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Pittsburgh City Council

Two hours of comment, 40 speakers, and almost no support for the Downtown TRID.

Written by Amy Whipple

The meeting started with two hours of public comment as 40 speakers addressed council about the TRID.

Nearly all spoke in opposition.

Criticisms included 80% of financing going to developers, the vagueness of the 20% allotted for public infrastructure and an overall distrust of the URA’s motives.

Ken Regal described the arrangement as one where “the public bears risks and costs while the private sector reaps the benefits.”

Mel Packer warned that developers were “smelling blood.”

Many faulted the process as rushed and opaque, with several arguing it may violate Pennsylvania’s public-engagement law.

Dean Mougianis said the transit language read as if a drafter was told to “throw some transit sounding stuff in there” while Peter Kaplan called the implementation plan “a piece of crap.”

One speaker in particular drew council members’ attention during their own discussion later in the meeting.

Kimberly Smith, a cleaner of nearly 40 years at the former Alcoa building — now luxury apartments owned by PMC Property Group — began her comment on recently being laid off from her job. “The tenants became much more than people I worked for. They became my friends,” she said.

Choked up and unable to continue, she handed her written statement to another speaker.

“In an instant, 37 years of hard work, dedication, and relationships were taken away even though she had never received even one complaint about her work,” he read. “She cannot afford to lose her union  job, simply because they want to save money. After 37 years, she deserved better.”

Connections to this story

Topics:
Economic Development
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · July 21, 2026

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