Hello! I wanted to make you aware of some of the resources in the Mayor's Office to help combat the recent wave of vandalism and violence in the Highland Park neighborhood. As mentioned by some of those on this listserve, we have begun implementing our city-wide camera surveillance system. Police will be placing cameras in high-crime areas, based on crime data. This is indicated in the privacy policy adopted by City Council and available online. The Police will have the authority to move the cameras as crime flare-ups may occur. The cameras will be placed where the crime is most prominent. As the Mayor's camera program continues, he will be working to retrieve more funding in order to expand the program to more neighborhoods. We also have funding available to increase lighting in the neighborhood. As part of the Taking Care of Business Districts Program, we have funding available for lighting and increased wattage in existing light fixtures, among other items. We are tailoring the program to fit each individual neighborhood, and if this is something that the Highland Park Community would like to see implemented in the neighborhood, we encourage you to contact our Office or your local community group with a list of proposed locations. Finally - as I am sure many of you are aware - the Juvenile Curfew Center will be up and running this summer. Three Rivers Youth - will soon be operating the new City Curfew Center at their Oakland site located at 200 North Dithridge Street. The nonprofit organization ran the City's former curfew and truancy center Downtown and has been tasked with creating a more welcoming environment for youths so that they will be more apt to seek available help and support. The Mayor's goal here is to positively affect young people who are at risk of falling into the trap of gangs, drugs, and violence. Youths found to be in violation of the City's curfew will be brought to the center and immediately assessed by intake counselors. The Center is set to open May 1, 2009. Ten staff members, made up of a supervisor and outreach counselors will be identifying which services youths need. Such services may include family-based support and counselors will ultimately coordinate an action plan for connecting youths with appropriate community-based services. With the summer months approaching, this should prevent some of the nuisance behavior that the Highland Park community has experienced in the past. Thank you and please do not hesitate to call our Office with any questions or concerns! Thanks, Christie Christie Berger Community Outreach Coordinator Department of Neighborhood Initiatives Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl 512 City-County Building 414 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412.255.8680 christine.berger@city.pittsburgh.pa.us ________________________________ From: Grzyb Christine A [mailto:christine.grzyb@bnymellon.com] Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 9:41 AM To: Janna Eversmeyer; neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com Subject: RE: [Highland Park] armed robbery I believe Highland Park should at least get one of the video camaras the City recently acquired. It is completely unacceptable that we can not walk in the nighborhood after sun down (heck these guys were so brazen they may have done it in daylight). Even if the camara was installed at Stanton and Negley, it might have captured who was riding bikes that night so that they could possibly be identified. ________________________________ From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com] On Behalf Of Janna Eversmeyer Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:28 PM To: neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com Subject: [Highland Park] armed robbery Importance: High This is to alert everyone that our son was the victim of an armed robbery about 9:00 PM this evening (Sunday March 29) at the corner of North Euclid and Wellesley Avenue. Three young African American men (aged 18-23, roughly), riding bicycles and wearing dark clothing, approached him and asked if he wanted to buy drugs. When he said no, one of them put a gun to his head and took his wallet, keys, and cell phone, then they rode away. Our son was not hurt. We'd like everyone to keep a lookout for these people and, above all, be careful. 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