►
From YouTube: Pittsburgh City Council Public Hearing - 1/11/22
Description
No description was provided for this meeting.
If this is YOUR meeting, an easy way to fix this is to add a description to your video, wherever mtngs.io found it (probably YouTube).
A
Good
evening
and
welcome
to
pittsburgh
city
council's
public
hearing
for
tuesday
january
11,
2022
relative
to
the
proposed
annexation
of
wilkinsburg,
and
this
is
the
second
hearing
we've
had
and
we've
had
a
post
agenda
regarding
this
same
subject
matter.
Can
you
please
read
the
subject
of
this
hearing.
B
A
Okay,
that's
that's
why
all
we
see
right
now
and,
as
others
join
we'll
make
sure
we
mention
them
as
well,
and
I
just
again
want
to
mention
for
the
process
that
we
have
48
registered
speakers
and
we
received
over
this
course
of
this
process.
Hundreds
of
emails
and
opinions
via
phone
calls,
emails
and
and
other
ways
from
members
or
from
residents
on
both
pittsburgh
and
wilkinsburg,
voicing
their
opinions
on
this
subject.
A
So
our
first
order
of
business
will
be
hearing
testimony
from
the
resident
speakers
once
your
name
is
called.
Please
state
your
full
name
and
address
for
the
record.
Each
speaker
will
have
three
minutes
to
address
counsel.
If
you
did
not
register
in
advance,
we
will
open
up
testimony
after
we've
exhausted
our
list
of
registered
speakers.
Non-Registered
speakers
will
receive
one
minute.
A
C
C
Councilman
coghill
said
he
would
wouldn't
attend
tonight
and
mention
that
he
didn't
agree
with
the
process
in
which
of
holding
this
public
hearing
today.
Process
is
exactly
what
the
issue
is
that
is
before
us
and
what
it
boils
down
to.
We
see
the
utilization
of
a
never
before
used
law
from
1903
to
try
to
push
through
an
annexation
rather
than
holding
robust
community
conversations
and
soliciting
financial
support
from
the
state.
C
Let's
be
clear,
this
isn't
just
about
the
students
in
pps.
This
move
would
be
a
disservice
to
the
children
of
wilkinsburg,
as
well.
Without
a
debt
relief
mechanism
for
wilkinsburg
school
district
and
assistance
from
the
state,
the
children
of
the
borough
would
be
thrown
into
a
district
who
could
not
financially
or
logistically
support
them.
If
politicians
in
this
city
really
want
to
move
this
investment
forward
or
this
initiative
forward,
I'm
sorry
we
need
to
be
having
a
conversation
about
a
merger,
not
an
annexation.
C
I
hear
the
folks
here
want
the
facts.
Facts
were
presented
to
this
body
by
ira
weiss,
while
not
speaking
on
behalf
of
the
school
district,
but
at
the
same
time
as
a
solicitor
for
many
districts
in
our
area.
I
was
surprised
and
disheartened
to
hear
our
school
district
to
hear
our
school
district
and
city
controllers
support
this
annexation
effort,
declaring
it
a
win-win
without
an
understanding
of
the
detrimental
effects
of
the
school
district.
C
C
On
top
of
all
of
this,
they
have
heard
promises
of
no
reassessments,
which
is
not
a
promise
that
can
be
made.
The
city,
school,
district
and
county
can
all
conduct
reassessments
a
resident
can
also
bring
a
lawsuit
against
the
county
to
force
a
reassessment
exactly
what
happened
10
years
ago.
We
cannot
make
promises
to
the
community
that
we
certainly
cannot
keep.
C
Many
of
you
from
are
familiar
with
the
work
that
I've
done
around
public
education
in
this
city
as
a
former
school
board
director,
the
wife
of
a
teacher,
the
mom
of
two
pps
kids
and
a
graduate
graduate
of
johnny
bershier
high
school.
My
dedication
and
commitment
to
public
education
has
very
deep
roots.
This
is
not
a
testimony
on
a
political
agenda,
but
rather
a
plea
to
take
the
children
of
both
wilkinsburg
and
the
city
into
account.
Please
vote
no
on
the
proposed
annexation.
A
D
My
name
is
carrie
chisholm.
I
reside
at
2075
pioneer
avenue
15226
and
I
would
like
to
offer
my
statement
against
the
merger
as
a
city
of
pittsburgh
resident
and
homeowner,
and
a
parent
of
a
child
in
the
pittsburgh
public
school
district.
I
support
helping
wilkinsburg,
but
not
through
this
proposed
annexation
that
is
being
irresponsibly
pushed
by
my
district's
council
member,
anthony
coghill
and
others
without
state
assistance,
charter,
law,
exemptions
and
debt
relief.
This
plan
is
not
only
unfeasible.
D
I
am
a
lifelong
supporter
of
public
schools
and
have
committed
to
bringing
my
child
through
the
pps
district,
despite
the
many
financial
struggles
and
administrative
difficulties
that
it
has
faced
even
prior
to
the
pandemic,
when
pps
had
significant
issues
finding
buses
and
drivers
for
the
2021-2022
school
year,
I
gave
up
my
child's
seat
on
the
school
bus
because
I
knew
I
could
help
another
family
in
our
district.
That
did
not
have
the
benefit
of
a
flexible
work
schedule
to
provide
parental
transportation.
D
Adding
wilkinsburg
into
the
geographical
footprint
of
pps
through
this
proposed
annexation
would
not
only
exacerbate
what
is
already
a
logistical
nightmare.
How
can
one
even
consider
making
pps
responsible
for
busing
students
as
far
away
as
murrysville,
when
district
families
are
already
being
asked
to
make
sacrifices
to
get
their
children
to
a
school
two
miles
away?
E
I
wanted
to
thank
councilman
teresa
cale
smith,
for
holding
this
hearing
and
for
the
other
council
members
who
have
the
courtesy
to
show.
I
want
to
make
it
clear
from
the
outside
of
my
testimony
that
I
vigorously
oppose
the
annexation
of
wilkinsburg
by
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
I
take
this
stand
because
it
is
not
in
the
best
interest
of
either
pittsburgh
or
wilkinsburg
residents.
E
F
E
Can
clearly
see
the
negative
impact
of
this
proposed
annexation
on
the
taxpayers
of
both
communities?
This
annexation
is
a
gift
to
developers
which
will
result
in
an
east
liberty
type
gentrification
process
that
will
punish
the
67
percent
of
wilkinsburg
residents,
who
are
renters.
Their
landlords
will
benefit
from
significant
property
tax
relief,
which
we
all
know
will
not
be
passed
on
to
the
renters.
There
will
also
be
more
pressure
on
affordable
rental
properties,
which
will
result
in
higher
rents.
The
average
wilkinsburg
resident
also
will
face
a
three-fold
increase
in
their
wage
tax.
E
We
have
not
had
our
street
beach
view
cleaned
by
the
city
for
four
years
and
we
still
don't
have
a
public
works
building
in
our
council
district.
Many
of
you
seen
the
recent
news
coverage
of
our
lack
of
services
for
snow
removal.
Money
goes
to
the
development
of
select
areas.
While
the
majority
of
the
city
suffers.
This
fate
awaits
wilkinsburg.
E
Our
school
district
and
residents
cannot
be
asked
to
take
on
the
wilkinsburg
school
district's,
27
million
dollar
debt,
an
old
unused
high
school
building
and
additional
fiscal
burdens.
So
what
is
the
answer?
There
is
no
reason
that
a
merger
shouldn't
be
considered
in
the
future.
This
would
need
to
be
accomplished
with
state
cooperation,
technical
assistance
from
the
pennsylvania
department
of
education,
protection
for
renters
against
the
worst
aspects
of
gentrification
for
long-term
residents,
policy
changes
and
financial
compensation.
That
makes
it
possible
for
the
pittsburgh
public
schools
to
enable
emerge
or
merger
without
punishing
pittsburgh
taxpayers.
E
A
A
Everyone
we'll
come
back
jamie's
a
school
board
director
for
pittsburgh,
public
schools.
F
F
Why
should
the
residents
of
wilkinsburg
not
have
a
say
in
this?
Why
should
the
residents
of
pittsburgh
not
play
a
part
in
this
decision?
It
seems
very
back
door.
To
be
honest,
and
secondarily
I
am
a
parent
of
a
student
who
attends
the
pittsburgh
public
schools
and
this
fall.
F
I
can't
imagine
how
we
are
going
to
take
on
wilkinsburg's
burden
their
debt,
their
buildings,
their
contracts
when
we
are
struggling
with
taking
care
of
what
we
have
here
and
that
goes
beyond.
I
mean
snowfall
sanitation.
F
A
G
Good
evening,
president
kale
smith
and
pittsburgh
city
council
members,
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
this
evening.
My
name
is
tracy
evans
and
I'm
the
executive
director
of
the
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation.
I
live
at
614
whitney
avenue
and
have
been
a
resident
of
wilkinsburg
since
1987..
G
We
respectfully
ask
that
we'd
be
given
an
opportunity
to
present
an
overview
of
the
financial
analysis
that
has
been
prepared
for
both
the
city
and
the
school
district.
To
answer
the
many
questions
that
have
been
raised,
there's
much
information
that
has
not
been
able
to
be
shared
and,
yes,
we
agree
in
terms
of
conversations
and
people
working
together,
so
we
do
request
that
opportunity.
H
Yes,
hello,
my
name's
elizabeth
or
beth
slaby,
I'm
a
former
wilkinsburg
school
board
member
I've
also
been
a
homeowner
in
wilkinsburg
since
2013.
as
somebody
who's
witnessed
the
inner
workings
of
the
wilkinsburg
community.
I
think
the
the
merger
could
be
a
symbiotic
relationship.
H
There
are
many
historic
homes
in
wilkinsburg
that
I
think
are
in
need
of
just
a
little
bit
of
tlc.
If
the
boroughs
were
to
merge,
I
believe
that
could
incentivize
people
and
businesses
to
invest
in
these
properties,
which
can
contribute
to
the
revitalization
of
revitalization
of
an
area
that
has
a
lot
of
potential.
H
In
my
mind,
I
also
wanted
to
clarify
something
I
it
is
my
understanding
that
wilkinsburg's
debt
is
not
27
million,
it's
21
million,
three
million
of
which
is
earning
interest,
while
they
await
architect
plans
for
the
cali
primary
building
and
approximately
4.2
million
will
be
reimbursed
by
the
department
of
education
over
20
years.
So
that
brings
the
debt
to
around
17
million,
which
is
a
fraction
of
the
average
for
allegheny
county
districts.
H
It's
also
my
understanding
that
in
the
six
years
that
wilkinsburg
residents
have
operated
as
a
collective
community
and
that
the
students
have
been
attending
pittsburgh
public
schools
that
they've
improved
the
grade
point
averages
by
a
full
point.
So
it
would
be
wonderful
for
that
partnership
to
continue.
H
A
Does
he
have
an
old?
Is
you
he
jason?
I
apologize.
You
have
an
old,
older
version
of
zoom
and
it's
not
working
for
us.
So
if
you
would
submit
your
comments
via
email
or
you
can
call
the
clerk's
office
and
she'll
be
happy
to
share
that
with
all
members
of
council
and
the
number
for
the
clerk's
office.
Madam
clerk.
A
I
Yes,
good
evening,
my
name
is
paul
o'hanlon.
I
live
at
959,
south
braddock
avenue
in
wilkinsburg,
and
I
urge
pittsburgh
city
council
to
reject
this
proposal
to
annex
wilkinsburg.
It
isn't
in
the
best
interest
of
pittsburgh
or
wilkinsburg,
but
what
I
want
to
emphasize
is
how
responsive
irresponsible
this
particular
effort
is
herb.
Simon
was
a
professor
at
carnegie,
mellon
university
and
he
won
a
nobel
prize.
I
He
was
a
really
smart
guy
and
herb
simon
observed
that
the
scarcest
resource
of
all
is
human
attention
and
that's
relevant
to
this
question
about
annexing
wilkinsburg
at
the
moment.
Wilkinsburg
is
the
top
concern
for
wilkinsburg,
council
and
employees
and
residents
if
wilkinsburg
is
the
next,
who
here
on
council
or
city
government,
will
have
wilkinsburg
as
your
highest
concern
and
priority.
I
If
wilkinsburg
is
annexed,
what
is
pittsburgh's
plan
to
address
our
problems?
I
ask
knowing
that
pittsburgh
has
no
plan,
and
none
of
you
has
a
reason
to
take
on
wilkinsburg
problems.
Instead
of
the
problems
in
your
neighborhoods
you're
being
asked
to
approve
a
plan
that
is
no
plan,
if
just
being
within
the
city,
boundaries
is
all
that
wilkinsburg
needs
to
thrive.
Then
why
aren't
all
city
neighborhoods
thriving?
I
If
this
is
the
solution
to
the
decline
of
the
wilkinsburg
business
district,
then
why
are
business
districts
in
homewood,
sheridan,
brookline,
northside,
hazelwood
and
the
south
side
hilltop
communities
all
suffering?
If
the
plan
is
simply
to
be
annexed
by
pittsburgh,
then
let's
be
honest
and
admit
admit
that
there
is
no
plan.
It's
like
coming
up
with
a
plan
to
fix
a
flat
tire
by
towing
the
car
to
a
nicer
neighborhood.
I
I
urge
pittsburgh
city
council
to
be
the
responsible
party.
I
think
we
all
need
to
be
open
to
thinking
about
how
and
why
the
city
might
merge
with
wilkinsburg
but
see
that
the
present
proposal
doesn't
get
us
there
until
there's
a
vote.
No
one
can
say
for
certain
what
wilkinsburg
residents
think,
but
it's
clear
that
wilkinsburg
elected
officials
do
not
support
this
effort.
A
Thank
you
and
our
next
five
speakers
are
edward
donovan,
kathleen
rollins,
myra,
pitaway,
stephen
cook,
I'm
sorry,
stephanie
cook,
one
two,
three
four
and
renee
donnelly
and
so
we'll
begin
with
edward
donovan.
J
Hi
everyone-
and
thank
you,
madam
president,
and
members
of
of
counsel
for
this
opportunity.
My
name
is
ed
donovan,
I'm
president
of
the
wilkinsburg
school
board,
and
I
live
at
two
three
six,
three
seven
placed
in
wilkinsburg
I've
been
here
for
29
years.
I
signed
up
to
comment
not
to
be
in
favor
of
annexation,
but
definitely
in
favor
of
the
referendum,
and
there
are
a
couple
rumors.
J
There
are
a
lot
of
rumors
out
there
right
now
in
the
media
and
on
facebook,
and
I'd
like
to
dispel
a
couple
of
those.
Now
with
the
time
that
I
have
I've
heard
the
battle
cry,
save
pbs
because
wilkinsburg
would
mean
take
over
by
the
state.
That's
just
false
takeover
or
receivership
is
the
most
drastic
move
that
the
state
makes
when
a
school
district
is
in
some
trouble.
I
think
there's
one
district
out
of
500
in
the
state,
that's
actually
in
receivership.
Right
now,
which
is
what
it's
called
there's.
J
There
are
many
steps
going
on
the
financial
watch
list
going
into
financial
recovery
that
pde
in
the
state
offer
to
school
districts
before
the
very
drastic
step
of
receivership.
I
think
the
thought
of
running
pittsburgh
school
district
from
harrisburg
would
give
any
legislator
nightmares
and
so
that
that
that's
a
an
idle
threat.
I
think
some
people
are
putting
forward.
Second,
is
that
pittsburgh,
public
schools
would
get
stuck
with
the
costs
of
bussing,
our
charter
students
to
monroeville,
and,
more
recently
I
heard
murrysville
it's
false.
J
We
believe
that
that
is
what
the
law
says,
and
this
is
now
in
front
of
the
highest
court
in
the
state.
I
can't
comment
any
further
on
it,
but
when
we
win
that
it
will
be
a
boon
to
school
districts
all
over
the
state-
and
the
third
is
that
annexation
means
that
pbs
would
get
no
assistance
or
support
whatsoever
from
the
pennsylvania
department
of
education.
That's
false
pde
helped
us
a
lot
when
we
worked
with
pittsburgh
on
our
high
school
kids.
J
One
thing
no
one
talks
about
is
revenue
that
would
go
to
pbs.
Annexation
doesn't
mean
that
pbs
would
get
stuck
with
550
students
and
no
money
to
pay
for
their
education.
We
get
17
million
dollars
a
year
from
the
state
7
million
from
the
feds,
and
all
of
that
would
accrue
to
pps.
As
far
as
local
tax
revenue
is
concerned,
the
financial
consulting
firm
pfm
are
working
now.
A
And
mara
mara
hit
put
away.
A
A
You're
on,
could
you
is
she
unmuted?
She
has
an
old
version
too.
Okay,
if
you
can
update
your
version
that
you
have
and
then
call
back
in
and
we'll
call
on
you.
If
not,
you
can
call
the
city
clerk's
office
to
share
your
statements
with
all
members
of
council
and
they
can
email
you
or
call
you
madame
clerk
at
sorry.
Could
you
give
your
information
again.
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
sorry
for
putting
you
on
the
spot
there
and
we'll,
but
we'll
try
to
come
back.
Stephanie
cook,
stephanie
cook.
K
Can
you
hear
me
yes,
hi
good
evening,
hi
good
evening,
everyone
I'm
stephanie
cook,
I
live
at
2031,
kendon
drive
east
in
wilkinsburg
and
I
do
oppose
this
annexation
because
I
do
believe-
and
I
know-
and
you
know
also,
that
pittsburgh
has
its
own
issues
until
you
take
care
of
your
issues.
You
should
not
even
think
about
taking
on
someone
else's
issues.
This
proposal
would
not
do
anything
to
educate
the
young
african-american
males
they
need
to
get
off
the
street.
K
They
need
some
kind
of
educational
programs
like
when
they
got
rid
of
carnally
trade
school.
That
was
one
of
the
worst
things
that
ever
happened
to
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
We
need
something
like
that
for
these
young
african
american
males
get
them
young
and
get
them
trained.
Educated
and
working
pittsburgh
doesn't
have
a
plan
to
get
rid
of
drugs,
so
they
will
come
in
wilkinsburg
and
and
and
it's
not
going
to
help
if
they
don't
have
a
plan
to
get
rid
of
the
drugs
out
of
the
city.
K
K
The
side
streets
are
just
totally
ignored,
as
if
people
don't
live
on
them.
People
live
on
side
streets
and
it's
just
horrible
how
pittsburgh
manages
their
roads
and
pittsburgh
is
known
for
their
racism.
They
need
to
work
on
these
four
things.
Educating
the
young
african-american
males,
get
the
drugs
deal
with
these
horrible
roads
and
combat
racism
before
they
think
about
taking
care
of
wilkinsburg,
and
I
thank
you
for
your
time.
L
Hi,
can
you
hear
me?
Okay,
great,
my
name
is
renee
dalny
and
I
live
at
2315
orlando
place
in
pittsburgh.
I
am
a
wilkinsburg
resident.
I
am
asking
you
to
vote
against
annexation
as
an
opening.
L
I
want
to
say
clearly
to
you
that
wilkinsburg
is
not
a
failing
community.
We
do
take
care
of
our
own.
We
have
a
better
bond
rating
than
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
with
a
balanced
budget
and
a
prison
surplus
every
year.
Financially,
we
are
doing
great
and
I
can
share
reports
from
our
finance
department.
If
you
are
interested,
we
are
not
asking
for
your
help.
L
The
main
problem
that
wilkinsburg
has
as
everybody
remarks
is
the
blight,
and
I
want
to
say
something
as
plainly
as
I
can,
and
that
is
that
the
blight
in
wilkinsburg
is
caused
by
tidal
problems.
Blight
is
not,
and
this
is
typical
for
most
communities.
The
blight
is
not
caused
by
lack
of
investment.
The
blight
is
not
caused
by
no
one
wanting
to
move
to
wilkinsburg.
The
blight
is
not
caused
because
our
taxes
are
too
high.
L
The
blight
is
caused
because
of
tangled
titles,
typically
a
dead
owner,
and
I
want
to
state
specifically
to
councilman
coghill
that
we
do
have
a
plan
to
deal
with
our
own
blight.
The
very
worst
thing
that
could
happen
to
wilkinsburg.
The
very
worst
thing
would
be
for
it
to
merge
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh-
and
I
say
this
because
pittsburgh
owns
over
11
500
blighted
properties.
L
L
I
think
it's
clear
to
everybody
here
that
it
is
the
forces
of
gentrification
that
are
pushing
this
annexation.
There
is
a
vision
for
east
liberty
and
bakery
square
to
just
creep
on
down
penn
avenue
and
to
push
everybody
who
currently
lives
in
wilkinsburg
out.
These
forces
are
the
developers
who
will
profit
from
the
construction
and
the
federal
monies
that
will
underwrite
their
activities.
L
These
unelected
people
should
have
no
say
in
what
happens
to
an
autonomous,
independent
community
that
likes
being
an
independent
community
county
executive,
rich
fitzgerald,
tipped
his
hand
by
headlining
the
event
last
wednesday
on
the
city
county
building
steps.
I
know
that
it
cannot
be
easy
or
comfortable
for
anybody
on
city
council
to
defy
the
wishes
of
rich
fitzgerald,
but
I
am
asking
you
to,
and
I
am
reminding
you
that
rich
fitzgerald
is
pretty
much
a
lame
duck
already
and
less
than
two
years
he
will
have
as
much
power
as
dan
honorado
does
now.
L
A
Thank
you
and
the
next
five
speakers
are
bud
wise
pamela,
macklin,
denise
edwards
president
wilkinsburg
borough,
council,
vanessa,
buffery,
one
two,
three
four
and
jody
harper
guy
and
we'll
begin
with
bud
wise.
Please
bud
wise.
M
M
M
M
Municipal
consolidation
leads
to
efficiencies
which
benefit
all
parties,
witness
the
successful
partnerships
that
the
city
already
has
with
wilkinsburg
to
provide
fire
protection
and
garbage
collection
and
beyond
that,
the
very
successful
public
school
partnership
for
wilkinsburg.
This
is
an
opportunity
to
stop
the
trend
of
decline,
as
has
been
well
documented.
M
M
M
A
Emily
macklin,
if
we
do
not
see
pml
macklin
on
registered
on
the
zoom,
so
we'll
begin
we'll
go
to
our
next
speaker,
who
happens
to
be
the
president
of
wilkinsburg
borough,
council,
denise,
edwards.
N
Good
evening
and
thank
you,
president
kale
smith,
and
thank
you
again
to
pittsburgh
city
council,
I
wanted
to
bring
to
city
council's
attention
the
two
resolutions
that
wilkinsburg
borough
council
has
passed
in
opposition
to
this
effort.
I
have
already
sent
them
electronically
to
ms
robinson.
I
believe
it
is
who
is
the
clerk
for
your
review.
N
We
have
worked
many
years
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
have
two
contracts
that
have
a
negotiate
renegotiated
those
contracts
ever
in
their
time
limit
in
the
contract
time
limit
to
everybody's
advantage,
an
annexation
is
quite
different.
That
is
not
a
mutual
discussion
where
parties
sit
at
the
table
and
negotiate
a
path
forward
to
their
mutual
benefit.
N
That
is
not
what
an
annexation
is.
We
have
great
respect
and,
as
I've
said,
we
work
very
well
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
but
wilkinsburg
is
perfectly
capable
of
governing
ourselves,
as
demonstrated
through
the
last
several
decades.
Where
we
have
grown
have
balanced.
Our
budgets
have
improved
our
bond
rating.
N
There
are
many
other
issues
we
need
to
deal
with.
A
wilkinsburg
borough
council
believes
very
strongly
that
we
are
able
to
do
that.
We
believe
also
also
very
strongly
that
this
whole
discussion,
which
blindsided
council
last
last
year,
blindsided
council,
has
created
a
and
has
created
a
great
deal
of
confusion,
as
other
speakers
have
alluded
to.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
time.
I
would
like
to
invite
you
to
wilkinsburg
to
visit
many
of
our
new
businesses
and
we
look
forward
to
continuing
to
working
together
very
well
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
O
O
Unfortunately,
in
wilkinsburg,
any
public
commentary
on
the
issue
has
been
full
stop
censored
by
our
borough
council,
beginning
in
january
2021,
when
they
issued
an
edict
to
censor
mayor
marita
garrett,
then
mayor
marita
garrett
after
she
came
out
in
public
with
some
of
the
municipal
challenges
that
the
borough
was
facing,
not
replacing
employees
lapsing
services
so
on
and
so
forth.
The
very
next
month
they
occupied
their
council
meeting
with
censoring
and
I'm
sure
it
sounds
like
miss
edwards
has
sent
to
you.
O
They
censored,
then
any
discussion
of
annexation
within
the
borough
of
wilkinsburg,
the
wcdc
at
that
stage,
has
stepped
up
to
host
a
democrat
democratic
discussions
and
of
course
everybody
would
wish
that
our
representatives
would
take
it
upon
themselves
to
represent
us
as
such,
but
in
such
a
vacuum
it
was
the
wcdc
that
stepped
forth.
O
Faced
with
the
reality,
this
after
november's
elections
that
the
council
was
to
receive
five
incoming
board
members,
they
rushed
a
third
censorship
edict
and,
at
that
point
the
school
board
stepped
in
to
signal
our
commitment
to
fill
the
absolute
leadership
vacuum
in
the
borough.
We
voted
in
our
december
meeting-
seven,
yes
to
one
abstain,
to
investigate
this
annexation
and
to
begin
conversations
with
pittsburgh
public
schools.
O
We
sent
this
resolution
to
council
and
we
are
a
bit
surprised
to
see
that
things
are
starting
to
be
rushed,
even
though
we
have
indicated
that
we
are
open-minded
and
we're
going
to
investigate
the
process.
O
That
does
not
mean
that
we
are
in
support
of
the
annexation,
as
it
were,
in
fact
we're
quite
proud
of
our
schools,
we're
proud
of
our
teachers
and
all
of
the
administration,
and
especially
our
fantastic
students,
but
heck
if
our
residents
and
the
tune
of
a
thousand
two
hundred
people
have
signed
a
resolution
that
says
that
we
want
to
investigate
it.
It's
our
role
as
public
servants
to
do
that.
O
So
we
ask
that
you
allow
wilkinsburg
residents
the
chance
to
vote
for
ourselves
because
nobody
else
is
really
representing
us
in
our
best
interest
at
the
borough
council
and
as
a
school
board
representative,
we
ask
for
more
time
to
continue
to
pursue
and
to
investigate
really
what
it
would
mean
for
school
districts
to
to
work
together.
O
O
Finally,
just
as
a
resident,
not
as
a
school
board
resident,
I
would
as
a
good
as
a
school
board
member.
I
would
just
like
to
point
out
that
it's
not
just
tax
issues
or
title
issues
that.
P
Good
evening
and
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
to
talk
to
you
folks
this
evening,
my
question
is
frankly:
what
is
the
rush
at
wcdc,
pittsburgh,
city,
council
and
proponents
of
the
annexation?
P
P
P
P
Stop
the
rush
to
vote
without
a
plan
and
without
making
sure
that
all
people
in
wilkinsburg
are
registered
to
vote
because,
right
now,
voter
registration
is
not
across
the
board.
Voter
registration
is
higher
in
higher
income
neighborhoods
and
not
on
the
main
street
and
the
neighborhood
surrounding
it.
So
where
did
the
100
million
go
and
what's
the
rush?
Q
Q
It
has
been
brought
to
my
attention
that
some
of
you
may
not
understand
the
role
of
community
organizers,
see
our
job
is
to
pay
attention
to.
What's
going
on
in
our
communities
educate
our
members
when
there
are
red
flags
and
support
them
in
their
ability
to
speak
to
their
elected
officials,
and
tonight
we
are
raising
that
red
flag.
Q
While
we
welcome
the
rest
of
wilkinsburg
students
into
pps,
we
must
utilize
a
thoughtful
and
careful
process,
as
we
done
when
the
older
children
moved
into
our
district
annexation
could
cause
irreparable
harm
to
the
children
of
wilkinsburg,
increasing
the
depth
and
burden
on
pps
without
any
support
from
the
state
and
community.
Our
school
district
is
already
suffering.
Q
Q
Q
A
R
A
R
Thank
you
to
my
friends
on
city
council
for
holding
this
hearing.
My
name
is
bailey
brown.
I
reside
at
721
whitney
avenue
in
wilkinsburg
15221
and
I'm
here
to
speak
critically
in
opposition
to
this
initiative.
I'd
like
to
echo
many
points,
many
others
have
made
in
opposition
tonight,
especially
having
to
do
with
the
process
and
lack
of
transparency
around
this
initiative,
especially
on
the
part
of
the
wilkinsburg
cdc.
R
I
I
do
understand
some
compelling
arguments
for
the
annexation.
However,
I
do
believe
it
would
solve
some
problems
for
some
people
and
create
other
problems
for
many
others,
namely
working
class
renters
like
myself,
that
comprise,
as
you've
heard
over
half
the
population
in
wilkinsburg.
R
R
As
I
said,
my
primary
issue
is
with
the
process.
I
don't
believe
it's
been
undertaken
in
a
way
that
is
fair
or
equitable
to
wilkinsburg
residents
across
the
board
and
across
the
borough.
R
I
feel
that
the
wcdc
kept
the
process
under
wraps
for
too
long
and
is
currently
rushing
us
all
the
while
and,
as
I
understand
from
a
conversation
with
miss
evans
the
other
day,
the
the
thrush.
The
the
thrust
of
the
rush
is
to
make
redistricting
easier
on
the
part
of
the
city,
and
this
to
me
is
a
perfect
example
of
you
know.
R
Obviously
many
people
tonight
don't
seem
to
know
that
that's
a
reasoning
behind
the
rush
and
that
to
me
does
not
seem
to
be
a
good
reason
because
it
speaks
to
the
the
many
unanswered
questions
you
know.
Wilkinsburgers
are
being
expected
to
vote
on
this
initiative
without
even
knowing
which
district
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
we
would
become
a
part
of
just
as
one
simple
example,
too
many
unknowns,
not
enough
transparency.
R
I
believe
that
also,
as
stated
wilkinsburg
bureau
council
is
not
providing
enough
opportunity
for
authentic
community
engagement,
and
I
would
urge
city
council
to
stop
the
process
at
this
time
so
that
it
could
be
approached
in
a
more
equitable
manner.
R
A
Thank
you
and
our
next
speakers
in
person,
mr
noor
ralph
lauren
good
evening,
mr
noor.
Thank
you
for
waiting
patiently
here.
Good.
S
S
I
don't
think
people
in
wilkinsburg
understand
the
ramifications
of
what's
happening
here,
they're
just
looking
at
the
property
tax,
which
is
about
75
percent
higher
than
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
I
understand,
but
I
had
this
conversation
with
a
friend
of
mine
who
I've
known
for
approximately
40
years,
who
lives
and
owns
a
house
in
wilkinsburg,
and
I
recently
explained
to
him
what
was
going
on
down
here
and
what
was
being
described
by
the
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation
as
a
win
for
wilkinsburg.
S
But
then
I
asked
I
asked
my
friend
marvin,
I
said
marvin.
How
much
do
you
pay
in
real
estate
taxes-
and
he
said
I
think
he
said
approximately
thirty
three
hundred
dollars,
which
sounds
high
to
me
and,
like
I
said,
I
think
it's
approximately
75
percent
above
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
However,
I
said
to
him
and
he
works.
I
said
well
marvin:
do
you
realize
that
we
have
a
three
percent
wage
tax
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh?
S
So
when
you
look
at
your
pay
stub,
you
will
notice
that
you
love
three
times
the
amount
that
you
currently
pay.
So
look
at
your
wage
and
I
said
who
else
in
your
home
earns
a
wage,
and
he
said
my
wife
and
my
adult
daughter,
34
years
old,
I
said
okay,
so
I
didn't
ask
him
how
much
he
made
and
his
wife
and
his
daughter
combined,
but
I
just
did
a
conservative
estimate
and
I
would
say,
a
hundred
thousand
dollars
as
an
example.
S
Now,
let's
look
at
the
also
something
that's
not
being
mentioned
is
the
property
transfer
tax,
which
I
believe
is
about
five
times
higher
than
wilkinsburg.
So
if
you
sell
a
hundred
thousand
dollar
home,
you
pay
five
percent.
That's
five
thousand
dollars,
which
is
usually
split
between
the
buyer
and
seller
of
the
home.
S
It's
currently
it
would
be
a
thousand
dollars,
so
it's
quite
a
difference
there,
just
with
those
two
in
particular
and
then
for
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
I
would
like
to
say
that
I
doubt
they
have
much
parking
revenue
that
that
they
can
generate
out
in
wilkinsburg.
The
city
of
pittsburgh,
as
we
know,
generates
a
lot
of
income
from
the
parking
tax.
So
there's
huge
disparities.
S
I
don't
think
this
was
totally
thought
through
and
then
you
talk
about
the
issues
with
the
school
board,
mergers
and
the
redistricting
of
the
political
areas.
It's
quite
a
complicated
issue.
I
don't
think
everybody's
taking
everything
in
consideration
whether
you
live
in
pittsburgh
or
you
live
in
wilkinsburg.
One
last
thing:
I
understand
from
being
in
council
meetings
that
we
have
approximately
seven
thousand
abandoned
buildings
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
tens
of
thousands
somewhere
between
20
and
30
000
vacant
properties
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
S
A
A
Paige
twice
she's
comfortable,
councilwoman,
twice
she's
another
one:
okay,
we'll
maybe
try
to
come
back.
She's
councilwoman.
A
Try
to
come
back
here
and
natisha
c
washington.
A
Latisha
c
washington-
I'm
here
hear
me
yes
good
evening.
T
Since
hearing
about
the
merger,
I
have
taken
time
to
go
over
the
focus
group
presentation
and
a
redevelopment
study
on
the
wilkinsburg
merger
website,
and
I
found
that
in
the
focus
group
study.
Many
statements
were
made
about
the
vast
president
of
vast
presence
of
vacant
properties,
lack
of
communication
within
the
community,
especially
among
our
council,
high
property
tax
values
and
the
racial
divide.
That
is
very
present
here.
These
issues,
especially
the
presence
of
vacant
homes.
I
know
personally,
are
still
currently
an
issue
in
low-income
communities
within
the
city.
T
So
I
am
not
fully
convinced
that
the
city
has
the
capacity
to
address
the
many
issues
that
our
community
faces
in
the
redevelopment
plan.
There
is
a
lot
of
focus
on
property
attacks,
even
though,
as
we
heard
throughout
today,
many
of
our
people,
above
60
of
our
residents
or
renters
all
of
our
residents,
would,
as
mentioned
before,
have
a
two
percent
inflation
on
their
earned
income
tax,
which
can
be
a
major
issue
for
our
low-income
families.
T
With
this
plan,
there
is
the
possibility
of
gentrification
and
raised
rent
rates
from
the
new
development
that
has
been
proposed
in
these
plans,
and
this
concern
has
yet
to
be
properly
addressed
to
the
many
concerned
and
vulnerable
residents
within
our
community.
Neither
document
has
showed
how
the
annexation
would
and
could
possibly
affect
the
majority
of
our
population,
which
is
black
renters.
T
So
I
asked
the
council
to
vote
no
on
this
annexation
and
delay
this
ballot
vote
until
our
community
thoroughly
engages
is
thoroughly
engaged
and
educated
on
this
process
and
an
equitable
decision
can
be
made
with
the
community.
The
community
voice
was
not
properly
heard,
nor
engaged
during
this
process,
and
I
believe
such
a
majorly
impactful
decision
should
not
be
made
without
a
real
engagement
process
that
includes
all
residents
as
a
resident
of
wilkinsburg.
I
personally
do
not
approve
of
a
plan
that
is
not
in
favor
of
our
vulnerable
residents
like
me,
and
believe.
T
B
A
Thank
you,
and
our
next
speaker
is
alexander
denmarsh,
I'm
going
to
name
the
next
few
speakers,
alexander
denmarch,
linda
atkins
renee,
haynes-johnson,
monica
garcia
and
derek
l,
mckinley
and
we'll
begin
with
alexandra
dunmarsh.
Please.
A
U
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
president
kale
smith
and
city
council
members.
I
am
alexander
denmarsh.
I
live
at
1003
mifflin
avenue
in
wilkinsburg
one
five,
two
two
one,
my
wife
and
I
are
15-year
residents
of
wilkinsburg.
U
We
have
seen
some
changes
for
the
better
in
the
neighborhood
in
the
time
that
we've
been
here
thanks
to
the
tireless
effort
of
some
groups,
but
the
majority
of
our
very
significant
tax
dollars.
We
spend
eight
thousand
dollars
annually,
combined
real
estate
and
school
taxes
on
a
two
hundred
thousand
dollar
house.
U
U
U
Even
if
my
tax
dollars
don't
change
a
nickel,
I'm
happy
to
contribute
my
tax
dollars
to
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
so
that
we
can
stop
spinning
our
wheels
in
wilkinsburg
and
better
access,
programming
and
resources
that
would
become
available
to
us
through
those
shared
tax
dollars
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
that
the
borough
of
wilkinsburg
currently
desperately
needs
by
becoming
a
part
of
the
amazing
city
of
pittsburgh
and
even
better
after
wilkinsburg
comes
on
board.
My
wife
and
I
are
in
full
support
of
this
merger
acquisition
and
we
ask
for
your
support.
A
Thank
you,
and
our
next
speaker
is
councilwoman,
linda
atkins.
V
Thank
you
very
much.
My
name
is
linda
atkins.
I'm
on
wilkinsburg
council
in
ward,
one
I
live
on.
2021
kendon
drive
one
five,
two
two
one
long
time
resident
here
and
I'm
speaking
out
against
the
annexation,
and
somebody
already
asked
why
how's
this
gonna
benefit
wilkinsburg.
So
that's
also
my
question.
The
way
this
whole
thing
was
handled
by
the
cdc
in
wilkinsburg
is
shameful.
Shame
on
them
and
they
haven't
you're
right.
They
haven't
been
helping.
V
Wilkinsburg
they've
gotten
much
much
funding
from
from
funders
and
they
have
done
nothing
to
help
our
penn
avenue
business
district.
So
shame
on
them
dismiss
misinformation
that
was
given
to
residents
of
wilkinsburg
has
caused
confusion,
and
people
are
not
clear
on
what
they're
voting
on
and
I
was
recently
asked
by
a
resident
who
signed
the
petition.
He
wasn't,
he
didn't
understand
what
was
going
on
and
he
asked
me
after
the
fact.
V
After
we
have
the
merger
in
it
and
if
it
doesn't
work,
can
we
take
it
back
clearly,
this
is
showing
confusion,
it's
not
a
merger's
annexation.
Clearly,
this
is
confusion
and
a
lot
of
it
had
to
do
with
the
cdc
came
out
of
the
you
know.
Out
of
the
block
saying
it
was
a
merger
that
was
a
lie.
V
The
word
is
also
out
that
wilkinsburg
borough
is
needed
only
to
increase
the
numbers
in
pittsburgh's
population.
Pittsburgh
is
losing
population,
as
you
know,
a
lot
of
areas
in
pennsylvania
and
it's
not
the
right
thing
to
do
just
to
grab
numbers
from
another
community
and
also
it's
not
an
opportunity
to
to
diversify
what
somebody
said
earlier
and
I
find
it
as
a
person
of
color
a
little
bit
insulting
to
say,
you're
going
to
grab
people
from
another
community
just
to
diversify
pittsburgh.
V
V
Millions
of
dollars
were
spent
on
the
train
station
project
by
the
community
development
corporation
in
wilkinsburg,
led
by
tracy
evans,
while
development
on
our
penn
avenue
business
district
was
ignored,
the
cdc
in
wilkinsburg
has
itself
caused
fear
and
tension
between
income
levels
class
and
between
races
by
spreading
misinformation.
V
So
all
of
this
needs
to
be
better.
This
all
needs
to
be
better.
We
all
need
to
have
a
clear
understanding
and
what's
coming
out
tonight
as
well,
is
that
there
is
confusion
as
far
as
our
school
systems
and
some
of
the
information
I'm
hearing
does
not
go
along
with
what
the
pittsburgh
solicitor
said
at
a
previous
meeting.
So
there's
definitely
just
lots
of
confusion.
V
So
this
is
not
the
time
to
do
this,
and
I
did
want
to
say
that
I
spoke
with
a
business
owner
on
penn
avenue
in
wilkinsburg
and
he's
a
new
business
owner,
and
he
said
that
they
had
no
choice
but
to
move
their
business
from
east
liberty.
A
You
can
submit
comments
if
you
want
to
our
clerk's
office
and
she'll,
make
sure
that
we
receive
all
the
comments
if
you're,
if
the
mic
cut
you
off
after
three
minutes
for
any
any
speaker,
our
next
speaker
is
renee
haynes,
johnson,
renee,
haines,
johnson.
A
Q
My
name
is
renee
haines
johnson
and
I've
lived
in
wilkinsburg
since
1985..
My
current
address
is
2261
laketon
road.
I
began
and
retired
from
my
30-year
career
about
a
home
and
raised
my
family.
During
this
time.
I've
seen
the
borough
go
through
rough
times
and
enter
times
of
stability
and
improvement.
Q
So
many
speakers
before
me
have
already
stolen
my
thunder
so
I'll
just
go
on
and
say
that
in
september
of
last
year
I
became
aware
of
the
annexation
proposal
and
who
initiated
it.
The
wilkinsburg
community
development
corporation
as
you've
heard
of
already
tonight,
which
to
me,
is
a
misnomer
by
their
actions.
They
have
proven
themselves
to
be
self-serving
entity
whose
motivation
is
to
promote
their
agenda,
fatten
their
coffers
and
destroy,
rather
than
develop
the
community
whose
name
they
bear.
Q
They
approached
you
as
representing
the
desire
of
wilkinsburg
residents.
Wilkinsburg
consists
of
more
than
the
regent
square
area
and
certain
parts
of
black
ridge.
This
non-profit
has
also
used
skewed
propaganda
to
bamboozle
some
into
believing
that
annexation
is
a
problem
solver.
The
bamboozled
includes
you,
council
and
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
Q
I
asked
you
members
of
pittsburgh
council
to
say
no,
not
right
now
to
the
proposed
annexation
and
put
the
brakes
on
this.
Speeding,
train
annexation,
couldn't
read
visitors,
doorstep
again
for
at
least
two
years,
that's
enough
time
to
attend
to
more
pressing
issues
for
the
city
and
do
a
thorough
investigation
and
study
of
the
pros
and
cons
of
annexation
for
your
selves.
W
W
I
am
a
wilkinsburg
homeowner,
but,
most
importantly,
I
am
a
parent
of
wilkinsburg
students
and
I'm
here
to
show
my
support
in
favor
my
personal
support
in
favor
of
the
referendum
for
annexation
of
wilkinsburg
to
pittsburgh.
I
believe
wilkinsburg
president,
should
be
given
the
opportunity
to
vote
this
spring
people
ask
what's
the
rush.
Well,
we've
waited
far
too
long
for
change
in
wilkinsburg.
W
W
The
message
was:
there's
good
all
over,
so
inspired
that
I
decided
to
buy
a
home
in
wilkinsburg
and
then
eventually
run
for
office
in
wilkinsburg.
While
running
campaigning
for
school
board.
I
ran
into
many
residents
that
expressed
their
concern
over
the
unsustainably
high
tax
rate
here
and
primarily
senior
citizens.
W
They
would
actually
complain
about
the
fact
that
they
had
no
longer
had
students-
or
you
know,
children
or
grandchildren
that
were
even
in
the
schools
that
we
no
longer
had
a
middle
school
or
high
school
in
the
borough,
but
yet
they
had
to
pay
these
high
tax
rates
that
they
couldn't
afford
that
because
they
have
very
limited
incomes
of
course,
and
so
that
was
a
frustration
that
I
ran
into
very
often
now,
I
believe
in
public
school
system,
and
then
our
school
district
is
in
good
standing
financially.
W
I
believe
we
are
an
asset
to
pittsburgh
public.
I
don't
believe
we're
a
liability.
I
believe
we
have
much
to
offer
and
we've
actually
we've
been
able,
as
everyone
else,
to
decrease
property
taxes
over
the
last
few
years.
However,
we
are
nowhere
near
being
able
to
get
it
as
low
as
the
pittsburgh
tax
rate.
W
Even
with
the
recent
increase-
and
you
know,
I
could
think
of
a
lot
of
things-
I'd
be
able
to
do
with
additional
hundreds
of
dollars
every
month
that
I
could
save,
and
I've
heard
some
in
favor
of
this
call
as
greedy
got
to
say
that
those
are
in
favor
are
greedy,
but
you
know
what
I
don't
see
as
being
greedy
when
I
would
use
that
money
to
buy
healthier
food
options,
more
groceries
for
my
family
as
a
single
mother
fuel
to
get
to
work.
You
know
things
like
that
basic
needs.
W
I
would
like
to
see
wilkinsburg
be
good
all
over,
but
you
know
I
just
feel
like.
We
need
to
give
opportunity
for
the
residents
to
show
whether
they
are
in
support
of
this
or
not,
by
being
able
to
vote
on
it
and
I'm
tired
of
waiting
for
change.
That
is
too
slow
to
happen.
We
need
to
make
the
change
if
we
can
make
it
happen.
Let's
make
it
happen.
X
X
I
am
also
the
union
rep
for
wilkinsburg
employees,
I'm
the
lead
negotiator
and
I'm
speaking
on
behalf
of
my
constituency
here
in
my
district
and
my
award,
the
people
that
I've
spoken
to
are
opposed
to
the
merger.
X
X
The
wcdc
does
not
speak
for
council.
I
don't
think
the
city
would
like
anybody
from
a
non-profit
to
tell
them
what
to
do
in
their
own
community.
I
believe
we
have
a
strong
leadership
here.
I
believe
we
are
on
the
right
path
to
be
able
to
get
things
done,
and
I
believe
the
fact
that
the
department
of
public
works
I
can
speak
specifically
for
does
a
great
job
in
the
city
of
wilkinsburg.
X
We
are
on
top
of
everything
that
happens
when
it
happens
in
the
community
if
there
are
trees
down
we're
on
top
of
that,
but
speaking
for
the
people
in
my
warden
district,
they
are
against
the
the
merger
there
are
there
there's
a
lot
of
misinformation
out
there?
Some
of
the
people
think
that
the
wcdc
is
council.
There
is
so
much
misrepresentation
that
is
going
on.
This
thing
is
moving
too
fast
to,
whereas
there
needs
to
be
more
dialogue.
X
There
are
there's
property
in
wilkinsburg
that
is
privately
owned.
These
people
need
to
be
held
accountable
for
the
property.
That's
being
that
that's
dilapidated,
there
are
so
many
issues
that
people
perceive
to
be
wilkinsburg's
fault
there.
There
is
a
misperception
of
what
and
wilkinsburg
can
do.
The
wcdc
does
not
represent
wilkinsburg,
they
don't
represent
all
of
they
don't
represent
council.
X
They
are
a
sole
entity
that
is
for
gentrification
and
mainly
for
the
business
district
on
penn
avenue,
that
is,
their
sole
function,
their
sole
motivation,
they've
seen
all
the
things
that
are
happening
in
east
liberty
and
penn
avenue
is
a
money
machine.
So
let's
look
at
it
for
what
it
is.
So
I
say
no
to
the
merger
and
thank
you
very
much
city
of
pittsburgh
council.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
A
Taro
allen
and
jacket
kelm.
A
Y
Y
It's
hysteric
landmark
and
I've
been
here
for
almost
40
years
and
I'm
very
much
for
the
annexation,
because
in
the
40
years
my
experience
has
been
that
we
have
stayed
local,
we're
committed
to
being
local
we're
committed
to
not
outreach
so
that
we
can
move
forward
and
I'm
suggesting
that
a
balanced
budget
may
be
because
we're
not
doing
what
we
need
to
do
and
hiring
who
we
need
to
do
and
bringing
in
the
voices
we
need
to
move
our
little
borough
further.
We
need
big
brother.
Y
We
need
to
have
a
voice
and
to
have
a
voice.
You
need
to
increase
your
numbers,
and
wilkinsburg
is
not
going
to
do
that,
based
on
where
we're
sitting
right
now
with
our
population
and
dealing
with
it
with
the
poverty
that
that's
that
is
actually
inside
of
our
diverse
population
as
it
exists.
Now
I
love
this
little
town.
I
love
to
have
the
idea
of
wilkinsburg
being
my
city
with
my
zip
code,
but
the
truth
is
is
that
we
are
not
going
to
have
better.
Y
We
are
not
going
to
have
more
and
we
are
not
going
to
grow
much
less
defend
ourselves
against
the
blight
we
have.
If
we
don't
get
to
be
part
of
hitch
our
wagon
to
and
have
pittsburgh
support
us,
because
we
have
really
good
people
here:
professional
people,
talented
people,
beautiful
homes
that
actually
attract
people
in
like
mine
through
airbnb,
and
we
need
to
come
together
as
a
larger
community.
It's
wanted
it's
needed.
It's
time.
A
Z
Good
evening
happy
new
year,
thank
you,
madam
president.
Thank.
Z
Z
Z
They
have
failed
to
meet
their
goals
of
developing
the
pen
and
wood
commercial
district.
Since
their
inception,
this
non-profit
is
now
charitably
paying
the
way
for
developers
to
swoop
in
rename
and
remodel
this
neighborhood
hoping
to
offer
the
city's
favorable
property
tax
structure
where
the
borough
of
wilkinsburg
once
stood.
Z
A
A
Wilmington
excuse
me:
could
you
please
shut
off
your
one
phone
or
move
it
away
from
the
mic,
because
it's
interfering
with
what
we're
hearing?
Okay?
Can
you
hear.
AA
AA
I'm
a
a
long-time
resident
of
wilkinsburg.
I
have
family
that
still
lives
there.
My
mom
lives
there
sisters,
cousins
and
the
proposed
annex
in
wilkinsburg.
They
had,
they
haven't
even
heard
of
it
like
it's,
not
even
under
radar.
So
this
group,
this
non-profit
group,
is
basically
trying
to
do
a
land
grab
and
I
I
just
have
a
prepared
statement,
and
so
I'm
just
going
to
read
what
I
wrote.
AA
AA
The
attempt
to
boost
that
population
and
to
broaden
a
taste
tax
base
by
additional
taxation
from
prior
administrations.
We
know
gentrification,
is
really
real.
Displacing
african
americans
at
a
higher
rate
than
others
groups
or
nationalities
are
being
driven
out
in
record
numbers.
If
businesses
really
wanted
to
do
business
with
wilkinsburg,
they
don't
need
a
non-profit.
AA
They
need
to
go
directly
to
the
citizens.
The
residents,
the
borough,
the
business
owners
and
figure
out
different
ways
how
to
make
the
tax
bracket
work
for
everyone
different
tax
structures,
a
different
tax
code,
maybe
give
some
incentives
on
bringing
the
businesses
into
wilkinsburg
that
benefits
everyone,
but
the
notion
that
the
city
is
going
to
be
the
savior
of
wilkinsburg
is
novel.
The
city
needs
to
work
out
some
on
the
some
of
the
areas
in
the
city
like
homewood,
lincoln,
lemington,
east
hills.
AA
Why
do
they
need
to
go
out
the
side
of
the
city
when
there's
a
lot
to
do
inside
the
city?
These
communities
are
hurting
just
like
wilkinsburg.
They
need
desperately
need
money
put
in
these
predominantly
black
areas
where
it's
lacking,
and
so
the
notion
that
wilkinsburg
needs
all
this
help
when
the
city
really
needs
help.
AA
It's
very
funny,
I
mean
look
what
happened
in
the
hill
district?
We
still
are
still
rambling
with
the
the
notion
that
they
don't
have
a
grocery
store
in
the
hill
district
and
we
still
hear
promises
that
they're
getting
one
neighborhoods
like
lawrenceville
east
liberty,
aka
east
side
has
seen
gentrification
at
its
best
you've
seen
derailed
dishoveled
displaced
people
pushed
out
of
communities
for
business
development
and
that's
what
will
happen
if
wilkinsburg
is
annexed,
we'll
see
booming
businesses,
but
the
majority
like
people
said
of
the
renters
who
live
in
wilkinsburg
or
renters
and.
A
AB
AC
Please
give
us
a
couple
of
minutes
we're
having
a
couple
of
technical
difficulties
in
council
chambers.
We
hope
to
have
it
back
up
and
running
as
quickly
as
possible.
AB
Q
S
A
O
A
Apologize
council
members,
so
we
have
councilwoman
chyna
lee
wilkinsburg
borough,
councilwoman
chyna
lee.
A
A
AD
Hello,
this
is
mayor,
dante,
cummings,
wilkersburg's,
mayor,
and
I
just
want
to
come
here
and
just
you
know,
like
I've
always
been
saying
from
the
beginning,
how
this
is
being
so
rushed
there's,
no
reason
to
rush
it
this
fast
when
we
all
have
to
come
together
as
far
as
councils,
mayors,
school
boards
and
ironies
out,
just
like
we
ironed
out
everything
else.
AD
It
took
time
that
first
merging
of
or
school
districts,
so
from
6
to
12
that
took
more
than
six
months
to
do
and
to
think
that
we
can
do
a
whole
borough
with
mixed
with
a
city
in
about
six
months
is
is
crazy
and
it's
been
rushed
and
I
think
it
was
strategically
done
planned
during
a
pandemic,
but
a
lot
of
people
couldn't
come
out.
AD
Sad
like
you,
that's
why
you'll
hear
people
that
live
in
hunter
park
or
paul's
court
that
just
never
heard
of
any
of
this
because
they
got
to
who
they
wanted
to
get
to
and
that's
not
right,
it
has
to
be
transparent.
It
has
to
have
everyone
involved.
We
have
to
purposely
increase
this
voter
turnout.
You
don't
need
a
referendum
to
get
conversation
started.
AD
The
the
responsible
thing
to
do
is
just
to
get
everyone
in
line,
and
if
this
is
something
the
whole
community
wants,
if
it'll
be
a
beautiful
thing
to
see,
5
000
people
come
together
like
this
is
an
amazing
thing.
They
had
a
lot
of
meetings,
but
there's
still
not
one
single
question
answered
and
it
won't
be
answered
until
after
this
is
signed
over
and
we're
part
of
city
and
we'll
still
just
be
trying
to
figure
it
out
when
it
could
have
been
figured
out.
AD
Even
if
it
took
you
know
two
years
we
have
to,
you
know,
be
transparent,
get
more
people
involved
and
try
to
figure
out
things
on
our
own
until
something
responsible
comes
together,
and
I
just
pray
that
if
this
don't
don't
give
up
the
school
district
and
still
mess
our
kids
up
like
that,
we
just
have
to
do
this
responsible
and
talk.
We
all
have
to
get
together.
AE
A
A
A
A
AC
AC
So
that's
what
is
happening
in
the
background
for
those
of
you
who
are
listening
and
watching
we're
hoping
that
we
can
swap
out
laptops,
but
I
think
what
happened
is
that
in
swapping
out
laptops,
we
destroyed
the
audio
feed
so
we're
working
on
it.
I
promise.
A
A
AF
Okay,
good
evening,
all
right,
my
name
is:
can
I
take
my
mask
off
three.
AC
AF
Yes,
my
man
good
afternoon
good
evening,
my
name
is
michael
rose,
I'm
a
35-year
resident
and
former
councilman
of
wilkinsburg.
I
had
one
speech
prepared
tonight,
but
after
listening
to
the
people
speak
tonight,
I
have
written
another
first.
I
believe
the
word
annexation
itself
surround
surrounding
this
debate
is
counterproductive
and
overdramatic
it's
a
word
of
war.
AF
Hitler
goose
stepped
his
way
into
annexing
austria,
america,
annexed
puerto
rico,
the
philippines
and
cuba
from
spain
after
the
spanish-american
war,
it
doesn't
belong
in
this
format:
wilkinsburg
high
school
middle
school
trash
collection,
fire
departments
already
through
the
city.
This
is
just
completing
a
symbiotic
union
for
both
sides.
This
is
america,
which
means
that
this
is
a
representative
democracy.
AF
All
wilkinsburg
asked
for
is
the
right
to
vote,
to
determine
its
own
fate.
To
those
who
say
it's
happening
too
fast.
Well,
that's
the
obligation
of
your
great
council
and
mayor
to
help
you
with
there
was
an
election
last
year.
They
could.
They
were
going
around
talking
to
you.
They
should
have
been
spreading
the
word
they
knew
about
this
last
year
when
they
rejected
it.
On
february
third
of
last
year,
the
city
has
seen
its
population
decline
by
half.
AF
It
needs
new
tax-paying
citizens
and
developmental
land
to
build
on
wilkinsburg
has
both
the
property
values
of
wilkinsburg
have
more
than
doubled
in
the
last
five
years.
Part
of
the
reason
is
people
want
to
flock
back
to
the
city
and
wilkinsburg
offers
easy,
affordable
access
to
both
downtown
and
shopping
districts
in
monroeville
and
murrysville.
The
only
thing
really
stopping
us
from
exploding
like
squirrel
hill
is
that
we
have
the
third
highest
tax
in
the
county
and
which
is
triple
the
state
average
for
those
who
are
against
the
merger.
AF
Feigning
concern
for
the
black
community
in
wilkinsburg.
The
black
community
has
declined
by
25
percent
and
is
being
gentrified
with
or
without
a
merger.
What's
the
opposing
side
solution?
To
that,
I
say
to
you
that
it
is
contemptible
and
patronizing
to
oppose
a
solution
for
the
black
community
without
offering
a
tangible
solution
of
your
own,
and
until
you
do,
you
are
emblematic
of
the
benign
neglect
that
we
have
suffered
from
since
the
days
of
daniel
patrick
moynihan
suggested
it
to
nixon
in
1969.
A
Jazz
runco
jess,
I'm
sorry
jess
he's
our
next
speaker.
AG
I'm
here
I
I'm
not
sure
how
much
of
was
heard
when
I
got
cut
off
so
I'm
just
going
to
start
over.
My
name
is
jason
cohen
and
I
live
at
425
center
street
in
wilkinsburg,
I'm
a
24-year
resident
and
a
former
president
of
wilkinsburg
council.
In
that
role
I
helped
negotiate
the
fire
contract
with
the
city
of
pittsburgh
years
ago.
AG
For
the
last
weeks
and
month,
council
council
members
have
been
inundated
with
phone
calls
emails
letters
all
expressing
opinions
about
this
complicated
and
important
annexation.
Discussion,
you've
heard
anger,
you've
heard
accusations
about
individuals,
you've,
heard
complaints
about
the
process,
you've
heard
accusations
about
the
wcdc
and
about
the
effectiveness
of
wilkinsburg
government
officials,
but
none
of
that
is
what
this
is
about.
AG
This
is
about
whether
or
not
we
as
two
neighboring
communities,
who
have
so
much
in
common,
have
the
strength
of
will
to
do
what
is
clearly
in
the
best
interest
of
both
our
communities
and
the
region
as
a
whole.
I
understand
it
comes
with
uncertainties
for
our
residents
and
complicated
political
questions
for
all
parties,
but
I'm
confident
that
if
you
take
the
time
to
look
at
all
the
facts,
the
actual
facts
and
not
the
emotions,
you'll
see
that
this
is
an
action
worth
pursuing.
AG
I
imagine
president
kale
smith,
who
was
also
part
of
the
fire
negotiations
nearly
a
decade
ago,
saw
what
I
did
at
the
time.
Two
communities
who
want
to
make
something
in
the
best
interest
of
their
residents
happen
finding
creative
solutions
to
meet
a
shared
goal.
It
wasn't
an
easy
process,
but
we
succeeded
by
working
together
as
a
result,
fire
protection
fire
protection
in
both
communities
improved.
AG
This
is
no
different,
it's
just
a
bigger,
more
complex,
but
with
what
much
larger
benefits
for
both
parties,
one
clarification
of
an
inaccuracy
about
the
signatures
that
were
that
was
stated
from
earlier.
The
vast
majority
of
signatures
were
collected
by
volunteer
residents,
including
me.
While
there
are
obviously
people
who
are
adamantly
who
are
adamantly
against
this,
I
can
assure
you
there
are
many
who
support
it.
There's
only
one
way
we'll
find
out
what
the
residents
of
wilkinsburg
truly
want
and
that's
by
giving
us
the
chance
to
vote
in
the
spring.
AG
AE
Cute
got
it
hello,
my
name
is
kim
dawson.
I
am
a
resident
of
pittsburgh.
I
live
at
554
east
end
avenue
in
pittsburgh,
one
by
two
two
one
well
I'd
be,
and
thank
you
very
much
for
having
this
hearing
and
giving
me
this
opportunity,
because
I'm
very
passionate
about
our
relationship
with
wilkinsburg
and
you'll
see
why
I
think,
while
I
respect
and
actively
seek
more
equitable
responsible
and
mutually
beneficial
sharing
of
resources
between
our
city
and
the
people
of
wilkinsburg.
AE
I
believe
that
the
action
that
you
are
being
asked
to
take
is
legally,
ethically
and
morally
flawed,
in
particular
the
action
you
are
voting
to
take
in
regard
to
both
wilkinsburg
public
schools
and
pittsburgh.
Public
schools
is
out
of
order
because
you
are
being
asked
to
step
over,
ignore,
bypass
and
assume
the
role
of
the
school
boards.
The
voters
of
each
city
have
elected
to
run
each
school
district.
AE
There
is
no
way
that
this
is
excusable,
that
you
should
overstep
the
roles
to
which
you
have
been
elected
to
mandate.
Basic
changes
in
the
ways
that
the
schools
operate
should
be
unthinkable
to
you,
but
since
it
has
found
its
way
to
you
via
this
proposal,
to
annex
our
sister
city
next
door,
I
trust
you
will
vote
against
doing
so.
AE
Indeed,
the
entire
annexation
resolution
you
have
before
you
sets
us
back
in
our
attempts
to
work
together
across
our
rattler,
rather
wobbly
city
lines,
my
family
and
I
moved
to
pittsburgh
from
wilkinsburg
25
years
ago,
but
we
didn't
move
far
right
now
we
live
a
couple
blocks
from
the
wilkinsburg
line,
going
either
east
or
south,
and
much
of
my
life
has
me
crossing
that
line.
Happily,
I
taught
for
two
years
in
wilkinsburg
public
schools
at
turner
and
johnston
before
teaching
for
19
years
in
pittsburgh.
AE
We
have
not
had
that
kind
of
opportunity,
because
so
many
of
the
issues
have
not
been
out
in
the
open
as
they
are
becoming
in
tonight's
conversation,
which
I
am
very
grateful
for.
Please
city
council
vote
this
resolution
down,
so
we
can
make
this
real
conversation
happen
both
in
wilkinsburg
and
in
pittsburgh,
and
to.
AH
Great,
so
I
guess
I
should
first
start
I'm
formal
councilwoman,
I'm
no
longer
on
council.
Thank
you,
chyna
lee
501
home
street,
I'm
an
attorney
long
time,
wilkinsburg
resident
and
landlord,
and
I
remain
opposed
to
the
annexation
for
several
reasons,
and
I
urge
the
pittsburgh
council
to
vote.
No
one
of
the
main
reasons
I'm
opposed
is
that
this
isn't
an
opportunity
to
let
people
vote.
This
isn't
and
it's
not
an
opportunity
for
wilkinsburg
and
the
city
of
pittsburgh
to
come
to
the
table
and
negotiate
and
determine
what
the
best
course
forward
is.
AH
This
annexation
effort
is
quite
simply
a
takeover
orchestrated
by
a
rogue
community
development
corporation
within
wilkinsburg,
and
some
political
figures
and
developers
outside
of
wilkinsburg
wilkinsburg
council
deserves
the
opportunity
to
be
at
the
table
with
pittsburgh
to
discuss
if
merging
makes
sense,
but
an
annexation
is
an
outdated
dated
law
from
1907
that
was
designed
for
people
left
behind
in
towns
that
no
longer
had
a
government
structure
in
place
and
those
folks
could
no
longer
receive
any
services
such
as
public
works,
police,
etc.
This
is
not
the
case
with
wilkinsburg.
AH
AH
Further,
the
efforts
of
the
wcdc
to
push
this
annexation
is
not
indicative
of
what
the
community
truly
wants.
Wilkinsburg
has
two
neighborhoods
blackwood
blackridge
and
a
small
pocket
bordering
edgewood
and
regent
square,
where
houses
are
priced
and
assessed
much
higher
than
anywhere
else
in
wilkinsburg,
a
significant
portion
of
the
annexation
support
has
come
from
these
areas.
Wilkinsburg,
like
many
other
boroughs
and
townships
outside
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
has
higher
taxes
than
pittsburgh.
We
all
knew
this
when
purchasing
property
in
wilkinsburg,
myself
included,
but
nearly
half
of
the
population
in
wilkinsburg
are
renters,
not
property
owners.
AH
Most
of
our
renters
will
not
benefit
from
an
annexation.
The
timing
of
this
would
allow
the
annexation
referendum
to
be
placed
on
the
ballot
during
a
primary
election
with
low
verner
voter
turnout,
which
is
unjust
in
a
very
strategic
move
by
the
wcdc.
I
must
add
that
the
wcdc
has
failed
wilkinsburg.
They
partnered
with
the
borough
to
develop
the
community
and
revitalize
the
business
district,
but
it
has
done
absolutely
nothing
except
get
a
new
building
for
itself
and
rehab.
AH
A
useless
train
station
wilkinsburg
has
a
comprehensive
plan
in
place
and
is
now
working
with
other
community
organizations
to
tackle
remaining
tests
set
forth
therein.
Wilkinsburg
deserves
a
chance
to
fix
our
own
community.
Finally,
as
an
attorney,
I
would
always
advise
that
my
clients
read
the
terms
of
a
contract
before
signing,
but
in
this
case.
A
All
right,
I
apologize
we'll
have
to
give
you
another
way
to
reach
us
and
then
what
was
the
other
name.
A
With
that
said,
madam
clerk,
could
you
please
tell
people
how
they
want
to
how
they
want
to
they
want
to
send
in
their
comments
for
all
members
to
read
or
see?
Oh,
they
can
do
so.
B
A
Thank
you
and
we
have
a
statement
from
a
school
board
member.
She
tweeted
it,
but
she
also
emailed
to
all
members
of
council,
so
I'm
just
gonna,
I'm
not
gonna,
read
that,
but
I
want
to
thank
her
for
taking
the
time
I
mean
I'm
gonna
read
it
but
not
read
it
aloud.
Thank
you
for
taking
the
time
to
notify
council.
A
And
with
that
said,
I'm
going
to
see
if
we
have
anything
for
members
beginning
with
councilman
wilson.
Oh
no,
I'm
sorry
councilman!
I
apologize.
We
have
ours.
As
I
mentioned,
we
have
our
council
solicitor
here
and
you
had
heard
some
comments
that
I'd
like
for
you
to
clarify.
AI
Sure
my
name
is
daniel
friedson.
I
am
the
solicitor
to
city
council
for
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
there's
a
couple
comments
that
the
president
had
asked
me
to
clarify.
AI
One
is
this
is
not
the
only
way
for
municipalities
to
merge.
There
are
other
things
on
the
books.
Besides
this
one
particular
law
from
1903
also
there's
been
some
comments
about
how
this
might
have
been
a
a
grab.
If
you
will
for
another
community-
and
I
just
we
need
to
clarify
that
this
is
not
a
pittsburgh
initiative.
AI
The
city
of
pittsburgh
and
the
voters
of
pittsburgh
did
not
put
this
before
us
today,
which
then
speaks
to
the
next
issue
of
clarification
of.
We
are
under
court
order
to
hold
a
public
hearing
and
make
a
decision
by
april
5th,
and
while
that's
perceived
a
rush,
please
keep
that
in
mind
that
we're
bound
by
the
statute
in
court
order
to
proceed
as
quickly
as
as
is
demanded
in
this
case,
so
we're
doing
our
best
to
get
as
much
input
as
we
can
from
pittsburgh.
AI
AJ
Just
want
to
thank
all
the
commenters
for
coming
today
and
I'm
looking
forward
to
continuing
to
hear
from
the
public
on
this.
I
believe
we
have
several
more
public
hearings
and
also
a
post
agenda
now,
so
a
lot
of
productive
conversation.
Thank
you.
A
AB
Yeah,
madam
president,
thank
you
very
much
and
thank
you
for
the
clarification
there
was
a
couple
times
during
the
public
hearing
where
I
kind
of
had
to
hold
back
from
asking.
If
I
could
make
comment
you
and
the
solicitor
are
absolutely
right.
This
was
not
an
initiative
that
was
founded
within
pittsburgh
or
pittsburgh
city
council.
This
came
to
us
and
we
are
under
court
order
to
take
action.
AB
Perhaps
I
was
misinterpreting
them,
but
we
well
perhaps
stop
this
process
by
the
vote.
That
we
take
to
say
no
might
be
a
different
interpretation,
but
I
too
wanted
to
clarify
that
we
are
under
a
court
order
we
have
to
by
april
five.
Forgive
me
if
I
have
the
date
wrong,
but
we
have.
We
are
obligated
by
court
order
to
vote
either
up
or
down
on
this
initiative.
AB
We
did
not
initiate
this.
It
was
given
to
us.
The
signatures
were
submitted
to
judge
james.
They
were
found
to
be
valid
and
under
judge
james
court
order.
We
are
obligated
to
take
action,
not
what
action
to
take,
but
we
absolutely
have
to
by
quarter.
Take
this
under
vote
by
that
deadline
date,
so
I
appreciate
your
clarification.
AB
A
Thank
you
so
much
councilman
and
it's
councilman
of
alastair
one.
A
She
may
have
to
be
taken
care
of
something
at
home,
okay,
so
with
that
said,
I
I
first
want
to
thank
our
clerk
office,
our
sergeant-at-arms,
our
sis,
our
city,
council,
solicitor
and
our
imp
department
for
working
through
all
the
challenges
today,
making
sure
that
we
can
get
have
a
public
hearing
via
zoom
and
in
person
and
and
just
for
all
the
your
work.
A
I
know
you
you're
all
working
different
hours
and
council
was
increasing
our
evening
meetings
and
weekend
meetings,
and
I
know
it
requires
more
volume,
but
I
appreciate
all
that
you
do
to
help
us
serve
the
public,
and
I
know
that
other
members
appreciate
it
as
well
with
that
said,
I
I've
heard
a
lot
of
comments.
A
I
I
could
speak
to
a
lot
of
the
things
that
were
said
tonight,
but
I
think
instead,
what
I
want
to
mention
is
first,
I'm
going
to
defend
our
public
works
crews,
because
I
hear
a
lot
of
people
saying
stuff
about
the
way
we
respond
to
snow
removal
in
the
city,
and
I
just
want
to
tell
the
public
to
please
hold
on
a
little
bit.
A
We
are
also
building
a
new
fifth
division,
with
the
help
of
in
the
advocacy
work
of
councilman,
coghill
and
councilwoman
councilman
krauss,
and
it's
the
fourth
division
I
apologize
and
and
then
we're
also
hiring
new
employees
in
dpw,
like
we
have
never
had
before
with
the
budget
that
we
had
put
forward
and
some
of
the
things
we've
done
with
the
park
tax
and
others,
I
will
say
so.
A
I
hang
on
because,
even
though
I
think
our
crews
do
an
amazing
job
with
the
equipment,
they
have
they're
going
to
do
an
even
better
job,
I'm
sure
next
year
and
with
an
acting
director
this
year,
I
that
who's
very,
very
familiar
with
them,
so
we'll
see
what
happens,
but
I
do
believe
it
will
be
better
and
I
I
just
want
to
defend
them
for
the
work
that
they
do
on
a
separate
back
on
to
the
this
actual
process.
A
Here
I
think
that,
as
ever,
you've
heard
everyone
mentioned
that
we
have
been
court,
ordered
to
take
action
to
have
a
hearing
and
to
take
action,
and
we
only
have
to
have
24-hour
notice
for
a
hearing.
But
what
we
gave
was
days
notice.
We
got
the
order
on
friday
and
we
scheduled
for
today,
so
we
gave
a
couple
days
and
our
clerk's
office
did
a
great
job
getting
that
information
out
over
the
weekend.
A
So,
but
I
will
also
say
that,
even
though
we're
under
court
order,
we
asked
for
people
to
work
with
us
and
work
through
these
concerns
and
work
through
the
issues
and
give
us
real
numbers,
not
numbers
paid
for
by
any
independent
group
or
any
pen
dependent
organization.
But
something
done
by
our
our
controller.
Who's,
amazing
and
he's
also
happens
to
be
the
school
district's
controller
and
by
the
county
controller,
who
whoever's
in
that
role
right
now,
because
our
controller
is,
she
was
elected
to
a
judgeship.
A
So
we
know
that
there's
numbers
out
there
that
are
public
numbers
and
those
are
the
numbers
we
really
want
to
see
and
we
really
want
to
be
able
to
dissect.
Having
said
that,
we
don't
have
a
lot
of
time
to
do
this
with
a
court
order
that
says
that
we
should
do
something
by
within
90
days.
It
takes
weeks
to
do
any
kind
of
legislation
and
plus
a
public
process,
so
we
are
moving
forward,
but
we
will.
A
I
will
say
that,
as
we
ask
people
to
join
us
and
to
work
with
us
and
try
to
figure
this
out
for
the
city
of
pittsburgh
and
for
wilkinsburg
and
for
the
betterment
of
allegheny
county,
that
did
not
happen
in
the
way
that
we
had
anticipated.
Instead,
we
got
court
ordered
so
with
that
said.
We
this
council
will
do
what
this
council
does.
A
There
may
be
differing
opinions
on
what
we
should
do
in
some
areas,
but
overall
we
know
that
we
have
to
do
what's
in
the
best
interest
of
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
but
I
would
just
say
that
this
council
will
take
the
lead
now
and
we'll
let
the
public
know
the
process
within
the
next
few
days.
Thank
you
have
a
motion
to
excuse
the
meeting
councilman
wilson.