Cities that were built on iron, steel, and coal have had to overcome deep economic challenges and structural changes in recent decades. Both Dortmund and Pittsburgh have rebuilt themselves as thriving metropolises. However, the spread of COVID-19 is forcing cities to confront a new set of challenges. Three months ago, the ACG discussed the impact of the pandemic with the Mayors of Dortmund and Pittsburgh. (Watch it here.)
Join us on Friday, August 7, at 11:00 am ET for the second webinar with William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh, and Ullrich Sierau, Mayor of Dortmund, for an update on how their cities have developed sustainable strategies to meet the challenges of structural change, a public health crisis, and diversity and inclusion in their communities – and how they are preparing for the future. (Their full bios are below)
This event is being held under the auspices of Deutschlandjahr 2020 and in cooperation with the Office of International Relations and Sustainable Development of the City of Dortmund and the Office of the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.
William Peduto was elected to the office of Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh in the General Election on November 5, 2013, and took office as Pittsburgh’s 60th Mayor in January of 2014. Prior to taking office, he worked for 19 years on Pittsburgh City Council – seven years as a staffer then twelve years as a Member of Council. As a Councilman, Bill Peduto wrote the most comprehensive package of government reform legislation in Pittsburgh’s history. As Mayor, Peduto continues to champion the protection and enhancement of Pittsburgh’s new reputation – maintaining fiscal responsibility, establishing community based development plans, embracing innovative solutions and becoming a leader in green initiatives.
Since taking office, Mayor Peduto has led a collaborative effort to make Pittsburgh a leading 21st Century city. The Peduto administration has partnered with the White House on numerous initiatives, resulting in direct access to federal support related to affordable housing, education, economic development, energy efficiency, immigration, manufacturing, community policing, workforce development, technology and transportation. Under Peduto’s leadership the City of Pittsburgh has played an active role in National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Pennsylvania Municipal League initiatives. Pittsburgh was recently selected to join the Rockefeller Foundation network’s 100 Resilient Cities, which provides resources to improve city resilience in the face of climate change, globalization and urbanization trends. In 2015 Mayor Peduto signed a unique agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to make the city a world leader in district energy production and Pittsburgh joined the UN’s Compact of Mayors, a global coalition of climate leaders committed to local action and global impact. Recently Mayor Peduto joined with mayors around the world to reaffirm Pittsburgh’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and efforts to combat climate change. Mayor Peduto is also a founding member of the MetroLab Network, a national alliance of cities and universities committed to providing analytically-based solutions to improve urban infrastructure, services and other public sector priorities.
Ullrich Sierau is the Mayor of the City of Dortmund. After completing his degree in urban planning at Dortmund and Oxford, he worked in the Ministry of Urban Development, Housing, and Transportation of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1994, he became the director of the Dortmund-based Institute for Urban and Regional Development Research of North Rhine-Westphalia (ILS). From 1999–2007 he served as councilor and head of Dortmund’s Department of City Planning before being appointed planning officer for Urban Planning and Infrastructure in 2007.
In 2009, he was elected as Mayor of the City of Dortmund and was re-elected in 2014. Throughout his tenure in office, Mayor Sierau has focused on implementing sustainable urban development projects. As a result, Dortmund was awarded the title of Germany’s Most Sustainable City in 2014 and won the title of Germany’s Most Digital City in 2018.
