Does Our State Bird Suck? Plus, ICE Updates & Vacant Lots

About this episode

The episode discusses a proposal for utilizing vacant lots in Pittsburgh, recent ICE updates, and a debate over Pennsylvania's state bird.

Ever wanted to make public art or host an event in an abandoned lot? City Council is considering a proposal to let residents put vacant lots and underutilized park space to good use. Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk explain the proposal, plus discuss the unannounced visit U.S. Reps. Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio made to Moshannon Valley Processing Center — the largest immigrant detention facility in the northeast, just a couple hours outside of Pittsburgh. Then City Cast's Elizabeth Kauma joins to diss the ruffed grouse as our state bird (game bird?) and make the case for why Pennsylvania should be repped by the scarlet tanager instead. Notes and references from today’s show: Pittsburgh seeks to turn its green space, vacant lots to productive uses [TribLive] Adopt-A-Lot Program [City of Pittsburgh] O'Connor to seek state funding to prep city's vacant lots for new housing [Business Times] Two Pa. Democrats become first members of Congress to access Pennsylvania’s largest ICE detention facility [Philadelphia Inquirer] ICE detainee who spoke out about conditions in Moshannon was punished, transferred [Spotlight PA] How many people held by ICE in Pa. have criminal…

People in this episode

Host: Megan Harris

Guest: Elizabeth Kauma

Topics covered

• public art
• vacant lots
• immigration
• detention centers
• state bird
• Pennsylvania

Keywords

• public art
• vacant lots
• ICE updates
• Moshannon Valley Processing Center
• ruffed grouse
• scarlet tanager

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: City Council, TribLive, City of Pittsburgh, Business Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Spotlight PA, PennLive, Marshall Project, P-G

Places: Moshannon Valley Processing Center, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh

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