Invest In Public Safety: KDKA Radio Editorial [Video]

With a developer about to start construction of the $740 million Esplanade project on the North Shore and plans for a $600 million revitalization of Downtown, the last thing Pittsburgh needs is a budget with fewer police officers.

Mayor Ed Gainey’s 2025 spending plan budgets for 50 fewer officers at a time when the police force is understaffed. And the last thing the county needs is 40 fewer officers, but that’s a possible cut if County Executive Sara Innamorato doesn’t get a property tax hike.

Talk about misplaced priorities.

For example, on Thursday Bloomfield residents at a community meeting told police the lack of a police presence is encouraging criminal activity like thefts and vandalism.

An officer told them the department is trying to bring back a beat system, but also said a lower-than-ideal number of officers is an obstacle.

The county and city should make public safety a priority and invest accordingly, especially …