A team of blue- and golden-clad ambassadors will soon hit Downtown Pittsburgh (Liberty: 2014, home)

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by erieguy

You represent that by being unable to make it on your own while blaming others for it…but in this case, this is what Big Ed hired these folks for. To interact with folks and hear what they have to say and then report back to their powers that be, while also helping the police. They have the fortitude to get and take the job so as to support themselves.

Slight correction. Big Ed may be failing as a mayor, but he didn't hire these folks. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a separate entity from city government, and the PDP hired them. The PDP decided to step in to help mayor Downtown since our own mayor is too busy leading prayer vigils in the suburbs and shouting thoughts and prayers at people in Homewood.

[erieguy]

Thanks for the info. I should’ve known better than to give credit to Big Ed for doing something.

[gg]

Originally Posted by guy2073

Me to. I wonder where they will be at 2:30 everyday. I am guessing far from the wood street station.

If they are smart they will avoid that bus transfer by the PPS students. What are these poor starry eyed people in blue and gold going to do? They can't get physical. They don't have at least a weapon. Are they going to talk to them or other self absorbed people? Good luck with that. Muscle and the occasional beat down is reality. We can clearly see there is only one method. Alpha men need to be deployed in a huge way and end the madness.

[gg]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Slight correction. Big Ed may be failing as a mayor, but he didn't hire these folks. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a separate entity from city government, and the PDP hired them. The PDP decided to step in to help mayor Downtown since our own mayor is too busy leading prayer vigils in the suburbs and shouting thoughts and prayers at people in Homewood.

I heard some of the speech or whatever that was with a blow horn in Homewood. What is that going to do? Seemed like a cry for help. Maybe strong policing with billy clubs and guns is the only answer.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Slight correction. Big Ed may be failing as a mayor, but he didn't hire these folks. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a separate entity from city government, and the PDP hired them. The PDP decided to step in to help mayor Downtown since our own mayor is too busy leading prayer vigils in the suburbs and shouting thoughts and prayers at people in Homewood.

Exactly. Sad that the city cannot see that downtown is tanking fast because of ignoring that there's a homeless druggie problem that is skyrocketing. Coddling people who won't work for a living and want handouts and drugs. But whatever. The same old same old way of running Pittsburgh ain't working. As long as some change happens for the better.

[Reggiezz]

Originally Posted by svband76

Exactly. Sad that the city cannot see that downtown is tanking fast because of ignoring that there's a homeless druggie problem that is skyrocketing. Coddling people who won't work for a living and want handouts and drugs. But whatever. The same old same old way of running Pittsburgh ain't working. As long as some change happens for the better.

Is it a coincidence that every large city has the same problems? Encouraging drug use is POLICY. Remember all the urbanists who wanted a nice city? They're silent, which makes you question their real motives and beliefs. You really can't trust anyone associated with the urban bureaucracy in any large city.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Reggiezz

Is it a coincidence that every large city has the same problems? Encouraging drug use is POLICY. Remember all the urbanists who wanted a nice city? They're silent, which makes you question their real motives and beliefs. You really can't trust anyone associated with the urban bureaucracy in any large city.

Those progressive urbanists are silent because they are finding out that the end result of consistently fewer and fewer police officers, which is what they wanted, along with more lax views on incarceration, which is also what they wanted, are now leading to an increasingly undesirable city for many.

Maybe now that there was a random homicide in Bloomfield and a man banging on doors in Stanton Heights in the middle of the night after being shot in the face some of these activists will quiet down with their disdain towards the police.

They obviously didn't care when stealth defunding of the police (keeping the budget the same on paper but not hiring any new officers to replace those who are leaving) was only affecting "other" neighborhoods like my own. Maybe now that this is beginning to affect wealthier and generally "safer" neighborhoods more people will wake up.

[thedirtypirate]

Philly has had these types of ambassadors for a while. They also pick up trash, hand out maps, and offer directions. I don't see how you can view that as a bad thing. They work in coordination with the police to speed response times. Two squads of them now work with homeless services to try to get people off of the streets and into shelters.

[gg]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Philly has had these types of ambassadors for a while. They also pick up trash, hand out maps, and offer directions. I don't see how you can view that as a bad thing. They work in coordination with the police to speed response times. Two squads of them now work with homeless services to try to get people off of the streets and into shelters.

Thanks. I don't know if anyone sees it as bad, but without billy clubs and guns, I don't know if there will be any reduction in crime. Maybe there will and it is always good to hear from someone that has experience with this type of group. More eyes on the problem is usually good.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Philly has had these types of ambassadors for a while. They also pick up trash, hand out maps, and offer directions. I don't see how you can view that as a bad thing. They work in coordination with the police to speed response times. Two squads of them now work with homeless services to try to get people off of the streets and into shelters.

Pittsburgh has had these for over a decade now. This will be in addition to what is currently in place. The current crew assists visitors and workers as needed throughout downtown. The existing crew's main focus is litter and Market Square seating / upkeep.