Pennsylvania Perspective for Monday, November 21, 2022

Pennsylvania

Representative Cutler Names Managers for Senate Impeachment Trial for Philadelphia DA Krasner

State House Speaker Bryan Cutler has named three state representatives — Republicans Craig Williams of Delaware and Chester Counties and Tim Bonner of Mercer and Butler Counties and Democrat Jared Solomon of Philadelphia County — to serve as impeachment managers for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Last week, the state House voted to impeach DA Krasner for dereliction of his official duties and obstruction of a committee investigation into his office, among other articles of impeachment, almost entirely along party lines, with the exception of one Republican, Representative Mike Puskaric of Allegheny County, who voted against impeachment.

The Current State of Pennsylvania’s Drug-Related Public Health Emergency

In 2021, more than 5,000 Pennsylvanians died of drug overdoses, with provisional data for 2022 estimating a similar number of deaths by year’s end — numbers which nearly match Pennsylvania’s previous peak in 2017. Five years into the public health emergency declared by Governor Tom Wolf, this most recent surge in drug-related deaths has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic strain, staffing shortages among public safety and healthcare professionals statewide, increased availability of fentanyl, and continued stigma surrounding drug use disorders. PennLive has more.

Pennsylvania Appellate Court Judge Daniel McCaffery to Run for Open State Supreme Court Seat

According to a campaign aide, Pennsylvania appellate court judge Daniel McCaffery is planning on running for an open seat on the state’s Supreme Court in 2023. The Democrat from Philadelphia hopes to join four Republicans and two Democrats who currently comprise the judicial body. The seat opened earlier this year following the death of Supreme Court Justice Max Baer, who was nearing the mandatory retirement age of 75. The Associated Press has more.

Governor Wolf Vetoes Bike Safety Bill 

Last Thursday, Governor Tom Wolf vetoed a widely popular bicycle safety bill following the addition of an unrelated amendment made by Republicans that would have authorized a special prosecutor to enforce crimes in Philadelphia’s public transit system. The move comes in the wake of Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s impeachment, which was also spearheaded by state Republicans. The original bill would have amended Pennsylvania’s vehicle code to allow vehicles to park more than 12 inches from the curb, giving municipalities the ability to establish protected bike lanes. PennLive has more.

Philadelphia

More Candidates Enter Philadelphia’s Historic Mayoral Race 

Philadelphia’s 2023 mayoral race is slated to be one of the most competitive in history, with six candidates currently declared — Philadelphia’s “Condo King” Allan Domb and local grocery store magnate Jeff Brown having formally announced their respective campaigns last week — and potentially two more contenders vying for the Democratic nomination by year’s end. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Business Is Booming at Philly Shipyard Inc. 

Philly Shipyard Inc. announced earlier this month that it had signed a $1 billion contract to build three new container vessels for a Hawaiian shipping company, resulting in the company being fully subscribed with work through 2027. The announcement represents a significant turnaround, as 2019 saw nearly the entire shipyard workforce laid off due to a complete lack of work orders. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Pittsburgh

What’s Next for State Representative Carrie Lewis DelRosso?

Republican Representative of Pennsylvania’s 33rd District Carrie Lewis DelRosso, who recently lost her bid for lieutenant governor on the ticket she shared with state Senator Doug Mastriano, is said to be weighing her options for her future, which include potential runs for the open seat in the neighboring 32nd District, — left vacant by the passing of Democratic Representative Tony DeLuca mere weeks before the midterm elections — state Senate, auditor general, or treasurer. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.

Pittsburgh’s Cultural Institutions Look Toward Their Post-Pandemic Future

With the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic now in the rearview mirror, Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions, which had been severely impacted by government mandated shutdowns, are continuing the process of rebuilding, including instituting changes to ticketing and membership models. Many tickets, such as big-name music tours or traveling Broadway shows, are at the same or better levels of attendance than they had been prior to the pandemic. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.

Workers at WESA, WYEP Vote to Unionize

Staff at Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation voted 26-1 to unionize last week, giving bargaining power to employees including reporters, hosts, deejays, and other content creators. The organization will now be represented by SAG-AFTRA, one of the foremost national unions for workers in broadcasting. WESA has more.

Federal

Beltway Briefing: Democrats Retain Control of the Senate, Speaker Pelosi Steps Down; What’s Next?

In the wake of Democrats’ historic — if slim — win in the U.S. Senate, Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin reflect on Speaker Pelosi’s momentous leadership and ponder how a coming shift in power dynamic, which in January will end two years of unified Democratic control, will transform the workings of Washington. Listen to the most recent episode here.

Share

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin