Michael Edwards

==Background==
* Resident Downtown
* Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Executive Director
== Letter to Editor: Market Square's state ==
:Friday, September 28, 2007
We at the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) certainly respect the merchant's opinion mentioned in your article ("Market Square vendors question mayor's tour," Sept. 6 and PghTrib.com).
However, we believe the story did not adequately cover the larger message of the numerous positive comments about the many recent improvements to make the Square safe, clean and desirable to Downtown residents, workers, visitors and businesses.
More specifically, one should point out the investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars by the Heinz Endowments and the Colcom Foundation, the new partnerships with the Downtown child-care centers and the increased business to Market Square merchants brought by the new outdoor dining.
Certainly things are not perfect and some merchants continue to have real concerns that are deserving of attention. There is still work to be done.
The PDP does not discourage anyone from having an opinion and we didn't discourage merchants or patrons from speaking to Mayor Ravenstahl during his tour of the Square. What we do encourage is that reporters, and anyone with an interest in Downtown, not make assumptions based on what others say.
Come down, check it out and decide for yourself.
Michael Edwards, Downtown, The writer is CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Edwards