To: Bruce Kraus, City Council of Pittsburgh, PA, Jake Wheatley (PA-19), and Ed Gainey (PA-24)
BLACK COMMUNITY DEMANDS COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT ORDINANCE IN PITTSBURGH, PA
With multi millions of dollars planned for development in Pittsburgh, it is vital that disparity rates be addressed. One critical way to address it is by the creation of a Community Benefits Ordinance for the City of Pittsburgh. This Ordinance or Law will reinforce and set in place contractual binding agreements that require community participation at all tables when it comes to development dollars, financial packages and tax incentives/abatements created for revitalization of the urban communities, and that community participation is required at all levels and planning stages. The goal of the discussion will be the establishment of community benefits that must include:
1. Low Income Housing
2. Workforce Development and Training
3. Incubating of Small Businesses
4. First Source Hiring
5. MDWBE Professional Contracts and Monitoring to achieve the 12% participation goal and investigate the circumstances when the goal is not met.
6. Participation in A Growth Fund To be directed towards future youth and economic initiatives within that area of development.
Also, guidelines must state that no one individual, community organization or CDC can make the decision for the broader community residents.
Why is this important?
The Most Liveable City in the United States, Pittsburgh, PA means everyone except the poor and African American residents of the City. Disparity rates are the highest in the country on every level. It is time we as the people begin to fight for our rights. As the City of Pittsburgh concentrates in urban revitalization; with all of the development taking place throughout the City, it is noted that there is no protection of residents' rights within the strategies of re-development. There is no clear plan of economic revitalization for the residents of the most vulnerable populations that reside in the most livable city in the United States, the City of Pittsburgh. With multi millions of dollars planned for development, it is vital that disparity rates be addressed. One critical way to address it is by the creation of a Community Benefits Ordinance for the City of Pittsburgh. This Ordinance or Law will reinforce and set in place contractual binding agreements that requires community participation at all tables when it comes to development dollars, financial packages and tax incentives/abatements created for revitalization of the urban communities, and that our participation is required at all levels and planning stages.