The Pittsburgh City Council met on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers. All eight members were present except Councilmember Coghill. The council adopted two wills of council, heard public testimony on the North Shore Entertainment District and police leadership, introduced several new resolutions, and passed final action on multiple items including a controversial sign ordinance. A snow emergency declaration was received and filed, and an executive session was scheduled for later that day.
Six members of the public spoke:
Here, Mr. Coghill. Mr. Mosley. Mrs. Salonetra. Here. Mrs. Strasberger. Mrs. Warwick. Here. Mr. Wilson. Here. Mr. Lavelle President. Here. Five members present. Thank you all. We could take a moment and please do the Pledge of Allegiance and then remain quiet for a moment of silence. A pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you. Our next order business is to amend the agenda. Is there a motion to amend? No moved. All in favor say aye. The agenda has been amended. Let the record reflect that we've also been joined by Councilman Mosley, Councilwoman Strasberger, and Councilwoman Gross. With that, we'll move on to our will of counsels, and we'll begin with Councilman Warwick, and I believe you want to read it in its entirety. So here we go. And whereas in 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody, the highest number in more than two decades. And whereas in 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody, the highest number in more than two decades, and whereas ICE agents under the direction of Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino are committing an ongoing and escalating assault on the city of Minneapolis, and whereas ICE agents have used deadly force against 12 people during immigration enforcement operations since September of 2025, including U.S. citizens Carlos Jimenez of Ontario, California, Renee Good of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Alex Pretti of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and whereas an off-duty ICE agent shot and killed U.S. citizen Keith Porter of Los Angeles, California on New Year's Eve 2025, and whereas nearly 1,000 Pittsburgh area residents have been taken into custody by ICE since January of 2025, more than triple the number of arrests in the previous year. And whereas ICE is making the communities in which it operates demonstrably less safe, putting residents in danger, and increasing the workload on already overextended local law enforcement departments. And whereas Pittsburgh's new mayor, Corey O'Connor and former mayor at Gainey both committed publicly to the city's non-cooperation with ICE, and whereas it is the duty of Pittsburgh's mayor, city council, the Department of Public Safety, and all our elected representatives to do everything within our power to protect the constitutional rights and ensure the safety and security of Council Person Strasberger presents whereas paid family and medical leave would allow workers to take time away from work to care for themselves or loved ones during critical life events, including the birth or adoption of a child, recovery from serious illness or injury, caring for an elderly or ill family member, addressing family matters related to military deployment or seeking safety from domestic violence or abusive caregiving situations, and whereas medical experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend a minimum of 12 weeks of paid leave for families yet without paid leave protections, as many as 23% of employed mothers returned to work within 10 days of childbirth due to financial pressure. And whereas research shows that access to paid family leave significantly improves maternal and infant health outcomes, including a reduction in maternal rehospitalization following childbirth and lower rates of infant rehospitalization and postnatal mortality, and whereas access to paid family leave has been shown to reduce racial disparities in health outcomes as black mothers with paid leave experience fewer preterm births, improved postpartum care access, and better infant health outcomes, addressing inequities that disproportionately affect families in Pittsburgh and across the Commonwealth. And whereas paid family and medical leave strengthen workforce participation and economic stability, as employees who can take paid leave are more likely to return to the workforce within one year postpartum and are significantly less likely to rely on public assistance programs during their child's first year of life. And whereas by midlife, a substantial portion of the workforce experiences work-limiting health conditions, emphasizing the importance of paid leave protections that allow workers to recover and remain attached to the labor force, and whereas allowing a family member time off to care for an elderly parent not only keeps them out of nursing home care, it's what families want, and it is fiscally responsible for Pennsylvania. And whereas evidence from states that have been implemented paid family and medical leave programs demonstrates positive or neutral impacts on businesses, including increased productivity, minimal compliance burdens, and positive outcomes for small businesses, and whereas statewide paid family and medical leave legislation has brought public support across the commonwealth, with more than 80% of Pennsylvanians expressing support for a paid leave program, and whereas establishing statewide family and medical leave would generate economic benefits for families, employers, and communities by increasing workforce retention, reducing health care costs, and strengthening local economies, including in the city of Pittsburgh. And whereas proposed paid family and medical leave programs are designed to be budget neutral, funding benefits and administrative costs through payroll contributions rather than drawing on state general revenue. And whereas a public paid family and medical leave program would promote gender equity, racial equity, public health, and economic security for working families throughout the city of Pittsburgh and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And now therefore be it resolved that this the Council of the City of Pittsburgh affirms its commitment to supporting working families, advancing health equity, and promoting economic stability, and calls upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly to advance and enact the Family Care Act, House Bill 200, and Senate Bill 906. Be it further resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh urges sustained legislative action to ensure that our Pennsylvanians have access to paid leave during critical life events, recognizing such policies as an essential investment in the health, dignity, and economic well-being of workers and families. Is there a motion to approve? Need a second. Thank you. Any discussion? Mr.