Mayor Ravenstahl's Announcement Speech

Good afternoon- I am here today to submit my petitions as a candidate for Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

While today is ultimately about what lies ahead, it's not unusual at a moment such as this to first quickly look back over the last three years -- when I do, I am struck most be how truly far we have traveled-- together; by the good work that we've been able to do-- together; and by the stronger condition we now find our great City in and the optimism with which we forge ahead into the future.

As we stand here on the portico where many great Mayors have come before me, I would be remiss if I did not mention the tragic circumstances that brought me to the office I now hold-an office that, 3 short years ago I never planned to have.

The day we lost Mayor Bob O'Connor was a day that altered the course of history for a City, for his loved ones and for me and my family.  And as I stand before you today as your Mayor, I would like to talk to you about why we need to continue what we have started.  I want to discuss with you my vision and plan for a Pittsburgh that gets better and brighter with every day--- a Pittsburgh we know we can be with work ahead of us to be done. 

The last 3 years have been a whirlwind.  A few short years ago, Pittsburgh was on the brink of bankruptcy.  Today we're a City whose bond rating has been improved 4 times; A City with a savings account again.  A City that changed its ways and has not borrowed for today against tomorrow.  A City living within its means.  A City that has done it all while reducing taxes rather than raising them.  A City that stands in stark contrast to the condition of sister and brother Cities and States across the nation who are now facing enormous budget deficits; impending tax increases; and a very uncertain future.

As we look out from under this portico we are surrounded by billions in job creating investment and development.  Building permits and all indicators of investment in our City are at an all time high.  Our union halls are at full capacity.  Our unemployment rates are below those of the state and the country.  We're working hard and moving our City forward together.  We're on the right track.  Indeed, as my campaign slogan says.  We're "Getting it Done."

My remarks are not meant to communicate that everything is good and as we would want it to be.  Not hardly.  There is so much work yet to be done.  So many different risk factors that we must face.  So many challenges to overcome. 

That's what ultimately brings me before you today.  It's the challenges we have yet to face and the opportunities that we have yet to realize that compels me to submit these nominating petitions and to stand before you and say:  we have much work to do and my job is not complete.  That's why I want to continue to be your Mayor.

I welcome the opportunity to come before the people of our great City in this race and to talk about the job ahead of us:  

The challenges we collectively face. 

My plans to embrace our opportunities. 

My vision for a Pittsburgh that lives up to our full potential.

To say I was prepared to be Mayor on day one is to overstate the facts.  I wasn't.  But there is no training like on the job training.  AND--- -- I have learned a great deal in the last 3 years as Mayor ... my  record speaks for itself.  It's a record of a City that has gotten better.  And while I can't take total credit for that, Pittsburgh can and I too am a part of this great City.

Pittsburgh's history is rich.  We've faced serious challenges and enjoyed many highs and our fair shares of lows.  Through it all we have persevered and each time become a stronger and better City for it.  Our generation of Pittsburghers has our own challenges to overcome.  We need a plan to do it.

Twice in our City's life we have enjoyed a great Renaissance.  First, under the leadership of Mayor David Lawrence and some great corporate partners, this City faced its environmental challenges head on and forever improved our quality of life.  That was Renaissance I.  Next under the leadership of Mayor Caliguiri and with the help of the federal government as partner, Pittsburgh's skyline was forever changed as new spires of hope and investment went up all over the City.  That was Renaissance II. 

I believe this City, our great City, is again poised to experience a great Renaissance.  A Third Renaissance.  Renaissance III.

Our new Renaissance will be unlike the previous ones.  The world has changed in more ways than we can count and so too has Pittsburgh and our people.  A new Renaissance must be holistic.  It must solve our most serious challenges and it must capitalize on our most significant opportunities.  Making Pittsburgh's Third Renaissance a reality will be the focus of many of my discussions with you over the next ten weeks. I will present the job ahead of us.  I will discuss the opportunities before us.  And along with you, we will work to achieve a shared vision and purpose and then set to work.  Our plan- executed well- will result in a bigger, better and stronger Pittsburgh.  It will make us the City we want to be.

I will share details of my 11 point plan for Pittsburgh - "A Blueprint for Pittsburgh's Renaissance III" - over the weeks to come.  Today I will briefly share with you its basic components:

Our first order of business is to embrace and continue to build upon Pittsburgh's new economy.  Despite the national economic downturn, Pittsburgh garners national attention almost weekly for our ability to survive and thrive.  That's not by accident- we know that our success is based on a diverse economy of small business, traditional manufacturing, the service sector, and now, more than ever, the educational and medical institutions that are the foundation of the new Pittsburgh economy.

The second plank of our Renaissance is the continued emphasis on the development of our riverfronts.  We have begun to return our riverfronts back to our neighborhoods and in doing so have made them a critical piece of our city's landscape.  We have been able to connect trails and parks to our waters, build new housing and businesses on our shores.  We will continue to connect our rivers to the heart of the City and our neighborhoods for recreation, commerce, urban living and environmental preservation.

Third, we must continue to transform Pittsburgh into the black, gold and green city.  When I talk to people who have visited Pittsburgh for the first time they are amazed by how green our city is.  The lush trees that dot our hilly landscape and our neighborhoods catch people off guard as they are expecting the dirty steel city of decades past.  I am working to make our city greener one tree at a time. We are also busy making our city greener in a sustainable way as well.  I know that to bring worldwide recognition to our region as a leader in the green movement we need everyone working together towards this common goal.

Our renaissance will also be a renaissance of neighborhoods, focusing on keeping Pittsburgh "America's Most Liveable City" as well as one of its safest and cleanest cities.  We have made great strides in cleaning our streets, reducing crime and putting officers where they are needed most, but there is much work left to be done to stop the violence that haunts some of Pittsburgh's hardest hit neighborhoods.

Our future will also hinge upon our ability to rebuild our schools and invest in the education of our children.  Superintendent Roosevelt and I helped to create the Pittsburgh Promise-a scholarship program for the Pittsburgh Public high schools that may turn out to be the single most important initiative to ensure Pittsburgh survives and thrives in the upcoming decades.  And there is much more to be done.

I am going to continue to emphasize a need for the most efficient government possible.  We must leave no stone unturned in our effort to reduce the cost of government and improve the delivery of services through consolidation of services and, if necessary, governmental and political entities.

The government of the new Pittsburgh Renaissance will also be one with a resolve to be transparent and accountable.   We have made great strides in bringing in a new era of transparency and accountability to city government.  Through a sequence of executive orders I now require that all city contracts require publicly available justification forms and next month we start an even more transparent process for professional service contracts.  City Council will soon consider a campaign finance reform bill sponsored by me at the City simultaneously with a similar bill at the County level, creating a level playing field for all.  Our efforts in these areas must and will continue.

Our Pittsburgh will continue to use technology to improve services, cut costs, and solve problems in new ways. We have equipped our police officers and building inspectors alike with mobile data terminals which allow them to file reports from the field, cutting down the amount of time spent filling out paperwork at the station and getting them out in our neighborhoods.  Our emphasis on technology as an investment in our future is another piece of our plan for Pittsburgh.

Building a diverse city and a diverse workforce is another core component of my plan for a Pittsburgh Renaissance.  If we are to grow and thrive, we must be welcoming to all, a safe haven for men and women of all colors, nationalities and walks of life.  We must also continue to strive to have a workforce that represents the residents we serve. 

To ensure a bright future for our City, we must also tackle the problems of our past, the legacy of debt left to us by past generations of leadership.  For decades Pittsburgh accrued suffocating pension and debt costs that threatened to bankrupt city government.  We will continue to work tirelessly on a number of fronts to ensure that the city can meet its obligations to past and current employees without hampering our ability to provide city services to our residents. 

And the final component of a plan for Pittsburgh's Renaissance, is connecting our people to jobs and jobs to people.  Though Pittsburgh's unemployment rate is low compared to other cities, our residents are not immune to the economic crisis. I will continue to work with our many partners to create jobs that stem from our existing businesses as well as our growing technology, medical, and research industries. If you live in Pittsburgh and you are ready to work, we will continue to create opportunities to help you pair your skills with employment opportunities.

So that, briefly, is my plan for Renaissance III.  I know that not everyone will agree with my plan-- there will be those among us who differ.  Some will do so altruistically.  Others will do so with ill motive.  Yet others will do so because they are contrarians.  Still others because they can't see the good of our City and simply believe the grass is always greener elsewhere.  Pittsburgh's inferiority complex is well documented.  We do tend to get in our own way far too often.  We can't let those voices among us, compromise our hopes, dreams and aspirations for this place we call home.  I can promise you that I never will.

Instead, I, with your support, will continue to launch Pittsburgh to a better, brighter future.  To lift Pittsburgh higher.  We have the plan.  We have the vision.  We have the foundation.  The future is ours and Pittsburgh's time is now.

Thank you.