Ravenstahl lashes out at media over his whereabouts
Share with others:
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl rejected this afternoon any notion that he needed to sign a request to extend the declaration of a snow emergency, and lashed out at media for asking this morning for information on his whereabouts.
The mayor appeared at a 3:45 p.m. press conference after his administration had declined, since 9 a.m., to provide specific information on his whereabouts or activities, other than to say he was in the city.
"I was here," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "I did three things today. I responded to your ridiculous inquiries. I drove around the city of Pittsburgh and did an evaluation of the streets and how they looked. And I spent the majority of my time with the public safety director" discussing the death of a Hazelwood man whose companion repeatedly called for an ambulance during the snow emergency.
Asked why his staff did not disclose his whereabouts, the mayor said the information was withheld "just to kind of prove a point, that you all need to be more responsible.
"It's unfortunate that when we're talking about somebody that died," he said, "that I'm worried about responding to you, and you, and you, and you, about me being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras."
He said he was not in New Orleans, and never planned to go to Mardi Gras.
Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto said today that a request by the mayor to extend a declaration of emergency driven by last week's snow may not be valid, because the mayor hasn't signed it. It was signed by Director of Public Safety Michael Huss.
"We'll need that letter from the mayor today," said Mr. Peduto. "We'll need his signature requesting this."
An emergency declaration allows the city to enter into contracts without lengthy bidding processes. Council is scheduled to vote on the request on Wednesday.
First Published February 16, 2010 12:22 pm
