“As a Democratic mayor, we have to show that we can lead a city again,” says Corey O’Connor, who will be sworn in as Pittsburgh’s 62nd mayor on January 5.

“I think too often we forget that we have to block and tackle and do the basics of governance. Focusing on that and initiatives that are actually going to make impacts on people’s lives gives Democrats on a national scale a great argument for why we should be winning elections, especially in a purple state like Pennsylvania.”

Blocking and tackling

There’s permitting, for example, a chronic complaint from developers and small business owners alike. “If I want to start a restaurant, I shouldn’t have to wait six months to get a permit to open up a bathroom,” O’Connor says.

“If New York City can do it in four weeks, why can’t we?” He’s b

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