Environment/Health

04/04 2014

Mayor Peduto Reinstates Graffiti Task Force

From Mayor Peduto's Office:
PITTSBURGH, PA – Mayor William Peduto announced today he has directed the Pittsburgh Police Bureau to reinstitute its Graffiti Task Force.
The task force will work in tandem with Graffiti Busters crews within the Department of Public Works to report and investigate graffiti vandalism, and clean it from public property.
The task force was highly effective from its inception in 2006 to its disbanding last year. It had a 100% conviction rate for graffiti/criminal mischief arrests, and assisted police zone officers and outside police jurisdictions with their graffiti investigations and prosecutions.
“The Graffiti Task Force is a critical component of our public safety and quality of life,” Mayor Peduto said. “It is part of of the broken window theory: If you let the graffiti stand then eventually you're going to find more litter. Once the litter and graffiti are there, you see the crime.”
Two police officers will be detailed to the task force on Monday working under Commander Linda Rosato-Barone of the Narcotics & Vice unit, and a third officer may join the task force later.
Graffiti Busters does most of its work in warm weather months when its pressure washers are most effective. The Public Works crew responds to 311 complaints about graffiti, watches over heavily traveled City thoroughfares, and takes assignments from DPW supervisors who notice graffiti in neighborhoods.

04/01 2014

Pgh Dept Of Public Works Receives Recycling Grant

From the Mayor’s Office:

The City of Pittsburgh recently won a $476,031 recycling grant, which was an increase over the grant the previous year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the Recycling Performance Grant after the city and private haulers together recycled more than 59,528 tons of residential and commercial material. The grant for collections in 2012 was an increase from the roughly 53,000 tons collected in 2011, which resulted in a $433,000 grant.

The funds go directly into the city’s General Fund.

“Recycling not only helps our planet but our city budget too,” Mayor William Peduto said. “I want to thank all of our residents and businesses for participating, while challenging them to do even better in the future.”

The recycling program is part of Pennsylvania Act 101, which mandates recycling in the state’s larger municipalities.

03/17 2014

Mayor Peduto Kicks off Afordable Care Act Enrollment Push Tue 3/18 3pm

Mayor William Peduto and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle will hold a press conference on Tuesday, March 18, in Homewood to kick off the final drive for Affordable Care Act enrollment.
There are less than three weeks left for uninsured Pittsburgh residents before theMarch 31 enrollment deadline and Mayor Peduto, Congressman Doyle, Get Covered America Pennsylvania State Director Bill England, the Consumer Health Coalition’s Beth Heeb and others will detail how easy it is to sign up. In-person enrollment assistance will be available at the event as well as information on how to get assistance elsewhere.
The event is open to the public and the media is encouraged to attend.
Who: Mayor William Peduto
         U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle
         Get Covered America Pennsylvania State Director Bill England
         Beth Heeb of Consumer Health Coalition
         Other stakeholders
What:  Press conference to launch final Affordable Care Act enrollment push in Pittsburgh, followed by in-person enrollment assistance
When:  Tuesday, March 18, 3 p.m.
Where:  Homewood YWCA, 6907 Frankstown Ave.
03/17 2014

Affordable Care Act – Info And Assistance – Wed 3/19 4-8pm

Wednesday: Affordable Care Act help in Pittsburgh 

The March 31 open enrollment deadline under the Affordable Care Act is almost here. That’s why I’m co-sponsoring an event this week that can help you and your family, friends and neighbors get covered.

You’re invited to come to the Hill District YMCA, 2114 Centre Ave., this Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to ask experts your questions and sign up for coverage before the deadline.

Four key things to know:
1.    Financial assistance is available for many Allegheny County residents.
2.    There is NO charge for the in-person assistance Wednesday.
3.    All plans will cover essential health benefits.
4.    It doesn’t matter if you have a pre-existing condition.

For more information, please call my office at 412-471-7760. 
02/28 2014

Sidewalk Tree Planting Applications

If you’re interested in a free tree for the sidewalk, please fill out the application and bring it to the next SONG meeting Tuesday March 4, or give or mail it to David Zwier at 235 Atwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.  The deadline to have them as part of this neighborhood grouping is Saturday March 15.  There will be a site inspection for each application, because not all locations are suitable for trees.

You can also volunteer to help plant and maintain the trees.  More info on TreeVitalize Pittsburgh’s website

There is a PDF version you can print and fill out by hand, or the DOC version, you can fill out electronically, print and sign.

pdf icon Tree-Planting-Request-Form_2014.pdf
doc icon Tree-Planting-Request-Form_USE-ME-14_02.doc

02/07 2014

Various “Green” Events and Workshops For February

Workshop: organize tree planting in your ‘hood

February 11, 2014

TreeVitalize Pittsburgh is hosting a free application workshop to learn about how to organize a tree planting in your community. The workshop will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the CCI Center, 62 S. 14th St., Pittsburgh on the South Side. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, email here or call 412-586-2386.

Playing It (TOO) Safe: Play, Playgrounds & the Value of Risk

February 13, 2014

Thu, February 13, 6:30 PM-8:00 PM, Carnegie Music Hall
Cost: Free; Doors open at 6 p.m., program begins at 6:30. Register now to reserve your space!

Second in a series of community conversations presented as part the Playful Pittsburgh collaborative. Short presentations and a community conversation will be moderated by Bill Isler, president of the Fred Rogers Company. Presenters include Wendy Nilsson, of Partnership for Providence Parks (Rhode Island), Gabriela Burkhalter, curator of The Playground Project, Michelle Figlar, executive director of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC); representatives from Mayor Bill Peduto’s office; and North Braddock’s Recycle Park project.


Read more…

Vermicomposting Workshop-PA Resources Council at Phipps Garden Center

February 13, 2014

Thu., Feb 13, 7:00–8:30pm at Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh
Vermicomposting is easy, fun, odorless and produces a great soil additive! Workshop participants will learn how to house, feed, harvest and care for their own worms. Be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and make your own worm composting bin! Each participant or couple will be provided with a bin, instructions, and worms. Information and registration here. $50 single, $55 couple.

Urban Ecosteward Training: Crew Leadership

February 15, 2014

Sat., Feb. 15, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Learn best practices for leading volunteer crews of 5-15 people, then sign up and use your experience to help at volunteer days. Location: REI Southside. Registerhere.

Become a Tree Tender in 2014!

February 22, 2014

Join nearly 1300 Pittsburghers, Greening the City One Tree at a Time! Course 1: Sat., Feb. 22nd 9:30am-4:30pm, Location: The Pittsburgh Project,  2801 North Charles Street Pittsburgh, PA 15214. Pre-Registration is required—click here.

Read more…

Full list from Construction Junction:
01/29 2014

Work this weekend on Bates St – Feb 1, 2

A contractor Bartlett will be conducting work on Bates Street this weekend.
 
The crews will arrive at 7:30am on Saturday, February 1 and work until 5pm.  If they don’t finish on Saturday, then they will be back on Sunday at 7:30am and will work until the job is finished.
 
The scope of work includes the removal of dead invasive trees and vines on the North bound side of Bates St.  The cleanup effort will focus in the first 20ft. from the edge of the road.   They have received approval from PennDot to conduct this work and have gotten permission to temporarily close a lane. 
01/28 2014

Mayor Peduto Orders Warming Shelters Open, Refuse Collection Delay Ahead Of Polar Vortex

With temperatures forecast to to dip below zero and wind chills as low as -15 degrees tomorrow, Mayor William Peduto has ordered refuse collection to be suspended for Tuesday only and for warming centers to be activated across the City.

“Temperatures tomorrow will again be potentially hazardous and we all must take precautions to make sure our friends and neighbors are safe,” said the Mayor.

Refuse, bulk waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day, with trash collection starting again on Wednesday. The schedule will proceed as follows:  If your scheduled day of collection is Tuesday, Jan. 28, you will be serviced on Wednesday, Jan. 29 and so on for the remainder of the week. This will continue through the end of the week with Friday’s normally scheduled collection being picked up on Saturday.

In addition, warming centers will be available for residents who need them. All city facilities will be open tomorrow, including senior centers, and will function as warming centers throughout the day.  Five warming center locations will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday as well:

CITY WARMING CENTERS (MAP)
Greenfield Healthy Active Living Center 745 Greenfield Avenue 412-422-6551
Homewood Healthy Active Living Center 7321 Frankstown Avenue 412-244-4190
South Side Healthy Active Living Center 12th and Bingham Streets 412-488-8404
Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center 720 Sherwood Avenue 412-777-5012
North Side, Allegheny Center Healthy Active Living Center Allegheny Square 412-323-7239

If temperatures dip to unsafe levels this evening or thereafter, or if there are power or heat outages, the city will work with the American Red Cross to provide overnight shelter for residents needing assistance.

01/28 2014

KICO’s Oakland Adopt-A-Block Events Through April 2014

OPDC’s Keep it Clean, Oakland program works with college groups each month who have “adopted blocks” and made commitments to do monthly clean-ups of these blocks throughout the year. If you see these students on your block, please introduce yourself!  Feel free to join in.  The next few tentative Saturday dates are

  • February 8th and 22nd
  • March 1st and 22nd
  • April 5th and 26th

For more information, contact kico@opdc.org or 412.621,7863 ext. 24.

Alpha Phi Omega Ophelia St, Hamlet St, Craft Pl
Asian Leadership Program Blvd of the Allies
Bachelors of Art in Social Work (BASW) Club Frazier St, Boehm St, Griffith St
Beta Beta Beta Craft Ave, Joe Hammer Sq, Kennet Sq, Niagara St
Cornerstone Blvd of the Allies, Zulema, Wellsford, Nimrod
Kappa Sigma Hardie Way, Juliet St, Romeo, Gorman, Cato
Lambda Kappa Sigma Dawson St.
Pi Lambda Phi Orpwood St, Edgehill St., Childs Way
Pitt Circle K Halket St., Halket Pl. & Louisa Staircase
Sigma Beta Rho Lawn St
Tau Kappa Epsilon Ward St.
Triangle Fraternity Parkview
Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Hodge St, Mackey St

 

01/27 2014

Repeating Cold Weather Safety Info

Given the weather forcast for severely cold weather over the next few days, we’re repeating some cold weather safety info.
COLD WEATHER SAFETY
As the temperatures are forecast to drop over the next few days we ask that you take precautions to keep warm. Please review the following steps if you have to go outdoors.
  • Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight and warm clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded. 
  • Wear a hat, because 40% of your body heat can be lost from your head.
  • Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
  • Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. 
  • Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
Also, please be sure to check on elderly loved ones and neighbors to make sure they are staying warm and dry.  And check on any outside pets, or even consider bringing them inside.