Mayor Luke Ravenstahl officially kicked off the City of Pittsburgh's holiday festivities by lighting the holiday tree at 12:35 p.m. on Friday, November 20th on the Grant Street Portico of the City-County Building.

"We're excited to kick off an entire day of holiday celebrations happening downtown for Light Up Night," said Ravenstahl. "The noontime tree lighting is an extraordinary event filled with holiday cheer, entertainment, mascots, free refreshments, and even an opportunity to donate to the Salvation Army."

The Salvation Army Ensemble will begin performing on the Portico at 11:10 a.m. Throughout the celebration, individuals will have an opportunity to donate new and gently used toys, as well as non-perishable food items, to the Salvation Army Food & Toy Drive. Individuals may drop donations into the World's Largest Kettle - a 1,125-gallon, 2,800-pound Salvation Army kettle that is approximately 5'8" tall and 8' in diameter at the lid.

Pittsburgh Pathways Blueprint
Pittsburgh's Dropouts: A Look at the Numbers (4.27 MB Powerpoint file)

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hosted the Graduate Pittsburgh Summit to increase public awareness of the dropout and college/life readiness crisis in Pittsburgh. At the summit, the Mayor, Superintendent and Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB) President signed "Pittsburgh’s Multiple Education Pathways Blueprint” - a document that contains recommendations for building pathways to improve education and workforce outcomes for Pittsburgh’s youth.

The event was held at the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh. The event brought together 240 local leaders, educators, students, and parents in an effort to create a community-wide strategy to combating the dropout crisis in the City of Pittsburgh. This full day event featured excellent speakers and panels who discussed possible solutions for increasing the city's graduation rate.The summit also featured, the Pittsburgh Opportunity Expo which showcased programs and resources available for the drop-out population, parents, and teachers.

Mayor Ravenstahl's Budget Address
Proposed 2010 Budget and Five Year Plan

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today presented his Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Operating Budget and updated five-year financial plan to the public and members of Pittsburgh City Council. The budget, with revenues of $457 million and expenditures of $454 million provides a blueprint for solving the City's under-funded pension through revenue enhancements, maintains a pay-as-you-go capital budget, and continues the quality of life investments in public safety, neighborhood improvements and recreation. Non-salary spending stays flat, City employees will receive a 2,000 bonus, and the City's savings account remains in excess of the mandated 5 percent of the expenditures.

"Over the past three years, we've worked together to continue the responsible budgetary principles which have been the hallmark of my administration," Ravenstahl said. "We've tightened the belt even more and held the line on spending, stopped the past practices of issuing debt for future generations to burden, and aggressively addressed our legacy costs. At the same time, we've invested in our communities, improving the quality of life for families and residents through robust public safety initiatives and neighborhood investments. Financial experts have upgraded our City's bond rating four different times, and more importantly, cities around the globe are taking note as Presidents Obama chose Pittsburgh to host the G-20 financial summit. Now, it is time that we again show the world that anything is possible in our great City by completing our financial recovery once and for all. With the adoption of the revenue enhancements in this budget, we are just two steps away from this goal. If this budget is enacted, I will ask the Governor to remove our City from Act 47 distressed status."

Since taking office the Mayor has worked aggressively to tackle the legacy costs of debt and healthcare, by implementing a pay-as-you-go capital budget, and consolidating the City's health plan. He has a plan to solve the pension crisis which is the last remaining financial "fix" according to financial experts and fiscal overseers.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today joined community leaders, developer Jack Benoff, and future residents officially breaking ground for the $19 million rehabilitation of the historic Otto Milk Building, located at 25th and Smallman streets in the heart of the Strip District. Formerly home to two brewing companies, and then the Otto "Milk" Company, the structure, built in 1865, will be transformed into 56 residential units and 2 commercial spaces.

With a starting price of $183,000, paired with the Mayor's 10-year tax abatement, which saves a buyer up to $6,000 per year on city and school real estate taxes, the condominiums offer a uniquely affordable City living option.

"This project is a perfect example of how anything is possible in Pittsburgh," Ravenstahl said. "By providing this incentive for developers, we're seeing a historic building that sat vacant for decades being transformed into new residences where generations of Pittsburghers will build their wealth and add to the vitality of the local business district."