Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
@helengerhardt.bsky.social
Advocate for climate justice, food sovereignty, fair and affordable housing, unions, public transit, human (and other life form) rights - and inclusive public process for our community problem solving!
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Rep. Chris Deluzio on being accused of sedition: "The fact that the president's reaction to us stating a basic principle of the Constitution is to threaten us with death, tells me everything I need to know about the importance of restating our oath to the Constitution."
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
Trump accuses Deluzio, other Dems of 'seditious behavior' after they urge disobeying illegal orders
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio of Western Pennsylvania is among a half-dozen Democratic legislators that President Donald Trump accused of sedition Thursday morning.
www.wesa.fm
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Rep. Chris Deluzio on being accused of sedition: "The fact that the president's reaction to us stating a basic principle of the Constitution is to threaten us with death, tells me everything I need to know about the importance of restating our oath to the Constitution."
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
"Casa San José, an example of support for migrants in Pittsburgh"
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
Casa San José, un ejemplo de apoyo a los migrantes en Pittsburgh | Stories | 55018522028
Estados Unidos se ha convertido en uno de los mayores focos de atención sobre el tema migratorio en el mundo. Organizaciones de derechos humanos han s...
efs.efeservicios.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"Casa San José, an example of support for migrants in Pittsburgh"
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Partisan politics has paralyzed or compromised some federal and state programs. Is the shutdown/stalemate affecting your household? @publicsource.org would like to know how. www.publicsource.org/government-s...
Are shutdowns and disruptions to government programs and services hitting you?
Pittsburgh’s Public Source wants to know how the federal shutdown and state stalemate are affecting Pittsburgh-area households.
www.publicsource.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Partisan politics has paralyzed or compromised some federal and state programs. Is the shutdown/stalemate affecting your household? @publicsource.org would like to know how. www.publicsource.org/government-s...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
The number of tents along Allegheny County's sidewalks and trails is way down. The number of unsheltered people, though, is up. Here's the lay of the land with winter shelter opening tomorrow www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
Winter shelter to open amid high unhoused numbers, lower tent count
Allegheny County will reopen a winter homeless shelter on Pittsburgh’s North Side, providing 140 beds, as estimates of unsheltered population rise above 300.
www.publicsource.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The number of tents along Allegheny County's sidewalks and trails is way down. The number of unsheltered people, though, is up. Here's the lay of the land with winter shelter opening tomorrow www.publicsource.org/allegheny-co...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
“You all know how grateful I am to all of you and to everyone’s families,” he said. “The sacrifices you’ve made. You’ve gone above and beyond what anyone could ever ask for. So, I just want to say cheers to the strikers. Cheers to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh."
'This is everyone’s win': Striking PG workers celebrate a big victory - Pittsburgh Union Progress
Monday started out as one of those cold, dreary Pittsburgh Mondays that you have to plod through as if it were sticky and slick with mud. The previous night’s Steelers’ game, a loss, made it worse. Yi...
www.unionprogress.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
“You all know how grateful I am to all of you and to everyone’s families,” he said. “The sacrifices you’ve made. You’ve gone above and beyond what anyone could ever ask for. So, I just want to say cheers to the strikers. Cheers to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh."
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
"Academic freedom is not absolute," according to the Trump administration. Maybe not, but it is essential to our society and should be protected, three Pittsburgh scholars tell us www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-s...
Trump says academic freedom is ‘not absolute.’ Three Pittsburgh scholars say it’s essential.
Scholars at Pitt, CMU and Carlow University share their perspectives on the state of academic freedom federal pressures mount for U.S. campuses.
www.publicsource.org
October 24, 2025 at 11:16 AM
"Academic freedom is not absolute," according to the Trump administration. Maybe not, but it is essential to our society and should be protected, three Pittsburgh scholars tell us www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-s...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Pittsburgh - check this flyer out for the locations of distros that serve food locally as we approach the SNAP cliff in November. To be clear, these are open to anyone.
It sounds like due to the gov shutdown, SNAP isn't going to be available for folks next month. But, there are plenty of weekly distros you can get a free meal (and not just if you are on SNAP!) And if you are looking for help or looking to help reach out to us! Let's take care of each other!
October 23, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Pittsburgh - check this flyer out for the locations of distros that serve food locally as we approach the SNAP cliff in November. To be clear, these are open to anyone.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
This is disgraceful. RFK Jr is literally telling these kids/families that they deserve neglect, illness and death because they weren't lucky enough to be born into a wealthy, white family like him.
“Two weeks after a federal committee of vaccine advisers approved new recommendations for who should get Covid-19 shots, neither Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor his deputy have signed off, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income children.”
Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay
Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.
www.statnews.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:44 AM
This is disgraceful. RFK Jr is literally telling these kids/families that they deserve neglect, illness and death because they weren't lucky enough to be born into a wealthy, white family like him.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Yes, the @pghguild.com is still on its unfair labor practices strike, and still publishing a strike paper, with news on a meeting on the I-79/Route 910 Wexford interchange and two city traffic calming projects; a feature on fall parks events; and the big PUP football notebook: www.unionprogress.com
September 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Yes, the @pghguild.com is still on its unfair labor practices strike, and still publishing a strike paper, with news on a meeting on the I-79/Route 910 Wexford interchange and two city traffic calming projects; a feature on fall parks events; and the big PUP football notebook: www.unionprogress.com
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
CNN has identified at least 100 U.S. citizen children who have been separated from their parents after ICE deported them - including newborns.
As a parent I cannot imagine the horror of being separated from my child, but that trauma is even more acute for the innocent children left behind.
As a parent I cannot imagine the horror of being separated from my child, but that trauma is even more acute for the innocent children left behind.
September 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
CNN has identified at least 100 U.S. citizen children who have been separated from their parents after ICE deported them - including newborns.
As a parent I cannot imagine the horror of being separated from my child, but that trauma is even more acute for the innocent children left behind.
As a parent I cannot imagine the horror of being separated from my child, but that trauma is even more acute for the innocent children left behind.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
They also have one of the most effective school systems in the world. They did that (in part) by treating teaching like an actual profession, as illustrious as being a doctor or a lawyer, with similar academic expectations and similar salary standards.
September 21, 2025 at 6:34 AM
They also have one of the most effective school systems in the world. They did that (in part) by treating teaching like an actual profession, as illustrious as being a doctor or a lawyer, with similar academic expectations and similar salary standards.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
thebetter.news
September 21, 2025 at 6:24 AM
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
If this gets through, we're all on that list. And then there's no fleeing anything.
September 15, 2025 at 12:27 AM
If this gets through, we're all on that list. And then there's no fleeing anything.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
While many were 3-day-weekending, a few were scrambling to prevent the federal gov't from stealthily deporting Guatemalan minors, including some housed in Pittsburgh, @jamiewiggan.bsky.social and @quinnglabicki.bsky.social reported www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-a...
Pittsburgh lawyers and advocates scramble to protect local Guatemalan children amid U.S. deportation push
Up to 10 migrant teens in Pittsburgh-area shelters flagged for rapid removal amid U.S. deportation push over weekend. A U.S. judge halted it.
www.publicsource.org
September 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
While many were 3-day-weekending, a few were scrambling to prevent the federal gov't from stealthily deporting Guatemalan minors, including some housed in Pittsburgh, @jamiewiggan.bsky.social and @quinnglabicki.bsky.social reported www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-a...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Tyler Pecyna's Pittsburgh Union Progress newsletter is really good. He will send it to you, too. Just sign up for free at www.unionprogress.com/subscribe/.
September 5, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Tyler Pecyna's Pittsburgh Union Progress newsletter is really good. He will send it to you, too. Just sign up for free at www.unionprogress.com/subscribe/.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
The cause of the disparity is debated, and the effects of 302s can be positive or negative (or both). But recent research shows that "judgment call" 302s nearly double risks of overdose, suicide or a charge for a violent crime. www.publicsource.org/mental-healt...
Study: Many Allegheny County psych hospitalizations do more harm than good
Involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations — when they’re judgment calls by doctors — can lead to the kinds of harm they are intended to prevent, per a study of Allegheny County data.
www.publicsource.org
August 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The cause of the disparity is debated, and the effects of 302s can be positive or negative (or both). But recent research shows that "judgment call" 302s nearly double risks of overdose, suicide or a charge for a violent crime. www.publicsource.org/mental-healt...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Black people in Allegheny County are more than twice as likely to be involuntarily committed for mental health care ("302ed") than are whites. www.publicsource.org/racial-dispa...
Involuntary ‘302’ hospitalizations fall more heavily on Black patients. Would AOT be different?
Data from Allegheny County and neighboring states reveals the racial disparities behind court-ordered mental health care. Would AOT be different?
www.publicsource.org
August 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Black people in Allegheny County are more than twice as likely to be involuntarily committed for mental health care ("302ed") than are whites. www.publicsource.org/racial-dispa...
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Dearest Martha,
The National Guard stand solemn watch at the Krispy Kreme tonight. I cannot tell if they defend the people from the donuts, or the donuts from the people. Powdered sugar hangs in the air like cannon smoke. Jensen took a hot coffee to the face, he may never recover.
Yours in glaze,
The National Guard stand solemn watch at the Krispy Kreme tonight. I cannot tell if they defend the people from the donuts, or the donuts from the people. Powdered sugar hangs in the air like cannon smoke. Jensen took a hot coffee to the face, he may never recover.
Yours in glaze,
August 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Dearest Martha,
The National Guard stand solemn watch at the Krispy Kreme tonight. I cannot tell if they defend the people from the donuts, or the donuts from the people. Powdered sugar hangs in the air like cannon smoke. Jensen took a hot coffee to the face, he may never recover.
Yours in glaze,
The National Guard stand solemn watch at the Krispy Kreme tonight. I cannot tell if they defend the people from the donuts, or the donuts from the people. Powdered sugar hangs in the air like cannon smoke. Jensen took a hot coffee to the face, he may never recover.
Yours in glaze,
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
For anyone still saying that a Canadian like me should “mind my own business,” there’s literally nothing that’s more my business — more EVERYONE’s business — than the most powerful nation in the world right next door turning itself into a lawless, fact-less, corrupt dictatorship.
Nothing. #ElbowsUp
Nothing. #ElbowsUp
August 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
For anyone still saying that a Canadian like me should “mind my own business,” there’s literally nothing that’s more my business — more EVERYONE’s business — than the most powerful nation in the world right next door turning itself into a lawless, fact-less, corrupt dictatorship.
Nothing. #ElbowsUp
Nothing. #ElbowsUp
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
STARTER PACK: ICYMI, this is one of my favourite and most important Starter Packs, I co-curated with celebrated climate scientist and exceptional science communicator @katharinehayhoe.com. People and organizations that specifically overlap smart/better cities and climate action. Please share widely!
August 20, 2025 at 4:00 AM
STARTER PACK: ICYMI, this is one of my favourite and most important Starter Packs, I co-curated with celebrated climate scientist and exceptional science communicator @katharinehayhoe.com. People and organizations that specifically overlap smart/better cities and climate action. Please share widely!
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
We have to talk about this also as an insult to the National Guard, who are being used as political props by the President and governors. They signed up to serve their country and their communities, and are now being turned into playthings of a political operation. It’s a slap in the face.
Updated this story @taskandpurpose.com. Ohio and South Carolina are joining West Virginia in sending National Guard troops in DC. That brings the number of Guardsmen activated for this to ~1,500. taskandpurpose.com/news/west-vi...
3 states sending 700 National Guard troops to DC
At least 700 National Guard troops will be sent to Washington, D.C., nearly doubling the number of Guardsmen active in the capital.
taskandpurpose.com
August 17, 2025 at 1:44 AM
We have to talk about this also as an insult to the National Guard, who are being used as political props by the President and governors. They signed up to serve their country and their communities, and are now being turned into playthings of a political operation. It’s a slap in the face.
Reposted by Helen Gerhardt (she/her)
Then please consider submitting your real, non-AI-assisted, Pittsburgh-informed essay concept via our pitch form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Your Pittsburgh-area story idea or tip for Public Source
This is for anyone in the Pittsburgh region (including all of Allegheny County and its bordering counties) or with information relevant to our area to share ideas, tips, stories that you think our new...
docs.google.com
August 11, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Then please consider submitting your real, non-AI-assisted, Pittsburgh-informed essay concept via our pitch form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...