July 2010 - test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

[Highland Park] Re: Gay Bashing Incident
by Thomas Waters 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

I share many of Tony's feelings. I came to the neighborhood because of the diversity here, and I stay (just bought my second house in the area) because of the friends and neighbors here. Tomorrow is Council To Go, with Patrick Dowd at Tazza D'Oro from 6:30- 8. I'd encourage everyone to go and ask him what the Council will do to look into these types of incidents and the poor response by police. Like Tony, the slow response by police is one of the things that alarms me the most. Yet, as the meager details of this incident have trickled out, we (the general community) know so very little about what happened. Who called the police? Was it a call to 911? Did the person give their name? What time was the call placed? Did anyone speak to the officers when police arrived? Was a police report about the incident ever filed? We can not push to hold the police accountable if we know so little about the incident. -- Thomas C. Waters 412-400-8777 thomaswaters(a)mac.com http://thomascwaters.com http://QLATB.com twitter: tcwaters > > > > From: "Silvestre, Anthony J" <tonys(a)pitt.edu> > Date: July 21, 2010 7:57:28 AM EDT > To: "neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com" <neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com> > Subject: RE: [Highland Park] Gay bashing incident on Friday night > > > Neighbors, > > I have lived in Highland Park/East Liberty since 1987. I bought here because I deeply appreciated the diversity in this area. It seemed to me that people of different races, ethnic groups, professions, and ages lived together in relative harmony. And so I am deeply disturbed that young men in the neighborhood feel free enough to attack someone because of their perceptions of his gender conformity and sexual orientation. How did these teens get this message? What kind of messages do/did they get at Peabody our neighborhood schools and churches about respecting all people? If our neighborhood leaders are not speaking out, what message are we giving our young people? > > The report of lack of police presence after the incident is also disturbing. Does it reflect disinterest in hate crimes? What kind of training do our local police have in diversity? How culturally competent are they? > > I often see candidates for Mayor, City Council, and County officials at neighborhood events, at gay bars, and at local churches. Next time I do, I intend to ask them what they are doing to increase competency among our police and other public safety personnel. > > Sincerely, > Tony Silvestre > > Professor > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology > Graduate School of Public Health > University of Pittsburgh > Suite 400 > 3520 Fifth Avenue > PIttsburgh, PA 15213 > From: neighborhood-bounces(a)highlandparkpa.com [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com] On Behalf Of Ali Haimson > Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 9:57 AM > To: neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com > Subject: [Highland Park] Gay bashing incident on Friday night > > Hi all, > > Here's some more info about the gay bashing incident on Friday night (this was written by the man who was attacked): > > "While waiting at the Mellon and Stanton bus stop around 10:30 on Friday night three young men passed him without incident. When the bus didn't arrive he decided to try another stop at Penn and Negley. To get to the stop he walked on the opposite side of the street to where he saw the three men learning against a fence opposite the Union Project. When he turned the corner to walk down Negley, with his back facing the men, he was attacked from behind by one of the men with punches to the face and back. He managed to fight back enough to release himself and run into traffic with hands up screaming "help." The attacker laughed and the many people around, plus traffic he ran into, did not respond. " > > My friend who was attacked is very visible as a gay person. Based on his appearance and his walk, he is often harrassed and threatened in our neighborhood (and of course in other neighborhoods as well). On Friday night, there were many people at the corner of Negley and Stanton, yet these men chose the one visibly gay person to attack. Additionally, they did not take or attempt to take money or anything else from him. My friend feels very strongly that the attack was motivated by ignorance and hate toward gay people. > > I'd like to attach here Betty Hill's message in response to another recent gay bashing. We are extremely grateful to Betty for writing this eloquent piece. It's very relevant to Friday's incident. I'd also like to mention that the police were called on Friday night, but were unresponsive and did not show up until about two hours later. > > Ali Haimson > > *It’s Simple and Complicated to End Hate - A Message from Betty Hill* > > > > This week I learned of another hate crime in the neighborhood- a group of > drag performers were walking between one club and the next, and were taunted > and verbally abused and then physically hit, pushed and kicked by a group of > men coming out of another club. This is the second incident of physical > abuse I’ve heard about in Bloomfield in the past six months. I wonder if > there are more. At Persad, we hear from our consumers from all over Western > Pennsylvania on a regular basis that they have been the victims of > discrimination, intimidation and violence. > > > > Interestingly, there were only six GLBT-related hate crimes reported in > Pennsylvania last year. This lack of reporting makes it look like we don’t > have a hate crime or discrimination problems in our state, but those of us > that know the community know that isn’t true. > > > > So, why do these incidents go unnoticed and unreported? > > > > 1. *We blame the victim*. This dynamic is common to all victim related > crimes. We are so afraid of the vulnerability of random acts of violence > and they make us feel so unsafe that we believe the incident could have > controlled or prevented. “Maybe if the drag performers were not out late > on the street? Did they have to be so obvious with their costumes and cross > dressing – weren’t they asking for it? Were they drinking?” We have to > stop this! There is no reason that GLBT people shouldn’t be able to go > out at night, have fun, and walk the streets in whatever attire they choose > without getting beat up. As long as we blame the victim and fantasize > that we can control the violence that happens, we fail to put the blame > where it belongs - on the person who is violent. > > 2. *We are not safe to be “out”.* In order to report a hate crime, you > have to acknowledge that you are being targeted as a GLBT person (or > perceived to be)….so you have to say that you belong to the group. If > you don’t feel safe to be out and you don’t want others to know that you are > GLBT, you will want to avoid talking about the incident at all. Until we > make members of our community safe and protected to be who they are, we > can’t expect people to report who they are at the time they are feeling the > most vulnerable. > > 3. *We don’t trust the police and the justice system*. I’ve heard so > many victims say that they have had bad experiences with the police and > response systems that they don’t call them when they need them. Sometimes > because of ignorance, sometimes because of attitudes, the system blames the > victim or fails to understand the situation and further victimizes the > victim by arresting them, further abusing them, or just failing to respond. > Our community has some terrific police and some police with bad > attitudes. But we can’t ignore the system that is supposed to protect > us. We must report situations and demand response. And every time we > get an inadequate or discriminating or abusive response, we have to call the > system on it and work to change it so that it works for us! Every time! > > 4. *The police often do not ask and do not encourage hate crime reporting*. I’m not sure what the problem is here. It does not seem to be on their radar screen. In the social context of homophobia and transphobia, I think that some officers don’t think about it. Some may not be trained. Some may have bad attitudes. We need to demand that the local government response personnel – police, fire, rescue, etc. -- have training on GLBT diversity and are sensitive to hate crimes and prepared to protect victims. > > > > It’s simple and complicated to change the culture and the system. Persad’s > Community Safe Zone project is working to eliminate hate crimes in our > communities. If you are a victim of a hate crime, there are resources to > help you. We want everyone to be safe to walk the streets of any > neighborhood. If you work in one of the response systems – police, rescue, > fire, justice system, etc, and your group needs training, Persad is happy to > provide it. If you want to get involved in changing your neighborhood, we > would like to hear from you. > > > > Betty Hill > > bhill(a)persadcenter.org > > 412-441-9786 x212

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[Highland Park] A few more goodies for sale from Marty - Tiffany repros
by flamingoblue 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Hi Again Neighbors, I am now offering 2 Tiffany repro lamps that are very colorful and beautiful. The large one is 28" high - $160 Small one is 15" - $75 This is about the end of the goodie list except for the round oak table and my dining room table and chairs...offers welcome. Offers welcome on my unusual California Bungalow as well!!! Marty Harkins 412-606-7974

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[Highland Park] Concert at Narcissi Vinyards
by flamingoblue 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Hi Neighbors, My son plays in a band called Sonic Chameleon and they will be playing at Narcissi Vineyards, 4578 Gibsonia Rd (RT 910) on thisSaturday July 25 from 4-7. They play music from the 80's to current and they are a fun group. There will be wine tasting, etc and sounds like a good time to me so I thought I would share. For me, my son and my granddaughter and music and wine...how much better can it get...maybe the beach!!! Marty Harkins

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[Highland Park] Dog Trainers
by Heather Conrad 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Hi! We've recently added a one year old dog to our family which also includes a 5 year old dog, and we are realizing that we could use a little help with how to train him to not bark at passing neighbors, not lunge at other walking dogs, and that sort of thing. He is very sweet and smart and mild mannered, but we would like to give him some help with the rough edges. Any suggestions of good trainers? Many thanks in advance, -- Heather "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and it looks like work." Thomas Edison

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Fw: [Highland Park] Abandoned vehicles
by Al Mann 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

This should be of interest to our community. From: Keebler, Emily Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 4:40 PM To: Al Mann Subject: RE: [Highland Park] Abandoned vehicles Of course. Here is the link: http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/mayor/html/311_request_form.html Also, since sending that message, I spoke to someone in Abandoned Vehicles who added that prior to the "responses" listed in my original email, the following process must take place: 1. Resident calls 311 or Abandoned Vehicles line - 412-255-8999 2. Abandoned Vehicles sends information received (vehicle make, model, color) to designated officer in Zone 3. Zone officer checks vehicle and obtains all vehicle information 4. Zone officer completes report and sends back to Abandoned Vehicles 5. Abandoned Vehicles checks VIN number with the state to learn whether it is a stolen vehicle and whether the registration and inspection are current Once Abandoned Vehicles gets all of the information, they send the letters referred to below or instructs the Zone that they can tow the car. So, there is a week to a week and half added to the front end of any of these responses. Thanks for your interest! Emily Keebler · Office of Patrick Dowd · Pittsburgh City Council District 7 emily.keebler(a)city.pittsburgh.pa.us · 412-255-2140 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Al Mann [mailto:alfred.mann@verizon.net] Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 11:59 AM To: Keebler, Emily Subject: Re: [Highland Park] Abandoned vehicles Emily, this is very helpful information. I appreciate your getting it all together. Can you give me the address for the 311 online form you refer to. That would be helpful for other purposes. Thanks. Al Mann From: Keebler, Emily Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 10:03 AM To: neighborhood(a)highlandparkpa.com Subject: [Highland Park] Abandoned vehicles There have been several messages recently regarding abandoned vehicles. The Police have specific requirements regarding when a car can be towed, which impacts how quickly it is taken care of. I just called the Auto Squad and Zone 5 and confirmed the following requirements for towing and timeframes: Situation Response Car itself is a hazard (i.e. broken glass or exposed engine) Towed immediately to City tow pound Registration and/or inspection expired and VIN number not present Car may be towed immediately and will be investigated by Auto Squad Car is stolen according to VIN report Towed immediately to City tow pound Registration and/or inspection expired for more than 90 days A letter will be sent to owner and car may be removed immediately Registration and/or inspection expired for less than 90 days A letter will be sent to the owner of record notifying them that tow may occur 10 days after date of letter. Tow will typically take place within 2 weeks of letter being sent. Sending suspected abandoned vehicles to 311 is the best way to handle these. The 311 online form recently had a back-up (the start of summer is a busy time), but I was told they were to be caught up by early last week and all cases have been sent to the proper department. After submitting an online form, you should receive two emails - one with a Ticket ID and one with a Service Request Number. (If you call, you will get a Service Request Number while on the phone.) If you used the online method, your case is fully processed when you receive the Service Request Number. If you do not get that email within a few days of submitting the form, please contact our office and we will look into it. If you feel there is a rash of cars being abandoned in one area and a trend needs to be investigated, you can call the city's Auto Squad at 412-255-2911. If you have any other questions, please call our office at 412-255-2140 and we would be happy to look into it. Thanks, Emily Emily Keebler · Office of Patrick Dowd · Pittsburgh City Council District 7 510 City-County Building · 414 Grant Street · Pittsburgh PA 15219 · 412 255 2140 emily.keebler(a)city.pittsburgh.pa.us · www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/district7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3019 - Release Date: 07/21/10 02:36:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3019 - Release Date: 07/21/10 02:36:00

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[Highland Park] ======Second Hand Storm Doors on Sale
by marilena betancourt 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Three Aluminum Storm Doors original from an old house in Highland Park, all with two removable glass panels: 38"3/4 x 79"3/4 $15.00 35"1/2 x 80"3/4 $15.00 33"1/4 x 80" $20.00 this door also has 2 screen panels Please call if you'd like to see them. Marilena Betancourt 412 661-5764

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[Highland Park] condition of neighbors yard
by Autumn Daniels 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Who do I contact or how I do I go about contacting someone regarding the condition of a neighbor's yard. More and more junk (wrecked car, car seats, windows, pile of broke concrete, boards, etc) has been piling up and its getting to be a real eyesore. Thanks for the help!

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[Highland Park] [Pittsburgh Live Music] ThePittsburghScene.com - free music from local bands, over 1,200 songs available
by olga watkins 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

For Bands & Music Lovers: To post a comment of your own, read the original message, or to read all existing comments, visit: http://grou.ps/pghlivemusic/talks/3139849 If you get the chance, check out my website, which features local musicians here in the Pittsburgh area who offer some of their songs for free download. So far we have over 1,200 songs available for free download, and over 125 local artists participating! The goal with this is to spread awareness about what's going on locally - there's a lot of talented musicians trying to make things happen, and we want to make that known. So check it out, download a few free songs, and keep supporting local music! If you like what you see, any kind of links would be greatly appreciated and it'll help the musicians on our site gain exposure Artists: If you'd like to be added to the site just send an email with a few songs (we ask 2 or more, no limit though), a photo you'd like us to use, and your myspace URL to music(a)thepittsburghscene.com and we'll be sure to add you as soon as possible! Rock on, Craig thepittsburghscene.com To unsubscribe, sign in <http://grou.ps/pghlivemusic/signin> and go to your email preferences <http://grou.ps/pghlivemusic/dashboard/email_settings> panel. This is an automated email, *please do not reply this email*. Privacy Policy <http://grou.ps/pghlivemusic/privacy> - 530 University Ave, Suite C, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA -- Pittsburgh City Paper Reader's Poll Voted #2 Best Blues Band 2009!!! July 17, OWB @ Hollywood Gardens Rochester, PA 9PM www.hollywoodgardensbar.com www.olgawatkinsband.com www.myspace.com/olgawatkinsband www.facebook.com/theolgawatkinsband www.twitter.com/olgawatkinsband www.olgawatkins.com Olga Watkins, Diva, 412-716-5119 Go ahead...Google me. The Olga Watkins Band The fresh fusion of original blues, soul, R&B, funk and jazz Ich Chef. Du Nix. Now, get out. www.thebulldoggrill.com

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[Highland Park] tae kwan do for kids & families
by olga watkins 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Here's a coupon for Young Brothers Tae Kwan Do on Freeport Rd. in Aspinwall. It's a very kid & family oriented program. We've been very happy with it. Grand Master Kong's Cranberry school has put together a promotion for all Young Brothers schools through the company Groupon. Grand Master Kong has asked that any and all of you help spread the promotion by forwarding the feature to friends, family, neighbors, etc. Thanks! Check out today’s side deal through Groupon for a great offer! Hurry ends today!! Offer good at any of the 9 Pittsburgh schools! $55 for One Month of Tae Kwon-Do Classes and a Uniform at Young Brothers Tae Kwon-Do http://www.groupon.com/pittsburgh/deals/young-brothers-tae-kwon-do?utm_camp… Master Mallozzi Young Brothers Tae Kwon-Do 412-781-5004 -- Pittsburgh City Paper Reader's Poll Voted #2 Best Blues Band 2009!!! July 17, OWB @ Hollywood Gardens Rochester, PA 9PM www.hollywoodgardensbar.com www.olgawatkinsband.com www.myspace.com/olgawatkinsband www.facebook.com/theolgawatkinsband www.twitter.com/olgawatkinsband www.olgawatkins.com Olga Watkins, Diva, 412-716-5119 Go ahead...Google me. The Olga Watkins Band The fresh fusion of original blues, soul, R&B, funk and jazz Ich Chef. Du Nix. Now, get out. www.thebulldoggrill.com

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[Highland Park] Recommendations for High-Speed Internet Service
by Rob Nichols 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Hi Neighbors, Other than Comcast and Verizon, are there any other companies that provide high-speed Internet access in the neighborhood? Just wondering if there are any other options available out there. If you have any recommendations I'd appreciate them. Cheers, Rob Nichols

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