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| Everyone is Welcome HereThings 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. Upcoming Events 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). Monthly
Office Hours at the Kingsley Association 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:
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!
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 Harrison Township Office
Good News 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!
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. 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. 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. 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:
Income Criteria:
Rebate Amounts: PTRR rebates range from $380 - $1000 depending on your income (see table below).
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).
Ways to File:
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. 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]. We are here to help! Legislative Update The Rodeo Ban On January 17th, I reintroduced legislation 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. 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 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. News You Can Use 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 This training, led by experts from Violence Prevention Network, 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: https://linktr.ee/vpnusa. 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. 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:
To apply, ask questions, and learn about the apprenticeship go to Sheet Metal Apprenticeship & Training - Sheet Metal Workers Joint Apprentice Training Center or read the QR code above. 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). |
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