Historic Inauguration of Ed Gainey as Pittsburgh’s 61st Mayor

Hours before being sworn in as Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, Mayor-elect Ed Gainey waits for relatives to arrive at the Gainey house in Lincoln-Lemington on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Hours before being sworn in as Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, Mayor-elect Ed Gainey, left, greets his father, Jacob Talton, at the Gainey house in Lincoln-Lemington on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey, center, chats with relatives at his Lincoln-Lemington home before departing for inauguration ceremonies at the City-County Building on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey, center, visits with his children and son-in-law at the family’s home in Lincoln-Lemington hours before in inauguration as Pittsburgh mayor on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020. From left are oldest daughter Mariah Peoples, 25; daughter Alexa, 14; son Darius, 12; Gainey; son-in-law Demetrious Peoples Jr. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey and wife Michelle kiss at their Lincoln-Lemington home before departing for inauguration ceremonies at the City-County Building on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey, right, his wife Michelle, and other family members arrive at the City County Building for his inauguration as Pittsburgh’s 61st mayor and the city’s first Black mayor, Monday Jan. 3, 2022, at the City County Building in Downtown. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey, his wife Michelle, and other family members arrive at the City County Building for Gainey’s inauguration as Pittsburgh’s 61st mayor , Monday Jan. 3, 2022, in the City County Building in Downtown. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Hours before being sworn in as Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, Mayor-elect Ed Gainey, right, waits while oldest daughter Mariah Peoples has make-up applied by cousin Alana Coburn at the Gainey house in Lincoln-Lemington on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey shares a smile with his wife Michelle in his new office in the City County Building, Monday Jan. 3, 2022, in Downtown. Gainey was arriving ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, making him the 61st mayor of Pittsburgh, and the city’s first Black mayor. “They say behind every great man is a great woman, but for me, the greatest woman I could have ever been given stands beside me every single day,” he said. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey stands beside his wife Michelle as he leads a prayer circle in his office before his inauguration as the city’s first Black mayor, Monday Jan. 3, 2022, in the City County Building Downtown. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey stands beside his wife Michelle as he leads a prayer circle in his office before his inauguration as the city’s first Black mayor, Monday Jan. 3, 2022, in the City County Building Downtown. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mayor-elect Ed Gainey looks out the window at his new office in the City County Building before his inauguration as the city’s first Black mayor, Monday Jan. 3, 2022, in Downtown. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
The offices of the mayor are labelled with the name of incoming Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey at the start of Gainey’s inauguration ceremonies as the 61st mayor of the city of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)

Teacher Sean Means asks questions of his 11th grade U.S. History class at Westinghouse Academy in Homewood as students watched the historic inauguration of Ed Gainey as Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. “What are some of his priorities? What are some of the challenges that he’ll be up against,” Means asked. “Financial Difficulties,” one student replied. “Racism,” replied another. “Does Pittsburgh work for all of its citizens?” Means continued. “How does he create more opportunities?” Shortly before the class began, a voice over the school’s PA system announced that Gainey’s inauguration was about to begin. “This is a very important moment in history,” the announcement concluded. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Judge Kim Berkeley-Clark, left, swears in Ed Gainey, right, as the 61st mayor of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, as his wife Michelle stands beside him on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building in Downtown. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
Mayor Ed Gainey speaks during his inaugural ceremonies as the 61st mayor of the city of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
Former mayor Bill Peduto is recognized during the speech of Mayor Ed Gainey, as the 61st mayor of the city of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
Mayor Ed Gainey speaks during his inaugural ceremonies as the 61st mayor of the city of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
From left, outgoing mayor Bill Peduto, former mayor Tom Murphy, Mayor Ed Gainey, and former mayor Luke Ravenstahl talk after posing for a photo after the inaugural ceremonies of Gainey, the 61st mayor of the city of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
Mayor Ed Gainey poses for a photo with his family after his inaugural ceremonies as the 61st mayor of the city of Pittsburgh and the city’s first Black mayor, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2020, at the City-County Building. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey answers questions from the media during his first press conference after being sworn in as mayor, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in the City-County Building, Downtown. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey answers questions from the media during his first press conference after being sworn in as mayor, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in the City-County Building, Downtown. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Mayor Ed Gainey leaves the room after answering questions from the media during his first press conference after being sworn in as mayor of Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in the City-County Building, Downtown. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)