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Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey cited wins in affordable housing and public safety as reasons why voters should give him another term.
“I’m enjoying some of the things we did to make this city a better city. I’m enjoying our Bridge Asset Management Program. I’m enjoying our affordable housing package that we just got approved through the Planning Commission. I’m enjoying the homicide rates coming down,” he said.
Gainey, 54, of Lincoln-Lemington, made the comments during a recent interview with City Cast Pittsburgh and Next Generation Newsroom. Gainey and Corey O’Connor are seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary.
O’Connor, 40, of Point Breeze, served more than a decade on Pittsburgh City Council. He now serves as Allegheny County controller. The general election is Nov. 4.
The city’s Planning Commission last week voted to support Gainey’s zoning package, which he says will boost affordable housing. The legislation now moves to City Council.
“I want to build a city where everybody has an opportunity to live. To me, housing is a right. Housing is a right that everybody should have,” Gainey said.
Gainey has been criticized for his choice of Larry Scirotto as the city’s police chief. Scirotto retired abruptly after his decision to resume part-time work as an NCAA basketball referee became public in October, leaving some constituents concerned about his approach to public safety.
Gainey said he let Scirotto resume his part-time job because of the progress the chief made, citing the city’s homicide rate that dropped.
The mayor said he has made public safety a priority and also cited his administration’s work on a collective bargaining agreement in 2023 with the union representing city police - the first contract in 20 years.
Gainey said his public safety policy intersects with infrastructure and security.
Less than a month into the mayor’s first term, the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed due to “maintenance and oversight failures,” according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
In the aftermath, Gainey promised that all bridges in the city would be above a failing safety grade, monitored through the Bridge Asset Management System. The Fern Hollow Bridge reopened 11 months later.
“To me, that's a heck of an accomplishment of not only just the infrastructure work itself, but the teamwork and collaboration that we brought to ensure that everybody was on the same page. After that, we came up with the Bridge Asset Management program, and as of today, we don't have, there's no failing bridges inside the City of Pittsburgh. That's, that's incredible.
“Now, do we have some that are in poor condition? Absolutely. But I promise the people here that I would never wake up again to a bridge that collapsed.”
On another issue, Gainey was quick to defend his efforts on pressing nonprofits for payments in lieu of taxes.
“This has been a problem in the city for a while, and we have not left the table. We never have left the table,” Gainey said. “What I believe in is that my nurses, my firefighters, my teachers, my regular working-class families should not carry the burden of the taxes in this city. It is my belief that the nonprofits have a responsibility to pay their fair share in a PILOT program.”
PILOT, or payments in lieu of taxes, has been a staple of Gainey’s strategy to pressure the city’s largest nonprofits to contribute cash to the city tax base.
Last month, Gainey issued a statement that Highmark would be willing to make financial contributions to the city if other nonprofits agree to do so. A Highmark spokesperson said the health care nonprofit’s position has not changed, and that other nonprofits would have to be part of any PILOT program, too.
O’Connor, Gainey’s opponent, announced his run in December, and said he would prioritize investment in city neighborhoods to bolster business districts. He criticized Gainey for a “lack of vision” for the city.
“What I see right now is mismanagement of a city. And I think now is the perfect opportunity to come in there before we hit another financial cliff,” O’Connor said.
On the Republican side, Tony Moreno, 56, of Brighton Heights, and Thomas West, 48, of Highland Park, are seeking the nomination. Moreno is a retired city police officer who ran against Gainey in 2021. West owns the men’s clothing store TRIM in Lawrenceville.
The last day to register to vote for the primary is May 5. May 13 is the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot.
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