(News)
Mon Valley residents who want to put a stop to violence --- especially among African-American teen-agers --- need to stop "talking the talk and start walking the walk."
That's the opinion of Keith Murphy, a McKeesport native and director of Bethany House Academy, a counseling, educational and anti-violence resource for young residents of Pittsburgh's St. Clair Village and Northview Heights public housing complexes.
"McKeesport is turning into someplace I don't know," Murphy told city council last week. "This is not the McKeesport I grew up in. We need to help."
. . .
The city was rocked in June by a triple homicide at a birthday party in the Crawford Village public housing complex. One day later, a jitney driver was shot in the head in a Crawford Village parking lot.
Police quickly arrested suspects in both cases, but the shootings left residents frightened and were a serious blow to the city's already negative image.
Rival groups of street gangs also are active in certain neighborhoods, especially in the Seventh Ward, and violence has been reported between teen-agers from neighboring communities who are defending their "turf."
. . .
All sides seem to agree that McKeesport Area School District needs to play a bigger role in defusing tensions between kids from different neighborhoods.
"A lot of these beefs are starting in schools," Mayor Jim Brewster said, "and I think we should challenge the school board to accept this."
But city officials remain split on the value of calling in outside experts.
. . .
At last week's council meeting, Brewster and new Councilwoman V. Fawn Walker had a heated argument over the value of calling in one anti-violence advocate from Pittsburgh. Walker and Brewster clashed over the same issue at May's council meeting.
"It's hard for me to move past the issue when people are dying and especially when young African-American men are dying," Walker said. "It's deep in my heart and something I've been praying on."
City leaders "need to get past this (objection) to not inviting outsiders in," she said.
. . .
Yet Brewster and some other city officials have argued that a few Pittsburgh groups are more interested in fund-raising and self-promotion than helping reach troubled kids.
One such counselor staged a "lavish luncheon" at the Palisades, Councilman Darryl Segina said, where he offered a lot of criticism but few solutions or ideas.
"I don't need him coming into town, bashing the municipal officials, and then passing out slick brochures with the words 'killings in McKeesport' on them, dripping with blood," Segina said.
. . .
Some groups have a publicity-driven approach that works in a big-city media market like Pittsburgh, but isn't as effective in a smaller city such as McKeesport, Murphy said.
However, he said, those groups also have access to financial resources that can be used locally. "We need to get as much attention on this problem as possible," Murphy said.
The city has several anti-violence programs, many of them done in conjunction through churches, Brewster said, and coordinated with the police department through its "Weed and Seed" program.
. . .
But without participation from schools --- where many of the most at-risk kids spend eight hours per day --- Brewster admitted that the city's programs amount to "pockets of effort."
"I don't want to bash the schools, but our facilities are limited," he said. "We need to reach these kids when we have them as a captive audience."
Both Murphy and Brewster said they had each encountered difficulty in getting the school district to cooperate with anti-violence programs. "We need to be demanding it," Murphy said.
. . .
Above all, Murphy said, parents, grandparents and neighbors need to get involved. "I think a lot of families are afraid of their children," he said, adding that many Mon Valley residents are talking an anti-violence message, but "they don't walk it."
A "community day of piece" is set for this Saturday at Crawford Village, while the annual "Rally in the Valley" will be held at Renziehausen Park in August.
Rallies and mass meetings are useful, Murphy told council, but outpourings of grief and emotion have to translate into action.
"In Chicago, 28 people were killed in a single weekend," he said. "They called a prayer vigil and 3,000 people came out, but then they went home and didn't do anything. Can you imagine if each one of those 3,000 people had reached out to one kid?"
. . .
Many residents are "gung ho" now, but Walker fears that as the recent shootings fade into memory, they'll get complacent --- at least until the next rash of violence.
"Everyone needs to remain consistently on it," she said. "I just wish it was something we were more proactive on and less reactive on."
. . .
A Community Day of Peace will be held at Moran Field on Market Street, Downtown, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Activities will include a video game tournament, a three-on-three basketball tournament, entertainment and other activities for kids and their parents and grandparents.
On August 7, Mon-Yough communities will hold a daylong series of events highlighting violence and drug abuse prevention. The first is a "Walk, Run and Ride Against Drugs, Violence and Abuse Among Our Youth." The 5K event begins at Renzie at 9 a.m. and ends at the Palisades.
The annual "Rally in the Valley," sponsored by the Mon-Valley Concerned Citizens Committee, begins that afternoon at 1 p.m. in Renzie. Events include entertainment, motivational speakers and interdenominational worship services.
Kudos to Ms. Walker and Mr. Murphy for their involvement.
Paul Shelly - July 14, 2010
Kudos? For what? The business of the council-the elected branch of government-is to set policy, not to enforce it. They are not there to call on these groups. I wish certain council people would stop with thier personal agendas and get back to running this city. Instead of suggesting things we could do to help a small group, suggesting something to help an entire city. Do you think the children of Grandview or Haler Heights or Myer Park or Christy Park are going to go play basketball at Harrison Village at night? No, but then again they aren’t shooting each other. The Mayor has the right idea, getting the school WAY more involved. They have billions to spend on New buildings that are not needed, they can add some summer programs and some gym hours.
Adam - July 14, 2010
Adam, don’t be naive, there are crimes in each and every neighborhood, and it has gotten worse each and every year for the past seven. Do you forget the home invasion and homicide(s)? in your neighborhood just a year or two over marijuana?
For your information, after school hours, the buildings DO revert to the city. Brewster is passing the buck. Historically, the city, before Brewster, ran programs in the buildings. Nothing has changed except focus from city hall. I can remember back in the early to mid 80’s when numerous such programs were administered by then Recreation Director David G. Donato on School property. The school district does offer SUBSTANTIAL after school programs such as P.E.P. and Tiger Pride academy. They are doing their part at the end of the school day.
At least one new school is necessary. Each of the schools slated for closure cost over $900,000.00 a year to heat. I am staying out of School District politics but I don’t like the way these new schools have been bounced around at our (taxpayer) expense and would rather see one big one built in Mckeesport than two small ones. I originally suggested the area near St. Pius that is central to the population of the district, as it would allow for the greatest number of walkers and reduce busing costs dramatically. That + the obvious energy savings of one (or even two) new school(s) would translate into more money for education or programs as you suggest, lower taxes, or all of the above.
McKeesport hasn’t had a new school built in over 90 years. Isn’t it time that ALL of our children were afforded more?
I like you a lot and am very glad to see you getting involved in the community.
I do humbly suggest you check your sources and consider your responses before going off.
-Paul
Paul - July 15, 2010
You know, Mr. Shelly, I very much want to respond to some of your comments, but I’ll let other people handle that.
I will say that I covered at least two of your four years on city council, and I don’t remember you ever raising any of these issues in a public meeting.
I am also amused to see Mr. Donato’s name suddenly popping up. I’ll leave it at that.
Webmaster - July 15, 2010
Jason,
Not to argue but I more than once informed the Rec Director during my Council report that the facilities do belong to the city after school hours and that we should take better advantage through programming, open gyms and the like. Perhaps this occurred before your coverage began. I can’t say.
Commenting on School District matters at a Council Meeting wasn’t my focus but I’m sure I blogged or commented on Topix about where I initially thought a new school should be. I subsequently became a proponent of the Cornell site when the District declined to look at St. Pius. I believe that a new school in that neighborhood and the elimination of associated blight can provide a much needed shot in the arm there.
I’m sure that some of your readers will disagree with Cornell as is their right because of perceptions about safety.
I don’t share such concerns as students will be bussed to the doors and security is certain to be tight on the campus.
Why is the mention of Mr. Donato amazing? He performed in exactly the matter I explained and the reference was relevant? Do I believe that he is one of , if not the best public servant we’ve had in years? Absolutely.
I have a brother and sister-in-law who work for the district so I curb my discussion of district issues.
Based on the recent performance of the board, do you believe it has been more effective without Mr. Donato and Ms. Spando?
Have a good day Jason. Criticisms from your readers don’t bother me in the least as long as they are civil.
Peace.
Paul
Paul Shelly - July 16, 2010
BTW, I do appreciate your providing this forum for all citizens. Whether you and I agree on specific issues is irrelevant. As I said before, you provide a valuable community service.
Paul Shelly - July 16, 2010
The late Richard Olasz Sr. had his staunch defenders, too, but I’d be hard-pressed to point to his tangible accomplishments.
It’s one thing to be a watchdog. It’s another thing to just bark all of the time.
Webmaster - July 16, 2010
You are entitled to your opinion and I won’t go through my litany of contributions to the community that began many years before I ever held elected office.
Such a comment is beneath you Jason.
Paul
Paul Shelly - July 16, 2010
And, we’re done here.
If someone has a comment that’s relevant, I’ll take it.
But no more self-serving speeches. You can fool some of the people all of the time. I just don’t think I’m one of them.
Webmaster - July 17, 2010
But evidently the Mayor is quite capable of achieving such a feat.
Paul Shelly - July 17, 2010
I apologize for that comment. Thank you for the email Jason.
Paul - July 19, 2010
Some things never change…
Adam - July 20, 2010
Jason and Adam, I do apologize to both of you. It is past time I shift gears to what could be done for the better of McKeesport than what is being done wrong. No excuses.
Paul
Paul Shelly - July 21, 2010
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