse
services
merged,
and
I
did
my
research
and
it's
all
there
on
the
wilkinsburg
merger
website.
AD
The
city
made
money
off
of
the
merger,
so
ask
yourself
if
any
city
residents
had
worse
off
fire
refuse
services
as
a
result.
The
answer
is
a
clear
no
in
my
opinion,
so
imagine
imagine
doing
the
right
thing
and
then
imagine
10
years
from
now
when
wilkinsburg
is
a
vibrant,
inclusive
neighborhood,
whose
investment
brings
more
money
to
the
city
so
that
all
neighborhoods
benefit.
AD
AE
AE
I
am
a
third
generation
wilkinsburger
and
this
is
clearly
a
very
emotional
issue
for
lots
of
people
and
the
previous
speakers
all
had
good
points
to
make,
and
I
am
a
proponent
of
the
annexation
for
many
of
the
reasons
have
already
been
said
by
people
very
eloquently.
So
I
will
keep
this
short.
One
of
the
things
that
is
been
disturbing
is
not
only
the
high
property
taxes,
but
seeing
what
has
happened
in
the
neighborhood.
AE
That
needs
to
be
done.
I
do
hope
that
we
do
have
the
opportunity
to
vote
on
this
during
the
primary,
and
I
do
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
say
a
few
things
today
and
I'll
be
submitting
some
more
questions
in
writing
to
the
council
so
and
some
comments
of
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
today.
Thank.
AF
Hello,
this
is
dante
clemens
I
live
at
2043,
boggs
avenue
I
just
want
to.
You
know
just
give
a
couple
comments.
I've
been
listening,
and
I
just
personally
I
just
feel
like
this
is
being
rushed.
I
feel
like
this
should
have
just
been
led
with
facts
and
stuff.
Like
you
know,
everyone's
keep
calling
it
a
merger.
AF
When
a
merger
you
can
get
together
and
plan
out
things
and
have
a
future
and
know
what's
going
to
happen,
but
the
annexation
after
a
vote
it
would
be,
we
would
be
the
city
and
that's
disturbing
living
between
east
hills
and
homewood
riding
through
the
city.
You
see,
knoxville,
arlington,
you'll,
see
the
west
side,
you'll
see
the
north
side,
all
these
communities
that
need
help
and
it
seems
like
we're
getting
the
hope
that,
when
wilkinsburg
become
pittsburgh
will
automatically
get
help
before
the
people.
That's
there
already.
That
needs
the
help
already.
AF
I
just
saw
the
census
outcome
and
almost
11
000
black
people
left
pittsburgh,
but
they
didn't
leave
the
county.
So,
finally
wilkersburg
we
lower
the
taxes,
that's
lower
than
the
area
around
us.
You
hear
people
saying
you
know:
people
jump
in
the
edgewood
swissvale
now
we're
lording
them,
but
this
stain
of
this
or
people
don't
want
us
makes
people
not
want
to
come
here.
AF
So
now
that
we're
lowered
in
the
whole
willand
hills,
area,
penn,
hills,
penn
hills
is
where
we
were
a
few
years
ago,
we're
the
only
community
lowering
taxes,
so
we're
going
into
a
forward.
But
the
way
that
we
look
on
the
outside
is
we're
terrible.
AF
When
our
borrowers
in
the
plus
or
school
districts
in
the
plus
or
policing,
the
plus
only
thing
that's
failed
is
our
business
district
and
we
just
gotta
think
about
all
of
this
and
it's
being
rushed
like
I
said,
I
want
people
to
stop
giving
people
hope
like
it's
going
to
automatically
make
anything
great.
We
got
to
talk
to
the
people,
that's
in
the
other
communities,
that's
not
being
helped
and
see
how
they
feel,
like
all
of
us,
just
need
to
come
together.
AF
A
merger
sounds
better
than
annexation
because
we
would
know
what's
happening
before
it
happens.
The
same
thing
like
we
did
with
the
fire
with
the
waste
we're
paying
for
this
stuff.
We
pay
for
our
kids
to
go
to
pbs,
it's
not
it's
putting
out
there
like
it's,
some
free
thing
that
we're
just
going
there
like
these
are
just
cheaper
options
to
do
it
that
way
and
to
get
things
done,
and
things
have
been
getting
done
and
for
us
to
you
know
to
concern.
I
mean
just
you
know,
look
at
her
elementary
school.
AF
AF
They
might
you
know
close
the
school,
then
that's
more
kids
that
might
go
to
a
charter
school
and
that's
more
money
that
the
city
wilkersburg
everyone
would
have
to
pay
for
each
student,
because
they're
they're
not
going
to
the
school
that
they
should
be
going
to
in
their
neighborhood.
But
I
just
wanted
to
say
I
just
feel
like
this
is
being
rushed.
I
would.
A
AG
What
I
the
reason
why
I
came
first
I
would
like
to
if
I
have
to
deviate,
because
you
have
to
understand,
you
got
miss
gross,
that's
on
that
on
the
thing
and
she's
mumbling,
you
don't
even
know
what
she
says
you
didn't
even
have
when
mrs
grayson,
the
lawyer
from
housing
authority,
was
here
that
day
play
that
tape
back.
Mrs
grosses
is
mumbling.
You
can't
hear
why
can't
she
come
in
here
like
everybody
else,
so
that
we
can
understand
what
she's
saying
I
mean
that
I'm
not
kidding.
AG
We
can
you
you're
mumbling
and
then
didn't
even
have
the
interpreter
with
the
hand
signals.
So
why
is
she
able
to
not
come
in
here?
Why?
What,
since
she
don't
have
any
children,
small
children,
then
you
got
mrs
I'm
telling
you
how
even
the
one
she's
erica
she
can
bring
her
baby
in
here
and
sit.
She
can
disappear
for
months.
You
don't
even
say
that
she's
off
for
maternity
leave.
She
brings
her
baby
back
in
here
and
sits
active
at
the
table.
AG
Doing
city
business
and
when
I
bring
my
five-year-old
to
speak,
reverend
burgess
or
mr
burgess
going
to
say
that
she
has
no
right,
it's
not
the
right,
it's
not
the
time.
So
you
understand
that
you
are
discriminating
against
the
poor,
black
people
and
poor
people.
I
don't
have
the
computer
to
be
able
to
do
this
because
otherwise
I
wouldn't
come
down
here.
You
got
to
come
down
and
they
can
sit
at
home.
AG
AG
But
yes,
don't
even
consider
him
being
a
human
being
you
if
you
do
bring
that
wilkinsburg
here,
you
better
question
them
my
husband
said:
well,
maybe
we
can
question
them
if
they
bring
make
him
cops
for
the
city,
how
my
son
ended
up
dead
and
not
one
cop
ever
went
to
court
ever.
Do
you
understand
ever
my
son
was
begging.
He
was
saying.
I
got
one
lung
they
left
him
near
and
on
the
floor,
then
that
man
came
in
and
kicked
him
so
hard.
AG
I
felt
it
on
the
hill
I
bust
out,
crying
all
this
pain
and
then
there's
blood
around
my
son's
spleen.
The
doctor
from
west
penn
said
go
to
weck
and
he
will
not
talk
to
me.
Go
to
work
and
even
the
mayor,
the
mayor
has
let
us
down.
The
mayor
promised
me
that
he
would
talk
to
wick
and
wes
said
he
would
talk
to
me
and
he
didn't
do
it.
Then
you
got
a
mirror
when
they
killed
that
boy
up
on
bedford.
Where
was
the
mayor?
AG
He
don't
have
to
be
standing,
but
he
could
have
been
up
there.
You
got
where
a
mayor,
let
that
come
in
and
kill
people
now
they
said
that
the
boys
had
a
gun.
My
time
was:
oh,
no.
I
got
two
more
seconds.
Let
me
tell
you
something
you
just
need
to
consider
me.
I've
been
coming
here
27
years
and
you
don't
even
consider
a
grieving
mother,
I'm
still
grieving.
I
lost
my
son.
Why?
Because
they
wouldn't
even
push
9-1-1
to
call
ambulance
police.
AG
AG
A
A
That
happens,
I
can
either
only
assume
they
can't
hear
us
or
that
they
have
an
older
version
of
zoom,
and
so
what
I
can
say
is
please
send
your
emails
to
our
city,
clerk's
office
at
city,
clerk's
office
at
pittsburgh,
spout
out.
I
I
Sorry
about
that,
I
maybe
I
do
have
the
older
version.
I
I
I
They
use
a
large
portion
of
their
budget
against
the
community
that
they
are
to
serve.
The
wcdc
has
failed
and
in
fact,
when
I
talk
to
business
owners,
then
who
have
asked
the
cdc
for
help,
they
don't
get
help.
That's
a
failure,
that's
a
failure
along
our
business
district.
That's
a
failure
to
our
business
owners
residents
in
wilkinsburg.
They
love
their
community.
They
love
it
here.
Yes,
we
do
have
a
problem,
because
some
folks
have
passed
and
and
that's
how
we
ended
up
with
a
lot
of
blighted
homes,
and
we
are
working
on
that.
I
We
have
action
plans,
wilkinsburg
is
a
diverse
community
and
the
wilkinsburg
community
can
give
a
unique
opportunity
for
leadership
and
representation,
especially
for
our
african-american
population,
which
is
mostly
african-american,
and
we
do
support
our
lgbtq
brothers
and
sisters
here
and
all
the
underserved.
That's
what
we
do.
I
African-Americans
can
support
and
other
other
folks
too.
They
can
support
their
own
community
wilkinsburg
politically
by
running
for
office
having
that
opportunity
by
being
on
our
various
boards
and
commissions,
or
even
have
greater
opportunities
here
to
own
their
own
businesses.
I
Houses
are
selling
and
taxes
have
been
lowered,
unlike
you
know,
just
as
dante
said
earlier,
there
are
rumors
out
there
about
wilkinsburg
that
aren't
true
people,
just
repeat
them,
because
they
repeat
them.
That's
what
that's
what
happens
and
to
just
say
simply
that
we
can
combine
our
police
with
pittsburgh
police.
It's
not
that
simple.
I
It's
not
that
simple!
Our
police
force
is
local,
they
know
our
streets
and
they
respond
and
they
do
community
oriented
policing.
It's
it's
a
different
type
of
thing,
there's
no
evidence
that
this
annexation
is
good,
I'm
completely
against
it,
and
the
residents
that
I
talk
to
are
against
it.
They're
confused
and,
as
someone
said
earlier,
the
cdc
started
this
off
in
a
in
a
confused
manner.
I
A
Thank
you
and
what
we're
going
to
do
is
go
over
our
speakers
who
were
called
but
did
not
respond.
Some
have
logged
on
and
we
can
madame
clark
can
see
that,
but
I
do
want
to
make
it
very
clear
that
we
are
joined
by
via
zoom
by
councilman
wilson,
kraus
strasberger,
lavelle,
burgess
gross
and
councilman
calcio,
and
I
are
here
so
I
just
want
to
make
it
clear
that
council
members
are
on
zoom.
It's
I'm
glad
that
they're
joining
us
via
zoom.
A
We
made
sure
that
this
is
a
hybrid
that
we're
doing
work
hi
in
a
hybrid
format,
so
that
others
can
join
us
this
way
as
well.
We
also
have
a
lot
of
residents
that
cannot
come
in
because
they
are
immune
compromised
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
they
can
also
join
us
via
zoom.
A
So
there's
lots
of
reasons
that
we
open
it
up
this
way
and
for
people
who
may
not
have
a
computer
at
home,
usually
the
libraries
or
some
of
our
schools
and
some
of
our
rec
centers
and
other
places
do
have
computers
that
you
can
have
access
to
to
join
us
in
that
way.
As
well,
so
we
try
to
make
it
as
convenient
as
we
can
for
everyone.
I
apologize
if
it's
inconvenient
for
anyone.
A
So
with
that
said,
madam
clerk,
do
you
have
the
list
of
the
speakers
that
we
called
that
we're
not
do
you
want
to
go
over
their
names
quickly.
AB
AH
Okay,
perfect,
I'm
actually
a
current
council
member
on
wilkinsburg
right
now,
I'm
actually
in
favor
of
the
merger,
from
what
I've
seen
with
the
budgeting
services.
AH
We
just
lost
about
10
percent
of
our
population
according
to
the
last
census,
and
taxes
have
been
what
has
been
truly
stymieing
redevelopment
in
our
borough
with
those
high
taxes,
if
you're
putting
up
a
wall
against
redevelopment
against
home
buyers
coming
into
the
borough
anytime,
I
try
to
say
suggest
to
a
friend
to
look
at
my
neighborhood
to
be
my
neighbor
they're
like
oh,
that's,
wilkinsburg,
the
taxes
are
really
high.
AH
I
can't
do
that,
so
I
really
think
our
taxes
have
been
a
detriment
to
redevelopment
since
I've
been
a
borough
resident
since
2013.
I've
only
noticed
that
more
flight
and
abandonment
has
happened.
AH
The
situation
has
not
improved
since
I've
been
a
borough
resident
and
I
don't
see
it
improving
anytime
soon,
unless
something
new
and
drastic
is
done
like
joining
the
city
and
reducing
our
tax
burden.
Thank
you.
AI
Hi,
this
is
derek
tillman,
I'm
a
resident
of
wilkinsburg.
I
was
originally
against
the
merger,
but
after
a
lot
of
research
and
data,
looking
at
the
facts
I
have
converted
women's
birth
simply
has
too
many
challenges
to
handle
by
itself.
AI
AI
I
know
pittsburgh
is
not
perfect,
but
it's
constantly
moving
in
the
right
direction
and
wilkinsburg
needs
help,
and
I
believe
that
pittsburgh
is
poised
to
help.
I
know
there's
concerns
relative
to
displacement
and
gentrification
and
I
believe
we
have
an
opportunity
to
address
these
issues
with
good
policy
and
intentionality.
AI
AI
One
example
the
the
school
district
with
wilkinsburg
students
now
going
to
westinghouse.
You
know
I
know.
Initially,
there
was
hesitancy
there
and
I've
heard
nothing
but
good
things.
You
know
from
the
students
that
actually
live
in
women's
birth
that
attend
attend,
westinghouse
high
school.
The
other
thing
is
I'm
a
proponent
of
school
choice
and
parents
having
more
choices,
to
send
kids
to
you,
know
different
kinds
of
magnet
schools,
etc.
AI
So,
ultimately,
my
thing
is
to
let
the
people
decide
and
that
we
should
bring
this
to
a
vote
and
allow
the
democratic
process
to
work,
but
I
do
believe
that
this
is
the
right
thing
to
do.
Thank
you.
A
AJ
AJ
AJ
I've
been
here
for
two
years,
my
wife
and
I
moved
to
our
residence
colleen
is
my
wife
she's
actually
out
right
now
and
not
able
to
attend
one
of
the
biggest
complaints
that
we
have
here
is
the
high
tax
rate
merging
with
the
city,
I
believe,
will
lower
taxes
and
create
business
opportunities
from
people
who
want
new
businesses
to
be
able
to
move
down
onto
penn
avenue.
We
saw
how
much
business
happened
in
lawrenceville,
how
many
businesses
were
created
in
bloomfield
bakery
square,
that's
right
on
penn
avenue.
AJ
A
AK
Hi,
this
is
ram
kumar
thanks
for
the
opportunity.
My
address
is
415
barnes
street
yeah.
I
I
have
I'm
here
to
make
points
similar
to
madeline
who
spoke
earlier
earlier,
so
I'm
in
a
single
learning
household
like
I
am
the
only
one
who
earns
and
I
have
my
spouse,
who
doesn't
work.
AK
So
my
point
is
it's
basically,
the
property
tax
I
think
merging
with
I'm
I'm
in
support
of
the
merger,
and
I
think,
support
merging
with
the
city
will
definitely
bring
down
the
property
tax,
especially
because
it's
becoming
extremely
hard
to
keep
up
with
the
property
tax
and
being
a
student,
a
phd
student
who
goes
to
carnegie
mellon.
I
think
I'm
paying
close
to
seven
thousand
dollars
per
year
for
a
for
a
200
dollar
house,
which
is
just
pretty
bad.
AK
So
one
more
experience
which
I
know
from
my
being
in
this
robotics
and
tech
world-
is
that
I
I
I'm
witnessing
a
lot
of
technology
based
companies
like
facebook
and
even
amazon,
considered
pittsburgh
as
a
location
for
potential
headquarters,
but
but
then
like.
So
there
are
so
many
companies
that
is
that
are
coming
and
setting
up
their
offices
in
pittsburgh
and
a
lot
of
my
friends
moved
from
the
west
coast
coming
to
pittsburgh
to
work
in
these
robotics
companies.
AK
But
then,
when
they
were
trying
to
buy
a
house
they
they
really
want.
They
really
like
the
neighborhood
and
wilkinsville,
because
it's
there
are
a
lot
of
places
which
are
very
residential,
beautiful
and
silent.
However,
they
did
not
go
for
they
did
not
buy
one
just
because
it
is
technically
in
wilkinsburg
and
because
of
the
property
tax.
I
think
there
is.
There
is
so
much
interest
for
people
to
invest
here,
but
it's,
but
just
because
it's
not
in
pittsburgh.
They
are
reluctant
and
also
because
of
the
property
tax.
AK
I
think
merging
with
the
city
will
kind
of
make
it
will
make
people
eager
to
come
and
serve
their
families
or
like
invest
in
this
in
this
in
this
neighborhood
as
well,
and
because
a
lot
of
companies-
because
I
see
so
much
so
many
companies
moving
into
pittsburgh
as
a
result
of
the
tech
talent
that
carnegie
mellon
produces.
AK
It
is
always
good
to
have
a
bigger
city,
because
people
can
come
in
and
have
more
options
so
yeah.
I
just
want
to
say
that
I'm
in
favor
of
the
annexation.
Thank
you.
A
A
Is
there
any
speakers
in
the
audience
that
would
like
to
address
counsel,
seeing
no
further
speakers
we're
going
to
turn
it
over
to
council
members
and
we'll
begin
with
councilman
coghill.
AL
You
know
I've
been
intrigued
with
this
entire
thing
of
merging
with
wilkinsburg
from
the
moment.
I
heard
it
for
many
many
reasons,
and
it's
really
good.
For
the
first
time
I
get
to
hear
from
the
residents
actually
from
wilkinsburg,
not
just
a
couple
select
groups,
so
I
was
so
intrigued.
What
I
did
I
took
an
afternoon
and
I
spent
about
five
or
six
hours
and
I
drove
up
and
down
every
street
every
business
corridor
that
wilkinsburg
has
and
I'll
tell
you.
I
was
shocked.
AL
I
was
shocked
to
see
the
amount
of
vacant
homes
abandoned
homes,
vacant
buildings.
In
a
you
know,
business
district
and
I
thought
geez.
Oh
man,
there's
a
lot
that
needs
to
go
on
here.
I
just
see
the
decline
of
wilkinsburg
from
what
I
remember
it
as
a
kid.
This
was
night
and
day
so
and
let's
face
it,
you
know
what
it
really
comes
down
to
is
a
proper
test.
Right
I
mean
it
is
impossible
to
get
investment
into
wilkinsburg.
AL
At
this
point,
with
its
current
property
tax
rate,
I've
had
lengthy
conversations
with
our
city
controller
and
our
county
executive.
Over
this
they
agree.
You
know
our
county
executive
is
always
on
the
forefront
of
promoting
and
you
know
trying
to
bring
business
into
our
our
city
or
in
our
county
and
virtually
impossible.
I
think
at
its
current
rate,
so
what
I
did
was
I
made
a
list
of
a
lot
of
pros
and
cons.
You
know,
of
course,
pros
for
pittsburgh.
AL
You
know
population,
I
think,
is
very
important
for
us
right
now
for
us
to
dip,
which
we
are
dangerous,
dangerously
close
to
dipping
below
300
000
people
puts
us
at
risk
to
not
receive
federal
state
grants
monies
of
that
sort.
So
I
also
like
the
idea
of
the
land
acquisition.
AL
You
know,
I'm
not
sure
how
much
municipal
land
is
there
yet
quite,
but
I
know
what
what's
there
in
abandoned
houses
and
businesses,
I
feel
they
can
just
board
it
up
at
this
point
you
know
and
of
course,
with
wilkinsburg,
I
feel
like
it's
a
win
situation.
For
many
reasons.
Number
one
to
you
know,
decrease
your
property
tax,
even
though
it
will
mean
a
higher
tax
for
the
renters.
AL
You
know,
but
you
know
it's
going
to
be
short
time
paying
for
long-term
gain
there,
because
you
know
without
the
proper
investment
in
the
buildings
and
the
housing
stock
around
you,
you
know
it's
going
to
continue
to
decline.
I
see
it.
I
see
right
in
front
of
my
eyes.
I
was
there.
Stop
actually
got
out
talked
to
some
of
the
neighbors
asked
them
what
they
would
feel
how
they
would
feel
about
such
a
merger.
They
didn't
know
me
from
boo
there.
You
know
I
introduced
myself,
but
you
know
they
were
both.
AL
You
know
the
two
or
three
people
I
spoke
with,
were
you
know
very
positive
as
to
you
know
the
merger,
as
today
we
saw
a
mix,
I
think
people
pro
people
against.
Of
course,
there
are
things
that
the
city
of
pittsburgh
will
bring
to
the
table,
such
as
the
ura,
the
land
bank.
AL
You
know
which
will
help
reinvigorate
that
downtown
in
the
housing
stock
there
for
wilkinsburg.
You
know
it's
the
ability
to
find
investors.
You
know
you
cannot
find
investment.
You
can't
find
people
who
want
to
invest
with
a
50
tax
rate.
It's
virtually
impossible,
I
think
so.
Something's
got
to
give
there
one
way
or
the
other
whether
it's
with
a
merger
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh
or
not.
AL
I
like,
madam
president,
here
I
am
very
concerned
about
stretching
our
resources
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
You
know
we
have.
I
have
a
vast
area
that
very
hilly
area
I
rely
heavily
on
our
department
of
public
works
to
take
care
of,
so
I
do
worry
about
stretching
our
own
resources.
In
that
I
know,
there's
a
lot
of
shared.
AL
AL
So
I
just
wanted
to
say:
for
for
the
record,
I
tend
to
be
leaning
toward
voting,
yes
for
a
merger,
I'm
going
to
withhold
and
say
for
sure,
until
after
we
have
the
post
agenda
and
really
after
I
talk
to
my
colleagues
because
I'm
on
the
other
end
of
the
city,
whereas
you
know,
doesn't
directly
impact
me
as
much
as
it
would
say,
a
councilman
burgess
or
councilman
cory,
o'connor,
so
others
and
and
there's
things
to
take
in
consideration
there.
You
know
as
far
as
first
of
all
we're
in
the
middle
redistricting.
AL
I
don't
know
what
that
really
does
to
that,
but
certainly
I
think
people
muddies
it
up
at
the
very
least,
but
but
so
so
I
withhold
you
know
my
final
decision,
what
it
would
be
on
it
until
after
we've
had
all
the
talks
until
after
I've
talked
to
other
council
members
and
to
see
exactly
where
they're
at,
but
on
this
on
the
surface.
For
me
you
know
it
seems
like
a
good
thing.
AL
I
think
it
might
be
difficult
at
first
for
pittsburgh
and
wilkinsburg,
but
ultimately
I
see
it
as
a
win-win
for
both
communities.
So
with
that,
you
know
I'll
turn
it
back
to
you,
madam
president,
and
I
look
forward
to
having
those
talks
with
you.
Thank
you.
Oh.
A
We'll
have
talks,
trust
me
so
with
that
said,
I'm
going
to
turn
it
over
to
reverend
burgess,
because
this
does
border
his
district
and
then
councilwoman
gross.
I
think
it's
first
district
councilman
burgess.
Do
you
want
to
add
anything?
Can
you
hear
me?
Yes,
I
can
so.
AM
First
of
all,
we
appreciate
everybody
who
has
who
has
come.
I
do
want
to
just
lay
on
the
table
that
this
is
not
the
only
process
while
wilkinsburg
and
pittsburgh
could
merge.
This
annexation
process
does
not
give
pittsburgh
voters
a
chance
to
participate.
AM
I
probably
philosophically
over
time
think
that
it's
probably
a
good
idea
at
some
point
for
the
two
to
come
together.
I've
said
that,
but
I
do
worry
about
this
pro
this
process.
This
process
that
we're
using
is
just
so
divisive.
AM
It
has,
you
know
racial
overturns
and
it's
it's
just
divisive,
and
I'm
not
sure
this
is
the
right
process.
I'm
not
sure
annexation
is
the
right
process.
AM
I
think
a
merger
where
the
two
cities
and
the
two
cities
voters
could
participate
may
be
a
better
model
than
this
annexation
model
because
it
short-circuits
the
piston
voters
and
the
other
thing
is
I've
heard
mostly
from,
and
I'm
also
very
concerned
that
the
political
leaders,
you
know
our
incoming
mayor,
the
mayor,
the
incoming
mayor
of
wilkinsburg
and
the
majority
of
council
representing
wilkinsburg-
are
not
in
favor
of
this.
So
you
are,
you
know,
ukraine.
AM
You
are
having
lots
of
people
who
will
have
to
be
responsible
for
the
outcome,
not
persist,
not
not
with
the
ability
to
participate,
so
this
would
sure
circuit
the
wilkinsburg
council
this
process,
it
would
sure
circuit
the
wilkinsburg
mayor
it
would.
It
would
eliminate
or
not
have
the
residents
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh
participate.
It
would
just
be
council
city,
council
of
pittsburgh
and
the
voters
of
wilkinsburg,
where
all
these
other
stakeholders
would
not
participate,
and
we
could
there
is
another
verb.
There
are
other
processes
the
state
allows
us.
This
is
a.
AM
This
is
a
fairly
unused
model.
This
way,
we're
doing
it
it's
fairly,
not
used
in
the
state
is
not
the
regular
model.
Two
cities
come
together,
it's
the
process,
I'm
very
wary
of.
Of
course,
I
would
be
the
most
disaffected,
obviously
of
any
person
on
council
it
would.
You
know
it
would
basically
create
a
new
council
district.
It
would
take
half
of
my
council
district,
probably
and
remove
it,
bring
in
wilkinsburg
and
it
would
be
create
a
completely
different
council
district
whose
center
would
probably
be
in
wilkinsburg.
AM
That's
just
the
reality
of
what
will
happen
at
some
point
and
so
again,
I'm
not
philosophically
opposed
to
you
know,
wilkinsburg
being
part
of
the
city.
I
don't,
I
don't
think
that's
a
bad
thing
necessarily.
I
am
really
uncomfortable
with
the
process.
AM
AM
I've
just
I,
and
so
it's
kind
of
weird
right
right,
our
political
people,
city
council.
We
get,
we
get
a
vote.
Wilkinsburg
council
doesn't
get
a
vote,
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
Voters
don't
get
a
vote.
The
the
the
residents
of
wilkinsburg
do
get
a
vote,
so
it's
just
it's
weird
in
that
you
know
it's
not
equal
participation.
AM
It's
really
a
process
to
seem
somewhat
undemocratic
and
somewhat
unfair.
So
that's
kind
of
my
my
concern
is
process
more
than
outcome.
So
that's
what
I'm
thinking,
I'm
I'm
not
comfortable
with
the
process,
and
I'm
also
last
thing-
is
I'm
very
concerned
that
the
elected
leaders
of
wilkinsburg
don't
feel
like
they're
part
of
the
process
and
feel
like
they're
being
bullied
and
taken
over.
I'm
very
I'm
very
concerned
about
that
and
and
what
that
feels
like
and
again.
I
think
it
has
some
some
racial
overturns,
maybe
not
intentionally
but
they're.
AM
Certainly,
you
know
having
been
vote
vocalized
to
me.
They,
the
the
people,
feel
that
there
are
some
some
some
some
some
problems,
and
so
I'm
not
comfortable
with
the
process.
So
that's
that's
what
I
think
thanks
for
this
moment.
Y
Thank
you,
madam
president,
and
I
really
appreciate
having
this
public
hearing
today
and
being
able
to
hear
directly
from
so
many
residents
and
thank
you
for
taking
the
time
both
city
residents,
but
mostly
wilkinsburg
residents.
Y
Y
I
do
feel
like
there
is
a
lot
of
complexity
here
and
I
I
too
share
councilman
burgess's
concern
that
I
heard
people
saying
there
was
a
lack
of
information
or
even
misinformation
and
disinformation
that
is
concerning
and
the
way
to
rectify.
That
is
to
continue
to
have
conversations
to
make
sure
that
there
is
a
robust
public
conversation
and
that
we
can
help
make
space.
For
that.
Y
I
also
in
my
homework,
I'm
just
so
far
into
and
trying
to
do
background
research
because
we
none
of
us
have
lived
through
these
mergers.
Our
annexations
found
that
the
the
parts
of
the
state
code
that
speak
directly
to
mergers
are
easy
to
find,
but
the
parts
of
state
law
around
annexation
are
obscure
almost
arcane,
and
I
think
only
I've
only
been
able
to
find
them,
as
provided
from
the
wilkinsburg
cdc's
hired
real
estate
attorney,
and
so
that's.
It
seems
also
that
the
process
is
not
just
lacks
inclusivity
and
seems
to
be.
Y
The
annexation
process
seems
to
be
undemocratic,
but
there's
also
there's
some
obfuscation
around
it.
It's
very
it's
I
think
it
hasn't
been
used
in
100
years.
No
one
really
knows
about
it,
we're
only
getting
advice.
Y
It
feels
like
from
one
side
of
the
debate
legal
advice
from
one
side
of
the
debate,
so
it
feels
that
part
feels
one-sided
as
well,
and
that
concerns
me,
and
so
I
believe
we
should
keep
talking
I'll,
be
looking
forward
to
the
post
agenda,
which
will
where
council
members
can
get
questions
and
answers
also
on
the
public
record,
and
I
think
we
have
a
lot
more
talking
and
listening
to
do
both
amongst
city
residents
and
council
members
and
wilkinsburg
and
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
So,
thank
you
for
your
time
today.
A
AN
You,
madam
president,
I
really
want
to
thank
everyone
for
being
for
taking
time
out
of
their
saturday
today,
including
all
the
all
the
individuals
who
gave
testimony
for
me.
I
really
can't
comment
too
much,
because
I
have
so
much
more
to
learn.
There's
there
are
a
number
of
facts
that
are
missing
from
my
understanding
so
far,
not
the
least
of
which
is
the
financial
impact
of
pittsburgh.
AN
I
understand
that's,
not
the
only
consideration,
but
that
is
a
that
is
a
big
consideration
for
me.
I
too
share
the
concern
with
the
process,
which
I
understand
is
based
off
of
an
older
process
from
the
early
1900s,
but
you
know
I
it
doesn't.
It
doesn't
eliminate
my
concern
with
it
that
I
was
already
been
expressed
by
a
couple
council
members
that
the
people
of
pittsburgh
won't
be
able
to
vote
directly
on
this
and
that
the
leadership
the
city
council
of
wilkinsburg
will
not
be
able
to
vote
on
this.
AN
It's
not
a
deal
breaker
for
me,
but
it
is
a
concern.
So
I'll
leave
my
comments
at
that
much
more
to
say,
I
have
much
more
information
gathering
to
do.
A
AN
AO
AO
I
know
we
have
all
had
our
concerns
over
the
years
about
the
cost
of
demolition
dealing
with
blighted
properties
and
the
burden
that
puts
on
taxpayers
and
leadership
here
in
the
city.
AO
I
just
want
to
be
very
mindful
of
the
hilltop
neighborhoods
that
I
represent
and
resources
that
are
scarce
to
begin
with,
and
that
I
fight
for
every
day
to
make
certain
there
is
equity
in
the
distribution
of
those
resources
and,
at
the
sake
of
repeating
myself
far
too
often,
those
resources
are
are
hampered,
as
it
relates
to
vacant
property,
blighted
property,
absentee
landlord
and
demolition.
AP
AP
You
know
made
to
choose
on
whether
or
not
to
allow
the
wilkinsburg
residents
to
vote
for
the
murder
or
not.
I
you
know
I'm
not
taking
this.
I
don't
want
to
take
this
fast
because
you
know
the
last
time
this
happened
was
on
the
north
side
when
it
was
allegheny
city
and
today
has
been
very
insightful
and
I'm
looking
forward
to
the
post
agenda.
So
I
can
further
determine
and
form
my
position
so.
G
AO
AP
To
thank
everyone
for
showing
up
today
learned
a
lot
looking
forward
to
talking
to
more
residents
of
wiltonsburg.
I
mean
my
main
thing
is
to
talk
to
as
many
residents
of
from
wilkersburg
as
possible.
A
A
Everybody
knows
I
have
my
calls
transferred
to
my
cell
phone,
so
my
phone
rang
all
day
and
all
night,
predominantly
with
people
in
opposition
residents
in
opposition.
I
asked
them
to
share
and
to
contact
the
clerk's
office
so
that
we
could
share
some
of
that
with
the
council
members
as
well
and
I'll
be
glad
to
share
some
of
those
numbers
with
you
too.
A
A
We
see,
and
I've
heard
comments
about
how
they
can
extend
bakery
square
and
extend
the
development
happening,
actually
a
lot
of
the
development
that
had
gentrified
the
area
to
begin
with,
so
to
actually
exploit
the
black
community
to
say
we're
doing
this,
for
them
is
almost
comical.
If
not,
you
know
just
shameful,
but
I
will
just
say
that
for
me,
I
think
that
this
is
more
about
development.
I
worry
about
what
that
means
for
our
side
of
town.
I
worry
about.
A
We
have
very
little
to
attract
developers
to
our
side
of
town
and
when
we
talk
about
things
like
inclusionary
zoning
and
those
types
of
things
on
our
side,
it
matters
on
our
side.
We
need
something
different
for
every
side
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
because
we
are
all
different.
A
We
are
not
the
same,
and
so
we
need
some
incentives
for
our
side
of
town
to
spur
development,
and
I
fear
that
this
will
just
be
the
nail
in
our
coffin
for
our
side
of
town,
because
we
will
not
get
development,
then
there
will
be
no
incentives.
Why
would
all
we're
doing
is
adding
more
land
to
the
east
end,
to
develop
and
to
gentrify
more
more
communities?
A
And
when
you
say
that
a
lot
of
people
are
leaving
yes,
they're
leaving
they're
leaving
because
we're
pushing
them
out
with
all
these
development
and
making
the
property
unaffordable?
So
there's
so
many
reasons
why
people
are
leaving.
If
you
want
people
to
stay,
let's
continue
to
make
the
housing
southwest
of
the
river
the
affordable
housing.
A
Let's
renovate
those
properties
more
vigorously,
let's
make
sure
that
we're
doing
what
we
can
to
help
develop
and
build
more
development,
housing
co-ops
and
to
make
sure
that
we're
doing
things
that
we
need
to
do
to
stabilize
our
areas
and
to
keep
our
residents
here
and
to
offer
jobs.
You
know
good
paying
jobs
where
people
can
buy
whatever
type
of
property
a
home
they
want.
It
doesn't
have
to
be
affordable.
A
It
can
be
something
well
really
wonderful
if
we
make
sure
that
we're
paying
people
well
so
there's
all
sorts
of
things
that
need
to
be
talked
about
and
discussed.
But
for
me
I
think
that
one,
the
vote,
reverend
burks,
mentioned
that
the
voters
in
pittsburgh
will
not
have
a
say.
We
are
their
say
we
at
this
point.
We
are
the
the
voice
of
pittsburgh.
We
were
elected
to
represent
the
people
of
pittsburgh,
and
so
I'm
going
to
do
what
I
can
to
protect
pittsburgh
and
what
you
know.
For
me.
A
That
means
includes
southwest
of
the
river
and
the
north
side
of
pittsburgh,
because
I
think
that
there's
a
lot
that
we
need
to
worry
about,
because
if
we
have,
if
we
don't
do
something
to
increase
some
stabilization,
some
development
and
some
incentives
on
our
side
of
town
we're
not
going
to
be
able
to
hold
on
to
the
affordable
housing
that
we
have
we're
not
going
to
be
able
to
hold
on
to
the
current
housing
that
we
have
we're
not
going
to
be
able
to
hold
on
to
the
southwest
of
the
river
in
a
way
that
it's
one
of
the
some
of
the
zone.
A
A
So
to
me
this
is
about
not
just
about
the
east
end
and
not
just
about
wilkinsburg
and
not
just
about
a
lot
of
opportunity
for
developers
who
want
to
develop
it's
it's
about
southwest
and
north
of
pittsburgh,
it's
about
pittsburgh
as
a
whole
and
what
that
means
for
us.
So,
while
I'm
not
opposed
to
doing,
I
will
say
I'm
not
opposed
to
a
full
city
county
merger,
I'm
not
for
it,
I'm
not
against
it.
I'm,
but
I'm
open
to
hearing
conversations
about
it.
A
I
think
part
of
what
we
do
is
we
do
these
types
of
things
just
we
just
watch
this
with
park
tax.
We
just
watch
this
with
the
library
text.
We
watch
this
happen
in
our
city,
where
good,
where
people
with
money
come
in
pay
great
pr
firms
pay
other
firms
to
come
in
and
do
some
of
the
things
that
they
want,
and
then
they
have
this
say
and
then
they
have
the
audacity
to
say
they're
doing
it
for
the
black
community
and
to
me
that
is
just
egregious.
A
I
mean
I
just
think
that
we
need
to
be
more
wise
about
how
we
do
these
things
and
do
them
more
methodically
and
more
inclusive
and
that
we
are
actually
hearing
and
bringing
all
of
our
residents
to
the
table
and
having
conversations
in
both
I
mean,
if
you
it
was
really
about
increasing
the
black
population,
you
could
start
in
this
west
end.
We
boarded
the
most
boroughs
and
we
have
the
stow
rocks
and
mckees
rocks.
We
could
really
you
know
we
don't
have.
A
We
don't
have
a
lot
of
opportunity
for
development,
so
there's
not
a
lot
of
dollars
over
there
for
for
people
that
want
to
see
it
happen.
So
for
me,
the
marketing
the
talk,
the
conversations
are
just
that
they're
all
talking
points
to
try
to
sway
people
to
do
what
they
want
them
to
do,
or
to
sway
people
to
to
go
for
this
without
having
a
real
conversation
and
real
plan
in
place
on
how
we're
doing
this
and
doing
it
right
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
It's
not
okay,
just
to
say,
we've
done
it.
A
A
AL
AL
So
so
I
just
wanted
to
make
sure
that
was
clear.
I
don't
think
it
has
anything
to
do
with
somebody.
You
know
doing
something.
You
know
it's
not
quite
right
for
that.
For
the
district,
I
find
that
people
wilkinsburg
are
very
proud
people.
I
find
they
all
love
the
neighborhood
again,
whether
they're
for
or
against.
So
that
being
said.
A
Yeah
yeah
and
I'm
just
gonna,
say
I'm
not
I'm
not
saying
that
somebody
doesn't
care
about
wilkinsburg,
I'm
saying
they
do
also
care
about
things
that
maybe
shouldn't
be
the
top
priority,
and
what
I
will
say
is
that
my
concern
is
what
it
means
for
pittsburgh
residents
at
this
point
and
especially
our
side
of
town.