Pittsburgh leaders address efforts to improve downtown

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey united with partnering groups to address the ongoing and continuing efforts to improve the downtown area.

“We will make Pittsburgh the safest, most welcoming, thriving city in America,” Gainey pledged before reporters and city stakeholders during a Thursday morning press conference.

Leaders said that the number of police officers patrolling downtown has doubled. Gainey thanked officers for “building solid relationships downtown for people that live here, for people that work here, for people that play here.”

Jeremy Waldrup, president/CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership addressed efforts to literally clean up the streets.

“This year alone, we’ve collected over 230 pounds of garbage, removed 1300 graffiti tags, which is a significant increase even from last year,” he said.

Waldrup announced a new partnership with “Renewal Inc.” which will involve a handful of individuals tackling downtown alleyways and power washing streets.

The workers will supplement the long-running “clean team” and the recently launched “Golden Triangle Ambassador Program.”

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John Valentine, with the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, said that they’re working to attract businesses to the downtown area, and are working on a project to decorate empty storefronts with artwork.

“Part of being a clean city is also beautifying the locale,” Valentine said.

City leaders were asked about the downtown area’s unhoused population.

Officials said they’re “working very hard” to ensure that everyone is housed. The newly-opened Second Avenue Commons remains at capacity, leaders said. More than 100 people are also staying at the Smithfield Church each night.

Maria Montaño, press secretary, also acknowledged that the city is looking to work with its downtown stakeholders to see if they can add public restrooms to public spaces downtown.

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