If you're looking for either, there's an open air market every night at Liberty Avenue and Smithfield Street. Just look for the parking lot on the corner and the independent businessmen who operate there.
This goes on in full view of everyone. Meanwhile, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is out stalking Tiger Woods.
Is this any way to run a city?
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I used to work downtown, at Fifth Avenue Place, in the 80’s and early 90’s. It was already changing, becoming a less desirable place to be after dark. I have only walked downtown once in the last several months and that was on a Sunday (not for years before that). I have driven downtown a little bit after dark more recently, finding it largely deserted of cars. I suspect Luke and company actually do know how bad the problem is. The thing, Pittsburgh’s police force is shrunk. I remember the LA police force being described (before the Rodney King riots) as this force that would come charging in to respond to problems, but then would disappear until the next significant problem. I think Pittsburgh’s police force has been reduced to that level, not large enough to maintain a level of visibility that would discourage open air sex and drug markets. The thing is, our tax base doesn’t permit an expansion of the police force. Interestingly, Newark is having a similar problem. They have a youngish (not as young), dynamic mayor in Cory Booker who faces similar (probably more drastic) problems as Pittsburgh; financial and crime-related, and can not seem to make headway. Evidently being more impressive and earnest than our Mayor is not enough.
Ya, I almost never go downtown anymore. Day, or night. Maybe, four times in the last ten years since I was forced to move back.
Hey, Terry are you old enough to remember Liberty Avenue in the 70's? It was almost nothing other than multiple adult "newstands", a number of seriously low end strip clubs, and, of course, "massage" parlors. I think there was even a "burlesque" theater operating until the middle 70's.
At least now it is limited to just one parking lot. Now there is some real process for PIT we call all be proud of.
Ed, I understand the police staffing issues, but my point is that corner is a block from the Convention Center, a block from a major hotel (Westin) and a couple of blocks from another hotel, the William Penn. I see people who are obviously visitors walking along a darkened stretch which has very few viable businesses, fearing for their safety because the undesirables are clearly in charge. Something has to be done to disrupt their comfort level.
Amos, I worked in the Clark Building in the '70s, so I remember the "old" Liberty Avenue very well. It was bad, no question, but all the sleaze was pretty much confined to that area. Market Square, Sixth Street and the area on the perimeter of Gateway Center were all hopping with nightlife back then. Bad as the porn shops were, I'm not sure all the empty storefronts now on Liberty represent an improvement.
Yeah, point taken. Downtown is so compact, you would think it could be possible to patrol it with even a relatively small force.
I think this problem spot will disappear when the August Wilson Center is completed. The Max Azen subway/bus stop might require more attention though. Do you live on or near Liberty Avenue Terry? Maybe you could start a block watch, like they have in Squirrel Hill. Contact the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition for more information. You could also try contacting Mr. DeSantis, the Republican candidate for mayor. Maybe he could make the issue part of his campaign platform and raise in a debate with Mayor Ravenstahl. It's worth a try.
One other thought. What if you took pictures of the illegal activity and posted them on your blog?
Say, here's one more idea. Mayor Ravenstahl has asked churches to adopt-a-block to help prevent crime. Here's the PG story
http://www.post-gazette.com/
Why not ask First Presbyterian Church to adopt your problem block? They're on Smithfield Street, just a couple of blocks from the parking lot that you've cited. According to the PG story, if a church adopts a block, Ravenstahl has promised more police protection for that block.
Sorry, here's the real link to the adopt-a-block story
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07167/794817-100.stm
I don't live there, anon, so I couldn't keep an eye on it full time. I like your idea of raising it as a possible campaign issue for Mark DeSantis and will follow up on that. Your suggestion about the adopt a block thing with the church is excellent, too. Thanks for that. There are some loft apartments in the 900 block of Liberty, and I wonder what the people who shelled out those dollars think about the neighborhood.
There are some luxury residences going in at the corner of Wood and Sixth Avenue. I have a feeling once those are up and running that there will be more attention paid to the corner of Wood and Liberty.
I agree the profile of the block will change with the addition of the Wilson Center, but that's probably a couple of years away.
As far as taking pictures, two problems: How can I prove that drugs are being dealt? Could be that the people in question are merely trading baseball cards or selling bus transfers. Minus any power to seize evidence, I'm kind of out there on an island. The other problem: A Nikon is no match for a Smith & Wesson.
I am never in town at night. There is no reason to be down there. Nothing going on that excites me.
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The problem is not just the police department. Even if they do make the arrests, the system dumps the offending party back out into the street in what seems like a blink of an eye. With no place to hold them (jail is full), and no law that cracks down on (rather than it simply being illegal) the system fails us.
Citation versus arrest. Even being in possession of drugs seems like it's a no big deal offense any more. Dealers back in the street in 48 hours who are called back to court on a date they never make. It's our own fault for not forcing the change that demands these folks be held. Of course, we do that and we need more jail space. I'm making a list of volunteers who want the new jail in their back yard and who are willing to write the check to make it happen. Send me a note please.
Which reminds me. As much as I want to see dead beat dads pay their child support, does it make any sense that we turn away drug dealers so the DBD can sit in jail, not work, accrue even more back support payments and not help their kids at all? Seems to me like we should release them to a supervised work release program, and open up those beds to the people who trade in drugs and guns and bring violence to our streets that put automatic weapon slugs in our kids.
But then again, that's just me.
Gina
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