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WHEREAS, the Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) brings together the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding municipalities to identify common public policy challenges and advocate for collective change on behalf of Allegheny County’s urban core; and,
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WHEREAS, established in 2009, CONNECT convenes the leaders of 30+ local governments to identify common issues and work collaboratively to determine solutions; and,
WHEREAS, the issues identified by CONNECT are dependent on political climate, current events, desires and interests of their membership and capacity; and,
WHEREAS, current policy issues include transit-oriented development, our region’s vulnerability to climate change, pre-arrest diversion programs, utility coordination, recycling, lead (Pb) safety, and volunteer fire services; and,
WHEREAS, CONNECT houses its priorities into three working groups: Economic & Environmental Development, Infrastructure & Utilities Coordination, and Public Safety, Health, & Human Resources; and,
WHEREAS, since its inception, CONNECT has continued to make great strides towards regional policy change on a variety of common issues for the benefit of our region’s urban core; and,
WHEREAS, the organization will host is twelfth annual CONNECT Legislative Session and Reception on May 19th, 2022, where they will share updates of CONNECT’s policy work related to coordination between municipalities, partners, and other governmental organizations, and identify priorities for the coming year.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Ed Gainey, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh and the Council of the City of Pittsburgh do hereby recognize and commend the Congress of Neighboring Communities for its commitment to promoting inter-municipal cooperation; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Ed Gainey, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, and the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Monday, May 16th, 2022, as “CONNECT Day”.