March 29, 2017
Harrisburg – March 29, 2017 – More than $675,000 in grant funding has been approved for seven sewer rehabilitation projects in the Allegheny Valley, Mon Valley, South Hills and east suburbs, according to state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
The funding was approved for sewer projects in Clairton, Monroeville, North Versailles, West Elizabeth, New Kensington, Pleasant Hills and Versailles. The funds were approved through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer program.
“The grant funding will help deliver sewer upgrades for communities stretching from the Allegheny Valley, through the east suburbs, in the Mon Valley and into South Hills communities,” Brewster said. “Accessing state grant funds defrays local costs and helps communities pay for critical upgrades.
“I am pleased that our work to generate state funding for these projects was successful.”
Brewster said that the projects set to receive a portion of the Small Water and Sewer Funds include:
- Clairton Municipal Authority: Grant funding of $85,750 to pay for the installation of corrugated pipe to address storm water infiltration along Beech Alley and Waddell Avenue;
- Monroeville Municipal Authority: $94,550 in grant funds to rehabilitate 5,500 linear feet of sewer line to repair structural defects and eliminate ground water infiltration;
- North Versailles Township Sanitary Authority: $29,115 in state grants to replace 523 linear feet of sewer line and four manholes in the Hoffman Road rear line. This will stop storm water infiltration into the sewer system;
- West Elizabeth Sanitary Authority: Grant funding of $19,800 to install a low pressure sanitary force main to serve residents on Fourth Street Extension. This project ensures sewage treatment for five homes that will be unable to connect to a new treatment facility;
- Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington: $347,325 grant funding for sanitary and storm line separation as part of the Parkway Drive project. The project includes the installation of 1,350 of 15-inch storm line;
- Pleasant Hills Authority: $89,625 state grant funding to line the sewer interceptor in the Lewis Run and Lick Run area to reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer system and untreated wastes into groundwater and surface water;
- Versailles Borough: Grant funding in the amount of $33,835 to repair structural defects within the sanitary sewer system, including the raising of 3 manholes and the installation of one manhole to improve access to the sewer system.
Brewster indicated that $22 million will be distributed across the state as a part of the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program in this funding round.
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February 27, 2017
Harrisburg – February 27, 2017 – The relationship between school districts, charter schools, students and taxpayers would be fundamentally realigned and restructured if comprehensive charter school reform legislation soon to be introduced by state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) was enacted, the lawmaker said today.
“The goal of my legislation is to realign and redefine how local school districts, charter schools, students and taxpayers interact,” Brewster said. “The legislation is heavy on accountability to the local taxpayers and school board; flexible enough for charters and cyber charters to function as they were designed; and full of sensible reforms that will result in qualitative and fiscal improvements over the long haul.”
Brewster said that he is proposing two separate legislative proposals that will, as a package, accomplish his goal of having charters and local school boards working in concert to promote educational opportunities.
“The evidence points to a system that has devolved into an unrecognizable unaccountable approach to education that is fueled by outside interests,” Brewster said. “My proposal organizes the disjointed pieces that are now strewn across the education spectrum into a pattern that will help children and ensure that taxpayer concerns are addressed.”
“Charters were intended to be an outlet for innovative education and function within the goals of the school district, not be an ad hoc group attached by a financial cord to local taxpayers,” Brewster said.
Brewster’s plan includes financial reforms such as the following:
- Requiring charter schools to post a surety bond to guarantee that the school can operate through the year;
- Forcing charter schools to gain the approval of the host school board for the financing of new charter school construction in excess of $1 million if the project is financed through a local industrial development group or taxpayer-backed development agency;
- Compelling charter schools to include a detailed financial impact statement as part of a charter school application;
- Prohibiting lease payments to charter school board members;
- Requiring charter schools to invoice for actual services provided to special education students;
- Allowing traditional public schools to place privately donated funds into special accounts and keep these funds segregated from charter school dollars;
- Returning any investment funds or interest accrued by charters not used to pay operating or necessary expenses back to the host school district;
- Waiving the requirement that charter school students be bussed by a school district if the host school district does not transport its own students;
- Prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars in advertising about the school, its facilities or mission plus halting the use of taxpayer funds for membership in advocacy associations or lobbying.
“Redefining the relationship between charter schools, cyber charters and traditional schools involves more than simply changing how bills are paid and schools financed,” Brewster said. “We have to address issues on multiple levels to ensure that systemic reform takes hold.”
One of the major areas of focus in Brewster’s legislation relates to upgrading accountability to students and taxpayers. Brewster said his legislation includes the following:
- Requiring charter schools to gain approval from multiple school districts if students are drawn from outside the host district, as a part of the application process;
- Forcing charter schools to report quarterly and, in person, to the host school district, with copies of the report sent to all school districts from which students are drawn;
- Increasing the percentage of certified teachers from its current 75 percent to 90 percent, while grandfathering the current faculty to lessen disruptions;
- Imposing a moratorium on the approval of new cyber charter schools.
Brewster said that one of the major issues he confronted in developing his legislation was the complex role that the state Charter Appeal Board (CAB) plays in the relationship between charter schools and traditional public schools. He said the current structure is in dire need of reform.
“What I am proposing is an entirely new role for the appeal board and how it interacts with local school boards,” Brewster said. “The board has an authoritarian role in the charter approval process that, in many ways, makes local school boards subservient.
“An appeal board, situated in Harrisburg and not accountable to local taxpayers, should not be able to wipe away a decision by a local school board that disapproves a charter application.”
The reform proposal includes several provisions related to the CAB, including the following:
- Limiting the CAB to determining whether the local school board acted appropriately during the review of an application for a charter;
- Requiring that officials from the state Department of Education visit the site of a proposed charter school. The report will become part of the charter school’s application and become part of the record on appeal to the CAB;
- Mandating that the impact of the charter school on the fiscal health of the school district be considered as a part of the appeal.
Brewster said that the proposed changes in his legislation are significant, but the relationship between charters, cyber charters and traditional public schools has been strained and that a reset is warranted.
“Taxpayers, students of both charter and traditional schools, parents, teachers, administrators and state officials are tangled up in web of ineffective charter laws, outdated policies and destructive politics,” Brewster said. “My plan provides an opportunity to restructure and realign charter schools within the traditional school system.”
Brewster said that he expects to introduce the package of bills in the next couple weeks.
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February 7, 2017
Plan calls for $2 billion in cuts, additional investment in education
Harrisburg – February 7, 2017 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) released the following statement concerning Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18:
“The proposed $32.3 billion General Fund budget cuts more than $2 billion in expenses, calls for spending slightly more than 1 percent over last year and deals with a looming $3 billion deficit without a broad-based income tax hike.
“The governor has outlined a spending plan that cuts billions in expenses, increases spending slightly and leans heavily on agency efficiencies and consolidations of state agencies. Facing a $3 billion budget deficit if no actions were taken, the governor decided to go in a new direction. It is a new approach and reinvention of how we view government.
“The proposed budget makes investments in education, job creation and opioid treatment while maintaining social service programs to help our most vulnerable. As a blueprint and a starting point, the proposed plan touches all the bases and checks all the boxes.
“Job creation, health care, property tax relief and education are priorities. It will be critical that we identify how the proposed spending plan deals with these issues during the three weeks of upcoming budget hearings before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“As a member of the committee, I will review this plan carefully to ensure that the needs of my district are addressed.”
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February 1, 2017
Harrisburg – February 1, 2017 – State Senate Democrats said that Gov. Tom Wolf should call a special session of the General Assembly to ensure that legislation that results in significant property tax relief or total elimination is passed and signed into law this session.
At a news conference today at the state Capitol, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said taxpayers of Pennsylvania have waited too long for relief from escalating tax bills.
“We believe there should be a full, complete and transparent discussion of any and all tax relief or elimination proposals,” Costa said. “A special session provides the kind of platform that is needed for citizens and lawmakers to understand specifics about each proposal.”
Leading the call for the special session, state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) said, “Relief from property tax needs to be addressed without delay.”
In the letter to the governor, the Democrats stated, “Our taxpayers have waited far too long for action on this important issue. They want lawmakers to set aside partisan agendas and enact a significant property tax reform or elimination measure–NOW.”
Working families are struggling to pay mortgages and save for college for their children while seniors have to scrape resources together to make ends meet; property taxes add to their burden, the letter said.
Boscola, who has been a long-time advocate of property tax elimination and relief, said that “my goal is to pass legislation that will eliminate the property tax and replace it with a better system to fund public education. Our homeowners deserve it and our children need it.”
Another strong proponent of calling the special session is Senate Democratic Whip Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware).
“Addressing property tax relief or elimination needs to be a top priority, but is critical that we look at all the plans closely and find common ground,” Williams said. “A special session will force the General Assembly to focus on the issue, act assertively and come forward with a proposal that is balanced and equitable.
“Our property taxpayers have waited long enough.”
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) endorsed the call for a special session.
“The issue of property taxes has been a top priority for Pennsylvanians, many of whom have seen significant tax increases over the past few years,” Hughes said. “This special session would serve as an opportunity to thoroughly examine how we can provide the sustainable property tax relief that Pennsylvanians want and deserve while ensuring that our school districts are still properly funded.”
Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna) said that a special session will allow lawmakers to fashion a plan that strikes a balance between property tax relief and reliable state support for public education.
“For many Pennsylvanians – particularly our seniors and lower income property owners – there is a very real school property tax crisis. I remain committed to a responsible solution that can significantly reduce and, if possible, eliminate the property tax burden on these lower income property owners,” Blake said. “I believe strongly that a special session on property tax reform can finally allow the legislature to strike the appropriate balance between property tax relief and the assurance of sufficient, predictable and reliable state financial support for public education.”
Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said he hoped a special session will spur lawmakers to act.
“For too long our taxpayers have watched while the General Assembly has tried to deal with reducing property taxes,” Brewster said. “There are many plans now being drafted or considered and lawmakers need to come together on a plan that provided real relief or elimination. Taxpayers have waited too long.
“A special session is an excellent forum for all plans to be discussed, including the plan to totally eliminate property taxes.”
Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) said that there are several approaches to address tax reform, but lawmakers need to be thoughtful about how tax elimination impacts schools.
“If we’re going to get serious about providing property tax relief or elimination, we must do it thoughtfully. We certainly can’t hastily approve an elimination plan at the expense of our public schools,” Street said. “There are several approaches to addressing property taxes, so a special session would provide us with a clearer path toward true relief.”
Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), who has long been an advocate of property tax elimination, said school property tax is a complicated issue.
“One large source of revenue for school funding must be replaced with multiple other sources, and we must do this fairly and uniformly,” Schwank said. “Let’s use this special session to strike a balance between relieving the heavy burden property owners face, while also providing our schools with a reliable source of investment.”
Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said that property tax reform is a complex issue, but one that must be addressed.
“Property taxes remain an important issue to address. I still maintain that the appropriate solution will prove complex. We must dedicate time and effort to ensure the solution is successful,” Haywood said.
“The property tax is no longer sustainable as the sole source of funding for public education. It is high time for us to come together in the spirit of bipartisanship to develop and enact new and lasting solutions to the ongoing burden of rising property taxes on Pennsylvania homeowners,” Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee said. “This is a process that must involve both school districts and direct input from taxpayers and homeowners.”
The governor is empowered to call a special session of the General Assembly under the provisions of Article II, Section 4 and Article IV, Section 12 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
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February 1, 2017
HARRISBURG, February 1, 2017 – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced today that the 2017 adult trout stocking schedules are now available online and on the PFBC’s “FishBoatPA” mobile app.
Anglers can easily search the trout stocking schedules for locations and dates of interest. To view the list, simply go to www.fishandboat.com, click on the link “Fish” in the upper right corner, then select Trout Stocking Schedules. From there, select a county and enter start and end dates from the calendars at the top of the page. Then press “Go.”
For anglers with smartphones, an even easier way to view the schedules is through the FishBoatPA app, which is available for free from the Apple App and Google Play stores.
Included in this year’s stocking lists are the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, a program where 14 waters across the state will be stocked with large 14” – 20” trout. Approximately 4,500 large trout will be distributed among the 14 waters at a rate of 175 to 225 per mile, which is comparable to the numbers of similarly sized fish in Pennsylvania’s best wild trout waters.
The program was launched last year with eight waters. This year six new waters are being added. Select here to see the list of waters.
January 27, 2017
Harrisburg – January 27, 2017 – Help in accessing the state’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate program for eligible seniors, widows and widowers aged 50 plus and people with disabilities 18 years of age or older is available in each of state Sen. Jim Brewster’s (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) district offices, the lawmaker said.
“I would encourage constituents who believe they are qualified for property tax and rent relief to reach out to any of my offices and speak with my staff,” Brewster said. “This is an excellent program that provides real relief for high property tax or rent bills.”
The program, operated by the state Department of Revenue and supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery, has provided $6.1 billion in property tax and rent relief since 1971.
Brewster said that tax and rent relief for those eligible is based on income. The maximum property tax relief for those earning $8,000 a year or less is $650. Any qualifying senior with yearly income $35,000 or less may qualify. Renters with incomes below $15,000 qualify for assistance. Half of Social Security income is excluded.
“My staff is very experienced in helping seniors and others who qualify to receive benefits under this program,” Brewster said. “Anyone who is interested in getting help in preparing an application should call or visit my offices.”
Brewster’s local district offices are located in Monroeville, McKeesport and New Kensington. The Monroeville office is located at One Monroeville Center, 3824 Northern Pike, Suite 1015 and can be reached by phone at 412.380.2242. The McKeesport office is at 201 Lysle Boulevard and the phone number is 412.664.5200. In New Kensington, the office is at the New Kensington City Hall, 301 11th Street, Suite L, 724.334.1143.
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January 23, 2017
Harrisburg – January 23, 2017 – State Sen. James Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today his Democratic committee chairmanships and his membership on key committees will help push key issues that are important to the citizens of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
“I am very pleased to be appointed Democratic chair of the Law and Justice and Game and Fisheries committees,” Brewster said. “My other committee assignments also put me in position to be a strong advocate for issues impacting the citizens of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.”
Brewster was also selected to be on the Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Education, Local Government, Transportation and Policy committees.
The McKeesport lawmaker was elected to the Senate in 2010. He has close to 30 years of experience in the private sector and he eventually rose to become a vice-president at Mellon Bank. Additionally, for many years Brewster served on council in McKeesport and was its mayor prior to his election to the Senate.
“My experiences both in private business and public service have given me a unique perspective that comes into play when I am evaluating legislative proposals,” Brewster said. “It also gives me a strong foundation to build a significant legislative portfolio.”
Brewster is the prime sponsor of several far-reaching legislative pieces, including a charter school’s accountability bill, a package of legislation requiring the use of domestic steel in shale well drilling, an energy tax plan called “Extraction for Education” and several legislative reform items.
“I have a wide range of legislative interests that I’ve drafted into proposals,” Brewster said. “The bills have been designed to address issues that are important to citizens in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.”
As a life-long outdoors enthusiast, Brewster said that he we very happy with his re-appointment as Democratic chair of the committee that deals with hunting and fishing.
“There are so many issues impacting sportsmen and women that are important to my district,” Brewster said.
Brewster was appointed to the committees by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa.
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January 3, 2017
Takes oath office today in Harrisburg ceremony
Harrisburg – January 3, 2017 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) was sworn in today for another term in the state Senate serving citizens in portions of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens in the 38 municipalities that are part of the 45th District,” Brewster said. “I will continue to pursue a broad agenda that is focused on families.
“My legislative proposals include measures that promote job creation, tax relief, education support and help for those who are in need.”
Brewster, who was recently reappointed Democratic chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and Game and Fisheries Committee, indicated that he would push his broad legislative agenda. He has authored a sweeping charter school reform measure, a multi-pronged plan to require American steel to be used in fracking operations and initiatives to help local law enforcement via body cameras and additional patrol officers.
The lawmaker has also written legislation to institute a responsible energy extraction tax on Marcellus Shale drillers and to use the revenue to fund education. He is also the prime sponsor of a package of bills to reform the legislature and make it more accountable.
Brewster was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 2010. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016.
The senator has been involved in successful legislative efforts over the last several sessions. These include the passage of Act 89 – the transportation financing plan – that has rebuilt roads, bridges and funded mass transit, plus an effort to eliminate blight in economically disadvantaged cities. He was also the author of legislation (Senate Bill 773) that was inserted into another measure and signed into law as Act 109 in 2014. This proposal created a new “Hunting Heritage” license plate.
Brewster said that there are great fiscal challenges ahead for lawmakers this session. Pension reform, a huge budget deficit and growing medical assistance and corrections expenses will dominate discussions, he said. Even amid these substantive and difficult issues, he said that there was an opportunity to address issues involving local government.
“As the former mayor of McKeesport, I know the great difficulties that economically-stressed communities face,” Brewster said. “Lawmakers in Harrisburg need to focus on addressing the problems of small cities and struggling communities.”
Brewster has been widely recognized for his work in aiding the steel industry. Beyond his measure to require domestic steel in hydraulic fracking pipelines and safety equipment, Brewster was prominent in pushing a resolution (Senate Resolution 365) that called for strong enforcement of trade laws to protect the domestic steel industry from the dumping of foreign-made steel.
The lawmaker has district offices in Monroeville, McKeesport and in the Allegheny-Kiski Valley.
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December 6, 2016
Harrisburg – December 6, 2016 – A state grant of $316,100 has been approved to improve the Long Run Road – Walnut Street intersection in the City of McKeesport, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/ Westmoreland) said today.
“In order to continue the redevelopment of the region, it is critical that our road network is improved,” Brewster said. “The intersection at Long Run Road and Walnut Street is an important gateway to not only the City of McKeesport but the entire Mon Valley.”
The grant was approved through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s (CFA) Multimodal Transportation Fund. CFA projects are designed to bolster economic revitalization through strategic state investment.
Brewster said that this grant is being used to support the development of Walnut Crossing development which will add an additional access point to the intersection.
“The key to bringing more growth, development and jobs back to the Mon Valley is by making the area attractive for new employers and more productive for those that are already up and running,” Brewster said. “CFA transportation grants help open access to development-ready land parcels and improves the marketability of sites.”
Brewster, who formerly served as the mayor of McKeesport, said that in addition to spurring potential economic development the improvement of the intersection will speed traffic flow through a heavily traveled corridor.
The project includes the installation of a traffic light and turning lane.
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October 24, 2016
Harrisburg – October 24, 2016 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said that he welcomes new state investment in communities throughout his district after today’s announcement that the state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) approved grants for key recreation projects in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties.
At a morning meeting in Harrisburg, the CFA approved four projects in Brewster’s district. One project, K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park, is in Westmoreland County, while the other three are in Allegheny – in Port Vue, East Pittsburgh and Turtle Creek.
“There is no question the funds earmarked for these four projects will fill a crucial need,” Brewster said. “Municipalities already stretch local tax dollars but often they are not enough to meet the demand for capital improvements, especially in smaller cash-strapped communities.
“These funds, which add to a local community’s quality of life, will enable important recreational projects to be completed.”
Brewster said that the CFA approved the following:
- $50,000 for the City of Lower Burrell in Westmoreland County to renovate former Wolf Pack Park which is now K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park. The project includes the development of a memorial to Officer Kotecki that involves a sculpture, landscaping, steel and stone archway, park entrance and paved parking lot;
- $50,000 in Greenways, Trails and Recreation funds to renovate the tot lot in Romine Park in Port Vue. The park has outdated equipment and it is not accessible for children with disabilities. The funding will be used to install a new swing set and play activity climber and to retrofit equipment to make it ADA accessible;
- $35,000 for improvements to Quarry Field in East Pittsburgh Borough. The new CFA dollars will be used to construct a walking trail and five exercise stations, in addition to a new park access point from the parking lot;
- $50,000 has been granted to Turtle Creek Borough to rehabilitate the playground at Hamilton Park. The equipment in the park will be updated and the pavilion roof replaced.
The CFA was established in 2004 to administer economic stimulus programs. It is an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development.
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October 20, 2016
HARRISBURG, October 20, 2016 – A vital economic development project planned by Wilmerding-based Allegheny Petroleum Products Inc. at its flagship facility will move forward thanks to a million dollars in state funding secured by state Rep. Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and recently released by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Markosek said Allegheny Petroleum will use the $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding to make interior and exterior renovations at the Wilmerding facility, as well as to purchase the 109,000-square-foot building currently under lease.
“I and others worked very hard to get this project on the capital projects list, and am delighted that Governor Wolf equally understood the importance of it,” Markosek said. “Companies like Allegheny Petroleum – a small business that has worked hard over the past 30 years to expand its operations, create jobs and contribute to our overall economy – are the exact businesses Pennsylvania should be targeting for economic development dollars.”
Brewster agreed.
“There is a tremendous need to make strategic investments to rebuild our economic base,” Brewster said. “There has been significant effort to direct state resources, bolster the manufacturing base and generate jobs at the site in Wilmerding and in other locations in the Turtle Creek Valley.
“This grant will help expand the facility in Wilmerding and create family-sustaining work opportunities,” he said.
RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
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October 19, 2016
Harrisburg – October 19, 2016 – More than $8 million has been approved to build a new sewage treatment plant in West Elizabeth, according to state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“The financing package approved today is good news because a significant portion of the funding is a grant that does not have to be repaid,” Brewster said. “A new sewage treatment plant was a necessity, given the age of the facility.”
Brewster said the funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The financing package ratified today included a $3.9 million grant and a $4.9 million loan. The funding was discussed at a meeting today in Harrisburg.
The lawmaker said the financing will specifically be used to construct a three-tank batch treatment unit with the existing plant adapted for sludge processing.
“In order to spur development and create jobs there must be infrastructure that supports commercial and residential customers,” Brewster said. “The new treatment facility in West Elizabeth is the type of significant upgrade that positions the borough for growth and redevelopment.”
There was a need to replace the existing sewage treatment plant, Brewster maintained. The system was overloaded in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2011. The project is intended to eliminate sewage overflows into the Monongahela River during periods of wet weather.
The current treatment plant in West Elizabeth is 46 years old and has become obsolete.
PENNVEST is a state authority created in 1988 to improve water quality by providing grants and low interest loans for water and wastewater improvement projects.
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October 14, 2016
Harrisburg – October 14, 2016 – A total of $4.2 million in state grant funding has been approved for three important economic development projects in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
In Allegheny County, the former EchoStar Call Center at McKeesport Commons will be redeveloped with a $1 million state grant to accommodate future office needs. In addition, Keystone Commons is slated to receive $2 million in state grant funding to continue development of the site in the Turtle Creek Valley.
Meanwhile, in Westmoreland County, New Kensington has been given $1.2 million to acquire properties between the Allegheny River and Constitution Boulevard from 9th Street to the City of Arnold.
“Creating jobs and business opportunities is a critical part of rebuilding the tax base and fashioning a brighter future for the region” Brewster said. “As a former mayor, I know how important it is to have sites ready to capitalize on potential development.”
Brewster said that accessing state resources to bolster local development is essential to helping the region with its economic recovery.
“The grants for McKeesport, Keystone Commons and New Kensington can help attract new business and industry,” Brewster said. “The state grants will help retool these sites, create regional assets and position them for future development.”
The grants were awarded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). RACP grants can be used for acquisition and construction of economic development projects in a number of categories including cultural, civic, recreation and historical.
“RACP grants are a critical economic tool that can spur development and job creation.” Brewster said.
Brewster said that the $2 million for Keystone Commons involves land development, infrastructure improvements, building reconstruction and development of new buildings.
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October 13, 2016
Monroeville – October 13, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on the role of charter schools in public education.
“I hope today’s hearing gives us a better sense of how the charter school system works; how it complements — or detracts from traditional public schools; and ways we can make these schools more efficient, transparent and accountable,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee.
Brewster, who is introducing charter school reform legislation, added, “Charter schools must be accountable to the taxpayer and demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and properly supported by the community.
“I asked that this hearing be held in Monroeville to give our region’s school officials, as well as representatives from the charter school community, the opportunity to offer their views on this important issue.”
Boscola said she was pleased with the diverse make-up of the panel, which included state officials, public school superintendents, charter school administrators and others.
Calling Pennsylvania’s charter school law the “worst in the nation,” State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a 95-page audit last month that revealed numerous examples of financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest and poor oversight. DePasquale testified at today’s hearing.
Many of the critical findings recommendations in DePasquale’s 2014 charter school report were incorporated into Brewster’s legislation. The bill would require greater school board and Department of Education oversight, toughen the fiscal viability requirements for charter school applicants, ban charter board members from having a financial interest in leasing arrangements, step up teacher certification, and require approval from all of the school districts where a charter school draws 25 or more students from. The Brewster legislation would also place a moratorium on new cyber-charter schools.
According to the state Department of Education, Pennsylvania has 162 “bricks and mortar” charter schools (20 in Allegheny County), and 14 cyber charter schools.
Claiming that charter schools disproportionately harm poorer school districts, Mckeesport Area School District Superintendent Dr. Rula Skezas called charter schools the top financial problem for public schools.
“The two most obvious effects that charter schools have had on our school districts are that they have significantly drained the resources available to those students who remain in our schools; and created considerable increased costs for our taxpayers,” Skezas said.
Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Alan Johnson added that his school district will spend nearly $15 million of its $90 million budget on charter school tuition.
Ron Sofo, who serves as CEO of the City Charter High School in Pittsburgh, countered that his school provides a quality education “at $6,000 to $8,000 less per pupil than our authorizing school district.” He argued that charters and public school districts should engage in more collaboration and less competition.
Joining Brewster and Boscola at the hearing were Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), and Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria).
The following testified at the hearing:
- Matthew Stem, deputy secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education;
- Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale;
- Dr. Rula Skezas, superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District;
- Nathan Benefield, vice-president of policy, Commonwealth Foundation;
- Anthony Pirrello, vice-president, PA Coalition of Public Charter Schools Board, & CEO, Montessori Regional Charter School, Erie;
- Ron Sofo, CEO, City Charter High School, Pittsburgh; and
- Richard Livingston, president of the Clairton City School Board
- Jeremy Resnick, Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools, executive director, Propel Schools, Pittsburgh
- Dolores McCracken, vice president, PSEA
# # #
Contact: Charles Tocci
Phone: 717-787-5166
Email: ctocci@pasenate.com
October 6, 2016
Harrisburg – Oct. 6, 2016 – A new, sweeping charter school reform proposal intended to address transparency, fiscal solvency and accountability issues was detailed today by state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“Charter schools must be accountable to the taxpayer,” Brewster said. “They must demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and properly supported by the community.
“Recent reports and audits by the state auditor general revealed that the current charter school law is full of gaping holes that puts traditional public schools at a real disadvantage in trying to manage the impact of charter schools on their operations.”
Brewster said his reform proposal includes suggestions offered by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale over the last several years to produce a comprehensive reform of charter and cyber charter schools.
“It has become abundantly clear that systemic changes are needed in how brick and mortar and cyber charters operate in Pennsylvania,” Brewster said. “There is a growing frustration that charters are unaccountable.
“The auditor general has made a number of worthwhile recommendations and I’ve combined some of these ideas with other features to produce what I believe is an excellent starting point for comprehensive reform.”
Brewster said it is important to keep in mind that the original purpose of charter schools was to be an outlet for education innovation and share best practices with the school district.
The McKeesport lawmaker said his plan includes:
- Requiring local school boards to sign off on any financing arrangement with a local industrial development authority or other government entity for a new charter school building project in excess of $1 million;
- Compelling charter schools to post a bond, other type of surety, or agree to a payment escrow arrangement to ensure that they have the financial capability to operate for the entire school year;
- Limiting the scope of the state Charter School Appeal Board to solely determining whether the local school board acted appropriately in reviewing charter school applications;
- Requiring officials from the state Department of Education to visit the proposed site of a charter school to ascertain the condition of its physical plant. Their report will then be made a part of the charter application;
- Mandating that a charter school applicant obtain approval from multiple school districts if the charter school draws more than 25 students from a specific district;
- Upgrading accountability by requiring a quarterly report on the operations of the charter school to the local school board – with the report delivered in person by a charter school official;
- Making a structured financial impact statement, consisting of an estimation of enrollment multiplied by tuition payments, part of the charter school application. The impact statement may serve as the justification for denial of a charter application;
- Increasing the percentage of certified teachers from 75 percent to 90 percent of faculty, after grandfathering in current faculty;
- Prohibiting charter board members from receiving payments for school lease arrangements. This issue was highlighted in August in the auditor general’s report; and
- Imposing a moratorium on the approval of new cyber-charter schools, given the recent reports of poor test scores.
Brewster said these reform provisions are a beginning and that other elements could be added.
“We need to dig deep and look critically at the charter law to make sweeping changes,” Brewster said. “In this year alone, the auditor general has pointed out that the reimbursement process is flawed, that there were too many reimbursement appeals and that the cyber charter law reeked with ethical issues, poor oversight and a lack of transparency.
“It is clear that the charter law is not helping schools, charters themselves or the taxpayers.”
In 2014, DePasquale released his recommendations to improve the charter law. These suggestions called for an independent board to oversee charter school processes and functions — including lease reimbursements and student enrollment. He also suggested public hearings involving charter changes, limits on fund balances and guidelines on calculating teacher certification benchmarks.
Brewster said a responsible and balanced reform approach can attract support from charter advocates as well as those who have been critical of the proliferation of charter schools. He said his plan is an excellent platform for creating a partnership between charters and traditional public schools.
“The reform plan that I am offering is intended to bring charters and traditional public schools together,” Brewster said. “Children should be guaranteed a quality education and taxpayers assured that their tax dollars are being used wisely.”
The McKeesport lawmaker said he realizes that time is short this year to make any move toward charter reform, but that by introducing legislation now there will be greater awareness of the issues involved in crafting meaningful reform. He said the measure will also be reintroduced next session.
“We need a reasonable starting point to engage all sides in a substantive dialogue,” Brewster said.
Brewster said that he hoped that many of these issues will be discussed at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Oct. 13 at the Monroeville Municipal Building in Monroeville.
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September 23, 2016
Harrisburg, Sept. 23, 2016 − State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) will host his Senior Wellness and Safety Expo on Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Palisades in McKeesport.
The program will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The McKeesport Palisades is located at 100 Fifth Avenue in McKeesport.
“The expo will provide important information on health issues and a wide variety of health screenings will be available,” Brewster said. “The Senior Wellness and Safety Expo is an excellent chance for seniors to have their health evaluated free of charge.
“It is also important to note that seniors will be able to receive free flu shots.”
Brewster said that hearing, osteoporosis, vision, blood pressure, pulmonary, bone density and pulse oximetry screenings will be available in addition to body composition analysis and trigger point massage.
The lawmaker said that the Pennsylvania Mobile Veterans Van will also be on site with valuable information as well as the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf who will be offering free hearing screenings in their Mobile Diagnostic Unit.
“I want to encourage all seniors in the Mon Valley and Southwestern Pennsylvania to mark their calendars and plan to attend the wellness and safety expo on September 29,” Brewster said. “Continued screenings and health care updates are an excellent way for seniors to keep abreast of health issues and stay healthy.”
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August 17, 2016
Op-ed Column by Sen. Jim Brewster
The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association has posted bright flags warning of a potentially devastating trooper retirement tsunami looming just over the horizon. If the storm comes together and the retirement tidal wave hits, it would severely strain police resources, impair our ability to deal with domestic terrorism and dangerously compromise the safety and security of our citizens.
In media reports, the troopers’ association stated that 2,000 Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) troopers will become retirement-eligible within the next three years. These retirements – if they occur in bulk – will swell the current trooper deficit (417 vacancies below the 4,719 authorized complement) and create long-term staffing problems that will reverberate for a decade or more to come.
Recent trooper retirement statistics underscore the retirement trend at PSP: Over the last five years (2012-2016 inclusive) the PSP averaged 216 retirements. For the previous 5-year period, an average of 153 troopers retired. So far this year, 226 troopers have retired.
More needs to be done to fill the ranks. An expedited recruitment and training program featuring a rapid succession of well-stocked cadet classes would solve the problem. However, this approach costs money – and lots of it.
Assuming the accuracy of the retirement storm warning, the question is this: In an era of fiscal belt-tightening and partisanship that jeopardizes even consensus appropriation lines, is there bipartisan will to invest significant state resources as a down payment to address the problem?
While the governor and budget negotiators acted aggressively this year and added additional funding to the state spending plan to pay for three new cadet classes, these new troopers may only be a temporary supplicant.
Fewer troopers, greater responsibility and an ever-expanding coverage area have placed an incredible burden on the PSP. Troopers are being called on to patrol more communities and citizens every day. When local municipalities disband their police or fail to organize, equip and support a local police force of their own, the state police are required to fill the policing void.
According to a Penn State study, the PSP provided full or part-time coverage to 67 percent of the state’s 2,562 municipalities. In rural Pennsylvania, the study found that the state police accounted for 92 percent coverage, with most municipalities requiring full-time service. The study concluded that the state police cover, either full or part time, 3,388,659 citizens per year, with that figure growing each year.
Last year, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review completed an in-depth examination of PSP staffing from 2008-2014. The review found that while the number of Pennsylvanians relying on state police increased, the number of officers assigned to regional stations for patrols declined 17 percent. At three-quarters of the stations, staffing levels fell despite the addition of new troopers.
The state budget provided millions in additional funding to pay for training three new classes of troopers. However, given the exceedingly high cost to train each flight of 100 cadets, the expense of restocking the ranks is steep.
To compound the problem, legislators and transportation advocates have grown wary of diverting Motor License Fund dollars from road, bridge, mass transit and multimodal projects. In fact, the PSP road revenue spigot that is now wide open will soon be ratcheted-back as a result of the passage of new restrictions in the Fiscal Code (Act 85). Given this change, this future funding challenge must be addressed.
Lawmakers and the administration have an obligation to examine PSP staffing concerns and craft an aggressive, yet responsible and fiscally sound, approach to ensure that the safety and security needs of Pennsylvania’s citizens are met. Perhaps that means a greater investment from the state’s General Fund or forcing well-heeled municipalities that now rely exclusively on the PSP for police services to pay a reasonable fee for coverage they currently receive for free.
The retirement tsunami warning flags are flapping ominously. Let’s hope our policymakers pay heed.
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August 4, 2016
Wilkinsburg, August 4, 2016 – At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, a joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing was held today on efforts and resources to fight blight within our communities, including the successes and challenges of land banks.
“Blight is a scourge that impedes both business and residential interest in a community,” Costa said. “We must do what we can to give our municipalities the resources, tools and flexibility they need to quickly eradicate blight and begin revitalization efforts.”
Costa said blight poses health and safety risks, reduces neighborhood property values, drains municipal revenue on enforcement and maintenance efforts, and discourages community investment and growth.
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), who chairs the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said “transforming dilapidated properties from community liabilities to revitalization linchpins must be our shared goal.”
Boscola added that Pennsylvania has approximately 300,000 vacant properties – many of them eye-sores. She said legislators should steer clear of “one-size-fits-all solutions” and give local government leaders the “flexibility to tailor revitalization efforts that fit their unique needs.”
State Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny), who co-chaired the hearing, said the state has passed several laws in recent years aimed at assisting local governments in blight removal and revitalization initiatives. He added that there are also numerous proposals under consideration in the legislature that would generate more funding for demolition and revitalization work and toughen penalties against absentee owners.
Costa said a 2012 law that established land banks provides an innovative way to acquire and ready properties for reinvestment. He pointed to the local Tri-COG Land Bank as a “promising program that numerous Allegheny county communities should look into.” Tri-COG recently received a pledge of $1.5 million in seed funding from the Heinz endowment.
A land bank acquires blighted properties, clears delinquent taxes and liens, and prepares the property for investment and revitalization – all aimed at returning the property to the tax rolls and productive use. A county or municipality must have a population of at least 10,000 to form a land bank. Local governments have the option of joining and must pay 5 percent of yearly delinquent tax collections to help fund the program.
Urban Redevelopment Authority Director Kyra Straussman lamented that a fourth of the city’s footprint is abandoned and vacant property that the government does not control.
“While our tax base is eroding, we are simultaneously directly paying millions in tax dollars annually to keep problem vacant and abandoned property just as it is,” she said.
Matt Madia, who serves as chief strategy and development officer for Bridgestone Capital investment program, discussed his firm’s revitalization work, including its $9.6 million effort to revitalize the Homewood neighborhood in Pittsburgh. He said some of their business loans have resulted in new businesses occupying commercial space that would otherwise be vacant. He said providing this core business sector with its products and services helps make a neighborhood “welcoming and livable.”
Mark Mohn, vice-chair state Association of Realtors Legislative Committee, said rising property local taxes has worsened the blight problem by making home ownership less affordable. He said lawmakers should consider shifting the tax burden away from homeowners to more broad-based local and state resources.
“It’s time to stop picking the pockets of homebuyers,” Mohn added, suggesting that lawmakers should consider allowing bond referendums and Social Impact Bonds where municipalities can pay back outside investors for transforming blighted properties into productive ones.
Others who testified were: Cynthia Whitman Daley, policy director of the PA Housing Alliance; Tracey Evans, executive director of the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation; A. William Schenck, TriState Capital Bank Board Member, Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh; An Lewis, Director, Steel Rivers COG; Daniel Lavelle, board member, Pittsburg Land Bank; and Liz Kozub, Community Development coordinator, Turtle Creek COG.
Joining Costa, Gainey and Boscola were Senators John Blake (D-Lackawanna), Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), and Representatives Chris Sainato (D-Lawrence) and Paul Costa (D-Allegheny).
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July 5, 2016
Harrisburg, July 5, 2016 − The state Senate adopted a resolution sponsored by state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) that urges the President and other federal officials to strongly enforce trade laws to protect the domestic steel industry from unfair foreign competition.
“The domestic steel industry is in dire need of help from Washington,” Brewster said. “We are being inundated with subsidized imports from foreign countries.
“Federal officials need to recognize the problem and prevent cheap foreign-made steel from taking jobs away from steelworkers and bankrupting steel companies.”
Finished steel imports increased by 36 percent in 2014 and captured 29 percent of the steel market in 2015. Domestic steel shipments declined 12 percent in 2015 and plant capacity was running at just 70 percent.
“The playing field is tilted toward China and other countries that subsidize steel manufacturing,” Brewster said. “The result is that our own steel industry is at a severe competitive disadvantage.”
Brewster said that steel industries and their suppliers account for more than 1 million jobs. There are approximately 136,000 jobs that are related to steel manufacturing in Pennsylvania.
Two years ago, U.S. Steel announced that it was mothballing a steel manufacturing facility in McKeesport with the result that 250 workers lost their jobs.
“The United States has a wide-open market for steel and this policy has resulted in job loss and plant closures,” Brewster said. “It is patently unfair for foreign countries to subsidize steel manufacturing and then dump the product here.”
The lawmaker has introduced a package of bills (Senate Bill 417, Senate Bill 418, Senate Bill 419) designed to ensure that domestic steel is being used in shale drilling activities.
Brewster’s resolution was approved on June 30.
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July 1, 2016
Harrisburg, July 1, 2016 − The state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) today approved more than $400,000 in grant funding to help complete a key bridge reconstruction project at Keystone Commons, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
“The grant funds approved today will be used to reconstruct the AWR Bridge at Keystone Commons,” Brewster said. “The ability to create jobs and spur development requires investment in our infrastructure.”
Brewster said the $433,250 in funding was approved through the CFA’s Multimodal Transportation Fund. He said the Regional Industrial Corporation (RIDC) requested the funding to improve the transportation network that serves the facility.
The McKeesport lawmaker serves as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee and is a member of the Port Authority of Allegheny County board. He said he is very supportive of transportation related projects and was pleased that this bridge work is being funded by the CFA.
“We have to continue making job creation a priority and seek state resources to help our region grow business and development,” Brewster said. “Funding from the CFA can help leverage more investment and development.”
Keystone Commons houses over 40 businesses and is a center for business activity. The facility is located in the former Westinghouse Electric plant.
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June 30, 2016
Harrisburg, June 30, 2016 − David L. Spurgeon, a McKeesport lawyer who currently serves as Deputy District Attorney in Allegheny County, has been confirmed by the state Senate as the newest member of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
Brewster released the following statement concerning Spurgeon’s confirmation:
“David Spurgeon will be an outstanding judge and a tremendous asset for Allegheny County. He is a supremely qualified and gifted prosecutor who possesses exceptional qualities and knowledge of the law. He will serve the citizens of Allegheny County well.
“On a more personal level, it was a great day for David and the Mon Valley. It has been quite a while since an individual was nominated and confirmed to the bench from the region. I was pleased that Governor Wolf nominated David and proud to support his nomination.
“He will serve the Mon Valley and the citizens of the county well as a common pleas court judge.”
Spurgeon holds a bachelor degree in political science from Duquesne University and is a 1996 graduate of the School of Law. He has been with the district attorney’s office since 1998.
Spurgeon was confirmed on Wednesday by the Senate with a unanimous (50-0) vote.
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June 24, 2016
Harrisburg, June 24, 2016 − The inaugural “Going for the Goal Sprint Triathlon” will get underway on Sunday, June 26 at 8:15 a.m. at McKeesport High School in McKeesport, honorary chairman Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
“The triathlon will bring exceptional athletes to McKeesport to compete in the first of its kind event for the Mon Valley,” Brewster said. “We are taking on a new venture such as the triathlon to showcase McKeesport and its resources.”
The triathlon will benefit the McKeesport Trail Commission and programs operated by the McKeesport-White Oak Kiwanis. All funds raised will go to the commission and the Kiwanis.
The triathlon consists of three events: running, biking and swimming.
The Go for the Goal Sprint Triathlon begins with a quarter-mile swim in the McKeesport High School swimming pool. Then participants will bike 9 miles through McKeesport and onto the Great Allegheny Passage. This will be followed by a 5K run through Renziehausen Park.
Brewster has partnered with the McKeesport Hospital Foundation, McKeesport Area School District, City of McKeesport, the McKeesport Trail Commission and McKeesport-White Oak Kiwanis to put the program together.
“There has been a lot of teamwork involved by all partners and supporters of the triathlon,” Brewster said. “We worked together to create something new that we hope will be an annual event that people of all ages can enjoy.”
Brewster said that roster of participants includes local individuals from the Pittsburgh region plus others as far away as Ohio and California. Race day registrants are also welcome.
“The triathlon is a new and exciting event for the McKeesport area,” Brewster said. “We are all looking forward to a competition that harnesses the energy of the region, creates good will for local residents and highlights the resources of the area,” Brewster said.
The triathlon has significant local support from businesses and community groups.
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June 6, 2016
Harrisburg – June 6, 2016 – The application deadline for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has been extended from June 30, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016 according to state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“Opening the application window wider will help attract more applications and result in greater relief for qualifying seniors, widow, widowers and people with disabilities,” Brewster said. “This is an excellent program that helps reduce exposure to high property tax and rent bills.”
The program is open to Pennsylvanians aged 65 or older, widows, widowers and individuals with disabilities aged 18 or older with incomes less than $35,000 per year for homeowners and $15,000 for renters. Half of Social Security income is excluded. The rebates are for property taxes paid in 2015.
The program’s maximum rebate is $650 but there are supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners in certain circumstances that can boost the rebate to $975.
“I encourage seniors and others who may think they are eligible to contact my office for more information,” Brewster said. “Changes were made in the program last year to account for past Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.”
As of late May, the state Department of Revenue had received 439,686 applications. Rebate distributions begin July 1.
Brewster said that those interested should contact any of his district offices or visit his website at www.senatorbrewster.com. Brewster’s offices are located in Monroeville (412) 380-2242, McKeesport (412) 664-5200 and New Kensington (724) 334-1143.
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May 5, 2016
Erie – May 5, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Sean Wiley, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing today on problems related to gas drilling in the Lake Erie watershed.
“We need to make responsible and measured decisions about where we can expand – as well as where we should limit – the presence, growth and impact of gas drilling,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee. “Land owners, local communities and critical watershed regions like Lake Erie cannot take a back seat to company profits. “
Sen. Sean Wiley (D-Erie) said he called for the hearing to focus statewide attention on issues such as clean water withdrawal from Lake Erie as well as concerns over the disposal of shale gas wastewater and the potential for catastrophic contamination of sources of drinking water.
“The Lake Erie watershed is a prime destination for anglers and hunters,” Wiley said. “It is imperative that we take the necessary steps to protect and preserve this pristine resource that has been so important to our region for so long.”
Wiley said that hundreds of thousands of people fish the Ohio and Pennsylvania portions of Lake Erie, which overlie much of the Utica shale gas formation. While agreeing that the economic and job benefits of gas drilling are significant, Wiley cautioned that huge water withdrawals from the watershed, threats of wastewater pollution and well integrity issues could alter stream flows, threaten steelhead fishing and encourage the introduction of invasive species in the region.
Much of today’s hearing focused on state laws regulating gas drilling and what steps can be taken to better protect the state’s watershed regions. Boscola called for the need to strike a “balance” between efforts to encourage gas drilling and competing efforts to protect community, recreational, health and environmental interests.
Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper said she cannot support gas drilling in the Erie watershed because there are too many risks to “our health, public safety and to the beautiful resource that is Lake Erie.
Pointing to devastating natural gas explosions around the state, Dahlkemper asked, “How much risk is too much risk? We have a duty to protect the Lake Erie watershed and a responsibility to protect this fresh water resource that provides drinking water for tens of thousands of people, has generated $980 million in tourism and provides some of the best fishing in the nation.”
Dr. Marsha Haley, who serves as an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, pointed to studies indicating that leaching of drilling wastewater can affect the chemical composition of streams and adversely impact water ecosystems and watershed wildlife.
She also pointed to separate studies in Washington County, Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Pennsylvania indicating that people who live closer to well sites experience a greater incidence of health problems ranging from respiratory and heart symptoms to lower birth weight.
Representatives from the oil and gas drilling industry were invited to testify, but declined to attend.
“This hearing shouldn’t be an argument that pits drillers against preservationists, job creators against environmentalists, and the state’s energy sector against health and community interests,” Boscola said. “To me, our task isn’t about taking sides. It’s about finding a balance.”
Boscola and Wiley were joined on the Senate panel by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
In addition to Senate committee members, the following took part in the discussion:
- Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkepmer
- Marsha Haley, medical doctor (radiation oncology)
- Sister Pat Lupo, Benedictine Sisters, Environmental Education and Advocacy of Erie County
- John Rossi, Pennsylvania State Chapter of the Sierra Club
- John Walliser, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
- Ryan Grode, SWPA Environmental Health Project
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April 21, 2016
Harrisburg – April 21, 2016 – Senate Democrats representing large and small cities across Pennsylvania stepped forward today to propose an aggressive crime prevention plan that would provide $3.2 million in grants for local police departments.
The Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program would enable local officials from cities of all sizes to apply for grants covering one-time expenses for equipment, training, new public safety initiatives and police overtime.
The Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant initiative is being offered by Sens. John Wozniak (D-Cambria/Bedford/Clearfield), John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia), Sean Wiley (D-Erie), Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry), and Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“Police departments struggle to find resources for equipment, training, safety initiatives and overtime,” Wozniak said. “This grant program would be a very useful way to direct much-needed funds for specific crime prevention initiatives.”
In Wozniak’s district, Johnstown would be eligible to apply for grant funding. Wozniak, who is active in local government issues, proposed the development of the Third Class City Caucus as a way to push measures helpful to smaller cities, including funding for public safety.
“Crime fighting in urban areas – regardless of the size of the city – poses unique problems that have to be addressed,” Sabatina said. “This program provides a conduit for law enforcement to access funds to pay for necessary law enforcement tools.”
Sabatina’s 5th Senatorial District is located in Northeast Philadelphia. A former assistant district attorney, he has been a leader on police and law enforcement issues since he joined the General Assembly.
Safe Street Grants would be based on a city’s population. First and second-class cities (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively) could receive up to $150,000. Second-class A and third-class cities with populations between 40,000 and 120,000 (Erie, Harrisburg, etc.) are eligible for $100,000 grants.
Third-class cities with a population ranging from 16,000 to 40,000 residents (Johnstown, McKeesport, for example) could seek $75,000 under the program. Cities with populations from 10,000 to 15,999, and those with less than 10,000 citizens would be eligible for grants of $50,000 or $25,000, respectively.
“Cities in Pennsylvania face stiff fiscal challenges and need financial help in many areas,” Wiley said. “Earmarking grant dollars for specific purposes will help police combat crime, improve public safety and save lives.”
Wiley has been heavily involved in assisting Erie area police departments. He helped access funding for a K-9 unit based at Mercyhurst University that is trained in bomb detection. The unit is available to the Erie Bureau of Police as well as other local departments. Under the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program, Erie would be eligible for a $100,000 grant.
The program would be administered through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
“Public safety is a top priority of local government,” Teplitz said. “The key aspect of the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program is that it is tailored to help law enforcement from cities of all sizes.”
Teplitz represents Harrisburg, which would be eligible for $100,000 in grant funding under the program. He helped develop a bipartisan municipal debt reform package (Senate Bills 340-344) to enhance state oversight of municipal financial deals and prevent fiscal catastrophes that have embroiled Harrisburg and other municipalities.
As Democratic chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee and a leader on addressing fiscal issues associated with third-class cities, Teplitz believes that a renewed focus on providing law enforcement with the resources and tools to combat crime will pay dividends for generations to come.
Brewster, who represents a number of eligible cities (McKeesport, Duquesne, Clairton, New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell), said the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program is an excellent approach that would fill a local need.
“Small cites are cash-strapped and often find it difficult to pay expenses,” Brewster said. “This grant program offers smaller urban areas which do not have resources readily available a way to fund law enforcement and protect citizens.”
Brewster served as the mayor of McKeesport and was a member of council, including service as council president. He has been a strong proponent of using new technology to fight crime, including the use of body cameras for police officers.
According to the bill’s sponsors, there are 57 cities that could access grant funding. The grant funding could not be used to hire new officers or cover personnel or benefit costs. Overtime cost is an eligible expense.
Municipalities who use Pennsylvania State Troopers for local patrol and law enforcement would be ineligible.
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