Community

01/06 2018

Live From The Field

Citizen's Police Academy 

Twice a year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportunity for High School students in the Pittsburgh community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. All interested persons must complete an application and give permission for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to conduct a background check to determine if they have a criminal record. 
 
Citizen's Police Academy Informaton
Citizen's Police Academy Application 
The next CPA session will begin Tuesday, February 6, 2018
All CPA applications must be received by February 2, 2018. 
 
Student Police Academy
Likewise twice a year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportunity for High School students in the Pittsburgh community to also become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The Pittsburgh Student’s Police Academy (SPA) brings the police and Pittsburgh’s high school community closer together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant. 
 
Student Police Academy Description
Student Police Academy Flyer & Application
Student Police Academy Information Sheet 
 
The next SPA session will begin Wednesday, March 14, 2018.
All SPA applications must be received by Friday, March 9, 2018. 
 
For more information, check out the original City website posting at
http://pittsburghpa.gov/police/community-policing/index.html 
 
12/23 2017

S Oakland Mtg With PWSA Re Lead In Water At St Regis Hall Tue 1/9/18

Some South Oakland water tests show elevated lead levels.  Join us to learn more about organizing a neighborhood-wide lead level survey.
OPDC invites you to hear from the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) about lead contamination sources and what precautions can be taken to remedy them. 
 
Tuesday, January 9th, 2018 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
St. Regis Parish Hall 3235 Parkview Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213   
 
Click here for a printable flyer to share with your neighbors.

10/31 2017

Town Hall Mtg On City Rules, Processes And OGV Proposal,

TOWN HALL MEETINGInline image 1
GIVE YOUR INPUT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE BATES STREET CORRIDOR 
 
JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION 
 
Community Discussion – Thursday November 2, 7 PM @ 294 SEMPLE ST 
  • Learn about zoning, permitting, and city policy priorities.
  • Hear a brief presentation by Oakland Gateway Ventures.
  • Share your opinions with local elected officials and public partners.  
See attached flyer and renderings for more info.
09/01 2017

Community Land Trust Forum – Tue 9/12 6pm – St Regis Social Hall

pdf icon South-Oakland-CLT-9-12-17-mtng.pdf
Home ownership in Oakland: Learn about the Oakland Community Land Trust
Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) is launching a Community Land Trust (CLT) to preserve home ownership and guarantee affordability in Oakland’s residential neighborhoods. 
 
Please plan to attend a public meeting to learn more about this initiative.
Tuesday, September 12th, 6 p.m.
St. Regis Parish Social Hall
3235 Parkview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 
 
Questions that will be addressed at this meeting:
  • How Community Land Trusts work
  • How OPDC determines a purchase price for your home
  • How landlords can get involved
  • Why OPDC is doing this
Refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to aboykowycz@opdc.org
412.621.7863 x17
www.opdc.org
08/07 2017

Testing For Lead Levels In South Oakland Water

Water Test Results and Call to Action
 
One South Oakland residence's water recently tested at a 25 ppb for lead, well over the 15 parts per billion (ppb) considered a high level of lead based on government standards. That particular house is fairly newly constructed, so the source is likely the connection to the house or the main supply lines. We encourage everyone to have their water tested in South Oakland. 
 
For more information on getting a free testing kit, visit
pgh2o.com/lead-testing-kits 
 
PWSA is currently mandated by DEP and EPA to replace seven percent of publicly-owned lead service lines per year. With a unanimous vote, City Council recently passed legislation that positions the city to help Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority customers replace private lead service lines when PWSA completes adjacent line work, but no funding yet.  If more people get their water tested in South Oakland, and the readings are similarly high, we as a neighborhood can appeal to Council President Kraus to make South Oakland a priority when the City plans any action. 
 
Click here to read the Post-Gazette article
07/28 2017

Applications for Civic Leadership Acad due 8/4/17

 

APPLY NOW!
 
Applications for Civic Leadership Academy are due August 4! 
  
Civic Leadership Academy is a free, 11-week course that encourages more informed, effective and inspired community and civic leadership by giving City residents an opportunity to learn about their local government.
  • Classes are every Wednesday, 6:00-8:30 PM, from September 6 – November 15, 2017
  • Applicants must be residents of the City of Pittsburgh or own a business within the City limits
  • Applications are due by Friday, August 4, 2017
For more information, visit the CLA Website at
http://pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/cla
or call Molly Onufer, the CLA coordinator at 412-255-4773
 
Click here to get the printable flyer.
07/04 2017

City Of Pgh 2018 Comm Devt Block Grant Hearings – Thur, 7/13, 6-8 PM

pdf icon CDBG-2018-1.pdf

City of Pittsburgh 2018 CDBG HEARINGS
Thursday, July 13, 2017, 6-8 PM
Manchester Citizens Corporation
1319 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
OR
Wednesday, July 19, 2017, 6-8 PM
West End Senior Center
80 Wabash St., Pittsburgh, PA 15220 
 
The City of Pittsburgh will hold two public hearings to seek
input from interested residents and community
organizations on the 2018 Community Development Block
Grant Program.
The hearings are being held prior to the release of the 2018
Capital Budget to enable the City to adequately review
citizen testimony. In addition, those attending the hearings
are invited to comment on the prior use of the City’s CDBG
funds and other federal funds.
For more information, please contact the Office of Community Affairs
(412)-255-4773
06/27 2017

Thieves Posing As PWSA Employees

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) was notified that two men impersonating Authority employees entered a home and committed a theft in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon. The incident was reported to the police who are conducting an investigation. 
 
PWSA employees rarely enter a home. Occasionally, PWSA workers will ask a customer to flush while they wait outside. In the rare event that PWSA knows they will need to enter a home, the company will call ahead and schedule an appointment. These visitations are becoming more common as PWSA works to mitigate lead contamination. In the event of an emergency, a PWSA worker might request entry without an appointment, but residents should still verify their identity in that event. 
 
If a resident is suspicious of a PWSA worker, they can verify the identity of an employee by checking for identification or by calling the PWSA hotline at 412.255.2423.   
 
Click here to read Post Gazette Article with more info.

06/20 2017

Pgh Bureau of Animal Care & Control Information

The Bureau of Animal Care & Control serves the residents of the City of Pittsburgh by providing care, control and resolution to situations dealing with domestic animals and wildlife. 
 
The Bureau of Animal Care & Control provides assistance to Bureaus within the Department of Public Safety, other City Departments and the Allegheny County Health Department in situations involving animals, both domestic and wild. The Bureau enforces City and State codes dealing with animals; issues citations and appears in court; helps to keep our City’s parks animal-nuisance free; works with non-profit animal shelters; provides consultation to other municipalities concerning animal issues; and assists the Pennsylvania Game Commission in tracking the rabies virus. 
 
Animal Control Agents capture stray animals, assist in pet/owner recovery, resolve neighbor disputes over animals, assist the elderly and physically-challenged with animal concerns, advise and teach residents of their responsibility as pet owners, advise non-pet owners of their rights, and assist in the removal of nuisance wildlife. (Nuisance wildlife is defined as wildlife that causes, or is about to cause, property damage or that presents a threat to the health or safety of the community by means of disease transmission or direct attacks.) The Bureau also quarantines animals, provides removal of deceased animals and assists police and the District Attorney's office with humane investigations. 
 
Click here for the Bureaus of Animal Control webpage.
Click here for their information brochure.

06/19 2017

Volunteer Opportunity For Community Emergency Response Teams

Volunteer Opportunities
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) 
 
The City is looking for a minimum of 10 Oakland residents to train as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members.  The classes are about a 16 hour commitment, that can either split it into 1 evening a week for 2 hours or 2 full Saturdays. The choice will be up to the group. 
 
CERT is a training program that allows civilians and government employees to take the necessary steps in an emergency to save lives. During emergencies citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the medical emergencies by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective. CERTs are not intended to replace a community's response capability, but rather, to serve as an important supplement to it during emergencies when government response capabilities are spread thin. 
 
Click here for the CERT pamphlet.
Click here for the CERT Volunteer Interest Form.

06/13 2017

Suspect In Car Break-Ins 6/10/17

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.
06/12 2017

Rash Of Car Related Thefts – June 2017

pdf icon Zone4-CrimeReport-June5th_to_June_11th.pdf

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. 
06/08 2017

Oakland Community Land Trust Information

pdf icon CLT-brochure-w-poster.pdf

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.