PITTSBURGH COUNCILMAN REV. RICKY BURGESS seems to be on board with the annexation of Wilkinsburg…in 2023. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
Councilman Burgess open to voting ‘yes’ in 2023
Similar to how your parents told you they were not going to buy you a car right now…but maybe sometime down the line, that’s what Pittsburgh City Council did in its vote not to make Wilkinsburg part of Pittsburgh…for now.
In a 7-2 vote, Tuesday, Feb. 8, Council voted “no” to annexing Wilkinsburg, but most councilmembers said they’re open to a monthslong probe into the pros and cons of annexation, and would probably vote “yes” to it in 2023.
The vote was not unexpected. Reverend Ricky Burgess, one of the two Black Pittsburgh Councilmembers, stood before cameras last Wednesday, Feb. 2, and basically let the cat out of the bag.
“I will not support the current annexation petition before City Council,” Rev. Burgess said. “Instead, in partnership with my City Council colleagues, I tend to participate in an investigative effort over the next six months to evaluate, document and publicize the advantages of annexation and garner public support for the annexation.”
The two councilmembers who voted “yes” to the annexation petition on Feb. 8 were Anthony Coghill and Corey O’Connor. They’re already convinced annexation should take place, or at least that the voters of Wilkinsburg should have been given the chance to vote on its own future in the upcoming May primary election. But the rest of council, like council president Theresa Kail-Smith, held up the proverbial stop sign.
PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT THERESA KAIL-SMITH addresses the media during a Feb. 2 news conference.
“I have committed to a process,” she said. “This will be a council-led process moving forward,” adding that when something like annexation occurs, it’s important that residents from all sides of town have a chance to give their public input.
This Mike Tyson/Evander Holyfield-style battle of whether Wilkinsburg should join Pittsburgh or stay its own entity has been brewing for years. The battle has garnered new life in recent months, with the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation leading the charge under executive director Tracey Evans. The organization went around the borough and garnered enough signatures for the petition to be placed with Pittsburgh City Council, and a court order mandated that Council vote on the petition by April.
Reverend Burgess said in the past that many Black Wilkinsburg residents didn’t have a chance to express their true opinions on annexation. He’s most connected to Wilkinsburg residents of any council member — his district neighbors Wilkinsburg, many of his friends live in Wilkinsburg, and many of his Nazarene Baptist Church (in Homewood) members reside in the borough.
“I believe a period of courtship or engagement is necessary and beneficial (between Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh) before the union is consummated,” Rev. Burgess said at the Feb. 2 news conference outside Council chambers. “After much research, prayer and consideration, I am now completely convinced that the annexation of the borough of Wilkinsburg will be beneficial to both Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg. Pittsburgh will benefit from increased population, land and income, while Wilkinsburg will benefit from reduced taxes, better public services and potential economic development.”
The 15,000 residents of Wilkinsburg, two-thirds of whom are African Americans, cannot vote for or against annexation until Pittsburgh City Council gives the borough the official “invite” that it wants to accept Wilkinsburg as its 91st city neighborhood. Thus, the earliest Wilkinsburg residents could vote on the proposed referendum would be May 2023. Reverend Burgess pointed out that Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh already have a “courtship” going on, as Pittsburgh is responsible for Wilkinsburg’s trash collection and fire services. And middle- and high-schoolers of Wilkinsburg attend Westinghouse Academy, in Homewood, part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools district.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE RICH FITZGERALD speaks during a Feb. 2 news conference. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)
“It’s about coming together and improving the lives of the communities of Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg, improving economic output for the future, for the kids and the families,” said Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
Evans, the WCDC director, added: “With low-income homeowners and Black residents being hit the hardest, we all want Wilkinsburg to grow to be prosperous for every resident and for every business to be successful and sustainable. Annexation by the City of Pittsburgh is the key to allowing Wilkinsburg to prosper and grow.”