Residents tell council to halt Panther Hollow EV project, raise veteran banner fees and transit gaps

During the public-comment portion of the standing committees meeting, several residents raised distinct neighborhood and service concerns.

Carino Jolo of Panther Hollow urged the University of Pittsburgh and contractor Dukane Light Company to stop an EV charging-station project he said violated a 1982 community agreement and threatened the neighborhood’s Italian-immigration cultural character. "The EV charging stations project is a shameful wrongdoing on all levels," Jolo said, urging direct engagement with the community.

Unique Brown from the Hill District challenged what she described as unequal pricing for military tribute banners, saying families in the Hill District were being asked to pay $449 while nearby municipalities charge far less. "Why does it cost so much more for some families to honor the people they love?" she asked the council.

Yvan S. Brown, a senior resident, described persistent gaps in transit service from his senior apartment to Mercy Hospital and recounted unsuccessful attempts to secure Port Authority help from his county council representative.

The comments were recorded for the public record; no formal council action on these specific complaints was taken during the meeting. Council members acknowledged the testimony and in some cases directed staff to follow up where appropriate.