News & Brews December 13, 2024
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U.S. Steel workers rally in support of Nippon sale
As President Biden, President-elect Trump, and the head of the United Steelworkers Union continue to oppose the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan-based Nippon Steel, you know who supports the sale? Hundreds of actual U.S. Steel workers who rallied yesterday at the Clairton Coke Works outside of Pittsburgh. WESA reports that these workers were joined by “hundreds more [who] appeared via video screens at various U.S. Steel plants across the country.” The vice president of U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works, Kurt Barshick “said that the hundreds of workers who showed up for the rally were the true voices of the company’s union workers, and that they favored the deal.”
Shapiro spent millions in 2024–much of it on himself
Spotlight PA reports that even though he wasn’t up for election this year, Gov. Josh Shapiro still managed to spend more than $5.5 million from his campaign account. You’d think most of this would have gone to help down ballot Democrats, including those seeking to expand their one-seat majority in the state House. Well, you’d be wrong. Turns out only “about $1.7 million went to Pennsylvania candidates. The rest went toward consultants, private flights, hotels, events, and meals for his campaign in 13 states including Pennsylvania, among other expenses.” Of the consulting expenses, the biggest chunk—more than $1.1 million—went to a digital consulting firm. (This is the same governor whose office recently claimed he “isn’t focused on social media posts.” ) As for the source of Shapiro’s millions in campaign donations? Well, of the more than $10 million he raised this year, out-of-state millionaires gave a bulk, with California donor Jennifer Duda giving $2 million, Michael Bloomberg giving $2 million, and George Soros contributing $500,000, per campaign finance reports. (Notably, the Spotlight PA story totally ignores the Soros funding.)
Philly Council gives initial nod to Sixers arena
In a 12-4 vote yesterday, the Philadelphia City Council advanced “enabling legislation” in favor of building a new 76ers arena in Center City. WHYY reports, “The crucial vote was taken as opponents chanted loudly behind lawmakers.” The story adds, “Most of the legislation City Council advanced Thursday was crafted by the {Mayor Cherelle] Parker administration, including bills related to zoning and planning. There are also provisions for a community benefits agreement (CBA) worth $60 million, and an economic opportunity plan designed to ensure the arena is built and supported by a diverse workforce.” Among the opponents are those concerned that the new arena, which “would sit steps from Chinatown … will dismantle the 150-year-old neighborhood.”
Pa. Kids-for-Cash judge has sentence commuted by Biden
Among the nearly 1,500 people whose sentences President Biden commuted this week is former Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan of the infamous Kids-for-Cash scandal. As the Citizens’ Voice explains, Conahan was one of two judges convicted of “funneling juvenile defendants to two private, for-profit detention centers in exchange for $2.1 million in kickbacks.” The judges gave these juveniles “sentences [that] were often disproportionate to their crimes.” You can learn more about this scandal in Episode #5 of the six-episode “Pa. Political Digest: A Stroll Through the Annals of Pennsylvania Political Corruption” podcast. (Scroll down for Episode #5)
Mayoral race is ‘referendum on Pittsburgh’s progressive movement’
Much has been said about the far Left progressives’ advances in Pittsburgh in recent years. WESA summarizes that Mayor Ed Gainey’s “2021 win over Bill Peduto marked the first of the three highest-profile wins for the region’s then-emerging progressive movement. (It was followed by Summer Lee’s successful run for Congress in 2022 and Sara Innamorato’s election to county executive last year.)” But this year, the outcome of the mayoral race, where County Controller Corey O’Connor has announced a Democrat primary challenge to Gainey, “will likely be regarded, rightly or not, as a referendum on the movement.”