Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Two Dispatches From The Amusements Desk

• The Pittsburgh Mills destination retail anybody-who-can-pay-rent development -- whose inherent struggles are compounded by a weak commercial real estate market (even the heavily subsidized, glamorous Bakery Square is said to be shedding retail tenants, despite snagging the Googlers) -- has returned to its withered "destination attraction" roots with an announcement that it intends to split sixes against the dealer's ace plans to construct an indoor waterpark.

Cyril Wecht, M.D., J.D., (whose political career seemed at rest until Mary Beth Buchanan kicked the wrong sleeping dog) is reported to be considering chasing the Democratic nomination for governor. Dr. Wecht has more professional accomplishments than the rest of the Democratic field could aggregate, would out-debate that field with his tongue tied behind his back, and has name recognition the other candidates can only envy. This development -- distributed by KDKA rather by ink, presumably because Dr. Wecht has disliked the Post-Gazette for decades -- could turn the campaign into a funhouse for spectators (although not for the participants). Even a strong rumor about Wecht joining the fractured, complicated race for what has apparently become the (slightly) less desirable nomination alters the relevant lines at the Propositions Board (far right column).

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