Councilman Bobby Wilson's Newsletter: January Edition

City of Pittsburgh sent this bulletin at 01/28/2026 04:56 PM EST

A message from Councilman Bobby Wilson

Welcome to our January newsletter! With 2025 in our rearview, we reflect on a year of progress and accomplishments across our district. I’m proud to share some of the key achievements my office has made over the past year. We remain dedicated to keeping the D1 community informed and connected every step of the way. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest news, events, and opportunities in District 1!

D1 2025 Wrap Up

District 1 Projects

Legislative Updates

City Taxes

I want to address the 20 percent tax increase approved by City Council at the end of last year, which impacted the 2026 budget. I want to be clear: I did not vote to raise taxes. I disagreed with my colleagues on the severity of the budget challenges and believed we should have taken the time to more closely examine departmental spending. I remain confident there were opportunities to deliver city services more efficiently without cutting services and without raising taxes.

However, I was in the minority. Advancing a tax increase without seriously exploring new revenue sources that did not place the burden solely on city residents was not an approach I could support. For that reason, I voted NO on the 20 percent tax increase. While I am still uncertain how this additional revenue will meaningfully improve the lives of Pittsburghers, I am committed to holding the administration accountable and ensuring residents see real, measurable results.

Northshore Entertainment District

I'm proud to announce that Bill 2024-0959, creating a North Shore Entertainment District, passed unanimously at City Council this past week. This legislation establishes standards that reflect the unique character of the North Shore and the demands placed on an area that hosts many of the City’s largest events. This will allow for more robust signage and less red tape for stakeholders in the newly established Entertainment District.

Short-term Rentals

I also want to update residents on short-term rental legislation currently before City Council. On January 13, 2026, Councilwoman Gross introduced Bill 2026-0008 and Bill 2026-0009, which would regulate short-term rentals through licensing and zoning. I am a co-sponsor of both bills because I believe the City needs clear, fair rules that protect neighborhoods while ensuring short-term rentals operate responsibly. As these bills move through the legislative process, I will work to make sure the final regulations reflect community input and support quality of life across Pittsburgh. You can read more here.

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Broken & Fixable

My office received numerous calls during the recent Pittsburgh Water construction and the confusing NO Parking signs that are posted along streets. There are often no permit numbers and the timeline can span multiple months. I'm scheduling a meeting with Pittsburgh Water and the Department of Mobility & Infrastructure to review the process of issuing these signs so that we can minimize disruptions for residents and provide clear expectations during a construction projec

Park Permits Made Easy

In the past, securing a park permit could be a time-consuming process, often involving paperwork, multiple steps, and long wait times. To make this easier for our residents, CitiParks has launched a new online park permit reservation system, allowing users to request and manage permits quickly and conveniently from anywhere. This update is an important step toward improving access, efficiency, and customer service in our park system.

CitiParks

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season!

City Departments & Authorities

Pittsburgh Water

Operating as its own entity, Pittsburgh Water (PGH20) is responsible for water treatment and delivery systems in the city of Pittsburgh, as well as the city's sewer system.

2026 Projects

Department of Public Works

Public Works is dedicated to providing creative, customer-friendly service while preserving the City's infrastructure by maintaining City streets, preserving park facilities and rehabilitating public facilities. The department also meets the environmental needs of The City of Pittsburgh by collecting residential refuse and recyclables in addition to our Anti-Litter Division and monitoring of illegal dumpsites.

DPW

Department of Mobility & Infrastructure

The Department is responsible for the transportation of people and goods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, and for managing the operation of and access to the public right-of-way (the sidewalks, curbs, streets, and bridges that make up our network).

DOMI

Department of Permits & Licenses

The Department is responsible for reviewing and inspecting building permits, managing property maintenance, and administering business licenses, with duties including plan review, permit issuance, and responding to complaints regarding abandoned properties.

PLI

OneStop PGH

OneStop Pgh Insight

Pittsburgh Regional Transit

PRT is responsible for providing safe, affordable, and reliable public transportation throughout Allegheny County. This transportation system operates, maintain and support bus, light rail, incline and paratransit services.

PRT Bus Schedules

PRT Services

Pittsburgh Housing Authority

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh is a municipal corporation charged with providing decent, affordable housing for low-income persons. The Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors which establishes goals, approves policy and budgets, and provides general direction to the HACP Executive Staff.

HACP Services

The Urban Redevelopment Authority

The URA is the City of Pittsburgh’s economic development enterprise.
The URA helps to bridge public and private interests to invest in meaningful equitable developments that promote housing affordability, economic mobility, entrepreneurship and neighborhood revitalization.

URA Services

Each month, Councilman Bobby Wilson shares a column in the Northside Chronicle, highlighting important updates and changes in our city and community to keep District 1 residents informed. Click below to read the latest article!

Northside Chronicle

Neighborhood Updates

Community Walkthrough

This week, my office joined officials from the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, and community leaders for a walkthrough of Spring Hill to better understand the challenges facing our neighbors. After touring several streets and assessing conditions firsthand, we identified a number of concerns that will be addressed in the weeks ahead.

I believe this walkthrough has been extremely beneficial in helping us better understand the needs of the community, and over the next few months I will be holding more walkthroughs to ensure residents’ concerns are heard and addressed.

Major Pool Building Leak at Jack Stack Park

In October, I had the opportunity to walk through Jack Stack Park with the Director of Public Works to take a closer look at the condition of this important community space. During our visit, we identified a number of areas that need attention, from general maintenance issues to repairs that will help improve safety, accessibility, and the overall experience for families who use the park every day.

Following that walkthrough, I secured the necessary funding to move forward with repairs. Keeping our parks vibrant, safe, and well-maintained is one of my top priorities, and I am committed to keeping residents informed as this work moves ahead.

Pressley Street Meet and Greet

Pressley High Rise

Also, in October, State Representative Lindsey Powell and I met with residents of the Pressley High Rise to listen directly to their concerns, learn more about the community’s needs, and share resources and services that can best support them. It was a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand what matters most to residents, and we remain committed to working together to ensure their voices guide our efforts moving forward.

Marmaduke Playground Update

Marmaduke Playground in Brighton Heights is in the design feedback phase and inviting community input. The proposed designs prioritize inclusive and accessible play, featuring a variety of ground-level activities, climbing structures, spinning elements, sensory experiences, swings, and an upgraded spray feature. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2026.The design survey can be found on the Engage Page here:

Marmaduke Playground Engage Page

Halt to the Penn Avenue Expansion

The first phase of the expansion originally included both Penn Avenue and the side streets. After concerns from our office and nearby businesses, the side streets were removed from the plan, leaving only paid parking along Penn Avenue from 25th to 31st and the creation of new loading zones along the corridor.

Following additional feedback, I requested that DOMI pause the expansion so we could better assess the impact on local businesses and residents. The plan is currently on hold.

Happenings

East Ohio Streetscape Improvements Community Meeting- February 3rd, 2026 at Allegheny Center Alliance Church, 801 Union Place from 6:30 pm-8pm

Strip District Neighbors Town Hall Meeting - February 4th, 2026 at Orchard Hill Church from 5 pm-7pm

Pittsburgh 311

Please contact 311 for any non-emergency concerns or questions (abandoned vehicles, traffic calming requests, street light repairs, etc) . Requests can be sent anonymously if you do not require a response. Please keep in mind that the more detailed information you can provide, the better.

Submit 311