YEAH, CHRISTEN AND MIKE, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR GAINEY, ONCE AGAIN STRESSING THAT HE BELIEVES DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE CITY. BUT AS WE’VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN RECENT MONTHS, THAT REPUTATION HAS BEEN MARRED BY VIOLENCE AND DRUG USE. I SEE LESS PEOPLE NOW, HONESTLY, BECAUSE I KNOW BECAUSE OF COVID AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. IT’S NOT HAPPY. NO MORE. IT’S NOT SAFE, IS NOT SOMEWHERE PEOPLE SHOULD BRING THEIR KIDS ANYMORE. THAT’S OBVIOUSLY FAR FROM A RINGING ENDORSEMENT FOR DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. BUT DASHA BURKS IS NOT GIVING UP ON THE PLACE SHE USED TO LOVE COMING AS A KID. EVEN IF SOME BUSINESS OWNERS ALREADY HAVE, WE’RE SEEING BUSINESSES LEAVE. WE’RE SEEING BUSINESSES COME IN, MORE RESTAURANTS OPENING, RESTAURANTS CLOSING. IT’S KIND OF A BACK AND FORTH BATTLE. THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS ALLIANCE IS WORKING TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES TO THE AREA. BUT UNTIL THAT COMES TO FRUITION, THE PLAN IS TO TEAM UP WITH LOCAL ARTISTS TO DECORATE VACANT STOREFRONTS. PART OF BEING A CLEAN CITY IS ALSO BEAUTIFYING THE LOCAL. MAYOR GAINEY SAYS THE CITY HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CLEANING CREWS DOWNTOWN BY 20%. BUT AS HE ACKNOWLEDGES, THE CHIEF CONCERN FOR MANY PEOPLE IS SAFETY. THESE OFFICERS ARE BUILDING SOLID RELATIONSHIPS DOWNTOWN WITH PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, WITH PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, AND WHAT PEOPLE TO PLAY HERE. WITHOUT A THRIVING DOWNTOWN, WE REALLY DON’T HAVE MUCH YOU THAT YOU KIND OF NEED THAT FOR AN ECONOMY. SCORPIO PINOS EXECUTIVE CHEF AND GENERAL MANAGER MATT MACLELLAN HAS NOTICED AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE IN RECENT MONTHS. QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY DOWNTOWN WERE AMPLIFIED IN JANUARY WHEN A GUNMAN SHOT AND KILLED 23 YEAR OLD EUGENE NANCE. ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON ALONG LIBERTY AVENUE, YOU HEAR THE MAYOR TALK CHANGES THAT ARE COMING. WELL, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME. PITTSBURGH POLICE SAY PATROLS DOWNTOWN ARE AT ABOUT 8 TO 12 OFFICERS. THAT’S UP FROM ABOUT 4 TO 5 OFFICERS. NOW, AS OF TONIGHT. PITTSBURGH POLICE REMAIN WITHOUT A PERMANENT POLICE CHIEF. THAT’S AFTER CHIEF SCOTT SCHUBERT’S RETIREMENT IN JULY. THE MAYOR HAS SAID REPEATEDLY THAT HE EXPECTS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW CHIEF SOMETIME THIS MONTH.
'People only come back if they feel safe': Mayor Gainey strikes optimistic tone about future of Downtown
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Updated: 11:12 PM EDT Apr 6, 2023
Mayor Ed Gainey struck an optimistic tone Thursday during a news conference that focused on efforts to improve the cleanliness and safety of downtown Pittsburgh."People only come back if they feel safe," Gainey acknowledged.Gainey was joined at the news conference by representatives from Pittsburgh Police, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and the Downtown Neighbors Alliance."Part of being a clean city is also beautifying the locale," said John Valentine, the executive director of Downtown Neighbors Alliance.Valentine said he hopes the vacant storefronts in Downtown Pittsburgh will eventually be occupied by businesses. Until that goal comes to fruition, he plans to partner with a team of artists to decorate the vacant storefronts.Jeremy Waldrup, the president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, said this year, his organization's "Clean Team" has collected more than 230 pounds of garbage and removed 1300 graffiti tags.Gainey said the city has increased the number of cleaning crews by 20 percent. He believes these efforts, like the "Spring Cleaning" currently underway, are paying dividends."Restaurant sales are up, coffee shop sales are up," Gainey said. "VisitPittsburgh is predicting an even busier summer this season, starting tomorrow with the Pirates game."Police also said the number of patrols have increased as of late. County police continue to provide support in the area, as well."We're seeing obviously more of a police presence," said Matt McClelland, the executive chef and general manager of Scarpino, a restaurant located in Downtown.
PITTSBURGH — Mayor Ed Gainey struck an optimistic tone Thursday during a news conference that focused on efforts to improve the cleanliness and safety of downtown Pittsburgh.
"People only come back if they feel safe," Gainey acknowledged.
Gainey was joined at the news conference by representatives from Pittsburgh Police, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and the Downtown Neighbors Alliance.
"Part of being a clean city is also beautifying the locale," said John Valentine, the executive director of Downtown Neighbors Alliance.
Valentine said he hopes the vacant storefronts in Downtown Pittsburgh will eventually be occupied by businesses. Until that goal comes to fruition, he plans to partner with a team of artists to decorate the vacant storefronts.
Jeremy Waldrup, the president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, said this year, his organization's "Clean Team" has collected more than 230 pounds of garbage and removed 1300 graffiti tags.
Gainey said the city has increased the number of cleaning crews by 20 percent. He believes these efforts, like the "Spring Cleaning" currently underway, are paying dividends.
"Restaurant sales are up, coffee shop sales are up," Gainey said. "VisitPittsburgh is predicting an even busier summer this season, starting tomorrow with the Pirates game."
Police also said the number of patrols have increased as of late. County police continue to provide support in the area, as well.
"We're seeing obviously more of a police presence," said Matt McClelland, the executive chef and general manager of Scarpino, a restaurant located in Downtown.
