News Archive of July 2009

Groups lobby Pittsburgh for local benefits in major projects
Released Date: 27 Jul 2009

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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.

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Protesters say city undercuts jobs, pay
Released Date: 25 Jul 2009

Press: 100 air concerns before City Council

A group of about 100 service workers representing different sectors of organized labor were rebuffed yesterday when they tried to enter Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office to talk about his development policies and fair wages.

Marcy Demitras, an employee at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Downtown who's also with the Pennsylvania Joint Board of Workers United, addresses City Council yesterday. Ms. Demitras was part of a group of about 100 service workers who wanted to speak with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl about his development policies, but instead they met with council members to discuss their opposition to the city's subsidy of developers who offer low-paying jobs. City Council President Doug Shields told the protesters: "We, as a council, will be responsive."

Andy Starnes/Post-Gazette

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Protesters storm Ravenstahl's office demanding jobs on city projects
Released Date: 24 Jul 2009

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Workers who protested at Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office this morning for union jobs on city-subsidized projects said they will return this afternoon.

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Demonstators locked out of mayor's office
Released Date: 24 Jul 2009

Press: Pittsburgh City Paper

This morning, nearly 100 union members and community activists staged a protest outside Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's front door -- which a city worker then chained and padlocked.

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Doors Chained To Keep Protesters Out Of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office
Released Date: 24 Jul 2009

Press: WTAE

200 Service Union Protesters Descend On Grant Street
PITTSBURGH -- A group of about 200 protesters descended on the office of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on Friday morning.

[SEIU Western Pennsylvania director Gabe Morgan addresses hundreds of protesters gathered at the Pittsburgh mayor's office.]

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Police arrest 5 protesters outside Continental Real Estate office
Released Date: 23 Jul 2009

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Homestead police Thursday arrested five protesters singing hymns and blocking the entrance to the office of developer Continental Real Estate Cos. at the Waterfront shopping mall.

Continental officials called police after refusing to meet with 20 protesters from the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, a group representing 25 congregations and seven religious organizations in the Pittsburgh area.

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Community Benefits Protesters Arrested On North Shore
Released Date: 16 Jul 2009

Press: WTAE

CLICK TO SEE VIDEO

PITTSBURGH -- At least four members of a community group were arrested during a protest on Pittsburgh's North Shore, where they were calling on local corporations to offer more community benefits.

The demonstration was staged outside the Del Monte Building on North Shore Drive on Thursday morning. Some protesters held a sign that said "Millionaires Get Our $ While Our Kids Die."

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Protesters arrested on North Side
Released Date: 16 Jul 2009

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Police today arrested four protesters who were blocking a main entrance to the North Shore's Del Monte building.

The protest, organized by Northside United, attracted about 30 people who hoped to pressure Continental Real Estate, a major North Shore developer, to create a benefits agreement for neighboring communities.

"We were being very peaceful. The police knew we were coming," said Rachel Canning, program director for Pittsburgh United, Northside United's parent organization. "They knew what our intent was."

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Four arrested at North Side jobs, development protest
Released Date: 16 Jul 2009

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh police arrested four people today during a protest over jobs and development on the North Shore.

Protesters from neighborhood group Northside United gathered in front of the Del Monte Building on North Shore Drive at 11 a.m. to demand that Pittsburgh officials broker a community benefits agreement between the organization and developers on the North Shore.

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Northside United members arrested outside Del Monte Building
Released Date: 16 Jul 2009

Press: Community Benefits Protesters Arrested On North Shore

7/16/09 PITTSBURGH -- At least four members of a community group were arrested during a protest on Pittsburgh's North Shore, where they were calling on local corporations to offer more community benefits.

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North Side Residents Protest City Pandering To Corporations
Released Date: 16 Jul 2009

Press: WPXI

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
PITTSBURGH -- A group of North Side residents protested the city government, accusing officials of pandering to large corporations and neglecting their neighborhood problems.

“It’s the North Side not the North Shore,” protesters chanted. “This land is our land; it’s not yours.”

The protestors assembled outside the Delmonte Foods building, choosing the corporation as an example of the city’s corporate pandering.

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Northsiders Get Arrested for Family-Sustaining Jobs and Community Benefits
Released Date: 16 Jul 2009

Press: WPXI

Click here to see the entire 7.16.09 Playlist on our Youtbube Channel

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Too Close for Comfort
Released Date: 15 Jul 2009

Press: http://pghisacity.blogspot.com/2009/06/too-close-for-comfort.html

Yesterday, I headed over to visit the Mattress Factory (one of my favorite museums in Pittsburgh). I skipped their fabulous annual Urban Garden Party to attend their free Sunday Community Garden Party. Unfortunately, as I was arriving a 22-year old Wilkinsburg man was on his way to the hospital after being shot around the corner from the museum. He died at Allegheny General Hospital at 3:08pm. Respectfully, the museum closed its doors, and I walked past cop cars to get back in my car and head home.

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