Pittsburgh is a city of opportunity, but too many of our neighbors are struggling to find a place to call home. Ed Gainey's "inclusionary zoning" and similarly illiterate policies led to a 66% jump in Pittsburgh's homeless population. The rising cost of housing, limited job opportunities, and issues like mental health and addiction are all contributing to this crisis. It's time for a new approach—one that allows prosperity and development to thrive so that all Pittsburghers can have access to safe, affordable housing.

     Ben's plan for housing and development will focus on creating opportunities for growth, reducing barriers to homeownership, and addressing the root causes of homelessness. Here’s how we’ll solve Pittsburgh’s housing crisis:

Eliminate Restrictions on Housing Development

     As mayor, Ben will cut through the red tape that makes it difficult to build new homes and afford housing to begin with. By reducing unnecessary regulations and eliminating zoning restrictions, Pittsburgh will become a destination for developers to create a wide variety of housing options that meet the needs of all Pittsburghers.

Foster a Strong Business Environment

     A thriving economy is key to tackling homelessness. By creating a business-friendly environment, we will attract new jobs and support local businesses, which will provide higher-paying job opportunities for Pittsburghers. With better jobs, people can afford to keep a roof over their heads.

Support People Struggling with Addiction

     Addiction is a major factor contributing to homelessness, but we shouldn’t criminalize those who need help. We will provide immunity from drug-related charges for those seeking treatment, ensuring they can choose rehabilitation and support services rather than punishment.

Encourage Community-Led Housing Solutions

     We will partner with local communities to create housing solutions that reflect the needs and desires of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. By supporting community-based development projects, we can ensure that our city grows in a way that benefits everyone.

Streamline the Housing Permit Process

      We will reduce the complexity and length of time it takes to approve building permits. This will speed up the construction of new homes and housing projects, addressing demand more quickly.

COVID-19 and the totalitarian response decimated Pittsburgh's economy, killing hundreds of businesses and taking tens of thousands of jobs from our city. Downtown was especially impacted, with shuttered stores on every corner. Sadly, it took four years to even return to 2020 population levels due to policies including "inclusive zoning" and "racial equity." Joined by his partisan pal Corey O'Connor, Ed Gainey fully endorsed the lockdown regime and milked the disaster as long as possible, only to then use COVID relief funds to balance his lopsided budget. As mayor, Ben will steel back our jobs, businesses, and economy by first taking five simple steps:

Reduce Start-Up Costs for New Businesses 

     Starting a business should be a path to prosperity, not a trip through maze of regulations. Ben will eliminate burdensome regulations that protect established businesses at the expense of newcomers, making it easier for entrepreneurs to start and grow their own ventures. Corporate welfare of all stripes will be cut, and the volume of laws and ordinances that only large businesses can hire lawyers to interpret will be slashed. Pittsburgh will recover every last business three times over!

Turn Pittsburgh into the Country's Tax Haven

     Ben envisions Pittsburgh as a top destination for businesses looking to expand or relocate. By offering competitive tax incentives, he will attract industries that create jobs, foster innovation, and contribute to Pittsburgh’s continued economic growth. As mayor, Ben will immediately implement a four-year Race Towards Zero plan to eliminate every city tax, starting with the property tax and its debilitating effects on seniors and those on the brink of housing insecurity. To fully eliminate every tax, Ben will protect Pittsburgh against city government debt and eliminate licensing fees, both hidden forms of taxation.

Become the American Bitcoin City

     Ben will incentivize the Bitcoin community to invest in Pittsburgh. As part of the Race Towards Zero plan, the city will allow all city taxes to be paid in Bitcoin, enabling Bitcoin investors to avoid capital gains taxes when their Bitcoin grows in value. This will create Bitcoin jobs: from engineering to finance; from marketing to legal services - the ripple effect of a booming Bitcoin economy will be felt across Pittsburgh! Further, Ben will pull all city investments in foreign companies, including those in countries accused of genocide, and will invest heavily in a Bitcoin reserve, staking our city's future with the currency of the future.

Focus on Repairs, Not Reparations

     Unlike his predecessor and opponent, Ben will not use city resources to fight a culture war. Beginning on Day One, Ben will eliminate all DEI roles, positions, and offices, and focus on issues that will heal, not harm, our city. Rather than stoking divisions by offering reparations to some voters, Ben will repair Pittsburgh for every resident. Each DEI office's budget will be reallocated to city services focused on repairing Pittsburgh - time to fix those potholes!

Everyone understands Pittsburgh is no longer safe. Violent crimes of all kinds spiked under the last administration, and Pittsburghers witnessed the decline of public safety protections across the city. The last administration's response was to have the police stop answering the phone. Ben will reverse course and reorient law enforcement to its only proper role - protecting the lives and property of our neighbors.

Focus on Real Crime, Not Victimless Acts

      Police will be fighting crimes that directly harm individuals and communities, such as theft, assault, and violence. Victimless crimes, including minor drug offenses, will not drain law enforcement’s time or our tax dollars. Ordinances restricting your civil liberties, personal autonomy, and individual rights will be overruled and unenforced.

Economic Opportunity Over Poverty-Driven Crime

     A safer Pittsburgh is one where economic opportunity is available to all. By reducing burdensome regulations and creating an environment for local businesses to thrive, Ben will help create jobs and reduce poverty—addressing one of the root causes of crime.

Rebuild Trust Between Police and the Community

     After the recent dramatic and unprofessional handling of police operations, we need a shift in the way law enforcement operates. Police will be required to participate in community events, live in the city and area they serve, and obey a strict ethics code. In spite of the newly proposed, record-breaking, trillion-dollar defense budget, our police force will be demilitarized, and our city attorneys will work to end qualified immunity locally. In addition to refocusing police priorities, ensuring accountability within law enforcement is crucial. Ben will establish clear and transparent oversight of police actions to prevent abuse of power and ensure fair treatment of all citizens. Altogether, Pittsburgh police will focus on their true role: serving and protecting the community. Training and protocols will emphasize de-escalation, transparency, and building trust with the people they serve, not just enforcing laws.

End Civil Asset Forfeiture

     No one should have their property seized without due process. Under Ben's leadership, we will eliminate civil asset forfeiture, ensuring that Pittsburghers' property is only taken when they’ve been convicted of a crime, not as a tool for police to raise funds. Ben will work to pass city laws codifying private property rights as fundamental and eliminating all forms of eminent domain.

Defend the Right to Self-Defense

     All Pittsburghers should have the ability to protect themselves and their families. Ben will work to reduce restrictions on gun ownership, empowering law-abiding citizens to defend themselves without relying on law enforcement to be there in moments of danger. Unlike Corey O'Connor's unconstitutional 2019 Gun Laws, we will expand protections for magazine capacities, constitutional carry, and deregulated firearms. The safest cities are armed.

Support Rehabilitation Over Punishment

      The city will focus on rehabilitation programs for those who have committed non-violent crimes, offering a second chance to those who are willing to turn their lives around. Ben believes in helping people rebuild their lives, not in locking them away for minor offenses.
 

Community-Based Safety Programs

     A focus on community-led initiatives to reduce crime before it happens. By protecting citizens who protect their neighbors, we will empower communities to develop their own neighborhood-watch programs, youth engagement, and local safety initiatives, creating safer environments without relying solely on policing.

Pittsburgh's budget is in grave danger of entering deficit territory. State and federal funding have kept the ship afloat to date, but decreased revenue and increased costs are leading our city down an unsustainable path. As mayor, Ben will not merely balance the budget and eliminate taxes, he will take a chainsaw to the city bureaucracy and streamline operations to maximum efficiency. As the only candidate serious about cutting spending, Ben will steel back our balanced budget and our tax dollars!

NULLIFY THE FEDS

The federal government is out of control. From imposing totalitarian lockdowns to kidnapping people for penning op-eds, Washington D.C. is out of control and no longer accountable to We the People.  With some presidents struggling to say whether they must obey the Constitution, Ben has a firm answer: if you won't defend the law, we will. Ben promises to nullify every unconstitutional law, order, and regulation from taking effect in Pittsburgh. On Day One, Ben will cut off all cooperation between Pittsburgh and the IRS, FBI, DHS, and other agencies whose existence, policies, and enforcement are unlawful. Ben will stand up to D.C., tell the swamp to back off, and steel back Pittsburgh's independence from Washington.

🛑STOP PROJECT 2030 🛑

Ben firmly opposes the implementation of Project 2030, a global agenda that threatens the sovereignty, economic independence, and individual liberties of our community. This initiative, driven by unelected international elites, seeks to impose sweeping regulations on land use, individual finances, and personal behavior under the guise of sustainability. Such measures risk undermining self-governance, stifling small businesses, and restricting the freedoms of our residents to live and prosper as they see fit. Ben will:

Preserve Local Control: Ensure that all policies affecting our community are approved by local leaders accountable to our residents.

Protect Property Rights: Defend the rights of individuals and businesses to use their land and resources without regulatory oversight.

Defend Economic Freedom: Support businesses and workers by rejecting policies imposing regulations or taxes in the name of global goals.

By opposing Project 2030, Ben will build a future where our town thrives on its own terms, rooted in freedom, liberty, and self-governance.

Acrisure Stadium survives only through a favorable deal with the city in a complex web of private and public partnership. However, without our tax dollars, the Steelers would have no home to play in. If we are paying for the stadium, we are going to name the stadium. And if we are going to name the stadium, we are going to steel back the iconic HEINZ FIELD! As mayor, Ben will use every ounce of leverage and power to return Heinz Field to Pittsburgh and reward a fanbase that deserves more than just an NFL Draft. Let's bring Heinz Field back!