Meet Erika

Erika started her career as an environmental advocate, fighting for clean water and healthy air. Working in environmental advocacy for nine years, Erika organized and empowered communities to stand up to big corporations and demand clean air, clean water, clean energy, and climate justice. For the past seven years, she has proudly served East End residents, first as District 8 Chief of Staff, and now as a Council Member. She is running for re-election to ensure that what she has accomplished thus far is only the beginning.

Since being sworn in on City Council in 2018, Erika passed legislation to guard against employment discrimination for pregnant workers and their partners throughout Pittsburgh; led the charge to overhaul and modernize Pittsburgh’s waste and recycling code; passed policies to prevent against discrimination based on gender identity and expression, as well as citizenship status and language spoken. As the Council Member representing part of Squirrel Hill, Erika was immediately impacted by the October 27, 2018 synagogue shooting. In response, she helped lead the way on a package of gun sense ordinances and an increase in funding for the City’s violence prevention initiatives. She has been an outspoken advocate for environmental justice, gender equity, communities that welcome and work for everyone, safe, complete streets, and an open, transparent, and responsive government, and is passionate about offering new ways for all city residents to be informed & involved in city government.

Erika also serves as Vice-Chair of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and sits on the boards of the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museums, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, and the Advisory Committee of the National Council of Jewish Women’s Center for Women. She is also a member of NewDEAL Leaders, a national organization of local and state leaders. She lives in Squirrel Hill with her husband, Jordan and their son, Evan.