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Charlie Wolfson

@chwolfson.bsky.social
1.3K followers 149 following 240 posts

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County government reporter, PublicSource.org | Interested in local government, elections, baseball, Pittsburgh

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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Gas prices got you down? Want a delicious, but inexpensive meal in Pittsburgh? Public Source has a new map of meals that will set you back no more than $15 (ish) www.publicsource.org/mealmap/
publicsource.org
Meal Map
Pittsburgh's Public Source mapped restaurants around the Pittsburgh region where you can get a full meal for around $15. Search by name, dish or neighborhood.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
www.publicsource.org/shapiro-garr...
publicsource.org
Have you seen a Garrity ad? Shapiro leads 43-to-1 in broadcast, digital buys.
Pittsburgh's Public Source analysis shows Gov. Josh Shapiro raising national money and spending millions on legislative races.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
State of the race for PA governor: For every dollar Stacy Garrity spent on TV ads since June 9, Josh Shapiro spent $35. Josh Shapiro donated more money to downballot candidates ($5.6M) than Garrity has raised since launching her campaign.
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Reposted by Charlie Wolfson
Pittsburgh's Public Source @publicsource.org · 21/09/2026
Affidavit: City Council members and staff led DA to investigate Gainey contracts. buff.ly/pFLbpjd
buff.ly
Affidavit: City Council members and staff led DA to investigate Gainey contracts
Two council members and council's former solicitor raised no-bid contract concerns that fed the DA's probe of Ed Gainey's administration, an affidavit shows.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
93% of Garrity's contributions came from inside PA.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Just the two biggest contributors to Shapiro — Michael Bloomberg and IBEW Local #98 — combined to give more than Garrity raised from all of her contributors during this time period.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Shapiro has outraised Stacy Garrity more than 12-to-1 since 2025, and his cash-on-hand advantage was about 38-to-1 this June.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: We mapped Josh Shapiro's enormous financial advantage in the Pennsylvania governor's race. We found since start of 2025, half his campaign $ came from out of state. Much more here: www.publicsource.org/shapiro-garr...
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
News: The DA has dropped all charges against Danny Rosenmund, the Springdale man who was arrested while criticizing the borough's ICE agreement during an April council meeting. www.publicsource.org/springdale-c...
publicsource.org
DA drops charges against Springdale man forcefully arrested at council meeting
Rosenmund was taken to the ground and arrested during an April Springdale Borough meeting while criticizing a borough agreement with ICE.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Springdale's police chief has been criticized for entering an agreement to assist ICE. We found Chief Derek Dayoub's record is dotted with lawsuits, criminal charges and a PFA. And Springdale hired him after he was fired by another department. My investigation: t.co/6DZ2yIQtbE
t.co
https://www.publicsource.org/springdale-ice-police-chief/
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A team of @publicsource.org journalists spent months in Springdale, a borough northeast of Pittsburgh, to learn what happens when ICE and a data center development collide in a small American community. @jamiewiggan.bsky.social's overview: t.co/ddAmeOieRt
t.co
https://www.publicsource.org/how-ice-and-a-data-center-turned-a-small-pittsburgh-suburb-into-a-civic-battleground/
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Also: This does not mean the city is not in financial trouble. The city is expecting to run a deficit of $24 million this year. More than double what these two orgs pledged annually today.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Obviously it will matter a lot if these deals are renewed after the five years. FWIW, experts have told us that these deals tend to have inertia. They're hard to start but once they're going, orgs are incentivized to keep them going
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Highmark's contribution of $20M — $4M per year — amounts to about double what it would pay in property tax. The report I'm basing this on: pittsburghpa.gov/files/assets...
pittsburghpa.gov
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
How the math works out-- UPMC, will give $35M over 5 years (including $10M announced in Jan.), so $7M per year. That's about half what controllers estimated it would pay if its property were taxable in 2022. Most PILOT programs around the country aim for about half-- or less
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
New: UPMC and Highmark will give Pittsburgh $45 million over the next five years, a major milestone in the city's decades-long quest for more $ from the tax-exempt orgs "This has been talked about for many years, many administrations," Mayor O'Connor said www.publicsource.org/upmc-highmar...
publicsource.org
UPMC and Highmark pledge $45 million over five years to Pittsburgh
The money contributed by Highmark and UMPC will be spent on vehicles and equipment for fire and emergency services. This is the latest in a series of gifts to the city since Mayor Corey O’Connor took ...
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
New: What does Pittsburgh’s mayor do all day? His public schedules offer a glimpse From more than 500 publicized events, we found focuses on education, business and housing development, and frequent visits to the Golden Triangle and the North Shore www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-m...
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
New: Springdale man Randy Cordova Flores was released after four months in an ICE detention center this month. We interviewed him about his arrest, detention and why he fears for those still held at Moshannon Valley Processing Center www.publicsource.org/springdale-m...
publicsource.org
Springdale man released from ICE detention center 4 months after traffic stop arrest
Four months after a traffic stop arrest, Randy Cordova Flores was released from ICE custody.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
A 747 flying low over Bloomfield
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Did you know? The Fifth Judicial District (state courts in Allegheny County), paid $72 million to ~1,000 employees in 2025. Unlike the city and county, they hardly paid any overtime. Median salary among court staff was $58,560.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
For more than a decade @PublicSourcePA has published Pittsburgh and Allegheny County government payroll information, to give residents details about where their tax money goes. Now, for the 1st time, we do the same for the county's judicial branch: www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
publicsource.org
Inside the taxpayer-funded payroll of Allegheny County's courts
Allegheny County court employees were paid a total of $72 million in 2025. Here’s how the numbers break down.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
www.publicsource.org/pps-school-c...
publicsource.org
PPS approves plan to close and consolidate schools, reversing board’s November rejection
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board vote for a plan that will close 12 schools and shutter nine buildings. It could also bring more changes.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Here are the Pittsburgh Public Schools that are slated to close after the board approved the consolidation plan last night:
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
The man, Danny Rosenmund, was criticizing the borough's cooperative agreement with ICE when multiple officers arrested him. He was later charged with felony aggravated assault. His criminal case is pending.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
New: Springdale Borough leaders said in April that a critic of the borough's ICE agreement was forcefully arrested at a council meeting for exceeding his allotted three minutes of speaking time. New video shows he only spoke for 2:20 before being tackled. www.publicsource.org/video-spring...
publicsource.org
Video: Critic of Springdale police ICE pact did not break rule prior to rough arrest
Surveillance camera footage shows William “Danny” Rosenmund did not defy the public comment time limit before his forceful arrest by Springdale police.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
News: Allegheny County Council elected Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, a Democrat and environmental advocate from Plum, as its president. Pat Catena had stepped down as president last week. www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
publicsource.org
Allegheny County Council elects environmental advocate as president, replacing Catena
Days after Pat Catena resigned from the council presidency following a controversial campaign mailer, members picked Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis to succeed him.
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Reposted by Charlie Wolfson
Rich Lord @richelord.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
It seemed downright Shakespearean: Allegheny County Council's president, on the cusp of a state role, took one misstep and tumbled. @chwolfson.bsky.social reveals that there was more to it than an ill-conceived mailer www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
publicsource.org
Primary loss by Allegheny County Council president a sign of the times
Could Allegheny County’s marquee primary election show a bigger shift in the region’s politics?
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Pat Catena is County Council prez and had county party's endorsement. “That just doesn’t work anymore. People just don’t care. You need to give them a vision of how you want to improve their lives.” @tomduerrpa.bsky.social On Bloam's rout of Catena last night www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
publicsource.org
Primary loss by Allegheny County Council president a sign of the times
Could Allegheny County’s marquee primary election show a bigger shift in the region’s politics?
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
General election matchups are almost* set. See who's running in the November general election for state House and Senate seats in Allegheny County *write-in candidacies from yesterday could result in some more Republican nominees www.publicsource.org/election-202...
publicsource.org
Who’s running for office in Allegheny County in 2026?
Control over Harrisburg and the U.S. House hang in the balance, and at least 11 Allegheny County General Assembly seats will see contests.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
my apologies everyone this borough is not part of CD-12.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
First vote dump out of Beaver County has slowed the Vodvarka momentum... Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy won the 1,969 vote batch by 78 points. Vodvarka still leads with about a quarter of the vote in.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
AP race call: Congresswoman Summer Lee wins the Democratic primary in Pittsburgh-based CD-12. She will face James Hayes in November as she seeks a third term in Washington. www.publicsource.org/live-electio...
publicsource.org
Live election results: Pittsburgh-area primaries for Congress, state House and more
Pennsylvania votes today in the 2026 primary elections. Congress, the office of governor, the state House and half of the state Senate are on the ballot this midterm, but many primaries are unconteste...
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Allegheny County mail-in votes are published. CD-12 Democratic Summer Lee 27,714 (80.1%) Will Parker 5,884 (19.9%) CD-17 Republican Jesse James Vodvarka 4,701 (63%) Tony Guy 2,698 (37%) Live: www.publicsource.org/live-electio...
publicsource.org
Live election results: Pittsburgh-area primaries for Congress, state House and more
Pennsylvania votes today in the 2026 primary elections. Congress, the office of governor, the state House and half of the state Senate are on the ballot this midterm, but many primaries are unconteste...
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Of all the political maps I've made this one has gotta be up there
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Does Will Parker repeat his 2023 feat of carrying the borough of Haysville? Tune in at 8 p.m. tonight to find out
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Bookmark for later: Live results for contested primaries in Allegheny County and across PA. Plus AP race calls as they happen. www.publicsource.org/live-electio...
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
But at least for now: Pittsburgh is on track for its first decade without population loss since 1950.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Big caveat: The latest estimate is for July 1, 2025. So the impact of the Trump administration's policies on immigration and refugee admissions may be more fully seen in next year's estimate. Pittsburgh's recent growth has depended on immigrants.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
News: Census Bureau estimates say Pittsburgh continued its modest 2020s growth from July 2024 to July 2025, adding 913 that year for a total of 307,632. That's 4,773 higher than the 2020 estimate. Big news considering many feared the city would drop under 300,000 in the decade.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
🌊 Pittsburgh Pool News O'Connor administration announces the pools will have chairs and loungers (pictured) for the first time ... and they say opening day for pools is June 15
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Wondering what it's like Downtown right now? Here you go: www.publicsource.org/how-are-thin...
publicsource.org
NFL Draft a smooth ride for fans from East End, Baltimore, Sheboygan …
The three-day event started today and runs through Saturday. With overall attendance expected to top 500,000, it’s been billed as the biggest gathering in Pittsburgh history.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
New: Once the Draft leaves town, Pittsburgh and its teams will be on the clock to forge new leases at Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park. More on the talks, which could involve huge money for upgrades: www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-n...
publicsource.org
Stadium upgrade talks could quickly follow NFL Draft fanfare
Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park “are both in need of some upgrades,” Mayor O’Connor said, and there should be “some discussion” about public funding for improvements.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
New: Thousands of ICE detainees are successfully petitioning for habeas corpus to get out on bond as their cases pend. Pittsburgh is a hub of this action, as the largest detention center in the Northeast is nearby. Read how it works and the families involved: www.publicsource.org/gofundme-and...
publicsource.org
ICE detainees seek freedom using medieval legal idea and 16-year-old website
Habeas corpus cases, once rare in Western Pennsylvania, now flood the federal docket as ICE detainees challenge detentions. Families are using the charity website to pay lawyers.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
There will be 'hundreds' of FBI personnel in the region during the NFL draft, a bureau official said Friday www.publicsource.org/nfl-draft-pi...
publicsource.org
Outside law enforcement to assist Pittsburgh for NFL Draft patrols
The city and the NFL will coordinate safety efforts around the April 23 to 25 draft, with unspecified numbers of professionals from other agencies helping out.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
News: Even after raising property taxes 20%, Pittsburgh's financial forecast does not look pretty. Under the new budget plan outlined by Mayor O'Connor, the reserve fund will continue shrinking and will be near the legal minimum by 2030. www.publicsource.org/city-pittsbu...
publicsource.org
O’Connor amendments paint difficult financial future, even after raising taxes
Mayor O’Connor proposed more than 60 budget amendments, adding $28 million in spending and causing a $6 million deficit this year.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
News: Pitt will give the city $5 million over five years to boost Mayor O'Connor's agenda www.publicsource.org/university-p...
publicsource.org
Pitt to give city $5 million over five years for O’Connor agenda
The University of Pittsburgh gift will benefit city parks, business corridors and public safety, Mayor Corey O'Connor said.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Allegheny County taxes went up last year. Want to know where the money went? Here's our annual look at what county employees were paid last year: www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
publicsource.org
Which Allegheny County employees were paid the most last year? It’s now easier to find out.
Jail hires and public safety worker overtime drove the overall payroll higher. County police redacted fewer officer names than the year prior after a Public Source legal challenge.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
New: ICE is reportedly on site at Pittsburgh International, but from the landside terminal we saw no visible ICE presence so far today — and no serious lines. www.publicsource.org/ice-pittsbur...
publicsource.org
ICE to deploy at Pittsburgh International, but no visible presence Monday morning
Security was running smoothly with minimal lines throughout the morning a day after Pittsburgh was included in a list of 14 airports at which ICE would be assisting.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
News: Mayor O'Connor says the city budget passed in December underfunds key areas by $30 to $40 million and he'll seek revisions this month. Where will the money come from? He does not know yet. www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-b...
publicsource.org
O’Connor says Pittsburgh budget short some $30 million in key areas
Pittsburgh’s 2026 budget lowballed costs by $30 million or more, and Mayor O’Connor’s team has not yet finalized any needed cuts.
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Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Yesterday was the filing deadline for Pennsylvania's 2026 primary elections. Here's a list of filed candidates for Allegheny County seats. 🗳️ 7 contested legislative primaries 🗳️ Dems run in every seat; 12 of 23 have GOP opponent (pending write-ins) www.publicsource.org/election-202...
publicsource.org
Who’s running for office in Allegheny County in 2026?
Control over Harrisburg and the U.S. House hang in the balance, but Allegheny County voters will see few contested primaries on May 19.
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