Zappala calls out three things that have his attention

District Attorney Stephen Zappala calls out three things that have his attention

Updated: 7:02 PM EST Nov 8, 2023

SHELDON. YES, WELL, HE’S HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE STEPHEN ZAPPALA DELIVERED HIS VICTORY SPEECH LAST NIGHT. BUT THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE AREAS OF CONCERN HE HAS AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAND SHAKES, HUGS AND WELL-WISHES FOR STEVE ZAPPALA GOING INTO A SEVENTH TERM AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY. CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS DOWNTOWN AND IN THE SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD, HE SAYS THEY REQUIRE A SENSE OF URGENCY. ONE OF THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO EXPLORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY FOR THE SOUTH SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE FLATS. WHO MAKES UP THAT MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY ITS ROLE AND WHERE IT WOULD EXIST? THAT ARE DETAILS. ZAPPALA DID NOT EXPLAIN, BUT HE SAYS THE IDEA SPEAKS TO THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS DRAWN THOUSANDS DURING LATE NIGHT WEEKENDS, A BACKDROP FOR SHOOTINGS AND OTHER VIOLENCE. THE SOUTH SIDE IS A REGIONAL ASSET AND RATHER THAN ARGUE ABOUT UNDER MANNING, THE PITTSBURGH POLICE AND NOT HELPING THEM DO THE JOB, THEN WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AND A LITTLE BIT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADER MANNER. ZAPPALA ALSO CITES CRIME AND THE HOMELESS CRISIS DOWNTOWN, QUITE FRANKLY, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND DRUG ADDICTION ISSUES. AND AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, THEY’RE BEING EXPLOITED BY BY NICKEL AND DIME DRUG DEALERS. SO THERE’S A NEW MARKET DOWNTOWN. ADELE MORELLI IS PAYING ATTENTION. SHE OWNS BOUTIQUE LA PASSERELLE ON WOOD STREET. HER DOWNTOWN SHOP IS 13 YEARS OLD. PEOPLE LOITER, PEOPLE HANGING OUT, PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO TO THE RESTROOM. SOMETIMES USE MY DOORWAY. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE UNDER ZAPPALA, SO. SO I HAVEN’T BEEN HAPPY WITH HIM, BUT I’M HOPEFUL GOING FORWARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEED ARE COMING AROUND LOOKING FOR IT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND IT. SO THEY’RE JUST THEY’RE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR HELP NOW, ZAPPALA ALSO SAYS THAT JUVENILE COURTS SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG ADDICTION. HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE SCHUMANN CENTER SHOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER NAME AND LOSE ITS IMAGE AS A JUVENILE DETENTION DETENTION CENTER. REPORTIN

District Attorney Stephen Zappala calls out three things that have his attention

Updated: 7:02 PM EST Nov 8, 2023

Elected into his seventh term, District Attorney Stephen Zappala says he wants input on creating a municipal authority for the South Side, creating a new image and name for the Shuman Center, and exploring ways to beef up crime prevention in the Downtown District.”The South Side is a regional asset, and rather than argue about undermanning the Pittsburgh police and helping them do the job, we’re going to look at it a little bit differently and a little bit more in broader manner,” he said during his victory speech at Cupka’s Cafe II on Carson Street.He also says the Shuman Center should undergo a name and image change away from being a juvenile penitentiary, while expressing the need for enhanced treatment for juvenile mental health and drug addiction.Lastly, Zappala says an exploding homeless crisis has to be mitigated because those affected are targets for crime in the Downtown district.”So a population of 200 people became a population of over a thousand people. Quite frankly, mental health issues, drug addiction issues, and, as a practical matter, they’re being exploited by nickel and dime drug dealers, so there’s a new market downtown,” he said.

PITTSBURGH —

Elected into his seventh term, District Attorney Stephen Zappala says he wants input on creating a municipal authority for the South Side, creating a new image and name for the Shuman Center, and exploring ways to beef up crime prevention in the Downtown District.

“The South Side is a regional asset, and rather than argue about undermanning the Pittsburgh police and helping them do the job, we’re going to look at it a little bit differently and a little bit more in broader manner,” he said during his victory speech at Cupka’s Cafe II on Carson Street.

He also says the Shuman Center should undergo a name and image change away from being a juvenile penitentiary, while expressing the need for enhanced treatment for juvenile mental health and drug addiction.

Lastly, Zappala says an exploding homeless crisis has to be mitigated because those affected are targets for crime in the Downtown district.

“So a population of 200 people became a population of over a thousand people. Quite frankly, mental health issues, drug addiction issues, and, as a practical matter, they’re being exploited by nickel and dime drug dealers, so there’s a new market downtown,” he said.