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Events

Regional Forum Wrap-up

Discussion on Geographical Distribution of Pennsylvania Business Subsidies

On June 4, 2010, Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Keystone Research Center (KRC) hosted a forum in which business leaders, social scientists, government officials, and others were invited to discuss issues related to business subsidy distribution in the state of Pennsylvania. The forum was appropriately titled "In the Public Interest? An Assessment of the Geographical Distribution of Pennsylvania Business Subsidies,” and it began with a presentation by Dr. Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the KRC, who explained and elaborated upon research findings made by the KRC in its recently released report entitled “Making Smarter State Investments.” The full report can be accessed at:

http://keystoneresearch.org/publications/research/making-smarter-state-investments


Read more about the Regional Forum discussion.

Sustainable Pittsburgh comments at Public Hearing re: transportation funding issues affecting southwest region

Remarks by: Court Gould, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh

EXCERPT:

". . .We in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the whole Commonwealth, despite the well-intended efforts of the Governor's Transportation Funding and Reform Commission of 2006, find ourselves back in the same crisis position absent a source of long term, reliable funding for transportation, particularly public transportation. I applaud the Governor and state legislature for convening a special session and making it a priority to address long term funding needs. We agree with the Governor on need for a comprehensive package to fund transportation for at least the next decade. Our 5,600 structurally deficient bridges and more than 7,000 ailing roads and fiscally compromised public transportation systems are a state-wide economic problem whose time is long overdue for a long term solution. . ."

". . .A long term, reliable source of funding surely needs to be in step with current mobility trends. As Pennsylvanians drive less and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles, it is increasingly important that the state find a new way, other than the gas tax, to finance our transportation system. It is time to start the transition from reliance on per-gallon tax on motor fuels to taxing drivers for miles driven. Traditional revenue tied to gallons at the pump are and will be going down --- happily I might add -- as people drive less and switch to public transportation, as vehicle fuel efficiency increases, and as greater use of alternative fuels and even electric vehicles is sure to rise. Other states and metro regions around the nation are years ahead having already deployed pilot programs. In 2007, Oregon was the first state to study replacing gas taxes with a vehicle miles traveled fee. California, Nevada, Texas, and the City of Atlanta also have vehicle miles traveled fee study or pilot programs underway. If not vehicle miles based, at least we should be indexing the motor fuels tax to increasing costs and inflation.

Other innovations to be considered foremost include making public transportation reliable and affordable to those who depend on it every day as well as attracting more and more riders out of their cars to switch to public transportation. Public transportation is an investment that accelerates the process of sustainability given the positive and simultaneous benefits transit makes to economy, environment and social equity. . ."

Read more.

Resources

Legislation on the Move

REGISTER NOW - 10th Annual Southwestern PA Smart Growth Conference:
Regional Collaboration: Investing in Sustainable Communities

Friday, October 15
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, downtown Pittsburgh
Lunch provided.
Early registration: $25; After 9/23: $45. Free for elected officials.
REGISTER NOW
For exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities contact: cgould@sustainablepittsburgh.org

For this 10th anniversary, the conference will be a milestone for the high stakes surrounding the region's capacity building for smart growth. Focus will be on alignment with the Obama Administration's Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (comprising federal DOT, EPA, and HUD) in supporting integration of housing, transportation, water infrastructure, energy conservation, and land use planning and investment. As such, this one-day, conference will identify barriers and solutions to cross-jurisdictional coordination for regional smart growth and sustainable community development policy and implementation. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan hit home the need and opportunity of our times in recently stating, "Our challenge now is to bring that holistic view of community development into the mainstream -- to help build sustainable neighborhoods, communities and regions that are as interconnected as the challenges they face."

The conference will again serve as a public input session to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission's process of updating the region's Long Range Transportation and Development Plan. This update will be distinguished by addition of enhancements appropriate to a regional sustainable development plan per the six "Livability Principles" prioritized by the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

The conference will feature:
- Federal and state representatives
- Nationally recognized keynote
- Allen Biehler, PA Secretary of Transportation
- SPC public process per the region's sustainable development plan
- Formal presentation of competition results – “14 Essential Tipping Points for SWPA Sustainable Community Development" (web site soon)
- Learn what federal and state agencies are looking for in capacity and qualification for sustainable community investment
- Identification of actionable steps whose implementation will position our region to accelerate sustainable development and be a priority place for investment

Southwestern PA is a contemporary proving ground for hastening the new American dream found in revitalizing livable, sustainable communities through smart growth policies that discourage sprawl, congestion and pollution. Come be part of continuing the region's sustainability renaissance for economically competitive, environmentally sustainable, opportunity rich communities. More than a one-time event, the conference will be a point of acceleration and innovation for the region's positive path.

Presented by Sustainable Pittsburgh's Sustainable Community Development Network in collaboration with: 3 Rivers Wet Weather, 10,000 Friends of PA, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance, Group Against Smog and Pollution, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Local Government Academy, Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 10, District 11, and District 12, Pennsylvania Resources Council, Remaking Cities Institute, Smart Growth Partnership of Westmorland County, Southwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Planners Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Pittsburgh, Young Preservationists Association

Hard to Recycle Collection Event

Saturday, June 26
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Mall at Robinson Parking Lot (100 Robinson Centre Dr., 15205)
Flyer

The Pennsylvania Resources Council, in cooperation with the Mall at Robinson, Construction Junction, Global Links, Liberty Tire Recycling, and eLoop llc, are hosting a hard to recycle collection Saturday, June 26, 2010. Items ACCEPTABLE for drop off include: tires, e-waste, useable building materials, medical supplies (no medications please), cell phones, alkaline batteries, CFLs, and Printer/Toner Cartridges.

Please note there are some fees associated with dropping off certain items. For more information and additional dates, visit the PA Resources Council's community collections page.

Public Comment Period for 2011-2014 Draft Transportation Improvement Program for SWPA

June 29, Armstrong County
June 30, Westmoreland County
6:00 pm
Various locations

For more information including location details, visit the Public Participation Program page at the SPC website. Follow the link to find your county’s project list, maps, and related information. In addition, you will find the schedule for your county’s public meeting for review of the Draft TIP. Please make a note of the date, time, and location in your area. Individuals who wish to provide verbal testimony are asked to arrive promptly for the meetings. You will have 3 minutes to provide your statement. You may also submit any written testimony at that time. Written testimony will be accepted until Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 4pm.

You may submit written comments to: comments@spcregion.org

Or mail them to:
Southwestern PA Commission
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2500
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
c/o 2011-2014 Draft TIP

A Path from Hope to Change: Implementing Equity Focused Principles and Strategies

WEBINAR
Tuesday, June 29
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
More information, including registration

Creating healthy places is critical to improving the overall health of Americans. Our neighborhoods must allow people the opportunity to make healthy decisions. Yet, not all places are created equal. Some neighborhoods have safe places for children to play outside, good schools and proximity to healthy food outlets like grocery stores and farmers markets. Other neighborhoods have only liquor stores, and lack sidewalks and parks to play in. Those neighborhoods lacking in healthy opportunities are where low-income people and communities of color live. They are also where people experience the worst health outcomes. Yet, all people should have the opportunity to live healthy lives. To create healthy people it’s critical to focus on low-income people and communities of color whose environments often do not allow for healthy choices. In this session, participants will learn how equity-based strategies and principles can form the basis of environmental policy change.

cityLive! Water we see & Water we use

Tuesday, June 29
6:30 pm
New Hazlett Theater, North Side
RSVP

Southwestern Pennsylvania residents live in a region defined by its rivers. This region has plentiful water supplies —- a tremendous economic and quality of life asset -— but significant water quality challenges. Pittsburgh was selected as the North American host city by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for World Environment Day 2010. The region hosted the World Environment Day global water conference, "Water Matters!", on June 3. Participants from across the country spoke to the problems and possibilities of water in southwestern PA -– its impact on health, energy and the economy. The June 29 cityLIVE! event will reflect upon the results of the conference, discuss what was learned and how to protect and embrace the region's most valuable resource – water.

Healthy Homes Training

July 13 - 14, 2010
Connelley Learning Center, 1501 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh 15219
Fee: $149
To register or for more information, contact Mary Ann at (412) 263-1000 or mvf10@psu.edu

This two-day foundation training course helps participants understand the relationship between health and housing. It takes a holistic approach to solving problems that threaten the health and well-being of residents. This hands-on training program identifies causes of health problems in connection to the seven principles of healthy housing. It complements hazard-specific training in lead-based paint, radon, mold, pests, and asbestos. Participants receive a binder with all course materials, extensive references and Certificate of Attendance. Breakfast and full lunch will be provided daily. At the end of the course, participants will have the option of taking The Healthy Homes Specialist credential exam for an extra fee. More info: www.neha.org/credential/HHS. The training course materials also available in Spanish.

Who should attend a Healthy Homes training?
- Environmental Health Professionals
- Housing Code Inspectors
- Public Health Nurses
- Energy Auditors
- Licensed Home Inspectors
- Lead Risk Assessors
- Health and Housing Advocates
- Property and Facilities Managers
- Pest Management Professionals
- Lead Poisoning Case Managers
- Asthma Case Managers
- Community Based Organization Staff
- Weatherization Specialists

The Impact of Local Government Revenue Losses and Possible Responses

Friday, July 16
8:00 am - Noon
University Club, Oakland
Invitation
Agenda

In the next several years, local governments in Pennsylvania will face daunting fiscal challenges. Federal stimulus activity will most likely expire in 2011. Pension obligations are projected to balloon for all levels of government. Federal and state budgets will continue to face tight constraints, and substantial cuts are all but certain. Local governments in the Commonwealth will have to carefully make difficult choices in extraordinary circumstances. What options will be available to cut appropriate expenditures, secure adequate revenues, and in some cases rethink how services are being provided?

The program will begin with a national perspective on local government challenges and opportunities provided by Nicholas Johnson, Director of the State Fiscal Project at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Senator Jay Costa, the Minority Chair of the state Senate Appropriations Committee, will then discuss our state’s fiscal condition and how ongoing budget difficulties may affect local government. Finally, a panel of local government representatives will respond to the federal and state presentations with observations on approaching struggles and possible strategies for not only surviving but for strengthening local government effectiveness in Pennsylvania.

A Regional Forum on Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market

Thursday, July 29
8:30 am - Noon
Regional Learning Alliance (Auditorium), 850 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry
Registration Deadline July 15: Call (215) 740-1260 or email info@housingalliancepa.org
Invitation and Agenda

Learn - Share - Network

Join the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania and the SWPA Housing Alliance for this regional forum on reshaping Pennsylvania's housing market.

- Get cool new data about what’s really going on!
- Hear the latest from DC and Harrisburg on housing.
- Share your thoughts about what’s working locally - and what still needs to be done.
- Help shape the agenda for changing the housing market!

Who should attend?
Legislators, County Commissioners, Housing Coalitions, Housing and other service providers, Consumers of housing programs and services, along with other stakeholders including developers, realtors, businesses, Chambers of Commerce and the media are invited to attend.

Come for breakfast and networking and bring your literature to share.

Save the Date: The Road to Sustainability II Conference

Thursday, September 23
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Community College of Beaver County, Athletic and Events Center, 1 Campus Drive, Monaca
Cost: $40 per person
CALL FOR VENDORS
Potential Vendors: please contact Melody Kimbrough at 724-480-3443 or via email mailto:melody.kimbrough@ccbc.edu. Space is limited so act now to take part of this extraordinary opportunity.
For details on sponsorship opportunities, please call 724-480-3443 or contact nancy.dickson@ccbc.edu.

The Community College of Beaver County, as well as current sponsors Sustainable Pittsburgh and First National Bank, will host “The Road to Sustainability II Conference: Implementing Sustainable Strategies” on Thursday, September 23. Conference attendees will learn practical ways for moving their business from sustainable concept to sustainable reality. National and regional experts will speak on topics such as: implementation strategies, demystifying the energy audit, converting return on investment into LEED Certification, and creating a sustainable work environment. Products and services dealing with sustainability will be on display and breakout sessions focusing on specific “green” topics will highlight best practices and case studies.

Resources

Regional Forum Wrap-up

On June 4, 2010, Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Keystone Research Center (KRC) hosted a forum in which business leaders, social scientists, government officials, and others were invited to discuss issues related to business subsidy distribution in the state of Pennsylvania. The forum was appropriately titled "In the Public Interest? An Assessment of the Geographical Distribution of Pennsylvania Business Subsidies,” and it began with a presentation by Dr. Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the KRC, who explained and elaborated upon research findings made by the KRC in its recently released report entitled “Making Smarter State Investments.” The full report can be accessed at:

http://keystoneresearch.org/publications/research/making-smarter-state-investments

Sustainable Pittsburgh comments at Public Hearing re: transportation funding issues affecting southwest region

Remarks by: Court Gould, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh

EXCERPT:

". . .We in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the whole Commonwealth, despite the well-intended efforts of the Governor's Transportation Funding and Reform Commission of 2006, find ourselves back in the same crisis position absent a source of long term, reliable funding for transportation, particularly public transportation. I applaud the Governor and state legislature for convening a special session and making it a priority to address long term funding needs. We agree with the Governor on need for a comprehensive package to fund transportation for at least the next decade. Our 5,600 structurally deficient bridges and more than 7,000 ailing roads and fiscally compromised public transportation systems are a state-wide economic problem whose time is long overdue for a long term solution. . ."

". . .A long term, reliable source of funding surely needs to be in step with current mobility trends. As Pennsylvanians drive less and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles, it is increasingly important that the state find a new way, other than the gas tax, to finance our transportation system. It is time to start the transition from reliance on per-gallon tax on motor fuels to taxing drivers for miles driven. Traditional revenue tied to gallons at the pump are and will be going down --- happily I might add -- as people drive less and switch to public transportation, as vehicle fuel efficiency increases, and as greater use of alternative fuels and even electric vehicles is sure to rise. Other states and metro regions around the nation are years ahead having already deployed pilot programs. In 2007, Oregon was the first state to study replacing gas taxes with a vehicle miles traveled fee. California, Nevada, Texas, and the City of Atlanta also have vehicle miles traveled fee study or pilot programs underway. If not vehicle miles based, at least we should be indexing the motor fuels tax to increasing costs and inflation.

Other innovations to be considered foremost include making public transportation reliable and affordable to those who depend on it every day as well as attracting more and more riders out of their cars to switch to public transportation. Public transportation is an investment that accelerates the process of sustainability given the positive and simultaneous benefits transit makes to economy, environment and social equity. . ."



More

View the Water Matters! video, now available

The Pittsburgh World Environment Day Partnership worked with Ambulantic to produce a short video sharing the essence of why Water Matters in the Pittsburgh region. Cameos include attendees of the Water Matters! Global Water Conference, Elisabeth Guilbaud-Cox of the United Nations Environment Programme, Carl Safina from the Blue Ocean Institute, and Peggy Shepard, of WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

'Active Allegheny' plan aims to integrate walking, biking routes

The bicycle and pedestrian transportation effort has been named "Active Allegheny." When the study is completed in December, it will include four main elements:
• A plan to create and connect commuter bikeways that will link to "activity centers" -- like county parks -- and "transportation modes" -- like parking garages or bus ways.
• A pedestrian plan to improve walking routes.
• A "complete streets" plan to create roads than can be shared safely by cars, buses, bikes and walkers.
• An action plan for ranking improvements and listing possible funding sources.

Pittsburgh's population expected to grow in a few years

One unusual aspect of the recent estimates is that Allegheny County outperformed the rest of the seven-county metropolitan area population-wise. For decades, most of the region's population loss has come from Allegheny, just as most of Allegheny's drain has come from shrinkage within the city itself. Mr. Briem said it's too soon to tell if that county gain is related to people moving closer to the urban core because of an increase in gasoline prices or other factors. He noted that even with all of the city's population losses, its Downtown has remained a stronger employment center than in many cities. And in other cities, there have already been indications that the peak period of "exurban" growth -- commuters willing to live far from the city -- is past.

Power of 32 Website Launch -- Share the Link!

This site will be used to inform people about the region, connect them to a larger sense of community, and to engage the region in thinking about creating a new vision of its future. Not only is the website a gathering place for all of the people who want to have a say in the region's future - it is an important and critical organizing tool where they can take the Power of 32 pledge, join a team, find Community Conversations, and connect with others involved in their own communities. The site also serves as a "virtual office" for P32 Outreach Coordinators to keep connected and get additional peer coaching. It will become the backbone of knowledge about the region, its people, and the future home of the prioritized, community-based, multi-sectored agenda for our region to thrive.

New Stanford Study Exposes Lack of Credibility and Expertise Among Climate Skeptics

A study by Stanford University researchers examining expert credibility in climate change has confirmed that climate skeptics and contrarians within the scientific community comprise at best 3 percent of the field, and are “vastly overshadowed” in expertise by their colleagues who agree that manmade climate change is real. While skeptics have been given plenty of oxygen on talk radio and TV lately, they remain remarkably quiet in the annals of peer-reviewed literature. Reams of data and papers have been published in the best scientific journals documenting and supporting the consensus view that humans have altered the climate in potentially catastrophic ways. In contrast, evidence to support the views of contrarians and skeptics remains mostly unrecognized and unpublished in scientific journals. That is not an indication that the peer-review process is somehow corrupt, as some skeptics contend, but rather a clear sign that skeptics have failed to present to their peers any credible evidence to support their contrary opinions. It is interesting to note that the study, which was funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Stanford University, did not look at the issue of industry funding or conflicts of interest among the skeptics identified in the report. Even without taking those important factors into account, the Stanford researchers demonstrate a clear lack of credibility among skeptics who doubt man-made climate change. The vast majority of skeptics who signed onto joint statements denying man-made climate change “have not published extensively in the peer-reviewed climate literature,” the study found.

Tapping the Crowd to Solve America's Transportation Problem

Slate is soliciting ideas from its readers to improve the nation's transportation system.

"We are asking you, essentially, to become transportation hackers (and we're talking not simply cars but the whole of urban and interurban movement). We are looking for your best ideas. They may be your own wild brainstorms, or they may be examples, whether grand or mundane, of things you've experienced in your own city or while traveling. But we want your best proposals for solving an increasingly relevant problem: how to move the most people around and between cities in the most efficient, safe, and perhaps even pleasurable manner. And then we want you to vote on which of those submissions you think are best."

Ideas already submitted include making cars slimmer, making cars autonomous and making different road rules for cyclists.

10 Rhymes to Remember for Sustainable Water Management

Water has a range of important roles in the production of just about everything, yet has often been overlooked as a free resource. When you factor in the variations in local availability and the potential impacts of wastewater discharges, the topic can be complex and overwhelming.

We created the WBCSD Global Water Tool to simplify risk analysis to enable companies to take action where it is needed most. From corporate boardrooms to remote factories at the end of three-hour rides on dirt roads, I've seen how difficult it is for companies to understand water issues.

I found that chemical engineering-related explanations didn't always stick, but these memorable rules meant the most:

Legislation on the Move

No Marcellus tax without Growing Greener money

Representative Dave Levdansky (D-Allegheny) has crafted a responsible compromise that would address this year's budget gap as well as ensure significant funding for Growing Greener by next year. Without his amendment, HB 325 is seriously flawed; it would allocate 80 percent of the proceeds to the general fund, and only 4 percent to Growing Greener.

More

Renewing Growing Greener

PennEnvironment is bringing together residents from all walks of life to urge our elected officials to renew Growing Greener, before it’s too late. Preserving this critical program will help protect open spaces and family farms for kids and future generations.

Stop harming PA forests

With the House and Gov. Rendell now supporting the freeze on new natural gas leasing in state forests, it's up to the Senate to pass HB 2235. Governor Rendell recently closed a deal that would protect the Commonwealth's pristine forest lands by leasing nearly 33,000 acres of land that was already tainted by shallow well drilling and was surrounded by or adjacent to leases already held by the driller. This deal will bring in $120 million, meet the state's revenue goals, and end the need for any further leases on state lands.

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Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support ($1,000 and up) in 2010 from:

Allegheny County - Dan Onorato, County Executive
Atkins Family Foundation
BNY Mellon
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
FedEx Ground
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Richard King Mellon Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
UPMC
Waste Management


Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP