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Keep up with the latest news, statements, press releases and more.
Meet Chelsa Wagner
As the County’s top fiscal officer, Controller Chelsa Wagner leads the fight against inefficient and inequitable spending, working to root out fraud, waste and abuse in County government.
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Congrats to Pitt faculty who voted overwhelmingly to organize with United Steelworkers! Unions built our region, and worker solidarity and the right to collective bargaining are just as important today as they were in the days of the steel mills. More workers in the eds, meds and tech economy need to have their voices recognized in the workplace, and this is a huge step forward.
Pitt faculty votes to unionize in landslide election
www.post-gazette.com
Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh will be forming a union, capping a five-year organizing campaign with an overwhelming vote in favor of joining...Good for them, Union Strong!
As part of my office's Fines and Fees Initiative, we examined how driver's license suspensions resulting from failure to pay fines and fees correlates with poverty and race in each ZIP Code in Allegheny County. The data shows that license suspensions could be a factor in persistent poverty in our most vulnerable communities. In 2018, three ZIP codes--15219 (Hill District/Uptown), 15104 (Braddock/N. Braddock/Rankin), and 15110 (Duquesne)--had suspension rates over 15 percent; each also had median household incomes under $30,000, and over 50 percent of residents there were Black.
We know that access to reliable private transportation is often a prerequisite to securing employment, as well as to accessing quality health care and other services. Conditioning the lifting of license suspensions on payment of fines and fees when many in these communities are highly unlikely to be able to make these payments can result in what is essentially a sentence to poverty that citizens of greater means who commit the same offenses do not have to endure. We must work to ensure that our justice system doesn't disproportionately punish those in poverty, and that relatively minor offenses do not result in long-term struggle for individuals and families.
VIEW THE DASHBOARD to see where each ZIP Code stands and how suspensions correlate with race and poverty across the County: bit.ly/3DusGZc
Why do people have suspended licenses? For breaking motor vehicle laws. Stop breaking motor vehicle laws, you won't lose your license or have fines to pay. 🤷
Both of my cars were just totaled on Liberty Ave 2 weeks ago, police report available if you want, by a "distracted" driver with a suspended license at 330AM headed back to Homewood. It could have easily been a biker or pedestrian. One thought would be pairing with rideshare services and allowing vulnerable communities and people limited access to heavily subsidized ridesharing. Like an EBT card for Uber/Lyft. I bet the savings would actually be massive instead of running many bus routes, especially at those inefficient night hours. Further, instead of fines that hurt the poor individuals, I would suggest an alternative of community service hours (or education hours) with appropriate financial offset. Thank you and I hope your uncle Jack is doing well. Best regards.
..and, when you also consider that many suspensions are due to profiled stops and trumped up charges with fines that the drivers can’t afford. When you don’t pay the fine - you get suspended. If you drive under the trumped up suspension and get pulled over, you now have charges you NEVER can afford to pay - thus perpetuating a cycle that’s hard to rectify. Kudos Chelsa!
Great post. Racist comments.
How about we try something like this www.license2work.org/getting-your-license-back
Being soft on crimes leads to more crime. This is absolute
Who fucking cares?
Pathetic Median (entire) household incomes of less than thirty thousand
Wow! It’s an absolute shame that opinion of politics and the law have been combined in your opinion! You are unfit to distribute both as per you and your husbands behavior in Michigan! You not only embarrassed Allegheny County but the State as well! What a creep and phoney representative you are!
O no …. Facts
This is a bunch of BULL, there is noone going to cheat more than the people with little money, they have been driving with NO INSURANCE AND NO REGISTRATION SINCE PENNDOT STOPPED SENDING LICENSES PLATE STICKERS!!!
Fines and fees are ALWAYS disproportionate, when it comes to a person that is poor compared to a person that is rich AND can actually afford a lawyer. In some cases, people such as myself that don't live in those areas you mentioned, but live in areas that you would consider well off, are put in those same positions as well. Taxes are also a factor when a person of wealth and a person who is poor are paying the same amount in sales taxes. All taxes, fines, and fees are regressive, and ALWAYS HAVE BEEN!!!
Twitter
Establishing the qualifications of contractors and transparency on their background is the bare minimum our residents should expect. Thank you to the Board members and advocates who enabled this responsible resolution.
The taxpayers are liable for the tactics and ideologies this contractor would bring into the Jail, yet continues to deflect questions on his background. I will not authorize payments on this no-bid contract until many outstanding questions are answered.
Activists call to stop use of specific training and equipment at Allegheny County Jail
Allegheny County is at odds with a group of activists over the hiring of a controversial military-style training company to train corrections officers...
bit.ly
Facebook
Congrats to Pitt faculty who voted overwhelmingly to organize with United Steelworkers! Unions built our region, and worker solidarity and the right to collective bargaining are just as important today as they were in the days of the steel mills. More workers in the eds, meds and tech economy need to have their voices recognized in the workplace, and this is a huge step forward.
Pitt faculty votes to unionize in landslide election
www.post-gazette.com
Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh will be forming a union, capping a five-year organizing campaign with an overwhelming vote in favor of joining...Good for them, Union Strong!
As part of my office's Fines and Fees Initiative, we examined how driver's license suspensions resulting from failure to pay fines and fees correlates with poverty and race in each ZIP Code in Allegheny County. The data shows that license suspensions could be a factor in persistent poverty in our most vulnerable communities. In 2018, three ZIP codes--15219 (Hill District/Uptown), 15104 (Braddock/N. Braddock/Rankin), and 15110 (Duquesne)--had suspension rates over 15 percent; each also had median household incomes under $30,000, and over 50 percent of residents there were Black.
We know that access to reliable private transportation is often a prerequisite to securing employment, as well as to accessing quality health care and other services. Conditioning the lifting of license suspensions on payment of fines and fees when many in these communities are highly unlikely to be able to make these payments can result in what is essentially a sentence to poverty that citizens of greater means who commit the same offenses do not have to endure. We must work to ensure that our justice system doesn't disproportionately punish those in poverty, and that relatively minor offenses do not result in long-term struggle for individuals and families.
VIEW THE DASHBOARD to see where each ZIP Code stands and how suspensions correlate with race and poverty across the County: bit.ly/3DusGZc
Why do people have suspended licenses? For breaking motor vehicle laws. Stop breaking motor vehicle laws, you won't lose your license or have fines to pay. 🤷
Both of my cars were just totaled on Liberty Ave 2 weeks ago, police report available if you want, by a "distracted" driver with a suspended license at 330AM headed back to Homewood. It could have easily been a biker or pedestrian. One thought would be pairing with rideshare services and allowing vulnerable communities and people limited access to heavily subsidized ridesharing. Like an EBT card for Uber/Lyft. I bet the savings would actually be massive instead of running many bus routes, especially at those inefficient night hours. Further, instead of fines that hurt the poor individuals, I would suggest an alternative of community service hours (or education hours) with appropriate financial offset. Thank you and I hope your uncle Jack is doing well. Best regards.
..and, when you also consider that many suspensions are due to profiled stops and trumped up charges with fines that the drivers can’t afford. When you don’t pay the fine - you get suspended. If you drive under the trumped up suspension and get pulled over, you now have charges you NEVER can afford to pay - thus perpetuating a cycle that’s hard to rectify. Kudos Chelsa!
Great post. Racist comments.
How about we try something like this www.license2work.org/getting-your-license-back
Being soft on crimes leads to more crime. This is absolute
Who fucking cares?
Pathetic Median (entire) household incomes of less than thirty thousand
Wow! It’s an absolute shame that opinion of politics and the law have been combined in your opinion! You are unfit to distribute both as per you and your husbands behavior in Michigan! You not only embarrassed Allegheny County but the State as well! What a creep and phoney representative you are!
O no …. Facts
This is a bunch of BULL, there is noone going to cheat more than the people with little money, they have been driving with NO INSURANCE AND NO REGISTRATION SINCE PENNDOT STOPPED SENDING LICENSES PLATE STICKERS!!!
Fines and fees are ALWAYS disproportionate, when it comes to a person that is poor compared to a person that is rich AND can actually afford a lawyer. In some cases, people such as myself that don't live in those areas you mentioned, but live in areas that you would consider well off, are put in those same positions as well. Taxes are also a factor when a person of wealth and a person who is poor are paying the same amount in sales taxes. All taxes, fines, and fees are regressive, and ALWAYS HAVE BEEN!!!
More than $280 million remains to be allocated from Allegheny County's share of federal emergency aid funds. Ensuring that County residents do not struggle to afford the basic human necessity of water, and beginning widespread replacement of dangerous lead water lines across the County that risk the well-being of future generations should be top priorities.
Activists say Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority should address concerns about lead, water costs
www.wesa.fm
A demonstration is planned for Tuesday before the monthly meeting of the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority.As you claim your protecting the water , you just drafted a permit to put gas fired power plant on the Yough river ( drinking water) this area already has air quality warnings monthly….. I’m in disbelief how easily the gas companies can manipulate the people that should be protecting the citizens. The Mon river valley literally stinks in many places, and now spreading the filth to the Yough river valley, there is already a gas fired power plant right up the river fro Elizabeth where they want to put this one.. I’m thinking there is already air quality warnings and lots of elderly poor people in Sutersville and Around that area , that don’t have the money to protect themselves…. You will never see one of these plants put up in an affluent neighborhood…. This is a sad state of affairs and another example of how easy the gas companies can get the people supposed to be protecting our air quality in their pockets!
Why don’t you build a George Floyd Memorial? That f*ck deserves our outmost respect.
I applaud County Executive Fitzgerald on his decision today requiring all County employees to be vaccinated. So many of our County employees are public facing and provide vital in-person services to residents, most especially seniors in our Kane Regional Centers, incarcerated individuals in the County Jail, and those seeking vital human services; but also in our courtrooms, administrative offices and parks. No resident and no County employee deserves to be exposed to the dangerous and highly transmissible Delta variant by a service provider or co-worker employed by Allegheny County. This sensible decision will make our workplaces and facilities safer for all, especially vulnerable congregate settings like the Kane Centers and Jail, and help lead to finally bringing this pandemic under control in our community.
Allegheny County executive mandates vaccines for his employees, unvaccinated will 'face termination'
www.post-gazette.com
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all county employees in the executive branch...Sorry not agreeing with this. This is still America and we have choices. Really sick of this government shoving crap down our throat.
Why does anybody think elected officials have this authority!
I hope they sue all of you!
Why are elected officials exempt? Another case of rules for the “peasants” that Fitzgerald himself doesn’t have to comply with if he didn’t want to.
So the right get upset 😡 yet again, because the rest of us a tried of the child like acting adults 🤔 an refuse to do the right thing for everyone 🙄, nope can't do it for themselves so that's what you get wanta keep your job GET THE SHOT. AND UNTIL THEN WEAR A MASK 😷.
What are all you power hungry ppl going to do when someone who was forced to take this vaccine gets really sick & turns around & holds you accountable
This increases exposure.
What ever happened to "My Body, My Choice" !!!
Fok ewe!
You are a Fascist Tyrant Chelsa Wagner, Allegheny County Controller and so is @County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, this is an ILLEGAL move that goes against the (4th) fourth amendment, the same amendment that made it possible for women to murder babies in the womb that aren't even a part of their bodies. So, if this can be required then the (4th) fourth amendment is no longer viable for that argument about being safe in your own person, which is what settled Roe v. Wade in 1973, which would NOW NULLIFY Roe v. Wade, because of these ILLEGAL actions, making "My body, My choice" an invalid argument any more!!! See how you dumocrats are going to get Roe v. Wade CANCELED by your own actions!!!
I compliment you on your abject stupidity Chelsa Wagner, Allegheny County Controller, these firings, of potentially thousands, will not only cost the county millions of dollars, it will also PROVE that democrats DON'T actually care about children, children that will go hungry because their parents were fired over not getting a vaccine that doesn't actually fully work, and that is being pushed on people iLLEGALLY for a virus that has a 99.97% survivability rate., a vaccine that is constantly compared to ot he vaccines such as Smallpox, and Polio, however those vaccines ONLY require one shot in a lifetime, whereas the covid vaccine so far needs up to (4) FOUR at this point, probably a lifetime of "booster shots" every (6) six months for an entire lifetime. and mask wearing for centuries, none of which are really needed for a virus that has a better survivability rate than the common flu which seems to have been cured by covid, simply because the test for covid CANNOT differentiate from the common flu or covid, and no one can even tell you what version of covid you have because there is no test that tells us what variation anyone has!!! NO, this is IRONY in the making, democrats forcing people, i"m betting lots are parents, which will ultimately cause CHILDREN to starve because their parents can't afford to feed them, and going homeless, because the parents can't pay the house payment, and having the gas and electricity turned of, as well as phones, and cable, and the INTERNET (probably a good thing on those items, because you can't indoctrinate someone that isn't connected), all because of a vaccine that isn't really needed for a virus that has a 99.97 survivability rate. Yep, that's an OUTSTANDING job, that YOU DEMOCRATS are doing, I am VERY proud of YOU indeed!!!
County Council will continue to move forward this evening with allocating emergency federal aid from the American Rescue Plan without any meaningful process of public involvement, including on the wisdom of spending less than $100 million this year of a $382 million total allocation. Responding to a 1.5-year+ economic and public health emergency that has impacted the ability of so many County residents to meet their basic needs in piecemeal fashion over 4 years is, I believe, a strategy our affected citizens and their advocates would find inadequate.
Additionally, using a portion of these emergency funds to relocate County offices is an inappropriate use that Council should reject. While these changes may well be beneficial, offices are not an emergency and should fall under regular capital spending.
Ultimately, the lack of transparency on the largest Rescue Plan allocation in our region shows a lack of acknowledgement of the County's importance as our region's largest local government. The aid allocation process for the City of Pittsburgh, with roughly a quarter of the County's population--while not without areas for improvement--drew far greater involvement and scrutiny from elected officials, advocates, and media. The impact an active and accountable County government could have on the City, suburbs, and long-struggling towns outside the urban core alike should not continue to be an afterthought.
Allegheny County Council committee recommends budget changes
www.post-gazette.com
The Allegheny County Council Committee on Budget and Finance on Tuesday recommended amending the 2021 budget to reflect funds from the American Rescue...Chelsea, I agree, people need help!
Can you tell me Why the Pay for Pool Workers working 14 to17 hours is so low, when our county and state are pushing $15.00 per hour for minimum wage?
This money was allocated for the county, not Pittsburgh only.
Twitter
Establishing the qualifications of contractors and transparency on their background is the bare minimum our residents should expect. Thank you to the Board members and advocates who enabled this responsible resolution.
The taxpayers are liable for the tactics and ideologies this contractor would bring into the Jail, yet continues to deflect questions on his background. I will not authorize payments on this no-bid contract until many outstanding questions are answered.
Activists call to stop use of specific training and equipment at Allegheny County Jail
Allegheny County is at odds with a group of activists over the hiring of a controversial military-style training company to train corrections officers...
bit.ly
I am deeply concerned that Shuman’s closure could result in more juveniles being placed in the County Jail while awaiting adjudication. This would be dangerous for many reasons, especially during a pandemic.
Shuman Juvenile Detention Center to close in mid-September
Following the revocation of its operating license, county officials announced Monday the Shuman...
bit.ly
Incarcerated individuals at the Allegheny County Jail are alleging starvation in sworn statements collected by the Abolitionist Law Center, prompting the Allegheny County Controller's office to investigate the jail’s food vendor Summit Food Service.
The Allegheny County Controller‘s office will investigate allegations of inadequate meals, food shortages at the jail
pinjjournalism.org
The administration must reverse this counterproductive move and begin a meaningful dialogue on what a Jail that reflects our values looks like.
The average home sale price in Allegheny County in 2020 was $244,865, a 10% increase from the previous year. Average prices ranged from $44,967 in ZIP Code 15064 (S. Fayette) to $1,001,230 in 15005 (Marshall). Try out our interactive Real Estate Map: https://t.co/VTUyrFI2Eu
Meanwhile, Allegheny County--which is receiving an even larger allocation--has not announced any process for the public or County Council to weigh in on $382 million in spending. Council members, advocates and our citizens deserve meaningful influence.
Council, mayor draw up plans to spend federal COVID dollars. Activists say they were left out of the discussion
Avoiding layoffs and restoring jobs. Home ownership loans for lower-income buyers. New street lights in neglected neighborhoods. These are a few of t...
bit.ly
Permitting and work standards exist to keep us all safe, and any employer who violates them must be held accountable. I stand with @AlleghenyLabor and @EASCarpenters in calling out unfair and unsafe work practices anywhere in Allegheny County.
The @SheratonHotels at Station Square is blatantly disregarding the law & endangering their workers & guests. Organized labor will keep speaking up until they’re held accountable.
We can all take Pride in our friends and neighbors standing for equity, inclusion and justice. For those participating, have a safe and empowered weekend!
Pittsburgh Pride 2021 - Pittsburgh Pride 2021
Pittsburgh Pride 2021 will be the most inclusive Pride yet! In partnership with LGBTQ groups and organizations across Pittsburgh and the Western Penns...
lgbtqpittsburgh.com
A decade of sound fiscal stewardship, specifically a commitment to increasing the unassigned fund balance, helped County finances weather the pandemic relatively unscathed. READ MORE about the County's fiscal and economic conditions in my Annual Report:
2020 Popular Annual Financial Report
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