This week in City Council

• Homewood's Operation Better Block in line for $300,000 anti-violence contract renewal
• $1 million transfer approved for two new ambulances as fleet needs mount
• State grant would fund new traffic signal at dangerous Oakland intersection

Homewood's Operation Better Block in line for $300,000 anti-violence contract renewal🔗

Homewood-based Operation Better Block's violence intervention program may be extended for three years.

Director of Public Safety Sheldon Williams asked for city council's approval to continue working with the organization which provides group violence intervention technology services. The agreement will cost $300,000 over three years. 

Group violence intervention (GVI) is designed to reduce gun violence by focusing on the people at highest risk for violent victimization and offending. The strategy calls for law enforcement, community partners, and social service providers to work together to prevent, or intervene in, ^[a][b][c][d]violence. The cooperative approach is designed to improve public safety, minimize arrests and incarceration, foster police-community collaboration, and change the narrative in neighborhoods that may have felt both over-policed and under-protected.

From a technology standpoint, the scope of work in the city's request for proposals included providing a record of activity between clients and outreach workers or case managers, tracking violent incidents and potential "hot spots" that may require violence interruption, and services in local schools.

Operation Better Block's NewEra412 contains information on over 350 organizations, programs and community events to help connect people to services such as childcare, employment and food assistance.

Council is scheduled to address the legislation at its March 11 committee meeting.

$1 million transfer approved for two new ambulances as fleet needs mount🔗

Money for city vehicles is rolling along.

Council gave preliminary approval at the March 4 committee meeting to transfer $1 million in grant funds to purchase two new ambulances. Firmin Maurice IV, senior fleet manager, said that the money is from a previously accepted grant. It is in addition to the $2 million from the PNC Foundation in Jan.

While Maurice was at the table, Council Member Barb Warwick of Greenfield asked about two out-of-service fire vehicles.

Maurice confirmed that the Equipment Leasing Authority is finalizing its vehicle purchase plan for the year. He also recommended that the city "aggressively pursue" fire vehicles, with the additional $10 million allocation by council in the 2026 budget. 

Fire vehicles have to be modified to navigate the city's narrow streets and hills so orders for new trucks can take three or four years to fulfill, he said. 

Maurice also said that purchase recommendations and priorities are available in last year's fleet efficiency report to council.

State grant would fund new traffic signal at dangerous Oakland intersection 🔗

A state grant may help Pittsburgh address pedestrian safety in North Oakland.

The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) requested council's approval to receive an $806,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The money will be spent on replacing the traffic signal at Fifth Avenue and Dithridge Street.

A statement filed with the legislation noted there have been 10 crashes there, including one fatality, between 2020 and 2025.

The intersection is in front of Webster Hall, a 270-person apartment complex, primarily occupied by University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University students. Five Pittsburgh Regional Transit routes pass through the intersection.

It's not the only dangerous spot for pedestrians in Oakland. The city also accepted a $336,000 grant from the same state program a year ago to install a light at Centre Avenue and Dithridge Street. That intersection had previously only had a two-way stop. 

The city also completed a safety upgrade to the Terrace Street corridor last fall, though, according to PublicSource, residents only consider it a first step.

Discussion of the request is scheduled for council's March 11 committee meeting.