NFL Draft Jobs, a New Rail Trail & Bringing Small Biz to Downtown
What will it take to get a grocery store downtown? Maybe Gov. Josh Shapiro has ideas!! He was in town a week after the arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion touring coffee shops and other pop-up businesses as part of a collection of incentive programs championed by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which is hoping to fill space in over 60 vacant retail spaces between now and next year’s NFL Draft. Halfway through our Mayoral Mondays series, we’re taking stock of Pittsburgh’s primary election for mayor, including our takeaways so far from talking to the Democratic candidates, plus the latest on our city’s financial position and an anti-Gainey mailer that some call a dog whistle. We’ve also got good news for outdoor lovers: a new pedestrian rail trail over the Allegheny River into Aspinwall and the return of Venture Outdoors’ kayak launch — this time, Downtown near the convention center.
Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Notes and references from today’s show:
- Get To Know Pittsburgh Candidate and Mayor Ed Gainey [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Get To Know Pittsburgh Mayoral Candidate Corey O'Connor [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Gainey, trailing O’Connor in polls, tries to nationalize the race for Pittsburgh mayor [WESA]
- Pittsburgh community leaders denounce controversial mayoral campaign mailer [WTAE]
- How Well Do You Know Pittsburgh? Take This Quiz! [City Cast Pittsburgh]
- Shapiro says he plans to return to Pennsylvania Governor's Residence after firebombing attack [KDKA]
- Exclusive: Shapiro talks Downtown progress and NFL draft [Axios]
- Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: State of Downtown Pittsburgh Q2 [YouTube]
- 2026 NFL Draft Source Program Application [NFL Draft Suppliers]
- Former Brilliant Branch rail line a 'blank canvas' for public trails, economic growth [TribLive]
- Pittsburgh’s Venture Outdoors to Launch a Downtown Community Kayak Hub [Pittsburgh Magazine]
Learn more about the sponsors of this April 25th episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST
Cozy Earth - Use code COZYPITTSBURGH for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.
Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
County Executive Sara Innamorato on New Taxes, Election 'Observers' & Paid Leave's Potential Windfalls
Will the county raise sales taxes to help fund our pension system? Should we be concerned about the federal election monitors arriving at...
Tax the Rich? Plus, Día de Los Muertos & Your Next Favorite Gym
Pittsburgh has a new proposal to tax the rich, Allegheny County’s fully paid parental leave policy is officially law, and local listeners...
Pittsburgh’s Top 10 Restaurants & What Makes Them Great
What makes a restaurant one of Pittsburgh’s best? Is it the food, the service, the atmosphere or something harder to put your finger on?...
Mallo Cup Lore, Hot Tamale Goss & More PA Candy Trivia
If you're planning to go trick-or-treating this weekend, a lot of your haul will probably be made right here in Pennsylvania. We have one...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Is Chicago More Prepared for Climate Change Than Every Other City? — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
How prepared is Pittsburgh to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilie...
Garrity’s Slopaganda, Paid Leave Passes & How Pgh Humbled Emmanuel Macron
It’s official: Allegheny County council just passed a first of its kind paid parental leave policy. Host Megan Harris, executive producer...
Runaway Pelicans, Aging Ambulances & Waterproof Warhol Art
It's been a big week for Pittsburgh: two local innovations landed on Time Magazine's Best Invention list and a pair of animals made a dra...
Sports Bars & Specials for Steelers in Paris
The Steelers are heading to Paris to take on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, but you don’t need to be in the City of Love (and tbh, y...
Could Ozempic Treat Addiction? Plus, Cryptid Hunting & Poll Worker Tips
Could GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy help people struggling with addiction? Pittsburgh is about to find out. A new $13.3 million stu...
Why Pittsburgh's at the Center of the Grocery Store War
For better or worse, Giant Eagle has long been the main grocery store in town — beloved for its sheetcakes, bemoaned for its high prices....