Park Place Blog

from Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

If you own a house or other real estate in the City of Pittsburgh or in Mt. Oliver, chances are you have already received a notice of your new property assessment from Allegheny County. (Notices to property owners outside the City are due in your mailboxes sometime in 2012.)

The filing deadline for an informal review of your new property valuation is Jan 13 and the deadline for a request of a formal appeal on your new property assessment is due to the Allegheny County Board of Property Assessment Appeals & Review on Feb 10.

To learn more about this process and the Allegheny County Reassessment of 2012, come for an informational session by Pittsburgh attorney Greg Biernacki of Real Estate Tax Consultants, Inc.

When:   Saturday, Jan 7
Time:   10:00 — 11:30am
Where:   Landmarks Housing Resource Center
744 Rebecca Ave, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
Click here for a map and driving directions.

RSVPs are appreciated. Contact Mary Lu Denny at 412-471-5808 ext. 527 or marylu@phlf.org

Please note that PHLF does not provide tax or legal advice. This session is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or tax advice. Please consult your own tax and legal advisors with respect to questions or issues.

Submitted by Khrys Myrddin, GPPNA Secretary

On Saturday, November 19, 2011 the Regent Square Civic Association (RSCA) hosted a public safety meeting at the Mifflin Avenue Methodist Church on neighborhood crime prevention. A panel of police department representatives from Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Edgewood and Pittsburgh discussed 911 calls, the importance of block watches and how to be aware of one’s surroundings.

Tom Montgomery, the chair of the RSCA Public Safety Committee facilitated the meeting. The panel consisted of:  Sergeant Larry Singer, daylight shift commander, Wilkinsburg Police; Officer Keith Nugent, daylight patrol officer, Edgewood Police; Detective Segeant John Corrado, Swissvale Police; Officer Debra Indovina, Swissvale Police; and Officer Matt White, City of Pittsburgh Police.

The panel discussed issues related to calling 911 and provided tips for preventing crime in your neighborhood.

All members of the panel emphasized that residents should always call 911 if they see anything suspicious. No one knows our neighborhoods as well as we do, so if we see something that doesn’t seem right, we should call 911 and report it. It is, however, important for callers to be specific about what is going on and why the police are needed. Explain the circumstances of your call and, if it is safe for you to remain on the phone and continue to report on what is happening, do so. It is particularly helpful to provide accurate descriptions of the person(s) involved, especially their clothing. Even if the dispatcher is not asking you questions, keep telling them what you see and get them to stay on the line. When in doubt—call. Detective Corrado said, “You are not ‘bothering us’—this is why we are here, 24 hours a day.” He emphasized that it is better to allow the police to come check something out than to regret later that you did not make the call. You can remain anonymous when you make a report, so you should not worry that the police will tell the suspect who reported the activity.

Officer Nugent noted that the Borough of Edgewood was the last municipality to move to the county 911 system and he finds that Edgewood residents are sometimes reluctant to call 911 because they want to talk to Edgewood police, however, like the other officers, he emphasized that Edgewood residents must call 911. The Edgewood station does not have anyone at the desk after midnight, so in the morning officers will come in to discover multiple messages about crimes from the night before. Since the callers did not use 911, no one was dispatched at the time, greatly decreasing the chances that someone will be arrested.

Officer Indovina from Swissvale noted that the 911 system is changing. Dispatchers are trained to ask a long series of questions, but callers should be aware that as the operators are talking to you, they are dispatching people. Also, the dispatchers are trained to help you deal with first aid situations.

Officers noted that if you see or hear something, you should call—don’t assume that others have done so. 911 is required to pass along every call that comes in; they will be reprimanded if they do not. Officer Indovina emphasized that, even if you think something isn’t important enough to report, do it—the officers will prioritize their calls.

Audience members asked questions of the panel. A Wilkinsburg resident described a problem with some young boys regularly cutting through her property at the same time of day, but she was concerned about calling the police due to a fear of retaliation. One of the officers suggested that she call and make a report so the police could put a patrol in that area at that time, and if they see the person they can stop him and it would appear as though the police just “happened” to be in area and the kid was unlucky.

In response to another audience question, officers said to make sure that you have clearly marked house numbers, so that first responders can easily identify your house. It is also helpful to turn on your porch light if you are able. The panel suggested that you keep the exterior of your house lit during the night, using motion sensors or dawn-to-dusk photo sensors. If you have a motion light, let your neighbors know so that they will call the police if they see the lights go on suspiciously.

Home security systems are a good idea and there are affordable “self-monitoring” systems you can get for a one-time cost of approximately $100 if you have a home phone line. The panel disabused the audience of some misconceptions. Having a small or modest house is no protection against a break-in, and most break-ins occur during the day, not in the evening. Burglars want to strike when no one is home. If you come home from work and see that your door or window is broken/open—do not go into your house. Call the police immediately.

Other tips included:

• Keep your garages closed and locked.
• Lock your cars. Do not leave merchandise in your vehicle. Lock valuables in your trunk, especially laptops, wallets, purses, bags, GPS, and cell phones.
• When shopping at malls, place merchandise in your trunk and then move your car to a different location.
  • There are criminals who watch parking lots for people putting valuables in their car.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings—don’t walk at night absorbed in a phone conversation.
• Have your keys handy before you get to your car.
• Lock the windows and doors of your house.
• When putting boxes from expensive purchases out for recycling, break them down so they are not so obvious.
• Do not leave wrapped presents visible in your windows.
• Make it as difficult as possible for a burglar to get in to your home. Most criminals are going to look for the path of least resistance. Put your valuables in a safe, if possible. While it is true that anyone can break into your house, you should still make it hard.
• If someone does break in—don’t clean up! You may throw away or ruin evidence.
• Take out ground-level window air-conditioners in winter, secure them in summer with L brackets.
• Do not leave ladders outside of your house.
• Cut shrubs back from the house, keep exterior lights on.
• Big dogs are helpful.
• Most car break-ins are not actually break ins, but rather the car was left unlocked. Don’t let your kids play with your car key fobs—sometimes they will unwittingly unlock the car.

The officers say that Halloween to New Year’s is the biggest time of the year for property crime, so please keep the above in mind and have a safe, happy end to 2011!

Edgewood Police

• Chief of Police, Robert Payne
• Crime Prevention Tips from the Edgewood Police

City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

• Chief of Police, Nathan Harper
• Community Safety web page

Swissvale Police

• Chief of Police, Greg Geppert

Wilkinsburg Police Department

• Chief of Police, Ophelia Coleman

Submitted by GPPNA Board President, Katy Frey

Approximately 1,000 guns are recovered in the City of Pittsburgh every year, most of which have been involved in a crime. The City of Pittsburgh is lucky to have a dedicated Firearms Tracking Unit, so our police have a good idea of where these guns come from. This Unit traces every single gun and works closely with the ATF, schools, and youth groups. The scary thing is that most guns were purchased or stolen in the neighborhoods in which they are later used to commit crimes. This means that guns used to commit crimes in Park Place and surrounding neighborhoods generally come from right here, and many of them were purchased legally.

Detective Joe Bielevicz from the Firearms Tracking Unit met with neighborhood representatives through the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) Safe Neighborhoods Network (SNN) on Saturday November 12, 2011. Bielevicz reports that half of all American homes have firearms and many are improperly stored. One of the most important ways to prevent crime in your neighborhood is to make sure your own guns are locked up in a secure safe that is bolted to the floor. Trigger locks are important for keeping young children safe from gun accidents, but they won’t do much to keep a burglar from carrying your weapon out of your home. Bedside tables are the first place a burglar will look for a gun. Never leave a gun in a parked car and be sure to lock it up in your safe every time you leave your home.

Another major source of guns used in crimes is called “straw purchasing,” where a person who is legally able to purchase a gun will do so and then give it to somebody who either can’t or doesn’t want to own it legally. Detective Bielevicz explained that wives and girlfriends are frequently the straw purchasers, and that one of the most important things we can do is educate young women about the legality and consequences of purchasing a gun for someone else.

What can you do to keep guns out of the hands of criminals? First, if you own a gun, be sure to lock it up in a secure safe that cannot be carried out of your home. If your gun goes missing or is stolen, report it to the police immediately. This saves the Firearm Tracking Unit a tremendous amount of time in the event that your missing gun is involved in a crime. Educate friends and neighbors about the importance of keeping guns locked up and out of parked cars and urge them to report missing or stolen weapons right away. Finally, be a positive influence on the young people in your lives, especially if you think they may be tempted to buy a gun for a friend or to exchange a gun for drugs. Warn them that getting caught purchasing a gun for someone else has a serious, lasting impact on future employment opportunities.

The Safe Neighborhoods Network meets bi-monthly at the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group building, 1901 Centre Avenue, in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. You can learn more about the Safe Neighborhoods Network at http://safeneighborhoodsnetwork.com.

The Greater Park Place Neighborhood Association Board of Directors invites you and your family to come meet your neighbors at the annual Park Place Potluck Holiday Party!

Monday, December 5th

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Waverly Presbyterian Church Social Hall
(corner of S. Braddock and Forbes Avenues)

Drinks, paper goods, and music will be provided by the Board (we bring food too!). Guests are asked to bring a favorite dish or dessert to share at the party, as well as a healthy non-perishable food item to donate to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

MOST NEEDED Food Drive Items List
~ Cereal (high fiber, low sugar)
~ Tuna, Canned Salmon (packed in water)
~ Fruit, Vegetable Juice (100%, any size)
~ Canned Beans (kidney, black, navy)
~ Canned Vegetables
~ Peanut Butter (15 or 18 oz)
~ Canned fruit
~ Toilet, Facial Tissue
~ Laundry Detergent
~ Diapers (baby & adult)
**Non-perishable items only**PLEASE NO GLASS CONTAINERS**

Holiday fixin’s list: http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/pdf/holiday_shopping_list.pdf

Supervised children are welcome, activities will be provided.

We hope you’ll join us for this cherished holiday tradition!

The GPPNA Board of Directors

Katy Frey, President
Melissa Neely, Vice President
Khrys Myrddin, Secretary
Sue Breslow, Treasurer
Jim Lenkner
Marlene Green
Mary Hupe
John Mayberry
Marilyn Navish-McCullough
Joni Rabinowitz

Do you wonder about flooding in our neighborhood?
Are you curious about why there are so many water issues which require digging up our streets? Does your basement flood when it rains?

Come talk with some of the experts in the field. Brenda Smith (Executive Director of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association) and a representative from the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority will help us figure out what we can do as individuals and as a community to address these issues.

Join us for a presentation and discussion about stormwater issues facing our neighborhood.
Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, 7:00 pm
Waverly Presbyterian Church Social Hall
(Corner of S. Braddock & Forbes Aves.)

*Refreshments will be served.*

AGENDA
7:00 Doors open/Refreshments
7:30 Presentation and discussion
8:30 GPPNA Annual Meeting:

• Review of the past year’s activities and plans for the coming year.
• Board Elections — there are four 2-year spots open for the GPPNA Board of Directors.

ELECTION INFORMATION
To vote, you must be a paid up member of GPPNA. You can join or renew your membership that evening.

View GPPNA bylaws and read board candidate biographies on the “Join GPPNA” page of our our website www.parkplaceblog.com.

Whether you are new-to-the-neighborhood, a long time resident, home-owner or renter, GPPNA member or not…EVERYONE is welcome at this annual neighborhood event

CANDIDATE BIOS FOR GPPNA ELECTION

Marlene Green

Melissa Neely

I love living in Park Place. My husband and I bought a duplex on S Braddock Ave in 1995. After 13 years, a large dog, and 3 growing boys, we decided we needed to move… next door. We have been converting a 4 unit into a single family house since 2008. Living on South Braddock Ave for 16 years, one of my ongoing concerns is pedestrian safety and our traffic issues.

A lot of my time is spent being a mom and the coordinator of the Neelyhouse. My work hours are spent as print designer for the Software Engineering Institute at CMU. My specialty is taking complex print information and making it easy to understand.

I look forward to contributing to the work of the GPPNA Board: supporting the neighborhood programs and events; helping build a sense of community between neighbors; addressing particular issues of the neighborhood; providing effective communications; and empowering residents to work together to improve Park Place.

Khrys Myrddin

I am a founding member of GPPNA and have served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors since 2006. In that capacity, I have worked to standardize meeting minutes and improve record-keeping for the organization in a way that will institutionalize knowledge so that it may be handed off to future board members in a coherent and organized way. In addition, I have had the primary responsibilty for sending out the Park Place Update for the last several years.

I have been involved in the planning and execution of a number of GPPNA events, most significantly the first three homeowner workshops organized with the CDCP and other East End neighborhoods. For the past two years, I have provided more of a support role with the larger events as I was working on a Master’s of Public Policy & Management (MPPM) degree while continuing to work full-time as the Associate Director of the Conflict of Interest Office at the University of Pittsburgh. I have also represented GPPNA at a City-sponsored S.A.F.E. Neighbhorhood conference and joined the PPND’s Safe Neighborhood Network. Now that I have finished my program, I am eager to spend more time making Park Place even more amazing than it already is!

John Mayberry

A neighborhood resident and home owner for over 10 years, you may know my name from the parkplaceblog.com web site that I currently manage.

I am interested in being on the board for the neighborhood association because I wish to help make our community stronger, continuing down the path of improvement it has been on for the last several years.

I believe that to become a stronger community, we need to draw on the talents of our diverse community members and come together as strong advocates with a vision, guided by our individual strengths and unified under a common purpose.
Our neighborhood’s future is largely of our own making and will continue to be so as long as we do not cede that right to outside interests. I wish to have our community define our own direction for planning and development, and to have the community become its own best advocate in all matters related to it, including zoning, schools, redevelopment, and safety issues.

As a certified project manager with many years experience in electronic media communications, I can help build out some of the infrastructure helpful to those goals.