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Storm ResponseThe severe storm that tore through the Pittsburgh region on Tuesday, April 29 caused over half a million households to lose power, in addition to widespread property damage to homes and businesses and the death of three of our fellow Pittsburghers. My office received numerous calls from constituents who needed information on things like how to look up utility restoration on outage maps, whether a dumpster would be in their municipality for spoiled food, how to get reimbursements for groceries gone bad, and whether utility companies were actually doing everything they could to get the lights back on. I first want to thank the line workers, tree crews, and other electrical workers who have been working around the clock since April 29th to restore power to Allegheny County. Your efforts have been exceptional, and we cannot thank you enough for your hard work. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Sarah Innamorato both issued emergency declarations which have been extended through June 6. These disaster declarations enable the City and County to bypass normal procedures and immediately deploy all available resources for emergency response and recovery. Because this is a locally declared emergency, the law that prohibits price gouging during a statewide emergency declared by the governor doesn’t apply. I’ve joined my colleague Rep. Aerion Abney to introduce legislation that would close this loophole and extend protection to consumers in any officially declared emergency. You should never have to pay for corporate greed, but especially not during a disaster. You can read more about that legislation here: Pittsburgh and Duquesne Light officials say they continue to address storm fallout. I met with the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission this week to learn more about the storm response and how we can do better in the future. Duquesne Light is one of PA’s smallest electrical companies, with a very densely packed territory. While this storm was certainly unprecedented in terms of widespread damage across their territory, we need to prepare for increasing severe weather and power outages as the climate changes. Today, the PUC announced that they are launching a formal investigation into the response to last week’s storm. I’m grateful for this investigation, and I look forward to working with the PUC, Duquesne Light, and First Energy to review the response to this storm and learn how we can improve both grid resiliency and redundancy and emergency response plans. I will keep you all informed on the progress of this process! You can read my full statement about the PUC investigation here. There are still some people without power in Allegheny County and many others struggling after being without it for too long. If you were affected by the storm and need help, please reach out to PA 211 and the United Way.
Storm-Related SNAP Funds Replacement Available! If you are a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient and lost food due to the storms and power outages, you may be able to replace your SNAP benefits with up to one month or regular SNAP benefits. To receive replacement funds:
Upcoming Events Senior Social at the Pittsburgh
Mills! We’re hosting our second annual 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 tech support for your smartphone, laptop, or tablet. We’ll also have music, games like fraud bingo, and refreshments to enjoy! We hope to see you at our Senior Social on Thursday, May 15 from Noon until 3:00 pm at Pittsburgh Mills Mall! Please park at Mall Entrance 5, near the AHN Citizens’ Nursing School. Good News Kingsley Association Pool Re-opened in Larimer! Last month, I joined The Kingsley Association to celebrate the grand reopening of their pool after extensive renovations. I was proud to support funding that helped make this project a reality and bring this pool back to the neighborhood. Check out Kingsley's programming, including the pool schedule, at their website: https://www.kingsleyassociation.org/. Meeting with Homeschoolers! I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of homeschooled elementary and middle school students recently. We had a great conversation about the ways that my staff and I can help in the community– our office has a “no wrong door” policy. If you have an issue and don’t know where to start, we’re happy to help. If we can’t fix the problem, we’ll try to find someone who can! As always, the students asked great questions about what our office does, why I wanted to be in public service, and how they can get involved in causes that they care about. City of Bridges Groundbreaking in Etna/Sharpsburg Last month, I joined Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and local elected officials in Etna to break ground on a new affordable housing project. These homes will be available for purchase by moderate-income families—neighbors who will build community in ways that the formerly empty lots never could! I am incredibly proud of the work Etna has done to foster community and improve the quality of life for their neighbors, like becoming the world’s first Certified EcoDistrict, and I know that the families who join this community will be so happy to be here and to be a part of Etna. Thank you to Allegheny County and to the City of Bridges Community Land Trust for believing in Etna. Thank you to the Borough for everything you do and for the people of Etna for being willing to work together for a brighter future for everyone! Adjutant General Pippy Visits Veterans Place in Larimer Thank you to the Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Major General John R. Pippy for joining us for a tour and chat at Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard in April. I'm always grateful for the work that The Veterans' Place is doing to help our Vets as they navigate civilian life and the challenges that come with the loss of military life. I was so proud to introduce Major General Pippy to the work that they're doing today and show him their plans for the future. New Water Treatment Upgrade at McCandless Water and Sewage Authority We kicked off our celebration of Earth Day last month with a tour of McCandless Township Sanitary Authority’s new facility. The Authority now uses ultraviolet light to sanitize wastewater instead of chlorine. This means that there are no chemicals going into our streams, leaving them clean and healthy for us all to enjoy! Thank you to everyone who came out to learn more about these upgrades and how MTSA is working to uphold our constitutional right to pure water. I was glad to help secure grant funding to complete this project. Read more at: McCandless Township Sanitary Authority celebrates Earth Day, upgrades to Pine Creek treatment facility | TribLIVE.com. Celebrating Earth Day Across the District! We wrapped up April with a flurry of Earth Day events on Saturday, April 26! In the morning, Rep. Emily Kinkead and I co-hosted a free shredding event at the Ross Township Department of Public Works. These events not only help protect personal information, but they’re also a smart way to keep excess paper out of landfills. Next, I joined the Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Litter Challenge, teaming up with the incredible Triboro Ecodistrict volunteers from Sharpsburg, Etna, and Millvale. Rep. Mandy Steele and I had such a hard time picking a winner that we declared this year’s challenge a tie! Be sure to save the date for next year’s clean-up: April 25, 2026. We capped off the day at the Township of Pine’s Earth Day celebration, where we spoke with community members about their priorities and enjoyed hands-on learning through workshops and wildlife experiences, thanks to organizations like Wild Bird Recovery. Honoring Our Fallen Workers Monday, April 28th was Workers Memorial Day, the day we take time to remember those who have been killed, injured, or made unwell on the job. This year, I attended the ceremony honoring local workers who have been injured or killed. We celebrate Workers Memorial Day on April 28th because it marks the anniversary of federal OSHA laws, promising every private-sector worker the fundamental right to safe working conditions. As we reflect on those we have lost over the years, we rededicate ourselves to fight like hell for the living and to stand up for what we all deserve: a living wage, fair benefits, dignity and respect in the workplace, and the right to organize. Legislative Update Legislation to Support Public Transportation Last week, I joined transit advocates and riders here in Pittsburgh for a rally in support of increased statewide investment in public transportation. I also attended Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s first public hearing on proposed service cuts, where we heard from riders and the community on how these cuts would devastate lives and neighborhoods. During the Pittsburgh rally, I announced that Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and I will introduce the Transit for All PA! legislation package, a suite of legislative proposals to help secure full funding for transit agencies across Pennsylvania. Rep. Aerion Abney (D-19) and Rep. Jessica Benham (D-36) will introduce companion legislation in the House. This legislation includes the following:
Together, the components of this package are projected to yield hundreds of millions of dollars, enough to fully close the current funding gaps, prevent service cuts and fare hikes, and allow transit agencies to restore and expand services without exhausting reserves. Our proposal builds on Governor Shapiro’s proposal to allocate a portion of the existing income tax to public transit. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Ed Neilson, was passed out of the House Transportation Committee this week, and is now moving to the full House for consideration. I joined transit authorities from across Pennsylvania this week in Harrisburg to speak about the Governor and Rep. Neilson’s legislation, plus our Transit for All PA! legislation. Leadership in the Senate Majority agrees that public transit is important to our economy. This is a fight that we can win, but we need your help. Please continue to share your stories with PRT and your legislators, and encourage your friends, family, and your employers to get in the fight! Reach out to PRT here and find your legislator here. Please feel free to respond to this email with your stories of why public transit is important to you! Read more about our legislation, the Pittsburgh rally and the PRT public hearing in this article by Ed Blazina in the Pittsburgh Union Progress, the newspaper published by striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Read more about Governor Shapiro’s proposal and the Harrisburg rally here. News You Can Use Voting By Mail in the 2025 Municipal Primary The 2025 Municipal Primary is less than two weeks away - Tuesday, May 20. If you plan to vote by mail, we have the information you need! Requesting Your Mail-in Ballot If you want to vote by mail, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13!
Completing Your Mail-in Ballot: After your mail-in ballot arrives, you must complete it carefully to be sure your vote is counted:
Retuning Your Mail-in Ballot: The deadline for county election offices to receive completed mail-in ballots is 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, May 20. Mail-in ballots received after that time will not be counted so mail it early! Or you can return it in-person at:
Remember, voters may only return their own ballot unless they have a completed authorization form to return a ballot on behalf of someone who physically is unable to do so. If you require assistance to vote or to return your ballot, contact the Elections Division at 412-350-4500. New Consumer Protection System in PA Last week, Gov. Shapiro launched a new, centralized consumer protection hotline, website, and email address to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to report scams, resolve financial and insurance issues, and access help from the Commonwealth. To report financial, insurance, and consumer concerns Pennsylvanians can now:
This initiative was taken to protect Pennsylvania consumers in the wake of the Trump administration’s elimination of nearly 90% of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in February. These tools represent a “no wrong door approach” to government services. Whether it is insurance, lending, utilities, or financial scams, Pennsylvanian residents will be connected with the right agency to help them:
You Can Still Apply for a REAL ID! We want all our constituents to be aware that you can apply for a REAL ID after Wednesday, May 7, 2025! Getting a REAL ID is optional in PA, but beginning May 7, enforcement begins. This means everyone in the U.S. will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card, OR another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to:
The May 7 deadline applies to enforcement only – people who want REAL IDs will continue being able to get one after enforcement begins. Still need a REAL ID? PennDOT Driver's License Centers will have their final Real ID Day (open only for REAL ID applicants) this coming Monday, May 12, 8:30am - 4:15pm. For locations go to: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id/real-id-days.html. For complete information on REAL ID go to: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id.html. Or watch our April 24th virtual REAL ID webinar with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) at:
The RAD Pass Summer Staycation is Back! The 2025 Summer Staycation RAD Pass for area attractions through August 31 is open! The Regional Asset District (RAD) Pass is an online ticket lending system that allows Allegheny County library cardholders to access free or discounted tickets to participating regional attractions like the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh Zoo and more! RAD Pass helps make our region’s cultural resources available and accessible to everyone. Reserve your RAD passes at: https://radpass.org/. You’ll find a complete list of cultural assets and regional attractions to choose from there. Don’t have a library card? Stop by any Allegheny County Library Association library and register by presenting an accepted form of photo ID, or apply online.
Pittsburgh Water Coloring Contest Pittsburgh Water is celebrating Drinking Water Week with a coloring contest for kids 12 and under. Kids can design their own Water Super Hero or Villain OR color their favorite freshwater animal! Deadline is Saturday, May 10! For details and to submit your entries, click here. Touch-a-Truck in Harrison Township! Join the Harrison Township Recreation Board on Saturday, May 17 from 12–3 PM for their exciting Touch-a-Truck event! This family-friendly afternoon invites kids (and kids at heart) to get up close with fire trucks, police vehicles, and more — including the Eureka river rescue boat, and a massive Air Products tanker. Don’t miss this hands-on experience full of fun, learning, and adventure!
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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