PITTSBURGH (Newsradio KDKA) - As a kid in the suburbs he had a deep passion for the city of Pittsburgh. That has obviously grown with time. To Bill Peduto, The job is magical. However, at what point did he begin to wonder if his dream as mayor was actually worth the effort and aggravation? After all politics has changed since he entered the scene years ago.
Honestly, I was somewhat surprised yet extremely pleased that my request/invitation for an extended sit-down was accepted without hesitation. I very much enjoyed meeting Mr. Peduto in-person to discuss a wide range of topics: his youth, family, college, goals, first car, plans after he leaves Grant Street, Afghanistan refugees, and the sister-city of Wuhan, China, among many other things.
Yes, I declared that he was the ‘Brett Keisel’ of mayors due to his famous beard. How did he take that? And, why does the color of the beard not match the hairs on his head? And, speaking of color: what is up with the city’s vehicle fleet? And, what was it that the Dalai Lama found so infatuating?
What is ‘the spot’ in Pittsburgh that truly signifies ‘home’ to him? What about the riots, the demonstrations in front of his house, or the issues with policing? And, when did he know that the recent primary would not end favorably? Don’t worry: the vacation he has planned will more than make up for any disappointment.
On a very busy afternoon, the mayor of Pittsburgh spent much more time with me than was actually allotted. It was a great conversation. I cannot thank him or his staff enough for opening up the schedule to me.
I hope you enjoy this episode of ‘Kevin Battle Goes One-on-One With: Mayor Bill Peduto.’