Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Both Councils Get it Right
Yesterday could be characterized as a “banner day” on Grant Street. That’s because both City Council and County Council made moves that show that maybe, just maybe, the light of good government is shining on them.
First, City Council voted to kill its request to end the recovery process under Act 47. In Policy Brief #10, we noted that it was much too premature for DCED to lift Act 47. The statute clearly sets out the criteria that must be examined in order to make that decision, obviously relating to the financial footing of the City. That footing is not yet secure.
Not surprisingly, the push to end Act 47 came from the public sector unions, many of whom have seen their bargaining power curtailed. One union official said that the state should give a firm date when Act 47 will be removed. It does not work that way. Only the City, through working to remove the causes of its distress, can determine when Act 47 will be gone.
As such, City Council is to be saluted for withdrawing an ill-advised resolution to seek release from Act 47.
Second, County Council unanimously passed a motion “urging the Steelers to finance club seating in its entirety”. The Steelers are planning to add 700 new club seats to the publicly-financed Heinz Field at a cost of $4.3 million. Under the terms of the stadium lease, the City-County Sports and Exhibition Authority is contributing a share from a capital reserve fund to help build the seats. That’s money that could better be used elsewhere. The public’s contributions to Heinz Field have greatly increased the wealth and revenues of the Steelers. It is up to them to show some degree of gratitude and pay for their own seats.
Although these actions by City Council and County Council are to be applauded, we wonder if they are harbingers of further steps toward good governance.
http://legistar.county.allegheny.pa.us/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=3191
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06095/679416-53.stm
First, City Council voted to kill its request to end the recovery process under Act 47. In Policy Brief #10, we noted that it was much too premature for DCED to lift Act 47. The statute clearly sets out the criteria that must be examined in order to make that decision, obviously relating to the financial footing of the City. That footing is not yet secure.
Not surprisingly, the push to end Act 47 came from the public sector unions, many of whom have seen their bargaining power curtailed. One union official said that the state should give a firm date when Act 47 will be removed. It does not work that way. Only the City, through working to remove the causes of its distress, can determine when Act 47 will be gone.
As such, City Council is to be saluted for withdrawing an ill-advised resolution to seek release from Act 47.
Second, County Council unanimously passed a motion “urging the Steelers to finance club seating in its entirety”. The Steelers are planning to add 700 new club seats to the publicly-financed Heinz Field at a cost of $4.3 million. Under the terms of the stadium lease, the City-County Sports and Exhibition Authority is contributing a share from a capital reserve fund to help build the seats. That’s money that could better be used elsewhere. The public’s contributions to Heinz Field have greatly increased the wealth and revenues of the Steelers. It is up to them to show some degree of gratitude and pay for their own seats.
Although these actions by City Council and County Council are to be applauded, we wonder if they are harbingers of further steps toward good governance.
http://legistar.county.allegheny.pa.us/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=3191
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06095/679416-53.stm
