Richard Caliguiri - Mayor of Pittsburgh

Mayor of Pittsburgh

Caliguiri officially won the mayor's office in an election later in 1977, and was reelected twice, serving until his death in 1988. Under Caliguiri's leadership, Pittsburgh began its "Renaissance II" plan, an urban renewal and revitalization plan based on the “Renaissance” plan of former mayor and governor David L. Lawrence. The plan was generally considered a success but was hampered by a sharp and permanent downturn in the city's economy and resulting diaspora. Pittsburgh's economy began a marked downturn during the deindustrialization of the 1980s with the decline of the large steel producers such as U.S. Steel and Jones and Laughlin. Long time industrial giants that called Pittsburgh headquarters such as Gulf Oil and Koppers both were victims of the 1980s arbitrage and hostile takeover climate. Gulf was absorbed by Chevron and Koppers by British firm Beazer, both resulting in the region losing several thousand high salaried corporate headquarter jobs. The period was also marked by Pittsburgh based Westinghouse's run up to bankruptcy and reorganization in 1990 (later to become CBS and move to New York) and Rockwell International's move to California and eventually Wisconsin. By the end of Caliguiri's time in office, not a single major steel mill operated in a city once known as the "Steel City", and the city that once boasted more Fortune 500 corporate headquarters save for New York and Chicago, had less than ten. It is a tribute to mayor Caliguiri that he was able to accomplish as much as he did in the face of national and global trends minimizing the industries Pittsburgh had so long depended on.

In 1986 in response to some citizen complaints and legal action by the ACLU the city by order of Mayor Caliguiri placed a plaque entitled "Salute to Liberty." and reading: "During this holiday season, the city of Pittsburgh salutes liberty. Let these festive lights remind us that we are the keepers of the flame of liberty and our legacy of freedom." Three years later by two 5-4 decisions the United States Supreme Court upheld in part and denied in part the city's position in County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union.