✈️ An insider guide to PIT airport

City Council Passes 2024 Budget

The nearly $845 million spending plan was approved by City Council on Monday with few changes from Mayor Gainey’s original proposal — except for a $2.3 million increase for City Council salaries and new initiatives. Here are some highlights:

• Fewer budgeted police officers, from 900 to 850
• More for bridge maintenance and repairs
• More for traffic calming measures
• Expansion of the sidewalk PILOT program
• 15 new staffers on the Environmental Services team
• New vehicles for fire, EMS, and police fleets
• 12 new civilian Community Service Aides
• No tax increases [90.5 WESA / City of Pittsburgh]

Pittsburgh Bans Foie Gras

The French delicacy is made by force feeding unhealthy amounts of food to an animal to enlarge its liver, and establishments will now be fined $500 per violation. A New York Company plans to sue Pittsburgh over the new ban. [TribLIVE]

PIT Airport Adds Another Security Option

The new CLEAR Plus airport membership gets you through security quicker by verifying your identity with an eye scan or fingerprint. After verification, you're escorted by a CLEAR ambassador to the front of the TSA security line or the TSA PreCheck line. [Pittsburgh Magazine]

• ✈️ Trust me. You need this insider’s guide to flying out of PIT. [🎧City Cast Pittsburgh]

What’s the Pittsburgh hill you’re willing to die on? The podcast team has been following responses to this question on Reddit, and yinz are making us laugh! Here are some from the thread:

• “Fries on a salad is genius, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.” - cesc05651
• “The best 'rogies come from the church in the bottoms.” - xoltharjoemama
• “‘The car needs washed’ is just as valid as ‘The car needs to be washed.’" - TheStarVenge
• “There’s an H on the end, ya jags! Seeing ‘Pittsburg’ is like having splinters in my eyes.” - phasmos

Some Pittsburghers in the thread even took to naming literal hills they’d die on: “Rialto Street and / or Lothrop. Either way, I'm not making it to the top.” - aFarretSippinChianti

📣 We want to know the Pittsburgh hill that YOU would die on!

Text or leave us a voicemail with your name, neighborhood, and “hill” at (412) 212-8893 so we can play it on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast.

I’ll go first: If you don’t have a cookie table at your wedding, I don’t want to be invited! I’m just kidding…maybe! I would definitely make you some cookies, though.

I have a few more gift recommendations left for yinz. (Hi 👋 last minute shoppers!) Maybe you don’t want to buy (or wrap) any more physical presents, so let’s spotlight a stellar local experience. 🎁 Missed the others recs? Check the backlog.

For The Glass Acts

Do you know someone who likes watching Netflix’s “Blown Away?” The competition series features glass artists from the Pittsburgh Glass Center, which offers a variety of classes like 15-minute Make-It-Now events and workshops for flame-worked floral magnets, garden stakes, mosaic frames, and more 🔥 Registration is also open for their full 8-week courses and summer intensives.

Need more Pittsburgh activity ideas? We’ve got tips for finding your 2024 hobby on today’s episode of City Cast Pittsburgh ⬇️

How to Make Friends in Pittsburgh

Making new connections as an adult in Pittsburgh can be really hard, but hobbies can help! Writer and City Cast Pittsburgh contributor Meg St-Esprit has a bunch of great ideas to help you find a fun new pastime, plus tips for breaking the ice among your soon-to-be best pals.