FakeNoose

FakeNoose's Journal

January 27, 2021

Pittsburgh: Pandemic-battered Downtown Wyndham Grand Hotel could be sold

(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2021/01/27/Wyndham-Grand-Pittsburgh-Kiran-Patel-Hilton-Hotel-COVID-19/stories/202101270087

A decade ago, a Tampa cardiologist survived a bruising bankruptcy court battle to take ownership of the former Hilton Hotel, a Downtown landmark now known as the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh.

Now, Kiran C. Patel, doctor turned businessman, is considering the sale of the property he fought so hard to secure as he fights another brutal battle — this one with the COVID-19 pandemic. With hotel occupancy at 20% or less and losses “piling up,” Dr. Patel said in an interview he is entertaining all possibilities.

- snip -

There has been speculation that the hotel is being sold to a company with an interest in converting part of it into apartments. While Dr. Patel said that “there is no serious offer on the table that I know of,” he didn’t entirely dismiss that idea.

“My simple answer to your question is in challenging times, one has to explore options. I can sit and cry every day or I can look at all of the options available.”

There’s no doubt that the pandemic has been devastating to hotels, prompting layoffs as well as closings, at least on a temporary basis. Some have yet to reopen. Downtown, three hotels are still closed — the Omni William Penn, Marriott City Center and the Distrikt, which reopened and then closed again.

- More at link -

Wow these hotels are not doing well, and the pandemic is affecting all downtown business and retail. Surely the city and Allegheny County can do something to help?

January 20, 2021

Two Western Pa. men charged in connection with U.S. Capitol riot

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 01/19/2021

Link: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/01/19/Western-Pennsylvania-charged-US-Capitol-riot-insurrection-matthew-perna-jorden-mink/stories/202101190125

Two Western Pennsylvania men have been charged in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and one of them is accused of shattering a window with a baseball bat.
Matthew Perna of Sharon, Pa., and the accused bat-wielder, Jorden Mink of South Fayette, appeared briefly on Tuesday for initial appearance hearings by video in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

Both are charged federally in the District of Columbia and will be prosecuted there along with dozens of other accused rioters.

Mr. Mink is charged with unlawful entry on restricted building or grounds while carrying a weapon (the baseball bat); unlawful injury to property on Capitol grounds; violent entry, disorderly conduct and physical violence on Capitol grounds; destruction of government property; theft of government property; and aiding and abetting.

Mr. Perna is charged with entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said his office is working with the FBI and his counterpart in the District of Columbia to identify Western Pennsylvania residents who were involved in the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6.

- more art link -

Along with the idiot who stole Nancy Pelosi's laptop, these two guys continue Pennsylvania's Repuke Walk of Shame. Luckily many solid tips have been given to the FBI to catch these perps.

January 19, 2021

Regarding the Bidens' Welcome to the White house

https://twitter.com/HelenKennedy/status/1351284674665046018

Given that the Trumps are snubbing the Bidens, why not have the Obamas and Bushes and Clintons perform the traditional White House welcome? They will be in town. It would be bipartisan. And it would uphold the important symbolic ritual of a president welcoming his successor.
4:45 PM · Jan 18, 2021

I like this idea! It's friendly and bi-partisan. The only question is whether the Obamas, Clintons and Bushes will agree to do it.

January 18, 2021

Feds seeking Harrisburg woman whose ex says she stole Pelosi's laptop during Capitol riot

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Federal authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for a Harrisburg woman they suspect may have stolen House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the Jan. 6 Capitol siege with the intent of selling the device to Russia’s foreign intelligence services.

In an affidavit filed late Sunday evening, agents said they were contacted by the former romantic partner of Riley June Williams, 22, who recognized her in footage shot during the insurrectionist attack by the British network ITV.

Williams’ ex also reported having seen other video showing Williams pocketing the computer from Pelosi’s office and told investigators that Williams had said she intended to send it to a friend in Russia who would arrange the transfer to the SVR, the Russian equivalent of the CIA.

That deal fell through, Williams’ former partner told FBI agents according to the affidavit, and the laptop remains in her possession. By the time investigators tracked Williams down to the apartment she shares with her mother in Harrisburg, she had already fled, the affidavit states.

Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/01/18/Feds-seeking-Harrisburg-woman-Nancy-Pelosi-laptop-stolen-Capitol-riot-russia/stories/202101180073

Congressional aide said the stolen laptop was only used for presentations.

- more at link -

January 18, 2021

I know, this usually happens in February but ...

January 7, 2021

Unveiling Chump's Presidential Portrait: here's how it will go

Credit to All Hat No Cattle

Profile Information

Name: Kathy Hinsman
Gender: Female
Hometown: Pittsburgh PA
Home country: USA
Current location: Pittsburgh
Member since: Sat Feb 18, 2017, 02:16 PM
Number of posts: 32,634

About FakeNoose

Hey DU friends! Baby boomer here. I became a voter in 1972 when I turned 21, and I've been voting regularly ever since. For a long time I remained independent - always voting for Dem candidates. However that changed in 2008 when I wanted to vote for Hillary Clinton for President. But I live in Pennsylvania where we have closed elections, and my only chance to vote for Hillary was in the Dem primary. So I joined the Democratic Party in 2008, voted for Hillary, and I've never looked back. Barack Obama won the primary in Pennsylvania, as ell as most other states, and I supported him in the general election. It was a different story in 2016 .... You'll never convince me that Chump didn't CHEAT his way into the White House. The worst 4 years in the history of our country ensued, 2017 to 2020, and the first few days of 2021. We all lived through it and i don't need to explain it now. My goal is to make sure that Chump NEVER gets elected to ANYTHING again. Not even Dogcatcher of West Palm Beach FL. Whether he goes to prison is not up to me - but he must be CONVICTED of his crimes and PREVENTED from running for office again. Better yet - he should be in prison or six-feet-under. You get me? I love the cooperation, optimism and can-do spirit of Democratic Underground. We're a community of liberal-minded Americans and we know how to share our stories constructively and pro-actively. Let's all pitch in and get this job done. There has never been a more important election that right now, this year. Democrats everywhere MUST WIN. Joe Biden must win FOUR MORE YEARS!