Contact the mayor or city counsel? (Pittsburgh, Manchester: neighborhood, casinos, tax) - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

guylocke · 11-07-2007, 04:51 PM

Hello! Does anyone know how to contact the mayor or city counsel? I'm sure there must be someway to send an e-mail to their representatives or secretaries or something. Despite my strong opinions, I've never once been SO compelled to share them with the mayor until now.

I think Pittsburgh has an enormous opportunity and responsibility to encourage or even demand that Don Barden reconsider the casino designs and to make it green-certified. Of course, the parking garage design is also a problem, and the mayor wants to talk to Mr. Barden about both issues.

Pittsburgh could become the first place in the world where a "green" casino is built. None exist, yet. I think Pittsburgh is the logical choice and a green casino would further exemplify our commitment to the environment and use of energy.

I encourage you to send off some e-mails as well!

Ravenstahl wants meeting with casino owner Barden - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Stagger Lee · 11-07-2007, 05:25 PM

couldn't help you on how to contact him. I personally heard that the casino owner is not for spending the money to make it green at all.

However, we have the first Convention center that is LEED certified (largest LEED building in the world), we soon will have the first LEED hospital in America, the Tallest LEED building in America. It would be nice to also have the first LEED casino. I also personally heard that the Arena is going for LEED certification too. Maybe the first green large arena also.

Agbor · 11-07-2007, 06:27 PM

I wonder what they were thinking when they decided to build the casino on the North
Shore?..seems to me there is a lot more room down by station square all the way down
to the Coraliss tunnels...

guylocke · 11-07-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

I wonder what they were thinking when they decided to build the casino on the North
Shore?..seems to me there is a lot more room down by station square all the way down
to the Coraliss tunnels...

I think it was just mostly to keep the north shore hopping, it's a largely growing area for entertainment and recreation, plus they are spending a lot of money to connect the north shore with the light rail.

Geeo · 11-07-2007, 06:40 PM

The North Shore had the best access. Everybody can just drive in on 279 or 65 or 376, jump off the exit, get into the parking garage, and spend the day in the casino. Plenty of room for the senior citizen tour buses. Station Square only had access from 2-lane Carson Street or the Smithfield Street bridge, and the Hill District neighborhood didn't want it. The closest residential area to the casino on the North Shore is Manchester and Allegheny West, and they're both across the 10-lane expressway.

You can contact the mayor and city council through the city website. Google it.

Stagger Lee · 11-07-2007, 07:53 PM

very true about the access to the north shore.

I don't see why Barden won't just spend the extra money to make it LEED certified. He has to produce better mechanical systems for seperate ventalation systems to still have smoking allowed inside the building. He would also have to up the cost in several other areas. However, you get tax breaks if you design a building that is capable of LEED certification. Tax breaks along with energy savings in energy cost would pay off in the long run considering a building like this is a long term use building.

guylocke · 11-07-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Tax breaks along with energy savings in energy cost would pay off in the long run considering a building like this is a long term use building.

Definitely!! Lots of research shows just how cost-saving "going green" really is despite an initial larger investment. It's big business now, and it seems Pittsburgh is on the forefront of making or trying to make every major development green, including River Parc.

suzeeq521 · 11-08-2007, 07:58 AM

I heard that Barden was making it "green" but that it wouldn't be eligible for certification because there was every intention to allow smoking (and that a building that permits smoking can't be certified.) up to and unless the state ever bans it in all casinos.

To which I say, good for him. It sounds like he is trying to compromise. Which is the best we can ask for.

He is a private business man. We can't "force" him to do anything.

But compromise is a great place to start.

(if you really want it green, lobby to the state to ban smoking in all casinos and I bet Barden would be more likely to go for the certification.)

guylocke · 11-08-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

I heard that Barden was making it "green" but that it wouldn't be eligible for certification because there was every intention to allow smoking (and that a building that permits smoking can't be certified.) up to and unless the state ever bans it in all casinos.

That would be completely okay with me if it was essentially "green" minus the smoking thing. Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh could always ban smoking in public places (which I think WILL happen someday in the future). Once that happens, I imagine the actual certificate could then follow.

Where did you hear that he planned on making it green in all regards except the smoking?

In one of the news articles, the mayor said that it can still qualify for certification if special and seperate ventilation or something is used. I doubt that would happen, sounds like an expense.

Stagger Lee · 11-08-2007, 06:11 PM

He can still make it green with smoking. However it can only be in a certain section and needs seperate ventilation systems. The outdoor and return air can't be mixed in anyway with the areas of the non-smoking sections. This increases the cost of the mechanical systems. It also produced no energy savings. They should just make the whole state non-smoking. I am a "bar smoker" and hell I still go outside when I go to the bars to smoke. Just make some terraces for people to go smoke on when they need a smoke.