Wilkinsburg community group files annexation petition to court, seeking to be added to Pittsburgh
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The Wilkinsburg community organization behind the push for Pittsburgh to annex this neighboring borough submitted a petition to an Allegheny County court Friday, effectively initiating the process.
The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp. in the summer gathered the required number of signatures from Wilkinsburg residents in favor of an annexation, despite strong opposition from local officials.
The Allegheny County Election Division will now review the petition to ensure it has valid signatures of at least 5% of Wilkinsburg’s registered voters.
If the court approves the petition, the measure will be sent to Pittsburgh City Council for its approval. It would then be placed on the ballot for Wilkinsburg voters to make the final decision.
Wilkinsburg’s elected officials have no formal voice on the matter, though the majority of their council members spoke out against the annexation during a virtual meeting with Pittsburgh City Council Thursday.
Opinions from residents also seem to be mixed.
Though the proposal has the support of Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb, other Pittsburgh officials said it is too soon to develop their opinions, since many of their questions remained unanswered.
Several Pittsburgh officials said they needed more specific information about concerns like how debt mergers would work, how many vacant properties Wilkinsburg has and how they would merge two school districts who employ teachers represented by different unions.
City Councilman Ricky Burgess, whose district is adjacent to Wilkinsburg, said the concept of annexation may be a good one, but the process is not. He pointed out that Pittsburgh voters and Wilkinsburg officials have no say-so in a matter that also affects them.
“I think over time, the Wilkinsburg merger makes sense and is probably a good idea,” he said during Thursday’s meeting. “I think the process we’re using is unfair.”
City Council members on Thursday indicated they would like to have continued conversations with other officials from Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg to clarify their questions before a final vote, which could not take place before the court approves the petition.
If the court approves it, City Council would have three months to either deny the measure or approve it to appear on Wilkinsburg ballots.
A hearing on the petition is slated for Jan. 5.