In the News

Group pushing green alternatives
Released Date: 23 Nov 2011

Press: Valley Herald

Canvassers from the coalition Pittsburgh United have been knocking on doors in Sharpsburg to alert residents about a multibillion-dollar project by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority that potentially could double sewage rates for many of its customers.

Alcosan officials are proposing a $4 billion to $6 billion option to keep raw sewage out of the three rivers by sinking mammoth holding tunnels along the rivers from Emsworth to Etna and Braddock that would store sewage overflow during heavy wet weather.

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700 march in Greenfield jobs rally
Released Date: 18 Nov 2011

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

About 700 people from local unions, advocacy groups and faith organizations marched to the Greenfield Bridge Thursday to call for jobs and restoration of the American dream.

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Workers are Risking their Lives for Poverty Wages
Released Date: 10 Feb 2011

Press: Stop W&K Sweatshop

W & K Steel, LLC is a steel fabrication company located in Rankin, Pennsylvania that manufactures fabricated structural steel and other products used in construction, such as metal bars, beams, ornamental iron railings, and stairs. W & K Steel reported $4.8 million in sales in 2008.1

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City Council Passes Clean Water Act
Released Date: 27 Jul 2010

Press: WDUQ

Pittsburgh Council today unanimously passed the Clean Water Act.

Executive Director of Pittsburgh UNITED, Barney Oursler, said the passing of this legislation is a big step in the environmental world, as it addresses one of western Pennsylvania’s biggest problems. He said the bill was unanimously passed mainly due to the large coalition of supporters urging council to vote for it.

Councilmen Bruce Kraus and Bill Peduto said the approval demonstrates their commitment towards a better environment.

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Air kisses: Middle schoolers rally for the environment
Released Date: 18 Jul 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Out of the mouths of babes. Well, in this case, tweens. Young participants in an environmental summer camp took their quest for clean air to the West End Overlook on Thursday, hoping to persuade City Council to enact tougher measures.

Seventy-eight middle-school students are taking part in the nine-week Pittsburgh Cares E-Serve camp, which is designed to teach them about the environment and what individuals can do to help make the world cleaner, greener and healthier.

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Campers call attention to environmental legislation before City Council
Released Date: 16 Jul 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Youth raise a chant for clean air

Paw Parheat, left, 13, and Chris Thorpe, 11, shout "Clean air now!" at a press conference demanding clean air for Pittsburgh at the West End Overlook.

Kids from the Pittsburgh Cares E-Serve summer camp are supporting the Clean Air Bill introduced in city council.

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Pittsburgh campers give shout out for clean air
Released Date: 16 Jul 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

When Denzie White started to learn about air pollution, the 12-year-old Bellevue girl thought she should do something about it.

"Why live in a place that has air pollution?" Denzie said.

She and 50 other kids decided to "do something about it" atop West End Overlook park Thursday afternoon.

Holding posters and shouting, "Clean air now!" and "Pollution is wrong!" the children urged City Council to pass the Clean Air Act, which aims to reduce diesel emissions.

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Pittsburgh may require new job site rules
Released Date: 2 Jul 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

More than 200 union members and environmental activists turned out Thursday in support of two City Council bills that would restrict diesel emissions and storm water runoff on city-subsidized development projects.

"When we put our tax dollars into something, the diesel equipment should be cleaner. ... And developers should be part of the solution in trying to capture as much water as they can," said Tom Hoffman, Western Pennsylvania's director for Clean Water Action.

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Clean Air, Water Acts Arrive at Pgh City Council
Released Date: 1 Jun 2010

Press: WDUQ News

Environmental activists, union members, and several community organizations gathered outside Pittsburgh City Council Chambers today to support new legislation aimed at cleaning the city’s air and water.

Councilman Bill Peduto’s Clean Water Act of 2010 would require publicly-funded developers to try to contain storm water runoff. Its partner bill, the Clean Air Act, would mandate that diesel-powered construction vehicles be retrofitted with cleaner exhaust systems or replaced with cleaner vehicles.

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Pittsburgh councilman wants tougher environmental standards
Released Date: 1 Jun 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

City Councilman Bill Peduto plans to introduce today legislation requiring publicly funded developments to meet more stringent environmental standards to help improve the city's air and water.

The measures would mandate that developers who take city subsidies reduce storm water runoff and would require construction vehicles at these sites to reduce diesel emissions by retrofitting the equipment or using newer ones.

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