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Millennial Mayors Aren't Afraid To Chase The Unconventional On Their Way To Community Revitalization

Kiley Koscinski
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90.5 WESA
Mayors Matt Rudzki of Sharpsburg (left), Emily Marburger of Bellevue (center) and Marita Garrett of Wilkinsburg (right) pose after a discussion at 90.5 WESA in Pittsburgh's South Side on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018.

Millennials are credited with killing the hotel industry and the automotive industry. They aren’t investing in stocks. They don't even eat cereal. Criticism can make for a common refrain, but those headlines don’t paint a full picture of the world's largest living generation.

Marita Garrett of Wilkinsburg, Emily Marburger of Bellevue and Matt Rudzki of Sharpsburg are each in their first mayoral terms, and all hoping to effect real change in their respective communities. They created an informal consortium to collaborate on ideas and initiatives, including a letter sent to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro this summer advocating his office take on the homicide trial for East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld, who was charged in the shooting death of Rankin teenager Antwon Rose.

Credit Courtesy of the Millennial Mayors of Western Pennsylvania
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Courtesy of the Millennial Mayors of Western Pennsylvania

Elsewhere in the show, WHYY's Laura Benshoff talks with a family whose faith was shakenby the Philadelphia grand jury report. Nicole and Chuck Guessing both grew up in predominantly Catholic communities in the Philadelphia region.

East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld's trial is set to begin in February. 90.5 WESA’s legal analyst and University of Pittsburgh professor of law David Harris explains what comes next after Judge Anthony Mariani recused himself in late September. Harris also examines the likelihood that jurors will be brought in from outside Allegheny County, something that happened during the Bill Cosby trial in Philadelphia.

And in the latest for our Good Question! series, 90.5 WESA's Katie Blackley reports on billboards in Pittsburgh. How many are there, and what regulations controls potential locations? 

The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators join veteran journalist Kevin Gavin, taking an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here.

Editor's note: This post was updated at 3:22 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, to correct the name of the judge who recused himself ahead of officer Michael Rosfeld's trial.

Kiley Koscinski covers city government, policy and how Pittsburghers engage with city services. She also works as a fill-in host for All Things Considered. Kiley has previously served as a producer on The Confluence and Morning Edition.
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