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Yesterday, I attended the public hearing at Pittsburgh City Council chambers. I was there to speak for increasing the Community Development Block Grant funding for Just Harvest and the Pittsburgh Hunger Fund. I stayed to observe the testimony and discussion on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s illegal college tuition tax proposal.
I was very pleased to see so many college students speaking so eloquently on the topic. I just wish that more students would be involved on social, political, and economic justice issues. Once again, if you want peace, work for justice. The performance of the council members was disappointing and somewhat puzzling.
· Darlene Harris was very condescending, saying that we have to tax “someone” because she can’t find any other solutions. She attended most of the hearing.
· Jim Motznik was quite arrogant and said that we have to choose whether to tax the students or the nonprofits. He left the room shortly after his lengthy opening statement and only heard from about a dozen speakers.
· Theresa Kail-Smith and Ricky Burgess didn’t say much, but favor the tax. They attended part of the hearing.
· Tonya Payne stayed for about five minutes and never said a word.
· Patrick Dowd and Bruce Kraus didn’t say much, but oppose the tax. They attended part of the hearing.
· Doug Shields attended most of the testimony, and made a passionate and eloquent statement against the tax afterward.
· Bill Peduto stayed and listened to every speaker. He made a strong statement against the tax.
No, Mr. Motznik. It most certainly is not “one or the other”. No one is forcing council to choose between two equally illegal, and equally stupid, options. Yes, Ms. Harris. There is a solution. You just don’t want to hear it. You know, I can’t tell if they really don’t understand or if they just can’t be bothered.
At the hearing, I presented a perfectly logical and legally required solution. But no one even had the decency to acknowledge it. When they were elected, each council member took an oath to uphold the laws of the city of Pittsburgh. The law requires the city to conduct certain activities. Many of those activities generate revenue for the city. Now, when one is in a financial crisis, common sense and sound fiscal management dictate that you increase the activities that bring in the money. You don’t cut them.
As I said before, there are six specific areas where the city has neglected its duty – and its revenue-generating power – for decades. Instead of looking for ways to raise money by violating the law, Pittsburgh must begin by enforcing the laws that already exist. That’s what the mayor and council are paid for. Six city departments consistently fail that task and the city loses money in fees, taxes, and fines because of it.
· Animal Control – issues licenses to all dog owners in the city. How many unlicensed dogs are in your neighborhood?
· Building Inspection – issues building permits and enforces code violations. This city is a mess, and no one is doing anything about it. When was the last time you heard of anyone paying a fine for a code violation? When was the last time you heard of anyone paying for a building permit?
· Finance – collects wage and other taxes from city residents and businesses. How many city residents and businesses get away with paying no tax at all? What is the city doing to find them and collect the taxes?
· Parking Authority – enforces parking regulations. The only place where you can get a parking ticket is in Oakland or South Side. You can park anywhere else in the city without ever worrying about it.
· Public Works – enforces ice and snow removal from sidewalks. No. They don’t. And someone will have to die before they do.
· Water and Sewer Authority – How many city residents and businesses are behind on their bills?
I have yet to see any figures on how much money the city loses every year because the mayor and council are neglecting their duties. But I’ll bet it’s a bundle. And why hasn’t anyone put those numbers together? City finances have been under Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority supervision since 2004 and no one has bothered to find out how much money the city is losing by its own incompetence. Whose bright idea was that? Gee. Maybe we need someone to supervise the ICA. WAKE UP, GUYS.
Surely these departments would generate much more in revenue to the city than it would cost to hire the extra staff necessary to get the job done. If I'm wrong, then put the numbers together and show me. Then we can talk about inventing new taxes.
Pittsburgh has a long tradition of negligence and incompetence when it comes to city finances. But that doesn’t mean that we have to hold a morbid attachment to that tradition forever. Pittsburgh deserves better than the council that it has. But then, that’s another longstanding tradition.
For more information:
Contact your city council member and ask why she/he isn’t enforcing the laws that already exist.
Comments
Nice rant.
However, it isn't the job of those on city council to enforce the laws. Their job is to craft and recind new laws. The enforcement part is the duty of the mayor and the employees / administration.
Be clear with your ask. Be specific.
Now, it would be prudent if city council saw the facts as they are now and then made some adjustments to the laws.
By the way, you can also get a ticket in Shadyside and Downtown. :)
City council has oversight authority over the city departments. That's why they have committees. When the departments don't do their jobs, it is COUNCIL'S responsibility to tale department heads and the mayor to task. Why do legislators refuse to acknowledge that part of their jobs?
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