Friday, September 4, 2026
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My office, located above the Supercuts at Forward and Murray Avenues, will close today at 12 p.m. and reopen on Tuesday in observance of Labor Day. Our normal busines hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Labor Day is a chance to honor the hard work and dedication of workers everywhere who keep our communities running. Wishing you and your family a restful and enjoyable holiday weekend.
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Another Fun Squirrel Hill Night Market
On Saturday, we enjoyed perfect weather and high spirits at the August Night Market with Sen. Jay Costa and our friends from CeaseFirePA. We handed out gun locks and talked to neighbors about safe storage, and I answered questions and concerns about the Commonwealth’s laws and policies. It was a lovely night for a community event, and I am grateful to the many volunteers who worked to make it a success. Mark your calendars for the final night market on Sept. 26!
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Protecting our Nursing Home Residents During Facility Ownership Changes
Last week, I introduced HB 2754 to close a gap in how Pennsylvania handles nursing home ownership changes. Right now, the state isn't required to vet a new operator before they take control — it's only notified after the fact. That's risky, since ownership transitions are among the highest-stakes moments for resident safety, as we've seen with the bankruptcies of companies like Genesis, Comprehensive, and Bedrock.
Modeled on bipartisan reforms in Virginia and Ohio, HB 2754 would require new operators to earn state approval — including a track record review, financial bonding, and a real staffing and safety plan — before they can take over a facility.
This is a common-sense, resident-first protection that keeps bad actors from taking charge of vulnerable residents' care without any oversight.
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Community Events and Resources
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Support Magee Nurses' Request for a Public Voice
Nurses, advanced practitioners and patients are asking the UPMC Magee Board of Directors to hold its 2026 annual meeting in person, with a public comment period for those closest to patient care. They're raising concerns about nurse turnover, compensation, standards of care and UPMC's spending on anti-union campaigns.
These healthcare workers take care of us when we need them most, and I have always felt strongly that our community has a responsibility to support them in their fight for fair working conditions.
Sign the open letter here.
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Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival
Today – Sunday, Sept. 4-6 | Market Square
A Soulful Taste of the Burgh returns to Downtown Pittsburgh for Labor Day Weekend with a free outdoor festival celebrating the city's culture and community, including cultural activities, live entertainment, local vendors, food competitions and soul food from around Pittsburgh.
Learn more here.
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Westinghouse Park Tree ID Hike
Today, Sept. 4, 5 – 6 p.m. | Westinghouse Park
Join Pittsburgh Park Rangers for a guided tree identification walk through Westinghouse Park, a certified arboretum since 2021 with more than 175 trees representing 38 species. Meet in front of the blue building for a walk around the park with stops to learn how to identify the trees along the way.
Register here.
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Pitch In Your Labor on Labor Day Weekend!
Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Swisshelm Park Community Center
Help the Swisshelm Park Community Center continue growing into a space for the whole neighborhood! Join a community clean-up day to clear out closets, move chairs and tables to the basement, organize storage, and spruce up the Great Hall and foyer. There will be music playing and a kid-friendly area with a movie for little ones who want to tag along (or pitch in themselves!). Stay the whole time or drop in for a bit.
Learn more on the community center's Facebook page.
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Repair Café
Saturday, Sept. 5, Noon – 4 p.m. | Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington St.
Repair Café Pittsburgh and Construction Junction host a free community event where you can learn to fix your own belongings or help others fix theirs. Repair Cafés run the first Saturday of every month.
Learn more here.
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42nd Annual Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade
Monday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Downtown Pittsburgh
Celebrate workers and honor generations of advocacy for workers’ rights with one of the country’s largest and oldest Labor Day parades. The parade will begin at PPG Paints Arena, travel down Centre Ave. to Grant Street, then turn down the Boulevard of the Allies.
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Accessibility Improvements Coming to Frick Environmental Center
Wednesday & Thursday, Sept. 9 & 10 | Frick Environmental Center
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy wants to hear from you about accessibility upgrades planned for the Frick Environmental Center campus. Their design team has put together initial concept plans covering arrival and wayfinding, programming and gathering spaces, and amphitheater upgrades — and they're looking for community feedback as the project moves forward.
Three opportunities to weigh in:
Accessibility Focus Group (in person)
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2–4 p.m.
For people with lived experience of disability and organizations serving people with disabilities. Register here.
Public Concept Design Presentation (in person)
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Open to all. Register here.
Public Concept Design Presentation (virtual)
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 12–1 p.m. | Zoom
Open to all. Register here.
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Pittsburgh Lebanese Festival
Thursday – Sunday, Sept. 10-13 | Our Lady of Victory Maronite Catholic Church
The Pittsburgh Lebanese Festival brings three days of Lebanese food, including pita, shawarma and grape leaves, along with live music, traditional Dabke dancing and a raffle for a new Toyota Corolla.
Learn more here.
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A Conversation with Holocaust Survivor Irene Skolnick
Thursday, Sept. 10, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. | Eddy Theatre, Chatham University
Hear from local Holocaust survivor Irene Skolnick as she shares her story of resilience. Born in Przemysl, Poland, Irene and her family came under Nazi occupation in 1941 and were forced into a ghetto before obtaining false papers and passing as Catholic Poles to survive. The family later lived in France before emigrating to the U.S. in 1952, when Irene was 14.
Learn more and reserve your spot here.
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
152 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202023
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 705-1875
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District Office
2345 Murray Avenue
Suite 205
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 422-1774
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