Upcoming
Events
June Community
Days!
Summer is right around the corner, and
we look forward to attending as many community celebrations as we can
in Senate District 38. This June, we will be at Cheswick’s
Strawberry Festival and the Fox Chapel/Aspinwall, Ross, and Sharpsburg
Pride events. Stop by our table for resources, questions, or to share
what is important to you with Senator Williams. Hope to see you
there!
Upcoming
Summer Office Hours at the Kingsley Association
Friday, June 7, 10:00 AM - 3:00
PM
My office provides monthly office hours on
the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association! Stop by
between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM on first Fridays this summer to meet with a
Constituent Relations Specialist and access all the services that our
District Office provides:
- Property Tax Rent Rebates
- Senior Photo Connect Cards
- PennDOT Forms
-
Connection to Resources
- Unclaimed Property Searches
- Voter Registration
- Free Notary Services*
- And
much more!
*Please call ahead if you need notary
services
Good News
Taiwanese
Heritage and Culture Celebration
I was honored
to join Taiwanese
Association of America - Pittsburgh Chapter on Wednesday, May 22nd
for a celebration of Taiwanese heritage and culture, featuring a
breathtaking performance by the Ten-Drums Art Percussion Group from
Taiwan.
Thank you to all who volunteered and worked hard to
make this celebration of Taiwanese American Heritage Week
possible!
Great Time at our First Senior
Social!
Last week, we hosted our first Senior
Social at Pittsburgh Mills Mall as a chance for our residents who are
age 55+ to get together and socialize, share a meal, and learn about
resources available to them.
We had a great time talking with
new and old neighbors and enjoying delicious treats from the culinary
students at A.W. Beattie Career Center. Special thanks to Vintage
Center for Active Adults for helping attendees with smartphone and
tablet tech questions!
This was a great event and we're
already looking forward to next year!
Honoring Those Who
Sacrificed
I was proud to join the Blawnox
Volunteer Fire Company, Fox Chapel Area School District Marching Band,
and the rest of the Blawnox Borough community for Monday's Memorial
Day Parade and Service.
As we honor the sacrifices of those
who gave their all for this nation, we rededicate ourselves to the
ideals of community and service in their memory.
The Fire Rescue Boat
Williams
On Monday, I thought I was simply
joining the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company to honor those who served
our country in the Blawnox Borough Memorial Day Parade, but I got a
huge surprise.
I've been working with Blawnox to secure
funding to purchase a fire rescue boat so that their Swiftwater Rescue
Team would be able to better respond to emergencies on our rivers. The
Blawnox Swiftwater Rescue Team is certified Level 2a and was the first
team in the state to receive this certification. Blawnox also serves
on the greater Allegheny County Swiftwater/Flood Response Team, which
is certified Level 1a and is the only team in the state to receive
this designation.
Their new Fire Rescue Boat has officially
arrived and is named the FRB Williams. I am so grateful for the
dedication of our volunteers in Blawnox and around the District for
the hours they spend training and working to save lives and property
of our community. Having this new vessel named after me is an
incredible honor-- and even days later I cannot find words to convey
my surprise and gratitude!
Legislative Update
State
Leaders Unite to Champion Groundbreaking Federal Clean Car
Standards
This week, I joined my colleague
Rep. Lindsay Powell, Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities, and Alliance of
Nurses for Healthy Environments to celebrate a major milestone in the
journey down Route Zero on our way to zero emissions.
Recently, the Biden Administration and the EPA finalized the strongest
ever federal clean car standards for model years 2027 through 2032.
Currently, about 7-8% of vehicles sold in the United States are EV or
plug-ins. With these new standards, we estimate that 60% of light-duty
vehicles sold by 2032 will be EV or plug-ins.
These improved
standards will create incredible benefits by stopping more than 7
billion tons of carbon emissions, improving our air quality. We also
anticipate that consumers will enjoy $62 billion in reduced fuel
costs, maintenance, and repair costs every year.
The transportation sector is the second largest source of greenhouse
gas emissions in Pennsylvania, and it is the leading source of
greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. That means that
reducing tailpipe emissions will make a huge difference in fighting
climate change, which is bringing more and more extreme weather to our
region.
We see this when our older school buildings that were
built before air conditioning was necessary become dangerously hot,
requiring districts to switch to remote instruction to keep students
and staff safe. While having virtual instruction is a help, it
doesn’t replace the in-school learning that’s lost when
students are out of the building for heat days. And the price tag to
address just HVAC-related school infrastructure challenges and keep
our students safely learning in school every day is hundreds of
millions of dollars across Pennsylvania.
We also see the
effects of climate change in the increased frequency of storms and
extreme weather events. By May 18 of this year, the Pittsburgh region
has already had more tornadoes than in any other May on record,
including an EF1 tornado near the Highland Park Bridge in East
Liberty.
Increasing storms have seen floodwaters rise over and
over again, causing creeks and streams to overflow their banks and
flood streets, yards, basements, and homes, resulting in headaches for
homeowners and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of
damages locally.
From 2010 to 2020 alone, Pennsylvania
experienced 37 extreme weather events that cost the state up to $10
billion in damages. And that doesn’t include the increased
events of the last 4 years. Climate change is costing
Pennsylvanians.
By addressing tailpipe and transportation
emissions through improved carbon emissions standards, the Biden
Administration is putting the auto industry and the country on a
predictable and clear path towards reduced emissions, cleaner air, and
less extreme weather.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/epas-new-auto-standards-on-passenger-vehicles-expected-to-increase-fuel-savings-for-pennsylvanians
Property Tax Rent Rebate Program
Deadline Extended to December 31, 2024!
Good
news! The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the deadline
for older residents and Pennsylvanians with disabilities to apply for
rebates on rent or property taxes paid in 2023. The new deadline
is December 31st, 2024.
If you need
assistance, our office is here to help you apply for your rebate. Call
412-364-0469 or 724-224-2131 for an appointment.
Or, if
you prefer to file on your own go to:
This program was
recently expanded so that thousands more Pennsylvanians are
eligible.
PTRR PROGRAM CHANGES:
- The maximum
rebate was increased from $650 to $1000.
- The income cap for
renters and homeowners is now $45,000. When calculating income, only
1/2 Social Security income is included.
- Income cap increases
annually to grow with inflation.
FAFSA Application Deadline for PA
State Grant Consideration is June 1
Reminder
for students and families! Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency (PHEAA) has extended the deadline for PA State Grant
Applications to this Saturday, June 1st.
Don't delay,
file today at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa!
Emergency
Food Assistance Grant Awarded to NHCO Food Pantry
Congratulations to North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) on
receiving an Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and
Resiliency Grant! These funds will help NHCO feed more families in
need through its food pantries in Millvale, Allison Park, and
Avalon.
For more information about their program, or to
volunteer, please check out their website at Food
Pantry — North Hills Community Outreach (nhco.org).
Allegheny
Go Program Offers 50% Discount on PRT Fares to SNAP
Recipients
Allegheny County, Pittsburgh
Regional Transit (PRT), and the County's Department of Human Services
unveiled Allegheny
Go last week!
Due to the success of the 2022
pilot, the Allegheny Go program is now permanent and offers a 50%
discount on public transit fares to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) recipients who live in Allegheny County. More than
130,000 county residents will be eligible to participate. Applications
open on Monday, June 3rd!
Riders should download PRT’s
Ready2Ride app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before
applying at https://discountedfares.alleghenycounty.us.
Eligible applicants will be able to purchase discounted fares within
their app. The program is starting with smartphone users but will be
available without an app in 2025 when PRT launches its new
smartcards.
If you have questions about downloading Ready2Ride
or the application process, contact PRT Customer Service at
412-442-2000, on Twitter@pghtransitcare,
or via live chat at www.rideprt.org.
Duquesne
Light is Raising Rates - Let Your Voice Be Heard!
You may have heard that Duquesne Light Company (DLC) has proposed
to raise rates for residents by approximately $133 million, increasing
bills by as much as 7% for electric customers! Duquesne’s
service territory includes all or portions of Allegheny and Beaver
Counties.
The Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hosting 4
public input hearings for members of the public to weigh in on the
impact that this rate increase will have on customers and businesses
served by Duquesne Light. If you, your business, your community, or
organization will be affected by the rate proposal, we strongly
encourage you to participate in the public input hearings.
This is your opportunity to explain how rate increases will
personally affect you and any downsides of your current service and
how those impact you. Your voice can make a difference.
Wednesday, June 5th at 1:00 PM (In-Person)
Wednesday,
June 5th at 6:00 PM (In-Person)
Thursday, June 6th at 1:00 and 6:00 PM
(Telephonic)
You do not have to pre-register to
testify in-person. However, if you wish to testify by telephone, you
must pre-register by 4:00 PM on June 4th.
Pre-register by calling 412-565-3550 or emailing [email protected].
If you require an interpreter, pre-register as soon as possible.
2024 Gene
Kelly Awards Honor High School Musical Theater
The Pittsburgh CLO and Michael J. Kara Family presented the 33rd
Annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater
on Saturday night at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh and
four Senate District 38 high schools won big. We will undoubtedly see
some of these performers on Broadway someday!
The awards
program, named for the legendary performer and Pittsburgh-native Gene
Kelly and patterned on the Tony Awards, is the oldest and most
comprehensive regional awards program of its kind in the United
States. Public and private schools are judged at four budget levels to
ensure all schools have an equal opportunity to participate and win
regardless of their resources. Performers are also eligible for
$75,000 in scholarships to Point Park, Robert Morris, and Seton Hill
Universities and the school's arts programs are eligible for cash
prizes.
The 2024 Gene Kelly Award winners in Senate District
38 are:
- Saint Joseph High School (Natrona
Heights): TARZAN
- Best Musical, Budget Level I
- Best Scenic Design, Budget Level I
-
Shady Side Academy Senior School: ZOMBIE PROM
- Best
Lighting Design, Budget Level I
- Best Crew/Technical
Execution, Budget Level I
- Pine-Richland High
School: MAMMA MIA!
- Best Student Orchestra
-
Best Scenic Design, Budget Level IV
- Hampton High
School: TUCK EVERLASTING
- Best Dance Ensemble,
Budget Level IV
- North Hills High School:
THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
- Best
Actress: Emma Hopf (as William Barfee)
- Best Crew/Technical
Execution, Budget Level III
Winners for
Best Actor and Best Actress will represent Pittsburgh CLO’s Gene
Kelly Awards in the Jimmy Awards ®/National High School Musical
Theatre Awards ® in New York City on Monday, June 26. Good luck
Emma!
For a full list of winners and more information on the
awards go to The
2024 Gene Kelly Awards Announced - Full List of Winners!
(broadwayworld.com) or "Road
to the Kellys" on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram.
Kids’ Book Sale at Shaler
Library
Saturday, June 8th & Sunday, June
9th, 10am-4pm
Shaler North Hills Library
Incredible Kids' Book Sale is just around the corner!
Find
loads of wonderful children's books and materials at great prices.
Oram's famous Cinnamon Rolls will also be for sale!
More
volunteers needed! Scan the QR code or click here.
Flower
Garden Contest in West View - Deadline July 15!
If you live in West View and have a green thumb, consider entering
a photo of your garden to the West View Community Association’s
2024 Flower Garden Contest. Deadline to enter is July 15 - plenty of
time to get the perfect shot! See graphic above for details.
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
