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Peduto wonks out on Reddit

Published by Tim McNulty on .

Mayoral candidate Bill Peduto did a Reddit AMA ("Ask Me Anything") today where the questions were, as the name suggests, all over the place: issues included parking, small business, the South Side, transit, etc.

You can read all his responses here. As for issues we haven't seen before, here's a new one answering a question posed by "hempauthority" on his stances on medical and recreational marijuana use:

I would support state legislation to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. If people are suffering and there is a plant that can help them not to suffer, I think they should have the right to be prescribed it. I have had loved ones suffer through terminal cancer and other life ending diseases - their comfort, their quality of life, their ability not to suffer is the only thing you care about when you are living through it with them.

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Dem guv hopefuls debate in June

Published by Administrator on .

By Kate Giammarise
 
Hard to believe, but the first Democratic Gubernatorial debate has already been scheduled, PoliticsPA reports today.
 
It will be hosted by community group Harrisburg Hope on June 5 at the Harrisburg Midtown Scholar Bookstore.
 
Confirmed debaters so far include candidates Rep. Allyson Schwartz (who will participate remotely due to Congressional obligations); UPDATE: Organizers say Schwartz has not confirmed; John Hanger, a former DEP secretary; Max Myers, a pastor; Tom Wolf, a former state revenue secretary; and an additional candidate "who has yet to officially announce their candidacy," according to PoliticsPA.
 
The debate will kick off what is expected to be a fairly high-profile race next year, with a plethora of Democrats seeking to unseat a Republican governor with poor poll numbers.
 
Harrisburg Hope folks couldn't be reached for further details, but the non-partisan group has also extended a courtesy invite to Gov. Corbett, according to PoliticsPA.
 
UPDATE: Harrisburg Hope describes itself as a community group that strives to foster dialogue and civility by hosting public forums where the community can ask their elected officials questions.
 
Alan Kennedy-Shaffer, president of Harrisburg Hope, said he hopes the debate can be a forum for discussion of state issues such as the budget, fracking, transportation, education and well as what the next governor will do for Harrisburg.

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Wagner spot hits Peduto Homewood, tax votes

Published by Tim McNulty on .

The thrust-and-parry of the Pittsburgh mayor's race continues today with a new attack ad from the Jack Wagner campaign.

Last week Team Wagner went positive as the Bill Peduto campaign attacked him. With exactly two weeks until the May 21 Democratic primary Team Peduto went positive today while the Wagner forces are swinging back with their own negative spot, hammering the councilman on a Homewood housing project he opposed (it's also the "senior housing" in the ad) and for battling with fellow councilors Darlene Harris and Ricky Burgess.

The attack ad on the councilman from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also hit the Homewood vote. Peduto has said he voted against the Homewood project due to concerns there was not enough consultation with neighborhood leaders.

The new Wagner spot's mention of a proposed property tax hike concerns an idea some on council floated in 2003 when the city was facing a $42 million budget shortfall.

Said the Wagner campaign:

"This ad speaks for itself. After weeks of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on dishonest attacks misrepresenting Jack Wagner's career of fighting for progressive principles, Bill Peduto must now face the truth about his own career as a divisive politician in a dysfunctional government," said Wagner for Mayor Campaign Manager Henry De Koninck.

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Sophie Masloff hospitalized

Published by Tim McNulty on .

Also from the main site: Former Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff, 95, is ill and has been admitted to UPMC Sophie MasloffShadyside:

"Mayor Masloff has not been feeling well over the past two days. At her doctor's suggestion, she is being admitted today to Shadyside Hospital for tests," family spokesman Frederick Frank said.

Ms. Masloff, 95, of Squirrel Hill, similarly spent time at the hospital in October 2011 on her doctor's recommendation.

She was Pittsburgh's mayor from May 1988 to January 1994.

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Subpoenas served on Pgh govt

Published by Tim McNulty on .

From the main site: Several subpoenas have been served on the city of Pittsburgh in recent weeks. From the Lord/Silver/Navratil story:

Over the past several weeks, a federal grand jury has served multiple subpoenas upon the City of Pittsburgh for administrative records, Solicitor Daniel Regan confirmed this morning.

Mr. Regan would not reveal what records were sought or which city department or departments maintained them.

In a separate and possibly related development this morning, two men, one in a Pittsburgh police T-shirt, wheeled a pile of boxes -- including at least one labeled "Parking Variances," into the grand jury room in the federal courthouse on Liberty Avenue, Downtown.

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