On Thursday, February 24, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman and District 3 City Council rep Bruce Kraus sat down for a wide-ranging discussion about Pittsburgh politics.
While the conversation eventually ranged into a number of major issues - Marcellus Shale, Pittsburgh economics, the challenges of the nightlife economy in the South Side - Tony got things going by asking Bruce about himself and his entry into the world of politics, which gave the entire conversation a personal vibe.
Eventually, the conversation shifted to the audience members, who asked Bruce some challenging questions about UPMC's role in the Pittsburgh community, his views on the current mayor, and alcohol-related crime in the South Side. In response to a question about the drunk-driving death of 7-year old Lexa Cleland on East Carson Street, Kraus passionately connected the tragedy of drunk driving to the Responsible Hospitality Institute. He urged the audience to call Mayor Luke Ravenstahl with their response to his decision not to sign legislation about an RHI initiative in Pittsburgh.
Listen to Tony Norman and Bruce Kraus
Tony Norman vs. Cyril Wecht (March 31 @ 7pm): The special guest for the next installment of Tony Norman vs. will be Cyril Wecht, forensic pathologist, medical-legal consultant, and former coroner and medical examiner for Allegheny County, whose high-profile career has included investigations into the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, the deaths of Elvis Presley and Vincent Foster, the O.J. Simpson case, the JonBenet Ramsey case, and the Branch Davidian fire in Waco, TX. Tony and Dr. Wecht will discuss his career as well as Allegheny County politics.