Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak represents Pittsburgh’s fourth district on City Council, covering the neighborhoods of Carrick, Overbrook, Bon Air, Brookline, and Beechview. On November 3, 2009 Natalia was elected to City Council with more than 98% of the vote after winning the Democratic Primary the previous May. She was sworn in on January 4th, 2010.

Natalia’s professional experience is in management and technology.  She previously worked at Deloitte Consulting, where she implemented a state-wide information technology system.  She has also done press work for the United States Senate in Washington, DC, and worked for a public health organization in New York, promoting safe and healthy motherhood.  

Natalia earned her Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University through scholarships from the Pennsylvania and national AFL-CIO.  During her undergraduate career, she studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science as well as Jagiellonian University in Poland.  Born and raised in South Pittsburgh, she graduated from Carrick High School and Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management.

Natalia was named one of the 40 Under 40 by PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine in 2009, and was voted Young Democrat of the Year in 2011 by the Young Democrats of Allegheny County. She was also named a 2012 Outstanding Elected Democratic Woman by the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women. Natalia is currently a Board Member of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. On Council, she serves as the Chair of the Performance and Asset Management Committee, which deals with government services such as facilities, the cable bureau, information systems, and sustainability initiatives. 

Natalia represents the fourth district of Pittsburgh City Council, which includes the neighborhoods of Beechview, Bon Air, Brookline, Carrick, Overbrook, and McKinley Park.

Beechview

Beechview is located southwest of Downtown, and is situated between Brookline, Banksville, and the suburban neighborhood, Dormont. Serviced by the "T", Beechview's Broadway Avenue business district is currently seeing revitalization in the form of new businesses and the renovation of its historic architecture. Recent additions to the corridor include Brew on Broadway, the Crested Duck Charcuterie, and the IGA grocery store. 

The neighborhood offers a great number of amenities, including a branch of the Carnegie Library, a spray park, ball fields, and a senior center. Nature enthusiasts love exploring the Seldom Seen Greenway, one of the last undeveloped parcels of land in the city. Beechview is also home to two excellent Pittsburgh Public schools, Beechwood Elementary and Brashear High School. 

Bon Air 

Bon Air is best known by its reputation of "country living in the city." A spacious neighborhood, Bon Air boasts larger than usual residential parcels, dotted with mid-century single-family homes. Recreational amenities include the Marc Kolenda basketball court and the Bon Air parklet. The community also borders McKinley Park and is serviced by the Blue Line "T", with service to Downtown and South Hills Village. 

Brookline

Bordered by Overbrook and Beechview, Brookline is a mostly residential community with a bustling main street, Brookline Blvd. This small business corridor is quickly becoming known city-wide as a destination for delicious food. Take a trip to the Boulevard and you'll find authentic Greek, Italian Mexican cuisine, as well as delicious pastries, fresh pretzels, ice cream, and delicious coffee to wash it all down with.  In 2013, the Brookline Boulevard business district will receive a facelift, complete with a new street, sidewalks, landscape design, street lights, street furniture and more. 

Amenities in Brookline include the Moore Park swimming pool, Brookline Recreation Center, ball fields, and easy access to Downtown via Port Authority bus. 

Carrick

South of Downtown, Carrick is surrounded by Overbrook, Brookline, Bon Air , Mt. Oliver Neighborhood, and St. Clair.  Carrick today retains the traditions of its proud independence and is the first "Green Community" in the city.  

There are 3 distinct business districts along the length of Brownsville Road, separated by residential blocks, as well as free-standing stores and shopping centers. Amenities in Carrick include a neighborhood library, a swimming pool, a wide range of recreational facilities at Phillips Park, and numerous churches.  The Port Authority bus provides easy transportation along Brownsville Road. 

Overbrook

Overbrook is bordered by Carrick and Brookline, and runs along Rt. 51. This community is also convenient to the Brownsville Road business district, and has access to Downtown via Port Authority bus or T. 

Amenities for Overbrook residents include the Fran Accamando Community Center, a Senior Center, ball fields, and nearby Phillips Park in Carrick. 

District 4 History

“South Pittsburgh,” as this region of the city is colloquially known, was originally settled in the late eighteenth century and incorporated in 1788 as part of St. Clair Township—named for the 9th President of the Continental Congress, Revolutionary War General Arthur St. Clair, who presided over the passage of the United States constitution in 1787.  St. Clair Township included the present day Upper St. Clair Township, and most of the municipalities between it and the Monongahela River.  In 1791, St. Clair Township was the site of the Whiskey Rebellion, a protest led by farmers in Western Pennsylvania against the federal implementation of an excise tax on whiskey.

In 1836, St. Clair Township was divided into two townships, Upper St. Clair Township and Lower St. Clair Township.  Upper St. Clair Township still exists today, while Lower St. Clair Township slowly split into multiple other municipalities.  The portion that became Brookline split into West Liberty Borough in 1876 and existed as such until January 6, 1908 when it was annexed by the City of Pittsburgh and became the neighborhood of Brookline.  Beechview Borough was annexed into the City on January 4, 1909.  Carrick Borough joined on January 3, 1927, and Overbrook Borough joined on January 6, 1930.  While these represent the major land acquisitions that made up the district, annexations that added to the City’s southern border continued into the 1950s.

At the turn of the 20th century, immediately prior to the majority of the annexations, the coal mining industry began to take off in Pittsburgh’s south hills.  Most residents of Brookline, Beechview and Overbrook were employed as either farmers or miners, and large portions of present day Brookline were farm land at the time of its annexation.  Carrick Borough was a higher income neighborhood, featuring beautiful Victorian mansions built by the owners and management of the City’s booming coal and steel industries.

Today, South Pittsburgh is a diverse community of working class families.  Many city employees call South Pittsburgh home, charmed by its neighborly attitude, quality housing, and walkable business districts.

Ashleigh Deemer, Chief of Staff

Ashleigh serves as the Chief of Staff for Councilwoman Rudiak. Before joining the District 4 team in 2011, Ashleigh was a campaign organizer in the non-profit world, working primarily on campaigns for clean air on the local and national levels. A native of the Pittsburgh region, Ashleigh is a 2005 graduate of Chatham University, where she focused on sustainability and environmental policy. She and her husband live in Beechview. 

Adam Shuck, Communications Manager

A native of western Maryland, Adam graduated from New York University with a degree in German Studies and Linguistics. At NYU he co-presided over Stammtisch, the German club on campus, and spent a semester in Berlin, taking courses at the Humboldt-Universität. He worked for several years as an educator at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and as office manager in the Corporate Communications department at Associated Press headquarters before moving to Pittsburgh with his partner in 2010. Outside of public service, Adam is a freelance translator and a picker and seller of vintage clothing and home decor.

Dan Barrett, Community Relations Manager

Dan serves as Community Relations Manager for District 4. A longtime Pittsburgh resident, he holds a Bachelor's Degree from Point Park University and a Master's Degree in Pubic Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon's Heinz College. Prior to joining the office, Dan worked for a Pittsburgh-based AmeriCorps program called KEYS Service Corps, served as a White House intern, and was selected as a 2010-11 Coro Fellow in Public Affairs. In his personal time, he enjoys reading non-fiction, learning about the history of popular music, cooking at home and dining out, and experiencing the City of Pittsburgh.