PITTSBURGH — Could Wilkinsburg Borough become the 91st neighborhood of the city of Pittsburgh? That’s the big question, and the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC) is pushing for annexation, but with opposition mounting the decision will lay in the hands of Pittsburgh’s city council.
Pittsburgh City Council has until April 5 to determine whether to allow an attempt to annex Wilkinsburg.
“What we received after we said we would work with people was a court order from the judge mandating us to take a vote,” said Theresa Kail-Smith, the president of Pittsburgh City Council.
If they vote to approve the measure it will be put to a vote in the spring primary and residents could make Wilkinsburg Pittsburgh’s 91st neighborhood.
“We introduced an ordinance […] to deny the annexation,” said Kail-Smith.
However, that seems unlikely with growing opposition, about how the process felt rushed.
Former school board director, Ashley Comans, said she isn’t outright opposed to the conversation but is concerned by the lack of community input and the removal of local government.
“In 2020, when everyone is trying to grapple with life, meetings were happening to discuss important conversations,” said Comans.
“When we talk about this, we have to talk about what’s equitable,” Comans pleaded. “[The city] just put out a report that shows the city of Pittsburgh is one of the worst places for someone like me to live.”
Comans argues rent would go up, and community stakeholders may be forced out of the borough. A majority of Wilkinsburg’s 15,000 residents are Black and do not own a home.
This browser does not support the video element.
Resident Michael Rose disagrees, “The biggest enemy to this whole process is ignorance.”
Rose believes Wilkinsburg and the city have a huge opportunity to decrease property taxes for homeowners and spur new development.
“Do they want another Squirrel Hill on the fringes or do they want to another blight and abandoned community,” said Rose.
Currently, it appears that the city council will not approve of the measure, but five votes are all it would take to push the effort forward.