Reform Pittsburgh Now (RPN) was started in 2007 by Pittsburgh City Councilman William Peduto in order to create an organization focused strictly on the issues that build a better city. Find out more about the reformation >
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
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!
On Wednesday, City Council will vote on Councilman Peduto’s legislation to create a new Stimulus Oversight and Reinvestment in New Growth (SOARING) Commission that will provide oversight and guidance on the use of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Commission will prevent the waste, fraud, and abuse of Stimulus Funds, while supporting the investment of federal dollars into the existing aging infrastructure, as well as the modernization and greening of Pittsburgh.
According to the federal guidelines for the program, “funding available under the Recovery Act has clear purposes – to stimulate the economy through measures that modernize the Nation’s infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and expand educational opportunities and access to health care.”
The goals of the Commission will 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
We took a month off from website updates after the May Primary election, but starting this week, we will be back to a regular schedule of new posts on this site. Continue to stop by for regular updates!
Yesterday on the City Paper’s website, Chris Potter published “Hitting for the (Election) Cycle.” Read on to hear what he has to say about reform, and this year’s primary election cycle in the City of Pittsburgh.
Hitting for the (Election) Cycle
By: Chris Potter
Most years, being a reform-minded Pittsburgher is like being a Pirates fan. Spring rolls around, and while a primary election may create excitement in other cities, we’ve come to expect the same old dreary, uncompetitive performance. By mid-May, you’re already telling yourself — again — that it’s a rebuilding year. Even though you can’t help noticing that nothing ever seems to get built.
On the surface, there’s little reason to think the May 19 primary will be much different. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl seems all but certain to win re-election. He faces two spirited challengers, Pittsburgh City Councilor Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson. But they suffer from the challenger’s curse: Their best hope for getting attention lies in attacking their rival … who then accuses them of running a “negative campaign.”
There’s a bit more cause for optimism further down the ballot. Two of the three contested council seats — those of Tonya Payne and Theresa Smith — are held by party-endorsed incumbents who have plenty of reason to feel confident. But sometimes you win just by showing up for the fight.
Both Payne and Smith are facing challengers — Daniel Lavelle in Payne’s case, Rob Frank and Georgia Blotzer in Smith’s — who have allied themselves with the cause of political reform. And they’re doing so in working-class districts whose politicians, traditionally, haven’t offered that message to voters recently.
In fact, the only council incumbent not facing a challenge this May is … Bill Peduto, a leading critic of Ravenstahl and business as usual. You’d think the old-school pols could have found some warm body to run against their nemesis, but apparently not. So while reformers may get blown out of the water May 19, they appear to have a deeper talent pool.
What’s going on here may be something like the “50-state strategy” that Democrats used in the last presidential election. Instead of just campaigning to his base and a handful of key swing states, Barack Obama fought just about everywhere he could. Republicans, meanwhile, became increasingly focused on their traditional strongholds. Similarly here, the progressive message is being pitched not just to the folks in the East End, where it has always resonated, but to the West End and the South Hills as well.
It’s a winning strategy — even if all the challengers lose. Days before the primary, council passed a first-of-its kind overhaul of contracting procedures and campaign-finance rules. The landmark measure was proposed by Peduto, but is being supported, however reluctantly, by Ravenstahl and his council allies. It’s probably no coincidence that each is running for re-election against reformers.
What’s more, Ravenstahl has also put a bigger dent in the Democratic Party machinery than Peduto ever could.
In the sole open council race this May, District 4, the mayor has made waves by supporting a candidate who wasn’t endorsed by the Democratic Party: Anthony Coghill.
Ravenstahl’s motive is obvious: If you’re the mayor, you’d much rather have a guy on council who owes some of his success to you. Especially when the endorsed candidate, Patrick Reilly, is backed by Pete Wagner, whose family represents a power base that rivals the one Ravenstahl shares with County Executive Dan Onorato.
But whatever Ravenstahl’s motivation, he’s made it a little easier for the next unendorsed candidate to get a second look. And the turmoil of the Reilly/Coghill match-up could even help deliver District 4 this year to Natalia Rudiak, who’s denounced party shenanigans from the outset … and who won’t owe anybody anything if she’s elected.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not calling for a Dewey-beats-Truman headline here. Or even Pirates-beat-Brewers. If Ravenstahl wins, he’ll have four whole years before facing another election. And progressives have a knack for cheating themselves out of victories. In 2007, three reform-minded candidates actually got elected to council: Dowd, Bruce Kraus and Ricky Burgess. Hopes that the newcomers would join to form a progressive coalition have, well … not panned out. The relationship between Dowd and Peduto is especially fractious.
But look on the bright side. No matter what happens this May, Ravenstahl will almost certainly face an independent challenger — most likely Dok Harris, the son of Steelers great Franco — in November. Harris may not have a prayer either. But for a Pittsburgh reformer, like a Pirates fan, the chance to go to extra innings can be a victory in itself.
Today the Pittsburgh Post Gazette published an editorial on the passage of Councilman Bill Peduto’s campaign finance reform legislation last Tuesday. Read on to see what they had to say about the recent reform in Pittsburgh.
Reform season: Nothing encourages change like an election
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The primary election is seven days away but some results already are in and citizens are the winners.
In a recent and remarkable turnabout, City Council enacted and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl intends to sign far-reaching new policies that should go a long way to improve accountability and transparency in city government business.
Give credit to Councilman Bill Peduto for recognizing that, with the mayor and two council members facing opponents on the May 19 ballot and voters citywide paying attention, this was the time to push.
He ran with measures that limit campaign contributions, require registration and reporting by lobbyists who work on issues before city government, and create a searchable online database of campaign contributions and city contracts. In addition, he proposed a measure that gave the force of law to a written policy issued last month by Mr. Ravenstahl that bans most no-bid professional city contracts.
Council passed them all unanimously last Wednesday, and Mr. Peduto said none of the measures would have been enacted if elected officials weren’t facing the voters this month.
Yes, the city would have been better off if these sound measures had become law long before this, but let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. The key now becomes guaranteeing compliance and enforcement against violators.
And Mr. Peduto is ready with more items for a to-do list, including: eliminating instances of politicians emblazoning their names on public property, a reference to new trash cans in city business districts that bear the name of the mayor; barring officials from sending out city-paid mailings close to election time; and requiring subsidized developers to minimize their impact on neighbors and the environment.
Let’s hope the urgency for improving city government and eliminating practices that suggest that what matters is know-who, not know-how, won’t dissipate the morning after the election.
