Candidate for
Mayor; City of Pittsburgh

Government for Pittsburghers, Not for Politicians

We need real campaign finance reform and an end to no-bid contracts. We must do better by Pittsburgh's taxpayers. To end the waste and mismanagement in our government and hold it accountable to our citizens, I will:

1. Introduce comprehensive, common sense campaign finance legislation that is tied to federal contribution limits within the first 100 days.

2. End the practice of awarding no-bid contracts to campaign contributors.

3. Ensure that a competitive bidding process precedes the awarding of any city contract over $25,000.

4. As an incumbent Mayor, I will not solicit campaign contributions from any firm that does business with the City of Pittsburgh or its Authorities.

5. Make all finance reports electronically available to the public on the state and county filing dates.

6. Create an integrated, searchable electronic database of all city contracts and all campaign contributions of all city elected officials so the public will know exactly who is giving to politicians and what contracts those contributors have received.

7. Publish my public schedule on the city's website so that any Pittsburgher can see whom I am meeting with. There can be no back room deals if there is no back room.

Stopping the Violence

A smart government has to attack the roots of the problem of violent crime, since it's often too late when the police arrive. That means investing deeply in all facets of our communities, from the school system to neighborhood associations and local businesses. When I'm mayor, my goal will be to have no one under the age of 18 be a victim or perpetrator of violent crime. My plan to reduce the murder rate in Pittsburgh includes:

Targeted policing to stem the flow of guns and drugs. While community-based efforts will be essential for our long term success, we also need to bring the resources of the District Attorney, State's Attorney, U.S. Attorney, Police, F.B.I., A.T.F. and other local, state and federal agencies to stop the flow of illegal guns and drugs into our city. A new approach is needed to stem the tide of narcotics and weapons on our streets.

Energetic, sustained community development. Breaking the cycle of crime means creating neighborhoods where residents know each other, keep in close touch, and use the space of the neighborhood as a shared and valuable resource. Dynamic programs, like the Homewood Children's Village and The Pittsburgh Project in the North Side, that infuse communities with new energy and strengthen the weave of their social fabric should be promoted through a strengthened planning department.

Increased opportunities for youth. Too many of our youngsters don't have access to sports and recreational opportunities, or if they do, these opportunities are not always well publicized. Our city needs more green space and places to play. We also need to work with the police, as other cities do, to create sports leagues sponsored by off-duty officers. We need to encourage our arts organizations to partner with our schools to provide visual arts, music and writing programs for our kids. The Mayor's office can play a role in working with the schools to coordinate and publicize these opportunities for our children.

Economic Development. The lack of jobs is a huge reason why many of our citizens turn to crime. Please read below to see how I think we should be developing our city to provide better jobs for all of our citizens.

Grow Jobs

We all know that Pittsburgh is rich in all the things that make a city wonderful: unique historic neighborhoods, world-class universities and museums, a vibrant cultural scene, and compelling natural beauty. Sadly, fewer and fewer people are here to enjoy this remarkable array of assets. The chief reason is that there are too few jobs in the city. I am determined to revitalize the economy of Pittsburgh and reverse population decline. My plan to spur the creation of jobs includes:

Putting Pittsburgh's financial house in order. The city is in nearly $750 million of debt. Our outstanding debts are greater than the value of our assets. Anyone who claims that this is an acceptable situation is out of touch with the very real economic crisis we face. New companies will not come to a city whose financial future is in doubt. Current businesses will look for new homes if they cannot operate in confidence within the city limits.

Attracting industry clusters and embracing college graduates. Job creation, like development, must happen with a clear strategic vision. Successful urban centers support dynamic clusters of industries. Workers only migrate to cities with diverse employment options. The same is true of college graduates: there are more than 50,000 college students in the city of Pittsburgh, but only a fraction of them remain each year after graduation. Pittsburgh cannot hope to retain more than that fraction if the city only supports a handful of industries. I will work together with my planning department to identify areas in all of our neighborhoods where new industries, whether they be small arts studios, high-tech start-ups, or small-scale tooling and fabrication shops, can take root and create the diversity of jobs we need to attract and hold a new population.

Attracting new capital for start-ups. One of the major problems facing young entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh is the lack of seed capital needed to get their companies off the ground. City government must work hand in hand with our local venture capitalists, banks and other private equity firms to get new, innovative start-ups running. My administration will explore, as some cities already are, new means of attracting the investment necessary to grow new businesses here in Pittsburgh.

Let Our Beauty Shine

Recently, a Beechview teenager told me that if he were mayor he would clean up the air because, in his words, "It really bothers my asthma." As mayor, I will work on making Pittsburgh a place with cleaner air and water and with increased opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. My vision for a green Pittsburgh includes:

Investing in mass-transit corridors. Our neighborhoods are unique and distinctive, but they must be connected for the city's economy to thrive. Efficient transit options are a vital part of that connection. Pittsburgh must do more to take advantage of measures like the TRID Act, passed in the PA legislature in 2004, to aid the development of transit-rich districts within cities. I intend to work closely with the Port Authority in order to promote development that increases ridership, fosters community and neighborhood revitalization, and supports local economic development. Smart transit systems will reduce the cost of living for city residents, protect the environment, and move Pittsburgh closer to prosperous sustainability.

Making Pittsburgh more bike and pedestrian friendly. I have established a strong record as a bike and pedestrian advocate during my time on council. As mayor, I will expand such efforts so that more of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods can enjoy "complete streets" that serve the needs of everyone, whether they are on foot, on bike, or in a car. While several streets in Bloomfield and Point Breeze have introduced bike lanes, we can do better.

Beautifying the city's rivers and developing waterside parks and trails so that the rivers are accessible to all. I realize the unique natural and scenic opportunity Pittsburgh has with its three great rivers and their riverfronts. To take advantage of the city's natural beauty, I plan to further develop the small, fragmented park and trail areas along the rivers into larger, connected environments. These areas would be more than just lawns along the river, but rather community-supported nature areas that would serve as recreational spaces.

Crafting a long-term sustainability plan. I aim to integrate new construction, weatherizing old homes and energy efficient development into such a plan. I will make sure that the idea of sustainability permeates any discussion of Pittsburgh's future development. I support creating a plan that minimizes the environmental impact of new buildings, promotes weatherizing of the city's homes, and identifies infrastructural improvements that not only make the city safer, but also less wasteful.