Southwest PA News

Doug Mastriano, a state senator for Pennsylvania's District 33, has accused Governor Josh Shapiro of using public funds for political purposes. Mastriano claimed that Shapiro awarded $5 million to a Philadelphia mosque while other urgent issues remain unresolved. The statement was made in a post on the social media platform X.

"Josh Shapiro just handed $5 million in taxpayer money to a mosque in Philadelphia — and people are rightfully asking: Why," said Douglas Vincent Mastriano. "While Western Pennsylvanians pleaded for help amid a toxic catastrophe, Shapiro was partying in a luxury skybox at the Super Bowl in Arizona. That $5 million could have gone to countless other deserving causes — organizations like the Sisters of the Poor, for example. This is taxpayer money being used as political currency, and it seems hypocritical."

According to WHYY, Governor Shapiro allocated a $5 million state grant to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society in Philadelphia. The funds are intended for community space renovations and security upgrades. This grant is part of Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and has been commended by local leaders as an investment in safety and inclusion. The center has served North Philadelphia for decades and has experienced multiple hate incidents.

Safety concerns have also been raised elsewhere in the state. On February 3, 2023, the East Palestine train derailment released hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, over 1.1 million gallons of hazardous materials were involved. Although East Palestine is located in Ohio, its proximity to western Pennsylvania prompted residents there to express concerns and request state assistance. Some critics argue that funds like the $5 million granted to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society could have been more effectively directed toward emergency recovery efforts such as those needed in East Palestine.

In June 2023, another significant safety issue arose when a section of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia. The collapse affected more than 160,000 daily commuters but was repaired within 12 days using rapid-set materials. President Joe Biden and Governor Shapiro praised the swift recovery efforts during public appearances at the site, highlighting the importance of infrastructure maintenance and public safety.

Doug Mastriano has represented Pennsylvania's 33rd District since 2019. A retired U.S. Army Colonel with over three decades of military service, including deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mastriano holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. in history. He has been active on issues such as veterans’ affairs, election reform, and religious freedom.