As an 11 year Downtown resident who walks to most destinations at various times of the day and night, I have grown tired of the Post-Gazette’s one-sided negative portrayals of the City. The editorial “Downtown arrest video shows result of Gainey policies, demands clear answers from city” (Aug. 30) is no exception, and further drags the mayor and police chief into the fray.
Yes, Downtown should ideally be a safe and clean place for all of us. It should be welcoming to residents, workers and visitors. However, Pittsburgh should not be welcoming to those criminal elements who come here to do harm to others. Criminals should have the clear expectation that upon entry to our City, their negative actions will bring negative results.
This is part and parcel of “Protect and Serve.” Further, if one is stupid enough to resist the police when you are being arrested, the police have every right to defend themselves when resisted. Mr. Martin’s Downtown experience last Friday should be a lesson learned for him and all other criminals.
As far as I can tell, this perpetrator intended harm, probably had a weapon, covered his face, resisted arrest and was appropriately subdued. Blatant criticism is easy especially if you are not the one out there facing personal harm; constructive criticism is far more difficult.
These challenges to our safety did not appear overnight and fixing them will not be instantaneous. We all should thank Mayor Gainey for untying the hands of our police force and freeing them to serve and protect. That is why we pay them.
James Moritz
Downtown
First Published: September 4, 2023, 4:30 p.m.