Groups lobby Pittsburgh for local benefits in major projects
Pittsburgh City Council may wade into a worsening dispute between several labor and community groups and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration by considering a living wage requirement for publicly-backed development, Council President Doug Shields said today.
"The jobs that [subsidized developers] are creating are going to have to be living wage jobs," Mr. Shields said before a public hearing on development attended by around 75 people.
"Really, it comes down to creating jobs that pay the bills," he said, adding that people working in subsidized office buildings shouldn't have to live in subsidized housing.
Mr. Ravenstahl's administration has been criticized for refusing to back groups seeking a community benefits agreement connected to North Shore development, and that continued yesterday, with one union leader saying development policy is "corrupt, broken, and has come unhinged."
Mr. Ravenstahl worked with neighborhood groups to craft a pact connected with the new arena in the Hill District, but said today that was "an isolated case" because of the need to address the devastation of that neighborhood when the Civic Arena was built.
"I don't see any development projects in the future or on that horizon that would warrant a community benefits agreement," he said prior to the hearing, adding that an as-yet-unforeseen very large development might prompt an exception.
"It's tremendously bad policy for the mayor to just say categorically that [the Hill District agreement] was a one-shot deal," said Kevin Acklin, a mayoral challenger running as an independent. He said he would not create any "litmus test" governing which development projects would be subject to community benefits agreements.
Activists said there's no sense aiding development that doesn't lift people out of poverty.
"Everywhere I go, I see people developing -- corporations developing -- places that are going to give minimum-wage jobs to our communities and give no thought to our children," said Maryellen Hayden, head organizer for ACORN in Western Pennsylvania. "They don't want to contribute anything to the folks who live where their stuff's at."
The groups' focus has shifted somewhat, from achievement of individual agreements to creation of legislation governing all projects. Legislation should guarantee more open approval processes and middle-class jobs, said Gabe Morgan, director of Service Employees International Union Local 32 BJ.
The city shouldn't put too many requirements on development aid, Mr. Ravenstahl said, since those interested in building "can develop in other cities. They can develop in other municipalities."
Councilman William Peduto, whose legislation requiring that tax-increment financed buildings be environmentally friendly passed council two weeks ago, said all new development should go through a process that ensures economic impact, environmental soundness and good jobs.
"The jobs that [subsidized developers] are creating are going to have to be living wage jobs," Mr. Shields said before a public hearing on development attended by around 75 people.
"Really, it comes down to creating jobs that pay the bills," he said, adding that people working in subsidized office buildings shouldn't have to live in subsidized housing.
Mr. Ravenstahl's administration has been criticized for refusing to back groups seeking a community benefits agreement connected to North Shore development, and that continued yesterday, with one union leader saying development policy is "corrupt, broken, and has come unhinged."
Mr. Ravenstahl worked with neighborhood groups to craft a pact connected with the new arena in the Hill District, but said today that was "an isolated case" because of the need to address the devastation of that neighborhood when the Civic Arena was built.
"I don't see any development projects in the future or on that horizon that would warrant a community benefits agreement," he said prior to the hearing, adding that an as-yet-unforeseen very large development might prompt an exception.
"It's tremendously bad policy for the mayor to just say categorically that [the Hill District agreement] was a one-shot deal," said Kevin Acklin, a mayoral challenger running as an independent. He said he would not create any "litmus test" governing which development projects would be subject to community benefits agreements.
Activists said there's no sense aiding development that doesn't lift people out of poverty.
"Everywhere I go, I see people developing -- corporations developing -- places that are going to give minimum-wage jobs to our communities and give no thought to our children," said Maryellen Hayden, head organizer for ACORN in Western Pennsylvania. "They don't want to contribute anything to the folks who live where their stuff's at."
The groups' focus has shifted somewhat, from achievement of individual agreements to creation of legislation governing all projects. Legislation should guarantee more open approval processes and middle-class jobs, said Gabe Morgan, director of Service Employees International Union Local 32 BJ.
The city shouldn't put too many requirements on development aid, Mr. Ravenstahl said, since those interested in building "can develop in other cities. They can develop in other municipalities."
Councilman William Peduto, whose legislation requiring that tax-increment financed buildings be environmentally friendly passed council two weeks ago, said all new development should go through a process that ensures economic impact, environmental soundness and good jobs.