FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY PITTSBURGH’S ALTERNATIVE FOR NEWS, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT SINCE 1991
PGHCITYPAPER.COM PGHCITYPAPER PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER
APRIL 8-15, 2020
INSIDE: HOW HEALTH-CARE WORKERS ARE BUILDING THEIR POLITICAL POWER
PORTRAITS OF THE PANDEMIC A PHOTO ESSAY OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINES
Emergency HIV Medication and prep available to ALL. House calls available as needed
• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP
free testing • 412-515-0000 3 Locations: North Shore, washington, PA & beaver county (see our ads on pAges 21, 23 & 24)
4 Smithfield Street, Suite 1210 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.685.9009 E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com
pghcitypaper.com PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER
APRIL 8-15, 2020 VOLUME 29 + ISSUE 15
FIRSTSHOT
Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writers RYAN DETO, AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers HANNAH LYNN, JORDAN SNOWDEN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Digital Media Manager JOSH OSWALD Editorial Designer ABBIE ADAMS Graphic Designers JOSIE NORTON, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Events and Sponsorship Manager BLAKE LEWIS Senior Account Executive KAITLIN OLIVER Sales Representative ZACK DURKIN Operations Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Events and Marketing Coordinator BRYER BLUMENSCHEIN Business Manager JUSTIN MATASE Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JESSIE SAGE Intern OLLIE GRATZINGER National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.
BY JARED WICKERHAM
GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2020 by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by Eagle Media Corp. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper. FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $175 per year, $95 per half year. No refunds.
ON THE COVER: SIDNEY DAVIS, BUS DRIVER FOR PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM SEE THE FULL PHOTO ESSAY ON PAGE 4
2
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
MEDI C A L MA RI JU A N A
PITTSBURGH’S
BEST DISPENSARY
thehealingcenterusa.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
3
A PHOTO ESSAY BY JARED WICKERHAM
PORTRAITS OF THE PANDEMIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINES
Colin Killins, United States Postal Service, on his route in Stanton Heights 4
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
A
cross Pittsburgh, as the city becomes more and more still under a stay-at-home order, a large group of people continues to wake up every morning to go to work. As the global coronavirus pandemic hits our city, Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating the essential workers on the frontlines. They’re driving your buses, delivering your mail, making sure you’re fed, helping you heal. The following series of photographs, taken by CP photographer Jared Wickerham during the first few weeks of the pandemic, features some of those essential workers so important to our city.
Angela Battaglia, registered nurse at Allegheny General Hospital in the North Side
CONTINUES ON PG. 6
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
5
PORTRAITS OF THE PANDEMIC, CONTINUED FROM PG. 5
SERVICES Launching dental services in April, become a patient today! Services are offered to everyone, regardless of identity, income, or insurance status. • Full medical practice • Mental health services • Community health Navigator program • Transportation program • Food box program • Discounted pharmacy program • PrEP Clinic • Hepatitis C Clinic •HIV Clinic
Edward Wahl, owner of Wahl’s Auto Repair in the South Side
CONTACT Proudly serving LGBT patients since 1999. 1789 S. Braddock Ave, #410 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 M Th F 8 AM - 4:30 PM Tu W 8 AM - 7:30 PM To make an appointment: (412) 247-2310
Anthony Guido, cashier at Bryant Street Market in Highland Park
“Whole People, All People.” metrocommunityhealthcenter.org
6
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
T-Funk, employee of Bierport in Lawrenceville
Aaron Meyer, Rabbi of Temple Emanuel of South Hills CONTINUES ON PG. 8
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
7
PORTRAITS OF THE PANDEMIC, CONTINUED FROM PG. 6
STAY AT HOME, PITTSBURGH NEED-TO-KNOW COVID-19 UPDATES SINCE LAST WEEK’S ISSUE
+
Gov. Wolf declared a stayat-home order last Wednesday for all of Pennsylvania until at least April 30. “We want our friends and our families to be safe. We will all work together in this,” said Wolf. “If we don’t do everything we need to do to slow the spread of COVID-19, then we might not see our friends again.”
+
On Friday, Wolf and Pa. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine recommended that all Pennsylvanians now wear masks when leaving their homes. Levine reminded people, however, that “staying home is the most effective way to protect yourself and others against COVID-19.” “If you must go out because you are out of food or medication,” she added, “then wearing a mask, or even a bandana across your nose and mouth could be an extra layer of protection.”
Lt. Olguens Fils-Aime, of the Salvation Army in Homewood
+
The city continues to urge residents to follow social distancing rules and stay at least six feet away from others. Residents can still take walks, but basketball rims have been removed from courts, and city playgrounds and the Mount Washington overlooks are temporarily closed to prevent large gatherings.
REMINDER: If you have to take public transportation, bus riders now board and exit only through the rear doors of buses, as a way to keep proper six-feet social distancing from bus drivers. Front door boarding will still be used, but only for passengers who need the bus to be lowered, to use the ramp, or require priority seating. With most bus riders now skipping the front door, where the fareboxes are located, riders will now only need to show their ConnectCard or other fare product as they board through the rear doors. Both cash and ConnectCards will still be collected on light rail, but cash fares will no longer be collected on buses. • 8
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Zanaya Brown, sous chef/kitchen manager; River, cook; and Adrianna Lyndsay, manager, of The Yard in Downtown Pittsburgh
Rick Dayton, Morning News Anchor at Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV
Follow photographer Jared Wickerham on Twitter @WickPhoto If you have a suggestion for a future portrait, we invite you to reach out to jwickerham@pghcitypaper.com.
During this time, please limit travel to essential trips only.
PortAuthority.org
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
9
CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM
Michelle Boyle, an RN-BSN at Allegheny General Hospital, poses for a portrait in Highland Park.
.NEWS.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT How Pennsylvania health-care workers and nurses are trying, but still struggling, to build their political power BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
S
INCE THE OUTBREAK of coronavirus,
consensus has emerged that nurses, hospital employees, and health-care workers are the frontline workers of this pandemic. They have been compared to soldiers during wars and first-responders during 9/11; they have been praised for their bravery and sense of duty. But in the grand scheme of things, both in the context of the coronavirus and in general, nurses and health-care workers like orderlies, food preparers, technicians, and home aids are struggling. Workers at nursing homes and personal-care aides across Pennsylvania and the U.S. are lacking Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep them safe from possible infections while corona-virus spreads.
10
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Despite being one of the largest job sectors in Pennsylvania, nurses still struggle to get their legislative priorities through Harrisburg or to receive the widespread backing that normally follows workers of some of the biggest and richest enterprises in the state. Francis Adams, a personal-care aide in Washington, Pa., appreciates the rhetorical support from citizens, politicians, and others, but laments the lack of attention and true political action that might lead to workers getting more protection and expanded workers’ rights during the pandemic. Adams says his company is making improvements and working with his union, SEIU Healthcare, to bring in necessary PPE like masks and
face shields. He says these are absolutely necessary for personal care aides because many of them can’t practice social distancing while caring for their patients. Adams’ patient, for example, is blind and needs Adams to make physical contact with him. “Part of the problem with our government and representatives is they don’t know we exist,” says Adams. “When we talked to [some politicians], a lot of them didn’t even know this was a job. Or what we do. And like I said, we have to be there.” Labor unions are increasing their rally cries for more support, but they have a lot of ground to make up. Coronavirus could be the catalyst for a bigger and more
successful push, elevating health-care workers into the upper echelon of political power. But there are many obstacles to overcome, and with a pandemic breathing down their necks, they might not have time. Health-care companies like University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Genesis Healthcare, and Highmark are behemoths that bring in billions of dollars in revenue annually. Hospital employees, nurses, and personal-care aides tally more than 94,000 in the Pittsburgh area alone. There are as many registered nurses and personal-care aides in Pennsylvania (about 270,000) as there are gas and mining workers nationwide. Even so, health-care workers are getting
Signs on a front porch in Stanton Heights read, “Flatten the curve” and “I’m a nurse. I am fighting for you! We will be OK!”
mixed messages on whether their priorities matter. Last week, President Trump hinted, without evidence, that nurses and health-care workers in New York were stealing PPE like masks, and that shortage claims were being inflated. On March 30, nurses, health-care workers, labor leaders, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Scranton) held a conference calling for more support to get health-care workers the necessary PPE and additional labor rights during the pandemic. Casey said Trump should act more like the mayors and governors that are addressing the pandemic, instead of “just making things up.” He implored the Trump administration to enact the Defense Production Act to force manufacturers to make more PPE. “We are the most powerful country in the world,” said Casey at the conference. “We can provide enough PPE, and that requires a full commitment from the federal government. If that is what is needed, then the president should be demanding that. The way that [healthcare workers] should be treated should
be the same as soldiers in a war.” being advocated by nurses for lower staffCasey acknowledged the steep climb patient ratios was introduced in March health-care workers face to get their 2019, and it has failed to even receive voices heard and their demands a vote in committee. Nurses for PA, a addressed promptly. lobbying group, has been supporting this “None of us have done enough and bill as a means to provide safer working both parties have to do a lot more,” said conditions for nurses, who sometimes Casey when asked why the needs have up to 10 patients to care for at a of health-care workers haven’t time. The Safe Staffing bill has already been met. “In terms of been advocated in Harrisburg for nearly six years, and has the values of the importance Read the of these workers, we have a never received a floor vote. full story Michelle Boyle is a nurse long way to go.” online at at Allegheny General Hospital Take the political power pghcitypaper (AGH) and previously ran of the fossil-fuel industry as for state Senate as a Democrat. an example. Petrochemical .com She says the atmosphere industry companies and their at AGH is incredibly tense, as related unions backed a bill the hospital is still waiting for the that would have provided about $1 coronavirus surge to hit. billion in tax credits to petrochemical Boyle says the PPE situation at AGH is companies that moved into Pennsylvania. adequate, but she has heard from other The bill, HB 1100, passed through the hospitals that no longer have any gloves. legislature in less than a year, and She says these shortages are a failing of garnered widespread support from the country’s health-care system. “We Republicans and Democrats, before being don’t ask firefighters to go into the fire vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf. Meanwhile, the Safe Staffing bill without protective equipment, but we
are asked to do what we can,” says Boyle. “They call us essential because calling us sacrificial is too honest.” She says AGH nurses and staff being part of a union have helped her hospital workers get what they need, like the N-95 masks that are necessary in a hospital setting, but recognizes that relationship is not the norm at all Pennsylvania hospitals. She says she’s heard other area workers, particularly those without a union, are not able to talk about what they need. UPMC, the state’s biggest hospital chain and one of its biggest employers, has been notoriously anti-union for years. And according to PublicSource, a March 11 memo from UPMC emphasized its policy prohibiting rank-and-file employees from talking to reporters. UPMC issued a statement to PublicSource on March 23 saying hospital leadership has “had extensive communication with employees to share what we know about COVID-19 and explain UPMC’s preparedness,” including in-person and virtual meetings with CONTINUES ON PG. 12
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
11
CRISIS MANAGEMENT, CONTINUED FROM PG. 11
FRESH HANDMADE FOOD LOCAL CRAFT BEER DAILY SPECIALS
CRAFTYJACKALOPE.COM
6 Packs and Growler Filling Available Take Out • Delivery • Online Ordering
UPMC experts, and has created an email address where employees can ask nonurgent questions. Lara Putnam, a labor historian at the University of Pittsburgh, says large, antiunion hospital chains are making it harder for nurses and health-care workers to gain political sway, and UPMC is “Exhibit A in an employer pulling out the stops to prevent union organizing.” “Public-health facilities and hospitals need those voices elevated,” says Putnam. “But when you have been trying to suppress those voices for 10 years, then you are behind.” She says “pink-collar” professions like nursing and personal-care jobs that are traditionally held by women have struggled to organize unions and get politicians to notice their economic importance. Putnam says the nursing homes in more rural areas have even more difficulty gaining union support and getting attention from politicians. But nurses organizations are starting to up the ante and are increasing calls for more support in their coronavirus efforts. On April 3, nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania called on Gov. Wolf to
take executive action so that nurse practitioners can practice health care without signed agreements with physicians. Advocates say this will help health-care providers react more quickly to patients’ needs during the pandemic. “We have one mission: to care for patients during this COVID-19 pandemic. It is a time for all hands-on-deck,” said Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners president Dr. Adele Caruso. “Yet there are nurse practitioners today in Pennsylvania who are unable to work due to outdated regulations.” PA Healthcare Association president Zachary Shamberg said during a March 30 press call that it has been a challenge since he started working with health-care workers to get people to recognize their importance. But he said coronavirus might just be the thing that finally gets Pennsylvania and the nation to realize just how important nurses and health-care workers are, and for those workers to get the political power they deserve. “Sometimes it takes a crisis like this to admire those working on the frontlines,” said Shamberg.
•
Follow senior writer Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto
JENSORENSEN
12
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
.FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 9
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Moses did 40 years’ worth of hard work in behalf of his people, delivering them out of slavery in Egypt. Yet God didn’t allow him to enter into the Promised Land. Why? At the end of his travails, he made a minor mistake that angered God beyond reason. Petty? Harsh? Very much so. I’m happy to say that your fate will be very different from Moses’. Some months from now, when your labors bring you to the brink of your own personal version of the Promised Land, not even a small error will prevent you from entering and enjoying it. And what you do in the coming weeks will help ensure that later success.
Before the COVID-19 crisis arrived, were you ensconced in roles that were good fits for your specific temperament and set of talents? Did you occupy niches that brought out the best in you and enabled you to offer your best gifts? Were there places that you experienced as power spots — where you felt at home in the world and at peace with your destiny? Once you’ve meditated on those questions for a while, Libra, I’ll ask you to shift gears: Meditate on how you’d like to answer similar questions about your life in the future. Once this crazy time has passed, what roles will be good fits for you? What niches will bring out the best in you? What will be your power spots?
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Built in the third century B.C., the Colossus of Rhodes was a monumental statue of the Greek sun god. It stood in the harbor of the island of Rhodes, and was called one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Alas: An earthquake struck the area 54 years after it was finished, knocking it over and smashing it into fragments. Three centuries later, many of the chunks still lay scattered around the harbor. I offer this as a teaching story, Taurus. If there are any old psychological ruins lying around in your psyche, I encourage you to conduct an imaginary ritual in which you visualize throwing those ruins into a big bonfire. Clear the slate for the new beginnings that will be available once the COVID-19 crisis has settled down. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Argue with anything else,” writes author Philip Pullman, “but don’t argue with your own nature.” Amen! That’s always good advice for you Geminis, and it will be especially crucial in the coming weeks. A certain amount of disputation and challenging dialogue with other people will be healthy for you, even an effective way to get clarity and advance your aims. (Don’t overdo it, of course.) But you must promise never to quarrel with or criticize your own nature. You should aim at being a radiant bastion of inner harmony and a powerhouse of self-love. Do whatever’s necessary to coax all your different aspects to work together in sweet unity.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Like many Cancerians, painter Marc Chagall cultivated an intimate relationship with his dreams and fantasies. His fellow artist Pablo Picasso remarked, “When Chagall paints, you do not know if he is asleep or awake. Somewhere or other inside his head there must be an angel.” Being a Crab myself, I know how essential it is for us to be in close connection with reverie and the imagination. Every now and then, though, there come occasions when the demands of the material world need our extra, focused attention — when our dreamy tendencies need to be rigorously harnessed in behalf of pragmatism. Now is one of those times.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Is there an influence you’re ready to outgrow, Leo? Are there teachers who have given you all they have to offer, and now you need to go in search of new founts of inspiration and education? Have you squeezed all possible value out of certain bright ideas and clever theories that no longer serve you? Are you finished with old sources of excitement that have lost their excitement? These are the kinds of questions I encourage you to ask yourself in the coming weeks. It’ll be a favorable time to celebrate the joyful art of liberation — to graduate from what might have been true once upon a time, and prepare for the wide-open future after the COVID-19 crisis has mellowed.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your words of power in the coming days are simple: deep, low, down, below, dig, dive, and descend. I invite you to meditate on all the ways you can make them work for you as metaphors and use them to activate interesting, nourishing feelings. There’ll be very little worth exploring on the surface of life in the coming weeks, Virgo. All the hottest action and most valuable lessons will be blooming in the fertile darkness.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Fen” is a word that’s not used much these days. It means a marsh or a boggy lowland. Decades ago, Scorpio poet Marianne Moore used it in a short poem. She wrote, “If you will tell me why the fen appears impassable, I will tell you why I think that I can cross it if I try.” In my opinion, that’s an apt battle cry for you right now. You shouldn’t be upset if people tell you that certain things are impossible for you to do. You should be grateful! Their discouragement will rile up your deep intelligence and inspire you to figure out how you can indeed do those things.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Goodness alone is never enough,” wrote author Robert A. Heinlein. “A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.” I think that’s an interesting thought for you to consider during the coming weeks, Sagittarius. If you want your care and compassion to be effective, you’ll have to synergize them with tough intelligence. You may even need to be a bit ferocious as you strive to ensure that your worthy intentions succeed and the people you love get what they need.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Are there any ways in which you have been wishy-washy in standing up for what you believe in? Have you shied away from declaring your true thoughts and feelings about important issues that affect you and the people you care about? Have you compromised your commitment to authenticity and integrity for the sake of your ambition or financial gain? In asking you these questions, I am not implying that the answers are yes. But if in fact you have engaged in even a small amount of any of those behaviors, now is an excellent time to make corrections. As much as possible, Capricorn, focus on being trustworthy and transparent.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Physicist Edward Teller believed there is no such thing as “exact science.” And in his view, that’s a good thing. “Science has always been full of mistakes,” he said. But he added that they’re mostly “good mistakes,” motivating scientists to push closer toward the truth. Each new mistake is a better mistake than the last, and explains the available evidence with more accuracy. I suspect that you’ve been going through a similar process in your personal life, Aquarius. And I predict that the good mistakes you’ve recently made will prove to be useful in the long run.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Few astrologers would say that you Pisceans are masters of the obvious or connoisseurs of simplicity. You’re not typically renowned for efficiency or celebrated for directness. Your strength is more likely to be rooted in your emotional riches, your ability to create and appreciate beauty, your power to generate big dreams, and your lyrical perspective on life. So my oracle for you this time may be a bit surprising. I predict that in the coming weeks, your classic attributes will be very useful when applied to well-grounded, downto-earth activities. Your deep feelings and robust imagination can be indispensable assets in your hard work on the nuts and bolts.
Go to realastrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text-message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
13
.FOOD.
WHAT ARE PITTSBURGHERS EATING DURING QUARANTINE? BY MAGGIE WEAVER MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Last month, I sent an SOS text to my mom: “Help! I need dinner ideas.” With the Stay-at-Home order in place, I (along with many other people) have had to confront the fact that my cooking skills are miserable. But thanks to many Instagram stories, I also know that being stuck at home has turned many people into gourmet at-home chefs. So, I’ve posed the question: What are you cooking during quarantine? This collection of recipes, snacks, and bad pantry finds is what everyday people (aka non-chefs) are eating while they’re stuck at home. All illustrations are by Abbie Adams and captions from the cooks themselves. Email mweaver@pghcitypaper.com to submit yours.
“A true quarantine meal”: split pea soup with sauerkraut on top.
CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM
Employees at the Panda Supermarket on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill fulfill orders for customers
.FOOD.
TAKING STOCK
– CP Staff Writer Hannah Lynn
BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
S
UPERMARKET CHAINS HAVE been
the target of panicked shoppers for weeks. In early March, as the coronavirus began to spread in Pennsylvania, people took to the shelves. The lines for stores started early, extending from the doors before they opened. Meat became scarce, boxed pasta practically flew out of stores, and aisles of paper goods stood empty. Meanwhile, small markets and grocery stores remained quietly stocked. “I think a lot of people don’t realize how much food’s here. And good food,” says Nicola Dicio, owner of Reyna Foods, speaking to the row of shops in the Strip District. “Penn Mac is stocked. Stamoolis is stocked. The meat markets, the produce markets, the Asian markets, they’re all full of food. It’s not like you walk into a supermarket and the shelves are
14
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
cleaned up.” Pittsburgh’s small grocers have been adapting quickly to the pandemic, staying open despite low traffic. Chris Balouris, owner of Salonika Imports in Lawrenceville, has added inventory — paper goods like toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels along with fresh produce and eggs — to his retail storefront to meet the needs of his neighborhood. Reyna Foods is ramping up and expediting production from its 50-acre farm in Allison Park, giving shoppers access to a wider range of produce. Dicio says he’s planting tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, greens, peas, and more. Many have taken safety precautions — no small feat for a tiny grocery — to better serve their shoppers. With the
aid of the health department, the Mediterranean bakery Pitaland put its staff through a coronavirus safety training. They’re wiping down surfaces every 15 minutes, checking out one person at a time, and offering curbside pickup. Panda Supermarket in Squirrel Hill has altered its entire business to operate by delivery and pickup orders only. Customers order through Facebook messenger or WeChat app, then employees do the shopping, masked and gloved. “Before [the outbreak], it was really busy,” says Shelley Fan, one of the owners of the Asian supermarket. “But because of the difficult time, with the pickup, we cannot handle a lot of people.” Fan says they’re taking in about a third of their usual traffic. Sourcing goods is another obstacle for these small markets. Products
Max’s Allegheny Tavern 537 Suismon St. Pittsburgh, Pa 15212
(412) 231-1899
In Pittsburgh’s historic Deutschtown Neighborhood
Take out and delivery available. NOON - 7P.M. EVERYDAY Check out our take out menu online. www.maxsalleghenytavern.com
Pittsburgh’s Premier French Bakery OPEN FOR TAKEOUT & DELIVERY LAWRENCEVILLE • 4605 Butler Street • 412-682-2210 Monday - Friday: 8:30 - 4:30 • Saturday - Sunday 9:00 - 2:30 MT. LEBANON • 300 Cochran Road • 412-200-7969 Monday - Friday: 8:30 - 4:30 • Saturday - Sunday 9:00 - 2:30 HAZELWWOOD • 5013 Second Ave. • 412-291-8146 Monday - Friday: 8:30 - 3:00 • Saturday - Sunday 9:00 - 2:30
lagourmandinebakery.com
MONROEVILLE • BROOKLINE • CRANBERRY • SOUTH SIDE • EAST LIBERTY
stocked in these global grocers are often supplied from out-of-state manufacturers. Balouris luckily received a shipment before the height of the pandemic; Fan is not so fortunate. Dewakar Nupal, son of the owner of Indian supermarket Bombay Food Market on Centre Avenue, says some shipments are being stopped from New York, and other suppliers are raising prices.
REYNA FOODS 2031 Penn Ave., Strip District
PITALAND 620 Brookline Blvd., Brookline pitaland.com
SALONIKA IMPORTS 3509 Smallman St., Lawrenceville salonika.net
BOMBAY FOOD MARKET 4605 Centre Ave., North Oakland abombay.com
PANDA SUPERMARKET 5846 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill
Reyna Foods and Pitaland are in a better position. Many of their goods are made from scratch in-house or found locally. (Pitaland receives weekly shipments of meat, eggs, and milk from local purveyors.) But even with their adaptive efforts, all of these family-owned and small markets are suffering from low patron-
age, which poses the question: Can they survive the outbreak? “We can’t make money,” Fan says. “[We are paying] double salary to the employees. We cannot close; we’re a grocery store. If we close, all the students around us can’t find [food].” Balouris says he considers closing every day, not for financial reasons, but for safety. Though the majority of his business — similar to that of Reyna Foods and Pitaland — comes from wholesale orders, he’s thankful for the stream of revenue coming from the retail store and takeaway food. “We are blessed in that we bake bread everyday,” says Donna Chahine Tweardy of Pitaland. “We are blessed to have traffic with the grocery store, but it’s very slow.” The Mediterranean store and wholesaler reopened the cafe after closing for just one week because operating without it “was really bad.” “Right now we’re open,” Tweardy says. “Can we make it to the end of the month? Probably. But after that I really couldn’t say.” Nupal contemplates closing Bombay Food Market daily, saying he’s just “waiting for the tipping point.” Like Balouris, he’s basing this decision on safety. However, with no wholesale or restaurant to fall back on, Nupal doesn’t know if the Indian market will be able to reopen. “That’s the thing.” he says. “We still have to pay rent.”
RENEWALS
100
$
833-667-4665
www.GetYourIDcard.com
•
Follow staff writer Maggie Weaver on Twitter @magweav PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
15
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL JOURNALISM Thank you to the following readers who have signed up for Pittsburgh City Paper’s new membership campaign Aaron Aupperlee
Caitlin O’Connor
Evelyn Meinert
John Berry
Lynne Cherepko
Office of Public Art
Aaron Jentzen
Campbell Robertson
Finnian Carstens
John Fetterman
Lynne Frank
Ollie Gratzinger
Abby Cook
Cara and Bill Blumenschein
G. Ronald Ripper
John Wise
Lynne Hughes
Patricia Oliver
Abigail Gardner
Carol Pickerine
G. Gerben
John Yackovich
Magda Gangwar
Patty Delaney
Adam Hart
Carolyn Regan
Georgann Jenkins
Joseph Corrigan
Margaret Krauss
Paul McGowan
Adam Knoerzer
Carrie Roy
George Kanakis
Joseph Morrison
Mark Goodman
Peter McKay
Adam Schweigert
Cathy Elliott
Geral Schatten
Joshua Axelrod
Mark Solomon
Rachel Ward
Adam Shuck
Chad Efaw
Gillian Kratzer
Joshua Kiley
Mark Westbrook
Raymond Leech
Al Hoff
Charles Anthony
Gina Vensel
Joshua Pinter
Mark Winer
Raymond Martin
Alec Magnani
Chris Belasco
Greg Seaman
Joshua Smith
Mary Briles
Rebecca Boyer
Alex McCann
Chris Gillotti
Gregory Scott
Julian Routh
Mary Guzzetta
Rebecca Seibel
Alex Walsh
Chris Mueller
Hank McAnallen
Justin Krane
Mary Russell
Rich Lord
Amy Bilkey
Chris Potter
Harley Nester
Justin Matase
Mary Russell
Richelle Meer
Amy Montgomery
Chris Watts
Harold Smoliar
Justin Romano
Matt Adams
Rick D’Loss
Andrea Lynn
Christina Barry
Heidi Bartholomew
Justin Rossini
Matt Moret
Rob Rossi
Andrew Brown
Christopher Briem
Hobart Webster
Kate Roberts
Matt Moret
Robert Baird
Andrew Conte
Cindy Hudson
Ian Riggins
Kate Rosenzweig
Matthew Buchholz
Robert Lang
Andrew Mulkerin
Clare & Dennis Pawloski
J. Dale Shoemaker
Katharine Kelleman
Matthew Cartier
Robert Raczka
Andrew Seymour
Cole Gleason
Jacob Bacharach
Katherine Oltmanns
Matthew Hynes
Ron Vodenichar
Angelos Tzelepis
Coleman Lamb
James Conley
Kathy Dax
Megan Brady
Samuel Gordon
Anna Reilly
Cortney Bouse
James Saal
Katie Damico
Melissa Kohr
Sarah Hamm
Anni Sweetser
Dana Bell
James Santelli
Katie Hudson
Micaela Corn
Sarah Wiggin
April Gilmore
Dana Estep
Jason Meer
Keegan Gibson
Michael Colaresi
Sean Collier
April McCann
Daniel Jacobowitz
Jay Aronson
Keith Bare
Michael Damico
Shannon Kelly
Arielle Eyers
Daniel Tasse
Jay Walker
Kendra Ross
Michael Shuker
Shawn Cooke
Arla White
Danielle Walker
Jeanne Cobetto
Kenneth Mostern
Michael Wasson
Sherri Suppa
Arlan Hess
Dara Pruszenski
Jeff Betten
Kevin Jameson
Mike Beattie
Stacey Campbell
Ashley Kenawell
David Newman
Jeffrey Benzing
Kim Lyons
MJ Holmes
Stephanie Sedor
Barbara Valaw
David Oakley
Jennie Sweet-Cushman
Kimberly Ressler
Molly Toth
Stephen Wagner
Barbara Weaver
David Vatz
Jenny Ladd
Kristina Marusic
Morgan Jenkins
Steve Holz
Ben Panko
Debbie Breckenridge
Jeremy Kimmel
Kyle Cunningham
Myles Gordon
Stuart Strickland
Ben Soltesz
Deno De Ciantis
Jess Williams
Lara Putnam
Nate Jay
Sue Kerr
Benjamin Weaver
Divyansh Kaushik
Jessica Manack
Larry Lynn
Neil Bhaerman
Susan Jackson
Bennett Aikin
Don Pellegrino
Jessica Prom
Laura Drogowski
Neil Owen
Tara Spence
Beth Newman
Eileen French
Jessica Prucnal
Lena DeLucia
Newspaper Guild
Tobin Seastedt
Beth Wickerham
Elizabeth Butler
JJ Abbott
Leslie Cooley
of Pittsburgh
Bethany Hallam
Elizabeth Silver
JoAnn Tuite
Liam Lowe
Nick Goodfellow
Toni Haraldsen
Bill Lazur
Ellen Philips
JoAnn Zindren
Lisa Saks
Nick Honkaal
Tyler Bickford
Brandy Hadden
Emilie Yonan
Joanne Gilligan
Lois Apple
Nick Malawskey
Vicki Cunningham
Brentin Mock
Emma Diehl
Jocelyn Codner
Loretta Deto
Nikki Walton
Virginia Alvino Young
Brett Yasko
Emma Neely
Joe D’Alessandro
Lori Kasenter
Noah Theriault
Will Simmons
Brian Kelly
Erica Warnitsky
Joe Pasqualetti
Lorie Milich
Nora Smith
William J Schoy IV
Brian Lysell
Erin Kelly
Joey Gannon
Luke Rifugiato
Norma Bronder
William O’Driscoll
Todd Derr
NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS If you value City Paper’s news reporting and arts and entertainment coverage, please consider becoming a member. More info — including perks! — can be found at pghcitypaper.com 16
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
17
CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM
“Rent Strike” graffiti inside a Liberty Avenue bus stop
.NEWS.
COSTS OF LIVING BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
F
ROM BARTENDERS TO business owners to librarians, thousands of Pittsburghers are suddenly without work and without pay. Most were not prepared for how swiftly COVID-19 would spread, and how aggressively it would shift every aspect of American life. Since March 15, over 1 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment, which is around 12% of the state’s workforce, part of a recordbreaking period of unemployment for the country. Now, many are left wondering how they will pay rent in the coming months, as they have no source of income and minimum savings.
18
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Near the end of March, the Pittsburgh Union of Regional Renters (PURR), an organized collection of renters in the city, began circulating a petition to cancel rent, mortgages, and utilities in the city, and to extend the current eviction moratorium, which currently lasts through April 30, per an order by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The petition, which has been filled out by over 300 people, asks renters whether they are willing to withhold their rent, who their landlord or rental company is, and any info they can provide on their rental and living situation. While there is currently a freeze on
evictions, it does not explicitly protect renters once the moratorium is lifted. Landlords could still evict tenants once it’s over and might be able to backcharge any rent tenants were unable to pay during the pandemic. Magisterial District Judge Mik Pappas says that whether a landlord can backcharge rent or evict tenants once pandemic restrictions have been lifted will depend on the individual circumstances of each tenant and landlord, what their contract with each other says, and how they have been affected by the pandemic. Because of the current surge of
unemployment, many people who have previously never filed for unemployment or have never had trouble paying their rent are suddenly in these situations. But for many Pittsburghers, disputing with landlords, struggling to pay rent, and organizing with fellow tenants is nothing new. “This has been a crisis and [the pandemic] has made it more clear to everyone else — the nation as a whole, the leaders, the people who make the policies,” says Jala Rucker, president of the Manchester Tenant’s Council, which also works with PURR. “Honestly, it’s been clear to them, they just never cared, but now
FOR MANY PITTSBURGHERS, DISPUTING WITH LANDLORDS, STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT, AND ORGANIZING WITH FELLOW TENANTS IS NOTHING NEW.
it’s affecting them, it’s affecting their family, it’s affecting their children, it’s affecting their pockets.” There is currently no legislation or government order going beyond the eviction moratorium, but local state Reps. Sara Innamorato (D-Lawrenceville) and Summer Lee (D-Swissvale), along with Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) and Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester), are working on legislation to freeze rents and mortgage payments during the pandemic. The representatives released a memorandum on March 27, stating that under the legislation, “The current financial stress hundreds of thousands of our fellow Pennsylvanians are feeling, and will continue to feel, would be alleviated.” The term “rent freeze” leaves some ambiguity, but Innamorato says the aim is to shield people from financial struggle as much as possible. Troy Hill resident Gia Fagnelli (a stage name) makes most of their living from drag, stripping, and other performances. Like many performers, all of Fagnelli’s usual venues are closed and gigs canceled. But they have a good relationship with their landlord, who is just one person, and didn’t want to leave her with nothing. Fagnelli is planning on paying about a quarter of their rent. “I’m still sort of figuring out what is possible for me right now, and how much I can afford to offer my landlady, versus what I’m gonna need to eat and what I’m gonna need to survive,” says Fagnelli. “I think we’re all a little stuck between a rock and a hard place.” Regent Square Rentals owns over 450 properties throughout Regent Square, Edgewood, Swissvale, and Wilkinsburg.
One tenant and one former tenant, who asked to remain anonymous, had concerns about paying rent during the pandemic and began reaching out to fellow Regent Square Rentals tenants in their building and in nearby properties to see if any shared the same concerns. They got responses from tenants who were unsure about being able to pay rent or who were interested in withholding their rent in solidarity. Several tenants emailed their landlords about rent uncertainty but say they received unhelpful responses, so the newly formed tenant’s council sent a letter to Regent Square Rentals on April 1 asking to negotiate on rent. They have not heard from the landlord since they sent the letter asking to negotiate. Around 20 people signed on to the letter. Regent Square Rentals did not respond to request for comment. “I think it’s important to encourage other people to feel like they can take on this kind of thing because no one else is gonna do it for you,” says the former tenant. Rucker echoes a similar sentiment, saying that tenant organizing is nothing new. She says that tenants are often unaware of their rights or are afraid to act on them, fearing retribution from their landlord. “People [have] been dying out here from inhabitable issues inside their home, amongst mold and rodents and the poor air quality and their communities being food deserts and a lack of reliable transportation,” says Rucker. “Organizing has always been there. They actually just want to hear us now, and they’re listening now.”
Socially-distancing herself but still broadcasting LIVE Every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. Listen in at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com
•
Read full story online at pghcitypaper.com Follow staff writer Hannah Lynn on Twitter @hanfranny PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
19
THE LOCAL 913: JAMES WOLFF BY LIZ FELIX // LIZ@WYEP.ORG
James Wolff was unintentionally wellpositioned for our current crisis. “I had a house in Lawrenceville, but I had to get out,” he says. “The city, I feel like it was taking years off my life, so I got a little cabin outside of the city.” Soft spoken and thoughtful, it’s not all that surprising that Wolff’s personality drew him away from Lawrenceville and out to a cabin in the woods with his girlfriend and their rabbit. It allows him to focus on simpler things, and when inspiration strikes, he doesn’t have to wait to record a song. Wolff has STAY UP-TObeen working on the songs DATE WITH THIS on his new Nite WEEK’S LOCAL Vision EP for a MUSIC NEWS few years now. WITH CP MUSIC Although he’s WRITER JORDAN a Pittsburgh SNOWDEN native, there’s something that AND WYEP sounds distinctly EVENING MIX southern about HOST LIZ FELIX the EP. And in fact, Listen every some of the Wednesday songs were at 7 p.m. on penned in 91.3FM WYEP Tennessee — Wolff describes writing bluesy slow burner “My Blue” in an unusual circumstance, because that just happened to be when the song came to him: “I wrote it in the backseat of my car — a Hyundai Sonata — on the border of Tennessee and Georgia. It was like two in the morning. It was so hot, but I had to keep the windows up because I didn’t want anyone to call the cops on me.” You do what you gotta do. Hopefully Wolff’s time outside the city will provide more like his excellent new EP. •
20
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
PHOTOS: PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Screenshot from Marta Krechkovsky and Andrew Wickesberg’s video for “Make Time for Music with Fiddlesticks”
.MUSIC.
MAKE TIME FOR MUSIC BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
E
XTRAORDINARY TIMES call for extraordinary measures.” That quote came to the mind of Mary Persin, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s vice president of artistic planning, at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. “This time, in general, is a challenging and unusual time,” says Persin. “A disruption of everything we know to be ‘normal.’” In an effort to continue their mission of “Great Music in Every Life,” the PSO introduced “Extraordinary Measures,” online music offerings bringing together new works, performances from the season, and music for educating at home that will be presented through the orchestra’s social media channels and website. “[Great Music in Every Life] really embodies the essence of what a performing arts organization is, that is a vehicle to lessen the social distance between
“
fellow humans, and that’s through shared experiences, expressions, emotions,” says Persin. “That’s what makes all performing arts organizations unique. … Our immediate reaction was, ‘How do we still find a way to do that, even in this time?’” Every weekday morning, PSO posts a daily “Bright Spots” video that features music and insight from PSO musicians and special guests. Each video is selfproduced by the musicians. In one, violinist Ellen Chen-Livingston and her daughter perform Jean-Marie Leclair’s “Sonata for Two Violins Op. 3, No. 5.” In another, principal percussionist Andrew Reamer asks viewers to guess the tune that he plays on a typewriter. In a video posted on March 30, principal trumpet Micah Wilkinson performs “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius. Since the stay-at-home order, Wilkinson has been providing daily deck concerts for his neighbors around 5 p.m. All
videos are on PSO’s site and available to view anytime. “Measure by measure, with each connection point that we can have, with individual measure of music, that’s our opportunity to build a bridge musical, with everyone,” says Persin. “Our audiences that regularly come, our Pittsburgh community, our audiences near and far, from around the world — that’s our way to reach out to them with our spirit, our sound, and our passion. We can connect with them and bring hope and inspiration and solace and comfort, taking our mind off of the heaviness of day to day news, a reminder of how important music is to our souls.” Educational content also goes up on PSO’s website Monday through Friday. The symphony’s learning and community team came up with a two-prong plan: Every Monday and Wednesday, content related to Fiddlesticks, an ongoing children’s program that happens a few
$25! $10 FROM EACH SALE GOES TO CITY PAPER; $15 GOES TO COMMONWEALTH PRESS
An online troll called us this, so we’re reclaiming it as our own.
BUY THIS SHIRT = SUPPORT THE STAFFS OF PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AND COMMONWEALTH PRESS Part of a line of products providing COVID-19 Relief for local businesses
COMPRESSMERCH.COM
Screenshot from Principal Tuba Craig Knox’s “Bright Spots” video submission
PITTSBURGHSYMPHONY.ORG times a year, is released to the public. It’s geared for families with kids ages 3-8. On Monday, music is shared, and on Wednesday, an activity. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, PSO shares tips, techniques, demonstrations, and advice for middle and high school music students through the “Practice! Practice! Practice!” series.
“WE CAN CONNECT WITH THEM AND BRING HOPE AND INSPIRATION AND SOLACE AND COMFORT.” “Our musicians are offering practical tips on how to stay motivated during this time,” says Julie Goetz, PSO’s director of communications. “Those two age groups are typically what we work with in
the hall.” On Fridays, music director Manfred Honeck hosts a weekly web series from his home in Austria. The series features a segment of a performance, followed by a conversation hosted by a rotating cast of people. “It’s not the two-hour experience that you would get at Heinz Hall,” says Persin. “But it’s a personal concert hall in [your] home.” The adaptability and flexibility has not been one-sided. Goetz notes that PSO patrons have been “incredibly generous during this very challenging time.” “They have essentially said, ‘What can we do to stay with you?’” says Goetz. “We’ve had these rolling updates about our concerts, and at the same time, we launched the advanced subscriptions for next year, which is our 125th season, and patrons have been amazing.” PSO would also be happy to assist ticket holders for canceled or postponed performances, with options that include exchanging tickets for an upcoming performance, getting a refund, or donating the ticket for a tax credit.
•
Follow staff writer Jordan Snowden on Twitter @snowden_jordan
Free confidential testing HIV • stD • hep c
Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000
HELP HEal all WITH NO JUDGEMENT
your body & soul
are welcome
• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP North Shore - 127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151 washington, pa - 95 Leonard Avenue Suite 203, Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517 beaver county - 2360 hospital drive Suite 1, aliquippa, pa 15001 Phone: (724)707-1155 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
21
classifieds.pghcitypaper.com
Search
FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 412-685-9009 ext. 701 HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
REHEARSAL
CLASSES
Growing medical billing company seeking an innovative industry leader in process and procedures that achieve customer specific results. The successful candidate must be knowledgeable to the healthcare industry, and committed to establishing relationships with clients. In addition, the candidate will ensure their assigned client team performs at the expected level. This self-motivated, energetic professional must be able to: s -ONITOR 2EVENUE #YCLE -ANAGEMENT 2#- model related to client financials, results, workflow, and analytics. s 2ESEARCH AND PROBLEM solve client requests/ questions by utilizing internal resources s 0ROVIDE MANAGEMENT support in allocation and development of client team s %FFECTIVELY TRANSLATE CLIENT needs into tangible results. We offer a competitive salary and robust benefit package that includes: Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance, AFlLIATED #REDIT 5NION 3AFE (ARBOR K !NNUAL 0AID Time Off and Holidays. 0LEASE EMAIL RESUMED TO rkyle@mbms.net or afell@mbms.net.
WANTED! 36 PEOPLE
Rehearsal Space
to Lose Weight. 30-day money back guarantee. Herbal Program. Also opportunity to earn up to $1,000 monthly. 1-800-492-4437 www.myherbalife.com
starting @ $150/mo. Many sizes available, no sec deposit, play @ the original and largest practice facility, 24/7 access.
Four free aikido classes! Self-defense techniques and situational awareness at an aikido club with a 30+ year history. Practice in an informal setting with experienced, friendly practitioners who learn from each other. bushinoteaikidopgh.com
22
412-403-6069
CREDIT REPAIR
HEALTH SERVICES
ROOMMATES
Denied Credit?? Work to Repair Your Credit Report With The Trusted Leader in Credit Repair. Call Lexington Law for a FREE credit report summary & credit repair consultation. 855-620-9426. John C. Heath, Attorney at Law, PLLC, dba Lexington Law Firm. (AAN CAN)
MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY. Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment. Get help! It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855732-4139 (AAN CAN)
ALL AREAS Free Roommate Service @ RentMates.com. Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at RentMates.com! (AAN CAN)
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
SENIOR SYSTEM SOFTWARE ANALYST
SENIOR APPLICATION ARCHITECT
PPG Industries, Inc. seeks Senior System Software Analyst in Pittsburgh, PA to support Linux & UNIX based operating sys. & accompanying sftwr common to PPG apps by installing, configuring, troubleshooting, & maintaining complex sys. sftwr w/associated utilities to support PPG Corporate & SBU apps worldwide. Apply online at https:// www.ppg.com.
PGHCITYPAPER.COM
WESCO Distribution, Inc. is seeking a Senior Application Architect (“Architect”) to work in Pittsburgh, PA. The Architect will be required to lead analysis of future technology environment to avoid deficiencies, & recommend best practice solutions for improvement of current technology. Apply at: www.wesco.com
“We need credible, alternative news sources to help us navigate these times. City Paper is telling the stories that won’t be part of mainstream media coverage. Supporting this team with a modest monthly donation is an investment in the lives of all of our neighbors, especially those who are vulnerable, marginalized and under-represented in the important community conversations. Invest in media, art, and your neighbors. Now more than ever.” — Sue Kerr, Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM by signing up for a Pittsburgh City Paper membership at pghcitypaper.com
MASSAGE
SAY YES
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM
PHONE
Male to Male by Dallas. Same Day Appt. 412-494-8170 Looking to hire a qualified employee? Call 412.685.9009
Black singles find your soul mate. CHAT NOW 18+, Make a Connection with Real People.
PHONE Connect instantly with sexy local singles. No paid operators, just real people like you. Free Now! 412-5661861 Livelinks 18+ VIBELINE 412-235-6296
ALL MALE HOT flirty GAY HOOKUPS! Call FREE! 412-325-0019 GuySpy 18+ WHERE REAL GAY MEN MEET for UNCENCENSORED fun! Connect in a safe and discrete environment! Browse and Reply for FREE 412-894-0171 18+
Services are offered to everyone, regardless of identity, income, or insurance status. 1789 S. Braddock Ave, #410 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 To make an appointment: (412) 247-2310
metrocommunityhealthcenter.org
ADDICTION PROBLEM?
TIGER SPA
SUBOXONE, VIVITROL AND DRUG-FREE OPTIONS
Best of the Best in Town!
420 W. Market St., Warren, OH 44481 76 West, 11 North, 82 West to East Market Street. End of downtown Warren, on right hand side.
Open 8am-12 midnight 7 days a week! Licensed Professionals Dry Sauna, Table Shower, Deep Tissue, Swedish
330-373-0303
‡ 1RZ DFFHSWLQJ $OOHJKHQ\ &RXQW\ 0HGLFDLG ‡ 2Q VLWH FRXQVHOLQJ ‡ /RFDWLRQV LQ 3LWWVEXUJK 3OXP &KDUOHURL *UHHQVEXUJ DQG :DVKLQJWRQ Immediate openings. Most Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. A PA-licensed facility.
www.alliedaddictionrecovery.com
412.246.8965
Credit Cards Accepted
ACROSS 1. Pilate released him 9. Jumped 15. City that was the planned capital of Australia 16. High as a helicopter 17. Really big, totally singular sparkling bit on a dancer’s costume? 19. Muscular dude 20. Fashion editor Vreeland 21. Troy engineering sch. 22. Daisy’s character 23. More white 25. Mal de __ 26. Gives power to 30. Year in dating 31. England’s patron 33. Tonsillitis specialist 35. Follows a Judaic God side-by-side? 40. Types out a conversation 41. In single file 42. Wine cork 45. Give off 46. Propeller that comes in pairs 47. Whence a “tall and tan and young and lovely� girl 50. British legal deg. 51. “You ... mother ...� 52. Hot shot?
55. ___-feuille (pastry) 57. Cereal sold at rock shows? 60. South Korea’s second-largest airline 61. Endures, as a storm 62. Go raging, full on 63. Old soldier
26. Shaving cream application 27. Domain.com purchases 28. Inflated sense of worth 29. China from America 32. Affix one’s John Hancock to a digital PDF, say 1. One might come before a bedtime story 33. Looked over 34. Local cinema, 2. Follow closely slangily (please 3. Come back out, stay in business) after a long absence 4. Big name in makeup 36. Ox lookalike 37. More like 5. ___ Capital a mammoth (investment firm co-founded by 38. Bad influences Mitt Romney) 39. Not for him 6. Really important 42. ___ Rescue 7. Problem Adderall treats 8. Org. that probes outer-space life 9. Statesman Mubarak 10. Athlete with the Shaq Attaq shoe brands 11. Immediately, briefly 12. Arrive en masse 13. Treatment for anaphylaxis 14. “Joker� co-star 18. Thanksgiving side 24. Paris Hilton’s mom 25. Canned food additive
DOWN
(zoo in “Tiger King�) 43. Rebelled 44. Land you need to be in the closet to get to 45. Rising point 48. Reese’s “Little Fires Everywhere� role 49. French Revolution figure Jean-Paul 50. Collectible art print, briefly 53. “Dis-guuust-ing!� 54. Large ratite bird 55. “I was told there wouldn’t be ___� 56. Being, in Latin class 58. Tired road runner 59. Discrimination
Bring this ad for a special treat!
Dental Insurance
Free confidential testing HIV • stD • hep c
Get the dental care you deserve with dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It can help cover the services you’re most likely to use –
Cleanings
X-rays
Fillings
Crowns
Dentures
Preventive care starts right away
Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000
Helps cover over 350 services Go to any dentist you want – but save more with one in our network
GOT HEPATITiS C ? GET THE CURE.
No deductible, no annual maximum
Call today for all the details.
1-855-385-3879
• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS Here’s the information you requested on Dental insurance
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
O
Call now to get this FREE Information Kit!
dental50plus.com/citypaper
Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438/B439.
6154-0120
North Shore - 127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151 washington, pa - 95 Leonard Avenue Suite 203, Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517 beaver county - 2360 hospital drive Suite 1, aliquippa, pa 15001 Phone: (724)707-1155
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER APRIL 8-15, 2020
23
Free testing HIV • stD • hep c
Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000
Emergency HIV Medication and prep available to ALL. House calls available as needed
ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP NORTH SHORE LOCATION
WASHINGTON, PA LOCATION
beaver county LOCATION
127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151
95 Leonard Avenue - Suite 203 Washington, PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517
2360 hospital drive - Suite 1 aliqippa, PA 15001 Phone: (724) 707-1155