►
Description
On this episode of CityTalk, John interviews Erika Strassburger and Emilie Yonan from the Office of Pittsburgh City Council District 8.
A
Welcome
to
another
zoom
edition
of
city
talk
as
we
do
interviews
from
remote
locations
during
the
global
pandemic.
Maybe
you've
heard
of
it
council
person
erica
strasberger,
joins
us
from
an
undisclosed
location
council
versus
strasburger.
Welcome
to
city
talk
thanks
john,
it's
good
to
be
here.
So
is
this
your
lovely
kitchen,
we're
looking
at
in
the
background.
B
A
B
B
I
have
a
15
month,
old
son
and
so
for
the
first.
I
don't
know
how
many
weeks
10
weeks,
maybe
of
all
of
this,
the
struggle
was
working
to
take
care
of
him,
which
is
a
full-time
job,
and
then
my
husband
and
I
both
have
full-time
jobs.
On
top
of
that,
so
it
was
trying
to
do
two
full-time
jobs
really
at
once,
and
that
means
just
a
lot
of
work
all
the
time
and
not
a
whole
lot
of
break.
A
B
B
B
A
B
I
think
it's
putting
into
perspective
and
bringing
into
focus
what's
really
important,
and
so,
if
I
started
out
thinking,
I
wanted
to
work
on
a
certain
set
of
issues.
Those
issues
haven't
necessarily
changed,
but
they've,
maybe
they've
morphed
into
a
different
type
of
issue.
So
when
I
talk
about
equity,
when
I
talked
about
equity
before
I
talked
about
in
the
neighborhood
inclusion,
I
talked
about
mostly
housing.
B
B
I
think
nature
of
how
we
interact
with
each
other
and
the
economy,
and
it's
it's
it's
going
to
be
a
defining
moment
for
our
country,
not
just
the
city,
but
it's
it's
another
thing
that
we're.
You
know
whatever
position
when
we're
trying
to
to
grapple
with
as
best
as
we
can
and
come
out
stronger,
more
resilient.
A
B
Absolutely
more
urgent,
now
than
ever
before.
I
think
it's
coming
into
focus
for
a
lot
of
people
who
acknowledged
that
racial
justice
was
something
that
we
should
all
fight
for
together,
that
it
shouldn't
be
on
the
burden
shouldn't
fall
to
just
one
person
or
one
group
of
people
to
fight
for
that's,
certainly
coming
into
focus.
Certainly
when
we
talk
about
public
safety
and
policing,
that's
something
that
had
always
been
on.
My
radar
had
like
a
lot
of
people
who
I
represent,
I
think
have
been
on
the
radar.
B
Was
it
the
prime
issue
that
we
learned
about
that?
We
learned
you
know
was
whether
it's
policing
or
whether
it's
criminal
justice
reform
more
generally,
was
it
something
that
we
were
really
mired
in
and
engaged
in?
Probably
not
so
I
think
it's
a
learning
experience
for
a
lot
of
people
out
there
and
that's
certainly
much
more
of
a
priority
for
me.
B
A
B
But
and
one
of
those
cases
of
people
who
grew
up
in
the
bay
area
came
east
for
college
ended
up
in
new
hampshire
for
four
years
after
college
met
my
husband
who's,
a
pittsburgher
followed
him
here
when
we
were
dating
and
said,
I
would
give
it
a
try
for
two
years
and
after
less
than
two
years,
I
just
fell
in
love
with
the
city
and
decided
I
would
live
nowhere
else.
So
I'm
someone,
I
think,
a
success
story,
maybe
of
the
city
that's
drawn
someone
in
and
kept
them
forever.
B
I
communicate
with
my
constituents
as
as
much
and
as
in
varied
ways
as
possible.
Let's
see
we
have
obviously
email,
so
people
know
to
email
me.
Our
phones
have
been
redirected,
so
we
do
have
a
member
of
my
staff
answering
phones
on
her
cell
phone,
even
though
it's
the
office
number
and
then
there's
social
media,
so
we're
on
instagram,
facebook
and
twitter
we're
not
on
tick
tock.
B
Yet,
although
someone
has
tried
to
convince
me
to
get
into
tick
tock
and
on
top
of
all
those,
I
also
have
my
own
personal
account
on
on
twitter
and
on
facebook
as
well
and
instagram,
so
lots
of
different
ways
to
get
in
touch
with
us.
We
also
have
keep
up
our
website,
so
our
website's
always
up
to
date,
and
we
have
a
newsletter,
an
e-newsletter
that
comes
out
every
other
month
and
during
this
time,
when
things
have
been
changing
so
quickly,
it's
been
more
like
once
a
month,
we've
also
been
pulling
together
the
business
district.
B
So
there
are
five
business
districts
in
the
in
district
aid
and
put
together
the
businesses
and
the
property
owners
there,
because
one
thing
we're
really
worried
about
is
restaurants
and
bars,
and
businesses
going
out
of
business
and
they
are
even
the
most
successful
ones-
are
really
hurting
right.
Now,
it's
a
really
challenging
time
and
with
federal
government
support
running
out,
I
fear
that
many
of
them
won't
survive.
So
you
know
people
are
stressed.
People
are
just
trying
to
get
through
they're
worried
about.
B
What's
going
to
happen
with
schooling
in
the
fall,
they
are
worried
about
their
loved
ones,
who
might
be
going
out
and
working
and
exposing
themselves
every
single
day
in
their
jobs
and
they're,
worried
about
their
own
businesses
that
they're
that
they're,
that
they're
trying
to
support
and
that
are
supporting
their
families.
So
we're
just
doing
everything
we
can
to
try
to
help
connect
them
with
resources.
The
ura
is
a
great
set
of
resources
for
businesses
and
for
individuals
who
are
struggling
right
now.
B
A
And
what
do
you
tell
your
constituents
who
are
a
bar
and
restaurant
owners
because
I
feel
like,
as
you've
already
pointed
out,
it's
sort
of
an
impossible
situation.
You
want
everybody
to
stay
safe
and
maybe
we
can
never
reopen
if
we
don't
keep
closed
for
a
while,
but
on
the
other
hand
they
could
go
out
of
business
in
the
interim.
To
put
it
bluntly,
I
I
don't
even
know
what
you
would.
I
don't
know.
B
What
I
would
say
to
them,
yeah
the
biggest
key
here-
is
that
one
there
are
a
number
of
programs
that
mostly
the
uri
the
urban
redevelopment
authority
is
offering.
If
you
go
to
their
website,
you
can
find
them
there.
We've
had
people
representing
the
urban
share
with
those
opportunities,
whether
they
are
loans
and
grant
programs,
whether
they
are
connecting
them
to
partner
work,
lending
organizations
or
whether
they
are
taking
advantage
of
sort
of
this
gift
card
membership
program.
B
That
gets
the
money
in
the
door
now
that
people
can
spend
over
the
next
year
quarterly,
and
so
there
are
a
number
of
programs
that
can
hopefully
help
them,
get
some
money
in
the
door
now
because
they
just
need
to
replace
the
foot
traffic.
That
might
not
be
here,
and
you
know
the
other.
The
other
key
is
getting.
B
People
outside
outside
is
the
place
to
be
now
so
whatever
we
can
do,
I
mean
we
have
a
number
of
different
programs
working
with
the
department
of
mobility
and
infrastructure,
whatever
we
can
do
to
make
sure
that
we
make
it
as
easy
as
possible
for
them
to
take
over
parking
spaces
as
much
as
sidewalk
as
possible.
Creative
spaces
and
parking
lots
whatever
to
get
their
tables
and
chairs
outside,
so
their
customers
can
sit
outside,
enjoy
a
nice
meal,
enjoy
a
drink
and
stay.
You
know
safely,
apart
from
other
people,.
A
A
B
Note
that
we're
such
a
you
know
we're
so
dependent
on
students.
This
question
about
whether
students
will
be
returning
in
the
fall.
I
think
that
they
will
be,
but
you
know
in
what
numbers
is
the
question?
Will
there
be
the
same
foot
traffic?
That's
going
to
be,
you
know
that
could
have
ramifications
and
ripple
effects
over
the
next.
I
would
say
five
years,
if
there's
a
there's,
a
change
in
the
way
that
people
go
to
college.
B
Yeah,
you
know
it's
it's
it.
It
really
is
a
national
question
and
national
solution
that
cities
are
meant
to
are
now
left
grappling
with.
But
if
we
don't
get
this
virus
under
control
and
we
had
it
under
control
in
allegheny,
county
and
we've
lost
that
control,
but
if
we
can
get
it
under
control
in
allegheny
county
and
stay
there
until
there's
a
vaccine,
then
things
will
be
a
lot
easier.
Things
would
be
a
lot
better.
So
it's
a
matter
of
everyone
pitching
in
together
doing
the
right
thing.
B
But
I
think
that's
a
big
challenge
and
then
a
big
challenge
for
the
city
is
that
we
have
lost
our.
The
prediction
is
that
we
will
lose
a
quarter
to
a
third
of
our
revenue
for
this
year.
So
as
we
go
into
budget
season
in
the
fall,
we're
already
thinking
about
what
cuts
we
have
to
make
and
what
is
the
real
priority
and
no
one
wants
to
lay
anyone
off,
and
so
we
have
to
think
about
other
projects
to
either
put
on
hold
or
to
find
creative
funding.
B
For
you
know,
from
everywhere
everything
from
capital
projects
like
paving
to
renovations
of
senior
centers
or
fire
stations,
or
you
name
it
that's
going
to
be.
You
know
those
are
going
to
be
some
tough
decisions
right
now,
especially
in
light
of
the
conversation
we're
having
around
racial
justice
and
policing.
A
B
B
B
To
that
point
again,
it's
going
to
take
a
while,
but
you
know
one
thing
again:
one
once
things
open
up
again
once
we
are
able
to
get
our
parking
revenue
back
and
concerts
and
events
are
able
to
come
back,
which
provides
a
huge
amount
of
revenue
to
the
city.
You
know
kind
of
hospitality,
type
of
issue
of
revenue.
That's
going
to
be
the
key
to
getting
us
back
into
financial
solvency.
B
I
hope
not
I
mean
that
is
the
hardest
part
of
I
think
for
a
lot
of
people.
This
summer
is
people.
People
in
pittsburgh
live
for
our
summers.
Right,
it's
live
music,
it
is
increasingly,
you
know,
open
streets
biking
through
the
streets
of
pittsburgh.
It's
hanging
out
on
a
you
know
on
a
dock
or
a
boat
in
the
river.
It
is,
you
know
so
many
different
things
that
it's
the
movies
in
the
park
and
so
many
things
that
we're
not
able
to
experience
right
now.
B
C
A
D
D
D
Yeah,
so
I'm
from
northern
california,
I
have
been
in
pittsburgh,
I
say
off
and
on
since
2015.
I
came
here
after
I
graduated
from
college
in
long
island
and
my
parents
moved
here.
I
wanted
to
move
here
from
and
they
moved
from
california,
so
it
all
worked
really
well
that
I
came
here.
I
was
here
for
about
a
year,
then
went
to
michigan
for
grad
school
and
then
came
back
in
2018,
and
it
has
been
here
since.
D
You
know
one
of
the
things
was.
I
I'd
always
heard
great
things
about
it.
You
know
in
the
past
few
years
or
you
know
past
10
years,
even
with
a
sort
of
livable
city
discussion.
You
know
really
caught
my
attention
and
a
lot
of
the
research
that
I
did.
I
studied
economics.
I
thought
there
was
a
lot
of
promise
and
interesting
opportunity
here
and
the
people
I
always
heard
were
really
nice
too.
D
I
knew
some
people
from
pittsburgh
in
college
that
kept
talking
about
wonderful
was,
and
at
the
time
I
was
thinking
of
coming
here.
Both
my
parents
were
looking
at
moving
from
california
and
my
dad
travels
a
ton
for
work
and
I
come
to
pittsburgh
and
at
the
time
it
reminded
him
a
lot
of
the
area.
I
grew
up
with
the
mountains
and
every
everything
and
nice
people,
so
we
all
had
the
great
idea
and
came
here
together.
D
Yeah,
so
I've
been
interested
in,
you
know:
government
work,
since
I
was
pretty
little.
You
know
I
think
I
was
always
drawn
to
history.
Growing
up
was
my
favorite
subject
and
as
I
got
older,
especially
in
like
high
school
and
such
I
got
really
involved
in
california
during
the
prop
8
debate
and
then
the
legalization
of
gay
marriage.
That
was
something
I
became
really
invested
in
and
the
2008
election
of
president
obama.
D
So
I
think
from
that
it
sort
of
kept
getting
me
more
and
more
involved,
and
then,
when
I
was
in
college,
I
was
able
to
I
went
to
hofstra
university
and
they
posted
three
presidential
debates.
So
I
was
there
for
one
of
those
I
was
able
to
help
with
some
of
the
network
needs
and
you
know
meet
with
a
bunch
of
the
people
involved
and
then,
after
I
graduated
from
college,
I
did
a
lot
of
work
for
planned
parenthood
and
some
volunteering,
and
then
I
got
my
degree
in
urban
planning.
D
A
D
Well,
I
mean
if
we
could,
if
we
knew
that
answer,
we
wouldn't
have
to
keep
asking
that
question.
No,
I
mean,
I
think,
there's
a
lot
of
really
exciting
things
happening
here
and
there's
been
a
lot
of
really
exciting
things
happening
for
a
while.
Now
you
know
I've
really
enjoyed
being
able
to
work
with
our
planning
department
and
I
think,
they're,
really
at
the
forefront
and
thinking
about
ways
to
cha
to
change.
D
Things
know
whether
it
comes
to
moving
some
processes
like
online
to
engage
people
to
you,
know
kind
of
rethinking
our
urban
landscape
and
what
we
can
do
with
different
buildings
or
areas.
I
think
there's
a
lot
of
really
neat
opportunities
and
I
think
urban
planning
you
know
through
the
past.
I
don't
know,
I
would
say
15
years-
has
kind
of
become
hot.
D
A
D
Yeah,
you
know,
I
think,
the
data
now
it's
kind
of
mixed
in
some
ways.
You
know,
I
think,
there's
a
lot
of
people
coming
to
cities
and
I
think
it
depends
on
the
city
you're
talking
about
in
some
ways
you
know
just
kind
of
from
my
grad
school
research.
I
remember
thinking
about
that.
A
lot
of
young
people
were
coming
to
new
york,
but
then
they
were
leaving
because
of
cost
of
living.
So
I
mean
I'm
going
to
be
interested
to
see
what
happens
after
the
pandemic.
D
D
D
Yeah,
that's
my
fun
fact
is
that
I
was
in
the
office
for
seven
days
before
this
before
everything
shut
down.
So
all
of
my
introductions
with
people
by
and
large
have
been
on
this
been
in
this
way
or
in
some
way
shape
or
form.
So
you
know
when
things
are
really
safe
and
we
can
go
back.
I
will
be
interested
to
see
more
people
in
person,
but
I
think
for
a
lot
of
us.
You
know
it's
kind
of
been.
D
A
D
Yeah,
I
mean,
I
think
I
think,
there's
like
I
agree
with
what
she
said.
You
know,
I
think,
there's
a
lot
of
things,
big
projects
that
we're
still
moving
on
with,
but
I
think
the
pandemic
especially
has
exacerbated
a
lot
of
issues
that
we
knew
were
happening,
but
it's
kind
of
put
more
of
a
forefront
on
it.
So
I
think
when
you
talk
about
housing
needs
or
when
we
talk
about
you
know,
public
health
needs
or
some
of
those
things.
D
Those
were
always
things
that
were
on
the
docket,
but
they
just
kind
of
bumped
up
in
terms
of
priority.
I
mean
one
of
the
big
things
and
I
don't
know
if
the
council
person
talked
about
this
to
a
certain
extent,
but
we
we've
been
doing
a
lot
of
work
with
our
business
districts
and
trying
to
figure
out
ways
to
make
sure
that
you
know
we
have
four
very
thriving
districts
to
make
sure
they
can
keep
doing
well
and
really
just
kind
of
hang
on,
and
I'm
not
saying
that
we
wouldn't
have
done
that.
D
D
Yeah,
so
we've
been
able
to,
you
know,
receive
our
voicemail.
We
had
that
kind
of
from
day
one
and
we
are
for
have
forwarded,
phones
calls
to
us.
We
also
have
email,
so
I
think
we're
still
doing
a
pretty
decent
job.
I
mean
the
hard
part.
Is
we
don't
have
as
many
of
the
community
meetings
that
are
in
person
for
people
to
engage
with
us
directly?
D
You
know
come
up
and
say:
hey
there's
this
issue,
but
I
think
for
the
most
part,
we've
been
fortunate
that
a
lot
of
our
constituency
has
been
really
comfortable
with
getting
on
the
community
zoom
call
or
what
have
you
and
then
they
can
email
us
or
do
kind
of
whatever's
needed,
but
I
mean
there
is
still
a
concern
that
you
know
we're
leaving
people
out.
That
might
not
have
those
that
same
accessibility,
so
you
know
we're
still
to
the
extent
we
can.
We
try
to
kind
of
be
out
on
the
ground
safely.
D
D
Progress,
you
know,
I
think
there
is
an
element
of
that.
You
know,
I
think
I
think
part
of
that
is
just
kind
of
assuring
the
public
that
you
know
we
can.
We
can
make
it
through
this.
You
know
I,
the
big.
The
big
challenge
is,
of
course,
the
things
that
have
been
discussed.
You
know
on
on
the
news,
the
mask
wearing
some
of
that
and
just
kind
of
figuring
out
how
we
can
stop
the
gaps.
You
know.
D
D
You
know,
making
sure
that
we
can
keep
the
support,
for
you
know
the
people
that
have
been
most
hurt
by
this,
some
of
the
businesses,
some
people
that
have
been
out
of
work
and
all
that
I
think
that's
really.
You
know,
as
we
trust
the
medical
community
and
the
first
responders.
You
know
to
start
to
keep
working
on
vaccine
or
whatever
and
those
advancements.
You
know
that
support
is
definitely
needed
to
make
sure
that
we
can
keep
going
the
best
we
can.
A
D
Yeah
I
mean
I
love,
I
love
pittsburgh
being
in
the
pittsburgh
environment,
even
not
as
like,
maybe
the
biggest
pittsburgh
sports
fan.
I
mean
it's
really
hard
to
beat
it's
so
much
fun
on
sundays,
just
kind
of
having
everyone
around
talking
about
the
steelers
or
what
have
you?
The
energy
is
just
amazing
and
that's
something
in
the
community
that
I
really
miss
right
now
is
just
being
surrounded
by
that.