Andrew Flynn
@andrewflynnpa.com
Democrat. Pro USA, elected PA local leader standing up for a strong democracy, and ensuring that government is built for the needs of the 21st Century.
AI is already reshaping the world around us and local government is next. The real challenge isn’t buying the right software. It’s investing in the people who will carry the work forward.
What will make the difference is leadership that creates space for learning, failure, and growth.
What will make the difference is leadership that creates space for learning, failure, and growth.
Leading Local Government Through the Adoption of AI
AI is already reshaping the world around us and local government is next. The real challenge isn’t buying the right software. It’s investing in the people who will carry the work forward.
We’ve seen ...
wix.to
July 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
AI is already reshaping the world around us and local government is next. The real challenge isn’t buying the right software. It’s investing in the people who will carry the work forward.
What will make the difference is leadership that creates space for learning, failure, and growth.
What will make the difference is leadership that creates space for learning, failure, and growth.
Democracy isn’t just about voting, it’s about showing up for each other. Civic life lives in small, consistent acts of care. It means taking responsibility for the place you call home.
wix.to/FaGAXOb
wix.to/FaGAXOb
Not Just Voters, But Stewards
Democracy isn’t just about voting—it’s about showing up for each other. In Mt. Lebanon, neighbors do that every day: planting trees, organizing food drives, reimagining our streets, and creating space...
wix.to
July 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Democracy isn’t just about voting, it’s about showing up for each other. Civic life lives in small, consistent acts of care. It means taking responsibility for the place you call home.
wix.to/FaGAXOb
wix.to/FaGAXOb
We romanticize the image of settlers heading west pushing into the unknown. It wasn’t just ambition that built this country. It was the idea that we could build a better future together. That spirit of reaching outward shaped America. It’s that same spirit we’re now at risk of losing. wix.to/HYHfhYk
America Was Built to Reach Outward
When we walk in the world with fear, we shrink. But when we lead with confidence, knowing we’re not always right, but striving toward a better world, we build something stronger. America was never mea...
wix.to
July 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
We romanticize the image of settlers heading west pushing into the unknown. It wasn’t just ambition that built this country. It was the idea that we could build a better future together. That spirit of reaching outward shaped America. It’s that same spirit we’re now at risk of losing. wix.to/HYHfhYk
A Dark Sky ordinance aims to reduce light trespass, glare, and skyglow, improving the visibility of the night sky, enhancing safety, saving energy, and promoting environmental sustainability.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...
July 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
A Dark Sky ordinance aims to reduce light trespass, glare, and skyglow, improving the visibility of the night sky, enhancing safety, saving energy, and promoting environmental sustainability.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...
I lived in Russia and saw firsthand the quiet fear left behind by authoritarian rule. I see echoes of that in Trump’s war on truth and threats against democratic institutions. If we are to to preserve what makes America worth fighting for, we need to stand up to the threat.
Authoritarians Don’t Wear Uniforms Anymore
I lived in Volgograd, Russia, once Stalingrad, and saw firsthand the quiet fear left behind by authoritarian rule. Today, I see echoes of that in Donald Trump’s war on truth, loyalty to self over coun...
wix.to
July 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I lived in Russia and saw firsthand the quiet fear left behind by authoritarian rule. I see echoes of that in Trump’s war on truth and threats against democratic institutions. If we are to to preserve what makes America worth fighting for, we need to stand up to the threat.
Pennsylvania is aging, shrinking, and stretched thin. We can’t tax-cut our way to growth. The way forward is to build: more housing, stronger schools, smarter transit, and real regional collaboration. We have the people and the tools, we just need the clarity of purpose and courage to act.
The Pennsylvania We’re Becoming
Pennsylvania is aging, shrinking, and stretched thin. We can’t tax-cut our way to growth or wait for federal rescue. The only way forward is to build: more housing, stronger schools, smarter transit, ...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
July 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Pennsylvania is aging, shrinking, and stretched thin. We can’t tax-cut our way to growth. The way forward is to build: more housing, stronger schools, smarter transit, and real regional collaboration. We have the people and the tools, we just need the clarity of purpose and courage to act.
Great conversation today on WPXI with host Bill Flanagan and Lydia Morin, Executive Director of CONNECT. Lydia and I joined Bill to discuss the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill on local governments and how local governments across our region are working together to meet this moment.
July 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Great conversation today on WPXI with host Bill Flanagan and Lydia Morin, Executive Director of CONNECT. Lydia and I joined Bill to discuss the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill on local governments and how local governments across our region are working together to meet this moment.
The Constitution wasn’t built for spectacle, it was built to function. That’s the promise we have to keep. From busted budgets to broken trust, we still have a chance to fix what matters. But it’s going to take less noise, more work, and a whole lot of fence-mending.
Toward Repairing the Republic
We often talk about the American experiment as though it were born of a single idea, freedom. But that’s only a part of the story. The Constitution didn’t begin with abstract ideals. It began with pro...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
July 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The Constitution wasn’t built for spectacle, it was built to function. That’s the promise we have to keep. From busted budgets to broken trust, we still have a chance to fix what matters. But it’s going to take less noise, more work, and a whole lot of fence-mending.
Local governments are being asked to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time without the tools, structure, or support to do it well. We do not have to wait for permission from Harrisburg or Washington. We can build something better right here if we choose to work together.
Local Government for a New Era
A call to reimagine local government in Western Pennsylvania, not as a patchwork of siloed jurisdictions, but as a network of communities building shared solutions for a changing world.
www.andrewflynnpa.com
June 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Local governments are being asked to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time without the tools, structure, or support to do it well. We do not have to wait for permission from Harrisburg or Washington. We can build something better right here if we choose to work together.
No kings. No cults. Just us. Just community. Just the shared belief that democracy is not a relic, but a responsibility.
June 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
No kings. No cults. Just us. Just community. Just the shared belief that democracy is not a relic, but a responsibility.
We don’t just build civic spaces—they build us. Parks, plazas, sidewalks, firehouses: these are the quiet foundations of healthy, connected communities. Public space matters more than ever. We need to build it to last. www.andrewflynnpa.com/post/the-com...
The Commons We Keep: Why Civic Spaces Matter
Civic space is more than land set aside for leisure. It is the stage on which public life unfolds.
www.andrewflynnpa.com
June 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
We don’t just build civic spaces—they build us. Parks, plazas, sidewalks, firehouses: these are the quiet foundations of healthy, connected communities. Public space matters more than ever. We need to build it to last. www.andrewflynnpa.com/post/the-com...
Toastique in Mt Lebanon! Welcome to town!
June 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Toastique in Mt Lebanon! Welcome to town!
Federal cuts are coming—and the state won’t be far behind. We need to get smart now about regional collaboration, shared services, and consolidated tax bases. Fragmentation isn’t localism—it’s a liability. Let’s build systems that work. #PApol #LocalGov #FiscalFuture #AlleghenyCounty
The Coming Squeeze
How the Allegheny County Region Must Prepare for the Coming Era of Federal Austerity
open.substack.com
June 1, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Federal cuts are coming—and the state won’t be far behind. We need to get smart now about regional collaboration, shared services, and consolidated tax bases. Fragmentation isn’t localism—it’s a liability. Let’s build systems that work. #PApol #LocalGov #FiscalFuture #AlleghenyCounty
Spending the morning at the CONNECT Tree Canopy Alliance Meeting at the beautiful @treepgh.bsky.social site—learning how we can grow and protect our urban forests across the region. 🌳 Grateful for the work happening to make our communities greener, healthier, and more storm-resilient. #urbanforestry
May 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Spending the morning at the CONNECT Tree Canopy Alliance Meeting at the beautiful @treepgh.bsky.social site—learning how we can grow and protect our urban forests across the region. 🌳 Grateful for the work happening to make our communities greener, healthier, and more storm-resilient. #urbanforestry
I joined the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department to give back—but I’ve gotten so much more in return. From fire calls to EMS runs, this volunteer service has connected me to our community in a powerful way. Here’s what I’ve learned about service, neighbors, and why showing up matters.
More Than Firefighting: A Year of Rediscovering Purpose in Public Service
It was the middle of the day, and I happened to be at the fire station when the call came in—a fire alarm. Nothing in the initial report suggested it was anything major. These alarms are common, often...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I joined the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department to give back—but I’ve gotten so much more in return. From fire calls to EMS runs, this volunteer service has connected me to our community in a powerful way. Here’s what I’ve learned about service, neighbors, and why showing up matters.
Southwest Pennsylvania is facing a new era of infrastructure challenges shaped by shifting weather patterns, aging systems, and rising economic risks. Our region can respond, not by patching the past, but by investing in forward-thinking solutions that build for the future.
Building the Future: Weather, Infrastructure, and a New Mandate for Southwest Pennsylvania
In the hills and hollows of Southwest Pennsylvania, the remnants of an earlier American century still stand—steel trusses, redbrick mill towns, and the hydrological engineering of another era. The arc...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
May 6, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Southwest Pennsylvania is facing a new era of infrastructure challenges shaped by shifting weather patterns, aging systems, and rising economic risks. Our region can respond, not by patching the past, but by investing in forward-thinking solutions that build for the future.
Reposted by Andrew Flynn
Our firefighters run towards danger to protect us- many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the call.
On International Firefighters Day we remember those who passed in the line of duty and thank the firefighters who continue to protect from fires and emergencies.
On International Firefighters Day we remember those who passed in the line of duty and thank the firefighters who continue to protect from fires and emergencies.
May 4, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Our firefighters run towards danger to protect us- many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the call.
On International Firefighters Day we remember those who passed in the line of duty and thank the firefighters who continue to protect from fires and emergencies.
On International Firefighters Day we remember those who passed in the line of duty and thank the firefighters who continue to protect from fires and emergencies.
It is time for our region to join together and demand a path forward for undergrounding all utilities.
Storms are becoming more frequent and it’s not only a safety issue, it’s an economic barrier when we have antiquated infrastructure that’s prone to outages.
We can do better.
Storms are becoming more frequent and it’s not only a safety issue, it’s an economic barrier when we have antiquated infrastructure that’s prone to outages.
We can do better.
April 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It is time for our region to join together and demand a path forward for undergrounding all utilities.
Storms are becoming more frequent and it’s not only a safety issue, it’s an economic barrier when we have antiquated infrastructure that’s prone to outages.
We can do better.
Storms are becoming more frequent and it’s not only a safety issue, it’s an economic barrier when we have antiquated infrastructure that’s prone to outages.
We can do better.
Paris has radically reimagined what a city can be—prioritizing people over cars, air quality over congestion, and livability over speed. Their success wasn’t inevitable; it was the result of bold leadership, smart investment, and a willingness to embrace change even when it was hard. #Transportation
Breathing Easier: Paris and the Politics of Urban Courage
By reclaiming its streets, reshaping its air, and reimagining the very experience of movement, Paris has performed something bordering on a civic miracle. Over the past decade, the French capital—a ci...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
April 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Paris has radically reimagined what a city can be—prioritizing people over cars, air quality over congestion, and livability over speed. Their success wasn’t inevitable; it was the result of bold leadership, smart investment, and a willingness to embrace change even when it was hard. #Transportation
Earth Day isn’t just about recycling or planting trees—it’s a quiet but radical call to think long-term in a short-term world. In a culture obsessed with speed, Earth Day asks us to slow down and remember our role not just as citizens, but as custodians. wix.to/eospHwR #EarthDay2025
The Perennial Wisdom of Earth Day
There is something paradoxically modern and ancient about Earth Day. Conceived in 1970 amid the maelstrom of American cultural and political change—Vietnam, civil rights, and the first stirrings of en...
wix.to
April 22, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Earth Day isn’t just about recycling or planting trees—it’s a quiet but radical call to think long-term in a short-term world. In a culture obsessed with speed, Earth Day asks us to slow down and remember our role not just as citizens, but as custodians. wix.to/eospHwR #EarthDay2025
It was great hosting Governor Shapiro, @lgaustindavis.bsky.social, @deluzio.house.gov and so many others who are working to support fire services across Pennsylvania today.
April 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It was great hosting Governor Shapiro, @lgaustindavis.bsky.social, @deluzio.house.gov and so many others who are working to support fire services across Pennsylvania today.
I stand with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
April 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I stand with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Pittsburgh’s transit system is at a crossroads and the stakes go far beyond buses and schedules. Our region can’t grow, attract jobs, or compete without a transit network built for today’s economy. PRT needs a strategic realignment — and those who benefit most from it must step up and invest.
End of the Line Economics: Why Pittsburgh Must Rethink Transit for Growth, Not Nostalgia
Pittsburgh’s transit system is at a crossroads — and the stakes go far beyond buses and schedules. Our region can’t grow, attract jobs, or compete without a transit network built for today’s economy. ...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
April 16, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Pittsburgh’s transit system is at a crossroads and the stakes go far beyond buses and schedules. Our region can’t grow, attract jobs, or compete without a transit network built for today’s economy. PRT needs a strategic realignment — and those who benefit most from it must step up and invest.
Governments across the U.S. are quietly grappling with the coming local fallout of the Trump tariffs.
💡 Cities can’t wait for the dust to settle. The future will be built locally—and it starts with smart, adaptive leadership today.
#LocalGovernment #MunicipalFinance #Tariffs
💡 Cities can’t wait for the dust to settle. The future will be built locally—and it starts with smart, adaptive leadership today.
#LocalGovernment #MunicipalFinance #Tariffs
Municipal Resilience in the Age of Retaliation: Preparing for the Local Impacts of the Trump Tariffs
By any fair reckoning, America’s economic policy has entered an era of weaponized interdependence. The re-imposition and expansion of tariffs under President Trump has already redefined the global eco...
www.andrewflynnpa.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Governments across the U.S. are quietly grappling with the coming local fallout of the Trump tariffs.
💡 Cities can’t wait for the dust to settle. The future will be built locally—and it starts with smart, adaptive leadership today.
#LocalGovernment #MunicipalFinance #Tariffs
💡 Cities can’t wait for the dust to settle. The future will be built locally—and it starts with smart, adaptive leadership today.
#LocalGovernment #MunicipalFinance #Tariffs