City Cast Pittsburgh
🚽 Exploding Pittsburgh potty
January 31, 2025 · — Francesca Dabecco
Happy Friday, neighbor! On today’s City Cast Pittsburgh podcast: a toilet explosion has us asking A LOT of questions, the Republican race for mayor is actually interesting for once, and Mayor Ed Gainey’s spilling the tea on who’s been holding up progress on getting tax money from non-profits in the city 🫖
🎧 Tune in for that and more news you might’ve missed this week.
⬇️ Then scroll to test your knowledge with our weekly Pittsburgh pop quiz 💥 and make weekend plans 🎉
What's CITY Talking About?
💸 Gainey Says UPMC Needs To Come To The Table
Nonprofits are mostly exempt from paying property taxes, but PILOT agreements (payment in lieu of taxes) could allow the city to recover lost funds — and get big organizations to pay into city services they benefit from like police, fire, and EMS. The city has attempted to negotiate with our largest orgs like Highmark, Pitt, and CMU, but Mayor Gainey says UPMC is the one holding things up. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
- 📊 More than a third of Pittsburgh’s properties are exempt from paying property taxes. [TribLive]
🚨 Who Will Be Pgh’s New Police Chief?
Mayor Gainey is reportedly close to nominating the city’s acting chief, 30-year veteran officer Christopher Ragland, to officially lead the bureau. Once nominated, Ragland is expected to be approved by City Council [TribLive]
- 🎙️Gainey talked to us about it on today’s podcast. [🎧City Cast Pittsburgh]
🚽 Crappy Pittsburgh Potty News
A toilet in the City-County Building shattered and injured a city employee (while he was using it!) earlier this week. Luckily, it was a minor injury, but the incident points to a bigger issue: poor conditions in some city-owned buildings. [WPXI]
- 💥 Wait, how bad is it? Here’s why city councilman and contractor Anthony Coghill said he’d be scared to inspect the whole building. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
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Pop Quiz, Pittsburgh!
What To Do
Friday, Jan. 31
- 🥃 Bourbon & Bubbles at Grand Concourse | 6-8 p.m. | $125 | South Side
- 📖 “There is a Deep Brooding in Arkansas" book launch | 7-8 p.m. | free | Bloomfield, virtual
- 🎭 Armida at CAPA Theater | 7:30 p.m. | $35+ | Downtown
- 👽 Kinder Being Cafe Art Show at the Government Center | 7-9 p.m. | free | East Allegheny
- 🎵 Mood for Love with Catherine Kolos at Greer Cabaret | 7 p.m. | $13+ | Downtown
- 🎭 The Return of Benjamin Lay at Carnegie Library | 8 p.m. — through Feb. 23 | $15+ | Braddock
- 🐍 Year of the Wood Snake at Little Corner Grill House 街边儿 | 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. | $20+ | Oakland
- 🌈 Chappell Roan Dance Party at 5801 Video Lounge | 10 p.m. | free | Shadyside
Saturday, Feb. 1
- 🍨 Ice Cream for Breakfast at Jeni’s | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | varies | South Side
- 🏈 NFL PLAY 60 Training Camp at Heinz History Center | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | free for 17 and under | Strip District
- 💗 I Made It! Sweet at The Galleria | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | free | Mt Lebanon
- 🛍️ Saturday Market | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | free | Bloomfield
- 💒 Cavanaugh’s Wedding Show | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | $10+ | Downtown
- 🤖 Punk Rock Flea Market at Mr. Roboto Project | 12-5 p.m. | free | Bloomfield
- ❄️ SnowFest in Boyce Park | 12-5 p.m. | $10+ | Plum
- 🎶 BRIGID Musical Celebration at August Wilson Center | 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. | $45+ | Downtown
- 🐍 Lunar New Year at Novo Asian Food Hall | 2-9 p.m. | pay as you go | Strip District
- 🛀 Pittsburgh Tub Club at Allegheny City Brewing | 3-6 p.m. | $15+ | East Allegheny
- 🎭 To Slay or Not to Slay: Drag Competition at Glitterbox Theater | 7:30 p.m. | $20 donation | Homestead
- ⛸️ Adult Disco Night at Schenley Rink | 8-9:30 p.m. | $5 | Oakland
Sunday, Feb. 2
- 📽️ Groundhog Day Cinebrunch at Oaks Theater | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | $20 | Oakmont
- 🥣 Best Vegan Soup in the 'Burgh at Velum Fermentation | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | $34 | South Side
- ✏️ Urban Sketchers at Spinning Plate Gallery | 2-4 p.m. | free | East Liberty
- 💌 Love Letters with Maxo Vanka Murals | 4-6 p.m. | $16 | Millvale
- 🛍️ Valentines Market at Trace Brewing | 4-8 p.m. | free | Bloomfield
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