Mayoral Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On February 16, 2021, William Peduto, mayor of the City of Pittsburgh joined faculty to reflect on executive leadership during the pandemic. The panel was co-moderated by faculty members Sheila Foster and Uwe Brandes and examined the challenges and opportunities that exist for local communities to respond to the pandemic in a manner which acknowledges and overcomes institutionalized legacies of exclusion. The event was organized by the Georgetown Global Cities Initiative and the Georgetown Institute of Politics at the McCourt School.
Mayor Peduto shared that the civic and social shocks associated with the pandemic echoed previous threats to Pittsburgh, most notably the recent mass shooting in the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 . Peduto shared his approach to leadership as being underpinned by the importance of having a “north star” to guide decision-making during times of crisis, which for him is defined by the common good for the residents of Pittsburgh.
Once a global leader in steel production, Pittsburgh’s postindustrial economy is renowned as one of the most successful economic turn-arounds of any city around the world. Over two decades, the city charted a new path away from one dominant industry toward a diversified urban economy centered around technology innovation and culture and anchored by research universities and medical centers.
Peduto explained how Pittsburgh’s path to negotiate the pandemic included introducing two new innovative policies. First, Pittsburgh is one of a few cities across the United States piloting a guaranteed minimum income program this year, also known as universal basic income. Peduto said, “An individual, when given the ability to choose what they need in order to be able to better themselves, will choose the right path and will be able to break cycles of poverty.” Second, Pittsburgh launched “Avenues of Hope”, an economic development initiative that engages historically Black neighborhoods to repair old buildings, elevate Black-owned businesses and foster new local entrepreneurs.
“For all the disinvestment we made over decades, we owe it now to invest and as the public sector, we can’t do it alone,” said Peduto, “It has to come from all of our stakeholders, including foundations, universities, hospitals, corporations, and new partnerships within multi-levels of government.”
Cities all over the world have been in the frontline of the COVID-19 response and Mayors face dire realities of slashed city budgets and strained relationships with public and private partners. Conversations like this one with Mayor Peduto help us to explore new ways to expand local economies in a manner which is centered on social equity and public health.
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