District 7 candidates for Pittsburgh council vow to protect poorer communities

Pittsburgh City Council candidate La'Tasha D. Mayes promises to be a voice for the downtrodden if she's elected.

Deb Gross, who is running for reelection, said she's been doing that since taking office in January 2013.

Democrats in the district, which includes Morningside, Highland Park, Stanton Heights, Lawrence-ville, Strip District, Friendship, Bloomfield and Polish Hill, will choose one of the two women in the May 19 primary. Council representatives serve four years. Their 2015 salary is $63,505.

“I believe whoever is representing District 7 must be a bold leader, who is accessible to her constituents and able to bring people together to meet the needs of the residents, and I am the person for that job,” said Mayes, 33, of Morningside.

Gross, 48, of Highland Park said she has worked hard to ensure that residents have a voice in what happens in their neighborhoods.

“In Lawrenceville, for example, we're struggling to find ways to have affordable housing,” she said. “How does the community see itself? It's important to support that and maintain the income mix and housing mix that it wants.”

Mayes, executive director of New Voices Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that advocates for human and reproductive rights on behalf of black women and girls, said she would consider legislation requiring new housing projects to provide housing for the poor.

She supports encouraging more farmers markets and urban farming in neighborhoods so residents won't need a car to shop for groceries. She plans to advocate for more grocery stores.

Mayes said she would work to make streets safer and easier to navigate for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists and ensure development does not force out longtime residents.

“I will go block by block so my constituents know who I am, know what I'm doing and know I have their best interests at heart,” she said.

Gross, who was elected to serve the remaining two years on a term vacated by former Councilman Patrick Dowd, noted that she sponsored land banking legislation designed to make it easier to sell blighted, tax-delinquent properties.

She said rising property values in neighborhoods such as Lawrenceville are not affordable for those living below the poverty line. She said housing cooperatives, which offer affordable housing, are one way to offer less expensive housing.

A way, she said, could be establishment of a land trust to buy property and build housing and offer it at affordable prices under long-term leasing.

Gross wants community organizations to be involved in development so residents have a voice in what happens in the neighborhoods.

She said Lawrenceville has had success attaching community agreements to new liquor licenses that govern parking, crowd size and a bar's hours of operation.

“A business owner would be in violation of the liquor license if they violate the agreement,” she said.

Gross said neighborhoods are changing and residents want different traffic patterns, stop signs and better sidewalks. She said she will continue to work to make streets safer.

Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com.