►
Description
On this episode of CityTalk, John interviews Mantra Sutariya from the Department of Innovation & Performance and Allison Botti from the Department of Public Works.
A
Welcome
to
another
remote
edition
of
city
talk
where
we
try
to
get
to
know
our
city
employees,
but
instead
of
face
to
face,
we
do
it
via
the
internet,
because
that's
what
all
the
cool
kids
are
doing
these
days
say
hello
to
mantra
sudaria.
He
is
in
the
department
of
innovation
and
performance.
I
work
in
the
department
of
innovation
and
performance,
but
we
have
never
met
face
to
face
mantra.
Welcome
to
the
program.
B
A
Well,
we
haven't
made
netflix
yet,
but
you
know
it's.
These
people
can
get
to
know
their
city
employees,
hopefully
yeah.
So
you
specialize
in
the
area
of
process
improvement,
an
area
that
I've
seen
grow
in
importance.
Since
I
joined
the
city
a
couple
of
years
ago,
in
other
words,
they've
hired
a
few
more
engineers,
like
yourself,
tell
us
what
that
is,
and
what
you
do.
B
So
my
role
is
a
process
improvement
engineer,
but
that
doesn't
mean
I
only
do
work
related
to
process
improvement.
I
weird
I
wear
various
hats,
but
the
technic
process.
Improvement
comes
from
japan,
where
you
know
like
first
world
war
ii,
they
had
to
build
a
lot
of
cars
and
they
got
better
than
american
manufacturing
supplies.
So
american
industrialists,
they
went
to
japan
and
they
saw
it.
How
come
they
are
building
so
many
cars
in
its
essence
process
improvement
is
about
improving
the
things
you
do
in
a
way.
B
A
Have
you
ever
seen
that
movie
with
michael
keaton,
where
he
works
with
a
bunch
of
japanese
car
makers
and
they
try
process
improvement?
Don't
worry
if
you
haven't
I'd,
just
recommend
it
someday
all
right.
B
A
So
you're
trying
to
analyze
what
people
do
and
then
say
you
know
from
what
I
can
tell.
Maybe
if
you
would
do
this
instead
of
that
it
would
be
more
efficient
or
you
could
give
this
a
try.
B
B
B
B
So
the
top
executives
or
you
know
all
the
head
directors
and
everybody
got
together
and
said
like
what
do
we
need
to
do
to
do
about
this?
They
got
like
consultants,
they
paid
like
millions
of
dollars
and
they
said.
Okay,
let's
do
again,
but
let's
go
to
the
actual
place
where
the
problem
is
and
let's
see
so
they
got.
Then
they
had
this
idea
right.
They
want
to
build
a
big
machine
which,
which
is
going
to
measure
the
weight
it's
going
to.
B
You
know
like
do
the
x-ray
stuff
and
then
they'll
find
out
if
the
soap
is
in
there
or
not.
If
the
soap
is
not
that
they
are
going
to
build
another
million
dollar
robot
which
is
going
to
push
the
box
away,
so
they
went
to
the
front
line
worker.
You
know
the
guy
was
at
the
end
where
the
soap
boxes
were
being
manufactured.
You
know
like
the
final
product
was
there
and
the
guy
they
asked
the
guy
like
what
do
you
think
we
should
do?
B
And
the
guy
said
you
know
just
place
a
big
fan
over
here
and
it's
gonna.
You
know
like
blow
with
empty
boxes
that
solves
their
problem,
so
it
so
that
story
is
really
small,
but
it
has
a
very
deep
meaning
that
you
know
there
are
better
ways
to
do
things.
Every
problem
you
have
doesn't
mean
you
have
to
throw
people,
resources
or
money
or
money
to
solve
it.
You
can
do
it
in
more
efficient
ways.
You
just
think
of
it.
Smarter.
A
B
A
B
I
have
a
very
economic
background.
I
did
my
bachelor's
in
mechatronics
engineering.
After
that
I
worked
for
a
solar
company
and
you
know
we
are
manufacturing
panels.
It
was
mostly
mechatronics.
It's
like
robotics
engineering,
so
I
dealt
with
robots
how
to
program
them
in
the
more
efficient
over
there,
my
boss,
at
that
time.
You
know
he
found
that
I'm
really
good
at
improving
processes.
You
know
making
like
if
the
process
takes
30
minutes.
I
can
do
it
in
10
minutes
and
it's
just
not
my
process.
B
I
can
do
the
same
with
any
other
process
in
the
company,
so
he
rotated
me
in
different
teams,
since
I
was
an
intern
right,
so
he
rotated
in
different
teams
and
that's
what
I
found
like
I
like
industrial
engineering
as
well.
I
like
improving
processes.
That's
when
I
decided
to
pursue
masters
in
industrial
engineering,
which
is
a
branch
of
science
which
deals
with
process
improvement.
They
teach
you
how
to
improve
process
in
a
scientific
way,
and
I
did
my
master's
in
dallas
techs
in
utah
texas
and
then
I
moved
to.
B
I
worked
for
oil
and
gas
industry,
not
the
good
and
bakken
basin,
where
we
manufacture
skits
for
this
huge.
You
know
marathon,
whiting
and
all
mnc
companies,
but
I
felt
that
my
job
was
a
less
law.
It
paid
good,
but
it
was
a
lot
less
fulfilling,
whereas
I
feel
like
in
I
like
to
be
a
public
servant.
I
like
to
make
sure
that
people
are.
A
Awesome
yeah,
we
discussed
in
our
phone
conversation
prior
to
this
interview
that
I
too
spent
some
time
in
north
dakota
yeah.
It's
it's
not
the
end
of
the
earth,
but
you
can
see
it
from
there.
I
imagine
you're
glad
to
be
in
pittsburgh
instead
of
north
dakota.
B
Yeah,
actually
I
I
am
glad
it's
closer
to
the
family
as
well
and
plus,
I
am
doing
a
wonderful
job
with
a
wonderful
team.
So
I
really
like
my
position
over
here.
A
B
B
I
came
here
for
education,
so
I
had
two
options
in
front
of
me.
I
come
from
a
business
family
and
where
you
know
education
is
very
stressed
upon,
you
need
to
at
least
get
two
degrees
right
to
be
worthwhile.
So
my
dad
was
a
big
proponent
of
education.
He
said
you
need
to
get
your
education
and
I
said
if
I'm
going
to
get
my
education
it's
either
going
to
be
in.
I
want
to
get
different
experiences,
so
there
were
like
two
schools
which
are
really
good
in
industrial
engineering,
which
I
wanted
to
do.
B
B
B
B
It's
changed
a
lot
of
things,
especially
the
way
I
do
work.
So
my
work
is
mostly
like
a
teamwork
where
you
know
I
need
to
get
work
done
from
a
lot
of
people
and
we
need
to
work
together
and
synergize,
but
having
this
virtual
environment
is
so
different
and
it
comes
with
the
own
sets
of
challenges.
But
the
thing
I
like
about
it
is
that
you
know
it's
I'm
a
very
optimistic
guy,
so
you
have
to
play
the
cards.
You're
dealt
with
right,
there's.
So
in
continuous
improvement
there
are
like
two
there's
a
venn
diagram.
A
A
A
A
Don't
like,
so
what
are
your
goals
for
the
future?
Do
you
see
yourself
staying
in
process
improvement,
or
do
you
have
thoughts
beyond
that
designs?
Beyond
that.
B
So
in
the
process
improvement
line,
there
is
a
quote
which
goes
that
there
is
always
room
for
improvement
right,
and
I
see
myself
being
in
this
role
for
a
couple
of
years.
I
still
want
to
make
a.
I
feel
I
can
make
more
profound
effect
with
my
position
right
over
here,
because
I
get
to
work
with
a
lot
of
frontline
members
and
I
feel
that's
where
most
of
the
process
improvements
come
from,
and
it's
also
about
the
servant
leadership.
A
Awesome
so
you're
not
going
stir
crazy
or
anything
or
going
insane.
You
know.
B
D
A
Awesome
all
right.
Well,
I
think
we
should
let
you
get
back
to
your
day,
but
thank
you
so
much
for
telling
us
about
all
this.
It's
always
good
to
meet
somebody
who
really
has
a
passion
for
what
they
do.
Since
some
people,
unfortunately,
think
government
people
just
sit
around
and
I
don't
know
smoke
cigarettes
or
whatever
they
think.
A
Mantra,
thank
you
so
much
for
hanging
in
there
with
us
and
one
day
we
may
actually
meet
face
to
face.
Who
knows.
B
A
Much
coming
up
you'll
meet
alison
bottai
from
the
department
of
public
works,
stay
with
us
on
city
talk.
C
Hello,
my
name
is
ross
chapman,
I'm
worries
matthews,
I'm
dan
gilman.
This
is
chief
scott
shubert
city
of
pittsburgh,
bureau
of
police
and
I
support
ending
domestic
violence
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
because
everybody
has
a
mother,
I
hope
to
lead
by
example,
one
day
for
my
children,
because
nobody
should
ever
live
in
fear
of
their
intimate
partner.
My
mother
was
a
victim
of
domestic
violence
and
I'm
here
today
to
say
no
more,
not
here
not
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh,.
D
A
City
talk
we
now
take
you
through
the
magic
of
the
internet
to
the
home
of
allison
badai
who's
working
from
home
for
the
department
of
public
works.
Allison,
welcome
to
the
program.
A
And
that
is
a
nice
brick
wall.
You
have
there.
A
E
Yeah,
that's
correct,
so
I'm
an
admin
too,
with
the
department
of
public
works
in
our
parks
department.
So
I
deal
with
permitting
all
the
park
shelters
in
the
fields
across
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
We
actually
have
165
parks,
whether
that's
a
parkway,
a
park
itself
or
other
green
spaces.
So
there's
definitely
a
lot
that
we
work
with,
but
it's
very
enjoyable
and
I'm
happy
that
especially
now
people
were
really
excited
to
get
out
there
to
utilize.
The
outdoors.
So.
A
Yes,
that
was
interesting
when
we
had
our
conversation
on
the
phone
before
this,
I
assumed
the
number
of
permits
would
be
down,
but
you're
saying
that
they're
hopping,
you
know
they're
selling,
like
pancakes
for
the
outdoor
venues,
because
that
is
safer
than
indoors
these
days.
E
Right
exactly,
it
is
safer
than
indoors,
and
we've
had
a
lot
of
kind
of
last
minute
requests,
even
with
things
like
weddings,
because
you
know
people
can't
have
maybe
their
ceremony
inside
so
they
want
to.
You
know,
have
their
wedding
say
at
the
walled
garden,
which
is
one
of
our
really
awesome
green
spaces
amongst
many
others.
E
A
Everybody
knows
about
the
breathtaking
views
from
mount
washington,
but
I
didn't
realize
that
the
city,
you
know
controlled
four
separate
spaces
that
you
can
rent.
I
guess
more
or
less.
E
We
do
yeah
yeah
and
that's
been
one
of
the
things.
I've
actually
been
talking
with
the
community
group
in
mount
washington
just
so
so
they
can
reach
out
to
anybody
that
inquires
about
it
as
well,
because
that's
that's
a
big
part
of
my
job
to
make
sure
that
I'm
kind
of
looping
in
the
other
community
groups.
You
know
whether
it's
for
fields
or
if
it's
for
a
certain
shelter.
We
you
know
we
like
to
make
sure
that
we're
working
directly
with
them.
A
So,
just
as
an
example,
how
much
how
many
people
might
you
be
able
to
get
safely
into
one
of
those
mount
washington.
E
They're
actually
bigger
than
I
that
I
thought
you
know
like
because
you
look
at
them
from
afar.
Of
course
they
look
like
smaller
but
but
yeah
I'd
say
around
around
around
50
people
probably
safely
so.
E
You
know
off
the
top
of
my
head,
not
a
hundred
percent
sure,
but
you
figure
for
all
of
our
our
big
parks,
like
our
our
rad
parks,.
E
Highland
park
schenley
park,
riverview
park,
I
think
frick
park,
if
I'm
not
mistaking,
but
they
you
figure,
they
all
have
at
least
one
shelter.
Riverview
has,
I
think,
five
shelters.
So
there's
definitely
there's
definitely
a
lot
of
venues
as
far
as
our
indoor
facilities,
our
outdoor
shelters,
our
fields,
a
lot
of
our
fields
across
the
city
have
you
know
at
least
two
fields
because
there's
you
know
a
bigger,
a
bigger
ball
field
and
then
there's
a
smaller
ball
field
for
the
youth,
leagues,
so
yeah.
A
So
if
I
want
to
rent
a
space,
presumably
I
research
it
on
the
internet
and
then
I
can
find
a
form
which
will
end
up
in
your
hands.
E
Yeah,
so
we
actually
have
our
website
for
our
park
shelters.
That
website
is
register
parks
with
an
s
dot,
pittsburgh
pa.gov
and
that
site
actually
allows
the
customer
to
submit
a
rental
request
to
rental
park
shelter.
Now
our
season,
unfortunately
just
ended
yesterday
to
actually
apartment
park
shelters,
but
the
fields
can
still
be
used
and
then
we're
hoping
that
our
indoor
shelters
can
open
back
up
in
may
of
2021
and
that's
only
because
of
the
pandemic.
Just
you
know
like
we
were
talking
about
before,
but
we're
just
happy.
E
People
are
getting
outside
and
able
to
enjoy
nature.
A
So
tell
us
about
your
background:
where
are
you
from
originally
how
you
ended
up
evolving
into
this
position
in
government.
E
Yeah,
so
I'm
actually
from
irwin,
which
is
probably
like
35
or
so
minutes
from
here
I
live
in
shadyside
and
yeah.
I
just
always
had
an
interest
in
local
government.
I
in
undergrad
I
went
for
arts
administration
at
st
vincent
and
then
I
got
my
mba
at
seton
hill
university
and
my
focus
was
in
management,
but
my
first
job.
E
Actually
I
worked
in
the
convention
center
at
the
sports
and
exhibition
authority
and
I
dealt
with
things
pertaining
to
city
and
county,
so
I
did
a
lot
of
projects
on
the
north
shore
and
they
also
own
all
the
stadiums
across
the
city.
So
I
got
to
do
a
lot
of
work
on
capital
projects
which
is
super
interesting.
E
E
Events,
yeah
yeah.
That
was
definitely
a
thing
for
sure
I
mean
it
wasn't
in
my
you
know,
area
where
I
could.
You
know
approve
a
lot
of
something
like
that,
but
it
was
cool
because
we
got
a
lot
of
really
unique
opportunities.
I
actually
had
a
chance
to
walk
the
catwalk
in
the
ppg
paints
arena,
which
was
really
cool.
It
was
console
then.
E
A
E
Yeah,
I
do,
I
think
it's
because
you
know
I
just
I
love
our
parks
and
I
just
love
learning
about
the
city
of
pittsburgh,
so
I
definitely
have
a
passion
passion
for
that
and
just
having
like
a
sports
background
as
well.
I
think
I
just
like
just
get
really
excited
about
it.
I'm
trying
to
broaden
my
knowledge
to
just
in
the
whole
department
of
public
works
because
there's
a
street
side
as
well.
E
You
know
we
have
the
department
of
mobility
and
infrastructure,
but
we
still
do
some
streets
related
things
as
well.
So
I'm
trying
to.
D
E
A
The
department
of
mobility
and
infrastructure,
which
does
things
like
try
to
improve
traffic
flow
in
an
individual
neighborhood
or
put
seats
out
on
the
street
for
a
sidewalk
cafe
and
then
reroute
traffic
that
would
have
gone
on
that
street.
I
mean
you
know
that,
but
I'm
saying
that
for
people
watching
yeah
yeah,
do
you
see
yourself
possibly
doing
work
like
that?
One
of
these
days.
E
Yeah,
like
I,
I
definitely
see
myself
long-term
with
the
city,
and
I
like
I
said
I
just
want
to
try
to
broaden
my
horizon
and
understand
the
the
street
side
as
well.
I'm
signed
up
for
a
couple
of
classes
that
are
streets
related,
I
think
one's
on
traffic
calming,
so
it
should
be
interesting.
A
Do
people
ask
you
about
potholes
all
the
time
when
they
find
out
you
work
for
dpw.
E
Yeah
they
do
sometimes
actually,
if
they
don't
know
that
I'm
focused
in
parks,
sometimes
I'll
get
calls
about
potholes.
You
know
sidewalks
things
like
that.
You
know
we
all
we
all
kind
of
work
together
at
the
end
of
the
day.
So
I
make
sure
that
I
I
get
those
those
workers,
those
people,
you
know
their
questions.
E
E
E
Yeah,
I
actually
my
longest
run
was
22
miles.
So
I'll
start
tapering
here,
probably
after
this
week,
but
yeah
yeah,
it's
it's
it's
fun.
I
I
enjoy
it.
I'm
constantly
eating
to
say
so.
E
So
I
was
always
a
tennis
player
in
college
and
I
coached
college
tennis,
but
all
my
friends
in
undergrad
were
all
cross-country
runners,
so
I
just
sometimes
I'd
be
like
oh
can
I
go
on
a
run
with
you,
of
course
they
like
blew
me
out
of
the
water.
I
was
really
slow,
but
I
just
I
guess
I
just
had
friends
who
always
ran
cross
country,
so
that
kind
of
got
me
into
it
and
then
I
just
I
just
got
into
it
after
college
and
yeah.
A
But
so,
but
you
sound
like
you're,
not
during
this
weird
time,
when
we're
all
a
little
bit
more
isolated,
you're,
not
going
stir
crazy
or
climbing
your
brick
walls
or
anything.
E
E
She
is
and
yeah
she
I
think,
she's.
A
E
I
love
all
animals,
but
I've
always
had
cats
like
growing
up
where
I
had
a
cat,
who
was
also
a
cow
co-cat,
which
is
what
I
have
now
so
I
mean
I
love
all
animals.
I
love
dogs
too,
but.
A
All
right,
I
don't
even
know
why
I'm
asking
that
to
tell
you
the
truth,
random
curiosity,
yeah,
so
do
you
have
any
specific
goals
for
the
future?
Well,
as
you
said,
you
want
to
get
to
know
more
aspects
of
the
city
and
how
things
work.
But
do
you
see
yourself
continuing
in
government.
E
Yeah,
absolutely,
I
think
it's
what
inspires
me,
the
most
just
out
of
working
in
the
public
sector
before
and
then,
like
I
said
in
advertising,
I
just
yeah.
I
just
find
more
of
a
passion
for
it
and
what
I
like
to
do
so.
E
Love
learning
about
the
city,
anything
I
can
so
awesome.