Daylight Stabbing in Market Square

[MountainDewGuy]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

I wanted to bump this to provide an update.
I walked to Market Square on my lunch break today, and there are now two signs prominently posted at opposite corners of the square (one by the Starbucks, and one by Nicholas Coffee) informing people of the rules of Market Square. Interestingly, the sign also noted that Market Square was a park, and I believe the very first rule enumerated was that it is a non-smoking area - including a reference to the relevant City ordinance number.

I looked but didn't see the signs. Where is the one by Starbucks?

[stremba]

Back in the late 80's/ early 90's when I attended Pitt, the main excuse panhandlers always gave was they needed money to get something to eat. I usually just invited them to walk with me to McDonalds and offered to buy them a cheeseburger. Amazingly, I never actually bought any cheeseburgers for panhandlers during my four years there!

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by MountainDewGuy

I looked but didn't see the signs. Where is the one by Starbucks?

I circled them in red

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

Where is the camp at?

Along the allegheny passage bike trail basically between 13th & 17th streets; also a big one above station square.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

Now that is disturbing. I don't mind or pay attention to panhandlers. I just pretend that I do not hear the request. It is not as bad as it used to be though. In the 80s and 90s it was terrible and very annoying. Or maybe the panhandlers are intimidated by me. Im 6'3" and approximately 190lbs.

I don't mind the local regular panhandlers on Carson St, as they're actually very polite. The 'travelers' are a different story altogether. They mainly target women with their harassment.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

I received responses.
In a nutshell, I pointed out how unsafe I feel on Liberty Ave due to the kids constantly acting the fool on that stretch. I also pointed out that it is like the Wild West (and included the observation, I believe made by ukyank, to rename the Wood Street T Station the OK Corral) as there is no pro-active law enforcement. I only see the Port Authority Police posted in front of the McDonald's on Wood St, and that they seem entirely reactive. I suggested the need for proactive foot patrols of the area, and pointed out this unpredictability of LEO presence will help dissuade crime (as it is now, if I as an average commuter, know where the cops are - then surely any half-way competent criminal knows where they are too) and will help with traffic, as the foot patrols can issue citations for the cars that are constantly illegally parked on Liberty and that create dangerous, and annoying, traffic problems.

I received very prompt, and positive, replies to my e-mail. The responses stated that there are plans to create police details for both Market Square and Liberty Avenue, and it does seem that these problems are being taken seriously.

Good to hear that the police were responsive to those concerns.