Party planner: Keeping Pittsburgh’s good times from going bad

Maya Henry is the city’s first nighttime economy manager, but that doesn’t mean she’s the chief party animal. Quite the contrary.

Ms. Henry, 36, of East Liberty is charged with bringing a coordinated, managed approach to nightlife in city neighborhoods, an attempt to prevent wild, party-in-the-street scenes that drain police resources, create traffic jams and impinge on the quality of life of people who live near popular spots.

Mayor Bill Peduto created the $65,249-a-year position and hired Ms. Henry in July. Before that, she worked for more than five years at the nonprofit development group Lawrenceville Corp., where her initiatives included bringing the state Liquor Control Board’s responsible alcohol management workshops to that neighborhood.

Her appointment comes as the city is starting its Sociable City Plan, an initiative of the California-based Responsible Hospitality Institute. The city hired that nonprofit to develop a remedy to the problems that spilled out of the South Side’s multitude of bars and onto neighboring streets and private property.

The administration wants to avoid repeating that history in other parts of town, particularly Oakland, Lawrenceville and Downtown. To that end, Ms. Henry will work with business owners, community groups, police, planners and city and university leaders.

A growing bar and restaurant scene should be a plus for Pittsburgh, and it is Ms. Henry’s job to see that growth doesn’t translate into trouble. That doesn’t sound like a party, but it is important.

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