mkshrp: If the City has a current police eligibility list, Then why don't they hire more police with experience to assist in the G20 prep instead of postponing the hiring?
Shawn Carter: Once again, this is Shawn Carter, chief-of-staff to Councilman Burgess. City Council has recessed their meeting to meet with the Mayor regarding G-20 funding issues, so we apologize for the inconvenience. To answer the first question, mkshrp, We weren't aware that the City had postponed the hiring of police officers. The City is budgeted for about 900 police officers, and due to fiscal restraints placed on the City pursuant to its Financial Recovery Plan, we are unable to exceed the budgeted number of officers. If the City were to hire additional officers solely for the purpose of additional security for the G-20 summit, it would place us in a situation where we would be hiring police officers we could not retain. I hope that answers your question.
nlanghamilton: councilman burgess is there a funding shortfall for the G-20 summit
Shawn Carter: nlanghamilton: That is the question City Council and the Mayor are working to address as we speak.
bsager: What efforts are being considered in curtailing the crime in our city. As we encouraging people to move into the city we find that there are random crimes every night. This is very discouraging.
Shawn Carter: bsager: There are several efforts coming on-line right now to address the crime in our City. The Pittsburgh Initiative to Reduce Crime, which has taken some time to put the pieces together, is an initiative designed to curtail homicides that occur in our City, largely committed by "youthful" offenders. This accounts for the vast majority of all homicides in the City not related to domestic violence. There are some very dedicated community organizations who work every day to address this issue also. We are all very impatient about reducing crime, especially those of us who live in Homewood and much of Council District Nine, and we are eager to put this program on the ground and get it moving.
EastEnder: I went to a presentation by CMU UDream architect students in Homewood and found their designs and ideas to be very inspiring. What are your thoughts in regards to the UDream ideas and Homewood that needs a change.
Shawn Carter: EastEnder: I was unable to attend the CMU presentation but we have asked for the materials and a copy of the presentation, and we look forward to discussing this when we do.
Shawn Carter: Just a reminder, this is Shawn Carter, chief of staff to Councilman Shawn Carter. I apologize for the Councilman's absence, but City Council recessed its meeting to meet with Mayor Ravenstahl to discuss the G-20 issues. Please feel free to ask your questions.
bubs: What kinds of things will go on behind the scenes of the G20 to entice business and industry to locate here? Will concil engage the various delegations?
Shawn Carter: bubs: At one point earlier in the year, I heard there was a groundswell of opinion that the G-20 nations should need to focus on addressing and reducing poverty in the industrialized world. We certainly agree. As for whether or not City Council will be able to engage the G-20 delegations, I think that would be a good way to find out what other G-20 nations have done and are doing to address these issues both on the local level and nationally.
resident: The are a over abundance of abandoned cars in Homewood. Getting Ofc. McBride from Zone 5 to remove cars in a timely manner is a daunting task, can you office help with assisting residents with expediting this process.
Shawn Carter: resident: Officer Tom McBride has been working fairly diligently all summer long on addressing the very high number of abandoned cars, both in Homewood and in East Hills. Probably the fastest way to get these cars removed is to call the City's Tow Pound, and they will dispatch Officer McBride out to verify and then have towed, the vacant cars. Is there a particular car or set of cars that you would like to have addressed. If so, please let me know.
barbara: Can you explain how residents can be proactive in addressing, open drug sales, loitering, littering on the Mr. Tommys property on Frankstown Ave
Shawn Carter: As for Mr. Tommy's on Frankstown Avenue, we need residents to file complaints with the City's Bureau of Building Inspection so that we can get the owner into Housing Court. Their number is 412-255-2175. As for open drug sales and loitering I can tell you that you should call BOTH 9-1-1 AND our office at 412-255-2137. When you call 9-1-1, always tell the dispatcher NOT to send an officer to your home and always demand that they file a police report. The paper trail helps us better advocate for increased police resources.
barbara: Mr. Carter is there any short-long term strategies to address the increasing number of abandoned properties in Homewood.
Shawn Carter: barbara: I'm glad you asked the question. Just as a point of information, there are 16,436 parcels (pieces of land) in all of Council District 9. 13,313 of these properties are residential properties. of these properties, 39% of these properties are vacant or abandoned. Only crime is a larger issue in our Council District than vacant property. Our office has been working with BBI and Public Works to secure as many of these buildings as possible, but keep in mind we have almost 4,200 vacant properties. And that 4,200 represents the number that we KNOW about. There are actually more, as more of our grandparents merely walk away from their properties every year, overburdened by maintenance, and their health and finances, not to mention property taxes. To finish answering the question, on the short-term, we must do a better job of making sure that the City enforces the Building Code to reduce the number of properties held by individuals who do not live in our community to jus
Shawn Carter: We see that our answer was cut off. I'll start from that point. There is a large amount of vacant property held by owners who do not live in our community and who do not properly maintain that property. Residents and our office alike must file constant complaints against those properties so that Housing Court can address these issues with aggressive enforcement. Grandma not being able to replace her downspout is one thing, but a guy in Mount Lebanon with 20 properties in terrible shape who is just waiting for a better day to sell it is something we all have to fight.
Elwin Green: That ends our chat. Thanks for your time and your participation. Have a great day, and keep an eye out for a future chat w/Councilman Burgess...maybe AFTER G-20:)
barbara: Are there any plans for Dollar Store building, can you tell us if anything is going to be done with the property, at one time Burgess said it would become a daycare but nothing has happened
Shawn Carter: barbara: Although we just ended the chat, this question popped up and so we will answer it. Unfortunately, the anchor tenant, Family Dollar, pulled out of the agreement to occupy the building because of homicides that occurred near the building before it was scheduled to open. Similarly, KFC opted not to renew its long-standing lease next to it after a 16-year old boy was murdered in a car in the KFC drive-thru. About the Family Dollar building itself, it is the subject of a court battle between the developer, Family Dollar, the financers and the City. It is unlikely that anything will be done with the building or can be done with the building until the legal and financial issues are resolved. I just wish I had a better answer for you, barbara.
Elwin Green: Okay, folks, we're out for real this time. Thanks again!