Is Pittsburgh Going Broke Again? Plus, Why the Police Chief is Taking a Pay Cut
In an exclusive sit-down, Mayor Ed Gainey shares his outlook on the city’s 2025 budget, his own re-election campaign, and why his still new-ish police chief is making headlines for his new (old?) part time job. Some of our favorite moments include:
- why Gainey says he’s not worried about Act 47
- why he didn’t propose a tax increase like the county did
- why he says the 2026 NFL Draft is worth hosting, in spite of financial turbulence
- why lowering the city’s homicide rate was always connected to whether Pittsburgh police chief Larry Scirotto could resume his “dream” of refereeing NCAA basketball, and why Scirotto’s salary will now be docked
- why Gainey stands by an inclusionary zoning provision that some say could negate his sweeping new housing reform plan; and
- why Pittsburgh could be headed toward a new WNBA expansion team.
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