Pete Flaherty’s legacy lives on in Pittsburgh

More than 50 years ago, on Jan. 5, 1970, Democrat Peter F. Flaherty was sworn in as mayor of Pittsburgh and, as promised, focused on the neighborhoods and fiscal responsibility.

During his tenure, real estate taxes went down. This was achieved through new technologies and efficient management, including reducing the jobs budgeted from 7,000 to 5,000. Coal-fired heating was replaced by gas or steam heat in the Phipps Conservatory, fire stations and local zoo. Direct dial phones replaced ‘round-the-clock telephone operators, Forbes and Fifth avenues were made one-way; skating rinks and night lighting for tennis courts were added; and the Baum Boulevard Bridge was rebuilt. Pete also improved garbage collection and street lighting, and dramatically increased the number of roads paved and cement-lined water mains.

These changes were made despite new laws permitting public employees to strike. Pete easily handled a “blue flu” by the police in 1970, and several other strikes, including one by all blue-collar employees to start 1971. Pete also made land available for building the Scaife Gallery, renovating Heinz Hall and expanding Duquesne and the University of Pittsburgh while helping to preserve the Forbes Field wall over which Bill Mazeroski hit his World Series-winning home run in 1960.

Pete developed and implemented Pittsburgh’s first affirmative action program. He appointed women and African Americans to the highest-level jobs in local government.

His work was noticed at the time: Pete left office in April 1977 to become deputy attorney general in the Carter administration.

Fifty years later, Pittsburgh remains lucky to have had a mayor like Pete Flaherty.

BRUCE D. CAMPBELL

Denver, Colo.

The writer served as Mayor Peter Flaherty’s executive secretary from 1970 to 1977.