Keeping Our Region Moving

Rep. Jen Mazzocco July 29, 2026 | 4:25 PM

I was proud to join Gov. Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Davis and other leaders to celebrate the early reopening of the Commercial Street Bridge this past Monday.

While the bridge is outside our district, it serves as an important route that many South Hills residents use to access the Turnpike and destinations east and south of Pittsburgh. Reopening it ahead of schedule means fewer disruptions, less time spent sitting in traffic and serves as another reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together to deliver infrastructure projects efficiently. My thanks go to everyone who made this enormous effort possible, especially the incredible workers of the Pittsburgh Building Trades!

Also in transportation, this past week I co-hosted a transit-oriented development roundtable in Castle Shannon with Rep. Inglis, welcoming fellow Western Pennsylvania legislators, local officials, and community development leaders.

Our district is uniquely connected by public transit, creating tremendous opportunities for our communities. We discussed ways to strengthen neighborhoods around our stations by supporting local businesses, expanding housing options, improving walkability, and preserving the character that makes our communities special.

I appreciated hearing from representatives of Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Mobilify, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, municipal leaders, and my House colleagues. Joining us from the House were Reps. Inglis, Powell, Deasy, Kinkead, Benham, Salisbury, Kulik, and Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Bizzarro. These conversations help ensure future investments reflect the needs and priorities of the South Hills and surrounding communities.

This week's happenings!

Later this week, I’m scheduled to join Rep. Natalie Mihalek to recognize a terrific group of Upper St. Clair student-athletes who captured WPIAL and PIAA Track & Field championships this season. It is always a privilege to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of the talented young people in our communities.

I’m also planning on taking part in a legislative tour at Turner’s Dairy Farms to learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing Pennsylvania agriculture. Supporting local farms means supporting local jobs, strengthening our economy, and helping families have access to fresh and locally produced food.

I hope you’ll stop by on Friday and visit our table as part of Mt. Lebanon’s Final Friday celebration in Uptown, or come see us Saturday morning at the Mt. Lebanon Partnership Uptown Farmers Market! These events are great opportunities to support our small businesses, connect with neighbors, and enjoy fresh produce from Pennsylvania farmers. Whether you’re visiting the Uptown market or another farmers’ market in the district, I encourage you to shop local whenever you can.

My staff and I will also be participating in Baldwin Township’s National Night Out, an event that brings together residents, first responders, and community organizations. Events like these remind us that strong neighborhoods are built through partnerships, and I’m grateful to everyone who helps make our communities safe and welcoming.

And we’d love to see you at an upcoming Pop-Up Office event, where my staff and I bring state government-related services directly to you. We’ll be at locations across the district throughout August, so stop by and visit with questions about services or just to chat. I look forward to meeting you!

Senior Resource Fair

We’re now less than two months away from my first annual Senior Resource Fair, and I’m excited to bring this event to our district. We’ll be at the Salvation Army on McNeilly Road from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, September 25. Our seniors have given so much to our communities, and they deserve easy access to the services and support that help them stay healthy, independent, and connected.

Harrisburg News & Updates

Now that the 2026-27 state budget has passed, I am focused on the important work ahead. The budget includes a historic investment in public education, providing additional funding for K-12 schools, career and technical education, school safety, and student mental health. As a former educator, I’m proud to support these efforts to strengthen our schools, expand opportunities for students, and help school districts meet the needs of students and families across our communities.

This past Thursday, I was called to Harrisburg to vote on House Bill 1042, legislation that would end mandatory life-without-parole sentences in cases of second-degree felony murder in Pennsylvania. I voted for the bill to stay in lockstep with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which decided in March that these sentences were disproportionate and cruel.

I’m proud of the legislation passed by the House. HB 1042 would provide parole eligibility after 30 years for individuals serving a second-degree murder conviction. More than half of the approximately 1,000 people in Pennsylvania currently serving unconstitutional sentences would be eligible for parole consideration if this legislation becomes law. Each case would continue to receive an individualized review by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, with victims’ voices remaining an important part of that process. The bill also includes provisions allowing incarcerated individuals to earn credit toward early parole consideration, as well as provisions for the medical release of seriously ill incarcerated individuals.

Overall, this bill addresses our constitutional responsibility to act while avoiding a resentencing process that could take many years to complete and could result in inconsistent outcomes across the state. It also provides a common-sense, reasonable approach to reducing the prison population while making our criminal justice system fairer and more humane.

Currently, there is no agreement between the House and Senate on this issue. This article from Spotlight PA explains the situation in more detail, including what happens next. Please reach out to me with your thoughts or questions.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, our office is here to help. You can reach us by phone at 412-343-3870 or visit us at 650 Washington Road, Suite 102, in Mt. Lebanon.