Preserving Democracy

President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark of Pennsylvania’s Fifth Judicial District discussed how Allegheny County has responded to challenges related to COVID-19 and also discussed the reform efforts underway to make Allegheny County’s criminal justice system fairer and less costly, without compromising public safety.

Since the killing of George Floyd by officers of the Minneapolis Police Department, the entire nation has seen protests targeting not only policing practices but broader issues of systemic racism. Pennsylvania State Representative Jake Wheatley is a member of the Working Group on Police Reform in Harrisburg. Rep. Wheatley discusses not only those focused reform efforts but also the broader impact of systemic racism in such critical areas as education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

Patrick Donahoe was a lifelong employee of the Postal Service and served as the United States Postmaster General from 2010-2015. USPS, which has been the subject of both unusual financial demands and significant operating constraints, is in a perilous financial condition, warning that it may run out of funds by September. He discusses the proud history of the Postal Service, possible solutions to its current problems and its ability to meet the needs of the country in the November election.

Arthur Levine, the former Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses the role that science has played in human progress including the enhancement of human health, and the critical impact of the federal government in advancing the health sciences through work done in such agencies as the NIH, CDC and FDA. He also talks about the nature of the COVID-19 disease and efforts to develop a vaccine.

Rich Fitzgerald, the County Executive of Allegheny County, discusses the challenges that counties have faced in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. The interview touches on the importance of public health official’s expertise in planning and the need for collaboration between governments. The County Executive provides insight into measures that have been taken to ease the burdens of voting in during the primary election and managing the county's criminal justice system during the pandemic.

Ken Gormley, the President of Duquesne University, examines the role and limits of executive power during times of crisis. He provides a unique perspective on the laws and cases that have shaped the powers of presidents and governors over our country's history. These powers and their limits have been tested recently as the president, governors, and federal and state agencies have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh, introduces the Governing in Crisis podcast. The series is intended to help both policymakers and interested citizens to better understand the important governance issues that seem to be arising all too frequently. It is offered in the hope that we will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis not only with our economy restored and with our basic values intact, but on a committed journey to an even better America.