June 28, 2023 - Pittsburgh City Paper

COMMUNITY

The South Hills is experiencing a Latino-owned business boom

Latino Business Boom

BY JAMIE WIGGAN

in the Burgh

BY MARÍA MANAUTOU-MATOS

CELEBRATING 30+ YEARS

4 Smithfield Street, Suite 1210 Pittsburgh, PA 15222

GOT A NEWS TIP?

E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com

WANT TO PLACE AN AD?

EMAIL rachel@pghcitypaper.com

PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2023

VOL. 32 ISSUE 26

Editor-in-Chief ALI TRACHTA

Director of Advertising RACHEL WINNER

Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD

News Editor JAMIE WIGGAN

A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ

Art Director LUCY CHEN

Photographer JARED WICKERHAM

Graphic Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST

Digital Editorial Coordinator HANNAH KINNEY-KOBRE

Senior Account Executive OWEN GABBEY

Sales Representatives

SIERRA CLARY, MARIA STILLITANO

Digital Coordinator MORGAN BIDDLE

Marketing Coordinator LEE HOOD

Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH

Contributors KAHMEELA ADAMS-FRIEDSON, NATALIE BENCIVENGA, REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, MATT PETRAS, JORDANA ROSENFELD, JORDAN SNOWDEN

Intern AUGUST STEPHENS

National Advertising Representative

VMG ADVERTISING

1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529

BY MATT MONROY

Publisher CARS HOLDING, INC.

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2023 by CARS Holding, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of CARS Holding, Inc. LETTER POLICY: Letters, or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by CARS Holding, Inc. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper

FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $250 per year (52 issues), $150 per half year (26 issues), or $32 per six weeks. For more information, visit pghcitypaper.com and click on the Subscribe tab.

COVER PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

LATINO BUSINESS BOOM

This feature is the third in a series of articles focusing on the growing Latino communities in Pittsburgh, co-published with Pittsburgh City Paper and Pittsburgh Latino Magazine.

Latino-owned businesses in the South Hills are thriving

BY JAMIE WIGAN // JAMIE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH became an unex pected refuge for Ivan Cordoba and Maria Paparoni when they had to flee their native Venezuela in 2017.

Working respectively as an attorney and a judge, the couple enjoyed a com fortable life with their young daughter in their oil-rich homeland. But when Paparoni began resisting political pres sures in her courtroom, the family faced escalating threats and harassment from corrupt officials.

not return home.

After Cordoba was kidnapped and severely beaten during a cross-country road trip, they decided it was time to get out. They joined a friend in Pittsburgh, where they planned to stay indefinitely — but after a few weeks they felt they could

“The only reason why the population remained stable was because of [the growing Latino community].”

CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM Maria Paparoni and Ivan Cordoba, co-owners of Pittsabana

Census data shows Allegheny county’s Latino population nearly doubled from roughly 19,000 to more than 33,000 between 2010 and 2020.

Guillermo Velazquez, executive director of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation (PHDC), says this is welcome news for a region that’s long suffered from loss and stagnation.

“The only reason why the population remained stable was because of [the growing Latino community],” Velazquez says.

Since 2019, PHDC has been based in a city-owned office block that anchors Beechview’s small business core. It was founded in the same neighborhood six years earlier, and has so far helped launch more than 90 businesses — some in Beechview, but plenty also North and East of the city, where Latino communities are growing up at a similar pace.

“Our mission is really focused on improving the lives of Hispanics,” Velazquez says. “So we believe that if we improve their lives, they will generate positive outputs … for themselves, their family, and also the region.”

Starting about 10 years ago, Beechview established itself as the de

LATINO POPULATION CHANGE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS (PERCENTAGE INCREASE)

Mexican imports, the original Las Palmas restaurant and grocery store anchored and energized the region’s Latinos when it opened in Brookline nearly 15 years ago.

Not long after, the Las Palmas franchise expanded into neighboring Beechview. Now, the Pittsburgh neighborhood has no less than eight Latinoowned businesses packed into its small main street.

“I would say that, initially, what drove people here to this part of the city was that it was still fairly affordable. The other thing is that they have access to the T [light rail system], which can get them to and from Downtown fairly quickly and inexpensively. And then once the [second Las Palmas location] opened here in Beechview, we started to see other restaurants opening here.”

facto hub for Pittsburgh’s nascent Latino community. Since then, the blue-collar neighborhood has seen its withering business district revived by an influx of Latino-owned businesses.

Monica Ruiz, executive director at the nonprofit organization Casa San Jose, says as the first dedicated source of

As the community has grown, Ruiz says, it has also diversified.

“Initially, we saw a lot of folks from Mexico … then I would say within the last five years or so, we’ve seen more people coming from El Salvador or Honduras, and then within, like, the last two years, I would say we’re seeing more folks from Colombia and Venezuela, and other

SOURCE: THE 2021 ALLEGHENY COUNTY LATINX NEEDS ASSESSMENT

CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM Broadway Street in Beechview

countries in South America.”

Walking along Broadway Avenue in Beechview, you encounter a vibrant, bustling community. Clusters of Latinoowned businesses bookend the bifurcated main street with a half-mile residential stretch in the middle.

At the southern tip, restaurants

Alquisiras Paleteria, Mexican Sazon Lichita, and Chicken Latino sit clustered around a gentle bend in view of the Casa San Jose headquarters. At the other end, El Paisano Mexican restaurant, La Cocina de Betty, the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation, and the Las Palmas grocery store and restaurant hold up the bulk of the neighborhood’s historic business district.

Liz Torejano, owner of Mexican Sazon Lichita, opened up her small restaurant front last summer after preparing food for construction crews out of her kitchen for several years.

She named her business after her mother, Lichita, whose recipes are now enjoyed each day by people across the city. Torejano serves distinctive dishes from Mexico’s Puebla province, including huarache, tacos, and gorditas.

“Everything is my favorite, because everything is made with lots of love,” she says.

Torejano quickly maxed out her small kitchen’s capacity and is hoping to expand sometime soon.

“It’s a small space, but it’s where everyone starts,” she says.

Two doors down, Shelbin Santos has, since 2020, been serving Peruvian fare within a colorful spacious eatery, when she relocated her long-established business from the Strip District.

Back in 2007, when she opened Chicken Latino, she recalls, it was one of the first South American eateries in the city. But since then much has changed.

“When I came here I noticed there were no Latino restaurants in Pittsburgh,”

“When I came here I noticed there were no Latino restaurants in Pittsburgh … Now the community has grown so much … I’m glad now there are more options.”

says Santos, who first came here as a graduate student studying psychology. “Now the community has grown so much there are Venezuelan restaurants, Colombian restaurants, mom and pop stores … back then, there was nothing. I’m glad now there are more options.”

While Beechview remains a hub for Latino enterprise, its spokes stretch right throughout the South Hills.

Two years ago, Jose Flores and Jazmin Hernandez opened the region’s first dedicated Mexican bakery, Panadería Jazmin, in the upscale suburb of Mount Lebanon. Each day, the couple bake fresh sweet breads, cookies, and custom-made cakes, selling them over the counter as well as to a wider online customer base.

In Mount Oliver, husband-and-wife Victor Schmidt and Yvette RodriguezSchmidt found within the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic an opportunity to launch the area’s first Puerto Rican restaurant.

Ecuadorian native Evelyn Aikin treats skincare clients across the region at her Green Tree spa, Skin Boutique. Aikin met her husband during a summer program

in Maryland in 2003 and followed him back to Pittsburgh shortly after. Years later, she took a chance on her own venture after studying cosmetology and working in various spas.

Cordoba and Paparoni’s roofing company is headquartered in Castle Shannon, but each day takes them all across the county as they take on jobs wherever the demand is.

While many Latino business owners work within a close geographic community, some have set their sights much wider.

Like Rodriguez-Schmidt, Grecia Diaz seized on pandemic-era uncertainty to launch her own business: SnackEver. As a health-conscious consumer with a vegetarian husband, Diaz was accustomed to scanning the web for specialty food items. After quitting her job in 2020, she decided to try staking a living out of sourcing them for other people.

In less than three years, she’s outgrown two warehouse spaces, and in January, she launched her own product line: ConsciousSnack. The novel brand supplements her main market with

“Now the community has grown so much there are Venezuelan restaurants, Colombian restaurants, mom and pop stores … back then, there was nothing.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF GRECIA DIAZ

Grecia Diaz launched her own product line: ConsciousSnack

custom-made wafer snacks manufactured by a small business in Mexico using gluten-free amaranth flour instead of wheat or corn.

Her daughter Athena, 16, has helped the company grow since its inception, putting to use her knowledge of social media and knack for marketing,

“We want to include more product drops inside of the line of ConsciousSnack,” Athena says. “We think that this will be a label that’s really important for us. We want to get contracts with the government since we know that they can be a great support for us. And we want to try to get into more supermarkets.”

Across the region, Velazquez foresees more growth for Pittsburgh’s Latino community, as others seize on the opportunities the city affords.

“We should pay attention to other cities that have gone through the process, like Philadelphia … [and ask] how can we prepare better to accommodate all this change,” Velazquez says. “This isn’t anything new. This is the story of the United States.” •

María Manautou Matos, from Pittsburgh Latino Magazine, contributed to this report, which was made possible with financial support from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. Follow News Editor Jamie Wiggan on Twitter @JamieWiggan

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM Broadway Street in Beechview

BORICUA

THE BURGH

BY MARÍA MANAUTOU-MATOS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

WHEN YVETTE RodriguezSchmidt moved to Pittsburgh, she fell in love with the Mount Oliver community, but she craved the delicious Puerto Rican food she was accustomed to in her native New York.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, Yvette and her husband, Victor Schmidt, a professional chef, were inspired to open Flavor of Puerto Rico and share Yvette’s mother’s authentic recipes with their neighbors in their adopted city.

When you visit, the journey to the island begins with a beautiful mural of old San Juan — the first thing you see as you walk in the door. Then come the aromatic flavors of savory Boricua food as you pick out a seat. The back of the restaurant, with its rich burgundy paint, plants, and decor, transports you to your tia’s marquesina (aunt’s patio) i n the Caribbean countryside.

delightful. A side of tostones (fried green plantains) included seven large pieces with two dipping sauce options, garlic or mayoketchup.

A slice of tres leches cake completed the comforting meal.

FLAVOR OF PUERTO RICO

160 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh. flavorofpuertorico.com.

Rice, beans, bistec encebollado (steak with onions), pork chops, and stewed chicken are part of the weekly menu. Treats like bacalaítos (cod fritters) and empanadas are also available, as are vegan options.

It’s been challenging to find Puerto Rican food in the Steel City, but now, nestled in the main street of Mt. Oliver is a little slice of Borinquen for Pittsburghers to enjoy. Flavor of Puerto Rico is a family

At Flavor of Puerto Rico, portions are large, and prices are affordable. We tried the Puerto Rican favorites — arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and pernil (roasted pork) — and they were

affair dedicated to sharing the amazing taste of the island’s recipes to the community with love.

Our meal scored top marks and guaranteed a return visit. •

Flavor of Puerto Rico

The back of the restaurant, with its rich burgundy paint, plants, and decor, transports you to your tia’s marquesina (aunt’s patio) in the Caribbean countryside.

TECHNOLOGY

PITTSBURGH, ChatGPT STYLE

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

WHY DO ANDROID USERS

always miss out? This was my first thought when I tried downloading the Expedia app in order to test out its recently launched ChatGPT function, touted as using artificial intelligence to provide travelers with “recommendations on places to go, where to stay, how to get around, and what to see.”

Then I saw those frustrating words: Now for iOS with Android to follow.

I looked at my Google Pixel phone as though it had failed me. How dare you not be an iPhone , I internally whined, knowing full well that I have always chosen the least popular, least compatible smartphones.

Officially released in April, Expedia adds to a number of industries adopting ChatGPT, sending many workers into existential crises over whether or not the technology will eventually replace them.

To be fair, though, Expedia has always worked toward making travel agents obsolete with its one-stop-shop, DIY

approach to planning trips, letting users search and compare everything from plane tickets to hotels and rental cars.

What, then, could Expedia gain from this “new in-app travel planning experience?”

As the company’s vice chairman and CEO, Peter Kern, says in a press release, “By integrating ChatGPT into the Expedia app and combining it with our other AI-based shopping capabilities, like hotel comparison, price tracking for flights and trip collaboration tools, we can now offer travelers an even more intuitive way to build their perfect trip.”

The perfect trip, you say? Does that apply to a place like Pittsburgh? I wondered what this shiny, innovative new toy was telling visitors about the City of Bridges — what landmarks to see, what hotels to stay in, what restaurants to patronize. Would it suggest the generic tourist route, with prompts to ride The Incline or shop for bootleg sports merch in the Strip District? Or would it think like a local?

App-wise, I would never know. Then I saw that Expedia also added a plugin that would allow the Android class to also participate.

Psych! The plugins have a waitlist, as ChatGPT is “gradually rolling out” this feature for Expedia and other entities.

Now to be outdone, I asked my husband if I could borrow his iPhone SE.

The ChatGPT function is front and center once you download the iOS Expedia app. Clicking on it, I was met with a message bubble reading “Hi. I’m an experimental travel assistant,” along with a prompt that gives some idea of how the technology works.

I typed that I was planning a trip to Pittsburgh. Immediately, ChatGPT responded with a message suggesting I go to the Carnegie Museums, the Duquesne Incline, and the Strip District. I chortled.

Getting started on Expedia’s ChatGPT function presents some degree of intimidation. After all, as Expedia points out, the tool can “deliver personalized and

relevant trip options out of 1.26 quadrillion variables like hotel location, room type, date ranges, price points and much more.” In other words, you have to be pretty specific in order to make it worthwhile.

So I made it personal, asking about aspects that I would realistically look for in any city. As a dog owner, I asked about pet-friendly hotels, and it spat back four options — the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, the Drury Plaza Hotel, the Fairmount, and the Sheraton in Station Square — along with information about additional fees and other criteria. Users were also cautioned to “check with the hotel directly for any specific pet policies or restrictions,” because ChatGPT covers its ass.

A question about vegetarian and vegan restaurants demonstrated the limitations of the service. Along with Apteka and Zenith, ChatGPT also recommended Onion Maiden and B52, two restaurants that closed. A question about vegetarian and vegan breakfast

spots generated similar responses, along with Gluten Free Goat Bakery.

The most surprising response came when I asked about dance clubs. It recommended Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive for its “retro vibe” and eclectic mix of music, though out-of-towners looking for a more traditional club experience would probably be taken aback when they arrive somewhere that’s less bottle service and more PBR punk — something not expressed in the description. The South Side venue Scenario would present the most accessible option if not for it being, as a quick Google search reveals, “temporarily closed.”

I was also perplexed by the inclusion of Tilden and Hot Mass, as both cater to diehard, up-until-dawn DJ fans and, in terms of the latter, the LGBTQ crowd. The results made me wonder how many people are using Expedia’s ChatGPT to find something more than just dancing, as Hot Mass has often been viewed as a gay hotspot.

When asked about free activities to do during a specific weekend — in this case, July 7-9 — ChatGPT performed

fairly well. It pointed out free tours at the Allegheny Observatory and a scenic stroll or bike ride along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail (the Strip District also popped up again, but I’ll let it slide.)

It also boosted the Frick Art Museum, something I often recommend to people due to its (mostly) free admission and impressive exhibitions.

There were, like with the previous questions, some inaccuracies, as ChatGPT recommended free admission hours at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens between 9:30-11 a.m. on Sunday. Not only did it flub the date (it said “Sunday, July 7th” instead of July 9th), but a representative confirmed for Pittsburgh City Paper that Phipps does not offer free admission to the public during those times.

Overall, ChatGPT still has a lot to learn about Pittsburgh, and, hopefully, as time goes on, will provide a more knowledgeable experience. For now, though, unless you want to Uber to a closed restaurant, you’re better off asking a local, or (heads up for shameless self-promotion) checking the Pittsburgh alt-weekly. •

$10/mo. Autopay and Paperless Bill Discount: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles (pay $10 more/mo. until discount begins). Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. DIRECTV Svc Terms: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Taxes, surcharges, add-on programming (including premium channels), protection plan, transactional fees, and Federal Cost Recovery Fee are not included in two-year price guarantee. Visit directv.com/legal/ or call for details. Access HBO Max through HBO Max app or hbomax.com with your DIRECTV log-in credentials. Visit directv.com to verify/create your account. Use of HBO Max is subject to its own terms and conditions, see hbomax.com/terms-of-use for details. Programming and content subj. to change. Requires account to stay in good standing. Upon cancellation of your video service you may lose access to HBO Max. If you cancel your service, you will no longer be eligible ofr this o er. Limits: Access to one HBO

Preserving Underground has transformed New Kensington into a music destination

BY MATT MONROY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OPENING VENUES is in A.J. Rassau’s blood. In his hometown of Natrona Heights, Rassau and his pals hosted pre-The Black Parade My Chemical Romance and Underoath shows out of a scrappy garage — dubbed The Planet of the Apes — before it was shut down in 2003 after just nine months.

The newest venture from Rassau, founder and owner of Preserving Record Shop in New Kensington, is more above ground. In March, Rassau opened Preserving, an 800-person capacity venue in the former Presbyterian Church adjoining his record store. Since opening, Preserving has drawn large crowds to a space that combines the sanctity of a chapel interior with mostly metal, punk,

and hardcore shows.

“This round is much more legal, and I always joke, ‘Yeah, it's weird, the city actually wants me here,’” Rassau tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “They're not trying to shut me down every day.”

The church marks the third performance space under the Preserving Concerts banner, along with the downstairs 300-person capacity performance space and smaller DIY room at Preserving Underground. The expansion is another sign of growth from what Rassau started as an online store five years ago.

The venue’s inaugural show on March 25 with Florida deathcore band Bodysnatcher quickly sold out.

“You like to think you can think of

everything but, ultimately, until you put the bodies in the room and you see how everyone reacts, you know, you don't really know,” Rassau says. “I actually just stood right inside when everyone first came in and got to gauge everyone's reactions when they first saw the room, and there was definitely a lot of excitement. A lot of people were pulling out their phones and filming as soon as they walked in and shit, so that was cool.”

Besides tearing up the old carpet to expose the hardwood floors underneath, Rassau kept the spirit of the church, with its chandeliers, stained glass windows (now protected by netting), and large wooden doors, intact. It was important to keep the church’s character, he says.

“It had kind of been rundown over the years. So we were mostly just fixing the ceiling and doing the plaster on the wall and, you know, stuff like that,” Rassau says. “We actually want to preserve the feel of the place.”

PRESERVING UNDERGROUND

1101 5th Ave., New Kensington. preservingunderground.com

The lineup of Preserving shows extends through the fall, with bands such as the riot grrrl-inspired Destroy Boys, local metallic hardcore act Code Orange, and metal/J-pop group HANABIE. all headlining the chapel stage. Rassau

CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM Preserving Underground/Preserving Records

promises a more music-oriented experience than the commercial Pittsburgh venues, where fans might be forced to shell out for steep ticket fees, in addition to pricey food and drinks.

The mission statement on Preserving’s website lays it out: “clueless, meathead, bully bouncers,” “Ticketmaster fees and $5 waters,” and “45-minute changeovers between bands” are all no-gos. Rassau, who’s experienced the business as a performer and organizer, says he’s not interested in taking away from the main draw of a show — the music.

“Everyone involved in [Preserving] is either in a band currently or has been for literally decades. You just know what sucks,” Rassau says. “When you're on the road, it's just obvious when you’re basically being used as a pawn for someone else to make money, as opposed to, you know, this being this event that can be something magical and special, and something that changes some young kid’s life.”

When describing Preserving’s inten tion, Rassau shouted out now-closed or relocated local venues such as Club Laga in Oakland, the original Mr. Roboto Project in Wilkinsburg, and Millvale Industrial Theater — places with an “anything goes” feeling that opened his eyes to another world when he was young.

While Rassau doesn’t have the same concert-going energy of his youth, he and the rest of the team at Preserving hope they can provide that feeling to younger fans.

“Even if, whatever, admittedly, maybe we're getting a little old and jaded . . . we realize that there's many generations below us that are, hopefully, not having a missed opportunity of being like, ‘Yeah, that venue was fucking cool,’” Rassau says. “Maybe it's our way of giving back. Maybe we got — we like to call it — hard core guilt. Like, I'm not feeling obligated to get out there and mosh and stage dive. But hopefully, I'm providing some type of platform where some younger kid does have that opportunity.”

“We actually want to preserve the feel of the place.”

MUSIC RECORD STORE SPOTLIGHT

New releases, restocks, and reissues at Long Play Cafe

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Long Play Cafe. 5262 Butler St., Lawrenceville. longplaycafe.com

Death Grips, The Money Store

(Epic Records)

Grab a copy of the 2012 album from experimental hip-hop trio Death Grips in preparation for their performance at Stage AE in August.

Megadeth, Rust In Peace

(Capitol Records)

After a long period of being out of stock and out of print, the 1990 release, and fourth studio album from Megadeth, can now be added to any thrash metal fan’s vinyl collection.

Cowboy Bebop — Original Series Soundtrack

(Sunrise)

You don’t need to be an otaku to appreciate the frenetic, jazzy music of the cult anime series Cowboy Bebop, composed by Yoko Kanno and performed by the band Seatbelts.

The Oh Hellos, Through The Deep, Dark Valley

(No Coincidence Records)

Own the first full-length album from Texas folk-rock duo The Oh Hellos, originally released in 2012 and remastered for vinyl.

Queens Of The Stone Age, In Times New Roman…

(Matador)

Rolling Stone describes the latest album from this modern rock group as a “cathartic” journey into the worries and recent woes of frontman Josh Homme. •

PHOTO: COURTESY OF EPIC RECORDS

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SUNRISE

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAPITOL RECORD

PHOTO: COURTESY OF NO COINCIDENCE RECORDS

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MATADOR

PITTSBURGH NEWS ROUNDUP

Smithfield shelter shuttered, Fitzgerald veto falters, state considers local transit tax bill

BY JAMIE WIGGAN AND AUGUST STEPHENS // JAMIE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

SHELTER SHUTTERED

ONEOF TWO low-barrier shelters in Pittsburgh closed its doors on June 21, leaving uncertainty for a number of people who were previously staying there. Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services announced plans to close the shelter inside Smithfield United Church of Christ in late May, stating in a press release that the facility “is not equipped to handle a population during the warm or hot weather months.”

DHS officials insisted they were working on a range of solutions, including expanding capacities at existing facilities and increasing supportive programming for the county’s unhoused population. But advocates have voiced loud opposition, warning that many may remain at risk.

FITZGERALD OVERRIDDEN

OUTGOING Executive Rich Fitzgerald lost a tussle with Allegheny County Council last week over a bill laying out minimum wage standards for county employees.

Fitzgerald first objected to the bill following a committee meeting in May, where it was advanced to the floor. After the legislation cleared council on June 6, Fitzgerald announced he had signed a veto. But when council assembled again on June 20, a two-thirds majority stood behind the bill, overruling Fitzgerald.

The bill in question lays out incremental raises for all salaried and hourly workers, ensuring all would earn a minimum of $20 per hour by January 2026.

Fitzgerald maintains he supports the concept of establishing a minimum wage, but that the power to do so lies solely with his office. In a press release after the veto override, he said he foresaw the result and is seeking expert opinion in pursuit of a possible legal challenge.

TRANSIT TAX?

TWO NEW BILLS proposed in the Pennsylvania legislature could create new public funding income for transit systems in select counties, including Allegheny. Transit advocates and organizations met outside the state capitol on June 20 to advocate for the bill alongside lawmakers and other stakeholders. The bill would permit Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties, along with five others, to collect up to three additional taxes to aid in funding transportation.

If passed, the legislation could support expansive, safe transit in multiple urban centers. It would also supply additional revenue to help with matching grant applications for federal infrastructure dollars. •

CP PHOTO: LUCY CHEN

CP

PHOTO: KAYCEE ORWIG

CP

PHOTO: KAYCEE ORWIG

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

BY CP STAFF

THU., JUNE 29

PARTY • DOWNTOWN

Summer in the Square Block Party. 5:30-7 p.m. Mellon Square. Smithfield Street. and Sixth Avenue., Downtown. Free. pittsburghparks.org

OUTDOORS • LAWRENCEVILLE

Sun’s out, guns out, unless you’re stripping down to your skivvies for the nighttime Pittsburgh Underwear Ride. Join the special Pride Ride edition of this regular event designed to promote safe streets and body positivity. Bicyclists will meet at 46th Street and Butler Street and, from there, commence to KLVN Coffee in Larimer, where an afterparty awaits. 8 p.m. 46th Street. and Butler Steet, Lawrenceville. Free. facebook. com/PghUnderwearBikeRide

FRI., JUNE 30

DRAG • DOWNTOWN

Dixie Surewood’s Broadway or Bust featuring Chi Chi DeVivre. 4:30 p.m. Pittsburgh Playhouse. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $25. playhouse.pointpark.edu

FILM • DOWNTOWN

Past Lives 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Continues through Thu., July 13. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $11. trustarts.org

WORKSHOP • LAWRENCEVILLE

Teetotal Initiative presents Crafting with Clarity 2.0. 6-8 p.m. Contemporary Craft. 5645 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. Registration required. teetotal.org/ upcoming-events

MUSIC • POINT BREEZE

Summer Fridays at the Frick 6:30 p.m. Continues through Sept. 1. The Frick Pittsburgh. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. Free. thefrickpittsburgh.org/SummerFridays

COMEDY • ALLENTOWN

Head to Bottlerocket Social Hall for a night of stand-up and sketch comedy with two emerging talents. John Reynolds, best known for his work on the HBO series Search Party, joins forces with fellow funnyman Matt Barats for the touring show Sharing and Crying. See why the duo has so many film and television credits to their respective

names. 8-10 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $20. bottlerocketpgh.com

SAT., JULY 1

HOLIDAY • LAWRENCEVILLE

Expect children’s races, train rides, balloon artists, and other family-friendly fun when Lawrenceville United presents the 77th Lawrenceville Independence Day Celebration. Cheer on youth athletes during the Girls All-Star softball and Boys All-Star baseball game in Arsenal Park. From there, enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, a Keystone State Wrestling Alliance show, live music, and an exotic animal show before the last festivity of the night, which includes fireworks. 11 a.m. Arsenal Park. 276 39th St., Lawrenceville. facebook.com/ LawrencevilleUnited

ART • NORTH SIDE

Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks - Special Gallery Exhibit. 12- 5 p.m. Photo Antiquities Museum. 531 East Ohio St., North Side. $10. Free for children 10 and under. photoantiquities.org

FILM • OAKMONT

Jaws. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Oaks Theater. 310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. $4-8. theoakstheater.com

DRAG • STRIP DISTRICT

Share a bit of your Legally Blonde knowledge at the Jennifer Coolidge Comedy & Drag Variety Show. Taking place at City Winery, the night, hosted by comedian and celebrity interviewer, Sarah Rachel Lazarus, includes performances by X-Emma, Kat De Lac, and Chrissy Costa. Come as your fave Coolidge character for the chance to win “an incredibly non-special TJ Maxx prize.” View a night of Mad Libs and live acts with a glass of wine in hand. 8 p.m. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $25-28. pittsburgh.citywinery.com

MUSIC • SOUTH PARK

Allegheny County Summer Concert Series presents Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 8:15 p.m. South Park Amphitheater. 100 Farmshow Dr., South Park. Free. trustarts.org

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE FRICK PITTSBURGH

Summer Fridays at the Frick

WED., JULY 5

MON., JULY 3

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

We Are The Union, Catbite, and Kill Lincoln with J. Navarro & The Traitors. 7 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. spiritpgh.com

TUE., JULY 4

HOLIDAY • MOUNT LEBANON

Fourth of July Celebration. 12 p.m. Mount Lebanon Park. 900 Cedar Blvd., Mount Lebanon. Free. mtlebanon.org

WED.,

JULY

TALK • FRIENDSHIP

SUN., JULY 2

MUSIC • GARFIELD

saturdays at your place with summerbruise, Seaholm, and Stevie Flowers. 7 p.m. Mr. Roboto Project. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. therobotoproject.com

5

Pittsburgh Glass Center Summer Lecture Series with Nate Cotterman, Matt Eskuche, and Alyssa Oxley. 6 p.m. Pittsburgh Glass Center. 5472 Penn Ave., Friendship. Free. pittsburghglasscenter.org

MUSIC • OAKLAND

Falling In Reverse with Ice Nine Kills. 6:30 p.m. Petersen Events Center. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. $65-122. peterseneventscenter.com

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ATOM SPLITTER PR Ice Nine Kills at Petersen Events Center

PHOTO: GEORGE LANGE

Assistant conductor Moon Doh of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the South Park Amphitheater

FINANCIAL

Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment?

New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern)

HELP WANTED

PSYCHIATRIST

Allegheny Clinic seeks a Psychiatrist to work in Pittsburgh, PA and be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individual psychiatry patient care appropriate to the age of patients. Send CV/ cover letter with salary requirements to: trina. dillon@ahn.org with “Psychiatrist opportunity” in re line.

MARKET PLACE

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 700 E Carson St, Pittsburgh PA 15203 on July 5, 2023 at 12:15 PM. Unit 2149 Justin Beiter, Unit 2156 Symone Hayden, Unit 3024 Summer Hawkins, and Unit 4073 Tywanda Watts The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Names Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitious name was filed in the office of the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of Colmena Multiservices with its principal office or place of business at 3509 N 5TH ST 1ST FLOOR PHILADELPHIA PA 19140. The names and addresses, including street and number, if any, of all persons who are parties to the registration are:

Lizmar Encarnacion Rosario 3509 N 5TH ST 1ST FLOOR PHILADELPHIA PA 19140

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-004805

In re petition of Amanda Nicole Denton for change of name to Nikki Ann Denton. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 17th day of July, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

CREDIT REPAIR

Denied Credit?? Work to Repair Your Credit Report With The Trusted Leader in Credit Repair. Call Lexington Law for a FREE credit report summary & credit repair consultation. 855-620-9426. John C. Heath, Attorney at Law, PLLC, dba Lexington Law Firm. (AAN CAN)

ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF ABRASHEFF, BORIS, DECEASED OF CLAIRTON, PA Boris Abrasheff, deceased of Clairton, PA No. 022303962 of 2023. Nanette Shafron, Ext. 129 Gillcrest Drive, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025. Or to D. Scott Lautner, Attorney. 68 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

MASSAGE

M2M Massage by Lee Lean athletic shape. 24/7 • 412-628-1269

STUDY

SMOKERS WANTED

The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab is looking for people to participate in a research project. You must:

• Currently smoke cigarettes

• Be 18-49 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English

• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires

Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.

For more information, call (412) 407-5029

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

43.  Withdrawal from MERCHANT bank

46.  Alex ___ Stage (where Jeopardy! is filmed)

48.  On the money

49.  TV show explainer, often

50.  Illegible mess

53.  With 57-Across, demands much (of)

57.  See 53-Across

58.  Withdrawal from REGIONAL bank

60.  Get one’s feet wet?

61.  Pitching error

62.  Enterprise vehicles

63.  Harsh cleaners

64.  Sticks (out)

65.  “Christina’s World” painter

DOWN

1.  100 cents

2.  Out of the wind on a boat

3.  Societal problems

4.  “Here’s the thing”

5.  “Need I say more?”

6.  Merchandise

7.  Like a superfan

8.  Birria or booyah, e.g.

9.  See 23-Across

10.  String ___

11.  Carrier that offers package deals to the Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights

person

13.  Hacker’s goal

18.  Word that ends 22-Down

22.  See 18-Down 24.  Contracts

One providing nudges 26.  “Stop right there!” 27.  “Am ___ nice?” 28.  Programmer’s product 29.  Believe it (or not)

Pool ball bounce

Layer in the atmosphere 35.  Words before a subject 36.  WhatsApp parent company 38.  Special counsel Smith

39.  “Can’t say enough good things about him”

41.  Put one’s foot down?

42.  Racing Series Octane Booster product

Diminishes

Vilnius

Fish with a net

Pass the baton

Steady date

Chipper tune

Quench

Shoelace

Prez. who ran the “Daisy ad”