Title
Ordinance amending Title VII Business Licensing, Article X Rental of Residential Housing by including new Chapter 782 Temporary Eviction Regulation For Disease Prevention and Control Due to COVID-19.
(Briefing and Executive Session held 2/25/21)
Body
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, The Mayor issued a Declaration of Disaster Emergency in response to local impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which was first ratified by City Council on March 17, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Disaster Emergency has been renewed periodically, most recently ratified by Council on February 16, 2020, to be effective through March 16, 2021; and
WHEREAS, reported nation-wide data about COVID-19 cases indicates that compliance with recommended social distancing practices prevents community spread and surges in cases that can overwhelm healthcare systems; and
WHEREAS, if landlords are able to dispossess tenants from safe shelter for non-payment of rent when they have no financial resources to secure their own safe housing, these residents will be driven into situations that exacerbate the negative impacts of the pandemic, threatening themselves, their families, and the entire community; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued Orders to prevent the Judiciary from effectuating an eviction, ejectment or other displacement from a residence; and
WHEREAS, currently, the President Judge of the Fifth Judicial District in which Pittsburgh is located has ordered an eviction moratorium on hearing specified claims through February 26, 2021; however, each Council District in the City has received reports of a concerning number of eviction proceedings still occurring during the court's stay with District 1 reporting 1; District 2 reporting 42; District 3 reporting 5; District 4 reporting 18; District 5 reporting 63; District 6 reporting 12; District 7 reporting 23; District 8 reporting 8; and District 9 reporting 43; and
WHEREAS, according to ...
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