State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*Everyone
is Welcome Here**

Things are changing quickly, and a lot is unknown
as more Executive Orders come out of the White House.

This week,
Head Start providers around the country discovered that they were
locked out of the federal Head Start system as a result of a "freeze"
initiated by President Trump. While access to the payment system was
restored later in the day, there continue to be more questions than
answers.

I do know one thing: any freeze of money to our childcare
centers will be catastrophic to Pennsylvania families and to our
economy.
Our workforce cannot function without reliable, safe,
affordable, and accessible childcare. Parents and caregivers cannot go
to work if they do not have a safe place to send their children. It
has already been a struggle for families to find childcare that they
can afford. Stripping away a single federal or state dollar will have
a dramatic impact on families and the caregivers we rely on.

I know
the White House and the oligarchs that are pulling the strings have
never had to worry about childcare. But most Americans worry, and
actions like those taken today show how little they care about the
hardworking people who have made them billionaires.

I also know
that chaos, confusion, and divisiveness is the purpose of many of
these actions. My office is here to help and is a safe place for
everyone. If you're scared, need help, or don't know where to go,
please call us and we'll do the best we can to help or connect you
with local services.

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*Upcoming
Events**

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[link 1]*

*My office is now scheduling AARP Tax-Aide
appointments!*

We are scheduling taxpayer appointments at the
Shaler Undercliff Fire Company and the Ross Township Community Center
locations for the AARP Tax-Aide Program again this year. This program
provides free tax assistance and tax preparation services to low- and
moderate-income taxpayers, with an emphasis on those 50 or older. To
schedule your free appointment, please call the office at
412-364-0469.

For more information, visit AARP Tax-Aide Allegheny
County, PA (taxaide-pittsburgh.com) [link 2].

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*Monthly
Office Hours at the Kingsley Association*

*Friday, February 7,
2025, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM*

My office hosts monthly office hours
on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association. Stop
by and say hello to our staff between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and get
access to all of the services that our District Offices
provides.

Free notary service is also available. Please contact our
office to schedule with a notary at our Community Office Hours, or in
one of our District Offices:

-
412-364-0469 (Ross)

-
724-224-2131 (Harrison)

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*Collection
for Victims of the California Fires*

The Township of O'Hara and
Brother's Brother Foundation are partnering to provide personal
hygiene kits to victims of the recent California fires. Please drop
off your donations at the Township office at 325 Fox Chapel Road,
Pittsburgh PA 15238. Thank you for lending a helping
hand!

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*Sharing
the Warmth*

Hampton Township's Social Services Department is
holding a Valentine's Day blanket drive to benefit local nursing
homes, and we're excited to offer our District Offices as collection
sites!

Drop off your new blankets now through Wednesday, February
12th:

Ross Township Office

5000 McKnight Road, take the elevator
to the fourth floor!

Pittsburgh PA 15237

(412)
364-0469

Monday-Friday 9-5pm

Harrison Township Office

1826
Union Avenue

Natrona Heights, PA 15065

(724)
224-2131

Monday-Thursday 9-5pm

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*Good
News**

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*Tour
of the Neighborhood Academy in Stanton Heights*

Thanks to Amiya
Dennison-Washington for leading me on a wonderful tour of The
Neighborhood Academy last week. I really enjoyed the student artwork
and learning about the programming offered. Good luck on all your
future endeavors, Amiya!

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*Spirit
of King Awards*

It was an honor to listen, learn, and celebrate the
lives and legacies of Pittsburgh residents Constance B.J. Parker and
Rob Penny at this year's 2025 Spirit of King Awards Ceremony at the
Kingsley Association in Larimer. Both Ms. Parker and Mr. Penny were
recognized posthumously for their unwavering dedication to human
rights and equality in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Their
work serves as a powerful reminder for all of us to stand against
injustice and take meaningful action to promote equality and
connection in our communities.

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*MLK
Day at Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty*

I was honored to
take part in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration at the Kelly
Strayhorn Theater this year. Thank you to all of the performers for
sharing their gifts, talents, artistry, and work. I am a theater
person at heart, so I can think of no better way to express the love,
joy, passion, and struggles that Dr. King faced, and that Black people
are still facing today. I look forward to continuing this work with
our communities as we move forward into 2025 and beyond.

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*PTRR
Program Announcement!*

I joined Governor Josh Shapiro, County
Executive Sara Innamorato, Mayor Ed Gainey, and Rep. La'Tasha Mayes on
January 16th to announce the opening of the 2025 filing period for the
Property Tax or Rent Rebate Program (PTRR). This essential program has
supported Pennsylvania's most vulnerable residents for decades, and
last year's long-awaited expansion of income limits allowed over
100,000 additional seniors and individuals with disabilities to
qualify. The expansion also included a provision to adjust the income
limit for inflation, ensuring even more people will benefit from
rebates this year.

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*Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Opened*

Read through
the program details below to see if you qualify. Our office is here to
help if you have additional questions or want to schedule an
appointment to have us complete the application for
you!

*Eligibility*:

People eligible for PTRR rebates include
homeowners or renters who meet the following criteria in 2024:

Age
Criteria:

-
65 or older

Income Criteria:

-
Widows and
widowers 50 and older

-
People with disabilities 18 and
older

-
In addition to age requirements, to qualify for the
Property Tax/Rent Rebate, your household income must be $46,520 or
less annually.

*Rebate Amounts*:

PTRR rebates range from $380 -
$1000 depending on your income (see table below).

INCOME

MAXIMUM
REBATE

$0-$8,270

$1,000

$8,271-$15,510

$770

$15,511-$18,610

$460

$18,611-$46,520

$380

*Supplemental
Rebates*:

There are also supplemental rebates of $190 to $500 for
applicants with the most need. These rebates are automatically
calculated for property owners who earn less than $31,010 whose
property taxes are more than 15% of their total income, and for those
who live in these locations: Philadelphia, Scranton, and ?Pittsburgh
(see table
below).

*Income*

*Standard

Rebate*

*Supplement

(Kicker)*

*Total
Max

Rebate*

$0 - $8,270

$1,000

$500

$1,500

$8,271 -
$15,510

$770

$385

$1,155

$15,511 -
$18,610

$460

$230

$690

$18,611 -
$31,010

$380

$190

$570

*Documents You Need:*

-
Everyone: all earned income tax forms (1099, SSI, W2s, etc.).

-
Homeowners: copies of all paid tax bills.

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Renters: signed rent
certificate form [link 6] from the landlord.

*Ways to File:*

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In-Person:

-
By appointment at one of our offices - we submit the
application for you.

Senator Lindsey Williams Ross Township
Office

5000 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh PA 15237

(412)
364-0469

Monday-Friday 9-5pm

Senator Lindsey Williams Harrison
Township Office

1826 Union Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA
15065

(724) 224-2131

Monday-Thursday 9-5pm

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Click here
[link 7] for other locations for PTRR help.

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By mail:

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Request a paper application from our office: Office of Senator Lindsey
Williams, 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison) or email us
at [email protected] [link 8].

-
Download and
print a paper application [link 9] and instructions [link 10].

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Online at myPATH - 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application [link
11].

*Deadline: June 30, 2025*

The PTRR program is funded by the
PA lottery. The application deadline is June 30, 2025 and rebates go
out on July 1, 2025. If there are still funds available after June
30th, the deadline will be extended to December 31, 2025. So, get your
application in before June 30 - there might not be funding
afterward!

For complete information on the PTRR program click here
[link 12].

If you have any questions or want us to file your PTRR
application, please contact us at 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131
(Harrison), or email us at [email protected] [link
13]. We are here to help!

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*Legislative
Update**

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*The
Rodeo Ban *

On January 17th, I reintroduced legislation [link 14]
to repeal the state's preemption of local bans on rodeos, ahead of
Pittsburgh's first scheduled rodeo event in over 30 years, which took
place on January 24-25. I originally introduced this legislation last
Session as Senate Bill 412 [link 15].

Pittsburgh banned the use of
electric prods, spurs, and straps in 1992, following an incident
during a rodeo that resulted in a bull being euthanized. This
equipment ban became a de facto rodeo ban, which was in place for over
30 years, until the passage of the 2024-25 state budget in July 2024.
Just a few hours before the budget was voted on, a provision was
quietly inserted into the 140-page Fiscal Code that allows certain
rodeo-hosting companies to hold ticketed, public rodeo or
rodeo-related events for up to 12 days per year. During those 12 days,
any local rodeo regulations shall not apply. There was no public input
or consultation with stakeholders prior to the inclusion of this
preemption of local law in the budget.

Only days after the budget
was passed, hedge fund billionaires [link 16] scheduled Pittsburgh's
first rodeo for January 2025.

People are frustrated with how
government is working, and they do not like to see corporate interests
buying influence and access. There was no reason for the state to
override Pittsburgh's ability to regulate rodeos within its own
boundaries, except that it resulted in a financial windfall for a
small subset of private companies. This is a clear example of the
state legislature overstepping local control, and it was done with
zero transparency or accountability.

Professional bull riding back
in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena [link 17].

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*News
You Can Use**

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[link 18]

*RESTORE Violence Prevention Training Available!*

Want
to make a difference this year and help shape a future free of hate
and violence?

Join the RESTORE Project's Violence Prevention
Training, designed to equip you with the tools to help individuals
reject hate, abandon violence, and embrace new ways of
thinking.

Date: March 3-7, 2025

Time; 9 AM-5 PM daily

Place:
Pittsburgh, PA

This training, led by experts from Violence
Prevention Network [link 19], introduces proven methods and strategies
for fostering meaningful change. The program is free of cost, with
stipends and scholarships available to a limited number of
individuals.

Spaces are limited--don't wait to apply! This training
is intended for US-based practitioners with priority given to
applicants who live and work in Pennsylvania.

Learn more and apply
now: [link removed] [link 20].

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*ACLA Libraries Offer Assistance with Social
Services*

We help constituents with social service needs every day
at our Ross and Harrison Township offices. But, if you are looking for
in-person assistance closer to home, consider meeting with a social
work fellowship student at your local Allegheny County
Library!

*WHAT THEY DO:*

ACLA Community Support Services
provides barrier-free, in-person assistance where people need it most,
in their own neighborhoods. Through our partnerships, social work
students are matched with local libraries to assist with individual
and community needs.

*HOW THEY* *CAN HELP:*

Social work students
are available to offer one-on-one assistance, community programs, and
activities. Students can provide local resource information, support,
service referrals, help with job and housing searches, applications,
and more.

*WHO IS ELIGIBLE?*

Everyone! Services are free and
available to all!

Visit the website to learn more about the program
and the students in the fellowship program Community Support Services
- Allegheny County Library Association [link 23].

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*Sheet Metal Worker Apprenticeships Open!*

Looking to
start a career in the trades? Consider applying for a Sheet Metal
Workers Local 12 paid apprenticeship with benefits - application
deadline is March 24, 2025! Applicants must take the ASVAB military
exam entrance exam on March 29th at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 12
Training Center (1200 Gulf Lab Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238). Practice
tests are available online for students to build their confidence
before the exam.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 12 apprentice benefits
include:

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Earn 49 college credits from CCAC upon graduating your
apprenticeship.

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200 hours of free in-person classroom
instruction/year and continuing education classes

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AWS welding
certifications

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ICB Certified certifications: Fire and Smoke
Damper Technician, TABB, Smoke Control technician

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Auto CAD and
Revit

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Industry leading wages, $24.13 per + benefits: pension,
annuity, health care, HCRA account

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And much more!

To apply,
ask questions, and learn about the apprenticeship go to Sheet Metal
Apprenticeship & Training - Sheet Metal Workers Joint Apprentice
Training Center [link 25] or read the QR code above.

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As
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have
by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 26] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
27] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 28]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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Contact
Information:

Website:
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Office Location:
District
Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:
412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928
Monday ? Friday 9-5

Harrison
Office
1826 Union Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone:
724-224-2131
Fax: 724-224-2145
Monday ? Thursday 9-5

Harrisburg
Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box 203038
Harrisburg, PA
17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax: 717-787-8625
By appointment
only


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