►
Description
On this episode of CityTalk, John interviews Matt Jacob from the Department of Innovation & Performance, Teresa Bradley from the Department of Public Works, and Melanie Ondek from the Office of Management & Budget.
A
Hi
I'm
John
McIntyre,
welcome
to
city
talk
several
months
long
city
talk,
investigation
has
proven
beyond
the
shadow
of
a
doubt
that
believe
it
or
not
city
workers,
actually
work
for
a
living.
I
know
try
to
keep
your
seats
meet
one
of
them
right
now
from
the
Department
of
innovation
in
performance,
Matt,
Jacob,
Matt.
Welcome
to
the
program
thanks
for
having
me.
What
do
you
do
for
the
Department
of
innovation
in
performance
so.
B
B
B
B
A
B
So
we
have
garbage
cans
in
every
single,
looking
cranny
of
the
city,
and
so,
instead
of
having
a
crew
drive
to
every
single
one,
every
single
day,
we
can
get
a
lot
of
efficiency
and
not
having
to
visit
every
single
can
every
single
day.
How
long's
that
been
underway
since
about
I
believe
2017
is
when
we
started
rolling
it
out.
It's
been
a
it's
been
a
long
process.
A
B
So
we're
one
of
the
first
cities
to
really
try
it
on
a
citywide
scale.
There
are
some
other
cities
that
have
tried
it
in
certain
areas
or
kind
of
testing
it
out.
So
Boston
and
DC,
for
instance,
have
tried
it
in
business
districts
or
things
like
that,
but
they
haven't
tried
to
rolled
out
on
a
citywide
scale.
So
a
lot
of
cities
have
definitely
inquired
about
it.
They're
very
intrigued.
Some
cities
definitely
I
think
they
could
see
a
benefit
to
it
as
well
were.
A
C
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
So
that's
a
it's
called
an
asset
management
system
and
when
we
say
asset,
that's
pretty
much
anything
any
physical
infrastructure
or
kind
of
amenities
that
the
city
maintains,
so
that
could
be
roads,
parks,
playgrounds,
pools,
buildings,
trees,
signs
traffic
lights.
The
list
kind
of
goes
on,
so
we've
built
that
system
out
a
lot
from
where
we
started
back
in
about
2015
and
we're
tracking
details
and
conditions
and
costs
on.
So
many
of
the
assets
at
the
city
maintains,
and
we
have
a
lot
more
information
than
we
ever
had
before
on
these
things.
What.
B
A
B
Scientists
still
looking
for
your
next
project,
we
keep
trying
so
the
smart
little
canned
stuff.
We
might
look
into
trying
it
out
in
parks
or
in
certain
parks,
we're
not
sure
yet
and
then
with
cartograph,
we're
always
looking
for
ways
to
expand
it
and
build
on
it.
So
we've
actually
built
some
of
our
own
apps
on
it
rather
than
going
out
and
buying
other
software.
That's
another
thing
we're
proud
of
is
that
we
try
to
use
the
software.
B
We
already
have
to
meet
needs
of
our
departments,
so,
for
instance,
we've
used
it
as
an
inventory
system
for
our
warehouse
where
they
provide
supplies
for
our
DPW
divisions
and
our
city
parks
facilities
and
we've
also
used
it
as
a
website
for
internal
requests
from
city
employees
for
building
maintenance.
So
we
build
an
app
on
top
of
it
and
basically,
like
let's
say
you're
a
firefighter
and
you
have
a
leaking
sink.
You
submit
a
request
through
that
app
on
the
web
site.
It
builds
a
job
within
cartograph.
That's
a
sign
to
the
plumbing
person.
B
The
plumbing
Foreman
gets
an
email
notification,
letting
him
know
that
he
has
to
go
address
this
issue
and
he
goes
as
scientists
work
to
it.
So
we
get
information
of
what
types
of
requests
we're
getting.
How
long
it's
taking
us
to
answer
them.
The
cost
involved
in
answering
certain
types
of
requests
so
that
we
can
actually
make
decisions
for
staffing
and
things
like
that
for
how
we
allocate
our
resources
and.
D
Hello,
my
name
is
Laura
Kowski
from
the
mayor's
office
and
I'm
here
to
tell
you
about
Big
Bird
comm.
We
know
lots
of
folks
in
our
area
are
going
through
hard
times,
especially
those
experiencing
homelessness.
Let
us
show
you
how
to
get
help.
Big
Bird
comm
is
a
web
app
that
lists
free
easy-to-use
services
in
Pittsburgh
in
Allegheny
County
introducing
big
berg
comm.
You
can
get
to
it
from
any
browser
like
Google,
Chrome,
Internet,
Explorer
or
Safari
on
your
smart
phone
computer
or
tablet.
D
No
downloads
necessary
here
is
big
Burke's
opening
page
you
can
make
a
for
you
selection
to
tailor
results
to
match
your
gender
identity
or
expression,
age,
veteran,
immigrant
or
family
status,
not
sure
which
selection
to
make
choose
all
services
to
see
all
listings
here
are
some
free
resources.
You
can
find
on
big
Berg
overnight,
shelters
places
to
go
during
the
day
to
get
out
of
bad
weather,
grab
a
meal
or
get
groceries
and
pet
food.
D
Drop-In
centers,
if
you
find
yourself
on
the
street
and
in
need
of
help,
emergency
shelter,
medical
assistance,
a
snack
or
a
coat,
or
even
just
someone
to
talk
to
press
the
Live
Help
button
and
then
use
email,
Street
help
to
contact
street
outreach
workers
from
places
like
2-1-1.
Who
will
come
to
you
wherever
you
are
in
Allegheny
County?
They
can
get
back
to
you
monday
through
saturday,
between
8
a.m.
D
C
Berg
home
helped
me
through
my
struggle,
especially
when
I
needed
a
place
to
stay
at
night
when
he
needed
to
find
a
meal
during
the
day
or
during
the
night.
When
I
got
my
when
I
finally
got
my
place,
big
berg
help
me
find
pantries.
During
the
day
when
I
needed
to
do
my
laundry,
I
was
able
to
use
big
berg
and
the
map
to
do
laundry
downtown
big
berg
is
extremely
beneficial.
I
highly
encourage
anybody
who's
going
through
a
hard
time
to
use
it
want.
A
A
E
I
know
I've
always
just
really
been
interested
in
resource
recoveries.
We
like
to
say
in
the
industry,
started
a
high
school
collecting
bottles
and
cans
and
paper,
and
things
of
that
nature.
I
did
take
a
little
hiatus
for
a
little
bit
and
did
some
trail
work
in
the
Intermountain
West.
But
then
I
found
myself
back
to
recycling
when
I
took
a
position
in
San
Francisco
and
then
all
of
this
history
and
I
moved
here
and
worked
for
the
local
nonprofit,
the
Pennsylvania
Resources
Council
and.
D
E
A
Dude
yep,
so
I
watch
the
videos
and
we
talked
before
you
came
on
and
I
was
so
upset
with
myself,
because
I'm
doing
it
wrong
for
one
thing:
you're
not
supposed
to
leave
the
lids
on
the
plastic
bottles,
you're
supposed
to
take
them
off,
rinse
them
out
and
then
put
them
in,
hopefully
a
bin.
Is
that
correct?
Yes,.
E
In
the
city
of
Pittsburgh,
that's
what
we
recommend
and
that's
a
actually
directive
from
from
our
vendor,
recycle
source
at
Hazelwood.
They
take
the
materials
and
process
them
for
sale
and
in
the
industry
we
say
MuRF
and
that
actually
means
metier
metier
recovery
facility.
What
we're
trying
to
do
here
in
Pittsburgh
and
one
thing
that
we're
really
trying
to
address
is
the
contamination.
That's
that's
a
huge
thing
right
now
is
China's
put
up.
What's
called
the
national
sword,
you
and
I
kind
of
talked
about
that
a
little
bit
you
might
have.
E
E
So
yeah
I
mean
we
want
the
material
be
like
I
said
as
clean
as
possible.
That's
tough,
to
do
I
mean
I'll,
be
honest
with
you
and
the
single-stream
curbside
facility,
but
we're
doing
is
we're
focusing
more
on
basic
recycling,
so
lids
and
caps
off
we're
really
focusing
on
the
plastics.
So
the
plastics
are
really
confusing.
I.
Think
for
a
lot
of
people,
we're
really
focusing
on
taking
what
are
called
like
the
number
one
bottles
and
the
number
two
jugs,
but.
E
E
Do
downstream
so
at
the
Murph
yeah,
so
it's
at
the
Murph
is
what's
called
the
star
screen,
and
so
all
that
material
has
to
go
up,
but
all
those
bags
need
to
break
up,
and
so
what
we're
really
encouraging
residents
to
do
is
to
get
a
blue
bin
under
35,
gallons
or
less
or
a
carts.
You
can
get
them
at
Home,
Depot
or
Lowe's.
We
do
have
a
grant
and
we're
also
working
on
other
grant
opportunities.
E
And
if
you,
if
you're
a
person
that
you
know,
you
can't
afford
you're
on
a
fixed
income,
the
next
best
thing
would
be
to
get
like
a
larger
blue
bag.
So
really
it's
get
a
blue
bin
or
a
blue
cart
under
35
gallons
put
all
your
material
and
loose
you
don't
need
to
put
a
bag
in
that
container.
I
just
want
to
stress
that
and
then,
like
I
said,
you
know
the
city's
in
transition.
The
next
best
thing
would
be
a
large
twenty
to
thirty
gallon
blue
bag.
E
E
E
And
so
we
are
a
municipality
over
five
thousand,
it
is
actually
we
are
in
a
mandated
community
that
everyone
must
recycle,
including
commercial
businesses
and
those
small
apartments
under
five
or
the
multi-unit
dwellings
over
six,
and
so
we
are
gonna
start
doing
some,
some
like
heavier
enforcement,
probably
within
the
next
month.
As
the
mayor
signed,
amended
code,
the
towards
the
end
of
March
yep,
all.
E
E
A
E
E
I
think
that
I
mean
there's
a
lot
of
policing.
That's
involved
in
it.
It's
just
tough
and
what
we
try
to
do
is
look
at
what
our
industry
standards
and
see
see
how
we
can
not
only
reduce
contamination
in
Pittsburgh
at
the
material
covered
facility
if
anything's
over
15%
and
Pittsburgh
is
creeping
up
on
that
number.
That's
really
tough
to
not
only
sort
out
but
to
get
those
those
materials,
as
we
like
to
say
in
the
industry
out
to
sail
out
to
market.
E
So
we
want
to
make
sure
that
we
are
being
part
of
the
solution
and
getting
marketable
materials.
You
know
to
the
to
the
end,
because
these
are
at
the
end
of
the
day
you
know
with
recycling.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
we
turn
that
bottle
into
another
bottle
again
or
paper
into
paper,
aluminum
into
aluminum,
etc,
etc.
So
I.
E
E
E
A
E
Yeah,
it's
so
I
think
we
did
a
pre-interview
you're
like
how
long
have
you
been
on
been
employee
of
the
city
of
Pittsburgh.
It's
been
a
little
over
seven
months,
but
I've
been
in
the
industry
for
over
a
decade
and
like
I
was
mentioning.
We've
just
haven't
seen
anything
like
this
in
terms
of
the
markets,
the
markets.
They
do
there's
trends,
they
they
go
up
and
down,
and
that's
like
really
anything
that
you
see.
You
know
on
the
stock
market
and
whatnot,
but
we're
just
not
seeing
it
bounce
back,
we're
actually
seeing
cardboard.
E
For
example,
it
just
every
time
I
see
the
invoice.
It
just
seems
to
be
kind
of
on
the
decline
in
terms
of
that
the
pricing
index
for
that,
so
it's
just
been,
but
I
also
see
it
as
opportunity.
As
we
have
some
some
new
programs
out
there.
We
have
the
ECS
on
our
program
as
we
move
towards
zero
waste
and
giving
residents
of
Pittsburgh
an
option
right
for
the
electronics
and
household
chemical
waste.
So
we
do
that.
We're
doing
that
twice
a
week
in
Environmental,
Services
and
the
strip
must
make
an
appointment.
E
So
yeah
Wednesdays
from
3
to
8
and
then
9
to
5
on
Sundays.
They
just
did
a
successful
curbside
collection
event.
The
vendor
did
so.
This
is
in
partnership
with
the
city
and
they
picked
up
about
9
TVs
this
past
Saturday,
and
then
we
have
our
glass
pilot
as
we're
trying
to
reduce
contamination
and
look
at
different
ways.
Not
only
revenue
streams,
the
glass
just
so
everyone's
aware
is
not
a
revenue
generator.
E
However,
we
did
receive
a
grant
from
the
Department
of
Environmental
Protection
and
we're
piloting
three
either
bright:
green
lime,
glass,
only
Roelofs,
which
a
lot
of
people
are
excited
about
and
I'm
excited.
You
know
as
a
resident
and
a
recycling
fanatic
right,
yeah
can
I
put
my
bottles
in
there.
I
know
that's
gonna
be
made
into
a
bottle
again,
and
it's
staying
very.
It's
very
localized
in
terms
of
where
it's
going
so
do.
E
And
shame
them
if
they
don't
I,
don't
I
think
I
used
to
do
that
when
I
was
younger
and
now
that
I'm
a
bit
older,
you
know
I
mean
I'm
fine,
with
having
conversations
with
people
and
comfortable
with
that,
but
I'm
actually
originally
from
st.
Louis
Missouri
grew
up
in
a
community
Wildwood
Missouri
and
they
just
changed
switched
the
recycling.
My
parents
had
three
bins:
Wow.
E
In
one
and
then
actually,
glass
was
separated,
go
to
class
drop
off
and
then
rigid
plastics
and
then
aluminum
and
now
they're
just
reported
that
they
changed
it
again
and
now
they
have
to
take
their
cardboard
if
they
want
to
recycled
to
a
separate
drop-off
location.
So
a
lot
of
people
they've
been
asking
me
like.
Do
we
see
like?
Is
this
gonna
be
commonplace?
Are
we
gonna
be
doing
practicing
more
source
separation?
E
I
can't
predict
the
future,
but
I
do
know
that
if,
if
we're
talking
about
these
are
materials
and
higher
and
better
use,
then
I
think
as
a
city.
We
just
need
to
continue
looking
at.
You
know
some
of
those
as
a
potential
option
and
a
revenue
generator
but
know
we
were
still
gonna
practice
that
single
stream,
curbside,
recycling
and
I
would
say
you
know,
get
a
bin
and
you
know,
like
I,
said,
put
your
stuff
and
loose
and
to
help
be
part
of
the
solution.
So.
A
E
F
And
Megan
Stanley
with
the
Pittsburgh
Commission
on
human
relations,
the
official
civil
rights
agency
for
the
city
of
Pittsburgh
since
1955,
the
Commission
on
human
relations,
works
to
investigate
and
remedy
discrimination
in
employment,
housing
and
public
accommodations
for
anyone
living
in
working
in
or
visiting
Pittsburgh.
We
also
provide
outreach
and
education
to
ensure
that
all
residents,
providers
and
employers
know
and
understand
their
rights
and
responsibilities
under
the
law.
Our
services
are
completely
free
and
require
no
legal
representation.
F
We
are
also
au
visa,
certifying
agency,
provide
translators
as
needed
and
do
not
ask
citizenship
status
of
anyone
filing
a
complaint
with
our
office.
If
you
feel
that
you've
been
discriminated
against
in
the
past
year
in
the
city
of
Pittsburgh
contact
our
office,
our
process
includes
a
complaint
intake
where
you
provide
information
about
what
happened:
a
thorough
investigation
by
a
commission
representative,
a
review
of
the
relevant
facts
by
a
portion
of
our
commissioners,
an
issuance
of
a
final
determination.
We
can
also
help
mediate
cases
where
both
parties
are
willing
to
work
towards
an
amicable
resolution.
F
A
Welcome
back
to
city
talk,
while
there
are
a
number
of
outstanding
grants
that
cities
might
be
able
to
obtain
if
they
fill
out
the
proper
paperwork
and
are
deemed
worthy
and
they're
very
valuable,
because
we
don't
want
to
believe
the
taxpayers
of
all
of
their
money,
although
the
some
of
this
may
be
taxpayers
money,
but
from
other
taxpayers.
Here's
Melanie
on
deck,
from
the
Office
of
Management
and
Budget
and
she's
in
charge
of
obtaining
grants
for
the
city
of
Pittsburgh
Melanie.
Welcome
to
the
program.
Thank.
A
G
A
G
A
G
And
error
I
think
it's
you
know
grant.
Writing
is
one
of
those,
those
things
that
people
think
is
really
scary,
because
oftentimes
it's
a
big
packet
of
paper
that
can
be
hundreds
of
pages
that
you've
got
a
sort
of
gel
through,
but
once
you
get
the
lingo
of
great
language
down,
it's
really
just
being
able
to
take
ideas
and
being
able
to
write.
So
if
you
can
write-
and
you
have
ideas-
and
you
can
work
with
other
people-
you
can
you
can
write
grants
successfully.
So.
A
G
A
G
Out
that
depends
on
who
the
funder-
you
know
the
interesting
thing
about
city
grant.
Writing
is
that
a
lot
of
it
is
relationship
building
and
it's
a
lot
of
the
administration
putting
forth
the
effort
to
ensure
that
our
grant
applications
come
to
the
top
of
the
table
when
they're
talking
to
other
politicians.
So
as
a
to
maybe
a
non-profit
who
may
not
have
those
kinds
of
political
connections,
I
think
that's
one
major
difference
that
you
see
writing
grants
on
the
city
side
of
things,
but.
A
G
I
get
to
write
about
anything
from
electric
charging
stations
for
the
city's
electric
fleet
that
we're
developing
I'm,
trying
to
think
of
something
like
two
street
light
upgrades,
we
just
secured
the
city's
first
domestic
violence
unit,
funding,
fully
staff
that
up
for
the
Pittsburgh
Bureau
of
police,
so
I
get
to
really
touch
all
kinds
of
projects
and
learn
all
kinds
of
things.
And
probably
one
of
your
questions
is:
what's
your
favorite
part
of
this
job?
That's.
G
One
of
my
favorite
parts
of
my
job-
you
know
it's
not
only
the
people
that
I
get
to
work
with
you
know.
We've
got
some
really
great
folks
who
work
for
the
city,
but
it's
it's
really
that
I'm
always
learning
new
things
again.
I
get
to
learn
about
literally
everything
that
a
city
municipality
might
touch
anything
from
people
and
human
related
things
to
infrastructure
and
everything
in
between.
So.
A
F
G
Know
there
are
grants
that
we
apply
for
us
pretty
much
that
work
like
clockwork
yearly.
We
can
anticipate
X
number
of
grants
coming
out
per
month
because
we
just
always
apply
for
those,
but
there
are
always
special
opportunities
that
come
up
as
well,
so
I
would
say
it's
a
healthy
mix
of
us
sort
of
bringing
grant
opportunities
to
departments
and
vice-versa,
we
do
have
a
grant
software
called
the
civis
and
it's
a
web-based
platform.
It's
essentially
Google
for
grants.
Okay,.
A
G
Argue
that
probably
grant
money
has
declined,
but
it
also
shifts
right,
so
you
may
have.
If
you
look
at
the
federal
level,
different
federal
administrations
have
different
priorities
right,
so
one
may
be
really
focused
on
climate
change.
One
may
be
really
focused
on
protection
or
defense
or
whatever.
That
might
be
so
I
think
we're
seeing
constantly
shifting
funding
streams.
A
A
G
I've
always
had
an
eye
for
government
I
had
a
grandmother
who
was
a
business
owner
and
every
time
I
was
at
her
house.
You
know
she
is.
She
ran
a
flower
shop
in
greenhouse,
so
not
government-related
at
all,
but
c-span
was
always
on
and
she
was
always
sort
of
that
strong
female
voice
in
the
house.
Saying
like
you,
have
to
make
sure
you
go
vote,
make
sure
you
go
vote
so
from
a
very
young
age.
It
wasn't
still
that
like
government
matters
and
is
important,
c-span.
A
A
A
A
G
Primarily
on
the
pre-award
side,
which
is
mostly
grant
applications
in
grant,
writing
and
then
I've
got
two
other
folks
who
were
sort
of
a
little
bit
more
on
the
post-award
and
for
your
ward
side.
So
we
have
a
nice
dynamic
between
the
three
of
us.
If
we
get
slammed
with
a
ton
of
grants
at
one,
so
we
can
all
sort
of
shift
shape
if
we
need
to
shape-shift.
A
C
A
G
That's
a
that's
a
huge
one.
It's
really
really
critical
work
that
you
know
the
police
is
certainly
doing
the
best
that
they
can,
but
there's
only
so
much
you
can
do
with
the
resources
that
you
have
so
the
helmet
foundation
graciously
stepped
in
with
women.
Should
the
Pittsburgh
women,
shelter
and
they've
been
working
collaboratively
on
building
that
project
for
the
last
year
and
a
half
and
it's
finally
coming
to
fruition
now.
So
that's
a
really
cool
one
from
this
year
is.