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Push for Pittsburgh Referendum on Doing Business with Israel Fails
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Paula Reed Ward - A proposed ballot question by a pro-Palestinian group that sought to stop the City of Pittsburgh from doing business with companies that have ties to Israel will not move forward. The group "No War Crimes on Our Dime" conceded that it did not collect the necessary number of qualified signatures to get the referendum on the ballot for November's general election. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, as well as the Pittsburgh controller's office, challenged the referendum petition. Opponents charged that the proposed ballot question was antisemitic and potentially catastrophic for the city because of the number of Israeli entities linked to Pittsburgh contracts. Controller Rachael Heisler said city vehicles rely on gas from companies with holdings in Israel and medications used by emergency medical services are sourced by Israeli pharmaceutical companies. Duquesne Light provides electricity to the majority of the city, but the utility is also part of a consortium with Israeli groups that received a grant from the Department of Energy for energy infrastructure cybersecurity.