On today’s episode of The Confluence: The Port Authority Board has approved extending CEO Katharine Kelleman’s contract for another four years; a bill in the state legislature aims to provide money for weatherization and home repairs; and a conversation with the former FBI and CIA director about his family’s experience with elder fraud.
Today’s guests include: Katharine Kelleman, CEO of the Port Authority of Allegheny County; state Rep. Sara Innamorato; and William Webster, former FBI and CIA director, and his wife Lynda Webster.
Port Authority won’t reinstate mask mandate on transit
(0:00 - 7:26)
The Port of Allegheny County’s board voted unanimously last week to retain CEO Katharine Kelleman for another four years. She has led the organization since 2018, navigating the region’s public transit system through the pandemic.
“[The ways in which] folks are using transportation is really different, and as we are able to redeploy maybe to later night services, maybe more weekends, maybe overnight, we're comfortable that we can… accommodate as folks are coming back out and using the system differently.”
Despite ridership remaining at about 50% of pre-pandemic levels, Kelleman believes that recent increases in ridership, as well as partnerships with local universities, will allow the agency to stick with its newly approved budget increases.
Kelleman also says that the agency will not go back to a mask mandate, but they still recommend masking on public transit.
State politicians consider legislation to help residents pay for needed home repairs
(7:26- 14:34)
Pennsylvania has the fourth oldest housing stock in the nation. According to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, 58% of homes in the state were built before 1970. With that age comes leaky roofs, exposed wiring, and unreliable plumbing- deficiencies that can be detrimental to the health of residents.
Members of the state Senate and the House have concurrently proposed the Whole-Home Repairs Act, which would provide grants to homeowners and “mom and pop” landlords, allowing them to weatherize their homes and make necessary repairs.
“The problem of affordable housing, and the housing crisis overall, is a behemoth problem, and not one policy is going to be the silver bullet,” says State Rep. Sara Inamorato, the prime sponsor of the house bill. “[This bill] is going to solve one problem and that's stabilizing our current housing stock.”
Innamorato and her fellow Democrats hope that the bill will be worked into the upcoming budget, tapping into the state’s multi-billion-dollar surplus. Six Republican members of the General Assembly have co-sponsored the bills, giving them a greater chance of being passed in the GOP-controlled legislature.
Nationwide increase in elder fraud cases raises alarm
(14:34 - 22:30)
Last year, more than 92,000 people over the age of 60 were victims of elder fraud, losing more than 1.7 billion dollars. This kind of scam can include telling someone they won the lottery or a car, they just need to pay the shipping costs, or it can be a romance scam, preying on those who might be looking for companionship.
A lottery-type scam was attempted on the former FBI and CIA Director William Webster and his wife Lynda Webster. She says she has started taking precautions to make sure they will not be the victim of a scam.
“I look at the credit card statements. Not being a spy, I'm married to a spy, but I'm not being one,” Lynda Webster says. “But I am protecting our future. It's my future, too. It's our family's future. So I would encourage family to have the discussion about scamming frequently. Once is not enough because Grandma and Grandpa might not remember you had the conversation, so it needs to be repeated.”
The FBI allows the public to submit tips about potential scams online.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
