Downtown Pittsburgh will have not one, but two Juneteenth celebrations

PITTSBURGH’S TWO JUNETEENTHS—B. MARSHALL’S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IS JUNE 14-16 AT POINT STATE PARK. MAYOR ED GAINEY, RIGHT, ADVOCATED FOR A CITY-SPONSORED CELEBRATION, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 29 AT THE GREENWOOD PLAN BUILDING, ON SMITHFIELD STREET. (PHOTOS BY ROB TAYLOR JR.) Controversy has divided the Black community & Let’s give it to you straight—Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey was caught between a rock and a hard place. Continue to basically “award” longtime Pittsburgh Juneteenth promoter B. Marshall $125,000 for the 2024 celebration after the city did so for 2023, and face the onslaught of other promoters (including those who may have never put a Pittsburgh Juneteenth celebration together), politicians and other watchdogs wonder why B. Marshall was the only private organizer to get Juneteenth money from the city, or “go back on his word” according to many in Pittsburgh’s Black community, hold off on awarding B. Marshall the $125,000 for 2024, decide to start a city-owned, city-sponsored Juneteenth, put out a “Request For Proposals,” and ultimately watch the city choose someone other than B. Marshall get the contract. Mayor Gainey chose option number two. PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL ASKS MAYOR GAINEY’S CHIEF OF STAFF, JAKE WHEATLEY, QUESTIONS DURING A SESSION, MAY...