AARP Pennsylvania Ramps Up Local Advocacy in Pittsburgh

When city and county leaders decide what’s best for their communities – from the type of housing allowed to park investments to land use planning – AARP Pennsylvania wants them to consider its 1.8 million members. 2023 was an impactful year for AARP Pennsylvania due in large part to its staff and volunteers in Pittsburgh who helped ramp up local efforts by supporting worthy projects in the city.

For AARP Pennsylvania, ensuring that Pittsburgh is a livable community involves educating and engaging volunteers and residents so they can support positive change that enables all Pittsburghers 50-plus to remain in their communities and homes. It also involves engaging public officials, stakeholders, and neighbors at the local level to plan for and enact community changes that will improve the lives of older adults and people of all ages.

Below are examples of our local advocacy successes in Pittsburgh in 2023:

Pittsburgh Land Bank

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Land Bank was established to repurpose vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties. Unfortunately, it lacked the authority needed to acquire properties confiscated by the city. With urging from AARP Pittsburgh staff and volunteers, residents, and community groups, the Tri-Party Cooperation Agreement was ultimately enacted to enable the Land Bank to acquire over 5,000 city-owned parcels and sell them, focusing on mitigating blight and enhancing affordable housing. Their efforts continue through collaboration with community partners to monitor and contribute to discussions on land use and housing opportunities.

Parks and Greenways

At AARP, public parks are important places for building a sense of community and social belonging. So when the opportunity to help preserve Pittsburgh’s green spaces presented itself, AARP Pittsburgh staff and volunteers stepped up to support a local ordinance designed to prohibit non-recreational development in Pittsburgh’s parks and greenways and limit commercial development only to projects that would “directly support the public’s recreational enjoyment.”

Affordable Housing and Vision Zero

Understanding that housing needs change as we age, AARP Pittsburgh staff and volunteers worked to explore how Pittsburgh can provide safe, affordable housing options for individuals and families, and they committed to doing all they can to ensure that people are safe as they move about their communities – whether they’re driving to a doctor’s office or walking across the street. After engaging with city leadership in community listening sessions, AARP submitted letters of support to the Pittsburgh mayor and members of City Council to support budget allocations which were ultimately passed at the end of 2023 for both affordable housing and Vision zero/complete streets-related transportation projects.

To learn more about AARP Pennsylvania’s local efforts in Pittsburgh, including how to volunteer with the Pittsburgh team, visit: https://forms.office.com/r/2h9h4m0GGA