Downtown Pittsburgh category
Pittsburgh controller pushes City Council to make private meetings more transparent
Pittsburgh’s fiscal watchdog on Thursday recommended that City Council make more transparent — but not eliminate — controversial private meetings its members occasionally hold to discuss public business. The suggestion came in a performance audit released by Controller Rachael Heisler, which also recommended that council develop better policies to track...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 1-3
After a week of sweating from the heat outside, take this weekend to sweat from concerts, monster truck rallies and dance parties instead. Here are a few ways to turn up the heat on your weekend. Lawrenceville Art Crawl Encompassing more than a dozen blocks along Butler Street in Lawrenceville,...
‘Hot mess’: Dire state of Pittsburgh’s city fleet prompts annual report on upkeep
Pittsburgh will now release an annual report that details the state of the vehicle fleet amid concerns that essential vehicles are becoming old and difficult to maintain. City Council on Monday unanimously approved a measure — sponsored by Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side — that will mandate an Annual Fleet...
Nas flexes his legend status with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Nas is a legendary rapper for a reason. The New York-born MC has been rocking the mic for more than 30 years, easily cementing his place as one of the best rappers of all time. His first album, “Illmatic,” earned its spot at No. 44 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest...
Councilman pushes for annual Pittsburgh vehicle fleet report
Pittsburgh City Councilman Bobby Wilson is proposing an annual report that would keep the public informed about the condition of the city’s vehicle fleet, which officials say is aging and frequently breaks down. Wilson, D-North Side, in a statement Tuesday said the Annual Fleet Investment and Efficiency Report would evaluate...
Well, Well (Market): Downtown Pittsburgh to get new grocery store
A new grocery store is coming to Downtown Pittsburgh, the Downtown Neighbors Alliance announced Tuesday. The new store, Well Well Market, is expected to open at 817 Liberty Ave. In a statement, the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, a community-based nonprofit, said it has been looking to attract a grocery store as...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit starts ticketing drivers in Downtown bus lanes
Pittsburgh Regional Transit this weekend started ticketing motorists who drive or park in designated bus lanes Downtown. The new bus-only lanes — which are distinguished by their bright red markings — are reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. Private vehicles are barred from entering the lanes, even for brief pick-ups,...
Pittsburgh CLO spreads wintry magic in the summer with ‘Disney’s Frozen’ at the Benedum Center
As Pittsburgh CLO executive producer Mark Fleischer looked out over the crowd at the Benedum Center before Friday’s opening night performance of Disney’s “Frozen,” he said, “It’s great to see so many blue dresses on young people. How many people are here seeing your very first live musical?” The response...
Pittsburgh councilwoman raises red flag on winner of $1.8M bid to design public safety facility
A Pittsburgh councilwoman is raising concerns about paying an engineering firm $1.8 million to plan a public safety facility because of a report the company has placed opponents of its projects under surveillance. City Council this week delayed a vote on the measure after Councilwoman Deb Gross said she did...
Man charged with stabbing victim up to 40 times in Downtown Pittsburgh heads to trial
An Ohio man is headed to trial on charges that he stabbed a 65-year-old man dozens of times on a Downtown Pittsburgh sidewalk last month. A district judge Thursday sent the case of Christopher Leroy Harris Jr., 30, of Sidney, Ohio, 40 miles north of Dayton, to Allegheny County Common...
Pittsburgh’s annual holiday market to relocate amid Market Square upgrades
The annual holiday market that pops up in Pittsburgh’s Market Square each winter will have a new home this year. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on Thursday announced the Peoples Gas Holiday Market will relocate to the Cultural District because of ongoing construction in Market Square. The holiday market, which will...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 18-20
No plans for a summer vacation on the horizon? No worries. Take a staycation right here in Pittsburgh this weekend with a whole bunch of fun, active and relaxing events. Vintage Grand Prix A local tradition returns to Schenley Park this weekend. Gawk at — and cheer on — your...
Pittsburgh councilwoman wants to crack down on Airbnb, Vrbo rentals
Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Deb Gross on Tuesday introduced legislation that would create new regulations for short-term rentals, like those through Airbnb or Vrbo. The bill would permit short-term rental units solely for overnight accommodations for registered guests. People could not use them to host “public assemblies, recreational entertainment, or hospitality...
Proposed Heinz History Center expansion clears Pittsburgh Planning Commission
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday approved plans to expand the Senator John Heinz History Center. The museum, located in the city’s Strip District, is tearing down four buildings on Penn Avenue to expand its facility. Additions include a new theater, exhibition space and classrooms. The history center owns the...
Pittsburgh expands limited archery season in various city parks
Pittsburgh officials are expanding a limited archery season to cull the deer population in various city parks. The city is selecting archers to hunt white-tailed deer in Frick, Riverview, Emerald View, Schenley, Highland and Southside parks, Hays Woods, Hazelwood Greenway and Seldom Seen Greenway. Nearly 200 deer were culled during...
Gainey seeks to derail councilwoman’s proposed changes to city planning processes
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is urging City Council to reject legislation that would revamp the city’s planning processes and restructure city departments. Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, last month introduced a series of bills she hopes will create a smoother process for developers looking to build in the city. The...
Hang on tight for Picklesburgh’s dill-icious new mechanical challenge
Each year, Picklesburgh fanfare grows. Western Pennsylvanians commit to downing pickle beer, puckering up for pickle ice cream, or bobbing for pickles. A new challenge has arrived for the Picklesburgh fan base — riding a mechanical pickle. Pickle Riding is ringing in the 10th anniversary of the festival. For $12...
Pittsburgh officials bullish on police recruiting, but union stays skeptical
Pittsburgh officials on Wednesday struck a cautiously optimistic tone about police recruitment efforts after struggling for years to attract officers to a shrinking police force. “It’s a little too early to bring the champagne into the locker room,” Councilman Khari Mosley, D-Point Breeze said. “But by all indications, it seems...
Pittsburgh boosts protections for LGBTQ+ people, pares prostitution penalty
Last month, Pittsburgh Councilwoman Barb Warwick said she hoped a package of bills she was introducing would spark a larger conversation about supporting LGBTQ+ people and signal that everyone is welcome at a Pittsburgh, even as the Trump administration put vulnerable communities “under attack.” On Tuesday, Warwick claimed a victory...
No penalty sought over Pittsburgh cop’s call for backup at heated council meeting
Pittsburgh City Council President R. Daniel Lavelle on Tuesday said he was not seeking any punishment for the sergeant at arms who called for backup during a heated council meeting last week despite issuing a public statement calling for an investigation into the incident. John Svitek, a uniformed Pittsburgh police...
Pittsburgh council rejects 1 of 2 competing zoning reform bills
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday struck down one of two competing zoning proposals that have sparked controversy and outlined different paths to creating more affordable housing. Inclusionary zoning — which mandates that a percentage of housing units in large new developments be designated as affordable for low-income people — already...
Pittsburgh council strengthens oversight of $15M Stop the Violence fund
Oversight will increase for a multimillion-dollar fund to combat violence in Pittsburgh amid City Council concerns that supervision was weak. Council voted unanimously to add reporting requirements and other safeguards to the Stop the Violence fund, which has around $15 million in taxpayer money that is allocated to numerous grassroots...
Pittsburgh councilmen bristle over call for police backup at public meeting
Two Pittsburgh City Council members are calling for an investigation and report on why council’s sergeant at arms — a uniformed Pittsburgh police officer — requested backup during a heated public meeting last week. In a statement over the weekend, Councilmen R. Daniel Lavelle, D-Hill District, and Khari Mosley, D-Point...
Peckish prior to Picklesburgh? Pick a peck of pickle snacks
There’s nothing quite like a pickle. A brine of vinegar, water, sugar, salt, herbs and spices is a magic potion that turns a fresh veggie into something else entirely. It works with onions, olives, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, peppers and more. But the word “pickle” and the puckery pop synonymous...
Pittsburgh looks to formalize guard rails for Stop the Violence fund
Pittsburgh officials are looking to formalize “guard rails” to ensure accountability and proper use of the Stop the Violence fund. Legislation before City Council aims to ensure organizations receiving grants from the fund report to the city on how it spends the cash. It outlines the responsibilities of a steering...
