City Cast Pittsburgh
💸 Downtown’s 10-year makeover
October 28, 2024 · — Francesca Dabecco
Lots of big news to share today, neighbor — including a deep dive on possible tax increases with County Executive Sara Innamorato on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast.
Scroll for that, plus an obscure story about Allegheny County’s morgue, just in time for Halloween 🥀🪦
What's CITY Talking About?
🚨 Police Chief Larry Scirotto To Retire
Scirotto announced his last day as chief will be Nov. 1, a decision he says he made on his own and was “rooted in pride, duty, and a deep commitment to our organization and the community we serve.” Scirotto has recently been criticized for returning to his part-time gig as a Big Ten college basketball referee. [WPXI]
- 💸 This follows Mayor Gainey’s announcement that Scirotto would be taking a pay cut. [🎧City Cast Pittsburgh]
🏙️ Downtown Will Get a 10-Year Makeover
Downtown’s getting a $62 million investment from the state to revamp over the next decade. This is part of a total $600 million committed by the state, county, city, companies, and nonprofits to create more housing, transform public spaces, invest in local businesses, create an artist-in-residency program, and improve public safety. [90.5 WESA]
💸 ‘Not My First Choice, but a Last Resort’
Tax increases are never popular, but Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato says it's our “last resort” if we don't want interruptions in services like transit, 911, bridge maintenance, and more. Today on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast, she explains how we got here and what's at stake if County Council delays. [🎧City Cast Pittsburgh]
- 📉 We’re in the hole $81 million this year, and next year looks worse. [PublicSource]
- 📣 The next public hearings are tonight and Wednesday at 5 p.m. You can attend in person or watch online. [Allegheny County TV]
If they don't want to adopt this 2.2 mill increase, it's (Council's) responsibility to say, 'Here's what we're going to cut.
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Hazelwood First Fridays
Come to Hazelwood on November 1 for Hazelwood First Friday, a free monthly celebration of the neighborhood’s vibrant art, community, and culture. Visit 5 sites for affordable art, Dia De Los Muertos, live music, all-ages activities, welding, food trucks, great beer, and more! Learn more at www.offrouteart.com/events
What To Do
Monday, Oct. 28
- 🍬 Trick-or-Treat at Museum of Illusions | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. — through Oct. 31 | free | North Shore
- 🗳️ Black Voters Matter Block Party | 2-6 p.m. | free | East Allegheny
- 🧙 Hocus Pocus Flower Arranging & Cheese Class at Bigham Tavern | 6-9 p.m. | $95 | Mount Washington
- 🎶 Music Mondays with 3ROC | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | free | Regent Square
- 🎨 Artist Mentorship Series at Atithi Studios | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | free | Sharpsburg
- 🎻 Carnegie Mellon Chamber Series | 7:30 p.m. | free | Oakland
Tuesday, Oct. 29
- 🎃 Trick-or-Treat Crawl with the City of Pittsburgh | 5-7 p.m. | free | Downtown
- 🍽️ Spooky Supper on the Farm | 5-8 p.m. | $96+ | Mt. Washington
- 🌿 Herbal Medicine-Making: Oxymels at Garden Dreams | 5:30-7 p.m. | $25 | Wilkinsburg
- ☕ Death Cafe at Prototype | 6-8 p.m. | free | Sharpsburg
- 🖤 Beetlejuice Party & Drag Bingo at Hazelwood Brew House | 6-10 p.m. | $0-85 | Hazelwood
- 📖 Storytime Spotlight Series with the August Wilson Center | 6:30-7:30 | free | virtual
- 🧟 Night of the Living Dead 16mm Screening | 7:30 p.m. | free | Allentown
Some sad news 💔 The zoo’s 11-year-old gorilla Ivan died during a medical procedure.
Just last week, we went behind the scenes at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium to learn about the process of getting its AZA accreditation back, what happens during animal escape drills, and more.
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