On today’s episode of The Confluence:
City Council starts hearings on Mayor Ed Gainey’s proposed budget
(0:00 - 7:51)
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s first city budget is now in the city council’s hands. The $822 million fiscal plan includes $658 million in the operating budget and $164 million for a capital plan.
The new proposal is $18 million more than his initial plan, which he presented in September. WESA’s city government reporter Kiley Koscinski says the biggest change from the September budget to now is a $3 million food justice program, funded with American Rescue Plan dollars that were originally allocated for the Pittsburgh Land Bank.
“Gainey said the money would be used to begin to address food insecurity and look for ways to scale up existing programs so that they could serve more people,” says Koscinski. “Food justice advocates have previously called for the city to put $10 million in American rescue plan money toward the creation of a fund like this. So this $3 million is obviously much less than that. But one of the groups I spoke with, the Food Policy Council, said that they were optimistic that this is a good start by the city.”
City council must amend and pass the budget by December 31.
The state Department of Health has disciplined a physician for not following the rules of the state’s medical marijuana program
(8:00 - 17:27)
There are more than 417,000 approved medical marijuana patients in the state of Pennsylvania, and 1,800 physicians who have been approved to certify patients to access the medication. But since the program’s inception in 2016, doctors have rarely faced formal discipline from the state Department of Health for allegedly violating rules of the state’s medical marijuana program.
One physician, Theodore Colterelli, has been disciplined for approving a patient’s medical marijuana certification without reviewing her medical records.
Spotlight PA reporter Ed Mahon says a company called Veriheal, which connects patients to physicians, has been accused of paying doctors only if they approve patients for the card, thus incentivizing doctors to approve more patients.
“The Department of Health has said he doesn't have oversight of these [third-party] companies,” says Mahon. “In some ways these companies are, you know, connectors who don't have the same obligations to patients as doctors do.”
Despite these concerns from physicians and patients, state rules bar physicians from advertising their ability to approve medical marijuana treatment. It’s only with these unregulated companies that physicians and patients can connect.
Biodegradable straw business deciding between Pittsburgh and Austin, Texas.
(17:37 - 22:30)
Yesterday, we introduced you to a company in Virginia that’s considering expanding to Pittsburgh or Austin. Terravive makes biodegradable straws and cutlery.
90.5 WESA’s An-Li Herring reports on what Pittsburgh has to offer companies like Terravive.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
