Wheatley Resigns as Chief of Staff
Gainey taps top Development Aide Kyle Chintalapalli to fill the position
Pittsburgh, PA – The Gainey Administration announced that Chief of Staff Jake Wheatley resigned from his position. Wheatley's resignation was effective Wednesday, January 29th.
Mayor Gainey acknowledged Wheatley's three years of service, saying that "Jake has made extremely important contributions to my administration and the people of Pittsburgh."
To replace Wheatley, Mayor Ed Gainey has announced that Kyle Chintalapalli would take on the duties of Chief of Staff for the office of the Mayor. Chintalapalli joined the Gainey Administration in January 2022 in the position of Chief Economic Development Officer. In that capacity, Chintalapalli has spearheaded efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing, organize public and private efforts to revitalize downtown, and modernize the City's development review processes through the Departments of City Planning and Permits, Licenses, & Inspections. He also serves as the Chairman of the Boards of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.
"As Chief Economic Development Officer, Kyle has been essential to my Administration's successes in shaping and fostering equitable economic development, especially our critical work to address the housing crisis. I have every confidence in his ability to step up into the role of Chief of Staff"
"I'm honored by the confidence Mayor Gainey has placed in me by asking me to take on this challenge," Chintalapalli said. "Under Mayor Gainey's leadership, we've begun to rebuild the city government's ability to serve its resident's effectively, fostering inclusive growth, reducing community violence, and empowering our most marginalized residents. I'm excited to support the Mayor as Chief of Staff as we continue that essential work."
As Chief of Staff, Chintalapalli will oversee the City's public relations and strategic initiatives, in addition to retaining his economic development portfolio. In particular, he will focus on work to advance the Mayor's housing agenda, which includes both legislative and funding initiatives he shaped as CEDO. He will join Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak as one of the Mayor's two most senior advisors. Pawlak leads the Office of Management and Budget, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of city operations and finances.
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