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Mt. Washington Cleanup… not really
by 15211Advocate ~ March 28th, 2008. Filed under: Blight, Litter.
It looks like Grandview Ave. is getting it’s annual clean-up this weekend. The Explorers Club of Pittsburgh will descend upon the hill to clean up all of the trash that tourists leave behind and throw over the viewing pods.
I think it’s great they come up here every year and make a big event of the whole thing. It’s great publicity and it’s great for Grandview Ave.
What I don’t like, is how the rest of Mt. Washington gets totally ignored. Yes, Grandview Ave. is our premiere focal point, but honestly it’s only about 5% of the total area of Mt. Washington and litter is a problem that hits all 100% of the 15211. I would like to see the Explorers Club really “explore” other parts of Mt. Washington and help us clean up parts of the community that truly need it.
One place that is in dire need of a cleanup, is at the bottom of E. Sycamore. The people that live under the McCardle Roadway bridge have made a complete mess of that area. If you haven’t seen the trash that is thrown all over the hill side at the bottom of Sycamore, take a ride and when you cross the small bridge that takes you to the south side via Sycamore, slow down and take a look up. It will shock you. There is everything from coolers to underwear hanging from the trees. It’s an embarrassment.
This is a true problem that is being ignored. What can we do to clean up this area? Let’s help the homeless population move to facilities that are more comfortable and suitable for them and, in the process, we would clean up the hill.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
That issue has been called in recently to both Councilman Krause and Deasey. It was also brought to the attention of 311. Again, only 1 person that I know of ,called to complain, we need more concerned citizens in 15211 to flood the concilman’s offices and dial 311 our concerns, I bet the media might be interested. Remember the squeeky wheel!!
March 29th, 2008 at 7:54 am
MG: I wanted to put this under latest news. A few of us will be cleaning around Bigbee Field this morning. Anyone that walks the area and want to join us we will be there about 11:00am. Also the “real Mt. Washington Cleanup” will be Sat. April 19.
Anyone notice the nice landscaping that was started around the Crawford Project. Bigbee/Bailey. Now if only they could start view maintance!!
March 29th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Hi Diane,
I will mention E Sycamore to 311 as well… so hopefully everyone who reads this blog will too.
March 30th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Over a year ago, mention was made to MWCDC staff to call public works and arrange a removal of the homeless camp that was forming on this site.
Wouldn’t do it, she said. Not really the job she signed up for, she said.
Well, let’s name it “ill is a not a my job”!
Call public works. Inform them to post the signs to clean out the homeless folks living there.
Then, in 10 days they will.
Afterward, maybe “il is a” will do her job.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
That seems to be a big problem with certain people that live here. They expect the MWCDC to do everything. We really need to work with the MWCDC, not against them. There are only a few staff in that office and 13,000 people who live here!! You mean to tell me that “no body aint got me” could not have taken on this task a year ago!! Thats called being a good volunteer for your neighborhood.
March 30th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
nobody aint got me:
I can see how you would be frustrated with this situation, but I do agree with Diane. If this was a concern for you, you can just as easily call 311 or public works.
However, I can see why you would think you have to go to through the MWCDC. There is a perception in Mt. Washington that they are the means by which citizens must go to affect change in the neighborhood. This is not true. CDCs are non-profits, not government entities. They only have as much power and influence as their membership affords them. Let’s remind each other of that periodically so we are not beholden to any one organization, board, or committee.
MG
March 31st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
it is unfortunate that “nobody ain’t got me” does not understand that the lone Park Resource Manager at the Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation is not able nor funded to supplant every other person in the Pittsburgh Public Works Department.
Having been informed that calling a hotline on behalf of individual citizens is not in the scope of duties of any CDC staff member, this ‘concerned citizen’ waits a year to complain to this forum!?
I can only guess that “ain’t” is hoping for another person to say, “yeah, I’ll make that complaint call for ya!” then be subject to further criticism from “ain’t” that he or she didn’t make the call properly, didn’t get the right homeless camp..ad nauseum.
Here is an analogy that may help “ain’t” understand the situation a little better..just because the MWCDC has a Health & Safety Task Force, it does not mean that “ain’t” should sit idly and unproductively on the couch, waiting for their assistance from the MWCDC for all of your Health & Safety needs….So “ain’t” if you think you hear a burglar in your house, or your heart is pounding and your arm goes numb..get on the phone & call 911 yourself! Likewise the MWCDC Youth Task Force will never be empowered to round up all of the truants..
311 is a system that connects ‘citizens’ read “voters” to their elected officials. Hoping to have a corporation (cannot vote) to call on your behalf is not nearly as effective. Doesn’t work that way…
Take positive action. One person can do a lot. Do it yourself. You will be happier. Peace.
I am i
April 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Matt Tolbert here, organizer of the Mt. Washington cleanup on behalf of the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about expanding the scope of the annual Mt. Washington cleanup!
I agree that there’s much more than just Grandview Blvd. that needs to be cleaned up. And there’s many of us in the ECP that would support a larger cleanup scope.
In past years the ECP has been able to have other parts of Mt. Washington cleaned (such as the west end of Grandview as well as the hillside below McCardle), typically because we had a terrific turnout in the number of volunteers needed to safely cover these areas.
To clean up ALL of Mt. Washington, all it would really take is a combination of coordination (which I think we have down after doing the cleanup for 17 years, working together with the Mt. Washington CDC and the PA Resources Council) and a large, large number of volunteers to show up.
To share with you the effort involved in cleaning up just one Mt. Washington site: this year it took 30 volunteers 4 hours to safely clean up two-thirds of the hillside below Grandview between McCardle and the observation platforms.
To make the idea of a more comprehensive Mt. Washington cleanup, we’d need volunteers in the hundreds to pull off a one-day event safely.
Can we do this? Absolutely. I’ve always been impressed by the support and enthusiasm of the Mt. Washington community. I believe with enough advance notice and planning, committment from groups like 15211.org…and plenty of pizza and coffee for all the volunteers!…we can pull it off.
I’d like to suggest 15211.org present to the Mt. Washington CDC the following to make this all happen:
1. Come up with a list of prioritized areas around Mt. Washington that need to be cleaned up. With this list, I can ensure we have volunteers focus on high-priority cleanup sites first, based on the number of volunteers available.
2. A committment to recruit X amount of volunteers from the community to work with the ECP to make an All-Mt. Washington cleanup happen. Target goal: 100 volunteers. Stretch goal: 300 volunteers.
Look forward to hearing everyone’s responses!
– Matt Tolbert
Explorers Club of Pittsburgh
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
Matt love the idea! Love the work you do.