On today’s episode of The Confluence:
County Police review board still has no members, unclear when people will be appointed
(0:00 - 7:15)
In April of last year, Allegheny County Council voted to create an Independent Police Review board. More than a year later, county officials have yet to appoint a single person to the nine-member board. Charlie Wolfson, PublicSource’s enterprise reporter, says it’s unclear why the process has drawn out this long.
Board members couldn’t have been seated until the first of this year with the County Council and county executive having to choose candidates. Currently, the County Council has narrowed their picks down to a slate of six, which they will then trim down to four. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald gets to appoint another four to the board, with the ninth member coming from a consensus between the council and executive.
“Different council members have different visions for what the board could look like,” says Wolfson. “Some may push for more former law enforcement officers, some may push for people who have been heavily involved in police accountability. So I think you're going to see a mix that eventually ends up on the board.”
As designed, the board can only investigate the Allegheny County Police. For other local agencies to be included under the board, municipalities must opt-in to the program.
Pittsburgh educators react to bills restricting LGBTQ+ discussions
(7:19 - 17:16)
The state Senate recently passed legislation that would prohibit teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation to pre-K-5 students in public schools in Pennsylvania. Across the country, students are in districts where discussions about gender identity and LGBTQ communities might be restricted.
Sheila May Stein, a librarian at Perry Traditional Academy and the coordinator of the Gay-Straight Alliance, believes that the law could worsen the suicidal thoughts that LGBTQ students already experience.
“I find that [the legislation] will be super damaging and it could ultimately end up with dead children,” says Stein. “Our kids need to be affirmed in every possible way.”
According to the bill’s sponsors, this bill also aims to improve transparency between school districts and parents. One requirement would be that schools must notify parents of changes in “the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional or physical health or well-being and the school's ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student.” The bill includes an exemption for students that show reasonable proof that sharing the information with guardians would result in abuse or abandonment.
“It's hard to prove in all cases that there would be abuse or abandonment,” says Dakota Rottino-Garilli, a school-based therapist at Perry High School. “And I think the Child Protective Services also likes to lean on the possibility of unifying families and keeping families intact. So, they may be less likely to perceive that there can be potential abuse or abandonment, which might lead to more kids being outed.”
Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the “Empowering Families in Education” bill if it passes the house.
Local non-profit aims to help Afghan refugees settle into life in Pittsburgh
(17:20 - 22:30)
Following the U.S.’s withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan, nearly 700 Afghans have sought refuge in Pittsburgh. The non-profit ARYSE has been working, since August, to accommodate the youth who have fled from their home country.
WESA’s education reporter Sarah Schneider spoke with members of the organization to learn about the challenges facing Afghan youth, following their immigration to America.
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.
