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Luke Ravensthal

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Spending reform plan has risks, rewards for City Council's Ravenstahl
  • City Council Weigh In On Murphy's Deal, Council President Luke Ravensthal said he would meet with the U.S. Attorney to see just how Tom Murphy could comply with her requirement that he provide information and testimony to city council on ways to prevent contract deals that could evade their scrutiny. from KDKA.com in June, 2006.

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  • "Pittsburgh is a brand name and we really have to work on it," said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
  • "I've said that this is not a job I aspired to or asked for in the past, but this morning, I'm here to offer you a different perspective as I announce my candidacy to run for the unexpired term of Mayor (Bob) O'Connor," said Ravenstahl, surrounded by his wife, Erin, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and U.S. Rep Mike Doyle at a Downtown news conference.
  • "Bob O'Connor breathed life into this city at a time when it was really needed," Ravenstahl said, adding that he hopes to continue the work began by the late mayor.
  • He listed among his priorities the creation of new jobs and keeping young people in the city, "something that as a young mayor, I know a lot about."
  • He also talked about the need to build successful relationships with lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.
  • "In order for Pittsburgh to burst forward into the future, we must be willing to shake things up," he said. "We must be willing to embrace the future instead of living in the past."

Insights with Regan and crew[]

The nearly two-month investigation in the fall of 2006 into Catherine McNeilly's allegations with Dennis Regan about Francis Rende yielded few answers for the public because officials said confidentiality rules bar them from discussing much of what investigators learned.

"I am legally not allowed to tell you what's in those reports," Ravenstahl said.

The mayor said his administration has a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior.

Insights[]

Trib Column from Eric Heyl in October, 2006[]

Luke Ravenstahl Old role: Boyish city council president whose primary responsibility was to keep colleague Twanda Carlisle from wasting any more taxpayer money on bogus studies performed by consultants who happen to be her mother's housemate.

New role: Boyish mayor whose primary responsibility is to oversee and be the visible face of a financially distressed city delivering public services to more than 300,000 residents despite its continued economic woes.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Ravenstahl's old role was much more challenging than his new role.

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Text of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's inaugural address[]

Friday, December 21, 2007

The following is the full text of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Dec. 20 inaugural address, at the Carnegie Music Hall.'

A Great American City: Today and Tomorrow

I stand before you this evening as our great City approaches its 250th birthday. Just reflect for a precious moment on the enormity of that great hallmark. In 1753, a 21-year-old George Washington first laid eyes on the land that would become Pittsburgh and recognized that this site, at the fork of the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers, was an ideal place to build a fort, to make a stand.

Five years later, Fort Pitt was built. And today, over two and half centuries later, young Washington's words and observations are just as true -- we are the ideal place for a great American city. Since Pittsburgh's settlement, we have witnessed, been a part of, and created history. Our great City was here before even the Revolutionary War. We were a frontier City. A haven for immigrants. We led the industrial revolution. Eliminated the threat of polio. Led the effort to clean our air and water and respect our environment. Our sons and daughters have fought and some given their lives in defense of the soil upon which I stand today. We survived the most massive dislocation of workers and heavy industry in American history.

But look at us today. Once again, our people and our City are at the forefront. We are home to some of the world's finest colleges, universities and medical systems. We create the robots that explore planets. We finance jobs, economic development and the next discovery. The world turns to us to heal their loved ones. From supercomputing to literally defending the backbone of the internet, Pittsburghers are hard at work. We're leading the world in technologies that didn't even have names 20 years ago. Many of the world's leading corporate brands are our neighbors. We are truly a great American City. We have a personality that is all our own. We are a city of great Pittsburghers.

Together, you and I are not simply part of Pittsburgh's majestic history. We are defining its future. Together, we are following in the courageous steps of our predecessors who gave us much to build upon. And we're running with the ball.

In our short time together, just 14 months, we have added our initiatives to the wall of this City's great accomplishments. Let's reflect for a moment.

• Along with our City Schools and UPMC, we are writing a new chapter in the lives and opportunities of a generation of our youth. The Pittsburgh Promise is a game-changing decision. It is a commitment to each family -- to each child -- that Pittsburgh is willing to invest in the future of its people. The dollars that will go to our children's college educations are dollars committed to this City's growth. The Promise also reflects an historic agreement between our largest employer, our school system and my office. It is proof that by working together, we can create opportunities for Pittsburgh that, until now, no one believed could be possible.

• We have made enormous strides to ensure that our citizens and their property are safe from crime. We have seen a significant drop in crime. In fact, 2007 has been the safest year for our citizens in more than 40 years. We have more police on the street, in your neighborhood, and working with better technology than ever before.

• We have responsibly managed our financial house. We faced our great financial challenge with resolve, discipline and creativity. We've balanced our last two budgets, built a savings account of nearly $100 million, watched our bond rating be upgraded twice, and instituted a "no new debt" policy. Our efforts have been met with accolades by state overseers. In fact, there are more than a few who are today calling for state oversight to end. Who would have thought it possible just three years ago?

• We have made great strides in promoting diversity. For the first time in our City's history we have both an African-American police and fire chief. We have been diligent our outreach to find qualified people for our government, boards and authorities. As a result, we have the most diverse leadership in our City's history.

• We are surrounded by a massive amount investment. More than $3 billion can be seen from Federal Street on the North Side, to a revitalized East Liberty in the East End, to the Pittsburgh Technology Center and the South Side Works, to the Hill District, there is progress, job creation and economic development happening. We're retooling City government as a partner in this growth. There's more investment and more job creation on the horizon.

It is not just me as a proud Pittsburgher and Mayor who is talking about our illustrious history and contributions to this country. The outside world is recognizing our accomplishments as well. Whether its Wall Street rewarding us for our financial management or Rand McNally naming us the Country's most livable city or Frommer's recommending Pittsburgh as a "must visit" destination, experts throughout the nation are indeed admiring the City we call home and work so hard to steward.

I could go on about our great history, and what we have endured and achieved, but tonight it is equally important to look to the future. The future of this great City is ours to define, my friends.

I stand here tonight, just days before we celebrate our 250th birthday. We celebrate as we look toward a bright future. A future of financial certainty, as a nationally recognized leader in technology, green buildings and cultural amenities. Even so, we must ask ourselves: "what is our wish as we blow out our birthday candles?" What is our wish as residents, as taxpayers, as stewards of our great City?

As we meet here tonight, to mark the official inauguration of our City's 59th Mayor, we must join together in our understanding that the wishes and decisions we make today -- at this crucial time in our history -- will have the power to change the future.

That cannot be stated strongly enough: defining this City's future is our calling. We must answer that calling with a bold vision and even bolder work ethic.

I firmly believe that the future of good government is in cooperation. Because of that, I will continue to work with any and all governments- counties, cities, boroughs and townships- to drive down costs and deliver a less expensive, more efficient and effective government.

I will do everything in my power to continue to share services, reduce costs through the elimination of duplicative services, and partner with others to cooperatively approach services for the benefit of all. We have already shown in our refuse collection partnership with Wilkinsburg that expanding our services is a formula for success. We have proven, through our cooperation with the County and other authorities, that we can save tax dollars by combining our purchasing power. There are more opportunities like these waiting to be discovered. Through fresh thinking and an openness to new ideas, we will see that we can both improve services and save dollars through practical cooperation.

And yes, finding cooperative solutions with our neighbors is one piece of my vision for Pittsburgh. But there is much more:

• My vision begins by asking you to join me in fighting for this City's future. We will never solve some of the challenges facing this City and others if we simply punt, pass the buck, or make it someone else's problem -- or the problem of future generations. There will be tough times to overcome in order to succeed. But remember, as Pittsburghers, we are always fighting on the same side.

• My vision for this City is a government of the highest standard. I will impress upon my staff that every decision counts. We must act each day to increase safety for our citizens, strengthen our finances, foster new investment and expand our tax base. Every day we must do our best to serve you.

• My vision for Pittsburgh is high-tech. We use technology to do old things in new ways. We will work smarter, not harder. We will recognize opportunities for shared services, such as combining our planning and development divisions, to create a more effective, engaged and innovative government. Innovation is evolution. We are a City that is evolving into our future.

• Strong, diverse Neighborhoods are the landscape in my vision for this City. Our neighborhoods reflect our most sacred values -- they are the expression of our families. Each neighborhood must be given the tools to protect its heritage and welcome new residents. When parents sit on their porch while children play, we must ensure that the streets are clean and safe.

• My vision offers opportunities for each of us to go to work. We will work in jobs that stem from our growing technology, medical, and research industries. My government is dedicated to keeping families together, so that Pittsburgh's youth, its bright young minds, will not have to choose between their home and their job. If you live in Pittsburgh and you are ready to work, you will soon see how my administration will help you pair your skills with employment opportunities.

Making this vision a reality will take hard work. But we will get it done, and I will lead by example. I will bring resolve, conviction, energy and strength to this office. I will draw my strength from you.

I would like to close with a personal pledge to each of you. I want you to know how deeply honored I am to be the Mayor of this great City.

I will leave it all on the field. You will get all I have to give.

I will listen to, and genuinely care for, the people of Pittsburgh. I will be accessible, thoughtful and open-minded. I will not be "the" mayor, I will be your Mayor.

I just need for you to do one thing... I need you to believe.

You've gotta believe that we have a City worth fighting for, a City of great people, businesses, neighborhoods, bridges, rivers, traditions and history.

You've gotta believe in the power of Pittsburgh, in where we've been, where we are, where we're going. You've gotta believe that our future is bright and that the good of the whole is worth putting aside individual agendas.

You've gotta believe in our families, our children, our seniors. Our hopes and dreams rise and fall on how our people prosper, and that we've gotta do all that we can to work for the best for each other.

You've gotta believe in change, that the transformation of this City can and will happen when we all work together.

You've gotta believe in the power of our neighborhoods, the backbone of our City, that our homes, our streets, the ballfields where we played catch with our mothers and fathers and the corner pizza shop where we had our first date, our first kiss, are Pittsburgh's heart and soul.

You've gotta believe that it's time to be "Pittsburgh Proud," that good things happen in Pittsburgh, that it is OK to feel good about ourselves, what we've done and what we're doing, no matter what some may do or say to bring you down. You've gotta believe that years from now, we will look back on this day and recognize that Pittsburgh has already turned that corner.

You've gotta believe that when some in our community look for bad, even in things that are good, that we are a people of ancestors who fought against negativity to make great things happen, that we have a Pittsburgh Pride that keeps us working each and every day for a brighter future.

You've gotta believe that when Pittsburgh works together, we can accomplish anything, achieve the unimaginable, reach for the stars and can change the world.

I believe in all of these things and my pledge to you is that I will never, ever stop believing. I need to know that you now, too, will join me in believing in Pittsburgh, in the power of "us" and in being "Pittsburgh Proud."

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