Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 5:08AM | 
MENU
Advertisement

Lawrenceville celebrates a victory over drug dealing, prostitution

Lawrenceville celebrates a victory over drug dealing, prostitution


V.W.H Campbell, Post-Gazette photos

Pittsburgh Deputy Mayor Yarone Zober hammers a nail into plywood in a symbolic "boarding up" during a visit to Almond Way in Lawrenceville yesterday to celebrate the neighborhood's designation as a federal Weed and Seed site.

By Mark Belko
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As city crews worked behind him, one could sense the relief in the voice of Chris Burns.

"I love what's happening. Actually, something's getting done," he said. "Something is finally getting done."

Advertisement

Nobody was happier than Mr. Burns and his neighbors on Almond Way in Lawrenceville yesterday when U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced that the community was getting a $175,000 federal grant as part of its recent designation as a Weed and Seed site.

For at least two years, residents of this tiny alley off Butler Street battled drug use, drug trafficking and prostitution, much of it centered around a small two-story house in the middle of the block that authorities described as a "drug house."

Residents remember all too well the cars that zoomed up and down the street at all hours of the day and night, their occupants looking for a score, even while the children who live in the alley played outside.

They recall the prostitutes trolling up and down the street, sometimes nodding off right in the alley, the hundreds of phone calls they made to police to stem the trafficking, and the signs they posted like "no drugs, kids at play" in an effort to fend off the pushers and users.

Advertisement

One resident, Mark Camerota, said he felt danger "almost every night."

"You never knew when something bad's going to happen and they start shooting," he said.

Yesterday, the only shooting taking place on the street came from cameras. Things started to change when residents began working with the Lawrenceville United community group, which recently purchased the problem house, putting the drug trafficking out of business.

"We didn't do this on our own. The neighbors that lived in this alleyway understood what the adverse conditions were. They stood up to the dope dealers. They stood up to the drug addicts and they said no more," said Tony Ceoffe, executive director of Lawrenceville United.

Along with Ms. Buchanan and other federal and Pittsburgh officials, city crews were on the scene yesterday, boarding up the house and another vacant structure a few doors down.

"Lawrenceville is really booming right now, but we still have a few problems that have to be redded up, including houses like this one," said city Deputy Mayor Yarone Zober, who joined Ms. Buchanan in making the announcement.

Mr. Zober said the former drug house would be demolished by the city next month. In her remarks, Ms. Buchanan lauded Almond Way residents for fighting the drug trafficking.

"It's so important to have people stand up to these drug dealers and you did just that," she said. You've got a lot of courage and we're going to work with you to make sure that we eliminate problems like this throughout the neighborhood."

With the Weed and Seed designation, which was announced in June, the neighborhood is eligible for up to $1 million over the next five years to fight crime and revitalize the community.

The money can be used for all sorts of crime-fighting activity, including reducing drug and gang activities, eliminating nuisance bars and properties, and cutting back on gun-related crimes.

It also can be used for community revitalization programs, including efforts to increase home ownership and business development, improving the appearance of the neighborhood, and youth crime prevention initiatives.

Mr. Ceoffe said one big advantage to the program is that because of the federal involvement, drug dealers who are caught end up being prosecuted through the federal court system, where the jail terms typically are far lengthier than those in state court.

"Just to be fair to the bad guys, they need to be aware that this ain't a joke anymore. Somebody along the line is going to be made an example of," he said.

Down the street, Mr. Burns was thinking about the day the drug house will be gone for good.

"If they tear it down, I'd like to make a garden out of it," he said.

Mike Wieseckel, left, and Al Lillierose board up houses in Lawrenceville that are part of the Weed and Seed program that was announced yesterday.
Click photo for larger image.

First Published: August 25, 2006, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) slides after making a first down and is hit by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0) and safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
1
sports
Gerry Dulac: Steelers might not have to run far to find next year's QB
Sen. John Fetterman arrives for the inauguration ceremony where Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th  President in the United States on Jan. 20, 2025.
2
news
'Democracy for sale' or a 'Golden Age': Pa. lawmakers respond to President Donald Trump's inauguration
As a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus was lifted to be towed, smoke started to billow as a fire restarted on 5Th ave on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Oakland.
3
news
Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus catches fire in Oakland
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat navigates through ice on the Allegheny River Downtown on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Pittsburgh is under a cold weather advisory until Wednesday.
4
news
Pittsburgh's deep freeze has arrived — but the coldest temps are still to come
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium announced the death of a 17-year-old Masai giraffe named Sox. The zoo said Sox was euthanized on Jan. 17, 2025.
5
local
Pittsburgh zoo announces death of 17-year-old giraffe Sox
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story