February 2024 Newsletter

(Feb 20, 2024)

Newsletter for the 96th legislative district. Read more

 

State Grants Workshop

(Feb 12, 2024)

Rep Sturla and Rep Smith-Wade-El will be co-hosting on Thursday, September 19 from 10am-1pm at the IU 13 Conference Center, 1020 New Holland Ave, Lancaster Read more

 

Register for Back to School Event

(Feb 12, 2024)

Rep Sturla is partnering with Rep Ismail Smith-Wade-El to host his 13th Annual Back to School Event on Sunday, August 18 from 12-2:30pm at Clipper Magazine Stadium (650 N Prince St, Lancaster). Read more

 

Public Safety Fair

(Feb 12, 2024)

The Public Safety Fair will be on Saturday, May 11 from 12-3pm at Manheim Township Fire Rescue Station 201, 1399 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster. Read more

 

House Democratic Leaders laud significant, targeted investments proposed in education funding report

(Jan 11, 2024)

Pennsylvania House Democratic Leaders today issued the following statement on a report and recommendations passed by the Basic Education Funding Commission today: Read more

 

November 2023 Newsletter

(Nov 13, 2023)

Newsletter for the 96th legislative district. Read more

 

10/23/23 House Housing & Community Development Committee Meeting Materials

(Oct 24, 2023)

Materials from the House Housing & Community Development Meeting on housing development in Lancaster on 10/23/23. Read more

 

Sturla to host House Housing & Community Development Committee roundtable on housing development in Lancaster on Monday

(Oct 17, 2023)

LANCASTER, Oct. 17 – State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, announced today that he will be chairing and hosting a House Housing & Community Development Committee roundtable on housing development at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23 at the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, Rooms 2E/2F,115 East King St., Lancaster. Sturla, who serves as majority chair of the committee, will be joined by Republican Chair Rich Irvin, R-Huntingdon/Franklin, and other committee members from across the state. They will hold a discussion with local organizations and developers about Lancaster’s housing development efforts and how the state can provide support. Panelists will include: Barbara Wilson , executive director, Lancaster City Housing Authority. Dana Hanchin , president and CEO, HDC MidAtlantic. Shelby Nauman , CEO, Tenfold. Chad Martin , executive director, Chestnut Housing. Lisa Greener , executive director, Community Basics, Inc. Chris Ballentine , community relations manager, Willow Valley Communities. David Martens , president, Zamagias Properties. Benjamin Lesher , president and founder, Parcel B Development Company. Matthew Richards , principal, Bowery Development Company. John Dantinne , owner/president, George St. Properties. Rob Bowman , president, Charter Homes and Neighborhoods. Brad Mowbray , senior vice president and managing Read more

 

PA House Housing & Community Development Committee hosts residential construction protections hearing

(Aug 30, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30 – State Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila., today hosted a PA House Housing & Community Development Committee public hearing at Philadelphia City Hall on residential construction protections. During the hearing, the committee heard from three panels of testifiers. On the first panel was Ralph DiPietro, commissioner of Licenses and Inspection, city of Philadelphia; Jennifer Horn, founding partner, Horn Williamson LLC; and Daryn Edwards, co-chair of the Housing and Community Development Task Force, American Institute of Architects Pennsylvania. The second panel consisted of Venise Whitaker, founder, Riverwards L+I Coalition; Tamica Tanksley, an impacted resident; Michelle Gaffney, an impacted resident; Dr. Terrie Lewine, an impacted resident; and Drew Miller, paralegal for Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. The final panel was made up of Annette Stevens, financial officer, Code Administrators; Shawn Strausbaugh, director of technical services, Code Administrators; and Mary Collins, co-chair of the Government Affairs Committee, Building Industry Association of Philadelphia. “It’s vital that we pass legislation that protects what is many families’ most valuable asset and possession -- their homes,” Hohenstein said. “I’ve heard numerous heartbreaking stories of families in Philadelphia who have spent thousands on residential Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation advancing eviction reform

(Aug 30, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30 – In response to a series of violent incidents involving landlord-tenant officers taking place in the city, members of the Philadelphia House Delegation today said the organization has been working hand in hand with the House Housing and Community Development Committee to help end the practice of private contractors performing eviction services. As part of this collaboration, both organizations held a public hearing Tuesday in the Philadelphia City Council Chambers on proposed reforms regarding landlord and tenant officers and evictions. Rep. Morgan Cephas, chair of the Philadelphia House Delegation, explained that a vital concern is that the eviction services are executed by people without the proper training, and carrying guns. “Moving forward there needs to be accountability and transparency with an agency that is responsible to the citizens of Philadelphia,” Cephas said. “We are determined to take this task away from the unaccountable, private entities. “We respect the need for landlords to run their business and receive their payments in a timely manner. However, the need for compassionate, respectful interaction with tenants was made obvious in the hearing,” she added. Rep. Mike Sturla, chair of the PA House Housing and Community Development Committee, highlighted that when it comes to housing it is important to look at the Read more

 

Education Flyer – English

(Aug 10, 2023)

Rep. Sturla provided this education flyer at his Back to School Event on August 13, 2023. Read more

 

Education Flyer – Spanish

(Aug 10, 2023)

Rep. Sturla provided this education flyer at his Back to School Event on August 13, 2023. Read more

 

Basic Education Funding Commission Announces Schedule

(Aug 10, 2023)

BEFC announces schedule. Read more

 

Sturla to hold Transportation Town Hall Tuesday at Lancaster Airport

(Jul 24, 2023)

LANCASTER, July 24 – State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, will hold a Transportation Town Hall on Tuesday, July 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lancaster Airport, 500 Airport Road, Lititz. Sturla will be joined by state and local transportation officials: PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. Rich Reisinger, acting District 8 executive, PennDOT. Kevin Keefe, assistant District 8 executive for construction, PennDOT. Will Clark, director for land use and transportation, Lancaster County MPO. Ed Foster, executive director, Lancaster Airport. Sturla’s constituents will hear the latest on local transportation issues and then have a chance to ask questions. Sturla’s staff will also be on site to field questions about state-related issues and provide information about state programs and other services. Read more

 

Phillips-Hill, Sturla appointed co-chairs of bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission

(May 10, 2023)

Joint press release with Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill. Read more

 

April 2023 Newsletter

(May 02, 2023)

Newsletter for the 96th legislative district. Read more

 

Constituent Survey

(Apr 13, 2023)

Share your thoughts about legislative issues and events. Read more

 

McClinton Reaffirms House Democrats' Commitment to Ensuring Fair Education Funding, Fixing Unconstitutional System

(Apr 11, 2023)

HARRISBURG, April 11 – Citing February’s landmark Commonwealth Court ruling that Pennsylvania’s education funding system is unconstitutional, Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said today that the state needs to act now to fix the inequitable system that has shortchanged a generation of students, and reappointed state Reps. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, and Mary Isaacson, D-Phila., to serve on the state’s Basic Education Funding Commission. Sturla and Isaacson will join House Education Committee Chairman Pete Schweyer, D-Lehigh, on the commission. “These three lawmakers are proven leaders on education issues and true champions for our public schools and students,” McClinton said. “Pennsylvania’s shared future depends on a well-educated workforce, and we build that future today by ensuring our students thrive academically, socially and civically. We need to tackle the commonwealth’s school funding challenge thoughtfully and swiftly.” The Basic Education Funding Commission was first established in 2014 to address the inequities in Basic Education Funding across the commonwealth and examine the state’s Basic Education Funding formula. The commission released a report in 2015 recommending the General Assembly adopt a new formula to deliver state dollars to Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts. By accounting for need-based factors like student enrollment and local wealth, the Read more

 

Sturla and Smith-Wade-El secure $2.3M for Lancaster transportation and public works projects

(Mar 16, 2023)

LANCASTER, March 16 – State Reps. Mike Sturla and Ismail Smith-Wade-El, both D-Lancaster, announced today that they had secured $2,326,905 for Lancaster’s multimodal and local public improvement projects from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. “I thank the CFA for recognizing the important work of our local organizations and the City of Lancaster to our community,” Sturla said. “These vital awards will enable them to continue to enhance their services for the benefit of our residents.” “We are proud and grateful to have been able to secure these funds which will serve critical housing, social and community development needs,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Thank you to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for sharing this community’s vision of what we all deserve.” The funding will help the following projects: $200,000 to the City of Lancaster to construct an eastbound bicycle lane on Fulton Street in Lancaster City. $400,000 for South Ann Concerned Neighbors to construct a community hub where all neighborhood individuals are provided community resources. $476,905 for SACA Development Corporation to complete building renovations to their human services facility, El Centro Hispano. $250,000 for Tenfold to complete a comprehensive renovation its 112-year-old TLC shelter facility, to provide better temporary housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. $1,000,000 for YWCA Read more

 

Sturla named chair of Housing and Community Development Committee

(Mar 07, 2023)

HARRISBURG, March 7 – State. Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, has been named the majority chair of the House Housing and Community Development Committee by Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila., for the 2023-24 legislative session. “Having served as the Democratic chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee last session, I proposed that the committee be renamed the Housing and Community Development Committee to better reflect the committee’s work. I look forward to continuing the committee’s efforts to address important issues, such as affordable housing, blight, redevelopment and growth management.” Sturla added, “Since I was the majority chair of the House Professional Licensure Committee during the 2007-08 legislative session, I am prepared to effectively serve as a majority chair again and I expect a productive bipartisan session.” The Republican chair of the House Housing and Community Development Committee is Rep. Rich Irvin, R-Huntingdon/Franklin. The committee officially organized today in the House chamber. Committee members are Reps. Aerion Abney, D-Allegheny; Anthony Bellmon, D-Phila., Amen Brown, D-Phila.; Jose Giral, D-Phila.; Roni Green, D-Phila.; Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; Rick Krajewski, D-Phila.; Dave Madsen, D-Dauphin; Josh Siegel, D-Lehigh; Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster; James Barton, R-Schuylkill/Berks; Jill Cooper, R- Westmoreland; Thomas Jones, Read more