After nearly two months since the bill was first proposed, legislation to activate the city’s living wage ordinance received a public hearing before city council. However, the bill proposed by Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess seems to have gained minimal public support with only a handful of speakers attending the March 11 hearing.

PUBLIC HEARING—Rev. Ricky Burgess hears public testimony in support of his living wage legislation.

“The living wage can be implemented and it needs to be. To live on minimum wage is impossible,” said Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman Tim Stevens. “We’re hoping council will take the lead and do the research.”

Grass roots alliance

MARCH 17—Community Empowerment Association will host a Grass Roots Alliance Strategic Planning Meeting at 6 p.m. at the CEA Culture Center, 7143 Fleury Way, Homewood. This alliance is to address the structural inequalities that exist and to come together to discuss and build around challenges, issues opportunities and experiences navigating through the mainstream system. Various topics will be discussed. Interested individuals are asked to respond by March 15. Call 412-371-3689, ext. 14.

The U.S. Census is coming up soon, so we asked Pittsburghers if they planned to respond. Here’s what you said:

“Yes, it is important. I definitely will participate. It is for our people. It keeps count of who we have here. I urge other African-Americans to participate. We want things and need to be accounted for.”
Dorian Johnson Sr.
Homewood
Business owner

DORIAN JOHNSON SR., DAMIAN BROWN, ELLIOTT SHORTER

With a vote of 74-49, former city Councilwoman Tonya Payne won the Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsement for state House representative over incumbent Rep. Jake Wheatley.

TONYA PAYNE

“Tonya Payne is very popular in the Democratic committee and especially the city committee,” said James Burn, Allegheny Democratic Committee chair. “The committeemen and women are very familiar with her and she worked it very hard.”

This race is only one in a long line of elections between opposing forces battling to represent the Hill District and North Side neighborhoods. Throwing his hat in the ring with Wheatley and Payne for the 19th Legislative District seat will be Pittsburgh Public School Board representative Mark Brentley. Brentley declined to comment on the race.