Too Many Children Just Hanging Out

An email from Cmdr. Brackney addressing the concerns of "too many unsupervised children hanging out" in our neighborhood:

"I received your complaint from 311 and have assigned officers to
increase driving patrols in the area, perform park and walks, and to
monitor the activity of the children. As for the loitering and
"hanging" out on corners, unfortunately, there are no enforceable curfew
laws, and Pittsburgh does not have a loitering ordinance.

This does not mean we will not monitor and suggest the children head
home or move along, but know that we have no legal means by which to
compel them."

Motorcycle Racing On Stanton Avenue

Today, through an email received through Highland Park Community Council Neighborhood email list, I learned there's motorcycle racing up and down the park end of Stanton Avenue. Once this email was posted corrective action seem to happen quickly. In an email from Commander Brackney, she contacted Commander Schuburt to asked him to

"have a couple of cycles monitor speed on the lower part of Stanton near the tennis courts prior to entering Highland Park. Also, can we(Pittsburgh Police) install a speed monitoring device to capture data"

This is a great example how using the email list to communicate can get responses quickly. So Highland Park(ers) if you are not signed up do it now. Go to The Highland Park Community Council.

311---The Squeaky Wheel Line

What is Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Response Line - 311?
311 is the City’s phone number for government information and non-emergency services.

Why 311?
311 allows you to call one easy-to-remember number in order to receive information and access to City government services.

How does Pittsburgh’s 311 work?
311 service representatives use a state-of-the-art database of information and services about City government. 311 works closely with other City agencies to maintain the most current information possible.

When is 311 available?
All calls to 311 are answered by a live operator from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How do I reach Pittsburgh’s 311:
In the City of Pittsburgh, dial 3-1-1.

Outside of Pittsburgh, call (412) 255-CITY (412-255-2489).

I hope many neighbours will consider calling or completing the online form. Online forms work well! Use them to back up your calls.

Highland Park Community Council Meeting

HPCC Meeting Thursday, May 17, 2007

Where: St. Andrews Episcopal Chuch (downstairs follow signs)
Time: 7:00 p.m. Board Meeting.
7:30 p.m. Presentation concerning the mural on the wall on top of One Wild Place and Mellon Street.

Just Getting Started

Thank you everyone who has commented so far. Becoming active and blogging at the same time is new to me. So please be patient as I learn to navigate the blog while updating. Please feel free to make suggestions, set meeting dates etc., because there's a lot to do and by communicating through the use of this blogspot we can get it done and create change.

Check out:

The 311 line works and it works even better if you go online and submit a written complaint. I have heard back almost everytime I have used the online complaint form. Just go to 311 Online.

Also follow up any criminal complaints by using the police online tip form: Tip Form.

Also...
Do you have neighborhood children and teenagers who think it's ok to sit on the front porch steps of your house? This happens to us a lot and we have asked them to leave, the kids usually do reluctantly but not without some abusive, foul language directed at us. Should we call the police?

I may be rehashing a lot of stuff here---but not only I am new to the neighborhood, but I am new to living in the city. I first lived in Cranberry Twp when I moved to this area in 1987.

Lobos Management

I was told that the owner of 830 Mellon Street is Bernard Sobol of Lobos Management--- but what I've found is Bernard Sobol is a retired ophthalmologist, and Evelyn is wife is the owner Lobos Management, a commercial real estate company in Pittsburgh. It could be that the company is in her name but he runs it.

Saturday at the Fights

Welcome to Saturday Night Mellon Street. Mellon Street is experiencing a lot of gang related activity this year. Already in May, I have called 911 at least six times. Earlier this month there was a lot of activity in front of 830 Mellon, a basketball hoop brought a lot of young boys to the street.

Basketball is a great sport but when the ball is used to break windows the party is over. The portable hoop now resides on Portland Street where hopefully it stays. Now we have the young men in oversize white t-shirts coming around---are they the Homewood Gang? Because I do not think they all live at 830 Mellon, the word is most of the trouble resides in aparment number 2 in that building.

Now tonight (May 12,2007), around 8:30 p.m. a couple of gang girls decided to pick up where they left off from last week continuing their fight in the street. A large crowd gathered, egging them on, getting loud and agitated. This time I made two calls to 911, basically told the operator please get the police here now so they could catch the incident as it was happening. And come they did, FIVE patrol cars, all running red to the corner of Jackson and Mellon. The police got out of their cars, disperse the crowd the best they could and after a while I was able to get a CCR number--- information needed to let the owner of 830 Mellon know that there is indeed trouble at his apartment complex.

830 Mellon is owned by Bernie Sobol and his company is Lobos Management Corp. He has a website but of all of his nice apartments on his website---830 Mellon is not one of them. ELDI has tried to talked to Bernie about his troubling tenants but Bernie claims he does background checks on all of his tenants and the renters that reside at 830 Mellon have clean records.

Enjoy the pictures. More information will be coming---as this Urban Pioneer wants a livable neighborhood for all.

Comments are welcome.

We All Are Urban Pioneers!

Welcome to Mellon Street Blog.

This blog is mostly focus on the 800 block of Mellon but anyone who lives around this area of Highland Park are welcome. It is our hope that by having a forum we can make positive changes that promote better living and enjoyment of our homes in our neighborhood.

We welcome all comments, input, suggestions and complaints but please keep it civil and constructive.

And we will not tolerate the use of negative language towards gender, race or sexual orientation.

Thank you,
Urban Pioneer