![\"WTAE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762270331_994_wtae.png\")
<\/p>\nPittsburgh Mayor Election Results: Corey O’Connor vs. Tony Moreno<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFOR THE RECORD, I\u2019M RYAN RECKER. WE ARE JUST TWO DAYS AWAY FROM PITTSBURG\u2019S MAYORAL ELECTION. REPUBLICAN TONY MORENO FACES OFF AGAINST DEMOCRAT COREY O\u2019CONNOR. AND DURING THIS NEXT HALF HOUR, WE WILL HEAR FROM BOTH CANDIDATES VYING TO BECOME OUR CITY\u2019S NEXT TOP LEADER. WE START WITH MY CONVERSATION WITH TONY MORENO. WELL, YOU\u2019VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE, JUST FOUR YEARS AGO. HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU\u2019RE BETTER PREPARED FOR THIS THIS TIME AROUND? YOU REALIZE NOT EVERYBODY IS WELL INTENTIONED. THIS POLITICAL WORLD IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGUSTING MESS. EVERYBODY, THEY ALL ARE TRYING TO POSITION THEMSELVES TO GET SOMETHING. AND WHEN I COME IN, I\u2019M TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT\u2019S IT\u2019S JUST WHERE I COME FROM, A PLACE OF SERVICE. SO WHEN I STEP INTO THIS, I EXPECT TO SEE THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST AND PEOPLE WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE REALLY TOWARDS MAKING PEOPLE\u2019S LIVES BETTER, THAT THEY REPRESENT. AND I DON\u2019T SEE THAT EVERYBODY IT\u2019S A IT\u2019S A RACE FOR MONEY AND POSITION AND POWER. SO UNDERSTANDING THAT IT\u2019S EASIER FOR ME NOW TO MANEUVER THROUGH IT AND JUST FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT I HEAR FROM THE STREET, FROM PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT\u2019S WHERE I GET MY INFORMATION FROM. AND WHEN YOU MATCH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM BEING IN COMMUNITIES AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT YOU\u2019RE SEEING IN SOCIAL MEDIA OR ON TELEVISION, IT DOESN\u2019T QUITE MATCH UP. AND THEN YOU START READING BUDGETS AND YOU START SEEING BILLS BEING PASSED AND THOSE THINGS DON\u2019T EQUATE WHAT\u2019S NECESSARY ON THE STREET. SO INSTEAD OF PERFORMING THE ACT OF THE POLITICIAN, I JUST, I, I REALIZED JUST BEING A PERSON AND THRUSTING MYSELF INTO THE POLITICAL WORLD WORKS BETTER BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TO BRING YOU\u2019RE BRINGING A FIGHT. THAT\u2019S FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT. INSTEAD OF POSITIONING IN A POLITICAL MIND. SO OPERATING WITH THAT MINDSET, HAS THAT STRENGTHENED YOUR DESIRE TO WANT THIS POSITION? IT IS. TRIPLE DOWN MY NEED. I JUST SEE THIS THIS LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND IT\u2019S A BREAKDOWN. YOU SEE DISARRAY. THAT\u2019S WHAT WE\u2019RE REALIZING RIGHT NOW. GOOD OR BAD, THE GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED TO WORK FOR OUR BEST INTEREST. AND WHEN THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP TO TAKE CONTROL AND DIRECT US IN THOSE WAYS, THERE\u2019S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMETHING. SOMETHING IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT\u2019S MURPHY\u2019S LAW. THAT\u2019S WHY WE HAVE PLANS. IF YOU DON\u2019T HAVE A PLAN, THEN YOU DON\u2019T KNOW WHERE TO GO. WHEN THAT PLAN GETS BROKEN. THIS BREAKDOWN IN LEADERSHIP IS BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN\u2019T PREPARED TO SERVE PEOPLE. LET\u2019S TALK ISSUES AND THE ISSUES THAT THE CITY IS FACING. WHICH ONES STAND OUT TO YOU? PUBLIC SAFETY. YEAH, IT\u2019S IT\u2019S TREMENDOUS TO ME THAT THE FIRST TIME I RAN, EVERYBODY WANTED TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OF IT WAS THE GEORGE FLOYD ERA AND BLACK LIVES MATTER RIOTS. AND THERE WAS A CHANGE THAT WAS DESIRED. SO I WANTED TO SHOW THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND EVERYBODY WATCHING, THAT I WAS MORE THAN JUST A RETIRED POLICEMAN. I KNOW THE BUDGET. I KNOW HOW HOUSING WORKS. I KNOW HOW PUBLIC SAFETY WORKS. I KNOW HOW THE CITY WORKS. I WORKED IN IT FOR 24 YEARS, AND I DEALT WITH ALL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO I AM NOW SO WELL PREPARED FOR THIS. EVEN MORE THAN MY DESIRE TO DO IT LAST TIME. NOW I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM SO THEY GET DONE. NOW, INSTEAD OF WASTING MONEY AND ARRIVING AT COALITIONS TO HAVE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE MEETING. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING CRIME, LET\u2019S SAY, OR SOLIDIFYING THE POLICE FORCE OR ANOTHER BIG PICTURE TOPIC IS, IS SELECTING A POLICE CHIEF SPECIFICALLY HOW, IF ELECTED, WOULD YOU ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES? A POLICE CHIEF? SIMPLE. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST LOOK AT SOMEBODY\u2019S RESUME BEFORE THEY GOT PROMOTED OR SELECTED INTO BEING A INTO THE NEXT POSITION OTHER THAN PATROLMAN. YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEIR INTEREST WAS, HOW THEY WORKED, WHAT THEY PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT\u2019S AN EASY PREMISE. THE NEXT STEP IS NOW, INSTEAD OF POLICING POLITICALLY, WHICH WE\u2019RE DOING NOW. AND THAT\u2019S WHY YOU SEE THIS BREAKDOWN IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE JUST GO BACK TO ENFORCING THE RULES AND LAWS. IT\u2019S SIMPLE. THAT\u2019S THE JOB THAT POLICE OFFICERS TAKE. WE ARE GOING TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW WHAT\u2019S NECESSARY IN RELATING TO COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I\u2019VE DONE IT. I KNOW WHAT WORKS. HAVING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT CAN DWELL IN COMMUNITIES WITHOUT RUNNING THROUGH THEIR YARDS AND GETTING TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, IT\u2019S AKIN TO EXACTLY THE OLD SCHOOL WALKING THE BEAT. BUT WE HAVE NEW TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE. WE HAVE BETTER TRAINING THAN WE\u2019VE EVER HAD. WE HAVE BETTER TOOLS THAN WE\u2019VE EVER HAD. AND IF WE APPLY THOSE TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE THAT WE WANT, WITH THE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT THAT WE WANT, WE\u2019RE GOING TO BE BETTER. AND IT JUST NEEDS SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THAT AND HAS THE APPETITE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND THAT\u2019S ME. I\u2019M THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS TO DO THAT. ENFORCING THE RULES IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE PLAYING FIELD IS AND WHAT TO EXPECT. WHERE DO YOU THINK THE CITY HAS FALLEN SHORT WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME? OBEYING THE RULES THEY HAVE? BECAUSE OUR LEADERS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE CASE THAT LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED. YOU KNOW, LAWS ARE HARD TO GET TO. IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT. IT TAKES A LOT FOR THAT. REPRESENTATIVE OF GOVERNMENT TO CONVINCE THE ENTIRE GROUP OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT. WE DON\u2019T DO THAT HERE. INSTEAD, WE JUST CHANGE POLICY. WE THREATEN OFFICERS. IF YOU DON\u2019T OBEY THE POLICIES, YOU CAN\u2019T GET PROMOTED, YOU CAN\u2019T WORK OVERTIME, YOU CAN\u2019T DO THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER. AND NOT ONLY DO THE OFFICERS SUFFER, OUR RESIDENTS SUFFER. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT NOW BY THE BODIES THAT ARE LAYING IN OUR PLANTERS DOWNTOWN, ON OUR TRAILS, DYING WITHOUT PEOPLE EVEN CARING. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES, AND WE JUST TREAT THEM AS IF THEY\u2019RE ANOTHER COG IN THE PROBLEM. I IT\u2019S IT\u2019S BEYOND ME WHY WE OPERATE THIS WAY. BUT I UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I DID IT FOR SO LONG. THE NEED TO POLICE CORRECTLY AND BE ACCOUNTABLE. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO ME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS DOING WHAT HE\u2019S DOING. YOU\u2019VE TALKED ABOUT BEING THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE. HOW DO YOU THINK IN THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, PERHAPS FAMILIARITY CAN HELP YOU THIS TIME AROUND, IN THE SENSE THAT NOW VOTERS WILL KNOW YOUR MESSAGE, THEY\u2019LL KNOW YOUR VALUES. THEY\u2019LL KNOW YOUR VOICE THAT\u2019S ATTACHED TO ALL OF THESE ISSUES. IS THERE ANYTHING TO THAT? ABSOLUTELY. EVERYWHERE I GO, IT\u2019S VERY DIFFERENT. THE LAST TIME I RAN, I WAS JUST THE OTHER PERSON RUNNING WHO WAS SAYING THE WORDS THAT THEY WANTED TO SAY. I BELIEVED I HAD A GOOD, REALLY GOOD CHANCE. BUT IT\u2019S POLITICS AND IT\u2019S DIFFICULT, AND THERE\u2019S A LOT THAT GOES ON IN THE POLITICAL WORLD THAT MOST PEOPLE DON\u2019T SEE. SO ONCE YOU REALIZE WHERE THEY BURY THEIR LANDMINES AND HOW THEY\u2019RE ACTING, MY PRIOR EMPLOYMENT, I\u2019M A RETIRED POLICE DETECTIVE. ALL I DID WAS INVESTIGATE CRIMES, AND NOW I SPEAK TO PEOPLE AND I KNOW WHAT THEY\u2019RE SAYING WHEN THEY\u2019RE SAYING IT AND WHAT THEY\u2019RE GOING TO DO. IT\u2019S A HUGE ADVANTAGE THAT I CAN TALK TO PEOPLE AND I KNOW WHERE THEY\u2019RE GOING TO GO. SO I IT MAKES IT EASIER. RECOGNITION IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO I AM WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS. I\u2019M THE I\u2019M THE COP THAT\u2019S RUNNING. I\u2019M THE GUY THAT THAT CAME IN OUT OF NOWHERE AND ALMOST WON THE DEMOCRAT ENDORSEMENT. I NOW AM IN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. I DON\u2019T THINK THE POLITICS OF THE DAYS MATTER ANYMORE. WE ALL WANT CHANGE, AND I\u2019M THE ONLY VOICE OF THAT. SO IT\u2019S A BIG, BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE. I\u2019M IN A I\u2019M IN A BETTER POSITION NOW THAN I WAS LAST TIME. AND I KNOW THAT WE\u2019RE GOING TO WIN BECAUSE I\u2019M TALKING TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. AND THAT\u2019S THE SENTIMENT. EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND WE\u2019RE NOT GETTING IT. PITTSBURGH HASN\u2019T HAD A REPUBLICAN MAYOR NEARLY 100 YEARS, SO NO DOUBT THIS IS AN UPHILL BATTLE. YOU JUST SAID YOU\u2019RE GOING TO WIN. WHAT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE YOU WILL WIN THIS ELECTION? PEOPLE YOU KNOW, IT\u2019S A 5050 PREMISE RIGHT NOW. IT\u2019S NOT LIKE WHEN YOU\u2019RE COMING INTO IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND THERE\u2019S NO POSSIBLE WAY. THERE\u2019S $1 MILLION THAT WAS GIVEN TO COREY O\u2019CONNOR OVER A MILLION. RIGHT NOW. HE\u2019S NOT HE\u2019S NOT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT HE\u2019S GOING TO DO FOR THEM. I\u2019M PUTTING TOGETHER COMMERCIALS. WE\u2019RE GOING OUT AND GETTING FIVE AND $10 FROM FROM COMMUNITY MEETINGS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION. THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ELECTION. THIS TIME. THERE\u2019S SUFFERING OUT IN OUR CITY. WE CAN SEE IT NOW. IT\u2019S JUST NOT NUMBERS. WE\u2019RE JUST NOT SEEING NUMBERS. WE\u2019RE SEEING RESULTS OF THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP HERE, THE LACK OF PROTECTION, THE LACK OF CARE AND THE LACK OF LOVE COMING FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. ONCE WE START TREATING PEOPLE LIKE THEY ARE TRULY PARTS OF OUR FAMILY, THEN WE\u2019LL REALLY GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE OUR COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE YOU DON\u2019T DARE SEE A FAMILY MEMBER GET ASSAULTED ON THE STREET AND NOT RESPOND, OR NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GO TO COLLEGE OR GET AN APARTMENT. WHEN YOUR FAMILY YOU TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE. AND WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THE CITY THAT WAY, BECAUSE WHAT\u2019S HAPPENING NOW ISN\u2019T WORKING. STILL AHEAD ON FOR THE RECORD, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT STOPPING GUN VIOLENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY. DEMOCRAT COREY O\u2019CONNOR\u2019S TURN TO TAKE ON THE ISSUES, WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL TACKLE, SHOULD HE BE ELECTED. WELCOME BACK TO, FOR THE RECORD, AS WE CONTINUE TO FEATURE PITTSBURGH\u2019S MAYORAL CANDIDATES AHEAD OF TUESDAY\u2019S ELECTION, IN OUR LAST SEGMENT, YOU SAW MY INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN TONY MORENO. WE NOW GO TO OUR SHANNON PERRINE WHO SAT DOWN WITH DEMOCRAT COREY O\u2019CONNOR. OKAY, LET\u2019S MOVE INTO WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE FOR THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND WHEN YOU\u2019RE TALKING ABOUT 2026 AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THINGS LIKE GUN LAWS, HOW CAN YOU IMPACT THE PROBLEM OF GUN VIOLENCE IN YOUR CITY DURING A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT STOPPING GUN VIOLENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE HAVE WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE REACH WHO\u2019S DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH AROUND THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND WE ACTUALLY WANT TO EXPAND OUR ROOTS PROGRAM. ROOTS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD SIX STATIONS ALL ACROSS THE CITY, AND ONLY ENDED UP WITH ONE AND ONE PART TIME. SO I THINK HAVING SIX ROOTS PROGRAMS GOING ON IN EACH POLICE ZONE WILL BE HELPFUL AND NOT A STANDARD SITE WHERE IT\u2019S JUST RIGHT ON ONE CORNER AND THAT\u2019S IT. I THINK HAVING PEOPLE OUT DOING MORE OUTREACH AMONG THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT\u2019S A GREAT WAY TO HELP PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DRUG ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT\u2019S THAT\u2019S A BIG PART OF THE SITUATION. AND DESCRIBE THAT AGAIN TO OUR VIEWERS. BRICK AND MORTAR OFFICES, PLACES THAT YOU CAN WALK IN AND GET. YEAH, I THINK WHAT WE\u2019RE SEEING IS THE BRICK AND MORTAR WORKED FOR A TIME, BUT NOW I THINK HAVING MORE FLUCTUATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL. SO HAVING MORE OUTREACH PROGRAMS, MAYBE YOU\u2019RE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF A SCHOOL, MAYBE YOU\u2019RE OUTSIDE OF A SENIOR CENTER, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ROOTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND ENSURING THAT THEY ARE KIND OF FLOATING AROUND THE COMMUNITY, NOT IN ONE LOCATION EACH AND EVERY TIME. AS WE\u2019RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I DO WANT TO GO INTO A QUESTION ABOUT POLICE POLICING, POLICE STAFFING, AND FIRST OF ALL, POLICE CHIEF, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT WHO IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO LEAD THE CITY, THE BUREAU OF POLICE? WELL, SOMEBODY THAT\u2019S COMMITTED TO PITTSBURGH. AND THAT\u2019S THE FIRST QUESTION YOU ASK. SO IF SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK. THAT\u2019S NUMBER ONE QUESTION. YOU\u2019RE GOING TO ASK SOMEBODY, HE OR SHE IF YOU WANT TO YOU WANT THIS JOB. YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO BEING IN PITTSBURGH. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT STAYING FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. AND I THINK THAT\u2019S SOMETHING THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, WE\u2019VE SEEN 5 IN 3 YEARS. THERE\u2019S NO STABILITY IN THE POLICE FORCE ANYMORE. SO I THINK YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS PITTSBURGH. I DON\u2019T WANT TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY TO FIND SOMEBODY FROM, YOU KNOW, THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WHO TAKES A YEAR TO EVEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AROUND OUR CITY. SO YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND OUR STREETS, UNDERSTAND OUR OFFICERS, UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THEY\u2019RE WALKING INTO. AND IT COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT\u2019S HERE OR AN OFFICER THAT HAD LEFT THAT\u2019S INTERESTED IN COMING BACK. BUT I THINK MY DOOR\u2019S OPEN TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. BUT I THINK THE NEXT MAYOR NEEDS TO BE STRONG. AND, YOU KNOW, NAMING THAT CHIEF RELATIVELY EARLY. I MEAN, I WOULD HOPE TO NAME A CHIEF OF POLICE IN DECEMBER SO THAT THEY CAN GO OUT, TALK TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT THEN ALSO MEET WITH COUNCIL SO THEY COULD BE APPROVED EARLY IN JANUARY. DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT\u2019S A GOOD NUMBER FOR THE PATROL OFFICERS. I THINK WE FLOATED NUMBERS OUT BEFORE, BUT I REALLY THINK IT COMES DOWN TO HOW A NEW CHIEF WANTS TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICERS, WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, STOP THE VIOLENCE FUNDING HOW WE\u2019RE GOING TO UTILIZE THAT TO CONTINUE TO TO LOWER OUR VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE CHIEF, OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED MORE OFFICERS. THE OFFICERS ARE STRESSED AT THIS POINT, WORKING OVERTIME, YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND AT THIS POINT. AND WE HAVE THE NFL DRAFT COMING UP. SO WE\u2019RE GOING TO NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF RECRUITING. AND, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO GET BACK TO 1000 OFFICERS. PROBABLY NOT. LET\u2019S BE REALISTIC. BUT WE NEED AN UPTICK IN THAT. AND I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS THAT ARE LEAVING OUR BUREAU BECAUSE THERE\u2019S INSTABILITY AT THE TOP. WANT TO SEE A CHIEF AND SOMEBODY THAT\u2019S GOING TO SAY, HEY, YOU\u2019RE WORKING EIGHT HOURS, NOT TEN\u2019S NOT 12. LIKE BEING HAVING A STABLE HOURLY WORK ETHIC IN OUR BUREAU WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING THAT. IT\u2019S HARD FOR ANY CITY TO OFFER THE SAME KIND OF SALARIES AS SUBURBAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE IN A UNION CONTRACT THAT YOU CAN? MAYBE OFFER TO POTENTIAL POLICE OFFICERS TO MAKE THEIR LIFE IN PITTSBURGH WORKING FOR THE BUREAU OF POLICE? YEAH, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THAT\u2019S TOUGH, AND YOU\u2019D HAVE TO GET INTO THE UNION AND TALK ABOUT IT. WE KNOW MONEY\u2019S GOING TO BE RELATIVELY TIGHT IN THE CITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT I ALSO THINK THERE\u2019S THERE\u2019S OTHER THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT, NOT JUST FOR OUR POLICE BUT OUR NURSES, PARAMEDICS, FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS. CAN WE START HAVING A CONVERSATION NOT JUST ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT INCENTIVIZE INCENTIVIZES THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND I THINK THAT\u2019S SOMETHING WE HAVEN\u2019T REALLY TACKLED. WE\u2019VE WE\u2019VE DONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL, WE PASSED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL OVER PITTSBURGH. BUT NOW LET\u2019S GET THE CONVERSATION GOING ON. WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE\u2019RE SHORT IN NURSES, TEACHERS, POLICE, FIRE, EMS LIKE THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT IF WE CAN CREATE A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THEN MAYBE YOU START GROWING YOUR NUMBERS IN CERTAIN AREAS. IS THE NURSING SPECIFICALLY OF NURSES? IS THAT SOME A WAY THAT YOU ENVISION REALLY BEING ABLE TO GET SOME CASH OUT OF THESE HUGE PITTSBURGH NONPROFITS THAT HAVE NOT PAID TAXES? I THINK THAT\u2019S A CONVERSATION THAT YOU COULD HAVE, BECAUSE THAT OBVIOUSLY FITS THE MISSION. BUT I THINK WHEN YOU TALK TO OUR LARGER NONPROFITS AND WORKING ON A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT, IT\u2019S GOT TO FIT THEIR MISSION. WE KNOW THAT THAT MONEY IS NOT GOING TO GO TO THEY DON\u2019T WANT TO GIVE US MONEY TO FILL IN OUR COFFERS. AND WHAT THE CITY DEBT IS. SO LET\u2019S HAVE A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT THAT\u2019S GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. SO CAN WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT PURCHASING AMBULANCES? WE KNOW THAT MAJOR HOSPITALS HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. SO OUR AMBULANCES ARE BREAKING DOWN TO AND FROM CALLS. I THINK A LEADER GOES IN AND HAS A SPECIFIC ASK. AND, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ALL WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS. I\u2019VE HEARD ABOUT YOUR PLAN TO INCREASE REVENUE FOR THE CITY COFFERS. THIS FEELS LIKE A FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT WE\u2019RE CURRENTLY IN RIGHT NOW. IF YOU CAN, FOR OUR VIEWERS, CAN YOU CAN YOU NUTSHELL HOW WE GOT HERE AND YOUR PLAN TO GET US OUT? YEAH. I MEAN, HOW WE GOT HERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME MISMANAGEMENT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I THINK COVID RELIEF MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT MORE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEVELING OUT SITES, HAVING THEM SHOVEL, SHOVEL READY, NOT JUST FOR HOUSING AND LONG-TERM HOUSING, BUT ALSO FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND STARTUPS. WE DECIDED TO HIRE A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THE COVID MONEY IS GONE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RETAIN THOSE EMPLOYEES AND PAY THEIR SALARIES. SO THAT\u2019S A $12 MILLION HOLE RIGHT THERE. WE ALSO KNOW LAST YEAR\u2019S BUDGET WAS A BUDGET TO GET THROUGH AN ELECTION. THIS YEAR\u2019S BUDGET IS NOT BEING HONEST AND TRUTHFUL, AND WE WON\u2019T KNOW THE ACTUAL NUMBERS UNTIL SOMEBODY GETS THERE. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT CONTRACTS, YOU KNOW, LINE ITEMS WITHIN THE BUDGET. WHAT CAN WHAT COSTS CAN WE CUT SO THAT IT DOESN\u2019T FALL ON THE BACKS OF OUR TAXPAYERS? AND A LOT OF US, WE WON\u2019T KNOW THAT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GET INTO OFFICE AND SEE WHAT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ARE GOING TO BE. IS THERE IS THERE A PART OF THE BUDGET WHERE YOU CAN ALREADY SEE SOME COST SAVINGS? I MEAN, I THINK AGAIN, LOOKING AT CONTRACTS, STREAMLINING A LOT OF PROCESSES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PERMITS, IF WE CAN GET PERMITS OUT QUICKER, THAT\u2019S MORE MONEY. PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR PERMITS TO GET BACK INTO THE CITY COFFERS, BUT THEN ALSO THAT HELPS WHEN YOU\u2019RE TALKING ABOUT GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WE HAVE TO START BUILDING MORE HOUSING SO THAT WE HAVE A LARGER TAX BASE. AND IT CAN\u2019T JUST BE FOR RENTERS. I MEAN, YES, WE LOVE THAT WE HAVE RENTERS IN THE CITY, BUT THE WAY TO CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH IS HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT. AND THAT\u2019S WHY I THINK HAVING 11,000 PARCELS IN THE CITY, WE CAN DO A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INTERNALLY. AND IT\u2019S A SHAME YOU COULDN\u2019T GO BACK AND GET THE 300 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF COVID MONEY, BECAUSE NOW YOU COULD HAVE SHOVEL READY SITES THAT YOU COULD BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT\u2019S AFFORDABLE, THAT SOMEBODY COULD OWN RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. AND I THINK THAT\u2019S GOT TO BE OUR VISION OR THAT IS OUR VISION, AND THAT\u2019S GOT TO BE OUR MISSION TO DO THAT STUFF AND DO IT QUICK. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AGAIN? THAT\u2019S ONE THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE DON\u2019T KNOW THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. I MEAN, YOU\u2019RE LOOKING AT THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET SHOWS FIVE YEARS OF, YOU KNOW, ZERO CAPITAL FOR PAVING. I MEAN, HOW IS THAT OPTIONAL? IT\u2019S NOT. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND START ANALYZING THE BUDGET. AND I THINK COMING FROM THE COMPTROLLER\u2019S OFFICE, THAT\u2019S GOING TO GIVE ME A LEG UP IF SUCCESSFUL NEXT WEEK AND KEEP IT HERE, BECAUSE COMING UP, WE WILL TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN GET ALL OF THE LATEST COMMITMENT, 2025 INFORMATION AS ELECTION DAY APPROACHES. WELCOME BACK AS WE GET READY FOR ELECTION NIGHT HERE IN PITTSBURGH, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT PITTSBURGH\u2019S ACTION NEWS FOUR IS YOUR HOME FOR COMMITMENT 2020 COVERAGE. FOLLOW US BOTH ON AIR, ONLINE AND ON THE WTAE APP. ON TUESDAY. FOR ALL OF THE UPDATES AS RESULTS COME IN FOR PITTSBURGH\u2019S MAYORAL RACE AND SEVERAL OTHER IMPORTANT RACES. AND AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE A TOPIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THE RECORD TO ADDRESS, JUST SEND US AN EMAIL TO NEWS AT. DOT COM. AND YOU CAN ALSO REWATCH THIS OR ANY EPISODE WITH A VERY LOCAL APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET OR SMART TV. THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK\u2019S EDITION OF. FOR THE RECORD, WE\u2019LL SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY MORNING AT 11 A.M. HAVE A GREAT WEEK!\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Mayor Election Results: Corey O’Connor vs. Tony Moreno<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRESULTS:MAIN PAGE | PITTSBURGH MAYOR | PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE RETENTION | PITTSBURGH RACES | ALLEGHENY COUNTY | BEAVER COUNTY | BUTLER COUNTY | CLARION COUNTY | FAYETTE COUNTY | GREENE COUNTY | INDIANA COUNTY | JEFFERSON COUNTY | LAWRENCE COUNTY | VENANGO COUNTY | WASHINGTON COUNTY | WESTMORELAND COUNTY On Election Day, Pittsburghers will elect a new mayor. Allegheny County Controller and Democrat Corey O’Connor will face retired police officer and Republican Tony Moreno after both winning their parties ticket in May. Results will begin to update after polls close at 8 p.m.If you don’t see the results above, click here. WHO IS COREY O’CONNORCorey O’Connor, 40, grew up in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood and currently lives in Point Breeze with his wife Katie and their two children.O’Connor attended Duquesne University where he studied early childhood education and later worked for then-U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, where he handled community development.In 2011, O\u2019Connor was elected to Pittsburgh City Council, representing District 5.In 2022, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf nominated O\u2019Connor to fill the vacancy in the Allegheny County Controller\u2019s office when Chelsa Wagner left to serve as judge.In November 2023, O’Connor was elected to a full term as the county controller. He continues to serve in that role.ISSUES: AFFORDABLE HOUSINGO\u2019Connor says he wants to help \u201cresidents access safe, stable, and most importantly, affordable,\u201d housing. He says he wants to help residents find resources for repairs or accessibility modifications.According to his campaign website, he is looking to fix the permit and zoning system, encourage housing abundance and affordability and work with Urban Redevelopment Authority to use the Housing Opportunity fund. O’Connor proposes a transit-oriented development zoning overlay district.O’Connor says he is committed to encouraging a ‘wide-scale’ production of new housing units and workforce housing and wants to prioritize helping those who are homeless stay off the street.”I believe that we could have affordable housing in every neighborhood, but you need leadership and someone at the table who is willing to negotiate,” O’Connor said during a debate with Gainey at the WTAE studios on April 22.ISSUES: PUBLIC SAFETYO’Connor said Pittsburgh is currently struggling to “administer public safety functions.” O’Connor said he wants to ‘adequately’ fund and staff public safety services, restore dedicated community and neighborhood resource policing units, further develop the co-responder program and establish public safety resource hubs.In addition, O’Connor says he wants to create accessible and open public safety dashboards that will include data and crime with year-over-year trends.”Police and EMS stations are closing overnight because of staffing shortages, severely impacting the City\u2019s ability to respond to emergency situations and keep residents safe. This is unacceptable. The City has been plagued by difficulties with recruitment and retention for years, placing undue stress on the Police, Fire, and EMS services that comprise the Department of Public Safety.\u201dDuring a live debate at WTAE studios against Mayor Gainey on April 22, O’Connor also said public safety will be improved if the city figures out its next steps regarding a police chief.”It comes to the chief of police and how we don’t even have one,” O’Connor said. “This is our fifth one in three and a half years. People still feel uncomfortable coming into the city. There are still offices that don’t have people back in the city because they are worried.”WHO IS TONY MORENO Tony Moreno, 56, of Brighton Heights, enlisted in the military out of high school and served as an Army Airborne police officer before going on to the police academy. After moving east with his former wife, he came to Pittsburgh and landed a job with the Pittsburgh Bureau of police, where he served for 24 years.In 2021, Moreno ran for Pittsburgh mayor and lost to Gainey.He was the first Republican to announce his candidacy in the 2025 mayoral race.ISSUES: PUBLIC SAFETYMoreno says his first priority if he becomes mayor of the city is to restore Pittsburgh to full-service police and hire officers.When it comes to public safety, Moreno says he has proven the success of managing (public safety) issues as an acting Pittsburgh police officer in keeping Market Square free from drugs and panhandling.The goal: “Simply use law enforcement officers to enforce current laws and ordinances.”ISSUES: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTo focus on economic development in the city, Moreno says it all starts with safety on the Northside with community policing to enforce local, state and federal laws.Moreno wants to make Pittsburgh the world headquarters of AI, data storage and bitcoin mining.”The federal government made it clear that the U.S. wants to lead in artificial intelligence. Pittsburgh should be the headquarters,” Moreno said. He also wants to develop a relationship with UPMC for money that could be used to fund healthcare for all city employees.”We could put together corporate sponsorship plan with the (UPMC & AGH) instead of fighting with them and also possibly have the health systems fund trades training for the inner-city youth provided by these nonprofits,” Moreno said.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
RESULTS:MAIN PAGE<\/a> | PITTSBURGH MAYOR<\/a> | PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE RETENTION<\/a> | PITTSBURGH RACES<\/a> | ALLEGHENY COUNTY <\/a>| BEAVER COUNTY<\/a> | BUTLER COUNTY<\/a> | CLARION COUNTY<\/a> | FAYETTE COUNTY<\/a> | GREENE COUNTY<\/a> | INDIANA COUNTY<\/a> | JEFFERSON COUNTY<\/a> | LAWRENCE COUNTY<\/a> | VENANGO COUNTY<\/a> | WASHINGTON COUNTY<\/a> | WESTMORELAND COUNTY<\/a> <\/p>\n On Election Day, Pittsburghers will elect a new mayor. Allegheny County Controller and Democrat Corey O’Connor will face retired police officer and Republican Tony Moreno after both winning their parties ticket in May. Results will begin to update after polls close at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n