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Resolution declaring the City of Pittsburgh as an “All-In” City.
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Whereas, the federal Civil Rights Act(s) of 1964, 1965 and 1968 banned discrimination because of a person’s color, race, national origin, gender or religion; and,
Whereas, Article III, § 26 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prohibits the Commonwealth or any of its’ subdivisions from denying to any person “the enjoyment of any civil right”; and,
Whereas, in Pittsburgh, concentrated poverty remains a serious challenge to the ability of poor families and children to access opportunities and move up the economic ladder; and,
Whereas, here in Pittsburgh, a pervasive sense exists that there are “two Pittsburghs”: one which grows more prosperous with each passing day and the other, cut off from opportunity by poverty, structural racism and discrimination; and,
Whereas, data recently released by the National Equity Atlas show that this inequality comes at a great cost to the city and the region: Pittsburgh’s economic output would be nearly $5 billion dollars higher every year without the clear racial inequities in income; and,
Whereas, urgent action is needed is needed to steer growth and change in a new direction; and,
Whereas, Pittsburgh’s racial, economic and geographic inequities are no mere moral challenge, but an existential threat to the City’s long-term resilience and prosperity; and,
Whereas, investing in the artistic, cultural, and entrepreneurial expressions of existing neighborhood residents and groups that are vulnerable to displacement is an important strategy to protect against this effect and stabilize changing communities; and,
Whereas, All-In Cities, an initiative of PolicyLink, works to dismantle persistent racial barriers and invest in people of color who are the emerging majority in America, is the only just course of action for all of the City’s residents; and,
Whereas, PolicyLink considers Pittsburgh the flagship engagement of the All-In Cities Initiative given the commitment that leaders across sectors are making towards achieving racial and economic inclusion and equitable growth; and,
Whereas, the time is long overdue for the City to take legislative action to adopt equitable development as a goal as defined in the Path to an All-In Pittsburgh report formed by the local Equitable Development Collaborative; and,
Whereas, the City is committed to implement the recommendations of the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition (PBEOC) facilitated the Pittsburgh Peace and Justice Initiative (P&JI). The P&JI recommendations covers six (6) key civic areas Public Safety, Affordable Housing, Family Outcomes, Business and Organizational Development, Education and Employment identified by the PBEOC as critical to the future of the African American’s in the region.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare that the City of Pittsburgh is officially an “All-In City.” This declaration shall be implemented by further legislation.
SECTION 2. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh does acknowledge that the Path to an All-In Pittsburgh report defines equitable development as a positive development strategy the ensures everyone participates in and benefits from the region’s economic transformation--especially low-income residents, communities color, immigrants, and others at risk of being left behind. It requires an intentional focus on eliminating racial inequities and barriers, and making accountable and catalytic investments to assure that lower-wealth residents:
• Live in healthy, safe, opportunity-rich neighborhoods that reflect their culture (and are not displaced from them);
• Connect to economic and ownership opportunities; and
• Have voice and influence in the decisions that shape their neighborhoods
SECTION 3. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh does acknowledge The Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition (PBEOC) facilitated the Pittsburgh Peace and Justice Initiative (P&JI). The P&JI was founded to “increase public safety, improve quality of life, and ensure the delivery of fair and impartial public safety services” among constituents in the City of Pittsburgh. The initiative endeavors to create or facilitate: 1.) An ongoing and systematic African American community engagement process; 2.) A resident-informed Peace and Justice Policy Agenda to include: a. An overview of the current state of Black Pittsburgh, b. An overview of the initial community engagement process and findings, and c. Specific policy recommendations; 3.) The implementation of the Peace and Justice Policy Agenda utilizing all interested stakeholders and available resources; and 4.) A stronger partnership between City, County and State Governments and Pittsburgh’s African-American communities to improve public safety and overall quality of life in those communities.