Pittsburgh officials to New Year's revelers: Stay home this year

Although a crowd of people isn’t expected — or allowed — to gather in Downtown Pittsburgh for New Year’s Eve celebrations, public safety officials issued their annual reminder Wednesday advising revelers to put safety first.

“I know that we all want — and absolutely deserve — to celebrate New Year’s Eve as we always do: With family and friends, with fireworks and with fanfare,” Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said. “That’s just not possible or responsible this year. Better times are certainly ahead, but we must maintain our resolve now in order to see this pandemic through to the end.”

First Night festivities organized by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust typically draw about 40,000 people Downtown.

“We enjoy coming here about every other year,” Sabrina Mislevy of Georgetown, Beaver County, told the Tribune-Review a year ago when she was among those who attended.

This is that “other” year for everyone.

Instead, “Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2021 at Home,” will be broadcast on KDKA-TV.

The show will include many of the hallmarks of an in-person First Night, including the Williams Sing-Off competition, a countdown to midnight and the raising of the “Future of Pittsburgh Ball.”

Hissrich urged people to celebrate responsibly — ideally at home — and to refrain from dangerous or illegal activities, including shooting guns.

Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri noted that last year a woman in Texas was killed when a descending bullet hit her as she was watching celebratory fireworks in her driveway.

“Police will monitor and respond to ShotSpotter activations throughout the city,” Togneri said. “Officers will arrest anyone caught discharging a firearm in public.”

Setting off fireworks within 150 feet of a building is against city law, even if the fireworks are legal, Togneri said.

Police also will be patrolling for impaired drivers.

Officials urged people to follow the covid-19 guidelines issued by Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.