Gainey & O'Connor to take part in democratic mayoral debate on WTAE (2025)

THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALL ACROSS PITTSBURGH. LIVE FROM THE CHANNEL FOUR STUDIOS. THIS IS THE PITTSBURGH MAYORAL RACE. DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DEBATE. AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT’S DEBATE BETWEEN THE TWO DEMOCRATS WHO WANT TO BE PITTSBURGH’S NEXT MAYOR. I’M SHANNON PERRINE. OUR GOAL HERE AT CHANNEL FOUR IS TO GIVE YOU THE VOTER, A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHERE THESE CANDIDATES STAND ON THE ISSUES. THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS FOUR WEEKS AWAY. REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILL SELECT THEIR PARTY’S CANDIDATE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN THE FALL. JOINING US NOW IN THE WTAE CHANNEL FOUR STUDIOS, THE TWO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR PITTSBURGH MAYOR. PLEASE WELCOME CURRENT PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY. MR. GAINEY GREW UP IN EAST LIBERTY. HE SERVED AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN HARRISBURG. PITTSBURGH VOTERS ELECTED HIM TO THE MAYOR’S OFFICE IN 2021. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AND PLEASE WELCOME HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER, ALLEGHENY COUNTY COMPTROLLER COREY O’CONNOR, A SQUIRREL HILL NATIVE. MR. O’CONNOR PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE. HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE POST OF COUNTY COMPTROLLER WHEN THE SEAT WAS EMPTY, EVENTUALLY BEING ELECTED TO THAT POSITION. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, MR. O’CONNOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. ALL RIGHT. HERE IS HOW TONIGHT’S DEBATE WILL WORK. THERE WILL BE NO OPENING STATEMENTS. WE’RE GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO THE QUESTIONS. THE CANDIDATE WHO GETS TO ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION FIRST, THAT WAS SELECTED AT RANDOM, MR. O’CONNOR WON THE COIN TOSS ON THAT. AND NOW THAT MEANS THAT MR. GAINEY WILL GO FIRST. IN CLOSING STATEMENTS. EACH CANDIDATE GETS 90S TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ASKED BY ME AND OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS. REBUTTALS ARE AT MY DISCRETION. CANDIDATES GET ONE MINUTE FOR REBUTTAL. 60S AND GENTLEMEN, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS AT THE END. OUR PANEL TONIGHT INCLUDES PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR ANCHOR AND REPORTER CHANDI CHAPMAN PORTER, FORMER POLITICAL REPORTER BOB MAYO, WHO HAS COVERED PITTSBURGH CITY POLITICS SINCE 1978. ALSO JOINING US ON THE PANEL IS TRIB LIVE REPORTER JULIA BRODOWSKI. THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS. GLAD YOU’RE HERE. ALL RIGHT. FIRST QUESTION IS FROM ME. I GET TO ASK THIS QUESTION. AND MR. O’CONNOR, YOU’RE GOING TO GO FIRST BECAUSE YOU WON THE COIN TOSS. AND IT IS THIS HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH? I DON’T BELIEVE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY FEEL THAT IT’S SAFE. I THINK IT’S NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN, BUT IT’S IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE SEEING WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND HOW WE DON’T EVEN HAVE A CHIEF OF POLICE, WE ARE ON OUR FIFTH CHIEF OF POLICE IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS. PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE. IF YOU NOTICE, THERE ARE OFFICES THAT ARE STILL NOT BRINGING THEIR PEOPLE BACK TO WORK DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT HOW WE AS A CITY COME TOGETHER TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A SAFER PLACE, A MORE ACTIVE SPACE, BUT ALSO USE OUR EMPTY SPACES, NOT JUST FOR REHABBING BUILDINGS, FOR HOUSING, WHICH WE DO NEED, BUT NOT EVERY BUILDING DOWNTOWN CAN BE REUSED FOR HOUSING. WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT DOWNTOWN AND EMPTY SPACES AS GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW JOBS, FOR NEW COMPANIES, FOR NEW ENTREPRENEURS TO MAKE DOWNTOWN THEIR NEW LOCATION IN PITTSBURGH. AND BY DOING THAT AND CREATING MORE VIBRANCY, PEOPLE WILL FEEL MORE SAFE TO COME BACK DOWNTOWN ON A DAILY BASIS. MR. GAINEY, SAME QUESTION. HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY DOWNTOWN? I THINK THERE’S NO QUESTION COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY DOWNTOWN. WE INHERITED A LOT OF IT RIGHT DOWNTOWN WHEN WE FIRST TOOK OFFICE. BUT THE REALITY IS, I’M SO GLAD AT WHAT MY TEAM, NOT ONLY MY TEAM, BUT THE PEOPLE AROUND, ALSO HAVE HELPED US, HELPED US TO ACCOMPLISH. NUMBER ONE IS WE OPENED UP A PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING WITH THE HELP OF PNC SO THAT WE CAN DEPLOY OUR POLICE THREE TIMES ALL AROUND DOWNTOWN. ONE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR RESIDENTS. TWO TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BUSINESSES, AND THREE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FELT SAFE BECAUSE THEY WAS THERE. WE PARTNERED WITH THE PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP TO BRING AN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM HERE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE EYES ON OUR STREET. IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THAT. WE ALSO WAS ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN. WORKING WITH COUNTY EXEC SARAH ANNA MORATO AND ALSO GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO, TO BRING 600 MILLION OVER TEN YEARS BACK TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA SO THAT WE CAN REINVEST IN THE FABRIC OF DOWNTOWN. WE ARE TURNING SEVEN COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL SPACES INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. THE REASON WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN IS BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE LIVING, PLAYING AND CELEBRATING OUR DOWNTOWN, THE MORE THAT PERCEPTION WILL CHANGE. WE’RE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE’VE DONE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD HOUSING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR POLICE DOWNTOWN, AND WE WILL CONTINUE BUILDING ON WHAT WE STARTED MAKING DOWNTOWN A SAFE, FUN PLACE FOR EVERYBODY. I WANT TO ASK A FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I’M GOING TO GO IN REVERSE ORDER. SO, MAYOR GAINEY, I’M GOING TO ASK THIS OF YOU FIRST. WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER OF PITTSBURGH POLICE PATROL OFFICERS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE CITY? AND HOW DO YOU HIRE THE VERY BEST CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB IN CITY POLICE? FROM THE VERY TOP JOB ALL THE WAY TO THE NEWEST RECRUIT? I THINK THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK WHEN YOU WHEN I’M OUT IN THESE COMMUNITIES, THERE’S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I HEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR IS ONE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP ME SAFE? AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE? THOSE ARE MAJOR THINGS. AND SO WHEN I’M OUT THERE, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I KNOW IS THAT THEY LOVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE. THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE IS IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE OFFICER IS, THAT THEY’RE GOING TO THE MEETINGS THAT THEY’RE MEETING WITH RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEADERS INSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVEN DOWNTOWN. THE REASON WHY WE KNOW THIS WORKS IS BECAUSE WE DID IT DOWNTOWN WITH COMMUNITY POLICING. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE COMMUNITY POLICING AND ALL THOSE AND ALL THOSE AREAS. THE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN REGARDS TO HOW MANY OFFICERS WE NEED, I BELIEVE WE NEED 850 AND WE’RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT. WHEN WE CAME IN, WE WENT TWO YEARS WITHOUT HIRING ONE POLICE OFFICER, NOT NOT ACCOUNTING FOR THE AMOUNT OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE GOING TO RETIRE. WE OPENED BACK UP THE ACADEMY. WE’VE HAD 4 OR 5 CLASSES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECRUIT UNTIL WE GET THE NUMBER TO MAKE, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS CITY SAFE. MR. O’CONNOR, SAME QUESTION. WHAT’S THE RIGHT NUMBER? YEAH. I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE WELL ABOVE 800 RIGHT NOW. WE ARE AT 650. THAT IS A SMALL TOWN FORCE FOR A BIG CITY. THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD FOCUS ON, AND IT COMES DOWN TO OBVIOUSLY 800, 850. MY NUMBER IS ACTUALLY ONE. AND THE NUMBER ONE. THE REASON I USE THAT IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE COP WHO HAS STILL NOT BEEN HIRED IN THIS CITY, YOU NEED A CHIEF OF POLICE IF YOU WANT TO RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS AND RETAIN OUR CURRENT OFFICERS. OUR OFFICERS HAVE NO DIRECTION RIGHT NOW FROM THE POLICE FORCE. ARE WE FOLLOWING OUR STATS? OUR DATA THAT WE KNOW IS IS FALSE, OR ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO POLICE BY THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS? OUR OFFICERS DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE WORKING EIGHT HOUR SHIFTS, TEN HOUR SHIFTS, OR 12 HOUR SHIFTS. THE MORALE IS SHOT. IF YOU WANT TO START PUBLIC SAFETY AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR OFFICERS, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING, BECAUSE I’VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED COMMUNITY POLICING, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND HIRE A FULL TIME CHIEF OF POLICE SO THAT OUR OFFICERS FEEL CONFIDENT. AND OUR NEXT QUESTION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME FROM JULIA BERDOWSKI. AND IT HAS TO DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. JULIA, THE CITY RECENTLY RELEASED DATA SHOWING THAT ABOUT 500 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SINCE 2022. HOW WOULD YOU BUILD ON THAT AND CONTINUE TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY? YES. WELL, IT’S YOUR TURN. YEAH, SORRY. I WOULD ASSUME THAT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE DATA THAT WE SAW THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, WE, THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, HAS GONE FROM 3000 UNITS TO 2000 UNITS TO NOW WE’RE SAYING THAT WE BUILT 1600 UNITS. FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE TRANSPARENT ON HOW MANY UNITS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN BUILT IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND IT’S ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED. AS YOU MENTIONED. WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT VACANT LOTS. THE CITY HAS 11,000 PARCELS THAT NEED TO BE SHOVEL READY. THE DEEDS AND BACK TAXES NEED TO BE CLEARED SO THAT WE CAN EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO HELP US IN REBUILDING THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE 6000 AFFORDABLE. WE ARE SHORT 6000 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THIS CITY. AND TO BUILD A COUPLE HUNDRED OVER FOUR YEARS, THAT’S A STRUGGLE. WE KNOW THIS ADMINISTRATION HASN’T BUILT MORE THAN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION OR BEFORE THAT. SO WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON LOOKING AT TAX CREDITS, LOOKING AT LEARNERS, LOOKING AT TIFS, BRIDGING THE GAPS BETWEEN TECH 9% AND 4% TAX CREDITS. AND WE HAVE TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. I VOTED FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THIS CITY, BUT YOU NEED LEADERSHIP AND SOMEBODY AT THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT. ALL RIGHT, MR. GAINEY, SAME QUESTION. I BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I COME FROM SECTION EIGHT HOUSING. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT FOR EVERYBODY. AND I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH MY ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE IN THREE YEARS. WE’VE BUILT WE’VE DELIVERED 1600 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN I CAME IN, WE HAD NOT MOVED ONE PROPERTY OUT OF THE LAND BANK. AS OF TODAY, WE MOVED OVER 160 PROPERTIES OUT OF THE LAND BANK. WE WE CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED OPG. OPG HAS TAKEN 80% OF SINGLE MOMS AND MADE THEM HOMEOWNERS FOR THE FIRST TIME, GIVING THEM GENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT THEY NEVER HAD. THAT’S BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT’S MAKING HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY. AND LET ME JUST GIVE THE PITTSBURGH POLICE, PITTSBURGH BUREAU OF POLICE, A SHOUT OUT, 33% REDUCTION IN HOMICIDE, 45%, 45% REDUCTION IN GUN VIOLENCE. I THANK YOU FOR DOING THE JOB. I THANK YOU FOR BEING OUT THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. LISTEN, LAST TIME MY OPPONENT ASKED ME IF WE COULD GO ON A TOUR TO SEE IT, WE INVITED HIM. NOW WE FIND OUT HE WILL NOT BE THERE TOMORROW. AND HE CANCELED. WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN. AND HE DOESN’T. THAT’S THE REALITY. THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RHETORIC AND ACTION. WE DELIVER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF PITTSBURGH. AND I’M GOING TO LET MR. O’CONNOR HAVE A REBUTTAL ON THIS. YOU’VE GOT 60S. YES. TOMORROW. I AM NOT GOING TO ATTEND A CAMPAIGN RALLY FOR THE MAYOR. HE KNOWS HE CANNOT WALK AROUND THE CITY AND PRODUCE 1600 NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HIS NUMBER CONTINUES TO CHANGE. AND HE’S TALKING ABOUT A PGA THAT STARTED UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION. A YEAR BEFORE HE EVEN TOOK OFFICE. SO WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT’S GOING TO ACTUALLY SIT AT THE TABLE, NEGOTIATE AND WORK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NEED 6000 UNITS. WE CAN’T HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED UNITS POP UP HERE AND THERE. WE HAVE 11,000 LOTS THAT WE CAN BUILD ON ACROSS THIS CITY, BUT WE ARE NOT INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE. AND THAT’S WHY HE CANNOT PRODUCE 1600 NEW UNITS, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT HE HAS SAID. AND HE CANNOT PRODUCE 1600 NEW UNITS. AND WE’RE GOING TO WE’RE GOING TO DIG DEEPER INTO THIS ISSUE. BUT I KNOW, MAYOR, THAT YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE A 62ND REBUTTAL TO WHAT MR. O’CONNOR JUST SAID. SO YOU DO HAVE 60S. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RHETORIC AND ACTION. MY OPPONENT ASKED FOR THE WALKING TOUR. I DIDN’T ASK HIM. HE ASKED ME FOR THE WALKING TOUR. WE INVITED HIM. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE’S NOT COMING. AND THE REASON BEING, LISTEN, HE DOESN’T HAVE A PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND WE DO. THAT’S A REALITY. WE’VE DELIVERED THAT. AND THEN SECONDLY, LET ME BE CLEAR. WE WILL DEMONSTRATE TOMORROW THAT WE BUILT THAT. WE DELIVERED THESE UNITS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INFORMED LEADERSHIP AND RHETORIC. LEADERSHIP INFORMED LEADERSHIP SAID WE WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HAVE THE TOUR AND LET YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT YOU SAY WE DON’T HAVE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU REJECTED IT. SO TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, LISTEN TO WHAT I’M SAYING CAREFULLY. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RHETORIC AND RESULTS. WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT AIM TOWARD REALLY HITTING THOSE GOALS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COME FROM FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS CHANNELED THROUGH THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. ALL RIGHT. SO YOUR MAYOR, YOU CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. AND I THINK BOB MAYO HAS A FURTHER QUESTION ON THAT TOPIC. BOB, IN THE PAST YEAR, SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS THAT THE CITY HAS SPOTLIGHTED RECEIVED THIS FEDERAL MONEY CHANNELED THROUGH THE STATE. BUT NOW WE’RE SEEING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE BLOCKING FUNDING, ACTUALLY TRYING TO CLAW BACK FUNDING IN HOUSING AREA AND IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. ARE THERE PITTSBURGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THAT? AND IF SO, HOW WOULD THE CITY DEAL WITH THE IMPACT OF LOSING FEDERAL FUNDS? MR. GAINEY? NO. WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT ELECTED, WE EXPEDITED OUR GRANT MONEY AND EVERYTHING ELSE OUT OF DC SO THAT WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS MOMENT IN TIME. SECONDLY IS THAT WE HAVE A 50 MILLION. WE GOT A 50 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING AT BEDFORD DWELLINGS RIGHT NOW. ME AND CONGRESSWOMAN SUMMER LEE WORKED ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVERED THAT FOR THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE UNDERWAY, AND THIS IS WHY WHAT HAPPENS IN DC HAS A LOCAL IMPACT HERE. AND THIS IS WHY I’VE BEEN STANDING UP TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IN THIS CITY, YOU HAVE A MAYOR THAT’S GOING TO FIGHT FOR YOU. IF YOU’RE GETTING NATIONAL, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH OR RESEARCH DOLLAR FOR OUR UNIVERSITIES OR IN JEOPARDY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING AND OUR SENIORS NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING, THAT’S IN JEOPARDY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MEDICAID AND MEDICARE FOR PEOPLE THAT’S PREGNANT AND FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT SERVICE, THAT’S IN JEOPARDY. AND THAT’S WHY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE’VE ALWAYS STOOD UP TO ICE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT’S FEELING SCARED ABOUT ICE COMING TO GET THEM. WE WE STOOD UP FOR THAT AND FOR D FOR DIVERSITY. WE CONTINUE. AND THAT’S WHY I’VE ALWAYS SAID, ME, YOU CAN COUNT ON I’LL NEVER BE ONE THAT’S MEETING WITH TRUMP ADVISERS. TRUMP CONSULTANTS, TRUMP ADVISERS AND CONSULTANTS AT THE DUQUESNE CLUB TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN MEDDLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY. WHO YOU MEET WITH IS WHO YOU OWE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WILL ALWAYS STAND UP FOR YOU. MR. O’CONNOR. YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU GET 90S TO ANSWER BOB’S QUESTION. SO BOB’S QUESTION WAS ABOUT FEDERAL CUTS? YES. AND HOW IT’S GOING TO IMPACT US. IT’S GOING TO IMPACT US DRASTICALLY. I HAVE STOOD UP AND FOUGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL. THOSE FOUR YEARS HE WAS PRESIDENT PRIOR, WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE FEDERAL CUTS COMING FROM MY BACKGROUND AS THE COUNTY COMPTROLLER, I WANT TO FIGHT AND STRETCH EACH AND EVERY DOLLAR IN THIS CITY. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WASTE MONEY ON OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS WHO GET $6 MILLION TO DO A CITYWIDE PLANNING STUDY. WE HAVE TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS IN THIS CITY. WE CAN’T GIVE OUT NICE CONTRACTS LIKE THE MAYOR CONSTANTLY DOES TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE THAT’S $6 MILLION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WHEN HE SAYS I WON’T GO ON THE TOUR, WHY WOULD I GO AND SEE ONE BUILDING? WE ARE NOT GOING TO PRODUCE 1600 NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT’S GOING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, I’VE DONE IT IN THE PAST. WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL. I AM THE DEMOCRATIC ENDORSED CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE. I SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC BELIEFS AND VALUES. WE CAN BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHETHER WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR NOT, BECAUSE WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE ENOUGH TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX TO DO IT, BECAUSE CITY GOVERNMENT CAN OPERATE THAT WAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH TOOLS TO GET THIS JOB DONE AND BUILD 6000 PLUS AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED IN THIS CITY, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON AND TALK ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC. I’M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN PITTSBURGH WAS FIRST VOTED THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN AMERICA. IT WAS 1985, YOU KNOW, AND IT HAS BEEN RANKED OVER THE YEARS SORT OF IN THE TOP IN THAT CATEGORY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT’S NOT TRUE FOR EVERYBODY. AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND CHANDI CHAPMAN HAS A QUESTION ON THAT TOPIC. AND, MR. O’CONNOR, YOU’RE GOING TO GO FIRST THIS TIME. YES, A SCIENTIFIC STUDY IN 2019 CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, HAS SHOWN THAT PITTSBURGH IS NOT THE MOST LIVABLE CITY FOR BLACK WOMEN. THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES CAN IMPROVE SIMPLY BY MOVING. WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH, INCOME, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION. FOR EXAMPLE, A STUDY INVOLVING THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOWS THAT BLACK WOMEN IN PITTSBURGH DIE FROM PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH AT A RATE HIGHER THAN 97% OF SIMILAR CITIES. KNOWING THIS INFORMATION FOR YEARS, WHY HAVEN’T SOME STATISTICS IMPROVED, EVEN WITH INITIATIVES? AND WHAT CAN YOU DO AS MAYOR TO CUT DOWN ON RACIAL DISPARITIES OVERALL? YES. I MEAN, THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. WELL, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IS GETTING RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN THE NEED THE MOST. THAT’S WHERE WE HAVE TO FOCUS OUR RESOURCES. INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THIS CITY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY NOT ONLY TO HAVE SEATS AT THE TABLE, BUT BE IMPACTED BY THE POLICIES THAT WE PRODUCE AS MAYOR AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS THRIVE AND GROW. WHETHER IT’S A STARTUP COMPANY, WHETHER IT’S BUYING YOUR OWN FIRST HOME, WE HAVE TO START INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THERE IS A DISPARITY, AND WE HAVE TO BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT THAT. AND WE HAVE TO START BRIDGING THOSE GAPS WHEN IT COMES TO CONTRACTS, WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS NEW COMPANIES IN THE CITY, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. FOR WAY TOO LONG. WE’VE GONE BACK TO THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD IN MY ADMINISTRATION. WE WILL HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY SO THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY OF PITTSBURGH HAS THE ABILITY TO BUILD THEIR OWN DREAMS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE DETAILED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE’RE GOING TO DO THAT. MAYOR GAINEY. THIS IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT’S BEEN CUT OUT AND SHUT OUT FOR FAR TOO LONG. THIS IS ABOUT OPENING UP THE DOOR. THIS IS ABOUT LOOKING AT A GENDER AND EQUITY, EQUITY, GENDER AND EQUITY REPORT AND SAYING THAT’S NOT WHO WE WANT TO BE OR WHO WE ARE. BLACK WOMEN ARE AN ASSET IN THIS CITY, AND I RESPECT THEM HIGHLY. WE HIRED THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE CHIEF OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. MY MY EXECUTIVE, MY MY MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN. MY SPECIAL ASSISTANT IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN. THE THE THE EXECUTIVE TO THE DEPUTY, I MEAN, TO THE MAYOR, I MEAN TO THE TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF. AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN, MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN. IF YOU GIVE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN THAT DOOR AND WORK, WE CAN DO INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR PENSION, WE GOT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN RUNNING $194 MILLION PENSION. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THAT IS. IT’S CALLED OPPORTUNITY. IT’S CALLED OPENING DOORS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN SEE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE. FOR YEARS THEY KEPT THEM OUT. HE SAID NO, THAT HE WAS ON COUNCIL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MORE WE OPEN UP OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF PROCUREMENT, IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE THAT’S THE WAY WE CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE RIGHT THERE. THEY’RE NOT LIABILITIES, THEY’RE ASSETS AND THEY CAN PROVE IT WHEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY. I’M GOING TO SAY I’M GOING TO HAVE CHANDI ASK A FOLLOW UP. BUT I JUST WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER SINCE THAT REPORT CAME OUT. SO GO AHEAD. CHANDI. YES, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO TRY AND SAY. WE’VE KNOWN THIS INFORMATION FOR YEARS, BUT THE MAIN QUESTION IS, WHAT’S YOUR PLAN OF ACTION FOR BOTH OF YOU? I’M GOING TO HAVE YOU GO FIRST. MAYOR, WE’VE PROVED, YOU KNOW, WHAT I STARTED WITH IS WHAT WE’RE ALREADY DOING, NOT WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO. WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT. BUT COMING IN, I UNDERSTOOD THAT PLAN. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO EVER LEAD EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE, MY EXECUTIVE OFFICE MANAGER IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN. THE CHIEF OF STAFF’S EXECUTIVE IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN. THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN. WE CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, WE DO. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN I TALK ABOUT ON PG AND THE 80%, I MEAN, IN 150 UNITS OF TURNING RENTERS INTO HOMEOWNERS, 80% OF SINGLE MOMS THAT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, WE DON’T JUST TALK ABOUT IT, WE WALK IT. SO I’M TELLING YOU WHAT, WE WILL DOUBLE DOWN DOING. WE WILL DOUBLE DOWN AND DO MORE IN THE NEXT TERM. THAT’S MY PLAN. WHAT’S HIS. AND THAT IS OUR QUESTION, MR. O’CONNOR. WHAT’S AN ACTION PLAN? AN ACTION PLAN IS OBVIOUSLY BRIDGING RESOURCES AND GAPS AND HAVING INDIVIDUALS HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW IN PITTSBURGH BECAUSE WE HAVE VACANT SPACE THAT INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY SINGLE MOMS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MOTHERS WHO ARE WHO HAVE ARE SINGLE MOTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, TO RUN THEIR OWN COMPANIES. WHAT WE FIND AND I MET WITH A NUMBER OF MINORITY OWNED CONTRACTORS LAST WEEK. THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY BRIDGING GAPS IN SERVICES THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE SO THAT THEY CAN COMPETE ON A LARGER LEVEL, ON A LARGER SCALE LEVEL, SO THAT WE CAN HELP THOSE CONTRACTORS START WINNING MORE CONTRACTS, NOT JUST PUBLIC, BUT PRIVATE. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT LEADERSHIP IS. YOU TALK TO THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE AND YOU HAVE A DIRECT LINE SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS KNOW HOW THEY CAN GET MORE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONTRACTS SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD WEALTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, WE DON’T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE KNOW THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE KEY TO BRIDGING THE GAP FOR GENERATIONAL WEALTH. AND THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT, NOT JUST RENTERS, BUT HOMEOWNERS. THAT IS TIME. AND BOB MAYO HAS A QUESTION NOW. AND IT HAS TO DO WITH TAX EXEMPT NONPROFITS IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. THERE ARE SOME VERY BIG EMPLOYERS. BOB, HOW SPECIFICALLY WILL YOU SEEK EITHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS OR TAX REVENUE FROM UPMC AND THE OTHER MAJOR NONPROFITS THAT HOLD LARGE AMOUNTS OF UNTAXED PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH? AND HOW WOULD THAT EFFORT BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT’S BEING DONE CURRENTLY AND WHAT PAST MAYORS HAVE DONE? MR. O’CONNOR, YOUR FIRST I’M FIRST. WELL, FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO MEET AND NEGOTIATE WITH ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAR CUT PLAN FOR HOW TO DO IT. THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED AN INITIATIVE A COUPLE YEARS AGO ABOUT FILING A LAWSUIT AND TAKING THEM TO COURT. I WAS THERE THAT DAY. THE MAYOR DID NOT TELL THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH THAT THAT COURT CASE WAS GOING TO COST US $100,000. WHEN HE’S TURNED ASIDE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM OUR LARGER NONPROFITS. I HAVE SAID FROM DAY ONE THAT OUR NONPROFITS HAVE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. WHAT I WOULD DO IS GO IN AND NEGOTIATE WITH OUR LARGER NONPROFITS AND BE SPECIFIC. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AMBULANCES THAT BREAK DOWN TO AND FROM CALLS. WE HAD AN AMBULANCE BREAK DOWN FRIDAY, TAKING SOMEBODY FOR A CARDIAC ARREST TO THE HOSPITAL. WHAT I WOULD DO IS BE SPECIFIC, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR HOSPITALS, AND GET THEM TO PURCHASE NEW AMBULANCES FOR OUR CITY, GET THEM TO PURCHASE NEW PLOW TRUCKS. IF YOU’RE SPECIFIC. IMAGINE IF THEY COULD COME UP WITH 10 TO $15 MILLION FOR JUST EQUIPMENT EACH AND EVERY YEAR. THAT WOULD SAVE THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH 1510 TO $15 MILLION THAT WE CAN THEN INVEST IN OUR OWN CAPITAL IN OUR PARKS AND REC, IN OUR SMALL BUSINESS DISTRICTS, SO THAT THEY CAN SUCCEED. WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR NONPROFITS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT YOU NEED A LEADER WHO’S GOING TO BE DIRECT, SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH OUR NONPROFITS, NOT COME UP WITH A PRESS RELEASE AFTER PRESS RELEASE SAYING, OH, WE’RE CLOSE TO DOING IT. NO, WE WANT RESULTS IN THIS CITY, NOT EXCUSES. MAYOR GAINEY, YOUR TURN. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE ARE. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE TAX EXEMPT GIANTS LIKE UPMC PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. AND WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS. WE GOT A WRITTEN COMMITMENT FROM HIGHMARK THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT AT THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM. IF UPMC IS THERE. WE ARE ALSO CHALLENGING THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT UPMC DOES NOT ACT LIKE A CHARITY. THAT’S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, IS THAT THE ONLY TIME I’VE SEEN UPMC COME TO THE TABLE AND CUT A DEAL WITH ANYBODY IS WHEN GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO, WHO THEN WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH SHAPIRO, FILED A LAWSUIT. THEN THEY CAME TO THE TABLE AND THEY CUT A DEAL. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE VALUES OF UPMC. IT’S ABOUT THE VALUES OF YOU, THE TAXPAYER. WE GOT PUBLIC SAFETY. WE GOT RID. WE GOT ROADS, WE GOT BRIDGES. I WILL NOT SIT BACK AND NOT ALLOW OUR SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, NOT TAKEN CARE OF, AND RIPPING OFF TAXPAYERS. I RESPECT YOU TOO MUCH TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE LAWSUIT AND WE ONLY GOT BACK A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE BILLS. AND GUESS WHAT? WE GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE COST OF THE LAWSUIT. THE REALITY IS, IF YOU TAKE THE LAWSUIT OFF THE TABLE, WHICH MY OPPONENT DID AGREE WITH, YOU LOSE YOUR LEVERAGE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DIDN’T GET THE DONATIONS TO TAKE IT OFF. HE DID AT MY JOB. I GOT ONE JOB. SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND MAKE SURE I’M GETTING THE FUNDING YOU NEED. I DO WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, MAYOR, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW MAYORS AGO AS MAYOR MURPHY THAT WAS ABLE TO GET, I THINK, $5 MILLION A YEAR FROM UPMC. AND WE CAN NAME THEM BY NAME HERE. THEY’RE NOT IT’S NOT JUST UPMC, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT IS ONE OF THE LARGER ONES. YOU KNOW ARE YOU GETTING INTO THOSE MEETINGS? ARE YOU GOING UP IN THE U.S. STEEL TOWER TO THOSE HIGHER RANKING OFFICES? AND AND IS THEIR DOOR OPEN TO YOU? MY DOOR IS OPEN TO THEM. UPMC HAS ASKED ME TO SET UP TWO MEETINGS AND THE TWO MEETINGS THAT THEY’VE ASKED ME TO SET UP, THEY CANCELED BOTH OF THEM. THERE’S A DISTINGUISHED BUSINESS PERSON THAT TRIED TO SET UP A MEETING IN THIS CITY, AND IT DIDN’T WORK. SO THAT’S THREE MEETINGS THAT I REACHED OUT TO. THE DISTINGUISHED BUSINESSMAN REACHED OUT, AND THEY HAVE NOT COME TO THE TABLE. I HAVE ALWAYS OPENED MY DOOR AND LEFT MY DOOR OPEN TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH UPMC, SO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR THIS REGION. I’M NOT ASKING THEM TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR ME. I’M ASKING THEM TO DO RIGHT FOR YOU, THE TAXPAYER. COME TO THIS REGION. BECAUSE IF IT WAS EASY AND THEY COULD HAVE DONE WHAT WE’VE DONE BEFORE, WE WOULDN’T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. NOW. THE REALITY IS IT’S TIME FOR THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP US BE A HEALTH CARE THAT CARES FOR ALL THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND IF AND I’LL JUST ASK YOU A SEPARATE QUESTION, BUT SIMILAR, MR. O’CONNOR, THAT IF THE MAYOR IS RIGHT, THAT THESE THESE MEETINGS ARE BEING CANCELED, IS A LAWSUIT THE ONLY RECOURSE WE KNOW THAT PAST MAYORS HAVE TRIED TO GO THE LAWSUIT ROUTE AS WELL, JUST TO GET THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE. YES. SO A LAWSUIT IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT. I VOTED ON THE LAWSUIT UNDER MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL. THE MAYOR JUST SAID HE’S GOT $0 FROM HIGHMARK. NO COMMITMENT, GOT $0 FROM UPMC AND OTHER NONPROFITS. MAYOR PEDUTO HAD $100 MILLION SET ASIDE IN ONE PGA. THAT’S A PROGRAM. THAT’S $100 MILLION. YOU MENTIONED GOVERNOR SHAPIRO. HE WAS WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH UPMC AND GET $40 MILLION OF FUNDING THAT THIS MAYOR, AGAIN TURNED DOWN. I WILL HOLD OUR NONPROFITS ACCOUNTABLE. THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. BUT YOU NEED SOMEBODY THAT’S GOING TO GO IN AND NEGOTIATE WITH SPECIFICS. SO NOT ONLY ARE HOSPITALS, OUR UNIVERSITIES, HOW DO YOU GO TO THE PRESIDENT OF PITT AND CMU AND ASK THEM FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO GO IN YOUR CITY COFFERS? YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM FOR SPECIFICS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THEIR STUDENTS, THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE FUTURE OF BOTH OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES. AND I’M THE ONE WILLING TO DO THAT, NOT TO HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES THAT GENERATE $0 OF REVENUE. THAT IS TIME. AND I DO WANT TO MOVE ON, BUT IT’S SIMILAR TOPIC. I’M GOING TO HAVE CHANDI CHAPMAN ASK THIS NEXT QUESTION. MAYOR GAINEY, I WANT YOU TO GO FIRST THIS TIME FOR CHANDI QUESTION REGARDING DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT. YES. GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO SAID HE’S GOING TO INVEST $600 MILLION INTO REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH AND A TEN YEAR PLAN. NOW, BOTH OF YOU ADDRESSED DOWNTOWN. BUT WHAT WILL YOU DO AS MAYOR TO MAKE SURE MORE DEVELOPMENT COMES TO DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH? AND HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO UTILIZE THAT FUNDING? MAYOR GAINEY, YOU HAVE 90S FOR THIS 90S. SO WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT DOWNTOWN WAS ON FIRE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WAS CREATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND THEN COUNTY EXEC SARAH ANA MORADO CAME IN, ME BEING THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, I KNEW WHAT I KNEW, WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TO GET THE $600 MILLION BACK TO OUR CITY. SO WE MET EVERY WE MET EVERY DAY, EVERY WEDNESDAY IN MY OFFICE AT 8:00 AND CREATED THE PLAN. WE TOOK THE PLAN TO HARRISBURG. EVEN THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE’D SEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON ONE PAGE, THAT’S HOW WE GOT THE 600 MILLION BACK WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED. WE ARE BUILDING SEVEN CONVERSIONS RIGHT NOW, TURNING REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL UNITS INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. SO WE’RE ALREADY UNDERWAY. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE WITH THE CULTURAL DISTRICT ON EIGHTH STREET TO CREATE A PUBLIC SPACE SO THAT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC PARK DOWNTOWN THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY. WE ARE ALSO INVESTING IN MELLON SQUARE, AND WE’RE INVESTING IN MELLON SQUARE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE WE’RE MODERNIZING OUR PARKS SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY THEM, PARTICULARLY FOR TOURISM SEASONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE’RE MAKING DOWNTOWN, WE JUST WE JUST HELPED BEACON BREAK SOMETHING OFF ON THE ON THE ON THE. OUT TOWARDS THE THE MON RIVER. WE ALSO HELPED THEM UP AT SCHOOL. WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD. I’M SORRY. WE ARE CONTINUING TO DELIVER ON WHAT WE PROMISED YOU. AND THAT’S AFFORDABLE UNITS AND MAKING DOWNTOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD. MR. O’CONNOR. SO YES, DOWNTOWN NEEDS INVESTMENT. AND IT’S NOT JUST MONEY. IT’S A VISION OF WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO WITH OUR BUILDINGS. CAN WE CONVERT ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? NO WE CAN’T. NOT EVERY BUILDING DOWNTOWN IS BUILT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT THESE BUILDINGS. LET’S TAKE THE MELLON BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE. METLIFE ACTUALLY OWNS THE NOTE ON THAT BUILDING. IT’S GOING TO COST THEM ROUGHLY $15 MILLION TO HEAT THAT BUILDING EACH AND EVERY YEAR. WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO THOSE LARGER COMPANIES THAT OWN THESE BUILDINGS AND SEE WHAT WE AS TAXPAYERS CAN GET OUT OF THOSE BUILDINGS. IT CAN’T ALL BE CONVERSIONS. CONVERSIONS ARE GREAT AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THOSE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE’RE GOING TO LOCATE NEW COMPANIES, NEW STARTUPS. CAN WE USE THESE BUILDINGS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY SO THAT WE COULD SAVE NOT ONLY OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO INVEST IN CUTTING DOWN COSTS FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE SOLAR PANELS? YOU KNOW, WE THOSE ARE THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT IF WE CAN USE THOSE BUILDINGS COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY, LIGHT MANUFACTURING, WE COULD START CREATING NEW JOBS DOWNTOWN. BUT YOU NEED A VISION FOR EACH AND EVERY BUILDING, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN NOT JUST INSIDE BUT OUTSIDE, SO THAT WE INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT RESIDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS CAN COME DOWN AND ENJOY THEMSELVES. BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT’S SAFE SO THAT OUR COMPANIES AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY EMPLOY FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY’RE DOWNTOWN EACH AND EVERY DAY. CHANDI YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP? YES, THE GOVERNOR HAS COME TO THE CITY SEVERAL TIMES TALKING ABOUT HIS LIGHTNING PLAN. HE SAYS IT WILL SUPERCHARGE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH. WHAT CITY INITIATIVES DO YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL CREATE MORE JOBS AND POSSIBLY LOWER ENERGY COSTS? YES. SO OBVIOUSLY ENERGY. AND TODAY IS EARTH DAY. SO I LIKE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR CLIMATE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY. WE HAVE TO UPDATE. FINALLY, BASED ON THE LAW, WE HAVE TO DO AN UPDATE TO THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS. WE HAVEN’T DONE IT SINCE 2018. THAT’S BREAKING THE OWN ORDINANCE THAT WAS EXISTING. THE CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN CAN ACTUALLY CREATE JOBS, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, CREATE SPACE THAT ISN’T BEING USED. WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL, WE PASSED THE FIRST EVER SOLAR PANEL FARM IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH IN FRICK PARK. THAT CREATES JOBS, THAT LOWERS COST FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE USING UTILITIES. THAT’S THE TYPE OF VISION THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO REUSE ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T ALL BE ONE THING. BUT WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENT AS ALSO AN ECONOMIC ENGINE AND DRIVERS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN SPACE, BUILD NEW SPACE OUT, AND ALSO CLOSE THE GAP AND CREATE NEW CLEAN ENERGY IN OUR REGION. AND LOOK AT EVERYBODY’S HEALTH. SORRY, THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU, MR. O’CONNOR. MR. MAYOR, SO I THINK THIS IS WHAT MY OPPONENT WAS ALLUDING TO BEFORE. SO LET ME BE MORE CLEAR. THAT’S PART OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THESE FRACTURED PLANS THAT WE HAVE, ALL THEY DO IS GO ON THE SHELF. PEOPLE KNOW THAT EVERY PLAN THAT WE’VE CREATED UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, WE EXECUTE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT’S WHY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS SO IMPORTANT. IT’S A BLUEPRINT TO A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OUR CITY. AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? LET’S TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE BEING IMPACTED DRAMATICALLY BY CLIMATE CHANGE. OUR CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL ADDRESS HOW WE DEAL WITH HOUSING BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PLACES WE JUST CAN’T BUILD ON NO MORE. IT WILL HOW IT WILL DEAL WITH HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE THAT’S IMPORTANT. IT’LL BE IT’LL IT’LL IT’LL DEAL WITH HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. SO THAT’S WHY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS SO IMPORTANT. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT’S COMING OUT OF THE STATE, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT WORKS BECAUSE IT ENHANCES WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. OTHER CITIES HAVE ONE. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS CITY, WE WILL TOO. AND THAT LEADS US TO OUR NEXT QUESTION. IT HAS TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADS AND BRIDGES. AND JULIA’S GOT THAT QUESTION. JULIA. WHOEVER WINS THIS ELECTION WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IMPLICATIONS OF A SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY AND POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS. WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS THAT COULD IMPACT THE CITY AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE? AND HOW CAN YOU, AS MAYOR, RESPOND TO THOSE POTENTIAL CUTS? MR. O’CONNOR, YOU’RE FIRST ON THIS. YES. SO ON INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO START INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AGAIN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAYOR’S FIVE YEAR PROJECTED BUDGET IN YEARS THREE, FOUR AND FIVE, THERE IS $0 FOR BRIDGE AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION AND BRIDGE MAINTENANCE. THAT’S SCARY, BECAUSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE ARE TWO BRIDGES THAT ARE SHUT DOWN RIGHT NOW. IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA HAS BUILT MORE BRIDGES IN A SHORT TIME UNDER GOVERNOR SHAPIRO THAN ANY OTHER TIME. WE ARE THE CITY OF BRIDGES. WE HAVE TO START COORDINATING WITH OUR STATE SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE STATE FUNDING COMING TO US. YES, WE ARE SCARED OF THE CUTS THAT MIGHT COME FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHICH WE KNOW ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO COME. SO WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT OTHER RESOURCES THAT CAN INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES. LET’S GO BACK TO THE PILOT PROGRAM. THE PANTHER HOLLOW BRIDGE HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WITH NO CLEAR SOLUTION ON WHEN IT’S GOING TO OPEN, BUT THAT IMPACTS PITT AND CMU. IMAGINE IF WE COULD GET THEM TO THE TABLE TO HAVE MATCHING FUNDS TO THEN GO TO THE STATE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT PROJECT WENT FROM A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS TO A COUPLE, YOU KNOW, 50, $60 MILLION TO HELP REPAIR THAT BRIDGE. THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON, BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS. YOU TALK ABOUT FEDERAL CUTS. IT’S NOT ONLY IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WORRIES ALL OF US, BUT IT’S IN LIFE SCIENCES. IT’S IN EDUCATION. IT’S IN HOW IT’S GOING TO IMPACT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EDS AND MEDS DRIVE A LOT OF THIS. AND IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES IN AND MAKES THOSE CUTS, IT’S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE EFFECT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. MAYOR GAINEY. YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THE POSITION OF MAYOR, THIRD WEEK ON THE JOB, I GET A TEXT FROM A FRIEND THAT CARS WERE GOING OVER THE EMBANKMENT OF THE FERN HOLLOW BRIDGE. AND I’M THINKING TO MYSELF, WHOA, WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? ONLY LATER, TO REALIZE THAT THE FERN HOLLOW BRIDGE HAD COLLAPSED. I’VE BEEN IN THIS CITY MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BRIDGE COLLAPSE. THANKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THANKS TO PENNDOT. THANKS TO GOVERNOR WOLF. THANKS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FERN HOLLOW BRIDGE UP IN RECORD TIME. WE HAD WENT DECADES WITHOUT PROPERLY AND PROPERLY INSPECTING OUR BRIDGES. MY OPPONENTS SHOULD KNOW HE WAS ON CITY COUNCIL WHEN WE CAME IN. WE STARTED THE BRIDGE ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND AS OF TODAY, WE DON’T HAVE NOT ONE BRIDGE IN FAILING CONDITION. NOW, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THAT A COUPLE OF OUR BRIDGES ARE CLOSED, BUT I TOLD YOU ALL THAT I WOULD NEVER WAKE UP AGAIN TO A BRIDGE THAT HAD FAILED, THAT THAT HAD COLLAPSED. AND LET ME BE CLEAR, BECAUSE HE’S BROUGHT THIS UP AND IT’S INCORRECT. AGAIN, IT’S RHETORIC VERSUS ACTION. WE HAVE MONEY IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE AND FOR BRIDGE FOR A BRIDGE MAINTENANCE CREW, AND OUR CAPITAL BUDGET FOR YEARS ON OUT. WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE. THAT’S THE TRUTH. YOU CAN LOOK IT UP. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RHETORIC AND RESULTS. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TO ACTUALLY, I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE FOR REBUTTAL ON THIS TOPIC TOO. BUT TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT. MAYOR GAINEY, WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT ACTION DID YOU TAKE AS MAYOR? TO TO WORK WITH COUNCIL ON THAT ISSUE AND WORK WITH THOSE OTHER GOVERNMENTS? GOING, GOING UP, GOING BACK TO YOUR YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROMISES REGARDING BRIDGE MAINTENANCE AND THE FUNDING FOR IT. YEAH. SO FIRST, WHEN THE FERN HOLLOW BRIDGE FELL DOWN, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS PANIC. LET ME BE HONEST, IT WAS A SCARY TIME. BUT I UNDERSTOOD AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE FIRST PERSON I HAD TO REACH OUT TO WAS PENNDOT. THE SECOND PERSON I REACHED OUT TO WAS THE GOVERNOR WHILE I PENNDOT, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE GOING TO NEED STATE HELP IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BRIDGE GOT PUT BACK UP. WHY THE GOVERNOR? BECAUSE I NEEDED I NEEDED THE GOVERNOR TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW SEVERE THIS WAS AND THE FACT THAT THIS BRIDGE FIRST, WE WERE LUCKY. I THANK GOD FOR THAT. WE HAD NO FATALITIES. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONCE WE GOT THE BRIDGE UNDERWAY AND STARTED WORKING ON IT, WHAT WE DID WAS START TALKING ABOUT OUR BRIDGE ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. WE PUT THAT INTO EFFECT BY MAKING SURE THAT WE HIRED INSPECTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIRED SOMEONE THAT CAN OVERSEE THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN START LOOKING AT EVERY BRIDGE IN THE CITY. AND THAT’S WHY TODAY I’M PROUD OF THIS. WE HAVE NO BRIDGE IN FAILING CONDITION. THAT’S THAT’S GREAT. THAT’S ALL I CAN SAY. AND, MR. O’CONNOR, I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO HAVE A REBUTTAL HERE. YES. WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, WE BUILT A NUMBER OF BRIDGES. WE BUILT THE GREENFIELD BRIDGE. WE BUILT THE DUCK HOLLOW BRIDGE. AND FOR ME, WHEN IT COMES TO HE’S TALKING ABOUT A BILL THAT HE PASSED. I WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO INTRODUCED THE BILL FOR THE BRIDGE INSPECTION COMMISSION. THAT THAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HAD ENGINEERS HAD LABOR UNIONS, HAD NEIGHBORS, HAD RESIDENTS ALL TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS ARCHITECTS OF BRIDGE AND BRIDGE REPAIRS. THAT COMMISSION WAS NOT SEATED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. WE COULD NOT AFFORD THAT. THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEEDED TO BE SEATED TO TALK ABOUT OUR BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND NOT JUST A REPORT, BUT HOW WE’RE GOING TO COLLECTIVELY GO OUT AND GET MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THAT WE COULD BRIDGE THAT GAP AND WE COULD START FIXING OUR BRIDGES A LOT FASTER THAN WE DO RIGHT NOW. AND I’LL GIVE YOU A 62ND REBUTTAL THERE, MAYOR. IT’S GOING TO BE REAL QUICK. WHEN I CAME IN, WE WERE NOT INSPECTING OUR BRIDGES THE WAY THAT WE NEEDED TO INSPECT OUR BRIDGES. HE KNOWS THAT HE WAS ON COUNCIL. YOU CAN’T GET BY THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE STARTED INSPECTING EVERY BRIDGE IN THIS CITY, AND AS OF TODAY, WE DON’T HAVE NO BRIDGES ON FELONY AND FELONY CONDITION. WE CAN TALK ABOUT COMMITTEES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT EXECUTED ACTION, THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. THAT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW. WHEN I’M IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY WANT TO KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP US SAFE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE, IS THAT WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST THE MONEY THAT’S NECESSARY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, SO WE NEVER WAKE UP AGAIN TO A FERN HOLLOW BRIDGE. I’M GOING TO CALL AN AUDIBLE HERE AND GO DEEPER ON THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES. IT HAS TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO GO TO CORE SERVICES. AND JULIE, IF YOU WANT TO WORK WITH ME ON THIS QUESTION HERE A LITTLE BIT TOO, SHE SHE’S SHE’S KIND OF DONE SOME REPORTING ON THIS AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE REFER TO AS CORE SERVICES, THE PLOWING, THE POTHOLES, MAYBE LITTER. I THINK JULIA GOOD QUESTION. MIGHT BE IF YOU ARE A MAYOR IN THE NEXT TERM, FIRST OF ALL, HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT? IS ARE THOSE ARE THOSE CORE SERVICES BROKEN AND HOW DO YOU WORK WITH COUNCIL TO FIX IT? GO AHEAD MAYOR. MAYOR, I’LL LET YOU GO FIRST. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, WE HAD A SNOWSTORM. WE HAD A SNOWSTORM. 48 HOURS AFTER I GOT IN OFFICE, WE HAD 21% OF THE PERSONNEL DOWN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. WE ONLY HAD LIKE, REALLY LIKE 2 OR 3 WORKING SNOWMOBILES. OVER THE YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS HAD NOT BEEN FUNDED. THEY WERE UNDERFUNDED FOR DECADES. THEY HAD NOT BEEN FUNDED PROPERLY. MY OPPONENT KNOWS THAT. AGAIN, HE WAS ON CITY COUNCIL WHEN WE CAME IN. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD TO START PUTTING A LOT OF OUR FUNDING IN OUR FLEET. WE SPENT 40 MILLION, 20 MILLION OF OUR ARPA FUNDS, 20 MILLION OF OUR GENERAL BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO BUY ONLY A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO GET THINGS BACK ON POINT. WE BOUGHT SIX SNOW. WE BOUGHT SIX SNOW VEHICLES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND WE LEASED SIX. WHY DID WE LEASE SIX? BECAUSE WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY AND LEASING IS PRETTY GOOD. IT’S WORKING OUT WELL FOR US. ON TOP OF THAT, POLICE, POLICE FLEET WAS DECIMATED. WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WENT OUT AND GOT SOME MORE FOR FLEET. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FLEET, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU DON’T FUND IT PROPERLY, THEN THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO GET. LISTEN, THE FLEET DIDN’T STOP, THE FLEET WASN’T IT DIDN’T STOP IN THREE YEARS THAT I WAS MAYOR, IT HAD TO BE LONGER THAN THREE YEARS. THINK OF YOUR CAR. IT HADN’T BEEN FUNDED FOR LIKE TEN YEARS. MY OPPONENT CAN EXPLAIN THAT. MR. O’CONNOR. GOD, YES. I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLAIN THAT. PUBLIC WORKS WAS FUNDED LAST YEAR ALONE. A THIRD OF OUR FLEET WAS DOWN. WE WENT OUT AND STARTED LEASING EQUIPMENT. A THIRD OF OUR FLEET WAS DOWN TO PLOW YOUR STREETS. THE FOURTH DIVISION THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR YEARS TO BE BUILT IN THE SOUTH AND THE WEST, SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS GET SERVICES FASTER STILL, IS NOT GOING TO BE BUILT THIS YEAR. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? YOU SAID THAT YOU JUST SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ARPA FUNDS. WHY IS OUR FLEET BREAKING DOWN? WHY DO WE HAVE AMBULANCES BREAK DOWN TO AND FROM CALLS? WE’RE NOT INVESTING IN THAT. THE ARPA MONEY WENT TO HIRING 100 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES THAT NEXT YEAR THAT MONEY IS GONE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND KEEP THOSE 100 EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH? THAT’S THE REALITY OF WHERE THIS MONEY WENT. IT DID NOT GO TO BUILDING A CITY OF THE FUTURE. IT WENT TO HIRING 100 PEOPLE THAT NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE TO BRIDGE THOSE GAPS. WE WERE NOT INVESTING IN. WE WERE ALWAYS INVESTING IN OUR PUBLIC, PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL IN THE FIVE YEAR PROJECTED BUDGET PLAN, OUR FLEET COST AND SPENDING GOES FROM 9 MILLION ALL THE WAY DOWN TO $2 MILLION. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BUY NEW EQUIPMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WITH $2 MILLION? THIS WILL GO INTO OUR NEXT TOPIC AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON. I’M GOING TO HAVE BOB MAYO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE TOPIC, WHICH IS PROPERTY REASSESSMENTS. BOB, SHOULD THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH GET ON BOARD WITH WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TRYING TO DO? STILL FIGHTING IN COURT TO APPEAL TO PRESS FOR A SYSTEM WIDE PROPERTY REASSESSMENT. IF THE CITY WERE TO DO THAT, WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR PITTSBURGH’S FINANCIAL HEALTH AND FOR ITS FUTURE? AND ALSO BEYOND THAT, WHAT’S YOUR SOLUTION TO DEAL WITH THE LOSS IN REVENUE FROM PLUNGING PROPERTY VALUES FROM SO MANY DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS? MR. O’CONNOR, YOUR FIRST. YEAH. SO PROPERTY REASSESSMENT COMES FROM THE COUNTY, NOT FROM THE CITY. BEING THE COUNTY COMPTROLLER, I KNOW THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A LAWSUIT WITH THE SCHOOLS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A COUNTYWIDE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT. BUT WHAT WE CAN’T AFFORD TO DO IS DO IT EVERY TEN, 20 YEARS. YOU KNOW, THAT HAS TO BE LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES AND OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. DO IT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. AND THE ISSUE THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE WHEN THERE IS A PROPERTY REASSESSMENT IS THAT A THIRD OF THE PROPERTIES ARE GOING TO GO UP, A THIRD ARE GOING TO STAY THE SAME, AND A THIRD ARE GOING TO GO DOWN. THE SCARY PART FOR US AS A CITY IS THAT THE LARGER PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN ARE PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO DWINDLE. SO FOR US, WE HAVE TO START FOCUSING ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO BRING THOSE PROPERTY VALUES BACK UP BY RESURGING AN ECONOMY DOWNTOWN, RESURGING ECONOMY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ENOUGH SO THAT WE DON’T LOSE ENOUGH TAX REVENUE ON THOSE DEPRECIATIONS OF THOSE PROPERTIES. BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS THE ONE THAT HAS ALWAYS PUSHED THIS. THEY PUSH INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY BUY THEIR HOMES TO DO THIS. THAT’S WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DOES. THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS IN COURT FIGHTING THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THE COUNTY WINS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE OUTLOOKS LOOK LIKE WE ARE NOT. SO WE HAVE TO NOW SEE WHAT THAT’S GOING TO DO TO INDIVIDUALS. WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, WE SET UP A FUND THAT HELPED PEOPLE FIGHT THEIR PROPERTY REASSESSMENTS BECAUSE THE PROCESS AND THE SYSTEM WAS NOT FAIR TO INDIVIDUALS. WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT LARGER TAX BREAKS, LIKE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, SO THAT PEOPLE IN INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS WHO ARE IN THEIR HOUSE, DON’T GET HURT. OKAY. MR. GAGNE, THE REASSESSMENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE CITY. THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. SO LET ME BE CLEAR WITH THAT. THE REASSESSMENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE CITY. WE’RE NOT RUNNING, FOR THAT MATTER OF FACT, SINCE I’VE COME INTO OFFICE, WE’VE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, AND THAT’S WHY WE’VE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE THAT WE MAINTAIN A STRONG FISCAL HEALTH FOR THIS CITY. WE ENDED THIS YEAR WITH A $4 MILLION SURPLUS. WHEN EVERYBODY SAID THAT WE WOULD GO INTO A DEFICIT, REASON BEING, WE WERE SMART. AND AT THE SECOND, WE MADE SURE THAT WE MANAGED PROPERLY. THIRDLY, DON’T DON’T YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE YOU ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE RECEIPTS WHEN YOU SPEAK. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN LOOK AT OUR INDEPENDENT BOND RATING AGENCIES THAT RAISED OUR BOND. UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE DEAL WE JUST DID LAST WEEK WITH PNC TO MAKE SURE THAT $60 MILLION BOND TO REINVEST IN PITTSBURGH, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN OUR ECONOMY AND THEY BELIEVE IN CITY GOVERNMENT. THIRDLY, WE HAVE WE’VE HAD 19% JOB GROWTH IN THIS CITY THAT HELPS WITH TAXES SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO GENERATE MORE TAXES IN THIS CITY. FOURTHLY, WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. FIFTHLY, BECAUSE WE’VE HAD A 19% INCREASE IN JOB GROWTH, WE HAVE HIGHER WAGES, WE HAVE MORE EMPLOYMENT, AND WE HAVE MORE INVESTMENT. BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE’RE GETTING ALL THE TAXES WE CAN SO THAT THE TAXPAYER DOESN’T HAVE TO PAY THAT VOID. AND THAT’S WHY OUR NONPROFITS SHOULD BE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. LET’S GO. DO YOU WANT A REBUTTAL, MR. O’CONNOR? YES. I MEAN, THE 40S. SORRY. THE $4 MILLION SURPLUS THAT TAPPED INTO OUR OWN SAVINGS IN THE CITY. THE PROJECTION FROM THIS MAYOR’S OFFICE WAS $28 MILLION. WHY IS IT JUST FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE $24 MILLION? YOU TALK ABOUT BOND RATINGS. LET’S TALK ABOUT A BOND RATING. A BOND RATING ONLY SHOWS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO CUT PROGRAMS, TO RAISE PEOPLE’S TAXES IN ORDER TO PAY BACK THAT BOND. A BOND RATING DOESN’T PLOW YOUR STREETS. IT DOESN’T HAVE A POLICE OFFICER SHOW UP AT YOUR FRONT DOOR. A BOND RATING DOES NOT INVEST IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THE BOND THAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT FROM FROM PNC. THAT BOND WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL MONTHS AGO. IT’S PART EVERY TWO YEARS. IT’S PART OF A CAPITAL BOND THAT HAS TAKEN OUT. THIS ISN’T NEW MONEY. THIS IS MONEY THAT’S ALREADY ON HAND. WE’RE NOT SAYING THERE’S 60 NEW MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE CAN SPEND. THAT’S JUST NOT TRUE. MR. GAINEY, I’M NOT GOING TO BE LONG, BUT I’M GOING TO SAY THIS AS SOMEONE WHO IS A COUNTY COMPTROLLER AND LOOKS OVER BUDGETS EVERY SINGLE DAY, IT’S OBVIOUSLY HE’S NEVER HAD TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH AN INDEPENDENT BOND BOND RATING AGENCY, BECAUSE WHAT HE SPOKE RIGHT THERE IS JUST INACCURATE. THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT GOES INTO THEM MAKING SURE THAT THEY’RE GOING TO ELEVATE YOUR BOND STATUS. AND THAT’S WHAT I KEEP SAYING. THERE’S RHETORIC AND THEN THERE’S ACTION. WHAT WE’VE HEARD TODAY IS A WHOLE LOT OF RHETORIC THAT HAS NO PLANS TO IT. THERE’S NO REASON WHY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE JUST DON’T CALL IT WHAT IT IS. WE GOT A $4 MILLION SURPLUS. WHEN THEY SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A DEFICIT IN OUR BUDGET, AND WE DON’T, WE HAVE 19% JOB GROWTH IN THIS CITY WHERE MOST JOB GROWTH IS HAPPENING IN THIS STATE, IN THE COUNTY. WE ARE SEEING GROWTH RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. WAGES ARE GOING UP, EMPLOYMENT IS GOING UP IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. WE’RE NUMBER ONE IN TERMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING AS A CITY, NOT TRYING TO TEAR IT DOWN FOR POLITICAL POINTS. THAT IS TIME. I GET ONE LAST QUESTION HERE. 30S. WHY DO YOU LOVE PITTSBURGH? WOW, I LOVE PITTSBURGH BECAUSE IT MADE ME. I WOULDN’T BE HERE WITHOUT THIS CITY. MY FAMILY’S FROM THE HILL DISTRICT. EVERYBODY REMEMBERS WHAT THE HILL DISTRICT USED TO BE. I WAS BORN IN OAKLAND. I WAS THE SECOND BLACK FAMILY ON OAKLAND. THEN I MOVED TO EAST LIBERTY WITH THE SCHOOL AND HOMEWOOD TWO YEARS OF CENTRAL CATHOLIC. GRADUATED FROM PEABODY. I LOVED THE CITY FOR WHAT IT GAVE ME BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I COULD NOT STAND HERE AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR WITHOUT THE LOVE OF THIS CITY. I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU POURED INTO ME. GOD BLESS YOU, PITTSBURGH. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE CLOSING STATEMENTS, TOO. BUT, MR. O’CONNOR, WHY DO YOU LOVE PITTSBURGH? IT’S THE PEOPLE. I MEAN, IT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE OF PITTSBURGH. EACH AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS UNIQUE. BUT THAT’S WHAT MAKES PITTSBURGH SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. AND THAT’S WHY I WANT TO DO THIS JOB. BECAUSE PITTSBURGHERS DESERVE BETTER. WE DESERVE SUPPORT FROM OUR MAYOR’S OFFICE. WE DESERVE TO TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE AREN’T SEEING ALL OVER PITTSBURGH. BUT THE NUMBER ONE THING IS HOW WELCOMING PITTSBURGH IS. WELL, WE DON’T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT LAST YEAR. THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN THE SOUTH HILLS PART OF OUR REGION CREATED 40 NEW BUSINESSES. THAT MAKES PITTSBURGH A WELCOMING PLACE FOR EVERYBODY. AND THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO SELL. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE GET TO THE PART OF OUR EVENING WHERE WE GET TO HEAR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS. AND I BELIEVE, MR. GAINEY, YOU GO FIRST. I WANT TO THANK WTA. WTA, I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. LISTEN, THIS IS ABOUT PROMISES THAT’S BEEN DELIVERED. I TOLD YOU WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE THAT WE WOULD FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE’VE BUILT 1600. WE’VE BUILT. EXCUSE ME. WE’VE DELIVERED 1600 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN I CAME IN, WE HADN’T MOVED ONE PROPERTY OUT OF THE LAND BANK. WE MOVED 160 PROPERTIES OFF OF OUT OF THE LAND BANK AND BACK ONTO THE TAX ROLLS. WE WE HAVE OWNED PGE WHERE WE TOOK 150 FAMILIES THAT HAVE NEVER OWNED A HOME AND GAVE THEM HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME, GENERATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR THEM. WE HAVE REDUCED HOMICIDES IN THIS CITY BY 33%. OUR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 17 AND 2024, WE DIDN’T HAVE NO HOMICIDES. WE REDUCED GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY, 45%. WE BROUGHT BACK $600 MILLION FROM THE STATE OVER TEN YEARS TO INVEST IN OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE GOT 12 LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT DEALS. FIRST TIME WE GOT A 30 MILLION BOND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE PROMISED. OUR FINANCES ARE STRONG 4 MILLION SURPLUS BOND RATING INCREASE. JUST DID A DEAL WITH PNC, 19% JOB GROWTH, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THE LOWEST IN SOUTHWEST PA. THIS IS WHAT WE DO BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE IN MY SECOND TERM THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT’S NEEDED TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS CITY. HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, AND AS LONG AS I AM YOUR MAYOR AND I’M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE TO KEEP BUILDING ON WHAT WE STARTED, I WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE HOUSING THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CITY FOR ALL, A CITY THAT IS SAFE, A CITY THAT IS WELCOMING, WELCOMING, AND A CITY THAT IS THRIVING. TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A CITY FOR ALL. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE IN YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MR. O’CONNOR. NO. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WTA FOR HOSTING US TONIGHT. I’M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE WE DESERVE BETTER. WE DESERVE A PITTSBURGH THAT’S GOING TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES AGAIN, IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS, IN OUR PARKS, AND NOT DIVERT MONEY TO OTHER THINGS AND PET PROJECTS. WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT IN THIS CITY. LET’S INVEST IN OUR SMALL BUSINESS DISTRICTS AGAIN. CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR DREAMS AND CREATE THEIR OWN WEALTH. IN PITTSBURGH, AND CREATE HOUSING. AND IT’S NOT JUST GOING TO BE A IT’S NOT JUST GOING TO BE A RANDOM NUMBER THAT WE CHOOSE OUT OF THE AIR. WE ARE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT. I WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY. WE ARE WALKING OVER A FINANCIAL CLIFF RIGHT NOW. WE CANNOT FILL OUR GAPS THIS YEAR IN OUR BUDGET BECAUSE IN THE FIRST QUARTER, WE’VE ALREADY GONE OVER OUR OVERTIME, ALMOST GONE OVER OUR OVERTIME EXPENSES. YOU WANT TRANSPARENCY IN YOUR MAYOR, YOU WANT HONESTY AND TRUTH. YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT CAN DELIVER, THAT HAS DELIVERED 11 YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL. WE’VE CREATED NEW JOBS. WE’VE INVESTED IN COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE BUILT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NOBODY THOUGHT I COULD BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN. THAT’S THE FUTURE THAT I’M BRINGING. IT’S ABOUT GROWTH. IT’S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY. IT’S PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE EACH AND EVERY PITTSBURGHER CAN SUCCEED. WE HAVE A CITY THAT SHOULD BE EVERY FAMILY’S FIRST CHOICE, AND WE HAVE TO START SELLING IT THAT WAY. AND WE NEED SOMEBODY IN LEADERSHIP THAT’S GOING TO DELIVER FOR YOU. SO I ASK, ON MAY 20TH. LET’S START BUILDING A BETTER PITTSBURGH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CITY WE WANT TO HAVE. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. O’CONNOR. I DO WANT TO THANK BOTH ED GAINEY AND COREY O’CONNOR FOR PARTICIPATING IN TONIGHT’S DEBATE. WE’VE HEARD YOUR PERSPECTIVES ON CRITICAL ISSUES. WE HOPE DEBATES LIKE THIS ONE REMIND VOTERS HOW IMPORTANT OPEN DIALOG IS TO HELP SHAPE AN INFORMED DECISION. AS WE CLOSE, WE LEAVE THE FINAL DECISION TO YOU, THE VOTERS, TO REFLECT ON THE ARGUMENTS PRESENTED BY THESE TWO CANDIDATES. THERE IS ALSO A PRIMARY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS. TWO WTAE CHANNEL FOUR WILL BROADCAST A LIVE DEBATE THAT HAPPENS ON MAY 13TH AT 7 P.M. FOR THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS, THE CANDIDATES ARE RETIRED POLICE OFFICER TONY MORENO AND BUSINESS OWNER TOM WEST, THE WINNER OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WILL TAKE ON THE WINNER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION REMINDERS RIGHT NOW. SO THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY, THAT’S MAY 5TH, MAY 13TH. THAT’S THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST A MAIL IN BALLOT. VOTERS HAVE UNTIL 8:00 PM ON ELECTION DAY TO DELIVER BALLOTS TO A DROP OFF LOCATION. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IN POLLING LOCATIONS, THEY WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 P M ON ELECTION DAY. THIS IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER. IF YOU ARE IN LINE BY 8:00 PM ON ELECTION DAY, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE. WE WANT TO HELP YOU DO THIS TO TO FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION. WE MADE IT EASY FOR YOU. GO AHEAD AND GO OVER TO OUR WEBSITE AT. W DOT COM. ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE AT CHANNEL FOUR, I’M SHANNON PERRINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND GOOD NIGHT.