Gainey and O’Connor presented their mayoral campaign platforms in a debate last week.
Incumbent Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor met on the debate stage last week in Pittsburgh. The debate was moderated by Channel 11 News anchor Lisa Sylvester and lasted for 30 minutes.
In his opening statement, Mr. O’Connor criticized Mayor Gainey for what he referred to as a lack of transparency about the state of the city’s finances.
Mayor Gainey responded that his administration is doing an “incredible job” to ensure a strong city budget. He referenced a news conference where he announced the city has raised $62.6 million through bonds to invest in infrastructure and public safety improvement projects outlined in its 2025 budget.
Mr. O’Connor said, “Bond ratings don’t buy us ambulances. They do not turn on water fountains in the summer. We have to be transparent with the financial cliff that’s about to happen.”
When the moderator asked whether the candidates would support raising taxes or cutting city jobs to close the budget gap, Mayor Gainey said he “didn’t believe it would come to that.”
Mr. O’Connor criticized Mayor Gainey’s decision to add more than 100 employees to the city’s staff and referenced nonprofit organizations that “should be paying their fair share.”
“That’s hundreds of millions of dollars that we could put back into capital investments across this city, and we’re not doing that,” he said.
During the debate, Mayor Gainey placed emphasis on the affordable housing units his administration built. He argued that the affordable housing crisis in the city will not be addressed unless affordability is required in each neighborhood.
The mayor also pointed out a new online tracker tool his administration launched that would show a portion of Pittsburgh’s affordable housing developments in an effort to show progress made.
Over the course of the half-hour debate, Mr. O’Connor interrupted the mayor several times and questioned his statements.
“I would love to walk with you right now and you show me the 1,600 new units built under your administration. It does not exist, and you know it does not exist,” he challenged.
Mayor Gainey raised his voice and said, “I would love to take him on a walk so he can see the reality.”
Both candidates expressed their support for revamping zoning laws to make accessory dwelling units more accessible. Mr. O’Connor supported the City Council “cleaning out” the city’s zoning code, which he said would make it easier to build.
In September, Mayor Gainey introduced amendments that would reportedly reduce barriers and create more flexibility within the zoning code.
In terms of fundraising, Mr. O’Connor raised $257,000 in March while Mayor Gainey brought in under $143,000.
Mayor Gainey has made comments that donations to Mr. O’Connor’s campaign were coming from “MAGA money” and “greedy developers”.
“Obviously, my opponent knows that these are lies. He’s known me for 30 years. Somebody in Washington, D.C., who’s consulting with him is telling him to say this,” Mr. O’Connor said when the moderator referenced the mayor’s comments about his funds.
Mr. O’Connor attempted to discredit Mayor Gainey again, saying, “He is lying to the public to distract us from the conditions this city is in.”
On May 20th, Mayor Gainey and Mr. O’Connor will face off in the Democratic primary.
