Joseph Sabino Mistick Columns category, Page 4

There are moments in every big-city mayor’s administration that define the mayor’s performance and values better than anything else. For the administration of Pittsburgh’s Mayor Ed Gainey, the failure to turn on the city’s over 200 drinking fountains in this hot summer may be such a moment. As first reported...

In January, along with former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, I joined a few dozen state advisory board members of Keep Our Republic at a two-day conference near Washington, D.C. Keep Our Republic is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that is working to identify problems that could come up in our presidential...

When the Alle­gheny Conference shared its ideas for a reimagined Downtown Pittsburgh this month, there were no actual proposals, just what were called “aspirational” and “visionary plans.” Downtown tax revenue is tanking, and the city administration continues to discourage and block new development. If the Allegheny Conference is going to...

As the nation remembered D-Day last week — with what was likely the last big gathering of American heroes in Normandy, France — the world was reminded of the value that America once placed on freedom. The numbers are staggering. On June 6, 1944, nearly 7,000 Allied ships and landing...

The trial of Donald Trump was both extraordinary and ordinary at the same time. Never before has a former president of the United States been charged, tried and convicted of crimes. But, once charged, Trump was treated like everybody else. With apologies for this lawyer’s view — without the passion...

When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas resigned 55 years ago this month, he was facing congressional calls for his impeachment. He had been on the court for less than four years and had controversially remained a confidant of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. The cause of his resignation was a...

For as long as any of us around here can remember, Dr. Cyril Wecht made headlines everywhere. The renowned forensic pathologist, physician and lawyer died at 93 last week. But he lived a life that we will never forget. Dr. Wecht invented the role of the celebrity forensic pathologist. He...

WQED television was established in 1954 — right here in Pittsburgh — as the first community-­sponsored educational television station in the nation. The station was truly Pittsburgh, originally funded in part by 200,000 $2 donations from local families. WQED is in our community’s genes, and our genes are in WQED....

The last time we had a close look at what an imperial American presidency might resemble, President Richard M. Nixon had decided that guards assigned to the White House should wear fancy uniforms befitting a European monarchy. After official European visits marked by ceremonial pomp, Nixon decided to change the...

The big news from last week’s primary election was Democratic incumbent Summer Lee’s victory over Bhavini Patel in the race to represent the people of the 12th Congressional District. But a little-noticed race for a much smaller state legislative seat may offer an important lesson locally. As a member of...

The problem with speaking for the record in this social media age is that your words are out there forever, and I realized some time ago that I was too tough on Mitt Romney when he ran for president in 2012. I regret that now. We all had our fun...

It took a major astronomical event, but we learned last week during the solar eclipse that Americans are still capable of standing together. Tens of millions watched the eclipse from Arizona and New Mexico to Maine and New Hampshire. Many folks here watched a partial eclipse from home. Some of...

America’s leaders have often come through with fine words and excellent phrases to remind us that it is hard work to keep the promise of America. For some reason, many important speeches were delivered in the month of April. On April 3, 1968, the night before he was assassinated, Martin...

Easter is a celebration of rebirth, and, since it coincides with springtime in many places, new beginnings are everywhere. Crocuses and daffodils are popping out of the recently frozen ground, and magnolia trees have burst with blossoms overnight. The sun has reappeared where it has been cold and dark for...

Victories are always sweet. And when Duquesne University’s basketball team qualified for this year’s NCAA Tournament, everyone who loves an underdog celebrated. The Duquesne Dukes have been great before, but it has been a while, and this revival was unexpected. In 1988, in his Los Angeles Times article “Remembering When...

It is not often that we are surprised when someone dies at age 91, but it seemed like Jim Roddey would live forever. When Jim arrived in Pittsburgh in 1979, he was a Republican businessman with a Southern accent. When he died this month, he was a true Pittsburgher, a...

As Downtown Pittsburgh property values continue to go down along with the tax revenue that the city needs to maintain essential services, Mayor Ed Gainey and the city are at a crossroads. Pittsburgh is not alone in this post-pandemic urban struggle, but Pittsburgh does not seem to be headed for...

There will be no shortage of important issues in the 2024 presidential election — the crisis at the southern border, the Dobbs decision, freedom for Ukraine and war in the Middle East, just for starters — but it may be the choice between chaos and calm that will move many...

As most American cities grapple with record numbers of homeless citizens, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials continue to struggle to provide temporary and permanent housing for our region’s homeless population. Now, there is a city zoning amendment being proposed to allow a scattering of “tiny home” communities throughout Downtown and...

We have had some great speakers of the House of Representatives throughout history, but it gets clearer every day that Mike Johnson is very unlikely to become one of them. Not long ago, Johnson turned against and killed the bipartisan immigration and border security bill negotiated by conservative Republican Sen....

The Super Bowl is a chance we get every year to gather around our televisions for a few hours and forget about all those things that divide us. Now, the far right is trying to ruin even that with crazy conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City...

It is clear now that some Republican members of Congress have a hard time taking “yes” for an answer. For years, during both the Trump and Biden administrations, they have demanded immigration reform — tighter border controls and asylum and parole procedures. In October, Republicans felt so strongly about new...

Democrat Chris Deluzio and Republican Guy Reschenthaler, two Western Pennsylvania members of the U.S. House and unlikely allies on any piece of legislation, have co-sponsored a bill. The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act sounds like an easy layup for both politicians, but nothing is easy in politics these days. Just...

“Is this a good idea?” Many questions are important, but if you are in a political or government position and your decisions affect the lives of others, it is exceptionally important. When Pittsburgh City Council members were sworn in this month, newly elected 34-year-old Bob Charland used his remarks to...

As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was preparing for his inauguration in 1933, he faced calls for him to assume extraordinary powers. The nation was at its lowest point since the beginning of the Great Depression. In his 2006 book “The Defining Moment,” Jonathan Alter calls it our “gravest crisis since...