Dr. Iulia Vann, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, cites 50 department vacancies which limit her capacity to control the air pollution that makes this one of the unhealthiest places to live in America.
In September 2024, the Allegheny County Board of Health recommended increasing air quality operating permit fees to fill these positions.
Lacking support at its meeting Dec. 17, Allegheny County Council tabled the recommendation. Council meets again on March 25, with no word yet whether there are the votes for passage.
Why would a councilperson not support the recommendation of their Board of Health? Could it be sympathy for U.S. Steel, whose permit fees for Clairton Coke Works, Irvin Works and Edgar Thomson would increase to a total of $163,000 per year? Nonsense, for a company that earned $2.3 billion in 2024.
Air pollution has been dragging us down for decades. We have world class universities, a developing high tech sector, massive health care institutions and a skilled workforce. Forging that into a magnet for economic opportunity and demographic growth is the key to revitalization of greater Pittsburgh.
Approving the fee increase must be our first step forward.
Howard M. Rieger
Squirrel Hill The writer is with SWPA Grassroots Air Quality Town Halls.