Upcoming Events

August Community Days

We had a fantastic time at Aspinwall’s Big Night Out last week and are looking forward to East Deer’s Summer Celebration this Saturday! Come on out to enjoy the food and fun and while you are there, stop by our table. Senator Williams will be there with her staff to hear what is important to you and to provide you with information on state resources.  

Free Upcoming Paper Shredding Events!

• Saturday, August 24th from 10 am - Noon 
  With Rep. Emily Kinkead 
  Ross Department of Public Works, 225 Cemetery Lane, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

• Saturday, September 7th from 9 - 11 am 
  With Rep. Mandy Steele
  Senator Williams’ Harrison Township Office, 1826 Union Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA 15065

Have you been cleaning out your old paperwork and need a way to safeguard your personal data? Come to our August 24th shredding event in Ross with Rep. Kinkead or our September 7th shredding event in Harrison with Rep. Steele (see graphics above for details). Shredding is the safest way to securely dispose of your personal documents and both events are FREE!

Each car can shred up to two bankers 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. Bags and boxes will be returned to your car after they are emptied.

Save the Date! Demystifying Harrisburg: Election 2024 Edition
Thursday, September 12, 2024, 6-7:30pm, Powers Room, McCandless Town Hall

Mark your calendars for the next installment of my Demystifying Harrisburg series - Election 2024 Edition! Get your questions answered about the upcoming 2024 General Election and what to expect when you cast your ballot. Special guests will be announced soon.

Good News

Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tour!

Earlier this month, Visit Pittsburgh invited Senator Williams to a ‘Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tour. The Senator couldn’t make it, so D38 staffer Jessica was happy to go in her place!

Per Jess, "I'm a native Pittsburgher, but Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours had me looking at my city with new eyes. We sampled a variety of delicious foods and had the opportunity to chat with the owners of each small business and get a behind-the-scenes look at their restaurants.

Sylvia was a phenomenal tour guide; she thoughtfully chose each destination and shared many interesting Pittsburgh historical anecdotes and facts along the way. I recommend the 'Burgh Bites Tour to folks who want to show off some hidden gems from Pittsburgh to visiting friends and family, or if you're a yinzer and want a taste of different places you've driven by dozens of times but have yet to try."

Along the tour we had bites from:

• Salonika Imports
• Senti
• Driftwood Oven
• Mikkusu
• Pita My Shawarma
• Millie's

https://www.burghfoodtour.com/lawrenceville

Aspinwall Big Night Out

Last week we attended Aspinwall’s Big Night Out with Rep. Mandy Steele’s office and couldn’t believe the great turnout! It was fun to chat with residents and enjoy the food, music, and endless activities for kids and adults. Our intern Bre couldn’t resist joining Camp Guyasuta’s foam party! Thank you to all the hard-working volunteers who make this event possible!

Congressman Chris Deluzio’s Veterans Resource Fair

Thank you to Congressman Chris Deluzio for hosting this week’s Veterans Resource Fair in West View! My office was thrilled to participate and help Veterans connect with state services.

If you missed the event, but still need assistance with your Veterans benefits, please call our office to make an appointment with our Veterans Service Officer at 412-364-0469 or 724-224-2131.

Fighting for a Fair Contract for Our Nurses and Our Community

I was proud to join SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania West Penn Nurses yesterday as they rally for a fair contract! Our local nurses have been working to negotiate a contract that invests in nurses, patients, and all of us.

Thank you to Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Rep. Summer Lee for always showing up and speaking out for our working families.

Legislative Update

Focusing on the Future of our Waterways

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission awarded $75,000 in funding to 9 local organizations as part of the Senator James Ferlo Memorial Grants last month. This grant program promotes our region’s three rivers, education and advocacy, and water safety.

I'm incredibly proud to follow in Senator Ferlo's legacy in representing the 38th Senate District. This small grant program promotes projects that reflect our shared priorities of promoting our rivers while focusing on the future of our waterways.

12 applications were received, with requests totaling more than $170,000.  Nine local applicants were awarded funding including:

• Allegheny Clean Ways – $10,000
• Allegheny River Development Corporation – $10,000
• PA Fish & Boat Commission – $9,985
• Point of Pittsburgh Sailing League – $5,000
• Sewickley Creek Watershed – $5,000
• Synthomer/Jefferson Hills – $8,500
• Three Rivers Rowing Association – $10,000
• Three Rivers Waterkeeper – $6,428
• Watersmith Guild/First Waves – $10,000 

Congratulations to the recipients! I’m looking forward to seeing the results of their projects.

News You Can Use

You Might Qualify for Pennsylvania’s EXPANDED Property Tax Rent Rebate Program! 

We want to remind everyone that Pennsylvania’s Property Tax Rent Rebate Program was expanded this year so that thousands more Pennsylvanians are eligible. As of last week, more than 100,000 first-time filers had submitted applications to the program. These rebates are a lifeline for Pennsylvania’s seniors and our neighbors who are disabled. If you didn’t qualify for this rebate in the past, you may qualify this year. Don’t leave money on the table!

The PTRR program is for eligible Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities aged 18 and older. The PTRR program changes this year include:

• Income cap for renters and homeowners is now $45,000.
  • NOTE: When calculating income, only 1/2 Social Security income is included
• Maximum rebate increased from $650 to $1000.
• Income cap increases annually to grow with inflation.

Rebate Calculation:

Income	Max Standard Rebate
$0 - $8000	$1,000
$8,001 - $15,000	$770
$15,001 - $18,000	$460
$18,001 - $45,000	$380

 

Application deadline is December 31, 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. 

If you prefer to file on your own go to the links below:

• Online Application: https://mypath.pa.gov/_/#1
• Online Assistance: https://revenue-pa.custhelp.com/

Feedback Requested on 2025 PA Health Insurance Rate Increase Requests

Last week the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced 2025 insurance rate increases requested by the companies operating in Pennsylvania’s individual and small group markets. These plans comply with the Affordable Care Act and are subscribed to by thousands of individuals and small businesses on Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Marketplace. 

In the interest of transparency, PID announces proposed rate increases to the public each year in August and offers public comment before plans can be sold to consumers (see link below). PID has been working with insurers since May to review the proposed rate increases to ensure rates are adequate and fair. The proposed increases were announced last week. The rate increases for 2025 average around 8% and are generally attributable to rising drug costs, increased labor costs, and increases in utilization of medical services and medical unit costs. Final approval is slated for the fall. 

You can view the rate increase requests at ACA Health Rate Filings (pa.gov).

Please submit your comments on the rate requests! Public comments will be accepted through September 2, 2024, and can be emailed to [email protected].

School Safety & Security Grants

The School Safety and Security Committee of the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has just opened the FY24-25 school safety grant process. Don’t miss out on nearly $120 million in state school safety funding —  applications are due by Thursday, September 26, 2024.

• School Safety and Mental Health Grants: $100 million in noncompetitive funds for 779 eligible school entities. Funds must be used for baseline physical security or behavioral health needs, unless baseline is already met. 
• Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools: $19.665 million in competitive grants available, with up to $75K per project for addressing school violence and mental health. Eligible entities include municipalities, law enforcement, and approved vendors. 

The grants are designed to  advance the School Safety and Security Committee’s goal to ensure all Pennsylvania students can learn in a safe, healthy school environment by helping school entities address basic safety needs and mental health services as identified in the Committee’s Revised Baseline Criteria Standards.  

Applications accepted until September 26, 2024, with rolling awards for public schools and announcements for nonpublic schools expected in November.

For complete information on the grant solicitations, application instructions, and eligibility go to PCCD's School Safety and Security webpage. Questions regarding the School Safety and Security Grant Program can be emailed to PCCD staff at [email protected].

School is Starting - Review Your School Bus Safety!

Many Allegheny County schools are back in session next week! We’ve compiled the list of start dates for the school districts in Senate District 38 below. That means the return of bright yellow school buses with their flashing red stop signs on our roadways is around the corner, so this is the perfect time to review Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law. 

School District Start Dates in Senate District 38:

• Allegheny Valley: Aug. 19
• Deer Lakes: Aug. 22
• Fox Chapel: Aug. 22
• Hampton Township: Aug. 22
• Highlands: Aug. 27
• North Allegheny: Aug. 22
• North Hills: Aug. 21
• Pine-Richland: Aug. 22
• Pittsburgh: Aug. 26 for grades 1-12, Aug. 29 for kindergarten
• Shaler Area: Aug. 21

Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law:

• Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and a red stop sign extended.
• Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
• Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop sign is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
• If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails, or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
• Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

The penalties for Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law violations are severe and can include as much as five points on your driving record, a 60-day license suspension, and a $250 fine. 

For complete information on Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law including violations as well as parent and bus driver tips go to School Bus Safety (pa.gov).

Footbridge to Connect Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Brackenridge

Brackenridge has been working on connecting the Three Rivers Heritage Trail along the Allegheny Riverfront since 2016. The latest addition to the Trail will be a wooden footbridge at First Avenue that will span a water intake well. This bridge will connect the existing first half of the trial, which runs from ATI to Morgan Street, to a new section that will continue on through Brackenridge Memorial Park to the Tarentum boarder.

Friends of the Riverfront is working with Brackenridge on this project, which organizers hope can start next spring. They are also working with Tarentum and Harrison Township on additional Three Rivers Heritage Trail connectors along the Allegheny River.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/wooden-footbridge-in-brackenridge-will-connect-sections-of-three-rivers-heritage-trail

 

Senate District 38 Cats!

Fitting that International Cat Day fell on a Purrsday this year - August 8! Here’s the meow-ment you’ve been waiting for, a D38 cat collage! 

Listed claw-wise:

1. Stevie, Titus, Zuri
2. Kate, Libby, Smidgen
3. Evan, George, Banana, Cherry
4. Rory and Peach!

Take a paws and email us a picture of your fur-end to [email protected] or add a picture on my Facebook post in the comments. We litter-ally can’t wait to see them! 

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