Pittsburgh Leads While Demanding Better from Washington

Published on July 16, 2025

Innovation with Integrity: Pittsburgh Leads While Demanding Better from Washington 

Today, President Donald Trump visited Carnegie Mellon University as part of a summit on artificial intelligence and energy. As Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, I want to emphasize while we will do our part to ensure safety and civility during the President’s visit, we cannot ignore the real harm caused by his administration’s destructive policies that threaten the well-being of our residents. 

Pittsburgh is a city built on hard work, mutual care, and a deep belief that everyone deserves a fair shot — no matter their income, background, or ZIP code. Cruel policies like slashing health care, reducing access to food assistance, and making it harder for people to live safely and affordably in their own neighborhoods have no place in our city. 

Pittsburgh and Southwest Pennsylvania are at the leading edge of the development and application of artificial intelligence.  The promise of these technologies and the infrastructure needed to scale them have the ability to transform our local economy, and the way that we manage that transformation will determine whether that change benefits or harms our communities. We must work to ensure that this growth does not come at the expense of our environment, the privacy of our people, and the values and morals we hold dear.  There are many experts and voices nationally and locally calling attention to these issues and we need to listen to them. 

We also need to make sure that the benefits of economic growth are felt broadly across our region. Our communities have heard too many promises about prosperity only to face deeper hardships and inequities. Our city deserves federal leadership that invests in people — not just profit. That protects working families — not just corporate interests. That listens to everyday Americans — not just the wealthiest and most powerful. 

Many in our community spoke out during the President’s visit. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I stand firmly with those raising their voices for justice, fairness, and real opportunity for all. We will always defend the right to speak truth to power. 

In Pittsburgh, we know what progress looks like: affordable health care, safe housing, strong public schools, and an economy that puts people first. That’s the future we’re building — no matter who sits in the White House. 

~Mayor Ed Gainey

Olga George
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
olga.george@pittsburghpa.gov
412-627-0679