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City/County Archive
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Environmental Organization Peddles Unconstitutional Laws Across PA
The advocacy organization that wrote proposed legislation banning natural gas drilling in the City of Pittsburgh has a history of writing illegal laws and losing court cases in Pennsylvania, the Post-Gazette reported. Most recently, this organization, the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), lost a court battle over ordinances passed by the Blaine Township Board of [...] -
Pitt’s Priorities Misplaced in Concordia Club Renovations
“On January 21, 1874, a group of prominent Pittsburghers met for the purpose of organizing a private club, ‘to promote social and literary entertainment among its members.’” So goes the official history of the Concordia Club, formerly one of Pittsburgh’s most influential and prominent social organizations. The Concordia Club, located on 4024 O’Hara Street in [...] -
Local Courts Apply Laws to Citizens, Ignore Law Themselves
Recently, I commented briefly on how Allegheny County is failing to conduct sunset reviews every four years as mandated by the Home Rule Charter. Sunset reviews help determine whether taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately and the current review is three years late. The failure of County Government to obey the law even as it expects [...] -
Local News In Brief
Grace Period Illustrates Success of Voluntary, Private Sector Solutions to Poverty Grace Period is structured as a club. Members must have bank accounts, and an account can be set up through the credit union for people who don’t already have one. Those needing to borrow can receive up to $500, at which point they have two [...] -
Marcellus Shale Development Will Create New Opportunities, Expand Liberties
The expansion of personal and economic liberty in Western Pennsylvania cannot occur without the strengthening and expansion of the private sector. Currently, the public sector enjoys such a significant economic advantage nationally and locally that it is impossible for voluntary economic relationships to flourish without the government overseeing and intruding upon them. Perhaps the greatest natural [...] -
The Publius Foundation Seeks New Student Fellow, Stipend Provided
The Publius Foundation seeks a Pittsburgh-area undergraduate to serve as our Energy and Environment Student Fellow. The student fellow will be required to write a weekly blog post of between 400 and 800 words with a special focus on issues related to Marcellus Shale. A stipend of $100 will be provided for the semester. Interested students should [...] -
Local News In Brief
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Prepare to Merge Accounting Systems The proposed cost-sharing deal would have the city reimburse the county for its actual costs in setting up and maintaining a joint accounting system, Mr. Lamb said. “We are close to a deal,” he said. “I feel confident that we will have a favorable answer for the county [...] -
Marcellus Shale News In Brief
Rendell Administration Leases Land to Natural Gas Companies in No-Bid Contracts The cash-strapped Rendell administration has leased nearly 150,000 acres of public forests and game lands to gas companies that paid $400 million to drill for natural gas. Some critics say Pennsylvania taxpayers lost out on more money when administration officials privately negotiated two of the deals, [...] -
Local News In Brief
Allegheny County in Violation of Home Rule Charter Under its Home Rule Charter, Allegheny County is obligated to “protect the taxpayers of Allegheny County by requiring that each County department, agency and function is subject to” review every four years. Each so-called “sunset review,” according to the county’s administrative code, examines each department’s programs and services [...] -
Regulating Without Purpose: Pittsburgh Closer to Silly Urban Farming Law
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission voted 6-1 Wednesday to approve legislation regulating small-scale urban farming, sending the legislation to City Council for a final vote. A newly popular phenomenon in Pittsburgh and across the country, urban farming is a practice that includes the raising of chickens, the keeping of beehives and the cultivation of fruits and vegetables [...]