Butler officials hope to maintain momentum despite Trump rally shooting, while regional voices largely mum

Festival goers buy food and other products during the Horse Trading Days festival in Zelienople in Butler County on July 18, 2024. (Photo by Jess Daninhirsch/PublicSource) The attempt to assassinate Donald Trump thrust both Butler County and the Pittsburgh region into the world spotlight. Outside of Butler, regional leaders are hesitant to talk about the potential effects of violence on the region’s trajectory. “PublicSource is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region. Sign up for our free newsletters.” by Eric Jankiewicz and Jess Daninhirsch, PublicSource July 23, 2024 In the week after former President Donald Trump was shot roughly an hour drive north of Pittsburgh, leaders of the region and its largest county had almost nothing to say about the effects the world news event could have on the region’s reputation and momentum. Declining comment or failing to respond to PublicSource’s questions on that subject over the past week were Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato’s office, her predecessor and current Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Executive Director Rich Fitzgerald, city/county booster Visit Pittsburgh and the office of U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, among others. State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Lawrenceville, serves on the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority board, and was one of...