KHARI MOSLEY (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Supporters call Mosley a ‘we person,’ not a ‘me person’
Who will represent Pittsburghers, many of whom are Black, in the city’s 9th District on City Council?
Will it continue to be Rev. Ricky Burgess, who’s held the position since 2007?
If it’s up to longtime activist Khari Mosley, it will be Mosley himself in the position.
Mosley is the political director for 1 Hood Media. But he’s been around longer than 1 Hood itself in Pittsburgh, dabbling in the political scene but never truly making a run for elected office in the city.
Until now.
KHARI MOSLEY, WITH HIS CHILDREN. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
“For the first time in recent memory, the people are at the center of the political agenda,” Mosley said at an event announcing his candidacy for the first time in-person, at the Blue Sky Bar in East Liberty, Jan. 5. “The overriding question in my mind was, what are we willing to do to meet this moment? Are we content with what we’ve done so far? Have we done enough already? Is our work done? Or are we ready to continue to do the work we’ve started…a focus on holistic public safety, resilient infrastructure, affordable housing, fair wages, climate protection, food security, equity, inclusion and other key policy areas. This is a question I had to ask myself as I pondered making this life-changing decision. I realized that part of finishing the work we started was me to step up and do my part.”
And that part is running for a City Council seat that sports a wide range of audiences—Black, White, Asian; affluent to low-income; with issues ranging from gentrification in East Liberty to hope for Homewood to become what it once was economically, some decades ago.
“I am running to restore faith in the idea that government can get the people’s decision done, improve the quality of life in every neighborhood, and inspire our citizens to believe that Pittsburgh’s best days are yet to come. If we dare to be bold, think big and rise up to meet this moment, there is so much that we can do.”
There was no mention of Rev. Burgess by Mosley in Mosley’s 20 minutes worth of remarks. And some of those who spoke prior to Mosley didn’t mention the reverend’s name, either. But there was an underlying tone that Rev. Burgess isn’t as transparent or accessible to residents as he should, as current councilman.
MONICA MALIK WITH KHARI MOSLEY
“I’m excited to have somebody representing me,” said 1 Hood Media Founder/CEO Jasiri X, “that’s going to put the interests of community over his own ego…over somebody trying to say, ‘Look what I did.’”
Jasiri X, speaking prior to Mosley, called Mosley a “we person,” not a “me person.”
No matter the attacks, Rev. Burgess has remained in office. In 2019, he defeated Randall Taylor, Barbara Daniels and Rev. B. DeNeice Welch to keep his seat. Reverend Burgess had about 40 percent of the vote. Taylor, an activist known largely for his fight to keep Penn Plaza from being torn down in East Liberty several years ago, received 28 percent. Following the election, Taylor turned to Twitter to say that it was the second time “60 percent of our community has voted against Ricky Burgess.”
However, Rev. Burgess, nor any City Council candidate, has to get at least a 51 percent vote to win. They just have to outdo all the other contenders. So it’s clear that there are Rev. Burgess supporters out there.
They just weren’t at Mosley’s campaign announcement party.
“We can serve the needs of the people, instill a sense of hope in our neighborhoods, and provide solutions to the challenges we face as a city,” Mosley proclaimed. “This race is about choosing positivity over negativity, optimism over pessimism and unity over division.”
ASHLEY COMANS WITH KHARI MOSLEY
Reverend John C. Welch was the emcee for the event. He’s obviously supporting Mosley; after all, his wife, the aforementioned Rev. B. DeNeice Welch, ran against Rev. Burgess four years ago.“This man (Khari Mosley) is cooler than LL Cool J,” Rev. John C. Welch told the crowd. “He’s calmer than Coolio. Nothing rattles him…he engages everybody. He sits and listens to those who need to have a listening ear. He’s the next councilman for District 9.”
ROLAND FORD WITH KHARI MOSLEY
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