Monday, Dec. 15: Police Chief Pick + Tax Hikes + Tourism Progress
Monday, Dec. 15
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
🎧 Prefer to listen to the news?
Find Wake Up, Pittsburgh! on
Spotify,
Apple Podcasts,
YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Jason Lando tapped as Pittsburgh police chief, pending Council vote.
Jason Lando is returning to Pittsburgh as the city’s next police chief, pending City Council approval. The Squirrel Hill native previously served with the bureau for two decades before taking the top job in Frederick, Maryland. There, he was lauded for reforms such as a mental health-focused crisis response unit and community engagement initiatives. Pittsburgh faces a severe officer shortage, aging equipment, and financial strain—challenges Lando says he feels “an obligation” to help fix. His appointment is incoming Mayor Corey O’Connor’s first major public safety decision.
Pittsburgh tax hikes loom: county up, schools and city next.
After a decade of gradual increases, property tax rates in Pittsburgh are now climbing more sharply. Allegheny County’s 36% millage hike took effect this year, and Pittsburgh Public Schools may follow with a 4% increase, pending a vote on Dec. 17. The district faces a $6.3 million deficit and has struggled with revenue losses from commercial tax appeals. Meanwhile, City Council is debating a 30% tax hike proposal to address underfunded departments, with public hearings scheduled for Dec. 20. Legal challenges to the state’s assessment system also continue.
VisitPITTSBURGH touts tourism plan progress, neighborhood readiness index.
In an op-ed for the Pittsburgh Business Times, Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, reflects on the progress made since launching the city’s first 10-Year Tourism Development Plan in 2021. Now in its second year, the plan has spurred new investments and initiatives aimed at enhancing visitor experiences and community readiness. Highlights include the creation of a Neighborhood Tourism Readiness Index, expanded support for local festivals, and sustainable offerings like a downtown kayak concession. Bachar emphasizes tourism’s role as a critical economic driver and invites continued collaboration to ensure long-term, inclusive growth across Allegheny County.
East Hills Drive repaved, hailed as long-delayed equity milestone.
In East Hills, what might seem like a routine road project is being celebrated as a milestone in community equity. East Hills Drive—once notorious for its deep potholes and neglect—has finally been repaved after more than 15 years. The road served as the only access point to Petra International Ministries and local housing, yet languished due to jurisdictional confusion and lack of funding. Local leaders cut the ribbon Tuesday on the $250,000 state-funded project. Bishop Donald Clay called the repair a symbol of long-awaited respect and revitalization for the East Hills community.
Holocaust survivor and educator Oscar Singer dies at 100.
Oscar Singer, a Holocaust survivor who endured multiple Nazi labor and concentration camps, died Wednesday at age 100. Born in Poland, Singer survived harrowing forced labor, the Auschwitz death camp, and a death march before being liberated in 1945. After the war, he rebuilt his life in the U.S., operating a restaurant in Denver and later settling in Pittsburgh with his wife. Singer dedicated his later years to Holocaust education, reminding others to preserve humanity in the face of cruelty. He is survived by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
* Subscription or free account may be required.
✉️ Do your neighbor a favor — forward this newsletter or send them to our signup page.