Natalia Rudiak » Media Center

Rudiak to lead task force on snow emergency

John Fournier — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:33:09 +0000

Over the course of the last week it has become evident that the City needs to change its emergency management system so we can more effectively deal with snow and public safety emergencies. In speaking with my fellow council members, we agreed that action needs to be taken to correct many of the inefficiencies that have been endemic to the City’s clean up efforts since Friday.

Today, I was named to lead a task force convened by Council President Darlene Harris to look into the City’s performance during the current snow emergency. The task force will be tasked with investigating, reporting key findings, and making recommendations on how the City can better administer its emergency operation systems in the future, with a specific eye toward snow emergencies.

The task force will initially convene later this week to begin its review. Until then, City Council will focus on helping the Mayor’s Emergency Operation Center with constituent calls. Once the snow emergency is over, the task force will begin a full review.

We want to make sure we can dig out of this storm before we start getting too academic because we are in an emergency and we need to be focused on that right now. But once the snow stops falling, a full review will begin.

Additionally, as today’s snow storm moves into the region, there are several things to keep in mind to protect your safety. Click over to my website to read more about how you can better protect yourself in the coming days.

Please continue to submit your 311 requests online through my office, we have passed on all of your comments and concerns, often times directly to the relevant department and bureau heads, and we working as hard as can to make sure your streets are plowed sooner rather than later.

Snow Emergency Update***

John Fournier — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:05:32 +0000

I want to thank all of you for your patience as the City tries to unbury itself from Friday and Saturday’s snow storm. After meeting with the Mayor today and several key administration officials, I have some information for you on why the clean-up has been slow moving and what next steps the City is taking to prepare for tomorrow’s storm.

First, while it is evident that the City needs to change its emergency management system given the slow response over the last four days, our public works employees have been working 12 hour shifts, plowing more than 1,000 miles of City streets. I know how frustrating this storm has been, I was without power and my car is still banked in snow. But the men and woman who are working on the ground have been working very long and very hard hours to try to get the City up and running again and I applaud their efforts.

Tomorrow starting at 10:00 AM, a winter storm warning will go into effect for the entire region and stay in effect until 7:00 PM Wednesday evening. We are expected to receive at least 6 to 10 inches of additional snow in that time. As of this e-mail the Pittsburgh Public Schools, as well as all major colleges and universities are closed tomorrow at the request of the City’s Public Safety Director.

Starting this morning, all City plows were rerouted off of the City’s main roads and on to neighborhood streets (so-called “secondary” and “tertiary”streets). The Department of Public Works has stated that they will be able to plow most neighborhood streets by the time snow starts falling again tomorrow.

Once the storm starts tomorrow, plows will be re-routed again to emergency roads and primary neighborhood roads. Once those roads are all clear, they will move back into the neighborhoods.

When the second storm starts tomorrow, there are some key safety measures that will help the City plow the roads and minimize the number of emergency calls it is receiving:

Try to stay off the roads until they are plowed. One of the reasons plows have had a hard time getting into the neighborhoods is the number of vehicles that got stuck in the road Friday night and blocked a plow or emergency vehicle. It helps everyone to stay home when it snows.
Try not to walk in the roads. While often times it is easier to walk on a driven-over or plowed street, it is not safe. If it is possible, please try to walk on sidewalks.
Try not to shovel additional snow into the street and try not to block any fire hydrants. Try to shovel it into your yard, when it goes into the street it can slow the plows down even more.
Call 911 for emergencies, and 311 for service requests. If you are not sure if your call is an emergency, call 911 anyway, they will be able to route your call. For your information, garbage pick-up and recycling have been suspended until further notice.
The National Guard will be able to reach you. The National Guard responded to over 60 EMS calls last night, most of them for non-emergency medical needs. If you have a medical emergency, we will be able to reach you either with our EMS teams or with the National Guard.
Keep fire hydrants free of snow. When you are shoveling your walk, it would help emergency crews if you were also able to shovel some space around any fire hydrants that are near your house.
And last, please check on your neighbors, especially senior citizens. Being a good neighbor is what Pittsburgh is all about, so while you are outside, check on your neighbors to make sure they are ok.

Please continue to submit your 311 requests online through my office, we have passed on all of your comments and concerns, often times directly to the relevant department and bureau heads, and we are working as hard as can to make sure your streets are plowed sooner rather than later.

Natalia Takes Office!

John Fournier — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:35:37 +0000

Pittsburgh City Councilmember Natalia Rudiak was officially sworn in today at a ceremony in Council Chambers. In an uplifting inaugural address, she called for a civic re-awakening in Pittsburgh to aide revitalization in the neighborhoods.

Citing the tough economic times that have gripped the nation and her campaign commitment to bring more investments to Pittsburgh’s Southern neighborhoods, Rudiak asked her fellow Councilmembers to, “tackle these issues with a zeal that is unmatched and a vigor that is unparalleled.”

Councilmember Rudiak, drawing on her own experience as a community leader in district 4, also called on Pittsburghers to get more involved by “[interfacing] with City government, so we all can take ownership of it and start organizing for our communities.”

She continued:

All across this country, big cities are hurting too, just like Pittsburgh. Cuts in state revenue, crumbling infrastructure, neighborhood de-stabilization—these are national problems. But the City who solves them first will become America’s next great urban center—our nation’s next great story of renewal, of change, and of hope. And so, we must tackle these issues with a zeal that is unmatched and a vigor that is unparalleled.

Councilmember Rudiak was elected after capturing more than 98% of the vote in the November general election. In May, the Carrick Democrat won a three way primary to secure her party’s nomination. A graduate of George Washington University, Councilmember Rudiak holds a masters degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to her election, she was an active community leader and business owner in the Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods.

Full Text of Inaugural Remarks:

A Call to Action: Councilmember Natalia Rudiak Inaugural Remarks

Today, the City of Pittsburgh, as it does every two years, begins a new journey with new leadership on deck and a new course for our future. For me, this journey began more than a year and a half ago, with an empty campaign account, a few volunteers, and a lot of determination.

But it really began with my family. My parents, Helena and John, my Aunt Barbara Rudiak and my Uncle Mike Rudiak. You have always supported me, but your commitment to me, to the campaign, and to the City of Pittsburgh blew everyone away and I cannot imagine having done this without you. Thank you so much.

I also want to thank the members of my family who couldn’t be here today. For those of you who don’t know, my mother is from Poland, she was born there. My grandmother, who is 79 years old today, barely finished second grade before our family’s village was occupied by the Nazis and she was forced to drop out of school. She could never imagine, and still cannot fathom, that her granddaughter is standing here, as the first woman elected to represent Pittsburgh City Council District 4. And although my family is an ocean away, I know that they are with us in spirit.

In many ways, my family embodies the essential Pittsburgh story—we came from far away, looking for a new life and new opportunities. We struggled to work and save and make ends meet, toiled in the steel mills and the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and built this city from the ground up, always thinking of our children, and our children’s children.

My loved ones, and the experiences and values they have instilled in me are my compass, they are my guide through tough times, and they have given me the incredible foundation and support that have brought me here today.

I love you all, and I thank you so very much. I am blessed.

I also want to thank my staff for their hard work over the last year, and all of those who supported me including the SEIU, UFCW, Laborers, PFT, the Sierra Club, Stonewall Democrats, Young Democrats and many more…you know who you are and I thank you!

I want to thank all of the members of Council for your gracious advice and support during my transition. I have spoken with each one of you, and your guidance has been invaluable to me and my staff during this time. It has been support that I will not soon forget, and I thank you.

To Mayor Ravenstahl, the local delegation to the Pennsylvania Legislature, our County wide elected officials, and the invaluable City workers—from department directors all the way to road crews—I have enjoyed working with you through my time as a community leader and councilmember in transition and I look forward to working closely with you in the future.

On the campaign, we started small, but dreamt big. From our tiny office in Brookline, we knocked on doors for hours every day, through the bitter Pittsburgh winter and into the rainy spring. I met thousands of my neighbors, and I learned so much about the communities where I grew up, and where I call home.

The gift that my neighbors gave me was the peace of mind and clarity of purpose to help lead Pittsburgh into a new future, filled with opportunities for every Pittsburgher to grow and succeed.

I will carry this gift with me every day as your District 4 Council Member. And in return, I promise to continue the conversations that begin on the front porch to the Fifth Floor here on Grant Street. I will try to inspire YOU. I will ask you to be involved—to pick up a broom and work in your neighborhood, to organize your neighbors, and come down to this very chamber and hold our feet to the fire.

I ask you to BE INSPIRED and to build a better Pittsburgh with me!

There are countless stories from the campaign of people who stepped up and decided to make a difference for our communities. But one in particular stands out. One day, a man walked in to the campaign office and just wanted some information on my candidacy. His name was Jack. I talked to him for a little while, and he told me that while he no longer lives in Pittsburgh, he ran a community-oriented non-profit. So I asked if he wanted to volunteer with us—and after talking to me, he did. And he came back, again and again, especially in the closing weeks of the campaign.

What I said to Jack is what I have said to so many of my friends and neighbors over the last two years: I asked him to be a partner with our City, to be a Pittsburgher once again, and to be inspired to ask more of our political leadership and of our community.

I had coffee with Jack a few weeks ago, and I was surprised to learn that he was so inspired by that message, and by our campaign, that he mounted a grassroots campaign of his own. And I am pleased to say that on November 5th, the Borough of Carnegie elected a great new Mayor in Jack Kobistek, and the City of Pittsburgh gained a great new partner in the effort for regional cooperation.

I am asking people like Mayor Kobistek to be inspired to ask more of our leadership and our communities. And now is the time to step up and be heard—we are coming off of elections where only a small fraction of Pittsburghers showed up to vote. It’s unfortunate, but we have no one to blame but ourselves. By keeping their votes in their pockets, the people of Pittsburgh have sent us a powerful message—that we must do better.

We must do a better job of attracting new businesses and new opportunities. We must do a better job of tearing down abandoned housing and protecting our neighborhoods from crime and neglect. We must do a better job of showing people how to interface with City government, so we all can take ownership of it and start organizing for our communities.

This is our challenge: To build a better Pittsburgh house by house, street by street, and block by block. It will not be easy…this hard work will not be done in one week, or one year, or one term in office, but it must be done for our City and for our future.

We have received lavish praise from the national media for the progress we have made, there is no doubt about it. But people are still voting with their feet and moving out of our City, and we must fight this epidemic with every ounce of our spirit. We must be a city that is not just praised by Forbes Magazine, but is cherished by the sons and daughters of the great men and women who built this city with their bare hands and wrought determination.

All across this nation, Americans are struggling. The job losses have been staggering, and foreclosures unbearable. It’s important to remember that this economic climate has beat down so many American workers. How many families have been displaced? How many parents have lost their jobs? What were the holidays like this year for our neighbors … or even ourselves?

All across this country, big cities are hurting too, just like Pittsburgh. Cuts in state revenue, crumbling infrastructure, neighborhood de-stabilization—these are national problems. But the City who solves them first will become America’s next great urban center—our nation’s next great story of renewal, of change, and of hope. And so, we must tackle these issues with a zeal that is unmatched and a vigor that is unparalleled.

Pittsburgh needs a re-awakening—and all of us here today must lead it!

So when we talk about bringing investment to our neighborhoods, let us not forget the Pittsburgh families who will benefit. Because it’s Pittsburghers who will build the buildings and pave the roads — it’s Pittsburghers who will clean the offices and provide service to our guests – it’s Pittsburghers who will come home from a hard days’ work with food to put on the table and a heated house in which to tuck their children in at night.

When we talk about public safety, we aren’t just talking about abstract statistics and pie charts. We are talking about building healthy and attractive neighborhoods where families can settle and grow. Places that will offer stability and safety so children can navigate the challenging adolescent worlds of school and social life without also having to navigate the cultures of gang violence and drugs.

When we talk about our parks, we aren’t just talking about patches of grass, but real investments that make our neighborhoods fun destinations for young families. These are investments that will increase our tax revenue and give children a safe place to play.

When we talk about transparency, it’s not some pawn in a gotcha game of politics. It’s a way to give Pittsburghers information about how our government works, so we can take ownership of our communities and work to bring investments and change on our own.

Let us move forward with this new council, with this charge to build a better Pittsburgh house by house, street by street, and block by block. Let us work to inspire our friends and our neighbors to build this City up and make it America’s next great story of renewal and hope. But above all, let us work together, as a united council, to bring the investments to our neighborhoods that we deserve.

Thank you.

Listen for Natalia on the air!

matt — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:43:11 +0000

After months of meeting voters at events, at their doors, and in their mailboxes, Natalia Rudiak will be delivering her closing arguments for her campaign for Pittsburgh City Council in a radio ad that will be running throughout the day on Monday.

The ad can be heard here.

A transcript of Natalia’s message is below:

Hi, I’m Natalia Rudiak, Democrat for Pittsburgh City Council.

Brookline, Beechview, Bon Air, Carrick, Overbrook: You won’t find a stronger advocate for our neighborhoods in this race, because I was born here, I grew up here, and I’ve made my home here.

We understand that our neighborhoods have been neglected. And when I am elected, I will stand up for our communities. We deserve better; that’s why I’m running for City Council.

Tomorrow, please vote, and join me—Natalia Rudiak—in building a better Pittsburgh.

The ad will run every hour on KDKA-Radio 1020AM between 6am and 8pm, Monday, May 18.

Rudiak Raises $60,000 In Bid For Council

John Fournier — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:25:57 +0000

Natalia Rudiak will report $43,060.88 in contributions today since the last reporting deadline in January, bringing the total amount of money raised in her bid for Pittsburgh City Council to $59,940.73 in contributions. She ended the reporting period with $20,773.49 cash on hand, which will allow the campaign to explore several avenues to victory in the closing two weeks of the campaign.

“This is another example of the overwhelming support we have received in this race,” said Rudiak. “We have hundreds of donors, and the average donation is $50. This is truly a campaign being powered by a broad-based coalition of community leaders and concerned citizens.

“On May 19th the voters of district 4 will have their say, and we are confident we have the resources to make sure our message is heard throughout district 4 in the next week and a half.”

Rudiak has raised more money than either of her opponents in the race for District 4. She has raised three times as much money as Patrick Reilly, and two and half times as much money as Anthony Coghill, her two main competitors for the District 4 seat. She has almost twice as much cash on hand as Anthony Coghill and more than ten times that of Patrick Reilly. For a complete breakdown of finance reporting for the City of Pittsburgh, check out the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Rudiak campaign has shown itself to be the most organized campaign thus far in the election. At every benchmark, Rudiak has surpassed her opponents, most notably:

In January, the campaign reported nearly $20,000 in contributions while all other candidates reported $0.
In March, Rudiak turned in almost 1,100 petition signatures, more than all of her opponents combined.
To date, the Rudiak campaign has been endorsed by 16 labor unions and community organization, again more than all of her opponents combined.

Natalia Rudiak has positioned herself for a decisive victory on Election Day, and thanks to her supporters, that is exactly what she will deliver on May 19th!

RUDIAK ANNOUNCES KEY ENDORSEMENTS

Lizandra Vidal — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:35:48 +0000

March 24, 2009— Natalia Rudiak has announced several key endorsements in her campaign for Pittsburgh’s 4th District City Council seat. “We are thrilled and honored to have the support of so many people in the community, and these endorsements show that our issues-first, neighborhood-oriented campaign is really catching on in south Pittsburgh,” Natalia said.

Among the endorsements are:

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
The United Food and Commercial Workers local #23
The Sierra Club Allegheny Group
The American Federation of Government Employees local #1916
The AFSCME Retirees Sub-Chapter 8401

Natalia Rudiak is running for City Council to build a better Pittsburgh by protecting our neighborhoods from crime and neglect, rebuilding our business districts, and restoring public trust. Born and raised in south Pittsburgh, Natalia has been actively involved in community organizations across south Pittsburgh for years.

Natalia Rudiak is available for interviews by contacting John Fournier at (734) 516-2958.

Pittsburgh’s 4^th City Council District consists of the neighborhoods Brookline, Beechview, Overbrook, and Bon Air and parts of Carrick and Mt. Washington

Rudiak Endorsed by Young Dems

John Fournier — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:20:56 +0000

January 26, 2009—Natalia Rudiak has earned the endorsement of the Young Democrats of Allegheny County in her bid to represent Pittsburgh’s fourth City Council district. Voting by the organization’s Executive Committee took place following the annual candidates’ meeting, which took place on January 22.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement from the Young Democrats of Allegheny County,” said Rudiak. “After graduating from college, I made the decision to buy a home in the neighborhood in southern Pittsburgh where I was born and raised. I plan to raise my family here, and I want all children to have the same close-knit support system that I had growing up. I am humbled that YDAC recognized that as a member of Pittsburgh City Council, I will fight to renew our neighborhoods, rebuild our business districts, and help to make southern Pittsburgh a place where young people want to live in and move to.”

YDAC President Brian O’Malley said, “The Executive Committee recognized that Natalia has worked tirelessly to make her community within Pittsburgh a great place for young people to be. Whether it’s organizing community support for a mural in Carrick, attending block watch meetings in Brookline, or picking up litter in Beechview, Natalia has a record of leadership and will be a fantastic addition to Pittsburgh’s City Council.”

The Young Democrats of Allegheny County is the local chapter of the Young Democrats of America and are chartered by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.

Pittsburgh’s 4th City Council District consists of the neighborhoods Brookline, Beechview, Overbrook, and Bon Air and parts of Carrick and Mt. Washington.

Natalia Rudiak To Run For Pittsburgh City Council

John Fournier — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:58:48 +0000

January 16, 2009—On Thursday, January 29, Democrat Natalia Rudiak will announce to supporters that she will seek election to District 4 of Pittsburgh’s City Council. The announcement will take place at the public opening of her campaign office, located at 754 Brookline Blvd at 7pm.

“I am looking forward to talking with my neighbors throughout the community about renewing our neighborhoods and business districts, restoring public safety, and reaffirming our place within the City of Pittsburgh,” Rudiak said. “I was born and raised right here in our South neighborhoods, and I want our children to enjoy the same close-knit support system that helped me to grow and succeed.”

Rudiak will also submit her campaign’s 2008 campaign finance report on February 2, which will show that, as of December 31, she enters the race having raised over $16,000 in contributions and support from nearly 150 individuals. On January 15, the Allegheny County Division of Elections reported that no other candidate has registered a campaign committee, which allows them to raise or spend money in this race.

Natalia Rudiak is available for interviews by contacting John Fournier at (734) 516-2958.

Pittsburgh’s 4th City Council District consists of the neighborhoods Brookline, Beechview, Overbrook, and Bon Air and parts of Carrick and Mt. Washington.