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September 12, 2025

Your Airbnb Takes, State Budget Standoff & Poulet Bleu's Return

City Cast Pittsburgh

Your Airbnb Takes, State Budget Standoff & Poulet Bleu's Return

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Earlier this week, we talked about a city council proposal to regulate Airbnbs and other short term rentals — and our listeners had a lot to say! Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo are opening the mailbag to share your perspectives. Plus, we discuss how PA's budget impasse is starting to hurt everyday people and why Uber decided to enter the chat. We also run through some local wins and losses, from the Squirrel Hill fire to Poulet Bleu's return.

Notes and references from today’s show:

  • Every state in the nation has some form of a budget in place — except Pennsylvania and Michigan [Pennsylvania Capital-Star]
  • Why PA's (Probably) Punting on Cannabis & Late With Our Budget [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • 10 Pa. lawmakers refuse pay during budget standoff [P-G]
  • Pittsburgh Public Schools could drain its reserves by mid-October if state budget impasse persists [WESA]
  • PA budget impasse is underway for libraries, foster care, and more as Pa. budget sits unfinished [Spotlight PA]
  • No Kings movement announces new wave of protests in Pittsburgh [TribLive]
  • Philadelphia transit agency will use project reserves to avoid cuts. Pittsburgh's might do the same thing [AP]
  • Uber says it has a solution to Pa.'s public transit funding problem. There's a big catch [Spotlight PA]
  • Can Taxing Uber Rides Save Public Transit? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Chronic Pa. budget failures prompt talk of smaller Legislature, pay suspensions, 2-year planning [P-G]
  • Pennsylvania is a top pumpkin producer [Axios Pittsburgh]
  • Acrisure ranks 3rd-worst stadium in the NFL for game-day traffic [TribLive]
  • Large fire in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood causes collapse at apartment building [KDKA]
  • City Seeks Partners to Help Illuminate 250th Independence Day Celeb [City of Pittsburgh]

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 12th episode:

Fulton Commons

AIDS Free Pittsburgh

Huel - Get 15% off with code PITTSBURGH

Heinz History Center

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