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Your Libraries

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Update: The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has responded - read the response.

Today, Pittsburgh City Council will hold a preliminary vote on the legislation introduced by Council President Shields that would give the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh $600,000 this year. This funding is contingent on the CLP agreeing to keep all library branches open and also opening their books, and will be a temporary solution to continue to keep all library branches open in Pittsburgh. The final vote will be held next Tuesday. It is imperative that City Council take action before the library board meets to vote on the issue in December.

View Council President Sheilds’ Legislation

Please contact City Hall and voice your support for keeping Pittsburgh’s libraries open!

State Representative Chelsa Wagner and State Senator Jay Costa have promised to match these funds from Council to keep these libraries open in the short term. Next, we must work to find a long term solution to ensure that all Pittsburgh libraries remain open. CLP must also examine its budget to make sure that all money is being spent wisely.

Read a Letter from State Representative Chelsa Wagner

Read a Letter from State Senator Jay Costa

Read a Letter from State Senator Wayne Fontana

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Big Brother is NOT Watching

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

post-1 On Tuesday, Councilman Bill Peduto introduced legislation to change the process through which a supervisor may access a city employee’s emails.

Under the proposed legislation, officials would need to go through a 6-step process, including obtaining the approval of both the city solicitor and the director of City Information Systems, in order to access a city employee’s email account. The employee would also have to be notified that their email had been accessed.

City employees currently receive a pop-up window notification when signing onto their computers which warns that information on that computer may be accessed by a third party.

Read the Proposed Legislation

New System Proposed by Peduto to Take Auctions Online

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Councilman Bill Peduto introduced legislation that called on the Mayor to ask for proposals for a new online auctioning system for the auctioning of surplus City of Pittsburgh property. This would allow the City to auction used cars, construction equipment, street furniture, park equipment, and other public works equipment online, which has lead to a 20%-40% increase in sales in municipal governments around the country that have switched to this system.

“Online auctioning is a more transparent and inclusive process than the current live auction system,” said Councilman Peduto. ”The new system also provides the City with an opportunity to increase revenue streams during hard economic times.”

Below is a resolution issued by Councilman Bill Peduto, authorizing and directing the Mayor to issue a request for proposals from private asset redistribution and liquidation management services that can auction surplus City of Pittsburgh property to other government organizations and the general public.

WHEREAS, in 2008, the City of Pittsburgh sold 67 vehicles and 19 other items in auction for a total of $95,290; and

WHEREAS, the City of Tampa, FL, having comparable size to Pittsburgh, sold 536 items in 2008 for a total of over ten times the total starting bids of those items, using a private asset redistribution and liquidation service; and

WHEREAS, the city of Charleston, SC, using a private online asset redistribution service, sold 187 items in 2008 for a total nearly thirty percent higher than the total starting bids; and

WHEREAS, private asset redistribution services have been similarly successful for the cities of Philadelphia PA, Orlando FL, Savannah GA and Myrtle Beach SC; and

WHEREAS, the use of a private asset redistribution and liquidation service can increase the audience of potential bidders, ensure appropriate market values for auction items, and provide an existing marketing program for surplus government items; and

WHEREAS, the online process of many private liquidation services provides a faster, more efficient and more accessible means of auctioning surplus government property.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

The Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh is hereby authorized and directed to request proposals for a private online asset redistribution and liquidation service for the City of Pittsburgh.

Creating a Sustainable Economic Development Plan for Pittsburgh

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

There has been a lot of discussion lately on what the city should be requiring from large real estate deals that involve public subsidies. Fortunately, the same discussion is happening all over the globe. Cites, regions, states and even counties are looking at opportunities to create real economic growth. In the “Research Triangle” of North Carolina, businesses are developing their own way to promote a sustainable economy based on profit, people and planet. This is a voluntary initiative that is being sponsored by their own Chamber of Commerce as a model that is pro-business.

Pittsburgh does not compete with our suburbs - we compete with other regions. We need to expect more from government than real estate development - we need real economic development. When it comes to using our scarce incentives and grants, we need to expect more than just profits for land developers. We need a new economic development plan in Pittsburgh that guarantees that publicly subsidized developments improve the public. Pittsburgh needs to become a leader in Triple Bottom Line economics and sustainable growth. By assuring these principles we will minimize negative outcomes to communities and the environment. We will invest in projects that invest in people and the industries that will rebuild our region. And, we will end the cycle of using tax dollars to simply develop land.

The business community of North Carolina’s Research Triangle understand that the model of economic growth and sustainability is vastly different than it was in the 1950s. It is time for Pittsburgh to make this transition for all publicly subsidized projects and enable our new economy to prosper - for everyone.

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Two Great Things Coming Out Of Nova Scotia

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

#1 - What is the Genuine Progress Index?

The Genuine Progress Index is holistic measurement tool used by communities to determine the real detriments and benefits of economic activity. The characteristics of the GPI create a system that has the ability to converge environmental, social, and economic impacts into one measurement, as it counts any harmful activities as negative, and any beneficial activities as positive.

Ron Colman, the Executive Direct of GPI Atlantic says that “In the Genuine Progress Index, we see the economy serving social goals, and we see human society as completely dependent on an encompassing ecosystem.”

GPI is valued by Nova Scotia for several reasons. First, they believe that it will allow them to make better decisions for the future. They also believe it is beneficial to place a value on things that are believed to be important, such as a clean environment and health, and place a negative value on things that negatively impact us, such as pollution.

Watch the video to learn more about the GPI system and it’s benefits.

#2 - A Class Act

Making Nova Scotia (and Pittsburgh) proud!

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What Is the Triple Bottom Line?

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

The Triple Bottom Line practice relies upon three main areas of focus that, when successfully implemented together, work to achieve the ultimate goal of sustainability. These areas are the social, environmental, and economic, or in other words, the people, planet, and profit.

People - A company that follows the principles of the Triple Bottom Line works to ensure that their development has a positive impact upon the people with which it interacts. It would ultimately give back to the community, and be sure to never exploit or endanger any group of people. For example, an operation that follows the Triple Bottom Line would never use child labor, and would ensure safe working conditions and fair working hours.
Planet - A focus on environmentally sustainable practices is an essential component in the Triple Bottom Line. Energy use and ecological footprint are carefully monitored, and reduced in any way possible. The company would work to reduce the impact of their waste, and be cautious about the amount of resources consumed. The “cradle to grave” process of manufacturing is also a very important idea for this aspect of the Triple Bottom Line. Triple Bottom Line companies would not produce anything that was harmful to society, such as toxic chemicals.
Profit - Traditionally, profit is seen as the benefit that the company receives from it’s business practices, the main objective of their actions. However, in a Triple Bottom Line business practice, profit is measured not only by the money made for the company, but by a lasting positive role in the economic community they are a part of.

A focus on all three of these aspects by a business is essential to achieve a Triple Bottom Line business practice. All three of these elements work to bring business interests and social interests together, making developments positive for both those inside the business, and in the surrounding community.

To learn more about the Triple Bottom Line:

Get Sustainable
Wikipedia
Sustainable Pittsburgh

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Want to Be A Part of the SOARING Commission?

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Today, City Council gave final approval to the creation of the Pittsburgh’s Stimulus Oversight and Reinvestment in New Growth (SOARING) Commission, which will oversee the spending of money that Pittsburgh will receive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Now, the commission needs members that want to help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of these funds, while insuring that the money goes to projects that invest in aging infrastructure and green technologies.

If you are interested in becoming part of this commission: Apply Online!

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Council Holds Special Session to Discuss Technology and Democracy

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Today, Pittsburgh City Council will hold a special session at 1:30pm to examine the use of technology and new media as tools to advance the democratic process in our city.

Technology and new media, such as a government iPhone application, live streaming of government meetings online, and deliberative polling and instant feedback by constituents during government meetings, can be used to bring the residents of Pittsburgh into the democratic process in more ways than ever before.

“We have the ability to connect people and their government without a middle-man,” said Councilman Peduto. “New technologies provide an opportunity for the public to have greater access to government and a greater role in decision making.”

Today’s session will focus on discussions by leading experts in the new media and technology fields on these topics and more, including:

- Dr. Priya Narasimhan- Carnegie Mellon University, creator of YinzCam technology
- Paul Fireman - Vivo
- Brad Winney - Panopto, Inc.
- Jay Resio - MyGov365

To watch a live streaming of this meeting online, beginning at 1:30pm today - click here - and then select “View Live” underneath the section E Democracy.

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City Council Unanimously Approves SOARING Commission

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Today, Pittsburgh City Council gave unanimous preliminary approval to Councilman Bill Peduto’s legislation to create Pittsburgh’s Stimulus Oversight and Reinvestment in New Growth (SOARING) Commission, which will oversee the spending of money that Pittsburgh will receive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Pittsburgh has an aging infrastructure of roads, bridges, sewer lines, and buildings that need to be modernized and replaced,” said Councilman Peduto. “The Stimulus Package provides us the perfect opportunity to modernize our infrastructure, as well as projects that stimulate the economy and create sustainable employment.”

The goal of the SOARING commission is to insure that the federal stimulus dollars allotted to Pittsburgh are spent wisely, and go toward investments in aging infrastructure, and the modernization and greening of the City. The commission will also work to fight against waste, fraud, and abuse of these federal funds.

Major goals of the commission include:

   - Provide Accountability and Oversight of the City’s Stimulus Tracker Website
   - Adopt a Priority List of All City Projects
   - Provide Transparency and Details on the Value of Projects on Infrastructure, Energy, and Sustainable Employment For Pittsburgh’s Economy

Check out Councilman Peduto’s powerpoint presentation on the commission to learn more:

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SOARING Commission Update

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Today, City Council voted to hold Councilman Peduto’s stimulus oversight commission legislation for one week. A vote on the legislation, which would create a new Stimulus Oversight and Reinvestment in New Growth (SOARING) Commission, will be held next Wednesday in Council. Check back soon for more information about the legislation and the vote!

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