NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH, PA Permit No. 2403 Volume 33, No. 3 Serving Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield, East Liberty and Lawrenceville since 1975 March 2008 Candidates Line Up To Fill Bennington’s Seat The formerly staid 21st state legisla- candidates in the By P.J. Maloney ing to the full-time of the Young Democrats of America, tive district seems to be turning into Democratic primary Bulletin Contributor practice of law. was reportedly talking several months the “Wild West” of Pittsburgh-area April 22. The dis- Bennington’s ago about challenging Bennington in politics. trict covers all or decision opened the this year’s primary, but then decided After nearly 30 years of representa- parts of Bloomfield, door not only for against it in the face of criticism from tion in Harrisburg by one individual, Garfield, Friendship, Stanton Heights, Pistella to make a run for his old others active in Democratic politics. Frank Pistella, and then a single term Lawrenceville, Sharpsburg, Millvale, office, but for three other candidates: When Bennington announced she served by Lisa Bennington, voters in Etna, Ross, Reserve, and Shaler. Brenda Frazier, Dom Costa, and Len would not stand for re-election, the 21st will choose from among four Pistella had been in the state House Bodack, the county Democratic McKrell reportedly revisited the idea since the late 1970s, but was ousted in Party’s endorsed candidate. of entering the primary, but after los- the 2006 Democratic primary by Dan DeMarco, an attorney and Ross ing the endorsement, he didn’t file the READY... SET...VOTE! Bennington, in the wake of the leg- Township commissioner, announced necessary petitions to get his name on islative pay-raise controversy. After in January that he would run, but the ballot. The last day to register to vote winning the general election that year dropped out when he didn’t get the Pistella, who represented the 21st in the Pennsylvania primary or and spending only one year in office, county Democratic committee district for 28 years, said that, to change your political party Bennington announced in January she endorsement. In doing so, DeMarco although he filed his petitions to be on affiliation is Monday, March would not run for re-election. She expressed disappointment that he did- the ballot, he may yet decide to drop 24. For more information on complained about the glacial pace of n’t receive support from most of the out, depending on the outcome of the voting, please call 1-877- the legislative process and the inabili- Democratic committee members in upcoming lottery that determines the VOTESPA (877-868-3772) or ty of any one individual, especially a Ross. position of names on the ballot. visit www.votespa.com. freshman, to make significant Meanwhile, Paul McKrell, the for- progress toward reform; she is return- mer Pennsylvania executive director See CANDIDATES, page 5 Community Meeting Kicks Off “Bride Row” Redevelopment Plans The redevelopment of By Paula Martinac American bride repair. FDA "Bride Row" – the popu- The Bulletin ascending the already lar name given to the steps of one of owns three eight turn-of-the-20th- the homes, was of them; the century houses that line the north side co-designed by artist Judy Penzer and three in the of Penn Avenue between Graham and architect Jill Watson and completed middle are Roup – was the topic of a preliminary by Penzer in 1995. As Penzer wrote in owner-occu- community meeting hosted by The Bulletin at that time, the mural pied, and Friendship Development Associates "encourag[es] people to enjoy where FDA is in (FDA) on February 7. Jeffrey Dorsey, they live." Indeed, many in the neigh- talks with executive director of FDA, opened the borhood feel a sentimental attachment the owners meeting by dubbing that section of the to the historic row because of the dra- about possi- Paula Martinac/The Bulletin avenue "one of the most memorable matic image, but also because both bly purchas- possibilities for redeveloping the spots in the neighborhood." Penzer and Watson perished tragically ing them. The two remaining houses properties. In general, she said, "the The row of houses takes its name in the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in have been vacant and tax-delinquent physical character lends itself to resi- from a mural on the building at the July 1996. for several years. dential use"; but given their large size, corner of Penn and North Graham, At the February meeting, Courtney Sallyann Kluz, an associate with they would probably work best as "The Bride on Penn Ave.," which Ehrlichman of FDA reported on the Loysen + Kreuthmeier, the architects multi-unit dwellings. One suggestion serves as a gateway to Garfield. The current condition of the eight proper- retained by FDA to work on the 50-foot mural, depicting an African- ties, which are in various states of dis- "Bride Row" project, laid out a host of See “BRIDE ROW,” page 4 APRIL The FINAL DEADLINE for the APRIL 2008 issue of The Bulletin is FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008. This includes ALL classified ads, Bulletin Board announcements, story submissions, and ad space reservations. All content is accepted on DEADLINE! a space-available basis. For more information, call 412-441-6915. Page 2 • The Bulletin • March 2008 PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE REPORT Graffiti Be Gone! Recent graffiti By Deadra Keener the graffiti, rather activity in Gar- Public Safety Coordinator than waiting to field has brought coordinate sched- to light changes uling with the that the city has made in addressing GTF. DPW will then alert 311 once graffiti. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and the graffiti is removed. the Department of Public Works Other positive graffiti removal pol- (DPW) worked with the Bureau of icy changes include: Police to streamline the graffiti report- ing and removal process. DPW is now • DPW will now remove any graffiti working closely with the Graffiti Task that they can reach. Force (GTF) to ensure that graffiti is • DPW will allocate more staff dur- reported and removed in a timely ing the summer months, when graffiti manner. Here is how you can help – or reaches its peak. Paula Martinac/The Bulletin get help – to eliminate and deter graf- • DPW will now work during the GRAFFITI ACTIVITY IN GARFIELD HAS RECENTLY INCREASED. fiti in your neighborhood: evening and weekend shifts to ensure that graffiti is removed in a timely • Dial 911 if you witness someone in manner. the process of "tagging" (i.e., marking Take Pride in Pittsburgh property with graffiti). Additionally, the Graffiti Task Force • Dial 911 if your personal property is working swing shifts, allowing the Last month, I asked By Luke Ravenstahl ing down is vandalized with graffiti. detectives to take a variety of shifts in Pittsburghers to Mayor, City of Pittsburgh many more • Dial 311, or report to the city’s order to best target graffiti artists. share what they love structures this online 311 service (http://www.city. Property owners can, of course, about our great city year. We are pittsburgh.pa.us/mayor/html/311_req choose to remove or paint over the as part of a Valentine’s Day Contest. taking a new look at an old problem, The impressive number of heartfelt and changing the way we prioritize demoli- uest_form.html) if you notice graffiti graffiti themselves; however, they are sincere responses was inspiring, but not tion to change the face of our neighbor- on another person’s property, com- requested first to report the vandalism surprising. As I have said time and hoods. My administration held meet- mercial property, or public property. in order for a report to be filed and again, Pittsburgh is a city of neighbor- ings with the city’s economic develop- • If the graffiti is on your personal photos and measurements taken. GTF hoods and residents. Pittsburghers have ment and public safety departments, property, after reporting it, call will enter the information into a graf- made Pittsburgh all that it is. We must charging them with the arduous task of DPW’s Graffiti Busters office at 412- fiti tracking system, which maintains continue to stay positive, talking about overhauling the city’s demolition 255-2872. They will send you a per- information on all graffiti cases in the all of the things that make us proud. process. mission slip to allow DPW onto your city, and helps detectives to track, Whether it's our sports teams, our cul- The former process was too reactive, property to remove the graffiti. connect, and prosecute cases. tural district, or simply our friendly and in order to confront the problem Note that citizens and merchants people, this is a place to go to school, go and to make any real changes, we need- DPW will respond to complaints as can be fined for leaving graffiti unat- to work, raise your children, and retire. ed to be proactive. We have worked quickly as possible, with public prop- tended on their property, so it pays to Pittsburgh has it all. together to find new ways to tackle haz- erty being the first priority, followed address the vandalism immediately. As we continue to preserve our rich ardous, crime-ridden structures as by private property. The Graffiti Task Another benefit to aggressively history and traditions, we are making quickly and efficiently as possible. Force is training DPW to take accu- reporting graffiti is that the less "tag- changes to ensure that we continue to The city’s most dangerous structures rate pictures and measurements for ging" is tolerated in your community, grow, attract, and maintain residents will continue to be torn down as a first the GTF to investigate.