Editorial: Peduto: Stand by promises and ensure success for Pittsburgh

To no one’s surprise, William “Bill” Peduto will become the 67th mayor of Pittsburgh. Along with his landslide victory comes a sense of optimism and promise of bringing Pittsburgh into a new era.

However, the job evidently becomes harder from here. Peduto’s agenda — which includes support for laws that combat underage drinking, initiatives to increase mobility between Oakland and Downtown and promises to diversify city executive positions to rehabilitate marginalized neighborhoods — needs to be developed more completely.

For one, supporting laws that combat underage drinking is a lauded piece of Peduto’s agenda. With recent state-issued grants to tackle crime and underage drinking in residential neighborhoods such as Oakland, Peduto should adopt similar initiatives in neighborhoods throughout Pittsburgh. The grants focus on supplying more resources to Carnegie Mellon University and the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation to ensure safer neighborhoods and promote responsible alcohol consumption. Peduto should definitely pursue initiatives to increase the number of resources smaller universities have, as well, especially schools like Carlow, Chatham and Duquesne.

Secondly, Peduto’s initiatives to enhance the mobility between Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh is in much need of consideration. Oakland, home to a multitude of students, faculty members and commuters, encompasses residents from educational, research and medical backgrounds. Given this, fast transit within Oakland is crucial to keep up with the vast amount of activity in the community. By focusing on bus routes and moves to decongest roads in Oakland and Downtown during rush hour, we can ensure fast transport of labor and medical personnel.

Thirdly, Pittsburgh officials need to address the lack of diversity in terms of positions on the city’s mayoral cabinet. Peduto’s promise to diversify his cabinet is entirely commendable. We hope this diversification will act as a stepping stone to rehabilitate historically marginalized neighborhoods such as the Hill District and Homewood. One of the primary achievements Peduto has touted is the billions of dollars in development he brought to the East End district he’s controlled since 2001. We hope neighborhoods and communities citywide will see such improvements, as well.

“Pittsburgh is poised for something greater,” Peduto declared with broom in hand on Tuesday night. “We are the next great American city.”