[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6373524,"mediaKeyId","2145802-d67b173d04f36486b78ac6956c6fa0f5","parentId",2145802,"title","Public commenters press council on Indigenous sovereignty, building maintenance and safety claims","audioSeconds",583,"startMs",368000,"endMs",951000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145802-d67b173d04f36486b78ac6956c6fa0f5&start=368&end=951","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145802-d67b173d04f36486b78ac6956c6fa0f5/thumbnail_368000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373524/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Public-commenters-press-council-on-Indigenous-sovereignty-building-maintenance-and-safety-claims","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373524-054049ad5021ff73ad2d92aae6778278/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203474&Signature=mVAuarS0TOIi0Dh8TvTEPvxjOReuXZBkGbY4WQjNiFF6iaUVN1TZBQRnV1avoe4RKmNwhacHcRTMTW6H1mkSAGE5CnpGMTn0Odao5THihvdl~FTt7DncWypb9BoocIy5ibkrAiF3WnXo4E-0EMhEuLpv0yam9CdpztK82IFpvu2A~8c55O5IqMARH8bzK2hj7JB2reycjmK0CXH9x80BI~a8WMK-gjYfj-uFs36TNgeK2NMRQuT7UIfFHhVbAY7VCAAjnHAMq3xfVSsIFFf~-w5eLtJl2VYV1qoRchdsIT72IH0cf35Ty04Hgh8O0Uk39EAzeL~i~mGrhYAF9dXJvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pittsburgh City, PA","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Three speakers addressed council during the public‑comment portion of the Jan. 7 meeting, raising complaints about government legitimacy and safety, praising building maintenance staff, and making personal allegations.

Aikahana Halmaokina, who identified themself as \"the grama of the Iroquois Confederacy of Aborigine American people,\" told council members they are a \"separate and distinct community of people\" and urged the body to \"take meaningful steps to ensure our safety, to ensure that we are not violated, that our rights stay intact.\" Halmaokina said members of their community do not pledge allegiance to the municipal government or the United States corporate structure as presented in their remarks and described the land under the council chambers as \"stolen land.\" The speaker also referenced the Declaration of Independence in arguing that people have the right to form their own institutions.

Yvonne F. Brown, who said she lives at 715 Mercer Street, praised the maintenance worker who cleans the council chamber first floor and said that sometimes council members display disrespect by sitting with their backs to the public. Brown said she has attended meetings for years and expressed frustration at perceived lack of respect for older residents.

A third speaker, who identified themself as \"Special Agent Sunshine,\" offered a religious invocation that included passages from Proverbs and Psalms and statements accusing unspecified individuals of attempting to harm them with \"voodoo\" or poison. The speaker described returning those alleged acts \"to sender\" through prayer and urged listeners toward peace and love.

Remarks during public comment were not followed by recorded council responses or votes on the matters raised. The public‑comment period preceded presentations of council business that included the bill introductions reported during the meeting.

Speakers were reminded at the start of the public‑comment period of council rules limiting remarks to matters of concern, official action or deliberation and prohibiting profanity. The clerk recorded Aikahana Halmaokina as the only registered speaker for the session; additional individuals spoke from the floor after that registration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - 1/7/25","oneSentenceSummary","Three speakers addressed council during the public‑comment portion of the Jan. 7 meeting, raising complaints about government legitimacy and safety, praising building maintenance staff, and making personal allegations.","taxTitle","Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2965,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6373529,"City Council introduces contracts, grants and equipment-leasing resolutions",971,973000,1154,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145802-d67b173d04f36486b78ac6956c6fa0f5&start=973&end=1","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145802-d67b173d04f36486b78ac6956c6fa0f5/thumbnail_973000.jpg","/articles/6373529/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/City-Council-introduces-contracts-grants-and-equipment-leasing-resolutions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373529-54ac27395c3b5704f4c7b32d1a877249/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203474&Signature=i7Yg808uWm5oYfnqA9wbmKA5PRLywZrxW6ULkzbe7yLt~jZbVhwmArlHHmfnGrBbw4ZgXFjyx76PwOFiyusymtCXc70j9po8f94b4SkD~oPlOoM~doJVx6IJaS4zjWouIVUEvgIlwLwWPGGxChbWO8wBYv9Po3AkUbkV8JrF9hLj460oTJsDZrcPHAUVz49LtVoBwQnPRv0VjQQT8Yr6wZyvrlFVrSOxH~mLor1BycUIjQLSNWdhXQba1IcjH87cW935waQe0PrgujuoYlqxe1dGcIWe7N0VDMhFk1SgvKECO~XX0JsVPeVf1ZpMSRWq8KvpfWidsbm8cLFs7UMHNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members at the Pittsburgh City Council meeting on Tuesday presented several resolutions to authorize contracts, grants and transfers that would affect city procurement, public‑health training and vehicle and equipment leasing.

The items included a proposed four‑year third‑party administrative contract for the city’s workers’ compensation program, a grant award for post‑overdose training, an extension to an existing payment‑processing contract for finance and police, a multi‑million‑dollar transfer to the city’s Equipment Leasing Authority for vehicles and equipment, and reimbursement to PennDOT for ADA ramp work.

The proposals matter because they commit or would commit city funds and negotiating authority on public‑safety training, long‑term contract administration and a multi‑department equipment leasing plan that affects fleet replacement and infrastructure support.

Councilperson Robert Charlin, chair of human resources, presented Bill 1375, a resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of human resources and civil service to enter into a professional services agreement with UPMC Benefits Management Services Inc., doing business as WorkPartners, to provide third‑party administrative services for the city’s workers’ compensation program for costs not to exceed $5,002,764 over four years.

Councilman Anthony Coghill, chair of public safety and wellness, presented Bill 1376, a resolution authorizing agreements with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to accept grant funds from a post‑overdose training program for trauma‑informed practices. The resolution describes grant funds not to exceed $20,000 to support the city’s Office of Community Health and Safety.

Councilwoman Deborah L. Gross, chair of innovation, performance, asset management and technology, presented Bill 1377, a resolution to amend Resolution 841 of 2023 to extend the contract with Core Business Technologies for software, equipment and services related to payment processing and cash‑handling systems for the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Police. The amendment would extend the contract by one year and increase the approved amount by $98,955, for an amended total not to exceed $396,056.60.

Councilman Kahari Mosley, chair of intergovernmental and educational affairs, presented Bill 1378, a resolution authorizing cooperation agreements providing for the transfer of funds not to exceed $7,904,053.42 to the City of Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing Authority for purchase and leasing of vehicles, equipment and accessories, equipment support infrastructure and related professional services for city departments.

Councilwoman Barbara Warwick, chair of public works and infrastructure, presented Bill 1379, covering an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to set financial obligations and maintenance responsibilities for pedestrian facilities. The resolution provides for local costs associated with State Route 400 North Dallas Avenue, Bennett Street, and 45 Americans with Disabilities Act ramps constructed and inspected by PennDOT and for reimbursement to PennDOT of estimated costs not to exceed $13,990.44.

Councilman Ordanya Lavelle presented Bill 1380, a communication from Jake Pollack, director of the Office of Management and Budget, submitting the grants office status update for the week ended Jan. 3, 2025. Council moved to read, receive and file that communication.

None of the resolutions were recorded as receiving a final vote during the meeting; the clerk noted there were no final actions on the agenda at this session. Council also announced upcoming committee and public meetings: a standing committee meeting scheduled for Jan. 8 and a Jan. 9 cablecast post‑agenda on the Pittsburgh Parking Authority to discuss enforcement staffing and consideration of lifting the city residency requirement for enforcement officers.

Procedural motions at the meeting included adoption of an agenda amendment and a motion to read, receive and file the grants office communication. The meeting adjourned after approval of minutes and standard closing motions.","Council members at the Pittsburgh City Council meeting on Tuesday presented several resolutions to authorize contracts, grants and transfers that would affect city procurement, public‑health training and vehicle and equipment leasing.","actionData","errors"]

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Public commenters press council on Indigenous sovereignty, building maintenance and safety claims

City Council introduces contracts, grants and equipment-leasing resolutions