Mayor’s South Side outing a promising step in his ‘plan for peace’
Mayor Ed Gainey’s postmidnight perambulation through the South Side was one of those political moments that might be read as a photo-op stunt or as a genuine act of on-the-ground leadership. Which it will be remembered as will depend on his administration’s follow-through.
The wee hours on the South Side are even more out of control than usual. Two weekends ago saw two shootings injuring three people. One popular business closed for good, citing “uncontrollable shootings and violence.” Mr. Gainey and his team rightly figured that the late-night culture of the neighborhood can’t be understood and improved through written reports and outside consultants. They need to see and hear (and smell) it firsthand.
So that’s what he did, spending the hours from 1 to 3:30 a.m. on East Carson Street between 12th and 18th streets, the stretch identified by police and community leaders as the most troubled.
The South Side outing shows the path forward for turning violence prevention ideas into actionable and effective plans. The mayor’s recently released “Plan for Peace” lays out a compelling collection of principles — a public health approach, community policing, community partnerships, trauma-informed community services, community development, and usage of data and evidence — that will guide the city’s approach to violence prevention. But the application of those principles will depend on the kind of clear-eyed, practical wisdom that can only come from experiencing the streets themselves.
This doesn’t mean the mayor has to walk every inch of city streets; it does mean that his administration must actively collaborate with the people who know those streets best: community leaders, police officers and residents — especially parents. This isn’t a process that will lend itself to flashy and sweeping proposals. It’s a humble process, which depends on the humility of city leaders and experts, that should produce realistic policy results.
We’re hopeful that Mr. Gainey’s late-night excursion is the first step in putting his “Plan for Peace” initiative into action. If the administration’s momentum stalls out, it will be remembered as just another photo op that made promises city government failed to keep. If it continues, with the mayor truly behind it, it may be remembered as a turning point for Pittsburgh.