In the News
June 13, 2022
"Imagine then, what becomes of a municipality where there are whole streets of homes where not only are there broken windows but no windows at all — where the porches are crumbling and the roofs have collapsed. That’s the reality in Wilkinsburg where a study last year found 1,026 vacant structures and an additional 604 vacant lots. "
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May 19, 2022
"A committee hearing will take place tonight at 6 p.m. at Pride Project Inc. on Bonvue Street in Perry North."
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April 14, 2022
""I do think it's really about coming together and improving the lives of both communities. Both the city of Pittsburgh and the community of Wilkinsburg," Fitzgerald said earlier this year."
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January 17, 2022
"The city collects Wilkinsburg trash and fights Wilkinsburg fires, and Wilkinsburg parents send their middle- and high-school children to Pittsburgh schools."
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January 7, 2022
"We can make our region a better place for families, workers and seniors by improving our intergovernmental communication and making public services more efficient and effective."
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November 17, 2021
"Wilkinsburg would automatically become part of Pittsburgh’s school district, with a dramatic effect on property tax rates."
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August 31, 2021
"As a formal Pittsburgh neighborhood, Wilkinsburg could tap the city’s public safety and business development programs, and address its punishing property tax problem."
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August 18, 2021
"Gainey found himself in a unique political situation this summer when a Wilkinsburg group announced an effort to merge the borough into the city. Gainey is the state representative for Wilkinsburg and part of the city but could soon resign to serve as Pittsburgh’s mayor."
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July 29, 2021
"With its thousands — yes, thousands — of municipalities spread across 67 counties, Pennsylvania ranks near the top of the list of states in the U.S. in terms of the number of local governments or special districts."
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July 26, 2021
"Keith Betts thinks Wilkinsburg needs a makeover, and a merger with Pittsburgh might be the place to start."
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July 13, 2021
"An effort to merge the borough with the city of Pittsburgh has temporarily been placed on hold. The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation and Mayor Marita Garrett announced that a planned referendum on the proposal will not be on the ballot in the November election but most likely would be for the spring primary. Enough signatures were collected for a general election referendum, but Wilkinsburg officials want more time to mull the merger."
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July 13, 2021
"A referendum about whether Wilkinsburg should merge with Pittsburgh won’t be pursued until next year’s election cycle, its supporters said Tuesday."
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July 12, 2021
"Eight hundred signatures were collected for a ballot referendum originally proposed for this November."
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July 12, 2021
"Wilkinsburg residents won’t be voting on whether to have their borough annexed by the city of Pittsburgh in November. A committee in favor of the merger announced Monday it will delay a referendum on the issue in favor of gathering more community input first."
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July 12, 2021
"Though a petition had enough votes to place the issue on the November 2021 ballot, it will be delayed until a future election cycle.
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July 12, 2021
"Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett and a local group advocating for the merger of the borough with the city of Pittsburgh are open to delaying a referendum on the issue until next spring to solicit more robust community input, they announced Monday."
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July 12, 2021
"While more than enough petition signatures have already been gathered to place the issue on the ballot, a referendum on merging Wilkinsburg with the City of Pittsburgh will be delayed until a future election cycle, likely next Spring’s primary election."
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July 12, 2021
"Should Wilkinsburg officially become a part of Pittsburgh? The question has been debated for decades, but has become somewhat of a hot-button issue in recent months."
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July 8, 2021
"Allegheny County is home to over 100 municipalities, more than any large county in America. Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb wants the region to start thinking about shrinking that number by merging and consolidating municipalities, and he thinks a potential merger between Wilkinsburg borough and the city of Pittsburgh can start a trend."
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July 7, 2021
"WILKINSBURG, Pa. — While the majority of Wilkinsburg’s elected officials are against the idea there’s enough support right now to discuss making Wilkinsburg a part of Pittsburgh. Nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition in favor of exploring the idea. And the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation plans to present the petition to an Allegheny county judge."
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July 1, 2021
"Should Wilkinsburg become Pittsburgh’s 91st neighborhood?"
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July 1, 2021
"Members of the Wilkinsburg Borough Council gathered Thursday evening to again repudiate the effort to merge the borough with the city of Pittsburgh."
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July 1, 2021
"Organizers said more details on future meetings with the public will be announced soon."
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June 28, 2021
"If Pittsburgh City Council votes to annex Wilkinsburg, then Wilkinsburg residents get the final say in a referendum."
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June 25, 2021
"A signature drive, if successful, would set off a legal process that could end with 2.2 square miles and 15,000 people added to the city. But not before Pittsburgh City Council has a say."
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June 18, 2021
"Wilkinsburg community leaders have started a petition drive aimed at merging the borough with the city of Pittsburgh."
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October 14, 2020
"Property taxes in Wilkinsburg are among the highest in Allegheny County—nearly twice as high as the City of Pittsburgh and close to three times as high as several of its other neighbors. But the borough is anything but swimming in cash. Unable to afford repairs to its high school, the school district struck a deal four years ago to transfer its students to the Pittsburgh Public Schools."
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March 8, 2021
"Regional leaders have called for measures ranging from partnerships in providing services to an outright merger with the City of Pittsburgh. An agreement by the city to provide firefighting was put in place in 2011. Additional municipal consolidation, including merger, would alleviate the financial pressures on Wilkinsburg, but such a solution is not easily reached."
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Media Contact
If you’d like to speak with someone from the WCDC about the merger or about the community engagement process we’ve used throughout this exploration, please contact us at info@wilkinsburgcdc.org.
