To: Ricky Burgess, Councilman, City of Pittsburgh, Daniel Lavelle, Councilman, City of Pittsburgh, The Pennsylvania State House, The Pennsylvania State Senate, Governor Tom Wolf, The United States House of Representatives, and The United Sta...
Sign to Endorse a Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance
THE PEOPLE’S PETITION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CITY OF PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT (CBA) ORDINANCE
We, the following, individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and faith based organization, request Pittsburgh’s City Council to ensure that impacted neighborhoods and communities, residents, and business are beneficiaries and not victims of economic development projects that use public resources including grants, tax abatement, and other public subsidies provided from and through the City of Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, and the federal government.
Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) establish a contractual relationship between directly impacted communities/neighborhoods and the developer of economic development projects that receive public grants, subsidies, and various tax supports as well. We call upon Pittsburgh’s City Council to support the proposed Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) ordinance that will establish provisions for developers to ensure that Pittsburgh low income residents have access to jobs and employment opportunities, environmental mitigation, housing assistance, public safety enhancements and other measures.
As the City of Pittsburgh concentrates on urban revitalization and with all of the development taking place throughout the City, it is noted that there is no protection of residents rights within the strategies of re-development. There is no clear plan of economic revitalization for the residents of the most vulnerable populations that reside in the most livable city in the United States, the City of Pittsburgh. With multi millions of dollars planned for development it is Vital that disparity rates be addressed. One critical way to address these disparities is by the creation of a Community benefits Ordinance for the City of Pittsburgh. This Ordinance or Law will reinforce and set in place contractual binding agreements that require community participation at all tables when it comes to development dollars, financial packages and tax incentives/abatement created for revitalization of the Urban Communities, and that our participation is required at all levels and planning stages.
The following are requested Standards for the proposed Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance:
1. Community Impact Reports (CIRs) required before any agreements are met with any area of government. CIRs will be provided to the community affected by distributing to all registered voters within the area.
2. Low Income Housing based on the Median Income of the affected Community.
3. Workforce Development and Training
4. Incubation of Small Businesses
5. First Source Hiring
6. MWDBE Professional Contracts
7. Participation in a “Growth Fund” to be directed toward future Youth and Economic Initiatives within that area of the Development.
8. Guidelines stating that no one individual, community organization or CDC other than The Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance Alliance - A City-wide collaborative initiative, can make the decision for the broader community residents.
We, the following, individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and faith based organization, request Pittsburgh’s City Council to ensure that impacted neighborhoods and communities, residents, and business are beneficiaries and not victims of economic development projects that use public resources including grants, tax abatement, and other public subsidies provided from and through the City of Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, and the federal government.
Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) establish a contractual relationship between directly impacted communities/neighborhoods and the developer of economic development projects that receive public grants, subsidies, and various tax supports as well. We call upon Pittsburgh’s City Council to support the proposed Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) ordinance that will establish provisions for developers to ensure that Pittsburgh low income residents have access to jobs and employment opportunities, environmental mitigation, housing assistance, public safety enhancements and other measures.
As the City of Pittsburgh concentrates on urban revitalization and with all of the development taking place throughout the City, it is noted that there is no protection of residents rights within the strategies of re-development. There is no clear plan of economic revitalization for the residents of the most vulnerable populations that reside in the most livable city in the United States, the City of Pittsburgh. With multi millions of dollars planned for development it is Vital that disparity rates be addressed. One critical way to address these disparities is by the creation of a Community benefits Ordinance for the City of Pittsburgh. This Ordinance or Law will reinforce and set in place contractual binding agreements that require community participation at all tables when it comes to development dollars, financial packages and tax incentives/abatement created for revitalization of the Urban Communities, and that our participation is required at all levels and planning stages.
The following are requested Standards for the proposed Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance:
1. Community Impact Reports (CIRs) required before any agreements are met with any area of government. CIRs will be provided to the community affected by distributing to all registered voters within the area.
2. Low Income Housing based on the Median Income of the affected Community.
3. Workforce Development and Training
4. Incubation of Small Businesses
5. First Source Hiring
6. MWDBE Professional Contracts
7. Participation in a “Growth Fund” to be directed toward future Youth and Economic Initiatives within that area of the Development.
8. Guidelines stating that no one individual, community organization or CDC other than The Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance Alliance - A City-wide collaborative initiative, can make the decision for the broader community residents.
Why is this important?
Support this city-wide initiative to address the lack of economic opportunities in low income communities, even with multi-millions of dollars being spent on development. We must fight the disparity rates in the City of Pittsburgh, and this is a equity tool that can do just that. Please sign your name or your organization's name for endorsing this Initiative.