KEVIN ACKLIN'S STATEMENT ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE G-20
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Monday, September 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 28, 2009
CONTACT:
Andy Gastmeyer, Press Secretary
412.327.6951 | 412.481.3150
A Statement From Independent Mayoral Candidate Kevin Acklin on the Conclusion of the G-20
I would first like to thank all of the uniformed men and women who came to Pittsburgh last week to help keep us safe during the G-20 conference. I come from a family of public safety workers, and my brother, who is a state trooper, was among the thousands of police officers who came to Pittsburgh to provide security last week. I would also like to thank President Obama for showcasing our city. The positive attention that was brought to our city is an asset for us all, and I am hopeful that we can convert that attention into good-paying jobs for our workers.
In two areas, however, I have concerns about decisions that will have a lasting impact on our city's affairs. First, the decision to shut down the downtown business district was incredibly short-sighted. I spoke against this plan last week when it was first announced, and after speaking with Pittsburgh business leaders last week, over the weekend, and again today, I am convinced that the economic damage done to our local business community was both unfair and unnecessary. The G20 could have been an incredible opportunity for local small businesses and employees who are struggling in this economy, but effectively shuttering downtown only made matters worse for all of them. Those two (or three) days of lost income could, and should, have been avoided.
There have also been some questions raised about deployment, especially in Oakland, of the police force last week. I want to say unequivocally that our uniformed men and women performed admirably last week, and they have my full support. However, there is a growing concern in our community that leadership on Grant Street made some tactical decisions that were not conducive to protecting the public's safety.
If I were Mayor, I would launch a blue ribbon commission to audit all aspects of the city's performance during the G20, so that we may learn from this experience, and to make sure we are ready the next time Pittsburgh has a chance to step up on the world stage.
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