______ for Mayor!

Watch: Video for the Mayoral Debate

Last week, I attended a mayoral debate at the University of Pittsburgh. The “Pitt Political Review” and the local radio station sponsored this event. Three of the Pittsburgh mayoral candidates, Bill Peduto, Jack Wagner, and Jake Wheatley, answered questions from the audience of undergraduate and graduate students. There were a number of issues raised in this debate from how to change the morale on the police force to improving public transportation. The event highlighted the policy issues that candidates agreed upon and some they would like to change from current policy. A big topic brought up was the power of professionals and institutions in Pittsburgh. But, I was surprised on how many topics the candidates agreed on together. There were few differences between them and one of the main disparities I saw was the importance of money. This topic was brought up in reference to candidacy contributions, whether huge non-profits should be taxed more, and should there be a separate checking account for the new mayor. All of the candidates agree that Pittsburgh needs to get on board with other cities and stop living in the past.

Image Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The more I thought of this debate, the more I came to think about Richard Florida’s plan to change cities to see economic growth. Richard Florida's "creative class" argument is based on boosting economy. When a city increases its "creative class," they will increase their economy. Florida states, "because new technologies, new industries, new wealth, and all other good economic things flow" from the rise in the "creative class. These candidates did not refer to the “creative class” and only mentioned homosexual couples once. They all agree that the benefits given to heterosexual couples should also be given to homosexual couples. This might attract more homosexuals than in the past and, Florida argues, a higher “gay index” is one factor that could help a city become more economically developed. But, what if the new mayor of Pittsburgh became aware of Florida’s “creative capital theory” and actually made a point to turn Pittsburgh into a more creative hub for people that are artists, authors, musicians, etc.? Could this help Pittsburgh become a stronger, more economically driven city? Would this theory help Pittsburgh became a city to live in the present or even the future, rather than in the past? 

One way that I feel the new mayor could do this is by putting money and effort into a more complex transit system. Some of the candidates talked about Pittsburgh’s transit system and how it does not even come close to being compared with other cities. They brought up San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C.’s transportation network and how this factor contributed to improving the city. Jake Wheatley mentioned that there needs to be a rail line from Oakland to Downtown, the two main hubs for employment in the city. This rail line will help people get to their jobs and really connect the city. The other candidates seconded this approach and felt there needed to be rail lines across all places in the city; north, south, east, and west. The “creative class” might be drawn more to a city with better public transportation and a city that takes pride in making it easier to travel to events all around the city.

Also, with more than three major universities in the Pittsburgh area, we need to keep graduates from all majors in the city to help improve this “creative class.” Not only do cities need technological or health professions to boost the economy, they need the careers that fall into more of the "arts" categories. Pittsburgh is a city of museums, music concerts and shows, and nightlife. So what else can be done to create a category of people that are drawn to this part of Pittsburgh and help promote this way of life? Richard Florida says that these groups of people are drawn towards a city that has diverse populations and a tolerant environment. The more varied the city is with foods, exhibitions, and festivals, the greater the possibility that this class will come to inhabit Pittsburgh.

Image Credit: Alphachimp Tour

Whoever the new mayor is, they need to think about this group of people and how they can contribute to the city of Pittsburgh. There needs to be greater emphasis on attracting the “creative class” from elsewhere and also for keeping them after graduation. According to Richard Florida, enhancing this class of people can help the economy, and therefore put Pittsburgh on the map as an all around transformed and vibrant city.

External Links:

Article on Mayoral Debate- An article from the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" about the debate held last week and what the different candidates think they could do to improve Pittsburgh.

"The Cities and Their New Elite"- This is the article describing Richard Florida's "creative class" notion and how this group of people will help improve cities.

For more information about each of the candidates from the debate, these are links to their websites:
Jack Wagner
Jake Wheatley
Bill Peduto