Over 300 Attend Community Development Summit

by Allison Haley and Sarah Dieleman-Perry, PPND


On October 20, PPND, LISC and CDCP convened over 300 people for a “Town Hall Meeting for Pittsburgh’s Future.” Concerned residents, community organizers and public officials gathered to discuss issues impacting the city’s neighborhoods and how local government and communities can work together to help neighborhoods grow.

	Participants listen to remarks from Kim Burnett of the Surdna Foundation Photo: Fred Seifried

Kim Burnett from the Surdna Foundation and Michael Rubinger from LISC gave remarks that offered a national perspective on community development. Burnett said that although the issues facing Pittsburgh’s CDCs aren’t unique, the solutions need to be tailored to our particular situation as a “weak market city.” Rubinger stated that community development practitioners should build upon the tremendous progress made over the last 30 years, with a renewed focus on targeted outcomes.

The Town Hall Meeting offered break-out sessions where participants had the opportunity to discuss hot-topic issues such as public safety, infrastructure, blight and vacancy. Then they took an electronic survey designed to gauge community satisfaction with the quality of services currently provided by the City. The survey tool allowed participants to key their responses into a hand-held, wireless, electronic pad which immediately displayed graphs on a screen to track group feedback.

A formal report that combines the survey results with the break-out session conclusions is forthcoming. Here is a sneak preview of the results:


Regarding public safety:
• The satisfaction level was high for emergency ambulance and fire response, indicating this is not a budget priority.
• The satisfaction level was lower much for crime prevention, community policing programs and narcotics and vice programs. This response indicates these services are a high priority.
• Public resources should be prioritized and directed to community policing programs focused on drug activity.
• Community block watch groups need to be re-invigorated.
• The police force should be connected with the community in more strategic ways.


Regarding infrastructure:
• The satisfaction level was high for garbage pick-up and recycling. This response suggests recycling services could be expanded since it receives high public support.
• Respondents were overwhelmingly unsatisfied with efforts to clean up vacant lots.


Regarding blight:
• Main issues are vacant lot cleanup, graffiti and demolition of dilapidated buildings.
• Improvements should be made in housing court operations and enforcing penalties with property owners.
• Preventative measures include effective code enforcement, landlord accountability for problem rental properties and development of a city-wide strategy to address blight.


These findings have special relevance to the incoming City administration, who must decide how to spend scarce resources. In the next few weeks, PPND will continue to analyze the results and provide a list of priority areas for the City departments.


Working sessions will be convened in January on several topics: Creating Safer Neighborhoods; Addressing Blight; Infrastructure; and Rebuilding Neighborhoods.


Contact Allison at Allison@PPND.ORG if you’d like to be involved.


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