Caliguiri won the mayor's office substantively in an election later in 1977, and was re-elected twice, serving until his death in 1988. Under Caliguiri's leadership, Pittsburgh began its "Renaissance II" plan, an
urban renewal and revitalization plan based on the "Renaissance" plan of former mayor and governor
David L. Lawrence. The plan was generally considered a success (especially with the city's
skyline) but was hampered by a sharp and permanent downturn in the city's economy and resulting population shifts. During Caliguiri's tenure, Pittsburgh's economy began a marked downturn during the
deindustrialization of the 1980s, with the decline of the large steel producers such as
U.S. Steel and
Jones and Laughlin. Long time industrial giants which had Pittsburgh headquarters such as
Gulf Oil and
Koppers were both victims of the 1980s arbitrage and hostile takeover climate. Gulf was absorbed by
Chevron and Koppers by British firm
Beazer, both resulting in the region losing several thousand high salaried corporate headquarter jobs. The period was also marked by Pittsburgh-based
Westinghouse's run up to bankruptcy and reorganization in 1990 (later to become
CBS and move to New York) and
Rockwell International's move to California and eventually Wisconsin. By the end of Caliguiri's time in office, not a single major steel mill operated in a city once known as the "Steel City", and the city that once boasted more
Fortune 500 corporate headquarters than any other US city save for New York and Chicago, had fewer than ten. In 1986, in response to some citizen complaints and legal action by the
ACLU concerning Christmas and Hanukkah displays on government properties, the city, by order of Mayor Caliguiri, placed a plaque entitled "Salute to Liberty" and reading, "During this holiday season, the city of Pittsburgh salutes liberty. Let these festive lights remind us that we are the keepers of the flame of liberty and our legacy of freedom." Three years later, by two 5–4 decisions, the
United States Supreme Court upheld in part and denied in part the city's position in
County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union. ==Illness and death==