Gonna live tweet Pittsburgh mayoral debate hosted by @905wesa and @pghblackmedia. Democratic candidates Peduto, Gainey, Moreno, & Thomspon will focus on city’s livability, policing, fiscal concerns, and economic, racial, & social equity. Follow this thread https://www.wesa.fm/90-5-wesa-station-news/2021-03-31/listen-to-the-pittsburgh-mayoral-debate-by-wesa-pittsburgh-black-media-federation-tonight-at-7-p-m

Opening statements first, Gainey up. says "he doesn't want to see people leave the city" of Pittsburgh. He wants to see a city for all.

Tony Moreno up next, a retired Pittsburgh Police officer. Says his greatest strength his being part of the neighborhood and his is going to be out in those communities.

Incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto touts the successes of turning some things around, but that there are still work to be done. Says he has dedicated his entire life to Pittsburgh

Thompson, says he is renter, and focuses his entire opening statement to saying we need different development in the city, and no new tax breaks to developers.

First question is on COVID

Peduto says his admin got PPE for workers, and rented out hotel rooms for workers & homeless people

Thompson says he wants to focus on flexibility of work, and wants to have a greeter at city hall

Gainey calls out a failure to get Black people tested

Peduto says that there is a difference between what a city and state or federal agency can do. Says that the city has focused on the lowest income areas.

Next questions is how to specifically tackle the race inequity issues in Pittsburgh?

Peduto: Touts partnerships with Foundations and health providers. Says they are critical

Thompson: Praises Peduto for studying the racial inequity. says solution is a community focused approach

Gainey: Calls out Peduto for not addressing the racial inequity issue sooner. "If it hasn't happened in 8 it wont happen in 4"

Peduto: "before we took office, there wasn't a gender equity commission. "we were the ones that created it" calls criticism a "hollow attempt"

Moreno: again says he will talk to the community, and that he will lead from that point

Next question about disparities in city services, lack of plows in south hills, lack of new streetcapes in Black neighborhoods.

Thompson: says he has heard this is a problem. And says have to do more in person outreach.

GENTRIFICATION question!

Gainey: Brings up 7,000 Black Pittsburghers that have left city. says they were forced out. If you talk about Pennley (Penn Plaza) they will not tell you they moved for school districts.

Moreno: "First I want to go back to the street lights" goes back to criticizing Peduto. Then comes back to gentrification, and says something about Gainey's role on URA. and then especially calls out peduto

Peduto: Says we don't have a definitive answer on why people are leaving. Says that it's happening in East Liberty, but its not happening in Beltzhoover. Says that some neighborhoods want investment. And says one broad policy wont fix the gentrification problem

Gainey: said he worked for Tom Murphy, and didn't have the authority to make any large development decisions. He said he recommended build first, and then move out of the torn down housing.

Question on blight.

Peduto: We need to move the land bank into the URA. We have to change state law, and clear title on these, and not allow them to go to speculators, and move properties into a community land trust. We need HUD to let us to have rent vouchers for mortages

Thompson: Says we need to do more to help along renters to become low income home owners.