Accomplishments

Policies Enacted

2026

  • Citizen Protection from Federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE)
    • Spearheaded codification of Pittsburgh's refusal to aid federal immigration enforcement operations:
      1. Prohibits city workers, contractors, and law enforcement from making decisions based off immigration or citizenship status of a person; and,
      2. Forbids ICE from accessing individuals in city custody; and,
      3. Bars city employees and contractors from sharing or requesting information on status of immigration; and,
      4. Prevents ICE from using city property to mount, organize, execute or aid with immigration enforcement actions; and,
        • Designates these locations as “Safe Community Places”
      5. Interdicts the city from entering into a 287(g) contract.
  • 2026 Budget Reopener
    • Addressed previously low estimates in the 2026 budget and revised future plans to allocate funds for changes in future budgets; and,
    • Guides the City of Pittsburgh to a path for balanced budgets and lays out opportunities to decrease dependence on fund balances for future years.

2025

  • Ballot Referendums
    • Passed legislation that placed two questions on the May primary ballot, which was passed by the voters:
    1. Prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, or national affiliation for firms seeking City business; and,
    2. Prevent referendums that would impose obligations beyond the City's legal authority.
  • Keep our Water Public Referendum
    • Placed on the May ballot a question that intended to keep control of our water public, and prevent the sale of Pittsburgh's water and sewer systems to private entities, which was passed by voters.

2024

  • Joint Task Force on City Finances
    • A combination of factors have generated concerns about our ability to balance Pittsburgh’s budget in coming years.
    • American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will no longer supplement our budget after 2025, the continuing stagnation of our commercial real estate market in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has eaten away at property tax revenues, the County’s assessment methodology has created unpredictability in base level property assessments, and a relative lack of regional economic growth post-pandemic has not helped.
    • As Chair of Council’s Committee on Finance and Law, I take these matters very seriously. That’s why I was pleased to accept an invitation to join the newly-formed Joint Task Force on City Finances.
    • The Task Force brings various City officials from the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Finance, Controller’s Office, City Council Budget Office, and my office together for candid discussions about our financial situation.
  • Automated Red Light Camera Enforcement
    • Program to allow for red light cameras at select traffic signals.
    • This initiative is part of our commitment to Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on City streets, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
    • In 2023, 23 people died in traffic-related crashes in Pittsburgh, seven of whom were pedestrians.
    • All excess revenue beyond operational costs is remitted to the state, who redistributes it to municipalities in the form of transportation safety grants.
    • We’ve already received enough of this grant money to upgrade seven intersections since 2021, and our applications will be prioritized once we’re officially one of the ARLE-operating cities.
    • By implementing ARLE, we are not only enhancing our enforcement capacity but also allowing our police officers to focus on other critical threats to public safety.

2023

  • East Palestine Will of Council
    • Sponsored a Will of Council to voice solidarity with the communities affected by this derailment and urge federal lawmakers--who hold the authority to regulate interstate railroads--to pass stricter regulations around high-hazard flammable trains like the one that caused so much damage in East Palestine.
  • Housing Protections for Survivors of Domestic Violence
    • Legislation that significantly enhanced housing protections for survivors of domestic violence in Pittsburgh.
    • The bill, which passed unanimously, contains three major provisions:
    1. Allowing survivors to exit their leases early without incurring financial penalties; and,
    2. Requiring landlords to promptly change their locks upon request; and,
    3. Prohibiting abusers from receiving access to a survivor’s rental unit absent a court order.

2022

  • Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban
    • Legislation which bans the use of single-use plastic bags in the City of Pittsburgh and place a minimum of 15 cent fee on paper bags. The bag fee would be retained by the business to help cover the cost of paper bags. This legislation plays an important role in protecting our environment and neighborhoods from plastic pollution as well as our public health.
  • Oakland Plan
    • The Oakland Plan was developed over 2.5 years, with thousands of Oakland employees and residents involved. Goals include: grow housing and job opportunities in Oakland.
    • New housing is needed to meet a variety of long-term and undergraduate student resident demands.
    • The employment base needs to grow to provide jobs that are available to everyone and coupled with workforce development efforts to create a ladder of opportunity.
    • Increases livability through public and private investments in Oakland such as new and improved open spaces, expanded tree canopy, stormwater management systems, and supportive services.
    • Reimagines mobility systems in Oakland to prioritize the comfort and safety of pedestrians including those with accessibility needs, transit riders, and cyclists.
    • Acknowledges and addresses inequities for Black residents, students of all backgrounds in Oakland, and creates a welcoming environment for the neighborhood’s growing immigrant and newcomer community.

2021

  • LGBTQ+ Procurement
    • Ordinance amending City Code to include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) within the City of Pittsburgh’s procurement processes.
    • This means that LGBTQIA+ businesses will now be able to self-identify and register with the City, opening access to business development resources.
  • Lead Ordinance
    • Legislation which includes requirements for lead-safe inspections, renovations, and demolitions as well as improvements to the City’s water fountains and faucets in City buildings all in an effort to protect children from exposure to lead, a poison that affects nearly every system of the body and for which there is no safe level.
  • Domestic Violence Non-Discrimination
    • Legislation which extends domestic violence survivors as a protected class to places of employment under the City’s nondiscrimination clause. Included with this legislation is guidance from the Commission on Human Relations to educate and help employers accommodate employees with status as a victim of domestic violence.

2020

  • Non-discrimination on the Basis of Citizenship Status or Language Spoken
    • Adds two additional protected classes to the 15 existing classes protected from discrimination in the City’s code.
    • By including actual or perceived language spoken and actual or perceived citizenship status as protected classes, people would not be denied service or refused housing because of their language spoken or citizenship status or perceived language spoken or citizenship status.
  • Wightman Park Ribbon Cutting
    • After four years of community meetings, fundraising, and work, the newly-renovated Wightman Park opened on October 28, 2020.
    • The park includes:
      • Significant green infrastructure components that will capture over two million gallons of stormwater annually and provide 50,000 cubic feet of storage; and,
      • Play equipment for children of all abilities and specific equipment for children on the autism spectrum; and,
      • Family restroom facilities with an adult changing table, the first in a public space in Pittsburgh; and;
      • 1% of the project’s budget was dedicated to the installation of artwork completed by local Pittsburgh artists.

2019

  • Firearms Ordinances
    • There were three bills that comprised our proposed firearm legislation package:
      1. It was unlawful to manufacture, sell, purchase, transport, carry, store, or otherwise hold in one's possession an assault weapon in the City of Pittsburgh; and,
      2. It banned explosive materials, high capacity magazines, rapid fire devices, and bump stocks; and,
      3. It aimed to establish an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) in order to allow certain family members and law enforcement agents to temporarily prohibit an individual who poses significant danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. 
  • Pregnancy Fairness
    • Ensures that employees across all sectors can work in a safe, comfortable environment, sustain a healthy pregnancy, and attend necessary appointments without a fear of losing their job or benefits.
    • By adding “pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions or events” to the City’s Discrimination Code, my legislation safeguards employment protections for pregnant workers, individuals seeking to become pregnant, and their partners before, during, and after the nine-month gestation period.
  • Waste and Recycling
    • Overhauls the City’s municipal waste and recycling code in an effort to streamline and clarify the existing code and set the stage for future improvements.
    • Pittsburgh’s municipal waste and recycling code had not been revamped in decades.
    • This overhaul represents the first step toward bringing our waste and recycling program into the 21st century and creates a foundation that future waste and recycling initiatives can build upon.
    • It promotes cleaner and more sustainable communities and works toward the City’s Zero Waste goal.
  • Expanding Discrimination Protections Based on Gender Identity & Expression
    • Strengthens protections against housing, employment, and public accommodation discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Creates more inclusive and broader definitions of sex and sexual orientation and creates new definitons of gender identity and gender expression.
  • Employee Ownership Task Force
    • September 5th, 2019 marked the inaugural meeting of the Pittsburgh Citywide Task Force on Employee Ownership, focused on promoting the community benefits of employee-owned businesses.
    • Along with Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership, I am proud to serve as the Co-Chair of this first-in-the nation task force.

 

last updated: 05/13/2026

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