Upcoming Events

In-Person VSO Appointments Available!

My office offers American Legion Veterans Service Officer (VSO) appointments every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9 am - 1 pm! Appointments will rotate between my district offices each month.

Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, April 16, Natrona Heights office
• Tuesday, May 21, Ross Township office

Whether you have a question or just need a fresh review of the benefits you’ve earned, call or email our office to schedule a one-on-one appointment: 412-364-0469 (Ross) 724-224-2131 (Harrison). Appointments fill up quickly!

Free License Plate Legibility Event!
AAA North Hills, 4790 McKnight Rd, Wednesday, April 17*, 11 am – 2 pm
*Weather Permitting

Is your license plate peeling or illegible and need to be replaced? Don’t risk getting a ticket! Join Senator Williams and AAA East Central on Wednesday, April 17* and have all the paperwork done for a new plate while you wait! This service is free and you don’t have to have an appointment.

What to bring:

• Owner must be present.
• Current driver’s license for owner.
• Current car registration card with your title, VIN, and license plate numbers.

You will need to register at the table upon arrival. Please call 412-365-7211 if you have any questions.

Demystifying Harrisburg: Office of Consumer Advocate-Your Voice in Utility Matters
Hampton Community Center, 3101 McCully Rd, Allison Park
Thursday, April 18, 6:00 pm

Did you know that Allegheny County is at the beginning of two major utility rate cases? 

Duquesne Light and Columbia Gas recently filed requests to raise their rates with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC). Under the Duquesne Light proposed rate increase, the total monthly bill for an average residential customer using 600 kilowatt hours would increase from $130.67 to $139.19 (6.52%). Under the Columbia Gas proposed rate increase the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 70 therms of gas would increase from $118.16 to $136.92 (15.88%).

For now, these increases are on hold as the PUC investigates these cases, but who stands up for you in these cases? The Office of Consumer Advocate! Come and hear about how the OCA and PUC investigate these cases and how they impact your bottom line.

We’ll also be discussing what utilities are and aren’t covered by the PUC and how you can protect yourself when selecting energy suppliers.

Register at https://www.senatorlindseywilliams.com/demystifyinghbg/. 

Demystifying Harrisburg is designed to take a closer look at how Harrisburg works—or doesn’t work—for people every day. The series also seeks to provide easy steps and access points for people to get involved and engaged in what can feel like overwhelming processes. Look for the next installment of my Demystifying Harrisburg series this summer!

 

You can watch all of the previous videos in the series on my website at SenatorLindseyWilliams.com/DemystifyingHbg.

Free Paper Shredding Event with Rep. Lindsay Powell
Kiwanis Park, 399 Wetzel Road, Glenshaw, PA 15116
April 27, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Have you been cleaning out your old paperwork? Dispose of your personal documents safely and securely at my *free* paper shredding event with Rep. Lindsay Powell on Saturday, April 27 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at Kiwanis Park in Shaler! 

Each car can shred up to two banker’s boxes of paper (for reference a bankers box is about the size of a microwave). Please remove all metal fasteners other than staples before the event!

Shredding will be performed on site. You should bring papers that contain personal information, such as your social security number, medical information, credit card or banking information, or other personally identifying information.

Senior Social
Pittsburgh Mills Mall, 590 Pittsburgh Mills Circle, Tarentum, PA 15084
Thursday, May 23, Noon - 3:00 p.m.

We’re hosting a Senior Social! This isn’t your parents’ senior fair– come ready to meet new people and learn new things. 

Vintage Center for Active Adults will be there to provide Digital Navigation Services and support for your smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

The PA Department of Banking and Securities will be playing Fraud Bingo, a fun and easy way to learn how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from frauds and scams.

We’ll also have music, games, and refreshments to enjoy!

We hope to see you at our Senior Social on Thursday, May 23 from Noon until 3:00 pm at Pittsburgh Mills Mall! 

Good News

Exceptional Citizen’s Expo in Ross Township

Thank you to the Ross Township Police Department and Chief Zett for organizing Saturday's Exceptional Citizen's Expo! This was a great opportunity for residents who might feel overwhelmed at a touch-a-truck event to experience all kinds of rescue vehicles and talk to first responders in a calmer and more accessible environment.

Thank you to all of the departments who participated and spent their Saturday getting to know our exceptional neighbors!

Eclipse Glasses Collection

My colleagues in the Senate and I were dazzled by Monday’s eclipse! I hope you were all able to see it safely, but don't toss those glasses out just yet!

Give children in other countries the chance to experience an eclipse safely by passing on undamaged glasses through Astronomers Without Borders or Eclipse Glasses USA. Each organization will send used glasses to children in other countries to ensure that they can safely experience the wonders of an eclipse!

We're also collecting UNDAMAGED (no tears, scratches, holes, etc) glasses in our McKnight Road and Natrona Heights offices for donation. Please drop yours off during regular hours 9-5 Monday through Friday (Natrona is closed on Fridays).

Legislative Update

Banning State Agencies from Hiring Lobbyists

I’ve joined my colleague Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill in introducing Senate Bill 1098, legislation that will prohibit state agencies from hiring lobbyists, lobbying firms, or political consultants to influence the decision-making process of another Commonwealth entity or agency.

Recently, the Pennsylvania Game Commission came under fire for hiring Allegheny Strategy Partners under a $10,000 a month contract. The former Senate President Pro Tempore, Joe Scarnati is one of three partners in the firm. Following questioning about this contract during the Game Commission’s Budget Hearing in February, the Commission decided not to renew the contract, saying in a comment to Spotlight PA, “The whole purpose for partnering with ASP [Allegheny Strategy Partners] was to strengthen our relationships with members of the General Assembly, but it seemed to be having the reverse effect, as several legislators expressed concerns,” Lau wrote in an email. “With that being the case, it wouldn’t make sense for us to continue.”

This legislation will ban public entities at the state, county, and local level from hiring lobbying firms. You can read more about this new legislation here: Lawmakers want to ban public agencies from hiring lobbyists.

I’m proud to again partner with Sen. Phillips-Hill on this common sense, good-government reform legislation. We are also working together on Senate Bill 275, which would require that all Senate and House expenses be posted online in an easily searchable format, and the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Act, which is the Pennsylvania version of the Federal False Claims Act that protects whistleblowers and encourages them to come forward and report fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Ballot Return Locations Open the Two Weekends Before Primary Election Day!

The Primary Election is on Tuesday, April 23rd. Once you've completed your mail-in or absentee ballot, if you prefer to turn it in person and don’t want to go downtown, there will be several ballot return locations staffed by Allegheny County Elections Division workers on the last two weekends before Election Day:

• Saturday, April 13, 9 am – 5 pm
• Sunday, April 14, 11 am – 7 pm
• Saturday, April 20, 9 am - 5 pm
• Sunday, April 21, 11 am - 7 pm 

Election staff will be accepting completed mail-in and absentee ballots at the locations listed in the graphics above. 

An important reminder: each voter may only return their own ballot unless they have a completed authorization form to turn in a ballot on behalf of someone who is physically unable to return their own ballot. 

Weekend ballot return locations accept only completed ballots, enclosed in a signed and dated declaration envelope. 

Alert: PA Turnpike’s Toll Services Scam

Some customers have received phishing-attempt text messages claiming to be from the PA Turnpike’s toll services. If you receive such a text providing you with a link to pay an outstanding toll, do not click on the link, and delete the text. Report it at Internet Crime Complaint Center.

April PHEAA Webinars

Planning for higher education? There are still opportunities this month to attend one of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s (PHEAA) webinars. See above for details.

Registration and more information are available at Financial Aid Webinars (pheaa.org).

Take the Allegheny County Health Department’s Public Health Survey

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is asking residents who haven’t completed their community health survey to do so before it closes at the end of April 2024. The Public Health Assessment Survey covers a variety of topics such as health care access, chronic disease, health risk behaviors, environment, maternal and child health, and mental health and substance use disorder. Survey results will inform the Health Department on its progress towards the goals laid out in the Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, a multi-year, countywide plan that focuses on physical, behavioral, and environmental health.

Access the community health survey by clicking here.

The Public Health Assessment Survey is web-based and focused on achieving broad and diverse participation among county residents. The survey is compatible with smartphones. The Health Department hopes to have 3,000 participants from the county’s population of almost one million adults.

Litter League Starts April 20!

The Litter League is back! A 6-week annual competition hosted by Allegheny CleanWays and Friends of the Riverfront, the Litter League is in its 4th season. In its first three seasons, Litter League has collected 139,627.50 pounds of litter in Allegheny County!

Six weeks of competition kick off on the Saturday of Earth Day weekend, April 20th. Teams of neighbors and colleagues will compete in tournaments across Allegheny County to accomplish “trashy” challenges that earn points and win prizes. At the end of the season, an overall champion is declared, and outstanding teams are awarded.

It’s not too late for you to join or register your group! Go to Litter League | Friends of the Riverfront to get started getting trashy!

Spring Roadside Cleanup in McCandless

Spring has arrived, but unfortunately, this time of year highlights how fast litter builds up over the winter. Don’t despair, take action and join McCandless’ Environmental Advisory Committee’s (EAC) 6th annual litter clean-up on Saturday, April 20, 2024! Participants will meet at the Department of Public Works garage (9957 Grubbs Road) at 8:30 am for a continental breakfast before heading out. Safety vests, gloves and bags will be available for participants.

This year, the McCandless EAC is participating in the Subaru Love Promise Program. Baierl Subaru will provide electronic recycling and a food truck in coordination with the community roadside cleanup. Volunteers are invited to return to Baierl Subaru after their cleanup, to drop off any e-recycling equipment and recharge with an icy treat.

Don’t assume your neighbor or the township will do it for you. Caring community members make all the difference. You can join as an individual or, if there is an area of litter that bothers you, the EAC is looking for volunteers to adopt areas or streets to clean up as a group.

Be part of the solution! Sign up by emailing [email protected].

Larimer Consensus Group: Building Homeownership in Larimer
URA Homeownership Program for First-Time Homebuyers 

The Larimer Consensus Group (LCG) is helping connect Pittsburgh residents with the Homeownership Program for First-Time Homebuyers in the City of Pittsburgh to encourage homeownership in the Larimer neighborhood. This program is run by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the Housing Authority of Pittsburgh, and their banking partners and is also available in other Pittsburgh neighborhoods. 

The application process begins with the banks, who refer your application to the URA. Qualified first-time homebuyers can receive up to a $50,000 grant and a $40,000 loan. This is for Pittsburgh residents at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI). For example, a household size of 4 can have a maximum income of $80,300 to qualify.

For more information, including program guidelines, applications, and contact information, go to OwnPGH Homeownership Program (ura.org)

Virtual Monthly Homeownership Operation HOME Workshop
Next course: Saturday, April 20, 2024, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Nervous about homeownership? Consider Operation HOME, a homeownership program consisting of an 8-hour workshop and one-on-one counseling each 3rd Saturday of the month from 9:00-5:30 PM. The next workshop is Saturday, April 20th! 

The course is designed to enable clients to make informed decisions during the transition from renter to homeowner. This course places an emphasis on financial literacy, budgeting and credit restoration for first-time homebuyers, particularly in the low to moderate income population. 

For more information or to register go to Operation Home - Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh (ulpgh.org), email [email protected], or call 412-227-4812.

AmeriCorps LEAD Program: Next Cohort Starts May 27, 2024!

Are you someone looking to leave a lasting impact on young lives? An AmeriCorps term of service might be the option for you!

The AmeriCorps LEAD (Learn. Educate. Activate. Develop) members will be hands-on with youth to implement curriculum and programming on a day-to-day basis. The curriculum will focus on social-emotional learning, career development, and leadership skills. This role is responsible for the safety of all program participants as well as relationship building.

For more information and to apply go to AmeriCorps LEAD Member - Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania - Career Page (applytojob.com).

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected]. My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

Senator Lindsey Williams