(The Center Square) – The spokeswoman for Allegheny County’s chief executive went on administrative leave on Monday following controversial statements she made about a local radio host.
Abigail Gardner, communications director for County Executive Sara Innamorato, apologized in a statement for saying on social media that Colin Dunlap, a local radio show host on KDKA, should “jump off a bridge” after he criticized the county’s emergency response to dangerous air quality alerts as overblown.
“You’re right Colin,” she said. “You should go outside and smoke a pack on a bridge and then jump.”
Over weekend >100 Allegheny County workers reached out to me appalled by this and administration- but afraid to speak out for fear of retribution.Particularly those in Emergency Services, where suicide recently impacted their staff. They are furious. pic.twitter.com/R4WiZUtzDT– Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) July 19, 2026
Her response came after Dunlap shared a black-and-white photo of two men smoking on a hazy street corner. In the social media post, he said, “I find the pandemonium about some smoky conditions in Western Pennsylvania for like 26 hours way over the top. Especially when you consider this: some of our grandparents lived this every single day – and smoked a pack a day on top of it.”
By resorting to flippantly suggesting a media member (me) consider suicide, I think it is fair to ask if the current Allegheny County top administration has the acumen, temperament and overall skill to guide our county through important times. pic.twitter.com/dfoc6rV3It– Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) July 18, 2026
The state Department of Environmental Protection declared a “Code Red” air quality alert on Thursday, followed by a “Code Orange” on Friday. This, after dense smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed Pennsylvania and parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
The county itself declared a “Code Purple” before bumping the level to the highest alert level, Code Maroon, on Thursday afternoon. Many events were canceled and outdoor parks were closed amid the emergency conditions.
On his radio show on Friday, Dunlap said “do what you want, don’t do what you want.”
“If you have a breathing problem, if you have apprehensions, if you feel like it’s not safe for you, stay home,” he continued. “If you’re A-OK with things, and you feel like, well you know, we’re all going to die some day anyway, what’s one day of walking around getting a little smoke in my lungs, then go out and live your life.”
Gardner issued a public apology on Monday and was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. It’s unclear if taxpayers will continue to cover her $160,540 annual salary during the break.
“I made a tasteless comment out of frustration, and I apologize for my lapse in judgment,” she said. “Suicide should not be a topic that is joked about or used to insult others. My comments were out of line, and I especially apologize to the employees of Allegheny County that I did not hold myself to a higher standard while representing the county.”
This is interesting.Ms Gardner has been “placed on administrative leave.”Couple things here…-I wonder if it is paid or unpaid?-She apologized to her coworkers, but not the person she made the comment to.Is what it is. Crazy situation. Don’t make jokes about suicide. pic.twitter.com/7d6motyklg– Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) July 20, 2026
Pittsburgh City Council Chairwoman Barb Warwick defended Gardner on social media on Saturday, calling Dunlap a “bully” and telling her followers to refrain and “take the high road” instead of calling the radio host “a big dumb a——.”
“We’re so lucky to have so many badass women in local government busting their butts each and every day to make life better for the people of this region – no matter who you are, where you’re from, how you worship, or who you love,” she said. “And it’s frustrating when supposedly professional media organizations like 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA not only belittle and misrepresent that work, but also allow their employees to post personal information and rage-bait listeners in order to make those women and their families less safe.”
Dunlap said “is what it is” on social media on Monday, saying he’s not a “bullying” elected officials “on all sides” accountable.
“That’s standing for taxpayers,” he said. “Public office comes with scrutiny. Don’t like it? Don’t run.”
