Pittsburgh council approves COVID relief spending, despite criticism

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council members on Tuesday approved how $335 million dollars in the Federal American Rescue Plan will be spent in the city over a four-year period.

All but one council member agreed to approve the expenditure.

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith says some of the money will also go towards housing and to help those in need.

“It’s going towards the workforce. It’s going towards the avenues of hope, it’s going towards Christy Porter Campus in Sheraden, it’s going to a community center in our district,” Kail-Smith said.

But a coalition made up of more than 40 organizations, including the Black Political Empowerment Project, aren’t happy about the plan.

They voiced their concerns in Homewood last week and gathered at Freedom Corner Monday evening — hoping the city council would hear their demands ahead of today’s vote.

The coalition wants  $200 million of the city, county and state COVID-19 relief money to go into rebuilding black and brown communities and improving the lives of black Pittsburghers.

They sent us this statement that reads in part:

“While preventing layoffs of city employees may indeed have required immediate action with some ARPA funds, there is no legitimate reason for the mayor and city council to commit funds now that will not actually be spent for 1,2 and 3 years to come. We demand that city council immediately begin a new and transparent process to enable the entire community to re-set priorities for this $335 million budget.”

Kail-Smith said the council understands the concerns.

“I have been on the phone talking to some people periodically; what I said to them, the people I have spoken with, is that we will continue this process, and we do hear you, and we want to hear you, we want you to be at the table. We consider you partners of the city,” she said. “This is just the beginning, we will continue to have meetings, we can amend, some of us are willing to work through our break, and I’m one of them.”

Steel Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition organizer Randall Taylor called the vote “shameful.”

“I think one of the darkest moments in Pittsburgh history took place today,” he said. “We had a historic opportunity to engage our whole city and talk about how we can change the city to make this truly the most livable city for every citizen and our Pittsburgh City Council failed.”

Relief spending news conference

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