Press Releases

Press Releases

MEDIA CONTACT 

Lou Takacs, Communications Director

Phone :412-350-4157

Mail to : Louis.Takacs@AlleghenyCounty

STATEMENT ON PENDING LOSS OF STATE POLICE UNION ACCESS TO UPMC

February 14, 2019
“The news that members of the Pennsylvania State Police officers union willbecome ‘out-of-network’ for care at UPMC shows what UPMC really thinks ofworking families. These state troopers and many other union families rely onHighmark coverage that will no longer be accepted by UPMC doctors and hospitalsafter June 30. For UPMC to force the state police […]

STATEMENT ON ANNOUNCEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL’S LAWSUIT AGAINST UPMC

February 8, 2019
(Pittsburgh) February 7, 2019 “The actions announced by Attorney General Shapiro today are major steps toward ending the predatory behavior of UPMC, and I commend him for his political courage in pursuing this matter into the courts. I believe this has occurred in large part thanks to our citizens raising their voices to demand action, […]

CONTROLLER WAGNER STATEMENT ON CRIMINAL CHARGES SURROUNDING PWSA LEAD WATER LINE REPLACEMENTS

February 2, 2019
(Pittsburgh) February 1, 2019 “The charges filed by Attorney General Josh Shapiro today against the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority are a long-awaited acknowledgement of the negligence and delay that marked the initial response to Pittsburgh’s lead crisis, which continues for many families even to this day. Beginning in March 2017, I called for the […]

WAGNER ASKS AIRMALL SHOPS, “IS THE PRICE RIGHT?”

January 3, 2019
(Pittsburgh) December 21, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today released results of her office’s annual review of “street pricing” by businesses within Pittsburgh International Airport’s AIRMALL. The lease between the Airport Authority and the AIRMALL operator requires that its concessionaires not charge prices higher than those of comparable businesses outside the Airport. The County […]

LAX CONTROLS ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS COSTING ALLEGHENY COUNTY MILLIONS, WAGNER’S AUDIT FINDS

November 27, 2018
“When every Allegheny County driver saw their vehicle registration fee rise by $5 two years ago, they expected that to result in safer roads and bridges. But we have seen cost overruns that could well have been prevented through due diligence by the County burn through this amount and more.” MEDIA CONTACT: Lou Takacs, Communications […]

CONTROLLER CHELSA WAGNER STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF AMAZON HQ2 BID

November 16, 2018
(Pittsburgh) November 15, 2018 “We may never truly know whether the taxincentives proposed as part of Pittsburgh’s Amazon bid would have resulted ingreater costs or benefits for our residents. But today’s belated release of theproposal should begin a much-needed dialogue on the desirability and potentialfor effectiveness of this type of economic development strategy. We should […]

CONTROLLER CHELSA WAGNER STATEMENT ON ANNOUNCEMENT OF AMAZON HQ2 LOCATION

November 14, 2018
(Pittsburgh) November 13, 2018 “The end of the competition for Amazon’s HQ2 should also mark the end of the secrecy surrounding the Pittsburgh region’s bid, which should be released immediately. The City and County have resisted multiple administrative and court rulings ordering the release of their proposal, claiming that compliance with Pennsylvania’s Right to Know […]

CONTROLLER WAGNER ANNOUNCES RECORDS REVIEW OF AIRPORT BOARD

September 20, 2018
(Pittsburgh) September 20, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner announced today that her office will undertake a review of public records of the Allegheny County Airport Authority in response to revelations of potential conflicts of interest among board members. “It is vital to remember that authorities are public bodies and stewards of public funds. While […]

$1 BILLION AIRPORT PROJECT DEMANDS REFORMS, TRANSPARENCY FROM AUTHORITY, WAGNER SAYS

August 29, 2018
(Pittsburgh) August 29, 2018 As the Allegheny County Airport Authority embarks on a $1.1 billion modernization project at Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner called for immediate action to insulate the Authority and the County from potential conflicts of interest and self-dealing. In recent weeks, it was revealed in media reports that two […]

TAXPAYER ALERT: CLEAN AIR FUNDS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH

July 12, 2018
(Pittsburgh) July 12, 2018 Even as experts identify Allegheny County’s air as among the nation’s most unhealthy, money from fines paid by polluters is being stashed in the bank and spent on projects with no public health impact, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner’s latest Taxpayer Alert says. The County’s Clean Air Fund is being tapped […]