State to join city to stop S. Side violence
Police, agencies will ramp up enforcement
State and city officials are continuing to work on plans to address the increased violence and crowding that has been occurring on the South Side.
State Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, said he gathered state Liquor Control Board members, state police Liquor Control Enforcement officials, state police, and city officials and other community leaders Thursday.
“We have complex issues here,” Mr. Costa said Friday. “We have a nightlife, entertainment district. We have [liquor] licensees. We have folks who want to come down and spend time there, not going into the licensees establishments, etc., so we’re trying to figure out what we can do collectively to help ensure that licensees are complying with liquor laws, occupancy numbers, whether or not people coming down here are committing any type of crime. We’re just having an enhanced law enforcement presence there.”
Shootings, which have resulted in injury and even death, have been a major part of the ongoing disorder experienced in the neighborhood.
Lt. Greg Raybuck, western section commander in the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, said the agency will ensure liquor-licensed establishments abide by the liquor code, under-age individuals are not being served or drinking alcohol in the area, and visibly intoxicated individuals are also not being served by bars.
“Those are the main focuses Liquor Control will have just to make sure that everyone can go out, be safe, have a good time and get home,” Lt. Raybuck said Friday. “The recent uptick in some of the criminal activity in that area got our attention along with other entities from Allegheny County.”
In addition to extra city police presence on East Carson Street during the weekend, state police troopers may also be added to the South Side in the future.
“The city will continue to ramp up its police enforcement that they’ve been doing, and state police will be adding folks down there as well to see what’s happening, what’s taking place there, to monitor and do what they need to do,” said Mr. Costa. “So at the end of day, there will be enhanced law enforcement presence through the state police.”
The Department of Public Safety is also rerouting traffic patterns on weekend evenings for quicker emergency vehicle response.
Public Safety will enforce no-parking restrictions on East Carson Street on Fridays and Saturdays between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m., and traffic will change from two-way to one-way traveling eastbound between South 11th and South 17th streets.
During this time, ridesharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, will not be allowed to stop on East Carson Street between South 10th and South 18th. Side streets from South 11th to South 17th will be closed to vehicle traffic.
“We recognize that there are a number of issues that are present in the South Side that make folks reluctant to come there, for the opportunity to come there and maybe have dinner, maybe shop at the stores down the street, so we’re trying to ensure and let folks know that it’s a safe environment for folks to be able to do that,” Mr. Costa said. “We’re trying to strike the right balance between giving people the opportunity to do that and working to keep other elements from coming there and participating in things that are not meantto be done there.”
Mr. Costa said that this is a balanced approach that could be helpful in achieving their goal of safety and appropriate activity. He also said the agencies will continue to monitor the situation to see what works, making changes based on what’s needed.
“My hope, I think everybody’s hope, is that the violence subsides, people can go back to enjoying that area, enjoying the businesses that are down there, without the fear of violence,” said Lt. Raybuck.