Pittsburgh City Council Meeting - September 17, 2026

The City Council met on September 17, 2026, to address proclamations, a resolution regarding housing voucher policies, public comment on the closure of the Roots drop-in center, and final approval of multiple bills. All votes were unanimous (9 in favor, 0 opposed).

Consent Calendar

• Approval of amendments to the agenda.
• Approval of four proclamations: declaring September 19, 2026 as Walk & Roll for GBS CIDP Day; September 2026 as Addiction Recovery Month; September 15, 2026 as Maria Cohen Day; and September 19, 2026 as Annie Lois Carter Day.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple speakers spoke in opposition to the impending closure of the Roots drop-in center on the North Side, operated by the Office of Community Health and Safety. Speakers including Seth Davis, Alexander Malfer, Andrew Klepis, Jolie Phelps, Samuel Weiner, Callie DeSabato, Zachary Rodick, and Chief Ikohana Hal Malkina argued that the closure would disrupt access to mail, medical care, housing applications, and other essential services for unhoused individuals, overburden other providers, and likely lead to increased deaths. One speaker supported relocating the center but not closing it.
• Dr. Ronald M. Miller criticized the council's proclamations for using general neighborhood names (e.g., "Homewood") rather than specific official neighborhood designations, calling it incompetent.
• Unique Brown criticized the city for approving developments with only 10% affordable housing, comparing it to projects with higher affordability due to federal oversight.
• Other comments addressed bus route cuts, international law violations, and a personal request for a meeting with the mayor.

Discussion Items

• Councilman Wilson presented a will of council (approved unanimously) urging the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) to reevaluate the voucher amounts for two occupied units at the Five Points property owned by the Observatory Hill Development Corporation. The property owner cannot increase rents by more than $100 per year, so it would take 10 years to reach market rates, potentially displacing long-term residents. The resolution also urges HACP to re-evaluate its policies on rent adjustments for occupied housing choice voucher units.
• Councilman Sharlin requested a post-agenda discussion on homelessness and the winter plan, which was approved.
• Councilwoman Gross announced a post-agenda on privacy and surveillance technologies for September 21, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Will of council urging HACP to address rent disparities at Five Points property was approved (unanimous).
• All bills presented for final action passed unanimously (9-0), including resolutions authorizing grants for park upgrades at Farmhouse Field and Howland Park ($200,000), renovation of Boulevard of the Allies ($3 million from PennDOT with $900,000 city match), intersection upgrades via Green Light Go program ($1.53 million), and various other infrastructure, software, and service agreements.
• Proclamations were approved, celebrating community members and awareness events.
• Post-agendas were scheduled: code enforcement audit (September 16 afternoon), homelessness winter plan (date to be determined), and privacy and surveillance technologies (September 21 at 10 a.m., virtual).