We fully understand the need for law enforcement to seal search warrants in certain investigations, citing “public cause.”
That is, the secrecy can prevent investigations’ targets from destroying and/or hiding evidence or, in some cases, even fleeing. It also can be employed to ensure the safety of witnesses and/or confidential informants, if not the confidentiality of any grand jury process.
Which brings us to the search warrant, sealed for 60 days, served by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, on City of Pittsburgh offices on Monday.
While broadcast reports, citing “sources,” say the warrant targets, in part, the administration of former Mayor Ed Gainey and no-bid contracts, there’s been no official confirmation. Current Mayor Corey O’Connor says “other matters” are being investigated, too, but offers no specifics, and has pledged his administration’s cooperation.
And therein lies an issue: Without confirmation of who the target or targets is or are, that leads to speculation running rampant. And that speculation can unfairly impugn those who have done nothing wrong. Sixty days of speculation can cause a lot of damage; we would counsel all to practice restraint.
But still, sound public policy demands transparency, especially in legal matters. And, again, while we can appreciate the need for discretion in keeping law enforcement investigations close to the vest, we have an equal appreciation for the public’s ultimate right to know.
And that’s whether this investigation leads to charges or not.
The Pennsylvania House voted Tuesday, yet again, to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2029. It’s an astounding 106.8 percent increase (and well above any adjustment tied to inflation).
Said Rep. Jason Dawkins, a Philadelphia Democrat, the sponsor of this iteration of minimum-wage hike, in a statement:
“If you work hard, you shouldn’t have to worry about your next meal or having a roof over your head. Pennsylvania needs a minimum wage suitable for everyone, not just to survive, but to thrive in our state.”
That is, of course, if you can keep your situation. One projection, by the Employment Policies Institute in 2023, says nearly 86,000 jobs could be lost in Pennsylvania with a $15 minimum wage.
The Democrats’ latest proposal, as with its prior two, has no legs. As it should not have.
Lo and behold, Allegheny County Council has done what it should have done years ago – propose legislation that would require regular property reassessments.
Three county councilors have introduced legislation that calls for a reassessment every three years, beginning in 2028, with those new values going into effect in 2029.
The assessment system long has been out of whack with far too many people paying more than they should and others not paying what they should. The bottom line, of course, is the current system is patently unconstitutional — the uniform taxation clause has been a dead letter for years.
As Eric Montarti, research director at the Allegheny Institute, told WESA-FM Radio on Tuesday, tax inequities get “magnified” when counties wait decades between reassessments.
“If this is just a more regular, reoccurring process” the difference between the assessment and market price will be more consistent, making it easier for government officials and property owners alike to anticipate the impact, Montarti said.
“This would probably be a real welcome change as opposed to what the status quo has been,” he said.
For those with possibly short memories, the Allegheny Institute has been calling for regular reassessments for decades.
And while we have hearty kudos for the trio of council members who finally did the right thing, we suspect passage is far from a done deal.
The proverbial sausage-making could be most unpleasant, considering some in positions of power believe the commonwealth should take the lead and institute a regular statewide reassessment protocol.
Indeed, that would be preferable. But given that prospect remains up in the air, County Council should do the right thing and authorize an ongoing property reassessment regimen as soon as possible.
As Jake Haulk, president-emeritus of the think tank, reminds: “Lack of regular reassessments is failure of elected officials to do the right thing for property taxpayers and points to a general state of moral rot in government.”
Colin McNickle is communications and marketing director at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy (cmcnickle@alleghenyinstitute.org).
