To All Concerned Parties, Sorry for the delay in communication (and response to community follow-up). I had to travel out of town for business and therefore, until today, had been unable to give this my fullest attention. Thank you Mr. Hance and Councilman Dowd for communicating this issue with the community. Both emails were encouraging - after reading them, I am optimistic that the problem is going to be solved. I personally became concerned for this HPCDC project when I was informed that the basement, like many others in Highland Park, was backing up with sewage. It is clear that powerful city officials have advocated for the "Park Bruge" project (and thus, Highland Park) from the onset of HPCDC's revitalization efforts. After all, as Mr. Hance mentioned, Councilman Dowd brought the issue to the PWSA's attention. Unfortunately, when this same overflow happened to a number of homeowners on Bryant Street specifically, the PWSA's response was less than acceptable (as evidenced by our numerous alerts, complaints, and pleas for remediation to the PWSA and their subsequent assurance that the problem was NOT THE MAIN SEWER LINE but rather our lateral lines, downspouts, floor drains, etc.). From these and from many publicly available consumer accounts, the PWSA, quite often [*not always*], falls short of the mark in terms of providing accountable and adequate city-wide service. I would also like to note that the affected homeowners on Bryant Street (*unlike the HPCDC*) were (are) required to live day-to-day amidst any overflow. Not able to afford a hazardous waste cleaning crew (and with the PWSA's insistence that the problem was not theirs), we have been solely responsible for several clean-ups as well as desperate and costly stop-gap measures. Aware that billions of tax payers dollars will be spent to repair/replace/revamp Pittsburgh's failing underground infrastructure, I would encourage the (continued) support of the community in working towards the expedition of corrective measures where the problems are most harrowing. So now it seems that the PWSA fully acknowledges the Bryant Street CSO issue. Upon my return home yesterday, I noticed that Bryant Street is now marked with spray paint (an indication of planned repair) as well as large capable-looking pipe sections. Well done! I trust that these repairs will provide the much anticipated relief to both residential and commercial occupants on Bryant Street. Thank you again, Mr. Hance, Concilman Dowd, fellow Highland Park and surrounding area community members. I have lived in many corners of this city and have never quite experienced the neighborhood pride that I feel here. I would also like to thank, in advance, the PWSA for the anticipated remediation efforts in Highland Park and throughout the city. In the process, perhaps the public perception of the PWSA can be repaired as well. Many community residents have asked me to compile a list of electronic articles that highlight the need for accountability on the part of the PWSA as a utility provider. Please reference a few such articles below: http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/PrintFriendly?oid=oid%3A73844 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06093/679025-28.stm http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09319/1013619-53.stm#ixzz0wnHS3Z3J http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/PrintFriendly?oid=oid%3A73844 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_673360.html<http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_673360.html%C2%A0> http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A73844 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_615190.html J