Deb Gross - Pittsburgh City Council District 7

Today I reintroduced my legislation to address the rise of short-term rentals listed on sites such as AirBnb.

The proposed short-term rental legislation addresses concerns about rowdy behavior and the influx of rental properties owned by private equity companies, resembling “scattered site hotels” where nobody actually lives full-time. However, the bill assures that responsible owner-occupant operators will be able to continue listing their properties. “If you’re an owner-occupant, no matter where you are in the city, you’re allowed to Airbnb your house, if you’re an out-of-state investor … you’re not automatically allowed to do that.”

For too long residents have dealt with the serious harm that short-term rentals have caused in our neighborhoods by reducing the availability of long-term housing, creating nuisances, and, tragically, introducing violence into our communities.

Thank you to Councilmembers Bobby Wilson and Anthony Coghill for co-sponsoring my legislation and to the residents who stood with us today. Together, we will hold these operators accountable and protect our neighborhoods from the corporate plunder of housing.

Lawrenceville United Friendship Community Group Pennsylvania United

📣Calling all union allies: Join Pittsburgh union baristas at the Red Cup Day Rally!

I’ve been proud to support Starbucks baristas organizing across Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Starbucks continues to refuse a fair contract.

Let's show up for Starbucks baristas as they prepare to do whatever it takes to get a fair union contract and an end to Starbucks years-long union busting campaign – including striking if necessary.

RSVP:

Pittsburgh Red Cup Rally Rally with union SBWU baristas on Red Cup Day! Starbucks Workers United baristas across the country are strong and united. We're fired up and ready to do whatever it takes to secure a fair union contract and resolve unfair labor practices – including striking if necessary. Join baristas in Pittsbu...

SNAP Funding is set to be paused on November 1st across the country. While we continue to advocate for use of emergency funds to keep the program going, above are some places to access food in District 7. Find these resources and more at: linktr.ee/district7pgh we will continue to update info there.

Thanks to all of our community partners Lawrenceville United, Lawrenceville Farmers Market, Bloomfield Saturday Market, Bloomfield Development Corporation, Catholic Community of Bloomfield Food Pantry, Padre Pio Pantry, Jubilee Soup Kitchen, PHCA- Polish Hill Civic Association, Mount Ararat Community Activity Center, and many more.

Happy “Clint Burton and Sean Krashna Day”!

We’re grateful Clint’s 21 years of service with the city brought him to Polish Hill! He is instrumental in making the West Penn Rec Center a welcoming, safe, and fun place to be for all - from hosting basketball tournaments to introducing everyone to the Allegheny Goatscape Goats.

Thanks for all of your work and dedication, Clint!

I am proud to support Week Without Driving because it helps call attention to the challenges non-drivers face in our region so that we can address them. Many residents in the City of Pittsburgh don’t drive a car because of age, disability or income, but still need safe, accessible, affordable ways to get where they need to go. YOU can take the pledge & call for change at weekwithoutdrivingpgh.org

“Gross said the goal of the bill was ‘expanding the amount of transitional housing that is available to people so that they're not outdoors while they're on these lengthy, multi-year waiting lists.’”

“‘We need a place where people can live safely, and that means either converting someplace or building something new,’ she said. The new bill ‘would allow transitional housing to be converted or built new more easily, but also with some oversight.’”

Today, after nearly 3 years of work, City Council passed finally the Interim Housing Zoning Amendments that I sponsored with Councilman Anthony Coghill. This Zoning amendment will allow service providers to build and convert structures for transitional housing and require them to provide the wrap-around services that will support Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable residents.

Pittsburgh City Council advances bill allowing construction of “tiny homes” Pittsburgh City Council advanced a bill Wednesday that would allow the construction of “interim housing” – residential units that house homeless people while they transition to more permanent housing, in certain areas of the city.

Today, City Council voted unanimously to support the Interim Housing bill that I cosponsored with Councilman Coghill. This amendment to the zoning code will make it easier to rehab existing buildings for transitional housing or build new in high density areas of the city. Thank you to my Council colleagues and the Gainey administration for their support in advancing this important initiative.

Transitional housing exists as a space between shelter beds and permanent housing. It is a safe and secure place people can call their own – 24 hours a day. It is not permanent housing, but it provides more options for people sitting on a long waitlist to be permanently housed. Transitional housing gives individuals a place to stay with some measure of dignity while obtaining social services.

Three years ago, the majority of emergency housing options for those experiencing homelessness were limited to an overnight bed at a shelter that they had to leave each morning and wait in line for each night. We have made significant progress since then, and we are thankful to County Executive Innamorato and DHS for adding hundreds of transitional housing units in their 500 in 500 initiative.

The bill will be up for final vote at next Wednesday’s Regular Council Meeting.

This week, the Pittsburgh Public School Board will hold public hearings regarding the proposed closures of Woolslair and Fulton Schools. I’ve unfortunately heard from many who did not receive proper notice of the scheduled hearings. Councilman Mosley and I sent the below letter to many of our constituents in an attempt to get the word out.

PPS has proposed closing three school buildings in City Council District 7: Woolslair, Fulton and Friendship Montessori, all K-5 elementary schools. The main request I have heard is that residents want these three schools to stay open. Like many of the residents I represent, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing loss of public spaces, including school buildings, that threatens the fabric of our communities. Selling these assets to private interests is the opposite of our priorities. Our communities need more publicly owned spaces for shared resources.

“‘The more of our housing stock that is owned by large institutions outside of the city, the more those rents are just getting vacuumed up and going elsewhere,’ Gross says. ‘I don't believe this is a healthy trend.’”

“Gross says similar situations will continue as long as corporate landlords are able to capture a large portion of the Pittsburgh housing market.”

Thank you to Pittsburgh City Paper for covering the impact of large corporations buying up our local housing stock.

East End tenants accuse Riparian Management of hostility and greed Riparian Management's tenants say they’ve faced utility problems, poor communication, and sudden notices to vacate.

The City of Pittsburgh commits $10 million annually to the Housing Opportunity Fund to support critical services that keep Pittsburghers in their homes.

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