This year’s election of African American and representatives from various diverse ethnic groups is an encouraging sign. The face of America’s urban landscape continues to change. New ideas, leadership and creative solutions are necessary. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is one such city, which is at the center of a cultural and technological renaissance. A traditional steel town, gateway to the West and culturally and racially diverse, Pittsburgh is charting new ground with the election of Ed Gainey.
Gainey is no stranger to Pittsburgh politics. He worked closely with several mayoral administrations as Community Development Specialist. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012. He was elected to represent the 24th District.
During his mayoral campaign, Gainey asserted: “This City never gave up on me, no matter how tough it got, and I will always believe in Pittsburgh. Together, we can build a city for all – the safest, most affordable, and most diverse city in America, a city that values the working people who built it, maintain it and keep it running. I’m running for Mayor because I know that the working people of Pittsburgh need opportunities for good union jobs with a living wage and benefits, affordable housing, genuine public safety, and a city where we can all belong and contribute.”
Gainey’s tenure as Mayor has not been without challenges. One of the earliest challenges involved a shooting at a house party attended by more than 200 teenagers at an Air BNB. More than 90 rounds were discharged. In the ensuing pandemonium several people were killed, and numerous people injured. These events followed a precipitous rise in shootings in the city.
Gainey also contended with the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge. At the time of the collapse, a Port Authority Bus and four passenger cars were on the bridge This incident highlighted the need to improve the nation’s aging infrastructure. The event garnered national attention.
Born in 1970, Gainey was raised in Pittsburgh to a single teenage mother and her mom in a South Oakland neighborhood. They were one of the two black families residing at Lawn Street at the time. However, his family moved to the East Liberty neighborhood when he was seven. Gainey grew up in several housing projects.
He graduated in 1988 from Peabody High School. Later, Gainey attended Morgan State University for a Bachelor's in Business Management and graduated in 1994. He believed only an effective government could serve as a powerful tool against all the injustices faced by his community.
Consequently, he started his career as a legislative aide to Pennsylvania State Representative Joseph Preston Jr. Moreover, Edward also managed special projects for Tom Murphy, a former Pittsburgh mayor.
With his growing visibility in the Democratic Party, he became the Pittsburgh Democratic Party Committee chairman in 2010. Gainey represented the 24th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which mainly comprised Black neighborhoods.
As chairman, Gainey worked to build trust among the racially diverse neighborhoods of the 24th district. He fought for an increase in Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, better transportation projects. mass transit systems, medicinal legalization of marijuana, effective criminal justice reforms, and the accessibility of quality education for all.
Gainey goal is to make Pennsylvania an inclusive community where everyone is considered equal, regardless of color and background. Furthermore, with his consistent efforts to work for the betterment of their community, he continues to inspire many young people of color to pursue politics.