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Dear Neighbors,

Here we are at another seasonal transition. Fall brings with it cooler weather, apples, and a few of Western Pennsylvania’s most prideful assets: vibrant leaves and Steelers football.

However, fall now brings uncertainty for the months to come, something we’re now all too familiar with. The hope that this summer would offer a return to the much-sought normalcy has faded, and we are once again pivoting in a different direction.

The last couple of years have been a masterclass in uncertainty, as I heard it put by Sonja Blignaut, a complexity consultant, in a recent talk. Instead of shying away from uncertainty, Sonja suggests we should mimic the natural world by embracing it, and if possible, channeling it into creative energy. Although retraining ourselves away from the habit of expecting stability and certainty in all facets of our lives is challenging, I’ve found it to be a helpful exercise. Letting go and letting come, sitting with an unresolved question allows all of us the space to innovate, explore, and move in the right direction instead of too quickly in the wrong direction.

As a local leader, I will never guarantee certainty – that would be a false promise. Whether I’m considering new legislation, authorizing spending on a new program, helping to form a community plan, considering a new development project, or tackling the major social challenges of our day, I don’t claim to ever have a map; but I do have a compass. That compass takes into account all of you as well; the emails, calls, and conversations all help me represent you better.

I wish you all a safe and happy transition into a season full of new opportunities and uncharted waters.

Sincerely,

Erika

Welcome Interns!

Hello! My name is Kush Batra and I am a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh studying Neuroscience. After I graduate from Pitt I would like to pursue medical school! I am excited about this internship because I will get to learn about the city council and get to intertwine knowledge of social justice, and equity issues on my career path to becoming a physician. In my free time I can be found playing guitar, skating, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.

Shalom! I’m Lita Brillman, I’m a first year MPA student at Pitt studying Social Policy and I’m a Coro Pittsburgh alum. As a Squirrel Hill native, I’m excited to build on my nonprofit and government experiences to better serve the community that raised me. Outside of my professional life, I’m passionate about vegan food, backgammon, and my dog and cat, Maria and Cassie.

Legislative Updates

Elizabethan Herb Garden

On September 21st, I introduced a proclamation celebrating 40 years of dedicated service by the Western Pennsylvania Unit of the Herb Society of America to maintaining and beautifying the Elizabethan Herb and Shakespeare Garden in Mellon Park.

Click here for the full proclamation.

Ruth Sacks Day

On August 31st, I introduced a proclamation recognizing Ruth Sacks Day here in the City of Pittsburgh. This proclamation celebrates the 100th Birthday of Ms. Ruth Sacks and celebrates her contributions to the City of Pittsburgh throughout her long, prosperous life.

Click here for the full proclamation.

Paid Bereavement Bill

In August, I co-sponsored a bill introduced by Councilman Wilson that would allow Pittsburgh employees to take paid bereavement leave in the event of pregnancy loss directly or through a partner or surrogate. This bill allows up to three days of paid leave without having to use vacation or sick time. It covers miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, failed in vitro fertilization procedures and surrogacy loss. Thank you to Councilman Wilson, and to my fellow co-sponsor Councilman Burgess, for introducing this impactful bill that will allow for the City of Pittsburgh to set an example for workplaces throughout our city.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

Single-Use Plastics

This fall, my office co-hosted a Single-Use Plastics Summit, in partnership with members of the Plastics Collaborative network. This summit featured speeches and a panel discussion held by non-profit, corporate and small businesses, and local government leaders. The event offered an opportunity to gain insight from local business and community leaders on how they are implementing practical solutions to reducing single-use plastics, like bags, straws, disposable cutlery, and more. Attendees learned of current initiatives to reduce single-use plastics in the region and of proposed single-use plastic legislation at the local level that can benefit businesses, the community, and the environment.

The summit was kicked off by opening remarks from Councilperson Erika Strassburger and Sustainable Pittsburgh Executive Director, Joylette Portlock, Ph.D. Then, Giant Eagle representative Daniel Donovan presented attendees with a keynote address, discussing Giant Eagle’s single-use plastic reduction efforts. Following the keynote, a panel discussion was held featuring Don Mahaney, owner of Scratch & Co., Myrna Newman, Executive Director of Allegheny CleanWays, Chef Claudy Pierre, Founder and CEO of the EAT Initiative, Rick Swartz, Executive Director of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and Christopher Mitchell, Anti-Litter Specialist with the Department of Public Works at the City of Pittsburgh. Attendees then broke out into groups to discuss the specifics of the Councilperson’s proposed ordinance limiting the use of single-use plastics, and other initiatives here in the region. The summit was rounded out with closing statements from Dr. Eric Beckman, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering whose focus is on sustainable design of chemical products. Recordings of the summit can be found below.

Later this fall, I plan to introduce a bill to City Council that will ban all single-use plastic bags here in the City of Pittsburgh. Stay tuned for more information and resources on tackling this important issue. As always, I’m here for open dialogue on this topic, and others, by emailing district8@pittsburghpa.gov.

City of Pittsburgh Updates

Resource Spotlight:

For this month’s resource spotlight, we’d like to highlight’s the City’s brand new online tax tool OneTaxPGH . OneTaxPGH will replace the City’s current and inefficient tax systems by streamlining business and property taxes into one database – allowing for ease of access for both taxpayers and staff within the City’s Department of Finance.

This program will be rolled out in phases:
The public online portal for business taxes will launch in October and the public online portal for real estate taxes will launch this winter. Taxpayers will be notified how to access the online portal by mail. Please visit the OneTaxPGH public engagement site to complete a survey about your payment preferences.

Ellsworth Avenue Shadyside Connector Project - MoveForwardPGH

On Wednesday, September 22, the MoveForwardPGH team and partners hosted a public meeting to discuss the Shadyside Connector project, where they reviewed public survey results highlighting preferred street and infrastructure improvements and provided an overview of potential traffic calming tools being considered to increase connectivity and clarity in the Shadyside bicycle network. Video recording of the meeting can be found below. The slide deck presented at the meeting can be found by clicking here. More information on the project can be found here.

Port Authority – Negley Station

Allegheny County Port Authority held a community update meeting on the Negley Station Improvement Project on Wednesday, September 1.

At the meeting, an overview of the final station design was presented. Some of the highlights include:

• Improved station environment with enhanced rider and pedestrian amenities, including increased canopy size, LED lighting and other safety features.

• A new passenger pickup and drop-off area from Summerlea Street.

• Elements of design that will encourage transit-oriented development.

• Landscaping and green infrastructure — and more.
  

The Authority also provided an overview of station construction, which will occur in three phases over the course of about one year. Most work will occur during daylight hours of approximately 6am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, with the exception of the final phase where some weekend and overnight work will occur over two weekends.

Dates for construction will be determined once legal agreements with Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) are finalized. Once a start date is available, it will be communicated to the public and posted on the project website.
For more information on anticipated rider and residential impacts, and to view the full presentation, visit PortAuthority.org/NegleyStation.

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

Check out the first permeable paver parking lane for the Maryland Ave Stormwater Project in Shadyside! The pavers allow rainwater to pass through their cracks into layers of gravel and pipe storage below. http://pgh2o.com/maryland-ave

The City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Nighttime Economy will be visiting neighborhoods to answer any questions that you may have about starting and maintaining your own food, beverage, or entertainment business!

Please RSVP with rachel.webber@pittsburghpa.gov if you plan on attending.
The Office of Nighttime Economy plans to host roving office hours in many different areas of the City, so let them know if you want your neighborhood on the list or if you'd be willing to host them for a future date!

To stay up to date on the Office of Nighttime Economy’s activities and events sign up for the newsletter by clicking here!

Community Group Updates

Join us for live music at the S Craig Street Sidewalk sale this Saturday September 25 frpm 2PM-6PM. Come out and support both local businesses and vendors at this event to kick off the beginning of Fall! For more information visit the Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID)’s website or find the event on OBID’s Facebook Page.

• Friends of Wightman Park: If you live near Wightman Park, or just want to get involved, we encourage you to join the newly formed Friends of Wightman Park. More information below. Please email info@shuc.org to get involved!

• Shadyside Action Coalition
  Join Shadyside Action Coalition (SAC) for their monthly meeting on Thursday October 14th, 2021 at 6:30PM. SAC meets the second Thursday of each month. For more information click here.

• Bellefield Area Citizens Association
  Join Bellefield Area Citizens Association (BACA) for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 12th from 7PM-8PM. BACA meets the second Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Mary Fletcher at bacaprez15213@gmail.com.

• Baum-Centre Initiative
  Join Baum-Center Initiative (BCI) for their monthly meeting on Tuesday September 21st from 6PM-7PM. BCI is a group of citizens and business owners who work to improve the quality of life, and review development proposals in the Baum-Centre corridor.
  BCI meets the third Tuesday of each month.
  For more information please contact Lenore Williams at leefabilli@aol.com.

• Zone 4 Public Safety Council Meeting
  Join the Zone 4 Public Safety Council for their monthly meeting to be held on Thursday October 21st, 2021 from 6PM-7PM.
  Zone 4 Public Safety Council meets the third Thursday of every month beginning at 6:00 PM.
  This month’s meeting will be back in person at the JCC - please email pghzone4publicsafetycouncil@gmail.com with questions.

• Oakland-Wide Community Meeting
  Oakland-Wide Community Meeting
  Join Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) on Wednesday, September 28th, 2021 from 6PM-7:30PM for the Let’s Talk Oakland meeting. For more information on joining this meeting click here.
  OPDC holds monthly public meetings to facilitate community discussion about development, policy, and topics of interest to neighbors.

• Point Breeze Organization Stay up to date with everything Point Breeze - https://www.pointbreezepgh.org

• Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition
  Join Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC) on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, for their monthly board meeting. SHUC meets the third Tuesday of each month. For more information on joining this meeting click here.
  SHUC is a non-profit community group dedicated to preserving, improving, and celebrating the quality of life in the 14th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh

• Uncover Squirrel Hill
  Join Uncover Squirrel Hill on Thursday, October 14th, 2021 from 6PM-7:30PM for their monthly merchant meeting. For more information on joining this meeting email Hello@UncoverSquirrelHill.com.

Pittsburgh Community Television

PCTV provides low cost access to media production tools and the ability to broadcast thoughts, ideas, and creativity to households throughout Pittsburgh and the world. Check out the informational video above, which describes PCTV’s services and membership options. Check out their upcoming events and workshops by clicking here.

Child Care Grant Program

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grants available to eligible child care providers. These grants and the required reporting will be completed in the Professional Development (PD) Registry. For more information, please visit https://www.pakeys.org/arpastabilizationgrants/.

Watch the video below for information on how to apply:

Fall Activities

When: Sundays from 10:30am – 12pm

The Squirrel Hill Night Market is happening twice this summer: first on August 28th, and again five weeks later (October 2nd). This free festival will feature 75+ local artists, live music, food trucks, activities for children -- all surrounded by your favorite Squirrel Hill restaurants and shops. Here is the official “Night Markets” website!

Where: Murray Ave. Between Forbes and Beacon St. (Map)

When: Saturday 10/2, 6pm – 10pm

Squirrel Hill Farmers Market Feed yourself, your family, and your friends with the freshest produce available in the ‘burgh. The Squirrel Hill Farmers market is back for 2021, featuring top-quality fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods, flowers and gifts! This farmers market accepts credit/debit cards and food stamps -- it’s as easy as ever to buy healthy and local. More details are available here!

Where: Beacon-Bartlett Parking Lot (Map)

When: Sundays from 9am – 1pm (through November 21st)

The 2021 City of Pittsburgh Great Race

Started in 1977 by Mayor Richard S. Caliguiri as a “community fun run,” the Great Race has become a Pittsburgh tradition over the last 44 years. With 10K, 5K, and Junior races planned, these mostly downhill courses offer something for runners of all ages. You can register for the 2021 Great Race here!

When: September 25th-26th (Saturday and Sunday)

Where: 10K begins at Frick Park, ending at Point State Park

ZooBoo

Celebrate the return of ZooBoo, The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium’s annual kid-friendly Halloween event. Trick-or-treat throughout the Zoo, collecting treats and supporting local businesses at this daytime family favorite event. Enter our not-so-scary haunt spots and create creepy crafts. Be wowed with magic and meet your favorite characters. Show off your spooktacular costumes in our Halloween parade, dance, and costume contest. Be sure to check out our animals enjoying Halloween treats throughout the park, October 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th. Register here.

Farm Fall Festivals

Fall festivals are popping up all over Pittsburgh-area farms. Enjoy hayrides, pumpkin patches, apple picking, and much more every fall weekend at Trax Farms in Finleyville , Soergel Orchards in Wexford, and Triple B Farms in Monongahela.

Pumpkin Patch Trolley

Fall is in the air! As the leaves change colors, put on your costume and join The PA Trolley Museum in Washington, PA for their Pumpkin Patch Trolley! Ride the beautifully restored trolleys to a pumpkin patch where children can select a pumpkin. Then, help your child decorate their pumpkin, play games, and enjoy fall-themed refreshments as you tour our museum. The event takes place October 15th -17th, and October 22nd-24th, register here.

Kennywood’s Phantom Fall Fest

This year, Kennywood Park is changing things up to suit every level of thrill-seeker. Phantom Fright Night is now Phantom Fall Fest, where you can play all day and fright all night. The new Phantom Fall Fest lets you do Halloween your way depending on the time of day. Come early for family-friendly fun, including festive food and a unique Kennywood autumn atmosphere. PLUS enjoy your favorite coasters and rides during the day! Then, when the sun goes down, the Phantom takes screams to the extreme with five haunted houses and four scare zones. We’re making Halloween memories all day and all night at Kennywood. The event runs every weekend in October, register here.