PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Pittsburgh's Financial Rescue
by R Field Friday, May. 28, 2004 at 2:29 AM
envirowork_2000@yahoo.com

city government, incomes, taxes, fiscal oversight, Act 47, public comment period, June 4 public meeting, women, minorities

Hopefully, the reviewers for Pittsburgh IMC did not review published items yesterday. If they did not, what does it mean for indy media that this is the first post on yesterday's mainstream news item about the tax realignment plans made by a fiscal oversight board?

Studies released by the University of Pittsburgh's University Center for Urban and Social Research in the past three months based on data from the 2000 U.S. Census show that women working part-time in the Pittsburgh area are paid lower than similarly-employed women in other major metro areas in the nation. Full-time working women and African Americans also are lowly paid in comparison to other cities. An article in the Post-Gazette quoted a person who said the low wages cannot be explained by a lower cost of living since Pittsburgh's cost of living is only 5% below the national median for major urban areas, but women's wages are 20% below that same national median.

While professionally-employed white males may not feel the squeeze of a 120 dollar occupation tax, women and minorities will feel the extra burden. The plan for a payroll tax, based on number of employees and wages, also needs to be carefully examined. Other governments have discovered that certain payroll tax structures will reward companies with a select few highly-paid executives and many lowly-paid workers. Any payroll tax for Pittsburgh should be structured to encourage companies to raise wages and salaries for the lowest paid, i.e., women and minorities. (This will have the added benefit of making Pittsburgh a more desireable location for people other than professional white men and their wives.)

The website for Channel 4 news yesterday noted a 15-day comment period; however, the Post-Gazette does not seem to have details on how to comment.

At 4:00 p.m., on June 4, 2004, a public hearing will be held at Schenley High School. Would someone please supplement this post with information on where Schenley High School is located (cross streets) and which bus lines are convenient to it? Also, information needs to be shared on how public comment will be taken (e.g., pre-register? sign-up at the hearing? time limit for each speaker? total time limit?).

The Act 47 report is on the city's website: http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/Pittsburgh_Recovery_Plan_Filing_May_26_2004.pdf.

Given how difficult it is for dial-up connections and older software to download a 233-page report, does anyone know if the report is available in hard copy at library branches or other public venues?

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