2009 Pittsburgh City Council Candidates

City Council District 2

• Robert Vincent Frank (D)
  
• Theresa Smith (D)
• Georgia Blotzer (D)

City Council District 4

• Natalia Rudiak (D)
  
• Richard W. Weaver (D)
• Patrick Reilly (D)
• Anthony Coghill (D)

City Council District 6

• Tonya D. Payne (D)
• Robert Daniel Lavelle (D)
  
• Mark Brentley, Sr. (D)

City Council District 8

• Bill Peduto (D)
• Greg Neugebauer (R)

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2

Robert Vincent FRANK

1. What is your plan for economic development in Pittsburgh?

My plan for economic development is to create District 2 community driven development plan. The residents and neighborhood organizations would have direct input about what they need and want in their neighborhoods. We need to entice green industries to locate in our district and encourage their employees to live in our neighborhoods.

Our neighborhoods cannot flourish with out affordable and dependable public transit. I will lobby Harrisburg for a designated funding source for the Port Authority. Also we have to think outside the box and look at things like people movers, Maglev and extension of the light rail transit system.

Stop the Blight ! We need to encourage community development organizations to rehabilitate vacant housing and sell the houses to first time homebuyers. As I travel throughout the district, I see vacant homes, which should either be rehabilitated or torn down. As Development Director for Breachmenders, a community development corporation in West Oakland, I saw first hand how a neighborhood can benefit from creating affordable housing. By creating affordable housing our young people will be able to find starter homes in the city, instead of being forced to move away.

Quality of life is a great way of encouraging economic development. The city needs to extend the trail system into the neighborhoods; while the trail system only produces a slight economic development, it does create an increased livability factor, which cannot be measured in our communities.

The Pittsburgh Promise- I will work to encourage foundations to continuing supporting  Mayor Ravenstahl’s and School Superintendent Roosevelt’s program to provide scholarships to graduates of our public school system. This will grew our neighborhoods and our tax base. As a grant writer, I have developed working relationships with many members of the foundation community, so I look forward to supporting the Pittsburgh Promise anyway I can.

Pittsburgh needs to have a vibrant downtown central business district, which will make the downtown area be an attractive place to live, play and work.

2. What should the city do to fight the rise in violent crime?

I have a three point plan to fight the raise in crime in District 2.

First lobby the Obama Administration to fund community oriented policing, which would put me cops on the beat. These officers would be assigned to a neighborhood, walk the beat and get to know the neighborhood. Community Oriented Police officers would not only be there to respond to crime, but also get to know the residents and prevent the crime.

Second, work with neighborhood groups to establish quality after school programs. Having worked at an after school program in West Oakland, I know a majority of the kids that attended our program would have no place to go after school and some would have ended up in trouble.

Third, involve the residents of District 2 in neighborhood crime watches and blockwatches. As Administrative Assistant to then City Councilman Gene Ricciardi, I saw first hand how block watches can not only help police solve crimes, but also prevent crime.

3. What do you believe are the most important environmental challenges facing the City, and how do you believe they should be addressed?

Keeping our city lots and green spaces clean is our most important green challenge. Today I participated in a neighborhood clean up in our green space and I saw first hand, how our parks and greens spaces have become nothing more than a dumping ground.

Our biggest challenge is to encourage people to make changes in their lifestyle that will help the environment. Whether it be working to develop a carpool system for city employees, purchase hybrid automobiles for the city fleet of cars and encouraging neighborhood groups to assist the city in cleaning up lots through cleanups. In order to change the environment globally, we have to work locally. I just got back from a new grocery store in the strip and I was made sure I bought as many locally grown items as I could. Not only does it cut down on the transportation of the items, but the produce is fresher. I would be in favor of increasing the number of farmer’s markets and carts throughout the district.

One thing I have done that I am most proud of occurred when I was a board member for the BACC and I negotiated with members of the Murphy Administration and city red tape. The BACC bought the building with grant money and donated it to the Carnegie Library System. Since there was no cost for the building, the Carnegie Library was able to use that money to make it the first Green Library Building in Allegheny County.

4. Many cities have used Community Benefits Agreements to ensure that the environment is protected when publicly-funded development occurs.  Do you support community benefit agreements, why or why not?

I am in favor of using Community Benefits Agreements in future development projects in District 2. Our district is poised to make future CBA’s with spin-off development from development on the North Side, West End and Station Square. There is a case, where the City can make sure that development is a win win for the city taxpayers.

5. Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation, and harassment specifically directed at reproductive health providers and their patients, including the established “buffer zone”4?

Yes, the buffer zone is a law and like all laws should be enforced by the police. I support the enactment and enforcement of laws, which prevent people from getting access to reproductive health services. I know someone who uses the clinics to get a mammogram because, she does not have health care and every time, she tells me horror stories about people blocking her entry.

6. What will be the most important thing for you to accomplish as a City Councilor?

I have always dreamed of being a councilman and how I can make life a better for Pittsburghers

I have worked to involve young people as:

• Founder and president of the CCAC Democrats,
• Statewide College Director of Young Democrats
• Regional Director for College Democrats.
• Volunteer coordinator for the Young Voter Alliance (YVA).  In the 2004, presidential campaign our voter education program resulted in record breaking turn out of young voters in target neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. YVA’s methods were regarded as a national model to get young people involved.

I  have 20 years of experience working with neighborhood groups and I worked for the City for 8 years. I volunteered on over 42 campaigns at all levels.

My goal is to not only involve young people in the politics, but also governing.

My office will provide internship opportunities to students interested in government. Involving young people in the city government is the most important thing, I could accomplish as a city councilman.

“Let’s keep the change going” is my slogan and I mean it. There needs to be a wave of transparency and accountability that crashes down onto every level of government. In 2008 the voters of this country spoke loud and clearly and said they are sick of the politics of the past and so am I.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4

Natalia RUDIAK

1.  What is your plan for economic development in Pittsburgh?

The biggest problem the city faces is a declining population, a decreasing tax base, and scaled back city services.  These issues create a vicious cycle of neglect, where more people leave because the quality of life in the city is declining, and the quality of life is declining because more people leave.  We must rebuild our business districts and attract the entrepreneurs that will help maintain our neighborhoods as vibrant communities where people want to live and work.

We can do this by protecting our neighborhoods from crime and neglect and pursuing capital investments in our business districts. While the city has recently begun a process to reform the Bureau of Building Inspection, the reality is our code enforcement agencies are not performing like we need them to.  With a serious investment in technology, training, and personnel we can make sure that Pittsburgh’s buildings remain attractive to investors and home owners alike.  Additionally, we need to make common sense investments in our police force so our uniformed men and women can continue to protect and serve.

A winning economic development plan for Pittsburgh should focus on improving the quality of life for our residents.  If this improves, so will our population trends, our tax base, and our financial future.

2.  What should the city do to fight the rise in violent crime?

When I am elected to city council I will continue to be a tireless advocate for our neighborhoods, and that means protecting our communities from crime and neglect.  We need to make common sense investments in our police force so that our uniformed men and women can have the resources they need to do their jobs.  Additionally, I support crime prevention programs that focus on the root of youth crime and cases of domestic violence so we can break the cycle of criminal behavior and lower the instances of repeat offenders.

3.  What do you believe are the most important environmental challenges facing the City, and how do you believe they should be addressed?

The city is facing a number of important environmental challenges, and I am strong advocate for making these issues a top priority on council.  Pittsburgh must be committed to a culture of economic, social, and environmental sustainability in a serious way.  We must commit to restoring our housing stock and making sure that our building codes and building code enforcement are keeping up with 21^st century best practices and technology.  We need to promote local food, litter free communities, and conservation within the city.  We must market our walkable neighborhoods as a vehicle to rebuilding our business districts.  I am dedicated to investing in public transportation and alternative modes of transportation to maintain safe and healthy environments for our children.  The challenges are large, but we must commit to a brighter environmental future for Pittsburgh.

4.  Many cities have used Community Benefits Agreements to ensure that the environment is protected when publicly-funded development occurs.  Do you support community benefit agreements, why or why not?

Community Benefits Agreements can be excellent tools for improving communities by ensuring that large economic development projects are undertaken with commitments to use local workers, build affordable housing, promote smart environmental stewardship, or any other stipulation that can help the community.  I support considering a CBA where publicly funded development occurs, with final approvals negotiated on a case by case basis.

5.  Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation, and harassment specifically directed at reproductive health providers and their patients, including the established “buffer zone”4?

Yes.  Any person should be able to live their life free of intimidation and harassment regardless of their political or religious views.

6.  What will be the most important thing for you to accomplish as a City Councilor?

My first priority is to protect our neighborhoods from crime and neglect, and restore public trust.  Through strengthening building inspection enforcement and making landlords accountable for violations, our neighborhoods will continue to be places where our family and friends feel welcome to come home.

I will also work with Pittsburgh Police, the Mayor’s Office, and other elected officials to ensure that our uniformed men and women have the right tools to do their jobs.  I have already successfully lobbied City Council on behalf of South Pittsburgh residents to optimize police zones and resources for our police officers, and as the District 4 City Councilmember I will lobby our state legislature for more public safety funding.

Anthony COGHILL

1. What is your plan for economic development in Pittsburgh?

My plan for economic development will focus primarily in District 4. Over the past years I have witnessed a tragic downfall of our business districts. It will be my goal to return the business districts to their once glorious past. Every day I drive on Broadway Avenue and I see a community just aching for development. We have all of the things that developers love but what we need is someone who has the business and marketing skills to attract these developers to our district. I am that person who can and will attract sound development to our business districts.

2. What should the city do to fight the rise in violent crime?

Crime and in particular violent crime is a serious issue that needs serious attention. Overall I feel that Pittsburgh is a safe city. What we need to do is to continue to provide adequate funding to our police department to ensure that our officers and personnel have the right tools to do a good job. I am also in favor of adding more funding to the budget to hire more police officers and to make sure that these officers are going to the streets and not behind a desk.

3. What do you believe are the most important environmental challenges facing the City, and how do you believe they should be addressed?

I believe that Pittsburgh faces the same environmental issues that ever major metropolitan city faces. We need to ensure that new development and new buildings are green buildings. Giving density bonuses to LEED certified buildings is one way to help ensure that we are building environmentally friendly buildings in the city of Pittsburgh. I also believe in Brownfield building. Recycling and reusing of our abandoned mills and old steel industry sites are great for our region and have been working in different parts of the county and right here in Pittsburgh on the South Side.

4. Many cities have used Community Benefits Agreements to ensure that the environment is protected when publicly-funded development occurs. Do you support community benefit agreements, why or why not?

No, I do not support CBA’s. I believe that development and investment should be encouraged but there shouldn’t be strings attached to lure that development here. I believe that we should demand accountability from developers and we should ensure that their plans are what’s right for that particular area.

5. Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation, and harassment specifically directed at reproductive health providers and their patients, including the established “buffer zone”?

I am in favor of upholding the current laws that are on the books. I do support the so-called “bubble zone” ordinance that City Council passed in 2005.

6. What will be the most important thing for you to accomplish as a City Councilor?

The most important thing for me to accomplish while on City Council will be to restore our blighted business districts. Many times we talk about economic development for the city. What I want to focus on is community economic development, right here in District 4. My mother was able to work right here in Beechview, in her own community, in a business district that thrived. What we need is to revitalize our neighborhoods by bringing in new businesses and developers, and by sustaining those businesses that are already here. District 4 can be an example of what other districts can look like if we work hard and put the right man in office to do the job. The way that I grew up readied me for all of this. I can be the sound, steady hand in these tough economic times.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6

Robert Daniel LAVELLE

1. What is your plan for economic development in Pittsburgh?

The City of Pittsburgh is made up of many neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the neighborhoods in District Six are lacking in economic development, particularly within our business districts.  I will first work to bring back our business districts.

District Six is the core of the city and thus can build off of its close proximity to Downtown, Oakland and the various universities and hospitals.  Given the strong existing demographics, the major traffic corridors and land use patterns demonstrate the potential to support economic development activity.

The city government could create investment funds to encourage start ups and entrepreneurs to locate their business in these communities.  The city could also tap federal funds to offer small businesses no-interest loans to locate in community business districts.

I would also focus on making it transit-oriented development. It would involve the integrated development of homes, retail and service businesses, a pleasant walking environment and other public amenities focused around our already strong public transit corridors.

Lastly, I would work to strengthen the CBA agreement for the Hill District community to ensure MWBE requirements were met, along with workforce numbers. Currently, the workforce numbers are not being made and local community people are not being employed, which is a key element in economic development that benefits the community.  I would also diligently to ensure the 28 acres, where Mellon Arena sits, is developed and developed with the interest of the community in mind. I would work to ensure the development is one that reestablishes the link between the Hill District and Downtown and not cuts off the community.

2. What should the city do to fight the rise in violent crime?

I believe we have to have a comprehensive approach to fighting crime.  There is a direct relation between the extremely high unemployment rates, lack of economic development, and our most violent neighborhoods.

I do believe we need to be tough on crime with our law enforcement officers. However, I also recognize we can not continue to arrest and imprison our way out of our crime problem.   Any comprehensive plan to beat back crime must include long-term solutions like quality pre-kindergarten programs that are proven to help cut the pipeline that funnels young people into lives of crime and violence.  It also must include adult education and workforce development for those who are without family sustaining jobs and not adequately prepared to enter the workforce.  We also most view economic development as a crime fighting tool. A comprehensive plan must also deal with quality-of-life concerns such as debris-strewn sidewalks and vacant lots, blighted properties and abandoned vehicles.

3. What do you believe are the most important environmental challenges facing the City, and how do you believe they should be addressed?

As a part of the global community, Pittsburgh must do its part to help mitigate global warming.  However, there are financial and public commitment obstacles to overcome.  As a city councilperson, I would promote community initiatives to encourage usage of public transportation, carpooling, and walking to work.  A long term goal would be to identify economically feasible initiatives that the city can implement.  For example, other cities have converted portions of their public bus engines to hydrogen fuel or diesel fuel to reduce carbon emissions.

4. Many cities have used Community Benefits Agreements to ensure that the environment is protected when publicly-funded development occurs.  Do you support community benefit agreements, why or why not?

I believe CBA’s can be used as an effective tool in ensuring citizens benefit from the use of public subsidies and development.   Whether or not it is formalized in a CBA, anytime a private developer is given tax dollars we have a responsibility to ensure the development is beneficial for the residents of the community it is affecting and there is an open dialogue between the developer and the community when necessary.

But the model of the Penguins Arena CBA is not one that I would recommend for other communities. The concessions didn’t come from the Penguins as much as they came from local government. Therefore, as the Penguins go on to make millions of dollars, the Hill District community will not be a stakeholder in that wealth. The Hill District community has not even benefited from an appropriate number of JOBS - the Penguins area being the easiest example.

5. Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation, and harassment specifically directed at reproductive health providers and their patients, including the established “buffer zone”4?

Yes. I support laws that prevent the intimidation and harassment of any health providers and their patients, that is, as long as what is occurring is legal, of course.

6. What will be the most important thing for you to accomplish as a City Councilor?

Advocating for the residents of this district and ensuring they receive their fair share of governmental resources returned to their community.  In addition, given District Six’s higher than average unemployment rate, I will work to provide more jobs, provide the necessary training and put people back to work.  I will work to help bring in new businesses, expand local business, and encourage local entrepreneurship to increase the tax base and jobs.

On the spending side, we are likely to be faced with tight budgets. I will reach out to neighborhood and business groups in District 6 to come together to look at needs and service options and determine priority projects.  Lastly, as a council member, I hope to bring consensus to the office and put the citizen’s faith back into city hall.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8

William PEDUTO

1.What is your plan for economic development in Pittsburgh?

- I believe that Pittsburgh needs to invest in niche industries the promote job growth, instead of land development. We must invest in education and job training for a new 21^st century green economy. It is essential that we invest in public transit for economic and job growth for all. Additionally, Pittsburgh needs to invest in areas that are already developed, rather than developing on greenfields. Lastly, it is essential that government is reformed so that development decisions are made based on impact and not on contributions.

2.What should the city do to fight the rise in violent crime?

-First of all, prevention needs to begin in early childhood with preventative programs for at-risk youths. Secondly, we need to work with adolescent aged men and women who have had legal trouble by working with juvenile probation offers who work with youths before the trouble becomes more prevalent and violent. Additionally, we need to provide education and job training for the new economy for young adults, so that they have opportunities other than street crime as a career.

3. What do you believe are the most important environmental challenges facing the City, and how do you believe they should be addressed?

-Pittsburgh is one of the cities with the dirtiest air and water in the United States. Pittsburgh needs to implement a “fix it first” mentality to invest in existing infrastructure first. We must eliminate the legacy of sprawl and decline in this region.

4. Many cities have used Community Benefits Agreements to ensure that the environment is protected when publicly-funded development occurs.  Do you support community benefit agreements, why or why not?

-Yes, I support Community Benefit Agreements and was the only elected official to publicly supported CBA efforts both in the Hill and North Side. I believe that all developments need to provide a positive for the greater area, not just the developer. It is always the most affected community that knows the needs of the community best and they need to be included in a community development process to develop a CBA. When public dollars are used to support a private development, there must be a give back to the community to ensure the triple bottom line – economic growth, minimal environmental impact, and greater social impact.

5. Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation, and harassment specifically directed at reproductive health providers and their patients, including the established “buffer zone”4?

-Yes, I wrote and sponsored the Pittsburgh “buffer zone” legislation.

6. What will be the most important thing for you to accomplish as a City Councilor?

-In the next four years, it is essential that we create financial stability for the City of Pittsburgh. We must create a new understanding of a Pittsburgh model for good government, a strong environmental future, a healthy economy, and a progressive community. I will work to create policies and laws that treat all people equally.

DESCRIPTION of DUTIES of CITY COUNCIL
(From Pittsburgh Homerule Charter Summary)

ARTICLE THREE states that there shall be a nine member council elected from the City at large.

• Council can by ordinance change itself so that all its members are elected from separate districts to be drawn by the Court of Common Pleas.
• Council’s president shall be elected by the members of council and shall establish and abolish all committees of council, schedule public hearings, and preside at council meetings.
• Article three states that there shall be a nine (9) member council elected from the City at large, with all vacancies filled by a special election.
• Council has the power to investigate any legislative or administrative matter.
• This article also outlines the legislative process: the submission of ordinances or resolutions, holding mandatory public hearings, submission of legislation for veto or approval by the mayor, and the procedure for overriding a mayor’s veto.
• All actions of council are to be done publicly.
• All city ordinances shall be reviewed, codified, and made available to any citizen.

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

COUNTY CANDIDATES

JUDICIAL CANDIDATES