May Newsletter

Welcome to May’s newsletter! The start of June caught me a bit flat-footed, so apologies in getting this one out a bit later than intended. On a personal note, I’ve really been enjoying taking advantage of this nicer weather to get out with Arthur as much as possible. I hope you’re also taking time for whatever it is that brings you joy.

This month saw County Council get a new President, and we held the first two public hearings on a countywide reassessment. Feel free to send this newsletter to anyone else you think would benefit from it, and click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the page if you were subscribed by mistake.

County Prison Rape Elimination Act (13810-26) - The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law that creates safeguards for incarcerated people, particularly transgender women and intersex people, to decrease the risk of rape. Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice has signaled that it would not longer fully enforce PREA standards. For this reason, Council introduced our own local version of PREA to create a layer of protection that cannot be immediately stripped away through changing federal administrative policy. Thankfully, the ordinance passed unanimously.

Allegheny County Council President - While not an actual legislative item, the biggest event in County Council last month was a change in leadership. After two mailers were sent out on behalf of his campaign (one attributed directly to the campaign and one illegally omitting a “Paid for by” statement) that doxed his opponent and engaged in right-wing talking points, six of my colleagues and I signed on to a letter expressing our lack of confidence in Councilman Catena’s leadership and intent to remove him as President at our next meeting. Prior to that meeting, Councilman Catena took it upon himself to step down as President, and Councilwoman Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis was unanimously elected, becoming the first woman to ever hold the position as Allegheny County Council President.

Committee Assignments - Following her election as President, Councilwoman Naccarati-Chapkis appointed me as Chair of the Government Reform Committee as well as a member of the Health Committee. I look forward to bringing my passion for progress and good government to lead the Government Reform Committee and my knowledge as an EMT and spouse of a Nurse Anesthetist to the Health Committee. My committee assignments are now as follows: Government Reform (Chair), Appointment Review, Assessment Practices, Economic Development & Job Creation, Health, Parks, Public Works, Sustainability & Green Initiatives, and Future of Emergency Services.

Earlier this month, I joined Pittsburgh Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1 to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The newly unveiled memorial is a wonderful tribute to those we have lost, as well as the families they've left behind. I can assure you that I'll always do everything in my power as a legislator to preserve both the physical and mental health of my fellow firefighters.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been taking advantage of the nicer weather to get out with Arthur, and often that’s meant going on runs to South Park. A few weeks ago, I took him to the South Park Game Preserve, where we got to see the new informational billboard contributed by the members of the Friends of the South Park (FOSP). While boards and commissions like FOSP don’t always get a lot of attention, items like this are why I’m so intentional when I nominate members and vote on appointments. These unsung volunteers are such a big part of what helps make our county great.

On Memorial Day, I had the opportunity of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our country across District 5. I started the day with ceremonies honoring those we have lost at both the Mt. Lebanon Park War Memorial and Bethel Park Veterans Memorial, before marching in both the Bethel Park and South Hills Memorial Day parades. Every Memorial Day, I think it’s important to think about the profound impact that politicians make when they choose to embroil us in foreign wars. Wars that often do nothing to help the American people but instead cause trauma both at home and abroad.

If you’d like to help out as I continue updating you on the work I’m doing to bring responsible leadership and real solutions to Allegheny County, please consider making a donation below.

Paid for by Friends of Dan Grzybek