Deb Gross

Put People First - PA needs your input! If you live in Southwestern PA click here bit.ly/pghcovid19survey to take their survey on your healthcare experience during the pandemic. Millions of are losing health insurance, can't pay for medications, and still can't get a Covid-19 test. They are documenting these experiences to advance their campaign for a Public Healthcare Advocate and to guarantee Healthcare as a Human Right. Please share to help them reach their goal of 500 sur...vey participants this month. /// Y en Español: ¡Necesitamos su opinión! Si vive en el suroeste de Pensilvania, haga clic aquí bit.ly/pghcovid19survey para completar nuestra encuesta sobre su experiencia del sistema sanitario durante la pandemia. Millones de nosotros estamos perdiendo el seguro de salud, no podemos pagar los medicamentos y aún no podemos obtener una prueba de Covid19. Estamos documentando estas experiencias para avanzar en nuestra campaña para un Defensor de la Salud Pública y para garantizar la salud como un derecho humano. Comparta para ayudarnos a alcanzar nuestra meta de 500 participantes en la encuesta este mes. See more

Today! Stanton Heights Neighborhood Association is partnering with Renaissance Church Pittsburgh to distribute prepared meals and masks to community members on Thursday, August 6th from 4:30 to 6:00 PM at Pittsburgh Sunnyside Pre K-8 (4801 Stanton Ave). This event is open to everyone, not just Stanton Heights residents. Please practice social distancing by wearing a mask and standing at least six feet apart from others. https://www.facebook.com/events/497948051041528 I <3 Stanton Heights! Renaissance Church PGH

The Post Agenda on the Stop the Violence Fund & Policing (Bills 404, 405, 406, and 410) is scheduled for tomorrow, July 16th at 10AM. Additionally, 3 more public hearings have been scheduled on the topic of Police Reform and Budgeting. These hearings are not related to any specific, existing pieces of legislation. Here are the dates and times: -Saturday, July 18 at noon... -Tuesday, July 21 at 6PM -Wednesday, July 22 at 6PM The deadline to register for the 6 PM public hearings is 3:30 on the day of the hearing. For the Saturday hearing, call by 3:30 PM Friday, July, 17th. To register, please call the City Clerk’s office at 412-255-2138. They will give participants a call-in number/Zoom link and unmute them individually to speak during the hearing. All Council activities that are normally broadcast on TV are now being conducted via Zoom and live-streamed on the City’s Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/CityChannelPittsburgh/videos. Once the live-streams conclude, the videos are uploaded to Youtube permanently a few hours later (or the next day if the meeting occurred at night).

Tomorrow! Stanton Heights Neighborhood Association is partnering with Renaissance Church PGH to distribute prepared meals, masks, and diapers to community members this Thursday, June 11 at Pittsburgh Sunnyside Pre K-8 (4801 Stanton Ave) from 4-6PM. This event is open to everyone, not just Stanton Heights residents. Please remember to wear a mask and stand at least six feet apart from others. https://www.facebook.com/events/764588000745773/ I <3 Stanton Heights!

Over the past few days thousands of Pittsburghers have come together to mourn, to support each other, and to demand racial justice. This morning, I see and hear many residents objecting to Pittsburgh Police use of physical and chemical weapons against a peaceful congregation on Centre Avenue between S. Euclid Ave and Negley Avenue. Many of my constituents have reached out to tell their side of the story and by all accounts, other than those made by the police, the demonstr...ation was peaceful and violence was instigated by officers. Citizen and media video footage shows Pittsburgh Police using physical and chemical force without warning or provocation, within seconds of an amplified announcement of being declared unlawful. At an 11:00 pm press conference, Mayor Peduto, Director Hissrich, Chief Schubert, and Commander Lando asserted that a faction of the congregation was violent. No violence is visible from any of the footage that is available to the public. Constituents of mine assert that the assemblage on Centre Avenue near Negley was peaceful and no actors were violent in any way. Earlier today, I spoke to Beth Pittinger, the Executive Director of the CPRB. The Citizen Police Review Board - Pittsburgh is an independent review board that can initiate its own investigations. This is our local platform for action. Director Pittinger told me that the incidents of yesterday, Monday, June 1 at Centre and Negley are part of her investigations. This is good news. However, the CPRB needs to hear from you. ---If you have been subjected to, or witness police violence please report these incidents directly to CPRB by calling 412-255-CPRB--- Additionally, in order to investigate thoroughly, the CPRB needs all the evidence that is available. Public statements by Mayor Peduto seem to indicate that the CPRB investigators WILL NOT have access to the Pittsburgh Police footage and records that the Mayor has access to. This is unacceptable. I am calling on Mayor Peduto to release all relevant Pittsburgh Police video footage, transcripts of police radio correspondence to the CPRB. You have a right to gather. You have a right to collectively demand justice, demand to be heard, demand change, demand to hold police accountable. ******************************************************************************** EDIT: There have been reports of the tip-line not being in service. To file a report please visit https://cprbpgh.org/about/contact-the-cprb to access the online form and more contact information. ********************************************************************************