PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Budget and Policy Center, along with residents and other local organizations, held a rally outside the City-County Building Tuesday morning to call on the Pittsburgh City Council to suspend voting on aid spending on the U.S. rescue plan.
They called for the vote to be postponed and said the community should have a say in how the money from the fund is spent.
“Community input and transparency are needed to ensure the city invests these funds to help us all look after our families, prepare our children to thrive, and have a full and healthy future,” said the group in a press release.
Pittsburgh is allocated $ 335 million through the American bailout plan. Mayor Bill Peduto’s office said they worked with council members and other community leaders to develop their plan. The money is to save 600 city workers from being fired. It is also used for investments in affordable housing, infrastructure and electric vehicles.
The Council will vote on the spending on Wednesday.
But activists believe the vote will be rushed and the council should spend more time talking to parishioners about how the money will be distributed.
“The decision to allocate these funds should be made very consciously, carefully and with great commitment from the citizens of Pittsburgh,” said Tim Stevens, chairman and CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project.
The spending plan spans multiple categories, including people ($ 66 million); Planet ($ 37.5 million); Seats ($ 58 million); and performance ($ 172 million).
But activists believe the money should go elsewhere, like food insecurity, public transportation, lead poisoning prevention, affordable housing.
“We need to make sure the city uses these funds to combat years of racial and economic inequality while maintaining accountability and transparency,” said Celeste Scott, housing justice organizer at Pittsburgh United. “Ownership is important, but tenants are the ones who have suffered most from the pandemic. The inclusion of rent reductions is crucial and if the Council had involved the public in this process it would be one of many things that would have been perfectly clear. It is vital that the public have a say in how this money is spent – not just the usual votes and those in power – but the community, especially those in need of it most. The council needs to slow down, pause the vote and involve the community in a real and transparent way. “
The council held public meetings on Saturday and Monday to allow community input.
City councilor Rev. Ricky Burgess said in a meeting that activists are trying to curtail the council’s powers.
“I think we should listen to everyone, but this is where the money ends. We were elected, we were elected, we ran for the council and were not elected by 70 people at a public gathering, but by thousands of people to represent this city and respond fiscally for the people of this city, ”said Burgess.
Council President Theresa Kail Smith said the council will continue to meet with people and a vote can * always * be changed.
>>> RELATED: Peduto’s office reveals plans for Biden’s money for the American bailout plan
The council held public meetings on Saturday and Monday to allow community input.
City councilor Rev. Ricky Burgess said in a meeting that activists are trying to curtail the council’s powers.
“I think we should listen to everyone, but this is where the money ends. We were elected, we were elected, we ran for the council and (were) elected not by 70 people in a public meeting, but by thousands of people to represent this city and to be responsible for the people of this city for tax purposes, ” said Burgess.
Council President Theresa Kail Smith said the council would continue to meet with people and a vote could be changed at any time.
>>> RELATED: Peduto’s office reveals plans for Biden’s money for the American bailout plan
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