🗳️ Procrastinator’s election guide

🧽 UPMC Scrubs Diversity & LGBTQ+ Content

The health care giant recently removed and changed web pages mentioning LGBTQ+ health care, racial health disparities, and health equity. Hospitals and universities nationwide are responding to pressures from the Trump administration to dismantle DEI programs. [Axios Pittsburgh]

• ❌ Earlier this year, UPMC Children’s Hospital stopped providing gender-affirming health care for patients under 19. Diversity-focused pages also disappeared from Pitt and CMU websites. [PublicSource]

🏥 VA Pittsburgh Sees Fallout From Federal Cuts

A new report shows that the Trump administration’s Veterans Affairs cuts and hiring freezes stalled seven clinical trials in Pittsburgh for head and neck cancer, lung cancer, kidney transplants, cardiovascular disease, and opioid overdose. Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio is demanding answers from the VA secretary. [90.5 WESA]

🏭 Industrial Plants Want Exemption From Pollution Rules

U.S. Steel and several Western PA power plants are requesting to be excused from some air quality standards for toxic pollutants over the next two years. A president is allowed to exempt industrial sites from EPA rules under certain conditions. Environmental advocates say this is a shortcut to roll back regulations. [90.5 WESA]

• 👎 The EPA just cut $15 million in climate justice grants to Pittsburgh and Philly nonprofits. [Allegheny Front]
• 👍 A collection of 540 city buildings called Pittsburgh District 2030 reached their carbon emissions reduction goal six years ahead of schedule. [NEXTpittsburgh]

🦅 Parkway Center Giant Eagle To Close

The grocery chain is shuttering its location at the old Parkway Center Mall site June 28; the pharmacy will close May 21. Giant Eagle is encouraging shoppers to visit the Noblestown Road and Crafton locations. [WTAE]

Ready to do your civic duty on May 20? Tune in to today's City Cast Pittsburgh podcast for a breakdown of your ballot ⬇️

⏰ Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling place here.

✅ If you're voting at a new polling place, you may need to provide an accepted form of ID. If you're a returning voter, you don’t need an ID. (These rules could change in the future, as PA considers new election laws.)

📬 If you’re voting by mail, your application for a mail-in or absentee ballot must be received by the county election office by 5 p.m. May 13. Once you receive and complete your ballot, it must be received by election officials when polls close at 8 p.m. May 20.

• Send your ballot by USPS or drop it off at the Allegheny County Office Building or these satellite locations during their designated dates and times.
• Want to make sure your ballot was received? Track it here.

🔴 🔵 Reminder: PA is one of 10 states with a closed primary system, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans get to vote in their respective parties’ spring primaries. Independents and third-party voters can, however, vote on ballot measures.

🗳️ Pittsburgh Mayor

Pittsburgh’s mayor, elected every four years, serves as chief executive, oversees day-to-day operations, represents the city, proposes budgets, signs legislation, and appoints department leaders.

The Democratic primary race between incumbent Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor has been highly contested and filled with heated debate. (Watch on KDKA and WTAE.)

The Republican primary ticket includes retired Pittsburgh police detective Tony Moreno and Lawrenceville business owner Thomas West.

What’s at stake? City Controller Rachel Heisler says Pittsburgh’s finances are concerning — the city’s expenditures are vastly exceeding our ability to pay, tax revenue is down, and overtime payroll costs are increasing.

🎧 Read on and listen to our interviews with:

• Ed Gainey
• Corey O’Connor
• Tony Moreno
• Thomas West

🗳️ Ballot Measures

You’ll see three questions on your ballot — all proposed amendments to the Home Rule Charter by City Council. Two potential amendments respond to recent efforts to get the city to divest from Israel — a referendum that did not make it onto the ballot. The other would prevent the city’s water and sewer system from being sold and privatized.

❓ Ballot Question 1: Non-Discrimination in City Business

The question asks you whether the city charter should prohibit business discrimination on the basis of protected classes, plus association or affiliation with any nation or foreign state.

• If Pittsburgh votes yes, the city can't be forced to divest from companies because of their ties to other countries. No leaves things the way they are now.

❓ Ballot Question 2: Ownership of City's Water & Sewer System

The question asks you if the charter should "restrict the lease and/or sale of the city's water and sewer system to private entities?"

• If Pittsburgh votes yes, the city’s water and sewer system will remain under a public authority. No means it could get privatized in the future.

❓ Ballot Question 3: Lawful Scope of the City's Authority

The question asks you whether our charter should be amended to “add duties or obligations beyond the lawful scope of the city’s authority.”

• If Pittsburgh votes yes, drafters of future ballot questions will have to prove they're asking the city to do something it has the legal authority to do. No means Pittsburghers can keep trying to propose ballot questions, and if something ultimately needs to be struck down, it will happen exactly as it does now.