On today’s episode of The Confluence:
Tom Wolf granted a record number of pardons as governor
(0:00 - 8:35)
Tom Wolf finished off his two terms as governor by granting 369 pardons in his final week, for a total of 2,540 pardons over eight years. That’s more than double the previous record number of pardons, set by former Gov. Ed Rendell.
“So, 2,500 is a good number of pardons, and it's great. On the other hand… when you have millions of Pennsylvanians with criminal records, the problem with the pardon system is that it's just not up to the scale of the problem,” says Sharon Dietrich, litigation director for Community Legal Services, based in Philadelphia.
Dietrich says the current pardon system isn't constructed to potentially clear the criminal records of millions of people.
Pennsylvania was the first state with a “Clean Slate” law, but Dietrich says it should be expanded so that people convicted of drug felonies, but with 10 years of a clear record, can more easily have their record sealed. Dietrich says the research shows if someone maintains a clean record four year after a conviction, their risk of reoffend is the same as a member of the general population getting arrested.
The Community College of Allegheny County received a boost in funding, despite a declining student population
(8:46 - 17:15)
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) got a boost in funding from the county for next year. This money comes as the school’s student population has dropped; for the 2021 to 2022 school year, the school served 30,356 students, a decrease from prior years.
Allegheny County’s operating budget allocated about $28.3 million to CCAC, with an additional $2.8 million in funding.
With the COVID-19 pandemic changing how students look at educational attainment, President Quintin Bullock says the extra money will help the college expand the number of tutors, advisors and behavioral health services offered.
“With the increased availability of jobs, more competitive wages, many of the students that we serve have either transitioned from being a full-time student to a part-time student,” says Bullock. “Instead of being with those two years, they [students] like six months, one year training where they are able to get a specific credential and go directly in the workplace with the ability to continue their studies while working.”
CCAC is currently building a Workforce Development and Training Center, which is slated to be completed this summer. Bullock says the center will offer programs in technology, manufacturing, automation, and a new School of Culinary Arts.
Why are some Pittsburgh streets private, and who is allowed to use them?
(17:21 - 22:30)
In some Allegheny County communities, you’ll find streets that are designated as “private.” For our Good Question! series, 90.5 WESA’s Katie Blackley looks into what that means.
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.
