Allegheny County Council Meeting – February 6, 2024

The Allegheny County Council met on February 6, 2024, at 10:15 AM. Roll call showed 14 members present. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and the reading of seven proclamations into the record. Council then heard public comment on agenda items, approved minutes, considered multiple appointments (including the County Solicitor and Jail Oversight Board members), and introduced new business items. Public comment on general items addressed volunteer firefighter tax credits, ethics, and child trafficking.

Public Comments & Testimony

• George Genosco (Munhall resident, former County Solicitor) spoke in strong support of confirming Rosalind Guy McCorkle as County Solicitor, citing her 30-year legal career, leadership, problem-solving skills, and ability to provide continuity in the Law Department. He urged council to confirm her.
• Corey Roma (Crafton Borough resident) urged approval of Mohammed Ali Nasir, Barbara Griffin, and Rob Perkins to the Jail Oversight Board, emphasizing the need for diverse experiences and formerly incarcerated voices. He also supported a motion encouraging less restrictive zoning practices and the motion urging passage of HB 1972 (PIAA reform), while opposing the motion against the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon, arguing the situation is different from past mergers and that Nippon’s investments would benefit the Mon Valley.
• Miracle Jones (employee of One Hood Media) spoke in favor of approving Muhammad Ali Nasir to the Jail Oversight Board, highlighting his personal experience with the criminal justice system and his advocacy work. She also asked council to approve the County Solicitor appointment.
• Jaseri X (Co-founder/CEO of One Hood Media, East Liberty resident) supported the appointment of Muhammad Ali Nasir, drawing parallels to Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from jail, and argued Nasir’s humanity and rehabilitation focus make him ideal for the board.
• Josh Thieler (Pittsburgh resident) supported Nasir’s nomination, describing him as a “bridge” between the jail and the community, noting the Allegheny County Jail’s high rate of forced incidents and lacking healthcare. He said Nasir stands in the gaps of knowledge and compassion.
• Tanisha Long supported Nasir’s confirmation, stating the Jail Oversight Board lacks people of color with lived experience of incarceration. She also recommended Rob Perkins and Barbara Griffin, and criticized a judge on the board who had never toured the jail. She argued community member spots should reflect the community.
• Brandon Schmidt (Fire Chief, Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company, White Oak, with 22 years of service) spoke against the proposed $500 tax credit for volunteer firefighters, calling it insufficient to recruit or retain members. He suggested using the $2 million budget for more effective solutions and urged council to consult firefighters.
• Jeremy Kazaz spoke about ethics codes, urging council to uphold the public trust and avoid any appearance of corruption, referencing past political scandals.
• Jacob Poole (also known as Zoltan Levin) testified about child trafficking and forced labor in the Pittsburgh area, claiming he was a victim. He said no organizations have supported him and that the issue is a hidden reality.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations: Seven proclamations were read into the record without discussion, recognizing individuals and organizations (including Christopher Lochner, Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Dept., Joe Schwann, Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, National School Counseling Week, and Eagle Scout Alex Barker).
• Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve minutes of January 23, 2024, regular meeting was made, seconded, and passed by voice vote.
• Appointments – Referrals: All appointments (Donna Gardner, Russell Giancola, Maria Schwartz) were referred to the Committee on Appointment Review without discussion.
• Unfinished Business – Appointments from Committee:
  • Barbara Griffin to Jail Oversight Board: Voice vote, motion carried.
  • Mohammed Ali Nasir to Jail Oversight Board: Voice vote, motion carried.
  • Rob Perkins to Jail Oversight Board: Voice vote, motion carried.
  • Mark Forrester reappointment to Housing Authority: Roll call vote – 13 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention (Councilmember Philiagi), 1 absent. Motion carried.
  • Mandy Steele to Housing Authority: Voice vote, motion carried.
  • Kyle Chintalapali to Redevelopment Authority: Voice vote, motion carried.
  • Rosalind Guy McCorkle as County Solicitor: Voice vote, motion carried.
• New Business:
  • 12939-24: Resolution for a program of temporary tax exemptions for improvements on commercial/industrial property in Pittsburgh (LERTA). Referred to Economic Development and Job Creation committee.
  • 12926-24: Motion opposing sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon (sponsors Walton, Pritzio, Palmery). Referred to Economic Development and Job Creation committee.
  • 12940-24: Motion encouraging local municipalities to adopt less restrictive zoning practices (sponsors Grisbeck, Pritzio, Hallum). Referred to Housing and Homelessness committee.
  • 12941-24: Motion urging expeditious passage of HB 1972 to overhaul the PIAA (sponsors Palmery, Macy, Pritzio, Hallum, Betkowski, Grisbeck). Councilmember Palmery spoke, criticizing the WPIAL and PIAA for allowing small schools to compete against large schools. Motion was seconded, discussed, additional co-sponsors added (Futolas, Klein), and passed by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• County Solicitor Confirmed: Rosalind Guy McCorkle was confirmed as County Solicitor by voice vote.
• Jail Oversight Board Appointments Approved: Barbara Griffin, Mohammed Ali Nasir, and Rob Perkins were all confirmed by voice votes.
• Housing Authority Reappointment Approved: Mark Forrester was reappointed (13-0-1, with one abstention).
• Other Appointments Approved: Mandy Steele (Housing Authority) and Kyle Chintalapali (Redevelopment Authority) were approved by voice votes.
• PIAA Reform Motion Passed: The motion urging passage of HB 1972 (overhauling PIAA structure and classification) passed by voice vote after discussion.
• Items Referred: The resolution on tax exemptions, motion on U.S. Steel sale, and motion on zoning were referred to respective committees for further consideration.
• No Action on Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit: Public comment highlighted opposition; the proposal remains pending.