These are images of a man caught on camera breaking into a car in South Oakland.  He appears to be a heavy set white male, beard, long wavy/curly hair, backpack, might be carrying a small towel with him. He's seen walking around Oakland between 2:30am to 4:00am on June 10.  If you have any information on this guy, please alert police or let us know.
There have been 6 or 7 theft from cars and 2 cars stolen in South Oakland the last 2 weeks on Hardie Way, Dawson and Parkview. 
 
    We are urging residents to take basic precautions to prevent crimes.   This includes like making sure doors are locked and the importance of leaving nothing visible inside your car.  Obviously this includes anything like laptop, camera, cell-phone, purse, etc., but also anything not as obviously valuable, like an old pair of jeans or worn-looking crumpled sweatshirt. To a hopeful thief, they could contain a wallet, jewelry, etc., 
 
    A related precaution:  Never leave a charger plugged into your vehicle’s accessory-socket!  A potential thief seeing that telltale wire draped across the center-console, might hope to find a cell-phone or GPS, etc. 
 
    Attached is the City Weekly Crime Report for last week. 
Here in Pittsburgh, Oakland is one of several neighborhoods, including Lawrenceville and Garfield, that is launching a Trust to combat the critical shortage of quality, afford-able homes available to regular homebuyers. Many other neighborhoods are engaging residents to decide if this model works for them. 
 
See the attached pamphlet for an overview and links to more info, and watch for local meetings to discuss implementation.

Schenley Park
Location: Flagstaff Hill
Dates: Wednesdays, June 7 – August 30, 2017
Wednesday Night Concert Series at Flagstaff Hill
Come early to enjoy mid-week musical performances before the movie begins. Bands perform on Flagstaff Hill Wednesdays from approximately 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Schenley Plaza
Location: 4100 Forbes Avenue, Oakland
Dates: Sundays, June 4 – August 27, 2017
Note: Movies begin at dusk. Events may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Click here for event announcements and updates from @PghEventsOffice or call 412-255-2493.

A live storytelling event benefiting Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, a nonprofit community development organization. They will be kicking off the Oakland Community Land Trust at this year's event, which OPDC is launching to preserve home ownership and affordability in Oakland’s residential communities at a most critical time for our neighborhoods. 
 
Check out the attached flyer and/or link to buy tickets
 

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Layout Workshop: Oakland.
Provide your input on the next phase of BRT planning.
Monday, June 19, 2017 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St 
 
Summer Public input on layout of streets and stations; environmental impacts analysis; and preliminary engineering 
 
For more information on this project, please visit www.portauthority.org
 
The purpose of this meeting is to:
  • update you on the status of BRT planning.
  • answer your questions about the planning process.
  • collect your input on station placement and street design.   

* – All City of Pittsburgh offices and most Citiparks facilities will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. 
 
* – Oakland refuse collection rescheduled from Tuesday, May 30 to Wednesday, May 31
* – Liberty Bridge Weekend Closure May 26-30 
 
PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the Liberty Bridge in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Friday night, May 26 through Tuesday morning, May 30 (weather permitting). 
 
The Liberty Bridge will close to traffic in both directions from 8 p.m. Friday night continuously through 5 a.m. Tuesday morning.  The bridge will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. Crews will conduct deck reconstruction work, placing new bearing seats and stringer beams, and installing new strip seal dams.  
 
The outbound Liberty Tunnel and PJ McArdle Roadway will remain open the entire weekend. A single-lane will remain open in the inbound (northbound) Liberty Tunnel, with traffic only able to turn right onto PJ McArdle Roadway.  
 
All Liberty Bridge traffic will be detoured during the closure. Most official detours involve I-376 and US-19 Banksville Rd.  A common GPS landmark would be Eat'n Park at 1250 Banksville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15216

The City of Pittsburgh offers special curbside collection days twice a year to promote environmentally-friendly disposal of your seasonal yard debris. 
 
Please check your collection calendar at http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/CE_Map_and_Calendar.pdf 
 
or visit PGH.ST to schedule reminders for upcoming dates. 
 
We will collect the following items curbside:
  • Leaves
  • Branches (4" diameter or less)
  • Brush
  • Grass
 
Yard waste that does not meet the collection guidelines will be left at the curb.
This month instead of the regular meeting they're organizing two tree care days in Oakland; one will be in South Oakland and the other in West Oakland. They're still finalizing the dates/times with Tree Pittsburgh but stay tuned so you can come out and work side-by-side with your neighbors to keep our trees healthy. 
 
There is no technical expertise involved; it’s weeding, and mulching for the most part. If there is any pruning that needs to be done, that will be flagged for trained individuals.

Friday, May 19th – 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Schenley Plaza (near Porch) 
 
Have you always wanted to try biking to campus? This is your chance! Join your fellow Pitt community members and bike to campus on Friday, May 19th. New bicyclists and seasoned bicyclists alike are welcome! 
 
  • Enjoy the commuter café with free breakfast and coffee.
  • Enter to win raffle prizes, including a U-lock and bike lights.
  • Practice placing your bike on the bus rack in a low-stress environment with Port Authority’s demo bike rack.
  • Receive a free bike safety check from the Pitt Police.
  • Learn about bike laws and bike safety from the Oakland Transportation Management Association (OTMA) and The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
  • Meet the Pitt Bicycle Collective student club and learn about a new Bike Co-Op space being planned at Pitt.
  • Register your bike for free and receive a gift, complimentary of OTMA.
  • Meet other like-minded bicyclists!
Don’t have your own bike? Healthy Ride bike share is offering free rides all day on May 19th! In order to use a Healthy Ride bike, you must be registered. You can register for an account prior to May 19th online at HealthyRidePGH.com, or register through the smartphone app NextBike. 
 
Preparing for your ride?
This event is presented by: Pitt Parking Services Office, Bike Pittsburgh (BikePGH), Pitt Police, Oakland Transportation Management Association (OTMA), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pitt Staff Council, Pitt Bicycle Collective, Healthy Ride, and Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC).

 

Representative Jake Wheatley’s office has arranged a meeting with PENNDOT and our elected officials (or their staff) re: Oakland Gateway Ventures plans for development of the properties in the 3400 block of Bates St (“the porches”).  Please plan to attend Tuesday May 2  (Thursday, April 27), at 6 pm at the Oakland Career Center community room at 294 Semple St.  Invite your neighbors to attend.
Road Restrictions Tomorrow In Oakland 
 
There will be traffic changes on Tuesday in Oakland due to a Mass of Christian Burial for Steelers' owner Dan Rooney. The mass is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Saint Paul Cathedral, 108 N. Dithridge Street.  
  • One or more lanes of traffic will be shut down along Fifth Avenue between N. Neville and University Place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  
  • Only residents will be able to access the block of N. Dithridge bordered by Bayard Street and Fifth Avenue from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
  • South Dithridge will also be restricted between 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. 

pdf icon 17.04.12-Craft-Place-drawings-REV-2.pdf

Attached are the initial alternative plans for the site of the former Allman Cadillac Dealership at the Blvd Of The Allies and Craft Pl.  Walnut Capital plans to purchase and remodel the existing building and build a second story parking deck in the back above the current parking area, as well as to redevelop the former Kentucky Fried Chicken/Enterprise Rental Car lot across the Blvd for additional parking.  They will be seeking several variances noted in the plans. If they do not get the variances, they will not purchase the building and the plans currently under appeal to build a 100 unit apartment building will proceed.

pdf icon BRTMtgs201703.pdf

The Bus Rapid Transit project is intended to better connect communities in the Downtown-Oakland-East End corridor, and connect residents to job centers, educational opportunities, medical services and cultural attractions. 
 
The BRT also has the potential to unlock development and contribute to neighborhood growth, increase transit ridership and enhance the environment. 
 
The next BRT presentation will be Friday, March 31 at 8am at the University of Pittsburgh, William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave, Room 540. 
 
Check out the attached flyer for more info on other upcoming public meetings on BRT.