Latest news with #TylerTitus
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie City Co. votes to update ‘Tenant Bill of Rights' to remedy unfair landlord costs
Erie City Council passed an amendment Wednesday morning to the ordinance that has been referred to as the Tenant Bill of Rights. Council members call it a small change that puts the city's law in line with the commonwealth's. Fire marshals can now give citations to drivers parked by fire hydrants, in fire lanes It involves a $15 application fee that potential tenants pay landlords when they apply for housing. Under the old ordinance, if they were turned down, the tenant would get that fee back. Erie County Council votes on appropriation of ICE funds But since landlords do background checks that cost money to conduct, if they turn a tenant down, they'd be taking on that fee regularly. 'This ordinance not only is putting everyone's rights in one spot, but it's also allowed more conversations around the education on what renters need to know and what landlords need to know to work together. It's creating a new collaboration that we didn't see happening before,' said Erie City Council member Tyler Titus. Titus said this was about rectifying an unfair step for landlords and that no other language in the ordinance was impacted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie City Council approves home rule charter ordinance. What's next?
City of Erie voters will get to weigh in on whether the city should study a new form of government. Erie City Council, during its regular meeting on April 16, voted 5-0 to give final approval to an ordinance regarding what's known as a home rule form of government. The ordinance, which was approved 5-0 on second reading without discussion, does not put home rule in place. Instead, it authorizes the creation of a ballot question that would ask city voters if they want to launch a nine-member commission to study the possibility of moving to a home rule charter. The question is expected to be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 municipal election. Further, citizens interested in serving on the home rule commission would have to be elected to those posts in relation to the ballot question. Those candidates will be required to collect 200 non-partisan signatures on nominating petitions, similar to what other candidates for elected office are required to do. Erie County Director of Elections Tonia Fernandez said the date to start circulating those petitions, and the deadline for submitting them to county elections officials, has yet to be determined. City Council gave preliminary approval to the ordinance on April 2. City Council rejected a similar ordinance in January after some members said they felt the issue was being rushed. Council members Tyler Titus, Ed Brzezinski, Jasmine Flores, Maurice Troop and Kathy Schaaf voted for the ordinance. Two of their colleagues, Council President Mel Witherspoon and Chuck Nelson, were absent Wednesday. If city voters approve a home rule study, the commission would compile a public report on what home rule government might look like in Erie and make a recommendation on whether or not to move forward with home rule. Then Erie voters would either approve or reject home rule through a second ballot question. The entire process could take years. Please enable Javascript to view this content. The process would essentially empower city government to create its own constitution with greater flexibility and independence regarding issues such as city operations, taxation and executive/legislative structure. Erie currently adheres to the state's Third Class City Code, with an optional charter, in terms of how its government operates. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, 'the basic authority to act in municipal affairs is transferred from state law, as set forth by the General Assembly, to a local charter, adopted and amended by the voters." Home rule municipalities also have significant latitude to craft their own governmental rules in various areas, according to DCED, except where specifically limited by state law. Nelson is among those who has advocated for the home rule study, saying the move would give citizens more say on how the city is governed and give city officials more ability to craft laws and make decisions based on needs specific to Erie. Voters in Lancaster recently approved a home rule study. Two other third-class cities in Pennsylvania, Reading and Allentown, adopted home rule decades ago. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie voters will get chance to weigh in on home rule charter
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie Community Foundation donates $15,000 for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention
Advocates of the LGBTQ+ community say it's more important now than ever before to provide safe spaces for everyone. That's why the Erie Community Foundation continues to support the work that goes into it as well. Erie Land Bank changing policies to help drive development Statistics show that LGBTQ+ youth have higher risks of anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies than other groups. And investments into nonprofits like Compton's Table are what can help tip the scale in the other direction. 'Over the past several months we've seen several executive orders that have really been targeting the trans and the queer community stripping us of rights that we've been fighting for for centuries and decades really,' said Tyler Titus, the founder of Compton's Table. Titus said a statistic that keeps them up at night is a staggering 50% of LGBTQ youth have regular instances of suicidal ideation. And it's why groups like the Erie Community Foundation are continuing to support the work of nonprofits like Compton's Table. State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro named Advocate of the Year for anti-SLAPP law 'The LGBT fund is a really special group of people who are so passionate about turning around, taking their own experience as community members, or their passions as allies and using that to drive improvements for the LGBTQ+ community and this grant is a really perfect example of that,' said Olivia Burgess, director of collective giving for the Erie Community Foundation. The community foundation's LGBT fund is awarding $15,000 to Compton's Table to support youth programs. True North is a four-session life skills and empowerment program meant to help LGBTQ people ages 16-24. It gives them skills in things like career development, budgeting, self-care and beyond promoting confidence and resilience. Chat n' chill is what it sounds like, a safe space for peer groups to connect for open conversations regarding whatever might be happening in their lives. 'It was life-changing. I was able to learn life skills like how to cook, clean, be a good roommate and live with other people. They break it down into these nice bite-sized lessons each week so it's not too overwhelming for people. Especially when you're young, queer, and maybe even neurodivergent, it can be harder to absorb information like that,' said Sunny, a mentor at True North for Compton's Table. 'We need to create these people where can just show up as their full authentic self and just do things that teen and young adults do,' Titus went on to say. LECOM Health offers Erie's first treatment for Alzheimer's, dementia Titus said studies show that all it takes is just for one adult to be accepting of that individual and the risk of suicidal ideologies decreases by 40%. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Erie Police Department awarded $1M in grants for new tech
The Erie Police Department is getting money from the federal government that will help officers track and reduce crime. In today's day and age, technology is advancing in both the ways officers respond to and solve crimes. According to the deputy chief, this funding is much needed for the department. Bayfront traffic light near full opperation Erie City Council met wednesday morning and on top of their agenda, four grant ordinances were on the line for final passage. 'We had money that is being allocated through grants and just making sure that went through was a unanimous passage,' said Tyler Titus, vice chair of Erie City Council. Half of those grants approved were for the Erie Police Department. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in auto theft. This is believed to be due to trends on social media app TikTok where younger generations find different ways to steal vehicles. Elm Street Walmart reopens, police continue to investigate following bomb threat The city applied for the Encouraging Innovation Program through the Department of Justice and was one of three municipalities in the nation to be approved. One million dollars will be used to fund an additional auto theft detective position for their unit. 'We have a technology coordinator now that we didn't have 20 years ago. With technology changing obviously we as the police department need to change as well,' said Rick Lorah, deputy chief of police for the City of Erie. This is a full-time position for three years and will include travel for extra training as well. Another grant that was approved during the city council meeting was an upgrade to police equipment which included license plate readers integrated into the dash cam. Nearly $82,000 will be used for the vehicles' computers and batteries for handheld radios. Deputy Chief Lorah said these technologies can be expensive but important to keep up on. 'LPRs, in-car cameras, body cams has not only helped us solve some major crimes in the city but it's helped a lot as far as prosecuting criminals that are committing crimes in the city. Keeping up with technology is an extremely important aspect of policing in America as well as here in Erie,' Lorah went on to say. City of Erie Streets Dept. introduces 'pothole hotline' to help clean up winter damage Deputy Chief Lorah said things like this usually take time but they plan to post the position soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
